STEM & Technology

St. Joseph School has been a leader in educational technology since the early 2000s, and we continue to build on this legacy with our 1:1 Student-Technology ratio and our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program.

STEM
All elementary students go to STEM class twice per week, and middle school students take STEM elective classes. Our STEM teacher also sponsors our after-school Robotics team. We are in the process of making plans to renovate our current STEM lab and of continually improving our curriculum, as our goal is to become the leading school in our area among both private and public schools in STEM education. The aim of this program is to help our students use what they’ve learned in their academic classes and apply and synthesize this learning in unpredictable, real-world situations. In addition to the academic learning that takes place in STEM class, we work to foster the important “soft skills” that apply beyond the classroom – critical thinking, problem-solving, perseverance, collaborating, risk-taking, imagination, and curiosity.

TECHNOLOGY
It is one of St. Joseph School’s aims to continue to be a leader among schools in the area with regard to educational technology, as each student in grades K-8 is issued a school-owned iPad. Last year we began using our devices to offer students individually tailored educational paths based on their Star Reading and Math Data, in addition to offering online classes for middle school electives through Oxford Virtual Academy, such as Coding, Latin, and Journalism.

This past year, our iPads proved indispensable in executing our Distance Learning plans for COVID, as all students and teachers had a common interface and device. One of our school’s future goals is to attain “Apple Distinguished School” status, which fewer than ten schools in the state of Michigan have achieved. While we fully understand that we live in the “digital age”, we are very intentional in balancing these important learning tools with traditional best classroom practices so that our students are well-rounded and balanced people. Our vision is to help our students become the “best version of themselves” in a 21st Century learning environment.

INTERNET SAFETY
We also know safety is a top priority in this digital age. For that reason, part of our schoolwide curriculum is internet safety and citizenship, with particular emphasis on Catholic morality. Additionally, every device is strictly filtered and monitored 24/7, whether on or off campus, using Securly, which not only filters inappropriate content, but also tracks all iPad usage and emails parents a report of all internet activity. Through the Securly app, parents can see realtime information regarding their students' device activity. It also immediately alerts us of any problematic or dangerous web searches, allowing us to address any potentially harmful issues without delay.