cross the ISTRICT · Contemporary Portrait Pennsbury High School, grade 10 Art teacher: Kelsey...

1PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • NOVEMBER 2019www.pennsburysd.org

PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • NOVEMBER 2019

Across the DISTRICT

Please join in congratulating the following students, whose creative works from last year were selected for the permanent art collection housed in the Central Administration building. A recent reception to honor these students was organized by K-12 Art Curriculum Coordinator, Ruth Anne Schultz. Joined by their family members, teachers, and Principals, the students had the opportunity to describe their works

STUDENT ART ADDED TO DISTRICT’S PERMANENT COLLECTION

Superintendent

Pennsbury is recognizing American Education Week (November 18-22) by saluting all of our staff members across the School District with a special School Board resolution. Thanks to the dedicated professionalism of our staff members, we continue to celebrate Pennsbury’s excellent reputation.

On November 20th, we were proud to mark Education Support Professionals Day. Hats off to the daily efforts of our paraprofessional, secretarial, and custodial employees, as well as our transportation, security, school aides, ETAs, management assistants, and facilities crews. Kudos to all for a job that is always well done!

STAFF RECOGNIZED DURINGAMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK

Student artists were celebrated at a special reception as theirwork was added to the District’s permanent art collection.

and share details about what inspired them to create the pieces. The students listed below will have their art displayed for a year in the Superintendent’s office. These pieces will then be moved for exhibit in other areas of the Central Administration building.

Sarah HuynhLandscape- Chilean ArpillerasAfton Elementary School, grade 2Art teacher: Trisha Baehser

Naisha KabadiImpressionismFallsington Elementary School, grade 5Art teacher: Karen Mummey

Aleah KuestnerRealism/FauvismWilliam Penn Middle School, grade 7Art teacher: Ruth Anne Schultz

2 NOVEMBER 2019 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA www.pennsburysd.org

District highlights report

Deeannah AdamsContinuous Line DrawingVillage Park Academy, grade 11Art teacher: Kaitlin Lindquist

Lindsey McCartyDigital Photo - ContrastPennsbury High School, grade 11Art teacher: Jon Twersky

Alexis KamatContemporary PortraitPennsbury High School, grade 10Art teacher: Kelsey Adair

The School District is pleased to announce that the environmentally-friendly renovation of Pennwood Middle School employed numerous sustainable planning, design, and construction components to achieve LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. By seeking the LEED Certification, the District earned a $2M grant toward the project from the State Department of Community and Economic development secured by D’Huy Engineering. This grant amount is the highest available and was the result of a competitive application process to the state. The school’s renovation, designed and engineered by Remington & Vernick Engineers, with construction management provided by D’Huy Engineering, began in 2016 and was completed under budget and in time for school to open in August 2018. Thanks to the extent of the green aspects of this $44 million renovation, the project achieved LEED Gold certification. Built in 1951 as the first high school in Pennsbury, Pennwood is considered something of a local landmark with countless community ties over the years.

The Pennwood Middle School project consisted of

a full renovation to the existing 190,000 square foot school and a classroom addition of 8,000 square feet.

PENNWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOLACHIEVES LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION

LEED Gold Certification was achieved by complying with the following US Green Building Council (USGBC) requirements:

• Reused 95% of the existing structural elements of the building.

• The building is in a neighborhood where students can walk or bike to school. Bike racks, showers, and changing rooms were provided to reduce carbon footprint.

• Improvements to the building’s envelope, windows, roofing, and lighting controls, as well as installing a new high-efficiency, fully-controllable HVAC system, have reduced the energy usage, resulting in an energy savings, improved indoor air quality, lighting and acoustics and an overall enhancement of the teaching space.

• Parking is provided for low emitting & fuel-efficient vehicles.

• Low flow toilets, automatic faucets, and water efficient landscaping allow for more than a 20% reduction in water usage.

• School-owned auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, classrooms, playing fields and joint parking are shared with the surrounding community.

• 25% of the total building materials were locally sourced and 26% were manufactured using recycled materials.

Pennwood Middle School achieved LEED Gold certification after a detailed application was reviewed by the U.S. Green Building Council. An open house for the community is scheduled for December 11th.



The Pennsbury Partners Advisory Board Mini-Grant Committee recently awarded seven schools with special corporate-sponsored grants in the amount of $6,815. The purpose of these mini-grants is to foster partnership development in each schoolthat would:

• Make a positive impact on student academic achievement by linking with curriculum;

• Combine real-life work experiences to prepare students for satisfying careers; or

• Provide students with opportunities for community service activities.

Congratulations to these 2019-2020 winners, recently announced by Ann Langtry, Pennsbury’s Supervisor of Communication Strategies:

Afton Elementary ($435):• Rhea Jones – Rocks, Minerals and Fossils Show

& Dig Workshop with Mike and Roberta Straka (Paleontologists)

PENNSBURY PARTNERSMINI-GRANTS AWARDED

• There is a reduction of volatile organic compounds in sealants and glues through the use of water soluble products to reduce off-gassing.

• Onsite recycling efforts helped the project team divert 95% of construction waste away from landfills and into recycling centers.

CEREMONY AND WALK-THROUGH FOR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS

Pennwood Principal Derek Majikas and Assistant Principal Ryan Kennedy welcome the public to a special ceremony and walk-through on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 11th from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend and tour the newly-renovated school.

