P E N N - D E L C O

S C H O O L D I S T R I C T

Inside Penn-Delco M A Y 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2

SPECIAL

POIN TS OF

INTERES T:

Healthcare Open

Enrollment

Employee

Spotlights

Achievements and

Awards

Announcements

Getting Ready for

the Summer

Quick Tip

Foods for Beating

Stress

Open Enrollment time is here for your

health benefits and will kick off with a

Health Fair on Thursday, May 23rd

from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m in the Sun

Valley cafeteria. Representatives will be

available to answer your health plan and

financial health plan questions and you

will be able to pick up your Open Enroll-

ment packet. Last year we had a record

breaking number of employees attend

the Health Fair. We’d love to see that

happen again. Giveaways include a televi-

sion, a Kindle, Amazon gift cards, a gift

certificate to Joseph Anthony Salon, a

yoga kit, an Ipod Nano, and a $50 Wawa

gift card. Once again, we will have 403B

financial advisors on hand to answer any

questions you may have regarding your

financial health. You and your spouse

will also have the opportunity to get free

confidential health screenings including

blood pressure, body composition, der-

mascan and osteoporosis screenings. Of

course we can’t forget the free mini-

massages and multiple chances to win

great prizes! We look forward to seeing

you!

Employee Open Enrollment and Health Fair

REMINDER:

For those working

during the summer,

modified hours begin

the work week of

Monday June 24th.

All employees will

switch to a 4-day

work week and will

operate during the

summer hours out-

lined in the memo

from Dr. Steinhoff.

All School and dis-

trict offices will be

open from 7:15 a.m.

to 4:30 p.m.

P A G E 2

1. What is your job

At Penn-Delco?

2. How long have

you been with the

district?

3. Where are you from?

4. What are your

hobbies?

5. What was your first

car?

6. What is your favorite

thing about Penn-Delco?

7. What was your favorite

subject in school?

8. If you could travel

anywhere in the world,

where would it be?

9. Tell us something

Interesting about

yourself.

Bonnie Soscia, Aston Elementary

Employee Spotlights 1. Certified School Nurse for Sun Valley

2. I have been with Penn-Delco for 6 years

3. I grew up in Chichester

4. I enjoy spending time with my family and

friends. I am the oldest of five children and

every Sunday we meet at my parents for

dinner with our spouses and children. I

also enjoy walking, Brigantine Beach,

watching the Phillies and taking care of my

pets.

5. My first car was a 1980 Plymouth Horizon

6. My favorite thing about Penn-Delco is the

students

8. I’d travel to Africa and go

on a safari.

9. I am truly blessed. I went

back to school to become a

teacher after I had my own

children so I could continue to

spend time with and teach the

children in my community. I

am an excellent judge of character (as I chose

my husband of nearly 37 years) and I am “Bon

Bon” (grandmom) to four of the cutest kids -

Chase, Kate, Dash, and Wyatt.

1. I have the pleasure of teaching first

grade at Aston Elementary.

2. I was hired in January 1994.

3. I was born and raised in Aston.

4. I like to read, bake, make crafts, and

especially spend fun time with family &

friends.

5. A 1967 Chevy Malibu (it was my grand

fathers).

6. Penn-Delco has given me the opport-

nity to make a difference in children’s

lives.

7. My favorite subject was Sociology.

I N S I D E P E N N - D E L C O

Ginamarie Capuano, Sun Valley

1. I am a bus driver and driving trainer.

2. I have been with the district for 34 years.

3. I am from Aston.

4. I enjoy going to the Poconos, spending

time with my grandkids and husband of 42

years.

5. Volkswagen Beetle

6. I’ve met a lot of nice people and have

made long lasting friendships. I also really

like the kids that ride my bus.

7. My favorite subject was Science.

8. I’d love to go to Hawaii.

9. I am a great cook and host many holiday din-

ners. I am currently teaching my granddaughter

how to cook. My sister is a nun and my mom

was from Ireland. I like to break peoples chops,

give nicknames to people and I’m always the first

one to crack a joke.

Marge Pusztay, Service Center

7. My favorite subject in school was U.S. History

8. I love to travel back to Italy to visit family.

9. I worked as a court reporter at the Delaware

County Courthouse, then went back to

school for nursing while I was a stay-at-home

mom. I worked at Crozer Hospital before

coming to Penn Delco. My sister, Monica

Diehl, teaches Spanish at Sun Valley and my 4

children, ages 19-25, and my husband are all

graduates of Sun Valley.

Employee Spotlight Cont.

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2

1. I am the Head Custodian at N.M.S.

2. I have been with the district for 24

years.

3. I am from Chichester.

4. I enjoy spending time with my wife

Joeann and four kitty cats.

5. I had a 69 Chevelle.

6. I enjoy helping students and teach-

ers every day.

7. My favorite subjects in school were

Gym and wood shop.

8. I’d like to travel to Hawaii.

9. I have been married to my wife Joeann for 19 years this June.

Larry Cheety, Northley Middle School

I N S I D E P E N N - D E L C O

Announcements Marriages/Engagements Dan Bondanza (Sun Valley) and Adria Hughes (Sun Val-

ley) got married in December 2012.

Gina Yannarell (Northley) is engaged to Robert Crow-

ley.

Births Kelly Morales (Northley) welcomed a baby girl, Ales-

sandra Mirabel Morales, on March 8th.

Shawn Dutkiewicz (Pennell) welcomed a baby girl, Isla

Grace Dutkiewicz, on February 24th.

