Untitled - Northeastern School District

Northeastern Highlights
Page 2
2011-12 Final Budget Approved
On June 2, the Northeastployees have resigned or
ern Board of School Direcretired this year, and 12 of
tors unanimously apthose positions are not beproved a final, balanced
ing filled, resulting in apVision
The Bobcat Way: 100% of our students b u d g e t
with
a
proximately $1 million in
will graduate and be fully prepared for
$54,489,387 expenditure
savings. A debt restructura post-secondary education.
spending limit for the
ing plan will save the disBrian Geller,
2011-12 school year.
trict over $1 million of
Board of Directors
Given the fact that the Director of Operations debt service payments
William Gingerich, President
district originally faced a
during this year. In addiMargie Walker, Vice-President
$5 million deficit with a $1.8 million tion, each building and department
Vanessa Snell, Treasurer
reduction in state funding, the board will reduce their budget by 10%, and
Albert Byrnes
Kevin Gebhart
sought to minimize the financial im- the district will be holding off on reJoseph Griffith
pact on Northeastern stakeholders placing computers for one year.
Christine Hess
by creating an equitable, long-term
Linda Morningstar
financial plan. This plan includes The board voted not to exceed the
Chris Neiman
spending cuts, no use of general taxing index stipulated by the state
The Board of School Directors meets
fund balance, and a real estate tax of 1.9%, which is lower than the tax
on the first and third Monday of each
increase equal to the state index to levied on the Northeastern commumonth at 7:00 p.m. at the Administraoffset the reduction in funding com- nity in the 2010-11 school year. The
tive Center, unless noted otherwise.
ing to the school district.
final, approved millage rate is 23.72
mils. This equates to a 1.9% tax inAdministration
Final
budget
cuts
total
$3.7
million.
crease which is an additional $44 of
Jody L. Nace, Superintendent
Employees at each level are taking school taxes for any home valued at
Stacey A. Sidle, Asst. Superintendent
Shawn D. Minnich, Asst. Superintendent part in various wage concessions. $100,000. As a result of the Homeof Curriculum and Instruction
This includes a voluntary administra- stead Farmstead Exclusion, qualified
Brian K. Geller, Director of Operations
tor salary freeze, a teacher contract homeowners will see a $204.23 restep freeze, and reduced raises for duction in real estate taxes for the
Contact Information
all non-union employees. These upcoming school year. To view the
Administrative Center
266-3667
Conewago Elementary
266-1644 wage concessions equal $580,000 in district’s final budget, visit
York Haven Elementary
266-5007 savings to the district. Fifteen em- www.nesd.k12.pa.us.
District Information
Orendorf Elementary
Mt. Wolf Elementary
Spring Forge Intermediate
Shallow Brook Intermediate
Northeastern Middle School
Northeastern High School
266-5621
266-6570
266-9833
266-7030
266-3676
266-3644
November Honor Bus Trip Planned for Veterans
A group of 12 seniors at
Northeastern High School
are planning to honor
District Website
World War II veterans
www.nesd.k12.pa.us
again. In May, the students
planned the first Honor Bus
Social Media
trip as their senior project.
twitter.com/NESD (@NESD)
Fifty-seven WWII veterans, students,
www.facebook.com/NortheasternSD
and family members traveled to
Washington D.C. to see the WWII MeNortheastern Highlights is published
morial and Arlington National Cemesix times per year. Questions or comments may be directed to Kim Brenner- tery. A second trip is planned for SatZirkle, Communications Coordinator, at urday, November 19, 2011.
zirklek@nesd.k12.pa.us or 266-3667.
The students are seeking interested WWII veterans who would
like to participate in the trip. The
veterans will travel by coach bus.
They will be treated to breakfast,
lunch, and dinner. Family members
will be invited to attend breakfast and
the celebration dinner banquet that
will take place when they return. Veterans will be paired with a student
“buddy” for the day. They will also
receive a commemorative DVD.
If you are or know of a WWII veteran
that would like to participate, please
contact
Duane Swartz at
swartzd@nesd.k12.pa.us or call
Northeastern High School at (717)
266-3644. Donations are also needed
to help cover the cost of the trip.
