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
• 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)

The world-famous Harlem Wizards, proudly presented by NorthPoint Development, are returning to Pennsbury! This family-friendly event will take place on Friday, December 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Pennsbury High School East (705 Hood Boulevard, Fairless Hills.)

Tickets go on sale this Monday, October 21 at 8:00 a.m. Save this link and set a reminder to order tickets beginning Monday! Last year's game sold out!

Check out the photos and video from last year's game!

All event proceeds will benefit the Pennsbury Education Foundation (PEF). Since its inception in 2003, the PEF has raised nearly $300,000 , which helps cover the costs of classroom mini-grants to enhance curriculum for Pennsbury students. Your support of the Pennsbury Education Foundation helps our teachers bolster the District's mission to prepare all students to become creative, ethical, and critical thinkers for lifelong success in a global society.

Thank you to our generous sponsors NorthPoint Development, McCaffrey's Food Markets, and CM3 Building Solutions.

We hope to see you on Friday, December 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Pennsbury High School East as the Wizards take on some of your favorite teachers and staff members for a night of tricks, hoops, and alley-oops!

Congratulations to the Pennsbury-LYFT Character Award winners for October! Students Henry Skoczalek, Harish Babu, Allison Bennett*, and Izayah Hellmuth were honored at the Pennsbury School Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

The purpose of the Pennsbury-LYFT Character Award is to recognize and reward students who embody exemplary character traits and behaviors. The character trait for October was Respectfulness. Click here to read the full press release.

*Allison Bennett was unable to attend and will receive her award at next month’s meeting.

Students from Afton Elementary School proudly represented their school at this month's School Board Action Meeting. Students Henry Bankoske, Dani Conlow, Avery Leahey, Ishaan Moghe, Hailey Stanton, and Lyla Tresch joined by Principal Dr. Joe Masgai and teacher Kristin Slota, updated the school board on all of the exciting events and learning taking place at Afton. Click on the link below to view their presentation.

Twenty-one Pennsbury High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) on Friday, October 18, during a ceremony at Pennsbury High School East in front of family members.

The ceremony began with opening remarks from NHS advisor Tara Bellman. NHS President Derek Bednarz briefly spoke about what it means to be a part of NHS before introducing his fellow NHS officers, who explained the society's four pillars - scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Dr. Tom Smith, Pennsbury superintendent, was also in attendance and praised the inductees for being among the best and brightest at Pennsbury High School. NHS advisor Maryann Daley congratulated the students on their monumental accomplishments while reminding them that their humanity will take them farther than their grade point average ever will. Pennsbury High School campus principal Reggie Meadows wrapped up the event by offering his congratulations.

PHS Fall National Honor Society Inductees:

Trevor Black, Ella-Rebecca Bray, Rachael Constantino, Patrick Dopart, Emily Edwards, Dorsladee Farcarthy, Gary Hansbury, Samantha Huang, Sejal Ijaz, Mason Keith, Nora King, Carlene Miles, Delara Noorani, Emma Pretcher, Chloe Salton, Ryan Szymelewicz, Kacper Szyszko, Gavin Vesay, Christian Ware, Cole Wiltshire, and Kevin Ye.

2024-2025 PHS NHS Officers:

Derek Bednarz, President

Diana Urgiles, Vice President

Juliet Labrecque, Secretary

Caroline Venkatesulu, Parliamentarian

Chase Franchi, Treasurer

Gabriella Pearson, Historian

George Rittenhouse, Public Relations

We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Corey Cochrane, a 2000 Pennsbury High School graduate, for his role in NASA’s recent Europa Clipper mission! Dr. Cochrane is an investigation scientist and the calibration lead for the Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) investigation, an investigation scientist for the Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) investigation, and the radiation focus group facilitator for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission.

The Europa Clipper mission, which launched from Cape Canaveral on October 14, will explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, seeking to understand whether the moon could support life. The journey will take five years.

Dr. Cochrane, the son of retired PHS physical education teachers Ed and Diane Cochrane, was inducted into the Pennsbury High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and he continues to inspire with his remarkable achievements!

We are proud of Dr. Cochrane for his leadership in this exciting mission and for being an outstanding example of where a Pennsbury education can lead! #PennsburyProud

Read more about Dr. Cochrane

Learn more about the Europa Mission

On Tuesday, October 15, Pennsbury High School welcomed seventh and eighth-grade families to its annual Curriculum Night. The event provided an informative overview of the wide range of academic offerings available at PHS. Representatives from each department were on hand to answer questions, giving students and their families valuable insights into the opportunities that await them. It was a fantastic chance for future Falcons to explore their academic paths and get excited about the journey ahead at Pennsbury High School!

Students at Manor Elementary School and Penn Valley Elementary School received a special visit from the brave firefighters of Levittown Fire Company #1! The firefighters spoke with the children about the importance of fire safety, including tips like holding family fire drills, establishing a meeting spot, practicing "stop, drop, and roll," kitchen safety, and regularly checking and replacing the batteries in smoke detectors.

The highlight of the day? A surprise appearance by Sparky, the firehouse's friendly Dalmatian mascot! Sparky helped the students learn these important lessons in a fun and memorable way.

Thank you, Levittown Fire Company No. 1, for keeping our students safe and informed!

On Friday, October 11, Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School celebrated Eleanor Roosevelt’s 140th birthday with a special visit from historical interpreter and actress Linda Kenyon, who brought the former First Lady to life. In a unique talk show-style assembly, 5th-grade student representatives posed thoughtful questions to “Mrs. Roosevelt,” gathered from the school community. Through this engaging dialogue, students learned about her early life and extraordinary contributions.

