Palisades School District

HONORING DR. O'CONNELL FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE:

Congratulations to Dr. Bridget O'Connell, Superintendent of Palisades, for receiving the Outstanding Service Award Friday in honor of her work on behalf of our students and families in Palisades!  This award was presented at the Programs and Services Awards Luncheon at the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology.  Dr. O'Connell is pictured with Palisades' colleagues, Dr. Michael Donnelly (left), Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Bob Musantry (right), School Board President.

For the introduction of Dr. O'Connell and more about the award she received.

On Thursday evening, the Music Department at PHS performed its Winter Concert. Many community members were in attendance and saw an outstanding show! Congratulations to all of our talented musicians! Thank you to Directors Holben, Maldonado and Kumpf for preparing our students at such a high level!

Upcoming FREE Concerts:

12/12 - PALMS Winter Vocal Concert @ PHS 7PM
12/17 - PALMS Winter Band/Orchestra Concert @ PALMS 7PM
12/19 - Elementary Winter Concert @ PHS at 7PM

KUDOS to all of our student performers and to our teachers who are devoted to them!  You all make the season bright!

HOLIDAY GIVING AT PALISADES:
Each year Palisades community members dig into their pockets and GIVE! Helping to provide a special holiday to those in need with your generous donations continues with our Annual Giving Tree. Each year, the Community Relations Office, in conjunction with our school counselors, put together a list of the needs for children and families in our district. Mrs. Berger works with our Kids for Kindness Club to decorate the Annual Giving Tree with many tags which represent gift needs for families across the Palisades Community.
This year is no exception! The tree has been covered with tags ready for you to pick! Please consider taking a tag from the Giving Tree (located at the high school main office/lobby area) and bringing back the requested gift, wrapped and with the tag, no later than December 16th.
If you are unable to pick up a tag, but wish to do so, please contact Ann Berger at 610-847-5131 ext. 2446 or email [email protected] Gift certificates in the amount of $25 are always helpful from stores like Target, Walmart or Amazon. Food gift certificates are welcome also!
As a community, we continue to receive support for those of our neighbors and friends who can use some help this holiday season. We have seen many families who have received help in the past, pay it forward in future years!
#paliserves Thanks for your consideration and happy holidays to everyone!

Congratulations to our New School Board Members, Silvia LeBlanc (Bridgeton/Tinicum) and Dawn Grochowiak (Springfield)!  Along with our current board members and our President, Bob Musantry (Springfield), and Vice President Shari Vandergast (Durham, Nockamixon, Riegelsville Borough), your leadership is welcome! Thanks for your volunteerism!

BUDGET 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR:  Another round of budget presentations happened last Wednesday, December 4th.  Here are a few highlights from that presentation:

• The proposed equipment budget for the district includes updated technology and replacement furniture at the elementary level, medical equipment for schools and musical instruments.  The total of all equipment requests is $76,298
• The administration budget included a budgetary increase of $22,825 or 3.8% mainly due to an accounting change required for annual student scholarships that includes an equal offset of revenue so there is no effect on any potential tax increase.
• An increase in Capital Projects is due to the planned renovation of the High School Science wing. Additional projects include: PALMS parking lot resurfacing, Teacher laptop replacement, several facility upgrades, and safety and security upgrades. All Capital Project money is paid for from fund balance (district savings account) and do not add to the taxpayers’ property tax bill.
• Special and Other Education increased by $223,000 based on the increased expected needs of our students in 2020-2021.

Here are just a few highlights from the last Regular School Board Meeting on December 4th following budget discussion:

*  Our School Board welcomed new Directors, LeBlanc and Growchowiak.
*  Bob Musantry remains as President and Shari Vandergast as Vice President for another term of one year.
*  Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, LLP was approved as the District Solicitor.
*  Scholars Bowl Club at PHS will open a Student Activities Fund for fundraising.
*  An Addendum to the Service Agreement for Title I Equitable Nonpublic Services was approved.

