TV report on DV budget, more newslinks

• Budget battle: Politics over paychecks? from WNEP
• State aid to schools payments delayed, again from PoconoNews.Net
• Delaware Valley schedules Warrior Festival Sept. 4 from Varsity 845
• Delaware Valley Football Preview from the Pike County Press
• Day of Caring in Pike County on Sept. 12 from the Pocono Record
• Student Super-Achievers Ready for New School Year from the Pike County Press

In the news: School Board 2.0, Yolanda Goldsack

Hi everyone... It's been a while since I've been regularly updating the blog. Not too too much has been happening lately, but here's an update on some DV news around the Net.

In the Scranton Times-Tribune:
Pike County youth promote government transparency through the Internet

Pike County Courier roundup:
School district prepares fallback budget proposal
Breakfast Book Club at Shohola
TV techs share knowledge at Dingman-Delaware Middle School
DVHS Students of the Month

From the new Pike County Press:
Elementary Artists Win Big
Flapping Our Wings to First Grade
Candy Bar Fractions and Solid Figures
Farewell to Three Delaware Valley Elementary School Retirees
Goldsack Clears the Air

Update: From the River Reporter:
Goldsack criticizes commissioners and quits

Courier roundup: Graduation coverage

• DV Class of 2009 is now alumni (see more pictures from the Courier)
• Board follows Finan’s advice to watch and wait
• Students boot it up at contest
• HONOR ROLL: Dingman Delaware Middle
• Colleagues continue Pat’s passion in her absence

Exclusive: Class of 2009 graduation program online

View the class of 2009's graduation program in .PDF format

The program includes a list of the speakers at graduation, the class roll, faculty members, and winners of the proficiency and scholarship awards. The front cover was designed by Katie Yuen and the back cover photograph is by Alex Ardan.

Share it with friends and family who couldn't make the ceremony!

Principal explains armed police officers and metal detector searches at graduation, calls '08 graduates "worst ever"

Some family and friends attending graduation were surprised to see armed police officers seated among the graduates on Saturday.

A total of 16 chairs faced inward lining the graduates, each chair with an administrator, faculty member or armed school police officer. Students were also searched with metal detectors prior to entering the stadium. Any student who refused a search was to be removed from the commencement.

Principal Joe Casmus of the 11/12 high school said in a letter to parents that the increased security measures were a result of last year's graduation.

"Last year's graduation ceremony was an embarrassment," Casmus wrote in the May 20 letter. "The graduates' behavior was the worst ever."

Not offering a word of congratulations to the parents of graduating students once in his letter, Casmus referenced "inflated condoms" as one of the biggest distractions to last year's graduation.

Several security guards also lined the perimeter of the stadium.

RB for DV is waiting for a reply to an e-mail to Casmus to confirm that no students were ejected from graduation.

Update (June 17): RB for DV is also waiting for a reply to an e-mail to business manager Bill Hessling with how many people were working as security on Saturday and how much money security cost the district for the ceremony.

⇒ READ CASMUS' LETTER
View a .PDF of the letter

May 20, 2009

To: Parents/Guardians Class of 2009
From: Mr. Joseph Casmus, Principal Grades 11 & 12

Re: Decorum & Expectations at the Graduation Ceremony

Graduation is a formal ceremony that marks the end of high school and the first steps into adulthood. Proper and polite behavior is expected and will be enforced this year. Last year's graduation ceremony was an embarrassment; the graduates' behavior was the worst ever. The class of 2008 continuously interrupted speakers by tossing beach balls and inflated condoms, by yelling, and by sounding air horns. They had bags of noise makers and inflatable items hidden under their graduation gowns.

The following security procedures will be enforced beginning with the class of 2009:

1. prior to entering the stadium each graduate will be searched with metal detectors and required to open their graduation gown to be sure that each graduate is appropriately attired and not concealing any bags (graduates will not be allowed to carry purses or bags into the ceremony). Failure to comply with the search will result in the graduate being immediately ejected from the premises and the graduate's name will not be called during the diploma distribution

2. school police officers will be sitting on the field beside the graduates; any student causing a disruption will be immediately escorted off the field while the ceremony continues; the graduate's name will not be called

3. additional spacing will occur between the rows of graduates so that administrators and police can easily escort culprits out of the ceremony.

