LEARNING IS FLOURISHING THROUGH LUTZ GROW!
This fall, third, fourth, and fifth-grade students have been busy getting their hands dirty as part of Lutz GROW! From September through October, nine homeroom teachers and two support teachers volunteered to guide their classes in becoming student gardeners. Each group had planting assignments in the raised beds and even in a hydroponics tower. Together, students are growing kale, beets, radishes, broccoli, herbs, and many different kinds of lettuce.
Ms. Lauble shared,“ My class has really enjoyed planting and watching the garden grow.” She even created a comprehension activity to go along with the marigolds her class planted, tying reading practice directly into the garden experience. Their efforts came full circle in early November, when students tasted the fruits( and veggies!) of their hard work at a special harvest celebration.
BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL HONORED BY SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND ESPN aldwin-Whitehall BALDWIN-WHITEHALL SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Baldwin High School was named a Special Olympics Unified Champion School ® in recognition of its inclusive student programs. Only 132 high schools in the U. S. earned that honor this year, and BHS is one of just 32 Pennsylvania schools to ever earn this designation.
In addition, Baldwin was also named to ESPN’ s Honor Roll, a prestigious award honoring Special Olympics Unified Schools that is given annually to only one school in each state.
“ We are delighted to have the work of our dedicated Special Education teachers recognized in this way,” said Superintendent Dr. Randal Lutz.“ Every student in our District makes a significant contribution, and we are committed to ensuring that all students have access to activities that enhance their educational experience and enable them to thrive.”
BHS hosts the Summer Games for Special Olympics each year. Baldwin High School’ s supportive and inclusive community fosters meaningful connections by pairing individuals with and without disabilities to compete in Unified sports such as bocce and track and
LUTZ ELEMENTARY CREATES NEW PODCAST MADE FOR— AND BY— STUDENTS
R. A. Lutz Elementary School is excited to announce the launch of Scottie’ s Paw-Cast, a new student-driven podcast that invites teachers and students to create exciting digital media together.
“ This project highlights the Journey of a Highlander’ s core competencies of learning and leadership. Empower-ing every student to recognize their voice as a tool for connection, creativity, and community impact,” said Marissa Gallagher, BWSD Director of Student Services.
Scottie’ s Paw-Cast is a product of the LES Podcast Committee, which consists of teachers Lauren Hustwit( English Language Development Specialist), Chelsea Mariskanish( Gifted Support Teacher), and Emily Russell( English Language Development Specialist). The project is literally being built at LES from the ground up, including a brand new podcast studio.
“ While our studio is under construction, students are studying various podcasts to understand how voice, tone, and audience shape content. This exposure is helping them think critically and prepares them for the full podcasting experience, which includes planning, scripting, recording, editing, and publishing episodes,” said Mariskanish.
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to collaborate in ventures like the Baldwin Bean and Innovation Shop. This inclusive culture extends into the classroom through a growing selection of innovative elective courses incorporating Partners Component Credit, providing students even more opportunities to learn, lead, and create together through authentic, hands-on experiences. Baldwin was one of the original schools chosen to pilot Unified Champion School programming in Pennsylvania when it first began in 2014. Today, over 500 high schools throughout the commonwealth participate in Unified Champion School programs.
“ We were extremely proud to be able to pilot this program over a decade ago, and we’ re now even more motivated to continue doing great things to help our students,” said Eric Jankoski, BWSD Special Education Transition Coordinator.“ We’ re tremendously grateful to Special Olympics for the partnership we’ ve developed, and Baldwin- Whitehall looks forward to continually being a leader in offering inclusive opportunities for all.”
LES students voted on a theme for the first Paw-Cast. The winning idea—‘ When I Thought I Couldn’ t Do Something … But I Did!’— offers students an inspiring starting point.
“ Our first episode will be modeled after the popular podcast The Moth. Each episode, students will interview adults and other students around school, asking the same question. This will be a way for us to get to know each other while also learning the step-by-step process of how to put a podcast together,” said Hustwit.
Scottie’ s Paw-Cast is made possible with a SEED grant from BWEF called“ Voices Without Borders,” which supports innovative programs that amplify student voices and provide meaningful learning experiences.“ We’ re thrilled to launch this new podcasting program with our English Language Learners and gifted students, and plans to eventually open participation to all students in grades 3 – 5. We hope to publish our first finished episode by December, showcasing the students’ hard work and learning in an engaging and tangible way,” said Russell.