The Highlands Latin School 2026-2027 Course Catalog
HIGHLANDS LATIN SCHOOL
DOCERE, DELECTARE, MOVERE to teach, to delight, to move
2026 - 2027
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your interest in Highlands Latin School.
Our goal at HLS is to restore education to the high standards of the past and to develop a premier curriculum for classical Christian education. We aspire to become a school that serves as a model for classical learning and for excellence in the teaching arts.
We are proud of our outstanding faculty and our well-designed, integrated curriculum, much of which is written by our own staff and published by HLS’ publishing arm, Memoria Press. Our small, family-oriented community of learners is an ideal setting to nurture young people in both intellectual growth and the highest ideals of Christian character.
We strive to offer the very best in education at an affordable price and to support family life by our four-day academic schedule.
We would be pleased to answer your questions and give you a tour of our school. Please call and ask for our admissions director, who will be glad to assist you.
Sincerely,
Brian Lowe President
HLS COURSE CATALOG
Highlands Latin School 2025-2026
ISBN: 978-1-61538-940-7
HIGHLANDS LATIN SCHOOL
General Information
Class Days — HLS offers a two-day kindergarten and a three-day primary program in grades 1-2. At this age individualized instruction at home can accomplish goals that cannot be achieved in a classroom setting.
In grades 3-12, our four-day academic week provides instruction time comparable to a five-day school.
Our reduced academic week has these advantages. It lowers tuition and makes a quality education affordable for more families; it reduces Sunday-night blues by giving families Mondays as a reading and preparation day; it supports family life by increasing time spent at home, and it enables parents to be more involved in their child’s education and provides one day for family enrichment activities; it reduces absenteeism by providing one day for doctor/dentist and other appointments; it encourages independent-study skills, better preparing students for college; it provides a three-day weekend for family and college trips.
Uniforms HLS students wear uniforms. Please see our website for complete guidelines.
School Calendar — Highlands Latin School has a 34-week calendar, beginning one week before Labor Day and ending the Friday before Memorial Day. Thanksgiving Break is one full week, Christmas Break is two weeks, and Spring Break is two weeks.
School Hours — 8:00-3:30 P.M. on T, W, Th and 8:00-2:15 P.M. on Fridays. Drop-off begins at 7:30 A.M.
Campuses — Highlands Latin School has two campuses. The Spring Meadows campus in Middletown serves grades K-12. The Westport Road campus serves grades K-8.
2025-2026 Tuition
Kindergarten:
1st - 2nd Grade:
3rd - 6th Grade:
7th Grade & Up:
$3,300 (2-Day)
$6,400 (3-Day)
$8,500 (4-Day)
$9,800 (4-Day)
Books & Materials Fee
$520
$520
$520
$590
HLS ADMINISTRATION CONTACT INFORMATION
Brian Lowe President blowe@hls.org | (502) 643-9783
Shawn Wheatley Head of School swheatley@hls.org
Jason Borah Principal - Westport Road Campus jborah@hls.org
Jeremy Breland Dean of 9-12 Students jbreland@hls.org
Leigh Lowe Curriculum Director llowe@hls.org
Tara Luse
Lower School Principal - Spring Meadows, K-6 tluse@hls.org
Erin Breland College Counselor ebreland@hls.org
Shawna White Admissions Director swhite@hls.org
Spring Meadows Campus
Emily Hanel, Office
Jill Gilbert, Office
Address: 10901 Shelbyville Road Louisville, KY 40243
Phone: (502) 742-4789 (HLS main office)
Email: office@hls.org
Westport Road Campus
Georganna Wheatley, Office
Address: 7706 Westport Road Louisville, KY 40222
Phone: (502) 895-5333
Email: office@hls.org
Brian Lowe President
Administration
J.D. Vanderbilt University
B.A. Physics and Mathematics, Transylvania University
Shawn Wheatley Head of School
M.S. School Administration, Bellarmine University
M.S. Secondary Education, University of Kentucky
B.S. Biology, Transylvania University
Jason Borah Principal - Westport Road Campus
M.A. Theology, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
B.A. Theology, Moody Bible Institute
Jeremy Breland Dean of 9-12 Students
B.A. English and History, University of South Carolina - Beaufort
Leigh Lowe Curriculum Director
M.B.A. University of Louisville
B.A. Business Administration, Transylvania University
Tara Luse
Lower School Principal - Spring Meadows, K-6
B.A. Sociology, University of Kentucky
Erin Breland College Counselor
B.A. Communication Studies, University of South Carolina - Beaufort
Shawna White Admissions Director
M.S. Social Work, University of Louisville
B.S. Social Work, Western Kentucky University
Upper School Faculty
Lew Acampora
Amy Bankes
Rachel Bier
Justin Cox
Dr. Douglas Darnowski
Stephanie Day
Mark Gilbert
Jennifer Heinze
Anthony Hernandez
Drake Isabell
Kyle Janke
Robert Lewis
Alex Long
Michael Longerbeam
Catherine Milem
Alex Morgan
B.A. Chemistry, Harvard
B.A. Secondary Education in Mathematics, Grace College
M.A. Classics, emphasis Latin, University of Virginia
M.A. Classics, Washington University, St. Louis
B.A. Letters, Xavier University
M.T.S. Harvard University
M.Litt. The University of St. Andrews
B.S. Boyce College
Ph.D. Field of Plant Biology, Cornell University
B.S. Biology, Yale
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Louisville
M.B.A. Wake Forest University
B.A. Statistics, University of Tennessee
B.A. English, University of Oklahoma
M.A. Mathematics, Marshall University
B.A. Mathematics and Physics, Marshall University
M.Div. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A. Biblical Studies and Business, Midwestern Baptist College
M.A. English Literature, Eastern Michigan University
B.A. English, Hillsdale College
M.A. Theology, Aquinas Institute of Theology
B.A. Philosophy, Purdue University
