1. education
2. school

PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • FEBRUARY 2015
Across the DISTRICT
PENNSBURY AWARDED $25,000
SAFE SCHOOLS GRANT BY PDE
Sherwood Taylor, Director of Administrative
Services, is pleased to report that Pennsbury was
awarded a $25,000 Safe Schools Initiative Targeted
Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of
Education for the 2014-2015 school year. “This grant
program, focusing on bullying prevention, is being
implemented across all of our elementary schools
at the fourth grade level,” said Mr. Taylor. The
funding supports the Respecting Me – Respecting You
program centering on peer mediation and conflict
resolution, which is offered by the Peace Center of
Bucks County. “Teachers are being trained to be
facilitators,” said Mr. Taylor. “Even after the grant
expires, these teachers will be able to continue
training other faculty members as well as students in
subsequent years.”
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
ANNOUNCES GRANT AWARDS
The Pennsbury
Education Foundation
(PEF) recently awarded
a total of eight grants
to schools across the
Pennsbury School
District, totaling over
$11,000. The PEF is a
501(c)(3) organization
that relies on donations
www.pennsburysd.org
and supports the purpose of improving teaching
and learning in Pennsbury through innovative
educational initiatives. Grants are awarded through
an application process that occurs twice each year.
“The PEF Board is pleased to support the valuable
work that our teachers do in the classroom, and we
look for effective ways to distribute funds to benefit
students,” said Annette Young, PEF President. “We
look forward to distributing additional grants this
Spring after we review the applications that will be
submitted by April 10th.”
The following grant recipients were announced:
Pennsbury High School Principal Lisa Becker
and Family & Consumer Sciences Curriculum
Coordinator Nancy Quigley - $2,464 to fund the
purchase of three Real Care “babies” for use by PHS
students;
Oxford Valley Elementary Principal Fran Nitkin
and Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary Principal
Elizabeth Aldridge and their respective Reading
Specialists, Donna Fay and Alisa Myles - $1,400 to
purchase the Curtains Up on Reading program for
both schools;
Makefield Elementary Principal Donna
McCormick-Miller and Reading Specialist Luann
Spalla-Pointer - $586 to purchase a one-year license
for Study Island literacy software for Makefield;
Makefield Elementary Principal Donna
McCormick-Miller and Vocal Music teacher Emily
Fantuzzo - $1,300 to cover the costs associated with
the Multi-Cultural Piano presentation for Makefield
students;
PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • FEBRUARY 2015
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S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
Manor Elementary Principal Christopher Becker
and Reading Specialist Marianne Kershaw - $2,560
to fund the purchase of 100 books for each of eight
classrooms at Manor;
Penn Valley Elementary Principal Barbara
Hidalgo and teacher Lotus Deiss - $2,610 to fund the
purchase of three interactive boards for Penn Valley;
Quarry Hill Elementary Principal Dr. Peggy
Schiavone and Librarian Barbara Pesature - $500 to
purchase a one-year subscription to TeachingBooks.net
for Quarry Hill;
William Penn Middle School Principal Paul
Meehan and Art Curriculum Coordinator Ruth
Anne Schultz - $300 to purchase supplies to support
the Mad Hatters after-school enrichment program at
William Penn.
In addition to gathering generous donations
from local funding sources and individual donors,
the PEF also participates in the PA Department
of Community and Economic Development’s
Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program,
which awards tax credits to businesses making
contributions to the PEF. For more information, call
Pennsbury Business Administrator, Daniel Rodgers,
at 215-428-4115.
In the SCHOOLS
AFTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal Joe Masgai shares that the Afton
Garden Committee applied for the Lower
Makefield Township Environmental Advisory
Council’s Environmental Stewardship Award
and their project was selected for this impressive
recognition. “This award recognizes individuals,
businesses and groups who have made significant
achievements in improving and sustaining the
quality of our environment,” said parent volunteer,
Christine Rosbach, a member of the Garden
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Representatives from Afton Elementary’s learning garden
received special recognition from the Lower Makefield Township
Supervisors and the township’s Environmental Advisory Council.
Committee. “They were specifically soliciting
nominations for achievements related to: Pollution
Prevention, Resource Conservation, Sustainability,
Environmental Education and Environmental
Leadership, all of which we have accomplished
with our courtyard garden.” The group received an
award check for $500 at a recent LMT Supervisors’
meeting, which will be used to help further support
the school’s learning garden. Congratulations!
