Superintendent’s Report
October 13, 2011
Student Recognition:
Lebanon CTC:
1. Sarah Kinney: 2011 PHS graduate (Child Care Services Program) represented the Lebanon CTC in Anaheim, CA July 10-14 for the 2011 National Leadership Conference. The student-originated theme for the annual national meeting was “Imagination in Action.”
2. Zachary Gall: 2011 PHS graduate (Law Enforcement Program) is featured on their September newsletter in a picture advertising spirit wear.
Staff Recognition:
Gary Zellner was called upon to serve at IU13 on a panel as a literacy expert. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Educational Laboratory and Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 sponsored Improving Reading Comprehension for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. The day featured a keynote address by Dr. Timothy Shanahan and a panel of local expert literacy practitioners, representing members of the IU 13 Reading Supervisors’ Group, who spoke about examples of exemplary practice for each of the five research recommendations for comprehension instruction for primary grades.
Enrollment Update:
It is not unusual for student enrollment to shake out a bit in the first month of school. We monitor our enrolment monthly throughout the year. This year August and September both ended with the exact same Palmyra enrollment, 3,280.
| | 10/1/11 | 10/1/10 | 10/1/09 | 10/1/08 | PEL Study Projection for 11-12 |
| Elementary | 1,533 | 1,530 | 1,526 | 1,501 | 1,520 |
| Middle School | 806 | 774 | 709 | 703 | 878 |
| High School | 941 | 930 | 1,016 | 987 | 1,073 |
| Total | 3,280 | 3,234 | 3,251 | 3,191 | 3,471 |
The HS has a 10th grade class of 204 moving through that is about 25-50 students smaller than the other HS grades. In fact, all other grades K-12 range from 227 (12th grade) to 269 (7th grade). In October 2002, Palmyra’s enrollment was 2,774, which means this year’s enrollment numbers represent a student increase of 506 students district-wide in ten years. Also, note that after a one-year drop, we have again seen an increase in our student population.
Safety:
Last week, two of our elementary buildings participated in student safety days.
1. As part of our REMS grant, Pine Street students participated in a Functional Drill. Under the direction of Wayne Trotta and Daryl Reisinger, local police and fire as well as Lab Lion from Hershey supported us in an evacuation drill. Students from Pine were evacuated to the Middle School stadium. The entire process of evacuation, attendance, walking to the MS, attendance (again), and returning took just a little over 20 minutes. The Palmyra Borough Police Chief commented on how amazingly well behaved our students were. Principal Pat Bachman and all the teachers had prepared the students well. We hope we never have to evacuate for an actual emergency but it is good to know we are now better prepared.
2. Students at Forge Road participated on a Safety Walk similar to what Northside students participated in last spring. All students went in a 30-minute safety walk by walking a few blocks away from school and then back to school. The event was led by Dauphin County Safe Kids, PSU Children’s Hospital, and Fed Ex. The Palmyra police helped during the walk as well. Students carried signs encouraging people to pay attention to the safety of children walking to and from school. After the walk, students participated with rotating stations on the playground. These stations were based around safely using cross walks, avoiding danger, and staying clear from strangers.
United Way:
This year’s campaign has kicked off in Palmyra. Due to the number of our staff, their friends, and family members who were impacted by the recent flooding, we are taking a different approach to our United Way Campaign. Many in our Palmyra schools family have been impacted and many have already given a lot locally. This year’s letter stressed the personal nature of giving.
Superintendent Professional Growth:
I will attend the IU13 Chiefs’ Study Trip at the end of October. We will drive to Washington, DC for two days to meet with officials in the offices of Arnie Duncan, Secretary of Education, Senators Bob Casey, Jr. and Pat Toomey, and Congressman Joe Pitts. We will also receive training in the Stephen Covey work Leading at the Speed of Trust. I will be available by phone and e-mail while out of the district.
