Queen of Heaven Academy’s mission is to impart knowledge not only objectively, i.e., as various academic disciplines, but also to impart knowledge subjectively, i.e., as moral or intellectual virtue. Moral virtue observes and judges human acts; intellectual virtues lead to understanding and finally to wisdom. The high school curriculum is set within the framework of Aristotle and Aquinas’ definition of science. Popular use of the term science is limited to the science of mobile being, i.e., biology, chemistry, and physics. For our academy, as for St. Thomas Aquinas, science is much broader; it is knowledge through causes.
A truly Catholic education will not rest in secondary causes but will bring students to the First Cause, whom they will know not as a mere “prime mover” but as a loving Father whose glory is manifested throughout all of creation.
In general terms, the high school curriculum consists of:
Course | Applicable Intellectual Virtue |
Religion | Wisdom and Understanding |
History and Literature | Practical Knowledge of Human Acts |
English Composition and Introductory Latin | Practical Skills – Knowledge of “how to” |
Mathematics | Speculative Knowledge of Quantified Beings |
“Science” (popularly so-called) | Speculative Knowledge of Mobile Beings (Life sciences and Physical sciences) |
After completion of this curriculum, students will be well prepared for higher education in speculative sciences as well as the practical sciences of politics (science that orders acts of state), economics (science that orders domestic acts), and ethics (the science that orders human acts).
Why QHA Chooses Secular Science Books:
Unfortunately, scientific Catholic texts have gone the way of the dinosaurs! Furthermore, there is still not a Christian scientific text that is academically sound, scientifically rigorous, or pro-Catholic. In order to provide students with the science background they need, we have chosen the least offensive secular texts that still provide a rigorous scientific course.
With our consistent application of Catholic principles, the student will gain an appreciation for the level of apologetics with which they must be prepared to face the world. Hopefully, they will gain the scientific tools they need to meet objections full on.
When the Christian scientific texts have been used in the past, heretical ideas and anti-Catholic sentiments were often very subtle and difficult for students to identify. A secular text has the “advantage” that the inconsistencies between the secular belief and the Catholic belief are glaring. When these are encountered in the course, they will be addressed and the Catholic viewpoint identified and discussed.
Freshman high school students continue the development of thinking and writing skills through the integrated presentation of literature, history, and composition. Essay assignments (4 English and 3 history) are assigned so that students can draw from both literature and history and thereby increase the scope and depth of their essays. Students may prefer to begin foreign language study in 10th grade in order to acclimate to online learning and the rigors of college preparatory material. Choose 5 or 6 courses to qualify for full-time enrollment and receive the full-time tuition rate.
Religion 9 / Mary | meets once a week - 45 min. per session |
English 1 | meets once a week - 90 min. per session |
History 1 | meets once a week - 90 min. per session |
Algebra 1 | meets four times a week - 45 min per session |
Physical Science | meets once a week - 75 min. per session |
Latin1A or Latin1B or Spanish 1 |
meets four times a week - 45 min. per session |
Sophomore high school students continue the development of thinking and writing skills through the literature, history, and composition that were initiated in the Freshman year. Biology and Philosophy concepts are integrated in order to further instill the importance of a Catholic worldview in the disciplines of both science and philosophy. Essay assignments for history and English (8 total) are assigned so that students can draw from both disciplines and thereby increase the scope and depth of their essays. Typical sophomore students take Geometry and Biology at this time. Choose 5 or 6 courses to qualify for full-time enrollment and receive the full-time tuition rate.
Religion 10 / Mary | meets once a week - 45 min. per session |
English 2 | meets once a week - 90 min. per session |
History 2 | meets once a week - 90 min. per session |
Geometry | meets four times a week - 45 min. per session |
Biology/Logic | meets twice a week - 90 min. per session; 60 min. per session |
Latin 2 Spanish 1 or 2 |
Latin 2 meets twice a week for 90 minutes per session Spanish 1 and 2 meets four times a week - 45 min. per session |
Junior students begin to work independently with minimal need for parental supervision - they are discerning God’s future plans for their education and are determined, though God’s grace, to persevere with their studies toward that goal. They enjoy the last year of literature, history, and composition. The study of science and philosophy is divided into separate courses and more advanced math disciplines are undertaken. Choose 5 or 6 courses to qualify for full-time enrollment and receive the full-time tuition rate.
Religion 11 / Mary | meets once a week - 45 min. per session |
English 3 | meets once a week - 90 min. per session |
Algebra 2 | meets four times a week - 45 min. per session |
Consumer / Business Math | meets twice a week - 90 min. per session |
Chemistry | meets twice a week - 90 min. per session |
Ecclesiastical Latin 3 | meets twice a week - 90 min. per session |
U.S. History | meets twice a week - 45 min. per session |
History Writing Seminar | meets twice a month - 90 min. per session |
Seniors are afforded a number of options depending on their particular interests. English 4 is an advanced course for students who desire more in-depth discussion and who are considering future studies in literature and the humanities. Physics and Calculus are offered for those who are considering future studies in the sciences or engineering. Consumer /Business Math is offered for those students interested in the financial management of a home or business or the future study of business management. The Historical Writing Seminar prepares students interested in learning how to write an in-depth academic research paper. Choose 5 or 6 courses to qualify for full-time enrollment and receive the full-time tuition rate.
Religion 12 /Mary | meets once a week - 45 min. per session |
English 4 | meets once a week - 90 min. per session |
U.S. History | meets twice a week - 45 min. per session |
U.S. Government | meets twice a week - 45 min. per session |
Precalculus OR |
meets four times a week - 45 min. per session |
Physics | meets twice a week - 90 min. per session |
Philosophy | meets once a week - 60 min. per session |
Latin 4 or Spanish | meets twice a week - 90 min. per session |
History Writing Seminar | meets twice a month |
Math or Latin assistance is a once a week, one hour a week, per individual tutoring session. Students spend the hour one-on-one with the teacher working through homework problems, preparing for upcoming tests or quizzes or reviewing concepts covered in class. Assistance can also be used for those students seeking more challenging work than what is covered in the classroom. Assistance is available for all grades and all levels.
Where:
Private tutoring sessions are held in the teacher's virtual classroom using Adobe Connect conferencing software (audio, video, chat, and whiteboard).
When:
Student and teacher schedule a time and day of the week for the tutoring sessions.
Tuition:
One academic year $750 (Tuition is prorated if enrolling after September 30th.)