CSD Insider
Centennial School District Newsletter October 2016
In This Edition
District Updates & Happenings
District Operations
Inside Schools & Programs
Announcements
District Updates & Happenings
Centennial School District Board of School Directors Information and Meeting Schedule for 2016-17
The Centennial School District School Board meets two times a month to conduct the business of the District. The School Board holds an action meeting on the second Tuesday of each month. On the fourth Tuesday of each month, the School Board holds a Committee of the Whole meeting where action and information items are presented to the School Board from the Education and Pupil Services Committee, Finance Committee, and Operations Committee. The Education and Pupil Services Committee is chaired by Ms. Jane Schrader Lynch with Dr. Jennifer Polinchock, Assistant Superintendent, as administrative liaison. The Finance Committee is chaired by Mr. David Shafter, and Operations Committee is chaired by Ms. Kati Driban with Mr. Christopher Berdnik, Chief Financial Officer, as administrative liaison for both committees.
All School Board meetings are open to the public. School Board meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. For a listing a meeting dates, agendas, and archived videos of the meetings, visit http://www.centennialsd.org/Page/9847
Centennial School District's Facilities Use Policy
The Centennial School District has revised its facilities use policy. The School Board adopted the revised policy on June 14, 2016. As a partner to the community, the District recognizes that a variety of groups and organizations could have need of the District's schools and grounds for meetings and events. As the policy outlines, "The Board believes that the buildings and facilities of the District are financed and maintained by the District’s residents for the primary purpose of supporting the education program of the District. The Board believes that school buildings and facilities should be made available for responsible use by the community, providing that such use does not interfere with school programs and activities and can be supported by available District resources."
The revised policy specifies that there are four classifications of groups and organizations seeking to use the District's facilities. Class 1 includes groups and organizations affiliated with the District or the Board of Elections. Class 2 includes groups and organizations within the District's boundaries that provide an educational service to school-aged children and comprised of at least 75% District residents. Class 3 includes community groups that are comprised of at least 75% District residents. Class 4 would include all other groups and organizations not directly affiliated with the District or the Centennial community. A graduated fee schedule provides the rates for facilities use depending on the requester's classification, requested day, and time.
All facilities use requests must be approved at the school and district levels. Class 2, 3, and 4 facilities use requests require proof of insurance to be approved. Facilities use requests must be received 30 days prior to the desired date(s). Groups and organizations are encouraged to submit the facilities use request forms as early as possible to secure the desired date(s). Questions about the facilities use processes, forms, and fees should be directed to Ms. Joanne Liebert at 214-441-6000 Ext. 11022. For more information about the policy and to access the forms, visit http://www.centennialsd.org/Page/104
Staying in Touch with Centennial School District and Your School
It is important for parents and guardians to update their contact information (telephone number, cell phone number, and e-mail address) in Skyward Family Access to ensure that E-Alert e-mails, text message alerts, and voice recorded messages reach them.
E-Alert e-mail is the main method of communicating pertinent information to students and their families. Text message alerts and voice recorded messages are used for emergency notifications as well as for school absence notifications. Parents and guardians can opt into receiving text message alerts. For more information about Skyward Family Access, follow this link: http://www.centennialsd.org/Page/8401
To stay up-to-date with various events and news about the schools and the District, the community can follow the District on these social media sites:
To watch School Board meetings, student-developed videos, and other events, tune into the District's cable channel: CSD-TV on Channel 36 (Verizon) and Channel 28 (Comcast).
School Board meetings are lived-streamed and can be accessed via the District website the evening of the meetings. Board Meetings live-streaming
CSD School Director Spotlight Series
Dr. Andrew Pollock, Centennial School Director
Dr. Andrew Pollock has been a school director in the Centennial School District for eight years, serving as school board president for four of those years. Dr. Pollock has spent his professional career as an educator. Beginning as a high school teacher, Dr. Pollock served as a high school assistant principal, a high school principal for 20 years, and a superintendent for three years. He was an assistant wrestling coach and varsity lacrosse coach, even continuing to coach lacrosse to this day.
Dr. Pollock's experience as a teacher, a coach, and an administrator provides him with a deep understanding of school systems, the challenges facing school districts, and district leadership. He believes that one of the greatest challenges school directors face is working with state and federal mandates and having limited financial resources. Dr. Pollock says, "Finding people at the district level who are outstanding is a real challenge." With all that a school board would like to do for its schools, having the funding and the energy to get everything accomplished is difficult.
