PGHS Newsletter
01/30/17
Pottsgrove Seeking Community’s Votes as Part of $200,000 National Education Contest
Schools Receiving Most People’s Choice Votes Will Win $8,000 Each
POTTSTOWN, PA (Jan. 23, 2017) – POTTSGROVE HIGH SCHOOL has entered a $200,000 national education contest hoping for a chance at one of the 13 prizes that will be awarded to recognize the most unique and inventive K-12 programs. In addition to completing an online application for the annual Follett Challenge, Pottsgrove HS Library also submitted a short video to promote its library program that teaches students the 21st-century skills they need to be prepared for life.
Ten of the prizes, valued at $8,000 each, to be given away are from the People’s Choice category and will solely be based on how many votes applicants have received for their videos from the public. Video voting begins January 23, 2017. Pottsgrove’s video is now posted on the Follett Challenge website (www.follettchallenge.com) at the following link: https://follettchallenge.com/videos/869
After registering, users can cast one vote per day through January 27, 2017, when voting ends. Not only are the public’s votes significant in the video-voting portion of the contest, but they also will play a role in the overall rubric as 20 percent of each school’s final score is based on the number of votes generated for their video.
“We hope our community will support us by viewing our video and voting for our library submission,” said Danielle Small, Library Media Specialist. “Participating in the Follett Challenge recognizes our educators for the great job they are doing with the limited resources they have and, should we win, reward them with resources to do more. It also will give our educators here a platform to share their innovation with other schools across the country and throughout the world,” added Pottsgrove Principal Dr. William Ziegler.
A total prize value of $200,000 in products and services will be awarded by Follett, a global education solutions leader. The overall winner will earn a $60,000 prize, plus a celebration at the school, while each of the other two Semi-finalists will earn $30,000 prizes. The 10 People’s Choice awards are worth $8,000 each in products and services and will be announced February 28, 2017, along with the Semi-finalists. This year’s Follett Challenge will honor Semi-finalist winners in three categories: elementary, middle and high school.
The judges will be seeking applications that illustrate critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration between students and among teachers and other members of the school staff.
Important Updates
Course Selection Night - We will be hosting a Course Selection this Thursday starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria. This will be an opportunity for parents and students to hear about the various courses offered at PGHS. The meeting time has been changed to 7:00 p.m. to allow more time for the 8th grade Course of Studies orientation.
Parking - Please park in a parking space when coming to the HS. Please do not park along the curb at the entrance of the building and gymnasium.
Senior Class - Time to purchase your cap/gowns - Please go to this link to purchase your cap/gown: http://www.studentservicesco.com/store.php?crn=121
Senior Class Trip - The third payment for the Senior Class Trip is due on January 20, 2017. Failure to pay this installment may result in removal of the trip. All payments needs to go through World Travel.
Principal/Student Advisory Council - The Principal Team is looking for 10-20 students who are interested in serving on a Principal/Student Advisory Council - Please email Dr. Ziegler at wziegler@pgsd.org or message him on Twitter at @pghsnews if you are interested. This council is designed to hear from the students on how we can make Pottsgrove High School the best it can be.
Welcome to Mrs. Durkee - Art Teacher
Welcome to Mrs. Selke, Band Director
I am pleased to announce that we have selected Mrs. Lorraine Selke to serve as the band director for the remainder of the school year. I appreciate everyone’s efforts during our transitions of band director. Mrs. Selke will provide consistency throughout the remainder of the school year as she is an experienced high school band director.
Mrs. Selke comes to us with a strong background in high school music. She served as the West Chester East High School Band Director for eight years. In this role, she led the West Chester East High School Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band, and other ensembles. Mrs. Selke is a clarinet player who attended West Chester University earning her Bachelor’s in Music Education and Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting. We are excited to have her leading our band this spring.
We would like to thank Ms. Kratz for her leadership of the band over the past weeks and wish her the best in her new endeavors.
Welcome to Mr. Hartman and Longbow
Counseling Corner - Failure, Disappointment, Setback, a Failing Grade
Failure, Disappointment, Setback, a Failing Grade
Failure, disappointment, setback, and failing grades are necessary for your child before they graduate high school. What? No, this will not work for my child.
Ok, let’s dial it back a little. Rather than failure, how about mistakes, slip-ups or letdowns? Shouldn’t all children understand how to grow from mistakes? How to change a course based on a letdown? Or how to recover from a slip-up? If we, as parents, are always there to fight our children’s case when he/she works hard and still doesn’t start on the team or maybe studies all night and still fails. How will they learn? Whatever the term you are comfortable with, failure or slip-ups, teens need to experience failure to learn how to grow and gain valuable skills.
Here are 8 qualities your teen can learn from failure with your guidance as discussed in Dr. Ken Ginsburg’s book Raising Kids to Thrive Balancing Love with Expectations and Protection with Trust:
1. STRETCH – When teens set goals they are confident they can achieve, they never learn to stretch. When a teen fails, he or she is learning to STRETCH his/her own abilities to reach his/her full potential.
2. EXPERIENCE – “When we live within the confines of a box of our own making, we may never learn what exists just outside of its walls. When our fear of failure prevents us from testing our limits and therefore fully experiencing life, we are diminished.”
