On Tuesday, December 17th, students from the Senior High participated in the Regional Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Competition at St. Vincent College in Latrobe. The region consists of the following high schools:  Forbes Road East, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Hempfield, Kiski Area, McKeesport, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Serra Catholic, Springdale, Woodland Hills, and Yough.

The following students placed in their events: 

December began with former Penn Hills Alum Aaron Donald, currently a senior

defensive tackle with the Pitt Panthers, being named a finalist for four different national awards.  Named the 2013 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Player of the Year, he led that ballot with 44 votes.  The second highest vote came in at 10.  He was Pitt's first conference player of the year since 2010.  He was also named first team All-ACC by the Atlantic Coast Conference Sports Media Association (ACSMA).

Coming into December, 2010 graduate Aaron was up for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the nation's most outstanding defensive player; Rotary Lombardi Award for the nation's top lineman or linebacker; Chuck Bednarik Award for the college defensive player of the year; and Outland Trophy for the nation's best offensive or defensive interior lineman.

As part of the process, Aaron received an invitation to attend ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.  His competition for the various honors were players from such outstanding schools as UCLA, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Baylor.  To that point, Pitt's lone winner of the Outland Trophy was Mark May in 1980, and a Pitt player had never won the Bednarik Award.

Courtesy of PittsburghPanthers.com

In a matter of four days, Aaron had made a clean sweep and collected all four awards.  But, he wasn't finished.  In a moment that truly capped off a stellar collegiate career, Aaron had a sack in the final moments of the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl that allowed Pitt to go on to a 30-27 victory over Bowling Green.

Penn Hills Athletic Director and Varsity Football Coach John Peterman took Aaron's accomplishments in stride.  "I am not surprised at Aaron's success at the collegiate level," he said, adding, "He was outstanding as a student-athlete in the Penn Hills School District, and I have no doubt we will be hearing many more great things about this young man as he moves on in his career."

A simple web search provides more than enough information about Aaron and his career.  For an in-depth look at the player from the moment he first considered the game of football at the age of 5, click here. To read about highlights from his whirlwind award week, click here.  The Pitt Panthers bio on Aaron, including videos and interviews, is available here.

This fall, the District had two of its elementary teachers recognized by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit's (AIU) Center for Creativity and Common Sense Media as 2013 Champions of Change.  Forbes Kindergarten Teacher Amy Yohe and Washington Third Grade Teacher Lisa Harajda were honored at an awards luncheon at the AIU and at the November School Board Meeting.

According to the Center for Creativity website, "The award acknowledges those educators and leaders who use a creative approach to enhance learning and who serve as an example of what we strive for in every classroom, for every child.  Champions of Change embrace technology and seek new and effective ways to engage children in the learning process."

Lisa Harajda

Ms. Harajda was nominated for the award by her principal, Tom Iaquinta, for having creative approaches in using technology to enhance learning in the classroom.  The particular project that sparked his nomination was an extensive study on astronauts and space done by her classroom at the beginning of the school year.  One of her students commented that he would like to meet an actual astronaut.  Ms. Harajda and her co-teacher, Amanda Schmidt, began to research how to contact NASA.  After finally contacting them at the end of September, she was dismayed to find out how costly it would be to have an astronaut visit.  NASA suggested a free Skype session and, after writing a very detailed request letter, the class was able to Skype with astronaut Michael Fincke in November (refer to story later in this issue).

Ms. Harajda found the awards experience enjoyable and thanked everyone involved, including Mr. Iaquinta for nominating her and her technology crew members Sharon Chambers and Sam Davidow and Ms. Schmidt, who she said deserved a lot of credit for helping her through the Skyping experience.

Looking back on the project, Ms. Harajda said she has come to understand that building background knowledge in our students is sometimes a hard task because of location or cost, but technology has proven that we have a strong connection to these far away or expensive endeavors.  "No longer are students stuck in their classrooms learning about topics that have no connections to their lives," she explained, adding, "Technology allows them to reach out and give these children the connection and deeper understanding of the world around them."

