Pennsbury On Point

Pennsbury on Point is a weekly newsletter designed to keep the Pennsbury community up-to-date on district news, events, and information. The newsletter is emailed to families weekly and archived on the district's Public Relations webpage.

If you have any photos or story ideas you would like to see featured, please email the Public Relations Department at publicrelations@pennsburysd.org.

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• Back to School Night - Dates & Times
• Confidential Residency Reporting Tip Line
• District Emails Archive
• E-Flyers
• Employment Opportunities at Pennsbury School District
• Odyssey of the Mind Registration
• Part-Time Jobs for Students
• Pennsbury Community School Registration
• Pennsbury Parent Academy - Events & Recordings
• PHS Project Updates
• Safe Arrival Attendance Reporting System
• Safe2Say - Anonymous Tip Line
• Special Education Advisory Council (SEPAC)

Download and sign up for the FREE SchoolMessenger app and receive all of your Pennsbury School District emails & notifications in one place! There are several different SchoolMessenger apps available. Make sure to download the app that says "SM Home". You will create your account using the email address you have on file at your child's school. It is necessary to download the app to use the new Safe Arrival Student Absence Reporting System.

Safe Arrival Student Absence Reporting System - The Pennsbury School District prioritizes the safe arrival of all students at each school each day. We are now pleased to offer an efficient student absence reporting system called Safe Arrival to support our efforts. Please visit the Safe Arrival page on our website for more information and learn how to use the system.

Five new pieces of art were entered into the Pennsbury Superintendent Permanent Art Collection and their creators were recognized at the Pennsbury School Board's September action meeting. The tradition of adding new student artwork to the permanent collection at the Central Administration Building takes place annually. The permanent collection of student artwork, which includes over 130 pieces from students from kindergarten to 12th grade, began in 1998 and is located in the District's Administration building. The art collection is possible due to the support of past and present superintendents, administrators, outstanding art teachers, supportive parents, and talented student artists. Each of these works will be displayed in the Superintendent’s office for a year and then relocated to the halls or offices within the administration building.

Congratulations to the following young artists for their accomplishments*:

• Julia Marie Caringal - Lighthouse - 8th Grade, William Penn Middle School

• Samantha Kersten - Bee - 8th Grade, William Penn Middle School

• Colbie Smith - Cardinal Collage - 1st Grade, Makefield Elementary School

• Anh Nguyen - Digital Art - 11th Grade, Pennsbury High School

• Grace Douglas - Monkey Jar - 12th Grade, Pennsbury High School

*The pieces selected for the Superintendent's Collection were made during the 2023-2024 school year.

At the September School Board Action meeting, Pennsbury recognized the efforts of the organizers behind the Start School “Write” community event. This event was designed to help students start the year off right with free free back-to-school haircuts and school supplies. Visit our website to read more about the 2nd Annual Start School Write Event.

Special thanks to the following organizers for making this extremely successful event possible:

• Keller Arnold

• Arlene Johnson

• Tammy Kehan

• Stacy Kirsh

• Shauna Love

• Noelle Murphy

• Meredith Naskiewicz

• Stephanie Piech

• Laurie Ruffing

• Lori Salley

Students from William Penn Middle School proudly represented their school at this month's School Board Action Meeting. Students Caroline Fox, Nola Hohman, Jayson Lock, Dylan Richer, Smith Todor, and Tori Toth updated the school board on all of the exciting events and learning taking place at William Penn.

Pennsbury High School’s Mr. Moyer led his choirs one last time before officially retiring last Friday. Mr. Moyer dedicated the last 25 years to sharing his love of choral music with the students at PHS. He helped raise the profile of Pennsbury’s choral program on both the national and international stage. We wish Mr. Moyer a very happy and healthy retirement!

At Pennsbury's September School Board Action meeting, School Board Member Mr. Chip Taylor was honored for his five years of dedicated service and his long-term contributions to the Pennsbury School District.

