GHS Senior Scholarships and Awards List

This absurdly long list of names is still probably incomplete in some respects, but an amazing number of our seniors have shown what they are made of.
The following is a list of scholarships and awards won by members of the Gateway High School Class of 2008, according to school officials...

AJC Louis Caplan Human Relations Award, Madison Castagnero; Amanda Jane Price Scholarship, Rebekah Polemba; Bill Belardi Scholarship, Lori Stover; The Cedars of Monroeville Scholarships, Anne Fallon, Matthew Lipner; Chic Marston Memorial Scholarship, Madison Castagnero; Cody Moy Memorial Hockey Scholarship, Joseph Hudec.
Demi Cuccia Scholarships, Marisa Brady, Madison Castagnero; Evergreen Elementary PTO Scholarship, Natalie Episcopo; Forbes Road Career & Technology Center Awards, Christina Lippke, Jessica Mountain, Kenneth Sherman, Brandon Sherry.

Furrie Scholarships, Madison Castagnero, Joseph Kromka, Thomas Wirbicki; Pitcairn Woman's Club Scholarships, Christopher Bowser, Jordan Oswald; Garden City Women's Club Scholarships, Caitlin McDonald, Lauren Wagener; Gateway Band Boosters Scholarships in Memory of Noah Gray, Karyn Drombosky, Andrew Imblum, Sean McMaster, Sarah Parker.
Gateway Education Association Scholarship, Christine Thompson; Gateway Education Association Eunice Tarr Scholarship, Jessica DiVittorio; Gateway Education Association John Galagaza Memorial Scholarship, Seth Wermager.
Gateway Hockey Scholar Athlete Scholarship, Seth Wermeger; Gateway High School Baseball Boosters Scholarships, Adam Felton, Chris Vergos; Gateway High School Cheerleading Booster Scholarship, Elisa Falvo; Gateway High School Family & Consumer Sciences Award, Kariann Durst; Gateway High School PTO Scholarships, Anthony Barone, Adam Hoffman, Matthew Lipner, Kathryn Myser.
Gateway High School Soccer Booster Scholarships, Natalie Episcopo, Andrew Smith; Gateway Social Studies Department Award, Aleksandra Pomiecko; Gateway Swimming/Diving Team Boosters Scholarships, Margo Davis, Todd Slobodynak.
Gateway High School World Language Department Leadership in Excellence Awards, Karyn Drombosky (French), Lisa Sprowls (German), Andrew Imblum (Latin), Kelly Rerko (Spanish); Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship Award, Christina Radzevick; John Phillip Sousa Award, Karyn Drombosky.
Jon Houy Spirit of Gateway Scholarship, Andrew Estok; Jon Houy Teamwork Award, Joseph Kromka; Julia C. Vanovitz Scholarship Award. Andrew Estok; Kevin M. Murtha Memorial Scholarship, Lori Stover; Leaders of Tomorrow Award, Matthew Lipner; Learning Achievement Award, Gina Farally; Marjorie Anne Hawkins Scholarship, Kelly Rerko.
Monica Horak Schuckers Memorial Nursing Scholarship, Anne Fallon; Monroeville Arts Council Scholarships, Elizabeth Costello, Rebecca Lehner; Monroeville Lions Club Scholarships, Christopher Balcik, Raquel Ludinich; Monroeville Rotary Club Scholarships, Renae Watt, Alecia Wilson, Shaina Wood.
Moss Side Elementary PTO Scholarship, Thomas Wirbicki; National Merit Commended Students, Megan DeWitt, Andrew Imblum, Erica List, Edward MacMurchy, Elizabeth Parker, Sarah Parker, Lori Stover; National Merit Finalists, Matthew Lipner, Vikram Rajkumar, Lisa Sprowls; National Merit Winners, Matthew Lipner, Lisa Sprowls.
National Society of High School Scholars Award, Thomas Wirbicki; Penn State-Greater Allegheny Campus Chancellor's Awards, Rachel Grasso, Rayanda Jackson, Mark Kopaczynski, Sarah Wiesenbach; Penn State-New Kensington Campus Chancellor's Awards, Frank Caputo, Gabrielle Van Horn; Penn State-New Kensington Campus Blue & White Scholarship, Dustin Czyzewski, Joshua Nosbisch.
Pitcairn Elementary FTO Scholarship, Madison Castagnero; Pitcairn Lions Club Scholarship, Madison Castagnero; Ramsey Elementary PTO Scholarship, April Rombout; Richard Siegel Memorial Scholarship, Stephanie Martin; Robert D. Douds Award for Social Activism, Aleksandra Pomiecko; Teen Oasis Starfish Service Award, Cara Shaffer.
Tilbrook Award, Todd Slobodynak; U.S. Air Force Science Awards, Matthew Lipner, Vikram Rajkumar; University Park Elementary PTO Scholarship, Ryan Kandrack; Weiss-Felsenthal Family Scholarship, Douglas Biel; Westinghouse Family Scholarships, Adrian Fontes, Matthew Lipner.
Gateway High School Community Service Awards:
Presidents Volunteer Service Awards (100 or more service hours in senior year), Madison Castagnero, Todd Slobodynak; Gateway Service Awards (50 or more service hours), Allison Burgess, Madison Castagnero, Wayne Chiang, Elizabeth Costello, Andrew Estok, Elisa Falvo, Adam Felton, Angela Kinnunen, Joe Kromka, Matthew Lipner, Samantha Mabe, Caitlin McDonald, Shequaya Mitchell, Caitlin Murtha, Steven Paccio, Ranjeet Pandey, Lina Park, Alexsandra Pomiecko, Cara Shaffer, Todd Slobodynak, Lori Stover, Christine Thompson, Jakub Toman, Mica Winchester.
President's Education Awards, Gold Recipients: Anthony Barone, Douglas Biel, Natalie Biondo, Marisa Brady, Allison Burgess, Madison Castagnero, Michael Castiglione, Brittany Chelkis, Wayne Chiang, Christopher Chough, Michael Cimba, Casey Connelly, Elizabeth Costello, Andrew Coulter, Nicholas Davic, Margo Davis, Megan DeWitt, Caitlin Dunn.
Natalie Episcopo, Anne Fallon, Elisa Falvo, Karyn Drombosky, Adam Felton, Adrian Fontes, Michael Garfolo, Megan Graham, Rachael Grasso, Adam Hoffman, Lindsey Houser, Joseph Hudec, Andrew Imblum, Ga-Lim Kim, Mark Kopaczynski, Joseph Kromka, Brooke Kuehn, Kimberly Lesterick, Benjamin Levine, Matthew Lippner.
Erica List, Nicholas Lubic, Raquel Ludinich, Samantha Mabe, Edward MacNurchy, Shannon Markewinski, Stephanie Martin, Sean McMasters, Elizabeth Parker, Sarah Parker, Mayank Patel, Daniel Petersen, Nicholas Plate, Rebekah Poklema, Aleksandra Pomiecko, Elizabeth Pungitore, Christina Radzevick, Kelly Rerko.
April Rombout, Nathaniel Rosko, Rohan Shah, Lisa Sprowls, Lori Stover, Kristen Swaney, Christine Thompson, Jakub Toman, Vikram Rajkumar, Lauren Wagener, Seth Wermager, Sean Wilson, Mica Winchester.
President's Education Awards, Silver Recipients: Kayla Byrne, Patrick Howell, Britta Krentz, Amanda Krystek, Alex Mazon, Kaitlin McDevitt, Faith Miller, Brandon Sherry, Ashley Steele.

Gateway Students Win In Monroeville Art Show

Congratulations to the winning participants of the Monroeville Art Show. Elaine Sung was awarded 1st place, Bria Williams 2nd place and Best of Show, and Brian Carey, Joy Nosbisch and Max Merola were awarded Honorable Mentions. All of the art is on display outside of the auditorium lobby. Please stop and take a look.

GMS French Students Earn Top Medals for Le Grand Concours

Seven Gateway Middle School students earned top rankings in Le Grand Concours (The National French Exam) by competing against 100,000 national competitors. Placing Nationally were Dilafruz Khakimora, 4th place; Jessica Coulter, 5th place; Anny Park, 7th Place; and Meryl Gottlieb, Sara Mascaro, Tarun Guhanand, and Dallas Newcomb, 8th Place. Faculty sponsor for the test was Susan Poljak.

Le Grand Concours is an annual competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Students of French in grades 1-12, in all 50 states and abroad, compete against each other for prizes. Students take a written test and compete against students with similar educational background for prizes including certificates, medals, books, DVDs, trips, and scholarships. Pictured (from left) are the Gateway Middle School National French Exam winners who placed in the top 10 nationally: Dilafruz Khakimora, Anny Park, Meryl Gottlieb, Sara Mascaro, Jessica Coulter, Tarn Guhanand, and Dallas Newcomb.

Gateway 8th Grader Ranks First in Poetry

Dilafruz Khakimova took First Place honors in the Eastern Suburbs Special Programs Association (ESSPA) Poetry Contest for middle school students. The competition was hosted by Highlands School District this year and was a mail-in competition between eastern area schools. The title of the winning poem was, “The Story of the Unforgotten.” Faculty sponsor for the contest was Jodi Piacenti.

Middle School Spanish Students Earn Medals on National Exam

Five Gateway Middle School students earned top medals after taking the National Spanish Exam. Earning Silver Medal certificates were Chavana Swaminathan (88th percentile) and Joshua David (85th percentile). Earning Bronze medal certificates were Karlaysia Callaway (82nd percentile), Regina Nefjodova (83rd percentile), and Christine Ritter (82nd percentile). Faculty sponsor for the test was Susan Poljak.

The National Spanish Examination is an online, standardized assessment tool given by over 3000 teachers throughout the United States to measure proficiency and achievement of students who are studying Spanish as a second language. The National Spanish Examination is the most widely used test of Spanish in the United States.

GHS Band Names

Drum Majors Selected to Head Gateway Marching Band

As the school year begins its official wrap up, the Gateway High School Marching Band is already getting in step for next season. The Marching Band begun its process by selecting next year's leaders, Drum Majors Nick Diana, Dan Romagno, and Mike Murray, who will all be seniors next year. The band will once again be under the direction of Mr. Robert Read who is hoping to march a total of 120 including Color Guard."Our big performances this year will be the Bands of America Regional Championships in Massillon, Ohio - and the Grand National Championships in the new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana," said Read. "The National Championships will take place November 12 - 16, 2008. There will be 140 bands at the Grand National Championships this coming year, so it is going to be very competitive."The Gateway Marching Band will also be hosting a band contest on Saturday, September 20, 2008, as well as hosting the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Championships on Saturday, October 25, 2008. There will be approximately 24 bands in the Championship show.

Gateway to Receive Awards for Student Efforts for Susan G. Komen Foundation

Teams from both Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School will be participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Mothers' Day (May 11, 2008) at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh. Gateway will be honored at the event by McDonald's with the School Challenge Award. Awards will be presented on the main stage at 10 a.m. Recognition will be given to one of our students for his work in organizing, "Dance for the Cure," and the High School will be recognized for its ongoing commitment to the Komen.

Ramsey Elem's Samantha Memije is W-I-N-N-E-R of Spelling Bee

I had the privilege of watching 60 or so children compete in the Gateway Spelling Bee last night, and Samantha Memije, from Ramsey Elementary, squeaked by Noaha Rose to win the competition. The top spellers from every third and fourth grade classroom in the district were present for the competition, competing for the top spelling title. The two hour event continued through approximately 9 rounds until only Samantha and Noaha remained. When Noah made a mistake on 'souvenir' (I didn't know how to spell it either, despite 21 years of education), Samantha was able to correctly spell it, along with "recommendation" (as I recall) for the win. Congratulations go to Samantha, and Noaha, and all the spellers.
As an interesting note to me, the Final Five in the competition was an interesting cross-section of the district. On the stage at that point, after about 7 rounds, stood an Indian male, Spanish female, Caucasian male, Black male, and a Caucasian female. I'd challenge some of our surrounding districts to demonstrate such depth of diversity in their academic achievers.

Children participating in the event included:
RAMSEY ELEMENTARY: Chad Brennan, Matthew Coulter, Rebecca Dawson, Luke Haley, Kaden Jobe, Kayla Johnson, Maureen Kirkpatrick, Michael Klopicki, Nancy Levin, Juliet Lomeo, Ryan Mahokey, Samantha Memije, Payton Otterman, Nolan Seifert, Audrey Wohlfarth, and Mitchell Wohlfarth.
UNIVERSITY PARK: Mark Blubaugh, Michael Connelly, Hannah Frost, Jessica Guido, Jake Haberle, Anabella Lassiter, Kevin Marston, Abby Mayhue, Savannah Mynahan, Maria Olive, Rachel Perconte, and Jason Sarar.
EVERGREEN ELEMENTARY: Clara Bailey, Adam Clark, Ross Diggs, Clarisa Espinoza, Nick Falvo, Dominic Fultz, Breanna Funaro, Sidney Hillwig, Joel Miller, Darus Ramavarapu, Kelsey Schaller, Arvind Swaminathan, Ryan Taylor and Adam White.
MOSS SIDE ELEMENTARY: Phillip Allerton, Kyrie Bernardl, Jaquuan Brisker, Matthew Conley, Abigail Fabrizi, Cassondra Hanna, Max Herman, Zachary Isett, Michael Kim, Noah Liang, Destiny Owens, Joaha Rose, Anthony Scalise, and Anu Timple.
PITCAIRN ELEMENTARY: Holly Bihary, Rachel Borst, James Bradley, Kara Burke, Zach Burkey, Tiffany Cronin and Kayla Stallworth.

Gateway Students Score Big Wins at Pittsburgh Science Fair

Luis Espinoza-Delgado, a student at Gateway Middle School, received 1st place in the Earth/Space/Environmental Intermediate Division of the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at Heinz Field. Gateway High School student, Rebecca Stabile, won Honorable Mention during the Fair and received a sponsor award from IBM, a $20,000 scholarship to Point Park University and a full scholarship to the Pre-college Advanced Placement Program at Carnegie-Mellon University this summer. Her category was the Senior Physics Division, and her project was entitled, “On Optics as a Grand Unified Theory and Source of Quantum Gravity.” Also earning awards at the Fair were Middle School students, Ben Weiner, who received a Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Scientific Method as part of the Intermediate Division; and Evan Meindl, who received an affiliate award in the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services Division. Other students selected for attendance included Jessica Coulter and

Ramsey Elem Teacher Named Finalist for PA Teacher of the Year

Stephanie Ruby, a special education teacher at Ramsey Elementary School, has been named one of only twelve finalists for the 2009 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. Ruby, who has worked for Gateway School District since 2001, will now move onto the final round of competition. A winner will be declared in October 2008. According to the National State Teacher of the Year Organization (NSTOY), which sponsors the award, the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year must be articulate with strong verbal and communication skills. The Teacher of the Year Selection Committee will meet at the Department of Education to review and score each finalist. Finalists will be honored on October 5, 2008 at the Annual Pennsylvania Teacher Forum and Teacher of the Year Ceremony to be conducted in Harrisburg. Ruby holds her Masters in Education from the University of Pittsburgh and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Duquesne University. She also earned board certification in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis from the Pennsylvania State University.

Gateway Latin Students Sweep Medals in 2008 National Latin Exam

Gold and silver medals were the hallmark of the day, when 72 Gateway High School and Gateway Middle School Latin students scored at award winning levels on the 2008 Latin Exam. Twenty Two students won gold medals indicative of high achievement in Latin, with Nicole Marrow, scoring a perfect paper.The National Latin Exam is a competitive national academic test given in March of every year to measure achievement in Latin. The exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions on Latin grammar, vocabulary, derivatives, culture, mythology, and history. High performance on the exam is a measure of achievement recognized by colleges and universities throughout the nation.

Students winning Latin Awards are: Gold Medal (Summa Cum Laude): Nicole Marrow (perfect paper), Abhinav Kalavar, , Hnnah Dixon, Michael Kelly, Marissa Gogniat, Kunal Shah, Hayley Fedorek, Kelly McMasters, Brian Wallace, Kelly Guerrieri, Apeksha Vora, Joshua Phillips, Hannah Peters, Paul Halapin, Audrey Chiao, Avionna Baldwin, Michael Castiglione, Arah Cho, Elaine Sung, Shannon Lambert, Ashely Vojtek, and Jessica Cole. Silver Medal (Maxima Cum Laude): Grigoriy Mishkov, Thomas Randall, Brandon Kandrack, Saniya Sabnis, Tim Connolly, Shalini Shah, Awaiz Khan, Michael Obusek, Jessica Haley, Kim Miller, Yatindra Patel, Shivani Patel, Smtoj Singh, Elyse Horomanski, Chris Urban, Rebecca Stabile, Jim Castiglione, Kelly Miller, Jessica Giles, Stuart Herrmann, Robert Anderson, Eric Lopiccolo, Samir Kalavar, Tyler Hart, Stephen Liu, Lisa Cross, Nathan Phillips, Sophia Erb, Marissa Getty, Ryan Walters, and Ashley Giles. Magna Cum Laude: Jesse DeFazio, Christina Pendice, Zach Tolbart, Daniel English, Lori Stover, Andrew Coulter, Andrew Imblum, Will English, Ryan Donnelly, Daniel Wightkin, and Megan Geiselhart. Cum Laude: Deepshikha Sharma, Matt Lipner, Ryan Kandrack, Katie Myser, Beth Parker, Aaron Eixenberg, Ryan Gongloff, and Alicia Baughman

GHS Students Raise Funds for Charitable Local Projects

Gateway High School's sports marketing classes will hold events aimed at raising money for charities during volleyball, baseball and softball games next week. Proceeds will benefit Autism Speaks, Cody Moy Foundation, Pitcairn Food Pantry and Plum house explosion victims.
The events are:
• Raffles, contests and prizes during the boys volleyball game against Norwin at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, which will be followed by a volleyball game pitting seniors against juniors.
Tuesday also will be Chick-Fil-A Night at the Gateway sports complex.
• A raffle with gift certificates donated by Monroeville businesses as prizes during the baseball game against Central Catholic at 7 p.m. next Wednesday. The game is critical for playoff positioning.
• Tailgate party sponsored by Moe's Southwest Grill and others at 6 p.m., leading up to the softball game against Kiski Area at 7 p.m. Both teams are atop section standings. There will be a variety of fan activities and gift certificates as prizes.

