Seton-La Salle plans STREAM Center
Grayson Kisker, president of Seton-La Salle’s Computer Technology Club, and math teacher Kurt Nelson. Nelson donated robotics kits to the Technology Club.
Students see Seton-La Salle’s new 3D printer in action.
As students witness a Polar 3D printer whirling and spitting out malleable plastic, they are actually shaping the future of technology at Seton-La Salle Catholic High School. This year, the Computer Technology Club plans to focus on CAD, coding, robotics and even field trips to the nearby TechShop.
“It’s great to see so many students excited about technology – so they can learn about it and, hopefully, one day, develop applications and products to improve people’s lives,” said Grayson Kisker, club president.
Incoming Seton-La Salle president Tom Dattilo explained his goal is to allow the interests of students to lead the upgrade and expansion of the school’s technology infrastructure. The donated 3D printer and a GPS-based telescope are designed to whet their appetite for what is coming. “We’re starting with a few tools to give our students a taste of the future, which we are planning to culminate in a STREAM Center,” Dattilo said.
The new STREAM Center will be housed in the Brothers’ House behind the school building. Dattilo believes renovating an existing building will be much faster than starting from scratch.
It will concentrate the school’s focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math into one location to allow organic connections and growth, while maintaining an emphasis on religion.
The current plans include a digital fabrication laboratory, robotics lab, astronomy lab, computer coding lab, photography/art studio and gallery, a commercial-grade kitchen for culinary arts, outdoor prayer garden for horticultural arts and the current chapel for faith-based contemplation and retreats.
In addition, Dattilo said the dormitory section of the Brothers’ House will make perfect practice rooms for vocal and instrument lessons. An area architect who toured the facility also mentioned the building contains space that could accommodate a student center.
Principal Lauren Martin said the deliberate choice to incorporate the arts with technology is critical for today’s college preparatory schools.
“Rather than a narrow focus on just technology, we’re trying to expose our students to cutting-edge hardware and how to apply that to a myriad of interests and potential college majors or careers,” she said. “This new STREAM Center will allow interdisciplinary inspiration and growth so students can witness computers working in many fields, including the arts. Seton-La Salle believes in holistic Catholic education that encourages individuals to express their God-given talents wherever they lie.”
Martin noted that Seton-La Salle led not only the Pittsburgh Diocese, but the entire state, when it distributed Google Chromebooks to every student in August of 2012. “We understood the importance of a one-to-one initiative and the role technology plays in learning very early. This STREAM Center is simply a continuation of that emphasis.”
Dattilo began internal technical upgrades before the school year started. Phase 1 of the technology development included new Dell PC’s in the computer lab, new computers for the staff and a new telephone system.
Dattilo doesn’t expect the STREAM building to be without challenges. Like any new undertaking, some aspects will function and thrive and others will not. He said the school will provide the facility and watch the future unfold. “It’s really just an incubator. We’re going to let the students lead us.”