Our Courses
Theology and Scripture -Ms. Felicita Rich
This course will be using “Envision: Theology of the Body” and “Venture: The Bible Timeline,” both by Ascension Press.
From the Ascension Press website:
Envision presents the core truths of Theology of the Body with three key questions: Who am I? Where am I going? How do I get there? Envision: Theology of the Body for Middle School is an updated version of the groundbreaking program Theology of the Body for Teens used by tens of thousands of students over the past decade. With brand-new videos, streamlined workbooks, guides for parents, and tools for leaders, Envision presents John Paul II’s revolutionary teaching on to students in a way that is both engaging and easy to follow. Like the previous Theology of the Body for Teens program, Envision is a comprehensive and interactive catechetical program that will fit perfectly into Catholic religious education, schools, youth ministry, and homeschool settings. Using a great mix of stories, real-life examples, activities, and prayers, Envision cuts through the noise of today’s culture and inspires young people to envision a life of authentic freedom and love.
Venture: The Bible Timeline for High School introduces teenagers to the “big picture” of salvation history in a way that is simple to understand and easy to teach. It uses the revolutionary Great Adventure Bible Timeline® Learning System that hundreds of thousands of Catholic adults have used to learn the Bible. This eight-lesson program will get teens to open their Bibles and learn the story of salvation history—from Genesis to Revelation—with a focus on God’s covenants and biblical characters. Once teens understand the Bible, their faith will become a relevant and indispensable part of their lives.
ABOUT MS. RICH
Felicita Rich is the Parish Secretary at St. Joseph, Morganza and the Evangelization & Communication Coordinator at St. Michael, Baden. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History with a double minor in Politics & International Affairs and Italian at Wake Forest University.
History of the church- Fr. martino choi
This course will be using “Story of the Church” by Tan Academy.
From the Tan website:
No nation, institution, empire, or dynasty has helped shape the world more than the Catholic Church. Armies have marched upon one another. Kings have risen and fallen. Ideological and political movements have taken hold of entire continents. Diseases and plagues have ravished millions. And through it all, Holy Mother Church has endured, standing as the one source of light in a world so often covered by shadows.
In this thrilling narrative, Phillip Campbell, author of the best-selling Story of Civilization series, takes students on a journey through Church history, beginning at Pentecost when Peter and the other apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and preached in the streets of Jerusalem, all the way through the pontificate of John Paul II and into modern times. Campbell’s storybook style brings the narrative to life for young readers, taking them back in time and awakening a love and appreciation for history.
Students will discover:
The triumphs and struggles of the early Church
The heroic stories of the martyrs
An army of saints who witnessed to Christ, including Benedict, Augustine, Francis, Dominic, Elizabeth of Hungary, Catherine of Siena, Thomas More, the Little Flower, Maximilian Kolbe, and more.
Popes who helped shape Church teaching through encyclicals and councils, including Leo XIII, Pius IX, and John Paul II
Crusaders who fought for Christendom
Marian apparitions like Guadalupe, Lourdes, and Fatima
How events like the Protestant Reformation, the Avignon Papacy, and the Second Vatican Council affected the Church and the world.
Through it all, young readers will see how the Church remained in the world but not of it, surviving wars, heresies, and the rule of tyrants, and keeping her arms spread ever open to welcome wounded souls into the Body of Christ.
ABOUT FR. CHOI
Father Martino Choi is the administrator of St. Michael and St. Dominic. His undergraduate degree was in Government and Politics at the University of Maryland. He studied philosophy and theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and is currently working on a degree in Liturgical Studies at the Catholic University of America.
Oil painting- MRS. rosa patterson
High School Oil Painting: Faith and Form
This course invites students to explore the expressive power of painting while deepening their appreciation for the artistic heritage of the Catholic Church. Through hands-on practice, students will learn foundational techniques such as color theory and composition, with opportunities to study sacred art, religious symbolism, and masterworks that reflect Christian values. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and incorporating the basic Elements and Principles of art. Guided by both technical instruction and spiritual reflection, students will develop personal projects that honor the human search for the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. No prior experience required.
ABOUT MRS. PATTERSON
Rosa Patterson is a mom of 5 (earthside) children. She earned a dual degree in Studio Art and Education at the University of Maryland and spent 4 years teaching in a professional setting before beginning her homeschool journey in 2016. She founded the St. Michael’s Homeschool Co-op in 2020, and St. Michael’s Tutorial in 2025.
american literature- DR. siobhan benitez
2025-2026 American Literature: Fighting & Freedom (AP Prep)
Designed to prepare homeschool students for college applications, this course will cover American Literature from the 1800s-today, focusing on the themes of fighting and freedom. Students will read a variety of literature, including poetry, short stories, plays, and novels. In addition to other assignments, students will write at least two multi-draft essays over the course of the academic year, hone their skills in peer review, and consider the “big ideas” that serve as a foundation for the AP Literature and Composition exam: character, setting, structure, narration, figurative language, and literary augmentation.
This course is designed as part of a 4-year sequence for homeschoolers attending St. Michael’s Homeschool Tutorial:
(A) American Literature (AP Prep)
(B) AP Literature & Composition
(C) British Literature (AP Prep)
(D) AP Language & Composition
This course will not prepare a student to take the AP exam in May 2026. Instead, this course lays the groundwork for students to undertake serious literary analysis and build their writing skills. Senior students eager to take the AP exam in May 2026 must approach Dr. Benitez at the beginning of the school year to request advice and support for preparing the exam. Succeeding in AP exams requires a skillset beyond subject mastery.
ABOUT DR. BENITEZ
Siobhan Benitez holds a PhD in Catholic theology from the Pontifical Faculty at The Catholic University of America. She has taught everything from Kindergarten catechesis to doctoral level Seminary and won awards for her teaching in college freshman writing and analysis courses. Currently, her most important teaching adventure is homeschooling her four children. Dr. Benitez is very excited to share her love of literature and writing with the young people of St. Michael’s Homeschool Tutorial.
