Video Recording of the Abington Board of School Directors Reorganization Meeting – December 3, 2018

The Abington Board of School Directors has announced Board orientations on the agenda for its December 11, 2018, meeting, as follows:

Board Orientations:

• Superintendent’s Administrative Procedure on “Academic Proficiency and Requirements for Graduation”
• 2019-2020 Budget Process

The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Abington School District Administration Building. A detailed agenda will be posted to the ASD homepage by noon on Tuesday. For more information, and a full schedule of Board meetings for the calendar year, please visit https://www.abington.k12.pa.us/board-of-directors/meeting-information.

The Abington Board of School Directors announces a change of location for the April 24, 2018 meeting, which will now be held in the Little Theatre of Abington Junior High School, 2056 Susquehanna Road, Abington, PA 19001, at 7:30 p.m.

On the agenda for the evening will be a Board Orientation on the Foundation for Abington School District. The Foundation’s Board of Directors intend to host their first meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in the Administration Building. An agenda for that meeting is currently available on the Abington Senior High School Project and Resources site, accessible via the ASD homepage. In addition, the site now houses two other informational documents: 1) Proposed Amended Articles of Incorporation and 2) Proposed Amended Bylaws of the Foundation for Abington School District.

The 25^th annual Science Fair at Abington Junior High School was held on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, from 3–7 p.m., where more than 250 students presented and displayed their projects for peers, parents, teachers, administrators, and community visitors. In addition, select winning projects will further be presented at the Montgomery County Research Competition.

Each year, the projects created by 7^th grade honors science students include a wide array of interesting subjects that have real world applications, ranging from analyses of the human brain to experiments in energy. With a growing interest in, and focus on, STEAM education nationwide (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), this is one of Abington School District’s many ongoing initiatives that emphasize the 4Cs essential to 21^st century skillsets — critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity.

The Abington Board of School Directors announces a change of location for the April 24, 2018 meeting, which will now be held in the Little Theatre of Abington Junior High School, 2056 Susquehanna Road, Abington, PA 19001, at 7:30 p.m.

On the agenda for the evening will be a Board Orientation on the Foundation for Abington School District. The Foundation’s Board of Directors intend to host their first meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in the Administration Building. An agenda for that meeting is currently available on the Abington Senior High School Project and Resources site, accessible via the ASD homepage. In addition, the site now houses two other informational documents: 1) Proposed Amended Articles of Incorporation and 2) Proposed Amended Bylaws of the Foundation for Abington School District.

The Abington Board of School Directors announces a change of location for the April 24, 2018 meeting, which will now be held in the Little Theatre of Abington Junior High School, 2056 Susquehanna Road, Abington, PA 19001, at 7:30 p.m.

On the agenda for the evening will be a Board Orientation on the Foundation for Abington School District. The Foundation’s Board of Directors intend to host their first meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in the Administration Building. An agenda for that meeting is currently available on the Abington Senior High School Project and Resources site, accessible via the ASD homepage. In addition, the site now houses two other informational documents: 1) Proposed Amended Articles of Incorporation and 2) Proposed Amended Bylaws of the Foundation for Abington School District.

Abington School District (ASD) has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. 

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, ASD answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

This award recognizes that ASD is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA recommends music and the arts as important elements of a well-rounded education for all children. 

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. In a series of landmark studies by scientists and researchers at Northwestern University a link was found between students in community music programs and life-long academic success, including higher high school graduation rates and college attendance. In another study from the University, it was discovered that the benefits of early exposure to music education improves how the brain processes and assimilates sounds, a trait that lasts well into adulthood.

Beyond the Northwestern research, other studies have indicated that music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving and flexibility in work situations, as well learning how to give and receive constructive criticism to excel.

A 2015 study supported by The NAMM Foundation, “Striking A Chord,” also outlines the overwhelming desire by teachers and parents for music education opportunities for all children as part of the school curriculum.

