Catholic, college-preparatory education for the 21st Century

The Catholic school has a history of outperforming both public and private schools on nearly every educational measure and across all socio-economic groups. Its unique emphasis on faith and family provides flexibility and a focus unavailable to large, comprehensive school districts. It is an institution well positioned to prepare young men and women for leadership roles in an increasingly complex world. St Joseph High School is an exceptional Catholic school, especially as regards faith, academics, and commitment to service, and is committed to the tradition of Catholic school excellence. Our mission reads:

“St Joseph High School strives to be the premier college preparatory school in Southern Connecticut. The school provides a learning environment that embraces the Gospel values of the Roman Catholic faith and promotes a commitment to family and community. 

The school prepares our young women and young men to realize their potential, helps them to excel in higher education, and provides a foundation to guide them throughout their lives.”

This mission calls us to constant improvement. The purpose of this position paper is to keep St Joseph High School in the forefront of schools providing excellence in college preparatory education and the development of responsible citizenship.

With the world rapidly shifting to an informational, global economy, St Joseph High is examining its pedagogies and methodologies so as best prepare our students.  We are engaged in active conversations with both elementary and university partners, and with professional associations as well as listening to corporate concerns. 

Some immediate goals that have arisen from these discussions include:

• Minimize the transitional challenges students experience in moving through a K-16 system. The elementary and high school should be seen as a continuous college preparatory program.
• Reduce the distinction between college level courses and senior studies through credit bearing courses on the high school level, encourage Advanced Placement and dual enrollment privileges, and increase the use of distance learning and video conferencing technologies.
• Continue to value the core curriculum over the large, comprehensive high school’s cafeteria-style basket of requirements.
• Develop interdisciplinary strands of study that emphasize applied science, mathematics, and humanities, and weave into each content area career awareness education, e.g., the pre-engineering program we currently participate in with Fairfield University. 
• Incorporate new informational, communication, and research technologies that enhance teaching and learning.

St Joseph High School has been quick to adopt innovative methods. Its committed faculty and administration, as well as a resourceful parent community, all believe that after faith, it is academics that make the difference in one’s life. We are committed to providing the best in Catholic college preparatory education.

21st Century Skills

The incoming generation of teachers brings fresh concepts and talent that merge with the practical experience and valued tradition established by the core faculty. The convergence of innovation and experience leads us to examine the 21^st Century Skills curriculum.

 St Joseph High’s academic foundation rests on mastery of these core content areas:

• Religious Studies
• English
• World languages
• Performing Arts, Studio Art, and Music
• Mathematics
• Science
• History, Geography, Economics

Our teaching methodologies integrate these interdisciplinary themes with the core curriculum:

• An informed Catholic view toward a global community
• Integration of international content across all subjects
• Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial literacy
• Personal, Civic and Community responsibility
• A respect for the ethical use of power
• Environmental accountability

The academic experience at St Joseph High encourages these learning skills:

• Communication Skills: information, media, and technology skills as well as reading, writing, and speaking competencies.
• Creative Thinking: benchmarking innovation
• Critical Thinking: problem solving education
• Concrete Learning: research informed teaching
• Collaboration: team based learning
• Character formation and leadership training
• Multicultural and International exchanges
• Ability to cooperate with people from a range of social and cultural differences to achieve measurable goals
• Assume a responsible leadership role with peers

The integration of 21^st Century Skills with the Core Curriculum is essential to an education committed to preparing students for a changing world.

Technology

Informational technologies have become powerful tools in the academic arena, and  St Joseph High finds itself unusually well equipped. Interactive white boards light up every classroom. TI-84 calculators are in every backpack. Computer labs and laptop carts are available. Test preparation courses are on-line. Distance learning experiences are becoming common. Electronic bulletin boards carry the news of the day to all corners of the school. You cannot drop Joey or Josie off out back without the sports board telling you the date, temperature, and exactly how late you really are.

These new technologies provide accessible and practical personalization of learning. And if we expect our students to make meaningful contributions to society and provide moral leadership for the future, we need to provide appropriate role models for the responsible use of these developing communication and learning tools.

In the commitment to constant improvement, we will begin to introduce personal computing in the classroom. We propose a three-stage phase to creating a laptop-learning environment.

First year—A Laptop Friendly World.

Beginning in September 2010, the academic building will enjoy high-speed, wireless, Internet access throughout. New wiring and wireless access points will be installed, electric amperage increased, charging stations will be added, and appropriate cyber-gates and security management software programs will be installed. 

Once registered on the SJHS network, students will be free to use mobile computing devices in studies, the library, guidance, cafeteria, and any open space.  Classroom use—note taking, collaborative research projects, writing and editing, etc.—will be permitted at the discretion of the classroom instructor.

Mr Eng and Mrs Abelson will work with teachers to develop practical applications and satisfy professional development needs. 

Laptops will be welcomed, not required. No one operating platform is prescribed.

Second year—A World of Exploration. During the second year, departments and administration will assess the lessons learned and explore practical applications within their content areas. Best practices, professional development, software, single or multiple platforms, will be shared and examined. An informed policy covering the variety of technologies will be written. Competencies in the use of applied media and informational technologies will be written. A graduation requirement will be articulated. The Computer and Technology curriculum will be revised and appropriately staffed.

Third year—A World of 21^st Century Skills. With two years of experience, St Joseph High will move into a fully integrated laptop environment. Computer platform and facility issues will have been resolved. Video conferencing and distance learning will become familiar experiences. Informational technologies will be ubiquitous and their presence will be no more remarkable in the classroom than were the textbooks and reference books of the last century.

 

This initiative is described as an evolution, not a revolution. St Joseph High, driven by its mission, has constantly put forth the best in educational methods, innovative teaching, and with the effective use of technology.

In preparing our position, teachers and administrators visited high performing college preparatory schools, attended professional association meetings, executive briefings, and have dialogued with institutions of higher education. The 21^st Century Skills will prepare our students for the world coming at us.