Newsletter June 2022
I want to start by thanking you, on behalf of the board of the Chesterton Academy of Fort Worth (CAFW), for your continued prayers. This newsletter is one small step forward towards bringing a Chesterton Academy to Fort Worth. As the board of CAFW, we plan to issue a monthly newsletter where we will update you on our progress towards starting the school in the fall of 2023.
In 2020, we first established contact with the Chesterton Schools Network. Through those communications and through our own research, we came to understand what a Chesterton Academy is, its culture, its classical curriculum, and its mission. After we concluded the research, we decided to formally start the process of bringing a Chesterton Academy to Fort Worth. That process began with me flying to Milwaukee, WI, to the Discovery Days Conference in February 2022. The CSN plans to open 150 Chesterton Academies by the year 2035. There are approximately 35 schools today, across the US and Canada. This ambitious plan, as well as the rate at which schools are opening every year, tells me that this model of education works and that parents want it for their children.
Since April 2022, the CSN has hosted one virtual meeting per month where they instruct us on the steps to take towards opening the school. The milestones we have accomplished so far are: we hosted the first info session for interested families on May 5; we incorporated in the state of Texas; we opened our bank account to start fundraising; and we are in the process of submitting our application to the IRS for the 501c3 status (non-profit). We are also in conversations with Saint Benedict parish about using their facilities as the starting location for the CAFW.
Our next steps will be to advertise more frequently and broadly, through social media channels and parish & school bulletins; we hope to have the school’s website functioning by the end of August; and to complete our board of directors.
I want to finish the newsletter by appealing to you, first, for your prayers. Without prayer, this endeavor will have no ground to stand on and will fall. Second, I want to ask you to spread the word, tell your families and friends, and at the same time, tells us of people you know who have children in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade who can be potential students. Finally, I want to appeal to your generosity. The three families on the board of CAFW have incurred costs since February. Founding a school costs money, and now that we have our bank account, we can formally start receiving donations. If you are interested in donating, please contact me at carlos.alfredo.crespo@gmail.com or contact one of the board members.
We are trying to start a school named after the great English writer, G. K. Chesterton, so it is fitting to finish our newsletter with one of his many insightful and witty quotes:
“It is the first law of practical courage. To be in the weakest camp is to be in the strongest school”
– G. K. CHESTERTON
