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In this episode of the Saint Agnes Podcast Series, Host Michael Adkins takes listeners on a brief tour of educational neuroscience and its relevance for liberal arts classical education. This episode contains 5 parts: Part I offers an intro to educational neuroscience (2:16-6:24); Part II reveals how modern science of the brain affirms the classical liberal arts model (6:25-10:53); Part III is a fascinating interview with our Guidance Counselor Mrs. Jolene Schmitz on how to support our students with brain-based strategies (10:54-20:42); Part IV offers an overview of the brain lessons I taught in my Latin classes (20:42-23:39); Part V is an overview of data and feedback from a student survey I administered after the lessons - you'll also hear directly from students! (23:40-32:04); The episode ends with a brief recap and offer of resources (32:05-33:18).  For more brain-based learning/teaching information contact: madkins@saintagnesschool.org   The text referenced was "Research Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning" by Judy Willis & Malana Willis (2020).

Saint Agnes School is proud to share with everyone the 2021 Divine Mercy Passion Play performed by our 6th grade students. The narration and character voices were recorded on site under the direction of Mrs. Claire Bona over the past several weeks. Our students worked very hard and are proud to present to the Saint Agnes community the final production, assembled by Mrs. Bona, author of the original script. Normally, this annual event would have been performed during Holy Week for parents, teachers, and fellow students in the beautiful Helene Houle Auditorium. While it is not, sadly, the live performance with all our 6th graders, we hope that this recording inspires everyone to contemplate God's unfathomable Divine Mercy during the Triduum and Easter season! "Jesus, I trust in you!"

Part I of our investigation of Cultural Literacy features Dr. Anika Prather, professor of Classics at Howard University and founder of Living Water School, who will help us explore the importance of cultural literacy as Americans, as Christians, and as people of goodwill from various diverse backgrounds. In addition, Dr. Prather, a proud African American educator, wife, and mother of three, will evaluate current trends that threaten to "cancel" the Western Canon of the Great Books, and she will underscore the importance of a traditional Liberal Arts education. Part II will feature Dr. Dave Deavel from the University of St. Thomas.

Read Dr. Prather's beautiful 3-part reflection entitled "Classic Learning in Black History" at the Classic Learning Test (CLT) Blog: https://blog.cltexam.com/classic-learning-in-black-history-part-i/

Sr. Teresa Christi and Mrs. Lori Dumas, faculty at Saint Agnes School, discuss the importance of teaching History (as opposed to "Social Studies") as well as aspects of our philosophical and pedagogical approaches to this critical subject.

Saint Agnes School is proud to share with everyone this audio drama, created with the script for the 6th Grade Divine Mercy Passion Play. This annual event would have been performed this Holy Week for parents, teachers, and fellow students in the beautiful Helene Houle Auditorium. With the acting support of the 1st grade and selected 5th Graders, our 6th grade students had already put many hours into memorizing their lines, roles, and blocking, and creating voice-over recordings for the performance. In honor of the 6th Grade and their hard work, and as a gift to everyone during this strange Holy Week in quarantine, Mrs. Claire Bona (6th grade teacher and Director of the Passion Play) and her immediate family produced this audio drama. The voice recordings were created with special guests Dr. Kathleen Kirsch and Ms. Sami Burr, fellow members of the Saint Agnes faculty. The original voice-over recordings of student actors have also been integrated in the drama; featuring the vocals of Kidus Dawit as Jesus, Lily Drayton as Saint Faustina, Anali Flores as Mother Mary, and Rafael West as Saint Peter. While it is not, sadly, the live performance with all our 6th graders, we hope this recording inspires everyone to contemplate God's unfathomable Divine Mercy during the Triduum and Easter season! "Jesus, I trust in you!"

Mrs. Leila Vance and Dr. Scott Pentecost talk about reading to learn, the art of asking good questions, and how to engage in great conversation.