September

This monthly communication is intended for our Lebanon School District families.

Dear Cedar Families,

September 4 - 7

No School

September 8

K4 and K5 Students Start Reporting for Full School Days

September 25

K4 - 6th: No School

7th - 12th Grade: Remote Learning Day

September

9/13-19: National Arts in Education Week

15: National IT Professionals Day

26: National School Parent Group Day

Click the “Attendance Information” button for helpful information about:

• Submitting absence notes, including email links
• Early dismissals and late arrivals
• Excused and unexcused absences
• District attendance procedures and expectations

Click the “Staying Connected” button to learn how to:

• Receive important district and school notifications
• Update your contact information
• Access your child’s grades and academic progress

The Lebanon School District proudly invites students, families, alumni, and community members to join us for a special evening as we dedicate our newly named Dick Shiner Field at Alumni Stadium.

The field will be named in honor of Dick Shiner, a distinguished Lebanon School District graduate and former National Football League quarterback who enjoyed an impressive 11-year professional career from 1964 to 1974. Throughout his career, Shiner played for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and New England Patriots, proudly representing his hometown on football's biggest stage.

This special dedication ceremony will celebrate Mr. Shiner's accomplishments, his connection to the Lebanon community, and the lasting legacy he leaves for future generations of Cedar students and athletes.

Alumni Stadium Rededication Ceremony
Honoring Dick Shiner – Dick Shiner Field
Friday, September 11, 2026

6:15 p.m. – Lebanon High School Marching Band Field Show
6:30 p.m. – Dick Shiner Field Naming and Rededication of Alumni Stadium Ceremony
7:00 p.m. – Lebanon Cedars vs. Reading Red Knights

We encourage all Cedar families, alumni, and community members to attend this memorable event as we celebrate a hometown legend and an important moment in Lebanon School District history.

Join Lebanon High School and CISPA for our Third Annual Homecoming Parade & Carnival on Thursday, September 17, 2026!

The evening kicks off with the Homecoming Parade at 5:30 p.m., beginning at 7th and Liberty Streets and ending at Alumni Stadium. Following the parade, enjoy the Homecoming Carnival from 6:30–8:00 p.m., featuring games, food trucks, music, and everyone's favorite—the dunk tank!

Bring your family and friends for an evening of school spirit, community fun, and Cedar pride. We look forward to seeing you there!

Cedar Chats are informal opportunities for parents and guardians to connect with Dr. Dawn Connelly, Director of Teaching & Learning. Held throughout the school year, these conversations provide a chance to:

• Share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate with district leadership
• Learn about programs and supports designed to help students succeed
• Discover how federal Title funding is used to enhance learning opportunities and strengthen student achievement

We encourage all families to join the conversation and be a part of helping every student thrive.

📅 Upcoming Cedar Chat Dates with Dr. Connelly:

• October 7th at 5:30 p.m. Intermediate School CISPA Family Night Out

• October 8th at 5:30 p.m. Junior High School CISPA Family Night Out

• October 14th at High School Family Night Out (this is a District Event)

• October 28th at Harding Elementary Literacy Night

Your voice matters! Together, we can shape brighter opportunities for every Cedar and strengthen our community.

The Lebanon School District is in the process of revising its Comprehensive Plan and is seeking volunteers to participate in the planning process. The Comprehensive Plan is reviewed and updated every three years to help guide the district’s goals, priorities, and future initiatives. We encourage parents, staff, community members, students, and other stakeholders to get involved and share their perspectives as we work together to shape the future of our schools.

The district invites all staff, parents, guardians, and community members to attend one of three upcoming community presentations to learn more about the district’s plan to develop its own Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs and ultimately transition away from the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center.

The same presentation will be offered at each location, so attendees may choose the date and location that works best for them:

• Wednesday, October 7 — Lebanon Intermediate School Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 14 — Lebanon High School Auditorium, 6:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 22 — Northwest Elementary School Cafetorium, 6:00 p.m.

All members of the school community are encouraged to attend and learn more about this important initiative and the district’s vision for the future of Career and Technology Education.

Enrollment is now open! The 21st Century program provides students with engaging before- and after-school opportunities that inspire learning, creativity, and fun.

Students in grades 1–12 are eligible to participate. Programs are offered Monday through Thursday at every Lebanon School District school building throughout the school year.

