2013-2014 School Calendar

The School Board tentatively approved the 2013-2014 school calendar during their meeting on January 14th.  The calendar is similar to the calendar used this year.  The Board must approve the calendar twice.  The final approval will be during the February meeting.  We have tried to avoid all known conflicts on the proposed calendar.  The proposed calendar can be found here.

Algebra in the High School

I am very proud to share with you another example of Penn-Trafford leading on the cutting edge in instructing our students.  Mr. Inglese has written a blog entry explaining a new initiative in teaching at the high school.

Algebra for the 21st Century

Two high school math teachers, Tiffany Stewart and Lew McCracken together have reinvented how Algebra 1 is taught at Penn Trafford High School.  They are team teaching to integrate 21^st Century Learning strategies into their classroom.  They have made abstract algebraic concepts easy to understand using a variety of different strategies such as Inquiry Based Learning, a “pseudo” flipped classroom, Project Based Learning, Blended Schools, Penn Literacy Network, Differentiated Instruction, adapted lessons based upon Formative Assessments, Video/Conceptual Based Learning (based upon Dan Meyer’s research), and Keystone questioning techniques and strategies.  

Feedback from students and parents has been outstanding.  Students who have always struggled with math are now seeing success.  Failures are nearly non-existent and the number of A’s and B’s are significantly higher.  These students now enjoy math class and look forward to it as one of the bright spots in their day.

Local school districts have taken notice about what is happening at Penn Trafford.  These districts are very interested to hear how these teachers have transformed Algebra from traditional teaching and learning to 21^st Century teaching and learning.  Before Christmas break, they presented their program to over 60 teachers and administrators at the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, and they are scheduled to present at the STEM Education Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in February.

The teachers at the high school plan to expand these practices in Geometry next year and in Algebra 2 the following year. 

Congratulations to our Robotics Team

I am proud to share good news about our robotics team from the high school.  Mr. Jeff Newson is the advisor for the team.  Robotics is a great way for our students to get  "real world" experience integrating intellectual kinowledge with "hands on" experience.  Obviously these students are doing a fantastic job.  Congratulations to the students and keep up the great work!  Also, Mr. Newsom is an integral part of sustaining this wonderful program and I want to thank him for giving these students the opportunity to shine in this arena.  Mr. Newsom provided the following article for the blog.

On Friday, December 14, two robotics teams and a group of first year robotics students from Penn-Trafford High School, observed and competed in the VEX Sarah Heinz House Robotics Competition.  This competition was devised to get more students involved with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) based education.  

There were 23 teams competing from Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. The first year robotics students went to watch their fellow classmates compete, and they volunteered their time to work at the competition.  The competition was hosted by The Sarah Heinz House and was run be the CMU Robotics Academy.

Team 1462 A finished with a 4-4 record in the preliminary rounds and was the 11th seed but was eliminated in the alliance tournament in the semi-finals.  The students from this team included Jordan Lock, Keith Barkefelt, and Josh Zielinski.  These students should be congratulated for their hard work.

Team 1462 B finished the preliminary rounds as the only undefeated team with an 8-0 record and the number one seed for the alliance part of the tournament.  Following the alliance selection, Team 1462 B, consisting of Isaac Shannon, Salvatore Ross, and Sam Godich, teamed up withteams from McKeesport and Plum and won the tournament.

They finished the tournament with an overall record of 13-1 and also claimed the "Excellence Award" for the best overall robot in the competition.  This award qualified them to participate in the VEXWorld Championships which will be held in April at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA.

In order to give this team the opportunity to compete at the world competition, they will need to raise between 8 - 10 thousand dollars over the next couple of months to pay for registration, flights, rooms, etc. If any businesses or individuals would like to sponsor or donate to give the students this opportunity, please contact Mr. Jeff Newsom @ newsomj@penntrafford.org.  If you would like to learn more about the competition, please visit www.robotevents.com and click on the "VEX Sack Attack" link.