BY DR. AMY M. BURCH Brentwood Borough SCHOOL DISTRICT · · 2018-07-10BY DR. AMY M. BURCH Brentwood Borough SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS Brentwood Borough School District ... 2015-2016

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Brentwood BoroughSchoolDistrict

Education: �e Casualty of the Pennsylvania Structural De�citAs the Superintendent of the Brentwood Borough School District, I see first-hand how decisions in Harrisburg impact our schools and communities. The goal of this article is to bring into the spotlight the fact that Pennsylvania is facing a severe structural deficit that is significantly impacting education. To truly understand why the Pennsylvania legislature and the Governor have not been able to agree on an education budget, it is necessary to step outside the world of education and examine the consequences that occur when a budget is not balanced.

Structural De�cit and Underfunding

Pennsylvania’s structural deficit didn’t occur overnight, but rather it is a compilation of events dating back to the 1970’s. The “enacted” budget, completed in December, included modest increases in special education, Ready to Learn Block Grants, early childhood and six months of basic education funding, the largest source of funding for school districts. The budget did not include any new sources of revenue. This imbalance is only making Pennsylvania’s structural deficit larger. Listed below is the current and projected structural deficit as defined by the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center based on data from the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO).

Year Deficit Year Deficit 2015-2016 318 million 2018-2019 2.3 billion 2016-2017 1.860 billion 2019-2020 2.6 billion 2017-2018 2.18 billion 2020-2021 2.6 billion

Lack of Su�cient RevenuesPennsylvania’s structural deficit is due to the long standing imbalanced budget and if no new revenue sources are created

then the imbalance will continue to increase. No one wants more taxes, but it is a reality that we are already facing. The longer the General Assembly goes without implementing any new revenues, the more the burden will be shifted to the local level. This will be evident in higher local property taxes. The direct impact of failing to identify new resources includes increasing the structural deficit, the lowering of the state’s credit rating (again), and increasing interest rate costs.

Pennsylvania’s Budget CrisisPennsylvania schools are operating without a complete budget. The partial budget enacted in December authorized basic education funding for six months and provided no allocation for PlanCon, the state’s program that after a lengthy process partially reimburses districts for construction and building projects. In addition, the state created a two month lag time of social security reimbursements. The chart below illustrates what this means for the Brentwood Borough School District:

Funding Sources Anticipated Received Loss of Funding Funding Basic Education $4,577,200 $1,991,721 $2,585,479 PlanCon $573,665 $0 $573,655 Social Security $65,000 $0 $65,000 for two months Total $3,224,134

These lack of dollars coupled with increases in pension contributions and unfunded mandates are directly impacting the Brentwood Borough School District.

80 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall

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SImpact of PensionsGood pensions are meant to attract and retain highly qualified teachers. The recent increase in mandated teacher pensions does not reflect a new commitment to improving the quality of teachers in our schools. Instead, it is a direct reflection of underfunding at the state level. School districts are accused of not paying their “fair portion” of pension contributions; however, it must be made clear that school districts were not given an option of paying more. The state issued an invoice to schools and refunded overpayments.

Impact of Unfunded MandatesNew standards and mandates have been signed into law by the legislature. Some of these include, PA Core standards, mandated reporter training, suicide prevention training, new teacher and principal evaluation measures, and standardized testing. Yet, none of these mandates were accompanied by funding. The education budget crisis began in 2010-2011, with the reduction of funding at the state level which to date has not been restored.

ConclusionUntil legislators are willing to be at the table and negotiate a final budget, the state heads into the spring without a budget and sets the stage for another possible unresolved budget in 2016-2017. The limited funding, coupled with rising pension costs, and an increase in unfunded mandates are causing all schools to strategize on how to keep the doors open. Last school year, Brentwood was forced to furlough teachers, forgo hiring a principal, and restructure programs, and this school year we will be forced to take out a loan in order to be able to make payroll. This does not sound like a state that values education. In order for Pennsylvania to move forward with closing the structural deficit and making a commitment to quality education for all learners, it must prepare a budget that includes new sources of general fund revenues.

Date Item

March 2, 2016 PDE to issue ruling on District’s petition for referendum exceptions.

May 16, 2016 School Board of Directors to discuss the 2016-2017 Proposed Final Budget

May 23, 2016 School Board of Directors adopt the 2016-2017 Proposed Final Budget and authorize its public display on May 24, 2016

May 24, 2016 to June 20, 2016 2016-2017 Proposed Final Budget is on display for public inspection.

