East Pennsboro Area High School
MONTHLY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - April/May 2024
Where we aim to know each student by name, face, and personal story.
Message from Dr. Bianchi, Principal
Greetings,
The month of May at EPAHS, as it is in any high school, will feel like a sprint to the finish line. Spring sports enter their playoff seasons. Music concerts showcase our students’ vocal and instrumental abilities. Banquets, recognitions, and performances fill the calendar, and the weather makes us eagerly anticipate summertime activities. A number of cumulative exams occur this month, as well, with Advanced Placement, Keystone, and Final Exams happening throughout the month. There is more information below on our schedule. Finally, our teachers are available in an after-school support program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2:30-4:00 all month.
Our capstone moment will occur on May 31st at 6pm in our stadium when nearly 200 members of the Class of 2024 will receive their diplomas at Commencement. While it is important to finish strong and work hard to cement achievements, we must also slow down and take in the moments that will last a lifetime – especially for our seniors. There was a class meeting today to go over graduation plans. On Monday, we will publish all relevant information on our high school’s website and send a notice via Blackboard with more information. While it is an awesome time for seniors and their families, it can also be a stressful time coordinating events, times, people, and places. As such, I will do my best to clarify our plans in a screencast and offer a way to ask questions so that we can reply with clarification. As this is our students’ crowning achievement, we want to work with you to ensure it runs smoothly.
Best wishes,
Dr. Bianchi
May Schedules (AP Testing, Keystones, Finals, Graduation)
EPAHS Teacher Appreciation Week 5/6-5/10
Greetings,
Teacher Appreciation Week is next week, the week of May 6. We are looking for ways to honor our teachers at EPAHS. We have a fantastic faculty. Our Superintendent, Dr. Robinson, meets with each member of the graduating class, and one common thread throughout conversations with students is that they appreciate their teachers.
If you would like to make a gesture of appreciation, please consider contributing a food item for our luncheon potluck on Wednesday, May 8. Faculty lunches are roughly 11:30-12 or 12:20-12:50. You or your student may drop the item off at the beginning of the day or right before lunchtime. Please ensure your name is on an item you need returned.
Food Sign-Up Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AABAF29ABF8C61-49465947-teacher#/
If you have flexibility in your day and would like to be present to assist with serving, please reach out to Dr. Bianchi at tbianchi@epasd.org.
Thanks so much for your support of our faculty and our school.
Regards,
EPAHS Administration
After-School Support
Dear Panther Families and Students,
After-School Support
We would like to invite our students to engage in an end-of-year after-school support aimed at boosting achievement in their classes.
Starting on April 30 and running through May 23, these support sessions will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2:35-4:05 in our LGI room.
Students will have the opportunity to engage in academic support with our faculty at these sessions. We encourage any students in need of some extra support to attend as many as possible. An afternoon activity bus will leave at 3:15 each day. After 3:15, students must provide their own transportation.
Let’s finish this year strong and elevate our academic achievement. Please contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Mr. Peck
Assistant Principal
IMPORTANT CALENDAR UPDATES!
- 5/6: AP Exams Begin
- 5/10: Keystone Pep Rally
- 5/13: Keystone Testing Window Opens, MS & HS
- 5/21: CPACTC Awards Night Ceremony, 6:30 PM
- 5/22: Senior Awards Night, 6:00 PM
- 5/27: All Schools & Offices Closed, Memorial Day
- 5/31: Last Student Day
- 5/31: End of the 4th Marking Period (HS & MS)
- 5/31: Graduation, 6:00 PM
CTC Upcoming School Schedule
- 5/21: CPACTC Awards Night Ceremony, 6:30 PM
See this link for more information on CTC scheduling:
https://www.cpatech.org/events?start_date=2024-03-01&end_date=2024-03-31
STEM Summit Information
Our high school was excited to host the Junior Achievement STEM Summit on Tuesday, April 9th! All of our 9th grade students participated alongside students from Greenwood High School. The incredible Junior Achievement staff and volunteers provided a fun, educational day filled with learning about different careers in STEM from industry professionals. Thank you to our high school staff, especially Assistant Principal Dan Peck, for putting together this fantastic day for our students!
