Raider Pride Newsletter Raider Pride Newsletter

February | 2013
Raider Pride
Newsletter
Seneca Valley Foundation raises $10,000!
Proceeds to benefit students through academic programs, extracurricular activities
and in the form of scholarships.
Ahh, the sweet taste of success!
The Seneca Valley Foundation raised
$10,000 during the Sweetness & Light Gala
held in partnership with the Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall on Feb.
9, 2013. More than 200 people joined
members of the Seneca Valley
Administration, School Board and
Foundation Board of Trustees to celebrate
public education and to support Seneca
Valley.
More than 40 baskets and packages were either raffled off or included in the online and silent
auctions, generating friendly competition and good natured elbowing.
Advertising in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Seneca Valley School District.
The biggest ticket item of the evening went to a corporate box (including ten tickets!)for an upcoming
Penguins Game as donated by Westinghouse Electric Company. We thank Knichel Logistics for
securing the item with a winning bid of $2,250!
We have numerous others to thank for their participation and/or donation of the event and we invite
you to review the list as noted in the following pages.
All proceeds from the event will go toward encouraging excellence and innovation in the Seneca
Valley School District. Specifically, the Foundation Board of Trustees is establishing plans to apply
foundation proceeds to student scholarships, classroom projects, extracurricular uniforms/equipment
and more. We thank you for your support of SV students!
If you’re still interested in donating, visit http://www.razoo.com/story/Seneca-Valley-Foundation
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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SV Foundations thanks the many donors of
The Sweetness & Light Gala
Concensus Technologies – Program Sponsor, Gold Level
AJ Myers and Sons, Inc. – Program Sponsor, Gold Level
Westinghouse Electric Company – Auction Donor, Gold Level
Seneca Valley Intermediate High School – Auction Donor, Gold Level
The Andy Warhol Foundation - Auction Donor, Gold Level
Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Raffle Donor, Gold Level
Seneca Valley Food Services
Dr. Tracy Vitale, SV Superintendent of Schools
Definitely You
proSource Integrated Marketing
Mr. George Williams, SV Middle School Art Teacher
Pittsburgh Pirates
Ms. Heather Lewis, Seneca Valley Athletic Director
Evans City PTO
Knichel Logistics
SVIP of SV Middle School
Connoquenessing Valley PTO
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services
Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA
Verizon
Ms. Mandy Toy, Assistant Principal, Haine Schools
Seneca Valley School District Administrative Team
Ms. Lauri Pendred, Evans City Elementary Principal
Mr. Jason Wehrle, SV Parent & School Board Director
Ms. Pam Jantsch, Gala Committee Co-Chair
Mr. Jason Shorr, SV Senior High Art Teacher
Mr. Jason Woolslare, SV Intermediate High Art Teacher
Ms. Amy Humes, Evans City Elementary Art Teacher
Ms. Noele Reynolds, Haine Middle School Art Teacher
Haine PTO
Rowan PTA
On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina
Strawberry Ridge Golf Course
The Fred Rogers Company
NexTier Bank
Dana and Christine Thayer-Miller, Alumni & Parents
Great Clips
Thirty-One Gifts (Sarah Gill, Independent Director)
Shipley Brothers Construction
EDI Imaging (photographer for event – images captured on these pages)
E2020, Inc.
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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SV Foundations thanks the many donors of
The Sweetness & Light Gala
Gala donors continued
Seneca Valley Senior High School
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Ms. Mary Mason, Rowan Elementary Art Teacher
Narcisi Winery
Home Depot
Sarris Candies
Bravo’s Pizzeria
Maddalon Jewelers
Dicks Sporting Goods
Applebee’s
Butler Eagle
Best Buy
Costco
Harmony Family Chiropractic
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Freeway Lanes & Strikers
Posti’s Pizza
Vocelli Pizza
Carnegie Science Center
Heinz History Center
Eat n’ Park
Fox’s Pizza Den
Garman Murray Insurance
Plunkett Motor Freight
Houlihan’s
Longhorn Steakhouse
Max n’ Erma’s
North Park Lounge Deckhouse
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Six Penn Kitchen
Sincerely Yogurt
Walgreens
Office Max
Dairy Queen
BiLo
Cranberry Cinemas
Pittsburgh Steelers
3 B’s Lounge
Shop n’ Save
T-Shirt Loft
Z-town Café & Catering
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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HMS Students sweep local competition
Haine Middle School students recently swept the regional Academic Games of LinguiSHTIKs, winning
first, second, third and fourth places. This competition, held at the Heinz History Center, centered on
language arts, which is one of several academic challenges students tackle in this competitive game.
