From the Desk of the Superintendent

Doug Wagner

 A PERSONAL THANK YOU NOTE

As we end another school year, we would like to thank you for your continued patience, cooperation, and understanding. We hope you have an enjoyable summer and take the opportunity to spend time with family and loved ones. There are many individuals that made this year successful. Because of their hard work and dedication to the students, parents, and district, we continue to be a top school district in the Valley. I am always amazed at the performance of our professional staff, support staff and administration. Although this has not been an easy year for many individuals, we are proud of everyone’s hard work that guarantees our district provides a quality education for our students.

The Wilson Area School District is interested in your perception of District leadership and current working environment. To collect your input, Chris Marsh will be sending an email to professional staff members, secretaries and instructional aides that includes a Zoomerang link to do the survey. Our custodial, maintenance and transportation personnel will be provided paper copies. We hope everyone will take the time to complete the confidential survey. Your input is valuable. We will share the results with all staff members next fall.

The mission of the Wilson Area Partners in Education Foundation is to support the academic, athletic, and extra-curricular programs of the Wilson Area School District. This year the Foundation awarded six grants that provide the financial support for a variety of initiatives that will directly benefit children next year. The 2009 grant recipients are:

Gab Dillard – Math Technology: Let’s Make a Movie

Krista Ytkin – Kindergarten Earobics Software

Eve Hosford – Continuation of the Wildcat Garden: An Outdoor Classroom

Paul Stewart – Mobile pH Meters

Melanie Markulics – Reality Works: Real Care Parenting Program Adapter Kits

Valerie Brown – 6^th Grade Peer Tutoring Program

Congratulations grant recipients, and thank you to all that applied.

June 20, 2009 @ 9:00 AM - Registration will begin 7:45 AM on race day. Awards given for the fastest overall male and female, top three finishers in each age category, and fastest Clydesdale (male) and Filly (female). $20 per person or $40 for a family of three after May 30, 2009, and $10.00 for cross-country team members. Family entries must be mailed together. Entry includes quality moisture wicking t-shirt, bagels, and an opportunity to support a worthwhile cause.

Each month we highlight students and staff within the district for their outstanding contributions:

Nicole Murgia, Kari Maskalis, Rayanne Parry, and Brenda Carvis - for assisting with students at the Spring Band Concert. With three bands meeting in three different locations on concert night, assistance is needed to ensure students get to where they need to be at the correct times.

Bill Csaszar – Who came to the rescue of the Williams Township Elementary School garden, stepping in to assist in eliminating the weeds, laying new lawnscape cloth, and spreading new mulch. Despite our best efforts, the weeds continued to get the best of us. Thank you, also to our maintenance men who worked on the project.

Angela Cucchiara for planning and Mike Fowler for his outstanding performance during his first Mr. Wilson Pageant, as well as Lisa Spilner for her help as an MC for the show.

Donna Dillon conducted a toe tapping, listening to the radio Spring Musical on May 5^th. The students’ costumes were as fantastic as their musical performances.

Anne Skutches and Mike Falcone held another successful Fifth Grade Track and Field Day on May 6^th.

Matt Alerica – for the PLMS Band winning multiple awards, including the Esprit de Corp at the Music in the Parks Adjudication at Hershey Park.

Regina Moyer, Joan Lewis, and Ken Murray – for organizing and helping to facilitate the Annual PLMS Art Show.

Gail Gagner – for creating a unique learning experience for 8^th grade science students through the use of a distant learning activity named E-missions.  

Jennifer Korin – for a great job preparing PLMS Drama Club students for their production "Who’s Dying to Be a Millionaire?"

Katie Pietrouchie – and her 3^rd grade class for the book they wrote about Dennis Eisenhart, owner of Ike’s Exxon, who had sponsored grants bringing $1000 to Wilson Borough Elementary School.

Stephanie Hicks, Alex Mindler, and Laurie Shaffer – or organizing WBES first Kindergarten Karnival. All three teachers spent much of their own time organizing games and events that made the event a great success.

Carol Monkiewicz and Jessica Ryan – for planning an ongoing commitment to the Wilson Area School District’s Elementary Summer Reading Program.

Michele Deutsch – for contacting our local Marine Corps League to coordinate plans for a Memorial Day Ceremony at WBES.

Thanks to the following after-prom chaperones for spending their Memorial Day Friday helping at the YMCA from 11p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next morning.

Jen DeBelli

Steve Campbell (and his wife)

Allen Frank - for volunteering his time to accompany our Brass Ensemble on a Sunday night to the Williams Township Memorial Service.  It is nice to see people give their time for something so important.

Garry Musselman, Steve Diehl, and Phil Lopez - for their outstanding service at the high school. They are always quick to respond, quick to resolve issues, and they have kept our entire technology running smoothly for the entire year.

I regret if someone was missed. If you would like to nominate someone for consideration, please email me at DWAGNER@wilsonareasd.org their name(s) and description of their outstanding contribution.

Below is a summary of action taken by the Board in May.

Under Recognition: The Board recognized Mr. Phil Mason as our District’s May Volunteer of the Month and our high school wrestling team for their accomplishments this season.

Under Presentation: Mrs. Hockin and her guitar class students showcased their talents. This was a new class added to our high school curriculum this year.

Under Old Business: The Board discussed items related to the proposed Intermediate School lobby and informational wall. Furthermore, the administration reported on the swim team participation survey results and provided additional information on the proposed cheerleading and wrestling warm-ups.

Under Finance: The Board approved the following items:

• 2009-10 Proposed Final Budget – Per Act 1 requirements, the Board was required to approve a final proposed budget twenty days prior to approving a final budget
• Intermediate Building’s PlanCon Part D and PlanCon Part E – The Board was required to recognize and approve the state’s approval of these two documents
• Wilson Borough Elementary School and Williams Township Elementary School PlanCon J document – The Board was required to approve the District’s projected final cost for the two building construction projects. This was the final step in seeking actual reimbursement from the state for the projects.
• Annual awarding of janitorial supplies and joint purchasing supply bids
• 2009-10 Depositories – The list includes banks and other financial institutions the district makes deposits throughout the course of the year
• Yearly appointment of our tax collectors
• Participating in Federal programs – These are federal grants that support instructional, professional development and technology initiatives in our district
• Annual renewal of athletic insurance and voluntary parent paid insurance
• 2009-10 Chartwell Food Service Lunch and Breakfast Prices – There is no price increase for the 2009-10 school year

Under Personnel: The Board approved:

• The resignation of Jessica Matyascik, Elementary Librarian - Jessica is planning to move out of the area
• The appointment of four new teachers
  1. Daryl Feldman, H.S. Business – Daryl will be replacing retiring teacher Diane Csaszar
  2. Melissa Carmel, Avona fifth grade – Melissa will replace Anita Cosslett, our current fifth grade teacher. Anita will replace Jessica in the elementary schools’ libraries
  3. Nicole Anderson, PLMS sixth grade – Nicole will replace Nikole Eutsler who recently resigned due to her husband’s job relocation
  4. Elise Young, WBES fifth grade – Elise will replace retiring Mel Evans
• The change of status of Alexandra Mindler from LTS to TPE - As a result of the wonderful job Alexandra did this year, we are recommending she replace retiring Michele Deutsch.
• Executive Secretary’s job description
• Resignation of the assistant wrestling coach

  Under Curriculum: The Board approved the adoption of three High School Business textbooks and a Middle School reading novel.

  QUOTE OF THE MONTH

  "Summertime is finally here, it's summertime, Sweet summertime"

  Kenny Chesney Lyrics

  ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

   

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