Aliquippa

The students and staff at Aliquippa Elementary School raised $623.75 to "bail" Assistant Principal Rachel Gray out of "jail" recently. The jail bail was raised to provide money for research for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Big Beaver Falls

Ronald Miller earlier this month was elected president and Gene Marx was elected vice president of the district's school board.

Blackhawk

Richard Caputo was elected president and Richard Oswald was elected vice president at the school board's Dec. 1 reorganization meeting.

Carlynton

Families are donating nonperishable food items for Operation Snowball, which will benefit the Salvation Army Food Bank. The homeroom donating the most items will win a pizza party.

Chartiers Valley

Magisterial District Judge Elaine McGraw, of South Fayette, last week swore in Jeff Choura and incumbents Tom Galluze, Bridget Kelly and Beth McIntyre to four-year terms on the Chartiers Valley school board.

Mr. Galluze welcomed Mr. Choura, a longtime director who is returning to the board after a two-year absence.

Elected board president by unanimous vote was Mr. Galluze, who also was president during the past year. Director Tony Moses was unanimously re-elected board vice president. Ms. Kelly was reappointed board secretary, and the law firm of Maiello Brungo and Maiello was renamed district solicitor.

Board meeting dates will change for 2006, with the workshops scheduled for the second Tuesday and the regular meeting remaining on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Mr. Choura asked that the district make sure heating units are operational on all school vans. Some residents have told him several vans lack heat, he said.

The state Department of Education honored Chartiers Valley High, Middle and Intermediate schools with an award for meeting the Adequate Yearly Progress requirement of state standards for two consecutive years.

The pupils performed above state and national averages on both state assessments.

The keystone-shaped award is being given to schools across the state in which students have exceeded the math and reading standards required by the state's accountability system and the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The awards will be on display in each school throughout the year.

Holy Trinity

The sixth annual Auction and Dinner, Masquerade Magic, raised about $35,000 for Holy Trinity Catholic School in Robinson last month.

Tables inside the Flaugherty House in Moon were adorned with masks decorated by pupils. Businesses, professional athletes and authors, parents and parish members donated items for a silent auction and a live auction, which followed dinner.

Montour

The 15th annual Winter Concert will feature the concert band, the concert choir and the freshman ensemble performing at 7 tonight in the Lovey Dobda Memorial Auditorium in the high school, Clever Road, Robinson.

Admission is $2 for adults. Senior citizens and students will be admitted free.

Moon Area

The High School Instrumental Music Department will present a Winter Concert featuring the Jazz Ensemble, String Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the high school auditorium.

Admission is $3, which benefits the Moon Area High School Instrumental Music Department.

For information, visit www.moonband.org.

New Brighton Area

Sylvia Romanchak is the new president and Richard Trill is vice president of the district's school board. New members Gigi Nesmith and Colleen Hoffman took oaths.

Edward LeDonne was appointed to fill the remaining two years of the term of Delores Armour, who moved out of the district.

Also, Albert J. Zangrilli was hired to replace Richard Start as solicitor at a rate of $375 per hour.

Rochester Area

More than 50 parents and pupils from the middle school ran or walked during the annual Run for Fun recently to benefit Passavant Memorial Homes.

Kindergarten pupil Michael Keith and third-grader Chloe Ketterer each won bicycles. Participants enjoyed crafts, refreshments and an auction to support Passavant.

The annual event raises awareness about diversity and individuals with disabilities.

St. Malachy

Pupils are purchasing dress-down passes to raise money for charities such as the Homeless Children's Education Fund, Children's Hospital Shoe Drive for the Homeless, the school's Angel Fund and the Diocese of Pittsburgh Charities.

The pupils are being encouraged to earn the passes by doing chores and kind deeds.

Principal Dr. Bruno Raso has challenged the pupils to raise $1,500 from the sale of these passes.

If the school reaches the goal, he will arrange for a new flag for the flagpole. In the spring, he will climb a ladder and paint part of the flagpole.

Sto-Rox

The middle school knitting club, which produces belts, scarves and blankets, needs supplies to accommodate its growing membership.

Any type of yarn or knitting needles can be sent to the Sto-Rox Middle School, c/o Jessica Bromley, knitting club sponsor, 298 Ewing Road, McKees Rocks, PA 15136. Call 412-771-3213.

The Sto-Rox School District received a $23,457 dual enrollment grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The district's collaborating partner is the Community College of Allegheny County.

CCAC's dual enrollment program offers qualified Allegheny County juniors and seniors a chance to earn college credit while still in high school. College-credit classes also count toward high school graduation requirements.

The middle school band members will perform Tuesday at the West Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center in Moon and Wednesday at Willow Heights in Kennedy.

Joseph Herzing, the district's home and school visitor, has been named high school guidance counselor.

The elementary and middle school bands will perform at 7 tonight in the middle school gym, 298 Ewing Road, Kennedy, There is no admission charge.

The senior high school music department will present its Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the high school auditorium, 1105 Valley Street, Stowe.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children age 12 and younger and $2 for senior citizens.

West Allegheny

Kindergarten registration for morning and afternoon sessions will be accepted -- by telephone only -- starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 4.

Children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1.

Registrants will be notified about orientation dates and will be sent registration forms in the mail. At that time, parents will be required to present immunization records, birth certificate, physical and dental examination forms and proof of residency,

To register, call Wilson Elementary School, 724-695-3300; McKee Elementary School, 724-693-8451; or Donaldson Elementary School, 724-213-1010.