InFocus: 2010-11 - Peters Township School District

IN FOCUS 2010-2011 State of the District
Peters Township School District

From the Superintendent
Each year brings new success in all aspects of the education spectrum in
Peters Township - academics, the arts and athletics. We are proud of the
accomplishments of the Peters Township staff and students and work hard
to share those celebrations both internally and with our community. Within
these pages, you will find more details about our successes, as well as more
detailed information on test scores and our impressive rankings across the
state, our curriculum and some of the exciting changes that have taken place
over the past several months.
Thank you for your partnership in helping us to reach our goals. We hope
that you will enjoy reading about the past year in our District and share in the
pride for all that has been accomplished by our staff and students.
Respectfully,
Dr. Nina Zetty
Superintendent of Schools
I N S I D E
Board of School Directors .......................1
Assessments .............................................2
Academics ...............................................4
Athletics ....................................................6
Arts
...........................................................7
Character
Leadership
...............................................8
..............................................9
Technology .............................................10
Pupil Personnel
......................................11
Support Services ....................................12

Our Mission
The mission of the Peters Township Schools, working in partnership with
families and the community, is to educate individuals to be responsible,
lifelong learners who possess the skills, knowledge, creativity, self-worth,
and ethical values necessary to live, learn, lead and flourish in a
rapidly changing, culturally diverse global society.
Our District Vision
Learning from the Past, Listening to the Present, Leading for the Future
2010-11 Peters Township
Board of School Directors
Diane Ritter ...................... President
Cindy Golembiewski ....... Vice President
Dr. Mark Buzzatto
Lori Cuervo
Lynn Erenberg
David Hvizdos
Thomas McMurray
Sue Smith
Julie Ann Sullivan
The educational policies of Peters Township School
District are set by a nine-member Board of School
Directors. The Peters Township School District
consistently works to be among the highest performing
school districts in the Commonwealth in providing
its students with opportunities to excel in academics
and extracurricular activities, subject to the resources
provided by the community.
The Board legislates policy within the framework of the
state school code and the regulations of the Department
of Education of the Commonwealth. The Board
welcomes community members to its meetings. Meeting
information and Board member biographies can be found
on the School Board section of the District website at
www.ptsd.k12.pa.us.
District Staff
Administration 20
High School 98
Middle School 44
McMurray Elementary 61
Bower Hill Elementary 44
Pleasant Valley Elem. 29
Paraeducators 53
Support/Secretarial 34
Maintenance/Custodial 47
Cafeteria 30
Transportation 34
Student Monitors 15
Technology 4
TOTAL 513
100% of our professional staff has been
identified as Highly Qualified by the PA
Department of Education.
1

in focus: Assessments
Throughout the school year, we
evaluate our testing scores and a wide
variety of assessment tools to better
understand the needs of our students
and how we can continue on our path
toward excellence.
Our District has consistently
been recognized as one of the
top performing Districts in the
Commonwealth. In 2011, the
Pittsburgh Business Times ranked
Peters Township fifth among 105 local
public school districts and 10th among
all districts across the State.
Our ranking among our peers in the
PSSA exams continues to keep Peters
Township among the top 3% of all
school district in the State when
comparing district totals.
Adequate Yearly Progress
The Pennsylvania System of School
Assessment (PSSA) measures
student achievement in reading
and mathematics according to
Pennsylvania’s
academic
standards. By
using these
standards,
educators,
parents and
administrators
can evaluate
their students’
strengths and
weaknesses to
increase students’ achievement scores.
According to the federal No Child
Left Behind Act, 100 percent of the
students must be proficient in reading
and math by 2014.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act
requires states to determine annually
whether schools and districts in
Pennsylvania make Adequate Yearly
Progress, also known as AYP. The
2010-11 targets were 67% proficient or
advanced in math and 72% proficient
or advanced in reading. All Schools in
the Peters Township School District
District Principals and Superintendent Dr. Zetty were recognized for
making AYP for two consecutive years.
have exceeded these standards and
met AYP. The Peters Township
School District has met AYP for eight
consecutive years.
Peters Township students rank first
among the districts in Washington
County in all subjects (district totals).
