Superintendent’s
Report
March 14, 2013
Student Recognition:
·
All-State
Band: Ashley Cypher and Sarah Speck, senior clarinetists, successfully
auditioned for this band which earns them the right to attend the All-State
Festival which takes place April 17-20 in Erie, PA.
·
MS
Brass Ensemble (Kara Schoessler) and Celtic Strings (Travis Pierce) were
honored yesterday to play in the Capitol rotunda at noon. Check our website for
photos and a video. They received rave compliments.
·
MS musical, Camp Rock, will be March 15 & 16 & HS Musical (King & I) will be March 21-24.
·
Our first ever Palmyra Pride Night
will be Monday, March 25. It will include information on our budget, guiding
principles, strong academic scores, unveiling of our new cougar statue gifted
by the Class of 1946, and many displays by students from all of our divisions.
You will NOT want to miss it. It will be held throughout the HS building.
·
We have had an amazing winter sports
season concluding today with swimmers and divers at the state competition.
·
Hannah Wastyk is 1 of 3 grand
champions in the Capital Area Science & Engineering Fair earning her the
right to go on to international competition in Arizona. Her project entitled: "Discovering
a Metabolic Weakness in Melanoma Through Targeted Gene Inhibition" 1) took
a first place medal, 2) was the winning project in her division (Cellular and
Molecular Biology), 3) was one of 3 grand champion winners overall!
·
CTC Students:
o Student organization officers: Medical Assistant Club ~
Alexander Hartman, Co-Treasurer; Katelynn Miller, Secretary; Sadie Spitler,
Erika Andrews, & Charly Marsh, Historians
o National Technical Honor Society: Georgia Ferchalk,
Cosmetology & Michael Rambler, Auto Body
o Students-of-the-Quarter: Sean Laird, Landscape Technology,
Stephen Bale & Joshua Maurer for OTP-Hospitality
·
HS Mini-Thon: Students broke all
records by raising over $59,000 for Four Diamonds. The top fund-raisers will be
honored in April for Palmyra Pride.
Travel:
Ms. Cindy Hitz is
planning a student travel group to Costa Rica in June of 2014. Mr. Karavage
will also go as a chaperone. This opportunity is completely outside of the
school program and between the teacher organizer and parents. But, teachers
planning such trips inform the board as a courtesy. Ms. Hitz noted that she
welcomes anything the board would like her to consider when planning this trip.
Out & About:
·
Darcy,
Lisa, and I completed our visits to each building to answer or discuss budget,
future direction, or any other topics of interest. An average of 8 staff
members attended each drop-in session and we discussed a broad range of topics.
·
A
Board member and I attended the IU13 Legislative Breakfast. Each Lebanon County
district was represented by the Superintendent and at least 1 Board member.
Unfortunately, the only legislators who could attend were from Lancaster
County.
Division
Reports:
Elementary:
· Refining safety
procedures include: monitor & lock doors; visitor & dismissal
procedures; continue drills for fire, severe weather, & lockdown for
intruders.
· Instrumental Music
teacher KD LaPine organized a 5th grade talent show at Pine. Acts
included vocal & instrumental (both solo & ensemble), dancing, &
gymnastics.
· Author/illustrator Bron
Smith visited all four elementary schools & conducted grade level demonstrations
courtesy of the PTO. The students enjoyed hearing about his experiences with
books & watching him draw.
· Fifth
grade students took the PSSA Writing Assessment the week of March 11. Each
school rearranged their related arts schedules to ensure that tests were given
at optimal times & with adequate proctoring.
Middle School:
·
Winners of the PA Math League
Contest:
o
8th Grade: Taylor Slusser (1st),
Tessa Flanagan (2nd), Kailey Elrod (3rd)
o
7th Grade: Ryan James and Sarah
Hollen (1st), David Bieler, Joey McInerney, Nathan Riek (3-way time
for 2nd)
o
6th Grade: Cameron Romberger
and Braeden Drescher (1st), Eugene Lee, Spencer Sattazahn, Kyle Wasilewski,
Caleb Randall (2nd)
·
Festival of the Arts: 7th
grade students were exposed to a host of arts that included, but were not
limited to: archery, fly fishing, tatting, acting, line dancing, sign
language, wood carving, Irish dancing, karate, photography, knitting,
cake/fruit decorating.
·
Fun Friday: Students raised over $2,800
for Special Olympics. Students played games, danced, exercised, ate, & won
prizes.
·
Paws for a Cause Club: 10 students visited
the cancer center at the Hershey Medical Center.
·
Outdoor Ed: Students will be at
Outdoor Ed the weeks of May 13-17 and 20-24. Ms. Waiter has again invited
administrators and board members to visit and personally see the program. Be
sure to notify her or me in advance so Ms. Waiter can be prepared to give you a
tour and have adequate food if you can be there for a breakfast, lunch, or
dinner.
