Pssa Clip Art the April Fool Fairly Odd Parents

Peirce Best Buddies Order Names PA Best Buddies Affiliate of the Year

Congratulations to the Peirce Eye School Best Buddies club on beingness named the Pennsylvania All-time Buddies Middle School Chapter of the year for the 2019-20 schoolhouse year!

Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to providing friendship and support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition to the Peirce chapter, there are five other chapters in the W Chester Area School District – East High Schoolhouse, Henderson Loftier School, Rustin High Schoolhouse, Fugett Middle School, and Stetson Middle Schoolhouse.

"Best Buddies is more an extracurricular activity," said Meaghan Stolnis, Peirce Life Skills teacher, and Best Buddies advisor. "It is a program that changes lives for all involved and helps cultivate friendship, compassion, and kindness. Information technology brings out the good in people and brings true meaning to each and every twenty-four hours. Our youth have so much to offering, such amazing hearts and such goodness from deep down inside. All-time Buddies gives them the opportunity to share these gifts.

Each year, Best Buddies holds two major events - the Friendship Walk and Best Buddies Ball. Unfortunately, both events were canceled final year due to COVID-19. However, club members were able to participate in other activities, including the Thankful for Friends Feast, Best Buddies Holiday Shop, and sock decorating for Stone Your Socks Mean solar day for Down Syndrome Awareness.

Mrs. Stolnis added that Best Buddies members also spent their homeroom and lunch periods with students in the Life Skills programme, emphasizing the importance of creating inclusive communities for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Peirce Middle School Competes in Virtual Futurity Business concern Leaders of America Competition

The Peirce Middle School Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc. (FBLA-PBL) chapter made an impressive showing in their first twelvemonth at the organization's 2020 National Leadership Online Experience.

FBLA-PBL provides relevant career preparation and leadership experience to help middle school, high school, and college students become community-minded business leaders.

The newly created affiliate placed second nationally for the Community Service Project, led by rising 9th-graders Foram Shah, Maia DePasquale, and Trisha Prasanna.

Individually, ascension 7th-grader Danica Hailey Hung placed 7th nationally for Digital Citizenship, and rising ninth-grader Eesha Jadhav placed tenth nationally in the Critical Thinking category. At the national level, FBLA-PBL recognizes students who place in the acme 10.

Peirce students likewise took abode a variety of awards at the state level:

Peirce Middle School - 1st Place, Customs Service Project
Alexander Cortes - 2nd Place, Career Exploration
William Cortes - 3rd Identify, Business concern Math & Financial Literacy
Maia DePasquale - 3rd Place - Career Exploration
Danielle Hung - 1st place, Career Exploration; 2d Place FBLA Creed/Code of Ideals/Pledge
Eesha Jadhav - 1st Place, Critical Thinking
Trisha Prasanne - 3rd Place, Business concern Etiquette
Wesley Pron - 1st Place, Introduction to Computer science & Coding
Foram Shah - 1st Identify, Digitial Citizenship
Marykate Stepchuk - 1st Place, Sports & Entertainment Management Concepts

Due to COVID-nineteen, this FBLA-PBL'south National Awards Program was forced to go virtual. More 8,300 students competed in the various tests and presentations at the national level.
Eighth-Grader Fights for Himself & Others with Rare Genetic Syndrome

Mr. Joe DiAntontio (left,) Nathanael Ogden, Tim Ogden

Nathanael Ogden is your average thirteen-twelvemonth-old. He has a younger brother, Jackson. He likes to read and play Dungeons & Dragons, enjoys board games and logic puzzles, and is running for vice president of his 8th-class form at Peirce Eye Schoolhouse.

He also has something the majority of his peers don't have: a white cane. Nathanael has lost 95% of his vision over the last 10 years. Only there's one more of import matter he has: the spirit of a fighter.

Before he was born, Nathanael was diagnosed with Bardet Biedl Syndrome (BBS,) a rare genetic disorder.

Never heard of Bardet Biedl Syndrome? You're not alone. It is a rare syndrome that affects almost one in 250,000 people in Northward America. According to bardetbiedl.org, people with Bulletin board system have a defect in the fashion their cells communicate with each other. It's a complex syndrome with a wide range of symptoms and a lot of variation from person-to-person. However, usually, people with Bbs have low muscle tone, impaired kidney function, hampered senses, and vision loss.

