A Drumline Director and a Grant for FWFC, Among This Week’s Local News

A look back at some local stories you may have missed over the last week.

  Upper Dublin graduate and Philadelphia Eagles Drumline Director Andrew Moffatt gives a drum lesson to Sandy Run Middle School students. A grant will help replace the fire company’s aging gear. Hatboro resident Cheryl Bremble, a former Upper Dublin High School teacher, has admitted to having inappropriate contact with a female student. Andre Dula pleaded guilty to third-degree murder following the July 2012 shooting death of a 27-year-old man near the North Hills train station.

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From Sandy Run, to the Linc, and Back

Upper Dublin graduate and Philadelphia Eagles Drumline Director Andrew Moffatt gives a drum lesson to Sandy Run Middle School students.

Sandy Run Middle School Band Director Sean Kennedy has been bringing professional musicians into his classroom for the past couple of months. Earlier this week, the school’s percussion students heard from the director of the Philadelphia Eagles Drumline … who once sat where they were sitting. It was under strange circumstances in which Kennedy reunited with his former student. He said his brother-in-law had given him tickets to an Eagles preseason game and when he looked up at the stadium’s monitor, he saw his former student Andrew Moffatt. “I was sitting there, and suddenly this drumline came out, so I started paying attention, and on the Jumbotron, there he was, playing snare drum,” Kennedy said. “I hadn’t talked to him in a couple of …

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Upper Dublin is Musically Sound

The school district gets a national nod for its music program.

  Late last month, Upper Dublin was recognized as one of about 300 school districts across the country for its outstanding music education efforts. The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) named the district one of the "Best Communities for Music Education for 2013." The Carlsbad, Calif.-based organization has been holding the “Best Communities” program for 14 years; more than 2,000 school districts applied for the distinction this year. How did Upper Dublin get involved with the NAMM program? Well, to quote school board member Art Levinowitz at a recent meeting, “[Middle school band director] Sean Kennedy was very instrumental in us receiving this award.” (Don’t worry — the quote drew groans from the crowd.) Kennedy was …

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Sandy Run Students Clean up at Science Fair

Several Upper Dublin students earned honors at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science event.

Eleven Sandy Run Middle School students presented their science research projects at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science regional science fair at Cheltenham High School last weekend.  According to the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science website, the PJAS is “a statewide organization of junior and senior high school students designed to stimulate and promote interest in science among its members through the development of research projects and investigations.”  Earning third-place awards were: Earning second-place awards were: Earning first-place awards were: The first-place award winners will participate in the 2013 PJAS State Competition at Penn State University’s State College campus on May 12, 13, and 14.

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Principal Urges Sandy Run Students to Collect Box Tops

The Sandy Run Middle School PTO will collect and count box tops next week.

Sandy Run Middle School Principal Denise Falconi urged students in a PTO email to collect and send in General Mills Box Tops and Campbell’s Labels for Education UPCs. Falconi said the PTO will be collecting the items and counting them next week. From the email: "In a time where the school district budget is tight, these Cash Back Programs are a great way to supplement the school's income," Falconi said. "If approximately half of our Sandy Run students, 500 students, collected just 5 Box Tops per month for a year and sent them in to school, Sandy Run would receive $3,000 from General Mills!  Imagine how much we could earn if every family started collecting Box Tops and sending them in.” The Upper Dublin School District is facing a budget …

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Valentines for Upper Dublin Cops, Firefighters

Upper Dublin School District students brighten the day of the township's first responders.

It was Valentine’s Day for more than the students of Sandy Run Middle School. Sandy Run student council students greeted representatives from the Upper Dublin Fire and Police departments on Wednesday afternoon after school. The reason? To wish them a happy Valentine’s Day. Students presented Upper Dublin Director of Fire Services Greg Breyer and Upper Dublin Police Officer Mike Ciuffetelli and Police Cpl. Jim Ahrens with handmade valentines as well as care packages that included everything from oatmeal, to hot chocolate to snacks. Students asked questions to Breyer and the two police officers.  "Does the fire department respond to 'cat calls?' one student asked. "If a cat got up there, he can get down," Breyer said with a smile. Student …

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Sandy Run Holds Cyber Awareness Café

The school's family and consumer sciences teacher (FCS) holds a forum focused on online safety.

  Sixth graders from Sandy Run Middle School in Upper Dublin attended a Cyber Awareness Café event on Friday, which was created to give students a fun, educational and open forum for discussing their transition into an online world.  The event included informational videos, as well as question-and-answer sessions focused on helping students identify and avoid situations that could threaten their safety in an online world.  The event was spearheaded by Stephanie Colletti, a family and consumer sciences (FCS) teacher at Sandy Run.  “While many people still think of FCS as simply ‘Stitch and Stir,’ this is overly simplified. FCS at the middle school now teaches budgeting and investing, unit pricing, career research, ages and stages of child …

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FCS teacher

11:35 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013

Thank you for your feedback! As an FCS teacher, I feel very fortunate that I am able to teach a curriculum that brings the "Real World" into the classroom and extends beyond the classroom. As per cafes for the 7th & 8th - 8th grade Cafe - scheduled -January 18th 7th grade cafe - January 25 In an effort to continue the “internet safety conversation”, I have sent follow-up emails to all 6th grade …   more ›

UD Student Pictures Found on Porn Website

Upper Dublin Middle School and High School students pictures have been found on a porn website.

Upper Dublin middle and high school student's pictures have been reported on pornographic websites, according to ABC Phliadelphia. "A parent told Upper Dublin police that innocent photos posted on Facebook of eight to ten teenage girls who are friends have been copied without authorization, in effect hijacked, and have ended up on a commercial website called Jailbait.com." Several of the girls are reported to be students at Sandy Run Middle School. However, students from other schools may also be involved. The investigation into this claim is just beginning. In an e-mail from the District Superintendent, Dr. Michael Pladus wrote, "This past week, however, has, again, served as a reminder of our need to continue to educate and be vigilant …

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Stacey Margo

9:28 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013

@Dresher Mom, regardless of who posted these, it's evil and never the victims fault. The consequences of bullying may have tragic consequences: how many victims have felt the need to commit suicide following such? Even one is too many and we know the number far surpasses that. In any event, my comment was directed to Adam's: insinuating the girls posted the pics themselves for attention is …   more ›

Upper Dublin Middle School Teacher Harassed by Student

Sandy Run Middle School teacher says a threatening e-mail was sent to his wife.

A Sandy Run Middle School teacher has become the victim of ongoing harassment from at least one anonymous student, according to a Whitemarsh Police report. The man, who works at the middle school but lives in the Fort Washington section of Whitemarsh Township, reported the harassment to Whitemarsh Police on May 22nd. In a report from that department, the teacher says that he had been receiving various messages on an Upper Dublin website, with some saying that he "should kill himself." According to the report, the teacher originally chalked up the messages to kids being kids, until his wife also received an e-mail on her personal account on May 21st. That e-mail questioned the teacher's sexuality, suggested that his wife divorce him, and …

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AUDIO: Parents Question St. Mary's Students Records, Recent Incidents

Parents questioned Upper Dublin School District Superintendent Michael Pladus, Sandy Run Middle School Prinicpal Denise Falconi on St. Mary's and their students on Tuesday night.

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