wyomissing area school district · wyomissing area pta and the wyomissing area school district. the...

Julia R. Vicente, SuperintendentNovember 2013 | Volume 45, No. 2

S C H O O L D I S T R I C TWYOMISSING AREA

On Wednesday, November 13, 2013,the Yocum Institute for ArtsEducation will present the 2013Coggins Award to local artist MikeMiller at Stirling Mansion. TheCoggins Award, established in 2006,recognizes artists who embrace thevalues Jack Coggins exhibited: cre-ativity, innovation and service to theInstitute and the community. Millerhas been heavily involved at theInstitute for many years with theAnnual Jr./Sr. High School Artexhibit and was nominated by mem-

If you have any questions regard-ing any of the information in thispublication, please contact:

Julia R. Vicente, Superintendent610-374-0739, ext. [email protected]

bers of the artistic community inBerks County.

Michael L. Miller, a JSHS art teacher,earned his master’s degree in Fine Artfrom the Maryland Institute, Collegeof Art in Baltimore, Maryland. Aftershowing his own artwork for severalyears in the Philadelphia area, hebecame interested in community-based art. This interest stemmed from the Mural Arts Program inPhiladelphia. Over the past ten years,he has created collaborative murals

National MeritAWARDS

AP Scholars

Meet Our NewTEACHERS

Mark your calendarWINTER concerts

Positive Behavior @ WHEC

Super LETTER

Spartan SpiritNews debuts @ WREC

2013 Service Recognition

Art Teacher Michael Miller to behonored with 2013 Coggins Award

2013 Opportunity House mural, “Dreaming for a Better Future - Soñar con unFuturo Mejor” is located on the side of a residence that faces the playground at Second and Beech Streets.

&

JSHS Reading Apprenticeship

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insight: the newsletter of the Wyomissing Area School District

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our newteachers

Nicole BahnerESL Teacher, WRECBahner acquired her bachelor’sdegree from Lebanon ValleyCollege. Nicole holds the follow-ing PA Teaching Certifications:English as a Second LanguageProgram Specialist and ElementaryK-6. She has ESL Teaching experi-ence in grades K through 6.

Cara FrederickSpeech and LanguagePathologist, WHECFrederick acquired her master’sdegree in Speech Pathology fromBloomsburg University. Cara holdsthe following credentials: PASpeech & Language PathologyLicense, American SpeechLanguage and HearingAssociation’s Certificate ofClinical Competence, and PATeaching Certification in Speechand Language Impaired. She hasworked as a Speech and LanguagePathologist in various settingsinclusive of hospital, rehabilitationcenters, and schools and has pro-vided therapy to individuals frompediatric through adult.

Kristen Heist-AlbrightArt Teacher, WREC/WHECHeist-Albright received hermaster of fine arts degree fromthe University of Arizona.Kristen has previous experienceworking in the District as anArt substitute.

Melissa KucharczukAutistic Support Teacher,WHECKucharczuk has PADepartment of EducationTeacher Certification inElementary K-6 and SpecialEducation N12. Her priorexperience includes teaching inan Autistic Support Classroom.

Back Row Left to Right – Kristen Heist-Albright, Meredith Rosa, CaraFrederick, Bridget Mayberry. Seated – Nicole Bahner

Bridget MayberryStudent AssistanceSpecialist, District-wideMayberry holds a PA Dept. ofEducation Certification in the fol-lowing areas: Home and SchoolVisitor K-12 and SecondarySchool Counselor 7-12. Bridgethas experience providing counsel-ing in a variety of venues and mostrecently has worked as a studentcrisis counselor.

Meredith RosaFrench Teacher, JSHSRosa acquired her bachelor’sdegree from Lafayette Collegemajoring in French and Italian.Meredith has studied abroad inFrance and Italy.Melissa Kucharczuk

November 8Schools ClosedStaff Inservice Day

November 23SH Drama Presentation

November 25 & 26Parent Conferences K-6No school for K-6; Early dismissal 7-12

November 27-30December 1-2Thanksgiving HolidaySchools Closed

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLTuesday, December 107:30 p.m.Jr./Sr. High SchoolAuditorium

WYOMISSING HILLSELEMENTARY CENTERGrade 3Wednesday, December 116:30 p.m.Grade 4Thursday, December 196:30 p.m.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR


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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLTuesday, December 177:30 p.m.Jr./Sr. High SchoolAuditorium

WEST READINGELEMENTARYThursday, December 127:00 p.m.Jr./Sr. High SchoolAuditorium

December 3 – 13Winter Keystone Testing

December 14Holiday Shoppe, 9 a.m. WHEC

December 23 – January 1Winter Holiday – Schools and Offices Closed

January 20Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. DaySchools and Offices Closed

February 14Schools ClosedStaff Inservice Day

February 17Schools/Offices Closedor Snow Make Up Day #1

WINTERCONCERTS

togetherwith hundreds ofpeople andmany communityorganizationsin thegreaterReadingarea.

Miller’s first collaborative artexperience was with theOpportunity House in Reading in2003. He coordinated a commu-nity mural with art students andday care children. It is only fit-ting that he just finished a land-mark mural for the OpportunityHouse with the students from PAMigrant, Wyomissing Area HighSchool’s Public Art Workshop,and community volunteers.

The 2013 Opportunity Housemural is located on the side of aresidence that faces the play-

ground at Second and BeechStreets, the mural titled Dreamingfor a Better Future - Soñar con unFuturo Mejor features a young girlholding the city of Reading inher arms. Surrounding her aremore children who point up to asky filled with stars. The mural islargely painted, but includes elements of glass mosaic as well.

Dreaming for a Better Futurebegan in 2012 as a summer proj-ect organized by PennsylvaniaMigrant Education in partnershipwith the Reading School District.This mural was designed by highschool students from the PAMigrant Education SummerProgram, under Miller’s guidance.More than one hundred MigrantEducation students participatedin this program, under the leader-ship of the high school students.The project was completed bythe students in Public ArtWorkshop, a course at

Wyomissing Area High School,and children of the Second StreetLearning Center.

This project was sponsored byPennsylvania Migrant Education,the Hawley and Myrtle QuierFund of the Berks CountyCommunity Foundation,Pennsylvania Council on theArts, a state agency, theWyomissing Area PTA and the Wyomissing Area SchoolDistrict.

The public is invited to the 2013Coggins Award presentation andreception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.at the Stirling Mansion. Ticketsare $45 for members of theInstitute and $50 for non-mem-bers. Proceeds from this eventbenefit Yocum Institute for ArtsEducation. To purchase tickets orto make a contribution in honorof Michael Miller, please call theInstitute at 610-376-1576 ext. 203.

Michael Miller to be honored with 2013 Coggins AwardCONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE Congratulations

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behaviorrules at

WYOMISSING HILLS GELEMENTARY CENTERG

Students were exposed to teach-ers in all grade levels using books,activities and even raps to teachthe rules. At the end of each les-son, students received a stamp ona passport as proof of instructionin each rule.

At the end of the day, students ingrades 1-4 gathered for an assem-bly. This assembly addressed howWHEC rule followers are reward-ed. Students who follow theWHEC rules are given SpartanSpirit tickets. These tickets canbe placed in a class jar or handedin for individualized classroomrewards. At the end of eachmonth, the grade levels have anassembly to raffle off prizes to stu-dents who have received SpartanSpirit tickets. Some of the prizesthus far have included tickets toathletic events, Wyomissing t-shirts, Wyomissing pencils anderasers, and coupons for the bookfair and local restaurants. Theeffects of this program are alreadynoticeable. Students are remind-ing each other of the rules,demonstrating more appropriatebehaviors, and showing enthusi-asm over their hard-earnedSpartan Spirit tickets! Thanks tothe teachers and staff who posi-tively reinforce their studentsevery day, WHEC is filled withSpartan Spirit.

On August 29, 2013, the studentsof WHEC helped start the yearwith a focus on the positive. Thebuilding used the day to beginimplementing a school-wide positive behavior support pro-gram, designed around the con-cept of school rules. Staff at theHills building worked togetherover the course of the last year tocreate a specific list of rules. Therules are as follows:

W – Walk silently with eyes forward in the hallway.

H – Hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

WHECE – Everyone follows staff direc-

tions the first time.

C – Communicate using kindwords and actions.

