CSD Insider
Centennial School District Newsletter December 2017
In This Edition
Superintendent's Corner
District Updates & Happenings
District Operations
Inside Schools & Programs
From Our Students
Community Connections
Announcements
Superintendent's Corner
Welcoming a New Year
Dear Friends, Families and Colleagues,
On behalf of the Centennial Board of School Directors, the Administration and indeed the entire District, I want to wish you a happy and healthy New Year! These are exciting times in the District and so much great work is occurring that I am truly looking forward to 2018.
Our Full-day Kindergarten is going really well. The kids are learning and progressing, all have settled in, and seem to be loving school. The literacy program is taking hold, and we are seeing rising math scores almost all across the District. This makes for an exciting time to be in Centennial.
Increasingly, our students and teachers are working on project-based learning (PBL) and/or Genius Hour to tap into kids' natural curiosity, growth mindset, and passion for learning. Across the District, we are creating opportunities for kids' voices to be heard in their own learning, which in turn, increases their ownership of their learning.
Davis Elementary School is pioneering this exciting work with students being able to share with their parents how they are learning through their own goals for the year. This student ownership is also occurring at Log College Middle School and William Tennent High School, to mention but a few places. Of course, we are extremely proud of the customized learning that is occurring with Khan Academy with incredible growth in student achievement at Willow Dale Elementary School, Davis Elementary School, McDonald Elementary School, and Klinger Middle School. As you know, we had two schools score in the top 30 nationwide with Willow Dale as the top performer nationwide on the recent LearnStorm Competition. It is extremely gratifying to know we have four schools trying to make top 30, if not the top four places, for next year’s competition. We are well on our way to being one of the top math districts in the Commonwealth if not the nation.
We cannot do it without the strong home and school partnerships we currently enjoy or the fantastic work our team is putting in on a daily basis. Great things are happening in Centennial daily because of the support and efforts of our parents, teachers and indeed the entire community.
Therefore, I want to thank you for your support, and I want to promise you that even more great news is in the pipeline. I am very optimistic that we will have a great year together and that you be proud indeed to be homeowners, employees, and students in the Centennial School District.
Have a great and Happy New Year and see everyone shortly!
Warmly,
Dr. David E. Baugh
Superintendent of Schools
District Updates & Happenings
January is School Director Recognition Month
A quality public education is a key that can open doors of opportunity for many students. Providing that education takes a team of committed people from educators and staff to parents and administrators. The nine members of your local school board are an important part of this team, making informed decisions that direct the course of our public schools.
Every January, we take time to celebrate and recognize the challenging and vital work they do on behalf of our students, families and community. School directors volunteer an average of 20 hours each month to board work, which includes adopting policy, voting on budgets, approving curriculum changes, choosing textbooks and reviewing hiring decisions to name a few. They take time to learn about the issues affecting public education and to seek innovative solutions. As unpaid, locally elected officials, school directors are invested in their communities. They are our neighbors, friends, local leaders, parents and engaged senior citizens.
During this month of recognition, please take a moment and show your gratitude for school directors’ time, dedication and effort year-round. The job they do is necessary to ensure our schools remain a pathway to a promising future. Thank them for advocating on behalf of our collective interest, and most importantly, for making the success of our children their priority.
Mr. Steven Adams, Region II
Mrs. Mary Alice Brancato, Region III
Mr. Andrew Dixon, Region III
Mr. Flemming Godiksen, Region I
Mr. Charles Kleinschmidt, Region III
Mr. Mark B. Miller, Region I
Ms. Tara Pellegrino, Region II
Dr. Andrew Pollock, Region II
Mr. David Shafter, Region I
Centennial School District Administration Building Will Soon Include the Warminster Tax Office
The tax office for Warminster Township has remained in the former building located on Centennial Road. The tax office will move to its new location, and annex to the new administration building, by January 12, 2018.
Residents should continue to reference the address on their school district tax notices for the 2017-18 school year, which continues to be the Centennial Road location until the new year.
A Message from the Centennial Education Foundation
The Centennial Education Foundation (CEF) is a 501c3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization committed to providing enriching educational opportunities, programs and projects for students in the Centennial School District. CEF is independent of the School District.
The mission of CEF is to secure resources from individuals, corporations, community organizations and other foundations to be distributed in support of programs that benefit students in the Centennial School District. Since 1997, their grant programs have impacted the educational needs of thousands of students!
