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Avonworth School District News
April 2024
Avonworth Named Best Community for Music Education
We did it again!
For the seventh consecutive year, the Avonworth School District has been recognized as a #BestCommunitiesforMusicEducation!
Let’s celebrate the district’s dedication to music education for all students.
Congratulations to our dedicated students, teachers, administrators, and community members!
Thank you to the NAMM Foundation!
Students Perform with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Two Avonworth students now know what it's like to perform on the Heinz Hall Stage!
Brody Scigliano and Vanessa Amayo participated in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Student Side-by-Side program that gives musicians in grades 9-12 the experience of rehearsing and performing with the PSO.
Wonderful job!
Students Inducted into National Honor Society
Congratulations to the newest members of the National Honor Society! The following students were recently inducted into the Avonworth High School Chapter 2023-2024.
2023-2024 Inductees
- Riley Adams
- Vanessa Amayo
- Lilian Anderson
- Myla Azen
- Grace Bechtold
- Claire Boughton
- Stefania Bounos
- Anna Bradley
- Abigail Brooks
- Nathan Campbell
- Rowan Carmichael
- Rocco D’Ambrosio
- Mackenzie Dawson
- Veronica Garcia
- Sophia Gibson
- Zac Goldfain
- Benjamin Hebor
- Kaelyn Heller
- Madison Hollywood
- Jessica Hunt
- Lucy Jacobs
- Harmony Karwoski
- Julianne Knable
- Eva Koebel
- Karly Krul
- Fiona Mahan
- Lexi Mannion
- Mia Milojevic
- Megan Monti
- Jessica Nicolaus
- Emma Noss
- Greta O’Brien
- Emma Obersteiner
- Odebode
- Oluwagbemiga
- William Onyshko
- Alessia Padalino
- Katherine Petrina
- Landon Pfeil
- Noah Quinn
- Conner Ralston
- Grace Rhode
- Sydney Savatt
- Airah Shafiq
- Ava Silvey
- Brandon Smidl
- Lucy Studebaker
- Emma Suto
- Elizabeth Sweeney
- Peri Świątkowski
- Michael Tabano
- Reese Theobald
- Nickolas Veleke
- Cassidy Walsh
- Joseph Weiss
- Kalea Wilson
- Liam Yackoski
- Elana Zimmerman
Student Musicians Earn Superior Rating
The 6th Grade Band successfully earned the "Superior" rating at the 2024 Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association Music Performance Assessment!
This is the highest rating possible.
Avonworth was the only 6th grade band and/or elementary band to also earn this rating last school year across the entire state.
The adjudicators were music professors from Westminster College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Student Success at PMEA Festival
Congratulations to Frankie Dereume (clarinet), Caitlin Murray (french horn), Connor LeBaron (percussion), and Charley Langley-Rose (tuba) who represented AES with their performance at the PMEA District 1 Elementary Band Festival held at Thomas Jefferson High School!
The performance even included a world-premiere of a piece entitled “Blues for PMEA.”
All-State Chorus Qualifier
A big congratulations to Harmony Karwoski for qualifying for the PMEA All-State Chorus ensemble for the second year in a row.
Harmony is the first choir student in Avonworth history to qualify for states twice in her high school career.
We could not be more proud of her incredible hard work and accomplishment.
Junior Elected to Statewide Key Club Role
Avonworth junior Airah Shafiq has been elected to serve as the 2024-2025 Pennsylvania State Secretary Treasurer for Key Club.
She served as Division 2 Lieutenant Governor for Key Club this past year where she was mostly in charge of Pittsburgh area schools that included Avonworth, Pine Richland, North Allegheny, and Seneca Valley among others.
Avonworth is so proud of your leadership, Airah!
Chase the Antelopes Raises Thousands of Dollars
On Saturday, April 27, 8th grade students welcomed nearly 200 registrants to the 6th Annual Chase the Antelopes 5k & One-Mile Walk.
For months, students organized the event - making phone calls, writing letters, painting posters, visiting residents along the race course, designing promotional materials, and so much more!
