Dear Parents, Welcome to the K-12 Private School Fair hosted Our Austin City Kids. Whether your child is about to start school in the fall or you are a parent of an older child it is my sincerest hope that you find this fair informative and family-friendly. With over 20 local and national private schools in attendance, there are schools to fit every child at this event, from small to large, religious to non-secular, day and boarding schools. Many thanks go out to all the Heads of Schools, School Principals, Admission Directors, faculty and staff and non-school educational vendors whose service to our community is greatly appreciated. A special thank you to Jaymar Davis, Our Austin City Kids webmaster and event guide graphic artist, Kim Pluskota of Kim Pluskota Photography and Graphic Design, Mai Huynh Our Austin City Kids Event Promoter, and to the friends and family that make up Our Austin City Kids. Brandee Davis Creator and Founder
List of Schools Austin Jewish Academy
Kirby Hall School
Brentwood Christian
Orme School
British International
Paragon Prep Parkside Community Montessori School
City School Concordia Academy HS
Regents School of Austin
Governor’s Academy
San Marcos Baptist Academy
Grace Academy Harbor Christian Academy Holy Word Lutheran
St. Andrew’s Episcopal
Hyde Park Baptist Khabele School
St. Gabriel's Catholic School St. Paul Lutheran School Valley Forge Military Academy Westover
List of Partners Modern Woodmen The Babysitters House of Tutors Noah’s Play Mathnasium Texas Tuition Promise Fund Usborne Books
Private School Map
Kirby Hall School Any parent who hears about a college preparatory school that serves Pre-K through 12th grade has to get excited. Small class sizes, phonics for kindergartners, Saxon Math for all grades, and 96th to 100th percentile Iowa Basic test scores are all on the short list of aspects that make Kirby Hall a premier school. But what students who are taught manner as a course requirement, an entire graduating class being accepted into college many their first choice or students in a dual credit program actually walking to and from their class on UT’s campus? Surprised? For the parents of the Kirby Hall Penguins these are just some of the reason why Kirby Hall is their school of choice. Kirby Hall Facts:
Class sizes range from 12:1 to 15:1 on average, allowing for a Socratic teaching method and enhanced instruction.
We are a Christian non-denominational school and value the opportunity to instill in the children Christian virtues and values.
Beginning in the seventh grade, our students learn how to do research at UT’s PCL library in both the stacks and on its data-bases. We also take them to exhibits and performances at the University, including those at the Blanton Art Museum, the Harry Ransom Center and the annual London Stage Actors Group’s performance of Shakespeare.
Solid Foundation The classical white columns against burnt red brick pavers, personify not only the rich history of the building but also Kirby Hall. Established in 1976, The founders of Kirby Hall wanted their children at home and not in boarding schools and they hoped to avoid the isolation of home-schooling . they wanted their children to be treated with respect. It was thought that if students were given recognition for their individual talents and strengths, each student would feel secure and approach the effort to learn with a greater trust of their own abilities and that success would come more readily. Photography by Kim Pluskota Photography and Graphic Design
St. Gabriel’s Catholic School On August 10, 1995, the Catholic Diocese of Austin granted permission to an organization of prominent lay leaders to build a new Catholic elementary and middle school in southwest Austin. Based on the agreement, a Texas non-profit corporation was formed to own and operate the school. The school’s mission, religious formation and curriculum would be accountable to the Bishop of Austin, who is the ecclesiastical authority of the Apostolic See pursuant to the Canon Law of the Catholic Church. It would operate under the vigilance of the Diocesan Office of Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools. Founded in 1999, St. Gabriel’s Catholic School, Austin, Texas, is an independent Catholic school owned and operated by a Texas non-profit corporation.
What is spirituality at St Gabriel's? What does it feel like? St. Gabriel's' Catholic identity is embedded in daily life at school. Belief in a loving God and a visible outreach to others is how we live our lives in the school community. Religious instruction is not one of memorizing answers from the Baltimore Catechism as was done decades ago in Catholic schools. Rather, it is the beginning of a carefully guided spiritual journey, where prayer, appreciation, respect, reflection, and a growing knowledge base intertwine. St. Gabriel’s affirms the virtues Christ exhibited as he walked the earth. Although St. Gabriel's is a Catholic school, we embrace and
honor the families of all faiths in our community, for their very presence enriches us all. Christians and non-Christians are more alike in their spirituality than they are different, and it is these essentials that we celebrate. As our St. Gabriel's graduates enter broader communities, we recognize that they will be working and living among many different cultures and faiths. We believe that their spiritual journey, begun with people of all faiths at St. Gabriel's, will engender a life-long appreciation for the many ways there are to worship God, and will enable them to live in peace and harmony with others.