Doug Raines (Northley) welcomed a baby girl, Veda

Catherine Raines, on April 14th.

Lisa Connelly (Parkside) welcomed a baby boy, Andrew

James Connelly, on April 20th.

Nicole Small (Coebourn) welcomed a baby boy,

Brayden Craig Small, on April 7th.

Carol Reigner (Aston) welcomed a baby girl, Abigail Rose

Reigner, on February 7th.

Colleen Dillon (Pennell) welcomed a baby boy, Brody Dil-

lon, on January 26th.

Sandra Johnston (Aston/Coebourn) welcomed a baby girl,

Fiona Catherine Johnston, on April 10th.

Darren Hazlett (Northley) and Liz Hazlett (Northley) wel-

comed a baby girl, Callie Elizabeth Hazlett. on November

24th.

Khristina Hunt (Northley) welcomed a baby girl, London

Michele Hunt, on March 27th

Ryan Cronomiz (Sun Valley) welcomed a bay boy, Ethan

Bennett Cronomiz, on March 11th.

Holly Taylor (Sun Valley) welcomed a baby boy, Ethan

Charles Taylor, on April 5th.

Did you get married or engaged recently? Did you have

a baby? If you would like to share a special announce-

ment in the next issue of Inside Penn-Delco, please email

Christa Fazio at cfazio@pdsd.org with the information.

Congratulations to Karen Wells (Pennell) on being honored

for Excellence in Teaching by the Franklin Mint Federal

Credit Union.

Congratulations to the Penn-Delco Music Department on

Penn-Delco being selected as one of the Best Communities

for Music Education in the country.

Congratulations to Vivienne Cameron and Duston Gladfelter

on being selected for the 2013 Arkema Science teacher pro-

gram.

Congratulations to Rosemary Fowler on receiving a Certifi-

cate of Commendation from the Penn-Delco School Board

of Directors for Exemplary Leadership in Education.

Did we miss you? If so, send your award/achievement news to

Christa Fazio at cfazio@pdsd.org to be included in the next issue.

Awards and Achievements

I N S I D E P E N N - D E L C O

P A G E 4

Powerhouse foods, such as salmon and spinach, win lots of praise

for their ability to help fight diseases. Few people realize, however,

that these foods -- and some others -- also help reduce and protect

against the harmful effects that ongoing stress can have on the

body, be it from a hectic schedule, illness or a busy end of the

school year. By consuming a variety of foods that work synergisti-

cally, you can help prevent many of the negative effects of stress.

Powerful stress-fighting

foods...

Black-eyed peas. These are an excel-

lent source of folate, a B vitamin cru-

cial to fighting stress.

Mangoes. Antioxidants, such as vita-

min C, help repair the damage that

occurs to our cells when we are under

stress. Oranges are one option, but

mangoes may be an even better

choice because they not only contain

vitamin C but also disease-fighting

carotenoids, including beta-carotene

and vitamin E.

Nuts. Almonds, pistachios and walnuts are rich in vitamin E, an-

other antioxidant that helps curb stress-induced cell damage.

Sweet potatoes. These creamy, almost dessertlike root vegetables

are brimming with antioxidant carotenoids, such as beta-carotene.

In addition, sweet potatoes provide vitamin C, potassium and an

appreciable amount of fiber (five to six grams for a medium potato),

which contributes to the widely recommended 25- to 30-gram-per-

day goal.

Yogurt or kefir. Stress can lead to elevated levels of the stress

hormone cortisol, which, in turn, wears down

the immune system. Although it’s not widely

known, a significant amount of immune system

activity takes place in the gastrointestinal tract.

When a person is under chronic stress, he/she

is more susceptible to infections and, as a re-

sult, may take an antibiotic. These drugs de-

stroy not only the harmful bacteria that are

making you sick, but also the "good" bacteria in

your gut. By consuming yogurt or kefir (a tangy,

yogurtlike drink), you can replace those health-

ful bacteria, which are key to maintaining a vital

immune system.

Surprising choices that can help keep you calm

As you go through your house tidy-

ing up for spring, get rid of six

things. It can be clothing, an old ap-

pliance or anything else that you

haven’t used in years. Why just six?

Because most of us can easily get

rid of six things—and six can make

a real difference. You’ll feel liber-

ated by the space it frees up. If you

donate those things to Goodwill or

the Salvation Army, you’ll know

that you’re helping to provide jobs

and access to low-cost clothing and

household items to people in your

community. A win all around!

Quick Tip Getting Ready for Summer Spring is here, which means summer is

right around the corner. It’s almost

that time of year, when you pack up

your classroom and begin to dream of

the beach and PSSA’s finally being

over...we’re almost there! So here are

some ways you can get ready for the

summer and that may give you the en-

ergy you need to finish the school year

strong!

WALK AT AN INCLINE:

Walking at an incline will greatly in-

crease the intensity of your cardio

workout while toning your glutes.

WORK THOSE ABS:

Do more than just the basic crunch

because they only target a limited area

of your core. There are many moves

that can strengthen and tone your core,

i.e. the plank, the bicycle and v-sits.

JUMP ROPE:

In addition to blasting cellulite, this

great workout shapes your calves and

strengthens the heart.

SQUATS:

If you don’t do this already, make this a

regular addition to your workout pro-

gram. Squats are possibly the best

weight-training exercise you can do to

improve your lower physique. They will

tone your thighs and glutes while burn-

ing calories making this a double re-

ward.

INTERVALS:

Doing intervals instead of slow steady

cardio will burn more calories, and help

you get results in a shorter period of

time.