Bucks County Intermediate Unit

Bucks IU was proud to help shape the GiftEDventure Summer Institute this year. Nicole Borland, Director of Teaching and Learning, served as one of ten Gifted Equity Liaisons who planned the institute as part of Pennsylvania’s Javits Gifted Equity Initiative.

The two days of statewide professional learning centered on strengthening gifted education and expanding equitable opportunities for gifted learners in Pennsylvania. Participants left with new strategies, resources, and statewide connections to carry this work forward in their schools and communities.

Bugs to find, bubbles to share, and s’mores to make in Bucks IU Preschool Early Intervention classrooms!

Summer sessions in Bucks IU Preschool Early Intervention classrooms are full of opportunity to learn through play and experience. Students searched for bugs, mixed up a s’mores inspired snack, sang songs, and celebrated with bubbles. These playful experiences give young learners meaningful ways to be curious, engage their senses, practice new skills, and connect learning to the world around them.

1,308 students. Five weeks. One summer full of progress. ☀️

This year, Bucks IU’s Extended School Year program served more students than ever before, helping students across Bucks County keep practicing the skills they worked hard to build all year. From communication and academics to independence and life skills, ESY kept learning strong with plenty of summer fun along the way.

A huge thank you to the 756 Bucks IU team members who made it all possible!

Bucks IU is partnering for two back to school vaccine clinics offering Pennsylvania-required immunizations. Make sure your back-to-school prep this year includes making sure students have the immunizations they need for a healthy school year.

📍 August 19 | 3–6 p.m.
Bristol Borough High School
Register for 8/19: https://form.jotform.com/261515744917160

📍 August 26 | 4–7 p.m.
Quakertown Community High School
Register for 8/26: https://form.jotform.com/261126832871155

Learning together, then bringing it back to the team 📝

Members of the Bucks IU Deaf Education Team recently attended the Educational Interpreter Summer Institute at PaTTAN. They joined educational interpreters from across Pennsylvania to explore current research, best practices, and ethical decision-making in educational interpreting.

They will bring what they learned back to Bucks IU during opening week, sharing new insights and strategies with colleagues to strengthen practices that support students who are deaf and hard-of-hearing across Bucks County.

Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)

Bring more innovation, problem-solving, and hands-on learning into your classroom! 🤖

The Bucks IU STEM Endorsement Program helps educators build a STEM mindset while developing practical strategies you can put to work with students. The four-course, fully online program can be completed for Act 48 credit through Bucks IU or graduate credit through Delaware Valley University.

The first course begins August 26, and registration is open now! More information and registration through the Bucks IU EventHub: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0094-0030-41fddba734d741d3865f54f647aada32

Supporting students takes a team!

At ESY at Strayer Middle School, Bucks IU educators, nurses, paraprofessionals, behavior specialists, liaisons, and therapists worked together to provide the individualized instruction and services students need to maintain important skills and continue making progress throughout the summer.

This collaboration is at the heart of Bucks IU Related Services: bringing specialized expertise together around each student so they can communicate, participate, make progress, and experience greater independence at school and beyond.

Thank you to our Strayer ESY team and all of the Bucks IU staff who made ESY possible across Bucks IU this summer!

Help Students Imagine, Design, and Create!

Some of the best learning doesn't happen behind a traditional classroom desk—it happens when students are encouraged to explore, create, build, and discover.

The Bucks IU Fab Lab Center is looking for a Fab Lab Center Programming Specialist who is passionate about hands-on STEAM education and ready to inspire students, families, and educators through engaging learning experiences.

In this role, you'll help bring innovation to life by planning and facilitating exciting programs that introduce learners to robotics, engineering, computer science, digital fabrication, and creative problem-solving. Every day offers the opportunity to spark curiosity, build confidence, and help students develop skills that prepare them for the future.

We're looking for someone who has:
• Pennsylvania Level I or II Elementary or STEAM Content-Area Certification
• Knowledge of STEAM education
• Experience teaching or leading digital fabrication, engineering, robotics, or related STEAM topics
• A passion for creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences

Apply today: https://bit.ly/FabLabProgrammingSpecialist

Questions? Contact: [email protected]

Kindergarten, here they come! 🎒

As students across Bucks IU Early Childhood Programs prepare to head to kindergarten, we’re celebrating an important milestone and the people who helped them reach it. Behind every new skill and moment of progress is a team of teachers, therapists, and paraprofessionals who encourage, support, and believe in them every step of the way.

Congratulations to our kindergarten-bound students, and thank you to the incredible Bucks IU staff who helped prepare them for this next chapter!