Kathy BoccellaWhat I DoI cover schools in the region with a particular focus on innovation and trends. (610) 313-8232UpSide Classic: After his mother died from carbon monoxide poisoning, he worked to prevent other deathsAny furnace or home appliance that burns combustible fuel generates the gas, and if not properly vented, it could seep through the house.Kathy Boccella Oct. 27, 2019Link copied to clipboardHe didn’t graduate, but Phoenixville alums honor classmate who died in VietnamClass of 1968 alums from Phoenixville Area High School have established a John A. Polefka Memorial Scholarship Fund to aid today’s students joining the military or planning to study criminal justice.Kathy Boccella May 9, 2019Link copied to clipboardZoning change in Clifton Heights could keep Upper Darby from building new school in the boroughThe Upper Darby school board is racing to cancel the borough’s lease on the district-owned property and speed up the process to begin applying for permits to build the new middle school.Kathy Boccella May 3, 2019Link copied to clipboardTwo more districts hit the snooze button on school start timesThis week, school boards in two suburban school districts – Radnor and Tredyffin/Easttown – approved new schedules for the 2019-20 academic year that starts the school day as much as 55 minutes later for some kids.Kathy Boccella April 24, 2019Link copied to clipboardClifton Heights fighting to protect ‘Field of Dreams’ from Upper Darby School DistrictSchool board members insist they will still vote to cancel the borough’s 1977 lease on the district-owned ball fields and move ahead with the plan for a $60 million, 950-student middle school.Kathy Boccella April 10, 2019Link copied to clipboardAfter clashing with school board members last year, Pennridge student is running to unseat them“It's not revenge, that’s not what it’s about,” said Anna Sophie Tinneny, referring to her upcoming run in the May primary for one of 5 available seats on the 9-member Pennridge School Board.Kathy Boccella March 29, 2019Link copied to clipboardHarriton H.S. senior wins prestigious science award for work on HIVThe Merion Station 17-year-old’s work ethic — and an obsessive curiosity about biology — paid huge dividends this week as he took second place, and a $175,000 prize, at the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s most prestigious science-and-math contest for high school seniors.Kathy Boccella March 14, 2019Link copied to clipboardPenn Wood HS show is anything but a dragThis was “Coming Home,” a student-run drag show that Penn Wood’s Gay-Straight Alliance staged Wednesday to end the school year and honor the upcoming Pride Month, Harvey Milk Day and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in one fell swoop,Kathy Boccella May 23, 2019Link copied to clipboardUpper Darby schools break lease with Clifton Heights in controversial push for new middle schoolThe emergency vote came amid an escalating political struggle between residents of Clifton Heights who say they’re fighting to preserve the last sliver of open space in their 6,500-person borough.Kathy Boccella May 7, 2019Link copied to clipboardWhere are the best high schools in the country? U.S. News releases annual rankings.Philadelphia’s Julia R. Masterman School held onto its status as this region’s top-ranked secondary school, according to the annual rankings from U.S. News and World Report.Kathy Boccella April 30, 2019Link copied to clipboardLawsuit charges Valley Forge Military Academy looked the other way on hazing, abuseA 20-year-old former cadet is suing Valley Force Military Academy, claiming hazing and abuse.Kathy Boccella April 23, 2019Link copied to clipboardSchool districts are paying to burnish their brands to counter images and compete with chartersRe-branding efforts in Norristown, Upper Darby, Coatesville and elsewhere are partly due to increased competition for students — and the dollars attached to them — with heavily advertised cyber- and brick-and-mortar charter schools, as well as private and parochial schools.Kathy Boccella April 6, 2019Link copied to clipboardAbington Senior HS takes first place in national contest that requires endurance, smarts, and psyching out your opponentAbington high schoolers returned from Illinois this week with the first-place trophy in their division at the U.S. Chess Federation’s High School Nationals – the third time the Montgomery County school has won that top honor in the last eight years.Kathy Boccella March 21, 2019Link copied to clipboardClifton Heights fights Upper Darby plan to build middle school on the borough’s only parkThe school board is slated to voted Tuesday night on the first phase of the Clifton Heights project —– a $2.5 million feasibility study —– as well as preliminary studies for an expansion of its Aronimink Elementary School, leading up to a roughly $90 million first phase of a capital program.Kathy Boccella March 11, 2019Link copied to clipboardTwo Central Bucks teachers are among finalists for Pa. Teacher of the YearLeanne Jarossy, a math teacher at Central Bucks West High School, and Will Melvin, an English teacher at Central Bucks South High School, will be friendly rivals for the crown of state winner.Kathy Boccella May 16, 2019Link copied to clipboardMilo the robot4autism wows at Chester County IU’s first STEM Expo The goal of the tech-heavy expo was to update and occasionally wow educators with the rapid advances