18 minute read
Pinebridge Commons
All-season fun is possible—yes, even in Pittsburgh.
Geoff and Christine McQueen, McQueen Building Co.
Our family spends a lot of time outdoors in the spring and summer. But our favorite season for outdoor living is actually the fall. There’s nothing like gathering around a crackling fire with friends and family on a cool fall night, especially when you have an outdoor living space designed for maximum fun and comfort.
Even with Pittsburgh’s sometimes challenging climate, it’s possible to create an outdoor space that your family can enjoy nearly year-round. And many families are doing just that. Locally and nationally, creating an “outdoor living room” is a wise investment and a major trend.
“Patios, decks, and other outdoor areas are increasingly being treated as well-defined rooms that serve as bonus living areas,” according to a recent Better Homes & Gardens trend report. The folks at BobVila.com are seeing the same thing: “More and more people,” they wrote in an article earlier this year, “are finding creative ways to maximize usable outdoor spaces and entertain themselves at home.”
So how to do you make the most of your space and your budget to create a true “outdoor living room”? • Warmth and firelight. One of our favorite design choices is an outdoor fireplace, especially one made of natural materials like stone. It becomes a focal point of your outdoor space and will warm you on chilly nights. A firepit is another great option, and the options are endless. They can range anywhere from dramatic, built-in structures to tiny tabletop fire boxes that run on gel. There are also so many styles and sizes of outdoor space heaters available.
So, one key is choosing sources of fire and warmth to get exactly the mix of warmth and light you’re seeking. • Truly comfortable furniture. Our goal in designing outdoors is to create spaces you and your guests will want to spend hours lounging, laughing, and enjoying each other. Another key is investing in well-made furniture upholstered in outdoor fabrics like
Sunbrella that are soft to the touch. It’s great to choose pieces that look great, but it’s also key to make sure they’re comfortable. Look for an outdoor dining table with chairs where you really want to linger and lounge seating with deep cushions. • Beautiful, durable area rugs. You’ll keep things super-cozy through the fall and also convey a stylish “indoor” vibe if you add outdoor rugs. These are also great for defining your dining area and lounging area as separate spaces. (Bonus: If you have a pergola or roofline, consider adding some sheer
outdoor curtains. They’re a great way to include a pop of color or pattern, and they can keep your space drier on breezy, rainy days.) • Strategic electronics. Outdoor-safe televisions and sound systems have come down in price and they can be a game-changer for creating an outdoor space that feels like another room in your home.
• An elevated space for cooking and
refreshments. A full outdoor kitchen can easily become your favorite “room” in the house. But even if you’re not ready for that level of investment right now, it can be great to add just a few items for cooking and convenience— maybe an outdoor fridge for drinks, or a built-in countertop with storage underneath—to your outdoor dining and entertaining area.
Beyond the fun you’ll have using your outdoor living room, it’s a practical move: Investing in a beautifully designed and furnished deck or patio area makes your home more valuable and adds appeal for future buyers. n
To learn more about McQueen Building Company, follow us on social and visit us at mcqueenbuildingcompany.com. See their ad on page 17.
Board of School Directors
Phillip J. Elias President pelias@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023*
Barbara L. Bolas bbolas@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023* Dr. Daphna Gans Vice President dgans@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2025*
Kelly P. Hanna khanna01@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023
Louis P. Mafrice, Jr. lmafrice@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023* Michael R. Mascaro mmascaro@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2025*
Angela B. Petersen apetersen@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2023* Jennifer A. Schnore jschnore@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2025*
Dr. Danielle Z. Wetzel dwetzel@uscsd.k12.pa.us 2025*
The list of the Upper St. Clair Board of School Director 2022 meeting dates is available on the District’s website: uscsd.k12.pa.us/schoolboard. Meetings typically begin at 7 p.m. in the District administration building. To reach personnel, call 412-833-1600, and follow the automated directions.
