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
• 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)

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, we will hold a district-wide communications test to ensure families receive phone calls, emails, and text messages. We will send additional reminders next week. Make sure you have signed up to receive text messages by texting YES or Y TO 67587. You must sign up from the mobile phone number listed in your student's PowerSchool account. You will not receive text messages from Pennsbury if you do not sign up.

Additional information about the notification test will be sent on Monday, October 7.

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 members of the Pennsbury High School Class of 2025 have been named National Merit Semi-Finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Congratulations to Parker Bowman, Gregory Galonsky, Noam Gold, Lily Goldman, Vinay Ruparelia, and Kevin Ye!

Over 1.3 million juniors from approximately 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. These academically talented high school seniors can continue in the competition to be named a National Merit Finalist in February, with an opportunity to earn one of the 6,870 National Merit Scholarships totaling $26 million that will be announced in spring 2025.

The Pennsbury High School Marching Band will participate in the 91st annual Philadelphia Pulaski Day Parade this Sunday, October 6. Catch live parade coverage on 6ABC from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Despite the rainy weather, Pennsbury's Homecoming on September 28, was a memorable afternoon filled with school spirit and community pride! Before kick-off, Falcon fans paid tribute to the 1974 undefeated, and alumni of the Long Orange Line joined the band on the field to play "Hail to the Falcons," led by former band director Michael Grothman.

At halftime, fans enjoyed a performance by the Long Orange Line, followed by the presentation of the Royal Homecoming Court nominees. Congratulations to Jacqueline Sullivan and Shaiden Jahanbini on being named the 2024 PHS Homecoming Royals! Royal Homecoming Court nominees:

• Emma Schere
• Ryan Costa
• Grace Holms
• Chris Sarver
• Jaletsy Melendez
• Danilynn Harkins
• Jordan Ewart
• Matthew McGinty

The Pennsbury defense worked tirelessly, holding Central Bucks South to just 12 points in a hard-fought battle. The final score was CB South 12, Pennsbury 7.

Pennsbury High School Digital 1 photo students recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in a workshop on lumen prints, led by local artist Devon John Chebra. Mrs. Chebra, who is a staff member of the AOY Art Center, shared her expertise in this fascinating photographic process. AOY Art Center, one of our valued Pennsbury Partners, is a community hub for artists of all ages, offering exhibitions, classes, and workshops.

Lumen prints are a unique form of camera-less photography, where objects are placed on light-sensitive paper and exposed to sunlight, creating beautifully organic and ethereal images.

Thank you, Mrs. Chebra, for inspiring our students with this creative experience!

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.

During the first few weeks of school, kindergarten and first grade students throughout the district learned about bus safety from the wonderful Yellow Bird Players! The Yellow Bird Players are our very own Pennsbury bus drivers and aides that volunteer to teach our students about safe bus procedures. We appreciate them!

Fourth grade students at Penn Valley Elementary School participated in a service learning project in conjunction with The Giving Tree and Giant Food Stores, a proud Pennsbury Partner. As part of the Eliminating Hunger Campaign, students created Full Belly Bags that will be donated to local food pantries to help tackle food insecurity. All materials were supplied by the organization and Giant. Individual students and families also contributed to the collection, including one family of brothers that raised enough money in their neighborhood to create 100 Full Belly Bags!

In total, over 280 bags were delivered this week to The Giving Tree. Each bag contained macaroni and cheese, a granola bar, applesauce, oatmeal, cookies, and a personalized note or card. Thank you to everyone who participated, including student leaders Selena, Charlie, and Olivia.

On Friday, September 27, the Political Awareness Club at Pennsbury High School teamed up with the League of Women Voters to host a successful voter registration drive at both high school campuses. Thanks to the efforts of club leaders and members, dozens of students were registered to vote, empowering the next generation to have a voice in upcoming elections!

Pennsbury High School Cheerleaders recently welcomed the cheerleading teams from Charles Boehm, Pennwood, and William Penn Middle Schools to a special practice session on Monday. The Varsity and Junior Varsity squads led the middle school teams through warm-ups, tumbling, cheers, and stunts, helping them build their skills and confidence.

