Winter 2015 - Littlestown Area School District

THE BOLT PRIDE
V O L U M E
7 ,
I S S U E
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A Publication of the Littlestown Area School District
162 Newark Street
Littlestown, PA 17340
W I N T E R
2 0 1 5
www.lasd.k12.pa.us
Welcome Mr. Christopher Bigger,
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
CLICK ON THE TOPIC
OR PAGE NUMBER
Superintendent of Schools!
New Employees
2
Board Members
3
Upcoming Events
3
Outstanding Staff Nominations
4
HR News
5
Battle of the Buildings
5
Food Service
6
Athletic News
6
Transportation News
7
Technology News
8
SPP Scores
8
Rolling Acres News
9
Alloway Creek News
10
Maple Avenue News
11
LHS Social Studies Club
11
Shipp Outstanding Teachers
12
Mini-Thon
12
Interact Club Update
13
Rose Bowl Parade
13
LIU Summer Academy
14
England, Ireland, & Wales
14
School Closing Information
15
2014-2015 Calendar
16
W
e are pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Christopher
Bigger as the next Superintendent of Littlestown Area School
District. Mr. Bigger comes to Littlestown from Chambersburg
School District where he served as Director of Educational Programs. In
addition, Mr. Bigger has served as a teacher in Baltimore MD and Fairfield School District as well as principal of Canton Area Jr./Sr. High School.
The board strongly believes that Mr. Bigger’s background as an administrator in Canton, a district similar to Littlestown, in combination with his
K-12 program work in Chambersburg make him an ideal selection for
Littlestown. Mr. Bigger brings a people-oriented leadership style with a
strong desire to be highly interactive with the greater Littlestown community.
We are confident that our students, staff and community will be well
served by the addition of Mr. Bigger as our new Superintendent.
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LITTLESTOWN
2
Karen Eakin,
Financial Accountant
AREA
Lori Stollar, Director of
Curriculum, Instruction, and
Assessment
SCHOOL
DISTRICT
Wendy Burkett, Coordinator of
Transportation
New Administrators
New Faces
in
Administration
Welcome Dr. Stollar to the Bolt Family!
L
ittlestown Area School District welcomes our new Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and
Assessment, Dr. Lori Stollar. Dr. Stollar comes to us from the Lincoln Intermediate Unit where
she served as the Program Specialist for Curriculum and Professional Development and the
Professional Development Specialist. Certified in secondary social studies, she was employed at Dover
Area High School for twenty years teaching World History and AP European History. In 2004, Dr.
Stollar was named a semi-finalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
New Teachers
and
Support Staff
Dr. Stollar earned her doctorate in School Administration from Widener University, a Master of Education degree in Teaching and Curriculum from Penn State University, and a Bachelor of Science in
Education from Shippensburg University. She holds a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility as well as
K-12 Principal Certificate.
As Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Dr. Stollar brings a wealth of experience in
instructional leadership, district and school level planning, curriculum development, instructional best
practice, teacher supervision and evaluation, and data analysis. An educator at heart, Lori sees her
role at Littlestown as one of collaborating with staff and administration for the continued improvement of K-12 educational programming. She is excited about her new role here in LASD. She enjoys
visiting the buildings and interacting with the students and staff.
Lori lives in East Berlin with her husband Nick, who teaches agriculture at Dover Area High
School. They have two daughters.
Alice Ruby,
Learning Support Teacher
Tracy Hreha,
Personal Care Aide
THE
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Michelle Shaffer,
Personal Care Aide
Kelsey Krysiak,
Long Term Substitute
Wanda Barthel,
Regular Route Driver
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LITTLESTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
Dolores E. Nester, President
D. Randy Mosebrook, Vice-President
Robert A. Hahn, Treasurer
Lauren K. Nace
Louis L. Behrendt
Melinda C. Jones
Carl S. Thompson
Jennifer J. McClay
James L. Witt
H
lengthy and challenging meetings, conferences and institutes for professional
learning and understanding of public
education.
