September 2026 e-News

• SEPTEMBER - Suicide Prevention Month
• September 8 - International Literacy Day
  
• September 11 - 9/11 Remembrance Day
• September 13-19 - Arts in Education Week
• September 15-October 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month
• September 15 - IT Professional Day
• September 17 - Constitution Day
• September 23 - International Day of Sign Languages
• September 26 - Human Resources Professional Day

NO SCHOOL

NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

Physical Activity & Nutrition Advisory Council
Administration Center, 3:30 p.m.

High School Student Advisory Council
Administration Center, 8:15 a.m.

Middle School Student Advisory Council
Administration Center, 8:15 a.m.

Remote Learning Day
Teachers will provide asynchronous work for students equal to a half day of instruction. Student work may be completed that day or anytime over the weekend and submitted the next day school is in session. Students will NOT attend virtual sessions and all students will be marked present unless reported as absent. In the event of an absence, families should follow regular procedures for absence notification and the standard make-up procedures will apply.

Special Education Department Family Engagement Series
Hosted by Cumberland Valley School District, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

This evening’s theme is Glow and Grow: Shining Through to Build Resiliency. Families will join for dinner, glow bingo, and a training. Parents can attend one of two training session options, lasting 40 minutes.

Registration is required as dinner will be served and materials will be purchased for activities. While dinner is free of charge, parents are welcome to pack dinner to support specific food preferences or dietary restrictions. Unfortunately we will not have access to warming machines. Childcare will be available for parents who attend the training session and need childcare support. Activities will include a craft, with assistance from staff and high school student volunteers. Childcare is available only for school-aged children attending schools in Eastern Cumberland County. Special thank you to the West Shore Foundation, who donated $500 to help cover costs of the event.

Registrations are due by September 20. To register, click here.

All too often, drivers are distracted or not paying attention and drive into school zones too quickly — even though warning signs and flashing lights let them know they’re approaching a school zone. For the safety of our students, it is critical drivers practice safe driving habits when traveling near school zones, bus stops, pedestrian crossings, and in the pick up/drop off line.

Know the speed limit, put down your phone, watch for students, and stop for our buses. If you stay alert and focused, and follow bus safety laws, you can keep yourself and our children safe this school year!

Last year, the West Shore School District partnered with BusPatrol to launch a School Bus Safety Program in accordance with PA Motor Vehicle Code § 3345. The program continues today, with every school bus that transports District students equipped with advanced safety technology designed to help protect children on their way to and from school.

The technology includes photo enforcement cameras that capture vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses when the stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing. All potential violations are reviewed by law enforcement before a citation is issued. For additional information, visit https://www.wssd.k12.pa.us/BusPatrol.aspx

For primary and intermediate schools, the youngest child in your family should have brought home a printed copy of the District's Calendar & Family Guide for 2026-2027. Copies are available in the middle and high school offices while supplies last. You may find a downloadable PDF version on the District website. Click here.

In addition to District events and cycle days, the publication contains resources and contact information for District departments and schools.

West Shore School District continues to partner with United Way of the Capital Region’s School Readiness program this year!

The Ready for School, Ready to Succeed program helps children ages 3–5 (and their families) get ready for kindergarten and on track to read proficiently by 3rd grade.

🖍️ Families can attend FREE in-person workshops, available to ALL families. September workshops will be held at Rossmoyne Elementary School. Registration is required.

👉 Learn more and sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/262233711686155

Thank you for your partnership as we worked through the first days of the 2026-2027 school year. The first week of school is always a busy one, and we appreciate the support and flexibility of our families, students, staff, and transportation teams as everyone settles into new routines.

Our Transportation Department continues to make updates to bus routes and schedules as we work through a number of changes following the start of the school year

• New student registrations received after the August 12 transportation deadline
• Transportation Exception Requests related to childcare, custody arrangements, and other individual circumstances
• Other requested route options and adjustments
• Revisions to routing based on feedback received during the first week of school, including concerns about timing.

Transportation Exception Requests are being prioritized after all students have received their normal assigned stop locations. Our Transportation Department is continuing to work through these requests, along with new student additions and other routing adjustments, as quickly as possible.

