< PreviousCAround Your Town Around Your Town STORY AND PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY Reggie Madonna, Colleen Tittinger, Lynda Kirby, Sue Vandertie and Lance Maloney were among the local artists recognized during the West Hills Art League’s 55th Anniversary Art Exhibition in October. For many years, Sue Vandertie has wanted to try her hand at creating visual art. In between her job as a music teacher at Moon Area School District, though, where she was also chair of the music department and oversaw the orchestra, she couldn’t find much time. Then, after retiring following 25 years of teaching and a stint as an adjunct faculty member at Point Park University, Vandertie finally did find time. She started out working with glass, but then when COVID-19 hit she picked up a paint brush. Stuck at home with little else to do, she threw herself headlong into the pursuit. While attending a painting class on alcohol inks at Gilberti Fine Arts in Coraopolis, she says something clicked. Afterwards, she started buying porcelain tiles at Home Depot and playing with the unique effects the inks created on the nonporous surfaces. “The color is so intense, and when the color spreads out they do such absolutely delicious things, that I was pretty fascinated with it,” she says. This past October, Vandertie was one of dozens of area artists belonging to the West Hills Art League who showed their work at Gilberti Fine Arts in downtown Coraopolis for the league’s 55th Annual Art Show. On Oct. 14, the league held a special artist’s reception and competition, where one of Vandertie’s alcohol ink pieces, titled “Summer Garden,” won first place. She says she was delighted to be recognized. Vandertie’s story isn’t unlike that of many members of the league who manage to find time for their art either in retirement or in between their day jobs and many other responsibilities. For many members, the league helps them stay on track, by giving them deadlines, camaraderie and feedback. Such is the case for Lance Maloney, a Moon Township native and human resources professional whose acrylic painting of a nuthatch won third place at the competition. He says the social aspect of the league and the challenge it offers helps motivate him. Maloney says he enjoys photography and painting with both acrylics and oils, and that his attention to detail at his day job translates well to his artwork. Also recognized in judging was Lynda Kirby, a local graphic designer who uses her professional skills to create digital art. In addition, she creates fumage paintings using soot left by a flame. She says being an art league member and participating in shows keeps her focused. “I try to [create art] when I find free time,” she says. “That’s why I like belonging [to the club]. It’s like an assignment. I have to set a deadline to do something that isn’t my job.” Recognized as well was Rita Wilson, a retired West Allegheny art teacher of 23 years. Wilson says she’s been a member of the league since 1972. These days, she also writes, and has published a nonfiction book. She recently signed a deal to publish her first novel. She says she’s met many talented artists with various levels of training through the league over the years. The West Hills Art League was first founded in the late 1960s by area artists Nancy Bush, Thelma Fielder and Nancy Gorr. In 2019, Bush recounted to this publication how they started the league after attempting to have their work shown in the Three Rivers Arts Festival. The two began meeting with area art teachers to get the league going and it grew from there. This year’s show coincided with the Coraopolis Fall Festival, which is organized by the Coraopolis Community Development Corporation. An annual event, the Fall Festival typically features food trucks, craft vendors and children’s activities. In addition, it has featured an art walk, where storefronts across the borough welcome artists to set up shop right in their places of business. The day has given visitors a chance to interact with artists, and artists the opportunity to share their work with the public. This year’s Fall Festival took place on Oct. 14, the same day winners of the show were announced at Gilberti Fine Arts during a special artists’ reception that afternoon. Though rain throughout the day spoiled some of the day’s fun, it hardly dampened spirits at the reception. Also recognized was Colleen Tittinger, whose piece “Early Dawn” won second place. Reggie Madonna won the People’s Choice award and a Merit Award for her watercolor paintings of sunflowers while Marian Sallade’s oil painting “Sunset on the Marsh” won best in show. Coming up, the West Hills Art League is planning to host its $55 Cash and Carry Show on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Robin Hill Park Carriage House in Moon Township. For more about the league and its upcoming events, visit westhillsartleague.com. Local artists once again shine at West Hills Art League show Pictured are paintings by Vandertie (left) and Madonna (right). 