School directors generously contribute
their time and talents toward the advancement of public education. They establish
policies that provide the framework for our
public schools. They represent their local
communities and attend sometimes
These dedicated volunteers reside in
our community. They are our friends,
neighbors, community leaders, parents
and engaged senior citizens. Although
communities make a special effort to
show appreciation to school directors in
January, their contribution is a yearround commitment, and deep appreciation is extended to them always.
ave you thanked a school board
member lately? January is School
Director Recognition Month, a
recognition that honors members of local
boards of education for their commitment
to provide quality public education for
Pennsylvania’s school children.
Take this opportunity to help
acknowledge thousands of public servants
who make the time to share their vision
and voice about the future of Pennsylvania children.
It’s Great to be a BOLT!
Y
ou, the community, help to make Littlestown Area School District a great place to be. Your spirit, enthusiasm, and dedication to
our students is essential in their success. We had a busy fall season with all the activities in which our students were involved.
Now that winter is here and spring is around the corner, there are many more activities and events that allow our student to
shine and show off their talents.
Check the District website, building newsletters, district calendar and the marquee in front of the high school for upcoming events. Here
are just few activities in the near future:
High School Musical, Guys & Dolls March 13 & 14 at 7:30p.m.Tickets will be available through the school's website and at the door at
a cost of $10 (1/2 price for students). Leads include Owen Yingling, Ashley Watters, Amy Janos and Javier Sandoval.
Spring Sports begin March 2nd. Baseball, Softball, Boys Tennis, Track & Field, JH Volleyball
May 5, 2015 - Spring Achievement Night at Alloway Creek Intermediate School
May 7, 2015 - Spring Achievement Night at Maple Avenue Middle School
May 19, 2015 - Spring Achievement Night at Rolling Acres Elementary School
May 21, 2015 - Academic Awards Night at High School
Get involved! Show your support! Attend an upcoming event!
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AREA
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DISTRICT
Second Annual Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Awards
Nominations are Open - Nominate and Make a Difference!
ATTENTION:
STUDENTS, PARENTS/GUARDIANS,
AND ALL EMPLOYEES OF LASD
Do you know a teacher at LASD who goes above and beyond their teaching in the classroom? Do you know a support staff
person at LASD who performs their duties over what is expected? If so, PICK UP A NOMINATION FORM AND NOMINATE,
NOMINATE, NOMINATE!!!
We are very excited to continue the second year of Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Award Program in our District! As
we push for excellence and strive for continuous improvement, we realize many employees are putting forth extra effort into
their assignments. This being said, we would like to recognize outstanding staff performance on an annual basis.
This recognition program was such a huge success last year, we are expanding this year to six awards as follows: Elementary
Level Teacher Award (Grades K-3), Intermediate Level Teacher Award (Grades 4, 5), Middle Level Teacher Award (Grades 68), High School Level Teacher Award (Grades 9-12), and two Support Staff Employee Awards.
A committee comprised of Teachers, Administrators, LEA Representatives, and a School Board Member will select the winning recipients from nominations received.
Each winning recipient will receive a picture plaque which will be presented to them in the Fall following when they were
nominated in the Spring during a Board Meeting. The plaque will be displayed in the District Office during the school year
following the presentation and then given to the recipient to keep at the completion of the school year when another recipient will be chosen. In addition, there will be a News Release and picture published in the District Newsletter and local papers.
Nominations are open NOW until May 15, 2015. Community members, parents/guardians, students, teachers, co-workers,
administrators, and members of the School Board of Directors may nominate staff members for this award. The nomination forms can be found on our website at http://www.lasd.k12.pa.us/about/documents/1NominationForm.pdf or the forms can
be picked up in any of the school buildings’ front office. Complete the form and submit it to the Superintendent’s Office at
162 Newark Street, Littlestown, PA 17340 in a sealed envelope.
Any questions on this program can be directed to Beverly Lang at [email protected] or at 717-359-4146 x1250.
2013/2014 Outstanding Staff Winners:
Jill Rakowicz, Art Teacher - Elementary Level
Gregory Urey, Science Teacher, Middle Level
Ashley Coleman, History Teacher, High Level
Cynthia Staub, Athletic Secretary, Support Staff Level
Deadline for nominations is May 15, 2015
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AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM
OUR HR DEPARTMENT:
New Background Check Requirements
for School Employees, Contractors and Volunteers
T
he recent flurry of child abuse prevention legislation, extensively amending the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) and indirectly amending School Code requirements, include significant changes to the background check requirements for new and
current employees, contractors with direct contact with children, and volunteers. Here are main points of the new require-
ments:
 The law now requires all school employees, contractors and volunteers having direct contact with children to obtain new clear


ances (child abuse background check and both state and federal clearances) every 36 months.
