The Quakertown Community School District has developed a formula that doesn’t need a scoreboard to prove it’s a winner. On Friday nights at Alumni Field, the magical experience is captured in the leadership of high school students by high school students, who come together to cheer on their Panthers in a family friendly way that is inclusive of the broader Quakertown community.
The ingredients include an exuberant student section, a nationally ranked band, an awesome cheer squad, and a hard-working football team built on character that appreciates the support. The recipe produces an experience that’s second to none on the high school level.
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Undefeated football student-athletes set example off the field
Having an undefeated football team is a wonderful thing and something each member of the Quakertown Community High School football program deserves to take pride in. The personal growth of each young person’s character, however, may have outpaced their gridiron proficiency due to the teachings of Coach George Banas and his staff.
“The thing I prefaced from day one as a head coach was no matter the outcome of a game, we will always strive to do the right thing,” he said. “Our purpose is to create well-rounded, productive members of society. It’s not, ‘Look at me. What can I get out of this?’ It’s opening doors for others as you walk through the building, picking up trash that’s not yours.”
Panthers coaches give student-athletes opportunities to set examples and help unite the greater community on issues bigger than themselves.
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QCHS holds first Panther Clubs and Sports Fair
All students had the opportunity to walk around the gymnasium track, where tables were set up with information about each of the school’s clubs and sports. Student representatives and teachers were at the tables to engage with interested students.
“Our goals are to generate excitement for all of our amazing clubs and sports, get all students involved in at least one sport or club of their choice, foster positive relationships, enhance mental health and wellness, and create a strong sense of community and belonging,” said Kim Finnerty, a high school assistant principal.
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Richland students enjoy exciting STEAM opportunity
Richland Elementary School fifth-grade students are getting a rare opportunity this week to work with cutting-edge technology equipment provided by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit’s Fab Lab. The program is designed to inspire and encourage students to pursue careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) fields.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for hands-on experience with any of the STEAM categories,” said Richland Principal Nicole Zuerblis. “It sparks an interest, and the kids are loving it. Having it on site has been amazing.”
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Pfaff students learn how to make money, give back
The post stated: “Changing the world one loom bracelet at a time. Proud of these girls for donating $200 from their Loom Room business to Last Chance Ranch today!”
Two of the girls, Madison Myers and Mya Taylor, had been in Mrs. Miller’s third-grade class at Pfaff Elementary School. The others were also Pfaff students, Eva Amary, Amelia Bobnar, Annabelle Huber, and Harper Wetzel.
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QCHS begins girls wrestling club team; seeks coach
Quakertown Community High School is starting a club team for girls wrestling. Boys coaches Kurt Handel and Dan Ziegler have been working with a handful of girls in recent weeks following the Panther Clubs and Sports Fair, where nearly 20 girls showed interest in the program.
“We’re trying to get this thing rolling,” Coach Handel said. “It’s the fastest-growing sport in America and we want to give our girls a chance to be part of it.”
Participation in girls wrestling has been on the rise since the 1990s. Things really took off when the sport was added to the Olympics in 2004. In 1994, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, there were 804 high school girls wrestlers. That’s grown to more than 20,000 today.
Locally, Quakertown Youth Wrestling has girls in its program. Girls wrestling is a varsity sport at Souderton High School, and Delaware Valley University has a women’s wrestling program.
“There’s a real opportunity out there with scholarships at all levels of college,” Coach Handel said. “At this point, there aren’t enough girls to take advantage of the scholarships out there.”
Coach Handel said he’s looking for a coach for the girls club team. He can be reached at khandel@qcsd.org.
PA State champion Abby Jacobes receives her national bronze medal
Abby is employed at Klover Contracting, where she began as a cooperative education student in her senior year at the Upper Bucks County Technical School.
Gymnast achieves her college Division I dream
Here's a story about Kennedy from May.
Teacher training focuses on pre-k to third-grade reading
“All research makes that point clear. It’s an important milestone,” said Kelly Cramer, the instructional coach for grades pre-K to 6 and K-12 Literacy Specialist for the Quakertown Community School District. “Children don't crack the code to reading naturally. They need to be taught how letters represent speech sounds.”
To help QCSD students do that, the district is having approximately 100 employees, including pre-K to third-grade teachers, English Language Development teachers, coaches, interventionists and administrators take a course in LETRS training.
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shop with a cop application deadline November 19
To be eligible, a child must be between 5 to 13 years of age and have a family member faced with a life challenge (loss of job, homelessness, military deployment, economic shortcoming or other hardship). Applicants must be from the Quakertown Community School District or referred to the program by a partnering Police Department.
To participate in the program, eligible families must submit their application at Borough Hall (35 N. Third Street, Quakertown, and made to the attention of Ashton Miller). The application deadline is Friday, November 19th. Please note, incomplete applications will not be reviewed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure the application is complete.
Applications will be reviewed by the Shop with a Cop Committee. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application. Required documents include a completed two-page application, signed release waiver, and a wish list for each child in the household ages 5-13. Click here for those documents. (Spanish version). Copies of the application and wish lists can also be found at Quakertown.org/SWAC.
VFW scholarships for middle school and high school students
The VFW has two scholarships, one for students in grades 6-8 and one for students in grades 9-12.
The Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school.
The VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest gives middle school students a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each first-place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first-place winner wins $5,000.
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Quakertown Community School District