Charles Boehm Middle ($500):• Susan Brennan – Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece

with the Fallsington Library

Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary ($500):• Brittany Brown – Community Service Projects with

St. Mary’s Medical Center

Fallsington Elementary ($2,510):• Cherie Lynn Kooker/Kaitlynn Romig – Litterless

Lunch/Edible Landfill with Waste Management and Gary Sanderson

• Cherie Lynn Kooker/Jennifer Tietz – UNLESS & Habitats Around the World with the Philadelphia Zoo and the Elmwood Park Zoo

• Cherie Lynn Kooker/Jennifer Tietz – Science Meets Art: Leaves with the Fallsington Library

• Chris Rosica/Kimmie Massaroni – Rocks and Minerals with the Fallsington Library

• Edward Obert-Thorn/Diane Mount – Habitats and Ecosystems with the Fallsington Library

• Carey Stolber – Book Tasting with Barnes and Noble – Fairless Hills

• Kristen Cahill – Let’s Learn about Safety with NOVA

• Edward Obert-Thorn/Diane Mount/Chris Rosica – Gardening with Snipes Farm & Education Center

Penn Valley Elementary ($1,435):• Jennifer McCormac – Rocks, Minerals and Fossils

Show & Dig Workshop with Mike and Roberta Straka (Paleontologists)

• Arlene Johnson – Peace Path with Bucks County Peace Center

• Jennifer Klacik/Frank Mayo – Valentine Village

Quarry Hill Elementary ($935):• Jessica Wagman – Rocks, Minerals and Fossils

Show & Dig Workshop with Mike and Roberta Straka (Paleontologists)

• Barbara Pesature – Books of Diversity in the Library with Barnes and Noble – Fairless Hills



in the SCHOOLS

Students at Afton were taken on an adventure through the world of energy by the National Theater for Children, shares Gifted Support teacher, Eileen Koch. “The PECO-sponsored play, Conservation Capers, was performed by two professional actors who led the students through an action-packed superhero adventure, all while teaching about energy conservation and resources,” said Ms. Koch. “This science enrichment program was both informational and entertaining for students in grades K-5. The interactive assembly encouraged the students to chant, “Open Your Eyes, Be Energy Wise” each time they spotted a problem where energy was being wasted. Everyone came away with

AFTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Pennsbury High School - West ($500):• Frank Mayo – Career Fair

Ryan Kennedy, a Pennsbury middle school teacher who was serving as an Administrative Intern in the Technology Department, was appointed by the Pennsbury School Board on October 17th to become the Assistant Principal at Pennwood Middle School, effective the next day. Mr. Kennedy replaced Vincent DePaola, who served previously as Pennwood’s Assistant Principal and was recently named Principal at Fallsington Elementary School. In his new position, Mr. Kennedy reports to Pennwood Principal, Derek Majikas.

“Included in the feedback we received from the interview team was the sentiment that Mr. Kennedy was the perfect candidate for the job,” said Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula. “He taught English Language Arts at Pennwood for five years, and during that time Mr. Kennedy developed into an exemplary teacher with a deft ability to tend to the social and emotional needs of all. He has respect for – and from – all students and staff. A leader at Pennwood and in the School District as a whole, Mr. Kennedy has served on multiple committees, including the School Wide Positive Behavior Supports team for Pennwood. He is a Google Certified Educator and has also provided support to the District’s Future Ready 1:1 technology initiative.” Dr. Gretzula added: “On his first day as Assistant Principal at Pennwood, Mr. Kennedy co-led the school’s annual UNITY Walk, one part of the character education program at Pennwood that he co-chaired since 2016, underscoring his continuing care for the school community.”

RYAN KENNEDY APPOINTEDASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT PENNWOOD

ryAn KenneDy

Mr. Kennedy served previously as an Administrative Intern at Pennwood Middle School and Makefield Elementary School. He joined Pennsbury in 2014 as an English Language Arts teacher at the secondary level. From 2006-2014, Mr. Kennedy was also an English teacher in the Wyoming Area School District. He has a Master’s degree in Secondary Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, both from the University of Scranton. Mr. Kennedy also holds a PreK-12 Principal Certification, which he earned at Holy Family University.

PECO sponsored a special play titled, Conservation Capers,to teach Afton Elementary students about energy conservation

and resources.



Principal Stephanie Hultquist and the Edgewood community hosted a ceremony to unveil a newly-created Reflective Garden space on a Saturday in late October. Welcoming family, friends, students and staff, all of whom share a deep love and appreciation for the importance of hope, joy, and remembrance, the event was highly attended. “The group gathered to celebrate the life and spirit

EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Michele Spack, Director of Elementary Education, was invitedto be a guest reader at Afton Elementary School.

This Reflective Garden space was dedicated in memory ofKayden Mancuso at Edgewood Elementary.

a new appreciation for how small things like turning off the lights when you leave a room greatly impact how we save energy. It was a fabulous way to encourage everyone to conserve energy each day.”

Coleen Jones writes that Afton Kindergarteners welcomed a very special guest reader to their classroom: Michele Spack, Director of Elementary Education. Ms. Spack read a Halloween story titled, The Snack Machine, which was written and published by her husband, Gary, a teacher. The students enjoyed an interactive read-aloud and discovered that a story can develop from one moment or memory. “Thank you Ms. Spack!” said Ms. Jones. “We cannot wait to have you visit again. Our students learn to be good readers by listening to good reading.”

of former Edgewood Tiger, Kayden Mancuso, whose memories will forever be embodied in the Reflective Garden,” noted Ms. Hultquist, adding, “The impact she made as a member of our school family, among students and staff alike, is a testament to her passion for life, her creative spirit, and her generosity of heart. As a collective community, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate her then to make her forever a part of our school home.”

