Friday Updates

November 21, 2014

Dennis R. Kergick

Panther Valley School District

The new SPP scores were released and I am certain that you have had an opportunity to review them. We will be developing a comprehensive overview of this process and product for all staff members. The scores revealed a dramatic decrease in both the middle and elementary schools; while showing a modest gain in performance at the high school. We can complain, we can be discouraged, and we can give up. That is not our way and we need to move on. We do what we need to do to be successful. We now have a starting point and we all need to work together to get through the myriad of criticism and confusion. The students are always going to be the center of what we do at Panther Valley and it is time to sit down, find solutions to our problems, and roll up our sleeves and pitch in together.

Thought for the Week

“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

- Winston Churchill

Standing up for someone or something can be difficult. I know that each of you have been in a similar situation at some point in your lives. As you all know the district has joined a lawsuit against the state and members of the state leadership due to the funding crisis that limits what we try to do every day for the students and families in our district. I have accepted the fact that this lawsuit will be a long and protracted battle.

An essential element in public education is advocacy for students and equity. You are the key to the Panther Valley School District and your impact on our students is immeasurable. We should never take our role for granted and we always need to work diligently towards our common mission.

Nothing worthwhile comes easy. It takes a group of committed people to move forward, together. The process that I desire most from all of you is honest communication. I know that we are all worried and exhibiting concerns about the future of our school district. As I have stated repetitively, communication, collaboration and cooperation need to be firmly in place. With these in place we will be successful.

Panther Valley Elementary School

In honor of our district’s veterans the PVES posted their stars of honor in our elementary school. Staff

members recognized were: Jack Ruzicka, Joe Sweeney, and Scott Weiss. Thank you gentlemen for

serving and protecting our nation and freedom.

Panther Valley Elementary School “Giving Back to Gabe Day”

Submission by Heather Wagner and Mindy Penberth Coordinators of PVES Giving Back to Gabe Day. Gabe was a military dog to our 1997 Panther Valley graduate, Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles “Chuck” Shuck. The pair completed 210 combat missions in Iraq and became inseparable. Just a few months after winning the 2012 American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Award, Gabe passed away in the arms of Chuck. In Gabe’s honor, Chuck is keeping his memory alive through the children’s book, Gabe: The

Dog Who Sniffs Out Danger. Chuck has donated this book to our elementary classrooms and library and to schools around the world. Chuck’s goal is to not only keep the spirit of Gabe alive, but to purchase at least 4,000 copies of the book to distribute to military children by Christmas. The Panther Valley Elementary supported our hometown hero who still bleeds black, gold, & white by having a dress down day in honor of Chuck & Gabe on Friday, November 21st in order to help Chuck fulfill his book goal by Christmas. Quoted from the Times News article, Chuck states, “The people of the coal region are amazing and I am also grateful to the Army for always allowing me to represent them with my projects of helping animals.” He continued, “I am so proud to represent Panther Valley because no matter where you go in the world, the ‘bubble’ will always be home.” Here’s our chance to send a little piece of the ‘bubble’ back to Chuck…

FYI~Heather Wagner is in the process of constructing a thank you video for Chuck Shuck for getting his book in the hands of many of our students. Heather would like to know if any faculty and staff member would be interested in being in the video by giving Chuck a photo message. You would simply write a note for him, Heather would take your photograph with your message and include it in the video to send him. If you would like to be involved or have any questions please let Heather know by Tuesday night by emailing her at wagnerh@panthervalley.org. She will come around to all buildings on Wednesday morning on her way to school.

Mrs. Figura also shared the following: Marie Ondrus, from Lansford Alive! Announced the finalist

winners of the Panther Valley “Little Miss Snowflake” Contest. The person who judged the contest said it

was very difficult choosing the 4 winners. The girls had to write about "What Christmas Means To Me".

All the finalists are from the Panther Valley Elementary School.

