Fort Couch Wins Fourth National Blue Ribbon Award

Upper St. Clair
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monthly Digital School District Newsletter
August/September 2013
Fort Couch Wins Fourth
National Blue Ribbon Award
Upper St. Clair School District is
proud to announce that Fort Couch
Middle School is one of 286 schools
nationally to earn a 2013 National
Blue Ribbon Award and has been
included on the list of Exemplary
High Performing Schools.
U.S. Secretary of Education Mr. Arne Duncan made
the announcement live via the Department’s USTREAM
channel http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/39189722,
viewed by recognized principals, teachers, and students
assembled across the country.
“Excellence in education matters and we should
honor the schools that are leading the way to prepare
students for success in college and careers,” said
Secretary Duncan.
Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole, Superintendent of Schools,
stated, “I wish to commend the Fort Couch leadership
team, teachers, support staff, parents and students for
this significant achievement. Their hard work and talent
made this prestigious honor happen.”
Mr. Joe DeMar, Fort Couch Middle School Principal,
and Mr. John Rozzo, Supervisor of Middle Level Education,
will travel to Washington, D.C., when the U.S. Department
of Education honors the National Blue Ribbon Schools with
a plaque and flag as symbols of their recognized status.
The 2013 National Blue Ribbon Award is the fourth received by Fort Couch Middle School, having earned this
distinction in 1986-87, 1992-93 and 2001-02.
Only seven other schools in the nation
have earned four Blue Ribbon Awards.
According to Dr. O’Toole, “The history of Blue Ribbon Awards at Fort Couch
Middle School is a tribute to former Upper
St. Clair administrator, the late Donald
Eichhorn, who revolutionized middle level education at USC and nationally in the
1960s. He did so through his pioneering
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research and implementation of developmentally responsive programs for adolescents.”
Previously, Upper St. Clair High School earned three
National Blue Ribbon Awards, and Baker, Eisenhower and
Streams Elementary Schools and Boyce Middle School
have each earned one National Blue Ribbon Award.
Since 1982, the U. S. Department of Education has
sought out and celebrated great American schools. The
National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work
of students, educators, families, and communities in outstanding schools.
1) Fort Couch is the only school in the state of Pennsylvania to
receive a National Blue Ribbon Award four times.
2) Letter from US Secretary of Education Mr. Arne Duncan praises
Fort Couch Middle School for “establishing solid educational
foundations, setting high standards and expectations, and using
data to tailor instruction to students’ needs and strengths.” He
added, “Your school is a model for the nation.”
3) After hanging the Blue Ribbon banner, Fort Couch staff
prepared the library to display numerous artifacts of student
learning projects for the Pennsylvania Donald Eichhorn
“Schools to Watch” visiting evaluation team which observed
classes for a redesignation of the award on October 4.
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1
Connecting with Dr. O ...
Once again this school year, our e-BLAST publication will
provide our “School-2-Home” and “School-2-Community”
connection. Links will be provided throughout e-BLAST
to “connect” you directly to areas on our District’s website for expanded information.
In this first 2013-14 issue of e-BLAST, I present to you
many new faces in our Upper St. Clair family. These new
faces represent staff members who are beginning their
career with Upper St. Clair, appointments to our administrative team, professional staff members assuming new
roles as curriculum leaders, and new families who have
chosen to make Upper St. Clair their homes.
Welcome Back to Staff, 2013-14—On August 21, I officially welcomed back our gifted and enthusiastic team
of educators and support staff. The opening day sense of
excitement and anticipation for a new school year ensures
confidence that we will fulfill our vision of “Customizing
Learning, Nurturing Potential…Delivering Excellence.”
Website connection link:
http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/Page/6816
Additions to School District Leadership Team—We
welcome the following additions to our leadership team
for 2013-14:
Administrative Staff:
•John Rozzo, Supervisor of Middle Level Education
(Grades 5-8)—Mr. Rozzo began his tenure with the
District in March 2005 as the Fort Couch Middle School
Assistant Principal. In March 2012, Mr. Rozzo was promoted to Middle School Academic Principal (Grades
5-8). Mr. Rozzo has taken on additional responsibilities
of supervising the middle school education for grades
5 through 8. His new title of Supervisor of Middle Level
Education (Grades 5-8) more appropriately reflects his
present role.
•Amy Pfender, Boyce Middle School Principal—
Mrs. Pfender was promoted from the Middle School
Assistant Principal (Grades 5-8) position, which she
held since March 2012. Mrs. Pfender is very prepared
to lead our outstanding middle school.
•Erin Peterson, Middle School Assistant Principal (Grades
5-8)—Mrs. Petersen had served as the Middle School
Language Arts Curriculum Leader since August 2009.
She was hired as an English teacher at Fort Couch
Middle School in August 2006.
•Daniel Beck, High School Assistant Principal—Mr. Beck
holds a Principal K-12 Certification and comes to
Upper St. Clair from the Greensburg Salem School
District, where he was an English teacher since 2009.
•Sheila Gorgonio, Director of
Advancement—Ms. Gorgonio
was the leading candidate
in the search for the Director
of Advancement. She has a
total of 20 years of advancement experience, including
Carnegie Mellon University,
Chatham University, Texas Tech University, and St.
