Oley Valley School District
Digital Newsletter - February 2019
Elementary and Middle School Students Participate in LEGO Competition
Oley Valley elementary and middle school students participated in a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) championship competition hosted by Penn State Berks Campus on Saturday, January 26, 2019. A total of 56 teams representing clubs and school programs from as far away as Harrisburg shared in a spirit of cooperative competition focusing on robotics and the innovations of long-duration manned spaceflight. Our students, working on two teams representing their respective schools, created and programmed a robot to resolve mission challenges and presented their research and discovery to four panels of judges during the day-long event.
This year’s challenge theme was “Into Orbit” which focused on the challenges of deep space travel and building habitats on other worlds. The competition has three parts: projects, core values and the robot game. Student teams are required to work independently to identify a problem, develop an innovative solution relative to the theme and present their findings to a panel of four judges. FLL stresses six core values: cooperation, inclusion, innovation, discovery, collaboration, and of course fun that they share in another panel review and teamwork challenge. Finally, students design, program and operate their Lego MindStorms robot to resolve missions and earn points in the Robot Game competition to end the event. Our students enjoyed their first year of participation; and, we are very excited to work with other Berks County teams for 2019’s challenge which will be revealed in August.
Middle School News
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OleyValleyMS/
Twitter: @OleyMS
Look what we did!
Oley Valley MS students created a video about Electro-Space Fabricators in Topton, PA as part of the 2019 “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” competition. The event is a Viewer’s Choice competition and voting is open February 27 through March 1st at www.whatssocool.org.
We are directly competing against schools in Berks and Schuylkill counties and WE NEED YOUR VOTES!
Our 8th grade team of developing videographers created a commercial after visiting the facility to learn about their processes, interviewing various employees and working with their management. This program, supported by the Manufacturer’s Resource Center in Allentown, PA, is part of a larger effort to promote advanced manufacturing careers to students throughout Pennsylvania.
Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Tell your family. Tell your coworkers. Great things are happening with STEM in the Oley Valley! Spread the word and help us gather votes!
High School News
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oleyvalleyHS/
Twitter: @OleyValleyHS
Appreciating Poetry at this Year’s Poetry Out Loud Competition
On Tuesday, January 29th, senior Jordan Eck competed at the 2019 Pennsylvania Regional Finals for the Poetry Out Loud (POL) competition, which is an annual event hosted by The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. As a contestant, Jordan recited three poems: “Abandoned Farmhouse” by Ted Kooser, “The Fair Singer” by Andrew Marvell, and “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Jordan competed against twelve other participants from both local schools (including Conrad Weiser, Muhlenberg, and Reading) and also more distant schools (including Warwick High School and Stone Independent School). Mrs. Kallis, Oley Valley’s facilitator for the POL competition, and five students were in attendance to support Jordan, who did a wonderful job reciting all of his poems. Great job, Jordan!
*Article written by Alysha Ulrich (OVHS senior)
The Class of 2019's "Half Way" Celebration - The Future Awaits!
Welcome to Course Selection Night at the Oley Valley High School - Check out the STEM program
Safe2Say Program Assembly
Students, faculty and staff attended an assembly about a new program mandated by PA state law / Act 44.
Our students often are aware of the problems their peers are facing, so we must empower them to know the danger signs and give them the tools to help each other with the assistance of trained and caring adults. As you know, most conversations are taking place on social media, therefore it is critical that we teach our students to be looking out for one another as these digital conversations are taking place. S2SS teaches them what to look for in text, video and photos while empowering them to act quickly to help a fellow student.
Click https://4.files.edl.io/5849/01/10/19/171254-28dc78fd-ef48-4db8-a8ff-580341ac6b1d.pdf for a full brochure outlining the S2SS program
TSA Competition
On February 2, 2019 approximately 25 students went to East Stroudsburg High School to compete in the TSA Region 9 competition. Cody Degler placed 3rd in Flight Endurance. The Children's Story Team placed 4th. The Biotechnology Team placed 4th. Andrew Kline placed 5th in Digital Video Production. Approximately 15 students advanced to the State Competition.
