Student and teachers at Paynter Elementary joined
together with school spirit for "Crazy Hat Day."
Posted
5/14/05
BHS
- Students Teach Pre-Calc Class
Students in Mrs. Vecchio's Pre-Calculus class
spent two days preparing to teach each other. To
better understand Polynomial Functions and their
applications, students presented two problems to
their peers. They discussed the procedure to solve
each problem and alternative methods to finding the
end result. All students found this to be a successful
alternative to the traditional style of learning.
Posted
5/14/05
BHS
- Hot Glass Program
Baldwin High School senior Anne Bemis and juniors
Lisa Inverso and Liz Fortunato were accepted into
the Pittsburgh Glass Center's SiO2 Hot Glass Student
Studio Program. Students had to apply, be interviewed,
and then accepted. It is a rigorous course that includes
learning about the chemical processes of glass, as
well as learning how to manipulate and blow glass.
The three young women are currently completing their
final studio projects to be exhibited at the Glass
Center. The opening is 6 to 9 p.m. on May 6 at the
Pittsburgh Glass Center. Anne is producing multicolored
conical and triangular forms that are also candles,
Lisa will be displaying a group of blown glass balls
that hang from ribbons, and Liz is creating blown
glass "blowfish" forms.
Posted
5/14/05
BHS
- Business Shadowing Day
The junior members of the Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall
Chamber of Commerce from Baldwin High School took
part in the Second Annual Chamber of Commerce “Business
Shadowing Day.” The Giant Eagle located at
Brentwood in Towne Square was the site for this day.
Daniel Cheberenchick of Och Supermarkets was the
host for the Chamber. He discussed the daily operations,
budgets, scheduling, departments, and expenses for
this busy and successful community business. The
students had an opportunity to share and exchange
business ideas.
Posted
5/14/05
PES
- Muffins & Moms
On the Friday before Mother’s Day, moms,
aunts and grandmas of Paynter Elementary students
enjoyed breakfast with their special someone. After
having a muffin and beverage, they made a quick visit
to the classroom before everyone began their day.
Posted
5/14/05
BHS
- Qudratic Functions and Models
At Baldwin High School, students in Ms. Peretin’s
Advanced Academic Algebra II course recently completed
a bridge building project at the conclusion of their
study of quadratic functions and models. Students
researched bridge designs and were presented with
the task of building a bridge made out of balsa wood
and Popsicle sticks that minimized structural weight
and maximized the amount of mass held. Students also
researched a famous bridge and found a quadratic
model to represent the arch found in the bridge design
or the curve of the support cables.
Students voted on the best bridge design at the
conclusion of the building phase. With an overwhelming
vote of support by their fellow classmates, the
bridge constructed by P.J. Gruber, Krista Moik,
Kristen Sawl, Kristina Atanassova, Sara Grubb,
and Zachary Rutledge came away with the Best Design
recognition. The bridge designed by Mingliang Li,
Nathan Aaron, Steven Eshghy, and Adam Pethia held
the most weight out of the fourteen bridges created,
holding a record of 212 pounds during the testing
phase of the project.
Posted
5/14/05
WES
- Micro Plane
As a part of their science curriculum, all of
the fourth grades students in the Baldwin-Whitehall
School District studied a Flight Module during the
third nine weeks. For a culminating project, Mrs.
Murray's class at Whitehall Elementary constructed
micro planes and paper airplanes of their own design.
They flew the planes in a controlled manner by aiming
them at a pre-constructed target which contained
a bull's-eye. The students kept track of the bull's-eye
points that they earned. With practice, the children
found that they developed some control over the distance
and the flight path.
Posted
5/14/05
PES
- Pittsburgh Literacy Program
The Pittsburgh Literacy Program
brought a few moms to visit their children
in their classroom at Paynter Elementary.
Students in Mrs. Kathy Gorham’s class
were proud to share their work and demonstrate
their reading skills.
Posted
5/14/05
Paynter
Tree Tag
In honor of Earth Day, Mrs. Myers second grade
class at Paynter Elementary learned the importance
trees have on our environment by playing the game
Tree Tag. Some students acted as raindrops that carry
pollution to our rivers, lakes, and streams. Other
students acted as trees that help absorb the pollutants
and keep them from harming our waterways.
