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Special thanks to…

And the generous people who donate through DonorsChoose.org to help fund classroom projects for public school teachers and students.

During the month of November WPSD staff had projects totaling more than $2700 fully funded. Congratulations!

Ashley Costello, Penn Wood Ninth Grade Academy
Rachael Albert, East Lansdowne Elementary School
Kimberly Gouveia, Penn Wood High School (2 projects)
Rita Capaldi, Bell Avenue Elementary School
Jess Telese, East Lansdowne, Elementary School
Stephanie Christiansen, Walnut Street Elementary School

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Student Highlights

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ALDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Alana Garrett

6th Grade

Alana is an example of a Aldan STAR student because she works extremely hard, and gets the JOB Done!
She is a respectful and fair student who always offers her peers and others a helping hand.
She enjoys hanging out with her family eating good food at Outback Steakhouse.
She aspires to be Aldan Student Council Secretary because she is a Terrific Listener and plans to take copious notes for sharing important information with her peers.

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ARDMORE AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Ferggie Petitt

6th Grade she/her

Ferggie is a kind and caring student. She provides assistance to every student, who she comes in contact with.
She is a member of the School safety team. She is a dynamite Safety Leader.
In October, she became the Lead School announcer for morning announcements over the PA system.
Now, she is the Morning Announcement trainer for all students, who will be making announcements over the PA system.

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BELL AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Hayden Byrd

1st Grade

Hayden has been working extremely hard in class and has improved so much in reading and writing. He is always a superstar in math.
Hayden is very respectful to his teachers and classmates and is always willing to help out.
Hayden brings a new perspective and inspires others with his creativity. He is a joy to see each day and is making all of us proud at Bell!

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COLWYN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Aniya Fields

6th Grade

Aniya goes above and beyond in the classroom!
She never settles for the minimum and she always challenges herself in the classroom.
She is always kind and compassionate with her peers who she assists if needed.

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EAST LANSDOWNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Afseen Uddin

Fourth Grade

Afseen consistently leads by example, offering help to classmates with math problems or providing encouragement to those in need. Her kindness and respect for others creates a positive classroom environment.
Afseen approaches every lesson with enthusiasm and dedication, always striving for excellence. She takes pride in her work and is eager to learn, making her a role model for academic success.
Afseen’s infectious positivity brightens the classroom, and she approaches each day with a cheerful heart. Even when faced with challenges, she demonstrates a growth mindset and persistence, inspiring others to keep trying.
Afseen’s caring nature ensures that all students feel included and supported. She listens, shares, and treats everyone with respect, contributing to a warm and welcoming atmosphere for both peers and staff.

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EVANS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Cali Mills

Kindergarten

She is very eager to learn new things.
She is a tremendous helper in the classroom, makes sure everyone has their belongings at the end of the day and helps with putting jackets on.
Biggest reason is because she is always looking to include all of her peers in activities

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PARK LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Mia McKenna

6th Grade

List three reasons why the student has been selected for recognition

Very respectful and kind to others
Mia is a very intelligent and articulate student
Mia has great leadership skills
Mia has been be elected Park Lane student council president

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WALNUT STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Victoria Sosa

4th Grade

Victoria is always displaying ROAR in all areas of the school building. She is always responsible, respectful, overcomes obstacles and helps other students achieve goals in an encouraging manner. Victoria displays great integrity at a young age.

Victoria is a hard-working student. She is currently receiving high honors and exceeds her goals every week. Victoria loves to complete extra projects and is on her way to 100 lines on her reading log!

Victoria is a giving person and extremely appreciative. She participates in all activities and enjoys helping others. She always shows appreciation for her family, friends and teachers.

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PENN WOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL

Jayla Villacorte

7th-Grade

Jayla fully embraces our school’s norms and RAISE Expectations, showing respect, accountability, integrity, safety and excellence in her everyday pursuit of academic success. Her commitment to our values makes her a positive role model for staff and students alike.�
With an incredible work ethic, Jayla consistently puts in her best effort, tackling challenges head-on and always looking for ways to improve.�
Jayla brings positivity and a generous spirit, always willing to help classmates or take on extra responsibilities. Her kindness and cheerful outlook brighten our school community.

