What are your favorite hobbies?

Reading, hiking, relaxing

What do you love about the Whitehall-Coplay School District?

I love how everyone I meet is so kind and welcoming. It is my first year here and I have already made friends that will last a lifetime!

What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

Definitely just trust the process and be willing to step outside of your comfort zone.

What are your favorite hobbies?

When I'm not busy being a mommy of 2 littles, I love spending time outside, going to concerts, and checking off local bucket-list items.

What do you love about the Whitehall-Coplay School District?

I love working in the school district I grew up in because it is home to me. I love the nostalgia and familiarity, while also embracing all of the "new" and continuing to grow my experience to aid in positive change for the district and our students.

What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

I would remind myself that "my feet will take me to where my heart is" and that what's meant to be, will be.

What was your path after High School?

College and work in the medical field

What fills your time now - both personally and professionally?

Recently retired Respiratory Therapist. My five grandchildren fill my time.

How did your experience at Whitehall guide you in your future pursuits?

Very well. I was able to take some college classes before I graduated which gave me a head start

What is your favorite Whitehall memory?

Working on the school newspaper and yearbook and football games

Who is one staff member that made a lasting impact on you during your time at Whitehall?

Mr. Frank Makary (English teacher)

What advice do you have for our current students?

Enjoy every moment because the memories you make will last a lifetime

During the March School Board meeting, the Board of School Directors approved a revised 23/24 school year calendar. The last day for students in grades 1 through 11 will be Wednesday, June 5th. The last day for Kindergarten will be Tuesday, June 4th, and the last day for seniors will be Monday, June 3rd. For more calendar information, please visit www.whitehallcoplay.org/calendar.

Please see below for a list of upcoming school events for February 2024!

• 5/7 - High School Spring Pops Concert - 7 PM, HS Auditorium
• 5/14 - MS Night of Music Concert, HS Auditorium, 7:00 PM
• 5/21 - Steckelwood Pops Concert - 7 PM, HS Auditorium
• 5/23 - Zephyr Spring Concert, 7 PM, HS Auditorium
• 5/27 - School Closed - Memorial Day

As of May 3, 2024, parent/guardian should now navigate to PowerSchool to complete an absence excuse form.

Directions

1. Navigate to the PowerSchool Parent Portal

2. Choose General Forms

3. Complete the Absence Excuse Form

This form should be used for lates, planned absences, and unplanned absences.

Go to PowerSchool Parent Portal, and navigate to general forms. Complete the Educational Trip Request form and submit it at least ten days before the trip.

Educational trips must be pre-approved so that absences can be excused. Trips are limited to a maximum of 7 total days for the school year.

The Whitehall-Coplay School District wishes to share important information concerning attendance and Compulsory School Age.

As per PA School Code, Compulsory School Age refers to the period of a child's life from when the child's parents elect to have the child enter school, which shall be no later than six (6) years of age until the child reaches 18.

To ensure the hopes and dreams of your child(ren) are realized, we ask for your commitment to ensuring your child attends school every day possible. The evidence is clear: children with good attendance are more likely to be successful in school. High attendance rates are linked to high student achievement. This is true for every grade – elementary, middle, and high school students.

Every day counts. Every minute counts. Missing school even 10% of the time has a significant negative impact on reading and math achievement as children progress through school.

• Good attendance starts early. Research has shown that the attendance habits established in Kindergarten through Grade 2 have lasting effects on students throughout their education: children with high attendance in the early grades continue to have good attendance, and students with low attendance in the early grades are more likely to have low attendance—and lower academic performance—throughout their elementary and middle school years.

• Students with good attendance performed better in math and reading. Children who had good attendance in Kindergarten through Grade 2 were more than twice as likely to score proficient on state tests by the time they reached Grade 8 as their peers who missed more school.

• Chronically absent students do not perform at grade level. In fact, only 17% of chronically absent students in grades K and 1 read at grade level by Grade 3. Students who are not reading at grade level by Grade 3 are 13 times more likely to drop out of school.
  

• If a student misses 10% of each school year (or 18 days per year), by the end of 9th grade, the student will have missed the equivalent of one full school year of school.

As your child’s most influential teacher, we ask for your support in helping your child get to school each day on time next year. Your child needs to be in school and engaged in learning to reach his or her full potential. Yet, we realize that every family faces challenges. Please let your child’s teacher or principal know if your family needs help dealing with a challenge to your child’s good school attendance. We will do our best to help you and your family ensure that your child’s school attendance stays on track.

Our 3rd annual district wide Family Night was another huge success! Family night was held on the evening of April 17th at the High School. Attendees enjoyed an evening of free food, giveaways, student performances, activities and raffle.

Some highlights from this year was free ice cream sundaes scooped by Just Chill Creamery, meet and greet with our Zephyr athletes, interacting with 50+ community partners and school clubs, pictures with Ferrous, Chick Fil A cow and Disney princess, science experiments, slime lab, friendship bracelet making and more.

Save the date for next year's event on April 9, 2025!

Camp Creation Station is a four-day learning experience for WCSD students currently enrolled in grades K-5. Students will discover, engage, collaborate, tinker, design, and create through a multitude of STEAM-based Makerspace activities. Additionally, students will experience engaging presentations from the Da Vinci Science Center, and the Wildlands Conservancy! See the flyers below to register by May 24, 2024.

Through a partnership with the Da Vinci Science Center, students will rotate through four, inquiry-based hands-on experiences that are designed to explore STEM careers. Past programs have included the following topics: Creative Contraptions, Outbreak Alert!, Medical Lab, and Coding. See the flyers below to register by June 5, 2024.

Please complete the attached link to register or call the Whitehall High School Main Office at 610-437-5081.

Please share! Is your organization looking for student volunteers? Connect with our WHS Community Service Program to have our Zephyrs join you in serving the community! Contact us at WHS 610-437-5081, message us, or contact our Mrs. Maamari at maamarir@whitehallcoplay.org.

Did you know that Lehigh Career & Technical Institute shares a monthly newsletter highlighting its programs and offerings? Check it out - https://bit.ly/lctinews

Whitehall-Coplay School District would like to recognize the following personnel appointed at the recent School Board Meetings. Congratulations on your new role!

Andy Marino, Social Studies Teacher at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School

Stephanie Steinberg, Third Grade Teacher at Steckel Elementary School

Justin Tanzos, Instrumental Music Teacher at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School

Emmalee Young, ESL Specialist at Zephyr Elementary School

The baseball team had a 2-1 week, beating North Schuylkill and Northampton but falling to Allen. The team is currently 11-7 with games against Emmaus and Tri-Valley left on the schedule. We are in contention for an EPC playoff spot and have clinched a District XI 5A Playoff berth. Senior Evan Kovalcik has been doing some damage at the plate.

District XI Baseball Ratings

Varsity Baseball

JV Baseball

JH Baseball (home games at Sammy Balliet Stadium)

The softball team is currently 10-9 with one game remaining on Monday vs. Emmaus at home. This past week the team beat Allen but lost to Parkland and Northampton. There is still an outside shot at the league playoffs and the team has already qualified for the District XI 5A playoffs.

District XI Softball Ratings

Varsity Schedule

JV Schedule

MS Maroon Schedule

MS Gold Schedule

The boys tennis team has finished its season by playing 5 matches in 3 days. They closed out the season with a win over Pocono Mt. West. Congrats and thank you to Coach Panny and the members of the Boys Tennis team.

District XI Boys Tennis Ratings

Tennis Schedule

The boys and girls track and field teams finished up their regular seasons this week when both fell to Northampton in the final dual. The post-season begins on Tuesday and Wednesday this week at the EPC Championships that are hosted here at Whitehall. Junior enters the meet as Whitehall’s only top seeded athlete. He is the top seed in the Javelin. The meet starts at 3pm in the Zephyr Sports Complex and behind the Field House (for throwing events) on both days.

Track and Field Schedule

Our boys volleyball team enters the EPC tournament seeded 3rd. The team enters at 14-3 after 3 wins this week vs. PM West, Nazareth, and Northampton. On Tuesday night, the team hosts Northampton in the EPC Quarterfinals at 6:30pm on Coach Tracy Court. Tickets are not required on Tuesday. If successful, we will play Emmaus in the EPC Semifinals on Thursday at 5pm at Allen HS.

District XI Boys Volleyball Ratings

Varsity BVb Schedule

JV BVb Schedule

MS BVb Schedule

MS Soccer Schedule

Each year, the PWCA (PA Wrestling Coaches Association) selects an All-Academic Team of student athletes who excel both on the mat and academically. Students are honored by being selected for First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention. This is for sophomores, junior and seniors only. The following WHS wrestlers were selected for the 2024 All-Academic Boys Team

Seniors:

Honorable Mention Jack Kocher

3rd Team: Seth Pascoe

3rd Team: Damond Pascoe

Juniors:

Honorable Mention: Nolan Schmeckenbecher

Honorable Mention: Trokon Kai

Sophomores:

Honorable Mention: Willmont Kai

Honorable Mention: James Hopkins

3rd Team: Kade Pascoe

Two members of the Class of 2023 competed in Track and Field this winter and spring. Vinson Eggleston is wrapping up his frosh season at Slippery Rock University. Greg Sommer competed in Pole Vault at Delaware Valley University this spring.

• Certified School Nurse [Steckel Elementary School]
  
• Cafeteria Monitor- Steckel Elementary School
  
• Bus Drivers
  
• Head Coach- Swimming
  
• Assistant Coach- Swimming
  

Agenda

Operations/Transportation Committee Meeting Agenda

Finance Committee Meeting Agenda

Education/Student Activities Committee Meeting Agenda