Upper St. Clair
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monthly Digital School District Newsletter
February 27, 2012
High School Seniors Named National Merit
Scholars Finalists
The following USC High School students were
named Finalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship
Competition: Maya P. Chandrasekaran, Garret R. Cimina,
Poorwa G. Godbole, Dominic Grigore, Shane Heil, Vicky
Li, Ryan C. Miller, Daniel A. Ryave, Troy W. Schoeppner,
Adam R. Sneath, Adam R. Snyder and Vijay Viswanathan.
In late January, approximately 1,300 Semifinalists nationwide were notified by mail at their home addresses that
they qualified as Finalists. High school principals were
notified and provided with a certificate to present to each
Finalist.
Upper St. Clair’s top scorers are recognized for the 2012
National Merit Scholarship (front row, left to right) Maya
Chandrasekaran, Poorwa Godbole, Vicki Li, Dan Ryave,
and Ryan Miller; (back row, left to right) Adam Snyder,
Shane Heil, Garrett Cimina, Vijay Viswanathan, and
Dom Grigore. Absent on the day of the photo shoot were
Troy Schoeppner and Adam Sneath.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a
not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to
conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds
and by approximately 440 business organizations and
higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of
honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence. All winners of
Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar® designees) are
chosen from the Finalist group, based on their abilities,
skills, and accomplishments – without regard to gender,
race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. A variety of
information is available for NMSC selectors to evaluate:
the Finalist’s academic record, information about the
school’s curricula and grading system, two sets of test
scores, the high school official’s written recommendation,
information about the student’s activities and leadership,
and the Finalist’s own essay.
5th and 6th Grade Students Present Beowulf
Beowulf came alive at Boyce Middle School on
Wednesday, February 15. The following 5th and 6th grade
Boyce challenge students presented four performances
of Hero Here at Heorot, complete with dragons and humor
aplenty. The “actors” were Amanda Ross, Zoe Karadis,
Jeri Stoller, Sheb Rosati, Liz Petley, Olivia Brauer, Ariana
Chiu, Julia Fennell, Leandra Mira, Angelo Rhad, Emma
Bisch, Caroline Nelson, Kyrie Graham, Anvi Kumar, Abbie
Wagner, Rachel Lee, Halle Hewitt, Brooke Christiansen,
Michael Daley, Nate Johnsen, Kieran Lanham, Isaac Tyger
and Misha Skriabin.
Presenting the cast and crew of Boyce’s
presentation from Beowulf
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Dr. O’Toole Receives Pennsylvania
Superintendent of the Year Award in Harrisburg
The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators
officially presented the Pennsylvania Superintendent of
the Year award to Dr. Patrick T. O’Toole, Superintendent of
Schools, at a luncheon held in his honor on January 26 in
Harrisburg. Family members, current and former colleagues,
and legislators joined Dr. O’Toole for his recognition.
Dr. O’Toole also travelled to the American Association of
School Administrators National Conference on Education in
Houston to be recognized as Pennsylvania’s Superintendent
of the Year. Joining Dr. O’Toole were his wife, Tracey, and
School Board President Rebecca Stern.

1) PA Association of School Administrators
President, Frank Galicki, (right) presenting
Dr. O’Toole with the PA Superintendent of the
Year Award

2) Pictured with Dr. O’Toole are School Board
Members (from left to right) Angela Petersen,
Barbara Bolas, and Amy Billerbeck
3) Mark Miller, Eisenhower Elementary Principal,
Sharon Suritsky, Acting Assistant to the
Superintendent, and Michael Ghilani, High
School Principal, (from left to right) joined
Dr. O’Toole at his recognition luncheon.
4) AASA President Patricia Neudecker
congratulating Dr. O’Toole for being named
Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the Year


