PUTTING A SMILE ON YOUR FACE!
From Our Music Department: Thank you SO much to those of you who tuned in to our Virtual Cabaret last night! Performances are still available on Facebook (Palisades Middle School Choirs), but we wanted to forward the YouTube link for those who may not have Facebook...enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLICCUfGmTH3cssL22EAdqK_c84rg4VtLw
From the High School for Students: This week, some faculty and staff members created a special video that is sure to bring a smile to your face. Please click this link to view it. A special thanks to Ms. Patience and Mr. Gilbert for their efforts in bringing this fun idea to life!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_EwC82U_E
From the Athletics Department: Palisades graduate, Tyler Marsh, is a Senior at WPI in Massachusetts who has been a standout for their wrestling team the past 4 years. He is the leader at Palisades of career wins, he holds many records at WPI and now is adding one more credential...All-American! What an accomplishment for this young man and his family!
https://athletics.wpi.edu/sports/wrest/2019-20/releases/20200412upgcj7?fbclid=IwAR0NkH-GFgYa40Nwzmky9G07c9fthFJtdacxBHHMwxt0bbDayQLQS3BppY0
RESET FRIDAY...AN UPDATE TO THE ONLINE LEARNING SCHEDULE: Beginning next week, April 20 - 24, we are adjusting expectations for new content ever so slightly for teachers and families. Keeping in mind the desire to keep our students engaged, while recognizing the challenges online learning can present, our new weekly schedule will keep new instruction and content to be delivered on Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays, going forward, will serve as a “reset day”. What does this mean?
- Students who have completed all of their work for the week may take advantage of non-graded enrichment activities on Fridays. A menu of options will be created for your student.
- Students who have not yet completed assignments can use Fridays to get caught up.
- Teachers can use this time to provide remediation or enrichment supports to students and use the week’s student performance to adjust instruction for the upcoming week.
That said, as we begin our 4th quarter, our teachers will continue to offer new instruction that is tied to standards in a best faith effort to keep our students learning and growing in each of their classes. Throughout the marking period, just like in the classroom, teachers will give feedback and grades for the assignments they are providing. While the amount of content will be less in the virtual setting, the expectations remain that students are trying their best and submitting work in a timely fashion. Our teachers are very cognizant of the challenges that exist with teaching and learning in homes through a virtual format. Assignments may be shorter in length, span a few days time, or may be of a different format (like a project to demonstrate proficiency instead of a traditional question/answer test).
We look forward to continued success in the virtual format and we appreciate everyone’s support as we navigate these unprecedented times together. Kudos to everyone for your great work!
MEAL UPDATE: We continue to distribute food for all children ages 4-18 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Palisades High School and Tinicum Elementary School. Nearly 7,000 meals (breakfasts/lunches) have been distributed to date and this practice will continue into the foreseeable future.
CHROMEBOOKS AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY: If you are having a problem with your child’s chromebook, please complete this form so that we can schedule a time to swap your damaged chromebook with one that is working.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf688D2LYWn8F4QsS0NQKnBQVBQAxAUZfmhB4iyt-zPTLZqcQ/viewform
Additionally, we are hearing that some students/families may be experiencing internet issues. We understand that slower internet speeds are being reported and in some cases, students are finding it difficult to load videos which contain the teacher's direction or instruction. Of course, you may contact your service provider, or as we sent out previously, some phone service providers are increasing data coverage at no charge during this pandemic. We have listed the contact information for several providers below.
Free or Additional Internet/HotSpot Service: The following service providers are offering upgrades - please see their individual websites for details.
Furthermore, if your child is experiencing internet or connectivity issues and is unable to complete an assignment on time, please contact your child’s teacher to notify him or her of the reason for not submitting the assignment.
Last weekend’s Drive by the Easter Bunny was a great success! It was so awesome that a 2nd Easter Bunny was recruited to pull it off! Thanks to the help of Kimberly Casterline it happened and was so much fun! Special thanks to our Band Booster President, Mrs. Debby Christman and to the Easter Bunny for spreading some holiday smiles!
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SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PALISADES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (PCF):
The Palisades Community Foundation (501c3) is a philanthropic organization serving the residents of the Palisades community. This organization is working on several opportunities to help residents during this very difficult time. This past week, PCF made a contribution of $1,000 to the Lord’s Pantry in Ottsville - the Pantry reports providing food for over 1500 families in need in our community. The Pantry continues to seek cash donations to help supplement needs in the community.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: HOT MEALS FOR THOSE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY:
As a 501c3, the Palisades Community Foundation is collecting tax-free donations made to help fund the Pantry, as well as contribute to other COVID-19 relief, including an upcoming project to provide a hot meal to families in our community. The meals would be distributed next Friday, April 24th at Palisades High School from 3-5PM. The food items will be prepared and the meals will be distributed in a “drive through” fashion. An online form will be linked on the PCF website on Monday to reserve your family’s meal.
If you wish to make a tax-free donation to the Palisades Community Foundation (PCF), please mail your donation to P.O. Box 194, Kintnersville, PA 18930 and mark it as COVID-19 relief funds in the memo or go online to make a donation using PayPal at https://www.palisadescommunityfoundation.com/
FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE UNITED WAY:
Here is some information about two programs sponsored by the United Way that are particularly relevant to current needs in Bucks County communities. The specific programs are:
2-1-1 Information Referral Service is a free service that operates 24/7/365, in more than 100 languages. It connects residents of Bucks County with the resources and services available to meet their everyday needs and crisis situations. The United Way staff is working continuously to update resources in the 2-1-1 database, networking with agencies to ensure only the most accurate information is available. It is the best resource to connect those in need with the services that can help them.
2-1-1 can be accessed at the following link: https://www.uwbucks.org/2-1-1/
Fresh Connect, is a free mobile farm market that is continuing to provide fresh fruit, vegetables and other staples to those in need. The market is hosted at three sites, Bristol, Warminster and Ottsville on a weekly basis. This program has been consistently serving about 520 families each week and they anticipate the need will grow as the health crisis continues. Details of the program are available at the following link: https://www.uwbucks.org/freshconnect/
Additional COVID-19 Resources may be found at: https://www.uwbucks.org/covidresources/
The United Way is continuing to assess the needs in the community and support their network of nonprofits. On March 17th, they announced the launch of the Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund (uwbucks.org/covidrecovery). There are no administrative fees associated with this fund.
We know that the proposed Federal emergency relief package will help many people. We also know that there will be people – and needs – not covered by the funds.
Here are the key points:
Bucks County COVID-19 Recovery Fund fills in the gaps of other emergency relief funding, focusing on the people and needs that can’t be supported any other way.
There are no administrative fees.
All funds will be used to assist Bucks County residents.
Assistance will be provided through our member agencies, who are invited to apply for immediate financial support of their life-sustaining programs. We will not be making direct grants to individuals.
There will be one simple, universal application for funds, to include the data we need to collect and track. It will not be onerous for our nonprofit partners, but we will be able to track how funds are impacting our community.
United Way is here to help.
Together with Penn Community Bank, we’ve launched the COVID-19 Recovery Fund to help those affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
To learn more about the Recovery Fund or to see how you can help visit: www.uwbucks.org/COVIDrecovery
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
Donate to Meals on Wheels Bucks County: (From their website) Central Bucks Meals on Wheels would like you to know we are continuing to provide meals for our neighbors in need while doing our best to protect the health and safety of our clients and volunteers. Due to the infectious nature of Covid 19, The Board of Directors has changed our delivery process.
We are now delivering a week’s worth of frozen meals to our clients every Monday rather than a daily delivery. During this visit, we are continuing to check on clients to make sure they are doing well. To protect everyone, gloves are being worn and changed between each delivery. In addition, volunteers who are not feeling well are asked to stay home until their symptoms have resolved.
We realize that this is difficult for our clients and will switch back to daily delivery as soon as it is safe to do so. If you know of anyone who may need our services, please call us at (215) 345-6065. We are here to help. You may also donate to Central Bucks Meals on Wheels at CBmealsonwheels.org/donate/
Blood Donations: As many blood drives have been canceled, but the need has not dwindled. So, if you are healthy, please consider contacting these organizations to donate: Miller Keystone Blood Center - https://www.giveapint.org/ - and the American Red Cross - www.redcross.org - are accepting donations. Please contact them directly to schedule your appointment.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS CONTINUE VIRTUALLY: The Palisades School Board Committee and Regular Meetings continue virtually until further notice. Information regarding public access to those meetings will be posted on the Monday before the meeting. The notice will be found on our website - www.palisd.org - we encourage the public to join us by phone for our meetings of the Board.
Upcoming Meetings in April/May:
4/22/20 - Facilities Committee Meeting at 6:30PM
4/22/20 - Athletics Committee Meeting at 7:30PM
05/06/20 - Policy Committee Meeting at 6PM
05/06/20 - Regular School Board Meeting at 7PM
05/13/20 - Education Programs and Services Committee Meeting at 6:30PM
05/18/20 - Fiscal Committee Meeting at 9AM
05/20/20 - Regular School Board Meeting at 7PM
05/21/20 - Joint Operating Committee at 7PM
Proposed Budget Highlights for the 2020-2021 School Year:
At the last meeting, the School Board approved the Proposed Final Budget presentation with a 2.6% tax increase as a “worst-case” scenario (millage increase of 2.99 mills for a new millage rate of 117.99 mills). This would result in a real estate tax increase of roughly $103.41 to the average homeowner (calculated on the current median household assessed value of $34,585). That calculated increase may still be adjusted to a lower rate, however it cannot exceed this amount as an average.
The biggest driving force behind the expenditure budget increase is an increase in state mandated special education costs of more than $223,000 and an increase in transportation services needed of more than $161,355. This budget also reflects an expectation of reduced revenues based on the current state of the economy.
This budget shows the maximum potential tax increase allowable for the 2020-2021 year. A goal of a 0% increase is ideal, and more reductions will be needed to meet this goal.
Final Budget is scheduled for a vote by the School Board on June 3rd.
TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE! The Springfield Township Police Officers are challenging students to a SIT UP and PUSH UP challenge! PRIZES AWARDED!
Special thanks to Chief MacDonald and the other Springfield Township Police Officers for helping to keep students safe! Click here for more information - SPRINGFIELD TWP POLICE SIT UP AND PUSH-UP CHALLENGE
Email your challenge video to [email protected]
KEEPING KIDS SAFE - SAFE TO SAY SOMETHING:
Although we have moved to virtual learning, Safe2Say Something anonymous reporting system is still available.
The Safe2Say Something procedures establish a framework for district administrators and staff to operate and coordinate with the county emergency dispatch center and local law enforcement agencies.
Safe2Say Something reports may be submitted by any individual, including students, parents/guardians, staff and others as a secure and anonymous report about unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities in a school entity or threat of such activities in a school entity.
Visit Safe2Say at https://www.safe2saypa.org/ or call 1-844-SAF2SAY
