In The Q

A 2022 graduate of Quakertown Community High School has been named Intern of the Month for Project Search, a nine-month internship program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that targets individuals whose goal is competitive employment.

In Bucks County, Project Search is a collaboration of Bucks County government, the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, and the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The county provides business opportunities while the IU has instructors and job skills trainers for the interns. The state organization helps create an employment goal and transition from intern to employee.

Adam Bean, the QCHS grad, is a recent Intern of the Month for his work with the county’s Board of Assessment. Adam performed data entry tasks, filing permits for pools, decks and fencing. Asked for his reaction to winning the monthly prize. “It makes me feel happy,” he said.

Here's more about Project Search.

Led by six wrestlers who qualified for the State Tournament, Quakertown Community High School’s boys wrestling team captured its second straight PIAA District One-East Class 3A wrestling tournament at Souderton. The Panthers edged Pennridge, 129.5 to 128.5 for the team triumph.

Collin Gaj (145 pounds) and Mason Ziegler (121) each won individual titles while Zach Borzio (152) and Calvin Lachman (215) finished second. Gavin Carroll (139) took third place and Ike Williams (114) was fifth to qualify for the PIAA Class 3A Tournament at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Gaj, a sophomore, has been particularly impressive. At 45-0, he tied his own Panthers school record for wins in a season, set last year when he went 45-7 and placed fourth in Hershey. He was named the tournament’s top wrestler, the same award he won a week earlier in the District One-East Class 3A wrestling tournament.

"I was just trying to focus on wrestling well and moving on," Collin told Drew Markol of phillyburbs.com. "I try to stay consistent with everything I do, whether it's training, sleeping or eating and I'll be ready for next week at states."

Quakertown Community High School’s girls wrestling team qualified four wrestlers for the state tournament with their performances in the Eastern Regionals at Parkland High School.

The Panthers dominated at 190 pounds with Caroline Hattala winning the weight class while Peyton Fries finished third and Hailey Kuliga fifth. Each qualified for states along with Ashley Stank, who was fourth at 100 pounds.

Chase-Marie Ryan was eighth at 142 pounds.

Quakertown Community High School’s boys' bowling team captured the Suburban One League’s American Division championship and three bowlers from the boys' and girls' teams have been named first-team all-league selections.

Aydan Leighton, who finished third in the SOL tournament, led the boys to a 48-8 record while Julia Skarbowski and Breanna Gardner powered the girls to a 46-10 mark on their way to first-team all-league. Julia was fourth and Breanna fifth in the SOL tournament.

Here's more about the bowling season.

Quakertown Community High School celebrated six student-athletes who will be continuing their academic and athletic careers at the college level.

The standout student-athletes and the colleges they’ll be attending are:

• Callie Abel, soccer, Clarkson University
• Alex Bevan-Xenelis, field hockey, Wingate University
• Zach Borzio, wrestling, Williams College
• Maya Hellyer, softball, Gwynedd Mercy University
• Rebekah Hickey, cross county, track, Rider University
• Katie Muller, softball, Lebanon Valley College

“They are tremendous student-athletes,” Athletic Director Sylvia Kalazs said. “On behalf of Quakertown Community High School, I want to congratulate you. You will be awesome.”

Congratulations to the Quakertown Jazz Ensemble. The group of talented musicians qualified for the Steel Stacks Finals on March with a Superior Rating, Best Sax Section, Best Rhythm Section, Best Overall Soloist - Mandy Smith!

"I'm so proud of these amazing people," band director Frank Parker said.

Strayer Middle School students had the opportunity to experience equipment from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit’s Fab Lab. The lab is a transit van that transports several carts full of equipment such as 3D printers, a laser engraver, CNC router, vinyl cutter, and a variety of robotics equipment. It also has laptop computers with specialized software programs to control and interact with the equipment.

Students in Strayer’s math extension classes, the priority group, used robots to learn various computer science concepts for an in-depth learning experience.

