Winter Newsletter 2019

Forest Hills

Ranger Review

Vol. XXXIX
No 2

Winter 2018-2019

~ SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE ~

I have to admit that I am somewhat of a traditionalist. As a traditionalist, during birthdays
and holidays, I routinely save the sent cards and gifts and stockpile them for careful open-
ing on the day of the special event. I admit that on my birthday, I will wake up a ‘little’ early
to open these family inspired treasures. However, part of the fun is having the discipline to
adhere to these self-imposed rules and anticipating what heart felt words will be written in
the cards as I uncover what presents my family picked out for me. The anticipation is
sometimes the greatest gift!

After being named superintendent in November, I have to admit that I felt like I was a young boy anticipat-
ing the gifts that would be carefully placed under the Christmas tree. Anticipation and excitement with this
new position definitely got the best of me. As a child, one of my siblings had the uncanny ability to sneak
to the attic and carefully unwrap each of the presents to discover what was revealed underneath the care-
fully crafted wrapping paper. The impressive part of this endeavor was how that sibling was able to re-
wrap the present without my parents knowledge. I guess now that secret is no longer a safely guarded
sibling secret! I can say that I never asked, nor did I want to know, what was in my treasure boxes. Once
again, the anticipation and discipline required to maintain the excitement and intrigue is what I valued. I
have to admit that waiting to begin the superintendency at Forest Hills was tempting my resolve to peek
into the present. I am glad that I waited because it made my start here all the more exciting!

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how excited and honored I am to be named the Superinten-
dent of Schools. I am excited to experience Ranger Pride and to be a contributor to the Ranger Tradition
of Excellence. I look forward to working with you to produce an efficient, effective, and attractive learning
community. I am excited to be a part of a winning TEAM!

There are a few things that I would like to highlight as I walk through this transition and work through the
entry plan. Two of those items include:

COMMUNICATION - I plan on using social media and other communication measures to share key dis-
trict happenings and achievements. As these communication networks are developed, access links will
be shared with you. For example, Instagram communications can be found at under the username
foresthillssd and the official Forest Hills Twitter can be accessed at @ForestHillsSD.

COMMUNITY MEMBER DISCUSSION FORM - I would like to receive public input on how the Forest Hills
School District is performing, to establish focus areas, and to identify priority goals. A link to share the
Community Member Discussion form will be placed on the Forest Hills Website in my message to the
community.

I would like to thank you for your attention to these items. I would also like to thank you for allowing me to
serve the Forest Hills community and for allowing me to become a part of the Ranger Tradition of
Excellence.

David Lehman
Superintendent of Schools

~ SCHOOL BOARD NEWS ~

The Forest Hills School Directors held their annual School Board Reorganization Meeting on December 6,
2018. The following are the current members of the School Board: (L to R) Dr. Richard Knavel, Mr. Keith
Rager, Mr. Robert Beyer, Board President Mr. Galen George, Board 2nd Vice President Mrs. Deborah
Petrunak, Board Secretary Mr. John Bopp, Board Treasurer Dr. Timothy Ondrejik, Board 1st Vice Presi-
dent Mrs. Tracy Helsel, and Mrs. Corina Long.

Say Thanks to Our School Board Members!

Public education is more than just learning basic math, science, English, and history; it’s a platform for stu-
dents to reach their potential. It inspires hope for a new generation and a successful future. This institu-
tion exists in part because individuals volunteer their time to make informed decisions about the issues fac-
ing public schools. Every January we celebrate these everyday heroes—the nine elected school board
members who serve our students and educational system.
School directors volunteer, on average, twenty hours a month to help run the schools in our community.
The school board makes difficult decisions for the betterment of our students. They vote on multi-million
dollar budgets, hire staff, select textbooks, and review bus schedules and curriculum, to name a few.
These dedicated volunteers reside in our community. They are our friends, neighbors, community leaders,
parents at our school, and engaged senior citizens.
We ask you, the school directors’ fellow community members, to show your appreciation for their service.
Please show your gratitude in some way for their time, effort, and dedication to public education’s ad-
vancement. Thank them for advocating on behalf of our collective interests and making the difficult deci-
sions. Most importantly, thank them for being everyday heroes and making our students’ success their
priority.

2

~ SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ~

Principal’s Corner ~ Mr. Curt Vasas

Hello!
It may be hard to believe, but the course scheduling process for the 2019-2020 school year will soon be
underway. Course selection is one of the most important events for a high school student. As students
begin to form ideas about future endeavors and aspirations, the classes they take in high school can
help pave the way for future success.
Many options exist for our students. Courses in core subject areas (Math, Science, Social Studies, and
Language Arts), elective areas such as the arts and technology, and vocational options are all available.
Students have the ability to earn college credit through dual enrollment courses with local universities
as well as through our Advanced Placement curriculum. AP courses exist in all core subject areas. For
the 2019-2020 school year, the High School is looking at offering new courses to challenge our students
and provide them with the content they need to be successful upon graduation.
The scheduling process will begin with our guidance counselors meeting with groups of students in the
classroom setting. Course selection sheets, along with a course description booklet, will be distributed
to each student. Students will review courses and, with the help of their parents or guardians, select
classes that meet our graduation requirements and allow them to further explore a variety of interests.
Counselors will review course selections with students individually and verification sheets will be sent
home.
Again, scheduling is a very important aspect of our students’ academic career. If you, as a parent or
guardian, have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s guidance counselor or the
High School administration. The scheduling process requires input from all parties involved so that our
students can be in the best position for future success. Thank you.

Alumni News

Katelyn Marsh, currently an Art Education major with a minor in Art History
and Psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a 2013 graduate of
Forest Hills School District, received recognition for her work through NAEA
at IUP.
Katelyn received the Pennsylvania Art Education Association Fellows
Clyde M. McGeary Scholarship presented annually to art education students
in Pennsylvania colleges and universities. Cash value of the scholarships is
determined by the income produced by the endowment and the number of
scholarships that are awarded in any given year. Katie will receive the award
at the PAEA conference in Harrisburg October 5 – 7. While attending the con-
ference, Katie will also present her project on Makerspace.
Katelyn has interest in many art forms but her concentration is in oil painting
and watercolors. She gained experience through the many workshops she
has co-taught as part of her classwork at IUP and through her work for the
National Art Education Association student Chapter at IUP.

