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Dear Community,
It is often said that the best gift anyone can give or receive is the gift of time. At this time of year, I want to express my gratitude for the time many of you have spent over the last six months getting to know me and telling me about yourself, your hopes for this school district and how we can work together to improve an already great school district.
I am especially proud of the partnerships we are further developing with local service organizations, places of worship, government and businesses. This week we took another step in connecting our community by facilitating a conversation between North Penn High School students and local law enforcement. The two-part Building Bridges meetings were planned with the goal of strengthening relationships between local law enforcement and North Penn’s diverse community members. The meetings, including students, parents, law enforcement, and district administration, are a safe space where we hope to further foster mutual respect and understanding. Equipping our students and staff with the desire to listen to others with the goal of understanding differences, rather than listening to respond or argue, can help us to not only appreciate one another, but also to celebrate the uniqueness of others.
Additionally, an important goal of administration is to reach out to parents and community members of diverse backgrounds to strengthen their connection and access to our schools. One recent outcome of this has been sessions in the community where participants can develop their English language skills and while learning to navigate NPSD tools such as Infinite Campus, Canvas and the district website. These sessions have been instrumental in ensuring that parents have access to student assignments, grades and important information about the school district.
As we celebrate National Inclusive Schools Week (December 5 to 9), this work has never been more important. We must be steadfast in our commitment to providing a supportive and quality education to ALL students, including those who come through our doors who are neuro-diverse, have physical disabilities, speak different languages or communicate in different ways, and more. Working together and understanding one another are foundational components of elevating the achievements of North Penn and its students.
Sincerely,
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Are you looking for an easy and free way to give back this holiday season? Use Amazon Smile when doing your holiday shopping! By utilizing Amazon Smile, 0.5% of your purchase total will be donated to the NPSD Educational Foundation, benefiting North Penn students every day. Amazon Smile costs nothing to use, and provides endless opportunities to future North Penn alumni. Give the gift of education to our students while shopping for gifts for your loved ones! | |
Dr. Bauer and Dr. Waters made a fun video to get us all ready for the winter season and remind the North Penn community of inclement weather policies and what to expect as the weather may turn snowy. Please take a moment to review the inclement weather policies below. | |
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Learn more about Grand View Health | |  |
Join the North Penn Alumni Association | | |
Behind the Scenes: NPSD School Nutrition Services | |
Dietetic Interns with NPSD School Nutrition Services | |
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The School Nutrition Services Department is currently hosting Dietetic Interns from Cedar Crest College, Amanda McConnell, and Georgia Allard. Amanda and Georgia completed their undergraduate degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics this past May, and are both residents of the North Penn School District! The two are now working on their Dietetic Internship; the next step in the career path to becoming a Registered Dietitian.
Students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian must participate in a Dietetic Internship to qualify for the registration exam. These programs are typically one year long and take place after a student has earned their bachelor’s degree. Dietetic Internships consist of coursework as well as supervised practice rotations including clinical, food service management, community, and various concentrations or electives. During these rotations, interns spend a minimum of 1000 hours working with Registered Dietitians and other food and nutrition professionals to train and learn about the field first-hand.
While with North Penn School District, Amanda and Georgia have worked with all grade levels to further their education as well as provide service to these schools. Tasks the interns have worked on during this time include assisting with the daily preparation of breakfast and lunch, performing safety audits following regulatory guidelines, participating in recording inventory, helping with catering events, providing food safety education to staff, and additional functions to running a foodservice operation. They also created a well-rounded lunch tray at the high school and submitted a picture for the Tray of the Month competition between Pennsylvania schools!
