Tuesday, April 23, 2013
U.S. News and World Report ranked the top 168 high schools in Pennsylvania–and Hatboro-Horsham is not on the list.
Its students average 81 percent proficiency in math and reading and 30 percent take Advancement Placement courses and exams. Yet, Hatboro-Horsham High School was not ranked as part of U.S. News and World Report's Best High School's Rankings. The rankings, which were released Tuesday, included data for all 687 high schools in Pennsylvania. Locally, Lower Moreland High School in Huntingdon Valley was ranked in the top 10, while Council Rock North Senior High School in Bucks County and Lower Merion High School ranked in the top 20. Hatboro-Horsham School District Superintendent Curtis Griffin told Patch he was "confused" by the rankings and questioned how Lampeter-Strasburg High School could have nearly "identical" math and reading …
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Montco Mommy takes district to task over absentee policies.
This year, the flu really hit our family pretty hard. I hear it was one of the worst flu seasons ever. My son probably felt it worst of all. At age 7, there isn't much you can do for him but monitor his fever, keep it down with acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Thankfully, he made it through OK. We took two different trips to the doctor, and all in all, he missed 10 days, or two weeks, of school. Thankfully it was right around the holidays, so I figured with Christmas break looming, he'd not miss much work. It only took him and me a few days to catch up his school work. I thought the flu season was conquered, and all was behind us. That is ... until I got the mail a few days ago. It seems that since my son has missed more than 10 days this …
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Here are the most popular local stories from Hatboro-Horsham Patch during the week.
Just in case you missed a day at Hatboro-Horsham Patch, which can happen but shouldn't (sign up for our free newsletter), here's a look at the top headlines this week: Political Newcomer Hopes to Unseat Hatboro Mayor Democrat Bill Godshall is running against sitting Mayor Norm Hawkes in the primary. Hatboro Mayor Unfazed by Dem Challenger Norm Hawkes said he's not worried about his opponent, Bill Godshall. Expulsion Alternatives May be Considered for Drug Offenses The Hatboro-Horsham School Board is considering options for the handling of student drug offenses instead of simply expelling students. Is Kindergarten Too Soon for Drug Prevention Efforts? The Hatboro-Horsham School Board may authorize the hiring of a K-12 Student Assistance …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Hatboro-Horsham School District, along with other districts statewide, will need to adopt new graduation requirements to coincide with new state regulations.
The courses and educational requirements of Hatboro-Horsham High School freshman–and future high school students–could shift under new state regulations. Currently, Hatboro-Horsham students must complete a minimum of 29 credits, as well as a graduation project in order to receive a diploma. However, state regulations set to take effect during the 2016-2017 school year would no longer require completion of a graduation project, and credits needed to graduate could be scaled back to 26, according to Hatboro-Horsham Superintendent Curtis Griffin. During a presentation last fall aimed at considering a reduction of graduation credits, officials said Hatboro-Horsham ranked fourth-highest out of 22 Montgomery County school districts in terms of …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Instead of expelling students who possess drugs, or who use substances while on school grounds, Hatboro-Horsham officials are seeking alternatives to keep kids in school.
They use breathalyzers at proms and school dances, police and administrators peruse school parking lots for student drug activity and canines randomly sniff backpacks. Yet, Hatboro-Horsham School District officials said the ability to keep drugs and alcohol use from seeping into the schools, has, so far, eluded them. "We’re trying to find some answers," Superintendent Curtis Griffin said during Tuesday's school board work session, adding that administrators also work closely with police. "We’re trying. We’re searching for better answers every day." Among one of the possible solutions is to hire a Student Assistance Program counselor to coordinate substance abuse prevention and detection efforts district-wide, with children beginning in …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Hatboro-Horsham School District is considering hiring a Student Assistance Program coordinator to oversee substance abuse prevention efforts district-wide.
What is the appropriate age to talk about peer pressure, drugs and alcohol? Hatboro-Horsham School District Assistant Superintendent John Nodecker suggested that kindergarten is the time to begin substance abuse prevention efforts. "We have to start in kindergarten," Nodecker told the school board during Tuesday night's work session. "It may be too late when they get to sixth-grade." Nodecker, in making a pitch for the creation of a K-12 Student Assistance Program coordinator, said that the district's prevention efforts now are fragmented. The elementary schools and Keith Valley Middle School act as "islands" with little, if any, coordinated efforts, he said. For more news and updates about Hatboro and Horsham, including a related …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
- SCHOOLS
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Tuesday, March 26
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Administrators and staff at Simmons Elementary School have been working for more than a year to spur a more family-centered approach to student success.
Everyone knows about back-to-school night, but what about a night to reflect on the positive outcomes throughout the year? Simmons Elementary School did not have one. Until now. On May 1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the school will be open to students and families and the gym will be filled with various physical education activities, according to Simmons Principal Karen Kanter. In looking at ways to increase "family engagement," Kanter said the school's core group of 12 to 15 staff members worked to help determine the best routes to interactivity. As a result, Simmons reworked its back-to-school night to make it more interactive for families, Kanter said. In addition, parents, through a survey, shared that "there isn’t an opportunity in the …
Friday, March 22, 2013
The Hatboro-Horsham High School marching band traveled to the state capitol for recognition this week.
The Hatboro-Horsham High School Marching Band Unit this week traveled to the state capitol where Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf presented a Senate Citation congratulating the unit's members and staff for winning the 2012 Cavalcade of Bands Grand Championship title. Click here to watch the video of Senator Greenleaf’s comments. Hatboro-Horsham competed against 41 other schools from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware to take home the third Grand Championship title in five years in November. “I would like to commend their outstanding dedication to perfection and their passion for music that has made these great achievements possible," Greenleaf said. "We are very proud of them for bringing home such an esteemed title.” Band Director Antonio …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Hatboro-Horsham School District is considering a proposed schedule change beginning next school year at Keith Valley Middle School.
Shorter classes, but more of them. That's the gist of a class schedule proposal for next year at Keith Valley Middle School. In an attempt to become "more efficient and focused on the whole child," Keith Valley Principal Jon Kircher and fellow middle school administrators have asked the Hatboro-Horsham School Board to consider shifting from a semester to a full year of science and social studies classes. The change, if enacted, would mean that students would have four 60-minute "core classes" instead of three 80-minute classes each day and all year, according to KV Assistant Principal Joseph Devine. "We increase the opportunity for inter-disciplinary work," Devine said during Monday's school board meeting. Under the suggested schedule …
HatsToYou
4:01 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Our school taxes are high and our results are low. In sports the management would be fired for this bad a performance, maybe that should be the case here. From top to bottom each and every secondary program and its administration should be evaluated. Too many sports teams and less time in the classroom could be part of the problem. We are not running a country club, a school should have as its … more ›