Rose Tree Media Reporter
Indian Lane Elementary Earns National Recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School
Special Olympics has named Indian Lane Elementary School as a National Banner Unified Champion School!
Schools honored with this recognition have demonstrated a commitment to inclusion by creating a school climate with a sense of collaboration, engagement, and respect for all members of the student body and staff. They also must have a plan to sustain these activities into the future.
Over the past eight years, Indian Lane’s Unified Clubs have grown immensely, providing students opportunities to participate in bocce ball each fall and track and field each spring.
Unified Sports joins students with and without disabilities on the same teams, nurturing friendships and relationships that carry on well beyond the games.
Led by Molly Bradley and Summer O’Donnell, Unified Club sponsors, Indian Lane formed a leadership team of students to make decisions about clubs and activities, and help organize annual school-wide events like Polar Pop and Choose to Include.
Indian Lane is the only elementary school in Pennsylvania to be recognized with this honor.
7 Penncrest Students Recognized by National Merit Scholarship Program
Penncrest High School students Leo Ouyang, Jingxi Sun, and Meixi Sun are National Merit Scholarship Program finalists. Justin Duvak, Jordan Knox, Margaret McLane, and Lauren Troy were each named National Merit Commended students.
Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT Selection Index scores qualify for National Merit recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. 15,000 Semifinalists advance to Finalist standing based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments.
Congratulations to our Finalists and Commended students for their exemplary dedication to academic excellence!
GLENWOOD ELEMENTARY
Science on Wheels
Earlier this fall, the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation visited Glenwood with its mobile science laboratory! Every student in kindergarten through 5th grade went outside to the laboratory to complete an experiment, which ranged from learning about plant parts (including those that provide our food) to learning how water travels through plants.
Third through 5th graders observed the power of a soybean, as they planted a soybean in plaster of paris. This engaging activity continued into the classroom, where students continued to watch their plants grow. It was a valuable and special day for all students!
Exploring Extracurriculars
Glenwood Elementary clubs are up and running! The Newspaper Club, Junior Optimist Ambassadors, Multicultural Club, Reading Olympics, and Broadcast Club have all started to meet with their teacher sponsors.
The Newspaper Club is working on its first fall edition by surveying the student body using a variety of polls. Students in the Broadcasting Club are creating the morning announcements, while the Junior Optimists have begun supporting our PTG volunteers with our school store, Woody’s Warehouse. Finally, the Multicultural Club is learning about different cultures from around the world through arts, stories, and music.
Welcome Ms. Mbaeri!
Ms. Mbaeri, the new Glenwood Elementary assistant principal, has been a fabulous new addition to our school leadership team. Ms. Mbaeri has been busy helping students, reading to classes, and supporting teachers. She can be found on the playground, in the cafeteria, and more! Ms. Mbaeri is also leading many curriculum committees. Welcome, Ms. Mbaeri!
From Numbers to Narratives
Glenwood Elementary celebrated the annual Math Storytelling Day on September 25. This is a day to celebrate the power of storytelling to make math more fun for everyone.
Each grade level was given a different equation and was asked to write a story about it. A competition was held through which all students submitted their math stories, and a winner was chosen from each class in each grade level.
Triumphant Teamwork
Every October, Mr. Leahan and Mrs. Leiberman set up a rigorous and engaging obstacle course in the gymnasium. The students need to work together as a team to complete the course through communicating, helping, and encouraging one another. The students use both physical and mental strength to finish the course as they compete for the best time.
This sets a very positive tone for physical education and helps students navigate the art of teamwork!
INDIAN LANE ELEMENTARY
On the Bus to Positive Energy
This school year, Indian Lane is continuing with its Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS) by using the theme, “Get on the Energy Bus,” based on the book by Jon Gordon.
Each grade level has had the opportunity to listen to “The Energy Bus for Kids,” a book that presents five rules for the “Ride of Your Life.” The book teaches students how to fuel their journey with positive energy and shares five rules that educate them on how to love the people they share their journey with, as well as how to enjoy the ride.
We All Scream for Ice Cream
On September 13, in a long-standing tradition at Indian Lane, the annual Kindergarten Ice Cream Social was held. Kindergarten students excitedly came with their parents, guardians, and siblings to the playground. It was a beautiful evening of meeting new friends while playing on the playground, enjoying some ice cream, and making connections.
A Welcome Return of 2 Annual Celebrations
Grandparents and Special Friends Day was celebrated at Indian Lane on September 20-21.
To include as many special friends and grandparents as possible, we made the event a two-day affair, with each grade level having a designated time to host the honored guests. The children were so excited to show their guests what it’s like to be a Bobcat every day at Indian Lane! This was the first time the events were held at the school since 2019.
