Bethel Park School District February 2013 Highlights

Please enjoy reading about the outstanding achievements of our students

and staff!

10 Students Win Awards At PJAS FIRST PLACE – These students will compete at the State Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science on the Penn State Campus in May:

• Emily Augustine (“How Organic is Organic?”)

• Jack Brownfield (“Circular Wheel vs. Reuleaux Triangle”)

• Jarrod Cingel (“Interface and Programming of a High-Precision Robotic Laser”)

• James Fleckenstein (“Battle of the Genders”)

• Molly Graham (“Effects of Implicit Egotism on Choice”)

• Christian Smetana (“How Quick is a Computer?”)

SECOND PLACE

• Sherman Brizzi (“Can Water Float on Water?”)

• William dePoutiloff (“Is Age a Factor in the Stroop Effect Test?”)

• Sean McClaine (“Do Whitening Toothpastes Work?”)

THIRD PLACE

• Kristen Kohler (“The Effect of Light on Bread Mold”)

Three BPHS Students Named “Top Of The Shop”

Three BPHS students who attend the Steel Center Area Vocational-Technical School were named “Top of the Shop” for the first semester of the 2012-2013 school year in recognition of outstanding conduct, attendance, course work proficiency and professionalism.

• Justin Fedorowski (Carpentry)

• Jonathan Hammerle (Retail Food Merchandising and Production)

• Matthew Millick (Building Trades)

Three BPHS Students Excel At SkillsUSA

Competition

Three BPHS students who attend the Steel Center Area Vocational-Technical School placed among the top scorers in their events at the District SkillsUSA Competition. • Michelle Braga – First Place in Electrical Construction Wiring. Michelle will compete at the State SkillsUSA Competition. • Zac Ulakovic – Second Place in Criminal Justice • Justin Fedorowski – Third Place in Carpentry

BPHS German Students Earn Medals On National German Exams

ON THE LEVEL 4 EXAM

SILVER MEDALISTS (in recognition of scoring in the 80th percentile or higher)

• Logan Tuite (Finished in 10th place among the 106 Western PA students who took this exam)

• Matt Mackowiak

• Amanda Ruschel

• Ryan Dodson

BRONZE MEDALISTS (in recognition of scoring in the 70th percentile or higher)

• Ryan Lee

• Kimberlyn Curtis

• Erika Miller

• Erin McMahon

• Kaileigh Poe

• Hayley Lazzari

ON THE LEVEL 3 EXAM

BRONZE MEDALISTS

• Skyler Yarroll

• Steven Davis

• Joseph Beaver

• Brenden Kail

Three BPHS Seniors Named January Students Of The Month By The Rotary Club Of Bethel Park

Audrey Donnelly, Maggie Donnelly and Kaitlyn Wagner were named the January 2013 Bethel Park High School Students of the Month by the Rotary Club of Bethel Park in recognition of the Bethel Park Buddy Program these students created to provide fun activities once a month for BPHS special needs students. Each month the Rotary Club recognizes Bethel Park High School students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to school and community.

Joe Beaver Selected For Region Orchestra

BPHS sophomore Joe Beaver successfully auditioned and was selected to play the

trumpet in the Pennsylvania Music

Educators Association’s Region Orchestra Concert,

which was held on Saturday, February 23 at

Hollidaysburg High School.

Top 21 Invited To Perform At Heinz

Chapel

The BPHS Top 21 Choir was invited by the University of Pittsburgh’s Heinz Chapel Choir to perform in the A Capella Chamber Choir Festival at Heinz Hall.

On the program with Top 21 were two other high school choirs and the Heinz Chapel Choir.

All groups were required to perform four pieces from different time periods and genres—all a capella.

Mark Debski Selected For

National Youth Orchestra

BPHS senior Mark Debski has been selected to play the oboe with the National Youth Orchestra of the United States for its inaugural season.

The Orchestra will perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. before traveling to Europe to play concerts in Moscow, St. Petersburg and London.

13 NAMS Musicians Selected For Elementary

District Band Fest West

Thirteen Neil Armstrong Middle School musicians have been selected to perform in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Elementary District Band Fest West Concert, which will be held on Saturday, May 18 at Bethel Park High School.

