Roller Pride
District Newsletter
January 28, 2024
Message from the Superintendent
Dear Roller Families and Students,
As we reach the midpoint of this school year, I want to thank each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication. Your commitment to excellence inside and outside the classroom has not gone unnoticed, and it's truly inspiring. The accomplishments and progress you’ve achieved up to this point is a true testament to your resilience and effort.
Let's continue this journey with the same enthusiasm and determination. Whether it's academics, extracurricular activities, or personal growth, keep pushing yourselves to reach new heights. Thank you for being an integral part of the Steelton-Highspire School District, and here's to a successful and fulfilling remainder of the school year.
Dr. Mick Iskric, Jr.
Superintendent
Message from the Jr/Sr HIgh Admin Team
Dear Steelton-Highspire Roller Students and Families,
As we reach the midpoint of the school year, it is with great pleasure that I reflect on the incredible achievements and successes we have experienced together during the first half. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work have truly set the tone for an exceptional academic year.
First and foremost, let me express how immensely proud we are of each and every one of our students. From the moment they walked through our doors, they were ready to rock and roll, showcasing the true spirit of what it means to be a Roller. The pride and energy within the building is empowering, and it’s heartening to see our student’s taking ownership of their education and school community.
In the past two marking periods, we've had the privilege of celebrating numerous accomplishments, including the outstanding achievement of 300 honor students, a spectacular homecoming, and the remarkable feat of securing back-to-back state championships. The introduction of AP classes, the implementation of a CO-OP program, the increased number of partnerships with colleges and universities, and the vibrant activities within our various clubs have further enriched the educational experience for our students.
Roller Pride is soaring, and our students are not just meeting but exceeding expectations. As we eagerly anticipate the release of state testing scores, I am thrilled to share that our school's growth surpasses even the highest state standards. The credit for this success goes to the exceptional staff who consistently show up, support, love, and serve the students of Steelton-Highspire.
As we embark on the second half of the year, let's continue to grind and push ourselves toward greatness. Remember, doors open at 7:15 am, and consistent attendance will be a key factor in student success. We kindly remind everyone that cell phones are not permitted in class, and physical aggression will not be tolerated. Our commitment to providing a safe and empowering environment for learning and growth remains unwavering.
The High School Administrative Team is thrilled to kick off the new semester, and we look forward to continued growth and success together. The future is undeniably bright for all who are part of the Roller Community. Stay tuned for some amazing data that highlights our outstanding achievements.
Thank you for your continued support, and let's make the rest of this school year just as fantastic as the first half!
Roller Pride Forever!
Sincerely,
Dr. Eleni M. Cordero, PhD
Steelton-Highspire School District
Principal
717-704-3861
Message from the Elementary Admin Team
Dear Roller Families,
As we approach the midpoint of the school year, we are delighted to share with you the remarkable achievements and highlights that have shaped the first half of our academic journey. Your unwavering support has been instrumental, and the elementary administration extends our heartfelt gratitude for your continued commitment to your child's education.
Please see below for a few highlights from the first half of the year:
Academic Growth: We are thrilled to report significant strides in our students' academic growth. Through dedicated efforts from both our talented educators and our students, we have witnessed commendable progress in various subjects. Your children's commitment to learning has truly shone through, and we are proud of their accomplishments.
Social-Emotional Learning: We also believe in nurturing not only the academic but also the social and emotional well-being of our students. Our comprehensive social-emotional learning programs have fostered a positive and supportive environment where students feel valued, respected, and equipped with essential life skills. Our school counselors, behavior interventionist and dean of students have been meeting with students weekly to address their social-emotional needs in order for them to be equipped with tools and strategies that make them successful.
Honors Ceremonies: We also have celebrated the outstanding achievements of students who made it to the Honor Roll. Additionally, our PRIDE Club members have showcased exemplary behavior and leadership qualities. These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication and character of our students.
Parent & Community Engagement: Our Family Fun Nights, including the Book Fair and Christmas Around the World, were resounding successes. It was heartening to see our school community come together for these events, fostering a sense of togetherness and joy.
Student Council: Our Student Council continues to be a vibrant hub of student leadership. Through their initiatives and collaborative efforts, they have played a pivotal role in enhancing the overall school experience.
As we reflect on these accomplishments, I want to emphasize the integral role parents play in their child's education. Your support, engagement, and open communication with our teachers have contributed significantly to the positive atmosphere at Steelton-Highspire Elementary School. We truly appreciate your partnership in creating a nurturing and enriching learning environment.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the school year, we are excited about the continued growth and success of our students. Let us continue to work hand in hand to provide the best educational experience for your children.
Thank you for being an essential part of the Roller family.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Armstead & Mrs. Thomas
Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences
It is that time of year to schedule our second round of parent-teacher conferences. Our winter conferences will be held on February 5th from 10:00 AM-6:00 PM and February 6th from 1:00-3:30 PM. In order to schedule your conference, please click the link listed below for easy access. You can also go to our school website to access the links as well.
