Bethel Park School District April 2016 Highlights

Please enjoy reading about the outstanding achievements of our students

and staff!

BPHS Teams Capture First And Second Place At Big Data Jam

Two teams of Bethel Park High School students captured the top two spots at the 2016 Big Data Jam, sponsored by Pittsburgh Data Works.

FIRST PLACE – “Online Degrees vs. Brick and Mortar Colleges: Return on Investment”

• Aubree Stewart

• Tammy Stugan

• Alyssa George

• Sabrina Tatalias

SECOND PLACE – “Concussions and the National Football League”

• Travis Glaser

• Tarush Bahl

• Maggie Wolf

• Cassidy DeLeo

• Noah Friday

• Justin Nath

90 BPHS Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors Inducted Into National Honor Society

Students who are selected for induction must maintain a minimum 3.85 QPA, complete at least 35 hours of community service each year and demonstrate leadership and character. Inducted on April 13 were: • Todd Ackerman • Natalia Antkowiak • Kayla Armstrong • Evan Aronhalt • Emma Beck • Justin Brucker • Brooke Buehler • Emma Burcin • Angela Burns • Katie Bustamante • Nathan Cassano • Emily Clarvit • Samantha Coda • Jason Cook • Ryan Cook • Emily Cowser • Jake Cunningham • Paige Davidson • Angelina DeFelice • Abby Del Bene • Nicole Dembiczak • Connor Dembiczak • Alexander DiPrampero • Abigail Donnellan • Samantha Dunn • Grace Evans

• Megan Fedkoe • James Fleckenstein • Dominic Galietta • Katelyn Gobbie • Zachary Gorman • Kayla Gramm • Brianna Grygo • Shaylee Gunzenhauser • Chelsea Hallman • Cheyenne Hamel • Emma Harris • Elizabeth Hartnett • Hannah Hathaway • Meredith Heh • Avery Hill • Garrett Hoffman • Grant Jansante • Veronica Johns • Carly Kaminski • Sarah Kauffman • John Kazalas • Tiffany Kells • Adam Kusluch • Justin Lesnak • Casey Mack • Brittany Maxwell

• Geoffrey McKain • Max McKitrick • Anna McLinden • Jordan Mehalko • Justin Meis • Danika Moody • Bridget Murray • Madison Newman • Mara Niccoli • Korey Patterson • Trevor Patterson • Sean Puskar • Haley Radcliffe • Connor Robinette • Sarah Russell • Jessica Scarlett • Maria Schiller • Sara Scott • David Scott • Geana Scott • Brianna Shannon • Adriane Slater • Benjamin Smith • Tyler Smith • Ashley Spence • Sarah Steeb

• Aubree Stewart • Tamara Stugan • Erin Sullivan • Ethan Tabler • Sabrina Tatalias • Kelsey Thompson • Greydon Tomkowitz • Kaylee Vanhorenbeck • John Veltum • Brandon Wallace • Valerie Wengryn • Joe Wright

BPHS Students Skype With Honduran High School Students About Soil Analysis Project

Bethel Park High School students in Mr. Mickey’s Environmental Science classes participated in “The Ground On Which We Stand,” a joint Soil Analysis Project with high school students from El Merendon Escuela in Honduras.

The students at both schools took soil samples from different areas in their community and analyzed the soil for nitrates and phosphorus.

The students Skyped with one another to share their findings.

Because the Honduran students spoke no English, BPHS AP Spanish V students participated in the Skype session to help translate.

This partnership was created with the help of NAMS Teacher Mrs. Leonard, who is a native of Honduras.

