THE LIONS DEN
Schweitzer Newsletter December 2021
Albert Schweitzer Elementary School
Email: aorlando@neshaminy.org
Website: https://www.neshaminy.org/ses
Location: 30 Harmony Road, Levittown, PA, USA
Phone: 215-809-6380
Facebook: facebook.com/Schweitzeres
Important Dates
12/23 thru 12/31 - NO SCHOOL for Students and Staff (Winter Break)
1/17-NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
2/21-NO SCHOOL President's Day
2/22-NO SCHOOL (Staff Professional Development Day)
Happy Holiday Wishes
We continue to learn and grow at Albert Schweitzer Elementary! As I walked the halls and visited classrooms today, there was a different feel in our building. Students were in PJs for our School Spirit Day, parent volunteers were doing holiday activities in classrooms, and the Polar Express invaded kindergarten! There was a sense of 'normalcy' that many of us have been longing for. Though we continue to be thrown challenges as we continue through the pandemic, we are still resilient and strong as a Schweitzer community.
To all our students and staff and our entire Albert Schweitzer school community, have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday and Winter break!! We will see everyone in 2022!
Take care,
Dr. Amy Orlando
Principal
Albert Schweitzer Winter Concert
Holiday Help from Student Ambassadors & Schweitzer Community
The Holiday Help program at Albert Schweitzer allows Schweitzer staff members and families to adopt a family to purchase gifts for. This year their school community is giving back to their own families including 36 Schweitzer children and 12 families. A special thank you to Kelly Moyer, Nicole Schultz, and Mary Ellen Pulak for leading the program this year that helps make the holidays special for so many of the school’s students and families.
Schweitzer’s 4th grade Student Ambassadors raised $1,931.25 to add to their gift giving to the Schweitzer families this year! That is the most they’ve ever raised!! Thank you to all the Schweitzer families for your donations. Ambassadors raised money each morning leading up to the holidays and then went shopping with Mrs. Pulak at Target for a variety of gifts including pajamas, blankets, and toys the children in the families asked for. Students then met during their recess time to wrap all the gifts. In addition, ambassadors purchased Target gift cards for families and everyone under the age of 13 received a book, a hat, gloves, socks, and a toy. Those over 13 got a pair of gloves and a $25 Target gift card.
Below is our Honor Roll Thank-Yous to all the families and organizations that donated!
Middletown Township Police Department
Middletown Township Community Foundation
Kiwanis Club of Levittown Bristol Foundation
Albert Schweitzer PTO
Albert Schweitzer Staff
Albert Schweitzer Student Ambassadors
Queen of the Universe Church
The Ditzler Family
The White Family
The Schmerbeck Family
The Tavares Family
The Cordero Family
The Bray Family
The McKenna Family
The Salisbury Family
The McCormick Family
The Boose Family
The Davis Family
The Muller Family
The Kelly Family
The Cabeza Family
Mrs. Moyer assists students and families in managing the stress and challenges that we are currently facing. We appreciate all that she does for our school community.
Mrs. Moyer's School Counselor Website
https://www.neshaminy.org/domain/1464
Covid-Related Resources:
https://www.neshaminy.org/Page/42268
Click Mrs. Moyer's Fall Newsletter BELOW
Teaching Children to Help Others
If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody. -Chinese Proverb
Children are never too young to learn the value and joy of helping others. As we know, children learn by watching their parents. Take talking, for instance. We talk to our children from the time they’re babies and, after a while, they start talking back. We know that if they see us reading, chances are they will learn to love reading too. We can also model compassion and generosity to raise caring kids. If children see us donating our time, money, and belongings, they will learn to do the same. By volunteering or donating as a family, parents can raise children who not only care, but help others. Here are a few ideas for helping and supporting others.
Start volunteering locally. Go to your church, temple, other religious organization, community center, school, or library to ask about local groups that support the cause(s) you've identified. Talk to friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors about your area of interest. Perhaps you already know someone who is volunteering for a charity that would be a good fit for your family. Local United Ways often have volunteer listings.