The Foundation relies solely on your donations. Every dollar contributed is fully tax deductible! Every dollar raised and invested will be used locally! Your contribution helps guarantee the future of Centennial students and community.
There are two easy ways to support CEF. Amazonsmile and ShopRite (shop at home)
Help us help students succeed by giving the gift of education! Thank you for your support!
Centennial School District's Annual Financial Report
The report will be presented to the School Board in January 2018.
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 eAlert e-mails, text message alerts, and voice recorded messages reach them.
EAlert 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 live-streamed and can be accessed via the District website the evening of the meetings. Board Meetings live-streaming
District Operations
Kindergarten Registration for 2018-19 Is Now Open
The Centennial School District is now accepting registrations for incoming Kindergarten students for the 2018-19 school year. Students must be five years of age on or before August 31 to register for Kindergarten. In order to register a student, the following documents are required:
· A birth certificate
· Immunization records
· Four proofs of residency
Parents/guardians can register a student online or in-person. For more information about the registration process, visit http://www.centennialsd.org/Page/101 or call the Registrar at 215-441-6000, Ext. 11046.
Centennial School District Policy Update
Absence Notes Made Easy- Email Your Child's Absence Notes
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 cell phone 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
Future Ready
The Centennial School District made the Future Ready School pledge in 2016. Since that point, the Future Ready Committee has developed a three-year plan to prepare students for the 21st century.
Future Ready is a network of innovative schools committed to reshaping education.
Future Ready schools value personalized learning, the dynamic use of technology, and collaborative leadership. Educators in Future Ready schools are encouraged to challenge the many assumptions behind the current structure of schooling and to reshape learning for our children who born to an ever changing and increasingly connected global community. Click here for even more information.
Scheduling for Success- How William Tennent High School Prepares to Be Future Ready
Along with a team of teachers and administrators, Dr. Best proposed a new schedule for the 2018-19 school year that includes an eight period, alternating day block schedule. Students would have four courses on the A day and a different set of four courses on the B day. Moving from the six period schedule which is currently in place, will allow students to take an additional two courses each year. "It will allow us to offer a more robust and diverse set of course offerings," Dr. Best shared. Citing research on adolescent learning and memory, Dr. Best stated, "longer and fewer classes in the day allow for more collaboration and time to wrestle with problems with less disruptions." The highlights of the new schedule are:
- Four, 90 minute classes per day
- Equivalent of eight credits per year
- Thirty-two accumulated credits, with a minimum of 28 for graduation
In addition, the Program of Studies will include defined college and career pathways in science, business and entrepreneurship, and humanities. William Tennent High School is also expanding its partnerships with colleges and universities to offer more dual enrollment options for students wishing to take college courses for high school and college credit. William Tennent High School currently has dual enrollment partnerships with Gwynedd Mercy University and Penn State University Abington.
Dr. Best began looking at the high school's schedule in 2016 with a team of teachers and administrators. Their research involved looking at fourteen area high schools' schedules as well as empirical research on high school schedules and course design. At its core, the team focused on developing a high school program that is rigorous, allows for flexibility and collaboration, and advances a college and career pathway framework. During the 2016-17 school year, teacher leaders began to redesign existing courses to make them more relevant and appealing to students. Students had input into the types of courses that would be offered as elective and core choices.
Beginning in January 2018, grade level meetings will be held with the ninth, tenth and eleventh grade classes to provide an overview of the schedule changes and course selection process. Course selection night for parents and students is scheduled for February 8, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Inside Schools & Programs
What's in a Name? New English Courses for William Tennent High School
Name changes are coming to the twelfth grade English courses at William Tennent High School beginning next year. Instead of a yearlong course entitled English 4, there will be semester courses with new titles that highlight specific themes and skills. New English courses will mix and match the greatest hits from British literature with a new and modern approach. Don’t worry, the power-hungry Lady Macbeth, the chatty pilgrims from Canterbury, and the monstrous Grendel are not disappearing from our analysis of classic texts; these legendary figures, along with their universal themes, will still intrigue students; however, they will be paired with similar works for a more intense study.
A review of the course offerings from the English departments at five area universities revealed that many college level English courses have a more focused lens through which to study literature; colleges now offer students more than the standard broad survey courses with generic titles such as American Lit. 1 or Brit. Lit 2. To better prepare students for their college experience and introduce them to career-related skills, the English department will offer semester courses, so students have a choice in an area of their interest. All seniors will take one semester of British Literature, but they will have options to choose from for their second English course of the year.
