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Neshaminy School District
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Something New
On The Menu
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New food service provider emphasizes choice, quality
Over the past 30 years, the culinary expectations of Americans have changed dramatically. We’re trying new flavors, demanding fresher ingredients, and carefully examining the nutritional value in what we eat (well, most of the time, anyway).
With the passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, school cafeterias across the nation were challenged to improve the nutritional quality and choices found on their menus.
Last year, Neshaminy contracted with Aramark, a Philadelphia-based company, to manage the Food Services program in the district. Aramark is a leader in the industry, providing 370,000 meals to students every day as well as serving restaurants, sports venues and hotels around the world.
Students at the high school have already seen dramatic changes with the introduction of 15 new menu items, the addition of 6 ‘made to order’ stations at each school, and bright new restaurant-style graphics in the serving areas. Each food style has its own line, including a Mexican tortilla bar, the Green Street Deli custom sandwich shop, pizzeria-quality slices from the Corner Crust Original Pizza shop, and a fresh custom salad from the Chop’d & Top’d salad bar.
Students in the three middle schools are offered a traditional entree each day, but can also choose from daily grill selections, pizza, or from a deli / salad station. Elementary students have more of a traditional cafeteria-style menu but with an increased number of entrees, salads and sandwiches.
Aramark also offers increased choice for the district’s breakfast program. At the high school, students can choose from traditional entrees such as pancakes, scrambled eggs, frittatas, or breakfast burritos with a daily selection of cold options such as cereal, oat bars, bagels, cheese and more. The middle and elementary school breakfasts similarly include a wide variety of entrees as well as a number of healthy alternatives such as yogurt, hard boiled eggs and cereal.
Food Services Director Joseph Gentile says that the feedback from students has been very positive so far, and that sales figures compared to the same time last year are positive. The price has remained the same as last year, and any future changes in meal prices would come from the School Board, not Aramark.
“The kids do have higher expectations,” Gentile said. “They have exposure to different foods; they eat at different kinds of restaurants; they know what good food presentation is. Students really do care if their food is healthy or not. If there is a healthy option they prefer it.”
Nutrition and wellness information is available on the Food Services web site (link below). Future plans include equipment upgrades at the high school over the Christmas break and conducting a survey at the high school to get feedback on the changes. Neshaminy has a 5-year commitment with Aramark, but the School Board must renew the contract each year.
———————————————————————— Know STEAM? We want you!
Do you work in technology, science, engineering, art or math? Would you be willing to share your skills and expertise with our students?
We are looking for individuals and local companies to share their knowledge during the annual STEAM Expo at Neshaminy High School on April 20. This is a chance to reach hundreds of elementary and middle school students in one exciting evening anpass along your enthusiasm to the next generation. If interested, please send an email to David Geanette at dgeanette@neshaminy.org
Certified staff ups their game on Election Day
While Election Day 2016 on November 8 was an eventful one for the entire nation, our teachers spent a good part of their day working collaboratively to improve their craft.
Kindergarten teachers from across the district gathered to share best practices and school nurses collaborated to better utilize available technology. First and second grade teachers talked about ways to introduce engineering concepts to their students, while third and fourth grade teachers explored ways to learn from an analysis of student test results.
World Language teachers worked with a college professor on best practices, secondary math teachers in grades 6-9 worked on the new McGraw Hill math program. The physical education department hosted 165 PE teachers from across the county for a county-wide program that included workshops in technology integration, demonstrations, and a presentation by Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub about current trends in drug abuse and prevention.
Over 100 English and Reading Teachers from grades 3-8 attended a workshop on how to turn student assessment data into action plans that can be tailored to the individual classroom level.
The Music Department was honored to have Hugh Sung as a guest speaker. Mr. Sung is a pianist, author, technology enthusiast and entrepreneur. He served on the faculty of The Curtis Institute of Music for 19 years, co-founded the music tech company AirTurn.
This was a busy day that empowered our talented staff to do even more for their students.
