Father Patrick Posey, rector of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, blessed a new design lab for pre-K through eighth grade students at St. Thomas More Cathedral School Nov. 18. The dedicated facility will provide a central location for innovative technology where students can collaborate on STEM projects and expand their critical thinking skills. 

Students visit the lab, which houses technology including robotics, 3D printers and programs for coding, several times each month. Additionally, eighth graders plan to launch a news program, “Royal News,” with use of a green screen. 

“Students expand their critical thinking skills when they gather and work together on rich, open-ended tasks,” said Emily Stocker, technology and engineering coordinator. 

“We are preparing them for a future where technology is integrated in every part of their world,” said Principal Cathy Davis. “The design lab format fosters creativity between teachers, grade levels and multi-level learning groups that are not otherwise possible in the single classroom setting. We can truly differentiate learning when we embrace technology in education.”