SCHOOLS Neshannock rededicates Memorial Elementary

The design follows the meaning of Neshannock: 'land between two waters.'
NESHANNOCK, Pa. -- Smiling faces were in order during the rededication ceremony of Neshannock Memorial Elementary School in the school's multipurpose room Wednesday.
"Welikishku," said Superintendent Dr. Michael Hink. "That is American Indian for 'It is a good day,' and this is a truly good day," he said.
A $13 million construction and renovation project at the elementary school recently was completed.
Hink said it is rewarding to see the smiling faces of the children who live and learn in this building. He also thanked the district taxpayers and the state for the sacrifices made.
Original dedication
Neshannock Memorial was dedicated in 1956 to all of the men and women of the township who served in World War II. The district decided to encompass all veterans as part of the memorial during the rededication.
Third-grade pupils sang a song titled "Proud of Our Veterans."
Lt. Col. Grey Berrier of the 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery, of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard spoke on behalf of all veterans during the ceremony.
"This rededication falls at a good time." Berrier said. "It is between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving -- two very important days to me."
He also said that the definition of memorial is a call to action, and "we remember all the brave men and women who were called to action to fight for our freedom."
Berrier told the audience that 386 of his soldiers are proudly serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq.
Charles King, local historian and retired Neshannock High School teacher, spoke on the history of Neshannock.
The Lenape Indians, a division of the Delaware Indians, settled in this area. King said the Iroquois Confederacy forced the Delaware Indians from the East Coast, bringing them to settle here.
Neshannock in the Lenape language means "land between two waters." King said the white people forced the Indians out of the area in the early 1800s.
Reflection of the community
Architect Daniel Engen of Eckles Architecture said that Eckles has a passion for creating schools that are a reflection of their community.
The blue front of the school represents the water for the land between two waters. The blue tile front of the building was controversial because the school colors of the Neshannock Lancers are red and white.
The brick structure of the multipurpose room represents a dwelling that the early settlers may have once inhabited.
A black bear and two horses are the design made of ceramic tile that is seen at the entrance of the school. Colorful tile throughout the hallways imitates flowing rivers.
Elementary music teacher Tom Schaffner composed the song "Land Between Two Waters" for the evening's ceremony. The song was performed and narrated to a slide presentation of the school by the fifth-grade ensemble.
After the ceremony, sixth-graders gave tours of their newly renovated school.
The pride and excitement was evident when sixth-grader Alex Seltzer and his third-grade brother Matthew showed their family and friends around the new building.
About the renovations
The renovations consisted of two state-of-the-art computer labs, art and music rooms, a new multipurpose room, enlarged cafeteria, new science lab and a 15,000-square-foot library dedicated to retired Superintendent Joseph Scungio.
The renovated and air-conditioned classrooms are separated into pods by grade levels, with sets of pupil lockers designating each grade level.
Board member Joseph Gierlach, who served as chairman of Building and Grounds, said, "This project took a lot of teamwork, and the board of education is very happy with the end result.
"This gives a lot of new resources for the children of the district."