Art teachers inspired by conference
Representatives from each level of the art department collaborated while attending the Pennsylvania Art Education Association’s (PAEA) Annual Conference at Moore College of Art in October. The theme for this year’s conference was “Make it Happen.” Justin Bursk, Tammi Razzano, Stacy Potter, Kris Troxell, and Syd White participated in arts centered workshops, lectures, and collaborative discussion with a focus on art production as a platform for connecting students to learning and their community while engaging in social awareness issues.
Justin Bursk said, “The PAEA conference was full of motivation and inspiration within thoughtful presentations. It is experiences like these that can remind you why you got into this business in the first place. The Keynote speakers, while working outside of institutional career paths, provided ways to create an environment of inclusion and make connections between student, community, and classroom.”
Neshaminy leads the way in statewide initiatives
Three Neshaminy educators are taking their expertise beyond the borders of our community to benefit students throughout Pennsylvania.
Neshaminy High School science teacher Brian Suter will be discussing our implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards and the adoption of the Amplify Science Curriculum in the district to the Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association (PSTA).
English teacher Tara Huber is participating in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Educator Evaluation Work Group, working to assure a more balanced teacher evaluation system.
Carl Sandburg Middle School Principal Dawn Kelly and some of her team will be sharing the success of their SPIRIT program (Safety, Pride, Integrity, Respect, Involved, and Teamwork) at the upcoming Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) Conference in Hershey.
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Substitute teachers wanted!
Do you have a bachelors degree and love working with children? Would you enjoy sharing your knowledge and wisdom with the next generation right here at Neshaminy? We are looking for substitute teachers in our schools. We can even help you obtain state certification through the Bucks County Intermediate Unit 2-day Guest Teacher program, which will be held monthly January through May.
For more information, please contact any of our school principals or call Human Resources at 215-809-6606.
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Pearl S. Buck Elementary School
New Yorker cartoonist / illustrator visits Buck
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Harry Bliss working with students at Buck.
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Author and illustrator Harry Bliss visited Pearl S. Buck ES in November. He is well-known for his hundreds of cartoons that have appeared in the New Yorker, and has illustrated 19 covers for the magazine. He also has illustrated many children’s books.
During his presentation, he shared the importance of reading, saying, "It expands your ideas, and you look at the work in a different way.” He also showed students the ‘Scribble Game.’ Using a few student volunteers, he asked each child to make a simple scribble on paper. He then expanded upon the scribble to create a larger drawing, explaining how this simple game is fun and also good for developing creativity. Finally, he was also able to spend some time in the art room with Mr. Nesbitt’s first grade class and honored the school with an impromptu painting.
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Joseph Ferderbar Elementary School
Elf Fund dinner celebrates 24 years of caring
Scores of hungry diners descended on the cafeteria at Poquessing Middle School on the evening of Wednesday November 9 to enjoy a heaping plate of spaghetti and meatballs during the 24th annual Ferderbar Elementary School Karen Jasper Memorial Elf Fund dinner.
The purpose of the dinner is to raise money to help Ferderbar and Poquessing families with extra needs during the holidays by providing gift cards, food assistance and other help. The event was started by the late Ferderbar teacher Karen Jasper as a way to bring the community together and make the holidays brighter for all families.
Walter Miller Elementary School
American Education Week celebrated
Many district schools, including Walter Miller, opened their doors to visitors during the week of November 14-18. Parents and guardians were able to see typical classroom activities, and for some, they even participated along with their children.
American Education Week is celebrated each year as a reminder of the importance of education to the future of our country and world.
The election is over, and the winner is…
Popcorn. Mrs. Gruener’s first-grade class participated in a mock election, voting for their favorite snack food. Popcorn edged out potato chips to take the prize. The winner and the loser were both consumed as a snack by the voters following the election.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
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Thanksgiving donation
Helping our own families share in the joy of the holidays is a priority at all Neshaminy schools. Hoover ES was no exception as they held their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive in November, collecting hundred of items that were donated to families.
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College Day
November 22 was College Day for the Hoover staff, who wore apparel celebrating their alma maters.
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Albert Schweitzer Elementary School
New club builds community involvement
Albert Schweitzer Elementary School kindergarten and first grade students have recently formed an Empathy Club. With the support of their advisors, Mrs. McHugh, Mrs. Kurley, and Mrs. Bullick, students will engage in activities designed to promote, encourage, and facilitate empathy towards others in and around our community. The club will kick off their mission with a book collection for patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in December. The club has been brainstorming ways to show empathy to the elderly, homeless, each other and animals in our community.
