By: Alyson Kelly
Community service, academic achievement, academic improvement, attendance. Four important criteria in the game of life that nevertheless get downplayed, especially in the day to day lives of today's adolescents. Luckily for current and future generations, a program dedicated to the promotion of these values has been created to improve the future of individual students as well the nation in which they live.
The Challenge Program, Inc. was founded by Johnstown native and CEO of MTS Technologies, Inc. Dan Perkins in 2003 as a way to give back to his community. The Program focuses on awarding cash amounts to students who excel in community service, academic achievement, academic improvement, or attendance; because of this incentive, high school pupils across seven counties of southwestern Pennsylvania are now even more motivated to perform well in school. Success in school by today's generation, maintains Perkins, promotes a better future for the entire country.
The Challenge Program, a nonprofit organization, was recently awarded with $51,000 by the Wal-Mart Foundation to Assist with Programs that Encourage Student Achievement to aid in providing these cash incentives to sixteen area high schools. The check was presented in a ceremony to Mr. Perkins on December 16, 2009, at Conemaugh Valley Senior High School before students, past award winners, school representatives that included students from Johnstown High School, and local officials. Conemaugh Valley High School, which graciously hosted the press release of these new funds, gave a superb band performance that preluded the formal presentation of the grant and provided those in attendance with refreshments afterwards. Noted speakers included one of the Founding Executive Directors of The Challenge Program Barbara Grandinetti, the marketing director of the area Wal-Mart's, representative of the Education Department of Pennsylvania Mitch Agurs, and the founder of the organization Dan Perkins. In addition, two Conemaugh Valley High School students who have been awarded with cash incentives by The Challenge Program in the past briefly spoke of how the money helped them to pursue service and academic goals around the world.
In addition to these Conemaugh Valley students, two students from Johnstown High School who had been awarded with cash from The Challenge Program in the previous years were present that day as well. Richard Agurs and Katie Kovalchik won money from the program for academic improvement and community service, respectively. Kovalchik, now a senior planning to attend Penn State, was given the money during her sophomore year in high school and stored it in a savings account. Says Katie, "I greatly appreciated the money that The Challenge Program gave me as an award for my hours of community service. I'm glad that Mr. Perkins is closer to his goal of making the program national by this new partnership with Wal-Mart because I feel that it really does encourage students."
Dan Perkins has plans to make The Challenge Program a national organization in the future, and the new partnership with one of the largest retailers in the world is, he feels, a huge step towards making that dream a reality. After accepting the over-sized check made out to The Challenge Program for the amount of $51,000, Mr. Perkins made an acceptance speech that described his dedication to the development of today's youth. Speaking directly to the high school students in attendance that day, Perkins said, "I will be watching you."
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
JMS Teacher Honored
A Middle School teacher, Carrie Andraychak, is Pennsylvania’s Middle School Advisor of the Year. The award is one of the highest honors a student council advisor can receive. “Ms. A,” as she is known by her students, is an art teacher as well as a student council advisor. She first was honored as District 6 Middle School advisor of the year and then was named as the state advisor of the year at the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils conference in Philadelphia.“Ms. A” has been an advisor at Johnstown Middle School for more than 10 years. ‘She has volunteered countless hours to the JMS student council and her work has benefited many charities and other organizations in the entire community as well as in the school,” Darren Buchko, Middle School principal, said. Student Council member and JMS 8th Grader Ethan Hasselbauer is grateful for the dedication that Mrs. A shows to the organization and to the student members. “Mrs. Andraychak is a great role model, and she teaches us the importance of giving back to the community,” Stated Hasselbauer.
GJSD Board Recognized
The Pennsylvania School Board Association is recognizing Greater Johnstown School Board directors for “donating time and talents for the betterment of public education” in the community.
The awards were a highlight of School Director Recognition Month in January. Those honored and their years of volunteer service as of the date of the end of their current term are: Raymond Arcurio, 19 years; Vincent Arcurio, 8 years; John Berzinsky, 12 years; Thomas Dadey, 4 years; Edward J. Mikesic, 12 years; Kimberly Murray, 8 years; Eugene Pentz, 8 years; Daniel Tomak, 4 years, and Richard Unger, 12 years.
