January 2011 Highlights

Bethel Park School District

District Welcomes Delegation from Xing Zhi High School• A delegation of six adults and

nine students from Xing Zhi High School, our sister school in Shanghai, China, visited Bethel Park from January 24-27.

• The students stayed in the homes of Bethel Park High School students and attended classes with their host students.

• The adults toured Bethel Park High School as well as the new high school, and spent a day learning about Pittsburgh.

• This is the 16th year of our sister school relationship, which includes delegation visits and exchange teachers.

At the Farewell Dinner, BPHS students were presented with flags from Xing Zhi High School by their new friends.

Two Receive Extra Effort Award from Steel Center• BPHS students Adam DeLuca

(Protective Services) and Zachary Nordstrom (Auto Mechanics)received the Extra Effort Award from the Steel Center Vocational Technical School for the first quarter of the 2010-2011 school year.

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

46 BPHS Students Win at DECA District Competition and Advance to States

• FIRST PLACE: Brad Polen, Mary Jo Bailey, Ashley Gerst, Nicole DeCarlo, Haley Dowd, Tom Bailey, David Black and Logan Vignovic.

• SECOND PLACE: Lauren Walk, Sam Polen, Erin Hajduk, Kal McCloskey, Emily Smith, Laurel Selepand Gabby Storino.

• THIRD PLACE: Gary Gerst, Brett Reese, Matt Dupree, Tavia Butler, Sarah Barr, Kaleigh McGregor, Shannon Murray, Dante Rebelo and Ethan Rupprecht.

• FOURTH PLACE: Derek Lesnak, Morgan Guarino, A.J. Baroffio, Tommy Riether, Meg Hahey, Jordan Duhig, Nate Cavanaugh, Courtlynn Tarr, Leighton Tarr, Nick Marshall, Anthony Yonto, Jimmy Stevenson, Nicole Sulinski, Clayton Shrey and Branden Zinn.• FIFTH PLACE: Blake Hodder, Brandon Biernacki, Billy Dapper and Shane McNabb• SIXTH PLACE: Kelly Gastgeb, Hannah Smouse and Jerret Hannigan

BPHS Forensics Students Have Great Season

Winners at the Oakland Catholic Speech and Debate Tournament

• Madeline Balzarini• Kevin Cheberenchick• Manasa Ravi• Jarrod Cingel• Rebecca Rodgers• Molly GrahamWinners at the North Catholic Speech and Debate Tournament• Jordan Todd• Austin Anderson• Manasa Ravi• Jamie Cavrak• Madeline Balzarini• Jarrod CingelWinners at the North Allegheny and University of Pittsburgh

Speech and Debate Tournaments• Shannon Fagan• Jarrod Cingel

Four Selected for District Orchestra• Stephan Barnhart

(violin)• Emily Carpenter

(violin)• Mark Debski (oboe)• Jennifer Searles

(trombone)• The concert will be

held on January 29 at Fox Chapel High School.

(Left to right): Stephan Barnhart, Jennifer Searles, Emily Carpenter and Mark Debski.

Five Selected for District Band Concert• Bryan Deal (tuba)• Mark Debski

(oboe)• Jimmy Dykstra

(euphonium)• Audrey Miller (e-

flat soprano clarinet)

• Jennifer Searles (trombone)

• The concert will be held on February 11 at North Allegheny High School.

(Left to right): Jimmy Dykstra, Jennifer Searles, Bryan Deal, Audrey Miller and Mark Debski.

15 Vocalists to Sing in District and Region Chorus

• Sam Albanesi (tenor II)• George Barr (tenor I)• Grace Barry (soprano I)• Holly Brueggman (soprano II)• David Dickey (tenor I)• Andrea Groves (soprano II)• Kevin Harvey (bass I)• Joe Henkels (tenor II)• Peter Henkels (tenor I)• Megan Kinzler (soprano I)• Marco Pilotta (bass II)• Sean Poorman (bass II)• Rachel Salera (soprano I)• Lucy Sedor-Franzak (soprano II)• Mandy Slowey (soprano II)• The District Chorus Concert was held on

January 14 at Chartiers Valley High School.• The Region Chorus Concert will be held on

February 25 at Pine-Richland High School.• Andrea, David, Kevin and Marco were

awarded first place in their respective sections for Region Chorus, and Kevin will perform a solo.

(Front row, left to right): Megan Kinzler, Holly Brueggman, Rachel Salera, Lucy Sedor-Franzak and Grace Barry; (middle row, left to right): Kevin Harvey, Peter Henkels, Joe Henkels, Amanda Slowey and Andrea Groves; (back row, left to right): David Dickey, Marco Pilotta, George Barr, Sam Albanesi and Sean Poorman.

Five Selected to Play in Junior High District Band

• Joe Beaver (trumpet)

• Jarrod Cingel (alto saxophone)

• Molly Gorges (oboe)

• Phoebe Gorges (French horn)

• Mary Hannah Swaney (flute)

• The concert will be held on March 5 at Hampton High School.

(Above, left to right: Mary Hannah Swaney, Jarrod Cingel and Phoebe Gorges; (left, left to right: Molly Gorges and Joe Beaver.

Congratulations, Eiren Burkhart

• BPHS freshman Eiren Burkhart successfully auditioned and was selected to play the viola at the PMEA Junior High District Orchestra Concert.

• The concert will be held on February 5 at Shaler High School.

Congratulations, Kevin Harvey

• BPHS senior Kevin Harvey performed the National Anthem in November at Heinz Field before the start of the Quad A Football Championship Game.

Holiday Dance Raises Money for Make-A-Wish• This year’s

Independence Middle School Holiday Dance raised $1,425 for Make-A-Wish.

• The dance was coordinated by the IMS Student Council.

Congratulations, Grant Jansante• NAMS fifth grader Grant

Jansante was one of 10 national winners in Storyworks Magazine’s “Birthday Contest.”

• Students were asked to write a paragraph describing their ideal way to celebrate their birthday in school.

• Grant’s suggestion to ask his classmates to bring their favorite game to school so everyone could play together won him a copy of Rebecca Stead’s latest book.

NAMS Sixth Graders Read 290 Books!• NAMS sixth grade

gifted students read 290 books from October to December for Scholastic Books’ “Classrooms Care Program.”

• They joined students across the country to read 10 books each over a two month period.

• For their efforts, Scholastic will donate 1 million books to needy children.

Washington Students Wear PJs to School for a Good Cause!

• Washington fourth grade students coordinated a school-wide service project to benefit a Bethel Park family in need.

• Students paid $1 to wear their pajamas to school, with the money going to the Lewis family, whose home was destroyed in a fire.

• The students raised $650, with the students in Mrs. Dressler’s classroom raising the most money.

Franklin Students are Terrific Foul Shooters!

• Franklin fourth grader Alex Mullen won the Boys 10 and 11 Division at the National Free Throw Hoop Shoot Contest at the Community Center, and second grader Josie Gorges won the Girls 8 and 9 Division.

• They will advance to the District Competition, which will be held in February.

• Also doing well in this competition were fourth grader Julia Mascaro, who finished in Third Place in the Girls 10 and 11 Division and third grader Kevin Hancovsky, who finished Sixth in the Boys 8 and 9 Division.

• Franklin Physical Education Teacher Donna DeCarlo encourages her students to participate each year.

Mrs. DeCarlo congratulates Kevin Hancovsky, Josie Gorges and Alex Mullen at the Free Throw competition. Absent: Julia Mascaro.

January 2011 HighlightsDistrict Welcomes Delegation from Xing Zhi High SchoolTwo Receive Extra Effort Award from Steel Center46 BPHS Students Win at DECA District Competition and Advance to StatesBPHS Forensics Students Have Great SeasonFour Selected for District OrchestraFive Selected for District Band Concert15 Vocalists to Sing in District and Region ChorusFive Selected to Play in Junior High District BandCongratulations, Eiren BurkhartCongratulations, Kevin HarveyHoliday Dance Raises Money for Make-A-WishCongratulations, Grant JansanteNAMS Sixth Graders Read 290 Books!Washington Students Wear PJs to School for a Good Cause!Franklin Students are Terrific Foul Shooters!Slide Number 17