Neshaminy Update
Neshaminy School District / September, 2023
For the fifth year in a row, Neshaminy has been recognized as an Outstanding Visual Arts Community by the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA). Congratulations to our Neshaminy art teachers and our talented student artists! According to the PAEA, districts receiving this endorsement demonstrate the importance of their visual arts programs with:
- Rigorous and Inclusive Programs: Arts programs demonstrate rigor using standards-based curricula taught at every level by highly qualified and certified art educators.
- Highly Accessible Programs: Art programs are offered to all students at every level of education with a sustainable budget for the visual arts.
- Highly Visible Programs: Schools and districts identify their programmatic accomplishments, curriculum for all levels, art staff, mission statements, and arts events using their school websites and social media.
"We are delighted to receive this award as part of the Neshaminy community," said Dr. Stacy Potter, Instructional Coach and Lead Art Teacher K-12. "The district is very fortunate and thankful for our K-12 Art Department to foster such talented young artists. The bonds that are formed between the art instructors and their students celebrates the importance of building trust to reach potentials that may not have seemed achievable. We are definitely Neshaminy proud!"
In the announcement, the PAEA noted that Neshaminy School District celebrates the importance of a well-rounded education with opportunities to engage in arts education courses at all grade levels, K-12. “The term ‘well-rounded education’ means courses, activities, and programming in subjects such as English, reading or language arts, writing, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, geography, computer science, music, career and technical education, health, physical education, and any other subject, as determined by the State or local educational agency, with the purpose of providing all students access to an enriched curriculum and educational experience.”
The "Every Day Every Student" campaign is off to a good start at Neshaminy. Our schools have reported improving attendance statistics during the first few weeks of classes. In addition, the district has shared information in a letter to Neshaminy families about the importance of regular attendance along with some specific information about what is considered an "excused" absence (allowed by Neshaminy and Pennsylvania Department of Education policies) and "unexcused" absences, which may be subject to disciplinary action.
"An absence is an EXCUSED absence for any of the following reasons: illness, quarantine, death of an immediate family member, medical or dental appointments, authorized school activities, exceptionally urgent reasons, required court attendance, religious holidays observed by bona fide religious groups, religious instruction up to 36 hours per school year, as per the Pennsylvania School Code.
In the case of an excused absence, you can make up any work or tests missed. However, the student is responsible for making arrangements with their teachers for make-up work.
All student absences are marked UNEXCUSED until an excuse note is submitted to your child's school. An UNEXCUSED absence is a serious matter. It occurs when a student is absent for reasons other than those listed as excused. Please note that an unexcused absence is unlawful for all students of compulsory school age and can lead to significant consequences."
The "Every Student Every Day" campaign will continue throughout the school year. The full text of the letter can be found at the link below.
Neshaminy Pre-K Counts and Family Service Association of Bucks County have partnered again this year to support families in making connections to community resources. Their parenting group meets monthly at locations throughout the area providing resources on various topics such as emotions, friendship, and technology. Educational tools are provided from the Family Service Association - Family Strengthening programs. Guest speakers will share resources on various topics. Upcoming sessions include:
- Wednesday, October 9, 1-2 pm: "Meet & Greet, Coping with Stress and car seat safety, Bridge Coffee & Community, 6800 Bristol Emilie Road, Levittown.
- Wednesday, November 11, 1-2 pm: "Technology and Screen Time," Family Services Association of Bucks County, 4 Cornerstone Drive, Langhorne.
Families with infants, preschool and school-age children are invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided. Children are welcome to attend with their caregivers. These meet-ups are free, but pre-registration is required. Sign up at the link below.
The Neshaminy High School Drama Roadies will present their annual Halloween show on Thursday, October 24, 7 pm in Theodore Kloos Auditorium at the high school. This delightful Neshaminy tradition combines comedy, music, and dance in an energetic, fun-filled performance that is more kooky than spooky and appropriate for audiences of all ages.
Tickets will be sold at the door for $7 each but elementary students get in for free with a copy of the show flyer.
BOARD CHOOSES ELEMENTARY RE-DISTRICTING PLAN
The School Board approved implementation of Scenario 3 of the elementary school catchment re-alignment plan for the 2025-2026 school year at their September 10 meeting. This was one of four scenarios presented to the Facilities and Planning Committee in June by district administrators.
