Southern York County School District students recently performed in the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) National Choir in Hartford, Conn. The students, who were selected by audition, rehearsed with others from 32 state.

Read More

The Southern York County School District received the 2013 Outstanding School Library District Award May 3 from the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.

Read More

Southern York County School District students will present songs and sounds of spring during their annual spring concerts. All concerts are free for students and open to the public.

– Southern Elementary, 7 p.m. Monday, April 22. The program is presented by students in second grade and includes the fifth and sixth grade combined chorus.

– Shrewsbury Elementary, 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. First graders will present the musical, The Artful Dodgers, and second graders will present the musical, Go Fish. In addition, the fifth grade chorus will perform several songs.

– Friendship Elementary, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7. The concert will feature second grade students along with the Friendship Elementary Chorus, who will sing a collection of songs.

– Elementary Grade Six Band and Orchestra Concert, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at Southern Middle School.

– Susquehannock High School band concert, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1.

– Southern Middle School and Susquehannock High School choirs will join forces for a concert in honor of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at Susquehannock High School. The program will feature concert choirs from both schools, Chanticleer, Inspiration, as well as the Women’s and Men’s Choirs.

– Susquehannock High School percussion recital with solos, duets and other ensembles, noon Saturday, May 11. Students and alumni will perform on various percussion instruments, such as drum sets, marimbas, and snare drums. Admission is free for students and $5 for all others.

– Susquehannock High School orchestra concert, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16.

– Southern Middle School orchestra concert, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, and band concert, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 30.

Read More

Administrators, teachers, and staff from the Southern York County School District slithered like snakes, tossed ping pong balls and Hershey Kiss chocolates, and shot baskets, all in order to raise money for the SYCSD Foundation’s scholarship program.

The fifth annual Battle of the Buildings raised more than $4,500 for student scholarships. Teams from each of the six buildings competed in various races in Susquehannock High School’s gym.

For the second consecutive year, Southern Middle School’s team, Warrior Pride, finished with the most points, and captured this year’s Battle of the Buildings trophy. Susquehannock High School’s Warrior Nation team placed second, with Friendship Elementary’s team finishing in third place. Friendship’s Fearless Friendship team also earned the Spirit Award for the event.

Read More

The Southern York County School District’s Band Boosters will present the 13th Annual Jazz Fest Saturday, April 13, at Shrewsbury Elementary School.

Swing into Jazz will feature the Susquehannock High School and Southern Middle School jazz bands. Entertainment will also be provided by five additional jazz bands from Shippensburg University, Dulaney High School, Kennard-Dale High School and Time Out.

Members of the Susquehannock High School band program will serve as the wait staff in the fest’s coffeehouse atmosphere. A selection of specialty coffees, teas, and desserts will be available.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and performances start at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for students. To reserve tickets or a table for the evening, contact Wendy Speir at (717) 235-6452 or SHSJAZZFEST@yahoo.com. For more information, visit www.sycsd.org.

Read More

By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

The Southern York County School District cafeterias will celebrate March with several activities and events through its Food Services Department.

National School Breakfast Week will take place March 4 – 8, 2013. The secondary schools will feature a Made-to-Order Omelet Bar during the breakfast hours of 7:10 – 7:40 a.m. The omelet bar will be offered to Susquehannock High School students on Wednesday, March 6, and Southern Middle School students on Friday, March 8. The elementary school cafeterias will serve jumbo breakfast waffles with sliced strawberries on Wednesday, March 6, during the breakfast hours of 8:35 – 8:50 a.m.

In addition, the Food Services Department will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 15, at Southern Middle and Susquehannock High Schools. The event features Irish décor, music, a special Irish menu, and lucky prizes.

March is also the American Dietetic Association’s National Nutrition Month. All cafeterias will hold events which promote healthy food choices and eating habits throughout the month.

Read More

Southern York County School District students from elementary to high school levels were selected by audition to perform for the York Youth Symphony and the York Junior Symphony for the 2012-13 school year.

Read More

By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

Glen Rock, Pa – Southern York County School District parents, students, and community members are invited to learn about computer safety along with drug and alcohol awareness, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, in the Susquehannock High School Auditorium.