According to Megan Megan Boletta, the Fab Lab’s Program Coordinator, students were introduced to Finch Robot on the first day. Finch uses Bluetooth technology to code via iPad and send instructions to the robot. Students learned about sequence and loop codes before creating mazes for Finch robot to navigate. Students used problem-solving, trial-and-error, and a lot of teamwork to complete the challenge.

Here's more about the Fab Lab.

The annual Daddy Daughter Dance was a huge success as approximately 500 people attended.

The event was organized by Kurt Amen and 60 hard-working students, who set everything up and ran the stations that included: paint your dad’s nails, what I love about you walls, bracelet making, draw a portrait of dad, and photo backdrops!

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Quakertown Community High School's Best Buddies club held its annual ball on March 3. Jennifer Honrado and Megan McGinty, the club's advisors, described the event as an amazing night celebrating the friendships everyone has made.

"It was a truly a magical event and there were smiles all night long," said Mrs. Honrado, who thanked all participants for making the night a success.

Makya Milkowich of Boy Scout Troop 13 and Quakertown Community High School recently worked on his Eagle Project, a clothing drive for people in the Quakertown Community School District.

Makya built bins to hold the clothes and set them up at several QCSD schools, including Quakertown Elementary, the Sixth Grade Campus, Strayer, and QCHS. The QCHS senior then delivered them to the Quakertown Community Outreach Closet.

Well done Makya!

Quakertown Community High School's 4x200 relay team qualified for the Meet of Champions with a personal best time of 1:36.51. William Dickson led all team members with a 23.69. He was followed Christian Demarco (24.24), Devin Eure (24.27), and Otani Ekpe (24.27).

The following week, with Dylan Chauhan filling in for Otani, the 4x200 squad set another personal record of 1:36.05, putting them in the top 5 fastest 4x200 times in Quakertown history. Unfortunately, that time did not qualify us for states.

Devin got 24.48, I got 24.14, Christian Demarco got 24.00, and

William again led all teammates with a 23.45, followed by Christian (24.00), Dylan (24.14), and Devin (24.48).

Quakertown Community School District Assistant Superintendent Nancianne Edwards has announced her retirement, effective June 30. Ms. Edwards has spent 20 years serving the district, the last nine in her current position, currently responsible for Principal Supervision and Building Administration, Human Resources, Safety, Strategic Planning, and Accountability.

Her announcement follows that of Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner, who on November 29 said he would be leaving QCSD at the end of the school year. The School Board is in the midst of a search for a new superintendent.

“I am truly proud of what we have been able to accomplish here in QCSD,” said Ms. Edwards. “Supporting others to challenge themselves to grow and learn every day has been the most rewarding work of my 30-year career in public education.”

Here's more on Ms. Edwards' career.

Pfaff Elementary School recently held a Literacy Night with the theme "Roll Out the Red Carpet for Literacy Night."

Students and parents attending participated in fun reading-based games. There were seven stations run by staff volunteers or Key Club members. It was a great evening, including the raffle of games for students to take home.

Several QCSD teachers held a successful event at the Upper Bucks YMCA for students in our English Language Development program and their families.

Approximately 60 children and 40 parents attended the fun and informational evening as adults received information about PowerSchool and upcoming events. As the photos illustrate, youngsters had a blast running and playing.

Well done everyone!

Quakertown Community High School Principal Mattias van 't Hoenderdaal is seeking Wall of Fame nominations from the public. Alumni considered will have demonstrated exceptional achievement in a career or have contributed significantly to the health, welfare or human rights of the local, state, national, or international community.

A completed nomination form must be received by the QCHS Principal by March 25 to be considered. Successful candidates will be notified by May 1. Please click here for the nomination form.

The Wall of Fame Committee is comprised of:

• Ray Fox, Quakertown Alumni Association
  
• Tom Klee, At-Large Member
  
• Audrey Waddell, Quakertown Community Education Association
  
• Sylvia Kalasz, Superintendent Representative
  
• Christopher Betz, Quakertown Community Education Foundation
  

The Alumni Association and Quakertown Community Education Foundation help fund the Wall.

Quakertown Community High School has several free prom dresses available for students who may need one. No questions asked. Please see your School Counselor.

Please click here for videos of past School Board meetings and Board newsletters.

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