Oley Valley School District
Digital Newsletter - February 2022
Giant Map
National Geographic Giant Maps are enormously entertaining and educationally powerful tools for introducing geography and map reading skills. Thanks to the Oley Valley Education Foundation the Middle School possesses two of these giant maps: South America and Asia. During the month of February, all of Mrs. Breen's 7th grade World Geography students utilized this map. Students learned map skills, the location of physical landforms and political borders, why South America is known as the "hollow continent," how the Spanish conquistadors impacted civilizations such as the Incas, the importance of the discovery of the Strait of Magellan, and later the importance of the creation of the Panama Canal. Students also developed their interpersonal skills through numerous team building activities. Many wonderful memories were developed while using the giant map through physical movement and laughter.
alumni guest speaker on sharks
Seventh grade students continued their career exploration during their Rise period with another virtual guest speaker. This guest speaker is a 2012 Oley Valley graduate. Kristen Kibblehouse attended Coastal Carolina University and now lives in Cape Code, MA.
Her job title is Community Engagement Manager for a non-profit, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. She oversees, develops, and runs educational programs and outreach for youth and adults for her organization; she also manages an ecotourism program that includes taking people out to see great white sharks in their natural habitat. Additionally, Kristen manages and creates content for their social media platforms. Finally, she produces and creates a podcast called Gills Talk, for which she interviews women working in shark and ocean science.
Invention Convention
Full STEAM Ahead !!
Mark Your Calendars !! We need your HELP!!
Every year, the OVMS Video Club competes in Berks County’s “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contest. Middle schools across Pennsylvania join up with a local manufacturing company and are challenged to make a 2-minute commercial video that explains what is SO COOL about manufacturing?
This year, we have been partnered with American Crane and Equipment Corporation of Douglassville. ACECO designs, engineers and builds enormous overhead cranes for industries such as: steel, nuclear, military and aerospace.
Our video will be posted on the WSCM Website:
https://www.whatssocool.org/contests/berks-schuylkill/
ONLINE VOTING runs from April 6th through 8th !!!
Remember to VOTE for us !!
Oley Valley FFA Students take the Lead in Creed and Employment Skills
On January 25, Oley Valley FFA members participated in the Berks County Creed Leadership Development Event and the Employment Skills Leadership Development Event. When participating in the Creed event, members memorize five paragraphs that express the values of FFA. The event is open to first year members. After reciting the paragraphs to a panel of judges, the judges then ask questions that prompt the students to relate the creed to their everyday lives and experiences. The placings for Oley are as follows:
1st – Wesley Hoffman
2nd – Eleana Arrowsmith
3rd – Leah Walters
4th – Bailey Hornig
7th – John Allmendinger
8th – Natalie Baum
During the Employment Skills LDE, the members write a resume and cover letter before the interview portion of the event. The members also participate in a mock interview and at the closing of the event they write a thank you letter to the interviewers. The placings for Oley are as follows:
1st – Allison Riley
2nd – Addison Arrowsmith
3rd – Lillian Hetrick
4th – Kendall Rohrbach
5th – Jacob Mowry
6th – Rebecca Berger
- Lily Hetrick
Scholastic Art Show
This year, four of our high school students had their artwork selected to be in the Scholastic Art Show. This is a highly competitive, juried show that is nationally recognized. The Scholastic Art Awards are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Their mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic talent, and present their work to the world through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The awards give students opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships. In our region, student work is presented at the Miller Gallery at Kutztown University. The show will be up from February 12th to March 6th, 2022.
Student work that was selected is shown below, in order from left to right. Senior Graham Gernerd's entire portfolio was selected for display, and his painting "Thought" is pictured below. Senior Juliana Scalise had two pieces selected; her drawing, "Abandoned", is pictured below. Sophomore Sophia Fike had her portrait drawing titled "Mom-Mom" selected. And freshman Nora Beihn had her piece portrait drawing "Dissociated" selected.
HOLOCAUST ESSAY CONTEST
Senior Freya Oesterle and junior Jakob Bolig, two students enrolled in History of the Holocaust CP, participated and placed first and second respectively in a Berks County high school essay contest. Freya earned $100.00, and Jakob earned $50.00. In addition, each was provided a copy of the award-winning book Violins of Hope.
During a Zoom conference on January 27th, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, both students were recognized by the Jewish Cultural Center of Reading. Freya also had the opportunity to read her winning essay:
Advocating Acceptance: “Never Again”
As we continue to remember the Holocaust as the largest and most horrifying instance of genocide in history, it is important that we take responsibility to prevent events like this from ever occurring again. The intent of committing hateful acts towards members of a particular group is never a sudden, random urge; this type of hostility begins with ignorance. Therefore, I believe that it is my responsibility to advocate for marginalized groups in my school and my community. I will amplify the voices of victims of hate in my community and use my own voice to spread awareness because this will prevent internal hatred from escalating to a scale of systematic oppression or violence. However, I know I must be willing to learn from my own biases and continue to educate myself as well. Everyone has biases, but it is the willingness to acknowledge them and be willing to change that prevents devastating events.
The ability that we have to use our voices to advocate for what is right is often one that we forget to be grateful for. The perpetrators of tragedies such as the Holocaust cannot succeed without the majority of people being bystanders. Those who do not approve of hateful acts but choose to be silent when witnessing them still cause damage by allowing fear or apathy to stop them from making a difference. Therefore, I know I must never become a bystander to acts of discrimination. I will always be outspoken about my beliefs, even if it means I must disagree with my teachers, classmates, and friends, and I will encourage others to be this way too. After all, it takes people who are willing to advocate for what is right even in the face of the harshest situations to ensure that Yitzhak Lamdan’s reflection of “never again” becomes a reality.
MUSICAL
Save the date! Mamma Mia! will be on Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at 6:30pm. Tickets are $10.
SENIOR CLASS
AEVIDUM
Yearbook
This is the cover of the 2022 yearbook. Have you ordered your copy of the 2022 school yearbook? Order forms are in the main office.
Education Grant in Action
Biomedical Science Education
Anatomage Table
The Anatomage table lab was developed and installed in 2019 to support the Biomedical Technologies pathway in OVSD’s STEM in the Valley career pathways program and changed the way we teach and learn biology. The curriculum and course frameworks of OVSD’s STEM in the Valley biomedical engineering pathway are driven by experiential learning. The dynamic 3-dimensional modeling table allows students to quickly apply theory to practice as they virtually manipulate the body and its systems. With a deeper understanding, students explore diagnosis and exhibit more creativity and critical thinking when designing treatment plans. Their ability to apply what they have learned to challenges of practice sets the program apart from most high school biology and anatomy course lists. The opportunity to collaborate with doctors and biomedical scientists and participate in lectures and continuing ed workshops outside of the regular school day directly supports the NGSS and proposed PA Science Standards for science and engineering practice.
Registration is now open for the 11th Annual Zackon 5K Memorial Run & Walk to be held on April 9th, 2022
Come One, Come All!
This event takes place in the picturesque Oley Valley. The day-of-race registration table opens at 8 AM and the race begins at 9 AM. Fun Run will begin at 9:10 AM. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you at the outdoor, family friendly event.
Registration for this event can be found here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/685ee59d/files/uploaded/22%20Oley%20Zackon%20Spring%20raceFINAL%20Registration%20Form__3omZ65FEQGuBR9ZH8jH8.pdf
Annual Rolling Rock Building Stone Auction
Saturday, May 14th, 9 – 11 AM
Rolling Rock Building Stone
40 Rolling Rock Rd, Boyertown, PA 19512
Are you planning a hardscape project this summer? Join us for the 13th Annual Stone Auction at Rolling Rock Building Stone on May 14th from 9 - 11 AM where you will have the opportunity to bid on hundreds of assorted pallets of stone. All are welcome.
Thank you to Rolling Rock Building Stone for the many years of partnership on this event. Your continued financial support of the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation helps make a meaningful difference for our community.
For additional details regarding the Rolling Rock Building Stone Auction visit our webpage at https://www.oleyvalleycef.com/rolling-rock-stone-auction
Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
For families and students who may experience homelessness, information on the McKinney-Vento Act is available on the Oley Valley School District Website or see below.
OVSD Homeless Liaison and Unaccompanied Youth Contact:
Mia K. Pietsch, M.Ed
Director of Student Services
Oley Valley School District
17 Jefferson Street Oley, PA 19547
610. 987.4100 ext. 1187 or ext. 1188
Please Visit the Sites below for information:
Oley Valley School District Board of Directors
David R. Pollock Jr., President
Robert A. Heckman, Vice President
Dawn Zackon, Treasurer
Maria Bogdanova-Peifer, Member
Zachary D. Fatkin, Member
Nancy Jackson, Member
Aaron Keller, Member
Darrell L. Markley, Ed.D., Member
Mary Lou Parry, Member
James Mancuso, Esquire, Board Solicitor
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.