Current employees with clearances older than, or will be older than, three years must get new ones by December 31, 2015.
Effective December 31, 2014, new volunteers must have clearances in order to be approved for their positions. Existing volunteers who do not already have all 3 required clearances must have them by July 1, 2015, and those with clearances that will be
more than three years old on July 1, 2015 must get new ones before July 1.
If a volunteer has continuously resided in PA for 10 years AND submits a notarized affirmation that he or she has never been
convicted of a disqualifying crime in PA, or the corresponding offenses under the laws of any other jurisdiction, they can forego
the federal fingerprint clearance.
Employees with questions regarding their compliance should contact the HR office. All volunteers have been notified in writing of
their current compliance requirements. Volunteers with questions should call 359-4146 x1281.
2nd Annual “Battle of the Buildings”
is set on February 19, 2015
L
ast year’s event was a huge success contributing to the LHS Mini-thon which raised $1,439.65 to help eradicate pediatric cancer.
We are excited to continue the tradition this year on February 19th from 6-8pm in the Littlestown High School Gymnasium.
Come out to support your favorite team participating in Minute-To-Win-It events to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund!
Maple
Team
e
Avenu
w
o
ll
Ye
Rolling
Team
Acres
Red
Team Alloway
Creek
White
Team
Admi
n
Green
Team
Hi
Scho gh
ol
Blue
The “Battle of the Buildings” Games will include:
Sticky Situation, Rapid Fire, Junk in the Trunk, Candelier, A Bit Dicey, and Take A Bite
The games are about STRATEGY, TEAMWORK and FUN.
A trophy will be awarded to the winning team and bragging rights for the year.
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Food Service Happenings!
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T
he food service department is pleased to announce that we
are in the process of implementing a new Student Eligibility
System. This system will greatly streamline the process of
applying for Free or Reduced Priced meals. With this system, the application process will be completed on-line and the applicant will be
notified of their eligibility immediately. Be watching for notification of the “Go Live” date for this process.
Federal Changes to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program
O
ver the past few years there have
been quite a few changes to the
regulations that govern the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the
School Breakfast Program (SBP). Of these
changes, the most significant have been to
the nutritional content of the meals that are
prepared for our students. The meals served
in the LASD cafeterias have seen little change
in types of items served, however, the items
themselves have been reformulated to meet
the new standards. We are now serving
more fresh fruits and vegetables, reduced
sodium oven fries, hamburgers, and hot
dogs, and all of our sandwiches are served
on whole grain white wheat bread and/or
rolls. Under these standards more food is
included in a student meal every daymostly due to the increased fruit and vegetable requirements.
Another change is the “Smart Snacks in
Schools” rule which require all foods or
beverages that are not part of the school
T
meal -a la carte, vending machine, or
fund raiser--that are sold during the
school day must meet strict standards.
The food service department has been
very lucky in that we did not need to
make any changes to the snack items we
sell in the cafeteria. We have phased
out the items that do not meet the
standards and have introduced a couple
of new items. Our goal is to keep the
students, our customers, happy with the
selections that are offered to them.
he winter sports season is coming down the home stretch. Our wrestling team currently sits
with a record of 8-4 with wins over York Tech, York Suburban, Kutztown, Cedar Crest, and Fairfield. They also beat Upper Dauphin, Columbia, and Shamokin to take home the trophy at the
Upper Dauphin Duals in early December. Recently, Matt Guilday and Connor Geiman also took 1 st place
at the Gettysburg Warrior Invitational on January 10th. The boys work very hard and are poised to make some good runs as post season
draws closer. They are still in the hunt for team Districts as well.
Athletic News
The boys and girls basketball teams are not having the best seasons from a wins and losses
perspective. The girls have 2 wins in their record and several close scores that ended in losses. The wins came over Bermudian Springs and Fairfield. However, the kids work very hard
night in and night out. They are a group that the Bolt Family should be very proud of.
On 12/19/14 Coach Motter and the boys’ basketball team, along with help from volunteer
Beth Becker, put together the first Boys Basketball Alumni Night as the team took on Fairfield.
We honored the 1979 District Championship team. There was a dinner with the ’79 team and
our current team. The team was honored between the JV and Varsity games and then had a
small reception in the lobby after the game. The night was a huge success and the atmosphere in the gym was outstanding. All the boys were able to talk to the alumni and learned a
great deal about where the program came from.
The Boys’ Basketball team will also be having the 2nd Annual Teacher/School Board Recognition Night on January 30th. The senior members of the Boys Basketball team and the senior
cheerleaders each chose the teacher that had the most profound impact on their lives while
they were at Littlestown. The teachers being honored on the 30th are Mr. Gantz, Mrs. Yutzy,
Mr. Akers, Mr. Urey, Mrs. Lawyer, Mrs. Shermeyer, and Mrs. Floess.
The Spring Sports Meeting will take place on February 11th at 6:00 pm in the High School Auditorium. Anyone interested in a Spring Sport is encouraged to attend.
Also, on February 25th we will be hosting an Athletic College Recruiting Seminar run by Dynamite Sports. Anyone, from grades 6-12, interested in learning more about the recruiting process and what they should be doing and when is encouraged to attend. The seminar is at 6:00
pm and will be held in High School Auditorium.
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School Bus Safety Tips for Parents and Students
S
chool bus safety is a high priority in Pennsylvania. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, transportation personnel and
the motoring public all play important roles in keeping our children safe while on or around the school bus.
Please take a moment to review the following safety tips to help ensure our children arrive to and from school safely each day:
BE AWARE
 Cross with Care! Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road. Wait for the bus driver to signal it is safe to cross the street.
 Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you.
 Never cross the street behind the school bus.
 Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger.
BE ON TIME
 Get to the school bus stop five minutes early, so you won’t have to run across the road to catch the bus. Never run after the
school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
 When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic. Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for
the bus; especially during winter months, because it is dark and perhaps slippery.
BE SAFE.
 Never push when getting on or off of the school bus.
 When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat. Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window.
 Talk quietly; do not distract your school bus driver.
 Never play with the emergency exits.
 Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block the aisle or emergency exits. These items need to be on your lap
or on the floor in front of you.
 If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.
 When getting off of the school bus, make sure that all drawstrings and other loose objects are secure so that they don’t get caught
on the handrail or the door.
 If you leave something on the bus or drop something outside of the bus, never go back for it. The driver may not see you and
begin moving the bus.
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What’s HEATING in the
W
ith apologies to Shakespeare,
the winter of our discontent is
upon us as the snowflakes fly
(too often for some folks), the mercury
falls (to deeper and deeper depths), and
people scurry from building to car as fast
as they can! Generating warmth and
keeping things running becomes a major
focus. So it is reassuring that the servers
and computers in the Littlestown Area
School District continue to hum away
regardless of the weather. The district is
reaping the benefits of successfully completed network and infrastructure upgrades resulting in a more stable and
better manageable network.
District staff members have also become
familiar with the new Voice Over IP phone
system installed at the beginning of the
school year. With a telephone in every
classroom, the district has addressed a
safety concern and facilitated teacher and
parent communication. While parents
cannot call directly to the classroom during the instructional day which would
interrupt valuable class time, they can
leave voice mail messages at any time for
teachers. For emergencies during class
time, parents may call their building’s
office staff who will immediately relay the
message.
AREA
SCHOOL
DISTRICT
Department?
With winter comes the budget process
which will heat up over the next few
months. As we identify the needs for
the coming school year, the Technology
Department will continue to meticulously plan how best to build on our solid
network base and advance the education of Littlestown Area School District
students.
As carts of Chromebooks are deployed at
various grade levels in the district, Littlestown’s students are warmly and enthusiastically embracing this mobile technology. From research to creating Google
documents, the Chromebooks engage the
students while giving teachers another
tool to successfully integrate technology
with various learning styles.
Littlestown High School Achieves Top Academic
Performance Score in Adams County
W
ith a score of 87.6, Littlestown High School has achieved the top School Performance Profile Score in Adams County. We
are extremely pleased with the progress recorded in both student performance and growth. It is a true testament to the
efforts of students, staff, and administration.
