IN Carlynton-Montour Summer 2016 | Page 54

MAKING HEADLINES continued C ARLYN TON S CH OOL DI STR IC T NE WS arlynton-Montour barrel painting project within the Peer-toPeer science curriculum. The elementary gifted education students at Carnegie and Crafton, with teacher Cynthia Eddy and parent Deneen Underwood, are also using the 50-gallon rain barrels as canvases and a conservation endeavor. Barrels by the Bay provided the barrels, paints and brushes as well as a curriculum for students to learn about Pittsburgh’s three rivers and how storm water runoff issues can be minimized through the use of rain barrels. The Carnegie barrel will be placed behind the school to capture rain water from downspouts for watering the courtyard vegetable and herb garden during the summer months. The high school and Crafton Elementary barrels will be placed in Crafton Park and used to water crops in the Crafton Community Garden. Freshmen David Holderbaum and Alawna Mallory, eighth grader Elizabeth Duffy and seventh graders Martial Delrosario and Zachary Holderbaum were selected to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association annual chorus festival held April 8 at Trinity High School. The students were selected by audition and chaperoned by choral teacher Rebecca Chenette. The festival combines over 150 students from local school districts who rehearse and perform in a grand concert before family and friends. Carnegie and Crafton elementary third graders recently took part in spelling bee contests sponsored by the local Rotarians. In mid-April, seven Crafton Elementary youngsters set out to compete against peers from St. Philip School in Crafton and Burkett Elementary in the Montour School District. Hosted by the Crafton-Ingram Rotary, the bee was held in the Crafton Community Center. After numerous rounds of challenging words, three Crafton Elementary students captured the top spots. Charlie Burcham finished in first, as the Crafton Elementary spelling champion, with Shaunte DelucaTurner in second and Mateo Carrasco in third. The students received $100, $50 and $25 savings bond, respectively. The Carnegie Elementary spelling bee, sponsored by the Carnegie-Collier Rotary, was held in early May in the school’s The top three spelling bee winners from Crafton Elementary included Mateo Carrasco, Charlie Burcham, champion, and Shaunte Deluca-Turner. Junior Ziaire Teagle offers support to senior Hannah Phillips as she paints a design on a 50-gallon water barrel. With a goal to promote awareness and tolerance, Carnegie Elementary sixth graders LaJuan Turner, Tyler Masdea, T’Rell Gibbs, Jaila Haygood-Calhoun, Arionna Lemon, Neena Aguon and Mary Duffy inspired classmates to support those with autism. Peer-to-Peer classmates proudly displayed the finished water barrel, which incorporated the handprint of every student on the back side of the container. The National Honor and National Junior Honor Societies assisted Meals on Wheels by preparing over 100 nonperishable meals to be used in an emergency situation. The meals contained soup, instant macaroni and cheese, fruit or applesauce, a cookie and a bottle of water. Students worked after school to complete the project, one of several community service projects undertaken during the school year. 52 Carlynton-Montour In April, Carnegie Elementary Soon-to-be-Best Buddies volunteered to be buddies to students in the Autistic Support classroom. As a reverse-inclusion activity, sixth graders paired with younger students to play games, lead activities and model appropriate behavior. The interaction fostered friendships, team work and tolerance for one another’s differences. As a result, the sixth graders joined in supporting an annual fundraising drive during Autism Awareness month in April by selling puzzle pieces for a dollar or $5. During a morning gathering in the auditorium, Neena Aguon, Mary Duffy, T’Rell Gibbs, Jaila HaygoodCalhoun, Arionna Lemon, Tyler Masdea and LaJuan Turner stood before the student body to describe familiar traits of autism and present a short video. Crafton Elementary students also supported the autism fundraising campaign. The money raised collectively, over $600, was then donated to the Pittsburgh Autism Society.