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Dog’s dash in Sweet Valley has a happy ending for owner

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Berwick jiu-jitsu instructor Mark Collier sees significant weight loss while practicing the martial art form

<p>BEAR CREEK TWP. &#8212; Jill Limongelli can&#8217;t see her children going to school anywhere else but the new Bear Creek Community School.</p><p>&#8220;I never imagined it this beautiful,&#8221; Limongelli said as she made her way through the newly built facility.</p><p>It was a sentiment that was shared by nearly 3,000 people that made their way through the building during an open house this weekend that included fireworks and a dinner dance.</p><p>The school is moving from its smaller, current location also on Route 115. Students will move into the new building after the holiday break.</p><p>The building&#8217;s foyer was filled with color, music filled the air and current students, alumni and parents filled every area of the building and its grounds.</p><p>Limongelli, whose children &#8212; Danny, third grade, and Santa, first grade &#8212; attend the school, was focused on the opportunities that the two will have for learning during their time at the school.</p><p>&#8220;There are so many opportunities the students here have,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think any other area school compares with it.&#8221;</p><p>She credited Jim Smith, CEO of the school, with fulfilling a vision for expansion that he has developed over the long term.</p><p>&#8220;This is because of him,&#8221; she said, &#8220;because he refused to give up.&#8221;</p><p>Limongelli said she is often asked how much it costs to send her children to the charter school.</p><p>&#8220;I tell them, it&#8217;s a public school, it doesn&#8217;t cost anything,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The 64,000-square-foot building sits on 97 acres, with 26 acres having been developed for the school building, outdoor learning stations, recreation and parking.</p><p>The $22 million project was made possible by a $12 million loan from the United States Department of Agriculture. The other $10 million was contributed by the school.</p><p>Dave Blazejewski, president of the current board of trustees, said school&#8217;s founders and parents have been proactive from the beginning.</p><p>With its funding coming from the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and other sending school districts, the Bear Creek Foundation, which owns and maintains the school&#8217;s real estate, was able to save surplus money for future expenditures.</p><p>The new building includes a music area, full-sized gym, a pond, gardens to be overseen by each grade, a rain water collection system, state-of-the-art classrooms and a cafeteria looking out on the grounds. It had many attendees to this weekend&#8217;s events looking forward to the future of the school.</p><p>&#8220;Charter schools have existed since the early 90s as an opportunity to raise the bar in regard to education,&#8221; said Blazejewski. &#8220;We stay current on the latest teaching methods and hope to be an example to other schools.&#8221;</p><p>Blazejewski said the charter school went beyond academics to a culture that made the school work.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re family here. And not just during the students&#8217; attendance here at the school, but in the long term,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Alumni keep in touch after graduation as do their parents.&#8221;</p><p>Michelle Dotzel said sons, Michael, seventh grade, and Daniel, third grade, love the new building and are looking forward to attending classes there.</p><p>When asked his favorite part of the school, Daniel said he looked forward to fresh food in the cafeteria, and then smiling, adding, &#8220;and I hear it has air conditioning.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Conner Czech, 19 months, waits while the Wyoming Valley Band Brass Ensemble gets ready to play during the Bear Creek Charter School Open House on Sunday in Bear Creek Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121415bearcreek1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Conner Czech, 19 months, waits while the Wyoming Valley Band Brass Ensemble gets ready to play during the Bear Creek Charter School Open House on Sunday in Bear Creek Township. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121415bearcreek2-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Harpist Jennifer Rabbe plays at the Bear Creek Charter School Open House on Sunday in Bear Creek Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121415bearcreek2-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Harpist Jennifer Rabbe plays at the Bear Creek Charter School Open House on Sunday in Bear Creek Township. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121415bearcreek3-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Small artisan shops were set up at the Bear Creek Charter School on Sunday in Bear Creek Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121415bearcreek3-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Small artisan shops were set up at the Bear Creek Charter School on Sunday in Bear Creek Township. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Students will move into building after holiday break</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>More information</p><p>Those who want to learn more about Bear Creek Community Charter School can access their website at www.bearcreekschool.com.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Public gets first view of new Bear Creek Charter School