Oley Valley Music Rocks!
PMEA Intermediate Songfest 1/23/19 at Lehigh Valley Charter for the Arts HS in Bethlehem, PA
Oley Valley High School 2nd Annual Mosaic Concert
The Music Department is getting excited to present the 2nd Annual Mosaic Concert on Thursday, February 28 and Friday, March 1st! This concert is meant to be fast paced and entertaining and this year will feature more than 20 different soloists and 20 different performing ensembles. The concert itself is built around our high school band, choir and orchestra, but is also meant to showcase the students in ways that cannot always be created inside the traditional choral and instrumental setting. I am attaching a list of the repertoire for each act so that you can take a look at what pieces we are preparing. Each act will last approximately 35 - 40 minutes and we will have a short intermission. Tickets for this concert are $6 each and can be purchased at the door or online using the following link.
Act 1
The Greatest Show Arr. Brymer
Concert Choir and Dancers
Jordan Eck ~ Soloist
When The Saints Go Marching In Arr. Severson
Jazz Combo
Where I Stand Mia Wray
Alysha Ulrich ~ Soloist
Melissa Geary ~ Cello Paige Deane ~ Violin
Undertow Mackey
Concert Band
Siloughettes Arr. Lojeski
Ryeder Kline, Asa Lackey,
Josh Neidert, Adam Szymborski
Summon The Spirits Arr. Tuck
Dennis Mundy, Donovan Readinger,
Kane Rogers, Lukas Sonon
That Gershwin Rhythm Arr.Wagner
String Orchestra
Jared Mazeika, Haley Hartline, Haley Richard ~ Soloists
Anthony Neal ~ Drumset
William Tell Overture Arr. Marlatt
Flute Choir
Jersey Boys Medley Arr. Kazik
String Orchestra
Autumn Wolf ~ Drumset
The Sweetest Sounds Rodgers
Morgan Koch ~ Soloist
Let It Be Lennon & McCartney
Evelyn Rubino, Nicole Stump ~ Soloists
Audrey Mader ~ Guitar
Karn Evil 9 Arr. Wallace
Marching Band
Act 2
Show People Ebb/ Kander
Senior Drama Club Members
Prelude No. 1 in E Minor Rosauro
Donovan Readinger ~ Marimba
Never Enough Arr. Brymer
Grace Baum, Brynn Donoff, Evey Fetter,
Grace Good, Sage Jackson, Stacia Musser
Autumn Wolf, Haley Richard
Happiness Does Not Wait Arnalds
Jaiden Harwell and Jared Mazeika
Fiddler’s Fury Safford
String Ensemble
Birdland Arr. Lopez
Oley Valley Jazz Ambassadors
Bohemian Rhapsody Arr. Brymer
Concert Choir
Coby Conrad ~ Electric Guitar
Dennis Mundy ~ Drum Set, Kit Jackson ~ Bass Guitar
Minuet in E Flat Haydn/ Clark
Brass Ensemble
Will The Circle Be Unbroken Moore
Women’s Choir
Haley Richard, Haley Hartline, Morgan Koch
~ Soloists
Vive l’Amour Arr. Parker & Shaw
Men’s Choir
Fix You Coldplay Nicole Stump ~ Piano/Vocals,
Kit Jackson ~ Bass Guitar Miles Lyons ~ Electric Guitar
Donovan Readinger ~ Drumset
A Million Dreams Arr. Brymer
Concert Choir
Grace Bertin, Jordan Eck ~ Soloists
Let The River Run Arr. Johnson
Concert Choir
Dennis Mundy, Donovan Readinger, Kane Rogers
~ Percussion
Kit Jackson ~ String Bass
Oley Valley High School Festivals, District Band & Orchestra & Choir Concerts, Region V Orchestra
Over the past few months, many of the students here at OVHS have participated in a number of music festivals, including the Berks County Senior High School festival, District Orchestra, District Band, and District Choir. The Berks County Senior High School festival is a concert that contains all three groups, band, orchestra, and choir, and consists of students in grades 10-12 from all schools within Berks County. The District 10 Orchestra concert was held at Boyertown High School on January 11th, the District 10 Band concert was held at Catasaqua High School on January 25th, and the District 10 Choir concert was held at Exeter High School on February 9th. During the district festivals, each student re-auditions for the next festival, which is the Region V festival. Donovan Readinger successfully auditioned for Region V Orchestra, which will be held at Kutztown High School on February 22nd. Below is a list of students who successfully auditioned for and participated in each festival. The Junior County festival, which is set to take place on March 30th, consists of students grades 7-9. Junior county choir auditioned a few weeks ago, and results for junior county band and orchestra are TBD. We are very proud of all the hardworking students who practiced, auditioned, and performed for every one of these festivals!
