Back to School Tailgate Kicks Off Mini-THON Fundraising
The Mini-THON Team
and Cornhole Winners
T
he 2018-2019 Mini-THON team jump started the school year
with their “Back to School Tailgate” held at Greensburg Salem
High School in August. The fundraising event featured a
cornhole tournament, DJ, car show, and cookout to raise funds and
awareness for childhood cancer.
Nearly 64 student and teacher teams competed in the tournament
for the prize of custom cornhole boards. GSHS’s own principal,
Mr. David Zilli, and his son, Christian, led the brackets with perfect
technique to become the cornstars of the day!
Seniors Malia Anderson, Daj Hertzog, Keara Lint, Allie Zahorchak,
and Natalia Zucco, along with teachers Mr. Jeremy Lenzi and Mr. Matt
Boe, collaborated to plan the 4th year of Greensburg Salem’s Mini-
THON events. Last year’s team raised over $35,000.00 for
Four Diamonds, and the group strives to surpass last year’s fundraising
total.
Four Diamonds Mini-THONS are interactive events that bring
together students to team up in the fight to conquer childhood cancer.
The GSHS Mini-THON team will host fundraisers throughout the year
leading up to the overnight dance marathon on March 23, 2019.
Allie Zahorchak was thrilled with the success of the kickoff tailgate
event, which raised over $1,500.00. “We are all passionate about the
program because we have heard stories from families affected by
childhood cancer.”
Teammate Keara Lint hopes upcoming events are just as successful.
“We will be hosting a movie night in the courtyard, flocking yards with
flamingos, and walking in Greensburg’s Holiday Parade,” Keara stated.
As for why she chose to be a part of this year’s Mini-Thon, she shared, “I
wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and help people
who really need it.”
Senior Daj Hertzog has participated in Mini-THON events since he
was a freshman and knew he wanted to be a part of the team before
graduation. “I loved seeing the smiles on the faces of Elsa Breakey and
Sam Jobe, the girls who brought Mini-Thon to GS, each year at the final
reveal,” he said. “I told myself I WILL be a part of this when I am a senior!”
Help the students meet their goal by participating in upcoming
fundraisers and events. Visit the GSHS Mini-THON Facebook page for
the latest news!
Hutchinson Elementary Receives STEAM Catalyst Grant
S
tudents
and staff at
Hutchinson
Elementary will soon
reap the benefits of
the 2018-2019 STEAM
Catalyst Grant, funded
by the Allegheny
Intermediate Unit
through the generosity
of the Grable and
Hillman Foundations.
Their project, “All
for STEAM and STEAM
for All!,” received $16,500.00 to focus on supporting and challenging
the K-5 students of their school, a vibrant, enthusiastic group of
learners from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and socioeconomic
levels, to further develop their Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,
and Mathematics (STEAM) abilities. Principal Kevin Bringe, Assistant
Principal Lindsay Scarpo, Coordinator of Technology Chris Suppo,
Community Liaison Melissa Bowman, and encore teachers Cheryl
Carnicelli, Michelle Sparrow, and Sherry Thomas collaborated to
develop the concept. The goal of the project is to increase ease and
access to STEAM materials during the school day by reimagining the
library space and developing interdisciplinary opportunities with
both Encore and classroom teachers, as well as increase accessibility
to technology and resources for students beyond the school day with
the expansion and promotion of the STEAM Lending Library.
The STEAM Lending Library, initiated during the 2017-2018
school year, enables students to take materials home to complete
“challenges” with their families. Students can take home robots, circuit
kits, K’nex and other materials home to explore and build with their
Friends sharing the
Lego wall at Hutch
38
GREENSBURG SALEM
families. Because of the high number of economically disadvantaged
students who may have little to no access to quality learning materials
or technology in the home setting, teachers and administrators
were challenged to pursue creative avenues to maintain students’
excitement and desire to learn outside of school hours. Through grant
funding, Hutchinson will secure STEAM materials for student use,
such as iPads, reusable art supplies, animation and robotics kits, and
cameras for documentation, as well as redesign the current library
space to allow for student and teacher access to resources and equity
across grade levels.
The librarian, STEAM teacher and art teacher will collaborate to
develop interdisciplinary lessons, as well as “challenges” that make
connections between what they read in the library, create during
art, and experiment with in STEAM class to supplement the Lending
Library. The spark to question, design, deduce, build and play has
been ignited in Hutchinson students, and the “All for STEAM and
STEAM for All!” project will keep their fiery drive to learn burning
bright!
Building a “community”
in STEAM class!