Academics

academics

"The object of education is to teach us to love what is beautiful."

— Plato's Republic (Book III, 403c)

A classical education at The Good Shepherd Academy gives students exposure to rich academic content, broadens their view and experiences, and prepares them with skills and wisdom that they will use for the future. It is a complete, comprehensive education that has a record of successfully educating generations. Classical education distinctively cultivates students who can develop facts into arguments and convey these arguments clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing. It develops independent learning skills by teaching students how to learn, enabling them for further pursuits.

Classical education is taught using the fundamental structure of the Trivium which is divided into 3 stages: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. These stages coincide with a child’s natural development therefore teaching methods focus on the natural stage of maturation, maximizing the learning that is possible. The word classical refers to the structure and form of the education as well as the content of the curriculum including the knowledge and appreciation of Western civilization, great works of literature and art, Latin and Greek studies, all of which enables an understanding of human history and human thought and achievement. A classical education in the Catholic tradition builds a firm foundation of knowledge and reason with an inclination towards virtue. It expands a student's natural openness to wonder and awe, increasing recognition and reverence of truth, goodness and beauty. We believe that reverence will ultimately lead into a love for Jesus Christ, who is Truth, Goodness and Beauty incarnate.

"The sole true end of education is simply this; to teach men how to learn for themselves..."

— Dorothy Sayers, "The Lost Tools of Learning"

Curriculum 2024 - 25

Grade K

Theology

  • K Catechism for Young Catholics
  • New Catholic Picture Bible
  • The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
  • Fr. Lovasik Books
    • The Miracles of Jesus
    • The Angels
  • Catholic Schoolhouse Memory Songs

Math

Language Arts

History

  • The Story of the Bible: Old Testament Textbook (Tan Academy)
  • Memoria Press Kindergarten Enrichment Guide - Teacher's guide containing activities and discussion questions for elevating the cultural literacy of students.

Science

  • Science is Simple (Tan Academy)

Lower School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 1

Theology

  • Faith and Life Grade 1: Our Heavenly Father (CHC)
  • The New First Communion Catechism
  • New Catholic Picture Bible
  • Fr. Lovasik Books
  • The Seven Sacraments
  • The Ten Commandments
  • The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
  • Catholic Schoolhouse Memory Songs

Math

Language Arts

History

  • The Story of the Bible: New Testament (Tan books)

Geography

  • Daily Geography Practice 1 (Kolbe)

Science

Lower School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 2

Theology

  • Faith and Life Grade 2: Jesus Our Life (CHC)
  • Fr. Lovasik Books
    • The Holy Rosary
    • Mary, My Mother
    • The Holy Spirit
  • New Catholic Picture Bible
  • The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Math

Language Arts

History

  • Story of Civilization, Vol. 1-complete set (Tan Academy)

Geography

  • Daily Geography Practice 2 (Kolbe)

Science

Latin

  • Prima Latina, Memoria Press

Lower School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 3

Theology

  • Faith and Life Grade 3 : Our life with Jesus
  • St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism #1
  • Saint Stories: The Story of Saint Bernadette and A Story of Saint Joseph (Brother Ernest, C.S.C—Seton)
  • Our Lady of Fatima (Father Lovasik)

Math

  • Singapore Primary Mathematics Standards Edition 3A and 3B

Language Arts

  • Phonics/Spelling: Phonics Book C, Pearson Learning (Kolbe)
  • Grammar/Writing: Voyages in English 3
  • Handwriting: Handwriting 3 For Young Catholics (Seton)
  • Literature/Vocabulary: 3rd Grade Literature Guide Set (Memoria Press)
  • IEW on Friday

History

  • Story of Civilization, Vol. 2-complete set (Tan Academy)

Geography

  • Daily Geography Practice 3 (Kolbe)

Science

  • Earth: Exploring Our Home, complete set (Tan Academy)
  • Oceans: Mysteries of the Deep, complete set(Tan Academy)

Latin

  • Latina Christiana, Memoria Press

Lower School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 4

Theology

  • Faith and Life Grade 4: Jesus Our Guide
  • St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism #1
  • Lives of the Saints: Saint John Masias, Saint Margaret Mary, Saint Catherine of Sienna (Tan academy)
  • Acts of the Apostles and Gospel of Luke Graphic Reader (Optional) (Tan Academy)

