Chesterton Academy of St. Isidore is a classical high school in the Catholic tradition that opened in Fall 2020. We will raise up a new generation of joyful leaders and saints, educated in the classical tradition and the truths of the Catholic faith. Our rigorous, integrated Alberta curriculum will unlock student potential and prepares students to succeed in college and professional life, and to excel in service of family, of country, and of Christ our Lord.
Books that will be used throughout Grades 9-12
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*Latin is not based on grade level but on achievement level.
Books that will be used throughout Grades 9-12
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*Latin is not based on grade level but on achievement level.
Books Used throughout Grades 9-12
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*Latin is not based on grade level but on achievement level.
Please Note: For Math, Science, and Languages, please reach out to our Learning Services or your instructor to determine what books are required, as it will depend on course selection.
Our study of literature is tied to the study of history and the rest of the humanities. Students are first introduced to classical epics of Homer and then exposed to early English classics such as The Canterbury Tales and modern literary renderings of medieval history. Moving towards the modern period, they read Dante, Shakespeare, Dickens, Dostoevsky, Chesterton, and American Literature. Reading and writing go hand in hand, and each student masters the art of the essay in their writing assignments in all subjects.
The history classes at Chesterton Academy form the backbone of our curriculum. The four-year history sequence covers ancient history through the Greek and Roman civilizations, early Church history, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Reformation and Counter reformation. In senior year, students study the modern era, including the American and French Revolutions, the Industrial Revolution, the Communist Revolution, and the Sexual Revolution. Each history course is tailored to provide a colorful backdrop for literature, art, and science classes, and also contains components reflecting our Canadian context.
Philosophy, “the love of wisdom,” exercises the brain while it elevates the soul. The ability to understand abstract concepts leads to clear and systematic thinking in all things. We use philosophy to connect the humanities, but also to show its obvious connection to logic and mathematics. We study the development of philosophy from its classical roots focusing on Plato and Aristotle, its dramatic encounter with the early Church, its christening by St. Thomas Aquinas, and its deterioration in the modern era.
Theology, “the study of God,” is the context by which all other texts are studied. The principal theological texts studied are the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We also read selections from the Church Fathers, Documents of the Church Councils, and Papal Encyclicals.
The study of a foreign language is required of all students for three years. All students are required to take two years of Latin and then go on to choose Latin III and IV, or a study of French as a Second Language.
Mathematics is the art of measuring. Science is the study of what can be measured. While math is woven together with the sciences, it is also connected to the humanities. It teaches logic, which is a basic philosophical principle. It teaches balance, which is a basic aesthetic principle. Math at Chesterton Academy covers Euclidean geometry and algebra, all the way through advanced Calculus.
Foundations Track: Euclidean/Analytical Geometry - Algebra I - Algebra II/Trig - Pre-Calculus or Statistics
Grade 9: Math 9
Grade 10: Math 10C (Common)
Grade 11: Math 20-2
Grade 12: Math 30-2
Academic Track: Euclidean/Analytical Geometry - Algebra II/Trig - Pre-Calculus - Calculus
Grade 9: Math 9
Grade 10: Math 10C (Common)
Grade 11: Math 20-1
Grade 12: Math 30-1 (+ a Calculus option)
Science is the study of the physical world, that is, of God’s creation. None of these subjects can be approached without a sense of wonder. It is fitting, therefore, to begin by looking up at the heavens, at the lights in the sky: Astronomy. Then we take a look at the world God created (Geology), the creatures he created (Biology), the intricate substances of which all things are made (Chemistry), and the nature and properties of matter and energy (Physics).
Students in Grades 9 and 10 all share a common track. In Grade 11 students can choose focus courses (any or all) and/or continue the generalist route. That means, in Grades 11 and 12, students can choose anywhere from one to four courses (based on interest or plans for post-secondary studies.)
Grade 9: Astronomy and General Science 9
Grade 10: General Science 10
Grade 11: General Science 11 and/or Focus Track 11 (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Grade 12:General Science 12 and/or Focus Track 12 (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Fine Arts at Chesterton Academy
Music appeals to the ear and the mind, the emotions and the intellect, the senses and the spirit. Chesterton Academy students are exposed to a wide variety of music that they perform chorally several times a year. An education at Chesterton includes music theory, performance (submitted electronically), ear training, note reading, and musical analysis. Music history is taught according to the grade level with an emphasis on music development within the Church, and corresponds to the historical period in which the students are immersed. Students are expected to involve themselves in their parish choirs and/or community choirs.
A complete education must include the development of the creative nature and must provide students with the tools and the technique with which to express their ideas, their feelings and their love. It must also include the analytical skills with which to judge a work of art and exposure to great art. Finally, the mechanical skills and the aesthetic aptitude must be put into the proper context of eternal Truth. A good artist is a complete thinker and vice versa. The influence of the arts in today’s society cannot be overstated, and this is why art is mandatory at Chesterton Academy all four years.
Grade 9: Ancient Art History | Drawing and Calligraphy
Grade 10: Late Roman and Early European Art History | Pastels and Colors
Grade 11: Late Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque Art History | Oils
Grade 12: Classical, Romantic, and Modern Art History | Oils