Salisbury Press

For fifth grade students at Western Salisbury Elementary School, learning about blood and its importance came to life Feb. 8 as they organized and instituted a blood drive in the parking lot of the school as part of their science unit on body systems.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center brought the Wayne Leibensperger Jr. Memorial Bloodmobile to the parking lot of the school which brought additional meaning to the blood drive.

Despite the Salisbury Township School District being closed Feb. 7 due to snow and ice, the school directors met for their regular meeting 7:30 p.m. in the administration building.

No students or administrators were in attendance.

An executive session was held prior to the meeting to discuss personnel issues. All directors were in attendance with the exception of Carol Klinger.

Assistant Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten presented a draft of the 2018-2019 calendar for review by board members at the Jan. 29 curriculum and technology meeting.

Orientation for students entering kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades is tentatively planned for Aug. 27. The first day of school for all students is planned for Aug. 28.

Fuini-Hetten said a survey was given to parents regarding snow make-up days and 684 responses were received.

“The responses were 50-50,” Fuini-Hetten said.

Fifth grade students at Western Salisbury Elementary School are learning about blood and its importance as part of an extension of their science unit on body systems.

This science unit is part of teacher Kathy DeBona’s participation in the district’s #YourSalisbury goal. Librarian Barbara Jaindl worked as a teammate on the project and supplied resources for the students’ written reports.

A visit from Sharon Stephens from Miller-Keystone Blood Center Jan. 31 confirmed the students had done their homework and knew the importance of blood and its various functions in the body.

The Salisbury Township School District curriculum and technology committee met Jan. 29 at Harry S Truman Elementary School.

Board members were given thank you gifts from students at the elementary, middle and high school schools.

Teacher Jessica Shirk and four of her students - Reina Escobar, Jaiden Reyes-Turner, Ryland Lopez and Cassie Daw gave a presentation on their journey to creating a flexible seating classroom.

St. Thomas More had a number of activities the week of Jan. 28 to celebrate Catholic Schools Week including a celebration of military personnel. Students participated in a card project for veterans and current military personnel and had a special visit from Army veteran Tim Clark, of Wescosville.

Clark, 72, entered the service after he graduated from high school because he couldn’t afford to go to college.

Representatives from Arts Academy Charter Middle School, 1610 E. Emmaus Ave., Allentown, attended the Jan. 29 curriculum and technology committee meeting at Harry S Truman Elementary School to seek approval for the addition of a literary and media arts course.

Executive Director Bill Fitzpatrick said the new course would be for seventh and eighth grade students. It has been an after-school club for the students and interest continues to grow.

The first meeting of 2018 for the Salisbury Township Recreation Advisory Committee was held Jan. 15 at the municipal building.

Following a reorganization, Mark Wilson, representing the fourth ward, was voted as chairman, Pat Jacoby, representing the third ward, was voted vice chairman and Kim Ringhoffer, representing the first ward, was voted secretary. Also on the committee are Frank Adamcik, representing the second ward and Frank McCullough, representing the fifth ward.

Also in attendance was Recreation Director Genny Baillie.

We asked Santa Claus questions from some of our youngest readers who responded to our request on our Facebook page. What follows are the questions and Santa’s answers.

Q. What is your favorite cookie?

A. Chocolate chip.

Q. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

A. The Santa Clause, Santa Clause 2 and Santa Clause 3.

Q. Is it hard to convince the reindeer to fly?

A. No, not at all. That’s what the magic dust is for.

Q. Do you know how many children there are in the world?

Every year, orthodontist Dr. Aejaaz A. Issa asks his referring dentists to take the challenge of decorating a pumpkin for a patient at Lehigh Valley Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Health Network - Cedar Crest. This year’s event was called Ai Funny Fall Faces 2017.

Every year, the dentist offices respond with even more creative pumpkin designs than the year before.

This year was no exception with 50 decorated pumpkins returning to Ai Orthodontics for a judging contest in the office, on social media and with a number of local judges.