Pennsbury Announces New Class For K-5 Students

FALLSINGTON, PA — A new weekly "special" class will be rolled out next year for kindergarten through fifth-grade students in the Pennsbury School District.

SPARK, according to district officials, is an innovative elementary literacy and problem-solving program based on science, technology, engineering and math principles. It will join the existing specials — physical education, music, art and library — in the 2019-20 school year.

Pennsbury officials say the introduction of Chromebooks for student use in classrooms eliminated the need for the previous fifth special, computer class.

The new special "is meant to spark curiosity and learning," said Michele Spack, Pennsbury’s Director of Elementary Education, who is the lead administrator overseeing the initiative. "In staffing this new program, we sought experienced teachers who have familiarity with teaching elementary and/or middle level literacy, mathematics, and science, along with other aspects of inquiry-based Learning."

The 10 Pennsbury faculty members selected to be SPARK teachers are Terri Boileau, Catherine Cantrell, Mackenzie Carpenter, Mark Costanzo, Kara Covello, Kristy Davis, Lynn Holmes, Rebecca Obert-Thorn, Terri Sherman and Kristin Slota.

SPARK classes will offer chances to code, learn key concepts about digital citizenship and create projects using the Genius Hour framework. The foundation of the curriculum will be the interdisciplinary modules of the PLTW "Launch" program. These empower students through compelling activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the world around them.

SPARK teachers also will develop formal and informal pathways to enhance professional learning for all teachers in the school community by infusing technology for deeper learning, Pennsbury said. They will also support, collaborate, and co-teach with peers in the design and implementation of lessons and projects.