< Previousy > Learning CurvesLearning Curves BY GEORGE HESS, PT, DPT, COMT HESS PHYSICAL THERAPY Is your shoulder pain due to a rotator cuff tear? Find out with these three quick self tests Do you have shoulder pain with any of the following day-to-day activities? The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that run from our shoulder blade into the top end of our bone in our arm. They help keep the ball end of our arm bone centered in the shoulder socket. When healthy, the rotator cuff allows us to reach in all directions smoothly and without pain. If you experience pain, weakness or difficulty during the tests mentioned here, it is highly likely that you are suffering from a rotator cuff tear. 1. Drop Arm Test - With your arm relaxed by your side, turn your arm out so your thumb faces directly to the side. Slowly raise your arm to the side, then slowly lower the arm. The test is positive if the arm suddenly drops or you experience severe pain on the way up or down. 2. The Lateral Jobe Test - In this test for the right shoulder, raise your right arm out to the side by lifting your right elbow to 90 degrees. Keep your hand hanging down and your fingers pointed to the ground with your thumb pointing to your tummy. With your left hand, push down on the right arm just above the elbow. The test is positive if you experience pain or weakness. 3. Lift-Off Test - The hand of the affected arm is placed on the lower back. Now, try lifting the hand off the back without straightening your elbow. The test is positive if you’re unable to lift the hand off. Now you may be asking, “Can a rotator cuff tear heal and pain subside without medications, injections, or surgery?” In most cases, yes, but it depends on - but is not limited to - the following factors. • What is the grade of the tear? There are three grades. • Which of the four muscles of the rotator cuff is torn? • How old is the tear? If you feel that you may have a torn or injured rotator cuff, please consider joining us for a free check-up event on April 7. See the adjacent page for more information. This information provided courtesy of George Hess DPT, COMT. He is the owner of and a physical therapist at Hess Physical Therapy. He is also the author of the book “Back To Normal.” He can be reached at his Kennedy location at 566 Pine Hollow Road, Mckees Rocks, 15136, at (412) 771-1055 or at his Crafton location at 37 Foster Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15205, at (412) 458-3445. Email him at George@hesspt.com. • Reaching Overhead? • Reaching into the Back Seat? • Reaching Behind Your Back? • While you Sleep? If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, you surely know that shoulder pain can be such a menace. It can ruin a good nights sleep and, when you lack sleep, you get cranky. It can also change the way you put on your shirt or, for the ladies, your bra, because it’s just too painful to do it the way you used to. It can stop you from enjoying daily simple tasks, making you frustrated and forcing you to take more pain pills than you would care to admit. And for golfers out there, it can ruin your game, getting you scores that you’re too embarrassed to admit. Your friends are probably wondering why you even care to play! Is your rotator cuff the culprit? 20 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021March 2021 Milestone Anniversaries Welcome New Members! Boxes For Heroes Hartman Independent Company Jamie E. Hakim / Jamie Hakim Agency 35 years Parkway West Career & Technology Center 30 years Cultural Care Au Pair 20 years Montour Trail Council 10 years CompFI (formerly Computer Fellows, Inc.) Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh Washington Meadow Lands 5 years New Horizons Computer Learning Centers of Pittsburgh Focus on Renewal Rockwell Automation 850 Beaver Grade Rd. Suite 101 Moon Twp., PA 15108 412-264-6270 | paacc.com #PAACC Follow Us!! Plan Your Next Getaway! No membership required! For more information about any of our trips or to register, please call Michelle Kreutzer at 412-203-0257. A Taste of Tyrol - Innsbruck, Austria Featuring Oktoberfest Includes: RT Air from PIT, hotels, Meals, Day Trips, Local English Speaking Guides, Transportation, and so much more! Sept. 17 - 25, 2021 | Early Bird Pricing- $3,399 Free Informational Meeting: April 6, 2021 For more information on this cost saving program, please contact Michelle Kreutzer at 412-264-6270. 22 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021N Your Schools Your Schools Rosedale Tech Raelee Nicholson, Melody Carranza and Tasha Martin are paving the way for other women in non-traditional fields. “I was in the process of following a traditional four-year path with offers to multiple colleges and universities. But it wasn’t something that I loved,” said Raelee Nicholson, a recent graduate of Rosedale Technical College. “So, I shifted gears and began to pursue something I was truly passionate about, becoming a diesel technician. Despite being dissuaded by the majority of my teachers and counselors, I followed my dream and it truly paid off. In fact, I am about to start my professional diesel technician career with PennDOT. If the trades are something you’re passionate about, I say go for it! Because at the end of the day, it’s nobody’s career but your own.” On Wednesdays in March, Rosedale Tech is inviting women to learn about the trades at their Women in the Trades events. These events were created to encourage women interested in learning about careers in the trades. At the events, they can not only visit the college but also