GS Updates
Gwynedd Square Elementary School
Week of January 14th
Upcoming Events
- January 15th: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 15th: No School; Schools are Closed.
- January 16th: NPSD Special Election. Schools are Open. Don’t Forget to Vote.
- January 16th: Cancelled CP&E Hybrid Meeting @ 6:30 PM Gwynedd Square Conference Room
- January 19th: Early Dismissal: @ 12:35 PM.
- January 19th: Skate Night @ 5:30 PM In-Line 309 Hatfield, PA. All skaters must register.
- January 24th: Dine and Donate @ The Metropolitan Diner North Wales, PA.
- February 27th: NPSD Black History Oratorical Competition @ 6:00 PM North Penn High School.
Martin Luther King, Jr is January 15th
Five fascinating facts about Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" Speech:
- The official event was called the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” On June 11, 1963, President John F. Kennedy made a nationally televised address calling for a drive for more civil rights.
- The March was not universally supported by activists. Prominent objectors included Malcolm X and Strom Thurmond. The organizers didn’t agree on all the issues, either, but they did agree that people should march together at the event.
- There were 10 speakers on the official program for the public event at the Lincoln Memorial: All of them were men. Rabbi Joachim Prinz spoke right before King. There were no speakers after King, as organizers led the audience in a pledge and gave a benediction.
- Dr. King almost didn’t give the “I Have a Dream” part of the “I Have A Dream” speech. Singer Mahalia Jackson urged King to tell the audience “about the dream,” and King went into an improvised section of the speech.
- The person who wound up with the typewritten speech given by King is retired college basketball coach George Raveling. A college basketball player at Villanova, organizers saw Raveling in the crowd and asked him to be a bodyguard on stage. He stood next to King on stage, and decided to ask him for the paper copy of the speech. King obliged and Raveling had the speech locked away in a safe place, with no intention of selling it.
Skate Night
We are happy to announce that Skate night is back!! January 19th 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm dress in your tie dye apparel, and get ready to skate the night away!!
Student council will be selling pizza, soft pretzels, and water and Home and School will be selling glow sticks and other accessories to ensure a night of fun for all ages!! H&S will also be having a bake sale.
Please remember that all skaters, including adults, need to register and all skaters will need to pay. Parents/Guardians if you do not plan to skate, you will not need to pay. This is a pre-pay event, however you can also pay at-the-door. Pre-pay will be ending Wednesday evening after please plan to pay at the door.
Check out the informational flyer, linked here, and the roller skating advanced registration form linked here.
If Your Student Will be Absent
Just a reminder that if your student will be absent, please send an email to harjalmf@npenn.org and their teacher, or call 215-853-1460 or report the absence thru the automated Safe Arrival system.
If you do not currently use the Safe Arrival app for reporting an absence and would like to do so, please choose one of the options below:
Using your mobile device, download and install the School Messenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.comOpening in a new window). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account using an email address we have on file for you. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
Use the Safe Arrival website, https://go.schoolmessenger.comOpening in a new window. The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Once again, please remember to create your account using an email address we have on file for you. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
Call the toll-free number (888) 239-8495 to report an absence using the automated phone system.
These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time. Day of absences, for instance for illness, should be reported as early in the morning as possible the day of the absence.
Thank you.
Dine and Donate at The Metropolitan Diner.
Don't feel like cooking, no worries!
Visit The Metropolitan Diner 750 Upper State Road, North Wales, PA 19454 on January 24th and raise funds for Gwynedd Square Home and School Association. 10% of your food purchase price will be donated back to Gwynedd Square. Dine in or order take-out all day from 11:00 am - 9:00 pm. Don't forget to mention you're there to support Gwynedd Square's Home and School Association.
Please view the informational flier linked here.
Reading Olympics
Families and students,
Our next two Reading Olympics meetings will be held on January 22nd and January 29th at 8:15 in the library.
See you then!
NPSD Black History Oratorical Competition
In celebration of Black History, ALL North Penn students from grades 3-12 are invited to participate in this year's NPSD Black History Oratorical Competition.
The competition is designed to allow North Penn public school students to shine through public speaking while honoring Black history. Students will recite published speeches or poems from an African-American or Black leader such as Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, or others.
The competition will take place on February 27, 2024, at NPHS beginning at 6:00 pm. Submissions are due by January 19, 2024.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Step 1 - Interested students will recite their speech and submit the video by Friday, January 19, 2024, using the following link to the video submission form. A committee will review each submission and select finalists for the district-wide competition.
Step 2 - Selected students from each level will present their speeches at a competition held at North Penn High School on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 pm. A flexible dress rehearsal will be held on February 26, 2024. Semi-finalists can come between 4:30 and 6:00 pm to rehearse on the stage.
Video submissions will be selected based on how students respect/honor Black History, and embody messages that inspire and uplift participants to continue toward progress; believing the impossible is possible.
Remember: Black History is not just about slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. Strive to select oratory pieces that reflect the S.P.I.R.I.T. of the people throughout the African Diaspora:
S-Strength P-Perseverance I-Imagination R-Responsibility I-Integrity T-Talent
Rules for Participants
• Students must attend a NPSD public school.
• Students must present their chosen speech.
• Students should adhere to the maximum time limit (3rd-5th graders should not exceed 3 minutes and 6th-12th graders should not exceed 4 minutes).
• Students are encouraged to memorize their speech; however, reading from notecards is allowed.
• Student participants are asked to submit only one entry.
• Check out this link to see videos of past performances.
Scoring
The participants will receive points (60 points maximum) while performing in different areas.
Rubric for scoring categories:
• Expression/Stage Presence (20 points)
• Delivery & Presentation (20 points)
• Overall Effectiveness (20 points)
Certificates will be awarded to all participants.
Prizes will be rewarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finalists.
Download and share the 2024 NPSD Black History Oratorical Competition Flyer
Link to story on NP Right Now - https://youtu.be/LDaS5MAE8ys