St. Patrick School Students Design Perfect Church for the 21st Century

Eighth grade students of St. Patrick School, Chatham incorporated STEM into their religion class, designing the perfect church. Led by Dr. Deborah Kuzma, who serves as both Head of the Sacramental & Liturgical Ministry and instructor of eighth grade Religion, students were challenged to serve as architects employed to design a church building that encourages community and worship. Their challenge: Build a church that
meets the needs of the 21st century, while honoring the rich history of the past.

Throughout the semester students worked in teams of four to design the perfect church. Students began by
reviewing the plans for the current refurbishment of the diocesan cathedral, available on the diocesan website. The rich history of the cathedral, as provided by Msgr. Kupke, was also consulted. Students chose the location of the building and appointed the interior with appropriate furnishings. Using the book Built of
Living Stones, along with other church documents, students were asked to justify the placement of various furnishings, stating if the placement was in line with the rubrics, or why they had chosen alternative approaches. The project was divided into sections, requiring students to first define the problem, brainstorm ideas for overcoming the challenges, and create a design, including a 3D model. Upon completion of their projects the students reflected on how the design could be improved.

Saint Patrick School faculty and staff are committed to providing the highest quality education for each student. We are a STEM school that promotes student critical thinking and application throughout our
curriculum in all grades.