inside - Canon-McMillan School District

INSIDE
■ Hall of Honor, pages 2-3
■ Community Partners, page 3
■ All About Me and NSIS Teammates, page 4
■ CM Fit Day, pages 5-6
■ Montecalvo Wins Award, page 6
■ National Merit Scholars, page 7
■ Summer Readers and Call Before
You Dig, page 8
■ Challenge Program, page 9
C A N O N - M C M I L L A N
Administration Office . . . . 724-746-2940
Superintendent: Mr. Michael Daniels
Assistant Superintendent: Mr. Scott Chambers
Director of Business and Finance: Mrs. Joni Mansmann
Director of Curriculum and Instruction: Mrs. Grace Lani
Director of Human Resources: Mr. Tim McCullough
Director of Special Education: Ms. Betsy Somerville
Special Education Coordinator: Mr. Robert Chuey
SUPPORT FACILITY . . . . . . . . . . . 724-745-1502
Director of Support Services: Mr. Matthew Harding
Technology Coordinator: Mr. Justin Heckman
COM
M
I
C
AN
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Highlights
ENT TO EXC
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TM
O N-
M c M IL
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Facilities Coordinator: Mr. Matthew Zewalk
Canon-McMillan High School . . 724-745-1400
Principal: Mr. David Helinski
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Lorien Moyer
Assistant Principal: Mr. Heath Bailey
Athletic Director: Mr. Guy Montecalvo
Canonsburg Middle . . . . . . . . .724-745-9030
Principal: Dr. Greg Taranto
Assistant Principal: Mr. Kenneth Schrag
VOL. 30 DEC. 2013
CANON-McMILLAN BOARD
OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
N
■ Letter from Frank Sarris Public
Library, page 10
■ Dr. Kolarcik and Gateway to the
Arts, page 11
■ Veteran’s Day and Army Awards,
page 12
■ Rockin’ 50th, page 13
■ Halloween Crayon Skit, page 14
■ What a Surprise!, page 15
■ Kindergarten Pigeon Unit, page 16
S C H O O L
CANON-McMILLAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
One North Jefferson Avenue
Canonsburg, PA 15317
Web site: www.canon-mcmillan.org
D I S T R I C T
Mr. Paul Scarmazzi, President
Mr. Eric Kline, Vice President
Mrs. Darla Bowman-Monaco, Treasurer
Mr. Michael Caporizzo
Mrs. Zeffie Carroll
Mr. Mark Dopudja
Mrs. Maureen Helinski
Mr. Manuel Pihakis
Mr. Joseph Zupancic
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you know someone who does not
have access to the Highlights online, please direct them
to the Canon-McMillan School District administration
building, 1 North Jefferson Avenue, Canonsburg, PA
15317, or call 724-746-2940, to receive a printed copy of
the Highlights.
D I R E C T O R Y
Cecil intermediate . . . . . . . . . 724-745-2623
Principal: Mr. Robert Kleinhans
north strabane intermediate . . 724-873-5252
Principal: Mr. Mark Abbondanza
Borland Manor Elementary . . . 724-745-2700
Principal: Mrs. Marella McConnell
Cecil ElementarY . . . . . . . . . . 412-221-6808
Principal: Mrs. Tula Dziak
First Street Elementary . . . . . 724-745-3130
Principal: Mrs. Shannon Balch
Hills-Hendersonville
elementary . . . . . . . . . . . . . .724-745-8390
Principal: Mrs. Shelley Brose
Muse Elementary . . . . . . . . . . . 724-745-9014
Principal: Mr. Tom Theodore
South Central Elementary . . . . 724-745-4475
Principal: Mrs. Michelle Tomicek
Wylandville Elementary . . . . . 724-222-2507
Principal: Mrs. Nina Unitas
DISTRICT
T
wo outstanding men were recognized posthumously by being
inducted into the Canon-McMillan School District Hall of
Honor, Class of 2013. George Manus was selected for the arts and
Joseph F. Gowern for citizenry.
Mr. Mandus was born in Canonsburg in 1924, one of seven
children of Martha and Steve Mandus. He was a 1942 graduate of
Canonsburg High School where he began to hone his skills as an
artist.
