Tour du District
Posted on 08/27/2010
On October 2, 2010 the Woodland Hills Foundation will host the Tour du District, a coordinated bike ride with two purposes. We will strive to bring the communities of Woodland Hills together by weaving our ride through each of the twelve communities that make up the school district. Secondly, through registration fees and sponsorship we will be raising money for our Mini Grant and Scholarship programs in the schools. There will be a 5-mile easy ride, a 25-mile ride, and a 30-mile ride with added hills for serious bike riders. Early returns suggest that our first Tour du District will be well attended. A large scale bike ride like this has never been attempted before locally. It is logistically complicated and we need many volunteers! If you would like to volunteer to help with this event (and we need volunteers!), please visit our new website at www.woodlandhillsfoundation.org for contact information to call or email us as well as checking out the Tour Blog where you will find more news,up to date information and course details! Hope to see you at our first Tour du District!

WHAF is now The Woodland Hills Foundation
Posted on 08/27/2010
The merger with the Woodland HIlls Foundation was completed in January 2010. Visit the new website www.woodlandhillsfoundation.org

2009-2010 Mini Grants Awarded
Posted on 11/30/2009
In 2002 the Woodland Hills Academic Foundation (WHAF) assumed responsibility for the Mini Grant Program, to support, encourage, and facilitate great teaching ideas in the Woodland Hills School District. Since then, WHAF has awarded nearly 100 Mini-Grants with funding totaling $45,000. These Mini Grants help educators expand and improve the learning environment, making a positive impact in their classrooms. WHAF is pleased to announce the recipients of Mini Grants for 2009-2010: • Endangered Species, Julie Werts, WHHS • Giving Back to the Community, Jared Hoffman, Bob Plosknauk, Paul Beard, Dave Ilko, Pamela Allen, WHHS • Yes! We Can Go Outside, Andrew Pollick and Andrea Sisk, WHHS • Steel Heritage Summit/Trip to Historic Braddock, Lisa Silverman, Rob Rodrigues, BCMC • Young Preservationist Video Documentary, Jared Hoffman, Jason Coleman, WHHS • On-Line Newspaper, Peg Siefert, Pat Kennedy, WHHS • Learning Sign Language, Jessica Ritson, WH Academy • The Big Boom Theory, Lisa Endler, WH Academy • The Academic Olympics, Ebony Taylor, WH Academy • Fairless Service Club, Rachel Scholze, Fairless Elementary • Journey Around the World: A Celebration of Cultures, Elizabeth Casey, Dickson Elementary Congratulations to these teachers.

The WHSD Foundation and WHAF are Merging!
Posted on 10/06/2009
The Boards of Directors of the Woodland Hills Academic Foundation and the Woodland Hills School District Foundation have voted unanimously this summer to consolidate. The new organization will be called the “Woodland Hills Foundation” and the two 501 (c) 3 organizations will begin working together for the 2009-10 school year as they work toward merging the entities officially. The target date to become a single legal entity is Jan. 1, 2010. Both organizations are excited about the change and foresee a very positive impact that one single organization representing the District will produce, especially when approaching Foundations, Grantors and the public with promotion and marketing efforts. A single entity enhances the ability to raise significant external funds for the School District.

WHAF Art Show 2009 Schedule of Events
Posted on 05/04/2009
Fri., May 8th: 5-8pm -- Open to the Public OPENING RECEPTION with refreshments Woodland Hills High School Soloists & Duets Sat., May 9th: 1-4pm -- Open to the Public Sun., May 10th: 1-4pm -- Open to the Public (Mother's Day) Tues., May 12th -- Open for School Field Trips Only Wed., May 13th -- Show closed for Woodland Hills Kennywood Day Thurs., May 14th: 5-8pm -- Open to the Public WHAF Annual Meeting, 7PM, with refreshments Selected Mini Grant projects presentations. 2009 Scholarship Awardees announced. Fri., May 15th: 5-8pm -- Open to the Public Sat., May 16th: 1-4pm - Open to the Public Wilkins Primary Puppeteers – 2:00-2:30 pm Laurie Shea, musician – 2:45pm Sat., May 16th, 7:30pm -- Alumni Cabaret - tickets required Cabaret will be held in the Braddock Library Music Hall Followed by a formal reception w/ refreshments at the Art Show Sun., May 17th: 1-4pm -- Open to the Public, CLOSING SESSION 6th Grade Spectacular, 1:30-2:30 pm (Strings and Band performances)