M.Div. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A. History, University of Texas at Arlington
B.S. Humanities, Boyce College
B.A. Literature, Hillsdale College
M.Div. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S. Secondary Science Education, Ball State University
Kelly Nall
Max Oesterling
Michael Portwood
Dr. Brandon Rittelmeyer
Margaret Roy
Dr. Kevin Scahill
Deborah Sewell
William Spray
Thomas Spurlock
Hannah Turrill
Dustin Warren
Kimberly Williamson
Daniel Young
Emmy Hamilton (3)
Anne Parry (3)
Caryn Thomas (3)
Sadie Young (3)
Amber Elliott (4)
Beth Gurtner (4)
Amy Mangione (4)
Ava Uhl (4)
Sydney Law (5)
Kara Robertson (5)
Amy Sizemore (5)
Christian Walker (5)
Taylor Fletcher (6)
Keaton Price (6)
Jessica Watson (6)
Dakota Wilson (6)
M.Div. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies, Texas A&M University
B.A. Mathematics, University of Louisville
M.Div. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A. Boyce College
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, Auburn University
M.S. Auburn University
B.S. University of South Alabama
M.A. Linguistics, University of York
B.A. French, Grove City College
Ph.D. Classics, University of Virginia
M.A. Classical Languages, University of Georgia
M.A. English, Austin Peay State University
B.A. English and Classics, Austin Peay State University
B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies, Tennessee Temple University
B.A. Religion and Philosophy, Southwest Baptist University
B.A. Classics, Georgetown University
B.A. Music and History, Colorado Christian University
M.Div. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S. Social Science and Secondary Education, William Carey University
M.S. Clinical Psychology/ Neuropsychology, University of Kentucky
B.A. Bellarmine University
B.S. Architecture, University of Kentucky
Grammar School Faculty
B.S. Business Management, Western Kentucky University
B.S. Biology, University of Georgia
B.A. Music Education, Asbury University
B.S. Biblical Counseling, Boyce College
M.A. Biblical Counseling, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.S. Biblical Counseling, Boyce College
B.S. Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Edinboro University
B.S. Accounting, University of Akron
B.S. Humanities, Boyce College
B.S. Biblical Counseling, Boyce College
M.A. Education in Teaching and Learning, Liberty University
B.S. Elementary Education, Liberty University
B.A. Elementary Education, Anderson University
B.S. Elementary Education, Southwest Baptist University
M.A. Christian Education, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A. Biblical and Theological Studies, Covenant College
M.A. English, University of Louisville
B.A. English, Rhodes College
B.S. Elementary Education, Northland International University
M.A. History, Appalachian State University
B.A. History, University of South Alabama
Brenda Janke (JK)
Belinda King (JK)
Dr. Joanna Royals (JK)
Starr Steinbach (JK)
Tiffany Campione (K)
Dr. Melissa Chambers (K)
Tennya Colburn (K)
Rebecca Derringer (K)
Tarah Matthews (K)
Misty Montgomery (K)
Carrie Baird (1)
Emma Garner (1)
Julia Lasoi (1)
Teal Wigginton (1)
Mary Harruff (2)
Krista Lange (2)
Megan Pierce (2)
Jenna Railey (2)
Christina Arruda
Dr. Louie L. Bailey
Teresa Boling
Erika Boyd
Melissa Ford
Jennifer Gilcreast
Ryan Grigsby
Janice Murdoch
Allison Pereira
Anne Mary Russell
Colleen Stafford
Meribeth Szwed
Libby Thomas
Katherine Ussery
Primary School Faculty
B.S. Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
A.D. Nursing, University of Kentucky
D.V.M. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
B.S. Biological Sciences, Clemson University
B.A. Speech Communication, Eastern Illinois University
Ph.D. Physiology, University of Kentucky
B.S. Chemistry and French, Hillsdale College
M.A. Counseling, Western Kentucky University
B.S. Education, Western Kentucky University
B.A. Communications, University of Louisville
M.Ed. Special Education, Freed-Hardeman University
B.S. Child and Family Studies, Freed-Hardeman University
B.S. Sociology, Campbellsville University
M.S. Health Service Administration, University of Evansville
B.S. Health Service Administration, University of Evansville
B.S. Teacher Education, Boyce College
M.A. Reading and Writing, University of Louisville
M.A. Christian Education, Asbury Theological Seminary
B.A. Elementary Education, Asbury University
B.S. Elementary Education, Western Kentucky University
M.A. Education, University of the Cumberlands
B.S. Elementary Education, Georgetown College
B.S. Elementary Education, Dr. Martin Luther College
B.S. Economics, University of Kentucky
B.S. Psychology, University of Louisville
Art, Choir, Music, and Physical Education
B.S. Sacred Music Performance, Tennessee Temple University
M.A. Church Music, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A. Music, Georgia State University
B.A. Business Administration, Eastern Kentucky University
B.A. Music Education, Mississippi College
B.S. Biology and Linguistics, North Greenville University
M.M. University of Notre Dame
B.M. Asbury University
B.S. Sports Administration, Olivet Nazarene University
M.A. Dance/Movement Therapy, Antioch New England Graduate School
B.A. Dance and Exercise Training, California State University
B.S. Biblical Studies: Music & Worship, Boyce College
B.S. Biblical Studies: Music & Worship, Piano, Boyce College
J.D. University of Louisville
B.S. Family Studies, Miami University (OH)
M.A. Teaching, University of Louisville
B.S. Music Education, Asbury University
B.A. Communications, Vanderbilt University
MISSION STATEMENT
In partnership with parents, and guided by the Gospel, we strive to educate students to the highest standards of the classical tradition, so that they may grow in knowledge and wisdom, and in the love of our Lord, and more ably use their gifts in the service of others, and for the glory of Christ and his Church.
