The New Year in Pittsburgh came in on a high note thanks to one of our Penn Hills stars, Junior Savannah Wiggins, who was chosen as winner of the Equitable Gas Sing-Off Contest.  As the winner, Savannah performed at Highmark First Night 2014.  Students from Grades 6 through 12 affiliated with a middle or high school in Southwestern Pennsylvania were eligible to enter.

Prizes included:

• Performing live as the opening act for the Equitable Gas Marquee at the Benedum Center during Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014
• Receiving an individual cash prize of $500 and a cash prize of $1,500 designated for the music department of the winner's school, compliments of Equitable Gas Company.

Savannah entered the contest with a youtube video where she performed Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody."  A panel of judges reviewed all videos that were submitted and chose Savannah as the winner.

Savannah said the experience of singing on the Benedum stage was amazing.  "The audience interaction and energy in the room was great as I watched people clapping and singing along," she explained.  She was the opening act for Johnny Angel and the Halos.

In addition to her live performance, Savannah made an appearance on the KDKA television show Pittsburgh Live Today with Kristine Sorensen.  She explained that performing on that show was a new experience because she got to see how things are done behind the scenes at a news station.  She said it was very exciting, although she did get a little nervous because she wasn't singing to an audience she could see.  But, she enjoyed it.  To view a video from that visit, click here.

Savannah is no stranger to success.  As a freshman, she took top prize at the Senior High Make-a-Wish Talent Show in 2012.  She was a cast member of the award-winning Senior High musical "All Shook Up" last year and will have a lead role in this year's production of "The Wiz."

"Getting a lead role in 'The Wiz' this year was so amazing," Savannah said, adding that she loves performing in musicals.  She also has some opportunities coming soon to perform with a live band, something she is very excited about.  "I love the sound of live music," she said.  Her upcoming work also includes some local church events.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone who supports me," Savannah stated, adding, "I love letting everyone know that I'm a student of Penn Hills High School."

Beginning on February 6, Penn Hills will be hosting approximately 120 students from Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Fayette Counties for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 1 Band East Festival.

The top chairs chosen via audition on Thursday night will be combined to participate in the PMEA Region I Band Festival at Belle Vernon High School in March.  Region I is comprised of the top 100+ band musicians from a nine-county area in Western Pennsylvania.

Penn Hills will have eight musicians in this week's band.  This will be the first time Penn Hills has hosted District Band since 1981, according to Mr. Ben Holste, retired band director for the District.

The musicians will perform in a concert on Saturday, February 8, at 2 pm in the Senior High Auditorium.  Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students/seniors.

There has been a significant delay in the District receiving reimbursement for PlanCon expenditures related to construction projects.  Penn Hills is 1 of 161 Districts waiting to receive money from the state.  Currently, $3 million in PlanCon money is owed to the District.  On January 16, a press conference was held to discuss this issue (click to view).

 

Representative Seth Grove from Dover Township has proposed legislation to get the reimbursement process moving.  To view a pdf of the article, click here.

"Exposures," a psychological thriller shot in Pittsburgh last spring, has been named as an official selection of the 2014 Macon (Georgia) Film Festival.

The film stars Craig Newham (left), a 2006 graduate of Penn Hills High School, in the lead role of "Harper Lowell."  Co-written by Pittsburgh natives Jonathan Gribbin and Jonathan Blackwell, "Exposures" tells the story of Lowell, a photographer who snapped an award-winning shot of an emaciated boy's last moments of life instead of coming to his aid. The photo immediately brought Harper fame, but when the ethics of his decision to choose art over humanity were called into question, he was soon labeled a pariah and ostracized by the same people who once praised his work.

The film joins Harper three years later--washed up, broke, and terrified to push the limits of his craft.  When an opportunity to take what could be his next great shot presents itself, Harper again finds himself faced with the question that brought him to ruin. Harper's sanity will be pushed to the limits as he struggles with the decision to choose a different path or seize the chance to reclaim his former fame and glory.

The Macon Film Festival, which runs from February 27 to March 2, made Movie Maker Magazine's 2013 list of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World.

In the Narrative Short Film Program Category, "Exposures" will compete against entries from Spain, France, Austria, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, as well as the United States.  For more information on the film festival, visit maconfilmfestival.com. 

The PTA Scholarship Committee is once again sponsoring the annual Districtwide volleyball tournament on Friday, February 28th, at the Senior High School gym.  Each school in the District will be represented by a team (or two), and there will also be a team from administration.
 
Doors open at 6:00 pm, with warm-up.  Tournament play begins at 6:30 pm. Admission is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for students. All elementary students must be accompanied by an adult. Food and refreshments will be sold and a Chinese Auction and 50/50 raffle held.  All proceeds from the event will benefit the PTA Council Scholarship Fund.

 

Baskets for the Chinese Auction will also be on display and raffle tickets will be sold at the YMCA February 24-27th, from 9 am to 7 pm.

Scholarships will be awarded to students at the annual Scholarship Awards Night on May 7th.  Last year, a total of 47 students were awarded scholarships of $500 each. Money for these scholarships came from fundraisers such as the annual PTA Volleyball Tournament, local PTAs, businesses, staff members, and individuals.