The entire graduation ceremony takes about one hour to complete. High school graduates can sit and act in a mature manner for one hour. It is unfortunate that we have to resort to the above measures; however, with the cooperation of the graduates and their parents this will be a ceremony that is both memorable and positive.

(reverse)

GRADUATION FACT SHEET

Seniors with fourteen days of out of school suspension, or fourteen days of unexcused absences, or a combination of days of out of school suspension or unexcused absences numbering 14 may not attend the graduation ceremony.

Graduation is scheduled for Friday evening on June 12,2009 beginning at 7:00pm in the stadium. Graduates should arrive at the stadium by 6:00pm, one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Each graduate will be given five tickets for the stadium; graduation tickets will be distributed to the students after the required, graduation practice on Friday morning June 12. The graduates will be dismissed after the successful completion of the morning practice. probably around 1 0:30am on June 12. The middle schools and grades 9, 10, & 11 will be dismissed at 11:15am. There is no truth to the rumor that the graduates' names will not be called at the graduation ceremony; students who attend the graduation will have their names announced during the ceremony. Rain may change the date of graduation. If it is raining on June 12, 2009 then graduation will be scheduled for 10:00am on Saturday, June 13. If it is still raining Saturday morning, then graduation will take place at 7:00pm on June 13. If the rain continues on June 13, then the graduation ceremony will be Sunday, June 14 at 3:00pm.

Caps and gowns will be distributed on Wednesday (June 10, 2009) during the seventh period. Wednesday (June 10) is a full day of school for all students including the seniors. Any senior (who owes books, equipment, or fees) will not receive a cap and gown, will not receive graduation tickets, and may not participate in the graduation ceremony until those obligations are fulfilled.

The athletic recognition banquet will be held on Tuesday (June 2,2009). The banquet, beginning at 6:00pm in the cafeteria, is only for students and coaches. The awards presentations begin at 7:00pm in the auditorium; parents, family, and friends are invited to the awards presentation.

The outstanding student recognition banquet for clubs, academic activities, the arts, music, vocational clubs, and service groups will be held on Tuesday (June 9, 2009). The banquet, beginning at 6:00pm in the cafeteria, is only for students, coaches, and advisors. The awards presentations begin at 7:00pm in the auditorium; parents, family, and friends are invited to the awards presentation.

Scholarship Night is scheduled for Wednesday (June 10,2009) beginning at 7:30pm in the auditorium. Graduates receiving local scholarships are invited along with their family, relatives, and friends. No tickets are necessary, and all guests are accommodated.

Please contact me or the school counselors, if you have questions about the end of year activities for the graduating class.

Support staff donates to animal shelters

The Delaware Valley School District Support Staff has embarked on a new project aimed at helping local animal shelters, while honoring the memory of an animal-loving former member of the staff.

The newest DV Support Staff project, appropriately named Pat’s Pet Passion, began in the spring of 2009 and was in memory of Pat Gelderman, an instructional assistant and longtime employee of the district. Mrs. Gelderman, who passed away, had a passion for animals and dedicated almost every spare minute to helping the local animal shelters.

Pat’s son, George Gelderman, is pictured above with the donations that are about to be delivered to our local animal shelters. George Gelderman is a teacher at Delaware Valley High School.

DV’s Education Support Professionals have carried out many projects for the past several years. They are comprised of consisting of bus/van drivers, bus assistants, cafeteria workers, custodians, instructional assistants, licensed health room nurses, maintenance staff, secretaries, and traffic control officers. They are excited about their expanded mission, aimed at helping local animal shelters.

Donations were delivered to our local animal shelters on June 12, 2009, which was Delaware Valley’s last day of school.

Class president, Matthew Neumann: "What a long and wondrous journey it has been"

Read the speech by class of 2009 president Matthew Neumann, exclusively on RB for DV.

This is a copy of his speech that was handed out to the press on Saturday. Because graduation was a day later and the speakers were allowed to fine tune their speeches, there may be some differences between what appears here and what was read on Saturday.

Parents, administrators, my distinguished colleagues; what a long and wondrous journey it has been. We are about to reach the last homely house, and although this is a time to celebrate the journey completed, we must not underestimate or forget the arduous road which lies before us.

