September/October Special Points of Interest: пЂЄ Pennsbury High School makes Newsweek вЂ�s Top 500 High Schools 2014 пЂЄ ACT & SAT Information & Prep Course Registration пЂЄ How to access school information made easy пЂЄ Yardley teen wins Congressional Art Competition Inside this issue: Student News 2 Athletics 2 Aquaponic System 3-4 Foreign Language 5 No Place For Hate 5 No Place For Hate 6 Shirt Order Form School Performance 7 Library News 8 Guidance News/ ACT & SAT Info 9-10 Earn Cash for PHS 11 Accessing School Info Made Easy 12 Calendar of Events 13 Principal’s Message Welcome Back! Another school year is underway. Each new school year brings excitement and anticipation for many great opportunities. Our staff at Pennsbury High School looks forward to a challenging and rewarding year for our students. The high school administrative team encourages everyone to get involved with activities at the school. Our school is the great place that it is because of the involvement of students, parents and the community. Encourage your children to get involved in the many clubs or athletic programs Pennsbury has to offer. As a reminder please continue to visit our high school and district websites. These are continually updated with valuable information and important dates. We look forward to seeing you at many activities this school year. Student News Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick and Congressional Art Competition winner Julia McGehean of Yardley inside the U.S. Capitol where her artwork will be displayed for the next year. GOT SPIRIT ! Come out and support PHS Cheerleaders on Oct 18th 8am-10am at Applebee’s, Newtown. Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Yardley teen wins Congressional Art Competition; work on display inside the U.S. Capitol of artwork shows not only her artistic prowess, but highlights the level of creativity of students across our district when it comes to the fine arts. Congratulations to Julia and all those who participated in this year’s successful competition.” WASHINGTON. D.C. – Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8) welcomed Julia McGehean of Yardley to Capitol Hill on June 26 to recognize her as the winner of the 2014 Congressional Art Competition for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. McGehean, a recent Pennsbury High School graduate, won the county-wide competition with her work вЂ�Hidden in Plain Sight’ after her teacher submitted the graphite piece into the contest without telling her. For winning first prize, McGehean’s artwork will be on display inside the United States Capitol for the next year alongside other winners from across the country. “It was a pleasure to have Julia join me in Washington and be recognized as this year’s Congressional Art Competition winner from Bucks County,” said Fitzpatrick. “Her amazing piece "Winning this competition has provided me with a once in a GOLF The Pennsbury High School Golf Team finished the season 14-0 in the SOL National Conference and 15-2 overall. They finished SOL National Conference Champions for 2 years in a row. Congratulations to the team and coaches on a job well done. п‚· PHS Senior Vinay Ramesh shot 1under par 71 at Indian Valley Country Club to win the SOL Boys Golf Tournament. п‚· PHS Junior Alex Simon came in second. п‚· PHS Senior Jackie Rogowicz shot 2under par 71 at LuLu Country Club to win the SOL Girls Golf Tournament. They advance next week to the PIAA District One Championship. The Team also competes next week for the right to go to the PIAA State Golf Championship lifetime opportunity that many people will never experience,” said McGehean. “Seeing our work valued in a government setting truly provides us young artists with a sense of purpose." McGehean plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania’s Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Since its inception in 1982, more than 650,000 high school -aged students have competed in the nationwide Congressional Art Competition. The PA-8 competition is run through Congressman Fitzpatrick’s office in partnership with Bucks County Community College and the Michener Art Museum. CHEER The Pennsbury High School JV and Varsity Cheerleaders are hosting two exciting fundraisers in the months of October and November! On October 18th from 8am-10am, stop by Applebee's in Newtown to be served all you can eat pancakes by the cheerleaders! Also, on November 20th in the PHS East Cafeteria the cheerleaders are hosting a Michael Kors Accessories Bingo! Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm. There will also be raffle baskets and door prizes, this is sure to be a fun and exciting event! All proceeds go towards getting the cheerleaders to their nationals this March! For more information please email mroberts@pennsburysd.org or visit our website: www.leaguelineup.com/ pennsburycheer Page 2 Aquaponic Systems “In level three woodworking I was required to think outside the box while not compromising the functionality of my project. What I learned from Mr. Pietzman, I applied to the construction and design of our system.” – Will Hludzinski “We learned that our first design isn’t always best, but we learn from our mistakes and improve our next design.” - Emily Bradbury пЃµпЂ As a teenager attending Pennsbury High School I can, from personal experience, tell you how vast and overwhelming the list of courses to pick from is. Very rarely does an average student like myself sit down and actually read the booklet of classes one can pick from before meeting in guidance to confirm choices. Like many others, I showed up to pick my classes for junior year unprepared and disorganized. As a result, I put down my academics and put in electives just to fill space. One of the classes I happened to put down as an elective was in the applied engineering category of technical education classes. I automatically assumed I would be spending half of my year drafting miscellaneous objects both by hand and on the computer. My assumption was very wrong. The class introduced a new hobby, interest, career inspiration and passion that completely reformed my outlook towards education. The objective of our exploration of aquaponics was to design and construct a functioning aquaponic system that would yield crops that could then be used by the school. Aquaponics is an alternative way to produce crops and raise fish simultaneously. The fecal matter of the fish is decomposed through the nitrogen cycle. The product of the nitrogen cycle is then utilized by the plants in photosynthesis and in turn detoxifies the water for the fish. пЂ I have been a student at Pennsbury for over a decade. I am an average student who maintains B’s and the occasional A in parallel classes. Most, if not all of my motivation to maintain decant grades was so I could get by and not be grounded. This class, however, has opened my eyes and mind to a completely different mentality of learning. I wake up every day knowing about a quarter of my school day is going to be focused on something I absolutely love and am proud to say am good at. This engineering class put a new perspective on education for me. I went through the entire semester not even thinking about what my grade is. It wasn’t about the golden A. It was about being given the opportunity to take an idea you call your own, draw it out, and actually produce a functioning prototype. The only negative part of this experience is realizing I wasn’t introduced to this way of learning earlier in my educational career. The benefits I reaped from this class are immeasurable and for this I must thank Waste Management for providing the funds needed to explore such an amazing project and most importantly, influencing my new love and appreciation for education as a whole. Throughout the entire design and construction of our aquaponic system, I took advantage of every resource Pennsbury had to offer. When building the tank it was necessary to calculate the force the 1600 pounds of water would put onto the frame of the tank. A walk down to the science department for a list of physics formulas was all we needed calculate what material would be ideal. When conditioning the water in the tank for life, a few trips to the chemistry and bio classes were more then helpful to understand more about the importance of balancing chemicals so life could thrive. This project as a whole has allowed me to apply all aspects of my academic classes to real world problem solving. Also, the connections this project has built contributes to further understanding of new knowledge being taught to me in my current classes. After being presented with this foreign and original, idea we began research. We gained a significant amount of knowledge on the first day. We came up with the basic concept that aquaponics was essentially hydroponics with the addition of fish. We would soon learn, however, that combining animals with agriculture creates an entirely more complex system. Increasing the complexity of the system means narrowing the range of possibilities, forcing us to dig deeper and learn as much as possible about the subject in the short hour and a half we are given per day. Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Aquaponic Systems Continued from page 4… “ “I loved exploring different methods and deciding on the best fit.” – Evan Powell When first introduced to the project, there was a noticeable sense of interest throughout the class as a whole. There was not one student who seemed to do less then another. As for myself, the process of research took my interest to the next level. I soon found myself not in a rush to log off my computer and wait by the door, but rather I wanted to research this topic further. As ideas started flowing, the amount of time invested into the project grew exponentially and I became increasingly enthralled with the concept of the project, spending numerous nights laying in my bed past 1:00 AM watching videos and reading about other aquaponic systems. I was not alone. The next day I would come in to class with information to share and I was met with information from other students in the class who also explored new information into the early hours of morning. The classes’ mindset even evolved because we no longer called our work “research” but “exploring”. This was exemplified by a fellow classmate when asked what his favorite part of the project was and he replied, “I loved exploring different methods and deciding on the best fit.” Working in groups is a skill that I have practiced since I started attending Pennsbury as a kindergartener; however, this class applied a new definition on the term “group work”. This was particularly the case because communication is vital to the design process. Not only were the stereotypical necessities of group work needed, but this new type of group work required the detailed articulation of ideas as well as the ability to respectfully disagree with other students’ ideas and assert your own. By doing so, our group turned into a team. No one wants to accept failure, but as an engineer, or in this case an engineering student, I, as well as other classmates, have learned to embrace failure as a type of guidance. We, as a class, learned to take advantage of failed designs and learn as much as possible from them so we could fix the flaws when redesigning. Initially, excitement and immaturity took the better of my thoughts and ideas. My thoughts seemed to be unorganized and ideas sporadic. Ms. Perfetto would hint every once in a while that it might be a good idea to make a timeline to set goals to achieve rather than focus on what seemed like an insurmountable number of tasks. The stress of the project seemed to finally build up and our progress with actually constructing the system plateaued. Frustrated and desperate for a new way of organization, I printed a calendar and began placing realistic goals on appropriate dates with the consent of our class. Immediately there was noticeable improvement. Soon we were executing a week’s worth of goals in just a few days. Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 4 Foreign Language Department There is still some room left on our PHS student trip to Europe next summer -June 2015! The 11 day tour is titled Europe's Mediterranean Coast and highlights the cities of Cinque Terre, Italy, Monaco, the French Riviera, Barcelona and Madrid. All optional excursions are included in the final price. For more information or to enroll with a $95 deposit, please visit http:// www.eftours.com/1532136HR The prices will go up November 1st. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Garberina at agarberina@pennsburysd.org or call 215-949-6780 ext. 73218 German Got Wanderlust? Join the German Department for a homestay in Oldenburg, a bike tour of Iceland, scenic tours of Berlin, Munich and Austria, and a tour of King Ludwig II's legendary castles. If you are interested in hosting a German exchange student or traveling abroad this summer, please attend the first GAPP Informational Meeting on Thursday, October 9th at 7:00 pm in the PHS West Library. If you can't attend, please contact Frau DiFazio (adifazio@pennsburysd.org) for more information. Danke! The German Department is hosting its annual Oktoberfest for all of the German classes on Friday, October 10th. On this day students will learn about the history of Oktoberfest, make a souvenir, taste some gastronomical delights, sing gemuetlich folk songs, and learn the Schuhplattler dance. O'zapft is! пЂЄ PHS No Place for Hate Pennsbury High School is now in its 5th year as a No Place for Hate School. October will kick off the year’s activities with a week of observance October 20- 24th. During this time, Resolutions of Respect will once again be signed by all students and staff, as well as other fun activities and contests aimed at spreading the anti-bullying and cultural diversity/acceptance message. All students and staff are invited to wear orange or their NPFH shirt in celebration of Unity Day on October 22nd. Anyone wishing to purchase a No Place for Hate t-shirt, please complete the form on page 6 and return to Dana Arbakov darbakov@pennsburysd.org or Casey Smith csmith@pennsburysd.org at Pennsbury High School East. Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5 Pennsbury School District No Place for Hate T-Shirt Order Form All proceeds go to Pennsbury’s No Place For Hate Club! ******************************************************************************************************* NAME: _________________________________________________________ HOMEROOM TEACHER : ____________________ ROOM: _____________ CELL PHONE: ___________________ HOME PHONE:_________________ CIRCLE ONE: CASH CHECK #: _____________________ Make checks payable to PSAA ________________________________________________________________ Short Sleeve T-Shirts: $10.00 Child Sizes (S-L) Circle One: Adult Sizes (S-2XL) Child Adult *Note: Adult 2SL is $12.00 Logo # 1 S M L XL $__________ Logo # 2 S M L XL $__________ Logo # 3 S M L XL $__________ Choices: TOTAL: Logo #1—White Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 $__________ Logo #2—Grey Logo #3—Black Page 6 PHS’s School Performance Profile Newsweek Ranking of America’s Top 500 High Schools 2014 PA had 42 of the 500 th PHS ranked 9 in PA & ranked 4th in Bucks County Newsweek ranks Pennsbury High School 9th in PA Rank Name College Readiness Score College Bound % Grad Rate % Poverty % 33 Conestoga SHS 47 Upper Saint Clair HS PA 97.84 85.15 76.78 4.87 PA 96.93 90.19 91.3 58 3.93 New Hope-Solebury HS PA 96.21 92.87 77.24 2.61 65 North Allegheny SHS PA 95.75 72.79 78.29 3.91 67 York Suburban SHS PA 95.62 73.38 55.98 22.95 68 Unionville High School PA 95.55 84.37 65.4 1.67 78 Council Rock HS North PA 94.9 81.29 64.42 3.64 122 Central Bucks HS-West PA 92.02 75.67 80.9 5.21 144 Pennsbury HS PA 90.58 77.11 57.42 14.03 161 Garnet Valley HS PA 89.47 75.87 62.66 7.23 169 Great Valley HS PA 88.95 72.4 64.81 8.08 172 Avon Grove HS PA 88.75 83.71 84.11 18.65 181 Lower Moreland HS PA 88.16 79.14 47.42 4.35 193 South Park SHS PA 87.38 80.97 99.08 16.94 215 Central Bucks HS-South PA 85.94 71.42 64.88 5.28 217 Pennridge HS PA 85.81 71.09 88.88 15.31 244 Springfield HS PA 84.04 90.45 61.09 12.21 257 Fairview HS PA 83.19 69.91 92.09 12.43 269 Hershey HS PA 82.41 73.25 29.76 11.02 280 Emmaus HS PA 81.69 58.6 66.25 16.64 290 Avonworth HS PA 81.03 65.66 44.41 15.42 294 West Chester Bayard Rustin HS PA 80.77 71.94 94.64 8.48 316 Penncrest HS PA 79.33 77.17 56.83 10.52 334 Downingtown HS West Campus PA 78.16 66.71 47.09 6.55 341 Butler Area SHS PA 77.7 56.12 48.27 19.27 343 Hatboro-Horsham SHS PA 77.57 68.02 53.24 12.57 344 Downingtown HS East Campus PA 77.5 85.81 24.46 5.12 364 Moon SHS PA 76.19 61.22 55.07 14.75 381 North Penn SHS PA 75.08 61.02 46.63 14.51 382 Seneca Valley SHS PA 75.02 71.35 82.01 9.88 384 Lewisburg HS PA 74.89 56.51 85.61 18.52 405 Science Leadership Academy PA 73.51 87.7 83.39 31.82 411 Council Rock Hs South PA 73.12 40.68 32.64 8.8 424 Montoursville Area SHS PA 72.27 55.07 75.74 24.64 429 Pine-Richland HS PA 71.94 67.76 55.33 4.76 438 Abington SHS PA 71.35 70.11 51.41 14.15 448 South Fayette Twp HS PA 70.7 68.54 85.02 13.63 466 Franklin Regional SHS PA 69.52 80.12 61.28 10.79 482 Spring-Ford Shs 10-12 Gr Ctr PA 68.48 57.49 36.76 11.68 489 Wissahickon SHS PA 68.02 43.3 62.52 13.79 494 Bradford Area HS PA 67.69 93.53 48.66 35.8 497 Haverford SHS PA 67.5 56.38 36.63 11.62 http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-schools-2014 Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7 The “Word” from your High School Library! H ello everyone! This is the first of our monthly updates about news and happenings in the high school library. Here is a review of some of the services we provide. п‚· We are open after school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until 3:00, and Tuesday and Thursday until 3:45. Don’t forget, the best way to get your student to read is for you to read too! п‚· Both libraries are constantly updating their collections with new and exciting books and movies. Encourage students to stop in and check out our collections! п‚· Once again, students can borrow a Simple Touch Nook, pre-loaded with books, from the West Library. Stop in the library if interested. п‚· We have many