A horse is the source
for class project, of course
Neshaminy High School
senior Tori Gardener brought her passion for horses to school --
literally -- as part of an English 12 class project on November 2.
To the delight of her classmates who gathered next to the bus line
outside the school just around lunch time, Tori guided Pressly, a
9-year-old male Arabian
around the parking lot led by a rope. She stopped to deliver her
presentation, which centered on the role of Pressly as a therapy horse.
Tori explained that horses can either provide therapy to the riders, or
the riders can provide therapy to a horse. In her case, Tori says
Pressly acts as therapy for people.
“A horse can tell you something that you might not even know about
yourself, it’s in your subconscious and the horse can tell you that,”
she said.
The presentation was part of what her English teacher, Jessica Cohen,
calls
a ‘Genus Hour.’ In this new activity, she allows her students to spend
one hour a week working on an independent project involving something
they are passionate about.
“Students are given class time one day a week, to research anything,
any topic that is of interest to them, as long as they could learn
something and demonstrate what they have learned to the class at the
end of the presentation.”
The Genius Hour is just one example of project-based learning
activities appearing throughout the District from elementary through
high school. By allowing students to choose and share information on
subjects that reflect their own individual passions, the enthusiasm
level increases even as critical learning and presentation skills are
applied.
#StandUp Neshaminy effort grows
The Student Council at Poquessing Middle School poses with a #StandUp
Neshaminy fence decoration they created in October.
Since launching over the summer, #StandUp Neshaminy has reached out to
elementary school parents with information about the opioid crisis and
ways to talk with their children about substance abuse prevention. Now
the effort is reaching into middle schools, starting with an in-school
assembly at Maple Point Middle School and a parent information
presentation scheduled for Wednesday, November 14. Additional
assemblies are planned for Poquessing and Sandburg, and plans in the
works for activities at Neshaminy High School as well.
Students at Poquessing Middle School adopted #StandUp Neshaminy as part
of their Red Ribbon week activities in late October. Red Ribbon Week is
observed by schools across the nation to promote awareness of the
dangers of alcohol and drug abuse and the promotion of healthy
lifestyles.
Community unites in respect of diversity
On October 25, a vigil and community forum was held at Carl Sandburg
Middle School in response to a pair of graffiti vandalism incidents
over the two previous weekends. This event was coordinated by The Peace
Center in Langhorne and included a number of individuals and groups
from the District and the community united in opposing hate speech in
any form and teaching the value of respect, tolerance and diversity.
Instructional Rounds shares classroom successes
Instructional Rounds participants compare
notes at Maple Point MS
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On
October 25, a group of teachers and administrators visited classrooms
at
Maple Point Middle School and gathered to discuss their observations
as part of Instructional Rounds. This program, started last year at
Neshaminy, offers an opportunity for constructive dialogue on the
effectiveness of curricula and classroom procedures based on
interaction with teachers and students as they go about their normal
day. Instructional Rounds was developed at Harvard University to offer
educators an evidence-based system to improve the effectiveness of
their instruction. |
Join us at a substitute staff hiring event
Do you love working with
kids and want to jump-start a career in
education right here at Neshaminy? A number of additional opportunities
throughout the District for
certified and support staff can be found at the district employment
site below (updated frequently). All applicants will be required
to obtain Pennsylvania clearances.
The Guest Teacher program offers individuals who hold at least a
Bachelors degree (but no active PA teaching certificate) the
opportunity to obtain emergency certification to substitute teach in
Neshaminy schools. Jump-start a career in education and work when you
want! Click the link below for more information, training dates and
locations.
Other opportunities include full-time, part-time and substitute
positions to fit a variety of schedules, experience levels and
interests. The District is holding three substitute staff hiring events
November 30 and December 14
from 10 am - 12 pm each day at District administrative offices at Maple
Point Middle School.
October We Build Futures Award
winners
Superintendent Jones
once again honored District staff who made significant
contributions to fulfilling the District's mission of advancing the
implementation of the Neshaminy Strategic Plan.