Senior County Choir
Haley Richard
Olivia Cameron
Morgan Koch
Adam Szymborski
Emmit Denton
Jordan Eck
Joshua Neidert
Asa Lackey
Vincent Ferrizzi
Jared Mazeika
Koen Smythe
Brynn Donoff
Senior County Band
Vincent Ferrizzi
Hollie Bower
CJ Kucier
Donovan Readinger
Senior County Orchestra
Donovan Readinger
Hollie Bower
CJ Kucier
Claudia Field
Emily Tessier
District Orchestra
Donovan Readinger
District Band
Donovan Readinger
Hollie Bower
District Choir
Madison Robb
Emmit Denton
Joshua Neidert
Adam Szymborski
Region Orchestra
Donovan Readinger
Junior County Choir
Madison Robb
Sophia Touti
Korra Sanders
Kaziah Cullen
Kylie Sanders
Kyleigh Schlegel
Madison Buehler
Kristina Kauffman
Corbin Teeters
Samuel Repko
Middle School Dance, Dance, Dance!
Line dancing is very popular with this crowd!
Smile for the camera!
Having some fun!
FFA Events
National FFA Week
The Oley Valley FFA chapter is currently celebrating National FFA Week, & we wanted to say "thanks" for all those who support our efforts throughout the year. Please accept these "All American Apples" & "All Pennsylvania Mushrooms." Pennsylvania leads the nation in the production of mushrooms, ranking number 1 in the country and producing 63% of all U.S. mushrooms. PA is also ranked 4th for apple production!
Our FFA chapter is celebrating 87 years of agricultural education in the Oley Valley School District. Throughout the years countless numbers of students have benefitted from their involvement in FFA and have become an important part of our nation's largest industry - Agriculture! Thank you!
Athletic Update
For Athletic Schedules & Information visit www.ovlynx.org
*Please note that you can sign up on the athletic website for schedule change notifications which will send you an email or text message to alert you as soon as games are postponed.
For directions on where Berks County High Schools and Middle Schools play their home contests please visit www.bciaa.org. Please note that clicking on an opponent on www.ovlynx.org will only give you directions to the opposing school’s High School, which is not necessarily where they play their contests.
Follow the Athletic Department on Twitter @OVLynx for varsity scores and live playoff updates each season.
Congratulations to Brandon Gust for winning the BCIAA Individual Bowling County Championship! Aaron Fisher also medaled at the County Championship, taking home the 5th place medal. Brandon, Aaron and Travis Reichard have all qualified for the District 3 and Regional Bowling Championships.
Congratulations to the following wrestlers who placed at the BCIAA Individual Wrestling Tournament: Travis Lambert – 3rd, Elijah Karas – 3rd, Zack Snyder – 4th, Max Wehr – 6th. Elijah also placed 2nd at the District 3 Sectional Tournament and has qualified for the District 3 Championships to be held on February 22-23.
Congratulations to Boys Soccer Assistant Coach, Jason Moll, on receiving the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year Award. Coach Moll was presented with this award at the PA Coaches Association Banquet, along with Josh Daniels receiving his All-State award.
