Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy

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Rhinelander, WI
Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy

A Classical Christian school located in Rhinelander, WI that opened in the Fall of 2021. We are in our fifth year with grades 4K-8.

Please reach out for more information! Mission
Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy exists to partner with parents to mature students in love of all of God’s truth so that they might live with courage in the world for His glory. Our Mission For Our Students
Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy aims to equip students to lead and not merely respond to culture. To accomplish this, we provide a rigo

rous classical education that is unashamedly biblical. Our prayer is that this is used by God to produce students that are pure, have faith to stand firm on biblical truth as they evaluate all of life in light of Scripture, able to graciously, courageously, and persuasively converse on a range of issues from a historically informed Christian worldview, and do so with genuine joy in the Lord. We desire that they leave our school with an eagerness to continue to learn because we have equipped them with the necessary tools to do so. Our Mission For Our Parents
Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy aims to be an asset to our parents. Since God has given parents the primary authority and responsibility for the education of their children, Armis Dei aims to partner with parents in the raising of their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. We want our parents to have a sense of responsibility for our school as they grow with the school, excited to see what the Lord will do through us all. Our Mission For Our Faculty
Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy aims to employ faculty who are growing examples of these same qualities. We desire them to be mature Christians, committed to building their own households in Christ, and an active part of their local church. We aim to pay our staff well and provide enrichment opportunities so that they may make a career at Armis Dei. We desire our teachers to be diligent, loving both their students and their subjects. They will aim to be the kind of teachers that bring life to their classrooms as they challenge their students to see the glory of God in all things. Our teachers should work to grow in their understanding of classical education and how it works both in their subject and throughout the entire curriculum. We desire a genuine camaraderie among our staff in that they support each other while doing what is needed to help each other excel. Our Mission For Our Community
Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy desires to build up the coming generations to bless the Rhinelander area for generations to come. Our school seeks to be the kind of institution that local individuals, organizations, and businesses enjoy interacting with. We will work hard to be a help to and in great fellowship with churches in the Rhinelander area. Finally, we look forward to the day when our beloved community is greatly impacted as graduates from Armis Dei engage in every aspect of life in the Northwoods in such a way that life is better here by God’s grace and for His glory. Our Statement of Faith
We believe that God reveals Himself through the creation, preservation, and government of the universe. We believe that God makes Himself more clearly and fully known through the Scriptures, which are the only inerrant and infallible Word of God, our ultimate and final authoritative rule for faith and practice. These Scriptures are made up of 66 books from Genesis to Revelation, the authority of which depend not upon the testimony of any man or church and are all to be received as the Word of God. We believe that there is but one living and true God, eternally existent in three Persons of one power, substance, and eternity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is perfectly wise, the overflowing fountain of all good. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. In all things, He is limited by nothing other than His own nature and character. We believe the God we serve is holy, righteous, good, loving, and full of mercy. He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Governor of all that has been made. We believe in the true deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, such that two distinct natures, divine and human, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. We believe in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory. We believe that Adam was made from the dust of the ground and formed after God’s image and likeness, which was good, righteous, and holy. Because of Adam’s sin, all mankind is in a state of rebellion against God. For the salvation of such lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone, and that faith without works is dead. We believe that God freely justifies His own, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous, for the sake of Jesus Christ alone. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, as the Spirit of Christ within us enables us to do freely and cheerfully what the will of God revealed in Scripture requires to be done. We believe that good works are only those which arise from true faith, conform to God’s Word, and are done for His glory. We believe God has appointed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; those who are saved to the resurrection of life, and those who are lost to the resurrection of damnation. We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. All who are united to Christ as Head of the Church are united to one another in love and have communion in each other’s gifts and graces. We believe that God defined marriage as the lifelong covenant between one man and one woman and that all forms of sexual activity outside of marriage are sin. We believe that God immutably creates each person to reflect His image as male or female. The statement of faith as written above is used with permission from the Association of Classical Christian Schools.

09/02/2026

The School We Are Building Together

A school year is built in obvious moments—the first day, special events, performances, projects, and celebrations. But a school community is built mostly in moments that few people ever see.

