Middle-School Scholarship Skills Workshop
This course challenges students to develop the wise diligence which is vital to academics and to life.
Incorporating elements that will encourage students of every learning style, this course encourages students to identify and overcome obstacles to learning. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will complete fun and insightful self-evaluation quizzes, identify individual strengths and weaknesses, and develop growth strategies.
Students will learn how to manage time and minimize distractions, how to prudently use technology in learning, how to prepare to study, how to study actively, and how to self-assess using a student mastery portrait (set goals and measure personal goals). Through assigned reading selections, students will hone their comprehension skills and learn how to read various genres of literature. In the process, they will learn active reading, note-taking, and outlining skills. Similarly, targeted writing exercises will train students to organize their thoughts and craft paragraphs.
Ultimately, this course aims to foster student virtues of patience, perseverance, and joy in learning.
Syllabus
None. This course draws on How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler as a primary text, adapting its goals and scope to fit the needs of younger students. (This book is not required reading.)
Peter Belfry has a range of teaching and tutoring experience in a variety of subjects and age levels from kindergarten through to adult education at the college level and has taught at several classical, Christian and public schools. Currently, he serves as a professor of computer science with Canadore College, teaching courses on Operating Systems and programming languages such as Windows, Linux, HTML, C++ and Visual Basic. Peter holds an Honors BA from Trent University in History as well as a BA in Education, specializing in History and Computer Science. He holds an MA from Knox Theological Seminary in Classical and Christian studies, which provides him a background for teaching from a classical perspective. For his MA program, he read many of the Great Books as well as studied Scripture and church history. Peter has completed a week-long teacher training with the Association of Classical Christian Schools and Rockbridge Academy. His favourite piece of classical literature is Dante’s The Divine Comedy. In addition to teaching, Peter also has experience serving in a pastoral role and enjoys volunteering to serve in his local church and community. He helps in evangelistic outreach as well as teaching lessons from the Bible. Peter has experience and training as an English as a Second Language instructor as well. He has experience teaching both online and in person. He believes in Scholé’s approach in seeking “restful learning” and believes that education should be life-giving and freeing for the soul as it should acknowledge the Lord Jesus as the source of all that is true, good and beautiful. Peter lives in the North Bay, Ontario area with his wife and twin boys. pbelfry.scholeacademy@gmail.com
Dr. Ross B. Williams is excited to join Scholé Academy as an instructor for the 2022-2023 school year! Dr. Williams is currently the Director of Music and Principal Organist at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church in Hilliard, Ohio, and he is the Director of Music at St. Catharine School in Bexley, Ohio. Dr. Williams and his wife, Elizabeth, maintain a very active household of homeschooling their nine children. Dr. Williams’ research investigates sacred music of the Catholic Church, as participation in rituals such as classrooms, rehearsals, concerts, and worship services draw a closer relationship to Christ through song. In addition to directing choirs and playing the organ, Dr. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a master’s degree in percussion performance from the University of Southern California, and he recently completed a doctorate in music education from Boston University. His performance experience tends toward creative and improvisatory idioms such as such as Ngoma (singing-drumming-dancing) in Nairobi, Kenya, dragon lantern drumming and dancing in Hong Kong, and the hammering of almglocken from ancestral apprenticeships in Barau, Switzerland. In 2022, Dr. Williams and his family launched a YouTube channel called DRUMNBUDDIES, as an educational resource for children learning how to play the drums! rwilliams.scholeacademy@gmail.com

High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer.
Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class.
Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use.
To download Zoom:
- Visit zoom.us/download.
- Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
- Open and run the installer on your computer.
- In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
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First, read the available course descriptions, noting prerequisites, target grades, and course objectives. If you think your student is prepared for the course, go ahead and register. After registration, a placement assessment may be provided to students, depending on the course and the student’s previous enrollment with Scholé Academy. Registration is finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
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Our Assistant to the Principal will be in touch with you after your enrollment to help you with next steps, including any placement evaluations that may be required for your course selections.
This registration will be finalized when the student's placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.