Panther Pride

Hear ye, hear ye! The announcement you've been waiting for has come at last: Our 2027 High School Musical will be the musical comedy Once Upon a Mattress!

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Princess and the Pea, Mattress still tells the story of a kingdom in search of a princess — but with a twist. Director Eric S. Mansilla says, "This show was the prototype of films like Shrek or Tangled. It’s a classic fairy tale, updated with modern humor and plenty of surprises — a 'grown-up' version of the story that is fun for everyone.”

Auditions will be held mid-November and are open to all high school students. "Come get involved, even if you never imagined yourself being onstage. Athlete, artist, first-timer, we've never had someone regret their decision to join Musical!"

Stay tuned for more updates! We are looking forward to seeing this fun and entertaining production in 2027!

Our district and Panther community have been incredibly proud of the East Pennsboro Marching Band throughout this competition season! We were also honored to host a competition this past weekend. There are still two opportunities to see our talented Panthers perform: this weekend at Cedar Cliff High School and at the State Championships on October 31 at Central Dauphin. Good luck, Panthers!

The EP Robotics team was invited by both State Representative Nate Davidson and State Senator Greg Rothman to visit the Capitol as part of the STEM education week celebration on Wednesday, October 21st! Team members were formally recognized in public session and then invited to the chamber floor for photos. The team had the opportunity to display their robot in the East Rotunda and to meet with legislators to showcase their robot all with the focus on promoting STEM education and funding for Pennsylvania schools. Thank you to Representative Davidson and Senator Rothman for recognizing the EP Robotics team!

Our EPE kindergarten students had the opportunity to dress up for career day on Thursday! We loved seeing the students' creativity and they were so excited to showcase what they want to be when they grow up. Thank you to our kindergarten teachers and families for making this day special for our youngest students!

For this week's Wall of Honor Spotlight, we're taking a look back at the earliest graduate recognized with this distinguished honor: Dr. Donald F. Bloser, Class of 1935.

A member of the very first graduating class of Enola High School in 1935, Dr. Bloser was honored for his outstanding achievements in the medical profession and his lifelong service to the East Pennsboro community.

After graduating from Enola High School, Dr. Bloser attended Dickinson College, commuting daily by train from Enola to Carlisle. During the summers, he worked in the same railroad yard that helped carry him to his classes each day. He later earned his medical degree from Temple University and began a career dedicated to serving others.

In February 1944, Dr. Bloser entered active duty as a Captain in the 309th Medical Battalion of the United States Army. During World War II, he served as a medical officer in Europe and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. For his service and dedication, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Medical Badge. He was honorably relieved from active duty on July 2, 1946.

Following the war, Dr. Bloser completed his residency at Harrisburg Hospital before returning home to Enola to establish a medical practice. Affectionately known throughout the community as "Dr. Don," he spent years caring for local families as a general practitioner. He also served as the East Pennsboro School District's school physician for 25 years. Whether making house calls, treating generations of families, or delivering newborn babies, Dr. Bloser became a trusted and beloved figure in the community.

Dr. Bloser and his wife, Patricia, raised four children in Enola, all of whom graduated from East Pennsboro Area High School. Although he passed away on March 17, 1973, at the age of 56, his impact on the East Pennsboro community continues to be felt today.

Dr. Bloser's life exemplifies dedication, service, and compassion. His commitment to both his country and his community serves as an inspiring example for today's students, demonstrating how one person's passion for helping others can leave a lasting legacy.

Good afternoon, Panther Families!

It has come to our attention that there are still a great number of families who have not yet completed our yearly required forms in Sapphire for the 2026-2027 school year. We encourage you to complete and submit the yearly required forms as soon as possible.

The required forms that need to be completed are:

• Handbook Sign-Off
• Required Information Update
• Annual Health Update
• Device Policies Acknowledgment

Sapphire can be accessed from the homepage of our district website (www.epasd.org) or by clicking here.

If this is the first time you are working with Sapphire or could use a review on how the system operates, please visit our Sapphire Help Resources page on our website to view a brief how-to video.

Thank you,

EPASD Administration

District

• 10/30: End of 1st Marking Period (HS & MS)
• 10/30: Student Early Dismissal, See School Times Below
• 11/3: Act 80 Elementary Only, No School for EPE & WCH
• 11/5: School Board Meeting, 6pm
• 11/10: Veteran's Day Programs
• 11/11: Veteran's Day, Schools & Offices Closed

High School

• 10/30: End of 1st Marking Period (HS & MS)
• 10/30: Student Early Dismissal, 12:00pm
• 11/10: Veteran's Day Programs

• 11/11: Veteran's Day, Schools & Offices Closed
• 11/12: Fall Production, "Clue: High School Edition," 7pm
• 11/13: Winter Sports Enrollment Deadline
• 11/14: Fall Production, "Clue: High School Edition," 2pm & 7pm

Middle School

• 10/30: End of 1st Marking Period (HS & MS)
• 10/30: Student Early Dismissal, 12:30pm
• 11/5: PTO, 5:15pm
• 11/10: Veteran's Day Programs

• 11/11: Veteran's Day, Schools & Offices Closed

EPE

• 10/30: Student Early Dismissal, 1:00pm
• 11/2: Picture Retake Day
• 11/3: Act 80 Elementary Only, No School for EPE & WCH
• 11/10: Veteran's Day Programs

• 11/11: Veteran's Day, Schools & Offices Closed

WCH

• 10/30: Student Early Dismissal, 1:00pm
• 11/3: Act 80 Elementary Only, No School for EPE & WCH
• 11/10: Veteran's Day Programs

• 11/11: Veteran's Day, Schools & Offices Closed

EPAHS Fall Production showtimes are Thursday, November 12th at 7pm, and Saturday, November 14th at both 2pm and 7pm!

Click below or scan the QR to purchase tickets!

Attention business owners! The EP High School Drama Club would love to feature your business in our fall play program. The play is “Clue: High School Edition”, based on the board game and the movie. Please use this form to order an ad. Ad copy and payment are due by OCTOBER 30. (Please note: all full-color ads are sold, but we have plenty of room inside the program for B&W ads). All ads purchased help to fund dramatic arts at EPAHS. Please email jdurika@epasd.org with questions.

Panther Families: If your student rides Bus 5, 9, or 11, you may have noticed some new faces behind the wheel recently. At this time, these routes have open driver positions, and our Transportation Department is working hard to ensure all students continue to get to and from school safely and on time. This may require some adjustments in driver assignments as we cover these routes.

We appreciate your patience, understanding, and support as we navigate this staffing challenge. If you know someone who may be interested in joining our team as a bus driver, we encourage you to share the information below. Thank you for helping us keep our Panther students moving safely each day!

Please note that the afternoon high school and middle school Activity Bus, available Monday through Thursday, began service this past week. As a reminder, the Activity Bus transports students throughout the entire district, which may result in longer travel times and routes. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Website: epasd.org
Location: 890 Panther Parkway, Enola, PA, USA
Phone: 717.732.3601
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastPennsboroASD/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epasd_panthers/