Blackhawk Today - Blackhawk School District

Fall 2007 Edition
Blackhawk Today
Award of Excellence
Community Newsletters
PA School Boards Association
http:www.bsd.k12.pa.us
"Committed to Excellence, Dedicated to Students"
Introducing Our Assistant Superintendent
Dr. Michelle Miller was appointed to the position of
Assistant Superintendent by the BSD Board of School Directors at their
work session on August 9th. Dr. Miller holds a BA in Psychology with
Elementary & Secondary Social Studies Certifications from Chatham
College. She has an M.Ed. in Education Administration and Secondary
Principal Certification from Duquesne University and an Ed.D. in
Administrative and Policy Studies and Superintendent Letter of Eligibility
from University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Miller began her career in education as a social studies teacher in
the Ellwood City School District. She moved into administration as the
Assistant High School Principal with Ellwood, later transferring to the
Seneca Valley School as the middle school principal.
A resident of North Sewickley Township, Dr. Miller states, "I am proud
to join the staff at Blackhawk. It is clear the administration, teaching staff,
and community are "Committed to Excellence, Dedicated to Students!"
It's an honor to serve the students of Blackhawk."
Welcome Dr. Miller!
Blackhawk School
District is a member
of the Beaver
Valley Intermediate Unit
which created the Regional
Choice Initiative (RCI).
The RCI is one of only 14
programs nationwide to
be awarded a U.S.
Department of Education
Voluntary grant.
Regional Choice Initiative
allow our students to cross
district borders, physically
and virtually, to customize
the education they need while
still remaining Blackhawk
students.
Our district can participate
in the following four
programs:
Regional Choice
One: Open Seats
A regional cooperative
agreement which allows
students (grades 9 - 12) of
each district to participate in
certain defined courses or
programs offered in other
districts, as well as courses
that may be offered by
participating districts at a
central location.
Regional Choice Two:
Dual Enrollment
Participating colleges and
universities will offer college
courses at a central location
during school time at a
reduced tuition rate.
Students from grades 10 -
12 will be able to begin the
transition to university
enrollment by taking college
courses, taught by a college
professor and/or a qualified
Essentially, the RCI will See RCI on page 4

54.80%
District Report Card
Cumulative PSSA Proficiency Levels
73.30%
70.90%
63.80% 64.20%
62.80%
55.80% 62.10%
75.43%
83.80%
81.8%
5,8,11
5,8,11
5,8,11
5,8,11
5,8,11
5,8,11
5,8,11
5,8,11
3,5,8,11
3,4,5,6,7,8,11
3,4,5,6,7,8,11
96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07
PSSA Results for Subgroups
Math
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7
Grade 8 Grade 11
Subgroups # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
Overall 200 90 178 86.5 205 91.2 225 89.8 197 87.3 200 84.5 224 64
Special Ed. 15 33.3 16 68.8 20 55 25 48 18 33.3 16 18.8 17 5.9
Econ. Disadv. 50 76 29 82.8 25 84 49 77.6 30 76.7 38 68.4 34 47.1
Male 95 85.3 79 83.5 112 94.6 117 88.9 102 87.3 99 85.9 105 66.7
Female 105 94.3 99 88.9 93 87.1 108 90.7 95 87.4 101 83.2 119 61.7
Reading
Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7
Grade 8 Grade 11
Subgroups # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
Overall 200 79 178 79.8 205 75.1 225 75.1 197 80.7 200 87.5 224 73.7
Special Ed. 15 33.3 16 31.3 20 25 25 12 18 38.9 16 37.5 17 5.9
Econ. Disadv. 50 62 29 62.1 25 64 49 63.3 30 66.7 38 81.6 34 64.7
Male 95 75.8 79 74.7 112 72.3 117 72.6 102 77.5 99 84.8 105 64.8
Female 105 81.9 99 83.8 93 78.5 108 77.8 95 84.2 101 90.1 119 81.5

Blackhawk Students Maintain
Academic Standard of Excellence
The average student scores on the PSSA reflect the continuing committment to excellence by all
students, families, staff, and community members. Of the 2859 students that were tested, 2339
(81.80%) scored proficient or advanced. Congratulations on a job well done!
100
90
2007 Required Math Level
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
3 4 5 6 7 8 11
Blackhawk 96 87 91 90 87 85 64
State 78.5 78 71 69.6 67.2 67.9 53.7
2007 Required Reading Level
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
3 4 5 6 7 8 11
Blackhawk 79 80 75 75 81 88 74
State 72.8 70.1 60 63.5 66.8 75 65.4

Community Discovery
Meeting for New Facility
What is a School of the 21st Century?
Blackhawk High School Library
Monday, September 24th
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Please confirm your planned attendance by calling
Terri Francis at 724-846-6600, ext. 238 or email francist@bsd.k12.pa.us.
RCI
continued from page 1
high school teacher offered
for dual enrollment credit.
Regional Choice
Three: Cyber Services
With the recent installation
of the BVIU fiber optic
network connecting the
schools, colleges and
businesses of Beaver
County, it is feasible that
choice courses and progrms
could also be cyber services.
In this option, students
would not have to physically
attend a choice school or
program. The BVIU
partnership will establish an
array of cyber services that
can be delivered via the
Internet in their home district
in any one of the subsequent
ways:
• Video Conferencing of
Courses distance learning
• Online computer courses
presented asynchronous or
synchronously
• Hybrid courses of online
components through a virtual
classroom environment
coupled with face-to-face
meetings to enhance the
course.
Regional Choice
Four: Academy for
Success
The objective of the
alternative education option
is to expand the educational
opportunities for students in
Beaver County who are at
risk of dropping out of high
school and to provide
intervention to students with
significant personal issues
that prevent learning. This
objective will be
accomplished by organizing
and coordinating the existing
alternative education
program network and by
creating new programs.
The Regional Choice
Initiative (RCI) program
options are currently being
developed and will be
introducted during the 2007-
08 school year. Please
watch for program updates
in future issues of
Blackhawk Today.

Promoting Good Health Gets High 5 Grant
BIS students will have the opportunity for physical exercise during recess even when the weather turns cold and chilly. PE
instructor Carol McMillen has organized workouts consisting of aerobic classes for the children.
The students at the
Blackhawk
Intermediate School
will be learning about good
health through a wide variety
of activities, thanks to a
$3,000 grant from the
Highmark Healthy High 5
School Challenge.
Purchases included pulse
monitors to provide heart
rate feedback and chin up
bars to improve upper body
strength. A fall and spring
recess jump rope club offers
a fun, but organized aerobic
workout.
Teachers Carol McMillen,
Marykim Murtha, Pam
Varga, Krsten Neeley, Linda
Lobozzo and Lorraine
Himber worked with
principal Carol Sprinker to
determine an Egyptian/food
pyramid cafeteria theme. In
the "Pyramid Cafe," teachers
have created a relaxed
learning environment where
they discuss good manners
and nutrition during "Mummy
Manners Moment."
Nutrition lessons have also
been distributed for the
classroom teachers to use.
At BIS, it is an all school
effort to promote good heath!
The school cafeteria is undergoing a transformation as it
becomes the Pyramid Cafe. Carol McMillen is pictured
with some of her students.
Anew service offered at the high school allows
participating parents to view the meals eaten at school
by their children and add money to their child's meal account.
To use My School Account (MSA), parents create an
account for their children, then are able to view online
payment history, make payments with their checking or
savings account via ACH, and view transactions for the past
30 days. For more information about this service, visit the
MSA website at https://www.myschoolaccount.com.

Staff Changes
We welcome the new staff members and
thank the retirees for contributions and
wish them well!
Shown at Northwestern Primary School...
Meredith Oliver, (upper left) a graduate of BHS and
Westminster College, is teaching second grade.
Debi Menges (lower left) retired after teaching since 1974.
She taught Title I reading and second grade.
Kathie Kiser (above left)is the new school secretary.
Seated to her right is Rose Dunkerly who has retired from
this position after 15 years of service.
Shown at Blackhawk Intermediate School...
Mandie Cline (left) is a graduate of BHS and Huntington
University and teaching fifth grade.
Heather Shea (right) is a graduate of Geneva College and
a learning support teacher.

Staff Changes
Shown at the high school...
Standing: Jeff Tripodi, holds BA's from both Pitt and
Syracuse University and a Master's from Pitt. Jeff is teaching
social studies.
Tony Dvorsak is a graduate of the University of Nebraska,
with 33 years of teaching experience in the Big Beaver Falls
School District. He is teaching driver's education.
Jim Cox holds degrees from both Robert Morris and
Edinboro Universities and is a business education teacher.
Seated: Mariah Brown is a graduate of BHS and Slippery
Rock and is a learning support teacher.
Andy Yuhaniak has been hired as a BHS guidance
counselor. He is a graduate of Gannon University.
Amy Olesnevich, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh,
is teaching English.
Shown at Highland Middle School...
left to right:
Sarah Shuleski, a graduate of BHS, Clarion University
and Westminster College, is teaching English.
Tim Stanton, a graduate of Edinboro University, is teaching
science.
Megan Cvitkovic is a graduate of IUP, Oxford House
School in Barcelona, Spain, Mercyhurst College and the
Fashion Institute of Technology. She is teaching family and
consumer science.
New BHS Administrator...
Mr. Barry Balaski, of Mercer, has been hired as the
assistant principal at the high school. He earned his BA from
Thiel college and Master's from Carlow University. He was
a math/computer/driver education teacher at Greenville High
School, math adjunct professor at Thiel College and, most
recently, a math teacher in Seneca Valley School District.
He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving as a morse code
and voice interceptor. Barry is also a professional magician,
hypnotist and motivational speaker.

Fitness Centers Expand Hours
Get fit and healthy! Sign up for
membership with the Blackhawk Fitness
Centers and enjoy the extended hours of
operation.
BHS:
5:00 - 7:00 AM
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Highland: 5:00 - 7:00 AM
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Shall We Dance?
Effective October 1st, senior citizens who are enrolled
with UPMC health insurance can work out for free!
For more information, call 724-846-6600, ext. 242. With the completion of a new dance studio at the high
school, BHS students have the opportunity to participate in
advanced and beginning dance classes. Instructor Heather
Kronk checks her students' form as they warm up for class.
Our schools do great things, ask us!
Board of School Directors
Mr. Richard Caputo, Pres. Mr. Rich Oswald, V. Pres.
Mr. Jake Barsottini
Mr. Bob Bixler
Mr. Jeff Emge
Mr. James Fitzgerald
Mr. Kevin Klein
Mrs. Deborah Lambert
Mrs. Janice Wagoner Mr. Edward Young, Esq.
Solicitor
Administrators
Dr. Paul Kasunich
Superintendent
Dr. Michelle Miller
Asst. Superintendent
Mr. Scott Nelson
BHS Principal
Mr. Barry Balaski
BHS Asst. Principal
Mrs. Nancy Bowman HMS Principal
Mrs. Carol Sprinker
BIS Principal
Mrs. LuAnne Maginness Patt. Head Teacher/IST
Mrs. JaneAnn Fucci NW Principal
Mrs. Sue Lukacs
Food Service Director
Mrs. Phyllis Mulhollen Special Ed.Supervisor
Mr. Eric A. Brandenburg Bus. Mgr./Title IX Coord
Mr. Jim Perlik
Superv. Bldgs. & Grounds
Coming Soon! A New Web
Environment
During the school year, the District and primary schools
will be transitioning to a new web service. This site will be a
powerful communication tool for parents, students, and staff
alike. Check out http://www.bsd.k12.pa.us to see this
exceptional web experience.
Writer/Editor - Mrs. Terri Francis
The Blackhawk School District is an equal opportunity
educational institution and will not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, sex, and handicap in its activities,
programs, or employment practices as required by Title VI, Title
IX, and Section 504.
For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures,
contact Mr. Eric Brandenburg, Title IX Coordinator, at 500
Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010, (724) 846-6600, ext.
241.
Welcome back students and staff!