June 13, 2016 School Board discussion of the 2016-2017 Final Budget

June 20, 2016 Adoption of the 2016-2017 Final Budget and 2016 Real Estate Millage Rate

On January 11, 2016, the School Board of Directors adopted the 2016-2017 Preliminary Budget. While the 2016-2017 Preliminary Budget was a balanced budget with a real estate tax increase, this is only the beginning of the budget process. More adjustments will be made to the budget before a final real estate tax rate will be set in June 2016.

On February 9, 2016, the District sought approval for referendum exceptions from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). If approved, it would allow the District to raise the real estate tax millage rate above the Act 1 Index. The District is uncertain at this time if it will raise the real estate tax millage rate for 2016-2017, and if it will use any referendum exceptions the PDE approves.

Below outlines the 2016-2017 Budget Timeline until passage of a final budget in June 2016

Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall | Spring 2016 | icmags.com 81

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M O O R E E L E M E N T A R Y N E W S

Mystery Reader The first grade teachers at Moore Elementary invite first graders’ parents, older siblings, grandparents,

relatives, or other special people to volunteer to read a favorite story aloud to our classes. We feel this is an exciting way to instill the joy of reading in our students. Part of the thrill is the surprise: we schedule two “Mystery Readers” a month but won’t reveal the identity of the readers to the students until the reader steps in front of the class. Students eagerly anticipate the arrival of the next Mystery Reader.

Moore Elementary Hosts Parent and Grandparent Math Nights

During a couple of the snowy, winter nights in January, 4th grade teacher, Sharon Sullivan and 5th grade teacher, Rebecca Hagerty invited parents to the elementary school to discuss the expectations of the new math curriculum and to demonstrate how students are learning math at the intermediate level. On January 14th, fourth grade parents and grandparents learned about concepts related to multiplication and division, and reviewed strategies they are learning in the classroom. On January 20th, fifth grade parents and grandparents took part in a fractions workshop where they were introduced to various methods for solving and simplifying. In addition to the strategies, the teachers explained why we use those particular methods and how those methods of solving will help students in future years as they move towards Algebra and Geometry. Essentially, the goal for both math nights was to help parents help their children understand and make sense of mathematics. By using the same language in the classroom and at home, students are set up for success and their confidence continues to build as they move through content and grade levels. We look forward to offering more sessions in the future!


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Reading Night

Adorned with fall décor of fiery-red trees, gold and orange balloons, and books galore, Moore Elementary School’s gymnasium was transformed for the first annual “Fall in Love with Reading” Night in the Brentwood Borough School District. With expectations of Common Core Standards becoming more abundantly clear, teachers in Brentwood have been discovering the importance of a partnership with parents. An increasing number of parents are expressing an interest in deciphering the new standards and have been curious as to how they can best work with their child at home to meet the elevated academic demands.

Teachers Rebecca Hagerty, Anne Steigerwald, Shannon Schubert, Lindsay Vinay, Christie O’Neill, and Caitlin Caponi and interim principal, Lindsay Klousnitzer organized and implemented an event in which parents had the opportunity to work with their children at various stations while building a reading toolkit to take home. Parents and students in grades kindergarten through second were welcomed with refreshments and placed into various groupings based upon fall leaf colors. Mrs. Klousnitzer began the evening with a presentation explaining Title I services in relation to PA Core Standards and its impact on children.

Stations focused on strategies to use with children when building spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension skills as well as apps to benefit reading development. Parents were encouraged to work with their child on strategies being utilized in the classroom so they could mimic teaching ideas and feel empowered when helping their son/daughter at home. Along with teaching strategies, parents were shown how to best evaluate a book to determine its’ appropriateness for their child’s reading ability. As parents moved from station to station, they also had the chance to meet with a representative from the Brentwood Borough Library to sign-up for family library cards.

To conclude the evening, “reading nooks,” consisting of cozy bean bag chairs and new books, were raffled-off to the boys and girls. These raffles were graciously donated to the Reading Night by the ever-supportive Moore School PTA. However, no one left empty-handed as students were able to scavenge a table filled with brand new books generously donated by the Brentwood Borough Library. Enough books were donated for each child to walk away with three new books. Some little ones could not wait to begin reading, and many found a comfortable spot in the gym to begin diving in to their new stories.

The Brentwood Borough School District is passionate about preparing students for greater academic demands while fostering a love for reading. Look for more Reading Nights as the school year continues across elementary schools and grade levels.

“Fall in Love with Reading”……it’s fun!

Moore Elementary Students Participate in CalcuSolve Tournament

Fifth grade students from Moore Elementary participated in the CalcuSolve Tournament at Duquesne University. The students worked individually and as a team to solve challenging word problems. They competed against over 350 fifth and sixth grade students from all over Allegheny County. The students had a great time and did a wonderful job! This year’s CalcuSolve teams were coached by 5th grade teacher Rebecca Hagerty and sponsored by GATE Teacher Maureen Anderson.

Participating students were: Gabrielle Sedlar, Nathan Barker, Leyna Ho, Brianna Folino, Nolan Tallat, Lindon Arboleda, Talan Kammermeier, Jamie Kurtz, Zach Reed, and Lucas Williamson.


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Sprout Fund’s Spark Grant Ignites Moore School’s Imagination Station 4 Innovation

The fourth grade students at Moore School have been part of an exciting project called Imagination Station 4 Innovation (IS4I), which integrates STEAM learning. This all started as an idea that led to a Gofundme page and plenty of grant writing last year. The total raised to date is $23,155.00, with a very generous donation of $15,000.00 from the Sprout Fund through their Spark Grant. The money raised enabled IS4I educators, Barbara Girone, Kate Smeltz, Britta Bell, and Megan Casey, to purchase Microsoft Surface Pro 3s and Hummingbird Robotic Kits.

The teachers began in the beginning of the year with students applying to be head engineers. The process involved an application, letter of reference from a science or math teacher, STEAM survey, and an interview with IS4I educators. The head engineers that were selected met after school for three hours a month, where they worked on team building, leadership essentials, coding, programming, and maintenance of the robotic equipment. The fourth grade students were then organized into teams with a head engineer and have begun the collaborative process. The teams created a mission statement, identified each other’s strengths/ learning styles, and worked through teambuilding activities. The IS4I educators facilitated the activities while the head engineers led their teams.

Once the teams were formed and organized, Architect and Technology specialist Peter Streibig from IonTank spoke to the students about regional and non- regional architects, topography, environmental impact, and specialized building design. Students began the process of using topography maps to discuss future locations of their houses. They also learned of architect and client relationships in creating a product that matches client expectations, while staying true to architectural ethics. The fourth grade is currently in the process of creating blueprint building plans using strategies from Peter Streibig’s presentation, and will later utilize Google Sketchup for final blueprint designs. Student will then learn robotic function with hummingbird and scratch to pinpoint their design elements of the houses.

Moving forward the IS4I educators plan to finish purchasing software for animation, supplies for building the robotic state of the art houses, and digital cameras for documentation. If you would like to support our IS4I project, please click the Gofundme page at this link: https://www.gofundme.com/dc28b8

M O O R E E L E M E N T A R Y N E W S


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Moore Elementary Spelling BeeCongratulations to 5th grader Nathan Barker who will represent Moore School at the Scripps National Spelling Bee Regional

Competition on March 12th at Robert Morris University! Congratulations also to fifth grader Brianna Folino who was the runner-up in the spelling bee.

After competing in classroom level spelling bees, 11 students competed in the school level competition: David Keller, Katelyn Handa, Karissa Palmer, Myranda Mackoff, Aguek Deng, Kamrin Christopher, Emily Johnson, Leyna Ho, Nolan Tallat,

Nathan Barker, Brianna Folino. Congratulations to all students who participated for the hard work!The Moore Spelling Bee is coordinated by 5th grade teachers Rebecca Hagerty and Lynne Zietak.

E L R O Y E L E M E N T A R Y N E W S

Hour Of Code Students at Moore and Elroy Elementary Schools in Brentwood participated in the Hour of Code

as part of Computer Science Education Week, joining the tens of millions of people around the world taking part in the largest learning event in history. Over 100 million students worldwide have already tried an Hour of Code. Thanks to the Hour of Code, computer science was on homepages of Google, MSN, Yahoo! and Disney. President Obama, Shakira and Ashton Kutcher all kicked off the Hour of Code with videos. Over 100 partners came together to support this movement.

Brentwood chose to launch an elementary-wide Hour of Code event to expose its students to computer science. Coordinated by Kate Smeltz, Technology Teacher, and Maureen Anderson, Gifted Teacher, more than 200 students from grades 2-5 did at least one Hour of Code. Special guest and Brentwood parent, Dan Foley, donated his time and expertise to educate the students on the fact that coding is everywhere! Students were excited and ready to learn. Ryan Handlovich, a third grader at Elroy enjoys coding because “it’s entertaining and fun, and once I learn how to do everything on the program I will be able to program my own website.” Students will continue to learn and work with code after the event. Students will also discuss how computer science has changed and transformed their lives and debate what possibilities the future may bring.

Visit smeltztechclass.weebly.com to view even more photos of the event!


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Elroy Gives Back Ms. Bohenko's, Mrs. Ferkett's, and

Mrs. Smith's first grade classes at Elroy Elementary collected new socks to be donated to the homeless on the North Side. Pictured here are: Alivia Justice, Cody Darick, and Evan Mingle with the laundry basket filled with over 60 pairs of new socks. The first graders appreciated this opportunity to give to children and adults less fortunate than themselves during the holiday season.

Elroy Teachers and Principal Team Up to Present at the Title I Conference

Mrs. Forsyth, a second grade teacher, Ms. Tiglio, learning support teacher, and Mrs. Pagan, principal of Elroy Elementary presented at the annual Title 1 Conference. Elroy Elementary was named a Distinguished School for 2014-2015 based on aggregated Math and Reading PSSA scores that met all Annual Measurable Objectives. High Progress Schools are the highest 5% Title 1 schools based on aggregated progress in closing the achievement gap in Reading and Math for PSSA for all student groups and especially the historically underperforming student group. The conference was held at the Sheraton in Station Square from February 8 – 10, 2016. Their session focused on implementing highly effective questioning and discussion techniques. These are some of the most powerful tools that we have to elicit and explore student thinking. The session also included the types and functions of questions that lead to more rigorous student thinking and learning. Strategies to engage students in more effective discussions were offered through the whole group and small group activities and demonstrations. It was an honor to be able share these highly effective techniques which are used by Elroy teachers to assist our students in achieving high scores on the PSSA and becoming lifelong learners.

Elroy Earns Spectroscopy Society Grant

Elroy Elementary School is pleased to announce that it has received a $769.75 grant from the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, Elementary School Science Olympiad Program. The school will use the funds for an Elementary Science Olympiad, where students take an active role in explaining science topics related to the school’s curriculum. One of the goals of this program is to provide an opportunity for students of all ability levels to participate in engaging science activities as well as the application of science to events that are enjoyable and that provide a variety of real world experiences to the students. The program helps to excite, inspire, challenge and foster the fun side of science for elementary students.

E L R O Y E L E M E N T A R Y N E W S


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SDistrict Kindergarten Registration Information

Please know that children must be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2016 to enroll in Kindergarten. According to school district policy, placement of Kindergarten students will be made using the attendance zones established by the school district as a guideline. Parents must register their children at the school they will attend.

Parents may download Kindergarten registration forms from the school district’s website at www.bb-sd.com. The following forms must be completed: Brentwood Enrollment Record, Home Language Survey, Speech and Language Questionnaire, Health History and Certification for Immunization Status, Private Physician’s Report of Physical Examination of a Pupil of School Age, Residency Verification Package, Student Residency Questionnaire. At the time of registration, we must see the child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, a mortgage or lease agreement and 2 proofs of residency. Registration cannot be completed without all of these documents.

To serve the needs of our students, we will administer a readiness screening to all new Kindergarten students during registration. The purpose of the readiness screening is to determine each child’s developmental readiness, give our teachers important information about the needs of the Kindergarten group, and give parents suggestions for how they may help their child prepare for the 2016-2017 school year. Plan to spend 15 to 30 minutes at the registration/screening appointment.

We are looking forward to meeting our new students and working with them throughout the 2016-2017 school year!

Important Dates for Incoming Kindergarten Parents

Schools Parent Orientation Registration Screening

Moore Contact: 412-881-7776 March 17 @7pm April 6-8 April 6-8

Elroy Contact: 412-881-4484 May 24 @ 6pm April 4-8 May 2-May 5

M I D D L E H I G H S C H O O L

At Brentwood High School, our goal is to make sure that students who are graduating from our institution are college and career ready. In this article, we would like to focus on the “career” piece of a student’s education. We have developed a mind-set, over time, that in today’s world our children cannot be successful or productive without a college degree. According to U.S. News and World Report, one in three college freshmen will not return as sophomores. Many students who enter college either change majors or have no idea what career field they want to study, compounding their investment of time and money. There is a place for a college education for the student who knows what they want to major in and what career field will warrant a degree, and possibly an advanced degree. However, there are a growing number of students who drop out of their college program, or have to find employment in fields unrelated to their degree. Is this a good use of their time and money?

There is an educational option that has a high number of students who complete their program and become gainfully employed in their field of study. That option is Career and Technical Education. Career and Technical Education encompasses 94 percent of high school students and 12 million postsecondary students. The skilled

job market is an area of great need in our Nation’s economy leaving a large number of employment opportunities unfilled. The skilled trades are the hardest jobs to fill in the United States, with recent data citing 806,000 jobs open in the trade, transportation and utilities sector and 293,000 jobs open in manufacturing. Health care occupations, many of which require an associate degree or less, make up 12 of the 20 fastest growing occupations. These jobs are filled by people who are competently trained in a particular set of skills that are not easy to find in the current job market. A person with a CTE-related associate degree or credential will earn on average between $4,000 and $19,000 more a year than a person with a humanities associate degree. Career and Technical Education jobs are not minimum wage jobs with no upside. Career and Technical Education fulfills employer needs in high-skill, high-wage, high-demand areas and prepares students to be college- and career-ready by providing core academic skills, employability skills and technical, job-specific skills. Steel Center for Career and Technical Education provides an opportunity to gain these skills and to enter the work force with well-paying jobs that have potential for growth and movement within the industry.

Some people believe that when entering these career fields there is no need or reason for a degree. That is not totally accurate. Depending on the area of study that you enter, you can transfer credits earned at Steel Center for Career and Technical Education to community colleges and universities with articulation agreements. You can earn associate and bachelor degrees in many of these Career and Technical areas. Fifty-eight percent of Steel Center graduates have combined their industry certifications and their hands-on training with two or four-year college degrees. This is a huge upside when you compare the cost of four-year colleges to the cost of earning a degree in a Career and Technical field based on the work that you have already completed in high school. The difference in savings is substantial.

Brentwood 9th grade students explore the Meat Cutting Program during an informational tour of Steel Center.

Considering Steel Center for Career and Technical Education is a Wise Choice


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SWhat does Steel Center for Career and

Technical Education offer in regard to programs for our students? There are 16 programs that our students are eligible to take. These are the program offerings:

• Advertising and Design• Automotive Mechanics• Baking/Pastry Chef• Building Trades• Carpentry• Collision Repair and Refinishing• Computer Information Systems• Cosmetology• Culinary Arts• Electrical Construction • Health Assistants• Heating, Air Conditioning and

Refrigeration• Medium/Heavy Truck Technology• Protective Services• Retail Food Merchandising and Production• Welding

Every year we offer informational programs to freshmen students, as well as providing tours for student to see Steel Center for Career and Technical Education and the offerings in action. We also provide individual and small group tours as needed. Students enrolled at Brentwood High School may attend Steel Center for Career and Technical Education for a morning session in a career area of their choice. They get to work in the class and get an actual experience of what the class is like and if it meets their needs before making a decision. We have a number of students who are taking courses at Steel Center for Career and Technical Education and are also taking high level academic classes at Brentwood High School. We do our best to accommodate schedules so that our students can take career education and high level classes for college readiness.

The Brentwood Borough School District has recognized the need to promote and inform the public of this educational opportunity for students. Recently, the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved Brentwood Borough School District’s Comprehensive Plan starting July 1, 2016. Within this plan, one of the goals was to make an extra effort to promote and guide students to this viable educational option. One of the members of the Brentwood Borough School District Board of School Directors, Mr. David Schaap, serves on the Joint Advisory Committee at Steel Center for Career and Technical Education. There is a great need for jobs in this area and the Brentwood Borough School District and Brentwood High School are making sure that parents and students are aware of the fantastic opportunities and options for students looking into future careers.


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SM I D D L E H I G H S C H O O L

2015-2016 Brentwood Students Honored for Efforts at Steel Center for Career and Technical Education

Every grading quarter and every semester, Steel Center for Career and Technical Education recognizes students who perform above and beyond in their area of study. We are proud to have several Brentwood High School students who have achieved these honors.Extra Effort Award

Julie Boytim – Health AssistantKayla Gray – Advertising and DesignWilliam Falkowski – Building Trades

Top of the ShopEthan Kemmler - Collision Repair and Refinishing

SkillsUSA 8 District CompetitionDominque Young – Cosmetology – 2nd PlaceWilliam Falkowski – Building Trades – 1st Place • William Falkowski has earned the right to compete at the state level which will be held in Hershey, PA later this year. We wish Bill

the best of luck!Congratulations to all of our Brentwood students who have been recognized for their work and efforts at Steel Center for Career and

Technical Education.

College and Career Readiness: Open Heart Surgery Observation

Fourteen, 12th graders had the opportunity to observe open heart surgery at Allegheny General Hospital. The experience is a way for students to see real-life procedures and medical professionals in action. In a room above the operating suite, students can look down through the observation glass above the operating table. There is also a monitor that allows the students to watch the procedure up close by way of a camera that the surgeon is wearing on his forehead.

Pat Wolf, who coordinates the open heart surgery observation program at Allegheny General’s Cardiovascular Institute, provided information to the students about not only the procedure (an aortic valve replacement) but about all of the various personnel in the operating room. Many of the students were surprised to learn just how many different roles (and career opportunities) there are in a busy operating room!

Students who attended this program are either in the Health Careers Club or Advanced Biology, and have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in the health fields. They were accompanied by Ms. Jackie Johnson, biology teacher, and Mrs. Nancy Kaminski, school nurse.


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Brentwood Sends Students to PMEA Festival

The Brentwood School District has several students performing in various festivals hosted by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA). PMEA District 1 offers several various festivals at all levels for the best student musicians throughout southwestern Pennsylvania including Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties.

Congratulations to all these Brentwood students on

their selection to participate

in PMEA!

Cecilia Levino (seventh grade/flute), pictured above, will perform in the PMEA Junior High School Band West Festival at Baldwin High School on Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30. 2016.

Max Marcello (eighth grade/trumpet), pictured below, will represent Brentwood Middle School at the PMEA Junior High School Orchestra Festival on Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, 2016 at Pine-Richland High School.

The PMEA Elementary School Allegheny West Band Festival will be held at Hampton Middle School on Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5, 2016. Four students from Brentwood will participate including Sahil Sharma (sixth grade/flute) and Jacklyn Roesch (sixth grade/clarinet) from Brentwood Middle School, along with Alayna Crowley (fifth grade/clarinet) from Elroy Elementary School and Katelyn Handa (fifth grade/trombone) from Moore Elementary School.

Brentwood High School sophomore, Calista Dodson (oboe), performed at the PMEA District 1 Senior High School Band West Festival at South Fayette High School on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, January 27, 28, and 29, 2016.


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Brentwood High School Student Council Provides Luncheon for Senior Residents

The Brentwood High School Student Council sponsored its annual complimentary Senior Citizen Luncheon on December 21st. The members of the student council raise funds annually to provide a free plate lunch, entertainment, and a game of bingo complete with prizes each year to area seniors as a way to give back to the community. This year’s event had 30 attendees and the members of the student council served as the hosts and servers for the event.

According to Mrs. Ditoro, the High School Student Council Sponsor, “the students are genuinely enthused about interacting with the community members who attend the event each year”. The average cost of the event ranges from $300-$400 which is paid for with fundraising and private donations. “The student members work diligently to raise enough funds to continue with this yearly event”, states Mrs. Ditoro. The event began approximately 18 years ago under now retired social studies teacher, Mr. John Coles. Hundreds or area seniors have enjoyed the event in past years and the Brentwood High School Student Council hopes to be able to continue the tradition in the future.

HCC Students Welcome A New Family to Area

The students in the Health Careers Club sponsored a hot chocolate and bake sale, and a jean day in December to raise money for their annual holiday project. Several members of the club are from Nepal, and suggested adopting a family just arriving in our area from Nepal. Through a local non-profit, AJAPO*, the group was able to welcome a young family (mother, father and 2 ½ year old daughter) with some holiday gifts. Over $200 was raised by the students, who then purchased and wrapped hats, scarves and gloves for the family, toys for the child and a Giant Eagle gift card.

*The mission of AJAPO is to provide a continuum of care which empowers refugees and immigrants residing in the Greater Pittsburgh Communities and Allegheny County to become self-su�cient and better integrated into our communities.

Heimlich Heroes Program

Created by Deaconess Association, Inc. with support from the Heimlich Institute, Heimlich Heroes is an educational program that teaches young people the proper way to perform the Heimlich maneuver so they can confidently step forward and save a life. In November, Brentwood Middle School students (all of the 6th, 7th and 8th graders) participated in this program and are now able to recognize the signs of choking, understand how to respond with help if a person is actually choking, and how to prevent or minimize the risk of choking. Certified School Nurse Nancy Kaminski learned about the program while attending a School Nurse conference last June. The program is free to schools, clubs and youth groups, and a simple application process brought the program to Brentwood. With the help of Mrs. Beverly Drent and Mr. Gary Cramer, 7th and 8th graders participated in the program during their Health Education classes. Sixth graders had their opportunity in their science and social studies classes with the assistance of Mr. Michael Cramer and Mr. Casey Phillips. The students enjoyed the hands on practice using “Heidi” and “Hank,” specially designed training dolls. A pre and post test were given to help the sponsoring foundation evaluate the program, and follow-up tests will be given at 3 months and 1 year. Students were encouraged to share what they learned with other family members.


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Special Education Written By: Vanessa Strassner

The vision of the Pittsburgh Cares grant, which is part of the HandsOn Network affiliate located in Pittsburgh, is to engage members of the community to impact populations and stimulate change. This was a grant initiative that was instituted last school year as part of the District’s goal in addressing mental health needs within the student body. Students focused on social responsibility, community, impact, sustainability, and collaboration as part of the task to look at mental health issues and how to address them within the context of the school day. Due to the overwhelming interest in the grant ideals, 20 new students were trained this year with a total of 40 students in high school who will assist with the grant projects this year. Last year the students worked on creating a collaborative culture through modified lunch schedules, beautifying the school grounds, working with the school garden club to build school spirit, and to create awareness of mental health and to stop the stigma. This year the students are focusing on holding a bake sale to share the proceeds with a local group working with those with mental illness, holding an Amazing Race where an obstacle course in gym class provides stations that provide information on mental health, holding a basketball game shoot out for students while teaching about mental health statistics, and sponsoring a ball pit in the ACR. The ball pit would join students together in the pit where they would answer ice breaker questions regarding mental health awareness concepts. Overall, the students want to build on the framework started last year of student awareness and acceptance so that the message of change is heard by more individuals.

Special Education Written By: Vanessa Strassner

Transition can be challenging for students as they move throughout their day and school career. One of the ways that the PA Department of Education, the United Way, and other local and state stakeholders have assisted students and families in this process is the development of the Secondary Transition Guide and Planning for the Future Checklist. This guide provides supports in the areas of employment, health, community living, recreation, post-secondary education and financial supports and services. The guide encourages students to practice navigating the path to adulthood by setting personal goals for post-secondary training and education, employment, and independent living. To further define the areas that students should ask questions about, the Planning for the Future Checklist was developed. This checklist begins at the start of age 14 and becomes part of the dialogue shared during Individualized Educational Planning meetings. The goal is to encourage student engagement and investment in the planning process. The checklist encourages students to meet with agency and school supporters, take time to talk about information learned from any assessments about their personal abilities & interests, ask about accommodations and technology that can be used to meet school, work & other life goals, use the IEP to create the right goals to help get ready for life after high school

(transition), and to build on what was started the year before. For more information on the Planning for the Future Checklist, The Pennsylvania Secondary Transition Guide or to explore in more detail the transition process please click on the Brentwood Borough School District website under the special education tab and the specific transition links.

S P E C I A L E D U C A T I O N


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C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H

BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAMEMICKY URQUHART TAPPED BY HALL OF FAME

The ninety-ninth (99) member of the Brentwood High School Hall of Fame was elected by the Hall of Fame Trustees. The singular member of the 2015 Hall Class is Mr. Michael “Micky” Urquhart. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Accounting at The Pennsylvania State University while receiving letterman status in each of four (4) years of Varsity Football. Micky joins 1977 classmates John Sartorio, Linda Riesmeyer Kostyak, and Linda Carlins Herrera as members of the Hall of Fame.

Micky is currently President/CEO of Peoples Capital and Leasing Corporation, a middle market equipment financing company with a $2.0 billion portfolio. Micky founded Main Line Capital, an equipment finance brokerage firm, in 1994. In 1997, his company was purchased by People’s United Bank. Micky operated as Senior Vice President of Peoples Capital and Leasing Corporation until he was named President/CEO in 2013. His record in the field of commercial loans and leases is one of consistent growth and top performance. He will join the Halls’ Class of 2016 at a formal Induction ceremony in October 2016

HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONSThe Board of Trustees welcomes nominations of Brentwood High School alumni. Nominations may be submitted by family members,

friends or the alumni themselves. The Nomination Form and instructions for completing it can be found on the HOF website at www.brentwoodhighschoolhalloffame.com. Submissions are reviewed by the twelve member Board of Trustees each spring. Nominees are notified of the Trustees’ decision in May. New members are inducted every two years.

JAMES ALAIMO JOINS ROSS MUNN IN CIRCLE of EXCELLENCEIn 2012, the Hall of Fame created The Circle of Excellence Award to recognize former BHS educators whose leadership and dedication

produced the highest esteem and appreciation among graduates. The first recipient of that award was Mr. Ross L. Munn, renowned Music and English teacher whose tenure spanned 1940-1974. Nearly two thirds of the current Hall of Fame members were exposed to the Ross Munn experience while at Brentwood.

The second COE recipient was Mr. James Alaimo, whose tenure at Brentwood from 1971-2004 enabled and inspired decades of students. Mr. Alaimo taught every level of student in rudimentary mathematics and advanced classes in trigonometry and calculus during his thirty-three years of teaching math. Jim also enjoyed the student interactions associated with coaching junior high basketball and football teams. He also served as Athletic Director for twelve years. His high regard for his students and mastery of subject matter earned him a “Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year” nomination.

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS The Hall of Fame annually awards $2,000 scholarships to two Brentwood High School seniors who plan to enroll in post-

secondary studies at the Community College of Allegheny County. Funding for these financial awards comes largely from Hall of Fame members and BHS Alumni. Anyone interested in making a donation to the Scholarship Fund may do so via email to [email protected] .Applications for the Scholarship are available in the high school Guidance Office.

