In a Culture of Innovation, STEAM Rises

From the students to the teachers to the administrators, a culture of innovation shapes Eastern Christian School. To prepare our students to be people of Christian vision and influence in society, we explore new ways to engage in education, embrace fresh ideas, and adapt to a rapidly-changing world.

For years, our humanities program enriched the worldview of our students by integrating literature, the arts, and history. Our science department offered honors classes in Physical Science, Chemistry, and Biology, along with Advanced Biology and Physics. Then, we took a leap forward with a new program.

Chief Education Officer Ruth Kuder cast a vision for an academic track that would propel our science and math programs to the cutting edge of high school education. She outlined a plan modeled after existing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs, with the crucial addition of a visual arts element, giving students ways to express their creative ideas.

Faculty embraced the concept of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Program, and teacher Philip Verrengia led a committee of educators to make it a reality. The team explored similar programs, visited schools, and crafted curriculum for a program that would equip high-performing students to engage in real-world fields. They developed tracks for students to explore Physical Science, Biomedical Science, Computer Science, and Environmental Science.

With enthusiastic support from Eastern Christian School teachers, administration and board, our new program is thriving, with 11 students pursuing their interests in real-world fields. The work has already engaged staff and students academically and spiritually.

STEAM program Director, Mr. Philip Verrengia, says, “As individuals created in the image of God, our students have been hard-wired by God with certain attributes like curiosity, inquisitiveness, and a sense of wonder. Our STEAM Program gives students additional opportunities to satisfy these God-given attributes as they explore aspects of God’s creation that interest them.”

In pursuit of educational excellence that glorifies God, Eastern Christian School’s culture of innovation has produced a program that engages students’ minds, nurtures their spirits, and equips them to engage their world.

By: Rudi Gesch

Rudi is the Director of Marketing & Communications at EC.

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