Upper School

Freshman Summer Reading: The Tale of Troy

Section 1: June 5–9, 10 a.m.–noon

Section 2: June 5–9, 12:30–2:30 p.m.

Section 3: June 26–30, 10 a.m.–noon

Section 4: June 26–30, 12:30–2:30 p.m.

Entering grade: 9

Fee: $130

This course will focus on reading and understanding the plot and main characters in The Tale of Troy. Also included in the course will be a discussion of the approach that the students will take in reading and analyzing literature during their freshman year. Students will finish the week with a clear understanding of the work and completion of the summer reading assignment. This course does NOT address the students’ reading of the second part of the freshman summer reading assignment. Enrollment is limited to 25 students per section.

Instructor: Sally Pearce

Health

Section 1: June 5–16, 8 a.m.–noon

Section 2: June 5–16, 12:30–4:30 p.m.

Section 3: June 19–30, 8 a.m.–noon

Section 4: June 19–30, 12:30–4:30 p.m.

Section 5: July 10–21, 8 a.m.–noon

Section 6: July 10–21, 12:30–4:30 p.m.

Entering grades: 10–12

Fee: $370

1 Trimester of Upper School credit

The goal of this course is to gain an understanding of the human body and total health by considering the physical, mental, social and spiritual influences on the whole person. We will learn health facts and health-promoting attitudes and habits. We will research and address current and critical health issues, understand the implications of high risk behaviors and recognize God’s role in creating and sustaining our life and health. Credit cannot be given if a student misses four hours or more of class (or one day). DO NOT PLAN TRIPS OR APPOINTMENTS DURING THE SESSION. A student must attend the section for which he or she is registered. Enrollment is limited to 20 students per section. Student tablets are necessary for research and activities during the course.

Instructors: Russ Betts, Kerry DeWeese and Sara Fusco

Intro to Digital Graphics

Section 1: June 5–9, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Entering grades: 9–12

Fee: $370

1 trimester of Upper School Fine Art or Technology credit

This course is for students with little or no experience in digital graphics programs. The computer as an art tool is emphasized, as students learn the basics of photographic manipulation and drawingbased programs. Adobe Photoshop is the primary application studied with an emphasis on graphic and pattern design. With diverse applications in fields such as interiors, product design and architecture, students learn to integrate hand and digital technologies to produce designs of distinctive character and technical expertise. During this week, there will be trips to various art museums in the area to explore the use of digital media in contemporary art. No prerequisites. Enrollment is limited to 11 students.

Instructor: Frances Allen

Intro to Digital Photography

Section 1: June 12–16, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Entering grades: 9–12

Fee: $370

1 trimester of Upper School Fine Art or Technology credit

This course is for the student who wants a brief overview of digital photography. Students will learn the basics of composition and lighting and experience Photoshop’s virtual darkroom. Discover how to make images with more visual interest than ordinary snap shots or Instagram posts. Adobe Photoshop will be the foundational tool for the course. Students must provide their own cameras. A cell phone, point-and-shoot or DSLR are all acceptable cameras for the course. Daily off-campus excursions to photograph sites of interest will be a part of the typical class day. Enrollment is limited to 11 students.

Instructor: Jon Millet

Intro to Digital Printmaking

Section 1: June 26–30, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Entering grades: 9–12

Fee: $370

Prerequisites: None

1 trimester of Fine Arts or Technology Credit

This course is for students with little to no experience in art. The computer as an art tool for idea development will be emphasized. The students will learn the basics of photography and drawing-based programs with an output in traditional printmaking techniques. Students will learn the art of digitally manipulating images on the computer, scanning and importing images, design and color correcting. The students’ digital images will be translated into various print techniques, such as transfers, traditional cyanotype, silkscreen and relief printing. Creating final physical prints, a digital portfolio and T-shirt designs will be the final outcome for the class. We will take a few field trips as part of the course for inspiration and image gathering. Enrollment is limited to 11 students.

Instructor: Jon Millet

Intro to Sculpture

Section 1: June 26–30, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Entering grades: 9–12

Fee: $370

1 trimester of Upper School Fine Art

This course is designed for students who are interested in exploring the world of sculpture and three-dimensional forms. This course will focus on the creation of large-scale inflatable sculptures. Students will learn how to bring personal ideas to life through monumental proportions. After brainstorming through ideation exercises, students will make miniature models/maquettes to generate the plans and measurements required to produce a plastic inflatable sculpture. The dimensions of those plans can be multiplied, allowing students to create their sculptures at a much larger scale. Creativity and geometry come together as simple shapes/parts/planes are combined to form elaborate three-dimensional sculptures. No prerequisite required. Enrollment is limited to 10 students.

Instructor: David Goerk

Junior Summer Reading: The American Spirit

Section 1: June 12–16, 9–11 a.m.

Section 2: June 26–30, 9–11 a.m.

Entering grade: 11

Fee: $130

What is the personality of America? Is American leadership different from that of other nations? What famous and little-known men and women have shaped who we are? This course will read The American Spirit, a collection of speeches by renowned American historian David McCullough, a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After reading Mr. McCullough’s entertaining and relevant speeches, we will complete the summer reading packets concerning The American Spirit and prepare for the summer reading assessment in August. Enrollment is limited to 15 students per section. Note: In summer 2023, incoming juniors will select EITHER The American Spirit or Flags of Our Fathers for their history summer reading book; additionally, all incoming juniors are required to read The Crucible

Instructor: Katie Kilpatrick

Junior Summer Reading: Flags of Our Fathers

Section 1: June 12–16, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Section 2: June 26–30, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Entering grade: 11

Fee: $115

What makes an American hero? In World War II, everyday American boys left everyday jobs and everyday towns to risk their lives and fight fascism together as a “band of brothers.” This course will read Flags of Our Fathers, the story of the diverse United States Marines who achieved the iconic American flag raising on Iwo Jima in 1945. After reading, we will complete the summer reading packets concerning Flags of Our Fathers and prepare for the summer reading assessment in August. Enrollment is limited to 15 students per section. Note: In summer 2023, incoming juniors will select EITHER The American Spirit or Flags of Our Fathers for their history summer reading book; additionally, all incoming juniors are required to read The Crucible

Instructor: Katie Kilpatrick

Junior Summer Reading: The Crucible

Section 1: June 12–16, 9–11 a.m.

Section 2: June 12–16, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Section 3: June 26–30, 9–11 a.m.

Section 4: June 26–30, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Entering grade: 11

Fee: $130

This course will focus on understanding the plot and significant themes in The Crucible, Arthur Miller’s 1953 work, which is required summer reading for incoming juniors. Also included in the course will be a discussion of the historical background and how the Cold War period inspired this allegory about the Salem Witch Trials. Additionally, students will complete their summer reading packets concerning The Crucible. Students will finish this course ready for a graded discussion the first week of school and will be ready to write an essay on The Crucible in the fall. Enrollment is limited to 15 students per section.

Instructor: Ginger Harris

Math for Incoming Freshmen: Getting Prepared for Algebra

Section 1: June 5–9, 8–10 a.m.

Section 2: June 5–9, 12:30–2:30 p.m.

Entering grade: 9 (or 10 if new to TCA)

Fee: $130

This course is designed to help rising ninth-graders prepare for the algebra in the Upper School. It is recommended for students new to TCA or those previous TCA students that have struggled with math in their middle school years. Students will solidify math concepts from pre-algebra and learn fundamentals to help ease the transition to freshmen algebra. Games, hands-on activities and group work will be used to help make these concepts easier to understand. Enrollment is limited to 12 students.

Instructor: Jalyn Wells

Money 101

Section 1: June 12–16, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

Section 2: June 26–30, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

Entering grade: 11, 12, or just-graduated seniors

Fee: $130

Car insurance, credit cards, budgets, oh my! Gain an understanding of debt, building wealth through investments, insurance and how to buy a car wisely. Avoid money stress and face the future with confidence by learning how stewardship allows you to bless your family and bless others. This class is a must-have before you head to college; you’ll finish the week ready to tackle adult finances with skill! Enrollment is limited to 15 students.

Instructor: Katie Kilpatrick

More Than A Teacher ACT Class

Entering grade: 12

Fee: $449

Wednesday 5/31/23 10 a.m.–noon Introduction

Friday 6/2/23 10 a.m.–noon English

Monday 6/5/23 10 a.m.–noon Math

Tuesday 6/6/23 10 a.m.–noon Reading

Wednesday 6/7/23 10 a.m.–noon Science

Thursday 6/8/23 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice Test

Friday 6/9/23 10 a.m.–noon Math 2/Conclusion

More Than A Teacher PSAT Class

Entering grade: 11

Fee: $549

Wednesday 6/7/23 10 a.m.–noon Introduction

Friday 6/9/23 10 a.m.–noon Math 1

Monday 6/12/23 10 a.m.–noon Reading

Tuesday 6/13/23 10 a.m.–noon Writing

Wednesday 6/14/23 10 a.m.–noon Math 2

Thursday 6/15/23 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Practice Test

Friday 6/16/23 10 a.m.–noon Review

Sunday 10/8/23 1 p.m.–3 p.m. Refresher

More Than a Teacher provides locally-owned test prep programs designed to help students reach their potential on standardized college entrance exams. We strive to maximize student scores with a minimum of long-term prep and repeat testing, preferring to focus on practical strategies a student can easily make use of on test day. Our full course students typically see an increase of a little over 100 points on the PSAT and close to 3 points on the ACT.

Our summer school ACT course is geared toward students taking the June 2023 ACT, and our summer school PSAT course is geared students taking the redesigned PSAT in the fall of 2023.

As part of our program, we allow students who have come through a class to return and take all or part of that class as a refresher, as many times as needed, at no extra charge! Additionally, because we know students are busy, we provide flexibility by allowing students to mix and match and attend classes from different schedules and at different locations, as availability allows. Looking for a make-up class? Visit www.dfwtestprep.com to see our schedule of classes in your area. In addition to make-up classes, we also offer free weekend tutorials for students looking for extra help.

Instructor: More Than A Teacher staff

Senior Summer Reading: Fahrenheit 451

Section 1: June 5–9, 3–5 p.m.

Section 2: June 12–16, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Section 3: July 17–21, 9–11 a.m.

Entering grade: 12

Fee: $130

Come to this LAST summer reading class of your high school career! We will discuss the plot, characters and themes of this dystopian epic novel to prepare you to complete your summer reading essay and to enter the literary world of senior AP Literature. The class will be formatted with discussion, group work, snacks and movie watching. You will finish reading the book during the week of class by reading together in class and a bit each night.

Instructors: Holly Bator

Sophomore “I wonder if I should take the AP Euro exam?”

Section 1: July 17 (Monday only), 10 a.m.–noon

Entering grade: 10

Fee: $30

Since this is the first optional College Board Advanced Placement exam opportunity for the TCA student in their high school career, it is normal that there would be questions about the exam. The purpose of this seminar is to give information about the exam’s content and format by looking at test examples and student samples. At the completion of the seminar, the student will be better equipped to navigate their choices concerning the optional national exam. Enrollment is limited to 20 students.

Instructor: Zoe Ellen Azzi

Sophomore Summer Reading: Henry IV, Part I

Section 1: June 5–9, 8–10 a.m.

Section 2: June 5–9, 10 a.m.–noon

Section 3: June 5–9, 1–3 p.m.

Entering grade: 10

Fee: $130

This course will focus on reading and understanding the plot and significant themes in Shakespeare’s masterpiece of family conflict in his play, Henry IV, Part I. This excerpted play is required summer reading for incoming sophomores. Also included in the course will be a discussion of the historical background, including the famous Medieval battle that shapes this Renaissance play. Additionally, the students will watch the play and participate in acting the scenes, all while completing their required summer reading packets. Students will finish the week with a clear understanding of this beloved play. Please understand that the students will need to read each night to prepare for each day’s class. Enrollment is limited to 12 students.

Instructor: Zoe Ellen Azzi

Sophomore Summer Reading: A Tale of Two Cities

Section 1: July 10–14, 8–10:30 a.m.

Section 2: July 10–14, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Section 3: July 10–14, 2–4:30 p.m.

Entering grade: 10

Fee: $130

This course will focus on reading and understanding the plot and significant themes in the masterpiece by Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, which is required summer reading for incoming sophomores. Also included in the course will be a discussion of the historical background of the French Revolution, which serves as the setting for the novel. Additionally, the students will discuss their reading and complete their summer reading packets concerning A Tale of Two Cities. Students will finish the week with a clear understanding of the novel and with their assigned work. Please understand that the student must come to class with Book 1 (pages 3–51) of the novel already read. The student will be required to read each night for the next day’s class to complete Book 2 and Book 3 of the novel. Enrollment is limited to 12 students.

Instructor: Zoe Ellen Azzi

Wax Sculpture Fabrication

Section 1: June 5–9, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Entering grades: 9–12

Fee: $370

1 trimester of Upper School Fine Art Credit

This course is for the student who wants to learn the basics of wax sculpture. Students will be creating wax models throughout the week. Lessons will include how to create an armature, proper supporting under structure, wax modeling, casting found objects, creating forms and how to create unique surface texture and interesting designs. The week’s goal is to create a modular sculpture incorporating the student’s best work. One overall piece will be created that can be cast in a permanent material for display. No prerequisite required. Enrollment is limited to 11 students.

Instructor: Jon Millet

Writing Refresher Workshop: Up Your Writing Game the TCA Way

Section 1: June 12, 2–4 p.m.

Section 2: June 13, 2–4 p.m.

Section 3: June 14, 2–4 p.m.

Section 4: July 15, 2–4 p.m.

Section 5: July 16, 2–4 p.m.

Entering grades: 10, 11, 12

Fee: $30

Trinity Christian Academy is well known for its exceptional writing program. Our students consistently report that the skills learned at TCA have given them an edge at the university level. Students at TCA begin to develop these skills during their middle school years. While the freshman teachers ensure student writing success at the high school level, we have found that students entering TCA after the freshman year may not get sufficient experience to develop their skills equivalent with their TCA peers. The TCA History/English Department is offering a summer writing workshop to teach the writing concepts used at TCA and give students occasion to write. Students are also invited to join the class if they would like an opportunity to up their writing game. We highly recommend that all new incoming sophomores, juniors and seniors take advantage of this opportunity. Students do not need to sign up for all six sessions. One session will give them an overview of our writing program and help them to be prepared to write successfully in their history/English class. Limited to 10 students per seminar.

Instructor: Holly Bator