Academic Year in Review

Teaching and Learning in a COVID-19 World

At the core of our learning approach last year was our academic philosophy: REALearning – Relational, Experiential and Authentic. Our faculty livestreamed all of their classes, ensuring that if our students were quarantined or ill, they would still have access to their teachers and classes in real-time through Microsoft TEAMS. Teachers reimagined the teaching environment by utilizing technological tools and platforms to engage in-person and remote learners. Our Information Technology Department (led by Jeff Gaier) provided each teacher with a Bluetooth speaker, projector, and mounted camera to assist in livestreaming quality. Our technology instructional coordinators – Susan Bailey, Justin Claypool, and Mary Miller – provided small-group and 1:1 sessions with teachers so they could understand how to best leverage this new teaching environment. And, our leadership team worked with individual families to develop remote learning plans based on family interest and need. The entire faculty of Archbishop Moeller High School embraced the Marianist characteristic of education: adaptation and change.

Interdisciplinary Theme

Last year, our school community explored the following Interdisciplinary Theme: Racial Equity: Building an Anti-Racist Community for a More Just World. The theme was selected in response to community and national discussions surrounding racial equity and led by Mike Shaffer, dean of student life, and Derek Williams ’91, English teacher. The theme was taught in alignment with our Catholic identity and the one of the Characteristic of a Marianist education: educating for service, justice, peace and the integrity of creation. The entire school community selected one of six books to read over the summer and students discussed these texts in their classes. Students also had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion with local police officers and to participate in highlighting different ethnic groups each month. Throughout the year, our faculty participated in workshops led by the Freedom Center and St. Vincent de Paul.

Chaminade Global Scholars – Capstone

The first cohort of the Chaminade Global Scholars program, consisting of 11 seniors, concluded its capstone experience. Per the requirements of the Chaminade Global Scholars program, the cohort members successfully completed a rigorous course schedule over their four years, including in-depth study of a world language; attending and writing reflections for speaker series, participating in service and leadership opportunities, collaborating with internal and external mentors, and producing and presenting a capstone. Joshua Wellen, English teacher, developed the capstone program – requiring students to complete a rigorous research process and inquiry-based project. Students’ capstones ranged from exploring ethics in artificial intelligence to investigating Newton’s Cradle to a modern analysis and development of simulated learning environments. These seniors wore silver cords at graduation to recognize their scholastic achievements.

Henry Cracas Garrett Poetker Rhett Bendure

Seals of Biliteracy The Ohio and Global Seals of Biliteracy recognize students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. The seal is a rigorous process and honors our students’ bilingual skills and serves as evidence for future employers and college admissions offices. Twenty-six students earned a Seal of Biliteracy (two in French, eight in German, and 16 in Spanish) in the 2020-2021 academic year. Javier Ayala Navarro ’21 earned a double seal of biliteracy in both German and Spanish.