Nathanael'due south parents, Tim and Catherine Ogden, outset became enlightened that something was wrong with their babe during a 26-week ultrasound. The scan revealed that his kidneys were three times larger than they should have been, which Tim says is likewise indicative of a fatal kidney disease.

"We were told he wasn't going to live,' says Tim Ogden.

The couple went to Children'due south Hospital of Philadelphia for a follow-up and doctors concluded that the baby almost probable had Bbs.

"They couldn't say definitively, only they were like 'Yeah, we think nosotros know what this is.' Honestly, it was a huge blessing because nearly people will spend years trying to become a diagnosis for their child. It made a big deviation."

Enlarged kidneys weren't the but symptom of Bbs for Nathanael.

"Cilia are essentially the radio antennas of our cells. They are responsible for sending and receiving signals from cell to prison cell," explains Tim.

"When they break downward, messages get garbled, or they don't get passed and, his kidneys didn't finish developing. He was also born with 24 digits for the same reason. His body made a pinky but didn't receive the message to end, so it made another one. He was born with six toes on each foot, and seven fingers on his left mitt."

Nathanael too had to deal with poor muscle development, voice communication problems, and dietary issues. All things he works on with pure grit and determination, and the help of occupational, physical, and speech therapists. Nathanael has also learned to read braille and how to use a pikestaff to help him navigate while walking.

"You lot never find him feeling distressing for himself or discouraged. It'due south always just 'This is what I have to exercise. This is my next task.'" Tim says of Nathanael.

And, preparing for the next task he is. On Sun, September 29, Nathanael and Tim volition tackle the third annual Rocky Ride for Bardet Biedl Syndrome. The trek begins at Uptown Worthington in Malvern and winds through the Chester Valley Trail to the Schuylkill River Trail terminal at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And, of form, the journeying would non be complete without a triumphant run upwards the famous art museum steps.

The money raised from the Rocky Ride goes to back up the Clinical Registry Investigating Bardet Biedl Syndrome (CRIBBS.) The registry consists of slightly over 500 people in the earth diagnosed with BBS and helps researchers to develop effective and targeted treatment for those with the syndrome.

In the get-go year, the Rocky Ride raised $25,000. In twelvemonth 2, information technology raised nearly $35,000.

Funds raised from the Rocky Ride likewise support factor therapy inquiry at the University of Iowa.

"Researchers take identified 23 genes associated with Bbs. When inquiry first began, there was only one. Four of them account for roughly 80 pct of people with symptoms of Bbs. Those four genes are at present part of a standard genetic testing console which allows for a much earlier diagnosis. The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier services tin exist secured, and a programme tin can be put in action," says Tim.

"All of the research that has been washed is heady. When Nathanael was built-in, it felt like at that place was nil and at present, what nosotros've been able to do over 13 years...It feels like there's a lot of hope for people now."

Preparing for the job of riding 30 plus miles is a challenge. Tim and Nathanael spent a good part of the summertime in training. They use a tandem bike for each of their training rides, which last anywhere from xv to 25 miles per trip. Physical activity is a crucial office of Nathanael's care. Some other symptom of Bbs is the torso's inability to recognize when information technology is full from food, so his parents keep a close middle on his diet and physical activity. Nathanael takes medicine to control his appetite.

"We've ridden a full of 165 miles since Baronial in preparation for the Rocky Ride," says Tim.

For Nathanael, he enjoys the time with his father and feels a stiff sense of accomplishment. "I similar being able to do the wheel ride itself. It's prissy to exist able to practise exercise such as this," says Nathanael.

One hundred threescore-five miles is a lot of ground to encompass. How does he find the energy?

"I don't know," he laughs.

All of Nathanael's senses are degenerating to some caste, with vision loss being the most severe. According to his father, in commencement grade, he could see. Nathanael is now legally blind. He does the majority of his schoolwork on a computer screen with assistive technology.

"All of it has to be magnified and high contrast. It gets harder and harder, and and then the question is - at what bespeak is it more than work to have him exist able to see the screen equally opposed to transitioning him to braille?" says Tim.

