Wiss Watch

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At Wissahickon High School, students and staff celebrated Wiss Pride during Homecoming week! Activities included painting pumpkins, decorating scarecrows, playing in pickleball tournaments, participating in spirit days, the Homecoming football game and dance and more.

Wiss Nation needs bus drivers! It's a flexible job with great benefits. Take it from our own drivers!

Miranda Borchers, driver and WHS alumna '05, said “if you like driving and you like kids, this is a great job! You can work as much as you want to - nearly full-time if you choose – by picking up runs for the maintenance department, charter schools, sports, summer school and colleges. The benefits are good including health insurance, dental/vision and 401K. Borchers also enjoys working with the transportation team, including WSD dispatcher Sheilagh Wagner who was her bus driver when she was in kindergarten at Wissahickon!

David Donaldson, driver since 1999, said “The schedule is very flexible. It allowed me to do other things mid-day. You get to know the students and, if you work the same run for a long time, you get to watch them grow up.”

Nancy Smith, driver since 2014, said “Our co-workers are great. It’s fun to be with the students and work with the bus safeties. They really are excited to see you and help each other."

Stephen Holloman, driver since 2021, said "The interaction with the students is great! The elementary kids are very entertaining. From day 1, we start building a relationship and establish respect." He added "The training to be a driver is two weeks, but you get paid. Driving a bus may seem intimidating, but you build your confidence quickly.”

Apply at workatfirst.com (Search Wissahickon - choose bus driver or van driver position)

Thank you to Sgt. Gallagher, Whitpain Township Police, Sgt. Henry, Lower Gwynedd Police, and Ambler Police Officer Nasobkow for starring in the video below to explain the district's new bus safety program which launched on September 30. Take a couple of minutes to watch.

To learn more about the bus safety program and stopping laws, you may also click the links below:

Stop for the Bus: WSD Bus Safety Webpage

PA Bus Stopping Fact Sheet

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our children safe!

Congratulations to Jordyn Sweat, this year's recipient of the Wissahickon Opportunity Scholarship. The scholarship provides one deserving student from WHS a full four-year scholarship to attend Gwynedd Mercy University as an Early Education major and then return to Wiss Nation as a K-4 teacher. The scholarship was made possible by a generous gift from an anonymous donor, and funding provided by Gwynedd Mercy University.

Jordyn, who is currently interning with Ms. Apple at LGE, said she would like to teach 2nd or 3rd grade and wants to be the type of teacher who "connects with every student."

Family, WSD Superintendent Crisfield, GMU President D'Emilio, WHS principals, Jordyn's counselor, teacher advisor, and a representative for Do Better for Steve joined her at a ceremony!

Jordyn is the fourth recipient of the scholarship. The first recipient, Toni Robinson, is in her junior year at GMU.

Congratulations to the the Wissahickon High School Robotics Team #341 who embarked on the first off-season competition of the fall - "girlPOWER" - and made it to the finals. The POWER part of "girlPOWER" stands for "Preparing Outstanding Women Engineers through Robotics" and separates itself from other competitions by requiring all teams run with all female drive teams. All notable leadership roles at the event are performed by women.

"Our strategy entering the competition was to rotate as many students as possible into as many roles as possible. Off-season events are a great opportunity for students to try new things since our goal is not necessarily to win. We saw many of our female members step up to the challenge and excel in the areas of selecting teams for elimination rounds, driving and operating the robot, developing game strategy, and working to repair the robot in the pit," said Kirsten Jahn Richardson, Head Coach.

The team ended up seeded 5th and was picked by the 3rd ranked team, making it through the elimination bracket where unfortunately, they fell to the other alliance.

