Middle School
Message
Monthly Newsletter of
Wissahickon Middle School
April 2016
Students Medal in Foreign Language
Proficiency Contest
There have been some exciting events involving World
Languages and Wissahickon Middle School students. On
March 2nd, the Montgomery County Teachers of Foreign
Languages Association held their annual Oral Proficiency
Contest!
8th Grader Kyle Quesenberry won a Silver medal in the
Level 1B German speaking contest and 7th Grader Alena
Doll placed 1st with a Gold medal in the Level 1A German
speaking contest. In addition 7th Graders Taraji Ellington
and Julianne Bless participated in the Japanese contest for
beginners and made it to the second round.
For the past 9 years, both WMS 7th and 8th Grade German
contestants have won either gold or silver medals in this
annual Montgomery County contest.
Additionally, students in 8th Japanese recently celebrated
a national holiday in Japan called Hina Matsuri or the doll
festival that dates back to the 11th century. Pictured below
are award winners in German Kyle Quesenberry and Alena
Doll. Also pictured are 8th graders celebrating the doll
festival and having fun!
Therapy Dogs Help Motivate Students
At Wissahickon Middle School, we have the pleasure
to work with therapy dogs. The purpose and mission of
fostering a therapy dog program is to help school-aged
children struggling with a variety of emotional,
educational and physical challenges by enhancing the
environment through the use of a therapy dog so that
children are motivated to work on reading, writing and
communication skills. The therapy dog and handler will
work cooperatively with an educational team to support
and build student motivation, enhance focus and increase
task persistence as well as individual self-esteem and
confidence. When paired with an occupational therapist,
fine motor, visual motor and sensory motor skills can also
be a part of the experience.
WHAT IS A THERAPY DOG?
A therapy dog is a highly trained and skilled therapy
dog used to enhance the quality of life and education
for children or adults with disabilities or special needs.
Therapy dogs are handled by trained handlers and can
be used to assist a select group of students better manage
daily tasks. The therapy dog can be used in a way for
individualized needs of a student either in a one on one
situation or group. Therapy dogs have many benefits
working with children with emotional, behavioral and
cognitive challenges, Autism, Down Syndrome, or affected
by developmental or physical delays. continued on page 4
Students interacting and having fun with Theo. Theo is a 2 year
old mixed terrier breed and his handler is Dr. Kim Hartranft
OTD, OTR/L.
Students & Athletes
of the Month
Our two Students of
the Month for March
were Sasha Jason and
Max Gendelman. Sasha
and Max were selected
based on their positive
contributions to WMS,
strong interest in
learning, involvement
in school/community
programs and great
character and citizenship.
Our two Student-Athletes
of the Month for March
were Alex Carrozza
and Ilsa Maquire. Ilsa
and Alex were selected
based on their displays
of good sportsmanship,
respect, “team before
self ” mentality, commitment and demonstration of
outstanding character, in addition to their athletic skill
levels.
Please join us in recognizing these four students’
positive contributions to the Wissahickon Middle
School’s learning community. Photos of these four
students are currently on display in the Atrium hallway.
WMS Student Dress Code Reminder
Now that the weather is getting warmer, you may find it
helpful to review the Dress Code guidelines as written
on pages 26-27 in the WMS Parent/Student Handbook.
Generally, the guidelines indicate that clothing that is too
revealing should not be worn to school. Please refer to
the Handbook and remind your student about our Dress
Code guidelines. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Watch Principal Beth Bauer’s
Video Blog!
This month, Mrs. Bauer shares information about
the upcoming PSSAs and Minithon activities to
raise money to fight childhood cancer.
VIEW VIDEO
Read Across America Day
On March 2nd, 30 Wissahickon Middle School students
volunteered to “Read
Across America!”
These students
traveled to Shady
Grove Elementary
School to celebrate
Dr. Seuss’s birthday
with the kindergarten,
first and second grade
classes. The students
celebrated this day by
reading one of their
favorite children’s
books aloud to the
elementary students. It
was a wonderful way
to honor Dr. Seuss and
to show their love of
reading!
