Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Hosts Teachers for S.T.R.E.A.M. In-service

It is common knowledge that science and math are educational cornerstones for learning, but Catholic schools are adding an emphasis on religion and arts to broaden the scope of instruction for students.

On Feb. 16, Christ the Redeemer Catholic School led an in-service for 250 educators in Region A of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on a learning initiative that integrates science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math – S.T.R.E.A.M.

Patty Born-Selly, S.T.E.M. Director at St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minn., organized sessions that allowed teachers to be like students for a day and have some fun while learning through activities.

S.T.E.M., an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math, is an interdisciplinary approach that enables educators to connect real world objectives with how students learn best in the classroom. S.T.R.E.A.M. is the Catholic school interpretation of this popular scholastic method.

During the in-service, teachers and administrators learned about the benefit of providing their students with engaging activities that incorporate all disciplines of S.T.R.E.A.M. In one project, the Puff Mobile, teachers used engineering to make a car using only straws, Lifesavers, paper, paper clips, tape and scissors. After building it in teams divided by grade level, they competed with other teams by determining how many puffs of air it took each car to travel six feet. In another project, teachers had to build the highest tower using only marshmallows and straws. Afterward, teachers discussed how they can integrate elements of S.T.R.E.A.M. into each of these interactive assignments.


Educators from schools in Region A who attended the in-service were CtR School, St. Ambrose Catholic School, St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, St. Edward Catholic School, Sacred Heart Catholic School (Conroe), St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School (The Woodlands), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, St. Jerome Catholic School, Northwoods Catholic School and St. Anne Catholic School (Tomball). 

For more information about S.T.R.E.A.M., visit the school’s website at ctrschool.com.