In The Q

More than 400 caps, gowns and “Panther Proud” lawn signs have been delivered to Quakertown Community High School seniors in what has been described as “an entire community rallying behind our students.”

WFMZ-69 reports on the great event!

The words belong to Principal Mattias van't Hoenderdaal, who thanked his administrative team, teachers, counselors, support staff, fire companies and the Levy School Bus Co. for an effort that has left everyone with positive memories.

Please click here for the full story.

While Quakertown Community School Board members couldn’t remember the last time property taxes were not raised, they unanimously agreed to break a 50-year (or so) trend and pass a Proposed Final Budget for 2020-21 with no millage increase.

May 14th Board meeting video

"We really understand people in the community are suffering (due to the COVID-19 pandemic)," President Kaylyn Mitchell said. “A lot of kudos need to go to the administration for setting us up for success. In my opinion, COVID really just solidified us doing this because we have a pretty high rate here in Upper Bucks County of people that have had to file for unemployment.”

A final vote on the $119.5 million spending plan is expected to take place at the June 14th Board meeting. The figure includes nearly $2 million from the sale of Milford Middle School and Tohickon Valley Elementary School. The current budget is $114.6 million, about 4.3 percent less than next year’s. Without the inclusion of the property sale, the budget’s rise is 2.6 percent.

Please click here for the story.

The regularly scheduled Quakertown Community School Board meeting - 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28 - will be held in an online platform. Please click here for information on how to join the meeting.

For information on how to access the 5:30 p.m. Finance Committee meeting, please click here.

Despite the state-mandated shutdown of all school buildings, Quakertown Community School District music teachers have been holding online recitals each week to give their students an opportunity to perform in front of an audience.

The effort is part of the continuity of education model the district has employed since it went to a virtual learning platform in late March. Students are able to retain their proficiency and parents have flocked to the recitals as the youngsters sing or play an instrument “in public” despite the restrictions in place due to COVID-19.

“Students get to see their friends and peers and play together for themselves and for each other,” said Erin Oleksa-Carter, QCSD’s Supervisor of Literacy and Arts. “So many of us turn to music, turn to the arts for a sense of calm when things get crazy as they are right now. I love that teachers are trying to share what they’re doing with our students.”

Please click here for the story.

Although the Quakertown Memorial Day Parade was canceled, the Quakertown Community High School Freshmen who won the prestigious American Legion School Award have received their certificates.

Katie Catalano and Bryce Widdoss were nominated by the QCHS faculty and chosen by American Legion Post 242 and Parade Committee Chair Les Walters.

Please click here for the story.

Quakertown Community High School had several students place in the Future Business Leaders of America state competition.

• Sam Barndt and Jake Lewis placed second in Global Business.
• Gwynneth Bartholemew placed third in Sales Presentation.
  
• Nicole Chambers, Michelle Meyers, and Melissa Nong placed sixth in Management Decision Making.
  

Each of them, along with several other QCHS students, has been invited to compete in the National Competition, which takes place in June.

Congratulations to the FBLA students and their advisor, Sandi Frisch, for continuing to make the district proud!

Three Quakertown Community High School students who attend the Upper Bucks County Technical School will be presented the Elmer Gates Enterprise Award for their outstanding senior career.

The students are Brenden Keller (Baking & Pastry Arts), Brayan Flores (HVAC-R & Plumbing) and James Klyne (Mechatronics).

Although there was not a physical ceremony this year, each student will receive this prestigious honor. This award was received because of their SkillsUSA involvement, scholastic achievement, positive work ethic, community service and entrepreneurial spirit.

Please click here for a video from the organization.

The Upper Bucks County Technical School put together a wonderful video of its 33 students inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

The list includes 14 tremendous Quakertown students: Katherine Beebe, Ethan Clark, Helena Cripps, James Klyne, Christopher Knight, Tyler Korbal, Brynn Lansberg, Kerrin Long, Rachael Martin, Jada Maslanka, Caleb Roth, Raymond Slifer, Austin Stoudt and Maximus Veltri.

Students, job well done!

Strayer Middle School won $5K on May 21st as part of a live stream STEM conference, hosted by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit.

The event included Miss America Camille Schrier, who spoke to Bucks County middle school students. Click here for the video.

Who won the Sixth Grade Center talent show? Click here to find out!

Trumbauersville stays connected to its students.

Strayer Middle School creates "The Clutch Project," and "6 feet apart."

The Levy School Bus Co. and its drivers put together a message for QCSD students.

Please click here to fill out the form for your student(s) to play a fall sport.

