Avonworth School District News
January 2022
100 Days of School!
Avonworth students had fun celebrating the 100th day of school in style on Friday, January 28!
It's Time to Register for Kindergarten!
Now is the time to register your child for kindergarten for the 2022-2023 school year. It’s simple! Follow the link below for all the information you need.
Complete registration packets are accepted from 8 am to 2 pm Monday-Friday in the Primary Center Office.
We’re looking forward to meeting you and your child!
Kidsburgh Features Avonworth Primary
Inspirational Guest Speaker
An inspirational guest speaker visited Avonworth High School this month.
Frank Sankey is a professional in the world of American Sign Language/Interpreting and has been deaf since birth. His unique and refreshing look at life and witty sense of humor were an inspiration to our students.
Mr. Sankey talked about his life journey and shared college and career opportunities to study American Sign Language and Interpretation. Through his career as a professor at Mt. Aloysius, he works each day teaching new students and developing opportunities in the deaf community.
Student Makes Beautiful Music at PMEA Festival
Congratulations to Jessie Reed for placing first chair tuba in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Orchestra! The concert was Saturday, January 15th at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh.
Jessie beat all other tubas by 30 points, a huge margin. She has advanced to Region Orchestra in Dubois, PA in February.
This concert marks the first in-person PMEA Festival since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020.
Band Students Represent Avonworth at PMEA
Congratulations to Jessica Reed, Cameron Marshall, Payton Sciere, and Sydney Nelson who all auditioned and were selected for the PMEA District 1 West Band! All of the students performed beautifully.
In addition, Payton (trumpet) and Jessica (tuba) auditioned and were selected for PMEA Region 1 Band. Jessica was first chair by a 50 point margin. Region Band will be held at Mt. Lebanon School District this year.
A Night at the Museum
Students from the 8th grade ELA/Civics classes will serve as docents at the Heinz History Center for one night in February.
This unique experience is part of a collaboration with the museum to create projects that focus on "Overcoming Adversity" and connect with exhibits at the museum.
To prepare students, four docents from the Heinz History Center brought in historical artifacts and visited the students to do a workshop with them about how to analyze objects, tell their story, and engage an audience.
The Heinz History Center will open its doors the Avonworth community on Friday, February 11th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Virtual Field Trip to Independence Hall
Several 8th grade ELA Civics students participated in a pilot program with park rangers from Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
During the 40-minute virtual field trip, students traveled in real time through the historic building with a park ranger using a Go-Pro camera. The ranger discussed the goals of important documents signed in Independence Hall - the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
Ranger Jay also took the students on a behind-the-scenes tour of the clock tower, which is an area that is not accessible to in-person tour groups.
Following the program, students provided feedback on their experience to help the rangers design future virtual tours in Philadelphia.
High School Earns Designation
Avonworth High School has earned a designation from The Pennsylvania National Guard Association as a Guard Friendly High School. This means that the school uses the best practices for recruiting, information-sharing, and group formation for the PA National Guard.
With a total tuition benefit exceeding $72,000, the Pennsylvania National Guard has the strongest state tuition benefit in the nation. Guard members can get college, university, and trade school degrees.
Kathleen Fabrizi, Executive Director, PNGAS and Pennsylvania National Guard Foundation says,
“We are very confident the designation, PNGAS Guard-Friendly High School, will produce immediate and long-term benefits and synergies for students, faculty, alumni, Guard-members, veterans, their spouses, families, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and its economy.”
As state and national emergencies and global warfare become increasingly sophisticated, technology-driven, and complex; having a well-trained, and educated Guard force is more strategic and valuable than ever.
Second Grade Virtually Visits the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank
Second graders in Mr. Eastwood's class participated in a virtual field trip in collaboration with our GATE teacher, Mrs. Kolesar.
Prior to the virtual field trip, Mrs. Kolesar led a lesson for students about the way money is created. Students learned about different measures that the government takes to prevent illegal copying of money as well. After this lesson, student met virtually with Ms. Higgins from the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank. She explained the symbols associated with each denomination of currency and then asked the students to design and create their own currency.
Students had to consider the following:
- What symbols would they include in their currency, and why?
- How much would the currency be worth?
- What measures would they implement to prevent counterfeiting?
- What would they name their currency?
Students have left this experience with a deeper understanding of our money system and the processes behind currency arriving in our pockets.
A.W. Beattie Students of the Month
Three Avonworth students were recognized as A.W. Beattie Students of the Month in their programs. Congratulations to Samantha Blose, Zackary Dimtroff and Carly Owens!
Automotive Collision Technology
Carly Owens
Automotive Technology
Zackary Dimtroff
SMART-EST
Samantha Blose
Successful Food Drive for Lakota Sioux Indians
Second-grader, Trey Graham, led a dry goods food drive to benefit the Lakota Sioux Indians on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He was inspired by the recent lessons at school about the West and learning about the needs of the Lakota people through his grandmother.
Trey’s grandmother, Tracy Ferguson, has been sponsoring donation drives for years now. She recently sent the donations to her friends Jerome and Theresa High Horse at the Lakota Friends Circle who then distribute the goods to the people in need at the reservation. Food is always an issue on the “Rez” situated at the southern end of the Badlands.
Out of the 3,500 square mile reservation, roughly only 132 square miles are suitable for farming. Jerome and Theresa live in the small community of Wanblee (“eagle” in Lakota), which is a remote and isolated portion of the reservation, and the nearest grocery store is a 200-mile round trip drive to Rapid City, South Dakota.
Great Chemistry!
Strong Competition
Avonworth Bocce
The Avonworth High School Unified Sports bocce season is off to a fantastic start with a record of 2-1! This year has been full of incredible highlights with each team member leading impactful moments while demonstrating support for their teammates.
Upcoming Dates to Remember!
2/7: School Board Meeting
2/9-2/11: PMEA District Choir
2/14: School Board Meeting
2/21: Act 80 Day - No School for Students
2/23: End of Second Trimester for K-2
2/23-2/25: PMEA Region Orchestra
2/28-3/3: APC Parent/Teacher Conferences
3/4: Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School for Students