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

Glen Rock, Pa – Two Southern York County School District programs have been selected by Shippensburg University as Exemplary Programs.

The Shippensburg University Study Council recognized Southern Middle School’s Engineering by Design Program and the Life Skills Support Program at Susquehannock High School.

The district received awards and showcased the programs April 18 at Shippensburg’s annual Exemplary Program presentation. The event is for the benefit of administrators and teachers from across Pennsylvania.

“Congratulations are extended to Steve Hildebrand and Mike Konzelman for the Engineering by Design Program and Tom Laure for the Life Skills Support Program,” Superintendent Thomas Hensley said.

The Engineering by Design program, which was implemented in 2006, focuses on invention and innovation for seventh-graders and technological systems for eighth-graders. Students not only learn the history of technology, innovation and invention, but they also experience hands-on activities and use the engineering design process to solve design challenges. Students also use PowerPoint and AutoCAD to present and design systems.

Students in Susquehannock’s LSS Program range in age from 15 to 21. They are students who have been determined to be developmentally functioning below their expectancy, due to cognitive delays or significant intellectual disabilities. LSS assists these students in the transition from school to work. The program helps prepare them to function as independently as possible when they transition from school age to adulthood.

“These are the sixth and seventh programs in the last 13 years to be recognized by Shippensburg University as Exemplary Programs. We are very proud of this,” Hensley said.

The annual event is sponsored by the Shippensburg University School Study Council, a professional development partnership between public school districts and the University, which also supports school system leaders in improving the instructional experience.

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Southern York County School District students will display their artistic creations during the district’s sixth annual Arts and Technology Fair, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 16.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will exhibit paintings, photos, drawings, furniture, clothing, metal sculptures and videos.

The free event will be held throughout Susquehannock High School’s main gymnasium and the surrounding hallways. Light refreshments will be served and several of the students’ pieces will be available for purchase.

There will also be a concert by the Susquehannock High School Orchestra at 7 p.m. in the Dr. Richard D. Hupper Auditorium.

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

Glen Rock, Pa. – Administrators, teachers and staff from the Southern York County School District battled one another recently as they raced like caterpillars, tossed footballs and beach balls, bowled, and played hockey with lemons, all in order to raise money for the Southern York County School District Foundation’s scholarship program.

The fourth annual Battle of the Buildings raised more than $5,900 for student scholarships. Teams from each of the six buildings competed in various races, while fans from each of the schools packed the Susquehannock High School gym and cheered for their teams.

From Admin’s Purple Team, Southern Middle’s Warrior Pride, and Susquehannock’s Warrior Nation, to Friendship Elementary’s Team Fire, Shrewsbury Elementary’s Team Storm and Southern Elementary’s Team Good Times, each school featured its own participants and events for the competition.

The humorous, yet competitive events consisted of the Caterpillar Race, Hockey Relay, Jamm’in Beach Ball Relay, Hut-Hut-Hike Relay, Three Ball Relay, and the Lemon Derby.

The Southern Middle School 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.

District Athletic Director and event coordinator Chuck Abbott thanked all of the volunteers who helped make this year’s Battle of the Buildings a success. This year’s total of $5,911 surpassed the $5,237.90 that was raised last year.

“Congratulations to the Middle School for capturing the fourth annual Battle of the Buildings trophy,” Abbott said. “Also, congratulations to Southern Elementary School for being selected as the recipient of the Spirit Award. It was an awesome event. Many, many thanks to all those people who volunteered their time to help out. We could not have done it without them.”

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

Glen Rock, Pa – Students throughout the Southern York County School District recently celebrated their 100th day of school with decorations, costumes, and projects. Kindergarten students at Shrewsbury Elementary School also participated in a community service project that combined observing the 100th day with helping people in need.

The students collected canned goods and other nonperishable foods for the Southern York County Food Pantry. From canned soups and vegetables, like corn and carrots, to pasta, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, and pancake mix, more than 220 food items were collected.

“Students talked about the idea of sharing food,” Instructional Assistant Barbara Kroner said. “They also counted and sorted the foods to incorporate math lessons with the many food items that were donated.”

During the collection period, just the kindergarten families donated the food items.

“My class brought in 84 items and Mrs. Schiding’s class was a super close second with 83,” Kindergarten Teacher Michelle Johns said. “The children grouped the food items by tens and we counted them. They also lined some up according to height and sorted a group of ten in their own way.”

The Southern York County Food Pantry is a co-op effort of 35 churches. For more than 30 years it has provided needed goods for area families. Once the items are donated, they get separated by food type and stored until they are needed. Southern Community Services helps distribute the food.

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

Glen Rock, Pa – The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently recognized all five schools within the Southern York County School District with Keystone Achievement Awards for outstanding performances during the spring 2011 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing. This marks the eighth consecutive year that district schools have received Keystone Awards.

The Keystone Achievement Award is presented to a public school that has achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards for two consecutive years. The latest Keystone Award is for the District schools’ meeting AYP standards in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

AYP is determined, in part, by a school’s performance on the PSSA, the standardized test given annually to students in grades 3-8 and 11. The PSSA measures how well students have achieved in reading, mathematics, science and writing, according to Pennsylvania’s academic standards.

According to Sandra Lemmon, assistant superintendent, the school district was one of three in all of York County to meet all 17 targeted assessed areas.

“We are very proud to have all five of our schools receive the Keystone Achievement Awards,” said Thomas Hensley, superintendent. “This is a testament to all of the hard work by our students, teachers, staff, and administrators.”

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