June 2012 - Allegheny West Magazine

Medieval Times Set Tone for Summer Math Academy
Based on the popular series of books by
Cindy Neuschwander, the new summer
math academy will transport participants
to the magical land of Camelot with Sir
Cumference and Lady Di of Ameter for an
adventure in math as well as reading and
writing. Wilson Elementary School will be
transformed into a medieval castle for the
two-week program open to all students
enrolled in kindergarten through fifth
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grade during the 2011-12 school year who
registered by April 20, 2012.
The program will consist of six sessions
on consecutive Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
and Thursdays from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. on
July 10-12 and July 17-19. Activities like
Facts of the Round Table, Tournament
Time, The Jester’s Jousts, Rotation Station,
and Court Calculation will both challenge
and entertain knights and damsels alike.
Participants are encouraged to dress in
medieval garb for a return to the era of lords,
ladies, and chivalry.
The $30 cost per session includes snacks
provided daily. Parents are responsible for
transportation. Questions about the program
may be directed to the building principals or
Dr. Christine Assetta, Assistant to the
Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.
Summer Reading Academy for Elementary Students Returns
Based on the strong response to the
district’s Summer Reading Academy last
year, plans call for offering it again this
June to keep students reading during the
summer months. Located at the Wilson
Elementary School building, the program
will consist of six sessions on consecutive
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and
Thursdays on June 19-21, and June 26-28
from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Program themes
include Up in the Sky and Beyond!,
Animals, Insects, and Reptiles across the
Globe; Wonders of Mother Nature, and
Deep Sea Diving.
Participation is open to all students
enrolled in kindergarten through fifth
grade during the 2011-12 school year who
registered by April 20, 2012. The $30 cost
per session includes snacks provided daily.
Parents are responsible for transportation.
Questions about the program may be
directed to the building principals or Dr.
Christine Assetta, Assistant to the Superintendent
for Curriculum and Instruction.
Superintendent Discusses Programs, Services, Funding
Superintendent Dr. John S. DiSanti discusses the district’s successes and challenges
at one of a series of public meetings.
The West Allegheny School District
recently held a series of meetings for
parents and other community residents
during which Superintendent, Dr. John
S. DiSanti presented a program entitled
“Education in West Allegheny:
Celebrating Our Successes . . . Facing
Our Challenges.” Dr. DiSanti met with
attendees on April 19 at 9:00 a.m. and 7
p.m. and on April 23 at 1:00 p.m. and 7
p.m. to provide an overview of the
district’s programs and services, as well
Added Safety Measure
Tip Hotline: 724-695-5235 for reporting concerns
Education in West Allegheny
Celebrating Our Successes
Facing Our Challenges
as information on the funding crisis that all
public schools in Pennsylvania are currently
experiencing.
Looking at the district’s programs and
services, Dr. DiSanti shared details on
increased academic offerings like Advanced-Placement
courses, Accelerated
Reading program, Project Lead The Way
Engineering program, three new courses
added this year (3-D Animation, Career and
Personal Success, and Advanced Foods),
expansion of Edline access to all student
grades, and Smart School literacy centers.
Dr. DiSanti also reported that 12 students
are currently enrolled in West Allegheny’s
new cyber school option, its Virtual Academy,
and are doing well.
In regard to the funding crisis, Dr. DiSanti
mentioned that Pennsylvania ranks 47th out
of 50 in the amount of state support
provided for public education. He also
listed a number of programs and services
schools are mandated by the state to
provide despite the lack of funding to cover
their cost. These include special education,
transportation, food service regulations,
employee pensions, testing, curriculum
requirements, English-as-a-Second-
Langauge, prevailing wages for construction,
technology, text books, and supplies.
A major challenge in balancing the budget,
he emphasized, is the flawed funding
formula for cyber charter school reimbursement,
which requires school districts to pay
cyber schools the public school’s per pupil
cost rather than the actual cost incurred by
the cyber school to educate the student.
The presentation and the accompanying
video “Celebrating West Allegheny
Success” may be viewed online at
www.westasd.org.