Teachers, Parents Praise New Reading Program In Pennsylvania School District For Helping Struggling Students Increase Their Test Scores


Swiftwater, PA (PRWEB) July 27, 2012

As the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in one of the most diverse school districts in Pennsylvania, Dr. Catherine Sweeney needed a way to boost the progress of her high-risk student population. Then, one of her teachers discovered StudyDog, an interactive reading program designed for elementary schools.

Our students were not making any type of progress, Sweeney explained. We have to prepare our students for them to be successful in the 21st century. I think the key is that you need to keep up with technology.

The Pocono Mountain School District faced several challenges with more than half of the districts roughly 10,000 students economically disadvantaged. About 21 percent of the students had learning disabilities and 5 percent were learning English for the first time.

Click here to visit the website to see how it works.

Forty percent of kindergarteners in the Pocono Mountain School District did not possess basic phonemic skills when they entered the school system last fall. The lack of those basic skills makes it incredibly difficult for students to learn phonics at the primary level. But using Web-based software from StudyDog, teachers tailored interactive learning programs to the specific needs of each child.

We have been extremely pleased with the program, Sweeney said.

After testing StudyDog last spring in classes for children with special needs, administrators rolled out the program for all students in kindergarten through second grade.

San Francisco, CA Modern Architecture Firm Hart Wright Architects Opens New Office in the Mission District to Expand Opportunities For Collaboration


San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 13, 2012

San Francisco modern architecture firm Hart Wright Architects has moved their office to a new location. The firm is a growing success and they decided it was time to move to an office that reflected their growth. Their new place of business is now in San Franciscos Mission District, a neighborhood well known for its restaurants, cultural venues and artist studios. There is ample public transit nearby and the location is central to the San Francisco downtown and other well-known neighborhoods.

This is what architect and urban designer Eliza Hart had to say about the move:

We are excited to be in a space shared with creative professionals and we can’t wait to collaborate and share ideas.

Principal Eliza Hart has separate masters degrees in both Architecture and Urban Planning from UCLA. Before forming HWA, Eliza was employed at S.F. Bay Area firms Studio Bergtraun Architects and Sagan Piechota Architecture. She has worked on a variety of residential and commercial projects, including remodels as well as new construction; with extensive experience spanning the full range from schematic design to construction documents to construction administration. Eliza also has a background in urban design and worked in Los Angeles with urban designer, architect and author, John Kaliski on a variety of projects. Her B.A. is from the University of Pennsylvania.

Principal and architect, Stuart Wright, has worked on a broad range of architectural projects and he bridges the gap between design and building. Prior to forming HWA, Stuart worked at Studio Bergtraun Architects, and before that at Sagan Piechota Architecture, specializing in modern residential projects. He is attentive to detail and knows that details are his best architectural expression. Stuart received his Master of Architecture at UCLA and studied at the Technical University in Vienna, Austria and at Studio Daniel Libeskind in Berlin, Germany. He holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Michigan.

Hart Wright Architects’ new office is in The New Black or NWBLK, (http://www.thenwblk.com/) an American design and build headquarters with a 6000 square-foot retail gallery featuring an edit of relevant contemporary furniture, applied arts, and the objects of utility defining the 21st Century. The NWBLK brings to San Francisco a roster of yet to be seen designers, and products international in scope. With an in-house fabrication workshop, the NWBLK prototypes furniture and products for clients, and builds custom environments for events and exhibitions.

The NWBLK design offices provide a collaborative work environment for Hart Wright Architects, Lindsay Chambers, Hazel.wood Design Group, Steven Miller Design Studio, and more. Eliza Hart and Stuart Wright are looking forward to all the collaborative opportunities the NWBLK will have to offer.

About Hart Wright Architects

Hart Wright Architects is a green architecture, urban and landscape design firm based in San Francisco serving clients in Palto Alto, Atherton, Napa, Mill Valley and most of the Bay area. Through all phases of design and construction, HWA is committed to excellence in architectural design solutions, active problem solving, and the highest standards of client service. They recently became certified DBE for being a woman owned architecture business.

