OUR MODEL OF EDUCATION
The Three Pillars
Inspired by Saint Pope John Paul II, we take as our motto Cultura Vitae, the culture of life. We make it our mission to prepare our students to have life and have it abundantly. Our classical curriculum combines a broad, liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on the development of Christian virtues and an appreciation of beauty. Through our Three Pillars Model, we form our students in:
INTELLECT
We teach the classics of Western thought from physics to philosophy, and the interrelationship of the great ideas; teaching students not merely what to think but how to think.
CHARACTER
We help students grow in the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice, which we believe are the foundation of leadership and emotional maturity.
SPIRITUALITY
Our students come to understand and embrace the truth of why they exist: to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.
OUR PATRON, G.K. CHESTERTON
Chesterton Academy is named for the great English writer and Catholic convert, G.K. Chesterton (1874- 1936). Chesterton is a model for our school because he exemplified the Catholic faith through a life filled with joy, wonder, and gratitude.
Chesterton was considered one of the world’s most outstanding men of letters in the early 20th century. An accomplished essayist, novelist, and poet, he wrote a hundred books on all different subjects. In 1922, he shocked the literary establishment by converting to Catholicism. He was later eulogized by Pope Pius XI as “a gifted defender of the faith,” and there is presently a popular movement to have him canonized. The school has chosen him for its patron because he not only represents the fullness of faith and reason, but also Catholic joy and common sense.
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS
Cecilia Bowen '18
Erie 1 Boces
Nursing
Cecilia Bowen, ’18 Valedictorian, is currently working as an LPN at Buffalo General Hospital. We wish to congratulate Cecilia on her recent marriage to her high school sweetheart, Charles Noonan on September 4, 2021 at St. Louis R.C. Church. Many Chesterton graduates joined the couple in celebrating their nuptials. We are thrilled for the newleyweds and pray for a lifetime of blessings!
Cecilia’s advice to our seniors preparing for college: “Even if you think you have it all figured out, take a step back and seriously evaluate if what you chose (for a college major or occupation) will make you happy. It’s never too late to change your path.”
Marybeth Musilli '18
Ave Maria University
Communications Major
My four years at Chesterton Academy allowed me to better appreciate and grow in my faith and helped me gain a more complete understanding of the Catholic teachings and beliefs. This also allowed me to more effectively engage in deeper conversations with my fellow students and friends.
In addition, the literature and philosophy courses helped me become a better writer and thinker, making me more prepared for my college classes.
Ave Maria Activities: Women’s Rugby Team, Ave For Life Club, Sisterhood of Mary Magdalen (Household), Volunteer, Mentor and Tutor for children in the poorer communities surrounding Ave Maria, Susan B. Anthony Organization canvasser, and Ave Maria University Ambassador
Mary Grace Gojevic '18
Medaille College
Pre-Veterinary Major
“This program is a very challenging field of study and requires constant effort and dedication. However, I was prepared for the rigors of college in numerous ways by my time at Chesterton Academy of Buffalo. In particular, the study of Latin for three consecutive years and becoming familiar with the root language of the scientific community, enabled me to easily adapt to learning medical terminology, thus giving me a “head start” with material in my field.”
We are very pleased and honored to have Ms. Gojevic teaching Latin and Earth Science here at Chesterton Academy of Buffalo! Thank you for sharing your love and enthusiasm for Latin and science with our students!
VISION AND MISSION
Our Vision
Chesterton Academy of Buffalo seeks to be an instrument for the renewal of Catholic culture.
Our Mission
Chesterton Academy of Buffalo is an independent Catholic high school which draws upon the riches of a classical curriculum to form students to live with intellectual and moral integrity. To achieve our Vision, our school community forms partnerships with other ministries and engages in Christian service and evangelization activities.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
July 13, 2021
Dear Faithful Members of our Chesterton Community,
God graced Chesterton Academy of Buffalo with “an abundant harvest” (Luke 10:2) during a difficult 2020-21 school year. He has provided our school with many dedicated workers, opportunities, and supporters for which we are incredibly grateful.
As the Board considered our blessings early in 2021, we took some time to reflect upon our school’s purpose. Chesterton Academy is a gift because it is an antidote to what ails our society. Through education rooted solidly in Catholic teaching, it forcefully counters the world’s message to our teens. Recognizing that the “laborers are few”, it provides the foundation they will need to work in the Lord’s vineyard.
With these things in mind, we have adopted a vision statement to guide us:
“Chesterton Academy of Buffalo seeks to be an instrument for the renewal of Catholic culture.”
Culture is the way we make present, palpable, and concrete the beliefs we espouse. The central belief of Catholicism—that God became man and established His Church with a distinct sacramental order as the means of salvation—defines the Catholic faith and shapes its subsequent worldview. By coming to know God through his Church, we learn how to live well, grow in virtue, and advance in holiness.
Our school’s vision is to help invigorate this distinctly Catholic way of thinking and living by deepening our own faith and bringing it to bear on every aspect of private and public life we encounter.
The curriculum of Chesterton Academy, which emphasizes the history, achievements, and culture of Christian civilization, provides the method required to tap into the Church’s wisdom. Our updated mission statement represents how we aim to teach and guide our students academically and morally:
“Chesterton Academy of Buffalo is an independent Catholic high school which draws upon the riches of a classical curriculum to form students to live with intellectual and moral integrity. To achieve our vision, our school community forms partnerships with other ministries and engages in Christian service and evangelization activities.”
As we worked toward clarifying the vision and mission statements, we noted a group of attributes that have been important in our school’s history. Wanting to recognize and remind ourselves of them, we specifically named these charisms in our Strategic Plan. These six hallmarks of our school are:
Humility: We are guided by the Holy Spirit.
Joy: We work to create a joyful educational environment.
Faith: We follow the Catholic faith as taught by the Magisterium.
Reason: We teach students to utilize the tools of logic and systematic inquiry across the academic disciplines in the service of truth.
Vocations: We encourage students to pursue their God-given vocation, whether to religious or secular life.
Service: We make ourselves available to help the needs of the Diocese of Buffalo and the WNY community.
It is our sincere hope that you regularly see these attributes in action at Chesterton Academy of Buffalo, and are drawn to join us in our mission.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or wish to become more involved at Chesterton Academy.
God Bless!
Michael Hahn, Chairman of the Board of Directors