SCHOOL COVID NUMBERS JUMP POST-PROM
The number of Abington students with COVID has spiked a bit and Town officials say it could be tied to last week’s junior prom.
“Over the past day we identified numerous cases of COVID-19 among attendees of the Abington High School prom which took place on Friday evening,” Abington High School Principal Jonathan Bourne wrote in a message to parents this week.
Public Health Nurse Lindsey Wright says the town is currently tracking at least 13 cases and is encouraging community members to take a COVID test and stay home if not feeling well.
“This is a perfect opportunity to remind our community members if they have been exposed or are feeling unwell they should seek testing and stay home until they are feeling better,” Wright said. “The Health Department continues to offer free rapid at home antigen test kits as well as booster shots and initial vaccine series to anyone who is interested and eligible.”
Those with positive tests are asked to self-report any positive tests using this COVID-19 reporting tool or email school nurse Sarah LaPointe (sarahlapointe@abingtonps.org).
The total number of positive cases in Abington, like in many communities, have been slowly ticking up since March. As of Thursday there were 49 active cases; numbers peaked at more than 600 in January.
APPROVAL NEARS FOR ADAMS STREET POT SHOP
The Planning Board on Monday approved an updated site plan for CannaBarn, a retail cannabis shop proposed for 678 Adams Street, provided that the applicant expands the proposed stormwater retention system to accommodate a 100-year storm.
The board was receptive to letting the store open initially without immediately paving the existing gravel lot, which involves installing a subsurface stormwater detention system. The former trucking hub property currently doesn’t have one. Store owner Michael Nashawaty had pledged to pave the lot by November, after the store opened and started collecting revenue. But the Building Department and Fire Department raised concerns about leaving it in its current condition, and Nashawaty agreed to pave the lot prior to opening.
Plans given to the Planning Board initially provided enough capacity to hold back water from a 25-year storm, which they said would reduce the amount of water that currently flows off the site. The board’s consulting engineer said current best practices call for enough capacity for a 100-year storm, which involves about 8 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period. Nashawaty agreed to that change and will file updated project plans.
Interior improvements are already underway. Site plan approval means exterior work can also begin.
Nashawaty hopes to open the store in July.
SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL MAY 18
Abington High School will host a “Celebrate the Arts Festival” on Wednesday, May 18, from 3:30 – 7 p.m. The event will feature both a student art show as well as concert choir and band performance.
The art show will feature work from all students in grades 9-12 who participated in an art class this year. The AHS Concert Choir and Concert Band will present their annual Spring Concert starting at 7 p.m., in the Middle/High School auditorium. There is no admission fee and the events are open to the public.
APD RECEIVES STATE GRANT MONEY FOR AEDS
The Abington Police Department will receive a $1,846 grant to purchase AEDs for cruisers. AEDs, which stand for automated external defibrillators, are used to help restore regular heartbeats to those having cardiac events. They can be used by people without medical training.
According to a release from state Sen. John Keenan, the $527,000 grant program was funded through this year’s state budget, and will pay for AEDs in 246 police vehicles in communities across the Commonwealth.
SCHOOL TRAVEL MEETING TUESDAY
School sponsored trips are resuming next year after a 2-year, pandemic- related absence. To learn more, parents can attend a meeting on Tuesday night, May 10, at 6:30 p.m., in the seminar room.
The school department will be offering a trip to Puerto Rico for juniors and seniors and to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park for freshmen and sophomores. Both trips will run during April Vacation. Please email Ms. Daisy at karindaisy@abingtonps.org with any questions.
MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARBOOK ORDERS DUE FRIDAY
The last day to order the 2021-’22 AMS Yearbook is May 6th. Click here to order the Yearbook online.
Abington Middle School’s Code – 14383022. Yearbooks are $15 each. Extra copies will not be available for purchase
LENNON, BRINK HONORED BY SCHOOLS
The winners of this year’s Chester Millett Outstanding Teacher and Support Personnel Awards are Becky Lennon, a teacher, and Laura Brink, a tutor.
“I cannot think of two better individuals to represent consistent, distinguished service above and beyond the call for the students we serve,” Superintendent Peter Schafer said in an email to the school community.
The announcement was made as part of Teacher Appreciation Day.
“I am honored to work with such dedicated staff and to recognize their hard work every day, but especially today,” Schafer said.
It capped off a nice week for Brink: on Saturday she was elected to the Library Board of Trustees.
AMS GRADE 8 SEMI-FORMAL TICKETS ON SALE NEXT WEEK
The Grade 8 Northern Lights Semi-Formal will be held on Friday, June 10 at Reilly Field. Only current AMS grade 8 students are allowed to attend. Tickets will be sold during lunches on Tuesday, May 10 and Wednesday, May 11, and cost $10 each.