CSD Weekly Update
November 8, 2024
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Dana T. Bedden on Leadership Transition
Dear Centennial School District:
I am reaching out today to share that on October 28, 2024, I notified the Centennial Board of School Directors that I would not be seeking an extension of my current five-year contract as Superintendent of Schools, which expires on June 30, 2025. Working alongside an incredible team, dedicated educators, and the vibrant families and students who make Centennial School District exceptional has been my honor.
I am deeply proud of what we have achieved together—such as but not limited to implementing new academic programs which have resulted in CSD meeting or exceeding for the first time in over a decade 100% of the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System performance targets, achieving Moody's Aa2 General Obligation Bond Rating, surpassing the national and the median rating for Pennsylvania K-12 districts. This accomplishment resulted in over $4 million in refinancing savings. We must ensure the school district is more vital than in the past. It will allow the district to sustain this momentum as we continue focusing on improving student outcomes while using taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively.
As I conclude my twenty-second year as a superintendent, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve the Centennial School District. I look forward to witnessing the district’s continued success in the years to come, and I remain committed to supporting the school district through this transition.
With sincere appreciation,
Dr. B
PVAAS: PA's Academic Growth Standard Report
Pennsylvania Department of Education defines the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment (PVAAS) as: "A statistical analysis that uses available student assessment data to estimate student academic growth over time.
PVAAS measures the impact that districts, schools, and teachers have on students' academic progress rates from year to year."
Key points:
- It's a tool for measuring academic progress/growth
- Uses existing assessment data
- Focuses on year-to-year progress
- Measures impact of educational factors (teachers, schools, districts)
ALL CSD Students for the first time in over a decade met or exceeded 100% of the performance targets. In addition, our English Learners, Lowest Performing 33%, and Economically Disadvantage Students Show Significant Improvements on PA's Academic Growth Standard (Academic Growth) Report.
The PVAAS Academic Growth Score presents the school district/school’s impact on the year-to-year change in academic performance of groups of students in state-assessed content areas:
- English Language Arts: PSSA English Language Arts and Keystone Literature
- Math: PSSA Math and Keystone Algebra I
- Science: PSSA Science and Keystone Biology
PVAAS Academic Growth Scores will be depicted as follows:
- BLUE = Exceeds the standard demonstrating growth
- GREEN = Meets the standard demonstrating growth
- RED = Does not meet the standard demonstrating growth
Centennial School District's English Learner Students Show Significant Improvement based on PDE's Academic Growth Standard Report
Centennial School District's Lowest Performing 33% Students Show Significant Improvement based on PDE's Academic Growth Standard Report
Centennial School District's Economically Disadvantage Students Show Significant Improvement based on PDE's Academic Growth Standard Report
CENTENNIAL HIGHLIGHTS
ACADEMICS
Klinger Kafe!
Klinger Kafe is back for the 2024-2025 school year! Students in our Autistic Support and Life Skills programs work together to run a student-led cafe for faculty and staff. The cafe offers a variety of items including baked goods, drinks, and various snack items. The student-led cafe provides opportunities for students to strengthen their vocational, social, and life skills. Students organize cafe inventory, take food and beverage orders from staff, prepare and deliver orders to staff throughout the building, and account for the money collected from orders and the profit made.
For the 2024-2025 school year, Klinger Kafe was awarded a Centennial Education Foundation (CEF) grant. The CEF grant provided Klinger Kafe with the opportunity to purchase essential items needed to run our cafe such as drink stoppers, stirrers, plastic bags for orders, etc. The grant allowed for the purchase of materials to help our students become more efficient in their organizational, time management, money management, and delivery skills.
We are off to a great start, starting strong with thirty-three orders for our first delivery of the year! Students are excited to continue serving faculty and staff with a smile throughout the rest of the school year!
Log College Honors Veterans
The Log College community honored America's veterans with a ceremony attended by all faculty, staff, students, and many special guests who served or still serve in America's Armed Forces. The school would like to thank Heather Sliwinski for her dedication to America's veterans, for speaking to Log College's students, and for connecting veterans and active duty members to the school for each Veterans Day Ceremony. Thank you for your service.
Klippers Pink-Out Pep Rally
It was a sea of pink at Klinger Middle School during our Pink Out Pep Rally on October 29th. The students and staff came together, led by our Builder’s Club to raise money for the Breathing Room, a local organization that helps families with their basic needs while they focus on their physical health. Our amazing student leaders in the Student Council organized and led an event to remember. From our awesome fall athletes, coaches, and cheerleaders' spirit to our teachers' fancy dance moves, Klipper Spirit was in the air! The event culminated in a warm embrace from our staff members who are breast cancer survivors.
Davis Kindness Project!
Mrs. Vassallo and her class took time to make kindness bracelets to distribute to others as part of a Kindness Project! Students spent time making bracelets, writing messages, and organizing items for distribution to make a positive impact by sharing kindness with others. Thank you Mrs. Vassallo and class for making Davis proud!
