We are excited to start a new school year at the Brandywine Heights Area School District. There have been some exciting new additions and opportunities that will greet our students when they start back to school on Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Brandywine welcomes Ms. Stephanie Kelly who will be taking on the role as the Elementary Principal. Ms. Kelly has a rich history with the school district starting as a special education teacher in the Elementary School. She then transitioned into administration taking on the role of the Elementary and Intermediate Assistant Principal and most recently serving as the Assistant Principal of the Intermediate and Middle Schools.
Ms. Kelly will be a great asset to our Elementary School as a child centered educational leader who is rooted in community and parent partnerships. She is an organized, dedicated, caring and an effective leader.
From a facilities aspect, Potteiger said they are very excited to complete a major air conditioning project in the Elementary School.
The school previously did not have air conditioning and would become very hot in the building. At the start of last school year, we had a majority of our rooms that were in the high 80 to low 90 degree range. We are thankful for the Board’s commitment to this project as a welcome relief for our students and staff as we kick off the school year.
In the realm of curricular enhancements, we are excited to introduce a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) classes in grades K-8 called Explore.
This program investment will enable our students to apply their skills in a hands-on application environment. As a school district, we value the importance of data and state assessments as a way to gauge if students are on target with state expectations of learning but also realize that there must be a balance. The application of that knowledge through collaborative activities where students must create and communicate with peers is the emphasis of this course. We want to prepare our students for essential skills necessary in life and the work environment at an early age so they can continue to grow and foster those abilities.
Additionally, Brandywine has investigated numerous mathematics programs and will be ‘piloting’ or trying out a new math program called enVisionMATH 2.0 for all students in grades K-8. There will be parent information sessions this fall to explain this new math program.
We strived to find a program that was a balance of meeting the standards as well as being engaging and effective for students. If this pilot goes well, we plan to fully implement this program next year.
Finally, we are implementing a character education program district wide and the implementation of a specific program called Too Good For Drugs in grades K-5. The key attributes focus on resiliency skills for students so they know how to deal with stressful situations and have the skills necessary to manage that stress. There is a component which ensures parents are having the necessary family discussions relative to drugs and alcohol as well as overall coping skills.
We are very excited for the start of a new skill year and wish all students a safe, successful school year.