Although Earth Day fell on a Sunday this year, that did not stop Abington School District students from finding ways to recognize the worldwide observance day during the school week. In fact, it provided an opportunity for multiple days of celebrations.

Ahead of Earth Day, on Friday, April 20, students at Copper Beech Elementary School created artistic and colorful designs on brown paper shopping bags. The goal of the project was to encourage people to be more mindful about our planet, its amazing resources and the need to recycle. The shopping bags will be sent back to O’Neill’s Market in Glenside — just down the road from the school — to be used by shoppers to pack their groceries.

Following Earth Day on Monday, April 23, students in Ms. Marchione and Ms. Deni’s classes planted flowers in front of the building, as well as in a garden nearby the Science Wing. This is the fourth consecutive year Junior High students have recognized Earth Day by cleaning out the gardens and planting flowers, and this year they even received assistance from Principal Mr. File and Assistant Principal Mr. Brison.

Good Morning,

Many of you have been made aware of a concern of a person with a rifle in the Abington Township area.  Chief of Abington Township Police Department, Patrick Molloy, issued the following message: http://www.abingtonpd.org/a-message-from-the-chief/  

Please know that the Abington School District is in communication with the Abington Township Police Department. This individual has not been on any school district properties. Safety is our priority and we will follow our School Emergency Operations Plan should an individual with a weapon enter school property, for the possession of a weapon on school property is prohibited. 

If you see anything about which you are concerned, please contact your building principal and the Abington Township Police Department. Thank you for your support of the Abington School District. 

Regards,

Amy F. Sichel, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Good Afternoon: 

I am sure many of you have followed the concerns regarding the man with the rifle in Abington Township. Chief Patrick Molloy of the Abington Township Police Department just issued a press release stating that the man has been detained on an involuntary mental health evaluation warrant. The rifle has been secured by the police as well. I provide the link to the press release from Chief Molloy:  http://www.abingtonpd.org/involuntary-commitment

We appreciate the hard work of the Abington Police Officers to ensure the safety of our students and our citizens. The relationship that the Abington School District has with the Abington Township Police Department helps us to ensure safety in our schools and for that we are forever grateful.

Regards,

Amy F. Sichel, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Please note the Abington School District website has been updated to create two new resource pages regarding the Abington Senior High School Additions and Renovations Project and the Foundation for Abington School District. These two pages can be found under the “Resources” menu on the top navigation bar of the ASD website.

Relevant materials that previously existed on the “Abington Senior High School Project and Resources” site have been moved to the two new pages, which are accessible via the following links: 

• Foundation for Abington School District (FASD)
• High School Project

For the fourth consecutive year, Abington Senior High School has been recognized with a silver medal in the annual list of “Best High Schools” from U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings and civic journalism. The 2018 edition of the list ranks ASHS No. 1,186 among the 5,948 public high schools the outlet rated nationwide, and awarded them the 31st spot among the 677 schools in Pennsylvania. This represents a total jump of 18 spots for ASHS from the year prior, when it was ranked No. 49 in the Commonwealth. Most notably, this is ASHS’s fifth time earning a silver medal in the rankings, and its sixth time being included in the list overall.

According to U.S. News, the nationwide evaluation of more than 20,500 schools aims to identify those that best serve all of their students – including historically underserved populations – and assess the degree to which students are prepared for college-level coursework. Overall, the rankings emphasize student outcomes, incorporating data on graduation rates and state assessments. Students at the 5,948 schools that receive national recognition from U.S. News graduate at rates that are 12 percentage points higher, on average, than students at other schools throughout the country.

“Top-ranked schools succeed in three main areas: exceeding expectations on state proficiency tests, offering challenging coursework and graduating their students,” said Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News. “We encourage parents to use the Best High Schools rankings and data to research which schools in their state and nationwide are ensuring students are well-equipped for the future.”

The Best High Schools rankings, available exclusively on usnews.com, feature data on a number of factors, including enrollment, graduation rates, diversity, participation in free and reduced-price lunch programs and the results of state assessments, as well as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test data.