meet instructors and shadow current Rosedale students. They can even meet with employers in their respective fields. As a predicted shortage of skilled workers in the trades continues, women are not only in demand but make up less than 10% of the workforce in the trades. With an estimated two million job openings, there are a lot of opportunities for women. “We can help close both the skills gap and the gender income gap by getting more women into skilled trades careers. Today’s technical careers demand critical thinking and communication skills every bit as much as mechanical knowledge. The pay can be very rewarding, and there are many opportunities for entrepreneurs. I expect female participation in our trades programs to continue to increase, and we are excited to make that happen,” said Dennis Wilke, president of Rosedale Technical College. With 8.9% of Rosedale Tech’s student population being women, the college has seen an increase in women in trade programs over the years. However, Rosedale Tech believes that awareness is still one of the biggest challenges to overcome. It’s the reason they’re providing these opportunities to prospective female students. “Prior to entering the electrical field, I was working in the medical field. Once I realized that wasn’t for me, I started looking at my other options,” said Melody Carranza, Rosedale Technical College student. “I chose a career in the electrical field because I thought it would be a great way to challenge myself. Additionally, I wanted to break gender barriers and set a great example for my daughter so she grows up knowing she can become anything she wants to be.” Typically, Women in the Trades is celebrated as an annual event at Rosedale Technical College. However, due to COVID-19 and current regulations, this “annual” event has been adapted into five smaller events that take place on Wednesdays in March from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register, visit www.rosedaletech.org/wit/. On Jan. 28, in an effort spearheaded by HVAC instructor Aaron Miller, Rosedale Technical College donated eight air conditioner condenser units to four local high school career and technical centers. The recipients of the units included Beaver County Career and Technical Center in Monaca, Parkway West Career and Technical Center in Oakdale, Steel Center for Career and Technical Education in Jefferson Hills, and Forbes Career and Technical Center in Monroeville. “We are thrilled to be able to support local high school career and technical centers! It’s partnerships like these that help elevate the trades and student experiences overall,” said Sean Barrett, Educational Outreach Manager at Rosedale Technical College. Each of these schools received two new Carrier air conditioners. The donations were meant to directly benefit high school students involved in heating and cooling programs at their respective schools. “The units help Rosedale Tech HVAC students learn and train on air conditioners as part of their hands-on training, focusing on residential, commercial, old and new technologies to become a knowledgeable specialist. So, for our students to be able to gift other students with something that is so important to our program that they have been directly a part of is a true honor for all of us,” said Aaron Miller, HVAC instructor. AC units donated to career and technical centers Rosedale holding Women in the Trades days in March STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ROSEDALE TECHNICAL COLLEGE Melody Carranza (top), Raelee Nicholson (above) and Tasha Martin (below) are helping pave the way for other women in trades. Rosedale instructor Bryan Fruens delivers HVAC units to students at Parkway West Career and Technical Center. March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 23Your SchoolsYour Schools N St. Philip was proud to induct its newest members into the National Junior Honor Society on Feb. 8. While only in its second year, the St. Philip chapter of NJHS has been working hard to bring the accomplishments of outstanding students to the attention of parents, teachers, peers and the community. The St. Philip chapter, and the more than 7,500 other chapters in schools across the nation, strive to give practical meaning to the Honor Society’s standards of scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. In order to be considered for candidacy, students must first meet the following prerequisites : • Be enrolled in St. Philip School for at least one semester • Be in the sixth, seventh or eighth grade • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 • Participate in at least two afterschool activities A high academic average in itself does not earn one membership into the National Junior Honor Society. Rather, St. Philip and the National Junior Honor Society strive to recognize the total student - one who excels in all the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. These values should be demonstrated in school, during outside activities and verified by teacher observation. National Junior Honor Society STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ST. PHILIP CATHOLIC SCHOOL St. Philip Catholic School Students at St. Philip celebrated Catholic Schools Week during the last week of January with a variety of events. The January GRACE program prayer service honoring St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Green and White Spirit Day, dress as your favorite board game, and dress as your future occupation were just some of the activities involving the entire school. Each grade or groups of