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School purchases STEM from donations

3 min read
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CHARLEROI – Students at Charleroi School District will be learning in a three-dimensional atmosphere with two new additions to the STEM initiative.

A $7,000 donation from the 1970 class alumni and a $2,500 donation from the Charleroi Education Foundation secured a 3-D printer and a Zspace as additions to the science, technology, engineering and math program, the school board learned Tuesday.

The Zspace consists of a computer screen, a stylus and special glasses, which are equipped with sensors. The technology brings the user into the screen as if he or she is there, said Alex Short, student school board representative. With the Zspace, a student in science class can work on a human heart, it can be rotated, the rhythm may be adjusted and the layers may be peeled away to learn about the inner workings. “Students aren’t just learning, we are interacting,” said Short.

Superintendent Edward Zelich said he viewed a student in physics class, creating and designing a working roller coaster.

“This brings learning to a whole new level,” he said.

He added that the high school Bot team will be able to use it for this year’s robotic competition and then possibly make the robot with the 3-D printer. The new technology is slated for grades six through 12 but future plans will bring the technology districtwide.

A $15,000 Washington County Community Foundation Grant was received for a literacy café. Zelich said that the library will become a place for the students, similar to a Starbucks café.

“They will be able to pick up a laptop from a cart and take it into a space to work.” Zelich said he wants to incorporate the life skill students to make drinks and food for the café.

The board approved 2016-17 high school and middle school selection guides. Students gave input on classes they would like to have and the administration listened. A new addition at the high school level is a communications elective. A personal finance class will be offered to high school sophomores and juniors. The class will address credit, what it is and how to get it, general banking and filing taxes. At the middle school level, a study skills class has been added.

A LifeSkills Training Program Grant was received for the middle school. The grant provides three years of training, technical assistance and program materials. The main goal of the program is to substantially reduce drug use among young adolescents. It will promote anti-drug norms, teach drug refusal skills, and foster the development of personal self-management skills and general social skills. The program also has optional violence prevention lessons in the curriculum that focus on anger management and conflict resolution skills.

The school board approved a cooperative sponsorship for high school wrestling with Bentworth High School for the 2016-17 school year. Zelich said under the agreement, Bentworth School District would pay for the coaches and tournament fees. Charleroi School District would fund the transportation costs for meets.

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