Avonworth School District News

Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open!

Is your child turning five (5) years old before September 1, 2025? It's time to register for kindergarten! If you know a child in your neighborhood who will be five years old before Sept. 1, we'd appreciate if you would kindly share this information.

Registration Details:

Parents/guardians should plan to register their child in January 2025.

Visit our website for all the necessary forms and details.

Completed registration packets can be dropped off between 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM daily at APC.

Kindergarten Round Up Informational Session:

Date: Thursday, March 6th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Location: APC Cafe

We look forward to welcoming your little one to the Avonworth School District!

Avonworth School District partnered with KnowledgeWorks to host Graduation Party 2035 on January 22, 2025 as a kick off event to strategic planning. This innovative approach was a simulation of a graduation party in 2035 with student actors playing the role of graduates while folks from KnowledgeWorks played roles such as principal, parent, and community member.

Approximately eighty-five attendees including Avonowrth parents, students, administrators, staff, school board members, and regional leaders attended the event. Throughout the evening participants engaged in conversations about the future of education. Participants deposited their thoughts, insights, and aspirations into time capsules. On the following day, January 23, 2025, the strategic planning committee, board members, administrators, staff, and students participated in a four-hour workshop facilitated by KnowledgeWorks to begin unpacking the information gathered at the graduation party.

Our strategic planning committee’s next meeting is February 6, 2025. Following this meeting, a more detailed update will be sent to our school community on the progress of strategic planning.

Our third-grade GATE students—Eloise Coudriet, Tristan Railing, Isaac Sleasman, and Maclan Ulanowicz—are headed to the Pennsylvania Invention Convention in Hershey on February 12th!

Their invention, "The Foodie," tracks food expiration dates to reduce waste and prevent foodborne illness. Out of nearly 500 entries, only 50 were selected, making this achievement even more remarkable.

We’re so proud of their creativity and can’t wait to see them represent Avonworth School District!

Congratulations to Avonworth's own Melissa Costantino-Poruben.

We are thrilled to celebrate her being selected by the White House for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) in the Mathematics award category, representing Pennsylvania. This prestigious recognition reflects the profound impact she has made in the field of STEM education.

Though chosen for the award in 2022, her exceptional work is just now being honored. Melissa’s dedication to teaching and her contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are truly inspiring.

Please join us in celebrating her success and the incredible work she continues to do for the next generation of learners.

The Avonworth Marching Band had an incredible opportunity to participate in a side-by-side clinic experience at the University of Cincinnati. Led by the UC Director of Bands and collegiate musicians, students worked on specialized sectionals for woodwinds, brass, drumline, and colorguard/dancers.

The day also included a full ensemble rehearsal, where our students got to play alongside UC's talented musicians. As a special treat, the group had the chance to hear the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra perform and even meet the lead trumpet player before the show.

Thank you to the University of Cincinnati for this unforgettable experience.

While the marching band was on their trip, 11 Avonworth band students successfully audition for and perform in the Allegheny Valley Honors Band on January 17 at Pine-Richland High School. The students had the opportunity to work with two guest conductors - -Robert Sheldon, who is an internationally known composer of wind band music; and Gregory Drane, Director of the Marching Blue Band and Athletic Bands at Penn State University.

Highlights include Gianna Gibson and Vanessa Amayo securing first chair oboe and flute (respectively), and freshmen trumpet players John Ursu, Camden Glasgow and Charlie King securing three of the top four trumpet seats in the junior high band.

Congratulations to Olivia Hanlon (tuba); Gianna Gibson (oboe); Vanessa Amayo (flute); Madelyn Hanlon (flute); Emilia Bechtold (oboe); Riley Adams (flute); Kellen Donovan (euphonium); Camden Glasgow (trumpet); Justin Herleman (alto saxophone); Charlie King (trumpet); and John Ursu (trumpet)!

Second grade had the honor of learning from Tylar Melfi, a descendant of the Deer Clan and Erie/Seneca and Kiowa tribes.

As an extension of APC's Wit and Wisdom Module 2: The American West, Tylar shared rich insights into Native American culture, traditions, and history. Students got the chance to see and touch animal furs, and even learned a traditional dance!

On January 27, 2025, our sixth grade students made their official transition to Avonworth Middle School. It has been incredible to see the new middle school addition filled with students. The middle school staff has done an incredible job preparing classrooms and preparing their students for the transition to the new space.

A special thanks goes out to our high school students who prepared welcome cards for each sixth grader. Sixth grade students found the welcome cards on their desks when they came up from the elementary school for an orientation on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Avonworth students who participated in the Fall Play recently performed at Prime Stage High School Drama Awards as a nominee for Best Production for "Twelve Angry Jurors." In addition to being nominated for Best Production, Ella Ging was nominated for Best Actress.

The students put on another fantastic performance. Congratulations to all!

On Friday, March 21, 8th grade Civics students will hold their annual "Night at the Museum" at the Heinz History Center from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Over the next two months, students in 8th grade Civics will collaborate with the Heinz History Center to create projects that focus on the thematic idea of Overcoming Adversity. Their projects connect with multiple exhibits at the museum: From Slavery to Freedom, Western Pennsylvania Sports, Innovators, and Special Collections. Students considered historical struggles for Civil Rights and historical instances of prejudice and discrimination and then linked those to contemporary people, events, and organizations.

In January, students visited the museum to see the exhibits and choose topics that they were interested in researching for this project.

In February, students will learn from several guest speakers and view short films about personal experiences with overcoming adversity.

In March, several docents from the museum will be working with the students to help them learn the communication skills needed in order to be effective museum docents.

After all of this preparation, students will be ready for their public exhibition at the Heinz History Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. That night, the museum will open its doors for an exclusive Avonworth community event from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. During that time, our students will serve as expert docents for their project topics and artwork.

You are cordially invited to the Heinz History Center to take part in this unique student-led event on Friday, March 21, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. On that evening, admission to the History Center is complimentary for all Avonworth community guests.

The Heinz History Center is located at 1212 Smallman Street in the Strip District. While admission to the museum this evening is complimentary, regular downtown parking fees will apply.

We hope that you can join us for Avonworth’s “Night at the Museum” on Friday, March 21, 2025.

Last week, seven of our high school band students had the opportunity to attend and compete at PMEA District 1 Band West, hosted by Hampton High School. Students had the privilege of working with guest conductor, Dr. Cheldon Williams--who is the Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands at West Virginia University. Vanessa Amayo (flute) and Kaleb Amick (horn) both secured spots to move on to regionals early next month.

Congratulations to Kaleb Amick (horn); Ben Cavanaugh (tuba); Zachary Konieczki (trombone); Colin Anderson (trombone); Evelyn Mathie (clarinet); Madelyn Hanlon (flute); Vanessa Amayo (flute)!

Earlier in the month (January 9-11), Vanessa and Kaleb were also afforded the opportunity to participate in PMEA District 1 Orchestra hosted by Bethel Park High School. The orchestra was under the direction of guest conductor Dr. Christopher M. Ciccone of the Baltimore Youth Symphony Orchestra and James Madison University.

Congratulations to Gabrielle Beck (left) -- A.W. Beattie Career Center Student of the Month!

Avonworth High School junior Alaina Kosarych has taken a meaningful step to bring JAM (JAMbethekindkid) back to the Avonworth community as part of her Gold Award Girl Scouts project. Alaina's efforts began with planning an organizational meeting that was held on January 8, 2025.

The event provided student participants and their parents with an overview of how the program will operate and an opportunity for the children to voice their ideas about which organizations they would like to support. During the meeting, attendees got hands-on with their first act of kindness: assembling 60 Valentine treat bags for the Meals on Wheels program in Emsworth. This initiative exemplifies the spirit of JAM, which is rooted in spreading kindness through making and giving.

JAMbethekindkid Inc., a nonprofit organization, originated at Avonworth Primary Center in Pittsburgh, PA. It empowers students in grades K-6 to create and sell items, such as the well-known registered #bethekindkid shirts, with 100% of the proceeds donated to charitable causes. Alaina’s project aims to expand this impactful work by engaging older students and ensuring the program’s sustainability.

Looking ahead, additional JAM meetings are scheduled for January, February, March, and April. These sessions will provide more opportunities for participants to engage in meaningful projects and make a difference in their community. Alaina and her mentor are hopeful that her efforts will pave the way for another high school student to take the reins in the years to come, ensuring the continued success of JAM at Avonworth.

K-12 Dive provides in-depth journalism and insight into the most impactful news and trends shaping K-12 education. We are thrilled to have Avonworth Elementary School featured in their January 13, 2025 article Pennsylvania Elementary School Builds 'Bridges' to Student Connections.

"Students at Avonworth Elementary School in Pennsylvania are getting to familiarize themselves with their teachers and peers thanks to an advisory program created to holistically foster interpersonal relationships on campus."

Click here to read the full article.

CCAC’s mechatronics professors and a former CCAC student recently visited our Avonworth High School. About 30 students learned about careers in manufacturing and advanced manufacturing, as well as different college courses they could take through CCAC through our dual enrollment program.

Thank you to Avonworth High School student Marshall McCall for filming and producing this video about the AI Ethics course at Avonworth. Click here to watch it.

Thank you to Avonworth High School student Marshall McCall for filming and producing this video about the AI Ethics course at Avonworth. Click here to watch it.

The 'Lopes boys' basketball team is off to a great start! Their overall record is 14-2 and they are 6-0 and in first place in the WPIAL Section 2 (4A). The team success is directly related to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the 23 student athletes.

In addition to the team success, the Antelopes celebrated an incredible milestone on January 24. Rowan Carmichael, who is the all-time leading scorer in school history, surpassed 2,000 points in his career in front of a standing-room only crowd. The 'Lopes are looking forward to continued success during the second half of the season.

Congratulations Rowan Carmichael on Reaching the 2,000 Point Milestone!

The Girls Basketball team is continuing to build momentum as they approach the postseason. The Lady 'Lopes are currently 9-6 (6-3 in section) and winners of 4 of their last 5 games. Senior Guard Greta O’Brien ranks among the top scorers in the WPIAL with an average of 20.4 points per game. The Lady 'Lopes continue to work hard every day in order to prepare for another postseason run!

The ‘Lopes made it to the second round of the WPIAL championships before ultimately falling to McGuffey High School. They were the first varsity wrestling team in the school's history to advance to the second round of the WPIAL championship. The individual WPIAL championship is coming up on February 15.

Congratulations to the wrestling team on a fantastic season!

Dan Bonner, ASD Class of 1971, was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025. After graduating from Avonworth, Bonner attended the University of Virginia where he was a standout basketball player. Following his college career, he coached basketball at UVA for several years. He is also known as a sports broadcaster who widely covered college basketball, including covering March Madness for over 35 years.

As you can see on the timeline above, we have reached January 2025 and the end of the construction and renovation project.

During this final week of January, work in the auditorium is coming to a close. The final remaining items to complete are cosmetic. Our general contractor will continue to complete installing wood panels through out the middle and high school. We will also see finishes take place in the middle school, such as counter top areas in the sixth grade hallways, a new counter at the technology help desk, a counter to create a seating area heading into the cafeteria, and wood seats added to the middle school learning stairs. Lastly, a cabinet maker will be installing a new sound booth in the auditorium and an organizational system in the drop zone to provide spaces for students to store items through the day, hang coats, etc.

Thank you to our amazing teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, and students for their flexibility throughout this project!

Please visit our website for the latest information on our construction project.

Avonworth High School, in partnership with the North Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and KeyBank, is coordinating a Career Fair/Future Ready Showcase.

Date: Tuesday, February 11th, 2025
Time: 8:30 am - 11:00 am
Location: Avonworth HS Commons Area

We would like to invite Avonworth parents, care givers and community members to participate! If you would like to be a part of the Career Fair, please click here to complete the sign up form.

Lunch will be provided for exhibitors and presenters!

Our High School yearbook store is now live for those who would like to purchase a yearbook. Last year we sold out and some families were unable to secure a book after the window for purchasing closed, so the sooner you buy the better.

Click here to purchase a yearbook.

Our "job number" is 4285. The store will be live until the first week of April.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me email sjames@avonworth.k12.pa.us.

As we continue the possibility of weather-related delays and closings, we want to make sure families are as prepared as possible.

We will shift to remote instruction if we need to close our schools due to inclement weather. All students in grades K-12 will attend classes remotely. A remote learning day will run on a two-hour delay schedule for all students K-12. Remote instruction will begin for middle and high school students at 10:00 AM and primary and elementary students at 11:00 AM. The extra time in the morning will help teachers prepare for the remote learning day and give students any additional time they might need to complete work – or play in the snow!

If we call for a delay, all Avonworth schools will operate on a two-hour delay schedule. If your child takes the bus, their pick-up time will be two hours later than normal.

If we have to delay school or move to remote instruction due to inclement weather, the information will be shared in the following ways:

• The Avonworth School District website (www.avonworth.k12.pa.us)
• School Messenger (call and email)
• Facebook (www.facebook.com/AvonworthSD)
• Twitter (https://twitter.com/avonworthschool)
• Instagram (www.instagram.com/avonworthsd)
• Local news stations (WPXI, WTAE, KDKA)

Please review this Closing/Delay Frequently Asked Questions to help answer any additional questions you may have concerning school delays and closures.

Please use our website (www.avonworth.k12.pa.us) as your official source for information.

Thank you in advance for your patience and flexibility this winter!

As we welcome 2025, we hope this year brings growth, reflection, and new opportunities to everyone at Avonworth School District. This January, take a moment to pause and think about the past year. What brought you joy in 2024? What lessons will you carry forward? Reflecting on these moments can help set meaningful intentions for the year ahead.

Check out our End of Year Reflection Sheet.

We also know that goals are easier to achieve with the support of a strong community. Below, you’ll find resources and events designed to help you and your family thrive in 2025.

If you or your family need mental health or substance use support, Care Solace offers free, confidential assistance to connect you with care that fits your needs.

• Call 888-515-0595, available 24/7 in over 50 languages.
• Visit caresolace.com/avonworth to search on your own or use the “Book Appointment” option for personalized help.

Here’s to a year of connection, growth, and well-being for all.

We’re excited to take on 2025 together!

Avonworth School District is hiring Full Time Building Custodians. Applicants should contact Kristen Butler at kbutler@avonworth.k12.pa.us or visit our website. EOE