2007 One Book, One Community (Creates a community of readers)
My grant was used to purchase 120 copies of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. These books were used for West Allegheny’s first “One Book, One Community Project.” A ninth and eleventh grade class, plus any parent of these students were given the novel to read together. Parents and students were given discussion starters to create a dialogue during the readings. In addition to open discussions, a guest speaker and an art project were incorporated into the project. There was a great deal of positive response from students and parents.
~Kathy Denniston
High School Reading Specialist
My grant was used to purchase 120 copies of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. These books were used for West Allegheny’s first “One Book, One Community Project.” A ninth and eleventh grade class, plus any parent of these students were given the novel to read together. Parents and students were given discussion starters to create a dialogue during the readings. In addition to open discussions, a guest speaker and an art project were incorporated into the project. There was a great deal of positive response from students and parents.
~Kathy Denniston
High School Reading Specialist
Grand Teachers
Through the generosity of WEST ALLEGHENY FOUNDATION senior citizens/grandparents were invited to a make-take-away training workshop at Donaldson Elementary School. The purpose of the workshop was to learn reading related intervention games and ideas to support their grandchildren at home. With so many grandparents taking an active role in their grandchildren’s lives, our hope was to strengthen the bond between grandparent/child as well as community/school as we invited our seniors to participate in everyday learning.
~Colleen Kinevey and Karen Tracy
West Allegheny Primary Intervention Teachers
Through the generosity of WEST ALLEGHENY FOUNDATION senior citizens/grandparents were invited to a make-take-away training workshop at Donaldson Elementary School. The purpose of the workshop was to learn reading related intervention games and ideas to support their grandchildren at home. With so many grandparents taking an active role in their grandchildren’s lives, our hope was to strengthen the bond between grandparent/child as well as community/school as we invited our seniors to participate in everyday learning.
~Colleen Kinevey and Karen Tracy
West Allegheny Primary Intervention Teachers
Honors English Biography Project
Students in Honors English 10 class wrote biographies of an important person in their lives. The process included interviewing the subject and recording the conversations before developing the final draft. Along with the biography, the students included an “About the Author” section in which they described themselves and their approach to the project. The grant defrayed the expenses of hosting an evening community event (biography reception) where students honored the persons they wrote about with comments and presented them with a copy of their biography.
~Lynn Ann DeBor
High School English teacher
Students in Honors English 10 class wrote biographies of an important person in their lives. The process included interviewing the subject and recording the conversations before developing the final draft. Along with the biography, the students included an “About the Author” section in which they described themselves and their approach to the project. The grant defrayed the expenses of hosting an evening community event (biography reception) where students honored the persons they wrote about with comments and presented them with a copy of their biography.
~Lynn Ann DeBor
High School English teacher
Living History
The fifth graders studied the French & Indian War through class work and field trips to the Fort Pitt Museum and Heinz History Center. Arrangements were also made for a George Washington impersonator to visit the classroom. Plans included creating a questionnaire to survey children and adults about their knowledge of this war. The living history component consists of a quilt created with artifacts depicting the War. The class plans to donate the quilt to the Pittsburgh International Airport to share with traveler’s the rich history in this area. The grant money was spent on artifact materials, quilting supplies, and technical expertise.
~Virginia Belko
Fifth grade teacher, McKee Elementary School
The fifth graders studied the French & Indian War through class work and field trips to the Fort Pitt Museum and Heinz History Center. Arrangements were also made for a George Washington impersonator to visit the classroom. Plans included creating a questionnaire to survey children and adults about their knowledge of this war. The living history component consists of a quilt created with artifacts depicting the War. The class plans to donate the quilt to the Pittsburgh International Airport to share with traveler’s the rich history in this area. The grant money was spent on artifact materials, quilting supplies, and technical expertise.
~Virginia Belko
Fifth grade teacher, McKee Elementary School
Direct Wiring of Studio to Auditorium
In 2006, the West Allegheny Foundation gave assistance to the West Allegheny High School Video Department when creating a permanent one time project. The project was to construct a permanent connection from the Video Studio (room 150) to the High School Auditorium. This connection has been a great success. It has allowed all events in the auditorium to be produced in the studio using professional equipment. This has helped in producing and filming such events as Band Concerts, Chorus Concerts, the Fall Plays and the spring Musicals.
