Ceari Robinson

Every school district is different when it comes to calling delays and cancellations. The superintendents have to consider many different factors when making the decision. For Shaler Area, some of these factors include the weather, the transportation companies, and road conditions. Superintendent Mr. Sean Aiken is in his second year on the job, and therefore still new to the Shaler decision making process.

Over winter break senior Bridget Stack and junior Andrew Lesnett traveled across the country of Israel. While on their trip they experienced new food, explored ancient ruins, and swam in the Dead Sea. Traveling with the Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, they started their journey with a short one hour flight from Pittsburgh to Newark, NJ, and from there a ten hour flight to Tel Aviv, Israel. The group flew into the Tel Aviv Airport and was “welcomed” into the country with armed men at every gate.

Thanks to the votes from the community, the Shaler Area Backpack Initiative was selected to receive a $25,000  grant in order to provide healthier food for students who take part in the program. The Backpack initiative was started by Melissa Matlock and Shelley West in 2014. They had been surviving off monetary and food donations and fundraisers to keep the program running, when Dana Aigner, the parent of a former Shaler Area student approached them about the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant.