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May is a busy month in the North Penn School District (NPSD). When glancing at the district activities calendar, nearly every day is filled with a long list activities at each of our great schools. While I commend and support all students, staff and families participating in our events all year long, I'd like to take a moment to recognize our music department. Over the course of the month, the music department is holding more than 30 concerts in the areas of band, chorus and orchestra district-wide. To that, all I have to say is... wow!
Last month, NPSD was honored with the "Best Communities for Music Education" designation from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education (click here to read more). The district is no stranger to this distinction, as we have been named to the list for countless years and will hopefully continue to receive the honor for years to come.
In NPSD, music education is an important component of a student's educational experience. Receiving this designation once again speaks volumes to the outstanding music educators that we here at NPSD are fortunate enough to offer our students. I'd like to extend my most sincere thanks to these teachers in the district whose passion for their craft transcends to our students and instills in them the importance of music not only in our community, but in our everyday lives.
From the first day of music class in elementary school to our graduating seniors who have performed across the nation in a wide range of prestigious venues and concerts, the teachers in the music department at North Penn instill a firm foundation of musical education while fostering students' passion for music throughout their entire education at North Penn. And for that, I truly thank them.
I hope you are able to come out to one of the concerts held in the North Penn School District this May. With more than 30 on the calendar, you certainly won't be short on opportunities to catch one!
Sincerely,
Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed.D.
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5 Ways To Keep Kids Motivated at the End of the School Year
Summer is heading our way and as usual, faster than we could have imagined. "Didn't the school year just start?" is a popular comment we find ourselves repeating every year.
Soon, the sweet voices of preschoolers, (okay, we all know they are not sweet all the time), will no longer echo the halls. Soon, the chatty mouths of teens will fill your households even more than usual. For most, camps are booked and summer calendars are well on their way to being planned.
In our kids' minds, they are already packing for sleepaway camp, twirling the whistle as they lifeguard at the local pool, and having visions of staying up late. How do we slow down the excitement and keep their minds on finishing out the school year strong? Keep reading for some thoughts from one parent to another.
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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Just in time for graduation! Give your upcoming grads or long-time alum the perfect gift this spring. Short & Long Sleeve T-Shirts and Hoodies are available in navy blue and gray. Customizable graduation year may be added to the back of items for an additional cost. Orders will be available for pick-up at the NPSD Educational Services Center beginning Monday, June 3. Shipping is also available.
HURRY, SALE ENDS WEDNESDAY, MAY 15!
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Knight of the Arts
The North Penn Knight of the Arts featuring artwork created by students in kindergarten through grade 12, is open to the public on Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm in the K-Pod Concourse, gym and J-Pod at NPHS, located at 1340 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale.
The North Penn Knight of the Arts is an impressive show that features a multitude of media including painting, photography, sculpture, computer animation,
fashion design and more. During the show, students will give live demonstrations of their artistic skills such as drawing and throwing on the potter's wheel.
In addition to the artwork, community members can walk through the fashion gala exhibit in the audion to see how students are taking the fashion industry by storm. Musical performances by NPSD students will be featured to complement the delight of visitors' visual senses by stimulating their auditory senses as well.
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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. And while our staff appreciates these genuine gestures of thanks, please consider an alternative - a gift in the name of that special staff member to the North Penn School District Educational Foundation.
Your tax-deductible gift will be recognized by the Foundation and the staff member will receive a certificate informing him or her of your kindness. But that's not all! Your gift will be returned to the students in the form of an "Innovative Classroom Project" grant awarded annually for new educational programs.
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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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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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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. The following remaining informational meetings are as follows:
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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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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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Monday, May 20; 12 pm to 1 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
andreykm@npenn.org.
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North Penn High School Named to U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings
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North Penn High School (NPHS) has once again been named as one of the top public high schools in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings coming in at number 1,407 nationally and number 50 in the state of Pennsylvania.
Scoring a 91.84 out of 100, these rankings land NPHS in the top nine percent in the national rankings and the top eight percent in Pennsylvania. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college.
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Super Bowl Champion and NPHS Alumnus Brandon McManus Donates $25,000 in Grants through Newly Developed Program
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Super Bowl Champion Brandon McManus, kicker for the Denver Broncos and NPHS Class of 2009 graduate is kick-starting super ideas in the NPSD by recently funding $25,000 in staff-inspired projects that will help NPSD students reach their goals in all areas of their lives and education.
Through a newly created program called the Brandon McManus Kick-Start Grant, staff members at NPSD were encouraged to submit proposals for groundbreaking projects. McManus received 25 great ideas and worked with district administration to review each grant application. After careful consideration, Brandon recently announced that he and his wife, Nadia, will be funding eight exciting programs initiated by the staff at NPSD to support the learning of students of all ages.
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NPHS Students Place in Top 3 at PA SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference
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NPDS is proud to congratulate NPHS students for their accomplishments at the 2019 Pennsylvania SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference recently held in Hershey, PA.
Each year, students from the North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC) compete in the SkillsUSA Leadership and Skill Competition. NPHS students recently traveled to Hershey, PA along with several of their classmates at NMTCC from other sending schools to participate in the state competition.
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NPSD Holds Second Community Forum on
Building and Renovation Needs
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Community members crowded the Pennfield Middle School Auditorium on April 9 to hear about and give input regarding North Penn School District building and renovation needs. The community forum served as a follo-up session to an initial meeting held in November. This session was another opportunity for those in the room and those watching online to review the condition of current buildings, plans for renovations and the costs associated with the work.