May 14 - Evergreen Elementary Students Charity Talent Show !

Oprah’s Angel Network & Free the Children formed O Ambassadors- a program that inspires young people to become active, compassionate, & knowledgeable citizens. They called on great teachers like Janet Niethamer at Evergreen to apply & form clubs! Children for Change, is a group of Evergreen students who are making a difference in the world! Yes, kids can make a difference! They're hosting a Talent Show! The show will be Wednesday, May 14th 2008 at 6:30pm at Gateway High School’s Auditorium. You must come see talented Evergreen students sing, dance, jump, jam & play! Admission is $5. There may be a surprise guest star appearance! No confirmation as of the publication of this she's workin’ on it! See ya’ at the show!

The Ambassadors meet often to learn about poverty, education, health, & sustainable development. CfC’s job is to raise awareness of these challenges & raise money to help. The Ambassadors made posters on effects of poverty that were hung around the school to teach others. CfC raised $717 by having a bookmark sale in December & a Valentine Candy-Gram sale in February! They will sell freeze-pops the last week of April & in May, host a Talent Show! They are hopeful these events will raise a lot of money to help our assigned region, South Asia!
CfC has also helps local people in need! In January they held a food drive, which collected about 600 pounds of food for the Garden City Food Bank of Garden City United Methodist Church! At the end of March, they held a Clothing Collection! Bags and bags and bags kept pouring in for the Clothes Closet of Monroeville Community Church! Awesome!
I thank you, Evergreen families, for making your generous contributions! I thank you, Ms. Niethamer and the CfC Ambassadors, for your work and compassion!

Gateway Students Named Outstanding Young Citzens

This year Gateway School District had two students named as the Trib Total Media's Outstanding Young Citizens. Zakera Barnes and Stuart Herrmann were among 50 Pittsburgh area students selected for this honorable aware. Their photographs and brief biographies appeared in a special section in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review last Sunday, April 13th. Of the 50 selected students, 10 were chosen by a panel of judges to receive Gold Medals. Academics, community service, and extracurricular activities were common threads for these shining citizens. April 17th, during a banquet at the Churchill Country Club, both Zakera and Stuart received the Gold Medal. Gateway School District has much to be proud of in these Outstanding Young Citizens.

GHS Student Receives Girl Scout's Americanism Award

Vanessa Gerber, of Senior Girl Scout Troop 771 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Monroeville, received an Americanism Award at the 11th annual Youth Achievement Dinner, held at Soldiers & Sailors Military Museum and Memorial in Oakland. The award, which was presented by Mary Connell, former American Legion Auxiliary president, recognizes scholarship and community service that leads to the Girl Scout Gold Award. For her Gold Award, Gerber worked with East Suburban Citizen Advocacy to introduce other teens to the idea of advocating for people with disabilities. She has volunteered with East Suburban Citizen Advocacy for eight years.

GMS Students Selected for Regional Math Competition

Six students were selected for a team that will represent Gateway Middle School at the MathCounts Pittsburgh Regional Competition at Robert Morris University.
On the team are Bhavana Swaminathan (captain), Lisa Choss, Jordan Doman, Sam Becker, Yume Choi and Elaine Sung, who were selected from among the 40 students in the school's Math Club.
The team members, who had the highest scores in the school's MathCounts competition in December, will compete against 190 other students in the regional event. Faculty adviser for the event is Janice Stricko.

GHS Junior Spearheads 4/11/08 Charity Event For Local Children

Elaina Laughlin, a Gateway High School student, will host a Dance for Life charity event on April 11, at Monroeville Sports Center to benefit two charities that will help two special little girls.
People of all ages are welcome, and the cost of admission is $10 per person.
The night will also consist of entertainment by DJ Natro, arts and crafts, massages, caricatures, balloon art and more.
Laughlin organized the fundraiser because she wanted to help two girls she teaches at Ken and Jean's Dance Studio in North Versailles.
The girls, Quinn Anlauf, 8, of North Huntingdon and Sierra Barbarino, 5, of North Versailles, have serious medical conditions, and Laughlin said she wanted to help out.

Check out the full article in the Times-Express at http://www.yourmonroeville.com/timesexpress/article/gateway-student-sponsors-special-benefit

Wow ! 50 GHS Students Inducted to National Honor Society !

During a candlelight ceremony, 50 Gateway High School students were officially inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) for 2008. The hour-long program was coordinated by Gateway High School NHS Co-Sponsor, Mark Spinola and Jeffrey Biros. NHS Officers Edward MacMurchy (President), Lori Stover (Secretary), Andrew Coulter (Vice-President : YEA !), and Sean McMasters (Treasurer) presented the four standards of NHS: Service, Scholarship, Leadership, and Character. Featured speaker, Gateway Superintendent, Dr. Cleveland Steward, Jr., also offered a passionate speech about how students should embrace the standards set forth by NHS and the high expectations involved with being inducted into such a prestigious organization. Taking the NHS pledge and receiving their official NHS pins were: Avionna Baldwin, Douglas Biel, Bethany Bloise, Jennifer Broderick, Cassandra Buxter, Nicoletta Ciampa, Danielle Cole, Nicholas Davic, Joseph DeFazio, Nicholas Farina, Brianne Garness, Eric Geiselhart, Jessica Giles, Susan Gogniat, Brandon Gorski, Rachael Grasso, Stuart Herrmann, Bruce Howard, Amber Jackson, Karen Johnson, Hannah Kendig, Katherine Kromka, Alyssa Kuzins, Hyunna Lee, Benjamin Levine, Kevin Lenart, Natalie Lomeo, Matthew MacMurchy, Abigail Manning, Megan Mastalski, Kelly Miller, Ashley Owoc, Cassandra Palmer, Ceara Parks, Dana Pascoe, Eric Pelkey, Meaghan Polnar, Anika Rose, Brian Ross, John Sarandis, Jaclyn Seward, Amy Svoboda, Kristen Swaney, Laura Thorn, Lauren Vitt, Lauren Wagener, Ashley Whalen, Mica Winchester, Rachel Yarros, and Christine Yeh.

2008-2009 School Calendar Posted

The Gateway Board of School Directors at their Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Regular School Board Meeting approved the 2008-09 School Calendar.

The calendar can also be located by visiting the Gateway School District's web site at www.gatewayk12.org and clicking on the calendar link located on the home page.

Gateway Gator Baseball Team Plays at PNC Park

The Gateway Gator Baseball Team will be playing at PNC Park on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 3 p.m. against Connellsville. Admission to the game is free.

Gateway Marching Band to Host Three Rivers Championships

The Gateway High School Marching Band is hosting the Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association (TRWEA) Championships on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 1 p.m. in the Antimarino High School Stadium. The show features over 40 units (majorettes, percussion, color guard) from area middle schools and high schools. "This is a very prestigious band event, and I'm honored we have the opportunity to showcase our facilities and hospitality here at Gateway," said Robert Read, Band Director.Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Gateway High School's Junior Class Walks Against Domestic Violence

Gateway High School's (GHS) Junior Class Council is sponsoring a 5K Walk against Domestic Violence at Boyce Park Cub Pavilion #1 on May 4, 2008 starting at 10 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the GHS Junior Class Council and the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh (domestic violence). Registration is $20. Those who register by April 15, 2008 will receive a free t-shirt. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a self-defense demonstration immediately following the walk. T-shirt pick up will be May 1- 2, 2008 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. outside Gateway High School's main office. Registration forms are now available at the Gateway High School main office, located at 3000 Gateway Campus Boulevard in Monroeville

University Park's Family Fun Night Set 4/4/08

The University Park Elementary School PTO will host its Family Fun Night tonight, Friday, April 4, 2008 at Gateway Middle School in the Cafeteria from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Community businesses and individuals have generously donated many items that will be raffled off this evening. Over 30 gift baskets and other prizes will be available.
The event is open to University Park students, parents, and guardians.
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this wonderful event.