Shoutout to the 17 WHS students who have earned the AP Capstone Diploma. The AP Capstone Program helps students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are essential to academic success. To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams of their choice. Student participation in the AP Capstone program has been steadily increasing, with Over 100,000 students in over 2,500 schools worldwide taking part during the 2023-24 academic year. Approximately 21,000 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma. Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: Students are encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects. These students are creating the pathways for their future academic and professional careers by building highly sought-after skills in project management, presentation, collaboration, and research. Congratulations to the following Class of 2024 students: Aileen Bui, Julia D’Aquanno, Saara Deshpande, Anna Forde, Benjamin Idrizbegovic, Kade Kniffen, Cayden Kurniawan, Dathan Lang, Daniel Lee, June Lee, Gavyn Lewis-Richmond, Gina Lim, Tiffany Liu, Bobin Park, Parth Patel, Anika Rastogi, and Jackson Rosen.

Congratulations to the Wissahickon Marching Unit who took first place in their division at the US Bands competition at Rustin High School. In addition, they took home awards for best Overall Effect, Best Color Guard, and Best Percussion. Congratulations WMU! Catch them at their next competition on October 19 at Upper Dublin High School.

Congratulations to our National Merit Scholars! This month, twelve Wissahickon High School students were recognized as semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program for this year. These seniors were selected based on their score on the PSAT/NMSQT test last fall. Semifinalists from across the country represent less than 1% of the nation’s high school graduating seniors. Congratulations to our WHS semifinalists on this outstanding accomplishment! We are so proud of: Jackson Angell, Katherine Chen, Kevin Gao, Connor Ginnane, Vivian Han, Katherine Hussa, Chloe Michaels, Rachel Park, Parth Patel, Shaurya Sinha, Jake Tan, and Lauren Tung.

Check out the interview on Fox 29’s Phantastic Sports Show with Richard Blyweiss, 6th grade ELA teacher and Buster, Jersey Shore Blueclaws mascot. Mr. Blyweiss also performed for teams such as the Philadelphia Wings, Delaware 87ers, Philadelphia Phantoms, and as his college mascot, Hooter the Temple Owl. “I was even fortunate enough to be an assistant on Swoop’s team for the Philadelphia Eagles, which earned me a Super Bowl ring – talk about being in the right place at the right time! It’s been quite the career to say the very least!” he said.

Mrs. Madden’s 4th Graders at SGE won a Mystery State competition with a class from Kansas! Students learned about US geography including its regions and states bordering Mexico, Canada, The Great Lakes, and more. “Are you west of the Mississippi River?” was a great way to knock out many states at once. Students can’t wait to play again!

On September 13, Blue Bell Elementary students celebrated International Dot Day, which highlights creativity, courage, collaboration, and how small things can have a big impact. Students participated in collaborative art projects and "making their mark" based on The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. Watch now to see more from Blue Bell's day full of reading, music, art, physical activity, inclusivity, and smiles: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGQ0xlTGfw/1sMvEm_n4kINH-eb79EsOA/watch?utm_

The Home and School Association (HSA) co-presidents and WEOF President joined the One Wissahickon monthly meeting to hear updates and share feedback with the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Communications team. Wiss Nation greatly appreciates the contributions of our volunteer HSA/WEOF members! They plan fun events for our students, families and faculty and support school improvements and students in need through their fundraising efforts. Keep an eye out for HSA/WEOF communications and think about volunteering.

Thanks to the Dallas Brass for providing an amazing experience for WMS/WHS band students and community on 9/19. The special event included a school-day clinic and rehearsals where students learned new techniques from professional musicians, followed by an evening concert where selected students performed with the Brass. Read this great Wiss Now article with comments from band teachers Ms. Oswald and Mr. Hill about the event highlights.

This month, WHS Ambassabors Club President Isabella D’Alfonso, and her sister, Julia, provided a tour to the Class of '84 who was celebrating their 40th reunion and Elsa Anzaldo gave a tour to the Class of '74. In addition to alumni tours, the Ambassadors Club provides tours for new students at WHS.

Students in Mr. MacMinn’s physics class learn how to analyze graphs by observing their own position and velocity plotted in real time. They had to match nine position versus time graphs and nine velocity versus time graphs. They receive a score based on how accurately their motion matches the selected curve.