East Pennsboro's Inaugural District Art Show
District Art Show (EPAHS Students)
Thank you to our incredible art teachers across the district for your hard work putting together the Inaugural East Pennsboro Area School District Art Show! Our teachers expertly displayed student work from each building in the district and oversaw voting from our community. Congratulations to all of our winners!
Best in Show
High School
Aubrey Carter (2D Art)
Veronica White (3D Art)
Honorable Mentions
High School
Tyler Dilley, Anthony Avakian, Arianna Deasy, Zoey Lesher, Hailey Marshall, Alexandria Metallo
High School Best in Show (2D)
Aubrey Carter
High School Best in Show (3D)
Veronica White
Course Selection Information
Course Selection Presentation
We will be holding meetings during Advisory for students interested in learning more about scheduling, career, and college opportunities.
See the Course Selection Night presentation by clicking the link below:
Course Selection Video's
Morning Drop-off
We are experiencing increased traffic on campus between 7:20 and 7:30 am. If you are dropping off, please pull to the furthest point possible in your lane before dropping students off in order to alleviate a backlog. This map depicts the current drop-off route. We are considering other options and will post them in our monthly newsletter Friday. From 7:00-7:20, traffic remains relatively light.
Student Spotlight
National Technical Honor Society
Congratulations to Justice Knaub for being inducted into the CTC National Technical Honor Society.
We are Panther Proud
Students of the Month
At the Mechanicsburg-North Rotary meeting on Thursday, April 11th, two East Pennsboro Area High School students were honored as Students of the Month. Congratulations to students Josh Angelo and Kenza Guerch! Both students had the opportunity to speak at the Rotary meeting, talking about their accomplishments, interests, and future plans. Thank you to the Mechanicsburg-North Rotary Club for recognizing our students!
Annual South Central PA Highway Safety Competition
On 5/1 Seniors Paul Sanderson, Nariah Fry, and Josh Angelo (Pictured Left to Right) represented East Pennsboro at the annual South Central PA Highway Safety competition. Activities included a written test, skills course, perception test, and guest speakers focused on safe driving habits. Josh was awarded $50 as the highest scoring representative from our team, and we are proud of how they all represented our district!
Prom 2024
We are so excited for our high school students to attend prom this weekend! Congratulations to our 2024 Prom Court! From left to right: Ryshaun Johnson, Lucy Anglin, Masroor Ahmed, Makayla Carchidi, Giovanni Esposito, Isabella Brady, Megan Krise, Andrew Namatka, Teagan Maine, Connor Walk, Kimberly Aspuria, and Sabin Subba.
We hope everyone has a fun & safe time!
Envirothon
Our school brought 3 teams to compete at this year’s Envirothon! They worked together in 5 stations to test their knowledge of soil, forestry, wildlife, aquatics & current issues. Our Oopsy Daisy team comprised of Lucy Anglin, Julia Dierwechter, Paige Mattucci, Natalie Sanders, & Marwa Sbai
placed 3rd in Forestry.
CPACTC Student Recognition
We recognized our Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center Students of the Quarter at Thursday's meeting. Congratulations to the following students:
Lexis Hamilton, Healthcare Pathways A&P/Medical Terminology
Jasleyna Jimenez, Government and Civics
Adam Spishock, Logistics and Warehouse Management 1
Ryleigh Wasser, Healthcare Pathways Office Procedures
Sara Zourgani, Healthcare Pathways A&P/Medical Terminology
We are Panther Proud of all of these wonderful students! Congratulations!
Student Recognition at School Board Meeting
Seniors Keith Oates and Libby Perella-Carvalhaes have served as our School Board Student Representatives for the past two years. Once a month, they have attended School Board meetings to report on student athletics and activities to our community. We are so thankful for their service to East Pennsboro Area School District the past two years, and wish them the very best as they continue on their educational journey following graduation!
We are Panther Proud of all of these wonderful students! Congratulations!
