- 07/03: District Offices Closed for July 4th Holiday
- 07/13-22: Sports Physical Exams
- 07/19: PHBPA Car Wash
- 07/20: Diversity Committee Meeting
- 07/25: PHBPA Car Wash
- 07/31: 2nd Quarter EIT Tax Due
- 08/03-08/14: Band Camp
- 08/04: School Board Workshop Meeting
To view additional events, click here.
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Summer Feeding
 Summer feeding is being held at Linton June 15th-August 7th (breakfast 8:00-9:00 a.m. and lunch 11:30-1:00 p.m.) The Senior High will sponsor football camp (August 17th-27th). From the 17th-21st, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served. The week of August 24th-27th, only breakfast (7:00-8:00 a.m.) and lunch (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) will be served. Dible Elementary will be open for pre-K through 3rd grade tutoring July 13th-31st (3 weeks). Breakfast (8:15-9:15 a.m.) and lunch (11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) will be served. For more information, visit the Food Services section of our website. |
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Relay for Life
Mark your calendars for the Pittsburgh East Relay for Life Event, July 11-12, 2009, at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium in Penn Hills. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. Saturday to 10:00 a.m. Sunday, with the Luminaria Candle Ceremony on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. This year's theme is "Surfin' for a Cure." For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org/papgheast. |
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Municipal Events
- 07/03: Holiday; Municipal Offices Closed
- 07/11-12: Relay for Life
- 07/20: PH Council Meeting
- 07/22: Mud Decathlon
- 07/22: Zoning Hearing Board Meeting
- 07/23: Planning Commission Meeting
Events subject to change. For additional info on meeting dates and times, call 412-798-2103. |
Crime Prevention E-Mail Access
The Penn Hills Police Department wants to provide the public with current information regarding criminal activity in Penn Hills. Anyone interested in receiving this information should send his/her e-mail address and home address to Crimeprevention@PennHills.org. The public is also encouraged to forward any information they may have regarding criminal or suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. By working together, we can create a safe and prosperous community in which to raise a family and conduct business. |
Newsletter created by:
Teresita K. Kolenchak
Communications Consultant Penn Hills School District
Previous editions of Penn Hills Pride are always available here. | |
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Final 2009-2010 Budget Passed; Elementary Plans Move Forward
At a special meeting on June 25th, the School Board passed a 2009-10 budget which keeps the real estate tax rate in the District at the current millage rate of 24.81. The total budget in the amount of $77,011,626 includes approximately $3 million in stimulus funds, bringing the plan in at approximately the same amount as last year's budget.
The plan includes $550,000 in savings to be used for a long-term contingency reserve account, which would cover expenses such as architectural fees, testing for new buildings, and emergencies. The District is also looking to increase its fund balance, currently estimated at around $2 million. The plan is to eventually bring the fund balance to approximately $5 million, which is within the state cap of 8 percent of a $74 million budget.
Penn Hills is only one of three area school districts holding its tax rate steady. Director of Business Affairs Richard Liberto said, "We will continue to strive for no tax increase as long as the Board takes the steps necessary to keep costs down." He added that the Board must continue to make the tough decisions in order for this to happen.
At the meeting, the Board also approved an agreement to begin the design and development process for a new elementary school on the Dible site. This school will utilize the current facility as well as an addition and is expected to house all students in Grades K-4 and central administration.
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Class of 2009 Graduates With Grace
On a day when the weather refused to cooperate (looking by turns clear and menacing), the Class of 2009 took to the stage for its graduation ceremony on June 11, 2009. Due to the possibility of inclement weather, graduation was moved indoors to the Senior High School gymnasium. Despite the weather and change of venue, the ceremony was a truly wonderful event.
The event began with the processional, presentation of colors, National Anthem, and Pledge of Allegiance. Senior Class President Robert Strauss gave the welcome address, with Student Council President Thomas Fulton recognizing the Board of School Directors. Principal Darcie Gatti presented the 19 Valedictorians and introduced the Class of 2009 speakers, Anna Coleman and Courtney Greenway. After a few words from Dr. Joseph Carroll, Superintendent of Schools, the Class of 2009 took to the stage to receive their diplomas. All in attendance showed the respect and reverence due the many hard years of work the students invested to reach this moment.
The ceremony concluded with the Alma Mater and movement of tassels.
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CADD Students Put Own Spin on HS Design
This past school year, students in Keith Banks CADD 4 classes (Advanced Studies in CADD) took on the novel project of creating their own designs for the new Senior High School building. Seven designs were completed. The idea for this project came from an article in Penn Hills Pride that outlined design ideas for the new high school. The article was discussed in class, where students looked at the criteria and constraints listed and decided that it would be a great challenge to place a 260,000-square-foot building on the lot that was chosen. At the time of the article, only the lot at Roberts Administration Building was going to be used. In groups of three, each student had a specific responsibility-Exterior Design, Interior Design, and Landscape Design. The students surveyed the site at Roberts Administration Building; collaborated on the elements of Exterior, Interior, and Landscape Design; and designed a unique high school based on the positive and negative aspects of the current high school facility. All designs were complete, with an adequate number of rooms for both the current and expected expansion of certain programs, both student and faculty parking, upgraded athletic areas, and harmonic interior and exterior designs. Calling it one of the best projects he has ever had, Banks said "The CADD 4 classes were very gifted and most of them really stepped up to the challenge. They took such great pride in their design," he added, "because this was 'Our High School.'" The student designs illustrate what they would want for the future of Penn Hills. One group member told Banks that the team designed this school for his teachers. "We're only here for a few years," Senior Joseph Verrico explained, adding "the teachers are here much longer and you deserve something better."  | |
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2009 Teachers of the Year Named
Four teachers in the District have been selected by their peers to represent the District as 2009 Teachers of the Year. The recognition is a tradition in the school district dating back to the early 1970s. The Penn Hills School District and the Penn Hills Education Association (PHEA) present the awards annually.
"The entire District salutes the efforts of these selected teachers," said Superintendent Dr. Joseph Carroll, adding, "Identification by peers is acceptance of professionalism and commitment. Recognition by administration is a tribute to same."
The 2009 Secondary Teacher of the Year is Claire Davidson, English Teacher, Penn Hills Senior High School.
Middle School Teacher of the Year is Patricia Schaaf, 6th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Linton Middle School.
Elementary Teacher of the Year is Marietta Dellefemine, 4th-5th Grade Learning Services Support Teacher, Penn Hebron Elementary Academy.
Special Services Division Teacher of the Year is Rebecca Gonsowski, 8th Grade Learning Support Teacher, Linton Middle School. |
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Kiwanis Present Scholarships
The Kiwanis presented Junior Citizen Awards to two Penn Hills seniors. Tom Fulton and Kim Phillips each received a plaque and $250 check from the organization as outstanding students.
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Penn Hills Pride Receives National Award
The Penn Hills School District has received an Award of Honorable Mention in the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) 2009 Publications and Electronic Media Contest.
The District's new e-newsletter, Penn Hills Pride, earned an Award of Honorable Mention in the School District - Electronic Newsletter/Podcasts - External Audience Category. There were 955 overall entries from across the United States and Canada in this year's contest, which covered areas such as publications, audio/visuals, and websites. Awards included Awards of Excellence, Merit, and Honorable Mention. Penn Hills Pride was launched in January 2009 and is delivered monthly via e-mail to subscribers. For a list of contest winners, visit www.nspra.org. | |
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Coming in the next edition of Penn Hills Pride, facts parents need to know as they prepare for a new school year and a look forward to Fall 2009. All this and more in the next edition of Penn Hills Pride. | |
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