Important upcoming dates:
February 22 – Spring Sports Physical/Recertification Packets Due
March 4th – HS Spring Sports Start
March 11th – MS Spring Sports Start
March 19th – Spring Athletic Booster Club Meeting – 7:00PM HS Library
Coaching Vacancies:
HS Head Girls Basketball
MS Assistant Track & Field
Oley Valley Community Education Foundation
OVCEF seeks nominations for Distinguished Oley Valley Alumni and Distinguished Service to the Oley Valley School District Awards
The Oley Valley Community Education Foundation (OVCEF) is seeking nominations for the 2019 Oley Valley Distinguished Alumni Award and for the Distinguished Service to the Oley Valley School District Award.
One or more awards are presented each October to alumni for outstanding achievement in their professions, humanitarian efforts, volunteerism, or service in their communities, or a single exceptional achievement. One or more awards may also be presented to individuals who have provided unselfish service to the Oley Valley School District.
Award nomination forms are available at the Oley Valley High School Office, 17 Jefferson Street, Oley; the OVCEF website www.OleyValleyCEF.org; and the OVSD website www.oleyvalleysd.org. The deadline for receipt of nominations is June 30, 2019.
School Board Reports
Oley Valley Elementary School
February Board Report
The elementary school collected canned goods during the “Souper Bowl” event for the Greater Berks Food Bank. The winning team with the most canned goods was the Los Angeles Rams.
The Positive Bus Program has started at OVES. The first phase of the program focuses on reducing the number of bus referrals per bus and the total number of referrals for school bus referrals will be tracked and displayed in the main hallway and weekly goals will be set for the reduction of referrals for individual buses and the school. The next steps in the program will develop student bus leaders and focus on a positive school bus climate.
Staff participated in professional development on Friday, February 15th. Staff will have the opportunity to attend professional development sessions led by their peers in the areas of technology, art, and library media.
Staff attended Early Intervention meetings this month to meet and collaborate with parents and IU staff in preparation for their child attending the elementary school in August.
Read Across America Week will take place the last week of February. Theme days have been planned for the week for staff and students. There will also be activities like a reading train where the whole school will read together for 10 minutes and a guest reader day.
The OVES Scholastic Book Fair will take place from March 4-8th in the lobby area of the elementary school.
Oley Valley Middle School
February Board Report
• OVMS February Students of the Month:
o 8th Grade: Delaney Kegerise and Wyatt Ulsh
o 7th Grade: Dana Messner and Hunter Schlegel
o 6th Grade: Dominique Hoover and Brady Kemp
• The Middle School is happy to be partnering with the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation in receiving the support and sponsorship of our Students of the Month Program.
• Our annual 7th Grade UN Day was very successful despite being pushed back a few days due to weather issues. The students did a terrific job of demonstrating what they have learned and representing their assigned countries. To see pictures of this event, check the Middle School Facebook page!
• The OVSD was able to get in our second in-service early dismissal this past Friday, February 15. The Middle School faculty worked revising and refining the course selection and recommendation process at each grade-level as well as reviewing the new Safe2Say program.
• On Friday, February 15, OVMS Student Council held a Valentine’s Day dance. This dance was well attended.
• The annual OVMS Flea Market was held on Saturday, February 16. We had a great turnout again this year.
• The 2019 Spring Musical rehearsals have begun. The Middle School is doing our own interpretation of the Dr. Seuss book “Horton Hears a Who.” We will run two shows; Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March16, both at 7:00 pm.
• The Middle School is participating in the Berks County Girls on the Run program this year. The Middle School version of this program is called “Heart and Soul.” Our coaches are Mrs. Vaccaro (a middle school parent), Mrs. Cappellano, Mrs. Reichert and Mr. Marks. This program teaches life lessons to girls using a curriculum that involves running. At the conclusion of the 10-week program, the girls run a 5k at Penn State Berks. This year’s 5k is on May 18.
