In May 2013, headmaster Angie Bruner and curriculum coordinator Tammy Glaser felt called to launch a classical school. They adapted AmblesideOnline’s curriculum to multi-grade classrooms and opened the doors that August. Enrollment doubled by the end of the year. In May 2016, Harvest received full accreditation and graduated two alumnae.
Two years later, it added more space, capping at eighty students. Sixteen graduates have achieved many milestones—college degrees, vocational certificates, jobs, families, and faith.
Clarendon’s only classical school is one of a few in the state to follow Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. Children, made in God’s image, connect with God through daily Bible study and with people through living books. Teachers use short lessons to build attention and students narrate to process ideas. Know and Tell: The Art of Narration, a book featuring HCS, describes this classical tool. Nature walks and notebooking emphasize the outdoors. All students have fine arts twice a week. Extracurriculars are archery, 4-H, violin, and chorus.
This year’s speaker, Abbie Bruner, recently completed her masters in psychology from the Citadel and is now a licensed professional counselor associate at MUSC. Recalling her time at Harvest, she said of the co-founders, “They had no idea what was in store for them, or the school, when they began this adventure ten years ago. All they knew was that they wanted to provide a space for an education that was different from the rest.” She shared a quote from Homer to reassure seniors about making plans, “We may not know what the future holds for us but we do know who holds our future... Things will work out for the good [Romans 8:28].”
Five more seniors walked across the stage in May—three took dual-enrollment classes at Central Carolina Tech. Valedictorian Jeb Bruner and salutatorian Chris Iler shared memories from the past ten years. Jeb, a Grade 2 bagpiper enrolled in the Citadel Honors Program, is becoming a bulldog like his father Jay and grandfather Gene Nalley. Chris plans to finish his associates and transfer to a four-year college. Harley Ryan wants to study psychology, finishing her degree before transferring, too. Nicole Bozard, a talented artist and singer, aims for welding certification. In the audience was her sister Ashlynn, a Harvest alumna who now has her bachelors in psychology from Charleston Southern. Summer Ofeldt, who has a flair for cosmetics, plans to get an esthetics certification.
Harvest’s staff congratulates its new alumni as they start their next adventure.
Photos attached:
Left to Right: Angie Bruner, Tammy Glaser
Guest Speaker: Abbie Bruner
Left to Right: Chris Iler, Jeb Bruner, Harley Ryan, Summer Ofeldt, Nicole Bozard.
