Presidential Physical Fitness Testing

Twenty five students scored at or above the 85th percentile
on each of the five test items of the President’s Challenge
Physical Fitness Test and were awarded with the Presidential
Award. These students are Arjun B, Channin M, Layla N,
Annessa W, Abby M, Grace X, Christine B, Joan C, Sachi
G, Katelyn V, Sofia R, Marissa B, Abeedah H, Nurah N,
Alex D, Maide S, Haley Y, Grace C, Megan P, Maya F, John
H, Mihir S, Keyvan R, Anika R, and Ben L. Twenty eight
students scored at or above the 50th percentile on the fitness
testing and received the National Award. These students are
Mehr B, Sofia B, Amara B, Niah B, Mark K,  James M,
Morgan S, Leah S, Farah S, Isabella D, Anjali K, Tejal P,
Paul A, Dalilia P, Peter P, Josh S, Sylvia B, Tony L, Sean
M, Sami S, Jaden S, Van W, Nikhita K, Sahej B, Vinny K,
Cameron S, Prathna K, and Jorgen K. Great job athletes!

National History Day National Level

On June 10, nine Birchwood students traveled to The
University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland to compete
in the national level of the National History Day competition.
These nine students excelled at the state level and were up
against state winners from all 50 states, Guam, American
Samoa, and the International Schools of Central Asia and
Southeast Asia. Our students had a phenomenal showing.
Joan C  and Sachi G  placed third in the group website
category with their website on the Hough Riots in Cleveland
in 1966. Nate C and Clive C also advanced to the final round
with their group website on the Microchip, placing 13th. Anna
H advanced to the final round with her individual exhibit on
the book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and placed 14th.
Congratulations to these students for their accomplishments!

WVIZ/PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest

Congratulations to Ehren C for winning first place in WVIZ’s
PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest in the first grade division! His
story, Tacky Turkey’s  Big Adventure, has been sent to the
national level of competition. It can be viewed at
www.ideastream.org/education/writers.
PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest is a national contest designed
to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills by
encouraging students in kindergarten to third grade to create
orginal illustrated stories for submission.

Another Bruening Foundation Grant

After receiving the library grant in
2011, Birchwood recently received a second $10,000 grant
from the Bruening Foundation for the start-up of our Preschool
Program. This is much to the credit of development consultant
Michelle Ehlert who has taken the full time position at
Birchwood as our new Director of Advancement. Michelle
brings a broad range of experience to this position having
worked in a development capacity for organizations such as
University Hospitals, The Pittsburgh Symphony, The World
Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, and the Metropolitan Museum
of Art. See her full bio on our website. Michelle is a wonderful
addition to our team as we move forward with strategic plans
into the future.