Every Friday, students participate in an academic enrichment session focused on STEAM learning. SCS partners with ASSET STEM Education and Carnegie Mellon University to bring fun and engaging lessons about computer programming and robotics. These lessons are aligned with state standards and are used to strengthen students' abilities in the classroom through alternative learning.
ENRICHMENT
ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
In the classroom, Saturday program is dedicated to academic enrichment sessions, which may include interactive activities and worksheets, as well out-of-classroom experiences such as museum and historical monument visits, school/college tours, team-building workshops, nutrition talks and other activities both within and beyond Pittsburgh's city lines.
Goals:
-
Increase level of student proficiency rate on PSSA tests
-
Introduce students to information and experiences outside of regular school subjects
PEN PALS
As a fun initiative to improve SCSquashers written communication and reading skills, we are piloting an International Pen Pals Program. SCS is hoping to have pen pals from Squash Urbano Columbia and Khelshala in India. We have high hopes for this program and have our fingers crossed that coming soon SCSquashers will be sending and receiving letters from their urban squash friends and teammates abroad.
BOOK CLUB
As part of the SCS Saturday Enrichment Program, our students are participating in a Book Club, where they are reading the novel, "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper. As an prelude to reading this novel, students were introduced to Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities via interactive activities and short-readings. Some of the activities included reading a short essay about CP and answering discussion questions, as well as working in partners to research well known historical and present day figures who were/are successful in their fields, despite being diagnosed with a physical or psychological disability. Students used Chrome Books in their research pairs and were asked to identify as many figures possible within the given time frame. To learn more about Cerebral Palsy, feel free to click the link below!
Below are some of the new programs we have/will be incorporating into our Enrichment Lessons:
KIDS' COOK
In thinking of ways to expand on the home economic skills of SCSquashers, Steel City Squash has partnered with The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. Student-athletes will be participating in the bank's "Kids' Cook" Program on a monthly basis, and cooking classes will be held every third Saturday of the month. At the start of the program, students learn about good eating habits using the MyPlate method, followed by worksheets in small groups and end the day by cooking a small meal to eat. Our first class was a success, as SCSquashers had the chance to make Banana Oat Pancakes.
