Project Lead the Way STEM Curriculum

St. Joseph Hill Academy Elementary School is proud to offer a formal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (aka STEM) curriculum - Project Lead the Way - to our students from Grades Pre-K 3 to 8. We are thrilled to announce that SJHA has been recognized as a 2023-2024 Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished School.

This is the first year that our Pre-K 3 to 5th Grade STEM Program has been recognized by PLTW as a Distinguished Launch School. This honor is given to a select number of elementary schools across the U.S. for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Launch, an elementary STEM curriculum. Whether designing a car safety belt or building digital animations based on their own short stories, PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects.
This is the third consecutive year that our Junior High STEM Program has been recognized by PLTW as a Distinguished Gateway School for our commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in the PLTW modules we offer: Automation and Robotics; Medical Detectives; Science of Technology; Magic of Electrons; and Green Architecture.

PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S., aiming to make every child in every grade STEM successful. They create an engaging, hands-on classroom environment and empower students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills they need to thrive. Their professional development for teachers provides training, resources, and support to engage students in real-world learning.

Their pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science engage students in hands-on activities, projects, and problems; empower them to solve real-world challenges; and inspire them to reimagine how they see themselves. The concept of applying their knowledge and skill is not something that has to be limited to Science classroom. Being able to work in a cooperative learning environment that encourages project based learning and performance based assessments is something that is universal.

Watch and Learn More About SJHA's Project Lead the Way Distinguished Gateway Program

Research shows that the middle grades play a pivotal role in influencing high school, college, and career success. During this transitional time, it’s crucial to provide students with access to relevant, engaging, and real-world learning experiences that expose the range of career paths and possibilities available to them. Whether designing an automated robotics system or exploring aerospace by creating designs and prototypes, PLTW Gateway students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop confidence in STEM subjects.

Our PLTW Gateway courses include:

6th Grade- Automation and Robotics
7th Grade- Medical Detectives and Science of Technology
8th Grade- Magic of Electrons and Green Architecture

Mr. Jan Paul Pablo Wins the Outstanding Project Lead the Way Teacher Award!

Mr. Jan Paul Pablo, Dean of Science and Technology as well as a Junior High Science Teacher, received the 2022-23 Outstanding PLTW Teacher award! He is one of 59 PLTW teachers across the U.S. to earn this achievement. Mr. Pablo and the teachers across the PLTW network – stand-up, show-up, and step-up every day for our students, colleagues, and communities.

About PLTW

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) equips PreK-12 students for a STEM-driven world with teacher-empowered curriculum in computer science, engineering, biomedical science, and more. For over 25 years, PLTW’s curriculum coupled with its best-in-class professional development has supported teachers in creating an environment to make every student STEM successful. As a national nonprofit organization, PLTW is proud to reach 2.5 million students in elementary, middle and high schools in all 50 states. With over 100,000 trained teachers nationwide, PLTW brings relevant, hands-on learning to classrooms across the country. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.