AURORA—After an all-school Mass on March 29, Bishop David Malloy shook everyone’s hand before walking over to the school to bless its new STEM lab classrooms.
The lab, made of two classrooms, was completed over the summer. Students in all grades have created a variety of things from paintbrushes to shelters made from newspapers, and solved problems such as what to do to retrieve a stuck tire.
They use engineering principles through the Project Lead the Way program. This year’s curriculum includes the Launch program for kindergarten through fifth-grade students and the Gateway program for sixth- through eighth-graders.
Junior high students have most recently been studying forensics by experimenting with materials to see which get the best bite mark impressions and learning about fingerprints and footprints.
Fifth graders are working with robots they put together and soon will study coding to create programs for those robots.
Catapults made with plastic spoons, 3-D puzzle cubes and bean stalk buildings all have been part of STEM classes.
Technology coordinator, Sheridan Gurbal, works with students and classroom teachers and says that “It has been awesome.”
Bishop Malloy wore a school sweatshirt given to him by Principal Karen Behrns from classroom to classroom after blessing the STEM lab with a prayer and holy water.
He played an adverb game, losing to two very quick fifth grade students, drew on his fourth grade memories of fractions in conversing with a math class, and received a crucifix made out of clothespins from an art class.
At the Mass, Bishop Malloy encouraged the students of Holy Angels School to remember that “heaven really touches earth here.”
He asked them to pray for everyone who could benefit from the Be Reconciled Day, which was held the week after the Mass. He also encouraged them to pray for graces they would need to come and make a good confession.
In his homily, he also reflected on how students “do a lot of important things in school.”
“We want you to be followers of Jesus,” he told the students, “but then we want to help you develop your minds ... . We need good, Catholic scientists, engineers ... doctors, nurses ... lawyers ... . I want you to take that (STEM and other lessons) and incorporate (your faith) into it.
“Take all of those gifts and go out ... and be a good Catholic in the world.”