Humanities

Applied Practices of Mindfulness will explore and train students in mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and mental habits derived from contemporary research in positive psychology. The religious historical roots of yoga and meditation will also be examined as a way to understand current developments and practices. Every class is designed for students to engage in a succession of mindfulness practice training, seeking to enhance mental stability, self-awareness, compassion, and positive mental states. Students will be asked to commit to a regular practice of meditation as a way of discovering for themselves the human experience of awareness, presence, and self- compassion. The course will also take an in-depth and critical look into the research supporting mindfulness and other contemplative practices that support positive mental states and well-being.

Activities

• Students should be dressed and prepared to engage in regular seated meditation and movement based mindfulness practices.
• Through this course, students will complete and be certified in the .b (dot B) program through the Mindfulness in Schools Project.
• During the Yoga unit, there may be a nominal fee for advanced yoga training with professional yoga instructors certified to teach yoga to teenagers.

Biblical Explorations is an engaging introduction to the Bible as religious literature and as a faith document for Christians. Various biblical stories and characters will be explored both in their original historical and cultural context as well as in their relationship to the overarching metanarrative of the Bible. Students will also be encouraged to reflect on the nature of spirituality, especially in relationship to their own worldview and personal development.

Christian Apologetics:Asking the Big Questions gives students the opportunity to be grounded in the logical reasons for belief in the Christian faith. We would explore and evaluate the evidence for Christianity. Questions we’ll consider include:

• Why do Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead? What is the evidence? Can it be trusted?
• Can the Christian worldview coexist with modern science?
• How can the existence of suffering be compatible with the Christian view of an all-powerful, all-knowing and loving God?
• Is the Bible trustworthy?

This new course focuses on specific areas of discussion and study to enable students to better appreciate the intellectual case for the Christian worldview. Students of all faiths or no faith are welcome to join.

Comparative Religions explores both major and minor world religions through a series of inquiries and investigation in big questions such as: What is religion? How are religions born? Why do religions change or die? Is religion more violent or peaceful? Are all religions basically the same? Do religions subvert or codify power? What is the future of religion? Students will also be encouraged to reflect on the nature of spirituality, especially in relationship to their own worldview and personal development.

Humanities 9 is an interdisciplinary course that integrates literature and social studies to explore the relationships between identity, culture, and human development. Students engage with diverse texts and historical narratives to understand how worldviews are shaped and expressed across time and place. The course emphasizes critical thinking, research, and communication skills while fostering empathy and global awareness. Through inquiry and analysis, students develop the ability to interpret complex ideas, construct evidence-based arguments, and reflect on their role in an interconnected world.

Humanities 10 builds on the foundations of Grade 9 by deepening students’ understanding of how individuals and societies respond to complexity, conflict, and change. Through the study of literature, historical narratives, and artistic expression, students explore themes such as power, justice, ethics, and while reflecting on personal and collective responsibility. The course emphasizes critical inquiry, ethical reasoning, and the ability to evaluate multiple perspectives. Students strengthen advanced skills in research, analytical and narrative writing, and oral communication while considering how ideas and actions shape the world. This interdisciplinary approach prepares learners for higher-level Humanities studies and fosters the capacity to think critically and act responsibly in a global context.

This religion elective aims to enable students to gain a better sense of life direction through a holistic exploration of their bodies, minds, and hearts. The starting point of this journey is the assumption that each aspect of the self - body, mind, and heart - has its own unique intelligence that it brings to bear in addressing the question of purpose in life. The class, then, consists in teaching about and training of each intelligence to bring it into greater sympathetic resonance with other aspects of the self. The training of the body asks students to find ways to improve their physical health; the training of the mind helps them to identify and understand their personality type; and training of the heart uses various spiritual practices to cultivate a more open, grateful, and empathic disposition. It is hoped that this intensive self-exploration will enable students to be more at ease with themselves and help them to better understand how they can lead a life of purpose and service to society.

Senior English is a celebration and culmination of the varied skills in English that students have developed throughout high school. The course will take students on a journey through different text types (fiction, nonfiction, and visual texts), genres of literature (memoir, novels, drama, and poetry), and traditions in storytelling from diverse cultures and time periods. The course values the habits of reading and writing, and students will continue to practice close reading and methods of effective communication to help them feel poised for professional and college-level academic writing and discourse. A central theme of the course is the students themselves as the “heroes” of their own lives, the sharing of one’s own story and voice, and the value and power of self-expression.