2016/2017

2nd Quarter

Principal’s Message

Inside this issue:

Athletics .......................... 2

News ............................ 3-6

Events .......................... 7-9

Information .............. 10-13

From the Guidance Office ............................ 14

Calendar ........................ 15

Wink4Pink ..................... 16

Accessing Info ............... 17

Philosophy, Mission Statement & Contacts ... 18

s we wrap up the first semester of the 2016-2017 school year, we want to thank our students,

parents, and staff for a successful first semester. Many positive accomplishments have occurred in the classroom, in athletic competitions, and in other extracurricular activities. We encourage you to continue to work with your children’s teachers and check their progress in the home access center (HAC) to ensure that your students have a positive academic experience in the second semester.

A collective achievement that needs to be noted is the school performance profile score of 91.0! This was the fifth highest high school score in all of Bucks county. Please join me in congratulating our students and staff for this amazing feat.

Something new for this school year is our second semester Back-to-School Night. We invite all parents and guardians out on Wednesday, February 8 from 6:30-8:00 pm to meet your children’s second semester teachers.

We look forward to a successful second semester and all of the activities that make Pennsbury High school a great place for all stakeholders. We have our 9th and 10th grade formals, Junior Prom, Sports Night, Senior Prom, and ultimately graduation. We have many things to which we look forward!

Reggie Meadows & Lisa Becker

PHS Principals

New Policy: Transgender and Gender Expansive Students

This year the school district implemented a transgender and gender expansive policy. In keeping with federal guidelines, the school board approved this policy which protects the needs of transgender and gender expansive students. This is explained below. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Mr. Meadows, Principal of East or Mrs. Becker, Principal of West.

The Pennsbury School District is committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for each and every child. To ensure that every student has equal educational opportunities and equal access to district educational programs and activities, we encourage open communication. If you’re concerned with any aspect of your child’s development or personal growth, we invite you to start a conversation with a staff member with whom you feel most comfortable, such as the school counselor, principal, your child’s teacher or the school nurse.

For example, in compliance with Federal guidelines, the Pennsbury School Board recently approved a new Board Policy that protects the needs of transgender and gender expansive students. This policy ensures that our programs and practices are free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We have developed practices to ensure each child’s privacy in enacting accommodations as necessary on an individual student basis.

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 2

PHS Athletes Honored

On Wednesday, November 16, seven Pennsbury athletes gathered for a special signing ceremony and were honored by PHS administrators, coaches, and family members: William Bethel, who will play baseball for Chestnut Hill College; Mary Webb, running cross country for the University of Pennsylvania; Connor Doyle, who will swim for Virginia Tech; Nicole Costello, who plans to join the Diving Team at UNC-Wilmington; Kellie Frain, headed for Long Island University to join their Bowling Team; Ciara Devenuto-Wyeth, who will join the Crew Team at Jacksonville University; and Collin Hanlon, swimming for Lehigh University. Congratulations to each of these outstanding athletes!

Girls’ Basketball On Friday, December 16, the Pennsbury Girls’ Basketball Program held their first ever Middle School Showcase. All three middle school teams played on the High School floor in front of a tremendous crowd from our community. The three middle school girls’ teams are undefeated so far outside of our district. Additionally, in January the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team will travel to Penn Valley, Oxford valley and Makefield to conduct school-wide assemblies on the importance of literacy and teacher-student relationships. The night after each assembly, the choir from that school performed the national anthem at the home girls’ basketball game.

Fight Against Cancer Cup Ice Hockey Game Friday, February 3 Come out and support the Pennsbury Ice Hockey Club at the second annual Lois K. Daley Fight Against Cancer Cup at Grundy Recreation Center in Bristol on Friday, February 3rd. Admission tickets are $5 and can be purchased the night of the event. The middle school game against Neshaminy starts at 6 PM and the high school game against Truman starts at 7:30 PM. There will be raffle baskets, baked goods, 50/50s and various clothing items for sale at the game. Proceeds benefit the Lois K. Daley Fight Against Cancer Charity Group and our very own Wink4Pink Club. This promises to be a great night! We look forward to seeing you there!

