Avonworth School District News

Families had an unforgettable evening at Avonworth School District's Christmas Around the World celebration, in partnership with KidsburghPgh!

Students explored holiday traditions from India, Japan, South Africa, and Ukraine.

Kids got creative with hands-on activities like making a star in India, decorating a KFC bucket in Japan, crafting animals in South Africa, and creating spiders in Ukraine.

And what’s a celebration without some delicious treats? Refreshments included Grinch juice, hot chocolate, and cookies to keep everyone warm and festive.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and we can’t wait for more Hi Neighbor! events in 2025!

The AHS Red Cross Club had the pleasure of helping the kindergarten and first grade students at APC create beautiful holiday cards for Veterans.

They look forward to the Holiday Mail for Heroes event each year, spreading holiday cheer and gratitude to our Pittsburgh area Veterans.

Thank you to all who participated in making this holiday season brighter for those who have served.

Second graders embraced the winter spirit at our RIASEC-themed party!

From creating compli-mittens and gingerbread houses to crafting snowflakes and other holiday masterpieces, they brought warmth and creativity to the season.

EIghth grade civics students recently went back in time to explore the challenges that faced American Colonists prior to the Revolutionary War. Students recently debated in a "Revolutionary Town Hall" where each participant assumed the identity of a historical figure.

Some notable guests included Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Paine. But lesser known guests such as Peter Salem, Deborah Sampson, and Olaudah Equiano were also portrayed by students. A few students even created their own characters such as a South Carolina widow, an apothecary from New Jersey, and a privateer from Massachusetts.

After significant research into their character's history and completing several writing prompts, students prepared to debate the important political issues of Colonial America such as taxes, slavery, and voting rights. In addition, they reacted to major events such as the Boston Tea Party, the publishing of Common Sense, and reports of tax collectors being tarred & feathered.

Contrasting the actual delegations in Colonial America, this Revolutionary Town Hall intentionally included diverse perspectives in our meeting to include women, enslaved Africans, immigrants, low-income farmers, religious minorities, Loyalists, and Native Americans. Students playing these characters provided valuable insight to the conversations about whether or not declaring independence from Great Britain would truly be in everyone's best interest.

Whether a student declared themselves a Patriot or a Loyalist, they had the opportunity to hear the complex range of views that exist on a variety of political issues, some of which still resonate with Americans today.

Just before Thanksgiving, The English as a Second Language (ESL) Club hosted its 2nd Multicultural Thanksgiving Dinner.

It was an evening filled with gratitude, cultural exchange, and a delicious blend of international dishes alongside traditional American fare. A huge thank you to all the students and families who joined us for this special event!

The ESL Club was created to support the growing number of immigrant students at Avonworth. They aim to create a welcoming space for those still learning English and adjusting to a new environment.

Just before Thanksgiving Break, Avonworth Middle School students all gathered together in the gymnasium for a very special cultural performance of Japanese Taiko Drumming.

The performers consisted of members of the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania who have developed this music and cultural skill for years. In between each performance, the drummers told stories about the cultural significance of each song and how they might play a role in the life of Japanese society.

Students were invited to participate with chants and clapping during the songs as they learned about the history of this unique form of music. The program was brought to students by the Middle School Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee and also connects to the 7th Grade World Cultures curriculum.

Congratulations to Harmony Karwoski, Stefan Lash, and Kaleb Amick for qualifying for PMEA District Chorus.

A special shout-out to Harmony for earning 1st Chair in her section—what an incredible achievement. We are so proud of our Singing Lopes!

This year, the High School Student Council launched a program to honor students who consistently demonstrate respect, responsibility, and kindness. Faculty members nominate deserving students, and then the faculty vote determines the recipient from the pool of nominees.

For the 9th grade student of the month, Melody Zheng was recognized for her remarkable acts of kindness by Ms. George. Ms. George noted that Melody "always takes the high road in every situation, inspiring her peers to do the same. She treats everyone fairly and possesses an uplifting spirit. Melody is dedicated to equality and serves as a positive role model for others."

Ellie was recognized as the 10th-grade student of the month for her strong incredible sense of kindness by Mr. Ahmend Affaneh. Mr. Affaneh noted that “Ellie is the nicest person! She is so kind to ALL students and respectful to her peers and teachers. Truly a pleasure to have in class.”

The 11th-grade student was Paxon MAsters who embodies kindness and was recognized by Ms. Deborah Frauenholz. Ms. Frauenholz noted that Paxon is "One of the most genuinely kind, inclusive, and enthusiastic students I have ever taught. Pro-everyone, pro-every activity--just a pro! Extremely deserving of this award."

