Discovering the Brontë Sisters-Tales of Courage, Mystery, and Heart

Guest lecturer each quarter: Presbytera Maria Koulianos

Foggy moors, dark mansions, mysterious secrets, suspense- it's easy to get lost in the trappings of gothic literature without understanding what they are meant to do: highlight vices and virtues, challenge readers to discern the difference between societal morality versus actual right and wrong, and persevere in humanity's grueling inner struggle between light and darkness.
In this year-long course, don't just learn to identify and appreciate key aspects of gothic literature in the Brontë siblings' works. Hone close-reading skills, use in-text citations to analyze themes and create and defend theses, and take a deep dive into Victorian culture and compare/contrast it with today's. Most importantly, use gothic literature and sharpened skills to prioritize Christ and living a life pleasing to Him.

Get to Know Presbytera Maria Koulianos

Presbytera Maria Koulianos, Principal, has been an educator for over 25 years, loving every minute, with vast experiences in both public and private schools as a classroom teacher, a developer and implementer of learning programs for students, and an area administrator. She earned her bachelor of science in education from Indiana University with certifications in elementary education, 7/8 non-departmental, language arts 1–9, and computer education K–12. She holds a master of divinity and a master of theology from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, where she wrote her thesis, “The Annunciation of the Theotokos from a Liturgical Perspective.” Presbytera Maria and her husband, Father Dionysios, live in the greater Springfield area where he is the Dean of Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Springfield, MA. As an educator, she hopes to inspire her students to love literature and become lifelong learners. As principal, she is a servant-leader who is charged with building a community that supports students and parents striving for Orthodox restful classical education.

Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course.

Charlotte Brontë's Novels:
- Jane Eyre
- Shirley
- Villette
- The Professor
Emily Brontë's Novel:
- Wuthering Heights
Anne Brontë's Novels:
- Agnes Grey
- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Maria Tsiaklides

[email protected]

Maria Tsiaklides lives in the St. Louis, Missouri area with her husband, their two-month-old baby boy, and two cats. A lover of books, writing, classic films, and family time, Maria brings both warmth and enthusiasm to her teaching.
She has been teaching in-person since 2018 and is now entering her second year of online instruction. Her classroom experience spans grades six through twelve, and she has taught a variety of subjects, including middle school Spanish, high school Spanish I–III, middle school French, French I–II, and creative writing.

Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.

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. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)

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. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm

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.

Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.

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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.