IN Sewickley Summer 2016 | Page 57

and June 20-24 at Quaker Valley Middle School. Volunteers must be 16 years or older and must attend a training session on Sunday, June 12 or Sunday, June 19 (depending on which week you are volunteering). Each volunteer is asked to commit to one week and a 75-minute session each day of the camp. If you are interested in helping individuals with disabilities learn to ride a traditional bicycle, visit icanshine.org/icanbike-sewickley-pa/. For more information email [email protected]. “It is a great honor to receive this distinction for the 12th consecutive year.” QVHS Hires Girls Soccer Coach Quaker Valley School District announces the hiring of a girls soccer coach. James Birmingham has been named head coach of the QVHS Girls Soccer Team for 2016. Birmingham played soccer at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and has more than ten years as a soccer coach in both Vermont and Michigan. He recently moved to the Pittsburgh-area from Detroit, Michigan. Birmingham is a certified high school social studies teacher. He is married and has two grown children. Among “Best Communities for Music Education” Quaker Valley School District has been honored with the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from the for its outstanding commitment to music education. This is the 12th consecutive year Quaker Valley has received this distinction. QVSD joins 476 districts across the country in receiving the prestigious award in 2016. The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. “It is a great honor to receive this distinction for the 12th consecutive year,” says Mr. Andrew Surloff, Assistant Superintendent. “It is a great testament to the student-musicians at Quaker Valley, along with the dedicated teachers. We are proud to be recognized for our commitment to music education.” To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Quaker Valley answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its nearly 9,000 members around the world, with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information about the NAMM Foundation visit nammfoundation.org. Sewickley Area | Spring 2016 | icmags.com 55