2025 Back-to-School Special E-News

On Tuesday, August 12th, teacher, class, transportation, and schedule information for all students will be available in PowerSchool. If you do not have a parent PowerSchool account, please contact your child’s school to obtain the access codes needed. You will not be able to use these codes to create a new parent account until PowerSchool opens on August 12th.

• High School – 9 a.m.
• Middle School – 11 a.m.
• Intermediate School (Grades 5 & 6) – 1 p.m.
• Primary School (Grades K-4) – 1 p.m.

• PowerSchool Website
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
• Instructions for Setting up Your Parent Account

In addition to the PowerSchool access, on August 12th, an email will be sent to parents of students in kindergarten through fourth grade with teacher assignment and further information. Please check your spam/junk mail folders if you do not see this message in your inbox. If you have multiple children in the District, your individual email messages may also be grouped together in your inbox.

The 2025-2026 Event Calendar has been updated on the District website. At the top of the online calendar, you can also download a copy of the complete 2025-2026 school calendar. Click here to view.

For a quick look at the Academic Calendar for 2025-26, click here.

PIAA Fall Sports Begin - Phase I
Football and Golf only.

PIAA Fall Sports Begin - Phase II
All other sports.

High School New Family & Ninth Grade Orientations

Cedar Cliff and Red Land High Schools

Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet the high school administration, guidance counselors, athletic director, nurse, and take self-guided tours of the building following your student's schedule. More information will be coming from your student's individual school.

Patriot Challenge - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Future Patriots will be placed on teams and will have 12 “challenges” that cover a variety of team building exercises designed to test the mind, body, and spirit.

Cedar Cliff Freshman Camp - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

This student-only event focuses on team-building, forming new relationships and connections, and orienting students to Cedar Cliff. All incoming freshmen and new students are welcome to join the fun!

Primary & Intermediate New Family Orientation

New Family Orientation is designed for any family of a student in grades K to 6 who is new to the West Shore School District. We invite both parents/guardians and their respective student(s) to attend this event. Additional information can be expected from your child's school.

First Day for Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center

WELCOME BACK: First Day of School

Bus Evacuation Drills

No School - Labor Day Break

District offices will also be closed. Utilize the Contact Us section of the District website for inquiries.

The West Shore School District's free summer meals program continues through Thursday, August 14th. All kids up to age 18 are welcome regardless of their family’s economic status or school district of residence; however, current regulations require meals be eaten at school.

Many of our buildings have issued communications for either guided or self-directed tours to families. Please reach out to your child's school, or check the District calendar, for more information.

Get ready to smile! Our annual first day signs and video is easily one of our favorite West Shore traditions. The deadline for video submissions is Thursday, August 28th, at noon. Signs and submission details can be found at https://www.wssd.k12.pa.us/FirstDay.aspx

Parents, you do not have to use one of our signs in order for your child to be in the video; however, please be mindful of what personal information is available in your photo.

Primary (K-4) parents will only need to purchase a book bag, lunch box, and reusable water bottle for the 2025-2026 school year. All necessary materials and supplies for learning in the primary classroom have been purchased by the District for your student. Although families will not receive a school supply list, you are welcome to purchase additional items for your student (earbuds, designer folders, pencil cases, etc.) if you would like to do so.

At the intermediate, middle and high school level, teachers may have recommendations for school supplies and calculators.

If your family can use assistance from the District in obtaining a backpack, shoes, jackets, etc., please contact your child’s teacher or school counselor. We are here to help.

All schools will utilize a six-day cycle. Cycle days can be found on the online calendar and in the printed calendar sent home the first week of school. As a reminder, the printed calendar will go to the youngest student in the family for grades primary and intermediate schools. In middle and high schools, copies will be available in the front office while supplies last.

To allow more student transportation time, we have slightly adjusted the bell schedules in our primary and high schools. Students will attend the school day for the following times in 2025-2026:

• Morning Kindergarten: 8:55 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
• Afternoon Kindergarten: 12:55 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.
• Primary Schools (Grades 1-4) - 8:55 a.m. - 3:40 p.m.
• Intermediate Schools (Grades 5-6) - 8:10 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
• Middle Schools (Grades 7-8) - 7:30 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.
• High Schools (Grades 9-12) - 7:30 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.

Parents should not drop off students at school before the doors are opened ahead of the school day. You may refer to your student's individual buildings for door opening times, as early morning activities at certain grade levels can cause deviations in schedule. Ahead of those predetermined times, teachers are not responsible for students until doors open for the day.

