Purpose

The formation of students by the greatest minds of Western culture is the goal of the period of study for the upper grades.  Through exposure to and study of the wisdom of the Old Testament and the Way, the Truth and the Life of the New Testament, our students' love for Christ and His Church can develop in a sound and steady manner.

Concurrently, a study of the writings of ancient Greeks and Romans provides a foundation in logic and the natural law.  The Church has consistently held that an understanding of the natural law is a prerequisite to understanding Catholic thought.

The studies are foundational for the development of a truly Catholic spiritual, intellectual and moral life, which will enable our students to flourish in their God-given vocation.
 

Academic Approach

Primary sources such as Scripture, Homer, Aristotle, Cicero, Livy, St. Thomas Aquinas, Dante, Goethe and St. Thomas More are read throughout the curriculum.  The students’ conversations with these intellectual giants will focus their minds on the eternal truths.

They not only read classics but are also encouraged to develop a thoroughly classical mind. It is not enough to simply read Shakespeare.  Students ought to read his works and other classics and be able to distinguish what such literature conveys about the true nature of man.  The teacher guides the students in discussions about the manner in which Shakespeare developed his plots or how character, thought, language, melody and spectacle are necessary components to a good play.  By developing intellectual virtues the students’ taste is liberated from the banal world of popular culture and the great minds and ideas of authentic culture become their companions.

Similarly, it is not enough to be exposed to classical music.  Our students are immersed in the great western culture that produced these timeless harmonies and beautiful chant.  The core of what is classical is its timelessness. The core of what is popular education is its fleetingness.  Thus educated and inspired, our students can distinguish that which is good and beautiful in music and art and that which is not.

We challenge our students to place their emotions under the control of reason.  Thus controlled, their souls can fulfill the Kantian claim that the heavens above and the moral law within move the emotions to revere the wonderful world that God has created.

American society is permeated with a secular mentality that marginalizes the significance of religion in public life, especially in education.  The popular culture promotes the relativist idea that anyone's view is as valid as any other as long as it does not infringe on someone's rights.  It is the school's mission to challenge this mindset.  The teachers help students analyze all that exists in relation to its Catholic nature.  Then, students equipped with their authentic, liberal education will be able to fearlessly promote and defend the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
 

As it is a greater thing to give light than to shine alone, so also it is a greater thing to pass on to others things we have contemplated, than to contemplate alone.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Family Life and HFA

The members of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph are the role models for every family and individual at the academy.

The Holy Father has often stressed the importance of a strong family life and parental role in the education of children.  School life at Holy Family Academy is designed to complement a student’s home life.  Where classical literature and music are appreciated, religious, moral and political discussions take place, and, most importantly, the family Rosary is prayed.

We at Holy Family Academy are convinced that the distance between generations is not natural, normal or inevitable, but is created by a distortion of the common bond that exists in families.  When we reinforce what it means to be father, mother, son and daughter, the generation gap disappears.  Certainly, there never was a generation gap between Jesus and His beloved parents.

Schoolwork, both in the classroom and at home, is understood in the proper context of work as brilliantly elucidated by His Holiness Pope John Paul II.  The intellectual work of the students is activity that fulfills their nature.  By their efforts they strive to mirror the Christ who physically labored with St. Joseph and the Christ whose intellectual prowess astounded the priests in the Temple.
 

General Curriculum

In light of a belief in the advantages of a classical education, each subject of our curriculum strives to make use of original sources, supported by textbooks, to provide the students with a well-rounded knowledge of God’s creation. The understanding of an event from the eyes of a witness, or the study of virtue as explained by Aristotle, makes a profound impression upon the student and transforms the abstract into a tangible reality. By encouraging academic excellence in each field, the teachers at Holy Family Academy make every effort to bring the students to wonder at the presence of the hand of God in all aspects of our life.

Education in the spirit of Christian humanism guarantees the intellectual and moral training that forms young people and helps them to face the serious problems raised by scientific-technological development.  The study of classical languages can also be an effective help in introducing the younger generation to the knowledge of a cultural heritage of inestimable value.
 

Education in the spirit of Christian humanism guarantees the intellectual and moral training that forms young people and helps them to face the serious problems raised by scientific-technological development.
-Pope John Paul II

Theology

Holy Family Academy considers the study of God through reason and revelation as the summit of all knowledge. As inheritors of the One, True Faith, it is essential that Catholics come to a sufficient understanding of God and His plan for mankind as seen in light of the Magisterium and the Mystery of the Holy Catholic Church. Thus Holy Family Academy employs Sacred Scripture, the writings of the Church Fathers and Doctors, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the lives of the Saints and the documents of the Church to present the truth of God’s great mercy and justice with respect to the salvation of man.