“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different kinds of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
Photography by Kim Pluskota Photography and Graphic Design
Removed from the hussle and bussle of downtown Austin, Regents School of Austin provides its students with a classical Christian education on a sprawling 80 acre campus nestled in the heart of Southwest Austin. With a student body of approximately 828 students in grades K-12, Regents school's mission is to “provide a classical and Christian education, founded upon and informed by a Christian worldview, that equips students to know, love and practice that which is true, good and beautiful and challenges them to strive for excellence as they live purposefully and intelligently in the service of God and man.” Classical Education A Classical Education helps students draw original, creative, and accurate conclusions from facts and then formulate those conclusions into logical and persuasive arguments through progressive stages of Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric. These three stages represent the trivium in classical education. The early years of school referred to as the Grammar stage serves as the foundation of knowledge where students are taught through memorization. In general by the time most students reach middle school they have become more curious by nature. In a classical education setting these students move to the second stage of learning called the Logic stage. The second phase of a classical education is where students learn to think through arguments and also learn to analyze different points of view. The second stage is called the Logic stage. The third stage of a classical education is the Rhetoric Stage. This stage is the accumulation of the first two stages. At this point a high school student is “apply the rules of logic learned in middle school to the foundational information learned in grammar school and is able to express his viewpoint in a clear, forceful, elegant language”.
Christian Education Simply put Christian Education means that Christ is central to education. At the very core of Regents School of Austin is the desire to serve mankind and honor God. In the educational process the Spirit of God encounters people of all ages so that they are nurtured in faith, grow in knowledge and experience, and are inspired and empowered to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. The students at Regents are engaged in a classical and Christian program to develop and practice an appreciation of truth, goodness and beauty.
In the Garden – Lesson Learned The integration of biblical principles and academic curriculum is intentional. The best application of classical Christian instruction is at the Wildness Center where students have created their own outdoor classroom under the guidance of Instructor Harlon Smith. From learning planting the seeds, to nurturing and watching them grow, and finally harvesting their crop, experiencing gardening gives students a new level of understanding the Bible. "Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it."
(Genesis 2:15)
Photography by Kim Pluskota Photography and Graphic Design
The books kids love to read!
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Independent Educational Consultant Usborne Books and More 512-252-8880 www.myubam.com/d3461
The Academy’s academic strength comes from the amount of age-appropriate support provided for students at specific grade levels. Three distinct but connected groups comprise its academic programs: the Middle School (7th and 8th grades); the Buff & Blue Experience (9th and 10th grades); and the Pre -College experience (11th and 12th grades). Middle School (7th and 8th grades) The Middle School is a small corps of young men. Three exclusive Middle School teachers present a full scope of academic disciplines, with core courses in Mathematics, Language Arts, Literature, Civics, Social Studies, General Sciences, Physical Education, and Character Education. Classes are divided separately between grades, but
the Middle School interacts frequently as a group. To supplement classroom learning, Middle School cadets take frequent field trips to off-campus learning sites, such as Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the Brandywine River Museum, and cultural experiences at the opera and museums. Teachers provide regular support in evening study hall and communicate to parents through bi-weekly emails. Buff & Blue (9th and 10th grades) The Buff & Blue Experience provides structure and independence for freshman and sophomore cadets. Teachers engage in team-teaching, class events, and interdisciplinary research projects in the ninth and tenth grades. Mathematics courses at all levels are available, and students generally take Literary Genres and American Literature, Ancient and Modern World History, Physical Science and Chemistry, and a variety of electives and World Languages. Study Skills instruction is
provided in 9th grade, and 10th graders concentrate on PSAT and SAT preparation. These grades are housed together in the barracks and receive interdisciplinary support from members of their teaching teams. Parent communication is provided biweekly, and additional support measures are put in place as needed. Buff & Blue cadets often gain tactical leadership responsibilities, are widely involved in campus activities, and gain increasing personal independence as appropriate. Pre-College Experience (11th and 12th grades) In The Pre-College Experience, team-teaching dissolves due to the wide variety of Advanced Placement, elective, and college classes qualified cadets enroll in. Juniors and Seniors take upper level courses in all subjects, with advanced electives
available in Art and Music. Seniors in good standing may take courses at Valley Forge Military College as their ability demonstrates, and these credits count toward both high school graduation requirements and college transfer credits. Cadets who show proficiency in college courses greatly distinguish themselves in the college admission process. Guidance counselors work regularly with junior and senior cadets to guide them in college selection, assist them in the application process, and prepare them for the transition to college life. Junior and senior cadets hold the highest positions in tactical leadership and guide many campus clubs and activities. Study hall support and parent communication are strong at this level also. A capstone public speaking presentation is required of all seniors.
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