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"Two of a Kind" Concert
Wednesday, February 8, 6:30 p.m.,
H-H High School; Free admission
More than 350 third and fourth grader students from Blair Mill, Crooked Billet, Hallowell and Pennypack elementary schools will perform songs they wrote in a series of workshops conducted by “Two of a Kind,” a musical husband and wife duo. Eighteen songs – one per class – will be presented, all with the theme of student leadership.
More information here.
Preview a few of the original songs written by Hatboro-Horsham students:
"Be in Charge"
"The Turnover"
"Work Together"
Tom Szaky
Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m.,
Jarrett Nature Center; Free admission
As part of the nature center’s 10th Annual Earth Day, HHEF presents the co-founder and CEO of TerraCycle, Inc., producer of the world’s first product made from and packaged in waste. More information here.
Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus
Tuesday, May 1, 7:30 p.m., H-H High School; Free admission
Since 1981, PGMC has been presenting music that entertains, inspires and affirms with a spirit of friendship and hope. The Chorus’s select ensemble, “Brotherly Love,” offers a lively evening with a wide range of music, from Pop to Broadway.
More information here.
Flame, the Band
Thursday, May 10, 7:30 p.m
Keith Valley Middle School; Free Admission
Flame, a rock band from upstate New York, is composed of 10 musicians with developmental/physical disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome, and blindness.
More information here.
As we start a new year with many HHEF programs and Innovative Learning Grants to teachers planned in the HHSD schools, please consider making a donation to HHEF to enrich the learning experience of our students throughout the rest of the school year. There is no time like the present, so please make a donation today! |
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Special thanks to Becky Felten, Ami Kirn, Dave McPhillips, Jean di Sabatino, and Mary Dare for their contributions to the Winter 2012 e-News. |
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If you would like to receive this newsletter each month, please click here and enter your email address in the red "e-News" box. We invite you to visit our Web site often for photos and stories about our ongoing programs in the Hatboro-Horsham School District.
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HHEF designated a United Way agency
HHEF, a 501 (c)(3) organization registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, has just been approved as a designated United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania agency. Those who prefer to make a donation to HHEF through the United Way may do so online at www.uwsepa.org by clicking on "give," then on "donor choice agency search" and enter "Hatboro Horsham Educational Foundation" or #5562 and then click on "give now." |
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The Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation begins the new year looking forward to upcoming events and sharing with the community how our Innovative Learning Grants are enhancing the classroom experience of students in the Hatboro-Horsham School District. The last few months of 2011 were filled with activities which brought an internationally-known newsmaker to our schools, more than 300 people together to talk about the effect of academic and social pressures on our children, and a demonstration of technology that gives teachers instant feedback on their students’ understanding of academic content.
Following are some highlights of the 2011-12 school year to date: |
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Dr. Arun Gandhi
Arun Gandhi talks with students from the Hatboro-Horsham High School World Affairs Council, Honors English and Honors Global Studies classes following one of two assemblies at the school.
Photo by Nancy Tirrell Paravano.
Arun Gandhi, the grandson of legendary spiritual leader Mahatma K. Gandhi spoke Oct. 25 at two student assemblies about his work as a peace activist and proponent of nonviolence, sharing stories about the lessons he learned during time spent with his grandfather in India. Later in the day, he met for Q&A sessions with students from Hatboro-Horsham High School’s World Affairs Council, Honors English and Honors Global Studies classes.
That night HHEF hosted a meet and greet reception with Gandhi for reserved seating ticket holders, bringing a taste of India to the Hatboro-Horsham High School Library with a cultural display, Indian appetizers and Indian music and video. Gandhi signed copies of his books, “Legacy of Love: My Education in the Path of Nonviolence,” and “The Forgotten Woman: The Untold Story of Kastur, Wife of Mahatma Gandhi” both before and after a community address which filled the high school theater. Proceeds from the sale of his books benefitted the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute, an outreach program for children of the world (www.gandhiforchildren.org).
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"Race to Nowhere"
Film Screening & Discussion
More than 300 parents, educators and school administrators turned out at Hatboro-Horsham High School Nov. 15 for an HHEF-sponsored evening screening of “Race to Nowhere,” (www.racetonowhere.com) a highly acclaimed 2010 documentary created by California resident Vicki Abeles after her then 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a stress-induced illness.
