tiger prints - Big Beaver Falls Area School District

Big Beaver Falls Area
School District:
Ranked #1 Overachiever
School District in Pennsylvania
2010, 2011, 2012
“. . .
Tiger Prints
Newsletter of
Big Beaver Falls Area
School District
1503 Eighth Avenue
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 15010
www.tigerweb.org
committed to providing an exemplary educational experience
Volume XXII
. . . .”
Winter 2012-2013
Issue 75
Musical Sponsored by NBC’s SMASH ‘Make a Musical’
BFMS Musical Dear Edwina Jr. Begins Next Friday
O
ver 100 BBF Middle
School students--and
their faculty directors-have been spending a significant
number of their after-school hours
for the past several months learning
lines, music, and stage movements
to produce Dear Edwina Jr.--their
first school musical in a number of
years.
Thanks to Middle School’s
winning NBC’s SMASH “Make a
Musical” program, the curtain will
go up on the BF Middle School
production of Dear Edwina Jr. next
Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. [January
11, 12, and 13].
Tickets for Dear Edwina will be
available in the MIddle School Office
beginning Monday, January 7.
Yvonne Sterrett, Director/Vocal
Director/Producer of the show,
reported that all seats will be general
admission only--Adults for $5 and
Students/Senior Citizens for $3.
Assisting Director Sterrett with
the musical’s production is BFMS
Technology Instructor Terri Hunkler,
who doubles her “Assistant” duties
by serving also as Choreographer.
Students working on Sound
and Lighting for Dear Edwina are
under the supervision of BBF Band
Director Len Cersosimo.
The plot of the musical revolves around 13-year-old Edwina
Spoonapple who decides she is
being shortchanged in getting
some recognition.
To remedy her dilemma, she
enlists her older siblings, quirky
friends, and neighbors to join her
in the family garage as a part of
a Kalamazoo Advice-a-palooza
Festival.
Edwina’s palooza, however, is
unique in that it features her advice
to questions she receives about
birthday party etiquette, how to
save money, or how to make a shy
friend feel welcome.
Analeigh Wichryk--Grade 6
as Annie
Daymon Cleveland--Grade 6
as Billy Vanderploonk
Dillon Darrington--Grade 6
as Cordell Vanderploonk
The questions are delivered to
Edwina in a song, and she replies
in a song--a musical production
filled with musical advice!
Consequently, the “letter
readers” in the musical, who are
each searching for advice from
Edwina, each deliver their question
in a vocal solo.
Eighth grader Anna Kunselman sings Aprodite’s question,
sixth grader Cadeya Koch delivers Abigail’s quest for advice,
eighth grader Lillian Paolucci
reveals Carrie’s question, and seventh grader Ashton Miloszewski
sings Ziggy’s question.
Other soloists and characters
in Dear Edwina and the Middle
School students portraying them
are:
Chris Pugh playing Bobby,
Logan Becze as Lars Vanderploonk, Emmanuel Bioh doing
Vladimir, Micha Turner portraying
Frank, and Elizabeth Foden as
Chef Ludmilla.
The roles of Susie and the
Napkins are portrayed by Teyarae
Ellison, Lilliana Reid, and Romia
Schofield.
The character of Fairy Forkmother is played by Eve Howard
and Farmer Jerry is in the hands
of Iyari Short.
Abbey DeSimone has the
role of Mary, Annette Thomas
does Lola, Marisa Santillo plays
Mary Sue Betty Bob, and Emma
Czarnecki has the role of Anne
VanBuren.
Jenna Chirichetti--Grade 6
as Katie Spoonapple
NBC’s SMASH “Make a Musical”
Jacqueline Oliver--Grade 7
as Edwina Spoonapple
Jacob Swanson--Grade 8
as Scott
Chloe Carter--Grade 6
as Becky
Raven Tisdale--Grade 8
as Kellli
Elective ‘Art for BF’ Students
Decorating Dear Edwina Sets
“A
rt for BF,” taught by
BFMS Art Teacher
Geanan Murtha,
painted and decorated the sets for
Dear Edwina.
