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Pennsbury Partners Program

2013 - 2014

Annual Report

The Pennsbury Partners Program (PPP) has forged over 1,000 partnerships with businesses and local community organizations for the last 19 years, benefiting Pennsbury students, families and the community.

These partnerships enable the School District to:

demonstrate real-life applications of the Pennsbury curriculum;

offer opportunities for students to provide community service; or

offer mentoring programs and other career awareness and development activities to prepare students for satisfying careers.

Each partnership helps to prepare students for higher education and the workforce of our future.

PARTNERSHIP & GRANT SUCCESSES SUMMARY

The Pennsbury Partners Program had another busy and successful year. Some highlights include:

1. Established THIRTEEN new partnerships including: The Princeton Review, One Simple Wish, Raymour & Flanigan, Futura College Planning, RedBerry Frozen Yogurt, Stages Academy Pre-School, Maaco Penndel, Creative Financial Group of NJ, Generations Tae Kwon Do, Edward Jones Investments, G2 Computers, Dale Carnegie Training, and Home Depot.

2. Celebrated the 15th year of recognizing outstanding business and non-profit partnerships via the Annual Partnership Recognition Dinner. Approximately 150 business people, non-profits, administrators, school board members, teachers and community members attended.

3. The Pennsbury Partners Advisory Board Mini-Grant Committee awarded eleven schools with 13 special corporate-sponsored grants for a total of $5,500. The main purpose of the annual PPP Mini-Grant program is to foster partnership development in each school. See page 11 for more information.

4. Corporate sponsorships received for next year’s PPP Mini-Grants topped almost $7,000.

5. This year, the PPP Office provided over $1500 for transportation costs to school classrooms for six different partnership opportunities.

6. In addition to the PPP Mini-Grant Awards, a new STEM partnership was established- a partnership activity with all three middle schools and the National Aerospace Training and Research Center (NASTAR). Three grants were awarded, $500 to each middle school, for a total of $1,500 for these new activities, Middle School Young Adults in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Partnership Program. See page 8 for more information.

7. This year over $430,000 in grant/sponsorship money was raised. See page 10 for more information.

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15th Annual Partnership Recognition Dinner

With an attendance of over 150 guests, the Pennsbury Partners

Program celebrated its 15th year of recognizing outstanding

business and non-profit partnerships.

The William Penn Middle School Cafetorium was transformed

with red, black, and silver decorations for an “Oscar-Themed”

night to remember! When guests arrived, they were greeted by

trumpeters from the Pennsbury High School Marching Band.

Inside, our partnership guests networked with District School

Board members, administrators, and teachers who attended. The

guests were entertained by a quartet from the Pennsbury Concert

Jazz Band.

This year’s dinner theme was “Asian Delight”. Metz

Culinary Management prepared a fantastic meal while

guests were treated to a wonderful musical performance

by members of the Pennsbury String Orchestra

throughout dinner.

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During the highlight of the night, the prestigious Pennsbury Partners Program Recognition Awards were

presented to the outstanding school/business and school-non-profit partnerships. The recipients of the

awards were:

2013-2014 School-Non-Profit Award United Way- LYFT

2013-2014 School-Business Award Top It! Frozen Yogurt Café

From l/r Jon Leventry, PHS Student, Tim Philpot, Pennsbury LYFT Project Director , Gary Sanderson, Pennsbury School Board Member, Pastor Vicky Allen, LYFT Coordinator , Brianna Vest, PHS Student, Sam Lipoff, PHS Student, and Kat Sestrick, PHS Student.

From l/r Dr. Donna Dunar, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Mr. Sid Schechter, Co-Owner of Top It! Frozen Yogurt Café, and Keara Sanderson, PHS Student.

Special Recognition Award

Yellow Bird Players

Pennsbury Bus Drivers/Yellow Bird Players: from l/r Doris Kelsall, Colleen Sims, Patricia Carver, Joanne DeSanto, Charlie Williams, Director of Transportation, Michele Crouse, Denise “Bunny” Martin, Rosemary Gushue, Virginia “Ginny” Capriotti, and Marie Wojcik

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Annual Partnership Highlights Around the District

In the 2013-2014 school year, more than 100 partnership activities were logged into PAK, the District’s

partnership database. Listed below are examples of outstanding school partnerships by school, focusing on

Curriculum, Career Awareness and/or Community Service opportunities:

Afton Elementary

Housepaws- Dr. Dana Koch came to visit Afton Elementary’s

third grade students to present information on becoming a

Veterinarian. She used x-rays, models, and specimens to help

the students understand the job of a Veterinarian. She also

shared three books that she wrote about her therapy dog,

Winston. She brought Winston (pictured in the center of the

photo) to meet the group.

Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary

David John Woods- With the help of Artist-in-Residence David

John Woods, a tile mosaic mural was created with a theme of

peace. It features quotes from the school's namesake, Eleanor

Roosevelt. Colorful geometric designs were created by

students. The entire Eleanor Roosevelt school community was

involved in the creation and implementation of this long

lasting project.

Edgewood Elementary

PECO- Edgewood 5th grade students were given energy saver kits from PECO. They could install the

materials in their homes, and then conduct activities to see how much energy and water they were saving

with these more efficient supplies.

Fallsington Elementary

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County- Big Brothers and Big Sisters are matched with students that have

been recommended by their teacher or counselor. Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief

that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. This on-site, one-to-one volunteer

mentoring program, facilitated by BBBS of Bucks County, seeks to help each child reach his or her potential.

This year eight adults from the community formed relationships with eight students in Fallsington, meeting

several times a month. Long-lasting relationships were built and sustained, creating a positive impact in

children’s lives.

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Annual Partnership Highlights Around the District

Makefield Elementary

Students Go To Work- Each year, with the help of local businesses and a grant from the Pennsbury Partners

Program, fifth-grade students participate in Makefield Elementary “Students Go to Work Day”. This annual

event is composed of 90 fifth-grade students and over 30 different businesses in the Yardley, Morrisville or

Fairless Hills areas. Some of the partners involved were: Yardley Jewelers, Charcoal Steaks, Mil-lees, O'so

Inviting, Rep. Steve Santarsiero’s office, Marazzo’s Manor Lane, Ye Olde Yardley Florist, Shady Brook Farm,

Old Navy, Macaroni Grill, Chick-Fil-A, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Endurance Sports, McCaffrey’s Supermarket,

Giant Foods, Fulton Bank, Villa Rosa and Carlucci’s.

Manor Elementary

Top It! Frozen Yogurt Café- In conjunction with a

fundraiser to raise money for a new playground,

Principal Christopher Becker promised to allow his

head to be shaved in front of the entire student

body. Top It! Frozen Yogurt Café provided the class

that raised the most money during the fund raising

effort, certificates for one free yogurt. Top It! also

awarded all Manor families and staff a 50% off

entire purchase voucher to be used that night to

celebrate the children’s reading and Mr. Becker’s

new summer hairdo!

Oxford Valley Elementary

Yellow Bird Players- A group of Pennsbury School bus

drivers known as The Yellow Bird Players, visited

Oxford Valley Elementary to teach the first and second

graders about bus safety. The Yellow Bird Players put

on a worthwhile show for the younger children, lasting

about 20-30 minutes.

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Penn Valley Elementary

Rite Aid Distribution Center- Fifth grade students from Penn Valley visited the Rite Aid Distribution Center

to learn about their business. Students toured the warehouse/workplace for a real time experience to

understand how a distribution center operates. The students stopped at various work stations where

employees discussed with the students what they do and what is important to their jobs. Students were

treated to lunch. After their lunch and tours, students won prizes for answering questions related to the tour

and distribution chains.

Walt Disney Elementary

Solvay- Scientists from Solvay came to Walt Disney

and did several science experiments with students

using new microscopes as part of the science

chemistry curriculum. A grant was received from

Waste Management to purchase the new

microscopes, and the Solvay scientists showed the

students how to use them.

Quarry Hill Elementary

United Way of Bucks County- Third grade students of Quarry Hill donated baby items for their Baby Bundles

collection. The United Way then came in to talk with the students on ways the United Way provides

assistance to the community.

Charles Boehm Middle

Exelon Energy Education Center- With the help of a PPP

Mini-Grant, 7th grade students took a tour of the

Exelon Energy Education Center, and were able to work

with the interactive displays, focusing on sparking their

interest in how electricity is created; landfill gas, solar

energy, wind and hydro power. This trip is always a big

hit with the students!

Annual Partnership Highlights Around the District

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Pennwood Middle

Bucks County Community College and ITT Technical Institute- Through the combined efforts of the PPP

Mini-Grant program and partners, Bucks County Community College and ITT Technical Institute, 8th grade

special education students from Pennwood participated in the Career Connections program. This program is

a special career development project designed to give the students an opportunity to plan future careers.

Students were given a tour of the campus and meet with the Assistant Director of Admissions and the

Director of Disability Services at Bucks County Community College. At ITT Technical Institute, the students

were given an overview of the school and a tour. Students then were introduced to a teacher and did hands-

on activity with the computers in the forensics department.

William Penn Middle

CBS 3 Weather- Justin Drabick, a meteorologist from CBS 3,

brought the Mobile Weather Lab to William Penn. He spent

about 40 minutes speaking to a group of 7th graders about his

career as a meteorologist. Justin allowed students to ask

questions about his training and job. A live weather report

broadcast followed, featuring our William Penn students.

Pennsbury High School

Raymour & Flanigan- Pennsbury Partner, Raymour & Flanigan, donated

materials to the Pennsbury High School art classes to design and illustrate

holiday ornaments. An open house was held at Raymour & Flanigan, where

customers were treated to the holiday sounds from members of the

Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band while they shopped, and participated in the

auction to purchase these beautifully handcrafted ornaments. All proceeds

from the sales of the ornaments benefitted the Bucks County Courier Times’

annual “Give a Christmas Fund.”

