In The Q

A group of students from Quakertown Community High School has been teaching Quakertown Elementary School students about different cultures from around the world.

The high school students are with the Diversity Club, and they make the two-block walk to QE once a month to educate the younger students.

“Being a minority myself, I know what it feels like for other people not to understand my culture,” said Sierra Lee, a member of the Diversity Club. “There’s so much diversity in America, I want to help the next generation of kids understand that while people may look different we all have similarities.”

Please click here for the story.

Approximately 150 parents and students attended Friday morning’s first Leader in Me breakfast at Richland Elementary School.

“This has been a wonderful event for our students and families,” Richland Principal Nicole Zuerblis said. “I’m so proud of how our students shared the ways everyone can use the ‘7 Habits’ at home.”

Richland students, along with their peers at Neidig, are the Quakertown Community School District’s two Leader in Me schools. Students learn leadership principles through the Leader in Me process, which is based on the work of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The Leader in Me is an elementary version of this work.

Please click here for the story.

The depth of the Quakertown Community High School wrestling team continues to help carry the Panthers.

The District One East champs placed seven wrestlers in this weekend's regionals at Souderton High School as they continue their push to Hershey.

Jeremy McGuigan continued his excellence, winning the 285-pound title to help power the Panthers. Jeremy was named the tournament's outstanding wrestler. Zack Lewis, Todd McGann and Kyle Miller each finished second, Dom DeFalco and Vinnie DeSpirito were third and Zach Borzio was fourth to as QCHS edged Council Rock South.

Also noteworthy was the story by Glenn Kaiser of Suburban One Sports. His story pointed out that "Quakertown has established themselves as the premier school to host this event. From the coaches’ room to the gym floor, Quakertown’s staff was accommodating, and that provided for an outstanding wrestling tournament with some of Pennsylvania’s best grapplers on display."

Members of the Student Forum, a group of leaders from Bucks County high schools who meet to discuss a variety of student issues, held their monthly gathering on February 19th at Quakertown Community High School.

The teens, usually two seniors and two juniors from each school, got to hear a special performance from the Varsity Singers, in addition to a presentation from A Woman’s Place, which provides services to women experiencing domestic violence. That session included information about various forms of abuse and healthy relationships.

QCHS participants in the Student Forum are seniors Jake Berton and Jolly Ekpe and juniors Madie Honrado and Riya Sembhi.

Please click here for the story.

Quakertown Community High School students in Christopher Polk’s Computer Integrated Manufacturing class created mini automated assembly lines, a project that encompassed many of the skills today’s employers are seeking - problem-solving, teamwork, and being able to apply what they’ve learned.

“They’ve taken basic programming to the next level,” Mr. Polk said. “This is about recreating an assembly line that is used every day in industry, food plants, packaging facilities. They have items to make it more realistic and things to integrate with robot control.”

The class, which runs for the full school year, employs Project Lead The Way curriculum. The pre-engineering course empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills they need to thrive. In addition, Mr. Polk was able to obtain a Dobot, a robotic arm, partially paid for with a $500 grant from the Quakertown Community Education Foundation to enhance the mini assembly line.

Please click here for the story.

Quakertown Community High School senior Tyler Einolf is all smiles as he proudly shows his "Certificate of Appointment" to the United States Military Academy.

"Words can't describe how happy I am to announce my acceptance into @WestPoint_USMA!" Tyler announced on Twitter. "GO ARMY!!"

Rob Christine, Director of Facilities for the Quakertown Community School District, has won the Gold Award in the PASBO Award of Excellence in School Facilities for 2020.

Mr. Christine’s entry in the PASBO program met all seven of the required core competencies as well as scoring at least 19 additional points. The award is designed to recognize local education agencies with exceptional school facilities’ best practices. It is sponsored by PASBO and SchoolDude.

Of more than 100 entries this year, only two districts were Gold Award recipients.

“This shows the district is right on track with where we need to be from a facilities perspective and our processes moving forward,” Mr. Christine said. “After you look at the numbers and statewide statistics, it confirms that what the district has set in place is working.”

Please click here for the story.

Quakertown Community High School is now accepting Wall of Fame nominations from the public through March 2.

New this year, nominations may be made using the online nomination form. Alumni considered will have demonstrated exceptional achievement in a career or have contributed significantly to the health, welfare or human rights of the local, state, national, or international community.

Kindergarten Registration appointments are now being scheduled for kindergarten registration week: March 2-5.

