cross the ISTRICT - Pennsbury School Districts Report 10 11.pdf · Frank Kinslow, head custodian at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary, helped to load a van with donations of food intended

1PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • OCTOBER 2011

PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • OCTOBER 2011

Across the DISTRICT

All of us in Pennsbury are proud to recognize our National Merit Scholarship Competition Semifinalists and Commended Students. The following Pennsbury High School students have been recognized by the NMS Program as a result of their high achievement on the 2010 PSAT. The Semifinalists will advance in the 2012 scholarship competition. Congratulations to all!

Semifinalists: Daniel S. Chrzanowski, Lauren J. Fried, Melissa M. Hough, Alexander W. Kearns, Jason Liu, Marisa E. Millenson, Matthew J. Rauen, Zhixian (Tom) Shen, Ian N. Sibner, and Rachel J. Thomas.

Commended Students: Genevieve A. Donahey, John G. Edenhofner, Michael F. Howland, Thomas G. Kappil, Ivan M. Karavitchev, Catherine Ma, Alexander J. Mayer, Shannon M. McHenry, Brooks G. Mershon, Aishwarya Patel, Neil D. Patel, Clara V. Pinsky, Amanda Rawlins, Armand B. Salimnejad, Jonathan M. Soffer, Priyanka K. Solanki, Kaitlyn E. Stocker, and Justin L. Wang.

NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS AND COMMENDED STUDENTS ANNOUNCED

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program® (AP) provides students with the opportunity to take rigorous, college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college

AP SCHOLARS NAMED

credit, advanced placement, or both, for successful performance on the AP exams. About 18% of the more than 1.9 million students worldwide who took AP exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP exams. The following Pennsbury students were recognized recently by the College Board for achieving the following outstanding distinctions:

National AP Scholar: Sainath V. Badugu, John P. Boccardo, Tyler J. Holcombe, Alexander W. Kearns, Alexander J. Mayer, Matthew J. Rauen, Albert Scerbo, Zhixian (Tom) Shen, David I. Sherman, and Justin L. Wang.

AP Scholar with Distinction: Daniel A. Adler, Wajid S. Ali, Sainath V. Badugu, John P. Boccardo, Mikayla P. Borusiewicz, Eric R. Brennan, Nicholas D. Chamberlain, Andrew Cupo, Adam S. Eisner, Rebecca E. Fishman, Ramya Gurunathan, Jane W. He, Tyler J. Holcombe, Michael F. Howland, Thomas G. Kappil, Alexander W. Kearns, Humza Khalid, Iris V. Lee, Sara R. Liebreich, Jason Liu, Kyle M. MacDonald, Elisabeth Mah, Alexander J. Mayer, Brooks G. Mershon, Marisa E. Millenson, Neil D. Patel, Matthew J. Rauen, Nicholas W. Rizer, Emma A. Rottenborn, Albert Scerbo, Zhixian (Tom) Shen, David I. Sherman, Phillip H. Shwae, Ian N. Sibner, Ravi K. Solanki, Gregory B. Stein, Eva R. Strauss, Justin L. Wang, Corey R. Weistuch, Emily M. Wiegand, and Daibo Zhang.

AP Scholar with Honor: Nathan Abir, Francesca P. Beavers, Daniel S. Borden, John E. Bukowski, Cindy H. Chang, Rachel M. Dilliplane, Tyler H. Dratch, Jared T. Fallt, Lauren J. Fried, Gabe L.

2 OCTOBER 2011 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA

superintendent’s report • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.

Hirsh, Jason Hyman, Achal P. Kansupada, Darryl J. Leach, Ryan J. McCloskey, Aishwarya C. Patel, Ryan V. Perkins, Isabelle J. Punchatz, Melanie Rehfuss, James J. Roddy, Adriana C. Scialabba, Priyanka K. Solanki, Francis J. Spano, Rachel Thomas, Eric J. Thornton, and Monica S. Woloshin.

AP Scholar: Erika J. Aust, Joseph M. Denshaw, Denis C. Dotson, Meghan Gallagher, Bennett J. Glace, Ann R. Herman, Connor J. Lapiska, Kaylee S. Martin, Jonathan R. Mauro, Juhi D. Motiani, Clara V. Pinsky, Matthew Senderling, Jonathan Soffer, Kaitlyn E. Stocker, Morgan D. Thomas, Andrew B. Walker, Samantha R. Watts, and Michael H. Wright.

