(AP Photo)
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — There will be six more weeks of winter. That’s the prediction made Wednesday by Punxsutawney Phil after he emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania to perform his Groundhog Day duties. Thousands of people gathered at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned him from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he’d seen his shadow. After Phil’s prediction was announced, the crowd repeatedly chanted “six more weeks!” According to folklore, spring would come early if he didn’t see it.

(File Photo)

Monaca, PA – Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) today announced the launch of its newest High School Academy for students in grades 11 and 12 interested in careers as educators. The Education Academy, CCBC’s sixth of its kind, provides students at participating schools the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in diverse educational settings while learning how to prepare developmentally appropriate lessons and learning environments. CCBC’s Education Academy students can earn up to 28 college credits while still working towards a high school diploma.

“We are pleased to launch the CCBC Education Academy for Western Pennsylvania’s up and coming students interested in early learning and development,” said Joyce Cirelli, dean of high school academies and dual enrollment at CCBC. “At CCBC, we are committed to providing opportunities to students that fill the pipeline of quality education professionals in the region and nationwide. We look forward to seeing this new Academy grow and become a significant part of the pathway here at CCBC.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there was a net loss of 65,000 public education workers between September 2021 and October. The shortage of teachers includes full-time and substitutes in K-12. 

“School superintendents have expressed the need for teachers across all grade levels,” said Lia Hazelwood, CCBC’s dual enrollment assistant and champion of the Education Academy. “Due to these shortages, schools are desperate to fill voids with educators that are qualified and eager to make a difference in their classrooms and school districts. These demands can be filled by young entry-level professionals with increased knowledge and skills developed through our Education Academy.” 

Education Academy classes will commence in Fall 2022. Enrollment is currently open.

 CCBC High School Academies launched in 2015 with the Aviation Academy followed annually by Health, STEM, Criminal Justice, and Mascaro Construction. Regionally, these five academies educate more than 200 students from 60 school districts allowing them to explore careers in areas of workforce priority while receiving direct instruction from college faculty in labs and classroom environments that stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Often seniors will graduate high school with up to half of their associate degree completed.

CCBC is one of 43 institutions nationwide able to offer high school students access to Pell Grant funding and the High School Academy program is the recipient of the Carnegie Science Award for Leadership in STEM Education.

Learn more about CCBC’s High School Academies here, or contact the High School Academies and Enrollment Office:

Dean, Joyce Cirelli

724-480-3474

joyce.cirelli@ccbc.edu

Assistant Dean, Lauren Susan

724-480-3418

lauren.susan@ccbc.edu 

Keystone State News Connection

February 2, 2022

Emily Scott

Pennsylvania schools have faced an uphill battle in the omicron variant surge, which led to temporary virtual learning after the winter break. But a new poll finds parents feel overwhelming support for teachers, and for schools’ handling of COVID-19.

In the national survey of 1,300 parents of kids in public schools, 72% said their child’s school provides them with an “excellent or good-quality” education.

Despite the pandemic challenges of the last two years, said Dan Alderson, a teacher at Chartiers-Houston School District in Washington County, he’s never been more proud to be an educator.

“Students in our classrooms, they’re getting to see firsthand what it is to be a lifelong learner just by looking at their teachers,” he said, “and they’ve stepped out of their comfort zones, some of the teachers that weren’t familiar with technology, and they’ve really taken it upon themselves to learn as much as they can.”

In the poll, a big concern among parents is the nationwide teacher shortage, with 65% saying they were “fairly or very concerned” about it. Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill into law in December that allows the state to expand its pool of eligible substitutes.

Alderson said one of many things made more clear about teaching during the pandemic has been the importance of communicating with parents. With lots of contact amid last-minute switches to remote learning, he said he thinks it’s given parents a better appreciation for the job of being a teacher.

“You have to be able to turn on a dime and you have to be able to be flexible,” he said. “I think if anything, this thing has strengthened the bonds between that teacher-and-home connection with students and parents. I really think that it’s allowed me to reach my students and get to know my students better.”

Other pressing issues for parents that surfaced in the polling include concern over a lack of support staff, such as counselors and nurses, and worries about their children falling behind academically.

(AP Photo)
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — It’s Groundhog Day and people are waiting to learn whether a furry critter in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, predicts an early spring or six more weeks of winter. People will gather Wednesday at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summon him from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he has seen his shadow. According to folklore, there will be six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow. If he doesn’t, spring comes early. Records dating to the late 1800s show Phil has predicted longer winters more than 100 times. The 2020 forecast called for an early spring. The event took place virtually last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

(AP Photo)
By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators are urging drugmaker Pfizer to apply for emergency authorization for a two-dose regimen of its COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months to 5 years old. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive regulatory issues. The Biden administration aims to clear the way for the shots as soon as late February. The company’s application was expected to be submitted as soon as Tuesday. Early Pfizer data has shown the vaccine — which is administered to younger kids at one-tenth the strength of the adult shot — is safe and produces an immune response.

Pittsburgh, PA (Jan. 31, 2022) — Beginning on Jan. 15, Highmark has been complying with federal guidelines to reimburse its members for the cost of over-the-counter (OTC) COVID tests. Members can be reimbursed for up to 8 OTC tests per month. To receive reimbursement, members must submit a claim form through the mail or online.

To expand options for members to access testing, Highmark has now announced the use of its existing pharmacy networks for members to receive OTC COVID antigen tests without any up-front costs, eliminating the need for reimbursement.

The list of FDA emergency use authorized OTC COVID-19 antigen tests covered through the preferred pharmacy network includes Inteliswab COVID-19 Home Test, Binaxnow COVID-19 AG Home Test, Quickvue At-Home COVID-19 Test, Ellume COVID-19 Home Test, iHealth COVID-19 AG Home Test and Flowflex COVID-19 AG Home Test.

“We agree that testing is important for helping to slow the spread of the virus,” said Thomas Doran, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Highmark Inc. “That’s why we want to ensure that members have expanded access to home testing, without any costs at the point of sale.”

To receive an FDA emergency use authorized OTC COVID antigen test without any out-of-pocket costs, members can visit the same pharmacy where they get their prescriptions filled – or any in-network pharmacy – locate a test, take the test to the pharmacy counter and show their Highmark insurance card to have the test processed through their pharmacy benefit (members with a separate pharmacy benefit card will need to show that). If unsure which pharmacies are in-network, members can visit the Highmark member website or call the number on the back of their Highmark insurance card or pharmacy benefit card for help. Members can also continue to purchase FDA emergency-use authorized OTC COVID tests and submit a claim form for reimbursement.

Highmark members can also receive four free tests through the federal government website covidtests.gov.

Highmark members can visit its informational website highmarkanswers.com for the latest updates.