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Neshaminy Update
Neshaminy School District / September, 2023
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Neshaminy School District / January, 2024
New science standards focus on critical thinking skills
8th-grade students took on the role of a paleontologist for a recent classroom project that is part of changes to the curriculum designed to focus less on memorization and simple recall, and build science literacy through inquiry, problem solving and critical thinking. These changes follow the adoption of the new Pennsylvania STEELS (Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability) standards in 2022, which are officially slated to be introduced starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
In order to fulfill the district's mission of empowering each child to become a productive citizen and a lifelong learner in an ever-changing technological world, the Neshaminy middle school science program took a proactive approach by integrating the PA STEELS Standards early. In the paleontology project shown in the photos above, the students are exploring, engaging, and making connections to observable phenomena and working to explore and explain it while arriving at science concepts later.
While studying Evolutionary History, the 8th grade middle school science teachers were able to provide a hands-on lesson that allowed students to explore several phenomena like:
How and why are owl pellets formed? (Adaptations)
How does owl pellet formation support reproduction? (Biological Fitness)
How do the bone structures within the owl pellet support shared ancestry amongst different species? (Evidence of Evolution)
How did the owl acquire both physical and behavioral adaptations to be successful in their environments? (Natural Selection)
Owl pellets are a record of what owls have eaten, and student scientists can study them to learn more about the owl and the ecosystems in which they live. When students investigate owl pellets, they can see and identify the tiny bones from that owl's meal, can learn about the owl's diet, and their place in the food web. In addition, their observations can provide evidence to either support or refute their claims of the aforementioned phenomena questions listed above in a student-centered approach.
Information from Neshaminy Lead Science Teacher Brian Suter and Academic Coach Matt Thompson
Local businesses offer real-life experience for NETS students
The Neshaminy Employability Transition Skills (NETS) program has been created for 18–21-year-old students who have completed 12th grade and have the goal of employment within the community. The program currently has eight job sites that the students go to on a weekly basis including the two pictured below (The Game Gallery and Pizza Pie II), along with the United Way Help Center, United Way/Walmart, Steve Weiss Percussion, Mobile Munchies, Churchville Nature Center and Caring for Friends. While the program covers functional academics and independent living skills, there is a strong emphasis on building vocational skills. Thanks to these local business and organizations, these students get the opportunity to enhance those skills in the real world.
Neshaminy Education Foundation announces grant winners
The Board of the Neshaminy Education Foundation (NEF) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023-2024 Grant Program for Neshaminy School District. Each year, the NEF offers the opportunity for any Neshaminy staff member to apply for the grants which vary from $750 for individual projects to $3000 for school-wide projects. The purpose of the program is to "foster innovative programs, activities and ideas in Neshaminy schools." Since 1993, the Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars towards materials, resources and programs that are generally not funded by the regular school budgets and meet those criteria.
This year the NEF received 17 grant applications, out of which 12 were funded for a total of $15,441:
- Brian Kelly (Joseph Ferderbar ES) & other district elementary physical education teachers: Elementary School Ninja Warrior / Warp Wall, $3000
- Kim Cridland (Albert Schweitzer ES) & second grade teachers: STEM bins, $800
- Linda Stoll (Maple Point MS): Game of Life / Living on a Budget, $513
- Keri Phelan (multiple middle schools): Project-Based Learning for Academic Enrichment software, $120
- Kati Burke (Maple Point MS): Breakout EDU, $600
- Emily Wells (Poquessing MS) and MS physical education teachers: Light up the Curriculum / Blaze Pods, $1650
- David Wert, Jamie Carr (Poquessing MS): Vinyl cutters for technology education, $2000
- Tim Vogel (Neshaminy HS): Exploring the Gas Laws science kit, $1908
- Justin Burske (Neshaminy HS): Garden Mosaic, $700
- Neshaminy HS Counselors (Neshaminy HS): Counseling Center Calming Corner, $1800
- Michael Pettis (Neshaminy HS) and NHS music teachers: NHS Music Program Composition Commission, $2000
- Kate Fleming (Neshaminy HS): Public Speaking Enrichment Activities, $350
Links to lists of grants awarded in past years can be found at the Neshaminy Education Foundation website, www.neshaminy.org/nef.