Congratulations to all of these students!

As Pennsbury marks National Bullying Prevention Month in October, we have an opportunity to spotlight new and ongoing initiatives in the School District.

Principal Joseph Masgai at Afton Elementary has welcomed educators from the Bucks County Peace Center to work with students on conflict resolution and peer mediation. Second graders at Afton receive instruction as a group by an educator from the Peace Center. Their program is called Respecting Me, Respecting You. The lessons focus on feelings, strategies for handling conflicts, being a peaceful being, and controlling one’s anger. Students in third grade are trained as peer mediators based upon interest and teacher recommendation. Peer mediation involves students of the same age group facilitating resolutions to student disputes. Fourth and fifth level students continue in their role as mediators. This program is overseen by the School Counselor, Cynthia Knapp. Some of the types of conflicts that are brought to peer mediators are rumors, harassment, bullying, and classroom disputes. The Afton school community initiated the peer mediation program in order to be proactive

NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTIONMONTH IS OBSERVED

with bullying prevention and to involve students in the handling of problems in a healthy way.

At Oxford Valley Elementary, Principal Fran Nitkin writes that School Counselor Tricia Vommoro-Gunerman, in conjunction with NOVA, is presenting a two-day bullying prevention workshop in grades three through five this month. NOVA educators work with students in each classroom and talk about what bullying is, how it affects people, and what to do when one is in a situation that involves bullying.

Penn Valley Elementary Principal Elaine Novet reports on significant activities related to bullying prevention at her school this year. First, the Bucks County Peace Center will once again present the Respecting Me, Respecting You program to third graders. “We will also be continuing with our third, fourth and fifth grade peer mediation programs with the Peace Center next month,” said Ms. Novet. “School Counselor Arlene Johnson, and her intern, Daryl Hughes, and I will also deliver our own in-house presentation, which is titled, The 3 R’s - Respect, Rigor, and Responsibility, which makes use of engaging activities and CPS technology. This program will be delivered to each grade level in October.” Ms. Novet added that “every Friday, the song, RESPECT, is played in the halls of Penn Valley prior to the beginning of the school day to help reinforce this important message.”

Pennwood Middle School Principal Patricia Steckroat reports that at Pennwood, a group of faculty members joined together several years ago to form the school’s Unity Team. Each year, special activities are planned for the entire student body by the Unity Team in order to emphasize tolerance and respect for others’ differences. This year, a Walk-A-Thon was organized by Michele Becknell, Jacqui Medaglia, Mary Anne Ritchie, Kathy Falcone, Meredith Naskiewicz, Molly Gray, Jan Smith, Linda Alampi, Sabrina Parraga, Alison Benowitz, Helene Polyak, and student teacher Heather Stark. Students covered a distance of five kilometers during the walk as they traversed the



entire middle school campus. “Our mission is to foster a sense of community at Pennwood and to bring an appreciation for cultural differences to the student body,” said Michele Becknell, a Social Studies teacher and Student Council advisor. “The Walk-A-Thon was a demonstration of our strength and pride as a Pennwood family.” Jon Rees, the band director at Pennwood, organized seventh and eighth grade band students to provide musical entertainment before and after the walk. PTO volunteers manned water stations as students and faculty walked and cheered in unity. “This event was immensely successful,” added Ms. Becknell. “Overall, we raised over $6000!” Ms. Steckroat shares that this was just the start of a variety of programs that will be brought to Pennwood this year by the Unity Team.

Pennsbury High School Principals Lisa Becker and Shawn Neely, along with School Counselor Dana Arbakov, are spearheading an important new initiative at the high school this year: “We are starting to use the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate program in both high school buildings,” explained Ms. Arbakov. “To be considered a No Place for Hate school, we must complete three activities that educate students on the problem of bullying and promote acceptance

Pennwood Middle School staged a Walk-A-Thon to celebrate diversity and raise funds for a year’s worth of supportive

activities organized by the school’s Unity Team.

and harmony in the school environment each year. These activities are planned by an anti-bias team that includes members of the school community. I received a great response to my request for help with this team and it includes teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, and several students. A representative from the ADL met with our team to help us get started. One of the requirements of this program is that all PHS students and staff members must each sign a resolution of respect. These resolutions will be posted on display in both buildings to reinforce the message.”