Students and staff across the Pennsbury School District participated in Start with Hello Week, an event created by the Sandy Hook Promise. Sandy Hook Promise is a national non-profit organization founded by family members from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. This group provides programs and practices that protect children by teaching empathy and empowering students to end social isolation by following three steps: See Someone Alone, Reach Out and Help, and Start with Hello. Students showed their support throughout the week by wearing the color green, dressing as superheroes, learning how to say hello in several different languages, and many other activities that taught different ways to demonstrate empathy and kindness.

Pennsbury Principals Chris Becker, Dr. Travis Bloom, Vinny DePaola, Lisa Follman, Barbara Hidalgo, and Terri Salvucci, recently donned an apron and helped bag groceries for ShopRite of Yardley's annual Bagging for Hunger Event. The money raised goes to support local food pantries in our community. ShopRite, a Pennsbury Partner, will continue to raise money and round up change at the register through the end of September.

Robert Costa, chief election & campaign correspondent for CBS News and Pennsbury alum, paid a visit to his former high high school on Friday, September 20. The award-winning journalist spoke to students in Mrs. Daley and Mr. Sciolla's classes about political mythology and ethics.

Students from Miss Laurich, Mr. Reuther, and Mr. Turner's classes at Charles Boehm Middle School recently teamed up to tackle the world of rational and irrational numbers! Through collaboration and hands-on activities, students worked together to review the differences between these two types of numbers.

On Tuesday, September 17, students at Manor Elementary School had a special visit from former NFL player and children's author Mack Brown. Brown stopped by, in partnership with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), a children's literacy nonprofit, and Amazon.com, to share his book "A Pup Named Bunch" and inspire a love of reading.

Brown led a read-along of the book with kindergarten through third grade students and then held a question-and-answer session with fourth and fifth graders.

The story focuses on building confidence and self-belief, and Brown emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with friends who encourage, love, and accept you for who you are.

The fun didn’t stop there! Each student got to select three books to take home and began writing their own book.

A huge thank you to RIF, Amazon, and Mack Brown for making this day one to remember!

Earlier this week, Fallsington Elementary School enjoyed the NED’s Mindset Mission assembly. The assembly introduces a cartoon boy named NED who is on a very important mission: to find his mindset. Led by clues and memorable characters, he overcomes Mt. Everest’s toughest obstacles, uncovers inner-treasures on a Caribbean island, and grows his brain while repairing a sputtering spaceship. Source

Throughout the performance, students discovered how to activate their growth mindset to overcome social, emotional, and academic challenges. Students learned to Never give up, Encourage others, and Do their best. Each student received a yo-yo to take home and practice tricks. Thank you to Fallsington's PTO for making this event possible!

Congratulations to Makefield Elementary School principal, Ms. Martin on her induction into the Pennsbury High School Athletics Hall of Fame! While attending Pennsbury High School, Ms. Martin was a member of the PA All State 2nd team, Suburban One League 1st Team, and Bucks County Courier Times Table of Champions Player of the Year. In Basketball, she was Suburban One League 2nd Team.

On Friday, September 20, the students and staff at Makefield surprised Ms. Martin with a pep rally to celebrate this incredible honor!

Students in Ms. Blanchet's Multicultural Cuisine Course at Pennsbury High School recently dove into Indigenous American cooking during their Navajo Taco Lab. They explored the rich history of Native American cuisine and collaborated to create traditional fry bread, topped with spiced ground beef and a variety of fresh toppings. Along the way, they honed their knife skills and mastered the art of frying. The best part? Enjoying the delicious results of their teamwork!

Students in Mrs. Brodbeck’s language arts classes at Pennwood Middle School recently took part in a "Gallery Walk" at the Pennwood Library, where they viewed book projects created by previous students. Later in the week, they enjoyed a guided tour of the library and had the exciting opportunity to choose a new book to read. This experience encouraged both appreciation of past work and enthusiasm for future reading adventures!

Pennsbury High School’s National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is off to a fantastic start with an incredible turnout! They are thrilled to welcome back original members from last year, along with a fresh group of creative students eager to join this vibrant, artistic community. This marks the first full year of NAHS at Pennsbury, and we can’t wait to see the amazing contributions this group will bring to the community.