Career videos wanted for elementary school program
During March, Neshaminy will celebrate Career Week at all six elementary schools. Students can explore a career path and gain insight into different professions. Career Week will be a valuable and enriching experience for all our students and continuing them on the path to becoming lifelong learners.
As part of this program, we are looking for volunteers to record a short video about their job and the path they took to secure their current position. Videos should be 3-5 minutes long and will be shared among all elementary schools. When recording your video, please include the following:
- Job Title/Name
- Training needed for your position
- Location
- Special tools or equipment used each day.
- The most interesting or favorite part of your career
An example of one of these videos from last year's Career Day at Tawanka ES can be viewed above. If you are interested in submitting a video, please complete the Google Form found here with your completed video by Friday, February 23. For additional information please contact Caryn Cozza at ccozza@neshaminy.org
Think Spring! SUNset Challenge IV registration is now open
Early Bird registration for the SUNset Challenge IV 2K/5K race on Friday, May 10 is now open! Sign up before February 2 and save. Join hundreds of Neshaminy students and their families from throughout the district as they compete in this professionally timed race which will start and finish on the Maple Point campus. Awards for kid and adult age categories, and a banner will go to the Neshaminy school with the most student sign-ups (as a percentage of school population). Race t-shirts are guaranteed for all runners registered by April 19. More information and online registration at www.sunsetchallenge.org .
Calender reminders
- The Neshaminy HS musical will be performed Thursday-Sunday, February 1-4 (see article below). The Poquessing MS music will be staged February 21-24; the Maple Point musical on March 7-10 and the Carl Sandburg MS musical on March 6-9.
- Schools will be closed on Monday, February 19 for Presidents' Day and there is no school for students on Tuesday, February 20 (Act 80 Day).
- Gym Night will be held Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2 at Neshaminy HS (see article below).
and now for something completely different...
Spamalot at Neshaminy HS, February 1-4
During the first week of February, Neshaminy HS will present the Monty Python's Spamalot on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening with matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday. This is the hit Broadway show based on the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which is a very offbeat take on the legend of King Arthur. This show will be a lot of fun for the performers and the audience. Tickets are available online for $10 plus a small purchase fee by visiting www.neshaminy.org/musical and tickets will also be sold at the door for $12.
The Harlem Wizards are back!
The craziest basketball game in town is back! The Harlem Wizards are returning to Neshaminy HS on Saturday, March 16 at 7pm to take on our Neshaminy Dream Team of teachers and support staff. The game is a benefit for the Neshaminy Education Foundation, supporting innovative programs in our Neshaminy schools (see the grant announcement above) and scholarships for graduating Neshaminy seniors. Tickets are now on sale at www.neshaminy.org/wizards.
Got tech? Join us at the 2024 STEAM Expo!
The 2024 Neshaminy STEAM Expo will be held on Thursday, April 4 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Neshaminy High School. Since it was founded in 2015, this celebration of all things Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math has grown to become one of the most beloved and well-attended educational events in the district and a great night for students and their families.
We are looking for individuals, businesses and organizations who would like to share their STEAM expertise with the next generation to join the 2024 Expo as presenters. Please contact David Geanette at dgeanette@neshaminy.org for more information and to sign up.
School Board Update
NEW BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR APPROVED
Neshaminy is pleased to welcome Deborah Klahold as our new Business Administrator for the district. Ms. Klahold comes to Neshaminy from a similar position at Pottsgrove School District. She will replace Donald Irwin, who left in December after four years of service to Neshaminy, and interim Business Administrator David Szablowski who will remain until May to help with the transition. Ms. Klahold is scheduled to join us in April.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The January Board Public Work Session is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6 at 7 pm in the District Board Room at Maple Point. The January Board Public Meeting will be held Tuedsay, February 20 at 7 pm also in the District Board Room at Maple Point. The meeting agenda and livestream video link for all Board meetings can be found at www.neshaminy.org/meetings.