Social studies and mathematics are touched upon in other regional competitions with students aiming to
qualify for the National Academic Games Competition which will be held later this spring.
First place includes Ann Rickabaugh, Sneha Padamati, Jadyn Myers, Francesca Citrone and Angelo
Giannotta. Second place team members are Katie Clark, Tori Beck, Madison Hans, Katie Bablak and
Colin Uher. Third place winners are Jacob Johnston, Jacob Geil, Matt Lewis, Ben Hess and Rishin
Sharma. Perfect scores go to Brian Vogel, Mark Trotta, Jarrett Johnston, Tori Beck, Madison Hans, Katie
Bablak, Colin Uher, Ben Hess, Rishin Sharma, Sneha Padamati, Jadyn Myers, Francesca Citrone, Angelo
Giannotta, Emma Choban and Noah Reynolds. Additional qualifiers include Matt Muir, Jacob Johnston,
Jacob Geil, Matt Lewis, Anna Rickabaugh, Savannah Glover and Hannah McGinnis.
Haine Students Race into Reading
Since the beginning of the school year, students at
Haine Elementary have been part of a program
called “Race into Reading,” and now they’re getting
rewarded for it.
The yearlong program encourages students to read
more at home and in the classroom, and students log
the minutes they read each day. At the end of the
first semester, the classrooms that met or surpassed
their reading goals were put into a random drawing
to be part of an exciting racing event.
Ready-Set-Race, LLC, of Cranberry, brought a portable racetrack with remote control cars to Haine in
early February for the RC (Remote Controlled) Racing event. The digital scoreboard with racing sound
effects mesmerized those students who weren’t intensely focused on driving.
“I love to read at home with my uncle and aunt,” said five-year-old Lanaya Lewis-Byrd. “My favorite
book is Little Red Riding Hood, and we read it a lot.”
That’s just what Principal Michelle Ellis wants to hear.
“Most of the kids are already motivated,” she said. “An event like this is just icing on the cake. And
hopefully, this will help keep them motivated.”
Ready-Set-Race is owned by the parents of two Haine students. The racetrack, remote controls and
two employees were all given to the school for the day—a $1,500 donation that took two hours to set
up.
“Knowing that our parents and families are invested in our students’ reading makes this whole event
special for the teachers and staff at Haine,” Ms. Ellis said. “And when parents go even further like they
did with this wonderful donation, we are just thrilled.”
Governor signs proclamation after
receiving letter from SV freshman
Congratulations to Allison Love, a freshman in the Seneca Valley Intermediate
High School. In response to a letter she wrote to Gov. Tom Corbett, Allison
received an Official Proclamation declaring Feb. 7 -14, 2013, Congenital Heart
Disease (CHD) Awareness Week in the state of Pennsylvania. The purpose is to
create awareness for the thousands of children born every day with some form
of CHD, to recognize health care professionals who work tirelessly to save and improve their lives,
to promote medical research for the prevention and treatment of CHDs and to honor the many lives
lost to this most common form of birth defects. Allison was born with a rare combination of defects
requiring her to have three open heart surgeries before her fifth birthday. She continues to deal with
her illness every day, but as a result of continued medical advances, she is able to enjoy life as a
regular teenage girl. You’re a terrific example for many, Allison!
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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SV Students hit high note!
SV Orchestra
students
stacking up
honors
15 chosen for PMEA Chorus Festival
Fifteen Seneca Valley Middle and Intermediate High
school students were recently chosen for the 2013
Pennsylvania Music Educator Association’s (PMEA)
District 5 Junior High Chorus Festival. These students
traveled to New Castle in February to rehearse and
perform with students from a four-county area. The
freshmen chosen for this honor (in top right photo) are,
front row from left: Brianna Hammel, Carinne Geil and
Maddie Fry. Back row from left: Mitch Lachat, Josh
DePasquale and Kevin Klobchar. The nine Seneca
Valley Middle School eighth grade students are (lower
right photo), from left: Karina Latsko, Hollen
Davinsizer, Leah Dietle, Sara Panetta, Kimberly
McGinnis, Lucy Geronime, Jacob Pelloni, Braden
White and Johnathan Baktay.