Interested in joining? Reach out to Ms. Greiner in Room 122 at East or send her an email at bgreiner@pennsburysd.org. Don’t miss their first art service event this Sunday, September 22 at the AOY Art Center, where they’ll be face painting at Art on the Farm!

Walt Disney Elementary students kicked off the school year with exciting team-building activities in Mr. Kennedy's Physical Education class. Starting with the human knot challenge, students worked in groups of four to practice communication and cooperation as they untangled themselves. As they mastered the challenge, groups grew larger, increasing the difficulty. Discussions about the importance of voicing ideas and being good listeners followed each activity. Another fun challenge involved building hula hoop castles, where students collaborated to construct and navigate through their creations. Some teams even managed to complete the final challenge and build impressive double-decker castles!

At Penn Valley Elementary School, Principal Hidalgo's "bucket" was filled when her kindergarten friends were respectful listeners as she read aloud the story, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? Together, they discussed the importance of kindness and taking care of one another each day. This heartwarming lesson reminds us all that showing kindness and appreciation not only brightens the lives of others but also makes the world a happier place for ourselves.

We are so proud of our students at Fallsington Elementary School for all of their efforts in math and reading this past summer. Last Friday, over 130 students were celebrated with a bingo party and popsicle treat. Students were able to enjoy time with their friends and pick a fun prize if they were lucky enough to yell “Bingo!” It was such a joy celebrate the students for their dedication to math and reading over the summer.

The decision to start Friday night games at 6 PM aims to improve attendance and address several challenges. An earlier start time makes the games more family-friendly, especially for those with young children, and helps reduce student behavioral incidents. It also addresses staffing difficulties and helps players and spectators avoid colder temperatures later in the evening as the season progresses. Other schools with earlier start times have seen benefits, particularly for those traveling long distances, and the change may also boost visiting team attendance, which we have seen a decrease in. Overall, the goal is to enhance the experience for players, fans, and all others involved.

• TONIGHT - 9/20 vs. CB East - 6:00 p.m. start
• Sat. 9/28 vs. CB South - 12:00 p.m. start (no change)
• Fri. 10/4 vs. CB West - 7:30 p.m. start (no change)
• Fri. 10/18 vs. Abington - 6:00 p.m. start

For potential playoff games, start times will be discussed depending on the opponent and how far they will need to travel.

As a district, we are committed to keeping you informed and constantly strive to improve the effectiveness of our communications with you. We are all too familiar with how inundated one's email inbox can become, and we don't want you to miss any important information from us!

To that end, the district administration team will send non-emergency communications to families on Thursdays as needed. These emails will contain links to important updates and information you need to know. All PSD Family Updates will also be posted on our website under "District Email Archive."

We will do our best to keep to this email schedule, obviously barring emergencies, so you can be assured that any necessary information from the district will be emailed to you on Thursdays as needed. In the event of an emergency, we will communicate with families in as timely a manner as possible.

Click here to view dates and times for Back to School Nights!

It's not too late to register for Pennsbury Community School! Pickleball, Strength Training, and Zumba begin next week and spots are still available.

Click here for a complete listing of course offerings and to register!

New this Fall

• Chess: Sharpen your strategic thinking and learn the classic game of chess, suitable for beginners and seasoned players alike.
• Crafting with Wool: Get creative with wool! Learn how to make simple, fun projects using different techniques like knitting or felting.
• Sewing with Patterns: Learn how to use sewing patterns to make your own clothes or accessories. Perfect for beginners or those looking to improve their sewing skills.

Classes are designed for adults of all skill levels, so don’t hesitate to sign up and try something new.

How would you like your child to go on an incredible journey in creativity? How would you like to share this experience as a coach and make a memory that will last a lifetime?

Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is an international creative problem-solving competition available to students of all ages (K-12). Each year, OM issues six different challenges that focus on science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts. Students present solutions to these challenges as 8-minute theatrical performances.

