First Street Elementary School - Canonsburg, PA

At First Street Elementary School, students are at the core of our work and teachers and staff are constantly looking for ways to engage and motivate them. Our teachers bring their passion for teaching and learning in to the classrooms by creating opportunities for students to actively engage in the content and curriculum. Teachers feel that the students are important contributors to the learning process and work hard to implement strategies that have students cooperatively learning and making connections between curricular areas and their outside world.

As stated in our vision statement, First Street Elementary "is a learning community based upon the premise that all children can achieve success in learning." For struggling learners, our after-school tutoring program provides re-teaching and reinforcement for students who need it. As enrichment to challenge students, they can participate in programs and competitions such as Battle of the Books, the annual Spelling Bee, and Odyssey of the Mind, which is a student-based program that encourages problem-solving through experimentation.

The culture is defined by the relationships that are built. Students and families collaborate with teachers to strengthen the programs and supports available to children each day. There is ongoing trust and open communication between the principal, teachers, and families. By having an open line of communication, student needs are met and a true partnership is formed and fostered. There is a sense of trust between the community and the school that allows for respect and teamwork to happen on an ongoing basis.