Drama Club are sponsoring an “East Pennsboro Schools Day” at FCB Field,
The Harrisburg Senators and the high school Drama Club are sponsoring an “East Pennsboro Schools Day” at FCB Field, home of the Harrisburg Senators, on Sunday, May 5 at 1:00 pm.
Tickets are $15 and a portion of the proceeds will defray the costs of the fall high school drama production. There is a dedicated website set up to order tickets. It can be found here: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Eastpennsboro8
Curriculum Corner
Senior Mock Interviews
On Wednesday, April 17th, our senior students had the opportunity to participate in Mock Interviews. This annual tradition brings together our local business leaders and community members to work with our students to develop important resume building and interview skills. Thank you to all of our community volunteers who generously donated their time and expertise to work with our seniors! Thank you to our high school counseling office and all of our staff members who worked to make this event a success!
Creative Writing - YoungWriters
Congratulations to the Creative Writing students who recently had their writing accepted for publication by YoungWriters. YoungWriters will be publishing their work, alongside other winners from all across the country in a book, The Glitch - American Adventures. Students wrote 100-word stories as a class assignment and then participated in multiple revision activities before sending in their work for evaluation.
We are proud of the following students' hard work, creativity, and accomplishment:
La'Rees Brooks, Zean Alano, Ja'Lynn Banks, Gabrielle Manuel, Jailyn Champ, Cherish Dwyer, Nalyssa Nerat, Jerry Hall, Nathan Bio, Ella Lipschutz, Kylie Roland, Dhwani Vachhani, and Milo Shoemaker.
Language Honors Society Inductions
On Wednesday, April 24th, fourteen of our high school foreign language students were inducted into foreign language honors societies. Ms. Pamela Kulp inducted French students Anthony Avakian, Arlo Cline, Nariah Fry, Jack Hoover, Aidan Miller, Jasmina Nicholson, Paul Sanderson, and Morgan Stellfox into the La Societe Honoraire de Francais. Mr. Mark Rice inducted Spanish students Abigail Crozier, Olivia Crozier, Lily Estright, Jason Gossard, Ava Love, and Calvin Tran into the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica.
Thank you to all of our foreign language teachers for your guidance and support of our students! Congratulations to all of our students inducted into these prestigious honors societies!
EPAHS LMLC
Hello students! My name is Mrs. Sanders and I am your high school's LMLC librarian. I wanted to inform everyone about the resources we have available to you both physically and digitally. Attached you will find two flyers, one highlighting our most valuable resources and another one highlighting one specific digital resource called PowerLibrary. Throughout the year, I will be sharing an informational online flyer spotlighting certain digital resources for both students and staff to discover and hopefully inquire the LMLC how to utilize.
The LMLC does have a new website, developed last year, housing all your research needs. Digital resources that will be highlighted can be found through the LMLC Resources webpage. My hope is for everyone to check out the website and see the vast array of both physical and online opportunities the LMLC provides. You can find the LMLC website through Clever (see the attached picture to locate).
At the LMLC, both the wonderful Mrs. Boston and myself live by our mission: "EMBRACE CURIOSITY – READ BOOKS – BE HAPPY!". We strive to provide a space that helps students embrace curiosity, want to read more books thus learn new information, and just overall feel happy meaning less stressed. We hope you come down to visit us because we are a really cool place to use. We even have a free coffee/hot chocolate bar (must bring your own drink cup though). If you have any questions or just want to visit, please come visit us sooner rather than later :-).
GO EP PANTHERS!!!
Mrs. Sanders
Info.Tech.for Bus.Ed.
EPAHS Librarian
East Pennsboro Area School District
Counselor Corner
Career & Technical Center
Dave Payne, a school counselor from Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center (CPACTC), visited the high school on Thursday, October 5th to share information about their programs to our 9th grade students. Students who are interested in attending CPACTC next school year should aim to turn in their application by the first-round deadline of December 22nd.
