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The North Penn School District and all public schools in the state of Pennsylvania faced a significant financial threat recently in the form of House Bill 1213. Over the last few weeks I have reached out to this community and to our local legislators for their support in fighting a bill that I believe would have had a disastrous impact on our schools and the premier education North Penn delivers. I am very pleased and equally grateful that our efforts to bring light to the financial pitfalls of this bill worked.
For those of you not familiar with House Bill 1213, in its original form, not only prohibits a school district from engaging in reverse assessment appeals but also redefines market value for the purpose of changing the valuation of property to the detriment of school districts and other local taxing authorities. This shift in property valuation is based on the "dark store theory," in which properties are valued based on sales of comparable vacant properties.
The good news is that through our outreach efforts, the Dark Store portion of the bill has been removed and I have been told that the House is now taking time to further discuss the implications of the bill in its entirety, including the implications of its provision which would prohibit a school district from initiating assessment appeals.
The removal of the Dark Store portion is a huge win for school districts across the state. It would have drastically shifted how properties are assessed, and in the case of commercial properties it would have been a financial windfall for large-sized properties (e.g. "big box" stores/apartment complexes) and a huge loss for public education. This would have been especially the case for North Penn where we were poised to lose more than $11 million per year if this portion of HB 1213 remained.
I have spent a great deal of time recently talking with legislators on this important issue and I am not finished. We are still looking at more than a $5 million loss in revenue if the bill is passed in its revised form, given that it still contains the prohibition of school districts initiating assessment appeals and contains retroactivity language which impacts previously negotiated settlements of such appeals. I will continue to emphasize that the need for the ability of either side to initiate assessment appeals is critically necessary and fair.
I urge your support of this important matter and ask you to contact your legislator on this issue. Please CALL or EMAIL your house members, thank them for removing the Dark Store portion of the bill but tell them that you still OPPOSE House Bill 1213 and its prohibition of school district initiated appeals. Ask them to maintain the ability of both the property owner and the school district to initiate an assessment appeal.
Below is a link you can use to determine your legislators. You should enter your home address. Please note that in completing the search, your United States Congressman may also be located (see below) however that individual would not be contacted on this particular issue as it not a federal-level issue.
Here is the link:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/.
Thank you for your support of this very important matter.
Sincerely,
Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed.D.
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Many parents wish to show their appreciation to a special teacher, principal or support person by offering a small gift at the end of the school year. This year, consider an alternative - a gift in the name of that special staff member to the NPSD Educational Foundation.
Click here to learn more.
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Hats Off to the North Penn High School Class of 2017!
On Thursday, June 8 at 6:00 pm (weather permitting) 1,087 seniors from North Penn High School will turn their tassels at the 62nd Commencement Ceremony held on the field at NPHS Crawford Stadium.
Congratulations to these hardworking students for all that they have achieved during their time in the North Penn School District.
We thank you for your contributions to our schools and our community and wish you the best of luck on your future endeavors. We look forward to welcoming you back as proud alumni in years to come.
To join in on the celebration, tune in live on Thursday, June 8 at 6:00 pm on Verizon Fios Channel 29 and Comcast Xfinity Channel 28. You can also watch online at
www.northpennnews.org.
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June 7
Last Day of School for AM Kindergarten
Report Cards Issued for AM Kindergarten
NPHS Class of 2017 Reflections Ceremony, 7:00 pm
June 8
Early Dismissal, All Schools
Last Day of School for Students, PM K Reports
Elementary School Report Cards Issued
NPHS Class of 2017 Commencement, 6:00 pm
June 19
Secondary School Report Cards Available on HAC
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Congratulations to these North Penn Inclusion Heroes!
During the month of April, Brookes Publishing hosted a contest encouraging members of the education community to nominate friends and co-workers as Inclusion Heroes-school professionals who go above and beyond to ensure all students in the classroom receive a fair education.
The NPSD is proud to announce that on behalf of their spectacular efforts, three staff members from the district have been selected as inclusion heroes.
Congratulations to Dr. Jenna Rufo, NPSD Director of Special Education and Student Services. Jenna was nominated by Jackie Giammarco, NPSD Inclusion Specialist.
Congratulations also to Kathryn Small and Sharon Sobotkin, co-teachers at Oak Park, who were nominated by Oak Park Principal Doug Povilaitis.
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The PA Department of Health has updated regulations for the 2017-2018 school year. Students will be permitted five days to provide documentation of immunizations. If documentation is not submitted within five days of school attendance, students will be excluded from school and subject to truancy proceedings.