Administrator Secretary/Email Address Extension
Dr. John Rozzo ..........................................................Sarah MacDonald ................................... 2218 Superintendent of Schools smacdonald@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Sharon Suritsky ..................................................Mary Beth Harkleroad ............................ 2214 Assistant/Deputy Superintendent mharkleroad@uscsd.k12.pa.us Amy Pfender ..............................................................Mary Beth Harkleroad ............................ 2214 Assistant Superintendent mharkleroad@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Lou Angelo .........................................................langelo@uscsd.k12.pa.us .......................... 2272 Director of Operations & Facilities Ray Berrott ................................................................rberrott@uscsd.k12.pa.us ......................... 2059 Director of Technology Sean Bryson ..............................................................sbryson@uscsd.k12.pa.us ......................... 2560 Chief of School Police Dr. Judy Bulazo ........................................................Mary Beth Harkleroad ............................ 2214 Director of Curriculum and Professional Development mharkleroad@uscsd.k12.pa.us Scott Burchill ............................................................Dawn Machi ............................................ 2220 Director of Business and Finance dmachi@uscsd.k12.pa.us Ray Carson, Jr. ..........................................................Sarah MacDonald ................................... 2218 Senior Director of Operations & Administrative Services smacdonald@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Cassandra Doggrell ....................... ....................Julie Karabinos........................................ 2116 Director of Special Education jkarabinos@uscsd.k12.pa.us Danny Holzer..............................................................Kimberly Valeriano ................................... 2260 Director of Athletics kvaleriano@uscsd.k12.pa.us Dr. Lauren Madia .......................................................Terri Lott ................................................. 2283 Director of Pupil Services tlott@uscsd.k12.pa.us Jonn Mansfield ...........................................................jmansfield@uscsd.k12.pa.us .................... 3450 Director of Transportation Tina Vojtko ....................... ........................................tvojtko@uscsd.k12.pa.us .......................... 2215 Communications Specialist Bradley Wilson .........................................................bwilson@uscsd.k12.pa.us ......................... 3318 Director of Strategic Initiatives
School District Central Office Administration
Dr. John Rozzo Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Sharon Suritsky Assistant/Deputy Superintendent
Amy Pfender Assistant Superintendent
Scott Burchill Director of Business and Finance
Ray Carson, Jr.
Senior Director of Operations & Administrative Services
Dr. Lou Angelo
Director of Operations & Facilities
Ray Berrott Director of Technology
Dr. Judy Bulazo
Director of Curriculum and Professional Development
Dr. Cassandra Doggrell
Director of Special Education
Dr. Lauren Madia Director of Pupil Services
Bradley Wilson Director of Strategic Initiatives
*Date indicates expiration of term.
Upper St. Clair School District Annual Notices
The required annual notices to parents of children who reside in the Upper St. Clair School District are available online. Visit the District website at uscsd.k12.pa.us. Click on Information and then select Compliance Notifications to view required state and federal notices and information.
School District Building Administration
Dr. Timothy Wagner
High School Principal
Dr. Daniel Beck
High School Assistant Principal
Cara Senger
High School Assistant Principal
Erin Peterson
Fort Couch Middle School Principal
TBA
Fort Couch Assistant Principal
Dr. Daniel O’Rourke
Boyce Middle School Principal
Dr. Christine Mussomeli
Boyce Assistant Principal
Dr. Patrick McClintock-Comeaux
Baker Elementary School Principal
Mark Miller
Eisenhower Elementary School Principal/Supervisor of Elementary Education
Dr. Lindsay Klousnitzer
Streams Elementary School Principal
Students Honored at Awards Night
Upper St. Clair High School recognized and celebrated numerous students with honors, awards, and scholarships during the school’s annual Awards Night, held on May 17, 2022, in the high school theater. n
