L to R: Jennifer Wilson, Ann Glock, and Betty Gilmour

At a special reception, the Union County Community Foundation granted $804 to the Green Dragon Foundation to purchase additional science kits for students of Kelly Elementary School.  Presenting the grant were Jennifer Wilson, President & CEO, and Betty Gilmour, Director of Grantmaking, of the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania.  On hand to receive the grant was Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Green Dragon Foundation.

•  The Pittsburgh Business Times released its annual ranking of school districts in Pennsylvania based on the previous year’s total PSSA Scores.  Lewisburg achieved its highest ranking ever by moving up to 16th in the state.   This places us in the top 4% of school districts for student achievement in Pennsylvania for the third year in a row!  Please note that we are among the highest performing districts in suburban Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.  You may read more about the Pittsburgh Business Times Rankings by visiting the following website:http://www2.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/events/2012/school_guide/statewide-ranking-information.html
• U.S. News and World Report just released its 2012 ranking of the Best High Schools in America.  Lewisburg received a Silver Medal and is among the top 4% of high schools in the nation.  LAHS ranks 803 out of the 21,776 public high schools in the United States.   Additionally, we rank 15th out of 752 public high schools in Pennsylvania, which places us in the top 2% of the state.  These rankings are based on the 2009-2010 achievement data.  Schools are evaluated on the percentage of all students scoring proficient or better on the PSSA Reading and Math Exams,  the percentage of economically disadvantaged students scoring proficient or better on the PSSA Exams, the number of students taking AP or IB courses, and the percentage of students receiving a passing score on the AP or IB Exams.  You can learn more about the U.S. News Rankings by viewing this link:  http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/pennsylvania/districts/lewisburg-area-sd/lewisburg-high-school-17063

• The Lewisburg Area School District has been designated a “Best Community for Music Education” for a second consecutive year!  The NAMM Foundation recently announced the results of its 13th annual Best Communities for Music Education survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the country for their commitment and support for music education as part of the core curriculum.  Established in 1999, The BCME survey is a nationwide search for communities that provide access to music education as an essential part of a complete education and exemplify commitment and support for music education.  Schools receiving the “Best Communities” designation scored in the 80th percentile or higher in the survey’s grading process. Participants answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time and support for the music program.  You can read more about this recognition and review the complete “Best Communities for Music Education” roster at  www.nammfoundation.org

2012-2013 Link Crew Leaders!

Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, Lewisburg Area High School (LAHS) will completely revamp its freshmen orientation by implementing a program called “Link Crew, in which thirty junior and senior “Link Leaders” help ease the transition from middle school to high school for 132 students.

Link Crew is a proven high school orientation and transition program that trains upperclassmen, known as Link Leaders, to act as mentors and positive role models for freshmen.  According to Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Green Dragon Foundation, “the organization provided $8,000 for the start-up of this exciting initiative.” These funds enabled Ron Hess, school counselor, and Melissa Yankowski, Spanish teacher, to attend a three-day training in Columbus, Ohio, where they learned how to bring Link Crew to LAHS.

Yankowski and Hess recently welcomed the inaugural group of 30 Link Leaders.  According to Hess, “These student leaders are representative of a diverse social group of Lewisburg students.  There were more applications than we could accept for these roles.”

According to Yankowski, “Student leaders will attend their first training session on May 16.  They will be shown how the Link Crew program works and will go through extensive training on topics covered during freshmen orientation.”  She continues, “An additional three days of training will occur in August before school starts.  Two Link Leaders will be assigned a group of ten freshmen for orientation, and will continue to foster those relationships with peer-to-peer mentoring throughout the year.”

Hess  described the program saying, “From day one freshmen will have upperclassmen who are advocates for them.  It is going to be a lot of fun and will change the lives of both the freshman and upperclassmen – as well as the culture at the high school.”

“After the initial investment by the Green Dragon Foundation to launch Link Crew at LAHS, the foundation has pledged its annual support for this critical initiative,” stated Glock.

The Green Dragon Foundation looks forward to following Link Crew as it gets underway and documenting positive changes in student behavior and attitudes.  Glock adds “Gifts from donors such as the LAHS Class of 2010 enabled the Foundation to fund this innovative program.  We are grateful to them.”

Individuals or businesses wishing to volunteer or donate can click “Make a donation today” or call the Foundation’s office at (570) 522-8433.

Thanks to funding from the Green Dragon Foundation, Lewisburg Area High School (LAHS) students recently visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) at the conclusion of their WWII/Holocaust unit for Advanced Placement European History.

The students had the opportunity to meet Freddie Traum, a Holocaust survivor.  According to LAHS teacher, Jennifer Boyer-Switala, “This was a very powerful experience for the students. It is one thing for me to tell them about the horrors, but for them to listen to a survivor – to hear, some six decades after the fact, his voice crack as he told us about the last time he ever saw his parents alive – that truly resonated for the students.” She continues “It is virtually impossible to walk out of the USHMM the same person you were when you walked in. It inspires students to action…many even signed a pledge to help stop genocide before they left.”

Opportunities such as this are critical to the education received by our students.  Boyer-Switala states, “These students are our hope to put a stop to genocide, and they have a vision when they leave the museum of the importance and necessity to work toward a just and peaceful world.”  She concludes “I’d like to thank the Green Dragon Foundation for the amazing opportunity!”

Information about Freddie Traum can be found at http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/survivoraffairs/meet/detail.php?content=traum-a .

The Green Dragon Foundation provided more than $10,000 for student field trips and academic competitions.  Donors wishing to provide more experiences like this for Lewisburg students can make a financial contribution by clicking on “Make a donation today” or call the Foundation’s office at (570) 522-8433.

The Green-Spring 2012

Ron Hess, LAHS counselor, and Melissa Yankowski, LAHS Spanish teacher, are the new Link Crew advisors at LAHS

This August on the first day of school as 132 Freshmen walk through the doors of Lewisburg Area High School they will not be alone. Thirty Junior and Senior “Link Leaders” will be standing behind them to ease the transition from middle school to high school.  Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year LAHS will completely revamp its Freshmen Orientation by implementing a program called “Link Crew”.

Link Crew is a proven high school orientation and transition program that trains upperclassmen, known as Link Leaders, to act as mentors and positive role models for freshmen.  According to Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Green Dragon Foundation, “the organization provided $8,000 for the start-up of this exciting initiative.” These funds enabled Ron Hess, School Counselor, and Melissa Yankowski, Spanish teacher, to attend a three-day training in Columbus, Ohio where they learned how to bring Link Crew to LAHS.

Hess reported that the next steps to be taken in the coming months, include identifying and choosing 30 Link Leaders who will berepresentative of all types of students.   Yankowski adds, “They will participate in two days of training in August and then two Link Leaders will be assigned a group of ten freshmen for orientation as well as continued communication and peer-to-peer mentoring
throughout the year.”  Hess described the program saying, “From day one freshmen will have upperclassmen who are advocates for them.”

“After the initial investment by the Green Dragon Foundation to launch Link Crew at LAHS, the foundation has pledged its annual support for this critical initiative” stated Glock.  Yankowski and Hess add, “We expect that Link Crew will bring about a culture
change at LAHS and that the program will become an integral part of the school
community.”

The Green Dragon Foundation looks forward to following Link Crew as it gets underway and documenting positive changes in student behavior and attitudes.  Glock adds “Gifts from donors such as the LAHS Class of 2010 enabled the Foundation to fund this innovative program.  We are grateful to them.”

Alumni Weekend 2011 participants from left to right: Rob Black '68, Lisa Walters Black '76, Bob Harder '55, and Helen Beckman Donahoe '55.

Back by popular demand, the Lewisburg Area High School Alumni Association, in partnership with The Green Dragon Foundation, is planning an ALUMNI WEEKEND for alumni, family, and friends of the Lewisburg Area School District to be held September 28 through September 30, 2012.  

According to Barbara Baylor, Co-Chair of the planning committee, “Multiple activities will take place throughout the weekend including favorites from last year such as  tailgating prior to the football game, a cocktail party and a farewell breakfast. New events will also be incorporated. She continues, “As the events are confirmed, announcements will be placed on the following websites: LAHS Alumni Association (www.lahsalumni.com),  Green Dragon Foundation (www.greendragonfoundation.org), and the Lewisburg Area School District (www.lasd.us).

Alumni Weekend has a group page on Facebook, “Lewisburg High School Alumni
Weekend.”  Click on ‘Like’ and receive the most up to date information available!” According to Baylor, “The Lewisburg Area High School Alumni Association and the Green Dragon Foundation are working together to bring alumni back to Lewisburg.  Last year over
200 alumni participated in the weekend and we’re expecting an even bigger turn out this year. We want to involve our local alumni and renew friendships, share memorabilia and foster pride in our school district.”  She continues, “We want our distinguished alumni to return and meet with our current students.  We are hoping the interchange of ideas will inspire the students with what they can accomplish using their education from the
Lewisburg Area School District.”

Registration for the weekend will begin in Summer of 2012, but anyone wishing to volunteer or inquire about the fall 2012 events may contact the Green Dragon Foundation at  (570) 522-8433 or send an email to info@greendragonfoundation.org or lhs.alumni@hotmail.com.

L to R: Green Dragon Foundation Vice-President, Ann Sherpick, President, Brooks Gronlund, Executive Director, Ann Glock presenting $50,000 gift to LASD Superintendent, Dr. Mark DiRocco, and President, Kathy Swope.

Brooks Gronlund, president of the Green Dragon Foundation, presented a check in the amount of $51,000 to Dr. Mark DiRocco, superintendent of the Lewisburg Area School District, at the January 12 school board meeting.

“On behalf of the Green Dragon Foundation Board of Directors, and our 281 donors, I am delighted to make this gift to the Lewisburg Area School District,” Gronlund said. “This gift is the result of year-long fundraising efforts to benefit our students.”

In keeping with its mission to provide and direct funding for the realization of educational, cultural, and athletic programs and capital improvement projects for the enrichment and enhancement of the students of the Lewisburg Area School District, the Foundation presented this check in support of a variety of programs. 

 “Last year, we gave $118,864 to the district and this year, we are kicking off 2012 by making a gift of $51,000” Gronlund said. “We are committed to enhancing and enriching the academic, cultural and athletic experiences of all of our students. Throughout the coming year, the Foundation will continue its efforts to raise much-needed funding.”

Gronlund commented on the unusual gift amount.  “Recently the Foundation’s Board of Directors created a ‘Volunteer of the Year Award’.  Part of the award included a $1,000 gift to LASD for a Green Dragon Foundation program to be chosen by the award recipient.  Karen Schatten-Lock received the award in December and has chosen the Performing and Visual Arts Program as the recipient of this gift.”

 According to DiRocco, Foundation support will enable the district to enhance and enrich programs that would not otherwise be possible.

Kelly Elementary School will be getting an initial gift of $4,325 to implement the Inquiry-Based Science Program.  Mr. Dustin Dalton, principal, states “A few year ago, the Pennsylvania Department of Education revised state standards for science and technology.  Kelly teachers worked to rewrite the curriculum to meet and exceed the learning requirements of these new standards.”  He continues, “The new curriculum incorporates a great deal of inquiry-based hands-on science activities.  This funding will enable us to purchase science kits that will allow teachers to provide learning opportunities for our students that explore, hypothesize, question, predict and interpret information in a way that deepens the students understanding of the concepts presented.”

According to DiRocco, “Because of the Green Dragon Foundation, the district will be able to launch the Link Crew Program at the high school this fall.”  He continues, “Link Crew is the most studied and researched single transition program in the country. Using juniors and seniors as leaders, Link Crew intentionally and structurally supports all freshmen. It helps to create a deep sense of belonging for freshmen students and develop strong leadership skills in upper classmen. The intended result will be improved school climate with a reduction in incidents of bullying and a decrease in drug and alcohol use.”

Special Needs and Student Support Programs will continue to receive funding from the Green Dragon Foundation.  DiRocco states, “All students learn differently, and we must provide specially designed instruction to help children succeed in the classroom through a variety of support programs that meet individual needs,” He continues, “Programs such as At-Risk Counseling Services, Student Assistance Programs and others that support the specific individual circumstances that children face will be greatly enhanced with this support.”

The Foundation is making a big difference for student athletes at the Middle School.  According to Ann Glock, Executive Director, “A donor approached us about wanting to outfit every middle school athlete with a new uniform.  With reduced school funding, the school district is facing several years of deficits that will require reductions in spending in order to balance the budget.  Our donor recognized this and generously stepped forward to purchase much needed uniforms.  We are very grateful for their generosity and commitment to our students.”  She continues, “Today, the Foundation is providing funding to purchase uniforms for boys’ basketball, boys’/girls’ soccer and field hockey.  In the fall, boys’ football and girls’ basketball will be outfitted.”

Glock adds “Major gifts from Lawton Insurance, Swineford National Bank, Northumberland National Bank and Wood-Mode enabled programs to receive funding through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.”  She concludes, “The Foundation is so grateful for all of our corporate and individual gifts.”

Individuals or businesses wishing to volunteer or donate can make an online gift on this site or call the Foundation’s office at (570) 522-8433.

While thanking the Foundation’s donors, the organization previewed its updated video.  According to Brooks Gronlund, president of the Green Dragon Foundation, “The video highlighted the gifts that the Foundation presented to the Lewisburg Area School District in 2010 and 2011.  It showed our donors how our school district’s students were using the gifts that had been given.  Donors were able to see first-hand how their charitable contributions made a difference for Lewisburg students.”  He added, “We are grateful to McVicar Video Productions for producing and underwriting a large portion of the video.  You can view the video by visiting our homepage.”

Gronlund gave a short presentation thanking donors for their support this year.  He noted that the Recognition Reception was made possible because of the generosity of Country Cupboard, Damon’s Restaurant, Associated Oral Surgeons, Koss Financial Group, RAL Architecture + Design, and West Milton State Bank.  

A highlight of the reception was announcing Karen Schatten-Lock as the recipient of the first annual “Volunteer of the Year” award.

To see photos from the event, please visit the “About Us” section and click on “Reception Photos.”

From L to R: Leslie P. Temple, Senior Vice President of Business Banking Services, Ann Glock, Executive Director of The Green Dragon Foundation, and Deborah S. Brouse, Senior Vice President Branch Adminsitrator.

Swineford National Bank recently made a $5,000 donation to the Green Dragon Foundation in support of innovative programs at the Lewisburg Area School District.  Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Foundation states, “We are so appreciative of Swineford Bank for its commitment to our students through the Pennsylvania EITC program.  We are delighted that they chose to include us in their charitable giving.  Lewisburg students will directly benefit from their generosity.”