News

Freshmen Visit Area Colleges

photo of 9th graders at local college

Thanks to Reading Area Community College (RACC), Penn State Berks, Albright College, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and Alvernia University for welcoming our freshmen to their campuses yesterday (and feeding them delicious lunches!)

Earlier this year, freshmen visited Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC), followed by trips to area businesses, with this field trip being the third and final one to help them formulate their plans for their remaining years of high school and beyond. We appreciate the great partnership between us and the Berks Business Education Coalition to help make these real-world experiences a reality for our students!

Exeter Grad Shares his Tales from the Red Carpet

photo of exeter alumnus Mitchell Rissmiller

"This is a full circle moment," said Mitchell Rissmiller, a producer for TODAY.com, the digital and streaming platform of the "Today Show," as he motioned to his former ETSH English teacher, Mrs. Lisa McCoy. "I took this class, and I simply wouldn't be the writer I am today without her."

Rissmiller, a 2015 grad, returned to Exeter today to inspire juniors and seniors (and field a couple of fun questions about celebrities) in Mrs. McCoy's Publications & Media class as they listened to his journey from Exeter, to college, and then to the red carpets of Hollywood as a Production Assistant for the "TODAY Show" and later as an Associate Producer for the "Drew Barrymore Show" before recently returning to NBC to produce segments for TODAY.com. Students soaked up his stories of the behind-the-scenes work that he coordinates to research celebrities and prep on-air talent and acquire the b-roll footage and graphics to accompany interviews. "Three months of work can go into a three-minute segment," he said, as he showed students a YouTube clip of a kitchen makeover he was in charge of producing on "The Drew Barrymore Show."

Although his discussion was mostly lighthearted, Rissmiller kept returning to the more serious theme of perseverance. Rejected twice by the "TODAY Show" for an internship, he finally landed with the network on his third attempt. "Rejection is going to come--and it sucks--but I use it for motivation. When you get rejected, you have to ask for feedback. Between that and a lot of hustle, it's how I got to where I am."

Exeter Publishes Draft of 2021-24 Comprehensive Plan

photo of administration building and exeter logo

During the ETSD Board of School Directors' April 19th Voting Meeting, Dr. Eric Flamm, Director of Teaching and Learning, presented the District’s updated Comprehensive Plan, which must be submitted to the state by August. The plan has undergone enhancements since it was initially presented as a draft in the fall. The plan is available for public review by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom row of buttons.

What’s a Comprehensive Plan?
Sometimes known as a “strategic plan,” a Comprehensive Plan lays out the District’s mission, vision, values and priorities by creating very specific steps and timelines to reach those goals. In education, these plans may include curriculum choices, benchmark and diagnostic assessment tools (e.g., testing), professional development plans, etc. A comprehensive plan looks at the District’s strengths and weaknesses as guideposts for development of the plan.

Why does it matter?
The Comprehensive Plan provides measurable goals and timelines to guide all of the District’s work with stakeholders: students, staff, administration, parents and the community. In short, decisions by the Administration and Board revolve around whether the outcome is in alignment with the Comprehensive Plan.

Can I review this plan and make comments on it?
Yes! The plan is available HERE. There are also paper copies of the plan in each building as well as at the Exeter Community Library. The public has the opportunity to review and make comments on the plan for 30 days. During the ETSD Board of School Directors Committee of the Whole meeting on June 7th at 6PM, Dr. Flamm will provide a report to the Board on public commentary before the Board votes on the approval of the plan at a later meeting.

To provide feedback, please contact Dr. Eric Flamm at epflamm@nullexetersd.org or 610-779-0700 x1030.

BCTC Student Wins State Health Occupations Competition

photo of Rachel Tschudy

Congratulations to Rachel Tschudy, a student at Exeter’s Cyber Academy and Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC), who placed first at the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Leadership Conference for her Health and Career Display. The HOSA State Leadership Conference is an opportunity for future health care professionals to come together, learn, compete and have fun. Rachel and her BCTC partner, Sydney Werner, a junior at Conrad Weiser, had to create a poster displaying a career in health care, as well as that career’s daily tasks, average salary, statistics and other relevant information. Sydney’s dad is an amputee and Rachel says that, “This, along with my interest in orthopedics, sparked the idea of researching a prosthetist.” Their poster consisted of two miniature 3D printed prosthetic devices, information about the devices–and lots of glitter! Rachel worked with the Mechatronics program at BCTC to make the 3D printed prosthetic devices. She said the hardest part of the project was designing the 3D models, but,“it was cool to see how medicine and technology can mix.” Rachel and Sydney’s event had two rounds of judging: the first where judges looked at the project, and the second where the competitors had to present a five-minute oral presentation about a more in-depth look into their project. Rachel says that she, “...was pretty nervous before we went in to present, but I was very confident in our display and presentation.” Now that they have won at the state level they will move on to compete at the national competition in Tennessee this June! 

