January 2011 ———————————————————————————————
SCHOOL NEWS
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St. Joan of Arc
South Park Elementary Center Teaches More Than Book Learning
Christmas Comes to St. Joan of Arc School
By Ken Askew A well-rounded education involves more than book learning. At the South Park Elementary Center (SPEC), students also learn about volunteering in the community Nathan Lysaght, a student at South Park and helping other people. It’s a lesson that Elementary Center, displays the 238 toys produces good citizens in the future. which were collected at his school. With that in mind, 90 of the 750 students at SPEC belong to the Kids for Kindness (K4K) club. Their projects are done throughout the school year; two of the projects in particular are described below, which were completed in December 2010. One of the K4K projects was to participate in the US Marine’s Toys for South Park families who delivered the toys were (front row, L to R): Tots Foundation annual Maxwell Craig, Kadence Lysaght, Hayden Craig, Nathan Lysaght; toy drive. After collect(middle row, L to R): Landrie Craig on the shoulders of Robert Craig, ing 238 toys, students Monica Craig, Grandma Gail, and Kelly Lysaght; (back row): Two delivered them to the US Marines helped load and unload vehicles. Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Monroeville, where 96.1 KISS-FM disc jockeys Mikey and Big Bob set up a collection station and-for a week--lived in a recreational vehicle and promoted the “Stuff-a-Bus” effort in their morning broadcast. School buses stood by, waiting to be filled with toys for delivery to a warehouse and then distributed to local children. The final tally was 7,313 toys, which amounted to 21 bus loads. The second undertaking of the K4K club was to collect items for soldiers in cooperaBicycles are lined up, ready to be loaded into tion with the Military Connections organione of the 21 buses that were filled with toys for zation. They collected Christmas gifts the US Marines Toys for Tots Foundation. DJ’s including snacks, playing cards, healthcare Big Bob and Mikey promoted the undertaking items, phone calling cards, plus hand-made on radio station 96.1 KISS-FM. Christmas cards, and put them in holiday stockings. A special package went to a local soldier from South Park, LCPL Joshua J. Miller. Other K4K events this year include donating candy and treat bags for less-fortunate children, caroling at Arden Courts in Jefferson Hills, a RideAlong with Meals on Wheels, and a Carpelz dance studio benefit to raise money for premature babies at West Penn Hospital.
Morgan Kinman, 4th grade, plays a flute solo.
The Christmas holiday is celebrated with many activities at St. Joan of Arc School. We have our Santa’s Brunch where kids get a chance to see Santa and have their picture taken. They also have a chance to have arts and crafts with Santa’s elves. At our Santa’s Workshop the kids have a chance to go shopping for their loved ones without having them present. Gifts are very low priced and there is a chance to have their gifts wrapped so that the can stay a surprise until Christmas. Lastly, we have our annual Christmas concert. The school children sing their favorite Christmas carols, some students play instruments while other recite their favorite Christmas poems. There is even a visit from Santa, his reindeer and even Frosty the snowman. There is always something going on at St. Joan of Arc School. Check us out at mysjaschool.org or call 412-833-2433.
Jennifer Carletto reads a Christmas poem.
Mrs. Claus reads to the children at Santa's brunch.
Alec Ippolito as Joseph and Maria Mooney as Mary.