Bethel Park School District

January 2018 Highlights Please enjoy reading about the outstanding

achievements of our students and staff!

BPHS Students Win National Police Data Competition

Bethel Park High School Big Data/Data Analytics Class students Elise Bermudez, Alaina Cerro and Sean Conroy were winners in the “Best Use of External Data/High School” category in the American Statistical Association’s National Police Data Challenge.

The students looked at crime statistics for the Baltimore Police Department to determine frequency, types of crimes and communities the crimes were committed in to made recommendations to the Baltimore Police Department.

Bethel Park was one of 20 high schools across the country to participate in this first-ever competition. As winners in the competition, they received Amazon gift cards, t-shirts and bragging rights!

BPHS Students Observe Open Heart Surgery Thirty-one Bethel Park High School Anatomy and Physiology students observed Open Heart Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital.

In addition to observing the surgery, they were able to spend time in the Preclinical Surgery Lab, where they listened to presentations about the latest in medical procedures and technology. They also got to participate in some hands-on activities.

Participating were: Jill Acker, Alexa Bucci, Morgan Green, Amanda Len, Luke Mattola, Emma Papalia, Maria Schiller, Alycia Simpson, Erin Sullivan, Christina Zeher, Michaela Bastolla, Marissa Bruckner, Karianne Coffield, Kayla Dell, Julia Wright, Natalie DiGiorno, Dylan Dudjak, Grace Evans, Courtney Geddes, Nicole Habjan, Cheyenne Hamel, Hannah Hathaway, Jamisha Jacobs, Veronica Johns, Jill Loeffelbein, Blake Melchert, Taylor Morosetti, Jessica Scarlett, Eugene Simeone, Ben Smith and Alex Summaria.

49 BPHS DECA Students Qualify For State Conference

Forty-nine Bethel Park High School students finished in Third Place or higher at the DECA District Conference, and have qualified to compete in the DECA State Conference in Hershey in February. Qualifying for States are:

FIRST PLACE • Jeremy Buehler • Sydney Burns • Cameron Busch • Abigail Coltz • Hunter Dorfner • Samantha Dunn • Alyssa George • Kevin Kerr • Chelsea Hallman • Justin Lesnak • Christian McClaine • Greydon

Tomkowitz

• Brian Torles • Sydney Borandi • Alaina Cerro • Weeam Boumaza

• Sammi Storey • Gavin Campbell • Paige Davidson • Emily Engel • Riley Turoski • Tom Kennedy • Ty Miller • Nick Massari • Ryan Puskar SECOND PLACE • Marissa Christenson

• Lucia Coccagno • Dan DelBene • Gabbie Dunn • Patra Hsu • Austin Orzechowski

• Dom Palombia

• Julia Casaldi • Amber Simeone • Sadie Coda • Shayne Postler • Summer Lewis • Alessia Moreno • Lianna Robbins • Olivia Schram THIRD PLACE • Emma Beck • Christine Dunlap • Karlie Olson • Connor Price • Eve Rosemeier • Mark Vighetti

• Makayla Yee • Rafaelle Zallo • Evan Zelt

Students Receive Extra Effort Award from Steel Center

Five Bethel Park High School students

received the Extra Effort Award for the Second Quarter of the 2017-2018 School Year from the Steel Center for Career and Technical Education.

The awards are presented to those students who demonstrate outstanding attitude, work ethic, attendance and dependability.

• Julia Hayes (Baking) • Diane Krebs (Cosmetology) • Jersey Penrod (Cosmetology) • Ethan Oczkowski

(Medium/Heavy Truck Technology)

• Blaze Wheeler (Carpentry)

Rotary Recognizes BPHS Students For Their Service

The Rotary Club of Bethel Park named BPHS senior Greydon Tomkowitz as its November Student of the Month; senior Alaina Cerro as its December Student of the Month; and senior Kaylee Vanhorenbeck as its January Student of the Month. Each month the Rotary recognizes a Bethel Park High School student for outstanding commitment to school and/or community.

Greydon was recognized for his work to coordinate the student volunteers at the recent College Fair at the High School and for his work with the Miracle League of the South Hills.

Alaina was recognized for her work with the Student Government Association to co-chair this year’s Homecoming and to coordinate the upcoming Staff Appreciation Week.

Kaylee was recognized for her work on the Senior Ways and Means Committee, coordinating the Powder Puff Football Game, and her volunteer work at the Bethel Park Library.

Life Skills And Autistic Support Students Host Holiday Sweater Dance

Bethel Park High School Life Skills and Autistic Support Students invited students from five area high schools to join them in the South Gym for a Rock Your Holiday Sweater Dance. In addition to music and dancing, students enjoyed a variety of activities, including a photo booth and corn hole. Assisting the students at the dance were members of the PACS Pals Group.

Marching Band Performed At Steelers/Ravens Game On December 10

The Bethel Park High School Black Hawk Marching Band accepted an invitation from the Pittsburgh Steelers to perform at the December 10 Steelers/Ravens game. In addition to the pre-game and half-time show, the Band arrived at the Stadium early to provide some musical entertainment for the tailgaters! Great job, as always, Band!

Three BPHS Musicians Selected For Honors Jazz Band

Three Bethel Park High School musicians successfully auditioned and were selected to play in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Honors Jazz Band Concert, which was held in December at Moon Area High School.

• Bruce Deal– Bass Guitar • Noah Gearhart – Bass

Trombone • Kathryn Kimes –

Alto Saxophone

Twenty-Five BPHS Vocalists Performed In District Chorus

Twenty-five Bethel Park High School Vocalists will perform in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s District Chorus Concert, on January 26 at East Allegheny High School.

• Natalia Antkowiak-- Alto 2 • William Brusoski – Bass 2 • James Counihan – Tenor 2 • Kayla Dell – Soprano 1 • John Gummo – Bass 1 • Garrett Hoffman – Bass 2 • Molly Hoffman – Soprano 2 • Michaela Isenberg – Soprano 2 • Zach Janus – Bass 2 • Abby Kauric – Soprano 2 • Jaden Knight – Soprano 1 • Abilash Krishnachand – Tenor 2 • Anthony Lucchitti – Tenor 2 • Katelyn Marcovecchio – Alto 1 • Geoffrey McKain – Tenor 1 • Olivia Neil – Soprano 1 • Brian Pauley – Bass 2 • Tyler Petrossi – Tenor 1 • Connor Remington – Bass 2

• Sarah Russell – Soprano 2 • Cameron Sillman – Tenor 1 • Julianne Stein – Alto 1 • Jerry Varghese – Tenor 1 • Evan Welsh – Bass 1 • Jenelle Wu -- Accompanist

Seven BPHS Musicians Selected For District Band Seven Bethel Park High School musicians were selected to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s District Band Concert, which was held in January at Upper St. Clair High School.

• Bruce Deal -- Tuba

• Jonathan dePoutiloff – Trumpet

• Kirsten Haddox – Oboe

• Kathryn Kimes – Alto Saxophone

• Shayaan Meyers – Bass Clarinet

• Connor Remington – Tuba

• Theresa Stolpa – French Horn

Three BPHS Musicians Selected For Region Band Concert

Three Bethel Park High School musicians were selected to play in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Region Band Concert, which will be held in February at Plum High School.

• Kirsten Haddox – Oboe

• Kathryn Kimes – Alto Saxophone

• Connor Remington -- Tuba

Five BPHS Musicians Selected For District Orchestra

Five Bethel Park High School musicians successfully auditioned and were selected to perform in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s District Orchestra Concert, which will be held in February at Gateway High School.

