“I had dreams of what the perfect school would look like, but I didn't see it in reality,” said Thea Aclo. “And then I had a child, and I needed this school to be real.”
The dream was realized in Mother of Hope Hybrid Academy (MOHHA), which will open this fall at St. Ursula in Fountain Hill.
Offering an exemplary classical education to homeschooling families, MOHHA supports both home and school learning in the Catholic tradition. Its time-tested approach forms students in virtue while educating them in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and developing their critical thinking and communication skills.
Although Aclo had contemplated “for years” on the possibility of opening a school, it wasn’t until December 2023 that she shared her idea with Bishop Alfred Schlert. Soon afterward, and with the Bishop’s blessing, she created a feasibility study and posted it on Facebook.
“Within 48 hours, we had 45 families who were interested,” said Aclo, who now serves as Executive Director of the academy. “It was clear that we'd have to do this.”
Indeed, 24 students have already committed to enrollment in the MOHHA inaugural class. Many families are drawn to the school’s Classical curriculum, which prioritizes the mastery of reading, writing, and math.
The academy uses high-quality literature, teaches cursive before print, and is screen-free for children. Its well-rounded curriculum includes Latin, sacred music, and art.
The school’s hybrid model offers families much-needed flexibility while providing structure and accountability.
In-school instruction for students in grades 1 through 5 takes place weekly on Thursdays and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. On the remaining three weekdays, parents teach foundational subjects at home with curriculum guidance provided by the academy. Lessons may be adapted to suit children’s needs and abilities.
For children in preschool and kindergarten, MOHHA offers a Montessori program, which runs each Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Montessori learning takes place in a mixed-ages classroom that is uniquely equipped to foster students’ natural curiosity. The director of the Montessori program at MOHHA is Michelle Cilmi, a passionate educator who founded a Montessori school of her own before she took up homeschooling.
The overall teaching approach at the academy is inspired by the work of British educator Charlotte Mason. Mason’s goal was to “nurture the whole child” through an education that instilled a love for learning. Accordingly, lessons at MOHHA are short, age-appropriate, and academically rigorous.
Students read “living books,” that is, literature that engages the reader and sparks the imagination. Oral narration is practiced as a means of assimilating knowledge. Daily outdoor time allows ample opportunity for exploration and discovery of the natural world.
While the goal of MOHHA is to provide an exceptional classical education, its greater mission is to form students in the person of Jesus Christ. To that end, faith is integrated at every stage of learning. The academy also offers daily Mass and an atmosphere of joyful liturgical living.
Noting that many parents lack community, Aclo observed that “they're raising their kids in isolation, and they don't have a Catholic village.”
To fill that void, MOHHA will be “baby friendly, child friendly, and family centered.”
“If there's a feast day, we're all going to Mass at St. Ursula’s and then having a pot luck. Or, on a Marian feast day, we'll gather for the Rosary. I would like it to be Catholic, liturgical living, and as easy as possible for babies to attend!”
Open to both homeschooling families and young families seeking community, a Homeschool Mass is celebrated every first Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at St. Ursula.
A tour of the school building will be offered after the April 2 Homeschool Mass, and Aclo will be available to answer questions.
For more information about MOHHA, go to www.motherofhopehybridacademy.org.
By Celeste Behe
