WEEKLY REMINDERS

Please mark your calendars, the Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4 at 5pm. Additional details will be communicated over the next few weeks.

Any families in need of handicap seating and/or parking for the Commencement Ceremony please email Erin Hagarty at erin_hagarty@sdst.org by Friday, May 23.

The Festival of the Arts was a tremendous success and we are so proud of all of our artists and musicians. We’d like to sincerely thank Kristen Greenawalt, Nadia Koltsoon and Jen Silvius for all of their hard work preparing for this event and for presenting such an amazing display of work. Finally congratulations to the art award recipients.

Thank you to all who came out for our Spring Concert and had the opportunity to witness first-hand the work of our amazingly talented performers. A huge thank you to Amy Benton and Chuck Gottesman for their incredible efforts directing such a talented group of performers. Full program attached.

We want to make you aware of a dangerous trend currently circulating on TikTok that has unfortunately made its way into our schools. Several students have attempted inserting pencil lead or other conductive materials into Chromebook charging ports, USB slots and outlets in an effort to make the device smoke or short out.

This behavior is extremely dangerous. It poses a serious risk of injury, permanently damages the Chromebook, and could potentially start a fire. In addition to safety concerns, this type of damage voids the device warranty and leaves families financially responsible for repair or replacement. Students who intentionally damage district property, including technology devices, are also subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Conduct.

We are asking for your help. Please speak with your child about the seriousness of this issue. Let them know this is not a harmless prank—it’s a safety hazard with real and lasting consequences.

If you have any concerns or hear anything from your child related to this trend, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Together, we can help keep our students safe and protect valuable school resources.

Thank you for your support.

Dear Guardians, Teachers, and Students,

As we approach the end of the school year, we are preparing for the collection of all school-issued Chromebooks and chargers. Please carefully review the instructions below, which outline return procedures and important deadlines:

Seniors (Class of 2025)

Seniors are expected to return their Chromebooks and chargers to the High School Library between Tuesday, May 27th and Friday, May 30th.

• Seniors who do not have final exams may return their devices to the library the week prior.

• Important: Failure to return the Chromebook will result in being invoiced for the device and you may be denied the privilege to walk at graduation.

• If you have lost your Chromebook or charger the costs are below:

• Lost Chromebook: $100

• Lost Charger: $20

Underclassmen (Grades 9–11)

Underclassmen will return their Chromebooks and chargers to the Freeze Lobby after completing their final exams, between Monday, June 9th and Wednesday, June 11th.

• Important: Students who fail to return their devices during this time or do not return with the device and charger in the 2025-2026 school year will not receive a new Acer Spin Chromebook. Instead, they will be issued a replacement HP X360 model (Current Model) until your device is returned or payment has been received.

• If you have lost your Chromebook or charger the costs are below:

• Lost Chromebook: $100

• Lost Charger: $20

New Chromebooks & Handbook for 2025-2026 School Year

For the 2025-2026 school year, students will receive a new Acer Spin 512 Chromebook. Key features on these new devices include a 12" 3:2 touchscreen for better readability, military-grade durability, antimicrobial protection, and a battery life of up to 12 hours.

The current HP X360 Chromebooks will remain in service and be used as loaner devices for students and classrooms. Please note that the touch screens will be disabled to address ongoing issues with failing touch sensors.

At the start of the school year, we will also be sharing a Chromebook User Guide that will explain expectations for the care, use, and responsibility of district-issued Chromebooks. It covers device handling, acceptable use, digital safety, repair policies, and monitoring tools like Linewize and Classwize. The handbook also provides guidance for at-home use and includes resources to support families with digital learning.

Thank you for your cooperation in making this process smooth and successful.

