This week, Copper Beech Elementary School families donated new pajamas to the Pajama Program, an organization that provides pajamas for children in need. Copper Beech then celebrated by holding a pajama day at school where students and staff wore their pajamas!
Members of the Abington Senior High School Choir were invited to sing with the rock group Foreigner during their concert at the Keswick Theatre on October 22. The students sang “I Want to Know What Love Is” on stage with Foreigner during the concert. The students who performed in the concert were: Kiara Brasher, Maddie Ernst, Nicole Gerhardt, Adia Gillespie, Hailey Hart, Isaiah Knox, Erin Markham, Samaia Peake-Bowens, Naseer Turner, Paige Voltmer, Emerson Wells, and Hunter West.
Abington teachers Ray and Natalie Haertsch chaperoned the students that evening and videoed the performance and Mr. Haertsch produced the attached video. Mr. Tim Myers, choral director at Abington Senior High School, prepared the students for the performance.
Foreigner is working with the Grammy Music in the Schools Foundation, to provide opportunities for high school students to work with music professionals in many areas. The Foundation also donates funds school districts throughout the country. We are very pleased that Foreigner will be donating $500 to the Abington Choir for their performance.
New York/Philadelphia actress, comedienne, and director Jodi Letizia spent the afternoon at Abington Senior High School last week working with the cast of the high school play, Moon Over Buffalo, with faculty director Kristen Caiazzo. The event was featured in a 6ABC news item.
Ms Letizia, who appeared as Marie in the original “Rocky” movie, has numerous film and television credits as well as received rave reviews in her one-woman and off-Broadway revues. She has been coaching and teaching young, promising performers and was a valued “consultant” to the actors and actresses. She lauded the cast’s enthusiasm and talent and offered comments and suggestions on timing, vocal intonations, physical comedy, and more.
The production will be performed November 17, 18, and 19, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. each evening at Abington Senior High School, 900 Highland Avenue, Abington.
Set in Buffalo, New York, in 1953, the raucous satire introduces the audience to George and Charlotte Hay, a down-on-their-luck couple who desperately want to become famous film stars. Fate turns in their favor when real-life director Frank Capra wants to audition them for an upcoming movie; however, serious (hilarious) complications arise when everything that could possibly go wrong DOES go wrong. Their temperamental daughter, Roz, splits time between fiancé Howard and ex-boyfriend Paul, the company’s stage manager. Ethel (Charlotte’s nearly-deaf mother) and Richard (their lawyer) make their contributions to the mayhem as Eileen, a young actress in the company, reveals a huge secret that threatens to ruin them all. The high school Theater Department firmly believes that this is their most side-splitting play they have performed in many years!
At last night’s School Board meeting, Dr. Bacon introduced Ms. Julianne Petersen, Abington Junior High School Assistant Principal, who received the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies Leadership Award at its annual conference in October. The Council presents this award to an individual who is dedicated to social studies and is a recognized leader for promoting innovation and creative instruction, motivating others to excellence, and advocating for high quality and research-driven instructional practices in the classroom. Ms. Petersen was recognized for her work as Social Studies Supervisor in Abington School District. Ms. Petersen encouraged teachers to design and implement instruction with a focus on global and societal considerations important to helping students become contributing members of global society. Dr. Bacon stated that Ms. Petersen’s efforts have produced a strong and viable K-12 social studies program that is an exemplary model.
At the School Board meeting this week, Mr. Berrios introduced Abington Senior High School student, Charles Olbrish, who was named October Student of the Month at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN). Charles, a senior, is in EASTERN’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program. In addition to the award at EASTERN, Charles was selected as September Student of the Month at the high school. Charles plans to attend college for business and finance after graduation and to own an HVAC business in the future. According to Mr. Berrios, Charles is outgoing, friendly, hard-working, and has a sense of humor beyond measure. EASTERN’s Student of the Month Award is sponsored by EASTERN’s faculty, the Joint Committee, and the Willow Grove Rotary Club and highlights student excellence, success, and service.
Mr. Angelo Berrios, principal of Abington Senior High School, announced this week at the School Board meeting that we were contacted by Ms. Heather Turetzky, Director of Partnership Marketing and Public Relations at Burlington Stores, regarding a donation from their community outreach program. In celebration of the re-opening of their store in Jenkintown, Burlington donated $10,000 to Abington School District. Mr. Berrios stated that through this donation, enhancements to the high school’s ACTIVE Academy, Chromebook initiative, and college admissions application process will be funded. Ms. Turetzky and Mr. Jeffrey Schaffer, the Jenkintown Store Manager, presented a “giant check” at the School Board meeting to Mr. McGarry, Dr. Sichel, Mr. Berrios, and Mr. Tagliaferro. Mr. Berrios stated that we are honored to be the recipient of this generous donation.