grades had their own ways of celebrating the week. Fifth- graders showed their cooperative spirit as they played board games. Further, the fifth and first grades invited parents in via Zoom to talk about their occupations and answer any questions the students had. They learned about careers as an archivist, mental health therapist, firefighter, critical care nurse, project manager, military personnel, IT specialist, physician’s assistant, fireman and more. St. Philip celebrates Catholic Schools Week Pictured are the newest sixth grade members of St. Philip’s National Junior Honor Society. New St. Philip NJHS Members Sixth-graders Lienna Bassano, Samuel Hall, Hannah Hayes, Colby Lane, Salvador Lozano, Riley Sanders, Dashiell Sargent, Frankie Schlatterer, Anna Stickman, Averie Strohm, and Shae Trombetta Seventh-graders Cooper Anselm and Giulia Marino Eighth-graders Kelsey Adamski, Ryan Jameson and Alise Och Returning members: Seventh-graders Hope Avery, Caroline Hall, Katelyn Miller, Sophia Muoio, Angelina Och and Luke Wrabley Eighth-graders Rachel Boehm, Natalie Kirsch, Tavon Lane, Rachel McDevitt and Everett Sargent Second-grader Arianna DeMatty tests her tornado bottle while learning about wild weather. 24 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021N Your Schools Your Schools TOP: First-graders dressed as their favorite animals. MIDDLE: Virtual learning students like Maddie Hayes participated in the week’s festivities as well. BELOW: Students dressed as their favorite board game (left) and their future occupation (right) during Catholic Schools Week. K-2 teachers also sponsored a Literacy Day and rotated reading stories to each group. Principal Dr. Brian Dougherty joined in the fun by taking a turn in the round-robin reading. Pre-K read winter stories and sang songs for their families over Zoom. Younger students, meanwhile, wrote “thank you” cards to their families for sending them to SPS and to first responders who service St. Philip. Middle school students played a game of Clue in which they were tasked with determining the identity of the thief who stole the spirit stick. Throughout the day, students were given opportunities to receive clues in each of their classes. At the end of the school day, each middle school homeroom discussed and came to a decision about the culprit’s identity. Class 6A uncovered the criminal and won a dress- down day. They also engaged in a spirited snowball fight at recess on Green and White Spirit Day. Third grade engaged in their civic duty by writing a letter to U.S. President Joseph Biden. Students wrote about concerns such as healthcare, discrimination, equality, poverty, homelessness, COVID-19, the environment and war. Class 2A read the story “Wild Weather” and were fascinated to learn about the different types of weather, especially tornadoes. Each child made a tornado bottle to take home. First-graders, meanwhile, pretended to be their favorite animal and created displays to represent that animal. They also dressed as the animal and gave a talk in wax museum style about it. Even students learning virtually at home got in on the fun. Each sent in pictures of themselves dressed in special costumes of the day. They wrote, “Thanks so much for including us in every activity for Catholic Schools Week. Even though we aren’t with you in person every day, we never feel far away. We may be virtual, but you always make us feel a part of your class.” ABOVE: Principal Dr. Brian Dougherty was a guest reader for Literacy Day. BELOW: Alexa Laepple reads her letter to President Joseph Biden. March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 25Your SchoolsYour Schools N STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ARCHANGEL GABRIEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Archangel Gabriel Catholic School Second-graders depict Bible scenes through dioramas Second-grade teachers have been working hard to make sure that their students are inspired to research Bible stories. To that end, for an assignment children chose a scene and depicted it with a diorama. Students very much enjoyed making their own projects from both Old and New Testament stories. AGS teachers have been inspiring young minds this year, as it is a very special year for them with two important sacraments on the horizon: First Reconciliation and First Communion. Recognizing National School Choice Week National School Choice Week was founded in 2011 to promote and recognize all forms of school choice, including district schools, district magnet schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling. AGS is extremely grateful to have a community of people around it that puts children first and chooses Catholic education. To celebrate, AGS asked students to reflect upon why they are grateful for their school. They then had the opportunity to write their families a letter thanking them for choosing to send them to AGS. AGS rolls out new iPads to entire middle school On Feb. 11, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders each received eighth generation 10-inch iPads. The iPads have the fastest chip available in a tablet and both students and teachers are noticing the efficiency. The tablets contain an Apple School Rocket System Manager that gives students and teachers access to specific educational apps. With this system, teachers have full control to monitor, assist and ensure safety. The iPads also utilize the school’s established Google Classroom and Google Suite, which are part of the school-wide curriculum. This upgrade has been made possible through generous