STEAM

STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.  The Ambridge Area School District has a STEAM program that spans all grade levels K-12.

• ADVANCED PLACEMENT BIOLOGY
• ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
• ADVANCED CHEMISTRY WITH COLLEGE IN HIGH SCHOOL OPTION
• ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS 1
• ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS 2
• ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C: MECHANICS
• ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
• ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

• INTERNET / WEB DESIGN
• MUSIC TECHNOLOGY I
• TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTION LAB
• TV STUDIO (AATV)
• VIDEO PRODUCTION I, II, & III

• ADVANCED ROBOTICS ENGINEERING – VEX
• APPLIED TECHNICAL DESIGN w/CADD
• ARCHITECTURE I , II, & III
• ENGINEERING DESIGN I , II, & III
• MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY I, II, III, & IV
• ROBOTICS ENGINEERING – LEGO NXT
• SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY I, II, & III (TSA)
• WELDING AND FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY

• AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUES
• ART I, II, III, & IV
• CERAMICS & SCULPTURE
• DRAWING I & II
• GRAPHICS COMMUNICATIONS
• JEWELRY MAKING

• ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS AB
• ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS BC
• ALGEBRA III
• DATA ANALYSIS
• STATISTICS/PROBABILITY
• PRE-CALCULUS
• CALCULUS

8th Grade Technology Education is a Middle School course designed to introduce you to the technical world. Most of our emphasis will be on the Engineering Design Process and problem solving. This class blends an understanding of
basic principles, practical lab activities and projects to allow the student to fully understand the material.

In 2016 the Ambridge Area School District creates a unified arts STEAM period in its 3 elementary schools that bolsters a curriculum with authentic, real world learning experiences based on problem‐based learning that is measured by student demonstration of higher order thinking skills.

The elementary STEAM program promotes the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics through hands on project based learning.  This learning involves the teaching of Scientific, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design and Mathematical principles. STEAM students learn to use a range of tools, techniques and processes, including relevant technologies in order to develop solutions to problems relating to their present and future needs and aspirations. The STEAM classroom promotes  hands-on learning.  Hands-on learning allows students to think creatively and use innovation to find unique solutions to common problems.  The STEAM framework teaches students how to think critically, problem solve and use creativity.  

The Ambridge Elementary STEAM program is a comprehensively developed program.  Since its inception, the elementary STEAM program has been awarded over $20,000 in grant money.  Grants have been received from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Beaver County Educational Trust, Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, Target Corporation, and the Mrs. Dawn Finnegan Memorial Fund.

STEAM walks are held each year at Highland Elementary School to introduce families of children attending Highland Elementary to STEAM concepts.

Nicole Darroch, a teacher in the Ambridge Area School District, has been nominated as a Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year by Beaver County Educational Trust.

The Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year program is co-sponsored by the state Department of Education and Pennsylvania Chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year. It recognizes excellence in teaching by honoring kindergarten through 12th-grade educators in public education who have made outstanding academic contributions to school-aged children.

Twelve finalists will be selected.

Darroch is a STEAM (science, technology, education, art and mathematics) educator and technology integrator for Highland and State Street elementary schools.

Last year, her Storytime STEAM Packs idea garnered a grant from BCET.

Darroch has received other BCET grants in recent years as well as receiving grants from the Society of Analytical Chemists Equipment, Allegheny Intermediate Unit and in March 2017 was named Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation Teacher of the Month.

https://www.timesonline.com/entertainmentlife/20191007/ambridge-teacher-nominated-for-state-award

For more than 20 years, the Beaver County Educational Trust has awarded mini-grants to area teachers to launch innovative classroom projects or expand curriculum that otherwise might not develop because of limited school budgets.

This year, however, is the first for its Teacher of the Year award honoring a teacher whose project grant application scored highest in judging rubrics and is deemed “exemplary.”

Caitlin Bajgier, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) coach in the Ambridge Area School District, helps kindergarten pupil Ty Hartman as he works on a computational thinking problem at Economy Elementary School. Bajgier is one of two teacher’s named Teachers of the Year by the Beaver County Educational Trust.

“I see what the kids are learning in math, reading and science and pull them together,” Bajgier said.

http://www.timesonline.com/entertainmentlife/20171217/beaver-county-educational-trust-awards-teacher-of-year