SV Middle School students earn MATHCOUNT honors
Five students represented Seneca Valley Middle School at the
2013 MATHCOUNTS Chapter competition held at Grove
City College on Feb. 9. MATHCOUNTS is a national
enrichment club and competitive program that promotes
middle school mathematics achievement and is sponsored by
the National Society of Professional Engineers. Matthew
Sloan, Ryan Murtagh, Micah Hess, Alex Garcia, and Ryan
Stelitano represented SVMS, placing second. Micah Hess
earned a ninth place individual award and Alex Garcia placed fourth. Alex now moves on to the state
level competition in March.
National Merit
recognizes SV seniors
as finalists
Seneca Valley seniors Katherine M. Miller
and Dhruv Kohli have been named finalists
in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship
Program.
They are part of an elite group of students
chosen for this national program and are now
eligible for thousands of dollars in national
merit scholarships. National Merit will
announce their scholarship winners later this
spring.
‘Keys’ awared to SV
art students
More than 30 gold and silver keys, in addition to
honorable mentions, were awarded to Seneca
Valley students at the regional Scholastic Art
Awards Competition held at LaRoche College.
This national and well respected visual art
competition identifies outstanding student
artworks which were on display in the La Roche
College Student Union Building, Ross
Township.
Three Seneca Valley
students also earned
Regional Orchestra and
Pennsylvania Music
Educator Association’s
(PMEA) Festival honors.
They are, from left:
Alexander Park, Sophie
Petinaux and Travis Slopek.
At the PMEA
All-State Festival, Sophie
received first chair in the
Violin II section, Travis
received third chair in the
Violin II section, and Alex
received sixth chair in the
Violin I section.
Honorable mentions include juniors Kim
Greenstein and seniors Marissa Altemus, Adam
Barbe (three pieces), Mary Gaston, Beth Holl,
Sarah Koenig, Zoe Dilts (six pieces), Leah
Kallop, Kelly Pfab, Eric Dillman, Olivia Foss,
Alanna Moeller, Jael Shatlock, Rachel
McAndrews, Morgan Peaco and Sarah Johnson.
Silver Key Awards go to juniors Brooke Audino,
Mickey Busa, Angela Mignanelli, Dana Sabol
and Mary Gaston. Senior silver key award
winners include Melanie Baer, Olivia Foss,
Kelly Pfab, Matt Cully, Eric Dillman, Blake
Evans and Rachel Leake. Gold Key Awards go
to junior Kyle Snyder (two pieces); and seniors
Gabrielle Nicklas, Hannah O’Donoghue, Kelly
Pfab, Blake Evans, Gabrielle Nicklas and Rachel
Trimble.
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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To view a printable PDF version of the calendar, please click this link: Calendar Link
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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Watch Out, Food Network
The Seneca Valley Family and Consumer Science Department (FACS) in partnership with Let’s
Move Pittsburgh and celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver are challenging every family in the Seneca Valley
District to help foster good nutrition and eating habits that make families stronger and healthier. Join
us by signing the 10,000 Tables pledge, stating that you will sit down once a week as a family to
enjoy a home- cooked meal. To help you in this endeavor, students from the Family and Consumer
Science classes will be hosting and demonstrating healthy recipes and tips on SV TV called “Fast
and Fit Gourmet.”
To pledge, visit to Let’s Move Pittsburgh @ http://www.letsmovepittsburgh.org/10000_tables.php
Tune in to SVTV (Armstrong Channel 50 or Digital channel 208) to see the first airing of
Seneca Valley FAC’s cooking show, “Fast and Fit Gourmet” on March 1 (broadcast times TBD
– see SVTV for schedule).
You be the judge
Community members are needed for
senior project panels
It is that time of year again.
Senior project organizers are developing
community boards to read and judge projects and
they are actively looking for volunteers.
