Oley Valley School District
Digital Newsletter -- January 2018
**January 15, 2018, February 19, 2018, and March 26, 2018 are Snow Make-up Days!**
Oley Valley Elementary School Update
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OleyValleyES/
Twitter: @ElemOley
Elementary Students find their S.P.A.R.C!
This year, the School Counselors have introduced S.P.A.R.C. to students (Students Paving a Road to Careers). Students in grades K-5 have been learning how to define self-concept and identify their strengths and how these influence the kind of career they choose when they get older. As a follow-up to these lessons, we invited parents and community members to the elementary school to share their careers with the students. The presentations took place from November 28th-December 5th, 2017. Additionally, on December 6th, students were invited to dress-up as their future career aspirations. We appreciated all of the help and support in preparing students for their future!
A Holiday Tradition at OVES Continues
During the month of December, classroom doors at the elementary school were transformed into picturesque holiday scenes. Doors were decorated by individual and groups of volunteers. Students and staff enjoyed viewing the doors through the month. During the last week of December, students and parents had the opportunity to walk around the elementary school viewing the decorated doors and voting on their favorites. The overall winner was Mrs. Williams’s classroom door in fourth grade. Thank you to the PTO, parents, teachers, and organizations that supported this fun event.
Oley Valley Middle School Update
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OleyValleyMS/
Twitter: @OleyMS
Middle School Joins the High School for a Great Cause
What started two years ago as a great idea has now become a tradition for the last day of school prior to the winter break. The middle school students spend the school day (this is always a half-day) at the high school. Many students and staff participate in a very large Kan-Jam tournament. This is a fun event but also serves as a fundraiser for the One Wish Foundation. The One Wish Foundation provides children with life-altering medical or social conditions the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime outdoor adventure. One Wish’s founder and president is Oley Valley community member Jerrod Renninger. This year we raised more than $1,500! About 50 high school and middle school students (and a handful of faculty and staff members) opt out of the Kan-Jam tournament to go caroling and bring holiday cheer at the Walnut Woods retirement home in Boyertown. This year’s Kan-Jam tournament champions were the middle school team of Brady Evans and Ty Yerger.
MS Gears up for Rock-A-Thon
The Middle School PTSO is organizing an overnight event! The 2018 Rock-a-Thon is being held from 7pm on Friday, February 23 through 7am, Saturday, February 24. Students are forming teams of 6 to 10. Students are raising money for rocking. Proceeds from this event will benefit the PTSO and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Each team will provide a rocking chair. Each team member will spend time rocking in the chair. One team member is in the chair at all times. Events that students will participate in at the Rock-a-Thon include: a dance, basketball tournament, cooking and baking sessions, video game competitions, self-defense sessions, relay races, craft-making, a dodge ball tournament, movies, beach volleyball, and more!
We will be needing parent chaperones for this event. Please consider volunteering. A phone message regarding the Rock-a-Thon is going out Tuesday evening. Information will be posted on the middle school Facebook page and the school website. Parents…please note that all volunteers MUST have current clearances to volunteer!
Student Council Flea Market
The Middle School’s 13th Annual Flea Market is being held on Saturday, February 3 from 8am to 1pm. This is a terrific event that fills the middle school gymnasium and front hallway with tables, vendors and shoppers each year! Student Council will be selling coffee, breakfast sandwiches and baked goods as well. Tables are available for just $10. The flea market form is on the Middle School Facebook page and on the school website. You can also grab one at he front information table at the Middle School. Set-up is Friday evening, February 2. We will be advertising for the Flea Market in the Merchandiser and in the Reading Eagle this year!
Oley Valley High School Update
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oleyvalleyHS/
Twitter: @OleyValleyHS
2nd Annual Poetry Slam
On Thursday, December 20, 2017, several sophomore students at the Oley Valley High School had the opportunity to share their works of poetry with other students by means of a poetry slam competition. The poetry slam was an extension of Mrs. Kallis’s poetry unit for her English II CP classes.
Placing first in the competition with her poem “Under the Floorboards” was Danielle Trimbur, followed by Sarah Beers and her poem “Reflection.” Ryan Sheetz earned third place following his presentation of “Gamer Stereotypes.” Other contestants included Paige Deane, Amelia Fisher, Mackenzie Kline, and Olivia Patches. All contestants did very well and left tough decisions for the judges, who included Mrs. Ewing, Mr. Kallis, Mrs. Lynch, Mr. Magaro, and Mr. Schmaldienst. The poems addressed a wide variety of topics, from bullying and stereotypes to love and overcoming loss.
Juniors Jordan Eck, Melissa Geary, Alysha Ulrich, and Ataya Woodard also returned to the stage to perform their poems a second time as finalists from last year’s first annual poetry slam competition.
The competition was a creative and entertaining way to kick off the holiday break. Congratulations to all contestants!
