On Wednesday, November 17, Saint Patrick High School celebrated its STEAM program and the students in the program, including nine seniors who participated in internships this past summer. The STEAM program, now in its 6th year at Saint Patrick, incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics into a four-year curriculum designed to give students real-life experience while in high school.
The 40 current students in the program enroll in a STEAM Core-Curriculum consisting of STEAM I, II, III and IV. In the summer prior to their senior year, STEAM III students participate in a STEAM-related internship. This past summer, students interned at Athletico Physical Therapy (Colin Bove ’22, Riogiani Pena ’22), Cook County Forest Preserves (Braden Kumiega ’22), MidStates Glass and Metals (Cam Lajun ’22), QCC Manufacturing (Anthony Wall ’22), St. Celestine Catholic School (Antonio Iglesias ’22, Aaron Origenes ’22), Terra Engineering Consultants (Karl Kohberger ’22) and Verde Energy Efficiency Experts (Liam Jackson ’22).
Prior to STEAM III, students in STEAM I design and build prototypes for three different challenges, test the prototypes, evaluate their performance and present the results to the class. In STEAM II, students use a case study approach to investigate a single problem, develop theories, design, test and evaluate the problem and share their results through an oral presentation. Finally, in STEAM IV students construct a research problem, perform college-level research, design a research/study experiment, compile data and write a scholarly research report they share through an oral presentation. Examples of current research topics include: The Relationship Between Test Taking Strategies and Math Proficiency in High School (Student’s Last Name: Lajun), Factors and Levels of Depression Among High School Males (Student’s Last Name: Origenes) and Soil Amendments and Plant Growth: A Comparative Study (Student’s Last Name: Pena).
Upon completion of STEAM I-IV, students receive an endorsement on their diploma. In addition, students in the program have an opportunity to take STEAM-related electives including: Robotics, Graphic Design, Technical Theater, Computer Sciences, Statistics, Forensics and Aquatic Science through a partnership with the Shedd Aquarium. In 2019, Saint Patrick became the first Catholic high school, and only the second high School in Chicago partner with the Shedd Aquarium. The Shedd Academy, an important component of the STEAM program available to all students, engages students in the field of Aquatic Science throughout their four years of high school, offers field trips for freshman, career panels during sophomore year, and coursework and internship opportunities for juniors and seniors.
The STEAM Appreciation Night was an opportunity for students in all four STEAM courses to share their work with Saint Patrick administration, faculty, staff, parents and prospective families. It also gave students a chance to thank their internship hosts and Saint Patrick faculty for the real-life, hands-on experience they have gained through the program.
For more information about the STEAM program at Saint Patrick, click here.