The brief rain showers did not dampen the spirits of the community as they got to see all of the students' hard work was on full display. Students volunteered at the registration and raffle tables, while others handed out water and directed participants through the 5k and one-mile routes in Cobblestone and Avonworth Heights.
Through all of their efforts, the 8th Grade class raised over $7000 to donate to the Hannah Milbert Memorial Fund, an Avonworth High School Scholarship. And during the entire project, students also learned valuable citizenship skills that brought the community together around an important cause.
Congratulations to the Avonworth Class of 2028!
Students Headed to Finance Nationals
After winning the PA Personal Finance Competition, AHS seniors – Stuart McAdams, Ryan Hetcko, Brayden Simmons -- are headed to the Finance Nationals, which will be held in Cleveland in May!
Congratulations and good luck!
Middle Schoolers Advance to Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
Congratulations to Avonworth Middle School's Odyssey of the Mind team for earning a 2nd place finish at the PA State Competition and advancing to the World Finals at Iowa State University!
Seventh graders Timmy Wrona, Max Paulat, Kate Paulat, Rosie Glidden, Trinity Klicker, and Matilda Mackillop impressed the judges with their 1920's style creative solution to the "Drive in Movie" problem in the Vehicle category.
They also successfully solved a spontaneous problem during the competition, which was held on April 7 at the Poconos Mountain East High School.
Avonworth was well represented at the State Final, with four teams competing at this level.
Other participants included:
Ved Bansal, Liam Curlis, Lydia Klein, Cordelia Rice, Noemie Rice, August Teague (Classics problem: Opening Night Antics, Division 1)
Mason Creagh, Carolyn Denning, Adalynn Ficca, Eli Fussner, Abe Outly , Vada Panuski, Vincenzo Pascuzzi (Performance problem: Rocking World Detour, Division 1)
Max Genovese, Gabby Kuzma, Lily Michael, Skylar Patberg, Evia Shea, Gabe Van Mater, Charlie Vaughan (Classics problem: Opening Night Antics, Division 2)
Congratulations to all teams for a successful Odyssey season, and good luck to our Middle School team at Worlds!
Junior Achievement Day
Second graders participated in Junior Achievement Day with the help of Beattie Tech students.
Each classroom had three Beattie students who taught our 2nd graders about needs and wants and how to contribute to a community by having a job!
Our students loved the Pizza Maker job simulation and using pretend money to pay for services and goods in a community. Thanks, Beattie Tech!
Entrepreneur Night Raises Money for Charities
Members of JAM #bethekindkid raised over $1500 for 34 different charities during Entrepreneur Night.
Students sold handmade items like stress balls, bracelets, and bookmarks as part of this yearly fundraiser. Half of the evening's profits went to charity.
Avonworth Spotlight: Night at the Museum
Thank you to Avonworth junior Jase Klatzkin for filming and producing this video about the 8th grade Night at the Museum!
Happy Birthday Miss Bernice!
The Avonworth School Community celebrated longtime APC cafeteria worker, Miss Bernice, on April 15th - her 85th birthday!
WPXI Channel 11 also featured Miss Bernice on their website.
AFEE Grants Provide Unique Learning Experiences
Thanks to the generous support of the Avonworth Fund for Educational Excellence (AFEE), AHS art students recently had the opportunity to experience a Raku Firing Process through the Mobile Kiln program at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild. Materials to create pottery for this process were purchased using grant money awarded from the AFEE.
The Fund also supported the following through its Spring 2024 grants:
- More than 300 fiction and non-fiction Decodable Books for APC students. Reading specialist Jaclyn Keane will use these to help students achieve reading goals and grow into confident, independent readers.
- Sensory games and mindfulness break activities for the new AMS Life Skills program, which helps students with speech and socialization goals
- Data Jam Super Computers with Tableau data visualization software for AHS students in their introduction to the field of data science
- AI subscriptions for new AHS course “Artificial Intelligence and Ethics”
- Funds for guest speakers and community interviews for “Human Flourishing,” a course for AHS seniors
- A new cello and music for the AES Orchestra, a growing program that doubled in size last year and is projected to double again next year
Previous AFEE grants have provided a smart board for the Speech Department, funds to support 5th and 6th grade trips to Camp Kon-O-Kwee, and new blenders for the Food Science classroom.
