Ision night - Norwin School District
Ision night - Norwin School District
Ision night - Norwin School District
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KNIGHT<br />
V<br />
ISION<br />
May 2011<br />
Electronic newsletter of the <strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
281 McMahon Drive, North Huntingdon, PA 15642<br />
Graduation!<br />
Four-hundred thirty-two students graduated from <strong>Norwin</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> at a ceremony held Friday, May 27, 2011.<br />
Of the 432 graduates in the Class of 2011, 83 percent will be<br />
attending a four-year college, two-year community college,<br />
business, trade, or technical school; 4 percent will be enlisting<br />
in the armed services; 5 percent will enter the work force; and<br />
8 percent are undecided, but they are determined to follow a<br />
productive and contributing pathway for future success.<br />
S C H O L A R S H I P S<br />
More than 90 <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> graduates earned scholarships.<br />
Dr. William Kerr, Superintendent of <strong>School</strong>s, sent these 90<br />
students a personal, signed letter of congratulations. More details about graduation are included in this news release. The news release also<br />
features a full list of graduates’ names, as well as scholarships earned by graduates. Best wishes to the Class of 2011!<br />
Excellence in Education Program<br />
The annual Excellence In Education<br />
Program honored 22 high-achieving<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> students with a<br />
special luncheon held May 18, 2011,<br />
at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North<br />
Huntingdon.<br />
The program is held each year to<br />
honor the top 20 students or top 5<br />
percent of the graduating class from<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong>, whichever is<br />
greater, based on the class standing at<br />
the end of their junior year. The<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> Chamber of Commerce and<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> sponsors the<br />
program. Click here to read about the<br />
students’ future plans and the program.<br />
Stewartsville Teachers Rally for Cystic Fibrosis<br />
Research<br />
Stewartsville teachers raised $450 for cystic fibrosis research at<br />
a staff breakfast / fund-raiser held before the school day on May<br />
3, 2011. The breakfast honored two Stewartsville students who<br />
have cystic fibrosis.<br />
Click here to read about their efforts.
High <strong>School</strong> Mock<br />
Accident<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> and its Students Against Destructive<br />
Decisions (SADD) Club presented the annual mock<br />
accident program on Wednesday, May 18, 2011.<br />
The goal of the program was to impress upon the nearly<br />
440 seniors in attendance that one mistake or one risky<br />
behavior could cost them their futures.<br />
Presenters included:<br />
Ms. Lori Playso, who spoke about her son, Timothy L.<br />
Greenawalt, who was killed in a one-vehicle accident<br />
on Halloween <strong>night</strong> in 1998. Also killed in the<br />
accident was David J. Karas. Both were students at <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong>. She showed news footage from the accident and urged students<br />
to make wise decisions so that their parents don’t have to go through what she did.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Mr. Darius Carlins, coordinator of Children Hospital of Pittsburgh’s ThinkFirst injury prevention program. He was 18 when a motor<br />
vehicle crash left him a paraplegic. His mistake was getting into a car with a teen driver who was drunk.<br />
North Huntingdon Police Department, represented by Chief Michael Daugherty and Sgt. Duane Kucera.<br />
Student Ms. Karly Painter, S.A.D.D. Vice President, read the accident scenario which students would see outside the High <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Outside the High <strong>School</strong>, students witnessed emergency response crews responding to a mock accident between two vans in which one driver<br />
was “drunk.” Student actors played the roles of the crash victims, and North Huntingdon Police Chief Michael Daugherty narrated each<br />
aspect of the emergency response. In the mock accident scenario, two students died.<br />
Click here to read the full program from the event. Click here to see additional photos from the mock accident.<br />
Engineering for Young Women<br />
A dozen <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> students recently completed a three-week workshop series<br />
aimed at helping young women explore the field of engineering.<br />
Held afterschool on May 2, 9, and 16 in the classroom of science teacher Mr. Matt Anticole,<br />
these workshops featured a different female engineer each week. The speakers shared<br />
information about their field, about what it is like in college and the work force, and the<br />
advantages and challenges associated with being a female engineer.<br />
The workshops included biomechanical engineering with Ms. Trisha Pavel, a 2005 <strong>Norwin</strong><br />
High <strong>School</strong> graduate, aerospace engineering with Ms. Dana Brutsche, a 2004 <strong>Norwin</strong> High<br />
