A rustic leather-bound summer reading journal The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame — a 1908 cloth-bound edition illustrated by E. H. Shepard
☀ Estival Term · Anno Domini MMXXVI

the classical school’s invitation to

Summer☀& Enrichment

Carpe aestatem. — Seize the summer.

♛

A cloth-bound novel and a leather reading journal, a shaded beech tree and a long afternoon — this is the classical summer, small enough to leave plenty of sunshine behind.

Optional ☀ Live & Online ☀ Four Weeks or Fewer

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“Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”
— Galatians 6:9

Summer Is Not Downtime

Le Grand Tour by Italo Zannier, a 19th-century photography book of the Grand Tour

Otium cum dignitate — leisure with dignity, as Cicero had it. Rest matters, and a school year ordered around the liberal arts also honors the sabbath principle: work, then rest. Summer is not the end of learning — it is a different kind of learning. Slower reading. Longer walks. Deeper attention to one or two things instead of many.

Virtualis is planning optional summer enrichment programs for families who want their students to continue in the liberal arts through June and July. These programs are never required, and they are designed to complement summer rhythms, not compete with them. A student should still have time to climb trees, read for pleasure, and do nothing at all.

Summer enrichment programs ready for 2026–27. Specific offerings, dates, and pricing for the next summer will be published on this page and announced through the newsletter.

How Summer at Virtualis Will Work

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Optional

Never required. A choice for families who want it, not a default.

★

Short

A few weeks per program. Long enough to do real work. Not a second school year.

☯

Live

Real faculty, real instruction, real conversation — just less of it than the school year.

☸

Focused

One subject, one text, one skill at a time. Enrichment, not breadth.

Programs We Plan to Offer

Four pathways Virtualis is building for summer enrichment. Specific offerings will vary by year and student interest.

I

Latin Intensives

Short focused courses for students who want to begin Latin or push further in the language they have already started. Weekly live sessions with a faculty member, paired with independent reading and translation.

II

Great Books Seminars

Small-group Socratic discussions on a single great work — the Odyssey, the Confessions, the Divine Comedy — stretched over several weeks of slow, careful reading.

III

Writing Workshops

Focused instruction for students who want to grow as essayists, rhetoricians, or creative writers. Guided composition, peer review, and faculty feedback.

IV

Mathematics Deep Dives

Topics-based math enrichment for students who love the subject or want to shore up a specific area before the next school year. Classical approach — understanding precedes calculation.

V

Nature & Natural History

Field-based nature study and guided journaling. Students observe the world carefully, sketch what they see, and learn to name it. The oldest kind of science.

VI

Sacred Music Lab

A short seminar on sacred music from plainchant forward — what to listen for, why it was written that way, and how it shapes the interior life. May involve guided recitation or singing.

How Summer Programs Will Work

Entirely optional

Summer enrichment is never required. Students who finish the school year well deserve rest, and we do not believe summer should be a miniature school year. These programs are for families who want the option, not a default.

Short and focused

Each program will run for a limited number of weeks — long enough to do real work, short enough to leave plenty of summer behind. Live instruction will be limited to a few hours per week, with most of the work done independently.

Distinct from the school year

Summer programs do not count toward the 180-day school year. They are supplementary enrichment, not core curriculum, and they are graded differently or not graded at all depending on the program.

Pricing and availability

Summer program pricing, registration windows, and specific course offerings will be announced as they are finalized. Watch this page and the newsletter for details. Some programs may have grade-level prerequisites or a minimum enrollment to run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is summer enrichment required?
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No. Summer enrichment programs are always optional. Students who finish the school year well deserve rest, and we encourage families to enjoy their summer. These programs are for families who want the option.
Who can enroll in summer programs?
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Most summer programs are open to enrolled Virtualis students. Some programs may also be available to students from outside Virtualis who want a taste of classical education before considering full enrollment. Availability and eligibility will be announced with each program.
How much do summer programs cost?
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Pricing has not yet been announced for the upcoming summer. It will be published here and in the newsletter before registration opens. Families interested in using Arizona ESA funds for summer programs should contact our admissions team to discuss eligibility.
Does summer enrichment count toward the school year?
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No. Summer programs are supplementary and do not count toward the 180-day instructional year. They are designed to complement, not replace, the core curriculum offered during the standard school year.
How will I hear when programs are announced?
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Subscribe to our newsletter through the signup in the footer of any page. New summer programs will also be posted on this page and on the Announcements page as they are finalized.

Stay in the Loop

Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about the next round of summer enrichment programs as they are announced.

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