SPP scores for other schools in the Littlestown Area School District include:
83.2 Maple Avenue Middle School
73.7 Alloway Creek Intermediate School
84.2 Rolling Acres Elementary School
This is the second year for the School Performance Profile. While each school has received a score, the more important aspect of this
resource is that it allows us to acknowledge our strengths and use the profile as a tool for student improvement. Especially powerful
is a new feature that gives us ability to see trend data in performance areas.
The 2013-14 School Performance Profile scores have been calculated based upon 2013-14 assessment data, including PSSA and Keystone Exam performance as well as other factors that signal student achievement. A student growth factor measures changes in student achievement levels on state assessments. Also measured are graduation and attendance rates, degree of rigorous course offerings at the secondary level, and college ready benchmarks. In addition to the scoring aspect of the site (http://
www.paschoolperformance.org), the public can compare schools within their geographical area and across the state.
The Pennsylvania School Performance Profile scores will assist the Littlestown Area School District in aligning and focusing resources
for continuous improvement.
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Book Fair and Math Madness
Little Bolts Helping Others: Food Drive
T
M
ark your calendars now- Rolling Acres Book
Fair will be held February 2-6 during lunch/
recess times. Family Night will be 5:307:30 during PTO’s Math Madness Night, February 3rd.
hank you to our wonderful Rolling Acres families for helping to
make our annual food drive such a huge success. Your generosity
in supporting the Adams Rescue Mission was fantastic. Many
needy and homeless families were blessed this holiday season because of
your kind hearts. Thank you again for your support!
Rolling Acres PTO Playground Project
E
xciting News! The Rolling Acres PTO, in collaboration with the Littlestown Area School District, is launching a fundraising campaign to financially support the installation of a new playground. The PTO has set the ambitious goal of raising $100,000 in
hopes of beginning a 3-phrase renovation project to refurbish and install new playground equipment for the students (and
future students) of Rolling Acres. With enough funding and support, the PTO hopes to complete the first installation by this summer.
Do you have an interest in expanding the play and recess opportunities for the students and visitors of RAES? Would you or your business consider donating materials and resources to this project? Do you know someone from the community who may have an interest
in becoming a “business partner for education?” If so, please contact the Rolling Acres PTO at [email protected]. Contributing to
this project can take place in several different forms – each being an opportunity to show “BOLT PRIDE!”
Please also be on the look-out for future announcements and updates about the playground project. The fundraising campaign has
been appropriately named “Change for Children.” Each member of the Littlestown community is encouraged to look for donation opportunities at upcoming PTO-sponsored and district-wide events.
Please Note: This is not the actual proposed design, but similar to the play experiences that are being planned.
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From Textbooks to Chromebooks at Alloway Creek
A
lloway Creek teachers have found a way to transcend the traditional textbook, paper-pencil form of instruction. With the pilot of the BYOD (bring your
own device) along with the purchase of two Chromebook carts, students are
able to access information instantaneously.
The integration of technology enhances instructional practices as well as provides students with the 21st Century skills to help them be successful in a technology-rich world.
Chromebooks give students online access to educational programs in the classroom.
They benefit by working directly with the applications individually or with peers, as
opposed to it being projected for the whole class.
Some examples of Chromebook use are:
“Chromebooks have been used to explore fun and interesting websites about the
various types of volcanoes, how they work, etc…after reading an article about
history’s most dangerous volcanoes.”
“I have used them to review for unit tests in math. We use the websites with
games and information to practice the skills.”
“I use the laptops for listening to the weekly Reading Street stories, for reinforcement and practice of vocabulary, research, and during bolt blocks for practice activities.”
“I used them to research the topic of endangered animals. Each pair of students
selected an endangered species to research and then created an informative poster.”
“We have been using the chrome books to help differentiate instruction. We take a
pretest to see what students already know how to do. If there are students that already
know how to do what I will be teaching that day, I have them work on an assignment
on Compass Learning that enhances their knowledge of the skill area.
One parent approached me earlier this year and thanked me for teaching this way. She
said it’s the first time her daughter has actually liked math class. It keeps her daughter
from being bored.”
“We have used Chromebooks in math centers, science, reading and writing. In math,
we use them to practice skills through games and performance tasks. In science, we
have used them with interactive sites for ecosystems, electricity and agriculture. In reading, we use them to access our System 44
small group books. Lastly, in writing, we have used them to type assignments and will be using them for research writing.”
