ENGLISH

Creative Writing

Do you like to write stories, poems, or scripts? This writing workshop is designed to encourage you in your creative effort. Readings in both antique and modern styles introduce a wide range of strategies and techniques for developing writers to imitate or critique. Close editing by instructors and peers inspires developing writers to read their own prose with a more demanding eye.Students will hopefully discover their own unique voice through a close reading of poems, short stories, dramatic scenes, and excerpts of novels, while exercising their own creative faculties.

English Composition

Why do we need to write well? Writing is perhaps the deepest clarification of our thinking and demands particular attention to style and content. This composition course provides instructors with a forum for the exploration of the poetical and rhetorical aspects of composition, a reduced class size necessary for individual instruction in the practical mechanics of written expression, and the opportunity for a more intensive focus on each student and their individual writing style and development. All assignments are followed by a closer scrutiny of usage. Whether the assignments come from such foundational texts as Strunk and White's The Elements of Style or a complex descriptive essay on Gorgonzola, the hope is that the students will begin to write well and that they will see the act of writing as something intrinsic to being fully human. 

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Do you want to experience a new and different approach to learning a language that will give you a practical and functional grasp of English? This is an intensive language course for international students who wish to improve their English in a program that will instill the habits of true and effective learning. Students are required to speak English at all times and to immerse themselves fully in the language. Student interest, aptitude, and motivation are essential for the success of the program. We have created a learning situation that allows everyone to fully participate and experience a sense of progress that is exciting, stimulating, and self-rewarding. It is our expectation that the students will improve their mastery of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and culture. Preparation for the TOEFL exam is also incorporated into the program. This course meets for two periods each day to ensure the greatest concentration of effort.

English for Latin

How is studying Latin one of the best ways to improve our command of English and cultural literacy? Much of our vocabulary derives from Latin, and a grasp of Latin grammar and syntax teaches us how sentences really work. The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the basic vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of Latin. Each day the students will have an opportunity to exercise what they have learned by translating sentences and answering very specific questions about their reasoning.

Etymology

Our English language is the result of thousands of years of linguistic conventions drawn from an increasingly broad diversity of sources. Medicine, law and the sciences frequently draw upon Latin and ancient Greek by deploying the morphemes native to those languages in order to create meaning. While Latin and Greek do play an important role in non-scientific English, our language is Germanic, and, furthermore, after the battle of Hastings in 1060 C.E. it was increasingly influenced by French. Elements of Spanish, Sanskrit, Arabic, Native American languages et alia have all coalesced to make English a unique medium of communication. In this course, words of every feather, and their origins, are examined, defined, and celebrated - all in an effort to indicate the complexity, vibrancy and profundity of the English language.

Literature

Why should we read literature? Does literature really matter? The purpose of this course is to acquaint the students, in word and in writing, with the vocabulary necessary for the study of literature and initiate them into the conversation of ideas that informs our culture. Students are expected to understand the essential elements of fiction, establish a habit of close textual reading, and comprehend the four basic genres, tragedy, comedy, epic, and lyric, that make up the literary universe. The underlying hope of this course is to establish a mode of discourse that will reveal the essential meaning inherent in literature. This hope rests on the firm conviction that students will discover that reading literature is a task that should engender delight. Readings in the past have included Homer's Odyssey, Aeschylus' Oresteia, Dante's Purgatorio, Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Malory's King Arthur and His Knights, Shakespeare's As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Winter's Tale, Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello,and Romeo and Juliet, Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Faulkner's The Unvanquished and The Reivers, Flannery O'Connor's Short Stories, Eudora Welty's Delta Wedding, Isabel Allende's House of the Spirits, and numerous other works of wonderful fiction.

Public Speaking

Are you nervous about speaking in public? Do you ever wonder why some people are very comfortable speaking and others find it unbearable? Is it really important for everyone? More importantly why is public speaking so central to democracy? As the great Edward R. Murrow once remarked about Winston Churchill's oratorical power: "He mobilized the English language, and sent it into battle." Churchill overcame a speech impediment by constant practice and mastered his fear of making speeches through the meticulous preparation of speeches that came to rival Pericles' Funeral Oration and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. This course in the art and craft of public speaking is an introductory course for the inexperienced student. It covers the basic strategies of public discourse and provides the student intelligent approaches to a variety of speaking situations. From a simple speech conveying information to parliamentary debating techniques each student will have an opportunity to practice this craft and learn to offer positive critiques to other students. Public speaking is a valuable and useful skill that should prove invaluable in building the confidence of the students as they begin their own journey into the public realm.

