👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Communication Guide¶

Location: Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic School · Belle Plaine, MN · Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

This resource provides templates and strategies for engaging families in C-STEM education, helping them understand and support the unique approach of Catholic STEM education.

📋 Overview¶

Research shows that family involvement significantly impacts student success in STEM education. Catholic schools have a unique opportunity to engage families in understanding how faith and science work together in their child's education.

Goals of Parent Communication: 1. Help parents understand C-STEM's faith integration 2. Provide resources for extending learning at home 3. Build excitement about Catholic STEM education 4. Create opportunities for family participation

📝 Communication Templates¶

Template 1: Introduction to C-STEM Letter¶

Use at beginning of school year or when starting C-STEM program

Subject: Introducing C-STEM Education at [School Name]

Dear [Family Name],

Welcome to our C-STEM (Catholic STEM) program! This year, your child will engage in exciting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning with a unique difference—our Catholic faith is woven throughout every lesson.

What is C-STEM? C-STEM integrates Catholic identity into STEM education. Rather than treating faith and science as separate subjects, we help students see them as complementary ways of understanding God's amazing creation.

What Makes C-STEM Special?

Wonder at Creation: Students explore the beauty and complexity of God's world
Faith and Reason: Science and faith work together to reveal truth
Service to Others: Students learn to use STEM skills to help their neighbors
Catholic Heritage: We highlight the Church's rich history of scientific discovery

What Will Your Child Learn? Your child will develop:

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Collaboration and communication abilities
Understanding of how STEM serves the common good
Appreciation for the harmony of faith and reason

How Can You Help?

Ask your child what they learned and how it connects to our faith
Encourage curiosity and wonder at home
Explore science and nature together as a family
Discuss how technology can be used responsibly

We look forward to an exciting year of learning and discovery!

In Christ,

[Teacher Name] C-STEM Educator

Template 2: Weekly/Unit Parent Update¶

Use regularly to keep parents informed

C-STEM Update: [Date]

This Week in C-STEM:

📚 What We Learned: [Brief description of STEM content]

🙏 Faith Connection: [How faith was integrated]

👨‍🔬 Catholic Scientist Spotlight: [If applicable—name and brief connection]

✨ Wonder Moment: We were amazed by [specific discovery/observation]!

Discussion Starters for Home: 1. Ask your child: "[Specific question about lesson]" 2. Discuss: "[Faith connection question]" 3. Explore together: "[Extension activity]"

Coming Up Next Week: [Brief preview]

Family Challenge (Optional): [Home activity families can do together]

Template 3: Project Information Letter¶

Use when students begin a major project

C-STEM Project: [Project Name]

Dear Families,

Your child is beginning an exciting C-STEM project! Here's what you need to know:

Project Overview: [Brief description of the project]

Learning Goals:

STEM Skills: [What students will learn]
Faith Connection: [How project connects to Catholic teaching]
Service Focus: [How project serves others]

Timeline:

Start Date: [Date]
Checkpoints: [Dates]
Completion: [Date]
Presentation: [Date—families invited?]

What Your Child Will Need: [List any materials needed from home]

How You Can Support:

Ask about progress regularly
Help with research at home (but don't do the work!)
Discuss the faith connection
Encourage perseverance when challenges arise

Questions to Ask Your Child: 1. What problem is your project solving? 2. How does this project help others? 3. What has been challenging? How did you work through it? 4. How does this project connect to our faith?

Family Involvement Opportunity: [Any ways families can participate]

We appreciate your partnership!

[Teacher Name]

Template 4: STEM Fair Family Guide¶

Use for science fair preparation

C-STEM Fair Guide for Families

What Makes Our STEM Fair Catholic?

Unlike secular science fairs, our C-STEM Fair asks students to:

Connect their project to Catholic Social Teaching
Explain how their work serves others or cares for creation
Demonstrate the harmony of faith and reason
Show how they used their God-given talents

Judging Categories: 1. STEM Content & Process (30%) 2. Faith Integration (20%) 3. Service & Application (15%) 4. 21^st Century Skills (20%) 5. Presentation (15%)

Faith Integration Questions Students Should Answer:

How does your project connect to Catholic teaching?
Who does your project help? (Care for others, environment, community)
How did wonder or curiosity inspire your project?
What does your project show about God's creation?