*Article contributed by Alysha Ulrich
OVHS Students Learn About the Horrors of the Holocaust
On December 19, 2017, Mrs. Hilde Gernsheimer and her son Jeff visited the high school to speak to students enrolled in Mr. Kallis's History of the Holocaust classes. Hilde's son offered a detailed presentation on his mother's experiences during this era and then students had the opportunity to ask questions. Even at 91 years old, Mrs. Gernsheimer is full of energy and positivity; she stresses the importance of being optimistic for what the future holds and never losing hope in humanity. Although she was barely a teenager when WWII broke out, she has many memories about the sacrifices of her family and the friendships she made that helped her survive Nazi Germany's rule. We are extremely grateful for both Hilde and Jeff's time in helping the current generation of students better understand the events surrounding the Holocaust. This is the third year they accepted our invitation and we look forward to seeing them again next year.
FFA Shines at the PA Farm Show
This year the Oley Valley FFA had three senior members that were selected to receive the PA FFA Keystone Degree. The Keystone Degree is the highest FFA degree that a member can receive from the Pennsylvania FFA Association. It is based on academic achievement, leadership, chapter involvement, community service and completion of a Supervised Agricultural Experience or SAE project with a minimum of 300 hours or $1,000 earned or invested in the project. The following FFA members received their degree January 8th, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex during the FFA Midwinter Convention: Jacob Guldin, Kelsey Schlegel, and Sarah Tatham. Congratulations!
On the same day, 5 FFA freshman received a complimentary FFA jacket valued at $60 from the PA FFA Alumni Association. These FFA members competed in a contest where they had to write an essay on what the FFA jacket means to them. The following 9th grade FFA members received a jacket: Rebecca Kugler, Sydney Trimbur, Matthew Peirce, Landon Yorgey, and Devin Wentzel.
Each year, members from the Oley Valley FFA Chapter construct a window display based on an issue in the agriculture industry and enter it in various fairs across Berks County and eventually the PA Farm Show. This year, the theme of the display board was The Bitter Taste of Food Waste, focusing on the concern of food waste across the nation. Oley Valley has been competing against other PA schools and placing third overall for the past four years at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Fortunately, they made a breakthrough and placed first overall this year! Congratulations!
Article submitted by FFA history Haley Weidman
FFA Creates Alumni Association
The Oley Valley FFA Alumni chapter was founded this school year on November 29th. The goal of the alumni chapter is to help the high school FFA chapter. We will help students with CDEs, fundraising, creating an Ag open house day, creating a scholarship, chaperoning, and helping out with chapter events. Our first fundraiser was just started, the Pearl Valley Cheese fundraiser. Money from this fundraiser will go towards the alumni chapter and local chapter. We are also planning a pig roast that will take place in July of this summer to raise more money for our chapter and to bond and spend time with our fellow chapter members and alumni.
Thank you to everyone who attended our first meeting. For anyone who didn’t attend, but would still like to join, you can self-register on the National FFA Website. Instructions for how to do this can be found on the first page of the following link, and our chapter ID code is PAA0051. Click here for the link. When you self-register please email Nathaniel Boyer and let him know that you have. Also if you have any questions or concerns please contact Nathaniel Boyer at nathanielboyer@hotmail.com or call 610-301-9391. However, we are asking that each person pays $20 to become a member, so that we are able to pay the state and national dues. We accept cash, checks, and PayPal.
You do not have to be an Oley graduate or a former FFA member to join, you simply need to be supportive of agriculture and the FFA program. Together, we can help spread our passion for agriculture. For more information and updates, please like our Facebook page, Oley Valley FFA Alumni Chapter!
Article submitted by: Jessica Arrowsmith, Nathaniel Boyer, Jeremy Chen See, and Zaren Kerper -- Oley Valley FFA Alumni Officers
Oley Valley Community Education Foundation
The Oley Valley Community Education Foundation's mission is "To enhance educational opportunities for the students, residents, employees, and alumni of the Oley Valley School District while encouraging community support and participation."
OVCEF has provided our students and teachers with activities and tools including Promethean Interactive Whiteboards, scholarships, and the mobile Ag lab.
Visit the OVCEF webpage at www.oleyvalleycef.org.
Additionally, The Oley Valley Community Education Foundation (OVCEF) is now an approved Amazon Smile organization. Amazon Smile rebates .5% of purchases made by Amazon customers who have registered for the program and who have designated charitable organizations of their choice as rebate recipients. More information about the Amazon Smile program and the registration process may be found at www.smile.amazon.com.
The Foundation will use all Amazon Smile proceeds to fund projects and programs that benefit the education of our Oley Valley students.
School Delay/Closing Information
The Oley Valley School District uses the following methods to inform the public of closings, delays and early dismissals:
- School Messenger -- Mass phone call system
- Social Media -- Facebook/Twitter
- School District Webpage -- www.oleyvalleysd.org
- Mass Media -- WFMZ, WGAL, CBS3, NBC10, 6ABC, WEEU
- Text Messaging -- REMIND
SAVE THE DATE!
Parent Forum -- Focused on Crisis Intervention Resources for Children
Audience
- Parents/Guardians of K-12 Students
Focus Areas
- Providing Parents/Guardians with Available School and Community Based Resources for Responding to Crisis Situations with Children.