A Parent's Guide to Phonics Videos
Looking for more information and a free copy of A Parent’s Guide to Phonics: Understanding How to Help Your Child with Reading and Spelling?
Centennial School District is proud to offer:
follow-up videos on the CSD YouTube Channel
a free book for each family (contact your child’s school office)
Thank you to the CSD Elementary Reading team members who created these videos: Kim Flounders, Miriam Infanti, Dawn Kremer, Lisa Laatsch, Erin Landy, Danyel Masey, Jennifer McArdle, Rose Miele, Kelley O’Leary, and Susan Stackhouse.
ATHLETICS
Celebration of Bands Recap!
This Saturday, the William Tennent Marching Band hosted their 28th annual Celebration of Bands. Since 1995, Celebration of Bands has been a premiere showcase of marching ensembles from our area. This year’s show featured 10 bands from both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The William Tennent Band would like to congratulate the winning bands in each class: West Chester East High School, Marple Newtown High School, and Abington Senior High School.
This show was the last of our 2024 production, Agent 54. The students had a stellar final performance in front of a great home crowd, with the vising nine bands filling the away bleachers. Their performance scored an 87.3 – our highest since 2021. We are so proud of our students who have been working since May to bring this show to life!
We would like to thank the over 100 students, family members, alumni and friends that volunteered to make this event a great success. Thank you especially to our area chairpersons; Pat Cashman, Annemarie Catalano, Mary Rooney, Raina Rodriguez, Krista DiPaolo, Holly Feusner, Mike McNamee, Tina Carden, Pedro Viera, Pat Landis, and Joe Taylor for their planning of and leadership during the event. And of course, thank you to WTMBA President Michele Gregory, and WTMBA Vice President, COB Chair, and Panther extraordinaire Sal DiPaolo for your extraordinary efforts in making our celebration a success.
As we shift to the winter season, we hope to see you at some of our future events, including the marching band’s performance at the Hatboro Holiday Parade on November 23rd, and our Music Department’s Winter Concert on December 12th. As always, if you want to learn more about music at William Tennent, please visit our website at wtmb.org, or contact Mr. Seifert!
THE ARTS
WTHS Drama Club presents - Back to the 80s!
Are you ready for some Totally Tubular Time Travel? Then, you won't want to miss the William Tennent High School's Drama Club production of Back to the 80s! on Friday, November 8th and Saturday, November 9th in the Auditorium. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are just $5 for students, and $7 for adults. Tickets are general admission and can be purchased at the door the night of the shows.
Big Hair & Neon Colors
By Nina Fox (Class of 2025) & Briena Zenser (Class of 2025)
If you are looking for something to do next weekend (Nov 8th and 9th), come down to William Tennent and travel back in time. Every year, the WTHS Drama Club puts on a fall play, and this year they will be performing, Back to the 80s! Back to the 80s is a musical that takes audiences on a nostalgic journey through the exciting and unforgettable decade of the 1980s. The story is set in a high school and follows the life of Mary Fitzfry, who narrates her senior year filled with love interests, and the yearning for popularity. The musical is filled with iconic ‘80s music, featuring hits from such artists as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and more.
The story takes the audience through all of the traditional activities of senior year, including the prom, friendships and relationships, as well as graduation. Characters like the class nerd, the jock, and the cheerleader bring the era to life, each contributing to the humor and dynamic of the classic high school experience. The musical not only focuses on the music and culture of the ‘80s, but it also touches on universal themes of growing up and finding one’s identity.
This cast will surely put on a rad show that brings energetic and lively nostalgia to the stage. You won't want to miss the vibrant tribute to the time of big hair, neon colors, and memorable music.
The play, under the direction of Mrs. Dina McCaffery and Mrs. Jennifer Hoban, features a cast of 42 students! You won't want to miss this hilarious parody written by local playwright Dean O'Carroll (who may even attend one of the performances)!
WTHS Madrigals Perform at Temple University Choral Adjudication
On Friday, November 1, the Madrigals went to Temple University in Philadelphia, PA for their annual Cantate! High School Choral Festival. The Madrigals were one of 15 choirs from the greater Philadelphia area to receive a clinic and adjudication from Temple University Vocal Faculty. You can watch their performance at the Temple University Boyer College of Music YouTube page starting at around 50 minutes.
WTHS Select Choirs Give Combined Concert with University of Delaware Chorale
This past Friday, November 1, the William Tennent Madrigals and Chorale hosted the University of Delaware Chorale for a combined concert at Davisville Church in Southampton.
The UD Chorale is under the direction of distinguished conductor, Dr. Paul Head. This past summer, Dr. Head took a group of current University of Delaware students and alumni to New Zealand to compete in the World Choir Games. After winning two categories, the "Delaware Choral Scholars" are now ranked the #1 choir in the world.