During the first part of the evening, students and their parents may identify potential cyber threats through social networking sites. Parents will learn how to safeguard their computers (spyware prevention; use of anti-virus software and firewalls; how to update software and backup data). They will also learn about appropriate digital behavior and etiquette, digital law, rights, and responsibilities.

Representatives from the Southern Regional Police will present information on alcohol abuse prevention and dangerous drugs. This also includes drugs with which many parents and guardians are unaware. Parents and guardians will also learn how to help prevent drug use from impacting their homes and how to obtain help. During this time, students who attend the program will meet with elementary, middle, and high school guidance counselors to learn about peer pressure and how to make positive choices. Students will be grouped, according to their ages.

The presentation is designed for students in kindergarten through Grade 12 along with their parents/guardians. Community members are also welcome to attend.

Read More

By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

Glen Rock, Pa – Southern York County School District teachers Andrew Warren and Sue Barnhart were recognized recently at the 26th Annual Outstanding Teacher Luncheon at Shippensburg University with Outstanding Teacher Awards.

Warren, who teaches social studies at Southern Middle School and Barnhart, a first grade teacher at Friendship Elementary School, were recognized along with 44 teachers from South Central Pennsylvania. The annual event is sponsored by the Shippensburg University School Study Council, a professional development partnership between public school districts and the University.

Warren, who has been teaching at the District for the past eight years, teaches world history to seventh graders and United States history to eighth graders. A graduate of Penn State, he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University.

Barnhart has worked in the District for 23 years, having been a teacher and reading specialist at Southern Elementary for 12 years and a teacher at Friendship Elementary for the past 11 years. A lifelong resident and alumnus of the Southern York County School District, she received her Bachelor’s degree from Millersville University and her Master’s degree from Western Maryland College (McDaniel College).

The selection process for both teachers included recommendation letters from their schools’ administration. Both Warren and Barnhart wrote essays and supplied information on their professional backgrounds as well. They were also selected for their commitment to ongoing professional development, for utilizing innovative practices in the classroom, for serving in leadership roles in their schools, and for their commitment to community service.

During the luncheon, Michael Thew, Executive Director of the Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12, and Chair of the Selection Committee cited the “critical need for teachers of the highest quality to assure that our students are educationally and economically competitive in a global economy.” The most important component in a student’s success is the quality and experience of the classroom teacher, he said.

“This is the 14th year in a row that at least one teacher from the Southern York County School District has been selected for this honor,” Superintendent Thomas Hensley said.

Read More

By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

Glen Rock, Pa – This year, a third-grade student from Southern Elementary School won first place in Southern York County School District’s 2012 Safety Tip Poster and Video Contest. Parker Dean, from Karen Ruth’s class, submitted the winning poster in the annual contest.

As part of America’s Safe Schools Week (Oct. 21-27), the district’s safety committee sponsored the contest. Students at every grade level, along with staff, could share a safety tip that displayed the responsibility they should have for “safety” in the schools and on school buses.

Ricky Ferguson, another Southern Elementary third-grader from Karen Ruth’s class, was awarded second place. Third place went to Maddie Bateman, a Friendship Elementary fourth-grade student from Karen Miller’s class.

Honorable mentions were awarded to:

Brooke Marsiglia, Grade 3, Southern Elementary.
Arianna Davis, Grade 3, Southern Elementary.
Brayden Lewis, Grade 4, Friendship Elementary.
Ashton Murray, Grade 3, Southern Elementary.
Hailee Young, Grade 3, Southern Elementary.
Jennifer Wagner, Grade 3, Southern Elementary.
Payton Jackson, Grade 4, Friendship Elementary.

Class participation awards were presented to the Friendship Elementary fourth-grade classes of Karen Miller, Jan Ruman and Tom Baughman. At Southern Elementary, class participation awards were presented to Jennifer Trout’s and Karen Ruth’s third-grade classes, along with Angela Buckler’s second-grade class.

The winners were chosen by this year’s safety committee, which meets once a month to discuss district-wide safety issues. The committee also conducts safety inspections, staff training, and assists in developing new ideas to keep staff and students safe.

Read More