Free Fire Safety

Market Forces at Work (Or Future 'Mad Men?')

Photo by John Armato

The Pottstown High School Marketing class.

Blogger's Note: More on the success of the program at Pottstown High School.

Pottstown High School Marketing students, under the direction of Kevin Pascal, demonstrated their skills by taking on a real-life marketing challenge and winning top prize. 

Through a partnership with Epps Advertising, students are given real businesses and are challenged to create marketing campaigns that will allow the business to reach new levels of success. 

 The categories of competition included: new logo, slogan, flyer, brochure, social media strategy, website, and 30 second web video commercial.

Bianca Kelly and Anthony Oglesby earned top prize in the web video commercial division and were awarded a $250 prize. 

Their video demonstrated the quality services that could be provided by their client OrthoPets Clinic of Denver, Colo.

Click here to see that video.

Photo by John Armato

Linda Jacobs, senior art director for Epps Advertising, talks to

the Pottstown High School marketing students.

“I am delighted to see our students do so well. Opportunities likes this are beneficial. Anything can happen in theory but reality takes experience," Pascal said. "This project gives students a real-life scenario that they need to work through to satisfy the customer’s wants and needs as an advertising client.”

Epps Advertising has been a partner of the Pottstown School District over the past five years and provided real-life marketing experiences for students.

Each year Epps gives the students a client and challenges them to develop a marketing campaign.

Students participating in this year’s challenge included: Tyler Gebhard, Carmelo Calano, Samir Roberts, DeVaughn Frederick, Ty Wolfel, Jarisma Mauras, Aaliyah Ford, Bianca Kelly, Justine Jeter, Tessa Bridges, Miranda Swinehart, D.J. Kurtz, Dakota Robinson, Auston Jones-Debnam, Denzel Harvey, and Anthony Oglesby.

The Marketing Department of Pottstown High School has seen many of its students go on to begin successful careers in the business world. 

A few examples include: 

• Jessica Brogley who is presently a senior accountant for Penske Truck Leasing; 
• Brock Morgan attended Montgomery County Community College and earned a degree in business administration and is now employed with Wal-Mart Customer Service; 
• Jordan Boone is a senior at Shippensburg University and has interned with Foot Locker; 
• Janelle Fritz is a graduate of St. Joseph University receiving a bachelor of science degree in business administration in the field of sports marketing and she recently completed internships with Independent Blue Cross, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the St. Joseph University Athletic Department.

Heavy Metal Tales at Pottsgrove Manor

Blogger's Note: News of an interesting program being offered at Pottsgrove Manor comes from Pottsgrove's Museum Educator, Lynn Symborski.

Historic Pottsgrove Manor will host a symposium on the production of iron in early Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 20, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,

The symposium, entitled “Making Iron in Colonial America,” is being held in conjunction with Pottsgrove Manor’s current exhibit, “Forging a Lifestyle: Ironworking with the Potts Family,” which explores the early Pennsylvania iron industry and the Potts family’s integral industry involvement.

Those interested in the area’s early industrial roots will not want to miss this symposium.

At 10 a.m., Rick Brouse, one of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site’s most experienced colliers, will give a talk on the process of making charcoal, the fuel of early American ironworks. 

After his presentation, a tour of the mansion and Pottsgrove Manor’s iron exhibit will be offered. Participants will enjoy a boxed lunch, provided by Pottstown’s own Positively Pasta, and have time to shop in the museum store before the afternoon presentation. 

At 1:30 p.m., local historian Robert Wood will give an illustrated presentation on the process of making wrought iron in early charcoal-powered ironworks, describing the steps involved and giving a sense of the huge expenditure of resources that went into iron production in the colonial era.

The symposium is open to participants ages 12 and up.

There is a fee of $20 per person, which includes a boxed lunch with a choice of sandwich. Spaces are limited. Registration and payment are required by July 16, 2013. Registration forms are available at Pottsgrove Manor or can be downloaded from http://montcopa.org/DocumentCenter/View/4379.

The “Forging a Lifestyle” exhibit can also be viewed on a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3 p.m.. 

The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should preregister by calling (610) 326-4014.

Pottstown Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown.

Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. 

For more information, please call (610) 326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. 

Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Building Better Justice

Blogger's Note: The following via Alana Mauger over at MC3

Montgomery County Community College’s Board of Trustees took action in June to approve modifications to the College’s Criminal Justice Studies program (CJS) to better align it with industry and transfer trends.

The modification will transition CJS from a 63-credit Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) career-track program to a 64-credit (A.S.) transfer-track program.

“Most Criminal Justice career paths today require a bachelor’s degree, either explicitly or as a marketplace reality,” explained Benn Prybutok, director of Criminal Justice Studies, Fire Science and Emergency Management programs at MCCC.

For example, a bachelor’s degree is required to secure work at most federal investigative agencies, probation or parole officer positions, and as a minimum credential for technical or criminal intelligence analyst positions. Increasingly, municipal and state law enforcement candidates must have an associate’s degree in hand for employment consideration, but they won’t be competitive on promotion lists without a bachelor’s degree.

“Approximately two-thirds of MCCC’s CJS graduates go on to pursue four-year degrees, if not immediately upon graduating, then at a later point in their careers,” said Prybutok. “We also see many mid-career law

enforcement professionals returning to college to complete an associate’s degree or to progress toward a bachelor’s degree.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook cites that protective service occupations are expected to grow by 11 percent through 2020, with the fastest growing jobs occurring in the areas of private security and private detective and investigation.

Enrollment in MCCC’s CJS program has more than doubled over the last decade and is popular among both traditional and non-traditional (adult) students.

The program is offered at both MCCC’s Central Campus in Blue Bell and West Campus in Pottstown, as well as online. In addition, CJS classes are popular among high school students at several dual enrollment partner schools.

According to Prybutok, the CJS curriculum modification will help the College to identify and prepare all students who intend to study criminal justice, and not just those who declare a CJS major.

“We know that an additional and significant number of MCCC students are Criminal Justice majors in everything but name, having declared themselves as Liberal Studies A.S. majors in order to facilitate eventual transfer to a four-year institution,” he explained.

To further facilitate seamless transfer, the modified CJS program is designed to comply with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s new Transfer Agreement Oversight Committee (TAOC) template for two-year institutions.

For more information about the Criminal Justice Studies program at MCCC, visit mc3.edu/academics.

Pottstown High School Tightening their (Seat) Belt

Look, a giant check! From left, Katie Minger PHS Telecommunications teacher, Pottstown High School students Joseph Borders, Richard Couch, Alexander Felts of the GVF Transportation Management Association, Katie Kucz  of the Montgomery County Health Dept., Dave Mull, Pottstown School District's Resource Officer, Pottstown Police Chief Richard Drumheller and Pottstown High School Principal Stephen Rodriguez.

Blogger's Note: News from Pottstown High School, where safety comes first!

Pottstown High School was awarded a $250.00 prize for showing the most improved use of seat belts during the year-long “Seat Belt Challenge” conducted by the Montgomery County Health Department in partnership with the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association. 

Participating schools in Montgomery County included Pottstown, Upper Merion, Spring-Ford, Methacton, Pope John Paul, and Wissahickon. 

The purpose of the seat belt challenge was to determine how many students and staff members driving to school are wearing seat belts through a survey conducted during the 2012-2013 school year. 

The results indicated that Pottstown High School had the greatest improvement of seat belt use during the year. Raising the percentage of use from 42 to 59%, the 17% increase will help save lives and prevent injuries in the future.

Pottstown High School Principal Stephen Rodriguez said, “I would like to thank students Joseph Borders and Richard Couch for creating, editing, and producing student videos which were broadcast throughout the school. The videos helped to emphasize to our students and staff the lifesaving value of the use of seat belts.”

Katie Kucz from the Montgomery County Health Department MOVES Team (Making Occupant and Vehicle Environment Safe) along with Alexander Felts from the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association were on hand to present the check to Mr. Rodriguez and student representatives Borders and Couch. 

Kucz said, “The MOVES Project is focused on safety programming regarding seat belt use, school bus safety and etiquette, teen driving, impaired driving and pedestrian safety. Through making educational opportunities available to our schools, we hope to play an important role in saving lives and preventing injuries. I would like to thank Chief of Police Rick Drumheller and the Pottstown Police Department for their partnership in providing the monitoring stations during our year-long program.”

“The Pottstown Police Department is proud to work with the Montgomery County Health Department and the Pottstown School District on this very important, educational mission to emphasize the importance of seat belt use at all times. Buckling up truly saves lives,” said Drumheller.

Katie Minger, Pottstown High School Telecommunications teacher, who worked with the students to develop the educational videos, indicated that the $250.00 award would be used to develop other educational tools to emphasize the importance of seat belt safety.

Cooperative Purchasing Program Explained

Mark Painter

Blogger's Note: This from the office of state Rep. Mark Painter, D-146th Dist.

State Rep. Mark Painter will host a seminar for local businesses, governments, public authorities and nonprofit organizations to learn about COSTARS, the state cooperative purchasing program.

The event for potential purchasers and suppliers is slated for 1 p.m. July 15 in Painter's office at 600 Heritage Drive, Sanatoga. 

Those interested in attending the seminar may contact Painter's office at 610-326-9563.

"This innovative program helps small businesses learn about new sales opportunities and strengthens our local economy," Painter said. 

"For small governments and nonprofits, COSTARS is a great tool for stretching more value from every dollar by leveraging the purchasing power and discounts of the state."

During the seminar, officials in the Pennsylvania Department of General Services COSTARS office will explain the program and provide details on how to become part of it.

The COSTARS approach to cooperative purchasing uses the buying power of local entities to obtain more competitive pricing and choice than individual purchasers might be able to obtain on their own.

DGS estimates that more than 10,000 entities within Pennsylvania are eligible to become COSTARS members.

Barth Only PA School to Receive Laura Bush Library Grant

Photo by John Armato

Barth Elementary School Principal Ryan Oxenford reads to students.

Blogger's Note: More good news from information maven John Armato:

Barth Elementary School has received a $5,000 grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries and is the only school in all of Pennsylvania to receive a grant from the former First Lady’s foundation.

Principal Ryan Oxenford was recently notified of the award.

In 2013, the foundation awarded over $1 million in grants to schools to update and diversify their library book collections. 

“This is an incredible opportunity to expand the resources in our library. The grant approval could not have come at a better time with the unveiling of our newly renovated library this fall,” said Oxenford. 

“Our librarian Mrs. Fazioli has worked incredibly hard to find additional resources to support our students in moving forward in the 21st century. I am proud that Barth Elementary School is the only school in Pennsylvania to be awarded this grant. This is another step in helping to provide quality educational opportunities for our community’s most precious resource – our young people,” Oxenford said.

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries was founded in 2002 as a fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. 

 
Since its inception, the Laura Bush Foundation has awarded more than 10.5 million dollars to schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. 

 
In addition to these yearly grants, the foundation has also awarded more than 6.3 million dollars to school libraries in the Gulf Coast region to rebuild their library book collections that were lost or destroyed by hurricane storms.

The mission of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is to support the education of our nation’s children by providing funds to update, extend, and diversify the book and print collections of America’s school libraries. Further information is available at www.laurabushfoundation.org.