Academics
Preparatory (9-12)
Departments

Creative Inquiry

The Creative Inquiry department offers several courses designated with a “CI” prefix, each of which structure a different kind of educational experience we call an “inquiry.” Between the various options available, Creative Inquiry can support and facilitate creative action in just about whatever form it may take. 

List of 3 items.

  • Student Projects

    In CI, students can, for example, construct 
    • a material craft, such as an engine or a piece of furniture;
    • a digital craft, such as a website or an app; or
    • a piece of media, such as a newspaper, a video, or a radio broadcast.
     

    They can also
    • produce a piece of fine art like a play, a film, or a symphony;
    • create an organization that promotes a cause they believe in; or
    • stage an event that raises awareness around an issue of social justice. 
     
    The direction or end product of creative action matters less than the experience of taking genuine responsibility for a meaningful endeavor. This experience, we believe, serves as the greatest teacher.


  • Pre-Inquiry Experiences

    In addition to CI courses, Creative Inquiry facilitates and supports experiences that help younger students build up to an inquiry experience, which students generally undertake in their junior and senior year. These experiences include various clubs, teams, organizations, and no-block classes in which students of any grade can participate. Examples include: SHP’s FIRST Robotics Team, the Sacred Heart Blacksmith Guild, and the several student media organizations.
  • Interdisciplinary Activities

    Ultimately, Creative Inquiry strives to be a nucleus for collaborative, creative action on campus and thus extends department course offerings. Academic classes from the traditional disciplines make use of the CI Lab to enrich learning experiences.

    In the past year, for example:
    • Marine Biology classes have partnered with Creative Inquiry to build Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for underwater exploration,
    • English classes to facilitate film projects, and
    • Latin classes to build Roman Chariots.
    In addition, in January 2016 the SHP "Design Lab for Innovation in Teaching" was formed to offer a space for interdisciplinary creative collaboration and promote innovations in pedagogy.

List of 4 members.

  • Photo of Forrest Jensen

    Forrest Jensen 

    Broadcast Studio Manager/Audio Engineer
  • Photo of Moshe Quinn

    Moshe Quinn 

    Fine Arts Co-Department Head & Visual Arts Teacher - SHP
  • Photo of Brian Bell

    Brian Bell 

    Director Creative Inquiry Lab, Stained Glass & Marine Biology Teacher - SHP
  • Photo of Jake Moffat

    Jake Moffat 

    English Co-Department Head & Creative Inquiry Teacher - SHP

Sacred Heart Schools Atherton

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton

150 Valparaiso Ave
Atherton, CA 94027
650 322 1866
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12