Regina Caeli Graduate Returns to Serve in Internship Role LSU senior session by DS Photography in Baton Rouge, La. (DS Photography) Daniel Brandenburg, a freshman film and television major, and former graduate of Regina Caeli Academy was recently featured in " The Reveille ", a student-run newspaper at Louisiana State University. Daniel founded DS Photography in October 2024. His business has grown to include various types of photography, such as senior photos, headshots, couple shoots, and portraits. Although photography has been a passion of his since childhood, Brandenburg now incorporates lessons from his film studies into his work. ​ . ..that’s really rewarding to me, just having other people appreciate the creative work that I do. Daniel Brandenburg at a photoshoot (DS Photography) Alongside his photography business, Daniel is a full-time student and a video intern at Regina Caeli Academy. His involvement at Regina Caeli Academy provides him with valuable experience that complements his creative pursuits. In addition to his internship, Daniel is also a cast member at Petite Princess Company and participates in local theater productions. Despite his busy schedule, he is passionate about delivering high-quality work to his clients and plans to expand his business in the future, including venturing into weddings and videography. More information about DS Photography can be found here , on instagram @danielsebastianphotography .

Dear Regina Caeli Parent, Last week, I met a father who could barely hold back his tears. He told me about his daughter, a precious child with Down syndrome, and how difficult it had been to find a place that embraced his family with open arms. But then he found Regina Caeli Academy, and his entire world shifted. He couldn’t thank us enough for the way our community has welcomed him and his family, providing not just an education, but a true home . Another story comes to mind, from one of our tutors. Just six weeks after joining RCA, she suffered an unimaginable loss—her child passed away. Yet in the midst of her grief, she was surrounded by love and support from families across the country who had never even met her. Their prayers and words of encouragement brought her a comfort that went beyond words. These stories, and so many others, are a testament to the kind of community we are creating at RCA. It’s all about the salvation of souls and building a community where Faith isn’t just taught—it’s lived out daily, and in every interaction and every sacrifice. And none of this would be possible without families like yours, who are the true heroes in this mission to rebuild the culture and restore the Church. Being a parent at Regina Caeli Academy means carrying a unique cross. You’ve taken on the challenge of homeschooling, dedicating countless hours to shaping not just your child’s mind, but their heart and soul as well. I know the demands can be overwhelming—and yet some days you may even wonder if you’re doing enough. I know how demanding this work is. I know the sacrifices involved. But I also know that the impact you are making will last for generations. It is an investment in the Kingdom of God—one that shapes not only your child’s future, but the future of our Church. And that’s why I am writing to you today. All Donations Received Today will be Matched up to $50,000 1. An Exciting Future for RCA Regina Caeli Academy stands at a turning point. With 23 centers serving 2,400 students across the U.S. and the UK, we’ve made great strides in providing a faithful, classical Catholic education. Yet, fewer than half of our centers are financially self-sustaining. If we want to continue growing and serving families like yours for years to come, we need to ensure every center is strong, stable, and capable of thriving on its own. I am absolutely determined to make this happen, and I know you feel just as strongly about it as I do. While we invest in shoring up our existing centers, we are also looking ahead at meeting the tremendous demand for the Regina Caeli model in cities across America. Expanding RCA is about more than growth; it’s about providing every Catholic family with the opportunity to be part of a community that aligns with their values and strengthens their Faith. Our culture depends on this. So I have set the ambitious goal of raising $500,000 by end of year to not only achieve these goals, but to improve critical aspects of our operation that will transform our ability to serve your family and others, such as: 2. Provide Tuition Assistance Thanks to generous support from fellow families like you, we are able to ensure that all families, regardless of their level of need, are able to receive the unique, classical, Catholic, homeschool education we provide. 3. Strengthening Center Leadership Training Our current training programs for center administrators and tutors are both costly and repetitive, requiring even seasoned administrators to travel to Dallas each year for the same presentations. This outdated approach not only wastes valuable time but also diverts our focus away from more meaningful professional development. We are changing that. We are streamlining training by creating a series of comprehensive onboarding videos, new center administrators and tutors will be able to learn the fundamentals of their roles at their own pace and revisit the material whenever needed. This shift allows us to transform our summer training sessions into dynamic, in-person leadership programs aimed at cultivating a robust team of exceptional leaders in Catholic education. With this new approach, we can equip our center coordinators to build outstanding RCA centers in your city— ensuring your children receive the best educational experience possible. 