Academics
Learning by Grade Level
To that end, we are proud to provide a well-respected, rigorous curriculum that challenges students within the context of our Catholic faith, proudly serving children PreK through 12th grade on our main school campus located in Helena, Montana.
Explore the Grade Levels
The Grammar Stage
Pre-K & Kindergarten
In the grammar stage (K–6), students are naturally adept at memorizing through songs, chants, and rhymes. If you can get children in this stage to sing or chant something, they will remember it for a lifetime.
Assessment
The Vice Principal will contact you to arrange your child’s assessment, where applicable. Assessments are given to all students entering St. Andrew Catholic School from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Pre-K Enrollment and Tuition
NOTE: Pre-K Enrollment and Tuition information will be released in March.
Kindergarten–Grade 6
Elementary School
School Day
The school day begins at 8:00am and ends at 3:00pm. First bell rings at 8:00am. Second bell rings at 8:05am. Students not in their classrooms by the second bell are considered tardy.
Students will be let into the building no earlier than 7:50 am, and should be picked up by 3:15pm, unless they are participating in a school sanctioned activity.
Each homeroom teacher in grades K-5 will have their own schedule, which will be provided to parents at the beginning of the academic year.
All students will eat lunch in their rooms and will clean up their eating area when finished.
The Kindergarten through fifth grade behavior system is used as a learning tool to reinforce virtuous behavior and to ensure that the classroom environment is conducive to learning. Each teacher will inform the students and parents about their particular discipline policy.
Academics
The course of studies at St. Andrew Catholic School has been carefully designed to fit our educational goals; therefore, students will approach all of their studies, including religion, with respect and a serious intention to succeed.
At the elementary level, St. Andrew Catholic School uses mastery-based report cards, rather than a traditional numeric grading system. The primary purpose of report cards is to facilitate communication between teachers and parents. Parent/teacher conferences are the standard, formal way for this communication to take place, though teachers will reach out regarding any concerns when they arise. Parents are always encouraged to reach out to teachers at any point in the year to discuss student progress.
The Dialectic or Logic Stage
Middle School
In the dialectic or logic stage (grades 7–9), teenage students are naturally more argumentative and begin to question authority and facts. They want to know the “why” of something—the logic behind it. During this stage, students learn reasoning, informal and formal logic, and how to argue with wisdom and eloquence.
Schedule
The Upper School utilizes a block schedule. On Monday-Thursday, students have four, 90-minute class periods (blocks). On Friday, because of chapel events, there are still four blocks, but they are 80 minutes each. Mondays and Wednesdays are the same blocks (1-4), while Tuesdays and Thursdays are the same blocks (5-8). Fridays alternate between blocks 1-4 or 5-8, switching every week. Passing periods occur after every block; lunch occurs after block 2 or block 6 depending on the day.
Clubs and Sports
Students may form clubs if they have administrative approval and a faculty or parent sponsor.
Club activities that extend beyond the school building must have prior approval of the sponsor and the Head of School.
Students are encouraged to participate in St. Andrew Catholic School sports teams and extracurricular clubs, as well as extracurricular activities outside of St. Andrew Catholic School, including club sports, public school sports, and privately paid clubs or sport activities.
The scholastic eligibility requirements for participation in sports at St. Andrew Catholic School is a current grade point average of at least 2.5, completion of all currently assigned work, and a clean behavior record.
Students who earn detention are not allowed to participate in St. Andrew sponsored extracurricular activities including competitions, club activities, or practices for one week from the notification of detention. Students who are suspended from school are not allowed to participate in St. Andrew sponsored extracurricular activities including competitions, club activities, or practices for one month.
Academic success comes before all other activities. Participation in clubs or activities may be suspended if a student falls below a 2.5 GPA during the quarter.
Student attendance is directly related to academic success. Students who are absent from more than half of the school day may not participate in the after school competitions, club activities, or practices directly following their absence.
