April 2014 Highlights - Canon

INSIDE
■ Athletic Director Wins Two Awards,
page 2
■ Lacrosse Team Gives Back, page 3
■ Future City Competition, page 4
■ Third Annual Literacy Nights, pages
5-6
■ Thanksgiving STEM project, page 6
■ Chinese New Year, page 7
■ Zoo-Themed Lunch, pages 8-9
■ African Culture, page 9
■ Pippin Comes to CMHS / Author
Visits First Street, page 10
■ Writer’s Notebook / Article du Jour,
page 11
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
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Highlights
ENT TO EXC
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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. 31 APR. 2014
CANON-McMILLAN BOARD
OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
N
■ CIS Prepares for the PSSA,
page 12
■ Letter from the Frank Sarris Public
Library, page 13
■ Air Quality Awareness, page 14
■ Scholastic Art Awards, pages 15-16
■ Spirit Week, page 17
■ CM Vocalists at Kean Quest,
page 18
■ Hot Oatmeal Bar, page 19
■ NHS / Athar Bhave Wins Big,
page 20
■ Science Olympiad, pages 21-22
■ CalcuSolve Olympics, page 22
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: Dr. 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
CMSD Athletic Director Receives Two Awards
G
uy Montecalvo was selected for two prestigious awards
in sports administration:
• 2013 Administrator of the Year by the Eastern Association of Interscholastic Football Officials (EAIFO),
Western Pennsylvania Chapter, and
• 2013 Region IV Athletic Administrator of the Year by
the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association.
Mr. Montecalvo has been the athletic director at CanonMcMillan School District since 2003, and also served as head
football coach at Canon-McMillan High School from 2003 to
2009. Prior to that, he was head football coach at Washington
High School (1980-2002).
According to Pete Kulzer, secretary-treasurer of EAIFO
which has nearly 200 members, Montecalvo was selected by
the Football Officials “for his outstanding sportsmanship
in relationships with officials as well as the game of football
itself.”
His success in athletics started early. 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 there in 1978 and
1979.
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 second among coaches with the
most wins in Washington and Greene counties, and 12th in
all-time 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. They were also PIAA runnersup in 1993.
In addition, Montecalvo led Washington to WPIAL boys
track titles in 1998 and 2000, and a PIAA girls championship
in 1996.
2
His overall combined football record from Washington and
Canon-McMillan is 225-107-2. He coached the 1996 Big 33
team against Ohio and the 2001 TRICADA All-Star game.
Montecalvo has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports
Hall of Fame and the Tri-County 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.”
He has been a featured speaker at numerous football and
track clinics including: PSFCA State Conference, Nike “Coach
of the Year” Clinic, Ohio State Clinic, Penn State Clinic, West
Virginia Clinic and several Division 1 and 2 schools.
Montecalvo currently serves on the District 7 Basketball
Committee and has been host for District 7 play-off contests
in: boys and girls basketball, wrestling, boys and girls soccer,
football, baseball, track and field, and girls volleyball. He has
hosted the WPIAL individual wrestling championship six
times, and is the site coordinator of the PowerAde Wrestling
tournament and the EQT basketball tournament.
Since 2008, under Montecalvo’s leadership, CanonMcMillan has won seven PIAA team championships and nine
WPIAL team championships.
He has been married to his wife Marie for 33 years and
they have three children: James (deceased), Suzanne, 30, and
Laura, 26. His wife and two daughters are all employed as
educators.
CANON-McMillan HIGH SCHOOL
Lacrosse Team
Gives Back
C
anon-McMillan High School boys lacrosse team held
a volunteer event at the Greater Washington County
Food Bank on Saturday, March 1. They worked 3½ hours
packaging and stacking 518 boxes of food for the elderly on
17 pallets. They also sorted, boxed, stacked and built additional pallets from food that had been donated by individuals.
Additionally they unloaded, restacked and cleaned out a truck
that had a pallet of soda that had tipped over. To keep the
operation running, they managed the burn pile by carrying
their waste boxes and pallets from inside the facility to the
burn site.
The event was organized by CMHS Boys Lacrosse Booster
Club’s Team-Building Committee members Jim and Laurie
Ward, and Steve Soff of the food bank.
Those taking part in the event were:
Front row, from left: Justin Allen, Cooper Donehoo, Evan
Crompton, Max Riley, Zach Moore, Nick Carr, Conner Niemeyer and Reece Ruscello.
Second row, from left: Logan Foutz, Andrew Balog, Gino
Colavecchia, Doug Kotar, Mike Kingan, Zach Tapolci, Zach
Mansmann, Luke Potochar and Matt Smutney.
Standing, from left: Assistant Coach Darrin Niemeyer,
Turner Rees, Colin Torpey, Brady Ruth, Sean Herman,
Jordan Pantely, Michael Trossman, Luke Britt, Josh Minor
(on Luke’s shoulders), Nick Keller, Isaac Miles (on Nick’s
shoulders), Will Graziani, Eric Podlaszewski, Lane Collar,
Paul House and Ben Ward.
Not pictured are: Mark Bowers, Joshua Leeds and Austin
Hendal.
3
CANONSBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL
CMS Students Earn Honorable Mention
in the Future City Competition
F
ive students from Canonsburg Middle School’s Gifted Program took part
in the 2014 Future City Competition at the Carnegie Music Hall in the
Oakland section of Pittsburgh. CMS students earned an honorable mention at
the competition. This was the school’s fifth year competing.