Yet, as a leader, Dr. Pollock focuses on the accomplishments that he has made as a school director. Dr. Pollock said, "Consolidating the elementary schools has been one of the greatest accomplishments." With the renovation of the high school, Dr. Pollock spearheaded the upgrade of the sound system in the auditorium. "Things have to be done right if we are going to do them at all," said Dr. Pollock.
On of Dr. Pollock's personal accomplishments was earning a doctorate degree. As an educational leader, he understands the importance of strong programming in schools. He continues to champion for a full-day Kindergarten program, and he believes this should be one of the goals for the District. Along with raising test scores, Dr. Pollock believes that these two goals need to be the focus for the District.
District Operations
The Nutritional Services Department Wants to Serve You
Breakfast
Elementary Schools $1.25
Middle Schools $1.50
High School $1.75
Lunch
Elementary Schools $2.60
Middle Schools $2.75
High School $3.00
The Food Service Department uses Skyward, the same student information system parents and guardians can access to check their child’s grades and progress. Once logged into Skyward through the Family Portal, parents and guardians can click on the “Food Service” tab to see student balances along with daily purchases.
A parent or guardian can make deposits to their child's account in the following ways:
- Check, cash, or money orders can be given directly to the cafeteria.
- Use E-Funds for Schools to make an online payment.
E-Funds for Schools is an easy way to make a one-time deposit, set up reoccurring payments, and/or receive balance notifications.
To open an E-Funds for Schools account, follow this link: https://eps.mvpbanking.com/cgi-bin/efs/login.pl?access=55703
Automated Calls for Student Absences
The Centennial School District is using the automated phone call feature in School Messenger to make attendance calls. If your child is absent from school, you will be notified via a voice message that will come to the primary number listed in Skyward. In addition, an e-mail will be sent to the first e-mail address listed in Skyward. Elementary school calls will be made at 10:00 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m. for afternoon kindergarten. Middle school calls will be made at 11:00 a.m. High school calls will be made at 10:45 a.m. and at 2:30 p.m. for morning Middle Bucks Institute of Technology students.
Parents and guardians should update the primary, or first, phone number and e-mail in Skyward to receive the automated phone calls and e-mails. If an automated call is made and you believe it to be in error, the contact the school’s attendance office.
Notifying parents and guardians about a student's absence is an important safety measure. While most parents and guardians know that their child is absent due to an illness or excusable reason, this notification can be a proactive way to address issues. Parents and guardians are reminded that all absences require an excuse note within three days of the absence.
Emailing Student Absence Excuse Notes- A Quick and Easy Way to Excuse an Absence
Parents and guardians are now able to email student absence excuse notes to the school's attendance office. Emailing an excuse note is a convenient way to ensure that a student's absence can be reconciled as a legal and excused absence. If a parent or guardian has a note from a medical professional, it can also be emailed to the attendance office along with the student's name, grade, student ID number, or homeroom teacher. All schools will continue to accept written absence excuse notes.
Emailed absence excuse notes should include the following information:
· The student's name
· The student's grade
· The student's ID number or homeroom teacher
· The date(s) of the absence
· A reason for the absence
· A contact telephone or cellphone number of parent or guardian submitting the excuse note
Parents and guardians will receive an email from the attendance office secretary confirming that the student's absence note was received by the school.
Each school has a unique email address for accepting student absence excuse notes.
Davis Elementary School
McDonald Elementary School
Willow Dale Elementary School
Klinger Middle School
Log College Middle School
William Tennent High School
Inside Schools & Programs
William Tennent High School Homecoming 2016
William Tennent High School held its Homecoming Coronation ceremony during halftime of the varsity football game against Souderton Area High School on October 7, 2016.
Senior Jessica Lopez was crowned Homecoming Queen, and senior David McCoy was crowned Homecoming King.
The nominees for Homecoming Queen were Lauren Brancato, Makayla Christian, Reilly Dougherty, Abigail Perks, and Morgan Sotoloff. The nominees for Homecoming King were Michael Albers, Brendan Carter, Mike Kane, Dylan Mannon, and Gabe Morales.
Log College Middle School Students Flex Their Muscles Against Bullying
Over the past few weeks, groups of students at Log College have been working together during “Flex” time to create anti-bullying programs. Our students have identified the needs and direction of this project. This is being promoted through the school's motto of Living Safely, Owning Responsibility, and Giving Respect. This program will be supported and adopted by our school-wide positive behavior program.
