Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, February 20, 2003 Wycallis (continued from page 1) buy something at Toys R Us. They had to keep those toys on their desks to remind them that we were designing the building for children,” said Karasinski. It is quite evident when you walk into the school that it is a place for children. The hallways and entranceway use bright pri- mary colors, and the mechanics of the building, that is, the beams and ductwork, are exposed and brightly painted. The front hall- way and the library were built with a Lincoln Log design in mind. “We actually used real wood beams, notched out and put to- gether just like Lincoln Logs,” said Karasinski. The library also features a “Reading Room” with benches along the three sides of a wide-open windowed area. “It is really something to see the children sitting there while the librarian reads to them. They settle right into those seats,” said Suzie Herstek, a second grade teacher at the school. “Last week when we were talking about Pres- ident Lincoln and how he lived in a log cabin, one of the children said, ‘We have that here in our school.” ” The architects incorporated several metaphors into the struc- ture of the school. There are huge boulders in the front of the build- ing supposedly dropped by a gi- ant on his way in to hang the very large analog clock in the front hall. “Since kids like rocks and frogs and such, the circular roofs in front represent lily pads and the side windows look like firemen’s ladders,” explained Karasinski. “We designed the school as a brain-based learning environ- ment. We put true compass points on the floor of the cafete- ria, Xs and Os into the tile pat- terns in the rest rooms, a butter- fly garden in the back and an outside environmental classroom with logs to sit on.” That classroom may not get as much use as it would if it had a shade tree or two, but the outside area of the school is heavily used by many of the classes. “I love to take my class for a nature walk in the fall and spring,” said Mrs. Herstek. “We walk from Wycallis to the back side of Dallas Ele- PHOTO COURTESTY OF QUAD THREE GROUP The exterior of Wycallis Elementary incorporates design elements that appeal to young children. “The color scheme sets a wonderful tone for the kinds of activities we like to have here.” Kathleen McCarthy Principal, Wycallis Elementary mentary. There are so many things for them to see.” Many classes also meet outside the “Wall Entrance” near the fifth grade classrooms. It is an open, shaded area dominated by a con- crete wall etched with familiar drawings. “We had a contest with the stu- dents at Westmoreland and we picked two pictures from each grade,” said Karasinski. “We cast the winning pictures right into the wall.” That wall delineates the elementary school from the ad- joining administration building. The design also included the recess area in the back of the building. In addition to the but- terfly gardens, there are planter boxes that the Wycallis PTO filled with herbs and Earth Day at the school has been celebrated by planting perennial flowers throughout the area. Also, there are benches for reading, play- ground equipment, and large maps of the world and the United States painted on the ground. All classes at Wycallis still en- joy a daily recess period. On rainy days, the first and second grades have recess together in 5”X7” - $12+ TAX » 8X10” - $15+TAX abn Po ss ce Te ce Or sc 0 cr i ce ts or oc Te TI) Any photo taken by a Post photographer is available in color. Stop by, call or mail in the form below. 5x7 8x10 Please make—— (qty.) copies in this size: Date photo appeared:.................c.ccveeveccinsnnrerarnnsanes PAGE: ceeeeerssssesserseenensennsnrsnrinisinsssssinssnssasessazsssssszssnsss Brief desScription:...............c..c..ccorururnsensnsnersssascaransnss INITIO. .rceneriensreinnssinnionssnsnnsinninsinsssssnnssnsnsonsasaesausansnse ACUIESS,.......ceeeennesensisnisinninnisisnisssiiverrreneasssnssseviness City ceeererrrraerrsssenn StAtG.......cin i. ZIP cere nr ser arrrrnnns PRONG .. co.cc cits ios iisiansisivss rivicsanvesns inns nuunnsnwen Please enclose payment with order. Send to: The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas, PA 18612 Call 675-5211 if you have questions. the gymnasium. “It is so accom- modating. There is plenty of room and they really enjoy the social- ization,” said Herstek. The gym is one part of the building that gets a lot of after school use. During the current basketball season the gym is oc- cupied on an almost daily basis until nearly 10 p.m. “These build- ings belong to the public, to the community, so [I think they should be used,” said Kathleen McCarthy, principal at Wycallis. “The building works well. The color scheme sets a wonderful tone for the kinds of activities we like to have here,” said Mrs. Mc- Carthy. “The building provides an atmosphere that encourages cre- ativity and thinking outside the box.” The school community en- hances that look with a constant- ly changing display of student artwork. The hallway features very large bulletin boards for each classroom to show off their 1 nial latest creative efforts. The center of this hallway has a