Welcome to our November eNewsletter. News from around the district includes design work for the State High Project, school events and achievements, along with the latest Straight Talk for Parents topic.

Please remember that you can share this newsletter with your friends by simply clicking "Forward Email" at the bottom of this screen.

Teacher Feature

Introducing one of the district's many wonderful teachers each month.

Kate Hoffman
Kate Hoffman,
High School English Teacher

Kate Hoffman has been teaching since 1998. She's been at SCASD since 2006 and currently teaches College Prep 11 and AP Literature and Composition. She reads voraciously and is known to push various books into her students' hands on a daily basis. Sometimes they take them home and read them. Sometimes her students recommend books to her.

She holds a Masters degree in English from the University of Vermont and a Masters degree in Education from Penn State. She earned National Board Certification in English Language Arts in 2011. She is currently a board member for the PA Council of Teachers of English Language Arts.

Kate will be awarded the Pennsylvania Secondary Teacher of Excellence on November 22 at the National Council of English Teachers national conference in Washington, DC. She enjoys presenting at professional conferences, traveling to literary destinations, and discovering new books for herself and her students.

Arts with the Brain in Mind

Community Conversation and Panel Discussion

November 18 from 7-8 p.m.

Schlow Centre Region Library Community Room

You are invited to join Superintendent Bob O'Donnell and a panel of experts to reflect on a valued component of our curriculum - the arts. Consider reading the book Arts with the Brain in Mind, by Eric Jensen (not required) and join us for a discussion or submit your comments and questions to our comment box. See discussion questions, link to comment box and more information.

Second Grade Author Creates a Book Series that's a Classroom Hit

The enthusiasm and talent of Park Forest Elementary second grader Poppy Rusca has led her entire class to see themselves as writers. Her "Little Miss Plumply" books have inspired spinoff series by her classmates and a fan following. Guided by teacher Vanessa Tomasko, students enjoy a collaborative approach to writing that encourages them to share their writing and experiences. Read more and see a sampling of Poppy's books.

State High Project

See more: www.scasd.org/statehighfuture

State High Project Blog:

Check out the State High Project's new blog. Posts by those involved in the project give an insider look at the project.

Board Approves 30% Design

At their meeting on November 10, Board members approved the 30% designs for the State High Project, and approved the addition of the Delta Middle Level to project plans. The design team and administration are developing an educational specification for the Delta program addition that will include input from teachers, students and the community.

Our community. Our children. Our future.

Straight Talk for Parents Series:

Could Your Child Have an Eating Disorder?

Tuesday, Nov. 18 - 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Mount Nittany Middle School

Presenters: Jennifer Seidenberg, MD and Phyllis Stackhouse, CRNP, Penn State Eating Disorders Clinic

Eating disorders are on the rise with potentially serious consequences. This presentation will focus on the signs and symptoms, as well as steps to be taken if your child is showing signs of an eating disorder.

No registration is required for adults, and you may register children for free children's activities and homework help by contacting Connie Schulz at ces11@scasd.org or 231-1070 to register children. Supervision of children is provided by Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, Penn State University. More Information

Public Issues Forum: What is the 21st Century Mission for our Public Schools?

When: Thursday, November 20, 2014, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Free!

Location: Fairmount Avenue School, Auditorium

The Forums are nonpartisan discussions based on the tradition of the early American town meetings. Citizens "work through" an issue in a deliberative manner: they inform themselves and each other, consider a range of policy choices, examine the likely consequences of each opinion, identify the values underlying each option, and seek common ground toward resolution of this issue.

For more information: Community Education: (814) 231-1061 or commed-reg@scasd.org. Register here!

Public Issues Forums of Centre County are presented by SCASD Community Education in association with the Centre Daily Times and Schlow Centre Region Library. Additional Forum presentations are through the courtesy of C-NET, the government and education cable channel.

Assistant Principal of the Year:

Kathy Pechtold

Kathy Pechtold, Assistant principal at State High (9th grade), was selected as Pennsylvania's 2014 Assistant Principal of the Year.

She received the Robert E. Lavely Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PAESSP), and was honored at the PAESSP State Conference on October 19, 2014.

Penn State Financial Aid Night

November 18, 7- 8 p.m. High School South Auditorium

Paul Simenson, Director of Undergraduate Student Aid at Penn State University, will present a one-hour talk about Financial Aid (both specifically to PSU and in broader terms) from 7-8 p.m. on Nov. 18 (snow date is the Nov. 19.) Parents and students are invited to attend this free presentation.

We hope you enjoy this news from SCASD. Let us know your comments at info@scasd.org.

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Sincerely,

State College Area School District