Wiss Watch

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This month, the Board approved a revised school calendar for the 2022-2023 school year as follows:

• Friday, May 26, 2023 – All schools/offices are closed for ALL students and staff (including all 10-month and 12-month staff)
• Friday, June 9, 2023 – early dismissal for all students, K-12
• Monday, June 12, 2023 – early dismissal for all students, K-12
• Tuesday, June 13, 2023 (Last day of school) – early dismissal for all students, K-12

Reminders: Schools are also closed on Tuesday, May 16 for election day/staff in-service and on Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day. On early dismissal days, the high school dismisses at 11:05 a.m.; the middle school dismisses at 11:00 a.m.; and all elementary schools dismiss at 11:50 a.m.

Click here to view/download the school calendar.

Also, make sure to check the district calendar and save the dates for all of the fabulous end-of-year events. Our students will be showcasing their talent in the annual spring concerts, musicals and school art shows.

The district is excited to kick off the construction of the WHS multi-purpose turf field project this summer - a much needed facilities upgrade that will benefit tens of thousands of students in the

Whitpain, Ambler and Lower Gwynedd community.

Approved by the WSD Board of School Directors on March 6, 2023, the project includes the installation of a multi-purpose synthetic turf field for baseball, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse and a synthetic turf field for softball. The fields will also be used for WHS other sports games and practices, including football, girls' flag football, track and field, cheerleading and our physical education classes as well as community sports groups that rent our facilities.

"The district and School Board are proud of the investment in the new turf fields to ensure safe, playable athletic fields on a modernized campus that improves the image of our school and community commensurate with our strong tradition of excellence – in the classroom and on the field," said Dr. James Crisfield, Superintendent.

Are you interested in supporting our students, athletic programs and advertising your business? Check out the sponsorship opportunities available at WHS including signage on the new multi-purpose field. All donations support athletic program improvements which exceed the district’s budget. In previous years, contributions to the Community of Champions Athletic Improvement Fund included the purchase of windscreens and banners to build our Trojan brand and pride, an outdoor play clock, lacrosse netting and a John Deere Gator for the athletic trainer.

VIEW COMMUNITY OF CHAMPION SPONSORSHIPS

Huge shoutout to MHX Designs who contributed $5,000 to the Community of Champions campaign and Hirschberg Mechanical who donated $3,000 this school year.

It's official! The LGE Leopard's name is Leo! Students selected the mascot's name in a contest and revealed the winner during morning announcements. Leo enjoyed welcoming students to school with high-fives and hugs.

LGE, WMS and WHS students joined in Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day! Thanks to the crossing guards and police who ensured the safety of our students.

For the 16th Consecutive Year, the WMS MATHCOUNTS Club was awarded national Gold Level Status. Only a handful of schools achieve Gold Level status, and no other school in Pennsylvania can claim this many consecutive years of such recognition. Contributing to this year’s final project were the following students: 8th Graders: Jacob B., Joseph C., Tyler F., Gabe G., Alan M., and Leolo Y.; 7th Graders: Albert H., Cristobal I., Weston M., Eli P., and Nabiha S.; and 6th Graders: Ethan H., Jared L., Aarnab S. M., and Antony S.

Congratulations to WHS Academic Quiz Team seniors - Andy Wang, Vincent Zhang, Ryan O’Farrell, Ethan Furman, and Brendan Vossen - for besting last year’s incredible performance and their spectacular second-place victory at the Pennsylvania Academic Competition. Go Wiss!

Congrats to the WMS boys track team - 1st place winners in the 4 x 100 at Penn Relays: Tyler Phillip, Trey Hopkins, Ryan Kim, Gavin Perretta, with alternate Isaiah Mulbah. We are full of Wiss pride for the team, Coach Dassin and Coach Saleski.

Congratulations to our sixth-grade students on their spectacular performance in Disney's Aladdin KIDS! The show was a big success and sent audiences soaring on a flying carpet ride filled with romance and adventure.

Congratulations to our student-athletes recognized during a college signing celebration with families, coaches and teammates.

• Logan Schorn: Soccer, Widener University
• Nick Donofrio: Lacrosse, Salisbury University
• Luke Clerkin: Football, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
• Sarah Pickel: Swimming, Bloomsburg University
• Jack Garrity: Baseball, Ursinus College

The future of the Class of 2023 is bright! Seniors celebrated College Decision Day on May 1 and their next steps after graduation by wearing shirts to their accepted colleges.

