Community Conversations
March 2022
Dear Methacton Families,
We are a few short months from the end of the 2021-2022 school year. I know our students, staff and families are working hard to finish strong. I want to share a few important matters with you in this month’s Community Conversations.
In February 2022, the CDC released new metrics for community level transmission and prevention. Those metrics are largely based on county aggregate data. As an update, I am happy to share that the metrics show Montgomery County in the lowest level of the three-level transmission chart (Low, Medium, High). As such, the district issued an optional-masking communication that has seen our school level ranging from 3-10 cases weekly with no in-school spread.
Much conversation about the future response to COVID-19 is on the minds of many: students, parents and staff. At this time, I have no new information as to the future mitigation or otherwise need for schools to take actions beyond our current state. We will continue, as part of keeping students and staff safe as well as complying with federal grant requirements, to have a health and safety plan that will need an update prior to the start of next school year. Going forward – continue to monitor yourself and your children for symptoms and take appropriate measures (i.e. staying home, getting tested, etc.).
In other important district news, we continue our efforts to support student and staff wellness. Free virtual workshops on social-emotional wellness are taking place on April 6 and April 27. Click here to learn about and register for the free sessions.
The Board of School Directors heard from Mr. Adam Chantry, Planetarium Director, on a recommendation to evaluate the need for improvements to the Arcola Planetarium. The effort, slated as the Horizon Project, is designed to expand our learning laboratory and provide cross-curricular learning opportunities for student K-12.
Registration for full-day kindergarten opened on February 1 and information on how to register can be found here. Our elementary principals along with teachers and the district’s Curriculum Office continue to plan for the opening of our doors on August 30 to the first of many full-day kindergarten classes to come. We look forward to welcoming the inaugural class of Methacton students to this long anticipated opportunity.
The Eagleville façade and front entrance project is in the final stage of completion with an official opening ceremony slated for April 7 and a teacher appreciation event for staff. This project came in under budget by $1.25 million dollars with several punch items remaining to be completed.
The Arrowhead construction project is on schedule and is slated to be open for students beginning in August. There will continue to be construction on the premises including landscaping among other matters following the opening of school. There are likely to be challenges associated with parking and traffic flow in the first several months as we work to transition with the closure of the current building and completion of parking lots and other outdoor areas. I am asking for staff and family patience in advance of these potential challenges.
Dr. Aaron Roberts, Arrowhead Elementary Principal, has arranged a final community walkthrough of the current Arrowhead building on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 from 6-8 PM. There will be staff and student walkthroughs of the new building and a time capsule ceremony for invited guests in June.
As we focus on the final semester of the 2021-2022 school year, we will be rewarded with sunshine, smiles, and opportunities to learn, grow and achieve. I am pleased to note that many activities are being planned to support the social and emotional wellbeing of our students and staff while also working to inch closer to pre-pandemic times. Similar to our parents and students, our teachers, staff and administrators have endured a great deal this year. Yet, they were present and prepared to support your children every day in ways beyond the scope of teaching and learning and, as such, I ask all of you to join me in thanking the Methacton staff for their endurance and dedication to the Methacton School District community.
In addition, the focus of this month’s Alumni Spotlight is Karthik Yegnesh - MHS '18. Read his story here.
If there is a Methacton Alum that you believe should be featured in an upcoming segment, please complete this form.
Lastly, we have resumed our Community Conversations video series. This month features the Methacton Education Foundation. Mr. Jim Beam, the Foundation’s President, joined me to discuss the ways our community has helped support S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), career readiness, wellness and economically disadvantaged students.
Now let’s take a look at some of the outstanding events and achievements that took place across the district in March...
ARROWHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ARROWHEAD FORWARD | CABINETRY INSTALLATION
STUDENT COUNCIL HELPING OUT
Arrowhead Student Council participated in a community service project helping our school. They raked leaves and did some outdoor pre-spring cleaning.
Thank you so much Arrowhead Student Council for taking pride in our school and community!
READ ACROSS AMERICA
Special thank you to Mrs. Caccavo and the Arrowhead Home and School for all the Read Across America activities. Each Arrowhead student received a brand new book courtesy of the Arrowhead Home and School.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity!
EAGLEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
YOUTH ART MONTH
March is Youth Art Month!
Youth Art Month, an initiative created by The Council for Art Education, promotes art education for all K-12 students and encourages funding for quality art programs. The program provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences unlike any other curriculum subjects, including: problem solving, creativity, observation and communication.
