WELCOME
WELCOME TO RIVENDELL SCHOOL
For those of us who call Rivendell home, the word 'school' fails to capture what we pray takes place here every day. When we think of school we often envision mundane tasks, endless homework, tests, and grades. It's seen as the obligatory activity between recess, weekends, and summer break.
In contrast, Rivendell is so much more than that. It is a vibrant community of parents, faculty, staff, and students who come together ‘helping children explore God's world and discover their place in it.’ Unlike traditional schools, we believe that education is not simply a means to an end, but a deeply human endeavor rooted in our wonder about God, His creation, and ourselves.
OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL
Welcome to Rivendell School! We strive to work alongside parents, creating an environment where each student is truly seen and known, where they discover the interconnectedness of God's creation, where they engage in a multi-faceted approach to learning, and where they experience the love of God through the tangible presence of Christ within our community.
J.R.R. Tolkien beautifully portrayed Rivendell as the ‘Last Homely House,’ a haven where weary travelers could find solace and ready themselves for the trials, dangers, and wonders still ahead. It was a place where lasting friendships were forged. In our pursuit of this task, our aim is to ignite a sense of wonder and curiosity which will spark a life-long pursuit to read, write, and think well. We provide a robust and challenging curriculum that encourages students to engage with the world's realities in light of God's sovereignty and power and by calling them to seek what is true, good, and beautiful all around them.
We invite you to explore how our distinctives take shape in our school. And then give us a call. We have so much to show and offer, and I would be delighted to meet you and share what makes Rivendell such a unique and special place.
-Chris Sibben, Head of School
WHAT SETS US APART
A Call to Adventure
A Refuge for the Weary
A House of LearninG
"Rivendell was the perfect house, whether you liked food or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear and sadness.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien
A HOUSE OF LEARNING FOR ACTIVE MINDS
Education is a lifelong quest. Rivendell is a place where students are taught to seek answers, rather than merely given answers. Like Aristotle’s eudaimonia, the flourishing life is found in the active pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and virtue.
A Company of Friends for Open Hearts
Faith is not an accessory to education at Rivendell- it is the very air we breathe. Our pursuit of knowledge is inseparable from our pursuit of God, and we seek to prepare students not just for academic success, but for a life of wisdom, character, and service.
A Community of Faith for Tender Spirits
We believe education is best done in the context of meaningful relationships. Teachers serve as mentors, students grow as companions, parents are involved in all aspects of school life, and the classroom becomes a place where friendships are forged in the shared pursuit of discovery and truth.
Our DISTINCTIVES
BIBLICAL
WORLDVIEW
The conviction that all truth comes from God and that all areas of Rivendell’s school life are to be understood in light of the Bible.
INTEGRAL
CURRICULUM
The full range of academic subjects presented in thematic units of study, reflecting the wholeness of God’s created order.
CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
An emphasis on the development of character qualities through biblical reflection, role modeling, and opportunities for meaningful service to others in need.
Multi-faceted teaching Approach
Incorporating lectures for acquiring organized information, coaching to develop academic skills, seminar discussions to enlarge the grasp of ideas and values, and hands-on experiences to gain the concrete understanding needed to progress to abstract reasoning.
BEING
KNOWN
A supportive, relational environment of small classes in which each child is known and is encouraged to exercise healthy habits of heart and mind.
REQUIRED PARENT
INVOLVEMENT
Parents who are part of their children’s community of learning and who assume a high level of involvement in their children’s education.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We are A Christ-Centered School Open to All
Rivendell School is a Christ-centered learning community that welcomes families who share our vision of education. While we do not require parents or students to sign a Statement of Faith, we ask that all families uphold and support the mission of the school and acknowledge the Christ-centered foundation from which we teach. Our faculty & board affirm the historic Christian faith as part of their leadership and teaching commitment.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “CHRIST-CENTERED”?
At Rivendell, being Christ-centered means Jesus is at the heart of all we do. Our learning, relationships, and daily life orbit the Son “in whom we live and move and have our being.” The Spirit of Christ is the living center of our identity and vision— shaping how teachers lead, how students are known, and how our community reflects the character of Jesus in wisdom, grace, and servant leadership.
OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATION & FORMATION