It is built when a parent stays a few extra minutes to help. When a teacher answers one more question. When an older student encourages a younger one. When someone notices a need and quietly meets it. When a family extends grace as we work through the inevitable adjustments of a new school year. When a volunteer gives time simply because they believe in what is happening here. And when we choose, again and again, to remember that we are on the same team.

As we settle into the rhythms of another year at Armis Dei, we want to take a moment simply to say:

Thank you.

Thank you to our teachers for the countless hours of preparation that happen outside the classroom. Thank you to our co-teachers and parents for carrying education into the home and partnering so faithfully with us. Thank you to our volunteers for seeing needs and stepping into them. Thank you to our students for working hard, trying again when something is difficult, and contributing their own personalities and gifts to our school community. And thank you to every family who has entrusted a portion of your children’s formation to Armis Dei.

We will not do everything perfectly. There will be things to refine, conversations to have, and lessons to learn along the way. But that is part of building something worthwhile. And as we continue building, there are more opportunities for our families and friends to participate in the work ahead. One of those opportunities is through our developing Fundraising Committee, which will help us strengthen Armis Dei, expand our reach, cultivate relationships, and create new opportunities for the future.

If you have a heart for Armis Dei and would be interested in helping with fundraising, community connections, event ideas, introductions, sponsorships, or simply offering your time and creativity, please reach out to Mr. Martens. We would love to have you involved.

What makes Armis Dei special will never ultimately be a curriculum, a schedule, a building, or a program. It will be a community of people united around Christ, committed to one another, and willing to labor together for the good of our children. We are grateful to be building that community with you. This is our school—and we are building it together!

“Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

— Nehemiah 2:18

09/01/2026

At Armis Dei, we….protect wonder!

Before a student can truly love learning, he must first learn to marvel:

At God’s eternal person, work, glory, and purpose.
At a mathematical pattern.
At the structure of a sentence.
At the courage of a historical figure.
At the complexity of the human body.
At the beauty of music.
At the order of creation.
At the depth of a single verse of Scripture.

We live in a culture where children are surrounded by information but can easily lose the ability to be amazed.

We want something different.

At Armis Dei, education is not merely about accumulating facts. It is about teaching students to encounter God’s world with open eyes—and to ask:

Why?
How?
What does this mean?
What does this reveal about the One who made it?

Wonder is not the opposite of academic rigor; it is often where rigor begins.

A student who is genuinely fascinated wants to look closer, read further, ask better questions, and understand more deeply.

That is one of the great gifts of classical Christian education: we do not want students merely to know more. We want them to see more. To recognize that the world is charged with meaning because it belongs to God.

At Armis Dei, we are not trying to extinguish childhood wonder in the pursuit of education. We are using education to deepen it.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” — Psalm 19:1

08/27/2026

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: JEREMY VANDER GALIEN

As we continue introducing the godly men and women who faithfully serve the students and families of Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy, today we are excited to spotlight Mr. Jeremy Vander Galien, who will be teaching Bible and Humanities in our Rhetoric School this year.

Jeremy brings a rich background of pastoral ministry, academic training, and classroom experience to Armis Dei. He holds an undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry and a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has taught various high school science courses, has served at Armis Dei for the past five years, and has been a senior pastor for nearly 20 years, in addition to serving in a variety of other pastoral roles.

“Teaching is something I have always naturally gravitated toward. I enjoy learning, and I enjoy bringing others along in what I’m learning. I love seeing students grasp material for themselves in a way that frees them to think and impacts their life in Christ.”

This year, Jeremy is especially excited about helping establish and strengthen our Rhetoric School, including a new Bible class.

“My goal is that students graduate with a growing knowledge of the things of God, but in such a way that it impacts how they love God and love others.”

For Jeremy, classical Christian education is ultimately an education toward freedom—forming students who are not enslaved to the patterns and assumptions of worldly thinking, but who possess the humility, wisdom, and ability to evaluate all things according to truth, beauty, and goodness.

“Faith in Christ is the main driving force in all of our teaching. Christ loves His Church and gave Himself for her. The work we do as teachers is ultimately for the benefit of Christ’s body. Our goal is to partner with parents in graduating mature, godly, well-taught young men and women who will be an incredible blessing to Christ’s Church.”

