WHAT’ S NEWS IN KEYSTONE OAKS
Photo from www. kosd. org
CENTER FOR CREATIVITY AWARDS $ 20,000 TO KEYSTONE OAKS’ NEW ELEMENTARY STEAM PROGRAM
Keystone Oaks was also selected as a member of the Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway Partners program
Keystone Oaks School District’ s new elementary STEAM program will be supported by a $ 20,000 grant from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’ s Center for Creativity. The STEAM program will begin during the 2016-17 school year and will give the district’ s youngest students the opportunity to develop the creative and critical thinking skills necessary for college and career success.
In addition to the grant, Keystone Oaks is also one of 11 local school districts selected to participate in the Carnegie Science Center’ s Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway Partners program. The cohort of administrators and teachers will work to share ideas and identify resources to improve STEM education.
“ We are very grateful to the Center for Creativity and the Carnegie Science Center for supporting the new STEAM program in Aiken, Dormont and Myrtle elementary schools,” said Dr. Shannon Varley, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Staff Development.“ A number of teachers, principals and administrators have worked diligently to make this STEAM program a reality for our youngest students and this grant and partnership will help us get the course off to a great start.”
Grant monies will be used to purchase furniture for the STEAM rooms, building supplies, robotics and coding materials. The STEAM course is one of five“ specials” classes
that elementary students will have next year. Children’ s literature will provide the context and motivation for various design challenges, and students will likely find themselves repurposing objects and recycled materials, coding, and building with Legos and other materials.
“ We are very excited about this program because it will give our students the opportunity to develop curiosity, creativity, communication and collaboration skills,” said Superintendent William Stropkaj, Ed. D.“ As a district, we are always looking for ways that we can better prepare our students for success, and this program is a big step in the right direction.”
A TASTE IN DORMONT
Dormont Main Street will be celebrating their 10th annual A Taste in Dormont event on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 5 to 9:30 p. m. Enjoy live music, local wineries, breweries, restaurants and more! Tickets available($ 25 per ticket) through www. dormontmainstreet. org.
KEYSTONE OAKS’ FREE SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM
For the second consecutive year, Keystone Oaks School District is sponsoring a Summer Lunch Program. A free nutritious bagged lunch will be available to any child under the age of 18 from any community each weekday( Monday-Friday) at six locations until Friday, Aug. 12. Lunch will be available at the Castle Shannon Library from 12:45 to 1:30 p. m.
No photo identification or sign-up is required for children to be able to receive a lunch. The district has set up a voluntary text message service, where children 13 years of age or older and their parents / guardians can sign up to receive updates about the program. Those who are interested can sign up by texting @ 201SLP to 81010; they do not have to reply with their name.
The Summer Lunch Program is funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Last year, Keystone Oaks distributed more than 6,000 lunches during the program. For more information about the other lunch distribution locations, please logon to kosd. org.
CASTLE SHANNON LIBRARY CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMMING
Water Party: It’ s hot! Cool off at the library with a Water Party on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 6 p. m. Water balloons, water games, water EVERYTHING! If you leave dry, you’ re doing it wrong! Sign-up is required in case of cancellation. Cancellation notice will occur a half-hour before the party starts.
Summer Reading Wrap-Up Party: Summer has come to an end. Don’ t be sad though – we will have one last party to say goodbye! We will be having a special Olympic-themed Wrap-Up Party this year on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 1 to 3 p. m. which will include games, food, crafts, special Summer Reading prizes and a time of celebration for our amazing readers. All who participated in Summer Reading are invited. Please register for this event!
Fall Programming at the Library: We are currently developing our fall program schedule. Our weekly programs will resume Aug. 29 with story times, after-school activities, and more! Please check out our website www. castleshannonlibrary. org and our Facebook page for more information!
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