St. Chris' focus: Activities, technology, the pope

Activities and technology are the watchwords for St. Christopher’s School this year.

Principal Anne Lederer said that each sixth grader will have his or her own Chromebooks this year, thanks to a private alumni donation. They’ll be used to access the Internet, take class notes, and interact with teachers. “We’ve gotten wireless [access] throughout the building,” Lederer said.

Another new program involves working with the anti-bullying organization CAPS, which stands for Child Abuse Prevention Services. Students in the Honor Society will learn to be peer leaders and all students will receive anti-bullying training, she said.

In sports, students are looking forward to the seventh- and eighth-grade girls volleyball season and boys and girls basketball. Also the Catholic Youth Organization’s soccer program is available to kids in grades 4, 5 and 6.

The school also may expand its popular Mad Scientist program. Each week features a different experiment, which students can replicate at home to show their parents. Last year, the program was for second-graders, but Lederer said she is considering opening it up to the first grade.

In social studies, the school will offer grades 6, 7 and 8 a History at the Movies program. Once a month, classes will watch a historical movie. Then the students will study the time period, looking at documents and reading about the event, and checking on the film’s accuracy. In addition, a research course for eighth-graders will focus on recognizing the validity of historical claims, Lederer said.

This week, with Pope Francis coming to New York, St. Christopher’s is making extra preparations.

“Teachers are learning about his life,” Lederer said, noting that the school received a video about Francis’ childhood, and there will be lessons on the pontiff’s role in the church.

Also, the Catholic cable TV channel Telecare will be showing the main part of his visit, and, when possible, the students will get to watch him live. And all religion classes are emphasizing his visit to the United States this week.

Overall, Lederer said, her hope is that the school will continue to promote a sense of community for students. That is why a welcome-back-to-school block party last week was important. “Many times people say they feel at home,” she said. “It fosters good relationships between teachers and parents. [Students] make lifetime friends.”