3. STICK TO IT – “Tenacity and grit are core character ingredients of a person destined for success. By its very definition, tenacity is about maintaining determination, even amidst disappointment, failure, recrimination.”
4. THINKING – “When we [parents] focus on their [teens] results or performance, they tend to fear not producing…On the other hand, when we focus on kids efforts’ and the process by which they learn, they are more likely to go to their limits and beyond.”
5. FEEL – “It is life’s up and downs that build our compassion, empathy and emotional resilience. Could you truly experience life’s joys to the fullest without also knowing some of its misfortunes?”
6. BOUNCE – “Resilience [or bounce] is about being able to recover from life’s adversity, bouncing back even when life brings you down…Resilience is not an inborn trait; it is developed in response to life’s circumstances.”
7. RELATE – “Childhood squabbles are about learning to negotiate and self-advocate… As much as it is painful to watch our children be unhappy, when we jump in to fix their social mishaps we deprive them of the opportunity to gain critical interpersonal knowledge.”
8. SUCCEED – “They [our teens] have to lead with their strengths not allow limitations to hold them back…Protecting them from the self-awareness of their very real strong points and weaknesses prevents them from achieving success.”
“So when do you step in?…If it involves safety, you do not allow a mistake. If it treads on immorality, you do not allow a misadventure. If it could cause irreparable harm, you work to prevent permanent damage.”
As painful as it is to see our children struggle, we must let them learn to test their strengths and weaknesses, to stretch beyond their comfort zone, and to ascertain how to deal with the pain and failure and how to bounce back to become thoughtful, caring and resilient adults.
SAT Bootcamp at Pottsgrove High School - Just $175 Per Student
Catalyst's SAT Bootcamp is a confidence-boosting weekend seminar that teaches students strategies for every type of question they're guaranteed to encounter on the SAT. Selected topics include how to:
- Shortcut math questions that stump more than 90% of test-takers
- Spot hidden clues that reveal the main idea in lengthy SAT Reading passages
- Avoid the three sneaky ways the SAT's Writing & Language test tries to trick students
- Use a proven template to earn perfect scores in reading, analysis, and writing on the SAT Essay
Catalyst's SAT Bootcamp is not a mock test or an infomercial for our services. Students learn proven strategies from experts who earned perfect scores on the new SAT. Participants receive 8 hours of instruction, Catalyst's 368-page SAT Bootcamp book, bonus online instruction, and personalized feedback.
SAT Bootcamp at Pottsgrove High School
Saturday, March 4th, 9am - 1pm
&
Sunday, March 5th, 9am - 1pm
(Students attend both days.)
Tuition is just $175. To enroll visit www.CatalystPrep.com and click on the Bootcamp Sign-Up tab on the website's menu bar or call us at 800.235.0056. The deadline to enroll in this special prep opportunity is Wednesday, March 1st.
ACE Mentoring
Are you interested in Engineering, Architecture, or Construction?
ACE Mentoring is an opportunity for students to learn from professional engineers and architects about these in-demand fields.
Meet with Engineering Mentors on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month 4-6 PM in PGHS Engineering Area (Room 420) from November 1st through early May.
Work with Engineering Mentors on actual construction projects!
Scholarship money for college may be available.
See Mr. Petrella in Navigation Center to sign up or ask questions.
Athletic Falcon Happenings
For the week of January 30- Feb.4, 2017
Monday - HS Boys Basketball @ Harriton - 5:30pm
- Tuesday - 9th Grade Boys Basketball - Home-3:30pm
- HS Boys Basketball @ Phoenixville - 5:30pm
- HS Girls Basketball - Home - 5:30pm
- Winter Track @ Perkiomen Valley - 6pm
- HS Swimming @ OJ Roberts - 3:45pm
- Wednesday - Wrestling @ Phoenixville- 6:30pm
- Quiz Bowl - Home- 3:30pm
- Thursday - HS Boys Basketball - Home - 5:30pm
- HS Girls Basketball @ Pope John Paul - 5:30pm
- Friday - 9th Grade Boys Basketball @ Norristown - 3:30pm
- PIAA District One - Team Wrestling Championships - HS gym -6pm
- Saturday -HS Girls Basketball @ Ben Salem - 3pm
- HS Boys Basketball @ Upper Merion - 5pm
- PIAA District One Wrestling Championships - HS gym - 1pm & 3pm
Mark Your Calendars
02/07/17 - Falcon Football Club - 6pm - Library
02/08/17 - Booster Club Meeting - 7pm - Library
02/09/17 - Recreation Board Meeting - 7pm - Library
02/11/17 - Winter Ball @ Spring- Ford Country Club - 6pm
02/13/17 - PTSA Meeting - 7:30pm - Library
02/14/17 - Board Meeting - 7:30pm - LGI
02/17/17- Color Day
02/20/17 - No School - President's Day
02/22/17 - PA State DECA Competition
02/23/17 - PA State DECA Competition
02/23/17 - Robotics Field Trip to Franklin Institute
02/24/17 - PA State DECA Competition
02/28/17 - Policy Committee Meeting - 6:30pm - LGI
02/28/17 - Board Meeting - 7:30pm - LGI