The English/Language Arts curriculum is in many ways the centerpiece of our academic program. The curriculum is designed to create students who can read, write, and speak articulately, thoughtfully, and confidently. Vibrant discussions of the content, vocabulary, and themes of classic and contemporary novels, poems, and short stories build literal, inferential, and analytical comprehension skills. Students are introduced to the plays of William Shakespeare in eighth grade. Novel studies in our High School Prep division include:
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
To Kill a Mockingbird
House of the Scorpion
Of Mice and Men
Reading comprehension and expository writing provide the foundation for much of academic achievement in high school and college. At the end of the day, though, we want our graduates to love reading and writing. In addition to completing a fully annotated research paper in seventh grade, students also embark upon an original, illustrated science-fiction project in sixth grade and a historical-fiction project in eighth grade.
Our High School Prep students have earned numerous awards for their writing and are key contributors to our nationally recognized literary magazine, Eagle’s Quill. Students are also guided to speak publicly through oral presentations during class, as well as assemblies, weekly Masses, and our annual Declamation Day poetry event. Our graduates have gone on to serve as leads in high school plays, and editors of their school’s publications, and have been honored in national writing competitions.