⇒ READ MORE

Before us stand many mountains, which must be passed over, for it is cowardly to go around them, and only a fool would try to go beneath. And although we may lose members of our fellowship on the path to the other side, we must continue the fight to do whatever it is we are to do. Although there may be opportunities to pass your responsibilities to others, you must realize that the greatest burdens can only be born by those who are destined to carry them. As you complete your destiny, whatever it may be, there will be times when you feel alone, when you feel as though no one in the world can understand what you are going though and even your best friends are going to betray you. At these times, you must remember that out there somewhere are people who do care about you. These are people who are willing to fight in order to help you in your quest and willing to risk more than you would believe to give you what might be the only chance at success you may have. As we graduate, let us remember that this is not an end, but simply a checkpoint in the long journey of life. Along the road ahead of us lie countless opportunities, many challenges, and ultimately success. Work hard, remain true to yourself, and remember that there are always people willing to aid you in your struggle. I wish you all the best of luck, and I thank you all.

Valedictorian's address from Rachel Knuth

Read the class of 2009 valedictorian's address from Rachel Knuth, exclusively on RB for DV.

This is a copy of her speech that was handed out to the press on Saturday. Because graduation was a day later and the speakers were allowed to fine tune their speeches, there may be some differences between what appears here and what was read on Saturday.

Welcome, everyone, to the class of 2009 graduation ceremony. Seniors: we made it. The day we thought would never arrive as freshman is fmally here. We've fmished the last assignments, turned in the last books, taken the last of our exams, and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the ceremonial burning of our notebooks begins. But this day is more than the close of our thirteen years of school, it's more than the culmination of all of our efforts over the past thirteen years-it's the end of the first stage of our lives.

⇒ READ MORE

We're at a pivotal point, and whatever our next step may be, we will succeed. Success, at its core, means only to follow through. It is not one isolated event-it's continuous. Success can be small: the first time you get a perfect score on a test, the first time you earned a lead part in the play, or even the first time you learn to playa new song on your guitar. It can be as big as becoming a business executive, discovering the cure for cancer, or raising a family. There is no failure, as long as you have worked to the best of your ability and completed the task at hand.

I had hoped for a long time that I would have this success, to reach this point, to stand before you today. And now that this moment is fmally here, it's a little surreal. I know that I could not have accomplished it if it were not for the support of my family, friends, and teachers, but especially not without the unfailing support of my parents. They never gave me any impression that I couldn't do anything I wanted to do, or be whomever I wanted to be. I would like to convey that same message to you. Famous British philosopher and writer Mary Wollstonecraft once said that "the beginning is always today," and I encourage all of you to embrace that message. Strive for today, because you can only achieve success by taking your life one day at a time.

Congratulations class of 2009, you earned it.

DV grad unhurt in car accident following graduation

From the new PikeCountyPress.com

Gregory Harris of Milford, who graduated this morning from Delaware Valley High School, lost control of his car at 4:50 PM this afternoon on the upper section of Foster Hill Road in Milford Township. Harris was headed in the direction of Milford with another unidentified teenager. Neither was hurt when the car rolled after hitting the high shoulder in the area.

Indications on the scene indicate excessive speed may well have been a factor in this afternoon’s crash. A long skid mark may be seen on the road after an area of disturbed berm on the opposite side of the road.

Read more at PikeCountyPress.com, a new newspaper/news Web site for our area. They have a temporary Web site, so you need to scroll down to find the story about the car accident.

Stay tuned for graduation coverage

Coverage of tonight's class of 2009 graduation will include audio podcasts of the commencement speeches. Speeches will be delivered by Kathryn Braisted, student council president; Derek Houseknecht, salutatorian; Rachel Knuth, valedictorian; and Matthew Neumann, class president.

Commencement happens at 7 p.m. in Warrior Stadium. It is a ticketed event.

Courier roundup: Class of 2009

• Fisher wins the draw
  
• Preschool program is head of the class (congratulations Pam Lutfy!)
  
• Delaware Valley High School names 2009 academic leaders
  
• Thanks to the community
  
• Delaware Valley High School Graduating Class June 12, 2009
  
• Employee honors for Fitzpatrick and Siegel
  
• College News
  

Music students take the stage with Vanessa Carlton

Grammy-nominated former Delaware Valley student Vanessa Carlton headlined the Milford Music Festival on Saturday. A group of DV High School chamber choir members accompanied her for the song "Ordinary Day." DVHS jazz band, string orchestra and choir members also performed earlier in the day on Saturday.

