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Divine Mercy Academy was established in 2019 with the goal of infusing the virtues of truth, beauty and goodness into children’s education. While the program began with only 19 students, it has grown to over 108 students in three, short years. The school, which is located in Pasadena, Maryland, provides students in grades K-8 with a classical, liberal arts curriculum that is anchored by faith.
The school’s founder, Mr. Ali Ghaffari, a recently retired Navy fighter pilot, started the program with a deeply personal mission. After being stationed around the country with his family and sending his children to a variety of schools, he and his wife felt that there was something significant that was missing from both the academic curriculum and the spiritual formation that their children had experienced. Inspired by the incredible turnaround of St. Jerome’s Catholic School in Hyattsville, Maryland, after they transitioned to a Classical Liberal Arts curriculum, Mr. Ghaffari decided to choose this model for establishing a new school, Divine Mercy Academy.
The Classical Liberal Arts educational model assumes a higher purpose for and a deeper meaning to life. It is faith seeking understanding. The goal of liberal arts education is true freedom – freeing the mind so that it can understand God and the world that He created in order that we may serve Him better. This freedom brings true happiness and joy.
At Divine Mercy Academy, instead of subjects being perceived as separate entities, they are all presented as interrelated facets of the human experience. The classical model piques children’s natural curiosity with the greatest works of Western civilization and inspires them to joyfully explore the expanse of material without limiting their curiosity. The result of this method is a love of God, a love of learning and a love of school.
Divine Mercy Academy is place where parents are always welcome in the classroom and are expected to play an active role in their children’s education. At the core of the school’s ethos is the belief that parents are the primary teachers of their children, and it is a school’s responsibility to support them. Bernadette and Justin McClain, parents of four children at Divine Mercy Academy, say: “When parents decide on a school, they are making a choice to entrust their kids’ formation to a team that echoes their values. When we walked into Divine Mercy Academy and found a school that supported our values and our education mission for our family, we immediately felt so comfortable sending them there.” Chester Bartels, a father of a Kindergarten student, described Divine Mercy Academy is “so much more than a school. It is a strong community and a truly collaborative effort. Everyone is involved, including teachers, parents, administrators, and volunteers. Most faculty members have kids here and we all share the same values and goals for our children’s formation.”
With an average class size of eleven (which is half of that of most schools in the area), teachers at Divine Mercy Academy are able to “teach to the child”, allowing each student to grow and learn at their own pace, while helping them to develop a sincere curiosity for each subject, and a desire to go deeper into the details by asking, “why”.
Each day incorporates prayers and faith into the dynamic, academic rigors. Mornings begin with the entire student body gathering for daily Mass. In classes, students are taught Latin as well as history, language arts science, math, music, art and world cultures. During quiet time in homeroom, students and teachers pray the rosary. Each day ends with all students praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
“We are incredibly proud to provide this challenging curriculum paired with a thoroughly Catholic ethos, at an affordable tuition for families who are seeking to educate and inspire their children towards a lifelong love of learning and a deep devotion to living the life that God has called them to live,” says school founder, Mr. Ali Ghaffari,
We invite you to come discover the difference that this educational model makes in the lives of our students and their families at one of our two upcoming Open House events.
Monday, October 24th from 9:30 – 11:00 am
or
Thursday, January 26th from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
To support our current and future families during these challenging economic times, a drawing for one tuition credit worth $1000.00 will take place at each of our Open House events. There will be 1 chance/ticket given to every family. The winner must be in attendance to accept the credit.
To set an appointment for a school tour, send an email to administrator@divinemercy.md and for more information, please visit our website at www.DivineMercy.md
Divine Mercy Academy 8513 St. Jane Drive Pasadena, MD 21122 410-705-0778
