Student Life

Activities

Students at all levels are encouraged to participate in some of the many extracurricular offerings designed for fun and learning. Many are described below and new ones are offered each year.

Band

Band instruction is available for interested students from Levels 4-8. The Diocesan Program determines the monthly fee annually. Instruments can be rented with the option to buy. Small group lessons are provided one period a week and the band practices together weekly. Class periods are rotated so the same subjects are not missed too often. However, it remains the responsibility of the student to make up missed class work. A meeting is held at the beginning of each school year to provide more information for interested parents.
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Chess Club

The Sacred Heart PTG Educational Enrichment Committee offers beginner chess lessons in the fall semester and intermediate/advanced lessons in the winter. Experienced chess players participate in tournaments in the Pittsburgh area. The after-school classes are taught by a paid chess expert.

Students pair off against one another to sharpen their skills. It has been shown that learning the game of chess improves problem-solving skills, discipline, memory, and mathematical skills. Volunteers are always welcome to assist and supervise the students—no chess experience is necessary.
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Conflict Resolution

Sacred Heart has a Conflict Resolution Program designed to help students develop peacemaking skills, both to further their own social development and to uphold the Christian atmosphere of Sacred Heart. Students are trained in communication and conflict resolution skills and meet periodically to practice these skills, using common situations that may be encountered. When disputes occur between students, they are offered the opportunity to meet with two members of the Conflict Resolution Team to work out the problem. It is hoped that the experience will enable students to develop positive relationships.
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English Festival

Sacred Heart participates in the English Festival organized by the Western Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English. Children in grades 4-6 read four books and compete with other area kids in the spring. Each meeting will be interactive and cooperative. Students work in rotating teams of five to prepare for the competition. For more information about the English Festival, go to: http://www.wpcte.org/pages.php?page=show&name=18
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Geography Bee

The National Geographic Bee is designed to spark student interest in the subject and to increase public awareness about geography. Sacred Heart students in grades 4 through 8 meet on Tuesdays during recess to practice questions, and use globes, atlases, and geography games to prepare for local, state, and national competition. More information can be found at www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee
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Junior Great Books

Sacred Heart now offers Junior Great Books as a volunteer-led, after-school activity. Junior Great Books is a structured activity, with training and materials provided through the Great Books Foundation.

Children are divided by grade level and receive a student anthology (to keep) containing selections of great literature appropriate to their age level. Each week they read assigned material from the anthology. They meet once a week with a trained volunteer who guides them through interpretive discussions, writing, and other activities about the current reading selection. Through the “Shared Inquiry” method of learning, children search for answers to fundamental questions raised by a text. They learn to find evidence for their answers within the text, and they also learn to organize their thoughts for discussion and writing.

Junior Great Books meets after school and is open to children of all grade levels, K-8 (depending on interest).
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Math 24

Math 24 is offered to students in Levels 4-8 to promote interest in mathematics. Interested students meet once a week at lunchtime to compete in pairs in a mental math game. Class competitions produce one finalist per division to attend a diocesan competition in the spring.
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Piano Lessons

Sacred Heart Elementary School offers private piano instruction for a fee during school hours. Lessons are one half hour, once a week. Teachers and parents determine an appropriate period for the lesson in order not to add any academic strain to student schedules. It is the responsibility of the student to make up class work missed. Sacred Heart is thrilled to carry on this legacy of Sister of Charity, Patricia Jordan. Inquire at the school office for availability and further details.
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School Dances

Several times a year, school dances are offered for students in grades 6-8. Parent chaperones are always welcome.
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School Musicals

The music program stages several performances a year. Working closely with the music teacher, students, divided by grade level, practice and perfect a show to be performed for parents and the rest of the school. The production is usually performed revue-style and and is rehearsed as a part of the music curriculum during school hours.
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School Newspaper

The Pulse, a student newspaper, is published twice a semester. The paper is put together by interested 7th- and 8th-grade students working with a parent moderator.
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Student Council

Student Council consists of approximately 20 students from Levels 5-8. Students desiring to be on Student Council write an essay, receive teacher endorsements, and make a speech to fellow students. Finally, elections are held in individual grades and representatives chosen. At the first meeting of the new council, four officers are chosen to plan and run meetings with the help of the faculty advisors.

The organizational goal is to foster esprit de corps through student planning and implementation of school activities. The Student Council sponsors social events, including dances, pep rallies, and talent shows. The students plan for school outreach activities to benefit the community and organize fundraisers for various charities and mission efforts.
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Summer Camp

Summer Camp operates for two weeks after school ends in June. Programs such as Creative Kids I, Creative Kids II, Summer Fun as well as Web Site Design and Digital Youth classes are among the offerings, which may vary from year to year. Camps often include crafts, visits to area parks, theme days, and much more. Some camps run from 9 a.m. to noon, others are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Before- and after-camp care available.
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Yearbook

A group of 7th- and 8th-graders work with a teacher-moderator to design the yearbook. The group uses a web-based program in conjunction with the company that takes school pictures. Photographers on the staff are called to capture moments in the classrooms throughout the school year. In the spring, the designing and editing is done. The process of taking the photos and arranging them on the pages and working with the rest of the staff is an enriching experience for all involved.
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