Why is this school moving to the former Eberly Farm? The principal explains.

In a modern world where children spend more time on phones, tablets and other technology than they do playing outdoors or with each other, Wichita’s St. John Paul II Independent Catholic School is trying to change that.

That’s why the school has purchased 15 acres where Eberly Farm’s west-side event venue has been for decades.

“The land itself opens up the opportunity for just beauty and wonder of the natural scenery,” said William Durant, the school’s principal.

He said the impetus for starting the school, which had 41 students for its first classes four years ago, came from a group of families who “were desiring more parental freedom in education and an educational model that really supported the family.”

“It’s a hands-on approach for a holistic education,” Durant said. “This property itself serves . . . the start of that mission.”

Today, there are 82 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The school first opened at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colwich and recently moved to temporary space at Harvest Community Church.

Durant said both places have been gracious, but the school is now embarking on an approximately $4.5 million campaign to build seven classrooms at its new property.

A second phase will build more classrooms and a prayer space as well.

“Our goal is to keep it familial in size,” Durant said.

The school offers an integrated approach that includes a liberal arts education with a classical curriculum, including Latin, and a goal to “read well, speak well, think well.”

There’s a focus on common arts, too, such as gardening and handicrafts that are traditional pursuits that used to be passed through generations.

The school will move its three beehives to the new property along with its five chickens. Durant said he wants to grow those pursuits and add livestock as well.

The school also immediately will install a greenhouse. There are already trees and a creek at the property.

Even before the school moves there, Durant said, “Kids will be out there.”

The property is at 13111 W. 21st St. between 119th and 135th streets.

Durant said the idea is “to cultivate skills and habits and aptitudes in terms of working with our hands.”

At the beginning of the search for a new site, he said the school drew a map of where all its children live, from Newton on the north to Sumner County on the south, and found that the Eberly Farm site was one block from the center.

The school had a 33-day consecration to St. Joseph to pray for finding a new site.

On the final day on May 1st, which is the feast day of St. Joseph, the school learned of the Eberly Farm site.

It meant something that “the property actually came to us on that very day,” he said.

Durant said the school realized that “this is the spot to call home.”

He said students don’t seem to mind the more limited role of technology since they come from families who share the same ideals.

“It’s just an extension of their home,” Durant said. “It’s not to say we don’t use technology. We just de-emphasize it.”

He said the idea of “a liberal arts tradition and a restoring of the common arts is all to foster a wonder and a love . . . for all that is generally true and beautiful.”

Even before the deal for the Eberly Farm property, the school already has been fostering that love in myriad ways to great effect, Durant said.

“The Lord’s definitely blessed us. I’ll say that.”