Students Experience Civil War Artifacts at Ramsey Elementary

As part of a Civil War unit, Ramsey 4th grade teacher, Brian Werner, and Penn State student teacher, Sarah Crider, inspired students to create a Civil War Museum. Compliments of Crider’s father-in-law, students were able to see and touch items from the Civil War era including shells, uniforms, canon balls, a newspaper, canteens, lanterns, and currency. All 4th grade classes were given a chance to tour the museum to enhance their learning process and experience the Civil War up close.

More Colleges Visit GHS Juniors

Attention Juniors, there will be representatives from West Virginia University and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh visiting within the next two weeks to discuss their various programs. If your student is interested in attending, please have him/her sign up in the Guidance Office.

There will be student representatives from the University of Pittsburgh at Gateway High School on Friday, April 4th at 9:00 am to discuss student life at Pitt. Any Senior planning on attending the University of Pittsburgh next year should plan to attend. If your student is interested in attending, please have him/her sign up in the Guidance Office.

MMS Students Discover Importance of Individual in Society

Sixth graders at Moss Side Middle School know what it's like to be stranded on a deserted island. Used as an interdisciplinary unit to help develop students' problem solving skills through various activities, the faux island community of Terra was created. Students were shown a video demonstrating what it is like to be stranded on an uninhabited island with no conventional way of gathering food, getting water, or finding shelter.Students were given a series of activities that allowed them to create the environment in which they wished to live in, create laws to govern their community by, select appropriate housing units, etc. The goal of Terra is to strengthen students' critical thinking skills so they can learn to become productive citizens. Students reported that they learned the importance of every member of a society can make a difference.As a culminating activity, various guest speakers were invited to Moss Side Middle School to speak about various real-life elements that impact communities like Terra. Speakers, and their area of expertise, included: Monroeville Police Chief George Polnar (law enforcement), Cheryl Richards (engineering), Jay Winter (geology and wet lands), Jim Lazor (information technology), School Director Joseph Wightkin (bee keeping), Pitcairn Mayor Betsy Stevick (local government), Monroeville Chamber President Chad Amond (economic development), Debbie Balcik (nursing), Rabbi Ron Symons (worship), School Director Tom Wilson (community volunteering), Pam Washington (flight attendant), School Director James Rosipal (law enforcement), School Director William Bailey (math education), Senator Sean Logan (government), and Christy Fusco (information retention, organization and retrieval). Moss Side Middle School FTO (Faculty Teacher Organization) provided financial support for the Terra program. Coordinating teacher for the event was Rebecca Smillie with assistance from the 6th grade teaching team including Jermaine Bracy, Susan Emery, Caryn Fleming, Carmelita Gigliotti, Lisa Kuster, Joy Mattis, Carla Moio, Jamie Molitierno, Maria Ripper-Dulemba, Susan Seigh, , and Kerry Yacamelli.

Pittsburgh Symphony benefits Gateway Foundation

The Gateway Foundation is proud to announce its new Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) Community Partnership. This exceptional pairing links our Foundation with one of Pittsburgh's premier performing arts organizations, and opens the door to helping our Foundation raise funds that will ultimately benefit the students in the Gateway school system. Through several Gateway Foundation initiatives, including the very successful mini-grant program, teachers and students are able to receive funding for many worthwhile educational projects that help expand our students' minds and abilities.

On Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 8 p.m., the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will host its 5th Annual Community Partners Concert. This year, the PSO will perform, under the direction of Associate Conductor, Lawrence Loh a mini concert featuring the 2008 Sphinx Competition winner, violinist extraodrinare, Danielle Belen Nesmith. The second half of this exciting evening will feature Grammy Award winning entertainer, Issac Hayes, who will perform with the PSO. To purchase tickets on behalf of The Gateway Foundation, call the Heinz Hall box office at 1-800-742-8560 or order tickets online at www.pittsburghsymphony.org. When making your ticket purchase, please indicate you would like the proceeds to benefit The Gateway Foundation partner #6654

GHS Teacher Receives Apple Award from NSTOY

Shawn Whelan, a social studies teacher at Gateway High School, has received the Apple Award from the National State Teachers of the Year Pennsylvania Chapter (NSTOY-PA).** *The NSTOY-PA Apple Award program is intended to recognize teachers outside of the NSTOY-PA organization for their teaching excellence.
"Shawn is a great teacher who challenges his students with engaging lessons," said Gateway colleague Mark Wallace. "In addition, he sponsors a very active Interact Club that plans and conducts many service projects. These projects range from feeding the homeless in Pittsburgh to benefit concerts to a huge "Walk for Autism" research."

Gateway Band Members Selected For Honors

At the PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) Region Band event, held at Belle Vernon High School on February 20 - 22, the following Gateway High School music students auditioned and finished at the top of their section to be selected for the PMEA STATE BAND: Michael Murray, Alto Saxophone; Ethan Wightkin, Trumpet; Daniel Romagno, French Horn. Guest Conductor for the Region Band was Dr. Dennis Fisher from the University of North Texas.
The following Gateway High School music students participated in the PMEA District Band: Erika Eichenmiller, Flute; Ashley Owoc, Clarinet; Averie Shaughnessy, Clarinet; Karen Drombosky, Oboe; Michael Murray, Alto Saxophone; Bernie Metro, Bass Clarinet; Ethan Wightkin, Trumpet; Daniel Romagno, French Horn; Mark Solomon, Euphonium; Chris Hartnett, Euphonium; Jordan Rininger, Trombone.
At District Band, the following students auditioned and finished at the top of their section to be selected to participate in Region Band: Karyn Drombosky, Oboe; Michael Murray, Alto Saxophone; Ethan Wightkin, Trumpet; Daniel Romagno, French Horn; Jordan Rininger, Trombone; Chris Hartnett, Euphonium.
PMEA JUNIOR BAND. The following students participated in the PMEA Junior High District Band held at Plum High School: Nicole Marrow, Bassoon; Allison Brown, Bassoon; Lauren Abel, Flute; and Emily Kinnunen, French Horn.
PMEA HONORS JAZZ BAND. The following students will be participating in the PMEA Honors Jazz Band: Ethan Wightkin, Trumpet; Sean McMasters, Guitar; Nick Diana, Bass; and Jordan Rininger, Trombone.

GHS Robotics Team Heads To U.Pitt. Competition

A team of 10 Gateway High School students and two teachers has been working for two months on a robot that will compete in the First Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition, which will be held at University of Pittsburgh's Petersen Events Center from March 13 to 15.
Dubbing their team "Quasics," the students, led by co-captains Katia Paramonova and Becky Stabile, have spent many days after school, huddled in the science room, where they worked on programming, melding, sawing and improvising to get their robot done.
In the competition, teams will line up their robots outside a carpeted, 27-foot-by-54-foot, race-track-shaped field on which their robots will need to cross a finish line.
At the center of the track, suspended more than 6 feet above the floor, will be an "overpass" holding four 40-inch-diameter "track balls."
The robots must not only cross the finish line, but move the balls along with them.
If a robot can pick up a ball and raise it above the overpass before passing the finish line, the team gets bonus points.
The robots also will earn bonus points if they take the balls off the overpass before the race begins and if they place them back on the overpass when it ends.
"I thought it was a good opportunity," said Ed Senor, physics and chemistry teacher, about the robotics project.
"And we didn't want to sleep for ... a few weeks."
Though the teachers have been helping out, they have kept the project as student-focused as possible and have tried to work in more of an advisory role.
That means the students had to select from approximately $4,000 worth of gadgets they got from the program -- which include plywood, elastic bands, motors, Styrofoam and car batteries, among others -- to build their robot and get it to work. The robot grew from what amounted to plywood on wheels to a person-sized machine that looks almost like a catapult. The robot has an arm that can extend to the ground, slide beneath a ball and hold the ball.
Robotics is something that has fascinated 14-year-old Christian Richardson, a member of the team, from an early age.
"I took apart a telephone when I was 4. I think that's what sparked it," said Christian. "I wanted to know how things worked."
Nick Grieco, 16, got in-volved with them team after his teacher showed him a video of a robotics competition online. Nick programmed the team's robot and hooked up its sensors.
"I just wanted to see an epic win," said Nick, when asked why he got involved in the project. The students have their own Web site, designed by senior Anirudh Channarasappa, that can be viewed at http://www.quasics.com/.
The students received sponsorship for the robotics project from Adara Tech.
The competition in March is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh Technology Council and Catalyst Connection. (source: Monroeville Times Express)

Gateway Students at MMS Win First Stage of National Geographic Bee

The winner of the Moss Side Middle School's National Geographic Bee was Jared Ranallo, Grade 6. The runner-up was Jeremiah Osibodu. Ranallo qualified to move to the state level competition.The National Geographic Bee occurs in three stages, beginning at the school level. Schools that register for the Bee receive materials to hold their competitions. Each school winner takes a written test, and the top hundred scorers in each state and territory compete at the state level. The 55 state and territory winners meet at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., for the national competition

Gateway Students from MMS Advance to Regional Finals of Spelling Bee

The winner of the Moss Side Middle School Scripps Howard Spelling Bee was Danielle Kochka, Grade 6. The words that put Kochka over the top were" zenith" and "hazard." She will be competing in the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee Regional finals at the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland. The runner-up for the Spelling Bee was Alap Kichambare, Grade 6.

