The Reformation Academy of Calgary is a one-day-a-week program of study to equip and inspire Christian home educated students. It is designed for junior high and high school students (aged 13-18) who can work independently.
The namesake of the Reformation Academy of Calgary is the Geneva Academy, started by John Calvin in 1559. Calvin founded the academy to train ministers and educate youth in theology, law, and the humanities. It is that same desire, to bring biblical reformation through education, that has led to the creation of the Reformation Academy of Calgary.
During a weekly one-day program of study, students will have time to work independently on their home education curriculum, get physical exercise in the gymnasium, be in fellowship with other students, and receive instruction from experienced teachers. The Reformation Academy is not designed to replace your existing course of study, but to supplement and enhance it.
Below you’ll find a schedule with detailed descriptions so you can find out more what happens at the Reformation Academy.
Contents:
2025-26 Schedule
The Academy meets at Fairview Baptist Church (3311 Centre St N) on Tuesdays for the Fall and Winter Semesters.
The fall semester runs 16 weeks from September 2 through December 16, 2025.
The winter semester runs 16 weeks from January 13 through May 5, 2026 (excepting March 24).
Tuesday Schedule
7:30am Pancake Breakfast
Students of the academy begin the day with a pancake breakfast where each person helps out in preparation and clean up. Breakfast conversation ranges from current events to personal Bible reading.
8:30am Independent Study Time
During this time students work independently on their coursework. This is an opportunity for them to complete their regular homeschool studies. Each student is expected to bring material from home to complete and respect others during this time of dedicated study.
10:00am Girls Gym
Girls and different than boys. That difference is most pronounced in physical activity. While bodily training is of some value (1 Tim 4:8), it must respect the differences between male and female. This time provides an opportunity for the girls to learn different sports, build teamwork, expend energy, and have fun.
11:00am Boys Gym
Boys will be challenged to build and control their strength through teamwork, sportsmanship, and fitness—all while having fun.
12:00pm Lunch Break
Students should bring their own lunch.
1:00pm Class 1
Each class is one hour long with a 15 minute break between each class. The course offerings vary by semester. See below for the courses being held in the Fall semester, and the Winter semester.
2:15pm Class 2
3:30pm Class 3
4:30pm End of Day
Students need to be picked up by their parents between 4:30 and 5:00pm.
While Reformation Academy was originally designed to serve the families of Fairview Baptist Church, we do consider children from other like-minded reformed churches who hold to the historic faith expressed in doctrinal statements such as The Westminster Confession, 1689 London Baptist Confession, and the Belgic Confession & Canons of Dort.
Fall Semester Courses (2025)
September 2 – December 16, 2025
10am | Girls Gym I (Badminton, Basketball)
This class teaches the rules and basic techniques for badminton and basketball. Non marking running shoes and appropriate clothing is recommended.
Teacher: TBA
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00am-11:00am
11am | Boys Gym I (Badminton, Basketball)
This class teaches the rules and basic techniques for badminton and basketball. Non marking running shoes and appropriate clothing is recommended.
Teacher: Rob Barriault
Time: Tuesdays, 11:00am-12:00pm
1pm | Class 1: Economics (How the World Runs by Kevin Swanson)
This class covers the material in How the World Runs (And Your Part in It) by Kevin Swanson. Students should have the text and workbook, available from Generations curriculum.
Teacher: Tim Stephens
Time: Tuesdays, 1:00pm-2:00pm
2:15pm | Class 2: Logic I (Introductory Logic: The Fundamentals of Thinking Well by Canon Press)
This class covers the material in Introductory Logic: The Fundamentals of Thinking Well by Canon Press. In this class you’ll learn the fundamentals you need to think well wherever you are, including: How to properly define terms for maximum precision and accuracy — and thus win the debate; How to form and interpret statements, the building blocks of logical thought; How to compose valid syllogisms, and — just as importantly — expose the invalid fakes using counterexamples; How to analyze arguments in normal English; How to identify and deflect informal fallacies (one of the most instantly applicable parts of logic); And much more!
Students should have the student workbook available at Amazon.
Teacher: Tim Stephens
Time: Tuesdays, 2:15pm-3:15pm
3:30pm | Class 3: Programming and Technology
Students will gain familiarity with the basics of programming by learning JavaScript and Python. In later weeks, students will apply this knowledge with real world interactions learning about sensors and motors. Students are encouraged to bring a laptop or Chromebook that can run a browser. This course uses units from Khan Academy’s Intro to JavaScript (https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming) and their Introduction to Computer Science with Python (https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/intro-to-python-fundamentals).
