A recent grant from the Plachetka Family Fund made it possible for St. Thomas More Catholic school to fully renovate their STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) lab. Principal Darrell Fulford and Parochial Vicar Fr. Chris Koehn welcomed Dr. John Plachetka and his wife, Mrs. Clare Plachetka, representing the Plachetka Family Fund, as the new lab was blessed and officially re-launched for student learning.
“I am blessed to be able to lead in such a supportive community that invests in the tradition of Catholic education while recognizing the importance for strong curriculum and academic integrity," said Fulford. The STEM lab is a perfect example of Catholic education blending tradition and innovation. The lab space was originally the chapel for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who originally staffed the school when it was founded in 1964.
The donation also enabled the school to purchase the curriculum for Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a renowned national education program that guides hands-on learning in computer science, engineering, and biomedical. The Plachetka grant provides the professional development necessary for teachers to lead the PLTW Launch elementary program and PLTW Gateway program in the middle school, making St. Thomas More the only Catholic school in the state to offer both the elementary and middle school programs.
“We appreciate the big donation and truly enjoy all the creativity in class,” said Nate Jones, a St. Thomas More eighth-grader.
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