Math

  • Singapore Primary Mathematics Standards Edition 4A and 4B

Language Arts

  • Phonics/Spelling: Phonics Book D, Pearson Learning (Kolbe)
  • Grammar/Writing: Voyages in English 4
  • Handwriting: Handwriting 4 For Young Catholics (Seton)
  • Literature/Vocabulary: 4th Grade Literature Guide Set (Memoria Press)
  • IEW Composition on Friday

History

  • A Journey Across America: California (Catholic Textbook Project)

Geography

  • Daily Geography Practice 4 (Kolbe)

Science

  • The Foundations of Science: Space, A Tour of the Cosmos (Tan Academy)

Latin

  • Latina Christiana, Memoria Press

Lower School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 5

Theology

  • Faith and Life Grade 5: Credo-I Believe
  • St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism #2
  • Lives of the Saints: Blessed Marie of New France, Saint Louis De Montfort, Saint Hyacinth of Poland (Tan Academy)

Math

  • Singapore Primary Mathematics Standards Edition 5A and 5B

Language Arts

  • Phonics/Spelling: Phonics Book E, Pearson Learning
  • Grammar/Writing: Voyages in English 5
  • Handwriting: Handwriting 5 For Young Catholics (Seton)
  • Literature/Vocabulary: 5th Grade Literature Guide Set (Memoria Press)
  • IEW Composition on Friday

History

  • From Sea to Shining Sea: The Story of America(Catholic Textbook Project)

Geography

  • Daily Geography Practice 5 (Kolbe)

Science

  • Cells & Systems: Living Machines (Tan Academy)

Latin

  • First Form Latin, Memoria Press

Lower School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 6

Theology

  • Faith and Life Grade 6: Following Christ
  • St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism #2
  • Lives of the Saints: Saint Dominic and The Children of Fatima (Mary Fabyan Windeatt)

Math

  • Singapore Primary Mathematics Standards Edition 6A and 6B

Language Arts

  • Phonics/Spelling: Phonics Book F, Pearson Learning
  • Grammar/Writing: Voyages in English 6
  • Literature/Vocabulary: 6th Grade Literature Guide Set (Memoria Press)
  • IEW Composition on Friday

History

  • All Ye Lands:Origins of World Cultures (Catholic Textbook Project)

Geography

  • Daily Geography Practice 6 (Kolbe)

Science

  • Exploring the Building Blocks Of Science (Tan Academy)

Latin

  • First Form Latin, Memoria Press
  • Option: Second Form Latin, Memoria Press

Upper School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 7

Theology

  • Faith and Life Grade 7: Life of Grace
  • St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism #2
  • Lives of the Saints: Saint Benedict and Saint Rose of Lima (Mary Fabyan Windeatt)

Math

  • Pre-Algebra, Sadlier-Oxford Foundations of Algebra

Language Arts

  • Vocabulary: Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop, Level B
  • Grammar/Writing: Voyages in English 7
  • Literature/Vocabulary: 7th Grade Literature Guide Set (Memoria Press)
  • IEW Composition on Friday

History

  • Light to the Nations Part 1: History of Christian Civilization (Catholic Textbook Project)

Geography

  • Geography II, Memoria Press

Science

  • Novare Physical Science, 3rd Edition (Tan Academy)

Latin

  • Third Form Latin
  • Option: Second Form Latin

Upper School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 8

Theology

  • Faith and Life Grade 8: Our Life in the Church
  • St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism #2
  • Lives of the Saints: Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Francis De Sales, Saint John Bosco: The Friend of Youth, Saint Maximilian Kolbe: Knight of Immaculata

Math

  • Algebra 1, Algebra I Expressions, Equations, and Applications, Paul A. Foerster, © 2006

Language Arts

  • Vocabulary: Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop, Level C
  • Grammar/Writing: Voyages in English 8
  • Literature/Vocabulary: 8th Grade Literature Guide Set (Memoria Press)
  • IEW Composition on Friday

History

  • U.S. Companion to LN Part 2: History of the United States (Catholic Textbook Project)

Geography

  • Geography III, Memoria Press

Science

  • Novare Earth Science, 3rd Edition (Tan Academy)