Across the state, Peters Township
ranks 15th in Math, 15th in Reading,
9th in Science, and 11th in Writing
among the 499 districts in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Overall District 2010-11
PSSA Results
Writing Science Reading Math
All Students
Male
Female
All Students
Male
Female
All Students
Male
Female
All Students
Male
Female
# of students
2319
1206
1113
2316
1203
1113
1035
521
514
1014
548
466
% Proficient or
Above
92%
92%
92%
92%
90%
94%
83%
83%
85%
94%
93%
96%
State
Comparison
77%
77%
77%
74%
70%
77%
61%
62%
59%
75%
68%
82%
PTSD Meets State
Requirements
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
2

% students who scored Advanced or Proficient
% students who scored Advanced or Proficient
% students who scored Advanced or Proficient
100.0%
2010-11 90.0% PSSA Results
PSSA 80.0% Math Results by Grade Level
PTSD
70.0%
vs State Average
100%
60.0%
50.0%
90%
40.0%
80%
30.0%
70%
20.0%
60%
10.0%
50%
0.0%
40%
30%
20%
3 4 5 6 7 8 11
10%
100.0%
0%
90.0%
3 4 5 6 7 8 11
80.0%
PSSA Reading Results by Grade Level
70.0%
PTSD vs State Average
60.0%
100% 50.0%
90% 40.0%
80% 30.0%
70% 20.0%
60% 10.0%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0.0%
3 4 5 6 7 8 11
PSSA Science Scores:
PTSD vs State Average
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
3 4 5 6 7 8 11
4 8 11
PTSD
PTSD
PA Avg
PA Avg.
PTSD
PA Avg
PSSA Writing Scores:
PTSD vs State Average
% students who scored Advanced or Proficient
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
PTSD 50%
PA 40% Avg.
30%
20%
10%
0%
PTSD
PA Avg.
5 8 11
2010-11 District Enrollment
High School (9-12) 1473
Middle School (7-8) 714
McMurray Elementary (4-6) 1027
Bower Hill Elementary (K-3) 778
Pleasant Valley Elementary (K-3) 470
DISTRICT TOTAL 4462
Homeschooled Students 30
Students in Cyber/
Charter Schools 38
Attendance Rate (10-11) 96%
Graduation Rate (10-11) 100%
2011 Graduates
Pursuing a 2 or 4 year
Post-Secondary Degree*: 93.3%
*based on data available at the time of graduation
SAT Scores
PTSD
State
Avg.
Nat’l
Avg
Math 556 501 514
Writing 530 479 489
Critical
Reading 546 493 497
Advanced Placement
Peters Township School District
offers 21 different advanced
placement courses at the High School
level, giving students the opportunity
to earn college credits through the AP
exams given each year.
AP Exams Taken in 2010: 565
Students Earning
a 3, 4 or 5 on the Exam: 79%
PTSD
For their outstanding performance on
PA Avg.
the Advanced Placement exams in
2011, 97 students from Peters Township
High School have earned AP
Scholar Awards. The College Board
recognizes several levels of achievement
based on students’ performance
on these exams.
3

in focus: Academics
The challenge of educators across the
country is to prepare students for a
world that is constantly evolving. The
careers of today may not be the careers
of tomorrow. Yet we must give our
students the skills to grow, adapt and
be successful in this ever-changing
environment.
In Peters Township, we rely on our
strong curriculum, the vision and
dedication of our talented administrators
and teaching staff and the support
of a dedicated school board to give
our students the tools they will need to
succeed today and beyond.
Curricula in Peters Township is one of
the District’s strongest components and
has been a model for schools throughout
our area. Curriculum development
is a continual and dynamic process
making a rigorous and relevant academic
program of studies available to
our students.
The High School offers 17 advanced
placement courses in addition to 20
honors level courses, world language
offerings and technology integration
across the programs of study. The High
School also offers mentoring programs
for students interested in pursuing
careers in the medical or legal fields.
We are also exploring partnerships
with local professionals for mentoring
opportunities in the fields of business,
engineering, music and media as well.
Our staff regularly evaluates and
develops curriculum based on the
latest research and best practices to
continually keep our students moving
forward. The course offerings for
2010-2011 included 11 online courses
that will better prepare our students
for a new learning environment that is
commonplace in the collegiate courseload.
These courses are designed to
offer the same course content as the
traditional courses, but prepare these
students for online learning environments
that they are likely to encounter
after graduation.
