High School Education & Curriculum
High School
Grace Lutheran School offers a well-rounded program of studies that includes reading, language arts, history, science, math, health and physical education, art, music, and computer. Our school provides a classical Christian education that prepares students for success in all areas life and builds upon each previous year.
High School Curriculum
Students will use their knowledge and understanding they developed in Pre- Algebra to advance in Algebra 1. In Algebra 1 the concepts that they will learn are polynomials, factoring, systems of equations, quadratic equations, inequalities, graphing, statistics, rational expressions, radicals, and functions. These concepts will prepare the students for the next course.
Students taking Geometry at Grace Lutheran High School will be guided through a mathematical journey of angles, lines, postulates, and theorems. Daily drills of computations and proofs will reinforce concepts as students gain understanding of this upper-level math. In addition to daily skills-building exercises, students will take their knowledge and relate it to real-world applications of Geometry.
Students build on concepts learned in Algebra 1 and continue solving polynomial functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, and trigonometric functions. The students solve problems with irrational, imaginary, and complex numbers. They will also learn math concepts such as factoring, exponents, probability, and statistics.
The study of science should always begin with wonder. The Biology 1 class is an integrative course. The habit of compartmentalizing disciplines of learning must be eliminated, and to that end, we employ frequent use of math problems and have opportunities to develop good written expression through labs, exams, and papers. Finally, we expose key historical connections.
Anatomy is a course based on the study of human anatomy, associated experiments, and use of laboratory equipment. There are sixteen modules ranging from anatomy and physiology, tissues, nervous system etc. “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16.
In High School Physics, students utilize graphs and equations to solve speed and velocity problems. The students learn to describe Newton’s first, second and third laws of motion. The students solve problems using Kepler’s laws. They then calculate kinetic energy, mass or velocity given the other two quantities.
Omnibus II is an integrative course that takes the student back to the Middle Ages to learn the early history of the Christian Church and how the church dealt with the many heresies that arose from the earliest days. They will be brought through time to the spread of the church into the most remote realms of the known world and get to see how the Word of God replaced the dominant pagan worldview throughout Western Europe. They will learn that it took time, faith and dedicated effort on the part of believers to change the way people saw themselves and their relationship to their Creator through the salvific work of their Savior. They will get exposed to the lives of monks, kings, knights and others as the church grew to become the center of medieval life.
This class gives students experience in various genres and topics of composition, from personal narratives to persuasive essays and creative writing. Students complete classical exercises to teach analysis and critical thinking skills that will help them to benefit from and appreciate good writing in college and in life. Students will learn to craft well-written essays that include preparation for college entrance exams. The class also covers the basics of research, including using and citing different types of sources.
High School Latin continues Latin grammar while diving deeper into larger passages of Biblical Latin and including segments from Wheelock’s Latin. Comprehension is critical while also learning new grammatical forms given in the text. Recitation and memory shall be exercised in our pursuit to understand not only the components of this ancient language but be better students of the Holy Scriptures and the wisdom of the past so helpful for today.
Most of us know how to speak our opinions and stick to our emotions. This isn’t, however, the same as preparing and articulating a sound argument. Traditional formal logic at GLS teaches students the basic structure of the argument, the function of terms, differences between “contrary” and “contradictory” statements and detecting those arguments that are valid but untrue. Classical students do not fall victim to “mob mentality” because of their ability to think and process critically what they hear rather than just following the masses. Formal logic assists in this task and is an indispensable skill of the liberal arts for the formation of wise, faithful students ready for the world.
This course will teach students public speaking through secrets learned from the classical tradition. Students will learn how to win an argument from the great Cicero. They will learn inventio (framing the argument), elocutio (style of argument), and actio (delivery of argument) to improve their public speaking skills.
Students will audition and be placed into various levels of music performing groups. Each group will learn marimba and chime music to be performed at the Christmas program, Springtime Showcase, selected Chapel dates, and around the community. Emphasis will be placed on music reading, performance techniques, and growth in musicianship. Students will also have the option to take a Music History course that will begin in the Renaissance period and continue through the Contemporary period.
The physical education curricula for all grades teaches students habits that will lead to lifelong fitness and continue the cultivation of the body, mind, and soul. Students will learn good Christian sportsmanship through games in which students win or lose. Through cultivating the student’s health, we maximize what the mind can do throughout the rest of the day and life.