For more pictures than the selection below, be sure to pick up your copy of The Gazette this Friday.

View all

Get your own

View more photos

Courier roundup: DV musicians to play at Milford Festival on Saturday

• Video-conferencing the animal kingdom
• This is Music Festival weekend

Saturday - 11:00-12:15 at the Ann Street Park "main stage"
Delaware Valley Jazz Band featuring vocalist Natasha Green, Orchestra and Choir

(see the whole schedule)

DV lands a top 10 team at Odyssey world finals

The Delaware Valley High School classics Odyssey of the Mind team won ninth place at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals awards ceremony on Saturday. The DVHS team competed in the "Lost Labor of Heracles" problem, against about 40 other teams in division III.

The Dingman Delaware Middle School classics team took home 17th place in division II, out of about 50 teams. Another DVHS team, competing in the technical problem, "Teach Yer Creature," placed 26th of about 30.

These teams advanced to world finals after winning first or second place at the Pennsylvania State Finals in April. The 30th World Finals was held at Iowa State University and hosted over 800 teams from countries including the U.S., China, Singapore, Germany and Poland.

World Finals scores 

Odyssey of the Mind

Northeast Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind

Friday news roundup: Special Olympics

Exclusive RB for DV photos: Special Olympics at DV

From The Gazette:
Fun, bravery define Special Olympics

From the Pike County Courier:
Primary results revealed a bad day for Taxpayers United
Proposed budget underfunded, but hesitantly OK’d
Accuracy wins top nod for DVHS student
Students help neighbors and medical community
Apprentice library program for teens and ‘tweens
Editor’s note: Delaware Valley School Board Member Pam Lutfy wrote this e-mail letter following the May 14 school board meeting.
Vanessa Carlton headlining music fest
Kiwanis Club Memorial Day car wash

DV music students to share stage with Vanessa Carlton

Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/pianist and Pike County native Vanessa Carlton will perform June 6 at the Milford Music Festival.

Best known for 2003's Grammy-nominated Song of the Year, "A Thousand Miles," Carlton will perform songs off her most recent album, "Heroes & Thieves." She'll be backed vocally by select students from Delaware Valley High School.

Other performances scheduled for the festival include Traveling Man - a high-energy blues band from New Jersey - and Roots N Rhythm. Nationally acclaimed recording artist Bashiri Johnson, best known for his work with Whitney Houston, Eric Clapton, and Miles Davis, will perform with Jah Stix for a percussion driven set. Woodstock area's Mike Smith Band, a Tribute to Noel Coward (as performed at NYC's National Arts Club) and performances by the DV Jazz Band (featuring noted singer Natasha Green) and the DV Choir will round out Saturdays program.

Read more from the Times Herald-Record

Cats opens at DVHS

Jellicle 'Cats' play DVHS (from The Gazette)

Four DV teams place at Odyssey of the Mind state finals

Four teams of the nine competing from Delaware Valley placed at Odyssey of the Mind State Finals in Williamsport on April 18.

DV High School's technical "Teach Yer Creature" team placed first. The DVHS and Dingman-Delaware Middle School "Classics... Lost Labor of Heracles" teams both placed second. These three teams will advance to World Finals at Iowa State University in May.

The DVHS team for "Shock Waves," the structure problem, placed third.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international kindergarten-through-college creative problem-solving competition.

See also... NEPA Odyssey of the Mind

Courier roundup: Musical achievements, defending Goldsack

• Saluting the music makers at Delaware Valley schools
  
• Warrior musicians at Pike-Wayne County Band
  
• Music Week: DVHS boys earn All-State music honors
  
• Feakins at District 10 Band Festival
  
• Pike County ‘Busted!’ teens win national competition
  
• Pedometers track marathon progress
  
• In Goldsack’s defense
  

Courier roundup: Possible stimulus money for DVES, discussions on finances

• Shoveling for money
  
• Delaware Valley may get use of some of Santos Farm land after all
  
• HONOR ROLL: Delaware Valley High School
  
• HONOR ROLL: Delaware Valley Middle School
  
• January 2009 Students of the Month at Delaware Valley High School
  
• Use sports money on education
  
• On criticism of the sex-ed class
  
• MY TURN By Jack Fisher: Fiscal responsibility isn’t always popular
  
• Drama club out to end winter blues