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Safety has always been a top priority here at the North Penn School District (NPSD). In today's world, it is more important than ever to make sure that we are all informed and prepared to the best of our ability when it comes to the safety of our students. Between families, staff, local law enforcement and students, it is vital that we present a united front with open communication and transparent expectations.
To this end, NPSD will hold a series of informal, informational sessions centered on supporting partnerships among NPSD, law enforcement and families throughout the month of April.
Led by Chris Doerr, our NPSD Coordinator of Emergency Management and Safe Schools, the NPSD Security Department and local law enforcement, these sessions will provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and offer comments regarding health and safety topics relevant to North Penn schools and communities. Information will be shared about the
Pennsylvania Safe2Say Something
anonymous reporting program; school safety and emergency preparedness; electronic cigarettes, Juuls and vaping; and social media.
The first of these sessions kicked off last week at Pennfield. We are very appreciative of those who attended this meeting. The district received helpful feedback and questions from the community that will drive future conversations and solutions.
Meetings will be held at each of the NPSD middle schools. It is suggested that North Penn families attend the meeting held at the middle school which their children have or will attend when possible.
The remaining sessions will take place on
Thursday, April 11 at 7:00 pm at Pennbrook Middle School
in the IMC/Library (1201 North Wales Road, North Wales and
Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 pm at Penndale Middle School
in the IMC/Library (400 Penn Street, Lansdale).
For questions or more information about the upcoming school safety collaborative meetings, please feel free to contact Chris Doerr at
[email protected]
. I am always available to speak about safety concerns as well.
On behalf of NPSD and local law enforcement, I thank those who have joined or plan to join in the critical conversation about student safety and encourage you to keep this issue in the forefront of your mind.
Sincerely,
Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed.D.
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To Tell Or Not To Tell: How To Respond When Our Kids Confide In Us
"Mom - I am going to tell you something but you have to promise not to do anything. Do you promise?"
What parent hasn't heard that? It's a no-win situation. If you promise and your child tells you that someone's health or safety is at risk, you have to break the promise. But then you've violated their trust and you may rightfully worry that they won't tell you anything ever again. If you don't promise, then your child won't tell you what's going on. You're parenting in the dark and that's dangerous.
Meanwhile, schools encourage students to tell teachers and administrators when they experience social conflicts, bullying, and other common yet painful problems. Our children are also told to come forward when they see something wrong - we want bystanders to become "upstanders" (a word adults use with only the best of intentions that usually triggers eye rolls with kids and teens).
So when we encourage our kids to report a problem, they look at us like we have lost our minds. No wonder parents are confused.
Here's the truth people don't like to talk about: "Telling" is more complex than we like to admit and our children know it.
Parent Toolkit is a one-stop resource developed with parents in mind. It's produced by NBC News Learn and supported by Pearson and includes information about almost every aspect of your child's development, because they're all connected. Healthy, successful children can excel in many areas - in the classroom, on the court, and in their relationships with peers and adults. Our advice also covers important topics for navigating life after high school.
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As a school system, the NPSD is committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve the overall safety and well-being of its students, educators and administrators.
To be successful, NPSD believes this must include community-wide programs and initiatives involving parents, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement, mental health professionals and elected officials.
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So far, 733 bright-eyed knights-to-be have been registered to attend full-day kindergarten at North Penn for the 2019-2020 school year! Is your child registered yet? If not, read on!
The next available round of kindergarten registration appointments will be held on June 17, 18 and 19 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Appointments fill up quickly, so please do not wait! Appointments take approximately 30 minutes per child. Incoming kindergarteners must attend and multiple documents are required to be present at the time of the appointment. For more information about the registration process and to schedule your appointment today, please visit
www.npenn.org/registration
or call 215-853-1086.
Regardless of whether children have been registered with NPSD for full-day kindergarten yet, families of incoming kindergarteners are invited to attend one of the four upcoming general information sessions. These meetings will serve as an opportunity to share the overview of full-day kindergarten at North Penn for the 2019-2020 school year with parents/guardians. Dates of informational meetings are as follows:
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May 9, 2019 at 2:15 pm and 6:30 pm at Gwyn-Nor Elementary School, located at 139 Hancock Rd. North Wales, PA 19454
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May 30, 2019 at 2:00 pm or 6:30 pm at General Nash Elementary School, located at 1560 Liberty Bell Dr. Harleysville, PA 19438
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Back by popular demand, the NPSD Educational Foundation is
preparing to kick off its 6th Annual Online Auction from April 24 to May 1 and the Foundation needs your help! Donation items are now being accepted.
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Please note the following important calendar changes due to snow days for the 2018-2019 school year:
- Third Marking Period Ends for Secondary Students: Thursday, 4/4
- Early Dismissal Cancelled, Full Day of School: Wednesday, 6/12
- Last Day of School for Grades 1-11: Friday, 6/14 (Early Dismissal)
- Last Day of School for AM Kindergarten: Thursday, 6/13
- Last Day of School for PM Kindergarten: Friday, 6/14 (Attend AM Session)
- Graduation Remains Scheduled for Wednesday, 6/12
The changes are in accordance with the approved 2018-2019 school calendar (
click here to view calendar
). The two snow days experienced this school year are being made up on 6/13 and 6/14.
All events planned for seniors remain as originally scheduled.
Any updates to final exam schedules will be shared with secondary students at the school level.
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Summer will be here before we know it... how will your students spend their time off?
To register in person, please visit the Community Education Department Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the NPSD 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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The North Penn community is invited to attend the NPHS Advanced Placement (AP) Art Show which will be held on April 11 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at NPHS in J-pod.
Each featured student artist has created 24 works of art for a portfolio that ranges from 2D Design to 3D Design to Drawing. These art portfolios were submitted to the College Board and for the opportunity for students to potentially earn college credit. Unlike other AP tests which are written exams, these portfolios consist of art pieces which are an in-depth exploration of drawing and design concepts.
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If you can dance, if you can jive and are ready for the time of your life, the NPHS Auditorium the place for you this spring as Mamma Mia! takes the stage. Performances will be held on May 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30 pm and May 5 at 2:00 pm with a special Gold Card Matinee show on May 1 at 1:00 pm.
NPHS Theatre and Thespian Troupe 5464 invite the community to join them in celebrating the legendary music, style and energy of Mamma Mia! this spring. While the show has its own captivating story, the music is pure ABBA, the famed Swedish pop group known for creating some of the most popular songs of all time. Beloved since the 1970s, ABBA's timeless music has been introduced to a whole new generation through the mega-hit Broadway musical that ran for 14 years as well as the movies Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Article courtesy of NPHS sophomore Connor Niszczak
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Did you know NPSD has a monthly live program that all students and staff watch at the same time? Community members can watch live too the last Tuesday of every month at 10:00 am on our
YouTube Channel.
This month's issue features district news, 21 Things and much more!
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Wednesday, April 10; 1 pm to 2 pm
NPSD Educational Services Center
401 East Hancock Street, Lansdale
NPSD and NPSD Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich are excited to once again offer families and community members the opportunity to speak one-on-one about important issues involving NPSD schools. Community Conversations, a series of informal meetings, gives attendees the chance to talk freely with Dr. Dietrich and share their concerns and suggestions for the North Penn School District.
All North Penn community members, whether they have children in North Penn schools or not, are invited to attend these informative Community Conversations with Dr. Dietrich.
Space is limited and seats fill up fast!
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NPSD Board of School Directors Meetings
To view agenda attachments and minutes from past meetings, please click here.
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To view a list of future meeting dates,
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 NPHS 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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NPSD Hosting Second Community Forum
on Building and Renovation Needs
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Providing safe, efficient and modern learning environments has always been a priority of the NPSD and the community it serves. With several building and renovation needs in the school district's immediate future, NPSD is hosting its second community forum to review the condition of current buildings, renovations and repairs needed and the costs associated with this work. The forum will be held in place of the April work session meeting of the NPSD Board of School Directors on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00 pm in the Pennfield Middle School Auditorium, 726 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield, PA 19440.
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NPSD Inaugural Black History Oratorical Competition
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Congratulations to the winners of NPSD's Inaugural Black History Oratorical Competition! The three competition winners will perform at the International Spring Festival held at North Penn High School on Saturday, April 27.
Elementary Level Winner:
Royel Hall, Oak Park Elementary School, Grade 4
Middle School Level Winner:
Kairee Glass, Penndale Middle School, Grade 7
High School Level Winner:
Dominique Bethel, Pennbrook Middle School, Grade 9
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76ers Recognize Pennfield Middle School Student, Coach and Teammates at Autism Inclusion Night
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Pennfield Middle School basketball sensation Shayne Farmer and his teammates, manager and coach Mr. Matt Scott were recently honored by the Philadelphia 76ers at a home game in celebration of Autism Inclusion Night.
Despite living with an autism spectrum disorder, Shayne has dedicated himself to excelling on the court alongside his teammates through his personal motto, "Autism doesn't mean you can't; it means you can, but you might have to work a little harder than everyone else."
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NPHS Student Selected as National Honor Society Scholarship Recipient at the National Level
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The NPSD is proud to announce that NPHS senior Allison Yang has been selected as a National Honor Society Scholarship recipient at the National Level. Allison was chosen from more than 11,000 applicants nationwide and was selected as one of 575 semifinalists to receive a scholarship for $3,200 toward higher education.
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NPSD Rocks their Socks in Celebration
of World Down Syndrome Day!
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Knapp CARE Club Joined by Special Visitors
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The student and staff members of Knapp Elementary School's Compassion Awareness Respect Education (CARE) Club were joined by a few special guests at their recent meeting.
"We are very, very happy that Pennsylvania passed a law in 2017 called Libre's Law," explained CARE Club co-facilitator Ann Kravitz.