To help keep Quakertown Community High School's girls lacrosse team engaged in physical fitness during the “virtual” season, Assistant Coach Dan Rutledge suggested a four-week running challenge using the Map My Run (MMR) app.

Thirty-two players and five coaches participated, and the team put in more than 1,076 miles, according to Head Coach Tracy Hibsman.

"I am so proud of everyone who participated," she said.

Katie Catalano finished first with 206 miles. The top 10 (excluding coaches) included Katie, Katelyn Derstine, Natalie Boyd, Mya Hibsman, Yelizaveta Hernandez, Delaney Lamont and Katie Hagerty (nine freshmen and one sophomore).

"Despite cold, rainy weather and being under a stay at home order, these girls crushed it," Coach Hibsman said. "They definitely found ways to make the most out of this situation. I’m so proud of all these girls for staying motivated and for keeping me motivated and on top of my game. So, although this season wasn’t ideal and we often wonder 'what could’ve been',' I’m proud to say our girls can crush it both on and off the field!"

On May 21st, Quakertown Community High School held its second virtual College Fair with a focus on Military Branches and Trade Schools.

Organizations included the Army Active Duty and Reserves, Coast Guard, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennco Tech Trade School, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and Triangle Tech.

“It was a very positive experience,” said Eric Gozzard, the counselor who organized the event. “It was especially great to see 9th graders logging on to get their career search process underway!”

On April 22, QCHS students had the opportunity to virtually visit with 18 colleges.

Though QCSD school buildings are shut down, teachers continue to teach, and students continue to achieve.

On May 21st, the Quakertown Athletic Department proudly presented its 2020 Spring Athletic Signing Ceremony! Congratulations to our Seniors! Go Panthers!

Please click here for the video.

Following the cancellation of the Spring Sports season, the Quakertown Community High School athletic department decided to honor seniors with daily Shout Outs. Here are the portraits of senior varsity Panther student-athletes.

Now through June 11, parents are encouraged to join a Board Certified Behavior Analyst for a live session focused on your self-care and mental health. Each session is designed to ease stress and parental burnout during the global pandemic.

Topics and strategies that will be covered include: mindful awareness, acceptance practice, exercises to move you towards what matters most to you, and methods to unhook from unhelpful feelings and emotions.

Three opportunities to attend each week:
Tuesdays - 7:00-7:30 PM with Natalie Woodward, BCBA
Wednesdays - 1:30-2:00 PM with Erin Bertoli, BCBA
Thursdays - 9:30-10:00 AM with Alex Riling, BCBA

To attend a session, please use the links below to enter the Google Meet session:
Tuesday at 7:00 PM - https://meet.google.com/shc-jhku-yxc
Wednesday at 1:30 PM - https://meet.google.com/vzf-zdap-ocj
Thursdays at 9:30 AM - https://meet.google.com/imy-sdpg-tfq

Bucks County is in need of poll workers for the June 2nd Primary Election. Students must be at least 17 years old to qualify to work.

The shifts and compensation are as follows:

$195.00: Full Day - 6:15am-9:30pm
$97.50: ½ Day AM - 6:15am-2:00pm
$97.50, ½ Day PM - 2:00pm-9:30pm

Contact elections@BucksCounty.org for more information.

Pre-K Counts is a free preschool program open to children ages 3 and 4 (by September 1, 2020) who meet the income eligibility guidelines. There are three local locations for this program: Pfaff Elementary, Richland Elementary, and LifeSpan's child care center.

Please click here for a flyer and click here for an application.

Haga clic aquí para obtener una solicitud en español.

Quakertown Community Outreach, a registered 501 C-3 nonprofit that has helped hundreds of people with food, housing and transportation needs since it was founded in 2016, has received a PHL COVID-19 grant from the United Way to assist QCSD neighbors struggling with the pandemic. They are now prioritizing housing and food needs to help you and your children.

They can be reached at quakertownoutreach@gmail.com.

Please click here for more information.

The National Liberty Museum is seeking nominations for its "Young Heroes Award."

If you know someone, between the ages of 5 and 18, who has made an impact on their community, please consider nominating them for the annual Young Heroes Award. Winners will have the opportunity to win a monetary award and they will be featured in an upcoming museum exhibit.

Learn about last year's winners and nominate a young hero today! Nominations close on June 12.

Click here to find them.

Gary Weckselblatt, QCSD Director of Communications, writes about the people and the programs that impact the Quakertown Community School District.

Email: gweckselblatt@qcsd.org
Website: www.qcsd.org
Location: 100 Commerce Drive, Quakertown, PA, USA
Phone: 215-529-2028
Facebook: facebook.com/QCSDNews
Twitter: @QCSDnews