technology use and integration included, but was not limited to,
Python, Google Education, Microsoft OneNote sessions, Arts and
Bots using Hummingbird Robotics, 3D Printing and Prototyping,
Environmental Sustainability, Programming using Scratch, the
Maker Movement, STEAM Projects, and Pathways to Computational
Literacy. Enthusiastically, a wonderful new partnership has also
emerged with Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus featuring
our Project-Based Learning Sustainability Workshop.
The South Fayette School District partners locally, statewide, and
nationally to help lead the way by continuing the development
of our K-12 articulated curriculum focused on Computational
Thinking as an essential literacy skill. Advancing students’
understanding of computer science and coding is quickly
advancing as fundamental for career and college readiness.
Children of the South Fayette community are fortunate to have a
community that supports their whole child development through
ongoing innovative learning opportunities. The South Fayette
Township School District extends sincere public thanks to the
entire South Fayette community for its continuous commitment
to the children we serve. The District’s population and enrollment
continues to climb, with a current total enrollment of nearly 3,267
students. The expectation is that the enrollment number will
increase as the school year commences.
Our primary goal remains as we strive to provide solid and
innovative academic programs. The District’s most recent data
indicate that South Fayette students continue to achieve at
To support the development of this year’s theme, the South Fayette
Administrative Leadership Team recently participated in its yearly
“Operational Planning/Goals Meetings.” To attain such goals, the
District has been successful and fortunate in securing grants from
the Grable Foundation, Sprout Fund, Digital Promise, and others
in order to advance student and staff learning opportunities, and
reach out to other school district partners enabling underserved
student populations to become involved in various district
initiatives.
An exciting and invigorating District effort has also begun in
assessing the future readiness and evolution of the District’s
libraries. As eSchool News reports (July, 2017),
“No longer are school librarians
just the keepers of the books.
Librarians and media specialists
are highly trained, versatile
(flexible) staff members, whose
scope of responsibilities spans
all students and all subjects.
Additionally, library spaces
are becoming innovatively
designed flexible spaces and
serve as hubs of learning that
can provide makerspaces, video
or music production facilities,
or spaces that can be open,
quiet, or active for knowledge
consumption and creation.”
Typically considered as valuable resources and at the center of
academics, libraries are being reimagined as the “epicenter for new
tools and programs that enrich the entire school.”
Together, as we begin our new 2017-2018 school year, please
encourage your children to develop new facets of learning and
seek out various opportunities that will foster their “Ingenuity”
through “Maker, Digital, and Real-World” learning experiences. We
value your support and genuinely need you as our best partners
so that our students are ready for their next steps in our global and
digital world.
We are excited for the children to return on August 21, 2017!
All the best,
Dr. Bille P. Rondinelli
Superintendent of Schools
South Fayette | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 45
The District’s Operational Planning theme for the 2017-2018 school
year is, “Ingenuity and Flexibility.” The District continues to build
upon South Fayette’s strong foundation and partnerships, such as
with the Digital Promise: League of Innovative Schools, Pittsburgh’s
Remake Learning Network, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3 (AIU
3), Dr. Sarah Tambucci, Executive Director of the Arts Education
Collaborative (AEC), and others.
high success rates on state, local, and national assessments.
Our qualitative data indicate that students engaged in STEAM
and innovation learning experiences ask deeper inquiry-based
questions, become advanced problem solvers/problem designers,
and deeper engaged thinkers as a direct result of their overall
learning experiences.