The Greek Studies cycle includes the typical course options for Grade 9.
The daily lesson plans, study tools, and detailed assignment information are available to the student in the high school semester study guides. The semester study guides that accompany this set of course recommendations are the U.S. Studies I, B Track and U.S Studies II, B Track guides.
The recommended science for this year is Physical Science.
Students in high school study six, full-time academic courses each semester; these are called their "Key Courses." After completing the annual skills assessment, the Academic Packet prepared by your planning advisor will include personalized recommendations for math, English Mechanics, languages, electives, and tips to help narrow down the course options for each semester.
KEY COURSES: Here are the standard courses recommended for each semester. See the KEY COURSES WORKSHEET for the full "Required Credits for Graduation" list that details how many credits are required in each subject area and which St. Thomas Aquinas Academy courses students are required to complete as part of their diploma program.
SEMESTER 1
- Key Course 1: Composition I w/English Mechanics
- Key Course 2: Math
- Key Course 3: Church History III
- Key Course 4: U.S. Hist & Geogr I
- Key Course 5: American Literature
- Key Course 6: Physical Science I
- Electives: Languages, Physical Education, community-based fine arts
SEMESTER 2
- Key Course 1: Composition I w/English Mechanics
- Key Course 2: Math
- Key Course 3: Catholic Apologetics
- Key Course 4: U.S. Hist & Geogr II
- Key Course 5: Art Prac & Apprec
- Key Course 6: Choose one: Physical Science II, Languages (Latin, German, French, Italian, or Spanish), or Economics
- Electives: Languages, Physical Education, community-based fine arts
LANGUAGE ARTS
Composition I (CM1-B) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: U.S. Studies IB Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons (2019, 2nd Edition) set: Teacher's Manual and Student Book, Lori Verstegen
- Jensen’s Grammar (Textbook, Tests and Answers), Frode Jensen
- Jensen's Punctuation: A Complete Guide to All Your Punctuation Needs, Frode Jensen
- General Punctuation Rules Reference (GPR), St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Writing Handbook, Michael P. Kammer and Charles W. Mulligan
- Optional: Synonym Finder, J. I. Rodale
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Composition IB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
High School Penmanship [Semester 1 and 2]
- Self-Instruction in Handwriting [or other formal, daily cursive penmanship practice], Zaner-Bloser
Composition II (CM2-B) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: U.S. Studies IIB Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons (2019, 2nd Edition) set: Teacher's Manual and Student Book, Lori Verstegen
- Jensen’s Grammar (Textbook, Tests and Answers), Frode Jensen
- Jensen's Punctuation: A Complete Guide to All Your Punctuation Needs, Frode Jensen
- General Punctuation Rules Reference (GPR), St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Writing Handbook, Michael P. Kammer and Charles W. Mulligan
- Optional: Synonym Finder, J. I. Rodale
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Composition IIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
ALGEBRA
Algebra I (AG1&2-A) [Semester 1 and 2]
Math placement determined through the skills assessment and discussion with teaching-parent. St. Thomas Aquinas Academy regularly uses Saxon, Jacobs Algebra, Jacobs Geometry, and Math U See. VideoText, Teaching Textbook, and community college courses are also accepted.