ABOUT HLS
Christian
Our faith statement is the Apostles’ Creed, the most ancient and widely accepted expression of the essential beliefs of the Christian faith.
Highlands Latin teaches and upholds traditional Christian morality and the Holy Scriptures as the divinely inspired word of God.
Highlands Latin warmly welcomes families of other faiths, but we ask that you respect our distinctive Christian identity. In all of our instruction we are respectful of other faiths, while humbly maintaining the truths of our Christian faith.
Classical
The intensive study of Latin in the grammar school years develops the minds of students as no other subject can. Students who have learned how to learn with Latin become better students in all other subjects. The study of classical languages and the Greek and Roman classics provides a path to wisdom and knowledge that cannot be attained by any other method. In the tradition of Western civilization, education and classical education have always been synonymous.
Classical education can be distinguished from modern education in that it does not neglect the important first step of giving students the classical tools for both intellectual development and for understanding their classical Christian heritage.
Traditional
Although many experimental innovations have been tried by schools during the last century, none have been able to duplicate the success of the traditional classroom.
In the traditional classroom, a knowledgeable, enthusiastic teacher carefully leads students into an understanding of each subject. Classrooms are quiet, orderly, and disciplined. Lessons are incremental, content is age-appropriate, and students learn the important skill of quality written work completed in a timely manner. Homework is moderate and is for the purpose of practicing or preparing for a lesson. The traditional classroom is consistent with human nature, and the experience of many decades has demonstrated its superiority over the modern child-centered classroom.
Curriculum
A classical Christian education aspires to give students the kind of wisdom that would require a lifetime of experience to achieve on their own. This wisdom is gained by reading the classics under the guidance of teachers who have integrity, knowledge, and wisdom.
The HLS curriculum is a coherent whole in which each year of study builds upon the skills and knowledge of the previous year. Families should not be deterred, however, by the cumulative nature of our classical curriculum. With assistance from our staff and some summer preparation, motivated students can enter our program of studies at any grade level and be successful.
Our formal classical curriculum begins in third grade, so students who enter our program any year after third grade are encouraged to select books from our curriculum list for summer reading and, if necessary, to avail themselves of our preparatory summer classes for incoming new students. For Latin, however, no extra preparation is necessary. An age-appropriate beginner class is available for all new students.
The typical high school courses, such as American Literature or World History, are missing from our curriculum; instead there are the three “Studies” areas—Classical/Christian Studies, English Studies, and American/Modern Studies. In these integrated courses, students learn the history, geography, literature, and art of each culture. We believe this is an effective method of learning about the past, one which decreases fragmentation and increases understanding and retention. Courses in our threepronged “Studies” curriculum satisfy college requirements for history, English, and geography.
Philosophy
Latin and Greek, mathematics, and music are foundational and universal languages. They are the cumulative and challenging subjects in the HLS curriculum, enabling students to reach their full intellectual potential by developing the powers of the mind as no other subjects can. The singing of sacred music awakens the soul to God and assists in creating a community of faith, hope, and love. A careful reading of the classics, guided by the truths of the historic Christian faith, develops wisdom and virtue. Our curriculum is organized into the following six academic subjects plus music, art, and physical education:
• Classical Languages • Mathematics • Classical/Christian Studies
• English Studies • Science • American/Modern Studies
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Highlands Latin School has an integrated course of studies that leads to a high school diploma of the highest quality. Our transcripts include course descriptions and book lists so that colleges may understand the nature of our curriculum and the level of reading our graduates have experienced.
Each credit represents one year’s work in a 3-4 hour course.
HIGHLANDS LATIN ACADEMIC STANDING
• K-8 students score an average of 3.6 grades above their grade level on the ITBS.
• 15% of seniors in the last 5 years recognized as National Merit Semifinalists/Commended.
• 4-year average SAT score is 1340 (1600 scale); 4-year average ACT is 30.
• In 2025, 98% of HLS students scored a 3 or higher on AP Exams compared to the national average of 71%.
• Graduates Accepted To: Auburn University, Baylor University, Bellarmine, Boston College, Boston University, Cedarville University, Centre, Colorado School of Mines, Dartmouth, Franciscan University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Grove City College, Hillsdale, Lipscomb University, MIT, U.S. Naval Academy, New College of Florida, Notre Dame, Princeton, Purdue, Rose-Hulman, St. John’s, Texas A&M, Transylvania University, University of Dayton, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Michigan, University of Mississippi, UPenn, United States Air Force Academy, UVa, Vanderbilt, Villanova University, Wake Forest, and West Point
HOUSE SYSTEM
For social, athletic, leadership, service, and other extracurricular activities, Upper School students are organized into four Houses. Each multi-age House has five primary officers and provides many leadership opportunities. Houses compete throughout the year for points in order to win the coveted House Cup. Students learn rules of order and serve on a variety of committees. Older students serve as role models for their younger classmates, with the result that all students grow in maturity and positive social skills.
Each House has its own crest and tartan plaid and is named for one of the four patron saints of the British Isles: St. George for England, St. Andrew for Scotland, St. David for Wales, and St. Patrick for Ireland. Our House System has been enthusiastically received by our students, who are creating traditions that will be handed down to future generations.
ATHLETICS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Primary School (K-2): American Heritage Girls, Tennis Clinics, Cross Country
Grammar School (3-6): American Heritage Girls, Boys Baseball (grades 5 and up), Boys Basketball (grades 4 and up), Girls Basketball (grades 4 and up), Coed Cross Country, Girls Volleyball (grades 5 and up), Girls Field Hockey (grades 5 and up), Coed Soccer (grades 4 and up), Girls Softball (grades 6 and up), Tennis Clinics, Coed Track and Field (grades 5 and up)
Upper School (7-12): House System, Debate Team, Drama Troupe, Boys Baseball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Coed Archery, Coed Cross Country, Coed Golf, Girls Volleyball, Girls Field Hockey, Tennis Clinics, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Girls Softball, Coed Track and Field, Science Olympiad, Madrigal Choir, Handbell Choir, Yearbook, American Heritage Girls, Painting Club, Orchestra, Book Club, MathCounts, Poetry Club, Robotics Team, Speech & Debate, Hospitality Club, Chess Club, Drawing Club
Physical Education
Primary School (K-2) and Grammar School (3-6) students have P.E. or recess every day. Upper School students have Club Sports once a week.
Goals of the P.E. program are to prepare students to be active, capable participants in Club Sports and athletic teams; to provide physical exercise, stress reduction, and breaks from the academic day; and to develop student fitness as a means of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In Club Sports students participate in multiple round-robin-style tournaments in slightly modified versions of handball, dodgeball, soccer, and ultimate frisbee. While points are awarded to the Houses for victory, we strongly emphasize the need for encouragement, fair play, and teamwork among peers.
Art and Art History
Students in grades 1-6 have art for an hour every other week. An art history emphasis focuses student work in various media, including painting and print-making. Seniors study art and architecture from prehistoric times to the present and have the opportunity to visit Italy to see many major works in person.
These schedules show the time on task and the number of sessions for each subject. The particular days or times may vary.
Grades K-2
Typical Schedule
Time
8:00-9:00 Opening (Prayer, Calendar, Recitation, Bible)
1:15-2:30 Science Christian Studies Classical Studies World Geo./ Amer. Studies
2:30-3:30 Art Choir Music
These schedules show the time on task and the number of sessions for each subject. The particular days or times may vary.
Grades 7-8
Typical Schedule
Time Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:00-9:10 Geography (7)/ Physical Science (8)
Pre-Algebra (7)/ Algebra I (8)
Pre-Algebra (7)/ Algebra I (8)
Pre-Algebra (7)/ Algebra I (8)
9:10-10:20 Club Sports Latin Choir Latin
10:20-11:30 Latin Geography (7)/ Physical Science (8) Latin English
11:30-12:00 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch
12:00-1:10 Classical/ Christian Studies Classical/ Christian Studies Classical/ Christian Studies Geography (7)/ Physical Science (8)
1:10-2:20 Pre-Algebra (7)/ Algebra I (8) English English Greek I/II
2:20-3:30 English Greek I/II Greek I/II
Grades 9-12
Typical Schedule
Time Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:00-9:10 English English English Classical/ Christian Studies
9:10-10:20 Latin Club Sports Latin Choir
10:20-11:30 Science Latin Science Latin
11:30-12:40 Math Science Math English/SAT Prep (10)/College Planning (12)
12:40-1:10 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch
1:10-2:20 Classical/Christian Studies Math Classical/Christian Studies Math
2:20-3:30
U.S. or European History/Logic (9)
U.S. or European History/Logic (9)
U.S. or European History/Logic (9)
K-2 PROGRAM
Reading, writing, spelling, and arithmetic are the foundations upon which the tower of learning is built, and they are given the highest priority in K-2. The basic skills, work habits, and attitudes formed in the primary years are of critical importance.
Phonics and Reading
Phonics is the system of letter-sound association taught to children for the purposes of learning to read and spell. Phonics is most effective when taught systematically, thoroughly, intensively, and in a logical and time-tested sequence.
Our primary resource for phonics instruction in kindergarten is our own Memoria Press First Start Reading, a program which teaches correct pencil grip, manuscript form, consonant and short vowel sounds, three-letter word formation, consonant blends, and silent e. Common words which do not fit into any word family are introduced after students learn to blend three-letter words. First Start Reading teaches students to read in kindergarten using stories with a high percentage of phonetic words.
Phonics and spelling continue in first and second grades using the Traditional Spelling program. In first grade students continue to develop reading comprehension with whole books, which captivate and motivate children and are preferred over basal readers. Teachers monitor student reading skills through daily oral reading. First graders read children’s classics such as Little Bear, Caps for Sale, The Story About Ping, and Billy and Blaze. Second graders read The Courage of Sarah Noble, Little House in the Big Woods, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and Beatrix Potter. Spelling, penmanship, composition, and vocabulary lessons for each book are provided by our Memoria Press study guides, written by HLS faculty.
A rich language experience, provided both at home and in school, is an important factor in reading success. Students memorize poems and Scripture and enjoy children’s classics read by teachers and parents during read-aloud time.
Spelling and Printing
Students develop the visual memory for accurate spelling by a systematic study of phonics, word families, and spelling rules taught in Traditional Spelling, and by a lifetime of seeing, reading, and writing words correctly. It is very important to reduce opportunities for children to write or see misspelled words; young students who are allowed to spell creatively or phonetically have a confused visual memory that is difficult to overcome.
