Northeastern School District

I hope this message finds you well and in good spirits as we continue through the school year. It’s always a pleasure to connect with you and share updates, reflections, and important information about what’s happening in our schools.

First, I want to express my gratitude to our dedicated staff, teachers, and administrators who work tirelessly to provide a safe, welcoming, and supportive learning environment for all our students. Their commitment to academic excellence and student well-being is truly inspiring, and I know we are fortunate to have such an outstanding team.

To our students, thank you for your continued hard work, enthusiasm, and resilience. Your determination to learn and grow, both in and out of the classroom, is evident every day. Whether you’re involved in academics, arts, athletics, or extracurricular activities, your achievements and efforts make our school community stronger and more vibrant. Keep up the great work!

To our families, I want to express my appreciation for your ongoing support and partnership. Your involvement plays a crucial role in the success of our schools, and together we can continue to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. It was very rewarding to see the positive involvement of so many parents as I met with each of our 8 PTO's this month, your feedback is extremely valuable. I encourage all parents to stay engaged, reach out with any questions or concerns, and continue to support your child’s learning journey.

Included in this newsletter is a focus on the various safety items that continue to support our commitment, investment, and focus on a positive learning environment.

On a related note, I had the honor of testifying to the PA House Education Committee on the very important topic of School Safety. I also included concerns around the growing number of unfunded mandates and the continuous increase in mental health needs of our students. I have several scheduled follow-up meetings with legislators to continue the school safety conversation that is of utmost importance to all 500 school district's across our Commonwealth.

Finally, I'm pleased to announce a new opportunity for parents to learn about various aspects impacting students and learning. We are calling it- Parent University. This will be a series of events for parents over the next several months as we look to engage more with our community stakeholders to help parents learn about the challenges impacting students and schools. These events will be for all parents: Kindergarten through 12th grade! I hope you can come and learn as one community focused on Building Better Bobcats... Together!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jason Bottiglieri

Superintendent of Schools

Parent monitoring of social media is crucial in today’s digital age, where children and teens are increasingly exposed to both positive and negative online influences. By actively overseeing their child's social media interactions, parents can help foster a safe and supportive environment, guiding them through the complexities of online relationships and the potential risks, such as cyberbullying and inappropriate content. This oversight not only enables parents to educate their children about responsible digital behavior but also encourages open communication about online experiences, helping to build trust. Ultimately, parental involvement can empower children to navigate social media responsibly while developing the critical skills needed to discern between healthy and harmful online interactions.

As a school system, we are committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve the overall safety and well-being of our students. This must involve community-wide efforts involving families, school staff, local law enforcement, mental health & wellness professionals, and elected officials to take meaningful action to protect our students.

One such effort includes the Safe2Say Something (S2SS) anonymous tip reporting system. This program, which is mandated under PA state law / Act 44 uses an anonymous tip reporting system. Click HERE for more information.

The district expanded on the established partnership with Verkada as we continue to add resources to our safety improvement efforts. Over the next several months, with some work occurring immediately and some work being slated for the summer, the district will be adding the following safety resources:

• All School Buildings will have an enhanced Video Intercom System for front door guests.
• High School previously renovated space will have new Electronic Lock Integration.
• Shallow Brook and Spring Forge Intermediate Schools will have new Electronic Lock Integration completed this summer, with all doors accessed via badge readers.
• MS / HS Vape Sensors will be installed in all lavatories.
• Elementary, Admin Center, Operations Buildings will have Verkada Surveillance Cameras installed.
• All buildings will have a new Verkada Burglar Alarm System installed that includes Panic Buttons and Exterior Door Sensors with notification of propped open doors.
• Additional network switches are being added to handle the technology investment for the cameras and other equipment items.
• Walkie Talkie Radio Communication has been increased across the district providing quicker communication and responses for emergent situations.

Our district is the first... that's right you heard it... Northeastern School District is the first school district in Pennsylvania to be utilizing the Metrasens Ultra Metal Detection System as part of our school safety program. Seen in the picture, Office Goodman is demonstrating this safety resource.