Northeastern Highlights
Page 3
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Ne w T
Heather Friedah
Grade 5,
Shallow Brook
Lynette Lehman
Spanish, MS/HS
William Spangler
Emotional Support,
Spring Forge
Jeffrey Plummer
Math, MS
Hillary Hartley
Learning Support, MS
Jaclyn Gross
Spanish, HS
John Rau
Music, Conewago
Lauren Ramspacher
Learning Support,
Conewago
Rebecca Watt
Speech Therapist,
Mt. Wolf
Travis Clemens (LTS)
6th Grade,
Shallow Brook
Caitlyn Eckenrode (LTS)
Learning Support,
Spring Forge
Erin Stewart (LTS)
3rd Grade,
Orendorf
Andrew Krape (LTS)
Music, York Haven
Lisa Lucas (LTS)
Learning Support, MS
Kaitlyn Myers (LTS)
4th Grade,
Spring Forge
LTS—Long Term Substitute
ETS—Extended Term Substitute
Brittany Shaud (ETS)
Guidance Counselor,
Orendorf
Julia Koch (ETS)
English, HS
Adrienne Cleland (ETS)
English/Reading, MS
Lindsey Clark (ETS)
Science, HS
Page 4
Northeastern Highlights
The Bobcat Foundation
The Bobcat Foundation is a nonprofit organization
that partners with
the district to provide for the greatest needs of the students. The goal
of the foundation is to raise dollars
to support academic, cultural, and
athletic necessities that may not be
covered by the district’s operating
budget. The Bobcat Foundation
is dedicated to offering students opportunities that would
not otherwise be possible.
The foundation reaches out to individuals and businesses to encourage a lasting connection with
the district. Businesses can gain
exposure through placing ads in
the district newsletter or calendar,
hanging banners in school athletic
arenas, sponsoring needs, or investing in naming rights for district
venues (also available in honor/
memory of a loved one). The Bobcat Foundation is also eligible to
receive funds via PA’s Educational
Improvement Tax Credit Program
(EITC). Individual donations
are welcomed and may be offered
to fulfill the greatest needs of the
district or benefit a particular
school; allocated to enhance academic departments; or earmarked
to support a specific extracurricular/co-curricular program.
Gifts are vital and enable The Bobcat Foundation to offer more academic, cultural, and athletic opportunities to our students. No matter
the amount, your donation can
make an impact! Please contribute
to The Bobcat Foundation! Send
your tax-deductible donation
(made payable to The Bobcat
Foundation) to The Bobcat Foundation, 41 Harding Street, Manchester, PA 17345. Questions may
be directed to Kim Brenner-Zirkle,
executive director, at (717) 2663667 or zirklek@nesd.k12.pa.us.
Please visit the foundation’s website at www.nesd.k12.pa.us/
foundation.
Car Show & Baby Buffalo Patty Drop Raises Dollars for Education
Special thanks are extended to the following people who helped make The Bobcat Foundation Car Show and
Baby Buffalo Patty Drop a success: Tom Kessler and members of the York College Wrestling Team, Diane Wolf,
Bryan Stephens, Stacey Quinlisk, Margie Walker, Dr. Robert Tabachini, Dr. Dennis Baughman, Chris Izzo, Jessica Sands, Dawn & Bill Brenner, Dave Zirkle, Dr. Jody Nace, members of the NHS Golf Team, Tim Howell/the
NHS Marching Band, the Revolution Corvette Club, Forge Hill Farms, Giant, K&K Coffee, and Concepts-Carlisle.
Thanks also go to the event vendors and sponsors: Beshore & Koller (Grand Sponsor), 31 Gifts (Nancy Zayas/
Kristie Koons), Tastefully Simple (Jo Ann Shearer), F&S Transportation, Athletic Chiropractic Center (Dr. Baker),
Kitchen Saver, Fat Boy Concessions/Parma, Aunt Lydia’s Pretzels, Glacier Flakes, and Bricker’s Fries.
Congratulations to the winners of the Baby Buffalo Patty Drop and Golf Shootout:
1st Prize: Scott Steimel ($400)
2nd Prize: Kathy Minnich ($200)
3rd Prize: Heather Mackley ($100)
“Like” us on
Facebook or
follow The Bobcat
Foundation on
Twitter to get
updates!
www.facebook.com/
BobcatFoundation
Sales managers Rick Schaffner and Todd Ahrens of
Beshore & Koller Inc. present Kim Brenner-Zirkle,
executive director of The Bobcat Foundation, with a
check for $1,000. The dealership was the Grand
Sponsor of The Bobcat Foundation Car Show.
twitter.com/
BobcatFound
Jeffrey Hines, CEO of the York Water Company,
presents Kim Brenner-Zirkle, executive director of
The Bobcat Foundation, with a $7,500 check. The
funds were offered through PA’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC).
Northeastern Highlights
Page 5
Mt. Wolf Elementary Celebrates Patriot Day
Students at Mt. Wolf Elementary School celebrated Patriot Day by
wearing red, white, and blue and listening to patriotic music. A
rainy day hampered the all-school flag raising ceremony, but it did
not dampen spirits. Third grade students spoke over the morning
announcements regarding the purpose and meaning of Patriot
Day. Students at all grade levels created patriotic themed crafts led
by guidance counselor, Mrs. Kinsinger. They also discussed the
importance and meaning of the day.
