Cair Paravel-Latin School

Infobox US school
name = Cair Paravel-Latin School

| image caption = Crest of Cair Paravel-Latin School
motto = "Dominus Illuminatio Mea"
established = 1980
type = Private
district = none
grades = K-12
principal = James Waldy
city = Topeka
state = Kansas
country = USA
campus type = Urban
campus size = convert|3.5|acre|m2
enrollment = 340
faculty = 23
mascot = Rampant Red Lion
mascot

colors = Navy and gray
homepage = [http://www.cpls.org/ www.cpls.org] |

Cair Paravel-Latin School (commonly Cair Paravel or CPLS) is a coeducational, non-profit, interdenominational Christian private school in Topeka, Kansas, United States. CPLS offers a Classical Christian education for students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school is a member of the Association of Classical Christian Schools.

Founded in 1980, Cair Paravel-Latin School is located in the former Clay Elementary School building. Constructed in 1926 in the Tudor style, it was designed by architects Thomas Wilson Williamson and Ted Greist, who later designed the Perpendicular Gothic-styled Topeka High School. Cair Paravel did not move into this building until after its first few years located at various Christian churches located in Topeka. The earliest faculty consisted of students' parents who took an interest in education beyond common secular themes.

The name, Cair Paravel, honors C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, series of Christian-themed children's novels. "Cair Paravel" is a castle in the series that represents the courage, purity and faithfulness that is found in the series' four young main characters. In 1988, Cair Paravel merged with Topeka Latin School, another private Christian school in Topeka, and integrated "Latin" into the school name. At the time of the merger, C.S. Lewis' literature, Christian apologetics and Latin were a significant part of the academics. Latin came secondary only to such literature as "The Blue Fairy Book", Mark Twain and Christian scriptural studies.

Academics

The basis of the curriculum is formed by the study of documents like the Bible and the Classics (Classics are defined by the CPLS to be works of literature which have been read for at least three generations). It is designed in such a manner as to both give the students a conventional academic coverage and further their knowledge of the Christian religion.

Fine Arts

Drama and Musical Performance

Each spring, students in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to participate in a full-length dramatic production. Each fall, students in grades 9-12 put on a full-length musical production, with performances spanning two weekends.

Choir, Choral, and Fine Arts

Choir is an elective class for students in grades 9-12. Students perform at the spring, fall and Christmas music concerts and participate in the MAACS (Mid-America Association of Christian Schools) competition each spring.

The school's premier high school choral group is known as the Madrigals. Candidates are chosen by audition.

As a member of MAACS (Mid-America Association of Christian Schools), CPLS participates each spring in an academic and fine arts competition held at Tri-City Christian School in Independence, Missouri. Categories include: choral performances, vocal and instrumental performances, dramatic readings, expository readings, art competition and academic testing.

Athletics

[
[http://cpls.org/Athletics/athleticsmainpage.html CPLS Athletics ] ] This championship topped off a stellar 11-3 regular season. [ [http://cpls.org/Athletics/athleticsmainpage.html CPLS Athletics ] ] ]

The school has numerous teams.

The soccer team has won the KCAA state tournament in six of the last eight years, including five straight titles from 2000 to 2004. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_20041031/ai_n11820324 Cair Paravel earns fifth KCAA title | Topeka Capital-Journal, The | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] The Lions also finished second in 2005 and 2007. From 2003 to 2006, CPLS compiled an astounding 44-17-4 record. [ [http://cpls.org/Athletics/athleticsmainpage.html CPLS Athletics ] ]

In 2007, the 2007 CPLS football team completed their best season in school history, finishing 10- 0.

The 2006 CPLS Lady Lions finished their season with a 20-9 record and a second place finish in the KCAA Tournament.

In addition to these teams, CPLS has both a golf and a basketball program.

External links

* [http://www.cpls.org/ Cair Paravel-Latin School website]
* [http://www.accsedu.org/ Association of Classical Christian Schools website]

References

Bibliography

*United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places submission for Topeka High School, Shawnee County, Kansas, (22 April 2005)
*"Gone But Not Forgotten: The Lost Schools of Topeka", Shawnee County Historical Society, Bulletin Number 67, pp 52-53, November 1990.