subscription databases available to our students with access from the library or at home. Students can visit either library for passwords. We would like your help in encouraging students to join Reading Olympics this year. Students are asked to read books and then participate in a county-wide competition in April. It is a no-pressure, fun and exciting group and we would love to have more interest. See Mrs. Wambach at East or Mrs. Thompson at West for more information. We will also highlight a “Recommended Book of the Month” in each newsletter. This book is available at both the West and East libraries to check out. http://www.pennsbury.k12.pa.us/pennsbury/PHS/Quick%20Links/Library/ Book of the Month The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Vida has always been reclusive, publishing popular "autobiographies" that are anything but the truth. Nearing death, Vida wants to tell her last tale--the notoriously missing 13th tale--before her time comes. Struck by curious parallels to her own life, a young bookshop assistant agrees to help Vida reveal the truth. Don’t forget, the best way to get your student to read is for you to read too! Your High School Librarians: Mrs. Wambach and Mrs. Thompson Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 8 From the Guidance Office Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 9 SAT PREP COURSES 2014-2015 AFTER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES REGISTRATION FORM Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 10 PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL ID #03714 Earn cash for PHS! Dear Parents: Welcome to the start of a new school year and a year of A+ School Rewards. Starting October 5, 2014 through March 21, 2015 Pennsbury High School will have the opportunity to earn cash through GIANT A+ School Rewards Program. All you have to do is: Log on to www.giantfoodstores.com/aplus select CUSTOMER REGISTRATION to register online using your BONUSCARD NEW THIS YEAR: If you registered your card last year, you DO NOT need to re -register this year. You can visit the website to verify correct school assignment. Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. It could mean more Cash for our school. After you register your card, each shopping trip at GIANT using your BONUSCARD earns CASH for our school. Each month, the amount of CASH awarded will be updated on the GIANT website. You can track the amount of points you earn for our school by checking your grocery receipt and online when you create an account at http://www.giantfoodstores.com. Our school will receive a check at the end of the program. The money can be used for any of our school’s educational needs. *Phone numbers may not be used to designate. If you do not know your 11-digit BONUSCARD number, call the Card Hotline at 1-888-814-4268 and select OPTION #2 Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 11 Attention Parents Accessing School Information Made East 1. Web Site Reminder Parents and guardians– please note that there are two Web sites we recommend you monitor on a regular basis: the District homepage (www.pennsburysd.org) and your school site. You may access individual schools sites through the “Schools” pull-down menu on the District homepage. District-wide announcements, such as school closures, delays, or emergencies, will be posted on the District homepage. Access the district for up to date information Pennsbury School Calendar Our Community School offers numerous educational and enrichment courses. Click to see all the choices— Community School Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 2. Important Information About the Parent Portal The Pennsbury School District is in the process of installing an entirely new student information system (SIS). As a result, the previous Parent Portal was deactivated along with the previous SIS during the first week of July, 2014. As the new SIS is phased in gradually over a period of approximately six months, a new Home Access Center will debut at a date to be determined midway through the 2014-2015 school year. The Home Access Center must be populated with student data and be completely functional prior to its availability to parents and guardians. We appreciate your patience and understanding. This is a temporary inconvenience as we work toward a permanent improvement. All will be notified once the Home Access Center becomes fully operational. In addition to student demographic data, the new system will contain report cards and attendance data for students at the elementary and secondary levels, as well as periodic assessment grades for all secondary students. 