Avonworth School District News
October 2020
Homecoming 2020!
Congratulations to Homecoming King Brady and Queen Katie!
Due to attendance restrictions that were in place, the homecoming court was presented prior to the game to ensure parents and families of the court could be in attendance. After presenting the 2020 Homecoming Court, the audience waited in anticipation for the announcement of the 2020 King and Queen.
Congratulations to Brady Neidhardt, the 2020 Homecoming King, and Katie Conway, the 2020 Homecoming Queen!
2020 Homecoming Court
No Homecoming Dance, No Problem
Homecoming Bonfire
Avonworth Featured in KDKA Story
In early October, KDKA's Kristine Sorensen reached out to Avonworth for a story she was working on, which was going to highlight the innovative ways schools are using technology to help students learn in new ways. We are very proud that she featured our elementary librarian, Mrs. Sara Osborn, and one of her students, Bavly Naklah. Please use the link below to watch the full story.
Avonworth Receives Champion Seal Designation
Avonworth School District Receives EVERFI Champion Seal Designation for Commitment to Whole-Child Education
Avonworth School District has earned the EVERFI Champion Seal, awarded annually to North American school districts who’ve made an exemplary commitment to whole-child education.
This recognition acknowledges the Avonworth School District's dedication to transformational change in the interest of equity and the well-being of all students. This honor is provided by EVERFI, a digital education organization focused on helping educators address the most challenging issues affecting society, including financial literacy, social-emotional learning, health and wellness, inclusion, and college and career readiness.
“We are thankful for our partnership with EVERFI and proud of our teachers that have leveraged this partnership to help focus on whole-child education with their students,” stated Dr. Jeff Hadley, Assistant Superintendent.
Avonworth is honored to be one of fewer than five percent of districts across the nation to earn the EVERFI Student Impact Champion designation. Our educators are dedicated to teaching the whole child because we know that it not only impacts how healthy and productive students are during their time with Avonworth but also their well-being and success far beyond the K-12 years.
Remake Learning Days Across America
Avonworth Educator and Board Member Participate in the National Launch of Remake Days
The launch of Remake Learning Days Across America occurred on October 13th and featured Avonwroth Board member, Yu-Ling Cheng, and elementary teacher, Mrs. Amy Besterman.
Curriculum Updates
Eureka Math Implemented at K-5
On November 10th we will be hosting a virtual Math Night to share more information about Eureka Math with parents and guardians. If you wish to attend, please register using this link: Math Night Registration Link
Wit & Wisdom Powers Learning in Reading, Writing, Speaking, & Listening
This has been an exciting month in ELA! From grades K-6, students have been building knowledge through close reading, writing, and collaboration. Although apart, they are connecting through content and common themes.
At APC, our kindergarten students used their senses to notice details through text and illustrations while reading Rap a Tap Tap, a story about a tap dancer who brought happiness to others during the Great Depression. Up the hill at AES, the sixth-grade students are reading and discussing resilience as a young boy experiences hardship during this same period in the novel Bud, Not Buddy.
In first grade, students researched how books change lives for people around the world through the informational text My Librarian is a Camel, and then chose one country to investigate further. Meanwhile, the fourth-grade students are currently reading the novel Love That Dog and creating a timeline to describe how the main character’s life is changed by reading and writing poetry.
Through a study of informational and fiction texts, our second graders continue to investigate how animals and people respond to changes in nature. Concurrently, fifth-grade students are reading a novel about a Native American girl trying to navigate a rapidly changing environment when her tribe is forced to relocate to a reservation in Thunder Rolling in the Mountains.
Our third graders are currently reading and discussing why people explore the sea, identifying text features as they learn about the legendary giant squid and great white shark. Soon, they will use this knowledge to create a Didactic Wall Panel of the deep sea.
As we wrap up our Module 1 learning and begin the end-of-module tasks, all of the students will be engaged in activities to demonstrate their learning through speaking, listening, and writing. I can’t wait to see what they create!
What's Been Happening Around our Schools
2nd Grade Halloween Celebration
First Grade Virtual Academy Students and Hybrid Students Celebrate Halloween
The pandemic also didn't stop the first-grade students attending school in the hybrid model from enjoying a day of Halloween fun and learning!
Fourth Grade Virtual Students Have Some Halloween Fun
Fifth Grade Learns about the Election Process
Amazing Art Created by Elementary Students - Drawing with Fabric!
Use this link to access a slide show of what our amazing elementary artists created!
