Take a second to observe the wrecked car outside Quakertown Community High School because it only takes one second to be involved in a vehicle crash. This month, everyone needs to focus on awareness when it comes to operating a motor vehicle in a safe manner and being responsible.
With prom and graduation season around the corner, it is a good time for parents to review driving guidelines with their teens. Make a pledge with your teen to drive phone free and avoid becoming distracted while operating a motor vehicle.
In the photo above, School Resource Officer Bob Lee, right, stands with QCHS Assistant Principal Jason Magditch, left, and seniors Kyra Handel, Madison Cummons and Nick Levinski.
Please click here to read Officer Lee's full message.
Sarah Godshalk receives 'full ride' to Temple nursing program
Quakertown Community High School senior Sarah Godshalk received accepted rare offer from Temple University, whose Bachelor of Science in Nursing program gets approximately 4,000 applicants a year. Only about 100 students are accepted.
Even more special, Sarah is one of only eight students to receive the J. Russell Fawley Scholarship, which pays for tuition and program-related costs such as course fees, books, and uniforms. The funding is designed to encourage students with a history of high academic achievement to make Temple their first choice for nursing education.
“Temple was my reach school,” Sarah said. “Their nursing program has like a 2 percent acceptance rate. I was in disbelief. I had no words.”
Please click here for the full story.
Mikayla Fuentes awarded $2,500 by National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Quakertown Community High School senior Mikayla Fuentes has been awarded a $2,500 scholarship by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Mikayla and the $2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
In Pennsylvania, 104 $2,500 scholarships were awarded. Mikayla is one of six students in Bucks County to receive the honor.
“Mikayla is so very deserving of this award,” Principal Dr. David Finnerty said. “She is a hard worker who excels not only academically but is part of many school clubs and activities that positively impact the Quakertown community.”
Please click here for the full story.
Mr. Deily's students experience cutting edge technology in classroom
Christopher Deily's students recently took a trip to the San Diego Zoo while sitting in their Strayer Middle School classroom.
Using Google Expeditions Virtual Reality headsets, Mr. Deily led his students to the west coast, and they also learned about genes and heredity.
"VR is super engaging!," said Mr. Deily, who told QCSD director of technology Joe Kuzo that the product is "a great tool. The kids really dig it."
A hearty salute to our teachers and nurses!
Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner sent out a Blog post praising the district's nurses and teachers. Here it is:
This week we celebrate some very special people in our lives – our professional staff members! This week is Teacher & Nurse Appreciation Week and I invite you to join me in thanking this group of professionals who support, instruct, nurture, challenge, mentor, love and encourage our students throughout every school year. Public school teachers, counselors, nurses and support staff members change the lives of millions of children every day across America, and their positive impact reaches far beyond the boundaries of the classroom, that lasts across generations.
In Quakertown, our professional and support staff members touch lives and shape the future every day. The Board of School Director and I so very grateful for the high quality team of professionals we have in our district who do their very best to insure of students become college and career ready, along with becoming active strong citizens.
Whether you join #ThankATeacher on Twitter, take a moment to send an email or personal note to your child’s teacher, or find your own personal way to let a teacher know how much you appreciate them, we encourage you to show your appreciation in some way this week. Don’t forget our nurses, counselors, therapists and other support staff who share in helping to support our young people.
Many of our parents are teachers themselves, and to you – we thank you also! We join your schools and parents in thanking you for all that you do. Thanks and have a great week.
Young boy battling cancer embraced by QCHS baseball team and community
They did it on behalf of 7-year-old Cam Wakeley, a delightful boy who’s been dealt a difficult hand as he’s being treated for Ewing’s Sarcoma. It’s brutalized his early years and has certainly taken a toll on his loving family. His mom has bravely documented the struggle in a dignified way on her Cam’s Corner Facebook page.
Prior to its Cam Night game with Pennridge, the team sold “Cam Strong” T-shirts and collected donations to defray Cam’s medical costs. Faculty and staff took part in a dress down day and money was collected at the game. Pennridge, the Panthers’ worthy opponent, also played a role, selling T-shirts in their school colors, and each coach and player shook Cam’s hand before the contest.
Please click here for the full story.
