Unlike external cyber
charters, Neshaminy Virtual Academy
offers students in grades K-12 in-person academic support, the option
to participate in co-curricular
activities at their designated school, and the opportunity to graduate
with the same Neshaminy diploma as their brick-and-mortar counterparts.
This arrangement also gives the District direct oversight of the
quality of
the virtual program.
Now a pair of bills is
making its way through the Pennsylvania legislature that would support
these efforts. Senate Bill 34 and House Bill 526 would provide
substantial savings by removing the requirement that Districts pay for
external cyber charter schools if they offer a full-time cyber program
of their own. Neshaminy paid $1.37 million to outside cyber charters in
2017-2018, and this bill would offer substantial savings even if every
one of those students signed up for the Neshaminy Virtual Academy.
At the March 26 Board Public meeting, the School Board voted 8-0 (with one absence) to pass a resolution expressing support for these bills, which was sent to area elected officials and Governor Wolf for consideration. 2019-2020 budget process moves ahead
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Registration open for free preschool program
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Neshaminy is pleased to
once again offer Pre-K Counts within the district for the 2019-2020
school year. Pre-K Counts offers an opportunity for families that might
have household incomes too high to qualify for a program such as Head
Start but are still struggling to afford a quality preschool. As
an example, a family of four can earn up to $77,250 and still qualify
for Pre-K Counts!
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Neshaminy Pre-K Counts is a grant-funded program for children who are three or four years of age by September 1. Classes will meet five days a week during the 2019-2020 school year, 6 hours-a-day, at three locations -- Joseph Ferderbar Elementary School (Feasterville), the Lower Southampton Early Learning Center also in Feasterville (the former Lower Southampton Elementary School), and Albert Schweitzer Elementary School in Levittown. |
Sunset Challenge is building momentum!
Hundreds of runners have already signed up for the #StandUp Neshaminy / Rooney Family Screen Printing & Embroidery Sunset Challenge! This 5K & 2K running race will be held at Maple Point Middle School on Friday, May 10 starting at 6:45 pm. Runners, students and families are all encouraged to join this fun competition. The race course is certified and will be electronically timed by RunBucks, LLC. All pre-registrations include a race t-shirt.
Banners will be awarded for the highest participation rate and fastest average times for Neshaminy elementary schools in the 2K race and middle schools for the 5K race.
Editors Note: The We Build Futures Awards, normally found in this location, will return in the April newsletter!
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Selected
Upcoming
Events
Wednesday, April 3: Violence Prevention Workshop, Maple Point MS, 7 pm Friday, April 5: NHS All-Sports Hall of Fame ceremony, Neshaminy HS, 7 pm Saturday, April 6: Harlem Wizards at Neshaminy HS, 7 pm Wednesday, April 10: District Secondary Jazz Festival, Neshaminy HS, 7 pm Thursday, April 11: PTO Forum with Superintendent Jones, Maple Point, 6:30 pm Friday, April 12: ESS Substitute / Support Hiring Event, Maple Point, 10am-12pm Monday-Friday, April 15-19: Spring Break, no school for students Monday, April 22: PSSA tests begin (see school websites for schedules) Thursday, April 25: District Secondary String Orchestra Fest, Neshaminy HS, 7 pm Friday, April 26: ESS Substitute / Support Hiring Event, Maple Point, 10 am-12 pm Tuesday, April 30: STEAM Expo, Neshaminy HS, 6:30 - 8:30 pm Friday, May 10: Sunset Challenge 2K/5K, Maple Point MS, 6 pm 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 |
The Wizards are coming!
 A Harlem Wizard player visited elementary and middle schools in March, including this visit to Maple Point MS with Coach Skip Mason. The Harlem Wizards are returning to Neshaminy Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 7pm Tickets on sale now! Purchase online here |
News
From Our Schools
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Pearl S. Buck Elementary School
Sock drive delivers the gift of warmth
The third graders at Buck
sponsored a sock drive for the homeless recently. The students were
very active in their pursuit of collecting socks for the less
fortunate. They created signs that were hung around the school to
remind others to bring in socks. They made commercials that were sent
to the classrooms for viewing. They also composed and performed songs
during the morning announcements to remind the school about the sock
drive. Third graders also created a pictograph displaying the colorful
paper socks that kind-hearted students created when they donated a pair
of socks.
