Schools
Students Must Make Up Missed First Day of School
Governor tells district delay in start of 2011-12 school year to be added to calendar
School for students in the is going to last a little longer this year.
Gov. Tom Corbett has informed school districts that the first day of school on Aug. 29 that students missed because of must be made up, Maureen Martyak, vice president of the PTA, reported at the group's October meeting Tuesday night. That missed day will be tacked on to end of the school year at Shawnee, Martyak said.
The meeting mainly focused on how Shawnee is implementing the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support initiative.
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Shawnee Principal Josie Galloway gave a presentation on the new program, telling parents and PTA president Jodi Maltese that it's really catching on.
The initiative, based on a reward system, centers on behavior related to the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, bus, playground and bathroom.
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Students need "to be a shark" on four core values: showing respect, having pride, taking responsibility and being safe, Galloway said.
Administrators and teachers reward students for good behavior with "shark bites" -- certificates they can redeem for school supplies or privileges like spending time as the principal's assistant or reading books to younger children.
Galloway said employees need to be mindful about rewarding students as much as possible for their good behavior.
"What we're hearing from parents and children is very positive," she said.
The school invested $2,000 in the program and Galloway asked the PTA if it might be able to provide additional funding down the road.
Maltese said the PTA could offer $200 more to supplement the $800 left this year and provide $1,000 in funding next year.
Martyak, in giving a report on the superintendent's roundtable meeting, said the school district is trying to improve its communications with a new email system allowing PTAs to get more information out to parents.
She also said that Easton Area High School will be going to a block scheduling format next year with classes expanding from 41 minutes to 82 minutes and subjects being taught for half a year.