Student Spotlight:

nORTH pENN 24 cOMPETITION sCORES BIG

With 13 Elementary Schools

On the afternoon of May 7^th, over 130 elementary students, representing each of the 13 schools, met in the Walton Farm Elementary School cafeteria to compete in the annual 24 Math Competition.  Each student participated in three rounds of the fast paced problem solving game, taking four numbers and mentally developing equations that equal the number ‘24.’ Parents, friends and siblings watched with great anticipation as students worked through the problems to earn points.

In the end, three students emerged as top scorers.  The bronze medal went to David Smith of Hatfield Elementary School, the silver was awarded to Jacob Diamond of Walton Farm Elementary School and the gold went home with Inglewood Elementary School student Steven Landes.  Special thanks go to the teachers, math support assistants and parent volunteers who run the 24 Clubs in each of the elementary buildings.  The enthusiasm continues to grow!

Pennbrook Middle School Students receive awards at Montgomery county and delaware valley Science Competitions

Congratulations to the following ninth grade students from Pennbrook Middle School who accumulated the highest number of points in the 2009 Montgomery County Science Research Competition, earning them the Edward C. Otwell Award for the fourth year!

The following students from Pennbrook Middle School also received accolades at the 2009 Delaware Valley Science Fair:

Bobby Dougherty

Second Place in Behavior & Social Sciences, 25^th Benjamin Banneker Science Fair

American Psychological Association, American Psychological Award

Bob Ni

Third Place in Chemistry, 25^th Benjamin Banneker Science Fair

AstraZeneca Award

NANO/BIO Interface Center Award

Dylan Eiger

Third Place in Computer, 25^th Benjamin Banneker Science Fair

NANO/BIO Interface Center Award

Franco Gigliotti

Second Place in Earth & Space Sciences, 25^th Benjamin Banneker Science Fair

Wesley Newcomer

American Meteorological Society, Certificate

Katie Blocklove

Second Place in Environmental, 25^th Benjamin Banneker Science Fair

Jason Keller

First Place in Medicine & Health, 25^th Benjamin Banneker Science Fair

Philadelphia Drug Exchange First Place Award

Eric Goldstein

Third Place in Medicine & Health, 25^th Benjamin Banneker Science Fair

Philadelphia Drug Exchange Third Place Award

Gary Li

Second Place in Physics, 25^th Benjamin

For more information, please contact Pennbrook Middle School Gifted Resource teacher Carol Ward at wardca@npenn.org.

nphs sTUDENTS RECEIVE MONTGOMERY SCHOOL NURSES’ ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS

Congratulations to North Penn High School students Jennifer Senske and Ryann Biedlingmaier who were recently honored as recipients of the Montgomery County School Nurses’ Association scholarship. This is the 25^th year the Association has awarded scholarship grants. The Association awarded 24 students scholarships this year.

A $1,000 scholarship grant has been awarded to Jennifer Senske, who has been accepted into Villanova University, Early Action for the fall semester of 2009. Jennfier has maintained straight A’s for the past four year of school, while taking 15 Honors courses and four Advanced Placement (AP) courses, including AP Government, AP Psychology and AP Statistics. She also took Honors Biology and Honors Physics in her senior years. Her cumulative GPA is 6.05 Her school activities include field hockey, spring and winter track, Key Club, Youth Education Association, National Honor Society and National Honor Society Cabinet.  Outside of school, Jennifer is a cashier at Walgreen’s, a soccer referee and a baby-sitter and has put in more than 200 hours of service time at Lansdale Hospital-Abington. A teacher describes Jennifer as “genuine,” “assumes a leadership role,” and “an absolute joy.”

A $1,000 scholarship grant has also been awarded to Ryann Biedlingmaier, who has been accepted into the University of Pittsburgh for the fall semester of 2009. Ryann has a cumulative GPA of 5.85 while taking nine Honors courses and six Advanced Placement (AP) courses including AP English, AP Government and AP Chemistry. She also took Honors Biology during her senior year. While in school, she has participated in cross country, spring and winter track, Key Club, Student Government Association and National Honors Society. Outside activities have included volunteering at Manna on Main Street, participating in Special Olympics, volunteering at Lansdale Hospital-Abington and working as a server at Brittany Point Estates. A teacher has said of Ryann that she is a “hard-working, dedicated young woman” who is “an excellent role model for other students” and possesses a “mature outlook and demeanor.”

Congratulations to both students on this incredible achievement!

Hatfield Elementary Students Hold

An aFTERNOON OF TECHNOLOGY

Earlier this month, students in Irene Pronczak’s third grade class at Hatfield Elementary School demonstrated their computer skills during a special technology demonstration for parents and friends. Mrs. Pronczak’s class is equipped with a Smart Board, and students have had the opportunity to work with Smart Notebook software throughout this school year.

Students were also recently taught how to use PowerPoint to present research data. During March, students were asked to research notable women and to compile their data on PowerPoint slides. Students learned to create slides and use special features through PowerPoint to make their slide-shows interesting and unique. Additionally, each student was asked to create a follow-up quiz on his/her topic using Smart Notebook technology. Students created virtual multiple-choice, vocabulary and fill-in-the-blank quizzes, as well as crossword puzzles and other engaging question/answer games on their notable women for fellow students.

Everyone has worked very hard, and students are very proud of what they have been able to accomplish.  These third graders have become quite savvy in using current technology, and they are intrigued by all the technological possibilities the software programs they used have to offer.

nORTH wALES eLEMENTARY sELECT cHOIR rECEIVES sUPERIOR rATING AT MUSIC IN THE PARKS FESTIVAL

On Saturday, May 9, 2009, the North Wales Elementary School Select Choir participated in a Music In The Parks adjudication festival held in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, where they earned a Superior rating (the highest rating possible) for their performance by scoring 92.5 of a possible 100 points. North Wales was the only elementary school choir participating in the adjudication, and they outscored five high school and middle school choirs. This was the Select Choir’s ninth year at the festival, and the ninth time that they received a Superior rating. After performing for the judges, the Select Choir spent the day in Dorney Park.

The Select Choir is an auditioned group of 25 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from North Wales Elementary School, directed by Tracy Calvaresi, and accompanied by Kirsten Olson.