IN Bethel Park Spring 2017 | Page 46

HAWK TIME DESIGNED TO HELP ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IMPROVE
TWO TEACHERS HONORED IN HERSHEY AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

HAWK TIME DESIGNED TO HELP ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IMPROVE

The theme for the 2016-2017 school year is“ All Learners Grow,” and all Bethel Park elementary students are working to achieve that goal through a new program called Hawk Time.

Beginning with the second nine week grading period, all elementary students— kindergarten through fourth grade— are participating in Hawk Time to help them to grow academically.
Hawk Time is a scheduled class period held during the regular school day that utilizes flexible grouping across grade levels to provide enrichment to students who need it, as well as remediation as appropriate to those who need some extra help.
This concept, originally designed to be phased into the elementary school day, will be fully functional and operational by the end of the school year.
Franklin Fourth Grade Teacher Amy Luzader works with a group of students during Hawk Time.
Hawk Time focuses on the PA Core Standards in English Language Arts and Math. Hawk Time will not replace instruction in these two areas; rather, it will supplement what is already going on in our classrooms on a daily basis.
The Bethel Park School District is extremely excited about the potential
that Hawk Time will have to positively impact student achievement, because this will take differentiation of instruction to the next level and will provide our students with a more customized learning approach.

TWO TEACHERS HONORED IN HERSHEY AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

ethel Park

BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT

Two Bethel Park School District teachers were honored as Finalists for the 2017 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

They are Benjamin Franklin Elementary School Fourth Grade Teacher Katherine Meucci and Bethel Park High School Marketing Teacher Emily Smoller. They were among a group of 12 Finalists who were honored at a ceremony held in Hershey, PA on December 5, where the 2017 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year was named by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Mrs. Meucci has been teaching in Bethel Park since 2014. Previously, she taught for nine years in Northern Virginia.
Mrs. Smoller is a 1997 Bethel Park High School graduate, who is in her 10th year of teaching at the high school and serving as the high school’ s DECA sponsor.
Mrs. Meucci was introduced at the Teacher of the Year ceremony by former student Emalia Sillman, and Mrs. Smoller was introduced by BPHS junior Sabrina Tatalias. Also in attendance from the
District were Superintendent Dr. Joseph Pasquerilla, Director of Secondary Education Janet O’ Rourke, BPHS Principal Dr. Zeb Jansante, Franklin Principal Teresa Doumont and BPHS English Teacher and 2009 Finalist Charles Youngs.
These two teachers now join six other Bethel Park teachers who have been recognized in this program since 2008. They are: Bethel Park High School English Teacher Nicola Hipkins( 2014 Semifinalist and Finalist); Bethel Park High School Science Teacher Clyde Qualk( 2013 and 2014 Semifinalist); Bethel Park High School English Teacher Christopher Jack( 2012 Semifinalist and Finalist); William Penn Fourth Grade Teacher Kathryn Clifford( 2011 Semifinalist); Bethel Park High School English Teacher Charles Youngs( 2009 Semifinalist and Finalist) and retired William Penn Kindergarten Teacher Cindy Buckley( 2008 Semifinalist).
Congratulations, Mrs. Meucci and Mrs. Smoller, and thank you for making Bethel Park proud!
( Front row, left to right): Emalia Sillman, Katherine Meucci, Emily Smoller and Sabrina Tatalias;( back row, left to right): Janet O’ Rourke, Charles Youngs, Dr. Zeb Jansante and Dr. Joseph Pasquerilla gather in Hershey, PA to celebrate the District’ s 2017 PA Teacher of the Year Finalists. Also in attendance was Franklin Principal Teresa Doumont, who took this photo.
( Left to right): Emily Smoller and K. D. Meucci
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