The Leprechauns appeared at McAnnulty Elementary
on St. Patrick's Day. Mrs. Weisbrod's kindergarten
students were all Irish on that day and proudly wore
the Leprechaun hats that they made.
Posted
4/3/06
HMS
- Pi Day
At Harrison Middle School, the sixth grade students
in Mrs. Baughman's math classes celebrated Pi Day
on March 14th. Pi Day also happens to be Albert Einstein's
birthday. Pi is the ratio of the circumference of
a circle to its diameter. Pi is always the same number,
no matter what size circle is used to compute the
equation. The students were introduced to the digit,
pi, and had the opportunity to use actual pies to
calculate circumference and area. As students cut
their pies, they were introduced to various other
geometry terms such as diameter, radius, perpendicular
lines, right and, acute angles. The lesson was a
hit and the students enjoyed every bite!
Posted
4/3/06
BHS/PES
- Collaborative Activity
In collaboration with Mrs. Rebecca Brennfleck’s
Baldwin High School’s Food Service class, Mr.
Paul Brennfleck’s first grade class from Paynter
Elementary School traveled to the high school and
were served a well-balanced, nutritional breakfast
based upon the recently revised Food Pyramid. This
special event served as a culminating activity for
a nutrition unit taught by Ms. Amanda Henry, a Penn
State student teacher.
Posted
4/3/06
WES
- PSSA Prep
The
third grade "Marched" into the month
by reviewing test-taking skills and other material
presented throughout the course of the school
year. They worked diligently to prepare for
the PSSA testing that was given at the end
of the month. Using games and centers, the
students were able to show off the knowledge
that they had acquired over the past several
months. This review enabled the students to
gain confidence and to mentally prepare for
the tasks that the PSSA testing requires. As
a culminating activity, several classrooms
made posters to remind fellow students about
the important strategies that can be used while
testing.
Posted
4/3/06
PES
- Visiting Author
Paynter Elementary Library recently hosted the
award winning author/illustrator, Patricia Polacco.
Ms. Polacco is known for her live-storytelling techniques,
as well as for her writing of multi-cultural books
about people from different times and places. Having
overcome a severe reading disability with the help
of her fifth grade teacher, Ms. Polacco showed her
appreciation by writing the well-known book, Thank
You, Mr. Falker. Many of her books are written to
subtly teach a lesson to the reader. She also spins
a story so that the reader sees how important it
is to be tolerant of others, their feelings and backgrounds.
Posted
4/3/06
WES
- Saint Patrick Celebration
Whitehall Elementary, 3rd grade students in Mrs.
Truver’s class celebrated St. Patrick’s
Day by learning about the history and traditions
stemming from Ireland. The children created an Irish
teddy-bear puppet, complete with the Irish flag.
Each student was also given a bag filled with Lucky
Charms cereal. They sorted the marshmallows and used
them to create tally charts, bar graphs, and pictographs.
Afterwards, they enjoyed the delicious treat. Finally,
they ended the day by cutting out shamrock shapes
to make a Shamrock Friend with accordion-style arms
and legs.
Posted
4/3/06
WES
- Science Fair Preparation
Mr. Stoehr’s 5th grade students conducted
a science experiment for Whitehall Elementary’s
upcoming science fair. The students attempted to
predict which of 10 athletic balls would travel at
the fastest rate when gravity pulls each down an
inclined plane. They teamed up to collect data by
timing each trial, calculating metric conversions
to find the speed of each ball, and using this data
to come to various conclusions as to what caused
the unexpected results. The outcome was a student-constructed
science board that will be entered in the fair as
their class project.
Posted
4/3/06
PES
- Mr. Yuk
Four students from the Duquesne School of Pharmacy
visited the first grade classes at Paynter Elementary
to discuss the importance of recognizing and avoiding
poisonous substances in and around the household.
They gave each child a take-home bag that included
Mr. Yuk stickers, checklists, information on Carbon
Monoxide poisoning, crayons and student coloring
pages.
Posted
4/3/06
MES
- Katrina Book Drive
At
McAnnulty Elementary, Mrs. Griener’s
students read over 100 books to help victims
of Hurricane Katrina. Students worked very
hard to create a “Blizzard of Books.” As
students read a book, they added a snowflake
to the wall. By mid-February, the wall was
covered with snowflakes. Students surpassed
the total they needed to help. As a result
of these second grade students' efforts, Scholastic
Books will donate 100 books to a southern school
in need.
Posted
4/12/06
PES
- Fraction Investigation
The Paynter students in Mrs. Knerr’s 3rd
grade class cut out paper brownies to make equal
shares. This investigation is part of PA standard:
2.1.3 D: Use drawings, diagrams or models to show
the concept of fraction as part of a whole.
Posted
4/12/06
PES
- Accelerated Reader Celebration
Paynter students in the classes of Mr. Brennfleck,
Ms. Shepherd, Ms. Wolf, Mrs. Jeffers and Ms. Collet
were rewarded for their hard work for reading and
passing Accelerated Reader tests. These classes (one
from each grade level) were chosen to have an ice
cream party based on total points earned. Accelerated
Reader chairperson, Mrs. Ami Eynon, and her helpers
Mr. Backo, Mrs. Thorpe and Mrs. Ferarri were on hand
to scoop out the treat and help with toppings as
children made their own sundaes. So far this year,
over 3,000 Accelerated Reader tests on library books
have been passed by Paynter students!