Linda Kenyon’s portrayal was both educational and inspiring, offering students a deeper understanding of the legacy of the school’s namesake. The celebration ended on a sweet note as students surprised "Mrs. Roosevelt" with a birthday cake, and the entire school joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to honor the occasion.

The student representatives, Sergio Arboleda Correa, Avery Vichko, Quaniya Nelson, and Ben Magyar, did a wonderful job leading the event. This inspiring experience was brought to the school by the literacy team, whose mission this year is to highlight and teach more about Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and work.

Live from Pennsbury it's... Thursday Night Live! Student written, produced, and directed.

📅 When: October 24 at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

📍 Where: Orange Auditorium ("The Cave") 608 S. Olds Blvd

$10 Adults, $5 Students (Cash Only)

Adults: Bring a canned food item for $5 off your ticket!

All food donated benefits the PHS Food Pantry. The pantry needs items such as canned ravioli, soups, mac and cheese cups, oatmeal, individual snack bags, and fruit cups.

On October 16, 2024, Afton Elementary School joined schools across the country in celebrating Unity Day, a part of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention campaign. The event focused on promoting kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to strengthen the sense of community. Students proudly wore orange to symbolize unity, while classroom morning meetings fostered meaningful discussions about the importance of treating others with kindness and inclusion. It was a day of positive action and reflection as Afton came together to stand against bullying.

Fallsington Elementary School is excited to announce the installation of a brand-new Buddy Bench on their school playground. This special bench is a place where students can go if they are feeling lonely or need a friend. Students are encouraged to use the buddy bench as a way to make new friends and help everyone feel welcome!

It was a full house for the first session of Crochet Club with Ms. Gonzalez at Charles Boehm Middle School! Knot bad!

The Pennsbury Community Swap event is back! Give away your old things and pick up new ones - all items are free of charge! All families in the Pennsbury community are welcome.

Where: Manor Elementary School

When: Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Click here for more information and to sign up by November 1.

At Manor Elementary School, the staff is excited to celebrate students' achievements and foster a positive school culture through monthly Character In Action (CIA) Assemblies. Each month, these assemblies provide a moment for the school community to come together and recognize the incredible ways students embody Manor Strong behavior.

During the CIA Assemblies, the school reflects on behavior data, celebrating areas of success and identifying areas for growth. Together, they review strategies to help students improve in focus areas, ensuring that every student feels supported in their journey toward personal and academic success.

One of the most exciting moments of each assembly is the unveiling of the new Character Theme for the month. The students explore its meaning and how it can guide their actions. The assembly also highlights the CIA Student from each class, who exemplified the previous month’s character theme. These outstanding students are awarded special lanyards to wear proudly throughout the month, and their pictures are displayed in the hallway for everyone to see and celebrate.

It’s a joy for the staff to watch Manor students grow, not just academically, but also as compassionate, responsible individuals committed to living the school’s values. The staff is proud of Manor students and looks forward to continuing to celebrate their character in action each month.

This week, Pennsbury's Supervisor of K-12 Mathematics & Science, Dr. Gary McManus, teamed up with Afton Elementary School's third-grade teacher, Selena Kelly, to co-teach an engaging math lesson. The lesson emphasized small group instruction and flexible grouping, key components of Pennsbury's balanced numeracy model. This approach allows for targeted support and personalized learning within the math block.

A balanced numeracy model is a framework that considers a variety of factors to support students' mathematical learning, including:

• Learning environment
• Instructional and assessment approaches
• Student habits, dispositions, and competencies
• Connection-making
• Engagement in learning
• Learning opportunities

The lesson wrapped up with an exciting “snowball fight” activity, where students wrote down any lingering questions on paper "snowballs" and tossed them into the mix. These questions were shared and discussed, providing valuable feedback for Mrs. Kelly as she continues to guide her students forward in their math learning journey. It was a dynamic and interactive way to highlight the power of small group instruction in our classrooms!

At Pennwood Middle School, eighth grade students learned how to play the ukulele in music class! Great job, everyone!

This week at Penn Valley Elementary School, Mrs. Zuczek's first grade class engaged in a collaborative learning activity through Think-Pair-Share while buddy reading. Students paired up to take turns reading stories from their first grade reading series, and afterward, they shared and discussed their favorite parts of the stories with one another. This interactive approach helped foster both reading comprehension and communication skills, creating a fun and meaningful learning experience for the class.

At William Penn Middle School, Mr. Kepner’s 7th grade STEM students put their creativity and technical skills to the test by designing their very own robots using the computer program Onshape! 🤖

At Oxford Valley Elementary School, fifth-grade students had an exciting hands-on lesson about shadows. Taking their learning outdoors, they used their bodies and the power of the sun to create various shadow shapes. This engaging activity helped students explore the science behind shadows in a fun and interactive way, while also enjoying some time outside in the fresh air.

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.

Beginning Wednesday, October 9, PHS Basketball coaches and players will be hosting a weekly clinic at PHS West. This is a FREE clinic that will run for one hour for 3rd-5th graders and one hour for 6th-8th graders. The clinic will run for five consecutive Wednesday nights. There is no need to register. Please show up 10 minutes before your child’s schedules start time and have them bring a ball (preferably with their name on it) and water.

Click here to view the latest news from the Pennsbury Athletics Department.

The decision to start Friday night games at 6:00 p.m. 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. For potential playoff games, start times will be discussed depending on the opponent and how far they will need to travel.

• TONIGHT, 10/18 vs. Abington - 6:00 p.m. start

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 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.

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