The AFEE recognizes academic, artistic, or technical excellence through awards and recognition, and also awards grants to enhance and support educational opportunities for students and faculty.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Fund! Donations can be made here: https://pittsburghfoundation.org/avonworthfund.
To learn more about the Avonworth Fund for Educational Excellence, including how Avonworth faculty and staff can apply for grants, contact: AvonworthfundTPF@gmail.com.
For a complete collection of photos from this event, go to our Facebook Page album.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we have an opportunity to break the stigma around mental health in our campus by talking openly, compassionately, and kindly to each other. No one should ever struggle alone.
School staff are the backbone of student well-being, but remember that you also can’t pour from an empty cup.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI joins the mental health community to reaffirm our commitment to building our understanding of mental illness, increasing access to treatment and ensuring those who are struggling know they are not alone.
If you or someone you know wants to be connected to a mental health care provider, contact Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential mental health care coordination service provided by Avonworth School District:
- Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
- Visit www.caresolace.com/avonworth and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help, use the resources around you, and never give up hope.
Spring Sports in Full Swing After Record-Rain in April
The Avonworth baseball, softball, and track teams are going strong this season after experiencing some turbulence due to spring rain showers.
All three programs are off to strong starts and looking to make an impact in the postseason. Both softball (4-1, 6-3) and baseball (6-2,10-8) teams have clinched spots in the WPIAL 3A playoffs starting May 13th, 2024.
Strong Start for Lopes Track Team
The Avonworth/Northgate track & field team put on quite a show in front of our home crowd in their last section meet against Ambridge on April 15th.
For the girls, it was once again a sweep in the 100m. Hayzes Robinson, Megan Obersteiner and Taylor Smallwood took the top three places. Megan and Taylor both ran to new personal bests, while Hayzes now has the top three times in the WPIAL class 2A. Megan came back to win the 200m, with Tallulah Keller and Cadence Kuretich scoring points with second and third place finishes, with all three running personal best times!
Grace Ermlich placed first in the 400m. In the 800m, Julia Cernich, Hope Stiteler, and Natalie Frank took the top three places. Julia and Hope ran to huge personal bests of 2:30.42 and 2:30.70 that rank them #7 and #9 in the WPIAL class 2A! Hope came back to win the 1600m with a new personal best of 5:56.33, with Natalie placing second.
Julia Doherty won both the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles, setting new personal bests in both races. Her time of 49.02 in the 300m hurdles ranks her third in the WPIAL class 2A and 11th in the state!
Megan, Hayzes, Julia Doherty and Taylor Smallwood won the 4x100m relay. Hayzes, Grace, Julia Cernich and Julia Doherty won the 4x400m with the #2 time in the WPIAL class 2A, second only to the time posted by Hayzes, Grace, Julia D. and Gianna Babusci a week ago!
The girls also won the 4x800m relay, with Hope, Julia C., Natalie and Reagan Michalski posting a huge season best of 10:53.76, which ranks fifth in the WPIAL class 2A!
In the field, Taylor Smallwood won the long jump with a leap of 16ft 6.5in. Not only does that rank her eighth in the WPIAL class 2A, but it also moves her into second place all-time in team history! Taylor also won the high jump, with Julia Cernich snagging third place.
Ava Simmons and Avery Barnes took first and second in the javelin. Ava's throw of 71ft 11in and Avery's throw of 70ft 4in are huge, new personal bests! Emma Bellotti and Alaina Holberg took second and third in the discus, and Lily Anderson took third in the shot put.
For the boys, Tucker Jeremias and Savian Baptiste took first and second in the 100m. Luke Garda and Austin Mitchell took second and third in the 200m. Nate Kline and Jagger Boyd took first and second in the 400m.
It was a sweep in the 800m, with Will Smith, Ryan Frank and Tyler Harold taking the top three places. Will's time of 2:12.32 is a huge new personal best! Henry Amick and Owen Maddalena took first and third in the 1600m. Owen's time of 5:11.87 is a huge personal best! Henry came back to win the 3200m, with Alek Wert dropping more than 40 seconds off of his old personal best to take second place!
Angelo Perminter won both the 100m hurdles and the 300m hurdles, setting new personal bests of 18.08 and 44.72. Zachary Fleckenstein also scored points in the 300m hurdles, placing third with his new personal best of 47.25!
The boys won the 4x100m, with Austin, Tucker, Luke G. and Savian running a new season best of 45.14 that ranks them #17 in the WPIAL class 3A! Jagger, Luke G., Savian and Will won the 4x400m relay with a new season best of 3:42.66. Will, Ryan, Henry and Tyler Harold won the 4x800m relay with a season-best time of 9:11.15!
In the field, Tucker took first in the long jump. Brayden Simmons and Jackson Lipchak grabbed second and third place in the triple jump. Luke Hollywood and Rocco D'Ambrosio took second and third place in the javelin. Rocco set a huge, new personal best of 103ft 5in. Harrison McAfee took second in the discus, with a new personal best of 107ft 9in. Harrison finished up the evening with a third place shot put throw.
The teams also competed on Friday, April 19th in one of Pennsylvania's largest track & field meets -- the Butler Invitational.
Hayzes, Megan Obersteiner, Julia Doherty & Gianna Babusci powered the 4x1 to second place silvers, with a WPIAL 2A leading time, which moves them into third place all time in team history! Hayzes Robinson also ran her way to a first place gold in the 100m with a WPIAL & State 2A #1 time & second place silver in the 200m.
The WPIAL Individual Championships take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Slippery Rock University. Good luck!
Honoring the Past and Present
The Avonworth baseball program has created a new tradition that focuses on honoring Avonworth greats from the past and present.
This season alone, the program has recognized several Avonworth athletic teams before their home games.
The program welcomed back the 1992 WPIAL championship team and presented them with a WPIAL championship banner to commemorate the program milestone. In addition, the baseball team also honored the WPIAL 3-peat 2A girls’ soccer champions and former Avonworth baseball head coach Bob Taylor.
All-State Players Recognized
The Avonworth softball program hosted the Avonworth Girls Athletic Association (AGAA) girls at their vs Burrell on April 12th!
The program also recognized the 2022-2023 PaHSSBCA 3A First Team All State Players and commemorated the girls with their jerseys and an All-State Banner at Mayernik Field:
- Rylee Gray - 2022, 2023
- Leah Kuban - 2022, 2023
- Alivia Lantzy - 2022, 2023
- Meghan Fissore - 2022
Kai Carlson and Amelia Hardiman selected as 2024 James Collins Scholar-Athlete Awards Winners
On April 17th, the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) revealed the recipients of the 33rd annual WPIAL James Collins Scholar-Athlete Award on Wednesday, with 20 candidates (10 male, 10 female) selected from a group of 146 nominees. For the first time in school history, both Avonworth female and male nominees were selected as recipients of the award.
Kai Carlson (Avonworth) – Kai is a four-year letter winner and two-year captain of the Avonworth boys’ golf team who captured section medalist honors as a freshman and junior. In addition, he helped lead the team to back-to-back section team championships as a junior and senior, finished runner-up as a sophomore at the PIAA Golf Individual Championships, and placed in the top 10 as a freshman.
Kai became the first golfer in school history to qualify for PIAA Championships three times. He set school records for single-season average score and rounds under par, and was named Tri-State PGA Junior Golf Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023!
In addition to his athletic success, Kai received the Rensselaer Medal Award for outstanding student in math and science and is a two-year Global Scholar. Kai also participates in Jazz Band and Honors Band.
Outside of school, Kai has given his time to serve on mission trips to Nicaragua with Agros International and Appalachia, West Virginia with More Grace Outreach. He also serves as a teaching assistant for math, sound team technician at New Community Church, and counselor/leader at summer camps in Pennsylvania and Michigan.
