Moyer named Pennsylvania's top principal for 2020

Rupert Elementary School Principal Matt Moyer with some of his students.

Matt Moyer is not above getting his hands dirty for his students.

He's been slimed.

He's sported a $1,300 purple Mohawk.

He's been the star of home videos about science.

And now he's being recognized for all that and more.

Rupert Elementary School Principal Matthew Moyer has been named Pennsylvania's Distinguished Principal for 2020 by the Pennsylvania Principal's Association.

As such, he will represent the Keystone State during the selection of a national distinguished principal in the fall.

"Yeah, I was certainly surprised," Moyer told The Mercury on Friday. After being nominated, "I filled out the form and sent it off thinking, 'sure, I'll throw my hat in the ring,' but then I didn't think much more about it."

"I mean there are 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, and just think how many principals are in each one," Moyer said.

But then, "they contacted me for an interview by four previews winners" and then they interviewed the district superintendent, a Rupert teacher and a Rupert parent. They Moyer was interviewed by a recommendation committee, "and I started to think I had a shot."

Indeed he did. In fact, the recommendation to select Moyer as Pennsylvania's best principal of 2020 was unanimous.

Part of the process was asking Moyer to identify three of his most significant accomplishments.

On the list was his implementation of district-wide safety plans and the introduction of non-violent crisis intervention training.

Rupert Principal Matt Moyer welcomes parents during an

open house in 2014.

But ever-focused on students, the first accomplishment Moyer listed was the fact that he is frequently selected by Rupert alum to be a guest at their high school graduation, a long-standing Pottstown tradition which allows students to invite two teachers who had the greatest impact on them.

And who would he have invited?

A Rupert alum himself, Moyer finally settled on Mark Ottinger as the Rupert teacher who had the greatest impact on him, although it was a struggle.

"I remember every one of my teachers," Moyer said.

"My brothers used to come home from Rupert and say 'Mr. Ottinger said this and Mr. Ottinger said that.' In fact, he stopped by to visit Rupert two years ago and I was so great to talk to him again," said Moyer.

Moyer grew up on the 1100 block of Queen Street. His father David worked at Mrs. Smith's Pies, "until they closed, and then he worked at Neapco for a while until he retired."

His mother Linda, also an alum of Rupert, raised three boys, of which Moyer is the youngest, and was the secretary at St. John's United Church of Christ and at Pottstown Hospital.

Moyer talks with students about a tower garden at Rupert in 2017.

Moyer decided to go into education when he was a student at Pottstown High School.

"They had a program, I don't remember what it was called, but you could go into the schools and help out. I went into classrooms at Franklin," Moyer said. "At first I thought I wanted to be a police officer, but I knew from that point what I wanted to do."

After graduating, Moyer attended Shippensburg University, obtained his masters from Cabrini College and his superintendent's certification letter from California University of Pennsylvania.

His first teacher job was as a fifth grade teacher in Spring-Ford Area School District, and then it was on to Leesport, where he was the assistant principal at Schuylkill Valley Elementary School for three years.

In August of 2005, Moyer and Stephen Rodriguez were both hired as new principals in the district, Moyer at Rupert and Rodriguez at Pottstown High School.

Rupert Principal Matthew Moyer has sported some unique

hairstyles for his students over the years.

“Mr. Moyer has poured his heart and soul into Rupert Elementary for the past 15 years. He is a role model for using multiple forms of communications to build strong relationships with students,families,teachers and community," said Rodriguez, now the district's superintendent.

Those communications have become unique after the coronavirus pandemic closed all Pottstown schools. Moyer continued to keep his students engaged with a series of sometimes silly science videos shot around his house and posted on YouTube.

"He is the architect of the positive caring atmosphere at Rupert. We are so proud and thankful that he has received this national recognition," Rodriguez said.

Moyer singled out another district leader, former superintendent Jeff Sparagana.

