Rofo Elementary Students Learn Social Skills

The Spring-Ford Area School District met for a work session meeting on Tuesday night at the . Among the things discussed were a program at promoting social skills and emotional intelligence, and the pending $5,000 audit of the schools' cafeterias, along with a report from the assistant superintendent.

A presentation was given by Teresa Carboy, principal of Royersford Elementary School and Virginia Prevost, the school's guidance counselor, along with five students, about the school's Pro-Social Skills Program.

The program is unique to Royersford Elementary School, according to Carboy, and the attention given to it is very thorough.

"I'd first like to give attention to the staff members involved in the program," Carboy said. "It cannot be successful without the dedication of staff members and students."

The district adopted the pro-social program in 1998 to help students increase emotional intelligence. There are many facets to program. A team of staff members meet throughout the year to determine ways to integrate the program into the curriculum. Each year, there is a different theme, with this year’s theme being respect. Then, the theme gets broken down into sub-themes each month.

January's theme is problem solving month. Through problem solving, students learn perseverance, self control, avoiding trouble and setting personal goals. Prevost provides the staff with talking points at each meeting and a daily tip is read each day in the morning announcements. The student who wrote the tip is acknowledged, as well.

Within the program, there are clear rules and expectations. Well-behaved students can have the privelege of participating in the "good choice team." The best students get to be involved in an activity of choice at the end of the day on Fridays. One offering is the secret agents club, which currently has 25 students from grades two to four.

"In order to attend, must make the good choice team by demonstrating appropriate behavior throughout week," Prevost said. "We have perfect attendance throughout year so far."

To share their thoughts about the secret agents club were Abby, Austin, Rida Braden, Gavan. Their last names were not given as to keep their identity a "secret."

"We are a service club," Abby said. "Our goal is to perform service activities in school, the Royersford community and beyond. The purpose is to make a positive impact in the lives of others."

As one of the club moderators, Prevost said it is rewarding to see students with so much enthusiasm about the project.

"They choose a club that means something, rather than activity for pure enjoyment," she concluded. "That says a lot about their character."

Board President Tom DiBello gave a report on the finance committee meeting, which was held on Jan. 10.

Pennsylvania auditors completed field work for 2008-09. There will be an auditors' presentation later this month through Business Manager Tim Anspach and Superintendent David Goodin to review findings and overview.

DiBello also reported the committee reviewed Jani-King, as they do each month, and the district is still on target to save $1 million this year.

The commitee also had preliminary conversations about the 2012-13 budget.

"We were more or less talking about planning for next meetings in February and March," DiBello said. "We just reviewed, again, the two exceptions that we're filing for that are allowable through Act I."

Assistant Superintendent Allyn Roche gave a report, as well, highlighting some of his most important acts within the district. He said that in his fourth month here, he is continually impressed with the activity and focus within district. He recently made classroom visits and toured different areas of the schools.

"I was introduced to all students through the morning show announcements," Roche said. "It was nice to be the rockstar of the day when they showed students who I was." 

Kindgergarten registration started on Jan. 17. The entire process is documented on the school website. If your child will turn five on or before Aug. 31, 2012, you are encouraged to start the process now. Registration also applies to all new students to the district. Registration ends on Feb. 24. 

The district's Twitter account now has 188 followers. Information shared so far has focused on the school's climate survey and updates on school board and committees. It will be used for delays/cancelations when the weather permits.

Finally, the process for finding a new Director of Curriculum is underway. There were more than 60 applicants, according to Roche, and the screening process is ongoing currently. A new director should be on hand to be introduced to the public at the February meetings.

Board member Mark Dehnert said he doesn’t see the need to spend $5,000 on an audit of the cafeterias if one has already been done.

"We already have a new food director," he said. "So I don't see a benefit."

Goodin explained this is more of a forensic audit looking at particular reasons for shortfalls in past years instead of looking at receipts and bills. It will go much more in depth.

Anspach reported the cafeteria has lost over $100,000 over the past few years, with last year being the first of many that the school made money in that department. Dehnert indicated the school raised prices by $0.25 a meal, which could have played into that.

Other board members were quick to refute Dehnert's claims, saying there was a "$70,000 swing" where food was potentially going "out the back door." Dehnert asked if the food was being stolen, but board members refuted that claim, as well. This, Julie Mullin said, is why an additional audit is worth paying for.

Board member Bernard Pettit wanted to recognize Spring-Ford junior Kelly N. Soto, who will be spending her senior year at Arcadia University. Signed letters of recommendation have been made by the high school principal and guidance counselor. Noto, according to the board's notes, is ranked in the top ten percent of her class and meets all of the qualifications under the Spring-Ford Guidelines for Early College Admission.

"We should feel very proud about the fact that this junior is going to spend her senior year at Arcadia University," Pettit said. "I think that’s fantastic. It should be more emphasized with this type of thing. We should be very proud of the young lady."