Clair Hospital.
Curriculum Leaders:
•Pamela Dillie, Elementary Science Curriculum Leader—
Mrs. Dillie has been an elementary teacher at Baker
Elementary School since September 1998.
•Timothy Wagner, Middle School Language Arts Curriculum Leader—Dr. Wagner began his career at USC in
2007 as an elementary teacher at Streams Elementary
School. He moved to Boyce Middle School in 2011, and
then moved to teaching gifted students at Fort Couch
and the High School in 2012. Dr. Wagner is also the
Coordinator for the International Baccalaureate Middle
Years Program.
•Jennifer Kirk, High School Guidance Curriculum Leader (9-12)—Mrs. Kirk was hired in 2000 as a guidance
counselor at Fort Couch Middle School and moved to
the High School in 2005. Mrs. Kirk served as the High
School Guidance Department Chairperson in 2012 prior
to assuming her current curriculum leader position.
•Bradley Wilson, K-12 Customization/Instructional Technology Curriculum Leader (.5)—Mr. Wilson has been
a social studies teacher at Fort Couch Middle School
since 2007. Mr. Wilson co-presented with me at a Customized Learning Summit this past summer.
•Donald Pickell, K-12 Performing Arts Curriculum Leader
(.5)—Mr. Pickell has been a music teacher at the high
school and marching band director since 2003.
Department Chairpersons:
•Joshua Criswell, K-12 Fine Arts Department Chairperson—Mr. Criswell has been an art teacher at Fort Couch
Middle School since 2005.
•Virginia Husak, K-12 Library Department Chairperson—
Mrs. Husak began her career with USC as an elementary
teacher at Streams Elementary School in 1992 and has
been the librarian at Boyce Middle School since 2006.
Welcome to New Professional Staff Members—The
administrative staff spent much of the summer interviewing applicants to fill a number of professional staff positions. We welcome these new educators to USC and wish
them much success and fulfillment in their new roles.
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Connecting with Dr. O ...
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Summarized below are the new USC staff members:
Baker Elementary School:
Anne Babish, 4th Grade
Jourdan Chahine, 4th Grade
Leslie Densmore, 1st Grade (relocated from Boyce)
Rebecca Findley, Physical Education Teacher
(relocated from High School)
Holly Fisher, School Nurse
Julianne Rehwald, 1st Grade
Katie Wheeler, 3rd Grade (relocated from High School)
Eisenhower Elementary School:
Kathleen Billak, Resource Teacher (moved from 3rd
grade)
Matthew Cosgrove, Art
Alissa McLellan, 3rd Grade
Denise Naumann, Librarian (moved from teacher aide
position)
Jayme Solomon, 1st Grade (returned from leave)
Streams Elementary School:
Emily Huber, .5 Special Education
Jenna Muncie, 4th Grade
Amanda Parr, .5 Kindergarten
Kellee Urso, 1st Grade
Cari Williams, 2nd Grade (long-term substitute for Emily
LaSalle through 11/27/13)
Boyce Middle School:
Anne DiDesiderio, 5th Grade
Holly Fisher, School Nurse
Kaitlin Houser, 6th Grade
Megan Loughran, 5th Grade
Dennis Stocke, Art
Sara Shoemaker, Music (Strings)
Fort Couch Middle School:
Jennifer Cramer, Science (long-term substitute for
Kathryn Lowell, 1st semester)
Michael DaVia, Special Education
Mary Grace Kelly, Librarian
Lauren Madia, Guidance Counselor
Jace Palmer, Guidance Counselor (relocated from
High School)
Katherine Ruth, Resource
Joel Thompson, Social Studies
Kristin Weaver, German
Sara Shoemaker, Music (Strings)
High School:
Jennifer Antonio, Biology (long-term substitute for
Dawn Mostowy 1st semester)
Nicole Boyd, Social Studies
Lauren Carlino, Biology
Tanya Chothani, Resource (transferred from social
studies teacher)
Natasha Dirda, Mathematics
Leah Humes, Social Studies
Lyn Mulroy, Special Education (transferred from Fort
Couch)
Kellie Santoline, English (long-term substitute for
Melissa Kaser 1st semester)
Amanda Schilling, Social Studies
Sara Shoemaker, Music (Strings)
Student Board Representatives—I welcome Brinda
Doshi (senior) and Christian Meyer (junior) as our Student
Board Representatives for 2013-14. Student Board Representatives help the Board to keep students at the top of
our decision-making.
Website Connection Link:
http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/Page/6818
PTA New Families Welcome Dinner—Many new families to Upper St. Clair were welcomed to us on September
20 when the PTA Council hosted the ninth annual “New
Families Welcome Dinner.” Stacie de la Parra, Welcome
Event Chair, and her committee partnered with extremely
generous area restaurants and businesses to provide a
terrific meal.
Website Connection Link:
http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/Page/6820
Congratulations to our 2013 Halls of Fame Inductees—
The annual Halls of Fame (HOF) Ceremony was held on
Friday, September 13, at the Upper St. Clair High School.
The HOF was established in the fall of 2000 to identify
and honor those who have distinguished themselves in
academics, the arts or athletics at the high school collegiate or professional level and who, in doing so, have
contributed to the pride and prestige of Upper St. Clair
High School.