He attended the University of Pennsylvania prior to enlisting in
the U.S. Navy. During his tour of duty with the Navy from 1942
to 1946, Mr. Mandus was a PBY pilot assigned to anti-submarine
warfare and search-and-rescue operations off the east and west
coasts of the United States.
After leaving the Navy, Mr. Mandus enrolled in and graduated
from the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla. He
studied and worked with leading portrait artists and was represented by Portraits Inc. of New York City. During this phase of his
career he completed portraits of many prominent public figures
that went on display in New York, Chicago, Cape Cod, Texas,
Florida and Pennsylvania. Later in his career he painted portraits
that are displayed in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Canada, and
most especially, in Georgia.
Mr. Mandus spent the majority of his life in Georgia where he
was commissioned to paint portraits to commemorate the legacies
of governors, judges, college presidents and other public figures.
More than 50 of his works remain on display to this day in the
Georgia State Capitol Building and various other state buildings
throughout Georgia. These works include portraits of George T.
Smith, former Georgia Supreme Court justice, lieutenant governor
and Speaker of the House of Representatives, and of Tom Murphy,
Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1977 to 2002.
In 1974, Mr. Mandus was commissioned by then-Governor
Jimmy Carter to paint a portrait of civil rights leader and Nobel
Prize winner, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This portrait of Dr.
Continued on page 3
Hall of Honor
Family and friends of 2013 Hall of Honor inductees, George Manus and Joseph F. Gowern, with
CMSD Administration and Board of Education, and Hall of Honor Alumni.
2
DISTRICT
Continued from page 2
King is the one that we are all familiar with and this likeness of
Dr. King was the first portrait of an African-American to go on
display in the Georgia State Capitol Building.
On the national level, Mr. Mandus is known for his portrait
of President Harry S. Truman that hangs in the Truman
Library in Independence, Missouri. He was also commissioned
by President John F. Kennedy to paint his presidential portrait,
but this never took place as President Kennedy was assassinated
in Dallas, Texas, just days before Mr. Mandus was to begin the
work.
Mr. Mandus also had a second love in the field of the arts as
he was an accomplished musician. He mastered several musical
instruments including the bagpipes, which he played at the
opening ceremony of the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta.
Mr. Mandus continued his work both in painting and
music up until his passing on December 5, 2012.
He was married to the former Ann Fortson for 57 years.
He is survived by his daughter, Mary Cade Mandus, and son,
Benjamin Mandus.
Accepting his award for the Mandus family were Joyce
Balzama, his niece who nominated him for this award, and his
sisters, Ann Smoke and Mary Springer.
Joseph F. Gowern, born in Canonsburg in 1937, graduated
in 1954 from Canonsburg High School where he was an excellent student leader and accomplished athlete.
After graduation, he attended California State Teachers
College, now California University of Pennsylvania, where he
earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts Education. Mr. Gowern took a position as an Industrial Arts teacher
at Canonsburg Middle School, where he worked for the next 35
years, retiring from teaching in 1993.
Mr. Gowern had a true love of track and field, and crosscountry. He promoted the sports as Canon-McMillan’s coach
from 1958 to 1972. Upon his retirement from coaching, Mr.
Gowern continued to support the teams he loved by volunteering at Canonsburg Middle School and Canon-McMillan High
School track meets, as well as acting as an official timer and
starter for various district and state meets.
The true high point in Mr. Gowern’s coaching career came
when he was asked to accompany Olympic bronze medalist
and Canon-McMillan Hall of Honor member, Bill Schmidt, to
the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. Mr. Schmidt
spoke fondly of Coach Gowern at his funeral as he recalled how
the coach molded him into a javelin thrower and never gave up
on him. To this day, Bill Schmidt credits Coach Gowern for
not only his success as a world-class athlete and Olympic Medal
winner, but also as a person and business professional. Mr.
Schmidt attended the Canon-McMillan Hall of Honor presentation to pay tribute to Coach Gowern as he was inducted.
When he was not teaching or coaching the sport he loved,
Mr. Gowern was busy earning a master’s degree at West
Virginia University and taking care of his family including
his wife, the former Eileen Hatsfield of Washington, and their
three daughters, Lisa Knupp, Sheri Martin and Lori Warabow.
He was a truly dedicated family man and a dedicated community leader.
