Spring Newsletter 2020

SPRING 2020

Bristol Township School District

STAYING TOGETHER
WHILE APART

Dear BTSD Community,

This year did not go as planned, but we should all be
proud of the challenges we overcame. While
students continue to learn through online distance
instruction, BTSD is doing its best at Staying Together
While Apart.

We hope this newsletter helps you feel more
connected to our students, teachers, staff and
school communities by sharing some highlights from
both inside and outside the classroom throughout
the 2019-2020 academic year. Thank you all for
supporting BTSD as we continue to innovate and stay
strong on the journey ahead.

Sincerely,

Melanie Gehrens, Ed.D., Superintendent

www.bristoltwpsd.org

Zachary Curry Kaylee Herman Noah Hughes
Kindergarten Second grade Kindergarten
Mill Creek Elementary Brookwood Elementary Keystone Elementary

DISTANCE LEARNING

CONTINUES EDUCATION

BTSD believes in the importance of the continuity of education during this prolonged school closure
and is committed to helping each student realize success. Instructional coaches provided
professional development to teachers using Google Suite and they have been collaborating to
develop online lessons for students using several platforms for learning including Canvas, Google
and Edgenuity. Some subjects, such as social studies, science, and Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
already had distance-learning components that teachers continued to utilize.

“Distance learning differs from regular instruction in numerous ways,” said Instructional Coach
Bernadette Barone. “Adjusting the curriculum, modifying assignments and augmenting assessments
towards performance-based options are necessary.”

Jackson Tokarski The Freitag Family Miguel Salinas
Kindergarten Armstrong Middle School Sixth grade

Mill Creek Elementary Mill Creek Elementary FDR Middle School

Cassidy Ennis Madison Matulewicz Zoe Curry
Kindergarten Fifth grade Kindergarten
Brookwood Elementary Mill Creek Elementary
Brookwood Elementary

Left:
Morgan Sutchko

Kindergarten
Mill Creek Elementary

Right:
Allison Matulewicz

First grade
Brookwood Elementary

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

TRUMAN STUDENTS TRUMAN’S FIRST DAY OF
DISTANCE LEARNING
IN THE CLASSROOM
Distance learning for secondary students
Truman students achieved many amazing began on April 14, 2020.
accomplishments in the classroom during the
2019-2020 school year!

AROUND OUR SCHOOLS:

POINTS OF PRIDE

Throughout the District, students participated in positive programs, enhanced their leadership skills
and attended exciting events, which focused on learning and making a difference. Our principals
highlighted their favorite initiatives in the 2019-2020 school year.

BROOKWOOD ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL

Brookwood Elementary was honored to have a visit
from Governor Tom Wolf in October! During his visit,
he saw firsthand how BTSD is using the PAsmart grant
with the Bucks IU Fab Lab and STEAM initiatives. In his
press conference, Governor Wolf said the future of
Pennsylvania comes from schools like Brookwood
that create lifelong learners and empower them to
thrive in the 21st century.

KEYSTONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Keystone Elementary School earned state recognition for its School Wide Positive Behavioral
Interventions and Support Program (SWPBIS). The school was slated to accept the State Banner Award
at the PA Implementers Forum in Hershey, but will now participate in a special virtual celebration.
Keystone’s staff worked hard to teach the principles of the SWPBIS program to students and the code

of conduct is reinforced throughout the day,
every day. Keystone’s SWPBIS model is
geared toward creating a safe and
enjoyable place to learn. There is a SWPBIS
assembly each month and special activities
to celebrate accomplishments. Students
who follow the SWPBIS code of conduct are
rewarded and can win prizes, including the
grand prize, lunch with Principal Wilicki.

MILL CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Fourth- and fifth-grade Student Council members “gathered”
on Google Meet to plan ways to help healthcare workers during
the COVID-19 pandemic. The students decided to donate $150
toward lunches and the Parent Teacher Council matched that
amount. With this generosity, they were able to order 85 boxed-
lunches from Jack’s Cold Cuts, who packaged and delivered
the meals to Lower Bucks Hospital.

