PGHS Newsletter
2-23-15
Pottsgrove Recognized as Digital Leaders
Important Dates & Events
Wed-Friday, February 25-27 - DECA State Competition
Thursday, February 26 - NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention Education Assembly) 2 Assemblies in the morning
Parent Night 6:30 p.m. at Middle School Auditorium
Friday, February 27 - Cyber-Bullying Play presented by PGHS UNITE
(Tentative schedule)
Period 2 - Grade 11
Period 3 - Grade 12
Period 6 - Grade 10
Period 7 - Grade 9
Sunday, March 1 - WMTC Enrollment Application Deadline
Monday, March 2 - Spring Sports Begin
PTSA
Officers Needed!!! - The High School PTSA is in need of Officers for next school year. Thanks to the leadership of Kim Kelly, Jamie Sanchez, Trish Downey, and David Trexler for their leadership of our PTSA over the last years. All of their children are graduating so we will need new for President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Please consider serving in this role.
Message from our Superintendent
Dear Parents and Community Members:
I am writing to give you an update regarding the changes the Pottsgrove School District is making with its grading scale and reporting system. Last year after months of review the Board of School Directors voted to move to a 10-point grading scale in our Middle and High School that is more widely used by districts across the country. As part of that change we have also been conducting a comprehensive K – 12 review of our grading practices to be sure our teachers are using a consistent set of grading beliefs and standards district-wide.
A team of teachers and administrators is working as a committee to help guide these grading changes. They are also working to improve our system of grade reporting at the elementary level, in conjunction with curricular changes that are occurring. Our committee is leading discussions with staff at each of our schools. We remain on track to return to the Board later this spring with a set of recommendations including a plan for transitioning the middle and high school to a 10-point grading scale and more consistent grading practices in the 2015-2016 school year.
In addition to a more standard grade reporting scale, we believe this process will yield more meaningful grades that better reflect student learning of course content and skills, as well as a much better system of grade reporting in our elementary division. Though we do anticipate additional transition time to get our reporting systems converted at the elementary level and conduct the necessary training in their use, we still believe this work can commence over the course of the next school year, pending Board approval.
We will keep the community informed about this process as it continues to unfold through email, meetings, and our web site.
On a related note, you might have read recently in the Pottstown Mercury about a workshop presenter for our teachers - one who is an expert in this field - coming this April. What the article glossed over and what we want to emphasize is that this is being funded through federal grant dollars designated for a limited range of professional development expenditures and that this money is not coming from Pottsgrove local property tax dollars. Dr. Thomas Guskey is one of the nation’s leading researches in grading practices, and we want to use his expertise to work with our teachers to help make our program as strong as possible. Bringing Dr. Guskey to Pottsgrove is far more cost effective than sending a team to a one–day conference off site. In addition, all 250 members of the professional staff will be able to hear his presentation. To be clear, this presentation is not about conversion from a 7 to 10-point scale. A grading scale is merely a component of grade reporting, not grading practice. Grading practice has more to do with developing a common set of principles regarding what gets measured, how it should be weighted, and other variables that comprise the assignment of a grade and best reflects student learning.
I look forward to communicating with you again about this very important work and the positive changes I believe it will have for your children.
Thank you for your continued support of the Pottsgrove School District.
Shellie A. Feola
Superintendent
Pottsgrove School District
1301 Kauffman Road
Pottstown, PA 19464
NOPE Assembly & Parent Meeting This Week - Thursday
The NOPE Task Force will be presenting to our students & parents on Thursday, February 26, 2016 Below is a press release that the NOPE Task Force asked us to share with parents.
Parent Night is this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Middle School
Did you know that in 2013, there were over 20 heroin overdose deaths in Montgomery County? Or that one in five teens has abused prescription drugs? NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education) Task Force of Montgomery County is providing an educational presentation on the dangers of substance abuse for parents and community members on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend this free and informational presentation that will take place in the Pottsgrove Middle School Auditorium, located at: 1351 North Hanover Street
Pottstown, PA 19464. Family members and experts will explain the facts regarding the issues our youth are facing each day, including prescription drug abuse, drug interaction, signs of substance use, addiction, parenting strategies, and where to get help.
