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Upcoming Events
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For a listing of upcoming events, please see our calendar:
Nov. 25-30
No School
Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 23-Jan. 1
No School
Winter Break
(Dec. 23 a snow-makeup day
if needed)
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Greetings!
Thanksgiving turkeys aren't the only stuffed things this week.
The November edition of the SCASD eNews is positively packed with stories from around the district. For starters, the Teacher Feature tells the tale of how music teacher Roy Schaeffer connected with Penn State researchers to help a student without fingers on his right hand play the cello. After that, it's a veritable feast of news celebrating our schools.
So tuck in and enjoy. We're thankful for our wonderful teachers and students, and we hope you are, too.
Have a happy Thanksgiving.
Please remember that you can share this newsletter with your friends by simply clicking "Forward Email" at the bottom of this screen.
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Teacher Feature
PFE Music Teacher, Penn State Researchers Help
Young Cellist Realize Dream
Music teacher Roy Schaeffer saw the will but needed the way.
Daniel Quinn, then a Park Forest Elementary School fourth-grader, wanted to play an instrument like his classmates. But he had been born without fingers on his right hand, a condition known as symbrachydactyly.
Schaeffer, who teaches instrumental music at Gray's Woods and Park Forest elementary schools, suggested the French horn to Daniel's parents. It made sense, a left-handed instrument, the right sitting in the bell.
No dice: Daniel had his heart set on the cello. He just couldn't hold the bow.
Schaeffer listened closely; he heard a boy with a dream. They would try. There had to be a solution, Schaeffer thought. Read more & watch video...
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Eve Evans Wins 2015 Gilder Lehrman Pennsylvania History Teacher of the Year Award
Radio Park Elementary School teacher Eve Evans had just received an elite award, but she knew who also should be honored.
"Thanks to my students, past, present and future ... because you help inspire me," she said, holding the Gilder Lehrman Pennsylvania History Teacher of the Year Award and standing before assembled fourth- and fifth-grade students in the school all-purpose room.
"Because history is stories -- wonderful stories, sad stories, happy stories, exciting stories, heroes, villains -- and I love to see the excitement come alive in your eyes, that twinkle. I love it when you start asking questions: What if this happened? And when you start researching things on your own. So you really are the fuel that feeds my passion and makes me want to do what I do." Read more & view slideshow...
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Veterans Day Celebrations Around the District
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This year's Veterans Day gathering at Corl Street Elementary included relatives of Corl Street students, Principal Scott Mato and 93-year-old WWII Veteran David Silverman (third from left.)
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Carol Grim's kindergarten class at Radio Park Elementary School recently enjoyed a special show and tell.
Just having her parents visit would have been memorable enough, but this wasn't an ordinary day. Former SCASD school board member Richard Bunnell brought in his old Army Military Police uniform -- an appropriate item for Veterans Day. Read more & view slideshow...
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State High Engineering Class Tests Toys at Easterly
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Easterly Parkway first-grade students tested toys designed and built by State High students, who took detailed notes of their observations.
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Taking detailed notes wasn't anything new for Doug Ripka's engineering students.
But jotting down information while sitting on an elementary school all-purpose room floor, surrounded by noisy first-graders? Yeah, that was different.
Ripka brought the State High students to Easterly Parkway Elementary School last month to do some field testing for their Advanced Physics 1/Advanced Engineering Technology class projects. The students had built toys designed for 6-year-olds, and like any manufacturer, they needed focus groups to assess their products thoroughly for strengths and weaknesses. Who better to turn to than local experts? Read more & view slideshow...
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 State High, Local Groups Bring Water Conservation Activities to Houserville Elementary Students
Houserville Elementary fifth-grade students recently enjoyed a morning of water studies and activities designed to promote environmental awareness and stewardship of our water resources. The presentations were given by State High teacher Susan Braun and students from the State High Environmental Club; Anne Donovan, watershed specialist with the Centre County Conservation District; Todd Dishong, Principal Houserville-Lemont Elementary; and Pam Ford, Centre County Master Gardener Program.
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From Finger Paints to Fine Arts
Easterly Parkway holds Art & Literature Fair
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Alejandra Soler displays her artwork
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For fourth-grader Alejandra Soler, Easterly Parkway Elementary School's Art & Literature Fair was a step toward her future artistic goal.
"I want to put my own paintings in my own museums," Soler said.
Tables of original student artwork transformed the Easterly Parkway auditorium into an art gallery on Monday night. Students submitted their own pieces of art and literature that they created in class or in their free time to be displayed at the fair. Read more...
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New Location for Board Meetings
Board meetings now held at Panorama Village,
240 Villa Crest Drive
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The bid opening for the State High Project took place in the new Board room on Nov. 18. The room features a maximum seating capacity of 105.
