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.

Photo Sought for Tarawa MIA Carl M. Shaffer

A photograph of a Pottstown soldier who was killed in the Pacific during World War II is being sought by a foundation trying to identify remains.

Carl M. Shaffer was born pon Feb. 21, 1921 in Pottstown to Herbert Donnell Shaffer and Katherine K. Shaffer, according to the Chief Rick Stone and Family Charitable Foundation, which is seeking a photograph of him as part of its Tarawa Unknowns project.

The foundation says Shaffer was killed in the battle of Tarawa but his remains were never recovered or identified. He is currently an MIA from that action. 

One of the foundation’s missions is to help find, recover, and identify missing American servicemen and women from World War II and return them home to their families.

Shaffer married Helen E. Fox, also of Pottstown, and both attended Pottstown High School. Carl joined the U.S. Army Air Corps prior to September 1942 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. 

He was killed on Jan. 21, 1944.

At the present time, the foundation's investigators and researchers are in need of a facial photograph of Staff Sgt. Shaffer to utilize a new computerized program which compares the cranial images of remains recovered on the battlefield with a pre-mortem facial photograph of a most likely match.

The foundation has found many references to Staff Sergeant Shaffer in the on-line versions of the local newspaper but no photographs. There is even a reference in a 1959 edition of the paper to something known as “Pottstown Portraits” which the article stated included a photo of Staff Sergeant Shaffer. Unfortunately, no photo can be found attendant to the article.

Any photograph of Shaffer would be helpful.

Do you know him? Do you have a photo?

You can contact the foundation through their web site -- https://chiefrickstone.com or contact John Armato at the Pottstown School District at 484-256-7491.

Ugly Sweaters (and More) For a Good Cause

Photo Courtesy of Matthew Moyer

Rupert Principal Mathew Moyer, center, wears his silly sweater victory sash as proudly as any beauty queen.

Let's face it, there are few good excuses to wear that ugly Christmas sweater and its loopy cousin, the Christmas tie.

Classroom assistant

Terry Phillips and
her son Terryce got
all dressed up.

Second only to the fruitcake, it is a tradition to be avoided at all costs, but darn it if the folks at Rupert Elementary School didn't find a loop-hole.

J. Rine Strohecker with two of his 

fancier students

When you're raising money to help a former student fight cancer, well, pretty much everything is fair game.

The student, whose name we are not publishing here, is now at the middle school and both of her parents are out of work.

That does not bode well when you are going for cancer treatments at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

So out came the "silly sweaters," but that's not all.

As Principal Matt Moyer reports, "we had a big week at Rupert last week."

Fancy Friday indeed! Lookin' Good Rupert!

There was of course the sweaters-who-shall-not-be-named contest, which was won by Mr. Moyer himself.

Then there was the tasty treats.

Jamie Fazekas's third grade class had a lemonade stand at lunch all week, charging 50 cents per cup.

And finally, in a classy twist on casual Friday's, Rupert held a "Fancy Friday" dress UP day on Dec. 19.

All together, the school raised $850 to help the family.

I don't know about you folks, but I'm pretty sure that's a good lesson on the spirit of giving.

Third Grade Teacher Jamie Fazekas and her class sold lemonade all week long to raise money for a former student fighting cancer.

Girls on the Run

Barth's Girls on the Run after the race at Wissahickon High School.

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

How many third and fourth grade girls do you know who would spend 12 weeks training so they could run in a 3.1 mile race?

At Barth Elementary School, the count is 22 students who took part in the “Girls On The Run” program.

GOTR is designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength. 

The Girls On The Run curriculum inspires girls to define their lives on their own terms. 

Barth's Ariana Torres is having fun on the run.

Throughout the season, the girls make new friends, build their confidence, and celebrate all that makes them unique.

High school guidance counselor Sarah Blaum, who is one of the program organizer, said, “The girls are learning to work together to help and support each other, to listen to their own bodies, and to listen to their coaches but most importantly to believe in themselves.”

“The 12 week program has three purposes which include life skill lessons, community service projects, and training for the 5K race,” said Barth Principal Ryan Oxenford.

The program was supported through generous donations by grant funding from different sources that included the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, First Presbyterian Church, and Chester County Running Store. 

Blaum said, “Our parents have been so supportive in helping with transportation issues for the girls after practice. This truly has been a collaborative effort of GOTR staff, community members, Pottstown School District staff, parents, and students.”

One parent noted the positive difference that participation in the program has provided when she said, “I’m so amazed with this awesome program. I have never seen my daughter so ambitious about something. She strives for perfection in almost everything she does and this program is teaching her so much it’s beautiful to see.”

On a sunny spring day in May the 22 girls, along with their coaches and volunteers, participated in the 3.1 mile race held at Wissahickon High School. The event, which attracted over 1800 participants from across Montgomery and Delaware counties, was the final chapter in the girls’ journey. 

The lessons the girls learned helped them not only complete the race but realize their potential as leaders in the classroom and the community.

Barth Elementary School was the scene of an afterschool celebration attended by all of the girls, their coaches, family members, and supporters. The girls received certificates and a personalized school bag with a journal and pictures of each of them participating in the program.

Oxenford said, “This program has enabled these young ladies to realize the potential they have to be successful through individual effort and teamwork. I am proud of them and appreciate the many volunteer coaches who helped to make this program a success.”