The Future City Competition is a national, project-based learning experience
where students in grades 6-8 imagine, design, and build cities of the future. For
the students at Canonsburg Middle School, this cross-curricular project ran from
October to January.
Eighth-graders April Giles and Esmee DeCortie, and seventh-graders
Braden Johnson, Max Spallinger and Priya Ray stayed after school every week to
complete research, design their city, and actually construct it. Their city, Cosmic
Metropolis, was located in space. Their city operated as a hub-and-spoke system
in which the main “hub” was the downtown area and the nodes were its suburbs.
To help guide the students during the project, Ms. Pam Moniodes (gifted
teacher) recruited Mr. Chris Nairn (science teacher) and Mr. Bob Terwillinger
(engineer). Mr. Nairn has done the project in the past and provided students
with insight on how the competition works. Mr. Terwillinger, a civil engineer,
helped the students gain a better understanding of how things are built. This
project gave students an opportunity to do what engineers do such as identifying
problems, brainstorming ideas, and working as a team.
Top Left, Pictured from left are Mr. Chris Nairn, Esmee DeCortie, Priya Ray and
April Giles, with Mr. Bob Terwillinger seated at rear. Top Right, Max Spallinger
working on backdrop for the city. Bottom Left, Esmee DeCortie, left, with Mr. Chris
Nairn and April Giles work on the monorail. Bottom Right, Cosmic Metropolis,
Canonsburg Middle School entry in the Future City competition.
4
2013-2014 FUTURE CITY COMPETITION
DISTRICT
Third Annual CMSD Literacy Nights “Under the Big Top”
Left: from left, CMS students Baylee Smith
and Morgan Smith work together to create
an activity for Literacy Nights. The name of
their book is “The Three-Legged Deer.”
Right: from left, CMS students Samantha
Payne, Serafina Samosky, Marah Slack
and Samuel O’Bryan start illustrating their
children’s book, “Mr. Baker Bakes a Cake.”
“U
nder the Big Top,” the third annual Canon-McMillan Literacy Nights at the Frank Sarris Public
Library, was held with a carnival theme on March 5-6.
Students from Borland Manor, Cecil, First Street,
Hills-Hendersonville, Muse, South Central and Wylandville elementary schools participated.
This year there were special activities for each level of
K-4 students.
Older Canon-McMillan students were drafted to help
with the Literacy Nights.
North Strabane Intermediate School students (grades
5-6) took part in a service project by working on decorat-
ing for the event, making bookmarks and posters.
Gifted students from Canonsburg Middle School
created their own books and these new authors read
to children under the direction of Pam Moniodes,
gifted teacher, and Jen Wherry, eighth-grade
English teacher.
Members of the Canon-McMillan High
School Student Council and National Honor
Society helped to run the games and stations
each night, under the direction of Lori
Freeze, Honors English teacher grades 9
Continued on page 6
5
DISTRICT
Thanksgiving Assembly
Line STEM Project
S
Left, National Honor Society member Jordan Riedel, left, runs the Duck Pond game with
Kai Balazy from South Central Elementary holding a duck. Right, Kenzie Copenhaver from
South Central Elementary School plays the Ball Toss game.
Continued from page 5
and 12 and adviser for Student Council, and Joyce
Mason, CMHS librarian and adviser of the National
Honor Society and Book Break Club.
Co-chairing the event were Lynne Douglas,
sixth-grade science teacher at North Strabane Intermediate School, and Rebecca Thompson, elementary
librarian.
The Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania was also in attendance
Sponsors included: Canon-McMillan Education Association, Canon-McMillan School District,
Frank Sarris Public Library, Sarris Candies and
Weavertown Environmental Group.
Also assisting with organizing the event was
Grace Lani, Canon-McMillan’s director of curriculum and instruction.
Ms. Douglas said she was sure that Frank Sarris,
for which the public library was named, would approve of having such an event in the library. “I think
Mr. Sarris wanted the library for kids to come and
read. He cared about the kids and the community.”
Ms. Douglas said, “It is amazing how everyone
has embraced this project in just three short years.
So many people have asked how they can help. I
am so tickled and the kids benefit in the end. That’s
what Frank Sarris wanted for the children of the
community.”
Ms. Douglas added that two young women who
had worked for her at the Sarris Candies candy store
some time ago had said they wanted to be teachers.
She asked them to help with the Literacy Nights
project.
“Last year, both of those young women were
hired as teachers at our middle school – Pam Moniodes and Jen Wherry,” said Ms. Douglas who also
works as a part-time manager at the Sarris Candies
candy store. The community’s children continue
to benefit from Frank Sarris’ legacy and the public
library.
6
Top, pictured on the assembly line are, front to
back: left - Luke Connor, Glenn Morrison, Michael Auman, Olivia Watson; right - Rose Kuchera, Lily May, Austin Fortna and Shannon Kiley.
Bottom, adding ingredients are, from left: Kara
Adzima, Taydum Johnson and Bella Santoro.
econd-graders at
Muse Elementary
School participated in a
Thanksgiving Assembly
Line project. It was a
hands-on, open-ended
STEM project (science,
technology, engineering
and mathematics) that
established real world connections in the classroom.