10 • Allegheny West Magazine • Winter 2023CAround Your Town Around Your Town Davis Rees of Coraopolis is like a lot of 16-year-old boys. He enjoys playing video games, building Star Wars Lego sets and hanging out with his friends. Unlike a lot of boys his age, though, Davis rarely gets to hang out with his friends in person. Instead, they mostly play video games online. He also can’t go to school in person, play sports or do many of the other things most teenagers his age do. That’s because, since he was born, Davis has been coping with end-stage renal failure. The kidneys he was born with never did work properly and during various points in his life he’s been undergoing life-saving dialysis treatments. When he was very young, he underwent dialysis at home. These days, he has dialysis three days a week at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He also lives with a host of dietary and other restrictions that significantly impact every facet of his daily life. Davis’ life wasn’t always like this. At age 2, he was fortunate to have a kidney transplant. It was something akin to hitting the jackpot for the toddler. Davis’ donor, Melissa Hatherley of Kennedy Township, was a co-worker of Davis’ father, Jim Rees. She was just 19 at the time. Not only was she willing to donate her kidney but, by chance, she also had Davis’ rare blood type, which is type-O negative. According to the American Red Cross, just 7% of the U.S. population has type-O negative blood. Following that transplant, and up until a couple of years ago, Davis was able to get off dialysis. He even went to kindergarten at Rhema Christian School in Moon Township. The friends he made there still keep in contact with him today. Davis’ grandmother, Paula Rees, says there were times when her grandson was a healthy boy, but that those periods never extended more than about a month. “I definitely wouldn’t say years,” she says. Inevitably, Davis would end up back in the hospital for extended periods. For awhile, he attended elementary school at Cornell, but eventually was forced to switch to cyber school so he could attend from home. “He was rejecting the kidney and that went on for years,” Paula says. Two years ago, at age 14, Davis’ condition had deteriorated to the point that he was forced to go back on dialysis. He also had to start living with a host of other restrictions. Paula says her grandson took the news hard. Now, the Rees family is hoping to find a new donor. To that end, the family has been distributing fliers and were even able to secure a billboard. They are hoping their combined efforts will help deliver a very special Christmas gift to the teenager. According to Davis’ parents, Jim and Krista Rees, Davis can now only have one liter of fluid each day, and that includes any foods that are liquid at room temperature, including ice cream or soup. He’s also on a low-potassium, low- sodium and low-phosphorus diet. At Halloween, as many kids were binging on candy, Davis could only have an ounce. His parents say that dialysis, while life-saving, also takes a lot out of their son. After one such recent appointment, Davis returned home and slept for three hours, only to have to wake again and do homework. Community members have been doing what they can to help the Rees family. Last month, a spaghetti dinner fundraiser was held at the Coraopolis Elks Lodge to raise money for them. While those funds are helping get the word out about Davis’ need for a donor and cover some of his medical costs, what they need now is someone with the right blood type who is willing to step forward. For the past two years, that’s been at the very top of Davis’ Christmas list. This year, he’s keeping those hopes alive, even as he contemplates another holiday season of closely watching what he eats and drinks while undergoing regular dialysis treatments. He was originally supposed to have one such treatment on Christmas, but the hospital rearranged his schedule so he could have it on Christmas Eve and enjoy the holiday. Davis’ parents say they are grateful to the community for all their love and support. “I tell everyone, all the doctors and nurses, that if it wasn’t for all our family and friends, I don’t know if we could even do this,” Jim says. Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a kidney donor can visit Upmc.com/livingdonorkidney or call (412) 647-5800. Donors who sign up on the website can designate a transplant recipient. To donate to Davis, donors must have type O-negative blood. Donors must also be in good health and be between the ages of 18 and 75. In need of a kidney transplant, local teen keeps hope alive for a donor STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY PHOTO SUBMITTED If you or someone you know would like to help Davis Rees find a kidney, visit: upmc.com/livingdonorkidney or call (412) 647-5800. Donors must: • Have type O-negative blood • Be between the ages of 18 and 75 • Be in general good health Winter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 11 Davis ReesCAround Your Town Around Your Town 12 • Allegheny West Magazine • Winter 2023 Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald became the first visitor to officially travel across the front bridge to what will be the entrance to the new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal on Oct. 16. Fitzgerald’s inaugural drive both celebrated a distinguished career of public service and marked a significant milestone for one of the Pittsburgh region’s most ambitious construction projects. “Rich has been a tireless advocate and supporter,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority. “He has been really focused on what is best for this community.” ACAA and county leaders, along with staff and members of the press, joined Fitzgerald and Cassotis on a tour of the terminal construction site. The recently completed bridge connects the roadways that will one day guide passengers to and from the new PIT terminal and complementary buildings. It marks yet another key achievement on the road toward the opening of the new terminal in 2025. The Terminal Modernization Program will