STEM SCHOOL – We are pursuing the process of becoming a STEM Accredited School.  This would be in addition to the accreditations that we already hold. We are beginning to use some of the STEM curriculum this Spring and will fully launch this program, K through 8, in September of 2018.    STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. STEM integrates these subject into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications.

SPA STEM PROGRAM GOAL 

Students will collaborate, investigate, and solve real world challenges that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math professionals face in their careers.

HOW WILL STEM @ SPA WORK?

STEM 21st century skills are needed for today’s workforce and will be built into the curriculum every day.  A coding program will also be added to help further prepare our students for the future and its technological demands.

A multi-age, hands on, experiential activity will occur every Friday (K-8) focusing on a different STEM career.

Examples of our Experiential Component:

K-2nd – Act as a Marine Biologist and build a floating raft to clean up an oil spill

3-5th – Act as an Urban Planner and create a blueprint of a building with a roof-top garden

6-8th – Invent a prototype of a drone to detect elephant poachers

Parent Meeting -There will be additional parent meetings in early August and September to further explain the STEM curriculum and how it will impact your student’s learning experience.  The curriculum is currently being put in place and we are rolling out some modules this Spring in anticipation of the full implementation in Fall 2018.  For example, a portion of the middle school students took part in a STEM activity during winter fitness days – teams used engineering information and scientific modeling to fashion miniature bobsleds out of pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, paper and tape. After some initial trial and error with a few trips “back to the workshop” to re-build, integrating lessons learned during the initial time trials, races were held, and a winning team announced. It was a great success!

As you know, per the WA State testing results, SPA students already score far above the averages for Bellingham, Whatcom County and the state as a whole. 

Our addition of the STEM programming is meant to round out our already exceptional offerings in the area of Language Arts, Social Studies, Spanish, Literature, Music, Science, Math and Art taught in small classroom environments that emphasize individual attention and academic rigor.

Gretchen Bucsko’s Vision for St. Paul’s Academy – Meetings with Mrs. Buckso are scheduled for next Monday, March 19th at 5:00PM in the Lower School Chapel, and Tuesday, March 20th at 8:15AM in the Upper School Chapel. Please join us at one of these meetings where she will share her vision for the school and the STEM curriculum specifics!

Chris L., 4th Grader at St. Paul’s Academy is getting ready to present to judges at the 6th Annual Whatcom County Science and Engineering Fair

First grade this year has been learning about the Polar Regions (Arctic and Antarctic) in science. To expand upon this learning, the students had the chance to visit the Pacific Science Center to attend the annual Polar Science Weekend. While there, the students were able to learn about polar ice, polar region animals, and much much more! ~ Danielle Jorgensen (1st Grade Teacher)

Asher H. and Keoni O. are holding ice from Iceland on their class field trip to the Pacific Science Center.
Adlai M. looking at sea creatures while on her class field trip to the Pacific Science Center.
7th Grade students are getting ready to test out their engineered bobsleds to see who can race the fastest