Throughout the day, grade levelteachers each taught a set of rulesto the entire school. Studentsrotated from grade to grade, wherethey were presented with hands-onlessons teaching the WHEC rules.

Regina BarlettaGwen GibsonWilliam HartmanRobin KlineKim LallySusan LehrJoan Mathews


Crisanne BansnerErin Tyrrell

Donna BottiglieriDavid BraleyIvan CorreaRobert CushmanCraig FriesAmber GockleyAmmon HecklerSarah HungerfordEileen JohnValerie KnauerJill KuhnKristy MartinStephanie MyersRupa PatelTod RickenbrodeLori RohrbachLori ScargleKristen SchafferRebecca Sibbett

Joseph AlcaroGlen JohnstonMichael MatzRose Sneeringer

Andrea BensusanAndrea BoergerMeredith EmkeyMaria GernertMichael HawkinsSallyanne McNicholDavid Skovera

to the following employees who have earned service pins for their …

ROSEANN TICEFollowing a 35-year career of dedicated service to Wyomissing Area School District, Roseann Tice made the difficult decision to retire. Althoughmost recently serving as the attendance secretary, she filled

many roles, duties, and seats as a support staff member in the JSHS.Opening day in-service activities for the2013-14 school year featured a video mon-tage of photos of her WASD family deliver-ing messages of well wishes and goodbyes.

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Left to right: Matt Stem, Lesa Butera, Carolyn Bamberger, Roseann Tice, JulieVicente, Janice Duquette, Amber Gockley, and Jennifer Auman.

Erin Tyrrell, second-grade teacherand Crisanne Bansner, mathteacher and department chairperson.


future careers. Students learn to collaborate todiscuss texts, bring forward their thinkingprocesses and comprehend a wide variety ofhigh-level texts. Teachers from the first cohortinclude Rob Cushman (teacher leader), ShirleyGashi, Melissa Devlin, Ryan McBrearty, BJDramby, Joe Allen, and Chris Kersikoski.

This group of teachers found such great suc-cess with student achievement, motivationand ability to reach higher-order thinking thatword spread. When the District gained anopportunity for more teachers to receive thisprofessional development, another cohort ofteachers came on board for the 2012 -2013school year, including Valerie Knauer, JulieLinsey (teacher leader), Michael Gallagher,Martin Mann, Michele Hatt-Ciemiewicz, ChrisStanchek, and Joan Mathews. Yet anothercohort of teachers signed on for the 2013-2014 school year, including Jim Comerford(teacher leader), Jennifer Mangold, Erik Uliasz,Jim Delp, Mary Kate Bogart, Michele Filippini,Brenda Phillips. Each cohort is led by a teacherwho has the opportunity to network withother teacher leaders from across the state of Pennsylvania three times each year, sharingresources and learning new protocols for working with students and promoting collaboration among teachers. At this time,there are 20 trained teachers in the JSHS.Two of those teachers, Rob Cushman andValerie Knauer have also delved deeper intothe Reading Apprenticeship model to join theranks of the facilitation teams for the professional development.

In classrooms all over the Junior/Senior HighSchool these days, things have been looking alittle different. One might see students inves-tigating a difficult new concept in a biologytextbook, making hypotheses about the possi-ble meanings of new and unfamiliar words.

Students in English class are filling novelswith post-it notes that reveal their thinkingwhile they read, only to later organize thosepost-its to determine the major themes of thenovel. Social studies students are taking aparttexts like the Declaration of Independence tofind the most important words and phrases,leading them to the main ideas and underly-ing assumptions within the text. The rootcause of all of this challenging student work:Reading Apprenticeship.

Reading Apprenticeship came to the JSHS inthe 11-12 school year when teachers of 9thgrade English, Biology and social studiesbecame part of a national research projectfunded through an i3 grant for Innovations inEducation. A group of seven teachers spentten days at DeSales University learning howto truly apprentice their students in theprocesses of reading for their content area.Those seven teachers returned to implementpractices in their classrooms that provide stu-dents with varied skills and strategies for read-ing that prepare them for the challengingreadings they may encounter in college and

6 JUNIOR/SENIOR GHIGH SCHOOLG

Reading Apprenticeship Taking JSHS

by Storm

wishes and fond memories as she transi-tions into retirement. For certain, therewere few dry eyes by the end of the video!(see page 5).

