The high school courses offered for dual enrollment are: · Accounting III, Honors
· Accounting II · Information Technology II · Microeconomics, Honors · Macroeconomics, Honors Students pay a fee for the courses, and the grades are reported both for college and high school transcripts. The Gwynedd-Mercy partnership is separate from another college program that debuted this year. A group of Neshaminy High School seniors is taking classes at Bucks County Community College and also earning college credit. In that program the students are physically transported to BCCC to participate in the classes each day. Calling all AlumniThe Neshaminy Education Foundation is forming an Alumni Committee to encourage and plan activities, partnerships, mentorships, events and improve communication between the district and its graduates. The committee will begin meeting in early 2018. If you would like to contribute your time and ideas, please fill out the online information form found at the following website: Visit a class
for American Education Week
|
 |
In this era of media overload, it can be easy to overlook the many day-to-day accomplishments of our educators as they meet the challenges of providing a quality 21st-century program for our students. During American Education Week -- celebrated November 13-17 this year -- the families of our students are invited to visit their schools and see first hand how our classrooms are changing to meet the rapidly-changing needs of modern society. Each school will be posting a schedule on their website with visitation information, and parents and guardians are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to see what an average day in a Neshaminy school looks like. |
American Education Week was created in 1921 by the National Education Association. Since then it has gained support from a number of educational organizations "for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs."
Tawanka parking lot project underway
Tawanka families and neighbors will be saying good-bye to the large dirt pile near Brownsville Road which is being removed to make way for a much-needed 59-space parking lot expansion. The goal is to finish the project by the end of the year. The paved lot will be adjacent to the baseball field in front of the school. Additional work to a retention basin behind the school will also be completed as part of the project.
Senior Tax Assistance Program turns 40
Neshaminy will once again be offering a Senior Citizen Tax Assistance Program starting in January, 2018. This program is entering its 40th year, and has returned over $2.5 million since it began in 1977. 230 senior citizens participated in the program last year. To qualify, homeowners must reach the age of 65 by December 31, 2017, and have a household income of under $20,000. This includes reporting half of Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits and 100% of any other income.
The application forms will be available on the District website in January and also at local tax collectors offices. Forms can also be ordered via US Mail by calling the Business Office at 215-809-6250.
New elementary progress reports debut
The first new elementary school progress reports will be coming out shortly after the first trimester ends November 9. These new standards-based reports will be issued in time for parents to review them prior to parent conferences, scheduled to begin November 21. The Curriculum & Instruction Department has prepared a video version of their 'Parent University' explaining the changes in these reports and how they can help families and teachers better identify learning targets and areas of need for support. All parents and guardians of elementary school students are urged to watch this video to better understand these new reports.
Coming UpEvents of interest to the Neshaminy community |
|
News from our Schools
Pearl S. Buck Elementary School
Buck collects supplies for hurricane relief
During October Buck families collected supplies to assist schools and students who have been drastically affected by the recent hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. First grade teacher Leanne Raab connected with the United Methodist Committee on Relief, an organization that coordinates school supplies and sends them to areas in need. The items collected will be sent to U.S. schools affected by the hurricanes. Retired Neshaminy Middle School teacher Lynn Wallace assisted by supplying cloth bags to hold the supplies.
Fourth grade creates a class of scarecrows
Among the many Halloween decorations that filled the walls of district schools in October were some unique creations made by students as part of collaborative class projects. As part of a reward activity for Buck fourth-graders, teams worked to create a variety of scarecrows. Their boo-tiful creations were on display at the school's annual Monster Mash.
Joseph Ferderbar Elementary School
Walking Club tops 1,000 miles
Students at Ferderbar are making strides - lots of them -- as they participate in the school's Walking Club. As of October 20, they have already logged 1032 miles -- 65 for the 4th grade, 167 for the 3rd grade, 487 for the 2nd grade and 312 for the 1st grade. The purpose of the club is to reduce stress, enhance creativity and increase academic performance.
Pencil sales power hurricane relief
Students raised over $300 in October to benefit schools affected by the hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. Profits from pencils sold at the school store were among the items that supported the effort.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Omegaman visits Hoover
Omegaman -- an anti-bullying superhero -- visited Hoover on October 4 thanks to funding provided by the Hoover PTO. Omegaman shared anti-bullying strategies with the students, and helped them learn how to be a H.E.R.O. (Helping Everyone Respect Others). Some first-grade students even showed their school spirit by dressing as superheroes on the day of the assembly. Principal Dr. David Glennon rode one of the buses with the students a couple of days later. Many were still discussing the assembly on the bus, saying that they were going to be 'Dream Makers' instead of 'Dream Breakers.'