3

High School Drama Club to present:

Come see the show The Guardian said “is like listening to your old records or your parents’ music in the car.
It’s Eurovision parties and confetti and every wedding reception dancefloor.”
This winter the Senior High Performing Arts troupe will present Mamma Mia, the hit Broadway musical. The
show ran on Broadway from 2001-2015 and the rights to perform it only became available last April, making
the senior high company the first in the area to produce it. Mamma Mia! is based off the PG-13 movie musical
of the same name.
Over 50 high school students are currently preparing for opening night. Some are practicing vocals and
dance routines, while others are constructing and painting the set. A wide array of students comprise the
musical cast this year and they are excited to present this fun show to their audiences.
Kaitlyn Russnak and Rebecca Williamson play Donna and her daughter Sophie, who is on a search for her
father so he can walk her down the aisle at her wedding. The potential fathers are played by Lucas Myers,
Simeon Rosage, and Joey Schrader. Winter Ehrhart and Makayla Miller play Donna’s friends, who show up at
the wedding to help out their old bandmate. Phillip Yuhas plays Sophie’s fiancé, Sky, and Natalya Teno and
Samantha Zatek play her best friends.
Other featured roles are portrayed by Dale Long, Matthew Rozum, Megan Russnak, Abigail Seese, Damian
Shrift, and Daniel Velasquez.
Junior Skyler Hostetler is the dance captain, and Rosalie DiPaola is the blocking stage manager.
As we finish sewing the sequins on our disco jumpsuits, we hope you join us on one of those cold winter
nights. Come out and see the disco moves and hear the songs made famous by ABBA . Shows will be per-
formed the evenings of February 14th, 15th, and 16th at 7:30 pm and on Sunday, February 17th at 5:30 pm. Tick-
ets cost $8.00 for adults/college students and $6.00 for high school student/children. Ticket information is
available on the school website or by calling 487-7613 x2303.
MAMMA MIA!
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.MTIShows.com

4

Senior High Music

Two Forest Hills students make NAfME Kaitlyn Rusnak Mandi Bearjar
All-Eastern Division Honors Ensembles All-Eastern Treble Choir All-Eastern Band
Kaitlyn Rusnak and Mandi Bearjar will be traveling to
Pittsburgh this April to perform with elite school mu-
sicians from across the states of Pennsylvania, Dela-
ware, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Is-
land, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New
Hampshire, and Maine as well as the District of Co-
lumbia. They each made PA All-State ensembles last
year and auditioned well, advancing them to the All-
East festival of the National Association for Music
Education (NAfME). Kaitlyn will be singing Alto 1 in
the All-Eastern Treble Choir, and Mandi will be play-
ing Clarinet in the All-Eastern Band. This is a prestig-
ious opportunity, since Forest Hills has not had a stu-
dent make All-East Band in fourteen years, and only
two students in Forest Hills history have previously
made All-East Choir, the most recent in 2001.

Forest Hills Junior-Senior High Hosts District Band
Forest Hills will host the PMEA District 6 Band festival from January 23-25. Schools from Blair, Cambria, Som-
erset, and Bedford Counties will be sending some of their top instrumentalists to prepare for and give an ambi-
tious concert the evening of Friday, January 25, 2019. Tickets can be purchased at the door. The concert
starts at 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Performance Season
Forest Hills Senior High ensembles wrapped up another busy holiday season this past December. The Band/
Chorus Concert was held on Thursday, December 6, and involved the Band, Chorus, and Jazz Band. Addition-
ally, there were numerous other performances given in the school and community. All three ensembles gave
an in-school performance for students on December 21. Members of the High School Concert Band traveled to
the Salix Headstart to perform Christmas Carols and childhood songs for the students there. The Senior High
Chorus performed at several locations in the community including the annual Festival of the Nativity, which
combined school, church, and community choirs. They also performed for Forest Hills Elementary students,
sang for the Johnstown Skills group, and recorded pieces with WJAC-TV that were aired on Christmas Eve
and Christmas Day.

Senior High School Chorus on WJAC

Senior High Chorus at the
Festival of the Nativity

5

County Band

Thirteen students from the High School Band participated in County band, which was held at Richland
High School November 29th and 30th. The students performed a very challenging program and got to
learn from a highly respected conductor from IUP.

Band at Salix Headstart

Senior High County Band

Senior music student, Mandi Bearjar, signed a letter of intent to
attend WVU on a full ride scholarship for Music Education on
December 18th. Pictured with her are Aggie McConaughy, her
lesson teacher, John Weigand, her future WVU instructor, and
Mitch Custer, band director at Forest Hills.

Junior High Music

Forest Hills Junior-Senior High Hosts County Chorus

On November 20, 2018, fourteen schools and 178 singers were at Forest Hills Junior-Senior High for

hthaed2t0o1bS8eigCnmainomgvbDeradiyadCueoutontwy eJautnhieorr High Chorus festival. Originally scheduled for November 15, the event
and school

cancellations, but through much coordina- County Chorus
tion and hard work of Forest Hills staff, 8th-9th Grade
County Chorus was rescheduled and the

group performed their concert on the even-

ing of November 20. The Junior High stu-

dents from Forest Hills that sang in County

Chorus were: 7th grade- Nadia Daubert,

Emma Felix, Maria Felix, Hailey Gibala, Mon-

ica Krug, and Melanie Troy; 8th Grade- Josie

Breyer, Delaney Dumm, Makenna Konchan,

Aleksander Maschmidt, and Bryan Young;

9th Grade- Alexis Detwiler, Raychel Gonos,

Kara Lautenbacher, Colton Panick, Jackson

Rummel, Alexia Steele, and Kayla Units.

