Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21
Spring Newsletter
March
New Teacher Induction
New Teacher Induction gathers new teachers in our districts for a day of professional development. Inductees work together on team building activities, learning new technology tools and polishing their teaching practice. Inductees can return to their schools with newly adopted procedures to enhance their instruction and classroom protocols.
Spring Dance
Our students are seen here happily spending time with friends and teachers at one of our two dances per year. These dances are a way to encourage relationship building, socializing and having fun with classmates outside of classroom walls.
Governor's STEM Competition
A number of students interested in STEM participated in our Governor's STEM competition this year. The initiative was to build an invention that could improve quality of life for citizens in Pennsylvania. Parkland took first place with their invention, Plastobot, which helps with household recycling.
Spotlight on Enhanced Autism
March's board meeting focused on our Enhanced Autism program. This program is fast growing and works to serve students who experience life with autism. These center based programs implement helpful interventions and special accommodations for students with enhanced autism.
Math 24 Challenge
Math-loving students compete for the chance to win first place at Math 24. Each round has a small group of students trying to find a solution of twenty-four from a set of four numbers. They must be quick and precise to be successful!
Deaf Youth Day
On Deaf Youth Day, deaf and hard of hearing students visited Allentown City Hall and talked with Allentown Police about emergency signs and signals for the deaf. The group toured City Hall and learned about police procedures. This group of young people hope to bridge the gap between the hearing and non-hearing.
April
Dr. Eib Recommissioned
Dr. Eib was sworn in to another term as Executive Director by the State of Pennsylvania. Joined by the CLIU cabinet, Dr. Eib took oath at the Allentown Court House. We are happy to have Dr. Eib with us for another term as Director!
LLAS Students Start Podcast
Lehigh Learning and Achievement School students began hosting a podcast called The Flip Side. Hailey, contributor to The Flip Side, explained the meaning behind the name has to do with their unique opinions as young adults in the world, as opposed to the typical adults on the news.
Peter Langman Presents
Renowned school shooting expert Peter Langman visited our central office to present the warning signs of a potential school shooter. Langman's presentation outlined previous tragic events and examined profiles of past shooters. Many districts attended, as well as members of PA state police and others concerned with school safety.
Reading Olympics
Reading Olympics encourages students to read and examine multiple texts to prepare for a trivia style team competition. Most students read nearly every book on the list. These kids were excited to compete and read too!
Google Bootcamp
Educators attended Google "Bootcamp" with Rich Kiker to learn tips and tricks in earning level one Google Educator certification. Being a certified Google Educator can start a teacher on the pathway to becoming a certified Google Trainer.
Academic Competition
Several schools compete in hopes of winning first place at our Academic Competition. Academic trivia questions are directed to three teams at a time, with the correct team earning points toward their overall score. The first place team moves on to a state competition. Congratulations Central Catholic High School!
May
STEM Design Challenge
Students participating in the STEM Design Challenge are given two hours to build a structure that enhances daily life. Each year we are more and more impressed with their creativity! Judges from Thermo-Fisher Scientific offer their time to analyze student projects and give them a proper score.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Picnic
The deaf and hard of hearing classrooms held their annual end of the year picnic at Covered Bridge Park. Students and teachers played games like volleyball and football, ate lunch together and enjoyed a beautiful day outside of the classroom to cap off their year.
Special Olympics at Whitehall
These students were able to try their hand at the long jump, softball throw and more with the help of teachers and family. Special Olympics offers a chance for students with disabilities to experience athletics with special accommodations. Special Olympics was held this year at Whitehall High School.
Legislative Visit to CCEA
This visit to Carbon County Enhanced Autism included State Representatives Doyle Heffley, Jeanne McNeil and Zachary Mako. The Representatives were able to see our classrooms first hand and spend time with students while they learned. Thank you for visiting!
Regional Computer Fair
Our Regional Computer Fair had many excited teams ready to head to states! Categories for entry include logo design, webpage design, animation, digital movie and more. Judges who are knowledgeable in these areas score the projects. Each year it seems their talents are better than the last. Congratulations to our first placers!
Spring KTI Day
Teachers attend Keystone Technology Innovators' Day for valuable breakout sessions, learning about new technology, networking and more. Sessions included a wide variety of topics like coding, virtual reality and drones. This year's keynote speaker was Tom Murray, who spoke about the importance of meaningful tech integration in the classroom, connecting with students and encouraging their fullest potential.
Germantown Grove Fishing Party
Germantown Grove's fishing party is held each year for students with special needs. The grove pairs them up with fishing experts who help them catch fish. Working together encourages patience and socializing. Students are able to take their fish home with them as they are prepared for cooking on-site.
Work-Based Learning Picnic
Students in the work-based learning program had their picnic at Egypt Memorial Park. They enjoyed music, food, friends, basketball, face painting and more! This picnic celebrates the students who move through our work-based learning programs throughout the year.