Holistic Approach
In light of our holistic educational philosophy centered on God’s Great Commandment, we devised an educational program that does not simply meet the requirements of a typical Associate of Arts degree, but exceeds it. Many colleges and universities today concentrate on developing one aspect of the person, namely, the intellect. In doing so, they leave many aspects of personal development untouched and undeveloped. Rivendell believes the best education is one that develops every aspect of a person. As such, our IN-COMM program daily implements five essential disciplines—a rigorous academic pursuit, spiritual formation, holy and healthy living, community service and life skills, detailed in the tabs below.
As an apprentice of Christ, we are commanded to have the mind of Christ. For this reason, our students undertake an academic pursuit that is rigorous and demanding. All aspects of the Rivendell experience are designed to help students become increasingly skillful, biblical thinkers and doers.
What makes our academic component truly exceptional is our new and revolutionary sequenced-modular curriculum where students study the liberal arts and sciences one subject at a time in a sequence that follows the Divine flow of the biblical narrative. Students in this system are not weighted down with multiple, isolated and unrelated curriculums. Instead they are given a single, integrated curriculum that weaves all subject matter together into a beautiful tapestry that reflects a unity of knowledge. For a better understanding of Rivendell’s sequenced-modular curriculum, please refer to our Sequenced Curriculum.
What makes our academic component truly exceptional is our new and revolutionary sequenced-modular curriculum where students study the liberal arts and sciences one subject at a time in a sequence that follows the Divine flow of the biblical narrative. Students in this system are not weighted down with multiple, isolated and unrelated curriculums. Instead they are given a single, integrated curriculum that weaves all subject matter together into a beautiful tapestry that reflects a unity of knowledge. For a better understanding of Rivendell’s sequenced-modular curriculum, please refer to our Sequenced Curriculum.
When students engage with their culture or enter into a vocation, it is paramount that their daily actions and decisions be conducted with Christ-like character. This will define their capacity to be leaders in their professions. Without skill in navigating the complex moral and ethical choices of our time, the individual is destined to become just another face in the crowd—one whose character and behavior is no different from their non-Christian colleagues. Education, therefore, must supply more than technical training and standard knowledge.
As part of our daily curriculum, students practice with a mentor and other classmates the great spiritual disciplines of prayer, solitude, Bible meditation, worship, Bible study and other character-building activities. These activities are essential for knowing God and, when correctly applied, result in a deep transformation of the inner man that leads to outward, Christ-like manifestations.
See how a woman named Agnes Brown contributed to Spiritual Formation being included in Rivendell's holistic education.
As part of our daily curriculum, students practice with a mentor and other classmates the great spiritual disciplines of prayer, solitude, Bible meditation, worship, Bible study and other character-building activities. These activities are essential for knowing God and, when correctly applied, result in a deep transformation of the inner man that leads to outward, Christ-like manifestations.
See how a woman named Agnes Brown contributed to Spiritual Formation being included in Rivendell's holistic education.
Rivendell Sanctuary accepts as fact the assertion that man’s body is designed to be the temple of God. With this comes great responsibility. Unlike many colleges who claim to value physical health, yet cannot seem to find space within their curricula to incorporate it, Rivendell affirms its importance by infusing health and fitness into its daily schedule. As a result, we have constructed a health and fitness program that is unique, fun and creative—one that takes proactive, as opposed to reactive, measures to increase and sustain student health.
Education today has become synonymous with mere book learning, absent of any action. One of the great challenges currently facing Christian education is how to transition students from simply knowing the principle of self-sacrifice to becoming actual living sacrifices.
In order to help our students make this colossal transition, Rivendell Sanctuary dedicates a portion of its daily curriculum to the practice of loving its neighbor through acts of service for our campus and for the community at large. In doing so, new habits are formed as students come to know the personal experience of a “crucified life” and the joy that it brings.
See how a woman named Sweet Alice Harris contributed to Community Service being an integral component of Rivendell's education.
In order to help our students make this colossal transition, Rivendell Sanctuary dedicates a portion of its daily curriculum to the practice of loving its neighbor through acts of service for our campus and for the community at large. In doing so, new habits are formed as students come to know the personal experience of a “crucified life” and the joy that it brings.
See how a woman named Sweet Alice Harris contributed to Community Service being an integral component of Rivendell's education.
A recent study conducted by Stanford Research Institute, Harvard University and the Carnegie Foundation discovered:
As part of our daily, weekly and monthly curriculum, students are schooled in the following areas:
The collapse of the family, the loss of a moral code and the media’s constant promotion of bad behavior have lowered traditional standards of manners, etiquette and respect to an all time low. This reality cannot be ignored or pushed aside as an issue for someone else to solve. Rivendell Sanctuary aims to restore the lost art of manners, etiquette, respect and other nuances of civility traditionally taught by parents. Our desire is to see future spouses, parents and citizens who pass through our program reverse this cultural trend—if not on a grand scale, at least within their small, nuclear context.“85 % of the reason people get a job, keep that job, and move ahead in that job has to do with their people skills and people knowledge. Only 15% is the result of a technical skill.”
As part of our daily, weekly and monthly curriculum, students are schooled in the following areas:
- Proper protocol concerning greetings and salutations
- Eye contact when speaking and listening
- Body language and poise in formal settings
- Courtesy and respect for others, including peers, opposite sex, elderly and authority figures
- Formal and informal table setting and etiquette
- Healthy lifestyle
- Personal financial management
- People skills