Cardinal Academy Fund

Goal: $30,000.00

Specific Need

God is doing a mighty work in our community. The school in Wetmore closed in May 2023, and we have opened a new Christian school in its place. We started with 16 students in the fall of 2024, and now have 40 students enrolling for the upcoming school year! These students are coming from seven different surrounding communities, with two families traveling ~35 miles to join us! Families are searching for high quality (but affordable) Christian education options, and we are humbled and thankful that we get to be a part of the Christian education movement. 

Ten thousand dollars are needed to fund scholarships for three incoming families, and the remaining funds will be used to manage increased operational expenses as we double in size and continue to build and prepare for the future. Many of our students have remedial learning needs, and we are developing specialized capabilities for supporting students with dyslexia and other learning differences. These funds will help us not only to develop a strong Christian discipleship program, but also to serve the most at-risk and vulnerable students - who may otherwise fall through the cracks in more traditional schooling systems.

Mission

The purpose of the Cardinal Academy Fund is to support the growth and long-term viability of Cardinal Academy, a K-8 Christian school that helps families teach their children to see the world through God's eyes so they may live according to the knowledge for generations to come.

Profile

The program uses the My Father’s World curriculum, which seamlessly integrates the Bible into every subject. The curriculum is designed to help students “see the world through God’s eyes so they may live according to that knowledge for generations to come.”

According to the founder, Analyssa Noe, “God’s word is central to the program: Biblical content is thoroughly integrated into all aspects of the curriculum, and reading God’s word is a core part of everything we do and teach.” Analyssa said the goal is for every student to become a strong reader—not only because reading and comprehension are foundational to learning, but also because “God speaks to us through his word, so it’s the way we get to know who God is.”

To support that goal, Cardinal Academy partners with a certified reading instructor to deliver daily phonics instruction to students. The instructor uses a “structured literacy program” based on the “science of reading” and the lessons are delivered in one-on-one and small group settings so the instruction can move at the child’s pace.

As kindergarten and first-grade students begin to master phonics, they begin their reading journey with their own Bible readers. Once kids know how to read, Noe explained, “we point them to begin a systematic reading of the Bible so that they can begin to learn about who God is in a more personal way.” 

Students start each morning with 20 minutes of Bible reading, and they cycle through the entire Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) three times over the course of the program: once at the K-3 level, again at the 4-8^th level, and students will read every word of the Bible in the 9^th-12^th grade program. Parents are informed of the Bible reading schedule and are encouraged to continue devotions and further discussions at home. 

A new math instructor was also hired to develop a math program that takes a similarly individualized approach to developing mathematical fluency. The Academy utilizes a “mastery-based approach” to learning, which means students don’t move on until they have demonstrated mastery of key concepts. 

Cardinal Academy students are only "in school" 17 hours per week, as opposed to the 35 hours/week in traditional schools. Students attend core classes 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday with extended days on Tuesdays and Thursdays for hands-on enrichment activities.

“We do this for two reasons,” Analyssa said. “First, when students are self-disciplined and self-driven in their studies, they truly do not need 8 hours a day to complete their work.”

“Second,” she said, “we think it’s important for kids to have time and freedom outside of the classroom to explore, create, and experience the goodness that life has to offer.”

Analyssa said Academy parents “get this” and they use their time outside of the classroom to create meaningful responsibilities, experiences, and projects that make sense for their children and families. 

Families pay tuition to attend Cardinal Academy and scholarships are offered based on financial need, “but we hope we never have to turn a family away because of finances,” Analyssa said. Cardinal Academy is a non-denominational Christian school, and several area churches are coming together to help fund the scholarship program. 

Members of Cardinal Academy’s advisory board include Tom and Viki Stone of Horton (Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, CLJC), Ron and Sherry Kuglin of Holton (Evangel Church), Steve and Lana Sheldon of Holton (First Baptist Church), Paul and Sue Davault of Circleville (Circleville Christian Church), and Ronald and Andrea Lagos of Wetmore (Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, CLJC), and Analyssa Noe of Wetmore (Wetmore Bible Church). 

Cardinal Academy is also supported by the Cardinal Community Foundation, which owns the K-12 school facility that the Academy rents as a tenant. The CCF board includes Corey and Anissa Bloom, Rodney and Liz Burdiek, Ryan and Shelli Burdiek, Miles and Nichole Hanzlicek, and Analyssa Noe – all of Wetmore. 

For more information about Cardinal Academy, visit www.gocardinalacademy.com or contact ananoe@gocardinalacademy.com