4. Enhancing Lesson Plans and Resources The lessons we currently offer can be significantly enriched with more detailed content and engaging activities. Additionally, our existing delivery system through Google Drive can be cumbersome and difficult to navigate. To address this, we have hired a skilled curriculum writer to elevate the quality of our lesson plans and develop an Online Resource Library. This platform will deliver daily lessons and activities tailored to each tutor and parent based on students’ age and subject matter. With these improvements, tutors and parents will be better equipped to create an engaging and effective learning environment that enhances understanding and knowledge retention. For parents teaching multiple children across various subjects, the Online Resource Library will simplify lesson management and ensure a more organized and efficient homeschooling experience. 5. Expanding Marketing and Community Outreach For years, limited funds have forced us to choose between investing in additional marketing or meeting the financial needs of our existing centers—a trade-off that has constrained our growth and outreach. To break this cycle, we’ve brought on a seasoned marketing professional with over a decade of experience in crafting and executing successful digital campaigns. We are launching targeted ads on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, specifically aimed at reaching Catholic homeschool families in areas where we operate centers. Our goal is to make sure every Catholic family is aware of our unique hybrid model and the exceptional value it brings. By using cutting-edge tools to measure campaign performance, we will continually refine our strategies to maximize reach, engagement, and conversion rates. Your Support Will Shape the Future of Our Culture If you have the means to financially support the future we are building for Regina Caeli Academy, I ask that you consider making a tax-deductible gift to us today. I would be most grateful if you would consider becoming a monthly donor by using the QR code on the enclosed reply form. By committing to a monthly gift, you’re not just donating; you’re becoming a vital partner in our mission to transform lives, renew the culture, and build a stronger Church. If you cannot afford to commit to giving each month, please know that we are grateful for every gift, of any size. Best of all, I’m thrilled to share that a generous benefactor has pledged to match every dollar donated to Regina Caeli Academy— up to $50,000! This means your gift will go twice as far in helping us provide tuition assistance, improve our curriculum, and strengthen our centers. The impact of your generosity goes far beyond the walls of Regina Caeli Academy. What we are building here is more than just an education—it is a movement to reclaim our culture for Christ. Your child is part of a generation that will be called upon to stand firm in their Faith in a world that is increasingly hostile to the Gospel. By giving them a foundation that is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and classical learning, you are equipping them with the tools to not only withstand the cultural currents, but to shape them. As our centers grow stronger, we will be able to reach more families who are searching for what RCA offers. Imagine thousands, even tens of thousands, of Catholic families coming together to educate their children, pray for one another, and build communities where the Faith is not just preserved, but celebrated and lived out in every aspect of life. Your support will help us make this vision a reality—one that will reverberate through parishes, neighborhoods, and society for generations to come. This Is a Mission We Can’t Afford to Delay The world needs a new generation of saints. We are living in a time when the cultural landscape is shifting rapidly, and the need for authentic Catholic formation has never been greater. With each passing day, there are more challenges to our Faith and our values. But there is also an opportunity—a chance to stand up, to double down on what matters most, and to ensure that our children grow up knowing who they are and Whom they serve. We need your help to continue educating the next generation of Catholic leaders, ensuring they are formed in virtue and fortified in faith. By choosing Regina Caeli Academy, you have already made a profound commitment to your child’s future and to the future of our Church. Thank you for your dedication, your sacrifices, and your Faith. Together, we can continue to build a community that doesn’t just educate but transforms lives and renews our culture for the glory of God. Yours in Christ, Charlie McKinney Executive Director cmckinney@rcahybrid.org 1565 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA 30076-2517 P.S. Your gift to Regina Caeli Academy is more than a donation —it’s a stand for the future of our Faith and culture. And because every dollar of your gift will be matched, it’ll make an even greater difference in forming the next generation of Catholic leaders and sustaining the vital work of RCA. By supporting RCA, you are helping to form the next generation of Catholic leaders who will carry the light of Christ into a world in desperate need of truth. Every gift, no matter the size, provides the stability we need to grow, reach more families, and strengthen the educational foundation that will shape the Church for decades to come. If you are financially able, please consider becoming a monthly donor today to help make every RCA center a place where families are strengthened, children are formed in Christ, and our culture is renewed. Together, we are building a culture of faith, virtue, and authentic Catholic education that transforms not just our children, but our entire society.

