trips help bring a real-world view to the
lessons the kids learn at school.”
Jubilee’s student demographic
encompasses kids from the City of
Pittsburgh and the South Hills, including
the districts of Bethel Park, Canon-Mac,
Chartiers Valley, Mt. Lebanon, Peters
Township, South Fayette and Upper St.
Clair. Township busing is also available
to transport kids to and from school, just
like public school.
Funding for Jubilee is a combination
of tuition, state funding and several
fundraisers, which help cover costs
associated with running a private school.
But the teachers, administrators and
parents are all happy to put in their best
effort to keep all of the necessary and
extra programs available to the children.
“Our teachers know working at Jubilee
takes a lot of extra time and sacrifice,”
says Strauna. “And they are happy to
do so because of the way our school
chooses to teach the kids, which is
making better conceptual connections
to the information we’re teaching. And,
we know it’s instilling a lifelong love
of learning in our students while also
providing an amazing place where kids
can be treasured and loved.” ■
“At the end of the school year in May,
we invited alumni, families and speakers,
including Mary Wolling, to our dinner,”
recounts Booher. “We had people stand
and speak about the impact our school and
its teaching style has had on their lives, as
well as their children and grandchildren. It
was so moving.”
One of the ways Jubilee influenced
students’ early education learning is by
keeping class sizes regulated.
“Each class has no more than 16
students,” explains Strauna. “This enables
us to monitor each child’s learning
more closely, provide a more hands-on
approach, and offer a more differentiated
teaching style. Our students thrive in
this environment because we integrate
traditional classroom style teaching
with technology and outside learning
opportunities via field trips.”
She adds, “We enjoy taking learning
outside the classroom, too. We visit the
Frick Museum, Cathedral of Learning at
the University of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh
Zoo and Aviary, Meadowcroft, the
Trolley Museum, and overnight trips to
Gettysburg and Philadelphia. All of these
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