April 13, 2018 (Louisville, Ky.) – On April 4, 2018, during the National Catholic Education Association Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saint Leonard Community School (440 Zorn Avenue) received the Today’s Catholic Teacher “Innovations in Catholic Education Award.”  Saint Leonard won this national award in the “Curriculum and Instruction” category for its middle school program entitled “20% Time.”

The concept for “20% Time” emerged from the business world, mirroring the practices of companies such as Google and 3M, who give their employees one day a week to work on a project of their choice.

Saint Leonard School adapted this program for the school setting by organizing middle school students in groups for two fifty-minute periods each week. During this time, student groups work on a school-wide collaborative learning project, the Library Media Center Renovation, as well on an individual project of their choice.

For the Library Media Center Renovation, student groups have handled everything from public relations to budgeting and fundraising to planning for furniture, flooring, and technology.

Individual projects students have explored include designing a butterfly garden for migrating monarch butterflies, exploring ways to help people who live in poverty in Louisville, creating a small company to upcycle clothing into new and repurposed clothing items, exploring stress reduction through art, writing a musical and exploring avenues for donations to the Brain Tumor Foundation.

For more information contact  Laura Emly at (502) 897-5265 or email lemly@stleonardlouisville.org.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email