All of us at Regina Caeli Academy are excited to welcome you to the 2024-25 academic year! As we embark on another year, we are delighted to welcome nearly 500 new students who will join us in growing in their Catholic Faith as well as their love of learning. The demand for Regina Caeli Academy continues to grow in cities across the United States, and I’m thrilled to welcome this year all the families who have joined us in Jacksonville, FL; Chicago, IL; and a second center in Phoenix, AZ.  Since coming on board as Executive Director four months ago, I have worked diligently with our National Leadership Team (NLT) to continue to improve our curriculum, the support we provide to our local leadership teams, and most importantly, to our students and parents. All of our efforts are aimed squarely at passionately fulfilling the mission of Regina Caeli, to lead students into a deeper understanding of Faith and the Liberal Arts. You may recall that several months ago I wrote to you indicating that my tenure as interim Executive Director would last through the Summer. I’m happy to say that I will remain in this role through the remainder of the 2024-25 academic year. I’ve found this work to be incredibly meaningful. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the staff and talking to so many of you who see the value in Regina Caeli’s mission.  I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in person as I travel the country visiting the Centers this year. In the meantime, please know that you and all those involved in Regina Caeli’s work are in my daily prayers. Yours in Christ, Mr. Charlie McKinney RCA Executive Director

Welcome to the new academic year! I pray that by now you are feeling more settled into the rhythms and routines associated with the education of your children and students. The Curriculum Department is thrilled to be partnering with you in leading your children towards Truth himself through encounters with timeless materials chosen specifically to prepare them for a love of the transcendentals of truth, beauty, and goodness. I look forward to building upon the solid academic foundation at Regina Caeli Academy as we continue our journey together. I haven’t had a chance to meet or interact with many of you, so I’ll share a summary of my experiences and what led me to RCA. I grew up in a faithful Protestant household; my parents love the Lord and raised me in a Christian environment. I was homeschooled until 4th grade, when my parents divorced and sent us to public school as a result. I attended public school for the rest of my K-12 education, then spent 4 years at Marquette University pursuing a double major in Secondary Education and History. Before graduating high school, I was accepted into the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program on a full-ride scholarship, so after my time at Marquette, I was commissioned as a Naval officer and served 5 years as an active duty Surface Warfare Officer. I was deployed or underway (at sea) for most of my time in the Navy, which led to countless invaluable personal and professional challenges. I also converted into the fullness of the faith during the first year of my time in the Navy, thanks be to God! After resigning my commission and being honorably discharged, I worked in two diocesan high schools in Southern California. I quickly discovered that students hungered for authentic, challenging, yet relevant learning materials that stood the test of time. As I incorporated more primary sources into my teaching and found that I spent more time engaging in dialogue with my students than presenting PowerPoints, I began to question why this wasn’t more typical in a classroom setting. Students responded positively to interacting with the writings from the periods we studied; they were able to get a glimpse into the human aspect of history, the lived experiences of our forebears, thus giving them, as Andrew Zwerneman calls it, a humane approach to our shared history. I am so thankful for the administration and my fellow teachers at these schools for letting me stumble into this realization through the flexibility they had with each teacher and our curriculum. In 2022, I was blessed to be involved in the founding of a classical academy in the Catholic tradition, serving grades 9-12. As a founding teacher and an interim administrator, I dove head first into the elements of a classical curriculum. Given that my own education was not classical, and that my former jobs were not in a classical environment, I was worried I wouldn’t be up to the task of delivering lessons and content properly. I soon found that was a silly concern; classical education is, at its heart, natural education in the sense that it caters to all learning types, it transcends trendy pedagogical methods, and it rests on relationship: relationship between the instructor and students, relationship between the human beings and the ideas being studied, and ultimately, relationship between the human person and the Divine. Instead of students being the objects which are educated, students and teachers become the subject of education, within which a love of learning is cultivated. This