Celebrating Young Artists
In late September, Art Teacher Ms. Devine hosted a Featured Artist Breakfast. One student from each grade level was selected to have their artwork displayed in the main office area. The students and their families were then invited to a breakfast, where Ms. Devine discussed the art pieces and what students learned in art class while creating their artwork.
Social Fun in the Sun
For the first time, Indian Lane's PTG hosted social events for each grade level, where students and families gathered to enjoy popsicles and play on the playground. The weather was warm and beautiful, and our Bobcats were happy to spend time after school playing with friends on the playground. The popsicles were a fun treat, as well!
Bobcats Meet Brags Milestone
Our Bobcats earned a school-wide reinforcer for earning 500 Bobcat Brags since the first day of school. The reinforcer was a fun day of students wearing crazy hats or hair, and students had so much fun with their creative ideas!
Kindergarteners Learn Essentials of Fire Safety
On October 9, the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company visited Indian Lane to share fire prevention and safety information with kindergarten students during National Fire Prevention Week.
The students were invited to sit on the fire truck and see the equipment up close. Each student received their very own fire hat and activity pages!
MEDIA ELEMENTARY
Mustangs Gallop into the New School Year
The Media Mustangs are off to a great start! We began our school year by welcoming kindergarten students—as well as new and returning families—to our annual open house. Marty the Mustang welcomed everyone as they entered through the doors.
We’ve also held additional events to welcome families to the school year. Kindergarten and 1st grade families enjoyed Popsicles on the Playground, where families had an opportunity to connect while students interacted in the social event. In mid-September, families visited their child’s classrooms and met teachers at Media’s Back to School Night.
To end our first month of school, Media’s PTG hosted a Back to School Block Party with activity tables, food trucks, and live music. The event was DJ’d by one of Media Elementary’s alumni! There was a dance party, games on the sports court, family dinners on Barrell Field, and an all around fun night.
Spreading Belonging Through Art
In an effort to support this year’s school theme of belonging, Media Elementary art students listened to the book, “I Am Me,” written by Susan Verde with illustrations by Peter Reynolds.
Students drew mini self-portraits that will encompass a school-wide mural, affirming their uniqueness and spreading the messages: “You matter. You belong. You are a work of art!”
Pictured are some students with the beautiful artwork in our halls.
Artwork Selected for Museum Exhibition
Several 5th graders have had their art projects selected for display at the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford! As part of a special Imagine Brandywine exhibition, artwork was selected from elementary school artists in RTMSD.
The work will be on display in the student exhibition space from October 25 through February 11, 2024. Admission to the exhibition will be free on two dates: November 5, 2023, and February 4, 2024. The museum will provide special children's activities for the general public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on those dates.
Participating students will be acknowledged by district art teachers at an informal reception on February 4, 2024.
Charting a Course for Learning
Students in 5th grade worked on coordinate graphing through the Station Rotation model of instruction. They rotated through working on graphing ordered pairs with their teachers, playing coordinate graphing Battleship with peers, and working individually on iPads to identify the coordinates of famous landmarks like the Washington Monument, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and the Taj Mahal.
Cultivating Knowledge & Green Thumbs
This school year, the Media Elementary Fall Garden Club is focusing on collecting seeds from existing plants for planting in the spring. This will allow students to experience the full circle of planting and seed saving!
The club will also mark and label the garden for easier identification and prepare the garden to have richer soil, while also serving as a habitat for birds and pollinators through the winter.
Students made scarecrows and learned that having birds and insects in the garden can be helpful to the plants. The students had a blast making scarecrows from their old clothes, straw, and pumpkins. Later, the straw will be used for mulch and seeds from the pumpkins to plant in the spring to have our own pumpkin patch next year!
Mustang Magic Ignites Excitement for Positive School Expectations
We had a blast at our PBIS Kick-Off school-wide assembly! Marty the Mustang even made an appearance.
Mrs. Verdeur led us in our Media School song and our school-wide expectations were reviewed. Students then learned how to earn Happy Horseshoes and become Mighty Mustangs. We are excited to watch our Mustangs be ready, respectful, and responsible!
ROSE TREE ELEMENTARY
RTES Holds Welcome Back Social
In October, the Rose Tree Elementary community came together to celebrate the start of the new school year. Families were invited to bring a picnic or purchase dinner from one of the many food trucks onsite.
Thank you to the PTG for supporting this event and providing each student with a free Kona ice treat. The event was a huge success and everyone had a great time!
