News at St. Catherine's

Teachers Grow as Lifelong Learners

Late start mornings allow for in-depth professional development,
     The teachers at St. Catherine’s are dedicated, lifelong learners. The faculty constantly seeks the best techniques and tools for teaching girls. To facilitate this continued learning, St. Catherine’s holds four late starts for Professional Development, including this past Thursday.
     The Upper School faculty and staff explored authentic assessment, or how to make assessments relevant through real-world application. Spanish teacher Susan Steenrod gave an overview of the approach and how she applies authentic assessment in her classroom.  Jen Harper, AP Environmental Science teacher, presented on the College Board's new emphasis on service learning and hands-on projects in her class.  Faculty then met in departments to debrief how they are currently using authentic assessments and to brainstorm new possibilities for their classes.
     Middle School Technology Specialist William Berry taught MS faculty various ways to incorporate Project Based Learning into the curriculum and how this approach allows teachers to grow girls’ passions, supports diverse learners, which lends itself to personalized learning. They also discussed ways to use authentic assessment as a tool for assessing projects and gathering feedback on our girls’ growth and development.
     The Lower School worked on curriculum development. Each of the grade levels and specials teachers connected with their counterparts at St. Christopher’s School to discuss topics pertaining to their speciality or grade level. LS faculty also dedicated time to work on Singapore Math and LS grammar scope and sequence.
 
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Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.