Acta Equitum - October 2022

October 2022

Acta Equitum The Newsletter of Franklin Classical School

On the Cover:

Inside:

Dr. Grant leads the Senior Class of

Why London?

2020 on a tour through London

Upcoming Events

during their capstone trip.

Announcements October Birthdays

Why London?

The Senior Class Capstone Trip The senior class capstone trip to London is a longstanding FCS tradition. Students begin fundraising for their respective trip as early as freshman year. But do you know why our seniors take this trip? And why they go to London, specifically? After a two-year hiatus, FCS seniors will return to London this spring.

Read the following words from Dr. George Grant and learn about the "why" behind the senior trip to London.

According to the Latin proverb, “Travelers may change their climate but never their souls.” While it may be admitted that such a truism is essentially true, there also can be little doubt that travelers may at least change their thinking. By virtue of seeing the world— the different sights, sounds, textures, hues, and passions of cultures different than their own—affords them with a unique perspective that militates against prejudice, parochialism, and pettiness. As Mark Twain said, travel somehow “broadens the mind and softens the heart.” More often than not, travel serves to sunder our uninformed native preconceptions and to establish more mature perspectives.

For that reason, travel has always been a component part of a well-rounded education.

The banal prejudice and narrow presumption that inevitably accompany an unexposed, inexperienced, and undiscerning existence can often be ameliorated only by the disclosure of the habits, lifestyles, rituals, celebrations, and aspirations of the peoples beyond the confines of our limited parochialism. The great Dutch patriot Groen van Prinsterer aptly commented to his students, “See the world and you’ll see it altogether differently.”

Chartwell, 2017

As a result, in times past, travel was seen as far more significant than just fun and games. It was for more than mere rest and relaxation. It was intended to be more than simply a vacation or a getaway.

Instead, it was a vital aspect of the refined instruction in art, music, literature, architecture, politics, business, science, and divinity. It was, according to Benjamin Franklin, “the laboratory where theory meets practice, where notion encounters application.”

Travel has thus enlightened lives and perspectives throughout history. Some of the most famous books, some of the most influential perspectives, and some of the most remarkable social transformations have had their genesis in some great quest or expedition or journey or voyage— from Agamemnon in Troy and Caesar in Gaul to Marco Polo in China and Richard the Lionhearted in Outremer, from Christopher Columbus in the Caribbean and Cotton Mather in Massachusetts Bay to Charles Lindbergh in the Spirit of St. Louis and John Glenn in the Shuttle Enterprise. Just visiting has left an indelible mark upon the human experience. continued on next page

From the end of the fifteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth, it was expected that all the members of high-born families, aspiring artists, poets and historians, prospective members of the diplomatic corps, and young bon vivants would undertake an extended pilgrimage to the great cities of the Western world. It was considered an essential part of a well-rounded education. Indeed, in many elite circles it was believed to be the capstone of a true classical curriculum. Many of the most eminent people in history thus set out on what became known as the Grand Tour just before they entered public life. Traveling to the great centers of culture, history, and influence, they sought to take in as much of the art, music, literature, architectural sites, historical monuments, social revelries, and culinary delights as they possibly could. Taking anywhere from just a few weeks to several months, the Grand Tour was intended to help the next generation of leaders to learn the languages, customs, and mores of far-flung lands and societies. They desired to broaden their horizons, test the practicality of their book learning, and to deepen their social and academic awareness. It was to enable them to eventually do all they were called to do and be all they were called to be.

The importance of this discipline has been highlighted by wise men and women over the course of time. St. Augustine asserted, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.” And, William Hazlitt declared, “Travel’s greatest purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”

But, why England? And in particular, why London? Besides the fact that its common language and its universal integrated transport system make the city easily accessible, the English capital offers a wealth of history and culture. In a sense, London and its immediate surrounding towns of Eli, Cambridge, Westerham, Brighton, Lewes, and Greenwich serve as repositories of all an FCS student has studied over the course of the four years of Upper Division.

