Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Visits Woodland Hills Special Education Classes oodland Hills
WOODLAND HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE WOODLAND HILLS FOUNDATION .
On Monday , March 13 , two members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra ( PSO ) visited Woodland Hills Junior Senior High School as part of a community outreach program to perform for the Life Skills Department students and faculty . This visit was coordinated by Mr . McKee to provide an enrichment activity for students who may not otherwise have such an opportunity .
Gloria Mou , Coordinator of Community Engagement at the PSO , was kind enough to bring Anne Williams and Lorna McGhee to our stage . Anne Williams has been the principal cellist at the PSO for 41 years . Lorna McGhee is the principal flutist . Also in attendance was Joe Williams , Anne ’ s husband . He is a well-known trombone player and has been the Youth Minister of Beverly Heights Church for 18 years .
Prior to the concert , our excellent music director Mr . Tom Crone took time off from his duties preparing for the spring musical to clear the auditorium for these world class musicians . He also gave them a tour of our music facilities and highlighted our successful music program .
The concert was a rousing success . The students were glued to the performance from start to finish and responded with many compliments and questions for the musicians , who took time between each piece to explain the music and teach the students about their instruments and background .
Following the concert , the guests were treated to a tour of the school . Lorna and Anne were impressed with Mr . Venesky ’ s classroom where students were working on a project making sleeping mats for the Pittsburgh area homeless using plastic shopping bags . Mr . Venesky is new to the district this year and is proving to be an incredible addition to the already amazing staff .
Next , they visited the classroom of Ms . Schieb , a 7-9th grade Special Education teacher . The visitors were amazed to find out that when Ms . Schieb is not busy teaching , she is prolifically active in the Woodland Hills community and surrounding areas . She was named Big of the Year of Pennsylvania for Big Brothers Big Sisters . She has been matched with her little sister , Shyae , from Mt . Oliver for six and a half years . She serves as the co-chair of the Big Recruitment Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters recruiting future Bigs for Littles awaiting matches . Recently , she was featured on 92.9 radio on Monday April 17 and will appear on “ Talking Pittsburgh ” with Jonas Chaney on WPXI on Tuesday , April 25 , 2017 . She will also receive a Proclamation from the City and County Council from Councilman Tom Baker of District 1 and will be honored by Governor Tom Wolf on May 11 , 2017 in Harrisburg . In addition , she is a track coach at the high school and a tutor in the community .
The visitors were treated to a tour of our amazing athletic department where they met Mrs . Knight , administrative assistant to legendary football coach George Novak and Assistant Athletic Director , Mr . Tim Bostard . They were impressed with all of the memorabilia including football helmets signed and given as gifts to Coach Novak from former players who have gone on to football careers . They viewed our Wall of Fame which highlights our many graduates who have succeeded in their dreams of playing in the NFL and positively representing the Woodland Hills community , including our recent Hall of Fame inductee , Mr . Jason Taylor .
The final stop on their visit was to Mr . McKee ’ s classroom to bid farewell to the students they had so graciously entertained . They were impressed by recent classroom renovations that the students had helped complete . After learning of a research project that touted the academic and social advantages of flexible classroom seating , the students advocated for a change in their classroom environment . Without hesitation , Mrs . Mary Linsinbigler and her husband generously donated funds to provide the materials necessary to turn the classroom into an oasis of learning and comfort . Students now can complete their work while relaxing on carpet , at desks , at a work table , or on one of the fitness balls in the room . When they are done with their work they can relax in a carpeted reading area with a good book . The social and academic benefits were immediately apparent to staff and to our visitors who remarked on how respectful and well behaved the students had been .
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra visit was a chance for our students to see the best of Pittsburgh . It turns out it was also an opportunity for Pittsburgh to see the best of us .
“ It ’ s a great day to be a Wolverine !” – Mr . B
38 Woodland Hills