Three BPHS Students Win Awards At PRSEF

Three Bethel Park High School students won awards at the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

JAMES FLECKENSTEIN – “Age’s Effect On Cyber Security”

• BioGENEius Scholarship from Harrisburg University

• Associate Scientist Award from PRSEF

EMILY COWSER – “Cracking The Code About Fracking”

• Junior Scientist Award from PRSEF

JESSICA VIEHMAN – “Can Eco-Friendly Concrete Be Viable?” • Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College

Program Scholarship • Point Park University Scholarship • Penn State Greater Allegheny Scholarship • Sponsor Award from the Pittsburgh Chapter of

the American Society of Civil Engineers • Sponsor Award from the Pittsburgh Chapter of

the American Concrete Institute • Sponsor Award from the Allegheny County

Sanitary Authority • Sponsor Award from FedEx • Associate Scientist Award from PRSEF

Junior Finishes In 20th Place On Regional Science

Exam

Bethel Park High School junior Jessica Viehman finished in 20th Place on the Westinghouse Science Honors Institute’s End-Of-Program Exam.

As one of the top 21 scorers on the Exam, she received a $50 Best Buy gift card.

The Exam was open to all of the area juniors who participated in the 10-week Westinghouse Science Honors Institute, which exposed students to a variety of science and engineering professionals and disciplines.

Jessica Viehman Finishes Third In Safe Driving Competition

Bethel Park High School junior Jessica Viehman finished in Third Place at the Seventh Annual Allegheny County Teen Safe Driving Competition at the Pittsburgh Technical Institute and received $250. Also competing for Bethel Park in this event were juniors Jeff Symsek and Noelle Wachter.

Congratulations, State Forensics Finalists!

Three Bethel Park High School students were Finalists at the Pennsylvania High School Speech League’s State Championships. NATALIE LALAMA – Fifth Place in the Dramatic Interpretation Event. CASEY MACK and MADISON NEWMAN – Tied for Ninth Place in the Duo Interpretation Event.

Chess Club Concluded A Successful Season

The Bethel Park High School Chess Club concluded a successful interscholastic competition season, finishing with a five win, two loss and one tie record against teams from North Allegheny, Eden Christian, Peters Township and Gateway High Schools.

Members of the competition team included Kyle Coplan, Tarush Bahl, Jake Marcovecchio, Tanush Bahl, Peyton Capristo, Robbie Morosetti, Alex DiPrampero and Sebastian DiPrampero.

BPHS Students Win 13 Awards At German Day Competition

Bethel Park High School students earned 13 Awards at the 2016 German Day Competition at Washington and Jefferson College, more than any other school competing at this event.

FIRST PLACE

• Brendan Troesch – Culture Bowl

• Joe Wasko – Non-Fiction Writing

• Jack Brownfield – Poetry Writing

• Ashley Slade – Drawing

• Jeff Hoffmann – Folkloric Arts and Crafts

SECOND PLACE

• Natalie Lalama – Culture Bowl

• Brendan Troesch – Non-Fiction Writing

• Brendan Troesch – Poetry Writing

• Amanda Rafalowski – Folkloric Arts and Crafts

• Brooke Worrall – Painting

• Jen Klara – Poetry Recitation

THIRD PLACE • Corinne Hebestreit – Culture

Bowl • Amanda Rafalowski -- Painting

Jack Brownfield Wins Klett-Langenscheidt Award

Bethel Park High School senior Jack Brownfield received the Klett-Langenscheidt Award from the American Association of Teachers of German and the North American Branch of Klett-Langenscheidt Publishers. Locally, Jack earned a Gold Medal on the Level 4 National German Exam and finished in Second Place out of the 109 Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia students who took the Exam. He received the Klett-Langenscheidt Award because his score placed him in the 99th percentile nationally among the 26,000 students who took the Level 4 Exam.

BPHS Students Earn Extra Effort Award From

Steel Center

Five Bethel Park High School students earned the Extra Effort Award for the Third Quarter of the 2015-2016 school year from the Steel Center for Career and Technical Education. • Cassandra Biancaniello – Cosmetology • John Falcone – Electrical Construction • Michael Pauline – Building Trades • Evan Sloss – Carpentry • Maura Tomko – Cosmetology

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

Ian Miller Inducted Into National Technical Honor

Society

Bethel Park High School junior Ian Miller was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. He is a student in the Welding Technology Program at the Parkway West Vocational Technical School.

Rotary Names Joe Campion Its March

Student Of The Month

Bethel Park High School senior Joe Campion was named the March Student of the Month by the Rotary Club of Bethel Park.

