Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Students will see new faces --and familiar faces in new positions -- as they return to classes this year.

Eden Christian Academy in Ross and Sewickley Academy have new headmasters, while Avonworth has a new superintendent.

New principals are in place in Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall, North Catholic High School in Troy Hill, St. Bonaventure in Shaler, St. Teresa of Avila in Ross, and in Deer Lakes, Hampton, Highlands, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Shaler Area, and South Butler County school districts. Butler Area School District has hired about 40 new teachers and support staff.

There are other changes too. Many districts have expanded course offerings, added new sports, upgraded Web sites, spruced up facilities, and continued work on construction projects.

Here is a summary of what's happening this school year in some local schools.

Allegheny Valley

Start date: Started Monday in grades 4-12; yesterday in grades K-3

Estimated enrollment: 1,250

What's new: Roberta Rowan is new special education coordinator. A new math curriculum, Cognitive Tutor, is being used in grades 8, 9 and 10. Keyboarding is now being taught in grades 4, 5, and 6. The district has reinstated department chairs to work as liaisons between staff and administration in grades K-12.

Aquinas Academy

Start date: Yesterday

Estimated enrollment: 190

What's new: James McInerney is new assistant headmaster. The school is now offering the Aquinas Achievement Scholarship, a $500 competitive scholarship for students in grades 6 to 12.

Avonworth

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 1,363

What's new: Valerie McDonald has been appointed superintendent. McDonald, former assistant superintendent, was given a four-year contract and will replace James DeTrude.

A state-of-the-art athletic field/track is complete. It includes a 6-lane, all-weather track, surrounded by a six-foot paved walking path and an Astroplay Synthetic Turf football/soccer surface.

Butler Area

Start date: Yesterday

Estimated enrollment: 8,430

What's new: A soccer practice field is under construction at the intermediate high school. The district has hired 40 new teachers and support staff.

Cheswick Christian Academy

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 210

What's new: The school is celebrating its 25th anniversary. There are new computers in the elementary computer lab and new gym equipment. New electives include life skills, child development, craft class, and a class just for boys at the secondary school. Changes to the dress code prohibit hats, tattoos, facial, body piercings other than earrings, and nontraditional hairstyles and hair colors.

Christ the Divine Teacher

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 170

What's new: John Marino is the school's new principal.

Deer Lakes

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 2,200

What's new: Christopher Brough is new principal at Curtisville Primary Center. Former Principal Janet Ciramella, is now assistant superintendent. William McClarnon replaces the retiring Robert Warner as high school principal. The search continues for a new middle school principal. The technology department has new computer equipment and a new reading program is being used in grades K-5.

Eden Christian Academy

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 539

What's new: Todd Aiken, former assistant headmaster, replaces the retiring David Lloyd as headmaster.

Fox Chapel

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 4,645

What's new: Kerr elementary has new windows, fresh paint and a refurbished exterior.

Fox Chapel Country Day School

Start date: Next Wednesday

Estimated enrollment: 114

What's new: Belinda Stuetelberg is the first grade teacher. Tami Fire is music and pre-K teacher.

Hampton

Start date: Next Wednesday

Estimated enrollment: 3,230

What's new: Kenneth DiDonato, former assistant principal of Moon High School, replaces the retiring Harry Sarver as middle school principal. Roberta Good is the new principal at Wyland Elementary, replacing Dean Casello, who resigned. Ronald Petroff replaces Lurrene Parker as high school band director. Parker will teach elementary music.

New curriculum includes journalism at the high school and a reading program, Power4Kids, at Central and Wyland elementaries. Girls' lacrosse is now a district-sponsored sport.

The district is launching a revamped Web site. The upgrade includes hotlinks where students and parents can view homework assignments; guidance pages with information on testing, colleges, college visits and counseling information; teacher pages; and curriculum and staff directories.

Reconstruction of the middle school will be finished by the end of October.

Highlands

Start date: Tomorrow

Estimated enrollment: 3,100

What's new: Middle school renovations are finished and feature a new classroom wing, library, technology center, cafeteria and football and track stadium.

Debbie Beucher is assistant principal at the high school and middle school. Shauna Braun Zukowski was named assistant principal at the middle school, replacing Frank Moxie who moves into the middle school principal position.

Holy Spirit

Did not provide information.

Mars Area

Start date: Yesterday

Estimated enrollment: 2,719

What's new: Middle school pupils will start classes earlier; school hours are now 7:30 a.m. to 2:24 p.m.

Mount Alvernia

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 90

What's new: Kim Smith is the school's new development director. The school will host a Fall Fest on Oct. 3-4 with arts, crafts, games and food.

North Allegheny

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 8,223

What's new: Mary Linton replaces Erv Weischedel as assistant superintendent of secondary education. Alice Hirsch, formerly of Deer Lakes, was named to the newly created assistant superintendent of curriculum position. Ron Perry is manager of academic technology and Cindy Stewart was named acting staff development coordinator to replace Claire Haislip, who is on sabbatical. The district also hired about 30 new teachers.

North Allegheny High School campus renovations are complete.