Website Connection Link:
http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/Page/6853
Congratulations to our 2013 Inductees:
Academics—Tara Manyam Babu (Class of 1998), Eric J.
(Rocky) Feuer (Class of 1973), Noah W. Gray (Class of
1994), Joseph M. A. Pickel (Class of 1994), and Jessie B.
Ramey (Class of 1987)
Arts—Paul K. Fox (retired staff member), Alexandra
Mahr-Gracik (Class of 1999), and Megan Zediker Mullen
(Class of 1994)
Athletics—Alex Gensler (Class of 2008), Todd Haley (Class
of 1985), and Richard Saccani (retired staff member)
Continued on page 4
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Connecting with Dr. O ...
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Fall Open Houses—Open houses provide wonderful forums for our teachers and parents to connect. My thanks
to all who attended for your support of your child(ren)’s
education. Also, thanks to our educators for preparing
and delivery such great events.
Special Thanks to Our PTAs, PTSO, and Supporters
of the School District—Upper St. Clair is fortunate to
have the PTAs and PTSO as our active educational partners, as well as the various individuals and groups who
have made donations to the School District through gifts,
grants, awards, scholarships, and as sponsors and attendees at our “Celebrate Our Schools” Gala. The Board
of School Directors recently recognized and accepted
with gratitude the many donations made to the School
District and the schools during the 2012-13 school year.
Website Connection Link:
http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/Page/6961
Invitation to PTA Superintendent’s Open Mike on
“School Safety & Security”—I invite parents and
community members to connect with me at the PTA
Superintendent’s Open Mike on Monday, November 4 at
7:00 p.m. at the Boyce Theatre. Our Central Office administrators will be sharing a presentation on School Safety &
Security, which is a chief priority of our school and community. The presentation will be followed by a question
and answer session.
Dr. Michael Ghilani“Teammate Spotlight”
Principal Dr. Michael Ghilani
is Named 2013 High School
“Principal of the Year”
Dr. Michael P. Ghilani, Upper St. Clair High School
Principal, has been selected as Pennsylvania’s 2013
High School Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania
Association of Elementary and Secondary School
Principals (PAESSP).
Dr. Ghilani has been the Principal at Upper St. Clair
High School since August 2006. He began his tenure with
the School District in August 2001 as the High School
Assistant Principal/Dean of Students.
Dr. Ghilani’s “open-door policy” has allowed for open
communication between teachers, students, staff and
parents. This effective feedback system has allowed
many programs to form under his leadership. These
programs include the Asian Studies program, Student
Leadership Academy, student mentoring program, and
the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
(STEM) program and STEM center. Exposing students
to Asian culture has allowed for the development of a
Chinese and Thai exchange program that gives students
an opportunity to visit China and Thailand, and teachers
and administrators from these countries a chance to visit
Upper St. Clair High School.
“I believe in a strong communicative process and
structure that involves teachers, staff, students and
parents. It is important to know and understand the
pulse of the building and community when planning
for new programs and initiatives. Our school is truly
student-centered and feedback from teachers, students
and parents is a key. My strengths as a relational and visionary leader have been allowed to flourish at Upper St.
Clair because of the great people I work with and a very
supportive superintendent and school board that truly
make children our priority,” stated Dr. Ghilani.
Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole, Superintendent of Schools,
commented, “Dr. Ghilani’s vision for student success has
established Upper St. Clair High School as a nationally
recognized, dynamic learning community.”
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Senior “Sings Her Way” to Nationals
Congratulations and
“bravo” go to Hannah
Lane, choral and theater
student from the Upper
St. Clair High School, for being selected to participate
in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
All-National Honors Mixed Chorus. Under the direction of
Mr. Rollo Dilworth, Associate Professor of Choral Music
Education and Chair of the Music Education Department
at Temple University, Hannah will be joining 350 of the
most musically talented and skilled high-school vocalists
in the United States to rehearse and perform a gala concert in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 30.
In conjunction with a national music teacher conference being held in
Nashville the final week of October,
members of NAfME organize the AllNational Honors Ensembles, consisting
of a concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed chorus and jazz ensemble.
The ensembles will perform for an audience of thousands in the Presidential
Ballroom of the Gaylord Opryland
Resort & Convention Center.
Eligible students qualified for their state-level
honor ensemble program and
competed against top students for a spot in these
national ensembles. Last
spring, Hannah participated
in the NAfME Eastern Division
Honors Mixed Chorus in
Hartford, Connecticut, and
was featured as the lead
“Reno Sweeney” in the
USCHS Spring Musical Anything Goes. She is a member
of the USCHS Pantheon Choir and Chanteclairs, under
the direction of USCHS teacher Ms. Lorraine Milovac.
NAfME advocates for music education at the local,
state and national levels, provides resources for teachers, parents and administrators, hosts professional
development events, and offers a variety of opportunities
for students and teachers.
USC’s “Very Own” Releases New Book
In 2008, Mr. Eric Magliocca, an eighth grade teacher at
Fort Couch and a Class of 2003 USCHS graduate, began
writing a thriller/mystery novel titled The Red Triangle. Finishing it two years later and spending another two years
editing and rewriting, the book was finally released this
year by Charles Publishing of Charleston, South Carolina.