The cornerstone of NOPE’s mission is the personal, high impact presentation delivered to middle and high school students throughout the school year. This message is delivered graphically and emotionally from several perspectives. First, from a professional who describes the interaction of drugs on the developing brain, then from a law enforcement official who has the grim task of making death notifications to distraught families and finally, from 2 family members who have suffered the loss of a child to a drug overdose. The presentation is meant to evoke emotion, and demand the attention of the students. Throughout the presentation, real local stories of students who have lost their lives to drugs and alcohol are shared to illustrate the education points and show the reality of the consequences that drug and alcohol abuse can cause. Following virtually every presentation, a number of students seek help, either for themselves, or someone they know.
NOPE Task Force is a non-profit 501c-3 organization; the Montgomery County chapter was formed in 2014. NOPE’s mission is to diminish the frequency and impact of overdose death through community education, family support and purposeful advocacy. Since its inception in Palm Beach County in 2004, NOPE has been increasing awareness through multi-media and multi-modal presentations. For more information about NOPE Task Force of Montgomery County, please contact Chelsey Price at: 484-444-0412 or by email at: chelsey,price@holcombbhs.org or visit www.nopetaskforce.org.
(continued)
NOPE of Montgomery County is sponsored by: Risa Vetri Ferman, District Attorney, County of Montgomery, Pennsylvania; Pamela Stouch Scholarship Fund; Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems; and Private Donations.
Course Selection for 15/16 School Year
Check out Dr. Ziegler's Blog on Course Selection: Click Here to Read the Blog
Click on this link to read the Course of Selection Booklet for 15-16
Mrs. Jill Bossler
Guidance Counselor
Students last name A - E
Email: jbossler@pgsd.org
Phone: 610 - 326 - 5105, ext. 7391
Mr. Don Petrella
Guidance Counselor
Students last name F - L
Email: dpetrella@pgsd.org
Phone: 610 - 326 - 5105, ext. 7389
Mrs. Kyra Ebert
Guidance Counselor
Students last name M - Ror
Email: kebert@pgsd.org
Phone: 610 - 326 - 5105, ext. 7390
Mrs. Lisa Childs
Guidance Counselor
Students last name Ros - Z
Email: lchilds@pgsd.org
Phone: 610 - 326 - 5105, ext. 7388
Mark Your Calendars
Thursday, February 26 - NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention Education Assembly) 2 Assemblies in the morning - Parent Night planned for the same night
Friday, February 27 - Cyber-Bullying Play presented by PGHS UNITE
(Tentative schedule)
Period 2 - Grade 11
Period 3 - Grade 12
Period 6 - Grade 10
Period 7 - Grade 9
Monday, March 9 - NO SCHOOL - Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11 - Booster Club meeting at 7:00 p.m. in Library
Monday, March 16 - PTSA Meeting 7:30 p.m. in Library
Thursday, March 19 - Student Play Preview at 8:30 a.m. during Period 2
Spring Musical (The Sound of Music) at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 20 - Stage Dedication to Mr. Kelly 7:15 p.m.
Spring Musical (The Sound of Music) at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 - Spring Musical (The Sound of Music) at 2:00 p.m.
March 31 - End of Third Marking Period &
Rachel's Challenge Assembly - 2 Assemblies during the day - times will be determined later - Parent Night at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Day
Thursday, April 2 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
Friday, April 3 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
Monday, April 6 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
Wednesday, April 8 - Booster Club Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Library
Thursday, April 16 - Sophomore Class Parent meeting for Rings 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Monday, April 20 - PTSA Meeting 7:30 p.m. in the Library
Saturday, April 25 - PROM!!!! 6:00 p.m. in King of Prussia
POST-PROM hosted by PTSA starting at 11:00 p.m. in the HS