TICKETS FOR ALUMNI CABARET!!
Posted on 04/21/2009
For tickets call 412-731-9849, mail request to WHAF, PO Box 321, Turtle Creek, PA 15145, or leave your request on our "Contact Us" page on this website. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, number of tickets, and if you want them mailed (payment will need to be included) or you will pick them up at "Will Call". Tickets are $10.00 donation ($15.00 at the door). SEE YOU AT THE CABARET!

The All District Art Show and The Alumni Cabaret for 2009
Posted on 04/17/2009
The show will again be held at the former First Prebyterian Church on Library Street (across from the Braddock Library). The show will be held from Friday May 8, through Sunday, May 17, 2009. Refreshements will be served for the opening on Friday the 8th. On Thursday, May 14th will be the Minigrant Showcase and WHAF awards will be announced (art show awards, scholarships). The annual "Alumni Cabaret" will be held at 7:30 pm Saturday, May 16th at the Braddock Carnegie Library Music Hall. This is followed by a reception at the art show. Go to Calendar for dates and times.

Woodland Hills Academic Foundation to Award Scholarships
Posted on 03/15/2009
The Woodland Hills Academic Foundation will again this year award two different types of scholarships to Woodland Hills graduating seniors, the Senior Scholarship and the Julia Anne McCool Memorial Scholarship for the Arts and Humanities. Applying for the Senior Scholarship consists of completing a three page form including questions about why the student would like to continue his or her education and how Woodland Hills prepares students for post-secondary school. Applications are available from guidance counselors, tech-ed teachers, and from the Academic Foundation website at www.whaf.info. This year’s application deadline is April 1st. The McCool Scholarship applications and guidelines may be obtained from the music department, the art department, or the guidance department at the high school. Submission deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2009 by delivering the application to the guidance department, mailing to WHAF, or an on-line submission.

THE ALUMNI CABARET, MAY 16, 2009
Posted on 02/20/2009
The Cabaret is a benefit for WHAF to help fund activities for the school district. In conjunction with WHAF's All District Art Show, the foundation is busy planing the alumni cabaret. Alumni of the W H High School's award winning musicals will once again be on stage performing their favorite show tunes. The show will be at the Braddock Carnegie Library Music Hall at 419 Library Street, Braddock, PA. Tickets are required ($10 donation, $15 at the door). For tickets contact any WHAF Board Member, by calling Kathleen Good 412-242-2049, or by going to the "Contact Us" on this website. Tickets will also be available at The Art Show. Come to the Cabaret and join us for this night of entertainment. Immediately following the show, there will be a dessert reception at the Art Show across the street.

The All District Art Show and The Alumni Cabaret for 2009
Posted on 02/07/2009
Coming in May. Schedule of events will be posted soon.

WHAF AWARDS 10 MINI-GRANTS FOR 2008-2009 – JANUARY 12, 2009
Posted on 02/07/2009
The Woodland Hills Academic Foundation (WHAF) has awarded 10 Mini-Grants totaling over $6,100 for the 2008-2009 school year. Since 2002, WHAF has funded 88 Mini-Grants totaling $39,800. This year, WHAF again funded the majority of the Mini-Grant proposals submitted. The Academic Foundation continues to be pleased by the strong proposals from Woodland Hills School District teachers complimenting the foundation’s mission to promote, support, and enhance educational opportunities for all Woodland Hills students. WHAF is able to provide Mini-Grants as a result of the generous support of the community, including the Academic Foundation’s Spring fund-raiser and Alumni Cabaret held during the spring 2008 All District Art Show.

