Mr. Storm's Classroom

09/10/2026

Last school year we read a book called Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. In response to the book, my classes wrote letters about success to the incoming freshman. This year I challenged the freshman to find the person's letter they had, introduce themselves, and get a picture. Pretty neat to see...

08/19/2026

Supply list for '26.

08/19/2026

My Welcome Back to School Parent email:
Welcome, Class of ’30 Parents! (That sounds pretty awesome!)

My name is Shawn Storm and I will be your child’s 9th grade English teacher for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. It’s my pleasure to be teaching some of your kids again, and for those I haven’t yet had the pleasure to meet, I can’t wait to meet them! I am currently teaching our CP English and Honors classes and will officially meet your kids on the first day of school Monday, August 31st! You will also have the opportunity to visit the High School on Tuesday, August 25th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM - a very informal opportunity to see what the high school is all about.

I wanted to introduce myself briefly, as I’m sure you will hear more from your kids and we’ll meet formally, in person, on Monday, September 14th at Open House from 6 -7:30 PM. This year is especially meaningful to me because it begins my 30th year in education. After spending most of my career teaching 6th and 7th grade at Strayer Middle School, I made the move to the high school last year. 9th grade is one of the most critical grades in your child’s educational experience and I want it to be one to remember!

I truly love what I do and am passionate about reading and writing and doing everything I can to help your child be successful. This year I will be doing my best to help them set a strong groundwork for their next four years in High School. I am involved heavily in areas outside of the classroom. I am currently the Advisor for the Class of ‘29, a coach for Field Hockey and Baseball here at the high school, and am involved in several other activities with the students.

On a personal level, I am married with three kids and three dogs; my oldest is a graduate of the University of Virginia where he played football, earned his Masters Degree, and is currently living in Florida with his dog and future fiance, and working as an Assistant Land Project Manager, my middle son graduated early from Duke University where he was a baseball player, earned his Masters from the University of Texas, and is currently the Director of Player Development at Zoned Sports, and my daughter graduated from Moravian University in the spring and is currently looking for a job in education. Please don’t hesitate to ask me about the college “process” - I’d be more than willing to share my experiences and kids’ journeys (both academically and athletically).

The details of what we will be doing in class will be all found in the course syllabus and on Atlas, which will be handed out the first week. The class will require consistent effort, and my expectation is simple: I ask every student to give me their best. To get off to a solid start, here’s the link for our summer reading assignment. One other helpful piece of information is that we will have a strict no cell-phone policy, as I’m sure you read. It is really a good thing for our kids. I’m looking forward to all of them being present. Finally,I attached a copy of our supply list for this year.

One final thing - I have two things I’m asking of you. They are both optional, but highly encouraged and recommended to complete. I have found both of these “things” to be extremely important and have really created great connections. They are at the bottom of this email.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns don’t before we meet, don’t hesitate to ask. I can be reached at [email protected] . Together we will make this an unforgettable year for you and your child!

I look forward to meeting you on at Back to School Night and Open House, but if you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to ask.

I can’t wait for the first day!

-Mr. Storm

Two Things I’m Asking of You

Assignment #1:

Write to me, your child’s teacher, Mr. Storm, a letter explaining your child. You may talk about anything that will help me to understand your child as a learner and person. You can talk about their strengths, weaknesses, fears/concerns, likes/dislikes, books they like, what they need to work on, etc.- basically anything you feel will be useful in helping your child grow as a student and person. Finally, make the last sentence of your letter about what you hope your child says about their experience in school this year. What’s the “story” you hope they would tell?

This is due before the End of September. You may email it to me [email protected] or send in a written letter.



Assignment #2:

Write your child a letter that will be hand-delivered to them at the conclusion of their Senior year. This will be one of the most meaningful things you do for your child. Talk about what hopes and dreams you have for them. Add a date to the letter. Personalize and offer words of encouragement. You may also include a letter from another family member (brother, sister, grandparent, etc.) addressing the same ideas. There is no minimum or maximum length- the only requirement is that it be sealed in an envelope and returned to Mr. Storm by Parent /Teacher Conference time in NOVEMBER (or Back to School Night in September). There will be a box in my room for you to place your letter in at that time. If you forget - please reach out to me and I will be sure to get your letter.

(This is my first year doing these at the high school level, but I really believe they can be super impactful! Any questions, please let me know!)

08/05/2026

Congratulations!

The Quakertown Community School District Board of School Directors unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Lisa Hoffman as the district's next Superintendent by a 9-0 vote at its meeting on August 4, 2026.

Hoffman has served as Interim Superintendent since February 2026 and has been part of the Quakertown Community School District leadership team for 16 years. Her selection follows a comprehensive search facilitated by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

To learn more, click here:
https://www.qcsd.org/article/3060143

07/21/2026

Can’t wait to see everyone!