MathCounts Winners from GMS Math Club go to Regionals

Six students were selected to be part of the student team that will represent Gateway Middle School at the MathCounts Pittsburgh Regional Competition at Robert Morris University. Students earning a spot on the team are Bhavana Swaminathan (captain), Lisa Choss, Jordan Doman, Sam Becker, Yume Choi, and Elaine Sung. The students were selected out of 40 students in the Gateway Middle School Math Club. They earned the highest scores in the MathCounts school competition held in December. The students will compete against 190 other students from across Western Pennsylvania at Regionals. Faculty advisor for the event is Janice Stricko

GHS Hosts Bolivian Students - a U.S. First.

Twelve Bolivian students ages 15 to 17 got a chance to tour parts of the United States, with Gateway High School among the stops. The trip was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.
The goal of the program was to have a cultural exchange between Bolivian and U.S. teens, said Jeanne Cooper of Magee Wom-ancare International, who is working with the State Department on the program. One huge difference was evident to the exchange students the moment they walked into the high school.
"I've never seen schools like this in Bolivia," said Caballen Sanchez, 17, of Santa Cruz.
Cabellan said Bolivian schools usually encompass what would be considered two or three classrooms at Gateway High School.

"I would like that my country would have this high organization and great school system," said Ulloa.
The Bolivian students got to tour Gateway High School with a partner from one of the school's Spanish classes and got to sit in with their partner for seventh- and eighth-period classes.
After the tour, they played soccer at the Gateway sports center and later went to Teen Oasis to play some games and have dinner. Cooper says it's the first time the program has brought students to the United States. Other such programs included adults from Eastern Europe, particularly from states from the former Soviet Union. "They are totally amazing -- their ideas, sense of wonder and willingness to leave their comfort zone," she said. (information from Monroeville Times Express).

GHS Students Receive Prestigious National Merit Finalist

Three National Merit Finalists and seven Commended students have been named for Gateway High School. Seniors Matthew Lipner, Vikram Rajkumar, and Lisa Sprowls all became National Merit Scholarship Finalists. They will now be considered for one of the National Merit $2500 Scholarships. Students were presented with a Certificate of Merit by Gateway High School Assistant Principal Anthony Aquillio.Also name as National Merit Commended Students were Megan Dewitt, Andrew Imblum, Erica List, Edward MacMurchy, Elizabeth Parker, Sarah Parker, and Lori Stover.

To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic recordthroughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SATscores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance. The Semifinalist and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self-descriptive essay and information about the Semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.

Evergreen Elementary Students part of Children for Change

22 students at Evergreen Elementary are participating in Children for Change, a program promoted by Oprah Winfrey which inspires children to help the less fortunate in the world through education and activism in areas of hunger, poverty and limited education. Teacher Janet Niethamer initiated the program at Evergreen, and organizes the childrens' efforts. Students at Evergreen have collected food for the Garden City Food Pantry, made posters about poverty to publish in the school, and sold bookmarks they designed to raise funds for their goals. Currently, the class has elected to focus on South Asia as their target, and their fundraising proceeds will go to Free the Children to aid that area. Principal Karen Shiner is excited for her students and Ms. Niethamer. As Ms. Niethamer herself noted of her students' efforts, "They Make me a better person !". (reported in 2/6/08 Monroeville Times-Express)

Moss Side Elementary Students Get Soldiers' Replies

4th grade students in Jean Connor's class at Moss Side Elementary school received replies to letters they previously sent to American soldiers in Iraq. The Monroeville American Legion delivered the replies to the students, along with a slide show of the soldiers involved, and certificates of commendation for sending letters to the soldiers. Ms. Connor also was awarded a certificate for initiating the letter activity over 20 years ago. The soldiers expressed their gratitude in their letters to the children, and told them a bit about themselves too. What a great idea, Ms. Connor !

Gateway Band Hosts Regional Event

Gateway was proud to host the District Band in January. Students from 40 area school participated in the event. Gateway had 11 representatives. They were Erika Eichenmiller, Averie Shaughnessy, Ashley Owoc, Michael Murray, Ethan Wightkin, Dan Romagna, Jordan Rininger, Karyn Drombosky, Chris Hartnett, Mark Solomon, and Bernie Metro. Five of these students successfully auditioned in the top of their section and were selected to represent Gateway and PMEA District Band at the Region Band in February. They are Karyn Drombosky, Michael Murray, Dan Romagno, Ethan Wightkin, and Jordan Rininger. Bernie Metro also placed first chair but will be unable to attend the concert. Congratulations!
We had several 9th grade students participate in the PMEA Junior High District Band at Plum High School. They were Nicole Morrow, Lauren Abel, Allison Brown and Emily Kinnunen. Congratulations!
The last weekend in February, we have four students that will be participating in the PMEA District 1 Honors Jazz Band being held at Norwin High School. They are Sean McMasters, Nick Diana, Jordan Rininger and Ethan Wightkin_
Winter Percussion and Winter Guard have both started their competition season in January. Gateway will be hosting the Championship on April 5th

Future Business Leaders at GHS win 28 Regional Awards

The Gateway Senior High School's Future Business Leaders of America group (FBLA) captured 28 awards at the regional FBLA competition in January. Eleven of the students qualified to advance to the Pennsylvania State Competition in March in Hersey, PA.
GHS winners for FBLA included:
• First place -- Nikki McAllister (Accounting II).
• Second place -- Senya Watkins (Accounting II), Stephanie Hinkes (Business Communications), Haley Clinton (Business Math), David Stasa (Business Procedures), Rishi Patel (Introduction to Technology Concepts).
• Third place -- Veshal Kosuru (Accounting II), Josh Phillips (Business Calculations), Shavani Patel (Busi-ness Math), Raque Ludinich and Steve Caccaro (Desktop Publishing), Joe Poli and Ry-an Kandrack (Emerging Business Issues), Megan Schambura (Introduction to Busi-ness), Gave Bloomfield (Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures).
• Fourth place -- Allie Farabaugh and Elise Zawodniak (Desktop Publishing), Chris Balsic, Michael Barofolo and Adam Hoffman (Entrepreneurship), Amulya Khajuri (Introduction to Business Communications), Chritine Yeh (Job Interview), Kiona Trifanoff (Marketing), Ellen Parker (Public Speaking I), Chris Baginski (Public Speaking II).
• Fifth place -- Steve Horvath (Economics), Max Bova (Introduction to Business Communications, Chad Stubenport and Robbie Wratcher (Management Decision).
The GHS Faculty sponsor for FBLA is Andrea Campbell.
Thanks to all our students in FBLA for working towards this goal !

E-mail to keep Gateway parents informed

Gateway residents, particularly parents, can sign up for an e-mail mailing list, "Constant Contact," to be better informed about goings-on in the school district.
Anyone interested in signing up for the updates from the district can log on to its Web site at http://www.gatewayk12.org/ and click on the "District E-mail News" link.
By signing up for the e-mail list, parents will be able to receive instant information regarding delays and closings, early dismissals, specials events announcements, parent information, safety issues, date reminders for the schools and more.
"The possibilities are limitless with this system," said Cara Zanella, district spokeswoman. "While the district realizes that not all households have access to the Internet, we will continue to communicate with our parents via regular U.S. mail; however, we will utilize the Constant Contact also."

GHS Students helping memory impaired citizens

The Hands Across the Years program based at Gateway Senior High School is seeking volunteers to interact with memory impaired residents at Sunrise Senior Living. The mission of the Hands Across the Years is to increase the quality of life for the residents of Sunrise Senior Living through intergenerational activities. In order to accomplish this mission, they continue to need dedicated and committed volunteers who will visit on a regular basis.

Sports Schedule Summary

I just found the best link I've seen so far for following the schedules for upcoming sports events. Click on http://www.highschoolsports.net, and select "Gateway Senior High School", and get a complete schedule for all of the High School's sports, AND also the for Gateway Middle School. I think this is the semi-official repository selected by Gateway to post all their sports schedules. Check it out !