North Catholic High School

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 400

What's new: Edward Scheid, a former teacher, has been named principal. He replaces George Lisjak who is returning to teaching. Steve McGough is the new music director.

A physical fitness center renovation is complete and includes $200,000 worth of equipment provided by a National School Fitness Foundation grant.

Northgate

Start date: Tuesday

Estimated enrollment: 1,560

What's new: The middle school/high school library has a new computer lab. Several new math programs are in place at the high school and elementary levels. The high school has digital microscopes and the district is expanding technology classes at the elementary and secondary levels.

The district also is implementing an antibullying program in grades K-9. Channel One news will air in classrooms in the morning.

North Hills

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 4,900

What's new: Mark Kline, principal at Highcliff for the past five years, has been named principal of West View. He replaces Butch Angelucci, who took a job in another district. Dr. Darlene Tartaglione, who accepted an assistant principal position at the district's junior high in June, has been named principal of Highcliff Elementary School.

North Hills Christian School

Start date: Next Wednesday

Estimated enrollment: 90

What's new: The school is welcoming several staff members: Karen Lagunowich will teach science and calculus at the high school, Terry Buterbaugh will teach Bible, geometry and music at the high school, Deborah Bailie will teach a combined second- and third-grade class, Mindy Buterbaugh will teach elementary art, music and physical education.

Pine-Richland

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 3,865

What's new: Laura Davis replaces Rebecca Cunningham as high school principal. The district has adopted several new reading and language arts series for the elementary level.

Quaker Valley

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 1,980

What's new: Velma Saire is acting high school principal. Construction at Osborne Elementary is scheduled for completion in November. The middle school social studies curriculum has been revised and the district is drafting an elementary health curriculum.

Quigley High School

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 197

What's new: New lights and other building updates are in place. David Odorisio is the school's new religion teacher.

St. Alexis

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 419

What's new: Did not provide information.

St. Alphonsus

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 539

What's new: Construction is under way on a new gym, scheduled for completion in March. Spanish is taught twice a week in seventh and eighth grades.

St. Bonaventure

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 460

What's new: Chris Squire is replacing Sister John Ann Mulhern as principal. The middle school has new lockers.

St. Joseph High School

Start date: Tuesday

Estimated enrollment: 143

What's new: The school is using Power School Student Information System, a Web-based product that provides discretionary access to student information. Additional classes in art and computer science are being offered. Air conditioning has been installed in all classrooms.

St. Sebastian

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 431

What's new: Did not provide information.

St. Theresa of Avila

Start date: Tomorrow

Estimated enrollment: 360

What's new: Sister Karen Brink, former director of religious education, is now principal. James Rosetti has been hired as instrumental band instructor. A new religion curriculum is in place.

Seneca Valley

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 7,857

What's new: A new dress code is in place and is outlined on the district's Web site. Students in grades 7-12 will wear identification badges that will be be used to check out library books, to buy food in the cafeteria and to expedite the drug testing program.

The district will implement a redesigned reading and language arts curriculum for elementary. There are new textbooks for secondary social studies, speech and business classes.

Two renovation/addition projects are complete, one at the 7-8 grade middle school and one at Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School, grades K-4

Sewickley Academy

Start date: Tuesday

Estimated enrollment: 800

What's new: John O'Connor began July 1 as head of school.

Shady Side Academy

Start date: Monday

Estimated enrollment: 955

What's new: This summer the Academy broke ground on the Hillman Center for Performing Arts, expected to open next August.

Shaler Area

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 5,506

What's new: The high school has a new television studio and will offer a TV production class. The technology education department is implementing robotics units into some classes. A new communication arts curriculum has been adopted in grades K-4.

Eric Stennett has been named principal of Jeffery Elementary. Leah McCord has been named principal of Rogers Elementary. New athletic director is Paul Holzshu.

South Butler County

Start date: Today

Estimated enrollment: 2,900

What's new: Joanne Galardy, former assistant principal at Knoch Middle School, is principal at the high school. Richard Cavett will fill Galardy's previous position. Thomas Tibbott, former elementary principal and human resources director,is now principal of South Butler Intermediate Elementary School. The district is implementing its strategic plan.

Transfiguration

Start date: Started Monday

Estimated enrollment: 100

What's new: Cross country and soccer for grades 4 to 8.

Vincentian Academy

Start date: Freshman started Monday; others started yesterday

Estimated enrollment: 275

What's new: Interior renovations are complete and include a new library, cafeteria and updated classrooms. Girls' volleyball, boys' tennis and boys' lacrosse are new sports.

Winchester Thurston (North campus)

Start date: Tomorrow

Estimated enrollment: 87

What's new: Did not provide information.

Correction/Clarification: (Published Sept. 3, 2003) Information for St. Athanasius School, in West View, was omitted from the school roundup list. Classes began last Wednesday. During the summer, gym renovations were completed and classrooms were painted. This year, as part of the eighth-grade art curriculum, pupils will learn to sew. The seventh-grade class will update and maintain the school's new Web site. Lynn Schneider was hired as a full-time teacher.

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