School news: Week of April 13
Open house
Saint Elizabeth Elementary School, Baldwin, will hold an open house for preschool through eighth-grade students 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 14. Faculty, staff and school parents will welcome prospective new students and parents who are interested in learning more about Saint Elizabeth Elementary School. For more information, call the school office at 412-881-2958 to speak with Linda Bechtol, principal.
Scholarship auditions
Auditions for the $8,000 Keynotes Music Scholarship Competition will be held May 21 in the Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theater. The competition is open to music students of exceptional talent who are residents of Allegheny and Washington counties. The number of contestants is limited to 20; instrumentalists must be under 26 years of age by June 1, 2016, and voice students must be under 30.
Contestants must be full-time music majors currently enrolled in a music school or in the music department of a college or university. Graduating high school students are eligible if they have been accepted for admission and will enroll as full-time music majors in the fall of 2016. Payment of the competition money will be made directly to the winners the day of the competition.
For applications and more information, contact Toni Kvederis, competition chairman, at 412-220-3080. Deadline to submit an application is April 15.
Scholarship available
Any Upper St. Clair student graduating in 2016 and planning to attend a college or trade school may apply for a $500 scholarship award. Applications are available in the guidance office or through any bus driver. Those applying must write a 250 word essay on their experience while riding a USC school bus. Applications must be returned to the high school guidance office by May 2.
CHAMPION OF LEARNING
Bethel Park High School science teacher Lee Cristofano was named a Champion of Learning in the Technology Integration category by The Consortium of Public Education. The award was presented at a Champions of Learning Awards Dinner held April 2 at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center.
The Champions of Learning Awards Dinner is a regional celebration that seeks to recognize those who have dedicated their time, talents and/or resources to create and expand learning opportunities for area youth.
Cristofano was recognized for his many efforts to bring technology into his classroom, including his incorporation of GoPro Camera technology in his Physics classroom, his work with his students on Pittsburgh DataWorks’ Big Data Project, and his creation of a unique Big Data and Analytics course, which will be offered at Bethel Park High School beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.
Also recognized at the dinner was Franklin Elementary School special education teacher Jessica Mahoney, who was a finalist in the Classroom Teaching category.
Fundraiser for children
Students on the McMurray Elementary student council organized a fundraiser to help foster children in the area. The students raised money for Together We Rise, an organization that provides suitcases for local foster children who typically carry their belongings in garbage bags. The students collected nearly $500 and purchased 19 “Sweet Cases” and decorative supplies. During an after-school session they hand-decorated each bag and filled them with kid-friendly necessities – blankets, teddy bears, hygiene kits, crayons and coloring books. The student council is organized by teacher Paige Seelhorst.
‘Best Communities’
The Bethel Park School District was named one of the 2016 Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for the second consecutive year.
Bethel Park was one of 476 school districts among the United States’ 13,515 school districts to receive this designation.
The BCME program recognizes the outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who work together to ensure access to music learning for all students as part of the school curriculum.
“We are extremely proud of the music program in Bethel Park,” said Department Facilitator Michael Petrossi. “This designation is a gratifying confirmation that the work our music educators do is recognized and appreciated, not only by our students, parents and community, but also nationally.”