The purpose of the garden space is to afford students and staff a location for quiet reflection, small group resolution meetings, and to provide a calming space for mindfulness. Ms. Hultquist added, “The garden will be dedicated to the loving memory of Kayden, whom we could see filling this space with her smile. Thanks to the generous donations from The Miraculous Crossfit Community, Fox Landscape, PK Decor, Pennsbury High School families, the Edgewood PTO, and a few other nameless community donors, we are able to celebrate Kayden, whose persona is reflected in the butterfly benches that rest in the space. These benches signify a welcome invitation for any students to find moments of unexpected joy, make connections with others, and resolve in hope. In addition to the dedication of this space, we presented the family with Edgewood’s highest honor, awarded at schoolwide Town Hall meetings,



a superhero cape of character, Kayden’s Cape. This recognition reflects a student who encompasses the pillars of being responsible, open-hearted, achieving, respectful, and safe, or as we call it, ROARS. On behalf of the school community, we believe Kayden exemplified these traits and because of this deserves to be recognized.” Students who attended the event were welcomed to adhere encouragement stones on garden tiles that will reside in the space as words of wisdom to be imparted on all who visit the area in the future.

A Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) event at Edgewood was featured on Good Day Philadelphia on Fox29. Bob Kelly, host of the Kelly’s Classroom segment, came to the school to cover the activity live during the morning show. Partnerships with Fuel Up to Play 60, The American Dairy Council, and Pennsbury’s food service provider, The Nutrition Group, helped the students and staff of Edgewood celebrate healthy eating, living, and learning. The wellness program provided by FUTP 60 helps schools meet their wellness goals while encouraging students to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

Gifted Support teacher, Sherri Cohoon, writes that Pennsbury School Director and local beekeeper, Chip Taylor, visited the second grade enrichment classrooms at both Fallsington and Oxford Valley Elementary to share his knowledge and experiences as a local beekeeper. “Students recently wrapped up a non-fiction unit about the importance of bees to our food supply, while studying all the ways people are helping bees today,” said Ms. Cohoon. “Using an actual bee hive from his farm, Mr.Taylor showed students how bees inhabit the hive and explained

FALLSINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Physical Education teacher, Brian Doron, shares fundraising news from Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary: “We participate in a 30-minute walk in October each year titled, Kids Walking 4 Kids, to focus on supporting students in our school community who have childhood health issues. The medical issue is taught to the entire school like a health education program with a learning video and discussion in class. We want our brave students to know we support them through their health issues. We also want their peers to know that they love to move and play just like everybody else.”

For the first three years, the entire school community focused on students with diabetes (JDRF), then last year it was was childhood cancer

ELEANOR ROOSEVELTELEMENTARY SCHOOL

After hosting a Kids Walking 4 Kids event, the students, family,and faculty of Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary raised $1,720 for

the CHOP Cardiac Unit.

(CHOP), and this year, they selected to support students with cardiac issues (also at CHOP). “The walk is organized by our committee, comprised of Principal Lisa Follman; teacher and Student Council advisor, Elizabeth Seitz; school nurse, Dana Lehman; and PTO parents, Hilary Walp and Jodi Becker. It makes our hearts feel good to color sneakers to decorate our building, walk as an entire school to support our students, and to move to great music! We raised over $1,700 in honor of our students with heart issues to the Cardiac Division at CHOP,” added Mr. Doron.



On a crisp and clear October day, Fallsington second and third graders visited Snipes Farm in Morrisville. Students in the classes of Diane Mount, Ed Obert-Thorn, Chris Rosica, and Kim Massaroni have had a partnership with the farm for a number of years. “Farmer Mel” (as Melanie Snipes is known to the students) offered to host a complimentary visit to Snipes Farm through the Pennsbury Partners Program. While there, students enjoyed learning about the farm animals, took a relaxing hayride, played on a farm-themed playground, ate lunch, and were given a pumpkin to take home with them.

Pennsbury School Director Chip Taylor led a discussion and demonstration on the importance of bees to our food supply in classes at Fallsington and Oxford Valley elementary schools.

each type of bee’s role in the process. He even brought in some freshly-produced honey for the students to sample. The students were mesmerized with all they learned from Mr.Taylor’s visit. I am very grateful that he took time out of his busy schedule to share his passion for helping the bees with both of my classes!”

This year, students in grades K-5 at Fallsington were visited by their friendly neighborhood firefighters from Falls Township Fire Department. Kindergarten teacher, Cherie Lynne Kooker, writes: “The firefighters gave lessons on fire safety such as rules for properly calling 911, how to alert firefighters they are upstairs, planning a meeting location, and yelling for help (which the kids actually did at the top of their lungs!). One firefighter dressed in full uniform with his oxygen tank to ensure children are comfortable if ever approached during a possible fire. Kindergarten students were even treated to sitting in the fire truck and hearing the siren. The Fallsington students are now better informed in case of an emergency thanks to Falls Township Station 30!”