The Rhetoric Stage
High School
The rhetoric stage (grades 10–12) is naturally when students become independent thinkers and communicators. They study and practice rhetoric, which is the art of persuasive speaking and effective writing that pleases and delights the listener. Again, it is this approach to teaching students based on their developmental stage that makes this approach so very effective.
Credit System
The Upper School credit system is based on the Carnegie credit unit. A Carnegie credit unit is defined as a period of 120 hours dedicated to one subject based on a 36-week school year. The Carnegie credit system is employed by most high schools across the United States. All courses at St. Andrew Catholic School are 1 credit (year-long course) or 0.5 credit (semester course, usually an elective). The credit system of St. Andrew Catholic School has two main benefits: 1) It allows students transferring to St. Andrew Catholic School an easier admission process, as the past transcript and previously earned credits will merge with the current St. Andrew Catholic School transcript; 2) The Carnegie unit system is familiar to most, if not all, colleges, universities, and trade schools in the United States, allowing for St. Andrew Catholic School seniors to submit their transcripts to these institutions with few issues.
Graduation Requirements
Each high school student is required to provide service to the community for a minimum of 100 hours throughout four years of high school. The number of hours per year may vary, but it is recommended that students complete around 25 each year. Students who transfer into St. Andrew Catholic School will have a conversation with the Head of School regarding waiving some service hours based on when the student transfers in.
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Religion | 4.0 Credits |
| English/Literature | 4.0 Credits |
| Science | 3.0 Credits |
| Mathematics | 3.0 Credits |
| History | 3.5 Credits |
| Latin | 2.0 Credits |
| Latin/Foreign Language | 1.0-2.0 Credits |
| Philosophy | 1.0 Credit |
| Fine, Applied, and Performing Arts | 1.0 Credit |
| Physical Education | 1.0 Credit |
| Financial Literacy | 0.5 Credit |
| Electives | 3.0 Credits |
| Total Credits Required (at minimum) for graduation | 27.0 |
- Students are required to take religion every semester that they attend St. Andrew Catholic School. Students transferring to St. Andrew Catholic School are not required to earn the full four credits of religion.
- Must include at least two credits of lab science.
- Students must complete three credits of math from Algebra I and beyond.
- Freshman and Sophomore students are required to take Latin I and Latin II respectively. Junior students are required to take either Latin III or Spanish I, and Senior Students are given the option to take an additional year after that (Advanced Latin or Spanish II). Students that choose Spanish over Latin forfeit their eligibility for the Summa Cum Laude Latin Honor as well as Valedictorian eligibility. Students that opt out of a fourth year of language forfeit all eligibility of a Latin Honor Title.
- Participation in St. Andrew Catholic School Athletics allows the required one credit of Physical Education to be waived in the following circumstances: participation on a total of two St. Andrew Catholic School sports teams waives 0.5 credit, while participation on a total of four St. Andrew Catholic School sports teams waives the required one credit.
- Courses in excess of the requirement in a subject will count towards the elective requirement.
- St. Andrew Catholic School recognizes the need for a well-rounded education that forms the whole student by training both the heart and the mind in truth, beauty, and goodness. Therefore, all students will follow the same rigorous requirements in their course of studies. However, where necessary (due to documented learning impediments), administration will work with students and families to determine how best to satisfy the language credit requirements, as well as provide potential accommodations within the grading system, as described above.