provide visitors with a more efficient travel experience via a larger security checkpoint and faster baggage claim while cutting long-term maintenance costs for the airlines, which are paying for the vast majority of the project. No state or local tax dollars are being used. In addition to the new landside terminal, the construction includes a multi-modal parking garage and airport roadway system, including the new bridge. Fitzgerald last visited the construction site in August. Since then, all structural steel has been completed. Workers are now installing curtainwall glass, roofing, walls and utility lines. “We now have the most dynamic airport in the country in many ways, and when [the new terminal] opens a year and one-half from now, it is something that is going to be unbelievably great for the region,” Fitzgerald said. After the drive up the terminal bridge, the tour began in earnest on what will be the departures level of the new airport terminal. The broad expanses of exposed concrete and girders seen by visitors are the bones of what will ultimately be a warm, inviting environment filled with ticket counters, concessions, tree-like columns and constellation lighting. As the tour progressed further into the construction site, visitors observed open spaces for large window arrays before moving to the connector bridge between the new terminal and the existing Airside Terminal. The connector bridge represents a significant change from the current train that runs between the terminals, which will be decommissioned. The connector bridge will guide travelers quickly to their gates while eliminating the train’s travel time and maintenance costs. Construction of the new terminal’s arrivals level is based on design studies that showed locals wanted to stay inside the terminal to wait for their friends and family. The area will offer visitors and travelers seating, concessions, considerably shorter baggage wait times and access to outdoor garden terraces adorning either side of the terminal. The new Multi-Modal Complex nearby features a parking garage with 3,300 public spaces - three times the amount of covered space currently available at PIT. The daily construction workforce, made of people from the Pittsburgh region, said they take great pride in seeing the structures begin to resemble what many have seen only in blueprints and computer-generated images. “It is an investment in the future of Pittsburgh, as we build an airport that is for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh,” said Fitzgerald. “The new terminal replicates what Pittsburgh is, and it is something we can all be so proud of.” Officials showcase passenger journey at new PIT terminal STORY AND PHOTO BY BLUE SKY NEWS/ PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis lead a tour through the airport’s new terminal, which is currently under construction, on Oct. 16. CAround Your Town Around Your Town Follow Allegheny West Magazine on Facebook, Instagram and X for updates and more. In the communities of Stowe Township and Kennedy Township, pizza kitchens have a long tradition. Typically held as church fundraisers, the pizza kitchens have helped maintain and even build sanctuaries while keeping the traditions of Italian dishes steeped in the areas alive. Patrons across the area have long been drawn to the kitchens for traditional pizzas, specialty rolls, falagones and other Italian dishes passed down for generations. In October, one such pizza kitchen returned to the area, though in a relatively new location. For almost three-quarters of a century, this particular pizza kitchen operated out of a building owned by Mother of Sorrows Church in McKees Rocks. After that church closed, the kitchen found its way to the cafeteria of the former St. Malachy School in Kennedy Township. Since October of 2021, it has been operating there for a few months each year as a fundraiser for Archangel Gabriel Parish. On Oct. 27, the pizza kitchen opened once again and will continue making to-go orders each Friday for a total of 11 weeks through Jan. 26. Despite the change in location, many of the volunteers who have been helping out with the effort for decades are still operating the kitchen today, and they’ve brought along the kitchen’s recipes. “Because of its history, many memories exist around the pizza kitchen,” says Julienne Giuliani, the current chair of the pizza kitchen. “We often hear, ‘My grandmother, grandfather, aunt, mom, etcetera, used to make pizzas at the pizza kitchen and yours tastes just like I remember!’” One thing that makes the kitchen unique is its pizza dough, which volunteers use to make everything from pizza crusts (they refer to them as “shells”) to pepperoni rolls. The dough is mixed fresh each Friday using just about a half dozen ingredients and has a light, flaky texture to it, similar to focaccia. Dave Matergia of Robinson Township is one of two volunteers who mix the dough each Friday. Now retired from a career working with an engineering firm, he says he learned from a volunteer who came before him. This marks his seventh year helping with the effort. Another item the pizza kitchen is known for is its specialty rolls, including its sausage, spinach and pepperoni rolls. Its pepperoni rolls, at least, are made exclusively by volunteer JR Ramsey, who has been making them for decades. Each Friday, Ramsey gets started early, rolling out freshly mixed dough into sheets and then layering each with healthy amounts of grated parmigiana, pepperoni and mozzarella before folding them up and popping them in the oven. He says he doesn’t like