Students in the Upper School must complete a minimum of three years study in one language in order to meet graduation requirements. Languages offered are French, Latin and Spanish. All students in the fifth and sixth grade take either French or Spanish. These courses are exploratory in nature. In sixth-grade French and Spanish, students become familiar with the skills and discipline necessary to learn a second language.
Students explore similarities among languages through the study of cognates.
Seventh Grade Our Classical Heritage gives students a foundation in the culture, literature, and history of Greece and Rome. The study of Latin, in addition, exposes students to the origins of their own language. Eighth Grade Students in the eighth grade who are recommended may take level one French, Latin, or Spanish. Special emphasis is placed on oral and aural skills. Students concentrate on learning both basic vocabulary and grammar.