“You Be the Chemist”
On Saturday, March 5th, seventeen WMS students traveled
to Dow Chemical in Collegeville to compete in the “You Be the
Chemist” Challenge.
The You Be The Chemist Challenge® is an interactive
academic contest that encourages students in grades 5-8 to
explore chemistry concepts and their real-world applications.
The Challenge provides a unique opportunity for a variety of
individuals and organizations—including schools, members
of the chemical industry, educators, and other community
partners—to come together and show their support for STEM
education.
We are happy to report that after diligent preparation
our WMS students represented themselves and our school
remarkably well. Each student who attended the challenge
progressed to the second round of competition.
2nd round: Luigi Soriano, Meaghan Toscano and James Van
Stone; 3rd round: Santo Carbo, Arnav Gupta, Nathan Kim,
Max Klugherz, Nitya Parida, Diego Rodriguez, Katherine
Schoenberg and Alex Yum; Semi-finals: Jasmine Han, Ari
Sasson and Nathan Tai
We are especially
proud of Evan
Qiang, Nina
Zhang, and Panav
Sheth (alternate)
for advancing
to the state
competition to be
held on April 23rd
at State College!
WMS 2016 Career Day
On March 16th, the entire WMS student body participated
in Career Day at the Wissahickon Middle School. Students
had the opportunity to listen to numerous presentations
from individuals in today’s work force. There was a total of 53
individuals that presented on Career Day. Students attended
5 presentations on five different professions throughout the
morning. The presentations provided students with a variety
of career fields, including news media, law, medicine/nursing,
law enforcement, business, marketing/advertising, science,
pharmaceuticals, communications, human resources, armed
services, technology, education, government, engineers,
education, music, art, electricians and retail. Career Day will
ALL students to see 15 different speakers throughout their
tenure at the middle school.
Career Day provided the students with a forum to learn
about the many paths an individual may take in order to
enter a specific profession. Students became familiar with
a number of aspects of each speaker’s career. These aspects
included their educational backgrounds, the importance
of their high school careers, the specific skills required for
their profession, the financial prospects of their profession,
other career paths within their profession, and about each
speaker’s personal career and life lessons. Also, the Career
Day speakers clarified some misperceptions that people may
have about a particular profession. For example, Mr. Dean
Carr, with McMahon Associates, shared with 8th grade
students that engineering is “not just for men” as it once was.
He shared information how females are more involved in
engineering in today’s world which he is very pleased to see
in his field. Also, he shared that people often think to be an
engineer that you need to be very good at math and science.
He explained to students how English is just as important
especially with the amount of reports he needs to write
throughout his daily work life. During his presentation, he
allowed students the opportunity to try their engineering
skills by building a structure out of pipe cleaners. The goal
was to build the highest structure within 10 minutes. Here is
a picture that shows a group attempting to complete this task.
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The Wissahickon Middle School Guidance Department
would like to thank the following individuals for volunteering
their time to speak with our students:
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Stacy Anderson- WHS Career Guidance Counselor
Ann Baklycki- Registered Nurse
Jerry Baklycki-Chief Technology Officer- Flock U
Adam Bram- Attorney- Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection
Technical Sgt. John Brosnan- Crew Chief- United States Air
Force
William Capers-Owner of Pitter Patter Learning
Dean Carr- Civil Engineer- McMahon Associates
Lt. Darin Collins- Montgomery Correctional Facility
Rik Alison- Music Director at Paul Green School of Rock
Tom Celona-Montgomery Media/ Digital Content Director
Rodney Cline- WMS Teacher/Professional Strength &
Conditioning Coach
Christina DeMatteo- Attorney- Shemtob Law, P.C.
