On January 28th, Forbes Elementary Teacher Catherine "Kay" Macek passed away.  She spent the past 50 years in the classroom throughout the District and was well loved and fondly remembered by all who crossed her path.

 

Mrs. Macek received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow College) in 1959.  That fall, she began teaching first grade at William Penn Elementary School in Penn Hills.  She remained at William Penn until the fall of 1983, when she moved to the first grade classroom at Forbes Elementary.  It was at Forbes that she would stay until her untimely passing.

 

Around the holidays, Mrs. Macek was presented with a scrapbook from students, parents, and staff who had experienced her very special brand of teaching.  The book was intended as a celebration of her 50^th year in teaching but now represents a life and career truly well lived.  There is page after page of remembrances and photos.  Many of these share a common thread-there are stories of eating stone soup, singing the Fifty Nifty United States song, hatching ducklings, attending the Mother's Day Tea, and dodging paper chains that were set at just the right height for the students.  In fact, a message that comes through loud and clear in all of the pages of this scrapbook is that, whatever Mrs. Macek did, it was with the needs and well being of the students in mind.  For that, parents expressed the utmost gratitude, in many cases crediting this teacher with molding their children into the responsible and successful individuals they are today.  Some of those children have gone on to careers in education, thanks to Mrs. Macek's example.  And, while some have gone on to other fields, they also credit her example and her teaching with leading them down the path they have chosen.  Many of the memories expressed in the scrapbook are of a more personal nature, perhaps thanks from a parent whose child had a particularly difficult time adjusting to entering first grade.  Or, there is the story from a student who liked something so much that he saw in her class, he took it home and learned a valuable, life-altering lesson in Mrs. Macek's handling of the situation.

 

Only a few examples can be given from a lifetime of teaching:

 

"Your fun teaching methods and down to earth manner made school and learning not so scary for many kids."

 

"Mrs. Macek made learning a fun thing and I think that without her my attitude towards school would be completely different."

 

"Despite the incredible amount of work we were given she always managed to make it interesting and fun."

 

"Thanks to all your good teaching I am sure I will continue to make good grades, because I WILL NEVER GIVE UP even when I mess up."

 

"The lessons you taught me weren't only some of the best I've ever received in math and reading, but they were those things that you carry far beyond school.  I know that I can handle anything thrown my way and you provided me with that preparation and confidence."

 

"I can only say that my son's life was better for having you as a teacher."

 

"Your ability to make a difference in the lives of your students by sharing the excitement of learning will always be remembered by each of us who has had the honor of knowing you."

 

"I would like to thank you for everything you have done and all the dreams that you have helped to bring true."

 

"First grade is when I really started to enjoy learning and you are a big reason why."

 

"Your dedication to our children is unmatched."

 

"A quote from Henry Adams states, 'A teacher affects eternity:  he can never tell where his influence stops.'  Mrs. Macek . . . you will never know how many people you have influenced."

 

"I truly believe that the dedication you presented in your job and having the opportunity to being taught by you had, unknowingly at the time, installed in me the desire to become an educator myself."

 

"Every child is given that one teacher who touches their life, that one teacher you remember forever . . .you are that one teacher for [my student] and will be appreciated always."

 

"You are such an awesome influence on the lives of all children. 

Mother's Day Tea

You get them ready for what's ahead, pushing them to do their best without using harsh and angry words."

 

"A person is like a building, one needs a firm foundation to excel and grow higher, whether this be in life or bricks.  Mrs. Macek, you were a master of the concrete and shaped each layer with skills known to only the most advanced architects.  You mean a great deal to me because you are responsible for helping make me who I am."

 

"First grade is such an important year, and I am very lucky to have had you to guide me . . . . You constantly pushed us to learn more and more, and you truly lit the fire of my desire to learn . . . . Your unique and exciting way of teaching helped sculpt my mind into a form open to new ideas and learning."

 

"No matter how many students you've had, I'm sure that every one of us learned something different from you."

 

"In Japan, as you probably know, there is a tradition of folding 1000 origami cranes to make your special wish come true.  Now, having taught classes for 50 years, you were the mentor for well over 1000 students.  Having folded us into the adults and youngsters we are now, I wonder what your wish was during this whole time?"

 

"You also taught us how to be better advocates for our children and their education. . . .You never waste a moment whereby you can instill a fact or make some connection to your daily lessons, or add to the skills required by a growing 1^st Grader . . . .You love the children and seeing the light bulb go on as they master reading, math and social studies, and you love to see or hear of them as they graduate and go out into the world . . . .You don't work because you need a job; you teach because it's your vocation.  You have been called to educate children, and you find it both exciting and rewarding to spend time teaching and enriching their lives."

 

"With you as my teacher I was destined for great things.  You gave me a strong foundation on which I continue to build today . . . .Without you as a teacher I certainly would not be where I am today . . . .I don't know where I would be today without you."

 

Mrs. Macek said a few weeks before her passing that she always wanted to be a teacher.  There was no role model, she explained, but rather that she had just always enjoyed playing "teaching" and pretending to be a teacher.  It was a calling and a passion for her.  When asked how she managed to maintain her love of teaching and enthusiasm for so long, when so many younger teachers seem to get burned out so quickly, she simply responded that she loved doing it and seeing children go from pre-reading to reading during their year in first grade.

 

Forbes Principal Kristin Brown tells of starting in the District as a first grade teacher and being in awe of Mrs. Macek-"the veteran teacher who stayed up until two in the morning to check papers, whipped up pasta sauce before heading off to work for her Strega Nona lesson, and stayed at school until goodness knows when to make sure her students' writing was displayed 'just right" in the hallway!"  Observing the woman who was a mentor to her over the years, Mrs. Brown said she believed she had discovered the secret of her success.  "It is that you care," she wrote in Mrs. Macek's scrapbook.  She relates a conversation she had with Mrs. Macek in the fall, where the veteran teacher said, "You know, there was not one day that went by (in those 50 years) that I didn't want to come to school."

 

Mrs. Macek made 50 years of first graders feel the same way.  She will be missed.

Despite some snow, parents, students, and District representatives came out for the Linton Science Fair on January 29th.  The event involved students in Grades 6 through 8.  A complete list of winners is included below.  Additional photos can be found in the Linton photo gallery on the District website or by clicking here.

 

6th Grade 

1st Place:  Daniel Ternent, "What Liquid Makes Plants Grow the Best"

2nd Place:  Ian Banks, "Does Hot Water Freeze Faster Than Cold Water"

3rd Place:  Christine Spieler, "Buoyancy and Density"

Honorable Mention:  Katarina Shields, "Stink Freeze"; Cathan Crowley, "Bread Mold Growth and Environment Conditions"; William Berkshire, The Effect of Different Types of Music on Plant Growth"

 

7th Grade

Honorable Mention:  Mason Linn, "Do Hermit Crabs Like Sand or Rock"

 

8th Grade

1st Place:  Francesca Fello, "Making 'Scents' Out of Aromatherapy"

2nd Place:  Justin Dumm, "Which Light is the Brightest"

3rd Place:  Andre Kuminkowski, "Packing Problem"

 

In addition, Ian Banks received the award for Most Creative Project, given by PAGE, along with a $50 savings bond.  Francesca Fello was also awarded Best of Show from the PTA, along with a $50 savings bond.

School Board Gets New Home/Musical Facilities Upgraded 

On January 28th, members of the Pittsburgh Pirates coaching, announcing, playing, and front office visited Linton Middle School for a 5th-6th Grades assembly and later met with District baseball players.  The Pirate Caravan had an enthusiastic audience for its presentation which combined games to win Pirates merchandise with encouragement for students to do well on the upcoming PSSAs.  Principal Sandy Barker was even drawn into the fun as she won her event and received baseball tickets for all present.

"We were very proud of our Linton students as they proved to be an enthusiastic audience, not only for the Pirate assembly games but for the lesson the visitors provided regarding the importance of education and doing well on their PSSAs," Mrs. Barker stated.  More than one representative of the Pirates said that the Linton students were the best they had seen and how much fun the visitors were having.

Third base coach Nick Leyva talks to Penn Hills players as Andrew McCutcheon and Ross Ohlendorf listen

After the assembly, the Pirates took time to meet with District baseball players to discuss training, technique, and preparation, as well as answer questions that these student-athletes had.  Varsity Baseball Coach Ed Carr said his athletes were absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to talk to major league players, adding that they learned a lot.  "This was a day my guys will all remember forever," he said.

Among those who attended from the Pirate staff included announcers (and former players) John Wehner and Bob Walk; current pitchers Ross Ohlendorf and Evan Meek; new third base coach Nick Leyva; and outfielder Andrew McCutcheon.  Front office staff included Chaz Kellem and Dan Millar, as well as everyone's favorite Parrot.  The event was made possible due to the efforts of Pirates staffer and Penn Hills alum Michelle Mejia.

Additional photos from the events are available in the Linton photo gallery on the District website (here) and in the sports photo gallery under High School Athletics on the District website (here).