AP Environmental Science students conducted a water testing lab at the Wissahickon Creek.

Eighth graders enjoyed a fun field trip to Topgolf where they practiced their drives and swings on the high-tech driving range with interactive targets and games.

At the beginning of each semester, WHS students in Art 1 get to use the eclectic collection of objects in the art room to create original displays. Check out the cool designs from this semester's students!

The Wissahickon Board of School Directors welcomes residents and community members to attend its monthly public meetings (e.g., work sessions, regular meetings, and committee meetings). These public meetings are held in-person at the District Administration Office and/or virtually via Zoom and YouTube. Click here to learn more about the school board.

Two Things to Know about the September 30 Board Meeting: Watch Meeting

1. Following the announcement of Superintendent, Dr. Jim Crisfield's retirement, School Board President Amy Ginsburg, announced the Board’s intention to promote Dr. Mwenyewe Dawan, currently the district’s Assistant Superintendent, to the position of Superintendent, effective 7/1/25. Contract documents will be prepared by the district’s solicitor in the coming weeks, and the Board will take official action on Dr. Dawan’s promotion at its November 4, 2024, regular public meeting.
2. The Board reviewed and discussed the 2024-25 district goals and priorities.

Upcoming Board Meetings

• October 7, Regular Public Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
  
• October 28, Work Session Public Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• November 4, Regular Public Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

Ms. Richick's fourth-graders at Shady Grove conducted research on impactful individuals in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The students created banners to honor their chosen figures and then presented their findings to the class through detailed presentations.

The WHS Hispanic/Latine Association (HLA) held a meeting where students made freedom bracelets to sell for a fundraiser to support a mariachi band event on October 15. Spanish: La libertad está en ser dueños de nuestra vida. English: Freedom is in being the owners of our life. It emphasizes the idea that true freedom comes from having control over our own lives. The event will conclude their celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Eighth grade art students completed a print making unit inspired by Hispanic artists, Pablo Picasso and Jose Guadalupe Posada. Students drew inspiration from various prints created by these artists and designed their own printing block, starting with a sketch in pencil, transferring their sketch to their linoleum block, carving their block, and then finally printing their artwork. The students’ prints highlighted various endangered species selected by the student and focused on designing a composition and the elements of art, line and texture.

Mrs. Haire’s third grade class is excited to continue writing pen pal letters to students in Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa. This is the second year the class has worked on building this connection and they are so excited to hear from their new friends!

Our schools are proud to incorporate lessons and activities that support social emotional learning (SEL) skills - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making. SEL leads to long-term improvements in students’ skills, attitudes, prosocial behavior and academic performance. September's district SEL theme was Belonging.

All schools are implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) this year. Appropriate behavior, school rules and expectations are taught, modeled, practiced and acknowledged with positive reinforcement.

Shoutout to Mr. Baldassano, our amazing Student Support Teacher! He is co-leading the middle school's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation and has proudly assumed the title of Cafeteria Captain! Last year, the staff identified the WMS cafeteria as an area that would benefit from improvement in student behavior.

During the first week of school, all students and staff participated in lessons that focused on and taught expectations in the WMS cafeteria, such as keeping voices down and cleaning up after eating. Mr. Baldassano, who gets to wear a great new captain's hat, is on hand during all lunches to remind and encourage students to follow the expectations. Overall, students have been doing a wonderful job and are on track to earn an ice cream social.

This September, every staff member at Shady Grove participated in a parody song and dance to teach students about PBIS. The parody of Beyonce's "Texas Hold 'Em" taught students about being respectful, responsible, and safe in the classroom, hallways, bathroom, playground, and cafeteria. Thanks to Mrs. Cheryl Broderick, SGE teacher, for writing the lyrics and Ms. Karah Barrist, former SGE music teacher, for the vocals. Click to watch with music and lyrics!

