H Carnegie Elementary was recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a Title I High Progress School. The accolades came on the heels of the school successfully closing the achievement gap in mathematics and reading based on 2016-2017 PSSA test results.

Teachers Nathan Milsom and Gerald Pepe stacked the boxes of Chromebooks in the Cougar Collaboration Center as students carried them inside.

As a high progress school, an award was presented to Principal Lauren Baughman at the Improving School Performance Conference held in Pittsburgh. The elementary school is also eligible to become a National Title 1 Distinguished School as established by the Division of Federal Programs.

Title I is designed to help students served by the program to achieve proficiency on challenging academic achievement standards. The federal program provides funding to address the needs of students who struggle with math and / or reading.

Likewise, Carnegie Elementary efforts received the attention of the Education Partnership Adopt-A-School program. In January, all students in the school received“ Power Tool Homework Kits” filled with school and hygienic supplies. An inspirational assembly offered the chance for students to interact in a number of ways. Some were selected to come to the front of the auditorium to hoist placards that read:“ work hard, be kind, try something new, and don’ t be afraid to fail.” Carnegie-Collier and Crafton-Ingram rotaries, the businesses of Amcom and Hefren-Tillotson, and McKnight Elementary in the North Allegheny School District collaborated with the Education Partnership as generous sponsors. Former Carnegie Principal Carla Hudson attended the assembly. She is now assistant principal of McKnight Elementary.

H A conventional fire drill at the high school on an early December morning took students outside as usual. Unexpectedly, the sound of sirens halted students from re-entering the building as police chiefs of Robinson Township, Carnegie, and Crafton Boroughs arrived in patrol cars. Majorette Ashlea Haigh followed, twirling a fire baton in step with the performing drum line. A district dump truck shadowed the procession. In the back of the truck was teacher Ryan Gevaudan, wearing a Santa hat and tossing candy to students. This routine fire drill was suddenly unconventional.

As the dump truck came to a halt, Principal Michael Loughren climbed aboard and shared a pleasant surprise. The truck was filled with 187 Chromebooks, a donation from Digital Promise and Google. As the laptops were unloaded, students eagerly volunteered to carry the cargo to the Cougar Collaboration Center, a multi-media classroom used for classroom lectures and STEAM activities.

Carlynton Junior-Senior High School is one of 50 schools nationwide selected for the Dynamic Learning Project, piloted and supported by Digital Promise, EdTechTeam, and Google. The project aims to improve equity in education by empowering teachers to leverage technology in more powerful ways. Ryan Gevaudan, after receiving extensive training last summer, serves as the coaching fellow for the program.

Carnegie Elementary first graders Emmett Spitzer and Ali Al Masri and fourth graders Damien Holloway and Ariyanna Smith lifted signs for all to see during a motivational assembly.