Celebrating ‘Socktober’
October is Socktober month at Rose Tree Elementary! This is a schoolwide community service project that asks the school community to donate pairs of socks to the local homeless community to keep local unhoused people warm in the colder months. Hundreds of socks were donated to people in need!
Blazing a Path to Fire Safety
During Fire Safety Week this October, kindergarten and 1st graders were visited by the Rose Tree Fire Company. A former RTES student is now a volunteer firefighter and demonstrated how firefighters get dressed when called to a fire. The students also enjoyed learning about and looking at a real fire truck!
Learning and Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, 1st graders at Rose Tree read “Frida and her Animalitos,” by Monica Brown. Students learned about Frida Kahlo’s incredible life and her inspiring artwork. They each created their own tessellation, or an arrangement of closely fitted shapes, which formed a beautiful set of wings!
Second grade artists learned about the traditional art of Papel Amate, the tradition of paper making. The young artists created their own textured drawings of birds, which will be painted with neon colors.
Frida reminds us we all have wings that we can spread to fly!
Spreading Peace at RTES
International Peace Day was recognized by students at Rose Tree Elementary on September 21. Fourth graders celebrated by participating in special activities and lessons, including writing peace poems, making peace lanterns, and forming a human peace sign. Younger students decorated posters and discussed the meaning of peace.
Students Support Ride for Heroes
Students at Rose Tree Elementary were invited to support this year's Delaware County’s Ride for Heroes on September 11.
For the fifth consecutive year, a group of 40-50 cyclists rode through Delaware County in honor of first responders. The group passed by several police, fire, and EMS departments before gathering at Rose Tree Park.
All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students were happy to cheer the cyclists on as they rode up First Avenue to the Rose Tree Fire House!
Wizards Assemble
The Harlem Wizards, a professional basketball team, spent time at Rose Tree Elementary on September 15.
Not only did these incredible athletes entertain the students with their interactive show, but they also incorporated the expectations of always being ready, responsible, and respectful in their messaging. These messages supported the PBIS lessons that have been taking place in the classroom!
SPRINGTON LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Transition Camps Kick Off Middle School
Springton Lake hosted two very successful 6th grade transition camps before school started.
All incoming 6th graders were invited to spend time at The Lake participating in getting-to-know-you and other orientation activities. The camp is coordinated by our administrative team and teachers, who volunteer to help incoming new students have a wonderful start to their middle school careers!
Expanding Course Offerings
The elective program in 8th grade has two new courses for the current school year: Web Design and Introduction to Piano.
As part of the special area block, students can choose from a large menu of offerings. Feedback from students and families was very positive last school year, which was the first time offering the elective choice.
Growing Our Future
Hydroponic Gardening is one of the units covered in the 8th grade STEM Elective “Outpost Space.”
Hydroponics is the method of growing plants without the use of soil. It can be used to prepare for developing an outpost somewhere other than Earth, and it is a growing technology in the field of agriculture.
Students were able to experience this process from start to finish, which included germinating the seeds, transferring them to the hydroponic unit, measuring and balancing the pH and nutrient levels in the water, and adjusting temperatures and light cycles. Finally, students were able to harvest their final crop!
The students grew about 160 plants for consumption, including lettuce, basil, and cilantro in a 4-foot by 8-foot footprint. The entire process from start to finish takes approximately four weeks.
Cultivating Knowledge and Environmental Stewardship
The Springton Lake Environmental Club has built a multi-use garden foyer next to the school cafeteria dubbed “The Spartan Gardens.”
Students dine al-fresco, or in the open air, in the warmer months of the year. They are surrounded by a native plant habitat and pollinator garden covered in flowering perennials, shrubs, and small trees along the back wall, near four large raised garden beds brimming with flowers and vegetable plants.
The Spartan Garden’s past endeavors have included donating vegetables to the Media Food Bank, serving students fresh produce in their salads in the cafeteria, and participating in tasting walks. This year, we are hoping to tailor our vegetable garden planting directly to the students’ learning in Family and Consumer Sciences class. We also hope to continue to involve the students in the Life Skills and Occupational Therapy classes in the maintenance and use of the gardens.
6th Graders Dive into Science and Teamwork
The 6th grade teams all visited Paradise Farms Camp in Downingtown for a full day of hands-on science learning and team building!
In the first half of the day, students learned how to canoe and test a stream to see if it is healthy. The other half of the day was spent on a low ropes course, working together to solve challenges.
Students also had the opportunity to try canoeing and explore the wetlands as they gathered materials to build a "boat" to race down the stream. They participated in a stream study, collecting water samples from the creek to determine whether the stream was healthy.
All three teams had excellent fall weather and successful days of learning. The annual trip was one that students will never forget!
PENNCREST HIGH SCHOOL
A Celebration of School Spirit and Tradition
Penncrest’s homecoming kicked off with Spirit Week, where students dressed in themes for each day: USA, Tropical Tuesday, Pink Out, BBQ Dad and Soccer Mom, and Class Colors.
An energizing pep rally was held on October 13, with student governments from each class creating themed banners. Penncrest also recognized new members the Hall of Fame Ring of Honor at the event, as well as the homecoming court, which included Hannah Casey, Rachel Chabot, Gwen Chorney, Liam Doyle, Parker Klodarska, Dan Le, Bridget McKay, and David Meiser. The King and Queen were George Bostwick and Bella Green.
At the football game that evening, the Penncrest Ambassador Choir beautifully sang the National Anthem, and the football team roared past Radner for a 34-26 win!
The week was capped off with a well-attended homecoming dance on October 14. Penncrest's Student Council hosted over 900 students during, "A Casino Night in Vegas." The students had a wonderful time!
Freshman First Day
Penncrest High School was excited to welcome the Class of 2027 through the Freshman First Day program! Redesigned by a dedicated group of faculty members, the program focuses on making the first day of high school a welcoming, enjoyable experience.
This year’s Freshman First Day featured team-building activities, get-to-know-you games, and guidance from upper-class volunteers. To end the day, a mini-pep rally was held so that students could become fully prepared for homecoming.
The day was a tremendous success!
Penncrest Team Achieves Success in International Competition
A team of five students represented Penncrest in the Envirothon, the largest environmental science competition in the country. Throughout the competition, students studied the areas of aquatics, forestry, soil and land use, and wildlife, as well as a current issue. Last year’s topic was adapting to and combating climate change.
In April, Sophia Donnelly, Jordan Knox, Sophia Murphy, Leo Ouyang, and Zaid Salaria competed at the county level, capturing first place and earning the opportunity to represent Delaware County at the state competition. In May, these students competed against 63 other Pennsylvania counties. The students finished in first place, earning $1,000 scholarships from the state and the opportunity to represent the state at the international competition.
Throughout July, the team trained with their advisors and other area experts. On July 21, they traveled to New Brunswick, Canada, to compete against 50 other teams, which represented the United States, Canadian provinces, and even Singapore and China.
Following a grueling week of training, testing, and preparing and delivering a 20-minute oral presentation, the team finished in second place! Each team member received $2,000 in college scholarship funds. As the team had the highest score in the first round of the oral presentation, they also earned $1,000 for the Pennsylvania State Envirothon program.
Entrepreneurship Students Showcase Innovative Solutions
Mrs. Starkey’s Dual-Enrollment Entrepreneurship class took part in the University of Delaware Virtual Innovation Challenge on October 5.
Students were given a real-life challenge and asked to create a solution within 40 minutes. They then pitched their solution to a panel of judges and participated in a question-and-answer session.
Students competed against nine other schools nationwide. While Penncrest was not the winner of the competition, students’ hard work and dedication were impressive. Keep up the great work!
Empowering Female Leaders
Mrs. Starkey and 15 business students attended the Empowering Women in Business Summit, held at Widener University October 6.
Students listened to a panel of successful leaders share their experiences in the business world. They also had an opportunity to work collaboratively with other students within Delaware and Chester counties.
Partnership Connects Seniors with Kindergarteners
Through a partnership between Mrs. Harkness and Mrs. Anderson, seniors enrolled in Mrs. Anderson’s Child Development class can spend time with Mrs. Harkness’ Glenwood Elementary kindergarten classes to observe and assist our young students.
Not only does this allow some additional hands-on support in the kindergarten classroom, but high school seniors interested in the field of education also have the experience of actually working with elementary-level students.
This is a very special partnership that benefits the widest range of learners in our Rose Tree Media School District—truly “K “to “12!”
Strike Up the Band
The Penncrest Band won a ticket-selling contest and were awarded the honor of playing the National Anthem at the Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets baseball game on September 21!
This was the fourth time our band has played the Anthem for the Phillies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Information about the Rose Tree Media School District and its schools is available on our website at www.rtmsd.org.
- District Overview: www.rtmsd.org/domain/61
- Board of School Directors: www.rtmsd.org/domain/60
- Employment: rtmsd.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
- District and School Calendars: www.rtmsd.org/Page/2
- Archived Newsletters: www.rtmsd.org/Page/153
Rose Tree Media School District continues to move forward in the process of building a new elementary school. Information about this district priority is available at: https://www.roomtolearnroomtogrow.org.