In the picture to the left, third grade teacher, Mrs. Donnelly, gives
tips to third grader Madyson Knokey about her craft project. Below, third grader Andrew Blankenship shows the patriotic paper lantern that he created. Kindergarteners and first graders
made patriotic windsocks and second graders made firecracker
crowns.
Special Education Department
Offers Workshop for Parents
Important Dates to Remember
October 10—No School (Columbus Day)
October 12—Special Education Parent Workshop @ 6 p.m.
October 15 & 16—NHS Underclassmen Play @ 7 p.m.
October 16—Manchester/Mt. Wolf Halloween Parade
October 17—NESD School Board meeting @ 7 p.m.
October 19—Early Dismissal
October 27—End of First Marking Period
October 27—Halloween/Fall Festivities (K—6)
October 28 & 31—No School
November 4—Report Card Distribution (K—6)
November 4 & 5—Basketball Cheerleading Craft Show
November 7—NHS Report Card Distribution
November 7—NESD School Board meeting @ 7 p.m.
November 9 & 10—Early Dismissal for Conferences
November 11—Battle of the Buildings @ 7 p.m. (NHS Gym)
November 16—Early Dismissal
November 18—Elementary Parent Visitation Day
November 18 & 19—NHS Upperclassmen Play @ 7 p.m.
November 21—NESD School Board meeting @ 7 p.m.
November 23—Early Dismissal
November 24—28—No School (Happy Thanksgiving!)
November 29—Classes Resume
Helping parents ensure their child’s success
The Special Education Department plans to offer a
parent workshop on October 12th from 6:00—7:30
p.m. at the Administration Center. The focus of this
workshop is to provide parents with ideas on how to
be supportive of their children at home with homework, study skills, and building an effective line of
communication with the school to ensure their child’s
success.
Page 6
Northeastern Highlights
Curriculum Focus
new report cards will be in place beginning
The Northeastern School District has rewith the first report card in November.
vised the elementary and intermediate reThese new report cards provide a more deport cards. A report card committee, as
tailed account of the skills a child has maswell as various curriculum groups, met
tered and those that they have yet to learn.
throughout the 2010-2011 school year with
A separate sign-off sheet stating that you
the goal of creating a report card that comreceived the report card and a place to inmunicates student’s current knowledge and
clude questions or comments will be sent
specific abilities. We held many discussions
home with each report card and then
about how to best meet this goal and
Dr. Shawn Minnich,
returned to school. Please remember
examined numerous report cards
Assistant Superintendent
that the report cards are just one way
from other school districts. A draft of
of Curriculum & Instruction
of communicating with your child’s
the report card was piloted with approximately 40 students during the fourth quarter of teacher, and you are encouraged to contact them
the 2010-2011 school year. Parents and teachers com- throughout the school year whenever a question or
pleted a survey about the effectiveness of the new comment arises, or simply to check on your child’s
report cards. We are pleased to announce that the progress.
Anonymous Donor Funds Visits from Byrnes Health Education Center
Northeastern School District is grateful for a $10,000 anonymous donation that was
made to the Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center to be used specifically for our
students. This donation will allow students in grades 1-6 to participate in the Byrnes
Health Education Center’s outreach program. Representatives will travel to our
schools to present the information, which saves the district the cost of transporting
students to the center. Topics include drug education, team building, bullying prevention, nutrition and fitness, and human growth and development.
Grant Funds Transform NHS Fitness Center
The high school physical education department was
the recipient of a Highmark
Healthy High 5 Super+
School Challenge Grant in
the amount of $49,052.
The funds were split into a
two year cycle. The main
goal of the first year was to
obtain data that reflected
student effort during cardiovascular workouts, so
heart rate monitors were
purchased. This year, a
cardio fitness center was
created that is comprised
of safe and easy to use
equipment.
For the 2011-12 school year, the fitness center
moved into the auxiliary gymnasium. With the added
space, the new area is equipped with 10 stationary
bikes, five ellipticals, four treadmills, two ARC trainers, one hand bike, and a
complete set of weight machines. The room is furnished with three flat screen
TVs to create a nice, motivating area for students.
There is also a rock climbing
wall and agility stations that
use mini hurdles, agility ladders, jump boxes, five dot
drills, or medicine balls.
There is also space where
students can watch and follow fitness DVDs. The original weight room is now used
specifically for free weights.
This is a safe space where
students who are advanced in personal training can
exercise. A five year plan is in place to update, maintain, and add to the new fitness center.
Northeastern Highlights
Page 7
Child Nutrition Services Department Receives $25K Grant
York Haven Elementary School is getting a new dish machine, thanks to a $25,000 government grant. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) received $720,976 to distribute to schools for food service equipment. In order to be eligible for the grant, the request
had to improve the energy efficiency of the food service operation to drive down energy
costs, improve the food safety of food served in the school meals programs, expand participation in school meals program, and/or enhance the nutritional quality of school meals.
