A Traditional Catholic Education With an Innovative, Cutting Edge Approach To Instruction
Learning is a unique process at St. Cassian School placing significant emphasis on integrating the arts and technology into curricula, as well as addressing the multiple intelligences of its students. The integrated approach follows a gifted and talented model of instruction that ensures each student has a multitude of experiences to maximize strengths and address challenges.
Much of the school’s unique approach lies on the implementation of several programs that maximize the educational experience of the students. These include: the MIAD Elective Program, the integration of STREAM across the curriculum, and our Scholars and Artist-in-Residence Program.
- Elective Courses to Address the Students’ “Multiple Intelligences”
Students in kindergarten through eighth grade participate in a program designated as a best practice by the N.J. Department of Education titled, “The MIAD (Multiple Intelligence Arts Domain) Elective Course Program”. The MIAD electives are unique courses designed to increase students’ academic knowledge and skills through the integration of the visual/performing arts and technology. For instance, a Tap dancing course not only includes learning the technique, but also the genre’s history, and guided and independent opportunities for research and creative writing. Trimester long MIAD electives include: video production, photography, poetry, mock trial, playwriting, musical theater, architecture and engineering, leadership, painting and watercolor, 3-D printing, robotics, coding and more. Professional artists and scholars-in-residence are commonly invited as MIAD Program guest teachers.
- Integrating STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Across the Curriculum
Starting in Pre-K, students exercise creativity and problem-solving skills by immersing in project-based learning in preparation for the elementary and middle school STREAM Fair. Students at all levels engage in developing solutions to real-world challenges. The process includes creating an original engineering prototype. Our preschoolers, for example, might create original birdhouses, while our middle school students tackle complex solutions to addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They research and identify regions of the world in need of help and, with the utmost cultural empathy, design and engineer solutions to specific challenges. The process includes creating a prototype, keeping an engineering notebook, developing a social awareness campaign and creating a procedural video production.
- Scholars and Artist-in-Residence
In addressing a commitment to provide unique learning opportunities, experts from different professions collaborate with students and teachers through our Scholars and Artist-in-Residence Program. Our partners include:
- Center for Civic Education, Project Citizen
- The New Jersey State House (Mini Model Congress Program)
- Liberty Science Center’s Science and Technology Labs
- NJ Bar Association’s Mock Trial Program
- Classroom Inc., a program merging technology and literacy
- Rutgers University’s Public Policy Initiative
- Xylem Water Technology Company, providing experiences in STREAM
- New York Presbyterian Hospital
- Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- Bergen Performing Arts Center
- Carnegie Hall Music Education
- American Ballroom Theater Company
- Local Artists and Scholars
In summary, the St. Cassian School experience provides an education that mentors the uniqueness of each child by addressing their talents and multiple intelligences, and by encouraging each to assume leadership through a foundation in the Catholic faith.