AT EIGHTH-ANNUAL AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK CELEBRATION
Students in the Gifted Program who spoke at this event included:
Seated, L-R: Connor Baverso (Guest of Honor), Emily Jumba, Isha Vyas, Ciara Giran, Elizabeth Zapanta.
Standing, L-R: Charlie Blenko, Dan Coughenour, Anthony Anselmino, Quinn Kubistek, Luke Snyder.
N
orwin School District celebrated American Education
Week by hosting the eighth-annual Business-
Education-Community Program, an event that
shines a spotlight on student achievement and
brings representatives of the greater Norwin community into
the school setting.
This year’s program theme was “Public Education: A
Treasured Gift,” and it featured students who have benefitted
from the Norwin Gifted Program. The program was held
Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at Norwin High School.
This year, approximately 120 people attended, representing
leaders in the local business, education, and government
sectors.
Norwin has 308 students in the Gifted program. These
students participate in a variety of activities, led by Gifted
teachers, that are geared towards providing students with a
selection of activities that meet their individual needs.
Master of Ceremonies Charles Blenko, a Grade 12 Gifted
Student, recalled how he entered the gifted program in the
second grade. He shared that the Gifted Program provided
him and his fellow students with many hands-on activities
and opportunities to learn and grow in unique ways. “At
each gathering of gifted students, we brought together our
unique minds and abilities to perform, design experiments,
memorize digits of pi, and learn about history in an incredible
tapestry of talent,” Charles said.
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NORWIN
The extra efforts of several Norwin Gifted teachers made
this year’s program possible. They included:
n
Ms. Ciminy St. Clair, Coordinator of High School Gifted
Education
n Dr. Constance DeMore Savine, Coordinator of Middle
School Gifted Education
n Mrs. Trisha Brunazzi, Coordinator of Intermediate School
Gifted Education
n Mrs. Laura Swick, Coordinator of Elementary School
Gifted Education
n Ms. Angela Mazur, High School Gifted Case Manager and
ELA Teacher
n Mrs. Larissa Sturm, High School Gifted Case Mgr. and
Social Studies Teacher
n Mrs. Gretchen Sweeney, High School Gifted Case Manager
and ELA Teacher
“The gifted program at Norwin is dedicated to our
students to offer them acceleration as well as enrichment
not only in the classroom environment, but also through a
wide range of community resources,” said Ms. Ciminy St. Clair,
Gifted Coordinator.
American Education Week presents all Americans with
an opportunity to celebrate public education and honor
individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that
every child receives a quality education.