For quick planning, an updated session summary may be found here.
There are four ways to register for programs, including an exciting new online registration. Access the summer brochure and all registration materials at http://enrichment.ojrsd.com. Check the link for the most current offerings and session locations. Registration will be open until May 31.
Owen J. Roberts summer programs offer students of all ages a place to come together to play, learn, and grow. For more information e-mail Missy Walton or Heidi Lehmann at mwalton@ojrsd.com or hlehmann@ojrsd.com, or call 610-469-5196.
Notice of Herbicide Application
A Herbicide application is planned for the location(s) listed below:
ON
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013
Do Not Enter Treated Areas from
Thursday, May 23 2013 - 11:30 p.m.
UNTIL
Monday, May 27, 12:00 a.m.
LOCATION(s) Owen J. Roberts School District
East Vincent Elementary School
Track and Fence Line
For more information contact:
Western Pest Services
3310 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA 19073
610-353-5787
Date Posted / By
Date Removed / By
This sign is required by Act 36 of 2002 and must be posted at least 72 hours prior to any non-emergency pesticide application and remain in place for at least 48 hours following the application. For emergency pesticide applications this sign must be posted at the time of the application and remain in place for at least 48 hours from the conclusion of the application. To be removed by authorized personnel only.
June 4
7:00 PM @ the Middle School
Elementary Musical Instrument Recruitment Meeting
Information:
The band and orchestra directors of the Owen J. Roberts Elementary schools will be holding their annual recruitment meeting on June 4th, 2013 at 7:00 PM to discuss signing up for an instrument for the upcoming school year. The band meeting will take place in the OJR Middle School Auditorium, and the orchestra meeting will take place in the OJR Middle School LGI. At this time, Menchey Music Service, Inc. will present their rental program and answer your questions. You will have the opportunity to register your child for an instrument at this time.
Who is able to participate:
· Strings Program: Open to students in grades 3-6 (2013-2014 school year).
· Band Program: Open to students in grades 4-6 (2013-2014 school year).
Contacts:
Band Teachers
· East Coventry, East Vincent, and French Creek (brass and percussion): Andrew Klick (aklick@ojrsd.com)
· French Creek (woodwinds) and West Vincent: Neil Fronheiser (nfronheiser@ojrsd.com)
· North Coventry: Sarah McGahey (smcgahey@ojrsd.com)
String Teachers
· East Coventry: Sybil Vernon (svernon@ojrsd.com)
· East Vincent and North Coventry: Cliff Hall (chall@ojrsd.com)
· French Creek: Martin Prescod (mprescod@ojrsd.com)
· West Vincent: Neil Fronheiser (nfronheiser@ojrsd.com)
Run at Wildcat Stadium
Download the flyer
Mondays, May 6, 13, 20, 5:30 p.m
Sponsored by the OJR High School Track & Field Team
Warm up with the High School Track Coaches
run as many events as desired
50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 meters
*Check ojrsd.com for weather-related messsages
For the second year, Owen J. High School students directed a hunger relief campaign competing with other area school districts to gather much needed supplies for food banks in our region. For the second year they also brought home the big prize--$10,000! Shire’s Great Food Fight! is organized by regional high school students, sponsored by Shire Pharmaceuticals, and benefits Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization. Beneficiaries of the drive include the Pottstown Cluster, which serves families living in the district. This year’s food fight ran from February 25th through March 8th. Student ambassador, Shannon Kolb, was interviewed on KYW radio and all involved students reached out to the community to create awareness for the issue of hunger.
The Owen J. Roberts Board of Directors, at its regularly scheduled board meeting on April 29, 2013 ratified a Tentative Agreement which had been reached with the Roberts Education Association (“Association”). The Association voted and approved the tentative agreement on Friday, April 26. The new four year agreement represents a balanced contract with the REA that recognizes the economic pressures placed on the District as the result of the economic crises over the past several years.
Green practices have been a focus of the Owen J. Roberts School District this year with the District establishing a variety of energy conservation measures and building efficiency programs. On November 14, 2012, student representatives from all OJR schools participated in an event which marked the official capturing of solar energy by the 525 kW solar photovoltaic array installed at the High School & Middle School – more than 2,200 solar panels mounted on building rooftops! Since that time, students have continued to support green efforts with their own unique work and exceptional projects.
Gavin Brown, Audrey Farnham, and Sam Smith, 6th grade students from French Creek Elementary School, were recently awarded 2nd place for 6th grade in the state of Pennsylvania for the U.S. Army eCybermission Challenge, a web-based, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition. This group of French Creek students aptly applied what they have learned in the classroom to a real-life problem in their community by developing a plan to help students remember to close the exterior doors when entering and exiting the building as a group. Students learned about a simple way they can take responsibility to help reduce energy costs and keep their school a safe place to learn and play. The students acquired and put to use a variety of technology, research, and communication skills to effectively carry out their plan.