WHAF Mini Grant Application Deadline Extended
Posted on 10/16/2008
The WHAF Mini Grant Application Deadline has been extended by one week to Monday, October 27, 2008. Any member of Woodland Hills School District's instructional or professional staff - e.g. teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses - is eligible to apply for a mini-grant. Apply online at http:\\WHAF.info. Awards will be announced before the Thanksgiving break.

WHHS Mock Presidential Debate
Posted on 10/14/2008
A Mock Presidential Debate will be held at the Woodland Hills High School auditorium at 12:30PM on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, as part of the Mini Grant Project "2008 Mock Presidential Debate & Election". The multi-disciplinary project was designed to enhance a student’s knowledge of the key issues that the two major presidential candidates will focus on in the 2008 Presidential Election. Students from both the regular education and gifted programs will be involved. The project will also involve cooperation from the gifted department, all social studies instructors, as well as the audio-visual television production staff. "The 2008 Mock Presidential Debate and Election" project was funded by a WHAF 2007-2008 Mini Grant awarded to High School teachers Ms. Heather Nyapas, Ms. Peggy Siefert , Dr. Pamela Allen, and retired teacher Mr. Richard Stanczak. Read their full proposal on the Mini Grant page of the WHAF.info website. For more information about attending the event, please contact Mrs. Heather Nyapas at Nyaphe@whsd.net or 412-244-1100x5148.

Immigrant Story Service Learning Project Article
Posted on 09/13/2008
The Fall 2008 issue of the "In Woodland Hills" magazine included an article describing the "Immigrant Story Service Learning Project" Mini Grant. This project was funded by a 2007-2008 WHAF Mini Grant awarded to Woodland Hills teachers Ms. Lisa A. Silverman and Ms.Susan Tanski who teach at the BCMC High School. The article closes with a quote by Ms. Silverman, "Because of this mini-grant, I was able to realize a teaching dream that I had, and my students are forever better because of it.” The original proposal can be viewed via the MiniGrants page of the WHAF website. The full article can be read by clicking on: InWoodlandHills Fall08 WHAF Mini Grant Article

Art Show a Tremendous Success
Posted on 09/13/2008
An Article in the Fall 2008 issue of the In Woodland Hills Magazine calls the WHAF 2008 All-District Art Show a Tremendous Success. "More than 2,000 students, teachers, parents, school administrators, and community members attended the spring Woodland Hills Academic Foundation’s All-District Art Show. The Art Show was devoted to the outstanding visual arts created and exhibited by more than 300 Woodland Hills School District students from kindergarten through high school. This year’s show and activities were again presented at the historic former First Presbyterian Church located directly across Library Street from the Braddock Carnegie Library, the first Carnegie Library in America. The Woodland Hills Academic Foundation sponsored and coordinated the show with the District and generous support from UPMC Braddock, the Braddock community, Mayor John K. Fetterman, Vicki Vargo, the Executive Director of the Braddock Carnegie Library, and the Braddock’s Field Historical Society." To read the complete article, please click here: InWoodlandHilllsFall08 Article - WHAF Art Show

WHAF Accepting Mini Grant Applications
Posted on 09/13/2008
The Woodland Hills Academic Foundation (WHAF) is now accepting applications for Mini-Grants for the 2008-2009 school year Mini-Grants are modest cash awards that support, encourage and facilitate great teaching ideas within the Woodland Hills School District. Mini-Grants also acknowledge and celebrate good teaching. Any member of Woodland Hills School District's instructional or professional staff is eligible to apply for a Mini-Grant. Applications and guidelines are available at http://whaf.info. The application deadline is Monday, October 20th, 2008. Awards will be made and announced before the Thanksgiving break. Since 2002, WHAF has funded 79 mini-grants totaling $34,000. Last year, WHAF funded seventeen Mini-Grants. WHAF looks forward to continuing and expanding this initiative that has a positive impact on good teaching and enthusiastic learning. Contributions to support the Mini-Grant Program can be mailed to WHAF. Please designate “Mini-Grant Program” on your check or in a cover note.

