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North Hills Named a Best
Community for Music Education
for Fourth Consecutive Year
orth Hills School District has been honored as one of the
nation’s Best Communities for Music Education by the
noted NAMM Foundation for the fourth year in a row. North
Hills School District is one of only 10 districts in Allegheny County
to be awarded the program’s highest designation this year. Only
527 school districts across the country were recognized with the
honor.
The Best Communities for Music Education designation is
awarded to school districts that demonstrate exceptional efforts
toward maintaining music education as part of the schools’ core
curriculum. Designations are made to districts that demonstrate
an exceptionally high commitment to music education and set
the bar in offering students access to comprehensive music
education.
“It is an honor to be one of the 527 districts nationwide to be
selected, and this recognition is a testament to the incredible
educators and talented students who instruct and learn in North
Hills School District’s valued music education program,” said Dr.
Patrick J. Mannarino, North Hills School District’s superintendent.
At North Hills School District, eight out of every 10 students has
taken part in a music class or related activity during the 2016-17
school year. A total of 12 different classes are taught at North Hills
High School, and students can enroll in 10 music class options at
North Hills Middle School. All elementary students take part in
a general music class and more than 600 fourth, fifth and sixth-
graders play instruments in the elementary band or orchestra or
sing in the children’s choir. Participation in musical ensembles at
the elementary level has increased by more than 100 students this
year.
A Northwestern University study found that students involved
in music programs saw higher success in academic areas such
as reading. According to a recent Gallup Pool, 94 percent of
Americans consider music to be part of a well-rounded education.
Established in 1999, the Best Communities for Music
Education from the National Association of Music Merchants
Foundation honors school districts and school buildings that
have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music
education programs as part of the schools’ core curriculum and
exemplify commitment and support for music education.
To be considered for the designation, district educators are
required to answer detailed questions about funding, graduation
requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities,
support for the music program and community music-making
programs. Responses are verified with school officials and
reviewed by The Institute for Educational Research and Public
Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of
Kansas.
Students Advance to State
Science Competition
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orth Hills High School and Middle
School students advanced to the
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of
Science (PJAS) competition at Penn State
University after securing top honors at the
recent regional competition.
Students designed a unique experiment
and were judged on their ability to
conduct and convey the results of their
experiment using the scientific method.
PJAS is a statewide organization of middle
and high school students designed
to stimulate and promote interest in
science among its members through the
34 Ross Township
development of research projects and
investigations.
• Junior Maria Arlia - Biochemistry -
“Top Notch: The Metastaticity of
Leiomyosarcoma”
• Junior Lauren Rebel - Microbiology
- “Microbial Bioremediation of Toxic
Pollution”
• Sophomore Lyndsay Edmondston -
Botany - “Bioremediation of Different
Aquatic Plants”
• Eighth-Grader Hannah Sciulli -
Microbiology - “Does PhoneSoap
Soap Really Work?”