Another award winning group of students are the Owen J. Roberts High School Animal Studies Club, which ranked as a “top 5 high school finalist” for the Philadelphia Zoo’s UNLESS Contest 2013 competing against schools from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The grand prize winner will be announced on May 29. The UNLESS contest project involved multiple forms of energy conservation and community outreach. Students focused on digital, print, and interpersonal outreach and included classroom frogs as method for directly connecting people to the animals endangered by energy consumption. Club members procured a recycling bin and successfully encouraged animal studies students to stop putting recyclables in the trash. Next, the club designed a pledge poster where students and staff could pledge to do something that would help save wildlife. Students secured over 90 signatures from people pledging to make changes to help conserve energy and save wildlife. Club members also wrote letters to encourage local businesses to adopt environmentally friendly procedures. The sale of reusable water bottles funded the ability to grow lettuce to feed classroom animals, secure a rain water barrel, and also serve as a way for students to encourage others to cut back on the waste they create every day in the form of disposable beverage containers.
A new link on www.ojrsd.com features a real-time look at the Owen J. Roberts sustainable energy project. Check the green@ojr link for info-graphics which represent an estimated environmental impact of the solar project. An estimated 30% of the energy needs on Owen J. Roberts’ main campus are being generated with solar.
Congratulations to our hard working students for their green efforts! It is hoped that district renewable energy and energy conservation efforts—especially those of students—will help the greater community reduce its carbon footprint and inspire even more green practices.
The 2012-2013 OJR School Calendar has been revised to reflect the final changes for the month of June. Please click here to view the revised calendar.
In cooperation with the State Police, State Farm Insurance, and school district officials, Owen J. Roberts will be hosting a Mock Crash this morning, prior to prom season. Students in the 10th, 11th and 12th grade will witness a mock crash where the scene will depict a situation in which emergency personnel will respond to a car crash involving student drivers. This event is very powerful and has been well received by parents and students in the past. Immediately following, students will hear a presentation on making good and bad decisions.
Mrs. Candis Wiese, honoree; and Dr. Richard Marchini, High School Principal.
At the April 8, 2013 School Board Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the 2013-2014 OJRSD School Calendar. Please click here to view the approved calendar.
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cordially invites you to the Opening Reception!
Owen J. Roberts High School
Art Show
Tuesday April 9
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Owen J. Roberts High School
Exhibition Dates April 9-22
Owen J. Roberts Education Foundation
presents the second
Children's Consignment Sale
Saturday, April 13, 2012
8:00 am to 12:30 pm
Owen J. Roberts Middle School
High quality infant to teen clothing, toys, sporting goods, and baby gear
*Eagle Formal Wear New Prom Dresses for only $75
UPDATE ON CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE OWEN J. ROBERTS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE ROBERTS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
March 26, 2013
The existing Teachers’ Contract between the Owen J. Roberts School District and the Roberts Education Association (“REA”), which represents the teachers in the District, expired on June 30, 2012. Negotiations between the parties began in January 2012 and have continued throughout this school year. Most recently the parties have been actively meeting in small group under direction of the State Mediators.
Today the REA negotiating team directed its members to work to contract. This action asks the professional staff to work only to the contractually obligated hours, and asks their members to not participate in any non-contractual activities. Although disappointing, work to contract is a relatively routine action during prolonged contract negotiations. The administration and the School Board will do its best to ensure that the education offered to our students will not change, although we may feel the impact as our professional teaching staff withdraw from non-contractual activities. If this occurs, we are committed to minimizing any inconvenience and disruption to our students.
To date, the parties have reached agreement on a number of important contract issues involving working conditions. Unfortunately, however, because of the statutory Act 1 cap on school district expenditures, coupled with a declining tax base due to assessment appeals and rapidly increasing pension costs, coming to an economic compromise on wages and healthcare has been challenging as the REA continues to seek an unsustainable multi-year contract with the District.
For its part, in January the District proposed a comprehensive multi-year contract proposal which would provide the teachers salary increases in each year of the contract as well as an enhancement in the current healthcare program currently offered. The District’s offer values the work performed by our teaching staff and assures that our educational programs and offerings can be maintained into the future despite the challenging economic environment that we all face.
We are disappointed by the REA leadership team’s work to contract directive to their members. Ultimately, the REA leadership and the District will come to an agreement built on collaboration and compromise recognizing the financial challenges our District is facing. The Owen J. Roberts School Board is committed to keeping our community informed and will provide additional updates as warranted throughout this process.
Respectfully,
Douglas K. Hughes
President, Owen J. Roberts Board of School Directors
The School Board Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the OJR High School LGI will be postponed to Monday, April 8, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the OJR High School LGI.
The Committee of the Whole Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in the OJR Administration Building will be moved to Monday, April 15, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the OJR High School LGI.
All OJR secondary buildings will have an early dismissal at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, March 25, 2013.
All OJR elementary schools will be closed today, March 25, 2013. We will allow our local municipalities to have time to clear our local roads. The District will make a decision about the potential early dismissal of middle school and high school students later this morning. Please check back for updates. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause you but the timing of this storm was challenging. Thank you for your patience during this unpredictable spring.
Registration is in full swing for summer enrichment at Owen J. Roberts
July 18 – August 9
New sessions added! Check back often! Registration opened March 11 and some sessions are full or filling fast. There are four ways to register for programs, including an exciting new online registration.
