A Joy to Behold
Few high school traditions can compare to the celebration of
homecoming. School spirit, crisp fall air and the return of alumni
characterize this nostalgic autumn custom. One of the most
anticipated events of the season is the election of Homecoming
Queen. This year, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students chose
seven seniors to represent Greensburg Salem’s homecoming
court, with Queen Mary Joy receiving the crown from last year’s
Queen, Emma Slezak. Mary is a National Merit Semi-Finalist who
is applying to Ivy League schools with the intent to study prelaw. Congratulations and best of luck, Mary!
Lieutenant Kathy Logan of Westmoreland County Park Police and driver
Lynn Booher prepare preschool students for their first time aboard a
school bus.
First Student Drives
to Safety Town
GRE E NS BU RG SAL E M SC H OOL DI ST RIC T NE WS
reensburg Salem
Left to right: 2016 Queen Mary Joy and her court: Nicole Fandel,
Katarina Trask, Joey Lux, Emily Indof, Madeline Huey and Isabella Lucci
(Photo compliments of Rosemarie O’Neill)
Mary with her parents,
Saju and Bindu Joy.
Student safety is a high priority for Greensburg Salem School
District, as well as for student transportation partner, First Student.
The familiar, knowledgeable, and trusted bus drivers of First
Student not only deliver Greensburg Salem students safely to
and from school, they extend their support to other community
organizations and activities. The transportation company
delivered a bus to Safety Town, a program held at Twin Lakes’
Peach Park. Safety Town, a free event sponsored by Westmoreland
County Park Police, debuted in September to allow children an
opportunity to familiarize themselves with traffic signals and
school bus safety, as well as interact with fire, emergency medical
service, and police personnel.
First Student bus driver, Lynn Booher, engaged preschool
students in an interactive experience, sharing safety tips for
boarding the bus, encouraging students to sit tall with their backs
against the seats, and even allowing the youngsters to pretend to
be the driver and beep the horn! Her patient explanation of safety
rules and appropriate bus behavior made the first time onboard a
comfortable, relaxing practice run for the upcoming kindergarten
students. Lynn exemplifies the qualities of a professional driver,
and Greensburg Salem is proud to partner with First Student
because of drivers like her!
GSEF Awards Spring Golden Apple Grants
Seven GSEF members were recently deemed recipients of Greensburg Salem Education Foundation’s Golden Apple Grant. Teachers and
staff submitted their applications outlining projects, materials, and equipment that would support and enhance student learning and
school initiatives in the classroom. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $35,000 in grants during
the past three years.
The most recent Golden Apple Grant recipients are:
Michelle Sparrow, Hutchinson: “Animation Exploration & Think, Make, Share” $705
Amy Harvey, Hutchinson: “Engaging Learners in Interactive Ways” $374
Pam Leonard, Metzgar: “Stories Connect Us: Differentiating Kate DiCamillo“ $446
Holly Miller, Nicely: “We Like to Move It!” $642
Jonelle Dini, Nicely: “Getting Moving in Kindergarten” $901
Ruth Lutz, all buildings: “Tech. for Speech & Language Therapy” $1,736
Darryl Audia, Middle School: “Digital Photography and Photo Manipulation” $1,658
The Greensburg Salem Education Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing opportunities for students
of the Greensburg Salem School District through grants, scholarships, and programs. To join, please email Melissa Bowman at
[email protected] or visit the district website and follow the GSEF link for membership information.
36 | Greensburg-Salem