The Ogdens are humbled by the community support they have received.

"The biggest thing for anyone in the community to do is merely to be in that location. A big part of having a kid with a rare affliction is the isolation. The feeling that no one knows nearly this, that no one understands," says Tim.

Families from across the Due west Chester Area Schoolhouse District are joining them for the ride.

"We're going to exist barreling downwardly the Schuykill River Trail - all 30 of us in crimson t-shirts to show that Nathanael doesn't accept to practise this alone. It'due south a big deal."

One repeat rider is Joe DiAntonio, Nathanael'south principal at Peirce Middle School. DiAntonio will be riding with his son, who is a 7th-grader at Stetson Heart Schoolhouse.

"Nathanael is so special to our school," says DiAntonio. "He is everything that is right about Peirce. We want to support him in any manner that we tin can. His attitude is and so positive and the way he interacts with people. You just want to be effectually him."

Despite Nathanael's positive attitude, exercise Tim and Catherine e'er question why this happened to their kid?

"Admittedly. You lot can't become away from that. He lost the lottery. It was this totally bizarre thing that my wife and I had these genes that nosotros didn't know we had. It's difficult as a parent. Y'all always want the best for your child."

For Tim, it was important to find something that he could do with his son and for other families with Bulletin board system. He helped start and is currently the president of the Bardet Biedl Syndrome Foundation, which provides back up for families affected past the syndrome in North America and around the world.

"We're not really raising money for Nathanael. Nosotros are raising money that'due south going to benefit people in the time to come who have this syndrome and then he gets the feeling that there is something he can do. It's not about what he can't do, but what he can do to make the world a better identify and assistance others," says Tim.

Tim and Nathanael drew inspiration for the Rocky Ride from the Rocky movies. The main character'south attitude of conclusion is always-present in Nathanael.

"Rocky doesn't win that starting time fight, merely he still does it," says Tim. "That's the message that I want for Nathanael.

Nathanael'due south moto? "Proceed pushing through it and try to find ways to exist happy."

For more information on Bardet Biedl Syndrome, or to donate to the Rocky Ride, visit www.bardetbiedl.org/rockyride
Peirce & Henderson Kids 4 Kids Club Prepare Meals for Safety Harbor

Peirce Kids four Kids Social club Henderson Kids 4 Kids Club

Students from Henderson High School and Peirce Middle School donated their time during the month of January preparing meals for Safe Harbor of West Chester.

Safe Harbor is a non-turn a profit charitable system whose mission is to provide housing, nutrient, and access to support services in a structured surround for homeless single men and homeless single women in Chester County.

Student members of Henderson and Peirce'southward Kids "4" Kids service club students gathered on 2 split occasions at The Kitchen Studio at Pine Street in Westward Goshen and spent the afternoon preparing chicken and potato casserole, chicken fajitas, salad, freshly baked rolls, and chocolate flake cookies. The food served approximately 40 people.

In improver to preparing meals, the Peirce students too made Valentine's Day cards which will be sent to ill children through Cards for Hospitalized Kids. Headquartered in Chicago, this international non-turn a profit organization's mission is to spread hope and joy to children undergoing medical treatment.

Kids "4" Kids is a service club that plans events throughout the year to help others, including raising money for non-profit organizations that help children. Visit www.kids-4-kids.org for more information nearly the group.

The Kitchen Studio at Pine Street opens up it showroom to local organizations and businesses for fundraisers, networking events, kitchen demonstrations, wine tastings, book groups, Bunco nights, and more than. To enquire about hosting an event at The Kitchen Studio, call 610-430-3333.
Eye School Students Learn Nigh Developing a Digital Consciousness

Every generation claims to take it tougher than the generation earlier them, merely at to the lowest degree the electric current generation can acquire from the mistakes of previous ones. The beginning digital generation, nevertheless, which is all of u.s., doesn't have that luxury. We are the digital pioneers, the digital trailblazers, the laboratory rats for the creators of digital technology. Nosotros make digital decisions every solar day, some good and some bad that volition assist to shape hereafter generations and the choices they brand in the digital world.

