News

Exeter Alumnus to Star in Documentary

On Saturday, catch Exeter alumnus, Phil Pinti '01, as he makes his debut in the extreme sports documentary, "A Long Way from Nowhere," which will be shown at the GoggleWorks theater on Saturday at noon. In the documentary, Pinti, who went on to graduate from West Chester University and serve in the U.S. Marines, is featured as one of several ultra runners who participate in the grueling 150-mile Desert Rats race, which takes place during the summer in the southern Utah desert. Following the screening of the documentary, Pinti plans to be on hand to discuss the documentary and the race with those in the audience.

Pinti currently lives in Maryland with his two children, Penelope and Nolan, where he works for the Department of Defense when he's not participating in races and other adventures. To learn more and buy tickets for the show, please click HERE.

Patricia Phile Finalist for County Teaching Award

patricia phile receives annie sullivan nomination

From left: Lorane Elementary Principal, Mrs. Karen Hodge; Superintendent Dr. Christy Haller; Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Dawn Harris; Annie Sullivan nominee Mrs. Patricia Phile

The District is so proud to recognize Mrs. Patricia Phile and her nomination for the BCIU’s Annie Sullivan award, which recognizes local educators for their service to students with special needs. Mrs. Phile–or Miss Patty as she’s affectionately known–is a 20 year veteran of the Exeter Township School District, where she works as a paraprofessional to support students with social, emotional and behavioral needs. Miss Patty works at Lorane, and was nominated by the school’s principal, Mrs. Karen Hodge, who said, “Miss Patty understands and tailors her support to help and encourage all of her students… She exudes positivity and promotes joy to her kids and to adults, alike, even during difficult times and long, challenging days… She delivers her academic support with the same enthusiasm and encouragement as a classroom teacher. She tactfully coaches students to take academic risks and promotes a true love of learning.” Mrs. Hodge continued, "As her building principal, Miss Patty is the warmest, kindest individual I have ever worked with... I am so grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge Miss Patty’s work today amongst all the wonderful examples people like her have on special education here in Exeter." 

When thanking the Board for recognizing her work, Miss Patty reflected back on how losing her mother to cancer before she started kindergarten and how her son’s struggles with dyslexia while growing up shaped her professionally and allowed her to become a more understanding and supportive educator. "(My son's dyslexia) journey has enabled me to want to help students in need, to spur them on, and to share the wonderful world of knowledge with them so that they, too, can become a success in academics as well as in their lives," she said. 

We are so honored to recognize Miss Patty and her tremendous work and caring support of our students, and we are grateful that her work was recognized among her peers at the county level. Congratulations Miss Patty; we are so lucky to have you here in Exeter! 

Exeter bids “Auf Wiedersehen” to German Students

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A group of German students thank Exeter at the end of their stay by creating a bulletin board at the Senior High school. 
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For a classroom presentation, German students set up a pretend cafe in the senior high where Exeter German I students practiced speaking German by ordering food.
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German students and their Exeter student hosts. 
Right before spring break, Exeter bid a fond "Auf Wiedersehen" to 16 German students and two chaperones who were welcomed by host students and their families to experience school and life here in Exeter. Besides visiting New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. as a group, German students enjoyed some of the simpler enjoyments of American life, such as their first visit to Target and trying new foods and experiences with their Exeter host families--including trips to Amish Country, the Pagoda, Centralia and the King of Prussia Mall. They also were lucky enough to visit during the senior high's production of "Matilda" and the basketball state championship game in Hershey. In exchange, Exeter students loved classroom presentations given by the German students about their school system, political system, and more about their food, culture and history in the classes that they visited during their two-week stay.
 
Along with English teacher Mr. Robert Wickstrom, German teacher Mrs. Carolyn Woodford organized the Germans' stay and said that one of the things that she truly appreciates about the experience, which Exeter has been a part of for more than 30 years, is how it allows Exeter students to take new pride in their school and community. "The best way to experience another culture is to be a part of it. Host families made sure that our guests experienced a wide variety of activities, many of which were school-related and allowed our students to deepen their school pride and see everyday things through a new perspective," she said. "Our students have had the unique opportunity to form friendships that can potentially last a lifetime and lead to more visits in each other's respective countries. This program cannot be taught--it needs to be experienced!"

Jacksonwald Students Step Back in Time

students sit in one-room schoolhouse

Students at Jacksonwald stepped back in time today as they visited Exeter's one-room schoolhouse at the corner of Oley Valley Turnpike and Route 562, located just steps away from where they currently learn and play. The school, which opened to Exeter Township students in 1st through 8th grade in 1870 (closing in 1937), still features wooden desks with spaces for ink wells, pot-belly stoves and other artifacts from the era, all of which modern-day Exeter students ogled over as they discovered just how different school was more than 150 years ago. As principal Matt Hathaway led the discussion, he asked students what they thought was missing from the schoolhouse besides computers and smartboards. "Lights!" responded one third grader. "A bathroom!" responded another, as students throughout the room made grossed-out sounds of disgust.

Although select grades and classes from Jacksonwald have visited the one-room schoolhouse throughout the years, this was the first time in recent memory that all students from the school were given the opportunity to visit and learn more about the history of the school during a single day. Principal Matt Hathaway said that many students never knew what the building was until today, and he doesn't think they'll soon forget the experience of walking into the one-room schoolhouse or envisioning what it was like to learn in the late 1800s and early 1900s. "Hours after they visited, students were still talking about the experience in their classrooms and wondering what it was like to learn as an Exeter student back then," he said. "It was truly a great experience for them and a wonderful way to expose them to our rich history right here in Exeter."

Owatin Creek Places First in Berks K’Nex STEM Challenge

owatin creek team poses with their k'nex design

"The Blue Takis" from Owatin Creek with their solar charging recycling robot

lorane team poses with their k'nex design

"The Lorane Drops" from Lorane with their eco-friendly carwash

jacksonwald team poses with their k'nex design

“The Soaring Eagles” from Jacksonwald with their sustainable greenhouse

Using K'Nex and loads of imagination and intellect, Exeter teams from each of our elementary schools competed in the STEM Design Challenge at the BCIU this week. Placing first in the competition against 44 other elementary schools from across the county was Owatin's team of Nora Hart, Owen Kercher, Avery Manndel and Olive Weis who designed a solar charging recycling robot! Meanwhile, Jacksonwald's team of Abraham Cepeda, Bradyn Gowdy, Katie Nguyen and Anniston Stevens created a sustainable greenhouse, and Lorane's team of Anthony Cocchimiglio, Drew McClain and Shashanth Tummeti designed an eco-friendly carwash. Owatin's first place finish may allow them to compete with other winners across the state in Harrisburg this spring! We're so proud of these Eagles for their teamwork, brain power and problem solving ability! Congratulations to them all!

Reiffton Hosts Career Fair for 6th Grade

Parents, relatives and friends from area businesses shared more about their work to help students in 6th grade learn more about what it's like to work as a hairstylist, engineer, physical therapist or CEO during last week's Career Fair at Reiffton. More than 30 different volunteers from all different careers both in and beyond Berks spoke to students about their daily work, educational journey and offered advice to interested students. As students learned more about each career, they completed a "career passport," giving each occupation a thumbs up or thumbs down as they jotted down notes and thought about what it might be like to have that particular job when they grow up.
 
Our thanks to the many amazing volunteers who gave up part of their workday to share their careers with our 6th graders, and for Reiffton's school counselors, Mrs. Ricci and Ms. Seeberger, for organizing the very popular event, which they hope to continue next year as a new annual tradition at Reiffton!