Because of the large number of socks that were collected – 1,550 pairs – several organizations throughout the area will receive bundles for distribution. A huge thank you goes out to the entire Pearl Buck community.
Because of the large number of socks that were collected – 1,550 pairs – several organizations throughout the area will receive bundles for distribution. A huge thank you goes out to the entire Pearl Buck community.
Joseph Ferderbar Elementary School
March is more than college hoops
They might not make any
brackets, but these intramural teams played great games during a March
Madness tournament in held in March at Ferderbar.
Reading count climbs past 750K
Speaking of great competitions, the entire school has been counting their time reading, and so far has reached to 750,000 minutes across grades K-4. How far will they go? Stay tuned!
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Kindergarteners pen School Day Diary
Two kindergarten students
created a book diary describing an average school day, which is now
available for students to check out at the Hoover library.
Talent show lights up the stage
The talent at Hoover
shined during the annual Hoover Talent Show held at Maple Point Middle
School March 8. Families were treated to everything from instrumental
performances and singing to martial arts demonstrations and gymnastics.
Just before intermission, the Hoover staff performed a unique
glow-stick dance on a darkened stage.
Walter Miller Elementary School
NHS graduate / Army specialist surprises kindergarten class
| Karen
Loftus' kindergarten class was surprised by a special visit from
specialist Macey Smith. Macey is a 2017 Neshaminy graduate who has been
deployed to Afghanistan for the past 9 months. The students had been writing her and sending her pictures throughout the year. The class was just getting ready to write her again when she surprised them with a visit. She talked to the children about her time in Afghanistan, and the children used the opportunity to ask her many questions about her service and life in the military. |
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Albert Schweitzer Elementary School
Education Foundation grant funds K'nex team
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On
March 8, the Bucks County Intermediate Unit hosted 65 teams
competing in an annual K'nex design competition called the STEM Design
Challenge. Teams were challenged to create a environmentally-friendly
machine that could operate as a crane to move objects across a table.
Thanks to a grant from the Neshaminy Education Foundation, a team of
fourth grade AE students from Schweitzer were able to participate. |
Schweitzer artist honored at Bucks County gallery
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Andie
Chavez, a student at Albert Schweitzer ES, was recently honored
for representing Neshaminy School District at a county-wide event
celebrating the arts at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU)
Student Gallery in Doylestown. The gallery consists of one piece of
student artwork from each of the thirteen Bucks County school
districts. Each work was professionally framed and is currently on
display at the BCIU for one full year beginning this month. |
Andie’s
collage was selected by a committee of Neshaminy Art Teachers during
last year’s District Art Show. The tradition will continue with a new
selection of student artwork during our 31st Annual District Art Show
event held at Neshaminy HS Gym 1, May 22 & 23 from 7-9 pm each day.
Principal, counselor stick around to promote reading
On March 11, things got a little sticky at Albert Schweitzer ES as the Principal Dr. Amy Orlando and School Counselor Kelly Moyer agreed to let some students attach them to the wall - literally - with rolls of duct tape. It was all for the love of reading -- the students in two classes earned their way into the fun activity by winning a book-themed door decorating contest at the school.
Tawanka Elementary School
Tawanka team takes on the K'nex Challenge
Eight Tawanka students
attended the K’nex Challenge hosted by the Bucks County Intermediate
Unit in Doylestown 22 on March 8, 2019. The challenge preparation began
in January as they had to create a machine that could move 3 objects at
least 6 inches across a table. A “crane” had to pick up the object,
move it 6 inches and set it back down. The machine was encouraged to be
environmentally friendly.
This was the first time Tawanka has attended the K’nex Challenge and we competed against 64 teams. They utilized every weekly minute during K’nex Club, class and recess to build the best machine to meet the challenge requirements.