In his free time he served as a deacon and elder trustee of
the Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church, president of Canonsburg Borough Council for eight years, and acting Mayor
of Canonsburg for 17 days, retiring in 2001. He also found
time to sit on the executive board of the Washington County
Democratic Party, and serve on the Redevelopment Authority,
Canonsburg Zoning Board, Oktoberfest Committee, Bicentennial Committee, and the Jefferson College Historical Society.
He was named the Canonsburg Chamber of Commerce Citizen
of the Year in 2001.
He referred to Canonsburg as the “Home of the American
Dream.”
Representing him at the Hall of Honor induction were his
wife and three daughters.
3
Community Partners
F
our area companies that have worked with
the Canon-McMillan School District were
recognized with Community Partnership Awards,
in appreciation of the educational partnership and
community entrepreneurialism that each company
has engaged in with the district staff and students.
Awardees are Catalyst Connection, All-Clad
Metalcrafters, MarkWest Energy Partners, and Universal Electric. The presentation took place Aug. 12.
Scott Dietz of Catalyst Connection spoke about
the “Adventures in Technology” program that
was used. Canon-McMillan High School teacher
Pat Hudock and a student, Quieannah Berg, told
the CMSD Board of Education about the options
available with the All-Clad project and what a great
learning experience it was. A representative from
All-Clad, Stephanie Jubin, added that one of the
positive results of the project is that the students
learn to speak in front of a group.
Jeff Wagner of Universal Electric was very
impressed with the students’ solutions. He showed a
prototype based on their solution that will be used
in the company.
Teacher Sandy Cavanaugh explained that her
students had six projects to pick from and they selected a project to reduce waste product costs. One
of her students was offered a job with the company.
Dr. Cavanaugh also spoke about the noise reduction
project that her class worked on with MarkWest
Energy Partners.
Superintendent Michael Daniels thanked Grace
Lani, CMSD director of curriculum and instruction, for her work with the organization of these
projects.
CECIL ELEMENTARY & NSIS
Cecil Elementary’s Students
Share “All About Me”
NSIS Teammates
T
he students of Mrs.
Aimee Eismont’s firstgrade at Cecil Elementary
School were asked to complete
an “All About Me” project for
their annual Open House.
The students were given the
opportunity to share important
things about themselves such
as favorite food, sport, color,
etc. The project was displayed
in the hallway and gave visitors
the chance to learn about the
amazing students of room 106.
Pictured clockwise, from bottom left, are: Abby Stopperich,
Megan Heffner, Nick Popielarczyk, Lauren Powers and
Aiden Walsh.
Zach
Johnson,
left, and
Sydney
Dawson
show
off their
projects.
D
uring a co-teaching lesson, sixth-grade students at NSIS responded
to a prompt based on the non-fiction short story, “Teammates.”
Through an interdisciplinary lesson that connected literature to the writing
process, students brainstormed details to reflect upon how Jackie Robinson
and Pee Wee Reese showed courage during this time of segregation.
4
CANONSBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL
Eight Annual CM FIT Day at CMS
C
anonsburg Middle School presented the
eighth annual CM FIT Day to the entire
seventh-grade student body this year.
Eight years ago Mrs. Sue Vulcano, school nurse,
applied and received a grant from Highmark to
promote fitness and nutrition to as many public
education students as possible. The goal was to
have students find fitness and nutrition as a lifelong
process.
“It is important for society to promote and encourage lifelong fitness and proper nutrition to this
sedentary generation,” says Mrs. Vulcano. “Adults
should teach by being good role models.” Parents
were encouraged each year to take part in CM FIT
festivities.
The grant got the project off to a good start. The
tradition has continued with support from the CMS
administration, CMS Student Council, and several
local businesses for donations of a healthy snack.
The day started by students, faculty and parents
walking from the school to the stadium where
everyone sang the national anthem, followed by
hearing introductions and acknowledgments.
The entire student body of nearly 400
students plus staff and parents took part in
warm-up aerobics, Zumba dancing and basic
Continued on page 6
Pictured from left are: Bella Liguori,
Morgan Mudrick, Karsen Yatsko and
Jenna Cromp.
5
CANONSBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL & DISTRICT
Continued from page 5
training exercises led by Terry
Joyce, a CMS parent, and Romina
Deanes.