NEW OPPORTUNITY--- VIDEO PRODUCTIONS work in small production teams to write, direct, shoot and edit a short film. (Rising students in grades 7 & 8; see brochure page16)
Access the summer brochure and all registration materials at http://enrichment.ojrsd.com. Check the link for the most current offerings and session locations.
Registration will run through May 10 (or until sessions are full; summer opportunities are self-supporting and can only be offered with sufficient enrollment).
Owen J. Roberts summer programs offer students of all ages a place to come together to play, learn, and grow. For more information e-mail Missy Walton or Heidi Lehmann at mwalton@ojrsd.com or hlehmann@ojrsd.com, or call 610-469-5196.
The 2013 Citadel Heart of Learning Award announces nominees for Chester County’s best and brightest teachers. Congratulations to the following nominees from Owen J. Roberts School District:
East Coventry Elementary School
Lisa Bevan
Lisa Bilotta
Melissa Boukalik
Kevin Houston
Kelly Loomis
Sybil Vernon
East Vincent Elementary School
Eileen Meeker
French Creek Elementary School
Sarah Allander
Stephanie Seuffert
North Coventry Elementary School
Lisa Bealer
Kellie Bean
Tiffany Black
Susan Buettler
Shelli Flick
Patricia Janda
Leah Saltzer
John Sands
Lori Scheib
West Vincent Elementary School
Kimberly Gery
Natalie Whitman
Owen J Roberts Middle School
Rachel Brown
Brad Creswell
Noah Fickler
Jason Hess
Cheryl Markofski
Owen J Roberts High School
William Crowl
Erin Kalasunas
Peg Tinder
Candis Wiese
In a joint collaboration, Citadel and the Chester County Intermediate Unit created the Citadel Heart of Learning Awards. The program was designed to recognize and thank Chester County’s teachers while raising awareness of the impact that their hard work and dedication have on students, families and the entire community.
Fifteen finalists, one public school teacher from each of the 13 public school districts in Chester County, one teacher from the Chester County Intermediate Unit and one teacher from a Chester County non-public school which also includes charter and home schools, will be chosen from the nominations and will be recognized at the Citadel Heart of Learning Awards banquet held in May. Each finalist will receive $500 to use in their classrooms. From these 15 finalists, three winners (one high school, one middle school and one elementary school teacher) will be awarded with the Citadel Heart of Learning Award and an additional $1500 to use in their classrooms.
Parenting the Cyber Generation
Monday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.
The program was originally slated for this past Wednesday evening, but postponed due to concerns about the weather. We hope that you will be able to make this re-scheduled date. The appropriate use of social media for our students is such an important topic.
Katie Koestner is a national expert on student safety and teen relationship culture. She has appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News, CNBC Talk Live, CNN, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, Later Today, Entertainment Tonight and other national television programs. She will address the area of cyber-dangers and other technology concerns of which we all should be aware. She can also recommend tools for parents.
March 11th at 7:30 p.m. live parent presentation at the MS open to all OJR School District Parents. The program is for parents, not students.
Come to the presentation to learn:
1) The good, the bad and the ugly of social networking.
2) The latest trends in gaming, online teen content, file sharing, webcams, and VOIP.
3) Liability for parents with respect to their child’s use of technology.
4) Best practices in software and hardware configurations for home networks.
5) The importance of virtual reputation management and identity protection.
Say “Hello, summer!” Owen J. Roberts School District is excited to announce a variety of enrichment opportunities open to our students Jun 18-August 9. From fun and games to serious academics, there are plenty of exciting programs and camps from which to choose.
You may access our summer brochure and all registration materials at http://enrichment.ojrsd.com. With nearly 40 different possibilities, we wanted to give you a week prior to registration to browse the options.
Registration begins Monday, March 11, 2013 and will run through May 10 (or until sessions are full; our summer opportunities are self-supporting and can only be offered with sufficient enrollment.) There are four ways to register for programs including an exciting new online registration.
Our summer programs offer students of all ages a place to come together to play, learn, and grow. For more information e-mail Missy Walton or Heidi Lehmann at mwalton@ojrsd.com or hlehmann@ojrsd.com, or call 610-469-5196.
Photo from 2012Did you know?
• One in six Americans struggle with the reality of hunger.
• In 2011, 17.9 million households in America had difficulty providing enough food due to a lack of resources.
• In the largest study of U.S. hunger, 40% of people surveyed reported having to choose between paying for food and paying for their rent, utilities, or mortgage.
• In 2010, 5.7 million people per week received emergency food assistance, a 27% increase since 2006.
The Great Food Fight! is a 2 week annual food drive that helps thousands of families in the Delaware Valley who are in need. The canned goods benefit Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization, and food collected through Philabundance goes directly to the families in need. This year’s food fight runs from February 25th through March 8th.
Last year, OJR won the top prize for donating the most food and with our winnings, we donated $2,000 to the North Coventry Food Pantry which does not benefit from Philabundance. It is our goal to donate the most food again this year.
Please join the Fight! Drop food off at the High School, Middle School, or Administration Building. A list of food items is attached.