Promoting literacy as basic skills are
established in our youngest learners
is also a high priority. All teachers in
kindergarten and first grade utilize
frequency modulated (FM) systems
that project the teachers voice throughout
the room and reduce background
Students at PTMS had “Take your parents to
school day” to share a glimpse of day in the
life of our Middle School students and staff.
noise. These systems help reduce
distractions and promote phoenemic
awareness.
In 2010-11, the staff began work on
the phase-in of the Algebra/Geometry/
Algebra II sequence at both the High
School and the Middle School. This
courseload will replace the integrated
math series.
21st Century Skills
Throughout the District, we continue
to reinforcing our efforts to teach the
21st century knowledge and skills to
help our students succeed as effective
citizens, workers and leaders in our
changing world.
Framework for 21st Century Learning
The Framework presents a holistic view of 21st
century teaching and learning that combines a
discrete focus on 21st century student outcomes
(a blending of specific skills, content knowledge,
expertise and literacies) with innovative support
systems to help students master the multidimensional
abilities required of them in the
21st century.
from the
4

Our goal is to equip our students with
skills for life-long learning. The skills
that are inherent in this process include
critical thinking, problem solving,
communication skills, creativity
and collaboration skills. These essential
skills are taught deliberately, and
across all grades and subject areas.
One of the basic tenants of 21st century
learning is that today’s schools
must move beyond a focus on core
subjects. Providing opportunities for
students to gain an understanding of
global awareness, civic and environmental
literacy, as well as financial,
economic, business and entrepreneurial
literacy, is a key component.
Our teachers have embraced these
goals and are working cooperatively
to advance 21st century skills in every
classroom in the District.
Graduation Project
Juniors at PTHS must complete a
graduation project as a requirement
for graduation. The project was
designed to provide practical and
meaningful experience for students as
they explore their career options.
Peters Township has partnered with
Career Cruising to provide a resource
for our students as they explore potential
careers. It provides assessment
tools that can help match interests and
skills with potential careers, detailed
occupation profiles, and education information.
Students can research their
interests, talents, and abilities as they
relate to careers. Parents and students
can find a dedicated section of the
High School website to provide guidance
through the Graduation project.
RTII: Response to Instruction and Intervention
At the foundation of all that we do is the desire for all students in Peters
Township to have the essential skills to become successful and contributing
members of our community and global marketplace. As we sketch our
plan for success for all our students, an integral part of that vision is the
basic skill of reading. In 2010-11 our staff and students throughout the District
began implementing the RTII approach to reading. At its most basic
level, this program is a blueprint that allows us to allocate the instructional
resources efficiently and target them specifically to student needs—all
student needs.
What is RTII?
RTII (Response to Instruction / Intervention) is a systematic approach for
meeting the needs of all children. It is a multi-tiered, problem-solving approach
that addresses academic needs of ALL students. RTII is effective
for students of all academic readiness all levels of instruction from kindergarten
through high school. It is a proactive approach and incorporates
both prevention and intervention.
RTII is based on the premise that students who are learning to read progress
through skills at a their own unique pace. Regardless of where they
are on that path, students need a variety of skills to continue to master
reading skills. These skills are: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency and
comprehension. Introducing the right skill at the right time will develop,
maintain, and strengthen a systematic sequence of reading skill instruction
and appropriate student achievement.
Through RTII, Students are part of reading instructional groups formed
from students within their grade level. This grouping enables us to work
with students across the grade level who have similar strengths and needs
so that we can best focus on each child’s individual growth. Students may
study in several different groups over the course of the year, as they move
from one skill to the next, depending on their needs in each area. We
believe these approaches will help us attain our goal of literacy growth for
all of our readers.
How is this a benefit for all students?
While RTII will provide the necessary intervention for students, it also provides
reinforcement and new challenges for students who are performing at
grade level and beyond. As the groups change as different skills are being
addressed, the system also benefits students who may need additional assistance
in one specific area.
We know that no one solution will work for every student. It is imperative
that a system such as RTII is in place to provide ongoing feedback so that
effective decisions can be made as the year progresses.
5

in focus: Athletics
Peters TownshipAthletics
Fall
Cheerleading-Varsity, JV,
& 9th grade
Cross Country - Coed
Field Hockey - Girls JV and Varsity
Football - 9th Grade
Football - JV and Varsity
Golf - Girls Varsity
Golf - Boys JV and Varsity
Soccer - 9th Grade Boys
Soccer - Boys JV and Varsity
Soccer - Girls JV and Varsity
Tennis - Girls JV and Varsity
Volleyball - Girls JV and Varsity
Winter
Basketball - Boys 9th Grade
Basketball - Boys JV and Varsity
Basketball - Girls 9th Grade
Basketball - Girls JV and Varsity
Swimming & Diving - Coed
Track - Indoor Coed
Wrestling - Junior High
Wrestling - Varsity
Ice Hockey (club sport)
Fencing (club sport)
Spring
Baseball 9th Grade
Baseball - JV and Varsity
Lacrosse - Boys JV and Varsity
Lacrosse - Girls JV and Varsity
Tennis - Boys JV and Varsity
Track & Field - Coed
Softball - JV and Varsity
Volleyball Boys JV and Varsity
Peters Township has always sought
to recognize excellence in all forms
among our students and staff.
Throughout the 2010-2011 seasons,
our talented student athletes have
given us much to celebrate.
This fall, both the boys and girls soccer
teams earned the WPIAL title.
As they went on to the next level of
competition, the Lady Indians went on
to earn the the PIAA State Championship
as well. The Boys Golf team also
earned the WPIAL title for the fourth
time in school history – the 3rd time
since 2004.
Our teams are also known for showing
great character both
on and off the field.
This spring our baseball
team traveled to
South Carolina for
the 2011 Southeastern
Baseball Classic
– our team came out
of the event with a
3 and 1 record, but
most importantly
Coach Pat Vereb and the State Champion Lady Indians Soccer team.
were recognized by the organizers of
the event for their outstanding sportsmanship
and the way they represented
themselves. It is rare for a team to be
invited to the classic two years in a
row. This was our second consecutive
year and the organizers of the event
told Coach Maize that “You run a first
class program and Peters Township
has a standing invitation to return to
this tournament anytime.”
Peters Township athletes often go on
to play at the collegiate level. Among
those students signing a National
Letter of Intent from the Class of
2011 were three member of the state
champion girls soccer team. Shelli
Spamer will attend North Carolina
State University, Shannon O’Connor
will attend Long Island University,
and Karen Jackson will attend Slippery
Rock University. Football team
members Austin Hancock and Nevin
Hagman also signed letters of intent
to play for Fordham University and
Bucknell University respectively.
6

in focus: Arts
Whether our students are on the stage,
at the pottery wheel, or behind the
camera, artistic excellence is thriving
in Peters Township.
From exploring classic artists and
new mediums at the elementary level
to digital photography and computer
aided drafting at the High School, our
students have a wide array of artistic
opportunities available to them.
Students at the High School have 58
different fine and practical arts classes
in the curriculum in the areas of art,
music, media, family and consumer
science and technology education.
Last year, several High School students
were recognized at the South
Western Pennsylvania Scholastic Art
and Writing Awards. In the visual arts,
Juliann Gross and Sammi Phillips
earned Silver Key award; Eleni Manganas,
Kaitlyn Brace and Emmanuel
Elderkin earned Merit Awards. In the
literature category, Morgan Boyer
received a Merit Award for writing.
These students were recognized
among more than 165,000 students
across the nation.
High School media students earned
recognition in the Teachers of Video
and Television (TVT) 24-hour Film
Challenge, earning 3rd place overall.
Competing among 21 teams from
Western Pennsylvania, the students
were given only a genre, a prop, and a
quote and had to plan, film, and edit a
3-5 minute movie that incorporated all
three elements in just 24 hours.
Eighteen students were honored by
the Pennsylvania Music Educators
Association (PMEA) including
senior Joseph Grippi who was
selected to be among 130 elite
musicians in the PMEA All-
State Orchestra.
Senior marching band member
Laura Bertoni was selected as a
member of the U.S. Army All-
American Marching Band. An
honor given to only 125 student
musicians from across the nation,
Bertoni was selected via a DVD
audition. She performed in the All-
American High School Alamo Bowl
in San Antonio on January 8 with a
national ensemble of marching band
students.
Excellence in the arts begins with
a foundation and a love of the arts
cultivated within our youngest students.
Elementary students showcased
the collaboration of art and music
Red Hot Chili Peppers' Drummer
Inspires PTHS Students
Best known as the energetic drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chad Smith
took ona different role at PTHS last November: educator. Smith, in collaboration
with the Percussion Marketing Council’s “Percussion In The Schools”
program, appeared at the High School to promote an appreciation for music and
music making in all students. A hands-on master class for specially selected
middle and high school percussion students in the district preceded the general
assembly.
“Chad emphasized hard work,
and dedication to your passion
in life,” said PTHS Band
Director Milton Barney who
helped organize the event at the
school. “I hope that message
remains in the minds of our
students - daily focus, practice,
and persistence leads to success.
It was a good lesson for
all of us!”
Students at Pleasant Valley turned trash into treasure
with their Recycled Art Creations Show. Students turned
household items or natural objects into art that is being
displayed this throughout the building. The art display
is part of PV’s ongoing effort to encourage recycling in
school and at home by the students and staff.
with their annual grade level shows.
Whether it was the Milky Way Journey
at Bower Hill or the Hometown
musical with a Pittsburgh song written
specifically for Pleasant Valley, the
shows often feature not only music,
but student artwork, uniquely created
poetry, and student-driven music.
PTHS students had the opportunity to play along with Chad Smith.
7

in focus: Character
Throughout the District, the Character
Counts initiative is more than
a banner, more than an award in a
trophy case - it is a way of life and is
reinforced in ways both big and small
throughout our schools.
In 2010, the Character Education Partnership
(CEP) named Peters Township
School District as a National School
District of Character. The CEP panel
of experts gave this honor to an elite
list of 13 schools and 2 school districts
nationwide. Peters Township earned
this award for character education
initiatives spanning from kindergarten
through high school.
The national winners are selected
following an extensive application
process and thorough site visit. CEP
evaluators measured the District
against the Eleven Principles of Effective
Character Education.
Peters Township was honored at the
awards ceremony at the National Forum
on Character Education in October
in San Francisco. In addition, the
CEP showcased the winners’ stories
in its annual publication and on its
website.
Peters Township will be a
model for effective character
education for schools across
Pennsylvania and the nation.
To support character education
programs across the
District, the CEP gives each
winning school or District a
$3,000 grant.
Individual schools within the District
have previously been awarded the
National School of Character honors
– McMurray Elementary (gr. 4-6) received
the award in 2004, and Bower
Hill Elementary (gr. K-3) earned this
award in 2008. The District has also
earned several Promising Practice
Awards from the CEP over the past
several years.
Character Education began more
than 10 years ago in Peters Township
through the efforts of the Peters
“If CEP ever decides to institute a
National Community of Character
Award, many would say that this
Pennsylvania town should be a front
runner for the honor. The story of
how a school district and its community
joined hands to build character
together shows how teamwork can
make character ‘a way of life.’”
~an excerpt from the CEP profile on Peters
Township School District
Township Character Counts initiative
– a partnership of the School District,
municipality, public library, local
businesses and individual community
members.
Character themes are woven in to
all that we do in Peters Township.
Throughout the curriculum, charaterrelated
themes can be seen
in literature selections, social
studies assignments such as the
Mahatma Project at the High
School and ....
In the spring of 2011, Congressman
Tim Murphy visited Peters Township
to present the District with a congressional
proclamation in recognition of
this national award. With Murphy (far
left) are: Superintendent Dr. Nina Zetty,
Board President Diane Ritter and Middle
School Principal Dr. Robert Freado, who
also serves as the District’s Character
Counts Coordinator.
8

in focus: Leadership
As educators in Peters Township, our
role increating the leaders of tomorrow
is evident at all grade levels. Recently,
the District adopted Dr. Stephen Covey’s
Habits of Highly Effective leaders
through a year-long staff training and
in 2010-11 those habits were brought
into the classroom, not only through
the curriculum, but in the everyday life
of the students.
One way that this can be seen in
Peters Township is through the service
learning initiative at the High School
level. By creating teaching opportunities
that integrate community service
with academic study, the goal is to not
only enrich learning, but to teach civic
responsibility.
At Bower Hill Elementary, a group of
parents and teachers created the Community
Garden. Students throughout
the building help tend to the garden,
and even use it as inspiration for art
and science projects. Vegetables harvested
from the garden
are donated to the local
Meals on Wheels to
help feed members of
the community. The
students and staff have
been recognized by both
the local garden club and
the Washington County
Commissioners for the
outstanding work they
are doing.
High School students worked with the
Peters Township Special Needs Network
to develop LINC, a High School
buddies program to partner typical
education students with special needs
students.
Bower Hill students partnered with
High School students to help the local
Humane Society and Animal Friends.
The students made blankets and biscuits
for local animals in the shelter.
A group of students, under the
leadership of Transition Coordinator
Judy Alexander, have begun
the SPEARS group at the High
School - Students Planning, Educating,
Advocating,Reflecting Service.
Through the National Learn and Serve
grant, these students are providing
funding for projects throughout the
District.
Some examples of projects begun with
SPEARS grants are:
Students at Pleasant Valley Elementary
partnered with High School students to
develop a playground buddies program
to help meet the social and emotional
needs of elementary students.
Peters Township Education Foundation
As the school year came to a close, a group of teachers, parents, community
members, and administrators came together to creatively find ways to
support education in Peters Township and fund projects within the schools
that are outside of the District budget. By summer’s end, the Peters
Township Education Foundation (PTEF) was underway!
The support of this community has been a hallmark of the Peters Township
School District. Throughout our buildings on a daily basis there are
volunteers, speakers, professionals taking part in panel discussions, students
involved in mentor programs - and the Foundation’s goal is to continue this
support channeled through fundraising efforts. The funds will be brought
to the classroom through GEO Grants (Granting Educators Opportunities)
to staff members with funds to continue our path towards excellence in
education.
The mission of the PTEF is:
The Peters Township Education Foundation is an independent, non-profit
organization whose mission is to develop funding sources for the District
and encourage and enable personal involvement of alumni and friends in
support of the staff and students in Peters Township. The goal of the Foundation
is to help the students of Peters Township to become independent,
caring, contributing members of society by supporting programs critical to
a child’s successful educational development. The Foundation proactively
works to enhance education by directing resources to programs that enrich
opportunities offered by the School District.
9

Our world is immersed in technology.
To prepare our students for success beyond
our walls, we must provide them
with the skills and experience to not
only work with existing technology,
but with the ability to adapt to emerging
systems as well.
The District has made a significant
investment and commitment to technology
integration and utilization at
all levels. Our staff uses technology to
support and enhance the educational
process, to promote collaboration and
creativity, facilitate district operations,
and to communicate and store data and
information at various levels.
Educational technology helps to facilitate
the curriculum, enhances instruction,
and optimizes resources that
can be used to meet the needs of our
students. In addition, there is a focus
on professional development to enable
staff to use technology successfully in
the teaching and learning process.
in focus: Technology
PTHS Staff members
collaborated to create a
unique interdisciplinary
learning opportunity for
science students. Combining
science and music,
the students were able
to enrich their lessons
on waves, amplitude,
frequency and wavelength
using music software that
recorded sound waves.
Bower Hill and Pleasant Valley Elementary
• Each building has one lab of 28-29 PC computers; Bower Hill has an additional
mobile lab with 30 netbook computers
• The average classroom has 1-2 computers
• Libraries have 8 computers for card catalog and Internet searching
McMurray Elementary
• One stationary lab of 30 PC computers
• Eight mobile wireless labs and three mobile labs for keyboarding classes
• Library has 6 PC computers, and a wireless mobile laptop lab
• Each classroom has 2-3 PCs for student use
Peters Township Middle School
• Two stationary labs of 30 HP computers, two mobile wireless laptop labs and
two mini science mobile labs of 20 HP PCs
• Library has 20 stationary computers and one mobile wireless lab
• Tech Ed classrooms have 18 iMac computers and 15 desktop PCs
• PC computers are distributed among student workstations in the science classrooms
and in various locations throughout the school.
Peters Township High School
• Six labs of 30 PC desktop computers each
• Mini-labs in Science classrooms of 6 computers each
• Library has 30 computer lab and a mobile lab with 30 additional computers
• Art and music classrooms share a 19 unit MAcBook Pro mobile cart and a 15”
iMac for production purposes
• Television Production Sudio where students direct, produce and star in shows
created for students and the Peters Township community
• PTHS has received 8 mobile PC laptop carts, SmartBoards, cameras and printers
from the Classrooms for the Future grant from PA Department of Education. This
has facilitated technology integration and two technology education labs and one
22 unit MacBook Pro lab for the media department.
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District Wide
• All teachers have PC laptops or MacBook Pros and access to mobile web cams
and video conferencing units for virtual field trips and other global connections
• All staff has access to computer-related peripherals to support curriculum and
instruction, including Smart Boards, Smart Tables, projectors, document cameras,
digital and video cameras, and the Classroom Performance System (“clickers”)
• The District maintains a gigabit fiber network between the buildings and is connected
to the Intermeidate Unit I Regional Wide Area Network allowing access to
Web 2.0 technologies and Internet 2.

in focus: Pupil Personnel
The services provided to the students
in the Peters Township School District
go far beyond the traditional classroom
roles. Our District provides a host
of additional services to all students
including an experienced counseling
staff in all buildings, and a knowledgeable
special education team to provide
a rewarding environment for all of our
students.
Special Education
The Special Education Department
in Peters Township is responsible for
overseeing programming in specialized
areas such as special education, service
agreements (chapter 15/ Section 504),
school psychology services and gifted
education.
Peters Township provides a free and
appropriate public education to students
with disabilities in accordance
with state and federal regulations.
Areas of disability outlined by Pennsylvania
Department of Education
include autism, deaf/blindness, visual
impairment including blindness, hearing
impairment including deafness,
mental retardation, multiple disabilities,
orthopedic impairment, emotional
disturbance, specific learning disability,
other health impairment, traumatic
brain injury, and speech/language
impairment.
Our team of more than 19 special education
teachers, three speech therapists,
and 49 paraeducators works with more
than 350 students in our District to
address their special needs. We strive
to include our students in the regular
education classroom whenever possible,
and work with quality outside
services to place students in facilities
outside our school when their needs
can be better met in a specialized environment.
At this time Bower Hill Elementary
and McMurray Elementary have Autistic
Support/Life Skills classrooms
on site that provide services in additional
to the regular classroom experience.
There are plans to expand these
services to additional buildings as the
need merits.
School
Counselors
The Peters Township
School District provides
school counselors at
all levels. Counseling
services address academic,
social, emotional
and / or vocational issues
with students and their
families. In addition, the
counselors strive to assist
each student in adjusting
to his / her environment
and to aid in solving
problems.
At the High School level,
the School Counseling
staff is available with
resources and materials
to help students research
various college, career
and post-secondary
options. Students may
visit the Career Resource
Center (CRC), and the
School Counseling
office staff is available
for individual assistance
through this process.
Last spring, the High School
Counselors also launched an updated
website with improved navigation to
assist parents and students in finding
valuable information about the
services they provide. Specific pages
are dedicated to programs such as the
Graduation Project, Post-Secondary
Planning, Scholarships and Financial
Aid, and Scheduling.
PTSD Special Education
Total Gifted
Enrollment 170
Total Special
Education Enrollment 455
# Students by Disability*
Autism 66
Emotional Disturbance 31
Hearing Impairment 12
Mental Retardation 8
Multiple Disabilities 4
Orthopedic Impairment 3
Other Health Impairment 83
Specific Learning Disability 174
Speech or Language
Impairment 195
Visual Impairment/
Blindness 7
Traumatic Brain Injury 2
*Individual students may be respresented
under more than one disability category.
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in focus: Support Services
The Peters Township community
encompasses an area of 19.5 square
miles with an estimated population of
more than 21,000 residents and 7,200
homes. In the heart of the Township
is the School District that employs
more than 500 faculty, administrators
and support staff who work diligently
every day to bring the highest quality
education and related services to our
students.
The District’s dedicated support team
keeps our facilities updated and safe
for our staff and students. Our team
of maintenance, custodial and transportation
employees work behind the
scenes throughout the year to provide
top notch facilities and services to our
students, staff and community.
The District employs a staff of more
than 35 cafeteria workers and kitchen
supervisors to oversee the healthy
lunches served in each of the school
buildings. This team works diligently
throughout the morning to prepare
food that not only meets the standards
set by the state, but also the District’s
wellness guidelines for healthy meals
and snacks.
The District has partnered with the
Nutrikids system to provide online
meals plans for parents. By using the
website, parents may add funds to
their child’s account and track prior
purchases that have been made.
Improvements
to Facilities
The District maintains a long-term
outlook for facilities planning. Following
an evaluation of the District’s
current facilities and projected enrollment,
a team of administrators and
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High School staff members have
been developing plans for a renovation
of their building that will reflect
the needs of 21st Century Learning.