'Pigcast' tops PTO fundraiser
The students had a lot of fun on October 13 during the PTO Race for the Resources Event. They walked and ran around a makeshift track set up outside the school to raise funds used to support a variety of field trip programs during the year. The students also enjoyed Pig Races -- each class was issued a mechanical toy pig and a series of races was held on the playground. The final Pig Race heat of the day was video broadcast to every classroom in the school from the library media center.
Pennies for Paws benefits local animal shelters
| The lobby at Hoover was once again filled with pet supplies in October -- everything from bags of dry dog food and cat toys to leashes and pet beds -- as the annual Pennies for Paws community service project proceeded. The proceeds, including PetSmart gift cards and monetary donations collected in coin drops, will be donated to local animal shelters. |  |
Walter Miller Elementary School
Grant funds Walk to School Day safety program
The neighborhoods around Walter Miller ES were busier than usual on Wednesday, October 4, 2017. Thanks to some community partners, the school celebrated International Walk to School Day with a group walk from three neighborhood locations to the school along with two assemblies that featured safety tips for both pedestrians and bicyclists. The purpose IWTS Day is to create safer routes and promote both driver and pedestrian safety to fight alarming statistics.
The event was made possible through a grant coordinated by Safe Kids Worldwide through Saint Mary Medical Center. Representatives from the hospital, joined by several Middletown Township police officers, AAA Mid-Atlantic, and Fedex, were all on hand to join our walking students and their families on the way to school. They greeted all the students as they entered school.
Two assemblies followed, one for K-2 and the second for grades 3 and 4. Students received valuable lessons about pedestrian and traffic safety, including a fun exercise where they simulated a traffic situation posing as cars, bicycles and themselves.
Albert
Schweitzer Elementary School
Unity Day celebrated
On October 25, Schweitzer celebrated Unity Day, a national day of activities that promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Students participated in activities that reinforced the school's CARES program (Cooperation, Attitude, Respect, Empathy and Safety) both inside the school and around the community, and learned specific methods to identify and avoid bullying.
Firefighters visit for Fire Prevention Week
The youngest students in all six elementary school were treated to safety presentations and firetruck demonstrations by local fire companies to mark Fire Prevention Week October 8-14. At Schweitzer, kindergarten and first-grade students learned about fire safety and the importance of having a family evacuation plan courtesy of the Middletown Township Fire Marshal's office and the Langhorne - Middletown Fire Company.
Tawanka Elementary School
Math and science meets cookies, marshmallows and tissue paper
 |
Tawanka
teachers
have been employing some creative methods to teach various concepts
this month. What appeared to be a standard Halloween mummy wrap was
actually a math project
for some Tawanka second-grade students. They had to measure squares of
tissue paper and determine by area how many they would need to create a
mummy wrap. Third-grade students built towers out of marshmallows and
toothpicks, and fourth-graders learned about the phases of the moon by
selectively licking the filling off of Oreo cookies. That's a delicious
lesson that won't soon be forgotten! |
Firefighters teach essential safety skillsKindergarten students
at Tawanka celebrated Fire Prevention Week with a
visit by the Lower Southampton Fire Company, who gave tours of a ladder
truck, demonstrated their firefighting gear and talked about fire
safety.
|
 |
Maple Point Middle School
8th grade prepares for Veterans Day ceremony
8th-grade students at Maple Point MS are busy getting ready for the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Thursday, November 9. In October, students made 'Flag your Bag' patriotic decorative tags, which were be sold for a $1 donation. That money was then be used to create similar gifts for our veterans attending the ceremony. All local veterans are invited to this moving ceremony. If you are a veteran or know of one who would like to attend this moving ceremony, please contact Maple Point Middle School to reserve a spot: 215-809-6230.
Staff recognized with We
Build Futures Awards
Superintendent Joseph Jones III and Maple Point Principal Andy Sokol visited a classroom at Maple Point MS on October 20 to deliver the latest We Build Futures Awards to teacher Tedri Paris-Powell and Instructional Assistant Gail Gallagher. Both are advisers for the school's No Place for Hate Club and were instrumental in starting the recent Hands Across the Halls event and spreading it beyond the walls of Maple Point to all the elementary and middle schools in the district in September.
Earlier in the month, Neshaminy HS Assistant Principal Colin Trickel and teachers Dr. Gail Park and Chris DiCicco, were also recognized with the We Build Futures Award. They were instrumental in the 3-year design and implementation of the Genre Labs reading program at the high school, which was expanded this year. Additional We Build Futures recognition was given to District Director of Administration Paul Meehan and Community Relations Coordinator Chris Stanley for their work on the district's Strategic Plan.
