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HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR ANY PIRATE IN YOUR FAMILY!

The holidays are quickly approaching! Get your PHS School Store Apparel from the High School Entrepreneurship class before it is too late. Give the gift of a Palisades coffee mug, mask, hat, sweatshirt or sweatpants to someone who you appreciate!  Please see the flyer below for additional information. 

PHS School Store Holiday Flyer.pdf


Sounds of the Season

Thursday, December 17th, the PALMS Music Department will be holding a Winter Cabaret - virtually! 

You will be able to view the cabaret in two places:
- PALMS Choirs Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PALMSsings

The cabaret will feature performances by many of our instrumental and vocal students (and maybe even a surprise performance from your music teachers!). 

The instrumental students will premiere at 6 PM, and the vocal students will premiere at 7 PM.

Holiday Food Drive
This food drive is organized by the sophomore class at PHS.  Thank you in advance for your contributions.  They may be dropped at PHS.


AI robot image

IF COMPUTER SCIENCE IS YOUR THING...CHECK OUT THESE TOOLS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD!  GREAT ACTIVITY OPTIONS FOR ALL AGES!

From our friends at code.org - Tools for everyone to enjoy the Hour of Code

Both classrooms and students alike have different needs, especially this year. To honor this, we’ve expanded our resources to guide you through a variety of options for hosting a fun Hour of Code. If you haven’t already, check out our library of How-To Guides which include new tips for teachers, parents, and virtual events. 

We’ve also created a printable Hour of Code Unplugged Activity Packet for ages 4-18 so that students using limited technology at home can still participate. Plus, there are new unplugged activity options from our partners at Google, Kodable, iRobot, and more. 

With classroom instruction becoming increasingly virtual this year, there has never been a more important time to introduce computer science. It’s vital that every student understands not only how to use these technologies, but how they work, how they’re built, and how to think about them through the lens of CS for Good

Every child deserves to learn computer science. By learning today, they can build a brighter tomorrow. 

Camelback Tickets

While COVID sadly prevents us from taking group trips up to the mountain together this year, the Palisades Ski Club is happy to announce that our students (and family members) will still be able to purchase season passes with our school discount for their own personal use.  The window for ordering passes is now open, and families have until December 18th to make their purchases. All information, links, and directions can be found in this flyer.  Thanks and here's to a great winter!



Get Free Food


MORE GOOD NEWS FROM OUR FOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO MAKE YOUR HOLIDAYS BRIGHT!

On Tuesday, December 29th from 10AM until 12:30PM our Food Service  Department will provide SIX BREAKFASTS AND SIX LUNCHES for each child for FREE - this is for all children in the Palisades School District!  Don't miss this opportunity to stock up for the remainder of the holiday break!

Meals are pre-packaged and come with milk, fruits, and vegetables!  This is a FREE service for our community!  A short form to reserve your meals is linked here:  Holiday Meal Distribution Reservation

Please complete your reservation today!  Here's What You Will Receive



Pirate Nation


Trinity Williams is only 4 points away from the HUGE milestone of reaching 1000 points for her High School career! Unfortunately the game is away at Kutztown HS but below is the live stream link. Game time is 4:15PM

Upper Bucks Career & Technical Center NEWS 

On December 16, the UBCTS will host an OPEN HOUSE for PROSPECTIVE students and parents. Please click this link for detailed information about the virtual open house. 

Each month the UBCTS creates a newsletter that contains information about their students and programs. Please click this link to review all the great things that are happening at UBCTS.

College Board Recognizes PHS Students 

Last week, we celebrated Liam McDowell's announcement as a Commended Student by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  But there is more from PHS...

Earlier this year, the College Board named Elizabeth Gilmore, Liam McDowell, Skye Porter, and Marcus Yearwood to its National Recognition Program. 

They scored in the top 2.5% of all PSAT/NMSQT test takers, who identify as one or more of the following: African American, Hispanic American or Latino, Indigenous, or attend school in a rural area, or are from a small town. 

This achievement will enable them to highlight their outstanding educational achievements to top colleges and universities.  Congratulations on this fine accomplishment! 

Bingo Card Baseball

Pirates Baseball Fundraiser:

The Palisades HS Baseball Team is conducting its Lottery Board Fundraiser.   Lottery Boards are on sale for $10.00 a board with a daily prize award of $25.00 ($100.00 on New Years Day and Martin Luther King Day).   All proceeds benefit the PHS Baseball Program.   Ask a  player to buy a Lottery Board or contact Coach Alkhas:  [email protected] to buy a Lottery Board.   

***Covid-19 friendly purchases:   Email Coach Alkhas@ [email protected] to buy a board electronically.***



PCF Holiday Giving

Any tax-free donations made to the Community Giving Tree holiday relief fund project will be channeled back to Palisades' families in need for the holiday season.  Every donation, regardless of the size is helpful to aid in the holiday giving program organized by the school district's Community Relations Office.  Approximately 50 families with children need some assistance this holiday season.  Interested in finding out what gifts/donations are needed, please contact Mrs. Berger - [email protected]  

Or to make a TAX FREE donation to Palisades Community Foundation, please visit PCF's new website - use PayPal or you can mail in a check to the address listed.  Also, please check out the tax benefits available to charitable donors by clicking on this link:  More on Charitable Donations - CARES Act

Honor A Teacher Image

To Honor a Teacher, visit: www.palisadescommunityfoundation.com
OR download this form and mail with your donation: Honor a Teacher 2020.pdf

Helping Hands

MORE FROM PCF:
Fundraiser for Jamie Wright by Alyssa Anzur - Wright Family Fund

This is another opportunity to help a family who is going through a very tough time. Our thoughts go to the Wright Family. Anyone wishing to donate to this family, please see the GoFundMe site linked below. They can use your help and support:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/httpsgofundmecomthewrights
School Board Graphic


UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS:  All board meeting agendas are posted on Board Docs - https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/pali/Board.nsf/Public under the “meetings” tab.

Here is the schedule for upcoming virtual School Board (Regular and Committee) Meetings:

12/14/20 - Fiscal Oversight Committee 9AM - Join by phone +1 617-675-4444‬ PIN: ‪817 859 064 8136‬#
12/16/20 - Budget Presentation 6PM - call in info will be posted on 12/14
12/16/20 - Regular School Board Meeting 7PM - call in info will be posted on 12/14
12/17/20 - Joint Operating Committee (UBCTS) 8PM
In Other School Board News...Congratulations to Mr. Bob Musantry who will remain as President and Mrs. Shari Vandergast who remains as Vice President. We are appreciative of your commitment and that of all of our School Board of Directors to the students, their families and all of the residents of the Palisades School District. Your tireless efforts on behalf of the district lift us up and make us #palisadesstrong! Thank you for all that you do!
Happy Holidays from the Palisades School Board of Directors! See you in 2021!

CALENDAR
CALENDAR INFO - LOOKING AHEAD - Updated Calendar At A Glance 20-21

December 21st - Virtual Day for All Students

December 22nd - Virtual Day for All Students

December 23rd - Virtual Half Day for All Students

December 24th to January 1st - Holiday Break for All Students

January 4th - Virtual Day for All Students (*)

January 5th - Virtual Day for All Students (*)

January 6th - Virtual Day for All Students (*)

January 7th - Face to Face Student Return to School for Instruction

(*) Newly added Virtual Days for ALL Students.  The High School has released additional information regarding the schedule for Upper Bucks County Technical School students.

COVID Email Announcement

NEW EMAIL ACCOUNT FOR COVID-RELATED ISSUES:

Our school nurses will now be monitoring the following (new) email address for COVID-related issues - [email protected].  They will be monitoring this email account over the weekends and holidays so that we remain up to date with any information you share regarding testing or students who are symptomatic.  Please use this email to send any requested documents regarding COVID-19 so that your children's status can be updated before the start of school on the next face to face school day. To help us quickly manage the information you share, include your student's name and building in the subject line of the email.  You can also use this email to contact the district nurses with any questions regarding COVID-19.

Please continue to notify our nurses and principals if you have a COVID positive situation which arises in your home, or if your child(ren) are symptomatic.  This will help us to expedite our case investigation and notify any close contacts.  We ask that you continue to notify your child(ren)’s building principal and our nurses (at the email above) on weekends, evenings and during our holiday break so that we can stay on top of any new developments.

Capri Restaurant
FROM TINICUM PTA:

We are excited to present to you our first ever Capri Restaurant Fundraiser

MARK THE MONDAY'S ON YOUR DECEMBER CALENDAR....
12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28 you don't have to cook!!! 

Every Monday in the month of December, dine in or take out from Capri Restaurant, and they will donate 20% of all food sales to Tinicum PTA! We thought this was the perfect way to give back to our school during this different time AND give all of you a night off from the hustle and bustle of dinner!! 

SHARE THIS WITH ALL YOUR LOCAL FAMILIES & FRIENDS!!! 

NxStop App
LOOKING AHEAD - STAY INFORMED WITH NXSTOP (New Transportation App for PSD):
We are excited to announce that we will be testing a new school transportation app called “NxStop” (pronounced “next-stop”). NxStop is an app that lets parents and students know when their school bus is arriving at their stop. 

NxStop takes a slightly different approach than other apps of its kind. It started “from the inside out”, meaning that it first began as a solution to a problem faced by its founder, James Polhemus, after he missed his school bus on a rainy morning. Since then, the company has remained devoted to bettering the school transportation experience for parents and students. 
Get Started with NxStop Information Handout

ESS December Events

ESS Hiring Event
College Recruiting
COVID APP ANNOUNCED:
The following information was released from the PA Department of Health and the Department of Education this week.  Please see the press release linked below with directions as to how to download the COVID related app; information regarding COVID mitigation and tracking of cases in your area are part of the services provided through this app. It is a free app available for Android and Apple devices.  LINK TO PRESS RELEASE HERE

NOTICE FROM WORTHWHILE WEAR:

As you may know by our recent newsletter email, Worthwhile Wear is planning to launch a pilot program of our virtual Worth It Outreach on January 12th!

We're looking for some skilled Arts & Crafts volunteers to create handmade gifts for the 8 women that will be in the inaugural program (i.e., knitted prayer shawls, knitted hats/gloves, bracelets, purses, cord tacos, etc.).  Since the sessions will have some pre-recorded content and live virtual presenters, we want to make sure there is a personal touch as well, and we're sure there's a few skilled volunteers out there that are up for helping us achieve the impact that Worth It is intended to have - that every woman is Worthwhile!

If you are interested, please let me know and I will get you set up with our Worth It coordinator on next steps.

Also, we're still in search of a tech-savvy volunteer to help us install safety and security measures on our Well participants' laptops.  We would ideally want to do this through our server by installing measures to block specific websites and to monitor activity when the laptops are in use.  As we continue to mirror COVID safety protocols similar to what schools are using for our counseling and education sessions with the Women at The Well, we need to be sure we're applying similar methods to monitor laptop use and block certain sites that a school would use for laptops issued to students.

The service provider at The Well is Verizon Fios, and the laptops are HP EliteBooks.  If you have expertise in this area and would be willing to install the necessary software on the participants' laptops, please let me know.

Thanks again for being a part of our mission to serve survivors of human trafficking.  We cannot do what we do without you!

Contact:  Ray at 267.905.8110 | worthwhilewear.org


Homeless Announcement