East Pennsboro Area High School

Greetings,

Welcome back for what will be another great year at East Pennsboro Area High School. We hope that everyone has had a great summer, filled with plenty of your favorite activities and past times.

Because I grew up in a house adjacent to my school's campus, the audible sounds of a high school marching band - the horns, the percussion, the bullhorns directing choreographed movements - have always been a symbol that the school year is on the horizon. Coupled with students slowly returning to campus for a host of other reasons, our high school will once again be a vibrant place of learning and activity next week.

Symbols are important. They represent traditions, culture, and trends. In the last three years, there have been symbolic, meaningful upgrades to our school that have immeasurably impacted the feel of this place, and when students feel better, they learn better. While aesthetic enhancements, functional furniture, and modern technology matter, nothing impacts the learning environment like a great teacher. Not only do we have plenty of good instructors here, but we also have plenty of teachers who go above and beyond to help students and to transform the school. You will read about several examples below, but one symbol illustrates the point this summer. Thanks to Mrs. Schaffer's tremendous artistic ability, supported by Mrs. Thompson and Mr. Betz as well as Mr. Hanson's media production and Mrs. Boston's library expertise, our library will grow into a multipurpose learning lab fit for the 21st century. Below, check out the Panther mural now on display in the library.

Our traditional New Student Orientation is on Monday, August 18, at 4 pm. 9th graders and their families received an invitation this past week in their emails. There will be nothing traditional about our first day of school. "Link Crew" will orient 9th graders and will lead activities for all students as we kick off the school year with the gusto reflective of this community's passion for excellence.

Here’s to another awesome school year. We will do all that we can to do right by our students and families.

Dr. Bianchi

We can’t wait for the Class of 2029 to join us at EPAHS. All 9th graders, as well as any upperclassman who is new to our community, are invited to New Student Orientation on Monday, August 18, at 4pm in the high school auditorium. Following a brief presentation by our principals, counselors, and several students, new students will have an opportunity to walk throughout the building to get oriented with the school and their classes. The program will end when you are finished walking the building, which usually is around 5:30 at the latest. New Chromebooks will be available for pickup, as well.

For students who cannot attend on Monday, we will allow students to "walk their schedules" on Tuesday from 3:00 - 3:30. Please sign in at the main office.

“Link Crew” is a high school transition program designed to help incoming Freshmen feel connected, supported, and confident as they start their high school careers. 9th grade is a crucial year of development. Link Crew serves as a peer mentoring program where Junior and Senior students train to become “Link Leaders” and guide students through a series of fun and informative orientation activities on the first day(s) of school. They provide regular check-ins throughout the year, as well. Not only is Link Crew beneficial because it eases the transition to high school, it helps build community and connection among students, fosters leadership development, and promotes a positive school environment.

The first day of the 2025-26 school year will be unlike any other at EPAHS.

• 9th graders, led by upperclassmen Crew Leaders, will participate in activities around the school throughout the morning.
• 10th, 11th, and 12th graders will participate in a combination of typical first day of school clerical items as well as some similar experiences that the 9th graders will participate in.
• All told, orientation activities, including the lunch periods, will take us to 12pm, at which point we will run an abbreviated bell schedule until 2:30.
• Periods 1 though 7 will be roughly 20 minutes and meant for introductions.
• On Thursday and Friday, we will run a regular bell schedule and finalize "first day" clerical items during the WIN period. CTC students will transport to CTC at 11:40.
• Seniors, regardless of senior privilege or late arrival status, must be at school from 7:30 - 2:30 on the first day.

We want your senior year of high school to be more like where you are going than where you have been. That means that, while we want you to fulfill all your required classes and to take the courses that prepare you for your next steps, we want to provide experiences for you inside and increasingly outside of this building that a generation ago were not a part of the high school experience. We want you interacting with professionals in a future work field, we want you earning college credits, we want you earning industry certified credentials to enter the world of work with the ability to make transformative earnings. We want the best for you.

