STEM Schools

We, the Catholic school educators of the Diocese of Paterson, will lead and model the teaching and integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through innovative and research-based student engagement.  STEM education, grounded in Catholic values, will prepare and empower our students to be creative, collaborative and morally responsible contributors to the advancement of the global community.
 
Standards of Practice
A STEM school adheres to its mission through the construction of knowledge, innovation, communication, collaboration, and ethical behavior based on Gospel values and has the responsibility to develop divergent thinking and interdisciplinary connections.
   
  A STEM school is empowered by collaborative leadership to integrate STEM content and articulate a rigorous, standards-based curriculum in which students engage in enquiry and logical reasoning to research information, plan solutions, engage in the engineering design process, convey information, and evaluate outcomes.
   
  A STEM school develops metrics for school-wide accountability and assessment to document the students’ proficiency, knowledge and application of challenging mathematics and science content and the use of appropriate digital tools.
   
  A STEM school engages in partnerships with engineers, businesses, and colleges in order to acquire resources for teachers and students.
   
  A STEM school develops and maintains facilities, equipment, and technology that is available to support the curriculum demands of the STEM program.
   
  A STEM school educates and extends the rationale and successes of the program into the internal and external communities through intentional communication and marketing.
   
  A STEM school meets the criteria of an outside accrediting organization and actively seeks to maintain accreditation standards.
   
  Four schools in the Diocese of Paterson follow the philosophy of STEM teaching and learning. In 2014 the Diocese of Paterson received the NCEA’s Karen M. Ristau Innovations Award for STEM, this award is presented annually to an individual school or program that has furthered the mission of Catholic Education through an innovative program or approach.

All Saints Academy, Parsippany
Divine Mercy Academy, Rockaway
St. Anthony School, Hawthorne
St. Patrick School, Chatham

Between 2016 and 2018 All Saints Academy in Parsippany, NJ,  St Anthony School in Hawthorne, and St. Patrick School in Chatham, NJ,  schools in the Diocese of Paterson, received Cognia STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Certification. This achievement is a mark of STEM distinction and excellence only offered to highly effective institutions that prioritize STEM education as a path to success.

In order to earn STEM Certification these schools had to demonstrate adherence to the Cognia STEM Standard as reflected by the school’s performance across 11 rigorous STEM indicators. This included a self-evaluation process in which photos, videos of students’ work, teacher lesson plans, proof of open houses and parents’ events involving stakeholders and an analysis were submitted as evidence of their schools quality STEM education.