In cooperation with the Pennsbury Partners Program and the Levittown Fairless Hills Rotary, Pennsbury elementary schools launched a comprehensive food drive this month called Children Helping Children in Need. Canned and paper goods are being collected to benefit approximately 39 families at the American Red Cross Homeless Shelter in Levittown. Congratulations to Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School for being the first school to collect donations (two vans’ full!) for the needy at the shelter this year. Rotarians are gathering

ELEMENTARY FOOD DRIVE REPLENISHES LEVITTOWN SHELTER PANTRY

PHS School Counselor Dana Arbakov (center) andSocial Worker Kelly White (far right) worked with student

volunteers as they created a display using No Place for Hate resolutions of respect signed by PHS students.



National School Bus Safety Week is October 17-21 this year, and students, parents, drivers, teachers and administrators are invited to take time to observe the importance of safety in pupil transportation. Pennsbury bus drivers maintain consistent safety measures in their everyday trips, and students help the drivers by observing proper safety rules and regulations. We salute our Pennsbury school bus drivers all year long as they transport nearly 11,000 students each day with care and consideration for student safety and security. Our School District bus aides and mechanics are also due special recognition. Finally, many thanks to Pennsbury’s Director of

Seven Pennsbury student artists were recognized recently for their outstanding work during the 2010-2011 school year. The art pieces, which include paintings, a stained glass panel, and a clay bust, were selected for the permanent collection at the Central Administration Building in Fallsington. Art Curriculum Coordinator Ruth Anne Schultz made the announcement. A reception held in the students’ honor was attended by families, art teachers, principals, and district administrators. As in past years, the selected works will be displayed for one year in the Superintendent’s office, after which they will be moved to other locations at Central for permanent exhibition.

The young artists include:(grades listed were during the last school year) Alexandra Schafer - Grade 12Pennsbury High SchoolAcrylic Still-Life Arianna Nguyen - KindergartenWalt Disney Elementary SchoolBasic Shapes and Patterns Rufus James - Grade 8William Penn Middle SchoolValues and Portraits Hannah Curley - Grade 2Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary SchoolSeascape Kate Dillon - Grade 11Pennsbury High SchoolClay Bust

SCHOOL BUS SAFETYWEEK IS OBSERVED

STUDENT ARTWORK ADDED TO PERMANENT COLLECTION

Frank Kinslow, head custodian at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary, helped to load a van with donations of food intended for the

Red Cross homeless shelter in Levittown.

the collected donations each week from the schools. “This food drive is one way to address the community service aspect of the Pennsbury Partners Program,” said Partners Program Coordinator, Dr. Christine Zervos. “By connecting schools to the larger world outside, students learn valuable lessons about the benefits of volunteering to give back to the community. This opportunity also gives our students a personal perspective on some of society’s larger issues, such as hunger and homelessness.”

Transportation, Charlie Williams, and his staff for their consistent efforts to keep our buses running smoothly every day in Pennsbury.



October 17-23 marks National Teen Driver Safety Week. It is important for teen drivers to develop and maintain the proper attitude about driving and to acknowledge that driving is a privilege, not a right. Driving is a complex activity that involves multifaceted evaluations, split-second decision making, and the performance of intricate maneuvers. Parents and guardians are urged to set good examples and maintain dialog with their teens about

AN IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGEFROM PENNDOT

Ashley Richardson - Grade 10Pennsbury High SchoolJim Dine Mixed Media

Jordan Linton – Grade 12Pennsbury High SchoolStained Glass Design

The permanent art collection at Central began in 1998. There are currently just over 70 pieces in the collection, representing work by students in all grade levels from schools across the district.

Among the student art selected for the School District’s permanent collection is this seascape by artist Hannah Curley of Eleanor

Roosevelt Elementary. Hannah’s art teacher is Pam Soda.

safe driving skills, even before they turn 16. It is also advisable to consider establishing a parent-teen driving contract. A sample of this contract and more safety tips for teens and parents are available at www.DriveSafePA.org.

Parents and teens in Pennsbury will not want to miss the special “Save a Life” presentations being offered on Saturday, October 29th at Pennsbury High School’s East Campus. This National High Impact Alcohol Awareness Program is an interactive, two-hour event that has earned national acclaim. The program’s life-saving message is delivered in compelling fashion by dynamic speakers and driving simulators that demonstrate the effects of drinking and driving. Presentation times are 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 2:00 p.m. Visit www.savealifetour.com for more details on this important program or contact LYFT at 215-949-1660, ext. 104 for additional information.

“SAVE A LIFE” TOUR COMING TO PENNSBURY ON OCTOBER 29TH

in the SCHOOLS

The students and staff at Edgewood and Manor elementary schools participated in the international “Let’s Jump!” event organized by National Geographic Kids magazine. Tying in with school wellness initiatives, this was an international attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the number of people doing jumping jacks in one 24-hour period. The two school-wide events, coordinated by physical education teachers Joe Gallo (Edgewood) and Sal Ranniello (Manor), took place on Wednesday, October 12th, but the final worldwide tally of jumpers will not be released until the end of this month. Edgewood counted a total of 592 participants and Manor tallied 370 jumpers. Participants included students, parents, aides, teachers, and of course, each

EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL



The students and staff at Fallsington kicked off their annual reading challenge in a memorable way last month. Reading Specialist Aimee Sansotta explains: “This year’s theme is inspired by the Summer Olympics. Students and staff enjoyed an expert gymnastics demonstration by Pennsbury Partner, Schafer School of Gymnastics. Owner Jonathan Schafer discussed the careful planning and practice necessary to reach one’s goals and overcome challenges. This year, students are being challenged to read 1,000,000 minutes. Principal David Hughes and Jennifer Cornell, Fallsington’s ESL teacher, have promised the students that they will each learn a gymnastic routine as a reward if the students reach this impressive goal.”

FALLSINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

First grade teachers Joanne Smith, Liz Roberts, Lisa Breuer and Cherie Lynne Kooker took their students on a walking tour to the fire house during Fire Prevention Week. Students had the opportunity to learn about fire prevention and observe a real fire truck.

OXFORD VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Last June, Principal Elaine Novet challenged all Penn Valley students to increase their summer reading and keep accurate logs of how many minutes they read throughout the seasonal recess. “We had a wonderful kick-off assembly in June to support this effort. Through the summer, I sent out many voicemail reminders and asked students to keep reading. We all looked forward to the Literacy Fall Fest, where we would celebrate their accomplishments. We kept the school library open two days a week during the summer months to encourage students to keep reading books that interested them. The logged reading minutes then translated into free raffle tickets for students to gain chances to win sports memorabilia at the Fall Fest in September. Our professional staff also attended this event with their families, and many helped to run booths and food concessions. The Literacy Fall Fest was quite a success as the whole Penn Valley community came together. The event featured the traditional games, food, and activities that we’ve had throughout the years, with the addition of a large table filled with the reading prizes to be raffled. At the conclusion of the evening, the winners were announced.” Ms. Novet extended special thanks to Penn Valley teacher Scott Saunders for all of his assistance in obtaining the sports memorabilia that served as attractive prizes.

Reading Specialist Kerry Bauerle takes it from there: “Penn Valley is pleased to offer congratulations to the students whose hard work and dedication to summer reading paid off in more than just increased knowledge and retained skills. The summer reading initiative was quite a success! During the summer of 2010, 33 students opted to take part in our summer reading program. This year, 132 students participated, for a total of

PENN VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

school’s principal! Kudos to all for such a concerted effort, and for drawing attention to the importance of physical fitness.

Student gymnasts from a Pennsbury Partner demonstrated their skills while Fallsington Elementary students pledged to “go for the gold” in

this year’s reading challenge to log 1,000,000 minutes of reading time.

Oxford Valley would like to congratulate all of the school’s Summer Reads participants. Over 110 students were treated to a celebratory event hosted by Donna Fay, the school’s Reading Specialist.



Quarry Hill Elementary students and staff held a somber remembrance ceremony outdoors to pay tribute to all those

who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

119,633 minutes read! Way to go, Penn Valley!” The winners of the Literacy Fall Fest raffle prizes included: Kaitlyn Markawicz, Hanna Ervin, Jocelyn Wagner, Paola Ruiz, Emily Pickul, Hunter Mays, Kayla Broe, Caitlyn Cain, Joey Hiller, Kevin Skiba, Dennis Skiba, Colin Farence, Anthony Graver, Kaleighanne Panaro, Erin Collins, Grace Hasney, and Benjamin Vouk.