Mr. Magliocca said he “originally wrote The Red Triangle
as a short story, but of all the short stories I was writing, it
was the only one that I felt was unique and could be turned into a novel.”
He added what inspired him. “I was always fascinated
by the Red Triangle region in Northern California, where
there have been more shark attacks than anywhere else
on the globe. I thought an interesting story could develop
if you could bring a storyline there that included round,
flawed characters.”
He received his first royalty check from the publisher
this past July.
1) Posing with his book, Mr. Eric Magliocca says it “touches
on themes of identity, parenting, deception, and courage.”
2) During advisor time, Mr. Magliocca interacts and plays
ping-pong with his students.
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5
Elementary Students Reach Out
to their Heroes’ Families with
“Hero Packs”
Baker, Eisenhower, and Streams Elementary Schools
will be participating in filling “Hero Packs” this fall during
the months of September, October, and November. The
charitable project is done in collaboration with “Operation Military Kids,” which is a partnership of Army Child,
Youth, and School Services, the National 4-H Headquarters/USDA, and Penn State University’s College of
Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension.
“Hero Packs” are backpacks filled with items designed to help connect kids with their deployed parent.
In addition, information is provided through the Operation
Military Kids organization to the “stay at home” parent or
guardian regarding local support programs. Volunteers
fill the backpacks in a valuable community service effort.
The “Hero Packs” are then distributed to military youth as
a way to say “thank you” for the sacrifices they make. It
shows them support from their communities and Operation Military Kids partners.
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Beginning on September 11 and through the end of
the month, students and parents were invited to bring or
send in to the school various donated items that will be
used to stuff these “Hero Packs.” Items that were donated
included: coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, pens,
pencils, paper, notebooks, disposable cameras, photo albums, scrapbooks, stickers, journals, envelopes, tissues,
and other “fun” items.
Students will then be given the opportunity to write letters during the month of October to military kids, which
will then be included in the backpacks. The final assembly
of the backpacks and completion of the project are due
by the second week of November, so that they can be
presented in time to Operation Military Kids.
Thanks go to the students, parents, and residents for
their support in advance of this program and for providing
USC students this opportunity for service to both military
families within the community and throughout the world.
Questions regarding this project can be forwarded to
Ms. Rebecca Smith, Elementary Social Studies
Curriculum Leader, at 412-833-1600, extension 6078, or
e-mailed to [email protected].
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On September 11, U.S. Army school specialists (left to right) Ms. Tykisha M. Beck,
Mr. Clarence T. Washington II, and Ms. Vicki J. Buck (1) kicked-off the “Hero
Packs” community service project with Streams students (2), who displayed
their artwork introducing the U.S. Army’s collaborative effort with America’s
communities to support children and youth impacted by deployment (3).
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USC Students Are Recognized for Top Scores
by the National Merit Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the 2012 Preliminary
SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)—a test which serves as an initial screen of more
than 1.5 million entrants each year - and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.
Upper St. Clair High School students Grace S. Chen, Brinda B. Doshi, Yasaswi Duvvuru, William E. Petley,
and George Sun were named National Merit Semi-Finalists for 2014.
The Class of 2014 National Merit Commended students were recognized as the following:
Sophia V. Benoit
Kylie R. Fultineer
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Rachel N. Geffrey
Shushma Gudla
Gaurav Gupte
Christian M. Heil
Sonja A. Kretschmar
Sarah E. Meiman
James P. Miller
Macy A. Miller
Jenna M. Ravasio
Eva Roy
Mary Gen Sanner
Ben L. Stalnaker
Sydney Turnwald
Nathalie J. Unico
Devan W. Zalla
1) Class of 2014 National Merit SemiFinalists (left to right) Grace Chen, Will
Petley, George Sun, Yasaswi Duvvuru,
and Brinda Doshi have been entered
into the Finalists’ competition.
2) National Merit Commended Students
for Upper St. Clair include (first row
left to right) Nathalie Unico, Mary Gen
Sanner, Eva Roy, and Christian Heil;
(second row) Shushma Gudla, Kylie
Fultineer, Rachel Geffrey, and Ben
Stalnaker; (third row) Jenna Ravasio,
Sarah Meiman, Gaurav Gupte; (top
row) Sonja Kretschmar, James P.
Miller, Sydney Turnwald, (almost
hidden) Devan Zalla. Not pictured are
Sophia Benoit and Macy Miller.
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Streams Students Create, Collaborate,
➋
and “Connect Their Dots”
Streams Elementary was one of 1,320,727 participants
and 82 countries to be involved in International Dot Day.
Dot Day was inspired by the book The Dot by Mr. Peter
H. Reynolds, who shares the story of a girl who begins a
journey of self-discovery after a caring teacher challenges
her to “make her mark.” International Dot Day encourages students by celebrating their creativity, courage, and
collaboration.
Streams art students participated in making their own
“unique mark.” They painted their creations to be combined with everyone for one large “Dot Out!” at Streams
school. The staff and students joined together by wearing
“their dots” on Friday, September 13.
1) Hallway walls full of originally painted dots are proudly on
display at Streams.