A sampling of activities at GHS

I am often amazed at how much goes on at our schools that we may miss hearing about. Here is just a sampling of Friday's announcements at GHS:
- - Mardi Gras Dance is February 22nd at Stratigos on Route 30 in Irwin
- - The 3rd Blood Drive of the year will be held on Friday, January 25th
- - Don't forget to check out the "Help Wanted" binder in the Career Center
- - The Future Is Mine is a new group at Gateway that can help you further your career exploration. See Mrs. Weiss.
- - Join the Book Club in reading"A Spot of Bother" by Mark Haddon January 29th after school.
- - Chess Club meets on Tuesday's after school
- - The next Interact meeting will be on Wednesday
- - Community Service Center is open for business; Hours of operation are Monday thru Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Stop by to sign up for new service projects and ongoing volunteer opportunities
- - Upcoming Job Shadow days are scheduled for March, April and May
- - GHS announces the Junior Volunteer Program at West Penn Hospital for those interested in health careers.
- - Zoo Job Fair, Saturday, February 2, 2008
- - Applications for the NEED Scholarship are being taken in the Guidance Office
- - Senior Class Council needs pictures from 9th thru 12th grade
- - There is a Student Government Association meeting next Tuesday.

This is just a sampling taken from one day's morning announcements. When you think about how many things likely don't make it on the announcements, add that to the things I left off from this one day, and expand it to include an entire year's activities, you can see literally thousands of things for our students to do over the course of a year at Gateway.

Gateway announces "Brigadoon" as spring musical

The oft-awaited spring musical at Gateway High School this year will be 'Brigadoon'. A classic musical, also made into a movie with the legendary Gene Kelly, this work tells the tale of a legendary Scottish village which appears only one day every 100 years, whose magic is threatened by a visit by a couple of American Tourists.
This years musical will be directed by Larry Cervi, with Mr. Read returning as music director, and Mr. Lascek as Vocal Director. The performance schedule is:
7:30 p.m. Performances
April 25 & 26
May 2 & 3
2:00 p.m. Performances
April 27
May 3
Gateway High School Auditorium
Tickets Coming Soon!
$8.00 Adults
$5.00 Students and Senior Citizens
All seats are reserved

These musicals are always exciting. Turn out to support the cast and see a story you may never see again in 100 years !

GHS Student Chelsea Long Gets Own Art Exhibit at Gallery Space

Chelsea Long, a GHS junior, is the first student to be offered a one-person art exhibition at Gallery Space, located in Monroeville Public Library. She plans to study art and art education in college, and selected drawings and paintings by Ms. Long can be viewed during regular library hours.

Gateway Robot-Building Team Moves Forwards

Blazing into the 21st century, I see that students at Gateway High School have formed a team, named Quasics, to enter a national robotics competion. Under the supervision of faculty sponsors Matthew Kohler and Ed Spears, about 20 GHS students are working to build a robot to enter in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition. It seems that Quasics has to have their robot built before the end of February, and we wish them great success on this exciting project. Team cocaptains are reported to be Katia Paramonova and Becky Stabile.
Thank you Lori Stover, of the Times-Express, for bringing this information to light in your article. Lori's articles are consistently some of the best written Student Notebook pieces the Times-Express publishes.

Gateway Clubs Helping the Community

Many of the students at Gateway participate in school related clubs whose mission is to benefit our community. For example, the Culture Club's ESL Buddy program provides students to help English-as-Second-Language students master English. The Interact Club is sponsoring the Jamnesty Concert again this year (more information to follow on this good cause). A Third blood drive is underway at GHS for students 17 and over, where each blood donor can save three lives with a donation. More information about clubs at GHS is available at http://www.gatewayk12.org/default.aspx?id=23. Go Gateway Students !

Gateway Schools recipients of Keystone Achievement Awards from PA Secretary of Education for 2 Consecutive Years of Academic Achievement

HARRISBURG – Every elementary school in the Gateway School District has been honored with Keystone Achievement Awards for showing sustained academic progress, Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak announced today. This includes Evergreen Elementary, Mosside Elementary, University Park Elementary, Pitcairn Elementary and Ramsey Elementary Schools. Gateway Middle School was also a recipient of the KAA.
“These awards are testament to the tremendous efforts of the students, teachers and staff at each of these schools,” Zahorchak said.
The awards are being given to public schools that achieved adequate yearly progress (AYP) in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years. Progress is measured in part by a school’s performance on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, the standardized test given annually to students in grades 3-8 and 11.
Each school that earns a Keystone Achievement Award receives a large, keystone-shaped placard that can be displayed at the school.
“If there is one award that a school should proudly show off to visitors, it is the Keystone Achievement Award,” the secretary said. “It is proof to all who visit the school that they are at an institution that cares about ensuring every child succeeds.”
Since 2004, the Department of Education has partnered with the Pennsylvania Association of Federal Program Coordinators to present the awards as a public recognition of the quality work and commitment shown by students and educators.
“We have set high expectations for our students and the response has been encouraging,” he said. “We must continue to build on these accomplishments so all of our children succeed. I look forward to the day when I can announce that every school in Pennsylvania has earned a Keystone Achievement Award.” (ed.note: released by Pa.Dept.of Educ. 11/29/07; I overlooked this earlier. Sorry! M.)

International Children's Theater to appear at Gateway High School

The Pittsburgh International Children's Theater presents "Max and Ruby" on January 13, 2008 in the new auditorium at Gateway SHS. The production is based on the Rosemary Wells' children's book characters, seen on Nickelodeon. For tickets call 412-321-5520.

Competition Yields Math Honors for Gateway SHS Students

At the East Suburban Special Program Association's CALCUSOLVE Competion, Third Place Honors were received by GSHS students Audrey Chiao, Katia Paramonova, Christine Yeh, Matt Lipnder and Vikram Rajkumar. The team won third place in the team competition, and Matt Lipner won third place overall in the individual competion. Congratulations Mathletes !

Gateway High School sends delegates to China World Affairs Institute Program

Faculty advisor James Pottinger took 10 Gateway Senior High School students as delegates to attend the 37th annual World Affairs Institute program, "China: What Does The Future Hold?" Students attending this program at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh included Amy Svoboda, Andrew Coulter, Lisa Sprowls, Lori Stover, Katia Paramonva, Audrey Chiao, Chris Chough, Aleksandra Pomiecko, Jerald Daniel and Christine Yea. The students also gave presentations to the Monroeville Rotary during a ceremony at the Edgewood Country Club.

Gateway Football Player to Play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Gateway’s Shayne Hale has been selected to play in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, the premier high school football game. Hale will join an elite group of student-athletes selected to play in the eighth annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This classic East vs. West match-up will be televised live on NBC at 1:00 PM EST and will feature the nation’s top 84 high school football players.

Teen Leadership Banquet Honors 20 Local Teens

http://www.teenoasis4u.com
The first Teen Leadership Banquet, held at Monroeville Fire Hall #4, gathered 130 members of the community in honoring local teens for their achievements both inside and outside of the classroom. The Planning Committee will begin meeting again in December to start planning the 2008 Teen Leadership Banquet.
THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WERE HONORED AT THE TEEN LEADERSHIP BANQUET:
Allegheny County Health Dept. Award: Matt Castagnero
CHI Signs and Designs Warhol Award: Mara Filosemi
Coalition for Human Dignity Positive Influence Award: Yagmur Muftuoglu
Councilwoman Debbie Hartwick Leadership Through Teamwork Award: Wumi Fapohunda
Chief George Polnar Young Law Enforcement Award: Matthew Bodnar
Gateway HS PTO Service Award: Nicole Cerro
Healthy Teens, Inc. Leadership Award: Joshua Friedland
Gateway HS Community Service Program Award: Kaycee Carl
Marshall Bond Award: Todd Slobodnyak
Mayor Stevick's Achievement Award: Madison Castagnero
Teen Oasis Peer Leader Award: Tim McDine
Mayor Lomeo's Outstanding Achievement Award: Chandler Farren
Monroeville Area Chamber Family Owned Business Legacy Award: Jordan Mele
Penn Hills Kiwanis Award: Elisa Falvo
Rep. Markosek Leadership Award: Natalie Lomeo
Ruthann Valentine Award: Damien Griffin
S'eclairer Award: Elliot Stewart
Senator Logan Excellence in Leadership Award: Lisa Marie
Student Assistance Program Award: Deanne Shirley
Kumite Classic Award: Shane Hale
Glenn & Joann Loveless Communications Excellence Award: Jalisa

Gateway Students Attend Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools

http://www.gatewayk12.org
Three students represented Gateway School District at the 2007 Pennsylvania Governor's Schools of Excellence this summer. The experience is a five-week summer residential program on college campuses for artistically or academically talented high school students.
Gateway High School students Adrian Fontes and Lisa Sprowls were accepted into the Governor's School for International Studies.
The International Studies program provides students with the opportunity to explore current world economic, political, environmental and social conditions and issues that have particular relevance to both the Commonwealth and the nation. Matthew Lipner was accepted to the Governor's School for Health Care. The program introduces students to the health care field, emphasizing delivery systems, primary care,
prevention, public health, healthy communities and career options.
Admission to the programs is highly competitive - 3,933 applicants vied for 752 positions this year. Students are selected on the meritorious basis of their artistic or academic talent.
"Gateway continues to shine in the regional spotlight because of its students," said Gateway Superintendent Dr. Cleveland Steward. "Our students can compete artistically or academically on any level and with students from across the Commonwealth. My congratulations go out to Adrian, Lisa and Matthew."
Show archives from this issue type here-->

