Supporting Our Community

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Pennsbury Education Association

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Favorite Teachers to be Honored

2010 PEA Mini-Grant Recipients

The following non-profit organizations were each awarded a mini-grant in the amount $250.00 to help them continue the work they do to benefit and support the members of the Pennsbury community.

Lower Makefield Veterans Committee
Pennsbury Athletic Association
Bucks County Performing Arts Center
Artists of Yardley
Pennsbury Arts Foundation
Morrisville Little League
American Red Cross, Lower Bucks County Chapter
Girl Scout Troop #21669
Special Olympics of Bucks County
Girl Scout Troop #29
United Way of Bucks County

Dear PEA Community Grant Program Committee,

I’d like to take this time to send a word of thanks for your gracious grant sent to our Girl Scout Troop last Spring, 2009.  Girl Scout Troop 29 requested the grant to help fund a trip to see The Lion King.  Due to timing restraints we were unable to see this particular show.  The girls decided they would like to see something new they have never seen before.  The decision was made to see Cirque de Solei Dreams Holidaze.  This particular Cirque performance was based around a holiday theme with flying gingerbread men, soldiers that tight rope walked and amazing acrobats of all kind.  I, along with the girls and their families were truly amazed at the unbelievable stunts these entertainers performed.  Unlike a traditional circus the costumes and stage design were beyond belief.

Some statements the girls made afterwards were “awesome” “wow” “amazing” “I can do that”, of course that last statement did not go un heard with a quick “don’t try that at home” from the parents! 

A large portion of the scout’s ticket was covered by the grant with the other portion covered by the cookie funds that they earned last year.  We want to take this time to thank you for approving our request with the help of the grant funds we would not have been able to see such fabulous show.

Best Regards and Happy Holidays,
Michelle Young
Girl Scout Troop 29 Leader

                     

WALT DISNEY TILE MOSAIC MURAL

 

What an exciting year for Walt Disney Elementary students who created a custom tile mosaic mural lead by AIR (Artists in Residence Mrs. Terry Herring and Mrs. Amy Winston) a non-profit organization along with the facilitation of the art teacher Ms. Wismer.  The AIR foundation is dedicated to fulfilling its mission of exposing children to the arts by placing professional visual, performing and literary artists into regional schools.  Research shows that exposure to the arts improves a child’s ability to think express themselves and succeed academically.

The tile mosaic mural has been installed in the front lobby making the entrance of our school an eye-catching show piece that connects directly with the famous entertainer who influenced the field of entertainment in the 20th century, Walter Elias “Walt” Disney. 
The mural theme has two components, one incorporating the theme from Walt Disney “It’s a Small World” and to feature the “effort train” Walt Disney Elementary’s trademark quote after the classic book “The little Engine that Could”, any student can achieve if they put forth “effort”. 

The students and faculty members created a unique tile that was fired, glazed and integrated into the mural.
The design of the mural begins with a running border where at the top in bold colorful letters states the theme “It’s a small world” a concept that rejoices in a spirit of international unity.  The World map that includes all seven continents covers the remaining space which measures 10ft.x 8ft.

Since all students participated each grade level was assigned a different part of the mural.  The kindergarten students made their hand print to represent the rays of the sun with the addition of stars and hearts.  The first grade students were given the job of designing houses, fish, boats, butterflies and snails to be added to the land and water. The second grade students created the train cars where a smoke cloud encapsulates the words “I think I can” travels across the globe with the addition of multicultural children.  The third and fourth graders embarked on creating significant landmarks, and animals that are placed strategically on the continents.  The fifth grade students, all teachers, secretaries, our Principal Ms.Fay Manicke and even our Superintendent Dr. Paul Long created a 6x6 partially three dimensional tile that frames around the mural.  Those tiles represent cities, states, and countries of historic or familiar attractions, animals, and food that are indigenous to that area of the world.
Additional items such as a rose compass, rainbow, hot air balloon, and several plaques that say “Hi” in different languages were scattered around the mural for additional interest.
Ann Langtry, Pennsbury’s coordinator of communications alerted the local newspaper of this exciting project and on December 2, 2010 Walt Disney Elementary school welcomed the Courier Times that highlighted one of our students Devon Hamel with his picture appearing in the newspaper working hard on creating his one of kind tile.
This was a wonderful opportunity for students to experience a hands-on activity with a local artist and to learn about the history, process and technique behind mosaic art. All of us who participated at Walt Disney Elementary will have a permanent part of themselves attached to the wall of this school.  The mural has also become a fun, creative educational learning tool for our students and future ones to be.
The AIR foundation graciously funded the mural project with the exception of $500.00 which was awarded to Ms. Wismer by the Pennsbury Arts Foundation…..a “HUGE” thank you to PAF for their continual support for the arts in Pennsbury.
The installation of the mural project was finalized in January with the help of many volunteer parents. The final unveiling will be on Young Author’s and Artists night, which showcase one piece of writing and one piece of art work from each student. This is a perfect time to “show off” all of our talented students at Walt Disney Elementary School and reveal the hard work and volunteered hours from AIR, Ms. Wismer, Walt Disney staff, parents and Ms. Fay Manicke, that adopted an enormous school-wide activity that was completed in a matter of months.