Tawanka Elementary School
PinkOut nets $1000 donation
Tawanka Elementary School recently presented the Healing Consciousness Foundation with a donation check for $1000 reflecting the amount raised from their recent PinkOut spare change drive to help those dealing with cancer. This Tawanka effort was part of the recent PinkOut fundraiser held at Neshaminy High School.
Third grade builds stuffed animals for Haitian children
All third-grade students from Tawanka visited the Build-a-Bear Workshop at the Oxford Valley Mall in November to create stuffed animals that will be donated to children in Haiti. The completed animals will be delivered by a relief organization called Hope Alive, who provides assistance for earthquake survivors and orphans in Haiti.
Maple Point Middle School
Veterans Day Celebration draws 9 WWII vets
The annual Veterans Day Celebration at Maple Point Middle School drew over 80 area veterans on Thursday November 10. That group included 9 World War II veterans, who were introduced individually at the start of the ceremony. All the veterans were also honored with a roll call.
The keynote speaker was Thomas M. Hauserman, Jr., USN, Commander of VFW Post 6393 in Yardley. The post is the main sponsor for the Bucks County Patriots Pen essay contest, which four Maple Point 8th-grade students entered this year.
An Honor Guard from the post opened the ceremony, and the Maple Point Middle School Concert and Cadet Choirs provided music for the occasion. The Neshaminy Facilities department painted a large American flag on the hill outside the school, and like past years, the 8th grade gathered around the flag along with many of the veterans for a group photo following the ceremony.
Physical Education teacher honored
Congratulations to Maple Point Physical Education teacher Kathleen Kenney, who was selected as the 2016 Pennsylvania State Association of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance Professional Honor Award recipient. This award recognizes professionals who demonstrate leadership and dedication to the PSAHPERD organization.
Ms. Kenney has been involved with the group since 2009 and served last year as the president of the southeastern district.
Food drive nets a ton of food, literally
The Maple Point Student Council Food Drive concluded November 23 and was an amazing success. Thirty Thanksgiving meals with all the trimmings were provided for local families in need. In addition, 2,600 pounds of food was donated to the E.R.A. Food Pantry in Levittown. This was a total team effort involving students, staff, PTO and community members.
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Poquessing Middle School
‘Mannequin Challenge’ highlights annual food drive
The 6th grade Team 'A' at Poquessing Middle School wanted to do something a little different and fun with their annual Thanksgiving food drive this year. Once they gathered their canned goods and packaged items for the annual event, which provides Thanksgiving meals for families in need, they organized a ‘Mannequin Challenge,’ which can be viewed at the link below. This challenge is a recent internet phenomena featuring videos of people holding a pose for the duration of the video, which is usually set to music. The 150 students in this challenge video posed frozen in place with their donated items for nearly a minute and a half.
The Poquessing food drive, which involved the entire school and was sponsored by the Student Council, yielded 30 Thanksgiving Day baskets destined for local families.
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Carl Sandburg Middle School
Thanksgiving food drive nets 30 dinner baskets
The National Junior Honor Society at Carl Sandburg Middle School continued the tradition of helping our families during the Thanksgiving holiday. Students and staff donated hundreds of pounds of food. The Honor Society members assembled 30 baskets with all the turkey trimmings and the baskets were distributed to families. Students were asked to bring various items by grade - 5th grade donated vegetables and gravy; 6th grade brought desserts, biscuit and muffin mixes; 7th grade brought canned fruit and cranberry sauce; 8th grade brought the potatoes and stuffing.
Mock election brings out the vote
Students at all three middle schools participated in mock elections prior to the actual Election Day on November 8 as part of their social studies program. Students at Sandburg were required to register in advance and cast their ballots in the library media center. The media even showed up -- you can view a short video from Channel 6 Action News at the link below. In case you’re wondering, Donald Trump won with 52% of the vote at Sandburg.
Neshaminy High School
Student Council attends leadership workshop
Students leaders from Neshaminy High School attended the three-day Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils State Conference in western Pennsylvania November 10-12. The conference involved over 1000 delegates from 150 high schools, who attended workshops, seminars and lessons about leadership.