to brag, but feels he’s mastered the process. “You know how when you cut the end of a pepperoni roll and there’s nothing in it?” he says. “Well, there’s stuff in mine.” Another popular item on the kitchen’s menu are its ricotta gnocchi. Volunteers make the pillowy dough balls earlier in the week and then freeze them for patrons to take home and cook themselves. The kitchen also makes pasta fagioli and a wedding soup that volunteers say one could call famous. In January, the kitchen will be bringing back another favorite, its falagones, which are similar to calzones. The pizza kitchen will continue operating each Friday until Jan. 26. It will be closed on Nov. 24, Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. To see a menu, visit archangelgabrielparish.org/pizza. To order, call (412) 771-0848 between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Fridays. Pickup is available until 6 p.m., but calling early is suggested. Pizzas are available both fully baked and half-baked so that they can be finished at home and enjoyed right out of the oven. Area pizza kitchen returns, carrying on a historic tradition STORY AND PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY JR Ramsey (top) prepares pepperoni rolls for the Archangel Gabriel Pizza Kitchen. Louise Safko (bottom) sprinkles chopped green peppers on a pizza. Winter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 13CAround Your Town Around Your Town When Dr. Josh Slomkowski took over the local chiropractic practice Nicola Chiropractic Center on Steubenville Pike in 2016, he did so with the goal of offering new, cutting-edge pain management techniques to patients. He renamed the practice Hometown Spine & Sport, and began utilizing a number of methods to help relieve his patients’ debilitating conditions. Since then, he’s been helping patients avoid the use of further medication and even surgery. In August, Slomkowski, who has since teamed up with Dr. Taylor Easter, relocated the practice just down the road to 7231 Steubenville Pike. Their office is now in the same plaza as 2 Buds Flower Shop. There, Hometown Spine and Sport is continuing to expand its range of treatment options. “We’re expanding the business to offer more cutting-edge treatments while we specialize in spinal and sports-related injuries,” says Slomkowski. “For example, we recently just expanded our non-invasive treatment options to include shockwave treatment. We have seen amazing results with hip arthritis, foot pain, rotator cuff injuries and elbow tendinitis using our methods. It’s great to hear someone say that they won’t need another steroid injection to help with their pain.” Addressing pain without medication Slomkowski says one of the primary goals of the practice continues to be helping patients address the underlying causes of their pain. Medications, he says, can sometimes only mask the root causes of pain while some have serious side effects. Pain medication can also be addictive, as many people have realized in recent years in the wake of the opioid epidemic. Hometown Spine & Sport therefore uses a wide variety techniques to address pain without medication, including chiropractic, physiotherapy and Myofascial release, which can be used to treat everything from headaches to shoulder or elbow tendinitis. The practice has even been using a class 4 infrared laser to treat joint pain. Many patients have experienced improvement, including one patient who was able to avoid surgery for plantar fasciitis. Treating sports injuries Hometown Spine & Sport also works with many athletes to address the root causes of their injuries. One such patient was a runner with leg injuries. Slomkowski determined his injuries were the result of underdeveloped gluteal muscles that were causing his knee to buckle. Slomkowski helped the patient work some new exercises into his routine to help him avoid future injuries. “My main goal is to make sure that people understand how injuries occur and give them the proper exercises to prevent an injury from happening in the future,” says Slomkowski. Treatments for peripheral neuropathy Two years ago, the practice also started to implement a new neuropathy reversal protocol to treat patients with peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is a debilitating condition that causes a range of symptoms, from pain in the extremities to cramps and muscle loss. Slomkowski encountered a number of individuals with neuropathy who had been prescribed medication that only masked their condition. Through Hometown Spine and Sport’s neuropathy reversal protocol, 92% of patients with peripheral neuropathy have experienced improvement. Some of these patients had been experiencing pins and needles every time their bed sheets touched their feet. Over the course of treatment, these patients experienced significant improvement in sensory functioning. The practice’s neuropathy reversal protocol takes a four-pronged approach to treatment, restoring blood flow to the nerves with a combination of at-home therapies, nutritional protocols and in-clinic treatments. DOT physicals Both Dr. Josh Slomkowski and Dr. Taylor Easter are medical examiners for DOT physicals. The doctors can conduct physical examinations right in their offices. Certain commercial drivers must have this physical in order to satisfy federal regulations. Special offer for Allegheny West Magazine readers Allegheny West Magazine readers who are not yet patients of Hometown Spine & Sport but who would like to undergo an examination can do so for a discounted rate of $49. New patients will undergo a full