Selective Electives
Did you know our Middle School Electives Program at St. Margaret of Scotland School is one-of-a-kind? As we enter into Lent, I want to share with you another way our community is generously sharing their gifts and giving of themselves here in our school. It’s quite amazing!
We will begin our third and final trimester of the ‘25-’26 school year on February 23rd. Each morning, as every soul walks through our door, we continue to do our best to stand firm in our commitment to greet and form each precious one in mind, body, and spirit. Along with our strong core academics and enriching specials such as Art, Music, and PE, our 6th-8th-grade Dragons get the opportunity to grow in breadth and depth as they learn about the world and their place in it.
Did you say, “Beer”? Don’t worry… our students won’t be brewing beer! But what will they be brewing?! In his applied science elective, called Brewing Up Science, Mr. Schubert, the owner and master brewer of Millpond Brewing, will use chemistry, biology, and engineering to show students that brewing is not simply an art—it is precise science. Students explore water chemistry and pH testing, microbiology, fermentation science, engineering principles, and food safety protocols through Hands-on experiments and projects.
Did you all know that Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, our Associate Pastor, is a seasoned veteran of the U.S. House of Representatives! He’s calling his course, “The Hill at St. Margaret’s: Building a Model US Congress.” With his 24 years of public policy experience in Washington, D.C., Fr. Patrick guides our students through the inner workings of the federal government by creating fantasy political parties and forming a model U.S. Congress. They’ll learn how laws, policies, and procedures are developed, the art of governance, and thoughtful leadership.
Throughout the years, we have been blessed that St. Margaret students have been exposed to both Mindfulness classes and Social/Emotional learning. This year, I’m excited that Dr. Katherine Witzig, a retired Philosophy Professor, is offering a logic elective! Her “Fun Fallacies” course will equip students with tools for clear thinking in today’s media world. Through games, debates, and real-world examples, students will learn to spot faulty reasoning and misleading arguments. I am sure that parents (and teachers alike 🙂 will appreciate how this course builds logic, respectful disagreement, and confident communication in an emotionally charged culture.
We even have a Reporter from St. Louis Public Radio offering an elective this trimester! These students will learn the fundamentals of journalism, its history, and societal role, and have a chance to report their own stories. They’ll practice reporting across various media and ultimately write or record an original news piece focused on Saint Margaret of Scotland.
Finally, Mrs. Heithaus returns for her elective called “Partying with the Catholic Church: Celebrating the Liturgical Seasons.” Students will dive into the liturgical calendar and discover the rich, sometimes quirky traditions that form the culture of our shared faith.
I believe these electives reflect our Catholic vision: faith and reason, tradition and innovation, community and excellence. During this time of Lent, when we focus a bit more on prayer, fasting, and alms-giving, I am so grateful for the generous experts and all of you who support our school and our mission in both tangible and intangible ways. It is a privilege to be part of a team that helps us prepare our students not only for high school but for lives of purpose, curiosity, and faithful service.
Throughout the school year, we will be highlighting the amazing and wonderful things that are happening in our classrooms and grade levels at St. Margaret of Scotland School. We are very proud of the work our teachers do with our students and are amazed by what happens at SMOS. Our goal is to share more about the hidden gem that is St. Margaret’s.