in learning tools that not only use the latest in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, but might encourage students towards a career path.Kathy Boccella May 3, 2019Link copied to clipboardSpringfield HS alum donates $1 million to honor his lunch lady mom, bus-driver mother-in-lawThe new $130 million new Springfield High School will open its doors in Delaware County boasting the Frances “Chickie” Giuffre Dining Center Complex and the Katherine “Kay” G. Voglesong Bus Driver Commons Room.Kathy Boccella April 25, 2019Link copied to clipboardGlobal portal puts Philly students in the same room with people from distant and troubled lands“It’s cool. It’s like Skype but not Skype,” said Isabelle Jolinger, a senior at AIM Academy. “I’ve done stuff where I’ve traveled to places — but the portal connects you to places I wouldn’t go.”Kathy Boccella April 17, 2019Link copied to clipboardVFMA parents sue to bring back school president and replace trustee chairThe parents and their attorney said the plaintiffs would like the Delaware County school to at least temporarily bring back president Walter T. Lord, a 54-year-old retired Army major general and a Valley Forge alum.Kathy Boccella April 2, 2019Link copied to clipboard‘This is our ‘Taps’ moment’: Valley Forge military school rocked by president’s ousterMany of the alumni and parents who’ve been venting their anger online and sharing speculation about the reasons behind Walter Lord’s sudden resignation say they now plan to storm a meeting slated for Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the school to address the turmoil.Kathy Boccella March 15, 2019Link copied to clipboardSee more stories
UpSide Classic: After his mother died from carbon monoxide poisoning, he worked to prevent other deathsAny furnace or home appliance that burns combustible fuel generates the gas, and if not properly vented, it could seep through the house.Kathy Boccella Oct. 27, 2019Link copied to clipboard
UpSide Classic: After his mother died from carbon monoxide poisoning, he worked to prevent other deathsAny furnace or home appliance that burns combustible fuel generates the gas, and if not properly vented, it could seep through the house.Kathy Boccella Oct. 27, 2019Link copied to clipboard
He didn’t graduate, but Phoenixville alums honor classmate who died in VietnamClass of 1968 alums from Phoenixville Area High School have established a John A. Polefka Memorial Scholarship Fund to aid today’s students joining the military or planning to study criminal justice.Kathy Boccella May 9, 2019Link copied to clipboard
He didn’t graduate, but Phoenixville alums honor classmate who died in VietnamClass of 1968 alums from Phoenixville Area High School have established a John A. Polefka Memorial Scholarship Fund to aid today’s students joining the military or planning to study criminal justice.Kathy Boccella May 9, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Zoning change in Clifton Heights could keep Upper Darby from building new school in the boroughThe Upper Darby school board is racing to cancel the borough’s lease on the district-owned property and speed up the process to begin applying for permits to build the new middle school.Kathy Boccella May 3, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Zoning change in Clifton Heights could keep Upper Darby from building new school in the boroughThe Upper Darby school board is racing to cancel the borough’s lease on the district-owned property and speed up the process to begin applying for permits to build the new middle school.Kathy Boccella May 3, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Two more districts hit the snooze button on school start timesThis week, school boards in two suburban school districts – Radnor and Tredyffin/Easttown – approved new schedules for the 2019-20 academic year that starts the school day as much as 55 minutes later for some kids.Kathy Boccella April 24, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Two more districts hit the snooze button on school start timesThis week, school boards in two suburban school districts – Radnor and Tredyffin/Easttown – approved new schedules for the 2019-20 academic year that starts the school day as much as 55 minutes later for some kids.Kathy Boccella April 24, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Clifton Heights fighting to protect ‘Field of Dreams’ from Upper Darby School DistrictSchool board members insist they will still vote to cancel the borough’s 1977 lease on the district-owned ball fields and move ahead with the plan for a $60 million, 950-student middle school.Kathy Boccella April 10, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Clifton Heights fighting to protect ‘Field of Dreams’ from Upper Darby School DistrictSchool board members insist they will still vote to cancel the borough’s 1977 lease on the district-owned ball fields and move ahead with the plan for a $60 million, 950-student middle school.Kathy Boccella April 10, 2019Link copied to clipboard
After clashing with school board members last year, Pennridge student is running to unseat them“It's not revenge, that’s not what it’s about,” said Anna Sophie Tinneny, referring to her upcoming run in the May primary for one of 5 available seats on the 9-member Pennridge School Board.Kathy Boccella March 29, 2019Link copied to clipboard
