As Pennsylvanians, we appreciate the ways our state recognizes school choice. One way PA helps Pennsylvania’s children is with the EITC! Watch the video to learn more. This is a program that could help your child attend a private school OR a way you can help create private school scholarships if you owe PA income tax! Go here to learn more!
Alumni News!
Cheswick Christian Academy alum Ben Pollock is playing great basketball at Chatham! He’s averaging 10.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. Earlier this season “he went for 25 points — his career high was a 30-point effort last year against Waynesburg.”
Photo credit to Jeanine Leech. Thanks to the triblive for the stats! See more stats here!
And check out Chatham’s schedule to catch a game nearby!
You might notice that some of our logos just say Pittsburgh Christian Schools Network while other of our artwork says Greater Pittsburgh Christian Schools Network. The why is probably pretty obvious: As an organization we realized that we represent towns from all over the GREATER Pittsburgh region. In fact, while students who live in the city definitely do attend our schools, even using their school’s school buses, we currently have no school in the city! Christian schools surround the city! Some are pretty close to city borders, like Pittsburgh Urban Christian School in Wilkinsburg or Trinity Christian School in Forest Hills, and some reach students from further north or east like Cheswick Christian Academy and Greater Works Christian School. And finally, Penn Christian Academy in Butler and Beaver County Christian School reach even further north (and east or west, respectively) into Butler and Beaver County and beyond! If you live in or near Pittsburgh, there is a Christian school for you!
But what about the name Pittsburgh? Why the H?
On November 27, 1758, British General John Forbes sent a letter to William Pitt telling him that a city had been named for him: Pittsbourgh. Prior to that, the French had claimed the area and constructed a fort at the point where the three rivers meet, which they named Fort Duquesne. In 1758, they burned Fort Duquesne as they were being forced out by the British, and the fort that would replace it, which we can still visit as a museum, is still called Fort Pitt.
In 1891, however the United States Board on Geographic Names, in an attempt to standardize addresses, declared the -h to be dropped at the end of -burgh names. Fortunately, Pittsburghers mainly refused to use the new official spelling. Eventually on July 19, 1911, the board restored the official name to Pittsburgh to appease the masses. Yay!
Goldberry Studios, creator of Close Reads (the best online bookclub and discussion podcast on all of the internet), has a BRAND NEW podcast for kids! It promises to be part nonsense/part bookclub, with book discussions, author talks, family-friendly jokes, game show bits, and more.
Hosts David and Graeme are deeply involved in both books and Christian education and they are trustworthy! This fun podcast definitely gets the Greater Pittsburgh Christian Schools Network stamp of approval!
Their first guest is S.D. Smith, author of The Green Ember series with its famous rabbits with swords! (This is a beloved series with some of our Greater Pittsburgh Christian Schools Network families!)
This summer, if you are looking for something for your kids to listen to–or something to listen to with your kids–check out Withywindle!
It is going to be so good.
If you are watching the video, senior Michael Ifidon is scheduled to compete at 10 AM on Friday, May 28th, Heat 1, Lane 1.
Congrats to Michael, his coaches, and the Trinity Christian School track and field team!
On Wednesday, May 19th Trinity Christian School’s Track and Field sent seven athletes and an alternate to the WPIAL Individual Championship at Slippery Rock University. The athletes had to earn a spot in their regular season to compete in this regional Championship–and here they competed for a spot at the state PIAA Championships, which will be held May 28 at Shippensburg University.
Senior Michael Ifidon took third place with a time of 11.40 in the 100m (1/4 of a lap around a track) to earn a spot at State Championships!
Freshman Joshua Maurer took seventh place with a time of 52.10 in the 400m (1/4 of a mile or 1 lap around the track)!
The 4X800m Relay Team was made up of freshmen Anderson Beck and Nathan Fu and sophomores Zeke Sams and Benjamin Gaunt (with junior Tommy Nelson as an alternate). The 4X800 Relay is a race where each person on a team of four runs two laps (1/2 a mile) before handing off the track baton to their next teammate who then takes off for his two laps, until the fourth runner finishes the race. Their time was 9:13.14 and they placed eleventh.
Senior Brett White in Discus threw for 126-01.00 and placed tenth.
If you’re curious about the times and distances for the entire Championship, go here!
Help us welcome the new executive director of Pittsburgh Urban Christian School!
Mr. Jonathan Ray comes to PUCS most recently from Propel Schools Foundation and he has years of youth and community leadership in Indiana as well! Read all about this great new executive director on Pittsburgh Urban Christian School’s website!
And while you’re there, look around the website to see if this dedicated and diverse Christian school, that serves students from throughout the city and beyond, could serve your family! PUCS is committed to seeing all of their children grow in grace and knowledge! Check them out!
The purpose of Christian Education is to direct and guide our children to commit their hearts to Christ, to attain understanding and wisdom, and to joyfully perform competent and responsible service of the Lord in church, state, and society.
From PUCS’ Foundational Beliefs
A few Greater Pittsburgh Christian Schools Network schools play basketball in the SWCAC league. Here’s a list of links to follow the team standings:
Beaver County Christian School Varsity Boys are in the SW PA Athletic Alliance Boys Basketball Division
Beaver County Christian School Varsity Girls are in the SW PA Athletic Alliance Girls Basketball Division
Beaver County Christian School Middle School Boys are in the Middle School Tri-County Boys Division
Beaver County Christian School Middle school Girls are in the Middle School Tri-County Girls Division
Cheswick Christian Academy Varsity Girls are in the Greater Pittsburgh Girls Basketball Division
Cheswick Christian Academy Varsity Boys are in the Greater Pittsburgh Boys Basketball Division
Cheswick Christian Academy Middle School Boys are in the Middle School Greater Pittsburgh Boys Division
Trinity Christian School Varsity Boys are in the SW PA Athletic Alliance Boys Basketball Division
Trinity Christian School Varsity Girls are in the SW PA Athletic Alliance Girls Basketball Division
Trinity Christian School Middle School Boys are in the Middle School Greater Pittsburgh Boys Division
Trinity Christian School Middle School Girls are in the Middle School Greater Pittsburgh Girls Division
It’s great to see our schools recognized in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review!
Don’t miss this article in the Tribune Review about Cheswick’s Boys Varsity team under the leadership of Coach Rosio in his 27th Season as coach of the Chargers!
And this article about Cheswick Christian Academy Girls Varsity Basketball team with new coach Jacque Willis taking over the helm last year for longtime Coach Clinton Blazevich. (Facebook friends of GPCSN might remember praying together for Coach Blazevich last spring!)
“We wanted to make sure if we built this, it would be a state-of-the-art gymnasium that would allow us ample room to have basketball, volleyball, and all kinds of kids activities for school and recess.”
Committee Chairman Tom Dodd
Beaver County Times has a great article (with stunning pictures) of Beaver County Christian School’s beautiful new gym, The Steve Warden Gymnasium.
The Steve Warden Gymnasium is named for BCCS history teacher and boys soccer coach since 1981, Mr. Steve Warden. The Coach Adels Court is named for Christen Adels–BCCS volleyball and basketball coach of 18 years and counting.
The gym seats 400 people and is a work of art. Check it out!
