Fall 2022 Course Descriptions
EARLY ELEMENTARY
The Friends & Foes of Peter Rabbit Creative Drama – WAIT LIST ONLY
Mrs. Elise Epstein
grades 2-4
This class will explore many of the adorable classic Beatrix Potter stories as we read them together and trade off playing the different characters. We will meet the spunky Tom Kitten and his sisters, whose clothes end up on the Puddleduck family. We will also meet Mrs. Tittlemouse in her spiffy home, where she combats bees and a messy frog who won’t wipe his feet. Of course, we will begin with the story of the infamous Peter Rabbit! Come enjoy the fun antics of this beloved rabbit and others.
Materials fee: $15
STEM Design & the Scientific Method
Ms. Mari Held
grades 2-4
We will spend 12 weeks exploring the scientific method and design processes where students will have the opportunity to conduct hands-on scientific experiments by planning and collecting data from observations. Students will understand that certain types of questions can be answered by investigations and that methods, models, and conclusions built from these investigations change as new observations are made. Learners will understand that experiments require the use of instruments, observation, recording, and drawing evidence-based conclusions. This course will provide students with the opportunity to expand their minds and see for themselves the way that science is a part of their everyday lives.
Materials fee: $35
Crafting with the Saints
Mrs. Darci Byrnes
grades 2-4
Get to know our friends and heroes in Heaven! Each week, we will learn about the life of a saint and then complete an art project highlighting the virtues and life of that saint. Through the creation of handicrafts and art projects, students will connect with the liturgical year and the heavenly Communion of Saints.
Materials fee: $10
Fit for Heaven
Coach Aaron Mikita
grades 2-4
The mission of Frassati and Badano Sports & Adventure is to form strong disciples of Jesus Christ. Through sports and adventure, we seek to foster spirituality, servant leadership, vocation discernment, and joyful Catholic witness. With God the Son at the center of our every action, He empowers us to take up our cross/sword and do all things through Him. Through the fall semester students will have sport specific training as well as multisport exposure in speed and agility classes focused on making your child “Fit for Heaven”.
Materials fee: None
UPPER ELEMENTARY
STEM Design & the Scientific Method
Ms. Mari Held
grades 4-6
We will spend 12 weeks exploring the scientific method and design processes where students will have the opportunity to conduct hands-on scientific experiments by planning and collecting data from observations. Students will understand that certain types of questions can be answered by investigations and that methods, models, and conclusions built from these investigations change as new observations are made. Learners will understand that experiments require the use of instruments, observation, recording, and drawing evidence-based conclusions. This course will provide students with the opportunity to expand their minds and see for themselves the way that science is a part of their everyday lives.
Materials fee: $35
Theater: A Christmas Carol – WAIT LIST ONLY
Mrs. Darci Byrnes
grades 4-12
Students will have the opportunity to perform Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol for family, friends and our larger homeschool community. In addition to our 12 class meetings at CCE, this class requires additional commitment. Day, time, and location for mandatory dress rehearsal and performances TBD. Tickets will be sold prior to the show and all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the CCE Scholarship Fund.
Materials fee: None
Fit for Heaven
Coach Aaron Mikita
grades 4-7
The mission of Frassati and Badano Sports & Adventure is to form strong disciples of Jesus Christ. Through sports and adventure, we seek to foster spirituality, servant leadership, vocation discernment, and joyful Catholic witness. With God the Son at the center of our every action, He empowers us to take up our cross/sword and do all things through Him. Through the fall semester students will have sport specific training as well as multisport exposure in speed and agility classes focused on making your child “Fit for Heaven”.
Materials fee: None
Around the World: Geography & Mapping
Mrs. Darci Byrnes
grades 4-7
God’s world is full of places to explore and discover! Learn about places and people through map reading, map creation, and hands-on activities. This interdisciplinary class will explore physical geography, customs, stories from other places, and more!
Materials fee: $10
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Inkling Adventures
Dr. Jacob Pride
grades 5-8
The two mid-twentieth century English novelists C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien wrote (among many other things) novels for children and both were devout Christians. The work of these two friends continues to find a home in every generation. As the American novelist Lloyd Alexander writes, “Like his fellow genius, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis has redefined the nature of fantasy, adding richness, beauty, and dimensions….In our times, every fantasy realm must be measured in comparison with Narnia.” For the fall, we will have the entire collection of Clive Staples Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia (ISBN: 0-06-623850-1) in a single volume; however, we will study and discuss only the first three books of the series: The Magician’s Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; and The Horse and His Boy. Then, in the spring, we will dive into Tolkien’s classic book, The Hobbit (ISBN: 978-0-547-92822-7). Join us on these two Inkling adventures!
Materials fee: None
Required texts:
The Chronicles of Narnia by Clive Staples Lewis – ISBN: 0-06-623850-1
The Hobbit by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien ISBN: 978-0-547-92822-7
Fit for Heaven
Coach Aaron Mikita
grades 5-8
The mission of Frassati and Badano Sports & Adventure is to form strong disciples of Jesus Christ. Through sports and adventure, we seek to foster spirituality, servant leadership, vocation discernment, and joyful Catholic witness. With God the Son at the center of our every action, He empowers us to take up our cross/sword and do all things through Him. Through the fall semester students will have sport specific training as well as multisport exposure in speed and agility classes focused on making your child “Fit for Heaven”.
Materials fee: None
Angels & Demons: A Philosophy of God
Dr. Jacob Pride
grades 5-8
Drawing from such great doctors of the Church as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas as well as more contemporary authors, such as C.S. Lewis, Dr. Peter Kreeft, and Dr. Paul Thigpin, we will study and discuss the existence of God, the “Necessary Existent.” I am emphasizing angels and demons in the course because even our non-Christian society finds them fascinating, although their understanding of them is severely wanting. As Dr. Kreeft says in his book, Angels (and Demons), “[Angels] really exist. Not just in our minds, or our myths, or our symbols, or our culture. They are as real as your dog, or your sister, or electricity” (17). Understanding–or beginning to understand–these magnificent creatures of God help us to understand who God is. Like us, angels are only relatively infinite, whereas God alone is absolutely infinite, but knowledge about the angels can and should bring us to greater love and service of God.
Materials fee: None
Required texts:
A Rulebook for Arguments, 5th edition, Anthony Weston – ISBN 978-1624666544
Angels and Demons, Ignatius Press, Peter Kreeft – ISBN 978-0898705508
Theology for Beginners, Frank Sheed – https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/theology-for-beginners/TBEG.html
Screwtape Letters, Dynamic Catholic – ISBN 0060652934
Earth Science
Jimmy Betsill
grades 5-8
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to basic concepts involving Earth Sciences. The main topics that are to be covered in this course will include rocks and minerals, geologic features of the Earth and solar system, atmospheric sciences, and other topics. The course will be divided into three portions with the first four weeks being geology, the second four weeks being Earth’s surface and interior, and the last four weeks being above the Earth and beyond. Classes will primarily involve group discussions and interactive activities. Likewise, the course hopes to expose students to several different and unique methods of understanding concepts in the Earth Sciences. Additional activities and resources will also be made available to students after the class if parents/guardians wish to continue education of a topic or the student desires further research into the topic. Finally, faith will of course be a primary component of this course too.
Topics include:
The Rock Cycle – Starburst experiment
Minerals – Mineral testing
Geologic Mapping – Make a map of St. Joe’s
Natural Resources – Household item analysis
Plate Tectonics – Model the plate boundary types
Earth’s Hazards – Simulating hazards
Analyzing Earth’s History – Making fossils and imprints
Earth’s Composition – Making models of the earth
Earth’s Atmosphere – Coring the atmosphere
The Water Cycle – Construct a water cycle model
Meteorology & Weather – Forecasting outside
The Solar System – Walk through the solar system
Materials fee: $35
Theater: A Christmas Carol
Mrs. Darci Byrnes
grades 4-12
Students will have the opportunity to perform Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol for family, friends and our larger homeschool community. In addition to our 12 class meetings at CCE, this class requires additional commitment. Day, time, and location for mandatory dress rehearsal and performances TBD. Tickets will be sold prior to the show and all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the CCE Scholarship Fund.