Thanks to a new partnership with Metrasens, Officer Goodman and Officer Brice now have another piece of equipment to ensure the safety of our staff and students. The district now has two detectors at the middle school and high school. Random searches are instituted as part of our continuous efforts for a safe learning environment.

Our district has adopted the "I Love U Guys" Foundation's Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Students and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol. Please click this link to read more about this protocol.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are crucial in schools as they provide a rapid response to cardiac emergencies, potentially saving lives. This school year the District purchased 10 new AEDs and every building in the district has at least one AED.

A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a law enforcement officer permanently assigned and specially trained to provide coverage to schools. The SRO works the area where education, delinquency prevention, school security, and law enforcement come together.

The district employs two full-time School Resource Officers (SROs) through the York County Regional Police Department. The SROs help to ensure a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors by monitoring school campuses and addressing disorderly or criminal behavior. The SRO's also build positive relationships with all stakeholders and assist in emergency policy development, training, and crisis management.

During this past school year the District integrated an additional layer of student safety designed to monitor students online activity and internet search activity when using a district owned device or logged into their district owned student account. The monitoring system called Lightspeed, helps our school leaders provide proactive student safety, allowing early intervention and more effective support to students in need. Combining online activity monitoring and risk analysis with human review and threat escalation, this solution enables our administrators to reach struggling students earlier and take life-changing steps to protect our community.

Students' online activity is monitored during the school year with intervention and response services in place so that teachers, counselors, and administrators can assist students who may need some level of intervention.

High School and Middle School families will have access to create a Schoology account which will enable families to check student progress on assignments, check student grades, and receive important notifications and updates from the school.

Use this LINK to set up your Schoology Account today!

The district has established a streamlined process for the four elementary schools to function as 'feeder' schools for both SBI and SFI. This graphic below represents an equal distribution of elementary students based on enrollment, social economic status, and cultural diversity. This will be in effect beginning August 2025.

For students who are already enrolled in one of Intermediate Schools (as a current 4th or 5th grader), parents will have the ability to switch Intermediate Schools so that the older child attends the same Intermediate School as the younger sibling, in accordance with the diagram below. There may be some isolated circumstances where the administration may need to make an adjustment to this plan for reasons such as a family court orders or students with special needs.

The district recognized the outstanding efforts of the high school Student Senate at a recent board meeting. This dedicated group has been working diligently throughout the summer and school year to organize a week-long celebration for Homecoming 2024. Despite facing challenges, including a period without an advisor, they successfully created a memorable experience for students and the community. Special thanks to Demitra Aggelis, Hailey Kile, and Jordyn Haines for sharing details about their accomplishments and previewing upcoming activities. We are excited to see what this group will achieve in our school moving forward!

On September 26th, the Middle School proudly inducted 20 exemplary students into the National Junior Honor Society. These outstanding individuals were selected for their unwavering dedication to learning and service to the community. To qualify for acceptance, each student maintained a 93% or higher in all core subjects throughout their 7th-grade year, completed a minimum of 10 hours of community service, and demonstrated commendable character and citizenship. Throughout the year, these remarkable students will engage in tutoring their peers, organizing charitable drives for food and clothing, and volunteering in various capacities across our district. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see all that they will accomplish this year.

Shallow Brook Intermediate has had an incredibly busy first marking period! Our teachers have successfully rolled out the new ELA curriculum, Amplify, and students are really enjoying the stories it offers. We're also implementing new STEELS standards and have ordered various kits and resources for classroom use.

Recently, our teachers were trained in the Legos STEELS activities, and the enthusiasm in the classrooms is palpable—check out the photos to see the fun learning that’s happening!

To wrap up the marking period, we had the pleasure of hosting motivational speaker Rohan Murphy. His inspiring messages, “Be the best that you can be” and “no excuses,” left a lasting impact on our students. It's been a fantastic start to the year!

