LEARNING TODAY'S SKILLS FOR TOMORROW'S WORLD

It’s been a little more than a year since the $20 million STEM and Gateway Building officially opened at St. Mary’s, and the novelty certainly hasn’t worn off. Behind each classroom door are students creating 3D model renderings, programming robots, building their own apps, tending to a hydroponics garden or working with the same tools used by professionals in hospitals and labs. Not all will go on to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering or math, but they will be prepared in the real-world setting. “The building is like a college facility – it’s beautiful,” said Associate Head of School David Angeramo. “But it’s only as good as what’s going on inside of it.” The advanced programming and equipment are certainly up to par with the state-of-the-art facility. Students have access to digital microscopes, 3D printers, laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, wireless temperature probes and more. Utilizing the Discovery Education digital curriculum, they have a wealth of supplementary materials at their fingertips. “We were already a 1:1 iPad school, but we added Chromebooks to hook up to the microscopes for digital display and laptops for 3D software,” said Assistant Principal for Integrated Technology Artie Gribbins. “We’re providing as much as we can for students to see a variety of technology, and to see how those tools are needed for different jobs.” Gribbins, who is in his 24th year at St. Mary’s, says the new building is phenomenal. “It’s opened up so many opportunities,” he said. “It’s been a catalyst for introducing new ways of learning that will be beneficial outside of High School.” Along with Head of the Science and Engineering Department Diane Haas, Gribbins created a new elective this year called Innovation Project Design. It challenges students to work independently to explore real-world problems by creating, applying and communicating solutions. One student, for example, is trying to create an app that would teach children with diabetes how to understand their blood sugar numbers in an informative, yet entertaining, way. Another student is exploring what could be added to the current football helmet design to better prevent concussions. “Students choose the topic, and we give them some structure and framework to get there,” said Gribbins. “Journaling and self-reflection are a big part of it, and at the end of the semester they’ll present to faculty and board members. It’s a lot of responsibility, especially going out and talking to community members— doctors and parents in some cases—and working those conversations into their solutions. I can’t wait to see what they produce.” Haas is equally excited to see how this and other STEM courses are challenging students to think more critically. “When I took this role, it was really important that I would be in a place with hands-on learning,” said Haas, who is in her third year at St. Mary’s, following a 37-year career in public-school education. “I’m passionate about

science and STEM education and want to provide our students with the skills they need once they leave our doors.” “The beauty of STEM education,” Haas emphasized, “is that it gives students opportunities to see the connection between the content they are studying and the application of that content in relevant ways. And not only does it promote skills such as problemsolving and critical-thinking, it also encourages teamwork, adaptability, communication, perseverance, organization, responsibility, and cooperation — all skills needed to be successful in any field.” Angeramo commends the faculty for building such a robust catalog of electives, such as Statistics and Probability, Forensic Science, Marine Biology, Biomedical Science, App Creators, Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Engineering Design, and Civil Engineering and Architecture. Students in the Marian Division are offered Introduction to STEM, Design and Modeling, and Automation and Robotics. “All students take math and science, but it’s the engineering and electives that separate us,” said Angeramo. “We want to make sure every student has a foundation and understanding of how things work, and they should feel comfortable moving into any college environment.” Christopher Lutchman, a junior, already feels equipped for the next level and hopes to pursue a career in engineering. “We have a base, and in college, we’ll be prepared for more intricate engineering classes in whatever path we choose,” he said. A Revere resident, Lutchman started in the Marian Division of St. Mary’s five years ago and was thrilled when the STEM and Gateway Building opened last year. He says he was drawn to St. Mary’s for the robotics program. The St. Mary’s team, of which Lutchman serves as co-captain, competes in the annual FIRST® Robotics Competition. Teams start with a standard kit of parts and common set of rules and compete in a themed head-to-head challenge. Outside of the FIRST® competition, the St. Mary’s team won an off-season competition, the Beantown Blitz, in the fall of 2019. “You definitely learn about teamwork and cooperation, and the whole program opens new doors to meet new people,” said Lutchman.

“I love that it gives students who are interested in robotics a place where their interests are affirmed and appreciated,” said science teacher Dr. John Oldham, who has been coaching the Robotics team for the past five years. “It also builds confidence and independence, which I’ll see in the classroom.” Oldham is in his sixth year at St. Mary’s. He decided to pursue a career in education after a stint as a teaching assistant at Northeastern University, while he was earning his Ph.D. in chemical engineering. At St. Mary’s, Oldham is teaching Chemistry, Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry and Biomedical Science. “I found I enjoyed that as much as the research,” Oldham said. “I like that the new classroom and lab space are the same because it leads to more group work,” Oldham said. “The building has been a huge blessing.” A blessing, indeed.

by Meaghan Casey