WHAF "Good as Gold" MiniGrant described In Woodland Hills Magazi
Posted on 07/10/2008
The Summer 2008 issue of the "In Woodland Hills" magazine included an article about the "Good as G.O.L.D. (Growing Our Leaders Daily) Mini Grant project. This overnight program for 6th grade girls at Rankin Intermediate School included program activities emphasizing teamwork, leadership, and social skills. This project was funded by a 2007-2008 WHAF Mini Grant awarded to Ms. Jami Kuhn at Rankin Intermediate School. The original proposal can be viewed via the MiniGrants page of the WHAF website. The full article can be read: In Woodland Hills Magazine Article "Good As Gold"

2008 WHAF Art Show
Posted on 04/29/2008
The Woodland Hills All District Art Show will run from Friday, May 9th though Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at the Church at 416 Library Street in Braddock, PA. ....... Fri., May 9: 5-8pm -- OPENING RECEPTION with refreshments (WHSD Duets, Trios & Quartets) …… Sat., May 10: 1-4pm – Open to the Public (Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League) …… Sun., May 11: 1-4pm – Open to the Public (Mother’s Day) ……. Mon.–Tues., May 12-13 -- Open for School Field Trips Only …… Thurs., May 15: 5-8pm -- Open to the Public, WHAF Annual Meeting (7PM, with refreshments) …… Fri., May 16: 5-8pm -- Open to the Public (Woodland High School Jazz Band, Woodland Hills Chamber Choir) …… Sat., May 17: 1-4pm – Open to the Public (African Drumming Mini-Grant Project Performance) …… Sat., May 17, 7:30pm -- Alumni Cabaret Fundraiser (tickets required, followed by a formal reception w/ refreshments) …… Sun., May 18: 1-4pm, -- Open to the Public, 6th Grade Spectacular, 1-2pm in Braddock Carnegie Music Hall (followed by a reception w/ refreshments in the Art Show) CLOSING SESSION.

Many Good Things in District Not in Headlines by Deanna Nebel
Posted on 12/14/2007
This article was orginally published in the STUDENT NOTEBOOK section of the Woodland Progress on Dec. 12, 2007. It is written by WHHS student, Deanna Nebel. "Many of my family members and friends have been contacting me concerning what they’ve been hearing about Woodland Hills on the news. After telling them that almost all high schools have similar problems, I tell them about all the good things at Woodland Hills and what you don’t hear on the news. In 2001, USA Today named the Wolvarena as one of the top 10 places in America to watch high school football, and in 2003, Newsweek ranked Woodland Hills’ Advanced Placement classes among the top AP programs in the country. A few examples of AP classes include U.S. history, physics, English and environmental science. After completing a test in the spring, students can receive college credit for the AP classes that they take. In addition to its numerous AP programs, Woodland Hills has a wide variety of activities and sports available; most notably, the football team, which won the WPIAL Quad-A championship in 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2002. Other noteworthy sports and activities include the tennis team, rifle team, marching band, Interact Club, girls and boys soccer, track team and many, many others. A great number of students are in more than one activity and devote a large portion of their time to their chosen extracurricular activities. The school district also takes pride in its yearly spring musical and, if you do the math, Woodland Hills wins 60 percent of the Gene Kelly Awards for which it is nominated. No other high school can even come close to this record. While many schools receive money for their musicals from their school budget or school board, Woodland Hills funds its musicals only from funds that students raise, and often, the students raise the needed amount with a little money to spare. Last year, the budget for “Les Misérables” was about $25,000. This year’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” will probably cost a similar amount. The gifted department’s mock trial team came in third in the state last year, and the department’s magazine, Graphiti, a year-long project, wins first place in national awards yearly. The gifted program also offers numerous apprenticeships around Pittsburgh, such as acting, business, conducting, education, musical theater and filmmaking apprenticeships. All the apprenticeships incorporate hands-on instruction, as well as a look at the real thing. For example, the acting apprenticeship at Pittsburgh Public Theater consists of several workshops of acting instruction and opportunities to watch and study live actors on a stage. The conducting apprenticeship at Heinz Hall and Duquesne University features hands-on training in conducting techniques and a chance to watch Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra rehearse. There are also many classes in the gifted department that provide unique opportunities, such as electronics classes, various language classes such as sign language and Hebrew, advanced math classes and writing classes such as “Student Columnist,” which is responsible for the article you are reading now. So the next time you hear something bad about Wood-land Hills on the news, ask yourself why are you not hearing about the good things. Ask yourself why you do not hear about the impressive things the Woodland Hills students can do and have done. Even better: Ask a student what is going on at Woody High. I promise the story will be significantly different from what you hear on the news."