The students had to
collaborate and communicate with students in
their groups to ensure that
their common goal was
met. The students were to
design and use assembly
lines to speed up the
preparation of Thanksgiving Day snacks. They were
given certain restraints
and had to plan accordingly. All students were
successful at completing
this task and had a great
time. The students were
able to enjoy the snack
that they prepared with
parental permission.
CANON-MCMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL
Celebrating Chinese New Year
Left,
senior
Savannah
Gorisek;
Right,
juniors
Emily
Jones,
left, and
Hanna
Smith.
S
tudents at Canon-McMillan High School celebrated the Chinese New Year during
lunch on Jan. 31. The serving lines were decorated with paper lanterns, fans and Chinese
symbols. Student trays were lined with Chinese Zodiac placemats, just as if they were in an
authentic Chinese restaurant.
Students received a choice of crispy or grilled chicken, Lo Mein, fried rice, Mandarin
oranges and an Asian vegetable medley. The special meal was served with a choice of sauce,
chopsticks and a fortune cookie.
Students who received a designated “lucky tray” won coupons for a free TNG (The Nutrition Group) Select food item or a gift certificate donated by Wai Wai restaurant.
7
BORLAND MANOR & FIRST STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Rainforest
Rhythms and
Zoo-Themed
Lunch
From left, Xander Bruenn, Ava Galicic, Laurel Williams, Grecia Cirilo-Rodriguez, Gabrielle Minnis and Ava Shanley.
A
nimals invaded two Canon-McMillan School District
elementary schools in January. The Nutrition Group
partnered with the Pittsburgh Zoo and Reinhart Food Service
to bring “Rainforest Rhythms,” a fun and educational program, to students at Borland Manor and First Street elementary schools.
8
The Pittsburgh Zoo’s “zoo-mobile” visited the schools with
several types of rainforest animals for students to see and learn
about. The zoo has a variety of exhibits to take into schools
including a lizard, a kinkajou, a skink, a Blue Wing parrot
named Magic, a prehensile tail porcupine and even a boa
constrictor named Squeeze.
Continued on page 9
BORLAND MANOR & FIRST STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS & NORTH STRABANE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
Continued from page 8
Top, from left, Allison Wheat, Ruth Pfanstiel and Logan
Shook; bottom right, Noelle Klasnick.
Zoo handlers explained about the animals’
habitats and what types of foods they like to eat.
Students are often surprised to discover that the
animals eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and
seeds. The discussion provided the ideal segue for
the Nutrition Group’s Program Director Michelle
Marker to explain to students that animals and
humans require healthful foods to meet their
particular needs.
Ms. Marker also explained that the reason
zoos have signs saying “Don’t Feed the
Animals” is because each animal needs
a specific diet and humans may feed the
animals the wrong food. “If animals
eat too much of the wrong things, they
might not eat the things that are good
for them and that’s true for humans,
too,” says Ms. Marker.
Melissa Schad, food service director
for The Nutrition Group at CanonMcMillan, planned a fun zoo-themed
lunch of zoo crew chicken nuggets,
broccoli trees,
go ape bananas, and animal
crackers.
9
Learning
about
African
Culture
D
uring a cultural arts assembly, the North
Strabane Intermediate School student
body learned about Africa by watching and listening to the Senegal African Dance and Drum
Troupe. The authentic experience gave students
background knowledge about East and West
Africa. A fascinating fact students learned was
Africa has over 2,000 languages.
CANON-McMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL & FIRST STREET ELEMENTARY
Spring Musical “Pippin”
Comes to CMHS
C
anon-McMillan High School’s spring musical this year was “Pippin,” which
won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival. It tells the story of a
young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. The
protagonist, Pippin, and his father, Charlemagne, are characters derived from
two real-life individuals of the early Middle Ages. Mrs. Cynthia Berg, CMHS
drama teacher, directed the production that included in featured roles: Leading
Players - Samantha White, Nick Charles and Brianna King; Pippin - Drew Sipos;
Charlemagne - Devin Underwood; Lewis - Anthony Popovski; Fastrada - Nicole
Castelli; Berthe - Jackie Bissell; and Catherine - Rachel Hodges.
Author visits First Street Elementary
F
irst Street Elementary School had the wonderful opportunity to have an author visit in February to tell the students
what it’s like to be an author and to share some books he has written.
Paul Orshoski loves to write rhyming poetry and children’s rhyming books. His witty poems often have humorous,
unexpected endings.
The reading specialists, Mrs. Dian Yost and Mrs. Lynette Stewart, motivated the First Street students with a writing contest where children became authors. This contest encouraged students to write a paragraph or poem about someone they admire. One winner per classroom was chosen to eat lunch with Mr. Orshoski. What a fantastic opportunity for the students!
Mr. Orshoski shared his silly poetry with the students and explained how he gains inspiration through personal experiences with his family and friends. He added creative sound effects and animations to his presentation to engage the audience. The students especially loved the story, “My Sitter Is a T-Rex,” read to them by the author. Following the presentation,
students could purchase a book and have it personally signed by the author.
Front row, left to right: Leah LaSalvia, Haylea Andrews, Ezra Bullock, Lucas Dantry; Second row, left to right: Derrek Thompson, Alexis Miller, Gage
Vandermark, Zackary Sekura, Stephanie Dedmon, Hannah McAleer; Back row: Georgia Few, Aurianna Moore and author Paul Orshoski
10
NORTH STRABANE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
The Writer’s Notebook
NSIS Sixth-Graders Read for Volume
Through Article du Jour Project
A
Students composing during Sacred Writing Time in
the sixth-grade English classroom of North Strabane
Intermediate School.
