May and June 2023 e-News

We end the school year with a focus on CREATIVITY! One way to think about creativity is “using your imagination to create something new or solve a problem.” We hope you will find opportunities to have fun and connect as a family while being creative this month. For additional information regarding CharacterStrong, including our middle school monthly traits, please visit our CharacterStrong & Social Emotional Learning website.

• MAY - Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Military Appreciation Month, Better Hearing and Speech Month, and Foster Care Month

• May 1 - School Principal’s Day and Substitute Appreciation Day
• May 1-7 - Physical Education & Sports Week
• May 5 - School Lunch Hero Day
• May 8-12 - Teacher Appreciation Week (we celebrate all staff this week!)
• May 10 - School Nurse Day and Receptionist’s Day
• May 12 - School Communicators Day
• May 14 - Mother's Day
• May 18 - Speech Language Pathologist Day
• May 29 - Memorial Day
  

• JUNE - Caribbean American Heritage Month, Pride Month (LGBTQ+), and Internet Safety Month
• June 14 - Flag Day
• June 18 - Father's Day
• June 19 - Juneteenth

Red Land’s Annual Talent Show will benefit New Hope Ministries this year! Join us on Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 if purchased at the door. Click here to purchase your tickets online.

Cedar Cliff will present the play Puffs, a parody of the Harry Potter book series.

Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 7 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $3 for students, $5 for adults, and $5 for all tickets purchased at the door. Click here to purchase your ticket online.

Red Land - Tuesday, May 9, 5-8 p.m. with Concert at 7 p.m.

Cedar Cliff - Monday, May 22, 6-9 p.m. with Concert at 7 p.m.

Cedar Cliff - Friday, May 12, 9 a.m.

Red Land - Friday, May 12, 11:30 a.m.

Cedar Cliff - Saturday, May 13, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Penn Harris Hotel, Camp Hill

Red Land - Saturday, May 20, 6-10 p.m., Sheraton Hotel, Harrisburg

Sunshine Prom for high school students in District Special Education classes - Thursday, May 11, Noon-2 p.m., Memory Barn, Etters

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2023

Saturday, June 3, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex

Red Land - 10 a.m.

Cedar Cliff - 1:30 p.m.
Parking is free and there is no limit to the number of guests families can invite to join us. We will also broadcast both ceremonies live for those unable to make it in person. Details about the live stream, including links and system requirements, will be available on our website closer to graduation.

WEST SHORE SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Tuesday, May 9, during school, West Shore Stadium

Due to the weather forecasted for April 28, this event was postponed to May 9.

TITLE III DAC MEETING

Tuesday, May 9, 4:30 p.m., Roof Park

ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT PICNIC

Tuesday, May 9, 5-7 p.m., Roof Park

WEST SHORE MOVE-UP DAY

Thursday, May 11, during school

For students currently in Grades 5 and 8

HIGHMARK WALK FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY

Saturday, May 20, 8:30 a.m., Harrisburg Area Community College
Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community is an annual fundraising walk that benefits local health and human service agencies. Again, this year, the West Shore Foundation is a beneficiary and will receive 100% of your support. If interested in learning more, please click here.

CUMBERLAND PERRY AREA CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER AWARDS NIGHT

Tuesday, May 23

For Level 3 and Senior CPACTC students

SCHEDULED REMOTE LEARNING DAY

Friday, May 26

Teachers will provide asynchronous work for students equal to a half day of instruction. Student work may be completed on the Remote Learning Day or anytime over the weekend and submitted at the start of school on Tuesday, May 30. Students will not attend Zoom sessions and all students will be marked present, unless reported as absent by their parent or guardian.

CANCELLED: CLIFF FEST COMMUNITY EVENT

Sponsored by the Cedar Cliff Music Department

Originally planned for Saturday, May 27, this event has been cancelled.

NO SCHOOL

Monday, May 29

EARLY DISMISSAL/LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS

Friday, June 2

Middle and High School students will be dismissed at 11 a.m.

Elementary students will be dismissed at noon.

Afternoon kindergarten and KAP will not be held on the last day.

Lunch will not be served.

WORK YEAR ENDS FOR TEACHERS

Thursday, June 8

ANNUAL RETIREE AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION DINNER

Tuesday, June 13, 5:15-7:45 p.m., Cedar Cliff High School Cafeteria

Formal invitations will be sent in May to our retirees and honored guests.

END OF THE YEAR GRADES AVAILABLE

Monday, June 19

Grades for the last trimester/marking period will be available online in PowerSchool no later than Monday, June 19. To view and print grades in the traditional report card style, please click the "Report Cards" tab on the left after logging into the PowerSchool website (not available in the app). Parents, if you need to set up a PowerSchool account or would like to request a printed version of your child’s report card, please contact your child's building secretary.

Meetings are held at the Administration Center and are open to the public.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Facilities - Wednesday, May 3, 4:30 p.m.

Finance - Thursday, May 4 and Thursday, June 8, 4:30 p.m.

Policy - Thursday, May 11 and Thursday, June 15, 4:30 p.m.

Curriculum - Wednesday, June 7, 4:30 p.m.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

Thursday, May 4, 2023, adoption of proposed budget, 6:30 p.m.

• In Person and Electronic Public Comment Guidelines
• Watch Board Meetings Online - Board meetings are streamed live and archived for viewing after the meeting.
• Board Agendas - published 24 hours before the meeting
  
• Board Minutes - posted after Board approval
• On Board - online newsletter providing a summary of Board discussions
• 2023-2024 Budget Development - presentations made to the Board during the budget development process

Congratulations to our Employees of the Third Quarter…Lisa Saar, Second Grade Teacher at Red Mill Elementary, and Erin Snyder, Reading Instructional Assistant at Hillside Elementary. Through their actions and dedication, these West Shore employees have supported the District’s pledge to inspire, engage, and empower students. Thank you Lisa and Erin!

We are delighted to announce the selection of Mr. Mathew Gay as the next Assistant Superintendent of the West Shore School District. On April 20, the Board of School Directors unanimously approved his appointment to replace Dr. Jamie Whye who is retiring in June following nine years of service to the District. To learn more about Mr. Gay, click here.

Our Music Department is...simply the best! Again this school year, West Shore has been recognized as one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation! Thank you to our teachers, students, administrators, board members, parents, and community members for your support of music education in the West Shore School District.

We are offering online summer remediation and acceleration courses at NO COST to students or their families again this year. Credit Acceleration courses will run from May 30 - July 26, 2023 and Credit Recovery course from June 14 – July 26, 2023. Interested students must complete all requested information on the online application to register. Click here for more details about this year's offerings.

This summer, West Shore's music department will offer two options for continued music study for strings and instrumental band students. Both programs are available to instrumentalists playing violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba, and percussion. Click here for more details and registration information.

Available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from July 6 through July 27 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for students in our Special Education program. Additional details and registration information will be sent to eligible families.

We are once again offering a free summer meals! From June 12 through August 10, all kids up to age 18 can receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of their family’s economic status or school district of residence.

Locations: Hillside and Washington Heights Elementary Schools

Days: Monday through Thursday (closed Fridays)

Times: Breakfast from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. and Lunch from 10:45 a.m. - noon

Monday, June 12, through Friday, August 11, all District schools and the Administration Center will be open Monday through Thursday and closed on Fridays. In addition, District offices and meal location sites will be closed July 4 in honor of Independence Day. Due to summer trainings and staff vacation time, hours at the individual schools will vary each day. Please contact the building prior to your visit to confirm someone will be available to assist you.

Next school year will begin on August 28, 2023 and end on June 7, 2024. Since approval of the calendar, it was decided that graduation for the class of 2024 would be held on Friday, June 7, 2024. Cedar Cliff's ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. and Red Land's ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m.

To download the complete calendar, please click here.

West Shore is a great place to work with wonderful benefits including tuition reimbursement.

About our Tuition Reimbursement:

• Employees can request reimbursement for up to 12 credits each school year.
• Current PA State System of Higher Education rate is $319 per credit for undergraduate courses and $516 per credit for graduate courses.
• Many colleges offer deferment programs to assist in financing your tuition. Payment may often be made at the conclusion of the course after you have received reimbursement from the District.

Our application process is simple and can be done entirely online. For a complete list of current openings, check out our employment page.

• Kindergarten Registration for August 2023 - The District is currently accepting kindergarten registrations for the 2023-2024 school year. If you have a child who will be five years old before October 1, please check our registration page for directions on how to complete their enrollment process online.

• Electronic Absence Submission - If your child will not be in school for the day due to illness or doctor/dentist appointment, you can submit their absence electronically through PowerSchool.
  

• Volunteer Clearance Policy & Procedures - Adults wishing to volunteer in our schools are required to complete the Volunteer Application Process before being approved to do so.
• Technology Help Center - Contains videos, resources, FAQs, and guides on using SeeSaw, Schoology, PowerSchool, iPads, Chromebooks, and more.
  

• Damage, Loss, Theft of District Technology Devices and Chargers - Information related to device expectations and repair costs.

• Primary (K-2) Math Parent Academy - Games and activities to help your child at home with their math development.

• Care Solace and Other Resources for Mental Health and Well-Being