Teacher Coleen Jones is coordinating a “Baby
Bundles” service project with the United Way of
Bucks County again this year. “Our donations will
go to the Child, Home, & Community Organization,”
said Ms. Jones. “Our little buddies in Mrs. Reither’s
kindergarten class will help with this effort.”
EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal Michele Spack is pleased to report that
the students taught by teacher Leighann Pezza
conducted a special service project in conjunction
with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The students
made birthday cupcakes, including ones that were
peanut-free, and sold them at lunch time. They
also took turns making afternoon announcements
with appropriate messages to inspire their
fellow students. When the children purchased
FEBRUARY 2015 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA
www.pennsburysd.org
S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
the cupcakes, they also received paper peace
doves bearing meaningful quotes from Dr. King.
Afterwards, proceeds of over $450 were donated to a
bullying-prevention organization.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The fifth grade students at Eleanor Roosevelt, led
by their teachers, Jason Miller, Roger Kean, Joseph
Melnick, Maureen Janthor, and Amanda D’Amico,
once again staged an exciting outdoor flag football
tournament, braving muddy and snowy conditions
for most of their games last month. This annual
event culminated with Super Duper Bowl V on
January 30th, the Friday before Super Bowl Sunday.
Leading up to the Bowl game, two charitable drives
also took place at Roosevelt and students responded
with great enthusiasm. First, a penny war helped to
raise more than $1,000 in funds for the family of a
recently-deceased Pennsbury teacher (Kate Galdi).
Second, the school embraced the theme, Children
Helping Children in Need, as students in grades Pre-K
-5 “voted” for their favorite teams by donating canned
goods into decorated collection boxes for each team.
This important local food drive was sponsored by
two active Pennsbury Partners: the Levittown-Fairless
Hills Rotary and Waste Management, Inc.
With the support of Principal Elizabeth Aldridge,
the athletic backdrop to the Super Duper Bowl
tournament provided a key opportunity for the
students to practice good sportsmanship and fair
play. These concepts tie in with the school’s character
education initiative of teaching and showing respect,
kindness, responsibility, and cooperation.
FALLSINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Teachers Courtney Gould and Monica James
accompanied Fallsington’s fifth graders as they
led a respectful peace march through the Central
Administration building and on the school grounds
on Tuesday, January 20th in honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. “The students held posters and
banners displaying words of peace,” said Ms. Gould.
“We invited the rest of the grades in Fallsington to
be a part of this as well.” Tying in with this same
peaceful theme, the fourth and fifth grade students
gathered in the school gym and together, they
formed a human peace sign in a symbolic gesture.
A human peace sign was formed by the fourth and
fifth grade students at Fallsington Elementary in
conjunction with the school’s march for peace.
Fifth graders at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary enjoyed
yet another snow-filled Super Duper Bowl game!
www.pennsburysd.org
ESL teacher Jennifer Cornell writes that her
students have enjoyed writing in different genres.
“The National Geographic textbook that we use has
interesting stories about people in the United States
and from all over the world,” said Ms. Cornell. “The
students respond to these stories using different
types of writing. My third graders read a story
PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • FEBRUARY 2015
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S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
about the challenging childhood of actor and author
Henry Winkler due to his dyslexia and his struggles
in school. He wrote how despite these challenges,
he still had a great life because ‘everyone has
something special inside. It’s our job to figure out
what that is. Dig deep, get it out, and give it to the
world as a gift.’ The students enjoyed Mr. Winkler’s
writing style, his sense of humor, and his positive
message, and they wrote friendly letters to him. Best
of all, each of the students received a personally
autographed photograph of Mr. Winkler with some
encouraging words from him!”
MAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Gifted Support teacher, Alison Majikas, writes that
all of the fourth and fifth grade students at Makefield
took a 40-question “preliminary round” test to help
determine the top ten finalist contestants for the
school’s National Geographic Geography Bee Final
Competition. The finalists included: Nate Smith,
Tommy Cummings, Callan Fang, Daniel Paton,
Brody Kestel, Joseph Sutherland, Grace Bolling,
Aidan Catalano, Nikhil Suri, and Justin Brown.
These students gathered to compete for the title
of Makefield Champion of the Geography Bee 2015.
The Bee was funded by Makefield’s PTO with
support from Principal Donna McCormick-Miller.
“It was an exciting event, filled with questions
that tested each of the finalists’ geography skills,”
said Ms. Majikas. After the final competition, there
were only two students remaining to go into the
championship round: Tommy Cummings and Nate
Smith. Ultimately, Nate was named the Champion!