6

Christmas Performance Season
The Junior High ensembles gave their Christmas Concert on December 11. Performers included 7th
Grade Band, 8th/9th Grade Band, 7th Grade Chorus, 8th/9th Grade Chorus, and the Boys Ensemble. The
Bands and Choruses performed during school for students on December 20. The 8th/9th Grade Chorus
also performed at Rebekah Manor Personal Care Facilities and for the Skills group in Ebensburg in
December.

7th Grade Band 8th/9th Grade

8th/9th Grade

Junior High County Band

7th Grade Chorus

Eleven students from the Junior High bands
participated in County Band, which was held
at Richland High School November 29th and
30th. The students performed a very chal-
lenging program and got to learn from a
highly respected conductor.

7

~ JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ~

Principal’s Corner ~ Mr. Ed Alexander

Happy New Year! As we enter the second semester of the 2018-2019 school year, I would like to thank
and congratulate our staff and student body for another outstanding start to a new school year! Our stu-
dents have been able to experience some amazing new courses so far including: STEM 7 & 8, Applied
Digital Skills 7 & 8, Careers 7 & 8, Visual Arts Making, New Media Arts Making, and Intro to Music Perfor-
mance. These new courses provide our students with the most current technology and curricula availa-
ble in the 21st Century.
This year marks the sixth and final year of the Botvin Life Skills Training Curriculum, a grant-funded age-
specific curriculum targeting social, emotional, and physical development of middle-aged students. Our
hope is to sustain this powerful curriculum well beyond the grant-funded years, as we have several
teachers trained to deliver the lessons within the program. We have seen tremendous success in guiding
and educating our students with positive and appropriate decision-making skills, which extend well be-
yond the classroom.
Our Junior High Math Department is thrilled to be working with a brand new Pre-Algebra and Algebra
textbook series, which provides the most up-to-date resources for students and families. The textbook
series are designed to streamline PA Core Standards in great detail, which greatly increases the success
of our students on State-mandated assessments. Along with the new math series, our 7th & 8th grade stu-
dents are now receiving Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, thanks to a $10,000 stipend from the state,
which will target instruction for all students. Teachers have received extensive training and we have
been able to implement a progress monitoring/tracking program called Spring Math on a daily basis.
As always, if you have any questions, please contact me at 814-487-7613. Thank you.

Gettysburg National Battlefield Field Trip
On October 30, 2018, Mr. David Satka, Junior High Social
Studies teacher, concluded his unit of instruction on the Civil
War with a field trip to the Gettysburg National Battlefield.
One hundred eighteen Freshman students expanded their
knowledge of the battle through an IMAX movie, Cyclorama
exhibit, museum, and a tour of the battlefield by a licensed pro-
fessional guide. Student essays overwhelmingly mentioned
how the view from Little Round Top provided them a better un-
derstanding of the scale of the fighting and the tragedies of
war in general. Special thanks to faculty chaperones, Mr.
Gary Miller, Mrs. Toni Wentzel, Mr. Mike Branas, Mr. Rik Gold-
en, Mr. Matt Gramling, and Mrs. Claudine Yuhas, and to Mrs.
Shannon Curry for her help with trip fundraising.

Tour Guide, Mr. Jack
Drummond, explains the
role of artillery to
students prior to the
start of Pickett’s Charge.

8

Want to be in the know?

Download the NEW Forest Hills School District App!

Scan the QR Code above or click on the following link to customize and personalize
your experience:

http://l.ead.me/baw71q

**Supports Apple and Android**

Follow us on Social Media:

@ForestHillsSD foresthillssd

Our District website: www.fhrangers.org

9

Over 100 Veterans Honored at Forest Hills Junior-Senior High School

On November 9, 2018, our annual Veterans Day assembly was held in the Forest Hills Junior-Senior
High School gymnasium. Over 100 veterans, from the Forest Hills family, gathered to be honored at
this annual event. This was the largest gathering of veterans for the Forest Hills Veterans Day assem-
bly to date. The veterans were honored with a complimentary breakfast followed by a recognition as-
sembly.
For two months, the students worked diligently creating patriotic posters and veteran recognition flags
to show how much our veterans have done to keep us free. The recognition flags were gathered to cre-
ate a giant mosaic flag honoring veterans past and present. This flag was showcased in our school and
was highlighted during the breakfast segment of our assembly. Students were also busy creating Vet-
erans Day cards which were distributed at a local restaurant in our area. On Veterans Day, veterans
were treated to a complimentary meal and thank you card provided by students from the Forest Hills
Junior-Senior High School.
Our assembly has become an annual tradition meant to honor the brave men and women who have giv-
en so much and asked for so little. The student run assembly began with a procession of veterans and
escorts, accompanied by the playing of the “Armed Forces Medley” performed by the Forest Hills
band. Forest Hills Senior Byron Daubert opened the ceremony with a greeting followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance led by our local boy scouts. A beautiful rendition of the National Anthem was performed
by our Forest Hills choir. The poem, “The Bravest Man I Know,” was read by Forest Hills Juniors Lacey
Greathouse and Brycen Rearick. Freshman Eva Spangler read about the history and observation of
Veterans Day.
The highlight of the assembly was the recognition of over 100 veterans. Senior Quinn Spangler and
Junior Rosalie DiPaola introduced our honored guests during the assembly. Veterans were escorted by
students and faculty members of the Forest Hills School District. Seniors Chloe Valinsky, James Mur-
phy, and Blake Roberts, who have enlisted to serve in the armed forces, distributed picture frames to
the veterans. These picture frames were created by students in the Technology Education Depart-
ment.
After the recognition, a short slideshow, introduced by Junior Seth Richardson, showcased the day-to-
day activities performed to honor the veterans. Students created posters, thank you cards, recogni-
tion flags, and walked and biked over 2,000 miles in honor of our veterans.
The program was concluded with a 21-Gun Salute performed by members of the St. Michael American
Legion, followed by TAPS performed by Senior Alexus Boback and Junior Daniel Velasquez. Closing
remarks highlighted the gratitude of service expressed to the veterans from the Forest Hills family.
Students, teachers, and staff of the Forest Hills Junior-Senior High School were honored to have them
as our guests and welcome them back for years to come.

