DISTRICT NEWS FOR 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR

Athlete of the Week
On Wednesday, April 23rd, Channel 4 was at the high school to honor Matt Hudak for his accomplishments in tennis and in the classroom!

All State Chorus
To read about our student Andrea Palmer, click here!!

Pittsburgh Technical Institute's Visions & Voices 2008 Winners
This year it showcased 710 entries and honored 38 winners. Click here to see the winners.

WCGC Creative Writing Competition
On Friday, Feb.29, Middle School Spectrum students who had mailed entries to the WCGC Creative writing competition traveled to Greater Latrobe Center for Student Creativity to receive their awards. Click here to read more about their accomplishments.

Photography Contest
Recently submitted photographs to a contest sponsored by Belle Vernon Schools, the middle Schools and the high school traveled to Greater Latrobe's Center for Student Creativity. Click here for the student award winners.

PMEA Region I Choral Festival
Students who will attend are Victor D’Alesio, Mark Ferren, Kaelynn Labra, August Matrisch, and Andrea Palmer. The festival will be held at Hickory High School on March 26, 27, & 28.

Volunteers for the Penn-Trafford Educational Foundation
The Penn-Trafford School District is seeking volunteers for our Educational Foundation. The Foundation needs to establish a board of Directors to develop the Foundation's mission and goals and to oversee the work of the Foundation's committees. The main committee is the Fund Development Committee which will spearhead the fund raising. Other committees include: Governance, Allocation, Public Relations, and Alumni Relations. If you are interested in serving on any of these committees or need additional information, please contact Mr. Brett Lago at (724) 744-2121 or penntraffordsd@aol.com.

Child Development Registration
The Penn-Trafford Child Development Center will be accepting registrations for children who will be four (4) years of age on or by September 1, 2008. Interested parents for either the fall or spring semesters should call
(724) 744-4425 to register.

Letter to Parents Regarding Herpes Gladiatorum (click here)
For additional information and links to other web sites, please check the athletics page.

Poster Contest
Our own Sydney Greyno (TMS 7th grader) is one of the top10 finalist in the "Bullying Isn't Cool" poster contest. She is poster #10. Please pass this along to everyone you know so that they can vote for Sydney. You can view her work at: http://kdka.com/slideshows/Bullying.Poster.Contest.20.655007.html?rid=10

Irwin Bank Grant
A special thank you to Irwin Bank for a $9500.00 grant through the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. This money will be used for technology to purchase Smart Boards and Projectors.

Senior Citizen Focus Group - Session #2
Any interested resident who is age 60 or older is invited to join the Senior Citizen Focus Group's second meeting scheduled on Thursday, March 13th at 10:00 a.m. at the Administration Building. Come join us!

Eyeglass Donations
Alex Tamm, Vice President of CAP and PTHS Senior, is collecting eyeglasses at all schools in the district. These eyeglasses will be given to Bushy Run Lions Club who then will donate them to Lens Crafters. Lens Crafters will reuse the lens to make new glasses for those in need.

CWCTC Culinary Arts Students Achievement
Congratulations to Alicia Fallas and Nicole Machnik, Penn Trafford High School seniors and Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center Culinary Arts students, have been accepted into the WCCC/Nemacolin “Earn & Learn” Program. Alicia and Nicole will earn money and college credit while training in the two year apprentice program. Classes will be conducted by WCCC faculty on-site at world class Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington. Upon completion, students will have an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts or Restaurant/Culinary Management. The program is sponsored by the American Culinary Federation Laurel Highlands Chapter and WCCC and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation.

American History Essay Contest Winners
The Phoebe Bayard Chapter is delighted with the participation of the 5th, 6th and 8th grade Penn-Trafford Students in the American History Essay Contest sponsored annually by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Sarah and Royse will be honored with other winners on March 15th at the Bishop Connare Center.

Winners are as follows:
Sarah Bender - Harrison Park - 5th grade winner
Bailey Benteler - Harrison Park - Honorable Mention (5th grade)
Thomas Brady - Sunrise - Honorable Mention (5th grade)
Royse Bachtel - Penn Middle - 6th grade winner
Laura Cook - Penn Middle - Honorable Mention (6th grade)
Kristen Miller - Penn Middle - Honorable Mention (6th grade)

Congratulations to FBLA Winners
The following students received awards at the FBLA regional competition. Sixteen of the students will be competing in Hershey March 31-April 2.

Business Communication	Katelyn Kazousky	* 3rd
Business Ethics	Amy Beatty	5th Team
Business Ethics	Dana Funyak	5th Team
Business Ethics	Zach Wable	5th Team
Business Law	Gabby Defeo	5th
Business Law	Matt Hudak	* 2nd
Desktop Publishing	Colleen Ferguson	* 2nd Team
Desktop Publishing	Rachel Marting	* 2nd Team
Entrepreneurship	Victor D'Alesio	* 1st Team
Entrepreneurship	Eric Loeliger	* 1st Team
Entrepreneurship	Alex Tamm	* 1st Team
Global Business	Geno McCourt	5th Team
Global Business	Ryan Riazzi	5th Team
Global Business	Jenna Loadman	5th Team
Intro to Business	Max Fogle	* 1st
Intro to Business	Kevin Kantorowski	* 2nd
Mgmt Decision Making	Mike Belotti	* 1st Team
Mgmt Decision Making	Sean Dawson	* 1st Team
Mgmt Decision Making	Pat Regan	* 1st Team
Network Design	Greg Gaussa	2nd Team
Network Design	Torren Stoner	2nd Team
Public Speaking II	Zach Krisher	5th
Word Processing I	Rachel Novakovich	* 1st
Word Processing I	Taylor Watterson	3rd
Word Processing I	Julianne Whaley	* 2nd
Word Processing II	Nina Paesaon	* 1st
Word Processing II	Courtney Josselyn	3rd
Word Processing II	Stefanie Williams	4th
* Qualified for States

National School Counseling Week
February 4-8 is National School Counseling week. The theme is "School Counselors: Creating Pathways to Success". Thank you to our counselors.

Personal Care Assistants
The district is currently seeking full-time and substitute personal care assistants to assist individual and/or small groups of students with special needs. Please call 724-744-4496 to obtain an application.

Congratulations Noble Warrior Award Winners
Winners for the second nine weeks are from left to right:
Chelsea Schickel - Social Studies - Mr. Cardamone
Christa Horandt - Guidance - Mr. Martin
Adria Penatzer - Foreign Language - Ms. Fullerton
Nina Paesano - Business - Mrs. Michaux
Casey Markilinski - Music - Mrs. Rubright
Allyson Gass - Health & Physical Education - Mrs. Arzenti
John Colley - Science - Mr. Schall
Ashley Iams - Art - Mrs. Haberberger
Tristan Veitch - Math - Mrs. Myers
Courtney Ludwig - Family & Consumer Sciences - Mrs. Smith
Andrew Barton - Info. Tech. - Mr. Steele
Missing: Brandon Zegarelli - English - Mrs. Tuite

Photos
We have a public photo site for teachers, parents, coaches, students, and community members to upload potential photos for the yearbook. Not all photos will be used, but if any of the booster clubs, coaches, etc., would like to take advantage of this, we would be happy to have them share any great photographs they have of our P-T students!

Website: images.jostens.com
User ID: 1143491
Password: warriors

Wellness Committee  - Volunteers Needed
The Penn-Trafford School district will be evaluating and updating our local wellness policy. If you would like to be a part of this committee, our first meeting will be Tuesday, January 29 at 7:00 pm in the administration building. If interested, please call Sylvia Cardiff at 724-744-4496 and give her your contact information. Local Wellness Policy Information....... (click here)

Celebration Wrap Up!
The totals are in! "Celebrate PT - We're Turning the Page!", held at the Barnes & Noble of Monroeville and in conjunction with Carino's Italian Grille, netted a grand total of $4,339.76 for our district's school libraries. Penn-Trafford would like to thank the many teachers, students and parents that supported the cause and Barnes & Noble for providing PT with this opportunity.

A special "thank you" to the following local businesses, authors and individuals that donated their time and/or items for our raffle baskets:

Pittsburgh Steelers & Jerome Bettis
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Pirates
Giant Eagle of Harrison City
Chief Mastroianni, Penn Township Police Department
Yoga by Liz Farneth
Anni McCoy, Joslin Diabetes Center –
Forbes Lifestyle Center
Nancy Cheskey, United States Post Office
Anna Majocha, Deaf Youth Program
Author Lori Jakiela ’82
Author Dave Crawley (KDKA)
Author Philip Beard
Author Dr. Fred Bortz
Author “Aunt Debra" Pedrow
Author Nancy Skultety

Did you know?
Max Doran was recently one of Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd". He was honored for his success in Track & Field. Max is a 7th grader at Trafford Middle School. Congratulations Max!!!!

Sunrise Elementary Presented with American Flag
On Monday, October 22, 2007 SSgt. Laura L. (Monzo) Perry, United States Air Force 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, based at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, presented Sunrise Elementary School with an American Flag. The deployed C-130H Crew flew this American flag on a combat mission over the skies of Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Marasti invited the entire school to be part of the flag dedication ceremony. SSgt. Laura L. Perry raised the flag as her brother Tom Monzo , niece Ashley, nephew Lucas and all of the students and staff of Sunrise looked on. SSgt. Perry led the school in the Pledge of Allegiance following the raising of the flag and spoke briefly with the students about the dedication of the U.S. military to freedom. After flying high over Sunrise Elementary that day, the flag will be on constant display in the school's all-purpose room.

A Boundless Thank You
PT would like to thank Hasbro, Playskool and Gametime for the Boundless Playground at McCullough Elementary that will benefit all children in the area. Click here for photos of the Grand Opening Event.

A Boundless thank you to our Community Groups that contributed to the construction:
Dollar Bank Loan Centers		Penn-Trafford Education Association
Excela Health		Penn-Trafford Graphics Technology Club
Friends of PTARC		Penn-Trafford School Board and Administration
Giant Eagle, Penn Crossing		Proskin Concrete Construction
High Mark Blue Cross		Ranbar Technology
Home Depot, Greensburg		Respironics
Home Depot, Monroeville		Supancic Excavating
Irwin Bank and Trust		Teacher Excellence Center
Lanes Hardware		The Crafty Shack
McCullough Students and Parents		United Way of Westmoreland County
McCullough Teachers		University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Multi Metals Company

Teacher Recognition Program
Do you know a talented teacher in our district who gets their students interested in the subject material and excited to learn? Do you know an outstanding teacher who goes the extra mile to inspire his or her students to do their best? Now is your chance to thank them for their hard work and dedication! Click here for details.

Barnes & Noble Celebrations
Penn-Trafford will held a district-wide celebration at the Barnes & Noble of Monroeville.






This event will showcase our school community. A percentage of Barnes & Noble profits from "Celebrate PT" will be used by librarians to purchase additional Barnes & Noble books and materials for each of the district's eight libraries.

Congratulations McCullough Elementary!!!!!
Penn-Trafford School District was notified on April 13, 2007, that McCullough Elementary was chosen to receive the $300,000 universally accessible Boundless Playground.

Boundless Playground
On January 31, 2007 the Penn-Trafford School District was officially notified by Boundless Playgrounds, Playskool, and Game Time that McCullough Elementary is 1 of 20 finalists in the nation with a chance to receive a $300,000 universally accessible playground.

A Boundless Playground is a fun place full of ergonomically designed equipment for students of ALL abilities to enjoy and use together.

For more information go to:
www.BoundlessPlaygrounds.org
www.Playskool.com
www.GameTime.com

Swissvale Music Store Donates Guitar
Recently, the owners of the Swissvale Music Store, donated a Yamaha RBX 800A Bass Guitar to the Penn Middle School Band and Jazz Band. The students were very excited and anxious to play the guitar. Thank you to Gary Scott and Ray Falcsik for their generous donation.

Deer Valley 2007 Patch Design Winner
The winner of the patch design was Level Green student, Matthew Rauso from Mrs. Babik's class.
Congratulations Matthew!!!!!!