Students enjoy a variety of enriching activities, including:

• Hands-on STEM projects
  
• Literacy & tech skills
• Arts, crafts & cultural activities
• Outdoor recreation
• Homework help and tutoring
• Team-building activities
• And much more!

Best of all, the 21st Century program is completely free for participating families. Enrollment forms are available at your child's school and through the Google Forms link, below. We look forward to another year of learning, growing, and having fun together!

* The 21st Century Program is funded through the federal Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant as distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Another important investment we are making for the 2026-2027 school year is the addition of K4 and K5 Transitional Classrooms.

At Lebanon School District, we recognize that children learn and grow at different rates. While many students are ready to transition directly into a traditional kindergarten setting, others benefit from additional time and support as they develop the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral skills needed for long-term success.

Our Transitional K4 and K5 classrooms are designed to provide a nurturing, developmentally appropriate environment where students can learn at their own pace while building the foundational skills necessary for future success. By identifying and supporting student needs early, we are making an investment that can positively impact a child's educational experience for years to come.

Every child deserves the opportunity to begin school with confidence. These new programs reflect our commitment to meeting students where they are and ensuring they have the support they need to thrive.

Each year, school districts are required to provide families with information regarding a variety of policies, programs, rights, and procedures. These annual notices cover topics such as student records and privacy rights, special education services, homeless education, asbestos management, integrated pest management, Title I programming, and other important information.

The Lebanon School District's Annual Notices are available on our website and may also be requested through your child's school office. We encourage families to review these notices to stay informed about the programs, services, and protections available to students and families.

For additional information or assistance locating a specific notice, please contact your child's school or the District Office.

Bicycles, e-bikes and electric scooters are increasingly popular ways for students to get around—but families should know Pennsylvania's rules before students ride.

🚲 BICYCLES

• Pennsylvania considers bicycles vehicles when they are ridden on the roadway. Riders should travel with traffic and follow traffic signs and signals.
• Children under age 12 are required to wear a helmet. Helmets are strongly recommended for riders of all ages.
• Bicycles may generally use roadways, bike lanes and shoulders. Sidewalk riding is prohibited in business districts and where a usable bicycle-only lane is available.

⚡ E-BIKES

• Pennsylvania's definition of an e-bike includes a motor of 750 watts or less and a maximum motor-powered speed of 20 mph on a level surface.
• Riders must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-bike on state or local highways.
• E-bikes may generally be ridden in the same places as bicycles, although local rules and trail restrictions may apply.

🛴 ELECTRIC SCOOTERS

• The stand-up electric scooters commonly used by children and teens are treated differently under Pennsylvania law.
• PennDOT advises that these electric scooters cannot legally be operated on public roadways and may only be used on private property, except where specifically authorized under Pennsylvania's limited electric-scooter pilot program.

Safety First!

No matter what you ride: wear a properly fitted helmet, stay visible, follow traffic laws, put phones away and pay attention to vehicles and pedestrians around you. Before allowing your child to ride an electric device, families should also check its maximum speed and make sure it is appropriate—and legal—for their child's age and where they plan to ride.

When: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Where: Southwest Park | 1400 Elder Street, Lebanon

Time: 12:30 p.m.

The Lebanon School District remains committed to investing in our students, families, and community through strategic improvements that enhance learning opportunities today and for generations to come.

This year, we will celebrate the completion of renovations at Lebanon Intermediate School, creating a dedicated learning environment for our 5th and 6th grade students. We are also finalizing renovations at Alumni Stadium, ensuring our community continues to have a modern and welcoming space for athletics, activities, and school pride.

Looking ahead, planning continues for the transformation of 1400 Chestnut Street into a comprehensive educational hub that will include an Early Childhood Learning Center, specialized special education classrooms, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and the District Office.

Together, these initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional learning environments and strengthening connections across our community.

