Above, the Excelsior Academy advanced drama class, back row: Morgan Carlson, Samuel Hess, Evan Greene, Jeb Butler, Alex Letts, Ethan Harmon, Erin Williams, Susie Robelot, Grace Treadaway, Gracie Stevenson, Taylor Marshall, Julie Robelot, Chase Hall, Carston Bryant, Megan Weeks, Katharine Kneisley; middle row: Perry Andrysczyk, Gracie Hutchinson, Lizzie Bird, Nadia Threatt, Bristow Richards, Monica Garvin, Bonnie Bryant, Sarah Straney; front row: Ashleigh Milam, Alexis Crooks, Anna Leigh Weiland, Elliot Greene, Sam Bryant, Aaron Hannus (Some students area missing from picture.) Below; Alex Letts, Ethan Harmon, Samuel Hess, and Evan Greene practice a scene in The Legend of Camelot.

Excelsior! Academy is a school program for homeschoolers that meets once weekly at Park Street Baptist Church. Director Amanda Harmon, mother of four, explains what makes Excelsior! unique: "Excelsior! teaches fine arts from a Biblical, historical perspective and offers support to [homeschooling] parents."

Over 200 students, in grades K- 4 through 12 attend the 3- hour program to study history, literature, drama, music, and art. About 90 percent of the students also take electives such as advanced drama, chivalry, and guitar. High school classes in government, economics, biology, and literature and composition are also offered. Classes are divided into grades with about 15 students in each class.

Harmon believes it is important that homeschoolers have opportunities like this, especially in a classroom environment. Parent and mother of two, Roxann Threatt concurs, "My children get to be with other children in an academic environment, which challenges them to achieve their best. They get a wider range of instruction from teachers with expertise in areas of fine arts and a wide variety of subjects."

Excelsior! has about 20 teachers and seven helpers who lead the program. All have teaching backgrounds, with many being former full- time professional teachers who have come to the program either by connections with the homeschool community, as parents, or by word of mouth. During the school year, they do extensive work preparing for each course.

Since classes meet only once weekly, students and parents are responsible for making sure homework is done. This usually involves reading assignments and Scripture memorization as well as activities like map- work and written assignments that accompany what they are studying.

Those who attend Excelsior! can also participate in events and field trips in connection with classes. Excelsior! has had Christmas concerts, period dances, and plays.

This year, the students are studying the Medieval time period. For the drama class, this means they are practicing for the upcoming one- hour play The Legend of Camelot written by teacher Sarah Straney. The play will be open to the public and held at Park Street Baptist on April 2 and 3. The extensive cast includes Megan Weeks as Guinevere, Samuel Hess as Merlin, Sam Bryant as young Arthur, Chase Hall as Arthur, and Carston Bryant as Lancelot.

Harmon, who this year replaced longtime director Diana Stevenson, sums up what Excelsior! is all about: "Excelsior! helps students see the 'big picture' of God's plan through history while integrating this knowledge with a fine arts experience to give them a well- rounded experience."

More information about Excelsior! and the upcoming Legend of Camelot play can be found at the Excelsior! website: www.excelsioracademy.org

Next year, students will be studying the period of the Renaissance, Reformation and Expansion of Nations. New families can begin registering as early as April 1.