Religion must not be taught to the youth only during certain hours, but the entire system of education must be permeated with a sense of Christian piety.
-Leo XIII
 

Theology Courses

Old Testament / Chief Truths of the Faith

New Testament / Baltimore Catechism

The Sacraments

Moral Theology

Apologetics

Church Encyclicals

Philosophy

The fundamental importance of philosophy for an educated man is obvious for every decision and individual or an organization makes is either implicitly or explicitly based on philosophical principles. Law, morality, beauty, the nature of man, the existence and attributes of God, the nature of the family and marriage are topics that a philosophical mind contemplates. Teaching our students how to think about ultimate reasons of existence is the very foundation of education. Hence, Theology and Philosophy must be priority subjects in any truly Catholic education. By contrast, every error concerning the value of all human life, the reality of God, the nature of the family is a result of philosophical ignorance that is intellectual sloth.

Philosophy Courses

Introduction to Philosophy I

Introduction to Philosophy II

Philosophy of Man

Philosophy of Nature, Beauty and History

Ethics

Metaphysics

Grammar, Composition and Literature

Grammar – It is only through an understanding of language structure that a student can come to express himself and his beliefs clearly and intelligently both in speech and writing. Thus, traditional English grammar is emphasized throughout the school’s curriculum, while at the high school level, the skills learned earlier are used and perfected.

Composition – In a time when people become more visually oriented while their language becomes more and more corrupt, the ability to write well is, sadly, a rare phenomenon. Writing is a part of every English course offered at Holy Family Academy. Not only do the students learn organizational skills and proper sentence structure, but they are challenged to present great ideas in a clear and logical fashion.

Literature – It is through great literature that man comes to grips with who he is and what his place is in relation to God and the world. By reading the classics and critically analyzing them, students grasp at the universal truth and falsehood, which face men every day.  Poetry, dramas, novels, essays, and letters by authors such as Homer, Sophocles, Euripides, Dante, Racine, Corneille, Cervantes, Moliere, Goethe, Shakespeare, Dostoevsky and Tolstoi make up the core of the literature curriculum.

Ancient Literature I

American Literature I

Ancient Literature II

Medieval and Renaissance Literature

Modern Literature

American Literature II

History

History, in its proper sense, is the study of the providential hand of God moving through time to touch the hearts of men.  The core of events of history are the fall of Adam and Eve into Original Sin and the Incarnation, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The focus of history, then, is how each society, people and individual soul accept or reject the impact of these defining events.  The students at Holy Family Academy will come to see the effects of sin and grace upon man and gain a true perspective of the direction of history towards the Final Judgment.

In history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experiences police said out for all to see; and in that record you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things, rotten through and through to avoid.
-Livy

History Courses

Ancient World

American History I

Early Church to Renaissance

Renaissance and Revolution

The Modern Age

American History II

Mathematics

Students will be required to master problem solving and will be challenged to develop logical skills in proving mathematical theorems.

Mathematics Courses

Applied Mathematics

Pre-Algebra

Algebra I

Euclidian Geometry

Algebra II

Pre-Calculus

Calculus
 

Science

The study and examination of the beauty and complexity of creation will surely lead to a greater appreciation and awe for the Creator.  The belief that science does not conflict with faith, but rather complements it, is the basis of our program.

Sciences Courses

Earth Science

General Science

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Philosophy of Science
 

Languages

The ability to study in master languages has always been considered an essential component of a classical education.  Latin, French and Spanish are to be studied. Latin is a universal language of the Catholic faith and is essential for students’ full participation in the traditions and practices of the Church.  French and Spanish are studied in order to facilitate an understanding of the culture of Catholic Europe.
 

Political Science

The political science program focuses on a comparison of Greek ideas with political thought and practices.  The role of the family as the basic cell of society will be stressed.  The limited but necessary role of the state will be examined in light of the teachings of the Church.
 

Political Science Courses

Political Theory

American Government

Fine Arts

The study of music, painting, architecture and drama is undertaken with a focus on the great works of Western Europe.  It was the philosopher, Aristotle, who said that gazing upon the beautiful makes the soul beautiful because Art imitates nature.  The subjective theory is basic to the decadent forms of modern art will be set aside while the objective principal displayed in the works of Michelangelo, Giotto, Beethoven, Mozart, Moliere, Bernini and the like will be emulated.
 

Fine Art Courses

Classical Music Appreciation

Traditional Choir

Drama Performance

Art Appreciation

Oratory

A well-educated person should be ready at all times to express competently and clearly the principles he holds as true.  Thus, the students study different forms of public speaking such as debate, thesis presentation, recitation and acting.
 

Athletics

The development of a sound body is necessary for the formation of a whole man.  While encouraging healthy competition, each student is given the opportunity to play to the best of his ability.  This Platonic conclusion is to be complemented by Aristotle's view of moderation. We do not fall prey to the temptation so prevalent in our society of wrongly prioritizing sports, but rather we keep in mind the proper ordering of the body and mind when engaging in healthy intro-mural competitions.
 

The Church, without any doubt whatever, approves of physical culture; if it be in proper proportion, that is to say when it provides new incitements for study and for professional work and does not conduce to their abandonment or neglect or to the disturbance  of the peace that should rein in the sanctuary of home.
-Pius XII