The newly opened Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School
offers unique training in the arts to students of Allegheny,
Westmoreland and Fayette counties.
I
t’s no secret that southwestern
Pennsylvania is filled with rich and vibrant
student opportunities. Westinghouse Arts
Academy Charter School can now add its
name to the list of venues in which students
can acquire a top-notch education in the
arts.
Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter
School opened its doors in September 2017.
“The idea for the school began with a group
of community development experts who
noticed the old Westinghouse Elementary
School—previously Westinghouse
Memorial High School—was for sale,” says
the new school’s principal, Amy Heathcott.
“After some investigation, they learned
just how valuable the building was to the
community and began to think about what
use might be right to bring it back to life.
They felt that a school for the arts might be
the right fit.”
The process of finding the right team to
develop the charter took a few years, but
the charter application was presented to the
East Allegheny School Board in November
2016. They voted to approve the charter last
February, and plans began in earnest to open
the school in the fall. The building is owned
by RPA Holdings, LLC. Construction for
the renovation of the first floor began in
June, and was completed in time for the
first day of school. The initial renovations
provided the school with brand-new kitchen
facilities and dance studio space with Marley
Sprung Floors, as well as common areas and
a secure main entrance.
Westinghouse Arts Academy
Charter School serves students
in grades 9 through 12 who have
an interest and passion for the
arts. As a public charter school,
any Pennsylvania resident may
apply and there are no tuition
fees. Prior to being offered
enrollment, students participate
in an evaluation process, which
includes an interview and presentation of a
portfolio or performance.
Students are evaluated in one of the six
areas: Dance, Digital Arts, Literary Arts,
Music, Studio Arts and Theatre. While
students are evaluated in a particular area,
they are not restricted to taking classes in
that one area. Students can explore any arts
of interest to them.
“What makes our school unique is our
focus on the arts, personalized learning
and a student-centered approach,” says
Heathcott. “Students can create an
educational program customized to their
goals and interests. For example, students
can take traditional arts classes including
sculpture, modern dance and acting, as well
as courses including game design, music
production and world cultures, arts and
crafts.”
Academic classes are taught by certified
teachers and arts classes are taught by
teaching artists with professional experience.
The school employs 26 teachers and
teaching artists as well as a school counselor,
school psychologist and IT director, in
addition to administrative and support staff.
A full-time nurse is also available.
The school currently has 107 students
from 22 school districts in Allegheny,
Westmoreland and Fayette counties.
“Our first spring musical, ‘Crazy for You,’
was held at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater
on March 23 and 24 and was very well-
received,” says Heathcott. The show was
directed by Scott Calhoon, and tells the
story of young New York banker Bobby
Child, who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada,
to foreclose on a rundown theater. There,
Child falls for spunky Polly Baker—the
theater owner’s daughter—who takes an
instant dislike to the city slicker. Comedy
ensues when Child vows to win her heart
and save the theater.
Mt. Pleasant teenager Aliya Pimental,
15, attends Westinghouse Arts Academy
Charter School as a theatre major and
portrayed Polly in “Crazy for You.” Traveling
more than 40 minutes one way to attend
school, she knows there’s no other school
for her. “Westinghouse Arts has been a fun,
crazy, challenging and loveable experience
so far,” she says. “Our first school musical
really brought all of the students together.
Everyone in the cast was equally important,
regardless of role or experience. The cast
had a wide variety of experience levels, and
I think that’s what made it so special! We
pulled each other through, hand-in-hand.”
Shortly after the school opened in the
fall of 2017, a homecoming Open House
was held for alumni and the community.
Alumni from as far back as the class of 1939
attended.
The school held a year-end celebration
event on Saturday, May 19, for family,
friends and the community, to showcase the
students’ accomplishments from this school
year. It featured an Open House, multiple
performances and exhibit
opportunities, and local
food.
For more information
or to begin the
enrollment process, visit
westinghousearts.org. n
MCKEESPORT AREA
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SUMMER 2018
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