If you have already contacted the District Transportation Department and have not yet received a response, please be assured that your message has been received and is being processed. We appreciate your continued patience as we work to address each request in a timely manner.

The District and Rohrer are currently reviewing GPS data and driver notes from the first week of school. This information will help us make additional adjustments to the transportation information displayed in PowerSchool, including updates to pick up and drop off times. Additionally, we will continue to optimize overall routes and schedules to improve efficiency and ensure transportation remains as reliable and consistent as possible for our students and families.

During the first two weeks of school, we typically experience a high volume of calls and messages as families review transportation information and routes settle into their regular schedules. If you believe you have identified an error in your student’s bus information, please use the Contact Us section of the District website to let us know. Please note, if you have already either submitted a Contact Us request or emailed the Transportation Department, you do not need to submit an additional inquiry at this time. This helps our Transportation Department organize and prioritize requests while continuing to address each one as efficiently as possible.

The District also offers Stopfinder, a mobile application that provides families with convenient, real-time access to student transportation information. In addition to viewing transportation details, families can use the app to receive notifications and updates related to their student’s bus service. On Friday, August 28, the Transportation Department provided all families who were not already subscribed with information to download and activate the application. The invitation is valid for 30 days, so if you missed the opportunity to activate Stopfinder last spring when the app was first introduced, you have another opportunity to do so.

Red Land High School

September 11 - Patriots vs. Mechanicsburg West Shore Stadium

September 12 - Homecoming Dance from 6-9 p.m.

Cedar Cliff High School

October 2 - Colts vs. Central Dauphin East, West Shore Stadium

October 3 - Homecoming Dance from 6-9 p.m.

Home Football Game Procedures and West Shore Stadium Bag Policy Information

The West Shore School District now offers convenient online ticketing through Hometown Ticketing for home athletic events at both Red Land and Cedar Cliff high schools. Fans can purchase tickets in advance, access their tickets from a mobile device and enjoy a streamlined entry process at athletic events.

Red Land High School: Purchase Tickets

Cedar Cliff High School: Purchase Tickets

There are two ways to purchase and access tickets:

Purchase online: Use the links above to view upcoming events and purchase tickets for Red Land or Cedar Cliff athletic events.

Use the Hometown Fan app: Download the Hometown Fan app and search for West Shore SD. Purchased tickets and passes are stored directly in the app and can be scanned at the door when you arrive.

Season Passes are also available for each sport and may only be purchased online. Season passes are valid for home games only and provide a convenient option for families and fans planning to attend multiple home events throughout the season.

For additional information, please reach out to the athletic departments at Cedar Cliff and Red Land High Schools.

We are excited to feature 462 children, 43 staff members, and eight dogs in our ninth annual First Day of School Video! Wishing our students, families, and staff a fantastic school year. We are glad you have chosen to live, work, and learn in West Shore. #BackToSchool #OneDistrict #WestShoreProud

Every effort was made to ensure all photos submitted were included. Now that the video is complete and has been published to YouTube, we are no longer able to accept photo submissions.

West Shore School District offers a healthy breakfast and lunch to students during the school day. As a reminder, the District collects applications for households that wish to apply for free or reduced-price lunches. We offer all students one free breakfast per day regardless of their family’s economic status. We will charge for additional breakfasts and all lunch servings.

Monies may be deposited into your student's account ahead of time. More information can be found below under 'Depositing Money in Your Student's Account.'

Parents who believe their child would qualify for free/reduced lunches are asked to fill out the proper paperwork through LINQ Connect or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS). Your child will still receive free breakfast regardless of paperwork status. You may find links to those pages at https://www.wssd.k12.pa.us/FreeandReducedMeals.aspx.

Additionally, the District is continuing its partnership with Aramark Nutrition for school meals. Please visit https://www.wssd.k12.pa.us/menus.aspx for updated menu options.

