Academic Excellence

The goal of the three-year-old preschool at the academy is to foster a love of learning in our youngest students. We work mostly on adhering to a routine, learning how to function in a classroom, developing fine motor-skills, and working on socio-emotional development. This three-day program is a great springboard to our Pre-Kindergarten program. The Pre-School is exempt from state licensing requirements, and the Academy is committed to ongoing self-monitoring for exemption compliance.

Pre-Kindergarten at the academy is geared toward four-year-olds and young five-year-olds. In Pre-K we begin to focus on some academics such as number sense, letter/sound recognition and other pre-reading skills. We also continue to focus on socio-emotional and character development. We do this through Bible stories, songs, memorization, and dramatic play.

Kindergarten is a very important year for students at Whitefish Christian Academy as they continue working on character development and socio-emotional skills by integrating biblical teachings into everything they do throughout their day. They work diligently to begin learning how to read, continue art and music, and enter our highly effective Singapore Math program, which provides an excellent foundation in critical math skills. Kindergarten students also begin their study of multiple foreign languages through our FLEX program.

The highlight of first grade at Whitefish Christian Academy is the transition our students make from learning how to read to becoming fluent readers. This new skill becomes the basis for a more in-depth study of the Bible, the sciences, and the history of our ancient world. First-graders also continue their study of Singapore math, multiple foreign languages, art, and music.

Second-graders at the Academy continue to work on their reading and writing skills, grow in their ability to comprehend and read fluently, and to articulate and write correctly. They use their reading skills to dive deeper into a variety of different subject areas. They also continue with Singapore Math which, at this level, begins teaching them to reason and think critically. Exposure to multiple foreign languages continues through our FLEX program, as well as art and music programs.

In third grade at Whitefish Christian Academy, our students continue working on learning how to read but begin a gradual transition to reading for the purpose of learning and gathering information. They also use grammar and writing lessons from previous years to further their ability to write well and to prepare them for more challenging writing requirements in fourth grade. Finally, they use their critical thinking and reasoning skills to dig deeply into the lessons learned by studying the life of Jesus. Singapore Math and exposure to multiple foreign languages continue in fourth grade, along with our art and music programs.

Fourth grade at the Academy is a very important year. The students begin using their previously learned comprehension, reasoning, and critical thinking skills to analyze various types of literature including the History curriculum, which covers the Victorian Era to the fall of the USSR. They begin working through more complex mathematical concepts and continue to employ classical methodologies to help them retain and reproduce information.

Fifth-graders at Whitefish Christian Academy experience a gradual but important transition from the Grammar stage to the Logic stage of Classical Education. The students begin asking questions to guide their studies as they relate to History, Literature, Bible, Mathematics, and Science. They continue adding depth to their writing and formulating thoughtful responses to literature. They also begin their study of Cambridge Latin. By the end of the year, they are prepared to begin learning how to engage in logical discussions and debates.

In sixth grade, the students begin focusing on classical texts as they relate to their study of the Humanities. They use their ever-evolving critical thinking and reasoning skills to analyze and interpret these works of literature. Pre-AP strategies are integrated in the curriculum as students write about, discuss, and debate various topics and themes related to their study of classical literature. Students continue to study Cambridge Latin as a way to better understand the complexities of language. They also continue to navigate through increasingly complex mathematical and life-science concepts.

Seventh grade at the Academy continues the study of classical texts as they relate to the Humanities. Relevant biblical texts and topics are integrated within the Humanities scope and sequence. Students begin giving speeches more frequently to accompany their essays. They also continue to study Cambridge Latin. In Science, they begin Earth Science  by studying rocks, minerals, and the Earth’s surface. This study continues into eighth grade.

Eighth-grade students at Whitefish Christian Academy complete the Logic stage of Classical Education, and exit as students ready to move into the Dialectic stage of Classical Education. In order to prepare for this transition, students continue their analysis of classical literature as it relates to the Humanities. Relevant biblical texts and topics are incorporated within the scope and sequence of Humanities. Students participate in Socratic discussions and complete their study of Cambridge Latin. Earth Science also characterizes 8th-grade study, and qualified students have the option of studying Algebra I.