Pine-Richland Middle School Celebrates Re-Designation as ‘School to Watch’

State Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods couldn’t help but feel the energy at Pine-Richland Middle School.

“It’s just outstanding,” he told to the clapping students gathered in the school gym. “You have a great community and a great school.”

The House majority leader was just one of the community and school members on hand Tuesday to help Pine-Richland Middle School celebrate being re-designated as a “School to Watch” in the Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn 2013 program.

This is the second time the team has re-designated PRMS as an outstanding middle school. The school originally earned national recognition by being designated a “School to Watch” in 2007, and was re-designated in 2010 and again in 2013.

In addition, the middle school earned the Don Eichhorn Award for Outstanding Middle School in 2004.

“We are truly proud to earn a third honor in the Don Eichhorn ‘Schools to Watch’ Awards program,” principal David Kristofic said. “Our students, staff and parents make this school the place to be.”

Several students spoke at Tuesday’s celebration, including eighth grade president Abby Hinson.

The students also presented a check to the American Heart Association for $5,200.

Pine-Richland spokeswoman Rachel Hathhorn said raising money for the heart association was the middle school’s major service project for the year.

To raise funds for the organization, students sold red “Rock the Beat” T-shirts and even held a mustache contest for the school’s staff.

Assistant Principal Rebecca Stephan also thanked the school’s teachers Tuesday for their role in the school’s re-designation.

“You are one of the reasons why our school is what it is,” she said.

Launched in 1999, Schools to Watch began as a national program to identify middle schools across the country that were meeting or exceeding 37 criteria developed by the National Forum.

To be selected as a School to Watch, the school must demonstrate academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents and commitment to helping all students achieve at high levels.

 “We congratulate these schools for being places that do great things for all of their students,” said Dr. John Harrison, past president of the National Forum. “These schools demonstrate that high-performing middle grades schools are places that focus on academic growth and achievement. They are also places that recognize the importance of meeting the needs of all of their students and ensure that every child has access to a rigorous, high-quality education.” 

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