STREAM Program
At Nazareth, we take studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) to a new level with STREAM: STEAM + Religion = STREAM. We have enhanced the STEAM initiative to include an emphasis on the religious traditions upon which we were founded in 1928.
NAHS STREAM Program
Nazareth Academy High School's STREAM program creates awareness, sparks interest, builds confidence, and fosters a culture of innovation in girls while integrating our Catholic identity into every aspect of the curriculum. It is important to note that STREAM education is not a new curriculum at NAHS, but it is a philosophical framework for delivering excellence in Catholic education for the 21st century learner.
As a result of our commitment to encourage the ever-evolving interests of our girls and to meet the needs of technologically advanced society, we debuted our brand new Innovation Center in the fall of 2020. The Center includes three state-of-the-art makerspaces that allow for our students to develop the important skills of critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, and teamwork, thus enhancing their classroom and textbook lessons.
Nazareth was extremely fortunate to receive a $100,000 grant from the Archdiocesan Educational Fund to help bring the Innovation Center to fruition. Their investment allowed us to work with a leading-edge consulting firm to properly plan, design and renovate a previously unused space. In addition, we were able to outfit the Innovation Center with the necessary equipment, supplies, and to provide faculty development to better incorporate the STREAM curriculum across all disciplines.
Our Innovation Center is anchored by a major makerspace, an area for students to collaborate and innovate. It also includes a kiln in a separate makerspace for Fine Arts, and a third makerspace for Performing Arts to create sets and scenery for its productions. In addition, a student lounge was incorporated in the design to provide space for our hard-working students to refresh and energize. New and specialized curriculum was developed and implemented with the debut of the Innovation Center. An engineering elective for upperclassmen called Principles of Engineering and a Foundations of STEM course for every freshman began in August of 2020. Other classes across our STREAM curriculum use the main makerspace as needed for innovative projects in their individual content area. Outside of the classroom, students involved in extracurricular activities such as robotics and rocketry will make good use of the anchor makerspace as well. As we have all experienced in recent times, technology has become more and more integrated into all aspects of our daily lives, requiring flexibility and versatility. Our STREAM curriculum is preparing our students for careers that are continually evolving in the 21st century. The interactive learning opportunities provided by the Innovation Center and our STREAM curriculum will allow our students to develop critical thinking skills, strong written and oral communication skills, creativity, collaboration, and self-confidence. Our outstanding teachers are preparing and inspiring our talented students to achieve academic excellence, to become lifelong learners, and to be virtuous leaders in a global society. The Innovation Center continually elevates our already strong program to new heights, one can hear the exciting sounds of our students innovating every day – building a sound future for our students, our school, and our world.
