Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School

Beaver, PA

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Expanded Learning

- Academic Enrichment Blocks
  
  Children learn and grow at varying paces and speeds. Our classroom curriculum is designed to differentiate and meet students where they are. However, we also know that in the K-8 years, there are times when students benefit from additional avenues to access learning,
  
  As part of our commitment to academic excellence and rigor for all students, we offer Academic Enrichment Blocks in the school schedule to those students identified as benefiting from extension beyond the general classroom curriculum.
  
  Mrs. Ellie Greaser, experienced as a gifted and talented teacher, delivers the enrichment program in a cross-grade setting:
  Students in grades 1-4 will meet on Tuesdays
  Students in grades 5-8 will meet on Thursdays
  Combining grade levels as an educational technique allows for cross-grade collaboration and the development of leadership skills. The enrichment block runs from 12:30 to 2:30 once a week to allow for deep exploration of topics. Mrs. Greaser works with classroom teachers to accommodate and support students in remaining on task for the instruction occurring in their classrooms during this time.
  
  *Students are identified for possible enrichment using a matrix of various qualifying factors developed by the diocesan curriculum director and used across the diocese and region. Placement in this program is on a case-by-case basis and is at the discretion of the principal in collaboration with the diocese. Students accessing enrichment are regularly reassessed for continued participation in the program and may exit as they grow and material in classrooms progresses. Learning occurs in growths and spurts; this pathway allows for SSPP to meet this growth, it is not intended as an alternate curriculum.
- Middle School Elective Block & Community as Teachers
  
  In our continuing commitment to High School preparation and academic investigation, we have incorporated new elective courses to the Middle School schedule. Many of the high schools our students target offer this approach as a means to allow students to take control of their own learning and interests. We believe in this approach to education and have created pathways for our students to have input into areas they would like to explore.
  We also believe that the true strength of Catholic schools lies in the power of community and the vast gifts we offer as a collective. We are all leading children to discover who they are as humans in God's image, and to confidently uncover their gifts. Our families, parents, grandparents, teachers, administration, and alumni are all partners in learning. The MS elective blocks allow us to share the space to do this good work.
  Each week, students in grades 6-8 will have an opportunity to explore new and interesting subjects through their elective blocks.
  Students will work with their teachers to explore areas of interest through these quarterly electives.
  Parents are encouraged to propose a course to share their own talents with the school community.
  Elective blocks are conveniently scheduled once a week, first period and last period, for community partners who wish to share their talents - parents can stay after drop off or come right before pick up!
  Faculty and Administration have skills and talents that can also become electives. Possible electives proposed by the teachers may include home economics courses, creative writing, coding, etc.
- STEM Lab for Collaborative Learning
  
  In 2024, we relocated our PreK program into a new, better suited location. This allowed for us to reimagine the vacated space and we reframed the room with academic excellence in mind, launching the STEM Lab for Collaborative Learning.
  This dynamic environment encourages hands-on experimentation, teamwork, and creative problem-solving across all disciplines as an extension to class lessons, enabling students to apply what they learn. We will scale-up this program as we design and test content to fit our students and our vision.
  Available during elective and academic enrichment blocks, this lab will bring real-world applications to life. Our faculty’s excitement and creativity in response to this new program have been inspiring, as they design lessons and experiences that are natural extensions of the traditional curriculm delivered in their classrooms. We hope to see the STEM Lab grow as a place where children explore, research, apply, and question. We hope to see community partners speak in this space and our children present here. The Lab gives us the targeted opportunity to bring learning to life in real ways with invite our students to be confident creators of their own learning.
- PBIS: Empowering our Pacers
  
  Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a framework used in schools to promote positive behavior and create a supportive learning environment. Grounded in research, PBIS focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors rather than merely addressing misbehavior. Students are supported as they examine their behavior, consider alternatives, and make decisions toward achieving their goals. At SSPP, we tailor this program to reflect our faith and beliefs, integrating it with character growth and development while remaining aligned with the social-emotional growth of our students.
  
  What PBIS Delivers:
  Proactive Framework: PBIS is a proactive approach that establishes clear expectations for behavior, teaches those expectations to students, and reinforces positive behavior consistently.
  Evidence-Based: Research shows that PBIS leads to improved student behavior and academic outcomes by creating a positive and consistent environment.
  Increased Engagement: By focusing on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors, PBIS helps create a more engaging and supportive school climate, which can enhance students' motivation and engagement in learning.
  Consistency and Clarity: PBIS provides a clear and consistent approach to behavior management, which helps students understand expectations and the rewards for meeting them, leading to more predictable and positive behavior outcomes.
  Reduced Disruption: The framework helps decrease behavioral problems and classroom disruptions, allowing teachers to spend more time on instruction.