The parent-teacher conference link will be open for sign-ups starting January 10th at 8:00 AM. Sign-ups are on a first come first serve basis when selecting a timeframe for conferences. Please schedule your conference as soon as possible! If you would prefer to meet via Zoom please reach out directly to your child's teacher to let them know, if not we will plan to meet with you face to face. Sign-ups will close on January 31st at 6:00 PM.
To sign up for a conference for an elementary student, please visit:
https://www.myconferencetime.com/shsdelementary/
To sign up for a conference for an Jr/Sr high school student, please visit:
https://www.myconferencetime.com/shsd
If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or the elementary main office at 717-704-3828 or the high school main office at 717-704-3809.
We look forward to seeing you all soon.
Steel-High Student Shines in The Little Mermaid Jr.
Steelton-Highspire Elementary student, Kiera Wanner, was one of 24 performers in the All in Theatre group’s winter musical, The Little Mermaid Jr, which took place on Saturday, January 13th. All in Theater is a fully inclusive community theater program for middle/ high school youth. The program is held at the Pollock Center, located in Camp Hill, PA, and welcomes all performers regardless of gender, identity, or abilities.
Mrs. Stephanie Radgoski, a special education teacher at the elementary school, is one of many educators who contribute their talents to help make the program a success. Radgoski joined the program shortly after it was founded in early 2023. She was the first certified special education teacher to support participants and over the past year has been involved with two classes and two productions.
Radgoski helps to make sure that all students are participating and assists with providing services and accommodations to those who need it. She even dresses up as characters and goes on stage if any performers need any extra help or encouragement. In addition, she has helped to fill in and lead classes and even painted sets for shows.
The show was attended by Kiera’s very own Roller fan club, including Steelton-Highspire elementary teachers Ms. Stadel and Ms. Merlo as well as Mrs. Andrea Merlo (an occupational therapist who supports students in our district).
Left to right: Mrs. Radgoski, Ms. Stadel, Kiera Wanner, Mrs. Merlo, Ms. Merlo
4th Graders Learn About Healthy Food Choices
Fourth grade students in Mrs. Howard, Ms. Toro and Ms. Goodburlet’s classes are participating in a nutrition program presented by the Penn State Extension office. Students will be engaged in six 30-minute lessons using the My Plate curriculum.
Each visit, the facilitator, Extension Assistant Kelly Stagliano, brings a recipe and ingredients for a free healthy treat for each student. At the completion of the program, students will receive a certificate and free water bottle.
Session topics include:
1st session- Pre-Survey and My Plate (Recipe-Crunch berry yogurt parfait)
2nd session-Healthy Meals (Recipe-Ants on a celery log with cream cheese)
3rd session- Snack of Champions (Recipe-Apple sandwiches with sun butter)
4th session-Measuring Up My Plate (Recipe-Trail mix treats)
5th session-Drinks-Added Sugars (Recipe-Mixed fruit salad)
6th session-Post Survey and Limiting Consumption of Solid Fats (Recipe-Crunchy veggie wraps)
To learn more about the Penn State Extension office and it’s programming, please visit: https://extension.psu.edu/
AP Class Visits Philadelphia
On Monday, January 22nd, Mr. Witek and Mr. Wise accompanied the AP Modern World History class on a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It was a great trip and the kids loved not just the world class art but the incredible building of the museum itself. Running up the Rocky steps and taking their pictures with the Rocky statue didn’t hurt either!
Theft At The Museum!
Students in Ms. Roedts' Intensive Algebra class worked together to discover who stole a famous painting from Le Musee de Mathematiques. They had 5 suspects to choose from and created a scatter plot and line of best fit to help them discover who most likely stole the painting. The students conducted an experiment and collected data. They measured how tall they were and then how far they could jump from a specific point. Then created a line of best fit using linear regression to see which suspect could have committed the crime. Students then wrote a report on their findings.
Kindergarten Shirt Fundraiser
The Kindergarten class is selling Loud & Proud Roller t-shirts to help raise funds for in-house assemblies and end-of-year events. Shirt order forms have been sent home with all elementary students. If interested in ordering, please complete a paper form or reach out to Mrs. Detz, kindergarten teacher at jdetz@shsd.k12.pa.us
Thank you for your support!
Elementary Counselor's Corner
Counselor for grades K-2: Mrs. Lopez, glopez@shsd.k12.pa.us
Counselor for grades 3-6: Mrs. Rash, jrash@shsd.k12.pa.us
Jr/Sr High School Counselor's Corner
Counselor for grades 7-9: Ms. Sunday, bsunday@shsd.k12.pa.us
Counselor for grades 10-12: Mrs. Albert, aalbert@shsd.k12.pa.us
College & Career Counselor K-12: Vacant
Guidance Administrative Assistant: Ms. Navickas, jnavickas@shsd.k12.pa.us
Please visit this link for information regarding upcoming SAT testing dates and registration instructions: https://www.shsd.k12.pa.us/Page/4845
Upcoming Events
- 2/1: Early Dismissal, teacher In-Service
- 2/5: No school for students, Parent-Teacher Conferences 10am-6pm
- 2/6: Early dismissal for students, Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 2/16: Early Dismissal - students and staff
- 2/19: Schools and offices closed - President's Day
ESS Substitute Employment Opportunities
District Employment Opportunities
Steelton, PA 17113
717-704-3800