was the vision of education I sought after during those first years of teaching; I wanted my students to ultimately know, love, and live according to the truth above all else, rather than view their academic experiences as a series of boxes to be checked in pursuit of an economic and social status. My time teaching at Coeur du Christ Academy was one of the most rewarding, humbling, and beautiful chapters in my life thus far, because it fulfilled the longing I had for vocational integrity as a Catholic teacher. At the end of my second year with Coeur du Christ, the Lord made it evident that He had something else in store for me. I submitted my resignation at the end of the year. As I was perusing various options that would work within the context of my life, the opportunity at RCA popped up. I looked into the organization and instantly fell in love; I especially appreciated that RCA intentionally partners with parents and forms communities centered around the intellectual tradition and the practice of our faith. I was also attracted to RCA’s dedication to classical education. The history and vision of RCA are beautiful; it is a gift to be part of this team and to come alongside our parents and staff in educating our children! The Curriculum Department is excited to embark on intentional reviews of the entire academic progression at RCA to further align everything that we do with our mission as a classical hybrid academy in the Catholic tradition. Right now, we are working on updating our Lower School Literacy curriculum. We are also excited to begin looking at ways to improve our course offerings in the Upper School, where there is great potential for a more classical academic experience. In these decisions and every step moving forward, RCA will collaborate with parents, staff, and experts in the Catholic classical education world to ensure our lesson plans and all associated materials are the best they can be. At the end of the day, our families, students, and staff are the reason we do this work, and the reason we love what we do. We pray that Christ directs and blesses our efforts, through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Heaven. Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Grace Drinkwater, Director of Curriculum

Aiden and Gabriella, graduates of RCA Baton Rouge, were brought together by God and how Regina Caeli Academy played a role in their embrace of the beauty and sacrifice of Holy Matrimony. Living Out God’s Call to Love At Regina Caeli Academy, God’s plan for our lives is at the center of everything we do. Our students, parents, and tutors are united in forming the whole person to become the saint that God is calling them to be. We celebrate when our students find the way that God has planned for them to give their whole lives in love and service. Aiden Duvall and Gabriella Brandenburg, graduates of Regina Caeli’s Baton Rouge center, are two such students who have discerned God’s will for their lives and are bravely and joyously pursuing their call. This is their story.  Aiden and I have known each other since we were in Kindergarten and first grade, even though we weren’t really friends until we started taking a Latin class together in 2013. When our mothers opened up the Baton Rouge chapter of Regina Caeli in 2016, Aiden and I became very close. We started dating the following year, and have been growing together and falling deeper in love ever since!  We were inspired by the witness of our high school tutors at Regina Caeli. Their joy in living out their vocation was apparent even in their casual interaction with us at the center. From them we experienced that God is the author of many different, beautiful love stories.  I am in awe of His creativity! We loved talking to our tutors at lunch time and listening in to the seniors’ Catholic Doctrine discussions. The RCA Catholic Doctrine class and the Baton Rouge March for Life trip heavily influenced me and Aiden’s conception of marriage. In Catholic Doctrine, we learned the Catholic perspective of marriage and its covenant nature. On the March for Life, we were amazed by the beauty of Theology of the Body. We were blessed with many opportunities for prayer and Adoration together that allowed us to prayerfully discern our vocation.   Just like the Holy Spirit has moved our hearts to realize that we should get married, He also slowly transformed the fears that both of us held against commitment. Gradually, Aiden and I realized that we were not afraid anymore, but we’re actually excited to live out a covenant with one another even with all the sacrifices that it may entail. Almost more importantly, we realized how ready we are to receive the graces of the Sacrament of Marriage.  Aiden and I are best friends! And even more than that, we complement each other in the way that God has designed us- both physically and spiritually. We love discovering ways that God has formed our hearts so differently yet so perfect for one another. We are excited to live together as each others’ greatest supports and grow together as the Lord leads us to new adventures!   Let us pray for Aiden and Gabriella and ask God to superabundantly bless their marriage!

