West Deer High School - Coalagra Yearbook (Russellton, PA)

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Administration Matthew F. Petrina, High School Principal tience, Ability, and Critical Judgment DR. BRUNO CASILE, former director of curricu- lum who last year left West Deer administrative du- ties to become a professor at Duquesne University. Probably the most signihcant event of the year was the announcement that an O.K. had been received for Mfest Deer to construct a 7th-Sth grade annex near the high school building. This was expected to greatly alleviate jam-packed conditions at the high school, built for around 500 and now housing more than l,000. Previous building plans for more class- room space had been blocked by county and state authorities pending outcome on various merger plans that were discussed in length but never got off the ground. However, the future for the school district appears pointed towards another era of success and eiiiciency, with an able, progressive administration and School Board to lead the way. RIGHT HAND CALS-The West Deer Twp. School District is a near-million dollar a year industry, And a large portion of paper work connected with that industry is handled by our cflicient ofhce secretaries, left, Mrs. Collier and Mrs. Kondrak, at the high school oflice, and Miss Lawrence and Miss Broglia, at the Bairdford school district ollicc. They're important cogs in keeping WVest Deer humming. ,Q

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.f- - s -rv , '- ,gs if I .14 ..,. .-.--9..- Wlilliam Burns, Superintendent of Schools Administration of Schools Calls f Untold hours ol' dedicated effort are put in daily, weekly, and yearly by the administrators and School Board ol' the XN'est Deer Twp. School District. This term, 1962-63, some extremely important decisions had to be made. For one thing, the district continued its unrelentless enrollment pace as more and more families moved into the township. The entire school district popula- tion climbed near the 2,500 mark, while the high school cleared l,000. All planning for the education of these individuals rested in the hands of VVILLIAM BUR NS, superin- tendent ol' township schools, BURTON H. STEVEN- SON, supervisor of elementary schools, and MAT- THEXN F. PETRINA, high school principal. Of course, all their decisions were subject to the School Board's approval. Extremely missed in our school administration was i I BOARD OF EDUCATION-Scaled, 5 Robert Graham, Mrs. Elinibclli Do- I ' 22 man, William Rodger, john Makula. Standing, Louis Castello, Clarence Nor- ris, Roberl Hallett.

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Faculty lnventions Politics Twin I I What did they talk about in the faculty rooms during the 1962-63 term? Wlell, no doubt most of the conversation centered on Mickey Vitkay Edison, politics, how to care for twins in the family, as well as the perennial problem of how to effectively handle ever increasing classroom loads. MR. VITKAY could probably be labeled the West Deer Teacher of the Year. The amiable science in- structor made newspaper headlines with his amazing Kwik-hot invention that purifies, heats, decontami- nates, and carries water all in one. He appeared on several TV shows with his intriguing outdoor unit, as well as speaking to many interested groups. The Allegheny Valley Chamber of Commerce hailed the product as a distinct possibility for a new industry in the area. In the bustling world of local politics and public service, MR. PIAZZA and MR. MARSICO were names in the news. Mr. Piazza, who was the recent people's choice for justice of the peace, lost out in a bid for the state legislature, while Mr. Marsico gained immeasurable popularity even though losing the Ar- nold school district race by one vote. And this was significant: for the fourth consecutive year, a set of twins was born in a faculty member's family. This year MR. and MRS. MAURONI made the proud announcement-twin girls born in May. Other members of the exclusive VVD Faculty Twins Club are such illustrious people as the POWERS, the SEKANICKS, and the XNHARTENBYS. Which family is going to carry the double-diaper banner s Concerned Faculty in ,63 the coming year is the question! The new members of the faculty staff for the term were MR. KRISTOFIK, MR. DeCAPITE, and MR. HAJEL. They replaced MRS. BASSETT, MR. FOR- TINO, and DR. CASILE who left for positions in other school districts. Another pleasant addition was MRS. KONDRAK, hired as a secretary to help with the voluminous clerical work in the several high school olhces. In academic circles, WD faculty members had their hands full trying to keep pace with bulging classes and more and more papers to check. Very successful during the year were their several in-service training days, including the valuable English workshop held in the high school aml attended by all the teachers. Most of the teachers continued their quest for self- improvement and keeping up with modern teaching trends by attending graduate school and numerous conferences. The latest to receive masters degrees were MR. CAPELLMAN, MRS. PIAZZA, MR. SALVA- TORE, MR. VITKAY, while many teachers contin- ued to work on even more advanced credits. Throughout church, community, and civic phases of life, many MID teachers could be found in leader- ship positions. Some of these were MR. ANTONEL- LI, Lions Club presidentg MR. MARSILI, Lions Club secretary, MR. GRAFF, Civil Defense instruc- torg MRS. SCI-IUSTIZR, who had another article pub- lished in a national magazine, as well as being a leader with Duquesne University alumni, MR. VIT- KAY, chairman of the now famous St. Victor's sum- mer bazaar. DENO ACCIAI . . . B.S .... Algebra, Physics . . . Married, 2 children, lives in Lower Burrell . . . 9 years teaching, 8 at WD. ERNEST ANDRIKO . . . ILA., M.15r1 .... Biology, . . lives in Bairdford . . . I0 years teaching, all at WD. DANIEL ANGELONI . . . B.A., M.Ed .... English, P,O.D., journalism, Yearbook, Photography . . . Married, 'ff' one child, lives in Magill Heights . . . ll years teaching, f all at XVD. Re, gg. W ff -A' is VINCENT ANTONELLI . . . B.S .... Health. Science . . . Athletic Director, 9th Grade sponsor . . . Married, 2 children, lives in Reaghard Drive . . . I7 years teaching, l5 at YVD. 1 I, 5 'J ARNOLD CAPELLMAN . . . ILS., MA .... Industrial - Arts. Drafting . . . Married, one child, lives in Springdale . . . 5 years teaching, all at XVD. if. , - I A MRS. ELIZABETH CUNNINGHAM . . . ILA., M.l5zI. M N? I . . . Alhegra, Trigonotnetry, Geometry, Advanced Mathe- - ' .. 'f fu .. . . . . P Q an matics . . . Mathematics Dept. Head . . . Married, lives ' in Brackenridge . . . 30 years teaching, l5 at NVD. 24