Berwick Area School District in Berwick, PA | Children`s and Teens` Education | Pennsylvania Catalog

Berwick Area School District

History of the Berwick Area School District:
The first major move in consolidating the districts that now comprise the Berwick Area School District occured in 1918 when the Berwick Borough and West Berwick entered into an agreement. The next step occured in 1954 when the outlying districts of Briar Creek Borough, Briar Creek Township, and Salem Township joined the Berwick Borough to form the Berwick Area Jointure.
Our world of curriculum, a realm of new and exciting experiences that await the students of the Berwick Area School District at each level. Our staff views curriculum as a process of change rather than a project therefore we are continually evaluating our program. We have specifically taken on the task of rewriting core content curriculum to the Pennsylvania state standards over the last couple of years and believe that learning needs to be dynamic, that classrooms need to become laboratories, incubators, and places where students literally experience learning.
In the process of writing, committees are formed to represent each of the four elementary buildings with members from each grade level, middle and high school representation coupled with as many administrators as possible. Usually the committee meets as a large group to begin the research phase, exploration of new and improved practices, and often makes visits to schools where programs have been identified as being top notch.
This year our district will be using a web-based program called Tech Paths which is a curriculum mapping program based on the work of Heidi Hayes Jacobs. This program, which is furnished to us by a company called Performance Pathways, also houses our student data base of assessment information referred to as Performance Tracker.
Special Education:
The Berwick Area School District provides a full range of special education programs and related services. Most education services are provided within the district.
A gifted program is provided at all levels for students who qualify. All of our programs are instructed by highly qualified teachers. Guidance and psychological services are available for grades K-12.
What should I do if I suspect my child has a learning disability or is educationally gifted? Any concerns that you may have regarding your child's educational performance should first be addressed by contacting the relevant teacher. Your child may be referred to the Child Study Team (CST), which consists of you as a parent, your child's teacher(s), school counselor, principal, and other appropriate school personnel (school psychologist, nurse, etc.). The CST then meets to discuss any school-related concerns that exist, as well as possible courses of action that are likely to help. The CST may, as part of this process, recommend that your child be evaluated for special education eligibility.