Fallsington Elementary recently held a memorial

assembly to honor the legacy of Pennsbury teacher, Angela Mastropaolo, who passed away in January. The school chose the date of October 25th to honor her since it would have been her 71st birthday. The

staff and students gathered as her longtime colleague and friend, Diane Mount, spoke about Angela’s years as a teacher of English as a Second Language, a fourth grade educator, and a Gifted Support teacher in the School District. Students from Angela’s enrichment class shared their own poetry pieces as a tribute to honor her, as Ms. Mastropaolo enjoyed writing her own poetry to her grandchildren. A representative from the Fallsington PTO, Ms. O’Hey, was there to donate two beach chairs in Angela’s memory to honor her passion for spending time in Ocean City, NJ. The Mastropaolo family members were also present to help honor her memory as an amazing teacher in the Pennsbury Community.

The family of Gifted Support teacher, Angela Mastropaolo,attended a special remembrance ceremony at Fallsington

Elementary. Ms. Mastropaolo, who passed away in January,loved to spend time at the beach, so the PTO donated these

chairs to the school in her honor.



Fallsington Elementary second and third graders took a tripto Snipes Farm on a beautiful October day.

BCIU Fab Lab Program Coordinator, Megan Boletta (center) led a series of age-appropriate, STEM-related activities while the lab

visited Penn Valley Elementary.

The OV Student Council hosted its annual pumpkin decorating contest, writes Principal Donna Minnigh. “To enter the contest, students were asked to pay a $5.00 entrance fee OR donate five canned/boxed goods for the Children Helping Children in Need Food Drive. The Student Council had an overwhelming amount of entries. There were 65 amazing pumpkins decorating our lobby during the last week of October. The generous families of OV donated $200 PLUS 200 canned/boxed food items for the drive. All money raised will be donated to the Bucks County Homeless Shelter in Levittown.”

OXFORD VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Fab Lab, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) program powered by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, visited Penn Valley Elementary for a one-week residency. Kara Covello’s SPARK classroom was transformed into a Fabrication Laboratory full of equipment such as 3D printers, a laser engraver, vinyl cutter, and a variety of robotics

PENN VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

equipment. Megan Boletta, the Fab Lab Program Coordinator, instructed students throughout the week with age-appropriate activities and curriculum-based lessons utilizing the equipment.

Ms. Portland’s third grade class was part of an exposure lesson where the students were shown how a Cricut machine is used to create fabricated items. Fabricated acorns, pumpkins and apples made from the Cricut machine were then utilized by the class for a Multiplication Array and Number Stories lesson.

The fourth grade students attended the Fab Lab each day for an hour. During the week, the students were introduced to different robots, observed their inputs and determined outputs, and had the opportunity to code the devices. They chose a robot based on their exposure in the Fab Lab to create/code a story about an endangered species; their robots told the story. This week-long curriculum was developed by Megan Boletta in an effort to bridge the fourth grade English Language Arts novel focus on Owl in the Shower with the fourth grade SPARK unit concerning computer systems.

Ms. Covello said, “Penn Valley is extremely grateful to Megan Bolleta, Dr. Lindsey Sides, and the Fab Lab team for providing an unforgettable experience for the students.” The Mobile Fab Lab is one of only 50 in the United States and is designed to



Students have been researching the Spotted Lanternfly in the Gifted Support classes of Melinda Myer. “This destructive insect threatens $18 billion worth of Pennsylvania products, including apples, grapes, peaches, and hardwoods,” explained Ms. Myer. “Students began their journey with research from different sources (PA Standard CC.1.4.5.V). We watched videos, shared our findings, and used all that knowledge to create our poster for The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) youth calendar contest. The purpose of this contest is to educate students and their families about what they can do to help stop the insect’s spread. We concluded our journey with a colorful tribute to “save the trees” and “see ‘em, squish ‘em” by taking a group photo. I congratulate all the students for all their inspired ideas and dialogue about the Spotted Lanternfly that has made them Walt Disney’s “Spotted Lanternfly Experts.”

WALT DISNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Third graders have been using the Google Expedition Virtual Reality set to explore different versions of bridges as they read Pop’s Bridge during RELA. They explored a variety of truss, arch, cable, and suspension bridges and have a better understanding of this real life concept by using this

A new fitness club at Penn Valley Elementary is calledGirls on the Run.

Gifted Support students at Walt Disney Elementary have\become “Spotted Lanternfly Experts.”

Google Expedition Virtual Reality goggles have been putto use to supplement the curriculum in third grade classrooms

at Penn Valley.

inspire and encourage students to pursue careers in STEAM fields.

Teacher Heather McGurrin writes that the Penn Valley Girls on the Run Club ran a practice 5K while many parents, teachers, friends, PV staff members, and Principal Barbara Hidalgo cheered the girls on. This is the first season that the school has hosted such a club. Students will be participating in a 5K run in New Hope on November 16th, along with many other local schools. Thanks to Pilar Otto for bringing the program to Penn Valley!

amazing technology that Pennsbury has to offer the students.

“Boehm’s Bistro” was open for the second annual Book Tasting event. The library was transformed into a restaurant-like theme with checkered tablecloths, centerpieces, placemats, plates, menus,

CHARLES BOEHM MIDDLE SCHOOL



and Italian music playing throughout the day. Students visited during their Reading/Language Arts classes, browsed the tables of books organized by genre, heard some “book talks,” and were treated to some jokes. Librarian, Carolyn Wert, was thrilled with the enthusiasm of students and staff. One student quipped, “This made my day!” Comments from teachers included, “Such a great idea,” “Thanks for doing this for the students,” and “Sorry I missed it. I heard it was even better than last year.” Reports show that 421 books were checked out during the event.

