IN Peters Township December 2018/January 2019 | Page 78

monthly subscriptions, purchased on the apps themselves for
less than ten dollars per month.
It may seem bland, but gamers will love this stocking stuffer.
For $24.99 you can supply your teen with 2,500 V-Bucks on
Fortnite. Parents may not understand the significance of a virtual
gift, but V-Bucks would be appreciated by any Fortnite lover.
Also, App Store, Xbox, and PS4 gift cards will be welcomed by
your gaming teen.
Activities- An unforgettable experience can provide memories
that last a lifetime; and tickets do exactly that. A few artists
coming to Pittsburgh in the warmer months of 2019 are Shawn
Mendes and Twenty One Pilots. If your teen is an avid sports fan,
then hockey or football tickets can be put to great use in the
near future.
Apparel- As a little kid, nothing was worse than ripping open
wrapping paper to find a pair of dreaded white socks or any
clothes for that matter. Nowadays, however, almost all teens will
appreciate fluffy socks, and when it comes to patterns- the more
colorful the better. Sweatshirts and sweaters are also a must-
have to make it through the chilly Pittsburgh winter.
Unique Gifts- Check out uncommongoods.com for unique gifts
sorted by hobbies and interests for an unforgettable present
they’re sure to cherish for years to come. If all else fails, money
will always be appreciated by your teen, even if it seems rather
dull. To spice up a cash gift, find creative ways to wrap it. You
can purchase Money Soap on Amazon, which guarantees an
unknown amount of money in the middle as it suds down or
enlist the help of Pinterest to create a crafty gift holder.
Stocking Stuffers- One of the most cherished holiday traditions
is hanging stockings above the chimney “with care” and
awaiting St. Nicholas to fill them with goodies. Confined to a
tight space, self-care related presents are a perfect idea. Lush, a
cruelty-free cosmetics store, offers a motley selection of fragrant
beauty products from low key makeup to buttery bath bombs,
shower gels, face masks, and shower jellies along with a holiday
collection. At Target you can also find rows upon rows of makeup
products along with sheet face masks and bath bombs.
For teens with a seemingly endless appetite, you can never go
wrong with an edible gift. Stock up on holiday-themed candy
and chocolates from Sarris Candies for a sweet surprise. If your
teen needs to start off the day with a few sips of caffeine, buy
them uniquely flavored tea sachets, coffee, or any drink they
enjoy at your local grocery store. Also consider gift cards to their
favorite stores and restaurants.
About the Authors:
Lauren Dubaniewicz is a junior Co-Print Editor-in-Chief of Smoke Signals, the high
school news magazine. In her free time, she enjoys dancing at
Kickline Dance Center.
Lexi Moran is a senior staff writer for Smoke Signals. When she’s not writing, she
plays tennis and runs track and field at her school.
GET TO KNOW: ELLY HOUSTON, MIDDLE
SCHOOL PARAPROFESSIONAL
I
n any visit to our schools you will
encounter talented and dedicated
individuals who make each child’s
school day fun and challenging. In
each issue, we are profiling some of our
staff members to help parents and the
community get to know some of these
people. This month, we asked Mrs. Elly
Houston to answer our questions. Mrs.
Houston is a paraprofessional in our
Middle School and has also worked at the
High School. We wanted everyone to get
to know Mrs. Houston!
What made you want to work with
students?
I can’t say that there was something
that made me want to work with
students. I began 43 years ago, when my
children were attending Venetia School.
I volunteered at the school, got to know
and become friends with great teachers.
Mary Anne Battaglia, Kaye Mowrey,
Rosalie Furman, to name a few, created
a family community that was such a
great beginning for the children. I knew I
wanted to be part of that.
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PETERS TOWNSHIP
What other interesting jobs have you
held?
Aside from working 43 with our school
district, the only other job of note was
working with the government account
at Bell Telephone. However, when Peters
Township became one of the first to
bring inclusion into our district, I was
chosen as the first Special Education
Paraprofessional. This was and still is
something I am extremely proud of.
What is your favorite thing to do
outside the classroom/during your
summer break?
I enjoy being with my grandson
Jet, playing with my dogs, Reign and
Lita, working in the yard, fishing, and
hopefully traveling (especially to Ireland).
What has been one of your favorite
projects/events/days at PTMS?
This is easy. I am extremely proud of
the PTMS “Trading Post”. The Trading
Post is the Middle School store run by
our “Special” Needs students. They are
awesome! I am also very thankful for
the support
from our
administration
for this project.
What do you
wish every
child would
know after a year with you? About
school, about themselves, about
anything!
I hope that every child will know that
I care and will always see and hear them,
that I am thankful they have been a
part of my life, that they are in a loving,
respectful, supportive community,
and that they are special with great
opportunities in front of them. Know
that you can do and be anything. Believe
in yourself. Always be loving, kind and
respectful, let that be your brand. I can’t
wait to see the mark they make on our
world!