How to Help Without Doing the Work: ✅ DO:

Ask guiding questions
Help find resources
Encourage persistence
Discuss faith connections
Provide materials
Celebrate effort

❌ DON'T:

Do the project yourself
Write reports for your child
Build for your child
Provide all the answers

Timeline: [Key dates and deadlines]

Questions? Contact [Teacher Name] at [Email]

📋 Discussion Guides for Home¶

Faith and Science Conversation Starters¶

For Young Children (K-2):

"What did you see today that God made?"
"How does [lesson topic] show us that God is amazing?"
"What do you want to ask God about the world?"

For Elementary (3-5):

"What did you learn today that made you say 'wow'?"
"How does what you learned help you understand God's creation?"
"How could you use what you learned to help others?"

For Middle School (6-8):

"What did you discover about how faith and science work together?"
"How does [topic] connect to Catholic Social Teaching?"
"What ethical questions came up in your learning today?"
"How did Catholic scientists contribute to this field?"

🏠 Home Extension Activities¶

Family STEM + Faith Activities¶

Nature Walk Wonder Take a walk and notice God's creation. Ask:

What patterns do you see?
What amazes you?
What questions do you have?
Let's thank God for what we observed.

Kitchen Science Cook or bake together and discuss:

How do ingredients change when mixed/heated?
What patterns do you notice in recipes?
How is cooking like doing an experiment?
Thank God for providing food and the wisdom to prepare it.

Stargazing Look at the stars together and discuss:

How many stars can we count?
What did Fr. Georges Lemaître discover about the universe?
Read Psalm 19:1 together.
How big must God be to have created all this?

Building Challenge Build something together (blocks, LEGO, cardboard) and discuss:

What makes structures strong?
How is this like what engineers do?
How can we use building skills to help others?
Thank God for the gift of creativity.

Technology Talk When using technology together, discuss:

How does this technology help people?
How should we use technology responsibly?
What would happen if this technology was misused?
How can we use technology to serve others?

📧 Email Templates¶

Positive News Email¶

Subject: Great News from C-STEM!

Dear [Parent Name],

I wanted to share a wonderful moment from C-STEM class today!

[Specific positive observation about the student]

[Student name]'s [specific skill/attitude] is a joy to see. Keep up the great work!

In Christ, [Teacher Name]

Invitation to Presentation¶

Subject: You're Invited: C-STEM Project Presentations

Dear Families,

You are cordially invited to our C-STEM Project Presentations!

When: [Date and Time] Where: [Location] What: Students will present their projects and explain how they connected STEM learning with their Catholic faith.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see how your child has grown as a learner and how faith is integrated into their STEM education.

We hope to see you there!

[Teacher Name]

📊 Parent Survey¶

Use to gather feedback

C-STEM Parent Feedback Survey

My child talks about C-STEM at home: ☐ Often ☐ Sometimes ☐ Rarely ☐ Never
I understand how faith is integrated into STEM lessons: ☐ Very well ☐ Somewhat ☐ Not well ☐ Not at all
The parent communication I receive is: ☐ Very helpful ☐ Somewhat helpful ☐ Not helpful
I feel equipped to support C-STEM learning at home: ☐ Very much ☐ Somewhat ☐ Not really ☐ Not at all
What do you appreciate most about C-STEM?
What questions do you have about C-STEM?
How could we better support families in C-STEM education?
Would you be interested in: ☐ Volunteering in C-STEM class ☐ Sharing your STEM career ☐ Family STEM night ☐ More resources for home

🤝 Family Involvement Opportunities¶

Ways Families Can Participate¶

In the Classroom:

Guest speaker (share STEM career)
Volunteer helper during projects
Donate supplies/materials
Mentor for STEM fair projects

At School Events:

Attend C-STEM presentations
Help at STEM family night
Judge STEM fair projects
Participate in service projects

At Home:

Extend learning with home activities
Discuss faith-science connections
Explore nature and creation
Model curiosity and wonder

In the Community:

Connect classroom to community resources
Identify service project opportunities
Share professional connections
Support parish STEM initiatives

🙏 Prayer for C-STEM Families¶

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of learning And for the families who support their children.

Help our families to wonder at Your creation, To see faith and science as paths to truth, And to use knowledge to serve others.

Guide parents as they support learning at home, And strengthen the partnership between Home, school, and Church.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Guide Version: 2.0
Framework: C-STREAM
Based on: Family Engagement Best Practices & Catholic Education Partnership