5 minute read
Academics
POPE IS THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CARDINAL CODERS is entering their first competitive season under the direction of Mrs. Slawiak, technology and computer science teacher, and Mr. Salloum math and engineering teacher. FIRST® is an international not-for-profit company that has been sponsoring STEM team challenges worldwide since 1989. The mission of FIRST® is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, math, and technology skills, while inspiring innovative thinking, self-confidence, communication skills, and leadership skills.
Advertisement
CARDINAL CODERS with Mrs. Slawiak, technology and computer science teacher, Dr. Tran, team mentor, and Mr. Salloum, math and engineering teacher.
In order to prepare for their Tech Challenge season, our Cardinal Coders dedicate themselves by meeting after school where they learn to apply the engineering design process. The willingness to develop technical skills is not the only requirement to join the team. Team success depends on being dedicated and focused to the challenge and employing team skills like collaboration, communication, problem solving, creativity, and leadership skills, all necessary to achieve a student-driven experiential project-based learning environment. It is very important that the team can work together to design, build, and program a robot by exploring advanced engineering concepts, brainstorming innovative ideas, applying math, utilizing physics all while developing career-ready skills and knowledge.
On September 10, the Cardinal Coders traveled to the state’s reveal meeting in Needham, MA to learn what the challenge is for the year. FIRST® reveals the challenge at the same time on a worldwide basis to make sure everyone is treated fairly. Our rookie team attended workshops taught by students their own ages but who have more experience.
“I’m so happy that our Cardinals had the opportunity to meet other MA high school students who have acquired the necessary skills to compete. That makes this program believable in the hearts and minds of our students, ” said Mrs. Slawiak. “In a year we will see our students leading workshops,” added Mr. Salloum.
The FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics program allows students to explore global challenges and encourages them to be problem solvers and critical thinkers. For example, this year’s challenge is energy inspired and the challenge that FIRST® formally revealed worldwide is aligned to the UN’s Sustainable & Development Goal 7, defined by “ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.” This means that our Cardinal Coders will compete in an energy-driven game that will test the limits of performance, efficiency, and endurance as they power their innovative thinking on the competition floor in early 2023. According to the World Economic Forum, “The transition to clean energy is expected to generate 10.3 million net new jobs globally by 2030. Most of the anticipated job gains are likely to be in electrical efficiency, power generation and the automotive sector.”
In the early months of 2023, the Cardinal Coders will enter into events called qualifiers that are statewide. They plan to attend qualifiers that are local to Western Massachusetts. The World level competitions are hosted in April at Houston, Texas and this past year the Worlds hosted 160 FTC teams and Massachusetts had three teams that qualified to enter.
We wish our Cardinal Coders much success as they embark on this journey.
ACADEMICS in Action
Lily Turmel ’22 received a WONDERFUL SURPRISE from Nathan Burrage and Robin James of the University of Hartford. They (along with the Turmel family and members of our faculty and staff) surprised Lily with news that she was a winner of their highly selective scholarship—a full scholarship—to attend the University of Hartford!
STEM DAY AT FENWAY PARK. 42 students representing all grade levels along with four of our STEM teachers, traveled to Fenway Park to participate in a three hour conference to learn about the space industry. They were able to meet many professionals who conducted interactive conversations. After the conference, they watched a Red Sox game before returning home. It was an awesome day!
CLASS OF 2022
Valedictorian, Theresa Canty and Salutatorian, Malcolm Mahoney. 102 students participated in the annual APRIL IS POETRY MONTH competition! Published poet Maria Luisa Arroyo chose the winners, who each received a certificate and a Dunkin’ gift card and read their winning poems at a ceremony on April 11. The senior class winner and 2022 Pope Francis Prep Poet Laureate was Vonntae Martin for the poem "The Thing About Birthdays."
Students proudly displayed art work and performed at our EVENING OF THE ARTS. This event was an opportunity for parents and family members to visit campus and to witness the amazing talents of our students in the fine and performing arts. Thank you as well to our faculty in these areas who through their commitment to the arts impart knowledge and teach the skills necessary for success.
A highlight of the UNDERCLASSMEN AWARD CEREMONY is the receipt of Book Awards by our juniors. In some cases, if the student is admitted and enrolled at the college, there is a merit scholarship attached to the award. The total amount awarded to the Class of 2023 reached $880,000! The Book Awards presented included Assumption University, Elms College, Harvard University, Lasell University, Le Moyne College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, Smith College, Saint Anselm College, Saint Michael’s College, Springfield College, Stonehill College, Suffolk University, University of Rochester and Yale University.