Community members with experience in a variety of fields are needed to participate.
Participants will be responsible for reading up to five student portfolios and listening to the
corresponding student presentations. The categories are:
Academic/ Humanities
Career/Entrepreneur
Academic/Sciences
Mechanical Design/Construction
School/Community Service and Improvement
Visual/Performing Arts
Senior Board presentations will be Friday, May 24, 2013.
For those who are new to the judging process, a mandatory training session on the process will be
provided. The dates and times of the training will be announced at a later time with the sessions
being held at the end of April and beginning of May.
All community judges will also be asked to read the student portfolios assigned so as to familiarize
themselves with the student’s chosen subject. Portfolios will be available to read in the libraries of
the following buildings:
Tuesday, April 30 - Thursday, May 2 (until 1:30 p.m.) in the Intermediate High School Library
Friday, May 3 - Tuesday, May 7
(until 1:30 p.m.) in the Middle School Library
Wednesday, May 8 - Monday, May 13 (until 1:30 p.m.) in the Senior High School Library
To sign up or for more information, please contact Kerri Ruffennach by e-mail at
[email protected] or by phone at (724) 612-0698. You will be contacted before April 25, 2013
by e-mail or phone call as to which portfolios you will be assigned.
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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Nine SV athletes participate in Letter of Intent Day
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, was a great day to be a Raider student-athlete. This was the first day of the
winter NCAA signing period and nine Seneca Valley student-athletes made their collegiate
commitments official. Six football players and three soccer players signed, and we congratulate these
terrific student-athletes on this accomplishment. Photographed left to right are: Jonathan Dorogy
(football, The Citadel), Forrest Barnes (football, The Citadel), Ryan McCauley (football, California
University-PA), Jordan Brown (football, James Madison University), Nick Dahlstrom (football,
Slippery Rock University), Dean Ketterer (football, Slippery Rock University), Ryan Vilella (soccer,
Xavier University), Melissa Lynskey (soccer, Lafayette College) and Morgan Williams (soccer, Kent
State University.)
2013-14 Seneca Valley
Football Schedule
Sat. Aug. 17th
Fri, Aug. 23
Fri, Aug. 30
Fri, Sept. 6
Fri, Sept. 13
Fri, Sept. 20
Fri, Sept. 27
Fri, Oct. 4
Fri, Oct. 11
Fri, Oct. 18
Fri, Oct. 25
Tri-Scrimmage at New Castle
with McDowell
HOME scrimmage vs Hopewell
(6pm)
@ Butler
@ Pine-Richland
HOME vs N.A. (NOTE: JV
game also at SVSD this year)
@ Connellsville
@ Central Catholic
@ Shaler
HOME vs North Hills
@ Bethel Park
HOME vs Fox Chapel
Good luck to
the Seneca Valley
Boys’ and Girls’
Swimmers and
Boys’ Basketball team
as they prepare for
WPIAL Championships
finals, respectively.
As of press time,
both were headed
to their competitions.
GO RAIDERS!
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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CYSS available for
military families
Child, Youth & School Services (CYSS) is a
non-profit organization that supports readiness
and quality of life by reducing the conflict
between military mission requirements and
parental responsibilities.
Opportunities include support unit related
activities, assisting in locating quality and
affordable childcare, youth development
opportunities, leadership seminars, community
partnerships for youth activities and school
support services. More information can be found
at www.cyssevents.com
Donate Today
Seneca Valley’s Students Against Destructive
Decisions (SADD) organization teamed up with
student council to initiate “HopeLine,” a phone
drive that’s being held at the senior high school.
In an effort to spread awareness of domestic
violence and to make a difference in this
important cause, students are collecting old
cellphones and accessories now through the
middle of March.
Donated phones can help victims of abuse feel
safer and less isolated by giving them a way to
call emergency or support services, employers,
family and friends.
Old phones can be dropped off from now until
March 15 at the senior high school. NOTE:
Although Verizon refurbishes all phones and
“scrubs” them to clear data and information, it is
suggested that you personally delete all pictures,
messages, and contact information before
donating.
Seneca Valley School District | 124 Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA 16037 | (724) 452-6040 | www.svsd.net
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