Pictured is Mrs. Sparrow and some students who truly exemplify
what it means to be a “good digital citizen” each week during
their elementary computer class.
School Psychologist Honored
by State Organization
It is nice to be appreciated and it is even nicer when the recognition is formal
and comes from your peers. Nominated by the elementary guidance counselor
Jessica Pritts, Greensburg Salem school psychologist Kate O’Rourke recently
received the PA School Counselors Association Administrator Appreciation
Award. Mrs. O’Rourke was nominated for supporting the school counselors in
their work with students and for her vision and appreciation of the role that
school counselors play.
Pictured above is Mrs. O’Rourke flanked by elementary
guidance counselors John Manley and Jessica Pritts.
Named Distinguished Title I School
Hutchinson Elementary School has been recognized as a Distinguished Title
I School for the second consecutive year. It was one of just 95 schools honored
by the PA Department of Education for the quality of education provided to
underprivileged students. The federally-funded Title I program is designed to
support students whose families are at or near the poverty line.
Like the other two elementary schools in the district, Metzgar and Nicely,
Hutchinson strives to help struggling students close the achievement gap in
math and reading. Family engagement and attention to individual student
needs are at the core of the district’s approach to supporting these students.
“We have a dedicated team of teachers in all three buildings,” observed
Kelly Gustafson, coordinator of elementary education, federal programs and
instruction. “They are actively involved in encouraging their students and
their families as they provide them with the tools needed to become more
successful learners.”
In addition to receiving their award at the 2016 Title I Improving Schools’
Performance Conference in February, the Hutchinson teachers had the
opportunity to share some of the parent engagement activities that are done in
the district in their presentation “Outside of the Classroom & Beyond the Bell.”
Pictured above are teachers Lori Mertz, Sarah Gazze,
Karlene Przybylek, and Judy Constantine.
Greensburg-Salem | Summer 2016 | icmags.com 43
GRE E N SBU RG SAL E M SC HOOL DI STRI C T NE WS
Mrs. Michelle Sparrow was recognized as a Common Sense Digital
Citizenship Certified Educator and Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary
as a Common Sense Digital Citizenship Certified School. Common
Sense is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids
and families thrive in our technology driven world.
Digital citizenship means taking a whole-community approach
to using the vast power of digital media. While students are
encouraged to use technology to explore, create, connect, and learn
they must be aware of the dangers that exist online, including loss
of privacy, cyberbullying and plagiarism. Hutchinson Elementary
and Mrs. Sparrow are one of more than 90,000 schools that use
Common Sense’s education resources to teach about Internet
safety, managing personal information online, respecting copyright
parameters, and balancing the time we spend using media. The
school and teacher are the first in Westmoreland County to be
certified by Common Sense this year!
Greensburg Salem
Hutchinson Elementary
Recognized as Digital
Citizenship Certified School