Mandatory Athletics Concussion Program February 15, 2017 PA passed legislation effective July 1, 2012 requiring all student-athletes to receive concussion and head injury information prior to the start of their season. Additionally, most student-athletes will also be tested using Impact. This will be a baseline test to be used if the athlete sustains a head injury during the season. We have been using this test for the past two years and it will be expanded this year. We have partnered with St Mary Hospital and Bucks County IU to provide a Power Point presentation and help administer the Impact testing. All prospective Spring athletes and all coaches are required to report to Keller Hall on Wednesday February 15 at 2:30 pm. At the conclusion of the presentation, all Boys Lacrosse players will take the Impact test in the West library. Testing takes about 30-45 minutes and should be done no later than 5:00 pm. Any student who took the Impact test prior to the Fall or Winter season does not need to take it again. Parents and the community are invited to attend this presentation.

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 3

Commended Students Recognized by Merit Scholarship Program

Pennsbury High School Principals, Lisa Becker and Reggie Meadows, are pleased to report that Kayla Carlson, Jeffrey Cragin, Samantha Dearolf, Kathryn Deitch, Kate Delaney, Matthew Hilene, Andrew Kisler, Samantha Kraus, Gabriella Macera, Ian Paul, Steven Pellegrino, Michael Petrino, Daniel Rottenborn, Isaac Thomas, Julia Weinstock, William Young, and Adam Zaharoni were named Commended Students in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2017 competition by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). “The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” said a spokesperson for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

Artworks Added to District’s Permanent Collection

In keeping with the annual tradition of adding new student artwork to the permanent collection at the Central Administration Building, ten Pennsbury artists, five of which are from PHS, were recognized at a special reception held recently in their honor. Administrators, teachers, and family members were present as Art Curriculum Coordinator, Ruth Anne Schultz, unveiled the selected works for 2016, bringing the total number of pieces in the permanent collection to 115. Listed below are the five PHS students whose artwork has been selected. Congratulations to these talented artists!

Karina Raykova, PHS Mixed Media Photo Transfer Art teacher: Abigail Cramer Thomas Driscoll, PHS Color Pencil/Composition Art teacher: Tony Napoli

Grace Pinkstone, PHS Grid Drawing Art teacher: Lindsay Chong

Anna Yates, PHS Still Life Art teacher: Curtis May

Kamonwan Sangthong, PHS Color Pencil Drawing Art teacher: James Minton

Another PHS student, Alexandra Atkinson, was in attendance at this event. A piece of Alexandra’s artwork, titled Tiger Eyes, was selected for a county-wide exhibition planned by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) in 2017. Alexandra's work, created in the classroom of Art teacher, Curtis May, will be celebrated with other pieces from area school districts in March at the BCIU.

German Students visit Senior Citizens On Tuesday, December 20 a select group of German Club members made a visit to Galilee Village of Fairless Hills to sing holiday songs in German. Senior citizens sang

along in both English and German. During their visit, students mingled with residents and gave them homemade cards and 3-D snowflakes to decorate their rooms. Frau Brown, Frau DiFazio and Frau Smith accompanied the club! Frohes Fest und guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 4

Cake Decorating Contest Students in Terry Calpino’s Classic Cooking class participated in a cake decorating contest in December. These beautiful cakes were donated to the annual senior citizens dinner held at PHS. The students were very proud of their creations and learned much about planning and patience! The winners were as follows:

1st Place: Sunflower —Chelsey Meglich, Haley Weltz, Linzy Szymczak

2nd Place: Flowers —Ava Hensor, Abby Hludzinski

3rd Place: Snowman —Jessica Sozia, Kim Cardiff, Anthony Celli

3rd Place Tie: Blue snow scene —Shauna Goldman, Amanda Haily, Serenity Long

Pennies for Paws Kristen Realdine reported that the Environmental Science Club successfully raised over $600 for the Women's Humane Society's (WHS) fundraiser called "Pennies for Paws." Donations from the community helps the WHS to provide quality care, housing and comfort to animals in our community.