“After the success of the inaugural Book Tasting last year, I took teachers’ feedback, tweaked a few things, and set it up again. It’s such an engaging way to get students interested in reading,” said Ms. Wert.

A Book Tasting event held in the library at Charles Boehm Middle School led to a total of 421 books being checked out!

Pennwood Middle School science students performed a macroinvertebrate study while visiting Tyler Park.

Local veterans were treated to lunch and engaged in meaningful dialog with students in the National Junior Honor Society at

Charles Boehm Middle School.

In conjunction with the sixth grade science unit, “Changing Earth and Human Activity,” Pennwood’s Infinity Team embarked on their fall adventures at Tyler State Park, Hawk Mountain, and Diversity Day, writes teacher, Pamela McDannell. “The students performed a macroinvertebrate study and problem-solving activity at the park, led by Ms. Ritchie and Mr. Rhoads. As an extension of their classroom learning, the students searched

PENNWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL

Veterans from Yardley VFW Post 6393 and Fegelson Young Feinberg Post 697 were the honored guests at the annual luncheon for veterans hosted by student members of the Charles Boehm chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). NJHS faculty advisor and event organizer, Anita Quinn, welcomed the veterans along with the students. They were joined by Pennsbury administrators as well as Principal Travis Bloom, K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator, Mark Cherepko, lead librarian Carolyn Wert, among other special guests. The luncheon was sponsored by the Charles Boehm PTO.



Assistant Principal Dr. Michael Hogan writes that on the afternoon of September 25th, the staff and students at William Penn joined with other District schools to participate in their first Start with Hello activity. Start with Hello is a national project and part of the Sandy Hook Promise. The goal of the program is to address social isolation with students and promote inclusion in our schools. At William Penn, students were randomly assigned to a tower (a group of falcons) and a staff member (the tower leader). Each tower was made up of 10 students, which included a mix of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. With the tower leader, students took part

WILLIAM PENN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Ms. Thomas’ eighth grade classes at Pennwood have been learning and practicing life skills for success. Once a week, students participated in a five-minute activity that focused on different skills needed in a professional environment. These skills included how to address an envelope, write a check, how to execute a proper handshake, tie a necktie, and write a formal thank you note. Assistant Principal Ryan Kennedy demonstrated how to properly tie a necktie using a Windsor knot!

A Unity Walk that culminated Unity Week at Pennwood Middle School underscored the desire to bring the entire school

community together.

Pennwood’s Assistant Principal Ryan Kennedy assisted students who were learning to tie their neckties in eighth grade classes.

for macros, classified them, and performed water quality tests on Porter Run Creek, a tributary of Neshaminy Creek.” At Hawk Mountain, the students viewed the migration of raptors and Ms. McDannell taught them about watersheds, erosion, and lichens as they hiked through the Appalachian Mountains. “During our Diversity Day, the students engaged in various activities, which highlighted our differences that unite Pennwood, led by Ms. Dougherty and Ms. James,” added Ms. McDannell. “These classroom extensions were a valuable teaching tool to solidify the learning of our students.”

Pennwood students and staff held their annual Unity Day on Friday, October 18th, which helped bring the school-wide community together, shares Assistant Principal, Ryan Kennedy. “The students and staff started their day with a pep rally kick-off, followed by team building activities, and a re-teaching lesson that led to the school’s annual Unity Walk. The event focuses on the idea of building students with strong character and is designed to unite our school community to work as one group with a common cause. Leading up to the walk, students collected donations to help provide assemblies and character education opportunities throughout the year.” The three students who donated the most money – Angelo Pereiro, Katrina Sage, and Vance Dougherty – have the privilege of spending the day as Principal Derek Majikas and Assistant Principal Kennedy. “The event was a great success, and we look forward to the future opportunities it provides,” added Mr. Kennedy.



in group discussions about their favorite subjects, sports, music, books, and school experiences. The purpose of the activity was to facilitate more connections among and between students and teachers so that each student knew at least one other person in the building.

Student reaction to the activity was positive.

Spencer Grim, a sixth grader, said, “I think it helped people to make new friends. My partner was a seventh grader. I got to learn about someone new.” Many members of the William Penn staff found the activity beneficial and hoped that similar experiences could be replicated throughout the school year. “Although we strive to SOAR daily and promote the values of community, respect, and kindness, this activity made our very large school feel smaller!” said Dr. Hogan. “Special thanks to the William Penn staff and students for being brave and trying something new. A huge shout out goes to Blair Greiner for developing and organizing William Penn’s interpretation of Starts with Hello.”

The William Penn community gives a “shout out” to teacher Aaron Meltzer, who is now not only a Captain in the USMC but also a Doctor! He successfully defended his dissertation at Delaware Valley University on The Historical Review of

William Penn Middle School students took part in group discussions about a variety of topics in an organized activity involving all three grade levels that was intended to create meaningful connections.

Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub visited withstudents at Pennsbury High School and took questions on a

variety of thought-provoking topics.

Disability Services in Higher Education. Congrats to Dr. Meltzer on this impressive accomplishment! Dr. Meltzer is a special education teacher at William Penn, having been with Pennsbury since 2015. His wife, Chelsea, is a member of the Charles Boehm Middle School staff.

Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub was a special guest at PHS in October, meeting with students from several social studies classes and the “Current World Struggles” EOP club. The DA answered the student’s thoughtful questions and addressed a number of sensitive topics of interest. When it comes to school shooting incidents, for example, Mr. Weintraub advocated for discouraging the media from ever publicizing the names of mass shooters. “Lose the notoriety,” he said. “Starve the attention from the attention seeker.” Mr. Weintraub also described the valuable partnerships that are forged between law enforcement and school officials in order to protect students and help prevent future incidents. A member of the state District Attorneys Executive Board, Mr. Weintraub said the DAs across the state are able to lobby legislators to create common-sense laws. “We have a lot of influence,” he said. Finally, Mr. Weintraub made it clear to the students that he is 100% opposed to arming teachers in schools, a hot topic across the country.

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL



At Pennsbury’s Homecoming football game last month, the Multi-Cultural Youth Leaders (MCYL) club, raised close to $300 in a fundraising effort to assist in the revitalization of the Bahamas after the horrific events that kept the island resort territory in darkness in the wake of the Hurricane Dorian disaster. “Our efforts during the Homecoming festivities were primarily focused on getting school supplies for the children and teachers of the Bahamas,” said John Sanders, MCYL advisor and Applied Engineering/Technology Education teacher at PHS. “Sometimes, we have to come to the realization that many students who live not too far from our shores may not have anything, or very little, when compared with us. The hurricane totally devastated parts of the island, and MCYL was more than happy to help.” Every dollar was used to buy school supplies for students and teachers. Mary Penney, of the Bucks County Peace Center, partnered with MCYL to connect them with numerous Bahamian educators. “The educators assured us that the supplies will go directly to the teachers and students who need them the most,” said Mr. Sanders. “The supplies were shipped out soon after the Homecoming collection. Even though our contribution is just one small ray of sunshine, every ray helps, and every ray counts. With so many people throughout the world contributing rays of sunshine, our hopes and prayers are literally to help bring the Bahamian people, especially the students and teachers, out of the darkness, and into the light.”

French teachers, Madame Morris and Madame DeKorte, traveled to France with 18 Pennsbury students for the French exchange program with Pennsbury’s sister school near Paris, Education & Culture Sainte-Therese. The Pennsbury flag was flying high at the entrance to their school. Pennsbury students – like this high school Jazz Quintet –

showcased their skills at the 2nd annual Bucks CountyStudent Arts Expo held at Central Bucks HS South.

The Mini-THON student club, advised by PHS teacher, Meaghan Cappelloni, raises funds annually for the Four Diamonds organization to support families dealing with pediatric cancer. Recently, the high school group hosted members of the Four Diamonds to lead the annual Eastern PA Mini-THON Leadership Summit at PHS. “This event was for students and advisors from Philadelphia area schools to meet and network about Mini-THON, share fundraising ideas, and discuss other relevant topics,” said Ms. Cappelloni. “Four Diamonds staff organized the event, but several of our own student leaders presented, as well.”

PHS Drama and Jazz Quintet students participated in the second annual Bucks County Student Arts Expo earlier this month at Central Bucks High School South. Their performances were among the highlights of the evening, which was filled with an impressive array of visual and performing artists representing all Bucks County school districts. Pennsbury Drama co-director Matt South organized three students who performed solos: Nicolas Fallacaro sang Try Me by Bock & Harnick; Allyson McKeever presented a monologue

A Pennsbury flag welcomed students to a

school in France.



commenDAbleACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Pennsbury High School Speech & Debate team earned significant recognition from the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) this fall based upon the students’ overall performance during the last school year. According to the NSDA, students earn points and degrees in the honor society based on competitive and service-related activities, ranging from the Degree of Merit with 25 or more points to the Degree of Premier Distinction with 1,500 or more points. These degrees contribute to a school’s strength points. “Because your chapter achieved 100 or more strength points last year, it has earned membership in the Association’s prestigious 100 Club,” said J. Scott Wunn, NSDA Executive Director. “This milestone is remarkable because it demonstrates outstanding commitment to teaching students essential life skills – including communication, research, listening, writing, and organization.”

“This is testament not only to the hard work of our students, but quite frankly, retired Pennsbury educator, Steve Medoff, who has done whatever it took to keep Pennsbury’s Speech & Debate program

PENNSBURY SPEECH & DEBATEPROGRAM RECOGNIZED

PHS East Principal Reggie Meadows commends senior, Jacob Shin, for being accepted into an internship in Princeton to explore nuclear fusion and plasma physics. “Jacob did his own research on determining where the closest Department of Energy lab was located, and it turned out to be the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab,” said Mr. Meadows.

Jacob added: “This lab does research that seemed pretty interesting, so I looked to see if they offered any internships, and they do.” He applied and was accepted. “At the lab, I am working on electronics for a probe that is used for measuring the characteristics of a plasma.”

Jacob added that students may be interested to learn that scattered throughout the U.S., the Department of Energy has labs that conduct research on anything from particle accelerators (Fermilab) to nuclear waste (Oak Ridge). Well done, Jacob, and best of luck in all of your future endeavors!