During this time together, the 2013-2014District focus was shared with staff.Building on the Four Pillars introducedlast year (see figure left), which providedthe framework to our district-wide initia-tives, this year our focus centers on thepeople of the District. The people whocomprise the Wyomissing Area SchoolDistrict are vitally important to our dailywork with students, and the ‘BEST inAction’ exemplifies this. The ‘BEST inAction’ is a theme that focuses on every-one in our district and how they work toachieve the high goals that have beenestablished for our schools. The ‘BEST inAction’ commits to ongoing professionaldevelopment and growth, recognizes suc-cess, encourages innovation, celebrates,problem solves, and trusts … Together.

Each staff member received a lapel pinimprinted with the ‘BEST in Action’ andwas encouraged to place the pin on his/herown lanyard as a daily reminder of ourfocus. Each letter in the word ‘BEST’ bearsspecial significance: Building Capacity,Empowering Others, StrengtheningRelationships, Together. As we continue tostrategically align our work to the FourPillars, we will create opportunities for ourstaff to be the ‘BEST in Action’ throughtheir daily work.

Letter from the SuperintendentThe 2013-2014 school year is well under-way after a very successful opening acrossthe District. Late in August, we wel-comed the entire staff back during ourOpening Day session. Thanks to the gen-erosity of VIST Bank and UFinancial,our staff members enjoyed a wide varietyof delicious breakfast offerings, compli-ments of these two financial institutions.After a beautiful serenade of You Lift Me

Up by our own Camerata, the agenda forthe morning began. We welcomed 14new staff members to the Wyo familywhose assignments span the entireDistrict from the Hills to WREC to theJr./Sr. High School. It is my sinceresthope that our new family members willfind WASD a supportive and energizingplace to work and grow professionally.

Each Opening Day, we recognize andhonor staff who have achieved 5, 10, 15,20 and 25 years of service with a pin andcertificate. This year we had a very spe-cial recognition! After 35 years, RosanneTice, announced her retirement. We sur-prised her with a video montage of well

Superintendent Julia R. Vicente


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These teachers have now developed astrong collaborative network thatinvolves monthly meetings for sharingsuccesses in their classroom practice, discussing techniques of instruction for literacy across content areas, andaddressing the challenges of how theReading Apprenticeship framework helps to support working towards the rigor ofthe PA Core Standards.

Reading Apprenticeship isn’t just a pre-scribed set of reading strategies, but

rather a framework for teaching andlearning that celebrates the think-ing students do as they inquire,explore and grapple with the com-plexities of texts. Teachers are ableto leverage their expertise in theircontent areas to facilitate the learn-ing students are doing, rather thanjust providing them with theanswers. The transformation hasbeen profound for many teachers,creating a truly student-centered,collaborative learning environment.

Reading Apprenticeship Taking JSHS by Storm continued from page 6

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AP SCHOLAR – Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

Jakim AaronYusef AwanBrian BambergerAdrianna BatesEmma BittnerJonah BowmanDanielle CarabelloOwen ChastkaJune ChiangoBennett ConlinCody CoxFinnegan DalyJack DavisMichael DeLucasThomas DennisPeter DiCarloChristine EbdlahadCaroline EndyMorgan EverettWilliam FinnernanChristine GieringerSarah HetrichDaniel IzzoJacob KennedyGreta KochStephanie KotulaDakota LashAmit LiftSpencer LloydAndrew MaguireJohn MasanoWyatt MetzgerBrigid MoserAlexander RadaouiRicardo SaadPeter SaydeCaitlin ScargleAubrey SilvermanKathryn SmithWade StalloneDaniel SweitzerAlaina Swindell-JonesMarcos UrenaChris WaltersSkylar WeaverKatherine WeidnerAbigail WellsJacob Whitmoyer

AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR –Granted to students whoreceive an average score of atleast 3.25 on all AP examstaken, and scores of 3 or higheron four or more of these exams.

