What is CIRC?

Seneca Valley collaborated with Pittsburgh-based Inventionland Institute to design innovative spaces and introduce creative resources to help students find inspiration in their academics.

The Creativity, Innovation & Research (CIRC) spaces at Haine, Rowan, Evans City and Connoquenessing Valley Elementary (CVE) schools offer students an opportunity to use a “constructivist approach to all sorts of project-based activities,” said Dr. Sean McCarty, assistant superintendent for K-6 instruction and facilitator of the space. “They really are immersed in a space that sparks creativity.”

In this immersive space, young inventors can be found learning and collaborating on subjects such as coding, robotics, engineering, communications, and graphics design. They are also experiencing self-discovery, learning problem-solving skills and taking home real-world knowledge.

Some of the products include robotic, engineering, invention and construction activity sets, Kindles, microphones, extensive video equipment, Snap circuits and Arduino boards.

Seneca Valley is one of the first school districts to work with and offer Inventionland’s K-4 curriculum, and one of just a few in the region to offer such a space.