Posted
5/14/05
PES
- Symmetry
Simply Symmetrical! Mrs. Singleton’s
second grade students conquered one element
of geometry by drawing the other half of
their face. The children were encouraged
to include as many facial details as possible,
such as freckles and eyelashes.
Posted
5/14/05
PES
- Butterflies
Mrs. Singleton's second grade students released
their butterflies in the Paynter School Butterfly
garden. Each child wrote and read a farewell letter
to their butterfly in hopes that their fluttering
friend would continue the life cycle.
Posted
5/14/05
Paynter
Family Visit
Recently, Paynter Elementary
had a group of special visitors. Mrs. Linda
Adams and her cousins Ellie and Walt Paynter
toured the school and grounds. Mrs. Adams
is the daughter of Dr. W. Robert Paynter,
a past Baldwin-Whitehall principal for whom
the school is named. Mrs. Adams was very
proud and impressed with the environment
of the school which shares her father’s
name.
Posted
5/14/05
WES
- Talent Show
Whitehall Elementary held it's First Annual Talent
Show. More than 90 students from the third, fourth
and fifth grades participated in the evening and
afternoon shows. They demonstrated a wide range of
talents. The evening audience of over 300 watched
students demonstrate a wide range of talents including
singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, karate,
and gymnastics.
Posted
5/14/05
PES
- Book Fair
Paynter Elementary had its annual Scholastic Book
Fair. Students previewed the books for sale during
their scheduled library class and purchased their
choices the following week. Parent volunteers were
available to help children make and purchase their
selections. Proceeds from the Book Fair benefit the
library.
Posted
5/14/05
PES
- International Club Visit
The Seton-LaSalle International Club made its
semi-annual visit with the ESL students at Paynter
Elementary. The club, led by senior president Danny
Hass, read to the children and worked on a craft
with them. In addition to their visits, they have
an annual drive to collect gently used children's
books for the ESL classroom libraries.
Posted
5/14/05
BHS
- Pre-Game Extranaganza
The Baldwin High School Pre-Game Extravaganza
is a wonderful community evening devoted to having
fun through friendly competition and great entertainment.
Held the evening before the annual Special Olympics
Allegheny County Summer Games, the evening celebrates
friendships, partnerships in learning, and the joy
of competing.
Competition events included Bocce
with a double elimination tournament featuring doubles
teams comprised of partnerships. These partnerships
included teacher/student partners and Special Olympic
athletes and their partners. In the gym, the doubles
and mixed doubles badminton tournament took place
with six courts of play.
Posted
5/26/05
Highlander
Wind Ensemble Concert
The students in the Highlander Wind Ensemble have
been busy preparing for their spring concert at Baldwin
High School auditorium and two in-school performances
for the students. The ensemble is made up of 95 -
fifth grade students from Whitehall Elementary and
Paynter Elementary and is directed by Michael Clancy,
Allan Link, and Debbie Vavrek. The concert includes
the musical selections Attack of the Cyclops, Storm
Surge, Tribal Voices, Marchus Maximus, Cameroon,
and The Grand Old Flag.
Posted
5/26/05
WES
- Quilts
At Whitehall Elementary, a group of Ms. Renee
Christman's third grade ESL students have been studying
symbols of America. They looked at pictures of each
symbol, discussed their significance to Americans,
did Internet research, wrote papers, and then created
their own illustrations on fabric squares for their "America
Quilt." All of the Whitehall Elementary ESL
students enthusiastically compared their cultures
with the culture of their new homes in America. Some
students, who recently arrived in the United States,
had fresh memories of their native cultures. Other
students, who have been in the United States longer,
had to draw on their parents' experiences and memories.
The third, fourth and fifth graders illustrated a
fabric square which represents their native cultures.
The squares were then sewn into a "Culture Quilt."
Posted
5/26/05
PES
- The Ten Mile Walking Club
The Paynter Walking Club has become a huge success!
The students in grades one through five participated
in the “Walking Club” during their recess
time. The students walked a quarter of a mile each
day either indoors or outside. Many dedicated walkers
reached the “10” and "15" mile
marks. To commemorate this accomplishment, a canvas
banner was made and the children stamped their footprints
on the banner. The banner is hanging in the cafeteria
for all to see. Although the school year is coming
to an end, there are still many dedicated walkers
who have a chance to reach 10 miles and add their
foot to the banner.
