Avonworth School District News
May / June 2022
Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
2nd Grade Sendoff!
Have a great summer!
Award Winning Performance
The Mystery Of Edwin Drood is the winner of the Gene Kelly Awards for High School Musical Theatre for Best Costume!
Congratulations to Olivia Holloway who was also nominated as Best Student Artist.
Remake Learning Days
The Avonworth community had a great time at Remake Learning Days, the nation's biggest family-friendly festival of learning.
Avonworth Primary Center hosted a Pre-K/Kindergarten Technology event where students had the opportunity to explore with Bee Bots, Circuit Blocks, Coding with iPads, and video making.
The Elementary School participated in STEAM and Outdoor Learning. Community members came to present to the students on a variety of opportunities to get involved in making a difference in the community.
We love being a part of this fantastic festival that explores creative and fun ways of learning.
Let's wonder, explore and learn together!
Chase the Antelopes A Huge Success
On Saturday, April 30, 8th grade students welcomed over 300 registrants to the 4th Annual Chase the Antelopes 5k & One-Mile Walk.
For months, students organized the event - making phone calls, writing letters, painting posters, giving presentations, designing promotional materials, and so much more! All of their hard work was on full display for the community on this beautiful sunny Saturday morning.
Students volunteered at the registration and raffle tables, while others handed out water and directed participants through the 5k and one-mile routes in Cobblestone and Avonworth Heights.
Through all of their efforts, the 8th Grade class raised over $6500 to donate to the Hannah Milbert Memorial Fund, an Avonworth High School Scholarship.
And during the entire project, students also learned valuable citizenship skills that brought the community together around an important cause. Congratulations to the 8th grade class!
Check out photos from the event courtesy of Kelly Hansen Photography
Hands On Learning
Forty 8th grade ELA Civics students traveled to the Allegheny County Courthouse to experience the Judicial Branch firsthand!
Students completed a writing assignment in order to be eligible for this enrichment field trip to learn more about our criminal court system. After passing through security, students were welcomed by representatives from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office who spoke with them about the history and function of our county's criminal court system.
Then, students were escorted to several different courtrooms to observe real criminal trials. Students had previously learned about courtroom procedures and terminology in their ELA Civics classes, but now were able to observe them in action.
After two hours of courtroom drama, students enjoyed lunch (and some candy) in the historic Strip District before returning to school.
A Special Lesson
Avonworth Primary Center had special guests in the first and second grade classrooms to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
Students from Penn-Trafford’s Honors Spanish Class prepared and conducted a lesson for the students.
Señora Burtch’s students taught several Spanish vocabulary words, read a story, and led the class in an activity to celebrate the holiday.
Señora Burtch was Dr. Miller’s Spanish Teacher in High School!
Special thanks to her students for planning the event.
Drama Program Awarded
More congratulations to our wonderful high school drama program!
Several students are recipients of the Prime Stage High School Drama Awards to recognize excellence in fall drama.
Jada Guiste & Olivia Holloway: Best Student Director team, You Can't Take It With You
Peyton Bauer: Best Supporting Actor as Tony Kirby
Anna Boothby: Best Supporting Actress as Mafame Kolenkhov
Senior Project a Benefit to All
A group of seniors has completed their senior project and the results are for everyone to enjoy!
Maura Logan & Ava Wert performed a high school pond and courtyard makeover.
They worked with Grounds Supervisor Brant Colamarino and Ed Kurtz to order mulch and gravel and recruited 5 senior boys to assist with the endeavor (seniors Brennan Raught, David Kujawinski, Connor Whalen, Julian Dinino).
Additionally, sophomores Shawn Glinski and Nik Loch helped complete the work.
Science Is Cool!
Thanks to another Remake Learning Days event, our second graders took a live tour of the Covestro Facilities with demonstrations of their products that play a big part in paving the way for a sustainable future!
The tour was led by one of Avonworth School District's board members John Brandt. Thanks Mr. Brandt!
Playground Reimagined
The 6th graders have been working hard on a hypothetical task - reimagining the elementary playground.
Students first had the opportunity to speak with a community expert and parent, Mrs. Roggenkamp, about her job as a Playground Designer.