• Jesnyaliz Benitez Roman, Registration Secretary
• Kay Litman, Administrative Assistant for Registration & SIS
• Christine Mann, Administrative Assistant for Transportation
• Dr. Nathan Rackley, Director of Teaching & Learning
• Deanna Skoloda, Administrative Assistant for Accounts Payable and Purchasing

District Wide

• Mariah Cadzow, Occupational Therapist
• Jacinda Clarke, K4 Paraprofessional
• Lindsay Daub, School Psychologist
• Stephanie Hooton, BCBA
• Menatalla Mohamed, Speech & Language Therapist
• Brenda Rodriguez, LPN

Harding

• Mariah Aponte, K4 Paraprofessional
• Ada Castillo, Autistic Support Paraprofessional
• Faren Fratini, Autistic Support Teacher
• Angela Werkheiser, Autistic Support Teacher

• Alba Aguilera Roque, Life Skills Personal Care Assistant
• Kailey Eckhart, First Grade Teacher
• Janixa Garcia Molina, Life Skills Personal Care Assistant
• Angela Houck, Building Paraprofessional
• Dante Torres Feliciano, Building Paraprofessional

Northwest

• Katelyn Carusso, Certified School Nurse
• Ninoshka Colon-Delgado, Autistic Support Personal Care Assistant
• Maya Dolan, Building Substitute
• Olivia Focht, Fourth Grade Teacher
• Katherine Jimenez Rodriguez, ELD Paraprofessional
• Carter Kent, Autistic Support Teacher
• Grace Marsden, Autistic Support Paraprofessional
• Elizabeth Pagan Rosado, School Monitor
• Martha Pierce, LTS Music Teacher
• Marlena Popson, Library/Media Paraprofessional
• Jessica Rauch, Intervention Support
• Hasna Saoud, K5 Paraprofessional
• Kristy Sensenig, Fourth Grade Teacher

Southeast

• Morgan Glassford, K5 Plus Paraprofessional
• Paige Martinez, K5 Paraprofessional
• Allyson Plasterer, Fourth Grade Teacher

Southwest

• Katelynn Carrero, K5 Paraprofessional

Intermediate

• Ingrid Almonte, Supplemental Learning Support Paraprofessional
• Pablo Beltran, Sixth Grade Social Studies Teacher
• Christine Doyle, School Counselor
• Blair Hunter, Emotional Support Teacher
• Andrew Johnson, Music Teacher
• Megan Kelly, ELD Teacher
• Ripley Lefever, Fifth Grade Teacher
• Amos Lopez, Autistic Support Paraprofessional
• Summer Miller, Supplemental Learning Support Paraprofessional
• Marrissa Troain, Secretary

Junior High

• Haylee Ahnert, Intervention Support
• Magelin Alvarado, Autistic Support Paraprofessional
• Riley Cox, Math Teacher
• Kimberly Haberstroh, School Nurse
• Emma Hearsey, Intervention Support
• Victoria Henry, Library/Media Paraprofessional
• Doris Herbein, Intervention Support
• James Painter, Technology Education Teacher
• Matilde Reyes, ELD Teacher
• Taileen Zechman, Autistic Support Teacher

High School

• Paul Blackburn, Athletic Director
• Conor Bawiec, School Counselor
• Dilyn Becker, English Language Arts Teacher
• Kaitlin Benson, Health & PE Teacher
• Felicia Blatt, Library/Media Paraprofessional
• Mikayla Bowman, Supplemental Learning Support Teacher
• William Bracey, Student Support Staff
• Gregory Brown, Supplemental Learning Support Teacher
• Luke Collins, Itinerant Learning Support Teacher
• David Drahovsky, Math Teacher
• Jeffrey Lorah, Emotional Support Teacher
• Kenford Lynch, Technology Education Teacher
• Jesenaliz Mercado Martinez, Custodian
• Emily Miller, Math Teacher
• Elizabeth Romoho, Biology Teacher
• Mark Schaffer, CTE Health & Clinical Sciences Teacher
• Allison Semetkoskey, Family & Consumer Science Teacher

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• X(formerly Twitter) - @Lebanon_SD_News

Let’s stay connected and celebrate our students, staff, and community together!

If you need a translated version of our newsletter, open the online version by clicking the "view in browser" link provided at the top of the email. Scroll to the top of the newsletter, and select the translate option to view the newsletter in any language.

i necesita una versión traducida de nuestro boletín, abra la versión en línea haciendo clic en el enlace "ver en el navegador" que se encuentra en la parte superior del correo electrónico. Desplácese hasta la parte superior del boletín y seleccione la opción de traducción para verlo en cualquier idioma.

إذا كنت بحاجة إلى نسخة مترجمة من نشرتنا الإخبارية، افتح النسخة الإلكترونية من خلال النقر على رابط "عرض في المتصفح" الموجود في أعلى الرسالة الإخبارية. مرر إلى أعلى النشرة الإخبارية، وحدد خيار الترجمة لعرض النشرة الإخبارية بأي لغة.