OUR HEROES, PSD SCHOOL NURSES GET VACCINATED!
Congrats to our school nurses who were all vaccinated this week!
Top row: Penny Neeld, Kate Sadow and Robin Hahn
Bottom row: Heather Page, Elissa Harwick and Dawn Fulton
Thanks for your service to our students and families!
JANUARY IS SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH!
January is designated School Director Recognition Month – a time for us to celebrate and recognize the challenging and vital work boards do on behalf of our students, schools and families.
On average, school directors devote up to 10 hours per month to the complex responsibilities of board business, including adopting policy, voting on budgets, evaluating school security issues and reviewing hiring decisions. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has added an additional challenge to school boards, as they determine how best to provide for the needs of students and their families in this new environment. From navigating virtual board meetings to supplying students with needed food and technology and during remote instruction, boards were tasked with making critical decisions quickly with the best information available.
Board service is an unpaid position, and the majority of school directors cite their desire to give back or contribute to public education as the main motivation for their service. As locally elected officials, school directors are invested in their communities. They are our neighbors, friends, local leaders, parents and engaged citizens.
During this month designated for recognizing these public servants, please take a moment to express your gratitude for school directors’ time and efforts year-round on behalf of our communities. The job they do ensures our schools continue to provide opportunities for success for every student, even during unprecedented circumstances. Thank them for advocating on behalf of our collective interest and for the benefit of our children.
We are so thankful for your immeasurable dedication and commitment to our students and residents of the Palisades community!
REGION 1 - Bridgeton/Tinicum: Directors Freeman, Hallowell and LeBlanc
REGION 2 - Durham/Nockamixon/Riegelsville: Directors Haubert (Treasurer), Vandergast (Vice President) and Ott
REGION 3 - Springfield: Directors Fumo, Grochowiak, and Musantry (President)
TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD SERVICE UPDATES:
Transportation:
1. New bus schedules will be sent out through school messenger on January 18th, effective January 26th. This will be for all buses, all schools, all students, all routes.
2. New seat assignments, and a new seat number system, will also begin on January 26th.
3. On future virtual days, AM & PM Vo Tech students will be provided home to school, and school to home transportation. (No more drop spots). Routing is underway.
Food Service:
1. Back door breakfast & lunch meals are distributed for 7 days, on Mondays and Wednesdays. However, due to school closure we will not be distributing on Monday the 18th, and Monday the 25th. On those weeks, we will be handing out extra meals on the prior Wednesday.
2. All families are able to pick up meals for remote learning students. Pre-K through 18yrs. We also are providing food for all Charter school and non-public school students.
PALMS ONLINE MUSICAL - FREE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT!
Please join us as Palisades Middle School presents their annual musical in a new, digital format! The Mystery of Custodia: An Online Musical is a comedic whodunit, following an amateur sleuth and her fellow classmates as they tackle the mysterious disappearance of Janitor Humphrey and Lunch Lady Linda. With a lot of laughs and a lot of heart, this musical is bound to brighten your spirits (as it has our students!).
We have two talented cast lists this year, and with the show being fast-paced (and free to watch!), you should check out them both! A cast list is located here.
Premiere dates are as follows:
PURPLE CAST: Thursday, January 28th at 7 PM
GOLD CAST: Friday, January 29th at 7 PM
The shows will remain available on the PALMS Choir YouTube Channel after their premiere.
Thank you for supporting the PALMS Theatre Department and its dedicated and determined students.
MORE FROM OUR MUSIC DEPARTMENT...PHS PRESENTS - Musical for Spring 2021:
This year's spring musical, "High School Musical On Stage: One Act Edition" is set to live stream on Friday, March 5th at 7:00PM. Patrons can purchase tickets and view the show through the online platform "ShowTix4U". Adult tickets are $8, and Student/Senior tickets are $6. Please consider purchasing a ticket for everyone viewing the stream, as the ticket money helps sponsor this production. Based on the Disney Channel Original Movie, this on stage version is sure to entertain. Thank you for your support of our PHS Student Performers and Crew members. The link to purchase tickets is https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/43206 . Tickets are now on sale!
MORNING CALL TEAM OF THE YEAR!
During the winter break, our Football team was named the 2020 Team of the Year by the Morning Call newspaper! If you would like to read the full article, click this link. Congratulations to our coaches and team!
HAUBERT COMMITS TO CITADEL:
Prior to the winter break, Ben Haubert committed to attend the Citadel and wrestle at the Division I institution. To read the full article, click this link. Congratulations, Ben!
SANDY AIKEY RETIRES:
After 15 years as a front office secretary at the middle school, Mrs. Sandy Aikey retired. Just before the holiday break, her service to the students and families of PALMS was celebrated by colleagues (former and present).
From Dr. Karl Scheibenhofer, principal of the middle school,
“Sandy is a true professional who has shown by example that excellence is something to aim for every day. She is meticulous with everything she does and gets things done correctly the first time. Not only is she highly organized, dependable, and has great office and people skills, but she is the master resident budget keeper who keeps all of our spending in check. We are thankful to her for taking care of everyone around her (students, parents, teachers and administration). She is someone I am going to miss dearly. May this next chapter of your life be everything you want it to be. Whatever comes next for you, may it bring you happiness and fulfillment.”
MLK DAY VIRTUAL SUMMIT:
Please click this link to learn more about the upcoming virtual annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Teen Peace and Social Justice Summit scheduled for January 17th from 3pm to 5pm. The summit is for all Bucks County students grades 9th through 12th and middle school students that have the maturity to engage in discussions around race and racism.
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MESSAGE FROM BOARD MEMBER, JOHN DEBCZAK
Hello all. Happy New Year. I’m reaching out on a “need a favor basis”. Some of you may be familiar with the Palisades Community Foundation (PCF) and may have seen the commemorative engraved bricks we sell as a fundraiser on the wall at the High School football field/track. The bricks are a big part of our fundraising effort each year. All of what PCF raises each year goes directly back into our Palisades community.
In the past PCF has helped our community with funding for numerous projects such as the stadium lighting, the all weather track, and murals at our schools. Just to name a few. PCF also gives many grants to our students and teachers to help fund various projects and activities throughout the year.
We also give back to our community members in need. This past year , PCF offered hundreds of free dinners each week over the summer to our neighbors that were negatively impacted by the COVID -19 economic disruptions.
What we need from our community now is a mason that can help install our backlog of a dozen or so bricks that were sold recently. PCF would cover the cost of any supplies. We hope to find someone that can help install the bricks for us on an ongoing basis. But, even if someone can only help get us caught up with our backlog, that would be very much appreciated.
Please message me, or call me at 215-290-6007 if you can help or know of someone who can. Thank you.
AN INVITATION FOR INTERESTED FAMILIES:
Happy New Year! My name is Karen Montague and I am the Bucks County Lead Drug and Alcohol Prevention Specialist for the Drug and Alcohol Prevention Education Team (PEP) at Child and Family Focus, Inc. (CFF). We specialize in drug and alcohol prevention and intervention for youth and families in Bucks County, PA.
We are currently enrolling families in a free, evidence-based program we are implementing, Strengthening Families Program for parents/caregivers and youth ages 10-14 (SFP 10-14). This program has been running for 26 years and has so many positive benefits to families! We are starting on Monday, January 25, 2021-Monday March 8, 2021 from 5:30PM-7:30PM. There are seven sessions which will be completed over 7 weeks (1 session per week) plus, a graduation ceremony will take place at the end and families will receive certificates. The first hour will be two separate breakout rooms with Parents/Caregivers and youth and the second hour will be a family session all together. I want to extend the invitation to offer this program to the many Bucks County families you serve as well! I know many families could use positive resources during this time, it would be wonderful to play a role in uplifting as many families as possible.
The program is funded by Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc, it will be held virtually over ZOOM, families will receive weekly meal stipends every Monday evening, and free raffled off prize/giveaways such as, microwaves, vacuums, lamps, printers, art supplies, earphones, crockpots, etc. Attached please find a flyer and brochure about the program, SFP 10-14. The World Health Organization named Strengthening Families Program 10-14 the number one prevention program out of 6,000 programs analyzed for long-term effects on substance use and misuse. Topics Covered include peer pressure resistance, reducing stress, finding our family values, better communication skills, problem solving, goal setting, and understanding each other better.
For more on the Strengthening Families Program: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/sfp10-14/
BUCKS COUNTY LIBRARY CARD DRIVE RESULTS:
Congratulations to the families who signed up for public library cards through the Bucks County Library Card Campaign which ran right before the holidays. Families should look for their cards which will come home in goody bags throughout the next week.
The families who signed up had access to digital resources over the break which is very exciting! All buildings did great, however... PALMS had the most students enroll! Way to go PALMS families! (Don’t worry folks, you will get another opportunity again this year - more info to come!)
High School - 4
Middle School - 23 (wow!)
Durham Nockamixon - 6
Springfield - 2
Tinicum - 2
UBCTS - APPLY NOW!
UBCTS is now accepting on-line applications for the 2021-22 school year via our website https://ubtech.org/ubt/_top or https://upperbucks.enrolltrack.com/studentportal/#
Since many programs fill to capacity quickly, we encourage you to complete your application by February 12th.
CHROMEBOOK INSURANCE WINDOW NOW OPEN:
Register for chromebook insurance to cover accidental damage to your child’s chromebook the window is open from January 9-24th - take advantage of the low cost insurance offered to our families, click on this link to register: https://gpo.worthavegroup.com/gpo/palisd