Latin

  • Lingua Latina
  • Option: Fourth Form Latin

Upper School Schola

Art

PE

Grade 9

Theology

  • Didache Socias, James. The History of the Church: A Complete Course. Woodridge, Ill: Midwest Theological Forum, 2005.
  • The History of the Church (Didache) Study Questions Answer Key
  • Lives of the Saints

Math

  • Geometry, Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding, Harold Jacobs, 3rd edition, © 2003
  • Answers to Exercises For Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding Solutions Manual

Language Arts

  • English 1
  • Composition and Grammar
    • Warriner’s Handbook, Third Course
    • Write Better Essays in 20 Minutes a Day
    • Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Enriched Edition Level D
    • MLA Handbook Eighth Edition
    • IEW Composition on Friday
  • Ancient Roman Literature
    • Virgil, The Aeneid. Trans. Patric Dickinson. Penguin Books: New York, 2009.
    • St. Augustine, Confessions. Trans. Maria Boulding, OSB. Ignatius Press Critical Edition: San Francisco, 2012.
    • Marcus Aurelius, Meditations. Trans. M. Hammond. Penguin Books: New York, 2006.
    • Plutarch, Fall of the Roman Republic. Trans. Rex Wagner. Penguin Books: NewYork, 2005.
    • Plutarch, Makers of Rome. Trans. Ian Scott-Kilvert. Penguin Books: New York, 1965.
    • The Kolbe Academy Roman Reader. Kolbe Academy Press: Napa, 2006.
    • Shakespeare, “Coriolanus.” Ed. Jonathan Crewe. Penguin Books: New York, 1999.
    • Shakespeare, “Julius Caesar.” Ed. Joseph Pearce. Ignatius Press Critical Edition: San Francisco, 2012.
    • Shakespeare, “Antony and Cleopatra.” Ed. A.R. Braunmuller. Penguin Books: New York, 1999

History

  • Carroll, Warren, The Founding of Christendom.
  • Carroll, Anne, Christ the King, Lord of History. TAN Books: Illinois, 1994
  • St. Augustine: City of God. Tran. H. Bettenson. Penguin Books: London, 1972, 2003.
  • Livy: The History of Rome from Its Foundations: The Early History of Rome. Tran. Aubrey De Sélincourt. Penguin Books: London, 1960, 2002.
  • Livy: The History of Rome from Its Foundations: The War with Hannibal. Tran. Aubrey De Sélincourt. Penguin Books: London, 1965.
  • Plutarch, Makers of Rome. Trans. Ian Scott-Kilvert. Penguin Books: New York, 1965.
  • Tacitus: The Annals of Imperial Rome. Tran. Michael Grant. Penguin Books: London, 1996.

Science

  • Biology for Life (Seton)
    Option: Physical Science: Exploring Creation with Physical Science (Seton)

Latin I

  • Lingua Latina
  • Option: Fourth Form Latin

Sacred Art

  • Ever Ancient, Ever New: Art History 2. (Catholic Heritage Curriculum)

Upper School Schola

Drama

Physical Education

Grade 10

Theology

  • Doctrine
    • Fr. John Laux, Chief Truths of the Faith, Tan Books
    • Fr. John Laux, Mass and the Sacraments, Tan Books, 1994
  • Church Documents
    • The Council of Trent, Session VII
    • St. Thomas Aquinas on Baptism and Confirmation
    • Mirae Caritatis, Pope Leo XIII
    • Ecclesia de Eucharista, Pope JohnPaul II
    • Casti Connubii, Pope Pius XI
    • Humana Vitae, Pope Paul VI
    • Lives of the Saints

Math

  • Algebra II Algebra and Trigonometry: Functions and Applications, Paul A. Foerster, © 2006

Language Arts

  • English II Composition and Logic
  • Writing a Research Paper
  • Socratic Logic
  • Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Enriched Edition Level E
  • Handbook Eighth Edition
  • IEW on Friday
  • Shostak,Jerome,VocabularyWorkshopLevelEEnrichedEdition. Sadlier, 2012.
  • Goldenberg,Phyllis.WritingaResearchPaper.3rdEdition.Sadlier,2010.
  • Kreeft,Peter.Socratic Logic.Edition 3.1.St.Augustine'sPress.2010.
  • KolbeAcademy.SocraticLogicStudyGuide.KolbeAcademyPress,2020.

