summer learning classes that include Language Arts and Math readiness activities as well as World Language and STEM learning activities,” said Mr. Stoehr.
Math and Science
• Experiment with at-home chemistry by making ice cream. While you can purchase a kit, the experiment can easily be done using materials found around the house--salt, sugar, ice, and sweeteners. Kids will love tastetesting the differences that result from varying the salt-to-ice ratios, and correctly measuring the materials will let them stretch their math muscles.
• Start a backyard garden. Let your kids get their green thumbs dirty as they learn basic scientific reasoning in a handson way. They’ ll learn about how independent variables, such as sunlight and water, can affect dependent variables, like the level of plant growth. You can purchase generic seed packets or opt for a ready-made gardening package.
• Have your child and a group of friends build‘ cars’ out of recyclable materials, such as juice cartons, bottle caps, and toilet paper rolls. After decorating their vehicles with scrap paper, stickers, and markers, host a race. Award prizes for the car that rolls the furthest distance, goes the fastest, and has the best design. This activity will build basic physics skills as children tweak their designs for optimum distance and speed.
About the Authors: Devon Milley is a junior at Peters Township High School. She has been a writer for the Smoke Signals news magazine for two years and the Print Editor In Chief for one year. She has also been a writing lab tutor at the middle school and high school levels. Julianna Chen is a junior at Peters Township High School. She is a staff writer for the Smoke Signals news magazine and also contributes to the literary magazine.
PTSD RANKS 5TH IN BUSINESS TIMES GUIDE
In the April 2018“ Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools,” the Pittsburgh Business Times profiled area school districts to determine how local districts compared to other districts in the area and across the state.
Peters Township School District was ranked fifth among 105 districts in our area, up one spot from 2017. Among the 494 school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Peters Township also ranked 10th overall, also up two spot from the 2017 rank.
Based on Pennsylvania System of School Assessment( PSSA) and Keystone results from the previous three years, all Peters Township grade levels in the ranking were in the top 10 in the region. Peters Township High School’ s eleventh grade ranked 8th in the region, and Peters Township Middle School’ s seventh and eighth grade students both ranked 2nd overall. At McMurray Elementary, sixth grade ranked 3rd, fifth grade ranked 7th and fourth grade ranked 10th. Bower Hill and Pleasant Valley third grade ranked a combined 4th in region as well.
eters Township
PETERS TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
GET TO KNOW: MARY COLLINS, PTMS 7TH GRADE TEACHER
Middle school Math and STEM teacher Mary Collins has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Carnegie Science Middle Level Educator Award. Ms. Collins was selected by a panel of her peers from across the area based on her excellent work and dedication to her students. Having joined the Middle School staff two years ago, we wanted to help everyone get to know Ms. Collins!
1. What made you want to become a teacher?
I have known I wanted to become a teacher since I was in 2nd grade. Originally, I thought I would like to become an art teacher; those dreams were dashed when I recognized that my artistic abilities did not extend far past drawing stick-figure people! Math was my favorite class throughout high school, so I decided to pursue math education.
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2. What other interesting jobs have you held?
Most recently, I spent last summer working as a barista at Starbucks. I have worked in both retail and sales positions, and spent several summers during college working at a place still very dear to my heart: Sun Chevrolet in McMurray! Of course, I have taught at my share of summer camps and served as a math tutor as well.
3. What is your favorite thing to do outside the classroom?
My favorite thing to do outside of the classroom is spend time with my new puppy, Charlotte! She is so much fun and loves spending time sniffing around outside and playing fetch.
4. What has been one of your favorite projects / events / days at PTMS?
My favorite project at PTMS was a HUB project where the foreign language teachers took their students on a Virtual
Reality tour of a city where their foreign language was spoken. It was really an immersive learning experience where the kids got to“ visit” Paris, for instance, and look around at the city rather than reading about it in a textbook.
5. What do you wish every child would know after a year in your classroom? About math, about themselves, about anything!
After a year in my classroom, I hope that every child has experienced a moment of success, in whatever form that may take. So often, kids“ hate” math because they have never perceived themselves as being capable of doing it well. I hope that kids in my classroom can come to know that they are each talented, valued, and intelligent in a way that only they can be.