At the June 19, 2017 school board meeting, the Mt. Lebanon School Board approved Melissa M. Nelson as the new principal of Washington Elementary School. Ms. Nelson previously served as the Mellon Middle School Assistant Principal before stepping in as interim principal of Washington during the 2016-2017 school year due to the retirement of former Washington principal Mary Kay Davis. "After a very thorough search process we determined that Ms. Nelson was clearly the best choice and most qualified candidate for this very important position," said Dr. Tim Steinhauer.

Ms. Nelson has taught at Canon-McMillan School District, Dilworth Traditional Academy in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and at Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf. She also served as adjunct faculty at California University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Nelson received her bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Curriculum and Instruction from Gannon University, a Master of Elementary Education /Special Education from California University of Pennsylvania and is currently working on her Doctor in Education at the University of Pittsburgh.

Horsman Drive is now open for two-way traffic at the back of the high school. The road has been closed during the high school construction project. Paving was completed last week. Please take your time driving on Horsman since this is a new traffic configuration at the high school. Parking and handicap parking spots are now available in limited sections along Horsman Drive.

As the school year comes to a close, let us wish those who are retiring this year best wishes and much happiness on the occasion of this major milestone. Each person, in whatever role they played in the District, made contributions to the success and well-being of our students. Through their diligence, dedication and skills, our retiring employees have enriched the lives of our students and their colleagues and have directly contributed to our District's success. We are grateful to them.

This year we have one principal, five faculty members, and eight support staff retiring. Together they represent over 252 years of expertise and experience. On behalf of the Mt. Lebanon School District, we wish each of them for their years of dedicated service to the children of this community.

See the list of MTLSD 2017 Retirees.

Congratulations to Mellon Middle School on their successful Pennies for Patients fundraising effort for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising $7,482.11. Mellon's efforts made them the 2nd top fundraising school for Pennies for Patients, a three-week program for Elementary and Middle Schools where students collect change and raise funds online while learning about service and philanthropy. This effort is part of the Student Series, which is a series of programs for schools and students at all grade levels to help support the LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

To celebrate this accomplishment, Brenda Bidwell from Leukemia & Lymphoma Society stopped by for the award presentation. Congrats to Mellon Student Council, Mr. Perri's homeroom, and to Mellon students and staff for a job well done.