To add to the reading excitement at Penn Valley, Ms. Bauerle described a popular initiative that is unfolding at her school this year: “You may have seen those fabulous celebrity READ posters in your local library. Now you can see posters of some local ‘celebrities’ on our own READ posters here at Penn Valley. All of our staff and faculty are featured in READ posters created by Penn Valley parents Jennifer Dayton and Amber Santos, with help from our Counseling intern, Daryl Hughes. As the year goes on, we plan to create individual READ bookmarks or trading cards for students who demonstrate major achievements in reading.”

Vocal music teacher Kathleen Setash shares details on a new program called Grand Friends Forever, involving fourth and fifth grade students from Quarry Hill. The students are working with the residents of Sunrise Assisted Living in an after-school music enrichment activity. Together they sing, dance, play instruments and games, and create music together. The music ranges from folk tunes to old-time songs from the 30’s and 40’s, and actively involves the Sunrise residents in creating beautiful music and new friendships with the children.

The Quarry Hill school community held a brief ceremony outdoors on September 9th in memory of those who perished on September 11, 2001. A plaque is installed in the school’s front garden to honor the late airline pilot and Quarry Hill parent, Victor Saracini, who was killed on that momentous day in American history with all of the other passengers on his plane at the site of the World Trade towers.

QUARRY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLFifth grade students and faculty members Kris

Bria, Brian Kerchak, Eileen Koch, Jeanmarie Pirkle, and Charlene Kahlenberg celebrated Constitution Day (one day early) on Friday, September 16th. The students began the day by reading the Preamble during the morning announcements. Students participated in a variety of lessons across the curriculum. They explored the three branches of government, discussed the chronology of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution, the Constitutional Convention, and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Students met in cooperative groups of 13 to represent the original 13 colonies. Each smaller group wrote its own set of rules, then the whole group voted on each rule and chose 26 to include in a fifth grade Constitution that each student and teacher signed and ratified. Students also enjoyed learning about Benjamin Franklin by solving and creating magic square puzzles. The day concluded with a visit from an Edgewood Elementary parent, Ms. AnneMarie Delworth, who shared her recent experience of becoming a U.S. citizen. Ms. Delworth shared pictures and personal

VILLAGE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL



details of the important day when she took her oath to become an American.

Village Park Principal Helen Stopper, with the school faculty, gathered the entire student body in a morning assembly to mark the International Day of Peace on September 21st. Students and staff dressed in their “peace wear” as well as in red, white and blue. They began their day with a group cheer, and vocal music teacher Marta Grothman led the students in a song that celebrated the cultures of the world. Selected students from each grade level also spelled the word “PEACE” in large letters as they were cued by Ms. Stopper.

Charles Boehm Middle School students helped to launch PRIDE, a special recognition program that encourages students to be prepared,

respectful, involved, determined, and to strive for excellence.

The PRIDE program at Charles Boehm is off to a great start this year. PRIDE stands for Prepared, Respectful, Involved, Determined, Excellence, and is a new student recognition program designed to reward students who exhibit appropriate behaviors, attitude, and effort on a daily basis. Students strive to earn PRIDE points, which are raffled each week for prizes, including snacks for a week, a pass to the front of the lunch line for a week, gift cards and lunch with the principal. Team prizes are also awarded as the PRIDE points accumulate throughout the weeks. The

CHARLES BOEHM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Tracie Ryan, seventh grade language arts teacher, was awarded a generous grant through the Pennsbury Education Foundation to provide Study Island to the entire seventh grade at Charles Boehm. This innovative program allows students to practice standardized test questions, while still maintaining a healthy level of enjoyment and competition. Study Island allows students to improve their performance in all skill areas tested on the PSSA through traditional assessments and interactive games based on the Pennsylvania Assessment Anchors. As a means to meet the needs of various learners, the software can be modified. “Study Island has already had a positive impact on the seventh grade students and teachers at Charles Boehm,” said Ms. Ryan. “Our students are more confident because they are learning and practicing strategies which are essential in all content areas. Also, real-time progress reports assist the teachers with differentiation and instruction in the classroom.” Managing their workload responsibly

program is led by teachers Pete Sienko and Donna Minnigh, and has faculty and staff participation of more than 40 members. “Students at Charles Boehm Middle School have done an outstanding job thus far, earning nearly 1,000 PRIDE points in all three grades and are excited about what’s to come in the PRIDE program,” said Principal Theresa Ricci.

