The Central Bucks Board Note
October 2018...................................Vol. 1, No. 1
Please share any feedback with Angela Linch, communications and public relations administrator, at alinch@cbsd.org or by calling 267-893-2073.
Sounds of CBSD!
Report on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
In August of 2017 and most recently this past August, Karen and Doug Zegel spoke to the Board about CTE. Ms. Zegel is the founder of the Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation, named for Ms. Zegel's son, who suffered from CTE. The Zegels are passionate about bringing awareness to the condition, and Ms. Turner met with them to talk about their concerns as part of her preparation for the presentation to the board in October.
Review Ms. Turner's presentation here, along with an informational handout on CTE.
Ms. Turner outlined procedures the district employs to prevent student injury and assist injured students in returning to the classroom. These practices are based upon PIAA rules and advice from critical partners at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Doylestown Hospital, St. Mary Medical Center, The Center for Neuropsychology and Counseling, and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU). They include:
- Prevention - Impact testing, concussion education classes, and information shared with families through the Family ID web portal.
- Game Time/Practices - Athletic trainers and doctors test and diagnose student athletes who are or may be injured before returning them to the field of play.
- Post Concussion Support - In line with board policies 123 and 123.1, the district requires a doctor's note and employs a five-day return to play policy.
- Educational Support - In partnership with BCIU, the district participates in the Brain Steps Program, which provides customized support for each student's individual circumstances following a traumatic brain injury. School nurses, trainers, teachers, and coaches work together with parents and family physicians to help students return to school and play, safely. Concussion management teams at the high schools aid student athletes who have suffered a concussion in their return to the classroom.
Ms. Turner was also joined by experts in the field of research and treatment who work alongside CBSD staff, including Dr. Matthew Grady, a sports medicine physician at CHOP's Center for Sports Medicine and Performance; Dr. Christina L. Master, a sports medicine pediatrician at CHOP with expertise in primary care sports medicine and brain injury medicine; Dr. James Stone of The Center for Neuropsychology and Counseling; and Sarah Krusen of The Bucks Country Intermediate Unit. Both Dr. Grady and Dr. Master spoke extensively on the topic of youth sports and concussion, traumatic brain injury, and CTE. Dr. Master noted she considers Central Bucks' work in this area as light-years ahead of many other districts in the area, the county, and the world, in that procedures are designed in a way that demonstrates that staff are "...very aware, caring and intentional in protecting the health and well-being of student athletes." Both she and Dr. Grady also discussed the challenges associated with making clear recommendations in this area, as the causes of CTE and the effects of concussion have not yet been clearly established, given research limitations.
That said, Ms. Turner outlined some additional recommendations for the board and administration's consideration, including:
- More education for students, coaches, parents, and guardians on CTE and traumatic brain injury;
- consideration of athletic trainers at the middle school level;
- helmet technology investigation; and
- continued partnerships with local hospitals to continually evaluate and design good practice and procedures.
Later on this month, CTE and concussion will be the featured topic of Health Matters, a program produced as a partnership between CBTV and Doylestown Hospital.
Board Approves New Courses for Students in Grades 9-12
The Board of School Directors approved several new courses of study, all of which will be added to the available course selection for students as they plan for the 2019-2020 school year.
Descriptions of the classes may be found below. They include electives designed to appeal to a wider range of students at the middle and high school level, as well as additions to the district's rigorous advanced placement offerings. Click the course title to review more detailed information.
- Guitar - Middle School/Grade 9: This course is focused on providing students with a practical foundation in guitar technique. Students will learn how to play chords and melodies on the guitar in various styles using chord symbols and tablature. Students will also learn about the structure of chord progressions and how they can be applied to songwriting. Musicians from beginner to advanced are all welcome. Guitars will be provided for use during class
- Music Creation, Production and Marketing - High School: This course is focused on the creation, production and marketing of new musical content. The course will include analysis of musical structure, lyrics, chord patterns, and arranging. Additionally, students will learn how to foster relationships with local businesses and charitable organizations. Upon completion, students will come away with at least one finished or reworked song and a plan to promote it through digital media and/or portfolio/website. Students will have access to instruments like piano, guitar, drums, and bass.
- Musical Theater and Tech - High School: This hands-on course will focus on all aspects of musical theater production: including stage tech, set design, sound, lighting, acting, singing and dancing. In addition, students will get a brief overview of the history of musical theater and learn the important trends and ideas in the world of musical theater today. The course will culminate in projects and performances that show an understanding of all aspects of musical theater and will provide a foundation for a future in musical theater.
- Advanced Placement Microeconomics - High School: This course is an introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students’ familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts. The Advanced Placement Microeconomics course aims to provide students with a learning experience equivalent to that of most college introductory microeconomics courses. This course will prepare students to successfully complete the AP Microeconomics Exam.
- Pre-Advanced Placement Chemistry - High School: Pre-Advanced Placement Chemistry is the first course of a two-course accelerated sequence that prepares students for the AP Chemistry Exam. Pre-Advanced Placement Chemistry and Advanced Placement Chemistry 2 should be taken in the same year. Pre-Advanced Placement Chemistry is intended for students who have distinguished themselves in mathematics, including satisfactory completion of Algebra 2/Trigonometry, and science. The course is a rigorous, mathematics-based course utilizing advanced placement approved college texts and laboratory experiences.
- Advanced Placement Chemistry 2 - High School: This is the second course of a two-course accelerated sequence that prepares students for the AP Chemistry test. Pre-Advanced Placement Chemistry and Advanced Placement Chemistry 2 should be taken in the same year. Advanced Placement Chemistry 2 is intended to stimulate secondary students to higher achievement and eliminate duplication later in college. College credit or advanced standing may be obtained from many institutions for students who score three or higher on the advanced placement test.
- Environmental Sustainability - High School: This is a project-based course that provides students with opportunities to investigate real world environmental issues. The course will examine an array of ecological, biological, agricultural, technological, economic, social, and political issues associated with our environment today. Students will describe environmental issues in view of their complex and dynamic nature, identify their role in and responsibility to the issue, and explore reasonable solutions to diminish or resolve the issue, both locally and globally. In the end, students will understand the ways social, economic and environmental systems interact, appreciate and respect the diversity of views and values that influence sustainable ways of living, and participate critically and act creatively in determining more sustainable ways of living. This course is designed for a broad range of students with a high interest in making informed choices about their life, family, and community, and being better stewards of Earth’s resources.
Board of School Directors in its entirety.
Central Bucks School District
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month except for July, August, and December. In July and August, the board meets on the fourth Tuesday only. In December, the board meets on the second Tuesday only. Meetings are held at the Central Bucks Educational Services Center at 16 Welden Drive in Doylestown. All meetings start at 7:30 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend. Members of the public who wish to address the board prior to action items may sign up at the lectern before 7:30 p.m. Comments are limited to three minutes or less, depending on the number of speakers.
Correspondence for the Board of School Directors should be sent to Ms. Stephanie Radcliffe, Secretary to the Board, at sradcliffe@cbsd.org.
Email: alinch@cbsd.org
Website: www.cbsd.org
Location: 20 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-5800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbschools/
Twitter: @cbsdinfo