The Neidig Chalkboard
Building a community of leaders who inspire greatness!
IT'S SUMMER!
Neidig Elementary School
Email - sgodshalk@qcsd.org
Twitter - @sgodshalk
Email: sgodshalk@qcsd.org
Website: https://nes.qcsd.org/
Location: Temporary Address - 2360 Old Bethlehem Pike North, Quakertown, PA
Phone: 215-529-2360
Twitter: @NeidigElem
Welcome Summer! Neidig Update:
As we close this school year, there are many questions about the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Will Neidig be finished, or will we return to Tohickon Valley? Will the district be ready for face to face instruction for the first day of school? (August 31) If we are starting face to face, what safety protocols will be in place? The district has several task forces working on these issues right now, and the school board is looking at all options.
Regarding our move back to Neidig, we received the news we did not want to hear. Our construction management group informed us that the COVID-19 shut down has negatively impacted the project timeline. The project was completely shut down for about 2 weeks, and some of the major contractors on the project were shut down for up to 5 weeks. Initially, there was hope that the crews could overcome that shutdown period. Unfortunately, the numerous variables involved in a major construction project (supply chain, sequencing of contractor work, safety protocols, ...) produced the result that the building will not be ready for the first day of school on August 31. I know this is hard to accept, and we have to be sensitive to the impact the coronavirus has had on the world. We will be moving back into a beautiful, brand new building, but we are just not sure when that will be. As of today, our construction management groups shared that the latest date would be October 1, which is four weeks after the start of school.
At last week's QCSD School Board meeting, the board members discussed this topic at length. The primary discussion revolved around two options for handling this dilemma when school starts in the fall. It is important to note that instruction for Neidig students is dependent upon what instruction looks like for our district in the fall. Please continue to read Dr. Harner's emails about this topic so you have the most up to date information. If we do return to face to face instruction in the fall, the board members discussed the two options:
1. Return to the Tohickon Valley campus until Neidig is ready.
OR
2. Neidig students work in a virtual/online setting until Neidig is ready, even if the rest of the district is back to face to face instruction in buildings.
I encourage you to CLICK THIS LINK to listen to the last school board meeting. You will hear the board members talking about this issue starting 8 minutes and 25 seconds into the meeting, and this discussion lasts until about 21 minutes into the meeting. There will be much more discussion about this topic at the June 25 QCSD (virtual) School Board Meeting.
QCSD Summer Learning!
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE QCSD SUMMER LEARNING CHOICE BOARDS!
Neidig Artwork!
Additionally, many QCSD students prepared artwork to honor the heroes working at St. Luke's Hospital. Please click this link to view a video about this project and to view the artwork. Way to go QCSD students, and thank you health care heroes!
QCSD set with tasty summer meal program
By Gary Weckselblatt
For the first time, the Quakertown Community School District has instituted a free Summer Meal service for all children 18 and under.
The service is scheduled to run from June 23rd through August 20th.
“The Administration and School Board understand the challenging times many of our families are going through,” said Zach Schoch, QCSD’s Chief Operating Officer. “We urge families to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Just like the district’s current meals program during the closure of buildings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, food pickup will be held at Quakertown Community High School’s Bus Drop-off Location. Food will be provided each Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Tuesdays, each student will be provided with breakfast and lunch for two days. On Thursdays, each student will receive breakfast and lunch for three days.
Depending on the day, breakfast items may include assorted cereals, apple frudel, mini pancakes with syrup, whole grain bagel with cream cheese, and French toast with syrup. Each meal comes with a 100 percent fruit juice box.
Lunch items may include chicken tenders, turkey and cheese sandwich, chicken sandwich, ham and cheese hoagie and pizza boli. Each meal comes with an assorted fruit cup and whole fresh fruit. Some meals may need to be reheated. They will come with “Preparing Your Meal” handout instructions.
St. Luke’s University Health Network will be supporting the district’s efforts, providing Community Supported Agriculture on Thursdays along with backpacks that contain non-perishable items for weekend meals and snacks.
Quakertown Borough’s Park and Recreation’s Camp in a Bag program will also be part of the Summer Food Service. They will include Healthy Kids, Bright Futures Educational Programing with take-home activities such as videos, online resources, “Get your Tail on the Trail” School Programing, gardening instruction with seed packets, dental day with handouts and coloring books.
Pete Kelley of Chartwells, the district’s food service provider, said approximately 2,000 meals have been served each week to QCSD students during the building shutdown. He said those numbers have dropped in the last two weeks. “Our families know we’re here,” he said. “We have fulfilled a need and we’re glad to continue that effort this summer.”
Gary Weckselblatt, QCSD Director of Communications, writes about the people and the programs that impact the Quakertown Community School District. He can be reached at gweckselblatt@qcsd.org.
Band and Orchestra Resources
Are your students interested in joining the band? We now have resources available online for those students and families who could not attend any of the day time live shows nor the evening live show.
Families who visit www.qcsd.org/music will now find a Learn To Play a Musical Instrument webpage. This webpage provides resources for students to learn about being in the band and being in the orchestra. The webpage also provides ways for students to explore the different types of musical instruments they can start learning next year at QCSD. This resource is designed looking to listen to specific musical instruments from our live presentations one more time, and it can help students who were not able to attend our live presentations explore musicals instruments on their own time. Families can use the Contact Our Teachers web page to find the band and orchestra teachers in their school for more information and next steps.
PAL Board Position Available!
We are actively looking for a Neidig parent/guardian to fill the recording secretary role on the PAL Board. Are you looking to engage in meaningful work and positively influence the Neidig community? Please consider becoming a member of the PAL Board. Interested applicants should send Mr. Godshalk an email (sgodshalk@qcsd.org) to apply for the position. If you have questions about this position, please feel free to contact our PAL President, Mrs. Bruno at aksb27@gmail.com .
Summer Reading Recommendations on Flipgrid!
Have you already started on your summer reading? Share the books you love on Flipgrid all summer long!
Click on the link next to your NEW grade level. (Remember, you graduated last week!)
Read the directions about posting your book recommendation.
Click on the plus sign to add a new post! You will first record your video and then take a selfie.
Check out your friends' posts for your next book idea.
The grade level with the most posts will win a PRIZE when we are all back together. :)
First Grade Grid: https://flipgrid.com/faf9f229
Second Grade Grid: https://flipgrid.com/1a5253a6
Third Grade Grid: https://flipgrid.com/319e1914
Fourth Grade Grid: https://flipgrid.com/d808a9ec
Fifth Grade Grid: https://flipgrid.com/b0be75c8
Sixth Grade Grid: https://flipgrid.com/9106dbfe
Happy reading and thank you for participating!
Ongoing Community Resources
QCSD Distance Learning Page - Use these resources to help manage online learning options.
Technology Support - Is your child having issues with their Chromebook or iPad? Please click here to fill out a work order. Someone from our tech office will be in touch with you!
Parent Support for Distance Learning - At home learning is not easy! Click this link for helpful and useful information.
Some Updated Pictures of Neidig!
Pick-Up Week!
Bags, Bags, Bags!
We Miss You Too!
Leader in Me Family Resources
The Leader in Me is not a program. It is a philosophy for school and life. There is so much we can all benefit from right now. We want to support you with Neidig routines that your children can teach you! Check out these amazing LIM FAMILY RESOURCES. You will find activities, lessons, and videos. This is a great site!