That message was at the core of "Public and Permanent," an award-winning presentation delivered to Due west Chester Area School District middle school students by Richard Guerry, the executive director of the not-profit Plant for Responsible Online and Jail cell Phone Communication (IROC2).

More two,300 students from Fugett, Peirce, and Stetson Middle Schools attentively listened as Guerry gave an middle-opening presentation almost how useful and powerful digital tools, similar smartphones, the internet, and social media can be when one develops and lives by a "digital consciousness." Abuse them and the chances of creating a self-inflicted, sometimes life-altering event fasten significantly.

"Every day, through all of our deportment in a digital earth, what we exercise when we turn these things on," said Guerry holding up a smartphone, "is create statistics. We create statistics of both promise and pitfalls for the next generation to acquire from. The goal here today is to assistance all of us help the adjacent generation to become one of the many statistics of promise, not pitfalls."

Guerry calls "public and permanent" the Gold Dominion of the 21st Century that evolved from a primal guideline we all learned as children, "playing with fire can fire." While it is not guaranteed that you lot will become burned if you play with fire, your chances increase if you do.

Students heard about a series of digital missteps, such equally the Academy of Iowa teaching banana who was supposed to ship test scores to her form, but instead sent nude photos of herself; a young athlete who ruined his chances of playing football for the University of Michigan considering of a serial of explicit tweets; a woman who accidentally sent nude photos of herself to her boss on Snapchat. The listing didn't stop in that location.

Guerry is not anti-technology, net, or social media. He is quite the reverse, which is why, in 2009, he close down his internet marketing firm and created IROC2. In 2009, Guerry gave a presentation on sexting to a middle school in New Jersey and that's when his life changed.

"I was asked to speak to middle schools students in New Jersey about sexting. Subsequently I left that school and saw how piddling everyone in the room knew about technology, I was petrified. I thought to myself, what is out there for kids? There was a lot of great stuff, but it was all reactionary. Why wait for people to go in trouble and then accept an assembly near it? It doesn't brand whatever sense. So, after about a week of inquiry, I thought something has to change. We can't simply keep going similar this."

From that moment on, Guerry was committed to sharing the golden rule of the 21st Century. He doesn't tell people to steer clear of digital tools; he advises them to use them responsibly.

"Ask yourself, 'Am I okay with what I'm doing and saying in a world congenital for advice going public and permanent?'"

Guerry says the "public and permanent" rule is not an absolute truth; rather information technology is more of a guideline. He suggests that users of digital technology perform a risk assessment that is bachelor on the institute's website www.iroc2.org.

"It's all virtually risk levels. When people start oversharing things (online), and the people they don't want (to run across those things) accept an involvement, at present y'all have a risk fasten. Y'all're basically raising your risk off the line of billions of people. It doesn't hateful that something bad will happen to y'all, information technology's just that you are at present raising your adventure."

"Risks go up when you abuse a powerful tool - any tool. Fool around with the well-nigh powerful tools on the planet that connect us to each other and a billion other people instantly, and risks go way up. Use that powerful tool to your advantage."

The digital infinite is all most "instant knowledge, communication, and permanence," which comes at a price. Guerry calls social privacy an oxymoron and says as speed and convenience in communication goes up, levels of privacy go down.

Public and Permanent is far from just doom and gloom scenarios. Students did hear nearly some positive examples of responsible digital usage, such every bit the story of a high schoolhouse student from Massachusetts who credits his artistic Twitter entrada with helping him get accepted to UCLA.

In addition to performing an online take a chance assessment, Guerry offered other tips during a special parent presentation. Guerry, who has a 13-year-sometime son and 11-year-old girl," says he uses the training wheels approach with his kids when it comes to technology.

"My daughter is about to become a flip-telephone. My son started with a flip-phone. They piece of work their manner upwards. Whenever they start something new, I ask them questions. Like gaming for instance, 'who would you lot talk to, what would y'all say?' Sometimes he got it right, and sometimes he got it wrong. It'due south a teachable moment. Information technology's most constant advice and evaluating their maturity levels."

For more tips and information nigh the Constitute for Responsible Online and Cell-Telephone Communication, visit world wide web.iroc2.org .