The following students were recognized:
Army ROTC: Eva Rankin Carson Scholar: Sarah Robert Ellie Levine Memorial Award:
Jacob Bernstein Global Fluency Certificate: Bridget
Boal, Lilian Leggat, Isabella Marasco,
Noelle Pirain, Eva Rankin, Julia
Roeschenthaler, Andrew Rosello,
Stephanie Spina, Shane Williams John Small Spirit of Community Award:
Eva Rankin Joseph L. Moscov Memorial Award:
Christopher Beaver, Michael Gualtieri Judge Arnoni Leadership in Action
Scholarship: Phoebe Chen Outstanding Senior Athletes: Jaclyn
Martinelli, Mateo Cepullio Paul Harris Award–USC–Bethel Park
Evening Rotary Club: Sophia Song Paul Wildenhain Memorial Scholarship:
Daniel J. Wang Perfect Attendance: Saif Ali Khan
Durrani, Alex James LeKachman Pride of the Panthers Award:
Tanner O’Grady, Eva Rankin Service Above Self USC–Bethel Park,
Breakfast Rotary: Jacob Howard Service Above Self USC–Bethel Park,
Evening Rotary Club: Anna Hess Sharon Popp Memorial Award:
Kaitlyn Campagna Sivaram & Revathi Krishnan USC
Scholarship: Isabella Marasco,
Fiona Wang Society of Women Engineers Awards:
Natalie Campagna, Sophia Song,
Sophie Chen Student of the Year Awards:
Daniel Shanholtzer, Freshman;
Reese Copenhaver, Sophomore;
Yoshna Venkataraman, Junior;
Robert J. Shontz, Senior Superintendent Academic Achievement
Award: Kaitlyn Campagna, Marley Crochier, Patrick Hynds, Alex LeKachman, Matthew Naumann, Danielle Wenk, Bria Zegarelli Teresa Fox Memorial Scholarship–Student Pursuing a Degree in Special Education: Emma Redlinger Teresa Fox Memorial Scholarship–Student Who has Overcome a Learning Challenge: Danny Martin T.J. White Scholarship: Tanner O’Grady USC Education Association Scholarship: Robert J. Shontz USCHS Counseling Humanitarian Award: Bridgit Boal, Skyler Bruno, Sarah Christensen, Felipe Mola Curi, Shivani Jajoo, Katie Kobeski, Esha Lahoti, Molly Maher, Julia Roeschenthaler, Laurel Sjoberg, Stephanie Spina William A. Pope Scholarship: Linus Friedman University Book Awards Brandeis University–Emily Barrie Chatham University, Rachel Carson Healthy Planet–Maura Joyce Harvard University–Ansh Goyal Johns Hopkins University–Carter McClintock-Comeaux Princeton University–Ashvita Saxena Rensselaer Medal–Phillip Markovitz RIT Computing Medal & Scholarship Award–Ben Wasson, Lauren Starr RIT Innovation & Creativity Award–Colin Eccher, Rebecca Lang Saint Michael’s College–Alessandra Di Piazza Tulane University–Carter Chui University of Pennsylvania–Yoshna Venkataraman University of Virginia, Jefferson–Rosemary Ramirez William & Mary Leadership Award–Jocelyn Rullo Yale University–Matthew Hrehocik
Monthly Calendar
The USC School District detailed monthly calendar is available online, providing residents with the most up-to-date information about events in our Township’s schools. To access the calendar, visit the District website at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us and click on the “Calendar” tab. In addition to viewing events for the entire District, there is an option to filter by specific school building.
Aug 24 Grades 1–12 First Day of School Aug 26 Kindergarten First Day of School Sep 5 No School – Labor Day Sep 15 Elementary Open House Elementary Early Dismissal – 12:45 p.m. Sep 22 High School Open House High School Early Dismissal – 12:35 p.m. Sep 29 Boyce Open House Boyce Early Dismissal – 1:15 p.m. Oct 6 Fort Couch Open House Fort Couch Early Dismissal – 1:15 p.m. Oct 31 No School – Teacher In-service Nov 7–8 No School – Teacher In-service Nov 23–25 No School – Thanksgiving Recess Dec 23–31 No School – Winter Recess Jan 2 No School – Winter Recess Jan 16 No School – Teacher In-service Jan 23 No School – Teacher In-service Feb 17 No School – Teacher In-service Feb 20 No School – Teacher In-service Mar 31 No School – Teacher In-service Apr 3–7 No School (Spring Recess) May 11 Elementary STAR Nights Elementary Early Dismissal – 12:45 p.m. May 18 Fort Couch Celebration of Learning Fort Couch Early Dismissal – 1:15 p.m. May 25 Boyce Celebration of Learning Boyce Early Dismissal – 1:15 p.m. May 29 No School – Memorial Day Jun 8 High School Commencement Jun 9 Last Day of School for Students – Half Day Early Dismissal Jun 12 Teacher In-service
USC eAlerts
Upper St. Clair School District regularly sends news and information via email. Weekly recap emails with the latest news, upcoming events, links to news articles, and more are sent to subscribers. Subscribe to eAlerts on the District’s website (www.uscsd.k12.pa.us) under Quick Links, shown on the left-hand side.
PBT Ranks USCSD Number One
Upper St.