At SFI our intermediate Bobcats began with a bit of a focus on buses. Each grade level was provided with TRACKS on the bus lessons. We also had a bus stationed in front of the building for three days so teachers could have the students board the bus to receive a lesson, work through skits, and hear from the perspective of the driver. As a final piece, we had every student who rides a bus participate in Breakfast With the Driver. When the bus arrived to SFI in the morning, the driver escorted the students from the bus to the cafeteria where they got to have breakfast with their driver. Students got to ask their driver "get to know you" style questions and our drivers got to know their passengers better. Our experience tells us that relationships matter. By building a relationship between our drivers and our students we believe our buses will be safer and our students will be more inclined to follow TRACKS on the bus.

First graders started to learn about the human body in CKLA! The teachers provided great visuals and excited the students to learn about each system and part! The students used Ozobots to trace the circulatory system and Play-Doh to learn about the digestive system.

We are fortunate to have access to the great new learning materials from Lego Education. Teachers are using the Lego kits to add STEM connections to our new ELA program. Students are able to complete tasks on the Lego website, or they can complete a challenge created by their teacher that directly connects to a story or other concept from the curriculum. The kids are enjoying getting a chance to try the new kits out!

We’re thrilled to announce that Brooke Keefer and Shannon Oliver have successfully secured a hydroponics grant for Orendorf Elementary! This innovative project will provide our students with a hands-on opportunity to explore modern “green thumb” technology.

In our school library, we have set up a large hydroponics unit capable of growing 200 plants. This impressive setup allows students to observe the growth process. Additionally, each classroom is equipped with a smaller hydroponics unit, enabling students to manage and observe their plants daily.

The excitement is palpable as both students and staff eagerly await the first harvest of vegetables from these units. This initiative not only enhances our science curriculum but also fosters teamwork and responsibility among our students.

We encourage you to ask our students about their experiences with hydroponics. We can't wait to see the amazing things they'll achieve!

Stay tuned for updates on our growing garden!

During the October School Board Meeting, board members participated in a brief LEGO EDU build, guided by second and third grade students from York Haven Elementary. These young leaders did an outstanding job answering questions and demonstrating their skills! Special thanks to Shannon Oliver and Jenesa Leonard for their exceptional leadership in facilitating this engaging activity.

This demonstration showcased the incredible work our students are doing in the classroom and highlighted how these materials support our STEELS integration with the new ELA resource.

Our K-6 buildings came alive with laughter and learning during our Title I Family Game Night! Families joined together for an evening filled with engaging games designed to enhance reading skills while fostering quality time between families and children. Each participant walked away with at least one new game and a book to continue the fun and learning at home. A huge thank you to our dedicated reading specialists who organized this wonderful event, making it possible for families and students to connect through play and literacy. We appreciate your hard work and commitment to our students’ success! We look forward to our next family engagement event coming in the spring!

Huge kudos to Sally Reed and Maria DeJesus for planning and running the Back to School event in the HS Cafeteria! Approximately 100 families attended and received FREE haircuts, backpacks, pizza, and snacks while experiencing positive interaction with the Sheriff's Office, charitable organizations, and school personnel. Students also enjoyed playing games and feeling welcomed back to school in a very positive, energized environment! This event was possible because of Sally and Maria's positive relationships with families, community vendors, the Masons, among many others. It was a fun time!

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Lexie Shearer, our dedicated Child Nutrition Employee at Orendorf, for her exceptional work in designing and developing signage for the main meal entrees at our elementary schools. This initiative was inspired by valuable parent feedback received by one of our building principals, with the aim of helping younger students easily identify the daily meal options through visual aids.

Lexie truly went above and beyond by creating a comprehensive 4-week menu cycle signage. She even organized the images by week in a convenient zipper pouch, making it easier for everyone to access.

Thank you, Lexie, for your creativity and commitment to enhancing our students' dining experience!