Please click here for more information.
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NPSD Bus Driver
Appreciation Breakfast
The NPSD Transportation Department gathered at Walton Farm Elementary School on June 1 for their annual Bus Drivers Appreciation Breakfast where drivers were honored for perfect attendance, milestone years of safe driving, achievements in safety competitions and years of service.
Thank you to these wonderful employees for all that you do and for your dedication to getting our students to school safely everyday!
Click here to see more photos!
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NEW REGISTRATION DATES ADDED:
June 26, July 31 & August 1
Centralized Kindergarten Registration for students entering Kindergarten in September 2017 will be held June 26, July 31 and August 1 and slots are filling up fast!
Students must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2017. NPSD school policy does not allow exceptions to this date.
The following MUST be brought to your appointment or you will need to reschedule, no exceptions:
- Your child
- Completed registration packet
- Proof of child's age
- Proof of residency
- Child's immunization records
- Additional forms may be required depending on your individual situation, please see link below for details
If you have any questions, please contact the district registrar's office at 215-853-1086 or [email protected].
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2017 Summer Camps for Kids
Now Open for Registration!
It may be cold outside but summer will be here before you know it! Keep your kids busy this summer with NPSD's Community Education Summer Camp Programs. From cooking classes and sports camps to science labs and Lego robotics, there's something for everyone this summer!
To register in person, please visit the Community Education Department Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm at the Educational Services Center, located at 401 E. Hancock St. in Lansdale.
For more information, please call the Community Education office at 215-853-1028 or 215-853-1029.
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Summer 2017 in the
North Penn School District
Education, Enrichment & Camp Information
The North Penn School District is proud to offer a wide variety of programs to students of all ages throughout the summer months. Education and enrichment programs are available for students of all ages and ability levels, in addition to recreational opportunities of all kinds. Some of these include:
- Summer Education and Enrichment Courses
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Summer Writing Academy
- Summer Library Program
- Community Education Summer Camps
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The Summer Food Service Program, known locally as Grab & Go, is a United States Department of Agriculture initiative to ensure that all children have access to free, healthy meals year-round. North Penn School District is partnering again this year with Manna on Main Street, VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn, the United Way and Health Spark to bring this program to the North Penn community.
Once again, NPSD will host a Mobile Meal Van that will be on the go delivering free, nutritious meals Monday through Friday to four high-need areas in the community including Hatfield Community Park, Knapp, Oak Park and York Avenue Elementary Schools.
All children through age 18 can visit the trucks at these locations, no questions asked, and enjoy a free, healthy lunch to fuel their summer day.
Mobile Meal Vans can be found at the following locations from June 19 to August 18, Monday through Friday at specified times and locations below:
Hatfield Community Park
(Near Hatfield Village Apartments)
1950 School Road, Hatfield
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Oak Park Elementary School
500 Squirrel Lane, Lansdale
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Knapp Elementary School
698 Knapp Road, Lansdale
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
York Avenue Elementary School
700 York Avenue, Lansdale
1:15 pm to 1:45 pm
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May NPSD Board of School Directors Meetings
To view agenda attachments and minutes from past meetings, please click here.
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The school store is now online!
Stock up on all your NPHS apparel by ordering online. To visit the School Store's website, please click
here.
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Stay up to date with the latest news, events and highlights from North Penn School District |
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In an effort to improve communications, the district has created "Say What" to provide people with a place to get answers to questions and to address rumors and inaccurate information that sometimes circulates throughout the community.
Click on the logo
to check out NPTV's
media library. New content
added daily!
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We want to hear from you! If you have a suggestion for a story idea or have comments, please email
[email protected].
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North Penn Says Goodbye to 2016-2017 Retirees
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As another school year comes to an end, the North Penn School District will say goodbye to 73 beloved employees as they enter the well-earned, next chapter of their lives, retirement.
During the month of May, the district honored some of these employees at the annual NPSD Retiree Reception at PineCrest Country Club. Retirees, honored guests and members of the NPSD Board of Directors and NPSD Administration gathered to recognize, celebrate and give many thanks to the NPSD staff members retiring this year.
On behalf of the North Penn School District, we thank each of our retirees for their many years of dedication to the district and the countless students whom they had such a large impact on during their tenure. We wish you all a happy and relaxing retirement!
Click here to see a full list of 2016-2017 NPSD Retirees.
