Overview
The Twin Cities’ communities located south of the Minnesota River make up an area of significant population growth, featuring many vibrant parishes and Catholic K-8 grade schools; yet, the area currently has no Catholic high school. Unity High School is an initiative to provide education in the Catholic tradition for students in grades 9-12.
Unity High School will combine a standard Liberal-Arts-plus-science-and-math curriculum with an emphasis on leadership education designed to develop character, virtue and a desire to serve. The UHS education program provides the ideal foundation for students who hope to succeed in college, pursue a trade or join the military.
Catholicism as a foundation
UHS will expose students to the beauty of Catholicism and educate them in the truth of the Church, so that they truly know what it means to be Catholic. The school’s intent is for its students to develop a Catholic worldview with God at the center. The weekly schedule at UHS includes Mass three days per week, daily prayer, weekly examine, and opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All UHS teachers take a public oath of fidelity to the Magisterium at the beginning of the school year. UHS enjoys a meaningful relationship with its host parish, Mary, Mother of the Church, its pastor Father Jim Perkl, and expects to become an important part of its youth group for extra-curricular faith-development activities such as retreats and pilgrimages.
Teenagers typically face extreme pressure to achieve academically, specialize early, and focus on the materialist goals of the secular world. The result is unprecedented levels of depression and anxiety among teens, isolation, inability to connect or communicate with others, and even suicidal ideation. Unity High School will help teens see the bigger picture, develop their faith, and grow in love for God, their neighbor and themselves. The leadership education and virtue development built into the core curriculum at UHS is meant to help students rejoice in the goodness, truth and beauty of our world – an emphasis that is so commonly missed in the traditional approach to high school education.
Old educational paradigms based on rote memorization, cramming to study material that is forgotten the moment the test is over, or recitation of facts now readily provided by Siri and Alexa are not preparing today’s young people for the economy of the future. Unity High School will help students develop skills necessary for effective reasoning, problem solving, and entrepreneurial visualization. Furthermore, they will be given the tools to take the next step – appropriate action, guided by faith and reason.
A school for every student
Whether your student typically earns ‘A’s and ‘B’s or struggles to earn average grades, UHS should be a fit. While academic achievers will thrive at the school, so will hands-on learners, reluctant class participants, those needing a little extra assistance and others often left behind. With an emphasis on a core curriculum of leadership, literature, science, math, foreign language, religion, and history, UHS will emphasize education that teaches students how to think and how to turn that thought into meaningful action that serves family, parish, community or country.
Courses are delivered using a variety of means including lecture, discussion, demonstration, hands-on learning, projects, and presentation, both individually and in groups. Math and foreign language courses will be presented primarily via computer with the assistance of on-site educators. Computers allow for courses to be targeted to the readiness levels of individual students. Computers will remain in the school, be programmed for specific uses and operated under staff supervision.
Standard courses will be delivered four days per week, with Wednesdays reserved for education in leadership, character, life skills and service. These courses often will feature presentations by guests, or involve field trips. Wednesday also is the day for specialized courses in subjects such as financial literacy, computer coding, Minnesota history, economics, and vocational exploration.
Striving for excellence both in and out of the classroom
In its early years, the school will offer extra-curricular activities according to the interests of the students, parents and staff. Coaches are expected to come from the volunteer ranks of parents. The school will focus on sports which require minimal resources, such as cross country running, basketball and track. The goal of extra-curricular athletics is to give students an opportunity to learn teamwork, self-discipline, perseverance, as well as gracious winning and losing. The general philosophy for the teams will be that everyone gets a chance to play. Teams will avoid practice/game schedules that keep them away from family dinner on weekdays; activity on Sundays will be avoided. The teams are expected to make an important contribution to the building of school spirit.
It is further anticipated the school will offer non-athletic extra-curricular activities, again reflecting the interests of the students, parents and staff. Possible activities include: mock trial, speech, quiz bowl, theatrical productions, yearbook, band and choir. There also may be opportunities for students to form and run a school-based business.