Check out these fun parody songs that music teacher, Mrs. Guillama, wrote for their PBIS Building Matrix. Teachers are sharing them with their classes to review expectations for the different spaces within the building.

VIEW PLAYLIST

Wow! Blue Bell students are doing a great job of following school expectations and SWIMming to success (Show you care, work hard, improve every day, make safe and responsible choices). The Blue Shark aquarium is filled with SWIM tickets of students caught displaying these swim qualities. Each class that earns 150 SWIM tickets gets a class popsicle party at the end of the month, courtesy of the Home and School Association!

Secondary PBIS Core Team coaches accompanied Keziah LaTorre, Director of Equity and Cultural Responsiveness and District PBIS Coach, to Upper Merion High School to discuss PBIS. Meanwhile, the elementary PBIS Core Team coaches visited Cheltenham’s Myers Elementary School to participate in the PBIS September Chill. The Wissahickon School District core teams’ on-site visits and collaboration are an exciting and intentional way to engage with PBIS-partner schools.

September Chill—Elementary Core Team

Jen Smith, SCE

Jacqui Echevarria, BBE

Lauren Steinberg, SGE

Kate Wynne, LGE

PBIS Lunch and Learn—Secondary Core Team

Becky Agler, WMS

Gus Baldassano, WMS

Molly Jouflas, WHS

The week of September 30th, Stony Creek students participated in "Start with Hello Week." The week focuses on building connections between students and making others feel welcome/included in our school community. Each day, students participated in activities to learn more about their classmates. On October 2, family members participated in a Hello Week visitation event, during which family members came to school and participated in team builders and acts of kindness with the rest of the SCE community.

Ask your student about their classroom and school norms! Schools and teachers use norms to support a structured and positive environment where students can focus on learning and collaboration. Norms include shared expectations and guidelines for behavior, interaction, and learning within a classroom setting. Restorative Practices Coach Mike Mandel asked around the district to see what's "norm-al" in our classrooms K to 12. Here are a few of the MANY examples that teachers shared.

Join us on Friday, October 18 at 6PM in the WHS Audion to celebrate the 2024 inductees to the WHS Alumni Hall of Fame. Family, friends, staff and community members are welcome to attend to celebrate the achievements of these outstanding alumni.

In remembrance of classmate, Tim Betterly, who perished in the 9/11 attack on the twin towers, the Class of '77 donated a memorial bench to WHS. Classmates Phil Koller and Brian Murphy, joined Tim's brothers, Chris and Mark, for a short dedication on 9/11, then attended the 20th annual September 11th Memorial Concert & Vigil hosted by the WHS Camerata. It was a wonderful tribute to Tim and to all those who were lost on that tragic day. Thank you to the Class of '77 and to the Camerata for continuing to host the annual concert and vigil. Never forget.

The Wissahickon Educational Opportunities Foundation (WEOF) is looking for new board members. WEOF meets on the third Thursday of each month for an hour. The meetings are a mix of in-person and Zoom. Board members serve two year terms, which can be renewed. Responsibilities include working on at least one WEOF project, attending meetings and events, and making a financial contribution. If you or someone you know is interested in joining, please fill out an application: https://weof.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/145116878

Join us for the Harlem Wizards game on Friday, October 25 at 7PM in the WHS Circle Gym! Snacks and Wizards souvenirs will be available for sale. Doors open at 6PM. Get your tickets here: https://www.harlemwizards.com/tickets/ambler

On October 16, 2024, at 6:00pm in the Central Office Board Room, the Student Services department will be hosting a Parent Night titled What It Means To Be Gifted with our enrichment staff and two psychologists. The discussion will cover key topics such as achievement vs. aptitude, the significance of IQ scores, and multi-tiered system of support for all students: differentiation vs. enrichment vs. acceleration.

Watch our video shorts series "Did You Know?" to learn more about Wiss Nation programs, services, events, activities, resources and more. Our students narrate each video which is 30 seconds or less!

WATCH NOW