Curriculum up, running
A new curriculum is being phased in now for students at North Catholic High School in Pittsburgh in advance of its use next year when Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School opens in Cranberry Township.
The new course of studies is designed to prepare students for the 21st century. It includes new initiatives in STEMM, or science, technology, engineering, math and medicine, but is also rooted in traditional Catholic faith and ideas.
The new high school, the first Catholic high school in Butler County’s history, will open in the fall of 2014.
The new curriculum is being used just by freshmen at North Catholic this year, but will expand to all students at the new school.
It’s only appropriate that a Butler native is primarily responsible for crafting and implementing the new curriculum.
Robert Paserba of Center Township, who is the secretary for Catholic education for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, is retiring at the end of this year after 50 years in education.
But one of his final tasks, and perhaps one of his most important, was to craft the new course of studies. Understanding the magnitude of such an important task, Paserba several years ago formed a committee of some of the best minds in the region.
That panel submitted opinions, questions and concerns to Paserba about the new curriculum and just exactly what it should entail. The result is a course of studies that is “sound, robust and flexible” for students, according to North Catholic Principal Kellie Abbott.
Of course, there are traditional foundations of any education inherent in the curriculum. Students will be required to take courses in math, science, English and language arts, social studies and health and physical education.
But the school also will require each student to take one class annually in faith formation, a division of study that will focus on Catholic teachings and the “foundational principles” of the faith, including the five charges of the Marianist tradition.
Students will heavily use the school’s 265-seat chapel placed at the center of the school.
In addition, each student must complete before graduation five elective courses, at least two of which must be in art or music. Graduation is only contingent on completion of a senior project.
Students will have four tracks from which to choose to follow as freshmen: STEMM, fine, visual or performing arts, vo-tech or general studies.
Abbott said Paserba and his panel sought to increase the rigor for all students “regardless of their long- range plans.”
“While we certainly support our young people going into the military or picking a trade, we want all the doors to still be open for someone in their junior or senior year to be able to make the best decisions for themselves,” she said.
Despite the relative newness of the curriculum, Abbott said she also has received positive feedback from students about the direction of their courses of study.
“The student body is really excited about all the changes coming and embracing the idea of what’s available to them and what’s capable for them,” she said.
For his part, Paserba is confident that the curriculum will meet the needs of every student.
After all, it was created after exhaustive input was collected from notable people from all over the region.
“The panel was full of the very brightest and best people in the area,” Paserba said. “We brought in people with great experience and expertise so our school academically would be one of the finest in our area and in the entire country. We worked month after month after month to make sure our program is second to none.”
