June 30, 2010

School's pilot with single-gender classes a success
A special to the Denver Catholic Register

A move to teach a two-week human body science class in a setting that was more comfortable for seventh-grade students had positive results that led to a single-gender pilot program at a local parish school. The program was so successful the school has decided to keep the structure permanently, school officials said.

Three years ago, Becky Mock, the junior high science teacher at Notre Dame School in Denver, suggested students be divided into single-gender classes for the human body/reproductive unit.  The positive response led Mock to study single-gender education while working toward her master’s degree. After documenting results from the seventh- and eighth-grade classes at Notre Dame, she attended a week-long conference last June at the Gurian Institute in Colorado Springs on the advantages of single-gender education.  Subsequently, Charlene Molis, Notre Dame school principal, presented the concept to school parents and the decision was made to implement single-gender classes during the 2009-2010 school year and to re-evaluate the project mid-year.  

Math, science and language arts were taught in smaller, single-gender classes; religion, social studies, literature and specials classes were co-educational.  All students had recess and lunch together.

In January, enthusiastic students, parents and school staff agreed, overwhelmingly, to continue the structure permanently.  

“The single-gender classes have made a profound impact on the children in many ways,” said parent Connie Miller. “There is a comfort level that encourages students to be themselves and not try to impress others.  The students really like it.”

Research shows that single-gender classes are advantageous to students, especially during the early teen years.  Two eighth-grade graduates weighed in on the change.

“It’s a lot easier because we weren’t trying to impress the girls,” said Ryan Apodaca. “We were doing our work.”  

Lauren Bizzigotti said she liked it because, “I could be myself, and not be afraid to ask questions.”

Molis said the school’s model is unique in the Denver Archdiocese.

“We were unable to find any other school (here) that offered both single-gender and coed classes,” she said. “It truly is the best of both worlds.  While there is plenty of research to support single-gender education, especially in middle school, we have been overwhelmed by the success of the students, the support of the parents, and the enthusiasm of the teachers.”