Leadership Teamwork Critical Thinking
For seventh- and eighth-grade students at Butler Catholic School, a day in the classroom isn't just about paper and pencils.
These two formative years are filled with a myriad of experiences that Dyanna Boosel, who teaches English and literature, said “gives our students a firm foundation upon which to stand — a foundation started 50 years ago and is stronger than ever today.”
In addition to the strong faith-centered foundation that defines Butler Catholic, hallmarks of the middle school years include innovative programs focused on leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking.
These include quarterly off-site learning experiences, in which students are challenged to push the boundaries of learning outside the four traditional walls of a classroom.
Last year, students participated in the Slippery Rock University Leadership Course, an opportunity usually reserved for college students and working professionals.
“The experience at SRU gave our students a life-changing encounter that helped them truly understand the benefits of teamwork, own their individual weaknesses, and promote their personal strengths and accomplishments for the benefit of others,” Boosel said.
This fall, the seventh- and eighth-graders will have another opportunity to challenge themselves in a college setting through a Career Development Day at Grove City College.
Building upon each student's “top five talent themes” identified through a Clifton Strengths Assessment, the program was created by GCC to help Butler Catholic students identify their strengths and interests so they can develop those talents.
“We have incorporated these off-site learning days throughout the year to give our students a broader perspective on learning, and to provide a platform for applying classroom knowledge to real-life experiences,” said Sister John Ann Mulhern, principal at Butler Catholic School. “Likewise, we are giving our seventh and eighth grade students a choice of electives, all created to challenge their minds and spark their curiosities into different subjects.”These electives are referred to as Passion Classes at Butler Catholic and are each designed to afford a student the opportunity to take charge of his or her own learning.Subjects choices for students include robotics, CSI forensics, Escape Room, National History Day, Build a City and Action Math's Fantasy Baseball. Each elective is a yearlong course, culminating with final project in the spring.Recent graduate Aaron Short credits his middle school years at Butler Catholic with setting him up for success.“I felt very well-prepared for high school coming from BCS. I had the chance to take advanced coursework, like geometry in eighth grade. And with smaller class sizes, there was a lot of individualized attention from faculty,” Aaron said. “In addition, the focus BCS put on using technology has helped me immensely — 1:1 Chromebooks, coding, robotics, even digital citizenship skills all really prepared me for today's technology-driven world.”Kristen Singleton, lead technology teacher at Butler Catholic, explains the importance of integrating technology throughout the curriculum.
“In this day and age, children are being introduced to technology at a very young age. Students enter school with knowledge of iPads, tablets and cell phones.”Students are introduced to Chromebooks in kindergarten, using them in station activities, small group instruction, and even classroom instruction with Chromebook carts.“When we begin the 1:1 Chromebook initiative in sixth grade, the students learn more than just how to browse the Internet or type notes. Students learn how to be responsible for technology, to use it wisely and responsibly, and how technology is beneficial in all parts of our lives and education,” Singleton said.It is this ''beyond the normal math and reading'' concept of instruction at Butler Catholic that is a hallmark to the success of its graduates, Mulhern said.Aaron, who now attends ninth grade at St. Joseph High School, said he and his classmates were given many opportunities.“Our class retreat, the leadership class at SRU, our trip to Flight 93 Memorial, and the Eighth Grade Graduate Studies (EGGS) job shadowing program were all unique learning experiences outside of the traditional classroom,” he said. “I know that I am well prepared for what lies ahead during the rest of my time in high school, college and my career beyond.“The strong foundation that was built at BCS will stay with me through the rest of my life.”