“T
he desire to write grows with writing” is a famous quotation by
Erasmus.
This year in sixth-grade English at North Strabane Intermediate
School, the Writer’s Notebook has been implemented.
Unlike a journal, this notebook houses the student’s ideas, brainstorms, drawings, and writings. These 10 to 15 minutes of class are called
Sacred Writing Time. The students use their life experiences, teacher
prompts, quotations, and interesting facts to stimulate their thoughts.
Their teachers have found that the students become more creative in
their concepts and ideas when the restrictiveness of correcting is lifted.
From this, commitment of thoughts yields splendid, innovative, and
thought-provoking writings.
The Writer’s Notebook provides a venue for the students to practice
“painting with their voice.”
s students move through
school, becoming the
best readers possible is a critical
skill they need to master to acquire an extensive vocabulary.
Research indicates that reading
in volume can lead to positive
comprehension outcomes. Pairing multiple reading sources
with the opportunity to read
is an avenue for reading in
volume, according to Mike
Fisher’s article, “An Alternate
Take on the ‘Close Reading’
Standard.”
Keeping with this thought
at North Strabane Intermediate
School, Mrs. Mary Dombrowski’s students from Team Intrepid
are participating in a project
called Article du Jour.
Each week a variety of articles
is made available to students for
leisure reading. Students select
from a wide array of topics that
include, but are not limited to
sports, science, fashion, entertainment, current events, historical events, world news, human
interest, seasonal news such as
the Olympics, and other nonfiction stories.
Each Friday students collabo-
11
Sixth-graders from Team Intrepid are, from left: Carson Sterling, Zachary Boni, Bailey Paris and Camryn
Whipple.
rate in small groups where they
all have an opportunity to share
their thoughts about articles they
read during the week. By providing a variety of articles, students
are increasing their reading
volume that assists in developing stronger comprehension and
vocabulary skills.
Reading for volume affords
students the opportunity to learn
about a variety of topics. The key
to success is building a strong
reading foundation to acquire
knowledge.
The goal of the Article du
Jour project is to promote reading through volume. The more
reading materials students are
exposed to the more likely their
comprehension and vocabulary
skills will increase.
CECIL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
C
CIS Has a “Minion” Ways to Prepare for the PSSA Test!
ecil Intermediate School students and staff had fun getting ready for the PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) test this year. The school-wide theme involved the Minions
from the movie “Despicable Me.” Fifth- and sixth-graders worked hard to create positive bulletin boards throughout the school while making Minion posters and art projects. Teachers
carried out the theme by wearing Minion shirts to promote success on the PSSA test. Minions throughout the building reminded students to stay positive, try their best, and just “BE HAPPY!”
Top row, left: Pictured
from left are sixthgraders Jensen
Maxwell, Katie Farrar,
Kailee Monaghan
and Mr. John Gasper,
instrumental music
teacher, dressed as a
Minion;
Top row, middle: fifthgrader Jordan Stanton;
Bottom row, left:
fifth-grader Bella Brown.
12
FRANK SARRIS PUBLIC LIBRARY
Library Celebrates its Third Anniversary
T
he Frank Sarris Public Library
will be celebrating its third anniversary this summer.
Every day, more people are discovering all that we have to offer. This
year, we’ve expanded our operating
hours to better serve you. We are now
open at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday. In case you haven’t noticed, we
have a large paved and well-lit parking lot off Murdock Street that offers
free parking to library patrons. But
we offer more than just free parking.
Your library has within its walls
more than 60,000 items for borrowing. Through the WAGGIN system,
patrons have easy access to nearly
700,000 more. If you prefer to get
your reading material electronically,
your card gives you free access to
magazines through Zinio and audiobooks and ebooks through Overdrive.
With these, there’s nothing to return
and no need to worry about late
charges.
Having a card registered at the
Frank Sarris Public Library means
that you’re able to take advantage of
other services, too. In addition to
HelpNow (tutoring) and JobNow
(job-related assistance), you are able
to research your family tree using
Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more
about homeownership or HTML,
for example, your library card allows you to choose from more than
500 continuing education
courses offered through
Universal Class. We realize
that online instruction isn’t
for everyone, so the Frank
Sarris Public Library continues to offer classes with
the personal touch. Among
other things, we periodically offer computer basics
for adults, early literacy
skills for the little ones,
and a variety of options to
fulfill your artistic side.
The best way to find out
13
what’s happening is to come in, so be
sure to visit the library or its website
(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
VISIT THE LIBRARY:
35 North Jefferson Ave.
Canonsburg, PA 15317
CONTACT THE
LIBRARY:
724.745.1308
www.franksarrislibrary.org
LIBRARY HOURS
Monday-Thursday:
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday-Saturday:
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
CECIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Air Quality Awareness Program
Pictured from left are:
Benjamin Gottschalk
(green flag), kindergartner;
Matthew Spalding (yellow
flag), first-grader;
Anna Sharek (orange
flag), second-grader; Leah
Trecki (red flag), secondgrader; Joshua Cimerolli
(purple flag), kindergartner.
