NASD to build "spiteful" fence around LNES

According to the article in the Morning Call, NASD is leaving behind a "goodbye gift" for the residents who fought the installation of the three acre Commercial solar array on Residential zoned property in Lower Nazareth.

This move by the board can only be described as spiteful. This is somewhat similar to the neighborhood kid who doesn't get his way so he takes his ball and goes home.

Back in early 2008, I was at a NASD board meeting when a friend of mine asked about the possibility of erecting a fence around the Shafer playground. His concern was that the playground was relatively open and given the number of sexual predators (as registered by Megan's Law and easily determined by anyone with a computer) near Shafer, he was concerned for the children's safety. The boards response to that request?....

Not necessary. Too expensive.

Yet now, the board is more than willing to spend the money (estimated by some to be approximately $30-40,000) to erect a fence just to "spite" the neighbors who got the school and township to realize that zoning laws matter. That is, you cannot construct a commercial enterprise in a residential zoned area.

The school district had NO case and no legal standing to build a commercial solar array on residential property. Let me give you a simple example that I think will help those who didn't understand this situation:

I like hamburgers. I have a large property with property behind my house (next to my neighbors). What if I decide I want to lease my "extra" property to Five Guys so they can build a restaurant there and in return, they'll give me a break on the price of hamburgers? You think that would fly with the zoning board?

If NASD goes through with building this fence, I think they need to consider fences around Shafer and Bushkill too...

Eagle Call

Parents / Guardians / Students,

If you go to the HS webpage (http://hs.nazarethasd.org/), students can sign up for a new service I am going to provide called "The Eagle Call."

Basically, anyone (even parents) can sign up to receive e-mails to their computers or text messages to any cell phones. I will try and use this service to send out announcements and reminders about school events and activities such as exams, Eagle Block reminders, activities and events that are happening, and even snow days or delays due to inclement weather.

Imagine students receiving a text message within minutes of me receiving the call from the superintendent that school is closed???!!!!

This is in response to student feedback that reminders such as these will help them remember to sign up for Eagle Block. Anyone can sign up and more than one e-mail or cell phone can be registered.

I hope that you and/or your students will find this to be helpful.

"Paint the Town Blue”

2010 Fall Booster Clubs Kickoff Celebration

In an effort to create excitement and support for our sports athletics
and performing arts programs we are having a Fall sports Booster
Clubs Kickoff Celebration and Paint the Town Blue campaign.

This will be a week long event that will include all of our schools
fall athletic teams, dance team, marching band and local businesses.

The goal is to get every organization to participate with their own
unique contribution.

This event will take the pep rally to the next level and integrate
fund-raising with public excitement. It will be held on:
August 27 at 7:00 pm
at Andrew S. Leh Stadium.
Special Appearance by Andrew S. Leh

Leading the Kickoff Celebration we will ask
local businesses, families and members of the
community to hang blue Christmas lights, flags,
banners and anything else blue in an effort to
“Paint the Town Blue.”

Carnival like Atmosphere,
with food and games

Special Guest American Idol Tyler Grady!

ADMISSION PRICE $2.00 - CHILD $4.00 - ADULT

Join NAHS Parent Contact Email Group

• Want to stay informed on the latest information pertaining to Nazareth Area High School?


• Would you like to receive emails from the Principal that highlight certain events & relevant information about the latest happenings at NAHS?

If you answered “yes,” then why not join the Principal’s NAHS Parent Contact Email Group?

This communication tool will help provide you with additional information about Nazareth Area High School. If you are interested, please send an email to HSPrincipal@nazarethasd.org with the Subject Heading “Join NAHS Parent Contact Email Group.”

2010-2011 School Hours

Please be advised that the 2010-2011 start and end times for students will be as follows:

Elementary
Start time for students: 8:00 a.m.
Dismissal time for students: 2:15 p.m.

Intermediate
Start time for students: 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal time for students: 3:25 p.m.

Middle
Start time for students: 7:20 a.m.
Dismissal time for students: 2:20 p.m.

High School
Start time for students: 7:20 a.m.
Dismissal time for students: 2:40 p.m.

These changes were adopted due to the restructuring of transportation which did impact the times for all schools in the district.

Nazareth Triplets Sweep Top Honors

Nazareth Area High School is pleased to announce that the top three students in the senior Class of 2010 are Elizabeth, Jennifer and Kristen Biernat. All three sisters have been ranked in the top of their class since their freshmen year. Now as seniors, Elizabeth has been identified as the Valedictorian, Jennifer as the Salutatorian, and Kristen, third in the class, as the Honor Graduate. Elizabeth, Jennifer and Kristen are the daughters of Joseph and Katherine Biernat of Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

The Class of 2010 Commencement exercises are scheduled for Friday, June 4, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. The ceremony will be held at Stabler Arena on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Each sister will speak at the graduation ceremony.

For additional information, please contact Principal Alan Davis at adavis@nazarethasd.org or (610) 759-1730.

