Myrtle Avenue Elementary ranked in top 5 % of Title I schools in Pennsylvania
Keystone Oaks’ Myrtle Avenue Elementary School has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for being in the top five percent of Title I schools in the Commonwealth for the third consecutive year.
This year, the Department of Education’ s Division of Federal Programs recognized Myrtle Elementary as a“ Reward: High Achievement” school, meaning that the school
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: Ranks amongst the highest 5 % of Title I schools, based on aggregate mathematics and reading proficiency for the PSSA
• exams for the 2015-2016 school year. Has met all four Annual Measurable Objectives for the 2015-2016 academic year, which are: n Test participation in the Mathematics / Reading PSSA( all students) n Attendance Rate( all students) n Closing the Achievement Gap on the Mathematics / Reading PSSA( all students) n Closing the Achievement Gap on the Mathematics / Reading PSSA( historically underperforming students)
“ The commitment of the teachers and support staff to ensuring that students are meeting and exceeding performance and growth standards is truly commendable,” said Dr. Shannon Varley, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Staff Development.“ To be able to receive
this designation three years in a row is a true testament to the dedication of the educational staff at Myrtle Elementary.” eystone Oaks
SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Investors Donate More Than $ 2,000 to Build Lego Walls at Keystone Oaks Elementary Schools
In the first semester of the 2016-2017 school year, Keystone Oaks’ two new elementary STEAM teachers successfully raised more than $ 2,200 in both monetary and in-kind donations to build an 80 " x 80 " Lego wall in the STEAM classroom at each of the three elementary schools. More than 860 students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be able to utilize the Lego walls and will reap the benefits of block play for young children.
Miss Jennie Martin, the STEAM teacher at Dormont and Myrtle Avenue elementary schools, and Mr. Aaron Colf, Aiken Elementary School’ s STEAM teacher, utilized the crowdfunding website Pledgecents. com to raise funds for two of the Lego walls. The third Lego wall was built with proceeds from the teachers’ participation in the South Hills Village Barnes & Noble’ s Mini Maker Faire in November, where the elementary STEAM program received a portion of all purchases. Plywood, and other supplies to construct the base of the Lego walls, was donated by local Home Depot stores.
“ The response from the community far exceeded our expectations,” Miss Martin said.“ We are extremely thankful for their support of the new elementary STEAM program and for their contributions towards the Lego walls. To be able to raise more than $ 2,000 in a few short weeks is truly astounding,” she added.
According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, through playing with blocks children learn problem solving, imagination, self-expression, mathematics, continuity and permanence, creativity, science, self-esteem, and social and emotional growth.
The Lego walls will allow Miss Martin and Mr. Colf to engage students in a number of hands-on projects, including designing a marble drop with bricks, solving fractions, telling and creating stories, playing, and more. Students will also have the opportunity to exercise creativity, spatial thinking, fine motor skills, and mathematical reasoning – all of which are areas of focus in the new elementary STEAM class.
“ We are excited to incorporate the Lego walls into our curriculum and to also give students the opportunity to build and play freely and creatively,” Mr. Colf said.
Lego donations are being accepted on an ongoing basis and can be dropped off at the main office in each elementary school during normal office hours.
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