Hart Wright Architects

1999 Bryant Street

San Francisco, CA

(415) 503-7071

http://www.hartwrightarchitects.com

http://www.hartwrightarchitects.com/blog

This press release was prepared by Bobrow Consulting Group (BCG) for Hart Wright Architects. BCG works with building design professionals to build their business by optimizing their online strategy, teaching marketing for architecture firms as well as offering web design and SEO consulting services.







2012 Washingtonian Residential Design Awards Winners Celebrated with Exhibition at the District Architecture Center


Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 09, 2012

The District Architecture Centers SIGAL Gallery has opened its latest exhibition, Washington Living. The exhibition is organized and presented by The Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|DC) in cooperation with Washingtonian Magazine and the 2012 Washingtonian Residential Design Awards, and celebrates award-winning residential design around Washington DC.

For more than 30 years AIA|DC and Washingtonian Magazine have co-sponsored a design competition which recognizes excellence in residential design. Nine winning submissions were selected by a panel of distinguished architects from outside the Washington DC area, including Nancy Rogo Trainer, FAIA, Kenneth Hobgood, FAIA, and Sanford Steinberg. The winning submissions represent works by:

Kemptville District Hospital Board of Directors Receives Award from the United Counties of Leeds Grenville


Kemptville, Ontario, Canada (PRWEB) June 18, 2012

Late last week the United Counties of Leeds Grenville presented the Bill Thake Economic Development Leadership Award to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Chair of the Kemptville Hospital Board of Directors.

The award is presented annually to a volunteer who has shown outstanding commitment and leadership toward the growth and vitality of the Leeds Grenville economy.

This years award was handed out at a United Counties Leadership Forum held June 14 in Roebuck. Rousseau accepted the award on behalf of the entire Kemptville Hospital Board of Directors. The Board was cited with overseeing the multimillion-dollar expansion of the hospital and the launch of the new Total Joint Replacement orthopaedic surgery program. The Board was also recognized for providing leadership during a period when the hospital saw an increase in its operating budget and the hiring of new staff for orthopaedic surgery, leading to a $ 7.8 million increase in the local payroll. The Board was further commended for playing a role in the hospitals offer of office space within its campus to its service partner, Beth Donovan Hospice.

Now in his seventh year of volunteer service to the community on the Board, Rousseau has been Chair for one year. He commented that he was pleased to see Kemptville Hospital being recognized for its leadership at the County level. Serving on the Board of Directors is so rewarding, he added, as we have such an interesting and dedicated group of people on the Board. He further commented that the hospital is blessed with the leadership of its CEO, Colin Goodfellow, and his committed staff.

Rousseau also spoke about the hospitals recently approved new strategic plan, which will see Kemptville Hospital moving forward in three key directions: integrating and supporting community-based primary care, looking for new open market service opportunities, and further developing the hospitals primary role as a health hub.

This is the second year for the award, named after Westports Mayor Bill Thake, who has spent a record-breaking 50 consecutive years in municipal government, including four terms as county Warden.

Leeds and Grenville MPP Steve Clark commented that this years nominees came from a variety of backgrounds, but they all shared one thing: they give their time and talent to improving economic activity in Leeds Grenville. The other nominees were Karen Cook (Athens), John Jodoin (Augusta Township), Frank Kinsella (Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands), Dana, Mike and John Purcell (Front of Young Township).

If you would like to make comments or suggestions about hospital services, please contact Kemptville District Hospital Chief Executive Officer Colin Goodfellow at 613.258.6133 extension 132, or by email at cgoodfellow(at)kdh.on(dot)ca.

About Kemptville District Hospital:

Kemptville District Hospital is a fully accredited healthcare facility committed to building healthier communities. We are distinct with the provincial health system as a model of hospital-led integrated health services. We operate on two sites and provide primary care management services, acute care hospital services, advanced orthopaedic care and pride ourselves on being a good partner within the system. Kemptville Hospital consistently ranks among the top hospitals in Ontario for both patient and employee satisfaction.