Students Learn about the Restaurant Industry Classic Cooking students attended a luncheon at the Yardley Inn on January 5th. The chef spoke to the students about his own experiences in breaking into the restaurant industry, as well as the different responsibilities that are involved in the restaurant business. He discussed menu planning, food choices, seasonal menus, food pricing the customer satisfaction. The chef demonstrated the preparation of one of the menu’s most popular items. Each student was served a sample of the dish and experienced a wonderful luncheon! The students would like to thank the Yardley Inn for this valuable and enjoyable educational experience!

German & French Students Visit Animal Sanctuary Students from PHS German and French classes donated funds to the Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary in Pittsburgh. The Sanctuary’s mission is to rescue neglected animals that have been surrendered at local animal shelters, confiscated by local humane agents, or saved from factory farms. Hope Haven is also a resource to raise public awareness about the plight of animals raised for food and promote a cruelty-free, plant-based lifestyle.

Funds donated by PHS students were used to adopt a goat named “Holly”. These classes were learning animal vocabulary and applied the 5C’s of foreign language learning standards (Communication, Culture, Connections,

Comparisons and Communities). Giving to the Farm Sanctuary connected the students’ lessons to the world outside the classroom, as well as broadened their community.

Diversity Fair / Food Festival

PHS teachers and faculty advisors John Sanders and Jana VanBuskirk worked with five student clubs to organize the 2016 Diversity Fair and Food Festival at PHS-West on December 15. The Key Club, a community service group, joined with the Sea Falcons Robotics team, along with the

PHS chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, the Multi-Cultural Youth Leaders Club, and the

Gay-Straight Alliance Club to co-host the event. "Every year this event gets bigger and better," said Mr. Sanders to the students, who had gathered to share their food and information about their heritage. "This is how we bring the school together in peace and harmony," he added.

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 5

PHS Student accepted into National High School Honor Choir

The PHS Choral Music Department is pleased to announce that Julianna Massielo has been accepted into the American Choral Directors’ Association's (ACDA) 2017 National High School Honor Choir. Over 2,300 students auditioned for a spot in this

honor choir, and only 300 were selected through competitive recorded auditions to participate. The choir will meet during the National Conference of ACDA held in Minneapolis, Minnesota from March 8-11, 2017. The Honor Choir will be under the direction of noted composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. The chorus will rehearse with Mr. Whitacre and prepare a program of his compositions to be performed in the closing concert for the 2017 Conference in Symphony Hall. Over 6,000 choral directors from across the United States attend the National Conference, and nearly 3,000 performers in a variety of honor choirs, selected performing ensembles, and interest sessions representing choirs from Elementary schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, College and Universities, Community Choruses, Church Choirs and Professional Choruses.

Alumni Visit PHS to Share Perspectives on College

School Counselors Justine McEachern (far left) and Dana Arbakov (second from right) joined Assistant Principal Cherrissa Gibson (far right) to greet this group of alumni visiting PHS. The recent graduates shared tips with current seniors. Thank you to our loyal Falcons!

Band Participated in Thanksgiving Parade

The “Long Orange Line” made its 33rd consecutive appearance in the 2016 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. The PHS Marching Band appeared in the parade’s opening number and preceded Santa at the very end.

PHS Teacher Co-Authors Book

James D. Moyer, Director of Choral Activities at PHS and PSD Coordinator of Vocal Music k-12 has co-authored a book with Dr. Dennis Shrock called "A Conductor's Guide to Choral/Orchestral Repertoire." The book will be published by GIA Publishing (Chicago) in February 2017, and contains over

1,200 entries of choral/orchestral literature and information pertaining to each. The book will be unveiled by GIA Publishing at the National Conference of the American Choral Directors’ Association, March 8-11, 2017, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The book will be a reference and resource guide to choral and orchestral conductors, as well as used in graduate level repertoire courses at many colleges and universities. Jim was also a contributor to "The School Choral Program" published by GIA in 2008. One of the most used textbooks in college Music Education classes across the country. https://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=9020

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 6

Team Building Activities

Each Friday, Maureen Sacco and Jack Seyferhelt lead the students in team building activities as part of our

mentoring program.

