Here Come the Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary
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VOLUME 13, ISSUE 6 “HOME OF THE PHANTOMS” APRIL 2017 Here come the Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary Written by: redistricting. As of Carly Goldberg now all kindergar- ten and first-grade students will at- For the past tend the ELC, and few years, Phoe- East Pikeland nixville Area High and Middle students in grades School students have seen a mas- 2 through 5 will sive construction project rise from attend the new the ground next door. With the Manavon Elemen- construction of the new Early tary. Learning Center (ELC) and Ma- Just as the build- navon Elementary, we have wit- ing is open to the nessed a behemoth building be community to assembled through the hard work The grand entrance to the building, facing visit, it was in- of dozens of machines and work- Potthouse Road. Many more pictures are spired by the ers. The younger children of our available on the district website. community in the district have a lot to look forward Photos: Carly Goldberg first place. “We PEOPLE: to, as the beautiful new schools asked the public will soon open for the 2017-18 problems from the for name suggestions and had over Mr. T.J. school year. I had the opportunity past; it anticipates the future. “The we’re going to be pumping fluid one hundred [submitted],” said to tour this new building with Mr. building is designed to house 1,250 out through those wells,” Johnson Johnson. “Manavon was the origi- Alex Fey Stan Johnson, Executive Director children, and we’ll open it Eric Nascari of Operations for the district, and with about 1,000, so we have learn about what makes the build- room to grow,” said Johnson. Mr. Leinhauser ing such an asset to our communi- The school will utilize tech- ty. nology as well as a unique Why was a new mega-building design to better educate the needed in the first place? “If you young students. Between NEWS: look at the condition of the build- each pair of classrooms is a Water bottle refill station ings at East Pikeland and at the small-group instructional Kindergarten Center, both were space, which is a shared French exchange built in the 1950’s,” said Johnson. room that allows for students “We did an analysis of what was to work with a reading or Anti-discrimination Ordinance cheaper, to build a new building or language specialist, or for Denmark exchange renovate the existing buildings, advanced students to work and in both cases it was better for a ahead. Classrooms will also PAHS senior internship program new building.” Overcrowding in feature smart projectors, all three elementary schools was groupable desks like in the also a concern. Of the cost, John- middle school, and a focus son said, “The entire project was a on natural light. The center OPINIONS: $70 million project... the cost of will also feature colorful Top 8 Gorillaz singles the building itself is around $43 classrooms and hallways. million. Two separate new schools Another interesting A finished interior of what will likely be a Ask the Nurse would be $25 million each, so [the achievement about the ELC third-grade classroom. ELC] design saves considerable and Manavon is the geothermal said. “The nal name AP classes money for the taxpayers.” heating system. “Out on the base- fluid will then take on the tempera- of Phoenixville, and the name of Yeezys Adding this new center to the ball field we drilled two hundred ture of the earth four hundred feet the town was changed when the district does more than alleviate wells, four hundred feet deep, and deep, which is about 65 degrees. steel mill settled here.” After an- That fluid is then circulated other community-wide online poll, through the building.” This Manavon was by far the most ENTERTAINMENT: heating method also eliminates popular option, so it was adopted carbon emissions, and com- as the new on-campus elementary Lights Out bined with the LED lighting, school, replacing East Pikeland. Get Out makes the building highly Overall, the Phoenixville Area environmentally friendly. Early Learning Center and Ma- The 100 If you are feeling eager to navon Elementary will be a great check out the new space, have addition to our community. Finan- Club Penguin Island no fear: several open houses cially, costs are headed in the right are lined up for parents and the direction as well. Johnson said, Horoscopes public. “We have an open “We’re actually slightly under Prom quiz house on May 31st, for parents budget, so we’re really happy of the children primarily,” about that. Each day that goes on, Johnson explained. “We have a the likelihood that you run into move-up day scheduled for the problems goes down, so we’re SPORTS: students, our kindergarteners cautiously optimistic right now.” NFL Mock Draft going into first grade, on May And with all of the progress in the Mr. Johnson, Director of Operations, 30th, and in August we have a district, there’s a lot to be optimis- Drag racing stands next to the geothermal heating whole series of days for the tic about. center. public to visit.” Some parents Flyers wrap up in the area are anxious about PEOPLE Mr. TJ: The “Big Man on campus” Written by: James Sadowski Mr. TJ posing with ex-player ing, watching TV or Herm Edwards at Lincoln sleeping.” he said. Financial Field. Mr. TJ has four kids Have you seen a tall Photo courtesy of Mr. TJ between the ages of broad man in a uniform 14 to 25. roaming around the halls Mr. TJ also has an affiliation with the of PAHS? You can’t miss the big man on Philadelphia Eagles, working as a “guard” campus. Yes, I am talking about our school for the organization. He is a part of a security guard, Mr. TJ. To ensure our safety group of eight people who provide execu- here at Phoenixville Area High School, Mr. tive security for all of the high end owners TJ watches the halls like a hawk, seeking and people important to the Eagles organi- out anything unpleasant that he needs to zation. He said, “I oversee all the alumni take care of. He’s a lot more than just a players and make sure they get to all of security guard and has the resume to back it their interviews and get from point A to up. point B. Every day I get to be with some- Working from the early morning to the end body different, and being with someone of the school day, Mr. TJ walks the halls different, there are different stories,” he and makes sure there are very few disturb- said. In this position he also works other ances during and after school. He also escorts people who come into the building and directs them to where they are supposed to be. In addition, Mr. TJ makes sure the halls are clear and safe for the students at PAHS to travel. He frequently strikes up con- Mr. TJ with U.S women’s Olympic versations, “especially because I’m a people He has also worked as a firefighter for track star Sanya Richards-Ross Photo courtesy of Mr. TJ person,” he said. over 25 years. “I have been a fire investi- There is a lot more to our school’s security gator and fire marshal, for the past 20 years,” he said. popular events and has had the luxury of meet- guard than you may think. Mr. TJ has worked ing many celebrities like Beyonce, Jay-Z, in security for over 25 years and it all started Mr. TJ is also involved in many extracur- ricular activities. Some of these revolve Cristiano Ronaldo, and the Pope. Mr. TJ has when he was 19 years old working in a night- even worked for the United States Women’s club. “It has always been something I’ve been around being with his children, being a soccer team. interested in doing and something I love do- coach, as well as running little league football and cheerleading. He also loves to Overall, Mr. TJ is one of the most interesting ing,” he said. He has also worked with juve- people you will ever meet and by far the cool- nile delinquents at Glenn Mills school for 20 relax when he can, especially after a long day at work. “With my jobs I work a lot, est security guard in the PAC. So if you ever years, which he really enjoyed. “I want to be need someone to provide you with a little bit of able to help kids because, not to sound cliche, and I work a lot of strange hours. I am a Mr. TJ posing for a picture. person who has to keep busy, so if I’m security, don’t hesitate to ask the newest “big but the kids are our future,” he said. Photo: James Sadowski man on campus.” Mr. TJ has not always been a security guard. not busy working then I’m home relax- Alex Fey: Future Secretary of Education Written by: Gabrielle Dato Fey. Alex describes her as “very sweet and down to earth.” He added, “At times I Alex Fey, a sophomore do forget that she is a celebri- at PAHS, has recently ty.” received a distinction about which Dr. Currently, Alex’s favorite Parkinson said “it’s hard to put into con- class is AP Chemistry with Mr. text the scale and magnitude of this hon- Winters. Alex explained that he or.” That’s because Alex has been select- enjoys this class “because of ed as the 2017 student representative of the various jokes the entire the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.