(The following is a submission from North Penn School Board Director Juliane Ramic. The views expressed within are her own.)
Dear North Penn Community,
May is truly a momentous month. It is a time when we can feel both the excitement for the warmth of summer but also a little bit of strain as the calendars fill with assignments, projects, exams, concerts, and events as we approach the end of the school year. With all of this, it is the perfect time to reflect on all that we as a community have learned, celebrate our graduates, and continue our efforts to come together to support the needs, safety, and well-being of our North Penn students.
All of the events of May help us to prepare for June 11, which will mark the last day of school for all North Penn students and graduation day for the Class of 2024. Commencement activities give our North Penn community the opportunity to recognize and honor the lessons learned, the contributions of and the hope for the future for our 2024 graduates. When the day comes, please take a moment to congratulate our graduates and wish them well. Their futures are bright for sure, and they could not have gotten to where they are today without the support of our school personnel, parents, and members of the North Penn community!
Just as we begin our commencement activities for our senior class, we are preparing to welcome the Class of 2037! With nearly 760 kindergarteners registered thus far, we are eager to welcome our incoming class of kindergartners who will be the 6th class of incoming students who will benefit from full day kindergarten. We recognize that to be able to ensure the success of our graduates, the effort and investment begins at kindergarten and even before.
This school year, North Penn partnered with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) to open 2 "Pre-K Counts" classrooms with one at Bridle Path Elementary School and the other at Montgomery Elementary School. "Pre-K Counts" is a state-funded program that provides free half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to 3 and 4 year olds in Pennsylvania. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting those classrooms, meeting with the creative teachers, and engaging with our community’s youngest learners. Their eagerness to learn and their ability to welcome me into their classroom to enjoy a good book and some fun conversation, was the most perfect way to spend the day.
For the 2024-2025 school year, the District and the MCIU are planning to keep 2 sites in North Penn elementary schools while also looking to expand "Pre-K Counts" to additional sites within the North Penn Community. Feel free to use this link to learn more about "Pre-K Counts” and share with friends and family who might have children ages 3-5 who might benefit from this opportunity to support and encourage early learning.
Sincerely,
Juliane Ramić
North Penn School Board Director