Allegheny-Hyde Park Bell Avon | Laurel Point		Mamont | North Washington Washington | Vandergrift

As the elementary principals of the Kiski Area School District, we would like to welcome you to the elementary section of our web site. With seven elementary buildings, four principals, a reading supervisor, a staff of approximately 140 teachers and 2,400 students, we're pleased with what we have to offer you. We pride ourselves on the expertise of our teaching staff and the opportunities afforded them with regard to curriculum revision, text selection and development of professional growth programs.

With an approximate class size of 24, our elementary schools provide a wide base of experience in a self-contained classroom setting. Our academic programs are exemplary. Our third graders participate in a Multiplication Math Challenge, and our sixth graders take part in the Math 24 Challenge program and Pennsylvania Math League competition. Students participate in a district-wide science show as well as an essay contest. We have an outstanding reading program that is known state-wide and is the envy of those around us.

We are pleased with the academic achievement of our youngsters as evidenced by the scores they earn on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA). In recent years our department has earned over $100,000 in incentive grants as a result of excellent PSSA scores. Iowa scores are consistently above the national average and PSSA results are consistently above both the state average and the predicted band for similar schools.

In addition to academics, our students participate in instrumental music, vocal music, a computer/library program, physical education and art. In each of these areas we extend beyond the typical classroom. The art department sponsors an annual art show and students visit the local art galleries. The physical education department conducts an annual gym show and a junior olympics. The instrumental and vocal music departments host evening performances and vocal music programs are performed in first through sixth grades. A music field trip is built into our sixth grade curriculum.

A computer based instructional system designed to enhance writing, reading and listening skills is in place for kindergarten, first and second grade students. Students in first through sixth grade have weekly computer classes with the availability of labs as well as computers within their classrooms. Computer technology is integrated into the regular and special education classrooms.

At each grade level, students are recognized for qualities reflecting good citizenship, outstanding effort, academic achievement, attendance and volunteerism through twice yearly Principals' Assemblies and an annual Honor Roll Ceremony.

Each elementary building has an active PTA/PTO organization which offers parents numerous opportunities for involvement in the school. The organizations sponsor assemblies, two yearly parties and field trips. They help with Santa's Shop, an art show, a language arts essay contest, red ribbon week, a sixth grade culminating experience, reading is fundamental, kindergarten registration, kindergarten orientation, picture day, music programs and a book fair. They create school directories and newsletters. Additionally a PAT (Parent Administrators Together) group comprised of PTA/PTO presidents meet twice yearly at which time programs for the year are reviewed and plans for the upcoming year are made.

Our schools and their respective communities are closely connected. Students and teachers participate in local parades, businesses donate to their local schools and students sing in community programs. Our public libraries house copies of student texts. Student art work is displayed throughout the communities in which our schools are encompassed.

We boast a kindergarten screening program during which each incoming kindergartner's skills are assessed. The screening moves into a three- week, half day pre-kindergarten summer school program which bolsters the skills of the children who are invited to attend. At the end of the year kindergarten students perform a program reflective of what they have learned during their first year of formal instruction. Parent-Teacher conferences are held twice yearly at the kindergarten level and once a year in grades one through six.

Our gifted program is itinerant, with the instructor traveling among schools to meet the needs of our youngsters through enrichment classes based on our curriculum and directly related to the needs and interests of our students. We offer a full range of inclusionary special education services ranging from itinerant to full time programs.

Kiski Area Elementary Administrators - Principals

Mrs. Christine Ross, Principal of Mamont and Bell Avon Elementary Schools
Mr. Brian Kutchak, Principal of Allegheny-Hyde Park Elementary School
Mr. R. Patrick Marchand, Principal of Washington and North Washington Elementary Schools
Jeffrey  Jackson, Principal of Vandergrift and Laurel Point Elementary Schools

General Overview of the Elementary Department

The elementary schools provide a wide base of experience in the self-contained classroom setting. Department chairpersons and/or principals are available as resource persons to the classroom teacher, assisting in the movement of curriculum.

The curriculum consists of social studies, reading, language arts, writing, spelling, science, health and math. These subject areas are managed by way of a master schedule which depicts the amount of time allotted to each area by subject and grade level.

Students are also provided classes taught by itinerant teachers in art, computer/library, instrumental/vocal music, and physical education.