JACOB SHIN SELECTED FOR ELITE INTERNSHIP IN PLASMA STUDIES

called Subtraction by Jonathan Dorf; and Zoe Nekowitz sang Adelaide’s Lament by Frank Loesser. The Jazz Quintet, conducted by teacher Francis Carpino, performed Four by Miles Davis. The group featured Chris Heitmann on guitar, Rohin Kalra on saxophone, Kartik Kannan on piano, Ashley Parry on bass, and Jacob Shin on drums. In addition to the student artists, a number of Bucks County Superintendents were drafted spontaneously (including Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula) to hit the stage and perform with Bristol Township School District’s Drummers With Attitude – which made for a spectacular group performance!

alive and relevant,” said Christopher Berdnik, Pennsbury CFO, who has joined the group as a co-leader since his arrival in Pennsbury this fall. Mr. Berdnik has a great deal of experience with Speech & Debate teams in other school districts. Congratulations to all and best wishes for the 2019-2020 school year!

JAcob shin

A total of 43 students taught by PHS art teacher, Danyelle Lala, created work to be exhibited at the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill as part of the Kids Care 26: Faces and Places in Our Town show. The exhibition runs from November 9 - December

STUDENT WORK ON DISPLAY AT WOODMERE ART MUSEUM



In conjunction with Pennsbury’s ongoing character education initiative, students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels are being spotlighted each month for possessing specific positive character assets. For the month of November 2019, students were recognized for exemplifying the trait of “Responsibility.” The students recognized this month are Willow Zeman, Colin Delahanty, Sara

PHS West Principal Lisa Becker recognizes PHS 2019 graduate, Shivani Patel, who was recently bestowed the prestigious Captain Planet Earth Day 2019 award from the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) Foundation. The mission of the foundation is “to support education in the form of scholarships targeted to outstanding, diverse students who express interest in pursuing careers that fuel the global economy, stimulate innovation and creativity, or yield a strong ethical foundation for decision making.” Through special programs, the NSHSS Foundation connects young scholars with additional opportunities to advance their education, personal growth, and career interests. A particular goal is to increase the representation of African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and females in careers where these targeted groups are under-represented. Thank you, Shivani, for taking Pennsbury Pride to new heights! Congratulations!

LYFT CHARACTER AWARDWINNERS ANNOUNCED

SHIVANI PATEL, PHS ‘19,RECOGNIZED WITH SCHOLARSHIP

15, with a special reception to be held on the last day to recognize the students. This is part of an exhibition of artwork by hundreds of children in the Philadelphia region, which are then wrapped and given as holiday gifts to local families in need. The museum’s partnership with MANNA engages young people to highlight “the beauty of sharing and caring about others,” according to the organizers.

Mayberry, and Mikayla Wiesner.

Willow Zeman is a fourth grader at Oxford Valley Elementary School and was nominated by teacher, Julie Samples. Ms. Samples says that Willow goes out of her way to take responsibility for herself and her daily life at school. If she makes an error, she takes full responsibility for it, apologizes, and says she will do better next time. Willow also shares her sense of responsibility with those around her, as a true W.I.S.E. Oxford Valley student. If she sees someone struggling, she steps up to help. She is an outstanding example of what it means to be responsible, combined with an amazing amount of humility and kindness.

Colin Delahanty, a fourth grader at Fallsington Elementary School, is another elementary honoree this month. Colin was nominated by Principal Vinny DePaola, Katie Romig, Kimmie Massaroni, Meagan Mauck, Audrey Lam, Ann Murray, Jennifer Tietz, and Kristin Cahill. According to them, Colin has proven to be an exceptionally responsible student during his time at Fallsington. Ms. Romig says that Colin shows responsibility and leadership in class each day, holding himself accountable for his assignments and taking the initiative to make up work he may have missed. As a Safety, Colin takes his role seriously and is a good model for his peers and for younger students, too.

The LYFT honoree at the middle school level this month is Sara Mayberry. Nominated by Blair Greiner, Denise Melnick, Sally Poletick, Susan Mahoney, and Patrick Balcer, Sara is in the seventh grade at William Penn Middle School. They said in their nomination that Sara is an exceptionally thoughtful and responsible student. She has worked for the William Penn school store since her arrival in the sixth grade and volunteered her time over the summer to help during orientation and locker try-outs. Sara sets the responsibility bar high in language arts, where she has never missed an assignment or a deadline and never gives anything less than her best.



At the high school level, the award this month goes to Mikayla Wiesner, who is in the twelfth grade at Pennsbury High School. She was nominated by Susan Lawrence, who says that during a period when Mikayla was under the weather, she never complained and took responsibility for completing all of her missed work. When a peer injured his arm and could not write, Mikayla offered her time to help write for this student, taking full responsibility to help out during this difficult time. Mikayla, who works in a pizza shop, volunteered to orchestrate a pizza party for her class during midterms, taking complete responsibility for the event.

Charles Boehm Middle School Assistant Principal David Schwind and school nurse, Brooke Martell, were both recognized with Heart Saver Hero awards from the American Heart Association when they spoke recently at the Emergency Care Instructors Conference at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The theme of the conference was “Resuscitation.”

“We kicked off the conference with a survivor story which was meant to highlight the importance of CPR and the use of AEDs,” said Mr. Schwind. “Ms. Martell and I answered questions from healthcare providers and discussed procedures we had in place that made a medical emergency result in a success. The presentation was well received.”