Copybook is an exercise consisting of copying sayings, maxims, Scripture, and poetry in the student’s best handwriting. Copybook is an important step in developing good penmanship, punctuation, and spelling. Habits of good penmanship are instilled early and required at every grade level by every teacher. The discipline of neat and legible handwriting is an aid to spelling and instills the value of accurate, careful work an important academic skill that carries over into every aspect of learning. In the 1st grade, students continue to practice manuscript while also beginning cursive script with Memoria Press’ New American Cursive program. Cursive is required for written work in grades 2 and up.
K-2 PROGRAM
Arithmetic
Immediate recall of addition and subtraction math facts through 18 is the focus in primary school. Number formation, counting, time, calendar, measurement, and money are the initial skills of K-2. In second grade the students also begin multiplication, learning 1-4 facts. Students learn number sense by skip-counting, games, and drills, all of which make math time enjoyable. Students engage in timed arithmetic drills daily, beginning in Kindergarten. This practice solidifies mastery of math facts.
Geography, History, and Science
Our Read-Aloud program consists of one set of books for each grade in K-2, one book for each week. The read-aloud books, which are beautiful in both art and language, were chosen after extensive research and reading. These books provide a rich language experience for students, as each book is read aloud every day the class meets and is accompanied by oral questions and discussion. Students learn new and interesting words and delight in rhyme and word play. They learn about holidays, history, geography, science, and more.
K-2 students study globes and maps to learn continents, oceans, major countries, and basic geography terms. Second graders are introduced to states and capitals. In science students learn about seasons, weather, and local flora and fauna. They take nature walks to collect leaves, flowers, acorns, insects, and other treasures.
Art, Music, and Christian Studies
In Christian Studies, students read or listen to Bible stories and memorize Scripture verses and prayers. Kindergarten students have weekly music instruction; first and second grade students have music twice weekly. Students learn the basic elements of music, including ear training, note reading, and choral performance. In music appreciation, a well-known composer and piece of music are introduced weekly. Students draw and color in their composition books, illustrating copybook verses, poems, and composition lessons. In art appreciation, an artist and art masterwork are introduced weekly to primary students. First and second graders receive art instruction biweekly.
Physical Education
Students have physical education twice a week. P.E. provides 30 minutes of rigorous exercise as well as opportunities to play childhood games. Our K-2 P.E. instructor works to develop basic motor and motion skills, such as running, skipping, running backwards, and flexibility, as well as sportsmanship and team play. On days when students do not have P.E., they have recess.
LATIN
Latin develops the mind of the young student as no other subject can. The study of Latin is the core of a classical education. Latin begins as early as second grade and continues every year, culminating in the translation of Latin literature in grades 9-12 Following the tradition of many Ivy League schools and elite prep schools, every senior has the challenge to complete a course in Latin prose composition with the goal of writing a speech which is both entertaining and encouraging. A senior is selected to deliver the speech at our annual Closing School Ceremony. All new students in both the Lower and Upper Schools are enrolled in an age-appropriate beginning Latin class.
Our Latin curriculum follows a traditional scope and sequence and is consistent with the grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages of the trivium.
1. The Grammar School (grades 3-6) emphasizes the memorization of the Latin Grammar by the time-tested method of oral recitation and form drills.
2. Grades 7-8 focus on the study of syntax and translation using Memoria Press Fourth Form Latin and the classic Henle I and II texts.
3. Grades 9-12 read Latin literature: Caesar, Ovid, AP Virgil, and Cicero.
Students who enroll in Latin in middle and high school follow the same sequence at an accelerated pace.
Memorizing the Latin Grammar is a great challenge and thrill for students. The mastery of the grammar greatly enhances English language skills and builds the kind of confidence that comes only from great achievement. There is no substitute for the mental development provided by the study of the Latin Grammar.
Our Latin program is unique in that those students who begin in the Lower School achieve mastery of the Latin Grammar before high school—a practice which was the norm prior to the twentieth century, but is rare today. Most of the classroom materials used to teach the Latin Grammar—Prima Latina, Latina Christiana, Lingua Angelica, and the Latin Forms Series—have been developed by Cheryl Lowe and Memoria Press.
MATHEMATICS
Because mathematics, music, and Latin are the three universal languages, they are given a special emphasis in classical education and are required of all students every year. Mathematics, like all languages, is cumulative, rigorous, and demanding; it develops logical, accurate, and precise thinking habits. Mathematics is the language of science and the indispensable tool for the study of the natural world. The key to success in all sciences, especially chemistry and physics, is a good math education.
Arithmetic is the art of counting and calculation. Like the Latin Grammar, arithmetic is concrete, is based on memorization, and is a small and finite subject. These characteristics make arithmetic appealing to the child’s mind because it is something that he can understand and over which he can achieve mastery. In the trivium model of learning, arithmetic is the focus of grades K-6. Next to the alphabet, arithmetic is the most useful tool students will ever possess. It should not be rushed over in a hurry to get to higher mathematics. Games, drills, skip-counting, cypher drills, and challenge problems make arithmetic an enjoyable part of the school day.
Mathematics, on the other hand, is the science and philosophy of relationships. It is a large and varied subject that includes many topics, such as algebra, geometry, and calculus. Topics from the world of mathematics are suitable for students who have reached the age of abstract thinking in middle and high school.
Modern textbooks do not observe the distinction between arithmetic and mathematics. Algebra topics are included in texts as early as kindergarten and obscure the necessary arithmetic skills for each grade. The energy and effort of students are dissipated over a variety of topics, many of which are too abstract for students to understand. Insufficient time is given to basic skills, and students do not experience the satisfaction of mastery learning, nor are they adequately prepared for higher math.