Each month the Rotary Club recognizes an outstanding Bethel Park High School student who demonstrates outstanding commitment to school and/or community.

Joe was recognized for the community service work he does as President of the National Honor Society, as well as his work as an Eagle Scout.

BPHS/IMS Students Win At FCCLA

Several Bethel Park High School and Independence Middle School students won awards

at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s State Competition.

FIRST PLACE • Hailey Hannan, Megan Mulhair and

Ashley Wentz – Food Innovations * • Lainey Drahusz and Brianna Grygo –

Focus on Children • Maria Schiller – Entrepreneurship * • Abby Beattie – Recycle and

Redesign * • Emily Momchilovich and Alyssa

Webster – Focus on Children * • Kelly Katilius – Life Planning *

SECOND PLACE • Angela Cerro, Cassie

Cipriani and Emily Hurey – Illustrated Talk *

• Faye Greiner – Job Interview

• Jamisha Jacobs – Teach and Train *

• Madi Welker – Teach and Train*

THIRD PLACE • Emily Kirik and

Jessica Morgan – Chapter Service

* Indicates the students have qualified to compete at the National Competition in July in San Diego, CA.

IMS Students Win At

Regional Math Competition

Independence Middle School students competed at the Allegheny County Regional Algebra Competition, sponsored by the Mathematics Council of Western Pennsylvania. Seven students finished among the top 26 competitors and will advance to the Finals, which will be held in May at Derry High School.

• Katelyn Sams – First Place

• Talia Rajasekar – Eighth Place

• Cole Carter – 12th Place

• Alex Chitsazzadeh – 12th Place

• Makayla Yee – 16th Place

• Anthony Hudson – 26th Place

• Demetrios Patrinos – 26th Place

Author Writes

Letter To Thank IMS Seventh Grader

Independence Middle School seventh grader Jessica Toogood created a video book trailer for Maxed Out by Daphne Greer and IMS Librarian Mrs. Heasley posted the trailer on the IMS Library Web Page.

Ms. Greer viewed the trailer and sent a letter to IMS Principal David Muench to let him know how touched she was that the book was chosen, and how impressed she was that the trailer captured the essence of the story.

You can see the trailer online at: http://www.bpsd.org/Downloads/Maxed_Out-FINAL_360p.mp4.

NAMS Students Enjoy Maker Space Activities In

Library

Neil Armstrong Middle School students enjoy spending their lunch periods or flex time in the library, participating in a variety of Maker Space activities.

Some of the activities conducted this year include:

• Making paper airplanes and modifying their design to see how the modifications impact their ability to fly;

• Learning how to do paper circuitry and turn it into a greeting card;

• Taking the Marshmallow Tower Challenge.

Caitlyn Bostaph A National Writing Contest

Winner

Neil Armstrong Fifth Grader Caitlyn Bostaph was selected one of 10 winners in the country in StoryWorks Magazine’s “Mountain of Fire” Contest.

Caitlyn and all of her classmates in Mrs. Romito’s room read a story about Mt. St. Helen’s and entered the contest by pretending they were park rangers and writing a letter to warn visitors about the dangers of this unpredictable volcano.

As a winner, Caitlyn received a congratulatory letter from StoryWorks and a copy of the book, Volcano.

Students Help To Select Weekly

Lunch Menu For All BPSD Elementary Schools

In celebration of March as National School Nutrition Month, Metz Culinary Management issued a challenge to all BPSD elementary schools—The school that demonstrated the largest percentage increase in lunch participation would be able to work with Food Service Director Joe Consolmagno to design a weekly lunch menu that would be served in all BPSD elementary school cafeterias in April.

Lincoln and Washington tied for the largest percentage participation increase, so both schools were able to select students who worked with Mr. Consolmagno to design a menu that was enjoyed by all BPSD elementary students in April.

