Reading Apprentice program touted as a success at Pleasant Valley

Howard Drake, the principal of Pleasant Valley Middle School introduced Michele Confer, a PVMS 8th grade physical science teacher to the PVSD school board who gave a presentation on the Reading Apprenticeship program.

Drake said that the program has been a great success. The program is being used in all the eighth and ninth grade science classes and using it in math classes for the vocabulary. All the teachers that are using it have noticed marks of improvement and has helped structure their tests to that of the PSSAs. He thanked the board, Ms. Geary, and the teachers for their support.

Ms. Geary added that she was asked to relay to the board that Ms. Confer was one of their Reading Apprentice stars.

Dr. Douglas Arnold reported that enrollment is around 6,000. He also said that the board sent out a sincere thanks to all of PVSD's staff for their exceptional support and dedication in honor of American Education Week.

Arnold acknowledged the excellent Veteran's Day events held at the schools especially that of PVMS and PVHS and the 7th grade Student Council's visit to Mrs. Bush's Personal Care Homes.

He reported that the district has received a donation of a clarinet and a flute in its request for donated musical instruments.

The district has received a donation of books from Prudential for its Book Mobile.

The following have been hired by PVSD:

*Jake Brown and Beata Kardasz from casual to part-time security officers; Nannette Gower, monitor at PVI at $8.40 an hour.

*Susbstitutes-Mary Bianco, PPA; Debra Connors, Monitor; Linda Destefano, Monitor/Cafeteria worker; JoAnn Doerbecker, HRT; Kelly Frinzi, PPA; Sheila Graves, Cafeteria Worker; Deborah Honeycutt, cafeteria worker; Maria Sarwar, PPA; Bridget Snyder, HRT; Helene Adler, monitor, PVMS at $8.40 an hour.

*Professional staff substitutes-Michelle Frantz, Elementary; Denise Perweiler, School Nurse; Lucille Rhock, Special Education/Early Childhood; Erika Wolf, Elementary; Alison Schaefer, biology.

*Rebecca Reeser, PVE part-time PPA approved for Child Bearing/Child Rearing Leave and Angela Chandler, PVI teacher approved for an extension of her child-rearing leave of absence.

*Peter Blat, PVE teacher-nine days, Rose Partington, PVHS teacher-49 days, and Kelly Sheeley, PVE teacher (seven days) have been approved for Family and Medical Leaves.

*Leaves without pay have been granted to: Judith Bertsch, PVE cafeteria helper (one day,); Gina DeVito Curry, middle-school cafeteria worker (five days;) Jacquelyn Dumas, PVI monitor, (one day;) Christie Fleming, PVE cafeteria worker (one day;) Kathleen Maltez, Chestnuthill PPA (five days;) Denise Mascal, PVI PPA (22 days); Richard Price, maintenance worker from Oct. 15, 2009-Jan. 15, 2010; Heather Wadding, Chestnuthill PPA (18 days); Joah Weimmer PVE monitor (six days); Cindy DePue, PVE cafeteria worker (29 days); Jean Hicks, PVE head cook, (one day); Patty McEvoy, Chestnuthill cafeteria worker (one day); Pat Urban, PVE PPA (two days.)

The board accepted the resignations of Pam Molyneaux, Polk PPA effective Nov. 6, 2009; Vito Pandolfo, middle school monitor effective Nov. 4, 2009; Erik Hansen, PVHS temporary PPA, effective Oct. 28, 2009.

There will be no school on Nov. 26, 27, 30.

The next school board meeting will be on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. at the District Office.

The PVI Student Council received a thank you card from Mrs. Bush's Senior Personal Care Homes for visiting and singing patriotic songs, bringing them cookies and brownies and a card to all the veterans.

PVSD hopes to collect 2,500 toys for children in Monroe County by Dec. 11 for Toys for Tots.

On Dec. 4, PVE's PTO will host Family Fun Night and Book Fair.

Pumpkins from Polk Elementary's Pumpkin Patch were distributed to every Polk student on Oct. 29.

Students from Polk's kindergarten classes held a parade at Getz's Personal Care home, Oct. 30.

Mr. Kondisko, principal of Eldred Elementary reported that the students and staff collected enough food items to fill seven baskets to be given to seven Eldred families in need. The AM kindergarten class visited Mrs. Bush's Personal Care Home for a Fall parade on Oct. 30.

Mr. Drake, PVMS principal, said that the PVMS chorus would sing the Star-Spangled Banner at the Scranton Penguins game on Nov. 21 before the game. The PVMS Winter Chorus Concert will be Dec. 14 and Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the PVHS auditorium.

Mr. Gress, PVHS principal offered several notes of congratulations to PVHS students.

Samantha Klingel and Evan Makuvek of the Girls' and Boys' Cross Country teams advanced to state competition.

The PVHS football team won back the Old Oaken Bucket from Pocono Mt.

Rhea Cohen, Alex D'Antonio, Corey Hoffman, Michelle Holtzmann, Alexander Matraxia, Matthew O'Neil and Ellen Pieper were inducted as first year members in the Monroe County Technical Institute National Technical Honor Society. Megan Ewer was inducted as a second year member.

PVHS FBLA placed first in the Battle of the Chapters held at the State Leadership Workshop. Team members were Kristin Cook, Angie Leonardi and Meghan Nieves.

Amber Ziegenfus was selected for District 10 PMEA Chorus. She was one of 26 selected out of 150 students and will participate in District Chorus in Nazareth in January.

A successful Veterans's Day Ceremony held all day in the PVHS gym was conducted by Mark Tramontina and his 20th Century classes.

The PVHS marching band earned four first place trophies and four superior ratings as well as awards for best mucic, best color guard, best percussion and best marching at their last competition held on Nov. 7.

The board approved:

*contracts for Nothing but Dumplings of PVI Student Council and Samuel French, Inc. for the licensing fee, rental fee, security deposit and scripts for the March 26-28, 2010 production of "Grease" for $2,571.

*the purchase of a SIMS Dakota Cab for the New Holland TC55DA tractor of $5,650

*customer agreement with Frontline Placement Technologies Inc. for the AESP (Automated Substitute Placement and Absence Management) program with setup and training fees of $10,000 and an estimated subscription fee of $13,764

*additions to Xerox, Inc. totaling $3,851 a month.