April 18, 2016 - Wissahickon School District

Trojan
Newsletter from
Wissahickon High School
Talk
Week of April 18, 2016
Message from the Principal
Prom Information!
Thank you – parents, students, and staff – for
your support during the transition into our new
traffic patterns at WHS due to the natatorium
construction. I really appreciate your cooperation
and flexibility as we maintain our priorities of
punctual and efficient arrival and dismissals, and
student safety. I recognize the inconvenience that
some of these changes are creating and I am grateful
for your patience. Please remind your students of
the importance of safe driving. We are continuing to
work with the Lower Gwynedd Police Department
on designing strategic plans to ensure student
safety but we do need our students’ cooperation
and patience as they exit the parking lot onto
Dager Road in the afternoon. Please remind your
students that they need to park in the designated
parking spots. We have enough spaces and we
need our students to not double park and/or park
on the grass. If your student’s car is not registered
with the school, please ask your student to secure a
permit immediately. Thank you for your continued
support.
NJ Adventure Aquarium, Camden NJ
Date: Friday May 20, 2016
Time:
7:30pm to 11:00pm
Ticket Prices: $80 per ticket for WHS students
$85.00 per ticket for out of district students
Max number of tickets sold will be 600
What does the ticket price include? Dinner, admission to the
aquarium, parking, dancing, photo booth, ice cream bar, 2 hour sting ray
petting demonstration, plus additional surprises!
Who is allowed to attend? All WHS students’ grades 11 & 12 are
invited to come. Sophomores may come if they are the guest of a Junior or
Senior WHS Student.
Who may not attend? No one younger than 10th grade or older than
20.
When will tickets be on sale? Tickets sales will begin Monday, April
25 until Friday, May 13 –Final deadline is Friday, May 13 – No exceptions
Dr. Lynne Blair
Principal
Last names A – K Attendance office (Mrs. Duffy)
Last names L – Z Activities Office (Mrs. Vasconez)
(All obligations must be cleared prior to ticket purchase)
Location:
Where can I purchase a ticket?
Team 341 Wins Mid-Atlantic District Championships
Congratulations to Miss Daisy and Team
341 Robotics Team – winners of the FIRST
Mid-Atlantic District Championships held at
Lehigh University last weekend. Team 341 was
also declared the winners of the Innovation
in Control Award, which was sponsored by
Rockwell Automation. Team 341 will take
their winning streak to St. Louis for the World
Championships next week.
Late last week, Bill Gates posted a picture on
Team 341 at the Science Fair at the White
House on his Facebook page and it was
immediately “liked” by Mark Zuckerburg the
founder of Facebook. This just means you
never know who is reading about the fantastic
things our students are doing.
Staff Achievements:
A group of WHS staff were chosen to participate in
an ongoing series of training seminars focused on
Differentiated Instruction. These teacher leaders will
enhance their expertise and knowledge about effective
instructional practices and will serve as leaders among the
staff to help us continue our efforts to meet the learning
needs of all of our students at WHS. The leadership of this
cohort is greatly appreciated! The staff cohort includes
Mr. Sam Crofton, Mrs. Leah Karabin, Mrs. Meredith
Falatek, Mrs. Melissa Hecht, Mrs. Deborah Moore, Mr.
Jim Shoemaker, Mrs. Diana Torresani, Mrs. Lori Ryales,
Mr. Jeff Slanina, Mrs. Shannon Franczkowski, Mrs.
Christine Rhodes, Mr. Jason VanCassele, Mrs. Shelley
Uthgenannt, Mrs. Becky Chang, Mr. Steven Mogg, Mr. Tom
Andrzejewski, Ms. Karen Gebhardt, Mr. Mike Lippincott,
and Dr. Lynne Blair.
It is with great pride that the World Language Department
announces that Ms. Nicole Perrine-Wilson, WHS German
teacher, has been nominated by the local chapter of the
American Association of Teachers of German to receive the
Goethe-Institute / AATG Certificate of Merit. This award
honors professionals who have demonstrated achievement
in furthering German teaching across the United States.
Nominees are recognized for outstanding teaching, creative
and successful activities promoting the study of the German
language, innovative curriculum and successful course
design, successful interdisciplinary cooperation, and/or
significant contributions to the profession. Congratulations,
Ms. Perrine-Wilson! We wish you the best of luck during
the selection process!
Student Achievements:
Congratulations to Gerard Goucher! Gerard is one of
forty students across the country to receive a scholarship to
participate in Princeton University’s High School Diplomats
program. The forty students will be paired with a student
from Japan and the students will share in cultural exchanges.
Gerard will also be taking Japanese language classes and will
be asked to give a presentation about a particular aspect of
American culture. WHS is very proud of you, Gerard!
Congratulations to Michael DiDomenico for his involvement
in the MAX Alliance’s 2016 Conference for Direct Service
Professionals and Support Coordinators! As a member of
the conference panel, Michael discussed his involvement
with the WHS athletic
program, his volunteer
efforts with the Center
Square Fire Company, his
jobs in the community,
and the Special Olympics.
Michael’s commitment
and perseverance are to be
commended!
School Tours
Our Guidance Department has arranged opportunities for
students and parents from charter or private schools in the
WHS community who are interested in attending WHS. Our
Student Ambassadors will help provide tours to potential
incoming WHS students from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on May 12th.
If you are interested in attending one of these sessions, please
contact Felicia Glover in the Guidance Office at fglover@
wsdweb.org.
Volunteers Wanted!
Please visit the Parent Teacher Council webpage for
information on how you can become involved in the WHS
community. To receive PTC communications, please sign up
HERE.
Use Charity to Pay Library Fees
The WHS Library is kicking off a new initiative to support
our theme of Paying it Forward. WHS supports community
service! Instead of paying your library obligation fine in cash,
you can opt to bring in 1 canned food item per every 50¢ owed.
We will donate the food to a local food shelter. Please bring
your canned food items directly to the Library. Thank you.
Yearbook Reminder!
The 2015-2016 Yearbook is on sale for $85. CLICK HERE to
purchase a yearbook. Please contact Mrs. Chelsea Montalbano
at [email protected] or 215-619-8112 x8308 with any
questions.
Technology Pilot
Attention Students! There are 2 sets of lock boxes – one in the
Lower Cafeteria and one in the Square Gym Lobby – where
you can charge your laptop and cell phone. Please review the
instructions on the boxes about how to use the new gadget!
Operation Clean Sweep
The Lower Gwynedd Police Department is partnering with the
Police Departments from Whitpain, Ambler, and Upper Dublin
to help the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard with their
first-ever Operation Clean Sweep initiative. Collection boxes
of cleaning products are available in all of our schools and the
donated products will be distributed to families needing these
costly supplies in our community. Some of the suggested items
to donate include: Windex, Pine-Sol, Comet, Scrubbing Bubbles,
Lysol, Clorox, paper towels, brooms, mops, dust pans, buckets,
and toilet brushes. Donations at WHS can be made in the Main
Office through April 25th. Thank you for Paying it Forward!
Building Character
“You have two hands. One for helping yourself, the
other for helping others.” ~Audrey Hepburn
[Quote selected by NHS inductee Soowon Lee]
More Student Achievements!
Congratulations to Maxwell Salvadore on
earning the rank of
Eagle Scout! Max
is a member of Boy
Scout Troop 540.
WHS appreciates his
commitment to service
and Paying it Forward!
Congratulations to Emily Selverian! Emily
received the Emergency Aid of Pennsylvania
Founders Award for her service and
leadership. Emily is one of a few students
across the Delaware Valley to earn this
honor. Each year, the organization selects one
graduating senior to be given the Elizabeth
McNamara Scholarship and Emily is the
proud recipient this year! Great work, Emily!
