West Mifflin
EDUCATION
McKeesport Area High School to implement policy to restrict cell phone usage in schools
MCKEESPORT (KDKA) - The new principal at McKeesport Area High School is making changes when it comes to the school's policy and cell phones. Principal Eric Harper is telling parents and guardians that students will no longer be allowed to use their phones in school. The school will give the students a pouch to keep their phones in during the school day. In a letter to families, they announced the policy saying it would be through a program called Yondr. That program has been implemented in more than 2,000 districts and it provides each student with a secure pouch that will stay closed during school and open at the end of the day. Students are responsible for the pouch at all times. This comes just a couple of months after Pennsylvania state lawmakers introduced a bill that would restrict the use of cell phones in school. State Senator Ryan Aument is drafting the bill. It seeks to create a grant program for phone lockers or pouches.Schools would be able to sign up if they decide to go cell phone-free during school hours."Should they enact these policies, I believe we will see an improvement in student academic performance, physical health, and mental health," Aument said.
Democratic candidates criticize school choice amid budget stalemate
(The Center Square) — To fix education funding, Democrats want to see the state government take on a bigger proportion of school funding. “The state budget is now almost a week late. We expect some critical decisions will be made over this weekend that we hope complete the budget,” said Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, during an online press conference with two Democratic state senate candidates. “The most critical decision will be about how we fund our schools.” ...
Chatham University to Close Its One-Of-A-Kind Residence Hall
This is how marketing officials at Chatham University described the student dormitory at Eden Hall, the university’s fully sustainable campus in Richland. “It’s unlike any other residence hall in the region, maybe the world. When students arrive at Orchard Hall every August, the rolling hills and lush woodlands envelop it in a green calm. In fall, the warm colors of autumn beckon them to explore the apple orchard and smell the dry leaves in the cool air. When the trees are mostly bare in the winter, it’s sometimes possible to look through the branches and see the skyline of the city kissing the horizon. The blossoms of spring inspire daydreams of the future.”
Penn-Trafford baseball receives Shining stars recognition
While the Penn-Trafford baseball team has been a strong program for more than a decade, the Warriors could never get over the hump in the WPIAL playoffs. That changed this spring, however, as PT captured gold for the first time in program history. The Warriors opened the season in March...
Penn & Slavery Project receives new funding, looks to expand outreach
After the Penn & Slavery Project’s annual research presentations this past May, members of the project are looking forward to the 2024-25 academic year and opportunities to expand the project’s reach, which was recently supported anew by funding granted by Provost John Jackson Jr.’s office. First formed...
Sabers Cheer Camp held at Divine Mercy Academy
Sabers Cheer Camp was held June 24 to 27 at Divine Mercy Academy’s gymnasium, 245 Azalea Drive in Monroeville. All It was open to students going into kindergarten through eighth grade from any local school. According to PTG Fundraising Chairperson Tina Cuda, camp consisted of 37 cheerleaders this year from Divine Mercy Academy, Gateway, Plum and Springdale school districts. There was also one student from the Washington, D.C., area who was visiting her grandparents in the Pittsburgh area. Cheer camp provides an opportunity for participants to see what cheerleading is about, gain team-building skills or to simply find way to stay active. A showcase was held for family and friends at the end of the week.
Admission Director Q&A: J.R. McGrath of Carnegie Mellon Tepper
For this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back J.R. McGrath, Executive Director of Masters Admissions at the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business. J.R. has been at Tepper for the past 3.5 years and accepted the role of Executive Director in October 2022. He has previously...
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