The students then rotated
through five stations with everyone
taking part:
1. Walk the track station,
2. Ultimate football station,
3. Sack race station,
4. Obstacle course station,
5. Fruit station.
After the stations, the students
had a water break, and the morning
events concluded with a team 4 x
100 relay race for girls, boys and
faculty. The team with the most
points for this event received this
year’s CM FIT trophy. Four CMS
staff members competed with the
winning team of the boys and the
girls for the title.
Once the student body returned
to the school, they ate a healthy
lunch, as usual.
The teams of Knights, Spartans
and Titans were divided into the
afternoon sessions with everyone
participating in the three 20-minute stations:
1. Auditorium - Miss Laura
Mucho, a fitness instructor for
Stretch and Grow, was this year’s
speaker. She also is the head cross
country/track coach at a local high
school in Washington County. She
spoke to students about lifelong
fitness and fun ways that they can
achieve their goals.
2. Café – A wellness treat was
provided so students could make
and eat low-fat frozen yogurt
sundaes.
3. Gymnasium - Various stations were offered for students to
assess and learn about their PERSONAL BEST!
a. Height / weight,
b. Blood pressure / pulse,
c.Flexibility,
d. Vertical jump,
e.Push–ups,
f.
Shuttle run.
The students were encouraged
to visit and participate in four of
the stations. They had a personal
best log sheet that was marked with
their results.
At the end of the day, the
Titans were named this year’s
champions.
Community support came from
the following companies:
Shop and Save-Canonsburg
Giant Eagle-McMurray
Canonsburg General Hospital
Nutrition, Inc.
CM FIT committee members
included:
Sue Vulcano, chairman; Tony
Dominick, assistant chairman; Lisa
Angle, Amy Barbarino, Jason Cardillo, Emily Joyce and Tara Utchel.
CMSD Athletic Director named Administrator
of the Year by Football Officials
T
he Eastern Association of
Interscholastic Football
Officials, Western Pennsylvania
Chapter, selected Guy Montecalvo as the 2013 Administrator
of the Year.
Montecalvo has been the athletic director at Canon-McMillan
School District since 2003, and
also served as head football coach
there 2003-2009.
According to Peter Kulzer,
secretary-treasurer of EAIFO
which has nearly 200 members,
Montecalvo was selected “for his
outstanding sportsmanship in
relationships with officials as well
as the game of football itself.”
He was an all-WPIAL and Big
33 selection football player while
at Washington High School and a
two-time WPIAL sprint champion. He played defensive back
at Penn State, where he received
B.S. and M.S. degrees, and was
a football graduate assistant. He
was head football coach at Washington High School (1980-2002).
He has led teams to the
WPIAL playoffs 21 times in 30
seasons. He was named Washington/Greene County “Coach
of the Year” 11 times. He ranked
6
second among coaches with the
most wins in Washington and
Greene counties, and 12th in alltime wins in WPIAL history. He
is one of the few coaches to have
led teams to state championship
titles in two different sports.
At Canon-McMillan High
School, Montecalvo led the Big
Macs to the playoffs four times
in seven seasons and helped the
program record two seasons with
its most wins - eight victories.
He led the Wash High Little
Prexies to a 15-0 season in 2001
winning the PIAA and WPIAL
Class AA championships. At
Washington his team appeared in
17 playoffs and won nine conference titles in 23 seasons.
The Little Prexies won WPIAL crowns in 1993 and 2001
under Montecalvo and reached
the WPIAL championship game
six times overall. His Washington teams advanced to WPIAL
semifinals nine times.
In addition, Montecalvo led
Washington to WPIAL boys
track titles in 1998 and 2000,
and a PIAA girls championship
in 1996.
His overall combined record
from Washington and CanonMcMillan is 225-107-2.
Montecalvo has been
inducted into the Pennsylvania
Sports Hall of Fame and the TriCounty Coaches Hall of Fame.
He has also received the 2003
NAACP Human Rights Award,
Post-Gazette All-Star Educator
Award, 2010 WPIAL Track &
Field “Lifetime Achievement
Award,” 2002 Washington Area
Education “Role Model Award,”
Greater Canonsburg Chamber
of Commerce President’s Award,
Canonsburg Borough Council
Achievement Award, 2009 Franco
Harris “Giving Back to Community Award,” Italian-American
Coach of the Year, two-time
WPIAL football “Coach of the
Year,” and PIAA football “Coach
of the Year.”