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While completing their Food Service Management rotation here at North Penn, Georgia and Amanda implemented a project which involved creating new menu items to be sampled during the high school's lunch periods. Both interns created around 250 2-ounce free samples of each of their new products to provide to students. Georgia created three different dips from around the world consisting of Baba Ghanoush, Tirokafteri, and Mast-O-Khiar. Baba Ghanoush, a popular dip from Lebanon, consists of eggplant, tahini, and garlic. Tirokafteri, a popular Greek dip, is made of roasted red peppers and feta cheese. Lastly, Mast-O-Khiar, a popular Persian dip, consists of Greek yogurt, cucumber, mint, green onions, and dill. Each dip was served with the options of carrots sticks, celery, green peppers, or pita bread. Amanda created a “Green Smoothie” that consisted of a combination of bananas, mango, spinach, and vanilla yogurt. These items were chosen to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into the lunch program and increase student’s intake of these foods in a fun, enjoyable way. These recipes were also chosen since they can easily be provided in the cafeteria as a new, quick, and convenient grab-and-go option for students at lunch. Both interns received excellent feedback from surveys on the products, with the fan favorites being the green smoothie and the Tirokafteri dip. Many students were excited by the free sample table and the ability to try new potential menu options. | |
Pennfield Student Raises Money for Manna on Main | | |
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For the second summer in a row, Pennfield Middle School student Devesh Waghmare taught chess classes to raise money for Manna on Main Street. He raised $565 that will go towards ending food insecurity in the North Penn community and supporting those in need! He donated over 30 hours of his time volunteering for Manna on Main Street, and taught chess along the way. Manna recently gave him and his family a tour of their facilities to see the impact of donations like Devesh's. Thank you Devesh for your service to this community and utilizing your chess prowess for good! | |
An Eye on Equity
A monthly feature from Dr. Pamula Hart, NPSD Director of Curriculum and Equity
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Strengthening the Partnership with Families | |
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Researchers have found that students benefit from a strong parental involvement, demonstrating:
- Higher overall achievement, regardless of socioeconomic, ethnic, or racial background
- A higher completion level on homework
- A higher level of self-esteem in all aspects of life
- Better social behavior and lower probability that they will get into trouble outside of school
- Greater comfort navigating different cultural environments between home and school
- Less likelihood of being placed in special education courses
- Less probability of dropping out of high school
To enhance the partnership between our schools and families, our faculty and staff use a variety of strategies and tools:
Set Expectations for Parental Involvement
Let parents know what role they can play in the classroom and how that can benefit you and your students. Be specific and give examples of how parents and teachers can partner together to support your students' educational goals and encourage student achievement.
Use Parent-Teacher Communication Strategies
Make sure parents are aware of the different ways to contact teachers, along with any necessary instructions or guidelines to make the interaction comfortable for them.
Consider Cultural Differences
It is important to acknowledge and validate cultural differences as part of an overall goal of making sure all students feel accepted, no matter their situation. Invite students' families to share their cultural, religious, and holiday traditions, and include those traditions in your classroom celebrations throughout the year.
Encourage Parental Involvement in Students' Learning
Keep parents informed and updated on how their students are progressing and what their curriculum looks like. This allows parents the ability to check in with their child about their learning and progress, set up reminders for events (like quizzes and assignment due dates) and intervene at home if they determine it is necessary.
Learning Resources for Parents
School has changed since many students' parents were in school, and sometime sit may be hard for them to keep up with all the new information and education styles. Send home learning resources not just for students, but also for parents.
Information About Student Grades and Progress
Frequent discussions about their child's progress will open the door for parents to reach out to you with less hesitation and more willingness to collaborate.
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You Could Save Up to $731 through NPSD Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program | Are you eligible? Do you know someone who is? Learn more and help us spread the word about this program! | | |
Oak Park Holds Surprise Winter Parade | |
Students at Oak Park Elementary School got a fun surprise last week on their way in to school- a parade! The North Penn Marching Knights and cheerleaders came and started the morning off right for Oak Park students. A big thank you to Hatfield Police for ensuring the safety of students and staff while having a little winter fun! | |
NPSD Educational Foundation Staff Tributes | |
As we approach the holiday season, many families wish to show their appreciation to a special teacher, principal, or staff member by offering a small gift. While our staff appreciates these genuine gestures of thanks, please consider an alternative- a gift in the name of that special staff member to the NPSD Educational Foundation. The staff member will receive a certificate of recognition indicating a donation was made on their behalf. Did we mention it would save you time on brainstorming and shopping? Our Staff Tribute Program shows your appreciation to staff by paying it forward to every student in the NPSD every day, and for years to come. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your donation to the NPSD Educational Foundation is tax-deductible and directly benefits North Penn students. Recognize those who have made a difference in your student's life with a gift that will support innovative educational opportunities for all! | |
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Have you checked out the digital Community Bulletin Board lately? It's a great place to find events for you, your family, and more! Come and learn about the latest events in the North Penn. Interested in having your fliers included on the board? Groups that are registered non-profits can find instructions on the webpage to submit their fliers.
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We need your help. Every school district across the state is experiencing a shortage of substitute teachers, which can impact student learning. If you have a four-year degree and enjoy working with children and teens, you can help us by joining the North Penn School District as a substitute teacher!
In addition to paying the highest rate in the county (starting at $180 per day; $170/day for guest teachers), we also provide great flexibility regarding daily assignments. You can share your availability and work as it fits your schedule. We will also provide training!
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