David Dettinburn- Pennsylvania Probation and Parole
Frank Dunsmore- Archaeological Field Director- AD Marble
JoRuetta Ellington- Technical Service Manager- Evonik
Dana Grosser- Head of Corporate Communications- SEIC
Alfred Gruenke- Electrical Engineering- FC Schmidt
Officers Ivan Kosty, Mike McGuire, Seth Homan, and John
VanEekelan - Whitpain Police Department
Patrick Hitchens- Attorney-Timoney Knox, LLP
Robert Hunn- Trial Attorney- Kolsby, Gordon, Robin, Shore
& Bezar
Carl Knapp- General Practice Litigation Attorney- Private
Practice
Kevin Labick- Global Head of Digital Strategy & Experience
Design- EPAM
Stephen Labroli- Attorney- Leonard, Sciolla, Hutchinson,
Leonard, & Tinari, LLP
Peter Labick- Wissahickon High School Student- Ebay
Business/IT Consulting
Jill Lafferty- Physical Therapist
Andrea Loughlin- Professional Photographer- Andrea
Loughlin Portraiture
Cimi Maja- Installation- Suburban Marble & Granite
Nicole Marquis- CEO Hip City Vegetable
Judge Kate McGill- Magisterial District Judge- Springfield
Township
Bill Miles & Lloyd Emella- Business Owner- Intelligent office/
Gino’s Burgers/Chicken
Al Malazita- Claims Adjustor- State Farm Insurance
William McFarland- Sales- Symantec
Chris Peck- Vice President/Strategic Advisory BoardYourEncore/Life Science
Officer Beth Sanborn with Lower Gwynedd Police
Department
Dorina Saro- Research Scientist- Johnson & Johnson
Krutee Shah- Architect- Paradigm Architecture
Dr. Robert Stavenger- Chief Scientist- GlaxoSmithKline
United States Drug Enforcement Agency- Special Agents
Dennis Talbot- Flight Attendant- US Airlines
Sheryl Weed & Keith Morris- Montgomery County Adult
Probation Officers
Sam Weltch- College Student/Barista at Saxby’s
Steve Yang- Environmental Consultant- MOLD 911, LLC
continued on page 5
Therapy dogs continued from page 1
THERAPY DOG - KEY BENEFITS
Encourage Physical Movement, Verbal and Non-Verbal
Communication & Improved Social Behavior
Motivation:
The student responds more positively, enthusiastically, and
comfortably when a dog is involved. Together, the student and
the Therapy Dog work together to engage in physical activities
which help achieve goals set by the handler in conjunction
with an educational team. Since dogs offer unconditional,
non-judgmental love, sessions can be pleasurable as well as
productive. Therapy Dogs encourage the student to engage in
physical or educational activities. Dogs also help increase the
desire to cooperate, and reduce distractions while increasing
attention spans.
Social Interaction & Language:
Therapy dogs open dialogue and facilitate conversations
that encourage social and emotional development. Often, a
therapy dog returns a sense of need, provides the ability to
love, care and nurture. They can bring companionship and
help initiate communication.
Comfort, Compassion and Care:
Therapy dogs can provide support and friendship to anyone
who may have the unique challenge of making new friends,
or lack self-esteem. Dogs can also be used as a motivator or
reward system to teach responsibility.
Feelings of Safety & Well-Being:
Therapy dogs are a calm companion who help relieve stress,
anxiety and loneliness. Dogs bring a pleasant distraction and
reduce negative feelings, thoughts and concerns. They can help
alleviate loneliness and depression, as well as reduce blood
pressure. They provide a positive diversion from prolonged
periods of repetitive behavior and activities.
Sensory Stimulation
Therapy dogs can be used in using all the senses of the
student’s body including using fine and gross motor skills
when interacting with the dog from petting, to walking
to engaging in a specific game. Dogs help with physical
rehabilitation to improve mobility, range of motion, balance,
coordination and muscle strength, as well as visual or cognitive
skills. Some methods used to meet Functional Goals include:
• Play Fetch: Improves extremity coordination,
coordination, timing and sequence
• Walk the Dog: Improves visual coordination, awareness
and strength
• Brush the Dog: Promotes
range of motion,
coordination and strength
• Putting a water bowl
out: Promotes bilateral
coordination, functional
skills
• All facilitate coordination Students reading to peers and
and safety awareness
Theo in Ms. Weiner’s class.
