New Course Descriptions 2023-2024
New Middle School Courses (6th-8th Grade)
English 6
This course includes the study of literature, composition, and grammar. Students will read great texts and learn to interpret and engage with them through class discussions and writing exercises. Students will grow in their appreciation and understanding of literature. Along the way, students will develop their composition skills through journals, essays, and creative writing. These writing exercises will help the students express clear and organized thoughts and develop an appreciation for quality writing. Students will enrich their writing and communication through weekly grammar practices.
Parent Role: Private Tutor
Rhetoric 6
This course will include components of oration and argumentation. Students will understand concepts and processes involved in inventing, ordering, styling, memorizing, and delivering an oration. Additionally, students will analyze historical speeches. Students will learn the components of speeches to inform, judge, honor, and persuade. They will consider the purpose and occasion for such speeches. Students will be expected to compose speeches and follow preparation guidelines, including choosing topics; inventing and organizing speeches logically and beautifully; incorporating rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos) as well as identifying and using effective argumentation without logical fallacy; and using appropriate devices and transitions. This course aims to develop students' understanding of the art of word construction to enable them to effectively lead others towards truth, goodness, and beauty. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Number Sense Lab
This course offers students a unique opportunity to explore the wonder, beauty and depth of numbers. At its heart, this course is exploratory in character and allows students to take risks, formulate good questions, and master mathematical language so fundamental to cultivating a love of numbers. The classroom environment will be collaborative and active, offering longitudinal engagement with complex problems and receiving the reward of perseverance. Focus will be as much on the process of thinking as arriving at the final answer. Abstract thinking, critical thinking, concentration, logical thinking, and strengthening of memory will be cultivated throughout the course. This course serves as a foundational course in the middle school. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Discovery Science Lab
This course offers students a unique opportunity to explore the mystery and beauty of God’s material creation. Through scientific experimentation, the qualities of wonder, inquisitiveness, critical thinking, logical thinking, and discovery will be nurtured in the hearts and minds of the students. The course will be hands-on, collaborative, and active within a classroom environment that fosters a respect for and understanding of the scientific method. Further, this course affirms the need for exploration at this stage in the student’s maturation. The course will naturally integrate the practical demands of mathematics, the moral concern for God’s creation, and recognition of science as an important part of daily living. This course serves as a foundational course including life, earth, and physical science in the middle school. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Fine Arts 6
This course is an exploration of art, music, and drama, and students will have hands-on experience with each of these disciplines in the fine arts. The course will teach basic elements of art and develop skills in artistic expression. The course will instruct students on fundamentals of music and give opportunities for students to create music as a class. Additionally, students will learn fundamentals in drama including breath control, vocal expression, projection, speaking style, diction, gestures, facial expression, character blocking, and movement. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Art Appreciation 8
This course will introduce students to the visual arts and the variety of art mediums and techniques used to create two- and three-dimensional works of art. Students will also study art from several historical eras to create a deeper appreciation of the creative processes involved in the visual arts. Students will learn how people of the past expressed their ideas and beliefs. Additionally, students will identify and utilize the essential elements of art in creating their own art pieces and other hands-on art experiences. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Middle School Latin I
This course will focus on Latin grammar, vocabulary and translation including Latin within the context of prayer, hymnology and ancient writings including New Testament passages. The class will also explore English derivatives that come from Latin. Students do not need any prior foreign language experience. The course will cultivate a love for the beauty of the Latin language, develop an appreciation for ancient hymns and prayers, and connect Latin with the history of Western civilization. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Open to: Grades 6-8
This course includes the study of literature, composition, and grammar. Students will read great texts and learn to interpret and engage with them through class discussions and writing exercises. Students will grow in their appreciation and understanding of literature. Along the way, students will develop their composition skills through journals, essays, and creative writing. These writing exercises will help the students express clear and organized thoughts and develop an appreciation for quality writing. Students will enrich their writing and communication through weekly grammar practices.
