Studentspotlight
I f you have to have a war, why not have
one that helps people? St. Bernard stu-
dents held a “Penny War” this spring
to see which homeroom could raise
the most money to buy household items
for a Nepalese refugee family brought to
Pittsburgh by Catholic Charities.

Optimistically, the students and teach-
ers were hoping to bring in maybe $1,000
over the course of the six-week cam-
paign. When the pennies (and the occa-
T sional nickel or dime) were counted,
the tally came to $2,799, As a result,
the students were able to buy the fam-
ily enough stuff for a good start here--
sheets, towels, dishes, a vacuum cleaner
and more--and had enough left over to
make donations to the St. Winifred’s Food
Pantry and the Chimbote Mission in Peru.

Pictured above from left are fourth graders
Ellie Grefenstette, Taylor Ransford, Hannah
Schoemer, Katie Freedy, Andrew Jesserer.

hree Mt. Lebanon students will represent Pennsylvania this month at
the national level of the PTA-sponsored Reflections program, an art
competition in which students submit entries in one of six fine arts areas
and then compete at the district, region, state and national levels. This
year’s theme was Beauty is… In the primary division is Natasha Curimbaba, Foster
School, for an original music score. In the middle/junior division is Mira Shenouda,
Jefferson Middle School, with an original musical composition for piano titled
Beauty is Simplicity. In the senior division is Mt. Lebanon High School senior Elena
LaQuatra, who choreographed an original dance number titled Beauty is Peace to
John Lennon’s song Imagine.

For 40 years, the national PTA Reflections Program has encouraged students
across the nation to explore their artistic talents by creating works of art in the areas
725 Washington Road
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15228
412-561-2500 www.mtlebanonfloral.net
54 mtl • may 2010
of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photogra-
phy and the visual arts. More than 500,000 students participate through their local
PTAs annually.




Cohen spent a day in Harrisburg shadowing state
Rep. Matt Smith as part of the Women and Girl’s
Foundation’s Girl Gov program. The one-day
program gives young women, grades 8 through
12 living in Allegheny County, the opportunity
to shadow a state legislator. The day provides the
participants with a behind-the-scenes look into
state government. Cohen followed Smith’s daily
schedule, including attending a meeting with fel-
low legislators, attending a committee hearing, and
viewing the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
session from the house floor.

Linda Minnotte
M t. Lebanon High School sophomore Michal
The Mt. Lebanon Percussion Ensemble Concerts will be Thursday, May 27 through Saturday, May
29, in the Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theatre. Thursday and Friday evening concerts
begin at 7:30 p . m . with a Children’s Concert at 2 p . m . on Saturday and the final concert at 7 p . m .

on Saturday. A wide variety of ensembles perform including the African Ensemble, shown above.

The eighth-grade ensemble will perform on Thursday evening while the elementary and middle school
ensembles will play on Saturday afternoon. Tickets for the evening performances are $10 for adults
and $7 for students. All tickets for the Children’s Concert are $5. For ticket information, or if you
would like to purchase a percussion ensemble CD, call 412-276-2741.

www.mtlebanon.org 55