2) Chris Blass, a Streams Pirate fan, was appropriately “made
up” on “Dot Day.”
3) Sporting two of the cutest “dot outfits” are Jenna Liokareas
(left) and Meredith Rhodes.
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Baker Promotes “Extras” for an Active School
A quick perusal of the Baker Elementary website
reveals a few unique additional programs available for
the students. Did you know about these optional learning
activities?
• Lego® Minecraft® is being offered with Snapology
on Wednesdays, October 16 through November 6,
from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. “Travel to the Nether with
Snapology, but watch out for those creepers!”
Minecraft is brought to life using Lego
bricks, allowing the students to create their
own world, including animals, creepers and
their very own Lego Minecraft character.
• Lab Ratz Science Club is coming to Baker
after-school on Wednesdays, November
13 through December 18. “Dissect, build,
blow-up, and explore,” the Lab Ratz
program presents the basic Science
principles in an engaging hands-on manner
which encourages students to be inventive
and creative, to question the world around
them, and to make discoveries through
first-hand experimentation.
• Mrs. Kristin Rose, the school counselor,
will offer weekly Peer Groups focusing
on a variety of different topics such as friendship,
stress management, changing families, and social
skills. All students benefit from learning how to
accept responsibility, manage stress, communicate
effectively, make decisions, and solve problems.
Each group meets once a week during the school
day, typically during recess, for twenty to thirty
minutes.
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A “Fun and Zany” Drama Will Be Presented at
the HS the Final Week of October
The Upper St. Clair High School Performing Arts Department is proud to present its annual fall play, the classic
comedy, You Can’t Take It With You, by George S. Kaufman
and Moss Hart. It will be performed for the general public on
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, October 29, 30, and
November 2, at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee, November 3,
at 2:00 p.m. in the USCHS Theatre.
Directed by Mr. JR Hall and produced by Dr. Timothy Wagner
on the stage of USCHS in close “theater-in-the-round” format, the drama will feature the talents of Rachel VanRyzin
as “Penny,” Meredith McDonough as “Essie,” Francesca
Cappetta as “Rheba,” Turner Queen as “Paul,” Noah Mana➊
lo as “De Pinna,” Ryan Bentley as “Ed,” Mike Unghajer as
“Donald,” Ben Nadler as “Grandpa,” Claire Stoller as “Alice,”
Evan Strain as “Kolenkhov,” Morgan Cook as “Tony,” Genny Tankosich as “Henderson,” Abby Doohan as “Gay,”
Conner Welch as “Mr. Kirby,” Sydney Turnwald as
“Mrs. Kirby,” Sriparna Sen as “Grand Duchess,”
Melissa Levine as “FBI Agent 1,” and Macy Miller as
“FBI Agent 2.” The show will bring back Technical Directors Terry Williard and Michael Binkley, and the sewing talents of Costume Designers Wendy Sembrat and
Karen Williams. The student leadership team is in the
capable hands of Lindsay Buono, Madhu Mahesh,
Deepika Narayanan, and Deepikaa Sriram.
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Winner of the 1937 Pulitzer Prize, You Can’t Take It
With You is one of the most popular and successful plays of modern times.
The basic theme of the three-act play is a timeless focus on conformity versus
individuality in the search for human happiness. The characters who live in the
Sycamore house are unique, eccentric, and full of life, and are contrasted by the
very conservative, confused, unhappy but well-to-do Kirbys.
Tickets will be available from any cast member or at-the-door for “festival seating” (general admission). The cost is $7/adults, $5/students, $1/nonresident senior citizen, or two free admissions to any Upper St. Clair senior
citizen with a gold or silver card or valid ID. The USCHS Box Office will open
one hour prior to each performance. Please call the Music Activity Hotline at
412-851-2060 after October 24 for more information.
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(1) Members of the USCHS Fall Play cast “take ten” to pose and “clown
around” for the camera, including (left to right, back row/standing)
Francesca Cappetta, Mike Unghajer, Melissa Levine, Rachel VanRyzin,
Sydney Turnwald, Ben Nadler, Genny Tankosich, Turner Queen, Ryan
Bentley, and Evan Strain, and (front row/sitting) Morgan Cook, Claire
Stoller, Noah Manalo, and Meredith McDonough.
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Under the guidance of director/playwright JR Hall (2) and student director
Lindsay Buono (3), the drama students read through their lines and
block their movements at an early rehearsal, including (left to right) Ben
Nadler, Genny Tankosich, and Meredith McDonough (4).
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New Robotics Course Makes Debut
at USCHS
Walking down the back hallway in the arts wing, a
visitor may notice “a test drive” of what, at first glance,
resembles a remote-controlled car following an invisible
track.
Trading textbooks for toy cars? No, it is not just “fun
and games.” Actually part of the high school’s STEM
(Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) initiatives, this is
the new Introduction to Robotics course, with an initial
enrollment of 31 students under co-teachers Mr. Steve
Miller and Mr. Todd Ollendyke. Mr. Miller, the High School
Math Curriculum Leader, serves as the principal lecturer/
planner. Mr. Ollendyke is researching real-world challenges and creating tasks for the students. Both teachers
work with the students on their designs and programs.
