Haverford Teacher Named Presidential Awardee For Excellence In Mathematics And Science Teaching

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP — The School District of Haverford Township recently announced that Haverford High School science teacher Dr. Jeremy Tomaszewski has been named a 2021 Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

It’s the highest honor bestowed by the federal government for K-12 STEM educators.

President Joe Biden announced the awardees for 2021, 2022 and 2023 before leaving office, recognizing outstanding educators from across the country who demonstrate excellence in teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The awards, established by Congress in 1983, recognize outstanding STEM educators at the K-12 level.

Awardees receive a certificate signed by the president, $10,000 from the National Science Foundation, and the opportunity to participate in professional development and policy discussions in Washington.

Tomaszewski was one of three finalists selected from Pennsylvania in 2021 and was ultimately chosen as the Presidential Awardee for Science.

The program, administered by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, honors teachers who exhibit deep content knowledge in their subject areas and inspire student success through innovative teaching practices.

With 21 years of experience in education, Tomaszewski has spent the last 16 years at Haverford High, where he teaches Engineering to Learn; Create, Code, and Construct; Astronomy, and Advanced Placement Physics C (Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism).

As department chair and district instructional technology mentor, Tomaszewski played a crucial role in guiding teachers through the transition to online and hybrid learning using the Canvas Learning Management System.

Beyond the classroom, Tomaszewski is deeply committed to STEM outreach. He organizes Discover Day, an annual event where over 800 elementary students engage in hands-on science, mathematics, and coding activities led by high school students. He also facilitates STEM engagement programs between high school and elementary students throughout the school year.

Tomaszewski’s passion for STEM education extends beyond the school year: He is the owner and director of Discover STEM Camp Inc., a summer program designed to ignite creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in young learners through hands-on STEM experiences.

Tomaszewski has a bachelor’s in physics from Franklin and Marshall College, a master’s in science education from Stony Brook University, and a Ph.D. in science education from Temple University. He is certified in physics and general science.

For more information about the awards, visit www.paemst.org.

Media-Providence Friends School fifth-grade students, from left, Sophia O’Brien, Zoey Stanek and Tyrone Jones with their medals after the recent awards ceremony. (COURTESY OF MEDIA-PROVIDENCE FRIENDS SCHOOL)

Media-Providence Friends School fifth graders honored at NAACP Black History Month awards ceremony

Fifth-grade students at Media-Providence Friends School were recently recognized for their creative work at the NAACP Media Area Branch’s Black History Month Poster Contest awards ceremony.

The students participated in a project focused on “Black inventors who made life better,” researching and designing digital posters to highlight the contributions of African American inventors.

Three posters, created by students Sophia O’Brien, Zoey Stanek and Tyrone Jones, were selected for submission to the NAACP contest. The awards ceremony, held in late February at the Media Community Center, celebrated the creativity and artistic expression of local elementary and middle school students.

“The students demonstrated exceptional creativity and research skills throughout this project,” said art teacher Karen Carbutt. “They not only learned about significant historical figures but also developed their digital design abilities.”

The event, hosted by the NAACP Media Area Branch, honored the students’ talent and commemorated Black History Month.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their participation in this important initiative,” said Jon Hall, head of school. “This project not only highlighted the ingenuity of Black inventors but also underscored the importance of celebrating diversity and fostering creativity within our school community.”

Founded in 1876, Media-Providence Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for students, age 2 through grade eight, located in downtown Media.

The school offers students big views of the world ahead. Students of all backgrounds and faiths, under the caring tutelage of early childhood, elementary school and adolescent experts who are passionate about teaching, learn in small classes and grow up together, immersed in an academic environment that is focused on their intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual growth.

Every day, students are engaged in the processes of learning and inquiry in contexts that honor the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewardship and service.

MPFS is currently enrolling students for the 2025-26 school year.

For more information about admissions, contact Associate Head of School Angela DiMaria or submit an inquiry form at mpfs.org/inquire.

The school is hosting a virtual open house at 10 a.m. Friday, March 21. To RSVP: http://mpfs.org/rsvp.

This giant bald eagle sculpture at the Philadelphia Zoo is just one of 13 scientifically accurate animal statues spread out across the zoo’s 42-acre campus to take visitors on an educational, climbable adventure. (COURTESY OF PHILADELPHIA ZOO)

Giant, climbable animal art makes debut at Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia Zoo invites guests and members to a brand-new experience that will teach them about some of the world’s most inspiring conservation success stories, one climb at a time.

Wildlife Rescue by Little Ray’s Exhibitions makes its East Coast debut and brings life-sized and larger-than-life climbable sculptures of endangered species to the zoo for an educational adventure. From the majestic bald eagle to the astonishing orangutan, children and adults alike are encouraged to interact with this art installation and learn about what it takes to bring an animal back from the brink of extinction.

“We are always looking for innovative and interactive ways to connect people with wildlife and inspire action to protect animals,” said Philadelphia Zoo President & CEO Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman. “We know how important it is for children to learn through play, and we hope climbing on the back of a northern leopard frog or posing with leatherback sea turtle and learning about how humans worked together to save these species will spark love and compassion for the natural world.”

The exhibition includes 13 scientifically accurate animal statues spread out across the 42-acre campus.

Ottawa-based Little Ray’s Exhibitions is a leading organization dedicated to fostering appreciation for the natural world through engaging and educational experiences.

Founded by Paul “Little Ray” Goulet in 1995, the company has grown from the small reptile zoo/rescue and at-home birthday party service to being one of the largest outreach and exhibitions companies focusing on animals and the natural world in all of North America as well as one of the largest exotic animal rescues.

