Applications for the 2013-14 PTA Scholarships are now being taken and are available in the Senior High Guidance Office or by clicking on the link below.  It can be filled out online in Acrobat Reader using the text comment function or in Acrobat Pro using the typewriter feature.  Once you have filled out the application, print it out, sign it, and return it to the Guidance Office in an envelope labeled "Scholarship Application" no later than final bell on December 13, 2013.  Make sure to read ALL instructions in the document below to ensure your application is not disqualified.  Scholarship interviews will be held in January, with awards presented in May.

• Scholarship Instructions
• Scholarship Application

The Scholarship Committee is also actively seeking donations for the program.  Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.  For more information on how you can be part of this worthy cause, click here.

In October, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators-Pennsylvania School Board Association (PASA-PSBA) held their 2013 Annual Fall Leadership Conference in Hershey.

Featured speakers at the event included Mike Eruzione, member of the 1980 Olympic gold medal winning U.S. Hockey Team; Pedro Noguera, professor, author, and Executive Director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education; Captain Richard Phillips, captain of a U.S. ship captured by Somali pirates; and Kaitlin Roig, First Grade Teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

School Board Member Jennifer Burgess-Johnson attended the conference and reported back to the Board on some of the highlights.

Keynote Speakers - Dr. Pedro Noguera, Captain Phillips, and Kaitlyn Roig were outstanding and all communicated a common theme of preparedness, recognition of any issue great or small, leadership, and excellence and equality in education, Mrs. Burgess-Johnson said.  She added that she personally met Dr. Noguera and was interested in finding a way to have him speak in the District.

Educational Sessions - Mrs. Burgess-Johnson said the sessions were truly informative and one in particular (Accountability and Getting Better Through an Organization Wide Evaluation Process presented by our AUI's Dr. Linda Hippert and Shauna D'Allesandro) was fantastic.  Setting goals and receiving feedback are critical to assessing our organization's strengths and weaknesses on a continuous basis, she explained.

Vendors/Fair - Of all the vendors, there was one Mrs. Burgess-Johnson found who could possibly assist the District the most at this time (Safe School Helpline, www.schoolhelpline.com).  This vendor offers 24/7 support services and early warning notifications of fights, drugs, and threats through an avenue for students, teachers, and/or parents to anonymously report what they know.

In another area of interest, Mrs. Burgess-Johnson reported that the Downington Area School District has gone to a "seatless" classroom, opting for stability balls.  The results of the study and survey were interesting and encouraging regarding the effect the stability balls had on hyperactive students, she explained.

For more information from the conference, visit the PSBA School Leadership Conference page here.

Financial Aid Night will be held on Wednesday, November 13th, at 6 pm in the Senior High Cafeteria.

Kim McCurdy of PHEAA will make a presentation regarding the financial aid process for students who are planning on furthering their education after high school.  Parents of current seniors are strongly encouraged to attend.  Please use Entrance #10 at the rear of the building.

When you enter the library at the Senior High, you will be greeted by a Library Assistant behind the circulation desk. These students volunteer their study hall time throughout the school day to assist students and faculty in the library with books, computers, and other technology. Since moving in to the new school last year, they have created posters, designed a display case, and run contests to help promote the library.

Angelica Walker

Recently, senior Library Assistant Angelica Walker created a new website to show people what the library has to offer.

"There's more to the library than just books," Angelica said, adding, "The library is a great place for students to read, study, or just hang out. The library is the most beautiful and peaceful part of the school and that's why I'm here three periods a day."

In addition to her work at the library, Angelica is currently taking four AP and three college classes. Next year, she will attend the University of Pittsburgh to study education.  "Our old website was created over five years ago, so I felt like we needed to step it up. This website shows off how high-tech the new library is," she explained.