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JBHS April Newsletter
April, 2024
Opening Thoughts
April! Spring sports are in full swing and we are in the final 2 months of the school year. These final months and weeks tend to fly by rapidly with a flurry of activities, ceremonies, and events. Spring is always one of our favorite times of year. As a special note to Seniors I would direct you to the section below regarding Act 158 Statewide Graduation Requirements. If you have not met a Graduation Pathway please see your counselor today!
Throughout every year our students and families have many questions and this year will be no exception. It is my hope that this letter will provide many of the answers you seek. Much of the information will remain from month to month but we will continue to update it with new, current, and upcoming information as the year progresses.
Important Upcoming Dates
Click here to access the TSD 2023-24 Calendar
April 6&7: JBHS Indoor Guard and Percussion Championships @Chambersburg
April 10: Athletic Boosters meeting, 7pm, JBHS Library
April 11: Reality Fair for Juniors/Seniors
April 17-20: All State Band/Orchestra/Chorus Festival
April 21: Messa Vocce & JBMS Select Choir Concert- 3PM, JBHS Auditorium
April 23: FAB LAB Field Trip with Mrs. Horst
April 27: JBHS Prom- Goldfish Barn- 7-10pm
April 30: Progress Reports Posted to Skyward Portal
May 2: JBHS Chorus Concert, 7:30pm
May 3: Decision Day Assembly
May 4: Marching in the Mountains Car, Truck, and Bike Show -
8am-2pm Fort Loudon Community Center
benefiting the JBHS Music Boosters
Rain date May 11
FFA Banquet - First United Methodist Church of Mercersburg - 6 PM
May 6: JBHS Stage Band and Orchestra to Elementary Schools- All Day
May 8th: TSD Olympics at the stadium
NHS helpers will also be involved in this event 8:45 - 12:00
Rain Date May 9th
May 9: JBHS Stage Band, Orchestra and Concert Band Concert- 7pm
JLG Graduation Ceremony for all JLG students- 6PM@JLG
May 10th- Band End of Year Banquet- 5-7pm
Work Experience Employer Recognition Breakfast
Work Experience students and their employers 9am-10:30am
May 14: FCCTC New Student Orientation (NSO)
All newly accepted students starting 2024-25, from 5 – 8…accepted students and families will receive an invite and more posting on www.franklinctc.com
May 16: Senior Awards Night- 6:30pm
May 17: Senior Send off Dance 6-8PM (JBHS Rear Patio)
May 18: FFA 1st Annual Car, Truck, and Tractor Show - 10 AM - 2 PM
May 20-24: JBHS Senior Week
May 22: PBIS Reward Day
May 23: Senior Trip to Hershey Park
Professional Communications Mock Interviews
Last day of work for JLG S2S Program students
May 24: Clash of the Classes finale (morning)
Jamboree (afternoon)
FCCTC Senior Awards Ceremony: FCCTC Seniors from semester 1 & 2, 9am–12pm @ Antrim Brethren in Christ Church, 24 Kauffman Rd E, Chambersburg, PA 17202, All other students HBCTE…seniors will receive more details via email and www.franklinctc.com
May 27: Memorial Day- Schools Closed
#JBHS Band- Memorial Day Parades
May 28: Last day of classes for Seniors
May 29: Graduation Practice - Day 1 - Mandatory
May 30: Graduation Practice - Day 2 - Mandatory
Baccalaureate, 7:00pm, Clayton Memorial Church of God
May 31: underclass awards - 10AM
Last Day of School- Dismissal at 11:00am
Graduation- 6:30pm Rocket Stadium/Gym weather dependent
Upcoming Assessment Dates:
April 2-5: Algebra CDTs - Round 3
May 6: AP Government (8am-12pm) and AP Chemistry Exams(12-4pm)
May 7: AP Statistics Exam (12-4pm)
May 8: AP Literature Exam (8am-12pm)
May 10: AP US History Exam (8am-12pm)
May 13: AP Calculus Exam (8am-12pm)
May 14: AP Language Exam (8am-12pm)
May 15: AP World History Exam (8am-12pm)
May 16: AP Biology Exam (12-4pm)
Keystone Exams
May 14: Algebra Keystone Exam
May 15: Biology Keystone Exam
May 16: Literature Keystone Exam
Franklin Science Fair Results
On April 5th and 6th the 40th Annual Franklin Science and Technology Fair was held at Waynesboro Area Middle School. There were a total of 247 projects at the fair. The fair is open to any K-12 student in Franklin County. Our district had 35 projects at this year's fair! We had 10 more projects than last year! Twenty JBHS students entered projects.
