As part of National Constitution Day, American Heritage Academy honors this inspired and timeless document by holding this event every year on September 17th. During the weeks that precede, the scholars learn about our Constitution in America and write their own class Constitutions. The scholars of American Heritage Academy recite the preamble and excerpts from the Constitution. The pitch of the room heightens as staff, scholars, and alumni are called up one by one to sign their Constitutions. Community dignitaries and politicians are encouraged to attend this event.

The following is Mrs. Beckstead address:

It was noon, October, 19, 1781, when two lines formed on the Yorktown battle field. One line was headed by Washington and the Americans. In the other line stood the French. Between them slowly marched the defeated British. The British General Cornwallis did not come. He excused himself as being indisposed. Instead, he sent his sword of surrender by the hand of General O’Hara. O’Hara tried to surrender the sword to the French commander but he was waved back to Washington. When Washington saw that a subordinate officer had come with the sword of surrender, he told O’Hara to make his presentation of the sword to one of Washington’s subordinates, General Benjamin Lincoln. The sword ceremony was the signal for the British to march forward and surrender.

At that very moment, on the Yorktown battlefield, America was given her freedom. …Continue Reading

When  teaching, ask yourself the following questions:

• 1.  Am I flexible if my original plan is not successful and find another way to teach the material?
• 2.  Am I trying to get my students to understand the material and employing various teaching methods to ensure mastery?
• 3.  Do I try to help them find life application to their learning?
• 4.  Do I ask questions that make the students think?
• 5.  Do I listen and try to understand my students answers and reply with a meaningful response?
• 6.  Can I perceive deeper messages in the students questions and get to the root of the questions they are really asking?

Our scholars at American Heritage Academy study history as a core subject. They learn about the lives of the many men and women in history who helped lay a foundation of freedom for our country. With our scholars’ passion for emulating the best traits of these individuals, they have written, directed and performed this transformational play.

A part from the play:

“These are the times that try men’s souls” wrote Thomas Paine in “The American Crisis”. “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service and his country; but he that stands here now deserves the thanks of man and woman. Tyranny like Hell is not easily conquered, yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” We too live in times that try men’s souls. Like the Founding Fathers, we find our liberty threatened in our country. We too have our own “sunshine patriots” who shrink from the service of our country, but we still have those who will not submit to any form of tyranny. Now is the time for patriots! It is a time to remember, “the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

At American Heritage Academy, we teach our scholars how to think by using the process of 4R’ing. This learning method is found in the educational background of the greatest thinkers and leaders in history.

The four R’s represent: Research, Reason, Relate, and Record.

When our scholars are learning, the first step they take is to Research. Scholars seek for facts and examine principles until they get to the core truths of what they are learning. They continue this research until they are enlightened with new understanding. Scholars then Reason by critically thinking and building upon what they are learning until they are inspired with new or original ideas. Our scholars know they can Relate what they learn to benefit their lives and address their challenges. The important final step of Record allows what our scholars’ studied to be preserved for future reflection and for others to learn from. The scholar’s record will tell how their understanding has deepened, new insights gained, and what new principles they have learned and are going to apply in their life.

Please join us as the scholars of American Heritage Academy portray America’s First Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 17th from 7 to 8 p.m. Friends and family are welcome.

Our Legacy is One of Faith

Faith in God; Faith in Family; Faith in Country

My road before, has been trod.
My road ahead, clearly marked.

Our faith in God is our legacy.
Desiring to know God’s words, our ancestor reformer mothers sewed into the folds of their skirts, scripture. Punishable by death: by candlelight they secretly read verse to their children. As the pitch and tone of His perfect words were heard in their children’s ears, His truths were planted deeply within their hearts.
God’s laws and principles are unchanging; His truths, eternaI: constant, sure and powerful. These principles clarify and simplify our thinking. They are the basis of our decisions and actions. God talks to us through scripture. We talk to him through prayer.

Our faith in family is our legacy.
Clinging to priceless principles, our ancestor pilgrim mothers, amid the storm tossed seas, prayed often, thankful as their families stepped on new found land. The path continued as our ancestor pioneer mothers crossed the plains and rugged mountain ranges with their many children to maintain religious freedom.
There is an awesome duty to continue this great legacy of faith in our families. No nation rises above its homes. Righteous families are the rock foundation of our society and exhalt our nation.
Tossed by the pounding waves that threaten family values, our homes built on a foundation of faith anchor us. God’s greatest work is always done within the home. Inside these walls, He calms life’s violent storms, subdues raging winds, whispering to our minds, “Be still and know that I am.”

Our faith in country is our legacy.
With grim determination, our ancestor patriot mothers fought with unwavering faith all attempts to rob them of the liberty they had gained in this choice land. Not with sword but with the tongue, they taught their children about their precious God given liberties and with their whole hearts to prefer liberty above all else.
The greatest gift we can give our country is to not only educate our children with a foundation of correct principles but to teach all within our influence to faithfully serve God, cherish a faithful family, and to preserve our country’s faith.

There has never been a more important time to have faith in God, family, and country. We have been born at this time to continue our legacy to live by faith and perpetuate God’s unchanging principles preparing those who will trod on the most treacherous road ahead. May we, with God, have the faith to mark well our path, fulfill our sacred mission, and in so doing leave a legacy honoring God, family and country.

American Heritage Academy strives to develop both the mind and heart of our students by giving them a classical liberal arts education built upon a foundation of religious principles. This classical education includes the core subjects of history, literature, grammar, composition, math, geography, science, Latin and the fine arts. Our teachers use the principle approach to education where these subjects are researched, reasoned, related and recorded by the students. Our students at American Heritage Academy learn HOW to think and not WHAT to think. This approach enables our students to reason and think critically about every subject which will enable them to act and act rightly. They will become leaders of the highest caliber.
Our administration, teachers, and staff are role models of Christian character who are inspiring and live principled lives. They bring the Spirit into their classroom which provides an elevated learning environment where students are capable of achieving their highest potential. Our students are instructed keeping their individuality and learning style in mind. Our teachers do not pour in knowledge but rather ignite fires within each student.