AUBURN — Family generations came together Wednesday as St. Dominic Academy welcomed grandparents to the school.

During a special Mass, the school community thanked grandparents for their support, celebrated Thanksgiving and announced learning changes in the school.

The celebration was led by Maine Bishop Robert Deeley, who encouraged those attending to remember the meaning of Thanksgiving is to be grateful and to reflect on what they are thankful for. 

Society needs to consider Thanksgiving less as “turkey day” and more of a time to embrace gratitude, Deeley said.

St. Dominic Academy President Don Fournier shared that high school students are developing a school mascot to boost the school’s visibility and school spirit.

Fournier also talked about changes in the school’s teaching methods for the elementary campus in Lewiston and the campus for grades seven through 12 in Auburn.

A common direction in public schools is STEM (science, technology, engineering and math.) It blends the four disciplines in lessons.

St. Dom’s is shifting to a similar style, Fournier said, but it will become STREAM by adding religion and art (science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math).

STREAM learning is being piloted in some classes and will be expanded to more, Fournier said. Some teachers are undergoing professional development in STREAM, and that training will continue to grow, he said.

Blended learning is a proven, researched-based approach that works, he said. “We’re not just jumping on the next new thing.”

He illustrated what a STREAM class could look like. If, for example, a class is studying Thanksgiving, included in learning could be the holiday’s history, the civil aspects, religion and engineering by examining how historical ships were built.

“There’s no limit,” Fournier said.

Also, classes are increasing the use of technology, more hands-on learning and working in groups, Fournier said.

For instance, a second-grade classroom would spent some time learning on computers at their own pace, time interacting with their teacher, and group discussion overseen by teachers as students share ideas and work on projects together.

The school is shifting how it teaches religion by regaining the Dominic heritage of study, prayer, community and service, Fournier said. While the school has always done community service, it will become a bigger part of religion, as will prayer.

As for the school mascot, that’s being developed by high school students in a social media class.

When the mascot is developed, students will wear a life-size costume during spirit week, skating on the ice or leading cheers at game intermissions.

The mascot will wear a costume, just like Bananas, the University of Maine’s bear mascot, and Slugger, the mascot for the Portland Sea Dogs.

The new mascot has not  been given a name, but it will be a saint, Fournier said.

A naming contest will be held to select a name. Fournier’s suggestion: “Dom the Strong.”

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