"I would be remiss if I did not mention the impact Jeff Sparagana had on me and my career. He was my mentor and my boss for 10 years. He held us all to a higher standard and I am the better for it," Moyer said.

Multiplication 'Operation' a Success at Rupert

Photos courtesy of Pottstown School District

Rupert Elementary Third Grade "doctors" distribute multiplication knowledge in a successful operation recently.

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

Rupert Elementary third grade teacher Jamie Fazekas used imagination and creativity in presenting the Distributive Property of Multiplication math lesson to her students recently.

The class was transformed into an operating room,complete with Distributive Doctors in operating room gear. 

Students worked in operating teams as they performed the delicate step by step procedures.

The doctors found that the distributive property allows them to multiply a sum by multiplying each addend separately and then add the products.

The operation was a success and the patient is doing well. 

Ruper Principal Matt Moyer said "this lesson was an outstanding example of using creativity to engage students while using the concepts of STEAM education and adding a touch of career exploration."

Share the news of another of our outstanding educators helping to prepare the future leaders of our country and giving us another reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown.

Burlington Gifts Rupert With $10K for Supplies

Photo by Emily Overdorf

Rupert Elementary School students and staff thank officials from the newly opened Burlington store for its recent surprise donation of $10,000. 

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

The reason Rupert Elementary School teachers were called to the opening day assembly with 400 students on the first day of school was a bit of a mystery.

Representatives of the newly opened Burlington store in Upland Square were on hand with a big surprise for all.

Burlington Stores,and AdoptAClassroom.org, a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting teachers and their students, were on hand to conduct a school adoption assembly.

Store manager Bill Kocur presented the teachers with an oversized check in the amount of $10,000, which will be divided equally among classroom teachers so they can purchase supplies they need for their classrooms through AdoptAClassroom.org.

 AdoptAClassroom provides teachers with an online marketplace of nearly 30 school specialty and office supply vendors where they can purchase the materials and tools they need to support classroom learning.

"We are overwhelmed by this gift that will benefit our students with classroom supplies that we could not afford to provide," said Rupert Principal Matt Moyer. "Business community support of our public schools is helping build a brighter future for Pottstown."

Drop Everything and Read at Rupert Elementary

Aaron Beasley gets ready to read to Rupert Elementary students for DEAR Day, which stands for Drop Everything and Read.

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

The teachers at Rupert celebrated DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Day recently.

State Sen. Bob Mensch reads at Rupert.

Invited many guests joined the staff to celebrate the joy of reading with students. 

The teachers at Rupert value the importance of connecting with our school community and friends of education. 

"We know how busy all of our guests were, and we are sure the time they spent as a guest reader was well spent," said Principal Matthew Moyer. 

Many brought a favorite children’s book, while others selected one from our library. 

Readers were assigned to a class or two and provided with refreshments including a custom made cookie for the event.

Rupert Elementary School is All About the Biking

And once the kids have been to the rodeo, they can take Rupert's Bike to School Challenge!

Rupert Reading Blitz Gets Kids Reading at Home



Photos courtesy of Pottstown School District
Saami Gant shows off one of his new books provided during the Dow Day of Caring Reading Blitz and Giving Home Libraries at Rupert Elementary School on March 26.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Rupert Elementary School Principal Matt Moyer.

Rupert Elementary School hosted the Dow Day of Caring Reading Blitz and Giving Home Libraries event on Tuesday, March 26.

 

Kassidy Drost and Chelsea Reisman both selected the same book. 

Each student received a red Dow tote bag and selected five brand new American Reading Company books to take home and keep. In all, they gave away about 2,000 books to our students.

  

After book selection, volunteers went to each classroom and spent some time reading some of the books to our students. We even had some of the authors here to read to the classes.

 

The volunteers had a blast, and all commented on how impressed with they were with our staff, and how polite and respectful each of the students were during their time here. Additionally, students will receive a card with a code for 5 FREE online books!