Greetings QCHS Families:

We hope you’re having a wonderful summer!

Please join us Tuesday, August 25th from 5:30pm-6:30pm for our Freshmen and New Student Orientation at QCHS!

More details will be shared as we get closer to the start of the school year. We look forward to seeing you soon!

And mark your calendars for our Fall Open House: Monday, September 14 | 6PM – 7:30PM

QCHS Future Readiness Center QCHS Class of 2028 QCHS Class of 2027 QCHS class of 2029

06/10/2026

As my first year teaching high school comes to an end, and I reflect on the privilege of working with the incredible Class of ’29 and so many others, I find myself thinking about the greatest lesson I learned, not as a teacher, but as a person.

Everyone’s path is different.

In a world that constantly encourages comparison, it’s easy to look around and wonder if you’re moving fast enough, succeeding enough, or measuring up to everyone else. But this year reminded me that growth doesn’t happen on a universal timeline. Every student who walked through my classroom door carried a unique story, unique challenges, unique strengths, and unique dreams, as do I.

For some the journey’s a sprint. For others it’s a climb. For most of us, it’s a stumble, a regroup, and a keep moving forward.

The important thing is that we keep moving.

This year also reinforced something I’ve always believed: relationships matter. Every person who has come through my door - you all matter. More than grades. More than assignments. More than any lesson plan,; all the conversations before and after class, the encouragement after a tough day, the laughter, the trust and the moments when someone realizes they are seen, valued, and capable.

I believe these moments can change lives.

And perhaps the most beautiful realization of all is that we are all connected. Every interaction matters. Every person we encounter leaves a mark on our story, just as we leave a mark on theirs.

As this school year comes to an end, I know it’s really the beginning of something else for the Class of ‘29, Class of ‘28, Class of ‘27, and the Class of ‘26, and for the people they’ve become, and all journeys that lie ahead. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your story.

Keep growing. Keep believing. Keep becoming.

And most importantly, never compare your path to someone else’s.

Your journey is unfolding exactly as it should.
Carpe Diem.

05/31/2026

Class of 2026,

On Wednesday, June 5, at approximately 3:15 PM., we will gather to uncover the time capsules you buried as 7th graders.

For the past 25 years, students have had the opportunity to leave a piece of themselves behind and return years later to rediscover it. Remarkably, you are the final class that will get to experience this tradition, making this moment even more special.

Along with your time capsules, I will be returning the letters you wrote to your future selves and your "101 Goals" lists from 7th grade. I can only imagine how much has changed, how much you've accomplished, and how many memories have been made since those days in middle school.

I am truly looking forward to seeing all of you again, hearing your stories, and catching up on where life has taken you. It feels like just yesterday you were sitting in my 7th grade classroom, dreaming about the future. Now that future is here.

I hope you'll join me for this memorable reunion.

Mr. Storm

05/07/2026

I'm looking for some wood to use in an end of year legacy project with my 9th grade classes - anyone know where I could get any old boards? Would need about 140 - 1 foot by 6 inches would be ideal, but willing to work with anything!

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04/22/2026

Yesterday was a special one.

I had the opportunity to speak with the graduating Class of 2026, a group I was lucky enough to teach back when they were 7th graders. Standing in front of them again brought back a lot of memories and a lot of gratitude.

I shared a story from the 2019–2020 school year - one of the most challenging years of my career. It was a time filled with personal loss, a lot of emotional weight in the classroom, and eventually the uncertainty of COVID. I talked to them about coming back to school for the ‘20-21 school year and how nervous we all were. Having to keep desks 6 feet apart, having to learn about you when you barely talked, the way you hid emotions behind your masks, the way I’d extend our mask breaks just to see your smiles and hear your laughs. But in the middle of all that, this group of students showed something powerful: resilience. They showed up, even when things felt uncertain. They found ways to connect, even behind masks. And without realizing it, they gave me something I needed at the time - hope.

I recalled one of my earliest lessons from that year, about surfing. A lesson I learned from my youngest son. Where I told them that there would always be waves and it was going to be tough because you couldn’t stop the waves, but you could learn how to surf. What I was telling them was to be present. To be where your feet are. And they did that.

That message still holds true today. Be present. Be where your feet are.

To the Class of 2026, thank you for who you were then and who you’ve become. I’m proud of you and blessed to be able to share a small part of your senior year with you.

Enjoy every moment of what’s left of this journey. “Pura Vida!”

02/04/2026

If anyone has any old cereal boxes, shoe boxes, or small boxes they aren't using could you please let me know and I could grab them? I'm also looking for any old Valentines day cards, decorations, craft materials. Just let me know! Thank you in advance!

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