Click here to access more information from Richard Guerry'south presentation, Public & Permanent.
Peirce Middle School Holds Annual Kids for a Cure Walk

Students at Peirce Center School recently held their almanac Kids for a Cure Walk-a-Thon to raise money for cancer research. The funds raised are donated to the Abbey Rodkey Memorial Fund and the Susan One thousand. Komen Foundation Breast Cancer Research Middle.

This year'due south walk was actress special due to the participation of guidance advisor Carol DeMarco and Life Skills teachers Lori Fratinardo. Both women are breast cancer survivors.

Kids for a Cure Began in 2008 in honor of Abbey Rodkey, a Peirce seventh-grader who passed away from brain cancer in 2007. The money donated to the Abbey Rodkey fund is used to purchase gift cards that will be delivered to children fighting cancer at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Neuro-Oncology Unit where Abbey received treatment.

Susan Grand. Komen is the world's largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer enquiry than any other nonprofit while providing real-fourth dimension help to those facing the disease. Komen has set a bold goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by l percent in the U.Due south. by 2026.
Peirce & Henderson Concord 7th Annual runFar

Fusion & Henderson Fusion Clubs

The Fusion Clubs at Peirce Middle School and Henderson High Schoolhouse raised over $3500.00 for orphans in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zambia at this yr's runFar event. The consequence was held on June 1st at Henderson and featured a one-mile run/walk, 4 x 400 coed relay, and a All-time Buddies race. Awards were handed out to the fastest runners.

This year marks the 7th-year students have raised money for runFar, bringing the full amount raised to over $30,000.

RunFAR (Run For African Relief) is an initiative of Covenant Mercies, a PA-based nonprofit with programs in Republic of uganda, Zambia, and Federal democratic republic of ethiopia that provide for the physical and educational needs of orphans living at that place.
Peirce's Kids iv Kids Order Raises Money at Charity K Auction

Members of Peirce Middle School'southward service gild Kids "4" Kids held their 5th almanac charity thousand auction on May five, raising nigh $3500 for 5 unlike non-profit organizations.

For the by several months, members of the Kids "4" Kids club have been busy organizing the charity yard sale and collecting donations from family members, friends, neighbors and the schoolhouse community. Hundreds of items were collected, and Saturday's sale brought out lots of shopperslooking to score a deal – and support a great cause at the aforementioned time! Children were likewise treated to a bounce house and a bake sale during the upshot.

This year'south sale raised $3498.21, the largest sale the group has had since it was founded in 2013. All funds raised will exist donated to five charities chosen by the students: Best Buddies, the Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children, The Dax Locke Foundation, Bulletin board system Research, and Family Lives On.

Since Kids "4" Kids was founded in 2013, the system has raised close to $x,000 for non-turn a profit organizations that help children.
WCASD Schoolhouse Board Approves New Principal for Peirce Eye School

The Westward Chester Area Schoolhouse Commune's Board of Directors approved the hiring of Joseph DiAntonio as master of Peirce Middle Schoolhouse at their monthly meeting on April 23, 2018.

DiAntonio replaces Dr. Geoffrey Mills who resigned from his position this past winter.

"This is a culmination of my educational career," said DiAntonio. "It is an unbelievable opportunity coupled with a great challenge. To be able to lead and serve a building like Peirce is incredibly of import to me and I expect forward to the claiming."

The extensive selection procedure involved well-nigh 80 candidates, both internal and external to the District and multiple rounds of interviews.

DiAntonio has been in pedagogy for the past 20 years. He began his career in the Upper Darby School Commune so spent time at Rose Media School District and Garnet Valley School District before coming to the West Chester Area Schoolhouse Commune.

"Joe DiAntonio's main focus is on students and their well-being. Every decision is made with student learning as the ultimate goal. He will be an splendid leader for the Peirce students, staff, parents, and community," said Jim Scanlon, superintendent of the W Chester Area Schoolhouse District.

DiAntonio has served as assistant main at Rustin High School for the by five years.

"I've been very fortunate to have worked with outstanding teachers and potent administrators and counselors at Rustin that have helped to augment my experiences in terms of working with students and being constructive in coming together their needs."

DiAntonio and his wife, Christine reside in Westtown, with their 3 children who attend Westtown-Thornbury Unproblematic School. DiAntonio is very agile in the customs, volunteering his time with Eastside Little League, West Chester Lacrosse, and the W Chester Juniors Basketball League.

DiAntonio will take over for interim principal Dr. Michael Lecker beginning July i, 2018.
Peirce Pride for Westside

Peirce Middle Schoolhouse's 8th annual Students vs. Faculty basketball game game was a big success, raising more than $1300 for the Westside Community Middle of W Chester! Spectators packed the firm and cheered loudly during the close game, which the faculty ultimately won by a score of 51-49.

The money was raised through ticket sales, snacks and t-shirt purchases, a one-half-courtroom shooting contest, and cash donations. seventh-grader Travis Hampton won the half-court shooting contest and earned a $l souvenir card to Dick's Sporting Goods.

Meghan Greim was named game MVP.

"This was the most successful charity basketball game we've had," said result sponsor and Peirce teacher Megan Hoopes-Myers. "This event could not have been possible without the back up and dedication of the students, faculty, and administration!"
Peirce English language Language Development International Luncheon

Peirce ELD International Dejeuner Ivan Tellez and Mr. Zickler

English Linguistic communication Evolution (ELD) students at Peirce Middle Schoolhouse recently spent some quality time with teachers at the school's annual ELD International Luncheon. The gathering is a culmination of a weeks-long projection where students selected a staff fellow member to compare to a famous person that they read about in a biography of their choosing. Upon completion of the volume, students had to write an essay, in English comparison and contrasting their selected teacher to the person featured in their book.

"Writing the essay was a huge task for many of our students, but with scaffolding and support they were each able to do it," said ELD instructor Jenny Kinch.

Kinch's classroom was festively decorated for the upshot. Dishes prepared by the students and their families lined the table offering a taste of the cuisine from the students' respective homelands. As students and staff sat adjacent enjoying their meals, students quizzed the teachers most their essays. Prizes were awarded to the pair that correctly answered the most questions.

6th-grader Ivan Tellez and Peirce Tech Ed instructor Cody Zickler were among the winners. Tellez was a student in Zickler's manufacturing course. He compared Zickler to Thomas Edison.

"Thomas Edison was an inventor and liked to brand stuff, and and so does Mr. Zickler," said Tellez. "He taught me how to make pretty much annihilation. He'due south my favorite teacher."

"I was very honored to exist chosen for Ivan's project," said Zickler. "I'1000 almost equally smart every bit Edison, right, Ivan? " Zickler joked.

The goal of the ELD programme is to develop English language language proficiency and cognitive academic linguistic communication proficiency in ELD students and so that they tin can part independently in the mainstream classroom setting. ELD students in the W Chester Area Schoolhouse District correspond over 40 different languages and countries.

ELL Students' Pumpkin Blueprint Project

English Linguistic communication Development (ELD) students at Peirce Middle School worked on their pumpkin design projects with Mrs. Kinch on Halloween. Students decorated their pumpkins so wrote a brusk narrative describing their pumpkins. There were three categories - funniest, scariest, and most artistic. Staff members were invited later in the solar day to vote for their favorite pumpkin. The project was a great mode for students to practice their writing skills and expand their vocabulary. They all did a fantastic job!

Funniest Pumpkin	Most Creative	Scariest Pumpkin	Funniest Pumpkin

Anni Zhang	Saade Salaman Maclara	Ashley Leyva	Angela Zamora Tin

ELD Pumpkin Design Contenst Pumpkin Design Contest

Pumpkin Design Contest

Peirce Teacher Nominated for Philly Mag's Best Teacher Laurels

Peirce Center School teacher, Meghan Stolnis, has been named finalist for Philadelphia Magazine's All-time Teacher Award. The publication put out a call for nominations for outstanding teachers in the Greater Philadelphia expanse that get to a higher place and beyond their job descriptions. Later receiving an overwhelming corporeality of submissions, the magazine'southward editors selected the Top 5 finalists. The grand prize winner'south schoolhouse will receive$5,000 and a book donation.

