Avonworth School District News
March 2020
A School Community With A Lot to Celebrate
We are thankful for the over 1000 responses to our virtual learning survey. In addition to the overwhelming amount of positive feedback and messages of appreciation, the survey provided valuable input and suggestions. Our principals have taken this feedback to teachers and will work collaboratively to continue improving our virtual instruction program to best meet the needs of our students and families. Thank you for your continued support!
A Message from Dr. Ralston
Successful Shift to Virtual Learning
ASD School Spirit, Pride, and Kindness Continue Virtually!
Virtual Art Class
Virtual Field Trips
Virtual Library Class
Looking for a Good Book?
A Look Inside Our Schools Before We Went Virtual
Read Across America Week at Avonworth Elementary School
Enjoy This Incredible Video Created for the AES Teacher Talent Show - Video Created by Mindy Weinzierl
5th Graders Work on Storytelling by Learning from Pixar in a Box
The Kindness and Giving Never Stop for JAM!
Items Delivered to The Children's Home from JAM
College in High School Latin Class Completes Aeneid Project
Avonworth Band Visits the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame
PAsmart Computer Science Grant In Action
Below are some photos from Mrs. Dzadovsky's math class in which she had her students learning coordinates by programming a shape to draw in Scratch. We can't wait to see how this grant helps to grow computer science integration like this in other areas of our curriculum.
Recognition, Celebration, and Congratulations!
Avonworth's Chris Keast a Member of Best Automotive Technician Team in the State
Avonworth Drama Department Earns Recognition
Although this new normal put a stop to the spring musical, it couldn't stop our drama department and students from having a spotlight shine on them. Prime Stage Theater recently announced its 2020 High School Drama Award Winners. Our fall play production of A Midwinter Night's Dream won three awards! Congratulations to Mike Frank, Fabian Vasquez-Ramos, and the entire cast and crew on the following awards!
Best Production Manager: Mike Frank
Best Supporting Actor: Fabian Vasquez-Ramos
Best Production! AHS
This is a phenomenal feat for the debut year of these awards and an incredible testament to our talented Avonworth students and our drama department's willingness to push the boundaries of high school drama!
Avonworth's Goetz Excels on the Basketball Court
2020 Key Club Scholarships Awarded to Avonworth's Alexie Auth
We are thrilled to share a recent announcement from Bob Bagans, President of the Kiwanis Club of Sewickley. Mr. Bagans informed Key Club sponsors, Mrs. Maisner and Mrs. Reagle that Avonworth Senior and Key Club President, Alexie Auth, is one of two recipients of its 2020 Key Club Scholarships.
Mr. Bagans stated, "These young ladies have served ably as their club's president, and have been great examples of leadership to their members. We are mighty proud of their successes."
Congratulations Alexie! Your Avonworth family is very proud of you!
Mrs. Galecki Selected as Holocaust Educator of the Year
Avonworth Middle School teachers, Mrs. Kathy Galecki, has been selected as this year's Holocaust Educator of the Year by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh! Mrs. Galecki will receive an award of $2000 to help support the continuation of her efforts, as well as an additional $1000 to help further the Holocaust Education programming and curriculum in our District.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Galecki was to formally receive this award at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh's annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony on April 21. Due to the current closure and stay-at-home order by our Governor, this event has been cancelled and will hopefully be rescheduled at a later date.
Congratulations on your achievement Mrs. Galecki!
Avonworth Athletic Director Earns Coach of the Year Recognition
We are pleased to announce that Avonworth's Athletic Director, Mr. Tim Giel, was recognized by the WPIAL for 10 years of service. Mr. Giel was also recognized by the WPIAL Wrestling Coaches Association as the WPIAL AA Coach of the Year! Congratulations Mr. Giel on both of these very worthy recognitions!
First Annual Hope Night Postponed
Middle School Yearbook Information
There are still 50 copies available for pre-order! Purchases can be made online through the yearbook company with a credit card. The cost is $20 and a small credit card processing fee. Online pre-orders end on April 24, 2020. Please use the link below to order.
Chase the Antelopes 5K & One-Mile Walk Cancelled
On behalf of the Avonworth Class of 2024, we would like to thank you for registering for this year’s Chase the Antelopes 5k & One-Mile Walk. Unfortunately, due to the guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control and to ensure the safety of our community, this year’s event had to be cancelled.
While this year’s event will not take place, the hard work that our 8th-grade students put into this event should not go without recognition. Prior to our school closing in early March, students had achieved the following:
Secured twenty local business sponsors
Registered over 130 participants
Acquired more than a dozen online donations
Designed their own website, t-shirt, medals, trophies, and flyers
Recruited volunteers, called local businesses, and wrote letters to past participants
Learned to work together as a team, problem-solve, and plan an event that brings together a community for a great cause.
We are certain that if students would have had the opportunity to finish the project in school, it would have been a huge success and memorable experience for the entire class.
The Chase the Antelopes 5k & One-Mile Walk will return next year on Saturday, April 24, 2021. All current 8th-grade students will be invited to return as a participant or volunteer so that they can join next year’s 8th graders in this annual event.
Your registration fee of $15 can be held until next year and we will automatically register you for next year’s event. Remember, your registration fee is a donation to the Hannah Milbert Memorial Fund, a scholarship opportunity for Avonworth High School students.
If you prefer, you can contact Miles of Smiles Timing Service at bonnherb@yahoo.com to arrange for a refund.
We hope to see you at the starting line in 2021!
ASD and Blessings in a Backpack Provide Meals For Avonworth Families
We are pleased to inform you that our Food Service Director, Ms. Melissa Schad, has filed a waiver that has been granted and Avonworth School District is now able to provide meals for any family in need. Please stay tuned for an announcement early next week regarding how to sign up for meals and where to pick up these meals.
We also want to inform you that Blessings in a Backpack is able to take on new families at this time and will run every Friday. Please reach out to Rhodora Huffmyer for this information. She can be contacted at: r.d.huffmyer@gmail.com
JAM to Provide Support to Food Bank During this Challenging Time
JAM would like to help our community in any small way we can. Since we can’t get together to make items to help our current situation, we are selling limited edition t-shirts. Profits from this sale will go directly to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Please click on the link below to order:
COVID-19 School Closure Information
Please use this link to access our updated FAQ regarding the current school closure: ASD COVID-19 FAQ Update
We are all thrilled to see the weather starting to turn warmer. With the warmer weather comes the desire to be outside to play and exercise. We need to remind you that the District must follow the guidelines outlined by Governor Wolf and therefore we have closed our District's playgrounds, Lenzner field, and school grounds. We ask for your support in adhering to these guidelines and remain off of school grounds, Lenzner field/track, and all school playgrounds.