Later this week, the PHS Varsity and Junior Varsity cheerleaders will give back to the community with their "Be Our Guest" night on Friday at 7:30 PM, where they'll join members of the community to cheer together!

Members of Pennsbury High School's Unified Sports teams, along with their dedicated coaches, recently attended the Unified Sports Summit at Bucks County Community College. Unified Sports brings together high school students with and without intellectual disabilities to participate on the same sports teams. This year’s theme, "Going for Gold with Inclusion," inspired students and coaches to explore innovative ways to promote inclusion and foster a fully engaged and supportive school community. A big thank you to Special Olympics PA for hosting this impactful event!

Pictured above Katherine Raymond (left), Mr. Ruggieri, Ms. Ward, Audrey Kay

Throughout the first few weeks of school, Pennsbury schools across the district celebrated with their own Back to School Picnics. Enjoy these fun moments captured in photos!

At William Penn Middle School, Ms. Kuhner's 6th-grade students were immersed in their babysitting unit as part of Family and Consumer Science (FCS) class. Students participated in hands-on stations where they practiced essential caregiving skills, including changing diapers, swaddling, feeding, safely holding a baby, and selecting age-appropriate toys. This engaging unit provides valuable life skills in a fun, interactive way!

This week, students in Ms. Enwright's class at Charles Boehm Middle School used Play-Doh to reinforce vocabulary words for a short story they are reading. This hands-on activity helped them not only understand the meaning of the words but also visualize and interact with them in a memorable way.

Fourth graders at Edgewood Elementary School learned how to create beautiful gradient backgrounds in Ms. Crane's art class this week.A gradient background blends colors smoothly from one to another, creating a soft transition between shades. This technique allows students to explore color theory while adding depth and creativity to their artwork.

Third graders at Walt Disney Elementary School were busy this week creating "Me Museums"! These unique projects gave each student the chance to showcase what makes them truly special. From favorite hobbies to favorite books, and everything in between, the "Me Museums" are filled with personal treasures that offer a glimpse into their lives and what makes them one-of-a-kind. Great job!

Teamwork and learning were in full swing at Quarry Hill Elementary School this week as Mrs. Tomko’s kindergarten students teamed up with Mrs. Snyder’s third graders for the first Big Buddy Little Buddy activity of the year! The students had a blast playing Apple Day math games together, using fun activities to strengthen their math skills while building new friendships.

Join us for this virtual presentation on Monday, October 7 from 6:30 - 7:00 p.m., as we discuss practical techniques to help you effectively represent your child’s needs & ensure they have strong support to succeed at school. Please click here to access the presentation.

Visit our website to learn more about the Pennsbury Parent Academy.

First-grade students at Walt Disney Elementary recently celebrated Johnny Appleseed Day with a fun and delicious activity. The students decorated their own festive hats, made homemade applesauce from scratch, and then enjoyed their tasty creation together. It was a hands-on, memorable way to honor the legendary folk hero!

This week, third, fourth, and fifth grade students at Penn Valley Elementary School took part in valuable lessons on Digital Safety, led by guest educators from the Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA). The sessions covered important topics such as cyber safety tips, cyberbullying, and bullying and harassment.

These essential lessons will be delivered to all Pennsbury elementary schools throughout the fall, helping students stay safe online. NOVA is a proud partner of the Pennsbury School District.

Fallsington Elementary first-graders had an exciting adventure at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia this week. Students and staff had a great time exploring all the museum has to offer from space to sports, and so much more!.

On October 9, 2024 the Nutrition Group is offering a FREE lunch meal to all Pennsbury High School students during all lunch periods at all three cafeterias. This program is called Nutrition for Life. It is a chance for students who don't typically get meals from the cafeteria to try out the menu choices and for everyone to sample new snack items and enter to win fun prizes. Please note: Students will still need to come through the cash register and use their account number.

The Nutrition Group is able to make this day possible through their generous sponsors.

• Buena Vista Foods
• Butterball
• General Mills
• Gold Creek Foods
• Gold Kist Chicken
• J.T.M.
• McCain
• Performance Food Service
• Rich's
• RightSmart Foods
• Turner's
• J&J Snack Foods Corp
• Monteverde's
• Old Neighborhood
• TriMark
• Hadley Farms Bakery
• Schwan's Company

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

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.

• 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 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