Seven 7th grade St. Philip students participated in the 2013 ExploraVision Competition sponsored by Toshiba : Louis Worrall, Mike Kirsch, Logan Hipkiss, Olivia Clark, Brianna Caridi, Kasey Kaczorowski, Margaret Begg. ExploraVision encourages innovative thinking by challenging students to select a piece of today’s technology and project its use 20 years into the future. The students had to draw and describe in essay form their invention and create a Web site on paper to advertise it. Toshiba recognized all participants with a Slinky.
Third grade was excited for their field trip to the Zoo. To prepare, they put their artistic skills to work and have been creating their own t-shirts. Using the silk-screening process, third graders designed their very own custom SPS shirts!
Congratulations to St. Philip 8th graders Jack Pulford and Sara Szymanski who were awarded the prestigious Cardinal Wuerl Junior Achievement Scholarship for their participation in the Junior Achievement Program. The students had to submit a detailed application of their grades and activities in school and an essay explaining the influence that JA has had on their life in a Diocesan School. Each will receive $3,000 toward his or her tuition at a Diocesan High School.
Eight students from our school participated in the Reading Festival sponsored by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and Allegheny County Library Association. Similar to a Mock Newbery program, schools and public librarians worked together to encourage the kids of Allegheny County (in grades 4-6) to read and choose the best book of 2012 from a list of 8 books they compiled. The program culminated in a festival at the Homestead Library which included a presentation and breakout session by Adam Gidwitz, author of Through a Glass Grimmly, an opportunity to design a library of the future and record it for the Hear Me project directed by Carnegie Mellon, a Battle of the Books quiz, and a storyteller event. Highlight of the day was the announcement of the students’ favorite book Wonder. Representing St. Philip School were: Elias Ward, Aidan Wrabley, Tyler Gura, Nevan Crossey, Carmen Worrall, Matthew Mell, Audrey Wrabley, and Ella Wrabley.
St Philip 8th graders Ana Petrak along with Maggie Leone and Sara Szymanski served as May Queen and Court members respectively at the May Crowning ceremony held on May 20. The ceremony was part of the monthly GRACE Program which remembers those in the Parish and School who have asked for prayers. Dressed in their First Communion attire, the 2nd graders were part of the procession and sang a hymn. The service was presided over by Fr. Walt.
Thinking Caps students finished out the year with great performances at the Thinking Caps Olympiad. Among the 8th graders the Blue team of
Luke Rattay, Walter Bonds, Jimmy Hurley, and Jack Pulford took top honors while the Purple Team of Andalushia Reilly, Aidan Wrabley, Margaret Begg, Olivia Clark, and Logan Hipkiss placed first in the Grade 3-7 round. The student built an airplane from popsicle sticks, solved word puzzles, located countries, bodies of water, and land forms on maps, tested their powers of observation, and dealt with grocery gremlins. to earn the title of Olympiad champs.
Congratulations to the following students who were medal winners at the Diocesan Track & Field Competition: Sarah Green, Sydney Bonds, Hope Grefenstettte, and Hannah Gamrod who finished 1st in the 4x100 relay and to Sarah who took 1st Place in the Shot Put and Javelin Throw and 3rd in the Long Jump.
Congratulations also to Chuckie Rackaczky for taking 3rd in the boy's Javelin Throw.
Congratulations to 5th grader Jannesselle Umalin who represented St. Philip School at the Diocesan Spelling Bee.Jannesselle finished in 15th place out of 49 spellers represented and was the 2nd to the last 5th grader standing during the bee. This was a great achievement for a first time participant and we are proud of her!