Teacher: Richard Bergen
Time: Tuesdays, 3:30pm-4:30pm
Winter Semester Courses (2026)
January 13 – May 5, 2026 (no classes March 24)
10am | Girls Gym II (Volleyball, Indoor Soccer)
This class teaches the rules and basic techniques for volleyball and soccer. Non marking running shoes and appropriate clothing is recommended.
Teacher: TBA
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00am-11:00am
11am | Boys Gym II (Volleyball, Indoor Soccer)
This class teaches the rules and basic techniques for volleyball and soccer. Non marking running shoes and appropriate clothing is recommended.
Teacher: Rob Barriault
Time: Tuesdays, 11:00am-12:00pm
1pm | Class 1: Speech and Debate (The Rhetoric Companion by N.D. Wilson and Douglas Wilson)
This class gives students an opportunity to write articles, speeches, and engage in debate. For the Christian student of rhetoric, manipulative sophistry is clearly out of bounds. But putting careful thought into what constitutes eloquent speech and persuasive argument is not. What many people dismiss as a bunch of rhetoric is simply poor rhetoric. There is a Christian approach to the craft of memorable and effective expression, and it is the task of this course to lay out that approach.
Students should have the course text available at Amazon.
Teacher: Tim Stephens
Time: Tuesdays, 1:00pm-2:00pm
2:15pm | Class 2: Christian Virtue for Young Men and Young Ladies
This class covers Christian virtues and manners especially appropriate for young people entering adulthood. The Bible gives much instruction on how we ought to conduct ourselves. This class gets to the heart of the matter and then moves to the hands of the matter as well to give students a practical vision of the Christian life.
Teacher: Tim Stephens
Time: Tuesdays, 2:15pm-3:15pm
3:30pm | Class 3: Fundamental Principles of Remote Sensing (and how it applies to the broader fields of science and engineering)
Remote sensing is a multi-disciplinary field, bringing system design, software/hardware application, and data analysis together under a single umbrella. The semester will begin through understanding cartography/GIS and how this is applied in the modern world (such as in Google maps). The following weeks will focus on the core field of remote sensing (remotely capturing information/data) with numerous examples/applications showing how prevalent this technology is in our current world. The subsequent section will be dedicated to understanding the scientific and engineering principles required to design remote sensing systems (sensor design, basic optics, basic satellite design). The semester shall conclude by looking at Earth/Space interactions based on the previous weeks work and the importance of understanding these interactions.
Teacher: Stephan Lich
Time: Tuesdays, 3:30pm-4:30pm
Teachers
Rev. Dr. Timothy Stephens
Tim is the Senior Pastor at Fairview Baptist Church. He received his Bachelors of Applied Science in Computer Engineering at Queen’s University, his Masters of Divinity at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Ministry in Expository Preaching at the Masters Seminary.
Rob Barriault
Rob serves as the Pastoral Assistant and Deacon of Operations at Fairview Baptist Church. He has a wide educational background, he received his Bachelors of Religious Education and Masters of Divinity at Tyndale University, his Masters of Theology Studies from Reformed Baptist Seminary, and he also received Diplomas in Marketing as well as Fitness and Health promotion from Algonquin College. He has worked as a personal trainer, teaching fitness classes, and training athletes at Carleton University.
Richard Bergen
Richard is a Systems Engineer at a leading cybersecurity company, bringing over 25 years of IT experience, with 15 years focused on cybersecurity and has also served as a DevOps programmer in the AI industry. An automation enthusiast, he enjoys Python programming, leveraging it to solve challenges. Passionate about sharing knowledge, Richard loves teaching and inspiring others in the field.
Stephan Lich
Stephan Lich works at a small Aerospace/Defense group as the Technical Manager and has been involved in a wide variety of projects and roles over the past 18 years. Stephan brings a global perspective to this class as the majority of his work has been with overseas clients, supporting both their public and private programs. He completed his initial BSc in Archaeology at the University of Calgary, realized that this wouldn’t feed a family and returned to complete a second BSc in Earth Sciences in 2007.
Fees
It is our desire to have no financial barriers to be part of the Reformation Academy. As such, there are no fees for students who are part of the community at Fairview Baptist Church. Students outside the Fairview community are required to pay a small $40 fee per semester to help cover costs.
Some courses may have additional free requirements to cover the cost of supplies or other material. Such fees are noted on the course offerings above and at registration.