WHAF AWARDS 17 MINI-GRANTS FOR 2007-2008 – NOVEMBER 17, 2007
Posted on 11/21/2007
The Woodland Hills Academic Foundation (WHAF) has awarded 17 Mini-Grants totaling $8,500 for the 2007-2008 school year. This is the largest amount ever funded by WHAF in any single year and equals 2003-2004 for the most grants awarded. Since 2002, WHAF has funded 78 Mini-Grants totaling over $33,700. This year, WHAF received 30 Mini-Grant proposals from Woodland Hills School District teachers, by far the most significant response since WHAF assumed responsibility for administrating the program from the district in 2002. Anyone who wishes to support the Mini-Grant program is encouraged to send a contribution to: WHAF, P.O. Box 321, Turtle Creek, PA 15145. If you are not already a member of WHAF, membership forms are also available under the JOIN tab of this website. To view the full press release including Mini-Grant Project Titles, Building, and Teacher(s) please clidk here.Link to Mini-Grant Press Release

WHAF Accepting Mini-Grant Proposals for 2007-2008
Posted on 10/09/2007
WHAF is accepting Mini-Grant Proposals for the 2007-2008 school year. Mini-grants are modest cash awards that help educators make a positive difference in their classrooms, their schools, the Woodland Hills School District, and most importantly, the learning experience of their students. Mini-grants support, encourage and facilitate great teaching ideas. Since 2002, the Woodland Hills Academic Foundation (WHAF) has funded 62 mini-grants totaling over $25,000. Any member of Woodland Hills School District's instructional or professional staff - e.g. teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses - is eligible to apply for a mini-grant. The online application deadline is Monday, October 22nd 2007. Awards will be announced before the Thanksgiving break.

The Art Show
Posted on 05/04/2007
For details concerning the 2007 All-District Art Show visit the Art Show page. Includes the schedule of events as well as downloadable PDF invitations and schedules.

Community Tile Project
Posted on 10/17/2006
An art opening and formal presentation to the public of a Community Tile Project will be held at the Braddock Carnegie Library on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m. A mural of handmade tiles created in the Braddock Carnegie Library Pottery Studio by Rankin Intermediate and Shaffer Primary school students is complete and has been installed as a permanent work of art in the library. A renovation project is under way to transform the circulation area into the new children's library, with the mural as the centerpiece. The tile project was designed by Woodland Hills art teacher Phyllis McLaughlin and Jaison Pascuzzi, who oversees the studio and the library's art education program. This presentation is the culmination of a Mini Grant that the Academic Foundation awarded last year.

The All-District Art Show
Posted on 05/18/2006
Yes, Art is blossoming all over Braddock with the Woodland Hills All-District Art Show. From the Opening Reception on May 12 from 5-8pm till its closing hours on Sunday, May 21 from 1-4pm, there will be an event-filled two weeks devoted to the visual arts created by students in the Woodland Hills School District from kindergarten through high school. Learn More Info