contributions from the community. AGS intends to continue upgrading so that students have access to personal keyboards and additional apps in the future. Students and teachers are extremely grateful to have this upgraded technology for students in sixth through eighth grade and can’t wait to continue to use them to prepare for secondary and post-secondary education. Celebrating Catholic Schools Week Each year, one week is dedicated to celebrating Catholic Schools Week. Though AGS loves to celebrate its school every chance it gets, AGS officially set aside Jan. 31 through Feb. 6 this year to focus on Catholic schools. The theme this year was “Faith, Excellence, and Service.” AGS kicked off the week by renting out The Rink at PPG Place for an event for families. The rest of the week was filled with loads of fun and focus, including a pajama day that also raised cereal donations for the Coraopolis Community Development Food Pantry. Students also got to hear a story from a special storyteller. Students wore hearts or a shirt commemorating something they love and painted a ceramic heart that was donated to community responders, in conjunction with the school’s “Knights with Heart” theme. As well, students decorated a butterfly for a mural to display and learned about the human heart from a physician. On Wednesday, AGS celebrated career day and students dressed up as their future career while they enjoyed virtual career speakers. Thursday was Spirit Day, which is a school-wide favorite. Students and faculty dressed head to toe in blue and orange Knights gear. They played “Name That Tune” and participated in a School Spirit Competition. To finish the week, because they couldn’t take live field trips, AGS decided to take virtual field trips. Students visited the Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Dallas zoos. They also visited the Connecticut Science Center and went on virtual tours of the Strip District that were conducted by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. 26 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021% New in Town New in Town Shantha Bharthi has resided in Robinson Township since 2006 and has long wanted to contribute to her community. She wanted to instill good learning practices in children and help them develop a path toward academic success. To that end, Bharthi decided to utilize her experience in the Kumon learning program and open Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township. After a yearlong effort, Bharthi opened the center in January of 2021. It is conveniently located at Robinson Town Centre, near the post office, and is easily accessible from the Parkway and Steubenville Pike. Kumon is an afterschool math and reading enrichment/remedial program that unlocks children’s potential so they can achieve more. It is a comprehensive program that serves children in preschool through high school. Kumon’s learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence, improve concentration, and develop better study skills. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled at nearly 25,000 learning centers in 55 countries and regions. Kumon was created by a father who wanted the best for his son. In Japan during 1954, a father and gifted math teacher named Toru Kumon wanted his young son, Takeshi, to develop a love for learning. He also wanted him to be thoroughly prepared for rigorous high school and college entrance exams. Through short, incremental assignments, Toru helped his son master concepts. Each day, he gave Takeshi short assignments to complete that allowed his son to master each concept completely before learning a new skill. The method was so successful that Takeshi was solving calculus problems by sixth grade. As Toru’s son started studying far beyond his grade level, other parents took notice. As young Takeshi’s abilities improved, parents’ interest in Toru’s unique step-by-step self-learning method grew. Today, Kumon is helping millions of students in more than 50 countries. Kumon is a structured, self-learning program that gives children the skills and mindset needed to learn concepts independently. The key to the Kumon program is the individualized learning plan, which is carefully structured by the Kumon instructor. The instructor’s individualized plan and the student’s own pace together allow the student to achieve with each step of the process. Learning at an effective, comfortable pace helps students take ownership in their progress and build confidence in themselves. “Each and every day when students come to my center, they should feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that they have learned something,” said Bharthi, who is the Robinson Township center’s director. “My hope is that by providing efficient techniques and guidance to each individual student, I will have a positive impact on our community.” Kumon’s disciplined learning method helps advance each child’s abilities in the classroom and throughout life. In fact, many Kumon students become capable of studying above their grade level. Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township is located at 1940 Park Manor Boulevard in Robinson Town Centre, adjacent to the U.S. Post Office. The center is enrolling students for in-center classes and virtual classes for pre-K through high school. The center will also be holding orientations so parents can find out more about how Kumon’s unique approach helps each child: • Master math and reading • Build study skills such as confidence, focus, and work ethic • Reduce homework stress and test anxiety The instructor will prepare an individualized lesson plan for each child and support them as they progress through Kumon. To schedule a FREE parent orientation, call (412) 790-6100. New afterschool enrichment program opens in Robinson Township © 2021 Kumon North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township Ages 3+ Robinson Town Centre 1940 Park Manor Blvd. Ste. 512 Pittsburgh, PA 15205 412-790-6100 Unlock Your Child’s Learning Potential with The Kumon Math and Reading Program. Schedule a FREE orientation today! STORY AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED Shantha Bharthi (top) opened Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township (above) in January of 2021. “Each and every day when students come to my center, they should feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that they have learned something.” ~ Shantha Bharthi Shantha Bharthi March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 27Imagine your website working as hard for your business as you do. 412.205.8998 | DDSWebDesign.com Websites that get results. Designed in Pittsburgh Contact us for a free website analysis. Affordable Custom Designs Responsive Sites | Content Management SEO | E-commerce | Hosting | Maintenance 28 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 29 Montour School District DEW Middle School to get new turf field lighting David E. Williams Middle School is in the process of receiving new turf field lighting in an effort to complete a three-year capital improvement plan. HHSDR Architects & Engineers were board approved at the February Board Meeting to begin the design process for construction. The project is set to go out for bid in April of 2021. The district timeline will begin in June with a completion date estimated to be in August of 2021. Darryl Yonkers, director of operations, will oversee the project. David E. Williams Field Lighting Improvements Include: • Complete Stadium Lighting for the DEW Athletic Field • Low Voltage Walking Lights • Upgraded Sound System “These improvements will increase the amount of time our school and community athletics can hold their activities by providing adequate lighting but more importantly increasing the safety of our student athletes and community members.” ~ Darryl Yonkers, MSD Director of Operations This field lighting project will wrap up a three-year capital improvement plan, which consists of: • Gymnasium: New paint on walls and ceiling, bleachers, and refinish of gymnasium flooring. • Auditorium: New carpet and LVT throughout, sound and lighting upgrades, wood veneer sound enhancing wall coverings, and new seating. • Roof: Complete tear-off and replacement • Landscaping: Replacement of mulch with river stone, and replacement of expired trees and shrubs School board members and administration have been planning and working to make it a priority to improve and enhance areas that have long needed attention. Renovations that are currently in progress are a critical component to preserving campus character and strengthening its sense of community. “The turf field at DEW was a huge addition to the Montour School District and to Kennedy Township. Statistically, a turf field replaces three-and-a-half grass fields, so we’ll be able to use the new turf field at DEW nine months a year and a minimum of 12 to 14 hours a day with the addition of the lights.” ~ Mitch Galiyas, School Board Member “As for the lighting at the DEW field, I think this project will be a great addition for everyone who has a stake in the Montour community. So many of the middle school activities (sports, band and school activities) that currently need to be held at the high school can now be scheduled at DEW. Also, people from around the district will have access to another field during evening hours as well. This project has been a long time coming as DEW never had lights before. The proposed lighting will make the field much more usable.” ~ Ken Barth, Vice President of the School Board Superintendent’s Message Over the past 10 months, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with every school district leader in Allegheny County. This has been one of the silver linings of the pandemic. From talking with these leaders, I’ve found that most believe a pre-coronavirus status quo will be impossible to achieve. Results from a survey we conducted among our school district parents and teachers suggest, though, that there is a great deal of desire to get back to “normal!” Well over 90% of parents surveyed indicated that they planned on sending their children back to Montour for traditional, in-person schooling next year so long as the spread continues to decrease. Things may look a little different moving forward, but we intend on preserving Montour’s tradition and rich academic history. It’s our job to figure out the next chapter of educating children at Montour. We have established a team of 25 educators from our staff to help facilitate a series of monthly meetings to help sort out all of these moving parts. We have also collected information from the entire staff and Montour families via surveys, as well as focus groups. The goal is to have a well-established vision on where we have to pivot following COVID-19, and to what degree. As always, Montour is a district that is exceptional when it comes to reinventing itself and meeting the demands of our student population. Montour Community, thank you for doing your part! Moving on post-Covid at Montour Follow Dr. Stone on Twitter! @DR_CHRIS_STONE Dr. Christopher Stone Superintendent Montour School DistrictNext >