First Day of School

First Day of School 2022

There were smiles throughout the district as students and staff headed back for a new school year. We hope that the moments captured on that day bring a smile to your face as well. n

Tina Vojtko, USCSD Communications Specialist

Meeting at World Vision office Packing boxes for World Vision Fort Couch Leadership Academy 2022

This past summer, 55 rising seventh and eighth graders at Fort Couch developed their skills at Upper St. Clair’s week-long Leadership Academy. Held in July, the Leadership Academy at Fort Couch was led by faculty facilitators Andrew Bowers, Eliza Luxbacher, Thomas Hunsberger, and Michael DaVia.

“Leadership Academy is an exploration of what leadership looks like, sounds like, and means to us—both individually and holistically, when working in teams,” said Michael. “The teacher leaders provide the structure for students to emerge in aspects of leadership in and out of our school buildings.”

An important component of the program is service-learning where students practice and model the core values of leadership that are explored throughout the week, including productivity, teamwork, reflection, commitment, openness, integrity, honesty, excellence, risk-taking, and courage.

“Through these service-learning opportunities, we hope that our students experience the core values of leadership that we emphasize throughout our leadership curriculum,” said Michael. “We want students to be exposed to communities outside of Upper St. Clair, and we want students to see that they can be active participants in creating meaningful change.”

Students had the opportunity to volunteer at World Vision, an international humanitarian aid organization, and Hello Neighbor, a local organization that supports recently resettled refugee and immigrant families.

“We want our students to become engaged in the aspect of service learning,” said Michael. “At each location, students are working in a collaborative format with the organizational staff to complete tasks such as donation organization, creation of greeting cards, and packing items for individuals in need.”

The Fort Couch Middle School Leadership Academy includes both individual and team work to develop selfknowledge and leadership skills. Students participate in team-building activities that challenge them to see how they can have an impact in the world’s community. As students matriculate from Fort Couch to the high school, they have the opportunity to participate in the USCHS Leadership Academy. n

A leadership engagement/reflection exercise Sorting items for others

#TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat FBLA National Competition Upper St. Clair High #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat School junior Mahir Parmar placed seventh #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat in the Introduction to Business Procedures #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat category at the Future Business Leaders #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat of America (FBLA) National Leadership #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Conference this summer. This marks Mahir’s second time competing #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat at FBLA’s national competition. During last year’s virtual event, he placed fifth in the #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Introduction to Business category. Mahir qualified to compete at the FBLA #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat National Leadership Conference by placing first at Pennsylvania’s state competition. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Other students who qualified for nationals included 2022 graduate George Atencio, se#TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat nior Keshav Narasimhan, and juniors Grace Atencio and Evie Sullivan. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat The Upper St. Clair High School FBLA chapter is sponsored by Pat Manion, social #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat studies teacher. FBLA is a nonprofit educational association that prepares students for #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat careers in business by helping them develop leadership abilities, and prepare for entry #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat#TheyDidWhat into, and advancement within, a business or business-related occupation. All-National Honor Choir High school se#TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat nior Edy McCurrie was recently selected #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat by competitive audition for the 2022 #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat National Association for Music Education #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat (NAfME) All-National Honor Choir. Edy per- #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat formed with top high school musicians from #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat all over the country at the NAfME 2022 National Conference in National Harbor, Md. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat To be eligible to audition for the All-National ensemble, students had to have participated #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat in their state’s 2022 All-State Choir. Edy, an alto 2, is a member of the USCHS #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Pantheon Choir, Chanteclairs, Clarion Choir and Voces Lux, under the direction of USCHS #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat choral director Lorraine Milovac. In addition to choir, Edy is a member of the Speech & #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat Debate team, National Honor Society and the varsity girls’ soccer team. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The association has supported mu#TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat sic educators at all teaching levels for more than a century. #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat #TheyDidWhat

Two Qualify for National Track & Junior Selected to Field Championships National Lacrosse Combine

High school sophomore Emily Powell Dalton Yates, a junior at the high school, and freshman Sadie Tomczyk qualified for was one of 75 athletes selected to attend the the 2022 USATF National Junior Olympic USA Lacrosse combine Aug. 1–3 in Maryland Track & Field Championships, held this past to compete for a spot on the USA Select U16 summer in Sacramento, California. Lacrosse Team. To qualify, both student-athletes medaled A midfielder, Dalton is a two-year memat the USATF Region 2 Junior Olympic Track ber of the USCHS varsity lacrosse team. He & Field Championships. Emily qualified earned All-Section honors in the 2022 season. Mahir Parmar in the long jump and Sadie qualified in the In addition, Dalton plays lacrosse for CW girls heptathlon, 100m, 400m, high jump Elite in the fall, winter, and summer. and long jump.

Rowers Earn All-Midwest Academic Athlete Awards

Two members of the high school rowing team were recently named Midwest Scholastic Rowing Association (MRSA) All-Midwest Academic Athlete Award Honorees for 2021–22. Seniors Keira Fortunato and Markella Jahn are among 52 honorees from 64 high school teams from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and western Pennsylvania. Edy McCurrie The All-Midwest Academic Athlete Award recognizes rising senior student-athletes who have performed at a high level athletically and academically. Criteria includes a grade point average of 3.5 or above, an SAT score of at least 1200 or ACT score of 27 or above, and achievement in the finals race of the MRSA Championship or participation in Scholastic Rowing Association of America nationals or world competitions. This is the 11th year since the establishment of the award, and the first-time student-athletes from Upper St. Clair High School have achieved this honor. The Upper St. Clair Rowing team is a club sport that is open to students in grades 7–12. Rowing is a three-season sport—fall, winter, and spring, and students may participate in any or all seasons. Students are transported via bus from the high school to the boathouse in Coraopolis for practice.

Emily Powell Dalton Yates Keira Fortunato Sadie Tomczyk Markella Jahn

For more information about USC Rowing, visit uscrowing.org. 68 UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Winter 2022