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NPHS Senior Class Attends Simulated DUI Reenactment
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In honor of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, NPHS hosted a series of events for students to better understand the impact of driving while distracted or impaired. This included the high school's annual DUI Reenactment Program shown to graduating seniors each year. Using real cars, real people and real first responder vehicles and personnel, fellow members of the class of 2019 narrated a simulated car accident in which two cars full of friends who had been underage drinking at a party violently collide. The students inside of these vehicles were also portrayed by student volunteers from the NPHS senior class. Local first responders worked together to demonstrate the exact procedures for this type of event, including medical attention and arrests. The program concluded with a moving speech from Montgomery County's District Justice, Judge Andrea Hudak-Duffy.
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Knapp Elementary School Holds Diversity Day
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Knapp Elementary School recently held a school-wide Diversity Day. The event featured assembly programs showcasing diversity during the school day and an evening presentation from fifth grade students who shared research that they conducted about different countries around the world. Students worked in groups and a total of 35 countries were highlighted through the project. As part of the presentations, students were invited to dress in culturally representative clothing or make a food dish representing their researched country.
Led by Mrs. Kelli Madden and Mr. Dean Calvaresi, the evening event also featured Sangetta Dhatta who showcased Indian dances and an interactive piece involving an Indian Sari, multicultural bagpipers, and an acrobatic performance from the brother of a Knapp student. Students and staff enjoyed the evening and look forward to making it an annual event!
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NPSD Board of School Directors Approve Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program
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At the March 2019 action meeting, the NPSD Board of School Directors unanimously approved a revised property tax rebate program that will see a discount of up to $195 for certain homeowners and renters.
To qualify for this discount, applicants must have a household income of no more than $35,000 annually, and:
- be 65 years of age or older; or
- be a widow and widower aged 50 years of age or older; or
- be permanently disabled and 18 years of age or older.
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NPHS Technology and Engineering Department Makes Generous Donation to NPSD Educational Foundation
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The NPSD Educational Foundation thanks the NPHS Technology and Engineering Department for their recent donations. Teachers in this department raised nearly $1,000 through two recent fundraisers, their annual North Penn Engineering clothing sale and the annual Model Aviation Club Fun Fly.
"The Foundation is extremely grateful to the teachers and students who chose to give back to the Foundation in this generous way," said Christine Liberaski, Executive Director, NPSD Educational Foundation. "The Foundation has funded innovative programs in this curriculum area for decades, with much pride and pleasure, so to see gratitude like this is very meaningful to us."
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Northbridge Students Heat Things Up at FCS Field Trip
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Northbridge students recently visited the Culinary Arts Institute as part of a Family Consumer Sciences (FCS) field trip. Students learned how to pursue careers in the culinary arts field and each student made their own pizza for lunch. It was a great experience made possible by a grant from the NPSD Educational Foundation.
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Newly Implemented Independent Living Center Offers Special Education Students a New Way to Learn
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As part of a NPSD Educational Foundation grant, the district's new Independent Living Center allows secondary autistic students the opportunity to gain valuable everyday life skills in a real-life setting.
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Gwyn-Nor Elementary School 5th Graders Make New Friends While Perfecting Math Skills
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NPHS students and Gwyn-Nor Elementary School alumni Anuya Prabhudesai and Anna Jia reached out to their Alma Mater last fall to see if 5th graders from Gwyn-Nor might be interested in an after school tutoring program. Fifth grade teacher Alayna Herninko knew 5th graders would love it.
With the support from principal Dr. Deb McKay, the program began with about seven high school students recruited by Anuya and Anna paired up with seven fifth graders to review math concepts. Since then, the program has doubled in size. Fifth graders look forward to working with their "Study Buddies" each week. "Anuya and Anna showed great initiative and leadership in organizing this program," said Alayna Herninko. "They also do a wonderful job maintaining continuous communication with the high school students and me, to keep the program running smoothly."
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Gwynedd Square Elementary School
Celebrates Earth Day
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During the month of April, students and staff at Gwynedd Square Elementary School participated in their annual, school-wide Earth Day Celebration.
Led by Mr. Derek Fickert, throughout the day, each class and student helped clean up the school grounds, pull weeds, and plant and mulch the flower beds.
Support from the home and school association along with teachers and community members that signed up to volunteer made this a great day for the kids to complete a service project and learn about the importance of cleaning up Earth.
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NPHS Students Sign Letters of Intent
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Congratulations to the following NPHS students who officially signed letters of intent to universities for the fall of 2019:
- Kayla Yancey: West Virginia University, Gymnastics
- Madeleine Voss: Saint Francis University, Water Polo
- Katelyn Harkrader: Duquesne University, Swimming
- Tyler Hall: West Chester University, Swimming
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Dr. Dietrich's Superintendent's Student Council
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Each month, NPSD Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich visits one of our 18 schools to meet with a small group of students as part of the Superintendent's Student Council Meeting Series. Last month, he and Dr. Betty Santoro, Director of Elementary Education, met with 5th and 6th graders at Gwyn-Nor Elementary School to talk about curriculum, teacher support, student interaction, diversity, technology, extracurricular activities and much more. Thank you to these stellar students for their feedback about what it's like to be a student at Gwyn-Nor in the North Penn School District!
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