In The Q

Collin Gaj, Caroline Hattala bring home the gold for Panthers

Quakertown Community High School has two state champions as Collin Gaj and Caroline Hattala won titles in the boys and girls tournaments. Collin, a sophomore, went 49-0 this season on his way to the championship. Caroline, a freshman, pinned all four of her opponents to capture the crown. “It’s a pretty monumental accomplishment,” Coach Kurt Handel said.

Said Caroline: “We have such amazing coaches and wrestling partners. I couldn’t be more grateful. They’ve made me into the wrestler that I am. The best part of Quakertown wrestling is everyone’s so willing to help. It’s really a family here.”

Said Collin: “After my last takedown, I look over at the corner and see the coaches with smiles so big. I ran over and gave them hugs. Then I ran over and hugged my family. Definitely won’t forget that day forever.”

Wrestling story and pullout section

Richland student ranked among best worldwide in math competition

Jailan Meer, a Richland Elementary School 5th-grader, ranked third in the country and 94th in the world in Live Mathletics challenges on World Maths Day. The events that included millions of students ran for 48 hours to cover all global time zones.

“It feels really good,” Jailan said of his amazing scores that place him among the world’s most talented mathematicians. “Math is really fun.”

World Maths Day is all about fun, fast and inclusive mathematics, with Live Mathletics challenges being the highlight of the event. Students compete against peers from across the globe in 20 one-minute challenges. For every correct answer they achieve, they’re awarded one point which goes toward their total World Maths Day score.

“I found this on Twitter, did some research and our fourth- and fifth-grades embraced it,” said Instructional Coach Jennifer Froshour. “It was a great experience for our kids.”

Jailan’s success is no surprise. He excels in First In Math, the district’s elementary math curriculum. He was Richland’s first Grand Champion with 10,000 stickers and did so well an additional category has been created: Richie’s 20,000 Sticker Club.

Jailan’s teacher, Mike Huber, said “I know how strong Jailan is in math, but to be ranked in the country and world like that is very impressive.”

For the seventh consecutive year, the Quakertown Community High School cheerleading team qualified for the PIAA tournament and finished seventh overall. Coach Breanna Terman described the season as "a great accomplishment."

Following States, the squad traveled to Orlando for the National High School Cheerleading Championships where they performed Game Day and Traditional Routines. "Our Game Day performance was our highest scoring routine all season, achieving an 87," Coach Terman said. "It was an amazing trip for our 23 athletes."

The team includes Lorelai Keller, Ella Chapman, Jillian Wehrheim, Addison Keller, Gabriel Jones, Sydney Bishop, Cora Compo, Chanel Pineda, Joslyn Applegate, Mckayla Dallison, Jaylin Applegate, Mackenzie Harris, Sophia Wang, Mary Jimenez, Allyson Swann, Abigail Applegate, Lily Bures, Ashley Patrick, Alyssa Fonda, Alexis Austin, Coco Torres, Jailyn Davis, and Sophia Talarico.

Several students awarded for their art

Several Quakertown Community High School students are being recogized by organizations for producing outstanding works of art.

“There’s just so much to celebrate,” said Digital Art teacher Amy Migliore. “Juried opinions from outside the school have seen the talent we have here and our students compete well with their peers across the state. It’s important for them to gain accolades outside of Quakertown.”

Five students - seniors Kristy Nguyen, Mary Barbour, Felix O’Donnell, Bonnie Gendeloff, and junior Stephanie Jaxheimer - have received recognition from Scholastic Art Competition, “the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens,” according to its website. As part of the Philadelphia Region, awards range from gold, silver and honorable mention.

Recognizing QCHS artists

Mackenna Calabria competes in states in girls track 'stellar season'

The Quakertown Community High School girls indoor track team completed what coach Jason Anderson called a "stellar season" with Mackenna Calabria qualifying for states in the 60 meters as one of the top 20 fastest girls in PA. "This is her second year running in the Indoor State Championships at Penn State," Coach Anderson said. "She's been incredible."

Rebekah Hickey had another outstanding campaign, setting two school records and running a state qualifying time in the mile, only to be edged out by finishing just outside the top 20.

The girl's 4x200 team of Mackenna, Ashlyn Calabria, Rachel McMonagle and Ember Retter also qualified for the Meet of Champions at Lehigh and ended the season 22nd, just outside the top 20. Other highlights included Kaitlin Calvello, a junior, finishing in the top 30 in both long jump and triple jump.

"I am so proud of everyone's efforts," Coach Anderson said.

14 Strayer students have the answers

Fourteen Strayer Middle School students received perfect scores on the civics exam, and the average score of eighth-graders was 73 percent on the test. Several of the students were recognized at the March 9 School Board meeting.

"It's as good a group of students as I've had in my 28 years of teaching,” Strayer social studies teacher Chris Goerlitz said. “I'm really, really proud of them and everybody should be, too."

Perfect score on civics exam

Strayer model lights up Times Square

A Strayer Middle School student was recently part of a fashion video on a billboard in Times Square. The video that included Gazelle Diehl, a seventh-grader, ran in New York during Indonesia Fashion Week, said her mom.

