Visit any one of the 15 Diocese of Venice Catholic Schools and you will find students engaged in interesting and exciting classroom projects that incorporate a Christ-centered curriculum while using real-world skills in the fields of STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Education, Arts and Mathematics).
The Diocesan curriculum called, “The Gifts of Christ: Truth, Beauty, Goodness, Affability, Fortitude, Humility, and Prudence,” embraces the skills learned through STREAM, creating interdisciplinary learning.
A part of Catholic education for more than a decade, Bishop Frank J. Dewane initiated the effort to use STREAM in all aspects of the Diocesan curriculum. This effort took a major leap forward in 2021 with a robotics program for students of all ages.
Combining the STREAM and Gifts of Christ initiatives helps to develop skills such as leadership, communication, complex problem solving, teamwork and creativity. All of this is being done with a foundation of the Catholic Faith which remains the primary job of all Diocesan schools.
“We have Christ at the center of everything,” Bishop Dewane said. “We accomplish this through our comprehensive Gifts of Christ initiative which enhances the faith and academic life of the students and the entire Diocesan school community. By utilizing STREAM in all aspects of the educational process, a strong Catholic culture is created, providing a Catholic world view, and building moral character. Further, STREAM helps develop the creative imagination of each student.”
Bishop Dewane said his support for the STREAM program, and robotics component, grew out of the concept of preparing students for the future.
“Whether in high school or middle school, we must prepare all of our students to have the skills and exposure to this kind of process,” Bishop Dewane said. “STREAM and robotics introduce the necessary skills to succeed in today’s society and tomorrow’s world. The virtues that are instilled into the very fabric of this program inspires students to apply faith, science, and technology in meaningful ways.”
Father John Belmonte, SJ, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Education, said the Diocese of Venice is well on its way to becoming the nation’s premier provider of STREAM education.
“This system supports teachers by helping them prepare every student to become a man or woman of God, a person of virtue, who pursues scientific, technological and artistic endeavors founded on Faith,” Father Belmonte said.
Students of all ages are using technology, science and other skills to learn about subjects from religion to physics and everything in between.
An example of this was found recently at two different schools where students did experiments using the air. Pre-kindergarten students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton experimented with how to create bubbles. They used different tools to see who could make the biggest and most bubbles. Meanwhile students at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers did their own experiment, this one to figure out how to scientifically prove the amount of oxygen there is in the atmosphere.
Jennifer Falestiny, Diocesan Director of Curriculum, said the Catholic Faith integration into subjects utilizing STREAM concepts and the Gifts of Christ in all grade levels and subject areas has taken time, but the results are seen in the classroom, and beyond.
“Diocesan Catholic schools are outstanding in placing students ahead of the curve in primary fields while continuing to promote core Catholic values,” Falestiny said. “This initiative is helping students to develop cognitive thought processes and gain skills such as leadership, communication, complex problem solving, teamwork and creativity.”
Diocese of Venice Catholic Schools serve 6,524 students in 15 schools. To learn more, please visit www.dioceseofvenice.org/catholicschools.