This class is intended for students interested in the
exciting fields of robotics and engineering. The primary
focus is an introduction to the hardware and software
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systems of a typical robot. During the course, students
will design their robots 3-dimensionally using inventor
software, build physical models, program their robots
to perform various tasks and analyze the results of their
work. The engineering design process will be used
extensively. Careers related to robotics and engineering will be explored.
What is unique with this program? Students
work with VEX robot kits as the core. Real world
problems are presented. Students design and build
a robot and then program it to accomplish the task.
In the process students use the engineering design
cycle to plan, research, create, evaluate and redesign their projects. Projects are planned initially to
teach the basics of robot construction and motion,
but they will all have a “real-world” spin. So far, the
participants have built a remote controlled (via joystick) robot that can run upside down or rightside
up, similar to a surveillance robot used by police
and the military. Then a project is planned
to use a robot that moves in straight lines
and 90 degree turns similar to the Kiva
warehouse robots that collect materials
for workers.
1) Christina (Yein) Park (left) and Alyssa
Montgomery are downloading their robot
code into their robot for a test drive.
2) Tanmayee Mahajan (left) and Mahima
Reddy are testing motor connections by
writing code to turn on and off specific
wheels of their robot.
3) Brian Potts (left) and Robbie Burke work
as a team writing functions and testing
them on their robot.
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10
USCHS Health Classes Simulate Impairment
Using “Drunk Goggles”
Fatal Vision is a teacher’s aid and training tool used to
vividly demonstrate the concept of impairment and the
dangers of impaired driving.
As a part of the health and wellness curriculum, Health
and Physical Education Department Chair and teacher
Ms. Betsy Hess and Ms. Corrin Culhane, school security officer, brought the program to Upper St. Clair High
School during “Homecoming Week,” September 30October 4.
➊
➌
When Fatal Vision Goggles (sometimes called “drunk
goggles”) are worn, they allow an individual the opportunity to experience the dangers of impairment from drugs
and alcohol without suffering the all-too-real consequences. They provide a first-hand account of impairment in
driving skills, coordination, and personal judgment.
Fatal Vision goggles appear similar to the safety goggles worn while working in a woodshop, on a car or in the
yard. However, they have specially cut lenses that distort
visual perception and drastically reduce peripheral vision.
When wearing them, a person sees things in a distorted
view—as if they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Once a person has them on, they may be asked to
perform certain tasks that under non-intoxicated conditions would not seem difficult to complete, but with the
distortion of the goggles the tasks become difficult and
perhaps even impossible to do. Comments heard from
participants in the program included “my feet aren’t there”
and “the line is crooked” although the line as usual was
painted straight on the basketball court. For example, all
students who experimented with the goggles on, even the
most athletic or experienced, were unable to make a basket from the foul line.
“We hope that this kind of program will make students
think twice about the choices they make,” summarized
Ms. Hess.
➍
➋
1) Ms. Betsy Hess (left) and Ms. Corrin Culhane
set up the The Fatal Vision® Simulated Effects of
Alcohol Kit for USCHS 9th grade health classes.
2) Nolan Kondrich unsuccessfully tries to make a
basket using the Fatal Vision Goggles.
3) Wearing the “drunk goggles,” Blake Kadar
struggles to throw the ball to Akash Ukani.
4) “This is hard,” said Leah Mears, trying to keep her
balance while walking a straight line.
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Disney and USCHS Music Department
Swap Visits and Performances
“Are you ready for a surprise?”
asked Ms. Angela Kline, representative from Disney Performing
Arts, to a group of nearly 200 students from the Upper St. Clair High
School bands, choirs, and strings
➊
during an in-school assembly on
September 17. The main curtain in
the USCHS Theatre opened, and members of The Lion King made their entrance center stage.
For the next hour, students got to hear from and
interact with 17-year-old Ms. Nia Holloway who por➋
trays “Nala,” Mr. Dashaun Young who plays “Simba,”
Mr. Nick Cordileone who stars as “Timon,” Ms. Darlene
Drew, flutist, and the dance captain Ms. Kendra Moore.
The team of professionals was from the PNC Broadway
Series co-sponsored roadshow production currently underway at Pittsburgh Benedum, and time with them was
an opportunity for the music students to ask questions
and learn about life as an entertainment professional.
The visit, “a special treat” as one student called it,
was arranged by Disney Youth Programs to recognize
USCHS past performances at Walt Disney World Resort
and to celebrate the school’s plans to perform at the
resort again in April.
Disney Performing Arts is a series of workshops, competitions, festivals and events designed to help participants
showcase and develop their talent through exclusive opportunities that only Disney can provide. Participating groups can
sing, dance and shine in the spotlight on world-famous Disney
stages, taking their talents to new heights and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Disney Performing Arts programs
promote leadership, discipline and life skills that students can
take beyond performance and apply to their career goals and
aspirations.
➌
1) Cast members from the PNC Broadway Across America’s
production of The Lion King discuss the show and their
lives as professional performers, including (left to right) pit
orchestra musician Ms. Darlene Drew, 17-year-old Ms. Nia
Holloway who portrays the lioness “Nala,” Mr. Dashaun
Young who stars in the leading role of “Simba,” Ms. Kendra
Moore, the The Lion King’s dance captain for ten years,
and Mr. Nick Cordileone, who is featured as “Timon,” the
meerkat.