Gateway Students Win Honors in International Children's Day Art Competition

http://www.gatewayk12.org
Two students from Gateway Middle School won awards in the International Children’s Day Art Competition. Both students were recognized on stage during the children’s Day celebration in April at the Carnegie Library Music Hall in Homestead.
The theme of this year’s competition was “Understanding Others and Appreciating Differences.”
Winners were Joy Pedrow, 8th grade student, who won first place for “Diversity Brings Us Together,” and Bria Williams, 7th grade student, who won third place for “Joining Together.”
“I am very proud of these girls — as well as the other participants — for electing to create a work of art that dealt with such an important topic,” said Greta Severson, Gateway Middle School art teacher. “Many middle school students think deeply about the world around them and they don't often have a chance to share their insights.”
Ms. Pedrow’s winning painting featured a puzzle of diverse young people.
“Everyone painted in the puzzle is someone I know,” she said. “It’s called ‘Diversity Brings Us Together’ because each puzzle piece separately doesn’t mean anything, but when you bring them all together it makes a whole. Separately, you just see one person, but without each different puzzle piece we wouldn’t be complete.”
Ms. Pedrow received $150 for winning first place in the contest.
Bria Williams’ winning pencil drawing features diverse people living together in the same community. “My artwork communicates the idea about joining together with foreign people from different countries,” she said. “My artwork expresses where they came from and what they experienced.”
Ms. Williams received $50 for her winning entry.
Gateway Middle School also received matching financial grants to support its student art programs. The competition was open to Western Pennsylvania children in grades 5-8 and sponsored by the Pittsburgh Dialogue Foundation.
Show archives from this issue type here-->

Gateway Students Earn Honors in National City Essay Contest

http://www.gatewayk12.org
Two Gateway School District elementary students have been named winners in National City Bank's 15th Annual African American History Essay Contest.
Students were asked to write about a local or national African American musician who has influenced society.
Kendall Alexander, a fourth grader at Ramsey Elementary School, won third place for her essay on singer, songwriter and record producer, Stevie Wonder. She received $100 for her entry and Ramsey Elementary also received a $100 grant for sponsoring the winning essay.
Lauren Wingert, a third grader at University Park Elementary School, earned third place for her essay on guitarist, singer and songwriter, Chuck Berry. She and her school both received $100.
Essays were judged on focus, content, style, grammar, spelling and creativity.
Open to students ages 6 through 18 throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, nearly 1,000 area students entered the competition competing for $8,000 in prizes.

Gateway Superintendent notes no tax increase for 07-08

www.gatewayk12.org
This year we were able to pass a no-millage-increase budget for the 2007-2008 school year. This is the third consecutive year that the District’s share of the property tax rate in Monroeville and Pitcairn will remain at 19.41 mills — one of the lowest millage rates in Allegheny County (the average millage rate in Allegheny County is over 22.00 mills).
I applaud the Board, administration and the various budget managers across all departments for their leadership in the planning and use of resources. Our wise and prudent use of tax dollars assures our continuing strength as we look to the future. We will continue to strive to meet the educational needs of all students while tempering those needs with the community’s desire to moderate costs.
While summer is a time for fun and relaxation for many Gateway families, it is also a very busy time for many of us here as we continually work to enhance our academic programming, improve student assessment and data analysis processes, implement new research-based student achievement initiatives and prepare our facilities for the first day of school, August 27. As we get set to begin the 2007-2008 school year, we reaffirm our commitment to the District’s mission of “providing quality educational opportunities for all students and promoting academic excellence in a safe and caring environment.”

Gateway Students Participate in Annual Safety Gator Poster Contest

http://www.gatewayk12.org
One hundred and twenty-five students in Gateway schools were recognized by the district’s safety committee last month in ceremonies marking Gateway Safety Awareness Week, October 15-19.
The students were honored for their winning entries in the 2007 Safety Gator Poster Contest.
Students were asked to design posters with the theme of keeping safe at school, on the bus, or at home. The committee received over 1,000 posters from all eight schools. Winners in each grade level received a Gateway Safety Gator knit cap. Winning artwork was also displayed in the district’s Board room during the month of October. "The Safety Gator Poster Contest is a creative way to remind all of our students and teachers about the importance of safe behaviors while at school, on the bus, or at home," said Sandy Rossi, committee member and coordinator of this year’s contest. "It’s always great to see our students reminding their peers about school bus safety, bullying, staying away from drugs and alcohol, and more!"
The Gateway Safety Committee, which has been in existence for over 15 years, is comprised of representatives from across the District and meets monthly. The committee is certified through Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Health and Safety Division. This is the 12th year that the committee has coordinated the district-wide poster contest.

Monroeville's Teen Oasis raising funds to buy a van

See their pamphlet: http://www.teenoasis4u.com/TeenVANgo.pdf

Ten Gateway High School students have been recognized by the prestigious National Merit Scholarship

http://www.gatewayk12.org
Ten Gateway High School students have been recognized by the prestigious National Merit Scholarship (NMSC) program for outstanding achievement on the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Three Gateway students were named Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for the 2008 program. The school’s National Merit Semifinalists are: Matthew Lipner, Vikram Rajkumar and Lisa Sprowls.
Gateway’s three Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and are among the highest scoring entrants in Pennsylvania. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth $34 million, that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several requirements. The Semifinalist and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self descriptive essay and information about the Semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.
Each fall, participating students may also receive letters of commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students placed among the top 5 percent of the more than 1.4 million students who entered the competition. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for Merit Scholarship awards, some of these students do become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.
Gateway’s National Merit Commended students are: Megan DeWitt, Andrew Imblum, Erica List, Edward MacMurchy, Elizabeth Parker, Sarah Parker and Lori Stover. "These 10 students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement by their strong performance in this highly competitive program," said Superintendent Dr. Cleveland Steward. "Their parents, families, and teachers should be proud of these students. I hope that this national recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and that they will continue to embrace scholastic excellence."

Monroeville fundraiser helping troops get balls

By Brian BowlingTRIBUNE-REVIEWThursday, December 27, 2007
A Jan. 12 battle of the bands competition is raising money to send thousands of golf balls to the CSM Jonathan Langford Memorial Driving Range at Camp Victory near Baghdad.
Debra Pedrow of Monroeville started sending boxes of golf balls to the troops in March after her husband saw a report on ESPN about a military chaplain starting a makeshift driving range to provide deployed soldiers with a recreational outlet.
"It's just a stress relief for these guys, whether they know how to hit the ball or not," Pedrow said
So far, the money has come from donation boxes Pedrow set up in local libraries and word-of-mouth donations. Pardus, who is also a DJ, came up with the idea of using a battle of the bands, she said.
Five local bands will compete for $100 worth of gift certificates from Guitar Center, and Chick-fil-A is donating coupons for a free sandwich to the first 300 people who buy tickets, she said.
All ticket sales will be used to ship golf balls to the troops. Refreshment sales will support Gateway High School's girls golf team, Pedrow said.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_544596.html

ESPN recognizes Gateway's trick play

By The Tribune-ReviewSunday, December 2, 2007
Gateway's touchdown on the dramatic hook-and-lateral play that helped force overtime in the WPIAL Class AAAA championship game at Heinz Field has been named ESPN's play of the month for November, coach Terry Smith said.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_540800.html

Gateway kids give kids a start in school

By Bill ZlatosTRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, December 6, 2007
Children from 10 local schools have collected nearly 1,400 sets of school supplies so that refugees in Iraq can go to school.
The 4,000 pounds of supplies are being loaded at Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit store in Squirrel Hill that sells goods made by artists from 30 developing countries.
The store has coordinated the collection and loading of supplies to be sent abroad for four years.
"We're a little store with a big heart," said Sue Schneider, special projects coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages.
Gathering the supplies were students from Carnegie Mellon University Children's School, The Children's Institute, The Ellis School, Montessori Children's Community, St. Edmund's Academy and Baldwin, Gateway, Oakland Catholic, Schenley and Woodland Hills high schools.
The kits will be distributed by the Mennonite Central Committee, a relief and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. Last year, the committee distributed nearly 120,000 kits in 13 countries.
http://http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_541289.html

Kindergarten registration packets for 2008-09 available

Residents of Pitcairn or Monroeville who have children who will be age 5 before Sept. 1 should be aware that those children are eligible to enter kindergarten in Gate-way School District for 2008-09.
To request a kindergarten enrollment package, call Rica Cleary at 412-373-5705 or e-mail her at rcleary@gatewayk12.org. Parents will receive registration packets by mail.
To register a child for kindergarten, bring completed registration packet, child's birth certificate, two proofs of residency (one must be a current lease, deed or mortgage statement) and immunization records to the district administrative offices at 3000 Gateway Campus Blvd.
Kindergarten registrations will not be accepted at elementary schools.
If children are lacking immunizations, parents can submit updated immunizations later .
The deadline to register is April 30 for families who are residents of Gateway School District.
http://http://www.yourmonroeville.com/timesexpress/article/kindergarten-registration-packets-2008-09-available