medical examination, which includes a review of X-rays and MRIs, a health history screen, and chiropractic treatment. Hometown Spine & Sport accepts most major medical insurances. “There is a growing desire for people to find a safe and natural option that does not involve medication, injections or surgeries to fix their problem,” says Slomkowski. “We try to empower our patients by teaching them to put their health first with adequate stretching, exercise, proper nutrition and even mindfulness techniques.” Hometown Spine & Sport is located at 7231 Steubenville Pike. Visit them online at www.hometownspineandsport.com. For an appointment, call (412) 490-1700. Hometown Spine & Sport moves into larger office just down the road CONTENT SUBMITTED RIGHT TO LEFT: Dr. Josh Slomkowski is pictured with Dr. Taylor Easter and medical assistants Lisa Morgan and Barb D’Angelo at Hometown Spine and Sport’s new office on Steubenville Pike. Pictured is Hometown Spine & Sport’s new location, with a newly renovated lobby and examination rooms. 14 • Allegheny West Magazine • Winter 2023CAround Your Town Around Your Town CONTENT SUBMITTED The landscape for pharmacies that prepare compounded medications is currently changing. This change will require pharmacies to adapt and comply with a compounding standard named “USP 800.” Pharmacies that do compounding prepare medications that are classified as either “non-hazardous” or “hazardous,” depending on what chemical powder(s) is being used to prepare the compounded end-product. The differentiation of these two classifications is important for pharmacy staff who are handling chemicals during the making, storing and shipping phases of the compounding process. USP 800 specifically sets the standards for the use of hazardous chemicals in compounding. This standard will result in many pharmacies either significantly cutting back on the compounds they prepare or may impact them in a way that causes them to decide to stop compounding altogether. The pharmacy compounding landscape is going to look significantly different as things will not be allowed to continue as they have in the past. Porter’s Pharmacy is proud to say they have already been complying with the USP 800 standard the past couple of years, even though this standard did not become enacted/enforceable until Nov. 1, 2023. Porter’s continues to compound both non-hazardous and hazardous designated chemicals while adhering to USP 800. United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets medicine standards. USP 800 is designed with the intent of protecting the safety and health of pharmacy staff when compounding is being performed while using any drug chemical that appears on a defined hazardous chemical list. It will be the responsibility of state boards of pharmacy and the FDA to provide oversight and assure compliance of USP 800 with compounding pharmacies moving forward. To comply with this standard, it is the responsibility of the pharmacy to construct a lab that has negative pressure airflow technology for compounds being prepared using any of the designated hazardous chemicals. This type of lab is called a “Hazardous Drug Negative Pressure Lab.” The air must move in a constant direction that will result in air being pulled out of the room and then vented out of the building. The specifications call for the lab’s complete air space to be completely turned over 12 times per hour. This protects workers by eliminating any lingering powders from the air within the lab. After much planning and time, Porter’s Pharmacy previously built two new labs inside the pharmacy, one of which is the Hazardous Drug Negative Pressure Lab. Porter’s is accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board. Fewer than 1% of pharmacies that perform compounding are PCAB accredited. To further differentiate their HD Negative Pressure Lab, Porter’s has electively achieved the additional certification of “Distinction in Hazardous Drug Handling.” This further shows their commitment to excellence. Porter’s is proud to be a leader in compounding within the tri-state area. They are licensed in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia to service the region. Count on Porter’s for compounding. They can help. Porter’s Pharmacy and Compounding Standard “USP 800” ABOVE: Porter’s Pharmacy and Compounding Lab in Moon Township proactively built two new compounding labs, including a negative-pressure lab. The labs can be seen through this window situated at the front of the pharmacy. BELOW: Technicians at Porter’s prepare medication inside the new lab. LEFT: Porter’s Pharmacy electively achieved the certification of “Distinction in Hazardous Drug Handling” to demonstrate its commitment to safety and excellence. Winter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 15Winter 2023 16 • Allegheny West Magazine • Winter 2023 At the October Cornell School District Board of Directors meeting, two long-standing Cornell board members received special recognition. Mark Cavicchia was recognized for his eight years of service to Cornell. Cavicchia chairs the technology committee and, since forming and chairing the committee, has made data analysis a priority for members. In addition, the technology committee constantly looks at Cornell’s current technology infrastructure and analyzes current device use by students and staff. Cornell superintendent, Dr. Aaron Thomas, said, “Mr. Cavicchia has been wonderful to work with since he joined the Cornell School Board. He gives thought and proper time to each issue, makes good suggestions and asks great questions for everyone to consider. I have enjoyed working with him and look forward to continuing to do so.” Recognized as well was Cornell School Board of Directors President Karen Murphy, who has served on the board for 24 years in a variety of capacities. Murphy has served as board president and vice president. She has also chaired a number of committees and been involved with teacher negotiations, to name a few. Thomas said, “Mrs. Murphy truly loves the Cornell School District and has seen it all over her years on the board. She is extremely supportive, will do anything to increase opportunities for students and I have been fortunate to work with her during my 10-plus years as superintendent of Cornell.” School board members receive special recognition School board members Mark Cavicchia (left) and Karen Murphy (right), who is also board president, are recognized for their service to the district. They are pictured with Pennsylvania School Boards Association President David Schaap. Cornell is one of 10 school districts in the region that have been chosen to receive a $585,000 grant called a Project SEEKS grant. Funding for the grant has been made available through a grant provided by the Allegheny County Health Department and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The project aims to support school districts by addressing trauma, providing additional behavior and mental health supports, and other issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the opportunities that has blossomed since the announcement of this grant are partnerships with a few higher education institutions, including Duquesne University. Over the summer months, discussions and work sessions took place between leaders of Duquesne University and Cornell School District. This resulted in a unique collaboration that will greatly benefit Cornell students. For the 2023-2024 school year, Duquesne University is providing four interns to Cornell. Two of the interns are finishing their graduate degrees in school counseling, and the other two are completing their doctoral studies. Duquesne went through an extensive review process of social-emotional learning curricula and decided on one called Merrel’s Strong Kids. Research has shown that students who exhibit strong social-emotional skills have higher academic achievement, demonstrate more resilience and have higher satisfaction rates in their personal and professional lives. Duquesne interns are splitting up and meeting with elementary and high school students to facilitate lessons and lead discussions and activities on social-emotional skills. This has been a great partnership, and the need for such programming has only increased over the years. Cornell leadership is proud to bring this relevant and meaningful learning experience that will leave a positive impact on students to the district. Project SEEKS Update Jacob Williams and Stephanie Tran (top), along with Sydney Adams and Amelia Klass (bottom) are interns from Duquesne University working on social-emotional learning at Cornell.Winter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 17 Cornell has been awarded a News Literacy Project District Fellowship, a two-year opportunity that brings together experts from the nonprofit News Literacy Project and school leaders from across the country to design and implement district-wide initiatives for news literacy instruction. Cornell school leaders plan to spend the first year of the fellowship assessing educator needs, building teacher expertise in the field of news literacy, and gathering and creating resources that will all serve as the foundation of an evidence-based plan to incorporate news literacy into the district’s K-12 curriculum. The fellowship team from Cornell included Dr. Kris Hupp, director of technology and instructional innovation; Miriam Klein, K-12 librarian and electives chair; and Amy Palo, social studies teacher and department chair. Palo, who was named the Pennsylvania Social Studies Teacher of the Year last school year, said, “As teachers who are trying to make sure students are ready to be active, engaged members of society, it is important that they have the skills needed to understand information and to identify misinformation. With the emergence of deep fake videos and AI (artificial intelligence) text, the skills needed to engage with technology are even more important.” Cornell joins two other school districts in the 2023-2024 cohort: Bloomfield Hills Schools in Michigan and Gunnison Watershed District in Colorado. “Following a rigorous nationwide application process, these districts distinguished themselves through their dedication to equipping students with essential news literacy skills, ensuring they become engaged and well-informed contributors to our civic life,” said Shaelynn Farnsworth, who oversees the fellowship program for News Literacy Project. The two-year fellowship provides districts with $10,000 each year. In the first year, school leaders receive assistance from NLP to develop a sustainable plan for news literacy instruction across their district. That could mean building a continuum of news literacy courses across K-12, training educators in effective literacy instructional practices or creating classroom materials that meet the developmental and cultural needs of students. In year two, NPL provides guidance as districts implement their proposal. Five other districts are in year two and they are from New Mexico, Iowa, Utah, New York and Oregon. Cornell awarded News Literacy Project District Fellowship The afterschool PRIDE program has been a