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Hybrid Homeschool -- LIMITED SPACE STILL AVAILABLE
Harvest Community School and St. Matthias Church are partnering with homeschooling families to provide a unique educational option based on classical principles and rich relationships. For the 2024-2025 School Year, we will offer an innovative blend of homeschooling and classroom engagement:
All hybrid homeschool students must be registered under one of three options of SC Code of Law §59-65. Parents are responsible for all filings and record-keeping as homeschool families.
- A hybrid homeschool model, initially available to children in grades 1-6.
- Classroom education two days per week, held at either Harvest or St. Matthias.
- All truths, which are God’s truths, woven throughout the day.
- Christian education in the form of Bible reading, narration, and memory work plus worship in chapel in the church’s beautiful sanctuary.
- Students of all faith traditions encouraged to be free-thinkers who challenge and make up their own minds concerning their faith (Philippians 2:12).
- School-led instruction following AmblesideOnline curriculum, adapted to both a classroom and homeschool setting.
- Curriculum outlines provided at the beginning of the school year, including the feast -- music, art, nature study, handwork, and morning meeting (Morning Time) -- and an extensive list of free reading selections.
- Instruction paralleling the in-school curriculum with weekly lesson plans to guide families through the year.
- Opportunity to participate in Harvest’s extra-curricular activities and weekly nature walks at Taw Caw Creek Park with experienced guides.
- Educational sessions to help families understand Charlotte Mason’s innovative and life-giving methods.
- The school year to begin in late August and end in late May.
- The first in-person classes to start the day after Labor Day.
All hybrid homeschool students must be registered under one of three options of SC Code of Law §59-65. Parents are responsible for all filings and record-keeping as homeschool families.
Charlotte Mason Education
Our staff has over forty years of experience combined in Charlotte Mason education. We have collaborated with other homeschoolers who have founded private schools and hybrid homeschools. We are delighted to share this life-giving method, especially with Montessori families! Graduates of St. Matthias’ Preschool flourish at Harvest.
Charlotte Mason and Maria Montessori lived at the same time, Charlotte in England and Maria in Italy. Both sought developmentally appropriate educational methods. During her forty years in this field, Mason wrote many books, published one of the first home education magazines, and founded a teacher training college. She summarized her beliefs in twenty principles, which all flow from two ideas: “children are born persons” and “education is the science of relations.” In her book In Vital Harmony, Karen Glass, one of AO’s Advisory, described how all her principles flow from these two ideas to enable them to live the classical ideal, “Know thyself.”
Leslie Laurio, also one of AO’s Advisory, summarized this form of education here:
"The child's dignity as an individual made in God's image is respected. Education means connection between the child and the world around him. Outdoor life is emphasized. Focused attention at short lessons provide free time for personal pursuits. Living books and narration allow the child to process ideas. Copywork teaches handwriting. Course of study is teacher-directed, but learning is the student's job."
Because they are born persons seeking to form meaningful relationships, children need free time to pursue their own interests. We have watched students at Harvest develop wide and varied interests. Seven of our archers went to state this year and six are going to nationals. Our 4-H students are recognized for their expertise in animal care, beautifying the community, and winning Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) contests. Harvest has an Eagle scout, a barrel racer, Macy’s Day Parade dancers, and Civil Air Patrol cadets. They discover that they can draw, paint, print 3D objects, sing, perform in musical theater, go to youth group at church, and play the violin, guitar, and even the bagpipes! They have time to hunt, fish, garden, raise chickens, bake, cook, crochet, knit, play on recreational softball or football teams, or help a neighbor.
If you choose a Charlotte Mason education, your family will free up time while seeking truth, beauty, and goodness in the classical tradition.
Charlotte Mason and Maria Montessori lived at the same time, Charlotte in England and Maria in Italy. Both sought developmentally appropriate educational methods. During her forty years in this field, Mason wrote many books, published one of the first home education magazines, and founded a teacher training college. She summarized her beliefs in twenty principles, which all flow from two ideas: “children are born persons” and “education is the science of relations.” In her book In Vital Harmony, Karen Glass, one of AO’s Advisory, described how all her principles flow from these two ideas to enable them to live the classical ideal, “Know thyself.”
Leslie Laurio, also one of AO’s Advisory, summarized this form of education here:
"The child's dignity as an individual made in God's image is respected. Education means connection between the child and the world around him. Outdoor life is emphasized. Focused attention at short lessons provide free time for personal pursuits. Living books and narration allow the child to process ideas. Copywork teaches handwriting. Course of study is teacher-directed, but learning is the student's job."
Because they are born persons seeking to form meaningful relationships, children need free time to pursue their own interests. We have watched students at Harvest develop wide and varied interests. Seven of our archers went to state this year and six are going to nationals. Our 4-H students are recognized for their expertise in animal care, beautifying the community, and winning Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) contests. Harvest has an Eagle scout, a barrel racer, Macy’s Day Parade dancers, and Civil Air Patrol cadets. They discover that they can draw, paint, print 3D objects, sing, perform in musical theater, go to youth group at church, and play the violin, guitar, and even the bagpipes! They have time to hunt, fish, garden, raise chickens, bake, cook, crochet, knit, play on recreational softball or football teams, or help a neighbor.
If you choose a Charlotte Mason education, your family will free up time while seeking truth, beauty, and goodness in the classical tradition.
Enrollment Process
If you are considering enrolling your children, please call us at (803) 574-1004 to schedule an appointment with Angie Bruner, headmaster of Harvest and its Hybrid Homeschool. She is available to meet with families, answer questions, and take enrollment forms. Download the form and either mail it, addressed to Harvest Community School, P.O. Box 21, Summerton, SC 29148, or bring it to your appointment. Should you decide to join Harvest’s Hybrid Homeschool, there is a registration fee of $125.00 due with the enrollment form.
Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is $2,250 per child. Families pay for books and supplies. If you have any questions, contact Harvest here and contact St. Matthias here.
If you would like to dig more deeply into our style of education, please check out the following resources:
Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is $2,250 per child. Families pay for books and supplies. If you have any questions, contact Harvest here and contact St. Matthias here.
If you would like to dig more deeply into our style of education, please check out the following resources:
- Links to hybrid homeschool models that our staff inspired, Oak Cottage, Heritage Learning Center, and Wildwood Community School
- Macaulay's For the Children's Sake, Glass’s Know and Tell, and Glass’s In Vital Harmony
- AmblesideOnline built by homeschoolers who pioneered the curricula that we adapted to private school and hybrid homeschool
- AO’s Patio Chat--a friendly, weekly guide to help you ease into Charlotte Mason’s principles
- The New Mason Jar podcasts -- Interviews with experienced Mason educators and Q&A sessions
- Glass’s Consider This -- a deep dive into the classical elements of this method
- Hoyt’s A Touch of the Infinite -- a deep dive into Charlotte Mason style music appreciation