     

This event was made possible because of Moyer's work with the yearly district-wide United Way Campaign. Kathy Kohler from the United Way offered to bring this event to Rupert due to the district's support of the United Way.

 

This is the first Dow Day of Caring Reading Blitz and Giving Home Libraries event to be held this far outside of Philadelphia.

 

Kiera English with her new book.

The groups that helped make the event possible were: The United Way, Dow, American Reading Company, and the Chris Long Foundation.

Information UW’s literacy initiative and partnership with Chris Long.

Every chapter of a child’s life is worth cheering for. And when we fight for youth success, we empower the next generation of learners, leaders and achievers. It’s why we’ve decided to get off the sidelines and help turn the page on our region’s literacy crisis.

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, in partnership with The Chris Long Foundation, launched the First Quarter for Literacy campaign, an initiative of Philadelphia Eagles Defensive End Chris Long to help Philadelphia area children improve their reading skills and to put new books into the hands of 5,000 local children.

In December, a 25-day crowdfunding initiative, Second Quarter for Literacy, was launched to bolster

Jahvon Jackson shows off his new book bag.

Long’s initial investment by making additional strategic investments into programs designed to help more children throughout the region read on grade level by the end of third grade.

 

Grade level reading by 4th grade is a critical milestone, as children begin to transition from learning to read, to reading to learn. Children who are not reading on grade level by fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers.

 

To combat this problem, the Second Quarter for Literacy initiative will help: 

• Expand the Parent-Child Home Program to provide more families in need with the knowledge, skills, and materials they need to prepare their children for success in pre-K and beyond
• Launch a 1:1 interactive, web-based tutoring program designed for use in classrooms for grades 1-3
• Expand Philadelphia’s Read by 4th campaign into suburban communities

To make a lasting difference, it’s not enough to simply know about a problem. It also requires stepping up to be that difference – for this generation, and the next.

For more information, click this link.

Rupert's 'Muffins for Moms' Feeds Young Minds

Photos by John Armato

Kaiden Terpoli enjoys a favorite book with his mom during Rupert Elementary School's Muffins for Mom morning reading program.

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

Spending early morning time with mom eating breakfast and reading one of your favorite books was a great way for more than 200 Rupert Elementary students to start the day.

Olivia Williams and her mom enjoy breakfast and a good story.

The Muffins for Moms program at Rupert Elementary was developed by Principal Matt Moyer as a way to build stronger school and family ties while encouraging students to take time every day to read.

"Study after study shows that early reading with children helps them learn to speak, interact, bond with parents and read early themselves, and reading with kids who already know how to read helps them feel close to caretakers, understand the world around them and be empathetic citizens of the world," according to a Feb. 17, 2018 article in The Washington Post.

But it shouldn’t end when kids begin to read on their own. “As they become independent readers, we tend to let them go, but even kids in older demographics love nothing more than that time with their parents,” Baker says. “We’re blown away that kids time and again said the most special time they recall spending with a parent is reading together,” according to Liza Baker, the executive editorial director at Scholastic.

Veronica Williams and her mom enjoy a morning story.

"A child’s reading level doesn’t catch up to his listening level until eighth grade. You can and should be reading seventh grade books to fifth grade kids. They’ll get excited about the plot and this will be a motivation to keep reading," according to Jim Trelease, the author of the respected, Read-Aloud Handbook, which some parents have called the “read aloud Bible.”

"A fifth grader can enjoy a more complicated plot than she can read herself, and reading aloud is really going to hook her, because when you get to chapter books, you’re getting into the real meat of print — there is really complicated, serious stuff going on that kids are ready to hear and understand, even if they can’t read at that level yet" he told Great Schools.com.

Rupert student Matthew Stingone and mom make reading fun.

Reading aloud to your kids is also are good way to grapple with difficult issues. 

For example, you can tell your child, “I don’t want you to hang out with so and so,” but that’s a lecture that will probably go in one ear and out the other, according to Trelease. 

But if you read a book about a kid who gets in trouble by hanging out with the wrong crowd, your child is going to experience that directly, and she’s going to experience it with you at her side, and you can talk about it together.

Having an I'MPACT at Rupert Elementary School

For the first time, two siblings, Kayvion and Kyseer Reinert-Cotton, above, were both recognized by Rupert Elementary School's I'MPCAT Team for accomplishments during the second semester. Kayvion is in kindergarten and Kyseer is in first grade.

At right, third grade award winner Peyton Coale looks pretty surprised (and pretty happy) to see Rupert Elementary Principal Matthew Moyer knocking on his door.

Photos Courtesy of the Pottstown School District.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Rupert Elementary School.

The Rupert Elementary School I’MPACT team visited the homes of its students on Monday, Jan. 28.

The team went out to visit student from each grade level to congratulate them and their families, and to acknowledge student successes during the second marking period. 

Fourth grade I'PACT winner Trevor Ford is congratulated
by Rupert teacher Allen Ferster.

I’MPACT is an acronym for I’m Pottstown Action Community Team. 

Its mission is to “Celebrate Learning” with positive communication of activities happening at school through the building of relationships with community members. 

The team makes door-to-door visits to surprise students and their families with certificates of achievement, yard signs, balloons, and I’MPACT Winner shirts. 

Students were congratulated for their hard work, citizenship, and positive behavior. 

The I’MPACT Team consists of teachers, support staff, parents, and administrators from Rupert Elementary School.

Second grade I'MPACT Award winner Ryan Stilwell doesn't
seem to know what to make of a visit from the principal.
But dad does, grab the camera!

I'MPACT Winners for the Marking Period are:

• Pre- Kindergarten- Faith Smith
• Kindergarten- Kayvion Reinert-Cotton 
• 1st Grade- Kyseer Reinert-Cotton
• 2nd Grade- Ryan Stilwell
• 3rd Grade- Peyton Coale
• 4th Grade- Trevor Ford

For the first time ever the team recognized siblings. 

Kyseer and Kayvion are brothers and were both individually selected by their respective grade levels!

Members of the Team in attendance for the visits:

Principal: Matthew Moyer and staff: Kerry Kline, Laurie Gresko, Cindy Bartolucci, Stacey Bauman, Kelsey Hultz, Ashley Bellevou, Cheryl Wambold, Lauren Crean, Allen Ferster, Diana Dotterer, Kalena Pippert.

Rupert pre-kindergartner Faith Smith, second from left, enjoys having her I'MPACT Award read to her by Rupert Elementary Principal Matthew Moyer.

Saturday Party Celebrates Rupert's 90th Anniversary

The cover of the program from the original dedication ceremony of Rupert school.

We should all be so lucky — to look so good at 90 years old.

But with a shiny new wing, repointed brick and a new roof, Rupert Elementary School — Pottstown's oldest school building — is in pretty good shape.

That's a good thing because Rupert is being thrown a birthday party on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will include food trucks with pizza, ice cream, BBQ and snow cones.

Games including a dunk tank, a bounce house, an inflatable obstacle course, bowling, tennis, mini golf, corn hole, Large Jenga, Large Checkers, Large Connect 4 and even free bike helmets will be featured.

Of course, things were probably a bit more subdued on Aug. 29, 1928.

That's when the original dedication was made and according to the original program, there was some music, the "passing of the key" and some speeches, followed by the "Star Spangled Banner" and a benediction.

The groundbreaking had occurred a little more than a year before with "Professor Rupert" digging the first shovel full of dirt.

Rupert School Band, 1938, Elizabeth Jenkins directing

"Professor Rupert" is, of course, William Whitehead Rupert, who had come to Pottstown from Chester County nearly 50 years before. He was Pottstown's very first superintendent of schools and the educator for whom the school is named.

It was 1879 when the Pottstown School Board decided that the high school needed to be divided into two distinct schools "with boys under a male teacher and girls under a female teacher," according to a 2009 article published in The Mercury by local historian Michael T. Snyder.

(Snyder also wrote the Rupert Family History that was included in a time capsule created in 1978 at the school's 50th anniversary and is available online at www.pottsmerc.com.)

Rupert Elementary Fifth Grade, 1952

Although that decision to hire a male teacher for the boys was made in May, it wasn't until Aug. 28 that Rupert arrived in Pottstown and "took rooms at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Brooke Davis," according to the Aug. 28 1879 edition of The Daily Pottstown Ledger.

At the time, the borough's population was 5,305 and the schools had 709 students and 18 teachers.

At the time, there were only 70 students of high school age and no high school building, so they were taught in several classrooms at the Washington School building at Penn and Beech streets, the site of the current school administration building.

Rupert in 1978, on its 50th anniversary.

In 1888, when parts of "Pottsgrove Township" became part of the borough, the population jumped to more than 13,000 and the number of students also jumped from 1,074 to 1,766, according to Snyder's research.

With the sudden rise in student population, the school board voted unanimously on July 11 of that year to name Rupert as the first superintendent of Pottstown Schools.

So popular and effective was Rupert, that on June 12, 1913, on the occasion of his 25th year as superintendent, a special ceremony was held with testimonials and gifts including a "Russian wallet purse filled containing $100 in gold" and five weeks vacation, Snyder wrote.

Photo by Carol Brightbill

Rupert as it appears today.

In 1922, Rupert reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 and he stepped down, but returned five years later to kick off construction on the school which still bears his name.

The cost of construction? Only $124,849.03.

Over the years, the Tudor-style building has seen several renovations and housed countless teachers and students.

One of those students was Linda Kachel, who was in fifth grade at Rupert in 1952.

Rupert Principal Matt Moyer with some of his students.

A generation later, she sent three sons to Rupert.

Kachel still lives on Queen Street and volunteers in the school as well.

One of those sons grew up to be the principal of Rupert Elementary School — Matthew Moyer.

Moyer will be front and center Saturday when his school celebrates its 90th birthday.

He is currently Pottstown's longest-serving principal and, who knows, may be here to help celebrate the school's 100th birthday as well.

Rupert Students Get Early Look at Possible Futures

This Rupert student learns about being a firefighter.

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

Student's learn about the dental health profession.

We have all faced the question of what we want to be when you grow up.

At Rupert Elementary School Principal Matt Moyer and his staff took that age-old question and turned it into a Career Day Fair for third and fourth grade students. 

With clipboards, survey sheets and pencils in hand, the students had a chance to visit with representatives of more than 30 different career paths and ask questions about their work and what education is need to enter the job market. 

 Moyer said, "this is a tremendous learning experience for our students, to speak face to face with so many representatives." 

Father and son lawyers Levi and Jack Wolf were 

on hand to talk about the legal profession.

Moyer added, "lawyers,veterinarians writers, photographers,bakers health care providers,firemen, members of the military and many more were on hand to give insight into their profession."

Steven Park, Pottstown High School's Director of Career Technical Education, attended along with student presenters who showcased each of the departments programs. 

"This was as much a learning experience for the high school students as it was was the Rupert students," he said. 

The future leaders of the country are in our classrooms today.

Maybe this Rupert student will be your X-Ray Tech some day.

3rd Teacher Buys New Home in Pottstown With Foundation for Pottstown Education Program

Rupert Elementary teacher Jamie Fazekas in front of her new home.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Foundation for Pottstown Education.

Rupert Elementary Third Grade Teacher, Jamie Fazekas is the third Pottstown School District Employee who has been awarded a $10,000 forgivable loan through the Foundation for Pottstown Education Residency Program. 

This program provides eligible applicants who work for the Pottstown School District, up to $10,000 in the form of a forgivable loan. The funds can be used for closing costs, down payments, or other expenses directly related to the purchase of property determined to be eligible for the program.

Fazekas applied for this loan in November and was approved before Thanksgiving. She closed on her new home the first week of December. This is the first home purchase for her and she is extremely happy with her new residence.

The $10,000 loan will have 20 percent forgiven each year in which the homeowner remains an employee of the Pottstown School District and lives in the residence as their primary home. 

After five years, the loan is completely forgiven. Should the employee move or leave the Pottstown School District, the remaining balance of the loan is then due to be before paid back to the Foundation.

Congratulations, Jamie and welcome home.

Visit www.foundationpottstowned.org for more information about the Foundation for Pottstown Education as well as following FPE on Facebook and Twitter.

Foundations Help Rupert Students Learn the Ropes

Submitted Photo

From left, Chuck Gulati, students Sam Heater, Patience Cole, Austin Hampton, Cianne Wells and Rupert Elementary Principal Matt Moyer

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Foundation for Pottstown Education.

Through a donation from the Gulati Family Foundation to the Foundation for Pottstown Education, the Rupert Fourth Grade visited the brand new low ropes course at Althouse Arboretum in Upper Pottsgrove.

The low ropes course is designed to encourage leadership, expand communication skills, promote self-discovery, and increase self-esteem. 

The students were given a variety of challenges at different obstacles on the course. Each required team work, creative thinking, and collaboration to achieve success. The students were broken up into groups of 8-12 students. Each group had a facilitator who explained the challenge, and assisted the students. The students were required to work together to determine a plan, and then take their plan to action. After each activity the groups debriefed on what was successful, and what areas they felt they could improve upon.

The fourth grade teachers, Allen Ferster, Nicole Leh, and Nicole Valenti said, the ropes coarse provided students with an invaluable experience for breaking down barriers, teamwork, and learning to trust each other in academic and non-academic settings.

Chuck Gulati, member of the Gulati Family Foundation Board and President of Gatsby’s and Stokesay Castle stated that this project fit with their Foundation’s mission of giving to educational institutions at every level, from early childhood through graduate school. When he found out the need for funding of field trips, Gulati indicated his desire to help and placed the request to the Foundation Board for approval.

Rupert Elementary Principal, Matt Moyer had made the request of the Foundation for Pottstown Education to enable the fourth grade students to take this course. Moyer stated that the low ropes course would meet the requirements of the STEAM funding provided by the Education Foundation.

The fourth grade students sent both of the foundations handmade cards of thanks, Many of the students indicated that they learned how to listen and communicate with their friends, how to trust others, and that they had fun.

The Foundation for Pottstown Education’s (FPE) mission is to support, promote, sponsor and carry out educational, scientific or charitable activities and objectives within or related to the Pottstown School District. 

Visit www.foundationpottstowned.org for more information about the Foundation for Pottstown Education. You can also follow FPE on Facebook and Twitter.

Pottstown Teachers of the Year, No Tax Hike Budget

Photos by Evan Brandt

POTTSTOWN'S TEACHERS OF THE YEAR: From left, Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez, Victoria Redmond and Michele Andre from Pottstown Middle School, Treen Ferguson from Rupert Elementary, Corby Drone from Pottstown High School, Denise Schleicher from Lincoln Elementary, Lauren Emes from Franklin Elementary, Hayley Guigley from Barth Elementary and Pottstown School Board President Amy Francis.

Looking at the agenda for Monday night's Pottstown School Board meeting, you might have expected it to take a long time.

Naming a Teacher of the Year; adopting the third consecutive budget that does not raise taxes; a new $146,000 lighting scheme for outside the high school; setting in motion the replacement of stadium lights after a three-year wait -- it all sounds like a lot of time and deliberation.

But, you've got to hand it to the school board.

They took care of it all in under an hour.

Teacher of the Year, Corby Drone, with Superintendent

Stephen Rodriguez, left, and School Board President

Amy Francis, right.