Amy Yohe

Ms. Yohe said she was "very excited about being nominated for the award" and thanked her principal, Kristin Brown, for doing so.  She had no idea she was up for the honor until she received notification that she been chosen.  "I was proud to represent the Penn Hills School District," she said, adding a "thank you to the District for providing me with the opportunity to get the technology into the hands of the children."

Ms. Yohe was nominated because she received the Innovative Learning Pilot Program (ILLP) grant last year.  She was one of the first elementary teachers in the District to use iPads in the classroom to increase student learning.  In addition, she attended several workshops and educational seminars in order to learn how to integrate Smartboard technology into her classroom.

Mrs. Brown said that while all teachers use the District-sponsored computer programs and desktop computers within the classrooms and the computer lab, Ms. Yohe was really interested in engaging students using technology.  She applied for the grant through the District and sough professional development on her own, she said, taking the time to research how the use of apps could engage learners and improve retention of basic reading and math skills.  "All the staff think it's just the neatest thing to see these young students manipulating the iPad and learning," Mrs. Brown said, adding that it has sparked other teachers to take an interest in applying for the grant.

"The students love using the technology and it has improved test scores," Ms. Yohe explained.  "It's amazing what they can do with technology."

Athletic Director and Varsity Football Coach John Peterman was selected as the winner of the Steelers High School Coach of the Week in November for the Indians victory over North Hills at the end of September.  Only two coaches are nominated for this award from all sections.

If only we could get him to smile . . . . .

Mr. Peterman was honored at the Steelers/Buffalo Bills game on November 10th.  He was recognized at the two-minute warning of the first half on the video board with local sports personality Stan Savran and featured on the Mike Tomlin Show, steelers.com, and USAFootball website.   In addition, the Penn Hills football program received a $1,000 donation from the NFL.

Almost 300 people attended the annual Title I Math Night on November 21.  Parents had an opportunity to meet and talk to staff, while students who came out got to play math-oriented games and compete for prizes.

The evening also included free food, family fun, raffles, and Clifford the Big Red Dog.  As always, cadets from the NJROTC were on hand to help out with the food and fun.

Mark your calendars for the Title I Reading Night on February 27 and be sure to come out for an evening of fun and reading-oriented activities.  (additional photos are available in the Title I Photo Gallery)  

Washington Third Grade Teacher Lisa Harajda wasn't going to let something like money stand in the way of her students having the opportunity to speak with an astronaut as part of their study of space.  After learning that it would be cost prohibitive to physically bring an astronaut in to speak to her students, she did the next best thing. . . .she brought him into their classroom via computer.

After making a detailed request to NASA, Ms. Harajda was able to arrange a Skype session with Astronaut Michael Fincke.  Mr. Fincke was born in Pittsburgh and attended Sewickley Academy, as well as El Camino College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University.  He has an Associate of Science in Earth Sciences (Geology); Bachelor of Science in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics; and Master of Science in Physical Sciences (Planetary Geology).  He currently holds the American record for most time in space and served on the Soyuz TMA-13, Expedition 9, Expedition 18, STS-134, and Soyuz TMA-4 space missions.  His languages include Japanese and Russian.

Food in space

Mr. Fincke answered a variety of questions from students in the class.  Their curiosity ranged from what and how he eats (which sometimes involves having to chase his food through the cabin) to what space smells like (different than other places) to how he sleeps (in a sleeping bag but upright) to how he bathes (that's a little more complicated).  Other questions involved what kind of training he received, how he communicates with people in space with him or back at NASA, what he would have been if not an astronaut, and whether it is dark and scary in space.

The students and Mr. Fincke enjoyed the exchange.  It was a tremendous opportunity for them to talk face to face with an astronaut through the use of technology, something they would not have been able to do otherwise.  (additional photos are available in the Washington Photo Gallery; video clips from the Skype session here(1), here(2), and here(3).