Program of studies released
CRANBERRY TWP — Students attending the new Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School can expect a rigorous education rooted in faith, according to the Diocese of Pittsburgh's recently-released program of studies.
The new $71 million school is being built on 70 acres next to Route 228 and near the township's border with Seven Fields. It will hold more than 1,000 students and is expected to open in August 2014.
The program of studies gives another look into how officials plan on running Butler County's first Catholic high school.
There are plenty of traditional educational elements inherent in the program of studies: Students must take one class per year in English or language arts, as well as math, science, social studies and physical education.
Students also will have the option of taking some of those classes online.
Other classes are required but not as frequent. For example, students must take two years of a world language to graduate, and they also are required to take five elective courses.
Out of those electives, two must be in the arts or music field.
Additionally, students must complete a senior project to graduate.
But other academic aspects are different from public schools. Every student is required to take four years of religious studies classes.
According to the new program, students will be graded on a 10-point scale, meaning an “A” will be recognized as being between a 90 percent and 100 percent, a “B” will be 80 percent to 89 percent, and so on.
Mike Latusek, the superintendent for the diocese, said the school will embrace technology to ready its students for a 21st century education.
Each classroom will be equipped with a digital blackboard. In addition, students will be provided with computers and laptops for “project-based learning,” he said.
Regardless of the current academic program, Latusek said there could be changes and alterations before the school opens.
“The curriculum is evolving as we speak,” he said. “We're really pressing for a state of the art program and trying to find the best practices for a 21st century school.”
The superintendent added that diocese officials consulted with dozens of professionals in and around Pittsburgh about what type of classes should be offered at the school.
Those professionals came from places such as Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh and others.
Diocese officials also have talked with officials at the Butler County Vocational-Technical School to model the Catholic high school's program in the same fashion.
The bottom line for school officials remains the same regardless of the new school, Latusek said.
“When our students graduate, we want them to have a firm understanding of where they want to be and what they want to do,” he said. “This curriculum needs to cover all of those bases.”
Construction continues at a rapid pace at the site. Anyone interested in watching the progress can do so via a live webcam on the high school's website.
