Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Board President Gary Alward says rumors that the district will hire a part-time principal for Dormont Elementary are not true.
Parents at Thursday’s Keystone Oaks School Board meeting said they were concerned about a rumor that had started—one that board President Gary Alward said is not true. Dormont Elementary parent Kristen Pauchnik told the board there had been a lot of discussion among parent groups about what would happen with the principal's position at the school. Her concern, and that of several others at the meeting, was that little information has been released about filling the position of principal at Dormont Elementary. Some parents also had heard rumors that a part-time principal would be hired to fill the position. The position is vacant because Principal George Shevchik retired earlier this year. Shevchik is continuing to serve as principal at the…
Friday, March 23, 2012
Nick Whittington placed third in the Junior Olympic State Qualifiers in wrestling.
Myrtle Elementary School fourth-grader Nick Whittington placed third overall in the Area 7 Junior Olympic State Qualifiers in wrestling on March 17. In a press release Thursday, Little Eagles wrestling coach Mark Hutchin said wrestling isn’t something that someone can pick up quickly—it takes years of hard work, he said, which makes Whittington’s accomplishment all the more impressive. “Wrestling not only teaches you discipline, but it builds character in a way that no other sport can do in terms of self-confidence and leadership qualities,” Hutchin said. “Nick is one of those kids that have shown the desire and drive to be the best and as a result, and he is well on his way to being a champion on and off the mat.” Check with Dormont-…
Friday, March 2, 2012
Kindergarten registration for Keystone Oaks schools will take place throughout March.
Amy Cesario is preparing her daughter for something that looked uncertain just a few months ago: kindergarten registration at Fred L. Aiken Elementary. The school board—which considered consolidating Aiken and Myrtle Avenue elementaries with Dormont Elementary—voted to keep the schools open when the newly-elected school board members took their seats in December. “I couldn’t be happier that the school district is keeping the five-building configuration,” Cesario said. “I think it’s really beneficial.” Cesario’s two older children—one a second grader at Aiken and the other a senior at Keystone Oaks High Schoool—attended Aiken for kindergarten. She said she likes the neighborhood feel of the school, and is glad her youngest child can attend …
Monday, December 19, 2011
Nursery school lessons provide learning environment for students in both preschool and high school.
The lessons learned in the Keystone Oaks Nursery School aren’t just for kids. The nursery school—which is enrolling now—is part of the child development classes taught by Maria Dayka and led by high school students who aspire to become teachers themselves. “It’s a way to test the waters to see if this is what they want to do,” Dayka said. “Quite a few do become teachers, but we’ve also had students go into other professions like nursing, where the training still helps.” Morning and afternoon classes are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:50 to 11 a.m. and from 12:20 to 1:45 p.m. Dayka observes every class, but high school students mainly teach the lessons. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the high school students meet with Dayka to discuss…
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
A roundup of the region's top stories for Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Here are today's top stories from Patch site in your area: Still No Clues in Bridgeville Man's Disappearance Holiday Fundraiser for Duttine Family Set for Dec. 18 at Saint Elizabeth's Snatchko’s Charges Stick No Injuries Reported in Cecil House Fire Debate Over Whether to Keep KO Schools Open Ends with ‘Yes’ PHOTOS: 'One Shot' Films in Oakmont
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Officials on Wednesday discussed the importance of the decision regarding the closure of Aiken and Myrtle elementary schools.
Nearly every audience seat was filled at Wednesday’s Keystone Oaks School Board meeting, when the board voted against a previous decision to close Aiken and Myrtle elementary schools and consolidate the schools’ programs. Board members Gary Alward, Raeann Lindsey, Dan Domalik, Joeseph Finucan, Lisa Cancelliere, Dave Hommrich voted to revoke the board’s Sept. 8 action to close the schools. By revoking the board’s Sept. 8 vote, the two schools will stay open. Board members Thomas Nee, Marian Randazzo and Robert Brownlee voted against revoking the board’s earlier action. Nee said that when the board began discussing the possibility of closing schools about three years ago, they had several reasons for doing so. He cited financial concerns …
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Keystone Oaks School Board votes to keep the two elementary schools open.
Students at Aiken and Myrtle elementary schools have no need to worry—both schools will stay open. The Keystone Oaks School Board voted 6-3 Wednesday evening to keep the two schools open. Board members Gary Alward, Raeann Lindsey, Dan Domalik, Joeseph Finucan, Lisa Cancelliere, Dave Hommrich voted to revoke the board’s Sept. 8 vote to close Aiken and Myrtle and consolidate the schools’ programs. By revoking the Sept. 8 action, the two schools will stay open. Board members Thomas Nee, Marian Randazzo and Robert Brownlee voted against revoking the board’s earlier action. Check dormont-brookline.patch.com tomorrow morning for a full story.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
New school board members discuss their plans for the district.
Newly-elected Keystone Oaks School Directors shared their thoughts and ideas for the district after Tuesday’s election, and they have talks of school consolidation on the brain. The unofficial 2011 election results show that school directors are newcomer Lisa Cancelliere and incumbent Raeann Lindsey for Region 1 (Castle Shannon); newcomer Joseph Finucan and incumbent Robert Brownlee in Region 2 (Dormont); and newcomers Daniel Domalik and David Hommrich in Region 3 (Green Tree). “Hopefully we can at least relook at the closings of the schools and see if that’s really a necessary thing to be done,” Cancelliere said. The board approved a school consolidation plan in September, which would close Aiken and Myrtle Elementary schools. Finucan and…
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Art Expression Inc. brings new perspectives to elementary students.
As the 15 or so students each at Myrtle Street and Dormont Elementary schools pressed seeds deeply into the soil, they probably never thought about the personal growth they might be experiencing as they wait for the flowers to sprout. But, that is the secret of the StART Growing Program of Art Expression Inc.; its classes are designed to teach children about art while giving them a better perspective on life. Planting seeds is a metaphor for personal growth,” says Mary Anne McMullen, art therapist, who facilitates the Myrtle school program. “We do projects that reflect the different aspects of what a seed needs to grow. We talk about what nurtures us—what you do to nurture ourselves each day—healthy aspects of living.” Those principles of …
Friday, September 9, 2011
Which taxing body will take on Keystone Oaks' elementary school buildings slated for closure?
A look through the 70 pages of Keystone Oaks School District's school consolidation plan, approved at Thursday's special meeting, unleashes as many questions about finances as it provides answers. Surprisingly, some of those queries are coming from the people most affected by it, its borough officials. The plan, approved by a 5-3-1 vote, would close Fred L. Aiken and Myrtle Avenue elementary schools effective for the 2012-13 school year and bus all children in kindergarten through grade four to Dormont Elementary. Upper grade students would attend the combined Keystone Oaks High School and Keystone Oaks Middle School building. The only remaining option the school district is considering for the two elementary schools scheduled to be closed…
DSA
6:13 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Good points Kristen. A lot of the people for consolidation no longer have kids in the district - I can't help but wonder how their opinions would change if they still had kids in school. I try to put myself in your spot. I read before that they felt consolidation would save less than 2-3% of costs - that's just not worth it. The children are the future - who are we to sell them short on a decent … more ›