Sixth Grade Center raises money for LLS
The Sixth Grade Center's recent Awards Assembly presented two checks, including one for more than $2,700 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Much of the donation was raised during the school's Pennies for Patients program. While LLS received a helpful sum of money, homerooms who raised $100 or more receive pennants.
Great job by the students and faculty, and a big thanks to teacher Todd Silvius for the photos.
QCSD partnering with YMCA
The Quakertown Community School District is partnering with the YMCA to have 2nd graders participate in a “Safety Around Water” program.
These are not swimming lessons. Rather, they’re a way to teach water safety skills to help prevent drowning, a significant cause of death for children.
“Drowning is one of leading causes of death for children,” said Michael Tannous, executive director of the Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA. “The Quakertown Community School District has a wonderful opportunity to take advantage, for free, of the great legacy of the YMCA, with its premier instructors of safety around water.”
According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the National Safety Council:
- Approximately 830 children ages 14 and under drown every year. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1 to 4 years and ages 10 to 14 years.
- An average of about 3,600 injuries a year occur to children due to a near-drowning incident.
“We consider this a public safety issue, and it’s a way for us to insure our kids can be safe around water,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lisa Hoffman. “They’ll be learning some basics; how to put on a life jacket, how to learn to float.”
Please click here for the full story.
QCHS club seeks to raise age to buy tobacco products
Members of the Quakertown Community High School Gay Straight Alliance recently traveled to Harrisburg with their adviser, Mrs. Alvino.
The students met with legislators to advocate for raising the age for purchasing tobacco products.
School Board approves contracts for Neidig renovation, addition
At a special meeting on May 6, 2019, the Quakertown Community School Board approved the construction contracts for the Neidig Elementary School addition and renovation project.
The bid results resulted in a $27.1 million dollar project, which includes all of the soft costs. In addition, the budget has $1.9 million in contingency. Jamie Lynch, project manager for D’Huy Engineering, has said he would have been happy going into the project with $1 million in contingency.
In a 7-0 vote, the Board awarded Lobar, Inc. of Dillsburg the General Construction contract following its bid of $15.855 million.
Guy M. Cooper, Inc. of Willow Grove was awarded the Mechanical Construction contract for its bid of $3.573 million.
The Electrical Construction will be handled by Boro Developers, Inc. of King of Prussia. It bid $2.76 million.
Plumbing work will be done by Stan-Roch Plumbing of Zion Grove. It bid $1.4 million.
Construction on the Neidig project is scheduled to begin after school ends on June 14. For the 2019-20 school year, Neidig students will shift to Tohickon Valley Elementary School.
Interested in starting an ice hockey club?
Parents in the Quakertown Community School District are gauging the interest of students, parents and prospective coaches in starting an ice hockey club for teams at the high school and middle school levels.
If you’re interested in finding out more, please click here for the Quakertown Hockey Association Facebook page, and join the group.
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Interested in a job in the Quakertown Community School District? Please click here to see what positions are available.
Student Choice proves a hit
Quakertown Community High School students recently had the opportunity to sample three different entrees and vote on their phones to determine which one they’d like to see on the school lunch menu.
The “Student Choice” option is a new program from Chartwells K12, the district’s food service provider.
The pesto spinach flatbread pizza won with 54 percent of the vote. The Nashville chicken was second with 38 percent. Food Services Director Pete Kelley said the competition was close enough to place both on the menu. Chicken will be served on May 17, while the pesto flatbread is scheduled for May 22.
"The students were really enthusiastic about it," Mr. Kelley said. "It was close enough where I felt like 'Let's do both.' "
He said Student Choice will be done "several times" during the 2019-20 school year.
Presentations on vaping for parents, guardians
Two important presentations were recently given at Quakertown Community High School that Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner wanted to make parents and guardians aware of.
One involves drug abuse and vaping; the other is about the Pennsylvania Youth Survey.
David Fialko of the Council Of Southeast Pennsylvania, a highly sought after speaker, spoke about drug abuse and vaping. His presentation can be found here.
Carolyn Staffieri, a QCSD Pupil Services Administrative Intern, presented on PAYS data. Her presentation can be found here.
Quakertown Community School District
