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Bullying Prevention Month

This is National Bullying Prevention Month, and at Palisades, we have many programs in place to educate our students about what they can do to prevent bullying and help their peers to not participate in this type of detrimental and hurtful behavior.


We are proud that three of our schools have received the distinction of being a NO PLACE FOR HATE by the AntiDefamation League.  In order to receive this important honor, the schools must participate in three schoolwide activities each year which help to prevent bullying and to enrich the school’s climate.  Palisades High School, Middle School and Durham Nockamixon Elementary School have each received this coveted recognition.


Throughout our curriculum, especially in the Wellness and Fitness area, and with the support of other programs(*) such as Second Step (elementary) and Life Skills (PALMS/PHS) discussion topics with students include managing stress and anger, self esteem, interpersonal communications, and healthy decision making.  This regular conversation with students and the educational and behavioral standards which are set for them in our schools is the foundation of our district’s mission and vision which includes collaboration and having a safe environment in which our students can thrive and learn.


Additionally, one of the core competencies (expectations) that we have established for our students is “respect for self and others.” See Comp Plan Poster 2020-23 
These expectations for learning and behavior are part of our Comprehensive Plan (2020-23) which drives all of the work that we do in our schools each year.  As part of the Comprehensive Planning process, we survey our students, as well as parents, community members, staff and teachers, to determine areas of focus for the Plan.  Under the Wellness initiative, a focus area for our district’s current plan, the team is working on continuing to create a climate, educational opportunities, and resources to enhance the emotional well-being and safety of our students.


(*) Here are other important programs we employ to build self esteem, communications skills and self regulation, include:  School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (grades K-8), Restorative Practices (districtwide), Link Crew Peer Mentoring (PHS), and Responsive Classroom (K-8).  We also invite outside speakers to our schools; they include Network of Victims Assistance (NOVA), A Woman’s Place and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).



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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:  Superintendent O’Connell’s Community Message from yesterday regarding follow up to our Health and Safety Plan which was Board approved on October 6th. 


Community Message - October 14, 2021


Pennys Pond
Pennys Pond 2

IN MEMORY OF MR. PENROSE "PENNY" HALLOWELL:  A dedication ceremony took place this week at the Upper Bucks Technical School to honor Penny's work and service on behalf of the agricultural community.

Pictured above at the dedication of Penny's Pond at UBCTS:  Director Sweda, Superintendent O'Connell, and Mr. Hallowell's children, Emily Roudenbush (PHS 1977) and Jim Hallowell (PHS 1972)

Blood Drive

Other Calendar Updates...The PHS Coffee House that was originally scheduled on November 9th will be postponed until the Spring.

Additionally, student days will not need to be made up from the disruption caused by Hurricane Ida.  Staff days are updated on the attached calendar:  2021.2022 District Calendar revised 9.3.2021-22.pdf

School Board Logo


10/18/21 - Fiscal Committee - to join by phone, please dial 1-219-401-0967 and use PIN 449906568#

10/19/2021-BCIU Board Meeting-7:00pm

10/20/2021-Policy Committee Meeting-5:30pm; to join by phone, please dial 1-650-530-3871 and use PIN 892994260#

10/20/2021-Regular Board Meeting-7:00pm - The public can participate in the School Board Meeting by Google Meet by visiting

meet.google.com/edh-pdwn-wrg

or by phone by dialing ‪(US) +1 419-901-8739‬  and entering the PIN ‪number ‪346 740 135‬# and then pressing the "‬#" key.

Public participants will be muted by default. To unmute your phone when you are called on during public comment press *6 on your phone. If you require reasonable accommodations to access this meeting due to a disability, please contact Gary Adams ([email protected]) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting with a request for such accommodations.

10/21/2021-JOC Board Meeting-8:00pm

10/27/2021-Facilities Committee Meeting-6:30pm

10/27/2021-Athletics Committee Meeting-7:30pm

11/02/2021- Regular Board Meeting-7:00pm
Operation Safe Stop

OPERATION SAFE STOP IS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH:
Each year, through Operation Safe Stop, law enforcement agencies, school transportation providers, pupil transportation associations and PennDOT have combined their efforts to raise public awareness about potential consequences and reduce the occurrence of illegal school bus passes.


Extra-focused attention will be paid to drivers who do not abide by the rules.  DO NOT PASS A SCHOOL BUS - when lights are flashing and the arm is extended.  Take every precaution on Wednesday, October 20th AND EVERY DAY!

Pirate Flag

National Merit Scholarship - Commended Student:

Recently, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced that senior, Dean Bartells, was named a Commended student in the 2022 program. Commended students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of the more than 1 million students who entered the 2022 competition by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). 

Fall Sports Update:

The Field Hockey team and the Boys Soccer team both qualified for the Colonial League Playoffs! The field hockey team plays their first-round game against Wilson HS in the stadium on Saturday at 10 AM while the boys soccer team will play Northwestern Lehigh HS at Catasauqua HS’s stadium. Game time is 4 PM. Online ticket purchase information is listed below:

Field Hockey - Tickets for the (no tickets needed for our HOME game Saturday) - Semifinals and Finals:  https://www.colonialleague.org/online-tickets/
 

Boys Soccer - Tickets for the Quarterfinals/Semifinals and Finals:  https://www.colonialleague.org/online-tickets/
 

Looking to next week, the Boys and Girls Cross Country teams will compete in the Colonial League Championships on Wednesday, October 20th at DeSales University. The boys race starts at 3:00 PM while the girls will start at 3:45 PM. 

Click this link for a full calendar of athletic events. 


Sponsorship Opportunities for the Fall Play and/or Spring Musical


This year, the Palisades High School Theatre Department is proud to present two productions: “CLUE: On Stage”, and “MAMMA MIA!”. The cast and crew are already hard at work in rehearsals, and would appreciate your support of our production. This year, we would like to offer you the chance to advertise for both of our productions at a discounted price. Family and friends of the production can choose this option as well. For more information about sponsoring the performance, please click this link.

 

Van Drivers Needed   

URGENT NEED...NOW HIRING!!!

Van drivers needed; no CDL required; FLEXIBLE HOURS; morning and/or afternoon runs - please contact Gerry Giarratana, Transportation Director at 610-847-5131, ext. 5002 or 267-221-2571 or email [email protected]

If you are interested in driving a van in the morning, afternoon or both (non-CDL license) or a bus (CDL license), please note the rates for driving are $15.85 per hour non-CDL and $18.00 per hour CDL. Paid training is provided and you must be 18 to earn your CDL.
 

PCF Logo

BRICKS ARE BACK! 

Help us to fill the Star Way of Champions!  Just $100/brick to commemorate a special occasion or to honor a loved one!  We are ready to have made and install purchased bricks!  Please complete the attached form to order your today!  PCF brick form.pdf


Nurses Needed

ESS Guest Teacher

MORE HELP NEEDED AT PSD:

Palisades Non-Athletic EDRs - 2021/2022 School Year

October 8, 2021

*In the event that any portion of a school year is cancelled, compensation may be affected

The following non-athletic EDRs are available for the 2021/2022 school year for the Palisades School District. By October 18, 2021, all interested candidates must email their letter of interest, resume, disclosure form(s), and clearances (Act 24, 34, 114, and 151 current within the past 12 months of the closing date of this posting) to the principal noted below.  EOE

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

Link to clearances: https://www.palisd.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=193289

Durham Nockamixon Elementary (Mrs. Marie Collie: [email protected])

Operetta  ($1256)

Job Responsibilities:

* Has the ability to lead a group of fourth and fifth grade students in a theatrical performance of the director and principal’s direction and of student interest

* Oversee with choreographing students in order to best present the story and the music, as necessary based on the type of performance selected

* Oversee with lighting design, creating a light plot, and creating an efficient set design, as necessary

* Assist with gathering and purchasing props needed for the show

* Create props that cannot be purchased that may be needed for the show, if necessary

* Assist with costume design, if appropriate

* Coordinate rehearsal schedule and run rehearsals

* Communicates with students, parents and staff   

Durham Nockamixon Elementary (Mrs. Marie Collie, [email protected]

Costumes/Set Designer  ($628)

Job Responsibilities:

* Assist in the selection of the operetta show if needed

* Assist in the selection of cast members if needed

* Attend rehearsals when required by Director

* Assist with the set-up and tear-down of sets if needed

* Provide necessary props if required

* Help plan transitions of scenery and students if needed

* Oversee and assist with costumes and make-up for all performers 

* Put away supplies and return all costumes as necessary

* Design and create with or without student assistance the costumes and sets for the Operetta, as per the director’s requests

