The Patton Project

The Patton Project was conceived by Family and Consumer Science teachers, Betsy Ballard and Kimberly Hisler, at the start of the 2010-2011 school year. It began with an idea and then raising the necessary funds to build the initial 16 raised beds, now 22, and a greenhouse. In addition, a pergola is currently being constructed next to the raised beds and greenhouse. It was conceived of by Ms. Ballard and Ms. Hisler, designed by a UHS student with help and support from Mr. Berkeihiser and is being constructed by the high school tech ed class under the guidance of Mr. Linkmeyer.  Two high tunnels have also been added to the garden project and are currently under construction just off of the athletic fields. From the start, the students have been responsible for the building of the beds, filling, seeding, maintaining and harvesting the fruits and vegetables. Many of these items have been used in the FCS cooking labs, as well as over 2000 lbs being donated to the Kennett Food Cupboard. The beautifully shaped pumpkin is a result of their efforts. This is truly the fruits of their labor. The Patton Project students create lovely quilts, pillowcases, and pillow in addition to their work in the gardens. Teams of students create handmade items that will eventually be donated to sick children at AI DuPont Hospital for Children many of whom come from our own community. The pictures you see depict both the greenhouse, raised bed project and our first quilt and pillowcase donations made to AI Dupont by students and Ms. Ballard and Ms. Hisler. These two teachers are thrilled to have such caring and truly selfless students who care so much about sustainability and giving back to those in our community. In addition to their other activities, students learn about goal setting and spend time investigating possible careers. The culmination of this unit is a ten year plan where the students set realistic, achievable and measureable goals for the near and distant future. It gives them a leg up on the next four years with a clearer focus of what the time after UHS could be like for them!

Patton Faculty FIT!

Patton staff members know the importance of staying fit and have been proving it the last few months! Amidst the recent sadness and tragedy of events in Boston, we shouldn't overlook that Physical Education and Health teacher Mandi Quinn qualified for and finished the 2013 Boston Marathon - and in under four hours! In March, Teachers Kristie Replogle and Stacy Remphrey completed the Philly Fight for Air Climb, tackinlg the 50 floors and 1088 steps at Three Logan Square in Philly to raise money for the American Lung Association. And Patton teachers Matt Rusnak, Judy AnStrauss, HoneyBeth Kropp, Jen Gera, Wendy Landry, Shannon Freehart, Criss Bunting and Marcia DiGregorio also completed the recent 5K Run for Our Sons with Mr. Rusnak and Mrs. AnStrauss finishing tops in their age group! That's Faculty Fit!

Common Core State Standards

On Saturday, April 6, teachers from the Pennsylvania Writing Project Network -- including Patton English teacher Brian Kelley -- convened in Pittsburgh for a rich day of inquiry into the Common Core State Standards. The event was hosted by the Western Pa Writing Project and featured workshops on rigorous CCSS-aligned instruction and assessments conducted by the Institute for Learning. Find out more about this Day fo Common Core as well as a blog post by Mr. Kelley on his thoughts on writing driving CSS assessment.

Run For Our Sons Heroes

Kudos to Patton health teacher Marcia DiGregorio in helping make happen a fourth successful Run For Our Sons here at Patton MS on April 20. Mrs. DiGregorio, led by the tireless efforts of UHS teacher Joanna Johnson and with the support of the Patton Gives Back Club, the event has raised over $50,000 (and still counting!) for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy in their fight to end Duchenne and to help kids like Elliot and Henry and Johnson.

Patton Presenters

Patton Middle School faculty have been well-represented at local, state and regional conferences this year. 8th grade math teacher Stacy Remphrey presented "Got linear equations? Now, Let’s See What They Mean" at the NCTM Regional Conference in October while technology teacher John Walsh presented sessions on the use of Google Apps and Introduction to Twitter at the PAMLE Conference in February. Patton technology teacher Robin Martin also presented at the recent Google Apps for Education Summit in Virginia, discussing how to become a GAFE school.