Featured School

St. Theresa Catholic School

St. Theresa Catholic School is a new parochial school within the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. As a classical Catholic school, St. Theresa self consciously intends to operate within the rich educational tradition that is Catholic liberal education. Liberal education aims for freedom—or more exactly, freedom from vice and freedom for virtue, or in today’s lingo, freedom for excellence. A liberal education aims for nothing else than excellence in every area of life, and our curriculum promotes that through an emphasis on the physical, intellectual, and theological virtues.

Physical Virtue
Liberal educators have always placed great care in the physical training of young people, for, as the handmaiden of the soul, the body should develop and reflect an elevated internal dignity.  The importance of physical education is manifested throughout our Pre-K through 8th grade curriculum; however significant time for P.E. is allotted to the younger years where the educator more easily trains the soul by directing the body. 

Intellectual Virtue
St. Theresa develops intellectual excellence in every major academic discipline.  Our primary school prides itself in being a “grammar school.”  We want our students to understand the structure of the English language, not only because an increased grammatical focus generates better writers and speakers, but primarily because focusing on grammatical structure inculcates structured thinking.

Our studies in English grammar are enhanced by the study of Latin, which begins in the 2nd grade.  We use the “Latin for Children” series until the end of 4th grade and start original Latin texts in 5th grade.  As a classical Catholic school, Latin is central to our curriculum; Latin literature develops an intellectual imagination that prepares for mature philosophical reflection.

At St. Theresa, history is tilted towards the classical, medieval, and early modern periods.  Far from exhibiting an obscurantist longing for the past, St. Theresa points students to models in the past that will enable them to move society toward the noble ideals that should inspire us all.  Students ignorant of these models are easily manipulated by the ignoble figures and forces that enslave contemporary culture.
 
Math and science are also vital components to our classical school.  We think it is important that math not be taught as a servile subject—i.e. as a precursor to engineering or computer science—because math, properly understood, develops within the student a deep awareness of non-temporal, non-physical truths.   Seen in this light, we can understand how math is crucial to a liberal arts education.  Science, in its own way, also plays an important role in accomplishing our humanistic goals, because science—precisely in its precision and objectivity—reminds students that “truth is an adequation of the mind to things” and not, as it is sometimes thought of today, as a construct of the mind.

Finally, St. Theresa is unique in the stress it places on musical education.  One of the distinguishing properties that we possess as “rational animals” is the ability to make music.  If the end or purpose of human existence should influence our educational philosophy—and I think it should—then singing must play a large part in a solid education, for eternity rings with the ceaseless songs of the angels and saints.   At St. Theresa we hope to create a culture of singing.  We use the Ward Method in Pre-K through 8th grade.  The Ward Method is unique in that in teaches Gregorian Chant along with modern musical song and notation.  As a classical Catholic school, St. Theresa intends to preserve and promote among the laity a deep appreciation and love for this favored form of liturgical song. 

Theological Virtue
The human excellence we hope to achieve through education is not attainable through human effort alone.  The grace of God, given to us through the sacraments, is needed for our students to live fully actualized lives.  We believe that school-wide Mass is key to liberty, for “if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” (Jn 8:36) 

It is our desire to prepare our youngest students for the Mass as soon as possible.  We therefore spend a lot of time in Pre-K and Kindergarten learning the symbols of our faith and the basic prayers of the Church.  We believe that the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, with its Mass Kit, will be especially useful in helping kids appreciate what is occurring during the Mass.  The Mass Kit recreates all the sacred vessels of the Mass in child size form.  As children are tactile learners, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is hard to beat.  

St. Theresa Catholic School opened its doors August 18, 2008, with Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. Next academic year, in addition to these two grades, we intend to offer 1st and 2nd grade.  We are currently finishing the first phase of our building project which, when complete, will be able to facilitate 475 students, Pre-K through 8th grade.