Wildlife Rescue is included in admission and membership and runs through Sept. 14.  Zoo tickets are available at http://philadelphiazoo.org.

Delco science institute’s presentation is on DNA/RNA sequencing

The Delaware County Institute of Science, 11 Veterans Square, Media, will host a lecture by Dr. Loren Buhle on Monday March 10 at 7:30 p.m.  The presentation is “A New Frontier of DNA/RNA Sequencing — What Are We Learning.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. The lecture will be live-streamed on the institute’s Facebook page

The institute’s description of the event reads, in part:

“Advances in technology are energizing bioinformatics from sequencing of 20-30 DNA and RNA base pairs to sequencing thousands of contiguous base pairs. … This talk starts with the basics of bioinformatics and the role of DNA and RNA in our lives and expands to today’s world of biobanks containing tens of thousands of long read sequences and matching health care records. In addition to exploring how genomics is changing our world, we will also focus on significant societal challenges arising from this new frontier. If you have ever entered a saliva sample into 23andMe, Ancestry, or All of Us, you need to attend this seminar!”

Speaker lined up for DCCC’s Moon Shot Week

Antoinette Newsome, Ph.D., associate director/consultant for EAB’s Moon Shot for Social & Economic Mobility, a transformational initiative to eliminate equity gaps and improve student outcomes, will be the keynote speaker at Delaware County Community College’s Moon Shot Week in honor of Women’s History Month, the college said.

Newsome will speak on Tuesday, March 18 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium at DCCC’s Marple Campus, 901 S. Media Line Road.

Dr. Antoinette Newsome of Moon Shot for Social & Economic Mobility will speak at DCCC March 18. (COURTESY OF DCCC)

She will explore the intersection of women’s leadership and equity, highlighting the persistence of gender gaps in education and leadership, DCCC said.

Approaching her work with a scholar-practitioner lens, Newsome has work and research experience in both two-year and four-year colleges. Drawing from national initiatives like the Moon Shot for Social & Economic Mobility, she examines actionable strategies to close equity gaps. The event is free and is available both in person and via Livestream.

For more information and to register, visit dccc.edu/cesj.

Newlin Grist Mill to host Tasting Through Time fundraising dinner

Explore history through your taste buds at the annual Tasting Through Time dinner at Newlin Grist Mill on Saturday, May 10.

Tickets are on sale for either a 4:30-6:30 p.m. seating or a 7:30-9:30 p.m. seating. Attendees can enjoy a five-course dinner of small plates, each paired with adult beverages, while learning about the culinary traditions of the past in the site’s log cabin.

This year’s theme, “Foreign Foods,” will highlight the surprising variety of global ingredients and dishes enjoyed in early America. The event will also include a live auction and door prize drawings, and ticketholders will receive a souvenir pint glass to take home.

This dinner is a fundraiser to support the Trimble Kitchen Project at Newlin Grist Mill, which will allow the site to continue ongoing restoration work to the building’s original 1739 kitchen and pantry as well as continue to expand public programming about historic foodways onsite.

Cost of the dinner is $75. More information and a printable registration form is available at https://newlingristmill.org/historic-dinners.

To reserve seats, return the completed form with payment to Newlin Grist Mill, 219 S. Cheyney Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342. Tickets are limited, and reservations will not be held without payment. Everyone must be 21 or older to attend.

COSA offers free two-day Healthy Steps Fall Prevention program

The Delaware County Office of the Aging (COSA) will host a free two-day Healthy Steps Fall Prevention Workshop, 12:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, March 19 to 26 at the Wayne Senior Center, 108 Station Rd., Wayne.

Complimentary fall risk assessments will be offered at Wayne Senior Center on Wednesday, March 12, by scheduled appointment only.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that “Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. Older adult falls are common, costly, and preventable.”

Every 20 minutes in the U.S., an older person dies from a fall. The Healthy Steps is a program developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to help reduce the risk of falls among older adults.

The program’s focus is on environmental and home safety; nutrition; maintaining an active lifestyle; foot health; social connectedness; sensory deficits; mental and spiritual well-being; side effects of medication; exercises to increase strength, balance and flexibility; and more.

To register, call 610-688-6246 and provide name, address, phone number and email address.

Ridley Township Library presents programs on aging at home, injury prevention

The Ridley Township Public Library, 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom will present Christine Helmandollar, director of Senior Community Services’ Aging at Home program, 2 p.m. Monday, March 10. Helmandollar will discuss the Aging at Home program and its mission to improve the health and well-being of seniors by providing the support needed to help them stay in their own homes.

The program connects participants with reliable in-home and community-based resources for services such as yard work, transportation to medical appointments and handyman jobs around the house. Senior Community Services’ Aging at Home program has changed a few services and expanded others to help seniors age in place. Everyone is welcome to learn more about the program.

Later on the same day, March 10, at 6:30 p.m., the Ridley Township Library will present Nick Drago, Doctor of Physical Therapy and clinic director at Trinity Rehab, to discuss injury prevention.

The program is designed to help seniors with injury prevention and to explore practical strategies to reduce the risk of common injuries and maintain an active, pain-free lifestyle. Learn how proper posture, stretching, and strengthening exercises can protect the body during daily activities and physical exercise.

This session is perfect for individuals of all ages looking to improve their mobility and overall well-being and may also be useful to caregivers looking to expand their knowledge of how best to support aging adults.

Register for one or both programs on March 10 at http://ridleylibrary.org. For questions, email the library at adultservices@ridleylibrary.org or call 610-583-0593.

Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.