An Amazing Achiever

One day when Becky Pacek was only 2 ½ years old she toddled over to the TV set and began pointing to the words displayed on the screen. She surprised her mother by pointing to and correctly identifying the words, Jack and king. It wasn't long after this that Paulette realized her daughter knew how to read and even more amazing, understood what she was reading.

Once in kindergarten Becky continued to astound people with her reading capability. Her teacher would let her visit the fifth grade class and Becky would read to them. Then, in the first grade, she was recommended and tested for the school's gifted program, GATE, and has been a part of it ever since.

Besides taking an advanced English course and Algebra at the Highlands Middle School, Becky participates in the special programs such as the tutoring program, which provides support to elementary students. She volunteers after school at the Heights Elementary School where she tutors first graders. Another special project is an independent study on the Holocaust for the eighth graders. They are currently trying to raise enough money to visit the National Holocaust Center in Washington D.C. The class would like to spend a couple of days there and get an opportunity to go through the museum. Members of the gifted program also go to competitions and attend cultural events.

Becky is also President of Student Council, on the school's soccer team, and plays the flute in the band. She also has a part in the school's play, "Ditch Day," which should hit the stage in April when the renovations at the school will be completed. I'm sure you can guess what the play is about.

Becky also keeps very busy outside of school activities. She has been taking dance lessons once a week at The Dance Place in Highlands Mall since the second grade. Becky recently switched from Jazz to Lyrical, which is a combination of ballet and jazz. She said that she enjoys this type of dance more because you don't have to be as flexible.

Another of her interests is in volunteer work at the Allegheny Valley Hospital. She works in the hospital's coffee shop once a week during the summer and will be starting again once the school play is finished. Her responsibilities at the coffee shop include preparing the food and drinks as well as serving the items to customers. She has also had the opportunity to take the candy cart around to the different rooms at the hospital. Her older sister Devon used to volunteer there and was the one that got Becky interested.

Other interests include playing the keyboard and acting. She has really enjoyed the opportunity to be in the school play the past two years as well as in the Christmas plays in elementary school Becky lives in Natrona with her mother, step-father Kevin, and older brother Sean. Her sister is currently away at college. She also has two cats, Casey and Kozmo as well as a new puppy named Brandi.

If you would like to find out more about the Highlands School District you can visit their website at http://www.lcn.net/~hghlndsd/Default.htm or their school paper Highlands Rampages at www.hhsrampages.com