More than ever, a high school should not be only be a place of learning, but an economic driver for each student and the local community. We aspire to be that. A few examples added this year include: students can take an 11th or 12th grade English course and earn college credits from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Seniors can participate in a professional internship for course credit and rub elbows with experts in the field. Seniors can practice agency and set a precedent for a more open school campus. These are but a few.

We also ask our seniors to be role models for the younger students. When we provide flexibility in coursework or the schedule, we ask that students hold up their end of the bargain.

A message intended specifically for Seniors will be sent on Monday, August 18.

If you are dropping students off, please pull to the furthest point possible in your lane to alleviate a backlog. This map depicts the current drop-off route. From 7:00-7:20, traffic remains relatively light, but between 7:20 and 7:30 am, there is increased traffic on campus.

"WIN" is a supplemental part of our school day. WIN is a time built into students' academic day to practice agency so they get what they need. Most students are scheduled for a study hall by default. They may request or be selected to work with a teacher on coursework. The reason we run a 6-day cycle rotation is so students have dedicated time to work with case managers, so students have one day per cycle to work exclusively with a teacher without a study hall also in the room, and so there is one day for teachers to collaborative plan. This year, we will also run clubs and activities during the WIN period to promote enrichment, socialization, and choice. We will not begin the WIN cycle rotations until mid-September.

For the second year in a row, Friday morning will feature a "soft start" or "morning meeting." With the complexities of growing up in the world today and the challenges of navigating high school and beyond, we want to advise our students on a host of academic, social, and developmental issues. Rather than featuring a weekly lesson authored solely by "Character Strong," we will cycle through a PBIS lessons, character-development lessons, career lessons, and an academic advisory lesson.

Our school district has undertaken a “Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports” behavior management paradigm. Our high school will take another step this year in this approach to promoting positive behavior and responding to negative behaviors. We have a staff-led committee that will soon expand to include student influence. Running an orderly school is our utmost priority and providing for everyone’s safety is our sacred duty. We aim to leverage modern behavior and development research to support traditional approaches to promote positive behavior and create a healthy school environment.

We encourage students staying organized with folders, binders, and writing utensils. Our high school doesn’t have a lengthy required student supply list other than the list above. While there is not a lot of variability among classes, and we are mindful of materials’ expenses, teachers can provide recommendations for success in their classes. No one should ever go without something. Please reach out to your school counselor or the main office if you are in need of a school supply.

9th Graders and new students may retrieve their Chromebook and charger at New Student Orientation. They will also be available the first day of school.

Mr. Jennings – Tech Ed - succeeding Mr. Bruner

Mr. Heenan - Special Education - succeeding Mr. Standland

Mr. Locker - Assistant Principal - succeeding Mr. Jahoda (Dr. Jones - interim)

(Mr. Locker's first day will be September 2)

There are two lunch sessions at EPAHS. Students can deposit lunch money into their accounts by putting it in an envelope in the main office or online with School Bucks. Our district partners with Chartwell’s K-12. Please visit our district’s food service page for more information, including information on free and reduced price meals.

The verdict is in after almost a generation’s worth of smart technology use. The misuse of electronic devices and social media have proven worrisome and even dangerous. In the very least, they serve as a distraction tool and management challenge. At worst, they are a place where harmful messages are shared or captured. They disrupt the environment and typically yield more of an overall cost than benefit.

You may have noticed over the summer that more schools are restricting students’ possession of cell phones. At EPAHS, we will take the second step in a multi-year shift toward prohibition during the school day, meaning a prohibition during class, elimination of headphones/ear buds, and enforcement against recording images or video. We will work cooperatively with students and families. We will ensure communication and preparedness for emergency events, but devices have altered school environments to a tipping point where something has to change. More details will be shared with students regarding when, where, why, and how devices can/cannot be used.

Students will be assigned a school locker. Locker use will start as optional to alleviate the burden of heavy backpacks and extra-curricular items. Some high schools require students to use lockers and not carry backpacks. Such an approach is under consideration for the future at EPAHS.