“Students have been using the Chromebooks to shop for their restaurants that they are opening using their math skills. They have had
to figure out their budget based on their type of restaurant and using that budget shop for the necessary items that they will need to
operate on a day to day basis.”
Student comments on application skills with the use of Chromebooks:
"We are learning how to multiply large numbers and if we would ever want to open a business, how to stick to a budget." KW
"I think we are learning how to keep within a budget by not buying really expensive items, but still good quality things for our restaurant." MH
"I am learning about square feet and how it relates to area. I am also learning about how much things cost that I would never have
thought about before." MA
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Extra Funds for the Maple Avenue Library
O
ver the last month, Graig Henshaw school librarian, sought out and then completed a
grant application which he thought could bring a considerable amount of extra funds to
the Maple Avenue Library. He is happy to announce that the effort paid off and Maple
Avenue Middle School has received a $5,000 grant from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Mr. Henshaw says, the money will be used to boost teen resources in the MAMS
Library, and that Maple Avenue Middle School was one of eight recipients of grant funds from the
YALSA and the Margaret Edwards Trust. YALSA received a total of 62 applicants for the grant.
Maple Avenue Middle School will use the grant funds to purchase graphic novels, update the fiction collection, update the social
sciences collection, increase the number of periodical subscriptions, and purchase tablets such as Nooks or Kindles. According to Mr.
Henshaw, strong reading skills are more critical than ever because they translate into better performance at school and better preparedness for college and careers. The Maple Avenue Middle School Library is committed to taking an active role in ensuring that all teens
in the community have the literacy skills they need to succeed.
Parents and caregivers of teens are also encouraged to take an active role in helping teens build literacy skills. Maple Avenue Middle
School Library offers these ideas:
 Set aside time each day for the family to read
 Give books or magazine subscriptions to your teen as a gift or reward
 Share your favorite book with your teen
 Go online with your teen to learn about new books or authors by visiting www.ala.org/yalsa/reads4teens, or use YALSA’s free
Teen Book Finder app
 Host or participate in a book discussion group
 Build an in-home library (thrift stores and yard sales offer an inexpensive way to do that)
 Borrow audiobooks from the library and listen to them on trips
 Create a cozy reading corner somewhere in your home
 Use meal time to talk about books that you’re reading
 Be a role model and make time to read
 Incorporate reading into teen chores, such as reading a recipe when cooking, reading instructions for how-to projects, reading
sales fliers to develop a shopping list, and more.
For more information about the library’s teen resources or about how you can support teen reading, please contact Mr. Graig
Henshaw, Teacher Librarian by email at [email protected] or phone at 717-359-4146 ext. 3200.
LHS Social Studies Club Visits the Capitol
S
ocial Studies Club members spent a day at the
Pennsylvania Capitol with Senator Richard
Alloway II (R-33rd) gaining first-hand experience in the legislative process. Each “Student Senator” was assigned to a particular standing committee
where, working with other Student Senators from the
33rd State Senate District, they drafted legislation
addressing real-life public issues within the Commonwealth. This was an inaugural event for the LHS SS
Club and all participants agreed it was a great learning
experience that the Club will continue in the future.
Many thanks to Senator Alloway and his staff for
providing this opportunity for our students!
Pictured left to right are: Sen Alloway, Jonny Perez, Ashley
Jacobs, Alexis Little, Lindsey Snyder, Amy Janos, Kaetlin
Wienholt, Trevor Spoonire, and Club Advisors Mrs. Floess
and Mrs. Tschida
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Shippensburg University School Study Council Recognizes Outstanding Teachers
S
hippensburg University and the Shippensburg University School Study Council celebrated American Education Week Wednesday, November 19, 2014 by recognizing fifty-four outstanding teachers from school districts in South Central Pennsylvania. The
honorees were selected for their outstanding service to their school communities based on their commitment to effective
teaching, their dedication to their students, their commitment to ongoing professional development, as well as for utilizing innovative
practices in the classroom and for serving in leadership roles in their schools.
Among those recognized were Mr. James Sterner, Instrumental Music Teacher at Maple Avenue Middle School and the High School
and Mrs. Ashlie Rittle, 5th grade Teacher at Alloway Creek Intermediate School.
