Award-Winning Junior High STEM Program

St. Joseph Hill Academy Elementary School is incredibly proud to announce we are a 2021-2022 Project Lead the Way Distinguished Gateway School. This recognition is due to our commitment to helping our students own their education by increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in our Project Lead the Way Gateway program (6th-8th Grades).
SJHA is one of 134 PLTW Gateway Programs across the United States to receive the recognition of a PLTW Distinguished School for 2021-2022. SJHA is also one of only 9 PLTW Distinguished Elementary Schools in the entire state of New York. SJHA is the only PLTW school on Staten Island!
Our PLTW Gateway courses 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
We are thrilled to be recognized for our dedication to helping our Junior High Students figure out what they’re passionate about and how that relates to who they want to become in the future.
PLTW is a nationally renowned non-profit that empowers students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges. Through their pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, students not only learn technical skills, but also learn to solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate, and collaborate. PLTW also provides teachers with the training, resources, and support they need to engage students in real-world learning.
St. Joseph Hill Academy Elementary School's Project Lead the Way and STREAM Symposium
On Thursday March 23rd, SJHA Elementary School held our first ever Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and STREAM Program Symposium. It was an opportunity for anyone interested, including junior high age students, to learn more about our unique and award-winning PLTW and STREAM Programs. Families visited our cooperative learning centers and labs where current students put on demonstrations using the latest technology offered in our junior high. Guests heard from teachers and students firsthand on their experiences and history with SJHA's PLTW and STREAM program and took part in some hands-on scientific experiences.
Our student volunteers were the true shining stars of this evening. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and confidence were so impressive! We thank all of our guests for joining us and all our faculty and staff who participated in making the evening and our PLTW and STREAM Program a success!
Our student volunteers were the true shining stars of this evening. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and confidence were so impressive! We thank all of our guests for joining us and all our faculty and staff who participated in making the evening and our PLTW and STREAM Program a success!

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.