Click here for the agenda on Board Docs to see all motions before the School Board on December 4th - https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/pali/Board.nsf/Public

UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS IN DECEMBER:

12/11/19 - Facilities Committee Meeting at 6:30PM in the PHS Audion; guest speaker, representatives from Krapf (our transportation provider) for a Q and A session
12/11/19 - Athletic Committee Meeting at 7:30PM in the PHS Audion
12/16/19 - Fiscal Oversight Committee Meeting at 9AM in the District Office Conference Room
12/18/19 - Policy Committee Meeting at 5PM in the PHS Administrative Conference Room - CANCELLED
12/18/19 - Regular School Board Meeting at 7PM in the PHS Library (budget presentations begin at 6PM)
12/19/19 - Joint Operating Committee at 7PM in the UBCTS Administrative Conference Room

NOTE:  The public is invited to attend the next Budget Presentation scheduled for December 18th, at 6PM in the high school library.  Highlights of the budget presentations will be posted on our Website under School Board/Budget Presentations - https://www.palisd.org/school_board/budget_information/2020-21_budget_information

Agendas and Minutes are posted under Board Docs:  use this link

The public is encouraged to attend all meetings of the Palisades School Board; meetings on Wednesdays during the school year - check www.palisd.org for dates and times.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

12/9 - PACT Meeting 9AM at PHS
12/9 - DN, TN AND SEPTA PTA/O Meetings (check calendar for times)
12/12 - PALMS Winter Vocal Concert
12/13 - PALMS Teens Night Out 6:30PM - RESCHEDULED TO FEB.
12/13 - SPR Barnes and Noble Night 6PM at Promenade
12/17 - ESS Hiring Event at PHS (see below)
12/17 - PALMS Winter Band/Orchestra Concert 7PM
12/19 - Elementary Winter Concert at PHS
12/23-1/1 - Student/Staff Holiday Break

Visit our web calendar at www.palisd.org for band competitions, sports and other activities!

Substitute School Nurses:  Palisades School District is in need of substitute school nurses to cover school buildings and for field trips.  Building coverage responsibilities involve overseeing the building’s health office, dispensing medications, caring for emerging illnesses or injuries, implementing health care plans, etc.  Field trip responsibilities typically include coordinating with the building nurse regarding medication needs for the trip, and implementation of health care plans, if appropriate. Substitute nurses are paid $19.25 per hour.

Flexible schedule.  Requirement: RN license with medication dispensing certification, CPR/AED and First Aid certifications.  Interested candidates should submit their letter of interest, resume, copy of nursing license and certifications, and required clearances (Act 24, 34, 114, and 151 current within a year) and disclosure form to Eric Gladfelter, Director of Pupil Services at [email protected].  

Palisades requires a pre-employment drug test as a condition of employment.

Link to clearances: https://www.palisd.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=57098&pageId=193289

EOE Open to the Palisades community for our before and after school programs at Springfield and Tinicum Elementary Schools.

OTHER COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:

IMPORTANT COMMUNITY NOTICE-TELL YOUR FRIENDS:

St. Luke’s Upper Bucks Campus will open on December 14, 2019.

On December 14, 2019, the current Emergency Room at St. Luke’s Quakertown Campus will relocate to the new Upper Bucks Campus.

Upon the opening of St. Luke’s Upper Bucks Campus on December 14, 2019, NO emergency services will be available at St. Luke’s Quakertown Campus, 1021 Park Avenue, Quakertown.

POLAR EXPRESS EVENT!  Get in the holiday spirit and hop aboard the polar express! Bring the kids for a morning of  train fun. Make your own Christmas ornaments, cookie decorating, crafts and more while enjoying the hot cocoa bar and movie in the background. Even get your picture taken with our live in person conductor! Come in your PJs for extra fun. FREE! Open to kids of all ages. Saturday December 7th, 10am to 12pm, come and go as you please. Springfield Mennonite Church, 1905 Pleasant View Road Coopersburg, Pa.




TREE LIGHTING!  ALL ARE WELCOME!

DECEMBER 7, 2019  7 P.M.

ST. LUKE’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, FERNDALE, PA

START YOUR CHRISTMAS SEASON WITH US. THE TREE IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH WILL BE LIT, FOLLOWED BY CAROLING,HOT CHOCOLATE, MULLED CIDER AND MORE!

A GREAT WAY FOR FAMILIES TO START THE SEASON!

Check out the FB page for Riegelsville Inn or eventbrite.com for tickets.