“All ten contestants invited their parents to watch
this event,” added Ms. Majikas. “A blue Geography
Bee t-shirt, a blue participation ribbon, Geo Bee
pencils, and certificates of participation were given
as awards to each of the contestants.”
The next step will involve Nate’s completion of
a written exam, which will then be scored by Ms.
Majikas and reported to officials at the National
Geographic Geography Bee division to determine
Nate’s eligibility to compete at the state level. If he
meets their criteria and does well at the state level,
Nate will be invited to compete at nationals in
Washington, D.C. Good luck, Nate!
OXFORD VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
AJ Hammer, a third grader at Oxford Valley, was
assigned to write a persuasive letter by his teacher,
Susan Mahler. Much to his parents’ surprise,
AJ wrote a compelling letter that requested their
assistance in raising funds to help the homeless at
the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter.
After taking up a collection among family members
and friends, AJ was proud to pay a visit to the
shelter to present a check for $415 and 50 handmade
Oxford Valley Elementary’s
AJ Hammer (left) presented
a donation check to
Ernie Nocito, Director of
Development for the Family
Service Association of
Bucks County, to aid
the homeless.
Ten student finalists lined up to compete in Makefield
Elementary’s Geography Bee.
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FEBRUARY 2015 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA
www.pennsburysd.org
S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
scarves from his grandmother! “Oxford Valley is
very proud of AJ,” said Principal Fran Nitkin. “He is
a role model for all of our students and an example
of what one person can do when they have a desire
to help others.”
Ms. Nitkin adds that the Oxford Valley Student
Council held their annual “Souper” Bowl Challenge
in the weeks leading up to the big game. They
collected soup cans for the same homeless shelter
here in Bucks County. Collection bins were decorated
for both Super Bowl teams, and students were
encouraged to bring in cans of soup to cast their
votes for the winning team. The school collected over
300 soup cans. Way to go Oxford Valley!
These Oxford Valley Elementary students assisted with the
school’s food drive known as the “Souper” Bowl Challenge.
scientists” and each child was rewarded with a
participant ribbon and a certificate. Participants and
visitors walked throughout the fair to visit all student
experiments and attend the adult demonstrations
as well. Support for Quarry Hill’s Science Fair is
provided each year by the school’s PTO.
Teacher Katie Bolger is pleased to report that
Quarry Hill started 2015 with “a renewed focus on
character development. Staff and students were
welcomed back to school with a character-themed
assembly along with visuals that reminded students
of the acronym PAWS. PAWS represents the four
aspects of character development that we focus
on every day: P - Practice Respect, A - Accept
Responsibility, W - Work Together, S - Stay Positive.
Earlier in the school year, Principal Dr. Peggy
Schiavone brought together the faculty and staff to
brainstorm ideas to create a more unified approach
to character education.” The PAWS team, led by
Dr. Schiavone, Ms. Bolger, Kim Dender, and School
Counselor Meredith Laden, along with many
members of the Quarry Hill faculty and staff, seeks to
provide the students, parents, faculty, and staff with
common topics and language to support the character
development of the school community. “Through
school-wide programming and events, the Quarry
Hill community will focus on an aspect of PAWS each
month for the remainder of the school year,” said
Ms. Bolger. “During February, we will be focused on
the P of PAWS, Practice Respect. Faculty, staff, and
QUARRY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The 2015 Quarry Hill Science Fair was held
earlier this month. Chaired once again by PTO
parent, Sandy Borowsky, the event was another
huge success. This year’s fair was comprised of
approximately 150 student project displays and
an additional 12 adult demonstrations (including
bubbles, dry ice, insects, robotics, acceleration,
surface water runoff, amphibians, and more).
Over 200 students presented projects to “visiting
www.pennsburysd.org
A special assembly held at Quarry Hill Elementary tied in
with the school’s character education initiative.
PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • FEBRUARY 2015
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S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
students are encouraged to recognize members of the
Quarry Hill community who are caught practicing
an aspect of PAWS. Each one is honored with a paw
print that is displayed in the hallway.”
PENN VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal Barbara Hidalgo reports that her
school celebrated what became known as PEACE
Week (Penn Valley Engaging Actively in Character
Education) during the week of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.’s birthday. “Grades four and five conducted
a peace march inside the building on Tuesday of
that week. Staff also worked to incorporate activities
each day to promote peace and character education.
We included famous quotes by Dr. King in our
daily morning announcements. All activities were
connected to the letter P for peace.”
