Excellence in

EducationAcademics, Athletics, the Arts,

Leadership, & Character Education

April 18, 2016

Peters Township School District

Pittsburgh Day at Bower HillThird Grade celebrates their hometown pride!

On March 24, Bower Hill third graders celebrated Pittsburgh Day at the school.

Following their social studies unit focused on the history of our region, the students

spent the day learning Pittsburgh traditions. They made pierogies, learned to polka, and

made their own Andy Warhol art projects. The day ended with a tailgate party with

Pittsburgh favorite foods and a visit from KDKA’s Bob Pompeani who shared some

stories of our city’s sports history.

PTHS Media Department Earns DMAC Honors

Journalist - Best in Category:News Article- Angela Roberts

Journalist - Award of Excellence:Feature Article- Bailey Fink

Broadcast - Best in Category:Special Effects-Bri SpalarisDocumentary-Hanna Marcinak and Bri SpalarisAnimation-Adianna WilliamsCommercial-Hanna Marcinak, Brenna Schuler, and Bri SpalarisDigital Cinema-Will Barnes, Paul Luniewski, Mara Rayburg

The High School Media Department competed at the Digital Media Arts Consortium (DMAC) awards at Robert Morris University on April 7th. Our students took home nine awards overall, with 6 being Best is Category distinctions. A complete list of winners is

above.

PTHS Media Department Earns DMAC Honors

(continued)

Broadcast - Award of Excellence:Live Event- Hanna Marcinak, Bri Spalaris, Brenna Schuler, Olga Sifontes, Nathan Auld, Brianna Wuenschel, Marisa Brugger, Abby Wuenschel, Cammi Artman

The Morning Announcements- Hannah Asbell, Ryan Auld, Greg Bates, Marisa Brugger, Rachel Corrigan, James Curry, JesalynFada, Vincenzo Giovannitti, Hanna Marcinak, Reilly McGlumphy, Nick Ritacco, Brenna Schuler, Olga Sifontes, Bri Spalaris, MeahWatson, Adianna Williams, Brianna Wuenschel, Jack Yuran

The High School Media Department competed at the Digital Media Arts Consortium (DMAC) awards at Robert Morris University on April 7th. Our students took home nine awards overall, with 6 being Best is Category distinctions. A complete list of winners is

above.

MathCounts Winner Recognized by County

Commissioners6th grader Scott Zhu was

recognized along with teacher Jason Keffel

Congratulations to the Scott Zhu who was recognized by our Washington County

Commissioners for his outstanding performance in the MathCounts Competition. Scott

coach teacher Jason Keffel was also given a certificate from the group.

WACTC Student Heading to SkillsUSA National

CompetitionSenior Kathryn Luttner finished 1st

at state level in the job interview category

The PTHS senior above who also attends Western Area Career and Technology Center

competed in the state level of the SkillsUSA Competition this weekend and finished first

in the job interview category. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and

industry representatives and the competitions reinforce occupational and leadership

skills. Kathryn will now compete at the national level in June.

PTHS Junior to Attend Governor’s School

Cindy Hsieh to attend Governor’s School for the Sciences at CMU

Congratulations to the PTHS junior above who has been admitted to the 2016 Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. One of

only 60 students admitted to this school, Cindy will attend the intense five week program attending courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer

science.

PTSD Ranks 6th in Business Times Guide

District Regional Ranking: 6th

District State Ranking: 14th

Grade levels in the top 10:11th Gr. Rank: 10th

8th Gr. Rank: 4th

7th Gr. Rank: 5th

6th Gr. Rank: 4th

In the April 2016 “Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools,” the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked PTSD sixth among 103 districts in our area, up one spot from 2015 and

was the highest ranking district from Washington County. Among the 494 school districts in the state, PT also ranked 14th overall (also up one spot from 2015).

Based on PSSA and Keystone results from the previous three years, PTHS ranked 10th in the region, eighth grade students ranked 4th overall, and the seventh grade ranked 5th.

McMurray Elementary’s sixth grade also ranked 4th overall at that grade level.

All-State Honors for PT MusiciansAll-State Orchestra: Kyle Johnson (cello) All-State Band: Jordan Ranallo (trumpet)

The PTHS seniors above were selected by audition for the PMEA All-State Orchestra and Band. The conference took place March 31-April 2 and was comprised of the most

talented student musicians from across the state. Auditions during the event led Kyle to be placed as first seat for cello and Jordan to be placed as 6th seat for trumpet overall.

PMEA Junior High District Chorus

Max Andrae (baritone),Lucas Dunst (baritone),

Emma Greenberg (soprano), Elise Romero (alto) &Jill Wilson (soprano)

were selected by audition for this honor

Congratulations to PTMS 8th graders above who have been selected by audition to take

part in the PMEA Junior High District Chorus. The event was hosted by Trinity High

School on April 8th and 9th.

Tarzan at PTHS

Congratulations to director Ray

Cygrymus and his cast and crew for

another great show!

Congratulations to director Ray Cygrymus and his outstanding cast a crew for a wonderful

production of Tarzan at the High School this month.

Wildlife Art Contest Winner

PTHS Junior Olivia Castellone placed 4th in the

2016 Youth Wildlife Art Contest sponsored by the

PA Game Commission.

Congratulations to the PTHS junior above who who placed 4th in the 2016 Youth Wildlife

Art Contest sponsored by the PA Game Commission. She earned a $50 cash prize and

her art will now be displayed by the Game Commission, featured on its website and in

the Pennsylvania Game News monthly magazine.

Second Grade Musical

The Rockin’ Rainforest at Pleasant Valley

This week, the second grade team at Pleasant Valley presented the Rockin’ Rainforest –

this musical event is a wonderful synergy of the academic, artistic and musical

curriculum in second grade. The students share informative facts about the rainforest

and our environment along with musical selections from each classroom under the

director of music teacher Barb Viola.

Empty Bowls Fundraiser

McMurray and PTHS Students Take Part in

Empty Bowls Fundraiser

Students at McMurray Elementary and PTHS put their talents to work for the Empty Bowls Dinner in March. The students created bowls to be sold to raise funds for the

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest and to help raise awareness of those facing hunger in our region. The efforts were organized by teachers Kelly Borra

and Kristin DeGiovanni.

Junior Varsity Hockey Wins

PIHL Championship

PTHS JV 2 Hockey takes home the Junior

Varsity Post Season Championship

Congratulations to the Peters Township Junior Varsity 2 Hockey team for winning the PIHL Junior Varsity Post Season Championship Tournament.

HERO Week at Pleasant Valley

Students learn to be a hero at home, on the bus and in the classroom!

Pleasant Valley students celebrated Hero Week in April with theme days that focused on

ways they can be a hero on the bus, in the classroom, on the playground and at home.

Daily features on PVTV shared tips from students and they could even earn raffle tickets

for prizes when they were caught being a hero at home or at school.

McMurray Student Council Provides

Suitcases for Foster Children

Students raised money for Together We Rise to

purchase suitcases for local foster children

Students on the McMurray Elementary student council organized a fundraiser to help foster children in our area. The students raised money for Together We Rise, an

organization that provides suitcases for local foster children who typically carry their belongings in garbage bags. The students collected nearly $500 and purchased 19 “Sweet Cases” and decorative supplies. During an afterschool session they hand decorated each

bag and filled them with kid-friendly necessities. The student council is organized by teacher Paige Seelhorst.

Interact Club Hosts Family Bingo Night

More than $1,000 raised to send wounded veterans and

their families to camp

On April 15, the PTHS Interact Club hosted a Family Bingo Night at the High School. The

event was a fundraiser War Fighter Sports, a nonprofit organization that provides

amputee veterans and their families with an opportunity to attend sports related

camps. Friday night’s event raised $1,000. With matching funds from the McMurray

Rotary Club, the funds will be enough to send two families to camp this year.

PTMS Volunteers with Produce to PeopleStudents repackaged and distributed more than

24,000 pounds of food to 650 families

This past weekend, fourteen PTMS students joined teacher Matt Cheran to volunteer for

Produce to People in McKeesport. They repackaged and distributed more than 24,000

pounds of food to more than 650 families.

PTHS Student Wins $1000 Zonta Club Service Award

Izzy Chopra is named Amelia Earhart Service Award Winner

The PTHS Junior above has been named the Amelia Earhart Service Award Winner by

the Zonta Club of Washington County. Izzy is the first Peters Township student to win the

$1000 grand prize at the event and she was recognized at a special dinner for her

outstanding community service record that includes 150 hours of work for a variety of

organizations.

PV Wins Kids of Steel Grant

Pleasant Valley Elementary is the recipients of a 2016 Kids of STEEL Physical Education Grant worth

$1,000

Congratulations to Pleasant Valley Elementary as the recipients of a 2016 Kids of STEEL

Physical Education Grant worth $1000. Each year the building sponsors a Run Club to

encourage healthy habits among the students and takes part in the Kids of Steel

Marathon. The grant will be used for equipment for the Run Club at the school.

Bowman Named to PSBA Board

School Board member Rebecca Bowman has been named to the PA School Boards Association Bylaws

Committee

Congratulations to Peters Township School Board Vice President Rebecca Bowman who

has been appointed to serve on the Bylaws Committee of the PA School Boards Association.

District ALICE Safety Video wins State Communication Award

The PTHS Media Team has earned an Award of Excellence from the PA School Public Relations

Association for the ALICE Safety Training Video

The PTHS Media Team has earned an Award of Excellence from the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association for the ALICE Safety Training Video. Entries are judged

against submissions from across the state. The video was created as a learning tool for the District’s safety efforts in the Middle and High School. Parents may also find a link to

the video on the District website.