Volunteer coaches included: Sarah Blaum – PHS; Sarah Paul –Barth; Rachel Pollock – Barth; Mary Anderson – Barth; Jennifer Burkholder – Barth; Matthea Mazzie – Barth; Ashley Lanyon – Barth volunteer; Megan Walsh – Barth volunteer; Helen Bowers – PHS; and Melissa Schubert – PHS.

Participants included: Amber Adamski, Gianna Allen, Jenia Brown, Khaia Burgess, Mia Caballero-Vega, Josie Chladek, Hannah Jane Daniels, Margaret DiPietro, Lily Fetterman, Sanai Greene-Brinkley, Jazmin Gulick, Brianna Higgins, Makenzie Johnson, Aniyah Jones, Chasey Jules, Kylee Kennon, Jocelyn Malauulu, Mackenzie Moser, Kira Rodriguez, Ariana Torres, Chakae Tinson, and Oralee Wilson.

Between the Pages

First grader Tianna Williams

Edgewood first grade student Tianna Williams became the first student at Edgewood Elementary School to complete reading 25 books since the beginning of the school year.

A member of Corina Miller’s class, Tianna successfully completed reading 25 books at home.

Ms. Miller expressed pride in Tianna, “We are happy and encouraged by the fact that our students have learned to enjoy and appreciate reading at an early age. The doors to their future are open wide.”

Last year, Edgewood Elementary School students read thousands of books as part of a reading challenge set down by their Principal,  Calista Boyer.

 Last year each time students successfully met a challenge Mrs. Boyer took part in fun activities such as - kissing a pig, getting pied, and becoming a human banana split.

"I am more than happy to reward the students with some fun activities if it encourages them to read and become better students," she said.

Some of you may remember what happened last year when Edgewood students met Mrs. Boyer's reading goal.

Walk This Way

Kishan Patel, Chloe Hebert, Raquel Villegas and Zach Brown , finish up their walk with Amy Sellman

Blogger's Note: John Armato clues us all in on yet another cool thing that happened in Pottstown Schools this past year.

The Edgewood Elementary School’s Walking Club, sponsored by Pam Pascal, Amy Sellman, and Kerry Kline, was created to help promote awareness for developing healthy lifestyle choices.

Students in third, fourth, and fifth grade had the opportunity to participate in a twice a week one-mile walk around the school.

A goal was set to walk for 20 minutes on each outing.

Members of the Walking Club rest after their 20-minute walk.

Students received a small plastic foot each time they walked. Completing the entire eight week program was recognized with a large foot attached to a necklace chain.

Students completing all eight weeks of the program included: Kishan Patel, Chloe Hebert, Raquel Villegas, David Wallace, Jacob Traylor, Robbie Fleming, Samuel Villegas, and Zach Bright.

This year the Walking Club enjoyed its third year of promoting healthy lifestyles and was supported by the Edgewood Volunteer Organization.

Club sponsor Kerry Kline noted, “The Walking Club gave students the opportunity to not only develop an appreciation for healthy lifestyles but provided them with insight into a lifelong recreational activity. As some students pointed out to the teachers, ‘knowing that we can walk wherever we want to go means that we will not worry about what the price of gasoline is.’”

In Beauty Truth and in Truth Beauty ... And Ballet

Last week, elementary students from Pottstown got a special opportunity to see people who are very light on their feet.

As the result of a $10,152 grant from the Huston Foundation, 769 Pottstown kids attended the Brandywine Ballet's performance of "Beauty and the Beast on April 27.

It was all part of a social skills program aimed at preventing bullying.

“Wonderful news for the arts and youth in our community,” Donna Muzio, Artistic Director of Brandywine Ballet, said in a release.

Debra Montgomery, secretary of the Board of Directors, added: "A grant of this magnitude significantly enhances our ability to serve audiences that may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience ballet, and is affirmation of our continued efforts to make the arts a meaningful part of every child's education."

Pottstown students arrive for the show.

Rupert Elementary School Principal Matthew Moyer reported being told by one of this second graders that the show was "better than recess."

The Huston Foundation supports organizations whose activities help to broaden the cultural and artistic experience of the general public and those individuals which may otherwise be denied them.

Students participating in the program were transported from their school to see Brandywine Ballet perform "Beauty and the Beast" at the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall on the North Campus of West Chester University.

One 2nd grader told Rupert Principal Matt Moyer the show was
"better than recess."

In addition to teacher chaperons, Pottstown High School student leaders who participate in the Upward Bound Program through Montgomery County Community College accompanied the students to provide positive role modeling.

They also made two videos that can be seen below, giving the younger students pointers on how to behave and how to enjoy the show.

The students engaged in learning sessions intended to impart ballet terms, rules of theater etiquette, and pro-social messages.

In recent years, the Brandywine Ballet has earned permission from the George Balanchine Trust to perform Balanchine ballets, as well as premiered works by Matthew Neenan, Ronen Koresh, Meredith Rainey, and Christopher Fleming.

The company has gained recognition from nationally published Dance Magazine for its thought-provoking mix of classical and contemporary ballet, and was recently featured in WHYY’s Experience “video postcard” series.

Students in the balcony get ready for the show.

The Huston Foundation strives to conform to the principles and directions established by Charles Lukens Huston, Jr., for the benefit of improving the quality of life through not-for-profit organizations.

The Foundation directors strive toward effective and efficient stewardship in receiving, researching, and evaluating requests for funding and determining the amount of distribution of funds in grants in areas of education, health, human services, arts, culture, science, civic, community services, and environment.

Here is the first video: Here is the second video, in which students talk about the performance: