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ABOUT CBC ACADEMY
CBC Academy is a Christian homeschool program. Our mission is to help parents educate their children about God’s world within community. CBC Academy meets once a week on Tuesdays for 28 weeks from August to May.
The elementary program starts at pre-K through 6th grade students. We also have a junior high program for 7th/8th grade students (please see “Junior High” section for more info). There is a nursery available for children under 4 years of age as of September 30th that have at least one older sibling that is age eligible for the program.
Our desire is to support fellow Christian homeschool families, engage in classically-based education as a community, provide children with opportunities that are more difficult to do in a home-based setting and to enhance subjects that tend to be “materials heavy.”
our teaching materials
Included subjects for the elementary program are memory work, science, public speaking, fine arts for all students and writing for 4th-6th graders. Because we are a supplemental homeschool program, core subjects are not covered, such as a complete math curriculum or language arts/grammar. We do not teach children how to read or write. They should be expected to know how to write by the time they enter the writing program in 4th grade.
our schedule
The morning section of the program starts at 9:00a and ends at 12:00p for a lunch hour. The afternoon section of the program is for 4th-6th graders.
We start the morning with assembly where all the families gather in the sanctuary for prayer, hymn singing and announcements. We also memorize 1-2 Psalms throughout the year. After morning assembly, parents take their children to their classrooms. The classes are arranged on a rotating schedule to allow for all classes to partake in a fine arts class and one science tutor.
During the lunch hour, the first 20 minutes are dedicated to eating. At 12:20, we open the sanctuary for fun and activities for the rest of the lunch hour (families are put on a rotation to oversee the activity room and/or clean the lunch area).
Beginning at 1:00p, 4th-6th graders go to their writing class. We use Institute for Excellence in Writing. (https://iew.com/). The IEW portion of the afternoon class lasts approximately one hour.
our subjects
Memory Work
Memory work consists of a compilation of facts consisting of Timeline, Latin, English Grammar, Math, History and Geography that is split into 28 weeks. We additionally include catechism questions from The New City Catechism (kids version). Tutors teach this information via songs, hand motions, exercises and various other fun activities.
Public Speaking
Children have a presentation segment where they will each be given approximately 3 minutes to present on whatever they want. It can be a show-and-tell with a toy from home, a recitation of a Bible passage, poem, song, etc., a story about an event they experienced such as a birthday, etc. Tutors may give prompts to students to add in variety. The 5th/6th grade students will also do a few weeks of debating during this time slot. Presentation hour is also the time for students to have their snacks when they are not the ones presenting.
Fine Arts
There is an art class for fine arts this year taught by two separate teachers. One teacher teaches 4th-6th grade and the other teaches preK-3rd grade.
The lessons relate to the history topics of the current cycle.
Once a month, PE takes the place of art class.
Science
For the science portion, it is expected that the assigned reading for the week is done before Academy. In class, tutors discuss the assigned chapter and perform related experiments and demonstrations with the students. The 5th/6th grade students are given quizzes to ensure they are reading ahead of class.
Because we believe that community and fellowship matters, we also provide opportunities for additional events. We have quarterly field trips, moms nights out (and occasionally dads nights out) and encourage families to attend events hosted by the church, such as our “Family Fun Day” and the “Daddy Daughter Dance.”
The week before Christmas break, the children have an opportunity to try being an entrepreneur through our Christmas market! During the lunch hour, children (and parents) are encouraged to sell a product they wish and the community is invited to shop at their booths.
All of our tutors have fingerprint clearance cards and all other families in the program have undergone background checks to ensure safety for our community.
Our Philosophy of Education
CBC Academy follows the classical model of education with a touch of Charlotte Mason model for the science portion.
The classical model is composed of three stages of learning:
Grammar, Dialetic (Logic) and Rhetoric.
The grammar stage is when you learn words and basic facts through memorization. We will do this through songs, hand motions, exercises, games and other various activities. This is the stage we will emphasize in the elementary-aged students at Academy.
The dialectic stage, also known as the logic stage, trains you to sort and understand those facts and how they work together.
The rhetoric stage is where you winsomely present the truth and knowledge to others. This can be done in a program through giving a speech, going through a math problem, writing a poem, etc.
The Charlotte Mason method uses “living books” rather than textbooks to teach material, which are written in narrative form, to make the information more engaging for the learner.
The Charlotte Mason model is composed of "living books."
The educational principles of Charlotte Mason emphasizes that children learn best through meaningful experiences, rich literature, and direct interaction with God's creation. Rather than relying heavily on textbooks and worksheets, students engage with "living books"—well-written books that inspire curiosity and imagination.
Science instruction is centered around Sassafras Science Adventures from Elemental Science. Through engaging stories, narration, experiments, demonstrations, discussions, and nature observation, students discover scientific concepts while developing wonder for the world God created. Hands-on activities reinforce learning and encourage students to ask questions, make observations, and think critically.
Our Director and Tutors
Meet Our Director
Dianne Settlage has been a member of CBC since 2014. She was born and raised in Arizona, attended ASU for her bachelor's degree and completed a doctor of optometry from Midwestern University. She has been married since 2014 to Caleb and together, they have 4 beautiful children. She has stepped down from optometric clinical care to focus on raising, discipling and homeschooling her children. She has been assistant teaching as adjunct faculty at the Arizona College of Optometry at Midwestern University since 2017. She was a previous director at another homeschool program and was given the honor to help CBC start its own homeschool program in 2023. She loves reading, crafting, playing pickleball, thrifting, and health/nutrition.
Meet Our Tutors
Phil Iwinski
Phil Iwinski
Phil Iwinski has been a supporter of homeschooling children since the early 1990s. As a dad of nine, his wife, Debbie, and he have engaged in the homeschool journey with all their children beginning in 1992. As a graduate in engineering from Kansas State University, along with a masters in international business from the University of South Carolina, his passion is mentoring children to build their faith and to think critically.
He enjoys cross cultural experiences, golf, AI related subjects and building community in education.
Christina Burz
Christina Burz
After being a part of CBC Academy last year, Christina is excited to be teaching this year! She was married in 2014 and has three children ages 6, 7, and 9. Her two older children started out in public school but were soon pulled out to homeschool which has helped her family flourish, creating more bonding time together. She has a bachelor's degree from ASU in Psychology and has worked as a data entry specialist for several years. She decided to be home with her kids to help educate them and bring them closer to God. She loves reading, playing board games and being active with her children.d here from Ohio.
Charlotte Atkins
Charlotte Atkins
Charlotte has a passion for learning and loves teaching children. She began teaching nearly 7 years ago with a home based piano and voice studio. As a previously homeschooled student herself, she enjoyed helping tutor her younger brother which cultivated a passion for the education style and benefits homeschooling brings. Currently she is in school as an Elementary Education major with a year at Pensacola Christian College, but now enrolled locally. Outside of school she sings in the choir at her home church, Northwest Community, and volunteers at their Justice Clinic Law ministry. She enjoys editing her friend’s college papers, planning hikes and outings with her young adults group, and loves playing pickleball with friends.
Benita Toma
Benita Toma
Benita Toma has a BA in Biology and certificates in European and Russian Studies from Arizona State University, and she's now pursuing an AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant Studies. Her teaching career spans from preschool to tutoring special needs students. Beyond her academic and professional endeavors, Benita is deeply involved in her community through her roles at Christ Bible Church as a youth leader, Sunday school teacher, and choir director. In her free time, Benita enjoys playing cello, indulging in fantasy literature, exploring genetics, and practicing embroidery and crochet.
emily arena
Emily Arena
Emily has known she wanted to homeschool before her oldest daughter was born, and has loved getting to be home and teach each of her children in the way they learn best. She has been married to her husband Jonny for 10+ years and they are excited to welcome their 4th baby later this year. As a family they love board games, camping, and visiting local coffee shops.
Tatianna Botea
Tatianna Botea
Tatianna Botea has loved homeschooling since her oldest started seven years ago. She's been married to her husband since 2011, and together they've been raising 3 wonderful kids: George, Malachi, and Hannah. Among other things, she enjoys reading books with her kids, managing a small chicken farm, and learning about native plants & permaculture. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Geography with a focus on Meteorology from Arizona State University. She has been integral in starting CBC Academy in 2023 and is excited to be a part of CBC Academy again this year.
Julie Goodson
Julie Goodson
Julie and her husband Jeff are Arizona natives, married for 24 years with 5 kids. A former ER nurse, she has been a homeschooling mom for fourteen years now. She loves learning about the world God created and enjoys sharing that excitement with her own kids and the kids in her class. Her goal is to raise critical thinkers, Socratic debaters, and disciples of Jesus Christ. Her favorite subjects are Science, Latin, History, Art and Apologetics! She is a true believer that hard is not bad and looks to encourage other families in their homeschooling journey. Outside of homeschooling, her favorite things to do are traveling, camping, watching her kids play sports, and making her house feel like home!
Marcie lund
Marcie Lund
Homeschooling became legal in Washington State in July 1985, just in time for Marcie Lund to begin kindergarten that fall. Today Marcie is a 2nd generation homeschooler to her three children: Keegan, Therrin, and Meadow. She and her husband Scott both grew up in Southwest Washington, where many of their family members still reside. The Lunds look forward to escaping the Arizona heat to visit them for a few weeks every summer. Marcie received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Washington State University, where she also played Division I tennis. In her limited spare time, Marcie enjoys reading many different book genres, cooking creative, nutritious meals for her family, playing pickleball, and socializing with friends and family through board and card games.
Megan higgins
Megan Higgins
Megan is a wife and stay at home mother of three. As a born and raised Phoenix native, Megan attended Arizona State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in special education and teaching. Megan's education and experience in teaching makes her a great homeschool mom and tutor for Christ Bible Church Academy.
Megan met her husband, Danny, in 2014 and they have three kids, Jack, Henry, and Rosie. In addition to running a busy household, Megan loves to go dancing, camping, and spending time with friends and family.
Academy Schedule
curriculum and cost
K-6th grade
$1,250 per student per year
$625 Per Semester
Kindergarten
$1,150 per student per year
$575 Per Semester
Pre-K
$360 per student per year
$180 Per Semester
Nursery
$252 per child per year
$126 per semester
Or $9.00 a day for 3 hours.
IEW
$200 per student per year
$100 per semester
The tuition covers the experiment materials for the science curriculum and fine arts supplies. Tuition does NOT cover the books for memory work, science or encyclopedias. Tuition is due either by year, semester, or quarter (depending on the parent preference). We are ESA eligible and are ESA vendors as “Christ Bible Church Academy.”
Junior High
Welcome to our junior high program! Below, you will find an overview of our structured schedule, divided into morning and afternoon segments, along with year-round elective options and special projects designed to enrich the student experience.
Junior High is where CBC Academy incorporates critical thinking, the logic stage of the Classical teaching model. Our program is designed to inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning. We look forward to guiding your students on this educational journey.
our schedule
Morning Segmant
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Hymn with Assembly
Each day begins with everyone in the sanctuary with a hymn and a Psalm during assembly, fostering a reflective and focused start. This assembly includes the elementary aged students of CBC Academy.
Science (45 minutes)
We utilize the Elemental Science: Classical Series Logic Stage curriculum, a rigorous and classical-style curriculum. Learn more about Elemental Science.
The 2026-2027 academic year is going through “Chemistry for the Logic Stage.”
History and Geography (45 minutes)
The Classical Historian curriculum serves as the backbone of this segment, emphasizing Socratic discussions in history.
History is the only subject that is on a 3-year cycle; topics include:
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Ancient History
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Medieval Civilizations
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American History
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This does mean that junior high students only go through two of the three subjects, depending on when they are in the program. Parents are welcome to go through the third subject during the student’s 6th grade academic year at home.
This year's topic is Medieval History.
Geography is seamlessly woven into the history curriculum for a well-rounded perspective using "Mapping the World With Art" cartography curriculum.
Rotating Electives (45 minutes)
Cycle 1: Logic
Students delve into Introductory Logic by Canon Press, a foundational course designed to develop critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Cycle 2: Foundations of Faith
Pastor Randy is developing a custom curriculum for an enriching faith-based learning experience.
The 2026-2027 school year is on Cycle 2.
Lunch
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Students have a 1-hour lunch break that they can spend in their classroom or in the designated outdoor space. There is the occasional opportunity to participate in chess club, sewing projects or other activities that are offered throughout the year.
Afternoon Segment
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Writing and Literature
Persuasive writing is taught using The Lost Tools of Writing, Level 1. Literature study includes discussions on books, short stories, poems, and longer works, many taken from The Lost Tools of Writing prompts.
Recommended resources include:
It is required to be enrolled for both the morning and afternoon segments to enhance the learning process for all students in the junior high program.
Year-Long Projects
Each year, students present on a culture/country at the end of the fall semester and a science experiment of their choice to research and present their findings at the end of the spring semester:
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Fall: Culture and Geography Fair
Students research a country of their choice, write a research paper, present their findings, and may offer a culinary sample representative of the country. -
Spring: Science Fair
Students design an experiment, develop a hypothesis, write a research paper, and present their findings to the rest of the community.
Extra-Curricular Activities
We encourage students to join Christ Bible Church’s youth program to have fellowship and develop community with other youth from our church in the same age group.
We hope to offer volunteer opportunities throughout the academic year to allow the students to serve those that are less fortunate.
Quarterly field trips will be offered to all of CBC Academy students, elementary or junior high aged.
FAQs
Why have we chosen a faith-neutral science curriculum?
Using a faith-neutral, rigorous science curriculum is a better choice for preparing elementary and middle school children because it equips them with a solid foundation in critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and scientific literacy—skills essential for success in higher education and an increasingly globalized, technology-driven world. While a Christian-based curriculum may align with specific spiritual values, if it lacks academic rigor, it can leave gaps in students’ understanding of key scientific principles, limiting their ability to engage meaningfully in advanced STEM fields. A faith-neutral curriculum, by focusing on universally accepted scientific methodologies and concepts, ensures students are well-prepared to excel in any academic or professional environment, while still leaving space for families to incorporate faith-based perspectives outside of the classroom. This approach respects both intellectual and spiritual development, fostering well-rounded, competent learners who can critically engage with a diverse and complex world.
Apply to CBC Academy
All families at CBC Academy are required to fill out an application for students in order to attend. Please click the link below to access the application to fill it out.
Please email completed application to academy@christbible.church.
