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 is planning a year-end
celebration event on Saturday, May 19,
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
for family, friends and
the community, to
showcase the students’
accomplishments from
this school year. It will
feature an Open House,
multiple performances and
exhibit opportunities, and
local food.
For more information
or to begin the
enrollment process, visit
westinghousearts.org. n
MONROEVILLE
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SUMMER 2018
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