Purpose
The purpose of the Pages Academy is to provide Atlantian Youth ages 9-14 the opportunity to learn more about crafts and sciences of the Middle Ages; to teach chivalry, honor, responsibility, and history; and to provide opportunities for Pages to serve their Crown and Kingdom.
- Overview
The Pages Academy is similar to both the University of Atlantia and Scouting. Pages have core requirements in the area of Arts/Science, History/Chivalry or Youth Combat, and Service. Pages who are involved in the Youth Combat program can substitute participation in those activities for the History/Chivalry credit. By meeting those requirements, Pages can achieve various ranks within the Academy. Pages can attend classes and activities at events, collegiums, University, local meetings, or do independent study, projects, and service locally to earn credits and achieve rank. Pages wear a baldric indicating their rank within the Academy, and also indicating their availability for service.
Parents, Pages and Sponsors need to keep track of the Page’s earned credits via an activity log, which will be a back-up to the Dean’s records. Pages are elevated to different ranks upon completion of the necessary credits which will be outlined further in the Hornbook. As Pages progress, they will mentor junior Pages, teach classes, and conduct activities themselves. - Who Can Be a Page?
Any youth of Atlantia between the ages of 9-14 can be a Page. The Page Candidate will need a qualified Sponsor, a completed enrollment form, and to be inducted into the Academy at an event. Although any youth 9-14 can participate in Pages Academy classes and activities, only inducted Pages will receive credits and advance through the ranks. - How to Become a Page
Submit a completed enrollment form to the Dean of the Pages Academy. Print a copy of the Hornbook from the website or request a printed copy from the Dean. Arrange the induction ceremony with the Dean. Make or buy a medium blue baldric 60" long by 6" wide, adorned with a simple white chalice. A pattern is available on the website. - Sponsors
The Sponsor’s role is to mentor the Page. The Sponsor will participate in the Page’s Induction Ceremony, suggest and guide the Page in age-appropriate activities, and help the Page develop courtly skills and understand courtesy, especially by being an example.
Parents, Pages and Sponsors should discuss the role expected of the Sponsor. The Sponsor must be a resident of Atlantia, be a current member of the SCA, be at least 18 years of age, and cannot be a parent, partner, or significant other of a parent or older sibling of the Page, cannot live at the same address as the Page, and must be willing to help and guide the Page in his/her progress at the Academy. Anyone who meets the above criteria can be a Sponsor. If the need arises to change Sponsors, please contact the Dean as soon as possible. A second induction ceremony is not needed for change of sponsorship. - Ranks and Regalia
All students begin as Novices, advance to Cupbearers, then finally Senior Pages. The insignia and credit requirements for advancement are:
Novice:
Plain blue baldric with white chalice.
To become a Cupbearer, must complete 7 credit hours each in Chivalry/History or Youth Combat, Arts/Science, and Service and perform a Challenge at the event where elevation will take place.
Cupbearer:
Add white border to Novice baldric.
To become a Senior Page, must complete 3 more credit hours each in Chivalry/History, Arts/Science, and Service, must complete a personal project or Arts/Science competition/display, and mentor a junior Page.
Senior Page:
Add full badge of the Academy to Cupbearer baldric.
To graduate from the Page’s Academy, must complete 3 more credit hours each in Chivalry/History, Arts/Science, and Service, must complete a personal project or Arts/Science competition/display, teach one class or complete an additional personal project, and mentor a junior Page.
- Classes and Credits
All Pages will need to take the 3 core classes: “Courtesy and Courtliness,” “Arts and Science Basics,” and “Service Do’s and Don’ts” before advancement to Cupbearer.
Pages will need to submit a “Request for Credit” for classes and activities to the Dean who will track the Page’s credits towards advancement and graduation. Sign-in sheets from Pages’ Academy activities should also be sent to the Dean. An activity should be of at least 50 minutes duration to be considered for credit.
Examples of Each type of Credit: (Please note these are just examples, and not a complete list)
Chivalry / History / Youth Combat – A Page can gain these credits by assisting in running a Youth Combat tourney, participating in a Youth Combat tourney, assisting a Knight during a Tourney, attending the Queen or local Baroness, doing a research project on an aspect of the Middle Ages, writing a brief report on a book focused about some aspect of life in the SCA’s time period.
Arts / Sciences – A Page can gain these credits by creating an arts & sciences entry, taking a class to learn about a specific art, attending University classes about an art or science, or by teaching a class themselves.
Service – A Page can gain these credits by helping out at events in any way they can. Helping out in the kitchen, serving at feast, picking up trash, helping clean the site, working as a “runner” for various activities, helping keep notes for any event staff, or anything that needs doing. If you would like to volunteer to help at an event you will be attending, contact the autocrat and ask where you can help. Be sure to let them know you are trying to earn credits for the Pages’ Academy. (If you have any problems, please let the Dean know, and we’ll help!) - Moving up
When a Page becomes eligible to move up a rank, the Page, Sponsor and Parents need to inform the Dean and ensure the Dean has copies of all the necessary request for credit forms. The Dean will confirm the eligibility and help to arrange the elevation at an event.