Among the highlights that contributed to ASHS’s standing of 31 in Pennsylvania and 1,186 nationwide, were the graduation rate of 97 percent and an AP participation rate of 47 percent, based on 2015-2016 school year data. For more information on ASHS’s evaluation and placement on the list, please click here.

“We are proud to yet again have Abington Senior High School ranked as one of the best public high schools in the country from a well-regarded outlet like U.S. News & World Report,” said Dr. Amy Sichel, Superintendent of Schools for the Abington School District. “We firmly believe in our motto, ‘Excellence is our standard, achievement is the result,’ and this recognition – our fourth consecutive silver medal – is proof of that mindset in action.”

U.S. News worked with RTI International, a global research firm, to implement the comprehensive rankings methodology. To see the full list, click here.

This spring, members of McKinley Elementary School’s Roots and Shoots club created a poster campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of single-use plastic bags to the environment, and then held a plastic bag collection for the school community. The collection also served as a contest, with the grade level who collected the largest number of plastic bags receiving a prize of a reusable tote bag. McKinley’s fifth grade classes collected the most across the school.

Most importantly, however, is that Mrs. Jennifer Tanay, who leads the club, and the student members were overwhelmed by the response to the drive and the number of bags they received from all grade levels. They decided to work with management at the Giant Food Store in Rockledge, PA, to arrange a pickup of the bags in order for them to be taken to a designated site that recycles and returns them for reuse in Giant stores. On Friday, May 11, managers from Giant rolled into the parking lot at McKinley Elementary with a 54-foot tractor-trailer to haul the plastic bags away for recycling, while the students loaded the bags in the truck in an assembly-line fashion. 

At last night’s meeting of the Board of School Directors, Abington School District’s curriculum department recognized the 16 recipients of this year’s “Silver Pen” awards, honoring outstanding student writers across the District’s seven elementary schools.

Each year, sixth-grade teachers are invited to nominate a student for the annual awards program, based on his or her narrative writing selections, and then a special committee at each school scores the papers, with the highest-scoring students being named winners.

Thanks to grant funding provided by the Abington Educational Foundation — a non-profit organization that provides funding to enhance educational experiences and outcomes for Abington School District students and their families — the winning students received an engraved pen at the meeting from Supervisor of Elementary Communication Arts Dr. Kelly Doyle, and Board President Raymond McGarry, Esquire. The students will also have their names added to a recognition plaque at their respective schools.

This year’s winners include:

• Madison Gammage, Copper Beech Elementary School
• John Harbison, Copper Beech Elementary School
• Liam Knotek, Copper Beech Elementary School
• Liesl McMullen, Copper Beech Elementary School
• Mya Carmen, Highland Elementary School
• James Harry Clark, V, Highland Elementary School
• Dwain Alexander, McKinley Elementary School
• Marilyn Matthews, McKinley Elementary School
• Carter Barton, Overlook Elementary School
• Rian Harden, Overlook Elementary School
• John Ford, Roslyn Elementary School
• Romilly Young, Roslyn Elementary School
• Sebastien Guillotin, Rydal Elementary School
• Sofiya Lavska, Rydal Elementary School
• Nicole Chen, Willow Hill Elementary School
• David Mwaria, Willow Hill Elementary School

Ahead of the Memorial Day Weekend, more than 125 students from across the District joined together at Abington Senior High School on Friday, May 25, 2018, for the annual Abington Community Taskforce (ACT) Teen Forum. Participants spanned grades six through 12, and included representatives from all nine ASD schools. Together, the students worked on a variety of service projects to benefit the ASD school community, as well as its surrounding neighbors.

Among some of the projects completed were the planting of gardens in front of the High School, as well as in the rear courtyard, and the design of a mural for the world language wing. Most notably, however, is that a food drive that the teens organized throughout the month of May, in partnership with the ACT Kid Forum, yielded a donation of more than 4,300 food items, collected across all nine school buildings. The teens sorted and organized the donations – which included non-perishable foods and baby care items – into boxes and delivered them to three area non-profit organizations via school buses. Beneficiary organizations included New Life Food Cupboard, Interfaith Food Alliance and Aid for Friends.