C
ecil Elementary School is the first elementary school in
Washington County to raise the air quality flag under
the new awareness program.
The Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership, Inc.,
(SPAQP) and Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) are
working with regional schools to launch the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) School Flag Program to teach parents, teachers and coaches about outdoor air quality conditions
so children can continue to exercise safely outside when air
quality pollution levels are in unhealthy ranges. This specific
project was launched in August and hopes to continue to 25
schools by mid-2014.
The School Flag program focuses on two main air pollutants: ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter: the
southwestern Pennsylvania region experiences many days
when either or both of these pollutants are at high levels. Children are particularly susceptible to air pollution, which can
harm their still developing lungs and trigger asthma attacks.
“We are very pleased to add Canon-McMillan and Cecil
Elementary as the first Washington County School to the EPA
School Flag program,” said Al DePaoli,
SPAQP chair. “This program is an
important tool for teachers and coaches
who are planning outdoor activities. By
educating our students, their teachers,
coaches and families, we can increase the
air quality awareness in our region and
help protect our children who participate in sports and other outdoor exercise
activities, even in the winter. If everyone
is aware of the forecast, especially on the
unhealthy days, we can then decide what
outdoor activities will be appropriate for
those in our care, like the young and
elderly. Additionally, we can decide what actions we can take
in our daily lives to help improve our air quality,”
As part of the School Flag Program, students each day will
check the Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast, a national guide
for reporting air quality, and raise a colored flag outside their
school that represents the day’s expected air pollution level.
Based on the flag color, teachers, coaches, school personnel
and parents can take actions, if necessary, to help safeguard
students from exposure to unhealthy levels of air pollutants.
A green flag indicates air quality is good and poses little
or no risk to health. The yellow flag signals moderate health
concern, and orange means unhealthy for sensitive groups
(like children, the elderly, and people with asthma). A red flag
announces unhealthy air for everyone. A purple flag means the
air quality is very unhealthy and everyone should avoid all outdoor activity - commonly used during local forest fires.
“It’s important for children to get daily exercise, but they
also need to be protected from poor air quality,” said Rachel
Fillippini, Executive Director of GASP. “Children take in
14
more air per pound of body weight, than adults, and as a result, are at a greater risk from air pollution, because their lungs
are still developing. By participating in this program, schools
can better arm themselves and their students with air quality
information.”
The School Flag Program is funded by the SPAQP
and administered by GASP. Schools located in southwest
Pennsylvania can participate in the program. For the 2013-14
school year, there are 25 openings for the free program on a
first come, first served basis. Participating schools receive a free
set of air quality flags, grade and age appropriate lessons on
air pollution, and assistance with the school specific program.
Interested school administrators or teachers, who want to participate in the program, should contact schoolflag@gasp-pgh.
org, or call 412-924-0604.
Ground-level ozone is created through chemical reactions
between volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and
nitrogen oxides emitted by motor vehicles and industry, in the
presence of UV radiation. Ozone is highly reactive and damages cell linings causing swelling and inflammation in lungs
and airways.
Fine particulate matter, also known as soot or PM 2.5,
comes from many sources, including diesel and gasoline
vehicles, coal-fired power plants, industrial activity, and wood
burning. PM 2.5 has significant impacts on human health,
such as increased risk of asthma, strokes, heart attacks, cancers, and premature death.
Residents can get current air quality information by
subscribing at www.enviroflash.info.org or by downloading
the AIRnow app. Daily air quality forecasts can be sent to an
email, cell phone or Twitter account. For more information on
the School Flag Program visit the EPA’s Flag Program Website:
airnow.gov/schoolflag.
CANON-McMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL
A
Scholastic Art Awards
Canon-McMillan High School senior has been named
a national winner in the 2014 Scholastic Art & Writing
Awards.
Kristen Burns, 17-year-old daughter of Lenka and Mark
Burns of Canonsburg, will be awarded a Silver Medal for her
drawing, “Melodic Escape.”
Kristen is in Advanced Placement Studio Art at CMHS
and is also involved with an art internship through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
There were 255,000 original works of art and writing
submitted to the 2014 competition. More than 1,800 young
artists and writers in grades 7-12 received National Medals.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards’ National Celebration will kick off in New York City on June 5, 2014, with all
National Medalists invited to the first ever Maker Prom!
On June 6, students, educators, families and friends will
gather at Carnegie Hall to honor National Medalists at the
2014 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Ceremony.
This weekend will also be the time to view hundreds of
phenomenal works of art and writing at the Art.Write.Now.
National Exhibition on display at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons The New School for Design and Pratt
Institute’s Pratt Manhattan Gallery.
Several Canon-McMillan High School art students were
recognized for their art accomplishments at the Scholastic
Art & Writing Competition of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Joseph Kosky, a senior, received a Gold Key and an American Vision Award, the highest level of achievement on the
regional level, for his sculpture entitled “Steampunk.” Kristen
Burns, a senior, received a Gold Key for her drawing “Melodic Escape.” Chelsea Hartman, a junior, also received a Gold
Key for her painting entitled “Timeline Through Wonderland.”
Winners of Silver Keys for distinguished achievement on the regional
level were:
•
Grace Chorpenning, senior,
for her photograph, “Dog at
My Feet.”
• Chelsea Hartman, junior,
for her mixed-media piece,
“Trippy.”