You can watch a few selections from the concert at the WTHS Music YouTube channel. Make sure to check out the concert finale, a stunning rendition of With a Lily In Your Hand by Eric Whitacre, performed by the UD Chorale and WT Madrigals mixed together.
Log College BCMEA String Day
On Saturday, November 2nd Log College students participated in the BCMEA Annual String Day at Newtown Middle School. Log students joined with students across Bucks County in either the 7th-9th grade orchestra or 5th-6th grade orchestra in a day of music making. Along with making new friends, the students had the opportunity to learn some new music and work with a guest conductor.
OFFICE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
November's SEAL Focus For Our Elementary Schools:
FOOD AND NUTRITION
CSD IN THE NEWS
We are excited to announce a new way for families to receive important updates and school communications! Download the free ReachWell app today then tap the plus button to search for the Centennial School District AND your child's individual school name. We’ll share relevant notifications, upcoming events, updates, due dates, and much more! Download today at http://reachwellapp.com/app!
To see instructions on how to Download the ReachWell App in other languages please use this link to find your language.
ReachWell verification codes are being sent out weekly to those who are not yet verified! Please check your email inbox or SMS text messages for your unique verification code. If you did not receive your code, we encourage you to submit a ticket through IncidentIQ as soon as possible. Our dedicated tech support team is ready to assist and ensure you are properly connected. Please understand that this is a slow rollout, and faculty/staff who choose to incorporate ReachWell will utilize it at their convenience. In order to get access to the new ReachWell App, you need to update a cell phone number in the second space for each guardian in Skyward. For directions, see the Skyward section below.
ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS
IMPORTANT LINKS
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
November
November 22: Elementary Schools Closed; Grs. K-5 Inservice - Grading Day; Grs. 6-12 Full day of School
November 26: Early Dismissal Grs. K-5; Grs. K-5 Conferences; Grs. 6-12 Full Day of School
November 27: All Schools Closed; Grs. K-12 Conferences
November 28-29: All Schools & Offices Closed (Thanksgiving)
For the Full Calendar Click HERE.
UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
(Back row from left to right): Mr. Flemming Godiksen (Vice President), Mr. Mark Gindhart (Assistant Secretary), Dr. Kathleen Maguire, Mr. Michael Hartline (Front row from left to right): Mrs. Jane Schrader Lynch; Mrs. Patti Crossan; Dr. Dana T. Bedden (Superintendent), Mr. Tony Sadowski, Mrs. Mary Alice Brancato (President), Mr. Charles H. Martin not pictured.
Work/Regular Meetnig
- This meeting is public and can be viewed on the CSD Cable Stations or via the CSD Website or YouTube Channel.
- Click HERE for CSD Public Comment Procedure.
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024, 07:00 PM
48 Swan Way, Warminster, PA, USA
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Are you looking to give back to the community and make some money in the process? Then we have the job for you! Join Centennial School District's FREE CDL training program to become a bus driver! If interested in becoming a bus driver or a bus aide, please let us know by clicking CSD Interest or joining us in person at our next Walk-In Wednesday, November 13 anytime between 8 am-12 pm at 48 Swan Way, Warminster PA 18974. Also, please feel free to explore the CSD employment page for any other opportunities that may interest you. We hope to hear from you or see you soon!
Start Your Career at Centennial!
Spread the word that Centennial School District is hiring!
Check out our employment webpage for a complete list of vacancies. https://www.centennialsd.org/employment
If you know anyone who might be interested in these positions, please have them apply. We offer competitive rates, excellent perks, and benefits, including a pension. For questions, please call 215-441-6000, Ext. 11034.
CENTENNIAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Hello Centennial Family!
Order our 2025 Pawsome Pets Calendar featuring our Top 12 Winning Pets!
We are so very excited to celebrate and "bark" about their cuteness!
Our Pawsome Pets calendar is the "purrfect" gift for the pet lover on your gift list!
Pre-Order by November 15th and you'll be among the first to get your copy when they arrive at CEF!
Get your calendar for $15 and support our mission!
Order here: https://www.centennialef.org/events/2024/10/30/order-our-2025-pawsome-pets-calendar
We provide “ABOVE AND BEYOND” educational experiences!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
A Child's Place 2024-2025 School Year
CENTENNIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT eFOLDER
Each year, more and more people and organizations are turning to our District to help get the message out about various activities, events, fundraisers, etc. The intent of this process is to support student achievement and to provide mutual assistance and benefit through shared information. Our district spends a great deal of time collecting, reviewing, and posting flyers to the District eFolder. The District no longer is posting eFlyers to any social media outlets or the District cable channel. You may refer to Policy 913 for additional information.
Please click on this link to connect with all the community eFlyers of the month
Centennial School District
Website: www.centennialsd.org
Location: 48 Swan Way, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: (215) 441-6000
Facebook: facebook.com/centennialsd
Twitter: @Centennial_SD