Literature

2 titles for summer reading

  • Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy. Joseph Pearce, Ed. Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2012
  • “The Dream of the Rood” Poem with Study Guide. Kolbe Academy, 2020
  • Beowulf. Trans. David Wright. Penguin Books: London, 1951.
  • Song of Roland. Trans. Dorothy Sayers. Penguin Books: New York, 1957.
  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Trans. J.R.R. Tolkien. Ballantine books: New York, 1980.
  • Alighieri, Dante. The Divine Comedy: Hell. Dorothy Sayers, Trans. Penguin books: New York, 1959.
  • Alighieri, Dante. The Divine Comedy: Purgatory. Dorothy Sayers, Trans. Penguin books: New York, 1959.
  • Divine Comedy: Paradise. Dorothy Sayers, Trans. Penguin Books: New York, 1959.
  • Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Nevill Coghill, Trans. Penguin Books: New York, 1977.
  • Literature of Christendom Reader. Kolbe Academy Press: Napa, 2020
  • Shakespeare, William. Richard III. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Eds. Washington Square Press: New York, 1996 The Folger Shakespeare Library.
  • Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Joseph Pearce, Ed. Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2010.
  • Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Joseph Pearce, Ed. Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2008.
  • Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Russ McDonald, Ed. Penguin Books: New York, 2000.
  • Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Peter Holland, Ed. Penguin Books: New York, 1999.
  • MLA Handbook Eighth Edition. Modern Language Association of America, 2016.
  • The Consolation of Philosophy Study Guide Set. Kolbe Academy, 2020.
  • Beowulf Study Guide Set. Kolbe Academy, Napa, 2020.
  • The Song of Roland Study Guide Set. Kolbe Academy, Napa, 2020.
  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Study Guide Set. Kolbe Academy, 2020.
  • The Divine Comedy: Hell, Purgatory, Paradise Study Guide Set. Kolbe Academy Press: Napa, 2020.
  • The Canterbury Tales Study Guide Set. Kolbe Academy Press: Napa, 2020.
  • Richard III, Macbeth, The Tempest, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Study Guide Set. Kolbe Academy Press: Napa, 2020.
  • Literature of Christendom Reader Study Guide Set, Kolbe Academy Press: Napa, 2020

History

  • World History - Era of Christendom
  • Era of Christendom Reader. Kolbe Academy Press: Napa, 2020.
  • Rule of Saint Benedict in English: Liturgical Press, 1981.
  • Geanakoplos, Deno, Byzantium: Church, Society, and Civilization Seen through Contemporary Eyes: University of Chicago Press, Viking Portable Medieval Reader, Penguin Books, 1977
  • Froissart, Jean, Chronicles. Penguin Books, 1978.
  • MLA Handbook Eighth Edition. Modern Language Association of America, 2016.
  • Kolbe Academy Era of Christendom Study Guide Set. Kolbe Academy Press: Napa

Science

Chemistry

  • Wilbraham, Antony C., Dennis D. Staley, Michael S. Matta and Edward L. Waterman. Pearson Chemistry. Boston: Pearson, 2012

Latin II

  • Lingua Latina

Logic

  • Kreeft, Peter. Socratic Logic. Edition 3.1. St.Augustine's Press, 2010.
  • Kolbe Academy. Socratic Logic Study Guide. Kolbe Academy Press, 2020.

Upper School Schola

Drama

Grade 11

Theology

  • Apologetics, Summa Theologica, Freymann 2024
  • Apologetics and Church History 2 Reader, Kolbe Academy 2020.
  • Hitchcock, James. History of the Catholic Church from the Apostolic Age to the Third Millennium. Ignatius Press, 2012.
  • Apologetics and Church History 2 Study Guide and Answer Key, Kolbe Academy
  • Church Documents: Fides et Ratio, Pope John Paul II
  • Lives of the Saints:
    • St. Robert Bellarmine
    • St. Edmund Campion
    • St. Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle
    • St. Bridget of Sweden

Math

  • Pre-Calculus

Language Arts

  • English III Composition and Rhetoric
  • Rhetoric by Aristotle
  • Classical English Rhetoric by Farnsworth
  • Farnsworth, Ward. Farnsworth's Classical English Rhetoric. David R. Godine, Publisher, 2016.
  • Aristotle. Rhetoric. Translated by William Rhys Roberts, Dover, 2004
  • Composition and Rhetoric Handout Packet of essays
  • IEW on Friday

British Literature

2 titles for summer reading

  • William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2011.
  • William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice. Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2009.
  • William Shakespeare, King Lear. Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2008.
  • Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012.
  • Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2008.
  • Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, New York: Signet Classics, 1961.
  • Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2008.
  • Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010.
  • Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2008.
  • C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2001. Print.
  • George Orwell, Animal Farm, New York: Penguin Group, 1996.
  • MLA Handbook Eighth Edition. Modern Language Association of America, 2016.