After the screening, held during National Education Week, more than 100 members of the audience broke into small groups to discuss the issues raised in the film. Facilitating the discussions were volunteers with “Be a Part of the Conversation” (www.hatboro-horsham.org/conversation), a Hatboro-Horsham School district initiative begun last May to engage administrators, teachers, parents, students and the community in talking about issues related to substance abuse and other behaviors that put students at risk.
One of those facilitators was Ami Kirn, an educator and district parent.
“The mother who worked diligently to create this film is striving to promote awareness of how schools today continually add unnecessary stress on students, and the common expression, ‘You can’t do it all,’ is not said enough to our youth. ‘Race to Nowhere’ shows how students are left to feel alone, and even hopeless, as they struggle to keep up a highly unrealistic pace with the demands of their homework and extracurricular activities.”
Kirn’s discussion group explored the questions: “What are you passionate about?” and, “Is it something that was encouraged or discouraged in school?” While members of the group briefly reflected on their own school experiences, they reformulated the question to determine if their children are being inspired. Kirn shared with the group a “positive experience” her son had in the fall. “We could not race around and do it all that day,” she said. “His involvement in a Book and Author Study Group at school had inspired him to attend a book signing in New Jersey and he chose that instead of an end-of-the-season pizza party with his fall baseball team.”
As part of the “Race to Nowhere” event, HHEF teamed up with the Horsham Township Library to initiate discussion groups focusing on three books with topics related to the film: “The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids,” “The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills our Children Need – and What We Can Do About It,” and“ ‘Doing School’: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed-Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students.” To join one of the remaining book discussion groups, visit www.hhef.org.
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Leadership Murals
Among the Pennypack Elementary School students who contributed to the Leadership Mural, shown behind them, are, from left: Luke Zimmerman, Eliana Medina, Nicholas Reinheimeier, DJ David, Kylie Crothamel, and Rebecca Fisher.
Photo by Nancy Tirrell Paravano.
Inspired by the books "The Leader in Me" by Stephen Covey, and "7 Habits of Healthy Kids" by his son, Sean, who visited the district in 2009 through an HHEF-sponsored program, students at Pennypack and Blair Mill elementary schools created a “Leadership Mural” for their schools. Each student selected his or her "leadership quality" and drew a design that best illustrated it. Art teacher Mary Arbuckle photographed the designs which were then transferred onto individual tiles. The tiles were fashioned to create a mural, with photos of each child blended together in the shape of hands as the centerpiece.
Members of the HHEF board of directors recently visited Pennypack and viewed the mural. “I was admiring the mural when three 5th grade students, watching me, proudly pointed to their tiles on the wall,” said board member Dr. Dave McPhillips. “One was a drawing of a baseball to symbolize leadership in Little League, another of a violin, to show a leadership in music, and another of a heart-shaped picture of the earth, to symbolize the vision of world peace. This mural is a reminder that everyone has a special role to play and is important to their community.” |
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HHEF recently welcomed new members to the board of directors and advisory board. New directors, from left, are: Monica Taylor, H-H district assistant superintendent (elementary); Jennifer Hammel, First Niagara Bank; Curtis Griffin, district superintendent; Sandra Courtney, Horsham Township Library; Carey Rhodes, HHHS English teacher and Hatboro-Horsham Education Association representative; Kathy Kingston, Mid-Atlantic Family Restaurants, Inc./McDonald’s of Hatboro and Horsham (advisory board); and Linda Roehner Lynd of Hatboro Federal Savings. Not pictured are board member John Nodecker, H-H district assistant superintendent (secondary); and advisory board member Claire Signs, PNC bank. A full list of directors and advisory board members is available at www.hhef.org/about. |
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Mark your calendars for a unique experience for friends of HHEF on Thursday, March 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Motorola Mobility, 101 Tournament Drive, Horsham.
Motorola will be hosting our HHEF & You event in its Executive Briefing Room where our board of directors will provide an overview of HHEF for our supporters and volunteers. Learn how you can become more involved with foundation and see a demonstration of some Motorola’s new products. Meet the HHEF board of directors, the Hatboro-Horsham School District superintendent, and the HHEF advisory board, as well as other supporters of our organization and Motorola representatives. If you can join us, sign up on our Web site, www.hhef.org or send an e-mail to hhef@hatboro-horsham.org. |
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Robotics
For the past five years, HHEF has financially supported the Hatboro-Horsham High School Robotics Club, as well as programs at the elementary and middle schools.