VFW Post 6393 held an awards dinner on January 11. PHS senior

Eric A. Shaffer won first place and Sutirth B. Mannikeri, a ninth grader won second place for their essays on "Why Veterans are Important to Our Nations History and Future." Perry Warren 31st Legislative District presented the awards. PHS teacher Robin Skogen was recognized as Teacher of the Year. Robin is pictured with Vice Commander Tom Hauserman and her son Eric Skogen.

Students Win Veterans Award; Teacher Recognized by local VFW

The M.O.S.T. Program (More Opportunities for Student Training), located at Pennsbury High School East, offers a variety of services to the staff and the community, in addition to academic instruction and work

training. Services will continue to grow as the school year continues. The students have produced over 20 custom designed lanyards for Pennsbury

Staff and will continue to sell them throughout the school year for $15 each. Students in the program also fulfilled a large catering order for a district elementary school, which included a variety of wraps, salads and desserts that the students made themselves. The MOST program also runs the PHS East School Store, converts old VHS tapes to DVDs, and completes on-going catering orders. If you have any questions or are interested in what we offer, feel free to contact MOST teachers, Erica Rudesyle at ext. 70324 or Judith Marini

More Opportunities for Student Training

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 7

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 8

Official forms for parent signature, which include the Student Agreement and Guidelines, will be

distributed two weeks before ticket sales begin.

Any obligations must be cleared before students will be permitted to purchase tickets.

Arrival: All students should plan to arrive no later than 1/2 hour after the start of the event. Students and guests MUST show photo ID to enter the event. The ID must match the name on the ticket. Students must be picked up promptly at the end of the event. Leaving Early: Students who want to leave the event before 8:30 will be required to sign-out and a parent will be contacted before the student will be permitted to leave. Dress Code: Students will not be permitted to wear sneakers, jeans or t-shirts. Dress shoes must be worn. Students must wear appropriate clothing—clothing that is excessively revealing will not be permitted. Hats or headwear will not be permitted. Dancing Guidelines: All dance styles must comply with standards of safety, modesty and appropriate school-age behavior. Inappropriate dance is defined by any overtly sexual or suggestive movement. Drinking/Drugs: Any student found to have any alcoholic beverage or illegal substance on his/her person or under the influence of alcohol/drugs will be removed from the dance, suspended from school, and the police will be notified. Be aware that a Breathalyzer may be utilized to investigate the use of alcohol. Smoking is PROHIBITED at all school events Parking Lot: Please do not leave anything in your car. Students will be permitted to check their coats and other personal items at no charge. Students will not be permitted to leave the dance to go to their cars. If students leave the formal, they will NOT be permitted to re-enter. Use of limos is strongly discouraged. Limos must park in the lot near the flagpole. General Behavior: Students acting inappropriately or failing to follow the directions of adults will be asked to leave the formal. If you feel you are unable to follow the guidelines for the formal, please do not purchase a ticket.

Friday, February 10, 2017 7 to 10 pm

Pennsbury High School West Falcon Gym & Café

Tickets: $15 per person

Cash or checks payable to “PSAA” Tickets on sale February 6 - 9 before and after school

East and West bus dock lobbies

Tickets on sale February 10 before school only East and West bus dock lobbies

Friday, March 3, 2017 6:30 to 10:30 pm Falls Manor Catering

4010 New Falls Road, Bristol Twp., PA

Tickets: $60 per person Cash or checks payable to “PSAA” Tickets on sale February 14, 15, 16

6-8 pm in the East Cafeteria

Friday, April 28, 2017 7 to 10 pm

Pennsbury High School West Falcon Gym & Café

Tickets: $15 per person

Cash or checks payable to “PSAA” Tickets on sale April 24 - 27 before and after school

East and West bus dock lobbies

Tickets on sale April 28 before school only East and West bus dock lobbies

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 9

Career Fair Monday, February 27 Snow Date: March 1

6:30-8:30 pm

PHS-East

Students in all grades, their parents and the general public are invited to attend our 21st annual Pennsbury High School Career Fair! This is a district-wide school-to-career event with emphasis on career exploration for all students in grades K-12. A fun and informative scavenger hunt will be provided for the students who attend! Last year, approximately 1,500 students, parents, teachers and community members visited roughly 130 exhibits throughout the gymnasium, cafeteria and hallways. The fair attracted nearly 200 exhibitors representing business, industry, government, healthcare and non-profit careers. The Career Fair is organized by Frank Mayo, who is our Business, Computer and IT Curriculum Coordinator.