• Alexandra Ketter, senior, for
her drawing, “Charm.”
• Hanna Smith, junior, for her
mixed-media piece, “Dead.”
Merit Award winners were:
• Hunter Lawrence, senior,
“Waning Summer,” painting.
• Justin Rush, senior, “A Spitting
Image,” mixed-media.
Other Canon-McMillan artworks
exhibited in Manderino Library at Califor- Left, “Melodic Escape,” Right, Artist Kristen Burns
nia University of Pennsylvania were:
• “There Is No I In Team,” mixedPusateri.
media, by senior Allison Bellaire.
• “Blooming,” sculpture, by junior Daniela Pusateri.
• “A Better Tomorrow,” painting, by junior Kiera
• “Sophie,” print, by junior Bailey Scheider.
Browell.
• “Form,” ceramics, by junior Abigail Self.
• “Thawing Life,” and “Sky in Water,” photographs, by
• “Finding Home,” comic art, by junior Sierra Strnisa.
junior Omar Diaz.
• “Motherhood” and “I Love You,” drawings, by senior
• Art Portfolio, by senior Alison Kutch.
Gabrielle Trest.
• “Times Have Changed,” painting, by senior Hunter
• “Hurricane Sandy,” mixed-media, by senior Gabrielle
Lawrence.
Trest.
• “A Red Sun Rises,” painting, by senior Laura Pintar.
• “Express Yourself,” drawing, by junior Daniela
Continued on page 16
15
CANON-McMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL
Continued from page 15
Scholastic Art Awards
Left top, Joseph Kosky, “Steampunk” - received a Gold Key and American Vision Award, highest achievement on the regional level. Left bottom, Chelsea Hartman, “Trippy” - received a Silver Key. Middle top, Hunter Lawrence, “Waning Summer” - received a Merit Award. Middle bottom, Justin Rush, “A Spitting Image”
- received a Merit Award. Right, Kiera Browell, “A Better Tomorrow” - had artwork exhibited at California University of PA.
16
CECIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Classmates Raise Money for Student’s
Chemotherapy Treatments during Spirit Week
Photo on Far Left, Mrs. Skerbetz’s
class includes, from left, front row
(sitting on floor) - Ella Oumorou,
Emalee Behling, Will Taczak, Izzy
Yusko, Keira Lutton, Blake Ward,
Kayleah Orbin, Anna Sharek, Macey
Kappeler and Hayden Steele; middle
row - Bradly Boling, Megan Wilson,
Alaina Pawlos, Carson Kulus,
Nelson Pettigrew Jr., Madeline
Ritter, Kaitlyn Spiegel, recipient
Luke Blanock, Parker Black, Brody
Stoner, Ava Peters, Logan Stevens,
Amanda Gil and Naren Ray; back
row - Mrs. Jan Blanock, Luke’s
mother, and their teacher, Mrs.
Melissa Skerbetz.
C
ecil Elementary School’s annual Spirit Week concluded with a special
presentation to Luke Blanock, a junior at Canon-McMillan High
School who is battling Ewing’s sarcoma.
Luke attended Cecil Elementary School and the young children who are
students there now raised a total of $4,581.04 during Spirit Week to help him
with the mounting medical bills. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
Luke was diagnosed with a tumor on a vertebra in his lower back in December. Surgery removed the tumor on the basketball player and the lengthy
series of chemotherapy treatments began.
At the presentation, Luke’s mother Jan accompanied him, overwhelmed
by the generosity of the students and staff at Cecil Elementary.
The top two classes raising the most money for the project were Ms. Natalie Blackburn’s class - $598.34, and Mrs. Melissa Skerbetz’s class - $591.36.
Faculty and staff added to the amount collected during Spirit Week to make
the final total $5,000.
17
Photo on Left, Ms. Blackburn’s
class includes, from left, front row
(kneeling) - Jacob Loeffert, Craig
Kushner Jr., Anthony West, and
Harley Noble; middle row - Cameron
Garofulo, George Markovich, William Styperk, Abby Shank, Elena
Stilwell, Lexie Rosko, recipient Luke
Blanock, Sami Uram, Kylee DeBar,
Doron Wudkwych, Caitlin Ray, Riley
Spalding, Kaitlyn Sella and Joey
Felton; back row - Marshall Robison,
Jason Sharek, Mrs. Jan Blanock,
Luke’s mother, and Payne Jester.
DISTRICT
Three Students Move Forward in
Kean Quest Singing Competition
From left:
Joelle Germeyer,
Ashley Irwin, and
Blake Mechtel
I
n this year's annual Kean Quest singing competition, three
talented, young Canon-McMillan vocalists were semifinalists, with one moving on to the finals.
Joelle Germeyer, a fourth-grader at Borland Manor
Elementary School; Ashley Irwin, a sixth-grader at North
Strabane Intermediate School, and Blake Mechtel, a CanonMcMillan High School sophomore, all made it to the semifinal round, with Joelle moving on to the finals, although she
did not win the competition.
Joelle, 10, is the daughter of David and Hileri Germeyer of
North Strabane Township. She has performed in musical theater in the area including in “Madeline’s Christmas” at Little
Lake Theatre. A student of Laura Ann Mannion, owner and
director at the South Hills Music Academy, she has performed
in “Kids on Broadway” there. At the Kean Quest competition, she sang “Part of Your World” from Disney’s “The Little
Mermaid,” in the semi-final round, and “Tomorrow” from the
musical “Annie,” in the finals.