First, let's dispel the suspense -- The Pottstown School District Teacher of the Year is high school math teacher Corby Drone.

Drone who has taught in Dublin, at an Ivy League college (Brown) and even spent some time as a campus policeman, brings an interesting perspective to his 11 years in the Pottstown School District.

Founder of what is now known as "The Breakfast Club," Drone offers Pop Tarts and math tutoring on Saturday mornings as well as being the Chess Club adviser.

The other Teachers of the Year from their respective school buildings can be seen below.

Michael DiDonato addresses the school board.

Michael DiDonato, middle school teacher and representative of the Federation of Pottstown Teachers echoed comments made by board member Katina Bearden, that Pottstown teachers are among the best, bring a dedication to seeing their
students and community excel which is not always found in other districts.

After the awards, the board undertook its single most important function -- adopting a preliminary budget, which will be finalized in June, and, for the third year in a row, does not raise taxes.

This year's budget of $62,021,819 is being adopted with little to no idea of what state funding will ultimately be provided by the final Pennsylvania budget.

Ain't this a wonderful system we've got going here in Pennsylvania? Budget blind and be prepared to take the blame when Harrisburg says its the school board raising your taxes. Nice easy way out for the legislators.

But far be it from me to offer an opinion on that here.....

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Every Penny Counts in Rupert Classrooms

Photo Courtesy of Pottstown Schools

Nicole Valenti's third grade class at Rupert Elementary School.

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

The students and staff at Rupert Elementary School understand the importance of helping others and the value of every penny counts.

They participated in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Pennies for Patients fundraising campaign, to help patients with blood cancers and fund research for blood cancers. 

During three weeks in February students brought in pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and even dollars to school to help the L.L.S. mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, and myeloma and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. 

They can be very proud of themselves for raising $1,612.29. Three classes raised over $100 each and earned a bronze pennant for their class room. 

Molly Callaghan's class earned $100.66; Nicole Leh's class collected $109.16 and Susan Paravis's class collected $179.06. 

Nicole Valenti's class raised the most, $335.80 and earned a gold pennant, a $50 gift card from Office Depot for the class room, and a pizza party for her students. 

"I am very proud of our students and staff for caring for those in need," said Principal Matthew Moyer. "They are learning valuable life lessons and given us another reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown."

A New Board Member and Hidden Raises

Photos by Evan Brandt

Susan Lawrence.

The Pottstown School Board chose life-time Pottstown resident and former high school valedictorian Susan Lawrence as the newest member of the school board last night.

She was chosen over former board member Bonita Barnhill, who earned only vote from from the board.

Lawrence will replace Andrew Kefer, whose resignation from the board became official on Sept. 30.

Lawrence will be sworn in at the next school board meeting.

As Kefer was the board's vice president when he resigned, the board also had to act to elect a new vice president. The unanimous choice was Amy Francis, who was nominated by board member Ron Williams. There were no other nominations.

Mr. Woodley accepts his award from Stephen Rodriquez.

The board also moved ahead, by a split 4-3 vote, to proceed with a design phase and request for bid to improve the over-used fields along North Franklin Street.

And there were more than a few awards handed out.

David Woodley, was given a superintendent's award for his formation of the Management Information Systems team, as well as his work with the Trojan Man mascot and its use in boosting school spirit.

And then, Rupert Elementary School Principal Matt Moyer got up and announced that Preservation Pennsylvania had awarded the "Sustainability and Historic Preservation Award" to the school district for its preservation of the key architectural elements of the district's oldest school, built in 1928.

One of the main reasons for the award was that Rupert has been made energy efficient in its most recent renovation. Rupert also graced the cover of the program for the evening, said Moyer.

Acting Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez and

Rupert Principal Matt Moyer with the preservation award.

Let's see..... was there anything else ...?