College Planning Night

Attention 11th Grade Students and Parents/Guardians: We strongly encourage you to attend our upcoming College Planning Night!

Wednesday, March 1 7:00 pm PHS-East

Join us to learn more about college admissions, financial aid, instant decision days, scholarships, counseling office procedures, using Naviance and much more! College admission representatives from several universities will be available to answer questions.

Friday and Saturday March 17 and 18 at 7:00 pm Charles Boehm Middle School Gymnasium Sports Nite is a fun and exciting event which provides Juniors and Seniors with the opportunity to work as a team to show their creativity and demonstrate responsibility. Participation in Sports Night will be considered the participating students’ final exam and worth 20% of their grade for Physical Education.

Don’t wait to

buy tickets!

Tickets sell out

quickly!

Tickets $5 each

Cheer section bands: $1

Ticket Sale Dates: March 6 & 7

5:00—7:00 pm EAST Bus Dock Lobby

Students can purchase two additional tickets for family/friends on their designated night. (Two ticket maximum). Students must be physically present to purchase tickets.

For more information, please visit: https://sites.google.com/site/phssportsnite/home

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 10

It is the policy of the Pennsbury School District to operate every day that children can be transported safely. If it is necessary to close school, notice will be posted as follows:

OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION

• ConnectED automated calling system • Web: www.pennsburysd.org

• Hotline: 215-428-4100, option 8 • Comcast Cable Channel 28 • Verizon FiOS Channel 42

SECONDARY NOTIFICATION

The following radio and television stations will also announce Pennsbury by name if school is closed: RADIO: WBCB-1490AM, WPST-94.5FM, KYW-1060AM

TELEVISION: CBS-3, NBC-10, 6-ABC, and FOX-29 Weather conditions may be such that a delayed opening of two or three hours will be necessary. Notification of a delayed opening will be communicated in the same manner as a school closing. Buses will arrive at stops two or three hours later than usual and school will begin two or three hours later.

DELAYED OPENING SCHEDULE

2 hr. Delay 3 hr. Delay

Pennsbury High School……..9:20 am........10:20 am

Middle Schools..................10:10 am........11:10 am

Elementary Schools...........11:00 am........12:00 pm

School Store

Oh the weather outside is frightful... but our clothes are so delightful!

Stop by the East and West Student Stores to check

out our cold weather apparel! We have hoodies,

sweatpants, sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts and more!

Sizes range from small to XXXL and prices range from

$10 - $30. We also sell gym suits, spirit wear, locks

and basic school supplies. Assignment books are

available for $3 each. We accept cash or checks

payable to “PSAA.”

The School Stores are open Monday through

Thursday during C Period from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm.

Please note, the school stores are not open on Fridays

or EOP days.

Job Postings for Student Employment

Did you know that Pennsbury High School has a program to

help high school students find part-time employment in the

community?

Interested students are welcome to attend Mrs. Purdy’s EOP in Room D206 at the WEST campus to get help finding a part-time job or visit the PHS Student Employment Webpage - from the main PHS webpage, under Parents/Students, click on Student Job Postings. If you are an employer, please consider hiring a PHS student. When students supplement their academic work with a part-time job, they don’t just make money, they learn valuable time-management and job-related skills. For more information, please contact:

Tenaz Purdy Pennsbury High School West 608 S. Olds Boulevard Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Email: tpurdy@pennsburysd.org Phone: 215-949-6780 x80220

?

Obligations Any outstanding student obligations must be

satisfied before students will be permitted to

purchase tickets to special events, such as

the Prom or Formals.

Please don’t wait until the last minute—if you

owe a book, please return it to front office at

East or West. If you owe a fine, you can pay it

at either front office.

We accept cash or checks payable to “PSAA”.

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 11

Need a new student ID?

Pick up a form from the East or West front office and fill it out. Drop off the form on your lunch hour at the East school store or the West main

office. Replacement IDs cost $3.