• Kobe Coleman – Bass

• Anthony Lucchitti -- Percussion

• Connor Remington -- Tuba

• Theresa Stolpa – French Horn

• Jenelle Wu -- Violin

Five Musicians Selected For Junior High District Orchestra

Three Bethel Park High School and two Independence Middle School students were selected to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Junior High District Orchestra Concert, which will be held in March at Mt. Lebanon High School.

REPRESENTING BPHS • Declan Brusoski --

Violin • Grace Gealey – Viola • Zoe Knight – Violin

REPRESENTING IMS • Jeremy Blocklin – Viola • Samantha Wolf -- Violin

BPHS Cheerleaders Are WPIAL Champions

The Bethel Park High School Varsity Competitive Spirit Squad won the WPIAL Championship in the Small Varsity Category, competing against 20 other squads. The Team finished in Second Place and brought home the Silver Medal at the State Championships. Head Coach Andreana Radomski was named the 2018 PIAA Cheerleading Coach of the Year.

BP LAX Cares!

The Bethel Park High School BP LAX Cares Group participated in two holiday service activities.

First, the boys collected toys for needy children, delivered the toys to Play It Forward Pittsburgh and volunteered at Play It Forward to help get the items distributed in time for the holidays.

Second, the boys visited the Cemetery of the Alleghenies to lay wreaths on the graves of American service men and women.

BP LAX Cares is organized by players Gavin Campbell and Ryan Ferris.

Seven Athletes Inducted Into Athletic Hall Of Fame

The Bethel Park Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed seven new inductees into the Hall in 2017:

• Craig Gob (Class of 1987--Football and Wrestling)

• Scott Gob (Class of 1985--Football)

• John Hepler (Class of 1963--Swimming)

• Maureen Hester (Class of 2006--Basketball and Track)

• John Taylor Meister (Baseball Coach)

• Geoff Oakley (Class of 1984--Hockey, Baseball and Soccer)

• Jerome Williams (Class of 1987--Football)

IMS Innovators Club Building Wind Turbine Out Of Bicycle Parts

Between 20-50 Independence Middle School students stay after school every Thursday to participate in the Innovators Club. Last year the students built a go-kart from scratch and this year they are building a wind turbine out of bicycle parts that will help generate electricity for a hydroponic garden that the IMS Tech Ed students are building in Mr. Spitznogle’s class, and to help power a composter that will be placed on the IMS grounds as part of an Eagle Scout Project. The students are encouraged to learn by trial and error. They love taking things apart!

Neil Armstrong

Students And Staff Raise

Over $12,000 For Three Charities

Neil Armstrong students and staff raised over $12,000 to benefit three charities. The students and staff collected $5,100 to purchase Christmas presents and make a cash donation to Operation Santa, which provides presents to children whose parents are military personnel stationed overseas. The NAMS Charity Carnival raised $7,153 for SHIM and Autism Connection of PA.

NAMS Fifth Grader Wins Penguins Holiday Card

Design Contest Neil Armstrong Middle School Fifth Grader Grace Ferency was one of 10 winners in this year’s Holiday Card Contest, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.

In addition to having her design displayed on the Penguins’ and Foundation’s websites and social media pages, Grace also received 100 cards with her design on it and two tickets to the January 14 Pens/Rangers game.

Way to go, Grace! Let’s Go Pens!

Third Graders Receive Dictionaries From Rotarians

The Rotary Club of Bethel Park recently delivered copies of A Student’s Dictionary to all Bethel Park Third Grade Students.

These copies are the students’ personal books to keep.

They will come in handy as students begin to prepare for the Sixth Annual Bethel Park Rotary-sponsored Third Grade Spelling Bee on May 10!

Book Drive Collects 340 Books For Children’s Hospital

Memorial Fourth Graders Gianna Fannie and Riley Woods were inspired by a story they read during Hawk Time, and they wanted to do something nice for others. They created a “Make A Difference Book Drive” and collected 340 children’s books, which were donated to Children’s Hospital.

Learning about the drive and donating 69 books were the members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, thanks to Society member and Memorial parent Stephanie Keyes.