Voting is now open! Please click on the link below and cast your vote for Mrs. Stolnis.
Peirce Eye School Teacher Wins Award

From left - Dr. Jim Scanlon, Dr. Judy Maxwell, Mrs. Cindy Diffendall, Dr. Geoff Mills,

WCASD Schoolhouse Board Vice President Sue Tiernan, WCASD School Board member Dr. Karen Hermann

Peirce Middle School social studies teacher Cindy Diffendall is the middle schoolhouse recipient of the 2017 Citadel Heart of Learning Award. The award recognizes teachers in Chester County who evidence excellence in the classroom and make a difference in the lives of their students, their families, and the community.

"I am and so beholden of receiving this yr's Citadel Heart of Learning Honour for middle schoolhouse," said Diffendall. And while I am this year'south recipient, I laurels all the defended teachers, staff and administration who deserve recognition for the differences they brand every solar day in their students. They continue to inspire non merely students, but me as well!

"Eye school is not easy for students and my goal has e'er been to brand a condom, pleasant learning surroundings where students tin take risks without the fear of failing, added Diffendall. "Cheers to my current and former students for their laughter, energy, efforts and awe-inspiring thoughts and questions that enable united states to larn together. I will continue to nominate my outstanding colleagues then they can experience this wonderful honor as I accept."

Thousands of nominations are submitted each yr past students, parents, and community members and 15 finalists are selected. The finalists received $500 to use in their classroom. Three winners are selected out of the fifteen finalists - one loftier school, one middle school, and i elementary school teacher. The winners received an additional $1,500 to use in their classroom.

"Mrs. Diffendall is a shining example of the fine teachers we take at Peirce Centre School and in the West Chester Area School District, said Peirce Principal Dr. Geoff Mills. "It's a pleasure to work with her every day and witness her tireless efforts to educate and inspire our students to achieve their personal best. We are all incredibly proud of her!"

The awards were handed out at a ceremony on May ix^thursday at the Desmond Hotel.

The Citadel Heart of Learning Award was created in 2001 by Citadel and the Chester County Intermediate Unit of measurement.
Peirce Holds Marathon Event, Benefits Dragonfly Forest Campsite

Peirce Center School students and staff recently coordinated their first-ever trip the light fantastic marathon, which raised well-nigh two-k dollars for Dragonfly Wood Camp.

Coordinated by Peirce'south Pupil Council, Health Team, and a newly established Dance Marathon Committee, students and staff could often be found after school creating marketing materials, preparing decorations, and even practicing their dance moves.

Held within the school's deli, more 140 students participated in the four-hr long event, which featured a DJ, lots of music and dancing, good for you snacks, merchandise sales, a funny photo section, and the popular Punishment Box. Students could purchase a Penalty Box ticket, then deliver the ticket to a friend at the trip the light fantastic toe marathon. The ticket required the friend to go to a roped-off area in the deli, put on funny hats or costumes, and remain there for 15 minutes - or pay four dollars to exit.

Dragonfly Woods Camp is no stranger to Peirce Middle School – gain from a school fundraiser held the prior year benefitted the organization. "I attended Peirce's Aisle Oops for Autism Students versus Faculty Basketball Game last spring, and was incredibly impressed past the school spirit, energy, and enthusiasm displayed by all of the students and staff," said Kristin McMaster, Director of Dragonfly Wood Camp. "We were excited and grateful to learn nosotros would exist the beneficiaries of the school's first-always dance marathon."

At the cease of the marathon, students gathered to find out how much money had been raised. A thou total of $1,839.50 had been collected over the grade of the event, all of which will straight support the camp.

"I promise the students, faculty, and staff that participated felt a sense of customs, and understood the importance of giving back," said Megan Hoopes-Myers, a Peirce Middle School instructor who helped coordinated the dance marathon aslope teachers Denise Lorback and Tara Weaver.

Dragonfly Forest Camp is a non-turn a profit organisation that provides summer camp opportunities at no price to children with medical needs. To learn more than about Dragonfly Wood Military camp, visit dragonflyforest.org.

For more information, delight contact Ms. Tracey Dukert, Digital Communications Coordinator, West Chester Surface area School District at 484-266-1170 or tdukert@wcasd.internet.