Marching band earns accolades at state competition
Congratulations to the Neshaminy HS Marching Band for their very successful performance at the Cavalcade of Bands Championships in Hershey, PA on November 12. The band competed in the highly competitive Patriot division and took 2nd place with a score of 97.1. The band also earned the award for High Overall Effect. Congratulations on a great end to the marching season!
Powder Puff Football starts off Thanksgiving weekend
The red and the blue clashed on the Neshaminy gridiron November 22 with a charity touch football game featuring two teams of female competitors.
The evening started with football clinics led by coaches and players from the varsity Redskins football team, introductions of each player on the field, music from the Neshaminy Pep Band, and lots great touch football action.
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Neshaminy School District
2250 Langhorne-Yardley Road
Langhorne, PA 19446
Joseph Jones III
Superintendent
(215) 809-6000
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Neshaminy School Board
of Directors
Scott E. Congdon - President
Irene M. Boyle - Vice President
Bob Feather
Tina Hollenbach
Mike Morris
Stephen Pirritano
Ron Rudy
Robert Sanna
Marty Sullivan
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Neshaminy School District
Langhorne, PASomething NewOn The Menu
New food service provider emphasizes choice, quality
Harry Bliss working with students at Buck.Author and illustrator Harry Bliss visited Pearl S. Buck ES in November. He is well-known for his hundreds of cartoons that have appeared in the New Yorker, and has illustrated 19 covers for the magazine. He also has illustrated many children’s books.During his presentation, he shared the importance of reading, saying, "It expands your ideas, and you look at the work in a different way.” He also showed students the ‘Scribble Game.’ Using a few student volunteers, he asked each child to make a simple scribble on paper. He then expanded upon the scribble to create a larger drawing, explaining how this simple game is fun and also good for developing creativity. Finally, he was also able to spend some time in the art room with Mr. Nesbitt’s first grade class and honored the school with an impromptu painting.Joseph Ferderbar Elementary SchoolElf Fund dinner celebrates 24 years of caringScores of hungry diners descended on the cafeteria at Poquessing Middle School on the evening of Wednesday November 9 to enjoy a heaping plate of spaghetti and meatballs during the 24th annual Ferderbar Elementary School Karen Jasper Memorial Elf Fund dinner.The purpose of the dinner is to raise money to help Ferderbar and Poquessing families with extra needs during the holidays by providing gift cards, food assistance and other help. The event was started by the late Ferderbar teacher Karen Jasper as a way to bring the community together and make the holidays brighter for all families.VIDEO LINK: 24th Annual Elf Fund DinnerWalter Miller Elementary SchoolAmerican Education Week celebratedMany district schools, including Walter Miller, opened their doors to visitors during the week of November 14-18. Parents and guardians were able to see typical classroom activities, and for some, they even participated along with their children.American Education Week is celebrated each year as a reminder of the importance of education to the future of our country and world.The election is over, and the winner is…Popcorn. Mrs. Gruener’s first-grade class participated in a mock election, voting for their favorite snack food. Popcorn edged out potato chips to take the prize. The winner and the loser were both consumed as a snack by the voters following the election.Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Thanksgiving donation
College DayNovember 22 was College Day for the Hoover staff, who wore apparel celebrating their alma maters.Albert Schweitzer Elementary SchoolNew club builds community involvementAlbert Schweitzer Elementary School kindergarten and first grade students have recently formed an Empathy Club. With the support of their advisors, Mrs. McHugh, Mrs. Kurley, and Mrs. Bullick, students will engage in activities designed to promote, encourage, and facilitate empathy towards others in and around our community. The club will kick off their mission with a book collection for patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in December. The club has been brainstorming ways to show empathy to the elderly, homeless, each other and animals in our community.Tawanka Elementary SchoolPinkOut nets $1000 donationTawanka Elementary School recently presented the Healing Consciousness Foundation with a donation check for $1000 reflecting the amount raised from their recent PinkOut spare change drive to help those dealing with cancer. This Tawanka effort was part of the recent PinkOut fundraiser held at Neshaminy High School.
Poquessing Middle School