York Haven Elementary was one of 54 schools in the state chosen to receive the funds. The
Kim Alessandroni, dish machine is required to be in place and functional by January 2012. According to Kim
Director of Child Alessandroni, Director of Child Nutrition Services, “This is an exciting time for our departNutrition Services ment as we work to save money and become more energy efficient.”
Policy Spotlight: Northeastern School District’s Attendance Policy
Students are required by PA compulsory attendance laws
to attend school a minimum of 180 days each year. The
Northeastern Board of School Directors considers the following conditions to constitute as reasonable cause for an
excused absence from school:
x
x
x
x
x
x
Illness
Quarantine
Recovery from an accident
Required court attendance
Death in the family
Educational trips
Any student absent from school for any reason other than
those listed above will be considered as having an unlawful
absence. The following are examples of excuses that will
NOT be excused: oversleeping, a hunting/fishing trip, any
trip without prior permission, suspension of bus privileges,
or helping out at home.
x
x
x
x
x
The “No Child Left Behind” legislation has caused districts
across the county to reexamine the procedures and policies
that govern our operation. Each school is required to maintain an attendance rate of 90% or higher.
When schools possess an attendance rate lower than 90%,
the building is forced to implement an Improvement Plan
that is designed to remedy this situation. Being proactive in
this effort, NESD made several changes to the attendance
procedures in August 2004. Please review this policy and
contact your child’s principal with questions.
x
x
During the first semester, when a student accumulates
five days of absence, a “Letter of Concern” will be
mailed to the parent/guardian. It will indicate our concern for your child’s attendance.
During the first semester, students who accumulate
seven days of absence during the first semester will be
required to submit a doctor’s note for any absence that
x
x
follows.
Students who accumulate their tenth day of absence
during the second semester will be required to submit
a doctor’s note for any absence that follows.
The district will not include days for court appearances, religious holidays, funerals, and pre-approved
educational trips when determining the need for a
doctor’s note.
All absences of three days or longer require a doctor’s
note, regardless of the student's attendance record.
Students will be permitted—three days after their return to school—to produce an excuse for any absence
from school. An absence from school, which is not
supported by a written note from parents within three
school days of the absence, will be charged as unexcused.
Students accumulating three days of unexcused absences will receive an official warning. This warning
will be mailed to the parent/guardian and will not be
issued again until the student moves to a different
grade level at a different building in the district. Once
this warning is issued, any unexcused absences will
require the district to issue a citation for violation of
state attendance laws. A new citation will be issued
for every day of unexcused absence. Please note that
the first citation will cost $25 and every violation
thereafter could cost an additional $300, plus court
fees.
All requests for Pre-Approved Educational Trips will be
approved for no more than five days. This opportunity
is available once per year and must be approved by
the principal and superintendent at least two weeks in
advance.
It is the expectation of NESD that children attend
school regularly. Students absent from school do not
receive the instruction necessary to achieve mastery
of the standards established by the district. Questions
concerning your child’s attendance should be addressed by the building principal.
Northeastern School District
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 11
MANCHESTER, PA
41 Harding Street
Manchester, PA 17345
The Superintendent’s Message
Our thoughts and prayers go out to families who have experienced significant loss due to
the recent flooding. Our students and staff members have been reaching out to those
families who have been displaced by the flood, and are working to provide support to
those who experienced significant damage. It never ceases to amaze me how our
community deeply cares for one another.
During the days of the flood, it became necessary to send our students home early, and
to close school for two days. I would like to review the ways in which we will
communicate with our families regarding school closures.
Global Connect telephone call—We will make a district wide Global Connect call.
Please also know that we have discovered that especially during weather emergencies, the phone lines are not
always operational or messages may be difficult to understand. Please do not depend on this as the only way
your family will be notified. We also still use the “old fashioned” media sources as well.
Media Sources—Announcements will be posted at the following TV stations: WGAL-TV 8, FOX43, WHP-CBS
21, abc27-WHTM, WITF-33 and the following radio stations: 910 WSBA, WINK 103, 96.1 WSOX, 98.5 The
Peak.
Internet Sources—Announcements will be posted on the homepage of our website at www.nesd.k12.pa.us
and on both our Facebook and Twitter pages (see below).
It is especially important for families to update your school office personnel of any changes in emergency
contact numbers. Currently, our Global Connect system only houses one emergency number. We are looking
to expand this option for the future. Please know that we understand the importance of communicating clearly
with our families during an emergency and are constantly reviewing our practices to improve those systems of
communication.
Social Media
Become our fan on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/NortheasternSD
Follow us on Twitter!
twitter.com/NESD