The trees in the musical,
created by two of the class members
pictured at right, might well end up
in a stage production of Seuss’s
Lorax.
BBF maintenance team
members Mark Prokopovich,
Bob Johnson, and Brian Ottaviani
designed and constructed the
setting for the BFMS musical.
program provides production support,
including rights to stage the musical,
financial stipends for the musical ’ s
directors, a technical theater fund, and
two Master classes taught by New York
based
iTheatrics Master Teachers.
Emily Young [left] and Alexis
Gaydos created the leaves and
painted the trees for Dear Edwina.
Page 2
BBF Students Learn ‘in’ & ‘out’ of Class
Observe Heart Surgery, Hear Kiya Tomlin, Listen to Guest Readers
B
BF students enjoy having
their classroom learning
enhanced by guests who
come into their classrooms to share
experiences. Likewise, students
occasionally enjoy leaving their
classrooms to learn in another
setting.
In the photo at left are Seniors
in the BFHS Gifted Program or who
belong to Health Careers Club.
They left their classrooms for a
day to travel to Allegheny General
Hospital and observe an open heart
surgical procedure.
To the left in the photo,
students could look down through
glass panels into the operating room
below and observe heart surgery in
progress.
Their guide for their visit was Dr.
Howard Edington, Chairman of West
Penn Allegheny Health System’s
Department of Surgery and Director
of West Penn Allegheny’s Cutaneous
Oncology system.
Dr. Edington’s wife is a Nurse
Practioneer, who is also a BFHS
Graduate [Marcy Attisano], and the
daughter of current BBF School
Director Richard Attisano.
At the bottom, left of this page
are three photos of Kiya Tomlin’s
guest presentation to BFHS Senior
girls. Also known as “Steeler Coach
Tomlin’s wife,” Kiya offered the
girls helpful do’s and don’t’s about
fashion. “Your clothes speak before
you do,” she reminded them.
The other photos on this page
are of guest readers, who are
identified above each photo.
In photo at left, SEATED, left to right: Paige Ochman, Hannah Gaul,
Anastasia Carling, Amber Persson, Nicole Karczewski, and Paige Murphy.
STANDING, left to right: BFHS Nurse Susan Swanson, Rayona Cleckley, Shanice Avery, Gianna Barnes, Alina Chemini, Sierra Murray, Savannah
Purvis, Alec Agostinelli, Elise Noyes, Dr. Edington, and BFHS Gifted Coordinator Michele Benn.
Kiya Tomlin
Mrs. Mike Tomlin
Introduced by Mrs. Micija
School Director Attisano
Reads ‘Fierce Yellow Pumpkin’
to Central Kindergarten
Kiya Tomlin Gives
BFHS Senior Taytum Evans
An autograph
Kiya Tomlin Gives
BFHS Senior Danielle Jonas
A ‘Cell Phone Photo Op’
a.k.a.
Richard Attisano, BBF School Board Director
Has a photo moment with Pre-K Class
after reading seasonal selections
Dr. Todd Allen
BBF School Board Vice President
Shares a book with Pre-K Class
Terri Ellinwood
BBF School Board Secretary
Reads to Pre-K Students
Rep. James Marshall
PA State House Representive
Reads a book with Pre-K
Dr. Donna Nugent
BBF District Superintendent
Reads Pre-K a seasonal story
Page 3
John Horvath Chosen DAR Good Citizen
Joe Dixon Honored as Finalist in Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame
J
oe Dixon, BFHS Junior,
will be in San Antonio,
Texas today [January 4,
2013] as one of ten high school
scholar/athletes honored at the U.S.
Army All-American Bowl Awards
Dinner. One of the ten will be
announced as the recipient of the
Award of Excellence.
Tomorrow, Joe and the other
nine Finalists will be guests of honor
at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
game at the Alamodome, broadcast
live on NBC beginning at noon.
