IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Summer 2017 | Page 94

BUZZWORTHY
BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL: ABCD WEEK CELEBRATES A VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY
ABCD Week is a new tradition started this year at Baldwin High School to highlight Arts, Band,
Choir, Drama, Fashion, and other clubs. The idea for the week came straight from the student
body. Students Nick Cortazzo, Jaycee Revo, and Katie Zemaitis suggested having a pep rally
for the arts just like for sports. The week was an excellent way for students to spotlight their
artistic and creative endeavors in a forum of their peers. Organizers sought to involve not only
students who already participate in artistic classes and clubs, but also to incorporate those who
are not typically associated with the arts. The week’s events included a Zorro sword fight and
Bomboleo performance, Mob 66 Fashion Show, Band PMEA Awards, Color Guard, Choir and Band
Seniors Isaiah Priches (left) and
performances, art exhibition, painting competition, and even a promposal!
CJ Norwood (right) pose with models
for their Mob 66 clothing line.
Teacher Chris Reilsono reflected on the event: “This was a student-driven event that really is a
testament to how fantastic the students of BHS truly are! We sought to not only shed light on a
vital part of the fabric that comprises BHS but will also give a foundation to those kids who work to provide our school with artistic
inspiration! This event was not only a huge success, but now a new BHS tradition.”
Senior Katie Zemaitis and the cast
of Zorro performing “Djobi Djoba”
Senior Olivia Altavilla recreating her Indoor Color Guard performing
own version of Van Gogh’s “Starry
routine
Night”
MCANNULTY ELEMENTARY: EARLY EDUCATION SHINES
The early childhood program in the
Baldwin-Whitehall School District consists of
two schools, McAnnulty Elementary School,
which serves students in kindergarten
and first grade, and Paynter Elementary
School, which offers K–5. Both schools offer
a unified program that emphasizes holistic
care for our students. The District has a
robust network of connections with early childhood
providers that enable a deep level of care to students.
Each spring, McAnnulty hosts an annual, community-
wide resource fair which allows families to get connected
to a broad range of early-childhood providers, such as
daycares, pediatricians, pediatric dentists, EMS, public
libraries, and services such as WIC and representatives
from the Allegheny Department of Human Services.
Our schools understand that starting kindergarten
can be daunting and our teachers and staff work hard
to make sure that students and their parents feel ready to start school. They host
a night-before-school event where students can come to visit their classroom,
meet their teachers and classmates, and even go on a bus ride with the principal.
Baldwin-Whitehall is also the only school District in the area to offer staggered
start, an innovative program starting students on a rolling basis throughout the
first week of school, in small groups of around 7, that can get more personal
attention from staff as they learn to navigate the routines of kindergarten.
Recently McAnnulty was approached by WQED to be a recipient of the Ready
to Learn grant and serve as a pilot program for a STEAM initiative. The initiative
will provide programming to families in STEAM areas of Science, Technology,
Engineering, Arts, and Math.
92 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall
Senior Colton Hurley “promposing” to
artist girlfriend Abigail Putt
WHITEHALL ELEMENTARY:
COLOR RUN BRINGS LIFE TO
RECESS RENOVATION
The students and parents at Whitehall
Elementary participated in the first Color Run
Fundraiser to support our Recess Renovation
Project. The event provided an opportunity
to families to come together and run a mile
around the Whitehall track while being covered
with color powder. Students received a Color
Run shirt, bag, and color powder when they
registered for the event. The event began with
a color blast on the blacktop and then students
ran their mile while the teachers and parent
volunteers blasted then with more color powder.
Mrs. Amanda Mainarich and her daughter
Emma participated in the event. “We have
not stopped talking about how much fun the