This was the first time Tawanka has attended the K’nex Challenge and we competed against 64 teams. They utilized every weekly minute during K’nex Club, class and recess to build the best machine to meet the challenge requirements.
Project matches class buddies across the grades
A group of fourth grade
students met with their buddies in the second grade to work on a
fun spring project with their 1:1 technology. Using all the words to
describe spring, they created a word art picture. They really enjoyed
learning how to use this neat website. The two classes will meet again
to complete their project and print their pictures.
K-2 Family Engagement Night a successOn March 14 over
350 students in grades K-2 turned out for the annual Family Engagement
Night at Tawanka. The students and their families rotated through a
wide variety of craft and activity stations and enjoyed snacks provided
by the Tawanka PTO.
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Maple Point Middle School
8th-grade student aces chemistry challenge
Congratulations to Maple Point MS 8th-grade student Peter Furrow, who placed 3rd out of 60 competitors from area school districts in the Chemical Education Foundation Bucks County "You Be the Chemist Challenge" sponsored by Dow Chemical Company. The competition was held in Collegeville and tested knowledge of chemistry principles through a several rounds of multiple choice questions. |
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Peter will be one of four
students who will move on to the state round at Penn State University
on April 27. The top student there will compete at the National
Championship to be held in Washington, DC in June.
Coaches vs. Cancer raises over $20K
The 6th annual Coaches
vs. Cancer basketball games between Maple Point and Carl Sandburg MS
teams at Maple Point raised $20,645 for the American Cancer Society
this year. With help from title sponsor Chuck's BBQ, t-shirt sales and
dozens of raffle prize donors, this fundraiser has continued to grow
every year.The honored guest at this year's game was former Maple Point
Principal Ray Kelly.
Poquessing Middle School
TV game show pits Poquessing students against their teachers
On March 23, a team of
8th-grade students and four teachers from
Poquessing MS visited the Fox 29 studio in Philadelphia to compete in
their new game show, the ClassH-Room. The quiz show pits students
against teachers, and the winning team gets a cash prize that can be
used for a selected school activity or project of their choice. The
show airs at 6:30 pm on weekdays and the Poquessing episode will be
appearing within a few weeks on a date TBD. The students that competed
are National Junior Honor Society members Brittany Mattoi, Skye Garber,
Connor McClurkin and their back-ups are Garriella Ciallella and Allison
Dern. The teachers are Beth Muska, Jennifer Mann, Rebecca Douglass and
Nicole Pahulick.
Select Choir featured at US eastern regional music conference
The
Poquessing MS Select
Choir is preparing for a trip to Pittsburgh where they will perform for
music teachers gathered from around the state at the annual
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association / National Association of
Music Educators Eastern Division Annual Conference on April 5. The
group was chosen by recorded audition from over 200 submissions to be
featured performers in front of musiceducators from 12 eastern states.
Carl Sandburg Middle School
Jazz Band store performance nets $850 donation
The Carl
Sandburg Middle School Jazz Band performed at the Langhorne Raymour
& Flanigan Furniture & Mattress Outlet March 27 and picked up
an $850 donation to their program from the store.
Neshaminy High School
World Language Department hosts International Dinner
The World Language
Department held their annual International Dinner March 27 in the
cafeteria at NHS. All the participating students contributed an entree
or dessert representing their heritage, and shared them with their
classmates, their families and their teachers.
NHS band visits The Big Easy
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Neshaminy
HS musicians
were busy in March making final preparations for their trip to New
Orleans March 28 - April 2. Band and Orchestra members are not only
performing at the New Orleans Heritage Festival, they are also taking
in a variety of cultural sites including a visit to the WWII Museum and
a private concert at Preservation Hall. On Sunday, March 31, the Marching Band performed in Washington Artillery Park, across the street from historic Jackson Square. |
Five NHS musicians selected for All-State Festival
The NHS Music Department
would like to recognize and congratulate five students on their
selection to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State
Music Festival. Connor Menzel was selected to the All-State
Concert Band, Vinny Angeline and Liz McGonagle were selected for the
All-State Orchestra and Adrianna Fisher and Madison Galvelis were
selected for the All-State Chorus.