Board President Richard Unger stated that he and his fellow directors were honored when Superintendent Dr. Barbara Parkins presented each of the members with a plaque at the January Board Meeting. “I am truly proud of the work that we have accomplished together. Our schools continue to make strides toward academic excellence, and we have been able to accomplish many great things without burdening property owners with a tax increase,” stated Unger.
The awards were a highlight of School Director Recognition Month in January. Those honored and their years of volunteer service as of the date of the end of their current term are: Raymond Arcurio, 19 years; Vincent Arcurio, 8 years; John Berzinsky, 12 years; Thomas Dadey, 4 years; Edward J. Mikesic, 12 years; Kimberly Murray, 8 years; Eugene Pentz, 8 years; Daniel Tomak, 4 years, and Richard Unger, 12 years.
Board President Richard Unger stated that he and his fellow directors were honored when Superintendent Dr. Barbara Parkins presented each of the members with a plaque at the January Board Meeting. “I am truly proud of the work that we have accomplished together. Our schools continue to make strides toward academic excellence, and we have been able to accomplish many great things without burdening property owners with a tax increase,” stated Unger.
GJSD Teachers Make A Difference!
On Tuesday, January 12th, the JHS Varsity Basketball team and Head Coach Neil Cobaugh took time out to recognize all the teachers who make a profound impact in the lives of our students by having an “Educator Night”. All seniors on the team wrote a personal letter to the teacher(s) who have made a difference in their lives and invited them to attend the game. Prior to the start of the game, these teachers and student athletes were recognized at mid –court. This night was hailed as a huge success by Coach Cobaugh. The teachers wore black to be part of the “Black Out” fan section that cheers on the blue and black of Johnstown High. In order to support the event, JHS Art teacher Mrs. Trish Patula and her students created a banner for the teacher section.
Coach Cobaugh was delighted at the turnout of school district employees. “I want to express my sincere appreciation for the turnout. When I walked into the locker room to talk to the team after our win, all I heard were players talking about what teacher, what administrator or what school employee or official they saw at the game. I wish I could show you how important it was and what it meant to the players.” “As a former player myself, I know what it meant to me to have some of the teachers show up and tell me how proud they were of our team effort. When a teacher makes that connection to a student, the student will see that teacher as a special person. GJSD teachers are excellent teachers and special people who care about our students!”
Educator Night will be carried over to all athletic teams. The next night will be held on February 3rd, 2010, as the Lady Trojans take on Bishop McCort.
Coach Cobaugh was delighted at the turnout of school district employees. “I want to express my sincere appreciation for the turnout. When I walked into the locker room to talk to the team after our win, all I heard were players talking about what teacher, what administrator or what school employee or official they saw at the game. I wish I could show you how important it was and what it meant to the players.” “As a former player myself, I know what it meant to me to have some of the teachers show up and tell me how proud they were of our team effort. When a teacher makes that connection to a student, the student will see that teacher as a special person. GJSD teachers are excellent teachers and special people who care about our students!”
Educator Night will be carried over to all athletic teams. The next night will be held on February 3rd, 2010, as the Lady Trojans take on Bishop McCort.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
GJHS Student Chosen as Winning Author
A student from Greater Johnstown High School has been selected as the winner of a writing contest for the Tribune Democrat. Junior Breanna Rock submitted the fourth chapter to the Tribune Democrat’s “Your Story” contest last week and it was chosen for publication. Breanna is a student in Brieana Day’s Journalism class and completed the chapter as a class assignment. She is involved in cheerleading, track and participates in the school’s musical.
“Your Story” is a bi-weekly contest that encourages readers to become writers by composing the next four chapters in installments. Each chapter continues from where the previous one ends. The first chapter was written by an editor from the Tribune Democrat, the second by an author, and the third by a local doctor. The story is about a former Johnstown woman who returns 10 years later to begin her new life. The chapters are to incorporate a holiday theme and have Johnstown as the setting. All of the chapters can be found on the Tribune Democrat’s website. Breanna was one of many who entered a chapter for the story, which was published on December 13th. She and the entire journalism class are currently writing the fifth chapter, individually, which will be submitted in hopes of having another winning entry.
