IN Canon-Mac Spring 2017 | Page 52

Canon-Mac Spotlight: Recognizing CM Community Members Who Go ABOVE AND BEYOND We wanted to put the spotlight on the members of the Canon-McMillan community who go above and beyond. Congratulations are in order for: The district recently recognized several members of the Canon- McMillan community for their recent achievements. They included: Canon-McMillan school directors, in recognition of January being School Director Recognition Month. They were thanked for volunteering their time and talents for the betterment of public education in our community. Canonsburg Middle School students Angelina Mitchell, Maddy Palivoda, Carrah Carson, and Grace Patterson, who took first-place at the South Hills Literature Festival. They competed against 27 other teams. This is the second year in a row that CMS took first place at this competition. The sponsor is Ms. Pam Moniodes. Abraham Micklo and Sophia Spalla, kindergarten students at Wylandville Elementary, for being honored by the Washington County Orchestra for winning their “Made in America” art contest. Both children received gift cards to Toys R Us for their wonderful work. Alexa McNeil, who receiving the KDKA Extra Effort Award for girls volleyball. Wylandville Elementary, which received a grant from the Fayette Cultural Trust in collaboration with the Rural Arts Collaborative to host a fifteen day residency with International Dance Company Attack Theatre. Dancers are collaborating with third grade teachers to integrate creative movement. Students will be exploring the question, “Who am I?” within the context of our community and world. Harvard’s Project Zero frameworks will be integrated with an emphasis on making thinking visible and exploring global thinking. The Canon-McMillan student athletes who were named as Observer-Reporter Athletes of the week: Kate Crider (girls tennis), Addie Roman (girls Soccer), Britton Beachy (Boys Basketball); Gerrit Nijenhuis (Wrestling), and R. J. Bell (boys basketball) and Brendan Furman (wrestling). Canon-Mac Administrators, Staff Support Blessings in a Backpack Effort C anon-McMillan administrators and staff members made quick work of myriad boxes overflowing with food items, sorting and packing them after school at First Street Elementary—all to support Blessings in a Backpack. The ultimate destination for the care packages? Home with students so they can have nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals over the weekend. For those who are unfamiliar with Blessings in a Backpack, the organization provides free food – items like granola, canned soup and Ramen- for the weekend to children who qualify. The program helps provide food each week for 68 families at First Street Elementary, and about 290 families district wide. First Street Elementary Principal Shannon Balch said the program, which is in its fourth year at the school, holds a special place in her heart because it was one of the first initiatives she helped implement when she first came to the district. 50 Canon-Mac Superintendent Michael Daniels, flanked by his assistant superintendent, Scott Chambers, and other administrators, were part of an assembly line that prepared the weekly packs of food. He said support for the program shows the “tremendous sense of community” in the district. “We’re all a family here,” Daniels said. “We take care of each other.” Editor’s Note: It costs about $80 to feed one child for the academic year. Donations are welcome and can be mailed to Blessings in a Backpack, P.O. Box 133, Venetia, Pa. 15367. You may request your donation be earmarked for Canon-McMillan School District.