The 15th Annual Caring Community Awards
Bucks County Intermediate Unit

Walt Disney Elementary School – Pennsbury School District

Vicki Kobol
            One student from our Autistic Support classroom has been included with Vicki Kobol’s fifth grade class since the beginning of the school year for reading, science and Social Studies.  Vicki has developed a caring community of learners within her classroom and has always encouraged acceptance of every student, regardless of ability.  She has been such a wonderful role model to all of the students throughout the school.  She has also invited our student to attend field trips as well as classroom parties and has continued to make him feel like he is a part of their class throughout the year.  She includes him in discussions and encourages him to participate every day.  It has been wonderful working with Vicki this year and we would like to give her a special thanks for all of her compassion and effort in ensuring that this student has a happy and successful year.  For this and many other reasons, she deserves the 2010 Caring Community Award.
            Nominated by Caroline Miller, Teacher of Applied Behavorial Analysis/Verbal Behavior, Beth DeMarco, Meghan Haggerty, Mary Pattley, Janelle Belmonte, Martha Seibert, Joanna Petrucci, Andrea Bevelaqua, IA’s of ABA/VB

 

Physical Education Teacher at Edgewood Elementary School – Pennsbury School District

Joe Gallo
            We would like to nominate Joe Gallo for the Caring Community Award.  Joe is an integral part of the success of all students at Edgewood Elementary School.  Joe created a program at Edgewood called “Brain Train”, an opportunity for primary-aged learners to utilize gross and fine motor skills to get their “brains going” prior to the start of instruction for that day.  This program gives all participants the best chance of learning each day since their brains are fully awake when they get to class.
            He has given our class the opportunity to use the gymnasium every day on his preparation time for social development with other students.  In an inclusion gym class, Joe makes sure our students are comfortable with whatever the gym activity may be.  When one of our students is having difficutly,  Joe always comes over to see whether any help from him is needed for the child to be successful.
            Joe always encourages interaction between our students and their peers.  He always takes the time to acknowledge and praise each and every student.  He goes above and beyond what is contractually expected of him to help all children live up to their best potential.  He is very deserving of this special recognition.
            Nominated by:  Jennifer Jones, Sara Benner, Amy Martin, Lisa Kohler, ABA Autistic Support Program

Special Education Teacher at Pennsbury High School – Pennsbury School District
Denise Distel

            I am writing to nominate Denise Distel for the “2010 Caring Community Award.”  Denise, a special education teacher employed at Pennsbury High School, created the M.O.S.T. (More Opportunities for Student Training) program.  This program is designed to prepare special needs students, particularly those with severe cognitive impairments ages 18-21, to seek competitive employment after completing high school.
            Denise began this program in the beginning of the 2008-09 school year.  She created the M.O.S.T. program from the ground up.  Over the past two years, the students in the program have volunteered/worked in many different environments that require job training in a variety of areas.  These areas include office work, lawn care and custodial jobs, and food service.  The office work includes stuffing envelopes, stamping and folding letters, alphabetizing names, labeling envelopes, and using a shredder proficiently.  The lawn care skills include raking and bagging leaves and the custodial jobs involve volunteering to clean at the Salvation Army weekly and cleaning at the Pennsbury School District maintenance facility.  While in the food service, the students are responsible for running a morning coffee shop at PHS; preparing coffee/snacks to be sold, serving customers, and cleaning up when the store closes as well as catering lunches and preparing baked goods for the community.  Denise has recently expanded the program to include transferring VHS tapes to DVDs as well as designing and creating beaded lanyards to be sold in the community.
            Denise has worked tirelessly to contact people not only in the Pennsbury community, but also within the county to build a strong program.  She has tailored the M.O.S.T. program to fit each child’s individual needs by utilizing visual supports, providing multiple opportunities to practice job skills, and finding jobs within the community for the students based on their abilities.  Denise is an excellent candidate for this award as she selflessly works to make her students contributing members to society as well as to increase awareness and acceptance of students with special needs within the community.
            Nominated by:  Leah Morton, CCC/Speech Language Pathologist

 

National Education Association’s Read Across America

In celebration of the National Education Association’s Read Across America, the teachers of the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA) gave $250 to each library in the Pennsbury School District. Here Principal Richard Houseknect and PEA member, Librarian Debbie Hellings celebrate the donation to the Manor Elementary Library.

In celebration of the National Education’s Read Across America Day, the Pennsbury Education Association donated $250 to each of the Pennsbury School Libraries. Here Principal Fay Manicke and  librarian Gregg Roberts, show off some of the school’s new books at Walt Disney Elementary School.

It is said that Olympic challenges don’t build character, they reveal it! This character was recently on display when the Pennsbury’s Reading Olympians faced off against other Buck County school districts to show off not only their reading comprehension skills, but amazing sportsmanship and teamwork.   For those unaware of Reading Olympics, it is a team competition in which groups of 8-15 students read a collection of 45 grade-appropriate books between August and March.  During this time, students meet with teacher and parent coaches to read, discuss and practice strategies for this one exciting night of competition.  The teams meet before, after and during school (lunch and recess) to practice.  With the financial support of many school PTOs, the teams also design their own logos and T-shirts which become their official uniforms for the event.



On the night of competition, teams stay after school for a pizza party and final preparations.  The teams then travel together by bus to a Buck County competition site.  Each team competes in three different rounds of questions against three different schools.  A point is scored for each correct answer.  At the end of the competition, scores are tallied and each team member is awarded a blue, red, green or yellow ribbon depending on the team’s total point threshold.  All students who participate are winners!  Awards aside, students have also grown by sharpening vital cooperative skills and by expanding their horizons through reading books of various genres.

 This year Pennsbury had over 40 teams compete across the three divisions. The seniors had 4 teams. The middle level had seven and the elementary division had a whopping 33 teams.  Over 500 students and 80 staff volunteers were involved in this massive undertaking.   Accompanying each team were several parent volunteers, teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, librarians, reading specialists and principals each serving as coaches, scorekeepers, moderators and cheering sections.  Reading Olympics is run completely by volunteers and coordinated through the BCIU.  It is an amazing opportunity for students to read and work together as a team and may just be the last sporting event where there is no agony of defeat!

Pennsbury Friends Club

Speech and Language Therapist, Leah Morton and Social Worker, Kelly White both started working at Pennsbury High School during the 2007-2008 school year.  It didn’t take them long to recognize a need for guided practice opportunities that would foster the development of social and relational skills for the students on their respective caseloads.  Leah and Kelly combined forces with the leader of the Humanities in Progress Committee, (HIP), Mary Cherepko, and Assistant Principal, Reggie Meadows to develop the after school club called Pennsbury Friends.  Their mission is to connect students with social challenges to positive peer models in order to facilitate social learning experiences in a supported setting.  The club leaders develop a variety of communication opportunities using both structured and unstructured activities that are designed to aid in the generalization of social skills, and promote diversity and acceptance within the Pennsbury High School community.

Pennsbury Friends has been meeting once or twice a month for over a year.  The meetings are held in the afternoon and evening, and students experience a variety of activities.  Games and festivities nurture a connection between the students and allow them to practice social communication and problem solving skills in a safe and supported environment.  Students have created get-well cards, gone bowling, prepared food, and laughed and danced while singing karaoke.  Club leaders have hosted movie nights at the school, organized gatherings at school sporting events, and ventured to the Levittown Beauty Academy with the girls for hairstyles and manicures graciously provided by our Management Assistant, Jessica Pepper and her students!  Several teachers and paraprofessional staff members volunteer their time, services, and money in support of the program, while others like Jason Vodicka provide tickets and seating accommodations to allow students to attend events with structured assistance. 

The club has been a tremendous success.  The students are benefiting from the opportunities for social interaction and feeling more comfortable about participating in their school community.  Students eagerly wait for events, and meeting attendance hit an all time high in December.  Parents have expressed their appreciation for the Pennsbury Friends Club and requested that meetings be held more frequently.  Some contribute food and supplies, or donate money toward the cost of evening events that require the purchase of tickets.  The leaders of the Pennsbury Friends Club have contributed their time and effort since the inception of the program and take great pride in the club’s success.