One of these tie-in activities was a fundraiser
called Pasta for Pennies. School Counselor Arlene
Johnson extends “a great big thank you to the Penn
Valley staff and students who helped make our
Pasta for Pennies collection a huge success.” The
school community raised a total of $3003.68 for the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “Our efforts will
go toward helping LLS continue the fight against
blood cancers. Mrs. D’Emidio’s second grade class
raised $591.11 and will be treated to lunch at Olive
Garden.” Way to go Penn Valley!
WALT DISNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal Laurie Ruffing shares the news
that The Nutrition Group, Pennsbury’s food
service provider, sponsored a special visit by the
Philadelphia Zoo on Wheels for the students of Walt
Disney! “The event was a hit among the second
through fifth grade students,” said Ms. Ruffing. The
program, titled The Remarkable Rainforest, introduced
students to a variety of rainforest animals, including
a red-footed tortoise, a macaw, a snake, and
much more. “Our students were even offered a
rainforest-themed lunch in the cafeteria that day,”
said Ms. Ruffing.
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Students at Walt Disney participated in a
school-wide talent show in recent weeks. “The show
was organized by the Walt Disney PTO,” said Ms.
Ruffing. Students tried out for the talent show and
rehearsed several days after school. “They put on
a wonderful performance for parents, who were
wowed by the students’ singing, dancing, card
tricks, and break-dancing moves. We even had a solo
pianist. Thank you to the PTO for organizing such
an enjoyable event for the students.”
These students were among many who showcased their
talents at Walt Disney Elementary’s recent Talent Show.
CHARLES BOEHM MIDDLE SCHOOL
Teacher Kathy Simmons writes that in a recent
email to the Boehm staff, Afton teacher, Janet
Scammell, shared the following: “Your staff is
blessed to work in such a caring environment.”
“This is a sentiment of which ‘Boehmers’ are
well aware,” said Ms. Simmons. “Janet’s comments
acknowledged a recent Boehm-sponsored benefit
event, the impressive proceeds of which were given
to the family of former Pennsbury graduate and
Boehm English teacher, Kate Sammon Galdi. Kate,
a young Boehm teacher with a pre-school age son
and an elementary age daughter, passed away in
the Fall. To honor her memory and continue to
offer support to her family, a committee of teachers
led by Joy Booz, along with Maureen Miller and
FEBRUARY 2015 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA
www.pennsburysd.org
S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
moving a ping pong ball, on design creativity and
flexibility, narrative and presentation report, budget,
and teamwork. We are so proud of the level of hard
work from all teams. Their collaborative efforts
exceeded our expectations, especially in terms of
true engineering design.”
Congratulations to the following teams, which
will represent Pennwood on March 4th at the Bucks
County Intermediate unit against 62 other teams:
Generous donations poured in from across the School
District in support of the recent fundraiser organized by
Charles Boehm Middle School.
Sherry Snyder, planned the event, which quickly
evolved into a community effort as local businesses
responded generously to the call for donations
for raffle baskets. DJ (and Boehm teacher) Frank
McSherry offered his services providing music
for the evening. Ticket sales reached 300, and
many Pennsbury schools booked tables for the
representatives of their buildings who attended in
support of the cause. You would be hard pressed
to find any of the attendees who would remark that
the evening at Brookside Manor was anything but a
joyous celebration of life and a generous outpouring
of support to a bereaved family. The event truly was
an example of the very best of the Pennsbury spirit!”
Group #1
Group #2
Nathan Silverman
Kyle Anderson
Miles Borowsky
Brandon Ferraro
Shaun Parrish
Jackson Simon
Kevin Morrison
Andrew Keen
WILLIAM PENN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Science teachers Dianne Haley and Kristin Slota
were able to provide Smart Energy Saver Kits
courtesy of PECO to families of students on William
Penn’s 7C team as a curricular tie-in with their
energy studies. These students were also assigned
to conduct a comprehensive school energy audit.
Detailed data collection was made possible through
the use of “Kill-A-Watt” meters, Flicker Checkers,
Principal Theresa Ricci added, “The Boehm spirit
was truly captured by this moving event. It was a
remarkable example of our Pennsbury community
coming together in support of one another.”
PENNWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Science teachers Jamie Swanson and Joyce Bigley
write that 50 eighth grade students at Pennwood
competed in a STEM design challenge. “They were
building a rubber band car with very tight design
constraints,” explained Ms. Swanson. “Groups
were assessed on how far their car traveled while
www.pennsburysd.org
William Penn seventh graders conducted an energy audit
in their school building.
PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • FEBRUARY 2015
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S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
light meters, temperature pens and measurements
of relative humidity from several locations in the
school. Students exhibited and explained their
research to family members and other guests during
the school’s Energy Expo on February 6th.
Art teacher Blair Greiner and Science teacher
Kristin Slota accompanied a group of seventh grade
students to Bucks County Community College
to participate in the college-sponsored Artist in
Residence program involving the work of artist
Bryant Holsenbeck. An environmental artist and
activist, Ms. Holsenbeck uses discarded objects to
raise awareness of the impact of today’s society on
the natural world. The students observed the artist’s
works, Paradise Lost and Recycled, which feature 22
bird and animal sculptures made from discarded
materials, and also assisted the artist in the creation
of a 20-foot “waterfall” made from more than
10,000 plastic water bottles collected by campus and
community members.
School so that they could present a lesson on “The
Golden Rule” for second graders there. “It was great
to see the PHS students so excited to work with the
Disney students!” said Dr. Blair.
Vocal Music Curriculum Coordinator James
Moyer shares that the Pennsbury choirs performed
choral movements from Felix Mendelssohn’s
second symphony, Lobgesang, in January in Keller
Hall. The choirs are following up this performance
later this month as part of their tour of Austria
and Germany. They will present the entire second
symphony as well as Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester
Psalms with a prestigious youth orchestra led by
Conductor Ron-Dirk Entleutner. Maestro Entleutner
visited Pennsbury last month to work with the
PHS choral students and he also conducted their
January concert. A total of 99 students in grades
10-12 will visit multiple sites in the two countries for
performances in six impressive venues.
PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL
Mathematics teacher Stacy Garretson has
announced that Pennsbury High School students
will have the opportunity to participate in the 66th
annual American Mathematics Contest (AMC) on
Wednesday, February 25th. “Students will compete
for local, regional, and national student and school
awards,” said Ms. Garretson. The contest, which
covers high school mathematics and is given at over
4,200 U.S. and international schools, is recognized
at many colleges and universities. “The purpose of
this competition is to spur interest in Mathematics
and to develop talent through the excitement of
friendly competition at problem-solving in a timed
format,” added Ms. Garretson. Registration forms
are available in the school counseling offices or from
any Math teacher.
PHS Counselor Dana Arbakov, Reading Specialist
Casey Smith, and Assistant Principal Dr. Lynne Blair
accompanied several students from Pennsbury’s
Mentoring Program to visit Walt Disney Elementary
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Vocal Music Curriculum Coordinator James Moyer is shown here
rehearsing with students who will be traveling to Germany and
Austria for a series of upcoming performances.
Pennsbury Partner Jack O’Connor, who leads the
Levittown-Fairless Hills Rotary, writes that the PHS
Interact Club is embracing an international project
this year. “The project is to provide the school
children in Sierra Leone with school supplies,”
explained Mr. O’Connor. “I recently invited a
guest speaker to our club, Bishop Simbo, from
Sierra Leone. He is a Rotarian [there]. I thought it
was a great idea for the Interact students to have
an international experience. I attended an Interact
meeting [at PHS] and presented the students and
FEBRUARY 2015 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA
www.pennsburysd.org
S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
Alyssa Romero, the faculty advisor, with the outline
from Bishop Simbo, and they began planning
immediately. The Interactors may open up this
project to the entire high school.
Teacher John Sanders writes: “On Monday,
January 19th, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
of Service, the Multi-Cultural Youth Leaders club
(MCYL) volunteered their time to the Good Stuff
thrift store in Fairless Hills. The store’s mission is
to operate the most efficient thrift shop possible, so
that they can provide the highest level of funding for
helping kids in need within our communities. MCYL
is extremely excited about its partnership with Good
Stuff,” said Mr. Sanders.
award. Devin was recently informed that she is a
recipient of the Comcast Foundation Leaders and
Achievers Scholarship. The program recognizes
students’ leadership skills, academic achievement,
and commitment to community service. According
to the foundation’s announcement, “We are proud
to recognize the efforts of young people who are
helping make our communities stronger.” Devin
will join other selected students from across the
state in June when they gather in Harrisburg for this
special recognition.
Devin was also recognized recently for two
submissions she entered into the 2015 Scholastic
Art & Writing Awards competition. A panel
of Philadelphia teachers, writers, and literary
professionals received nearly 680 submissions from
students in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery,
and Philadelphia counties. Devin’s “stood out
among the best,” according to the awards committee.