Per the Pennsylvania Department of Health, physical examinations are required for children upon entry into school, in grade 6, and in grade 11. Additionally, a variety of immunizations are required for all students with additional immunization requirements for entry to grades 7 and 12. For a complete list of requirements, please visit the District's Health Services website.

Previously, West Shore School District offered breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students each day through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which is available to some schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program (SBP).

Unfortunately, CEP is no longer a viable option for West Shore School District. We will continue to offer a healthy breakfast and lunch to students during the school day, but will return to the previous system of collecting applications for households that wish to apply for free or reduced-price lunches. Based on current state law, we anticipate offering 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 partnering with a new vendor, Aramark Nutrition, for school meals. Menu information is still being finalized. As we get closer to the First Day of School, you may visit: https://www.wssd.k12.pa.us/menus.aspx for updated menu options.

If your child does not qualify for free or reduced meals, one breakfast will still be available at no charge. Additional servings will cost $2.15 at all levels. Lunch will cost:

• $3.40 for primary/intermediate schools
• $3.50/$3.85 for middle/high schools.

All schools are using 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.

The West Shore School District is excited 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/252093629667165

Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, the West Shore School District will partner with Rohrer Bus to deliver safe, dependable transportation for our students. As a result, the contact information to report a late bus or request a lost item has changed. Families are asked to call Rohrer Bus at 717-280-8900. You may click here to visit the Transportation Department's page on the District website for more information.

Rohrer Bus is hiring School Bus and Van Drivers, and is offering:

• $25-$29/hour for School Bus Drivers
• $18.50-$21.50/hour for Van Drivers
• $1,500 Hiring Incentive for Bus Drivers
• All training and licensing, no experience necessary
• Drive with 1-2 of your pre-school aged children
• Vision insurance and 401(k) with employer match
• Safety, Attendance, and Length of Service bonuses
  
  

Additional benefits not listed here may be available! Please visit rohrerbus.com/driveforwssd/ or call 717-957-3811 for more information on becoming a School Bus or Van Driver.

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 10AM 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.

West Shore School District's automated phone, email, and text message system is used for general information calls as well as delay or cancellation notifications. If you have the previous District number saved in your phone for text messages, you may notice a change for the 2025-2026 school year. If you save these in your cell phone or phone book, you may find the numbers below:

• For general outreach messages, which include alterations to bus schedules and early dismissals, you will receive a text notification from +1 (717) 930-2894
• For emergency messages, which include inclement weather delays, school closures, or other emergency notices, you will receive a text notification from 53291

As we near the school year, parents/guardians who believe they are not receiving messages should contact their child's school and have the following information ready:

• Student's name
• School phone number/email address you would like added or deleted
• Cell phone number if you would like to receive text messages

The District has a handful of administrative changes for the 2025-2026 year. You can visit our Facebook page here or the West Shore School District website to find the administrators for the appropriate buildings and their welcome messages to families.

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, August 14th, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 21st, 6:30 p.m.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Curriculum - Wednesday, August 13th, 4:30 p.m.

Finance - Thursday, August 14th, 4:30 p.m.

Policy - Thursday, August 21st, 4:30 p.m.

Transportation - Wednesday, August 27th, 5:00 p.m.

• In Person and Electronic Public Comment Guidelines
• 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

For reference, during the 2024-2025 school year and summer of 2025, the following policies were added or revised. Click here to be forwarded to the Board Policies page on the District website.

New Policies

123.2: Sex Based Distinctions in Athletics

254: Educational Opportunity for Military Children

816: District Social Media

828: Fraud

Revised Policies

005: Organization

008: Organizational Chart

011: Principles of Governance and Leadership

105.2 Curriculum Review by Parents and Guardians

105.3 Exemptions from Instruction

109: Resource Materials

117: Homebound Instruction

202: Eligibility for Attendance of Nonresident Students

204: Attendance

237: Electronic Communication Devices

320: Freedom of Speech in Non-instructional Settings

607: Tuition Income

801: Public Records

806: Child Abuse

807: Opening Exercises

809: Recycling

824: Maintaining Professional Boundaries

If you're looking for a flexible and rewarding part-time position, the West Shore School District is actively looking for additional substitute teachers for the 2025-2026 school year. Candidates with a Bachelor's Degree are considered qualified. The District Partners with Substitute Teacher Service (STS) to fill needs within the District throughout the year. Visit their website for more information.

The District's Extended School Year (ESY) program occurred in July. Designed to help students maintain skills and knowledge they've gained during the school year, ESY students were busy working on reading, writing, math, functional, and social skills. We want to give a huge thank you to all the teachers and paraeducators who worked with our students this summer!

• 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.