Student Parking Student parking spots are

still available in the PHS

Baseball (Yatsko) lot. To

obtain a parking permit,

please stop by the WEST

main office. All obligations

must be cleared before a permit will be

issued. For the second semester (only)

permits cost $30 each. Please note: The

Queen Anne lot is SOLD OUT.

Pennsbury provides access to multiple databases and e-book collections to help in student research. These resources provide credible information and should be the first place to go when researching. Not only can students access these resources at school, they are also available from home! To make home access easier, the library purchased MackinVia, a content aggregator that provides and manages digital resources with just one login. Now students can use their Pennsbury Google credentials to log in from home, and will no longer need individual passwords for the electronic collections. In addition, the library joined the Bucks County Librarian’s eBook Consortium. The collection has many fiction, non-fiction and audio titles. Students can access this new collection through the library web site or they can use their personal mobile device. MackinVIA has a free app that can be downloaded and items can be accessed, checked out and downloaded to their device. Need help with this? Just stop into either East or West library and we would be happy to assist. Here is a link to all the wonderful electronic resources

the library has to offer. Check them out!

https://sites.google.com/a/pennsburysd.org/phslibrary/catalog-electronic-resources

The “Word” from your School Library!

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 12

Do you have library fines?

Do you want to help those in need? Then take

advantage of “Food for Fines.”

You can opt to bring in 1 canned item for every

$1.00 you owe.

See either the East or West libraries for details!

Resolution of Respect

We pledge, from this day forward,

to do our best to combat prejudice

and to stop those who violate the

civil rights of others.

We will seek to understand those

who are different.

We believe that one person can

make a difference and that no

person should stand by when it

comes to opposing hate.

We will speak out against prejudice and discrimination.

We will reach out to those who are

victims of hate.

We know that we must all promote

harmony, equality, and respect.

Pennsbury High School is

committed to creating a community

that is

No Place for Hate

Clearances Before you can volunteer at PHS, you need to submit your clearances to Mary Ellen Rickerl in the East main office. This will be strictly enforced to comply with District Policy and to ensure the safety of the children. If you have not already obtained your clearances, please see below. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and compliance with this policy. How to obtain background clearances: 1. Act 34 Criminal Background Check: You may obtain this

online at https://epatch.state.pa.us. There is no charge for this clearance.

2. Act 151 Child Abuse History Clearance: You may obtain

this online at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home. There is no charge for this clearance.

3. FBI Clearance/Fingerprinting*: Application forms and

instructions are available at http://www.pa.cogentid.com/index.htm. You must register prior to going to the fingerprinting location.

*A prospective volunteer is required to obtain only the Pennsylvania State criminal background and child abuse clearances, and is not required to secure the above FBI/fingerprint clearance if, and only if, the following three conditions are met:

The prospective volunteer is applying for an unpaid

position;

The prospective volunteer has been a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania continuously for the prior ten (10) year period; and

The prospective volunteer swears or affirms in writing that the prospective volunteer has never been convicted of a disqualifying crime in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or another state, district or foreign nation, or under a former law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Please be aware that background/safety clearances may take four weeks or longer to obtain. Clearances will need to be renewed every 5 years. The Volunteer Affirmation Form, available in the East main office, needs to be signed each year for all volunteers. Thank you for volunteering!

If you have any questions about clearances, please call Mary Ellen at (215) 949-6700 ext. 70811.

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 13

Please check your e-mail often for shout-outs for help from the PHS PTO. Remember, it doesn’t matter which grade your child is in, you can volunteer for any activities where help is needed. Volunteers are needed in the following areas: Working in the coat check and

food donations for Freshman Formal and Sophomore Formal.

Sports Night - volunteers are needed to work in the food court and spirit wear sales.

Prom - painting, food service, coat check, ticket sales, silverware rolling.

Please be aware that parents who volunteer in the school must obtain the criminal background and child abuse history clearances in advance. For your convenience, information on how to obtain your clearances is listed on this page. The more you’re able to be involved in school activities, the more you’ll learn about what’s going on at the High School!