• Eliza Albenze (trombone) • Liam Brusoski (trumpet) • Ben Davin (baritone

saxophone) • Zoe Delitto (clarinet) • Leslie Folino (flute) • Sarah Fulton (flute)

• Regan Gray (clarinet) • Anthony Lucchitti (percussion) • Katelyn Marcovecchio (clarinet) • Emma Petrick (oboe) • Connor Remington (tuba) • Sarah Thompson (trumpet) • Alexa Will (clarinet

Black Hawk TV Now On Verizon And Comcast!

Black Hawk TV, the Bethel Park High School student-produced television channel, is now available on Verizon Fios Channel 28 and Comcast Channel 19.

You can catch the live announcements at 7:25 AM daily, with re-broadcasts at 12:30, 4, 5 and 6 PM.

You can also see information pertaining to the district and certain sporting events.

Follow them on Twitter at BP Blackhawk TV and Facebook as blackhawktv!

Maria Jay Earns President’s Volunteer Service

Award Independence Middle School eighth grader Maria Jay received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in recognition of her commitment to community service. Maria is active in her church, going on mission trips and participating in youth group activities. She also is active with Bring a Smile to the Service, a group of Bethel Park students who regularly correspond with members of the military stationed overseas. She received a certificate and a letter of commendation from President Obama.

NAMS Students Sell

Honduran Coffee To Help Honduran Students Stay

In School

For the past six years, Neil Armstrong Middle School students have been selling Honduran coffee to help raise scholarship money for a Honduran student to stay in school. This year, their sponsored student will graduate from high school, thanks to the money they raised to help him to pay his school tuition.

The coffee is provided by NAMS World Languages Teacher Maria Leonard and NAMS Fifth Grade Teacher Kristen Rylander is the Student Council Advisor.

Elementary Gifted Students Take Visitors Around

The World At This Year’s Gifted Expo

“Around the World” was the theme of this year’s Elementary Gifted Expo at the Bethel Park Community Center and 49 students were prepared to give presentations about a country of their choice.

The students researched a country of interest, designed a tri-fold presentation board and gave presentations about their country. They also brought in a sampling of food from their country to share with attendees.

Franklin Students

Learn To Make Digitally Animated

Short Films

Franklin Fourth Graders in Amy Luzader’s room worked with professional artist Paul Kruse to learn how to make short digitally animated films.

The project helped students to use their language arts skills to develop scripts, and their math skills to figure out how many frames they would need to shoot per second to make a 30-second animated film.

This project was brought to Franklin by Art Teacher Kristen Ritchie.

Elementary Students Enjoy Celebrating The 100th Day Of School

February 11 was the 100th day of school and Bethel Park elementary students enjoyed celebrating the big day.

Penn students entered the school through the zeros of a giant, cardboard 100 sign, made by Third Grade Teacher Milana Capuzzi. The 100th student through the sign received a Subway gift card.

Fourth graders at Washington came to school dressed either as how they think they will look when they’re 100 years old or how they think students will dress for school 100 years from now.

Kindergarten Registration Begins In March

Kindergarten Registration for the 2013-2014 school year begins in March. Students who will be age five on or before September 1, 2013 are eligible to begin Kindergarten in the Fall.

Parents should bring their child to Registration and have the completed Kindergarten Registration Packets (found on-line on all elementary schools’ websites or they can be picked up at any elementary school), their child’s original birth certificate and proof of Bethel Park residency with them.

• Memorial – Tuesday, March 5 at the Community Center from 9:30 to 11 AM and 1:30 to 3 PM

• Lincoln – Wednesday, March 6 from 9:30 to 11 AM and 1 to 2:30 PM

• Franklin – Thursday, March 7 from 9:30 to 11 AM and 1 to 2:30 PM

• Penn – Tuesday, March 12 at the Community Center from 9:30 to 11 AM and 1:30 to 3 PM

• Washington – Wednesday, March 13 from 9:30 to 11 AM and 1:30 to 3 PM

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