staple at Cornell for several school years, providing additional learning and recreational opportunities for students in grades three through eight. The current PRIDE program, which is funded through a federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, was approved to include second grade students as well. The program runs Monday through Thursday every week from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. for high school students, and from 3:30 to 6 p.m. for elementary students. There is also a dinner program offered each night and, in addition to fun activities, students are given time each night to complete homework and ask for help on any assignments or projects. Older students in grades seven and eight have also been assisting in the activities with younger students in grades two through six. The first nine weeks involved fun activities that students enjoyed, including a variety of scavenger hunts and collaborative artwork, where every student completes a smaller portion of an overall larger project. Students also enjoyed origami, bingo, and minute-to-win-it challenges. Students burned off energy by completing a physical activity each evening. The ever-popular mat-ball gets students excited. Programming changes every nine weeks. Second nine-week activities will include pirate camp, which encompasses a variety of STEAM activities related to pirates such as building catapults, tying sailor knots and even making treasure maps. There are also oceanic exploration activities, which involve learning about deep sea creatures, along with building boats that will float, creating underwater volcanoes and tracking sharks. Anyone who would like to register a child in second through eighth grade for PRIDE should contact Mrs. Smith, the PRIDE Program coordinator, to discuss and obtain a PRIDE registration packet. It’s going to be a fun second nine weeks! PRIDE program update The afterschool PRIDE program offers a number of educational and recreational opportunities for students.18 • Allegheny West Magazine • Winter 2023 • The Coraopolis Community Development Corporation and Cornell School District continue to provide students and families with Snack Packs. The Snack Pack program provides bags of food to over 115 students each week. CCDC volunteers spend hours each week packing, organizing and preparing Snack Packs. On the last day of each school week, Snack Packs are delivered to over 115 students in grades K-12. This program is geared toward helping to alleviate food insecurity in Coraopolis and Neville Island. In the long term, investing in the health and well-being of students through food assistance programs can help their physical and cognitive development. The CCDC’s Snack Pack Program and their generous donors and volunteers help Cornell students and families have reliable access to proper nutrition. • Cornell Elementary School is continuing its partnership with the SNAP program through Holy Family Institute. SNAP stands for Stop Now And Plan and teaches students how to work through conflict and adversity the correct way. Ann Danforth, the SNAP lead program facilitator, and her staff administer fun interactive lessons with elementary classes. This program teaches students to express their feelings and opinions effectively, fostering better communication and understanding among peers. When students learn to handle conflicts, it enhances their self-confidence and they feel more capable and respected, thus creating a positive learning environment benefiting both students and teachers. The guidance department believes these skills are essential life skills, and teaching them early will promote healthier relationships, both in school and later in life. • This is the first year for students in grades K-8 to participate in Cornell’s HEART Positive Behavior Intervention System program. HEART is an acronym that stands for hardworking, excellence, accountability, respect and teamwork. At the beginning of the year, each classroom participated in a presentation and discussion about this program and each of these characteristics. Cornell is committed to taking a proactive approach aimed at creating a positive school environment geared toward improving student behavior. The district wants to emphasize teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors, such as these, rather than solely reacting to disciplinary actions for negative behaviors. The goal is to promote and grow positive behaviors and interactions between students. This program is aimed to reduce disruptions and enhance student engagement, which will contribute to a more inclusive, supportive school community where students can thrive. What’s happening in Guidance • Cornell High School is continuing its participation with the Robert Morris University Healthcare Professionals High School Mentorship Program. The goal of this program is to enlighten and educate high school students about different career opportunities available in the healthcare industry. This year’s theme is “Go for the GOLD with a Career in Healthcare.” Five students attended the first kick-off event Oct. 13.They got to visit the RISE Simulation Center, participate in healthcare game stations, learn about programs, participate in panel discussions, and network with professionals and students. These students will continue with monthly Zoom meetings to learn about different healthcare professions, such as health administration, nursing, health science, psychology and pre-medicine. • Cornell High School counselor Gina Walter partnered with neighboring high school counselors and Robert