ARMSTRONG
MIDDLE SCHOOL

Highly anticipated by the community
each winter, Armstrong’s Annual
Volleyball Night is hosted by the
Physical Education Department
teachers: Robin Whiteley, Jim
Diguiseppe and Jeff Whilhelm. After
students learned the game’s
concepts, strategies and skills in their
P.E. classes, they organized their own teams, created
names and unique uniforms, and practiced for the
annual tournament on their own time.

This year, the Tiger Techs designed and created

customized team shirts for the teachers with their Maker

Lab’s vinyl cutter. The tournament showcased team

spirit and friendly competition, and included

approximately 20 rounds of volleyball. Hundreds of

parents, Armstrong alumni and current students

cheered players on from the bleachers. The winning

student team went on to face the teacher team the

next afternoon during a school-wide assembly.

FDR MIDDLE SCHOOL

FDR Middle School invited Mrs. Smoose’s fifth-grade students
from Keystone Elementary to celebrate Digital Learning
Day. Held on February 27 this year, Digital Learning Day was
started in America as a way to actively spread innovative
practices and ensure that all youth have access to high-
quality digital-learning opportunities no matter where they
live.

With the assistance of the Tiger Techs, fifth-graders learned
about computer science options that are available at the
middle school level.
Students explored the
following technology
in the Innovation Lab:
laser cutting, Spheros,
LittleBits Circuits, LED Circuits, 3D design and modeling with
TinkerCad, 3D printing, augmented reality (AR), and virtual
reality (VR), such as creating VR environments in Sketch Fab
and exploring them.

TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL:
TIGER STRONG TEACHER

Name: Christine Welsh
Department: Social Studies
Subject/Grade Level: Western Civilizations (9th grade),
American Studies III (10th grade)
Extracurriculars: Co-advisor of the Key Club

Mrs. Welsh has been asset to Truman High School from the minute she arrived on campus. As a
teacher, she creates a warm, welcoming environment for her classes, and goes above and beyond
to build relationships with her students. Mrs. Welsh works cohesively within her grade-level teams and
with her co-teachers to create the best learning experiences for the school community.
Outside the classroom, she teamed up with Ms. Lamplugh to revitalize Key Club, which performs
multiple service projects throughout the community. From kindness messages to ice-skating
fundraisers, care packages for soldiers, a flag garden for veterans, the nature center cleaning project
and multiple blood drives, the Key Club not only serves multiple groups of people, but also instills a
service mentality if all of its members.
Many members of the school can see the great things she does everyday in the classroom, but she
has also transitioned beautifully to BTSD’s new practice of distance learning. In the uncertain time
period between the closing of school and the beginning of the official distance-learning sessions, Mrs.
Welsh consistently worked to update students and communicate with them to provide a vital
connection. In her virtual sessions, she can be seen offering support in multiple ways and at a variety
of times to enable her students to be their most successful selves.

CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF 2020!

SENIOR STRONG

Dear Class of 2020,

You worked hard and achieved so much in your time at Bristol Township
School District. Although the pandemic took away spring sports, prom,
awards nights, and even daily interactions with fellow students and
friends, do not let the pandemic take away your pride for everything
you’ve accomplished.

The BTSD community believes in your talents, spirit and potential, and we
can’t wait to see what your futures hold because we know they will be
bright. The Truman Class of 2020 is strong and resilient, and while times
may continue to challenge you, we know you will hold your head high
and move forward with passion and resiliency. Always remember, BTSD is
proud of you and we are here to cheer you on, today and in the future.

Congratulations on your graduation!

Sincerely,

Superintendent Melanie Gehrens, Ed.D., and Principal Lyndell Davis

CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF 2020!

SENIOR STRONG

Photos selected
from the Class of
2020 Instagram
account.

STAY CONNECTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

Check out BTSD’s photo album Class Follow ths.seniors20 on Instagram
of 2020 on Facebook to view the to view the college decisions and
senior door and window tributes. futures of the Class of 2020.