Continued on page 13
2) Band, choir, and string students ask questions and interact
with their Disney guests.
3) One of the more popular cast members, Ms. Nia Holloway
describes her life as an “on the road” high school student
to singer Hannah Lane (right) and other students during the
informal breakout sessions.
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Disney and USCHS Music Department Swap Visits and Performances
Directed by Performing Arts Curriculum Leader
and Band Director Mr. Don Pickell, Band Director
Mr. Frank Eisenreich, and Choral Director Ms. Lorraine
Milovac, the annual USCHS music trip involves up to
200 musicians and singers, and, once every four years,
celebrates their accomplishments by participating in
Disney Orlando workshops, concerts, parades, and
adjudications. Backed by an active Band Parents
Association and Choral Boosters support groups,
each musical family will raise more than $1,000 to
participate in what graduating seniors have dubbed
“the best five-day trip of their entire high school
➍
career.”
USCHS Performing Arts ensembles have a
long tradition of superior and top-ranking ratings at international festivals, local and national
parades, and Pennsylvania Music Educators
Association (PMEA) Large Group Adjudication Festivals. Every year, students distinguish
➎
themselves by earning placement in PMEA
District, PMEA Region-State, PMEA All-State, NAfME Eastern Division, and
NAfME All-National Bands, Orchestras, and Choruses. Most recently, USCHS
groups have collaborated in performances with the Pittsburgh Symphony
Orchestra, River City Brass Band, Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, and international
soprano star Giorgia Fumanti. Selected by a competitive process involving audition CDs, Disney Orlando has invited USCHS to perform at Disney World on
April 24-28, 2014.
(continued from page 12)
4) With Performing Arts Curriculum
Leader and Band Director Mr. Don
Pickell (right) looking on with a
group of students, Darlene Drew
demonstrates one of her twelve
folk flute instruments that are used
in The Lion King.
5) The entire 200+ students and
staff of the USCHS Performing
Arts Department are planning to
perform in Disney World Orlando
on April 24-28, 2014.
Bullying Program Brings Recognition and
Additional Funding for School District
Eisenhower Elementary School was one of eight
schools in Pennsylvania to receive special recognition at
the 2013 Pennsylvania Safe Schools Conference for demonstrating quality implementation of evidenced-based
bullying prevention strategies, as determined through
teacher surveys and interviews conducted by the Center
for Safe Schools.
Principal Mark Miller and the Eisenhower staff implemented the bullying prevention strategies for Eisenhower
through a technical assistance grant made possible by
the Highmark Healthy High 5, an initiative of the Highmark
Foundation. The PA CARES (Creating an Atmosphere of
Respect and Environment for Success) grant provides
up to ten hours of technical assistance to support the
sustainability of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
model, participate in research evaluation, and access
resources to support implementation and sustainability.
Each of the elementary and middle schools have been
using the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program model
since the 2011-12 school year.
For 2013-14, USCSD received an additional funding
scholarship in the amount of $4,200 for an employee to
attend an Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Trainer
Certification Course. In addition, $4,500 in funding will be
received to assist in the implementation of the Olweus
Bullying Prevention Program model which will be expanded to Upper St. Clair High School.
“Congratulations to Mr. Mark Miller and the Eisenhower
staff for this state-level recognition,” stated Dr. Patrick T.
O’Toole, Superintendent of Schools. “I also commend
Ms. Eloise Stoehr, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services,
for working with Pennsylvania’s Center for Safe Schools
and applying for the grants and funding opportunities
offered through the Highmark Foundation’s Healthy High
5 initiative.”
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USCHS Showcased on KDKA’s
➊
Mike Pintek Program
Mr. Mike Pintek from “Heard On Newsradio 1020 KDKA”
broadcasted live from Upper St. Clair High School as part
of his 2013-14 High School Tour. Typically during this event,
Mr. Pintek has students participate in his news radio program
and gets them to talk about current events in the news, school
programs, and teen issues.
Last year, USCHS Principal Dr. Michael Ghilani was approached by Mr. James Graci, whose children graduated from
USCHS and who works for CBS/KDKA, about USCHS students
participating in Mr. Pintek’s broadcast. Dr. Ghilani thought it would
be a great opportunity for USCHS students
to share their knowledge of current events,
their opinions about school programs and
initiatives, and issues happening in their
lives. On October 3 in the double-sized
classroom 148-149 at the high school,
they did just that—eloquently and passionately. High School Librarian, Mrs. Janine
Despines and Assistant Director of Student
Activities, Mrs. Sheila Lloyd, coordinated
the event along with Video Media teacher, ➋
Mr. Keith Froelich, who made sure that his
1) Pausing for a quick photo are (front row left to right)
video crew covered it for their “Campus News” program.
Assistant Director of Student Activities Mrs. Sheila Lloyd,
Student Kelly Conner interviewed Mr. Mike Pintek before
HS Librarian Mrs. Janine Despines, radio star Mr. Mike
his broadcast, filmed by student Connor Pyles.
➌
Pintek, and KDKA floor director Mr. Clinton Amand, along
with USCHS students (back row) Chase Miller, JP Miller,
Brenna Carse, Rebecca Patton, Sydney Turnwald, and
Kristin Fanning.
