The high school Red Cross Club has completed the Holiday Mail for Heroes project with our primary students in the Avonworth School District.

Holiday cards created by our fantastic artists in kindergarten and 1st grade have been sent to active and retired military members in the area with hope that they bring a smile to those that do so much for our freedom.

It was a rewarding Veterans Day in the fifth grade classrooms!

Teachers invited veterans to share their experiences and service to our country. The students were thoroughly engaged and asked the veterans amazing questions.

Thank you for your service and support of what we do in our school!

Congratulations to Riley Adams, Vanessa Amayo, Cameron Marshall, Kassie McGibbney, and Jessica Reed for auditioning and being selected for the 2022 PMEA Honors Band. Kassie and Jessie earned the first chair in their respective sections. The students will be a part of the District Band in January.

This is the most students Avonworth has ever had selected for this prestigious group! Congratulations!

Journalism students thought they might be talking to a guest speaker from Austin, Texas, but to their surprise, he was just a few hundred feet from the Atlantic Ocean in northern Brazil!

Joe Troyen, co creator of the Go Pangea app, shared prototypes for changes and additions to the app and interviewed students about preferences and suggestions. Go Pangea is a free app providing a platform for national and international collaboration between students on a variety of topics.

Troyen moved from Austin, TX in 2020, relocating to Vermont before a stay in the Dominican Republic and eventually northern Brazil. Troyen chose this location as he speaks Spanish and also pursues Kite Surfing while working remotely on Go Pangea.

During the end of the Meet, Troyan answered a request to show what was on the other side of his camera, revealing a number of kite surfers on a windy, sunny beachside north of Barra Grande in the state of Piauí.

With the holidays upon us, there are many reasons to be joyful. It's a time for sharing, laughter, giving back, and creating memories with family and friends.

The holidays, however, can also be stressful. We may be making plans to visit loved ones, managing our budget for gifts, or coordinating events with our community. With an already-packed schedule, these additional tasks can add stress to our lives.

Celebrating and connecting with family is important during the holiday season, but it's also essential to care for your mental health. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month brings awareness to the harmful effects of stress and reminds everyone to take care of themselves as they approach the holidays. Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free holiday season:

• Make modifications to holiday traditions. Consider ways to modify traditions that may negatively impact your mental health. It can be nice to stick with holiday traditions, but your mental health should take priority.
• Don't forget the power of "no." It's okay to say no to plans if you are feeling overwhelmed.
• Plan ahead. Keeping a calendar of events can help you stay on track and prepare for events. It can be stressful to shop on the same day as an event, so keep a list of tasks to prevent the rush.
• Talk about your feelings. You might be overwhelmed or missing a loved one. Talking about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member is okay. You are not in this alone.
• Take time for self-care. It's important to take care of ourselves before caring for others. This holiday season, make time for yourself.
• Find a therapist. Acknowledge your feelings and talk to a professional when needed. If you would like help finding a mental health care provider, use Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by Avonworth School District:

1. Call 888-515-0595. Support is available 24/7/365.
2. Visit www.caresolace.com/avonworth and either search on your own or click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
   

We wish you a joyous and stress-free holiday season!

It was an exciting Thanksgiving week as the 'Lopes football team prepared for the WPIAL Championship game!

They took on Belle Vernon at Acrisure Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Friday, November 25th. Unfortunately, Belle Vernon came out on top.

Congratulations on a successful season boys!

Congratulation to the Girls Soccer Team! AA WPIAL Champs for the second year in a row!

The team beat Mt. Pleasant 2-1 at Highmark Stadium on November 5th.

Congratulations to Mike Osekowski for being named to AA All-WPIAL soccer player!

Senator Robinson recognized our 2022 PIAA Championship Softball team by issuing a citation in their honor.

Seniors Mason Horwat and Matthew Purcell signed their National Letters of Intent. Mason Horwat will play baseball at Penn State University, and Matthew Purcell will swim for Brown University. Congratulations!

Join us for a fun-filled evening celebrating Christmas Around the World! This event is a family-friendly interactive evening to learn about our neighbors' Christmas celebrations through literature, art, and music activities.

In order to have enough supplies, we ask that families register in advance. Click here to RSVP.

This event is made possible thanks to Kidsburgh!

12/5: Buildings and Grounds Committee Meeting at 6:30 PM

12/5: School Board Work Session at 7:30 PM

12/6: AMS/AHS Band Winter Concert at 7:00 PM

12/7: Hi Neighbor Event at APC at 6:30 PM

12/7: Two Hour Delay (Teacher In-Service)

12/8: Grade 5 and 6 Winter Concert at 7:00 PM

12/9: APC Ugly Sweater PTA Bingo at 6:30 PM

12/12: Athletics and Activities Committee Meeting at 6:30 PM

12/12: Regular School Board Meeting at 7:30 PM

12/14: AMS/AHS Winter Choral Concert at 7:00 PM

12-23-1/2: Winter Break!