Opportunity To Be Involved

To: Interested Community Members, Teachers, Administrators
From: Dr. William J. Gretzula
Re: Study Councils
Dated: September 23, 2009

Bensalem Township School District (BTSD) is ready to begin the process of studying for future action a number of existing initiatives. We seek volunteers to serve on various study councils, charged with researching and making recommendations regarding the following topics:

1. World Languages: Currently, we enjoy an interesting mix of world language opportunities for our high school students. Also, students at the middle school level have the opportunity to take Spanish I over the course of seventh and eighth grade. Students at the elementary school level were exposed to Spanish in third grade. It was anticipated the program would expand to fourth grade for the 2009- 10 school year; however, the elementary program was suspended due to the loss of our highly qualified teachers. The committee’s charge will be to review BTSD’s past and current implementation and to make recommendations for a district-wide World Language program that best prepares our students for the interconnected world in which they will make their way.

2. Full Day Kindergarten: BTSD is in the third year of piloting full day kindergarten (FDK) with one section of 17 students in each of our six elementary schools. This committee’s charge will be to review the District’s past and current implementation and to make recommendations for the future of the Bensalem kindergarten experience.

3. English as a Second Language (ESL): Bensalem Township has witnessed changing demographics particularly over the past five years. Subsequently, BTSD’s ESL population has grown from 80 students to approximately 400 students over the same time period. While BTSD is proud of the services it provides to students in need of ESL support, it is anticipated that it will need to be proactive to offer ESL support to future students of the District. This committee’s charge will be to research and make recommendations for an ESL program that meets the needs of all identified students in their school of residence.

4. Gifted Education: BTSD desires to challenge and support all learners as they determine their personal definition of success. The Bensalem community has been engaged in a year-long discussion regarding the best way to meet the needs of students identified of being in need of gifted education. Gifted Support looks different at each level. This committee’s charge has been to research and make recommendations for the future of the Bensalem Gifted Education Program.

All committees will begin work in October 2009 and will complete their work by March 2010. Interested in serving? Contact Susan Harder at the District Office, (215) 750-2800, Ext. 4100 by Friday, October 2, 2009.