At the end of each school year, our WHS National Merit Scholars present a book with a personalized message to a teacher who made an impact in their life. Congrats to our Merit Scholars & kudos to our awesome teachers who inspired them and all of our students: Tiffany Chen: Kathryn Karschner (SCE) Rachel Kim: Monika MacDermott (WHS, French) Ryan O’Farrell: Cindy Pronko (WHS, Gifted Support) Napat Puenpatom: Meghann McKenna (LGE) Anuyha Suhas: Jaclyn Dietsch (WHS, Science) Andy Wang: Tyler Radel (WHS, Science) Vincent Zhang: Chad Towarnicki (WMS) Lily Zhao: Amy Founds (WHS, Health & PE).

Shoutout to our student-athletes in N-01 and A-01 who competed in Wiss Olympics and to the event coordinators with PE Pals and Wiss Pals. It was a beautiful day and so much fun!

The WHS Functional Skills class finally got to meet their adopted cow, Penny, who moo’d an enthusiastic hello during their tour of her farm in Cochranville. Students got to see how the cows are cared for and milked! It was a great visit made possible by a grant that Dr. Hartranft, Occupational Therapist, received from Discovery Dairy.

Blue Bell students welcomed representatives from SWAT, EMS, FBI, National Guard and the local fire and police departments during Community Heroes Day. Students explored their vehicles & equipment and learned about the vital work these heroes do for our community. Thanks to all who attended!

In celebration of both Poetry Month and Earth Day this April, students in Ms. Quatraro's and Mrs. Stahl’s seventh-grade ELA classes went outside to craft nature-inspired poems. A special shout-out to the student volunteers who helped create a display of the poetry.

Members of the WHS Poetry Club, and Club Advisor Mrs. Pucetas, shared their spoken word during an awesome Poetry Slam this month. Check out Junior Andrew Lambright's musically inspired poem,"I Saw You" below. Shoutout to all our talented students on their great writing and performances!

Check out Mrs. Smerecki’s third graders at Stony Creek as they propagate a class plant into a bunch of spiderettes.

Lower Gwynedd second graders in Mrs. Riviello's class learn together about grammar and the math concept of symmetrical shapes.

Don't try this at home! Blue Bell students were amazed by the bike flips and tricks during a BMX Stunt Show. Thanks to the HSA for providing this awesome assembly. Check out the stunts below!

In celebration of Earth Day, students across the district participated in outdoor activities and enjoyed learning about Mother Earth. At Blue Bell, staff, students and volunteers enjoyed a fantastic Spring Planting Day. They beautified their school by planting flowers, making windsocks, decorating class garden flags, painting the track with stencils, cleaning up the nature trail, and making bird feeders. Stony Creek third graders celebrated by planting flowers and building and painting wooden birdhouses. Shady Grove students enjoyed a nature walk to explore the school grounds. Students had a blast and loved helping the planet!

Mrs. Gottenberg's Stony Creek students presented Reader's Theater for their classmates, demonstrating their fluency and public speaking proficiency. Bravo!

What new or redesigned space would you build to transform your school? Fifth-grade students in Mrs. Hickey's class worked in teams on a STEM lesson with Mrs. Meulstee, the LGE librarian, to create blueprints and build models to see their designed spaces come to life!

Check out the Fish Dish produced by the Blue Bell Student Council - a great way for students to share building-wide happenings and initiatives and learn new skills such as writing and reporting the news: https://flip.com/s/TWSh-Xx7xfX-. Each month, Student Council brainstorms what news to report. Ms. Echevarria writes the script with the students’ input, and they take turns being recorded. Students also create extra episodes for special events, like Read Across America. Earlier this year, Student Council brainstormed different phrases and ideas to use with their Fish Dish theme, such as “just keep swimming,” “take a bite of this breaking news,” and “lights, camera, learning.” Very creative!

Does a dog's size affect how owners think of and treat their pets? This was the research question that Connor Szczepkowicz, AP® (Advanced Placement) Research student, sought to answer in his College Board Presentation and Oral Defense, presented to a panel of WHS judges (the answer is yes). Connor and other students enrolled in AP Research choose an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest to explore through a year-long investigation that addresses their research question. Students must share their research methodologies, such as surveys and observations, to support their findings and conclusion. “AP Research builds on the collaborative teamwork, communication skills, and high-level reading skills gained from AP Seminar,” said Mrs. Pronko, AP teacher.

LGE first graders created pastel pictures of fruit bowls and learned to use watercolors to brighten and contrast images.