Though London was for most of the 18th through the 20th centuries the most populous city on earth, it has also always been a collection of villages. Each village used to have a unique quality—and some still do.

The Government focuses on Whitehall, with power derived from parliament in Westminster—incomplete without the royal family, whose public and private life is still center around St James' Park. Newspapers used to be in Fleet Street, book publishers in Bloomsbury, films in Wardour Street, theatres in Shaftesbury Avenue, fashion in Mayfair, and fruit and vegetables in Covent Garden. And all of this may be experienced by a visitor within the span of a single week.

The venerable old city of Shakespeare and Milton, of Pope and Dryden, of Johnson and Wren, of Dickens and Churchill is at the same time the very modern international city of commerce, finance, innovation, industry, art, architecture, and entertainment. Some of the world’s most delightful bookstores, art galleries, restaurants, street markets, churches, castles, parks, and universities lie within an hour of central London.

continued on next page

As Hilaire Belloc has wisely asserted: “Those who travel about England for their pleasure, or, for that matter, about any part of Western Europe, rightly associate with such travel the pleasure of history: for history adds to a man, giving to him, as it were, a great memory of things like a human memory, but stretched over a far longer space than that of one human life. It makes him, I do not say wise and great, but certainly in communion with wisdom and greatness. It adds also to the soil he treads, for to this it adds meaning. How good it is when you come out of Tewkesbury by the Cheltenham road, to look upon those fields to the left and know that they are not only pleasant meadows, but also the place in which the fate of English medieval monarchy was decided; or, as you stand by that ferry which is not known enough to Englishmen (for it is one of the most beautiful things in England) and look back and see Tewkesbury tower framed between tall trees over the level of the Severn, to see the Abbey buildings in your eye of the mind—a great mass of similar stone with the Norman walls, standing to the right of the building. All this historical sense and the desire to marry history with travel is very fruitful and nourishing.”

So, why do we do the capstone trip with our seniors every year? We do it because a classical Christian education is incomplete without it. We do it because the discipleship task we have undertaken depends upon it. We do it because as James Ferguson, the famed nineteenth century Scottish architect, has said, “Travel is more than a visitor seeing sights; it is the profound changing —the deep and permanent changing—of that visitor’s perspective of the world, and of his own place in it.”

Excerpt taken from Just Visiting: How Travel Has Enlightened Lives and Viewpoints Throughout History

by George and Karen Grant, 1999

Above and below: Senior Class of 2020

Upcoming Events October 1 Reenrollment for 2023–2024 opens FCS sibling admissions applications open

October 13 – 14 Fall Break offices closed

October 1 Homecoming Dance 7:00 – 9:00 pm 6th – 12th grades

October 19 Picture Retake Day

October 4 – 6 9th – 12th grade 1st Quarter Project Presentations (Presentation Attire required) October 6 6th – 8th grade 1st Quarter Project Presentations (Presentation Attire required) October 6 K – 5th grade 1st Quarter Project Presentations (Presentation Attire required) October 7 K – 6th grade Parent-Teacher Meetings (K – 6th grade classes dismissed) October 7 End of Quarter 1 October 11 9th – 12th grade Disquisition Day October 12 PSAT 10th & 11th grades (required for scholarship consideration) (7th – 12th grade classes dismissed)

October 25 7th – 12th grade Math Fair November 1 New family 2023 – 2024 admissions applications open November 10 – 12 FCS Players' present Tom Sawyer November 17 FCS Fall Open House 7:00 pm FCS auditorium November 21 – 25 Thanksgiving Break offices closed

Year at a Glance October 13 – 14 Fall Break – offices closed November 21 – 25 Thanksgiving Break – offices closed December 19 – January 2 Christmas Break – offices closed March 13 – 17 Spring Break – offices closed May 20 Class of 2023 Graduation

Updated 2022 – 2023 Calendar available in RenWeb/FACTS – Resource Documents

HOmeCOming 2022 September 26 – October 1, 2022

Spirit Days!

Dress up to show your school spirit!

Monday: Anything but a Backpack

N fr ote om th ea e W rli ed er / an Th no urs un c ce ha m ng en e ts !

Tuesday: Pajama Day Wednesday: Christmas Thursday: Lavender Friday: FCS Spirit Day

Football Game Festivities!

Friday, September 30 Freedom Intermediate School 5:00 – pre-game party, including grammar banner parade, kids' zone, concessions, and food trucks 7:00 pm – football game

Homecoming Dance!

Saturday, October 1 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Theme:

HOLLYWOOD Semi-Formal Attire

All FCS students in grades 6 – 12 are invited!

Announcements Congratulations!

Parents in Prayer

We are so proud of freshman Joshua Riddle, who attended Space Camp this past summer and won two impressive awards! Congratulations, Joshua!

FCS Parents in Prayer meetings are held on the second and fourth Fridays of each month at 10:00am.

The meeting schedule for the fall semester is as follows:

First, his team won the 2022 Commanders Cup Award. Almost thirty teams of sixteen students each competed in mission activities and scientific experiments. The winning team scored the highest of all the teams.

8/26 The Warrens' home: 1103 Holly Hill Drive, Franklin

Second, Joshua won the 2022 Right Stuff Award. This is the highest individual honor at Space Camp and is given to the trainee who exemplifies the courage, integrity, and excellence of the early space explorers and test pilots. Only one trainee from each camp of almost 500 participants receives this award.

9/9 The Duggans' home: 453 Mackenzie Way, Franklin 9/23 at FCS (led by Donna VanLiere) 🍁 Fall Break 🍁 10/28 The Warrens' home: 1103 Holly Hill Drive, Franklin 11/11 at FCS 🦃 Thanksgiving 🦃 12/9 at FCS Questions may be directed to: Dana Duggan PTO Prayer & Community Support (912) 506-7342 We hope you will join us!

Congratulations, Joshua!

Keep reaching for the stars!

Announcements Attendance

Junior Class Fundraiser

Please contact your teachers and Mrs. Hepp at the front desk to report a student absence, late arrival, or early dismissal. Mrs. Hepp's email address is attendance@franklinclassical.com.

Please review the updated attendance policy in your Parent Handbook.

The junior class is selling City Saver Books to raise money for their class trip in the spring of 2024. These will be available all year and cost $30. The City Saver Book is filled with coupons for local restaurants and other establishments and will be available all year.

Contact Mrs. Hepp to purchase!

PSAT Information Registration Is Closed For: 10th and 11th Grades only Test date: Wednesday, October 12th Time: 7:15 am – 11:45am Where: Third Floor Lecture Hall Students will be dismissed for Fall Break when testing is completed!

ATHLETICS College Fair Franklin Road Academy will host a college fair for Christian colleges in October. Details below:

Basketball: Registration is now open through October 14th.

Please turn in a current physical (within the calendar year) with registration. Register here.

Volleyball: Eighth Grade Recognition 9/27 Senior Night 10/11

Franklin Road Academy 4700 Franklin Pike, Nashville 37220 Tuesday, October 4, 2022 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Playoff week: MS volleyball 10/17 – 10/22 HS volleyball 10/24 – 10/29 Football: Playoff game 10/29 at 7:00 location TBD

Hap

October 2 Seth Griffin Katie Varnedoe October 4 Kian Chesson

October 9 Tabytha Trudeau

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r i B t h y p October 20 Avila, Jackson Will Miles

October 21 Ellie Rose Grisham October 22 Marshall Sadler

October 10 Anna Kate Jenkins

October 23 Gloria Steenman Taylanor Trudeau

October 11 Athena Chesson Mrs. Rebecca Trabue

October 26 Lucas Kulesca Luke Young

October 12 Brayden Sapp

October 27 Presley Alvarado Isabel Fisher Mia Medina

October 13 Alyssa Kenny Anna Young October 14 Sophie Parks October 18 Mrs. Nancy Evangelista

October 28 Jack Plachy Mr. Josh Sperry October 29 Miss Christina Hale October 30 Abbey Howell