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TEEN SCENE: START Program: Students mentor community members in technology

March 28, 2012 By

by Lilah Dougherty (New Hope-Solebury High School class of 2013)

In the late fall of 2011, the START program, which stands for “Students Teaching Adults Resources and Technology,” commenced in the New Hope-Solebury High School library, bringing the students of New Hope closer to the community. The project is a coalition between our own school library, and the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury, bridging the gap between high school students and the elderly members of our society here in New Hope.

As we all know, our generation is advanced in our use of technology. We were raised to type on word processors, and we made our way to social networking at an early age. We glue ourselves to Apple products like iMacs and iPads, and we know how to maneuver Google inside and out. However, most senior citizens are behind in the technological age.

Therefore, about 15 of our high school’s students have been assigned an adult, and for one hour after school on Thursdays, we help them learn about technology, answering whatever questions they may have.

In early December 2011, the team at the New Hope-Solebury High School library prepared a presentation for a selected number of board members. We talked to the board members, the PTF president, and several administrators about the relevance of technology in education, including the use of iPads, interactive white boards, computers (both PCs and Macs), the library website, and iPod touches.

Because it is clear how important technology is in the lives of students today, high school kids are the most well suited technology teachers. The overall goal is to set adults up with Google accounts, helping them with emails and photos. However, some adults need skills as basic as typing, and some as advanced as tips on iPad usage.

As the program progresses, we hope to be able to instruct adult students on the utilization of the Bucks County Libraries website (www.buckslib.org). Also, we will be teaching the adults how to download e-books and audio books, therefore introducing senior citizens to the new age of reading.

The program will resume within the next several weeks, and we have high hopes that new adults will join us. This idea is not only about teaching people new skills; it is about creating relationships. Our hope is that friendships will be formed between high school students and elder members of society.

The leaders of the program, Mary Schwander of NHS and Barry Fettorolf of the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury, hope to match the students up with the same adult every time, therefore creating a more constant environment to form a bond.

In addition, START has the potential to grant students 10 hours of community service; therefore, it is a great activity to add to college transcripts. I joined START in the beginning and am thrilled to be part of such a positive service.

Overall, we hope to see new high school mentors added to the program, and we are thrilled to welcome new adult students to the START program of New Hope-Solebury.

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Filed Under: New Hope News Tagged With: , , , ,

A Woman’s Place is chatting…online

February 21, 2012 By

Got a question but you’re too afraid to ask? A Woman’s Place (AWP) is chatting online!

Thanks to generous funding received from Doylestown Presbyterian Church (DPC), AWP has launched a “chat line” that can be accessed through AWP’s Web site at www.awomansplace.org/teens, designed to offer youth a vehicle through which to access information about dating violence, how to help a friend, how to access supportive services, or address other difficult issues about youth dating violence and building healthy relationships.

“We look into the faces of youth every day and read the statistics,” shares Associate Director Ifeoma Aduba. “One in three teens experiences some kind of abuse in their dating relationships and more than two-thirds will never report this to anyone. When you are dealing with statistics like that, how can you not do everything possible to reach youth? They are our greatest community resource, our future. We must do everything we can to keep them healthy, for the well-being of our entire community. If they are online, we’ll do everything we can to reach them there. And, we are thrilled that DPC joined us in this effort.”

AWP’s partnership with DPC is cause for celebration. The faith community has a unique and critical role to play in ending the complicated and ubiquitous social issue of domestic violence. Faith communities may be the first and/or only place that a victim turns for help. The inclusion of faith communities like DPC is critical, particularly because they are charged with forming and informing the moral and ethical values of a community.

AWP’s partnership with DPC and other faith communities offers the opportunity to build new social understandings around healthy relationships and can be instrumental in developing safe and effective responses to violence in relationships.

The free, private, and confidential hotline (1.800.220.8116) is available 24-hours a day. You can also access information about AWP, domestic violence, and youth dating violence at www.awomansplace.org. Information about DPC, include worship times and outreach programs is available online at www.dtownpc.org.

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News Tagged With: , , , ,

Seniors stay connected as new computer lab keeps pace with Information Age

November 1, 2011 By

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From left, Joe Marino, Pat Schell, and David White in the computer lab.

by Maryanna S. Phinn

Although Morrisville Senior Center is located on a quiet street in the historic borough, many of its 400-members are quickly navigating the fast-paced world of the information superhighway. Thanks to the generosity of a former lifelong borough resident, the Center recently unveiled its new 12-station computer lab, which cost approximately $13,000 to complete. The old lab was no longer current, notes David White, a Morrisville resident who serves as the Center’s volunteer computer instructor. Morrisville’s new lab is considered the best of the 13 senior centers in Bucks County.

