WH Alumni Welcomes New Principal
to Rankin Promise
BY MS. ROBIN BAKER
D
onations were given to Ms.
Baker, of Rankin Promise over
the summer of 2018 for the
students of Woodland Hills Rankin
Promise Program by the Community
Outreach Coordinator of Pittsburgh
Pirates. Mr. Joel Gray has visited
Rankin Promise in the past and
shown the students the cultural
background of the Pittsburgh
baseball. In the past Mr. Gray has
graciously donated items such as
Nine Mile Run
Watershed
Partners Brings
Science to Life at
WH Intermediate
BY MRS. DEL ROSSO
Project Manager Lindsey-Rose
Flowers of the Nine Mile Run
Watershed Association collaborates
with Woodland Hills Intermediate
teachers to bring hands-on science
lessons to fifth graders. Students
learn about watersheds and,
specifically, the Nine Mile Run
Watershed of this community.
Students learn how watersheds are
formed from a main stream, primary
tributaries and secondary tributaries.
Students worked on an experiment that modeled the formation of a
watershed to get a hands-on and visual experience of the process.
Using stencils to create different macroinvertebrates, students
charted their tolerance to pollutions, which prepares the students for
a field trip to the Nine Mile Run Watershed where they will be able to
identify these macroinvertebrates in their real world environment. On
their visit to Nine Mile Run students also have the opportunity to weed
and plant, making the Watershed more viable.
Finally, the students learn about storm water – what it means, its role
in the water cycle, and where it goes on impermeable and permeable
surfaces. Students read about ways to reduce runoff and the pollution
of storm water through experiments with permeable materials and
discuss ways to create green spaces.
This two year partnership between WH Intermediate School and the
Nine Mile Run Watershed Association has been invaluable in creating
real world, authentic science lessons to students.
28
WOODLAND HILLS
books, hats and clothing to the
school.
Mr. Smith, Woodland Hills School
District new principal at Rankin
Promise, accepted generous
donations to be used as incentives
for students from Mr. Joel Gray of
Community Outreach Coordinator
of Pittsburgh Pirates. Joel is a 2010
Woodland Hills alumnus. Thank
you for the kindness Mr. Gray. These
donations are much appreciated!
Edgewood Kindergarten
BY L. WALTER
Kindergarten at Edgewood Elementary kicked off
the Fall Curriculum and the Pittsburgh Opera Season
by learning about the monarch butterfly life cycle and
migration. Kindergarten students were able to observe,
diagram, and document the changes they saw as their
tiny monarch caterpillars transformed into chrysalises
then finally emerged as
beautiful butterflies. During
the metamorphosis of their
caterpillars, the students
were introduced to the
opera Madame Butterfly.
They discussed the changes
that take place in characters
Zakarie Mangham
from the beginning of an
opera or story to the end
while listening to the opera
sound track. The students
then had the opportunity to
discuss how they themselves
have already changed
and will continue to grow
as they advance through
Kindergarten.