In The Q

Teachers awarded jerseys for making a difference

Before classes began at Quakertown Community High School, several senior student-athletes had their uniforms ready as a one-day gift to their favorite teacher to wear or hang in their classroom.

What may become a new tradition was inspired by Kate Kemp, a social studies teacher, who read about “My Jersey, Your Impact,” at another school. “It’s a good way to show teachers they are valued and appreciated,” she said. “In the end, the kids do appreciate what we do every day.”

Please click here for more on "My Jersey, Your Impact."

Strayer, Sixth Grade Center pack meals for the hungry

More than 100 Quakertown Community School District middle school students recently packed meals for “Feed My Starving Children,” a nonprofit organization that coordinates the packaging and distribution of food to people in developing nations.

While the results of their selfless efforts to feed thousands of people are extraordinary, hearing students from the Sixth Grade Center and Strayer Middle School discuss the event at Delaware Valley University may be even more impressive.

Here's more on what students had to say.

Football team rallies Quakertown community in the effort

As he walked to midfield for the pre-game coin toss, many things ran through the mind of John Eatherton. The Quakertown Community High School senior and football team captain was holding the hands of two young boys, each in the midst of a battle with cancer.

“It makes you view life very differently,” John said. “The kids are going through so much, and you can’t imagine the strength it must take for them each day. They’re so young. I remember starting to play football at their age and they can’t do that. You want to somehow give them hope that they can be out there. Maybe they look up to you and you don’t want to let them down. We want to be role models. Be somebody they can look up to.”

For the last decade, the Panthers have dedicated a home game each year to Childhood Cancer Awareness Night and raised money for local families suffering through the challenges of having a child with the dreaded disease.

Click here for more on Childhood Cancer Awareness Night.

Students at Neidig Elementary School received a big treat this week with a visit from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit’s Fab Lab, which gives students an opportunity to learn from cutting-edge technology designed to inspire and encourage them to pursue careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) fields.

The lab is a transit van that transports several carts full of equipment such as 3D printers, a laser engraver, CNC router, vinyl cutter, and a variety of robotics equipment. It also has laptop computers with specialized software programs to control and interact with the equipment, which is very expensive. Through PAsmart Grants, the BCIU received $150,000 for the Fab Lab, to expand teacher professional development, and expand the reach of the Fab Lab to county public libraries and school districts.

“They have been champing at the bit for this,” JoAnn Klee said of her students. “It’s a great program with wonderful opportunities for the kids.”

For more on Fab Lab, click here.

QCHS to start girls wrestling team

Quakertown Community High School has often had girls compete on its boys’ wrestling team. This year, however, the Panthers will be one of approximately 70 schools in Pennsylvania to field a varsity girls' wrestling team.

“This is a first for us, and we’re excited about it,” wrestling coach Kurt Handel said. “It’s going to take time for the sport to grow. We just have to build the numbers. I do expect it to be a very successful program.”

For more on the girls wrestling program, click here.

Students receive lesson in emergency training

Professionals with the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Emergency Medicine Institute spent a Pride period with Quakertown Community High School students as part of the Career Pathways Speaker Series.

The five LVHN employees (two of whom graduated from QCHS) spoke about their careers and then worked with the students on CPR and Stop The Bleed training. This session is part of the STEM and Computer Science Pathway, though all students are invited to attend.

For more on the Career Pathways program, click here.

FBLA acquires grant for student travel

Quakertown Community High School teacher Sandi Frisch, advisor to the school’s Future Business Leaders of America club, has secured a $2,600 grant from the Bux-Mont chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Tax and Accounting Professionals. The organization seeks to encourage students to consider accounting as a career.

Click here for more on the FBLA grant.

Pfaff Elementary School and the Quakertown Community School District would like to thank the Milford Township Vol. Fire Co. for taking the time to visit and educate students on fire safety. Our students learned a lot and had a great time!!!

A tray of schoo,l lunch food, including milk, sandwich, banana, beans, broccoli, carrots and a cup of peaches

Important info about free and reduced meals

The Free and Reduced Meal 30-Day Grace Period recently expired for families that do not have a current 2022-2023 Free and Reduced Meals application on file and were previously receiving free/reduced meals during the last school year.

Please Note - All students, regardless of eligibility status, qualify for FREE breakfast during the 2022-2023 school year per the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Grace Period expiration does NOT affect breakfast.