Her poetry entry, Losing Jewelry, was awarded an
Honorable Mention, and another poem by Devin,
Get Bound, was recognized with the Gold Key award.
Devin is invited to attend an awards ceremony and
reception at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia
on March 7th.
STUDENT’S DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH
SINGLED OUT AT EXHIBIT
Members of the PHS Multi-Cultural Youth Leaders club
volunteered their time at a local thrift shop on the
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.
Commendable
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DEVIN BARRICKLOW ADDS TO
HER ACCOLADES
Please join in congratulating PHS senior Devin
Kawailani Barricklow – named last year as Buck’s
County’s Poet of the Year – for another prestigious
www.pennsburysd.org
Art teacher Abigail
Cramer writes that her
digital photography
student, Meghan Lucas,
recently won special
recognition and a
monetary prize at the
Phillips’ Mill Youth Art
Exhibition. Meghan’s
submission, titled Up
in the Air, is a stunning
black-and-white action
photo that caught the
judges’ eyes.
Photo by Meghan Lucas
PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • FEBRUARY 2015
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S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
SENIOR FALCONS ANNOUNCE
COLLEGE PLANS
Kudos to the latest group of Pennsbury senior
athletes who have committed to play their respective
sports at the schools listed below. A special ceremony
was held on February 4th in the Pennsbury Channel
studios as family members, coaches, counselors, and
administrators gathered to celebrate these students:
Victor Delgado - Bloomsburg University football
Alex Kardos - East Stroudsburg University soccer
Josh Leon - Bentley University football
Anthony Pitt - Shippensburg University football
Vinay Ramesh - Princeton University golf
Alek Sauer - Columbia University cross country/
track
Charles Snorweah - Rutgers University football
Sam Webb - University of Pennsylvania cross
country/track
Derrick Woods - St. Bonaventure University
basketball
Senior athletes pictured in the front row, from left: Vinay Ramesh,
Alek Sauer, Sam Webb, and Alex Kardos. Second row, from left:
Victor Delgado, Josh Leon, Derrick Woods, Anthony Pitt,
and Charles Snorweah.
PENNSBURY STUDENT
RECOGNIZED BY BCTHS
The following Pennsbury student was named
Student of the Month for January at Bucks County
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Technical High School: Donald Nicholson, ninth
grade. Congratulations!
SARGENT NAMED PA CROSS COUNTRY
COACH OF THE YEAR
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country
Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has announced
state-by-state winners of its inaugural High School
Cross Country Coach of the Year. One boys’ coach
and one girls’ coach were selected from each of the
50 states. Pennsbury’s state championship Girls
Cross Country coach, Greg Sargent, was selected!
The USTFCCCA selection committee recognized
these coaches for their successes during the 2014
cross country season. Well done!
PENNSBURY TEACHER EARNS
CERTIFICATION THROUGH NFEC
PHS Business, Computers, and Information
Technology teacher, Michael Zisa, is now a Certified
Financial Education Instructor through the National
Financial Educator’s Council (NFEC). This credential
reflects Mr. Zisa’s ability to teach essential money
management concepts effectively to people of all ages,
according to the NFEC. Mr. Zisa is also the author of a
recently-published book titled, The Early Investor: How
Teens & Young Adults Can Become Wealthy.
Pennsbury Inclusion Philosophy
The Pennsbury School District believes our children belong
with their peers. Pennsbury is committed to promoting a sense
of belonging in each child by affording all students their right
to be educated, to the maximum extent appropriate, in their
neighborhood school.
This commitment is possible through the use of appropriate
support to enable students to be educated in the least
restrictive environment.
FEBRUARY 2015 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA
www.pennsburysd.org
S uperintendent ’ s R eport • KEVIN J. McHUGH, Ed.D.
Upcoming MEETINGS
Board Education Committee
8:30 a.m., February 27, 2015
Superintendent’s Conference Room
Board Facilities Committee
5:30 p.m., March 5, 2015
Superintendent’s Conference Room
Board Agenda Meeting
8:00 p.m., March 5, 2015
Fallsington Elementary School
Board Budget Committee
5:30 p.m., March 12, 2015
Superintendent’s Conference Room
Regular Board Meeting
8:00 p.m., March 12, 2015
Fallsington Elementary School
Board Education Committee
8:30 a.m., March 27, 2015
Superintendent’s Conference Room
www.pennsburysd.org
PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • FEBRUARY 2015
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