Linton's 21st Century Community Learning Center Program will host an event on Thursday, October 20th, from 6 to 8 pm at the William E. Anderson Library of Penn Hills celebrating its afterschool program.

Linton's 21st Century students will join parents, school officials, politicians, and partners with a candlelight rally and dinner for safe afterschool programs on the 30th Annual Lights on Afterschool Day. This event will specifically provide parents, educators, and politicians with an opportunity to know how students feel about their afterschool program.

"We must keep the lights on and doors open in our schools after hours," Mr. Mark Wolfe, 21st Century Magic in the Middle Administrator stated, adding, "Our students need the extra enrichment, and they need a safe place to go after the school bell rings, especially when parents are working." He went on to say that it is necessary to ensure that students are getting the academic support they need in order to be prepared for their high school years.

There will be more than 21,000 students across Pennsylvania taking part in Lights on Afterschool Day celebratory events, sending a message that afterschool programs are critical to their success. Linton students will hang their signature Lights on Afterschool Light Bulbs in the school with their names attached during the week leading up to the special day. The event itself will include a dinner for families and guests, as well as a video presentation of the activities that the students engaged in during the 2010-11 school year.

"We are proud to be Afterschool Ambassadors for Lights on Afterschool," stated Jean Olivis, Communities In Schools Linton Program Coordinator. Communities in Schools is the nation's leading drop-out prevention organization and believes that all students need and deserve a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult, safe place to learn and grow, healthy start and healthy future, marketable skill upon graduation, and chance to give back to their peers and the community.

This year in the Penn Hills program, the focus is going to be more on reading, math, and science outside of the regular school day. "Our goal is to ensure that every student enrolled reaches his/her full potential in the Magic in the Middle Program," Stefanie Raspotnik, District Professional Development and Funding Coordinator said, adding, "We are serving more students this year, but we are more driven to help each of the students enrolled gain, maintain, and grow academically."

Penn Hills School District has been a part of Lights on Afterschool Program for more than seven years. The program is a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Penn Hills School District, and Communities In Schools.

Penn Hebron Third Grader Anthony Sciulli can definitely be seen as the poster child for the "boys of summer," having played on four different baseball teams over the past few months. The sport is in his blood, going back to his grandfather, who still coaches in the Pittsburgh area. But, nine-year-old Anthony does not limit his baseball play to summer. He is an all-season player, practicing at indoor sport centers throughout Pittsburgh during the winter months and honing his skills playing MLB Baseball on his X-Box. On those rare occasions when he isn't playing baseball, he loves playing football and street hockey with his friends.

Already a winner

When asked what he likes the best, his first answer is baseball. "When I was two years old," he explained, "My papa Tom played a homerun derby in his backyard with me. I loved it so much! I couldn't wait to be old enough to play." His grandfather, Tom Leonard, coached in the Monroeville area and currently is an assistant coach in Squirrel Hill.  Anthony said he would go to his grandfather's Monroeville American Legion games and want to play so badly. Now, the young man plays for several teams-Penn Hills, Squirrel Hill, Beaver Valley Baseball Club (and all-star team), and the Ohio Glaciers.

Anthony also has his academic side. At school, he participates in the Elementary Science Fair/Invention Convention and will be taking part in the PTA Reflections Program this year. He also loves helping his teachers and classmates. This past summer, he came to school a week before classes were scheduled to start to help one of his teachers from second grade set up her room, stacking books and sorting and moving items. In the classroom, he is the go-to guy whenever someone needs help with reading or packing up their stuff to go home.

This school year, Anthony is looking forward to seeing his friends and holiday parties. He is also looking forward to learning spelling words, because he and his older brother Franco (an eighth grader at Linton) have spelling contests at home. If Anthony wins, Franco has to do his younger brother's chores (such as dusting, setting the table for dinner, and helping put the dishes in the dishwasher). If Franco wins, Anthony said, "I have to clean his messy bedroom." But, he added, "I win most of the time and love to watch him do my jobs."

Anthony also enjoys gym class (no surprise there for such an athlete). He said they are playing football in gym right now, and "it is so much fun." His teacher calls him the Italian Army, something Mr. Scaramuzzo also called his brother Franco, Anthony said, "because the both of us are Italian and can tackle an army in football."

Some adults would have trouble keeping up with such a hectic schedule, but Anthony's mom (Theresa) keeps him in line. He said he plays baseball all year so she makes him do his homework right after school. If he has a test, they go over it in the car on the way to practice or a game. "Trying to keep up with school and baseball is hard," he said, "But my coaches tell me school work comes first, and they ask my mom how my grades are during the year." This inspires him to do well in school because he cannot play baseball if he cannot do his school work and that would let his team mates down.

Anthony's wall

In addition to sports, Anthony loves movies, with his favorites being those made from Marvel Comics. Last year for his birthday, former Penn Hills and now CAPA student Larry Neal hand painted the walls of Anthony's room with Marvel characters such as Ironman, Wolverine, Spiderman, and Captain America.

Anthony plays third base and catcher and has just started pitching this year. He wants to play for the Yankees so he can give some of his money to cure diabetes and cancer. A family member and family friend each suffer from these diseases, and he would like to see both of them cured.

As an avid baseball, football, and hockey player--as well as future humanitarian--Anthony definitely represents the City of Champions.

The foundations for the new Senior High building are now complete, and the structural steel portion was designated as completed with a steel beam topping out ceremony on September 14th. A signed beam, topped off by an American flag and fir tree (symbolizing the iron workers), was hoisted up to the top of the building and set into place, signifying the end of the structural steel work.  Additional photos from the event can be found in the Senior High Construction Photo Gallery.

Masonry work on the gym and southeast exterior continues, along with work on interior walls for stairs as well as mechanical spaces and areas to the south of the auditorium.  The concrete slabs for the 1st floor have been completed, leaving only the cafeteria area, auditorium, and gym remaining.  The 2nd floor slabs are also complete.

Fireproofing on the eastern third of the 1st floor has been completed, and roofing has started on the northeast side above the classrooms.  Exterior studs and sheathing work has been completed on 40 percent of the structure.  Mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and fire protection system rough work is underway on the 1st floor of the east end of the building.  Exterior brick, window, and skylight tasks are expected to begin in October.

Plantings at the lower parking lot are expected to be completed in October. Abatement and demolition work has been finished at the elementary site.