Senior Ball brings students, retirees together
The annual Senior Ball was held on Saturday, March 23. Organized by the Neshaminy HS Student Council, this popular event offered our area senior citizens the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of great food, good company and lots of dancing (of course). The food and beverages were donated by local businesses and community members so the seniors could enjoy the afternoon free of charge.
NHS artist, teacher featured in Temple show
| Neshaminy
HS Art Teacher Terry O'Neill and NHS senior Jessica
Giacomelli both had their artworks on display at this show, which pairs
students and their teachers to celebrate the task of balancing a
working studio practice with educating the next generation of artists.
Mrs. O’Neill displayed one of her linoleum prints next to a pinhole
camera photograph by Jessica. Herbert Hoover ES Art Teacher Justin Bursk and one of his students were also featured in this unique show (as reported in the February, 2019 Neshaminy Update newsletter). |
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Cheerleaders excel at national competition
The Neshaminy HS Varsity Cheerleaders not only won their division at the Grand National Championship held in Virginia Beach, VA on March 10, but also earned the best score of the entire competition. The JV team also excelled with a second-place finish.
Interact Club collects books, produces a safety video
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The
Neshaminy HS Interact Club students under the supervision of Suzi
Drake proudly wore their Bucks County High School Seatbelt Safety
Challenge
t-shirts provided by TMA Bucks (@tmabucks) in March. The students have been working on a public service announcement safety video for submission to the TMA Teen Driver Safety Video PSA Challenge. |
Family donation supports a new baseball scoreboard
The Neshaminy School
Board accepted a generous donation from the Armour family in the amount
of $6,300 at the February 26 meeting toward the purchase of a new
electronic scoreboard for the baseball field outside Neshaminy High
School. Three Armour boys played baseball at Neshaminy, and they own
Armour & Sons Electric Inc. in Langhorne. The donation will cover
half the cost of the scoreboard, and the rest will come from the NHS
Athletic Department budget.
All-Sports Hall of Fame nominees announced
The Neshaminy All-Sports
Hall of Fame has announced the Class of 2019. The induction ceremony
will be held April 5 at 7 pm in the Black Box Theater at Neshaminy High
School. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
Inductees include:
Inductees include:
James Kelly (baseball)
Grant Sporny (boys basketball)
Donna Kimmel (girls basketball)
B.J. Kohn (boys bowling)
Megan Jonigkeit (girls bowling)
Russell Horrocks (coach)
Melanie Mancini (field hockey)
Chris Kross (football)
Tim Malloy (boys indoor track)
Laura Henzy (girls indoor track)
Ryan Harbison (boys lacrosse)
Jamie Janzer (softball)
Chad Sargeant (boys track)
Kristin Malloy (girls track)
Charlie Kirk (boys volleyball)
Brett Schwartz (boys cross country)
Christine Esposito (girls cross country)
Lyndsay Pierson (girls soccer).
Grant Sporny (boys basketball)
Donna Kimmel (girls basketball)
B.J. Kohn (boys bowling)
Megan Jonigkeit (girls bowling)
Russell Horrocks (coach)
Melanie Mancini (field hockey)
Chris Kross (football)
Tim Malloy (boys indoor track)
Laura Henzy (girls indoor track)
Ryan Harbison (boys lacrosse)
Jamie Janzer (softball)
Chad Sargeant (boys track)
Kristin Malloy (girls track)
Charlie Kirk (boys volleyball)
Brett Schwartz (boys cross country)
Christine Esposito (girls cross country)
Lyndsay Pierson (girls soccer).
| 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
|
Neshaminy
School Board
of Directors
Marty
Sullivan - President
Stephen
Pirritano - Vice President
John Allen Cyndie
Bowman
Irene M. Boyle Bob Feather Tina
Hollenbach
Adam
J. Kovitz
David Marrington |
Mission Statement
The Neshaminy community builds
futures by empowering each child to become a productive citizen
and a lifelong learner.