New Hope Ministries provides their mobile food pantry to local families. In August we had 30 families visit and take home a wagon full of fresh food, fruits/vegetables, dairy, frozen meat, and staple products. The New Hope Ministries Mobile Food Pantry will be located in the Shallow Brook parking lot on the second Thursday of each month from 4:15pm-6:00pm. Click the links below to find out more info.

New Hope Ministries Mobile Food Pantry-English

New Hope Ministries Mobile Food Pantry-Spanish

North York Rotary recently teamed up with students from Northeastern High School Interact Club to bring the joy of reading to the students at Orendorf Elementary. As part of this initiative, high school students read books to the younger children, and each student received a book from Rotary. This collaboration embodies the Rotary motto of "service above self," showcasing their commitment to enriching the community through acts of service. Thank you to Bethany Gamber, High School Counselor, whose dedication helped facilitate this meaningful connection between the students.

Congratulations to the Boys Soccer team on an impressive season! Finishing 13-4 and winning their 5th straight YAIAA Division One Championship is an incredible achievement. It's also great to hear they secured the YAIAA League Tournament title and advanced past the first round of the District III 4A playoffs. Best of luck against Cumberland Valley in the quarterfinals on Saturday—keep up the fantastic work! Go Bobcats!

The Girls Soccer team had a challenging season finishing with a record of 5-11-2. They also had some wonderful moments off the field! Hosting Teacher Appreciation Night and celebrating Senior Recognition Night were great ways to honor the support of teachers and to celebrate the seniors' contributions to the team. It’s all about the experiences and growth throughout the season. Here’s to the team for their hard work and dedication!

Congratulations to both the Boys and Girls Cross-Country teams on their seasons! With the Boys finishing 13-8 and the Girls at 5-13, it's clear they’ve put in a lot of hard work. Special shoutout to Sophia Treglia for her impressive 4th place finish in the YAIAA League Meet! Best of luck to both teams as they head to the District III Meet on October 26th at Big Spring High School. Keep pushing and racing strong!

While the Football team is facing a tough season at 0-8, it’s great to see them embracing community and school spirit with events like Military Appreciation Night, NEYSA Youth Football Night, Homecoming, and Band Night. These celebrations not only highlight the team's resilience but also bring the community together. Senior Night on October 25th will be a special occasion to honor the seniors and their hard work. Here’s hoping for a strong finish to the season!

Congratulations to the Girls Tennis team on an outstanding season finishing 12-3! Qualifying for the District III Team Tournament as the 9th seed and securing a victory against Manheim Central is an incredible achievement—especially as the first District Team win in school history! This is a fantastic milestone for the program. Keep up the great work, and best of luck in the next rounds! Go team!

The Girls Volleyball team finished the season at 3-15 with some wonderful highlights! The 1st annual Bobcat Bash Tournament was a fantastic success with 14 teams participating, showcasing the spirit of the sport. Hosting a youth volleyball clinic is a great way to inspire future Bobcat players and strengthen the community. Celebrating Senior Night on October 7th was a special occasion for the seniors and their families. Here’s to all their hard work and dedication!

The Field Hockey team finished the season at 5-13, while also making a positive impact off the field. Partnering with Central Panthers for the pajama drive to support Beautiful Chaos Foster Closet is a wonderful initiative that shows their commitment to the community. Celebrating Senior Night on September 18th was a meaningful way to honor the seniors' contributions. Here’s to the team for their hard work and dedication, both in sports and in service!

The Golf Team went 18-24 this year placing them 4th in Division I. It's great to see an increase in student athlete participation and look forward to continued growth in Coach Drenchko's second season.

A huge thank you to the Bobcat Football Cheerleading Squad for their unwavering support and dedication to the football program! Their ability to bring energy and enthusiasm, regardless of the weather, truly enhances the Friday night experience for all. Hosting the Youth Cheerleaders on September 13th was a wonderful way to foster community and inspire the next generation of cheerleaders. Their hard work and spirit are greatly appreciated! Go Bobcats!

SAVE THE DATE!

Northeastern Dramatics presents A Charlie Brown Christmas...