Libre was a dog in Lancaster that was left in horrible condition due to abuse, a few hours from death. Through some loving and compassionate people, he was nursed back to health. Prior to 2017, animal abuse was misdemeanor but since this Libre's Law was passed, it is now a felony to abuse or neglect any animal in Pennsylvania. State Representative Todd Stephens was a huge supporter of this law and on March 27, he along with the director of the Pennsylvania Humane Society, Kristen Tullo and Libre himself visited the Knapp CARE Club.
Representative Stephens spoke to students about the importance of standing up for what they believe in and how the impact of their voice and actions can make a big difference.
The goal of the Knapp CARE Club is to expose children to issues many animals face and to teach students how they can speak up and advocate for animal rights. The club has more than 60 student members in grades four and five and is run by teachers Ann Kravitz and Kelli Madden.
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NPHS Student to Represent Region in Final Round of National German Exam
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Congratulations are in order for the excellent performance of NPHS students on the National German Exam including Ali Robinson who advanced to represent the region in the final round of the competition.
The National German Exam is similar to the English Keystone in many respects, but held entirely in German. For NPHS students to have achieved so competitively is indeed a testament to their skills in German.
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NPHS Teacher Receives Teacher as a Hero Award from the National Liberty Museum
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The NPSD is proud to recognize NPHS English teacher Mrs. Sakita Tinsley for being selected to receive the 2019 Teacher as a Hero Award in the "Exceptional Teacher Award" category from the National Liberty Museum.
Sakita has been an educator in the NPSD for 10 years. She was nominated by her students and peers at NPHS as a teacher who nurtures an appreciation for diversity and respects students voices in the classroom and in public spaces while fostering a deeper understanding of rights and responsibilities. Sakita teaches English and Multicultural Voices to students in grades 10, 11 and 12 at NPHS and serves as the co-advisor to the NPHS African American Awareness Club.
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NPHS Robotics Team Advances to Regional Competition
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The North Montco Technical Career Center and NPHS Robotics Team, the Gearaffes, recently competed at the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Mid-Atlantic District Championship at Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy and placed first, earning them a spot at the FIRST Regional Competition Competition at Lehigh University in early April.
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NPSD Named to 2019 Best Communities for Music Education List by National Association of Music Merchants
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The NPSD is proud to announce that it has once again been honored with the "Best Communities for Music Education" designation from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. North Penn joins 623 districts across the country in receiving the prestigious award in 2019.
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Cadets from NPHS Air Force JROTC Reach New Heights
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Two NPHS Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) students recently took the ride of their lives as they took part in their first orientation flight from Doylestown to Pottstown and back.
Mike Wister, a senior at NPHS and a cadet colonel in the JROTC took turns with NPHS sophomore and JROTC cadet lieutenant colonel Lorna Loughery riding in the front seat in a small aircraft, a Cessna 182.
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NPSD Chief Financial Officer Wins PA Association of School Business Officials Award
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The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) recognizes and congratulates Steve Skrocki, PCSBA, Chief Financial Officer of NPSD as the recipient of the 2019 esteemed PASBO Award of Achievement.
PASBO's Award of Achievement is awarded annually to member submissions that exemplify extraordinary school management practices, proposals and publications that lead to the effective use of valuable educational resources.
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NPHS Staff Member Named 2019 Pennsylvania School Breakfast Hero
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The national anti-hunger campaign No Kid Hungry recently announced their 2019 Pennsylvania School Breakfast Heroes and NPHS School Nutrition Services Area Supervisor Carolann Begley was among the list.
This year's inductees include educators, administrators and food service staff from school districts across the commonwealth who were nominated by members of their local community for going above and beyond to make school breakfast possible for all students.
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Nation's Premiere Scholarship Program Awards North Penn HS Student $20,000 for College
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William Wermuth, an exceptional senior at NPHS, has been recognized as one of the country's most outstanding high school leaders by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and has been awarded a $20,000 college scholarship.
William is among 150 high school seniors who were selected from an initial pool of 95,715 applications from across the country based on their academic excellence, leadership, and service demonstrated in school and community activities as part of a 3-stage selection process. As a Coca-Cola Scholar, William Wermuth will receive a $20,000 college scholarship to the school of his choice and travel to Atlanta, GA for Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in early April.
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Three NPSD Odyssey of the Mind Teams Advance to World Finals Competition
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Ten student teams from the NPSD recently competed in the Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind State Competition and three teams will advance to the World Finals Competition at Michigan State University.
The schools represented by the teams that competed at the state competition include Gwynedd Square, Inglewood and North Wales elementary schools; Pennbrook and Penndale middle schools; and North Penn High School (NPHS). This was the second round of the OM annual competition. Teams that placed in the top two in this tournament will advance to Worlds.
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Dr. Dietrich's Superintendent's Student Council
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Last month, Dr. Dietrich visited NPHS for the Superintendent's Student Council March meeting where he was joined by students in 10th, 11th and 12th grade. During this meeting, Dr. Dietrich was able to speak with students about curriculum, teacher support, student interaction, extracurricular activities and much more. The district thanks these stellar students for their feedback about what it's like to be a student at NPHS in the North Penn School District.
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