Superintendent's Report 4 17
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PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • APRIL 2017 to enhance the classroom experiences of Pennsbury Across the DISTRICT students. This year’s Bronze Sponsor of the event was PENNSBURY PARTNERS RECOGNIZED ShopRite of Yardley. Many other local businesses AT ANNUAL AWARDS EVENT and nonprofits purchased advertising in the event program. Funds provided by these 2017 sponsors The Pennsbury Partners Program celebrated will enable the Partnership Program to provide its 18th annual partnership recognition event on Tuesday, April 11th at William Penn Middle School. As in previous years, awards were presented to one outstanding business partner and one outstanding non profit partner of the year. The 2017 celebration also featured musical entertainment by members of the Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band. The event was organized by Ann Langtry, Coordinator of Communications, and Robin Peters, Partnership Program Assistant. “In addition to benefiting students, partnering with Pennsbury offers many advantages for community agencies and businesses,” said Ms. Langtry. “Partnerships with Pennsbury offer image enhancement opportunities, greater visibility in the community, and the personal satisfaction that together, we are helping to shape the workforce of the future.” The recipients of the outstanding partnership awards for the 2016-2017 school year were: • The National Aerospace Training and Research Center (NASTAR); and • The Fallsington Library. (Top) Greg Kennedy accepted the award on behalf of NASTAR for Business Partner of the Year from William Penn science teacher, Kristin A video presentation shown during the Slota, who wore her NASTAR flight suit for the presentation. awards ceremony spotlighted the distinguished (Bottom) Fallsington Elementary School Principal Brian Shaffer, at left, presented the award for Community/Non-Profit Partner of the Year to contributions of both of these multi-year partners Charlene Rendeiro (center), who accepted on behalf of the Fallsington whose cross-curricular activities continually serve Library. Ms. Rendeiro was accompanied by her husband and sons. www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • APRIL 2017 1 superintendent’s report • WILLIAM J. GRETZULA, Ed.D. mini-grants to Pennsbury teachers in the coming “The PEF Board is pleased school year. to support a variety of school initiatives through our second Over the last 20 years, the Pennsbury Partners round of grants for the current Program has grown to be a highly successful, academic year. The next round collaborative effort involving over 1,000 partners will be offered this fall. We value in the Pennsbury community. For information the work that our teachers do in on the Pennsbury Partners Program, visit www. the classroom, and we look for effective ways to pennsburysd.org > Departments > Pennsbury distribute funds twice each school year to benefit our Partners Program. students,” said Annette Young, PEF President. DISTRICT WEBSITE EARNS The following grant recipients were announced: SPECIAL RECOGNTION • Fallsington Elementary Principal Brian Shaffer and teacher Meghan Mix - $725 for the Mystery In a recent state-wide communications contest Math Show student assembly; sponsored by the Pennsylvania School Public • Edgewood Elementary Principal Stephanie Relations Association (PenSPRA), Pennsbury Hultquist and teacher Joseph Gallo - $500 to achieved an Award of Excellence for the new District partially fund the purchase of heart rate monitors website. This is the highest honor bestowed by for students. PenSPRA. Congratulations to everyone who plays a • Makefield Elementary Principal Donna part in this effective communication vehicle all year McCormick-Miller and teacher Molly Werthman long. This includes departmental personnel as well - $3,050 to purchase literacy materials for as individual school site managers. Special thanks to Kindergarten and first grade; the Communications and Technology departments • Makefield Elementary Principal Donna for the successful launch of the new District website McCormick-Miller and teacher Alison Majikas last fall in partnership with the content management - $589.99 to purchase K’nex materials for STEM system vendor, eSchoolView. Your combined efforts design work; were recognized! Judges’ comments included such observations as “Clean, crisp layout,” “Well • Penn Valley Elementary Principal Barbara organized,” “Lots of good information,” and “Easy Hidalgo and teacher Betty Zubrzycki - $1,099 to to navigate.” One judge noted an appreciation for purchase five standing student desks; the “Prominent student faces and achievements” on • Quarry Hill Elementary Principal Dr. Peggy our website. Kudos to all! Schiavone and teacher Robyn Rowlands - $2,000 to partially fund Cubelet blocks