School: Week of April 11
Japanese speech contest WINNERS
Three Upper St. Clair High School students placed first in the annual High School Japanese Speech Contest held March 2 at the University of Pittsburgh. Madelyn Lebedda, Katie Knizner and Anna Culhane earned top honors in levels 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
Also finishing in the top three for each level were Ethan Quinto, second place in level 3; Carolyn Knizner, third place in level 1; and Maggie Bryant, third place in level 2.
More than 100 high school Japanese language learners of all levels from the tri-state area compete in the regional speech and poster competition. Students participate in one of four speech levels according to their level of instruction.
In addition to those who placed, the following Upper St. Clair students participated in the Japanese contest: Hunter Bench, John Chakos, Elijah Chapdelaine, Gianna Lavezoli and Busra Nakiboglu. Students were directed by Japanese language teachers Chie Ramsey and Junko Kapples.
For the speech competition, Beginner Level students were asked to prepare and deliver a self-introduction and Intermediate through Advanced Plus students were instructed to prepare a speech on the topic, “Animals in Japan.”
The competition is hosted by the Asian Studies Center, University Center for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh and the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.japansocietypa.org/Speech-Contest.
Monologue winner
Anoushka Sinha
Fort Couch Middle School eighth-grader Anoushka Sinha was named the monologue winner in the upper division of the 24th Annual Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. The Showcase of Finalists was held Feb. 19, at the O’Reilly Theater in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.
Anoushka gave her winning performance as Helena in “All’s Well That Ends Well.” The youngest competitor in her division, she competed against seven other students in grades 10, 11 and 12. Anoushka received a leather-bound volume of Shakespeare’s complete works as well as a flex subscription to Pittsburgh Public Theater’s next season.
In addition, a team of Boyce Middle School students was one of five finalists in the Lower Division Scene category. Sixth-graders Katie Kucherawy and Janelle Knierim performed a scene from “Romeo & Juliet.”
In total, 50 Upper St. Clair School District students participated in the Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest. Serving as sponsors were gifted education teachers Connie Gibson, Fort Couch Middle School and Upper St. Clair High School; Pat Palazzolo, Upper St. Clair High School; Jason O’Roark, Fort Couch Middle School; Sue Fleckenstein, Boyce Middle School; and Diane Ecker, Boyce Middle School.
PMEA All-State-Band
Bethel Park High School junior Connor Remington successfully auditioned and has been selected to play the tuba in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s All-State Band Concert, which will be held during the PMEA State Conference, April 18-21 in Lancaster. He is taught by Bethel Park High School Band Director Chad Thompson.
Geography bee SEMIFINALIST
A Boyce Middle School student has been named a semifinalist in the 2018 Pennsylvania National Geographic State Bee. Sixth-grader Louis Gargani scored among the top 100 on the qualifying exam that was administered to school-level champs throughout Pennsylvania.
The 2018 Pennsylvania State Bee was held April 8 at The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.
The National Geographic Bee, in its 30th year, is open to students in grades four through eight. The 100 top-scoring students in each state are invited to compete in the state bees.
National Geographic will stream the final round of the National Geographic Bee Championship starting May 24, at www.natgeobee.org.
Registration
St. Elizabeth Elementary School in Pleasant Hills is accepting registrations for Kindergarten and grades 1-8. Before and after school care is available. For more information, call 412-881-2958.