After clashing with school board members last year, Pennridge student is running to unseat them“It's not revenge, that’s not what it’s about,” said Anna Sophie Tinneny, referring to her upcoming run in the May primary for one of 5 available seats on the 9-member Pennridge School Board.Kathy Boccella March 29, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Harriton H.S. senior wins prestigious science award for work on HIVThe Merion Station 17-year-old’s work ethic — and an obsessive curiosity about biology — paid huge dividends this week as he took second place, and a $175,000 prize, at the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s most prestigious science-and-math contest for high school seniors.Kathy Boccella March 14, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Harriton H.S. senior wins prestigious science award for work on HIVThe Merion Station 17-year-old’s work ethic — and an obsessive curiosity about biology — paid huge dividends this week as he took second place, and a $175,000 prize, at the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s most prestigious science-and-math contest for high school seniors.Kathy Boccella March 14, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Penn Wood HS show is anything but a dragThis was “Coming Home,” a student-run drag show that Penn Wood’s Gay-Straight Alliance staged Wednesday to end the school year and honor the upcoming Pride Month, Harvey Milk Day and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in one fell swoop,Kathy Boccella May 23, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Penn Wood HS show is anything but a dragThis was “Coming Home,” a student-run drag show that Penn Wood’s Gay-Straight Alliance staged Wednesday to end the school year and honor the upcoming Pride Month, Harvey Milk Day and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in one fell swoop,Kathy Boccella May 23, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Upper Darby schools break lease with Clifton Heights in controversial push for new middle schoolThe emergency vote came amid an escalating political struggle between residents of Clifton Heights who say they’re fighting to preserve the last sliver of open space in their 6,500-person borough.Kathy Boccella May 7, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Upper Darby schools break lease with Clifton Heights in controversial push for new middle schoolThe emergency vote came amid an escalating political struggle between residents of Clifton Heights who say they’re fighting to preserve the last sliver of open space in their 6,500-person borough.Kathy Boccella May 7, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Where are the best high schools in the country? U.S. News releases annual rankings.Philadelphia’s Julia R. Masterman School held onto its status as this region’s top-ranked secondary school, according to the annual rankings from U.S. News and World Report.Kathy Boccella April 30, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Where are the best high schools in the country? U.S. News releases annual rankings.Philadelphia’s Julia R. Masterman School held onto its status as this region’s top-ranked secondary school, according to the annual rankings from U.S. News and World Report.Kathy Boccella April 30, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Lawsuit charges Valley Forge Military Academy looked the other way on hazing, abuseA 20-year-old former cadet is suing Valley Force Military Academy, claiming hazing and abuse.Kathy Boccella April 23, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Lawsuit charges Valley Forge Military Academy looked the other way on hazing, abuseA 20-year-old former cadet is suing Valley Force Military Academy, claiming hazing and abuse.Kathy Boccella April 23, 2019Link copied to clipboard
School districts are paying to burnish their brands to counter images and compete with chartersRe-branding efforts in Norristown, Upper Darby, Coatesville and elsewhere are partly due to increased competition for students — and the dollars attached to them — with heavily advertised cyber- and brick-and-mortar charter schools, as well as private and parochial schools.Kathy Boccella April 6, 2019Link copied to clipboard
School districts are paying to burnish their brands to counter images and compete with chartersRe-branding efforts in Norristown, Upper Darby, Coatesville and elsewhere are partly due to increased competition for students — and the dollars attached to them — with heavily advertised cyber- and brick-and-mortar charter schools, as well as private and parochial schools.Kathy Boccella April 6, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Abington Senior HS takes first place in national contest that requires endurance, smarts, and psyching out your opponentAbington high schoolers returned from Illinois this week with the first-place trophy in their division at the U.S. Chess Federation’s High School Nationals – the third time the Montgomery County school has won that top honor in the last eight years.Kathy Boccella March 21, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Abington Senior HS takes first place in national contest that requires endurance, smarts, and psyching out your opponentAbington high schoolers returned from Illinois this week with the first-place trophy in their division at the U.S. Chess Federation’s High School Nationals – the third time the Montgomery County school has won that top honor in the last