A group of Dock faculty, staff, and administrators from both campuses attended the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) in Philadelphia June 22-26. ISTE is a passionate community of global educators who believe in the power of technology to transform teaching and learning, accelerate innovation and solve tough problems in education. ISTE attendees from Dock included (standing, l to r) EC-Grade 8 Principal Mrs. Bronwyn Histand, EC-Grade 8 Librarian Mrs. Missy Camilleri, Director of Technology Mr. Darwin Zehr, 4^th Grade Teacher Mrs. Kipp Glass, 1^st grade teacher Mrs. Trish Landis, Grades 9-12 math teacher Mr. Marcelo Mast, Assistant Director of Technology Mr. Jason Sprunger; (kneeling l to r) Grades 9-12 Principal Mr. Martin Wiens and middle school teacher Mr. Nathaniel Freed. Not pictured (because she was taking the photo): Mrs. Sharon Fransen, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction.

Teachers reflected on their ISTE experience and said it is clear that many teachers are "ditching" textbooks in favor of using online resources for student learning. "This means not being tied to a textbook chapter by chapter, but using online projects and resources to target the required content," said Marcelo Mast. Another big takeaway from the conference for him is the emergence of artificial intelligence as the new frontier in technology education. "One seminar focused on ways to use Alexa-type devices in the classroom, both as a tool to retrieve content as well as a means for students to present their findings," he said.

Jason Sprunger was also interested in an area of the show floor that featured iPads with sample classroom material using augmented and virtual reality.

 "This was my first time at ISTE, and it was a whirlwind of new technology—unique displays and screens, 3D Printers, robotics of all kinds, as well all sorts of software for students, teachers and administrators," he said. "Everything here was in the service of improving how kids learn, improving engagement, and fostering an environment of creativity and innovation.

Mast said he was impressed by the number of apps and programs available for teachers to generate classroom learning experiences, and for students to use to demonstrate what they have learned. For example, he saw video programs that create professional-looking short videos based on the topic and basic information a teacher enters. He also was impressed with programs that create animated GIFs that can be incorporated into presentations; a program that students can use to easily create a beat and music; programs to create virtual reality or augmented reality worlds; and many more.  Most of these are free, he added. "It is amazing what students (and teachers) can create!" he said.

Sprunger said the trick is to successfully integrate these technologies and programs into the learning experience. "Technology isn't magical on its own—effective integration is key," he said. "If educators can successfully integrate technology into their classrooms, it can be more than just novelty; it can make us more efficient, expressive, and engaging. At the end of the day, ISTE gave me so many exciting ideas for ways in which technology can boost our learning and make what's good into something that's great."

Dock Mennonite Academy's 4th Quarter Honor Roll has now been posted for both the EC-Grade 8 and Grades 9-12 campuses. To see the qualifications for Honor Roll as well as the list of middle school and high school students earning this academic honor, visit the Honor Roll page of the Dock website.

See 4th Quarter Honor Roll

The offices on both campuses of Dock Mennonite Academy will be closed on Thursday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday. The Grades 9-12 Campus in Lansdale will also be closed on Friday, July 5. However, the EC-Grade 8 Campus in Souderton will be open on July 5. 

Rising Dock seniors Madelyn Bergin and Dalton Moore attended Camp Neidig, a Rotary Youth Leadership Camp June 14-17 at Camp Manatawny in Douglassville, PA. They were sponsored by the Rotary Club of Harleysville. The Camp experience featured workshops, guest speakers, and a series of problem-solving exercises that challenge campers both mentally and physically to work as a team. ​​Each problem-solving activity is designed to test and refine specific leadership skills. Congratulations to Madelyn and Dalton, and thank you to the Harleysville Rotary Club for their investment in our student leaders!

View the Camp Neidig highlight video

Starting with the 2019-2020 Season, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra is moving its home to the performing arts center at Dock Mennonite Academy's Early Childhood to Grade 8 Campus at 420 Godshall Road in Souderton. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra is the regional professional orchestra for Montgomery and Bucks Counties and surrounding regions and features performances throughout the year of the great masterworks of symphonic music with world-renowned guest artists. For the past decade, the Symphony has performed mainly at Lansdale's Trinity Lutheran Church. 

Audiences for the Orchestra's 2019-20 season will be welcomed to a fully accessible performing arts center with no partial view seating, wonderful acoustics, and a great concert experience. 