• 8/11: EPAHS Fall Sports Begin
• 8/18: New Student Orientation, 4 PM at EPAHS
• 8/20: First Day of the 2024-2025 School Year
• 8/21: EPAHS Fall Sports Kickoff Parade & Bonfire, 6 PM
• 8/27: EPAHS Back to School Night, 6-8 PM
• 8/29: Labor Day Recess - All Schools & Offices Closed
• 9/1: Labor Day Recess - All Schools & Offices Closed
• 9/17: EPAHS Post-Secondary Planning Night, 6 PM
• 9/25: EPAHS ASVAB Exam

Hello CTC Families,

Please see the CTC school calendar for 25-26 school year.

See this link for more information on CTC scheduling:

https://www.cpatech.org/

Please create a Sapphire Parent Portal account. There are several benefits to creating a parent portal account:

• You can access your child's report cards when they are published
• You can keep track of your child's attendance
• You will be able to receive important notifications about your child

To create a parent portal account:

• Go to our website www.epasd.org
• Hover over the "Students" tab
• Click "Sapphire Community Web Portal"
• Click "Create a Web Portal Account"
• Follow the remaining on-screen instructions to enter your information.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Suzette at sdavis@epasd.org. She would be happy to help!

Good afternoon Panther Families!

Our yearly required forms, transportation information, and schedule and teacher assignments have been released in Sapphire for the 2024-2025 school year. We encourage you to complete and submit the yearly required forms by the first day of school, Wednesday, August 21st.

The required forms that need to be competed are:

• Code of Conduct & Handbook Sign-Off
• Required Information Update
• Annual Health Update
• Device Policies Acknowledgment

If a change is needed for your student’s transportation, the Transportation Change Request form is available in the Sapphire portal. Please complete this request if needed by Wednesday, August 14th.

We are looking forward to the start of the school year on Wednesday, August 21st! Have a great rest of your summer!

Thank you,

EPASD Administration

For any student interested in health careers, the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Centers is providing a virtual health careers awareness program. The program is completely free and a good opportunity to explore possible careers. Please see the attached flyer for more information on deadlines and schedule of events for February 2024:

In honor of Children's Grief Awareness Day on Thursday, November 16th, a table will be set up in the cafeteria during both lunches to provide students with information about grief resources as well as an optional activity to memorialize the loved one's students have lost.

The PA Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is currently accepting applications! YAC gives teens a voice to make a difference in health policy and programming that affects them and their peers. Teens will join the YAC for two years to provide feedback on youth-related healthcare, practices and policies impacting youth across PA. By participating in YAC, teens will gain real-world experience collaborating with the Department of Health and other youth-serving agencies, add skills and volunteer experience to their resume, and receive a certificate of participation for college and job applications. The online application (due November 3rd, 2023) and more information can be accessed through the attached flyer and application:

On November 8th, a college admissions representative from Shippensburg University will be visiting East Pennsboro Area High School for an "Instant Decision Day". That means you will have the opportunity to meet with the college admissions representative for a 10-minute session to review your application and be notified of your admittance THE SAME DAY! No waiting!!

The benefits of an Instant Decision Day:

• No waiting for your acceptance letter!
• This is non-binding, meaning you do not have to attend Shippensburg, even if you are accepted
• You will have the opportunity to discuss your application and make your case about why you should be accepted to their school
• You will have the chance to ask them questions about their school

Here is what you will need to be prepared for your Instant Decision Day:

• A completed online application to Shippensburg a few days in advance
• A copy of your high school transcript on November 8th
• Dress appropriately for an important (but brief!) interview on the 8th

To sign up for this Instant Decision Day, please complete this Google Form by TUESDAY, Oct 31st:

For Attendance in 12th Grade: 1 dose of MCV (Meningococcal) on the first day of 12th grade. If one dose was given at 16 years of age or older, that shall count as the twelfth-grade dose. The student will be excluded on August 30th without evidence of vaccination.

Letters have been sent out if your student is missing their twelfth-grade dose. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 717-287-8764 or bhawk@epasd.org.