Recognizing parents as the primary educator of their children, the school will make every effort to work with parents. Homework loads and expectations for extra-curricular activities will respect the need for ample family time, particularly on weekends.
A place for the whole family
Unity High School is committing to operate in a frugal and efficient manner in order to offer a tuition rate far lower than other private high schools in the region. The tuition for UHS for the 2019-20 academic year is $6,500. Much work has been done to try to reduce or eliminate the barrier of a tuition rate beyond the means of typical families in the South Metro. The financial structure of the school itself is meant to provide an important lesson to students: that it is possible to do a lot with a little, that thrift is virtuous, that numerous public assets are available for everyone’s use, and that nothing should be wasted.
Unity High School is expected to be a small school – perhaps fewer than 25 students in its initial years, possibly growing to as many as 300 students by its 10th year. UHS strives for both academic and practical excellence, emphasizing the importance of clear thinking and purposeful action. At UHS, faith and reason are acknowledged as inseparable. While UHS is a great school for the academic achiever who loves to read, it is also the place for students who prefer hands-on learning. The school is a fit for any student who intends upon graduation to continue their schooling, enter the full-time workforce, or join a branch of the military.
Meet the founders
The school is being initiated by Tom Bengtson and Matt Birk. Tom co-founded Chesterton Academy in 2008 and served as its chairman for seven years. Tom is a successful small business owner, and a recipient of a Catholic Spirit “Leading with Faith” award. Tom is the author of two books and has been involved in numerous faith-oriented initiatives for decades. Tom and his wife Susan have raised four children and are members of St. Anne’s Parish in Hamel. Matt is a former Minnesota Viking and Baltimore Raven football player, winning a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2013. He is a Harvard graduate with a degree in economics. He grew up in St. Paul, attending Cretin High School. He is a devoted Catholic, actively involved with Catholic Schools Center of Excellence, many pro-life organizations and other Catholic initiatives. He and his wife have eight children and they are members of St. Joseph’s Parish in West St. Paul.
This website articulates key details about the school. Many of the details are preliminary and are subject to change.
Your thoughts/comments/suggestions are welcome; contact Tom Bengtson at TomBengtson@hotmail.com.
Unity High School will combine a standard Liberal-Arts-plus-science-and-math curriculum with an emphasis on leadership education designed to develop character, virtue and a desire to serve. The UHS education program provides the ideal foundation for students who hope to succeed in college, pursue a trade or join the military.
Catholicism as a foundation
UHS will expose students to the beauty of Catholicism and educate them in the truth of the Church, so that they truly know what it means to be Catholic. The school’s intent is for its students to develop a Catholic worldview with God at the center. The weekly schedule at UHS includes Mass three days per week, daily prayer, weekly examine, and opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All UHS teachers take a public oath of fidelity to the Magisterium at the beginning of the school year. UHS enjoys a meaningful relationship with its host parish, Mary, Mother of the Church, its pastor Father Jim Perkl, and expects to become an important part of its youth group for extra-curricular faith-development activities such as retreats and pilgrimages.
Teenagers typically face extreme pressure to achieve academically, specialize early, and focus on the materialist goals of the secular world. The result is unprecedented levels of depression and anxiety among teens, isolation, inability to connect or communicate with others, and even suicidal ideation. Unity High School will help teens see the bigger picture, develop their faith, and grow in love for God, their neighbor and themselves. The leadership education and virtue development built into the core curriculum at UHS is meant to help students rejoice in the goodness, truth and beauty of our world – an emphasis that is so commonly missed in the traditional approach to high school education.
Old educational paradigms based on rote memorization, cramming to study material that is forgotten the moment the test is over, or recitation of facts now readily provided by Siri and Alexa are not preparing today’s young people for the economy of the future. Unity High School will help students develop skills necessary for effective reasoning, problem solving, and entrepreneurial visualization. Furthermore, they will be given the tools to take the next step – appropriate action, guided by faith and reason.