Congratulations to Gabe Iula and Matt
Thompson, the next student liaisons to the
Whitpain
Planning
Commission.
Participation
in this group
will afford Gabe
and Matt the
opportunity
to develop an
understanding
of urban planning while informing the district
of timelines and procedures under which
the newly-adopted comprehensive plan will
be implemented. We are excited to have our
students involved with community affairs.
Thanks to Dillon Horwitz for all of his work
during the last two years on this committee
and for facilitating a continuation of this
position. I have no doubt that Gabe and Matt
will continue the great work!
Pancake Breakast for Football
Come out [hungry] and support the WHS
Football Team! The Team is hosting a pancake
breakfast at Applebee’s in Montgomeryville
on Saturday, May 14th from 8:00 am-10:00
am. The hosts and waiters will be WHS
Trojan players! The all you can eat breakfast
(pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee) is $10.00
per adult and $5.00 per child under 5 years
old. For tickets, please email Lori Dubin
at [email protected] or tickets can be
purchased at the door. See you there!
Trojan Triumphs: Athletic/Activities
Office Update
Spring sports are now underway, and I would like to recognize some
outstanding performances. The tennis team is off to an impressive 9-1
start. Captain Ben Wolfe, who will play for Brandeis University next year, is
undefeated and won 108 games while losing only 7.
The leadoff hitter for the softball team, Michela Coleman, is off to a fast
start going 11-14 with 7 singles, 3 doubles, 3 RBI, 1 HR and 3 SB. In girls
track, freshman Lieke Black made the all-time list in the 100 hurdles and
Lotte Black and Jenna Feltes won the high jump at the Colonial Relays.
In boys track, the following runners won their events at the Colonial Relays:
Ahmir Johnson and Marlyn Johnson (triple jump), Darryl Baldwin and
Ahmir Johnson (long jump), Yondell Dudley and Justin Cooper (shot put)
and Yondell Dudley and Brian Haire (discus). The boys sprint medley
team (Darien Williams/Ethan Dolberry-Westcott/Rasheed Wright/Cam
Christopher) and the boys 4x100 team (Ethan Dolberry-Westcott/Liam
Davies/Mike Howard/Marlyn Johnson) both won at the Colonial Relays.
The boys 4x100 relay team is presently ranked #1 in PA and is #5 on the
school all-time list.
A special congratulations goes out to Nick Senderling from the wrestling
team, who was selected to the District 1 All-Academic Wrestling Team.
The robotics team has also been busy, as they have been selected to present
at the PA Student Technology Showcase (May 16th) in Harrisburg for the
second year in row. At the Westtown District Competition, Miss Daisy
finished as a finalist and the team was honored with the Imagery Award
(given for engineering & aesthetics integration). We are proud of all of our
students and their achievements, keep up the good work… Trojan Pride!
Coach Randy Cuthbert
Spread the Word to End the Word
Our Wiss Pals students are getting ready to host a Spread the Word to End
the Word campaign at lunches beginning on April 25th and running through
April 29th. Students and staff will “pinky promise” to stop using the r-word by
painting their pinky
nails and putting
their fingerprint on
the pledge poster
as a symbol of
their commitment.
This message is an
important one and I
thank the Wiss Pals
students for spreading
the messages of
kindness, acceptance,
and inclusion!
Students making a pinky promise to not use the word
“retarded”.
Learning Spotlights
Science Department News: I would like to highlight a
true example of WHS students Paying it Forward. Without
any suggestions or push from teachers, Ian Wilenzik
initiated the idea to help students prepare for the Keystone
Biology Exam. Ian worked with the Biology teachers and
coordinated a group of current and former AP Biology
students and developed a schedule for these student
volunteers to provide after-school tutoring. The efforts of
Ian, the student volunteers, and the supervising Biology
teachers should be commended! It is truly wonderful to
see students helping other students! Thank you for your
kindness!
