NH-S SWIMMER MAKES DISTRICTS

New Hope-Solebury High School freshman, Ondrej Maxian, has qualified for the PIAA Class AA District swimming competition which will be held on March 4th and 5th at LaSalle University. Maxian swam independently for New Hope-Solebury at a dual meet against Abington and Council Rock North on December 22nd at Council Rock North High School. He swam the 500 yard freestyle in 4:55.54 minutes, beating all the competitors, and swam the 200 yard freestyle in 1:52.33.

FBLA STUDENTS CREATE HOLIDAY FUN

Mary Clare Cosner, Mackenzie Koval, David Cosner, Shirley Liu, Jonathan Otto, Hannah Wheeler, Sean McGarry, Jake Merana, Kristen Taylor, Mitchell McCollum, Mike Merana and advisor, Betty Ohanian.

On December 19th, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club of New Hope-Solebury High School held their annual “Breakfast with Santa” community event at the Eagle Fire Hall in New Hope. The students helped young children make ornaments and sold personalized Santa and elf hats.

While the students were there, they had an opportunity to see and touch a steel beam from the Twin Towers. The Eagle Fire Hall had received the beam the day prior in recognition of the firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
“It was a very special event,” commented FBLA advisor, Betty Ohanian. “The Eagle Fire Company officers and staff complimented the students on all their efforts working with the community and children”.

FBLA STUDENTS ADVANCE TO STATES

David Hahn, Sara Howell, Neil Baldasari, Genna Post, Steven Taylor, Noah Gross, Laura Reinert, Tommy Sutton, Sean McGarry, Jonah Warshawsky, Shirley Liu, Nicole Kelner, Hannah Wheeler, Mackenzie Koval, Kristen Taylor and advisor, Betty Ohanian.

Eighteen New Hope-Solebury High School students competed in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Regional Leadership Conference on December 17th at the Bucks County Community College. Of those students, four students qualified to participate in the FBLA State Leadership Conference in April.

o Laura Reinhert – 10th Grade – 1st Place – Introduction to Business Communications
o Shirley Liu – 12th Grade – 2nd Place Winner - Business Communication
o Steven Taylor – 12th Grade – 1st Place - Sports Management
o Sean McGarry – 12th Grade - 4th Place Sports Management

“The students did a great job representing New Hope-Solebury,” remarked FBLA advisor, Betty Ohanian. “I’m very proud of them.”

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR ADOPT-A-CHILD

Key Club members Emma Singer & Kristina Degiovanni

This year’s Adopt-a-Child Program was a huge success with 274 children “adopted” for the holidays. The program, which is sponsored by New Hope-Solebury High School’s Key Club and Fisherman’s Mark of Lambertville, NJ, asks students and community members to donate money and gifts for children in need during the holiday season. With the Key Clubs’ promotion and encouragement, high school homerooms raised enough money to adopt seventeen children. Many Key Club members assisted the program’s leaders, Terri Randol, Susan Brussock, and Kathy Mlynarski, by helping to organize the gifts on drop-off day and then delivering them to Fisherman’s Mark.

Since 1996, the Adopt-a-Child program receives lists of children in need from Fisherman’s Mark, school counselors, nurses, teachers, social workers, and the Woods Services in Langhorne.

NH-S COUNSELOR EARNS NATIONAL CERTIFICATION

Stephen Young, principal at New Hope-Solebury High School, announced that guidance counselor, Veronica Wierzbowski, has earned her National Certification in Counseling (NCC). Wierzbowski had previously achieved NCSC (Nationally Certified School Counselor) certification. Both the NCC and NCSC certification are overseen by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

This is Wierzbowski’s fourth year in the counseling office at New Hope-Solebury. Prior to that, she was a biology teacher at NH-S for seven years. Wierzbowski received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Lycoming College and a Masters in Science degree in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University.

“Veronica is a terrific counselor and this is a well-deserved achievement,” remarked Dr. Young.

WIZARD OF OZ

David Dwight, Katie Boyce, Stephanie Hunter and Katie Simon

Join the New Hope-Solebury High School theater club as they present The Wizard of Oz, on Friday, December 3 at 7:30pm and Saturday, December 4 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm at the Stephen J. Buck auditorium. This production is student directed by senior, Libby Lucy, and junior, Hannah Wheeler, and was directed on a “black box” budget. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $7. The matinee is catered towards children and those who attend are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character. Matinee attendees will even be able to participate in the performance! Also, all opening night proceeds will be donated to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in honor of students in the district fighting against cancer. “Follow the yellow brick road and enjoy the show,” exclaims Libby!

FOUR NH-S TEACHERS ACHIEVE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION

John O'Hara, Staci Shade, Lori Soriano and Margaret Thompson

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS®) announced that four New Hope-Solebury teachers have achieved National Board Certification in 2010. A voluntary assessment program designed to develop, recognize and retain accomplished teachers, National Board Certification is achieved through a performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, NBCTs have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices.

The four NH-S teachers who achieved National Board Certification this year are:
John O’Hara: John obtained a degree in Mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Masters for Teachers of Mathematics from the University of New Hampshire. After teaching math in California for nine years, John has been teaching math at New Hope-Solebury High School for almost seven years.
Staci Shade: Staci received a Bachelor’s degree from West Chester University and a Masters degree in Education from Holy Family University. This is her eighth year teaching math at New Hope-Solebury High School.
Lori Soriano: This is Lori’s sixth year teaching Language Arts at New Hope-Solebury High School. Prior to NH-S, she spent a half year at Pennsbury High School. She has a Bachelor’s in English from West Virginia University and Masters in Education from Holy Family University.
Margaret Thompson: Meg earned her Bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross with a double major in Physics and History. She earned a Masters in Secondary Mathematics Education from Temple University. She has been teaching for 15 years, seven of those years were at Germantown Friend’s School and this is her sixth year teaching math at New Hope-Solebury Middle School.

National Board Certification is recognized as a model of pay-for-performance and is supported by teachers and administrators nationwide. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and hundreds of local school districts recognize National Board Certification as a mark of distinction. Many states and local school districts provide salary incentives and cover the cost for teachers who pursue and achieve this advanced teaching credential.