FROM THE DEAN OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

A school is no better than its curricula and the staff who give curricula vitality. VIA provides a challenging curriculum in a diverse, intellectually stimulating, nurturing environment that fosters ability, perseverance, and creativity. Parents can compare our curricula favorable to public school curricula or that of the best private schools in the world. We believe that opportunity, diversity and a developmental approach along with high standards yield exceptional results to entrepreneurs in all walks of life. Global students of all abilities and stages of development can achieve their college goals, while maintaining a reasonable balance with recreation, family and social life.

E.D. Hirsch, author of What Your Sixth Grader Needs to Know, locates the foundation for academic success in "a body of widely-used knowledge taken for granted by competent writers and speakers." Valley International Academy gives students a "global" or "liberal" education -- education rigorous in its linguistic demands and comprehensive in its approach to human endeavor. We will teach from original texts when others use dry textbooks; we use Socratic discussion to elicit opinions that may help students to hone their value systems and help them, as entrepreneurs, to think and act on their own judgment. Our education gives children both knowledge of useful facts for future careers and potential for enterprise gleaned from the greatest books and ideas: the sources of human truth, wisdom and beauty.

Parents undoubtedly will want students like these to attend outstanding universities. Beyond meeting minimal state curricular standards, VIA students must pursue curricula adequate to maintain WASC accreditation; and we must prepare students to pass the gates of SAT and AP. Our enhanced and accelerated curriculum enables students to take college level (AP) classes by the ninth and tenth grades. When playing games and socializing become more important than pursuing intellectual excellence, students will fail to prepare themselves for adult problems. Working in small classes in the friendly atmosphere of a small school, expert teachers can teach core curricula to the highest standards. Regular testing challenges students while our friendly staff offers after-school assistance regularly. Valley International Academy curricula includes stimulating educational field trips to see theatre, music, art and science events and also encouragement and support for community service projects which develop students' awareness of world affairs and their leadership abilities.

VIA meets the A - G requirements, which both the University of California and Valley International Academy view as the minimal standards necessary for college entrance. The University of California believes that college freshmen who have met these standards can participate in their classes, majors and programs, and that they have gained critical thinking skills, study habits and knowledge adequate to: "provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced studies".

For Wisdom with Compassion,

Robert C. Arne
Dean of Academic Affairs