CANON-McMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL
Recognized Students in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program
D
Being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Contest are, from left:
front row - Commended Student Rachel Rozak, Semifinalist Hunter Lawrence,
Commended Student Sophia Korman; back row - Commended Students Abby Severyn and Mukunda Aithal, with Principal David A. Helinski
7
avid A. Helinski, Canon-McMillan High School principal,
announced that Hunter Lawrence
has been named a semifinalist in the
National Merit Scholarship Contest.
She was chosen by her scores on the
2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/
NMSQT®). Finalists must have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed
by their principal and earn an SAT score
close to their score on the preliminary
exam. Students also must complete an
application and submit an essay. About
15,000 merit semifinalists from across
the country are expected to advance to
compete for 8,400 scholarships worth
more than $36 million, to be awarded
during spring 2014. Hunter is the
daughter of Keith and Sandy Lawrence
of Canonsburg.
Mukunda Aithal, son of Hari and
Arpana Aithal of Canonsburg; Sophia
Korman, daughter of Chinyu Hsu of
Canonsburg and Joseph Korman of
Sinking Spring; Rachel Rozak, daughter
of Paul and Heather Rozak of McMurray; and Abby Severyn, daughter
of Bradley and Michaelene Severyn
of Canonsburg, were named Commended Students in the 2014 National
Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter
of Commendation from the school and
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
(NMSC), which conducts the program,
were presented by Principal Helinski to
these scholastically talented seniors.
About 34,000 Commended
Students throughout the nation are
being recognized for their exceptional
academic promise. Although they will
not continue in the 2014 competition
for National Merit Scholarship awards,
Commended Students placed among the
top five percent of more than 1.5 million
students who entered the 2014 competition by taking the 2012 Preliminary
SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).
“Recognizing academically talented
students plays a fundamental role in the
advancement of educational excellence
within our nation,” commented an
NMSC spokesperson. “The young people recognized as Commended Students
represent some of the best and brightest
minds in the country as demonstrated
by their outstanding performance in our
highly competitive program. We sincerely hope this recognition will provide
them with additional educational outlets
and motivate them in their pursuit of
academic achievement.”
FIRST STREET & CECIL ELEMENTARY
Summer Readers
Call Before You Dig
Left, Julia Weaver won the handprint prize. Right, pictured clockwise from
bottom left are Frequent Flyers: Riley Skaris, Gage Vandermark, Jennifer
Krizner, Alec Walsh, Ethan Bukovinsky and Andrew Binni.
F
irst Street Elementary School had 18 students called “Frequent
Flyers,” who visited the Frank Sarris Public Library 14 times or
more this summer - WOW! There were 32 who visited at least seven
times. All students who participated in the summer reading program
took part in an ice cream social and received a book of their choice at
school on Sept. 10.
Julia Weaver won the handprint prize that will be made and then
displayed at the Frank Sarris Public Library. The handprints are crafted at
a local ceramic store and then displayed in the library. They will remain
there for generations to view as they visit the library. There were more
than 60 readers who participated in this summer reading program. It’s no
wonder First Street’s students are awesome readers!
Right: Elena Stilwell holds a Radio Disney backpack she won participating in one of the events. Top left: From left are: Ian Bailey, Grace
Matthews, Alexander Krut and Carrah Carson, game-show contestants.
Bottom left: Digger the Dog stands behind, from left, Emma Graham,
Colin McKain, Trevor Tyler and Alexis Ammel in a game show contest.
S
tudents at Cecil Elementary were treated to a special program from Radio Disney
entitled, “Call Before You Dig,” in September. This program was sponsored by
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. Students participated in a game show-like contest that
taught them about natural gas and safety. At the conclusion of the program, students
met “Digger the Dog” and each child received a special gift bag.
8
CANON-McMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL
The Challenge Program
T
he Challenge Program Inc., a regional non-profit
organization that partners with business to build solid
work habits in students, recently kicked off the program with
an orientation and awards assembly at Canon-McMillan High
School.
AUMA Actuators Inc. has served as the program sponsor at
the school since the 2007-2008 school year.
During the assembly, junior and senior students were
awarded for excelling last year in the program’s award categories. Representatives from Auma Actuators, Rory Bennett and
Sam DiMarzo, were on hand to address the students about how
The Challenge Program Inc. award categories relate to success
on the job.