Joe’s selection as a Finalist
in the Army-Pro Football Hall of
Fame was based on his academic
achievement, participation in
track and golf, and his record of
community service.
His nomination was supported
by BFHS English Teacher Michelle
BFHS Guidance Counselor Leslie Gossett stands beside John Horvath, winner of the High School’s 2012 DAR Good Citizen Award. Seated
are Sierra Murray [left] and Jessica Nagy, who, in addition to John, were
nominated for the annual award by the BFHS faculty. Counselor Gossett
then submitted the three nominees to a vote by the Senior Class.
For their participation in athletics, academic performance, and school
leadership, Jessica Nagy and Joe Dixon have been selected for Wendy’s
High School Heisman Program. Nominated by BFHS Guidance Counselor
Angela Manno, above, the two BFHS Seniors are eligible to move on to
State and National levels of recognition. Finalists are announced when the
National Heisman Memorial Trophy is presented in New York City.
Micija and BFHS Guidance
Counselor Angela Manno.
At a special all-school BFHS
assembly progam in November,
Joe was officially presented with his
Finalist plaque by U.S. Army officers
and staff, representative George
Veras from the Pro Football Hall of
Fame, and Pro Football receiver
Lynn Swann.
Heisman and DAR Awards
Not only did Joe Dixon become
a Finalist in the Hall of Fame
Program, he joined Jessica Nagy
in being selected for Wendy’s High
School Heisman Program.
At the time of this printing, their
status in the program was not yet
known.
[See photo, bottom left on this
page.]
Meanwhile, Jessica joined
John Horvath and Sierra Murray as
faculty nominees in the Annual DAR
[Daughters of American Revolution]
“Good Citizen Award” competition.
[Photo at left.]
BFHS Guidance Counselor
Leslie Gossett reported that
nominations for DAR Good Citizen
were first made by the faculty.
Then she submitted the names of
the three nominees to a vote of the
Senior Class, which John won.
Meanwhile, out at Big Beaver
Elementary, their Red Ribbon Week,
coordinated by Guidance Counselor
Lori Ranieri-Miller, brought together
a number of guests as expert
resources who spoke to fifth
graders primarily about career and
educational opportunities. It’s never
too early to begin.
U.S Army--Pro Football Hall of Fame
Award for Excellence
Finalist
Joe Dixon
In Recognition of Excellence in
Academics
Community Service
&
Athletic Achievement
2012
BFHS English teacher Michelle
Micija [left] Hall of Fame receiver
Lynn Swann, and Guidance Counselor Angela Manno congratulate
Joe Dixon. The two BFHS faculty
members wrote recommendation
letters for Joe.
Joe Dixon holds his Award of Excellence as a Finalist in the U.S. Army--Pro Football Hall of Fame. From left to right, he is flanked by MajorGeneral David Mann, BBF Athletic Director James Carbone, BBF Superintendent of Schools Dr. Donna Nugent, High School Principal Mary Beth
Leeman, and Football Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann.
Big Beaver’s Red Ribbon Week included guests from a variety of sources sharing career and educational
opportunities with students. In the back row, left to right, are: Master Sergeant Scott McCoy, United States Air
Force; Peggy Petrack, DCI Career Institute; Darlene Johnson, DCI Career Institute; Petty Officer Delaney, United
States Navy; Sergeant Christian Easley, United States Air Force; Big Beaver Principal Valarie Williams; Big Beaver
School Counselor Lori Ranieri-Miller; Scot Rutledge, Graphic Designer from Community College of Beaver County;
Leslie Tenant, Director of Communications at Community College of Beaver County; Mike Bair, Geneva College
Admissions Office Representative; Sharon Shakespeare, Community College of Beaver County Representative;
and Lieutenant Colonel Joe Morgan, United States Air Force.
In front ot the guests are the five Big Beaver Fifth Grade Student Models, left to right: Chase Carosi, Isabel
Logan, Carly Eicher, Alivia Gaydos, and Naveah Harris.
