Education briefs 4-8-12
Conferences set
The third parent-teacher conference day for students in the Uniontown Area School District will be held April 23 at all school buildings. There will be an early dismissal for all students, and lunches will be served prior to dismissal. Dismissal times for elementary students are: 12:05 p.m. Ben Franklin (first group), 12:30 p.m. Ben Franklin (second group), 12:05 p.m. Lafayette (first group), 12:30 p.m. Lafayette (second group), 12:15 p.m. Franklin, 12:15 p.m. Menallen, 12:30 p.m. Marclay and 12:30 p.m. Wharton. Dismissal times for secondary schools are: 12:15 p.m. A.J. McMullen, 11:20 a.m. Ben Franklin (grades 6-8), 11:20 a.m. Lafayette Middle, and 11:30 a.m. high school. The purpose of the parent-teacher conference is to encourage parents and guardians to visit with their son’s/daughter’s teachers to discuss concerns and problems.
Program slated
Rocsi Diaz, co-host of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) flagship show 106 & Park, will join hip-hop scholar Dr. James Braxton Peterson for the keynote presentation when California University of Pennsylvania holds its seventh annual hip-hop conference Wednesday through Friday.
This year’s conference, “Hoodies, Profiling, Gender and Hip-hop Culture,” addresses the popular musical genre and explores issues that have been in the spotlight since 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed Feb. 26 in Florida. The keynote speakers will discuss “Gender, Profiling and Commercialization in the Hip-hop Industry” at 6 p.m. Friday in the Learning Resource Center in Morgan Hall. Other conference events include a tribute to the West African “cipha” tradition at 5 p.m. Thursday at Jozarts Studio on Second Street, just blocks from the Cal U campus. For more information, visit www.calu.edu. All events are free and open to the public. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.
Contest announced
U.S. Rep. Mark S. Critz announced that high school students can enter the 2012 Congressional Art Competition. The winner of this annual competition will have his or her work displayed in the United States Capitol Building for one year and be invited to attend the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The competition is open to all high school students in the 12th Congressional District (Parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties and all of Greene County). All art entries must be received by May 2. Students and teachers can make arrangements with the Congressman’s district offices to submit an entry. To enter, complete a student information/release form found at the contest’s website at www.house.gov/content/educate/art_competition/. Complete a form for each piece of artwork. All entries must be two dimensional, be no larger than 28 inches wide by 28 inches tall by 4 inches thick, not weigh more than 15 pounds, and be original in concept, design and execution and must not violate any United States copyright laws. Mediums accepted include paintings, drawings, collage, print, mixed media, computer-generated art and photography. For more information, call Dan Alwine at 800-289-2642 (district office) or Courtney Hruska at 202-225-2065 (Washington, D.C., office).
Performance slated
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month with the Japanese drums of Taikoza performing at noon Wednesday at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus’ Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium. There is no admission fee. Taikoza uses powerful rhythms of the ancestral Taiko drums to create music of the Japanese culture. Roughly translated, “Taiko” means big drums, and that’s exactly what Taikoza provides. The large, barrel-like drum can fill the air with the sounds of rolling thunder. The group draws from Japan’s rich tradition of music and performance to create a highly visual performance. In addition to drums of assorted sizes, Taikoza incorporates the shakuhachi, the fue (both bamboo flutes), and the Koto (a 13-string instrument). Taikoza has toured internationally and has appeared on ESPN, NBC, History Channel, Russian national television and many other programs around the world. Taikoza’s music is featured on the Nintendo Wii games Red Steel 1 and 2.
Registration set
Parents who are planning to enter children in kindergarten or first grade (who have not previously attended kindergarten) in the Uniontown Area School District for the 2012-13 school year can register their children in their attendance area. A child must be 5 years of age on or before Sept. 1, 2012, to be eligible for kindergarten or 6 years of age on or before Sept. 1, 2012, to enter first grade.
A child’s original birth certificate, immunization record, social security card or number, and proof of residency must be presented at the time of registration. Check with the school for immunization requirements.
According to the Department of Health Regulations, no child may enter school until all required immunizations are completed and written proof is provided to the school. If a child cannot be immunized for health reasons, a note from the physician is required. Registration times are 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. on the following days: Ben Franklin, April 30; Lafayette, May 1; Menallen, May 2; Franklin, May 3; Marclay, May 3; and Wharton, May 4.