If you have any questions about the PHS PTO, please

contact the PTO President Annette Young ayoung29@verizon.net

For more information, please visit the

PTO webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/phsptowebpage/

2017 PTO Meetings - 9:00 am @ WEST

February 22 - March 21 - April 25 - May 23

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Registration Deadline: March 3 Late registration (fee required): March 4-17

http://www.actstudent.org

School Code: 395-415 Test Center: 237230

Please visit the Guidance (School Counseling) webpage for more important school information:

http://www.pennsburysd.org/SchoolCounselingDepartment.aspx

Naviance information: http://connection.naviance.com/Pennsbury

NCAA Information: www.eligibilitycenter.org

Selective Service information: www.sss.gov

TESTING

to: register: http://www.collegeboard.org *SAT Subject tests not available March 11

2017 SAT Test Dates: Mar. 11* May 6 Jun. 3

Registration Deadline Feb. 10 April 7 May 9

Late Registration Deadline Feb. 28 April 25 May 24

Accommodation Request Deadline

Jan. 20 March 17 April 14

Upcoming ACT Test

Registration Deadline

Late Registration (fee required)

June 10 May 5 May 6-19

It is very important that you submit accommodation requests before the deadline. Because the review process is thorough, it takes about seven (7) weeks to review a request when documentation is required. Note that all deadlines refer to the date by which we must receive complete applications, including all documentation. If a request is resubmitted or if additional information is provided, it must be submitted before the deadlines listed.

Be sure to check out the Activities

and Clubs offered at

Pennsbury High School!

Go to the PHS Counseling webpage, and look under Documents on the right-hand side.

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 14

February 2/3 & 4 Musical @ PHS-E 7:30 pm Forensics Competition

2/5 Musical @ PHE-E 2:00 pm

2/6 - 9 Tickets on sale for the Freshman Formal before & after school, E&W bus dock lobbies

2/8 Second Semester Back-to-School Night 6:30-8:00 pm @ EAST and WEST

2/10 Tickets on sale for the Freshman Formal before school only, E&W bus dock lobbies Freshman Formal @ WEST 7 pm

2/11 ACT’s @ EAST 7:45 am

2/14 - 16 Tickets on sale for the Junior Prom 6-8 pm @ EAST cafeteria

2/16 AMC Test in the EAST cafeteria

2/20 - 21 NO SCHOOL / Presidents’ Day

2/22 PTO Meeting @ WEST 9 am

2/23 Community Band Concert @ EAST 7 pm

2/25 Mini-Thon @ WEST (all day)

2/27 Career Fair @ EAST 6:30 pm

March

3/1 College Planning Night II @ EAST 7 pm

3/3 Junior Prom @ FALLS MANOR 7 pm

3/6 - 7 Tickets on sale for Sports Nite @ EAST 5-7 pm

3/11 SAT’s @ EAST 7:30 am

3/17 - 18 PHS Sports Nite @ Ch. BOEHM 7 pm

3/21 PTO Meeting @ WEST 9 am

3/24 - 25 Spring Drama @ WEST

Women’s Choral Festival @ WEST 9 am—3 pm

3/29 Choral Concert @ WEST 7:30 pm

3/31 Jazz Festival @ EAST 6 pm

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 15

April 4/1-4 Falconairs Choir Tour

4/4 NO SCHOOL / Grading Day

4/5 College Fair @ EAST 6 pm

4/8 ACTs @ EAST 7:45 am

4/13 - 17 NO SCHOOL / Spring Recess

4/20 - 23 Chamber Choir Tour

4/24 - 27 Tickets on sale for the Soph. Formal before & after school, E&W bus dock lobbies

4/25 PTO Meeting @ WEST 9 am NHS Induction @ EAST 7 pm

4/27 Symphony Orchestra Festival 6 pm

4/28 Tickets on sale for Soph. Formal before school only, E&W bus dock lobbies

Sophomore Formal @ WEST 7-10 pm

The complete 2016-17 school year calendar is available on the

Pennsbury School District web site:

http://www.pennsburysd.org click on the CALENDAR link

Wink 4 Pink Please help support our continuing efforts to raise breast cancer awareness at PHS! All

funds raised directly benefit local patients with breast cancer. If you have any questions, please contact Karin Birgel or Kelly MacMath at PHS-East. Thank you for your support!