Page 4
Students Contribute $500 to Highmark Caring Place
Big Beaver, Central, BFHS Participate in ‘Grief Awareness Day’
S
Joseph Smith [left front] and Audrey Schroth [right front], Big Beaver
fifth grade Caring Team Co-Captains, attended Grief Awareness kickoff
activities at Heinz Field with Big Beaver Title I teacher Joann Lecrone [left
back] and Guidance Counselor Lori
Ranieri-Miller. The four had the
opportunity for a photo moment
Big Beaver Falls Area
with Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Clark
and Channel 4 News Anchor Sally
School District
Wiggins.
tudents at Big Beaver
Elementary, Central
Elementary, and the High
School participated in Children’s
Grief Awareness Day, November 15.
They wore blue, placed a
butterfly in memory of a lost loved
one on their building’s Butterfly
Tree, and made a small donation to
Highmark’s Caring Place.
Coordinated by three building
guidance counselors, the activities
of the Day provided students with
an “opposite alternative” to bullying.
Students placing a butterfly on
the tree may have been saddened,
but they also recalled happy
memories of the loved one and
realized they were sharing common
feelings with their classmates.
The small donations for each
butterfly in the three schools raised
over $500 for Highmark’s Caring
Place in Cranberry.
Two Big Beaver students
accompanied two faculty members
to the Grief Awareness Kickoff
activities at Heinz Field.
Members of BFHS Usher’s Club in front of their Butterfly Tree for
Children’s Grief Awareness Day on November 15 are, left to right: Toyauna
Slappy, Paige Murphy, Aimee Jones, Rayona Cleckley, Ashley Martella,
Nya Coleman, Ali Durelli, Breanna Tumas, Ushers’ Club Advisor and BFHS
Guidance Counselor Leslie Gossett, Logan Donnadio, and Annie Carling.
School Directors
Cynthia Cook
Todd Allen, Ph.D.
Isabelle Gill
Terri Ellinwood
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Clifford Alford Richard Attisano
Allen Bozic
Ron Miller
Susan Smith
Andrews & Price, LLP, Solicitors
Administration
Donna M. Nugent, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Jane Bovalino, Ed. D.
Assistant Superintendent
Mary Beth Leeman
High School Principal and
CTO for School Improvement Grant
Bryan Fabyanic
Assistant High School Principal
Ryan Matsook
High School Dean of Students
Thomas House II
Middle School Principal
Chris Posset
Middle School Dean of Students
Linda Edel
Central Elementary School Principal
Donnie Hicks
Central Elementary School
Dean of Students
Valarie Williams
Big Beaver Elementary
School Principal
Chad Thomas
Big Beaver Elementary School
Dean of Students
Gary Ceccarelli
Business Manager
Robert Pelaia
Supervisor of Physical Plant
Rodney Bobin
Technology Supervisor
In accordance with Title VI, Title IX,
and Section 504, Big Beaver Falls Area
School District is an equal opportunity
educational entity committed to ensuring
a learning and/or working environment
free of sexual harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed,
national origin, gender, or handicap in
its activities, programs, or employment
practices.
Big Beaver fifth graders Nevaeh Harris [left] and Chase Carosi join
Title I Reading Teacher Joann Lecrone [left] and Guidance Counselor Lori
Ranieri-Miller in front of Big Beaver’s Giving Tree decorated with Butterflies
of Hope bearing the names of students’ lost loved ones.
Observing Grief Awareness Day in front of Central School’s Butterfly
Tree, left to right, are: Robert Rhodes-Stuck [Grade 1], Central School
Principal Linda Edel, Lydia Chen [Grade 3], Shianna Shepherd [Grade 5],
Gracie Helisek [Grade 5], Ta’Tiona Cottrill [Kindergarten], Central Guidance
Counselor Jonelle Egan, Miel Justin Chu [Grade 2], and Central School Dean
of Students Donnie Hicks.