Dr. Brian M. Small, Executive Director of the Study Council emphasized that research clearly indicates that the most important factor in
a student’s success is the quality and experience of the classroom teacher. There continues to be a critical need for teachers of the
highest quality to assure that all students are educationally and economically competitive in a global economy, Small added.
Dr. James R. Johnson, Dean of the College of Education and Human Services welcomed over 170 teachers and guests to the Recognition
Luncheon held on the University Campus in Reisner Hall. Dr. Johnson congratulated the teachers on their selection and praised the administrators and staff for their ongoing support of effective teaching.
The annual event is sponsored by the Shippensburg University School Study Council, a professional development partnership between
public school districts and the University, which supports school system leaders in improving the instructional experience.
Outstanding Teacher Award to Mrs. Ashlie Rittle, 5th Grade
Teacher at Alloway Creek Intermediate School
Outstanding Teacher Award to Mr. James Sterner, Instrumental Music Teacher at Maple Avenue Middle School and the
High School
Mini-Thon to Benefit the Four Diamonds Fund - March 6, 2015
T
he students at Littlestown High School will spend 12 hours on their feet through the night on Friday March 6, 2015 from
7:00pm to 7:00am. The event organized by the Mini-THON Club will benefit the Four Diamonds Fund of Penn State Hershey
Children's Hospital. The high school's "Mini-THON" is based on the Penn State Dance Marathon- the largest student- run philanthropy in the nation where dancers spend 46 hours awake and on their feet to raise money for pediatric cancer patients. This is the sixth
annual year the students of Littlestown High School have held a Four Diamonds Mini-THON. Activities such as volleyball, basketball, relay
races, dancing, movies, video game tournaments, and an hourly line dance will be held during the Mini-THON to keep the participants
awake and motivated to endure a while night without sleep. The mission of the Four Diamonds Fund is to conquer childhood cancer by
assisting children treated at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and their families, If you are interested in donation to the Four Diamonds feel free to contact Ashley Coleman at [email protected]
THE
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13
Club Update
T
he Interact Club consists of youth
ages 12-18 years. As part of the
Rotary International Organization,
members of the Interact Club develop
leadership skills, an understanding of the
importance of responsibility and includes
the promoting of international awareness.
Littlestown Area High School is proud to
have such a group in its midst.
The Interact Club typically sponsors a minimum of two community service projects
each year. One project benefits the local
community, or school, and the other supports the understanding of international
goodwill. This year’s Interact Club has
been very active in both areas of service.
Littlestown’s Interact Club has received
grant monies from the MATEA foundation.
The money will be used to support a
“backpack” program which is new to Littlestown this year. With help from Mr. Hirsh
(Littlestown High School Guidance Counselor) and Peer Support (under the direction
of Mrs. Hopper), the “backpack” program
will provide food for local families in need.
During the month of December, the Interact Club sponsored an “Angel Tree” campaign which provided Christmas gifts for
local children. On the international level,
the Interact Club went “Trick or Treating
for UNICEF”. The work of UNICEF is carried out in more than one hundred and
ninety countries throughout the world
and is responsible for aiding children in
need. The Interact Club collected six hundred dollars from the local community
and was very proud to donate this money
to UNICEF International.
each member of the Littlestown community who made a donation towards
Trick or Treat for UNICEF. For every
person who helped the club (in one
way or another) – we thank you. Without you, the work of the Interact Club
would not have been possible.
The Interact Club would personally like to
thank the following people for their help
and support: Rotary International for
their support and cash donation of one
hundred dollars. Ms. Heidi Merwede for
her help with the Angel Tree project.
Littlestown faculty, staff and students
who “grabbed” an angel and purchased a
gift (or two) for our local children. The
club would like to thank Mr. Hirsh, Ms.
Hopper and Peer Support for their help
with our backpack program, and last, but
not least, the interact club would to thank
Ms. Wendy Norton
(Interact Moderator)
Check out our Facebook page
(Littlestown Interact Club) for our latest
news and our future activities.
Sincerely submitted,
President of Interact: Bryce Ballard
Vice President of Interact:
Robin Moussa
Treasure of Interact: Grace Rutter
Secretary of Interact: Jared Dodson
Bryce Ballard represents Littlestown in the Rose Bowl Parade!