Mathematics is an exact language, one that is unrelenting and unforgiving. A failure to master basics is the cause of the glass ceiling that most students experience in their mathematics education. Students must overlearn basic math skills in K-6 if they are to be successful in high school math.
Our textbooks and teaching strategies at HLS ensure that students learn arithmetic and mathematics in an age-appropriate scope and sequence, eliminating the aforementioned deficiencies so prevalent in modern mathematics education.
Our textbooks are carefully chosen, and our teachers are committed to the goals of mastery learning in arithmetic and mathematics. We have found the Rod and Staff math textbooks to be the most closely aligned with our goals in K-6. Seventh grade is an important year that prepares students for algebra in the 8th grade. Our algebra texts are Memoria Pre-Algebra, Memoria Algebra I, and Memoria Algebra II. For Geometry, the McDougal Littell text, and for Pre-Calculus and Calculus, the Larson Hostetler text. Our goal is for all able students to complete AP Calculus; students who take AP Calculus in 11th grade take Calculus III as seniors.
MUSIC
Recent research has confirmed what educators have always known: Music develops the mental abilities of students and increases academic performance. Music should not be studied for that reason only, but rather because it is a universal language of enormous power. Children must be trained to discern and love what is good, true, and beautiful in all of the arts, but especially in music.
Music completes the triad of universal languages, but it has its own special attributes not possessed by the other two. Mathematical at its base, music expresses thoughts and emotions with an almost divine power to touch the soul. Music is comparable to Latin in its potential to form the character of a student and define the culture of a school. Like Latin and mathematics, music is a core subject, required of students every year.
Highlands Latin School employs a sequential K-12 program that instills the fundamentals of music and music theory through the training of the voice as a primary instrument. In primary school, students are introduced to the elements of music through ear training, basic note reading, and the singing of simple, classic repertoire. The primary music class serves as a preparatory class for Grammar School Choir.
With recorders and handbells, Grammar School students develop musicianship and apply their note-reading skills through instrumental performance. Music class provides an opportunity for students to experience differentiating pitch, dynamics, and musical texture through both individual and group performance.
All Grammar and Upper School students sing in one of our Latin Choirs. Our goals are to train every child to hear—with discernment and appreciation—the music of every era and culture, and to experience the consummate joy of a well-trained voice joined to others in performing the masterworks of our Western tradition. Because most of the great choral literature of that tradition is sacred, much of it in Latin, our choral program is closely aligned to our goals as a classical Christian school.
“A
school without music is like a body without a soul.”
-Saint John Bosco
CHRISTIAN STUDIES
Our Christian Studies program is designed to develop:
a) Bible literacy
b) A knowledge of church history
c) A strong faith and Christian consciousness
To achieve these goals, students study Scripture in grades K-6, church history in grades 7-11, and Christian apologetics in grade 12. Christian Studies is an academic course equal in content and examinations to all other areas of the curriculum.
Bible Literacy
Students in K-6 learn Bible stories, Bible geography, and salvation history timelines, and memorize more than one hundred passages of Scripture using the Memoria Press Christian Studies series. The King James Bible is used for Scripture memorization. The KJV has had a profound influence on the development of written and spoken English and is one of the greatest literary masterpieces in the English language. The KJV not only enables students to learn the sublime content of their Christian faith in a beautiful and poetic language; it also strengthens language skills in preparation for the study of English literature. Immersion in the KJV is a necessary step in the important goal of learning to read English literature over five centuries.
Church History
Students study church history from a non-sectarian viewpoint, and are encouraged to talk to their parents or pastor if they have questions about different faith traditions.
Building Faith and a Christian Consciousness
Formal education develops the ability of students to use reason and critical thinking, tools which can then be turned against the faith to attack and undermine it. Modern education, by its nature, tends to produce a strongly scientific and skeptical frame of mind. The Christian school has a unique responsibility to teach its young that while the intellectual tools acquired through education can be used to attack the faith, they can also be used to defend it; that while the Christian faith may be above reason, it is not contrary to reason; that belief is a choice that is intellectually respectable; and that many of the greatest minds, both scientific and literary, in every age including our own, have been believing orthodox Christians.
We believe the Christian faith is true and that both reason and history support this belief. All time is dated from the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure in human history. Our Christian Studies program helps students understand why this is true.
CLASSICAL STUDIES
All foreign language study includes learning about the people who speak the language, so Classical Studies is the natural companion to Latin. In Classical Studies, students study Greek mythology and Greek and Roman history and literature every year, gradually deepening their knowledge and understanding. This long grounding prepares students to read the classics of Greek, Roman, and English literature and to study and understand the modern world.
Why spend so much time on the Greeks and Romans? Why not put this time and effort into American history and literature instead? It may seem only reasonable that the history of one’s own nation should be the focus of the curriculum, but, surprisingly, that is not the case.
There are many disadvantages to making the study of the student’s own national history and literature the focus of education. The first is that we cannot see our own history objectively, and thus it is difficult to draw lessons and conclusions from it. It is still too close to us and has not been sifted through time. We are not objective—in fact, we are emotionally involved and necessarily biased. In addition, we do not know the end of our story because our story is not yet over. It is difficult to draw conclusions since the conclusion has not come; our chapter is not finished. And, of course, we have nothing to compare our history to if we don’t study another civilization or nation before we study our own.
The classical civilizations of Greece and Rome are the perfect civilizations for the student to study and the teacher to teach. They have been thoroughly studied by many generations, and the lessons have been learned and are there for all to see. And we know the end of the story, so we can see consequences and draw conclusions.
