Bethel Park School District March 2012 Highlights

Please enjoy reading about the outstanding achievements of our students

and staff!

Lizzie Nolin and Audrey Miller Win ‘People’s Choice Awards’

Thanks to everyone who took the time to view the Student Art Exhibit during the February 18 Dedication and Community Open House for the new Bethel Park High School and cast their votes for their favorite artwork to receive “The People’s Choice Awards.”

FIRST PLACE

Lizzy Nolin for “Charcoal Hands”

SECOND PLACE

Lizzy Nolin for “Military Man”

THIRD PLACE

Audrey Miller for “Audrey

Hepburn”

Jessica Walker Named Seton Hill University Scholar

Bethel Park High School senior Jessica Walker is one of 10 high school seniors named a Seton Hill University Scholar.

Representatives from Seton Hill’s Admissions Office surprised Jessica with a check for $113,400, which represents four years of free tuition to Seton Hill.

She will major in English and Creative Writing in the fall.

Forensics Team Members Qualify for NCFL Grand National Tournament

Seven members of the BPHS Forensics Team have qualified and will compete in the National Catholic Forensics League’s Grand National Tournament, which will be held in Baltimore, MD over Memorial Day Weekend. • Shannon Fagan and Jarrod Cingel – Policy Debate • Rebecca Rodgers and John Pike – Duo Interpretation • Madeline Balzarini and Lucy Sedor Franzak – Dramatic Performance • Jordan Todd – Legislative Debate • Molly Graham, Julia Klescz and Jamie Cavrak are First Alternates to the competition.

18 DECA Students are Finalists at State

Competition; 9 Earn Medallion Awards

FINALISTS

• Brett Reese and David Black – First Place in Buying and Merchandising Research

• Thomas Bailey – First Place in Marketing Management

• A.J. Baroffio, Jerret Hannigan and Laurel Selep – Second Place in Learn and Earn

• Dante Rebelo and Ethan Rupprecht – Fourth Place in Marketing Communications Team

• Jimmy Stevenson and Audrey Moad – Fourth Place in Entrepreneurship

• Gary Gerst, Shane McNabb and Logan Vignovic – Fourth Place in Sports and Entertainment Promotion Plan

• Brad Polen – Fifth Place in Marketing Management

• Tara Nath – Fifth Place in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

• Kelly Gastgeb and Megan Hahey – Sixth place in Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan

MEDALLION AWARDS • Tom Bailey – Marketing Management Role Play • Morgan Guarino –Professional Selling Test • Tara Nath – Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Test • Brad Polen –Marketing Management Role Play • Haley Prough – Human Resources Management Role Play • Dante Rebelo and Ethan Rupprecht – Marketing Communications Team Role Play • Amanda Stofesky –Principles of Marketing Role Play • Grant Underwood – Automotive Services Role Play

BPHS Students Walk, Run, Bike Their Way to

Hershey!

Bethel Park High School Adaptive Physical Education Students are walking, biking and running their way to Hershey!

The students are using the bicycles, treadmills and elliptical machines in the Cardio Room at the High School to collectively compile 218 miles, which is the equivalent of traveling from Bethel Park to Hershey, PA.

The students are excited about this activity and especially enjoy using the recumbent bicycles and elliptical machines!

BPHS Senior English Students Take Virtual

Field Trip to Shakespeare Library

Thanks to new technology at the High School and the large group instruction room, senior AP Literature and Honors English Students participated in a virtual field trip to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.

Students studied “Macbeth” and “Hamlet” in preparation for the field trip and submitted questions to the Library in advance of their visit.

You can read about the activity in the Post Gazette.

Five BPHS Musicians Played in PMEA

Region Band

The concert was held on February 25 at Norwin High School. Representing Bethel Park in this event were:

• Lucas Beaver (bassoon)

• Travis Butler (percussion)

• Mark Debski (oboe)

• Jonathon Griffith (saxophone)

• Mary Hannah Swaney (flute)

Congratulations, Stephen Barnhart!

Bethel Park High School Junior Stephen Barnhart accepted an invitation to play the viola in the National Association for Music Educator’s All-National Orchestra Concert.

The concert will be held June 24 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

120 BPHS String Musicians to Participate in ‘Electrify Your

Strings’ on March 29

Professional rock violinist Bridgid Bibbens (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) will lead 120 BPHS string musicians in a rock orchestra concert called “Electrify Your Strings” on Thursday, March 29 at 7 PM in the BPHS auditorium.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens and can be purchased at the door on the evening of the show.

The concert will feature classic 70s rock tunes from Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Kansas, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and more!

BPHS students will use traditional string instruments as well as the new “electric quartet” (2 violins, viola and cello) purchased with a grant from the Bethel Park Community Foundation.

IMS Student Council Students Bring Smiles to

Soldiers

Independence Middle School Student Council Students spend one lunch period a week writing letters of support to U.S. Soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan and sending them packages of “comfort items” such as socks and Chap Stick.

Macy Hall, Natalie Lalama and Grace Brueggman put together a presentation for the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils State Conference to show other students how they can “Bring a Smile to a Soldier.”

Alliteration Aliens Win the NAMS Battle of

the Books The Alliteration Aliens (Jessie Scarlett, Aubree Stewart, Grace Evans, Casey Mack and Veronica Johns) won the 14th annual Neil Armstrong Middle School Battle of the Books.

SECOND PLACE

The Dukes of Duct Tape – Connor Wholey, Jake Cunningham, Andrew Davis, Evan Aronhalt, Matthew Nestler and Garrett Hoffman

THIRD PLACE

Wild About Reading – Melissa Szabo, Sabrina Tatalias, Rachel Gilliam, Emily Clarvit and Amber Schnupp

FOURTH PLACE

Flaming Five – James Berthoud, Anthony Lucchitti, Emily Cowser, Michaella Crum and William Martin-Farmer

Memorial Second

Graders Campaign to be Principal

Memorial second grade students in Mrs. Schall’s classroom used PowerPoint to create presentations depicting what they would do if they were elected Principal.

Campaign promises included “no homework,” “free ice cream” and “longer recess.” Other campaign promises included “plane tickets to Hawaii,” “replacing water in the drinking fountains with pop” and “installing a swimming pool on the playground.”

The presentations were done for the students’ families and everyone got to vote after the presentations concluded. In a close election, Matthew Kurtz earned the honor of being Mr. Chalus’ Principal for a Day.

The activity not only helped the students to develop their public speaking skills, but it also allowed them to use technology to enhance their presentations.

Kindergarten Students Raise $238 Selling

Lemonade

Washington Kindergarten Students in Mrs. Varley’s room sold lemonade for 25 cents a cup to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand, an organization created to raise funds to find a cure for childhood cancer.

Thanks to the support of Washington students and staff, the kindergarten students sold enough lemonade in one day to raise $238!

Bill Kennedy Inducted into Pennsylvania

Swimming Hall of Fame

Bethel Park High School Girls Swimming Coach Bill Kennedy was one of three to be inducted into the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame during the 2012 State Swimming and Diving Championships.

Coach Kennedy has been coaching in Bethel Park since 1978 and his teams have amassed 259 wins and 41 losses on their way to winning seven WPIAL Championships and two State Championships.

Congratulations, Coach Kennedy!

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