Ashley, the 11-year-old daughter of Lisa and Jack Irwin of
Canonsburg, sang “I Enjoy Being a Girl” from “Flower Drum
Song” at the competition. She has studied voice with Carolyn
Brow of Peters Township and performs with the Pittsburgh
Musical Theatre. She performed the role of the caterpillar in
Pittsburgh Musical Theatre’s “Alice in Wonderland” in April.
Blake is the 16-year-old son of Scott and Karen Mechtel
of McDonald. At Canon-McMillan High School, he is a
member of Concert Choir, Men’s Ensemble, and Bella Voce,
an auditioned group of students in grades 9-12. He performed
18
“Stay” by Rhianna in the first round of the Kean Quest. He
has studied voice with Laura Ann Mannion at South Hills
Music Academy.
The youth and adult competition for the 2014 Kean Quest
Talent Search benefits the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund which
provides more than $4.5 million to needy residents at St.
Barnabas Nursing Home, Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas
and The Arbors at St. Barnabas in Gibsonia. St. Barnabas
Health System is Pennsylvania’s largest health care concern
of its kind. Also, St. Barnabas engages in innovative methods to raise money for its Free Care Fund such as The Jackie
Evancho Award in its Kean Quest Talent Search, The Kean
Theatre, The Crystal Conservatories, Rudolph Auto Repair
and Beautiful Buys.
F
FIRST STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Hot Oatmeal Bar Keeping the Winter Cold Away
From left to right, Jayla Reihner, Alaya Henderson, Aurianna Moore, Robert Howard, Michael Dolan, and Devonte Tillar, from First Street Elementary School.
S
tudents did their best to chase away the snowy, cold winter with a piping hot bowl of
oatmeal. Students were able to customize their healthy breakfast grain with their choice of
sweet and delicious toppings including apples, bananas, dried cranberries, raisins, strawberries,
blueberries, brown sugar, chocolate chips and cinnamon.
19
CANON-McMILLAN HIGH SCHOOL & NORTH STRABANE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
T
National Honor Society
he Canon-McMillan High School chapter of the National Honor
Society held induction ceremonies for 110 junior and 13 senior
candidates on Feb. 25, in the high school auditorium. The new members
join 78 senior members.
CMHS Principal Dave Helinski presided over the induction. Mrs.
Karen Rubican, CMHS guidance counselor and keynote speaker,
urged the students to plan for college by visiting colleges, searching for
internship opportunities, applying for scholarships, and continuing to
maintain their grade point averages.
Junior Tim Grebeck delivered a challenge to all students to become
leaders in the school and community. Senior John Paul Gaston provided
the music for the evening.
Officers of the society are: Josiah Hritsko, president; Rachel Rozak,
vice-president; Shreya Ravi, secretary; and Allison Jo Vogrig, treasurer.
Mrs. Joyce Mason serves as the NHS sponsor.
Juniors included: Jacinda Lee Arent, Megan Joy Ayres, Jonathan
Blair Balog, Elizabeth Justine Beachy, Angela Marie Bell, Luke Michael
Blanock, Steven Dallas Blayney, Cora Anna Blodgett, Natalie Christine
Britvich, Kiera Melissa Browell,
Jessica Lynne Brown, Natalie Linder Burchesky, Kyle Joseph Burns,
Alison Courtney Cannon, Lucas William Carroll, Nicole Elizabeth
Castelli, Evan Benjamin Chase, Anna Christine Chelli, Adam Ryan
Cottrill, Marta Lea Daley,
Nicholas Dashineau, Jamie Lynn DelRe, Kellie Marie Duffey, Sarah
Jane Erstfeld, Natalie Kiersten Fortna, Tara Matyuf Fowler, Jessica Lynn
Francis, Elizabeth Love Freeman, Ela Halide Garbioglu, Matthew John
Gereke, Timothy Joseph Grebeck,
Hannah Irene Grossman, Alexander Paul Hammers, Lauren Elizabeth Hess, Jerrod Cooper Jacobs, Sarah Margaret Jicomelli, Hayden
Paul Kehm, Kathryn Baine Kelly, Sydney Estelle Keremes, Mia Noel
Kienzle, Desiree’ Ann Kline, Mackenzie Jayne Klutch,
William Joseph Kohler, Tia Marie Kowalo, Erika Melissa Krasneski,
Joshua Michael Kruczek, Evan M. Landgraff, Jesse M. Lesko, Ethan
Samuel Linderman, Gregory Kevin Logan, Austin Mitchell March,
Ethan Patrick Marra, Clay Andrew Martin,
Maxwell Frazier Martin, Savannah Jaye
McCann, Caden Joseph Meier, Elizabeth
Eileen Meier, Vittorio Calderone Migliuolo,
Harsha Mikkilineni, Zachary E. Moore,
Shane Bradley Morgan, Allison Renee Oddi,
Monica Carol O’Neill, Samantha Jo Orlowski,
Jordan Marie Oravetz, Chandler London
Palyas, Rachael Paige Paquin, Danielle Elizabeth Parker, Dean Petrone, Gregory George
Pointek, Lucas Michael Potochar, Nicole
Dominique Ray, Hannah Lee Reidenbaugh, Rico Anthony Romeo,
Kaitlyn Lee Rush,
Alexxa Nicole Safko, Dylan Daniel Sarver, Bailey Renee Scheider,
Clayton Paul Scherer, Madison Taylor Schratz, Adrianna Isabella Sciulli,
Abigail Lillian Self, Terence Michael Serbak, Hannah Nicole Shanholtz,
Ashutosh Nath Sharma,
Madison Blanche Shemansky, Nicole Cristine Simonetti, Zachary
Bradfield Sivavec, Colman D. Slain, Emily Louise Smutney, Shawn
Adam Stawiarski, Paige Clara Steen, Carina Nicole Stopenski, Anna
Marie Strnisha, Michael Dennis Strosko,
Marissa Colleen Tatano, Isabella Sophia Tavoletti, Zak Austin Teyssier, Josie Elizabeth Thal, James Warren Trainor, Cameron Blake Urbanus, Emily Rose Uzar, Hunter Riley Vermilya, Luke Anthony Vollmer,
Marc Brian Vukotich,
Jonathan Michael Weese, Haley Paige Welsh, Nicole Breannna
Wiercioch, Andrew James Wuenstal, and Haley Marie Yenchik.
