By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY
Students at the Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea do some work in a science lab. The school just became one of only four in the Archdiocese of Miami, and nine in the state of Florida, to earn STREAM certification.
KEY WEST | The Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea is now a STREAM certified school. The pre-K3-8 school is one of only four in the Archdiocese of Miami to earn this award, and joins nine STREAM schools among the 170 schools of the seven dioceses of Florida to earn this certification.
“STREAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. To earn this prestigious certification, our teachers had to successfully construct and deliver lessons that integrated all these disciplines while engaging students in interactive, differentiated learning experiences,” said Robert Wright, principal.
The STREAM evaluation process is challenging. Teachers and administrators were required to do curriculum mapping and hands-on projects. They had to present interdisciplinary lesson plans aligning content and objectives to state standards. They had onsite observations by the accrediting committee, including interviews with faculty, parents, and students. The school’s many community service projects were evaluated as elements of fulfilling their Catholic Social Teaching objectives. The school was also concurrently evaluated for the renewal of its FCC accreditation.
“Our faculty has been preparing for this evaluation since August of 2018. We are very proud to have earned this award,” said Wright, “especially during the challenges presented by having in-class instruction during the COVID 19 regulations. Our teachers are outstanding, our parents are supportive, and our children are thriving. They’ve made our vision to become an unparalleled educational institution come to fruition.”
The Basilica School currently offers in-class instruction for grades pre-K3 through eighth, as well as a distance learning program for those families who wish to keep children at home during the coronavirus. A “hybrid” program, with both in-class and at-home learning options, is also offered.
“The majority of families have, however, chosen to send their children to school," Wright said.
“The religious components of our school day are essential to our success. Our children engage in daily prayer, as well as liturgies, religious instruction and weekly Mass. With God’s blessings and grace, we will continue to guide our children to learn, serve, lead, and succeed,” he added.
The Basilica School was founded in 1868, and is located at 700 Truman Avenue, Key West.
