The Proud Panther

Dear QCHS Families,

It’s hard to believe we’re already in the final week of the first marking period. Our students have settled into their routines, and it’s been great to see the energy and effort in classrooms across the building. With just one week left, now is a great time to sit down with your student, check grades, and talk about any missing work. Teachers are always glad to help, and a little extra effort this week can make a real difference.

As we head into the next marking period, I also want to share a quick reminder about our morning arrival. Our doors close at 7:35 AM, and classes begin at 7:39 AM. Students who have not entered the building by 7:35 AM will be marked late to school. Arriving on time helps every student start the day calm, prepared, and ready to learn, so we appreciate your support in planning morning schedules with that in mind.

In partnership,

Dr. Mattias van 't Hoenderdaal
Building Principal

Quakertown Community High School

November

03 - Professional Development Day - No School for Students

03 - Senior Photos

06 - End of Marking Period 1

09 - Start of Marking Period 2

11 - Panther Schedule for Assemblies

17 - Powder Puff Tournament

18 - QCSD Board Meeting

20 - Multicultural Day Fair

23 - Pep Rally

23 - Fall Orchestra Concert

23 - Conferences

24 - Conference - Half Day for Students

25-27 Holiday - School Closed

An update from Ms. Conroy, 9th Grade House Principal

Congratulations to the Class of 2030 on officially kicking off their high school journey! We are thrilled to celebrate our newly elected 9th-grade class officers: Rachel Hattala, Anna Pfister, Bryce Sell, and Skyler White. We cannot wait to see these student leaders bring their energy, vision, and dedication to representing the Class of 2030!

As we head into the final stretch of the first marking period, ending on Friday, November 6th, we encourage every student to stay focused and finish strong. To keep the momentum going, we are launching a brand-new Class Challenge to help everyone get involved! Any 9th grader who participates in a school-sponsored sport, joins a school club, or takes part in the Music/Arts programs here at the high school will be entered into an end-of-semester drawing. Three lucky winners will receive a Dunkin’ or Chick-fil-A lunch delivered right to school via DoorDash! Let’s show our school spirit, take charge of our high school experience, and make this a fantastic year together.

An update from Mr. Bolinsky, 10th Grade House Principal

Dean Bishop

Ryan Fox

Colin Granger

Gavin Henry

Sean Kane

Jaycee King

Jaclyn Riccio

Macy Smith

Lawson Sweet

Angelina Valleley

Academic Updates
On October 29th, 10th grade students had the opportunity to take the PSAT here at QCHS. Registration information was shared with students through classroom presentations and online. Check in with Mrs. Sabol if you would like more information about future testing options.

The first marking period ends on Friday, November 6th, and it is hard to believe we are already nearing the end of the first quarter. Keep up the hard work, and don’t hesitate to seek out support to stay on track with graduation requirements.

Counselor Reminders
In addition to your credit requirements, remember to stay on top of your tasks in Career Ready. You will need at least 8 artifacts by the end of your junior year, and that will be here before you know it. This is a big Keystone year, with most of you testing in Literature and Biology in May. Proficiency on all Keystone exams is the easiest way to meet the Act 158 graduation requirement, but we have additional pathways if needed.

Remember to schedule a check-in appointment with Mrs. Sabol. Some of you have already stopped in to map out classes for your final two years of high school. Course selection information will be shared with you in January!

As always, remember to be kind!

Food Drive Time
Our donation drive is coming up soon! If you can, please start collecting non-perishable items such as canned soup, pasta, peanut butter, granola bars, crackers, and pancake mix. We’ll be holding a “friendly” competition with our rival Pennridge leading up to the Thanksgiving football game, so let’s take them on! Be on the lookout for more information around school about this awesome event.

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” — Peter Drucker

An update from Dr. Dinney, 11th Grade House Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Taking the Advanced Placement exam is an important part of every AP course, and Quakertown Community High School encourages all students to take the exams for the AP classes they are taking. Scoring well on an AP exam can often earn college credit, saving families a significant amount on tuition.

Don’t miss the deadline: register and pay before Friday, November 6th, to avoid the late fee.

Registration for the 2027 AP exams is completed online in two steps. Both can be done in one sitting when students and parents/guardians work on it together, and most students completed both steps in their AP class in September. Even if you do not plan to take the AP exam, you need to complete both steps to access the College Board’s AP resources. Both steps must be completed for AP exams to be ordered.

Step 1: Register at www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/394120. Here you will indicate the AP courses you are taking this year and the exams you wish to take. You will receive your join codes and directions for the second step. Exam fees are paid online, so be sure to have a debit or credit card available before beginning registration. Paying online confirms your payment and avoids mailing one.

Step 2: Use the join codes from Step 1 to enroll in your AP courses and exams in the College Board’s system.

Step 3 (Administrative): All students are initially marked as not taking the exam in the College Board system. Dr. Dinney will confirm payments on the Total Registration website and update the College Board site to show that the student is taking the exam. This is a manual step, so updates will not appear immediately after payment.

Fees: Each AP exam costs $103. AP Capstone courses (AP Seminar and AP Research) have an additional $52 fee. We want every student to be able to take their AP exams, so students who need financial assistance should contact Dr. Adam Dinney at adinney@qcsd.org.

Important Dates

• Tuesday, September 1, 2026, 11:59 PM: Registration opens
• Friday, November 6, 2026: Final payment deadline and last day for a full refund. A $144 per exam late registration fee begins at 12:01 AM.
• Friday, March 5, 2027, 11:59 AM: Registration closes
• Friday, April 30, 2027: Last day for a partial refund ($42 cancellation fee withheld)

Please contact Dr. Adam Dinney at adinney@qcsd.org if you would like to register for an exam not listed or have any questions.

An update from Ms. Lannutti, 12th Grade House Principal

An update from Mr. Gozzard, Future Ready Coordinator

Hello Junior Parents! Three quick updates for you:

Opt-Out of Student Contact Information
Under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Pub. L. 114-95, school districts must provide contact information for members of the junior and senior classes to military recruiters and higher education institutions that request a student directory. Students and families have the right to exclude their information from this list. To opt out, please visit the opt-out information page [link] for details and steps. The deadline to submit the opt-out form is Sunday, November 15, 2026.

Missed the Junior Parent Webinar?
Our October 27 webinar, “The College Planning Process: Timeline, Testing & Tips,” was recorded and is available on the QCHS Future Readiness website.

Dual Enrollment Update
Great news! The cost of each Bucks County Community College (BCCC) dual enrollment course has been reduced from $390 to $195. Students who missed the October 30 application session with BCCC and Harrisburg University can still apply. Please contact Mr. Gozzard for help. Students do not need to pay when they apply. Payment for BCCC courses will be due in spring 2027.

An update from Mr. Laiacona, Director of Athletics and Activities

Quakertown Community High School Winter Sports Registration is now open!

If this is your student’s first sport of the 2026–2027 school year, a completed PIAA physical form must also be submitted. Forms are available outside the QCHS Athletic Office, where completed forms can also be turned in.

Register for Winter Sports

Partnering for Student Success: MTSS Support Opportunities
At QCHS, we use a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework to ensure every student receives the targeted academic help they need to thrive. Whether your student needs to catch up on a challenging concept or stay ahead on coursework, we have dedicated time and staff available to help:

• Panther Prime: Daily from 7:15–7:35 AM
• Tuesday Tutoring: 2:00–3:00 PM in the library
• Extended Wednesday Support: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 2:00–4:15 PM in Room B109

Tips to Help Your Student Succeed

• Come Prepared: Have your student bring specific assignments, notes, or test reviews to each session.
• Focus on Small Goals: Encourage them to identify one topic or skill they want to master during their visit.
• Seek Help Early: Remind your student to drop in regularly rather than waiting until right before a major exam or project deadline.