Being a college preparatory school, St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly prepares students for life after high school, helping students expand their minds, explore their God-given talents and inspire them to explore future careers.
This year, Paul VI has grown its academic programming and is offering 12 new electives, including Christian discipleship, digital video design and production, introduction to AI and autonomous mobile robots, debate, marine biology, intro to ASL, intro to robotic design, sports medicine, and international trade and business.
These classes provide opportunities for students to delve deeper into possible career options and gain in-depth knowledge and experience in diverse subjects.
Paul VI also differentiates itself from other schools by offering electives — the art of living, American dream on film, and the all-male choral ensemble — that provide the opportunity to explore the arts, whether by building bird houses from scratch or unraveling conspiracy theories about classic movies.
Peter Troy, founder of the American dream on film elective, created a class to study the various ways Hollywood has depicted the American dream over the years in films ranging from “Casablanca” to “Hidden Figures.”
“Each movie we examine opens the class to discussions and reflections that often touch on history, philosophy, the arts, theology, and other academic fields,” Troy said. Students also have the opportunity to write and produce their own short films, which will be showcased later this year at a PVI film festival.
“What does it mean to live well?” is a question that Kathleen Ojeda and Brendan Keane help students explore in their new elective, the art of living. This course allows students to escape the constant noise in their lives and explore new hands-on skills, such as woodworking, sewing, and gardening — where they can see the fruits of their labor come to life.
When asked why this elective benefits the student body, Ojeda said, “Some of the skills our students are learning are not taught today the way they were in the past, and we believe students are missing out.” The art of living hopes to revive old pastimes that allow students to be creative, and at the same time teach them practical life skills such as mending clothes.
In the not-so-distant future, Paul VI students will have finished schooling and set off on their own to conquer the world. John Howard, creator of the international trade and business policy elective, said it’s crucial for everyone to understand how the world works beyond local communities. His elective closely follows a former graduate course he used to teach but covers a broader view of how economic growth is driven through regulating relations with foreign countries. The class has begun compiling research on different countries to see how their economies function and if they could be a potential trade partner with the United States.
In offering such a wide range of electives, Paul VI not only enriches the academic lives of its students, but also equips them with valuable skills and insights for their futures. These courses allow students to expand their interests, whether they’re drawn to business, technology, or the arts, creating a more engaging and personalized high school experience. By nurturing curiosity and encouraging students to pursue their passions, PVI prepares students for college and beyond, setting them on paths toward fulfilling careers and lifelong learning.
