IN Peters Township December 2019/January 2020 | Page 77

They soon also found that their
team was growing. Everyone
wanted to help and make their mark
on this exciting venture. To allow
more people to take part, McAfoose
mixed the paint and did much of
the outlining of the artwork. Staff
members and parents who wanted
to pitch in could stop by and pick
up a paint brush as time allowed. It
became Bower Hill’s very own paint
by number project.
“So many of us found it relaxing
to take a short break in our day
and go paint for even just five
minutes,” said Assistant Principal
Jennifer Carfano. “It has been
amazing to watch all of the pieces
come together. Our Beautification
Committee has created a warm and
welcoming feel to our school for
students, staff, and our Bower Hill
families.”
Staff and students alike looked
forward to the progress and new
additions added to the wall as the
project got underway. Kindergarten
students even asked to go sit on the
stairs and watch the adults paint as
part of their free time.
“It was fun for kids to come
through the stairwells and see so
many of their teachers involved in
the project,” added Hanak. “It really
made it feel like a school-wide
project.”
Hallway paintings also adorn the
walls outside the library at Bower
Hill where a school bus is featured
with spots for the students’ favorite
book characters to take a seat. Piatt
organized a student vote among
third graders last year, and now
Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid
sits on the bus. Each class will have
a chance to leave their legacy at
Bower Hill with their addition to
the bus before they move on to 4th
grade.
As the master planner of the
Beautification Committee, Piatt is
already looking for what else they
can do at the school. She’s enlisted
the help of 3rd grader teacher Brent
Killen to use his carpentry skills
on an outdoor sensory path for
students and even some additions
for outdoor gym class and recess.
“I feel like it has reenergized some
of us are who are creative and we
get a chance to dive into a project
like this,” added Hanak.
The reaction from the students
and staff has been overwhelming.
Everyone is excited about the new
colorful additions to the building
and the students look forward to
taking part in the next phases of
the work. There are still two more
stairwells at Bower Hill and rumor
has it that a Very Hungry Caterpillar
may be looking for food near those
second grade classrooms. Hanak
and McAfoose are already dreaming
up ways to help that caterpillar find
its wings.
“For the students and staff – this
is a part of our legacy,” said Piatt.
“We are all part of the Bower Hill
family.”
eters Township (PT) and Upper St. Clair
(USC) High Schools came together on
Saturday, October 12 to host the Walk
for Wellness, an event geared towards
spreading awareness about mental health
concerns in today’s society. The walk took place at
the Peters Township High School stadium where
students, families, and community members
created teams to walk around the track to show
their support for those who struggle with mental
illness.
This event was developed by two groups
of students, one from PT and the other from
USC, who were selected by their peers as being
someone to go to for support when struggling
with various issues. PTHS’s group is called the
Trust Crew while Upper St Clair’s is called the
Natural Helpers. Both groups took part in a two-
day training, which taught them how to properly
assist those who seek their help.
PTHS’s gifted advisor and sponsor of the Trust
Crew, Judy Alexander, elaborated, “Students are
trained especially on their listening skills. They are
taught that it is more effective to not give their
own opinion, but to walk them through their
thought process to come to their own decision.”
Peters Township Trust Crew President,
Maddie MacKay, was motivated to help those
struggling with mental illness, so she consulted
with Alexander to brainstorm ideas to help her
peers. The result was the Walk for Wellness which
brought the two communities together, as well
as many others, to help fight the battle of mental
illness.
The Walk for Wellness featured fun games like
musical chairs, and activities such as yoga to calm
the mind. All of these festivities are of course
centered around walking the track with a group
of close friends for the sole purpose of making a
difference.
All proceeds from the Walk for Wellness went
to the BroglieBox, a non-profit organization,
whose purpose is to provide support and coping
mechanisms for those struggling with mental
illness. This company was founded by a PTHS
graduate Julia Broglie, in honor of her brother,
Justin, after he took his own life at the age of
twenty-four.
After such a tragic event, the Broglie family
courageously set a goal to make a positive
difference in the world of mental health.
Continued on next page >
PETERS TOWNSHIP
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D ECEM B ER 2 0 1 9 / J A N UA RY 2020
75
BY ALEXIS LYNCH AND BELLA
FOLINO
PETERS TOWNSHIP
HOSTS WALK FOR
WELLNESS