Those honored during in October include (click on their names to see
nominating information):
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- Karen Blumenfeld, PTO President, Maple Point
Middle School
- Kym
Cridland, Teacher, Albert Schweitzer Elementary School
- Jan
King, Lead Physical Education Teacher, Neshaminy High School
- Gayla
Schmitz, Instructional Assistant, Albert Schweitzer Elementary
School
- Anne
Schmidt, Teacher and Department Chair, Maple Point Middle School
- Brian
Suter, Lead Teacher, Neshaminy High School
Congratulations to all award winners! More information about the We
Build Futures Awards can be found on the District website below.
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Upcoming Events
Week of Nov.
12-16: American Education Week,
check individual school websites
for
class visitation information
Wednesday, Nov. 14: #StandUp Neshaminy MS info night, 7 pm,
Maple Point
Thurs & Fri,
Nov. 15 & 16: NHS Drama, 'All I Really Need to Know I
Learned
By Being in a Bad Murder Mystery, NHS, 7 pm each night
Tuesday, Nov.
20: Powder Puff football game, NHS, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, Nov.
28: NHS Drama, special performance of 'James and the Giant
Peach,' Maple Point MS, 7 pm
Wednesday, Nov.
28: Neshaminy's Got Talent benefit show, NHS, 7 pm
Thursday, Dec. 6:
NHS Orchestra at Middletown Holiday Celebration,
Middletown Township Building, 7 pm
Friday, Dec. 7: PTO
Forum, Maple Point District Board Room, 9:30 am
Please
check the District website, school websites and District Facebook page
for more information and additional events throughout the year!
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Neshaminy Education Foundation
Eagles vs.
Giants ticket raffle
Congratulations to Barbara Markowitz, winner of
the Eagles ticket raffle, and thanks to all those that participated.
The raffle raised over $1,000 for the Foundation.
Bertucci's Dining for Dollars
Also thanks to the many
families and Neshaminy staff members who joined the NEF at Bertucci's
on Election Day and the following day. This twice-yearly
fundraiser is a major source of revenue for the Foundation.
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Pearl S. Buck Elementary School
Bess beetles build budding Buck biologists
Bess beetles
arrived in the third grade classrooms during October. Students were
thrilled by their creepy crawly ability to climb just about any
surface. They examined their structures and behaviors and
wondered just how strong they are. They tested how much weight they
could pull in a Paperclip Pull Race.
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Buck celebrates Walk to School Day
With an escort from the
Middletown Township Police, students celebrated International Walk to
School Day on October 11. This annual event encourages healthy exercise
and road safety. The walk at Buck was also sponsored by Partnership TMA
and Saint Mary Medical Center.
Joseph Ferderbar Elementary School
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Halloween parade draws an assortment of costumed
characters
The annual Ferderbar Halloween Parade was held Friday, October 26.
Students dressed as their favorite superheroes, ghouls, princesses,
science-fiction characters and even astronauts for the festivities.
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Herbert Hoover Elementary School
New service club completes their first project
The Herbert Hoover
Leadership Club successfully ran their first service project. The Scare
Aware Hunger Food Drive collected over 445 non-perishable items to be
donated to a local food pantry. Students are looking forward to
planning the Thanksgiving Food Drive throughout the month of November
to benefit local families.
Hoover celebrates Fire Prevention Week
Students were treated to a visit from the William Penn Fire Company
during the week of October 22. Schools throughout the District
practiced their safety skills with fire drills and visits from area
fire companies.
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Walter Miller Elementary School
Costumes double as school musical announcement
On Halloween, the staff
at Walter Miller Elementary School dressed in a
theme of costumes, which doubled as an announcement to the students as
to what their school musical will be this year. Can you guess what it
is?
Drivers and crossing guards recognized for their
contributions
On October 29, the Walter
Miller’s SWPBIS (School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and
Supports) team provided breakfast for the bus drivers and crossing
guards that serve the school to thank them for all they do to help get
the students to and from school safely. This was a recognition that
they are an important part of this program to keep students at Miller
safe not just at school but in transit as well!
