A New Chapter for STEAM at St. Benedict’s
There is a lot happening in the STEAM Cottage this year.
New workbenches and equipment have transformed the space. More teachers are bringing their expertise into our STEAM classes. And most exciting of all, more Middle School students than ever are choosing to participate.
While the Cottage may look different, the changes are about much more than a refreshed space. They represent the continued growth of STEAM at St. Benedict’s and our commitment to giving students meaningful opportunities to explore, create, problem-solve, and turn their ideas into something real.
Growing With Our Students
STEAM learning begins long before students reach Middle School. Across divisions, St. Benedict’s students are introduced to opportunities that encourage curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
In Middle School, they have the opportunity to take dedicated STEAM courses that allow them to go even deeper.
Last year, Katie Argall and I began looking closely at how we could continue strengthening the program and provide students with even more opportunities to build, design, code, engineer, and create.
One of the first steps was expanding our Middle School STEAM offerings.
The response from students exceeded our expectations. Enrollment in STEAM courses tripled this fall.
More students meant more classes, more ideas coming through the Cottage doors, and an opportunity to expand the team supporting them.
This year, I am joined by Melissa Crimminger, our 7th/8th grade math teacher and Robotics coach; Chas Wallace, math teacher and longtime STEAM teammate; and Telisa Sims, science teacher and longtime STEAM teammate.
There is also something especially meaningful about bringing this group together now. Chas, Telisa, and I were part of the original group of teachers who helped launch what was then our Coding program. Over the years, that program has grown to include engineering, design, fabrication, robotics, technology, coding, and making.
With Melissa adding her expertise in science, math, and robotics, we are building on that foundation as the STEAM program approaches its 10th year at St. Benedict’s.
A Space Built for Hands-On Learning
As the program has grown, the Cottage has needed to grow with it.
Traditional classroom tables have been replaced with workbenches. We have added workshop stools, reorganized tools and materials, and created more room for students to actively build and create.
The goal is simple: students should not just learn about engineering, technology, tools, or design. They should have opportunities to actually use them.
That may mean working with 3D printers and laser cutters, learning design software, coding, exploring electronics, using fabrication tools, or creating and testing a prototype.
Students also work toward certifications on the tools, equipment, software, and processes they use. They begin with instruction and teacher guidance, practice their skills, demonstrate proficiency, and gradually take on greater responsibility.
And that growing independence is one of my favorite parts of the program.
A student may begin by asking, “Can you show me how to do this?”
Over time, we want that question to become, “I think I know how to do this.”
And eventually, maybe even, “I’m not sure how to do this yet, but I know how to figure it out.”
That is where some of the most important STEAM learning happens.
Building Skills That Go Beyond the Cottage
The tools and technology are exciting, but they are only part of the story.
When a prototype does not work, students learn to troubleshoot and try again. When they encounter a new challenge, they learn to ask questions, find resources, and test solutions. As their skills grow, they also begin helping classmates and sharing what they have learned with younger or less experienced students.
That progression is what makes the program so special to watch.
We are not simply teaching students how to operate a machine or complete a project. We are helping them become more confident thinkers, makers, collaborators, and problem-solvers.
Nearly ten years after our first Coding classes, it is exciting to look around the STEAM Cottage and see how far the program has come.
With more students participating, an expanded teaching team, a redesigned space, and even more opportunities ahead, this feels like the beginning of an exciting new chapter for STEAM at St. Benedict’s.
And I cannot wait to show you what our students build next.
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