Parent Role: Private Tutor
Rhetoric 6
This course will include components of oration and argumentation. Students will understand concepts and processes involved in inventing, ordering, styling, memorizing, and delivering an oration. Additionally, students will analyze historical speeches. Students will learn the components of speeches to inform, judge, honor, and persuade. They will consider the purpose and occasion for such speeches. Students will be expected to compose speeches and follow preparation guidelines, including choosing topics; inventing and organizing speeches logically and beautifully; incorporating rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos) as well as identifying and using effective argumentation without logical fallacy; and using appropriate devices and transitions. This course aims to develop students' understanding of the art of word construction to enable them to effectively lead others towards truth, goodness, and beauty. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Number Sense Lab
This course offers students a unique opportunity to explore the wonder, beauty and depth of numbers. At its heart, this course is exploratory in character and allows students to take risks, formulate good questions, and master mathematical language so fundamental to cultivating a love of numbers. The classroom environment will be collaborative and active, offering longitudinal engagement with complex problems and receiving the reward of perseverance. Focus will be as much on the process of thinking as arriving at the final answer. Abstract thinking, critical thinking, concentration, logical thinking, and strengthening of memory will be cultivated throughout the course. This course serves as a foundational course in the middle school. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Discovery Science Lab
This course offers students a unique opportunity to explore the mystery and beauty of God’s material creation. Through scientific experimentation, the qualities of wonder, inquisitiveness, critical thinking, logical thinking, and discovery will be nurtured in the hearts and minds of the students. The course will be hands-on, collaborative, and active within a classroom environment that fosters a respect for and understanding of the scientific method. Further, this course affirms the need for exploration at this stage in the student’s maturation. The course will naturally integrate the practical demands of mathematics, the moral concern for God’s creation, and recognition of science as an important part of daily living. This course serves as a foundational course including life, earth, and physical science in the middle school. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Fine Arts 6
This course is an exploration of art, music, and drama, and students will have hands-on experience with each of these disciplines in the fine arts. The course will teach basic elements of art and develop skills in artistic expression. The course will instruct students on fundamentals of music and give opportunities for students to create music as a class. Additionally, students will learn fundamentals in drama including breath control, vocal expression, projection, speaking style, diction, gestures, facial expression, character blocking, and movement. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Art Appreciation 8
This course will introduce students to the visual arts and the variety of art mediums and techniques used to create two- and three-dimensional works of art. Students will also study art from several historical eras to create a deeper appreciation of the creative processes involved in the visual arts. Students will learn how people of the past expressed their ideas and beliefs. Additionally, students will identify and utilize the essential elements of art in creating their own art pieces and other hands-on art experiences. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Middle School Latin I
This course will focus on Latin grammar, vocabulary and translation including Latin within the context of prayer, hymnology and ancient writings including New Testament passages. The class will also explore English derivatives that come from Latin. Students do not need any prior foreign language experience. The course will cultivate a love for the beauty of the Latin language, develop an appreciation for ancient hymns and prayers, and connect Latin with the history of Western civilization. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Open to: Grades 6-8
New High School Courses (9th-12th Grade)
Art 9
The purpose of this course is to build a context for understanding the arts in its structure, as well as cultural and historic contexts. Students will explore influential works of art throughout time to understand art as a kind of human expression. While considering the beauty, characteristics, and quality of art, students will create their own pieces of art, participate in class discussions, and reflect through writing assignments. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Prerequisite: None
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Length/Credits: 2 semesters/6 credits
Music 10
This course will explore influential works of music in different time periods in the west. Students will discuss the expression of music by its rhythm, pitch, form, and melody to give a fuller understanding of the inner workings of the pieces and the ideas represented therein. Students will learn music theory and engage in the historical and philosophical understanding of music to accomplish a love for and creation of music. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Prerequisite: None
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Length/Credits: 1 semester/3 credits
New Testament Greek I
This course will focus on an introduction to the Greek alphabet, grammar, vocabulary, and translation of ancient texts. Students will begin to explore the language in which the New Testament and Early Christian writings were written as well as which the Old Testament was translated. Students do not need any prior foreign language experience. The course will cultivate a love for the beauty of the Greek language, develop a deeper appreciation for New Testament and Early Christian writings, as well as connect Greek with the history of Western civilization.
Prerequisite: None
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Length/Credits: 2 semesters/6 credits
Open to: Grades 9-12
The purpose of this course is to build a context for understanding the arts in its structure, as well as cultural and historic contexts. Students will explore influential works of art throughout time to understand art as a kind of human expression. While considering the beauty, characteristics, and quality of art, students will create their own pieces of art, participate in class discussions, and reflect through writing assignments. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Prerequisite: None
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Length/Credits: 2 semesters/6 credits
Music 10
This course will explore influential works of music in different time periods in the west. Students will discuss the expression of music by its rhythm, pitch, form, and melody to give a fuller understanding of the inner workings of the pieces and the ideas represented therein. Students will learn music theory and engage in the historical and philosophical understanding of music to accomplish a love for and creation of music. This is a Pass/Fail course.
Prerequisite: None
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Length/Credits: 1 semester/3 credits
New Testament Greek I
This course will focus on an introduction to the Greek alphabet, grammar, vocabulary, and translation of ancient texts. Students will begin to explore the language in which the New Testament and Early Christian writings were written as well as which the Old Testament was translated. Students do not need any prior foreign language experience. The course will cultivate a love for the beauty of the Greek language, develop a deeper appreciation for New Testament and Early Christian writings, as well as connect Greek with the history of Western civilization.
Prerequisite: None
Parent Role: Course Monitor
Length/Credits: 2 semesters/6 credits
Open to: Grades 9-12