The high school club, “Team 708 Hardwired Fusion,” has just begun building a 150-pound robot for the 2012 competition organized by FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit public charity based in Manchester, N.H. The organization (www.usfirst.org) designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.
At an event Jan. 7 in Manchester, with video appearances by former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, FIRST® launched its 21st robotics competition season with a new game, “Rebound Rumble.” The Hatboro-Horsham team was among some 60,000 robotics team members from across the nation, and in Canada, Israel and Mexico watching through live feeds provided by NASA-TV at 73 kickoff sites around the world. Some 30 members of the team joined more than 25 other regional teams at Upper Darby High School to learn the details and rules of the new game.
Members of Team 708 look for a possible problem with a motor at the “Ramp Riot” competition held last year at Wissahickon High School. Also participating this year are, from left: Jay Shaker, Eric Loper, and John Pasquarello.
Photo by Nancy Tirrell Paravano.
The teams have six weeks to design, program and assemble their robots to accomplish the game objectives. On March 2 and 3, Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School will host the first of five competitions for schools in the Mid-Atlantic Robotics region. The teams compete at two district competitions and, if they qualify, go to the regional championship at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. The public is invited and admission is free. For additional information about Team 708, how to lend a hand or become a sponsor, contact team adviser Eric Zygmont at ezygmont@team708.org.
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S.M.A.R.T.
Imani Jeanlys, a student at Pennypack Elementary School, uses a “clicker” to answer questions projected on an interactive white board, part of the “SMART” Interactive Response System.
Photo by Nancy Tirrell Paravano
Pennypack Elementary School received a Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation Innovative Learning Grant to purchase SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Tool) Interactive Response System computer software for all K-5 classrooms, including those for special education students. During a recent HHEF board meeting, held at the school, Principal Amy Roslevege, third grade teacher Bob Campman and three of his third graders demonstrated the SMART system.
The system combines wireless remotes (clickers), a receiver and powerful assessment software that are used to give teachers instant feedback on their students’ understanding of academic content. Students are given clickers which they use to respond to questions that are projected onto an interactive white board. Students log in their answers using the numbered keypad on the clicker. Their answers are instantly recorded and projected on the whiteboard, allowing the teacher to immediately assess the level of understanding of each student, as well as the entire class. With this information, teachers can make adjustments to the pace of the lesson, can identify students who need extra help with concepts and/or determine which students have mastered content. |
Two of a Kind
Jacob Shurtz, left, and Caleb Hansford put their all into a song during an all-school assembly at Pennypack Elementary School with “Two of a Kind.” Photo by Nancy Tirrell Paravano.
Third and fourth grade students at Blair Mill, Crooked Billet, Hallowell and Pennypack elementary schools* are learning the art and process of songwriting – both lyrics and music. Through a series of workshops at each school, conducted by “Two of a Kind,” a musical husband and wife duo from Cheltenham, the students are writing the lyrics, setting the verses to music, choosing a musical style and arrangement.
The Two of a Kind artist residency is built around the theme of student leadership and the 7 Habits of Happy Kids and each song will relate to that theme. Through a group creative process, students learn about cooperation, creativity, compromise, and accomplishment as well as specific skills and information related to songwriting. Each school kicked off the program with a lively, interactive school-wide assembly to meet Two of a Kind and hear its music. The students performed their own songs – one per class - at all-school assemblies and will present a district-wide community concert February 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Hatboro-Horsham High School.
* Simmons Elementary School, the district’s fifth elementary school, is not included because it conducted a similar program with Two of a Kind last year, funded by its Home and School Association. |
New Category Approved for Educational Improvement Tax Credits
Much of HHEF’s funding comes from our corporate partners who participate in Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program which awards tax credits to businesses that make contributions to approved scholarship organizations and/or educational improvement organizations.
HHEF is an approved organization and may accept funding for projects and programs relating to hands-on math and science, media literacy, guest professionals and environmental education. The Department of Community and Economic Development has approved an additional category: Student Leadership and Civic Learning. Projects under this category help students understand their roles and responsibilities as active members in all the communities of which they are members – school, home and neighborhood. To see if your business qualifies for the EITC program, visit www.hhef.org/eitc or call the Foundation at 215-420-5261.
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