This year students are once more attempting to improve their school and community by participating in the Superintendent’s Council. The council was started approximately 10 years by Dr. Dufalla and has continued with the transition to the new Superintendent Dr. Burch. Council members span five grade levels from middle school through high school. Due to few internal school issues, the council’s attention turned their attention to helping others in the community. The council’s first act was to assist packing holiday boxes at the GBU for soldiers overseas. The council spent an entire day organizing, unpacking personal hygiene products, food, and other items commonly taken for granted in the states. If the council would not have assisted, then this monstrous task would have rested on the shoulders of the employees and volunteers at the GBU. This was a great way for the council to say thank you to the service men and women that sacrifice so much for us.

The second opportunity to give back came when the council volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House to cook for families affiliated with the Children’s Hospital. Prior to this event, the members of the council discussed the different dishes that would be prepared and served. The final selections included a pasta bar, salad, and cake. Each member purchased a single item to prepare. The council was responsible for the clean-up as well. The families appreciated the meals and were thankful that there were leftovers to eat later. The council left with great satisfaction in knowing they helped the families of ill children.

Brentwood Borough School District’s Superintendent Council Gives Back to the Community!


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A T H L E T I C S

Food Service Directors Unite for Project Fill’em Up!

Members of the Pittsburgh Regional Food Service Directors converged Brownsville Area High School to work on giving back to families in need. A call for snack crackers, cereal bars, packs of flavored raisins, pencils, notebooks, and plastic bracelets went out to vendors and suppliers. Ms.

Debra Kendra, Brentwood Borough Food Service Director participated on the assembly line of directors and vendors to opened boxes, organized, and repacked approximately 350 bags which were donated from U.S. Foods. “I never want to hear that a student could go hungry because their family struggles to make ends meet,” Kendra stated. The treat bags benefited families in the Mon Valley Area.

Brentwood Recognizes Winter Sports Athletes As we usher in Spring we must take pause to recognize our senior athletes that competed in our Winter sports.

1. Pictured left to right are Samita Thapa, Eric Boehm, Erin Drazdzinski, Dominic Woods, Alithia Kephologianis, Nate Johnson, Sabrina Stockline, Jonathan Karsh and Luke Benedik.

2. Pictured left to right are Sean McGlaughlin, Dan Stiefvater and Patrick Carr.

3. Pictured left to right are Alecia Folino and Nicole Zdrojewski.

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Family Technology UpdateEditing Skylert Information in Family AccessFamilies can determine which phone numbers and which e-mail accounts receive certain types of communications. Guardian(s) will

be able to make changes to the Skylert information in Skyward Family Access.

Log in to Skyward Family Access through www.bb-sd.com | Click on the Skyward Family Access Logo. Once logged in, click on Skylert on the General Information menu on the left navigation bar. Your Skylert settings will display. If you desire to make changes, simply click in the fields that you would like changed or place check marks in the appropriate headings for notifications.

Please note that the Primary Phone, Work, Cellular, and Home E-mail shown under My Skyward Contact Info are initially the same pieces of information recorded in our Skyward Student database. Once you make changes on the Skylert screen, the changes are recorded in Skylert (for mass contacts). You can make similar changes under the Student Information Tab. You may also add 1 additional Phone, Cell, and Email Address to the Additional Contact Info For Family Section.

• Save - if you make changes, be sure to click Save before exiting this screen. • Undo Changes - If you make changes, clicking Undo Changes will revert back to the prior settings provided you have not already

clicked Save.Back - will send you back to the previous screen.

• Food Service - Negative Balance calls and e-mails are distributed on a daily basis. Low Balance calls and e-mails are distributed once a week.

• Emergency School Hours/Non-School Hours – notifications will reference events such as school closings, safety related incidents, and other emergency notifications determined by district administrators.

• General - notifications are for informational purposes only and will reference various district and individual school events.• Attendance - notifications will only be generated if your student has an unexcused absence for the instructional day. If your

student is marked absent, a system generated attendance phone call will be sent between the hours of 9:55 AM – 9:00 PM (Elementary Buildings) and 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Middle/High School). Tardy calls for the Middle/High School will be sent between the hours of 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

If you currently do not have Skyward Family Access, please contact your student’s school secretary for access. You may also fill out the form online, print it out, and send it to school with your student at: http://www.bb-sd.com/documents/Skyward_Access.pdf


BY DR. AMY M. BURCH Brentwood Borough SCHOOL DISTRICT · · 2018-07-10BY DR. AMY M. BURCH Brentwood Borough SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS Brentwood Borough School District ... 2015-2016

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