Pottstown Olympians Reading Between the Lines

Submitted Photos

Pottstown students participate in the annual Reading Olympics competition.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

Teams of elementary and middle school students recently took part in the Annual Pottstown School District Reading Olympics Competition. 

Approximately 120 students formed teams of eight to10 students who participated in the 20th annual event. 

The Reading Olympics requires teams of students to read 45 books in preparation for the event. 

Each round of competition sees two opposing teams attempt to answer 20 questions given in rapid-fire fashion from the moderators. After a question is asked about a book, teams huddle to determine the correct answer. 

One point is awarded for each correct answer and Olympic ribbons are awarded for overall performance. District teams qualify to compete in the annual Montgomery County Intermediate Unit competition which annually attracts more than 500 teams and 7,000 participants. 

The Pottstown School District program is organized by Reading Specialist Karen Neitz. 

The goals of the Reading Olympics are to increase students' reading for enjoyment and promote reading skills that increase achievement and academic success. 

Preparation is everything.

"I am always so excited to see our youngsters actively engaged in reading. This event is an opportunity for students to experience teamwork and the satisfaction that comes from hard work," said Neitz. 

This is the 15th year that Diamond Credit Union has provided financial support for the program. 

"We are proud to partner with Diamond Credit Union to promote the skill and joy of reading, said John Armato, District Director of Community Relations.  "They are committed to being a contributing member of our community. Readers become leaders, and with Diamond's help they are building a foundation for success."

See Link to video of the event; https://diamondcu.org/blog/community-news/pottstown-school-district-reading-olympics/

Here are the results of the event and the students who participated:

Barth - Silver	Lincoln- Silver
Julilana Babylon	Shahed Aljashoubi
Dahlia Dowling	Autumn Fair
Felicia Fry	Cynthia Killian
Isabella Fuentes	Iyanna Johnson
Julian Giraud	Leyna Johnson
Kamryn King	Jaylen Lamarre
Bentley Norman	Joell Lamarre
Maliya Perez	Rahmere Jenkins
Griffin Rivera	Royer Rodriguez
Caydin Romain	Zacarias Rodriguez
Josiah Wallace	William Rose
	Marcus Williams
Franklin - Silver	Lucy Zuniga
Lillian Green
Bailey Galamba	Rupert- Bronze
Levi Jaycox	Nyanna Thompson
Cullen Waite	Mya Elgendy
Taniyah Cotton	Brianna Long
Damien Miller	Makyla Plummer
	Avaliyah Scurry
Middle School - Gold	Cassandra Smith
Mia Ramirez	Kenzie  Hannah
Donovan Williams	Meleena Bisram
Sehar Tariq	Ezra King
Omaria Millers	Bradley Saylor
Ava Alessi	Maliyah Aquidio
Erika Heller
Brighton Scott
Logan Cahill
Jeyohnna Gibson
Josh Holly
Cheyenne Flamer

Pottstown Middle School Reading Olympians Earn Green Ribbon in Competition at Pope John Paul II

The Pottstown Middle School Reading Olympics team won a Green Ribbon in district competition.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

Congratulations to members of the Pottstown Middle School Reading Olympics Team who competed in the District event held at Pope John Paul II High School. 

The team, coached by Middle School Librarian Aliceclair Faust and assisted by scorekeeper Nicole Accor, earned 35 points on the evening resulting in a green ribbon.

Students had to answer questions from 45 books that they read. 

Students were proud to wear shirts supplied by Diamond Credit Union,a long-time supporter of the Pottstown team. 

Principal Brian Hosteler said "our students combined hard work with team work to gain success." 

Good things happening at Pottstown Middle School give us reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown. 

7th Grade

Moniyah Person
Imani Germany
Daishawnia Dean
Sanaa Watson

8th Grade

Alexis Watkins
Faith Nichols
Deanna Stefanavage
Cheyenne Lee
Beatriz Guardado
Mackenzie Moser
Yasmin Paez
Xzavier Francis-Williams

Heroes, Supporters and Closed Doors

Photo by Evan Brandt

From left, Superintendent Jeff Sparagana, Michelle Evans

and School Board President Judy Zahora.

Monday night, the Pottstown School Board recognized an every-day hero; recognized the year-after-year help of a partner in education, and failed to recognize that just because you CAN hide something from the public, doesn't mean you have to.

I should say MOST of the board failed to recognize that.

Board member Ron Williams said while he recognizes that the executive session the board held Monday to discuss the fate of Edgewood school is probably not illegal, he still refuses to take part in it.

He refused, he said, because he believes the taxpayers who paid for that school and own that school and property, should have the opportunity and the right to have a say in what happens to that school and property now that it is no longer being used for that purpose.

We (at the Mercury) have some doubts about whether discussions of "should the property be sold, or 'mothballed' or a number of other options" are legally the subject of "executive sessions" which exclude the public.

We tried to put a stop to it at the meeting, noting that the state's Sunshine Law allows a closed-door "executive session" to discuss the "purchase" of real estate, but not the "sale of it," but School Board Solicitor Stephen  Kalis cooly replied that a 2008 court decision made Monday night's session legal.

As I have written here many times before, "legal" and "right" are not synonyms.

And so the initial discussions of "what should we do with Edgewood" went behind closed doors.

The board would like you to think, having excluded you from offering input, that your input will be valued once they have already framed the options, but apparently, they do not want you to hear what the options are

But be re-assured by School Board President Judyth Zahora's exhortation that "I have never suggested that we are anything but transparent."

And in that, I suspect we agree.

Their choice to exclude the public not because they should, but because they can, is entirely transparent. Once they have decided what's best, they'll allow you do agree.

This was a golden opportunity to put truth to that statement. For the board to say: "we have to make a decision. Before we get too far along, tell us what you think."

When we posted the story about the issue on our Facebook page, there were no shortage of opinions.

In fact, more than 115 opinions were posted there. But instead, the default position is: "we can discuss this behind closed doors, so we will. And then tell you how transparent we are."

And they wonder why no one wants to get involved....

Anyway, rant concluded.

Here are the Tweets from what was the very short "public" portion of a meeting by a public agency, about a public property, bought with public funds and whose final disposition will, quite obviously be decided with minimal, after-the-fact input from the public.

An Olympic Effort

Over 150 elementary students in the Pottstown School District took part in the Olympics but they did not have to travel all the way to Sochi to showcase their skills.

They stayed right here in Pottstown as they participated in the 14th annual Pottstown School District’s Reading Olympics Competition. 

The Reading Olympics requires teams of students to read 45 books in preparation for the event. 

Each round of competition sees two opposing teams attempt to answer 20 questions given in rapid-fire fashion from the moderators. After a question is asked about a book, teams huddle to determine the correct answer. 

One point is awarded for each correct answer and Olympic ribbons are awarded for overall performance. 

District teams qualify to compete in the annual Montgomery County Intermediate Unit competition which annually attracts over 500 teams and 7,000 participants. 

The Pottstown School District program is organized by Reading Specialist Karen Neitz. 

The goals of the Reading Olympics are to increase students' reading for enjoyment and promote reading skills that increase achievement and academic success. 

“I am always so excited to see our youngsters actively engage in reading. This event is an opportunity for students to experience teamwork and the satisfaction that comes from hard work,” explained Neitz.

For the ninth consecutive year the Pottstown School District’s Reading Olympics program has received financial support from the local Diamond Credit Union. 

John Foust, President of Diamond Credit Union, said, “We are proud to partner with the Pottstown School District in their efforts to promote the skill of reading so that students may learn to read so that they can read to learn. 

It is extremely rewarding to see the glow in students’ eyes when they correctly answer one of the questions. As an organization, Diamond Credit Union is committed to being a contributing member of our community.”