They finalist essays selected are: 5th grade Hannah Kane (Nesquehoning) Ashley Schetrum (Coaldale) Sophia Tessitore (Summit Hill) 3rd grade Mercedes Reynolds (Lansford) Go to www.lansfordalive.org to vote for the essays. The voting ends on Monday, Nov. 24. The winner will be announced, at the tree lighting program (Kennedy Park across from the Panther Valley Football Stadium) on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 5-7 PM.

Panther Valley Middle School

Middle school students participated in "What's So Cool about Manufacturing" this Thursday. A team of 8th grade students lead by Janet Branchide went to the Ametek plant to interview various employees to make a video about manufacturing in Pennsylvania. The five students are Jordan Bamford, Trey Turner, Aaron Miller, Erica Tout, and Emiline Markovich. There will be a competition among various schools in the Lehigh Valley for the best video about manufacturing.

The 7th grade finished reading the book "Mockingjay" and went to see the movie at the Angela Theater on Friday, opening day. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is a 2014 American science fiction adventure film directed by Francis Lawrence with a screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong. It is the first of two films based on the novel Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins, and the third installment in The Hunger Games film series.

The Panther Valley Middle School has announced its October Students of the Month. Students are awarded based on excellence in academics and conduct and are awarded certificates of achievement and gift cards. Pictured, from left, are Jason Lin, grade six; Keith Hydro, grade seven; and Alexa Ruzicka, grade eight.

Panther Valley High School

Panther Valley High School's JROTC program will host its annual formal ball at Panther Valley High School on Saturday November 22, 2014 with activities beginning at 4:30 PM and concluding around 10:30 PM. Cadets and their dates will check-in and have their pictures taken at 5:00 PM with dinner served at 7:00 PM. Recognitions and awards will given after dinner. Cadets will enjoy an evening of dancing and fun until festivities conclude around 10:00 PM. The JROTC Ball is always a very special event at Panther Valley High School and we look forward to another memorable night. PVHS JROTC also conducted its Battalion Commander Selection process on Thursday November 20, 2014 in the school's conference room. Cadets Mackenzie Lazar, Skylar Francesco and Dylan Moyer presented themselves for review, and were then interviewed by the selection committee. The successful candidate will to replace Battalion Commander Colin Johnson. The successful candidate will be announced at the JROTC Ball. PV wishes the best of luck to all three candidates.

Panther Valley Students in Carbon County Choral Concert

Photos courtesy of Mrs. Gallagher

Last night Mrs. Kim Gallagher attended the Carbon County Chorus Festival at the Palmerton Area High School. It contained quite an impressive program. Songs composed by Handel, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Paul McCartney, etc and languages in Latin, German, French, Zambian, and English were sung. A Special Thank You to Mr. and Mrs. Christ who had decided to take our students without compensation because they believe in strengthening and extending our arts programs here at Panther Valley. Several after school rehearsals prepared them for the event. Mrs. Audrey Christ accompanied the after school practices which required a return trip to school for the Christ team. Their dedication to our students is to be commended. Without them our kids would have not had this experience.

Sixteen Panther Valley students performed: Soprano: Gabriella Frey, Amarynth Ruch, Ruby Stewart Alto: Kiley Boswell, Kayla Boswell, Mary Lazar, McKenzie Lazar, Cassie Muth, Zinnia Ruch, Rayna Stilitino Tenor: Zachary Gilbert, Morgan Kadel, Nicholas Maruschak, Justin Ogazalek, Steven Reehl, Jordan Reis Guest Conductor: Eduardo Azzati, baritone soloist singer who specializes in oratorio and art song repertories, masters degree in voice performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, NJ

Just Sharing with you

We recognize that we are in the “builders of hope business” so I thought that I would include the

following item. I recently found a book entitled Life’s Little Instructions by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. I have

taken the liberty of copying down some of the salient entries and I thought that I would include them in

this week’s edition. I think that by now you have realized that I can be somewhat sentimental and I do

not hide that fact. I like quotes because they substantiate my feelings and they inspire me.

Sample Entries 1. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.

2. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.

3. Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures.

4. Overtip breakfast waitresses.

5. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.

6. Never resist a generous impulse.

7. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

8. Never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink.

9. Leave everything a little better than you found it.

10. Call your mother.