Weekly Newsletter - 9/19/26

On the first day with our staff, I asked a question that I plan to keep asking throughout the year:

If we were designing our schools today, would we do it this way?

That question is for our whole community.

Asking it does not mean changing things for the sake of change. It means looking closely at what we do and listening to different perspectives on whether there is a better way to serve our students, staff, and community. Often, the answer will be yes and we will keep doing it. When it is not, we should be willing to adjust, even if it is uncomfortable.

Good schools improve because the people in them keep listening and keep refining what they do. That is the work we will be doing this year.

In the coming weeks, you will hear more about how to take part in the QCSD Comprehensive Planning process. It is a chance for our community to talk about our goals and help shape the direction of QCSD.

As always, please reach out to me at any time with your thoughts or questions.

Proud to be QCSD,

Dr. Lisa Hoffman
Superintendent of Schools

*If you have any questions or ideas for content, please email us at communications@qcsd.org

September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind people that help is available. As part of this important observance, the Strayer Middle School Counseling Team — Mrs. Kristi Carlson, Mrs. Maureen Cloonan, and Mrs. Melyce Lucchesi — dedicated September 14th–18th as Strayer's Suicide Prevention Week, giving students opportunities to learn about mental health, recognize when someone may need help, and understand where to turn for support.

Health teachers Mrs. Nicole Jerrom and Mrs. Kim Rogers also incorporated suicide prevention into their seventh-grade health lessons. Students reviewed how to access the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and learned about Safe2Say Something, including how these resources can be used when they or someone they know may need help. Suicide awareness stickers were also made available to interested students in grades 7 and 8.

By bringing these conversations into both counseling and health classrooms, Strayer staff are helping students build the knowledge and confidence to speak up, seek help, and look out for one another. The effort reflects Strayer Middle School’s ongoing commitment to creating a school community where students feel seen, valued, connected, and supported.

Kudos to the team at Strayer!

Constitution Day is celebrated each year on September 17th to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution. But did you know the Constitution is only 239 years old, while the United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary? We stopped by Mr. Boquist’s Social Studies class at Quakertown Community High School to find out more.

Mr. Boquist explained that, despite the United States being 250 years old, the Constitution was not created in a single day. The United States initially operated under the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution was created to address some of the challenges with this first governing document. The Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia from May through September 1787, where delegates such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin debated how the new United States should be governed. Ultimately, that work resulted in the Constitution, which was eventually signed on September 17, 1787.

Students were given pocket-sized copies of the Constitution and challenged to complete a scavenger hunt by answering questions such as:

• Which amendment was the most recent to be ratified?
• Name three constitutional qualifications for a member of the United States Senate.
• List four powers of the President as outlined in Article II.
  
  

Thank you to Mr. Boquist for giving our students the opportunity to learn about the Constitution through such an engaging and hands-on activity!

There’s something special about welcoming families back into our schools! Back-to-School Night gives parents and guardians an opportunity to meet teachers and staff, visit classrooms, and get a glimpse of what's ahead for their students. After welcoming families at Quakertown Community High School and our elementary schools this past week, we’re excited to welcome our middle school families next. We hope you’ll join us and take the opportunity to get to know your student’s school!

Middle School Nights:

• Sixth Grade Center | September 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Parents and Guardians only.
  
  
• Strayer Middle School | September 23, 2026, at 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - This time has been updated. Parents and Guardians of 7th and 8th Grade only

Senior year is here—and with it comes some big decisions about life after high school! Whether your student is planning to attend college, pursue a trade, or explore other post-secondary opportunities, the QCHS Future Readiness Center is here to help you navigate the process.

Mark your calendars and join us on Saturday, September 26th at Alumni Stadium to see the Quakertown Panther Marching Band perform in Music in Motion. Music in Motion is an annual USBands marching band competition showcasing bands from across the region.

Admission: $15 for adults / $10 for students and seniors
Time: Gates will open at 4:15PM, and the event will begin at 5PM

Concessions will be available, as well as a 50/50 raffle, and more!

Join us for a night of information and community connections! This free event is open to all Quakertown Community School District ELD program students in grades Kindergarten through 12 and their families. Teachers and staff will be available to help you to fill out required school forms, access online registrations, or sign up for free adult English classes. Learn about community organizations and local resources. This is the night to ask all of your questions, and there will also be games and snacks for the kids.

When: September 28, 2026
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Where: Sixth Grade Center Cafeteria, 349 S. 9th Street, Quakertown, PA

To register, click here!

The QCHS Varsity Singers and Honors Choir have been invited to perform at the NAFME Eastern Division Conference in early April 2027—an exciting honor that recognizes the exceptional talent, dedication, and hard work of our student musicians.

This special invitation is also a wonderful reflection of the outstanding guidance and commitment of their teacher, Mrs. Camburn, whose passion for music and her students continues to inspire excellence.

We are incredibly proud of our singers and look forward to seeing them represent Quakertown Community High School on this special stage!

The Quakertown Community School District is proud to partner with the Cook Center for Human Connection and ParentGuidance.org to provide families with FREE monthly parenting and mental health resources, including a FREE Virtual "Ask a Therapist" session monthly, and monthly newsletters and online webinars to review.

We encourage you to take time to review these resources and take advantage of this great partnership. Click the links below to learn:

• September Newsletter - Suicide Prevention
  
  
• September 29th - Ask a Therapist Session
  
  
• Free Library of Webinars

Mark your calendars and get involved! We welcome members of the community to attend all our upcoming meetings in person at 100 Commerce Drive, Quakertown, PA, 18951, or join us online at our YouTube channel by clicking here!

Upcoming Meetings:

• Thursday, September 24, 2026 – School Board Meeting at 7pm
• Thursday, October 8, 2026 – Facilities & Finance Committee Meetings at 5:15pm
• Monday, October 12, 2026 – Education Committee Meetings at 5:15pm
• Wednesday, October 14, 2026 – Policy Committee & Student Activities/Athletics Meetings at 5:15pm
• Thursday, October 22, 2026 – School Board Meeting at 7pm

There’s nothing like the excitement of Panther athletics! Check out our athletic schedule and find out about upcoming games, matches, and practices, and come support our student-athletes in your finest blue and white!

Click here to visit the Quakertown Panthers Athletics website and view the full schedule to plan your next game day!

Whether you have a little time to give or are looking for a meaningful way to get involved, we invite you to share your time and talents with our schools.

Click here to learn more about how you can get involved!

Are you a proud Quakertown Panther alumnus? We’d love to stay connected with you! Take just 30 seconds to update your contact information and stay in the loop on the latest alumni news, upcoming reunions, special events, and opportunities to support future Panthers through student scholarships.

Click here to learn more!

There are so many amazing things happening in Quakertown. Check out and share our community page to learn about local opportunities, like joining our local GIRLS SCOUT TROOP! Click below to learn more, and be sure to email us your community opportunity to be a part of this great page:

Click here to learn more!

Explore what could be your next big chapter!