Seniors included: Natalie Anne Baron, Kristen Burns, Andrew
Michael Falconer, Evan Patrick Fink, Madison Margaret Grudi, Emma
MacKenzie O’Brien, James Dominic Oddi, Cara Elizabeth Paraska,
Brittany Victoria Scoumis, Samuel Brent Urban, Kaya Tiffany Walters,
Christopher Taylor Ward, and Ashley Brooke Wissinger,
20
Atharv
Bhave
Wins Big
N
orth Strabane Intermediate
School sixth-grader Atharv
Bhave won the 2014 Spelling Bee
at NSIS. Atharv did something
that no other student at NSIS has
ever done - he won both the NSIS
Geography Bee and NSIS Spelling
Bee during the 2014 school year.
Previously he also won the school’s
Spelling Bee when he was a fifthgrader.
CECIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
A Science Olympiad is coming to
Cecil Elementary School
N
atalie Blackburn, fourth-grade teacher at Cecil Elementary School, received an
Elementary Science Olympiad Grant from the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh
for $2,500 in science supplies to plan the Cecil Elementary Science Olympiad to be held
in the spring. Other Canon-McMillan elementary schools already have the Olympiad
program, however this will be the first year at Cecil Elementary.
Ms. Blackburn, a teacher for eight years, has a unique perspective on what science
concepts work for each grade level since she has taught every grade from kindergarten to
fifth, plus art. Also, she previously worked summers at the Carnegie Museum, the PittsContinued on page 22
21
CECIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL & NORTH STRABANE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
Continued from page 21
burgh Zoo, and Carnegie Mellon University
where she had many great opportunities
to work alongside excellent teachers and
experts in their fields. Many of the activities
she did at these venues will be part of the
activities at Cecil Elementary.
Cecil Elementary students already participate in the “Science Matters,” a program
that sends science supplies to classrooms
throughout the region only twice a year.
Unfortunately, there is a limited time with
these specialized kits.
This new grant gives Ms. Blackburn the
opportunity to purchase many interesting
science items for the school to keep and
use during its Science Olympiad. When
ordering items, she also kept in mind how
these items could supplement science classes
throughout the entire school year, especially
after the “Science Matters” kits are picked
up.
“I’d like to use the Science Olympiad
as an opportunity to extend many of the
lessons and experiments we did in class during the school year. It will take each lesson
a little further and allow the students the
freedom to explore and enjoy all areas of
science,” she said.
Some items she purchased include: insect specimen mount kits, rocks and minerals collections, “Find-a-Fossil” digging kits,
owl pellet and discovery kits, electric circuit
supply kits, digital scales, density cube sets,
K’NEX construction sets, magnet sets,
calculators, forceps and other tools used for
unearthing fossils and bones.
With the specimen collection kits, students will be able to identify insects, rocks,
and minerals. The fossil and owl pellets will
give students a chance to simulate being scientists in the field as they work to uncover
fossils and bones. Then they will identify
their finds with a corresponding chart. In
these activities students properly identifying the most items correctly will achieve the
highest scores.
Students will also construct electrical
circuits, which they already do in fourth
grade with the “Science Matter” kits. “I’d
like to extend that lesson and use circuit
knowledge to make and power simple
cars,” she said. “We will race these cars and
winners will receive highest point values.”
Other activities like tower building and
floating a barge will award points to the
students constructing the highest tower or
strongest barge.
These activities will encourage students
to be excited about science.
Pictured from left are NSIS sixth-graders Himanshu Biradar, Zach Ware,
Kyle Katreeb and Atharv Bhave.
CalcuSolve Olympics
CANON-McMILLAN
SCHOOL DISTRICT
O
CAFETERIA SUBSTITUTES
ne of North Strabane Intermediate School’s CalcuSolve teams participated
in the CalcuSolve Olympics at Duquesne University in February. The team
of Himanshu Biradar, Zach Ware, Kyle Katreeb and Atharv Bhave qualified for the
event by scoring over 100 team points at CalcuSolve at Duquesne in November.
The NSIS team was one of 19 school districts from eight Pennsylvania counties to
participate in this mathematics problem-solving competition.
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
22