- Saxon Algebra 1 Home Study Kit (3rd Edition), John Saxon
- Saxon Math Algebra I D.I.V.E. CD-ROM,
- DOWNLOAD: Quarter Gradebooks, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Saxon Algebra 1/2 Homeschool Kit, 3rd Edition, John Saxon
RELIGION
Church History IIIB (CH3-B) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: U.S. Studies IB Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- The History of the Church: Student Text, Complete Edition, Peter V. Armenio (The Didache Series)
- Screwtape Letters: Annotated Edition, The, C.S. Lewis with annotations by Paul McCusker
- The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition,
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, U.S. Catholic Church
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, Thomas E. Woods Jr
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Church History IIIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Catholic Apologetics (CAP-B) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: U.S. Studies IIB Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Philadelphia Catholic in King James’s Court, Martin Deporres Kennedy
- Philadelphia Catholic to King James’s Court: Study Guide, Martin Deporres Kennedy
- The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition,
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, U.S. Catholic Church
- Memorize the Faith! (and Most Anything Else): Using the Methods of the Great Catholic Medieval Memory Masters, Kevin Vost
- Where We Got the Bible...Our Debt to the Catholic Church, Right Rev. Henry G. Graham
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Catholic Apologetics B, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
U.S. HISTORY
U.S. Hist & Geogr I (US1-B) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: U.S. Studies IB Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Christ and the Americas, Anne W. Carroll
- U.S. History Map Activities, E. Richard Churchill and Linda R. Churchill
- Rand McNally Atlas of American History, 6th Edition,
- Conquest of Darkness: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Warren Carroll
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: The History of the Church: Student Text, Complete Edition, Peter V. Armenio (The Didache Series)
- Optional: A Documentary History of the United States (Updated and Expanded), Richard D. Heffner & Alexander Heffner
- Optional: Fall Live Class: U.S. History & Geography IB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
U.S. Hist & Geogr II (US2-B) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: U.S. Studies IIB Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Christ and the Americas, Anne W. Carroll
- U.S. History Map Activities, E. Richard Churchill and Linda R. Churchill
- Rand McNally Atlas of American History, 6th Edition,
- The Man Without A Country, Edward Everett Hale
- Hiroshima, John Hersey
- Godzilla (original Japanese version), Ishiro Honda (Director)
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: The History of the Church: Student Text, Complete Edition, Peter V. Armenio (The Didache Series)
- Optional: A Documentary History of the United States (Updated and Expanded), Richard D. Heffner & Alexander Heffner
- Optional: Spring Live Class: U.S. History & Geography IIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
LITERATURE
American Literature (AL1-B) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: U.S. Studies IB Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Teaching the Classics DVD and Workbook, Adam Andrews and Missy Andrews
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (The Ignatius Critical Editions), Mark Twain, edited by Mary R. Reichardt.
- DOWNLOAD: Exploded Story Chart, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Index Cards, 4" x 6",
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Uncle Tom's Cabin (The Ignatius Critical Editions), Harriet Beecher Stowe
- Optional: Progeny Press Study Guide: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Kimberlee Foley, Michael S. Gilleland
- Optional: Fall Live Class: American Literature, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
FINE ARTS
Art Prac & Apprec (AR3-B) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: U.S. Studies IIB Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- ARTistic Pursuits Elementary 4-5 Book One, The Elements of Art and Composition (3rd edition), Brenda Ellis
- Artfully Teaching the Faith, Steve Kellmeyer
- DOWNLOAD: Art-with-an-Active-Eye Notebook Worksheet, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- The American Song Treasury: 100 Favorites (Dover Song Collections), Theodore Raph
- Wee Sing America Book and CD, Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Art Practice and Appreciation, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Physical Science I (PS1-B) [Semester 1]
- STAA Study Guide: Physical Science IB and IIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Exploring Creation with Physical Science 3rd Edition Set, Vicki Dincher
- Painless Earth Science (2nd Edition), Edward J. Denecke Jr.
- Colored Pencils (Prismacolor 24 Color Pencil Set recommended),
- Plastic Folder/Report Cover with prongs for 3-hole punched paper,
- DOWNLOAD: Science Lab Reports, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Mystery of the Periodic Table, The, Benjamin D. Wiker
- Optional: Super Simple Chemistry: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide, DK, Smithsonian
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Physical Science IB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Physical Science II (PS2-B) [Semester 2]
Choose one of the following for this semester: Language Study, Economics, or Physical Science II.
- STAA Study Guide: Physical Science IB and IIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Exploring Creation with Physical Science 3rd Edition Set, Vicki Dincher
- Colored Pencils (Prismacolor 24 Color Pencil Set recommended),
- Plastic Folder/Report Cover with prongs for 3-hole punched paper,
- DOWNLOAD: Science Lab Reports, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Creator and Creation, 3rd Edition, Mary O. Daly
- Optional: Janice VanCleave's A+ Science Fair Projects, Janice VanCleave
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Physical Science IIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Language Study [Semester 2]
Choose one of the following for this semester: Language Study, Economics, or Physical Science II.
- Gradebook for Language Study, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical Education (PHE-B) [Semester 2]
- Gradebook for Physical Education, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fit for Eternal Life: A Christian Approach to Working Out, Eating Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul, Kevin Vost, Psy D.