10

Coding Club Debuts January 2019

A new coding club is being offered at the Junior-Senior High School starting this January, and it is co-
facilitated by Dr. Mock and Ms. Sheredy. Girls Who Code Club is a national non-profit organization be-
hind club infrastructure which advocates for parity in computer science fields. Our club encourages
participation of all students in grades 7-12 who wish to use computer science to change the world. Over
a series of 10-15 sessions, students will engage in coding tutorials, build community through interactive
activities, and learn about inspiring role models. The students will work in teams to solve a real-world
problem that they care about by designing code!

1977 Johnstown Flood Digital Storytelling

Students in Dr. Mock’s Composition 9 and Hon-
ors Composition 9 courses participated in a Digi-
tal Storytelling Project focusing on the 1977
Johnstown Flood in partnership with the John-
stown Area Heritage Association and Flood Mu-
seum. Inspired by her professional development
as a National Geographic Certified Educator, Dr.
Mock utilized the National Geographic Learning
framework to design a project that encouraged
students to become explorers not only of their
local surroundings, but of the entire region.
Through qualitative research, students conduct-
ed interviews of survivors from the region, which
included family members, friends, faculty, and
community members. From these interviews, students were able to draw conclusions about the inter-
actions between the human and natural worlds and tell compelling tales of the human journey through
use of digital storytelling tools such as Adobe Spark. Students collaborated beyond the walls of the
classroom with Mr. Andrew Lang, the curator of the Johnstown Flood Museum, who introduced the stu-
dents to artifacts and newspapers from the 1977 Johnstown Flood. The museum will be featuring our
students’ digital stories as part of a public exhibition in January-February 2019; the stories will also be
featured on JAHA’s website.

MATH FACT FLUENCY IS IMPORTANT!

Teachers, students, and parents must work together to increase all students’ math fact fluency.

The goal is to improve student number sense and fact fluency from Kindergarten through 3rd grade and
maintain fact fluency from 4th through 6th grade, while also improving problem solving skills. PA Core
Standards require fact fluency by the end of each grade level as listed:

Kindergarten : Addition and Subtraction – minuend and sum to 5

1st grade : Addition and Subtraction – minuend and sum to 10

2nd grade: Addition and Subtraction

3rd grade: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division

 1st through 3rd nine weeks – addition and subtraction
 4th nine weeks – multiplication and division
4th through 6th grades: Mixed Practice: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Fifteen (15) minutes of fact practice every day outside of the math classroom is expected to assist stu-
dents in meeting average grade level expectations. Look on the FH Elementary School website under
Math Facts to find suggestions for practice and fun websites to assist students as they improve their
math fact fluency. Math fact fluency achievement will be included on report cards beginning in
Quarter 2.

11

~ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ~

Principal’s Corner ~ Mrs. Rebecca Roberts

Happy winter! The year is flying by and the students, faculty, and staff are already moving into the sec-
ond semester! There is so much learning happening at Forest Hills Elementary and I hope your children
are sharing their learning experiences with you at home. I encourage you to take time nightly to talk to
your child(ren) about their day at school, something new they learned, or their favorite teacher or staff
member. Collaboration between school and home makes for a positive learning environment.
We have begun a variety of new initiatives this year in both academics and behavior. The students have
adapted well to the Positive Behavior Support System which began this year. Dr. Dill and I love going
into classrooms to see the students actively engaged in our new literacy programs. What we love most
is the kids’ excitement when they share what they know and how they can read.
If you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress at school, please call the guidance counselors
(814-487-7613) to talk about your child’s needs. A student support meeting (SSS) can be held at any
time throughout the year for both academic and behavioral concerns. We are here to support your chil-
dren throughout their academic career. Mrs. Montag is the counselor for grades K, 2, 4, 6 and Mrs.
Eppley is the counselor for grades Pre-K, 1, 3, 5.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2019-2020
March 26th (All Day) and March 27th (AM Only), 2019

And
PRE-K REGISTRATION FOR 2019-2020
March 27th (PM Only) and March 28th (All Day), 2019

Pre-K and Kindergarten registration will be conducted at the Forest Hills Elemen-
tary School for children enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year. Registrations will
be processed in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Elementary School for Kindergarten
on March 26, 2019 (9:00-11:30 am & 1:00-3:00 pm) and March 27, 2019 (9:00-11:30
am), and Pre-K on March 27, 2019(1:00-3:00 pm), and March 28, 2019 (9:00-
11:30am & 1:00-3:00 pm). In order to qualify for Pre-K placement, a child must be four (4) years old on or
before September 1, 2019, and for Kindergarten placement, a child must be five (5) years old on or be-
fore September 1, 2019. Early admission tests are not administered for enrollment. Parents/Guardians
must bring an original state birth certificate, immunization record, driver’s license, proof of residency
and any applicable court documents to the registration. All students registering for Kindergarten
(including those who have pre-registered) must still attend one of the registration dates listed above.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to pre-register their child for Pre-K or Kindergarten. Enrollment
packets are available at the school. Please contact the Forest Hills Elementary School at (814) 487-7613,
extension 3603 with any questions.

12

Attorney General’s Drug – Free Calendar Contest

Congratulations to Koby Ross, Grade 5, who was a win-
ner in the PA Attorney General’s Drug-Free Calendar
Contest this fall. Koby’s picture will represent the
month of October in the 2019 Attorney General’s Drug-
Free Calendar. Koby and his family were invited to a
luncheon at the State Capitol on December 11, 2018
where the 2019 calendar was unveiled. In addition, he
and his family toured the State Capitol and Koby will
receive $529 deposited into his PA 529 College and Career Savings Program. Koby
is the son of David Ross and Samantha Spaid. Well done Koby!

Mrs. Howell’s Class Bridge Project

After reading a story in Language Arts called Pop’s Bridge, Mrs. Howell’s class welcomed Mr. Bill Smith,
Assistant Operations Manager of the South Facility, and Mr. Brent Smith, Process Manager of Bedford
Reinforced Plastics, to their classroom. These two gentlemen came in to talk with the students about the
different types of pedestrian bridges that Bedford Reinforced Plastics manufactures and sells all over
the country.
The class got to see and feel several samples of fiberglass and they learned the many uses for it. These
gentlemen brought a long video of a very famous pedestrian
bridge called Tish Bridge which is a part of the Eagle Creek Rec-
reational Trail .The company manufactured and sold this bridge
to Mt. Hood National Forest in Cascade Locks, Oregon. This Na-
tional Park is a reserve for the Great Spotted Owl. The bridge
was assembled in Bedford, PA, shipped by truck across the U.S.,
and then hauled by helicopter for the last twenty miles to the
place where it was going to be installed. The students were mes-
merized by the video of this. The class was then given time to talk
with the gentleman and asked many great questions about the
products that the company makes and how they are installed.
Thanks to the company’s Human Resource Manager, Ms. Dana
Morris, the class was given a backpack with snacks, candy, and a pen with the company logo.
The class really enjoyed the visit and took some time to share the bridges that they made with the
gentlemen.

Halloween 2019

Who were those masked protectors of freedom seen at the Elementary
School on Halloween? Could it be Principal Mrs. Roberts and Assistant
Principal Dr. Dill? We may never know….

13

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.)

Thank you to the law enforcement officials in our area! January 9, 2019 is a National Law Enforce-
ment Appreciation Day. National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was founded in 2015 to thank offic-
ers across the country for the daily sacrifices they make for their communities. Law enforcement officials
put their lives on the line daily to protect us and do so with little recognition. Their days are demanding and
the time they spend away from their families to protect the community is countless.
Forest Hills Elementary celebrated Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Wednesday, January 9 with a
special breakfast for local and state law enforcement officers, as well as with students whose parents are
involved in law enforcement. Over thirty law enforcement officials had breakfast with their relatives. The
intent of the breakfast is to show our appreciation to those who provide service to our communities and
schools. Forest Hills has been involved in this special day since its inception in 2015. Students, faculty,
and staff wore blue to show their support of the officers and provided a check to Camp Cadet in the amount
of $494.00.

14

~ JUNIOR HIGH ATHLETICS ~

Junior High Girls’ Soccer

The 2018 Junior High Girls Soccer team had to overcome some challenges throughout the year. With
only fourteen girls on the roster, everyone had to play hard every game, all game. The girls learned the
importance of perseverance and teamwork on the field. They were a determined group of girls who
always tried their best in practices and in games. There were eight 8th graders on the team, including
captain Melanie McDannell, who kept the team motivated and in good spirits through every game. The 8th
grade girls will be missed next
year when they take the step of
joining the varsity team. The 7th
graders are excited to step into
the leadership positions next
year and are looking forward to
the new team and some wins in
the 2019 season!

Junior High Cross Country

The 2018 season was one of the most fun and successful seasons to date! The Junior High cross country
team worked hard together to reach their goals, week after week, with smiles on their faces! The girls’
team finished with a record of 9-1, placing first at all invitationals, which included Big Valley, Altoona, and
Uniontown. The girls also placed 2nd in a close finish against Central Cambria at the Laurel Highlands
meet. Delaney Dumm, Danielle Dumm, and Laura Montag earned individual honors at every big meet this
year. Although we didn’t have enough boys to score as a team, we hope to next year. The boys made the
most of their time by working hard to be their individual best. Isaiah Shilcosky was our top finisher this
season, coming a place away to individual honors at big meets more than once! We are excited to have the

boys use this years’ experience
to lead a competitive team in
2019. This crews’ determina-
tion, enthusiasm, and team-
work will lead them to success-
ful futures in cross country. The
strength of the team is each
member; the strength of each
member is the team!

15

Junior High Boys’ Soccer 2018

The 2018 season marked the return of Junior High Boys Soccer after a one year absence in 2017 due to
a lack of interested players. Josh Morrison (7th grade) and Nolan Cabala (8th grade) were elected cap-
tains by their peers on the last day of camp. Injuries early in the season to David Gates (8th grade) and
Collin Ducane (8th grade) hurt the team competitively. Gavin Ickes (8th grade) led the team in scoring.
Toby Wilt (7th grade) was second in scoring. Strong defensive efforts by Nolan Cabala, Toby Wilt, and
Max Petrunak in the keeper position, kept most games close all season. The team ended up only playing
a seven game schedule due to an usually wet fall and poor field conditions across the Laurel Highlands,
but improved their game play throughout the season and displayed glimpses of hope for a strong Junior
High Soccer program in the future at Forest Hills.

Junior High Football

The Junior High Football team showed great improvement from a one win campaign the previous sea-
son. The team had a 4-4 record and went on a four game winning streak after losing the first three
games of the season. The group worked hard and understands now what it takes to continue the tradi-
tion of excellence at Forest Hills. The 7th grade team finished with one win and one tie and will need to
continue to improve in the fundamentals and discipline of the game to have future success.

16

~ VARSITY ATHLETICS ~

Cross Country Teams Complete 12-1 Seasons

The Varsity Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country teams both completed very successful seasons.
The girls finished with twelve wins and one loss. They were the “AA” champions at the Big Valley Invi-
tational, the over-all champions at the Altoona Invitational, and the “AA” champions at the Uniontown
Invitational. The girls finished 2nd in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference standings and were run-
ner-up at the District 6 Meet. Seven varsity girls, Katie Beyer, Lacey Greathouse, Paige Greathouse,
Payton McGough, Maggie Stains, Emily Montag, and Jordyn Smith, won twenty-seven individual awards
at major meets. Katie Beyer, Paige Greathouse, and Payton McGough qualified for the State Meet.
Paige finished 40th, Katie finished 55th, and Payton finished 118th at the PIAA State Meet in Hershey.
This marked the 20th consecutive year in which a Forest Hills Cross Country team or runner has quali-
fied for the state meet. Four girls were named to the Central Western All Area Team: Katie Beyer, 1st
team, Lacey Greathouse and Paige Greathouse, 2nd Team, and Payton McGough, honorable mention.
The boys also finished with twelve wins and one loss. This was their best season since 2004. They
were the “AA” champions at the Altoona Invitational. They finished 2nd in Laurel Highlands Athletic
Conference team standings. Four boys, Mitch Chunta, Jude Martyak, Bob Krug, and Ben Wechtenhis-
er, won twelve individual awards at major meets. Three boys were named to the Central Western All
Area Team, Mitch Chunta, 1st Team, Jude Martyak , and Bob Krug, Honorable Mention. Jude was also
chosen as their most improved
runner.