Albert Schweitzer Elementary School
New paint brightens Schweitzer playground
Superintendent
Jones visited the new blacktop painting at Schweitzer Elementary
Students at Schweitzer
Elementary are excited about getting stencils painted on their
blacktop, thanks to the Neshaminy Facilities Department and Albert
Schweitzer
PTO for supporting the project. Superintendent Jones recently stopped
by the Four
Square game to check out the progress of the painting, joining a group
of kindergarten students. They will
also be looking forward to a large checkerboard, Robot Hopscotch, an
agility circuit, and a track around the outside of the blacktop.
Book Night a success from cover to cover
On October 22, students
and families from Albert Schweitzer came out to
the Oxford Valley Barnes and Noble store to support their school for a
fundraising night. There were
cupcakes to decorate, specialty Halloween 'Mummy Wrappaccinos' at the
cafe, and many books to read. Guest readers included teachers Kimberly
Maurizi, Monique D’Entremont, Stacey Flynn, and Dr. Amy Orlando.
Elizabeth Agger and the 4th grade Chorus performed festive
Halloween songs for the audience as well.
Tawanka Elementary School
Second grade goes to the dogs
Diane Hanna’s second
grade class got a very special visit from retired art teacher Deborah
Deeken and her Golden Retriever Chance in October. Chance is a therapy
dog who will be visiting once a week to help children practice their
reading fluency.
Tawanka celebrates Red Ribbon Week
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The
Tawanka Family supported the National Red Ribbon Week Campaign,
October 22-26, 2018. An event that has been providing drug awareness,
information, and support, since 1985. The students’ main goals were to
be proud of themselves, and to be their best advocate against drug
abuse. |
They showed their
commitment to a drug-free school by taking the red ribbon pledge, and
hanging red ribbons, with encouraging statements, on the trees in front
of the school. The week had many opportunities for the students to
strive for a drug-free life. There were positive drug free suggestions
made during the morning announcements, special dress code days, and
they even sang a silly song. Tawanka is very proud of the commitment
the students made during the week.
Maple Point Middle School
The hallways at Maple
Point were bright with creative door decorations in October created by
teams of students working together to promote positive messages and
prevent bullying -- both in person and online. The project was one part
of the school's M3P program - Be Responsible, Be Respectful and Be
Safe. Groups of students visited each door and rated them for
creativity
and execution.
Poquessing Middle School
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Poquessing duck is just Super
Have you seen this duck? If so, you just might be at Poquessing Middle
School. The soon-to-be-named mascot of the school's PTO fundraising
drive had the opportunity to pose with the Eagles Super Bowl trophy
recently. Thanks to Instructional Aide Margie McCurdy for bringing this
'ducky' character to life! |
Interact Club visits elementary school
On October 4, a group of Interact Club students from Poquessing Middle
School (seated in the front of this group) visited Tawanka 4th-grade
students to build enthusiasm for their version of the service-learning
group, EarlyAct. Both are sponsored by Rotary International and teach
students the value of community service through activities and
volunteerism.
Carl Sandburg Middle School
Sandburg staff shuns razors for a cause
Once again, a group of male teachers at Sandburg Middle School are
dropping their razors and 'Letting it Grow' for November to raise money
for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Last year they raised $3,099
and are looking to top that number this year. Please consider clicking
on the link and donating to the cause and remember that no donation is
too small. St. Jude is a major pediatric research and care facility
which does not charge families for care.
Fifth graders 'Choose Kind'
The fifth-grade at Carl Sandburg Middle School spent part of a recent
Friday afternoon outside enjoying the nice weather and participating in
a variety of positive team-building activities. The theme for their
class this year is Choose Kind,
and they had the matching shirts and
positive outlook to prove it.
Neshaminy High School
Community wishes NHS crossing guard well after accident
The Neshaminy community
is rallying around Neshaminy crossing guard John Shook following a
recent accident in the high school driveway. In the early morning
hours of October 29, John was struck by a vehicle making a turn at the
top of the driveway next to the school, knocking him over and causing a
hip injury. Principal Ryan Staub is forwarding get well cards as Mr.