History

Western Civilization II

  • Light to the Nations, Part Two: The Making of the Modern World. Catholic Schools Textbook Project.

Science

  • Physics with Lab
  • Physics Principles with Applications, Seventh Edition by Douglas C. Giancoli; Pearson © 2014 Kolbe Academy Physical Science Answer Key
  • Option: Physics with Lab; Mr. Joseph Freymann

Latin III

  • Lingua Latina

Upper School Schola

Drama/Debate

Grade 12

Theology

Moral Theology

  • De Sales, St. Francis. Introduction to the Devout Life. Trans. John K. Ryan. New York: Image Books, Doubleday, 2003. Print.
  • De la Colombiere, St. Claude, and Fr. Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure. “Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence”. Trans. Prof. Paul Garvin. Charlotte: Tan Books, 1983. Print. (T2204)
  • Laux, Fr. John, M.A. “Catholic Morality. A Course in Religion: Book III”. Charlotte: Tan Books, 2013. Print.

Church Documents

  • John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth)
  • John Paul II. Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), March 25, 1995.
  • Leo XIII. Libertas. (On the Nature of Human Liberty), June 20, 1888.

Lives of the Saints

  • St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul
  • Thomas A Kempis, Imitation of Christ

Math

  • Calculus
  • Calculus: Concept and Applications, Paul A. Foerster, © 2010 Solutions Manual

Language Arts

  • English IV Poetry and Creative Writing
  • Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Level G
  • Shostak , Jerome. Vocabulary Workshop, Level G. New edition. New York: Sadlier-Oxford, 2005.
  • Shostak, Jerome. Vocabulary Workshop, Level G. Teacher’s new edition. New York: Sadlier-Oxford, 2005. (optional)
  • The Art of the Short Story. Edited by Dana Gioia & R.S. Gwynn. New York: Pearson-Longman, 2006.
  • Treasury of Poems. Napa, CA: Kolbe Academy Press, 2008.
  • Poetry: A Spoken Art, the Kolbe Oral Presentation Series, Vol. IV. Napa, CA: Kolbe Academy Press, 2008. CD. *included with purchase of Treasury of Poems.
  • Salvucci, Claudio R. The Menagerie of Marsepink. Bristol PA: Arx Publishing, 2005.
  • Roper, Gregory L. The Writer’s Workshop. Willmington, DE: ISI Books, 2007.

Literature

Modern Era Literature

  • Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2009
  • Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Signet Classics, 2007. Print. (T3943)
  • Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Sidney Monas. New York: Signet Classics, 2006. Print.
  • Waugh, Evelyn. Brideshead Revisited. New York: Little, Brown and Co, 2012. Print.
  • Chesterton, G. K. The Man Who was Thursday. Las Vegas: Lits, 2010. Print.
  • Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. New York: Bantam Classics, 1981.
  • Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Trans. Ralph Parker. New York: Signet Classics, 2008. Print.
  • Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Signet Classics, 1977. Print.
  • Eliot, T.S. The Waste Land, Prufrock and other Poems. New York: Dover Publications, 1998. Print.

History

US History

  • Heffner, Richard D., and Alexander Heffner. A Documentary History of the United States. 8th ed. New York: Signet, 2009. Print.
  • Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay. The Federalist Papers. Ed. Clinton Rossiter. Introd. and notes Charles R. Kesler. New York: Signet Classic, 1999. Print.
  • De Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America. Ed. Richard D. Heffner. Abr. ed. NewYork: Signet Classic, 2010. Print.
  • Johnson, Paul. Modern Times: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties. Rev. ed. New York: Perennial Classics, 2001. Print.
  • Kolbe Academy. Modern History Reader. Napa: Kolbe Academy Press, 2008. Print.

Science

  • Astronomy: Descriptive Astronomy, by Mr. John Charlesworth
  • Option: Online AP Science course

Latin IV

  • Lingua Latina

Upper School Schola