<strong>School</strong> graduate, and electrical engineering with Ms. Janine Ketter Brown, a 2002 <strong>Norwin</strong><br />
High <strong>School</strong> graduate.<br />
Click here to read the full article.<br />
Preliminary Budget<br />
Superintendent William Kerr and Director of Business Affairs John Wilson recently presented an overview<br />
of the preliminary 2011-2012 Education Budget, which currently calls for no furloughs and expenditures of<br />
$56.7 million –– a decrease of $1.2 million, or 2.1 percent, from the current <strong>District</strong> budget. It also calls for<br />
no tax increase.<br />
Final adoption will occur June 20, 2011. Click here for more details.<br />
Students Patsy Kowalski, Alexa George, and<br />
Maddie Yuhas participate in an experiment testing<br />
the tensile strength of Hollywood special effects<br />
“skin,” with presenter Trisha Pavel at right.<br />
Nick Cirucci to be Honored in Harrisburg<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> graduate Nick Cirucci is one of seven students from across Pennsylvania who are scheduled to be<br />
recognized at the “2011 Annual Tribute to Good Character” to the Pennsylvania General Assembly Tuesday June 7, 2011 in<br />
the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.<br />
Nick, who graduated in the Class of 2011 on May 27, will be honored with the “Students for Good Character” Award during<br />
the event, hosted by the National Character Education Foundation. Members of the State Legislature plan to be in attendance,<br />
with several of them speaking. The event has been held since 2005 and has been televised by the Pennsylvania Cable<br />
Network in recent years. <strong>Norwin</strong> Superintendent of <strong>School</strong>s Dr. William Kerr will serve as Master of Ceremonies.<br />
Click here to read more about Nick’s award.<br />
Nick Cirucci
Hillcrest Field Day at<br />
K<strong>night</strong>s Stadium<br />
The annual Field Day event for Hillcrest Intermediate <strong>School</strong> was held<br />
Friday, May 20 at <strong>Norwin</strong> K<strong>night</strong>s Stadium. Always a big day for the kids<br />
at Hillcrest, the highlight was the tug of war battle between sixth-grade<br />
classrooms (photo at right). Students from Ms. Bonnie Kibel’s class won the<br />
student tug of war and had the privilege of trying to beat their teachers.<br />
Throughout the day, students participated in 16 stations (activities) located<br />
on the turf, track and practice football field which were run by itinerant<br />
teachers and high school students. Ms. Mary Ellen Ferragonio (high school<br />
physical education teacher) oversaw the high school students who<br />
volunteered part of their day to help run a station, be a buddy to a student<br />
with special needs, or assist classroom teachers in a unique partnership between the High <strong>School</strong> and Intermediate <strong>School</strong> students.<br />
The event was organized by Hillcrest Intermediate <strong>School</strong> physical education teachers Ms. Mary Ann Stevens and Mr. Christopher Tennant.<br />
High <strong>School</strong><br />
Students Create<br />
Business Ideas<br />
Students in the “Starting a Business” course at <strong>Norwin</strong><br />
High <strong>School</strong> had a hefty assignment.<br />
The 200-point project, which students took a month to<br />
prepare, included presenting a business plan to Ms.<br />
Stacey Winfield, Vice President of Commercial Loans<br />
at S&T Bank. The student presentations occurred April<br />
21, 2011. Business attire was required as students<br />
explained what kind of businesses they were interested<br />
in pursuing and answered pertinent questions from Ms.<br />
Winfield as if they were applying for a small-business loan. Click here to read more about this.<br />
Hahntown Elementary Student Wins<br />
Fourth-Grade Spelling Bee<br />
The <strong>District</strong>-wide fourth-grade spelling bee was held Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at Sheridan Terrace Elementary<br />
<strong>School</strong>. Students practiced for the event and had school-level Spelling Bees to qualify for the <strong>District</strong> Fourth<br />
Grade Spelling Bee in April. The top ten percent of the highest spellers from each of the four elementary schools<br />
qualified to participate in the <strong>District</strong> Bee.<br />
On the second Tuesday of May, 48 students competed for the title of Spelling Bee Champion. The students battled<br />
through six rounds and concluded the event spelling seventh-grade words. The winner was Craig Drost, a student<br />
from Hahntown Elementary <strong>School</strong>.<br />
“The event is an excellent opportunity for the students to display their spelling talents,” said the event’s host, Ms. Spelling Bee Winner Craig<br />
Ciminy St. Clair, who also serves as elementary gifted coordinator.<br />
Drost of Hahntown Elem.<br />
Sunset Valley “Law Day”<br />
Law Day is celebrated each May at Sunset Valley Elementary <strong>School</strong>.<br />
This year, Mr. Keith Nicola, a lawyer from North Huntingdon, visited Sunset Valley Elementary to speak to<br />
the fourth graders. He discussed how the government system works.<br />
“The students had many questions, so we may have many future lawyers in our midst,” said teacher Ms. Shari<br />
Gogets.
<strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
Community Foundation Awards<br />
Grants to Teachers<br />
Science education, artwork from around the world, and e-readers are three<br />
educational projects that the <strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> Community Foundation is<br />
supporting through its new Educator Innovations Grant program.<br />
The <strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> Community Foundation recently awarded $1,500 to<br />
educational projects created by teachers that will directly benefit at least 525<br />
students in the 2011-2012 school year.<br />
The Foundation is a non-profit group affiliated with <strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong>. The<br />
Foundation’s new Educator Innovations Grant challenges <strong>District</strong> teachers to<br />
dream up an innovative classroom project that might not otherwise be funded by<br />
the school budget.<br />
Click here to read more about each project.<br />
Athletics<br />
Click here to read about highlights from the past month submitted by <strong>Norwin</strong> coaches.<br />
Dr. John C. Boylan, center, president of the <strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
Community Foundation, presents $500 checks to teachers who are<br />
receiving Educator Innovations Grants for classroom projects.<br />
From left: Ms. Molli Brown, Ms. Tara Lynn, Dr. Boylan, Ms.<br />
Sharon Welty, and Ms. Paula Giran.<br />
One story is about Kasey Kemp, who will be a <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> senior in August. She won the state girls’ pole vault<br />
championship this past weekend at Shippensburg University with a vault of 12 feet.<br />
Kasey Kemp<br />
Guidance Corner<br />
Final transcripts will be sent the third week of June.<br />
SATs will be given June 4, 2011. ACTs will be June 11, 2011. The registration deadline for both of these tests was May 6, 2011.<br />
Throughout the summer, a guidance counselor will be in the High <strong>School</strong> building every Monday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a lunch break<br />
from Noon until 1 p.m.<br />
More guidance department information, including details about the weekly counselor schedule during the summer, can be found here.<br />
Students Win Cultural Trust Art Awards<br />
The Greensburg Area Cultural Council (GACC), a program of Westmoreland<br />
Cultural Trust, honored three <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> students at its 13th-Annual<br />
Achievement in the Arts Awards Banquet on Sunday, May 15, 2011, in<br />
Commissioners’ Hall at the Youngwood campus of the Westmoreland County<br />
Community College.<br />
The <strong>Norwin</strong> awardees were Jesse Taylor, Connor Feals, and Katie Falk.<br />
Overall, the GACC honored 52 high school seniors from 18 Westmoreland County<br />
high schools for their outstanding efforts in music, theater and the visual arts. The<br />
awards are titled The Judges McCormick and Pezze Awards of Artistic Merit, and<br />
Judge McCormick and Judge Pezze personally presented the awards.<br />
Jesse Taylor Connor Feals Katie Falk<br />
Holocaust Program at <strong>Norwin</strong> Middle <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> Middle <strong>School</strong>’s annual Holocaust Remembrance Night, which included a candle lighting ceremony and a Holocaust speaker, was<br />
held Wednesday, May 18, 2011.<br />
More than 300 people attended, and they experienced a “museum” in the school built by eighth-grade students. Each class made a large<br />
exhibit (about 9’x9’). These exhibits, about 20 in all, covered 3 hallways. In the auditorium lobby, there were about 100 individual student<br />
projects on tables. Students also made a “remembrance tile” which contains a poem or letter about their feelings about the Holocaust. These<br />
tiles made up a tiled wall. One display asked visitors to sign a wall that says “We will not forget.”<br />
The speaker was Sam Weinreb, a Holocaust survivor who lives in White Oak.<br />
At the ceremony, select students shared poems and letters. A group of students also recited a “Declaration of Remembrance” (a promise to<br />
never forget). Then, the students lit 6 candles which represented the victims. Shulamit Bastacky, a hidden child of the Holocaust, lit a<br />
seventh candle to represent those who risked their lives to save others.
