School Board Finalizes New Tawanka Super-School by Becca Choi and Robert Copeland Said in the Dec
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Sports: Features: Entertainment: Holiday Season: 7 OP-ED: Ferguson Decision: 4 Athlete of the Issue: 6 Circa Survive: 8 FERGUSON DIVIDED NO INDICTMENT—Ferguson Grand Jury rules not to indict officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of un- armed Michael Brown. See editorial page 4. Photo/Tribune News Service School board finalizes new Tawanka super-school By Becca Choi and Robert Copeland said in the Dec. 4 Public eliminating community schools, inequality Gillian McGoldrick Hearing in Neshaminy High School’s between the new “super- Literary Editor and Editor-in-Chief auditorium. school” and existing To fund the construction of this super schools and the far- The Neshaminy School Board hosted school, the district would buy bonds and reaching consequences two Act 34 Public Hearings on Dec. 5 take advantage of interest rates that are monetarily of and 6 to present the community with in- currently low. The project would cost pulling through with depth information regarding the proposed $30.5 million dollars and repayment the proposal. The “super-school” to be built at the current would occur over 20 years. Different community has Tawanka elementary school location. consolidation plans have been considered requested a referendum The “mega-school” will be two since 2007, but have recently sped up due on many accounts over stories with five sectioned-off hallways, to declining enrollment projections. the past year. referred to as pods. Grades K through two The purpose of an Act 34 Public Jessica Millward, will be housed downstairs, while grades Hearing is to present to taxpayers the Langhorne resident, three and four will be taught on the second proposed construction or deconstruction told her story at the level. The new school will have many of a building within the district and to Dec. 4 hearing. “I don’t new features including air conditioning, give the community a chance to voice oppose consolidation heating, bus loops, larger parking lots for their opinions on the proposal. Since out of nostalgia for a night events, a cafetorium, a gymnasium, an Act 34 Hearing is not a public board school I never attended,” an art room, and two music rooms. meeting, no dialogue may be shared Millward said, “I The school, designed to fit 900 between the committee and the public, oppose closing Oliver elementary students, will take the place and no motions may be made. Heckman because of three currently-standing elementary This “super school” is only the academic research has schools. These schools were decided next step of consolidation, as full-day shown conclusively in the Oct. 28 Resolution passed by the kindergarten will begin next school-year that smaller schools LAYOUT—Neshaminy School District proposes a new Neshaminy school board; they are Oliver and elementary schools will shift to a K-4 have better teacher “super-school” to take the place of 3 elementary Heckman, Samuel Everitt and Lower model and middle schools will install and parental schools. Photo/Neshaminy School District Southampton elementary schools. These a 5-8 school model. An overwhelming satisfaction rates… schools are chosen because they “do not majority of the community expressed better attendance rates, fewer discipline meet current needs,” Superintendent concerns regarding the negative effects of problems.” See “SUPER-SCHOOL”: pg 2 2 The Playwickian News December 17, 2014 Student body donates blood to help Red Cross By Rachita Singh in the lives of others,” she said. two seconds and less than only 38 percent the cafeteria during lunch periods. Donors Office Manager Senior and National Honor Society of the population is eligible to donate are then allotted a time to report to Gym member, Terry blood. A car accident victim may require 1 to donate blood. The entire process Warner, who as many as 50 blood transfusions and each could take as long as an hour, while the donated and also transfusion consists of approximately actual donation only lasts between eight volunteered at last three pints. Only a pint of blood is donated to 12 minutes for regular donors. The year’s blood drive, by a donor during each visit. Blood donation could take longer for double described his transfusions are also required by cancer red cell donors, who need to pass more experience as “a patients as well as people suffering from health requirements. American Red Cross wonderful one.” other life-threatening diseases. suggests drinking a lot of fluid and having “It was just a good To sign-up for the blood drive, a well-balanced meal before donating so feeling knowing students can obtain a consent form from that the blood could flow out quicker, and that you could tables set up by National Honor Society the donor does not feel discomfort. Snacks help someone by in Main Street before homeroom