When we began in 2009. No, that's not our home; we were on a field trip visiting George Washington's at Mt. Vernon.
Our Founding
Aquinas Learning was founded in 2009 by Rosario Reilly, a homeschooling mom of five children with the support of her spouse, some friends, and the urging of the Holy Spirit. Rosario earned her Masters of Education degree from Marymount University, her Master Catechist certification from the Arlington Diocese, and is currently undertaking her masters in philosophy from Holy Apostles College & Seminary. She taught in a variety of school settings (public school, Catholic school, montessori), taught 4th grade CCD for 5yrs , and started homeschooling her own children in 2003. Along the way, her best mentors have been Jesus and His Magisterium, writers like Mortimer Adler, G.K. Chesterton, St. John Henry Newman, St. Thomas Aquinas, C.S. Lewis, Stratford Caldecott, and her mentors who continue teaching her today.
Delight in your family. In the blink of an eye...
Shortly after entering the world of homeschooling, she took on the role of coordinator for her local homeschool support group. Her experience there taught her that parents, like herself, were looking for a more consistent form of peer interaction (classmates over several years versus a chance encounter at some clubs) and a solid scope and sequence of education they could trust to be excellent, classical, and Catholic. She and her friends also wanted their children to learn in community with their peers without sacrificing the flexibility afforded by homeschooling. Aquinas Learning was their solution, blending a once-a-week meeting day with peers and other adults with at-home studies based on a sound philosophy and approach to real education. The method was to be a once-a-week mentoring program, the approach was to be classical and scholastic in the traditional sense, the curriculum was to be integrated based on Philippians 4:6-9* (the true, good, and beautiful), and the identity was to be Catholic. The first center opened in Manassas, VA in the fall of 2009 with 40 students. Currently, the Manassas center enrolls about 165 students (2022 enrollment) and there are additional independently owned and operated centers licensed to use the Aquinas Learning curriculum and approach to cultivate wisdom and virtue in their students. As of the fall of 2023, our eldest who graduated with an architecture degree from Benedictine will be married to his HS sweetheart, our second will be a senior marketing/communications student at Ave Maria University, our third will be a junior History/Philosophy major at Christendom College, our fourth will be a freshman engineering student at Benedictine College, and our fifth and youngest will be a junior at Aquinas Learning Manassas! The fruits of this sort of learning are bountiful beyond measure!
* “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:8-9
An Integrated Curriculum
The Aquinas Learning program weds Faith & Reason together to fulfill the ultimate goals. From Kindergarten through 6th grade, we use a cycle-based curriculum that integrates various disciplines, and unifies the educational experience for the entire family. Although the 7th - 12th graders embark on a more independent learning track, their themes are still aligned with the themes studied by their younger siblings, enabling families to have similar discussion points, shared field trip experiences, and shared learning experiences with older siblings stepping in to teach younger siblings.
Come Join the Aquinas Learning Community
You can join three ways:
1. ALH - Aquinas Learning at Home - register as an independent family doing the curriculum on your own, but still be connected through monthly newsletters and various communication loops for members.
2. ALVC - Aquinas Learning Virtual Center - enroll in the “virtual center” for live online classes with trained mentors teaching and directing the classes.
3. AL Centers - enroll at a live in-person center where families meet once or twice a week for in-person classes in community.
To Join, go to the REGISTER link above and select the right option for your family.
Under Our Patron
Aquinas Learning is operated under the principles and protection of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Doctor Angelicus.