If your student/household has received a Direct Certification Notice Letter for the 2022-2023 school year, you do not need to fill out any other forms. All families that have not received that notice are encouraged to fill out a 2022-2023 Free & Reduced Meal Application which is available on www.qcsd.org

Click here to access all information about Free & Reduced meals in QCSD.

BJ's QCEF Fundraiser through October 31

BJ's Wholesale Club is offering a fundraiser through October 31 that gives up to $10 to the Quakertown Community Education Foundation for each new member or renewing member.

In addition, those signing up receive these rewards:

New member perks $75 cost & redeem $20 rewards at register.
New Inner Circle $25 cost & redeem $10 rewards at register.
Renewal perks $110 cost & redeem $20 rewards at register.
Renewal Inner Circle $55 cost & redeem $10 rewards at register.

Click here for an application.

Mounted camera showing outside a school bus.

Video enforcement begins on school buses

The Quakertown Community School District has launched a school bus safety program in partnership with Quakertown Borough, Richland Township, and Pennsylvania State Police in line with PA Motor Vehicle Code § 3345.1.

All Levy school buses are now equipped with BusPatrol’s safety technology, including stop-arm enforcement cameras designed to detect vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses. This safety initiative seeks to curb dangerous motorist behavior around school buses and make the journey to and from school safer for all student riders.

Click here to learn more about the Bus Safety program.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs in QCSD

Quakertown area families, QCSD has several openings for paraprofessionals at Quakertown Community High School. Each of these open positions comes with health insurance, additional benefits, and an additional $1 per hour stipend. It's a great opportunity to work with young people in a wonderful educational setting!

To see what's available, please click here.

VFW 2022-23 essay contests

The Veterans of Foreign Wars has two contests for students, one for those in high school and another for students in grades 6-8.

The theme of the Patriotic Essay Contest for high school students is “Why Is The Veteran Important?” The student entry deadline is October 31, 2022 and the patriotic audio essay competition comes with a $30,000 grand prize.

The theme of the Patriot's Pen Contest for students in grades 6-8 is “My Pledge to Our Veterans.” The patriotic written essay competition comes with a $5,000 grand prize.

PA Gov School for Sciences application

#QCSD families, the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences (PGSS) at Carnegie Mellon University is accepting applications from talented high school juniors for the summer 2023 program, which runs from July 2 through August 5.

PGSS is an intensive, five-week summer residential program that emphasizes cooperative learning and hands-on laboratory research for high school juniors pursuing careers in science and mathematics. The program offers an enrichment experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The goal of the program is to encourage Pennsylvania’s youth to pursue careers in STEM-related fields.

Accepted applicants will receive a full scholarship to the program. Awarded scholarships will cover the costs of housing, meals, and all instructional materials. Families are responsible for transportation to and from the university, personal items, and spending money. Students must commit to living on campus at Carnegie Mellon throughout the duration of the program.

Completed applications must be submitted via the website per instructions http://sciences.pa-gov-schools.org no later than January 31. Applications submitted after this date and time will be disqualified. For additional information about the program and to complete an application, visit http://sciences.pa-gov-schools.org.

2022 Lens on Litter Photo Contest

Since 1984, Pennsylvania Resources Council has held an annual Lens on Litter Photo Contest, not to glorify litter but to bring attention to the litter problem in communities across Pennsylvania. Contestants are eligible for monetary prizes up to $500. Contest deadline is October 31, 2022.

Amateur students (through 12th grade) and adults are asked to submit photos of unusual or unsightly litter in their Pennsylvania communities. Photos should demonstrate how litter threatens public health and safety, scenic beauty, property values, the environment, pets or wildlife. Entries will be judged on six criteria: anti-litter message, originality, photographic technique, quality of photo, originality of title and severity of the litter. Contestants are also encouraged to safely initiate a clean-up of the subject area and provide a photo of the results of their efforts for additional judging points.

Entries (limit five per person, no smaller than 4x6 and no larger than 8x10) should be sent to PRC Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Contest, 1671 North Providence Road, Media, PA 19063. High resolution digital submissions may be sent to lensonlitter@prc.org. All entries (including digital) must include the entrant’s name, address, telephone number, email address, title given to photo, location of litter site and how you learned about the contest. Students should also include age, grade and name of school. All photos may be used by PRC at their discretion.

Questions may be directed to lensonlitter@prc.org and additional information, previous winners, sponsors and an online entry form can be found at https://prc.org/programs/projects/lens-litter/