Penning a Note to the Underclassmen Haley Beardsley, USCHS Class of 2020
As a new USCHS alumna and member of the Class of 2020, I would like to pass on my top six bits of advice to the high school’s underclassmen. 1. Soak it in. I rolled my eyes every time someone told me “Those four years fly by fast,” or “High school is the time of your life.” Granted, I had a rewarding, decent high school experience, but please do not roll your eyes. As COVID-19 stripped the remaining three months of my senior year, all I wanted was more. I missed the laughs, small waves in the hall, the incredible teachers, and even being asked to quiet down in the school’s resource center. 2. Get involved. I can’t imagine my high school experience without being involved in the school’s clubs and activities. I remember being completely overwhelmed at freshman rush, but I promised myself to sign up for at least one club (it ended up being Girls United Globally). However, that one club led to endless involvement, which further allowed me to find my place in the high school. I have to shout out to the Speech and Debate team because I did not think I would “fit in,” but it ended up being a highlight of my high school experience. Also, the softball team needs some love because I have never laughed more, and “#playoffs #firsttimein20years.” 3. Meet as many people as you can and remember their names. Not only will more doors open with the more people you meet and connections you make, but you will come to know and understand more of the extraordinary people that fill the school. Everyone has a story—teachers, administrators, staff—and becoming closer with them will make your experience much richer. By simply remembering a name, you will have someone to wave to in the halls or share your story with.
4. There are countless opportunities provided to all young adults at the high school and in our community, but you have to want them. Nothing will be given to you. You will have to work for it. The high school can nurture a competitive nature, but do it for yourself, not for the college application or for the grade. I know that it’s easy to say, but if you think more about what you’re doing rather than the outcome, I promise that you will be more pleased. 5. Your teachers want you to succeed. When the course load gets tough and the grading becomes harsh, you will lose sight that your teachers are people, too. They became teachers because they want to help their students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. USC teachers are passionate about what they teach and they want to inspire the same passion. While they may not seem passionate on an everyday basis, give them some slack; they repeat the same lessons, the same chapters, and the same units day after day. 6. Be proud of yourself in all aspects. I remember the pressure that you now feel. I felt it every day as I wanted nothing more than my college application to be pristine. Know that you will accomplish many things. Be proud that you got up every morning and went to school. Be proud of the grade you got on that math test. Everything will sort itself out, and scheduled plans will change. In the end, be proud and always be humble. My time at USCHS was a period of growth, change, and introspection, and I am now proud to say that I have graduated. Eventually, you will say the same. But, do not let a single moment slip away on the road to getting there. It all passes faster than you may think. n
Fun Facts Surrounding Our Schools The Historical Society of Upper St. Clair preserved a 1989 presentation by John Small about the rapid growth of the Upper St. Clair School District. Here are some takeaways from his talk. • When Fort Couch School opened in September 1951, it served grades K–9 for the entire USC Township, 647 students in total. Students in grades ten through 12 attended high school in either Bridgeville or Mt. Lebanon. • In 1957, the District agreed to build a new elementary school. Initial plans included building immediately behind Fort Couch School and constructing the new school out of stainless steel. These plans were rejected. The new elementary school, originally named Seegar Elementary, opened as Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School in 1959. • When the Carl R. Streams Elementary School opened in 1966, it was unique due to the fact that it was an all-electric, totally carpeted school building. • Upper St. Clair almost had two high schools. In the mid to late 1960s, there were discussions of building a second high school after the first high school was built in the early ’60s. The idea was eventually voted down due to the cost of duplicating a gym, science lab, auditorium, cafeteria, and other school facilities. • When Boyce Middle School and Albert E. Baker Elementary School opened in 1969, the School District shifted to all bus transportation. Previously, students who lived less than two miles away from their school building were expected to walk. A state safety representative deemed the lack of sidewalks in USC Township as too hazardous for walking to continue. n 50
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Fall 2020
courtesy of the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair
Upper St. Clair High School band in 1963, under the direction of Angelo Ruzzini
For additional historic Upper St. Clair School District information and photos, check out Upper St. Clair Historical Society’s Facebook page.