LINCOLN STUDENTS • Kaylin Pastor • Kamlya Martin • Madison Timms • Tyler Miller

WASHINGTON STUDENTS • Charlotte Jakzar • Mike Hladeo • Sarah Viola • Hendrix Odham • Eliana Faber • Leah Tran

• Landon Panarello • Carmine Campbell • Adam Thompson • Sam Pellis

• John Bruckner • Kala Matvey • Braden Wright • Alyza Madden • Lauren Sabo • Kianna Gorman

Memorial

Students Learn That Manners

Matter

Memorial Elementary Students are learning that manners matter through a school-wide initiative called “Make Manners Matter!”

Students are discussing the importance of having manners and practicing important manners and skills to make their school and community better places.

Students who are observed displaying good manners are eligible for weekly and monthly drawings to receive prizes such as sitting with a friend at the VIP table in the cafeteria and going through the line first!

Bethel Park Schools

Raise $6,308 For American Heart

Association Three Bethel Park Schools teamed up to raise $6,308 for the American Heart Association by participating in Jump Rope For Heart events, which not only raised money for a worthy cause, but it also encouraged the students to adopt heart-healthy habits, including incorporating proper nutrition, exercise and living tobacco-free into their lifestyles.

• Benjamin Franklin Elementary School -- $2,449

• George Washington Elementary School -- $2,016

• Neil Armstrong Middle School -- $1,843

Penn Students Participate In

AIU Video The Allegheny Intermediate Unit will be using the William Penn Elementary School Library as the location for its promotional “Kindles in Education” video.

Starring in the video will be William Penn students who will be able to demonstrate how using Kindles has improved their learning.

Coordinating the filming will be Penn Principal Brian Lenosky.

Two Teachers Named 2017 PA Teacher Of The Year

Finalists The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National School Teacher Of The Year named Franklin Fourth Grade Teacher Katherine Meucci and Bethel Park High School Marketing Teacher Emily Smoller two of the 12 Finalists for the 2017 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

They will participate in a ceremony hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to be held in December to name the 2017 PA Teacher of the Year.

They join the following Bethel Park Teachers who have been recognized in this competition since 2008:

• BPHS English Teacher Nicola Hipkins (Finalist, 2014)

• BPHS Science Teacher Clyde Qualk (Semifinalist, 2013/2014)

• BPHS English Teacher Christopher Jack (Finalist, 2012)

• Penn Fourth Grade Teacher Kathryn Clifford (Semifinalist, 2011)

• Bethel Park High School English Teacher Charles Youngs (Finalist, 2009)

• Retired Penn Kindergarten Teacher Cindy Buckley (Semifinalist, 2008)

Lee Cristofano Named A Champion Of Learning

Bethel Park High School Science Teacher Lee Cristofano was named a Champion of Learning in the Technology Integration Category by The Consortium for Public Education.

Mr. Cristofano was honored at a banquet held at the Marriott City Center to recognize those who have dedicated their time, talents and/or resources to create and expand learning opportunities for area youth.

Also recognized at this dinner was Franklin Special Education Teacher Jessica Mahoney, who was a Finalist in the Classroom Teaching Category.

Bethel Park School District Cafeterias Earn 106 Diamonds From The Allegheny County Health

Department Over the course of two inspections of all Bethel Park High School cafeterias during the 2015-2016 school year, the Allegheny County Health Department awarded a combined total of 106 Diamonds to all BPSD cafeterias.

• Franklin Elementary School – 15 Diamonds

• Lincoln Elementary School – 14 Diamonds

• Washington Elementary School – 14 Diamonds

• Memorial Elementary School – 14 Diamonds

• Independence Middle School – 13 Diamonds

• Neil Armstrong Middle School – 13 Diamonds

• William Penn Elementary School – 12 Diamonds

• Bethel Park High School – 11 Diamonds

Diamonds are the highest awards given by the ACHD and are given only to those facilities that demonstrate exceptional sanitation and food handling practices.

Arts Fest + STEAM Expo Scheduled For May 14 At

BPHS

Bethel Park High School will host an Arts Fest + STEAM Expo on Saturday, May 14 from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Admission is FREE and you are invited to come out and enjoy a variety of activities including:

• A gallery of paintings, illustrations, digital art and sculpture;

• A tour of the High School’s Innovation Studios, to see an exhibition of STEAM-related projects;

• Participating in art-making events.

See you there!

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