This 30-minute musical is guaranteed to be a good time! After the show, have cookies and drinks with Charlie Brown and his gang. Santa will make a special appearance at each show!

Tickets are $10. Ticket sales start in October MySchoolBucks. All proceeds benefit the students of NEHS Dramatics Club.

Show Times-

November 15, 2024 at 7:00 pm

November 16, 2024 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm

November 17, 2024 at 2:00 pm

Please reach out to Dr. Lauren Ward at wardL@nebobcats.org with any questions.

Inclement Weather Notification Reminder

As we head into inclement weather season, we would like to remind you how you can and will receive information about weather-related delays, cancellations, and early dismissals.

* Phone Call

* Email

* Social Media Posts (Facebook, Instagram, X)

* District Website

* Local News Stations- News- Fox, WGAL, ABC 27, CBS 21

Please check how we notify you in your Sapphire Parent Portal settings from the ""Change Student Data"" tab to ensure that you are receiving district announcements. Need a Sapphire account? Visit our website at https://www.nebobcats.org/parent-portal/sapphire

Please use the links below to read about Smile Programs...the mobile dentist, and sign your child up for a dental exam.

Mobile Dentist Info - English

Mobile Dentist Info - Spanish

Conewago Elementary:

• Fall: October 22, 2024 and October 23, 2024
• Spring: May 6, 2025 and May 7, 2025

Mt Wolf Elementary:

• Fall: November 11, 2024
  Spring: May 16, 2025

York Haven Elementary:

• Fall: October 29, 2024 and October 30, 2024
  Spring: May 8, 2025 and May 9, 2025

As a reminder all students are able to receive a free breakfast thanks to the Free Breakfast initiative from Governor Shapiro’s office. To comply with the guidelines, students who pick up a breakfast meal in the morning are asked to take a fruit and/or juice. If a student does not want to consume one of the required breakfast meal items, we encourage them to place it in the community collection basket set out at the registers. The extras will be set aside for other Bobcats to pick up if they would like something extra. We love when Bobcats support Bobcats!

Northeastern School District is organizing a gift giving drive designed to provide holiday gifts to families within our community who are in need this holiday season.

● You MUST live in Northeastern School District to receive gifts for your child(ren).

● Child(ren) who are school-aged (Kindergarten- 12 th grade) MUST attend Northeastern School District.

● Child(ren) ages 5 and under MUST live in Northeastern School District.

● Step-child(ren) who do not live in Northeastern School District are NOT able to receive gifts.

● You MUST be the parent or guardian of the child(ren) you are registering.

● Students attending cyber school are eligible if they attend the District’s cyber school ONLY-Lincoln Edge.

To sign up for this program, come to the Union Fire Company #1 at 201 York Street Manchester, PA 17345 on one of the following dates:

Monday, October 28, 2024 from 10:00am-7:00pm.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 10:00am-3:00pm.

Please enter the fire hall using the back door. No side doors please.

Please contact Sally Reed at 717-266-9833 ext. 51200 or email reeds@nebobcats.org if you have questions

Congratulations to Korey Isaiah Crawford, 2024 Northeastern Graduate, on achieving his Class B CDL with Passenger Endorsement and Air Brakes! It’s wonderful to see his dedication and hard work pay off. Thanks to F&S Transportation, Inc. who provided tremendous support throughout this journey. This is a significant milestone, and it's clear that Korey has a bright future ahead.

A BIG thanks goes out to St. Paul United Methodist Church for a very generous donation of $2,000 worth of school supplies! We are grateful for your support and are committed to ensuring these supplies reach students in need this school year. We truly appreciate your ongoing partnership and look forward to continuing our work together as community partners.

The Northeastern Foundation is a non-profit organization that partners with the Northeastern School District to fulfill student need.

The goal of the foundation is to provide scholarships and to raise dollars to support academic, cultural, and athletic necessities that cannot be funded by the district's operating budget. The Northeastern Foundation is dedicated to offering students opportunities that would not otherwise be possible.