St. Thomas More Schola
Nashville, TN
Saint Thomas More Schola is a Catholic homeschool cooperative and tutorial that supports Middle Tennessee (Diocese of Nashville) homeschooling families in educating their children according to the classical model. We seek to provide robust training in the liberal arts coupled with an explicit focus on development of the moral virtues in order to form upstanding citizens who are devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
We meet on Thursdays at St. Philip Catholic Church in Franklin, just south of Nashville on I-65.
Helpful Links
Statement of Faith
St. Thomas More Schola joyfully acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life and is grounded in faithfulness to Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. We are loyal to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and submissive to the teachings proclaimed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Middle School Curriculum
STMS aims to provide high quality courses for middle (7th & 8th grade) students. All courses are standalone – you can register for as many or as few as you’d like. Each course description listed indicates the type and amount of credit that each course is ideally suited to meet. You can contact our Upper School director at stms.upperschool@gmail.com.
***All schedules are subject to change.***
Study Hall is available for $100 per student per period annually.
Middle School Courses 2022-23
MS RELIGION: TBD
SUMMARY: A course in the fundamentals of Catholic Christianity.
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: TBD
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: This class will examine the Catholic Faith with a particular focus on catechetics. Students will learn about the origins of various aspects of our faith and how these beliefs have been understood over the course of the last two thousand years. The Baltimore Catechism 2.0 will be the textbook used for the class. Can serve as preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semesters: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
HUMANITIES 7-8: The Modern Period
SUMMARY: A Middle School humanities course covering the Age of Exploration through Modern Times.
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: Jordana Adams
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: Humanities will be a survey of history from the Age of Exploration through Modern Times. The course will encompass literature, writing, activities, and geography, as students journey through the last five hundred years or so. There will be weekly reading and note-taking assignments, as well as longer literature and writing projects throughout the year.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semesters: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
MATH 7-8: Pre-Algebra
SUMMARY: A Pre-Algebra course for Middle School students.
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: Jackie Butler
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: Pre-Algebra is designed to provide a solid background for students to approach Algebra 1 with confidence. Pre-Algebra will review basic math concepts regarding number sense and the rules regarding math operations and the order of operations. Students taking pre-algebra will practice concepts taught in previous math courses at higher levels and in ways that will broaden their skills. Students will practice algebraic thinking in order to model and solve real world problems. Geometric concepts and related formulas will be linked to algebraic thinking to prepare students for future courses.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semesters: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
MATH 7-8: Algebra 1
SUMMARY: An Algebra 1 course for Middle School students.
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: Jackie Butler
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: Algebra 1 introduces students to variables, algebraic expressions, equations, inequalities, functions, and all their multiple representations. Students use skills learned in pre-algebra to explore and solve real-world application problems, demonstrate the appropriate use of calculators (including graphing), and communicate mathematical ideas clearly. This course lays the foundation for mathematical literacy that will help students succeed in every subsequent course in mathematics.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semesters: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
SCIENCE 7-8: Life Science
SUMMARY: A Life Science course for 7th and 8th grade students.
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Tamaiian
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: coming soon…
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semesters: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
ART 7-8: Middle School Art
SUMMARY: An art course for Middle School students.
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: Libby Goldammer
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: The middle school art class will introduce students to the elements and principles of art and composition. Through hands on art projects, that will emphasize skill and technique in various mediums, an exciting connection to art history will be made. Students will also develop skills to analyze, discuss, and critique a work of art.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semesters: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: Supply Fee of $75.
WRITING (IEW) 7-8
SUMMARY: Modern World History Based Writing
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: Abigail Findlay
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: A wide variety of of adventures through modern history will supple a rich foundation for imaginative and enjoyable writing. Your students will work through the IEW units as they become more competent in taking notes, retelling narrative stories, summarizing references, writing from pictures, writing reports and critiques. Students will earn tickets they broaden their vocabulary and use a variety of stylistic techniques. These tickets will be redeemed in our infamous IEW Auction.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Requirements: One year of IEW and access to a computer and printer (must be proficient at typing by the second semester).
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semester: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees:
PUBLIC SPEAKING 7-8
SUMMARY: A public speaking course for middle school students.
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: Abigail Findlay
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: Students will deliver four speeches, self-introduction, narrative, descriptive, and persuasive. They will become assertive public speakers and master the art of effective speech delivery using techniques such as poise, eye contact, location, gestures, and smiling.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semesters: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
MS LATIN: Second Form
SUMMARY: A course for intermediate-level Latin students.
GRADES: 7-8
INSTRUCTOR: Wendie Vongkasempseri
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: Second Form reviews all material in First Form, completes the verb paradigms for all four conjugations in the indicative active and passive, and much more! This will include Lingua Angelica.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $400 per student
- Semesters: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
Lower School Curriculum
The Lower School of St. Thomas More Schola is a homeschool cooperative open to students from Kindergarten to 6th Grade. We follow the Classical model of instruction and are committed to providing our children with an education focused on what is true, good, and beautiful. We follow a cyclical approach for history and science. Our time together includes student presentations, memory work practice, science experiments, grammar, and classes in the humanities.
PLEASE NOTE: Since STMS is a cooperative organization, one parent of any student registered in the K through 6th grades is required to be present during the school day at St. Philip and assist the Lower School as a volunteer.
***All schedules are subject to change.***
Lower School Course of Instruction 2022-23
5-6 GRADES
- COURSES
- HUMANITIES: Humanities will be a survey of history from the Age of Exploration through Modern Times. The course will encompass literature, writing, activities, and geography, as students journey through the last five hundred years or so. There will be weekly reading and note-taking assignments, as well as longer literature and writing projects throughout the year.
- SCIENCE: Since faith and reason are inseparable, the main goal of Behold and See 5 is to teach up-to-date scientific knowledge in the context of our Holy Faith. The text provides an in-depth, conceptual understanding of selected topics from biology, human anatomy, earth science, chemistry, and physics. It gently communicates the richness and order of God’s creation, and reflects on the proper use of scientific knowledge for the glory of God.
- LATIN: Latina Christiana is the second class in the Memoria Press Latin sequence and it is typically for fourth and fifth graders at STMS, but is appropriate for anyone seeking a gentle introduction to Latin. It is a continuation of Prima Latina, and it is intended to be followed by First Form Latin. Our class covers one lesson per week, as outlined int he suggested syllabus from Memoria Press. Each weekly class involves a brief lesson on a grammatical concept; introduction of the vocabulary, prayer and practical Latin phrase for the week; and vocabulary games and review. Weekly homework assignments involve the completion of several workbook pages and the memorization of vocabulary.
- RELIGION: Catechsim, Saints, Virtues and Bible Stories
- LINGUA ANGELICA: Designed for all ages, even preschoolers can learn to sing and memorize Latin hymns! By learning these hymns and prayers early, students will be introduced to grammar forms and syntax, as well as lots of vocabulary that will help them advance more quickly in their Latin studies later. Students will be reciting and singing some of the greatest works of Christian and Latin literature.
- OPTIONAL COURSES (see below)
- GRADES: 5-6
- DAY: Thursday
- TUITION: $250.
- OTHER COSTS & FEES: $75 supply fee.
3-4 GRADES
- COURSES
- HUMANITIES: Through significant historical biographies, 3/4 Humanities will cover the Age of Exploration through Modern Times. There will be weekly geography homework and optional enrichment reading.
- SCIENCE: Behold and See 3 is intended to help children build a conceptual framework of scientific ideas and thinking.
- RELIGION: Catechsim, Saints, Virtues and Bible Stories
- LATIN: Prima Latina is the first class in the Memoria Press Latin sequence, and it is typically for third and fourth graders at STMS. It consists of learning five new vocabulary words per week in addition to a latin phrase and latin prayers. This is a gentle introduction to Latin and is a good foundation for continuing on to Latina Christiana. Our class covers one lesson per week, as outlined in the suggested syllabus from Memoria Press. Each weekly class involves a brief lesson on a grammatical concept; introduction of the vocabulary, prayer and practical Latin phrase for the week; and vocabulary games and review. Weekly homework assignments involve the completion of several workbook pages and the memorization of vocabulary.
- LINGUA ANGELICA: Designed for all ages, even preschoolers can learn to sing and memorize Latin hymns! By learning these hymns and prayers early, students will be introduced to grammar forms and syntax, as well as lots of vocabulary that will help them advance more quickly in their Latin studies later. Students will be reciting and singing some of the greatest works of Christian and Latin literature.
- OPTIONAL COURSES (see below)
- GRADES: 3-4
- DAY: Thursday
- TUITION: Included with Family Registration Fee.
- OTHER COSTS & FEES: TBD
K-2 GRADES
- COURSES: Humanities enrichment studies, Religion, PE, Lingua Angelica (hymns and prayers in Latin). Art is an optional course (see below).
- GRADES: K-2.
- DAY: Thursday
- TUITION: Included in Registration Fee.
- OTHER COSTS & FEES: Supply fee of $50.
ART: Art with the Masters (optional)
SUMMARY: An art course for elementary school students.
GRADES: K-6
INSTRUCTOR: Libby Goldammer
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: This class will combine art instruction along with the study of the historical and cultural perspective in which art is created.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $275 for 3-6, $225 for K-2
- Semester: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees:
- K-2: $50
- 3-6: $75
WRITING: Intro to IEW (optional)
SUMMARY: Structure and Style for Students Year 1 – Level A
GRADES: 3-6
INSTRUCTOR: Abigail Findlay
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: IEW’s unique approach provides the structure that students need to develop confidence in the writing process, while gradually guiding them toward greater independence and creativity. This step-by-step course will introduce seven IEW units: key word outlines, note-taking, narratives (stories) , summarizing a reference, summarizing two more references (reports), writing from pictures and inventive (creative) writing. An optional reading list included in this course.
- Course Requirements: Students must be proficient in handwriting and reading at a 3rd grade level.
- Course Tuition: $170 per student
- Semester: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
WRITING: Intermediate IEW (optional)
SUMMARY: All Things Fun and Fascinating Theme-Based Writing Lessons
GRADES: 3-6
INSTRUCTOR: Abigail Findlay
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: Humorous characters, cunning creatures, and meritorious men of history will captivate your intermediate IEW writers as they learn to write with more structure and style. Moving through Units 1–7, students will take notes, summarize narrative stories, write from pictures, put together a mini research report, and compose creative essays. Earning tickets with improved word choice, games and vocabulary we hold a bi-annual auction, we keep the lessons fun and fascinating.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Requirements: At least one year of IEW.
- Course Tuition: $260 per student
- Semester: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
WRITING: Advanced IEW (optional)
SUMMARY: Modern World History Based Writing
GRADES: 3-6
INSTRUCTOR: Abigail Findlay
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: A wide variety of of adventures through modern history will supply a rich foundation for imaginative and enjoyable writing. Your students will work through the IEW units as they become more competent in taking notes, retelling narrative stories, summarizing references, writing from pictures, writing reports and critiques. Students will earn tickets they broaden their vocabulary and use a variety of stylistic techniques. These tickets will be redeemed in our infamous IEW Auction.
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Requirements: One year of IEW and access to a computer and printer (must be proficient at typing by the second semester).
- Course Tuition: $260 per student
- Semester: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees:
LATIN: First Form (optional)
SUMMARY: An introduction to Latin for elementary aged students.
GRADES: 5-6
INSTRUCTOR: Wendie Vongkasempseri
DAY: Thursday
DESCRIPTION: First Form Latin teaches Latin grammar systematically in order to facilitate retention and understanding. It utilizes extensive workbook exercises to ensure skills mastery and rapid recognition of inflected forms. This class is ideal either as an introductory class for older students, or as a continuation of the lessons learned in Latina Christiana. After finishing First Form, the student will have mastered:
- The six indicative active tenses of the first two verb conjugations
- Five noun declensions
- First and second declension adjectives
- 185 vocabulary words
COURSE DETAILS:
- Course Tuition: $250 per student
- Semester: 2
- Other Course Costs & Fees: TBD
Registration
Once classes are full, families will be placed on a waiting list.
Current families receive priority for the first week of open registration. This priority period ends on April 18th, 2022.
To be fully registered, families need to:
- Select your courses by filling out the online Registration forms.
- Print out and sign the Waiver of Liability.
- Pay the Registration Fee (see below). Checks should be made out to St. Thomas More Schola. This fee is NON-REFUNDABLE and is required to hold your spot.
- Mail the signed Waiver of Liability and Registration Fee check to 517 Hopewood Court, Franklin, TN 37064.
Tuition, Fees, and other Costs
Family Registration Fee
The below registration fees apply per family regardless of grade level:
- $150 for 1 student
- $225 for 2 or more students
- This fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.
Tuition
- For grades K – 4, the Family Registration Fee covers the cost of tuition for the main course of instruction.
- For grades 5 & 6, basic tuition is $250 for the main course of instruction.
- For grades K – 6, optional course tuition is specified per individual course.
- For grades 7 & 8, all tuition is specified per individual course.
Other Costs
Though we do our best to provide advanced notice, there are likely to be additional costs associated with course supplies, materials, and texts. Families are responsible for paying any additional course supply fees and/or purchasing required course materials and texts. If not mentioned here, this information will be provided by the instructor along with other course information.
Refund Policy
- Courses dropped between July 15th and the start of classes will be subject to a Course Drop Fee of $50.
- Courses dropped during the 1st semester will be refunded for the 2nd semester only (50% of tuition for a 2 semester course).
- Courses dropped after the conclusion of the 1st semester will not be eligible for a refund.
Calendar & Schedule
***All schedules are subject to change.***
We meet weekly on Thursdays during the school year.
1st Semester
Aug 18 – Dec 15
2nd Semester
Jan 5 – May 18
Dates Off
Oct 13 – Fall Break
Nov 24 – Thanksgiving Break
Dec 22 & 29 – Christmas Break
Feb 16 – Winter Break
Mar 16 – Spring Break
Apr 6 – Holy Week
Apr 13 – Octave of Easter
Class Schedules
Location
St. Philip Catholic Church (Franklin)
113 2nd Ave S. • Franklin, TN 37064
Dress Code
- All students attending classes at STMS are required to wear long pants, capris, skirts, or skorts in the colors of navy blue, black, or any shade of khaki. No rips or tears.
- Skirts or skorts must be knee length or just above.
- Shirts may be short or long sleeved and must have a collar (polo or dress-style with buttons.)
- All footwear should be closed-toe – no sandals, flip-flops, or the like.
Instructors
Jordana Adams
Courses: MS Humanities, LS Humanities
Jordana Adams is a Catholic convert and the mother of nine children ages 21 to 4. She started homeschooling when her oldest was in first grade. She lives in an old house in East Nashville, which is under perpetual renovation.
She studied German literature at the University of the South, where she earned her BA. She also holds an MA in German literature from the University of Delaware and an MLIS degree from the University of Alabama.
Jackie Butler
Courses: MS Math
Jackie’s father instilled in her a love for math from an early age. Both true science and math nerds, they still enjoy competing to see who can solve math puzzles and equations faster. She earned her BA in Psychology in 2000 and then taught English overseas. She has continued to work in education through classroom teaching, tutoring, and managing a tutoring center for the 19 years. She is currently an RN. Jackie enjoys golfing with her family, where she gets to holler, “Square Root of 16,” and other hilarious (to her) math jokes.
Abigail Findlay
Courses: Writing & Public Speaking
Abigail Findlay is quite blessed to serve the St. Thomas More Schola as the Composition teacher. Obtaining her college degree from Patriot University, she moved to Franklin, TN in 2001 to pursue her career in classical education. She has completed various intensive training courses at New St. Andrews College (Moscow, ID), Veritas Academy (Lancaster, PA), and has attended several supplemental workshops at Franklin Classical Schools (Franklin, TN) and with the Association of Classical Christian Schools. Inspired to improve her classroom management skills, she sought professional training at Flowing Wells Teacher Development Center (Tucson, AZ), one of the top teacher training centers in the country. Over her eighteen years of teaching experience, she has taught several grades ranging from Kindergarten to Ninth, worked as a Director of Curriculum Development, served as an elementary school principal and has led many teacher training workshops of her own. Currently, she works as a stay-at-home mom and private tutor. She and her husband, Doug, reside in Franklin with their two beautiful daughters.
Libby Goldammer
Courses: Art
Abigail Findlay is quite blessed to serve the St. Thomas More Schola as the Composition teacher. Obtaining her college degree from Patriot University, she moved to Franklin, TN in 2001 to pursue her career in classical education. She has completed various intensive training courses at New St. Andrews College (Moscow, ID), Veritas Academy (Lancaster, PA), and has attended several supplemental workshops at Franklin Classical Schools (Franklin, TN) and with the Association of Classical Christian Schools. Inspired to improve her classroom management skills, she sought professional training at Flowing Wells Teacher Development Center (Tucson, AZ), one of the top teacher training centers in the country. Over her eighteen years of teaching experience, she has taught several grades ranging from Kindergarten to Ninth, worked as a Director of Curriculum Development, served as an elementary school principal and has led many teacher training workshops of her own. Currently, she works as a stay-at-home mom and private tutor. She and her husband, Doug, reside in Franklin with their two beautiful daughters.
Sarah Tamaiian
Courses: Science
bio coming soon...
Wendie Vongkasempseri
Courses: Latin
bio coming soon...