This scenario will affect some families with children attending Herbert Hoover ES, Tawanka ES and Joseph Ferderbar ES. All students currently attending Pearl S. Buck ES will transfer to the new Core Creek ES following the winter break in January, 2025. The additional changes will align the current student population with the capacity of all of the elementary schools and be completed with the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Individual families that will be affected by these changes will be informed of their re-assignment this fall. Information about Core Creek Elementary and the June 2024 presentation on all four redistricting scenarios can be found here.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN APPROVED
At the September 24 public meeting, the School Board approved the 2024-2027 Comprehensive Plan which will now be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. School Districts are required to submit such a plan every three years. This plan was collaboratively developed over the past six months and included representatives from the School Board, district administrators, teachers, support staff, a school resource officer, parents and community members. The plan describes strengths and challenges in all curricular and student support areas across every grade. In addition, the plan addresses goals for social and emotional learning and support, community partnerships, school safety and security, and staff recruitment, development and retention.
🔗 Neshaminy School District Comprehensive Plan 2024-2027
TWO HALF DAYS ADDED TO THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR
The School Board unanimously approved change of two full days to two half days for all students on Tuesday, November 26 and Friday, February 14. This change was necessitated by terms of the recent one-year collective bargaining agreement between the School Board and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers. When the students depart on those half days, the remainder of the school day will be used for in-service / professional development for the teachers.
The Neshaminy Education Foundation is sponsoring their popular Eagles Ticket Raffle once again this year. They have four lower-level tickets to the Eagles - Cowboys game on December 29 plus a basket of Eagles-themed goodies to give away. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 10 for $20. They can be purchased at the Homecoming Neshaminy HS football game on October 18 or Langhorne Harvest Day on October 26. The winner will be announced on November 11 and notified by phone.
Proceeds from the raffle benefit the non-profit NEF, which provides classroom grants in our Neshaminy schools and scholarships for our graduating seniors.
Ms. McGarry's students and Mrs. Salt's students at Herbert Hoover ES made a fun movie-themed scarecrow for the annual Peddlers Village Scarecrows in the Village competition. The title of their entry is "A 'Minion' Reasons to Love Herbert Hoover Elementary."
Visitors to the Bucks County shopping village can vote for their favorite scarecrow until October 14, or can vote online using the Peddlers Village smart phone app.
On Friday, September 13, students and staff at Albert Schweitzer ES participated in their annual "CARES Kick-Off". The afternoon events were planned by the school's PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) team. Each activity focused on the expected behaviors at Schweitzer; Cooperation, Positive Attitude, Respect, Empathy, Safety. It was an afternoon of fun and reviewing and learning school expectations!
During lunch time on September at Albert Schweitzer Elementary School, Thomas McGoldrick was honored on his retirement as their custodian after 19 years of service to Neshaminy. Waving red pom-poms, the fourth-grade students filled the cafeteria with cheers and good wishes for him. Congratulations Mr. McGoldrick!
On Friday, September 6, the staff and students at Tawanka ES sent custodian Dave Cridland off to a well-earned retirement after 35 years at Neshaminy with a clap-out parade. Riding a floor cleaning machine decorated with paper flowers and streamers, Mr. Cridland drove through cheering columns of students on his final day at work. Congratulations to him and best wishes for a great retirement!
In one of the first community fundraisers of the new school year, students throughout the district participated in several events that were part of Neshaminy Goes Gold. The campaign, which has the goals of raising awareness of pediatric cancer and money for groups that support cancer patients, started with a Go Gold theme night at the high school football game on September 6. That was followed by a week of theme-day activities across the district from September 23-27.
Neshaminy Goes Gold was started by Poquessing Middle School students Sarah Harvey, herself a cancer survivor, in 2022. Since then it has grown across the district to become an important part of efforts to raise awareness and funds that include the MiniTHON at the high school and Mini-MiniTHONs for the middle schools.
The freshman AVID students at Neshaminy HS started off their school year by imagining their future with a mock graduation walk. They started by lining up in the hall like they would for the walk out to graduation, then walking out on the field and learning about the journey of Mrs. Pennington, Ms. Robtison, and Mr. McAloon from Neshaminy to where they are today. The students then had the opportunity to talk about where they hope to go after they graduate Neshaminy in four years.
