April 2025 e-News

We are excited to focus on Courage this month! Courage is choosing what is helpful, right, and kind - even when it’s hard or scary. Many of us have seen people practice Courage in ways that have inspired us. This month students will discuss how Courage can help them reach their goals. For additional information regarding CharacterStrong, including our middle school monthly traits, please visit our CharacterStrong & Social Emotional Learning website.

• April 1-30 - Arab Heritage Month, Autism Acceptance Month, Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month, Celebrate Diversity Month, Month of the Military Child, Occupational Therapy Month, Poetry Month, School Library Month, Poetry Month, and Child Abuse Prevention Month

• April 2 - Autism Awareness Acceptance Day

• April 2 - Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

• April 4 - School Librarian Appreciation Day

• April 6-12 - Library Week

• April 7-11 - Assistant Principal Appreciation Week

• April 21-25 - Public School Volunteer Week

• April 22 - Earth Day

• April 22 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

• April 23 - Administrative Professionals Day

Grades 7-12 - Third Quarter Grades Available in PowerSchool

Report card information for grades 7-12 will be available no later than April 7, in PowerSchool. 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).

Remote Learning Day

Teachers will provide asynchronous work with no Zoom classes scheduled. District offices will be open, but please call ahead to ensure a staff member will be able to assist you with an inquiry.

No School

District offices will also be closed on Friday. If you need to visit a building on Monday, April 21, please call ahead to ensure a staff member can assist you with an inquiry.

PSSA Testing in English, Science and Math (Grades 3-8)
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires all school districts to administer the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) in English Language Arts and Math (Grades 3-8), and Science (Grades 5-8). The results obtained on these assessments will be used for planning for future programs, curriculum development, and staff development, as well as informing the public about student achievement. Expect more information, including opt-out and document viewing information, to be sent via email.

West Shore Honors Chorus Festival

Hosted by Red Land High School

Festival will take place throughout the day with a free concert at 4 p.m.

Anti-Racism & Diversity Art Gallery, Competition and Silent Auction

Cedar Cliff High School, 5-8 p.m.

Cedar Cliff High School's Colts Multi-Cultural Club (CMCC) is once again hosting an Anti-Racism & Diversity Art Gallery, Competition and Silent Auction! All high school students in Central PA were invited to participate and have their work showcased. Pieces will be judged on relation to theme, impact, and technical skill with prizes awarded to the winners. For more details, visit: https://bit.ly/3DSccA0

West Shore Special Olympics

West Shore Stadium, During School Day

This is always such an awesome day for our District! We look forward to cheering on our Special Olympic athletes alongside their families. More details will be shared with participants prior to the event.

Purple Up! Day

April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of children in military families. Purple represents all branches of the military, symbolizing our unity and support. On Thursday, April 10th, we invite all students, staff, and district residents to participate in Purple Up! Day by wearing purple.

Allen Middle School mini-THON

Event will begin at 3 p.m. and last through at least 6 p.m.

Title I, II, and IV DAC Meeting & Student Showcase

Hosted by Highland Elementary, 6 p.m.

Community Supports Expo

Special Education Department Parent Engagement Series

Hosted by Cedar Cliff High School, 6-7:30 p.m.

For parents with students attending West Shore, Cumberland Valley, East Pennsboro and Camp Hill School Districts.

Come speak with representative from these and other organizations: Arc of Cumberland & Perry Counties, Arc of York County, Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT), Include Me, Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (MH/IDD), and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Please register if you plan to attend - https://bit.ly/CommunitySupportsExpo-2025

West Shore Relays

West Shore Stadium, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

National Prescription Take Back Day

Hosted by Crossroads Middle School, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.,

The District is partnering with the York Opioid Collaborative and Fairview Township Police Department to host this drive thru event. All varieties of medication (tablets, capsules, liquids, creams, inhalants, etc.) will be accepted for disposal.

PUTTing Students First
Hosted by West Shore Foundation at Creekside at Liberty Forge
This fundraiser will include two separate rounds of mini-golf as well as some fun surprises and donuts! The event will be held at Creekside at Liberty Forge mini golf course (off of Lisburn Road). Proceeds will benefit the West Shore Foundation. Event Information: https://one.bidpal.net/putting2025/welcome

Cedar Cliff High School - Saturday, May 3, 6-10 p.m., Penn Harris Hotel

Red Land High School - Saturday, May 10, 6-10 p.m., Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel

Thanks to community donations each high school has free gowns and formal attire available for students. Please contact your child's school for details about their prom boutiques.

Friday, June 6, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex

Red Land High School, 3 p.m.

Cedar Cliff High School, 6:30 p.m.

Parking is free and all are welcome to join us. We will also broadcast both ceremonies live. Details about the live stream, including links and system requirements, will be available on our website closer to graduation.

In the last several months, conversations have intensified regarding potential renovations to the West Shore Natatorium. To capture the impact of the facility, we will be sharing a special two-part video series. Part 1 (above) focuses on the personal stories of a few community members, sharing what the facility has meant to them over the years. You can find portions of their interviews in Points of Pride as well. In Part 2, coming in the May newsletter, we’ll dive into the proposed renovations and explore the vital life-saving courses the Natatorium offers. For many, it’s more than just a pool—it’s a place where lifelong skills are learned and where safety is a top priority. Stay tuned for more!

In addition to our electronic newsletter, all West Shore School District members should be receiving the latest edition of Points of Pride in their home mailboxes.