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PENN WOOD NINTH GRADE ACADEMY

Aissatou Bah

9th Grade

Leadership and Engagement: Aissatou demonstrates outstanding leadership skills by actively participating in the Freshman Class Committee. Her involvement shows her commitment to making a positive impact in her school community, helping organize events, and representing her classmates' voices.
Creativity and Communication: As a member of the Social Media Club, Aissatou plays a key role in creating and managing content that connects students, staff, and the broader community. Her creativity and ability to communicate effectively on digital platforms contribute to fostering a vibrant and engaging school environment.
Positive Role Model: Aissatou's dedication to extracurricular activities while maintaining her academic responsibilities makes her a great role model for her peers. Her involvement in both the Freshman Class Committee and the Social Media Club showcases her time management skills, work ethic, and ability to balance multiple responsibilities.

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PENN WOOD HIGH - GREEN AVENUE

Victory Kelechi-Nwaogu

12th Grade

Victory is a proud member of the Class of 2025, maintaining an impressive 4.1 GPA while balancing a rigorous schedule of AP courses and dual enrollment. In addition to his academic achievements, he is an accomplished student-athlete, excelling in both soccer and track. Recently, he led his soccer team to victory in the Del Val Championship.
Victory is also deeply involved in extracurricular activities, holding memberships in the National Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, Robotics, Literary Magazine, PBIS, Boys Made Men, DECA, and Student Council.
Having already been accepted to several prestigious colleges, including Temple University, Neumann University, Arcadia University, Holy Family University, and Wilkes College, Victory is poised for continued success in his academic and extracurricular pursuits.

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PERSONALIZED LEARNING COMMUNITY

Arianna Veney

12th Grade

PLC mascot designer.
Dedicated, hard worker, sets examples for others, and one of the PLC’s student leader.
Arianna’s passion for learning and her ability to push boundaries show not just talent but a true commitment to excellence—keep striving for greatness!"

The PLC Lions

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District and Community Announcements

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PWHS-GAC Visits the Hedgerow Theater

Penn Wood HS-GAC 10th graders recently attended Tales from Poe at Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley. Our students have been studying Edgar Allan Poe, and following the performance, they engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with the actors, comparing Poe’s stories with the theatrical adaptation.

Special thanks to Jess Watson who has worked to establish a partnership with Hedgerow Theatre, securing a generous $4,500 donation to cover the costs of this enriching experience for our students. Thank you to all chaperones and staff who helped make this opportunity happen!

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Employee of the Quarter

Congratulations to the recipients of the Employee of the Quarter awards for the first quarter of the 2024-2025 school year!

Kayla Jackson - Penn Wood High School-GAC
Derrick Johnson - Park Lane Elementary School
Tamiko Laurie - Ardmore Avenue Elementary School
Dr. Patricia Pardini - Penn Wood High School-GAC
Carol Poplawski - Park Lane Elementary School
Denise Schuler - Walnut Elementary School

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Podcast Contest Winners

On the November episode of “What Do You Say? With Dr. Eric J?”, listeners were invited to enter a contest by answering the question: If you could instantly master one skill or talent, what would it be?

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry, and congratulations to Erika Bly and James Mullen for winning!

Special thanks to the owners of Leo’s Breakfast and Lunch in Lansdowne for providing $10 gift cards as the prizes!

Tune in to upcoming episodes for more contest opportunities.

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American Education Week (AEW)

AEW is a nationwide public education celebration that honors the achievements and contributions of the entire education community, including teachers, support staff, and administrators.

WPSD celebrated with a series of spirit days, guest readers and speakers, and a contest for families. We thank everyone for their support of public schools and the William Penn School District!

Education Support Professionals - Thank You Video!

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American Education Week: Contest Winners

WPSD families and students were invited to enter the What I ❤️ About WPSD contest by sharing what they love most about WPSD and how the district has made a positive impact on them.

A winner from each school was randomly selected to win a $25 Amazon gift card through the generosity of the William Penn Education Association! We thank the WPEA and their leaders for collaborating on this annual event to help bring our community together around the importance of public education and schools.

Thank you for all of the wonderful entries shared by our students and families!

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American Education Week: Guest Readers & Speakers

WPSD cabinet members and senior staff visited our schools to read a book or speak to classes during American Education Week.

Special thanks to Senator Tim Kearney and State Representative Gina Curry for visiting Aldan ES and East Lansdowne ES respectively.

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