Name: Clemustine Sinack Occupation: 7th & 8th Grade Science Teacher at South Hills Middle School Years In Education: 23 years Years At Current Position/School: 3 years Previously, I … taught in North Carolina and I’ve taught elementary and secondary science. I taught in NC from 1997 until 2016. Moved to Pittsburgh in 2016 and started teaching in February of 2016 .
Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8 is a state finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow innovation competition! View PPS News Release here.
PFT: What is the idea for the project? Is there an application you submitted with answers that you could share with us?
CLEM: The idea for the project is to create an Automated Hydroponic Greenhouse that can be used in teaching not only the students, but also serve as a way to involve the community by exposing the parents to STEM in a meaningful way. The hope is to create a school farmers market that would happen yearly. Information on the project, including specific images, is an embargo on images until finalists have been announced.
One of the requirements of the application was to propose a sustainable, meaningful project that would benefit the students and the community. We believe we can be a shining example for other schools across the country, and hope for local investment to sustain the project as well
Concept Example
PFT:How did you, your school, and your students choose this as the project to enter into the contest?
CLEM: The thought process was to have something that would benefit and be something of value, to all the students. Food is a universal connector; it brings families together, brings happiness, and it’s something that could be relatable to everyone.
PFT: What will be the result of the project if you win the contest? Is your school considering funding or supporting the hydroponic greenhouse project no matter what happens with the contest?
South Hills Middle School
CLEM: If we were to win the entire contest it would mean $100,000 dollars in school technology and classroom resources! Each win still gives us technology and recourses after the state level, however.
Currently there is no plan for funding the greenhouse no matter what, due to funds. While this is a wonderful endeavor, we have more pressing matters that would take precedent in our building.
If we don’t win, we hope to get business sponsors to help the startup of the project anyway while making and keeping connections so that we may enter the contest again with other ideas.
PFT: Why is this idea important—to the students, the school and the community?
CLEM: Simply put, it’s important because anything that can connect, help and build a sense of community is always important.
PFT: How proud are you of your students? Your school? Elaborate—please tell us why?
CLEM: I’m proud of our students because they have a lot to offer. We are a school of students who have talent and gifts. This is a good way to show them. South Hills is a great place to work.
The teachers, the staff, the administration all have a vested interest in our students, and I hope to let everyone in on our little family here at South Hills.
Our PFT Painting with a Twist party is booked and ready for members to sign up. Click here to register–enter the passcode TEACH to reserve your spot!
Painting With A Twist! Saturday February 22nd from 11:00- 1:00 PM BYOB—with free Mimosas and snacks provided by the PFT Social Committee. ** LIMIT OF 20 PFT ARTISTS! Register today! **
YOU CAN DO IT! Here’s what we’re painting! What could be better than taking an art class, finishing your own original painting AND a Mimosa or two? Doing so among PFT friends after our General Membership Meeting! (or even if you can’t make the meeting for some reason).
Click here to sign up right now—space is limited to just 20 PFT artists! Enter the word TEACH as your passcode to register on the site.
NOTE: Responses must be received by Friday, February 7, 2020. You will be notified by email/text regarding acceptance into the class after February 14, 2020. (Classes are not assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.)
General Membership Meeting Saturday, February 22, 2020 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM! Breakfast served. Childcare available. At the PFT! 10 South 19 Street, Pittsburgh PA 15203 BE HERE to get INSIDE SCOOP you won’t get ANYWHERE else! (Not in the Notes or PFT News)
PFT Contract Negotiations Update
Grievance Proceedings Update
Member Pledge to Vote & Mobilize
2020 Primary Election Survey
PFT ELECTION YEAR! NATIONAL ELECTION YEAR! CENSUS YEAR!
FEATURING: PFT Attorney Noah Jordan “Weingarten Rights: What you REALLY need to know!”
ALL THIS includes a tasty catered breakfast! 50/50 Raffle! RSVP Raffle! Childcare available! Plus an optional “Painting with a Twist” member social event nearby shortly after our meeting adjourns!
You can always count on PFT
members to be generous and to reach out to others who need help!
As
another successful PFT/ACLC Stuff the Bus comes to an end—just look how great
the PFT lobby looks before PFT staff loads up to take all of these beautiful
toys over to the Allegheny County Labor Council meeting tonight to STUFF THAT BUS and help
the families of union members in need!
On behalf of Darrin Kelly, the
Executive Board of the ACLC and all our union brothers and sisters—thank you
for your generosity, kindness and endless giving PFT spirit. I always expect
nothing less!
The Para to Sub Program is Starting Up Again this Year! Please Help to Make Sure that Administration and Everyone Follows the Rules!
We’re so happy that many of our paraprofessionals were given the opportunity to teach and to earn extra money, but we also want to make sure that teachers are not left without the supports they need and that special education federal/state laws are not being violated in any way that comes back to bite anyone.
That is why we keep pushing the rules that were so carefully vetted through the PFT and the BOE. Every PFT Building Rep has a set in her/his Binder that was distributed at the start of the year, and we have plenty more of those here at the office.
Once again, here are the rules for the Para to Sub Program below.
PARAS—REMEMBER the following about eligibility:
CERTAIN paraprofessionals (only if they are interested and willing) will be eligible to work as substitutes IF they have a degree, and IF it does not leave students and teachers without supports.
Eligible with no restrictions: EA1s Student Services Assistants
Eligible only within their own classroom provided students receive appropriatelevels of support (i.e. substitute paraprofessional) and legally-mandated adult-to-student ratios are maintained: Assistant Teacher Classroom Assistant Educational Assistant II Educational Assistant III Educational Assistant IV JROTC Noncommissioned Instructional Assistant
For example …
Special Education paraprofessionals assigned to one classroom like ES rooms, LSS rooms, AS room, or Therapeutic Rooms can only sub IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOM! AND IF there is no teacher sub available and IF they provide a para sub.
Paras, if you have a disagreement with these rules, please give us a call at 412.431.5900—don’t argue with the teacher in your room; he/she had nothing to do with the policies of the program. We can fill you in on every decision that was made because PFT staff was there through all of the intensive negotiations—412-431-5900.