Please enjoy the Methacton School District presentation to celebrate Youth Art Month!
READ ACROSS AMERICA
We had a terrific five days celebrating Read Across America!
Thank you to all of Eagleville's guest readers that came in to visit and read to the students. Modeling the importance of reading for our students is essential. A special thank you to Mrs. Beam and her husband, Jim, for decorating our new Innovative Commons and Lobby for our celebration!
WORDLE FUN IN THE CLASSROOM!
Wordle, the popular word-guessing game, inspired 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Conrad, to start a version for her classroom! The students are enjoying playing the game, and most importantly, they are learning vocabulary in a fun and engaging way!
WOODLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HOLI | FESTIVAL OF SPRING
VARIETY SHOW
BEDTIME STORIES
PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS
Woodland wore purple on March 22 in honor of pancreatic cancer awareness. Students and staff purchased purple and white bracelets and all proceeds benefitted a family struggling with this disease.
WORCESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
AUTHOR VISITS 1ST GRADE
Author, Lori Samlin Miller, visited Miss Cohen’s first grade class. She read her book, Stay Where I Can See You, to the class on Zoom. She also spoke about the turtles in her book, and why they were her inspiration for writing her story. The students were captivated by her message, and even made their own “Stay Where I Can See You” books!
COMPETITIVE CUP STACKING CRAZE
Students in physical education classes have been completing “speed stacking” challenges. Physical education and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) are embedded together in this unique activity. These speed stacking challenges require patience, speed, and coordination!
READ ACROSS AMERICA
Worcester’s students celebrated Read Across America Week with a different spirit day each day. It was wonderful to see the creative things students wore to school each day. We enjoyed seeing their love for reading during this week!
SKYVIEW UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BINGO NIGHT!
Skyview’s Home and School hosted Bingo Night in the Cafeteria for our students and families! Administrators and teachers helped to call the numbers throughout the games and had a blast seeing our students outside of school hours. The amazing Home and School provided an exciting evening out and also donated very generous prizes!
VISITOR | ATTORNEY MIKE LYON
An attorney from Lansdale, Mike Lyon, met with 5th grade student writers to ask questions about the rule of law. Students sent him questions ahead of time about the laws. He was BEYOND impressed. The students learned about the process of how laws are interpreted and what they should consider when describing the rule of law in their essays.
WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY
On March 21st, Skyview celebrated World Down Syndrome Day by “Rocking Our Socks” to show support to the Down syndrome community.
ARCOLA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
PROJECT BIOEYES
XANADU JR.
Arcola's student musical, Xanadu Jr., was performed March 3rd through March 5th. Our talented group of students brought the 80s back to Arcola. It was a wonderful set of performances!
SKATE NIGHT
METHACTON HIGH SCHOOL
INCUBATOREDU PITCHES
IMPRINT EXHIBITION & PRINTMAKING COMPETITION
Five MHS students had their artwork selected for the 14th Annual Imprint Exhibition and Printmaking Competition, sponsored and hosted by the Wharton Esherick Museum!
MHS sophomore, Jorja Rembert, won 3rd place overall!
Congratulations to all!
AP ART PROGRAM ART SALE AT SHANNONDELL
MHS FREIGHT FARM IS OFFICIALLY HARVESTING
Did you know Methacton High School is the first school in Pennsylvania with a Hydroponic Farm Lab? The Methacton Hydroponic Farm is housed inside an insulated, custom-built shipping container. Right now students are growing lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers and learning hands-on lessons in Environmental Science and Biology.
The Freight Farm's first harvest was shared with Methacton faculty at the "Daily Bread Community Food Pantry".
Keep up with the amazing things our students and staff are doing with the Methacton Hydroponic Farm by following them on Instagram: @mhsfreightfarm
NMTCC "STUDENT OF THE MONTH"
PMEA All-States Chorus
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected for PMEA All-States Chorus!
Quinn Adams | Bass
Mimi Cavallo | Soprano
ACADEMIC DECATHLON
Congratulations to our students in Academic Decathlon for competing in states!
Irene Biju
Angela Lian
Maddie Shaffer
Emma McGrath
Devesh Posa
Jay Laird
Seth Huff
Stephen McGrath
Sunandita Suresh
METHACTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Email: information@methacton.org
Website: www.methacton.org
Location: 1001 Kriebel Mill Road, Collegeville, PA, USA
Phone: 6104895000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MethactonSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @Methacton