Deer Lakes School District was recently awarded two more OnRamp Grants by Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Each grant’s funding will go to Curtisville Primary School and East Union Intermediate School.

The first grant will be used to create “grab and go” science kits for 750 students and their families for a Virtual Family Science Night.

Families will pick-up the items and then join administrators and teachers virtually on the evening of the event via a Google Meet on district-provided devices to participate in different experiments and scientific techniques in breakout groups. No date is set for the virtual event.

“We are hopeful that this event will allow families to gather around their tables with the supplies and join other families in the community as they all work together on the various experiments,” Principal Jodi VanderSchaaff said. “We are hopeful to see lots of smiles and hear the laughter and enjoyment of the students and their families as they spend quality time together and learn at the same time.”

The second grant will be used to enable East Union and Curtisville to have supplies like a Kraft paper sketchpad, watercolor sets, and marker sets for creating art at home.

“I would love to design lessons that they can also work on at school and continue at home so we would work on projects that can take more than one week,” Elementary Art Teacher Kortnie Mackowski said. “I am already exploring budget-conscious ways to send home packets, but a grant greatly expands what I am able to provide for the students.” 

This fall, Deer Lakes High School earned an OnRamp Grant to build a Bots IQ Safety Test Arena for students in technical education classes taught by Jeff Fullem. Students will utilize the arena to help prepare them for Bots IQ, a workforce development program that hosts gladiator-style competitions for team-built 15-pound combat robots. 

 

“Students at the Deer Lakes High School thoroughly enjoy designing and building Bots,” Assistant Superintendent Bobbi Ann Barnes said. “Their true joy is reflected when they have the opportunity to test their Bots functionality and then work to improve the design. Currently, the students must leave the classroom area and watch through door windows to test the Bots due to numerous safety concerns. The Safety Test Areas will provide them with a safe and fun environment to test their Bots.”