Ribbon award winning teams included:

Barth Page Masters – BRONZE	Barth Reading MVP - BRONZE	Franklin Bluebirds - BRONZE	Lincoln Lightning - BRONZE
Early Boyd-Brown Jenia Brown Michelle Castillo Joseph DeLeo Anthony DiPietro Mason Long Christinna Longenecker Mackenzie Moser Mylihng Ortiz Zavion Paschall Ma'Kea Regis Kaden Timbers Xzavier Francis Williams	Ashton Binder Jaylen Bryant Justyna Epright Eddie Higgins Makenzie Johnson Debra Laulu Jesus Linares Zachary Mitchell Tryniti Mott-Lewis Patrick O'Connor Grant Panfile Ivionna Reed Enam Robinson	Askew, Jamilah Brown, Tyonna Christman, Olivia Clyde, Shyeed Cocci, Joel Couch, Thomas Delgado, Janessa Eames, Liza Harper, Tyler Hill, Elias Mest, Kristen Ormston, Allison Pena, Jolyn Rabert, Austin Smith, Dakota Tinson, Braylon	Jonathan Calle Xochitl Cruz-Hernandez Madison Dunn Isabella Floyd Farid Gass Jailyn Hampton Isabella Harmon Maria Jimenez Angelina Ludy Jesseny Redrovan Abigail Rochlin Deanna Stefanavage Kayla Vitabile Sydney Wilerson Daniel Williams Jayniana Williams

Rupert Roaring Readers - BRONZE	Middle School Eagles - BRONZE	Middle School Falcons - BRONZE	Middle School Hawks - BRONZE
John Cranford Jack Engleman Emma Gain Amar Graves Beatriz Guardado Breckin Leh Hannah Monger Malachi Neely Kira Nihart Yasmin Paez Jaylin Reynolds Julia Scavello Amayah Scurry Scarlet Vallejo Melodie Velez	Naomi Parson Jaydin Douglass Elizabeth Brennan Eric Thornton Jacob Eames Xavier Agosto Kamrin Gatlin Julian Paskel Haile Clayton Keshana Brown Harmony Wood Nancy Deschamps-Ocampo	Destri Roye Zach Sands John Toussaint Kishan Patel Sebastian Buchanan Tajime Brown Beyonce Brown Kameryn Herpich Imani Brant Brian Cowie Kylee Pimentel Hannah Wilson	Gabby Reyes Xavier Cushman Samantha Deery Bobby Mitchell Cristine Martinez Jaleinda Thompson Talia Spruill Nate Lang Ciera Cwynar Anthony Russo Riley Mead Emily Weber

Holiday Drive Kicks off 26th Year

Submitted photo

Toy donations are collected at the Dana plant in Pottstown for the annual holiday drive.

Organizers are gearing up for the 26th annual holiday toy and food drive to benefit under-priviledged families and donations of toys, food and funds are being sought.

Organizer Jim Frymoyer, who began the tradition as a member of the Moose Lodge and is now continuing it with the help of the Manatawny Association and the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 626, said last year’s drive helped 59 families and the goal this year is to help 65.

“Overall, we’re hoping to touch the lives of 332 people,” he said.

Frymoyer stopped by The Mercury last week.

The effort has several moving parts, with some families getting a food basket with a ham, a turkey, eggs, milk, potatoes and more as well as toys for the children; some families just receiving toys for the children and a holiday part at the Norco Firehouse on Dec. 21; and two scholarships being given out, one in honor of Frymoyer’s son, who died this year of pneumonia.

There are also numerous sponsors as well as numerous ways and places the community can lend a hand.

One of the more visible are the “Angel Trees” set up at 15 different locations in the wider community where either food, or toys or both can be donated.

Each tree has angels, each representing a boy or girl of a specified age and those who take an angel off the tree attach it to a toy to be donated.

