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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