They went to the Capitol to learn about advocating for life. They left understanding something even greater: that a healthy society depends on citizens who are informed, courageous, and willing to step forward.

As the voices settled and the lesson moved on, the hallway returned to stillness. But something lasting had taken place. Under Ms. Hosch’s guidance, these students are not just becoming better readers, they are becoming learners who trust order and who are being grounded in a truth that will carry far beyond the classroom.

Experiences like this reflect Hillcrest’s commitment to hyper-practical learning. Education here is designed to develop students who do more than absorb information. They are encouraged to observe carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and apply what they know to serve others. That means stepping outside the classroom and into the community. Whether it’s through internships, service projects, or business partnerships like this one, Hillcrest students regularly encounter opportunities to connect their learning to the real world around them. The goal is simple but profound: to cultivate young men and women who think clearly, communicate well, and contribute meaningfully wherever they go.

Experiences like this are part of Hillcrest’s commitment to connecting learning with lived experience. The forest of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a place of confusion, transformation, and ultimately restoration. By stepping into that story through live performance, Hillcrest’s 9th graders were able to see Shakespeare not simply as an author from the past, but as a storyteller whose insights still resonate today. And perhaps that is the lasting lesson of the trip: great stories are not just meant to be read, they are meant to be experienced.

The call to missions has been forming in the hallways of Hillcrest for generations of students. And as students gather for conversations like the recent lunch with Dave Narvesen, it is clear that the tradition continues.

Flags lined the doors. Countries were represented in color and creativity. Students hurried past in team hues, whispering about chapters they had finished the night before and debating which book deserved to advance. In classrooms, brackets were filling up. Medals were being earned. And quietly, steadily, something powerful was happening: children were falling in love with good books.

When children are truly known by their parents, their teachers, and their school, they don’t just learn more effectively. They live more faithfully.

Each month at Hillcrest, students are invited into something deeper than a lesson or a theme. Through a unified and intentional virtue program, the Lower School is being shaped in how students think, respond, forgive, and love. This January, that focus is Grace: loving others despite their faults.

Walking through the fourth-grade display yesterday felt less like stepping into a classroom and more like entering another century. Towers rose from tables, stone walls wrapped around courtyards, banners marked kingdoms, and drawbridges hinted at danger just beyond the gates in their dioramas. Parents and members of the Hillcrest community gathered not simply to admire displays of medieval castles, but to witness learning that had taken root and shaped imagination and understanding, and strengthened character.

President Luke Fiskness offered three principles that act like anchors to steady the classroom in Monday’s inservice. The first is to make room for rest; the pace of modern schooling can feel like a factory conveyor belt, but scholé insists on space to savor ideas. The second is to aim every lesson at what is truly worthwhile: the goodness of creation, the beauty of art, the truth of Scripture, and the wisdom of history. The third is to remember that people are not machines; we are created to worship and to wonder, not merely to produce. Those principles are simple enough to write on a sticky note and profound enough to change a culture.

The clubs meet for a 45 minute block once a week. They have the opportunity to change clubs at specific breaks in the year to explore more restful learning opportunities. Faculty and staff lead the clubs, connecting with students in a mentor relationship that moves discipleship beyond textbooks and home work assignments into a love of exploration and learning around interests the student holds.

The classical education model values exposure to the great books of Western civilization—not only so that students gain an affinity for them but also to cultivate wisdom, virtue, and maturity. Reading The Iliad, for instance, challenges students to grapple with themes like heroism and the consequences of pride. The Odyssey demonstrates the importance of perseverance, loyalty, and identity, while Herodotus invites reflections on human nature, cultural values, and divine providence. Tableau takes these vital lessons and moves them from head knowledge to heart conviction.

In a classical education, students progress from absorbing concrete truths (grammar), to grasping their deeper meanings (logic), to applying them in real life (rhetoric). Joy, commonly recogized as a “genius quality,” is especially vital for students to explore and develop. Joy fuels curiosity, resilience, and a love of learning—a spark that ignites both the imagination and the heart. This is one reason chapel matters so deeply at Hillcrest. It reinforces that real knowledge is never just intellectual—it’s transformational, guiding kids to integrate faith and wisdom.

Against the backdrop of proposed legislation in Minnesota that would permit abortion to the point of birth, the Comets for Life club gathered in St. Paul to join the March for Life.

Hillcrest Academy's fusion of classical education with focused mentorship and discipleship is a testament to the transformative power of employing a classical approach to learning in a disciplined discipleship environment. It's an approach to education that doesn't just impart knowledge but shapes character, sharpens intellect, and prepares students for the complexities of life. It is both timeless and timely, traditional and transformative, academic and life-affirming.

In an era where education is evolving rapidly, the timeless principles of classical education continue to prove their value. One such activity that seamlessly aligns with the classical education model is the game of chess. Chess isn't just a game; it's a character formation event that intertwines with classical education principles, providing students with a holistic and enriching experience.

The Bible Bowl is not just about answering questions correctly. It's about active participation, encouragement, and supporting fellow participants. Successful students display their knowledge and contribute to a positive and engaging atmosphere. They become leaders, helping others focus, encouraging teamwork, and showcasing the power of biblical wisdom.

President Brad unpacks how intellect and faith unite to form character at Hillcrest. Through a series of faculty and staff development experiences this summer a new phrase emerged from the lower campus. While the phrase was identified with faculty teaching younger Comets, the truth rings in the upper campus, where students see the consistency of God relevant, active, and alive in mathematics.

Christian Classical preschools give students an original and efficient teaching model that supports young minds’ spiritual, mental, and ethical growth. At Hillcrest, the presence of committed adult mentors who portray Christian living renders an irreplaceable base for children to begin creating their faith expression.