If you will have a kindergarten student in the Quakertown Community School District for the 2020-21 school year, please click here for more information.

The Quakertown Community School District will soon begin the process of developing a Comprehensive Plan to shape Superintendent Goals and to guide the district over the next three years.

A Steering Committee of parents, teachers, students, Board and community members will drive the process, which will include a community survey to be developed by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit. Feedback from the survey will be used by the Steering Committee to guide discussions, goal-setting sessions, and action plans.

JoAnn Perotti, the BCIU’s Director of Services, will facilitate QCSD’s Comprehensive Plan development, a process she has many years of experience guiding. Ms. Perotti facilitates Strategic Plans/Comprehensive Plans for schools, organizations and businesses throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. In addition, she facilitates workshops on consensus building, school board governance, team building, motivation, and superintendent searches.

Ms. Perotti is scheduled to speak at the Wednesday, February 26 School Board meeting to present details of what goes into creating a Comprehensive Plan and answer questions.

The Steering Committee is expected to meet for the first time on March 12, from 6 to 8 PM at the District Services Center. If you are interested in serving on the Steering Committee or being part of Action Plan development, please email compplan@qcsd.org with your name, email address, and contact information.

When you get a moment, please check out QCSD's latest newsletter, "PK-5 Literacy Buzz," developed by Erin Oleksa-Carter and Kelly Cramer.

Mrs. Oleksa-Carter is the district's Supervisor of Literacy and Arts. Mrs. Cramer is the district's K-12 Instructional Coach and K-12 English Language Arts Content Specialist.

PK-5 Literacy Buzz highlights best practices and instruction in literacy and celebrations in our elementary schools.

Dr. Jarrod Spencer, a sports psychologist and author, will be speaking to athletes and coaches from Quakertown Community High School and Strayer Middle School at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10 in the high school’s Performing Arts Center.

During his presentation, Dr. Spencer will be teaching:

• How the mind of an athlete works best
• Skills to improve your mental health and performance
• Ways to better manage phones, sleep and anxiety

Please click here for the story.

Spring Sports Registration is open now through February 28 for both Quakertown Community High School and Strayer Middle School athletes.

All spring sport athletes must complete the registration and pay to play on the FamilyID website.

For high school families, please click here.

For Strayer families, please click here.

Sixth Grade Center students recently held an assembly to present a check to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The school raised $3,456.42!

Quakertown Community High School 2019 graduate Adria Retter recently earned Centennial Conference Field Athlete of the Week honors.

In a story on Swarthmore's website, Adria recorded a mark of 12.75 meters (41'-10") in the shot put at the Seamus McElligott Invitational. Her throw ranked second in the Centennial Conference and 43rd nationally. In each competition, Adria has thrown a personal best and improved by almost five feet (10.97m to 12.75m) since Dec. 7.

Quakertown Borough Police Department is accepting applications for its sixth annual Citizens Police Academy, said School Resource Officer Bob Lee, an officer with QPD.

Students ages 16 and above may apply for a spot in the academy, which begins on March 2. It is being offered at no cost. Applicants may be subject to a background check and need parental permission.

Click here for an application and email it to Sgt. Stoneback at sstoneback@quakertown.org.

Click here for more information.

Quakertown Community Outreach, a local nonprofit organization, has raised money for families struggling with their student lunch debt in the Quakertown Community School District. Funds will be disbursed to parents who apply for assistance and are approved.

To get the approval process started, please fill out this form by clicking here.

If you have any questions, please contact QCO at quakertownoutreach@gmail.com

Paw Prints, the high school's digital newspaper, and QCSDTVnews and tremendous sources of information for students and parents.

To watch QCSDTVNews, please click here.

To read Paw Prints, please click here.

A place on the Quakertown Community School District website has been added to help parents locate help for their students suffering from mental illness and/or drug dependency.

Please click here for the "Parent Resources" page.

In addition, if you're looking for information about vaping, please click here.

The Quakertown Community School District is in need of custodians. SSC Services, which services the district, is seeking full and part time permanent and seasonal custodian positions.

Candidates may contact Laird Ihle, director of SSC, at 610-392-1059 or via email at lihle-ssc@qcsd.org.

Gary Weckselblatt, QCSD Director of Communications, writes about the people and the programs that impact the Quakertown Community School District.

Email: gweckselblatt@qcsd.org
Website: www.qcsd.org
Location: 100 Commerce Drive, Quakertown, PA, USA
Phone: 215-529-2028
Facebook: facebook.com/QCSDNews
Twitter: @QCSDnews