“It was like, ‘Wow, oh my gosh,’ ” said Fenny Schmidt, Gazelle’s mom. Dad, Kevin Diehl, said “It was heartwarming to see.”

Gazelle, 13, has been modeling since the age of 9. She doesn’t expect it to continue much longer, she said, as sports consume her interests. She plays volleyball, basketball, and softball for Strayer. She’s also in the skiing/snowboarding club.

Strayer model lights up Times Square

QCHS students take advantage of potential life-saving experience

Dozens of Quakertown Community High School students took the wheel of distracted driving simulators and saw how their lives can change in a matter of seconds when they’re on the road in a real-life situation.

The simulators, brought to the high school thanks to the efforts of the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), were stationed outside the school’s Performing Arts Center and provided by the Lehigh Valley Health Network. They consist of a screen, steering wheel, and foot pedals and generated various distractions for the young drivers, including moving cats, dogs, and pedestrians.

School Resource Office Bob Lee and members of TMA Bucks, Carly Mannon, Community Traffic Safety Program Manager, and at TMA Bucks, and Ashley Sulon, Project Coordinator, were on hand to help guide students.

Distracted driving simulators

Best Buddies team up with Trum Life Skills students

Best Buddies from Quakertown Community High School recently assisted Trumbauersville Elementary School Life Skills students with their Community-Based Instruction Trip to The Grand Theatre.

The students learned social skills and how to navigate in a community setting. “It was delightful for students of all ages and ability levels to learn and socialize in a community setting,” said Carrie Staffieri, Special Education Supervisor (K-6). “The teachers and staff planned a successful day full of fun!”

She said Best Buddies “were a fantastic help” as they socialized with students and helped them feel comfortable.

QCHS seeks businesses for 1st career fair

Quakertown Community High School is inviting local businesses seeking both full- and part-time employees to participate in the school's first Career Fair, first for students and then for the general public.

The event is scheduled for Monday, May 15. The Career Fair for students is scheduled for noon to 2:15 p.m. The general public will follow from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m.

“The focal point is getting job opportunities for all of our students,” said Pathways Administrator Jason Magditch. “Plus, it’s a good opportunity for us to give back to our community and help local businesses and residents of Quakertown.”

The event is a resume-building experience for students, who will need to have one to attend the job fair. “They’ll learn the importance of making a good first impression,” Mr. Magditch said.

For more information, please contact George Banas (gbanas@qcsd.org) or Rachelle Quinter (rquinter@qcsd.org).

QCHS grad speaks with students about careers in the army

Army SSG Kevin Norvaisis spoke to Quakertown Community High School students Wednesday as part of the Career Pathways Speaker Series. The 2015 QCHS graduate, now a recruiter, shared with students the opportunities the Army offers.

“You reserve the job you want to have,” he said. “That was important to me. I wanted to do something combat oriented.” That led to his training in firing artillery. He referred to his service as “my career, my passion.”

The monthly speaker series has included a variety of career options for students with Academic Pathways that incorporate Arts and Humanities, Business, Marketing and Finance, STEM and Computer Science. Students have heard from an attorney, bankers, teachers, administrators, emergency medical technicians, a genetic counselor, and members of the Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Students hear positives of Army career

Adria Retter setting records at Swarthmore

Quakertown Community High School 2019 graduate Adria Retter continued her domination for Swarthmore University at the Tufts National Qualifying Meet. Taking on athletes from nearly 50 different schools, Adria finished first in the shot put and third in the weight throw.

Adria's winning throw of 14.30m in the shot put broke the Swarthmore record, setting a new mark of excellence. With the result, Adria now holds the eighth-best throw in all of Division III track & field this season.

Competing in the weight throw, Retter finished third, putting up a mark of 15.97m.

The Giant Company presented Quakertown Community School District with a check for $10,594.14 as part of the supermarkets’ Feeding School Kids initiative.

The money was raised by customers at the two Quakertown area Giant supermarkets along Route 309 who rounded up their bill to the nearest dollar or donated by converting points earned with their purchases earlier this year. Giant then matched that number.

Giant check

QCHS seeks Wall of Fame nominations

Quakertown Community High School Principal Mattias van 't Hoenderdaal is seeking Wall of Fame nominations from the public. Alumni considered will have demonstrated exceptional achievement in a career or have contributed significantly to the health, welfare or human rights of the local, state, national, or international community.

A completed nomination form must be received by the QCHS Principal by March 25 to be considered. Successful candidates will be notified by May 1. Please click here for the nomination form.

The Wall of Fame Committee is comprised of:

Ray Fox, Quakertown Alumni Association
Tom Klee, At-Large Member
Audrey Waddell, Quakertown Community Education Association
Sylvia Kalasz, Superintendent Representative
Christopher Betz, Quakertown Community Education Foundation

The Alumni Association and Quakertown Community Education Foundation help fund the Wall.

QCSD Special Education Plan 2023-2026

Each school district in Pennsylvania is required to develop a Special Education plan aligned with its strategic plan. The plan reflects ongoing programs and services and incorporates anticipated changes in programming as a result of corrective action generated by cyclical monitoring and improvement planning and other factors.

Here is QCSD’s Special Education plan for 2023-26.