Wydra-Gat uses the Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) infant simulator with her class

When teaching eighth grade students about human development in her family and consumer science class (FCS), Florence Wydra-Gat wanted a way in which she could effectively show her students the devastating effects of shaking a baby.

Thanks to a grant from the North Penn School District Educational Foundation, Wyra-Gat was able to purchase a Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) infant simulator. She uses this simulator and lesson with the entire eighth grade class at Penndale Middle School. 

One remarkable point about Wydra-Gat's lesson is the way that it builds upon a parent's frustration and anxiety when hearing their baby cry. A few minutes into her 40-minute lesson, Wydra-Gat plays a baby crying on her iPod. She leaves the cry on during her lesson and while students try to participate in class discussion or complete a worksheet. To add to their annoyance, Wydra-Gat walks up to her students and puts the crying track near them. Students quickly get annoyed and ask her when she will shut off the crying noise.

As a class, the group discusses various things they can do to make the baby stop crying. After a diaper change, quick feeding and burping of the students' baby dolls, the crying noise still continues. At this point in the lesson, Wydra-Gat takes the SBS doll and, out of frustration, begins to shake the doll. After only a brief shake, LED lights on the infant simulator's head turn on and the accelerometers inside the infant's head measure the force on the brain. After about 10 seconds of shaking, the baby's complete skull lights up and the crying stops.

A close up of the Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) infant simulator purchased by the Foundation

A video provided by the National Center for Shaken Baby Syndrome finishes the lessons. Parents of children with brain damage from shaken baby syndrome discuss how the situation happened and the result it has on their children. Students also learn about characteristics of a person most likely to shake a baby and how to develop a plan for handling frustration, anger and stress when a baby cries.

Although this lesson is quite somber, the message is poignant to her students. "My students are babysitters, brothers and sisters, future parents and caregivers," said Wydra-Gat. "They need to understand how quickly and innocently a baby can be effected by being shaken. Their interactions with children can have life changing results."

It's easy. All you have to do is tell Univest Corporation, via Facebook, why the Foundation deserves the donation! The Univest contest launched Monday, December 2nd. The organization with the most posts on the Univest Facebook page by December 30 at 8 p.m. will receive $5,000!

Here's how it works:

Nominate the NPSD Educational Foundation by posting a comment on the Univest Facebook page explaining why the Foundation should win the money. Each "post" will count as an entry for the Foundation, so please encourage your friends and family to do the same!

To make it even easier for you, here is a sample post:

The North Penn School District Educational Foundation has been inspiring students and teachers for the past 25 years. The Foundation supports innovative classroom projects that would not be possible otherwise. Every curriculum and every grade level in NPSD is supported through the work of this organization.

A representative from First Priority Bank presents NPSD trustee member and NPSD superintendent Dr. Dietrich with a donation

Continued excellence in NPSD schools depends on a partnership with the North Penn community. One way your business or company can support the students of the North Penn School District is by making a contribution to the NPSD Educational Foundation through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

The Foundation has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) as an Educational Improvement Organization (EIO), meaning that our organization can accept EITC. The EITC program makes it affordable and convenient for you to contribute to the education of Pennsylvania's children and make an impact in our community. Read about this exciting program below.

Why donate to the Foundation through EITC?
It is a win-win-win opportunity! By making a tax deductible donation to the Foundation through the EITC program, your business has the ability to positively affect your future, as well as fulfill community philanthropic obligations. Your contribution benefits your business, North Penn School District and our students.

Your business gets to set goals, participate in the process to ensure education and training is being targeted in the most appropriate areas to create a qualified 21st century labor force. Businesses making an EIO donation may be eligible to receive a tax credit of 75% for a one-year commitment or 90% for a two-year commitment. Eligible companies may take up to $400,000 in tax credits for fiscal year 2013-2014.

The group that benefits the most from the EITC program and your contribution is North Penn School District students. They will receive targeted, pertinent, meaningful educational programming that prepares them for real world jobs.

Through your donation to the NPSD Educational Foundation, North Penn School District receives new, active funding and a partnership with our community businesses.

Is my company eligible to participate in this partnership?
Corporations who pay one or all of the following taxes qualify to participate in the EITC program: 

• Corporate Net Income Tax
• Capital Stock Franchise Tax
• Bank & Trust Shares Tax
• Title Insurance Companies Shares Tax
• Insurance Premiums Tax
• Mutual Thrift Institutions Tax
• Personal Income Tax of S Corporation Shareholders or Partnership

To learn more about EITC or to earmark a donation to the Foundation, please contact the Foundation's executive director Christine Liberaski at (215)853-1020.