The Spring 2025 edition includes: 2025-2026 Budget Development, Stories of the West Shore Natatorium, a breakdown of how the District utilizes federal funding, the Auditor General's performance audit of cyber charter schools, and much more. To view the edition online, click here.

In February, Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor released a performance audit of five cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. You can find a portion of the report in Points of Pride and the full report here.

Since the school year ending 2019, the District’s spending on cyber charter tuition has increased by 172%. For the 2025-2026 school year, the yearly cost of cyber charter tuition to West Shore School District taxpayers is expected to exceed $10 million. Auditor General DeFoor called the current funding formula "outdated," stating, "The cyber charter funding formula needs to change to reflect what is actually being spent to educate students."

April 2, 14 and 15

The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC), a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to effective education policy, will host a series of virtual meetings on April 2, 14, and 15, with the goal of addressing a fundamental question: What type of education do Pennsylvania’s students need to succeed? These discussions will bring together educators, policymakers, and community leaders to explore how the state can ensure equitable access to educational opportunities for all students. By engaging in these conversations, we can collectively work towards ensuring Pennsylvania's education system better meets the needs of its students.

Registration Information

Please visit this link to reserve your spot in one of the following Zoom sessions. Space is limited. The Zoom Link will be sent after registering.

Wednesday, April 2: 9:30-11:30 a.m

Monday, April 14: 6:30-8:45 p.m.

Tuesday, April 15: 1:00-3:15 p.m.

On March 7, the 2025 Sodexo Future Chefs Culinary Challenge was held at Allen Middle School.

The winner of the 2025 Sodexo Future Chefs Culinary Challenge was Old Trail Intermediate's Mylah Bordner and her Hailbut with Lemon Butter Sauce! Mylah will now go on to the regional and possibly national competition. Kudos are also extended to our second place winner Vivienne Vedder (who finished third last year) and Madina Ghazaly for earning third place. All this year’s chefs should be proud.

Special thanks to our Food Services Department and our Future Chef judges Brock Tarquino (2019 Champion), Logan Kolaric (2017 Champion), Board of School Directors Vice President Mandy Davis, FOX43 Chief Meteorologist Andrea Michaels, and Mesandi Adikari (2024 Champion)!

Two very deserving West Shore initiatives were honored last week by the Shippensburg University School Study Council as Exemplary Programs!

District Music Program - Received by:

- Kate Bright (Music Instructor - Fishing Creek and Red Mill)

- George Clements (Secondary Schools Music/Band),

- Rob Starrett (Music/Band, Crossroads and Red Land)

- Matthew Topping (Music/Choral - Allen and Cedar Cliff).

District English Language Development/Kindergarten Accelerated Program - Received by:

- Dr. Ryan Argot (Director of Federal Programs)

- Jillian Ambrose (ELD Instructor, Washington Heights)

- Jennifer Wharton (ELD Instructor, Rossmoyne).

Thank you to all involved in bringing these innovative, and award-winning, programs to West Shore! #WestShoreProud

Don't forget to check out Shore Cast, a podcast featuring our own Mike Zwatty and Justin Frawley. The episodes so far in 2025 detail our Aquaponics program, an in-depth administrative look from one of our new intermediate schools and exciting takeaways from Pennsylvania's premiere educational technology conference held earlier this year. Check them out on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or

Spotify.

All meetings are held at the Administration Center and are open to the public. For those unable to join us in person, Board Meetings and Board Committee Meetings are also livestreamed.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

Thursday, April 10, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 17, 6:30 p.m.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Facilities - Wednesday, April 9, 4:30 p.m.

Finance - Thursday, April 10, 4:30 p.m.
Transportation - Tuesday, April 15, 5:00 p.m.

Policy - Thursday, April 17, 4:30 p.m.

• In Person and Electronic Public Comment Guidelines - last updated in February
• Watch Board Meetings & Committee Meetings Online - Meetings are streamed live and archived for viewing following the meeting
• Board Agendas - published 24 hours before the meeting
  
• Board Minutes - posted after Board approval
• 2025-2026 Budget Development - presentations made to the Board during the budget development process

At its meeting on February 13, the Board approved an academic calendar for the 2024-2025 school year with a start date for students of Tuesday, August 26, 2025 and an end date of Friday, June 5, 2026. To download the complete calendar, please click here.

Kindergarten registration has begun for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have a child who will be joining us in August 2025 for kindergarten, please visit the District’s registration page for directions on how to complete the enrollment process.

We do not have a deadline for registering for kindergarten; however, by enrolling early, parents help us with staffing and class sizes to ensure a smooth start to the school year. Additionally, once registered we will have your contact information to invite your family to our Camp Kindergarten event where parents and children get to meet staff members, tour their elementary school, and enjoy a day with future classmates.

Please Note: The registration portal is now open for students entering the District for grades 1-12 for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Annual Notices - Numerous federal laws require school districts to provide students, parents, and/or the public with notices.
  

• Care Solace - Care Solace assists individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their services may be accessed by students, staff and their families at no cost to you, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, and in 200+ languages. To utilize Care Solace, call 1-888-515-0595 or visit www.caresolace.com/westshore.

• Employment Opportunities - We have a variety of open positions perfect for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers interested in working a schedule similar to our students.
• Transportation Exception Request - May be used to request a bus stop different from the assigned stop associated with the child’s residence provided the alternative stop is in the same school attendance area as the child’s school.
  
• Free and Reduced Price Meal Application Information - Families who may qualify are encouraged to apply for free or low cost meals this school year.
  
• 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.