6
n the April 2016 “Guide
to Western Pennsylvania
Schools,” the Pittsburgh
Business Times profiled area
school districts to determine
how local districts compared
to other districts in the area
and across the state.
Peters Township School
District was ranked sixth
among 103 districts in our
area, up one spot from
2015 and was the highest
ranking district from
Washington County. Among
the 494 school districts
in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, Peters
Township also ranked 14th
overall, also up one spot
from the 2015 rank of 15th.
Based on Pennsylvania
System of School
Assessment (PSSA) and
Keystone results from the
previous three years (with
the most recent year given
the most weight), Peters
Township High School
ranked 10th in the region,
Peters Township eighth
grade students ranked 4th
overall, and the seventh
grade ranked 5th. McMurray
Elementary’s sixth grade
also ranked 4th overall at
that grade level.
“While a ranking can
never fully depict all of the
wonderful things going
on in our classrooms,
we are very proud of
our performance,” said
Superintendent Dr. Jeannine
French. “In particular
the improved scores at
McMurray Elementary were
the result of a lot of hard
work by our staff over the
past year and we’re glad to
see the results of that work.”
Best Buddies Catches on
Fast at PTMS
By Allie Wertman
“Everybody is different, but everyone deserves a friend.”
T
“It may not seem like it, but
his quote encapsulates
they do know what people
why President of Best
are saying about them,”
Buddies Mary Fitzgerald
reminded Biroscak.
and Vice President
Kendall Lilley is one of the
Megan LaBarbera felt
associate buddies which
it was vital for the Best
means that during her study
Buddies program to be
hall, at the end of the day,
introduced to Peters
she spends times with the
Township. Best Buddies
buddies doing activities
is an international
such as puzzles or Connect
program which creates
(l to r) Fitzgerald, Principal Sikorski,
4. Alternatively, there are
a better environment for
LaBarbera, and Kalinoski with the
some people called peer
students and employees
Good Neighbor Award given to them
buddies who spend time
with disabilities to work in.
by Range Resources.
with a specific buddy
Fitzgerald and LaBarbera
mainly outside of school. When asked why she
had both already volunteered at the Miracle
joined Best Buddies Lilley responded without
League, a foundation that organizes sports
hesitation, “I like talking to Scott and Julia in
games for kids with disabilities, before, so they
science and I wanted to hang out with them
were familiar with some of the issues faced by
more.” Scott and Julia are two of the buddies
those with disabilities. When Mary heard about
that joined the program this year.
Best Buddies from friends at the Miracle
Plans are in the works in hopes of creating
League, she was immediately intrigued to
a Best Buddies Club at Peters Township High
pursue the program.
School as well. Since study halls are not all
Fitzgerald quickly went to Emily Kalinoski,
the same period in the high school, the girls
another close friend who is now Treasurer
are envisioning a more social club. This would
of the PTMS program, and asked her to join.
include field trips and outings after school
Emily was ecstatic about the program and the
hours.
threesome was soon holding a meeting with
When asked what their favorite part of the
Middle School Principal Adam Sikorski about
Best Buddies was each girl responded uniquely.
if and when the program would be created.
For example, Fitzgerald said her favorite part
Soon after, the creation of the Best Buddies
was, “The smile on their face when they hit
program in the Peters Township Middle school
the ball.”
was underway.
On the other hand, Kalinoski said that her
Kara Biroscak, a special education teacher
favorite is, “Seeing everyone getting to know
at the Middle School and sponsor for the Best
each other.”
Buddies program, had already put in place an
However, LaBarbera’s favorite moment was
unofficial club where students would come
seeing the progress that club has made in just a
during their study hall and spend time with
few months saying, “Seeing how happy they are
peers that had disabilities. Therefore, when the
knowing they have friends.”
girls brought this program to the school that
Although different memories hit home
would provide an abundance of opportunities,
with each, they all reacted the same way - with
Biroscak was immediately on board to sponsor
a smile.
the club. In her role, Biroscak also teaches the
You can learn more about the club and
students involved in the program how to speak
events happening near you by visiting the
to their peers with disabilities, who are called
international Best Buddies website by going to
buddies.
bestbuddies.org
Biroscak is very adamant when it comes
to the idea that everyone is equal. “We talk a
About the author: Allie Wertman is an 8th grade
lot about people being different and people
student at Peters Township Middle School.
having different intelligences,” she said. She
She is a member of the PTMS track team and
further clarified that just because people may
also plays for the Victory soccer team out of
have a disability does not make it acceptable
Washington.
to exclude others or use offensive terminology.
Peters Township | June/July 2016 | icmags.com 97
P E TE RS TOWN SHI P SC HOOL DI STRI C T NE WS
I
STUDENT
SPOTLIGHT
Peters Township
Peters
Township
Ranks #6
in Business
Times Guide