Parenting the Cyber Generation
March 6, 7:30 pm, OJRMS
150 people participated in the live webinar presentation on February 20 presented by Katie Koestner, a national expert on student safety and teen relationship culture. She has appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News, CNBC Talk Live, CNN, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, Later Today, Entertainment Tonight and other national television programs. Ms. Koestner will present March 6 live at the Middle School where she will address the area of cyber-dangers and other technology concerns of which we all should be aware.
IN PERSON: March 6th at 7:30 p.m. live parent presentation at the Middle School open to all OJR School District Parents
Attend the live presentation and learn . . .
1) The good, the bad and the ugly of social networking.
2) The latest trends in gaming, online teen content, file sharing, webcams, and VOIP.
3) Liability for parents with respect to their child’s use of technology.
4) Best practices in software and hardware configurations for home networks.
5) The importance of virtual reputation management and identity protection.
Additional registration dates have been added at the following locations:
- March 7 – 1:00 to 7:00 and March 18 – 8:30 to 2:45
· French Creek Elementary School (Veronica Cousens 610-469-5710)
- April 4 – 2:00 to 7:00
· North Coventry Elementary School (Chris Ficca 610-469-5709)
- March 7 – 2:00 to 7:00
· West Vincent Elementary School (Diane Banks 610-469-1402)
– March 6 & 7 – 1:00 – 5:00
Technology and social media have become a rapidly changing and evolving means of communication. Internet safety and cyber-bullying are two issues many of our school-aged children are trying to navigate while parents may struggle to stay a step ahead in keeping their child safe in the digital world.
Join the Cyber-Smarts Parent Academy and learn . . .
1) The good, the bad and the ugly of social networking.
2) The latest trends in gaming, online teen content, file sharing, webcams, and VOIP.
3) Liability for parents with respect to their child’s use of technology.
4) Best practices in software and hardware configurations for home networks.
5) The importance of virtual reputation management and identity protection.
In the interest of busy schedules, this program is offered live at the Middle School auditorium on March 6 or via live webinar on February 20. Registration (using the link below) is necessary to participate in the webinar.
WHEN: March 6th at 7:30 p.m. live parent presentation open to all OJR School District Parents
WHERE: Owen J. Roberts Middle School Auditorium
WEBINAR: February 20th 7:30 PM - 8:30 "Parenting the Cyber-Generation"
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/259456522
Presenter: Katherine H. Koestner, Executive Director, Campus Outreach Services
Ms. Koestner is a national expert on teen safety and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Geraldo, NBC Nightly News, CNBC Talk Live, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, Later Today, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, MTV, Lifetime Television, Italian TV, The Jane Whitney Show, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, and dozens of other news programs. She has given interviews for the Washington Post, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, The Journal of Higher Education, and countless other national and regional publications.
This program is brought to you by the Owen J. Roberts Middle School and Middle School PTA as well as through the OJR Fit for Life Grant generously funded by the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation
The OJR High School PTSA proudly presents the Post Prom Fashion Show to be held February 22, 2013 in the High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $7 in advance or $10 at the door. Contact Mary-Jane Kleinfelter at mary.kleinfelter@siemens.com or you may also send a check payable to "OJR Post Prom" to OJRHS-PTSA and tickets will be reserved for you at the entrance table. All proceeds benefit Post Prom. This year’s models include:
*Photo by Owen J. Roberts Senior Sam LeVan
FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL/EVENING AND
All after school and evening activities have been cancelled for Friday, February 8, 2013. There will be no late activity buses.
The Board of Directors of the Owen J. Roberts School District will hold a Committee of the Whole Meeting on February 11, 2013 in the Intermediate Commons Area of French Creek Elementary School, 3590 Coventryville Road, Pottstown, PA 19465 at 6:00 p.m. This meeting was previously advertised to be held at the Administration Building, 901 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA 19465.
What do PTSA OJR Wildcats and Dave & Busters have in common? Answer: Keeping students safe and having fun at the 2013 Post Prom Party! Check out the attached flyer for additional information.
The OJR High School PTSA proudly presents the Post Prom Fashion Show to be held February 22, 2013 in the High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available now for $7 or $10 at the door - contact Mary-Jane Kleinfelter at mary.kleinfelter@siemens.com to get your tickets today or you may also send a check payable to "OJR Post Prom" to OJRHS-PTSA, 981 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA 19465. Tickets will be reserved under your name at the entrance table. All proceeds go towards the Post Prom.
The Owen J. Roberts Board of School Directors approved the start of the 2013-2014 school year at the January 28, 2013 School Board Meeting to be Tuesday, September 3, 2013.
Notice of Change in Meeting Start Time: The Committee of the Whole meeting previously scheduled for 6:00 p.m., January 14, 2013 in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 901 Ridge Road, Pottstown PA 19465 has been changed to a new start time of 7:00 p.m.
Notice of Buildings & Grounds Committee Meeting: The Buildings and Grounds Committee will hold a Committee meeting on Monday, February 4, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 901 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA 19465 to discuss Buildings and Grounds issues.
2013-14 Kindergarten Registration Notice
December 4, 2012
If you have a child who has attained the age of five (5) on or before the first day of September, your child is eligible to begin school in the fall of 2013.