Presenters
- Ms. Amy Groh, SAM
- Dr. Brian Wlazelek, County of Berks
- Ms. Tabitha Waldron, Progressions
- Ms. Christine Devine, Oley Valley School District
Register in advance to be entered into a prize drawing at: https://tinyurl.com/yauavug8
Wednesday, Jan 24, 2018, 06:30 PM
Oley Valley High School, Jefferson Street, Oley, PA, United States
Athletics Update
For Athletic Schedules & Information visit www.ovlynx.org.
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 the following wrestlers for medaling at the BCIAA Individual Championship:
Travis Lambert - 2nd
Dylan Lambert - 2nd
Nick Fasig - 4th
Max Wehr - 5th
Elijah Karas - 5th
Zach Snyder - 5th
The team finished in 6th place out of 15 teams.
Congratulations to Field Hockey Sophomore, Sophia Gladieux, on being named 1st Team All-American. Sophia is the first field hockey player in school history to be named a 1st Team All-American! Also Congratulations to Sarah Beers for being selected for the U-17 National Field Hockey Team. Sarah will be one of 24 players representing Team USA at the Under-17 level.
Spring HS sports will start on March 5th; MS Spring sports will start on March 12th. Signups for Spring Sports will take place during Lunch periods at the end of January. All students will be given a physical packet or re-certification form when they sign up during the lunch period. All Spring Physical Packets and Recertification forms are due to the Athletic Office by Friday, February 23rd. Tentative Spring contest schedules can be found at www.ovlynx.org and practice schedules will be posted by February 23rd.
Upcoming Athletic Booster Club Meeting:
Thursday, February 8th @ 7:00OPM (note this is a change from the original 2/7 date)
*All meetings will be held in the High School Cafeteria
Important Upcoming Events
- 1/15/18 -- Snow Make Up Day -- Schools Open
- 1/15/18 -- Literature Keystone Exam
- 1/17/18 -- Biology Keystone Exam
- 1/17/18 -- School Board Meeting -- 7:00PM
- 1/18/18 -- 2nd Grade Concert -- 10:00AM & 2:00PM -- MS Auditorium
- 1/18/18 -- ES Parent Discussion Meeting -- 6:30PM -- ES Library
- 1/19/18 -- ES School Store
- 1/26/18 -- ES Movie Night -- 7:00PM
- 1/30/18 -- School Board Finance Meeting -- 7:00PM
- 1/30/18 -- ES PTO Meeting -- 6:30PM -- ES Library
- 2/2/18 -- MS Book Fair Begins
- 2/2/18 -- MS School Store
- 2/3/18 -- MS Flea Market
- 2/5/18 -- School Board Committee Meetings
- 2/5/18 -- Athletic Booster Club Meeting -- 7:00PM
- 2/8/18 -- MS PTSO Meeting -- 7:00PM -- MS Library
- 2/8/18 -- HS Course Selection & Transition Night -- 6:30PM
- 2/9/18 -- HS Valentine's Dance -- 7:00PM
- 2/14/18 -- Valentine's Day
- 2/14/18 -- School Board Combined Committee Meeting -- 7:00PM
- 2/16/18 -- ES School Store
- 2/16/18 -- 7th & 8th Grade Dance -- 7:00PM
- 2/19/18 -- Snow Make Up Day -- Schools Open
- 2/21/18 -- School Board Meeting -- 7:00PM
- 2/23/18 -- ES Movie Night -- 7:00PM
Calling All Veterans...
Please send or e-mail a photo, first name, last name, graduating year, armed forces branch, years of service and theater of operation to:
Oley Valley Middle School
Veterans Wall
3247 Friedensburg Road
Oley, PA 19547
or email Dan Marks with the information.
If you do not have a photo to give us, please stop by the Oley Valley Middle School so we may take a digital image of your photo.
Thank you for your service!
Attention Alumni!
- 1907-1915
- 1919
- 1960
- 1972
- 1985
Looking for Bus Drivers!
The Quigley Bus Service is looking for school bus and van drivers for the Oley Valley School District. Part-time positions are available driving morning, afternoon or both. Quigley will train new drivers.
Apply in person on weekdays between 9:00AM-5:00PM at 326 Main Street, Bally, PA.
Oley Valley Employment Opportunities
None
The Oley Valley School District currently has the following certificated vacancies:
None
The Oley Valley School District currently has the following job opportunities:
None
The Oley Valley School District currently has the following substitute vacancies:
Substitute Certified Teachers
Substitute Instructional Assistants
Substitute Custodians
Substitute Licensed Practical Nurses
Substitute Clerical
Substitute Dining Services
The Oley Valley School District currently has the following coaching vacancies:
MS Assistant Softball
Click here for more information regarding all employment opportunities.
Oley Valley School District Board of Directors
Stephen S. Burns, President
David R. Pollock, Jr., Vice-President
Carl J. Kubitz, Jr., Treasurer
Robert A. Heckman, Member
Darrell L. Markley, Ed.D., Member
Allyn S. Miller-James, 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.
Email: dschmaldienst@ovsdpa.org
Website: www.oleyvalleysd.org
Location: 17 Jefferson Street, Oley, PA, United States
Phone: 610-987-4100