For AAPI Heritage Month, students in Mr. Smyth’s classes read a comic, Fighting to Belong, donated by the Asian American Foundation that told the history and struggles of the AAPI community in American History. This comic was co-written by Amy Chu and her son, Alexander Chang, with Louie Chin as artist. Mr. Smyth was lucky enough to present at San Diego Comic Con with Amy Chu and other comics colleagues. Students also put together some questions for the comic creation team! Here's a few reflections from students after reading and discussing the comic:

1. I didn’t realize how many different identities were encompassed by the term AAPI
2. The front cover – the contrast of emotion between the top and bottom of the cover sticks out. The top depicts happy crowds and soldiers, but the bottom has a more serious tone with a sign saying “stop Asian Hate.” This could show how history is biased and can have a happy tone, when in reality, history can be cruel and not always taught in its entirety.
3. The creation of Chinatown – I just thought people had come together because they wanted to be with people like them. But now I understand it was also because they weren’t allowed to live anywhere else
4. We need to stop censoring history and tackle the tough history so that we can help prevent future incidents.
   
5. I had only heard about African-American segregation (especially in schools) until now.

Miss McGlinn's class celebrated AAPI month by learning about Children's Day, a holiday celebrated on May 5th in Japan to honor children's happiness and health. Students made Koinobori (carp streamers) as a symbol of strength and courage, just like they do in Japan!

On Saturday May 6, the high school’s Asian Cultural Committee hosted their second annual Asian Culture Fair to celebrate AAPI Heritage month. Attendees of all ages enjoyed a variety of performances, from traditional dances, martial arts demonstrations, and even a KPOP group routine. There were also stations to represent different countries, giving people the opportunity to “visit” each country and get a stamp on their passports. Of course, the fair also had a delicious buffet line of different ethnic foods. The Cultural Committee is excited to host more Asian Culture Fairs to come!

Each month this year, our schools are incorporating lessons and activities that support social emotional learning (SEL) skills - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making. The SEL theme for May is Teamwork/Collaboration. Check out a few of the great learning activities below.

Shoutout to Ms. Blau and WMS Student Council members Sanjana (8th grade) and Cael (7th grade) who worked all school year to collect unwanted fruit during lunch periods. To date, they collected and donated thousands of pieces of fruit for Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard and Rising Stars Homework Club. Thanks also to the parent and staff volunteers who help sort the fruit and weekly deliveries. Great teamwork and collaboration!

We are pleased to announce the seven WHS graduates who will be inducted to the 2023 Alumni Hall of Fame Induction this fall:

• Eric Eyre '83
• Joe Farrell '12
• Henry Hank Jones '02
  
• Chisa Merriweather '98
• Billie LaRae' Owens '14
  
• Carmina Taylor '89
• Paolo Toro '10
  

Hold the date for more details about these outstanding alumni and our Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, October 27.

As a reminder, the district is sharing bi-weekly health and wellness tips and resources with families to help support our students' physical and emotional well-being. Follow us on social media and subscribe to subscribe to receive all of our Wiss Well-being tips on the WSD website.

Three Things to Know about the May 1 Board Meeting (click here to watch the meeting)

1. The Board celebrated our two graduating Student Board Representatives, Carly Meltzer and Saachi Mehta. We’re grateful for the students’ leadership and contributions to the Wissahickon School Board over these last two years. Student Board Representatives are appointed to a two-year term beginning in their junior year of high school. School Board President Amy Ginsburg and Vice President Joe Antonio presented a plaque to thank the students for their service!
2. The School Board celebrated with the National Merit Scholars who dedicated a book to a staff member that inspired them. See pictures above under Student Achievements.
3. The Board approved the proposed final budget for the 2023-2024 school year. During the public meetings on May 30 and June 5, the Board will review and vote upon the final budget for next school year.

Upcoming Board Meetings

• May 22, 2023, Communications Committee; and Health, Wellness, and Safety Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m. (virtual format)
• May 30, 2023, Work Session Public Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• June 5, 2023, Regular Public Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

During the week of May 8, WEOF delivered 229 staff tributes to our schools to show gratitude for Wissahickon staff. A perfect addition to celebrate Teacher (and educator!) Appreciation Week! Each gift contains your personalized message, a small gift, and a sweet treat. This includes our teachers, bus/van drivers, counselors, nurses, support staff, and administrators. With your generous gifts, WEOF raised $3,710 to support learning and innovation for Wissahickon students and staff. Your act of kindness is truly appreciated.