Kindergarten registration details are as follows:
· East Coventry Elementary School (Laura Gunson 610-469-5707)
- January 10-11, 2013
· East Vincent Elementary School (Karen Hydutsky 610-469-5714)
- January 22-23, 2013
· French Creek Elementary School (Veronica Cousens 610-469-5710)
- January 22-24, 2013
· North Coventry Elementary School (Chris Ficca 610-469-5709)
- January 22-24, 2013
· West Vincent Elementary School (Diane Banks 610-469-1402)
– January 23-24, 2013
To begin the registration process, please visit kreg.ojrsd.com and complete your pre-registration paperwork. After the online registration is complete, you must call to schedule an appointment with the attendance clerk listed above. Appointments will take approximately fifteen minutes and day and evening slots are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please pay particular attention to the information you will need to bring with you at the time of your appointment. If all the necessary paperwork is not available at the time of your appointment, you will need to reschedule in order to complete the registration process.
and life to everything.” --Plato
Concerts are free and open to the public.
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December 4 7 p.m.
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7th Grade Winter Choral Concert
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MS Auditorium
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December 5 8 a.m.
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French Creek Winter Concert
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FC
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December 5 7 p.m.
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East Coventry Winter Concert
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EC
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December 6 7 p.m.
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North Coventry Winter Concert
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NC
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December 10 12 p.m.
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Senior Citizen Concert and Tea
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HS Auditorium/Caf
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December 11 7 p.m.
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East Vincent Holiday Concert
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EV
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December 11 7 p.m.
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West Vincent Chorus/Sr. Orchestra
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WV
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December 12 7 p.m.
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8th Grade Winter Choral Concert
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MS Auditorium
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December 13 7 p.m.
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District Elementary Sr. Band Concert
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NC
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December 18 7 p.m.
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East Coventry Winter String Concert
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EC
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December 20 7 p.m.
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Holiday Concert: The 7-Ups, Freshman Choir, Concert Choir, HS/MS Combined Orchestra, HS Jazz Band, and HS Concert Band perform that evening.
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HS Auditorium
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It's not too late to purchase student accident insurance. The District is providing an opportunity for parents to acquire student accident insurance. The District is not selling insurance. The insurance policy is between the parent and Monumental Life Insurance Company administered by Bollinger Insurance. If you are interested in obtaining more information about this insurance coverage or would like to purchase, please select the link below.
http://www.bollingerschools.com/site/parents/purchase-coverage.aspx
All after school and evening activities have been cancelled for Tuesday, November 27, 2012.
- 12:00 noon - middle/high school will be dismissed
- 1:15 p.m. - elementary schools will be dismissed
The Legislative & Policy Committee of the Board of School Directors of the Owen J. Roberts School District will conduct a meeting to review and deliberate legislative & policy issues on Monday, November 26, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the High School LGI Room, 981 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA 19465
Owen J. Roberts High School was recognized by the College Board for placement on the 3rd Annual AP® District Honor Roll. Nationwide, 539 schools in 44 states achieved this distinction for simultaneously increasing access to Advanced Placement courses while increasing the number of students scoring a 3 or higher on AP exams.
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English Language and Composition
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Calculus AB
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Latin Vergil
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English Literature and Composition
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Calculus BC
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Spanish Language
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United States Government & Politics
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Statistics
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French Language
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Comparative Government & Politics
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Biology
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European History
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Physics B
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Computer Science A
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United States History
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Physics C
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Studio Art
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Music Theory
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Psychology
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Chemistry
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Microeconomics
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Environmental Science
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Macroeconomics
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on Friday, November 9, 2012 at 7:00 pm.
We will also be recognizing the seniors in our high school marching band, color guard and their parents.
The Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled for Monday, November 12, 2012 has been cancelled.
The effects of Hurricane Sandy have impacted us all during the early stages of the school year. We have the unique opportunity to recapture instructional time Monday, 11/5, rather than potentially adding a day next June. Tuesday, 11/6, is a county-wide in-service day and the OJR Middle School and East Vincent Elementary School are polling places so Tuesday is not a viable option as an instructional day.
- Monday, November 5: Students will report to school.
- Tuesday, November 6: County-wide Staff Professional Development – Students will not report to school as per the original district calendar.
Good Evening,
All Owen J. Roberts Schools will be opening with a 2 hour delay on Wednesday, October 31 with a modified kindergarten schedule. While many roads have been cleared, there are still a few areas requiring detours within the district. We want our students and parents to arrive safely to school and we appreciate your patience as we recover from the impact of Hurricane Sandy.
Modified Kindergarten Schedule:
AM Students: 10:30 a.m. -12:15 p.m.
(AM students will arrive on the bus and pick-up is by parents. Students may be dropped off between 10:15 and 10:30 a.m.)
PM Students: 1:05 p.m. -3:05 p.m.
(PM students will be dropped off by parents and will ride the bus home. Students may be dropped off between 12:55 and 1:05 p.m.)
Thank you and have a safe evening.
As a reminder for all Kindergarten parents, if the District ever has a two-hour delay the modified kindergarten schedule is as follows:
AM Students: 10:30 a.m. -12:15 p.m.
(AM students will arrive on the bus and pick-up is by parents. Students may be dropped off between 10:15 and 10:30 a.m.)
PM Students: 1:05 p.m. -3:05 p.m.
