The school's Band Program provides a wonderful opportunity for students to maximize their potential by learning to play a musical instrument and experience music lessons as a group.
There is a beginner band (Blue Band) and an Advanced Band (Gold Band). Both bands perform a Christmas concert and a Spring Concert for both the school and the School/Parish community. Band is open to students in grades 4-8
Band students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades have the opportunity to audition for the Diocesan Honors Band. Students who place high enough in this band move ahead to the Diocesan All-Star Band, which is comprised of students from the three Diocesan Honors Bands.
Instrumental music is offered once a week. Band students receive a small group lesson and a full band rehearsal each week. The group lesson schedule rotates so that students don’t miss the same class each week.
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." -Plato
Chess is a popular mind sport! It is not only fun to play, but also has many educational benefits. Chess has been shown to develop numerical skills, problem solving, pattern visualization, memory, creativity, concentration, confidence, and self-esteem.
Chess club is for all students 3rd-8th grade, for novice or advance chess players.
For more information please contact Mrs. Kim Connelly at [email protected]
The School Musical is open to all students in grades 5-8. Students have the opportunity to develop singing, acting, and ensemble performance skills through practicing and the performance of various musicals. Those not wishing to perform are always needed on the Stage Crew.
Past musicals include: Aladdin Jr, Lion King, Jr.; Beauty and the Beast, Jr., Mary Poppins, Into the Woods, Godspell, Peter Pan Jr and The Little Mermaid. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2025 spring musical!
As part of the Holy Sepulcher Catholic School Science curriculum, students in 6th through 8th grade are required to participate in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) competition. Students investigate a topic of their choosing, conduct an experiment they design and report their findings through a ten-minute oral presentation. In conjunction with this project, the students write a research paper based on their chosen topic.
Read about the history of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (pdf).
The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science sponsored by the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, as an Affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science is organized with the following objectives:
Holy Sepulcher Catholic School embarked on a new academic adventure with the introduction of robots into the classrooms. Through the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, Westminster College and our Midwestern Intermediate Unit, our school was able to send Mr. Rechenberg to a teacher’s robotics conference for training and receive 10 free Mindstorm LEGO robots and classroom software for our Media Lab. Our school is blessed to receive these training, robots, and software, valued at over $4000, for free! With the help of local businesses and interested individuals, we hope to secure further donations to purchase the final items needed to round out the program.
Please contact Holy Sepulcher at 724-586-5022 or [email protected] if you or your company is interested in supporting our robotics curriculum.
Our goal is to use the motivational effects of robots to excite students about science, math and technology. As students take part in computer, math and science classes, they will work in teams to master robotic skills that will increase in difficulty as the year progresses. While learning how to work with a team and share ideas with each other, students will be integrating science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills. By using a “hands-on,” team approach to learning, our STEM education will teach the students important STEM skills, improve students problem-solving techniques and increase their ability to communicate and work with each other.
Our Robotics Program has two parts — in the classroom and after school. Mr. Rechenberg includes robots in the computer, math and science classes he teaches. Students learn how to use the software to program their robots to complete simple tasks. As students work on each task, they will work in small groups and through this will build the skills needed to share ideas with others, communicate thoughts, and marry their ideas with other’s ideas. We also put into practice problem-solving skills taught in math and science. The amazing part of all of this learning through robots is that it will be so much fun! The challenges students will face will be exciting to overcome. And the idea of working with their classmates will encourage them to participate without them even realizing that a lot of learning is taking place.
The second part of our Robotics Program is an after school Robotics Club for 6th – 8th grades. Our team of robotic engineers will extend their learning in a continued team effort. We hope to continue to bring in experts from the field of robotics to assist students and offer their experience. We have some adults interested in assisting our club.
The Robotics Club generally meets Monday evenings from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Please let Mr. Rechenberg know if you are interested in being part our Robotics team. Call the School Office at 724-586-5022 or send an email to [email protected].
Holy Sepulcher Catholic School students in grades 4 through 6 participate in a Diocesan-wide Spelling Bee. The students begin with a preliminary round in their respective classrooms. The preliminary round results in naming the top three contestants in every class, resulting in a nine person field for the final round. A school bee with the nine semi-finalists is held. The winner of this bee represents Holy Sepulcher in the Diocesan Spelling Bee.
The Student Council, under the guidance of our teachers, empowers our student leaders to work with the faculty and staff to develop programs and activities that improve the school and student life and engage our students in charitable efforts that help people in the community. The Student Council leads the school in the following:
Student Council members are required to attend monthly planning meetings. These meetings are held before school from 8 – 8:30 a.m.
The Holy Sepulcher Yearbook is a collaborative effort between the 8th-grade students and the yearbook advisors. The yearbook is set up in a “club” format, which means that the 8th-grade staff and advisors meet after school.