St. Vincent has success with middle-school electives

By Special to the Intermountain Catholic

HOLLADAY — St. Vincent’s de Paul Catholic School’s middle school offers a dynamic learning environment where we innovate and create pathways for success. One of the main ways we accomplish this is our electives program. Our dynamic electives allow students to explore things they love and lead our students to have a variety of experiences and choices. This is their last best chance to challenge themselves, explore things that interest them, or that they are passionate about. Elective classes occur in an environment where students aren’t motivated by a grade; It is purely fun and for the love of learning.

Design Elective

Middle school students, with the help of the vice principal, Sarah Lambert, and a parent, Brody Candilora, created options for our Spirit Wear for next fall. Students utilized Google Drawing to create a personal design with a connection to our school history and mission. Mr. Candilora arranged for students to experience screen printing, and also to see their designs come to fruition when they visited a digital printer. Students, faculty, Home and School Association members, and School Board members voted on the design they would like to see on T-shirts and sweatshirts in the fall.

Humane Society

Students in this elective receive training and education in animal safety, as well as meeting and learning about a variety of different companion animals.

Hands on Science

Have you ever wanted to hold a heart? Want to make your own ice cream? I hear a lot about DNA; what is it? Students have opportunities for hands-on science experiments every week and learn about basic chemistry and biology.

Theater

In this elective, students performed a comedy/mystery play written by Principal Gary Green titled “The Phantom Hamster.” The play is set in 1900 England at Lexington Manor. Students used their comedic acting skills or worked behind the scenes in helping run the play. Joe DeSisto, who worked with the national touring company of “Godspell” and who has extensive experience in working with middle-school students, assisted Green in directing this play.

Junior Achievement Biztown

JA BizTown combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated town. This popular program allows students to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks and vote for mayor. The program helps students connect the dots between what they learn in school and the real world.