As students prepare to return to the classrooms, families in Halifax will have a new option for Catholic education with Frassati Academy opening its doors for its inaugural school year.

The long-awaited school will offer a Christ-centred education dedicated to forming the whole person. Located inside the Campbell Centre at St. Agnes Church of Good Shepherd Parish in Halifax, Frassati Academy is offering classical, independent, Catholic education to students from pre-primary through to Grade 7. 

Martin Andrews, a board member for Frassati Academy and father of six, said the inspiration behind for school comes from desires for his own children, but it is something that has been desired by many in the community for some time now. 

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“ I think there has been a real yearning, especially in today's culture, where parents are trying to find alternatives, just desiring something a lot better in terms of education, and that has been ongoing for years. There was a group of us who started trying to form a Catholic school, pre-COVID, even as far as having potential access to a building. When COVID hit, that all fell through,” he said. 

It wasn’t until more recently that a close friend of Andrews  approached Halifax-Yarmouth Archbishop Brian Dunn to see if he was open to the idea of a group of lay people starting a Catholic school. The archbishop was very much in favour. Remembering the growing desire and sensing another opportunity, Andrews joined the board of the academy and got to work. 

Frassati Academy is hoping to embrace a classical education model, one that focuses on giving students the best of literature, art, history and ideas through the lens of Western education. The model also focuses on developing core skills such as reading, writing and oral communication.

Through ongoing collaboration with other Catholic schools and educators, the academy is in the process of developing its own unique curriculum, which will draw upon resources from publishers such as Seton Home Study, Memoria Press and Catholic Heritage Curricula. From this, students can expect to study Greek myths, famous figures of ancient Greece, Rome and the Middle Ages along with a heavy emphasis on literature, art and music where applicable. 

“ The education system of today is utilitarian in nature. It's meant to get people into the workforce so they can make a good living for themselves and is very task- and skill-oriented, rather than truly opening people up to the wonder of truth, knowledge and wisdom. All these things are elements that classical education is particularly strong at doing,” Andrews said. 

“ Part of the idea of classical education is to learn from the riches of Western civilization, introducing them to the different periods throughout history, even simple things like the Greek myths. When students are in touch with the rich history of our tradition, they don't feel disconnected, but can rather see themselves as part of this great story of Western civilization.”

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In addition to the classical curriculum, Frassati Academy also prides itself on the Catholic faith being the core identity and soul of the school, carried out through catechesis, Christ-centric instruction, daily prayer and weekday Mass. Students will also be introduced to the lives of the saints and learn Latin beginning in Grade 1. 

One soon-to-be saint staff and students will take particular note of is the school’s namesake, Pier Giorgio Frassati. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in May 1990 and is set to be canonized alongside Carlo Acutis by Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7.

For Andrews, the school’s inaugural academic year, coinciding with Frassati’s canonization, is nothing short of miraculous. 

“We will literally be celebrating his canonization a few days after the doors to the school open. He's a great example saint for the kids, particularly seeing as he died so young and was just such a beautiful witness to both ministry to the poor, dedication to the Eucharist and just his absolute generosity,” he said. 

“I’m struck by his great motto ‘Verso L'Alto’, which means ‘to the heights’. It’s perfect in terms of an intellectual and spiritual sort of motto and vision for our kids to jump on board with.” 

With 40 kids currently enrolled and  four main homeroom teachers working with a combined class delivery, Frassati Academy hopes to have classes officially begin on Sept. 4. 

Looking ahead, Andrews hopes to  grow the academy year by year by adding additional grades and classes before aiming to connect with the Chesterton Academy,  a system of schools throughout North America that assists in developing classical high schools. 

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The inaugural academic year comes first, however, with mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement. As the start of an educational offering years in the making awaits, staff hope to finally deliver on the school’s mission of pursuing charity, virtue and faith through education. 

“ To see how much God has opened doors and provided us, it is undeniable that He wants this school to happen. It just took a small group to step out and start it, and now people are coming out of the woodwork, wanting to contribute and see this endeavour succeed. For myself and our great staff, this is the start of a humbling but beautiful experience,” he said.