Here are some upcoming nights hosted by CPACTC:
- November 1st: Career Exploration Night for Arts & Technology, Health Sciences, Human Services & Hospitality
- November 2nd: Career Exploration Night for Advanced Manufacturing, Construction & Maintenance, Transportation & Logistics
Financial Aid Night
Diona Brown, a representative from Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), visited East Pennsboro Area High School on Wednesday, October 11th for our Financial Aid Night to present information to students and families.
If you couldn't make it, click the link to her presentation below:
PA Area Health Education Centers: Virtual Career Awareness Program
For any student interested in health careers, the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Centers is providing a virtual health careers awareness program. The program is completely free and a good opportunity to explore possible careers. Please see the attached flyer for more information on deadlines and schedule of events for February 2024:
Children's Grief Awareness Day
PA Youth Advisory Council Application
The PA Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is currently accepting applications! YAC gives teens a voice to make a difference in health policy and programming that affects them and their peers. Teens will join the YAC for two years to provide feedback on youth-related healthcare, practices and policies impacting youth across PA. By participating in YAC, teens will gain real-world experience collaborating with the Department of Health and other youth-serving agencies, add skills and volunteer experience to their resume, and receive a certificate of participation for college and job applications. The online application (due November 3rd, 2023) and more information can be accessed through the attached flyer and application:
Shippensburg University Instant Decision Day
On November 8th, a college admissions representative from Shippensburg University will be visiting East Pennsboro Area High School for an "Instant Decision Day". That means you will have the opportunity to meet with the college admissions representative for a 10-minute session to review your application and be notified of your admittance THE SAME DAY! No waiting!!
The benefits of an Instant Decision Day:
- No waiting for your acceptance letter!
- This is non-binding, meaning you do not have to attend Shippensburg, even if you are accepted
- You will have the opportunity to discuss your application and make your case about why you should be accepted to their school
- You will have the chance to ask them questions about their school
Here is what you will need to be prepared for your Instant Decision Day:
- A completed online application to Shippensburg a few days in advance
- A copy of your high school transcript on November 8th
- Dress appropriately for an important (but brief!) interview on the 8th
To sign up for this Instant Decision Day, please complete this Google Form by TUESDAY, Oct 31st:
Notes from our Nurse
For Attendance in 12th Grade: 1 dose of MCV (Meningococcal) on the first day of 12th grade. If one dose was given at 16 years of age or older, that shall count as the twelfth-grade dose. The student will be excluded on August 30th without evidence of vaccination.
Letters have been sent out if your student is missing their twelfth-grade dose. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 717-287-8764 or bhawk@epasd.org.
Illnesses: If you are sick, stay home. You may be sent home if you show signs of a sore throat, headache, stomachache, or cough.
Medication Policy: If you need medications during the day, you will need to provide a doctor’s note stating that you need the medication during school hours. The medications should be brought In by an adult/guardian in the pharmacy-labeled container. Empty containers may be sent home with the students, but the refills will need to be brought in by the parent/guardian.
Attendance Information
Parents/Guardians - Please remember you have the option to submit absence notes, doctor, tardy, early dismissal, and educational trip forms to our high school attendance mailbox at ephsattendance@epasd.org
EPASD Attendance Procedures
EPAHS accepts attendance notifications (excuse cards, absence notes, etc.) via email. Parents can email ephsattendance@epasd.org as a means of reporting your child’s absence. Paper notes will still be accepted as well. A reminder that all excuse notifications are required to be submitted within three school days of your child’s absences.
Excused Absences:
When a child is enrolled in the district’s educational program, the student is subject to the
Pennsylvania State Attendance Laws. The Board considers the following conditions to constitute an excused absence from school:
1. Illness
2. Quarantine
3. Student required court attendance
4. Prearranged doctor and dentist appointment for the time of appointment and appropriate travel time only
5. Authorized school activities
6. Pre-approved educational tours and trips, not school-sponsored
7. Other urgent reasons, including funerals, that apply to the child and approved by the building administrator
Parents/guardians are expected to telephone the school when students are absent for any reason. In addition, a written excuse from a parent/guardian is required for each absence.