Registration for the 2024-2025 season is now open and runs through September 29. The Pennsbury Odyssey of the Mind Association will be holding virtual information meetings for parents and students wanting to learn more about this exciting program. To learn more, visit www.pennsburyom.com.

We want to ensure you receive timely and important updates from our school district. The best way to stay informed about emergency situations, weather-related notifications, and other critical news is through our text message alerts.

👉 To opt-in, simply text the letter Y or YES to 67587 from the mobile device you have on file with the school district.

🔍 Not sure which mobile number is on file? No problem! Just check with the front office staff at your child's school to confirm the correct number.

The district does not charge recipients for the text messages they receive or send to the short code; however, wireless providers may charge for individual text messages, depending on the plan associated with the wireless device. Please check with your carrier if you are uncertain.

Stay informed and stay safe. Sign up today to make sure you never miss an important update from Pennsbury School District! 📚✨

Starting this year, the Pennsbury Activities Calendar will no longer be in PDF format. It is now built directly into the Pennsbury website. Click here to view! (Be sure to scroll down.)

Click the links below to view the current schedules for Pennsbury Athletics.

Weekly Sports Schedule

Current Team Schedules - Schedules are subject to change at any time. Check this page often for the latest updates!

Do you enjoy working with children? Do you like working close to home and earning a competitive salary? Then becoming a Pennsbury Bus Driver is the job for you!

We offer:

• A competitive salary
• Flexible hours
• Student-centered work environment
• Paid training for your CDL

Questions? Email transportation@pennsburysd.org

How to Get Started:

1. Create a training account at PaTTAN: pattan.framwelder.com
2. Complete the 7 online courses: Bureau of Special Education Para Credential of Competency Entry Level Training Series and save your certificates.
3. Email paras@pennsburysd.org to set up an interview to complete the process.

Questions? Email us at paras@pennsburysd.org

The Pennsbury Parent Academy is a series of educational programs and presentations offered to Pennsbury parents and guardians to support school success and continued home-school partnerships. The PPA program includes monthly, live in-person and/or virtual programming on a variety of topics to promote parent and guardian community engagement, such as:

• Mental Health & Wellness
• Supporting School Success
• Social Media & Internet Safety
• Diversity & Inclusion

Visit our website for recordings of past presentations.

Click here to view Pennsbury High School's Student Job Board and find local area businesses with open positions. Some positions allow applicants as young as 14 years old.

Click here for information on how to obtain a work permit.

Click here to visit the Pennsbury School District's E-Flyers Page.

These flyers represent current or ongoing announcements of interest to Pennsbury students and their families that emanate from local community organizations, sports leagues, scouting groups, and other non-profits. Browse through our gallery!

To obtain approval for a flyer to be posted on the E-Flyers Page, please email your request to Macy Cellitti at mcellitti@pennsburysd.org.

Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the PA Office of Attorney General. Report a confidential tip to help prevent violence and tragedies.

Click here to submit an anonymous tip.

The Nutrition Group is Now Hiring Kitchen Managers, Cooks, and Food Service Workers at Pennsbury School District!

Great opportunity! Monday through Friday, daylight shifts, no nights or weekends. Competitive wages offered.

Learn more about additional opportunities with us and join our team today! Apply online now at: tngcareers.com and search “Pennsbury” or call our office at 215-428-4100 ext. 22201

The Pennsbury School District is making a concerted effort to ensure that students who reside within our District boundaries are able to attend the school they are assigned to based on their home address. To help us, we have established a Confidential Residency Reporting Tip Line. If you believe someone is falsifying their student's address to attend the Pennsbury School District, please call or email:

residency@pennsburysd.org

(215) 428-4100 ext. 84777 (TIPSS)

Click here for more information.

Have a question about Pennsbury? Don't trust the rumors, ask Penny!

Send Penny an email at askpenny@pennsburysd.org.

tsmith@pennsburysd.org

215-428-4111

Email: publicrelations@pennsburysd.org

Website: www.pennsburysd.org
Location: 134 Yardley Avenue, Fallsington, PA 19058
Phone: 215-428-4100