A school for every student
Whether your student typically earns ‘A’s and ‘B’s or struggles to earn average grades, UHS should be a fit. While academic achievers will thrive at the school, so will hands-on learners, reluctant class participants, those needing a little extra assistance and others often left behind. With an emphasis on a core curriculum of leadership, literature, science, math, foreign language, religion, and history, UHS will emphasize education that teaches students how to think and how to turn that thought into meaningful action that serves family, parish, community or country.
Courses are delivered using a variety of means including lecture, discussion, demonstration, hands-on learning, projects, and presentation, both individually and in groups. Math and foreign language courses will be presented primarily via computer with the assistance of on-site educators. Computers allow for courses to be targeted to the readiness levels of individual students. Computers will remain in the school, be programmed for specific uses and operated under staff supervision.
Standard courses will be delivered four days per week, with Wednesdays reserved for education in leadership, character, life skills and service. These courses often will feature presentations by guests, or involve field trips. Wednesday also is the day for specialized courses in subjects such as financial literacy, computer coding, Minnesota history, economics, and vocational exploration.
Striving for excellence both in and out of the classroom
In its early years, the school will offer extra-curricular activities according to the interests of the students, parents and staff. Coaches are expected to come from the volunteer ranks of parents. The school will focus on sports which require minimal resources, such as cross country running, basketball and track. The goal of extra-curricular athletics is to give students an opportunity to learn teamwork, self-discipline, perseverance, as well as gracious winning and losing. The general philosophy for the teams will be that everyone gets a chance to play. Teams will avoid practice/game schedules that keep them away from family dinner on weekdays; activity on Sundays will be avoided. The teams are expected to make an important contribution to the building of school spirit.
It is further anticipated the school will offer non-athletic extra-curricular activities, again reflecting the interests of the students, parents and staff. Possible activities include: mock trial, speech, quiz bowl, theatrical productions, yearbook, band and choir. There also may be opportunities for students to form and run a school-based business.
Recognizing parents as the primary educator of their children, the school will make every effort to work with parents. Homework loads and expectations for extra-curricular activities will respect the need for ample family time, particularly on weekends.
A place for the whole family
Unity High School is committing to operate in a frugal and efficient manner in order to offer a tuition rate far lower than other private high schools in the region. The tuition for UHS for the 2019-20 academic year is $6,500. Much work has been done to try to reduce or eliminate the barrier of a tuition rate beyond the means of typical families in the South Metro. The financial structure of the school itself is meant to provide an important lesson to students: that it is possible to do a lot with a little, that thrift is virtuous, that numerous public assets are available for everyone’s use, and that nothing should be wasted.
Unity High School is expected to be a small school – perhaps fewer than 25 students in its initial years, possibly growing to as many as 300 students by its 10th year. UHS strives for both academic and practical excellence, emphasizing the importance of clear thinking and purposeful action. At UHS, faith and reason are acknowledged as inseparable. While UHS is a great school for the academic achiever who loves to read, it is also the place for students who prefer hands-on learning. The school is a fit for any student who intends upon graduation to continue their schooling, enter the full-time workforce, or join a branch of the military.
Meet the founders
The school is being initiated by Tom Bengtson and Matt Birk. Tom co-founded Chesterton Academy in 2008 and served as its chairman for seven years. Tom is a successful small business owner, and a recipient of a Catholic Spirit “Leading with Faith” award. Tom is the author of two books and has been involved in numerous faith-oriented initiatives for decades. Tom and his wife Susan have raised four children and are members of St. Anne’s Parish in Hamel. Matt is a former Minnesota Viking and Baltimore Raven football player, winning a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2013. He is a Harvard graduate with a degree in economics. He grew up in St. Paul, attending Cretin High School. He is a devoted Catholic, actively involved with Catholic Schools Center of Excellence, many pro-life organizations and other Catholic initiatives. He and his wife have eight children and they are members of St. Joseph’s Parish in West St. Paul.
This website articulates key details about the school. Many of the details are preliminary and are subject to change.
Your thoughts/comments/suggestions are welcome; contact Tom Bengtson at TomBengtson@hotmail.com.