(The following medical information is shared with parent permission.) Mr. Schwind and Ms. Martell responded to an incident last June in the Boehm cafeteria that involved seventh grade student, Gabriel Wolset, who had gone into sudden cardiac arrest. Their expert efforts set up a successful transition to an ambulance, then a nearby hospital, followed by transportation to CHOP, where Gabriel was placed in a medically-induced coma with therapeutic hypothermia. It was then that doctors discovered he

LIFE-SAVING INCIDENT SPOTLIGHTEDAT CHOP CONFERENCE

had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder to pump blood. Gabriel spent a total of three weeks in the hospital, finally receiving an implanted internal dual pacemaker defibrillator in his chest. He survived the incident miraculously with no brain damage, likely due to the lifesaving measures that were administered so quickly by Mr. Schwind and Ms. Martell. They – and the entire Charles Boehm family – were delighted to see Gabriel return to school in the fall ready to take on his eighth grade year with great enthusiasm.

Special Education teacher, Katie Veneziale, is currently enrolled in the post-graduate Special Education Leadership Program at Drexel University, where she is working toward her certification as a Special Education Supervisor. Ms. Veneziale, who teaches at Quarry Hill Elementary, co-presented an hour long, interactive professional development workshop titled, Tips for Avoiding Due Process: A Game of IDEA Knowledge, at the PA Council for Exceptional Children conference held recently in

QUARRY HILL TEACHER CONTRIBUTESTO TEAM PRESENTATION

Charles Boehm Middle School Assistant Principal David Schwind (left) and school nurse Brooke Martell earned Heart Saver Hero

awards from the American Heart Association after delivering life-saving techniques to assist student Gabriel Wolset (center).



Kudos to PHS teacher Karin Birgel, who participated outside of school in a fundraiser to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “We had 181 runners in total at the Marine Corps running event, with some of us running the 10K (6.2 mi), some of us doing the full marathon (26.2 mi), while others ran the 50K (31 mi),” said Ms. Birgel. “Our combined total of funds raised for LLS was $430,000! My personal total was $2,750. Some were running to honor someone, others were running in memory of a loved one or friend, and some were running as survivors. It was an amazing weekend and it made my heart happy to see so many people come together to beat blood cancer.”

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER ASSISTSWITH MAJOR FUNDRAISER

Conshohocken. Ms. Veneziale and her co-presenter, Michelle Efthimiadou, presented as part of the Legal Strand – Legal Issues in Special Education, under the guidance of Dr. Connie Lyttle of Drexel University.

The UNICEF club presents

HolidayMovie Night

Friday, December 136:30-9 PM

PHS East Auditorium

Featuring: ELF

Don’t forget your pj’s, blankets, & family/friends!

FREE

hot cocoa

& food!$5 donation

entry

All proceeds go to

UNICEF USA!

Open to all Pennsbury students and their families! R.Fry

BOArD FACILITIES COMMITTEE5:00 p.m., December 3, 2019

Superintendent’s Conference Room

BOArD EDuCATION COMMITTEE7:30 p.m., December 3, 2019


SPECIAL MEETINg FOr rEOrgANIzATION /SPECIAL gENErAL MEETINg

7:30 p.m., December 5, 2019Fallsington Elementary School

BOArD FINANCE/PArTNErSHIP COMMITTEE6:00 p.m., December 12, 2019


ACTION BOArD MEETINg7:30 p.m., December 19, 2019Fallsington Elementary School

Upcoming MEETINgS

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOLSUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE • ALL LEAGUE TEAMS • FALL 2019

SPORT 1st TEAM 2nd TEAM HONORABLE MENTION

CROSS-COUNTRY, BOYS

Nicholas GribbonJohn Harding

Alex HludzinksiJoshua WareStephan Sroka

CROSS-COUNTRY, GIRLS

Tatum Lynch Kayleigh CrozierAvery Gardner

FIELD HOCKEY Sophia HitchinghamKayli Williams

Nicole Joniak

FOOTBALL Joshua Boyda (TE)John Irvine (OL)John B. Burgechtel (K)Trevor Williams (DL)Zachary Zauzig (DE)Samuel Burke (LB)

JayVon McNeill (RB)Jeremiah Sawbo (WR)Michael Wallick (OL)Jacob Schilling (LB)Matthew Carey (DB)

Isaiah Edwards (WR)Brad Mickles (DB)

GOLF Jade GuEthan FinkelsteinChristopher MyersRyan ReardenJoshua Cicco

Arielle ShultzJackson GerityWilliam Gerity

Julie CohenAditya Gaba

SOCCER, BOYS Nyles CayemitteJoshua PanaroEvan ReichardJaden HaigPeter Beidler

Trevor Hart Zachary SummerAden Radovich

SOCCER, GIRLS Rosemary BostianTaylor MaysEvelyn Ciaccia

Gabriella ZalotDarrien FurinessEricka Hansen

Isabella Arcuri

TENNIS, GIRLS singles:Megan Walsh

Doubles:Katelyn BaikSimar Kaur

singles:Kyra Workman

Doubles:Echo CadmusAngelina Passarelli

singles:Emilie Bortnichak

Doubles:MacKennzie CrainBailey Arcuri

VOLLEYBALL, GIRLS

Elley Torres Isabella MarinelliAbigail Drewes

Brooke Burns

1523 Makefield RoadYardley, PA

THE PENNSBURY COMMUNITY IS INVITED!Tour the Newly-Renovated

PENNWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL(originally Pennsbury High School)

Wednesday, December 11, 20194:30 – 5:00 p.m. – Remarks by District Leaders

~ Pennwood Auditorium ~

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Group Tours of the Building ~ Meet NJHS Tour Guides Outside Auditorium ~

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cross the ISTRICT · Contemporary Portrait Pennsbury High School, grade 10 Art teacher: Kelsey...

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