New Supervisor of Special Education Chosen
Melissa Garvin has been chosen to assume the role
of Supervisor of Special Education effective February
27 following Dr. Suritsky’s appointment as Assistant
Superintendent. Melissa comes to the District from
Wesley Spectrum Services where she was employed
since 1995. Her most recent role at Wesley was Director
of Academics and Instruction. She has also served as
their Assistant Director and Director of Wesley Spectrum
Academy, Director of Wesley Spectrum K-3 Educational
Center, Assistant Director/Special Education Supervisor,
and Classroom Teacher/Special Education Supervisor.
Dr. Suritsky stated, “I have worked with Melissa for the
past twelve years and she possesses great leadership
team values. Upper St. Clair is fortunate to have her as
part of our administrative team.”
Barbara Bolas, Dr. Suritsky, Rebecca Stern and Dr. O’Toole
congratulate Melissa Garvin (far right) on her election as
Supervisor of Special Education.
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USC Science Students Win Recognition
The following students participated in the 78th Annual
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sciences (PJAS) Regional
Meeting at Keystone Oaks High School on Saturday, February 4,
and received the following awards:
First Place Awards were given to Eva Roy—10th grade
(Microbiology), Deepikaa Sriram—9th grade (Physics), and Vijay
Viswanathan—12th grade (Mathematics).
Second Place Awards were received by Brendan Campbell—
10th grade (Earth and Space), Grace Chen—10th grade (Biology),
and Brinda Doshi—10th grade (Behavioral Science).
Shown here are: (back row, left to right) Dr. Colin
Syme (Sponsor), Brendan Campbell, and Vijay
Viswanathan; (front row, left to right) Deepikaa
Sriram, Grace Chen, Brinda Doshi, and Eva Roy
Vijay Viswanathan was also recognized as a recipient of
the Medrad Award for Excellence in Medical Research and the
Duquesne University Department of Mathematics and Computer
Science Award.
The first place students will move on to represent Upper St. Clair School District in the state competition at
Penn State University on May 13-15. The students were sponsored by Dr. Colin Syme, High School Anatomy/
Biology Teacher.
5th and 6th Graders Participate in the Knowledge
Master Open
Students from around the world, including Boyce
Middle School, competed in the 45th Annual Knowledge
Master Open academic competition in January. The
Boyce 5th Grade Team placed first in the state of
Pennsylvania and the 6th Grade Team placed eighth!
The teams used computers to answer a variety of one
hundred challenging questions from all curriculum
areas.
The fifth grade team participants were Sam Ding,
Julia Fennell, Gabriella Ferenchik, Caroline McDonough,
Neha Patel, Isaac Tygar, and Grace Wagner.

The sixth grade team included
Taim Aizooky, Alex Brufsky, Kevin
Chen, Jack de la Parra, Sahil Doshi,
Wyatt Keating, Jacob Lantzman,
Liv McClelland, Ion Ong, Kriti Shah,
Mythri Sundar, Abigail Wagner, and
Matt White.
1) Congratulations to the first
place Fifth Grade Team
2) The Sixth Grade
Team is proud of their
accomplishment

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Middle School Students Compete in
MATHCOUNTS
MATHCOUNTS is a national enrichment and competition
program promoting middle school mathematics achievement
through grassroots involvement in every U.S. state and territory. In conjunction with the National Society of Professional
Engineers, the regional competition is held each year at
Robert Morris University. Students begin the competition with
the Sprint Round, completing thirty problems in forty minutes.
Designed to test accuracy, calculators are not allowed in this
round. Then comes the Target Round, eight problems presented in four pairs allowing six minutes per pair. These problems
are all multi-step and require advanced mathematical reasoning. The culmination of the competition is the Countdown
Round, a fast-paced oral competition for the top-ten scoring individuals. In this round, pairs of “Mathletes” compete 
against each other and the clock. The gymnasium is silent as
problems are presented on a screen and students, solving problems mentally, buzz in with their answers. Tension is
high, the pace is lightening quick and the audience is often gasping at the incredible demonstration of mental math
ability.

Boyce Middle School took two students to the competition this year—Kevin Chen and Sahil Doshi. We are proud
to announce that sixth grader Kevin Chen was one of only
ten students competing in this year’s Countdown Round.
Considering over 130 students from all over the county
competed and most were 7th and 8th graders, this is quite
an achievement. Needless to say the entire audience was
intently following as the top ten students competed toeto-toe for the top spots. Kevin and his competitor tied and
had to go to a “sudden victory” question which Kevin lost,
but later reported he had the answer and was only a fraction of a second behind in reaching for the buzzer! Yes, it
was as exciting as any athletic contest! Kevin finished the
competition as the sixth ranking individual overall, earning
congratulations from all at Boyce!
The following students represented Fort Couch on
February 4 at MATHCOUNTS. The team competitors
were Hunter Lantzman, Chris Adamo, Zach Christiansen,
and Chase Miller. Individual competitors included Ajinkya
Rai, Aditi Chattopadhyay, Geet Punjabi, and Arushi

Kewalramani. Other competitors from Fort Couch were
Christina Park and Amanda Mittelman. Our team
1) Pictured are: (back row, left to right) Ms. Yasmina Hough (Coach),
competitors also competed in the Team Round
Hunter Lantzman, Ajinkya Rai, Zach Christiansen, Geet Punjabi, and
which involved solving ten problems in thirty
Connie Gibson (Coach); (front row, left to right) Aditi Chattopadhyay,
minutes. The students worked vigorously to preArushi Kewalramani, Chris Adamo, and Chase Miller
pare and did an excellent job at the competition,
placing 6th in the team competition. Three of the
2) “On the competition floor”: Kevin Chen and Sahil Doshi
(Boyce students) and Arushi Kewalramani and Aditi Chattopadhyay
students—Hunter Lantzman, Chase Miller, and
(Fort Couch students)
Zach Christiansen—were in the top 40 scorers,
receiving a score of 33 out of 46. They showed
3) Pictured (left to right): Kevin Chen, Mrs. Kathy Hoedeman
their pride in representing Upper St. Clair School
(Math Resource teacher at Boyce), and Sahil Doshi
District.
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Shakespeare Contest Features Monologues and
Scenes from USC Students
On Tuesday, February 7, twenty-seven students
from Upper St. Clair High School and Fort Couch and
Boyce Middle Schools participated in the 18th Annual
Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest sponsored
by the Pittsburgh Public Theater on stage at the O’Reilly
Theater.
Performing monologues were Boyce students Jeri
Stoller as Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Sahil Doshi as Antony from Julius Caesar, Kevin Chen
as Jacques from As You Like It, and James Boston as
Launcelot from Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Several high school students presented monologues,
including Brenna Carse, Vanessa Murray, Sriparna Sen
(Twelfth Night), Deepikaa Sriram (As You Like It), and
Mohini Walavalkar (Merry Wives). Scenes from Twelfth
Night showcased the talents of Marissa Bowman, Anna
Rosati, and sisters Victoria and Annie Cavrich. Sarah
Meiman, Jenna Ravasio, and Mandy Seiner portrayed
a scene from Romeo and Juliet, while an excerpt from
A Midsummer Night’s Dream was enacted by Samantha
Dreyer and Dan Ryave.
Performing scenes from Boyce were Wyatt Keating
and Ariana Chiu as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth; Kyrie
Graham and Olivia Brauer as King Lear and Fool; Jeri
Stoller, Caroline Nelson, and Amanda Ross as the three
Macbeth witches; Sheb Rosati, Abbie Wagner, Angelo
Rhad, and Liz Petley as Bottom, Titania, Oberon,
and Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Brooke
Christiansen and Leandra Mira as Helena and Hermia
from A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Quinn Murray and
Isaac Tyger as Master Gobbo and Launce from Two
Gentlemen of Verona; Katy Hall, Anvi Kumar, and Jack
de la Parra as the outlaws and Valentine from Two
Lexi Feldman and Caroline McDonough
were invited back to perform
Gentlemen of Verona; Emma Bisch and Kate Groninger
as Mistresses Ford and Paige from The Merry Wives of
Windsor; and Brooklyn Pica and Claire Leonard as Puck
and Fairy from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Lexi Feldman and Caroline McDonough, performing
as Juliet and her Nurse, were invited back for the Finalists’
Showcase Monday night, February 13.
Fort Couch participants in the Shakespeare Contest
were Liam Carse, Thea Contis, Mackenzie Damon, Abby
Doohan, Oceanne Fry, Aaron Fultineer, Adrienne Godish,
Aiden Grogan, Arushi Kewalramani, Hunter Lantzman,
Meghan Matheny, Melanie McGinnis, Ben Nadler, Isabella
Oprison, Allie Ryave, Masha Savinov, Eva Schenker, CJ
Stott, Breighan Szajnecki, Hannah Tyger, Natalie Urban,
Riley Urbano, Giana Vierheller, Vicki Wang, and Claire
Zalla.
USC PTA Council
Recognizes Outstanding
Community Leaders
At the February USC PTA Council meeting, the membership recognized three outstanding community leaders with
an award and a gift made in their names to the USCSD 21st Century Schools Initiative. Those individuals honored
were Mark Miller—principal of Eisenhower/Baker Elementary Schools, Laura Goldner—secretary of Baker Elementary
School, and Sujatha Sundar—parent and PTA member. They were commended for giving their time and energy to the
students and parents of the Upper St. Clair School District.
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Take a Journey to the South Pacific …
USC Style!
Upper St. Clair High School proudly presents and invites you to
the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic South Pacific. This year’s
spring musical will be presented in the USCHS Theatre over two
consecutive weekends—Friday and Saturday nights, March 2, 3,
9 and 10, at 7:30 p.m. Additional performances include a Sunday
Matinee on March 4 at 2 p.m. and an early-bird “Family Night”
performance on Thursday, March 8, at 6:30 p.m. The latter performance will feature an opportunity to “meet-the-actors” backstage
at autograph stations.
Tickets and “good seats” are still available for South Pacific.
Manned by community volunteers affectionately called “theatre
angels,” the USCHS Box Office, which is located in the Arts’ lobby
adjacent to the HS Theatre, will be open through March 10 during
the following hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
mornings from 10:30 to Noon, and Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets will also be sold one hour
prior to the start of each show. The cost of all reserved seat admissions is $10/adult in-advance ($15 at-the-door), $5/child (age
12-under), and $5 non-Upper St. Clair senior citizen, with two
complimentary tickets available to every Upper St. Clair senior
citizen or school staff member who provides a valid ID. For more
information, please call 412-851-2060.
USCHS senior Ben Reicher who portrays “Emile
De Becque” won the musical program art work
contest with this design.
Dr. Sharon Suritsky Appointed as Assistant
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Sharon K. Suritsky has been appointed as the Assistant Superintendent
of Schools effective February 27. Dr. Suritsky has served as the District’s Acting
Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction/Supervisor of
Special Education since September 2009 and was hired as the Supervisor of
Special Education in October 1996 by former Superintendent and Assistant
Superintendent, Dr. William Pope and Dr. Catherine Luke, respectively.