“We started a computer lab about nine years ago with donated computers. A local company also provided upgraded computers about seven years ago. But over time, the computers became outdated and started breaking down. It was becoming impossible to keep them going,” David explains.

[Read more...]

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Goodnoe Elementary School hosts Third Annual Technology Night

November 1, 2011 By

by June Portnoy

On Tuesday, October 18th, Goodnoe Elementary School in Newtown hosted its Third Annual Technology Night. The evening gave parents the opportunity to see the exciting ways the school is utilizing technology to teach students. Parents were welcome to attend up to three, 15-minute demonstrations of the various technologies used in the classrooms.

Fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Jennifer West, along with several student helpers, demonstrated SMART Response, new to the school this year. This interactive response system is directly connected to the SMART Board. With the click of a button on their wireless remotes, students can respond to a variety of questions on the Smart Board. Once students respond to these questions, the assessment software in the SMART Response automatically summarizes the results in a pie chart or bar graph. 

“This instant response enables teachers and students to see if the majority of the answers are correct or if further review is required,” said Mrs. West.

By seeing these results right away, teachers can immediately adjust their teaching to make sure every student in the classroom understands the lesson. The software also enables teachers to see which students have not yet answered questions, giving teachers an indication that a particular student might be struggling with that lesson.

Fifth grade teacher, Mrs. JoAnn Lawall, along with second grade teacher, Mrs. Donna Gerstlauer, and their student helpers, demonstrated enVision Math. This program was piloted two years ago at Goodnoe and implemented in third, fourth and fifth grade last year. This year it has been implemented in all primary grades.

[Read more...]

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , , , ,

LBCCC unveils newly-designed Web site

August 30, 2011 By

The Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce (LBCCC) unveiled its new Web site last month.

It was a much-anticipated event, and the culmination of a process that began last August when the Chamber’s Marketing Committee initiated the charge to develop a new Web site design for the Chamber.

Marketing Chair Tobi Bruhn, from Bucks County Community College Foundation, facilitated the designer presentations and worked diligently with the committee to choose the final design.  The committee chose time4design’s concept and began working with Wayne Anderson to build the Chamber’s site.

“We feel that the site’s new look is more streamlined and the design is easier to navigate to find what you need,” said Tobi.  “It is our goal to serve both existing and potential new Chamber members with the new site.”

Chamber staff worked with time4design to convert the information from the existing site and has been trained in WordPress to update the new site.

For additional information, call 215-943-7400, visit www.lbccc.org or personally at the Chamber’s offices, 409 Hood Boulevard, Fairless Hills.

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NFS honored with presentation at International Technology in Education Conference

August 30, 2011 By
NFS

 

Four recent eighth grade graduates from Newtown Friends School (NFS) took time off recently to make a presentation at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Annual Conference in Philadelphia attended by 17,850 educators from 63 countries.

ISTE spokesperson, Marlene Nesary, said NFS was chosen from among 2,200 applicants by a juried selection process. NFS, widely recognized for its use of advanced technology, also had in attendance 18 faculty and staff who took part in workshops on the use of iPads, GoogleEarth, digital citizenship, digital storytelling, podcasting, use of blogs, Skype and Web 2.0 platforms to connect with schools and students around the world.

On the final day of the conference, Kristen Sanchez, NFS Director of Curriculum & Integrated Technology, and the four NFS 2011 graduates made a presentation entitled “Powerful Portfolios: How to Implement a Digital Portfolio Process.”

The NFS students were Katie Hulihan of Newtown (attending Council Rock North), Max Klaver of Doylestown (attending George School), Jake Malavsky of Yardley (attending George School), and Evan Villafranca of New Hope (attending Central Bucks East).

[Read more...]

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , ,

NFS strides into the future

August 30, 2011 By

Welcoming students back on September 6th, Newtown Friends School embarks on a vibrant school year.

Students will return to the pre-k through eighth grade coed day school with an even more robust and challenging curriculum.  2011-2012 brings the Singapore Primary Mathematics program, a curriculum that follows the teaching style used by top-ranked Singapore and additional classroom hours dedicated to science with trained science faculty.

Students will also return to an enhanced technology program supporting iPads in kindergarten through second grade, three computer labs using both PC’s and Macs, a robust WiFi system, and smartboards.

Fusing a commitment to preparing students for the 21st century and a dedication to developing integrity, character and compassion, which are all hallmarks of a Friends education, Newtown Friends School begins the year with energy and passion for teaching young children.

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: ,

Green Jobs Academy: Training students for the future and getting people back to work

August 30, 2011 By

by June Portnoy

Between 2008 and 2010, southern Bucks County lost 23,000 jobs.  Once thriving manufacturing, chemical production and commercial construction industries had gone out of business.  With rising gas prices, increased energy costs and the aging of local production plants, green jobs are the future.

Thanks to a federal grant in 2010, Bucks County Community College (BCCC) established the Green Jobs Academy (GJA).  Today, the GJA offers classes at all three BCCC campuses, Newtown, Perkasie and Bristol.

Coursework consists of hands-on and traditional training in areas such as energy efficiency retrofitting, weatherization, solar technology, environmental remediation and green construction, to name a few.  The purpose of the GJA is to help people learn the new skills that they will need to pursue green vocations and move into the new green economy.  This is one of the only institutions of its kind in the region.

“The main benefit is that it helps people obtain jobs in a growing industry that offers the promise of advancement and sustainability,” says Chris Gillespie, Assistant Vice President of Continuing Education and Workplace Development at Bucks County Community College.

It also helps people make use of their current skill sets by training them to apply them in other areas.  For example, if someone has experience as a homebuilder or renovator, with a little training, they can specialize in weatherization to keep their business alive.  In addition, someone with an electrical background can receive training in solar energy and now have a new vocation with new credentials.  The GJA is also unique because it has an advisory board consisting of business leaders working in all aspects of the green industry.

[Read more...]

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“5 Things” coming to the Township Library of Lower Southampton

August 9, 2011 By

The Township Library of Lower Southampton is offering free classes on how to use the Internet to stay in touch with family, friends and your community this fall.  Come to the 5 Things Overview Session on Tuesday, September 13th and decide which class is right for you.  There will be a slide presentation outlining each topic and a chance to sign up early!  All classes are designed specifically for adult beginners with basic computer skills.  Classes will be held Tuesday mornings, 10-11:30AM at the library.  Class size is limited so beat the rush and sign up early at the Overview Session!

The 5-Things are as follows:

  1. Email Class – learn how to send notes and letters through the Internet to your friends and family.
  2. Facebook – learn how to set up your own Facebook account helping you connect to the people you know.  (Active email account required).
  3. Digital Photography – learn more about today’s digital cameras.  Take better pictures and get the pictures out of the camera and onto your computer.  (Camera provided).
  4. Photo Sharing – learn several easy and free ways that you can share your photos with family and friends.
  5. Blogs/Microblogs – Find out how to subscribe to a blog and share your own comments.  Learn the basics of starting your own blog.  (Active email account required).

Register for the Overview Session beginning on August 23rd at the Reference Desk or by calling the library at (215) 355-1183 x104.

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Change is good

August 3, 2011 By

Donna Allen (left) and Katie Craighead

Over the past two decades, newspapers have been on the decline in both circulation and revenues.  As we know, many have had to sell-out to larger corporate conglomerates, creating homogeneous publications and editorial styles.  That has not been the case for our group of papers here at Times Publishing Newspapers, Inc.

For the past 15 years we have steadily grown from just one small paper to eight papers with a paid circulation of 104,000 copies each month.  But we have seen the writing on the wall.  In order to provide our readers with a full buffet, we needed to add digital publishing to our mix.

In June we rolled-out with our exciting new Web site, www.timespub.com.  Here we offer local news and events with our special brand of “good news,” but with even more features than our publications can offer.  You’ll still find the breaking, features in print first but then you can find more on our site.

We’ve also created a whole new department and hired a Webmaster, Katie Craighead, to update our site daily.  Katie will be working with our editors to coordinate a diverse layer of print and digital news, events, calendars, photo galleries, videos, and much more.

A new feature to the Web site is the ability to upload your pictures for submission into the paper or on the Web site. Simply go to www.timespub.com and register as a new user.  Then upload your media submission to our site and we will contact you regarding publishing.

As we enter into this new realm of technology, bringing you all the “good news” that’s fit to print in our “simply real news” format, look for our new social networking opportunities.  I hope you enjoy this month’s printed edition, where you will find stuff that you can’t find anywhere else.

Stay cool,

Donna Allen, Publisher

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