UPCOMING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
- Thursday, February 15: Facilities & Planning Committee, 6:30 pm
- Tuesday, March 12: Educational Development Committee, 6:30 pm
- Thursday, March 14: Facilities & Planning Committee, 6:30 pm
- Thursday, March 21: Policy Committee, 6:30 pm
Board committee meetings are open to the public and are a good opportunity to discuss specific programs and projects with committee members in a less formal, more conversational setting than the full Board meetings. The full schedule of meetings for the 2023-2024 school year will be found at the following link: 2023-2024 Committee Meeting Schedule
All committee meetings are held in the District Board Room at Maple Point unless otherwise noted. The public is invited to attend and participate in Board and Committee meetings. All meeting times and locations are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances; please check the District website www.neshaminy.org for any updates.
Help Wanted: Join our Neshaminy team!
Thanks to our awesome Facilities Department snow crews who kept the parking lots and sidewalks clear during the recent snowstorms!
We are still looking for enthusiastic colleagues to help us Build Futures for the students of Neshaminy. We have many exciting career options available for immediate employment! Check out the possibilities by visiting the Neshaminy employment web page at www.neshaminy.org/employment. Among the current openings:
- Substitute teachers (all levels)
- Building aides
- Dining aides
- Playground aides
- Custodians
- Mechanics
- Instructional Assistants
- Van and Bus Drivers
Phanatic honors Schweitzer ES kindergarten class for reading
On January 11, the students at Albert Schweitzer ES were treated to a visit from the Phillie Phanatic thanks to Megan McHugh's kindergarten class, who were winners in the Phillies' Phanatic About Reading program. The Phanatic was presented with cards other mementoes that the children made for the occasion, and Mrs. McHugh got to act out the Phillie Phanatic's book with the Phanatic as Principal Dr. Amy Orlando read it out loud at the assembly.
Tawanka first-grade creates care packages for MLK Day
All first grade classes participated in a service project in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They collected donations of socks and snacks to create sock rolls for those in need through the Giving Tree's Sock Roll Challenge. Students were all able to share some kindness in a personal message for each sock roll. The first graders made 300 sock rolls!
Hoover ES fourth-grade plants a "giving tree"
Fourth-grade students at Herbert Hoover ES started a donation collection of winter clothing items.
Science and music mix in a merry melody
Third graders at Walter Miller ES finished an energy unit about sound in science by creating a musical instrument. Their musical instruments were presented, and the students had to show how they changed pitch. They ended with a performance of Jingle Bells.
Tech Ed classes are off to the races with 3-d printers
Students in the Technology Education classes at Maple Point Middle School took pine car racing to a whole new level using computer-aided design and 3-D printers. The students designed their racers using the software, then printed out the plastic models and added accessories.
Mini MiniTHON raises $5715 #FTK
On Saturday, January 20, the district's three middle schools held their annual Mini-MiniTHON in Gym 1 at NHS to benefit Four Diamonds. The event included lots of games and of course dancing - they raised $5,715 to support pediatric cancer victims and cancer research through the foundation. The Neshaminy HS MiniTHON will be held on Friday, February 9 from 3-9 pm in Gym 3 at NHS. You can help them to set a new donation record by visiting their donation site at https://fourdiamonds.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=3976
MPMS hosts MLK Day of Service project
On January 27, over 200 Maple Point MS students gathered to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service to support Philadelphia-based Angels in Motion (AIM). Angels in Motion is an organization that is changing the way those suffering with the disease of addiction are treated, one life at a time. The students were busy assembling 2120 "blessing bags," which will be used by the group for their outreach efforts. Each bag contains a variety of pre-packaged food items which were donated by the MPMS community. The students also added positive notes and blankets that they made with recycled plastic bags.
NHS seniors share advice at their alma mater middle schools
In early January, groups of Neshaminy HS seniors returned to their alma mater middle schools to talk to the 8th graders about what they need to know about academics, activities and daily life at the high school. Later in the month the 8th-graders heard from NHS administrators about course selection, and they will learn about elective course selection in February. A course selection presentation and tours of the high school for parents and students will be held on the evening of February 8.
