KIDS OF STEEL: Students Building Strength and Stamina
Another exciting highlight of student involvement this year is our incredible participation in the Kids of Steel running program. With nearly 200 students taking part, this program has become one of the largest and most energizing extracurricular opportunities at the Intermediate School. Students run a mile each week and complete their last mile of their“ Marathon” at the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon in May!
Kids of Steel encourages students to set goals, build endurance, and practice healthy habits through regular running and training. Students learn the importance of commitment and perseverance as they work toward personal milestones and prepare for culminating running events. Most importantly, the program promotes a positive mindset: progress happens step by step, and every student’ s effort matters.
It has been inspiring to see so many students challenge themselves, support one another, and celebrate their growth. Whether students are experienced runners or participating for the first time, Kids of Steel provides an inclusive and motivating environment where everyone can feel successful.
PHOTOS BY P. SCHINTZ
CREATIVITY AND PROBLEM-SOLVING: Odyssey of the Mind
The Intermediate School is proud to support student creativity and problemsolving through participation in Odyssey of the Mind, a program that challenges students to think innovatively, collaborate effectively, and tackle complex problems. In this teambased competition, students work together over an extended period to develop solutions to long-term challenges that blend engineering, performance, design, and storytelling.
This year, teams will design, build, and operate a Technical Trip Assistant— only to discover that their wearable, voiceactivated device experiences a series of humorous malfunctions. Students are evaluated on the creativity of their performance, the engineering and design of the device and costume, how effectively the required actions align with the malfunctions, and the setting being explored during the presentation.
Through Odyssey of the Mind, students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, persevere through trial and error, and embrace the importance of teamwork and shared responsibility. They engage in meaningful brainstorming, test and refine ideas, revise plans, and confidently present their final solutions. The skills developed- critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration- support student success both in the classroom and beyond.
We are proud of our Odyssey of the Mind students for their dedication and willingness to think outside the box. Their work reflects the innovation, enthusiasm, and collaborative spirit that make our Intermediate School community so special.
PHOTOS BY L. FLICK hartiers Valley
CHARTIERS VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
CHARTIERS VALLEY ❘ SPRING 2026 35