Posted
5/26/05
WES
- Art Fair
Whitehall Elementary recently held their annual
Art Fair. Art was displayed from each student from
all grades throughout the halls and cafeteria. Paintings,
Fabric Arts, Drawings, Ceramics, Jewelry, and Collages
were just some of the art exhibited that displayed
the creativity and artistic talents of the students..
The PTA was also able to help with the festivities
by setting up a pizza /snack booth, a penny candy
table, holding a bake sale, and organizing a basket
raffle.
Posted
5/26/05
Spring
Concert for Students at Paynter
On May 19, the third, fourth, and fifth graders
from Paynter and Whitehall Elementary Schools joined
together in a spring concert for the students at
Paynter. The concert showcased Mr. Link’s,
Mrs. Vavrek’s, and Mr. Clancy’s band
students, Mrs. Kraus’s choral group, and Mr.
Booth’s stringed instrument players. The several
hundred students performed music selections from
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by the strings to I
Believe I can Fly by the choral students to You’re
a Grand Old Flag by the wind ensemble. The same students
will perform at Whitehall Elementary on May 24.
Posted
5/26/05
HMS
- On Applebees Pond
Under the direction of teacher Ms. Heidi Engel,
Harrison Middle School Club Pride members traveled
to Paynter Elementary and performed the puppet show, "On
Applebees's Pond." The show conveyed the message:
Say no to tobacco and keep your community safe and
clean.
Posted
5/26/05
BHS
- Multicultural Research Project
Students from Ms. Mahsoob’s Advanced Academic
English II class interviewed immigrants and refugees
from the community as part of their Multicultural
Research Project. The Multicultural Research Project
was a collaboration between the English as a Second
Language and English departments in conjunction with
Project Liberty. Students have prepared for the project
over the course of the year through the International
Cafes. As part of their required research project,
Ms. Mahsoob’s tenth grade Advanced Academic
English students researched Vietnam, Sudan, Tanzania,
Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Liberia, and Iraq. Following
their research, the students interviewed immigrants
and refugees in the community and explored political,
cultural, and social influences in the interviewees’ lives.
Students from Ms. Niemi’s ESL classes and the
Student Success Center assisted Ms. Mahsoob’s
students in formulating and asking interview questions.
In addition, the ESL students created displays from
their home countries for an International Reception,
which took place in Ms. Mahsoob’s classroom.
The students created displays representing Liberia,
Afghanistan, the Marshall Islands, the Philippines,
Sudan, Iraq, Bosnia, Croatia, Albania, Ukraine, and
Poland. Displays included clothing from the students’ home
countries, food, photographs, books, jewelry, and
other crafts. Mr. Tietz, Mr. Patsy, and Mr. Schulte
created a video of the interviews, which all participants
will receive.
Posted
5/26/05
WES
- How to Succeed in Middle and High School
Baldwin High School freshmen from Mr. Harrison's
Academic English classes recently visited fifth-grade
classrooms at Whitehall Elementary as part of a writing
project based on the book Tuesdays With Morrie. After
reading this book, which is about an older person
giving advice to a younger person, the freshmen wrote
essays about how to succeed in middle school and
high school. They shared these essays with their
fifth-grade partners, and then the fifth-graders
asked questions they had prepared about the upper
grades. The freshmen got to experience writing for
a real audience, and the fifth-graders learned what
life will be like in the upper grades.
Posted
5/26/05
MES
- McAnnulty's McMay Day
McAnnulty PTA held its annual McMay Day with this
year's theme being McWild West. Students in kindergarten
through second grade visited five stations: a Chuck
wagon where they were served trail mix and root beer,
a cowboy obstacle course, a craft station where they
made a classroom quilt and decorated their cowboy
hat which every student received, a hoedown, and
a presentation by a Native American speaker. Teachers
and students also participated in various demonstrations
such as quilting and horse care. Members of The Baldwin
High School Marching Band also paid a visit and performed
numerous musical selections. Rain forced the activities
to be held inside, but it did not stop the students
from having a McWild West time!
Posted
5/26/05
Administration Building, 4900 Curry Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