(PM students will be dropped off by parents and will ride the bus home. Students may be dropped off between 1:05 and 1:15 p.m.)
The district/building offices will be opening by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 due to some power issues within the district. Please drive safely.
According to the latest forecast, tropical storm-force winds are forecast to begin in the Pottstown area on Monday, October 29, in the early morning. Winds of this magnitude or higher are forecast to continue throughout Monday and into Tuesday. Additional, 8 or more inches of rain is expected from this storm. Power outages and flooding expected.
Because of potentially long power outages, we are making a decision about the next two days in order to allow parents and staff time to prepare. Assuming we have power restored and roads are passable for buses, we are planning to hold school on Wednesday, October 31, 2012.
All district offices will be closed Monday, October 29, 2012.
I wish everyone a safe few days as we deal with this historic event.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Christian
Superintendent of Schools
- Post information updates on the school district web page at www.ojrsd.com
- Send out information via email.
- Provide information via our automatic telephone calling system.
- Provide updates to all major Philadelphia TV stations, KYW radio (1060 AM), WCHE (1520 AM), and WJBR (99.5 FM). Our school district closing number is 857.
- Recorded message on our district’s main phone number, 610-469-5100.
Frequently asked questions about school closings may be found in the parent resources on the district website. Storms such as these can be very unpredictable and our top priority is the safety of students. We will continue to consult the National Weather Service and carefully analyze road and weather conditions. In the event of power outages, in order to receive necessary information about possible changes in the school schedule, you may wish to consider preparatory steps such as charging cell phones and having access to a portable radio.
Please remain safe with your family as each of us prepares for the storm.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Christian, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Owen J. Roberts School District
Annual Senior Citizen Tea and Holiday Concert
Monday, December 10, 2012
12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Senior citizens, grandparents and retired faculty/staff of OJR are cordially invited to attend the Annual Senior Citizen Tea and Holiday Concert. The event begins in the High School Auditorium with a concert featuring the Concert Choir, 7-Ups, and Jazz Band. Immediately after the concert, members of the Anchor Club will be providing and serving tea and light refreshments. Wildcat Ambassadors will be providing ushering services for guests who need physical assistance entering the building. We hope you can join us! Please RSVP to 610-469-5663 or send an e-mail to smcintyre@ojrsd.com.
Calling all K-12 Students, Teachers, Administrators & Parents
to share their ideas about the use of technology for learning
|
Since 2003, over 2.6 million K-12 education stakeholders have participated in the annual Speak Up National Research Project which collects and reports on the authentic, unfiltered views and opinions of K-12 students, parents and educators on critical 21st century education issues.
Speak Up is facilitated by Project Tomorrow® (www.tomorrow.org). Data findings are shared each year with federal, state and local policymakers to inform education programs and funding. |
About Speak Up 2012
- Surveys available this year for: students, teachers, librarians, principals, district administrators and parents.
- Our school district will share reports with their aggregated local data and national comparisons in the spring of 2013.
- Survey question topics include: learning and teaching with technology, 21st century skills, science/math instruction, career exploration, emerging technologies (such as online learning, mobile devices and digital content), professional development, school-to-home communications, digital citizenship, and investment recommendations for 21st century schools. All surveys may be previewed.
- Speak Up data may be used to: evaluate current technology needs, inform strategic planning and budgeting processes, and measure progress towards technology goals. Be part of the national Speak Up momentum!
- Click on the appropriate survey (Student, Educator, Parent). Educators who are parents may want to take the educator survey.
- Follow the given instructions to access the survey. Begin by clicking on the drop down button and select Pennsylvania, then go to the next line and type in your school name to find your school. ((For families with attendance at multiple schools, choose any one school. Staff not associated with a school can select any school.)
- Administrators/Teachers/Media Specialists will choose the appropriate survey and enter the “secret word” password: wildcats
- Parents will NOT need a survey password to access the survey. Students will be given an opportunity to complete the survey at school.
- Complete the survey.
October 11, 2012
Re: Notice of Creditable Coverage
Dear staff member and eligible dependents:
The attached Notice of Creditable Coverage is being provided to you as required by federal law. The information in this notice applies to you only if you or one or more of your dependents is eligible for Medicare.
This information is being provided to you electronically. You also have the right to be provided a paper version and/or a copy mailed to you.
It is your responsibility to provide a copy of this electronic disclosure to your Medicare eligible dependents covered under the group health plan.
If you or your dependents are not eligible for Medicare, this information does not apply to you. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact me at 610-469-5120.
Sincerely,
Sharon S. Jones
Staff Accountant
The Building & Grounds Committee of the Board of School Directors of the Owen J. Roberts School District will conduct a meeting to review and deliberate buildings & grounds issues on Monday, October 22, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Owen J. Roberts School District Administration Building, 901 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA.
OWEN J. ROBERTS SCHOOL DISTRICT/CHESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT COLLABORATE TO PROVIDE FREE SEASONAL FLU VACCINES FOR ALL STUDENTS
The Owen J. Roberts School District and the Chester County Health Department are collaborating again this year to provide FREE seasonal flu vaccines for all students. The details are as follows:
OCTOBER 18, 2012 OWEN J. ROBERTS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle School Students: Flu shots or nasal mist will be administered to middle school students during the school day. Parents/guardians must read the Vaccine Information Sheet and sign the parental permission form. Please use the form designated for middle school students. These forms can be downloaded from this website or will be available in the Middle School Main Office. The parental permission form must be given to the middle school nurse by Tuesday, October 16.
