Letter from the Superintendent
We are proud of our learning
community for embracing the
notion that education is for all and
that “one size does not fit all”.
Dr. Eileen Amato –
Superintendent
GRE E NS BU RG SAL E M SC H OOL DI ST RIC T NE WS
reensburg Salem
Photo by Jeremy Lenzi
The new year brings changes
With an early commencement date and wonderful weather
for much of the summer, our students and staff at Greensburg
Salem enjoyed a much appreciated summer-recess break this
year. Now that the days are getting shorter and the signs of fall are
upon us, we are anxiously preparing for another year in Golden
Lion Country. This new year will bring some exciting changes to
Greensburg Salem.
Many of the changes this year are in the student services area.
As our students come to us with more and more educational,
social and emotional needs, we are expanding our services to
accommodate those needs. At Greensburg Salem we believe
education does not just encompass academics but rather serves
the “whole” child and has to meet their needs in each area.
In the past several years, we have established elementary
and middle school Emotional Support and Life Skills Support
classrooms within the district. These changes have been made so
that we are able to educate some of our more complex students
within the same setting as their peers and family members. This
year, we are expanding that to add a high school Life Skills Support
classroom. In addition, five Learning Support staff members and
one Life Skills classroom that were previously Intermediate Unit
entities will now become district staff and/or classrooms.
We are proud of our learning community for embracing the
notion that education is for all and that “one size does not fit all”.
Seeing the smiles of staff and students as they work and learn
together warms the heart and we are pleased to be growing our
programs to accommodate everyone. All children learn from each
other, especially those who experience firsthand the challenges of
a classmate who might have different issues than their own. What
a great lesson, for the workplace and as future community leaders,
learning that every individual they will live with and work with has
gifts and struggles and we need to be there to offer both praise
and support.
Along those lines, this year our district has participated in a PA
Department of Education pilot program “Project MAX”. We were
recommended for this pilot program because of our beliefs and
practices regarding learning. The project’s purpose is to “increase
38 | Greensburg-Salem
the capacity of Pennsylvania schools to provide all students,
including those with complex instructional needs, with maximum
access to and learning of the general education curriculum and the
Pennsylvania Core Standards”. Some of the areas explored include
methods to access grade level texts and overcoming limited means
of verbal and written communication.
We have a team of administrators, staff, and parents who have
been working with the Department of Education all year within
Project MAXX to develop ways to increase successful practices
and provide additional access to the general curriculum for all
Greensburg Salem students. Because of these efforts, our team has
been invited to present at the PDE Summer Institute at Penn State
as well as the state PSBA Conference. We are happy our efforts have
been recognized and will serve as a model for others. However, it is
our students who have gained the most from this initiative and we
are proud of our team’s work.
In recent years, we have seen an increase in issues that impact
our students’ lives and effect their ability to focus on learning.
Mental health issues and family issues that occur with students and
their families have grown and continue to present barriers for our
mission of education. Because of this, we are adding an additional
guidance counselor to the district staff this year. Our goal is to
be proactive rather than reactive and we welcome an additional
trained counselor to help us in this regard.
Our busy counseling staff will continue to be a part of the
important work we have started with the “College and Career
Readiness” initiative. Working with teachers, administration,
and representatives from neighboring districts, as well as our
community partners like the United Way and the Westmoreland
Workplace Development Forum, we will continue to examine best
practice in assisting young people make good choices as they
consider college and/or career in their next steps. We are looking
to refine career pathways which help students set up educational
experiences, job shadows, and internships in the area of their
strengths and passions to prepare them for life beyond high school.
Greensburg Salem School District had a stellar year last year with
graduating seniors earning more than $4,000,000 in scholarships
and awards. The Class of 2016 once again confirmed the district’s
reputation and legacy as cutting edge and a great institution that
prepares students well for lifelong learning. We are also delighted
by our young people giving back with community service and by
supporting each other. Greensburg Salem is a wonderful place
to be a young learner and it is such a pleasure to be a part of this
vibrant learning community.
We are happy the school bells are ringing again! We look forward
to working with our young people and once again nurturing their
educational, emotional and social growth!
The Greensburg Salem School District pages are edited and compiled by the
Community Relations Department. For more information please contact
Anita Rometo, at 724.832.2907 or [email protected].