Oh yeah, buried in the agenda, which was not available for the public Monday night for inexplicable reasons, was a small item about "approval of salaries."

Not "raises," but "salaries." Really?

If you check out the agenda on the school district web site, and you are willing to dig, you will find the item with three PDF's attached.

It shows new salaries for the support staff, non-union workers and "Act 93" workers, who are the administrators.

But even then, it tells you little.

Because rather than put last year's salary and the new salary, and the increase out there like grown-ups, the administration continues its practice of presenting only the new salary, giving you no fram of reference.

So we'll have to dig and dig and dig. Their reward for playing being less than transparent will be a story on the front page of The Mercury -- a story which might otherwise have been very routine.

This district talks about "transparency" and trying to get people involved, but this school district still makes secrecy its default position, while they spend more than $60 million of your money.

A hat's off to School Board Director Kurt Heidel for at least informing the public that the raise, for one year, represents a 4 percent hike. At least he had enough respect for the public to tell them how much more of their money the district will be spending.

Board members Thomas Hylton and Ron Williams cast the only votes against the raises.

Otherwise, enjoy the Tweets.

Rotary Volunteers Help Drive Walking School Bus

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown Rotary Club

The Pottstown Rotary Club stepped up with several other local organizations to provide volunteers for the Walking School Bus program sponsored by the Pottstown School District during the 2015-2016 school year at Rupert Elementary School.

The Walking Bus became a reality in 2015 after the Pottstown School District took the position that encouraging more students to walk to school could reduce absenteeism and tardiness, increase fitness, reduce vehicle congestion at the school, and perhaps trade some of that endless young energy for a readiness to learn.

After promotion of the program to parents and kids, and design of the “safe” routes to Rupert Elementary which varied from 1 to 1.5 miles, the remaining critical need was for the bus ‘drivers”.

That’s where Brooke Martin of the Pottstown Rotary Club came in with about five of her colleagues, to be part of the total of 40 volunteers eventually signed on individually or from the other eight local participating organizations and employers.

Each week over the length of the school year, rain or shine, anywhere from 3 to 6 Rotary members would meet their early morning ‘passengers’ on their assigned route to school.

Most members walked one day a week, some more, all were available as substitutes, and all were at least as excited about snow-days as the kids. The shortest route with just a couple of kids only needed two volunteers each day; the longer route with 20 kids enrolled usually needed four volunteers.

Adding up three routes on five days for 25 weeks brought the total trip length to 425 miles that were covered over the duration of the Walking School Bus program.

Two of those Rotary members have bragging rights for being present for 50 of those miles, in a new definition of community service.

A Rotary goal in the coming school year is to expand its involvement with this worthwhile program.

The mission of Rotary is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

The Pottstown Rotary is committed to working both globally and locally.

The Rewards of Being Good at Rupert School

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

Rupert Elementary School recently they held a Mid-Year Caught Being Good Prize Give Away.

When students are caught being good at Rupert, their teachers place a ticket with their name in a large bin and then names are drawn to receive prizes. 

"This was a great way to acknowledge all of the outstanding work of our students," said Principal Matt Moyer. "We are planning a second large prize drawing in June."

Superintendent Jeff Sparagana, who attended the assembly, said "It was indeed my pleasure to visit Rupert classrooms and interact with students and staff."

Sparagana added, "I was also fortunate to be in attendance for Rupert's Positive Behavior Support afternoon assembly. The purpose of the assembly was to acknowledge students who were 'caught being good.' The assembly was an energy charged experience where Principal Matt Moyer and the Rupert staff recognized students who were caught being good and qualified for a raffle of prizes such as: numerous gift cards, educational games, classroom helper for the day, a ride to class on the principals chair for a day and a spectacular ride to school on a fire truck courtesy of the Phillies Fire Company."

Concluded Sparagana, "It was an excellent way to close out the day at Rupert. Congratulations to principal Moyer and the Rupert school community for, as always 'placing students first.'"