Shook
recovers from his injury. We wish him a smooth recovery and speedy
return to NHS!
Interact clubs attend regional leadership conference
Interact clubs from 8
area schools (including Neshaminy High School), Rotaract members and
Rotary Youth
Exchange Students from seven countries came together October 27 with
one
goal in mind -- Service Above Self. They started the day by packing
10,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger and then had breakout sessions on
fundraising, leadership and membership. The students were also able to
network and establish goals for a district council. The chapter at
Neshaminy High school is sponsored by the Langhorne and Feasterville
Rotary Clubs.
Kaleidoscope plays on despite the rain
Rain drove the 26th
annual Kaleidoscope of Bands indoors on October 20, but certainly
did not dampen any spirits or stop the music. Seven marching bands from
area high schools competed, and Neshaminy performed in exhibition. The
Marching Band is celebrating a stellar season, having earned several
first-place wins for their division in earlier competitions. The season
wrapped up on Saturday, November 10 at the Cavalcade of Bands in
Hershey,
PA.
Halloween is elementary for Spooky Kooky
The Neshaminy High School Drama Roadies once again took their Halloween
Show, Spooky Kooky on the road to the District’s elementary schools.
Described as more Kooky than Spooky, the show features a number of
original comedy sketches book-ended by a pair of high-energy musical
numbers. The Roadies have been performing this Halloween favorite
for students and the community for seventeen years.
Honor Society inducts new members
The Neshaminy High School
chapter of the National Honor Society held their annual Induction
Ceremony in October. 161 juniors and seniors were honored this year.
Those students who end their sophomore or junior year with a 3.75 GPA
or higher are eligible for
induction. The application process takes place in the spring and the
induction is held in the fall each year.
Pink Out raises $8,010 for cancer patient support
A sea of pink washed over
Neshaminy School District on October 20 during the annual Pink Out. The
Student Council at Neshaminy High School sponsors the event, which
raises money to benefit cancer patients through the non-profit Healing
Consciousness Foundation in Southampton. Through sales of pink t-shirts
and collections at the Friday night football game, the group raised a
record 8,010 for their cause.
Student leaders support driving safety effort
On October 23, the
Neshaminy High School Class Officers and National Honor Society
officers attended a Share the Keys
kickoff event at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Share the Keys is a research-based
orientation program that has been proven to reduce teen driver crash
risk by providing information, resources and support to encourage
parental involvement in teen driving. The program is sponsored by
NJM Insurance Company, the Pennsylvania DUI Association and the
Philadelphia 76ers. A Share the Keys program was held at
Neshaminy on the evening of October 23.
Headless Horseman is a Business Law class mystery
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Students
in Siri Sammartino’s Business Law class had a mystery on their
hands on Halloween. It seems that a certain pumpkin-headed horseman was
the victim of a crime in the courtyard at the school, and the students
had to use their powers of observation and deduction to connect the
clues, which were scattered around the area.
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The activity was preceded
from a visit from a Lower Southampton police officer the previous day,
who instructed the students on how to correctly examine and record a
crime scene and various aspects of criminal law.
Alumni News
Legendary baseball writer honored once again
Neshaminy High School
graduate
Claire Smith (Class of 1971) -- the legendary baseball writer for the
New York Times, the Inquirer and now ESPN -- received the prestigious
J.G. Taylor Spink Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame last year. On
November 1, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner was once again
recognized a little closer to home at the Philadelphia Sports Hall of
Fame. Congratulations Ms. Smith!
| 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. |
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Neshaminy School District
2250
Langhorne-Yardley Road
Langhorne,
PA 19047
Joseph
Jones III
Superintendent
(215)
809-6000
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Neshaminy
School Board
of Directors
Marty
Sullivan - President
Bob
Feather - Vice President
John Allen
Cyndie
Bowman
Irene M. Boyle
Tina
Hollenbach
Adam
J. Kovitz
David Marrington
Stephen
Pirritano
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Mission Statement
The Neshaminy community builds
futures by empowering each child to become a productive citizen
and a lifelong learner.
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