Morris University to host the first PACAC West Pittsburgh College Fair. This event was held Oct. 5 at the Robert Morris University UPMC Events Center. Representatives from over 90 colleges attended. The event was a huge success and was well attended by students from various local high schools. They couldn’t have done it without the help of the student volunteers. Hopes are to continue this local college fair annually. Hanna Navarro, Noah Slinde, Jersei Ramsey, Mia Lampus and Samantha Bell have been participating in a program in coordination with Robert Morris University that exposes them to careers in the health career field. Also participating, but not pictured, is Camille DiCicco. Neveah Rice, Kelsey Hill, Mariah Rohrbach and Leah Spencer helped run the PACAC West Pittsburgh College Fair in October. #WeAre CornellWinter 2023 • www.awmagazine.com • 19 Thursdays are a special day at Cornell. That’s when students in Ms. Kramer and Mrs. Baxendell’s secondary special education students prepare a coffee cart for teachers. They stock it with freshly brewed cups of coffee, warm apple cider and baked goods. As they wheel it through the halls, the aromas are enough to make teachers who have forgotten to fill out their order slips regret it. “That’s why we always make extra,” says Kramer. Kramer and Baxendell say teachers aren’t the only ones who look forward to the coffee cart each week. “Our students look forward to it, too,” she says. “The whole school looks forward to it but in particular our students.” The two teachers say that, for their students, it’s a break from the norm, a day when they can go from learning functional reading and math in the classroom to applying those lessons in a real- world situation. From start to finish, students take on different roles and apply skills ranging from math and reading to social skills. The teachers say students are oftentimes assigned a task that’s not their strongest suit in order to break them out of their comfort zone and challenge them a bit. “If we have a student who’s shy, we might give them the task of being the greeter,” says Kramer. “It allows us to work on individual skills. Some may need more work with communication, another with hygiene and safety, another with money skills. We’re able to individualize for each student to help them work on those skills.” Each Thursday, students brew coffee by measuring out the grounds and water. Others will restock the sugar, creamers, straws and napkins. One student handles the money while another punches holes in each teacher’s loyalty card. When the teachers get enough punches, they get a free coffee. Students also write down orders from a Google sheet and it’s even one student’s job to determine the most efficient route to take through the school based on that day’s orders. “They each have a job and we give them a chance to master that,” says Baxendell. She says the idea for the cart grew out of a school store that students in the class ran for elementary students. “They really enjoyed that but then we had to stop because of COVID-19,” she says. “This was a way to reinstitute that hands-on learning which, for most of them, that’s how they learn best. You just can’t keep throwing worksheets at them. We have to get them up and moving.” She says the students, in turn, look forward to running the cart, and that it’s been a way to both bring some joy into the school and give back to teachers while providing a learning opportunity. The two teachers are also trying to use the exercise to teach their students business skills and concepts such as profit and expenses. Their profits have been helped along by Jennifer Patterson of the Little Kitchen in Coraopolis, who is providing their baked goods at cost. They’re innovating as well, such as during a recent open house when the teachers hosted a booth so community members could pre-pay to send teachers a cup of coffee. In the future, the teachers say they may expand to more than one day, but for now they are still learning. “One day a week per now is plenty,” says Kramer. “You have to take small steps.” Weekly coffee cart teaches very special lessons A team of volunteers from Williams Company spent Oct. 13 volunteering around the Cornell School District as part of their fourth Day of Caring event. Williams Company began supporting Cornell in 2019 through the United Way’s Adopt-a-School program. Over the years, Williams volunteers have supported the district by visiting classrooms, sponsoring field trips, hosting book and supply drives, and building a greenhouse that is housed by the cafeteria entrance. This year, the team from Williams Company focused on some indoor and outdoor projects. The team weeded and cleaned up the outdoor learning space, ensuring that it would look great until spring. They also painted the new student wellness room in the high school and the new Esports room. Finally, they assembled some new furniture for student use. The Williams Company team will be volunteering again later this fall to support fifth- and sixth-graders as they explore career opportunities when they visit Junior Achievement’s BizTown, which is a fully interactive mock town that simulates the day- to-day functions of thriving communities. The program helps students connect what they learned in school with the realities of the business world and everyday life. Williams Company volunteers again Volunteers from Williams Company assisted with both indoor and outdoor projects at Cornell. Students in Ms. Kramer and Mrs. Baxendell’s class bring some joy to teachers each week with their coffee cart.Next >