Elementary Students: Chester County Health Department nurses will be available to administer free flu shots or nasal mist to elementary students at the Middle School from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Family members may also receive the vaccine at a cost of $25 (exact change). NO APPOINTMENT OR PRE-BOOKING IS NECESSARY.
District Employees: Flu shots or nasal mist will be administered to district employees for $25 (exact change). Please make checks payable to the Chester County Health Department. Chester County Health Department nurses will be administering vaccine at the Middle School for employees from 2 p.m. to 6:30 pm. No appointment is necessary.
NOVEMBER 7, 2012 OWEN J. ROBERTS HIGH SCHOOL
High School Students: Flu shots or nasal mist will be administered to high school students during the school day. Parents/guardians must read the Vaccine Information Sheet and sign the parental permission form. These forms can be downloaded from this website or will be available in the High School Main Office. The parental permission form must be given to the high school nurse by Friday, November 2.
District Employees: Flu shots or nasal mist will be administered to district employees at the High School from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The cost is $25 (exact change). Please make checks payable to the Chester County Health Department. No appointment is necessary.
Please reference the following documents:
* Flu Vaccine Permission Form - Elementary
* Flu Vaccine Permission Form - Middle School
* Flu Vaccine Permission Form - High School
* Flu Vaccine Permission Form - Adults/Staff (19 years and older)
* Inactivated Influenza Information Sheet
* Live Influenza Information Sheet
Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others. It is held annually on the fourth Saturday of October; millions of Americans are rallied into a single day of action to help change the world. Everyone can participate!
Owen J. Roberts has historically supported a need in our community with a fill-the-bus drive for North Coventry Food Pantry, which services families throughout our district. This year there are more families in need than every before and pantry shelves are quite low! Mobilize your family, friends, and neighbors into a day of action by donating to the food pantry or participating in another service activity!
Visit the Make a Difference Day web page
Schools are accepting donations between October 15th and 26th.
OJRMS Staff is sponsoring a Make A Difference Day Breast Cancer Awareness Walk-A-Thon
Read the Pottstown Mercury article here
Philadelphia Magazine ranks Owen J. Roberts High School #30 in the Top 100 Philadelphia-Area Public Schools for 2012!
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/top-100-public-schools-2012/
AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATION(S):
NORTH COVENTRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – (SPOT SPRAYING)
TONY WHITE, IPM COORDINATOR
FOR THE OWEN J. ROBERTS SCHOOL DISTRICT AT 610-469-5642
OCTOBER 6, 2012 – OCTOBER 8, 2012.
Owen J. Roberts School District has achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2012 as determined by the benchmarks set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This past year, PDE raised the bar considerably for the percentage of students who needed to score proficient or higher in both reading (up from 72% to 81%) and math (up from 67% to 78%) with a goal of 100 percent of students scoring proficient by 2013-14, as mandated under No Child Left Behind. To make AYP, schools are also expected to meet attendance, graduation rate requirements, and PSSA participation rates.
We are extremely proud of the growth demonstrated by our students over the past year. In addition to the District achieving AYP, students in each of our schools made advancements, which is a testament to our students and to all those who support and guide them.
For individual schools to make AYP, certain sub groups of students must reach proficiency. These groups are defined to include “all racial and ethnic backgrounds, students who are English Language Learners, economically disadvantaged students, and special education students”. Even though all Owen J. Roberts schools showed growth in scores over last year, sub groups in three of our elementary schools did not make AYP as defined by the legislation. This data is helpful for schools to put specific instructional plans in place which will support those students.
While the PSSA is one measure of student achievement, our schoolchildren are high-achieving in many ways. They benefit from a rich curriculum and highly-qualified teachers who foster excellence. Our students consistently excel at the state, national, and world levels in athletics, music, arts, Odyssey of the Mind, robotics, and more. At the high school level, learners excel in approximately 25 advanced placement or dual-enrollment courses. Perhaps most impressive, are the number of students of every age who are involved in community outreach and service.
The administration will be presenting detailed information on PSSA data and AYP information on October 15 at the regularly scheduled School Board Committee of the Whole Meeting.
To see this year’s scores and the performance since 2008, please click the links below:
Do not miss the first-ever Owen J. Roberts Education Foundation
Children's Consignment Sale
OJR Middle School
September 15
8:00 am—12:30 pm
Thousands of Brand-Named Items and Toys at Bargain Prices!
For more information visit www.ojref.org
View flyer here
The 2012-2013 homeroom assignments and back to school first day information will be available via Skyward on August 20, 2012 after 1:00 p.m.
Thank you.
Dear OJR Community,
I am excited to join the Owen J Roberts Community. During my transition thus far, I have had the opportunity to meet the faculty and staff in each building and many of the wonderful students in Owen J. Roberts. I quickly noticed how “Wildcat Pride” is palpable in each of the schools. Our schools are not only academic centers, but also a hub of activity for students, families and community members.
