Seneca Valley students at Rowan Elementary School see their new, pirate-themed Creativity, Innovation and Research Centers (CIRCs) for the first time.

Curious and wide-eyed elementary students in the Seneca Valley School District will now be greeted by a massive pirate ship, complete with sails, palm trees and even a plank or a draw bridge that leads into their stately white castle with its towers and turrets.

Two new Creativity, Innovation and Research Centers (CIRCs) recently opened at Rowan Elementary and Connoquenessing Valley Elementary schools.

A pirate ship theme now decorates Rowan's CIRC space while a castle has been built at Connoquenessing Valley. The CIRC rooms were unveiled when students came back from their holiday break on Jan. 2.

“It's an absolutely inspiring space for students and adults alike,” said Rowan Elementary Principal Nan Farmar. “It's been a pure joy to see the kids come in and see their expressions and see the type of learning they're going to be able to do in the space.”

In these newly designed spaces, students can access maker spaces, including a green screen and, through a donation from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, various interactive kits and equipment.

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

In this immersive space, young inventors can use these materials to collaborate with their peers on subjects such as coding, robotics, engineering, communications and graphic design.

Read how the Seneca Valley School District devloped CIRCs in the Butler Eagle.