Courtesy of Catholic Academy of the Holy Family - Sophie Valone monitors a life-support station on Mars transport.
The Catholic Academy of the Holy Family in Jamestown is trying to boost its educational program by creating a new focus on science throughout its classrooms. The new program even emphasizes science outside the lab room.
Called “Science Across the Curriculum,” the program teaches students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade to elevate the science aspects of various classes. For example, language arts classes use science vocabulary terms and test students via spelling exams.
“It touches across the curriculum,” said Deacon Samuel Pellerito, principal of the Catholic Academy. “There’s math involved with it and there’s writing involved with it. Our theory is if you can make those connections for the kids, they’re more likely to learn those concepts.”
Some of the older children at Catholic Academy are also reaping the benefits of a school partnership with Jamestown Community College. Those students take a weekly course at the college to help them with additional science lessons. One class recently had a presentation on energy and recycling. Some students even took a trip to Olean’s St. Bonaventure University, where they visited the Challenger Learning Center to learn about space.
The “Science Across the Curriculum” program touches other students who come into school in the morning and socialize in the gym with a special program, an activity that keeps them walking with lessons about nutrition. Adults come in during career days to talk about their profession, some of which are science-based. Prekindergarten students learn about science through materials such as “Tree Homes.”
“It’s very basic, but students learn to understand animals and their habitates,” Deacon Pellerito said of the prekindergarten science materials. “Once (children) get to the older levels, then there are more opportunities with field trips and our college partner.”
While the classes at Jamestown Community College are intended for the middle school-age students, fifth- and fourth-graders are also participating because the Catholic Academy has a relatively small student body.
“Like some Catholic schools, our enrollment is low,” Deacon Pellerito said. “That has its advantages in terms of being able to respond to the latest educational trends and enables us to include fourth-grade students who normally wouldn’t have an opportunity to participate.”
The program began at the start of the 2011-12 school year, thanks to funding from a local foundation that was used to purchase science materials for teachers. Deacon Pellerito said the program has been well received so far, and some public school representatives are looking into “Science Across the Curriculum” to use in their own schools.
Deacon Pellerito hopes the program will help attract families to the Catholic Academy.
“Out intent is to provide enhanced programming for our students and incentivies to increase enrollment,” he said. “In order to remain a viable alternative to public school education, it is important that we provide quality programming in addition to our faith-based curriculum.”