Oley Valley High School
February Board Report:
Course Selection night took place on 2/7/19. It was a well attended event.
Safe to Say visited OVHS on 2/8/19. They completed the required training for our staff and students.
The regular season for winter sport competition wrapped up in early February. Our seniors were recognized during the first week of February!
Tim Price helped out with our jazz band on February 5th. Our students enjoyed the feedback and the Q/A session. Tim is a Selmer saxophone clinician, and a demanded performer and educator worldwide. Tim, a Berklee College of Music graduate, is one of the country’s foremost woodwind artists. Mr. Price teaches jazz saxophone at the New School University in New York City.
Our winter dance took place on Friday 2/8.
RACC visited OVHS on Monday 2/11 to tour our school and review our dual enrollement options.
Our faculty spent our Professional Development on PVAAS training on 2/12/19.
Upcoming Events:
HS Mosaic Concert- 2/28 & 3/1
K-12 Parent/Teacher Conferences on 3/7
Community News
Windswept Acres Varsity Interscholastic Equestrian Association Team
"Hollie Bower, junior, did an outstanding job this year riding on the Windswept Acres Varsity Interscholastic Equestrian Association team. IEA is a challenging team and individual competition where a rider competes for points against other riders in their selected division. The riders travel with their team to various shows and complete a "draw" to find out which horse they are riding. The riders compete in jumping and flat classes on horses they have NEVER had a chance to ride before! Not only did Hollie do a wonderful job riding challenging horses, but she placed well in many of the shows and was a great team player! She is a supportive and positive team mate, which makes her an excellent role model for our younger riders. Congratulations Hollie Bower on a great season!"
Important Upcoming Events
2/26/19 – ES PTO Meeting, ES Cafeteria 6:30 PM
2/28/19 – HS Mosaic Concert HS Auditorium 7:00 PM
3/1/19 – HS Mosaic Concert HS Auditorium 7:00 PM
3/4/19 – END OF SECOND TRIMESTER
3/4/19 – HS Spring Sports Begin
3/7/19 – K-12 Parent/Teacher Conferences 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
3/8/19 – No School for Elementary Students – Parent/Teacher Conferences during the day
3/10/19 – DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS
3/11/19 – MS Spring Sports Begin
3/13/19 – School Board Combined Committee Meeting 7:00 PM
3/14/19 – ES Family Fitness Night 6:30 PM
3/15/19 & 3/16/19 – MS Musical MS Auditorium 7:00 PM
3/19/19 – Athletic Booster Club Meeting 7:00 PM
3/20/19 – FIRST DAY OF SPRING ( I hope it’s warm!)
3/20/19 – School Board Meeting 7:00 PM
3/21/19 – ES Family Fitness Night 6:30 PM (Snow Date)
3/23/19 – Community Pot Pie Dinner Prep
3/24/19 – Community Pot Pie Dinner
3/26/19 – ES PTO Meeting, ES Cafeteria 6:30 PM
3/29/19 – ES Movie Night 7:00 PM
3/30/19 – Community Pot Pie Prep (Snow Date)
3/31/19 – Community Pot Pie Dinner (Snow Date)
Oley Valley School District Board of Directors
David R. Pollock Jr., President
Stephen S. Burns, Vice-President
Carl J. Kubitz, Jr., Treasurer
Eric Clemmer, Member
Robert A. Heckman, Member
Darrell L. Markley, Ed.D., Member
Ralph Richard, Member
Stuart Salen, Member
Dawn Zackon, Member
John M. Stott, Esquire, Board Solicitor
Maria H. Jones, Board Secretary, non-member
Oley Valley School District
The Oley Valley School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator who fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of Race, Color, Religion, Gender, Age, National Origin, Veteran Status, Disability, Genetic Information or Testing, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression and prohibits Retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or practice in the investigation of any complaint, or otherwise oppose discrimination. Compliance issues/questions should be directed to the Office of the Superintendent.