Quakertown students exhibited dignity and decorum as they demonstrated in support of Florida's 17 shooting victims and against school violence on March 14.

Hundreds of high school solemnly walked on the track outside of the football field as the names were read by fellow students -- Olivia Burke, Ally Gunning, Kalli Hildebrandt, Shayna Kelly and Kasie Bloss -- over the loudspeakers.

Pictures of the victims were held by students along the walking path. Red ribbons were handed out to those who requested one. Some students strolled holding signs with hashtags: #ParklandStrong … #BeKind … #SupportEachOther … #NeverAgain.

For 17 minutes, students moved along the walking path inside the football stadium. After each minute, another name was read. It was not hard to find emotion welling in the eyes of the walkers.

Quakertown students were among thousands who walked out of school nationwide on March 14 to pay their respects to those who died for nothing more than going to class or working in a school.

“Today we wear black in mourning of the dead and ribbons in their school colors,” Olivia announced at the stadium. “Today’s non- partisan walkout serves as a memorial and an opportunity to raise our voices in support of school safety.”

For student coverage of the event and other news in Panther Ink, please click here.

For more coverage of the Student Walkout, please click here.

Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner and several municipal officials spoke to about 50 Realtors on March 29 about the reasons their clients should be moving into homes and starting businesses in the towns contained within the Quakertown Community School District.

“We are very proud of what we are accomplishing here,” said Harner, who hosted the meeting at the high school. “We’ve had great support by the School Board and families in the community.”

The event was put together by Shelby Miller and Vickie Landis of Keller Williams Realty, which funded the high school’s new bowling teams.

“This was a great opportunity to get local Realtors in the area to learn all about the great things happening in Quakertown,” Miller said. “The support that the municipalities provide not only to the people in their communities but also with each other is unlike other areas. Dr. Harner does a fantastic job ensuring people are aware of all that is happening in our community and Realtors now know how to assist their clients in buying, selling and investing in homes in Quakertown.”

Besides Harner, speakers included Doug Wilhelm, Quakertown’s director of community development; Naomi Naylor, executive director and Main Street Manager for Quakertown Alive!; John Roth, Milford’s assistant manager; John Butler, chief operating officer of the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority; and Paul Stepanoff, Richland’s manager and a former School Board member.

The common themes from speakers was the description of the area as “up and coming … safe” and “affordable” with lots of history, a great parks system, and “collaboration” between the communities and district.

Stepanoff, in photo above, praised Quakertown and Richland police for their accreditation and keeping the communities secure. He also gave a shout out to district students.

“We have great kids,” he said. “If our kids travel anywhere, you speak to people in the hotels, you speak to bus drivers, the one common theme is they are the best behaved kids anyone outside of this area has ever seen.”

Harner, in photo below, later gave tours to Realtors who haven’t seen the newly renovated high school. He highlighted the district’s academic excellence, attained through the hard work of students and teachers.

QCSD has 28 Advanced Placement courses, World Languages in grades 6 to 12, Spanish and coding in kindergarten to fifth grades, and outstanding STEM programs.

“It’s really cool and getting robust,” Harner said of the technological achievements. “We could only imagine that years ago, and our youngest students are doing it now.”

A year ago, Quakertown finished first in Bucks County and 12th in the state in the Pennsylvania School Performance Profile.

With a 34 percent poverty index, Harner said “no one with anywhere near 34 percent outperforms us. The value of what we’re doing here is excellent.”

About 50 Strayer Middle School students and two dozen drivers from Levy School Bus Co. met to discuss ways to improve bus safety.

“The purpose of the bus summit is improve communication and student-driver relationships, increase empathy, and show appreciation for one another,” said Kim Finnerty, an administrative intern who facilitated the March 27 event. “Ultimately, this will lead to a safe, comfortable bus ride for all.”

All participants were asked these three questions and follow-up up with a discussion:

“I would like my students/driver to know …”

“It’s been a positive bus ride when … “

“I would have a better bus ride if …”

Len Pawlowski, a manager for Levy, said “Brainstorming to find ways to make bus rides better is always a good thing. Meetings like this puts a human face on the driver for the kids. Hopefully it leads to working hand-in-hand for a more positive experience.”

The 75-minute session fits in with the “Strayer Stronger Matrix,” which calls on students to be safe, responsible, respectful and courageous.

“It’s a starting point,” Finnerty said. “We want to work together to build relationships and make this an awesome experience for everyone.”

Advanced Placement Seminar students presented their group projects in the high school’s Performing Arts Center on March 1 and 2.

The students spent the last month researching and writing on the topics they selected.

“This is a unique course where they learn to research intensively,” said Rachel Girman, the AP Seminar teacher. “It’s a course that undoubtedly prepares them for college, and makes their experience in college easier.”

The topics the students chose were wide-ranging.

Jenna Blair, Abby Schwartz, Sarah Stofik and Morgan Thrush spoke about standardized testing, and whether it was an accurate means for measuring student achievement.

Jollyfisher Ekpe, Zachary Pint and Taylor Puccella originally were going to report on the death penalty. During their research, however, they decided judicial bias was a more worthy topic.

On Friday, Joseph Lock, Katerina Petrouna Hernandez and Olivia Williams presented on the Impact of climate change in North America.

Also Friday, Samuel Barndt, Zachary Pernia, Katherine McCarthy and Megan Woods discussed their findings on the cost benefit of countries having nuclear weapons.

Following Thursday’s presentations, Girman said “You guys were awesome today. I’m spectacularly proud of you.”

In his most recent Blog, Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner detailed the importance of AP classes in college readiness.

"Expanding our AP course offerings and preparing our students years before they take these courses is the cornerstone of meeting our mission to ensure our graduates are college ready," Harner stated. "Last year, 54 percent of our graduates went on to a four-year college, and 42 percent of them had taken at least one AP course while in QCHS. Our teachers have done a remarkable job raising the rigor in their classrooms, and getting students ready for college level work and their exams. The Class of 2018 will be the best prepared class for college in Quakertown history!"

All fourth graders in the Quakertown Community School District have completed a program designed to develop tolerance and empathy among students while building a more inclusive classroom community.

The students took part in five, 45-minute sessions of the program titled “Celebrating Me, Celebrating You.” It was developed by the Peace Center, a social justice organization hired by the district’s administration and School Board.

Kate Whitman, the Peace Center’s assistant director, said studies show that if children don’t learn of tolerance by the fourth grade, “it gets more difficult for them to see prejudice and know what to do” as they get older.

The organization’s work in QCSD, she said “was an exceptionally positive experience for us. All of the principals were in the classroom. That’s really rare. That sends such a powerful message to the kids.

“When you have such a commitment from leadership, that does filter down and make a difference.”