AnneMarie Delworth (center), a Pennsbury parent, described her U.S. citizenship ceremony as part of the Constitution Day activities

planned by fifth grade teachers at Village Park Elementary. Principal Helen Stopper (rear) observed the class presentation.



Sixth grade students from William Penn Middle School had the honor of planting 2,973 American flags at Lower Makefield’s

Garden of Reflection to help mark the 10-year anniversary of 9/11.

Pennsbury High School students studying sculpture visitedthe sandy beaches of the Jersey shore with their teachers

for some hands-on, three-dimensional work.

The sixth graders of William Penn had the honor of planting 2,973 flags at the Garden of Reflection to honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The effort was initiated by retired Maine educator Larry Ross, who visited the school and addressed the students in an assembly. Principal Paul Meehan and Assistant Principal Laura Tittle accompanied the students and sixth grade faculty and staff to the state’s official 9/11 memorial in Lower Makefield Township. The day’s arrangements were coordinated by teacher Pam Martino.

WILLIAM PENN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Art department chairperson Tony Napoli and art teacher Curtis May accompanied a group of

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL

has also become a priority for the students. Many choose to do extra questions in the assigned content area and/or additional activities throughout each week. Students who do not have access to computers or the internet at home have the opportunity to use Study Island during resource period, while others work on it in the classroom during their lunch period. Ms. Stacey Marburger, Reading Specialist, also offers support to her students using the same program.

Pennsbury students to the beaches of Belmar, New Jersey for a hands-on lesson in sand sculpture. This annual tradition allows students to apply the concepts they learn in sculpture classes to a unique medium – sand!

Teacher Denise Distel writes that the students in the M.O.S.T. Program at Pennsbury High School are once again offering a variety of services for the Pennsbury community. M.O.S.T. stands for More Opportunities for Student Training. The 18-21 year old Life Skills students in the program run various businesses in order to train for real-life experiences as they prepare to move on to higher education and the work force. Along with the West Coffee Corner, the students offer the following:

• Beaded Lanyards – useful for Pennsbury or company ID tags

• Lawn Care – raking leaves, weeding, mulching, general yard clean-up

• Office Work – mailings of all varieties, shredding documents, and filing

• Technology – dubbing VHS tapes to DVD, scanning photos to CD

• Catering – preparing dessert trays, lunch trays, wraps



Students in teacher John Sanders’ Multi-Cultural YouthLeaders club helped to pack needed supplies for the victims

of Hurricane Irene in New Jersey.

Mike Zisa, a teacher in the Business, Computers, and Information Technology department at PHS, had the opportunity to spend a week doing in-depth work at the New York Stock Exchange last summer.

commendAbleACCOMPLISHMENTS

Congratulations to our newly-appointed PHS junior Board representative, Miss Alissa Johnson. Alissa is an excellent student who challenges herself by taking honors and AP courses while building a resume full of extra-curricular activities. She

BOARD WELCOMES NEWJUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE

• Custodial – cleaning services for local businesses of all sizes

Members of the Multi-Cultural Youth Leaders (MCYL) club at Pennsbury High School formed a task force to supply durable goods for victims of Hurricane Irene. “This is in conjunction with the New Salem Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ, which sponsored an ‘Irene Dinner’ to support those who were affected by the devastation that took place during August,” explained teacher and club faculty advisor John Sanders. The items were delivered to the church in late September. Members of the MCYL include: Traci Gardner, Sierra Thomas, Diamond Schuler, Kecia Kelley, Kiersten Anderson, Morgan Brown, Kandace Banks, Dan Ransom, Isana Fik-Aime, Divya Jagadeesh, Nathalie Laurent, Cristina Minguela, Kay Kim and Danyelle Garcia. “We know it’s a very small portion of what is actually needed, but we wanted to do anything that would help others,” added Mr. Sanders.

Mike Zisa, a teacher in the Business, Computers, and Information Technology department, funded and participated in a week-long summer workshop at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Mr. Zisa enrolled in classes on financial markets, financial literacy, and various aspects of the exchange. He was also able to

take a comprehensive tour of the trading floor, witness Marvel Comics ringing the opening bell, and speak with traders, analysts, and business news anchors. Upon completing the workshop, Mr. Zisa gained the ability to take his students on a classroom extension to the NYSE and also provide a tour of the trading floor. According to Mr. Zisa, “Pennsbury students are the only students in our area who will be able to take this trip to the stock exchange.” The trip will be reserved for juniors and seniors taking the Wealth Management & Financial Literacy course at PHS.