Angel trees are located at the following locations. All locations will accept toys and food donations unless otherwise noted:

• Dana Holding Corp.: 1040 Center Ave., Pottstown;

• Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 626: 924 South St., Pottstown;

• Ivy Inn, 7 Brookline Blvd, Havertown;

• Manatawny Association, 20 King St., Pottstown;

• Piazza Honda, 629 N. Lewis Road, Limerick;

• Piazza Hyundai, 84 Auto Park Blvd., Limerick;

• Sea Star Solutions, 640 Lewis Road, Limerick;

• Sign Krafters, 1392 Ben Franklin Highway, Douglassville (food only);

• T & N Hair Salon, 1220 N. Hanover St., Pottstown (food only);

• Tim’s Ugly Mug Bar & Grill, 1281 E. Main St., Douglassville (toys only);

• Traffic Planning & Design, 2500 E. High St., No. 650, Pottstown;

• Tri-County Toyota, 15 D & L Drive, Limerick (toys only);

• U.S. Axle, Inc., 275 Shoemaker Road, Pottstown;

• Vito’s NY Style Pizza and Grill, 569 W. High St., Pottstown (food only);

• Spring-Ford Diner, 55 E. Bridge St., Spring City (toys only).

Monetary donations can be mailed to James Frymoyer, project coordinator, at 422 Upland St., G-1, Pottstown, PA 19464 and those donations earmarked for toys, food or the scholarship should be noted as such. Those who wish to volunteer should call 484-363-0638.

A pile of freshly wrapped presents made many children happy last year.

Frymoyer said the families who benefit are selected by children and youth agencies in all three counties, as well as by some of the businesses which sponsor the drive and by organizations such as Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, The Cluster of Religious Communities and VNA Hospice.

Former district judge John Durkin helped Frymoyer get connected with the children and youth agencies, Frymoyer said, adding he gets a lot of help from prime sponsors like both Piazza car dealerships, Tri-County Honda, and those who help anyway they can, such the United Auto Workers No. 644, with whom Frymoyer worked for many years at Dana, and Diamond Credit Union, which last year gift wrapped the 750 to 800 toys that were given away.

“I’ve had people come up to me and donated a toy, telling me that their son or daughter wanted one of their Christmas presents to go to a needy child, it can be really heart-wrenching,” Frymoyer said.

Equally as heart-wrenching is the death of a child, something Frymoyer underwent this year with the passing of his son, James Frymoyer Jr., a 1997 graduate of Pottsgrove High School.

It is in his name that one of the two scholarships will be given to a Pottsgrove High School football player. The other will be given to a Perkiomen Valley High School football player chosen by coach Scott Reed, whose cousin, the late Shawn Reed, played football at the former St. Pius X High School, graduating in 2000.

Submitted Photo

Jim Frymoyer with some of the food baskets packed up for delivery at the Manatawny Association last year.

The scholarship fund will give out $6,500 from money that was collected last year.

The money collected this year will go to a scholarship for a Spring-Ford High School athlete in the name of former Mercury Sports Editor Don Seeley, a Spring-Ford alum who died this year shortly after retiring more than 30 years covering sports in the Pottstown area.

“When my son was sick, Don called me every day to check on him,” Frymoyer said.

The holiday effort will culminate late in the year when the food baskets are distributed from the Manatawny Association on Dec. 20 and the holiday party is held for 150 children and their families on Dec. 21.

“We’ve got balloons, face-painting, country singer Stephanie Grace is going to sing, a magician, hot dogs, pizza, soda, cup cakes and ice cream — and of course, Santa,” Frymoyer said.

“They’re just doing great work,” Pottstown Mayor Bonnie Heath said Wednesday of the undertaking and the party, which she and Borough Council President Stephen Toroney attended last year.

“It’s a great thing they’re doing,” echoed Council Vice President Jeff Chomnuk.

Reading for the Gold (And Silver and Bronze)

Chip, the Diamond Credit Union mascot, with two Reading Olympians. Diamond Credit Union sponsors the Pottstown School District's Reading Olympics teams.

Over 150 elementary students in the Pottstown School District recently competed in the 13th annual school district Reading Olympics competition earlier this month.

The Reading Olympics requires teams of students to read 45 books in preparation for the event. 

Each round of competition sees two opposing teams attempt to answer 20

questions given in rapid-fire fashion from moderators. After a question is asked about a book, teams huddle to determine the correct answer. One point is awarded for each correct answer and Olympic ribbons are awarded for overall performance. 

District teams qualify to compete in the annual Montgomery County Intermediate Unit competition which annually attracts over 500 teams and 7,000 participants.

The Pottstown School District program is organized by Reading Specialist Karen Neitz. The goals of the Reading Olympics are to increase students' reading for enjoyment and promote reading skills that increase achievement and academic success. 

“I am always so excited to see our youngsters actively engage in reading. This event is an opportunity for students to experience teamwork and the satisfaction that comes from hard work,” said Neitz.

For the eighth consecutive year the Pottstown School District’s Reading Olympics program has received financial support from the local Diamond Credit Union. 

John Foust, President of Diamond Credit Union said, “We are proud to partner with the Pottstown School District in their efforts to promote the skill of reading so that students may learn to read so that they can read to learn. It is extremely rewarding to see the glow in students’ eyes when they correctly answer one of the questions. As an organization, Diamond Credit Union is committed to being a contributing member of our community.”

Here are the results:

Earning Gold Ribbons Were:

Lincoln Lightening Readers - Kylie Boughter, Kaile Butterfield, Melissa Coleman, Seth Jones, William Maddox  Cristine Martinez, Dylan Murphy, Megan Robie, Alixander Stewart, Somaiya Tate, Donovan Towson, MiKayla Viers, Winni Weng, Emme Wolfel.

Rupert Reading Racers - Zachary Beekley, Tyler Bruton, Kamrin Gatlin, Kameryn Herpich, David Hicks, Isaiah Lamar, Courtney Maulseed, Alexandria Olvera, Amana Douglas-Quill, Destri Roye, Emily Russo, Arianna Rumley, U'Kari Taylor, Kito Thompson, Julius Vargas, Hannah Wilson.

Earning Silver Ribbons Were:

Franklin's Rockin' Readers - Dezmyre Aiken, Tajime Brown, Christina Butler, Brooklyn Colegrove, Devin Dolla, Hannah Feist, Erin Glass, Avery Heverly, Kaylin Lascik, Julian Paskel, Esteban Pineda, Bryce Redd, Tanner Scott, Phillip Shiffler.

Franklin's Ballistic Bookworms - Shelby Clayton, Elijah Davis ,Jacob Eames, Andrew Green, Paige Jones, Tahkeim Lowe, Cayla McNair, Riley Mead, Jonae Oister, Payton Reid, Isabel Sharp, Marisa Walker, Emily Weber, Harmony Wood.

Edgewood Elites - Beyonce' Brown, Rasherra Jackson, Kishan Patel, Nathan Lang, Alexis Taylor, Isabelle Dupon, Joseph McLoughlin, Amari Folly.

Earning Bronze Ribbons Were:

Edgewood Reading Stars - Nathalie Baten, Jacob Stiefel, Hannah Lewiski, Marcos Maldonado, Anthony Lowe, Raquel Villegas, Diego Magana-Jaime, Cheyenne Dickinson.

Barth Read Big or Go Home - Topanga Brooks, Heaven Charriez, NiYell Clifford, Sylvahna Craft, Nancy Deschamps-Ocampo, Kaelyn Draucker, Zoe Earle, Haley Haas, Alexa Howard, Justice Mayes, Pearce Raegler, Robbie Raegler, Mason Saltzer, Cheyenne Shirley, Jaleinda Thompson, Taina Virola.

Barth Reading Warriors - Haile Clayton, Aiden Crowder, Kristin DiPietro, Jena Epright, Anyae Germany, Nathan Harper, Sherese Marshall, Jamair McCalpine-Thomas, Wesley McCalpine, Jada Oliver, Briana Quarles, Gabriela Reyes, Faith Roach.