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NPSD Employees Honored by
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele
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Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele honored law enforcement personnel and civilians with commendations for their extraordinary efforts and exemplary work in protecting and serving the residents of Montgomery County at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus on May 12.
Among these distinguished honorees were Chris Doerr, NPSD Coordinator of Emergency Management and Safe Schools and Chris Sharkey, NPHS staff member. These NPSD employees were recognized for quick action in assessing the fire at NPHS in May of 2016 and helping direct the efforts of responding fire companies.
Congratulations to these hardworking individual and thank you to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele for recognizing their efforts on behalf of our school district and the North Penn community.
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North Penn Students Awarded
in AAUW Writing Contest
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The NPSD is proud to recognize 19 NPHS students for their performance in the 2017 American Association of University Women (AAUW) Creative Writing Contest earlier this year.
Each year, the organizers of the AAUW Creative Writing Contest review anonymous pieces of both poetry and prose selections submitted by students in grades 10 through 12 attending NPHS, Souderton High School and Germantown Academy High School.
Nineteen North Penn students were named winners of the AAUW's annual creative writing contest, coordinated this year by Janet Kratz, NPHS English Teacher. The winning writing selections were published and presented by the winning students at an awards ceremony in April at which students heard a keynote address and shared their original poetry or prose compositions with friends and family.
Click here to see a list of student winners.
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Inglewood Elementary Autism Awareness Celebration
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Inglewood Elementary School proudly hosted their annual assembly in support of Autism Awareness on Friday, May 12. During the program, students and staff presented a check for more than $1,100 to the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter of the Autism Society of America.
This assembly reached the entire student body and staff as it celebrated the school's various efforts put forth during the month of April, which symbolizes Autism Awareness month. The movement was coordinated by Inglewood Elementary School's Autism Awareness Committee, a voluntary group of dedicated staff members who have created a wide range of activities and events to support a cause that's near and dear to their hearts.
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North Penn Students Perform Well
in National 10 Day Film Challenge
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Eight NPHS students were honored with Best Screenplay and placed in the top tour in Best Film at the National 10 Day Film Challenge on Sunday, June 4 in Philadelphia.
Their film, "Run," was chosen as the Grand Prize winner at the Pennsylvania 10 Day Film Festival Challenge on Thursday, May 11 and was screened along with 29 other student films at the festival, held at the United Artists Riverview Theater in Philadelphia. From here, they moved on to Nationals, held at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia over the weekend.
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NPHS Students Selected as Finalists
in Penn State Writing Competition
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The North Penn School District is proud to announce that NPHS students Anastasia Dziekan, Mansi Nawathe, Tessa O'Donnell and Henry Strobel have been named finalists in the 2017 Penn State Writing Contest for High School Writers.
Each November, Penn State holds a writing competition in which Pennsylvania high school juniors are given a prompt and instructed to generate a timed response that is submitted anonymously and judged by Penn State faculty. Of the nearly 100 students from across the state who participated in this year's contest, only 20 were recognized for their performance, four of which were 11th grade english students of Janet Kratz and Ellen McKee at NPHS. These students attended a reception for writing contest winners in April at Penn State's Nittany Lion Inn.
Congratulations to these talented young writers and their teachers for this impressive accomplishment.
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1500 Elementary Students Participate in 6th Annual IRONKnights Triathlon
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More than 1500 elementary students in the NPSD participated in the 6th Annual IRONKnights Elementary Triathlon, supported in part by the NPSD Educational Foundation, on Sunday, May 14 beginning at North Penn High School.
Students in grades Kindergarten through six competed in a three-part competition ranging in distances according to grade level which included biking, running and swimming.
Students in kindergarten through second grade began bright and early at 8:00 a.m. swimming 20 yards, biking one mile and running a half-mile. Third and fourth graders were next to follow at 11:00 a.m., swimming 60 yards, biking three miles and running three-quarters of a mile. Students in grades five and six wrapped up the afternoon at 2:30 p.m. and swam 100 yards, biked five miles and ran one full mile!
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NPTV Students Win 3 High School Emmy Awards
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The North Penn School District is proud to announce that North Penn Television (NPTV) received three Mid-Atlantic High School Production Emmy Awards of Excellence from the National Academy for Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), Mid-Atlantic Chapter.
Nominees and award winners are selected by broadcast professionals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region in 12 different categories. This year, the NATAS Mid-Atlantic chapter received record breaking entries from high schools in PA, NJ and DE.