For a list of Award Winners from JBHS Click HERE
For pictures of TSD Students who's projects earned awards please click HERE
Notes from the Music Department
James Buchanan Indoor Drumline and Color Guard Championships
The James Buchanan High School Indoor Drumline and Color Guard competed in the KIDA Championships at Chambersburg High School on Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th. After a competitive season against organizations across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia, the JBHS Indoor Drumline and Color Guard put on their final performance of the season.
James Buchanan “Excellent” Music Performances
The James Buchanan High School Concert Band and Orchestra performed in the Washington County Public Schools Music Adjudication Festival in mid-March. This festival is a performance opportunity for students to showcase what they have learned and are working on in front of a panel of well-respected adjudicators within the music field.
The James Buchanan High School Orchestra performed on March 12th and the Concert Band performed on March 20th. Both ensembles received an overall rating of “Excellent” from the adjudication panel! These performances demonstrate the effort and hard work the students have put into their musical development this school year, with promises of more to come.
JBHS Indoor Guard
JBHS Indoor Percussion
JBHS Indoor Percussion
PBIS Expectations
The acronym PBIS= Positive Behavior Intervention Support. While the students do not find ‘intervention support’ something that sounds exciting, we frame it to them as an incentive system (what they can earn for good behavior).--rather than the punishments that they will receive for negative behavior.
Faculty and staff reviewed our PBIS expectations for students on September 13th during Activity Period. We focus on Safety, Responsibility, and Respect. We explicitly defined what those three behaviors should look like throughout the school. We revealed that students can earn the opportunity to attend a movie with popcorn at the end of the semester for positive behavior. We also plan to incentivize our dances this year starting with the Homecoming Dance. We will also have reward days and activities throughout the rest of the year. Students who have more than 2 office discipline referrals or any suspension between reward activities are not permitted to participate. Students will have the opportunity to earn smaller prizes throughout the year like spirit wear, music rewards, and more! Our next PBIS Reward Event is the Valentines Dance on February 16th.
JBHS Prom 2024
Note: All outside guests must be approved no later than April 19, 2024. Guest approval forms can be picked up at the front office.
Reminder to all students that Prom is incentivized this year. If you’ve had any suspension or 3+ office referrals from January 23rd until the prom, you will not be eligible to attend-even if you earned a free ticket through the fundraiser.
JBHS guests must be eligible to attend with a Junior or Senior.
James Buchanan Student Media
James Buchanan High School Named Jostens 2023 National Yearbook Program of Excellence
Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, today announced that James Buchanan High School’s yearbook program has achieved the Jostens 2023 National Yearbook Program of Excellence award at the Gold Level. The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration, and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy.
The James Buchanan High School award-winning yearbook program, led by sophomores, juniors and seniors taking the Journalism course under the direction of Danielle DeFelice and Erin Martin, JBHS yearbook advisers, utilize photography, writing and design skills in order to create the publication.
Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Awards are presented twice a year, in spring and in fall based on the yearbook’s arrival date at the school. The award was presented to the James Buchanan yearbook program for achieving defined criteria in between one and three of the following categories: creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement, and successfully managing the yearbook creation process.
- Visit The Rocket Flame for school based articles and information
- Visit James Buchanan Student Meida Instagram Page
- Order your copy of the James Buchanan Citadel Yearbook. Price increases January 27.
- Enjoy the National Yearbook Program of Excellence press release the Citadel staff received from the publisher
- Order your copy of the James Buchanan Citadel Yearbook. The current price is $86
Reality Fair
1st Ed Credit Union Reality Fair at JBHS on April 11, 2024: The Financial Reality Fair is designed to give high school Juniors & Seniors a “reality check” about the importance of financial planning and making wise decisions with their money.
Juniors and Seniors will be provided with a budget worksheet outlining their career choice, salary, net pay (take home pay) and account balances.
On the day of our JBHS Reality Fair, students will visit a variety of tables, in our Gym, that will be set up with expenses they will face when they are on their own (such as housing, transportation, food, entertainment, and so on).
Students will be able to choose whether they want to spend a minimal, average, or extravagant amount on each category, and will write down the corresponding cost per month.
Students will also spin the Wheel of Reality, which could be positive (winning a contest, getting a gift, etc.) or negative (flat tire, cracked phone screen, etc.) to teach them about the importance of being prepared for an emergency.
At the end, they will meet with a Financial Counselor from the credit union.
Together, they will add up their expenses and deduct them from their net pay.
