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Over the past few weeks we said farewell to three board members. I want to thank these directors, Ed Diaiso, Jenna Ott and Terry Prykowski for their time, service and commitment to the North Penn School District (NPSD). While serving as a school board member is not easy, it can be extremely rewarding. Terry, Ed and Jenna served on multiple committees throughout their terms and were involved in many major decisions for NPSD. They were always a phone call away when support or input was needed. The three will surely be missed.
Last week, we swore in three new school new board members, Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell, Al Roesch and Cathy Wesley, and three returning board members, Elisha Gee, Tim MacBain and Juliane Ramic. I look forward to working with all nine members of the board of directors as we move North Penn School District forward and through important projects over the next few years, such as renovations to Crawford Stadium, Knapp Elementary School and North Penn High School.
There has been movement in these areas over the last several weeks. In October we rejected bids for the work at Crawford Stadium and rebid the project. These new bids came back last week and are almost $1 million less that the original bids. Our hopes are to begin work on this $8.4 million project in June. Needed improvements to the stadium include a new turf field, additional restrooms, making the stands handicapped accessible, a team room and a new press box. More information on this project and how you can get involved will be coming soon.
Plans for Knapp will be finalized in January and that work is slated to begin this summer. And although we do not have any specific plans for moving forward at North Penn High School (NPHS), serious talks will now commence. As many of you know, many improvements need to be made to the infrastructure at the nearly 50-year-old building. At the same time, we need to consider other changes that may be needed to bring the building current.
There are so many considerations and perspectives to consider as we plan for North Penn's future. Whether related to buildings, programs, culture or anything else, I need to hear from you, from our students, and from our community to help guide our decisions.
To that end, the first Community Conversations of the new year will be held Monday, January 13, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the NPSD Educational Services Center (ESC). These casual conversations are a time for you to tell me what is on your mind, ask me questions and work with me to solve some of the issues we face. I do not provide a formal presentation, I just sit down with you and talk. I truly hope you will consider joining me. To reserve your seat, click here.
As we head into next week and then the winter break, I hope you find time to relax with family and friends. As you do, please know how grateful I am for each and every one of you and your important role here at NPSD.
Sincerely,
Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed.D.
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3 Ways to Help High Schoolers Find Meaning in Service
What are college admissions officers looking for in the volunteering and service section of your student's application? Turns out it's not quantity or prestige, but rather,
meaning.
Service looks good on a college application, but this Harvard educator explains why quality is the key.
Parent Toolkit is a one-stop resource developed with parents in mind. It's produced by NBC News Learn and supported by Pearson and includes information about almost every aspect of your child's development, because they're all connected. Healthy, successful children can excel in many areas - in the classroom, on the court, and in their relationships with peers and adults. Our advice also covers important topics for navigating life after high school.
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Fall and Winter Classes
Now Open for Registration!
This fall, do something for YOU! Join others with similair interests and create something amazing. The NPSD Community Education Program offers a variety of learning and recreational experiences for people of all ages. From sports and fitness to music, theater and cooking classes, there's something for everyone! View classes and register now at www.northpenncep.org.
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Did you know NPSD has a monthly live program that all students and staff watch at the same time? Community members can watch live too the last Tuesday of every month at 10:00 am on our YouTube Channel. This month's issue features district news, student achievements, 21 things and more.
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Monday, January 13, 2020; 12 pm to 1 pm
NPSD Educational Services Center
401 East Hancock Street, Lansdale
Important: At the upcoming December meeting, representatives from the district's curriculum department will be available from 1:00 to 1:30 pm to discuss questions from parents and community members.
The North Penn School District and NPSD Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich are excited to once again offer families and community members the opportunity to speak one-on-one about important issues involving NPSD schools. Community Conversations, a series of informal meetings, gives attendees the chance to talk freely with Dr. Dietrich and share their concerns and suggestions for the NPSD.
In addition to addressing participant concerns, Dr. Dietrich will give summarized updates on school district news and ask for feedback and input on important district issues while allowing time for open questions from parents/guardians and community members. NPSD is working on multi-year solutions that focus on student success, staff development, financial security and a safe, healthy and orderly environment. This is an ideal opportunity for open discussion!
All North Penn community members, whether they have children in North Penn schools or not, are invited to attend these informative Community Conversations with Dr. Dietrich.
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NPSD Board of School Directors Meetings
To view agenda attachments and minutes from past meetings, please click here.
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To view a list of future meeting dates,
click here.
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The school store is now online!
Stock up on all your NPHS apparel by ordering online. To visit the NPHS School Store's website, please click
here.
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Stay up to date with the latest news, events and highlights from North Penn School District |
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In an effort to improve communications, the district has created "Say What" to provide people with a place to get answers to questions and to address rumors and inaccurate information that sometimes circulates throughout the community.
Click on the logo
to check out NPTV's
media library. New content
added daily!
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We want to hear from you! If you have a suggestion for a story idea or have comments, please email
[email protected].
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North Penn Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week
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All 18 schools and the staff and administrators at our district office recently united in celebration of Inclusive Schools Week! Spirit days were held each day of the week to celebrate what makes each of us unique and special. Every school also completed activities focused on inclusion. From PJs to tie die to crazy socks, bright colors and more, North Penn was the scene of some serious unified celebrating!
Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. The week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.
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NPHS Student Named Semifinalist in Prestigious Scholarship Program
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NPHS senior Divya Sood has been named a semifinalist in the 2019-2020 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, moving to the next round of the selection process for a chance to become a Coca-Cola Scholar and receive a $20,000 college scholarship.
Divya Sood was among 1,928 semifinalists who were selected from 93,075 initial applicants this past fall. In the next round of the program, Divya will complete an additional application including essays, an official transcript and letters of recommendation due in January 2020.
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PA Soccer Coach of the Year Award Earned by North Penn HS Boys' Soccer Coach Paul Duddy
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Photo Credit: Prasham Jobanputra, NPHS Knight Crier Sports Editor and Social Media Manager
NPSD is proud to announce that NPHS Boys' Soccer Coach Paul Duddy has been honored with the 2019 W. Gene Davis Memorial Award as Coach of the Year in the AAAA Male classification from the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.
Duddy has been the head coach of the NPHS Boys' Soccer team for the last 20 years, most recently leading the team to their first ever state championship title this past fall. The last four years have been historic for the Knights soccer squad, breaking records and setting milestones each year with Duddy leading the way.
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Gwynedd Square Honors Local Veterans
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Gwynedd Square Elementary School honored those who have served at an assembly program for Veterans Day.
The program featured the North Penn High School (NPHS) Junior Reserve Officer Corps (JROTC) as they presented the colors and performed various displays to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action. Students from the Gwynedd Square chorus, directed by Jill Swavely underscored the event with patriotic songs and speeches.
Students and staff were be joined by members of local retirement communities and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Members of the Upper Gwynedd police department and fire station were invited as well to be honored as people who serve our community.
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NPHS Student-Athletes Sign Letter of Intent
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Congratulations to the NPHS seniors who signed letters of intent last month for colleges and universities for the 2020 fall semester! For a full list and more information about these student athletes, click here.
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Full-Day Kindergarten Monthly Update
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Following months of preparation, planning and countless hours of hard work from hundreds of helping hands, NPSD successfully launched its full-day kindergarten (FDK) program beginning the 2019-2020 school year!
North Penn's FDK program has been carefully designed to fit the needs of incoming kindergarten students to learn in a caring, nurturing environment so that each student is educated to their fullest potential. As the school year unfolds, it's been remarkable to see all of these plans come to life each day in the classroom.
We'd love to share these successes with the community!
Each month, we will provide a video update highlighting key components of full-day kindergarten at North Penn. While each activity may take place at different times throughout the day and may look a little different from classroom to classroom, every kindergarten student at NPSD is experiencing these classroom models. This month, we take a look at social emotional learning and responsive classrooms.
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NPSD Educational Foundation Staff Tribute Program
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Looking for a holiday gift idea?
Show your appreciation to teachers and staff this holiday season with a gift that reaches more than 13,000 students every single day.
Many families wish to show their appreciation to a special teacher, principal or support person who makes a difference in their child's life by offering a small gift during the holiday season. While our staff greatly appreciates these genuine gestures of thanks, please consider giving a gift that keeps giving long after the holidays are over - a donation to the NPSD Educational Foundation.
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North Penn Community Takes a Ride
on the Bus to the Future
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Members of the North Penn community recently got an inside look at modern education at the district's Bus to the Future event. This program gives participants a unique way to discover and celebrate North Penn schools. Individuals had the opportunity to board a NPSD propane school bus and tour schools to see firsthand the important contributions that the North Penn School District is making to ensure the community's future by providing the very best educational opportunities to its students.
The day provided insight into North Penn's curriculum and its 21st century teaching strategies, as well as the use of technology in the classroom, exposure to its state-of-the-art facilities, and introduction to its many exceptional educational and extra-curricular programs. Riders were able to see firsthand the results of district efforts through interaction with the students.
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NPSD Closing, Delay and Dismissal Information
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Snow is bound to hit NPSD this winter! When the weather outside is frightful, NPSD Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich is very busy consulting with various school district departments, other school districts and weather outlets to assess conditions and whether school needs to be delayed, dismissed or cancelled. It is not an easy job.
On snowy mornings, Dr. Dietrich (if he sleeps at all) is awake for a conference call before 5 am. It is NPSD's hope that school delays and closings will be decided and posted via district communication channels by 5:30 am. In some challenging situations, that may not happen but the decision is always made as soon as possible.
It is important to note that district communication channels are always updated first. For the most accurate, up-to-date information, we recommend the following in order:
- Tune into North Penn Television (NPTV) on Comcast Cable channel 28 and Verizon FiOS channel 29 for the fastest information concerning delays and closings.
- Visit the main page of our website, as closing/delay information will always be posted in the "Announcements" section.
- Like NPSD on Facebook or follow NPSD on Twitter to see posts about closing/delay information.
- Tune in to local radio and television stations and listen for school closing number 303 for NPSD. Please note, NPSD cannot guarantee the timeliness of their posting of the information.
In situations when schools are dismissed early, all of the above-mentioned communication tools are used in addition to using the emergency messenger system. Because of this, it is very important to keep your contact information up to date with your school's office and on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
For more detailed information about inclement weather notification, turn to your 2019-2020 Activities Calendar or visit our School Closing and Delay page.
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