On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, two students from Copper Beech Elementary School were honored at the annual No Place for Hate Designation Celebration at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The students, Katelyn Newnom and Abigail Barson, both fifth-graders, were named the Grand Prize Winner and Runner-up, respectively, of the Anti-Defamation League’s Spring 2018 Student Essay Contest for grades five through eight.

The students were asked to write about a relationship with a friend who is different from themselves, and answer what is challenging and what is valuable about that relationship. The 750-word essays were judged on topic development, creativity, originality, quality of writing and adherence to rules. Katelyn received a prize of a $250 TD Bank VISA gift card, while Abigail took home a TD Bank VISA gift card of $50.

Katelyn and Abigail, along with their teacher, Dr. Steven Portman, attended the Designation Celebration, where the Philadelphia Eagles’ Chris Long was also honored, receiving this year’s “Making a Difference Award” and inspiring the celebration’s theme of “Get off the bench, get into the game.” Nearly 300 students from across the Greater Philadelphia region were invited to the event — including student ambassadors from Roslyn Elementary School — who, along with area educators, had the opportunity to meet and learn best practices from one another. In addition to creating posters and participating in a fun trivia game at the event, the Roslyn school community was also celebrated for the achievement of becoming a No Place for Hate School.

No Place for Hate enables schools and organizations to challenge anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry in all forms. By providing an innovative and powerful model for creating more inclusive environments, No Place for Hate aims to reduce bias and bullying, increase appreciation for diversity and build communities of respect.

We are pleased to announce that the Pledge Agreement has been signed on behalf of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation. The signed agreement can be found at:

• Foundation for Abington School District
• High School Project

As the class of 2018 approaches the end of their high school careers and begins to prep for life after graduation, two Abington Senior High School seniors are celebrating their extremely challenging acceptances into one of the nation’s most selective and competitive art schools.

Yeji (Abby) Kim and Erin Touey earned themselves spots in the incoming freshman class at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art — commonly called Cooper Union — located in New York City. The current incoming class has just 70 spots available, and even with only the most advanced high school art students applying for admission, the acceptance rate remains around a mere 13 percent. The application that Kim and Touey completed as part of the selection process included an at-home test of six visual problems, several portfolio reviews, as well as essay submissions.

“Because we are a strong art department, Abington gets a student into Cooper Union about once every five years,” said Abington Senior High School art teacher Richard Metz, who explained that many of the accepted students at Cooper Union are often from arts-specific high schools across the country. “To have two students accepted into this program is unheard of, and a first for Abington,” he continued.

Metz also explained that Kim and Touey have both taken three years of art during their Senior High School careers, in addition to enrolling in AP Studio Art during the 2017-2018 school year.

On Friday, May 25, 2018, eighth-grade students in Mrs. Sarah Bocian’s honors science classes participated in “The Invention Convention,” a public display of their engineering inventions and a culmination of a year’s worth of research, building and testing. The event, held in Commons C at Abington Junior High School, provided an opportunity for students to not only showcase their final products, but to also talk with visitors about their processes – what common problem they were trying to solve, how they came up with their ideas, and ultimately, how they created their invention.

Many of the projects centered around students’ everyday lives and common household tasks or obstacles, with inventions ranging from table-cleaning robots, to special holders for hands to grip slippery bars of soap. With only a few initial class periods set aside for brainstorming ideas as a group, the students then worked on the majority of their projects at home over the past few months.

In the end, The Invention Convention was a great lesson in the four Cs of 21^st century skillsets: collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and communication. Bocian, who designed this project to go beyond a typical science fair, explained how students not only had to learn how to problem solve — as they often encountered faults in their initial designs — but the end-result of needing to present their findings to parents and other attendees of the convention required them to finesse their public speaking and presentation skills. Now, Bocian is looking forward to what inventions her students will come up with next school year.