Dec 11, 2018 8 min read

C-M’s Pan and Percussion Ensemble performs in Hershey

The Canon-McMillan Pan and Percussion Ensemble performed at the Pennsylvania School Board Association Conference on Oct. 18 at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa. The high-energy group, which meets daily for 40 minutes, received a standing ovation from administrators and school board members from across the state for their performance.

“It was amazing to see our hard work be appreciated by our school board and many of the other esteemed guests,” said Sarah Grebeck, a junior class member of the group. “We were all very grateful to spend a day with our closest friends, having tons of fun, eating chocolate and sharing our love for music.”

The group, which was led by Eric Schrader, Canon-McMillan’s assistant high school and middle school band director, focuses on soca, calypso, rock/pop, classical and Latin music styles. Featured soloists for the ensemble included Emma Borsh, Grebeck, Tanner Neish-McMurdy and David Nottingham.

“The group is thankful for the opportunity to perform at the conference as well as the support it receives from the school board, administration, and band boosters,” Schrader said. “Without (that) continued dedication to the arts, ensembles like the Pan and Percussion Ensemble would not have a chance to flourish and make the Canon-McMillan community proud.”

New studio concept helps C-M students expand knowledge

Students at Canonsburg Middle School are prospering from an Innovation Studios concept initiated three years ago designed to highlight the unique learning experiences that all seventh and eighth graders receive in their related arts rotation block.

Innovation Studios was started in the 2015-16 school year to serve as an overarching designation (branding) of the programming already in place at the school. Class names were changed at that time to more clearly reflect the content being covered.

According to those who teach the classes, the content was not added to create Innovation Studios. The concept (as a brand) was created to house the content that existed.

“One of the key concepts of a true middle school philosophy (vs. a traditional junior high school) is the idea that all students should have access to explore a wide variety of subject areas,” said Dr. Greg Taranto, principal of Canonsburg Middle School. “All of the Innovation Studio classes are STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math)-based classes which are areas that have tremendous growth opportunities in our country. The idea is to expose them at this level with the hope they will take more classes at the high school and consider STEAM-based careers.”

The teachers involved with Innovation Studios: Eric Mychalishyn (materials fabrication and automation and robotics), Brian Herring (creative design and interactive digital design), Michael Maffei (design and analysis and digital systems and electronics), and Lauren Bizich (visual arts) said all students at Canonsburg Middle School are involved with Innovation Studios. Eight (four in seventh grade and four in eighth grade) classes are part of the program.

Various concepts occur in multiple classes and teachers routinely collaborate with each other as well as other disciplines to ensure proper and consistent use of terminology and application of course concepts.

Each class is taught in six-week intervals, with each seventh grader spending 24 weeks in Innovation Studios. This 24-week program is repeated again in eighth grade, allowing 48 total weeks of Innovation Studios between both grades. All students are part of Innovation Studios, which are not elective courses. Each student sees all content.

“We have had a very strong technology education program for 15 years now, so it was a natural progression to create this Innovation Studio concept which really communicates to the students and community the expectations of these courses,” Dr. Taranto said.

Taranto said the program continues to evolve and prosper. “As our society’s technology and needs change, we adjust the curriculum to meet those needs,” he said. “The teachers are constantly adjusting lessons to create innovative learning experiences. These teachers are life-long learners, which keeps them on top of the needs of the students.”

Through this collaboration, students are presented with the many natural connections that exist between these areas and are shown the many possible career options that may develop out of them. Innovation Studios represents cross-curricular coursework at its finest and the District “knows” it sets the standard for excellence in middle level education.

The school has been recognized on a state and national level for this concept through its Pennsylvania and National Schools to Watch designation.

“Collaboration between the areas of art, technology and engineering create a learning environment for students that is unmatched at any surrounding middle school, according to those who teach in the program,” the school said.

A total of eight distinct courses comprise Innovation Studios at Canonsburg Middle School. As students transition from one course to the next, they experience consistent terminology, common software and mutual respect for the varying content areas and the many connections that exist between them.

Course descriptions can be reviewed on the Innovation Studios web page – a link can be found on the school’s website.

Those teaching the Innovation Studios model at Canonsburg Middle School said there had been a strong focus on the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math since long before “STEAM” became the buzzword of education.

“As progressive content has always been a hallmark of the school, and because cross-curricular connections are strongly supported by the middle school philosophy, Canonsburg Middle School has also provided its students with strong experiences in the areas of art, electronics and design,” the teachers said. “The seven separate areas intersect and combine numerous times throughout the diverse curriculum at (the school). The driving force at Canonsburg Middle School has consistently been and will continue to be educating the whole child. Providing opportunities for our students to learn and grow in hands-on, developmentally appropriate environments is critical for their development of academic excellence.”

Student honored

A Canon-McMillan student was among the Challenge Program award recipients Nov. 7 at the Western Area Career and Technology Center. Ethan Fennell was recognized for the STEM program, machine shop. The awards, presented to students in 11th and 12th grade, include a $200 check and a certificate.

C-M Wellness Day has another fitting ending

This past September, Canon-McMillan School District marked its 12th CM FIT Day for its 7th grade student body.

A dozen years ago, Mrs. Sue Vulcano, the school nurse, applied and received a grant from Highmark to promote fitness and nutrition to as many public education students as possible, highlighting it as a life-long process to stay in good health.

“We as a society have to promote and encourage life-long fitness and proper nutrition to this sedentary generation,” Vulcano said. “We have to teach by being good role models. What the students see is important to us, will be important to them. We promote parents to take part in our day festivities every year.”

Vulcano said the grant was a good start. She added that the tradition continues, including support from the district’s administration and the student council, with several local businesses offering donations of a healthy snack.

CM FIT Day starts by walking to the stadium from Canonsburg Middle School. At the stadium, the National Anthem is presented and introductions and acknowledgments are given. The entire student body (415 students, plus staff) takes part in warm up aerobics, Zumba and hip hop dancing, led by Christine Parker and the staff from The Fit House in McMurray. The students then rotate through five stations. The morning ends with a team 4-by-100 meter relay race. The team with the most points for this event receives the CM FIT trophy. Four Canonsburg Middle School staff members competed with the winning team of the boys and the girls for the title.

Afternoon sessions consist of three, 20-minute stations that include blood pressure/pulse, flexibility, a vertical jump, push-ups and a shuttle run. “The students were encouraged to a least visit and participate in three of the five stations,” Vulcano said. “They had a personal best (log sheet) that was marked with their results.”

At the end of the day, the team champions are announced.

Vulcano, who is the chairwoman of CM FIT, credited community support from Shop & Save of Canonsburg, Giant Eagle and Nutrition Inc. Other CM FIT committee members are Tony Dominick, assistant chairman, Jason Cardillo, Tara Utchel, Paige Linnert, Amy Barbarino, Alex Brancazio and Jade Morgan.