Illnesses: If you are sick, stay home. You may be sent home if you show signs of a sore throat, headache, stomachache, or cough.

Medication Policy: If you need medications during the day, you will need to provide a doctor’s note stating that you need the medication during school hours. The medications should be brought In by an adult/guardian in the pharmacy-labeled container. Empty containers may be sent home with the students, but the refills will need to be brought in by the parent/guardian.

Parents/Guardians - Please remember you have the option to submit absence notes, doctor, tardy, early dismissal, and educational trip forms to our high school attendance mailbox at ephsattendance@epasd.org

EPAHS accepts attendance notifications (excuse cards, absence notes, etc.) via email. Parents can email ephsattendance@epasd.org as a means of reporting your child’s absence. Paper notes will still be accepted as well. A reminder that all excuse notifications are required to be submitted within three school days of your child’s absences.

Excused Absences:

When a child is enrolled in the district’s educational program, the student is subject to the

Pennsylvania State Attendance Laws. The Board considers the following conditions to constitute an excused absence from school:

1. Illness

2. Quarantine

3. Student required court attendance

4. Prearranged doctor and dentist appointment for the time of appointment and appropriate travel time only

5. Authorized school activities

6. Pre-approved educational tours and trips, not school-sponsored

7. Other urgent reasons, including funerals, that apply to the child and approved by the building administrator

Parents/guardians are expected to telephone the school when students are absent for any reason. In addition, a written excuse from a parent/guardian is required for each absence.

Unexcused Absences:

An unexcused absence shall be defined as:

• Absence from school with parent/guardian consent for reasons other than those considered

excusable.

• Leaving school during school hours without permission from the administrator.

• Absence from school without knowledge/permission of parent/guardian (truancy).

• Absence from school without knowledge/permission of school authorities.

• Absences from school without written parental excuse submitted within 3 school days of the absence.

Please refer to the Student Handbook to review more specific information about our attendance policies. Contact our school office if you have any questions about our attendance policies or procedures.

Automated Absence Alert:

The Automated Absence Alert system was implemented to inform parents when their students are absent from school. If/when your student is absent or does not report to their classroom they are recorded as absent. When the daily attendance is submitted electronically, an automated message will be sent to a phone identified by the parent/guardian. This call will normally occur by approximately 10:00 am. Should you have questions or concerns you may contact the attendance secretary by calling: East Pennsboro Area High School (EPAHS), at (717) 732-0723.

Click the link below for the 2024-2025 School Year Calendar:

https://www.epasd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2166191&type=d&pREC_ID=2198708

Open 24 hours for all of your EP Spirit needs!

Click the link for a parent-friendly guide to navigating your student's Google Classroom.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GSel8xwNYfbQhodBdogt9RC_TZpolTXb2TlZLQKwb_0/edit?usp=sharing

Did you know that in addition to accessing your student’s lunch account, you can also pay fees through MySchoolBucks?

If you have a newly enrolled student in grades 6-12, an invoice will be created for the initial device insurance fee. Please check your student’s account on MySchoolBucks.com. Please select School Store, then School Invoices to view all device invoices.

If your student has needed their device repaired, the insurance fee will cover the cost to repair the device. A new insurance fee will be applied to cover the cost of future incidents. Full details and payment information are available in our District’s 1:1 Device Guide. (epasd.org - parents & guardians - EPASD 1:1 Device Information - EPASD 1:1 Device Guide) To check your student’s account, please go to MySchoolBucks.com, select School Store, and then School Invoices to view all device invoices.

Payments can be mailed to the Administration Center: EPASD — Business Office, 890 Panther Parkway, Enola PA 17025. Please include the student number on the check.

The Cumberland County Library System is offering virtual tutoring sessions. Click the link for more information.

www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/tutor

Email: tbianchi@epasd.org
Website: https://www.epasd.org/east-pennsboro-area-high-school/
Location: 425 West Shady Lane, Enola, PA, USA
Phone: 717-732-0723
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastPennsboroAreaHigh/