August 3, 2018
Hello MTC Families and Happy August!
We have been busy at MTC this summer, preparing for what promises to be another fantastic year!
I begin with the latest accolades...our school has been named Best Grade School by the Times Herald for the second year in a row!! Additionally, we have also received honors as One of The Best Preschools! These honors are so valuable to us, and we continue to work to continuously prove that we deserve these titles. As recent data shows, we are outperforming public schools, and our graduates are achieving great successes and going on to great high schools and great colleges, which makes an MTC education worth every sacrifice our families make.
To continue the upward movement of our school, I am excited to announce the new programs we are incorporating.
- We have added an SEL (Social and emotional learning) Curriculum in grades PK-5, which will only enhance the current morning meetings and respect curriculum that we have been implementing
- We have a new Religion series for grades K-8 from the Sophia Institute. This Religion series is ideal for young people as it tis designed to help them internalize faith and apply it to their own lives
- 5th Grade will have a brand new ELA series, Wonders, which is the same series they used in 4th grade
- Writers' Workshop: Teachers will be receiving PD and coaching throughout the year, to infuse writing across the curriculum
- Enhanced technology and engineering programs, including Robotics
- Middle School students will have a Journalism Special in addition to the existing specials
- New equipment for physical education classes
- And more to come....
Additionally, our staff is the key to the success of these programs, so I am pleased to announce the following...
- Middle School Science (grades 5-8): Please welcome Laura Gherca! Laura has a Master's degree in Secondary Science Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She has been teaching for 8 years at DelVal Charter School and in the Mastery Charter System. She has an extremely impressive track record in improving students' proficiency as well as using the Next Generation Science Standards and 5 "Es" to create lessons and curriculum that drive student success. She is a graduate of Lansdale Catholic, and thrilled to be back in a Catholic School. Laura truly embodies everything about the MTC mission and we are very blessed to have her join the MTC Family!
- STEM Coach: Ms. Cassandra Scholl will be adding this role to her teaching responsibilities! She will be working with teachers on integrating all things STEM throughout their lessons. She will also be working to form partnerships with companies to expose our students to these practices in the world, as well as STEM careers. She has been working diligently all summer to help our STEM program continue to improve
- Math: Mrs. Sana will be teaching Grades 4-6 Math, and Grades 4-5 Religion. The students in 4th and 5th grade will have a double block of math, one part of which will be used for instruction, lab, and small group resource. Ms. Kobishop will be teaching 5th grade Honors Math and Mrs. Dwinnell will be teaching 6th grade Honors Math
Updated Staff List K-8: I am thrilled at the amazing staff we have this year, and I know our students can truly be successful with this lineup!
K: Mrs. Natalini and Mrs. Schwegler
1: Mrs Leary
2: Ms. Walsh
3: Ms. Langenhorst
4/5: Ms Scholl
4/5/6: Mrs Sana
5-8 SS and 6-7 Rel: Mr Tamasitis
6-8 ELA: Ms. Natale
5-8 Sci and 8 Rel: Mrs Gherca
Math: Ms. Kobishop and Mrs Dwinnell
* Grade 1 will be split for Math and Reading, teacher TBA
* We are slowly moving grade 5 into the Middle School. This will start this year with the addition of more teachers throughout their day, and they will also have lunch with grades 6-8 (Lunch for grades 5-8 will take place from 11:35-11:55 and recess 11:55-12:15)
*Students will find out their teacher in PK and K at the orientation day
Construction: although it was unplanned, we have had more work done in the building. A flood caused all of the offices to be damaged by water, requiring new carpets and new furniture. Additionally our main lobby and hall has also been damaged, and will be worked on all weekend. There is also a new curb being installed out front of the main entrance, to serve as a barrier for future storms.
That is all for now. I hope our students are relaxing and getting ready for what will be the next great year at MTC. And of course...getting those summer assignments done!
May God continue to bless you through the rest of the summer and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!
Ms Pagan
|
|
Shaping hands, hearts and minds,
Christine Pagan
|
|
|
|
|
|
