Congratulations to our Ambridge Area School District students who were finalists in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Contest. Our 4th and 5th graders swept their divisions! They were presented their plaques and monetary awards at the Dr. King Banquet in Rochester on Sunday, January 15th. Entertainment for the evening was provided by the Ambridge Steel Drum Band.
In the fourth grade division, the winners were Madelyn Palmer of Economy Elementary in first place and Ja...red Astorino of Highland Elementary in second place.
In the fifth grade division, the winners were Mackenzie Sutton from State Street Elementary in first place and Madison Holcomb, also from State Street, in second place.
We are extremely proud of your knowledge of Dr. King and the oratorical skills you are developing at such a young age!
Anna Galiardi and Skye Galiardi both won first place in the Women’s Club District Competition. Their photos will now move on to compete at the state level. Click here to vote for the Kieth Rothfus Congressional Art Contest. Voting is available through April 4th.
On Thursday, November 19, the district participated in Grief Awareness Day. Most buildings participated in a "blue out" to acknowledge grieving children. Donations were collected and will be given to the Caring Place. The photos below were taken at the High School and Highland Elementary. Thanks to all of the buildings that participated. Photos by Karen Moser. For more about the Caring Place, please visit their website: https://www.highmarkcaringplace.com/cp2/index.shtml. For more about Grief Awareness Day, please visit their website: http://www.childrensgriefawarenessday.org/cgad2/index.shtml
The Ambridge Area School District will operate three PA Pre-K Counts Classroom servicing three-year old and four-year old students. Four-year old students have first priority. The School District is accepting applications for the Pre-K classroom. Our program will service twenty students per classroom. If you are interested in the program and meet the requirements, applications are located in the elementary offices and the Attendance Office at the Senior High School. Only students with complete applications will be considered for the program. When completing the application, please bring the required documentation.
The Pre-K Counts Program serves both breakfast and lunch. Transportation is provided for all students. Our program is recognized by the State for offering high quality instruction in all areas of early childhood development—social, academic, gross motor, fine motor, and behavior. In addition, a wide range of services are offered to our families who participate in the program.
Highland Elementary has one Pre-K classroom
State Street Elementary has one Pre-K classroom
Economy Elementary has one Pre-K classroom.
Ambridge Area Middle School will have a familiar face at the helm when doors are opened for the 2018-2019 School Year.
Ambridge Area School Board of Directors approved the transfer of Mr. Thomas McKelvey to the position of Middle School Principal at the June 13 meeting. He currently serves in the position of State Street Elementary Principal. He will begin his new role as Middle School Principal on July 1.
Mr. McKelvey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, Special Education and Middle School Level Science from Slippery Rock University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He received his Master of Science in Education, K-12 Principal Certification from California University and most recently has been accepted into the Doctoral Program at Point Park University.
He began his professional career in the Beaver Area School District as a special education and general educator, and also served as a Behavior Consultant for the Watson Institute. He also has served as an Assistant Principal at Woodland Hills Academy (K-8). Mr. McKelvey is certified in Crisis Prevention Intervention.
His awards and honors include but are not limited to: Discovery Educator’s Network Star Educator, PTA Extra Care for Kids Award Recipient, Distinguished Service and Scholastic Excellence Award, Community Service Recognition Award and Golden Key International Honor Society.
“We are pleased to have Mr. McKelvey continue to serve the Ambridge Area School District,” said Dr. Jo Welter, Superintendent. “He is a caring and committed educator. He is a person of great integrity. He will serve the students, teachers and community of our new middle school with enthusiasm and dedication.”
Mrs. Jo Ann Hoover, current principal at Highland Elementary School, was approved for a transfer to fill the position being vacated by Mr. McKelvey at State Street Elementary. Her starting date is yet to be determined.
Mrs. Hoover is a graduate of Slippery Rock University, with Bachelor degrees in Elementary and Special Education. She also holds a Master of Special Education degree from Duquesne University and Principal Certification from Slippery Rock University. She previously served in the Pittsburgh Public School System for 24 years. She is a certified trainer for Therapeutic Crisis Intervention. During her tenure at Highland Elementary, she implemented a schoolwide positive behavior support program, which reduced the number of discipline referrals and suspensions. “She will provide stability and continuity for State Street as Mr. McKelvey transitions to the Middle School,” said Dr. Welter. “We are very fortunate to have her expertise.”
