Roller Pride

The Steelton-Highspire School District wishes to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our Roller family.

Dear Roller Families:

On Monday, April 8, 2024, we will experience a rare astronomical event in Pennsylvania – a partial solar eclipse of the Sun. An eclipse occurs when the Moon partially or totally covers the Sun. In our case, nearly 93 percent of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon. The eclipse will begin around 2:05 p.m. and the maximum eclipse will occur around 3:31 p.m.

Looking at the sun without proper eye protection, even for a brief period of time, can cause permanent eye damage. Although we feel we can ensure our students’ safety during the school day while they are under the supervision of our staff, we cannot guarantee this level of supervision during dismissal.

As the timing of the event occurs during student dismissal, the Steelton-Highspire School District has made the decision to dismiss school early, thus ensuring our students are safely home under the supervision of an adult prior to the eclipse beginning. Dismissal times on Monday, April 8, 2024, will be as follows;

* Jr/Sr High School - 11:30 a.m.

* Elementary School - 12:00 p.m.

We ask that you reinforce safety precautions with your children on that day. Steelton-Highspire staff will caution students throughout the day about being safe during the eclipse. As we indicated, this is an extremely rare event and the district encourages families to view this historic event safely from their homes. This schedule will be followed regardless of weather conditions (sunny or cloudy) on the day of the event. Students participating in after school activities will receive their specific schedule adjustment from their coach or advisor.

Thank you for your understanding and helping to keep your student safe.

Dr. Mick Iskric, Jr.

Superintendent

This week, Ms. Dematteo's class learned about the 8 different phases of the moon. They read an article about the 8 different phase names, their description and a picture. After completing the article, students were given a diagram in which they used Oreos to replicate the different phases of the moon. To demonstrate their understanding of the different phases of the moon, students placed the Oreos on the corresponding circles.

Students in Mr. Hoffman's public speaking class were recently challenged to address pressing issues within their school or the neighboring communities of Steelton and Highspire. They presented their pitches to the class and a Town Hall committee, outlining the problems they identified along with potential solutions or obstacles hindering resolution. Teachers and staff participated as members of the Town Hall committee. Among the topics chosen by students for discussion were: Postponing School Start Time, Gun Violence in the Community, & Fair School Funding.

Educators from WITF’s Explore in the Classroom program recently visited Mrs. Lutz's kindergarten class. The students were presented with the challenge of choosing materials to create and construct a shade structure. Additionally, they utilized coding robots to locate and seek shelter under the shade structure they built.

To learn more about this program, please visit: WITF Explore in the Classroom

Senator John DiSanto and Representative Dave Madsen hosted the 2023 Class 1A Sate Champion Steelton-Highpsire Roller Football Team at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, PA on Monday, March 18th. The team along with their coaches were recognized for their accomplishment and another successful season. Congrats Rollers!

To view more photos from this visit, please visit the Steelton-Highspire Roller Football Facebook Page

Mrs. Davis's class has found the interactive whiteboard display to be an engaging educational resource! Students enthusiastically utilize digital pens to interact with content displayed on the whiteboard. This versatile tool allows for either an interactive whiteboard experience or the option to split the screen between the whiteboard and a computer projection. From solving math problems to sharing information and editing writing, students have leveraged its functionalities effectively. Mrs. Davis eagerly anticipates exploring further possibilities to integrate this technological tool into classroom activities.

We are pleased to feature the following outstanding work from Ms. Keeney's classes.

Group project created by Yaretzi (11th grade) & Krisler (12th grade)

Art work celebrating World Women's Day (March 8th)

Mr. McInstosh's seventh-grade students were initiated into the world of coding by engaging in a project that involved categorizing vertebrates based on their characteristics into appropriate biological classes. They utilized Scratch as a platform for this coding introduction. Although some encountered difficulties, the majority succeeded in crafting a review game for their Science Class.

Image used with permission from Attendance Works

The Dauphin County Library System offers free access to a wide range of digital content, including ebooks, eAudiobooks, and eGraphic novels. Students can access these resources using their student ID numbers (the same pin number used for breakfast and lunch) which serve as barcodes.

For instance, if a student's ID number is 1234, their barcode would be SHSD1234, and their initial PIN would be the last four digits of that number. Upon logging in, students can modify their PINs as needed. The LIBBY app provides a convenient platform for accessing these resources. Download the Libby app for free from the Apple App Store or from Google Play. To learn more visit: Libby App by Overdrive

Furthermore, students can use the same barcode to access tutor.com, a service offering free tutoring in various subjects. This service allows students to submit papers or homework for review and assistance, as well as receive help with resume writing. Overall, these resources aim to support students' educational endeavors and enhance their learning experiences.

Counselor for grades K-2: Mrs. Lopez, glopez@shsd.k12.pa.us

Counselor for grades 3-6: Mrs. Rash, jrash@shsd.k12.pa.us

Counselor for grades 7-9: Ms. Sunday, bsunday@shsd.k12.pa.us

Counselor for grades 10-12: Mrs. Albert, aalbert@shsd.k12.pa.us

College & Career Counselor K-12: Vacant

Guidance Administrative Assistant: Ms. Navickas, jnavickas@shsd.k12.pa.us

Please visit this link for information regarding upcoming SAT testing dates and registration instructions: https://www.shsd.k12.pa.us/Page/4845

The Jr/Sr high school Guidance Department maintains a list of current scholarship opportunities for students. Please visit this link to view those opportunities: Guidance Dept Scholarship Opportunities

• 3/28: Early Dismissal - Students & Staff
• 3/29-4/1: Spring Break - Schools & Offices Closed
• 4/3: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
• 4/4: School Librarian Appreciation Day
• 4/10: Early Dismissal - Staff In-Service
• 4/23: No School for Students - Staff In-Service