17

Varsity Boys Soccer

The Forest Hills Varsity
Boys Soccer team fin-
ished the 2018 season
with a record of 8-7-2.
Seniors Jeremy Weis and
Josh Schrock were
named to the LHAC All-
Conference team and
Seniors Josh Jones and
Tanner Lehman were se-
lected to play in the sev-
enth annual Tribune-
Democrat Santa Fund All-
star game.
There were eleven Sen-
iors on the team: Josh
Schrock, Josh Jones,
Anthony Stigers, Tanner Lehman, Alex Cornman, Lance Everhart, Simeon Rosage, James Murphy,
Jeremy Weis, Colton Platt, and Isaac Shirt. Josh Schrock, Tanner Lehman, James Murphy, and
Simeon Rosage provided a solid defense while Josh Jones, Alex Cornman, Jeremy Weis, and Lance
Everhart provided a midfield that was hard to stop. The strikers, Isaac Shirt and Colton Platt, kept
defenders on their toes all season. Freshman goalie Nick Singer had an excellent first season and will
look to continue his success for the next three years. Returning players for next year Lucas Smay,
Cayce McCall, Jacob Flynn-Long, Ian Dobbins, Isaac Webb, Carson Berkhimer, Shane Miller, Nick
Caddy, and Mikel Gray will look to build on the program’s successful 2018 season.
After a long and disappointing year last year, the team exceeded expectations this year. The coach-
ing staff was very proud of the team’s attitude, determination, and hard work this season. This year
the team got their first playoff win in Forest Hills Boys Soccer program history. Next year, the team
will return with a younger roster that will look to build upon the success of the 2018 season.

Girls Varsity Tennis

It turned out to be a GREAT season for the 2018 Girls Tennis Team!
The returning players had a year of experience and, with the addition of three more super athletes, the
team was able to be very competitive in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. The girls were also
able to earn 1st round wins at the District 6 Singles and District 6 Doubles tournaments. It will be excit-
ing to see what next season brings!

18

Varsity Girls’ Soccer tial in future seasons with their speed, strength,

The 2018 Lady Rangers Soccer Team returned with and willingness to learn new positions on the field.
seven starters coming off of the 2017 season. We Stand-out Josi Wehner took on the role of goalie,
ended last season with a loss in the first round of providing strong hands, height, and agility in the
playoffs to Ligonier Valley. During our off-season, net. She earned 277 saves this season along with
we focused on the fundamental skills of the game, three shut outs. Lydia Roman led the team with thir-

making each player stronger and more versatile on ty-three goals and seventeen assists, and Olivia
the field. This year, we had eight returning letter Guillarmod added six goals and six assists this
winners and a squad of fourteen players. year.

Our Senior class was small, but mighty. The team New to the team this year were Freshmen
voted Seniors Ericka Frombach and Kara Jarvie as Mackenzie Hoover, Haley Myers, and Eva Spangler.
captains. These two provided amazing leadership Unfortunately, Haley suffered an injury early in the
skills on and off the field, while working hard to pos- season and was unable to play. She supported her
itively motivate a very young team. They set high team at every practice and game. Mackenzie en-
goals for this season and were not going to back tered the team with only ever playing in-goal and
away from a challenge. Ericka stepped into a large quickly provided the team with speed as an outside
role, covering the center defensive position once midfielder. Eva was a versatile player and was will-
held by two outstanding Lady Ranger players. Suf- ing to play anywhere on the field.

fering from an off-season ACL tear last year, Kara This team of younger players was new to our for-

Jarvie was able to return this season and provided mation and the quickness of varsity play. The

the team with ten goals and seven assists. The sen- coaches were able to move players around during

iors are leaving the season 8-8-1 with a loss in the the beginning of the season, trying to fit the puzzle

first round of District 6 playoffs. pieces together just right. Once the strengths of the

Returning to the team were sophomores Alyssa starters was found, coaches were able to place
Caddy, Olivia Guillarmod, Briane Ickes, Alexus them in the most beneficial position on the field. It
McLucas, Lydia Roman, Julia Shima, and Josi all came together about a third of the way through
Wehner. Joining the returning players were Haley the season and they were able to continue develop-
Croyle and Brooke Martinage. The coaches cannot ing as the season progressed.

speak highly enough of the effort put in by all nine The team is looking forward to strengthening our

sophomores. They quickly stepped into starting skills during the off-season, while also playing in a

roles on the field, filling positions that they had nev- few indoor tournaments. We hope to continue to

er before played. These girls showed great poten- develop as a team, perfecting our game for the

future

seasons.

19

Varsity Girls’ Volleyball
Team

The Varsity Girls’ Volleyball Team
finished the 2018 season with a
record of 8-10 and earned a berth
into the 12 team closed-bracket
District 6 playoff tournament. As
the 11th seed, they traveled to Bell-
wood-Antis and upset the sixth-
seeded Blue Devils in a three
game sweep. The Lady Rangers
advanced to the quarterfinals and
lost to Central Cambria. The team was led by Seniors Lexi Boback, Carly Davis, Kylie Wadsworth,
Courtney Pisarski, Rosie Plaza, and Kayla Stohon. Other starters and letter winners for the Varsity
squad included Sophomores Madeline Cecere, Kenzie Colosimo, and Taylor Burda.

The Junior Varsity team also finished with a record of 8-10. Since the team is losing six seniors to grad-
uation, the underclassmen are determined to work hard in the off-season to fill many of the starting po-
sitions for next year.