Since then, they have measured and created a new layout, taking into consideration the type of ground material, equipment, and cost - all while maintaining a budget and the need for additional parking.
They have found percentages, created scales, reviewed area, and have considered the price of mulch by calculating volume.
The final product will include presentations, posters, models, and tinkercadd designs.
Visiting the Zoo
Each class had the opportunity to rotate to each first grade classroom and "virtually visit" a different habitat at the zoo.
Students learned about different plants and animals that live in the desert, North and South Pole, the rainforest, the ocean and more!
To wrap up our virtual field trip, our wonderful PTA generously purchased animal books for every student in first grade!
Data Jam
They compete against area schools and are judged by professors and professionals who work in data science.
This year's team investigated the effect of businesses on parking utilization.
Our Data Jam team members were: Colin Crawford, Lindsey Hartle, Laurel Purcell, Catrina Raich, Brayden Simmons, and Zoe Trexel (not pictured). Great job!!!
Junior Pathway Prestige
This is a very competitive program so we are very proud of Audrey's acceptance into this program.
Congratulations also goes out to the following students who will be participating in a summer academic experience:
Henry Wagner, 11th, has been accepted into the PSU Summer Readiness Institute.
Rachel Keller, 11th, has been accepted into the New York Times Introduction to Investigative Journalism program
Powerful Experience
During the ceremony, thirty people from twenty different countries became American citizens. The Avonworth students led the Pledge of Allegiance and presented each new citizen with a copy of the Good Citizenship Guidebook.
This book was created by the 8th grade class in the Fall and includes important information for citizens about voting, First Amendment rights, patriotic symbols, and overcoming challenges.
This powerful experience allowed the students to hear some of the stories of the new citizens and to stand next to Mayor Ed Gainey to offer their congratulations to all of the new citizens.
Congratulations to our PSMLA Global Scholars!
Avonworth High School is one of only 17 high schools in the state of Pennsylvania to boast 2022 PSMLA Global Scholars Graduates. These students from Avonworth High School count among 87 Pennsylvania students who have earned this designation in 2022.
Congratulations to:
1. Leinala Cabrera
2. Ella Galbraith
3. David Kujawinski
4. Maura Logan
5. Mia Burens
6. Margaret Colenbrander
7. Lindsey Hartle
8. Olivia Holloway
9. Justin Kendrick
10. Anna Kohler
11. Alexis Schmigel
12. Ava Wert
"These students have made the conscious effort to broaden their horizons intellectually, inquisitively, socially, and academically which will aid them in their future endeavors on multiple levels," said Jan Hostler Stewart, D.Ed., PSMLA Global Scholars Program Representative. "It is a credit to all of you that your district has provided an environment that fosters the development of global competence to prepare your students for personal, academic, and professional success in the global community. Your students have shown ambition, dedication, and initiative to have completed all the components in four years or less."
Congratulations to our PSMLA Global Scholars! We'd also like to thank our PSMLA Global Scholars Advisors Melissa Reagle and Stacy Hart!
Yearbooks Are Here!
Our yearbooks are in! Avonworth students/families may pick up their yearbook on Wednesday, June 15 from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm. This pick up is for all students who just completed grades 9-12. Yearbooks can be picked up at the high school main entrance.
Graduating seniors (Class of 2022) have the option to pick up their yearbook early on June 13 or June 14 from 8:30-11:30 am at the high school main entrance.
Thank you!
Primary Center Wisdom Corridor
WPIAL Champs!
Equestrian Champion
It was held on April 29, 2022 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA.
Congratulations!
Class of 2022 Student Athletes
Thank you for all you've done for the Avonworth Athletic Program. Best of luck in all your future endeavors.
First Annual Jake Jaillet Scholarship!
This year, the Avonworth Baseball Booster Organization created an annual scholarship to honor former Avonworth student and baseball player, Jake Jaillet.
A $500 scholarship in Jake's name is awarded to a senior player who displays exceptional character on and off the field. Senior candidates completed an essay style application. Once all applications were received, a team of Avonworth school administrators reviewed the applications and selected the candidate.
This year, the Baseball Boosters are pleased to announce and recognize Jordan Kolenda as their first recipient of this award. Congratulations, Jordan!