Our Lady of the Valley’s Catholic classical school philosophy is built on our foundation in Faith and through the implementation of Classical methodology, integrating faith and reason in the pursuit of wisdom.

Foundation in Faith:

• Catholic education is integrated into every aspect of a student’s life at OLV, starting with parents and family as the primary educators of their children.

• Students deepen their Catholic identity through participation in the daily Mass, praying the rosary, adoration, and participating in the beauty and fullness of Catholic traditions and feast days.

• This enables students to bring their faith into daily life and strive to live lives of virtue and service with joy.

Classical Methodology:

• Rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, the classical methodology fosters a love of learning and a pursuit of wisdom.

• Faith and reason are seen as complementary paths to truth, goodness, and beauty.

• The classical trivium – Grammer, Logic, and Rhetoric – guides students through stages of learning that align with their development. 

• In the Grammar Stage, students acquire fundamental knowledge and the foundations of learning.

• The Logic Stage emphasizes understanding and reasoning, encouraging critical thinking through activities like analysis, debate, and algebra.

• Finally, the Rhetoric Stage focuses on cultivating wisdom and the ability to articulate ideas persuasively and eloquently.

Engaging the Great Works and Fostering Dialogue:

• The curriculum incorporates reading the great works of literature and the “Great Books,” allowing students to engage with timeless ideas.

• Socratic discussion is a cornerstone of the school’s pedagogy, fostering critical thinking, analysis, and the exchange of ideas between teachers and students.

• This method cultivates a spirit of wonder and inquiry, enabling students to explore the meaning of the texts, the natural world and connect them to their faith and daily lives.

• Scientific exploration and study encourage students to observe and find wonder and awe in the natural world.

• Historical studies emphasize integrating their understanding of humanity within a context of the providence of a loving God emphasizing the incarnation as the focal point of all human history.

• Art and music are integral to a Catholic classical education revealing God’s majesty and beauty.

Integrated Formation:

• Our Lady of the Valley’s fully integrated Catholic classical education seeks to provide students with a deeper understanding of their Catholic faith and their inherent dignity as children of God.

• The Catholic classical approach prepares students to live lives of purpose, rooted in faith, reason, and a lifelong pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness.