Dear TCA families,
These first few weeks of school have been truly amazing. I am so grateful for our unity in training minds and improving hearts. It is a joy to walk into the break room and hear conversations about teaching literacy essentials, Euclid, or the best political system. There is a great unity and peace among the staff which is permeating the school culture. Dr. Jones asked if he could write the first letter of the year as he has had the opportunity to do over fifty teacher observations in the first two weeks of school. He has seen everyone and he was passionate about sharing his observations.
PTC
I would once again like to thank Kristina Williams, Jessica Dougherty, Jennifer Carlson, and Brooke Prosser for all of the good work they did as PTC board members over the last two years. Their departure left the proverbial big shoes to fill. We spent this summer meeting with and interviewing many wonderful candidates to replace them. Last week we received confirmation from those whom we thought were the best fit. The new PTC board is:
Amanda Dollar – President
Aaron Chatel – Vice President
Cecile Hornak – Secretary
Anita Kalkhorani – Treasurer
Thank you, ladies, for your willingness to serve our community! I am confident that those big shoes will fit you well. I look forward to working with you this year.
Carline
I have been working in a public classical school for the last twelve years. Every year, in every school I have worked, the first couple of days of carline always take a bit longer. There is always a sort of summer hangover for everyone involved that has to be overcome. Usually, by the end of the first week, things are humming, and this year was no different than any other year. I want to thank all of you for your patience. We are now finishing at around 52 minutes daily. This is not much different than last year. The carline will likely take between fifty and sixty minutes this year. Last year it took on average fifty minutes. We have increased the number of students and we are under construction. All things considered, we are doing very well out there. A couple of reminders:
- Please do not come on campus prior to 2:50 pm for first carline and 3:20 pm for second carline.
- Please do not get out of your car during carline, unless it is an emergency.
- If your student does not come to your car during pickup, please simply go around to the front of the building when the line moves.
- If your student is routinely not arriving for pick-up, please let me, Dr. Jones, or Mrs. Lord know via email. We will troubleshoot the problem and try to fix it immediately.
I know that having the campus closed until 2:50 pm has been difficult. However, I want to commend you for taking that seriously. There is a lot of foot traffic on campus from 2:00-3:00 pm this year. Much of it is around the front of the building. Your patience is contributing to a safer campus! Thank you!
Culture/Classroom
I am grateful for the opportunity to be back in the classroom. The first few weeks have been a joy. It is exhilarating to work with students and to explore some of the great books of Western Tradition, and the big ideas that accompany them. I am reminded that there are no utopias, but the culture and the make-up of this community of families, teachers, and students is special. When you come to visit the building, there is a sense of peace and joy. Observing classes during the day gives one the sense of the noble work, the often hard intellectual work that our students endure. It is a privilege to be a part of the classroom, whether engaging in high level discussions about prudence, justice, and fortitude or sharing in the joy of discovery of some far away elven language. The work is hard, but the end is happiness.
It has reminded me of a book I read to my boys this summer, The Magician’s Nephew, by C.S. Lewis. During the creation of Narnia, the Jackdaw makes a joke, to which Aslan replies,
“Laugh and fear not, creatures. Now that you are no longer dumb and witless, you need not always be grave. For jokes as well as justice come with speech.”
We have been given by nature the great gift of reason and speech. Both of which are ordered to not only our goodness, but the goodness of our families, friends, and our society. While the work of becoming just men is arduous, every time we conquer some vice and grow in character and strength of soul, it is a cause for hope and happiness. I look forward to another year of cultivating that hope and happiness in the minds and hearts of young Lionhearts!
Ronald Garcia
Headmaster
Tulsa Classical Academy