Middle <strong>School</strong> Receives Fuel Up to Play Grant<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> Middle <strong>School</strong> was awarded a Fuel Up to Play 60 grant which, along with funding from the Heinz Foundation, totals $5,000. This<br />
money will be used to promote informed and healthy decision-making with regard to eating and physical activity. Spearheaded by a group of<br />
student-leaders, several goals were set, each containing multiple activities. These include:<br />
<br />
<br />
Healthy Eating Goal: To promote the Middle <strong>School</strong>’s breakfast program and increase the availability and selection of healthful snack<br />
choices to students.<br />
Physical Activity Goal: To offer daily physical activity (in addition to Physical Education class) in multiple formats and for motivational<br />
and instructional purposes.<br />
The funding will pay for a climbing wall, increased healthful snack and structured physical activity options at school dances, support for<br />
Nutrition Services to expand current breakfast options, and give-aways to promote an active lifestyle. It will also provide the Health and<br />
Wellness Committee the opportunity to award mini-grants to middle school teachers who propose, develop, and conduct lessons that combine<br />
physical activity with instruction and learning.<br />
Modern Language Student Receives Award For<br />
Her Passion For Languages<br />
Calley Tinley, a senior at <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong>, was awarded a 2011 Honorable Mention among the Outstanding High <strong>School</strong><br />
Graduating World Language Students from the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA). Along with a<br />
recommendation from her Spanish teacher, Ms. Danielle Connelly, Calley wrote an essay describing her contributions to Calley Tinley<br />
world language activities and her interest in pursuing a career that will use language skills.<br />
Calley will be featured on the PSMLA Web site to help inspire other students to strive for excellence in the study of world<br />
languages.<br />
“In the future, I plan to use my love of foreign languages to assist me in my goals as a medical researcher,” Calley writes. “I want to study in<br />
South America and Mexico, and work with other researchers from all around the world. I believe studying foreign languages is extremely<br />
important because it allows one to develop critical and creative thinking skills and to better communicate with people from all over the<br />
globe.”<br />
Three High <strong>School</strong> Students Receive Awards at Women<br />
in Science at Seton Hill<br />
Three <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> juniors attended the Seton Hill Women in Science Awards Day with science<br />
teachers Brian Nevi and Natalie Nevi on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. The three students who won awards<br />
are (pictured from left to right) Gina Culbertson, chemistry, nominated by Ms. Nevi; Maggie Yuhas,<br />
biology, nominated by Mr. Nevi; and Rachel Geizura, math, nominated by Ms. Corrie.<br />
The purpose of this annual event was to honor high school women in our community who have<br />
demonstrated a special talent in mathematics and science and to highlight the different career opportunities<br />
available to women in these fields. The day consisted of a keynote address, hands-on laboratory activities<br />
hosted by Seton Hill faculty and students, and an awards luncheon. Each awardee at the Women in Science Day event received a certificate<br />
and is eligible for a Seton Hill University - Women in Science Scholarship.<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> Council of PTAs Annual Recognition<br />
The <strong>Norwin</strong> Council of PTAs held its annual recognition dinner, during which five <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> students were honored and new<br />
Council of PTA officers were honored. TV meteorologist Dennis Bowman, also a talented ventriloquist, provided entertainment for the<br />
evening. Click here to learn more.<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> Color Guard Ranked as One of<br />
Best in The World<br />
The <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> Winter Guard had an award-winning season as they competed for the first<br />
time ever as a World Class Guard, the most prestigious ranking a high school color guard program can<br />
have. After a successful 2010 season and a fifth place finish in the Scholastic Open Class at the Winter<br />
Guard International (WGI) World Championships, the <strong>Norwin</strong> Winter Guard was selected to move into<br />
the Scholastic World Class for the 2011 season.<br />
Click here to read more.
