Register now for our “From Shadow to Light” Summer Course!

This rigorous summer course invites high school students to journey “From Shadow to Light” through seven masterful short stories. Students will sharpen their literary analysis skills, strengthen academic writing, and thoughtfully explore timeless themes of human sin, virtue, grace, and redemption from a Christian worldview. Rooted in the classical tradition, the course combines close reading, small group Socratic discussion, and progressive writing practice. Students will complete 8–10 short writing assignments that build toward a polished 4-5-page literary analysis essay.

From Shadow to Light: Short Stories, Moral Formation, and Academic Writing

A 5-Week Summer Course for High School Students

Instructor: Dr. Helen Freeh

Course Dates: June 2 – July 2, 2026, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:00-4:30 pm (10 sessions / 30 instructional hours)  

Location: Clubhouse of Villas at San Dorado 10730 N. Oracle Rd, Oro Valley, AZ  

Tuition: $500 (ESA funding eligible). Limited to no more than 10 students. $50 discounts for siblings

Students Will Gain:

• Literary Mastery: Deep understanding of plot, character, symbolism, irony, point of view, and theme  
• Writing Excellence: Iterative practice moving from focused responses to thesis-driven essays with clear evidence and elegant style 
• Moral Formation: Thoughtful engagement with Christian themes of sin, conscience, sacrifice, grace, and hope  
• Confidence & Community: Socratic discussions in a small group of 8–10 students  
• Portfolio: A complete set of graded and revised writings and a final essay suitable for ESA documentation or college applications

Students Will Read:

• Jack London – “To Build a Fire”  
• Edgar Allan Poe – “The Tell-Tale Heart”  
• Nathaniel Hawthorne – “The Birth-Mark”  
• Oscar Wilde – “The Selfish Giant”  
• Flannery O’Connor – “Revelation”  
• Willa Cather – “A Wagner Matinée”  
• J.R.R. Tolkien – “Leaf by Niggle” (this is the only story NOT in public domain. Participants must either buy a copy or check it out from a library)

Registration & Questions:

Dr. Helen Freeh

Email: drhelenfreeh@proton.com

Phone: 505-413-7879 

Join us this summer for a transformative literary journey from shadow into light.