As our world becomes more interconnected and complex, it is imperative that our students learn how to work effectively with others.  This involves sharing ideas, building on each other's inputs, solving problems together, and respecting different perspectives.  Collaborative activities and projects at school encourages responsibility and accountability, boosts engagement and involvement, promotes leadership and confidence, and builds important social and emotional skills.

Collaborative activities comes in many forms at ACS:  in the classroom, in between grades, and as an entire school.

Classroom Collaboration:

1.  Group projects:  students are assigned to group where everyone contributes to a presentation, solution, structure, art piece, and/or model.

2.  Class discussions and debate:  students learn from the perspectives of others.

3.  Peer learning:  students help each other to complete activities or explain concepts. 

4.  Service projects:  classes work as a team to perform acts of mercy in our community

5.  Citizen Science:  Classes collect data to contribute to the greater scientific community, like the Great Backyard Bird Count

Inter-grade Collaboration

1.  STREAM Days:  Groups are of mixed grades work together to complete activities.  Middle school students engage in a competition to see who can score the most points on Goosechase.  Middle school students also help lead groups or activities during STREAM days for the elementary grades.

2. Middle School Buddies - Middle school students regularly help with activities in the Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade classrooms.

3. All grades work together to maintain and grow crops in our school garden.

School Community Events -- Community partners, parents, students, teachers, and administrators all contribute to bring special events and to celebrate our school and our students.  Students learn that collaboration throughout our school can produce amazing results!

1.  Robotics Pep Rallys:  multiple classes help set up activities, participate during the rally, or make posters, hats, or other items to celebrate the accomplishments of the Robotics Team.

2.  Career Expo:  members of the community share with students information about their careers.  Students interact with presenters in small groups.

3.  Catholic Schools Week:  all classes work together to bring together our school community to celebrate Catholic schools.  Activities include Kick-Off events (like our Cereal Dominos demo), the 8th grade donor lunch (served and cooked by the 8th grade class), a service project and In Our Students celebration (this year:  a school carnival).     

4.  Art Auction:  all classes work together on art pieces to sell at our annual fundraiser.

5.  Community Luncheons:  Middle school students create menus and cook for fellowship with their families, teachers, and other middle school students.  Examples include 8th grade's Thanksgiving Feast, 7th grade's Christmas Elf Day Brunch, and 6th grade's Mother's Day Brunch.

6.  Grandparents Day:  Students work with their grandparents to complete STREAM challenges in their classrooms.

7.  Family STREAM Challenges:  Students work with members of their family to complete a specific STREAM challenge.