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North Penn Knights Baseball Holds
Annual Community Knight at the Ballpark
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The North Penn Knights Baseball team hosted its annual Community Knight at the Ballpark at the Nor-Gwyn Baseball Complex on the Ben Hostelley Field on Friday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. as they took on the Hatboro Horsham Hatters.
This event has become a community favorite, as it's a fun way to spend a Friday night with family, friends and members of the North Penn community. Each year, the Knights invite little league and middle school baseball players from the North Penn community to join them on the field in uniform for the National Anthem. Knight at the Ballpark helps the North Penn Knights to connect with countless elementary and middle school families, for whom the NPHS student athletes hope to be viewed as solid role models.
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NPHS Students Take 1st Place
in National Economics Challenge
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The North Penn School District is proud to recognize the team of NPHS students Clare Dentner, Reid Dentner, Ben DiCristo and Stephanie Zhang, coached by NPHS teacher Mrs. Linda Westerlund, for placing first in the nation in the David Ricardo Division of the National Economics Challenge (NEC).
The NEC is the nation's most prestigious high school economics competition. Student teams of four compete on their knowledge, skills and ability to work collaboratively to progress through multiple rounds which measure comprehension and application of concepts related to a rapidly changing global economy. In this year's competition, more than 10,500 students from 41 states participated in the Economics Challenge, making it the largest competition to date.
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NPHS Students Named Finalists in Delaware Valley Science Council Exam Competition
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The North Penn School District is pleased to recognize NPHS students Christopher Yang, Brittany Wylie and Joseph Urban for being named as finalists in the 2016-2017 Delaware Valley Science Council (DVSC) Exam Competition.
The DVSC's main activity is an annual competition that has been held for over 60 years to identify, encourage and recognize talented youth. Each year, more than 300 high schools in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware are invited to send as many as four seniors to the DVSC competition. To participate in the event, students must be college-bound high school seniors.
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NPSD Hosts Annual North Penn Gallery of Art
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The North Penn Gallery of Art, featuring artwork created by students in the NPSD from K-12 took place in May at North Penn High School.
The North Penn Gallery of Art is an impressive show that features a multitude of media including painting, photography, sculpture, computer animation and more. Students demonstrated their artistic skills such as drawing and throwing on the potter's wheel live during the show. The Gallery included the Senior Show, which featured artwork created by seniors who have taken three or more art classes throughout their high school years, showing their dedication to the visual arts. It also included a reception for these seniors, their families and friends. Additionally, musical performances from various NPSD elementary and middle schools occurred in the evenings to delight visitors' auditory as well as visual senses.
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NPHS Students Selected as Winners in 2017 National Council of the Teachers of English Writing Contest
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The North Penn School District is proud to recognize three NPHS students for their performance in the 2017 National Council of the Teachers of English Writing Contest.
The annual competition requires high school juniors from across the country to submit a piece of writing of their choice as well as a response to an assigned prompt. Submissions are anonymously rated by national judges on the basis of content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization, development and style. For this contest students were required to submit a poem or prose piece that they felt represented their best work, excluding research and critical papers. Students additionally wrote a themed essay in which they were asked to examine the conflict between nurturing passions and meeting obligations and respond in a personal or imaginative prose piece that considered whether these two areas can be reconciled.
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Pennbrook Baking Club Whips Up
Donation to Local Charity
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The Pennbrook Baking Club proudly presented a check for $400.00 to Manna on Main Street at their weekly meeting this Thursday, June 1 from various fundraising efforts throughout the year.
Now in its third year, the Pennbrook Middle School Baking Club provides both enjoyment and success for students, faculty and the community. The Baking Club consists of 25 Pennbrook upperclassmen students, as club advisors and Family and Consumer Science (FCS) teachers Cheryl Doyle and Louann Moos require that members are in grades 8 or 9.
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Penndale Holds 3rd Annual 3K Walk/Run
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As part of Penndale's "Blue and White Day," students participated in the third annual PEnnFit 3K Walk/Run Challenge on Friday, May 26.
The event is designed to be both competitive and noncompetitive, depending on participants' preference to either walk or run the outdoor 3K. Walkers will join together in stride for pleasure. Runners competed for points for their spirit team, as Penndale included this event in their "Blue and White Day," a spirit day where teams compete against one another in athletic events.e in grades 8 or 9.
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May North Penn News Update
from NPTV
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North Penn Television (NPTV) students produce updates on what was happening around the NPSD during the month of May.
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2017 NP Community Knight with Indoor Ensembles
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To see more from NPTV, check out
our
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