A Renaissance in Education

1. The Montfort Academy Middle School Program A Renaissance in Education

2. The Montfort Academy’s History • Est. 12 years ago as a Classical Catholic High School in Katonah. • Upon moving to Fleetwood, Fr. Lauri and others suggested adding a middle school to our award winning high school program. • Inaugural 7th grade class with 24 students (2014-2015)

3. Catholic Identity Named after St. Louis de Montfort, our school was established to be an authentically Catholic school, faithful to the Magisterium of the Church. While we are loyal to the Archdiocese of New York, we are not a diocesan school and operate independently with our own Board of Directors. Since 2003, Montfort has been recognized each year as one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the country.

4. Why a Classical Curriculum ? By exposing our students to the greatest ideas, the most beautiful works of art, and noble virtues that continue to inspire, we are preparing them to meet any challenge be it intellectual or otherwise with confidence & character. The Great Books of Western Civilization, in fidelity to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, is what allows us to pursue truth, goodness, and beauty in friendship over the course of study at Montfort.

5. The fruits of a Classical Curriculum Students who can: • Think keenly and creatively • Reason logically • Read critically • Write articulately • Speak confidently • Listen attentively

6. The Middle School Program • The 7th & 8th grade curriculum will be in accord with NY State Standards but will be enlivened with primary texts from the greatest works of Western Civilization and integrated across various fields. • This classical education promises to be the most excellent foundation for high school, collegiate studies and a lifelong pursuit of wisdom.

7. American History 7th & 8th graders will be introduced to the characters and culture which shaped our country’s founding and fostered her perseverance via primary texts. 7th Grade: Covers the time span from the European discovery of the New World through the Civil Warwith a special emphasis on the founding of the Nation. 8th Grade: Covers the time span from the Civil War to the Modern Day, noting how the founding principles continue to guide our country today.

8. American LiteratureIntegrated with the History curriculum, students will be introduced to the greatest American novels, essays, plays and poems. They will also expand their vocabulary and work especially on learning to write well, utilizing the essential tools of grammar and style Authors include the likes of: Alcott, Cather, Dickenson, Douglas, Eliot, Fitzgerald, Frost, Hawthorne, Hemmingway, Hughes, Irving, Lee, London, Longfellow, Miller, O’Connor, O’Neil, Poe, Twain, Whitman, Wilder, Williams, Sandburg, Steinbeck, Stowe, & Thoreau.

9. Natural Science 7th & 8th graders will get to study the grandeur of God found in His Creation, the Natural World. Each year the course will include traditional material like learning the scientific method, lab experimentation and observation, but will also cover philosophic topics like causation, order and telos. 7th Grade: Life science focuses on the biological realities of the natural world from bacteria to plants, to the animal kingdom, the living environment has much to arouse our wonder and prompt us to discovery. 8th Grade: Earth Science, allows us to employ the same tools of discovery from the 7th grade to non-living realities in the fields of geology, meteorology, ecology and serves great as a great foundation for the study of astronomy.

10. Mathematics 8th Grade: This course will concentrate on reasoning about equations, including linear equations, using functions and geometrical skills like analyzing two and three dimensional figures. 7th Grade This course will further the students understanding of numerical operations, order, relation, proportion and other fundamental concepts necessary for a proper study of algebra and later geometry.

11. Sacred Theology 8th Grade: This course will look closely at the Gospels and the person of Jesus Christ, with a particular emphasis on the Sacraments which He instituted in preparation for Confirmation. 7th Grade: This course will center around understanding the Creed, the profession of our Catholic faith. It will rely heavily on the writings of Sacred Scripture, the Church Fathers and the Catechism.

12. Fine Art I & II 7th & 8th graders will be introduced to the masterpieces of art and music throughout Western Civilization. This interdisciplinary course will also provide the opportunity to think about questions of beauty and aesthetics, develop technical skills through studio art, music theory and group performance of choral music.

13. Classics I & II This course will provide our students with a background in the history, achievements and culture of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as her prominent characters, both mythological and historical. It will also serve as an introduction to the mechanics and grammar of Latin so that our students can enter freshman year in Latin II.

14. And Beyond… After completing this rigorous curriculum, Montfortians will be well prepared to tackle the intellectual challenges of any competitive high school in the area, including our own. Successful students who decide to stay on at Montfort and complete their classical education are admitted into the freshman class with a $1,000 scholarship.

15. Some Details… • Single floor for Middle School classes • Locker access • Hot Lunch Program • Recess • Extracurricular opportunities • Transportation • Smaller Faculty • Consultation / Study Skills Workshop

16. Admissions Process • A completed admission file includes: • Complete Application Form (available online or at the school) • Two Teacher Letters of Recommendation • Family Interview • Most Current 5th & 6th Grade Transcript • Standardized Test Results

17. The Montfort Academy Middle School Program Where the greatest minds of the past are forming the brightest minds of the future!