To read Bre's story, click on the link below:
GJHS Among America’s Best High Schools
By: Alyson Kelly
The last few years at JHS have consisted of success after success. Greater Johnstown High School has been recognized as one of the top learning institutions in the state of Pennsylvania, and has won for the second consecutive year a bronze medal in America's Best High Schools Project.
America's Best High Schools Project, is sponsored by Standard and Poor's School Evaluation Services, a data research business. To fairly assess the schools across the nation, Standard and Poor's chose to bypass the traditional method for the ranking, the Challenge Index, in favor of the newly designed Top-Performing High Schools Method. The Challenge Index is valued for its simplicity, but these researchers felt that it focused too much on the number of Advanced Placement tests taken instead of the performance on them. The core principle of the Top-Performing High Schools Method, however, is that the school in question serves all of its students well. This is measured with three requirements: the school serves all its students well by exceeding expectations on state tests with the poverty level of the school figured in; it serves disadvantaged students by producing scores above the minimum required on state tests; and the College Readiness Index, which is measured by the participation and performance of students in AP classes.
Greater Johnstown High School earned a bronze medal in this ranking. JHS has been steadily raising its PSSA scores over the years, due to data driven instruction, good teaching, and the 4Sight tests that are taken five times a year by the students, developed for the sole purpose of preparing them for the PSSAs. If a student doesn't achieve proficient in the reading and math tests then he is taken out of an elective and put into a skills development class, serving the purpose of helping students who need assistance.
Schools that received a silver or gold medal in the America's Best High Schools Project had met the first two standards of the competition and were judged on the College Readiness Index from there. The top 100 schools were awarded a gold medal and the next 504 schools received a silver. In addition to this, a few schools that would have earned a gold based on the College Readiness Index but didn't fully meet the first two requirements were given Honorable Mentions. JHS has had a successful year in athletics, and the bronze medal earned shows that the school is successful in academic achievement, as well. Regarding this high honor, Principal Michael Vuckovich says, "It's an incredible accomplishment for the Greater Johnstown School District. We have a great teaching staff, great kids, and wonderful leadership from our school board and Superintendent, Barbara Parkins--all of which are reflected by this award. I speak for the entire school when I say that we are humbled and honored by this award."
The last few years at JHS have consisted of success after success. Greater Johnstown High School has been recognized as one of the top learning institutions in the state of Pennsylvania, and has won for the second consecutive year a bronze medal in America's Best High Schools Project.
America's Best High Schools Project, is sponsored by Standard and Poor's School Evaluation Services, a data research business. To fairly assess the schools across the nation, Standard and Poor's chose to bypass the traditional method for the ranking, the Challenge Index, in favor of the newly designed Top-Performing High Schools Method. The Challenge Index is valued for its simplicity, but these researchers felt that it focused too much on the number of Advanced Placement tests taken instead of the performance on them. The core principle of the Top-Performing High Schools Method, however, is that the school in question serves all of its students well. This is measured with three requirements: the school serves all its students well by exceeding expectations on state tests with the poverty level of the school figured in; it serves disadvantaged students by producing scores above the minimum required on state tests; and the College Readiness Index, which is measured by the participation and performance of students in AP classes.
Greater Johnstown High School earned a bronze medal in this ranking. JHS has been steadily raising its PSSA scores over the years, due to data driven instruction, good teaching, and the 4Sight tests that are taken five times a year by the students, developed for the sole purpose of preparing them for the PSSAs. If a student doesn't achieve proficient in the reading and math tests then he is taken out of an elective and put into a skills development class, serving the purpose of helping students who need assistance.
Schools that received a silver or gold medal in the America's Best High Schools Project had met the first two standards of the competition and were judged on the College Readiness Index from there. The top 100 schools were awarded a gold medal and the next 504 schools received a silver. In addition to this, a few schools that would have earned a gold based on the College Readiness Index but didn't fully meet the first two requirements were given Honorable Mentions. JHS has had a successful year in athletics, and the bronze medal earned shows that the school is successful in academic achievement, as well. Regarding this high honor, Principal Michael Vuckovich says, "It's an incredible accomplishment for the Greater Johnstown School District. We have a great teaching staff, great kids, and wonderful leadership from our school board and Superintendent, Barbara Parkins--all of which are reflected by this award. I speak for the entire school when I say that we are humbled and honored by this award."
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