Posted
4/12/06
PES
- The Roberto Clemente Story
Paynter Elementary students in all grades recently
enjoyed a Pittsburgh CLO assembly entitled IArriba!
IArriba! The Roberto Clemente Story. This “Gallery
of Heroes” musical presentation, sponsored
by the PTA, showed the children much about Roberto
Clemente’s short life: from his beginnings
in Puerto Rico, his rise to becoming a Pittsburgh
Pirate baseball player, to his sudden death in a
plane crash. At the end of the presentation students
were able to ask the performers questions. The program
was very entertaining as well as educational.
Posted
4/12/06
DIST
- Rendell Visits Baldwin-Whitehall
On March 31st, Fifth Graders at Whitehall Elementary
were fortunate enough to greet Governor Ed Rendell
as he met with District Leaders including members
of the PTA, administration, and school board. Governor
Rendell was here to promote his educational reforms
and initiatives.
Posted
4/12/06
PES
- Microscope Activity
Mr. Niecgorski’s 5th graders used microscopes
to view vinegar eels and blepharisma. They then recorded
their observations of these single and multi-celled
organisms. Changing the microscope lens power, they
were able to view up to 100X power. Comments heard
from the students included “cool, fun, interesting,” and “I’ve
never used a microscope before.”
Posted
4/12/06
BHS
- Piano Recital
Baldwin High School’s Piano I students began
classes under the instruction of Mr. Tranter and
Mr. Walko in September. By the end of March they
were able to give an informal recital in the auditorium
for many of the High School faculty members, administrators
and students. Not only have they come a long way
in learning how to play the piano, two students -
senior Laura Smith and junior Mike Kubisiak - performed
pieces they composed themselves. Attached is the
performance by Mike Kubisiak. The classes are hoping
to prepare a formal recital later in the year for
parents.
Posted
4/12/06
PES
- Spring Celebration
Mrs. Noel’s and Mrs. Singleton’s 2nd
grade classes celebrated spring’s arrival!
Students enjoyed an egg hunt in the school auditorium,
dyed hard-boiled eggs, and created bunny treat bags
and headbands.
Posted
4/12/06
WES
- Science Fair Demonstrations
Mr. Wayne Hall, a former parent, visited Whitehall
School to spark enthusiasm for the May 2nd Science
Fair. Students were shown how to create a display
using the scientific method. An actual science experiment
was conducted and the students discovered that four
eggs could hold the maximum weight of 55 pounds.
Mr. Hall provided the students with many simple projects
for their own science presentations. They also enjoyed
making gigantic bubbles using Joy dish liquid. All
Whitehall students are encouraged to enter a project
and attend the Science Fair on May 2nd from 6:00 – 8:00.
It will be an evening to enjoy good food, view student
work, and learn about Fire and Ice from the Carnegie
Science Center. Hope to see you all there.
Posted
4/12/06
PES
- Asset Science Fruit
In Paynter Elementary, Mrs. Knerr’s and
Mrs. Shea’s classes worked together on an Asset
Science activity. The students had to name a fruit,
count the seeds, name three properties of each seed
and glue the seed to the correct place on their worksheet.
The students learned that a fruit is any fleshy material
covering a seed or seeds; the ripened, seed-bearing
part of a plant when fleshy and edible. Most fruits
are grown on a woody plant, with the exception of
strawberries. Generally a fruit is the edible part
of the plant that contains the seeds. So eggplant,
tomato, cucumber and zucchini are actually fruits.
The third grade students enjoyed this nutritious
activity as some ate a piece of an apple or green
pepper.
Posted
4/30/06
PES
- Kindergarten Guest Readers
The Keystone Reading Association in its commitment
to helping develop a love of reading in all Pennsylvania
students has sponsored the month of April as “Families
and Reading Month.” Paynter Elementary Kindergarten
teacher, Mrs. Alice Mervos, welcomed family members
of students to read books to the class. The soon-to-be
first graders greatly enjoyed the visitors and the
stories they read.
Posted
4/30/06
PES
- Webinar
Mrs.
Singleton’s and Mrs. Shepherd 2nd grade
classes at Paynter Elementary participated
in a Pennsylvania Department of Education webinar
entitled ”Inspiring Writing with Young
Children.” Renowned author, Judy Blume
and illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds spoke live
about their thoughts and inspirations for their
professions. They shared personal pictures,
drawings and stories with the audience. Mrs.
Singleton’s class will soon finish reading
the book Superfudge written by Blume and illustrated
by Reynolds.
Posted
4/12/06
MES
- Fair Pictures
McAnnulty held a book fair on Thursday, April
6th, during the Art Fair/Family Fun Night. Clifford
(actually Miss Laura Withrow, Mrs. Golden's student
teacher) was on hand to greet the students and parents.
As always the McAnnulty staff was helpful and the
teachers were manning the sale stations. Extended
Day Kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Burnett, and Mrs.
O'Hare, were in charge of the credit cards. Miss
Cindy Treese, a retired teacher from McAnnulty, and
Ms. Renee Nicoletta ran one cash register while Mrs.
Golden, Miss Pavelka, and Miss Anderson ran the other
station. Fun was had by all, and Mrs. Rohm had another
successful Book Fair.
Posted
4/30/06
Administration Building, 4900 Curry Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