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State High Project Updates
On Nov. 18 in a public meeting, the SCASD administration opened State High Project construction bids. Bids were accepted and recorded for seven prime contractor packages -- sitework, general, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire protection and food service -- as well as for several bid alternate features.
- Preliminary low prime contractor bids amounted to $117,023,100.
- With expected soft costs of $20,682,375, the overall base bid cost stands at $137,705,475. This falls between pre-bid overall estimates, making the project viable and allowing it to proceed.
- The Board will vote on accepting the bids and any bid alternates at a special Nov. 30 meeting.
Sign up for project updates via e-mail or text:
Updates include timely news and features about project progress, parking and traffic, construction phasing, project milestones and more. Sign up here: www.scasd.org/shpsignup
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State High Students Form
My Mental Health Matters Club
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Senior Tiffany Chen adds signs with the prompt, "My mental health matters because" that were completed by students, to the wall at the State High North building.
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From behind their table in the high school North Building, Tiffany Chen and Kaylah Urie pitched their offer.
Representing a new advocacy club, My Mental Health Matters, the seniors asked passing students whether they wanted to share a thought about mental health and contribute to a colorful and poignant display.
Students completed the sentence "My mental health matters because ... " on flyers and then posted the papers on a nearby hallway window, creating a mosaic of reflection and insight. Before the school day ended, more than 300 sheets adorned the window, with responses such as "I'm amazing" and "I deserve happiness" and "I matter." One example declared: "Because everybody's mental health matters, no matter who we are." Read more & view slideshow...
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Park Forest Middle School ROAR rally
celebrates respect
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PFMS students recently participated in a school ROAR rally that included remarks from State High football coach Matt Lintal and his players.
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Students could barely contain their applause.
They held off until after their peers received ROAR awards. Then they let loose -- that excited to congratulate and cheer on their classmates, that respectful.
For the Park Forest Middle School students, respect was the topic of the day at their recent ROAR assembly. ROAR stands for Respect, Organization, Attitude and Responsibility, and it's an anti-bullying and positive behavior program that is implemented in both SCASD middle schools to promote a positive school atmosphere.
The assembly, which marked the end of the first marking period, began with a speech from State High varsity football coach Matt Lintal. Read more...
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Mount Nittany Middle School Students Find Many Applications for 3-D Printers
 From pen cases to golf clubs, Mount Nittany Middle School students have found many inventive uses for the school's 3-D printers. Here, eighth-grade Technology Education students Scott and Rachel made these acrylic pens on the mini-lathe, and made the 3-D printed cases for the pens.
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Delta Program Promotes Healthy Choices
and Diabetes Awareness
In recognition of World Diabetes Day, the State College Area School District's Delta Program held its fourth annual walk, this year called "Delta Moves."
The walk wound through the streets of downtown State College on Nov. 13 to raise awareness about diabetes and people making healthy living choices.
More than 200 students and staff walked, wearing T-shirts designed by 11th-grader Emy Booz. Read more...
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Sowing the Seeds for Future Learning
 This fall, the Centre County Master Gardeners Program helped district elementary school students sow the seeds for future learning.
Corl Street and Mount Nittany elementary schools, aided by a partnership with the program, dedicated pollinator-friendly gardens in October. Master gardeners joined teachers and students at each school to celebrate starting gardens that support native pollinating birds and insects.
Read more & view slideshow...
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State High Driver's Education Course Adds
Bicyclist Safety Class
 State College Area High School recently shifted gears with its driver's education course.
Five classes learned about bicyclist safety through a new program put together by the district, the State College Borough and CentreBike, a local bike advocacy group. During the 45-minute lessons, students watched two instructional videos and discussed safe driving practices around bicycles, including following the state law, passed last spring, that requires cars to stay at least four feet away from bicycles when passing.
"It's gone well," Driver/Safety Education Teacher Brad Fisher said of the program's start. "The kids seemed to be receptive to it." Read more...
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Faculty/Staff Wellness Focus Point of December:
A Healthy Breakfast
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Straight Talk Presentation
Steadying the Emotionally Reactive Child, Part 2:
Follow-up Discussion on Managing Challenging Behaviors
Tuesday, January 19, 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: Mount Nittany Middle School
Presenter: Dr. Rachel Love, Taking Flight Developmental Center
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Congratulations to the winners of the Mount Nittany Elementary
"Disguise a Turkey" contest: (l-r) fourth-grade teacher Susan Hipp, PDS intern Erin Morency, and IST teacher Lisa Shenk.
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We hope you enjoy this news from SCASD. Let us know your comments at info@scasd.org. Sincerely,
State College Area School District
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