The Abington Senior High School Athletic Department, Administration, students, and families recognized and celebrated five student-athletes’ accomplishments. After a welcome and introduction by Athletic Director Todd Vaccaro, Abington Senior High School alumna Amy Sullivan Coffey, Abington Class or 1995, presented a very inspirational, uplifting, and positive talk about her experiences as an athlete.
Amy was a four-year letter winner and team captain in swimming and lacrosse at Abington. She was a walk-on lacrosse player at the University of Delaware where she was very successful – Conference Rookie of the Year, team MVP, team captain, and other accomplishments. After playing at the University of Delaware, she became assistant women’s lacrosse coach at the University of Pennsylvania.
We are so proud of the following student-athletes who signed national letters of intent with their parents and families and coaches by their sides:
Participating in the signing celebration was girls’ lacrosse coach Amanda Kammes and girls’ basketball coach Dan Marsh.
Shown here are photos of the young ladies with their parents, Mr. Vaccaro welcoming everyone this morning, Amy Sullivan Coffey presenting her talk, and a group photo including one with Amy Coffey, the athletes, and Amy’s daughter Liv. Also below is a wonderful video produced by Kristina Blake, an Abington student in the high school’s media production class, that presented interviews and highlights of the athletes’ careers at Abington.
Beautiful student artwork has been on display in the Administration Building for the past 18 years. The elementary and secondary art teachers, in conjunction with Mr. Howard Baxter, Supervisor of Music and Coordinator of Elementary Art, select the artwork, which is placed on display for four years and then returned to the student. This week Mr. Baxter and the art teachers presented the artwork to the Board of School Directors and the community and provided certificates to the student artists to honor their handiwork.
The following students and their art teachers were honored – note that the grade listed is the student’s grade last year when the artwork was created and selected: Madison Alcorn, 2nd grade – Willow Hill Elementary, Art Teacher – Mr. Anthony Shelton; Austin Bielefeldt, 1st grade – Roslyn Elementary, Art Teacher – Ms. Chelsea Puglese; Dylan Britt, 4th grade – McKinley Elementary, Art Teacher – Mrs. Donna Zar; Sarah Brolly 12th grade – Abington Senior High, Art Teacher – Mr. David Ferro; Nara Buch, 3rd grade – Copper Beech Elementary, Art Teacher – Mr. Michael McKeough; Ella Connell, 3rd grade – Copper Beech Elementary, Art Teacher – Mr. Michael McKeough; Garrett Farabaugh, 4th grade – Overlook Elementary, Art Teacher – Mrs. Margaret Johnson; Megan Frase, 9th grade – Abington Junior High, Art Teacher – Mrs. Ann Custer-Walter; Mark Gaines, 1st grade – Highland Elementary, Art Teacher – Ms. Patricia Forrest; Yegyeong Gim, 8th grade – Abington Junior High – Mr. Fabio Tulli; Josephine Golden, 4th grade – Copper Beech Elementary School, Art Teacher – Mr. Michael McKeough; Jade Jodry, 8th grade – Abington Junior High, Art Teacher – Mr. Fabio Tulli; Suhaan Kumar, 2nd grade – Rydal Elementary, Art Teacher – Mrs. Natalie Haertsch; Sofiya Lavska, 4th grade – Rydal Elementary School, Art Teacher – Mrs. Natalie Haertsch; Lauryn Levette, 11th grade – Abington Senior High, Art Teacher – Ms. Nicole Caracciolo; Sara McCaffrey, 12th grade – Abington Senior High, Art Teacher – Mr. Richard Metz; Elliot Moor, 3rd grade – McKinley Elementary, Art Teacher Mrs. Donna Zar; Eleanora Pennekamp, 4th grade – Highland Elementary, Art Teacher – Ms. Patricia Forrest; Lorraine Praeger, 6th grade – Overlook Elementary, Art Teacher – Mrs. Margaret Johnson; Zoe Quick, 9th grade – Abington Junior High, Art Teacher – Mrs. Ann Custer-Walter; Natalie Rivera, 1st grade – Roslyn Elementary, Art Teacher – Ms. Chelsea Puglese; Leah Simmons, 12th grade – Abington Senior High, Art Teacher – Mr. Stephen Lupo; Sophie Taylor, 5th grade – McKinley Elementary, Art Teacher – Mrs. Donna Zar; Samira Williams, 5th grade – Willow Hill Elementary, Art Teacher – Mr. Anthony Shelton.
Rydal Elementary School held a “No Place for Hate” assembly as part of Non-Violent Conflict Resolution Week last week. Students from all grade levels created presentations of songs, poems, or videos as well as recognition of students who display appropriate school behaviors and follow the school’s belief statements.
In addition to the assembly, classroom lessons on diversity and anti-bullying were conducted throughout the week along with a “Mix-It-Up Day” activity in the Café for all students where students donned “mixed-up” attire and many had lunch with students they might not usually eat lunch with regularly.