Clair High School ranks among the top high schools in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. The newspaper released its list of 2022 Best High Schools on April 26, 2022. Ranked 14th in Pennsylvania, Upper St. Clair is the third highest-ranking high school in the Pittsburgh region. Nationally, Upper St. Clair ranks 557th out of nearly 18,000 public high schools in the nation.
Dr. Timothy Wagner, USCHS principal, believes this year’s designation as a Best High School is a celebration of the school community’s efforts over the past year and motivation to continue to thrive. He attributes the school’s continued success to a collective commitment to educational excellence.
U.S. News & World Report ranked 17,843 high schools nationally and 676 high schools in Pennsylvania. This is the count of public high schools that had a 12th grade enrollment of 15 or greater, or otherwise had sufficient enrollment in other high school grades during the 2019–2020 school year to be analyzed.
The methodology takes a holistic approach to evaluating schools, focusing on six factors: college readiness, reading and math proficiency, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates. College readiness measures participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.
While the six ranking indicators that determined each school’s rank were the same as those used in the three prior years, U.S. News & World Report adjusted its calculation of these measures to account for the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on schools in the 2019–2020 school year.
With most states closing schools for in-person instruction beginning in March 2020, typically just before most states conduct assessments, the U.S. Department of Education granted waivers allowing all states to forego state testing for the 2019–2020 school year.
Without 2019–2020 assessment data available, U.S. News & World Report relied on historic assessment data from the three prior ranking years while also incorporating for the first-time state science assessment data from the 2018–2019 school year to capture a broader measure of student learning. Specifically, an average of the following years and academic subjects were used: 2016–2017 math and reading assessment data; 2017–2018 math and reading assessment data; and 2018–2019 math, reading, and science assessment data.
By sharing this information, officials at U.S. News & World Report hope that parents across the country will be armed with information to help them make betterinformed decisions about their child’s education.
“At U.S. News, we believe that better education drives the future,” according to its website. “We also want to recognize high-performing schools and inspire educators and municipalities to do better.” n
Upper St. Clair School District ranks as the number one school district in Pennsylvania, according to the 2022 School Guide published by the Pittsburgh Business Times (PBT). For the third straight year, USC ranks number one among the 105 school districts in the region. “Teaching and learning through a pandemic created enormous challenges,” said Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent of schools. “We are incredibly proud of the tenacity and fortitude shown by our students and staff throughout the last two years.” This marks the first year that Upper St. Clair has reached number one in the statewide rankings, which began in 2017. “Upper St. Clair’s students were the top-scoring in the region based on this year’s Honor Roll Rank. It is the third straight year Upper St. Clair claimed the top spot on the PBT Honor Roll,” stated the PBT article. “Upper St. Clair also landed in the top five in every grade ranking, topping the rankings for eighth grade and seventh grade, and was number one on the statewide rankings.”
For each of the last five years, Upper St. Clair has ascended in the state rankings. Debuting at number 10 in 2017, the district climbed to number five in 2018, number three in 2019, and number two in 2020.
The 2022 Guide to Southwestern Pennsylvania Schools analyzes school performance data for 105 school districts throughout the seven-county region that includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. Typically, the rankings are based on PSSA and Keystone Exam scores—three years of data are used, with the current year given the most weight. Because of the pandemic, PSSA data is from 2018, 2019 and 2021. For Keystones, only results from 2018 and 2019 were included.
The Pittsburgh Business Times released its first regional school rankings in 2005. Upper St. Clair debuted at number two in the region before spending eight consecutive years, from 2006–2013, in the number one spot. From 2014–2018, Upper St. Clair ranked within the top five each year before regaining the top spot in 2019, 2020 and 2022. There was no annual ranking in 2021, as testing was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic. n
To the Class of 2022, congratulations. You’ve made it to the finish line. Look around this stadium. It is filled with a support network that are your biggest fans as you embark on your next chapter in life. I look at this group and can only imagine the great things you will do over the next 20 years to better our community, our country, and our world. Saying that you are needed now more than ever is not an overstatement.
This year, we have embraced a district-wide mantra: USC—Unity. Success. Character. Just three words, but packed with so much meaning.
Unity is working toward a common goal. There is an old proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
The Pittsburgh Business Times recently announced that Upper St. Clair is the top performing school district in Pennsylvania out of 500 districts. This is a phenomenal accomplishment. In sharing this news, I wrote these words in a letter to our families: It is truly amazing what we can accomplish when we all work together to do what is best for students.