His prayer for his students is simple and profound: that they would leave his classroom with a greater love for God and His truth, that they would grow in wisdom, and that they would desire to continue going deeper into the things of God.

Outside the classroom and church, Jeremy enjoys spending time with his family, being on the lake, watching sports, getting away with Mandi, supporting the activities his children are involved in, officiating basketball, cooking, making maple syrup, and pressing apple c***r in the fall.

And here’s a fun fact: from ice-out to ice-up, Jeremy takes a three-minute plunge in the lake every morning!

We are thankful for Jeremy’s years of faithful service to Armis Dei and especially excited to see him help lead the continued development of our Rhetoric School this year.

Please join us in thanking Jeremy for investing in the next generation and praying for him and his students as they pursue wisdom, truth, and faithfulness together.

Soli Deo Gloria!

08/26/2026

What a special evening at Armis Dei!

Tonight we gathered for our second Co-Teacher Training—a more informal time of further meet-and-greet, fellowship, prayer, and a shared meal as we begin the 2026–27 school year together.

One of the great strengths of the Armis Dei model is the partnership between parents and teachers in the education and discipleship of our children. Tonight was another beautiful reminder that Christian education is not merely about curriculum, classrooms, or academic achievement—it is about a community united around Christ, seeking together to cultivate wisdom, virtue, truth, and a lifelong love of learning in the students entrusted to us.

We are especially grateful for the opportunity to gather in prayer and commit this new school year to the Lord. We know that unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain, and so our greatest desire is that everything accomplished at Armis Dei would be for His glory and the good of our students and families.

Thank you to every parent, teacher, board member, volunteer, and friend who joined us tonight—and to everyone who helped make the evening possible.

We are grateful for what God is building here, and we look forward with great anticipation to the year ahead.

Christ at the center. Excellence in our work. Partnership in our mission.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”
— Psalm 127:1

08/24/2026

🎉 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! 🎉

Today marked the beginning of a new school year at Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy, and what a joy it was to welcome our students back into the classroom!

From morning prayers and Scripture to rich classroom discussions, new lessons, laughter, friendships, and plenty of learning, our first day was a wonderful reminder of why we are here: to partner with families in forming students who love Christ, pursue truth, grow in wisdom, and strive for excellence.

We are incredibly grateful for our teachers, co-teachers, parents, volunteers, and everyone who has worked so faithfully to prepare for this year. Most of all, we are thankful for each of the students the Lord has entrusted to our care.

We are excited for everything the Lord has in store for the 2026–2027 school year.

Day One is officially in the books — and we’re just getting started!

“Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments.” — Psalm 119:66 (NKJV)

08/21/2026

What a wonderful day of training with our teaching staff and co-teachers!

Today our teachers and co-teachers came together for a co-teacher training focused on growing as educators and strengthening how we serve our students together. We’re so grateful for the dedication, collaboration, and heart every teacher and co-teacher brings to Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy.

Days like today remind us why we do what we do — investing in our teachers and families means investing directly in our students. We’re excited for the year ahead!

And now, the countdown is on: our first day of school is Monday, August 24!

We also look forward to gathering with our school community again the following day, Tuesday, August 25 at 5:30 p.m., for our next co-teacher training.

Thank you to our amazing team! We can’t wait to begin the 2026–27 school year together.

08/20/2026

AT ARMIS DEI, WE…

Learn, memorize, and live out the Westminster Catechism.

Why catechism?

Because we want our students to know what they believe, why they believe it, and how biblical truth should shape the way they live.

At Armis Dei, the Westminster Catechism and Westminster Confession of Faith are intentionally woven into the daily life of our students. During regular Bible instruction, students learn, memorize, review, and practice the catechism, building a strong foundation in historic Reformed theology and the truths of Scripture.

Through this practice, students grow in their understanding of who God is, who we are, what Christ has accomplished, and how we are called to live in response to His grace.

But our goal is not simply to produce students who can recite the right answers.

We want these truths to move from the mind, to the heart, to everyday life.

We want our students not only to know that their chief end is “to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever,” but increasingly to understand what that means in the classroom, at home, in their relationships, and throughout the whole of life.