In addition, all of the issues that we struggle with in the modern world—economic, political, religious, and social—are present in the ancient world in their simplest form. In Greece and Rome the perennial problems of the human condition can be seen at their beginning, while it is still possible to grasp them, to understand them, and to really see to the heart of the matter.
“Those who do not possess a classical education are prisoners of their own time. To know and be interested only in the now means being incapable of evaluating or appreciating even that.”
-Jude Dougherty
“The merely modern man never knows what he is about. A classical education, far from alienating us from our own world, teaches us to discern the amiable traits in it, and its genuine achievements; helping us, amid so many distracting problems, to preserve a certain dignity and balance of mind, together with a sane confidence in the future.”
-George Santayana
Book List
Third Grade
CLASSICAL/CHRISTIAN STUDIES
D’Aulaires’ Greek Myths, Christian Studies I, The Golden Children’s Bible Memoria Press Timeline Program (11 Dates)
Fourth Grade
Famous Men of Rome, Christian Studies II, The Golden Children’s Bible Memoria Press Timeline Program (19 New Dates, 11 Review)
Fifth Grade
Famous Men of the Middle Ages, Christian Studies III, The Golden Children’s Bible Memoria Press Timeline Program (12 New Dates, 30 Review)
Sixth Grade
Christian Studies IV, The Bronze Bow, The Trojan War, Horatius at the Bridge, Famous Men of Greece
Memoria Press Timeline Program (18 New Dates, 42 Review)
Greek mythology and Roman history review
Seventh Grade
The Book of the Ancient World and The Book of the Ancient Greeks (Dorothy Mills)
The Iliad, The Odyssey (Butler translation)
Eighth Grade
The Book of the Ancient Romans (Mills), The Aeneid (West translation) Intertestamental Period, Acts of the Apostles
Ninth Grade
Aeschylus (The Oresteian Trilogy), Sophocles (The Three Theban Plays), Euripides (Medea and Other Plays)
The Story of Christianity, David Bentley Hart
Tenth Grade
Classical Political Philosophy: Cicero (On Obligations, The Republic and The Laws) St. Augustine (City of God)
Eleventh Grade
Frederick Copleston, S.J. (A History of Philosophy, Volume I: Greece and Rome), Plato (The Last Days of Socrates), Cicero (The Nature of the Gods), Boethius (The Consolation of Philosophy), Peter Kreeft (A Shorter Summa)
Twelfth Grade
C. S. Lewis (Mere Christianity), G. K. Chesterton (Orthodoxy), Peter Kreeft (Fundamentals of the Faith)
A Classical History of Art
ENGLISH STUDIES
English mastery in reading, writing, and speaking is the mark of an educated person. But these multifaceted skills require many years to reach a high level. An essential component of superior English skills is the study of a classical language, so our Latin curriculum supports and enhances the English skills of our students. Students study English grammar and vocabulary in both English and Latin classes, beginning in second grade.
Another factor in the development of superior language skills is the study of good literature, which provides models of correct English and excellence in writing. The ear and eye are trained by constant exposure to good English usage. Students learn best by imitation.
Our classroom reading selections are carefully chosen to increase in reading difficulty each year. Books are read slowly and thoroughly in class, accompanied by our literature guides, which include our own selection of poetry. Poetry is intense and requires careful, slow, and repeated reading. Poetry requires thought and is especially effective in developing comprehension and thinking skills. Students who are properly prepared can begin the study of Shakespeare in the seventh grade.
We choose the very best literature and poetry for each age, works that model heroes, virtues, and high ideals. Our literature program does more than develop reading skills—it inspires students to love what is good and noble in life.
English grammar, usage, and composition are taught yearly in K-12. The ability to write with clarity, beauty, and power is further developed by our logic and rhetoric courses, which are an extension of English and count as English credits.
On a more practical side, the development of a legible and attractive cursive hand is a high priority. Unless serious attention is given to penmanship in every grade and class, illegible, careless writing plagues students and teachers throughout their school years.
“Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between them. There is no third.”
-T. S. Eliot
ENGLISH STUDIES
Literature, Grammar, Composition, Spelling
Third Grade
Farmer Boy
Charlotte’s Web
The Moffats
Memoria Press Literature Study Guides
English Grammar Recitation I
Adventures in Writing Composition
Traditional Spelling III
Fourth Grade
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Heidi
Lassie Come-Home
Memoria Press Literature Study Guides
English Grammar Recitation II (Units I-IV)
Classical Composition I: Fable
Traditional Spelling IV
Fifth Grade
Adam of the Road
The Door in the Wall
Robin Hood
King Arthur
Memoria Press Literature Study Guides
English Grammar Recitation II (Units V-VI)
Classical Composition II: Narrative
Traditional Spelling V
Sixth Grade
The Trojan War
Anne of Green Gables
The Hobbit
The Bronze Bow
Memoria Press Literature Study Guides
English Grammar Recitation III
Classical Composition III: Chreia & Maxim
Traditional Spelling VI
Seventh Grade
Treasure Island
The Wind in the Willows
Julius Caesar
Poetry & Short Stories for the Logic Stage (American)
Beowulf the Warrior, Sir Gawain & the Green Knight, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Hound of the Baskervilles
The British Tradition I: Poetry, Prose, & Drama from the Old English & Medieval Periods
Memoria Press Literature Study Guides
English Grammar Recitation V
Classical Composition V: Common Topic
Ninth Grade
Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Pride and Prejudice, The Scarlet Letter
The British Tradition II: Poetry & Prose from the Elizabethan to the Neoclassical Age
Tenth Grade
Henry IV Part 1, Wuthering Heights, A Tale of Two Cities, Henry V
The British Tradition III: Poetry from the Romantic to the Victorian Age
Eleventh Grade (AP Literature)
Anna Karenina, Canterbury Tales, Hamlet, King Lear, The Great Gatsby Poetry Selections
Twelfth Grade
The Divine Comedy
AMERICAN/MODERN STUDIES
In American/Modern Studies, students study American history, geography, and literature, as well as world geography and non-Western cultures. The program is designed to give students mastery over very concrete and useful information about the United States and the world, and to build each year on the previous year’s work. Students learn to label a world map with every country and learn the majority of the capitals. Students also read a variety of books from our library to supplement their knowledge of the U.S. and the world.