The key to homeschooling multiple ages is to know your learning priorities. If you are homeschooling multiple ages, get your older children started on math, then you can work with your youngest child.   This means getting children in 3rd grade and up started, then work one-on-one with children in 2nd grade and below.   How long should homeschooling take? Teaching your children lessons in the home takes LESS time than if children were at a regular “school”.  So forget the “school” mentality and focus on the qualities that make your own children and your own homeschool special. One great advantage of homeschooling is that you can tailor your educational activities to your own style and your unique children.  Students in 1st-3rd grade usually homeschool for a total of 2 hours a day, with no work -or sometimes just math- on Friday.  Use Fridays for visits to parks, museums, play dates, and to go to Mass! We really prioritize this flexibility for younger children at Regina Caeli Academy. Students in 4th-6th grade usually homeschool 3 hours per day, with limited work on Fridays.   At Regina Caeli, students in 4th-6th grade typically just have Math and History on Fridays. In 7th grade and above, homeschooling takes about 5 hours per day, and the students need to be sure to read every day.  I always say the Classical Student should read their literature books every day, including on weekends.  This forms good intellectual habits into adulthood.  At Regina Caeli, our curriculum includes readings from St. Therese of Liseaux, St. Louis de Montfort, Pope Pius XI, and the Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen… so their spiritual life will benefit too!  Active Supervision is Important for Young Children For children in PK4 through 1st grade you will need to do every subject with them.  Keep in mind, though, that play is VERY important in PK4 and K.  You have LOTS of flexibility at this age, and children actually learn through play.  Think of little girls playing house or young boys playing explorer, or making their own swords!!  Strengthen their imaginations by reading beautiful children’s literature — SOME OF MY FAVORITES ARE the Yellow Fairy Book and the Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Rapunzel and Rumplestiltskin by Paul Zelinsky, and Cinderella by K.Y. Craft have beautiful illustrations which fill the child’s imagination with beautiful images. SO READ BEAUTIFUL LITERATURE, GET LOTS OF OUTDOOR PLAY, and PRAY together.  This combination will ensure they have rich and true images in their imaginations which will inform their play at this age.  As far as lessons, know the priorities.  At 4 years old, a child will still be ready for Kindergarten if they learn their prayers, practice poetry and you read aloud to them often.  In Kindergarten, the child will be ready for 1st grade if you make sure they learn to  Write their letters and numbers 1-100 Write their first name Sound out basic 3-letter words  The Regina Caeli curriculum will give them more skills than this with memory work, vocabulary, and early reading.  However, you have LOTS of flexibility.  Contact your curriculum provider and determine the Learning Priorities specific to the curriculum you are using, such as these Learning Priorities: Homeschooling with Regina Caeli Academy. Children in 2nd and 3rd grade, you definitely need to do religion and math with them, but they have times when they are writing in their workbook and you can get them started and switch to help another child if needed. They don’t know how to ask questions when they need help at this age, so you need to…  Model asking questions for them…. “Mom or Dad, will you help me read the instructions?”  “Mom or Dad, can you help me with this problem?”    Children who are daydreaming often don’t know what to do, but they don’t know how to ask for help… so… MODEL asking good questions.! In 4th and 5th grades, children using the Regina Caeli curriculum are learning to work more independently.  Always do religion with your child and check their math work yourself at this age.  They will benefit from lots of parent involvement and hands-on guidance.   Remember, that at Regina Caeli, in 1st-6th grade you as the parent can determine when the work is done.  If your child just does the even problems in math, you can INITIAL the work to indicate it’s complete.   But keep in mind –some problems in the assignment must be completed for you to initial the work.  The goal should always be to work towards completing ALL the problems, especially in math.  However, we are homeschoolers and you do have this flexibility at Regina Caeli Academy.