Hartwood students share Creative Connections capstone, district to add student publications to library shelves

Students from Hartwood Elementary School presented finished publications from the Creative Connections capstone during the Fox Chapel Area School District board meeting on Feb. 11, 2025.

The presentations were led by Fox Chapel Leadership Council student representative Lily McLaughlin and Hartwood staff. "Attending the eradicate hate summit was an incredibly powerful and eye opening experience," McLaughlin told the board, describing student work to promote empathy and inclusivity across schools.

The project engaged students in the full writing process, including drafting, revising and editing. Erin Wetherill, gifted support teacher at Hartwood Elementary School, said the unit aligned with the district’s pillars of success and showcased student authorship. Fourth- and fifth-grade students read short excerpts and explained how the capstone incorporated purpose, passion, care and community.

Students described in-class events tied to the capstone: a ceiling-tile design project funded by grants awarded to top designs, a Black History Month door decorating competition in February and a multicultural night planned for March 19 at Fox Chapel Area High School. The presentations also included a classroom "bookstore cafe" where students shared finished newsletters and books with peers and families; Wetherill recorded the presentations for families who could not attend.

Board members were presented copies of the students’ final publications. The district will place copies on the shelves at school libraries and donate copies to the Cooper Segal Library so other students and community members can check out the work.

The superintendent introduced the Hartwood team as part of the regular superintendent’s report. Board members thanked the students and staff for the presentation and noted they looked forward to reading the published work.