Specials Courses

In Latin, students are introduced to one of the most important languages in the history of Western Civilization and one in which the Catholic tradition is deeply rooted. The main emphasis of this course is learning Latin grammar but students will also be introduced to beginning Latin conversation, aspects of life in ancient Rome, the relation of Latin to other languages (especially English), and Catholic prayers in Latin. Memoria Press First Form and Second Form are the key texts for the study of Latin which include a student workbook.  The teaching method promotes student engagement, with frequent questions and answers from both students and teacher. In weekly homework assignments, students cement the Latin skills they learn through applying them.

The role of language in producing clarity and depth of thought is the basis for making Latin a required course of study beginning in the 5^th grade and continuing through 8^thgrade.  The benefits of studying Latin are many-fold:

1. The habits of mind of the student studying Latin take on the qualities unique to the unexcelled system that is the Latin language: logic, order, precision, structure, all while learning how to exercise patient, methodic, and diligent effort.
2. 65% of English words have Latin roots—to understand and use English well, we learn Latin (e.g. ‘father’ in Latin is pater, therefore the English paternalism, expatriate, patronize, patriotic, etc., or ‘death’ in Latin is mors, therefore the English mortal, immortal, morbid, mortuary, mortgage, etc.)
3. After learning basic English grammar in Kindergarten through 3^rd grade when a child learns to read, the 4th-grade child then encounters thousands of new words as he or she reads to learn. Latin provides the important next level of language organization after that of English grammar.   Latin does for language, what mathematics does for science.
4. A language can only be studied outside of itself. Latin allows students to study and appreciate words–their origins, relationships, and their travel between languages, Latin forming the linguistic foundation of the five most spoken Romance languages and greatly facilitating their learning.
5. Latin informs the vocabulary of all the natural sciences (e.g. equinox, igneous, symbols of the elements, etc.), the life sciences (e.g. plant and animal classifications, etc.), mathematics (e.g. axiom, integer, exponent, etc.), law and government (e.g. subpoena, pro bono, quid pro quo, non sequitur, etc.)

The study and experience of the musical arts are to hearing what the visual arts are to sight. This experience should develop the power of listening—a form of attention that leads students to recognize the qualities of sound and appreciate musical beauty. Students can also experience the mathematical within music, in rhythm, harmony, and measure. Joy in music is provided to children through choral song, which is an opportunity to develop an appreciation of the tradition of sacred music. Students singing the Salve Regina for example, or other pieces for the liturgical seasons become a celebration of their faith. To grow their appreciation of music and song all students’ will participate in the school’s schola cantorum (school of song). If interested, a child can study an instrument and participate in the school orchestra which offers students the opportunity to perform some of the richest and beautiful works of music in the western tradition.

Play, like happiness, is its own end. Physical education allows students to enjoy the physical activity of play in structured forms of movement, gaming, and sport that lead to physical well-being, motor control, stamina, and teamwork. These develop the human body, providing for its need of physical exercise and trains students in their responsible care for the body as a temple of the human soul and Holy Spirit. This care is to lead students to take responsibility for their physical health and the body’s need for exercise, an appropriate diet and rest. Through physical education training, including repetition, practice, and competition, a child also develops a sense of physical excellence–of strength, endurance, coordination, and gracefulness. Team sports allow training in good sportsmanship and the focus beyond the individual to the good of the team. Mental focus, perseverance, and high standards should characterize the physical education experience of the child.