Senior middle hitter, Kylie Wadsworth, was named the team’s LHAC Player and also made 2nd Team All-
District 6 for AA. Kylie also represented Forest Hills in the Somerset vs. Johnstown All-Star game on
November 21st at North Star High School. The Lady Rangers were coached this year by Nicole Kerr,
Shannon Colosimo, and Lakin Stiffler.

Forest Hills Golf Team Wysocki. The team is looking forward to coming

back next year, stronger and more talented with
The 2018 Forest Hills Golf team turned in another the return of all players. The girl on the team was
strong season both from the team and individual
Liz Zajdel. Liz captured one of the four spots on the
perspective. They were invigorated by the play and District 6 qualifier at Summit Country Club. This
potential of several players, old and new. Hopefully sent her to Regionals at Tom’s Run where she near-
these players, along with some new players, will
ly missed the cut. She will be back again next year
have an even more successful season in 2019. All and working harder to make it to the state level.
the hard work they plan on doing in the spring and
summer of 2019, will once again make the team The team always welcomes new players to try out
competitive in the upcoming season. for next year’s boys and girls teams. All players are
welcome to come and try this great sport.
The Boys’ Team enjoyed another successful sea-

son this year, recording

more wins than last year.

The Senior team members

this year were Nathan Long,

Quinn Spangler, Dominic

Spinos, and Connor

Freidhoff. Other members of

the team were Mitchell

Costlow, Bryce Connor,

Justin Chilcott, Griffin

Christ, Donovan Faith, Jon

McCall, Caleb Sorchilla,

Isaac Webb, Chris Ramirez,

Tyler Sivi, and Connor

20

Varsity Football

Rangers Fall Short in Bid to Repeat in District VI AAA

The Forest Hills Rangers fell
short in their bid to repeat as
District VI AAA football champi-
ons with a 21-16 loss to Bald Ea-
gle Area in the District VI AAA
championship game.

The Rangers completed a highly
successful 9-3 season after
starting the season with a 1-2
record. The Rangers recorded
wins over Bedford, Somerset,
Bishop McCort, Cambria
Heights, Central Cambria, Bishop Guilfoyle, Westmont, Penn Cambria, and Westmont in the the playoffs.

The Rangers were led on offense by Senior Adam Cecere who threw for 2,473 yards and twenty touch-
downs. The top receivers were Seniors Jake Shope with forty receptions and five touchdowns, and
Forrest Wolfhope with thirty-eight receptions and seven touchdowns. Other leading receivers were
Dylan Fyock with twenty-three receptions and one touchdown, Jake Delic with fifteen receptions and six
touchdowns, and Seth Richardson with thirteen receptions and one touchdown. The leading rushers for
the Rangers were Adam Cecere with 762 yards and sixteen touchdowns, Dylan Fyock was second on the
team with 451 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Anthony Zangaglia was the third leading rusher with
261 yards and two touchdowns. The Rangers were led in total yards by Adam Cecere with 3,235 yards
followed by Jake Shope with 804 yards, Forrest Wolfhope with 791 yards, Dylan Fyock with 779 yards,
Anthony Zangaglia with 306 yards, Jake Delic with 274 yards, Seth Richardson with 196 yards and Jared
Mangus with 133 yards.

The Rangers were led defensively by seniors Jason Wissinger, who led the team with 146 tackles, fol-
lowed by Adam Cecere with 103 tackles, Aiden Balasco with sixty-one tackles, Anthony Zangaglia and
Jake Shope with fifty-three tackles, Forrest Wolfhope with thirty-seven tackles, Dylan Fyock with twenty-
eight tackles, and Chase Hudson with eighteen tackles. Seth Richardson, a junior, was third overall with
eighty-six tackles while fellow junior Jake Delic had forty-six tackles and Zack Vitko had twenty-one tack-
les.

Jake Shope led the secondary with six interceptions including three in the District VI championship game.
He was followed by Forrest Wolfhope with three interceptions and Adam Cecere, Dylan Fyock, and Jason
Wissinger with two interceptions each. Jared Mangus and Aiden Balasco each had one interception.

Jake Shope led the special teams while punting for an average of 32.7 yards per punt. Adam Cecere han-
dled the kickoff duties and extra-points.

Adam Cecere led the team in scoring with 122 points, sixteen touchdowns, nine two-point conversions,
and eight extra-point conversions. He was followed by Forrest Wolfhope with fifty points, Jake Delic with
forty-two points, Dylan Fyock with forty-one points, and Jake Shope with thirty-eight points.

This Senior group of Rangers completed their careers with a 30-17 record including a 20-5 record the
past two years.

Congratulations to the following Rangers for the post-season honors they have received: Adam Cecere—
AP All State AAA 1st Team Quarterback, All Areas 1st Team Quarterback; Jason Wissinger—All Area 1st
Team Linebacker; Jake Shope—PA Football News 2nd Team All State Safety, All Area 1st Team Defensive
Back; Forrest Wolfhope—All Area 2nd Team Wide Receiver; Aidan Balasco—All Area Honorable Mention;

(continued on page 22)

21

Gavin Blough—All Area Honorable Mention; Jake Delic—All Area Honorable Mention; Dylan Fyock—All
Area Honorable Mention; Luke Hribar—All Area Honorable Mention; Aaron Lybarger—All Area Honora-
ble Mention; Seth Richardson—All Area Honorable Mention; Zack Vitko—All Area Honorable Mention;
Anthony Zangaglia—All Area Honorable Mention.
The underclassmen, although losing a solid group of Seniors, return a talented group of linemen in Luke
Hribar, Zach Vitko, Gaven Blough, tight end Jake Delic, and wide receiver and safety Seth Richardson.
This past season brought an end of an era as Don Bailey retired after serving forty-five years as the
Ranger’s head coach. He compiled a 375-120-8 record. While active as a coach, he was sixth in the
state of Pennsylvania and twenty-fifth in the country in total wins with 375. He is sixth all-time in win-
ning in Pennsylvania and forty-first all-time in winning in the country with the 375 wins. He concludes
his career with ten District VI championships and seventeen championship appearances.

