As they gathered prior to running onto the field, the Quakertown Community High School football team has seven special young guests in their pregame huddle.

Six of them are battling cancer and one lost her brother to the dreaded disease.

Before breaking the huddle, the captains address the team. The message of Shawn Newswanger, a senior lineman, was quite profound. He wanted each of his teammates to know that the six young boys not wearing helmets and shoulder pads are the “strongest kids I’ve ever been around. They fight just to live another day.”

And that was how the emotional evening of September 27, 2019, kicked off at Alumni Field. The Panthers defeated visiting Wissahickon 55-7, a landmark 500th victory for the program.

Please click here for the full story.

A nationally recognized expert on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth issues is visiting the Quakertown Community School District to give a free, training style presentation for parents and other community members who would like to have a better understanding and become more culturally aware of LGBTQ youth circumstances.

Liz Bradbury, Director of the Training Institute of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, will be at Quakertown Community High School on Monday, October 14, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event will take place in the Quakertown Performing Arts Center.

“This presentation is for anyone who has children or has friends with children,” Ms. Bradbury said. “Parents have a responsibility to understand this so they can help these children be safe. It’s important to understand the cultural context of what these young people are going through and support them against discrimination and allow them to live authentic lives.”

Please click here for the full story.

Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner stopped by a New Teachers Academy training session to speak with the Quakertown Community School District's newest educators.

The Quakertown Community School District is increasing pay for substitute teachers, aides, and nurses.

The School Board unanimously passed the measure on September 26.

“Hiring substitute teachers, aides and, nurses is becoming an increasingly prevalent problem across the schools,” said Zachary Schoch, the district Chief Operating Officer. “It’s both a supply and demand issue. With a strong economy and low unemployment rate, there are fewer and fewer applicants interested in these positions. In addition, graduation rates in Pennsylvania teacher programs are down.”

Mr. Schoch added that some district substitute pay rates lagged behind other districts. By increasing the rates, he said, that is no longer the case.

Here is the new substitute pay schedule:

Substitute Teachers (ESS)

• Per Diem Substitute Teacher: $105 per full day
• Per Diem QCSD Retired Substitute Teacher: $115 per full day
• Long Term Substitute Teacher: $140 per full day (assignments for more than 20 days)

Substitute Aides

• Regular Education Substitute Aide: $10 per hour
• Special Education Substitute Aide: $12 per hour

Substitute Nurses

• Substitute Nurses: $20 per hour

The district currently has several openings. Please click here to see what positions are available.

Quakertown Elementary School teacher Mr. Wieand shared some of his class's exciting learning on Twitter:

"Had a great visit today from the settlers of the lost colony of Roanoke (the ones who didn’t vanish) at @QEPride ! They shared stories of their hardships and relationships with the native Americans as well as theories on what happened to those who vanished."

And:

"Although they look happy here, these Jamestown settlers shared stories of mistakes, hardships and disease that they endured while creating the first successful English colony in North America."

On October 3, Trumbauersville Elementary School held its October first Friday assembly and activity a day early!

This month students, teachers and staff are focusing on compassion and standing up to bullies!

Quakertown Borough Police Chief Scott McElree shares his police experience and values with Quakertown Community School District students from the First Responders Explorer Post. It's run by School Resource Officer Bob Lee.

We appreciate the Chief spending quality time with our students!

Vaping has become a major concern for us in the Quakertown Community School District. Vaping by students in grades 6 to 12 is skyrocketing. To better educate students, QCSD is closely looking at our curriculum for when to introduce and further discuss the harm that comes from vaping and using illegal drugs. It's important that parents have conversations with their student(s) about the dangers associated with vaping.

For more information, go to www.qcsd.org/vaping or click here.

Here are some recent news stories:

Latest on vaping:

How to talk to teens about vaping

Tests show bootleg marijuana vapes tainted with hydrogen cyanide

Vaping risks scare local teens, but many are too addicted to quit

Additional information can be found on our website.

Richland Elementary's PTO and volunteers are hosting a Color FUNdraising event on Friday, October 18 with a rain date of October 25.

This event is intended to be one of the school's biggest fundraisers of the year. Please click here for more information.

The Quakertown Community School District is in need of custodians. SSC Services, which services the district, is seeking full and part time permanent and seasonal custodian positions.

Candidates may contact Laird Ihle, director of SSC, at 610-392-1059 or via email at lihle-ssc@qcsd.org.

The Levy School Bus Company is seeking drivers.

The position has flexible hours, a positive environment and is conveniently located in the Quakertown area.

Levy offers a competitive wage package, 401(k) benefits with company matched funds, bonus incentives, training and development, career opportunities, extra hours available evenings and weekends (optional), and community involvement.

This is a perfect job for people who love children, stay-at-home parents, college students looking for education experience, former teachers and anyone in need of extra income.

If you’re interested in becoming a school bus driver or want to hear more, please call Len at 215-536-4567 x121 or email len@levybus.com.