Elementary Students Visit the Mattress Factory Art Museum (virtually)
Avonworth Elementary Spirit Week
Eighth Grade Election Projects
Eighth Grade ELA Civics students spent the month of October closely examining the policies and proposals of the Republican and Democrat candidates for President and Congress. Then, during their regularly scheduled ELA Civics classes, students virtually presented their projects to parents, community members, and undecided voters via a Google Meet.
High School Students Offer Support for Peers
AHS Girls Mentor AES Girls as part of the ROX Program
This year, a fun twist on the typical program includes the incorporation of thirteen Avonworth High School girls as mentors and volunteers within the program. The program teaches girls how to communicate effectively, develop healthy relationships, stand up for themselves, form a healthy body image, navigate social media & cyberspace, & stay safe and defend themselves. The high school students share their experiences and wisdom on these topics and serve as role models for the younger students. ROX Girls participate in weekly lessons, social activities, weekly self-reflection activities, and more. AHS students are able to use this opportunity as a way to help girls avoid the heartaches & pain points they once endured as an adolescent/teen girl managing the stressors of life, and also a way to earn valuable & meaningful service hours.
High School Portfolio Students Have Been Busy
It's Playoff Time!
Kai Carlson Medals in the Boys AA State Golf Championship
WPIAL Playoff Success for the Girls' Varsity Soccer Team
On Saturday, October 31, the girls took on Southmoreland in quarter-final play where they came out on top with a 3-2 victory! The Lady Lopes will play a semi-final matchup versus Yough at Avonworth's Lenzner Field on Wednesday, November 4. Good luck girls!
Tickets are available by Pre-Sale only. There is NO guarantee that tickets will be available at the gate to purchase. Pre-sale tickets will be available starting on Monday, November 2nd
If you are interested in pre-sale tickets please contact Mrs. Alice Cahill, Athletics Secretary:
Email: acahill@avonworth.k12.pa.us
Office: 412-369-8738 x 1601
Tickets are $7.00 each (CASH ONLY) and can be picked up in the high school main office on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Boys' Varsity Soccer Season Ends in WPIAL Playoffs
Avonworth Cross Country Team Competes at the WPIAL Championship
The Boys team finished in 12th place out of 30 teams. They were led by Senior Jackson Habala who finished the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 46 seconds - which put him at 10th place overall out of over 200 runners. The rest of the Boys' Varsity Team also had one of their fastest races of the year: Matthew Purcell (36th place), Derek Brooks (86th), Ben Monti (91st), David Kujawinski (114th), Ryan Frank (120th), and Jackson Southern (122nd). This was the team's final race after finishing the season 12-3 overall and 7-1 in their section.
The Girls team finished in 14th place out of 22 teams. They were led by a trio of runners who all finished in the top 75 out of nearly 200 runners - Laurel Purcell (62nd), Lindsey Hartle (67th), and Taea Schriefer (73rd). Maggie Colenbrander, Taleigh Trovato, Sofia Galati, and Brooke Johncour also completed the challenging 5k course in muddy conditions. The team finished the regular season 4-6 (4-4 in the section).
Varsity Girls' Volleyball Wins in First Round of WPIAL Playoffs
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
One of the goals of the meeting in September was to share the history of the committee and set a direction for moving forward. One of the key areas identified in the strategic planning process last school year was diversity, equity, and inclusion. Over the next five years, we will focus on making more progress in this area, and the District's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will play a pivotal role in this work.
Following the meeting in September, a survey was sent to the 100+ individuals that expressed an interest in being involved with this work. The purpose of the survey was to identify individuals that would be willing to join a smaller, working committee. On November 12, this smaller working committee will meet virtually to begin establishing goals to accomplish during the 2020-2021 school year. Following this meeting, a meeting will be scheduled for the greater school community. Please stay tuned for this meeting and please feel free to join us.
If you are looking for a wonderful resource to help with conversations around anti-racism, please use the link below to access an Anti-Racism Resource Directory for Parents.
Upcoming Dates
- November 2 - Athletic Committee Meeting, 6:30 PM (virtual)
- November 2 - School Board Work Session, 7:30 PM (virtual)
- November 4 - End of First Marking Period (3-12)
- November 9 - Curriculum Committee Meeting, 6:30 PM (virtual)
- November 9 - School Board Regular Meeting, 7:30 PM (virtual)
- November 10 - Elementary Math Night, 7:00 PM (virtual)
- November 12 - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Working Committee Meeting, 7:00 (virtual, smaller committee only)
- November 23 - Athletic Committee Meeting, 6:30 PM (virtual)
- November 23 - School Board Work Session, 7:30 PM (virtual)
- November 25 - Schools Closed, Parent-Teacher Conferences
- November 26-30 - Schools Closed, Thanksgiving Break
- December 1 - Schools In Session
- December 1 - End of First Trimester (K-2)