K-2
On a map and globe students identify continents, oceans, equator, poles, tropics, some major countries, and U.S. states through Memoria Press’ Read-Aloud program for history, geography, science, and holidays
Grade 3 Identify fifty states and eight regions on unlabeled outline map; recite and spell states; memorize abbreviations and capitals
Grade 4 Geography of North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe
Grade 5 Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas
Grade 6 United States History
Grade 7 World Geography, cultures, and habitats
Grade 10 A History of Medieval Europe
Grade 11 A History of Europe in the Modern World by Palmer, Colton, and Kramer
Grade 12 The American Pageant 16th ed - AP by Kennedy and Cohen
SCIENCE
Science begins with wonder and curiosity about the natural world. It leads to the skills of observation, to classification, and ultimately to science and technology. It is best for the child to be led into the world of science through these same steps.
The traditional elementary science curriculum includes topics which are also naturalist hobbies—bird, tree, and wildflower identification, butterflies, insects, bees, and star-gazing. Students learn much about science—morphology, physiology, classification, habitats, etc.—through the detailed study of stars, insects, birds, and trees.
The Primary and Grammar School science curriculum includes the study of (Latin-based) scientific terminology, as well as an exposure to the beautiful tradition of English nature poetry. It is important that students in K-6 learn to take delight in the beauty and wonder of nature before they begin the study of modern science, which tends to emphasize the exploitation of nature for human needs.
More advanced scientific topics are emphasized in 8th grade to prepare students for biology, chemistry, and physics in the Upper School.
K-2 Calendar, seasons, holidays, planets, plants, animals, nature walks Memoria Press’ Read-Aloud program for history, holidays, geography, and science
Grade 3 Astronomy
Grade 4 Insects
Grade 5 Birds and Exploring the History of Medicine
Grade 6 Trees and Exploring the World of Biology
Grade 7 The Periodic Table and Science Prep
Grade 8 Physical Science (Novare)
Grade 9 Biology (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston)
Grade 10 Advanced Chemistry (Novare)
Grade 11 Physics (McGraw Hill) or AP Chemistry
Grade 12 AP Physics 1, AP Physics C, or Natural Science from Plato to Einstein
LOGIC AND RHETORIC
Logic and rhetoric are essential tools for effective communication. Ninth grade students learn a systematic course in formal logic, rather than a sampling of logic topics. Traditional Logic I and II is an in-depth study of the syllogism, taught in the classic three-part method. Students learn the four logical statements, the four ways statements can be opposite, the three ways they can be equivalent, the seven rules for validity, and the nineteen valid arguments. In Material Logic, students learn the Ten Categories, the Five Predicables, the Four Causes, and the Five Elements of Classification, as well as their use in the art of thinking.
Classical Rhetoric is a guided tour through the first part of Aristotle’s Rhetoric. To the ancients, rhetoric was the crowning intellectual discipline, molding knowledge and logic into powerful tools of persuasion. To Aristotle the art of rhetoric was the chief weapon in the service of truth.
Classical Rhetoric also familiarizes students with three model speeches as examples of the three branches of classical oratory: the “Appeal of the Envoys to Achilles,” from Homer’s Iliad; the “Apology of Socrates,” from the dialogue of Plato; and Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” Students analyze Marc Antony’s “Funeral Oration” from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar as an example of a great speech that defies categorization.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Highlands Latin School currently offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in:
• English Literature and Composition
• Calculus, AB and BC
• Latin
• Physics 1 & C
• Chemistry
• European History
• U.S. History
GREEK
There are two, and only two, classical languages—Latin and Greek. Students study Greek as part of the regular curriculum in grades 6-8, completing the entire Greek Grammar. This three-year course covers the Greek alphabet and the basics of Greek grammar, vocabulary, and translation. Students are enlightened by the similarities between Latin and Greek grammar, and they are amazed to learn about the large number of Greek roots in English and Latin words. The study of Greek is the crown jewel in a classical Christian education. It adds a depth and understanding to the study of language and Western civilization.
The ancient Greeks created a body of thought characterized by such brilliance and clarity that it has been called “The Greek Miracle” ever since. Their work in philosophy, literature, art, logic, mathematics, and science has been the wellspring of Western civilization. The Greeks have been, and remain, the world’s first and greatest teachers in the natural order. The Romans, like every generation since, imitated and enlarged, but did not reverse, the Greek depository of knowledge.
Even more importantly, the New Testament was composed in Greek, and the Old Testament, in the form of the Greek Septuagint, was the Bible of the Apostles and the New Testament Church.
Since divine providence has so ordained that the sources of both human and divine wisdom be clothed in the garment of the Greek language, there can be no more compelling reason to offer the study of Greek.
We are pleased to offer Greek to our students as an integral part of their language education. For students who choose to continue their study, Greek is offered as an elective in grades 9-12.