and in are also served for donors after donation. doing something so simple and giving something SUPER-SCHOOL: continued from 1 that you create Her son, Owen Millward, is a second grader at Heckman and has Asperger daily,” he said. Syndrome. When he first began elementary school, he required special needs. For Not only kindergarten and first grade, he was bused to Herbert Hoover for those needs. the BLOOD DRIVE - Honor Society seniors Matthew Gormley, students, but attention he needed for the initial transition into school at Hoover, Owen began to Nicole Nisivoccia, and Jaime Renman walk Yoonjung Kim even teachers and excel and was ready to join a normal education classroom. through the donation process. This school year’s first administrators His parents didn’t believe that a transition to his neighborhood school Heckman, blood drive will occur throughout the school day on Dec. participate in the was the best plan considering children with Aspergers struggle with transitions. “Neshaminy’s own people services insisted that Owen change schools and attend 19 in Gym One. Photo/Emily Fithian annual event. Principal Robert Heckman, because, as they explained to us, the benefits of being in a neighborhood The annual winter blood drive hosted McGee, who donates blood every year, school were significant enough to make the transition worthwhile,” Millward said. At by Neshaminy’s National Honor Society said he does it because, “It’s a way to the hearing on Dec. 4. “And you know what—they were right.” is set to return on Friday, Dec. 19 in Gym help and service others. Donating money Some proposed alternative solutions by community members include closing one One. or time to those in need is important but school in lieu of closing three, improvements to already existing schools, or no action The blood drive is one of two blood blood can’t be bought or acquired with at all. Taxpayer and Langhorne resident, Douglas Hanisch voiced his opinion at the drives hosted by the National Honor volunteering your time. It only takes 15 Dec. 4 Public Hearing. “Neshaminy residents would be much better served by making Society every year. Students over the minutes to save a life.” improvements to existing facilities,” he said. age of 16 are eligible to donate blood; Between 250-300 students sign up “The mega-school… is a $70 million gamble,” Hanisch said during public however, other health prerequisites also for the blood drive every year but the comment. “But that’s not the worst of it: new buildings don’t improve educational apply. In addition to student donors, actual number of donors lowers as many outcomes… there’s no evidence to suggest that all of this money, and all of this labor, members of the National Honor Society people do not meet requirements during and all of this suffering will benefit our children educationally.” volunteer at the blood drive by checking- pre-screening. Some attendees were very strong on their stance, including taxpayer Chad in donors, comforting them, and providing “Our goal is 300 students. We are one Pindarwho who said he moved back to the area to specifically live in the Neshaminy donors with any other assistance that is of the largest groups of donors around School District with his family, but would move out of the district if the proposed needed. here,” English teacher and NHS adviser construction is approved. Honor Society President and senior, Kim Kelley said. She also hopes that Board members are not unanimous on the new 5-8 middle school models or the Jenny Pan, said that on average there are there would be a better turn out this year consolidation of elementary schools. A vote of 6-3 passed the new middle school model at least 20-25 volunteers every period than last year, when not a large number last month and the same sixboard members passed the Oct. 28 resolution to instate the including the officers who are present at of donors participated as the blood drive Act 34 meeting to present the construction plans. the event all day. “It’s around the holidays, was held on a half-day for Keystones. According to an article by the Philadelphia Inquirer, school board president Scott which is a time for giving, and I think it’s According to the American Red Congdon and supporter of the new super school said that the benefit in acting swiftly is really powerful how our student body can Cross, the organization behind the blood to take advantage of low interest rates. Congdon also stressed the need to consolidate come together and help make a difference drive, a blood transfusion is needed every and said, “I couldn’t sleep at night if we did nothing.” Obama delivers controversial immigration executive order By Solomiya Syvyk children of the immigrants because they those members News Editor did not have much say about being in this of Congress country; if parents are deported, it really who question After the House of Representatives isn’t fair,” said junior Natalia Bastida.