On February 12th, seven WHS students took the
USABiology Olympiad exam after school. Kyla Frenia,
Brett Hu, Jake Qi, Sanjna Shelukar, Christina Tsiobikas,
and Ryan Zhao completed the hour long exam. For the
first time, we had one student move on to the Semifinalist
level. Congratulations to Brett Hu on his accomplishment
of being a 2016 USABO Semifinalist! We wish Brett
continued success!
Congratulations to Sanjna Shelukar and Michael Chinn!
After their success at the Mongomery County Science
Fair, they were eligible to participate in the Delaware
Valley Science Fair. They both received awards at the
Delaware Valley Science Fair for their presentations of
their independent research projects. Sanjna was awarded
First Place in Division B Zoology, a $10,000 Scholarship
to Drexel University for 5 years, and a $15,000 Scholarship
to The University of the Sciences for 4 years. She was
also invited to a media event on Friday, April 15th at the
University of the Sciences to present her independent
research project. Michael Chinn was awarded an honorable
mention from the American Society of Highway Engineers
for his project. Great work!
Music Department News: Congratulations to Catelyn
Huang for a fantastic performance on April 2nd in Hershey
at the 2016 PMEA All-State Orchestra Concert! Catelyn
did an excellent job! Selections by Berlioz and Wagner
rounded out a very fine All-State Convention and concert.
Catelyn earned a high enough chair to qualify for NAFME
All-East and will be making that audition tape very soon.
In other string news, our WHS String Ensemble performed
the first movement of the famous Bach Concerto BWV
1043 at the 36th Annual WSD String Concert on April 7th.
Also known as "the Bach Double", it featured two violin
soloists, WHS students Linsy Wang and Hannah Kim. It
was a great performance! The concert highlighted every
string player in the district on the stage at one time – 350
WSD students! Spectacular performance!
Our Jazz Bands have been busy wrapping up another
active and well-played adjudication season. We hosted a
show at WHS on March 18th and it featured school jazz bands
from Upper Dublin, Arch Bishop Ryan, Abington, Warwick,
Neshaminy, Bensalem, and our two Jazz bands.
Additionally, on April 9th, our One O'clock Jazz Band played
a great set at the Conestoga High School Jazz Festival. They
earned a high rating and John O'Farrell (guitar) and Jacob King
(upright Bass) earned honorable mention soloist awards. On
April 12th, this same band played a set during IE for a very
appreciative student audience. Great work! The Cavalcade of
Bands Association Jazz Band Championships took place this past
weekend. The WHS students did not disappoint!
There are numerous opportunities to come out and enjoy future
performances. We hope to see you there!
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April 25th - Jazz Salon at Abington High School at 6:00
May 9th - Jazz Salon at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School
at 6:00
May 12th – WHS Concert Band, String Ensemble, Symphony
Orchestra at 7:30 in our Auditorium
May 17th - Jazz Bands (One O'clock, Two O'clock, Jazz
Combo & 521 Swing) at 7:30 in our Auditorium
May 23rd - One O'clock Jazz Band lunchtime performance at
The US Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. at 2:00
NMTCC News: WHS is proud to announce that all four of
our students who applied to NMTCC’s prestigious Allied Health
Program were accepted this year! This is the first time that
more than two WHS students have been accepted. This program
provides our students with excellent practical experiences
and has shaped many students’ professional and career goals.
Congratulations to Henry Barsh, Allison Liu, Jessica Miao, and
Sanjna Shelukar!
Art Department News: Art Media II students have been
exercising their imagination through narrative in art. Students
recently cut apart, reassembled, and re-conceptualized stuffed
objects, creating new creatures with various personas. Last
week, our Art Media II students took their stuffed creations
to Ms. Emily Morin’s 1st grade classroom at Lower Gwynedd
Elementary School. Through collaboration, high school students
helped the 1st graders build writing skills by continuing
the narrative of each creature. First graders also exposed
high schoolers to the power of an active imagination. Final
illustrations of the collaborative narrative will be on display at
this year’s Art Show in May.
The WHS Honors Art and Portfolio Art students shared their
work with art students at Austin-East High School for the Arts in
Knoxville, Tennessee through a Skype visit. Students on both ends of
the dialogue participated in a global art challenge project. Students
created original art using four squiggly lines and then shared their
creations with others around the world.
World Language Department News:
Congratulations to the Wissahickon High School German students
who attended and won the Delaware Valley Deutschfest for the
3rd year in a row held on April 1st and April 2nd! Deutschfest is
the only regional competition for German students. Seventy-five
students from six area schools attended. The competition includes
cultural and competitive events based on a selected theme. This
year’s theme was Politik regiert die Welt, or Politics Rule the World.
The specific results for WHS include:
School Competitions:
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WHS earned 2nd Place in Banner, Scrapbook, School Cheer,
Theater, and Quiz Bowl
WHS earned 3rd Place in Name Tags
Individual/Paired Awards by Level:
McStravock (President), Wil Gaboury (Executive
Board), Sam Mullin (Executive Board), and Laura
Hillhouse (Historian). These students have passed
the torch to the new student officers who will be
working on the 2017 event. These students are Gabby
Unipan (President), Alycia Lee (Executive Board),
Kalle Kuffner (Executive Board), and Kaitlyn Pigeon
(Historian). WHS is very proud of all of the students’
hard work and dedication to the German language
program!
German 2:
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Kalle Kuffner - 1st in Written Test, 2nd in Role Play
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Sam Klugherz - 1st in Story Retelling, 2nd in Written Test, 3rd
in Spelling
Eric Otto - 2nd in Vocabulary, 2nd in Written Test, 3rd in
Obstacle Course, Quiz Bowl Team Member
Steven Qiang - 2nd in Role Play, Quiz Bowl Team Member
Linnea Hummel - 1st in Poetry Recitation, 1st in Game
Simon Orehek - 2nd in Poetry Recitation, 3rd in Game, 3rd in
Obstacle Course
German 3:
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German 4:
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Alycia Lee - 1st in Poetry Recitation, 1st in Extemporaneous
Speaking, 3rd in Written Test, 2nd in Picture Description
Will Tagliamonte - 2nd in Video, 1st in Obstacle Course, 1st in
Role Play
Kaitlyn Pigeon - 1st in Cookies, 1st in Obstacle, 2nd in Role Play
Gabby Unipan - 1st in Story Retelling, 2nd in Poetry Recitation,
2nd in Written Test, 2nd in Picture Description, 1st in Role Play
Students from our Landscaping and Hardscaping
IE Paid it Forward. These students helped clean up
and put down mulch in the memorial garden and patio
dedicated to our former WHS student, Rebecca Kim.
The students and staff remember Rebecca as a student
who was always smiling. She welcomed academic and
athletic challenges and she will always be remembered
for her kindness and thoughtfulness. Her teachers
shared that her academic curiosity was unparalleled
and her humility was contagious. Our Landscaping
and Hardscaping students honored Rebecca’s memory
through their efforts to create a beautiful memorial.
Thank you!
German 5:
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Matthew West - 2nd in Poetry, 2nd in Extemporaneous
Speaking, 3rd in Culture Test, 2nd in Role Play, Quiz Bowl Team
Member
Lukas Marcelis - 1st in Obstacle Course, Quiz Bowl Team
Member
John Comonitski - 1st in Video, 1st in Cake, 3rd in Story
Retelling, 1st in Obstacle Course
A very special thank you to several of our student officers who
helped with the preparations of this event over the past year. These
students helped Frau Wilson, the Deutschfest Director and WHS
teacher, to ensure that the event was a success. Thank you to Grace
Pictured on the bench from left to right: Nick Valentine,
Tyler Pinyard, Taylor Delzotto, Ian Catterton