Good luck to Coach Bailey as he starts a new chapter in his life.

Breast Cancer “Pink Out” Game

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and on October 26, 2018, the Forest Hills Varsity
Football team held their fifth annual “Pink Out” game against the Penn Cambria Panthers, to help raise
awareness about early detection of breast cancer. About one in eight women born in the United States will
get breast cancer at some point. If found and treated early, most women can survive. During halftime at
the game, donations were collected for the Joyce Murtha Breast Cancer Center. The Center, which is lo-
cated in the Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center in Windber, has the most up to date technology in breast
imaging and care, and helps prevent and treat disease of the breast and other conditions that can impact
the lives of the women they serve. The Senior football players presented the donations, along with the pro-
ceeds from “Together we R strong” clothing that the Football Boosters sold on behalf of the Football team,
to the Joyce Murtha Breast Cancer Center on November 7th, 2018. These donations will help fund the cen-
ters Pink Ribbon Care program, which provides assistance for patients who are unable to pay for breast-
related health services – including mammograms, follow-up diagnostic services, and genetic counseling.
Pictured First row (left to right) are Senior football team members Blane Smay, Chase Hudson, Tony
Zangaglia, Kim Oleksa, Foundation/Development Administrator at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at
Windber, Senior football team members Jared Manges, Dylan Fyock and Jake Shope. Second row (left to
right) Football team Head Coach Don Bailey, Senior football team members Forrest Wolfhope, Chris
Boback, Mason Rodgers, Aaron Lybarger, and Adam Cecere.

22

The Forest Hills Football Boosters would like to extend our appreciation to the Game
Ball Sponsors for the 2018 season. Thank you for supporting our Forest Hills Rangers!

DARRICK HUBER INSURANCE AGENCY – STATE FARM*

THE EADS GROUP*

BARCLAY ELECTRIC INC.*

LUCAS REMODELING & CONSTRUCTION LLC*

DR. J. ERIC WIECZOREK, MD*

THE LONG BARN INC. II*

BUD’S AUTO SALES*

J.B. WELDING & REFRIGERATION, LLC*

RON & TRISTAN MOSS & DAN WOLFHOPE*

RPM SIGNS*

CHAN SOON-SHIONG MEDICAL CENTER AT WINDBER*

FOX’S PIZZA SIDMAN SMILEY’S PLACE

DR. TIM ONDREJIK, FAMILY DENTISTRY SHEETZ #113 SIDMAN

CARPENTER FINANCIAL SERVICES CRUTE’S BARBER SHOP

SOUTH FORK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT DON HUDSON HOME MAINTENANCE

VICK’S SERVICE

WILMORE SPORTSMEN ASSOCIATION CLARK POWELL’S EXPRESS

SIDMAN SUBWAY SOUTH FORK VFW POST 7524

ADAMS TWP. VFC – NO. 1 - DUNLO CAMBRIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS –

VANTAGE PHYSICAL THERAPY & REHABILITATION TOM CHERNISKY & BJ SMITH

SHEAR INNOCENCE *Designates sponsored all home games

RITA’S RESTAURANT

KAITH’S HEATING AND AIR, LLC

SUMMERHILL TWP. VFC – BEAVERDALE

REPRESENTATIVE BRYAN BARBIN

WESSEL & COMPANY

ST. MICHAEL AMERICAN LEGION POST 551

McILWAIN SCHOOL BUS LINES

THE HITE COMPANY

SUMMERHILL SOCIAL CLUB

CHARLES O. DIMOND FUNERAL HOME INC.

VAL HUDSON AMERICAN DREAM REAL ESTATE

PRO DISPOSAL

Excellence is the Tradition!

23

Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit #5
Johnstown, PA

“BTohaerdmoifsSsciohnooolfDtihreecFtoorrsest HiDlDlissistSrtirccihct toAAoddlmmDiniisnististrrtiarcattitoiiosnnto

proviGdaleentGheoergeb, Peresstidesntt udent-centeDaErvdeiwddiLneBheomwdasnue,rSc,uSapueptreiinroitnentnednesdneotnt all

studeTrnactysHealscelq, 1ustiVricee-Parensiddenat pply the knowledge and skillsLuVcaanseJsascaoSbrsa,lD, DiriercetcotrorofoEf Edducuactaiotinon to

DonnCa lMauudrpiahMy-eChaarlol,sSi,cShcohooloPlsPyscyhcohloogloisgtist
succeed in an ever-changing world.”Deborah Petrunak, 2nd Vice-President

John Bopp, SecrePtuabrliyshed by the Office oEfrtihceaSLuapCeMruianrntetVniada,esnSatpso,ef HcthiieaglFhoESrdecushtcHoaoitllilsoPSnrciShnoucopilpeDarisvltirsicotr

Timothy Ondrejik, Treasurer CurtBVriaasnaKs,oSsetannio, rHHSigAhssSiscthaonotlPPrrininccipipaall

Robert Beyer, Member BriEadnwKaorsdtaAnle, xSaenndioerr,HMigidhdAlessSiscthaonotlPPrrininccipipaall

Richard Knavel, Member Edward AleLxaaunrdaeMr,ilJleurn, iDoer aHnigohf SSctuhdoeonl tPsrincipal

Corina Long, Member MicLhuacealsBJraacnoabs,sJ, uEnleiomreHnitgahryDSecahnoooflSPtruindceinptasl

Keith Rager, Member RebeccLaarRroybCeertlms,eErl,eEmSeAnstasrisytSancthPoorilnPcripinaclipal

Ronald Repak, Solicitor RoberCt hDriilsl, REeleigmheanrtda,rByuAssinseisstsanMtaPnraingceirpal

CMharrisiaRneBigohyaerrd, ,FBooudsinSeesrsviMceanDairgeecrtor

Jesslyn Anslinger, Food Service Director

“The mission of the Forest Hills School District is to
provide the best student-centered education so all

students acquire and apply the knowledge and skills to
succeed in an ever-changing world.”

Published by the Office of the Superintendent of the Forest Hills School District

24