New Podcast Club collaborates with NHS Book Club
On January 24, members of the new Neshaminy HS Podcast Club met with members of the NHS Book Club to collaborate on creating a show about the Book Club's latest reading selection, Ibi Zoboi’s American Street (which the students said is the best novel they have read so far this year). The podcast will be edited by members of the Podcast Club and posted on popular podcast apps. The Podcast Club's first show, a review of the movie Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse is now available and can be found by searching for Neshaminy HS in your favorite podcast app.
a passion for wrestling sparks interest in NHS girls wrestling team
The Neshaminy HS wrestling program is having a great season - both in performance and in participation. This year NHS is building a new girl's wrestling team, which you can see in the video above. One of the wrestlers, Grace Nesbitt, (who is interviewed in the video) has been wrestling for several years with much success. She has been wrestling on and off in youth matches since she was very young, and began wrestling in school with the boys team at Maple Point Middle School. Now she is wrestling at the varsity level at the high school, and her success has generated interest among several other girls who are now also training and competing.
Vietnam veteran shares his experiences with NHS social studies classes
On January 4, social studies classes welcomed a Vietnam War veteran, Richard Carragher to come speak to classes primarily made up of 11th-graders. They had recently covered Vietnam in their classwork. This is the second year in a row that Mr. Carragher has generously visited to share his experiences with the students. He is the grandfather of two NHS students, one a senior and another a freshman.
Video of NHS Winter Band Concert posted
More concert videos can be found at www.neshaminy.org/nhsmusicvideos.
Prior to the concert, 8th-grade musicians from all three middle schools visited NHS during the day to learn about the music program there from the teachers and students musicians, and rehearsed a song that the performed at the concert later that evening.
NHS Choral students participate in PMEA
Nineteen Neshaminy HS Choral students participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District festival held at Bensalem HS January 22-25.
Gym Night 2024 is getting ready to ride
Practices for this year's Neshaminy HS Gym Night have started. Below are the captains elected for each team by grade level and the 2024 Color Captains. The theme this year is a tribute to the great American road trip, Are We There Yet?
Gym Night 2024 will be held on Friday & Saturday, March 1 & 2. It's going to be a road trip to remember!
December Students of the Month honored
(Left-right) PA Senator Frank Farry, Jeremy Joseph, Paige Wittman, Jillian Richards, Gianna Loram, Grace Eppinger, Taylor McCoy, Benjamin Flynn, Jessica Okwara, PA Rep. Joe HOgan, Gianna Massaroni and Principal Stephen Garstka.
The NHS December Student of the Month ceremony was held on January 4. The purpose of this program is to recognize students who exemplify the expectations of character for students at Neshaminy High School. Students are nominated as a Student of the Month for any of the following and will hopefully demonstrate all the following strongly: Academics, School Spirit, Respectful Behavior, Generosity, Dedication to NHS, Noticeable Improvement and/or Resiliency in the face of Adversity.
The December recipients were nominated by staff members in the Math and Family Consumer Science (FCS) Departments along with a senior that was selected by the Feasterville Rotary as their Student of the Month. Congratulations to all!
Neshaminy Update is published monthly during the school year and distributed to the Neshaminy community via email and web. To submit comments, suggestions or news items for consideration, please email Chris Stanley, Community Relations Coordinator.
Neshaminy School Board of Directors
Marty Sullivan - President
Tina Hollenbach - Vice-President
John Allen
Alicia Lafferty
Beth Marshall
Carlos Rodriguez
Kellen Sporny
Jill Waldbieser
Neshaminy School District
Acting Superintendent
Jason Bowman
Assistant to the Superintendent / Director of Elementary Education
Michelle Burkholder
Assistant to the Superintendent / Director of Pupil Services
Dr. Kevin Kane
Business Administrator
David Szablowski (interim)
Director of Human Resources
Kelly Kozik
Neshaminy School District
2001 Old Lincoln Highway
Langhorne, PA 19047