Dr. O’Toole stated, “During Dr. Suritsky’s tenure with the School
District, she has created a dynamic special education department
and has been a key member of the administrative leadership team.
She has been instrumental in creating leadership development initiatives and is well respected by the administrative staff.”
“I am looking forward to my new role as Assistant Superintendent,” stated Dr. Suritsky, “after working in the special education
field that I have loved for the past 15-1/2 years.”

1) Dr. O’Toole congratulates Dr. Suritsky on her appointment as Assistant Superintendent of Schools.
2) School Board Vice President Barbara Bolas, Dr. Suritsky, School Board President Rebecca Stern and Dr. O’Toole
celebrate Dr. Suritsky’s appointment together following her appointment at the School Board meeting.
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Learning for all Generations—
Seniors Visit Streams
“Welcome to our USC Senior Citizens!” That was the
message from the students at Streams Elementary School,
as they hosted thirty-six local senior citizens for an exhilarating and informative visit. As a welcome, guests heard an
amazing performance by the fourth grade chorus, under
the direction of Jeff Leonhardt. During a luncheon served
by third graders, the seniors dined to the tunes of our
strings musicians conducted by Paula Scandrol.
surprisingly different today, and in other ways be reminiscent of our seniors’ fondest school memories. However,
the goals remain the same—preparing our students to be
caring and productive members of our community!
By fostering a strong home­­—school—parent—and
community connection, anything is possible for our children!
Next it was off to the classrooms to get a taste of what
learning looks like these days! First graders were excited to buddy read, demonstrating their fluent reading. In
second grade, students wrote letters, sharing their favorite school memories, while seniors shared some of their
treasured memories. Third graders modeled their inquiry
skills, working with seniors to identify antique artifacts from
Pittsburgh’s past. Finally, in fourth grade, students completed electric circuits, a new skill that they have mastered
in science.
Building a connection between learners, “young and
younger,” can provide so many rewards for ALL! That was
the goal of Learning for All Generations. Learning may look

1) Mason Fajerski, Mateo Cepullio, and Brady
Bartusiak share their school memory
letters with one of our visiting seniors.
2) Sofia Putorti, Madeline Tomsheck, and
Arun Vasudevan also share their school
memories with one of the seniors.

Commendations to Students and Staff!
Monthly commendations are archived online
on the USCSD home page under “Headlines and
Featured Stories.”
For your convenience, click here to view these
commendations.
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