Weekly Principal's Newsletter

In Mr. Murphy’s Story Maker class, students are diving into the exciting world of digital media production. Over the past month, they’ve learned how to record audio, download wave files, upload them to the Wonder Media website, and complete digital forms. Now, they’re taking the next step—working in teams to create their own “(T)Ed Talk” style monologues.

Students are also learning the foundations of scriptwriting, taking on real production roles such as Producer, Writer/Artist, Voice Actor, and Animation Puppeteer. Through this process, they’re building valuable skills in writing, collaboration, technology, and project management. Eventually, their scripts and voices will bring animated characters to life!

We are especially proud that four students have been chosen for advanced Zoom training directly from the Story Maker company. These students will become class leaders, guiding their peers in merging audio with student-created video animations.

Thanks to Mr. Murphy’s leadership and creativity, students are not only learning technical skills but also experiencing the joy of seeing their ideas transformed into animated productions. Stay tuned—a student YouTube channel may be on the horizon!

• October 1 & 3: Minding Your Mind Presentation in Health
• October 2: Holiday - School Closed
• October 7: Upper Bucks County Tech School - Assembly (8th grade students)
• October 14: BMX Bike Event (PBIS Incentive)
• October 20: K-12 Parent Informational Math Session
• November 3: Conferences
• November 4: No School for Students
• November 26-28: Holiday - School Closed

We will soon be distributing a student survey to gather valuable feedback on our school environment and Career Language Integration programs.

This year, we are expanding our student to include students in every grade from 4 though 12. This will allow us to track the progress of students who are surveyed in previous years and gain more comprehensive insights across all grade-levels.

A consent form is attached below. This is a passive consent form, which means you only need to return it if you do not wish for your child to participate in the survey. If we do not receive a signed form, your child will be included.

We appreciate your partnership in this important process.

We are excited to share that our school will be welcoming a special visitor! Kimber, a certified therapy dog, will be joining us for a trial period in the counseling office. Therapy dogs can provide comfort, reduce stress, and support students in building emotional well-being. During this trial, students who may benefit from Kimber’s presence will have the opportunity to spend time with her in a safe and supportive setting. We look forward to seeing the positive impact Kimber can bring to our school community.

PRIDE Period Update

Over the first several weeks of school, PRIDE has been used to support a range of schoolwide needs, including assemblies, benchmark assessments, MTSS interventions, special education services, and independent practice in math and language arts through IXL.

This past week, we held focus groups with parents, students, and staff to review past practices and gather input on how PRIDE can best support our students. These discussions highlighted interest in bringing back elements of PRIDE that provide time for students to complete schoolwork, while also maintaining a structured and purposeful period. Participants also shared great ideas for incorporating executive functioning related tasks, time for students to engage in clubs or wellness activities, and opportunities for community service. These suggestions will be considered as PRIDE continues to evolve throughout the school year.

Our goal with the updated PRIDE implementation plan is to balance what students find most valuable about PRIDE with dedicated time for independent practice in math and language arts through IXL. In addition, PRIDE will continue to support MTSS interventions and special education services, while also providing flexibility for assemblies and PBIS initiatives. The plan incorporates stakeholder feedback while remaining aligned with district and school goals to strengthen academic achievement.

I will share more details in next week’s newsletter about the updated plan, which will begin on October 6.

Our 7th and 8th grade students will be participating in the "Young Speaker Minding Your Mind" event October 1st or 3rd during their health class. The above link provides a detailed outline of this important mental health awareness program that has been presented at Strayer for the past several years. To help guide conversations with your child regarding mental health Minding Your Mind also has a parent resource page: Just Talk About It. If you have questions or concerns please reach out to your child's health teacher: Mrs. Rogers (7th grade), Mrs. Jerrom (7th and 8th grade) or Mr. Wilson (8th grade).

Book Recommendations for September:

• The Anxious Generation by: Jonathan Haidt
• The 5 Love Languages of Children by: Gary Chapman

The Request for Assistance Form should be completed if you have non-urgent concerns regarding an area of your student’s educational programming that may need attention from the school team. Submission of this form does not trigger immediate intervention, but it will alert the school’s MTSS team to review your student’s data and follow up with you regarding your concern.

Reporting Student Absences: Information on how to report student absences can be found under "Attendance Information" on our website.

Join the QCSD Team and make a difference in the lives of young people! Check-out the QCSD Employment Opportunities. Let’s build a bright future together.

We have lots of information on the community bulletin board. Please click here for the QCSD Community Opportunities.