SF 7th Graders are Budding Leaders

The Spring-Ford Area School District board of education met for a work session meeting on Monday night. Aside from regular business, the board heard presentations from seventh grade student council officers, and applauded the efforts of an Autistic Support teacher within the district.

Principal Theresa Weidenbaugh opened up a presentation about the seventh grade student government, which she said is the first level students get to elect their peers to office. In attendance to present were secretary Camryn Jones and treasurer Elise DiGuiseppe to talk about academics, clubs, intramural athletics and community service, as well as extracurricular events. President and Vice President Justic Pasquire and Ryan Obzud were not in attendance, as they were at a championship hockey game.

Jones explained that there are five major subjects attended by students every day of the six day cycle. They include reading, English, math, social studies and science. Minor subjects are Spanish, French, target reading, gym and health. Target time, Jones said, is set for students to catch up on or receive help with work. Teachers do this because it’s hard to tutor 30 kids at once.

"Academics play role in education," Jones continued. "But we have many different clubs and activities for students to join. There's a large variety, and kids are able to pick any club, help with fundraisers, school activities and have fun doing so."

Homework club lets kids stay after school and get help to complete unfinished work and get advice on subjects. Computer club does technological projects. World language club ties in games, movies and food to make learning world languages fun. Newspaper club works on writing assignments to work on the school's newspaper. There's even a Reading Olympics, where students read books that are on a list and then compete against other schools.

There are also many intramural and after school sports, including soccer, basketball, floor hockey, lacrosse, and softball, as well as the regular varsity and junior varsity sports.

"It's something productive to do after school with friends," said DiGuiseppe. "There are 1,737 kids participating in sports. If students don’t like sports, we have a fitness club, where students can go after school and exercise in the fitness room. Many kids like after school activities because it's great way to get healthy and have fun."

DiGuiseppe concluded that the school organizes community service projects to benefit others. The school has collected food and candy for United States troops, done the Pennies for Patients project, the Builders Club went to and helped elementary students with school projects, and the school also collected money for the Ronald McDonald House charity - all this year.

Supervisor of Special Education (kindergarten through fourth grade) Daniel Currie was also in attendance to recognize Autistic Support teacher Patricia Stroop for being named the Montgomery County Department of Behavioral Health/Developmental Disabilities' 2012 Teacher of the Year.

Stroop has been in education for 33 years and joined the Spring-Ford team in 1996 as the only Autistic Support teacher in the district. Two years ago, Stroop saw her first class graduate from Spring-Ford that she began with at the elementary level.

In 2009-10, she began serving all seven elementary schools with a social skills and pragmatic language program, which keeps special needs children in their home schools and working within the spectrum.

"Because of the dedication that she has shown, she was presented with the teacher of the year award," Currie concluded. "This certificate said Pat was awarded on March 8, 2012, for excellence in teaching children with disabilities in her district."

Student liaison Elizabeth Brady said March has been an eventful month so far, highlighting the girls basketball team's success in the state tournament. This is the furthest any Spring-Ford basketball team has gone in this particular tournament.

"It's a big accomplishment," she said. "We're all very proud of the team."

Brady also said the PSSAs were last week and students took the reading and math portions. Writing and science will be taken in April.

High school students took part in the Rams Rewards Program in March. Brady explained students could be awarded by showing up to school on time, or by making a good effort in school.

Names were pulled out of a hat for these students to be rewarded with parking or athletic passes, gift cards, etc.

"It was a big success," Brady said. "Kids looked forward to it each day, and I would highly recommend it for next year."

Finally, the third marking period ends on March 28.