Project Green

Support the Nazareth Area High School by voting online for a $50,000 grant. The money received from the grant will be used to build a greenhouse and an outdoor classroom.

You can vote online by clicking here . You will need to create a profile.

Please support NAHS students and the continued focus on academic excellence by voting everyday in May.

Spread the Word!

Nazareth HS Pampered Chef Fundraiser

Money raised benifit the Student Activity Fund. This fund helps support student programs such as the Debate Team, Chess Team, Scholastic Scrimmage, Science Olympiad, scholarships, various recognition programs, funding for field trips, assemblies, etc.

• Important Dates:




• Start Date: February 5


• End Date: February 18


• Pick Up Date: March 11



• Davina (Danner) Messics, your Pampered Chef consultant and Nazareth Alum, will be donating her commission to the school.



• Please announce this fundraiser to your local and long distance family and friends. Don’t forget about your co-workers and neighbors, too. Payment is due at the time of the order. Cash, checks payable to Davina Messics and credit card payments are all accepted.



• There are 2 ways to order.

1.)View the online catalog and place orders by going to www.pamperedchef.biz/davinamessics. Click on “Order Products,” choose option 1, and then enter Nazareth as the organization.
2.)Browse through a catalog that can be picked up in the school nurse’s office and use the order form on the back of this sheet. Feel free to make copies as necessary.


• Shipping & handling options.

1.)Orders to be picked up at the school pay a $4.25 flat S&H rate.
2.)If you would like your order shipped directly to you, you may pay a direct ship rate according to the chart on the reverse side.


• Please turn in non-online orders with payments by February 18th to Mrs. Hoch in the nurse’s office.Be sure the student’s name is on each order form.
  
  
• Orders will be available for pick-up on March 11th from 6pm – 9pm in the LGI Lobby, unless you are having the products shipped directly to your home.



• The top selling family ($150 sales minimum) will receive a $50 cash award.



• If you prefer to order by catalog instead of online, please contact Mrs. Hoch or Davina Messics.

Mrs. Hoch: 610-759-1730, ext. 2356 - jhoch@nazarethasd.org
Davina (Danner) Messics: 610-419-4769 - damessics@aol.com

ET's on NHS assault

The Express-Times reports on an assault at Nazareth High School on Friday 9/6/09(click here to read article)

"The girls responsible for the attack will likely face charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct, police said. The incident remains under investigation."

MIDDLE SCHOOL DEDICATION 11/1/09

THE NAZARETH AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT


Would like to announce the

dedication of the new

Nazareth Area Middle School
94 Friedenstahl Avenue

Sunday, November 1, 2009

1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Nazareth Area Middle School Auditorium



Public Welcome



Dedication and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony – 1:00 p.m.

Tours to follow the Dedication Ceremony

H1N1 Update

NASD is reporting cumulative confirmed flu cases; but it is important to note that most of the students who were confirmed cases have recuperated and have returned to school.


Cumulative Count:

High School - 66 total (44 prior, 22 new this week) - All but 14 have returned to school.

Middle School - 45 (18 prior, 27 new this week) - All but 10 have returned to school.

Intermediate School – 82 (40 prior, 42 new this week) - All but 21 have returned to school.

Bushkill Elementary – 8 total (2 prior, 6 new this week) - All but 3 have returned to school.

LNES - 5 total (2 prior, 3 new this week) - All but 3 have returned to school.
Shafer - 15 ( 7 prior, 8 new this week) - All but 8 have returned to school.

Total - 221 reported cases to date. 49 out of school district-wide. All others have recuperated and returned to school

Volleyball Booster Club Fundraiser

NASD H1N1 Update

NASD is reporting cumulative confirmed flu cases; but it is important to note that most of the students who were confirmed cases have recuperated and have returned to school.
Cumulative Count:

High School - 42 total (20 prior, 22 new this week) - All but 15 have returned to school

Middle School - 18 ( 9 prior, 9 new this week) - All but 6 have returned to school

Intermediate School – 40 (31 prior, 9 new this week) - All but 7 have returned to school

Bushkill Elementary – 2 total (2 prior, 0 new this week) - All have returned to school

LNES - 2 total (2 prior, 0 new this week) - All have returned to school

Shafer - 7 ( 4 prior, 3 new this week) - All but 3 have returned to school.

Total - 111 reported cases to date. 31 out of school district-wide. All others have recuperated and returned to school

H1N1 Update

NASD repoted on their website the following H1N1 Update As of 10/2:

Cumulative Count:

High School - 20 (18 prior, 2 new this week) - All but 1 have returned to school

Middle School - 9 (5 prior, 4 new this week) - All but 2 have returned to school

Intermediate School - 31 (14 prior, 17 new this week) - All but 9 have returned to school

Bushkill Elementary - 2 (2 prior, 0 new this week) - All have returned to school

LNES - 2 (0 prior, 2 new this week) - None have returned to school

Shafer - 4 (1 prior, 3 new this week) - All but 3 have returned to school.