Public education is confronted with unprecedented challenges. We must balance the need to provide a strong curriculum and an excellent education while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Despite this challenge, thousands of students arrive at our schools each fall ready and eager to learn. The combined responsibility lies with all of us to provide quality educational opportunities for all students that enable them to achieve.
I come to Owen J. Roberts with a diversified background. This includes experience as an English teacher and Director of Athletics in the Methacton School District (Montgomery County). Later, I served as a Middle School Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent in the Garnet Valley School District (Delaware County). I believe my experiences have helped prepare me as an educational leader, but I certainly recognize the importance of listening to various stakeholders in making decisions.
I look forward to meeting our students again this fall as well as many OJR families. I hope you are having a safe and relaxing summer.
Sincerely,
Click here to view .pdf version.
SUMMER ENRICHMENT SCHEDULE
Update as of September 2012:
Today the court sua sponte established a new scheduling order under the auspices that it needed more time to address the parties’ summary judgment motions. All deadlines were once again pushed back including the trial date which is now scheduled for February 5, 2013.
Click here to read the letter
Enter at East or Gymnasium entrance
The Community Open Track has been cancelled from Thursday, June 7th through Monday, June 11th due to the Graduation Ceremonies. The Community Open Track will resume on Tuesday, June 12th.
Thank you.
The attached brochure for the Summer Enrichment Programs has been revised. Sessions that are full and no longer available for registration have been identified. We are now offering two additional WILDCAT SUMMER FISHING CAMPS GRADES 4-8.
Summer is a great time for all types of learning prospects. Owen J. Roberts School District is excited to announce a variety of enrichment and academic opportunities open to our students this summer.
A central registration process is in place to assist with the collection of fees and registration forms.
You may access our summer brochure and registration materials at http://enrichment.ojrsd.com
You are cordially invited to a
Owen J. Roberts High School Cafeteria
7:00 p.m. Community
Owen J. Roberts High School LGI
The Owen J. Roberts School District Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has selected Dr. Michael Christian as the next superintendent of schools for the Owen J. Roberts School District.
Opportunities to meet Dr. Christian are being planned for the near future.
The Committee of the Whole meeting previously scheduled for Monday, May 14th at 6:00 p.m., in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 901 Ridge Road, Pottstown PA 19465 has been changed to a new start time of 7:00 p.m.
Parents and guardians of students who are lacking documentation have been contacted prior to this notice. The newly established, May 15 deadline, gives families ample time to provide the district with completed immunization records. Students without updated immunization records by May 15 must be excluded from school.
A complete list of immunization requirements may be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. Should your child need to be immunized, please be advised that immunizations are given free of charge at the Chester County Health Department located at 601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA. You may contact the Chester County Health office at 610-344-6251 for more information. Pottstown Health Center, 610-970-5040, is another local resource for families.
Click here to Check out the WPVI Channel 6 story
There were so many facets in pulling off this effort and everyone pitched in from the elementary schools, individual families, students, and teachers. Significant donors include Drumheller Construction, JT Painting and Specialty Coating, M-Line, Coventry Soccer, Stowe Oil, Frame Construction, Vincent United Soccer Club, and DeVito Landscaping. Even Dr. Soeder, our acting superintendent, donated her time and sewed our mascot’s costume ("Soup"erman), which was a huge success.
Check out photos on www.facebook.com/philabundance
The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) has awarded the District its Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for excellence in budget presentation. The award is conferred only to school entities that have met or exceeded the Meritorious Budget Award criteria. To earn this award, the District submitted its 2011-12 budget for a rigorous review based on stringent criteria.
Developed by ASBO for school districts, the MBA criteria guide school business officials toward a quality school budget presentation by enhancing the school business officials’ skills in developing, analyzing, and presenting a school system budget.
This is the seventeenth consecutive year the District has received this award.
The Buildings & Grounds Committee meeting scheduled for April 2, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 901 Ridge Road, Pottstown, Pennsylvania has been changed to Tuesday, April 10, 2012.
We appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this issue.
--OJRSD IT Dept.
At the March 26, 2012 School Board Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the 2012-2013 OJRSD School Calendar. Click here to view the approved calendar.
| The OJRSD Spring Musical "Guys and Dolls" | ||
Owen J. Roberts High School is proud to announce ticket sales for their spring production of "Guys and Dolls", showing March 16-18, 2012. Tickets will be sold in the high school lobby on the following three dates: (Monday evenings, from 6:30-8pm) February 27, March 5, and March 12 Tickets may also be ordered by calling the Ticket Order |
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"Math-e-Magic"
3rd Annual District Math Night
Thursday, February 16
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Owen J. Roberts High School
(Use Main Entrance)
Don’t miss this magical evening of many exciting and interactive activities for OJR kindergarten through 6th grade students and their families. The magical Fairy Godmother Elena from Bubbly Boo and Crew will be entertaining the students. Other featured activities include hands-on cooking demonstration, lots of fun and magical math games and activities, a trail mix creation center, and lots more!
Come out and join us for a fun and "Math-e-Magical" evening.
Contact gprocario@ojrsd.com or 610-469-5368