Anyone still interesting in donating money for a scholarship can get more info here.  And, join us on February 28th to cheer on your favorite team.

In January, the Penn Hills Wrestling Team had two wrestlers become All Allegheny County at the Allegheny County Wrestling Tournament.

 

Junior Te'Shan Campbell (left) claimed the 160lb Championship as he defeated the #1 and #2 wrestlers in the WPIAL in the Semi-Finals and Finals, respectively.  Te'Shan finished the weekend 5-0 and is the school's third champion.

 

In only his second year of wrestling, Junior Michael Ames made it to the Semi-Finals of the County Championships in the 285lb class and finished 4th on the weekend.

 

Coach Michael Ladick said, "We are very proud of Te'Shan and Michael for their accomplishments."

Linton Student Council donated $800 to the Penn Hills Service Association in December 2013.  This money was raised by the students and staff participating in student council sponsored activities, including snowball war games, crazy hat day, and staff dress down day.

The Linton lobby was decorated for the holidays by two parent volunteers for student council and their children who are part of student council (Ms. Jodi Roberto and daughter Cheyenee Hankins [8th grade] and Mrs. Lydia Bash and daughter Faith Bash [5th grade]), as well as Sponsor Amanda Powers on a snowy  Saturday morning.

Student council also helped sponsor the buildingwide door decorating competition.  A panel of five helped judge all the doors.  The winning door was Mrs. Cucanato and runner up was Mr. Bilsky.  First place team students all received their own $10 McDonald gift cards (donated by McDonalds), and second place students received treat bags.

 

As mentioned in last month's newsletter, Mr. Shawn Rua's homeroom raised the most money in the December Snowball Wars.  Of the $90 raised, Autumn Blair (front row, gray shirt) and her family raised $70 

Project Prom/Project Prom for Gentlemen provides free prom dresses, as well as free or reduced-price tuxedos and accessories, to eligible high school students who wish to attend what is often a highlight of their school social life. The events are operated by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) Events and Donations Team.

Students are eligible for free prom attire if they or a member of their household receive food or utility assistance; live in a foster or group home; receive mental health or intellectual disability services; receive treatment for substance disorders; meet guidelines for free or reduced school lunches; or have a caretaker who receives unemployment benefits.

Students can visit the Project Prom webpage to learn how they can participate.

Dates for the Gown Giveaway at the Project Prom Shop on the third floor of Century III Mall in West Mifflin are from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, March 15, and from 3 pm to 8 pm from March 17-20.  Project Prom for Gentlemen will be held from 5 pm to 8:30 pm on April 10 at Herberman Center, UPMC Shadyside, for about 100 students.

A public sale of gowns and accessories will be held from 10 am to 4 pm on March 29 for students who are not eligible for free attire. Items are available at a great discount--nothing is more than $25.

Captain Thomas Calabrese, the Commanding Officer of the ROTC at Carnegie Mellon University, conducted an official inspection of our Penn Hills NJROTC program for the U.S. Navy on Thursday, January 23rd.
 
The Big Red Company, under the Command of Cadet Tyrell Simmons, had 134 of 140 cadets on deck for the Inspection (96 percent). There were no failures, 58 "Satisfactory," 63 "Excellent," and 15 "Outstanding" uniform grades issued. Significantly, 8 of the 14 "Exemplary Appearance" Awards given to the top 10 percent of cadets who looked especially good in their uniforms went to 9th Grade cadets.
 
During the ceremonial portion of the inspection, Captain Calabrese and High School Principal Eric Kostic were brought onboard with full side honors provided by the Big Red Sword Team under the command of Cadet Joshua Russo, with Cadets Alexis Main and Andy Oswalt providing the bells and whistles.  The color guard, under the command of Cadet Jhazemynn Jones, was comprised of members from all year groups and performed flawlessly as Cadet Chelsea Dixon did an excellent rendition of the National Anthem. The drill team, under the command of Cadet Jarret Brown, conducted a demonstration that was competition quality.  And, after some motivating remarks by Captain Calabrese and Mr. Kostic, the finale, the Pass-in-Review, was excellent--all cadets really looked sharp. Special mention should also be made of Cadets Jaylin Clark and Nia Smith for the tremendous effort they put into preparing for this event.
 
After the ceremonial phase, Captain Calabrese was given a briefing by the cadet staff on the current status of the Big Red Company and goals for the future.  Cadet performance in all aspects of this inspection was simply stellar.
 
School support for NJROTC was outstanding.  Some teachers brought their classes down to watch during the event, and Mr. Kostic participated in the ceremonial phase and received an out brief from Captain Calabrese at the end of the inspection.  Cadet parents and friends were also in attendance, despite the inclement weather.
 
The cadets were very motivated for this event and were pleased to have achieved such a positive result.
 
The next major NJROTC event is The Big Red Invitational Drill Meet at the High School on Saturday, March 1st.  It is open to the public and a great opportunity to see JROTC units from around the area perform in precision military drill events.  Admission is free.

On December 28th at the Monroeville Sports Center, a team of our Senior High girls' soccer players won the Girls' High School Division of the Penn West Futsal Holiday High School Shootout.  The event was a Penn West Indoor Soccer Alliance sanctioned tournament.