Storytelling

Human beings tell stories to educate, to entertain, to console, to trick, and to lie, among many other things. Is there an ethical approach to storytelling upon which we can all agree? Is everyone affected in the same manner by the stories we tell? The primary objectives of this class are to interrogate, explain and define what stories are and why they play such a substantive role in our lives. We will start with excerpts from ancient authors like Homer, Apollodorus and Vergil. Our investigation of modern storytelling will look at authors like Shakespeare and Kipling as well as more contemporary fictive and journalistic sources. Students will compose their own stories, keeping one central question in mind: If there was such a thing as storytelling-for-others, what would it sound and feel like?

HISTORY, POLITICS AND ECONOMICS

Economics

What is money? How old should we be before we start thinking about personal finance and the responsibility to manage our money? This course provides the student with a clear and intense study of basic economic ideas and concepts. The market, inflation, recession, money, stocks and bonds, and many other economic fundamentals will be explored. It is the clear expectation of the course that the students will have mastered the tools with which to understand their economic world.

Great Ideas in American History

This course explores America's defining principles and their implications through the writings of the country's greatest political thinkers and insightful visitors from abroad. Students explore the unending tug-of-war between the ideals of individual Liberty and Equality through the perspectives of Paine, Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton, Madison, De Tocqueville, Calhoun, Lincoln and others. The emphasis on reading like historians and composing clear, compelling prose prepares students for the critical and rhetorical challenges of the prep school classroom.

Statesmanship

What does it mean to be a leader? Does our education prepare us to deliberate upon great and serious actions? Is there a way to understand human action as rooted in human choice rather than some non-rational force that is out of our control? As Hamilton reminds us in The Federalist Papers: "It has been frequently remarked that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force." The purpose of this course is to introduce students to a tradition and mode of speaking that is central to being a leader. Students will contemplate the choices of ancient statesman from Sparta, Athens, and Rome to those more immediate and recognizable leaders in Europe, America, and throughout the world. Students should garner a sense of their own potential as leaders and the importance of making fundamental choices that lead to genuine freedom.

LATIN

English for Latin

How is studying Latin one of the best ways to improve our command of English and cultural literacy? Much of our vocabulary derives from Latin, and a grasp of Latin grammar and syntax teaches us how sentences really work. The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the basic vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of Latin. Each day the students will have an opportunity to exercise what they have learned by translating sentences and answering very specific questions about their reasoning.

Introduction to Latin

This is the course for you if you will be starting Latin next year.  In this class, you will have an introduction to Latin to get you ready to take first Latin next fall.  Taught by a very experienced teacher, you'll will cover the basics of vocabulary and grammar to prepare you for everything you will see in your Latin 1 class.

MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Algebra 1

Are you ready for Algebra? Did you have a really good start or would you like to make sure that you have the basics down in Algebra? Linear and quadratic functions are the major topics explored in this review/preview of Algebra 1.

Forensic Chemistry

Do you like to watch CSI? Are you interested in how science and chemistry can solve crimes and resolve mysteries? In this class, learn the techniques and methods used by real forensic investigators in the FBI and police departments around the world to examine evidence and determine "whodunit."

Geometry

Are you ready for Geometry? Would you like to make sure you have the basics down in Geometry? Congruence and similarity are the major topics presented in this review/preview of Geometry.

Pre-Algebra

Are you worried about beginning Algebra 1 in the coming year? This course is intended primarily as a review for students who wish to begin Algebra in the following year and want to make sure they have a solid foundation in everything they should know to do well.

Robotics

Are you interested in how to get machines to do what you want? Do you know how to program a robot so it completes a task successfully? In this class, using a basic robotics kit and program, students in teams will design their own projects for the summer, build and program robots that will complete the tasks, and then present their work at the end of the program. No prior skill in robotics or programming required, although students who have experience are welcome and can assume leadership roles in their teams. This course is taught by a highly successful team of instructors, who have led their groups to state championships and national competitions.

TEST PREP

SAT Mathematics

Preparing for the SAT Exam: Mathematics

Taught by expert instructors, Summit Educational Group's SAT Math preparation balances fundamental academic skills in algebra and geometry with essential test-taking strategies to offer a comprehensive and effective preparation program for all students. Each student receives an SAT course book and practice tests, as well as free access to Summit's online SAT preparation supplement. The online program is available 24/7 and provides audible and text-based lesson reviews, as well as unlimited SAT practice problems and quizzes. Parents and students will receive access to Summit's online portal, which can be used to monitor student attendance and homework completion, obtain homework assignments, and review detailed practice test score reports.

SAT Verbal

Preparing for the SAT Exam: Verbal

This course, taught by Summit Educational Group's expert Critical Reading and Writing instructors, will focus on the academic skills and test-taking strategies required to succeed on the SAT. Summit will provide students with a program of instruction customized to meet their individual needs and maximize their scoring potential. Each student receives an SAT course book and practice tests, as well as free access to Summit's online SAT preparation supplement. The online program is available 24/7 and provides audible and text-based lesson reviews, as well as unlimited SAT practice problems and quizzes. Parents and students will receive access to Summit's online portal, which can be used to monitor student attendance and homework completion, obtain homework assignments, and review detailed practice test score reports.

SSAT Mathematics

Preparing for the SSAT Exam: Mathematics

Staffed by an SSAT Math expert* from Summit Educational Group, this course will focus on the test-taking and academic skills necessary to maximize scores on the SSAT. Because each student truly learns differently, Summit customizes instruction to meet the needs of individual students. As part of the course, each student receives an SSAT course book and practice tests. Parents and students will receive access to Summit's online portal, which can be used to monitor student attendance and homework completion, obtain homework assignments, and review detailed practice test score reports. Students can expect an average of 1 hour of homework a week. Students can expect approximately 30 minutes of homework per class session. Class size will be limited to fourteen students per class section.

SSAT Verbal

Preparing for the SSAT Exam: Verbal

This course, taught by Summit Educational Group's expert SSAT Verbal instructors, will focus on test-taking strategies and academic skills in reading, synonyms, analogies, and essay writing. Summit will provide each student with a program of instruction customized to meet their individual needs and maximize their scoring potential. As part of the course, each student receives an SSAT course book, practice tests, and vocabulary flashcards. Parents and students will receive access to Summit's online portal, which can be used to monitor student attendance and homework completion, obtain homework assignments, and review detailed practice test score reports. Students can expect approximately 30 minutes of homework per class session. Class size will be limited to fourteen students per class section.

THE ARTS AND MUSIC

Digital Photography and Photo-journalism

This is a class for students who wish to move beyond taking casual pictures with their camera phone, to more sophisticated photographs and learning the basics of photojournalism. How do you compose a compelling photograph? How do you put together a portfolio of impressive work?  What makes a picture memorable? Students will compile a portfolio of photos, exhibit them, and as a class put together a photo-essay of the Summer Program.  Students will need their own digital camera, one that is not part of a phone.

Film and Culture

What do "Star Wars" and "The Incredibles" have to do with one another? "Finding Nemo" and "On the Waterfront?" This course offers students an intense, interactive seminar and workshop on the methods, means, and substance of visual storytelling. Students will learn about the history and state of cinema through screenings, discussions and readings. They will be introduced to the larger story of cinema and its formal relationship to culture in the expectation that they will move from passive viewers to intelligent observers.

Guitar Lessons

Have you ever wanted to play the guitar? Or do you play already, but want to get better, expand your skills and the styles you can play? Or do you want to learn how to play some of your favorite songs? Our guitar teacher can do all of the above for you. All styles taught, from classical to jazz to contemporary and pop.

Illustration

Learning to communicate ideas visually is a useful tool in many ways. Illustration is a form of art that tells a story or conveys an idea and is not limited to children's story book pictures. This course offers a variety of projects that promote conceptual thinking as well as skill building and includes some handmade bookmaking.

Me, Myself and I

Self-portraits have been a common theme for artists throughout history. This course explores the wide range of ways in which you can express yourself as an artist and convey your inner "you," both figuratively and abstractly, through means of color, shape, line and texture. The course includes art history references throughout as well as some 3-D assignments.

Observational Drawing and Painting

Learning how to draw and paint from observation is a great way to really begin to see the world around you. This course offers a variety of projects, including sustained still-life painting, figure drawing, a la prima landscape studies, and more.

Song Writing, Performing and Recording

Have you ever felt the urge to write your own songs or music? Perhaps you already have songs you have written but want to improve them or record them. Perhaps you want to get better at preforming your music or your cover songs. This course will cover all aspects of writing, simple recording, and performing songs, from the technical aspects of playing and singing well to the nuances of performing powerfully. This course is for those who are just starting or who have experience and want to polish their skills. Work on chord progressions, melodies and lyrics. By the end of the program each student will have a song or two written and recorded.

THEOLOGY

Fundamentals of Christian Theology

T.S. Eliot remarked in his famous introduction to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: "For without some kind of God, Man is not even very interesting." It has been our experience that students want to be interesting, always have questions about their relationship to the divine, and have a keen awareness of the mystery of personal destiny. This course explores the reasonableness of faith, the dignity of the human person, and the centrality of the Judaeo-Christian tradition to the culture of the West. If meaning is essential to our being fully human then the hope of this course is to give form to that desire through a rich conversation centered on the writings and reflections of Thomas Aquinas, Romano Guardini, C.S. Lewis, John Paul II, and others.

The Existence of God

Are you a fool to believe in God? Are you a fool not to? Can the existence of God be proven rationally? What is the relationship between faith, emotion, and reason when it comes to belief in God? This course: examines both traditional and contemporary proofs for and against the existence of God; explores current understandings of our universe from theoretical physics, quantum mechanics, and evolutionary biology; and examines the role reason plays in religious belief.