Personalized Learning, also known as EDGE, is a learning program in Holy Family schools that has just newly been introduced to Wahlert at the beginning of this school year. It began last year for sixth graders and has now been introduced to fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth graders. Fortyone freshmen are currently participating and six teachers are instructing with more already trained and equipped to teach personalized learning classes. How are the PLP (Personalized Learning Program) students doing?

“So far I like Edge a lot because I can go at my own pace and the projects are normally really fun. The content assessments also really challenge me, so it is more motivating,” said Cathryn Skahill, ‘22.

The PLP encourages students to work independently and allows teachers to customize instruction in order to meet students’ individual needs and interests. The program also prepares students for their futures, based on how they learn best. The PLP students can use the skills they learn on the daily, not just in school.

“Some of the benefits of this program are that I am more focused on my schoolwork and there are parts of Edge that I can incorporate into my everyday life with the cognitive skills,” said Diego Mejia Moreno, ‘22.

Through the PLP, students are given feedback and time with their assigned teacher, known as their mentor. Students meet with their mentor once a week to talk about the past week, whether it be school work or personal life. To help students on a more personal level, PLP students have a different relationship with their mentor than a normal teacher.

“It’s nice to have a mentor because it’s awesome always having someone there to check up on me to make sure I’m on track,” said Zoey May, ‘22.

Another benefit to being a student in the PLP is the flexibility that comes with it. Because the students are learning a lot of the material on their own, they may use their time outside of class to work on it or not work on it at all and save it for the next class.

Ella Olberding, ‘22, thinks, “Edge is way better than normal school because as long as you get your work done in class, you almost never have work to do at home. It’s also way easier to catch up with things.”

The PLP is gaining popularity rapidly through the success it has had and has a very bright future.

“I think eventually it’s going to be the education system of Holy Family Catholic Schools,” said Principal Ron Meyers, “and, beyond that, I believe it will become the education system in the state of Iowa, if not across the country.”