Writing -- still an education fundamental

December 26, 2007
Monroeville Times Express
Local school districts approach the lessons of proper penmanship in various ways. And specialists are weighing in on whether writing needs to have the same standards taught years ago -- learning the proper flow of the written word -- or if just getting to a level of legibility should be the only expectation.
There is a connection between writing fluency and a better ability to compose, says Joseph Petrella, assistant supervisor of elementary for Gateway School District. The brain-to-paper flow needs to be worked on like any other skill, for example, like learning to drive a car, he says.
Petrella says his handwriting is excellent thanks to the interest taken by his high school business teacher. It became apparent to him that he had just not taken the time to write correctly.
http://www.yourmonroeville.com/timesexpress/article/writing-still-education-fundamental

Welcome to Gateway's Classrooms of the Future

Gateway High's 16 science classes part of pilot program to computerize teaching
Thursday, May 24, 2007
By Karamagi Rujumba, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
On a recent Thursday afternoon, Cheryl Teaters, a biology teacher at Monroeville's Gateway High School, started her ninth-grade honors class with a review quiz of the nervous system.
The first multiple-choice question she put on the board dealt with the identification of parts of a neuron. As the students selected their answers, a yellow line ticked across the top of the white SMART board that is mounted on the classroom's green chalkboard.
All 29 students in the class were equipped with black wireless laptop computers, and they used egg-shaped remote controls to answer the question. With a simple click of an icon on the SMART board, Ms. Teaters tabulated the fact that at least 80 percent of the class picked the right response.
She did the same thing for the next three questions, and when less than 80 percent of the class picked the right answer, she immediately stopped the quiz. She knew she needed a more thorough review of the nervous system because it was obvious that much of the class didn't fully understand the previous class' material.
Welcome to one of Gateway's 16 Classrooms of the Future, in which teachers and school officials say technology is quickly changing the pace of classroom activity, long-established methods of teaching, and enhancing the way students learn.
In Ms. Teaters' class the students and the teacher meet in a virtual world that allows them to sail through class material faster, while emphasizing the key points of a lesson.
The Promethean Activboard is, in effect, the equivalent of a computer desktop on an interactive platform. It interfaces with the teacher's computer, students' laptops, and a number of wireless controls used by the teacher and students.
For example, when Ms. Teaters wanted to review the structure of nodes in the nervous system, she pulled up a diagram and, using certain tools on the SMART board, she could move the diagram, magnify it and highlight certain parts for emphasis.
If she wanted to notate the diagram, she could. And if she wanted to store the notated diagram for the students, she could. With the stroke of an icon on the SMART board, she would save the document as a PDF file, and then upload it to the class's secure Web page.
It is this integration of technology into classrooms that is "really changing the classroom culture and helping us to become better educators," Cleveland Stewart, superintendent of the Gateway School District, told a group of district board members and elected officials last Friday.
On a tour of the first classrooms for the future in the Gateway School District, the group was shown how Gateway High School -- one of 103 pilot schools in Gov. Ed Rendell's three-year plan to furnish high schools with computerized classrooms -- is integrating the use of technology in classrooms.
The Gateway School District received a $407,573 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which launched the program that was budgeted at $20 million in last year's state budget.
Gateway, which has started the program in all of its science classes, is applying for grants to extend the program into its remaining 37 classrooms.
In her class, Ms. Teaters explained that the addition of the SMART board, laptop computers, digital and video cameras has "broadened our horizons in how we go about teaching.
"Much of what we have incorporated into the classrooms is nothing new to many of our students. They already use much of what we're now just bringing into the classroom," Ms. Teaters said.
One elemental advantage of all the new gadgets is the convenience it affords both teachers and students, said Brian Stamford, who oversees Gateway's classrooms for the future program.
"Because of this, teachers can create a quick test or quiz to get immediate feedback on the material they are teaching, and they can even instantaneously track particular students' performance," Mr. Stamford explained.
He added that classrooms wired with such high-tech capabilities add to what teachers and students can do with course management systems like Moodle, which are increasingly commonplace in high school and college settings.
An open-source software package with which students and teachers can interact in online communities, Moodle, together with Inspiration Software -- a visual thinking and learning application tool -- have completely redefined the notion of homework and all but nullified almost all excuses for not finishing one's homework or assignment.
"All of these classroom improvements allow teachers to create assignments, which they can post online during class time," Mr. Stamford said.
"The students can then start working on their homework during class or before they leave school, and once they're done, the teacher can access the work immediately."
But Ms. Teaters was quick to caution that technology is not the panacea for contemporary teaching standards. "We have to be careful about how we incorporate it into the lesson plan," she said, adding, "I still use my chalkboard."
As the program's school level administrator, Mr. Stamford also noted that the teachers' comfort levels with the kind of technological jumps they have to make in their classrooms will determine the efficiency of all the new gadgets as teaching tools.
And so far, the introduction of the SMART board has been "easier for younger teachers, while some of the older teachers might have had some trouble maneuvering the equipment," Mr. Stamford said.
State Sen. Sean Logan, D-Monroeville, a Gateway High School alumnus whom school district officials credited for his role in securing funding for the program, said initiatives like Classrooms for the Future underline the importance of education funding in the state.
"It is because of programs like this that education was a line in the sand three years ago when we had that long budget debate in Harrisburg," said Mr. Logan. He was joined by state Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Monroeville.
During a Friday morning period, the officials toured three science classes in which teachers were applying different aspects of the SMART board in their classes.
In one biology class, the students were using their Activote modules to answer questions on a brain and spinal cord quiz, while another class used an ActiveStudio application to review the fertilization process through the fallopian tube.
Next to the periodic table of elements in a 10th-grade chemistry class was a black and white poster of Albert Einstein, with a caption, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
And as the students used their Inspiration Software application to link chemical concepts on their laptops, Bill Bailey, a retired Westinghouse engineer and mathematics professor at Community College of Allegheny County, remarked , "Poor Albert Einstein didn't have the benefit of all this."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07144/788463-56.stm

Welcome to CelebrateGateway Blogging

We are excited to welcome you to the CelebrateGateway.com blog. We hope to use this blog, and its companion website, http://www.celebrategateway.com/, to keep the community up to date on some of the wonderful things our community's kids are doing at Gateway School District here in Monroeville, PA. This site has been created and maintained by Mark Coulter, and I welcome your reports of anything fun, exciting, creative, noteworth, outstanding or exemplary. Please email me at Contact@CelebrateGateway.com, and I'll see if it can get onto the site and/or blog. Thanks for reading !
MTC.

River City Brass Band to play at Gateway 12/8

Dec.4: Scenes from the Arts-burgh
By staff and wire reportsTuesday, December 4, 2007
Offerings from Pittsburgh's cultural arts and entertainment events:
River City Brass Band
More than 300 voices from four high school choirs gave the River City Brass Band a high-powered opening for its holiday concerts Thursday at Heinz Hall, Downtown.
Even though the choral component will be smaller in subsequent concerts, the shows have enough winning elements to make them stand out.
They contain two world premieres, including a wonderful "Festival Fanfare for Christmas" by John Wasson from Dallas. That piece is greatly satisfying in its performance challenges and its presentation of Christmas songs in a fanfare setting.
Trumpeter David Gedris' lower-brass arrangement of Franz Bieble's "Ave Maria" also claims a winning spot in the show, along with an arrangement of "Jingle Bells" featuring principal tuba Carson McTeer.
The variety of works pulls these concerts away from the holiday cliches.
The concert will be repeated at 8 p.m. Thursday at Gateway High School, 3000 Gateway Campus Blvd., Monroeville
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_540963.html

Gateway High School Holds 50th School Year Celebration & Community Open House

Gateway School District held a 50th school year homecoming celebration, rededication and community open house during the 2007 homecoming weekend. During the event, the District rededicated the renovated high school and provided visitors an opportunity to view the most recent school additions and renovations. In 1955, the schools of Monroeville and Pitcairn joined to form the Monroeville-Pitcairn Joint School District. That same year, the Board of School Directors began making plans for a new senior high school. Official planning and architectural design began in February 1956 with a ground breaking held in January of 1957. The joint School Board selected the name of Gateway Senior High School and by September 1958, 900 students from Monroeville and Pitcairn were occupying the new high school. The first graduating class of 196 students received their diplomas in June of 1959.
This year, when over 1,500 students walked through the doors on the first day of school, Gateway High School began its 50th year of educating students. In June, the Class of 2008 will become the 50th class to graduate from Gateway High School.
http://www.inmonroeville.com/read.asp?articleID=144