eight years.Kathy Boccella March 21, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Clifton Heights fights Upper Darby plan to build middle school on the borough’s only parkThe school board is slated to voted Tuesday night on the first phase of the Clifton Heights project —– a $2.5 million feasibility study —– as well as preliminary studies for an expansion of its Aronimink Elementary School, leading up to a roughly $90 million first phase of a capital program.Kathy Boccella March 11, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Clifton Heights fights Upper Darby plan to build middle school on the borough’s only parkThe school board is slated to voted Tuesday night on the first phase of the Clifton Heights project —– a $2.5 million feasibility study —– as well as preliminary studies for an expansion of its Aronimink Elementary School, leading up to a roughly $90 million first phase of a capital program.Kathy Boccella March 11, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Two Central Bucks teachers are among finalists for Pa. Teacher of the YearLeanne Jarossy, a math teacher at Central Bucks West High School, and Will Melvin, an English teacher at Central Bucks South High School, will be friendly rivals for the crown of state winner.Kathy Boccella May 16, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Two Central Bucks teachers are among finalists for Pa. Teacher of the YearLeanne Jarossy, a math teacher at Central Bucks West High School, and Will Melvin, an English teacher at Central Bucks South High School, will be friendly rivals for the crown of state winner.Kathy Boccella May 16, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Milo the robot4autism wows at Chester County IU’s first STEM Expo The goal of the tech-heavy expo was to update and occasionally wow educators with the rapid advances in learning tools that not only use the latest in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, but might encourage students towards a career path.Kathy Boccella May 3, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Milo the robot4autism wows at Chester County IU’s first STEM Expo The goal of the tech-heavy expo was to update and occasionally wow educators with the rapid advances in learning tools that not only use the latest in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, but might encourage students towards a career path.Kathy Boccella May 3, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Springfield HS alum donates $1 million to honor his lunch lady mom, bus-driver mother-in-lawThe new $130 million new Springfield High School will open its doors in Delaware County boasting the Frances “Chickie” Giuffre Dining Center Complex and the Katherine “Kay” G. Voglesong Bus Driver Commons Room.Kathy Boccella April 25, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Springfield HS alum donates $1 million to honor his lunch lady mom, bus-driver mother-in-lawThe new $130 million new Springfield High School will open its doors in Delaware County boasting the Frances “Chickie” Giuffre Dining Center Complex and the Katherine “Kay” G. Voglesong Bus Driver Commons Room.Kathy Boccella April 25, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Global portal puts Philly students in the same room with people from distant and troubled lands“It’s cool. It’s like Skype but not Skype,” said Isabelle Jolinger, a senior at AIM Academy. “I’ve done stuff where I’ve traveled to places — but the portal connects you to places I wouldn’t go.”Kathy Boccella April 17, 2019Link copied to clipboard
Global portal puts Philly students in the same room with people from distant and troubled lands“It’s cool. It’s like Skype but not Skype,” said Isabelle Jolinger, a senior at AIM Academy. “I’ve done stuff where I’ve traveled to places — but the portal connects you to places I wouldn’t go.”Kathy Boccella April 17, 2019Link copied to clipboard
VFMA parents sue to bring back school president and replace trustee chairThe parents and their attorney said the plaintiffs would like the Delaware County school to at least temporarily bring back president Walter T. Lord, a 54-year-old retired Army major general and a Valley Forge alum.Kathy Boccella April 2, 2019Link copied to clipboard
VFMA parents sue to bring back school president and replace trustee chairThe parents and their attorney said the plaintiffs would like the Delaware County school to at least temporarily bring back president Walter T. Lord, a 54-year-old retired Army major general and a Valley Forge alum.Kathy Boccella April 2, 2019Link copied to clipboard
‘This is our ‘Taps’ moment’: Valley Forge military school rocked by president’s ousterMany of the alumni and parents who’ve been venting their anger online and sharing speculation about the reasons behind Walter Lord’s sudden resignation say they now plan to storm a meeting slated for Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the school to address the turmoil.Kathy Boccella March 15, 2019Link copied to clipboard
‘This is our ‘Taps’ moment’: Valley Forge military school rocked by president’s ousterMany of the alumni and parents who’ve been venting their anger online and sharing speculation about the reasons behind Walter Lord’s sudden resignation say they now plan to storm a meeting slated for Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the school to address the turmoil.Kathy Boccella March 15, 2019Link copied to clipboard