Unexcused Absences:
An unexcused absence shall be defined as:
• Absence from school with parent/guardian consent for reasons other than those considered
excusable.
• Leaving school during school hours without permission from the administrator.
• Absence from school without knowledge/permission of parent/guardian (truancy).
• Absence from school without knowledge/permission of school authorities.
• Absences from school without written parental excuse submitted within 3 school days of the absence.
Please refer to the Student Handbook to review more specific information about our attendance policies. Contact our school office if you have any questions about our attendance policies or procedures.
Automated Absence Alert:
The Automated Absence Alert system was implemented to inform parents when their students are absent from school. If/when your student is absent or does not report to their classroom they are recorded as absent. When the daily attendance is submitted electronically, an automated message will be sent to a phone identified by the parent/guardian. This call will normally occur by approximately 10:00 am. Should you have questions or concerns you may contact the attendance secretary by calling: East Pennsboro Area High School (EPAHS), at (717) 732-0723.
2023-2024 School Year Calendar
Click the link below for the 2023-2024 School Year Calendar:
https://www.epasd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2166191&type=d&pREC_ID=2198708
Create a Sapphire Parent Portal!
Please create a Sapphire Parent Portal account. There are several benefits to creating a parent portal account:
- You can access your child's report cards when they are published
- You can keep track of your child's attendance
- You will be able to receive important notifications about your child
To create a parent portal account:
- Go to our website www.epasd.org
- Hover over the "Students" tab
- Click "Sapphire Community Web Portal"
- Click "Create a Web Portal Account"
- Follow the remaining on-screen instructions to enter your information.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Suzette at sdavis@epasd.org. She would be happy to help!
Athletics
Athletic & Activity Highlights
College Announcement & Signing
Our district held our final college announcement and signing ceremony of the school year on Wednesday, April 24th. We were proud to recognize five of our senior student athletes:
Joshua Angelo, Football, Susquehanna University
Aryah Wiest, Soccer, Shenandoah University
Jessalyn Welsh, Track & Field and Cross Country, West Chester University
Andrew Namatka, Track & Field and Cross Country, Lebanon Valley College
Paul Sanderson, Wrestling, Elizabethtown College
Congratulations to our student athletes! We are Panther Proud!
High School Band & Chorus Concert & Spring Art Gala
On Wednesday, May 1st, our high school students and staff presented a fantastic evening of music and the arts! Our students in the high school band, chorus, and music ensembles shined on stage, and our visual arts students showcased their masterpieces. Thank you to all of our wonderful teachers for guiding and supporting our students, especially Mr. Mansilla, Mr. Lidle, and Ms. Schaffer. Congratulations to all of our students!
Events
EPAHS General Information
Parent's Guide to Google Classroom
Click the link for a parent-friendly guide to navigating your student's Google Classroom.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GSel8xwNYfbQhodBdogt9RC_TZpolTXb2TlZLQKwb_0/edit?usp=sharing
Device Insurance Fees
Did you know that in addition to accessing your student’s lunch account, you can also pay fees through MySchoolBucks?
If you have a newly enrolled student in grades 6-12, an invoice will be created for the initial device insurance fee. Please check your student’s account on MySchoolBucks.com. Please select School Store, then School Invoices to view all device invoices.
If your student has needed their device repaired, the insurance fee will cover the cost to repair the device. A new insurance fee will be applied to cover the cost of future incidents. Full details and payment information are available in our District’s 1:1 Device Guide. (epasd.org - parents & guardians - EPASD 1:1 Device Information - EPASD 1:1 Device Guide) To check your student’s account, please go to MySchoolBucks.com, select School Store, and then School Invoices to view all device invoices.
Payments can be mailed to the Administration Center: EPASD — Business Office, 890 Panther Parkway, Enola PA 17025. Please include the student number on the check.
Tutoring Resources
East Pennsboro Area High School
Email: tbianchi@epasd.org
Website: https://www.epasd.org/east-pennsboro-area-high-school/
Location: 425 West Shady Lane, Enola, PA, USA
Phone: 717-732-0723
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastPennsboroAreaHigh/