A Day in the Life of St. Ambrose Academy
Example Schedule
Arrival Period: 7:30am-7:55am
To accommodate the work/school schedules of commuting parents hailing from a variety of cities across Dane County and beyond, St. Ambrose Academy offers a staggered arrival period. Upon arrival, students are admitted by the door monitors and then proceed to their assigned homeroom for early morning socializing and/or study.
Homeroom: 7:55am-8:00am
The morning bell sounds and the school day officially begins in each student’s grade level assigned homeroom. During homeroom, attendance is taken and a morning offering of prayer is made.
Monday Morning Assembly: 8:30am-8:55am
St. Ambrose Academy begins each week in an all-school assembly to pray, hear important announcements about special events or activities, and to listen to presentations on various topics given by staff, teachers, students, and guests.
House Time: 8:30am-8:55am
At St. Ambrose Academy, every student is welcomed into one of four multi-grade level Houses. Each House is distinguished by its unique name, color, and crest. The House System is commissioned by the Dean of Students, who provides strategic oversight and guidance. Each individual House is managed by a Faculty House Leader(s) who ensures daily operations and supports the community within the House. Student leadership is achieved through a selected body of Prefects who work alongside faculty to guide and support their peers. House aims to bring vertical community to our school through multi-grade level activity and mentorship.
Holy Mass: 8:05am-8:55am
St. Ambrose Academy students attend Mass three times per week in the beautiful Holy Name Heights Oratory. Spiritual direction and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available to students on a regular basis.
Morning Study Hall: 8:05am-8:55am
When Mass is not offered, Homeroom extends into a 50-minutes study hall. During these morning study halls, students are provided with two options: one, to receive individualized homework support from faculty or through our Learning Services Program or two, to use the quiet time in study hall to complete unfinished homework, prepare for quizzes and tests, or to collaborate with other students on projects/assignments.
Classical Studies: 9:00am-3:05pm
St. Ambrose Academy students study seven core subjects: English, History, Latin, Mathematics, Religion, Science, and Philosophy. Students are also offered electives in Choral Music, Band, Drama, Art, and Gym.
Schedule Overview
St. Ambrose Academy utilizes a 5-period per day block schedule. Core subjects meet three to four times per week, and electives meet one to two times per week.
Students enroll in courses based on grade level, placement testing, and mastery of prerequisites.
Block 1: 9:00am-10:00am
Block 2: 10:05am-11:05am
Junior High Block 3: 11:10-12:00pm | High School Block 3: 11:10pm-12:10pm
Junior High Lunch and Recess: 12:05pm-12:55pm | High School Lunch and Recess: 12:15pm-12:55pm –
Faculty and students begin lunch with communal recitation of the Angelus and the Catholic meal prayer. When lunches are finished, students are encouraged to head to the gym or outdoors to socialize or to engage in a variety of active games. St. Ambrose Academy lunch recesses are often a wonderful assortment of co-ed flag football, kickball, soccer, volleyball, and spike-ball games.
Student activities like Business Club, Creative Writing Club, Guardians for Life, Improv Club, Madrigals, Yearbook and others (see Student Clubs) meet during lunch, as well.
Block 4: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Block 5: 2:05pm-3:05pm
Closing Clean-up & Prayer: 3:05pm-3:15pm
Students return to their homerooms and engage in a short period of community clean-up with the final bell calling all students to communal recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Check out more about Student Life!
Explore the classical curriculum of St. Ambrose Academy!
Junior High Course of Study
Sample Grade Level Course of Study
Grade 6: Religion 6, History 6, English 6, Grammar 1, Math I, Life Science, Gym, Art, and Music, *optional Band (Semester 1 & 2)
Grade 7: Religion 7, History 7, English 7, Grammar 2, Pre-Algebra, Earth Science, Latin A, Gym, Music (Semester 1) and Art (Semester 2), *optional Band (Semester 1 & 2)
Grade 8: Religion 8, History 8, English 8, Physical Science, Algebra 1, Latin B, Gym, Art, and Music, *optional Band (Semester 1 & 2)
High School Course of Study
Sample Grade Level Course of Study
Freshman: Religion I, History I, English I, Latin I or II, Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2, Biology, Grammar and Composition, and Electives (Choral Music, Band, Drama, Gym, Art)
Sophomore: Religion II, History II, English II, Latin II or III, Geometry, Algebra 2 or Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, Logic, and Electives (Choral Music, Drama, Gym, Art, Band)
Junior: Religion III, History III, English III, Latin III or IV, Algebra 2, Algebra 3, Pre-Calculus or Calculus, Physics or Biology II, Rhetoric, and Electives (Choral Music, Band, Drama, Gym, Art)
Senior: Religion IV, History IV, English IV, Latin IV or V, Pre-Calculus, Calculus or Calculus II, Physics, Biology II, or Chemistry II, Senior Seminar, and Electives (Choral Music, Band, Drama, Gym, Art)
Click to read more about our High School Graduation Requirements