Total - 68 reported cases to date - 17 out of school district-wide - all others have recuperated and returned to school.

School Board Report -9/21/09-

Nazareth School Board was called to order at 7:56pm by Mr. Butz. Board member(s) absent was John Marino.

Educational Program Considerations:
Mr. Roth gave his report, nothing much to report except we had over $43,000 carried over from Title 1 and he asked for board approval as shown in “V.A” which reads “Authorize the Administration to enter into a “Letter of Agreement” between the Nazareth Area School District and the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, as previously presented to the Board, and which becomes part of this resolution through reference.”

Mr. Heller gave his committee report to the board and focused on standard based report cards, Staff receiving technological training, and the H1N1 flu.

Educational Program Resolutions:
The Board approved the resolution V.A which Mr. Roth requested with an 8-0 vote.

Personnel Board Considerations:
Later Dr. Riker gave his report which he requested the approvals of: VIII.A which is the updated substitution list, XI.A which is the cardio equipment in the amount of $31,900, and he requested the board approve XI.B which is to change the order in amount of $1,640.21 to Dual Temp Company to pay for the premium crane time to install the new HVAC equipment on the roof of the High School. This will be done on the weekend instead of weekday due to safety issues. Also Dr. Riker is working with Mr. Roth to prepare a report on Full Day Kindergarten.

Personnel Board Resolutions:
The substitution list was approved with an 8-0 vote.

Facilities and Operation’s:
The Board approved the following resolution (IX.a): “Authorize the Nazareth Area School District Solicitor to issue a formal request to the Upper Nazareth Township Police Department to enforce any and all traffic control signs properly erected on District property pursuant to 75 PA C S A section 6113(b).” Also Mr. Bradley requested that included in this letter that the police department will enforce the districts no skateboard policy on school grounds; this is due to the damage caused by the trespassers. This motion passed 8-0.

Support Services:
The Board approved the resolutions XI.A and XI.B as requested by Dr. Riker with an 8-0 vote.


Superintendent’s Report:
Dr. Lesky will have a formal report next week. He did mention that at next week’s board meeting Mr. Roth will report on PSSA results and Mr. Davis will report on the Accreditation for Growth (AFG) program which is done every 10 years. Also Dr. Lesky mentioned that Harrisburg reached an agreement for the budget, but not a lot of details are known. Finally he gave his report on H1N1; you can view it in my previous post “H1N1 –Report from Board Meeting-

The meeting was adjoined at 8:47pm

H1N1 -Report from Board Meeting-

During the Superintendent's report Dr. Lesky spoke about H1N1 in Nazareth Area School District. A few things to point out:

-As of tonight (9/21) we have 20 confirmed cases of H1N1 in NASD.

-About 1/2 of the students that had H1N1 are back in school and perfectly fine.

- The Commonwealth of PA states that for extreme measures to be taken (ex. Close School) the school should have 10% of the districts total enrollment out sick. Just to note we have 4,715 students in the district.

- It is not Flu season yet so any Type A Influenza cases is probably H1N1

-As we get closer to flu season you should expect an increase in the cases of the flu.

Students Are Reminded That:

- Every classroom has hand sanitizer and/or antibacterial soap (were sinks are available)

- Students should attempt to sanitize computer keyboards before using to lessen the spread of germs.

- Students in the Nurses office with flu like symptoms will be given masks to lessen the spread of germs.

The Nazareth Area School District is watching the H1N1 cases very closely and will be updating the website regularly.

NASD H1N1 Update

Posted on NASD Website:

There are four confirmed cases of swine flu at the Nazareth Area School District.....

Two at the High School
One at the Middle School
One at the Intermediate School

Keystone Exams

The Morning Call has a feature article on the proposed Keystone Exams, which would effectively serve as final exams for students and must be passed to graduate (unless your district opts out).

Interesting concept in theory, but when you merge the beaucracies of the state goverment with the school system, I'd imagine it will result in a lot of people making money at taxpayer expense and a lot of work on the teachers to modify their existing curriculum to fit the new tests (http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-5exams.6967863jul27,0,3737776.story).

What do you think? Should PA have a standard final exam that all students must pass in order to graduate?

More on the School Board Meeting

The Morning Call had an article on the School Board meeting (read it here) and it noted that the district will be considering an online course requirement for all students to better prepare them for college.

It also noted that PSSA results were out.

MS Swimming Pool Rumor

There has been a lot of talk circulating about the new MS swimming pool not being regulation. A reader today posted a comment and asked, so I reached out to Bob Furst, of Furst Architecture and here is his response (thanks for the quick reply Bob!):

In response to your e-mail request I can tell you categorically that any rumor(s) about the pool are false. We are currently in the final stage of construction (installing the shell tile) and will shortly have the pool dimensions verified and certified as required. There is NO indication at this point that there is any discrepancy.

I look forward to the future when everyone can experience the building first hand.

Robert A. Furst AIA, CDT, LEED AP

Principal, Architecture FURST Pc