Springfield Township High School will administer the Keystone Exams from May 13th through the 22nd. According to regulations set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), all students must take all three Keystone Exams, by the end of their 11th grade year, as one of the requirements for high school graduation in Pennsylvania. The Keystone exams are Pennsylvania’s end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the core subject areas of Algebra, Biology and Literature. These exams are based upon the Keystone Anchor Standards, which are embedded within the specified course. The Keystone exam can only be administered in-person. There are two modules to each test, and each module of the Keystone exam should take 1.00 to 1.50 hours to complete. Students will be supervised by an adult at all times. Guardians should have received information through the USPS notifying them if their student needed to take one or more exams. Please contact Dr. Zgraggen with any questions (scott_zgraggen@sdst.org)

The schedule for all STHS students will be as follows:

May 19th (Make-Ups): A Block, B Block, L & L, C Block, D Block (Testing for select students A and B Blocks)

May 21st (Biology): A Block, B Block, L & L, C Block, D Block (Testing for select students A and B Blocks)

May 22nd (Biology): B Block, A Block, L & L, C Block, D Block (Testing for select students B and A Blocks)

May 23rd (Make-Ups): A Block, B Block, L & L, C Block, D Block (Testing for select students A and B Blocks)

You can help your student prepare for this required and important exam. Ensure your student recognizes its importance as a graduation requirement and by speaking with your student about his or her performance in Algebra, Biology, and/or Literature course(s). In addition, please make sure your child arrives on time on the test day with a FULLY CHARGED CHROMEBOOK; having had a healthy breakfast and a good night’s sleep. In addition, CELL PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED in the testing location so please encourage your child to lock up their phones in a safe spot (otherwise they will have to surrender their phone to the test proctors).

During the coming months, Dr. Zgraggen will be building the master schedule for the staff and students. This master schedule will be refined throughout the coming months. All students should receive their schedules by mid-August.

Contact Dr. Zgraggen at scott_zgraggen@sdst.org if you have any questions.

PRE-APPROVAL FOR EDUCATIONAL TRIP/TOUR ABSENCE

Given the educational value of trips and tours, the Principal(s) may excuse absences from school for educational travel. Please complete one form per family and submit to your building principal at least 14 days before your planned educational trip/tour. Students are responsible for requesting and making up any assignments for the period of absence. In addition, trips and/or tours lasting longer than 3 school days also require the completion of an Educational Learning Product. An example would be a college visit, an athletic club competition, educational family vacation etc. Please see the link below for the Educational Trip Absence Request and the Educational Learning Product requirements. Reach out to Mrs, Rae, margaret_rae@sdst.org with any questions.

Please note that there has been a change made to the 2024-2025 school calendar. District Schools will now be OPEN for students on April 22, 2025 for a full school day and schools will now be CLOSED for students on May 20, 2025. May 20, 2024 will be a staff development day.

Please see the attached revised calendar..

As we continue to foster a positive and supportive environment here at STHS, I’m reaching out with an exciting new initiative aimed at celebrating the incredible accomplishments happening within our school community.

From academic achievements to extracurricular successes and everything in between, we know that many of our students, staff, and families are making remarkable strides both in school and beyond. However, we don’t always get the chance to highlight these moments and share them with the broader community.

That’s why we are launching a new effort to gather and share these accomplishments. Whether it’s a student earning an award, a teacher leading a new project, or a club making a difference in the community, we want to celebrate and showcase these stories!

How to Participate:

• If you, your student, or your organization has an accomplishment you'd like to share, please submit a brief description of the achievement, along with any photos or videos on the Google Form.

• Accomplishments can include academic milestones, athletic achievements, artistic endeavors, community service projects, or any other noteworthy successes.

• We will compile these submissions and periodically share them through our school website and newsletters to ensure that everyone in our school family can join in the celebration.

By highlighting these moments, we hope to inspire others, build pride in our school community, and create a culture where success is shared and recognized.

Thank you for being a part of this special initiative. We can’t wait to see and celebrate all the amazing things happening in our Springfield Township High School Family!

The Office of Support Services is pleased to present our quarterly newsletter filled with resources for families and information about school programs.

The School District of Springfield Township provides a quarterly newsletter to update families and the community on our Equity Action Plan. The newsletter contains information about district actions, updates on goal progress, educational information, books to read with your child.

We have a limited number of Class of 2025 Graduation Yard Signs available for purchase for $15 per sign. They are 18"x24" corrugated plastic and come with a stand. To purchase, please email tami_spoll@sdst.org.

Attention Class of 2025 Seniors and Parents! If you would like to order the Class of 2025 Senior Class Group Panoramic Photo, please call Lifetouch Studios customer care line at 1-800-736-4753 to order the image. Each studio print is $19/ea for a 10"x30" color print. This is a great way to remember this wonderful class.

Underclassmen/Community Sales:

1. Go to www.balfour.com
2. Go to "Yearbooks" tab.
3. Go to "Buy Your Yearbook".
4. Type in "Springfield Township High School".
5. Type in your student's information.

6. There is a selection of yearbook packages for purchase. Choose the one you would like and go to checkout.

7. This will be available for purchase until May 31, 2025.

Thank you!

We are delighted to announce one again our Spartan Job Board. If you have a business that is seeking student employment or simply need some help around or outside the house (leaf raking, babysitting, etc. ) we have created an internal job board to post applications. All you need to do is contact del_levin@sdst.org. Mr. Levin will then send you a form for you to fill out which will be posted on our job board. Any students who are interested will reach out to you directly from the form.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, MPA invites adults to join them for a FREE mindfulness event on Saturday, May 17th at 11am at the Springfield Middle School Tennis Courts. See the attached flyer for more details. Please register for the event here.

Join the Montgomery County community as they walk for Mental Health Awareness on May 17th at 9am. This is a kid and pet friendly event!

Montgomery County's Annual Children’s MH Awareness Day at Elmwood Zoo

Sunday, June 1st

10am-12:00pm

Resources tables, Crafts, and Family Fun!

Register HERE

Please update your college decisions in Naviance.

All students who took the PreACT in March will receive a score report in homeroom the week of April 28th. They should reach out to their counselor with any questions.

Sat. May 17, 2025, 11:00AM- 5:00PM, 5201 Parkside Ave., Phila., 19131

Join the Mann Center for an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) event on Saturday May 17th from 11 AM - 5 PM! The event includes a college and career fair, food trucks and live performances. Register here!

Main Line Regional College Fair Wednesday, May 21st; 6:00-8:30 PM, Villanova University; Radnor, PA

All are welcome to attend! Please register for a barcode at www.StriveFair.com.
Show your barcode to colleges who will scan it to send you more information about their schools. The day after the fair, you will receive a report with information about each college with whom you scanned. All PACAC College Fairs are free of charge to students, families and counselors.

Admissions informational briefing on the cadet experience and application process for West Point, 7-9pm on Thursday, May 21st, 2025, Archbishop Ryan High School, 11201 Academy Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19154 RSVP here

All students who want to be considered for Financial Aid for college and post secondary education programs should complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA application. FAFSA

Seniors and parents/guardians can find the slides from the Financial Aid Night below.Financial Aid Night 9/24 Slides

Counselors are available to help Seniors with their college applications. Please review the Senior application reminders for help with frequently asked questions.Senior Application Reminders 2024-2025

Fee waivers for SATs and ACTs and applications are available for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. College Board fee waivers for the SAT can be requested in your College Board account. See your counselor for assistance.

Scholarships and scholarship search sites can be found on Naviance, under the College tab under Scholarship Search.

The Athletic Department is hosting opportunities for ImPact Testing for student-athletes that need an updated baseline test! ImPact Testing is a computer based test that we use to gather cognitive baseline information on every student-athlete. This information is used as a comparative tool if a student-athlete is suspected of having sustained a concussion. We require all incoming freshmen and new athletes to complete the baseline test, and we require retesting every two years. Athletes that do not have an updated ImPact baseline will not be permitted to participate until it has been completed.

If you would like to schedule an impact test, please email Mr. Raffa. Impact testing will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. The testing windows will be as follows:

• July 22 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

• July 23 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

• July 24 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

• July 28 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

• July 29 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

• July 30 - 10:00am - 12:00pm