Materials fee: None
HIGH SCHOOL
Angels & Demons: A Philosophy of God
Dr. Jacob Pride
grades 8-12
Drawing from such great doctors of the Church as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas as well as more contemporary authors, such as C.S. Lewis, Dr. Peter Kreeft, and Dr. Paul Thigpin, we will study and discuss the existence of God, the “Necessary Existent.” I am emphasizing angels and demons in the course because even our non-Christian society finds them fascinating, although their understanding of them is severely wanting. As Dr. Kreeft says in his book, Angels (and Demons), “[Angels] really exist. Not just in our minds, or our myths, or our symbols, or our culture. They are as real as your dog, or your sister, or electricity” (17). Understanding–or beginning to understand–these magnificent creatures of God help us to understand who God is. Like us, angels are only relatively infinite, whereas God alone is absolutely infinite, but knowledge about the angels can and should bring us to greater love and service of God.
Materials fee: None
Required texts:
A Rulebook for Arguments, 5th edition, Anthony Weston – ISBN 978-1624666544
Angels and Demons, Ignatius Press, Peter Kreeft – ISBN 978-0898705508
Theology for Beginners, Frank Sheed – https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/theology-for-beginners/TBEG.html
Screwtape Letters, Dynamic Catholic – ISBN 0060652934
The Quest for Shakespeare
Dr. Jacob Pride
grades 8-12
The title of this course comes from Joseph Pearce’s book of the same name. I will use Pearce’s words to describe the course, since my own quest for Shakespeare reflects my former college teacher’s experience so closely: “It was only slowly that I came to realize that much more was known about Shakespeare than most of us have been led to believe. One fact followed upon another until a point was reached where I decided to embark upon some serious research myself. Doing so, I became convinced that Shakespeare was indeed a Catholic, at a time when Catholics were subject to a great deal of ruthless persecution, and that this fact has radical consequences with regard to the study of his works” (9). With this in mind, we will go on our own adventure, our own quest, for Shakespeare.
Materials fee: None
Required texts:
The Quest for Shakespeare, Joseph Pearce – ISBN 978-1586172244
Henry V, No Fear Shakespeare – ISBN 978-1411401037
Romeo and Juliet, Ignatius Press – ISBN 978-1586174392
Earth Science
Jimmy Betsill
grades 8-12
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to basic concepts involving Earth Sciences. The main topics that are to be covered in this course will include rocks and minerals, geologic features of the Earth and solar system, atmospheric sciences, and other topics. The course will be divided into three portions with the first four weeks being geology, the second four weeks being Earth’s surface and interior, and the last four weeks being above the Earth and beyond. Classes will primarily involve group discussions and interactive activities. Likewise, the course hopes to expose students to several different and unique methods of understanding concepts in the Earth Sciences. Additional activities and resources will also be made available to students after the class if parents/guardians wish to continue education of a topic or the student desires further research into the topic. Finally, faith will of course be a primary component of this course too.
Topics include:
The Rock Cycle – Starburst experiment
Minerals – Mineral testing
Geologic Mapping – Make a map of St. Joe’s
Natural Resources – Household item analysis
Plate Tectonics – Model the plate boundary types
Earth’s Hazards – Simulating hazards
Analyzing Earth’s History – Making fossils and imprints
Earth’s Composition – Making models of the earth
Earth’s Atmosphere – Coring the atmosphere
The Water Cycle – Construct a water cycle model
Meteorology & Weather – Forecasting outside
The Solar System – Walk through the solar system
Materials fee: $35
Effective Public Speaking
Ms. Rebecca Gautier
grades 8-12
This class is an introduction to the principles and application of speaking effectively to an audience. Topics covered will be subject selection, organization, research skills, and effective delivery skills. Students will have opportunities to deliver informative and persuasive speeches, while practicing active use of voice and body language, developing strategies to control fears, and learning to take and answer audience questions.
Materials fee: None
Theater: A Christmas Carol
Mrs. Darci Byrnes
grades 4-12
Students will have the opportunity to perform Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol for family, friends and our larger homeschool community. In addition to our 12 class meetings at CCE, this class requires additional commitment. Day, time, and location for mandatory dress rehearsal and performances TBD. Tickets will be sold prior to the show and all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the CCE Scholarship Fund.
Materials fee: None