"We are thrilled to begin this new partnership with Dock Mennonite Academy, and to bring our audience and music-making to this wonderful hall," said SPSO Music Director Allan R. Scott. The 2019-20 Season is specifically designed to welcome audiences from throughout the region on this new journey with the Symphony. The 48th Season opens on Saturday, September 28 with "A Night in Italy," including memorable opera highlights, Italian film music, and fun Italian songs. The season also includes:

• "Heroic Beethoven & Bruckner's Romantic Symphony" (November 9)
• "Mozart in Paris" (March 7) 
• "Fiesta Latina" (May 9)

Guest soloists include internationally-renowned violinist Robyn Bollinger, acclaimed organist Colin Howland, and several opera stars from throughout the country.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchestra was founded in 1972 as the North Penn Symphony Orchestra. It was created to provide performances of the highest caliber to entertain and educate audiences, and to enhance, enrich, and expand the cultural lives of the residents of the North Penn area. In 2008, the Board of Directors rechristened the orchestra the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra to reflect its new regional focus, professionalism and vision. 

For more information about SPSO, please follow them on Facebook or visit www.spso.info. 

School is almost out, and if you have not yet made summer plans for your children, consider summer camps at Dock Mennonite Academy!

There are lots of options to choose from for ages 4-14, including sports and non-sports camps. A few NEW camps being offered this year include Dock's Amazing Race, Inventor's Workshop, Design and Build This!, and Once Upon An Adventure. There are lots more to choose from!

Act quickly and you could receive a FREE coupon for a quart of Rita's Water Ice. Use our NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION process, which makes signing up even easier.

Click here to link to camp schedules, descriptions and registration

Hot off the presses! Dock's 2019 Fall Musical will be "Newsies," the Disney musical based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899. Dock Theater Director Ms. Karen Johnston says Newsies is a high energy show with lots of dancing. "It's a show that many students can get involved with, and share gifts you may not have explored before," she says. Stay tuned for details about auditions!

Synopsis: Jack Kelly is a rebel newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from the big city. After publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys' expense, Kelly and his fellow newsies take action. With help from the female reporter Katherine Plumber, all of New York City soon recognizes the power of "the little man."

Extra extra! The show was based on a 1992 movie starring (a very young) Christian Bale, Bill Pullman and Robert Duvall.

The schedule for Dock Mennonite Academy's Class of 2019 Senior Presentations has been posted. Senior speeches will be held June 3-5 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. in three campus locations: Clemens Auditorium, Clemens Theater in Longacre Center, and Room L-212 in Longacre Center.

Senior Presentations are 18- to 20-minute public presentations given by each graduating senior in which they reflect on their growth and maturity academically, socially, and spiritually over their years at Dock, as well as the key relationships and experiences that shaped them. Friends and family are invited to attend the presentations.

Food will be available at the Longacre Commons concession stand on each of the three nights of presentations; a specific menu will be posted as soon as it is available. Dock also asks families of graduates to greet their senior outside each of the three senior speech venues so that the next speaker can prepare. Please plan to support the Class of 2019 with your attendance!

See the Senior Presentation schedule

First grade teacher Mrs. Trish Landis just completed an amazing week with her students centered around Design Thinking, Math, Character Analysis, Vocabulary, and Vowel Teams. They visited different Mario “worlds.” Outdoors, for example, students were given a sight word and had to find the gold coin with the same word and squirt it with water. "Underground," students worked on addition, missing addends, and place value. In the Classroom, students broke open question boxes to find vocabulary words written within sentences to figure out the meaning of the word. The class even "played" Mario Kart: students designed their own cart that could hold their gold coins without using their hands. The class went to the gym and used their carts to solve math equations using mental math skills. Giving students unforgettable experiences and memories, intertwined with rigorous academics, makes them more inclined to have a growth mindset and challenge themselves!

More Mario photos

Thursday, May 30, was an exciting time in 5^th grade! Our students were treated to a glimpse of what middle school will look like for them in the fall. Mrs. Messina, Mrs. Histand and a panel of our current 6^th and 7^th graders shared their insights about middle school. The student panel answered questions in response to the 5^th grade survey. Some of the questions included the following topics: switching classes, locker use, organizational skills, sports, musical opportunities, making new friends, and other special middle school activities. 

Additionally, 7^th and 8^th grade Innovation students displayed their projects (Tiny Houses and Arcade games). The students described the need for collaboration, creativity and higher-level thinking skills when working in groups. The orientation time closed with small group tours of the middle school with Ms. Price, Mrs. Messina and Mr. Hackman, plus an informal Q & A session. Some additional topics of conversation were student independence, communication skills, time management and dress code expectations. We are looking forward to this wonderful group of students joining our middle school in the fall! Ask your student to share about their experience and show you their treat!

More photos