Mars Area

As the 2007-08 school year ended, the school district said goodbye to two teachers at the high school -- Dan Laporte and Lisa Pugne.

Mr. Laporte, a social studies teacher, has retired after 32 years of working in the district. He began his teaching career with the Pittsburgh Diocese Catholic schools before joining the staff at Mars Area Middle School and eventually moving to Mars Area High School.

Mr. Laporte holds bachelor's degrees in sociology and social studies and a master's degree in counseling. He said he will cherish the lifelong friendships he has formed at Mars Area.

In his retirement, Mr. Laporte plans to continue working part time as a counselor for Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City.

He lives in Butler with his wife, Phyllis, who is a fourth-grade teacher at Mars Area Elementary School.

Ms. Pugne, a science teacher from Jackson, is leaving the district to continue pursuing a degree in pharmacy at Duquesne University. She hopes to become a consultant pharmacist.

She began working at Mars Area High School in 1998 as a physical science and chemistry teacher.

She previously taught at Blackhawk and Tri-Valley school districts.

Seneca Valley

The Seneca Valley School District Sports Hall of Fame Committee is now receiving nominations for the Class of 2009.

Nomination packets can be picked up at the Seneca Valley Athletic Office in the senior high school.

Forms also can be printed from the district's athletic Web site at www.svsd.net/athletics.

The deadline to submit a nomination packet is Dec. 1.

For more information, call Greg Caprara, athletic director, at 724-452-6040, ext. 269.