Canon-McMillan Spotlight
Students in the Canon-McMillan School District were among those receiving special
equipment from the Variety children’s charity during a presentation at Heinz Field.
Canon-Mac students beneficiaries of Variety special equipment program
Variety, a non-profit that provides adaptive bikes, strollers and communication devices to eligible individuals who have a need, has helped 29 Canon-McMillan School District students receive adaptive equipment.
The district decided to co-brand the application and help identify students who could potentially qualify and benefit from one of these pieces of equipment. Teachers and service providers have been essential in the process of helping to identify students who may qualify and need the equipment and by contacting the families to inform them about this opportunity for their child.
Of the 29 students, 23 received adaptive bikes, four received strollers and four received communication devices. Students can qualify and receive up to all three pieces of equipment at no cost to the family.
“We’re hoping to add to this list this year and reach even more students and families,” says Becky Lieb, director of special education at Canon-McMillan. “We already have two more that are in the process of being fitted for their adaptive bikes, which will be presented in the fall.”
A presentation was made July 19 at Heinz Field: Variety’s “Super Summer Bike Giveaway.”
Five Canon-McMillan students received adaptive bikes and a communication device during the presentation. The students rode onto the field through the Steelers’ locker room at field level and were shown on the stadium’s Jumbotron. A photographer was present taking pictures and Terrible Towels were presented to everyone, in an effort to cheer on the student.
Variety offers three programs: My Bike, My Stroller and My Voice. The My Bike program offers a Rifton adaptive bicycle that is individually customized. The My Stroller program provides a Kid Kart Mighty Life captive stroller and the My Voice provides a communication device to provide children a voice at all times.
Canon-McMillan High School has received national recognition for excellence in global education from EF High School Exchange Year.
The EF High School Exchange Year Global Education Excellence Award is presented annually to high schools that demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to international understanding and global awareness.
In this area, Canon-McMillan High School and California Area High School were two of a select group of high schools and districts recognized across the United States for the 2017-18 school year.
“Canon-McMillan has shown an outstanding commitment to offering a global education,” says Bob Fredette, president of EF High School Exchange Year. “By welcoming exchange students into the classrooms, they have created new and unique learning opportunities for not just the exchange students, but for the American students and faculty as well.”
“My experience at Canon-McMillan has been amazing,” says EF student Hannah Bugge from Norway. “One of the things I appreciate most about my experience here is that my teachers were interested about my culture and sharing it with the other classes! All of my teachers loved hearing about the differences! I will never forget my time here and I know I will always be welcome to my second school and home.”
Local exchange coordinator Karen Pessolano adds, “We thank Canon-McMillan for welcoming this year’s students from around the globe. The community and visiting students shared an unforgettable experience thanks to the generosity of Canon-McMillan administration, teachers, students and families.”
Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., EF High School Exchange Year has been committed to promoting international understanding and global awareness for more than 30 years. The organization brings more students to the United States each year than any other high school exchange program. Since 1979, EF High School Exchange Year has matched more than 100,000 students from around the world with host families across the United States.
To learn more about getting involved with high school exchange in this community, contact Pessolano at 412-889-5188. You may also call the EF High School Exchange Year main office at 1-800-447-4273 or visit www.efexchangeyear.org.
Scholarship recipient Samantha Sonnett, pictured with scholarship committee members.
Quilt Club scholarship
Samantha Sonnet, a 2018 Canon-McMillan high School graduate, was honored with a scholarship from the Mon Valley Quilt Club earlier this year. Pictured with Miss Sonnet, from left, are scholarship committee members Getta Zanardelli, Donna Schmid (co-chair), Miss Sonnet, Terri Wilson (president), Martha Gandley and Janet Hamer (co-chair). Miss Sonnet will attend Washington and Jefferson College and is majoring in Art Education.
SADD program re-established at Canon-McMillan High School
Canon-McMillan High School has re-established its SADD chapter, and is inviting students to join.
The re-launch, in large part, was spearheaded by a representative of the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission.
The new club, which currently has more than 20 active members, was part of a SADD STRONG National Chapter Campaign during Alcohol Awareness Month in April to promote the initiative: “Is It Worth the Risk?”
The program included presentations from a member of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as an individual in recovery. The speakers answered individual questions after formal presentations.
In May, the group helped raise awareness of an alarming statistic that shows traffic accidents as the number-one cause of death for teenagers. The 100 days following Memorial Day are the most dangerous of the year, according to data.
Those interested in joining should contact Ms. Susan Henderson, Canon-McMillan High School teacher and club sponsor.