B
ryce Ballard, LHS Senior, comments on his experience: “I marched with
the first-ever Cavalcade of Bands Honor Band from Harrisburg, PA. This
band consisted of 150 students from PA, MD, NJ, OH, DE, and WV. As a
band, we were able to practice together six times within nine months, never having the entire group together until finally reaching California. During our five days
in California, we performed a field show for Bandfest at Pasadena College, a parade through Disneyland, and of course, debuted in the Rose Bowl Parade. We
were also able to explore parts of California, such as Hollywood, LA, the Getty
Museum, just to name a few. I would like to thank the faculty and staff of LASD
as well as the members of the Littlestown community for all of the support you
have given me over the past year. Without the support, this once-in-a-lifetime
trip would not have been possible.”
Sincerely,
Bryce Ballard
PAGE
14
LITTLESTOWN
AREA
SCHOOL
DISTRICT
LIU Summer Academy. . . Calling all students in Grades 3 - 8
C
elebrating the 31st year, the LIU Summer Academy offers both art and academic strands that are designed to meet the
individual needs of all students. Programs run 4 days in length – 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday through Thursday. Students are welcome to attend as many weeks as they would like. Base tuition for the Academy is $190. Tuition includes
instruction, materials and equipment, certificate and a t-shirt. Some classes may require additional fees for excessive materials. Courses are designed to provide interesting and challenging learning activities for students.
Students must currently be enrolled in Grades 3-8 in the 2014/15 school year).
Contact
Deb Ayers, Student Programs Coordinator
[email protected] (717) 624-6509
Application: Download the application here! Includes Course Descriptions and Frequently
Asked Questions.
2015 dates/locations:
Adams - Gettysburg High School
June 22-25, 2015
York - Arts - Central Middle School
July 6-9, 2015
York - Academic- Central Middle
School Grades 3 - 4 July 13 - 16,
2015
York - Academic- Central Middle
School Grades 5 - 8 July 20 - 23,
2015
For your convenience, application
packets may be dropped off at one
of our satellite offices:
York Learning Center * 300 E. Seventh Avenue, * York, PA 17404 *
(717) 718-5800
Franklin Learning Center * 2397
Loop Road, Chambersburg, PA
17201 * (717) 263-2700
It’s Not
Too La
te to ex
ence a
periTrip of
a Lifeti
me!
Contac
t Mrs. T
sc
tschida
m@las hida at
d.k12.p
a.us
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Winter is Here . . . School Closing Information
WEATHER DELAYS/CANCELLATIONS
POSTINGS:

ONE-CALL NOW, AUTOMATED CALLS TO RESIDENCES
WEBSITE - SCROLLER ON MAIN PAGE
 http://www.lasd.k12.pa.us/
Scheduled Closings/Snow
Make-Up Days
February
02
Act 80 Day, No School
16
President’s Day, No School
March
12
Snow Make Up Day #1—School is in Session
13
Snow Make Up Day #2—School is in Session
April
03
06
07
Easter Holiday, No School
Easter Holiday, No School
1/2 Professional Development Day, No School
May
11
12
25
Snow Make Up Day #3—School is in Session
Snow Make Up Day #4
Memorial Day, No School
June
05
Last Day of School, 1/2 Day
FLYERS, FLYERS...READ ALL ABOUT IT!
A REMINDER TO KEEP CHECKING OUR VIRTUAL
BACKPACK IN THE PARENTS TAB ON OUR WEBSITE AT:
http://www.lasd.k12.pa.us/parents/VirtualBackpack.cfm
TO GET THE LATEST EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR
FAMILIES.
RADIO
 WARM 103 FM
 WPOC 93.1 FM
 BOB 94.9 FM
 WITF 93.3 FM
 KISS 99.3 FM
 WGTY 108 FM
 WYCR 98 FM
 WHP 580 AM
 WSBA 901 AM
 WBAL 1090 AM
 WGET 1320 AM
 WHVR 1280 AM
TELEVISION
 WGAL - NBC
 WHP - CBS
 WHTM - ABC 27
 WPMT - FOX 43
15
PAGE
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BOLT
LITTLESTOWN
PRIDE
AREA
SCHOOL
DISTRICT