The Propel CreativeArts Program provides students with a wide array of fine arts classes as an essential, required part of the core curriculum. The variety in arts programming provides an excellent way to tap into children’s multiple intelligences and gives the students an opportunity to express themselves through words, pictures, music, drama or dance.
All students receive instruction from the best professional artists in the Pittsburgh area. Teaching artists are in residency at Propel for twelve-week trimesters. CreativeArts classes are taught by:
Dance Alloy Theater
Pittsburgh CLO (Musical Theater)
First Tee of Pittsburgh (Golf)
Hip-Hop on L.O.C.K (Rap, Recording, Music Industry)
Staycee Pearl Dance Project
Studio J (Dance)
Pennsylvania Shotokan Karate Club
Pittsburgh Musical Theater

Saturday Light Brigade
Stage Right Theatre
... and professionals who taught classes in photography, creative writing, musical theater, aerobics, and physical education.  

K-8 CreativeArts

Students in Kindergarten through sixth grades rotate in their CreativeArts classes every six weeks.  Seventh and eighth grade students elect their CreativeArts classes for each twelve-week trimester. In addition, specialists in mosaic art and puppetry work in collaboration with the certified art teacher to provide a unique visual arts experience.  Many of these Visiting Artists rotate between the six Propel K-8 Schools, located in Braddock Hills, Homestead, McKeesport, Montour, North Side, and Turtle Creek.

Students also elect to participate in band or string ensemble and semi-private instrumental lessons. Each CreativeArts module culminates in a “Celebration of Learning” where students showcase their accomplishments. These assemblies are ways for students to showcase achievements in the arts, as well as gain valuable experience and confidence in performing in front of an audience.  

High School CreativeArts

The CreativeArts programs at Propel Andrew Street High School and Propel Braddock Hills High School give students the opportunity to elect classes in the arts that help them to find their potential, discover new talents and skills, become innovative and creative thinkers, and find their passion through the arts.
High school CreativeArts programs are one hour per day, spanning all three trimesters in the school year. Last year’s high school programs have included:
First Tee of Pittsburgh (Golf), Painting and Printmaking, Jewelry Making, Photography, Videography, Show Choir, Band Ensemble, Sewing & Costume Design, YMCA – Physical Education, Aerobics, Stage Right Theater, and Dance Alloy Theatre.

You can read more about Propel's CreativeArts Program through visiting the CreativeArts website.



Technology

Technology integration has been a strong focus of Propel since its inception. Our emphasis on technology is supported by a full-time Director of Instructional Technology and a K – 12 Technology Coach who are responsible for guiding and enabling all of Propel's schools to embrace various technology practices and embed technology into the curriculum. 
Our teachers are constantly using technology to enhance and expand instructional practices. We make certain that every child is educated in the use of current and emerging technologies as tools necessary for living, learning, and working in the 21st century.

Some of our current technology programs include:

• Planning and implementing an annual technology fair. This year, 2011, was the third year of the event, and once again educators from many school districts and universities in Western Pennsylvania attended the event. The event focused on teaching educators about the effective use of technology in the classroom.

• Implementing SMART Technologies throughout the district; Propel is honored as a SMART Showcase District. Educators at SMART Showcase Schools and Districts use SMART products to create an appealing, interactive learning environment that increases student engagement and improves learning outcomes. All K - 8 classrooms, and nearly all high school classrooms, utilize SMART Board interactive whiteboards and other SMART products, including classroom response systems and document cameras.

• Facilitating a one-to-one laptop initiative at both Propel high schools. Additionally, several 7^th & 8^th Grade classes now have permanent sets of laptops in their classrooms. This high ratio of computers, along with teachers embracing Google Apps for Education and other Web 2.0 tools, is revolutionizing teaching and engaging students everyday through technology.

• Implementing mobile devices, including iPod Touch devices and iPads, into several classrooms across multiple school buildings. Students use these technologies for everything from creating multimedia products to learning content through a multi-sensory approach.
  

• Connecting our teachers and students with resources all over the world using multiple forms of distance learning. Propel students have connected with NASA, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the National Science Center using video conferencing equipment. Individual classrooms have connected with other classrooms across the globe via Skype.

• Partnering with Three Rivers Connect to create an educational relevant federated search engine to provide credible research collections for teachers' instructional planning purposes and also allow Propel teachers the ability to submit self-created resources in an effort to create a culture of collaboration between employees.

• An exciting Gigapan Project with Carnegie Mellon University that enables our teachers to participate in Gigapan trainings with University professors and work alongside educators on an international level. Teachers take new knowledge back to the classroom and students are active in using Gigapan Cameras to document and share images from their local communities with students in other communities around the world.

To learn more about Propel's Technology program visit their website.

Discovery Aces

Discovery Aces is the gifted education program for all of Propel's schools. Discovery Aces participate in a number of community projects as well as national competitions in science, mathematics, technology, writing and the arts, among others. Discovery Aces also expand the classroom into many areas of the community by participating in various after-school and independent projects, as well as field trips to local museums and exhibits.

Current Discovery Ace Projects and Competitions include:
CentsCity
Future City Competition
Junior Achievement
National Chemistry Week
The Bizworld Foundation

To learn more about Propel's Discovery Aces program visit their website.