The Board also approved the hiring of Dr. Laura Burns to fill the position being vacated by Mrs. Hoover at Highland Elementary School. Her starting date is yet to be determined.
Dr. Burns earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Master of Arts degree in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh. She received a Master of Public Management with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Carnegie Mellon University. Most recently, she received her Doctor of Education and Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from the University of Pittsburgh. She previously served as a Social Studies teacher in the Baldwin Whitehall School District and as an Assistant Principal at both the Carlynton Junior-Senior High School and the Pine-Richland High School.
Dr. Burns’ professional honors include: memberships on the Pennsylvania State Social Studies Curriculum Committee and the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh Study Tour. Also, Dr. Burns was a recipient of the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia Grant.
“Dr. Burns is committed to improving teaching and learning in the Ambridge Area School District,” said Dr. Welter. “We are pleased to have her as a part of our team.”
On Thursday, May 31, 2018, the Ambridge Area School District celebrated the graduation of 162 seniors. Commencement exercises were held at 6 p.m. in the High School gymnasium.
The Ambridge Area Marine Corps JROTC Color Guard led the posting of the colors, followed by the "Star Spangled Banner." Graduates and their guests were then treated to a performance of "Don't Rain On My Parade" by the Ambridge High School Concert Band.
Class President Dimitrios Niaros addressed his fellow graduates on the meaning of "We Are Ambridge." In his address, Niaros told graduates that no matter where they go in life, they take Ambridge with them. He asked all Ambridge alumni in the audience to stand in support of the Class of 2018, and in thanks for their continued support of their community and Alma Mater. Following Niaros' speech, High School Principal Ms. Janice Zupsic briefly addressed, and then presented, the Class of 2018.
Superintendent Dr. Jo Welter introduced the 2018 Hall of Honor Inductees, which include: Dr. Ken Cirka, Mrs. Karen Larrimer, Capt. Charles Rowley and Ms. Rhonda Wozniak. A complete biography for each of the inductees is available here.
Graduates received diplomas while Ms. Chelsea Benedict, Mrs. Noel Santini and Mrs. Karen Brecht read their names and future plans.
Congratulations to the Class of 2018!
A special thank you to Ms. Val McElvy of the Franklin Center of Beaver County for her powerful first-person portrayal of Harriet Tubman this morning. The presentation is the culmination of the 8th grade students' study on Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
Along with Mrs. Parisi the Economy Elementary Physical Education Teacher and Bradley Cavanagh the Youth Market Director for the American Heart Association are the following students from Economy Elementary School who collected $50.00 to $99.00 for the American Heart Association, when they participated in the Jump Rope for Heart/Hoops for Heart Fund Raiser in their gym class. We are proud to announce that we raised $ 4,773.00 for the American Heart Association. In doing so, we also received $200.00 in much needed physical education equipment.
TY HARTMAN, KELSEY KROKONKO, LILY LAUFFER, HENRY BUGLAK, HAYDEN SHUPE, ALYSSA WALKER, RULON ANDREWS, CHRISTOPHER WITHROW, KYLIE O’LARE, AJ MANGANELLO, JACOB TURKO, MAKAYLA SHUPE, LEXEE HEROLD, TRISTAN WALKER, JOSLYN DESANTIS, ZACHARY KUNY, MAX REDINGER, ABBY SMITH, HAYDEN GRANT, ELLI HARTMAN, LOGAN SZYMOUIAK, JOSHUA KUNY, KAILYN TURKO & JASON DESANTIS.
MISSING FROM THE PICTURE IS: EMILY SMITH
Along with Mrs. Parisi the State Street Elementary P.E. Teacher and Bradley Cavanagh the Youth Market Director for the American Heart Association are the following students who collected $100 or more. JAYLA KROLL, BRAYDEN LIZAK & ZACHARY BUCKA. We are proud to announce that State Street raised $827 for the American Heart Association. The top fundraiser for the school was ZACHARY BUCKA who raised $255.00.
Congratulations and a big Thank You to all that participated!