Advertise on podcast: Hoplite Radio

What happens when a school community reads together? In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Headmaster Derek Anderson sits down with Outdoor Education Leader Kristen Carvalho to discuss the books explored through Ridgeview’s parent reading groups. From Middlemarch and Henry James to A Separate Peace and The Enormous Radio, they explore what great literature can teach us about human nature, friendship, duty, technology, education, and the choices that shape our lives. Anderson and Carvalho discuss the value of encountering a book for yourself, wrestling with difficult ideas, hearing perspectives different from your own, and building a community where people can have substantive conversations. As Anderson puts it, the goal is not simply to create better readers, but to cultivate people who are capable of meaningful and civil conversation with one another.

Is public schooling truly a partnership between parents and schools? In this perspective, Mr. Anderson explores what it means for parents to make an informed, intentional choice about their children’s education and to remain actively involved in that education beyond the occasional conference or school event. Ridgeview believes parents are not spectators or simply recipients of an educational service, but essential partners in the formation of their children. From visiting classrooms and knowing teachers to volunteering, attending reading groups, chaperoning outdoor trips, and participating in the broader life of the school, meaningful partnership requires parents to experience Ridgeview as it really is. We discuss why parental involvement matters, the importance of transparency and informed choice, and how schools can complement rather than replace parental authority. Ultimately, education is about far more than what happens in a classroom. It is about helping children know, believe, and become, and that work is strongest when parents and schools undertake it together.

At 250 years old, America is a young country. Of course, some say we are not the country we were founded to be. They claim, with some credibility, that the republic ended in 1861, and that a nation rose from its ashes. Rome lasted a little less than five hundred years, Spain has existed for a little over 500, and England for perhaps 1,100. Are any of these the countries they began as, and if not, to what or whom do they make their patriotic appeals?

In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Ridgeview Classical Schools Headmaster Mr. Anderson sits down with third-grade teacher Sydney Bogle to discuss her remarkable journey from serving tables at Silver Grill Café to leading her own classroom at Ridgeview. Sydney shares how a chance conversation with Ridgeview staff members while working as a waitress led her to discover classical education and a career she never expected. A recent graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in psychology, Sydney entered Ridgeview as a teaching assistant before unexpectedly stepping into a third-grade teaching role just days later. The conversation explores the value of charter schools, the impact of strong school communities, and how Ridgeview's classical education model develops students who are academically capable, highly literate, and grounded in character. Sydney reflects on her own experience attending a charter school, her transition into teaching, and why she believes today's students benefit from a learning environment centered on books, handwriting, discussion, and meaningful relationships rather than screens. Parents considering a classical charter school will gain insight into Ridgeview's approach to character formation, rigorous academics, and teacher support. Aspiring educators will also hear an encouraging story about how mentorship, community, and a willingness to take risks can open unexpected doors.

Mr. Anderson presents the Commencement Address for 2026 graduates. "I would like to begin as Aurelius began…with gratitude. I would like to thank the parents of the students seated behind me. Without you, and without you having chosen us, we would never have been let into these lives. We would never have been a part of their stories, and they would never have featured in so many of ours. Everyone who has delighted in them would be less without them. What was most important to you became important to us."

In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Ridgeview Classical Schools seniors Isabel and Oskar reflect on their seven-year journey through classical education, rigorous academics, outdoor education, and student life at Ridgeview. Isabel shares how mountain biking, volunteering, and the outdoor program shaped her understanding of community and self-discipline, while Oskar discusses robotics, engineering, bilingualism, and the influence of his Polish heritage on his educational journey. Together, they explore the value of classical education, senior thesis projects, outdoor trips, close-knit student culture, and balancing academics with extracurricular activities. This episode offers an authentic look at the Ridgeview Classical Schools experience for prospective families, students, and anyone interested in classical education, outdoor learning, student leadership, robotics, and college preparation.

In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Mr. Anderson sits down with the Adamos to explore why they chose Ridgeview Classical Schools and why they continue to stay. From first impressions during their campus tour to the lasting impact of a classical education, they discuss the importance of community, character formation, and meaningful academic challenge at Ridgeview. The conversation also dives into the potential impact of artificial intelligence on education, examining both its promise and its risks. How can students learn to think deeply in an age of shortcuts? And what does it mean to pursue truth, not just grades? Plus, Dominick and Chelsea Adamo share insights into their businesses, Rocket Jones, a custom software company, and Clean Air Lawn Care, a sustainable lawn care franchise, offering a closer look at the work, ideas, and entrepreneurship within our own community.

