North Hills Faculty Gives Back
to the Community
Teacher Driven Efforts Raise Money for
Needy Families and Community Programs
The NHEA raised more
that $400 at the Community
Carnival this past Saturday to
benefit The Caring Place
and the North Hills
Foundation. This was just
one example of how NH
teachers and faculty
participate in fundraising for
the community all
Missi Marangoni and
Amy Patsilevas coordinate
the annual Lee National
Denim Day which raised
more than $2800 in faculty
donations for Breast
Cancer Research. Donna
Perry’s fundraising for the
Susan G. Komen
foundation raised another
$1200 last spring.
Bonnie Ziff and
the senior high
teachers raised $340
for the Leuke-
mia/Lymphoma Society as
part of a denim day
fundraiser last month.
The North Hills Elves Project
raised $5,165 to supply needy families in the
North Hills area with gift cards and gift boxes
for Christmas last year.
The Environmental Club, led by volunteer
coordinator Robin Stein, has been recycling
paper, batteries, pop bottles, and aluminum
cans for four years.
The Sr. High Jazz Choir, led by
teacher Harriet Valliant, has per-
formed on average 20 +
performances each year at local
community agencies including senior
centers and nursing homes.
Shannon Gruber and the McIntyre
student council raised more than
$5497 for the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society.
Joe Deible and a group of NH senior
high students have raised more than
$30,000 for Toys for Tots, Child’s
Way, and children’s medical care by staying up
all night as part of their Tired for Tots events
and other fundraisers.
Ross Teachers and Staff donated 33 wreaths
which were placed by local veterans and
volunteers at The National Cemetery of the
Alleghenies on December 12 . Ross teachers
th
also raised over $1600 for The Sharing and
Caring Program for Disabled Veterans. This
event gives hospitalized and ailing Veterans
the opportunity to board the Gateway Clipper,
have lunch with their comrades, and be
entertained for the afternoon.
 NH
Achievements Accomplishments
North Hills exceeded ALL
Adequate Yearly Progress
benchmarks based upon the 2010
PSSA results.
As determined by No Child Left be-
hind regulations, 100% of the faculty in
the North Hills School District are
classified as Highly Qualified Instruc-
tors.
North Hills Senior High is one of 29
schools in Pennsylvania to be named
one of America’s Best High Schools by
News-week magazine.
The Junior High was one of only 38
programs nationwide to be selected as
an Apple Exemplary Program for its
best practices in creating a 21st
century learning environment.
The College Board recently
announced that a record-number 75
North Hills students earned the
designation of AP Scholar ~ including
one National AP Scholar. These
students, who earned recognition for
their exceptional achievement in the
and
college-level Advanced Placement
Program, represent an increase of 7
students or 10 percent over the past
year.
Shannon Diven, a 6th grade teacher
at West View, earned National Board
Certification– increasing the number
of board certified teachers in the
district to seven.
Kathy Duddy and Angela Honchar
were honored with the Scott E. Fol-
mer Award, which recognizes those
who give outstanding support to
special education students.
Matt Simon, a North Hills Junior High
teacher, has been named the 2010
Outstanding Middle School Art
Teacher by the Pennsylvania Art
Education Association.
Six North Hills Senior High School
seniors were recently recognized as
semifinalists in the National Merit
Scholarship Program – the school’s
highest number of semifinalists in
recent history.
Last year, North Hills received its
highest SAT scores in recent
history.
North Hills was one of 11 districts
across the state to be awarded the
21st Century Teaching and Learning
Initiatives grant, which is worth
$20,000. The funds were awarded by
the Verizon Foundation, which is
supported by Verizon Communications,
following a grant submitted by
elementary librarian Cody Ressel.