To view additional events, click here. |
|
Thanks!
As we come to the end of our first year of Penn Hills Pride, thanks go out to all of our subscribers who have supported our efforts in 2009. Your positive feedback and assistance have been greatly appreciated. We look forward to another year of positive coverage of all of the wonderful accomplishments of our students and staff. |
|
Secondary and Elementary Menus
|
|
Weather Reminder
With winter now upon us, this is a reminder that the School District will announce any weather-related closings and delays on local radio and television stations such as KDKA-AM/TV, WPXI-TV, and WTAE-TV. This information will also be posted on the District website. |
|
Volleyball Night
The Annual PTA/PTO Volleyball Night will be held on Friday, Feb 26th. The PTA/PTO is looking forward to another successful event and hoping that each school will be represented by a team. As there is a limit on the number of teams, school captains need to contact Meryl Thomas with team names and captain names as soon as this information is available. |
|
History of Penn Hills Available
The Changing Hills is a Penn Hills history book written by Gary Rogers and Jane Hawkins available at the William E. Anderson Library of Penn Hills. Cost is $20 ($22.50 if shipping is needed). Proceeds benefit the Penn Hills Library Foundation. Books may be purchased at the front desk in the adult department of the library or by contacting Jean Kanouff at kanouffj@einetwork.net or 412/795-3507, ext. 120. |
|
2009-10 Yearbooks for Senior High and Linton
2009-10 Yearbooks can now be purchased online. Price for the books is $70, increasing to $76 after February. The yearbook will be full color and feature each student three times. This year's theme is "tradition." Parent ads will again be available, and the book can be personalized with the student's name on the front. For more information and to place your order online, click here.
In addition, the Linton PTA will be selling 9th grade yearbooks during 9th grade lunch on Fridays in January. Cost of the yearbooks is $35.00. Payment can be made by cash or check/ money order payable to the Linton PTA. |
|
Municipal Events
- 01/01: New Year's Day, Municipal Offices Closed
- 01/04: PH Council Reorganization Mtg.
- 01/19: PH Council Mtg.
- 01/25: Library Board Mtg.
- 01/27: Zoning Hearing Board Mtg.
- 01/28: Planning Commission Mtg.
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. | |
|
|
|
21st Century Program
 The 21st Century After School Program at Penn Hebron is a collaborative effort with the District and Communities in Schools (CIS), a nonprofit organization with a mission "to champion the connection of needed community resources with schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school, and prepare for life." CIS believes that every child needs and deserves a:
- One-on-one caring relationship with an adult
- Safe place to learn and grow
- Healthy start and healthy future
- Marketable skill to use upon graduation
- Chance to give back to peers and community.
Penn Hebron's 21st Century After School Program, held on Monday and Wednesday, is being funded in the current school year by Title I monies. This year, the program has seen the largest number of students in the 4 years it has been in existence at Penn Hebron. There are currently 80 students in the program, and the waiting list continues to grow.
The theme for this year is "Transformation," where children will explore outer (physical), inner (character), and community (local, world) transformation to learn how they can "be the change they want to see in themselves and around them" (Mahatma Gandhi).
In October, goal-setting and time management were introduced, along with aspects of "outer transformation." From hip hop to yoga to Tae Kwon Do, children have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of fun special sessions that focused on physical health topics.
The 21st Century After School Program begins around 3:30 p.m. with dinner and the opportunity to meet and socialize until students leave for their designated places to begin the program, which ends at 6:00 p.m. There are five classrooms, with 13 to 17 students per teacher and aide. In the classrooms, students have Homework Help sessions where they complete their homework and receive extra academic assistance. According to the students, "The teachers are so nice and I love dinner and all the special sessions we get to do!"
Special sessions are held in either the cafeteria or multipurpose room led by Program Coordinator Jasmine Cho and On-Site Coordinator Erin Jackson. Guest teachers also come and volunteer their time, skills, and talents to provide instruction on a variety of topics. |
|
Student Achiever - Andrew Kundrick
Penn Hebron Fourth Grade Teacher Jamie Harris offers Andrew (AJ) Kundrick for recognition as a student achiever this month. Back in September, Harris said she received notice from the District that there was an art contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) that focused on "The History of Flight." Harris immediately thought of AJ to participate in the contest. Having had him in second grade and now fourth grade, Harris said she knew he had a strong passion and interest in history, the military, and aviation. According to Harris, AJ expresses that passion through art, envisioning historical events and putting them to paper.  AJ entered the contest and was one of twenty-one students from over 1,000 entries across the state to win. There was only one other student from the Pittsburgh area who received the award along with AJ. On December 3rd, a PennDOT representative came to the classroom to present AJ with the Certificate of Award. Winning entries were also on display in the State Capitol Building earlier this month. Harris calls AJ "a model student who has a passion that was recognized." A larger copy of the award-winning drawing done by AJ that PennDOT provided to the school to share his talent is currently in Harris' room at Penn Hebron. "I would like to see a little more recognition for AJ's talent to share not only with the District but the community," she said, adding, "As his classroom teacher, I am very proud of him and his accomplishment." AJ has been invited to the January School Board Workshop Meeting in order for his achievement to be publicly acknowledged. AJ's winning entry can be seen here. | |
|
NJROTC Update
On the evening of Thursday, December 10th, 18 NJROTC cadets met at the Penn Hills Police Station to put together the programs for the Friday evening Candlelight Vigil in honor of Officer Michael Crawshaw. The cadets worked for 3 hours folding the 1,200 programs and putting in the insert. Most poignantly, after they were done and of their own volition, they went to each of the officers who were at the station, many of whom had just returned from the viewing, and offered their condolences. Several cadets attended the vigil and 3 attended the funeral on Friday.
