Monday, March 16, 2009
Borough Council Hot Seat
Reminder that the borough council meets tonight 7:30 P.M. at 35 Union Street.
Kids show they have what it takes
From the BCCT.
Kids show they have what it takes
By CHRIS ENGLISH
Bucks County Courier Times
Two special education students do a good job cleaning bathrooms and also "bring a whole new life into the building," one township employee said.
Two special education students from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit get valuable work experience.
And Middletown gets clean bathrooms in the township municipal center.
So, what's not to like, IU special education teacher Nick Nastasi asked about the cooperative program he said benefits both parties.
"They do great quality work," said Nastasi of the two students, Ken Kalczewski, 21, and Chuks Ahia, 19. Nastasi teaches them at Neshaminy's Tawanka Learning Center.
"I want my kids to be treated like any other employee, no favors, no nothing," Nastasi continued. "They try to be better and more consistent than the average person and, when they make mistakes, they are corrected."
Jamison resident Kalczewski has Down syndrome and Ahia, who lives in Lower Makefield, has autism. Since September, the two students have been coming in Tuesday and Thursday mornings to clean several bathrooms in the administrative side of the municipal center. The police side has its own cleaning arrangement.
Kalczewski and Ahia are paid $25 a week by the township, but their overall contribution is invaluable, said township Community Outreach Officer Terry Field.
"Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorite day of the week because of them," she said. "They are well behaved and do a fabulous job. They come in and pretty much change the whole environment of the building with their uplifting spirits. I would advise any township or business to hire them because they bring a whole new life into the building."
So far, Middletown is the only Bucks County municipality to employ IU special education students, Nastasi said. However, students are employed at area private businesses, including Nationwide Insurance in Bensalem, General Partition in Bristol Township and Curves in Middletown. Special education students also are employed at the IU's alternative school in Bristol Township, Nastasi said.
The arrangement in Middletown started when the township's full-time custodian on the administrative side of the municipal center left last year.
Township recreation programs coordinator Paul Kopera, who used to work at the IU and had experience with the outside work programs there, suggested hiring special education students for Middletown. The deal was struck and, though the township has since hired a part-time custodian, the arrangement has continued.
"Our goal is to train kids to be able to do these kind of jobs so as they turn 21, with some community support, they will be able to continue doing meaningful work," said IU special education supervisor Jane Strawley. "I think it's been win-win in Middletown, beneficial to both the employer and employees."
To find out how to hire IU special education students or for more information, call 800-770-4822, 215-322-6871 or e-mail nnastasi@bucks.iu.org.
Kids show they have what it takes
By CHRIS ENGLISH
Bucks County Courier Times
Two special education students do a good job cleaning bathrooms and also "bring a whole new life into the building," one township employee said.
Two special education students from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit get valuable work experience.
And Middletown gets clean bathrooms in the township municipal center.
So, what's not to like, IU special education teacher Nick Nastasi asked about the cooperative program he said benefits both parties.
"They do great quality work," said Nastasi of the two students, Ken Kalczewski, 21, and Chuks Ahia, 19. Nastasi teaches them at Neshaminy's Tawanka Learning Center.
"I want my kids to be treated like any other employee, no favors, no nothing," Nastasi continued. "They try to be better and more consistent than the average person and, when they make mistakes, they are corrected."
Jamison resident Kalczewski has Down syndrome and Ahia, who lives in Lower Makefield, has autism. Since September, the two students have been coming in Tuesday and Thursday mornings to clean several bathrooms in the administrative side of the municipal center. The police side has its own cleaning arrangement.
Kalczewski and Ahia are paid $25 a week by the township, but their overall contribution is invaluable, said township Community Outreach Officer Terry Field.
"Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorite day of the week because of them," she said. "They are well behaved and do a fabulous job. They come in and pretty much change the whole environment of the building with their uplifting spirits. I would advise any township or business to hire them because they bring a whole new life into the building."
So far, Middletown is the only Bucks County municipality to employ IU special education students, Nastasi said. However, students are employed at area private businesses, including Nationwide Insurance in Bensalem, General Partition in Bristol Township and Curves in Middletown. Special education students also are employed at the IU's alternative school in Bristol Township, Nastasi said.
