How can we keep students six feet apart and still connected?” is a typical rhetorical question asked about school reopening. As the first nationally certified Catholic STEM school, we are working on an answer that is driven by data, creativity, compassion, and faith. In March, Holy Ghost Catholic School closed for two days before reopening to “virtually” educate. Staff met continually to analyze our effectiveness and ensure optimum learning for each child.
We will learn: We have analyzed what our students know and need to know. Now, what took our teachers hours of grading will be accomplished during the same class period in order to strengthen personalized instruction.
We will grow in Catholic identity: Our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) values-based program connects students with their faith and beliefs, as well as their peers, as they process all of the uncertainty that comes with COVID-19 and maturing.
We will live a life of joy and possibility: We are painting games throughout the campus that encourage students to play while following guidelines that keep us healthy.
We will teach: We provide robust curriculums to motivate our students and engage them in the literature that challenges their thinking and inspires them to want to read more on their own.