Ninth grade student, Jackie Rogowicz, recently won the SOL Women’s Golf Tournament by seven strokes with a score of even par (71)! “This is a fantastic accomplishment,” said Coach Glenn Goldsborough. “Jackie finished her round by sinking a 50-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole.” Well done! (See below for more exciting news about Jackie.)

PHS GOLFER WINS SOL WOMEN’SGOLF TOURNAMENT

Coach Glenn Goldsborough reports that the Pennsbury Golf Team finished in sixth place with a team total of 322 at the PIAA District 1 Team Golf Championship. The top scorers included Jackie Rogowicz (79), Vinay Ramesh (78), Ryan Foll (78), Dylan del Vecchio (87), and Hank Kaufmann (91).

Falcon golfers did well at the District 1 individual championships, too:

• Jackie Rogowicz (9th grade with scores of 74 & 79) finished in fourth place and qualified for the PIAA Eastern Regional Championship. (Jackie went on to

PENNSBURY GOLF TEAMFINISHES IN SIXTH AT PIAADISTRICT 1 CHAMPIONSHIP

PHS West Principal Lisa Becker and PHS East Principal Shawn Neely are pleased to report that the National Forensic League (NFL) recognized Pennsbury’s forensic coach, Mr. Stephen Medoff, and the high school’s speech and debate program as a whole, for making significant achievements during the past year.”Because your chapter achieved 100 degrees or more last year, it has placed in the top 10% of NFL chapters nationwide and earned membership in the NFL’s prestigious 100 Club,” said NFL Executive Director J. Scott Wunn. “Such a milestone is remarkable because it demonstrates outstanding commitment to teaching students essential life skills – including communication, research, listening, writing, and organization.” The NFL and both PHS principals also commended Mr. Medoff’s leadership of an active forensic program. Congratulations to all!

FORENSIC PROGRAM RECOGNIZEDBY NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

earned straight A’s throughout her entire middle school career, and was elected president of the National Junior Honor Society. She was the recipient of the Good Citizenship Award from Senator Charles McIlhinney, and also earned an award in mathematics from the American Association of University Women. Alissa placed sixth in the region on a national French test, moving on to place 19th in the country. She has received multiple academic awards while at Pennsbury High School, and she is now a member of the French Honor Society. She runs track and cross country as a Varsity Falcon, sings in Pennsbury choral groups, and also played softball during her freshman year. Alissa has served on her school’s Student Council at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Welcome, Alissa!

win the Eastern Regional by shooting two over par (74) and qualified for the State Championship!);

• Vinay Ramesh (9th grade with scores of 78 & 78) tied for 26th place;

• Dylan del Vecchio (11th grade with a score of 81) & Ryan Foll (11th grade with a score of 83) participated on the first day.

“It was a great season for the golfers as individuals and the team as a whole,” added Coach Goldsborough. “The whole Pennsbury community should be proud of their accomplishments.”

Ms. Angela Minor, a social studies teacher at Pennsbury High School, was nominated for the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award. Ms. Minor’s former student, Rebecca Fishman, a 2011 Pennsbury graduate, made the nomination. The university invites entering first-year students to nominate an educator who

PENNSBURY TEACHER NOMINATED FOR OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD



distinguished ALUMNIFollowing are brief biographies of three Pennsbury

graduates who are enjoying successful careers in the field of medicine. It may be interesting to note that Dr. Cornelius and Dr. Fish are not just Pennsbury alumni, but they also happen to be close relatives. Dr. Cornelius is the aunt of Dr. Fish.

Sanjay Kamat, D.O., F.A.O.C.O. (Class of 1988) moved to Bucks County with his family over 30 years ago while he was in first grade. He graduated at the top of his class from Pennsbury High School and went on to Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Medicine while serving as President of the Pre-Medical Honor Society. He also received a Master of Science degree in Physiology from Penn State.

Dr. Kamat taught Anatomy and Physiology at the collegiate level at Penn State, Widener University, Community College of Philadelphia, and at Bucks County Community College. He then attended medical school in Kansas City, Missouri at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He returned to Philadelphia to complete his internship and ophthalmology residency at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he served as Chief Resident.

He worked at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia for nearly seven years, gaining invaluable experience in complicated cataract, oculoplastic trauma, and anterior segment surgery. He served as one of the ophthalmologists for Moss Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Kamat has spoken on different subjects on the local and national levels. He has also chaired and co-chaired a number of national meetings for the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Kamat is board certified and a fellow of the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology. He is a clinical instructor at the prestigious Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia and is also the ophthalmologist for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s Northeast Regional Center in Philadelphia. He is also on staff at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Langhorne, PA, Aria Bucks County Campus in Langhorne, and Campus Eye Group in Hamilton, NJ.

He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, the Pennsylvania and Bucks County Medical Societies, as well as many other professional groups.

In recent years, Dr. Kamat had the opportunity to join his longtime family ophthalmologist, Dr. Barry Kutner, in Yardley. He welcomes the opportunity to serve the community he has considered home for so many years. He currently resides in Washington Crossing within Lower Makefield Township with his wife and two children.

Lynn A. Petrangeli Cornelius, M.D. (Class of 1973) is a Professor and Chief of Dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine. She graduated from the University of Delaware and earned her medical degree at the University of Missouri. Dr. Cornelius performed her residency training at Washington University

sAnjAy d. KAmAt,d.o., F.A.o.c.o.

lynn A. petrAngelicornelius, m.d.

changed them, challenged them, or helped them along the path toward intellectual growth. “We at the University of Chicago are heartened to see that your school fosters and supports such outstanding individuals,” wrote James G. Nondorf, Vice President for Enrollment at the university, in a letter to PHS Principal, Lisa Becker, upon making the announcement. Congratulations to Ms. Minor, who was also selected to be one of eight demonstration teachers in Pennsbury for the 2011-2012 school year.



School of Medicine and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in immunodermatology at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Cornelius is a fellow of the American Board of Dermatology.

In 1993, Dr. Cornelius joined the faculty of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis as an Assistant Professor of Dermatology. In 1998, she was appointed as the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs at the medical school. In this role, she served as a faculty development educator and advisor while maintaining her clinical and investigative focus in Dermatology. Her clinical and laboratory focus is in the area of melanoma, its clinical management, melanoma gene regulation and the genetics of disease inheritance. She heads up the melanoma multidisciplinary initiative at the Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Siteman Cancer Center.

Since 2000, Dr. Cornelius has served as Chief of the Division of Dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine and Residency Program Director. She spends her time in clinical practice, handling administrative duties, teaching, and conducting research. She served on the Board of Directors of the Faculty Practice Plan, the practice management group of Washington University School of Medicine, for two consecutive terms.

Dr. Cornelius is a member of the Society of Investigative Dermatology, the American Board of Dermatology, the Dermatology Foundation and the American Skin Association, as well as several other professional organizations. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Society of Investigative Dermatology, as a Trustee of the Dermatology Foundation and currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association of Professors in Dermatology. Her publications include research papers, book chapters, scientific abstracts and clinical reviews. She is listed in America’s Top Doctors for both Dermatology and Cancer.

Michelle Karam Fish, D.O. (Class of 1996) was captain of the Falcons swim team and played field

hockey for Pennsbury High School. While attending Pennsbury, Dr. Fish developed an interest in the sciences, and subsequently obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Bucknell University. She then earned her medical degree (D.O.) at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006. Dr. Fish went on to perform her pediatric residency training at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ. Upon completion of the program, Dr. Fish held a position as Pediatric Chief Resident and Junior Attending Physician. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and has a special interest in the area of developmental and behavioral pediatrics. In 2009, she became board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is currently a physician at Lower Bucks Pediatrics.

michelle KArAm Fish, d.o.

BOArD FACILITIES COMMITTEE5:30 p.m., November 10, 2011

Superintendent’s Conference Room

BOArD AgENDA MEETINg8:00 p.m., November 10, 2011Fallsington Elementary School

BOArD rEvENUE DEvELOPMENT COMMITTEE5:30 p.m., November 17, 2011

Superintendent’s Conference Room

rEgULAr BOArD MEETINg8:00 p.m., November 17, 2011Fallsington Elementary School

Upcoming MEETINgS

Documents

cross the ISTRICT - Pennsbury School Districts Report 10 11.pdf · Frank Kinslow, head custodian at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary, helped to load a van with donations of food intended