Work has also begun on improvements
to the athletic fields adjacent
to Pleasant Valley Elementary that will
ease the growing demands on the High
School Fields. Improvements to the
area include a turfed field surface, restroom
and concession facilities, bleachers,
additional parking, basic lighting
and sound, as well as improvements to
the access road to the fields. The field
is expected to be ready for play for the
Spring 2012 season.
District Finances
The District’s operating budget for
2010-2011 was $48.8 million and the
millage rate for the District was 95.18
District 10-11 Budget:
Increase from 2009-10:
Millage:
$48.8 million
$2.0 million
95.18 Mills
1 Mill Generates: $311,000
Annual Debt Service:
Debt Service Retired: 2021
$5.75 million
Aid Ratio*: 0.3913
Free & Reduced Lunch: 3.5%
2010-2011 Enrollment: 4,456
New staff ID badges for District security.
Per Pupil Expenditure: $10,963
mills. The District maintains a fund
balance of more than $12.8 million,
a number that reflects our financial
stability and proper fiscal management
by the Administration and Board of
School Directors. This balance includes
a reserve for future debt service
obligations, increases in contributions
to the retirement systems and increases
in healthcare costs.
Safety Initiatives
For several years a group of dedicated
administrators, staff members and
parents have driven safety initiatives
Budget $napshot
*Aid ratio is the general term for market value aid ratio (MV AR), personal income aid ratio (PI AR), and market
value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR). This value represents the relative wealth (market value and
9
income), in relation to the state average, for each pupil in a school district.

Our School Facilities:
Original Construction
Renovations
Peters Township 1968 - $16.6 million 1981 - $12 million
High School (Grades 9-12)
2000 - $25 million
Peters Township Middle School 1988 - $9.7 million 2008 - $8.5 million
(Grades 7-8)
McMurray Elementary 1993 - $14 million 2001 - $125,000
(Grades 4-6) 2002 - $187,000
2005 - $223,000
2010 - $123,000
Bower Hill Elementary 1999 - $10.8 million 2007 - $2.1 million
(Grades K-3)
Pleasant Valley Elementary 1964 - $4.3 million 1994 - $4.5 million
(Grades K-3)
Administration Building 1988 - $1.2 million 2010 - $35,000
Maintenance and Transportation 1971 - $506,000 2002 - $776,000
Facility 2003 - $685,000
Athletic Facilities
PTHS Stadium 1993 - $1.3 million 2002 - $306,000
2007 - $240,000
Pleasant Valley Field
2011 - $2.5 million
within our District. District administrators
have partnered with the Peters
Township Police Department, Fire
Department and Emergency Medical
Services to prepare our buildings and
staff for a range of emergency situations.
The District has recently implementing
a new staff identification/door
locking system that will provides
card-access entry for staff and identification
badges for all employees. All
visitors to the District are also required
to present photo identification upon
entrance in all school buildings.
District Communications
Throughout the year, the District
works to celebrate the many accomplishments
of our staff and students
within the District, the community, the
state and the nation. District highlights
are shared at each month’s regular
Board meeting, via the local newspapers,
magazines, District publications,
and email blasts. Parents regularly
receive e-mail updates via Constant
Contact, the District’s e-mail news
service. Events are also publicized via
the District’s cable channel on Comcast
(chan. 19) and Verizon Fios Cable
(chan. 39).
Peters Township also utilizes our
website (www.ptsd.k12.pa.us) to share
important news and information with
our community. Via the website,
parents also have access to Power-
School, giving them real-time access
to grades, attendance, homework
assignments and other class information.
Through this system, parents can
e-mail teachers or ask for automatic
updates on their child’s progress. Access
to PowerSchool is available from
anywhere in the world just by using a
web browser.
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IN FOCUS 2010-2011 State of the District
District Administration Offices
631 East McMurray Road
McMurray, PA 15317
724-941-6251
Peters Township High School (9-12)
264 East McMurray Road
McMurray, PA 15317
724-941-6250
Peters Township Middle School (7-8)
625 East McMurray Road
McMurray, PA 15317
724-941-2688
McMurray Elementary School (4-6)
626 East McMurray Road
McMurray, PA 15317
724-941-5020
Bower Hill Elementary (K-3)
424 Bower Hill Road
Venetia, PA 15367
724-941-0913
Pleasant Valley Elementary (K-3)
250 East McMurray Road
McMurray, PA 15317
724-941-6260