This is Mr. Anderson’s speech from the Numis Night Annual Fundraiser. Welcome. Thank you for being at Ridgeview and for being here this evening to support our school and our students. Thank you to Wendy Rankin, Stevie Daigneault, Sarah Banzhaf, Sarah Jones, Katie Johnson, Katie Gates, Lindsey Idem-Steele, Hanneke Boon, Heather Radzay, Megan Estes, Cindy Stark, Jackie Casper and Vanessa Somarriba for serving on the Numis Committee and for bringing us together tonight, and who consistently make the humble nobility we aspire to look so refined.

In this episode of Hoplite Radio, we sit down with parent volunteers, Wendy Rankin and Stevie Daigneault to learn more about our annual fundraiser, Numis Night, and the Numis Committee that pulls this event together each year. Mrs. Rankin and Mrs. Daigneault share how Ridgeview Classical Schools’ biggest annual fundraiser grew into a can’t-miss community tradition that not only brings families together, but also funds real, visible improvements for students. Projects like playground upgrades, performing arts renovations, emergency classroom kits, outdoor program gear, and this year’s new upper school lockers. We talk honestly about why a single, parent-led gala works better than constant school fundraisers, how volunteering and book groups helped them find their people. Learn what makes the Numis dinner so much fun, from the themed attire and teacher experiences to the live and online auctions. You’ll also get a preview of this year’s celebration at Windsong Estate Event Center and simple ways to participate even if you can’t attend. The Numis dinner is a fundamental part of Ridgeview’s culture, supporting the classical education mission, and the powerful role of parent involvement.

In this episode, Headmaster Anderson reflects on how Christmas offers renewal in a world often marked by monotony and acedia. Drawing on classical thinkers, Scripture, and beloved works of art, music, and literature, he explores how the season invites us to see one another with dignity, rekindle joy, and embrace a deeper sense of generosity and wonder. Through traditions, storytelling, and shared celebration, Christmas becomes more than preparation—it becomes participation in what is good, beautiful, and humanizing. This uplifting reflection encourages families and listeners to slow down, be present, and rediscover the true magnificence of the holiday.

In this episode, we sit down with Mrs. Carvalho, our Outdoor Education Coordinator, and Mr. Lautenschlager, a Ridgeview parent, to discuss the growth and impact of Ridgeview’s Outdoor Program. They share their backgrounds, what brought them to Ridgeview, and how the program has evolved over the past decade. Together, we explore the benefits of time spent in nature, how outdoor experiences support student fitness, character, and academic growth, and why these trips complement our classical curriculum. We also highlight the value of parent participation on trips and why the program is meaningful for all students, not just those who consider themselves outdoorsy. 00:06:30 – Outdoor Education and Classical Education Working Together 00:16:00 – Why Outdoor Education Matters in Northern Colorado 00:19:30 – The Lasting Impact of Outdoor Education at Ridgeview

Eat too much, drag out the board games and the cards; throw the football in the yard until your fingers are numb with cold, and the let the young ones play in the piles of leaves. Build a fire, grab an old novel, put up your feet, and rejoice in the material and immaterial abundance by which you are surrounded. Enjoy your turkey, your family, and friends in good cheer and good company. Realize the myth and revel in gratitude, charity, and hope.

In this episode of Hoplite Radio, Ridgeview Classical Schools welcomes longtime college advisor Mrs. Dixon, who reflects on her 11 years guiding students through the ever-changing college admissions landscape. Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Dixon discuss how college advising has evolved—from the growing complexity of admissions and rising tuition costs to shifting student priorities and the role of values in higher education. Mrs. Dixon shares insights on helping students find the right college “fit,” balancing academics with self-discovery, and preparing for life after graduation. A must-listen for parents and students navigating today’s college admissions process and seeking practical, classical wisdom for the modern world.

In the early 1930s, R.G. Collingwood, a prominent intellectual at Pembroke College, Oxford was concerned about the rise of Nazism and its implications for Britain and Europe, and borrowing a line from Book V of Livy’s Histories, he compared himself to the sacred geese dedicated to Juno in Rome that had warned of a surprise Gallic attack in 390 BC. He wrote in his autobiography in 1939, “I am a professorial goose, and my job is to honk.”