PV Happenings - March 2011 - Perkiomen Valley School District

Students in fourth and fifth grade at Skippack ElementarySchool recently were able to experiencesnowshoeing as part of their physical educationclass. They are becoming familiar with snowshoeingequipment and care and maintenance of theequipment. The students were also introduced toactivities that will develop and enhance physicalfitness, creativity, cooperative learning, and recreationalpursuits. The students are developing arespect for the challenge and sense of adventureassociated with outdoor education.Four fifth‐grade students at South ElementarySchool were honored as “Outstanding Citizens”for the second trimester. Mrs. Mason, from theCollegeville Community Club, presented themwith an award and a gift certificate. Students honoredwere Catherine McFadden, Michael Fajardo,and Michael DiTullio. Absent from the photo wasBrittany Donigan.Competitive Chess!The annual Perkiomen Valley High School Chess Club tournament is engaged! The 38 members of theclub range in ability from newbies who are just learning the game to some very experienced playerswith very remarkable skills. Girls and guys participate and compete against one another. The clubchallenges teachers to an afternoon of friendly competition every year. This time, the teachers werenot beaten as soundly as they were last year. Mr. Rudolph says everyone has a good time and theclub is growing by word of mouth from past members.

North Montco Technical Career CenterFour hundred juniors and four hundred seniorsat Perkiomen Valley High School introducedthemselves to their futures at the Career Fairon March 2. At least 55 local businesses had achance to show the students what they mightexpect out in the “real” world in just a fewshort years. Representatives of the militarybranches, public organizations and professions,as well as private industry and apprenticeshipprograms were explaining how studentscould be involved after graduation or asvolunteers even before they leave high school.Many of the other representatives showed studentsthe steps they would follow to enter careerpaths in their companies.Fifth‐grade students at Schwenksville ElementarySchool recently set up a ColonialTravel Agency. The students researchedone of the thirteen original colonies includinggeography, climate, natural resources,inhabitants, leaders, and government.They then created brochures and atri‐fold display. Parents were invited in tovisit the “Travel Agency” where studentsattempted to persuade "customers" topurchase a trip to their colony.

PV Students Are Math Wizards!Perkiomen Valley students have earned excellentresults in local and regional mathematicscompetitions. The American MathCompetition 12 is taken by 11 th and 12 thgrade students and the AMC10 is taken by9 th and 10 th grade students. The annualexam is a test that consists of 25 questionsto be answered in 90 minutes. MichaelHuang scored 1 st for AMC 12 and AndrewDeVarney scored 1 st for the AMC 10. Michaelwill be going on to the Invitational MathematicsCompetition. Omar Shuhaibar andJesse Stuhltrager scored in the top three ofthe AMC 12. Aaron Yeiser and AudreeBonavita scored in the top 3 on the AMC10.These students have done an outstandingjob and have represented our math programsvery well!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road...Students at PV Middle School East were“following the yellow brick road” on February 25and 26. The cast and crew did an amazing job ontheir performance of "The Wizard of OZ."Sixth‐grade students at PV Middle School Westrecently learned all about plagiarism, including:what it is, its consequences, and how to avoidit. After viewing a video and completing a jigsawstyleworksheet, students shared their answerswith fellow classmates. Next, they created paperorigami “poppers.” Students printed questionsabout plagiarism on the outside of the poppers;answers were put on the inside. Students pairedup to quiz each other, and answers were revealedby popping the poppers. Students had a lot of funlearning, creating, and popping their plagiarismpoppers. If you have questions about plagiarism,just ask a sixth grader at PV Middle School West.They would love to pop out an answer for you!

Congratulations to Perkiomen Valley High Schoolstudents Kristen Polaski and Erich Franz. Thesestudents, who attend North Montco Technical CareerCenter’s Allied Health and Health Occupationprogram, recently competed at the state levelHealth Occupations Students of America (HOSA)competition in Lancaster. Through their hard workand efforts, Kristen won a Gold Medal as part ofthe HOSA Bowl Team and Erich won a Gold Medalin the Extemporaneous Writing category.Students at Schwenksville Elementary School enjoyedcoming to the book fair and looking forsome new and exciting books to read! They couldalso enter guessing contests, using estimating andnumber knowledge skills, for a chance to win agift certificate to be used at the book fair.Ad Design Contest Winners at MSE!Students at PV Middle School East recently participated in a “Design an Ad” contest by The Mercurynewspaper. The grand prize winner was Erin Dempsey. Other winners in the contest included: LauraBigelow, Maggie Cavanagh, Abby Clune, Marcella Curcio, Matt DeCurtis, Heather Jackson, MaddieKelly, Eddie Landherr, Devon Lawson, Emily Nagle, Priya Patel, Maria Sariano, Brian Subers, KayleeWadsworth, and Lexi Watt. These students won over $500 in prizes. Thank you to teachers Mr. Testa,Mrs. Miller, and Mrs. Herrera for coordinating this contest with our students!