<strong>Norwin</strong> Students’ Art in D.C.<br />
Two <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> seniors placed in this year’s Congressional Art<br />
Competition.<br />
Molly Fallone won first place. Her original oil painting of Pittsburgh will be<br />
displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year. Molly will be given two<br />
free roundtrip airfare tickets to D.C. to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony in<br />
Washington D.C. in June.<br />
Jesse Taylor placed third for his original spray painting. His artwork will be<br />
exhibited in Congressman Tim Murphy’s office in Washington D.C. for a<br />
year.<br />
The annual Congressional Art Competition asks members of Congress to<br />
submit one piece of artwork that best represents their congressional district.<br />
This year, 13 of 45 schools within the 18th <strong>District</strong> submitted artwork.<br />
Some 27 pieces of artwork were submitted from the 13 schools.<br />
Molly Fallone’s oil painting of Pittsburgh<br />
Lunch Price Increases for 2011-2012<br />
The following are the price increases for the 2011-2012 school year:<br />
Breakfast<br />
Elementary: increased to $1<br />
Hillcrest/Middle <strong>School</strong>: increased to $1.10<br />
High <strong>School</strong>: increased to $1.30<br />
Milk prices will increase to 50 cents.<br />
Lunch<br />
Elementary: increased to $1.75<br />
Hillcrest/Middle <strong>School</strong>: increased to $1.85<br />
High <strong>School</strong>: increased to $2<br />
Butterfly Garden at Sheridan Terrace<br />
Ms. Amanda Zajac’s Autism Support Classroom at Sheridan Terrace Elementary had the opportunity to<br />
engage in a hands-on science unit throughout the month of May. The students were able to observe<br />
caterpillars as they grew in a small habitat. The caterpillars then turned into chrysalises.<br />
Then, the caterpillars emerged as butterflies and the students let the butterflies go into their natural habitat<br />
outside of the school. Throughout this process, the students observed, wrote sentences about what they<br />
saw, and made predictions about what they thought would happen next to the caterpillars and<br />
butterflies. At right, student Zachary Coates observes with Ms. Amanda Zajac.<br />
Sheridan Students Visit Compass Inn<br />
Sheridan Terrace fourth-grader students visited The Compass Inn Museum in Laughlintown May 24<br />
and 25. The Compass Inn is part of the Laurel Valley Historical Society and is a restored stagecoach<br />
stop built in 1799. Two classrooms visited each day.<br />
The students pretended that they were spending the day in the year 1812. The Inn itself is completely<br />
furnished with period pieces. Students toured seven rooms, including a common room, serving<br />
kitchen, ladies’ parlor and four bedrooms. They learned how different it was to stay in a hotel in the<br />
1800s. In addition to the Inn, the students toured a cookhouse, blacksmith shop, and a barn. Each<br />
child made a tin punch.<br />
Financial Literacy Lessons<br />
Ms. Megan Schaffer from S&T Bank presented a program for second-grade students at<br />
Stewartsville Elementary <strong>School</strong> about understanding the difference between needs and wants<br />
and other financial literacy topics. Through the example of owning a pet, students learned about<br />
calculating expenses. S&T Bank’s visit followed a classroom lesson in April that occurred on<br />
“Teach Children to Save Day,” as well as a social studies lesson about how people save money,<br />
the importance of savings accounts, and goods and services.<br />
At right, “Moolah Moolah” and Ms. Schaffer from S&T Bank visit a Stewartsville Elementary<br />
<strong>School</strong> classroom.
Photos from the End of the <strong>School</strong> Year<br />
Here are some pictures from various elementary school events held at the end of this school year.<br />
Stewartsville’s Fun Day<br />
Sunset Valley’s Fun Fair<br />
Sheridan Terrace’s Fun Day<br />
Sunset Valley Field Day<br />
Hahntown’s Kindergarten Field Trip<br />
Sheridan Terrace Fourth-Grade "Amazing Race to the<br />
Hill" Games<br />
Hahntown Kindergarten Program
Photos from the End of the <strong>School</strong> Year, Continued<br />
Here are some pictures from various school events held at the end of this school year.<br />
Nigel Walsh, Grade 2, and Grandmother Marti Gastel, at<br />
Stewartsville’s Grandparents’ Day<br />
Sheridan Terrace third-grade<br />
field trip to Carnegie Science<br />
Center<br />
End-of-year Kindergarten program at<br />
Stewartsville<br />
Hahntown’s Third Grade Fun Day<br />
Recorders Concert at Stewartsville<br />
Hillcrest Intermediate <strong>School</strong>'s<br />
World’s Fair<br />
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Feedback<br />
We welcome your comments, questions or ideas. Simply write to jszish@norwinsd.org. We would appreciate all suggestions<br />
about what you, the reader, would like to see in terms of newsletter length, article length, types of articles, informational value,<br />
photo variety, etc. If you can think of another person who might enjoy this newsletter, by all means, forward it to them.<br />
Copyright 2011, <strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> (www.norwinsd.org)<br />
281 McMahon Drive<br />
North Huntingdon, PA 15642<br />
Jonathan Szish, <strong>School</strong> and Community Relations