WMS Reading Olympians Compete
After a six year hiatus, Reading Olympics returned to
Wissahickon Middle School! On March 15, twenty-eight
students from sixth grade participated in a county-wide,
Reading Olympics competition against other Montgomery
County public and parochial schools. This year, Wissahickon
Middle School had three teams that participated in Reading
Olympics: Kant Spel READERS, Future Librarians of America
and FAST and FURIOUS PAGE FLIPPERS. The students
worked together in teams, to read a total of 45 books. With
the help of their coaches, Mrs. Fenstermacher, Mrs. Smith,
Mrs. Stoneback, Mr. Schill, Mrs. Rineer and Mrs. Musika, the
students were well prepared for the friendly competition on
Tuesday night. It was a reading success! We are so proud of our
Reading Olympians!
Thank you to Ambler Pizza for generously
donating pizza to our Reading Olympians on the
night of the competition!!!
Black Dog Jazz Band Receives Superior
Rating & Best Trumpet Section Award
The Black Dog Band competed at the Tohickon Middle School’s
annual Big Toh Jam Jazz Band Festival on March 4th. The Black
Dog Band had one of their best performances of the year with a
Superior rating and the best trumpet section award. Jasmine Han
received a solo award for her beautiful work in Fallingwater. Max
Klugherz also earned an overall best soloist award for his masterful
trumpet solos in the night.
Author in Residence Program
Author Paul Acampora will be here April 29th to talk to the WMS
community about his amazing books, where he gets his ideas, and
why failing can sometimes be a good thing. Pre-order one of his
books for only $6.50! Books will be sold for $7 on the day of his visit.
Mr. Acampora, a local author who lives in the Lehigh Valley,
writes novels and short stories for teens, middle grade and
elementary school readers. He is known for creating memorable
characters in his work. His books include I Kill the Mockingbird,
about a group of friends who launch a devious plan to get their
classmates to read To Kill A Mockingbird over the summer; Rachel
Spinelli Punched Me in the Face, which tells the story of a boy
who moves with his father to a new town after a terrible tragedy;
and Defining Dulcie, about a girl who steals her dead father's
pickup truck to drive back to Connecticut from her new home in
California. His new book, How to Avoid Extinction, will be released
in September 2016.
Mr. Acampora will be signing his books in the atrium the day
of his visit during lunchtime. If you'd like to pre-order one of Mr.
Acampora's books, please see Ms. Rineer in the library.
Career Day continued from page 3
The WMS Guidance Department would like to extend a
special thank you to Jill Lafferty and the Parent Teacher Council
Hospitality Committee for their donations, time, and support in
providing a refreshment table for the Career Day speakers.
Career Day at Wissahickon Middle School will continue to be
a great event for all middle school students. It encourages our
students to consider the major life decisions that they will need
to make in the future. If you are interested in participating in
future Career Day activities, please contact Mr. Gus Baldassano at
215-619-8110, ext. 7034 or by email at [email protected].
Students Excel at MathCounts
Four WMS students, Jasmine Han, Aditya
Sardesai, Luigi Soriano, and Evan Qiang recently
competed at the MathCounts State Finals. This
group of 8th graders finished in a very respectable
6th place out of a super competitive field of
students. Congratulations to our MathCounts
team. Also, special congratulations to Evan Qiang
who has qualified for Nationals! To put this
accomplishment in perspective …Pennsylvania
is consistently one of the most competitive states
in the country with thousands of students who
participate in the MathCounts program every
year. Of those thousands, nearly 2300 compete at
22 regional competitions to narrow the field to the
150 that competed at States(Jasmine, Aditya, Luigi
and Evan were part of the 150). And, now, Evan
is among the elite group of four who will make
up the PA State Team. Evan will be competing
in Washington, D.C. later this spring. Way to go,
Evan! Below is a picture of the MathCounts team
that traveled to the State competition and also
a picture of Evan with Coach Deckebach and a
representative from MathCounts.