Rachel, a sophomore, hopes that this experience will help her achieve her career goals. Following graduation from Exeter and BCTC, she plans on attending college and then medical school to fulfill her dreams of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.

-Thanks to Avery Burke for writing this article. Avery is an intern in the ETSD's Communications Department. 

Every Day is Earth Day at Owatin Creek

photo of 2nd graders at Owatin Creek tending to garden

Tomorrow may be Earth Day, but at Owatin Creek, every day seems like a celebration of nature with the school's eco-friendly focus. Each wing is decorated in its own season; school assemblies take place on nice days in the natural outdoor amphitheater; and the school has its own nature trail cams, outdoor classroom and walking trails. The school, which opened in 2011, also boasts an eco-conscious design with a geothermal HVAC system, energy efficient lighting and solar panels, earning it a Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) certification in 2012.

But what you may not know is that even the gardens at Owatin Creek are thoughtfully planted with the Owatin Creek APT, Wolf-Run Landscapes and Ridgewood Soils partnering with the school to donate their materials and time to install and plant a certified native garden. Since the garden was designed, installed and planted in 2016, all OC second graders go through a rite of passage (and get a little dirty) by helping their teachers maintain and care for the garden throughout the year--with several high school students returning in the summer to help with maintenance to earn community service hours. In addition to maintaining the garden by doing clean-up, edging and removal of dead plants, students also get their hands dirty and lay mulch to keep the garden at the entrance to the school looking its best. 

Second grade teacher Dani Jupina said that achieving designation as a certified native garden, which was provided by the Penn State Extension, is no easy feat and takes thought with the plant selection and how it impacts the natural environment--which are lessons 2nd grade teachers pass along to their students in this outdoor learning environment. "A native garden has plants that are native to this part of Pennsylvania. They help the pollinators, the birds--really, all of the things that are native to this area. These," she says, as she points to the garden, "are the plants they need to survive."

Intern Spotlight: Reagan Ginsberg and Western Berks Ambulance Association

photo of Reagan Ginsberg

Reagan Ginsberg is completing a for-credit internship with the Western Berks Ambulance Association. Her profile was written by Avery Burke, a communications intern for the Exeter Township School District.

Reagan Ginsberg is a senior at Exeter Township Senior High School and is the leader of Exeter Mini-THON. Outside of school she is enlisted as a member of the Army Reserves. Reagan is interning at the Western Berks Ambulance Association. 

Q: Why did you choose your internship program?

A: I chose this internship because I will be trained as a Combat Medic this summer with the Army, so this internship is allowing me to become accustomed to medical terminology and build lasting connections in the field.

Q:  What are some of the major projects you have worked on so far?

A:  I am an observer on the truck while they respond to advanced life support (ALS) calls and sometimes basic life support (BLS) calls. ALS calls are for paramedics when people need advanced skills to handle them: think traumas, cardiac arrests, or serious allergic reactions. BLS calls are for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), and this is when the patient is stable and just needs a ride to the hospital. Along with observing, I start flushes, attach leads or blood pressure cuffs, and really anything that my mentor is comfortable with me doing. I have seen patients of many age groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and genders.

Q: What have you learned so far during your internship?

A: Seeing the trauma patients allowed me some confidence with going into the military. Because of my internship, I know I can handle the sight of blood, needles, and open wounds.

Q: What has been your favorite and most challenging part of this internship?

A:  My favorite part of this internship is expanding my own knowledge about our surrounding communities. I am also very glad that I had the opportunity to surround myself with intense situations that the typical high schooler may not witness. A challenge at this internship was the hours. Many are unaware of how hard our EMTs and paramedics work for us. The minimum length of a shift is 12 hours, with many going until 18 hours. I have completed two 12 hour shifts, one being overnight, and it was certainly a challenge to adjust to. 

Q: What career do you hope to have one day? Is this something you have always seen yourself doing? 

A:  When I get out of the military, this is absolutely something I could see myself doing. I thoroughly enjoy every shift I am able to complete and look very much forward to it as a future career. Ultimately, I would like to be an emergency medicine physician for the military, but this internship, and potential career, is a significant stepping stone on my way to that career.