Alexandra BernoskyKelsi BickelChristina BowersColleen BoyleDouglas BrownKylie CushCorinne EidleAlex FisherSamuel GallenAustin KuhnScott McAvoyBrinn McClennanLily MoranJoshua PappasConnor ReedyElizabeth TonneslanShannon VailJenna Wickman

Advanced Placement Scholars

National Merit ScholarshipThe Wyomissing Area School District is pleased to announce that Emma Fogel received a letter of commendation from the National MeritScholarship Program in recognition of her outstanding academic promise.According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, CommendedStudents are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index scorethat may vary from year to year and is typically below the level required forparticipants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. AlthoughCommended Students do not continue in the competition for NationalMerit® Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates forSpecial Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

Rodolfo FolinoErica GleasonScott GoldbergKosho HoshitsukiKevin KusmierzDavid LinkNicholas MellenKeian Minnich

Caroline PattilloRobert PattilloKelly PetrarcaMichael PottiegerShane SmithEric WaxlerBenjamin Wertz

AP SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION – Granted to students who receive anaverage score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3or higher on five or more of these exams.

Ryan BabbRemington BarrerAudrey BlakelySamuel BlanchetIan BrackbillChristopher EatonCaroline EdelmanEmma Fogel

NATIONAL AP SCHOLAR – Grantedto students in the United Stateswho receive an average score ofat least 4 on all AP Examstaken, and scores of 4 or higheron eight or more of these exams.

Remington BarrerAudrey BlakelyScott GoldbergNicholas MellenKeian MinnichShane SmithEric Waxler



Sports Report which provides an updateon the performance of the fifth andsixth grade teams in their recreationleagues and He Said/She Said that willfocus on two sides of an issue.

The Spartan Spirit News reporters meetevery Tuesday during the lunch andrecess period to brainstorm ideas,review drafted articles and meet witheach other and advisors, Kozuch andAllen. Kozuch said, “The ideas comestraight from the students. This oppor-tunity gives students a true purpose fortheir writing, and allows enrichment forour talented writers in sixth grade.”

Spartan Spirit News will also appear onthe WREC page of the District website,www.wyoarea.org.

After analyzing the extremely high fifthgrade PSSA writing scores, Sixth-gradeTeacher Bridgette Kozuch approached

Gifted Teacher Kristin Allen, with theidea of developing a student-writtennewsletter. Together they determinedthe format for the newsletter and select-ed students to participate.

The first monthly issue of Spartan SpiritNews, WREC’s school newsletter writ-ten and compiled by sixth grade stu-dents, was published October 2013. Itprovides a recap of recent events,reviews, a featured teacher, and puzzles.Recurring articles will include the

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SPARTAN SPIRIT NEWSSpartan Spirit News editors include from left to right:Jaxon Gehman,Ben Kuhn, Ryan Kusmierz, John Sachenik, Matt Kauffman, Sarah Gechter, Caroline Allen, Colleen Gieringer, Maddie Menon, Allie Messenger

WEST READING GELEMENTARY CENTERG

Sixth Grade Reporters Pen Monthly Newsletter

PTA makes it easy for you to shop forSpartan apparel and accessories! Thestyle and color of your choice is only aclick away! Visitwww.campuscloz.com/wyomissingptato view the selection. A portion of theproceeds benefits the Wyomissing AreaPTA. Please contact Michele Fischetti [email protected] if you have anyquestions or to place bulk orders.

Wyomissing apparel will be available for purchase at the

PTA HOLIDAY SHOPPE Saturday, December 14, 2013Wyomissing Hills Elementary Ctr. 9 a.m.– 1 p.m.

SchoolStore

OUR MISSION: The Wyomissing Area School District, in partnership with parents and community, is committed to:• educate all students to their fullest potential• provide all students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills to be successful in the 21st century

• encourage all students to be productive, responsible citizens and lifelong learners.

BOARD OF DIRECTORSLESA I. BUTERA

PRESIDENT

ANGEL L. HELMVICE PRESIDENT

GREGORY L. PORTNERTREASURER

CHRISTINE L. STAFFORDSECRETARY

CAROLYN M. BAMBERGER

MICHELLE M. DAVIS

JOHN A. LARKIN

KAREN R. MCAVOY

SCOTT C. PAINTER, ESQ.

ANNE P. SELTZER

JULIA R. VICENTE (EX OFFICIO)

insight is designed and produced by Berks County Intermediate Unit.

NOVEMBER 2013 | VOL. 45, NO. 2

wyomissing area school district · wyomissing area pta and the wyomissing area school district. the...

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