If students wish to dabble in philosophy or debate before moving on to college, they might register for Big Thinkers: Philosophy, Rhetoric, and Debate. If the eternal battle between good and evil captivates a student, he or she should take Heroes and Monsters. Students with a passion for the arts might want to register for ARTiculation: Conversations and Collaboration to explore the mutually inspiring relationship between the written word, music and visual arts. An additional British Literature course will be offered for students who enjoy history and a more traditional English program to continue the historical analysis of British writers. For students who have their career in mind already, the course Pathways to Professional Reading and Writing might appeal to them.
All of these courses are also offered as honors courses. Plans are in the works to bring semester courses and more choice for juniors in eleventh grade during the 2019-2020 school year. Essentially, we want the titles of English courses to connect more with students and pique their curiosity; bland and boring course titles are the antithesis of what we strive for in our discussions about the power of words.
If you answered the title’s question with “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called," (The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet I ii 43-44), then you know the enduring power of words, allusions, and Shakespeare himself. Our new twelfth grade English courses will carry on this tradition.
Maker Spaces Take Over McDonald Elementary School
The students at McDonald Elementary have been busy doing Maker Space Projects. They come up with creative ideas, design their own games, and create them using as many recycled materials as possible. These come in handy particularly during recess when the weather is bad and students are indoors. Pictured are some fifth graders in Mrs. Kline’s class and they are playing pinball.
Davis Elementary School Holiday Hot Chocolate Day for Bus Drivers
Our students and staff are grateful to have caring and excellent bus drivers who bring them safely to and from school each day. On Tuesday, November 19, our Davis Splash Club had a Holiday Hot Chocolate Bus Driver event to show our appreciation for the hard work that they do. We wanted to thank them for their dedication and care especially on days when the weather conditions are less than perfect on the road. The Davis Splash Club members gave drivers hot chocolate, treats, and notes they had created. Our parent volunteers and school staff assisted them.
The Davis Splash Club is part of the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) committee. Two student representatives from fourth and fifth grade participate in our club. These students are selected because of their outstanding behavior, citizenship, and willingness to help with positive initiatives.
Thanks to our bus drivers for the great job that they do!
Log College Middle School Supports Our Veterans!
Log College’s tradition of supporting organizations, which assists our nation’s Veterans, proudly continues. During the first week of November, Log College students and staff donated 235lbs of Halloween candy to Operation Gratitude, www.operationgratitude.com.
This organization sends Care Packages filled with entertainment, hygiene, and handmade items, non-perishable snacks, and personal letters of appreciation to U.S. Troops, First Responders, Veterans, Military Families, and Wounded Heroes & their Care Givers.
Throughout November and December, the students and staff have been participating in various fundraisers to support the Honor and Courage Program through Operation Ward 57, http://www.operationward57.org/programs/honor-courage/. The mission of their program is to provide continued support to our Heroes recovering in the hospital as well as continue that support once they leave and go home for as long as they and their families need us. This year Log College is proud to announce we are donating over $500 to this well-deserved cause!
Willow Dale Elementary School's Choir Takes the Stage
Sounds of singing everywhere! The fourth and fifth grade students at Willow Dale put on a fantastic Winter Concert this December! Many people came to see and hear the fifth grade Handbell Choir and the fourth and fifth grade choruses. What a great way to represent Willow Dale children! I am already looking forward to the Spring Concert!
Pictured in blue is the fifth grade and in yellow, the fourth grade.
From Our Students
A Glance into the Future
2017… What a year! From The Solar Eclipse to Hurricane Harvey we were in for a wild ride. Now as we ease into the new year, we have excitement on the horizon. Many things will highlight our year starting here at Klinger, and that begins with our Klipper pride.
Several students at Klinger Middle School have come together to provide an easy, simple way to get school supplies and spirit wear. The Klinger School Store will be opening before you know it! According to Emma Torok, one of the student creators of the school store, it is estimated that the school store will open in one to two short weeks! The store pioneers are very organized and have worked very hard by designing the location and ordering the supplies. In addition, several other students will be taking part in this event by volunteering at the school store. The official interview process taught students real-world experiences. The final vision for the school store is that students will be able to get all of their school supplies there. Overall, the school store seems to be very convenient; it is open during flex, before and after school, during all lunches, and during home games. So drop by and take a look in the brand new Klinger Middle School Store!