Go straight to the source. If your child wants to cheer up children in the hospital, visit or call a local children’s hospital with your child and ask what you can do. You may want to suggest specific activities like hosting a holiday party, doing arts and craft projects for children in the hospital, painting the fingernails of all the girls, dressing like a clown and painting faces, or whatever your child thinks of. If your child loves animals, you could visit an animal shelter together and offer to walk the dogs once a week. Be creative! If you are sincere and are suggesting something that doesn't make more work for the employees or other volunteers, chances are you will get a warm reception.
Adapted: https://aleteia.org/2018/04/26/to-help-them-deal-with-bullying-lets-teach-kids-this-important
Schweitzer Staff Service Awards
New Merry Go All on the Playground
Albert Schweitzer PTO
Thank you to our Schweitzer parent volunteers for helping to bring back our Holiday Shop! Students bought special gifts for their families all while raising money to put back toward our school. The PTO also had Candy Cane grams for students. Thank you to all the families that participated! In case you didn't get to purchase Schweitzer Spiritwear items yet, the information is below:
SPIRITWEAR SALE:
Schweitzer's Spirit Wear Shop is open! The above button is the link to order.
https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/PA/Levittown/Albert%20Schweitzer%20Elementary%20School
This year we are doing an on-demand, direct-ship program. It works just like regular online shopping. As soon as you submit your order, your items are printed and shipped directly to your door! How convenient!
Each design is available in multiples different styles in youth and adult sizes. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out and email us at asptoinfo@gmail.com
If you would like your orders in time for the holiday please place your order by 11/30.
*There is no deadline to order, shop will be open until the end of the school year.
PTO WEBSITE:
This year we are working on expanding the use of our new PTO website over at PTBoard. Registering for this site will make it easier for you to keep up-to-date about the PTO activities and find connections to your child's classmates.
Please register for the website: https://alschweitzer.ptboard.com
Enrollment Code: WSWQAX
PTO Officers for 2021-2022
President-Ashley Smith
Vice President-Katie Doherty
Treasurer-Kate Hennessey
Recording Secretary-Amy Kaminski
Corresponding Secretary-Victoria Barnes Brown
Parliamentarian-Melanie Jackson-Panichelle
Important Reminders for Arrival/Dismissal
In our efforts to keep everyone safe and ensure a smooth system for morning and afternoon drop-off and pickup, I wanted to send important reminders.
- Arrival Times-Morning arrival is 8:50-9:10 am. Children should not be arriving to school before 8:50 am. There is no adult supervision before that time, so please do not have children walk or ride their bike to school and arrive prior to 8:50 am.
- Walker Door-NO CARS should be pulling up to the walker door to drop off or pick up students. This means no cars should be parked across the street on Harmony Rd. at the end of the day and no cars should be pulling up at the walker door in the morning for drop-off. If students are arriving or leaving in a car, parents should be dropping off and picking up in the back of the building. Please be considerate of procedures. It's important not to mix car traffic with foot traffic to keep everyone safe. The Middletown Township Police will also be monitoring this to assure the front of the building is safe with no cars parked or pulling up out front.
- No Pets-For the safety and comfort of all families, please do not bring pets onto campus during the school day or during arrival/dismissal times. There have been dogs on campus at arrival and dismissal, and we would appreciate if you kept them at home during these times.
- Playing After Dismissal-Students have been playing on the playground and playing ball outside in the front of the building after school. Please do not play in the front or the back of the building following dismissal. It’s important to make sure students are with an adult and that students get home safely without balls rolling into the street and/or children getting hurt on the playground without staff supervision.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our entire school community safe.
Visitors
Last Day Holiday Fun!
Grade 2-Mrs. Cahill
Mrs. Cahill's class participating in a STEM activity. Students had to design and built the tallest freestanding marshmallow tower using toothpicks and marshmallows!
Mrs. Exner
Grade 1-Mr. Wells
Grade 4-Mrs. Mela
Grade 1-Mr. Wells
Grade 1-Ms. Flynn
Mrs. Bullick
Grade 3-Ms. Hanley
As part of festivities today, F4 students participated in an engaging STEM activity! Students followed the steps of the scientific method as they created structures with toothpicks and mini marshmallows! Great teamwork and fun!
Grade K-Mrs. McHugh
Like our Albert Schweitzer Facebook Page
We are working hard to keep our Albert Schweitzer Facebook page updated with lots of photos from school events. Please be sure to visit our site often and 'Like' our page!
~~ WE BUILD FUTURES ~~