Quaker Valley Middle School
Encyclopedia
Quaker Valley Middle School is a middle school
in Sewickley, Pennsylvania
. The school has adopted the Pre AP Curricular Framework. QVMS is well-known for an innovative laptop-technology grant, received in 2000 from former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge
. In 2001, the entire district was designated a Pennsylvania Digital School District. Quaker Valley has been ranked in a University of Pittsburgh Study to be first in the region in use of technology, as an Apple Distinguished School for technology, and as a 2004 recipient of the Technology in Action Award (AASA). The school district is also a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. As of the 09-10 school year, QVMS enrollment is 475 students.
The building that QVMS currently occupies was built in the 1910s for Sewickley High School
, a now defunct public school. When the Quaker Valley School District was organized in 1956, Sewickley High School closed, and the building then became a junior high school (encompassing grades 7, 8, and 9), known as Quaker Valley Junior High. This change was also accompanied by the addition of a new gym
nasium, cafeteria
, dance studio, and wood shop. The old gym, as well as locker rooms, is located underneath the school, and is no longer in use. The old gym is accessible via trap doors located on the 1st floor. In 1997, the building underwent renovations and was also converted to a middle school
. These renovations included a new library
computer lab
, central office, as well as some additional classroom space and other minor changes. The band/chorus rooms under the auditorium became the district offices. All 6th graders and teachers from the school district moved to the middle school, and all 9th grade students and teachers moved to Quaker Valley High School
. Due to increasing enrollment, program expansion and some serious infrastructure issues, planning is underway to renovate the building during the 2011-12 school year.
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
in Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Sewickley is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, west northwest of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. It is a residential suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 3,827 at the 2010 census...
. The school has adopted the Pre AP Curricular Framework. QVMS is well-known for an innovative laptop-technology grant, received in 2000 from former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...
. In 2001, the entire district was designated a Pennsylvania Digital School District. Quaker Valley has been ranked in a University of Pittsburgh Study to be first in the region in use of technology, as an Apple Distinguished School for technology, and as a 2004 recipient of the Technology in Action Award (AASA). The school district is also a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. As of the 09-10 school year, QVMS enrollment is 475 students.
History
Sewickley High School
Sewickley High School was a public school in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. The school's roots can be traced back to 1834, when it was located in an old log church. In 1894, a new building for the school was built, known as the Richardson Romanesque Sewickley Public School, often affectionately called...
, a now defunct public school. When the Quaker Valley School District was organized in 1956, Sewickley High School closed, and the building then became a junior high school (encompassing grades 7, 8, and 9), known as Quaker Valley Junior High. This change was also accompanied by the addition of a new gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium, cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
, dance studio, and wood shop. The old gym, as well as locker rooms, is located underneath the school, and is no longer in use. The old gym is accessible via trap doors located on the 1st floor. In 1997, the building underwent renovations and was also converted to a middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
. These renovations included a new library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
computer lab
Computer lab
A computer lab, also known as a computer suite or computer cluster is typically a room which contains many networked computers for public use...
, central office, as well as some additional classroom space and other minor changes. The band/chorus rooms under the auditorium became the district offices. All 6th graders and teachers from the school district moved to the middle school, and all 9th grade students and teachers moved to Quaker Valley High School
Quaker Valley High School
Quaker Valley High School is a high school located in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania. Quaker Valley High School is one of the four National Blue Ribbon Schools that comprise the Quaker Valley School District....
. Due to increasing enrollment, program expansion and some serious infrastructure issues, planning is underway to renovate the building during the 2011-12 school year.