If they have a positive balance, we will discuss options such as paying down debt, building an emergency fund, and so on.
If their balance is negative, they will need to either revisit stations to lower their cost of living or choose to take on a part-time job on top of their full-time responsibilities.
Driver's Ed
Did you know that James Buchanan High School offers a Behind the Wheel Driver Education Program? The program consists of 9 hours of simulated driving and 3 hours of on-the-road driving with certified instructors. Added benefits include PA driver’s license testing at JBHS, avoiding the DMV, and a potential reduction in student driver insurance costs. Please see the link below for further details.
* A student is eligible for this program once receiving their driving permit.
College & Career Happenings
Mrs. Haley Hager is our College & Career Adviser. We are excited to have her back and working with your students to plan for their future! If you have any questions or want to meet to talk about your student’s plans for life after high school, please feel free to contact her either by email (hhager@tusge.org) or by phone (717-352-2164 ext. 5417).
Encourage your student to check the daily announcements and emails from Mrs. Hager for further information!
*Scan the QR code to visit the JBHS College Advising Instagram page for the most up to date information regarding JBHS College and Career Advising Events
Upcoming College & Career Happenings:
April 11, 2024: South Central CAC College Fair at Penn State Mont Alto
April 19, 2024: Senior Spotlight surveys are due to Mrs. Hager. This information will be used for our Decision Day celebration.
Decision Day (May 3, 2024): is a day where we celebrate our seniors and their post-graduation plans. There will be a mini college fair for all grades during lunch periods. Seniors will be able to relax, have, fun win raffle prizes, and be celebrated during an all-school assembly where they will take a victory lap as their post-graduation plans are announced.
JBHS Student Parent Handbook- Points to Review
Please click HERE to access and review the JBHS Student/Parent Handbook. A few items of note:
Pg. 12 - TSD Chain of Communication Chart
Pg. 14 - Overview of Disciplinary Infractions and Consequences
Pg. 20 - Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Pg. 20 - Appearance and Dress Code
Pg. 42 - Electronic Device/Cell Phones/Images
Pg. 47 - Grading Policy and Graduation Requirements
Pg. 64 - Special Education
Pg. 70 - Video/Audio Recording
Pg. 71 - Work Coop Program
E-Cigarettes and Vaping Device Concerns
We encourage all of our families to talk to your children about electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, Jules, and other names. Unfortunately, we are continuing to find students in possession of e-cigarettes at school, which, in the state of Pennsylvania, is against the law on school property, regardless of age. Unfortunately, we are also seeing an increase in possession of e-cigarettes that contain THC and/or marijuana. Possession of this type of e-cigarette on school property is also against the law and will result in more serious criminal charges filed by our school police officers. Due to their ability to deliver any manner of substance these devices are also considered drug paraphernalia under TSD Policy and students may be suspended or expelled and cited by our school police officer for such possession.
Thank you for partnering with us in keeping our schools free from electronic cigarettes and other items prohibited by PA law and TSD School Board Policy.
Notes from TSD Online Academy
TSD Online Academy
Students and families participating in our TSD Online Academy program should take time to click here and read and review the TSD Online Academy Handbook (Draft). For more information regarding the TSD Online Academy please contact the following:
TSD Cyber Coordinator- Mrs. Ashley Wilhelm- awilhelm@tusge.org
JBHS Athletics
Once again this year we will offer a full range of athletic teams and activities for our students and we look forward to another exciting year of Rocket Athletics. For more information about all of our Rocket Athletics Schedules as well as game results, please click here.
The following home athletic events will be livestreamed on the NFHS Network during the Winter Season:
Boys and Girls Basketball
Wrestling
Bocce
*Please note NFHS access requires a subscription. Subscriptions are available on a monthly or annual basis. See the NFHS Website for more information.
Act 158 PA State Graduation Requirements
Act 158 of 2018 (Act 158), provides alternatives to Pennsylvania’s statewide requirement of attaining proficiency on the three end-of-course Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology) for a student to achieve statewide graduation requirements. Effective with the graduating class of 2023, students have the option to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness through one of four additional pathways that more fully illustrate college, career, and community readiness. Click here for more information regarding the Act 158 Statewide Graduation Requirement Pathways
Final Thoughts
As with any school year there will be challenges and successes along the way as we progress through 2023-24. Communication is an essential element to that success. In addition to the many School Messenger calls and emails we regularly issue we will endeavor to update this letter throughout the school year. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at the school.
Chip Dickey
JBHS Principal
717-328-2146