Mia, a 12th-grade student, was recognized for her strong sense of responsibility by Mrs. Molly Long. Mrs. Long noted that Mia is “juggling a variety of items on her plate and is doing it well. I am impressed with her ability to manage school, activities, work, and the application process while remaining level-headed and kind. She meets with me on a regular basis to review her application essays and materials for college; her time management and attention to detail are worthy of notice and recognition.”

Fifth grade students created fun and interactive math games to help second graders build math fact fluency! They teamed up to collaborate, teach, and play, making learning both fun and meaningful.

We are proud to announce that Avonworth School District has been recognized as one of the 2024 Child Hunger Hero recipients for our dedication to providing outstanding food service to our students.

Congratulations to our amazing food service staff and volunteers for being officially named Child Hunger Heroes by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank!

A big thank you to everyone involved in helping ensure our students have the meals they need to succeed.

Learn more about this honor www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/hero

Thank you to Avonworth High School student Dylan Lope for filming and producing this video about science class offerings at Avonworth.

Thank you to Avonworth High School student Marshall McCall for filming and producing this video about grief awareness at Avonworth.

As the winter break approaches, we invite you to take a moment to slow down, recharge, and embrace the peace this season can bring.

The holidays are often filled with joy and connection, but they can also bring challenges—whether it’s missing a loved one, juggling holiday preparations, or managing the pressures of the season. While each of us celebrates in our own way, it’s important to acknowledge all feelings that may arise and remember it’s okay to ask for support when needed.

To help make this season a little brighter, we’ve gathered some resources for you to keep handy. If you or a loved one could benefit from extra support, we encourage you to use them whenever needed.

Avonworth School District has partnered with Care Solace to help support the well-being of our community. Whether you or a family member need support with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can connect you to care options that meet your needs—quickly, confidentially, and at no cost to you.

How to Access Support:

• Call: 888-515-0595 (Multilingual support available 24/7/365)
• Visit: www.caresolace.com/avonworth
• Search for providers independently or click “Book Appointment” to get assistance via video chat, phone, or email.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a peaceful start to the new year. May you return from winter break rested, recharged, and ready for what’s ahead!

With Thanksgiving approaching, we enter a time of year when weather could impact our school schedule. As we prepare for 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!

Congratulations to Avonworth Head Coach Duke Johncour, who was named the Steelers High School Coach of the Year and the team’s nominee for the prestigious Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award! This recognition is a testament to Coach Johncour’s exceptional leadership and dedication, guiding the Lopes to their remarkable success this season.

In addition to Coach Johncour's honor, the Lopes football team received special recognition at the December 8th Pittsburgh Steelers game for their outstanding achievement as the 3A WPIAL Champions. The team’s hard work, perseverance, and incredible performance throughout the season were celebrated, culminating in their well-deserved championship title.

The WPIAL championship and Coach Johncour’s recognition at the Steelers game are milestones in what has been a standout year for the Lopes football program!

Congratulations to Mason Metz for being named 2024 TribLive HSSN Terrific 25 Football All-Stars!

Mason collected Western Hills Conference Defensive MVP honors while racking up 75 tackles, 29 TFL's, forced 3 fumbles & a state leading 20 sacks. Congratulations, Mason!

Rowan Carmichael is now Avonworth’s all time scoring leader.

He surpassed Dan Bonner’s 1,416pt last year during the WPIAL quarterfinals vs Montour.

Congrats Rowan, keep up the great work!

Congratulations to Auston Kosanovic for placing third at the Chartiers Houston Tournament on December. 7th.

Auston went 4 and 1 only dropping a loss to the eventual champion by a score of 9-6.

At the North Hills Duals Auston Kosanovic went 6-0 on the day and on his first day back Senior Justin Beck went 5-1 with 5 pins.

The Lady Lopes basketball team currently sits at 3-3 with wins over Class 4A #4 Elizabeth Forward and City League #1 Allderdice.

The girls are set to take on Deer Lakes High School in a section matchup on December 19th before heading to Deep Creek, Maryland for their holiday tournament to take on East Fairmont High School and Millbrook High School on December 27th and 28th.

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

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open on January 6, 2025. If your child will be five (5) years old before September 1, 2025, parents/guardians should plan to register them for kindergarten in January 2025.

You can link to all of the important documents and learn more about Avonworth Primary Center's kindergarten program by going to the registration section of our website.

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 complete this 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.