2) The Drumline from the USCHS Marching Band performed
“live on air” to open up the second hour of the program.
Mr. Pintek was very generous with airtime and featured
groups and programs here at Upper St. Clair High School.
Upper St. Clair students, staff, and administrators who participated in the broadcast did not disappoint the KDKA listening audience, covering many special USC projects:
• Noah Schuler—Kids Helping Kids organization/
January 2014 trip to Dominican Republic
• Jordan Ryan, Mackenzie Rodgers, and Morgan
Wangler, Leadership Academy members—participation in the program and traveling to Belize last summer
to hold a leadership training for elementary students
• Marialice Skabardonis, Shushma Gudla, Lauren
Montgomery, and Safiye Unlu, representatives of the
Girl Child Network—discussions about their work to
Continued on page 15
➍
During the entire show, Mr. Mike Pintek (3) was humorous, animated
and complimentary, especially during his interviews of USCHS
students including, (4) left to right, Noah Schuler from Kids Helping
Kids/Dominican Republic Outreach, and Morgan Wangler, Jordan
Ryan, and MacKenzie Rodgers from the 2013 Leadership Academy.
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USCHS Showcased on KDKA’s Mike Pintek Program
help young women in Zimbabwe who have been
sexually abused
• Environmental Club President Rebecca Patton—
efforts to make USCHS greener and healthier
• Deepikaa Sriram, Deepika Narayanan, Amna Amin
and Madhumita Mahesh—involvement with the
UNICEF Club at the High School
Thanks to teachers Mr. Ben Edwards and Mr. Dave
Watson, several members of the Speech and Debate
team were strong voices in the audience, along with various Student Council members, especially Student Council President Nina Brajovic. In addition, a core group of
students kept the conversations going during the radio
program: Rebecca Patton, Kristin Fanning, Juliana Balta,
Jack Patterson, Brenna Carse, JP Miller, Nikita Nagpal,
Cooper Lippencott, Nina Brajovic, Sydney Turnwald,
Amber Niece, Annie Cavrich, Rachel Krakoff, Emma
Waters, Grace Rosello, and Cameron Walker. At different times during the broadcast, students visited and
observed from the classes of Mr. Ron Sivillo, Ms. Dina
Lardas, and Ms. Bethany Wolf.
Highlights of the broadcast were performances by
The Pride of Upper St. Clair’s Marching Band Drum Line
and the Chanteclairs choral group. Performing Arts Curriculum Leader and Marching Band Director Mr. Don
Pickell helped to coordinate the drum line participation,
which is coached by Boyce teacher, Mr. Patrick Jones.
Ms. Lorraine Milovac, Choral Director, coordinated the
(continued from page 14)
Chanteclairs performance at the broadcast. Brigid
Kennedy, student vice-president of the Pantheon Choir,
talked about the group, their upcoming performances,
and their trip to Disney this spring. Hannah Lane discussed her upcoming participation in the National Honors Choir at the National Association for Music Educator’s
conference in Nashville, TN, later this month.
During the news segments of the broadcast, students
discussed the partial government shutdown, events in
Syria, President Obama’s contact with Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani, the Affordable Healthcare Act, media
bias in the news, the NSA situation, Marcellus Shale drilling, the school’s open use policy which allows students
to use their personal electronic devices during the school
day, our student driving policy, and zero tolerance policies
among others. Mr. Pintek commented that the students
were actually getting callers to call into the show, something that rarely happens during his high school tours.
At the end of the radio program, Mr. Pintek interviewed
Principal Dr. Michael Ghilani. He asked Dr. Ghilani questions about the high school’s “no study hall format” and
its affect on student accountability to use time wisely
in preparation for the world beyond USCHS. Dr. Ghilani
thanked Mr. Pintek for coming to USCHS and stated that
he was so proud of our students and staff. Mr. Pintek reciprocated, noting that our students were well-spoken
about current events and that our school is unique in its
programs and student opportunities.
Sign-up for E-ALERTS to Keep Receiving
Important School Notifications
Upper St. Clair School District utilizes a system called
E-ALERTS to notify Upper St. Clair families and the
community of important news, events, and more from the
District.
To receive these alerts via email, it is necessary that
you REGISTER and SUBSCRIBE to our E-ALERTS
notification system. Then, as a registered user, you will
receive any E-ALERTS sent from sites for which you have
registered.
If you have never registered for E-Alerts, it is a two step
process ...
1.First of all, you need to REGISTER to create an
account using your email address. Once this is
done, you will not need to repeat the registration
process again.
2.Secondly, you will SIGN IN using the credentials
you created in the registration process and then
SUBSCRIBE to all the sites and pages in which you
have an interest.
However, if you registered previously, you just need to
UPDATE your subscriptions – especially to be notified of
future issues of our e-BLAST publication, which will then
be “sent” to you via email. At the very least, subscribe to
the USCSD home page.
Visit our website and go to Quick Links for more
information about the process. Thanks for your interest
in E-ALERTS!
Commendations to Students and Staff!
Monthly commendations are archived online on the USCSD home page under “Headlines.”
For your convenience, click here to view these commendations.
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