Tinicum Elementary (Dr. Michael Donnelly, [email protected]

Operetta  ($1256)
Job Responsibilities:

* Has the ability to lead a group of fourth and fifth grade students in a theatrical performance of the director and principal’s direction and of student interest

*Oversee with choreographing students in order to best present the story and the music, as necessary based on the type of performance selected

* Oversee with lighting design, creating a light plot, and creating an efficient set design, as necessary

* Assist with gathering and purchasing props needed for the show

* Create props that cannot be purchased that may be needed for the show, if necessary

* Assist with costume design, if appropriate

* Coordinate rehearsal schedule and run rehearsals

* Communicates with students, parents and staff

Palisades Middle School (Dr. Karl Scheibenhofer, [email protected])

Costume ($1,570)

Job Responsibilities:
* Ability to sew and hem

* Acquire, design and build various costume/wig pieces with director

* Lead costume sizing/altering for cast members

* Must attend select rehearsals, tech week, and all performances

* Assemble parent volunteers

* Create a costume list

* Organize and maintain costumes

* Return all costume inventory after the show

ALSO FROM OUR FRIENDS AT ESS:  

ESS East PA is sponsoring a Pet Halloween Costume Contest and would like to get you, Palisades employees, and the community involved! See link below. ESS is giving out a Chewy gift card to the winners who will be announced the weekend of Halloween.

Submit a photo for our Pet Costume Contest!


Therapy Session Information

Click on THIS LINK for information about upcoming sessions offered by St. Luke's Health Network.



COMMUNITY NEWS:
 

Palisades Youth Basketball Registration is Open: PYBA is up and running for the year and sign-ups are happening now for grades 1-6 boys and girls. Please follow the link below for more information and to register your child today! Questions? Please contact palisadesyouthbasketball@gmail.com 

 

IRS: Families now receiving October Child Tax Credit payments;  Still time for eligible families to sign up for advance payments

IR-2021-201, Oct. 15, 2021


WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department announced today that millions of American families are now receiving their advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of October.


This fourth batch of advance monthly payments, totaling about $15 billion, is reaching about 36 million families today across the country. The majority of payments will be issued by direct deposit.

 

Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received payments dated July 15, Aug. 13 and Sept. 15. Future payments are scheduled for Nov. 15 and Dec. 15. For these families, each payment is up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 through 17. The vast majority will be issued by direct deposit.

 

Here are more details on those payments:

* Families will see the direct deposit payments in their accounts starting Oct. 15. Like the prior payments, the vast majority of families will receive them by direct deposit.

* For those receiving payments by paper check, be sure to allow extra time, through the end of October, for delivery by mail. Those wishing to receive future payments by direct deposit can make this change using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, available only on IRS.gov. To access the portal or to get a new step-by-step guide for using it, visit IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021.

* Payments went to eligible families who filed a 2019 or 2020 income tax return. Returns processed by Oct. 4 are reflected in these payments. This includes people who don’t typically file a return but during 2020 successfully registered for Economic Impact Payments using the IRS Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov or in 2021 successfully used the Non-filer Sign-up Tool for advance CTC, also available only on IRS.gov.

* Payments are automatic. Aside from filing a tax return, including a simplified return from the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, families don’t have to do anything if they are eligible to receive monthly payments.

* Families who did not get a July, August or September payment and are getting their first monthly payment this month will still receive their total advance payment for the year. This means that the total payment will be spread over three months, rather than six, making each monthly payment larger.

 

The IRS is currently sending letters to some Americans reminding them it is not too late for families who haven't filed a 2020 income tax return — including those who are not normally required to file because their incomes are too low — to sign up for advance CTC payments. Most low-income families can get these monthly payments. The IRS urges families who normally aren't required to file a tax return to visit IRS.gov for more information on how to file a return and receive their credit.


Dog Training

Details:  Dog Obedience Training; Wednesdays - October 13 through November 11; Time - 7 - 8 PM; $125/4 legged participant - to register, please email [email protected]

Note:  Masks are required for human participants while in our building.


Electronics

Penn Foundation Flyer 1
Penn Foundation Flyer 2

National Drug Take Back Day

THE DATE IS OCTOBER 23, 2021 Click Here for a drop off location for your unused/unwanted medicines.  Thank you for keeping our children and our water sources safe!


Bridgeton AA

Boy Scouts