From the first tentative steps into preschool through the tears at eighth grade graduation, each class grows together.
The A. Fantis School of Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral has a rich history of developing boys and girls into upstanding young men and women ready to contribute to their community and the broader society. Our graduates matriculate from premier high schools and universities in New York City and beyond. A. Fantis is a small, tight-knit community, where generations gather in school and church as students, alumni, faculty, board members, parents and grandparents. Tucked away in flourishing, dynamic Brooklyn is a small, quiet community that maintains a small-town feel, where everyone knows who you are. From the first tentative steps into preschool through the tears at eighth grade graduation, each class becomes a close family that grows together and shares memories that span a decade. They grow to appreciate Fantis as “a second home”. In today’s increasingly hectic and global community, spending their formative years at Fantis and forming deep friendships is a treasure that they will carry with them for life.
Our mission
Promote academic excellence and strength of character in a nurturing environment grounded in Hellenic culture and Christian values that cultivates scholars who will mature into responsible citizens and real-world problem solvers
Our Core Values
Pístis
Faithfulness, trust and reliability.
Paideia
Educational approach focused on intellectual, social, moral and physical refinement using a blend of didactic instruction, intellectual coaching and socratic method.
Philosophia
A love for wisdom and reason. The search for truth and meaning in the world.
Philoxenia
Unspoken cultural norm to show generosity and courtesy to strangers.
Philhellenism
Love for Greece, its culture and values.
Parea
Nurturing a community.
Philotimo
Honor, goodness, selflessness, giving without wanting anything in return and the force that drives individuals to think about the people and the world around them.
Daily instruction begins from the first days of preschool, capitalizing on the age’s inherent language abilities. Students grow to explore classical Greek mythology and the history of ancient civilization. Middle school students grapple with the works of Socrates and Sophocles and are 21st century pen pals who share vlogs and Skype with students in Greece. The Grade 8 Senior Trip to Athens lets them visit their friends, as well as explore history, culture, language and religion.
Universal ideals of truth, wisdom and beauty have enabled Classical Greek Paideia to thrive for millennia. Inspiring students to be active, purposeful and self-directed learners through Socratic Dialogue and instructional coaching are hallmarks of the Paideia Method. A. Fantis combines this wisdom with the advantages of modern educational technology and best practices in order to develop true scholars who think deeply and question critically.
Faith, service and love for one another are foundational principles that define our school community. Daily prayer and monthly liturgy help ground students in their faith. Religious studies are interdisciplinary and, in middle school, become project based. Character education and social emotional support are embedded into the daily program, including morning meeting and advisory groups, where students collaborate on real-world issues, such as bullying, exclusion and resolving conflicts.
All students attend classes are under one roof, as students literally grow up in the building. Generations walk through the front doors daily as alumni, staff, parents and board members. With one class per grade, no one is ever a stranger. School Spirit Day, Middle School Book Buddies and other events help to develop close relationships across grade levels both inside and outside the classroom. In bustling Brooklyn, it is comforting to have “a small town” that is often called their second home.
International best practices consistently demonstrate the benefits of unlocking student potential through strategic and purposeful collaboration amongst faculty. The school schedule allows the time and resources for teachers to meet regularly, observe each other’s classes, analyze student work, co-plan and co-teach lessons. Each department, from preschool to middle school, operates to identify and share best practices, with the support of each other and school administration. From PK3, teachers work to ensure that students develop the capacity to engage in deep and meaningful collaboration, such as Socratic Method.
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