The arrangement in Middletown started when the township's full-time custodian on the administrative side of the municipal center left last year.
Township recreation programs coordinator Paul Kopera, who used to work at the IU and had experience with the outside work programs there, suggested hiring special education students for Middletown. The deal was struck and, though the township has since hired a part-time custodian, the arrangement has continued.
"Our goal is to train kids to be able to do these kind of jobs so as they turn 21, with some community support, they will be able to continue doing meaningful work," said IU special education supervisor Jane Strawley. "I think it's been win-win in Middletown, beneficial to both the employer and employees."
To find out how to hire IU special education students or for more information, call 800-770-4822, 215-322-6871 or e-mail nnastasi@bucks.iu.org.
PSSA Hot Seat
From the Inquirer.
PSSAs put kids, schools on hot seat
By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Write. Posted on Sun, Mar. 15, 2009
Fourth grader Maurice Daniels knows why tomorrow is a big, big day.
"It's the PSSAs," said Maurice, 9, a fourth grader at John Welsh Elementary in North Philadelphia. "It's really important. We've practiced for a long time, and it shows how many skills you know, how good your school is."
Around the state, thousands of third through eighth graders, plus 11th graders, will spend the next several days taking their Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams in math and reading. Beginning next month, fourth, eighth, and 11th graders will take state science exams.
The state has given the PSSAs since the 1990s, but the federal No Child Left Behind law of 2002 raised the stakes: Results determine whether a school is deemed passing or failing. Failure means intense oversight and sanctions that could include total staff replacement.
Critics say the law puts too much pressure on schools to drill students and teach only to the state tests. Supporters say it keeps standards high for all children.
In ways large and small, Pennsylvania students have been preparing for the exams for months.
At James Buchanan Elementary School in Levittown, an all-school pep rally last week revved up students for the test. And on the last school day before the exam, Welsh devoted classes to analyzing PSSA reading passages, reviewing math facts, and playing PSSA bingo.
"In math, these types of lines run side by side and never cross or intersect," Welsh teacher Denise McCaig prompted her fourth graders, who held markers poised above bingo sheets.
"Parallel lines!" Maurice shouted, waving his hand excitedly.
Welsh - a school of 620 kindergartners through eighth graders, about 90 percent of whom live in poverty - has passed state tests seven years running. To extend the streak, the staff began exam prep early, said Mike Reardon, the school's testing coordinator.
"We start preparing in September," he said, "but it becomes more intense as the year goes on."
There is teacher training, with videos of veteran teachers modeling effective PSSA prep methods for newer teachers. Struggling students are given extra support in small groups.
"And parents know what the test means," said Jeanette Fernandez, Welsh's principal. "We stress attendance, getting enough sleep . . . the night before the test," and a good breakfast.
Evy Clark, principal of Buchanan, a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school in the Bristol Township School District, stood on the sideline as the school staged its massive PSSA pep rally. There were cheerleaders, an original PSSA song and dance, karate and gymnastics demonstrations, video testimonials, and younger students waving signs rooting for older ones.
Over the top? You bet. But Buchanan has never failed the state exam, and students know the pressure is on to keep standards up.
"Everyone's working so hard all year toward this goal of achieving proficiency," said Clark, using the state's term for hitting grade level. "Let's have some fun. Let's cheer each other on."
Keeping kids' attention focused on the test in a positive way is important, and the pep rally goes a long way, she said.
Other Buchanan PSSA strategies include extra reading and writing practice, a longer recess on test day, and permission for students to keep typically forbidden water bottles on their desks during the exam.
"We do a lot of positive reinforcement, telling them that they can do this, that they've got lots of strategies to solve problems," Clark said.
It's necessary, she said, because "for the most part, students are stressed out over the test. They take it seriously, and they know it's the same test everyone all over the state is taking."
At Samuel Fels High in Philadelphia, just juniors will take the exam. But PSSA-themed posters line the hallways, and everyone knows the test is looming.
Principal Greg Hailey uses incentives such as discounted prom tickets and Class of 2010 T-shirts to make sure students attend on test days.
"We do snacks for students throughout the day," he said. "We make sure they have water. We want them to be confident and comfortable."
At Welsh, fourth grader Shyann Martinez said she was ready to go. She flipped through a stack of well-worn photocopied test prep papers and nodded gravely.
"I feel a little bit nervous," Shyann said. "There could be something on the test that I need to work on. What if I do bad on the PSSA?"
PSSAs put kids, schools on hot seat
By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Write. Posted on Sun, Mar. 15, 2009
Fourth grader Maurice Daniels knows why tomorrow is a big, big day.
"It's the PSSAs," said Maurice, 9, a fourth grader at John Welsh Elementary in North Philadelphia. "It's really important. We've practiced for a long time, and it shows how many skills you know, how good your school is."
Around the state, thousands of third through eighth graders, plus 11th graders, will spend the next several days taking their Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams in math and reading. Beginning next month, fourth, eighth, and 11th graders will take state science exams.
The state has given the PSSAs since the 1990s, but the federal No Child Left Behind law of 2002 raised the stakes: Results determine whether a school is deemed passing or failing. Failure means intense oversight and sanctions that could include total staff replacement.
Critics say the law puts too much pressure on schools to drill students and teach only to the state tests. Supporters say it keeps standards high for all children.
In ways large and small, Pennsylvania students have been preparing for the exams for months.
At James Buchanan Elementary School in Levittown, an all-school pep rally last week revved up students for the test. And on the last school day before the exam, Welsh devoted classes to analyzing PSSA reading passages, reviewing math facts, and playing PSSA bingo.
"In math, these types of lines run side by side and never cross or intersect," Welsh teacher Denise McCaig prompted her fourth graders, who held markers poised above bingo sheets.
"Parallel lines!" Maurice shouted, waving his hand excitedly.
Welsh - a school of 620 kindergartners through eighth graders, about 90 percent of whom live in poverty - has passed state tests seven years running. To extend the streak, the staff began exam prep early, said Mike Reardon, the school's testing coordinator.
"We start preparing in September," he said, "but it becomes more intense as the year goes on."
There is teacher training, with videos of veteran teachers modeling effective PSSA prep methods for newer teachers. Struggling students are given extra support in small groups.
"And parents know what the test means," said Jeanette Fernandez, Welsh's principal. "We stress attendance, getting enough sleep . . . the night before the test," and a good breakfast.
Evy Clark, principal of Buchanan, a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school in the Bristol Township School District, stood on the sideline as the school staged its massive PSSA pep rally. There were cheerleaders, an original PSSA song and dance, karate and gymnastics demonstrations, video testimonials, and younger students waving signs rooting for older ones.
Over the top? You bet. But Buchanan has never failed the state exam, and students know the pressure is on to keep standards up.
"Everyone's working so hard all year toward this goal of achieving proficiency," said Clark, using the state's term for hitting grade level. "Let's have some fun. Let's cheer each other on."
Keeping kids' attention focused on the test in a positive way is important, and the pep rally goes a long way, she said.
Other Buchanan PSSA strategies include extra reading and writing practice, a longer recess on test day, and permission for students to keep typically forbidden water bottles on their desks during the exam.
"We do a lot of positive reinforcement, telling them that they can do this, that they've got lots of strategies to solve problems," Clark said.
It's necessary, she said, because "for the most part, students are stressed out over the test. They take it seriously, and they know it's the same test everyone all over the state is taking."
At Samuel Fels High in Philadelphia, just juniors will take the exam. But PSSA-themed posters line the hallways, and everyone knows the test is looming.
Principal Greg Hailey uses incentives such as discounted prom tickets and Class of 2010 T-shirts to make sure students attend on test days.
"We do snacks for students throughout the day," he said. "We make sure they have water. We want them to be confident and comfortable."
At Welsh, fourth grader Shyann Martinez said she was ready to go. She flipped through a stack of well-worn photocopied test prep papers and nodded gravely.
"I feel a little bit nervous," Shyann said. "There could be something on the test that I need to work on. What if I do bad on the PSSA?"
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