The students were given some idea starters, but many chose to use their creativity to develop their own original programs. The programs are in the process of being created, developed, and marketed to the student population, Log College community, and promoted on social media by our students. The students have worked collaboratively in groups of their choosing, including the option of collaborating across classrooms and grade levels through their devices to define, research, plan, create, and implement these programs. In addition, the students have developed a definition of bullying/cyber bullying and discussed what that looks like in our school as well as other factors that could affect our culture.
The School-Wide Positive Behavior Committee will choose the program that will be implemented at Log College. The group members of the chosen program will be awarded their choice of a Chromebook or an iPad for their effort.
McDonald Elementary School's Bulldog Cardboard Challenge
What do you get when you combine cardboard and creativity? A day of fun by making and playing arcade games at the McDonald Cardboard Challenge.
The Cardboard Challenge was inspired by Caine’s Arcade. At the age of nine, a boy named Caine created arcade-type games out of the excess cardboard at his father’s auto parts store. In a similar manner, McDonald students created an arcade out of recycled materials in the cafeteria at the first McDonald Cardboard Challenge on Saturday, October 1, 2016.
The variety of student-created cardboard arcade games at McDonald was outstanding. The games included pinball, skeeball, basketball, a pool table, checkers, claw machine, plinko, football, soccer, casino machine, and Whack-a-Mole. Many students spent the weeks preceding the event making and remaking their games, demonstrating perseverance while eliminating glitches in their colorfully-designed games. The best part of the day was that students and families had the opportunity to play the games of other students and to share ideas to make the games even better.
In addition, a number of students also created a cardboard doghouse for our mascot, Spike. The doghouses included what every bulldog would want: food, water, and a comfortable bed.
Watch the video below to see a one minute recap of the McDonald Cardboard Challenge.
Davis Elementary School Takes Learning Outdoors
Davis Elementary School is in the beginning stages of designing an “outdoor classroom.” The wonderful Home and School Association purchased five beautiful and sturdy, hexagon picnic tables- enough for one whole class. The local Boy Scout troop constructed raised beds out of wood for students to use to grow vegetables and flowers. This will certainly connect nicely with the science curriculum. In the spring, Davis hopes to have umbrellas for the tables and possibly more raised beds.
Outdoor learning is just another way to get students excited and engaged in learning. During recess you will find many students sitting at the tables reading their favorite books, socializing, and/ or playing board games with friends. This is a refreshing new space where our students want to stay all day.
Raised Beds
Outdoor Tables
Announcements
Free and Reduced Meal Applications
The Centennial School District Food and Nutrition Department is now accepting free and reduced meal applications for the 2016-17 school year. The application can be submitted at www.paschoolmeals.com
Free and reduced meal applications by sub submitted each year by October 10, 2016. If a student received a free or reduced meal last school year, a new application must be submitted this year.
For questions, contact the Food and Nutrition Department at 215-441-6000 Ext. 11013.
Internet Essentials from Comcast
Your family may qualify for affordable Internet access and a low-cost computer. Please see the brochure below for details. To learn more or to apply, call 1-855-846-8376 or visit InternetEssentials.com.
Follow Us on Facebook
Employment Opportunities
Current employment opportunities are posted regularly on the Centennial School District website. Follow this link to learn more about current administrative, teaching, and support staff positions: www.centennialsd.org/jobs
District Calendar
To stay in touch with District events, follow this link to the Centennial School District calendar: http://www.centennialsd.org/Page/2
Centennial School District
District Administration
Dr. David Baugh, Superintendent
Dr. Jennifer Polinchock, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Christopher Berdnik, Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Judith Hengst, Director of Special Education
Mr. A. J. Juliani, Director of Technology and Innovation
Ms. Hannah Messner, Director of Human Resources
Ms. Catherine Perkins, Director of Teaching and Learning
Mr. Timothy Trzaska, Director of Operations
Board of School Directors
Mr. Charles Kleinschmidt, President
Mr. David Shafter, Vice President
Ms. Kati Driban, Assistant Secretary
Mr. Steven Adams
Mr. Michael Hartline
Mr. Mark B. Miller
Ms. Dana Morgan
Dr. Andrew Pollock
Ms. Jane Schrader Lynch
Principals
Dr. Dennis Best, William Tennent High School
Mr. Travis Bloom, Klinger Middle School
Mr. Andrew Doster, Log College Middle School
Ms. Shawanna Coles, Davis Elementary School
Mr. Michael VanBuren, McDonald Elementary School
Dr. Michael Donnelly, Willow Dale Elementary School
Email: csdpr@centennialsd.org
Website: www.centennialsd.org
Location: 433 Centennial Road, Warminster, PA 18974
Phone: 215-441-6000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/csdinfo
Twitter: @Centennial_SD