Memorial Students Fill 61

Christmas Stockings For Veterans and

Soldiers

Memorial students and staff filled 61 Christmas stockings with non-perishable food items and delivered the stockings to the Beinhauer Funeral Home as part of its Stockings for Soldiers Holiday Campaign.

Penn Students Go ‘Full STEAM Ahead’ At After School

Program

This year 53 William Penn students are staying after school one day each week from November through March to participate in the “Full STEAM Ahead” program in partnership with WQED. Older students are paired with younger students as they rotate through three hands-on activities to reinforce math concepts. The students especially enjoy participating in STEAM activities in the gym, working on creative things such as building a marshmallow blaster out of a manila folder.

Penn Students And Parents

Work Together On Scratch Jr.

Program

Eleven William Penn students and parents are returning to school one night a week to enjoy dinner together and work on a four-week Scratch Jr. coding program, sponsored by PBS Kids and WQED. Families use iPads and the Scratch Jr. coding program to create a presentation using PBS Kids characters. Through this program, students learn its OK to fail and to learn from their mistakes. Parents learn to be facilitators of their child’s learning, and not doers.

Bethel Park Receives $40,000 Safe Schools Grant

The Bethel Park School District was informed by PA Governor Tom Wolf’s Office that it is the recipient of a $40,000 Safe Schools Initiative Targeted Grant to help reduce unnecessary student disciplinary actions and promote an environment of greater productivity, safety and learning. Bethel Park is one of 60 school entities, municipalities and police departments to receive one of these grants. Bethel Park will use its grant for its School Police Officer.

Community Foundation Awards District $2,619.77

The Bethel Park School District received a grant in the amount of $2,619.77 from the Bethel Park Community Foundation to help reduce end-of-the-year cafeteria balances for qualifying students. The grant was written by Bethel Park Food Service Director Joe Consolmagno.

African American Read-In Scheduled For February 11

Bethel Park High School STAND (Standing Together Against Negativity and Discrimination) students are hosting the fourth annual African American Read-In on Sunday, February 11 at 2 PM in the Bethel Park High School Large Group Instruction Room. The event will feature songs and spoken word performances of the works of famous African American authors and musicians. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. This event is sponsored by the BPHS English Language Arts Department and the National Council of Teachers of English. PLEASE NOTE: This is a date change from what was originally published in the 2017-2018 BPSD/Municipality Calendar.

Kindergarten Pre-Registration Is Underway

Kindergarten Registration for the 2018-2019 school year is underway. Students who will be age five on or before September 1, 2018 are eligible to begin Kindergarten in the Fall.

The Pre-Registration Form is available at: http://www.bpsd.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6GUG2BY&dasi=2I0. Parents are asked to complete the form and return it to their child’s school either by mail or in person by Friday, February 9.

Once the Pre-Registration Form is turned in, parents should download the Kindergarten Registration Packet at: http://www.bpsd.org/KindergartenRegistrationForms.aspx and begin to complete those forms in advance of Kindergarten Registration in March.

Pre-Registration greatly assists the District with its planning for the upcoming school year. We thank you for your participation in this process.

Children’s Author Donates Book To

William Penn Library In Honor Of Favorite

Teacher

Children’s book author Jancee Dunn donated a copy of her latest book, I’m Afraid Your Teddy Is In Trouble Today, to the William Penn Elementary School Library. Ms. Dunn attended William Penn Elementary School before her family relocated to Delaware, and she was inspired to write by her fourth grade teacher, retired BP Teacher Doris Mach. Ms. Dunn wanted the library to have this book in honor of this inspirational teacher. In addition to being a children’s book author, Ms. Dunn has also written for Rolling Stone and O Magazines, and was an MTV VJ.

The Mission of the Bethel Park School District is to lead an educational partnership with the community, maintaining an environment that challenges all students to reach their potential as lifelong learners and responsible members of

society.

The Bethel Park School

District Where Futures Begin