Fifteen students in the sophomore, junior, and senior
classes who excel this year in the areas of Attendance, Academic
Excellence, Academic Improvement, the new STEM Award,
and Community Service will receive an award in the amount
of $200 for their efforts. The total amount of awards totals
$3,000.
Since 2003, through the generous support of businesses,
foundations, and individuals, The Challenge Program Inc. has
been introduced to more than 330,000 students and checks
totaling more than $2 million have been presented to over
8,000 high school students in more than 100 high schools in
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland.
Students at Canon-McMillan High School were recently awarded checks of $250 each from The Challenge Program Inc. for their performance last
year in the program’s four award categories. Seated, from left, are: Kyle Steiner (Junior Attendance) and Adrianna Sciulli (Sophomore Community Service).
Standing, from left, are Principal David Helinski, Paige Steen (Sophomore Academic Excellence), Rory Bennett representing sponsor AUMA Actuators Inc.;
Kylie Wilson (Junior Academic Excellence), Tyler Small (Junior Academic Improvement), Jeremy Soyring (Junior Community Service), Dylan Dzikowski (Sophomore Academic Improvement), Sam DiMarzo representing sponsor AUMA Actuators Inc.; Matthew Babeji (Sophomore Attendance), and Assistant Principal
Lorien Moyer.
9
Frank Sarris Public Library
Exciting Changes at the Frank Sarris Public Library
T
he past several months
have brought some exciting
changes to the Frank Sarris Public
Library, so if you haven’t stopped
in lately, you’ve been missing out!
Late spring heralded the arrival
of HelpNow! and JobNow! – our
new education, tutoring and job
assistance services. And with summer came the WAGGIN Network, a shared catalog that allows
cardholders to borrow or return
items at any library in Washington and Greene counties with a
single card. That means that not
only does your card give you access to our growing collection, but
also the items at the 13 other area
libraries.
It’s not just the integrated
catalog system and electronic
resources that are new to us, we’ve
enjoyed some new experiences
too!
In September, the library host-
ed the first artwork to be displayed in the Athena Sarris Gallery, a collection of pastel works
by the Pittsburgh Pastels Artists
League, followed by an exhibit
of photography from around the
world by John Sciurba.
In autumn, we at the library
took part in the Fall Festival
in Cecil, and began a daycare
outreach program that takes
Story Hour on the road to local
daycares in North Strabane Township.
Speaking of Story Hour, it
should be mentioned that this ever-popular program is continuing
to meet through mid-December.
Other programs that are “old
favorites” are still available, too.
They include Fashion Divas,
Library Explorers, and Dancing to
the Oldies.
New programs are being added
to keep things fresh such as Dino
10
Visit the Library:
35 North Jefferson Ave.
Canonsburg, PA 15317
Contact the
Library:
724.745.1308
www.franksarrislibrary.
org
World and Drawing with Pen
and Ink (both are six-week-long
programs) as well as instruction in
Computer Basics and Couponing,
to name just a few.
Be sure to visit the library or
our website at www.franksarrislibrary.org for a complete list of
all the programming and special
events to be held at Frank Sarris
Public Library!
Peggy Tseng,
Library Director
Frank Sarris Public Library
Library Hours
Monday-Thursday:
11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday:
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday:
10 a.m.-5 p.m.`
DISTRICT
Teacher Earns Ph.D.
T
iffany Kolarcik, first-grade
teacher at South Central
Elementary School, has earned a
Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership and Management from
Robert Morris University. Her
doctoral dissertation was titled,
“Implementation of Apple’s
iPad as an Instructional Tool in
the Elementary Language Arts
Classroom: A Phenomenological
Case Study.”
Dr. Kolarcik has been an
educator in the Canon-McMillan School District for 11 years.
She specializes in technology
integration and reading instruction at the elementary level.
She received a Bachelor
of Science degree in psychology and a Master of Arts
in Teaching in elementary
education from the University
of Pittsburgh, and a Master of
Science in Education in School
Administration and Supervision
from Duquesne University. She
also holds an Instructional II
certificate (K-6) and a principal’s certificate.
Dr. Kolarcik is a member
of the International Society for
Technology Education and the
International Reading Association.