unique, sun-lit atrium area that is used for everything from additional learning spaces to PTO-spon- sored ice cream sundae parties. “Classes can spill out into that hallway,” said McCarthy. “Teach- ers use it to take small groups out for extra instruction.” Although the hallways and community areas are done in bright primary colors, the class- rooms are a much more subdued shade of creamy yellow. “The classrooms are very adequate es- pecially for the primary grades,” said Herstek. “We have white boards, chalk boards, bulletin boards, a television, VCR, two computers and a sink.” The first and second grades are also set up with adjoining bath- rooms and each of the two kindergarten classrooms has its own bathroom. Educational Facilities presents a selection of the best day care, elementary, intermediate, sec- ondary and higher educational facilities in North America. Wycallis was chosen from a com- petition of submissions by a dis- tinguished jury of educators and architects experienced in educa- tional design. BROOKHAVEN CABINETRY O="Tol=aa8\ in’ @ BINH) \ i= BIG SAVINGS NOW BROOKHAVEN CABINETRY Why choose Brookhaven? Simple: it’s made by Wood-Mode! Since 1942, they have been providing discerning homeowners with the finest custom cabinetry available! Brookhaven’s satin smooth finish, superior quality, wide selection and 10 year limited warranty are why! Let our design professionals create a kitchen that is uniquely yours! Including in-home measurement, free delivery, expert installation, after-sale consultation, plus more! Se ES AND NOW RECEIVE A FREE" ASKO DISHWASHER WITH STAINLESS STEEL INTERIOR with your qualified kitchen purchase $769 VALUE *Minimum purchase required: Offer does not apply to prior sales. See dealer for details Hurry In - Limited Time Offer! el CHORBA’ S CABINET SHOP 315 W. 6th St., West Wyoming, PA 693-3502 « Call For An Appointment VISIT OUR SHOWROOM SOON! ON YOUR NEW CUSTOM-DESIGNED. CUSTOM-BUILT KITCHEN BY B HAVEN LIMITED WARRANTY | i Just Say, CHARGE IT! EH immediately. Ra VISA The Post now accepts Visa & Mastercard for all your subscriptions, classified ads, and display ads. For maximum convenience, call our office at 675- 5211 with your account and we will set you up The Dallas Post 675-5211 Schools (continued from page 1) Gilbert Griffiths, Dallas Super- intendent, said the group con- sensus stemmed from two main issues: duplication of services and the No Child Left Behind Legislation (NCLB). Griffiths said having third and fifth grade in the same school puts the district at risk to not meet new NCLB legislation profi- ciency requirements. If not met, the district could be labeled dis- tressed and lose state and feder- al funding and have teachers and administrators removed. According to Ketchner, other “benefits” outlined by the task force that will be presented to the board include: e More consistent education for students within a grade level. e Centralized resources and professional development. ¢ Better tutorial support. e Opportunities for frequent grade level meetings for teachers e Elimination of the need to transfer students to different buildings. Ketchner said the task force has discussed five possible lay- outs for grade level redistribu- tion and all will be presented to the board. She said out of the five, the group felt changing Dal- las to K-3 and Wyecallis to grades 4-5 would best meet the needs of the district. Kathy Kerpovich, PTO presi- dent for Wycallis, said she does- n't feel the positives of a realign- “I don’t know any parents for it (realignment).” Kathy Kerpovich Wycallis PTO president ment would outweigh the nega- tives. “I don’t know any parents for it (realignment),” she said. Kerpovich said she believes the present kindergarten through grade five environment fosters a “family atmosphere” where teachers and students get to know each other better. “When there are eight third grades, you don’t get to know everyone,” said Kerpovich. Asked. if they felt the district was already committed to the re- alignment, Ketchner and Ker- povich both said they felt it was. “I think there has been a ru- mor going on for so many years we realized it was going to q pen, we just didn't know wher? said Kerpovich. The task force will present its findings and the board of direc- tors will vote on whether to pro- ceed with the recommended changes. “Ultimately it is the board's decision, not ours. We just did the homework and hashing out,” said Ketchner. Pizza, silent auction to benefit Harveys Lake Protective Association The Harveys Lake Protective Association will hold their second annual “Winter Warm-Up” Pizza Party and Silent Auction at Grotto Pizza on Saturday, March 8 from 7-11 p.m. The event is open to the public. The menu will include pizza, stromboli, hoa- gies, dessert, soda, coffee and tea. Alcoholic beverages will be available at a cash bar. The cost is $8 per person if paid by Feb- ruary 28, or $9 after February 20, or at the door. Any business or individual wishing to donate an item to be auctioned, or to make a reservation, may contact Debbie Sobeck at 639-5515. All proceeds will benefit Harveys Lake Protective Associatio Community Projects. 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