On Saturday, 28 cadets participated in the JROTC Volleyball Tournament hosted by the Plum AFJROTC at Plum High School. Although Penn Hills did not place in the tournament, Commander Robert Morabito said, "I am most proud to report that the Penn Hills Cadets were awarded the "CORPS VALUES" Trophy earned by the team that demonstrated 'sportsmanship, integrity, and excellence.'" He went on to say that he was approached after the tournament and told that the voting was not close and the Penn Hills cadets did a great job. "We can take pride in the outstanding way these young men and women represent Penn Hills High School," Commander Morabito added. |
|
Senior Chosen for U.S. Army All-American Bowl
On December 3rd, the U.S. Army attended the Senior High Fall Sports Awards to present Varsity Football WR/DB Cullen Christian with an official invitation to the 2010 U.S. All-American Bowl. The East-West Classic features the top 90 high school football players in the country.
"Cullen is a talented athlete whose exemplary displays of leadership and teamwork have made him a standout at Penn Hills High School," said Col. Derik Crotts, Deputy Chief of Staff, G7, U.S. Army Accessions Command. "We are proud to honor all of our U.S. Army All-American Bowl players and congratulate them on their selection."
The Penn Hills senior will be playing for the East Team. The selection committee described him as "One of the very best corners in the country. Very underrated cover corner. Has impressive closing speed, footwork, back pedal and smarts."
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee consists of SportsLink's network of regional directors throughout the country, Rivals.com, and Tom Lemming. U.S. Army All-American players are eligible for the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award; Pete Dawkins MVP Award; Walter Payton Trophy, honoring the student-athlete that best represents Payton's athleticism, hard work and ideals; and Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard U.S. Army Awards, which recognize the two players who best epitomize the Army's high standard of excellence in community service, education, and athletic distinction.
 This bowl classic is in its 10th year and will air on NBC at 1:00 p.m. on January 9th from the Alamodome in San Antonio. U.S. Army Sgt. Johnson presented Christian with his game jersey. The selection also earned Varsity Head Coach Ron Graham a trip to San Antonio to participate in the U.S. Army Coaches Academy and game-week activities. For more information on the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, click here. (photo courtesy of U.S. Army All-American Bowl website) |
|
Linton Renovation Begins
 Just prior to the holiday break, preparatory work was completed to enable renovation to begin on the wing of Linton Middle School that has been designated as the future District administrative offices. The area formerly housed the technical wing of the middle school. During the break, actual renovation work began with the building of walls to separate the wing into administrative office space. Moving of the administrative staff to their new location is expected to take place in the spring. This work is being performed as part of an overall construction option that will see a new K-4 elementary center on the Dible site as well as a new senior high school for Grades 9-12 at the former administrative building location. Once the administrative offices have been moved from Roberts to Linton, demolition work will begin on the Roberts site. As work progresses on the administrative area as well as other construction sites in the District, photos will be posted on the website under "Construction" in order to keep the community up-to-date on the projects. |
|
Community Service
 On Thursday, December 10th, students from the Senior High School participated in Toys for Tots Volunteer Day. Twenty-five students from Grades 10 through 12 volunteered at the Toys for Tots warehouse. Their jobs included sorting toys, inventorying merchandise, and filling requests. According to Senior High Gifted Coordinator Joshua Willy, "The students did a great job and were complimented by the project coordinators throughout the day."
Also in December, Dible and Forbes Elementary Schools raised $700 for their Bring in a Buck Days. This money was donated to the Kiwanis and used to purchase toys that were given away to less fortunate families at a December Brunch with Santa. Forbes, Washington, and Dible Elementary Schools also made holiday cards, place mats, ornaments, door decorations, etc., to be given to Seneca Manor and Alterra Sterling House. |
|
Nutrition Education - The iNutrition Concept
A new feature of Penn Hills Pride is a section devoted to happenings in the Food Service Area. This month, we look at the iNutrition Concept, a multifaceted program that includes an educational component, serving line marketing material, an area enhancement package, and a computer-based game module. The cornerstone of this program is the "Personal Nutritionist," a visual representation of a modern-day electronic device that displays valuable nutrition information and encourages students to make wise food choices according to their personal preferences.
 Students are never too young to begin learning the importance of nutrition. Recently, The Nutrition Group conducted a Nutrition Education class at Washington Elementary School. The students watched a movie called "The Little Orange Bird," which reinforced healthy eating habits, exercising, and getting enough rest. After the movie, a worksheet was completed to re-emphasize the healthy habits students learned about in the movie. The Nutrition Education lesson wrapped up with students making a turkey craft to celebrate Thanksgiving. These pre-k students not only had fun but learned the importance of developing healthy habits. Throughout the District, the iNutrition wellness program was introduced to each of the kindergarten and first grade classes. The benefits of eating healthy and the importance of trying different foods were reviewed with students. For more information on iNutrition, click here. | |
|
Coming next month in Penn Hills Pride, an introduction to the newly elected (or re-elected) School Board Members, a look at the Resiliency Model, and student achievements. All this and more in the next edition of Penn Hills Pride. | |
|
