Christ Academy’s Program MISSION Christ Academy’s mission is to provide classical Christian education that forms students to display the surpassing goodness of Jesus Christ through thoughtful, articulate, beautiful and virtuous lives.
OUR EDUCATIONAL DISTINCTIVES 1. Christ-Centered Integration 2. Virtue Formation 3. Training in the skills of learning, thinking and speaking 4. Active student participation through discussion 5. Reading the Great Books and other rich, time-tested literature 6. Historical Rootedness 7. Emphasis on problem-solving and integrated wholeness in mathematics 8. A mastery approach to science, beginning with wonder and inquiry OUR CLASSICAL APPROACH At Christ Academy, we employ the thinking skills of the Trivium to help students progress from the grammar (concrete/knowledge), to the logic (puzzling/reasoning), to the rhetoric (philosophy/copious outpouring) of each “subject.” By subject we mean the “item to be studied.” We do this through each field of study: humanities, language, mathematics, science, and the arts. Our aim is to guide students into a deep participation with each skill and subject.
OFFERINGS FOR THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR PRIMARY PREP (Grades K-1*) Our primary prep program is geared toward pre-readers and early readers. The curriculum is composed of a rich blend of subjects with an emphasis on building firm foundations. It includes the following:
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● Select, age-appropriate literature, folk & fairy tales, nursery rhymes & poems ● Foundations of grammar and literacy ● Using songs, chants, rhythm and rhyme to learn and memorize factual material in geography, math, science, English, Bible, and catechism ● Participating in hands-on science activities ● Memorizing Scripture and poetry regularly ● Oral recitation ● Building number awareness through math talk and concrete hands-on activities ● Reading and being read to ● Creating art and craft projects PRIMARY (Grades 2-5*) Our Primary students build on the foundations laid in Primary Prep. Their experience will emphasize: ● Reading and discussing high quality, age-appropriate literature ● Building writing skill using imitation ● Memorizing Scripture and poetry regularly ● Learning and practicing basic skills of oral presentation ● Participating in science activities covering topics from astronomy to sound to plant growth to density to combustion and more ● Building musical and composer literacy, learning basic music theory, and singing simple yet beautiful music together ● Continuing to build number awareness and math skills using an approach that moves from the concrete to pictorial to abstract and emphasizes mental math ● Using songs, chants, rhythm, and rhyme to learn and memorize factual material in geography, math, science, English, Bible, and catechism ● Observing and discussing great art and creating art of their own
SECONDARY PREP (Grades 6-8*) Our secondary prep program encompasses a rich blend of subjects with an emphasis on puzzling and reasoning.
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Humanities Our integrated Humanities is a 2-hour block class that includes:
Literature from and about the Ancient World, plus other rich literature
History of the Ancient World
Bible & Theology
Logic & Grammar
Through classical teaching methods and Socratic dialogue, students will begin to understand, develop and practice critical thinking and judicious discernment. Language Our Introductory Latin students will learn introductory material including vocabulary and grammatical concepts using the “middle method” which leads more quickly to proficiency in speaking, writing and even thinking in the target language. Mathematics Our Mathematics program places high priority on the skills of observation, inquiry and reasoning. During the first portion of each class, students at every level will be guided into new skills of discovery and problem-solving as they together engage with challenging real-world problems. The remainder of class time will include instruction and practice from traditional textbooks. These students will study foundational mathematical concepts needed to prepare them for higher maths. (Students who need a different option will be provided with teaching that fits their needs.) Science Our Science program begins with wonder, integrates math, writing, and history, employs a mastery-learning approach and affirms Jesus Christ as the center of all things. Secondary Prep students will study Life Science.
Art & Music Just as God has given the Arts in order to reveal something of himself for our joy, so he calls us in imitation of himself, to develop and deploy our artistic abilities for the sake of others’ delight. Christ Academy’s Fine Arts program offers two days of Choir/Music and two days of Art/Art Appreciation each week.
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SECONDARY (Grades 9-12*) Our secondary program encompasses a rich blend of subjects with an emphasis on clear thinking and gracious, persuasive communication. Humanities Our integrated Humanities is a 2-hour block class that includes:
Literature from and about the Ancient World, plus other rich literature
History of the Ancient World
Bible & Theology
Composition & Rhetoric
Through classical teaching methods and Socratic dialogue, students will begin to understand, develop and practice critical thinking, judicious discernment, and creative, clear communication, both oral and written. Language Our Advanced Latin students will build on the foundations laid in Introductory Latin, increasing their vocabulary and growing in their understanding of grammatical concepts using the “middle method” which leads more quickly to proficiency in speaking, writing and even thinking in the target language. Mathematics Our Mathematics program places high priority on the skills of observation, inquiry and reasoning. During the first portion of each class, students at every level will be guided into new skills of discovery and problem-solving as they together engage with challenging real-world problems. The remainder of class time will include instruction and practice from traditional textbooks. This year, students will study Geometry. (Students who need a different option will be provided with teaching that fits their needs.) Science Our Science program begins with wonder, integrates math, writing, and history, employs a mastery-learning approach and affirms Jesus Christ as the center of all things. This year, students will study Biology. Art & Music
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Just as God has given the Arts in order to reveal something of himself for our joy, so he calls us in imitation of himself, to develop and deploy our artistic abilities for the sake of others’ delight. Christ Academy’s Fine Arts program offers two days of Choir/Music and two days of Art/Art Appreciation each week. *Students will be placed in the level best suited to them at the time of admission but may be able to shift depending on their individual needs. This includes students who need acceleration or remedial work in a particular subject but are otherwise at grade level.
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OVERVIEW OF THE SECONDARY (HIGH SCHOOL) YEARS AT CHRIST ACADEMY Humanities (Recommend: 12 credits) 4 years Students will receive a robust humanities instruction through eras of time: Ancient World, Medieval World, Modern World and US History. As students move through these eras of time in history they will read a combination of original sources, historical fiction and great books that embody these eras of time. They will also read large portions of the Bible and books on theology. Literature, History and Theology credits will be received by those who meet their Credit Objectives. Composition & Rhetoric skills are intertwined in this course and students will receive a .25 credit in this field of study annually. Mathematics (Recommend: 4 credits) 4 years Students will be given a deep understanding of algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus. Students who choose not to proceed to calculus will be given the option to study statistics or business math. Science (Recommend: 4 credits) 4 years Students will receive a deep and rigorous study in physical science, chemical science and the biological sciences. We use experiments as foundational to the scientific process of hypothesis and conclusion, fostering curiosity, inquiry, and wonder. Latin (Recommend: 4 credits) 4 years Students begin their Latin studies at Level 1 and progress through Level 4 or as far as they are able. Latin allows our students practice in grammar, etymology, mastery of language skills and rich historical context of the language that is foundational to our western world. Electives (Recommend: 4 credits) 4 years Students will earn 2 Music credits and 1 Art Appreciation credit through Christ Academy in 4 years. They may obtain other elective credits, such as Physical Education, through our unique Elective Credit Program (see below).
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Senior Thesis In April of a student’s Junior year, he or she will submit a Senior Thesis Proposal to the Education Council. It will be either approved, sent back for revision or denied with resubmission guidelines so the student can begin the project over the summer (prior to their Senior year). The Senior Thesis will be due in April of the proposed graduation year and will be presented to the board and the Education Council. This will be the capstone of our program.
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