Dear School Community:

Graduation is only a few weeks away, and the school board would like to extend our congratulations to all of our students and their families. May has been a full month of presentations at our board meetings, and we'd like to thank the 6th Graders and their teachers for sharing their CARES project with everyone on May 13th.

Congratulations to our Jenkintown Theatre Arts students and teachers who won Best Musical, Best Ensemble, Best Small Ensemble, Best Lighting and Best Stage Production for their spring show "Alice by Heart" at the Independence Awards held this week.

The board also appreciates all of the community feedback we've received over the last year. Your voices are important to us as we strive to improve our students' educational experiences. In case this newsletter reaches everyone after the Color Day festivities - GO REDS! GO BLUES!

Warmly,

Dr. Megan O'Brien, President
- but mostly REDS!

Congratulations to our 6th grade students and teachers who gave a wonderful presentation on Elementary School Cooperation, Acceptance of Others, Respect, Eagerness to Learn and Safety (CARES) program. Students shared short videos they created demonstrating some of the CARES principles in related to picking up trash in the cafeteria and being kind to others.

Mr. Tom Roller, MS/HS Principal, and Dr. Chris Jahnke, ES Principal reviewed the results of the school district's second annual PBIS climate survey. The PBIS Climate Survey tool is a nationally normed survey for families, students and school staff.

At the Board work session on Monday, May 13th, the board reviewed and discussed only the agenda items. No votes were taken.

At the Board business meeting on Monday, May 20th, the Board reviewed and approved only the agenda items and reporting provided in BoardDocs, including the following:

• Appointment of board member Lisa Smith as our voting delegate to the Pennsylvania State Boards Association Delegate Assembly in the fall.
• Approval of a resolution for Ms. Karen Ovington and Mr. Mike Nickerson to request a Public School Facility Improvement grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
• Approval of contracts with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) for data and information services needs.
• Approval of the 2024-25 School Calendar

All items can be reviewed in detail at Agenda - 250 West Avenue | Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 19046 | 215-885-3722 BoardDocs® LT

Ms. Karen Ovington, our business manager, gave a presentation on the proposed final budget for the 2024-25 academic year. Ms. Ovington will share the district budget information at the Jenkintown Borough Council Meeting on Wednesday, May 22nd. Budget information will be posted for public review before the final vote at the June board meeting.

https://www.jenkintowndrakes.org/proposed-final-budget-2024-2025-school-year/

Monday, June 3rd, 6:30pm - MS Parent Orientation

Wednesday, June 5th, 7:00pm - 6th Grade Performance

Friday, June 7th, 6:00pm at Town Square - Jenkintown Pride Flag Raising and Celebration

Monday, June 10th, 6:30pm - School Board Finance Committee Meeting

Monday, June 10th, 7:00pm - School Board combined Work Session and Business Meeting

Wednesday, June 12th - 6th Grade Graduation

Thursday, June 13th - High School Graduation

Thursday, June 13th - Last Day of School

The Pennsylvania Treasury Department is celebrating 529 Day (May 29) throughout the month of May! Families who save with the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) have the opportunity to win some of more than $30,000 in total awards.

Families who open a new PA 529 GSP account and make at least $10 in contributions between May 1 and May 31, 2024, will be eligible to win one of two statewide awards of $5,529 – enough to pay for a year’s tuition at a Pennsylvania community college – or one of six regional awards of $2,529. Families already saving with a PA 529 GSP account are also eligible to win a top award of $5,529 if their account had a balance of $10 or more as of April 30, 2024, and they make an additional contribution of at least $10 during the month of May.

Our regional CTE (Career and Technical Education) school, Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT) is offering summer programs for 10-13 year old students in Design, Photography & Illustration Arts and Culinary Arts in association with the YMCA of Willow Grove. There will be 5, one-week sessions. Students residing in Eastern's districts will receive the member rate. Please click on Summer Fun picture to register.