Poquessing Middle School
Guest speakers build understanding of visual impairments
Thanks to the efforts of one fifth-grader, students at Poquessing now have a better idea of the challenges faced by the visually impaired and and learned some best practices for approaching them. Representatives from the Bucks County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired spoke to fifth-grade classes at the suggestion of student Alex Schnee, who has a vision impairment, and his family. Several volunteers with varying levels of visual impairment spoke to the students and used special glasses to simulate what those with limited vision experience every day. By increasing understanding, the group hope to show that Alex and others with visual impairments are normal people who face some extra challenges in their daily life.
Carl Sandburg Middle School
NHS Science Club visits Sandburg
The Neshaminy High School Science Club visited fifth-graders at Carl Sandburg Middle School on October 26 to share some spectacular Halloween-themed science experiments that involved lots of dry ice, liquids, balloons, and even pumpkins.
Sandburg goes orange with hope and inspiration
Students at Carl Sandburg participated in The Orange Project during the week of October 22. The project is a national outreach from the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention aimed at raising awareness and offering resources to students to help themselves and others combat depression, bullying and other issues. During the week, they were asked to write positive notes of hope and inspiration and to wear orange to show support for the project.
Neshaminy
High School
National Honor Society induction held
The National Honor Society at Neshaminy High School held their induction ceremony October 10. To qualify for membership, students must maintain a 3.75 GPA and document at least 20 hours of community service work during the year. Congratulations to all the new inductees!
Kaleidoscope of Bands celebrates 25 years
The Marching Band presented the 25th Annual Kaleidoscope of Bands on Saturday, October 28, 2017. The weather was just about perfect for this annual event, which featured bands from Bensalem High School, Cherry Hill High School East, Council Rock High School North, Council Rock High School South, East Stroudsburg High School South, Easton Area High School, Harry S. Truman High School, Montgomery High School, and Pennridge High School. The evening concluded with an exhibition performance by our own award-winning NHS Marching Band.
In other Marchnig Band news, a contingent of band members also once again performed for veterans returning from a trip to Washington D.C. on October 2 during the annual Bucks County Tour of Honor at Parx Casino in Bensalem. Neshaminy has been a regular part of this program for several years.
Business students attend career seminar at Temple
Forty-one students from the Neshaminy HS Business, Computers and Information Technology Department traveled down to Temple University to participate in the PICPA (Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants) Accounting Career Day. This was a free program offered to students for the purpose of learning more about diverse career opportunities in the accounting profession, to discover the advantages of the CPA designation and gain exposure to a college environment. Students received valuable information from senior Temple accounting students (one being a Neshaminy HS alumnus) and interacted with professionals working in the field who shared life experiences and current career opportunities.
Pink Out across the district fights cancer
The district was awash in a sea of pink shirts, socks, headbands and more on October 13 as the annual Neshaimy HS Student Council Pink Out raised nearly $6,000 for breast cancer research and support. The main source of revenue for this annual fund raiser is the sale of Pink Out t-shirts, which were purchased by students, teachers, support staff and families throughout the district. The event concluded at the home football game against Bensalem Friday evening. This year the proceeds will be donated to breast cancer support facilities affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
Roadies continue a Halloween tradition
The Neshaminy High school Drama Club Roadies visited each district elementary school with their annual Halloween show, Spooky Kooky. The show is a combination of original humorous skits and dance numbers. A public performance was also held at Neshaminy High School on October 26.
In other Roadies news, the group has been busy over the past two months raising money for breast cancer research. Their efforts paid off on Sunday, October 15, as they participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia with a donation of $4,227. Their walk was dedicated to Michelle Wiatrowski, who works with the Drama and Vocal Music Programs, and is currently in the middle of her own battle with this disease.
Public librarians share resource information
Representatives of three local public libraries (Lower Southampton, Langhorne and Levittown) visited Neshaminy High School to share information about the many resources offered by their libraries to 9th-grade English classes. These include such digital resources as e-books, research databases, homework help, and even discount or free passes to museums. Students were encouraged to sign up for public library cards prior to the visit.
| Neshaminy Update is published monthly during the school year and distributed to the Neshaminy community via email and web. To submit comments, suggestions or news items for consideration, please email Chris Stanley, Community Relations Coordinator. |
|
Neshaminy School District
2250
Langhorne-Yardley Road
Langhorne,
PA 19047
Joseph
Jones III
Superintendent
(215)
809-6000
|
Neshaminy
School Board
of Directors
Scott
E. Congdon - President
Irene
M. Boyle - Vice President
Bob Burnett Bob
Feather
Tina
Hollenbach
Mike
Morris
Stephen
Pirritano
Ron
Rudy
Marty
Sullivan
|
Mission Statement
The Neshaminy community builds
futures by empowering each child to become a productive citizen
and a lifelong learner.