Another exciting opportunity to soak up is that students and teachers are being enriched in math through a non-profit organization called Khan Academy. Math can tend to be challenging, and with Khan Academy, it can make your comprehension of math much stronger. Teachers and students even have incentives to motivate them as they move up grade levels through Khan Academy. Some of these incentives consist of fun prizes, bracelets, spirit wear, and even taping Mr. Bloom to the wall! Now, students in class are flying through grade levels and practicing skills that will help them do exceptionally well in their math class. As we turn the page into a new chapter of our lives, at Klinger we turn it with ingenuity, ambition, and resilience.
Juliet Yavas
Grade 7
Klinger Middle School
Community Connections
There is a saying that is common in some circles: Think globally, act locally. As part of the Centennial Community, we would like to recognize excellence at the local level. This monthly series will recognize an outstanding local business.
We would like to encourage people to shop locally and support businesses within the Centennial School District. Each month, we will recognize a local business, talk about what makes them outstanding in our humble opinion, and we will encourage you to submit nominations for future articles. To be considered for review in our monthly electronic newsletter the business must be within the boundaries of the Centennial School District, provide superior business services, and be accessible to all citizens in the region. Please submit your recommendations through our District Electronic Suggestion Box!
Centennial School District Supporting Local Businesses
M & H Custom Framing & Gallery
This month’s community partner is M & H Custom Framing and Gallery on 373 York Road in Warminster PA.
Owner Karen Lentz is an active community member and supporter of William Tennent High School and many activities in and around the Centennial School District. The story of Karen coming to own M & H is an interesting one indeed and shines light on the virtues of lifelong learning and leadership. Years ago, Karen befriended Mickey and Harry Skelton, the original owners of M & H Custom Framing. She was hired by the Skeltons initially as a cleaner. In time, her artistic curiosity and keen interest in creating art led her to work in the shop. In 1998 Karen bought the business from her friends. Today she is a hands-on framer, consultant in fine art and manager of M & H Custom Framing and Gallery. Her success as a custom framer stems from her passion for creativity and design
She is supported in this work and putting the “custom” in Custom Framing by her partner Roger Lentz, Model Maker. Roger is a certified Journeyman Model Maker with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Roger brings designs to a brilliant level at M & H Custom Framing and Gallery. His background in this field, as well as expertise in carpentry, lends precision and quality to his custom picture framing. He has built custom cabinetry, furniture and shadow boxes for clients. Roger’s knowledge and craftsmanship makes the phrase “we can frame anything” a reality.
Speaking from first hand, as well as professional experience, M & H is one of the best framers and galleries in southeastern Pennsylvania. While our opinion is not exhaustive, M & H has picked up numerous awards including Best of the Best, Suburban Life Awards in 2013 and 2014. For excellent, thoughtful design support around getting that perfect picture framed, consider M & H Galleries. And, if you are looking for a perfect, beautiful gift, visit their gallery for a wide array of wonderful paintings, photos and ceramic gifts. It’s a fantastic treasure on York Road and one well worth the visit.
Visit Karen Lentz online at: http://mhcustomframing.com
ShopRite's Shop from Home Fundraiser
Announcements
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
Dr. Percell Whittaker, Director of Pupil Services
Mr. AJ Juliani, Director of Technology and Innovation
Ms. Hannah Messner, Director of Human Resources
Ms. Catherine Perkins, Director of Teaching and Learning
Mr. Robert Whartenby, Director of Facilities/Assistant Business Administrator for Operations
Board of School Director
Dr. Andrew Pollock, President
Mr. David Shafter, Vice President
Mr. Charles Kleinschmidt, Assistant Secretary
Mr. Steven Adams
Ms. Mary Alice Brancato
Mr. Andrew Dixon
Mr. Flemming Godiksen
Mr. Mark B. Miller
Ms. Tara Pellegrino
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. Ernesto Ortiz, McDonald Elementary School
Ms. Michelle Burkholder, Willow Dale Elementary School
Email: csdpr@centennialsd.org
Website: www.centennialsd.org
Location: 48 Swan Way, Warminster, PA 18974
Phone: 215-441-6000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/csdinfo
Twitter: @Centennial_SD