Sunrise School received a special delivery on December 16. The gifts did not come from the North Pole, but from police officers across Allegheny County. Students waited outside the school in great anticipation as the brigade of police cars drove up the hill, lights flashing and sirens sounding. They lined the sidewalk and cheered and […]
Police Deliver Presents to Sunrise School Read Post »
Pathfinder students worked hard on this year’s gingerbread house creation: an edible sculpture of Te Fiti, the island goddess from the movie Moana. The gingerbread house is on display at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh as part of the 22nd Annual Gingerbread House Competition. Students used baking techniques to mix and mold marshmallow treats into a
Pathfinder Students Create Te Fiti for Gingerbread House Competition Read Post »
Mon Valley opened its doors to students and their families on December 4 to celebrate its annual Mess Fest event. Teachers and staff organized a carnival-themed evening that focused on STEAM activities, featured ornament making and cookie decorating, and gave children the opportunity to meet Santa and his friends. Students created reindeer from toilet paper
Mon Valley Hosts Carnival Mess Fest Read Post »
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) Blind and Visually Impaired Support Program (BVISP) proudly introduces Patricia D’Ascenzo, our new Accessible Instructional Materials and Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Coordinator. This innovative role redefines our commitment to supporting students with visual impairments by ensuring they have timely access to customized materials and instructional strategies that meet their unique
A growing number of schools across the country are turning to an innovative approach to address behavioral issues. Mon Valley School has reintegrated the Behavior Adaptation Through Exercise (BATE) program to improve student behavior, emotional regulation, and academic performance. Early data from schools that have implemented the program suggest that regular, structured physical activity can
October Spotlight: Mon Valley Students See Benefits of BATE Exercise Program Read Post »
Recently, staff from the AIU Occupational and Physical Therapy Program (OT/PT) spent time with a cohort of Head Start educators at our Central Offices on how they can integrate fun and effective sensory systems into daily classroom routines. Following a presentation, program director Holly McElhinny and OT/PT supervisors Christine Nypaver and Ginger Nease engaged educators
Sensory in Action: Empowering Teachers with OT/PT Strategies Read Post »
The AIU Speech/Language support program constantly punches above its weight, and program director Thomas Rea and supervisor Eileen Cirelli say they like it that way. The dedicated professionals in this small but mighty program of just under 50 staff members serve more than 1900 students across the region to help them overcome communication and swallowing
May Spotlight: Speech/Language Support Program Read Post »
This week, we salute educators across America, including all those selflessly serving our students in the Western Pennsylvania region! At the AIU-operated Special Education Schools, parents provided our staff with scrumptious food for lunch. We thank and appreciate what our educators bring to schools every single day!
Thank you, Teachers & Nurses! Read Post »
Many things make Pathfinder School stand out among schools for special education learners — its location, thriving greenhouse, and dedicated AIU teachers and staff for starters. One other feature is its 55,000-gallon swimming pool offering unique aquatic experiences and innovative physical therapy supports for students. Pathfinder School Principal Nicholas Fratto says the pool serves as
April Spotlight: Aquatics Instruction and Therapy Supports at Pathfinder School Read Post »