All schools use LINQ Connect (formerly known as TITAN), for student breakfasts and lunches. This system allows parents to monitor their student’s account balance, view meal purchases, and make online payments. There is no charge to monitor student account information; however, a convenience fee will be charged by LINQ Connect when used to add funds. If parents prefer not to use the online service to deposit funds, money may be added to student accounts by sending cash or checks made payable to “West Shore Cafeteria Fund” to school with students. Unfortunately, monies cannot be accepted by the cashier at lunch time. Click here for more information or to set up an account.

Every school year, a variety of supportive opportunities are available for students based on household income. These include, but are not limited to: fee waivers for participation in after-school activities, e-rate funds that offset the cost of access to technology resources, along with additional state and federal grant funding for programs and resources to support students. These opportunities may be based on qualification for free/reduced lunches. Families are encouraged to submit their application within the first two weeks of school.

Many of our families utilize Medicaid for health coverage. The section below includes information about renewing your benefits (something that must be done each year).

The West Shore School District has partnered with Highmark Wholecare to offer free help sessions who may be applying for or renewing Medicaid. These sessions will take place at 10 a.m. to Noon, with no appointment necessary, as follows:

• Cedar Cliff High School - First Wednesday of the Month
• Red Land High School - Second Wednesday of the Month

To find your renewal date, visit dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS or use the free myCOMPASS PA mobile app. If you want to renew by phone, call 1-866-550-4355. If interested, additional information can be found below from Highmark.

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.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Curriculum - Thursday, September 3, 4:30 p.m.

Health & Safety - Wednesday, September 9, 4:30 p.m.

Finance - Thursday, September 10, 4:30 p.m.

Policy - Wednesday, September 16, 4:30 p.m.

Facilities - Thursday, September 17, 4:30 p.m.

Transportation - Wednesday, September 30, 5 p.m.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

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

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

Related Links

• In Person and Electronic Public Comment Guidelines
• Watch Board Meetings Online - Board meetings are streamed live and archived for viewing after the meeting.
• Board Agendas - published 24 hours before the meeting
  
• Board Minutes - posted after Board approval

On Opening Day for the District on Monday, August 17, the West Shore Foundation provided a record-setting $30,588.38 in Educator Innovation Grant funding to support innovative projects across the District. These grants help educators turn creative ideas into meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students. We sincerely thank the West Shore Foundation for its continued generosity, partnership and investment in our schools and students! You may find a full list and details of the grants on the District's Facebook page.

Support for grants like these is made possible through the generosity of our community and events such as the West Shore Foundation’s upcoming 11th Annual Gala. The Gala will be held on Saturday, October 17, with proceeds supporting the Foundation’s continued investment in West Shore students, staff and schools. For additional information, visit https://westshorefoundation.org/events/11th-annual-gala

As students across West Shore School District begin the 2026–2027 school year, the Foot Locker Camp Hill Services Center helped provide back-to-school items that will support students throughout the District.

Tuesday afternoon, the company donated 102 pairs of shoes, along with backpacks and other school-related items. The donation was presented at Red Land High School to District social workers Amy Gross and Erika Stiffler, who will help coordinate the distribution of the items to students across the District. We thank the Foot Locker - Camp Hill for partnering with West Shore School District and supporting our students as they start a new school year!

The 2026–2027 school year began with plenty of excitement across West Shore! Students arrived ready to reconnect with friends, meet their teachers and settle into new classrooms as schools came alive with the energy of a new school year.

From first-day greetings and classroom activities to new lessons and experiences, it was great to see students getting back into the rhythm of learning. The first day also included visits from FOX43, ABC27 and CBS21, highlighting the excitement at Allen Academy, Cedar Cliff High School and Highland Elementary School.

A special thank-you to our teachers, administrators, support staff, transportation, custodial and food service teams, families and everyone who helped make the first day a success. We’re looking forward to all that’s ahead!

The West Shore community came together for the first Friday night of the school year at Shore Bowl! Students, families, staff and community members filled West Shore Stadium with school spirit, enjoying football, Paint Wars, music, food and plenty of cheering. Red Land earned a 30–20 victory, but the evening was a celebration of the West Shore community and a great way to kick off the new 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.