CURRICULUM MAP

   
Our academic courses base our curriculum using the Catholic, classical and adaptable curriculum of Kolbe Academy.  https://www.kolbe.org/why-kolbe. 
Kolbe Academy enrollment is graciously offering a $50 discount / 3Hearts student!
Enrollment in Kolbe, however, is not required to register with 3Hearts. 

KOLBE ACADEMY & HYBRID SCHOOLS

In recent years, Catholic schools have been making a comeback and are becoming centers of evangelization in their communities. Establishing a brick-and-mortar school, however, is an expensive endeavor, both in terms of actual dollars, but also the time and talent required to make these schools successful. There are several important aspects that must be present for a Catholic school of any form to be successful. A hybrid model will allow for the school to be authentically Catholic, to provide a quality education, and to keep parents actively engaged.

First and most importantly, the school must be authentically Catholic. If a truly Catholic community fails to form, the community will not be a place of support and growth but will rather be similar to the secular schools where children often aren’t protected from harm and aren’t encouraged in Christian charity. It can be difficult for leadership to establish and maintain an authentically Catholic community, but without this fundamental step, the school fails to be Catholic. Students should grow in virtue, faith and charity when participating in the school (good fruits) but if the children grow in vice, worldliness, and a lack of charity (bad fruits) begin to show. Constant care for the community and an encouragement in the Faith and the Sacraments are essential. Making clear the type of community that is being built is important so that all members understand the expectations of parents and students.

We can help hybrid schools support this goal by providing an educational model that will allow time for faith activities and we can work with a school to provide credit for community-building areas such as sacred music. We can also provide curricular options for authentically Catholic religion courses.

Secondly, the mode in which a school engages the community is one of education and formation. This requires a curriculum that is effective, but also ordered towards and centered on teaching a love for the beautiful, the good and the true. In addition to finding and ordering the materials needed to teach the student well, the curriculum must account for what is appropriate for the student at their particular age. A school that is bringing local students together must also deal with students from a variety of backgrounds and natural abilities, and it must ensure that no student is left behind. 

Kolbe provides a curriculum that is rich, excellent, and works well in the hybrid model. The curriculum is adaptable as well, and, given the fact that hybrid schools often have a few students that fall outside the normal courses, those can be provided for through asynchronous or synchronous Kolbe courses. Additionally, Kolbe Academy offers online classes, that could supply additional or more challenging classes for students with this need. This affords an extensive catalog of available courses without the staffing required to offer these individualized courses.

Finally, a school that will be successful, must involve the families of the students. As the Church has repeatedly stated, the parents are the primary educators of their children. No educational institution has these graces! This means that it is critical that the parent and families of the students become part of their education and formation at a Catholic school. At Kolbe, the principle of subsidiarity is emphasized. Parents, who are those closest to the children, know what they need. A hybrid school usually involves parents who are spending much of their time overseeing the students’ education when the students are not at the school. This offers a wonderful opportunity to involve the parents in the community and provides opportunities to encourage parents to be more engaged in the education and formation of their children. The nature of the hybrid model makes it easier to extend some of the activities of the school to local homeschooling families who may feel called to be involved in their children’s formation in this way, while also benefitting from a greater participation in the school’s Catholic community.

Kolbe has years of experience in home education. In addition to supplying lessons plans and classes, Kolbe advisors can provide assistance with record keeping and grades. It will be prudent to make sure that teachers do not change the curriculum without the okay of the school board; it will also be important to use caution when selecting teachers, especially when volunteers are used. Not all volunteers will have the necessary experience or skill. In both of these areas, Kolbe Academy can work with the hybrid administrators to make recommendations or offer additional support for students that are struggling or who need to be further challenged.

In conclusion, the hybrid model of education is an excellent model that facilitates educational and spiritual growth while also being ideal for strengthening the community itself. A partnership with strong Faith-filled local leadership and the resources of Kolbe Academy provides a wonderful partnership for furthering true Catholic education.

Steven E Hayden

Development Director

Kolbe Academy

(805) 798-3486