Pennsbury Teachers Adopt-A-Highway Committee in Action

                On January 23, 2010 members of the Pennsbury Education Association gathered to participate in the second of four highway clean-up days for the 2009-2010 school year.  The teachers'  adopted road is a two-mile stretch of highway running from Trenton Road (at Levittown Parkway) to the Route One entrance ramp (near Kohl's department store).     Thanks to the following teachers for their participation:

Dave Vetter,  Liz Titano,  Scott MacAinsh,  Glenn Goldsborough, Pam Morris, Jim Parsons, Donna Lucido, Marianne Kershaw, Kim Lafferty, Marty O'Donnell, Arlene Johnson, Maureen Laughead, Rita Barish, Catherine Callahan, Betty Zubrzycki, Mary Johnston, Robert Quinn, and Michelle Marcinkus

                PennDOT's Adopt-A-Highway is an effective way to reduce the overall cost of litter pick-up in Pennsylvania.  By volunteering to clean a two-mile section of state highway four times a year, you are also caring for the environment.  You can join a popular effort to clean up litter on Pennsylvania's collective front yard- its 150,000 acres of roadside.  By helping to keep this great state clean for our own residents as well as for the millions of visitors who travel our roads every year, you are making an important contribution to take care of the environment.  For more information on PennDOT's Adopt-A-Highway Program visit www.dot.state.pa.us

Supporting the Red Cross Homeless Shelter

Each year the Pennsbury teachers and professional staff complete a district-wide collection to help support the Red Cross Homeless Shelter located in Levittown. Our next collection drive will take place this April. Right now the shelter is in need of donations, gas cards, small kitchen trash bags, 55 gallon trash bags, paper towels, cleaning products and rubber gloves. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter which is located adjacent to the Levittown Library at 7 Library Way, Levittown PA 19055. To learn more about how you can help, visit the shelter's website at Red Cross

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
MARCH 2, 2010

Pennsbury Teachers Annual Mini-Grant Program
The Pennsbury Education Association (PEA) announces its annual mini-grant award program for 2010. PEA members – the teachers who work in the Pennsbury school district -- work to support students and members of the Pennsbury community.    

Twenty $250.00 grants will be awarded to local non-profit agencies that work to support Pennsbury students, families and the Pennsbury community at large.

Requests for mini-grants should be submitted IN WRITING between March 5, 2010 and March 26, 2010.  The request should indicate how the money will be used to support Pennsbury students, families and/or community members.  Requests should be sent to: 

Pennsbury Education Association
P.O. Box 197, Fairless Hills PA 19030. 

No e-mail or phone requests will be accepted.
Grant winners selected by a committee of teachers
Preference will be given to first time applicants
Information will also be posted on our website www.peaunited.com

2009 Winners
Levittown Continental Little League                      Morrisville Little League
Lower Makefield Veteran's Committee                 Allie's Friends Foundation
Historic Trails Day Camp                                     ERA Food Pantry
Girls Scouts of Eastern PA                                   Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad
Falls Township Senior Citizens Association           The Pennsbury Society
Cinderella's Closet                                              Troop 30, BSA
Teen Connect Community Center                        Galilee Village, Inc.
Girl Scout Troop 2552

 

2008 Winners
Yardley-Makefield Fire Company                         United Way (Challenge Day at PHS)
Morrisville Little League                                      The Penn-Fair Pool
Falls Jr. American Legion Baseball                       PHS Alumni  Association
Sandy Run Unit Girl Scouts                                 Levittown Continental Little League
ERA Food Pantry                                              The Teen Community Center
American Association of University Women        Girl Scout Troop 2552
Bucks County Performing Arts Center                Afton Elementary Odyssey of the Mind
Cinderella's Closet                                             Allie's Friends Foundation
The Food Center at Morrisville Presbyterian Church
               
               
PEA participates in a number of community and school-based activities.   Other PEA  projects have included:

Hosting a dinner for the PTO Presidents and Vice-Presidents.  Teachers from each building attend as well as PEA officers (elected teachers).  The dinner features guest speakers on topics like childhood obesity and internet safety.

Community Feed Back

The Pennsbury Society
Galilee Village
Veterans' Committee
Teen Connect Community Center
Recent American Red Cross Donation

 

ARE YOU AWARE.. since 2001 Pennsbury Arts Foundation
has awarded over 80 grants totaling over $41,000 to the classrooms of the
Pennsbury School District?

PAF grants enhanced the student learning experience by integrating the
visual and performing arts into any curricular area. Imagine studying human anatomy
sketching with a medical illustrator. “The Memory Project” supported by PAF enabled
PHS art students to create portraits for third world country orphans. PAF supported
the mural enhancements to Quarry Hill and PHS East schools. EVERY SCHOOL has
the opportunity to benefit from PAF.

In order to offer our students this unique opportunity to experience the visual
and performing arts, your tax deductible donation to our non-profit foundation is
needed. Please attend our annual fund-raiser to benefit Pennsbury students or become
a friend of PAF with a tax deductible donation.

To learn more about PAF, visit Pennsbury Arts