Summer Programs Overview

Academic Courses

For Credit & Enrichment Opportunities

Academic For Credit Courses
St. Catherine’s offers academic credit summer courses for rising grades 9-12 students enrolled in the 2025-2026 school year. This is a great opportunity for your daughter to take courses she is interested in, without having to wait for the new school year to begin.
 
Summer grades will be used in the calculation of a student’s GPA, recorded on the student’s transcript, and will fulfill graduation requirements.
 
Credit Course Attendance Guidelines
Course attendance is mandatory because of the condensed nature of the summer course. Each class period is considered to be one week’s worth of material. If a student misses more than two class periods for any reason, the student forfeits the course credit and will be registered for the class during the school year.

Academic Enrichment (non-credit) Courses
We are excited to offer summer academic enrichment (non-credit) Algebra, Spanish, and Chinese opportunities for enrolled St. Catherine’s students. 
 
Please note that spaces for summer courses are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A non-refundable deposit of $100 per course is required at registration.
 
For registration questions, please contact brilliantsummer@st.catherines.org 
For questions about the specific summer academic courses, please contact the individual instructors.

Register for Academic Classes


Academic Credit Courses

List of 6 items.

  • Ceramics 1 

    Session 2: July 21-25, July 29-Aug 1, Aug 4-8
    1:30-5:30 p.m. 
    Instructor: Claire McCarty, St. Catherine's Upper School Ceramics Teacher

    Prerequisite: None
    Rising grades 9-12
    Credit: 1/2
    In-Person

    In this class, students will learn a variety of techniques used to manipulate clay. Hand building techniques such as pinching, coiling, and slabs will be used. Other techniques may include drape molds, paddling, texturing, slip trailing, and more. Students will also learn about the diverse cultural uses and historical significance of pottery. Form and function has an important role in the class in regards to sculpture vs. dishware.  Students will complete ceramic pieces using various applications of ceramic glazes and firing procedures to produce finished ceramic ware.
     

  • Ceramics 2

    Session 2: July 21-25, July 29-Aug 1, Aug 4-8
    1:30-5:30 p.m. 
    Instructor: Claire McCarty, St. Catherine's Upper School Ceramics Teacher

    Prerequisite: Ceramics 1
    Rising grades 10-12
    Credit: 1/2
    In-Person

    This course is a continuation of hand building and wheel throwing techniques in clay. Students will work on more individualized projects that combine the hand building methods. Students will be able to begin creating a cohesive body of work that is based on their individual interests. Preliminary sketches of each project may be required. Discussion, critiques, and exhibition will be important throughout the course.
     

  • Ethics in Context

    Session 1: June 2-6, June 9-13, June 16-20 (close June 19)
    Instructors: Jennifer Harper, St. Catherine's AP Environmental, AP Biology Teacher
    Rev. Drew Johnson, St. Catherine's Upper School Religion Teacher, Upper School Service Coordinator

    Prerequisite: World Religions
    Rising grades 11-12
    Credit: 1/2 + 15 approximately services hours
    In-Person
     
    This is a joint religion and service-learning class. The class will examine the foundations of ethics, current moral issues facing our Richmond community, and work in the community to learn from a hands-on service experience. Students will examine classical ethical frameworks such as the social contract, utilitarianism, and various concepts of justice. This class will explore parts of Richmond's racial and socioeconomic history to engage current social issues facing the city. The course will consist of service days on Fridays in the Richmond community. In-person classes will meet from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and on service days (usually Fridays), we will meet from 9 am to 2 pm (to meet the 15-hour year service requirement).
     

  • Health

    Session 1: June 2-6, June 9-13, June 16-20 (close June 19)
    9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    Instructor: Kasey Gilbride, St. Catherine's Physical Education Teacher

    Prerequisites: none
    Rising grades 9-10
    1/2 Credit
    In-Person
    $925

    This course completes the Health requirement for graduation from St. Catherine's. The first half of the course focuses on a broad range of topics related to mental health and wellness and addiction. Areas of study include: the teen brain, stress and anxiety, eating disorders, depression, suicidality, vaping/e-cigarettes, alcohol awareness and drug use. The ultimate goal is for students to apply what they learn in health class to the real world, using their knowledge to make healthy lifestyle choices and low-risk decisions in everyday life. The second half of the course focuses on a broad range of topics related to human sexuality and healthy relationships. Areas of study include identifying signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships, dating abuse, affirmative consent, sexual assault awareness, abstinence education, contraception, STIs, male & female reproductive systems, reproduction and teen pregnancy.
     
     
     
     
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  • Women in the Christian Tradition

    Session 1: June 2-6, June 9-13, June 16-20 (close June 19)
    Instructor: Elizabeth Bradbury, St. Catherine's Upper School English & History Teacher

    Prerequisite: World Religions
    Rising grades 11-12
    1/2 credit
    Online
    $925
     
    This online theology course will explore the role of women throughout the Christian tradition. Students will examine the role of women in the sacred texts of Judaism and Christianity and the significant women of early Christianity through the Medieval period. The course will view women through a historical, religious, and literature-based lens. Students can expect to spend 4 hours in synchronous conversation and discussion each day and additional course work asynchronously, including reading primary source materials,  commentaries, and a period-specific historical novel. This course satisfies the upper level Religion graduation requirement. 
     

  • World Religions

    Session 1: June 2-6, June 9-13, June 16-20 (close June 19)
    9 a.m.-1 p.m.
    Instructors: Abigail Whorley, St. Catherine's Middle School Religion Teacher, Religion Department Chair, and Middle School Dean of Students
    Miriam Farris, St. Catherine's Lower School Religion and Lay Chaplain

    Session 2: July 21-25, July 29-Aug 1, Aug 4-8
    Instructor: Savannah Watson, St. Catherine's Upper School History Teacher, Chair of the History Department


    Prerequisites: none
    Rising grades 9-10
    1/2 Credit
    In-Person
    $925

    The religions of the world play a decisive role in all aspects of life, from the arts and music to history and politics. Familiarity with the key beliefs and figures of these traditions is essential to understanding the world around us. The goal of this class is to introduce students to the backgrounds, key doctrines and practices, and contemporary features of five major world religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam — with brief discussions of other important traditions as well. Students will engage the traditions through readings, multimedia projects and field trips to local religious institutions.
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Academic Enrichment Courses

List of 3 items.

  • Algebra Boot Camp

    July 29-August 8
    9 a.m.-1 p.m. 
    Instructor: Brett Degnan, St. Catherine's Upper School Math Teacher, Chair of Math Department
    $600

    Rising 9-11
    Enrichment (non-credit)
    In-Person
     
    Designed to identify any areas for growth upon foundational Algebra skills. This course is an intensive study to prepare students for success in Algebra 2 and Geometry. The curriculum emphasizes essential Algebra skills necessary for solving a quadratic, solving a system of equations, and simplifying radical expressions. 
     

  • Intro to Chinese

    July 29-August 8
    9 a.m.-1 p.m. 
    Instructor: Yun Zhu, St. Catherine's Upper School Mandarin Chinese Teacher
    $600

    Prerequisite: None
    Rising 7-10
    Enrichment (non-credit)
    In-Person
     
    The purpose of this course is to provide a solid review of introductory Chinese concepts and skills. The emphasis of this course would be to strengthen skills to prepare the student for continued studies at St. Catherine’s School.
     
     

  • Spanish Boot Camp

    July 29-August 8
    1:30-5:30 p.m. 
    Instructor: Susan Steenrod, St. Catherine's Upper School Spanish Teacher, Chair of World Languages Department
    $600

    Prerequisite: Spanish I
    Rising 9 & students new to St. Catherine's
    Enrichment (non-credit)
    In-Person
     
    The purpose of this course is to provide a solid review of Spanish I concepts and skills. The emphasis of this course would be to strengthen Spanish I skills to prepare the student for Spanish 2 at St. Catherine’s School.
6001 Grove Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23226
804-288-2804
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.