This was possible because of genuine collaboration and unity within and beyond our schools. It is part of what makes Upper St. Clair so special. When I was interviewed and asked what the secret is in Upper St. Clair, without hesitation, I responded that there is no secret. Our recipe here is that there is a united and unwavering commitment to quality education from all of our stakeholders—families, teachers, staff, and community. But our most important stakeholders are our students. Every graduating class leaves a lasting legacy—I am confident that this class will be remembered for its unity.
Success is reaching your fullest potential. Success cannot be defined simply by a score on a standardized test.
Whether performing Seussical in our high school theater or having the opportunity to perform alongside the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall, our fine and performing arts students have found success on the stage. Winning the state championship for the third time since 2017, our speech and debate team is recognized locally and nationally, with several students earning All American Awards. In athletics, we have WPIAL team and individual champions and numerous section champions. Our baseball team had its most successful season in three decades, reaching the WPIAL finals and state quarterfinals.
This year, despite so many challenges, your class recorded the highest number of recognized students in the National Merit Scholarship and Advanced Placement Scholars programs in recent history. Nearly 60 percent of you are members of the Upper St. Clair High School National Honor Society and 65 percent of you are graduating with honors, having earned a grade point average 3.5 or above.
So, whether you enjoy art, literature, learning a trade, robotics, athletics, or student council (just to name a few), my hope is that Upper St. Clair has provided you every opportunity to discover your passion and achieve success.
Character. The last of the three may indeed be the most important. If we don’t have character, we don’t have much.
A simple, but powerful definition of character is doing the right thing, even when nobody’s watching.
I am proud to share just some of the ways that the class of 2022 leads the way in modeling character. From fundraising to support families in Ukraine to hosting the school’s first polar plunge to benefit Children Hospital, our students have raised thousands of dollars to make a difference in the lives of others. Our Kids Helping Kids Club, Environmental Club, and our Advanced Placement/IB environmental science students sold and planted more than 250 trees throughout our community.
Every year dozens of students commit to helping their peers through the school’s Natural Helpers and Student Mentor programs. Our student clubs—as well as our girls soccer team have worked tirelessly to raise awareness for mental health issues. Their efforts are more important today than ever before.
This past fall, for the first time ever, Upper St. Clair High School was selected as a WPIAL Sportsmanship Award winner. This is awarded to schools based on how their student athletes treat others—on and off the field. It clearly says volumes about who you are.
Unity. Success. Character. USC. While these words are emblazoned throughout Upper St. Clair, they are personified by the actions of the Class of 2022. While your next adventure may take you far from Upper St. Clair, my hope is that unity, success, and character stay with you always.
In closing, please do not underestimate what you have accomplished individually and collectively over the past four years. Despite enormous challenges of attending high school during a global pandemic, you have continued to exceed all of our expectations. You have arguably overcome more overall challenges than any group of high school students before you. Through it all, you persevered and gather here tonight as the Upper St. Clair High School Graduating Class of 2022. Our High School has three Halls of Fame: Athletics, Arts, and Academics. I suspect we will be inducting many of you into those halls in the years to come.
Class of 2022, although your time as USC students is almost over, you can be proud of the mark you left on this District for future generations. Always remember the good times you had with each other. Regardless of where your paths take you, know that you will forever be a part of dear old Upper St. Clair. n
Dr. John Rozzo
USCHS Class of 2022 Academic Achievers
Congratulations to the Class of 2022 valedictorians: William Bacdayan, Bridget Boal, Phoebe Chen, Sophie Chen, Alyana Childs, Shivani Jajoo, Maggie Lowden, Eden Ma, Molly Maher, Luka Misic, Kaelyn Moran, Ethan Neal, Dev Patel, Victoria Pete, Serena Ploeger, Julia Roeschenthaler, Sujay Shah, Nikhil Shetty, Madeleine Wetzel and Andrew White; and IB Diploma candidates: Evan Barker, Kaitlyn Campagna, Rachel Fibbi, Shivani Jajoo, Sarina Krishnaswamy, Maggie Lowden, Saundra Munsick, Rhea Punjabi, Eva Rankin, Sambhav Saggi, and Vidhur Senthil.
