Program
Technology
St. Bernard's maintains a traditional, analog model of education, but we also recognize that technology can serve as a valuable tool for learning. Classrooms are equipped with SMART Boards, and our older boys have Chromebooks available for both group and individual work.
Boys should have the necessary coding, problem-solving, and analytical skills to thrive in the twenty-first century. Whether it’s assembling computers from scratch or 3D printing, boys here have ample opportunities to build these skills.
St. Bernard's has maintained a healthy suspicion of the use of technology in the elementary years—our Junior School is essentially screen-free. We feel that the best learning often happens, in the words of our founder, with the “contact of mind upon mind.” Connecting to his teachers; turning pages; focusing on the written word free of distraction, and discussing and debating with classmates; these are important parts of each boy’s school day.
Boys should have the necessary coding, problem-solving, and analytical skills to thrive in the twenty-first century. Whether it’s assembling computers from scratch or 3D printing, boys here have ample opportunities to build these skills.
St. Bernard's has maintained a healthy suspicion of the use of technology in the elementary years—our Junior School is essentially screen-free. We feel that the best learning often happens, in the words of our founder, with the “contact of mind upon mind.” Connecting to his teachers; turning pages; focusing on the written word free of distraction, and discussing and debating with classmates; these are important parts of each boy’s school day.
Junior School
Boys in kindergarten through second grade have limited access to technology, and their school days are "device-free." In Grade III, boys learntouch typing. They begin typing their journals, compositions, and poems in coordination with their homeroom teacher, and by the end of the year, they are well-prepared to process written work in Middle School.
Middle School
In the fourth grade boys begin coding and do some of their creative writing at the computers; they also begin research for history using a variety of online sources curated by our librarians. Fifth graders continue their exploration of coding and are introduced to Google Apps and website design. As part of their Grade VI American history course, students do research, write outlines and papers, and create presentations. They make use of a variety of programs, including Google Docs and Google Slides.
Upper School
In the Upper School students can choose to study 3D design and printing, robotics, programming, computer building, film making, and advanced coding. At the beginning of the seventh-grade year students choose either to study programming for the next two years or to take a more general applications class.
The general applications class begins with Minecraft, a sandlot-based program that encourages resource management and teamwork. In the second term these boys use their Minecraft projects to incorporate into their 3D printing projects. They also study the art of film making and editing. By the end of their eighth-grade year each boy will have completed two three-minute videos.
Students who elect programming begin to focus on how the computer works at the level of Python programming. They learn how the computer is organized, how the operating system works, and write their own programs to perform increasingly sophisticated tasks. Boys spend the first part of the year building their own computers from individual components so that they get an understanding of how the hardware works. In the second term, both eighth grade sections are combined for LEGO robotics class that culminates in an obstacle course competition.
Students who elect programming begin to focus on how the computer works at the level of Python programming. They learn how the computer is organized, how the operating system works, and write their own programs to perform increasingly sophisticated tasks. Boys spend the first part of the year building their own computers from individual components so that they get an understanding of how the hardware works. In the second term, both eighth grade sections are combined for LEGO robotics class that culminates in an obstacle course competition.
Recent Technology Articles
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EIGHTH GRADE VIDEO PROJECT WINNER
In a friendly competition, St. B’s eighth grade boys were challenged to see who could produce the most effective commercial for some of the charities that St. Bernard’s supports. Peter J., John R., and Will M. stole the show with their commercial advertising Project Cicero, an annual non-profit book drive designed to supplement libraries in under-resourced New York City public schools.Read More >
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FAIR
St. B’s Science/Technology Fair transformed the fifth floor on Monday, April 18, 2016. There were magnets, lasers and mirrors, lasers and flour, computers built from scratch, and all sorts of computer coding used in a variety of ways. Did you hear about the wind tunnel? The wind tunnel was made from a leaf blower to test and measure the lift on custom-designed wing models.Read More >
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3D PRINTING AT ST. B’S
This semester St. B’s offered its first class in 3D printing. Ms. Oduro taught boys in grade VII how to use Tinkercad software to design 3D renderings that could then be printed out on the new 3D printers. Boys designed three projects over the semester: a shield, a building, and a free design. The boys’ creativity shone through in all three projects.Read More >