3. Emergency/Non-Emergency Messaging; Opting In for Text Messaging Pennsbury provides emergency and non-emergency messaging to enrolled families via voicemail, email, and text. These services are offered through a company called Blackboard Connect. At the beginning of each school year, families are asked to review the demographic data on file. Updates are made during the school year by contacting the main office at your child’s school. In order to comply with FCC regulations, text messaging is available only on an opt-in basis. Families are invited to provide up to two mobile phone numbers for this purpose. 4. Web-Only Calendars Monthly activity calendars are available on a Web-only basis on the Pennsbury site; these calendars are no longer available in hard copy. Locate the “Calendar” icon on either the District OR school homepage and you will find links to the single-page, full-year calendar, as well as the monthly activity calendars. Calendars will be updated regularly throughout the school year. 5. E-Flyers Throughout the year, please remember to visit the E-Flyers page, which is also linked from both the District and school Web sites. Here you will find frequentlyupdated information on community events, sports leagues, scouting, and many more topics of interest to Pennsbury families. Page 12 Calendar of Events November 2014 October 2014 10/11 SAT @ East 11/1 Falcon Field 10/11 Homecoming Carnival @ East 3:00pm Check out the Marching Band Festival on 11/1, 6:00pm Falcon Field Marching Band Festival 6:00pm @ 10/11 Homecoming Football Game 7:00pm 11/3 School Closed — Grading Day 10/18 PSAT 8:00am Gr 10 @ West—Gr 11 @ East 11/4 School Closed — Election Day 11/8 SATs @ East 10/21 PTO Meeting 9:00am @ West Staff Dev. Room 10/22 Fall Choral Concert @ East 10/23 Community Band Concert 7:30pm @ East 10/24 NHS Fall Induction 10/24 Fall Drama-Postponed 10/25 Fall Drama 7:30pm Postponed 10/25 ACTs @ East 10/28-30 Haunted House @ East 6:00— 8:00pm 10/31 End of Marking Period 11/10 Marching Band Concert 7:00pm @ East 11/11 School Closed—Veteran’s Day 11/18 PTO Meeting 9:00am @ West Staff Dev Room 11/18 Student Picture Make Up Day 11/18 Choral Concert 7:30pm @ West Keller Hall 11/25 NHS Blood Drive @ East Gym 11/26 1/2 Day for Students 11/27 Marching Band @ WPVI Thanksgiving Parade 11/27-12/1 No School Thanksgiving Break PHS Haunted House 10/28-30 6:008:00pm @ East Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 13 Falcon Flyer—Volume Pennsbury High School-East Campus 705 Hood Boulevard Fairless Hills, PA 19030 Shawn Neely, Principal 215-949-6700 Pennsbury High School –West Campus 608 South Olds Boulevard Fairless Hills, PA 19030 Lisa Becker, Principal 215-949-6780 Pennsbury High School Philosophy Statement Pennsbury High School is dedicated to providing a developmentally appropriate learning experience for all students in a standards -based school environment. To that end, curricula and programs will guide and empower students to become independent, life-long learners who are socially conscious, enriched by diversity, and contributing members of our community. Cooperation and communication among school, home and community are, therefore, essential to ensure a successful educational experience. A challenging academic environment will enable students to think critically, examine thoughtfully, and recognize their self-worth as well as the worth of others. Pennsbury School District Mission Statement The Pennsbury School District, a student-centered learning community, will prepare all students to achieve their highest potential and to demonstrate mastery of skills and talents necessary for life in a global society by providing a diverse educational program with the involvement and support of families and community. PHS Website PHS WEST BUILDING Main Office West Campus 215-949-6780 PHS EAST BUILDING Main Office East Campus 215-949-6700 Mrs. Lisa Becker – Principal West Campus Mr. Reggie Meadows – Assistant Principal Mr. Richard Fry – Assistant Principal Mrs. Cherrissa Gibson– Assistant Principal Mr. Lou Sudholz – Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Mr. Shawn Neely – Principal East Campus Mr. Vinny DePaola - Assistant Principal Ms. Lynne Blair – Assistant Principal Ms. Lisa Follman – Assistant Principal/ Supervisor of Counseling Ms. Lynda Norman – Management Assistant Mrs. Betty Stercula – Management Assistant Mrs. Judy Neeld – Management Assistant Falcon Flyer—Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 14
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