She has made several presentations on how to successfully integrate Apple’s iPad into
instruction in order to increase
teachers’ Language Arts instruction. She also has won grants to
supply mobile technology in the
classroom.
Gateway to the Arts Curriculum
Pictured clockwise
starting at far left are
Ms. Christina Farrell,
Ms. Becky Keck, Ms.
Kristy Chavez, Mrs.
Monica Tyree, Ms.
Emma Davidson and
Ms. Marlana Vassar.
T
his school year, Wylandville Elementary is collaborating with Gateway to the Arts in an innovative
professional learning community program called Arts to the Core.
First-grade teacher Mrs. Monica Tyree and fourth-grade teacher Ms. Kristy Chavez have joined with
Gateway teaching-artists Ms. Becky Keck, Ms. Marlana Vassar and Ms. Emma Davidson to develop and
implement an arts-integrated curriculum that will contribute to student learning in the arts and other core
subjects, while addressing the incoming Pennsylvania Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.
Overseen by Gateway teaching-artist and project manager Ms. Christina Farrell, the initiative includes
professional development for teaching-artists and classroom educators through in-service workshops and
classroom residencies.
Mentor teaching-artist Ms. Maritza Mosquera will be conducting a demonstration-artist residency this
fall. This Arts to the Core program is generously funded by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
11
District
Veteran’s Day Visitors
Pictured are recipients Giorgiana Zeremenko and Brendan Price, being presented their awards by U.S. Army Sgt. Smith.
Left, SSG Warnock reads to Miss Chloe Butler’s fourth-grade class. Right,
pictured, from left, are: front row – Sidney Cole, Sean Rovnak, Jordan
Irson, Kamryn Carroll, Hailey Nunley and Randall Patterson; middle row John Talley, Ivan Zhu, Kaylee Gross, Vinny Sutherland, Madison Meerdo
and Christopher Freeman; back row - Cadet Samuel Lombardo, SSG Jeffery
Warnock and SPC Joshua Loeffler.
T
CMHS Athletes Recognized
wo Canon-McMillan High School students were chosen by the school’s
coaches as this year’s recipients of the “U.S. Army Friday Night Lights Tour,
Seven Core Values Award.” Brendan Price, son of Amy and Mark Price of Cecil
Township, was selected in wrestling. Giorgiana Zeremenko, daughter of Stephanie
Pankas Zeremenko of Canonsburg and Jim Zeremenko of North Strabane Township, was chosen in softball. Both led their respective teams to PIAA State Championships last year.
The seven core values that the Army identifies in leaders, and that these two
young people embody are: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and
personal courage.
The coaches were asked to nominate and then vote on numerous deserving athletes, based on those seven criteria. “This was a very difficult vote for many this year,
as the Canon-McMillan School District had so many deserving student-athletes who
display and personify these character traits. We currently have some amazingly talented and selfless, giving kids!” said Mr. Guy Montecalvo, CMSD athletic director.
“Consequently, it makes receiving this award that much more prestigious.”
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o celebrate Veterans Day, some local veterans and a cadet visited First Street Elementary
School and read to third- and fourth-grade students. Staff Sergeant (SSG) Jeffery Warnock read “I Pledge Allegiance.” Specialist (SPC) Joshua Loeffler read “H is for Honor.” And
Cadet Samuel Lombardo read “The Flag We Love.” The readings were followed by a questionand-answer period with the students.
Students learned what it takes to become a soldier, and about the speakers’ yearlong tours
of duty.
Using a map, SPC Loeffler showed the locations of where he flew, and the location of
Afghanistan. SSG Warnock described the Afghanistan culture with respect to children in that
country. The school plans to invite the men back for another visit.
Also at First Street, all students made cards that were displayed at Applebee’s restaurant in
Washington. Applebee’s will send the cards along with a care package to U.S. troops overseas.
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MUSE & CECIL ELEMENTARY
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Rockin’ 50th day of school
he first-grade classes at Muse and Cecil elementary schools collaborated to create a “Rockin’ 50th Day of School!” The students traveled back in time to the 1950s in order to celebrate 50
wonderful days of learning. The boys wore white t-shirts, rolled-up jeans, sunglasses, and slicked back hair. The girls wore poodle skirts, cheerleading outfits, scarves, and pink lady coats.
Throughout the day, the students participated in many activities including a sock hop, hula hoop and bubble gum-blowing contest. They also worked on many activities associated with the
number 50. A discussion on the differences between the 1950s and today kept all of the students’ interest. Everyone enjoyed this blast from the past!
TOP LEFT: Mrs. Heather Hagerman’s class picture
(left to right); first row: Brayden Pitcock, Jacob Amenta, T.J. Allison, Angelo Colavecchia;
middle row: Luca Tullio, London Brewer, Noelle Fortna, Ava Capozzoli, Brooke Peters, Kyra
Gazi, Tyler Liptak, Mrs. Hagerman; back row: Isaiah Lonsinger, Tyson Mead, Mack Fetty, Delaney Riedel, Hailey Swope, Faith Homrock, Rylee O’Rourke, Sarah Bastos, Emily Fixx.
Victoria Bartuccio, Justice Brown, Evelyn Leasure and Zach Johnson.
BOTTOM LEFT: Mrs. Aimee Eismont’s students are, from left:
front row – Anthony Styperk, Nick Berbach, Sahara Miller, McKenna Smith, Noah Griffith; middle row – Emma Bridge, Logan Johnston, Sydney Dawson, Colin McKain, Aiden Campbell;
and back row - Mrs. Eismont, Hunter Jordan, Brenda Krut, Adasyn Yoest, Carter McGowan,
MIDDLE; Mrs. Ashley Sharpnack’s class includes, from left: front row - Dennis Fleeher, Ian
Bailey; middle row - Cassandra Carson, Logan Marshall, Emma Johnston, Kendall Brownlee,
Alyse Heirendt, Brianna Stonemark, Sydney Zdilla, Alexander Shank; and back row - Jacob
Drazick, Brooke Nagy, Baylee McMillan, Lola Taylor, Matthew Spalding, Joseph Serafino,
Trenton Ketter and Landon Holley.
RIGHT: From Mrs. Stefanie Ambrose’s class: Ava Miller and Marco Faieta.
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CANON-McMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL
Halloween Crayon Skit
CANON-McMILLAN
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Pictured from left are: Jonathan Cadez, Brenda Dressel, Mercedes Manda, Christine Tompkins, Grace Dahl, Jackie Bissell, Rachel Hodges, Drew Sipos and Samantha White. Drama teacher is Mrs. Cynthia Berg.
C
anon-McMillan High School drama students recently performed a skit about a box of crayons, similar to a murder mystery, during a Halloween party at the Greenery Specialty Care Center of Canonsburg.
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CAFETERIA SUBSTITUTES
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
Work during regular school hours.
Great job for semi-retirees or
stay at home moms/dads!
CALL: 724-746-1040 for more information
Or apply at: Administration Building
1 North Jefferson Avenue, Canonsburg
Hills-hendersonville ELEMENTARY
What a Surprise!
M
rs. Melissa Gough, second-grade teacher at Hills-Hendersonville Elementary School,
was selected Washington Office Max’s winner of “A Day Made Better: Working to
Erase Teacher-Funded Classrooms.” The prize is more than $1,000 in school supplies.
A teacher in the Canon-McMillan School District for the past 11 years, she plans to use the
supplies for special activities and projects at school this year and next school year.
“It was a great surprise and I was truly touched by this unexpected gesture!” said Mrs.
Gough.
Each Office Max store selected a teacher to receive this award.
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CECIL ELEMENTARY
Cecil Elementary Kindergarten Pigeon Unit
Left: Writing activity
for the project.
Middle: Poster for
the project.
Right: Tyler Trecki
adds his vote to let a
pigeon drive a bus.
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tudents in Ms. Diane Byers and Miss Shawna Hixson’s kindergarten classes spent a week learning the
adventures of “The Pigeon.” They read several “Pigeon” books by Mo Willems, including “Don’t Let the
Pigeon Drive the Bus” and “Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay up Late.” The students completed various activities
that coordinated with the Common Core Standards. These activities included creating and interpreting a bar
graph that indicated whether or not they trusted the pigeon to drive the bus, and a pigeon writing assignment
in which the students utilized inventive spelling. They drew illustrations to go along with their writing. The
students also painted their hands to create a handprint that they then transformed into a pigeon. To conclude
the work with the pigeon, the students wrote a class book in which they illustrated what they thought the
pigeon was doing when he stayed up late.
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