First grade students at Rydal West Elementary School had fun participating in a variety of activities to help recognize and appreciate our veterans on Veterans Day. The children collected and boxed various items to send as a care package to a Marine unit that is stationed in Spain. In addition, they wrote thank you letters and messages of kindness to the men and women in the unit. Second grade students In Ms. Chou’s class decorated rocks as mementos for veterans and donated them to VFW Post 676. In return, Mr. Joe Heath, Quartermaster, sent the following thank you to Ms. Chou’s class:
A great big “Thank You” to you and your students for thinking of all Veterans this Veterans Day. At our ceremony we had members of VFW Post 676, American Legion Post 248, Marine Corps League and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 590.
We displayed your note and decorated rocks as a feature of our annual ceremony. Any Veteran who so desired was invited to take one as a memento. Fortunately, I got mine when I placed the display. They were all adopted for new homes. Mine is on my desk in the Post 676 office.
Attached is a picture of our display so you can show your students that we really appreciate their efforts and good wishes.
Seen in the photos: First grade students writing “thank you” letters and packing care packages for a Marine unit stationed overseas and the display of rocks decorated by Ms. Chou’s second grade class as displayed at the VFW Post.
Congratulations to Abington Junior High School students Isabella DiPasquale, Emily Gill, Margaret Hanley, and Alicia Whisman — their PSA (Public Service Announcement) video has been selected as one of the top 5 entries in the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General anti-drug abuse video contest!
Go to the YouTube link here and give a THUMBS UP “LIKE” vote to vote on these students’ entry in this contest. The contest is open from November 14 to 18. Be sure to vote!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnZ-b_Mv5ho
Their video is “PEER 2 PEER sub#1”
The winning entry gets $100 per team member, a presentation from the Attorney General’s office and a pizza party for the entire ninth grade class.
To show their appreciation for the Abington School District bus drivers, Abington Senior High School’s A.C.T.I.V.E. Academy students served coffee, pizza, and other treats to their friends in the Transportation Department. The event, which was part of American Education Week, was held prior to the afternoon transportation run today. The event was an opportunity for the senior high school community to show its gratitude toward the district’s bus drivers while simultaneously affording the A.C.T.I.V.E. students the chance to practice valuable transition-related skills in the area of food preparation and service.
Abington’s A.C.T.I.V.E. (Accessing Community, Travel, Independent Living, and Vocational Education) Academy is a transitional program designed for young adults, ages 18-21, with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The A.C.T.I.V.E. Academy utilizes the classroom and community as it teaches students vocational, travel training, and independent living skills. Students also partake in a volunteer work-study program in which they learn employability skills while interning at various sites within the community including Abington-Jefferson Hospital, CVS, the Abington YMCA, and State Representative Madeleine Dean’s office. At present, 18 Abington students benefit from participation in this program.
This past Sunday, 47 ninth-grade students from Abington Junior High School volunteered at the Philadelphia Marathon, arriving at 6:00 a.m. at the intersection of Kelly and Sedgley Drives where they worked at the Team in Training water stop for the marathon runners. Team in Training is a group that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Our students worked until about three o’clock in the afternoon. To have that many students show up and work until mid-afternoon would have been very impressive under normal conditions, but Sunday’s weather was brutal – very cold and extremely windy. The representatives from Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society were very impressed with our students and how they completed whatever tasks they were asked to do, including setting up thousands of cups of water and Gatorade, cheering for the thousands of runners on the course, and picking up the trash that was blowing all over the running course. Social studies teacher Betina Roher from the Junior High School organized the students.
On November 18, thirty-one string students from Abington Junior and Senior High Schools represented Abington School District at the Montgomery County Honors String Orchestra Festival held at Upper Merion Middle School. This year, students from twelve school districts throughout Montgomery County were selected who exemplify musical and scholastic achievement in their perspective schools. Under the direction of Mrs. Helen Bottel, the festival concluded with a concert Friday evening for parents, family and friends.
Click to view the Agenda on the BoardDocs website.
Roslyn Elementary School celebrated American Education Week with Roslyn students and parents engaging in a variety of activities ranging from math games, book report presentations, to hands-on lessons about the community and school.
American Education Week presented all Americans with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. At Roslyn Elementary School, parents/guardians were provided with the opportunity to visit students’ classrooms and observe the great things happening there.
The theme for this year was “Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility.”
Each year, students and staff at Abington Junior High School collect and donate food items so that some local families can celebrate Thanksgiving with a nice holiday meal.
Students donate items through their social studies classes and then Student Council helps pack the meals for transport.
This year, students from Abington Memorial Hospital’s Dixon School of Nursing, coordinated by Kristi Jovovich – treasurer of the student group – helped by contributing a significant amount of food items that was added to the Student Council donations.
Seventh grade students at the Junior High School donated non perishable boxes of stuffing, canned gravy, and boxed or bagged potatoes; eighth grade students donated canned fruits, vegetables, and soups; and ninth grade students donated canned cranberry sauce, yams, and cans or bottles of juice. Staff members donated funds for the purchase of turkeys for the families.