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 16

Website Reminder Parents and guardians– please note that there are two websites we recommend you monitor on a regular basis: the District homepage - www.pennsburysd.org and PHS homepage - http://www.pennsburysd.org/pennsburyhighschool_home.aspx Home Access Center

The Pennsbury Home Access Center has been enabled for families with students in grades K-12 to verify your contact

information, as well as your student’s attendance, your classes and grades. Please visit the Home Access Center regularly for up-to-date information on your student. If you have a change of address, phone # or Email address, please contact the guidance office to update your information. http://www.pennsburysd.org/HomeAccessCenter1.aspx

Emergency/Non-Emergency Messaging; Opting In for Text Messaging Pennsbury provides emergency and non-emergency messaging to enrolled families via voicemail, email, and text. These services are offered through a company called Blackboard Connect. Families are invited to provide up to two mobile phone numbers for this purpose. At the beginning of each school year, families are asked to review the demographic data on file. If you have a change of address, phone # or Email address, please contact the guidance office to update your information. http://www.pennsburysd.org/HomeAccessCenter1.aspx

Calendars Monthly activity calendars are available on the Pennsbury website; these calendars are no longer available in hard

copy. Locate the CALENDAR icon located near the top on either the District homepage OR school homepage and you will find links to the single-page, full-year calendar, as well as the monthly activity calendars. Calendars will be updated regularly throughout the school year. http://www.pennsburysd.org/Calendar.aspx School Handbook

The Handbook for Parents & Guardians is available in electronic format on the District website. Paper copies will no longer be published and distributed to students. As with the

calendar, this will allow for continuing updates. There are also interactive links embedded in the handbook for such things as the Home Access Center and dining services sites. The handbook can be found on the main District Webpage, under the Student & Parent section. http://www.pennsburysd.org/Downloads/Parent-Guardian%20Handbook(1).pdf E-Flyers

Looking for community activities? Take a look at the District E-Flyers page. This webpage is full of all sorts of information

on activities such as scouts, sports clubs, Comcast Internet Essentials, free YMCA memberships for 7th graders, dining services info, and many other topics of interest to Pennsbury families. This page is maintained and updated throughout the year by Pennsbury School District Administrative building. http://www.pennsburysd.org/e-flyers_district.aspx

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • 2nd Quarter - 2016/2017 Page 17

Mrs. Lisa Becker – Principal West Campus

Mr. Richard Fry – Assistant Principal

Mrs. Patricia Steckroat – Assistant Principal

Mrs. Cherrissa Gibson – Assistant Principal

Mr. Lou Sudholz – Assistant Principal/ Athletic Director

Ms. Lynda Norman – Management Assistant

Mr. Reggie Meadows – Principal East Campus

Mr. Vinny DePaola – Assistant Principal

Mrs. Laura Tittle – Assistant Principal

Mr. Ryan Staub – Assistant Principal/ Supervisor of Counseling

Mrs. Betty Stercula – Management Assistant

Mrs. Judy Neeld – Management Assistant

PENNSBURY HIGH SCHOOL FALCON FLYER • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 Page 18

Pennsbury High School Philosophy

Pennsbury High School is dedicated to providing a developmentally appropriate learning experience for all students in a standards-based school environment. To that end, curricula and programs will guide and empower students to become independent, life-long learners who are socially conscious, enriched by diversity, and contributing members of our community. Cooperation and communication among school, home and community are, therefore, essential to ensure a successful educational experience. A challenging academic environment will enable students to think critically, examine thoughtfully, and recognize their self-worth as well as the worth of others.

Pennsbury High School East Campus

705 Hood Boulevard

Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Reggie Meadows, Principal

215-949-6700

Pennsbury High School West Campus

608 South Olds Boulevard

Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Lisa Becker, Principal

215-949-6780

Pennsbury School District Mission Statement

Recognizing our proud traditions and diverse community, the Pennsbury School District prepares all students to

become creative, ethical, and critical thinkers for lifelong success in a global society.