After high school, Kai plans to pursue a degree in computer science. He has been accepted to Georgia Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Congratulations Kai!
Amelia Hardiman (Avonworth) – Amelia collected a total of 10 letters between cross country, swimming & diving, and track & field. She was captain of the Avonworth cross country team as a senior. In addition, Amelia earned WPIAL gold in the 200-yard freestyle relay and PIAA gold in the 400-yard freestyle relay as a senior, and helped guide the team to the WPIAL team title as a freshman. She accumulated a total of 10 WPIAL and four PIAA individual medals over her swimming & diving career!
In addition to her athletic success, Amelia is a member of the National Honor Society, French Club, Data Jam, Math League, Key Club, and Student Government. She earned AP Scholar with Distinction, Global Scholar, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Merit honors as a senior.
Amelia served as class secretary as a sophomore, junior, and senior. In addition, Amelia has given her time as an assistant swimming coach, JAM Club assistant, and organizer of a fifth-grade math competition.
After high school, Amelia plans to pursue a degree in applied mathematics and compete as a member of the University of Rochester swimming & diving team.
Congratulations Amelia!
Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Players Score Post-Season Accolades
Congratulations to Greta O’Brien, Rebecca Goetz, and Rowan Carmichael on earning additional recognition for their contributions to their respective basketball teams this season!
Greta O’Brien was named Post-Gazette 3A Section 2 All-Section.
Rebecca Goetz was named Post-Gazette 3A Section 2 All-Section & All WPIAL 3A.
Rowan Carmichael was named Post-Gazette 4A Section 3 All-Section, All WPIAL 4A, & Second Team All-State (one of two WPIAL athletes to earn this distinction).
Jackson Lipchak and Rebecca Goetz Selected for Annual Roundball Classic Basketball Games
Top senior players from the WPIAL, City League, and District 10 were selected to play in the Roundball Classic All-Star weekend on Saturday, May 25th. KDKA will televise 6 of the games, but spectators can attend for $10 dollars per adult ticket ($5 dollars for children).
Rebecca will compete in the 3A showdown vs. Class 2A/ District 10 on Saturday, May 25th at 2:00 p.m.
Jackson will compete in the 4A showdown vs Class 3A on Saturday, May 25th at 5:00 p.m.
Good luck to both of these ‘Lopes representing Avonworth!
Rebecca Goetz Signs National Letter of Intent to Slippery Rock University
Congratulations Rebecca!
Construction Update
This month, Dr. Hadley shared an update on our construction project with our high school students. You can view that presentation and more on our construction website.
Kennywood Day!
Avonworth School District's 2024 Kennywood Day is May 11.
There is an early bird ticket offer available for Avonworth School District community members now through April 30th. To purchase Kennywood tickets at a discounted price, follow the steps below.
Purchase instructions to visit on May 11 for as low as $31.99.
- Go to www.kennywood.com/schools.
- Enter your ‘2024 School Ticket’ ticket quantity.
- Enter Promo Code avonworth in the ‘Promotional Code’ box, then click ‘Apply’.
- Click ‘Continue’ to advance to the ticket calendar. Select May 11 to apply the discount offer, then click ‘Continue’.
- Select May 11th again, then click ‘Continue’.
- Click ‘Continue’ to advance and complete the remaining steps to purchase your tickets!
Purchase instructions to visit any date through July 14th for $37.99.
- Go to www.kennywood.com/schools.
- Enter your ‘2024 School Ticket’ ticket quantity.
- Enter Promo Code avonworthflex in the ‘Promotional Code’ box, then click ‘Apply’.
- Click ‘Continue’ to advance to the ticket calendar. Select any visit day through July 14th to apply the discount offer, then click ‘Continue’.
- Select your visit date again, then click ‘Continue’.
- Click ‘Continue’ to advance and complete the remaining steps to purchase your tickets!
*Good Any Day tickets will only be available for purchase March 1st – June 30th.
Kindergarten Registration Now Open
Kindergarten registration is now open for the 2024-2025 school year!
Click the here for the registration packet and much more.