DISTRICT NEWS:

ALL SCHOOLS AWARDED:

Palisades is one of a dwindling number of school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to achieve AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) for the past 8 consecutive years – among the qualities that are measured Palisades has earned this recognition because of our highly qualified teachers, high regular attendance of students and high academic achievement!  School principals were presented with their KEYSTONE AWARDS denoting this achievement at last week’s School Board of Directors Meeting.  For a list of upcoming School Board and Committee Meetings, please see the E-Friday Folder listing below.

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE:

Please see the attached article regarding our current Strategic Plan which is ending during 2012.  Again, a stakeholders group of about 30 people have begun the process of outlining the important areas for our next plan which will take us through 2015; we will provide updates and solicit participants on subcommittees for our Plan as it unfolds.

Palisades Strategic Plan:

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/palisades/palisades-looks-back-on-accomplishments/article_89efd23a-fcef-5330-9550-63903906f6ca.html

BUDGET INFORMATION FOR THE 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR:

Before the holiday break, the School Board of Directors voted on a resolution to keep the district’s budget for the 2012-13 school year at the index stipulated - a 1.7% increase in expenses in accordance with Act 1.  The average household assessment in Palisades is $34,000 – therefore, to the average household, the 1.7% increase would mean a tax hike of approximately $64 – moreover, this increase will be offset for those who filed for the Homestead/Farmstead Application and are eligible to receive a rebate based on gambling revenue.   Again, the resolution states that we would go no higher than the 1.7% index according to Act 1 legislation.  For more detailed information about our district budget for the 2012-13 school year and to read the accompanying resolution, please go to the main page of our district site and click on the “Budget Documents” link on the right-hand side.

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS:

In mid December, 13 of our Future Business Leaders took part in the Regional Competition at Bucks County Community College.  Over 400 students from 16 schools were in attendance.  We are very proud to report that the following students received awards:

3^rd Place, Business Calculations, Stefanie Wolcott

4^th Place, Client Service, Britt Lorish

2^nd place, Economics, Evan Nathans

5^th place, Entrepreneurship, the team of Shelby Hubner, Kelly Symanowski, & Allyson Niemi

1^st place, Management Decision Making, the team of William Helmold & Jeremy Chobot

2^nd place, Public Speaking, Jesse Muzzy

Congratulations to all members who participated.   William, Jeremy, Evan & Stefanie move on to the STATE  level of competition which will be held in April.  Join us in wishing these talented students the best of luck!

PHS Student Government invites you to the
Second Annual Snowflake Formal Dance

Saturday, February 4th
7-10 pm
PHS Cafeteria

Tickets will be sold during all lunches, as well as before and after school in room 209
Tickets are $10 if purchased prior to February 3rd
Tickets can also be purchased for $12 at the door on the night of the dance

UPPER BUCKS COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL-

THIRTY-ONE YEARS OF PARTICIPATION AT THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW:

The Upper Bucks County Technical School Animal Technology program will work and compete at the 96^th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show from January 7-14, 2012.  Animal Technology teacher, Mary Miller will chaperone 12 students to the event for the thirty-second year.  UBCTS is the only school in the state to be hired to work at the show.  Hired students will pen animals, work at the auction block and be runners for the show organizers.  Students will also show their goats, lambs and pigs at the show.  The animals live on campus at UBCTS and are cared for by their student sponsors.  The animals do not return to UBCTS and are sold at auction.

The following students will be participating:

Pennridge

Megan Ambrose

Rebecca Closs

Emilie Loughery

Anna Morrison

Cassidy Pakenas

Ricardo Ramirez

Miranda Stratton

Stephanie Sullivan

Quakertown

Colleen George

Justin Marlin

Laura McChesney

Samantha Murphy

The theme for the 2012 Farm Show is “From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate” and expects more than 400,000 people to attend the largest indoor agricultural event in the country.  There are 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 290 commercial exhibits at the event.

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS:

UPCOMING MUSICAL – “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

Ticket sales will continue next week for Beauty and the Beast, this year’s PALMS musical.  Students in 8^th grade chorus may purchase their tickets (limit 2) on Monday (1/9) during Resource Period, those in 7^th grade chorus, are scheduled for Tuesday, and students in 6^th grade chorus will be able to purchase theirs (again, limit 2) on both Wednesday and Thursday (2 days are scheduled for them due to shortened Resource Periods those days).  Please note….tickets ARE required. 

On Friday 1/13, ticket sales are open to everyone (public) in addition to students being able to return and purchase additional tickets.  Also, this is the last chance to place an ad in the program for the show.  Please see the E-Friday Folder list below for the form needed.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

FARMER’S MARKET:

Ottsville Indoor Farmers’ Market in the greenhouse at Linden Hill Gardens on Saturdays from 9 am –noon, beginning Jan. 7^th and running until Feb. 25^th   

The market will feature fresh local food and products, handmade crafts, seasonal plants and festive winter activities including toasting marshmallows, ice-skating and sledding.  The market also has a community table available free of charge for any non-profit or school-related purpose.  8230 Easton Rd., Ottsville, PA 610-847-1300

UPCOMING SPRING CONCERT:

The Lenape Chamber Ensemble's Spring "Concert in the Round" takes place on Saturday February 25th from 10 to 11 AM at Delaware Valley College.

PENNSYLVANIA’S STRONGER TEEN DRIVER LAW TO TAKE EFFECT DEC. 27

Measure Limits Passengers, Requires Additional Training

Harrisburg — Pennsylvania’s new law aimed at increasing safety for young drivers takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 27. The new law increases behind-the-wheel training requirements, places a limit on the number of passengers a young driver can transport and makes not wearing a seatbelt a primary offense for young drivers.

The new law adds 15 hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel training for driver’s license permit holders younger than 18, bringing the total to 65 hours. Ten of the additional hours must include driving at night and five hours must occur during poor weather conditions. Current permit-holders younger than 18 who have not yet passed the driving skills test before Dec. 27 will have to meet the requirements of the new law.

Also, as part of the law, drivers younger than 18 will not be permitted to transport more than one passenger who is under 18 and is not an immediate family member unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. After six months, the junior driver may transport up to three passengers younger than 18 who are not immediate family members without a parent or legal guardian present, but only if that driver has not been convicted of a driving violation or has not been partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash.

The law also requires that junior drivers and passengers under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt, and children under the age of eight must be fastened in a child restraint system. The seat belt provisions of the new law are primary offenses, meaning a driver can be stopped and cited solely for that violation. 

More information on the changes for teen drivers can be found at http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/ by clicking on the “New Teen Driver Law 2011” button.

For more information on young driver safety, visit PennDOT’s highway safety website, www.DriveSafePA.org and select the “Young Driver” link under the Traffic Safety Information Center.

WINTER DRIVING FROM PENNDOT:

Winter in Pennsylvania can mean rapidly changing weather and road conditions. If you don’t have to drive during a storm, don’t. If you have to drive, make sure you pack an emergency kit and drive appropriately for the conditions. Learn more about winter driving and what to pack in an emergency kit at www.DriveSafePA.org.  Information on PennDOT’s operations, like how we treat different types of storms, and other winter facts, is available at www.dot.state.pa.us/winter.