Annual Partnership Highlights Around the District

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Charles Boehm, Pennwood and William Penn

National Aerospace Training and Research (NASTAR)-

Students from all three middle schools travelled to NASTAR

and attended presentations on types of engineering and

technical careers for consideration, including a tour of the

commercial air and space training and educational facility.

Students were enamored by the amazing aerospace

equipment, especially the functioning centrifuge, ejector

seat, flight simulator and hypobaric chamber. They were

able to ask questions about the world of aerospace

engineering and training. Students were especially excited to

watch a foreign air force pilot train for combat and aircraft

carrier landings.

District-wide

Barnes & Noble- Renowned author, Rick Riordan

paid a visit to the Pennsbury School District. The

event, coordinated with Pennsbury Partner, Barnes &

Noble, took place at an almost sold-out Pennsbury

High School East Auditorium. Copies of Riordan's

newest book, The House of Hades, were purchased

and autographed. These books were the price of

admission for families attending the event. Students

learned how Mr. Riordan became a writer.

District-wide

Bucks County Performing Arts Center- Guy Davis, renowned

blues musician reviving the tradition of acoustic blues, held a

one-week residency, and performed in 11 assemblies

throughout the District. Closely connected with jazz, blues

music has roots in the south, in the fields where West African

slaves cooked. Children learned to successfully identify

different types of blues music, based on style, rhythm, and

origin.

Annual Partnership Highlights Around the District

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District-wide

Davis Dealerships- Once again this year, Pennsbury Partner, Davis

Dealerships, is sponsoring the Pennsbury Odyssey of the Mind Association

(POMA) program in our schools. Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is a team-

oriented program that promotes creative problem-solving among students

from kindergarten through college years. The international organization

offers each OM team many opportunities to use teamwork, brainstorming,

self-reliance, creativity, and respect for individual strengths in unique,

unforgettable experiences that will serve them in every aspect of their lives.

District-wide

G2Computers- At an end-of-year Math award

celebration, G2Computers recognized three

students, one at each level of education, with a

$100 award in recognition of their exceptional

math achievements during the year. This year,

awards went to Jacob Wachpress (PHS Junior),

Adam Davis (Charles Boehm 8th grader), and Ohm

Shah (Edgewood 5th grader).

District-wide

Children Helping Children in Need- Once again this year, in

Partnership with the Pennsbury Partners program and the

Levittown-Fairless Hills Rotary Club, Pennsbury elementary

schools held a food drive, Children Helping Children in Need.

Several tons of canned goods and paper goods were

collected to benefit families at the Family Services

Association Homeless Shelter.

Annual Partnership Highlights Around the District

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Successful District & School Grants and Sponsorships

The Partners Program is happy to announce another successful year with various grants awarded to the Pennsbury School District. Competitive and partnership awards include:

Partner Funding Opportunity Amount

Davis Acura Sponsorship Pennsbury’s Odyssey of the Mind $6,000

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company

Young Women in Technology $1,200

Levittown-Fairless Hills Rotary Support for Odyssey of the Mind $500

Waste Management Environmental Education projects at 5 schools

$4,000

PECO Energy William Penn partnership with PECO $5,000

Wells Fargo Community Partnership $1,000

Chick-fil a Spirit Week $1,000

PDE Pre-K Counts Walt Disney & Oxford Valley Elementary Pre-k classes

$405,941

Partnership Funding/Sponsorships Teacher PPP Mini-Grants $6,970

TOTAL $431,611

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PPP Mini-Grants

This year, the PPP Office awarded one mini-grant to each school that applied! Applications were reviewed by the PPP Advisory Board Committee, and the following ten schools received thirteen PPP mini-grants for a total of $5,500.

Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary ($500):

M. Pamela Soda – Creating Public Art at E.R.; A Tile Mosaic Mural

Fallsington Elementary ($500):

Carey Stolber – Spring Science Meets Art Library

Kristen Cahill - Let's Learn About Safety

Monica James – Colonial Day at Washington Crossing Park

Makefield Elementary ($500):

Fifth Level Teachers - 5th Grade School to Work

Oxford Valley Elementary ($500):

Cherie Lynne Kooker - Have you Filled your Bucket Today?

Penn Valley ($500):

Karen DeSpirito, Jennifer Gatt, and Saundra Kandravi – Trip to Rite Aid Distribution Center

Walt Disney ($450):

Lorie Becker – Polar Bear Action Lab

Charles Boehm ($500):

Melissa Vitucci - Exelon Renewable Energy

Pennwood ($500):

Linda Alampi - Careers Connecting

Stacy Kirsh - The Odyssey Experience

William Penn ($500):

Bridget Blackshire, Kelly Giacomelli, and Kristin Slota – STEM Design Challenge 2014

Pennsbury High School- East ($500):

Frank Mayo - Career Fair

Pennsbury High School- West ($500):

Nancy Quigley and Terri Calpino- Behind the Scenes at the Yardley Inn