The annual two-day Children's Hospital Auction is set to kick off this morning in the auditorium of Avonworth High School to benefit the hospital's Free Care Fund.

At the auction, students, staff and the public can bid on donated goods and services, including Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins tickets, vacation packages, video games, books, food and household services.

The annual event is completely student-driven, coordinated and produced. Last year, the Avonworth community raised more than $21,000 for the fund.

Students in the elementary school have raised more than $4,000 with their Spare Change Challenge.

Bids can be placed in person at the auction or online through the school's Web site: www.avonworth.k12.pa.us.

Three high school students will be featured on KDKA's Hometown High-Q program at 11 a.m. Jan. 16. The students who will be on the high school quiz show are seniors Connor Weis and Rachel Williams and junior Pavan Rajgopal. They will compete against teams from Riverview High School and Steel Valley High School.

The school board approved the high school band trip to Norfolk, Va., April 30 through May 1 to perform in the Azalea Parade. The vote was taken Dec. 8. The trip will be student funded.

High school swim coach Heidi Brandon has asked the district to hire an assistant coach who would focus on teaching diving.

In her three years as swim coach, the team has nearly doubled in size and has won several medals in state competitions. Three seniors have received full scholarships to college.

More than 80 percent of the team's competitors have diving teams, she said. Mars Area has nine students diving.

Currently, Maria Misenhelter, the mother of a team member, is volunteering to coach diving. Mrs. Misenhelter has coached diving at Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley and Hampton, Mrs. Brandon said.

Mrs. Brandon would like Mrs. Misenhelter to receive a stipend. The beginning stipend is $2,718 under the contract with the Mars Area Education Association.

Solicitor Tom King told Mrs. Brandon the district will discuss the request with the teachers' union because it would fall under the terms of the contract.

-- Sandy Trozzo

The child development classes at Highlands High School in the Natrona Heights section of Harrison are accepting applications for toddlers to attend the laboratory preschool.

Classes will be in session from Feb. 16 through May 13. Four sessions are available: 9:40 to 11:20 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 9:40 to 11:20 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; noon to 1:40 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; and noon to 1:40 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

To participate, a child must have been 3 years old by Oct. 1, 2009, a resident of Highlands School District, potty-trained and not enrolled in kindergarten.

To register, send your child's name, age, date of birth, address, parent/guardian's name, and session preferred by Feb. 1 to: Sandy Ross, Highlands High School, 1500 Pacific Ave., Natrona Heights, PA 15065.

District residents are invited to serve on the public budget committee to review revenue projections and expenditures for the 2010-11 school year.

Membership on the committee, a cross-section of Ross and West View taxpayers, is open to parents, nonparent taxpayers, senior citizens and business people or professionals who operate businesses or practices in the school district.

Director of Finance and Operations David Hall and other administrators will be on hand during the committee's four meetings to answer questions and explain the budget process. The committee is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 21, March 4, April 15 and May 13 in the district's administration center.

Those interested in serving on the committee should contact communications coordinator Tina Vojtko at 412-318-1014 or vojtkot@nhsd.net.

Quaker Valley High School will host its annual senior and alumni coffee from 8:45 to 11 a.m. Monday. Every year the school invites recent graduates back to share college experiences with the current senior class. The seniors have an opportunity to learn first hand what to expect at college, including roommates, academic rigor and social life.

Alumni planning to attend should contact the office at 412-749-6045 or frankk@qvsd.org. In the event of a 2-hour delay, the coffee will start at 10 a.m.

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