for robot building EDUCATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES activities; • Charles Boehm Middle School Principal Theresa SPRING GRANT RECIPIENTS Ricci and teacher Anita Quinn - $3,000 to purchase a portable design center; The Pennsbury Education Foundation (PEF) recently Principal awarded a total of ten grants to schools across the • William Penn Middle School and teacher Pennsbury School District, totaling over $20,000. The Christopher Becker Jeffrey Kobasa - $4,500 to purchase new stage curtains for the PEF is a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on donations school cafetorium; and supports the purpose of improving teaching and learning in Pennsbury through innovative educational • Pennsbury High School East Principal Reggie initiatives. Grants are awarded through an application Meadows and teacher Lauren Woodson - $3,815.68 process that occurs twice each year. to purchase 30 graphing calculators; and 2 APRIL 2017 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA www.pennsburysd.org superintendent’s report • WILLIAM J. GRETZULA, Ed.D. • Pennsbury High School West Principal Lisa Becker and teacher Linda Smith - $950 for an interactive concert in the German language. In addition to gathering generous donations from local funding sources and individual donors, the PEF also participates in the PA Department of Community and Economic Development’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, which awards tax credits to businesses making contributions to the PEF. For more information, call Pennsbury Business Administrator, Daniel Rodgers, at 215-428-4115. SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING The Odyssey of the Mind team from Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School will now advance to the World Finals in Graduating Pennsbury seniors and alumni May at Michigan State University. currently attending college are eligible to apply for financial aid from the Pennsbury Scholarship season. Only the top two teams from each problem Foundation. This foundation was created in 1956 for and each division advance to the World Finals in the sole purpose of providing financial assistance May at Michigan State University. Eleanor Roosevelt to help Pennsbury graduates attend college. Forms placed second and will be advancing to Worlds! are available in hard copy in the PHS counseling Congratulations are extended to this team and also to office and may also be downloaded from the Pennwood Middle School for placing third. Pennsbury website. (Community tab > Foundations > Pennsbury Scholarship Foundation) Reminder: the Each of our Pennsbury OM teams did especially deadline to apply for a 2017-2018 scholarship is May well at the state level. Here’s a breakdown 1st. Please keep this valuable resource in mind as provided by the Pennsbury Odyssey of the Mind you plan your higher education. Good luck! Association: • Afton (Problem 1) - 4th place out of 11 ODYSSEY OF THE MIND TEAMS • Eleanor Roosevelt (Problem 3) - 2nd place out of COMPETE AT STATES 12 (1st place in spontaneous!) • Manor (Problem 4) - 6th place out of 10 Six District Odyssey of the Mind teams traveled • Makefield (Problem 2) - 6th place out of 12 (1st 340 miles to Moon Township to compete in the place in spontaneous!) Pennsylvania state finals on Saturday, April 1st. • Pennwood (Problem 5) - 3rd place out of 12 These teams included students from Afton, Manor, • PHS (Problem 5) - 7th place out of 11 Makefield, and Eleanor Roosevelt elementary schools, Pennwood Middle School, and Pennsbury High School. PENNSBURY ONE OF TOP AREA HIGH SCHOOLS: PHILA BUSINESS JOURNAL The competition included 162 of the best teams from all over Pennsylvania. All six Pennsbury teams gave A recent analysis of SAT scores conducted by the it their all, resulting in their best performances of the Philadelphia Business Journal generated a ranking of www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • APRIL 2017 3 superintendent’s report • WILLIAM J. GRETZULA, Ed.D. the best high schools in the Greater Philadelphia included solos featuring Kathryn Gilbride and Eva area. Congratulations to Pennsbury High School, Crosson, both ninth grade students.” ranking #31 out of 50! PENNSBURY PRIDE ON FULL DISPLAY DISTRICT REPEATS AS ONE OF BEST AT COUNTY STEM CHALLENGE! COMMUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION Middle Schools. Last month, all three middle Frank Mazzeo, Curriculum Coordinator for schools sent teams of students to the BCIU STEM Instrumental Music, is pleased to announce that the Design Competition. The teams were challenged to Pennsbury School District earned the 2017 award build a K’nex amusement park, making “green” a as one of the Best Communities in America for priority. They were also required to create an envi- Music Education. “This marks the ninth consecutive ronmentally-friendly ride for the