High School Required Courses by Grade
9th Grade
- Religion: Intro to Scripture
- English/Literature: Classical Literature
- Mathematics: Algebra I*
- History: Montana History
- Science: Earth Science**
- Latin: Latin I
- *Freshmen who excel in Math may take Geometry if Algebra I was taken in 8th grade
- **Freshmen who excel in Science may take Biology instead of Earth Science
10th Grade
- Religion: Moral Theology
- English/Literature: Medieval Literature
- Mathematics: Geometry*
- History: World History
- Science: Biology**
- Latin: Latin II
- *Sophomores who have already taken Geometry should take Algebra II
- **Sophomores who have already taken Biology should take Chemistry
11th Grade
- Religion: Ecumenism and Apologetics
- English/Literature: British Literature
- Mathematics: Algebra II*
- History: United States History
- Science: Chemistry** – Algebra II must be previously or concurrently taken
- Latin/Foreign Language: Latin III/Spanish I***
- *Juniors who have already taken Algebra II are finished with Math requirements for graduation, but are encouraged to continue on the Math electives track
- ** Juniors who have already taken Chemistry are encouraged to take Physics
- ***Juniors who take Spanish I over Latin III forfeit the opportunity to receive the Summa Cum Laude Latin Honors Title, as well as the opportunity to be considered for class Valedictorian
12th Grade
- Religion: Special Topic
- English/Literature: American/Modern Literature
- History: Government – Fall Semester Only
- Latin/Foreign Language: Advanced Latin/Spanish II*
- *Seniors are not required to take a language, however, those who choose not to take a language their senior year forfeit all Latin Honors Titles.
Course Tracks for the High School of St. Andrew Catholic School
St. Andrew Catholic School has set up course tracks for high school students. Each course track is designed to have the classes build upon each other while increasing in difficulty, forming a well rounded and knowledgeable student. Please note that this is based on a standard high schooler. Depending on the course track as well as teacher judgment, students may challenge the current course to be placed into a course higher than their grade level. If students are participating in dual credit courses, credit will be given for that course track.
MATH
- Required: Algebra I (9th), Geometry (10th), Algebra II (11th)
- Advanced Track*: Pre-Calculus (11th/12th), Calculus (12th)
- *Freshmen who excel in math may take Geometry if: (a)Algebra I was previously taken in 8th grade; (b) the student shows satisfactory skill to challenge the course and be placed in Geometry
SCIENCE
- Required: Earth Science (9th), Biology (10th), Chemistry (11th)*
- Advanced Track**: Biology (9th), Chemistry (10th), Physics (11th or 12th)
- Electives: Biomedical Sciences
- *Algebra II must be taken before or concurrently with Chemistry
- **Freshmen who excel in math and science may take Biology, setting them on the Advanced Science Track
HISTORY
- Required: Montana History (9th), World History (10th), United States History (11th), Government (12th Fall Semester)
RELIGION
- Required: Intro to Scripture (9th), Moral Theology (10th), Ecumenism and Apologetics (11th), Special Topic (12th)
LATIN/FOREIGN LANGUAGE
- Required: Latin I (9th), Latin II (10th), Latin III OR Spanish I (11th)
- Electives: Advanced Latin, Spanish II (12th)
LITERATURE
- Required: Classical Literature (9th), Medieval Literature (10th), British Literature (11th), American/Modern Literature (12th)
PHILOSOPHY
- Any two* of the following courses during 11th and 12th grade
- Philosophy of Film and Fiction (Spring Semester Annually)
- Lincoln-Douglas Debate (Fall Semester Annually)
- Critical Thinking (11th/12th – Even Year Fall Semester)
- The Writings of CS Lewis (11th/12th – Even Year Spring Semester)
- Metaphysics/Epistemology (11th/12th – Odd Year Fall Semester)
- *Students on track to receive Summa Cum Laude honors, must take three courses from Philosophy, including Critical Thinking.
FINE, APPLIED & PERFORMING ARTS
- Any two of the following courses, may be repeated if desired
- Art
- Industrial Art
- Choir
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
- Any two of the following courses are required, may be repeated if desired
- Physical Education
- Sports Conditioning
FINANCIAL LITERACY
- Any one of the following courses is required, all three courses may be taken if desired
- Personal Finance (Fall Semester Annually)
- Business Math (Even Year Spring Semester)
- Survey of Accounting (Odd Year Spring Semester)
ELECTIVES
- Any of the following may be repeated if desired
- Office Skills
- Study Hall – no credit awarded
- Teacher’s Aide