GIFTED EXPO TAKES PARTICIPANTS ‘AROUND THE WORLD’
Elementary School. Additionally, they wrote a research paper
about their country.
This year 34 students participated, sharing their information
about 33 different countries, including Estonia, Nigeria, Mali and
the Bahamas.
The students were prepared for this event by Bethel Park
Elementary Gifted Coordinator Lisa Yost. Assisting at this year’s
Gifted Expo were 20 Bethel Park High School National Honor
Society students, who participated in the Gifted Expo when they
were elementary students.
1 2 3
4 1. If you stopped by Franklin Third Grader Harley Dale’s
exhibit about Germany, you got to enjoy a soft
pretzel!
2. Lincoln Fourth Grader Rocco Capozzoli was excited to
share his knowledge of Morocco with the attendees
at this year’s Elementary Gifted Expo.
3. A smiling Sadie Nelson, a Third Grader at William
Penn, greeted Expo attendees at her presentation
about Mexico.
4. Memorial Third Grader Gavin Stoehr dressed in
traditional garb to talk about Romania.
5. Visitors enjoyed learning all about Latvia from
Washington Fourth Grader Jin Zhang. 5
LIBRARY RECEIVED TWO
STEM GRANTS
M
emorial Elementary School re-
ceived two grants to help fund
the newly-created Makerspace
area in the school’s Library.
First, the Library received a $600 grant
from the Society for Analytical Chemists
of Pittsburgh to purchase STEM-related
equipment.
With the grant, Librarian Mrs. Oczkowski
was able to purchase three KEVA wooden
plank construction sets, a K’NEX Building
Simple Machines set, a K’NEX construction
and a D-Stixs set. This equipment will coin-
cide nicely with the monthly STEM lessons
her students participate in. The Memorial
Makerspace also has Legos, Magnatiles,
wooden blocks and other K’NEX equip-
ment, some of it generously donated by
parents, with more STEM-related equip-
ment and activities to follow!
The second grant was a $350 grant from
the Bethel Park Community Foundation,
which will also be used to pur-
chase materials for the Maker-
space area.
Both grants were written by
Librarian Cathy Oczkowski, who
created a Makerspace area in
the library where students can
participate in a variety of as-
(Left to right): Bethel Park Community Foundation President Dan Duff,
signed STEM-related challenges BPCF Secretary Britney Hollick, Memorial Librarian Cathy Oczkowski
and Memorial Principal Eric Chalus.
or explore areas of interest on
their own.
Mrs. Oczkowski’s vision for the Mak-
Maker activities that correspond with
erspace is that it will be a place where
what they are learning in their classrooms.
students will come after they are finished
Memorial is the second Bethel Park
selecting library books or are finished with
school to receive a grant from the Society
their library assignments. She wants it to
for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. Last
be a space where students can participate
school year, Independence Middle School
in either an assigned challenge or be able
Librarian Patty Heasley also received a
to freely explore the hands-on activities
grant from the organization, and was able
and equipment in the space. She also
to purchase STEM-related equipment for
hopes that Memorial teachers will bring
the Learning Commons Area in the IMS
their students to the Library to work on
Library.
Bethel Park | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 55