EXTRA ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Below are listed additional opportunities for enrichment offered generally through the Seneca
Valley Middle School or specifically through the Purpose Program. (2012-2013)
1.Many clubs, sports, and activities ***Students may attend the Middle School Activity Fair,
next Weds., September 19 from 2:30 -4:30. (Students can learn at this event how to get involved
and how to take the “activity bus” home.)
2.Academic Games: Students participate in quiz competitions involving presidents, world events,
logical thinking, mathematics, and/or language arts. Team members meet for practice after
school each Weds. until the 4:30 activity bus with sponsor, Mrs. Johns, in room 116.
3.Middle School Musical “Seussical,” directed by Miss Armor (armoram@svsd.net)
Performances will be Nov. 15, 16, 17 in the IHS auditorium. Auditions took place this week;
however, students may still get involved in set construction and stage crew jobs. (Crew directed by
Mrs. Titus.)
4. PPT (Pittsburgh Public Theater) Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Competition:
Students choose a character monologue or scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays to memorize and
rehearse with coaching from SVMS theater teachers and professional actors from the PPT.
Rehearsals (usually 2-3 per month) begin in November with performance on the PPT’s
O’Reilly Theatre stage in February. (Performing Arts teachers, Mrs. Bonavoglia and Mr. Wiehe
are sponsors of this group.)
(All participants receive a free PPT t-shirt and ticket voucher for a PPT show.)
5. W.P.C.T.E. (Western PA Council Teachers of English) Festival, June 2013
***This is a Purpose Program sponsored event, available only to students with a GIEP.
Students will read six W.P.C.T.E. chosen novels (provided by the SVMS Purpose Program) write 5
“trivia” quiz questions per novel, meet with other Purpose student readers for “book talks,” and
participate in English Festival activities at Duquesne University in June 2012. (Mrs. Wolf sponsors
this “Purpose Only” enrichment which will start in October via “pull-out” sessions.)
6. “Mathcounts” a program of increasingly difficult math problems (from pre-algebra to algebra
and geometry) created by the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics, and the CNA Foundation. Participating students who complete and
check 100+ problems by January 2, 2012, will have the opportunity to take the School Competion
Exam which will qualify the top 8 scorers (both 7th and 8th grade) to take part in the Regional
Competition in February of 2012 at Grove City College. (Mrs. Loewy sponsors this group.)
7.”Expanding Your Horizons” (For Girls only!) is a nationally recognized conference held for girls
in 7th, 8th, & 9th grades who are interested in exploring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
& Mathematics) careers. It will be held at Robert Morris University on Sat., Oct. 27 from 9am to
3pm. (Sponsors include Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh Zoo, Society of Women Engineers, and
others.) Contact: Sarah Kerin, STEMS Outreach Programs, 412-397-6331 or Kerin@rmu.edu
Registration deadline is 10/10/12.
8. “You Be the Chemist” (PASSPORT TO SCIENCE EXPLORATION THE CORE OF CHEMISTRY CREATED
BY THE CHEMICAL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION®)This challenge is an exciting academic competition that will
expand students knowledge of the science of chemistry and beyond. The Passport guide is divided into three sections
that correspond to the different levels of the Challenge – local, state, and national. You may contact the
Chemical Educational Foundation® (CEF) at challenge@chemed.org. Students should begin studies with The Core of
Chemistry (found on the website) for your Local Challenge competition. However, students are also encouraged to explore all
the study materials provided on CEF’s website, www.chemed.org, (8th grade science teacher, Mrs. Smith, sponsors this
group)