At Armis Dei, Christian formation is not an addition to education.

It is at the heart of it.

We learn truth.
We memorize truth.
And, by God’s grace, we seek to live the truth.

If you’re looking for an education that forms both the mind and the heart in the truth of Christ, we invite you to enroll at Armis Dei today and join us for the 2026–27 school year!

08/18/2026

What does “classical” Christian education actually mean?

For many families, classical education may sound old-fashioned.

In reality, it is one of the most intentional ways of preparing students for a rapidly changing world.

At Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy, we don’t simply want students to memorize information for a test.

We want them to learn how to learn, how to think, and how to communicate truth well.

That is why classical education follows the natural development of a child through what has traditionally been called the Trivium:

📚 Grammar — Learning the building blocks

Young students have an extraordinary capacity to absorb language, facts, stories, songs, Scripture, and foundational knowledge.

Rather than resisting that natural ability, classical education cultivates it.

Students build a rich storehouse of knowledge that will serve them for years to come.

🧠 Logic — Learning to think

As children grow, they naturally begin asking:

Why?

How do you know?

Does that make sense?

Instead of discouraging those questions, we teach students how to reason carefully, recognize faulty arguments, compare ideas, and pursue what is true.

🗣️ Rhetoric — Learning to communicate

Eventually, students must do more than know something or understand it.

They must learn to communicate it.

Clearly.

Persuasively.

Graciously.

Courageously.

The goal is not simply a student who can give the right answer.

It is a young person who can understand truth, discern error, articulate what he or she believes, and communicate with wisdom and grace.

And because we are a Christian classical school, this entire process takes place under the lordship of Christ.

We don’t teach children merely to become clever. We desire that knowledge lead to wisdom, that wisdom be shaped by God’s Word, and that our students learn to use their minds and voices in faithful service to Him.

In a world where children will encounter more information—and more competing voices—than perhaps any generation before them, teaching them how to think faithfully may be one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

Ready to give your child an education rooted in Christ, shaped by wisdom, and designed for lifelong learning? We warmly invite your family to join the Armis Dei community for the 2026–27 school year!

08/17/2026

What if school didn’t have to mean choosing between strong, Christ-centered academics and more meaningful time together as a family?

At Armis Dei Classical Christian Academy, our hybrid model is designed to bring the best of both together.

Students learn on campus Monday through Wednesday, receiving intentional instruction, engaging with teachers and classmates, and growing within a distinctly Christian community.

Then, on Thursday and Friday, learning continues at home—giving parents a meaningful role in their child’s education while helping students develop independence, responsibility, and strong habits of learning.

It’s not simply three days of school; it’s five days of purposeful education built around a partnership between school, home, and family.

We believe parents should remain deeply connected to their children’s education, and that students flourish when teachers and families work together toward the same purpose.

If you have ever wondered whether there might be another way to do school, we would love to meet you.

Come see Armis Dei for yourself. Ask questions. Meet our community. Discover whether classical Christian hybrid education could be the right fit for your family.

And if you know a family who might be looking for something different for their children, share this post with them.

Call us today to learn more or schedule a visit!

08/14/2026

YOU KNOW SCHOOL IS ABOUT TO START WHEN…

✏️ Every pencil in the house suddenly needs sharpening.

🎒 The new backpack is packed, unpacked, and packed again.

📚 School supplies begin taking over the kitchen table.

👟 Indoor shoes mysteriously disappear just when you need them.

📝 Parents double-check the supply list for the fifth time.

⏰ Everyone remembers that “bedtime” is about to become a real thing again.

🍎 Teachers are organizing, labeling, planning—and probably reorganizing!

📖 Students are excited to see their friends… and perhaps even learn a few things along the way. 😉

Armis Dei families, help us finish the sentence:

You know school is about to start when ____________.

Share your funniest or most relatable answer in the comments below! The comment with the most likes by 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, will win a special Armis Dei back-to-school prize pack, presented during Co-Teacher Training on Thursday, August 20!

Be sure to like your favorite answers, and invite your family and friends to join the fun! The winner will be announced Thursday. 👇

Address

1360 N Stevens St
Rhinelander, WI
54501

Website

http://www.armisdeiacademy.com/

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