Discover Chester County

Description

When the elementary schools opened their doors on September 3, 2002, the physical buildings were not the only changes for Avon Grove students.Over the course of the past two years, as Avon Grove Intermediate School was rising from the ground, district administrators and teachers were looking to the future and designing an educational program to better meet the needs of all our students.

From these discussions a new educational focus, Big Ideas, was developed for the elementary schools.Highlights of Big Ideas included: Emphasis on literacy, Inquiry learning in math and science, Active learning, Collaborative environments for students, parents, teachers, and administrators, Standards-based curriculum with consistency and continuity.

One area where these Big Ideas are immediately noticeable is in the organization of the Art cycle/PE classes at Avon Grove Intermediate School (AGI). AGI students rotate through five special courses, which meet daily for 32 days.These include: Art, Music, Science Encounters, Computers, and Media Skills.

At AGI students receive daily Physical Education classes. This promotes daily exercise and life-long fitness habits. Health classes are taught within the physical education block.

Art cycle teachers collaborate with classroom teachers to design lessons that integrate with classroom curriculum.Working with the same group of students over consecutive days allows for more complex projects that can be completed over a shorter period of time.Also students can focus on one special subject at a time instead of art one day and music another day, giving continuity to these subject areas.