Districts that provide students with academically rigorous programming must confirm that all teachers are certified and that students have access to career and technical education, gifted education, advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses. Canon-McMillan met these criteria while demonstrating meticulous care for educating the whole student through academic opportunities in and out of the classroom.

To demonstrate its position as the community ' s centerpiece, a district must exemplify innovation in school programming, regularly celebrate student and staff successes and provide academic and extracurricular offerings that benefit students. Canon-McMillan

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won this by demonstrating its commitment to community engagement through unique educational and extracurricular offerings, innovative classroom strategies and celebrations dedicated to students and staff.

To meet the resilience criteria, Canon- McMillan School District proved its commitment to student mental health and safety. The District ' s emergency preparedness plan is constantly reviewed and revised, ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff. Policies and procedures are in place to effectively handle any emergency incident that may occur, providing reassurance and peace of mind to the entire school community.

Counseling departments and school psychologists work together to offer specialized student mental health support. Chill Rooms are a key feature Canon-McMillan School District has implemented in several buildings that support student mental health by providing a safe, comfortable space for students to diffuse stress and anxiety. Furthermore, the District proudly displays mental health resources on its website, such as the CMSD Virtual Wellness Center, a digital hub for

creative mental health resources, including healthy lifestyle guides, guided meditations and relaxations, coloring and creativity games, apps and more.

Through responsible and transparent management, Canon-McMillan School District also demonstrated its financial health. The District ensures accountability by having an elected or independent auditor conduct an annual financial audit. The final district budget is made available for public review before adoption, and the District strictly follows requirements for bids and quotations when purchasing goods and services, instilling confidence in the community about the school’ s operations.

“ The Great Pennsylvania School designation is a testament not only to the hard work of Canon- McMillan School District’ s educators, administrators and staff but also to how special this community truly is,” said Dr. Greg Taranto, Superintendent of the Canon-McMillan School District.“ We are proud to have a prestigious organization recognize our community ' s vibrant nature and dedication to educating the whole student.”