What's Up Whitehall?
April 2024
Staff Member Spotlight
Yarah Kinani, 7th Grade Math Teacher, Whitehall-Coplay Middle School
What are your favorite hobbies?
Road trips and spending time with family
What do you love about the Whitehall-Coplay School District?
I love WCSD because I am surrounded by a special group of people that are very supportive.
What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
Be confident of who you are especially when you don’t fit in.
Amy Dorward, 5th Grade ELA Teacher, Zephyr Elementary
What are your favorite hobbies?
I love to read, go to auctions, travel, and take care of my flower gardens in the summer.
What do you love about the Whitehall-Coplay School District?
I LOVE that Whitehall Coplay is on one campus. The convenience and close proximity allows us to collaborate between grade levels and buildings. I also love the people that I work with. Teaching is a team sport and I love that I work with people who truly care about the children whom we shepherd each year.
What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
Probably the same advice I give my kids, choose kind in your words and actions always and never look down on another unless you are helping them up.
Kyle Lara, Class of 2000
What was your path after High School?
Lock Haven University
What fills your time now - both personally and professionally?
My two children who also attend Whitehall, my husband of 13 years, and our three dogs. I work full time for as a contractor for PPL and part time for Chick-fil-A Whitehall as the Social Media Director.
How did your experience at Whitehall guide you in your future pursuits?
Continuing to be a part of the Whitehall community has kept doors open as my children grow and we reunite with people we used to go to school with as their children are going through Whitehall now. It's great to see familiar faces and their lovely families.
What is your favorite Whitehall memory?
Being a cheerleader for Whitehall football and basketball and competing in competitions, bringing home a few trophies. My favorite memory was when we would all meet at McDonalds after the games.
Who is one staff member that made a lasting impact on you during your time at Whitehall?
Definitely Mr. Bob Hartman! Mr. Hartman and I still run into each other time to time at sporting events and he has always been a great support for students. He was my Social Studies teacher at the time and though I wasn't the smartest kid in the class he always did everything he could to help his students succeed. I'm grateful for the way he showed up for his students.
What advice do you have for our current students?
Kindness will always be the answer. If you can be anything, be kind.
Updated 2023-2024 School Calendar
During the March School Board meeting, the Board of School Directors approved a revised 23/24 school year calendar. The last day for students in grades 1 through 11 will be Wednesday, June 5th. The last day for Kindergarten will be Tuesday, June 4th, and the last day for seniors will be Monday, June 3rd. For more calendar information, please visit www.whitehallcoplay.org/calendar.
All are Invited to Say Goodbye to the "Old" Gockley Elementary
As you may already know, the new Gockley Elementary School is almost ready and will open its doors before the next school year starts.
Curious to see the old Gockley before it transforms into something new? You're invited to a special community open house hosted by the Whitehall-Coplay School District on April 24th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Take this unique opportunity to stroll through the halls one last time and reminisce about the memories made there.
Whitehall-Coplay School District Family Night 2024
You're Invited
The 2024 Whitehall-Coplay School District Family Night will be held on April 17th, 2024 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at Whitehall High School.
Family Night is a celebration of our community and its cultural diversity. It is a great opportunity for our families and community members to gather, learn and play together.
For more information CLICK HERE to visit the Family Night Website.
Family Night - Student Performers
Get ready to shine on stage at our upcoming Family Night on April 17, 2024, at Whitehall High School! We're on the lookout for the incredible talents that make our student body so unique, and we want YOU to be a part of the spotlight!
If you've got a talent you're itching to share – whether it's singing, dancing, playing an instrument, magic tricks, or any other amazing skill – this is your chance to showcase it to the entire school community.
Interested? Simply let us know by filling out the Google Form linked below and express your interest in performing.
If you are selected to perform, you will be contacted shortly after completing the form.
All submissions must be received prior to April 1, 2024.
Dates to Know: April 2024
Please see below for a list of upcoming school events for February 2024!
- 4/4 - Third Marking Period Ends
- 4/5 - Fourth Marking Period Begins
- 4/17 - WCSD Family Night
Youth Law Enforcement Academy
SAVE THE DATE!
The Whitehall Township Police Department will be hosting its third annual Youth Law Enforcement Academy. The academy will be available to Whitehall students OR students who reside in Whitehall and are currently in the 5th and 6th grade. The academy will run Monday through Friday, June 24th-28th from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Whitehall Township Police Department and the Whitehall Coplay School District. Registration is limited to 32 participants. The academy is FREE with lunch provided daily. No transportation will be provided. The academy will include:
- Crime scene processing
- Canine/ M.E.R.T. Demonstrations
- The Criminal Justice system
- Presentations from other Law Enforcement Agencies
- And much more!!
Registration begins on March 8th at 4pm. Registration details can be found on the Whitehall
Police Facebook page, Officer Christman’s Twitter page @SRO_Christman. Additionally, parents
of WCSD 5th and 6th graders will be emailed a flier with a link and QR code.
Please contact Officer Matthew Christman at christmanm@whitehallcoplay.org or Officer Quadir Carter at carterq@whitehallcoplay.org with any questions.
Attention WHS Class of 1974 Alumni
Please complete the attached link to register or call the Whitehall High School Main Office at 610-437-5081.
Is your Organization Looking for Community Service Volunteers?
Please share! Is your organization looking for student volunteers? Connect with our WHS Community Service Program to have our Zephyrs join you in serving the community! Contact us at WHS 610-437-5081, message us, or contact our Mrs. Maamari at maamarir@whitehallcoplay.org.
Lehigh Career & Technical Institute Newsletter
Did you know that Lehigh Career & Technical Institute shares a monthly newsletter highlighting its programs and offerings? Check it out - https://bit.ly/lctinews
Welcome to our Team!
Whitehall-Coplay School District would like to recognize the following personnel appointed at the recent School Board Meetings. Congratulations on your new role!
Emalyne Cowell, Paraeducator at Steckel Elementary School
Maria Lambridis, Paraeducator at Gockley Elementary School
Abby Smith, Science Teacher at Whitehall High School
Damelia Tayburn, Paraeducator at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School,
Baseball
Coach Schmitt's baseball club is off to a 1-1 start with a 10 run rule victory over Central Catholic followed by the same type of defeat to Liberty. The team will have 6 games over the next 2 weeks, starting with Parkland on the road tomorrow, and followed up with Stroudsburg (H), Tri-Valley (A), Bethlehem Catholic and Allen at home, and Freedom on the road.
JH Baseball (home games at Sammy Balliet Stadium)
Boys Basketball
Softball
The softball team is off to a 2-1 start with a win over Carolina Forest in Myrtle Beach, then a home opening win over Central Catholic. The team then dropped its next game to Liberty on Thursday. The team was rained out vs. Hazleton on Saturday. The next two weeks features a road game at Parkland following by 3 home games vs. Stroudsburg, Bethlehem Catholic, and Allen.
Swimming
Seniors Aaron Stinner and Ian Thomas both competed in the PIAA Championships at Bucknell. Stinner was seeded 17th in the 200 yard Freestyle and 12th in the 500 yard Freestyle. He finished his career in both events by placing 20th and 21st. Thomas placed 6th in the 50 yard Freestyle and made the consolation final in the 100 yard Freestyle. Both seniors had outstanding careers.
Boys Tennis
Our boys tennis team currently sits with a record of 1-4 after playing some very good teams in very difficult conditions. The team will have 6 matches over the next 2 weeks with home matches vs. Pleasant Valley, Easton and Becahi. They go on the road for matches with Stroudsburg, Bangor, and PM West.
Track and Field
Our track and field teams got off to a great start in miserable conditions with a sweep of both the Bethlehem Catholic boys and girls teams. We had solid performances in many events, including a 180 foot javelin throw by Junior Tom Lloyd. The teams next 3 meets are on the road at Easton, Emmaus, and Freedom. Performances should heat up as the weather does.
Boys Volleyball
Coach Cowitch's squad rebounded from 2 tough season opening losses to Emmaus and Liberty with good performance at the Hempfield Joust tournament this past Saturday. Over the next 2 weeks the team takes on Bethlehem Catholic at home tonight, then Southern Lehigh on the road, followed by Freedom at home, Notre Dame at home, then on the road for the prestigious Northeastern Bobcat Invitational.
MS Soccer
Alumni in the News
Now juniors at Moravian University, softball players from the Class of '21, Lindsey Gawrys and Madison Cunningham continue to excel for the Greyhounds. Gawrys recently went over 100 career hits and Cunningham continues to lead from the mound. Moravian is ranked in the top 20 in the country.
WCSD Job Opportunities
- Special Education Teacher- Emotional Support Elementary
- English Language Arts- Middle Level [2024/2025 School Year]
- Secretary to the Department of Special Education [Full-time, Level II]
- Cafeteria Monitor- Steckel Elementary School
- Summer Maintenance Positions [Multiple positions]