West Allegheny to Host Gold Card Club Holiday Breakfast

Foundation Grants for 2012-2013 Announced
The West Allegheny Foundation Grants for Teachers program awarded 15 grants totaling nearly $17,000 for the following
innovative educational projects for the 2012-2013 school year:
Etiquette Everywhere (Wilson
Elementary) - Proper etiquette is important
in everyday life. This instruction
includes a four-lesson plan taught by the
teachers in fifth grade.
Make It! Take It! (Wilson Elementary)
- This afterschool program involves
parents and students coming together to
create at-home activities that promote
literacy. The goal is to give parents the
tools they need to be successful in
supporting their child’s educational
development.
High School Reading
Resource Library (High School) -
Designed to enhance the resource library,
this program will expand the list of high
interest books as recommended by the
American Library Association.
Writing with the Writers (High
School) - This project invites professional
writers to visit high school AP
Language and Composition classes and
will give college-bound students an
opportunity to work with a professional
writer in a workshop format.
Leveled Library - Resource
for all Teachers (Donaldson
Elementary) - Book sets are made
available for teachers to use in the
differentiated small group reading groups
and are offered at a variety of levels that
match the reading levels of students in
kindergarten through fifth grade.
Wood Shed (High School) - The
High School Technology Department had
limited space for its lumber supply. The
shed was built by students and teachers
to elevate and store the wood.
Donaldson Delivers (Donaldson
Elementary) - A school-wide, yearlong
community service project will be implemented
to assist the local food pantry.
The second graders will be introduced to
the concept of community service through
a variety of activities that relate to the
nonfiction book, “10 Ways I Can Help My
Community.”
Trout in the Classroom (High
School) - This is an interdisciplinary
program that introduces coldwater
conservation education in Pennsylvania
schools by raising brook trout, a native
coldwater species, from eggs to fingerlings.
The program is also used as a
backdrop to learn water quality parameters
and other chemistry applications.
Coach Connect (Middle School) -
This program will assist students in
improving skills needed for standardized
testing. Coach Connect is a web-based,
student friendly program that prepares
students for the rigors of the PSSA, as
well as other standardized tests.
Donaldson Park: Learning
Laboratory (Donaldson Elementary) -
Donaldson Park is utilized in this program
as a resource to support science education
curriculum goals while improving
opportunities for visitors to the park to
learn about the local ecosystem.
Battle of the Books (High School)
- Selected students will read five different
books and participate in multiple meetings
to discuss the books. The program
encourages students to read outside the
classroom.
New Gold Card Club Members Welcomed!
(4 Grants) Altering the
Architecture (Donaldson
Elementary) - This program implements
a new organizational management
system within the classroom that
supports reading behaviors through
best practices such as leveled reading
practice, guided reading, and small
group instruction.
Going On-line in Debate
(High School) - This program will allow
the school’s forensic team to use
laptop computers to gain instant
internet access to sources and up-todate
information. This access will also
assist students in writing and rewriting
arguments quickly during competitions.
“The Best Me is Drug Free”
2012 Red Ribbon Week (Wilson
Elementary) - Red Ribbon Week is the
nation’s oldest and largest drug
prevention program reaching millions
of Americans every October. By
wearing Red Ribbons, young people
pledge to live a drug-free life.
Appalachian Dulcimers in
the Classroom (McKee Elementary)
- Dulcimers are traditional,
stringed folk instruments that evolved
in the Appalachian Mountains in the
1800s.
Fifth grade students in cooperative
learning groups will build, design, and
paint the dulcimers for all students to
enjoy in the music classroom for many
years to come.
The West Allegheny School District continues to welcome new members into its Gold Card Club. Residents who are at least
age 60 and live in the West Allegheny School District may pick up a gold card at the district office located at Donaldson Elementary
School, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. A driver's license or other proof of age and residence is required.
The Gold Card entitles members to attend all school district-sponsored activities for which there is normally a charge. These
events include a variety of concerts, plays, science fairs, art shows, and athletic activities. Special events, including a December
holiday breakfast and a luncheon in conjunction with the spring musical production, are also included in member benefits.
Membership does not, however, provide free admission to fund-raising events or other activities sponsored by booster organizations.
Visit the West Allegheny School District Web site at www.westasd.org for the District calendar, and a wide variety of both school
and community information.