The Upper Perkiomen School District will honor several students who were commended or reached the semifinals of the National Merit Scholarship program.

Peter J. Marino was named as a semifinalist while students Rebecca Callodonato, Terry Kuhns, Katelyn Ondek and Liam Smith were commended.

Also to be honored is Choral Director Mark Thomas who was voted "Best Choral Director" by Philadelphia Magazine in its September issue.

Thomas was chosen by the magazine for his dedicated touring schedule, called more rigorous than American Idol by Philadelphia. The choir has collected its fair share of gold medals the world over in competitions.

The school board will also be voting on the proposal to approve a change order for the second roof drain and roof blocking at Hereford Elementary in the amount of $4,148.64. There will also be a motion on a change order for the middle school renovation project in the amount of $25,692.65.

The school board meeting will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. in the education center's multipurpose room at 2229 East Buck Road.

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Upper Perk isn't the only school district to have a teacher honored as the best in the region.

Phoenixville's Nicole Curry, a Latin teacher, was named "Best Teacher" for 2009 by the magazine. Curry is noted for using rap and other eccentric means to teach her students the ancient tongue. Her students have received bronze, silver and gold medals on national Latin exams.

Kimberton Waldorf School received a schoolwide accolade .. for having the best garden. The school, known for its focus on the environment and sound living, has 2 acres tilled and worked by its students in sixth through 10th grades.

Not to be outdone by another area private school, the Hill School in Pottstown was chosen by the magazine as having the best uniform. But it may have its run cut out for it now that Pottstown's public schools have chosen a similar requirement of navy blue with khakis.

Pottsgrove School District's student leadership program was named as the best in the region. The four-year-long class teaches students how to recognize bullying, depression and other issues in their peers and how to help or get assistance. It accompanies this program with a Web site full of podcasts for students to use.

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The Allentown Diocese's newly installed bishop, Rev. John O. Barnes will confirm more than 35 students from St. Francis Academy in Bally Thursday at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish at 4:30 p.m. It will be Barnes' first parish confirmation ceremony since he was installed.

Barnes is the fourth bishop of the Allentown Diocese. He was installed in July.

The students he will confirm also included parishoners of St. Columbkill's parish.

Confirmation at Most Blessed Sacrament has seen some pretty notable faces in its day, such as the Rev. John Carroll and St. John Neumann, who of course wasn't a saint at the time.

Most Blessed Sacrament was established in 1741 and is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the state as well as the 13 original colonies.

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The Villa at Morlatton is holding a huge yard sale this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the grounds of the assisted-living facility along Route 422 in Douglassville.