~Mike Shaffer
High School Videography Department
In 2006, the West Allegheny Foundation gave assistance to the West Allegheny High School Video Department when creating a permanent one time project. The project was to construct a permanent connection from the Video Studio (room 150) to the High School Auditorium. This connection has been a great success. It has allowed all events in the auditorium to be produced in the studio using professional equipment. This has helped in producing and filming such events as Band Concerts, Chorus Concerts, the Fall Plays and the spring Musicals.
~Mike Shaffer
High School Videography Department
Sixth Grade Book Buddies
This project helped implement the Pennsylvania Department of Education recommendation that students read 25 books independently during the school year by providing duplicate copies of novels in the school library. Groups of two or three students selected a novel and decided together in class how much to read each evening. To be prepared for daily class discussions, each student in the group needed to have his or her own copy of the novel available to read at home. Weekly activities included exchanging questions and letters about the story and drawing scenes from the book to discuss with the other member/s of the group.
~Kristen Martin, Gabrielle Monty, Mickey Damratoski, Coleen Belonzi, Susan Martin, and Phyllis Reuss, sixth grade teachers
West Allegheny Middle School
This project helped implement the Pennsylvania Department of Education recommendation that students read 25 books independently during the school year by providing duplicate copies of novels in the school library. Groups of two or three students selected a novel and decided together in class how much to read each evening. To be prepared for daily class discussions, each student in the group needed to have his or her own copy of the novel available to read at home. Weekly activities included exchanging questions and letters about the story and drawing scenes from the book to discuss with the other member/s of the group.
~Kristen Martin, Gabrielle Monty, Mickey Damratoski, Coleen Belonzi, Susan Martin, and Phyllis Reuss, sixth grade teachers
West Allegheny Middle School
Underground Railroad Project
For many years during Black History Month, the second grade teachers at Donaldson School have been teaching a unit about the Underground Railroad. We explore its history by reading a book entitled The Drinking Gourd by F.N. Monjo. Previously, we had ten paperback books which required 2-3 students to share each book. After use by many classes, the books were taped, stapled, and taped again to keep them together.
With the generous grant from the West Allegheny Foundation, twenty-five hard copies of The Drinking Gourd were purchased for use by the Donaldson second grade classes. These new books give students and teachers the opportunity to learn and expand on this story for many years to come.
For many years during Black History Month, the second grade teachers at Donaldson School have been teaching a unit about the Underground Railroad. We explore its history by reading a book entitled The Drinking Gourd by F.N. Monjo. Previously, we had ten paperback books which required 2-3 students to share each book. After use by many classes, the books were taped, stapled, and taped again to keep them together.
With the generous grant from the West Allegheny Foundation, twenty-five hard copies of The Drinking Gourd were purchased for use by the Donaldson second grade classes. These new books give students and teachers the opportunity to learn and expand on this story for many years to come.
The Importance of Public Service
As part of a year-long program focusing on helping others, students visited the Findlay Township Community Center in March with plans for future visits to the Oakdale Community Center and the Sycamore Creek Nursing Home. On these visits students help serve meals and provide gifts and entertainment for the members residents. The entertainment consists of historical highlights entitled “Remember When” focusing on the last fifty years of the twentieth century. Throughout the year during social studies and language arts classes, students study the work of organizations devoted to improving the lives of those in need.
~Dennis Hughes
Wilson Elementary 5th grade Teacher
As part of a year-long program focusing on helping others, students visited the Findlay Township Community Center in March with plans for future visits to the Oakdale Community Center and the Sycamore Creek Nursing Home. On these visits students help serve meals and provide gifts and entertainment for the members residents. The entertainment consists of historical highlights entitled “Remember When” focusing on the last fifty years of the twentieth century. Throughout the year during social studies and language arts classes, students study the work of organizations devoted to improving the lives of those in need.
~Dennis Hughes
Wilson Elementary 5th grade Teacher