Lebanon School District

This monthly communication is intended for our Lebanon School District families.

If you need a translated version of our newsletter, open the online version by clicking the "view in browser" link provided at the top of the email. Scroll to the top of the newsletter, and select the translate option to view the newsletter in any language.

i necesita una versión traducida de nuestro boletín, abra la versión en línea haciendo clic en el enlace "ver en el navegador" que se encuentra en la parte superior del correo electrónico. Desplácese hasta la parte superior del boletín y seleccione la opción de traducción para verlo en cualquier idioma.

إذا كنت بحاجة إلى نسخة مترجمة من نشرتنا الإخبارية، افتح النسخة الإلكترونية من خلال النقر على رابط "عرض في المتصفح" الموجود في أعلى الرسالة الإخبارية. مرر إلى أعلى النشرة الإخبارية، وحدد خيار الترجمة لعرض النشرة الإخبارية بأي لغة.

Dear Cedar Families,

As we welcome 2025, we want to extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy and healthy new year. We are grateful for your partnership and support as we work together to inspire minds, enrich lives, and shape the futures of our students.

The new year brings fresh opportunities for growth, learning, and success. We are excited to continue collaborating with you to ensure that every student thrives both in and out of the classroom.

Here’s to a wonderful 2025 filled with hope, achievement, and meaningful connections.

With Cedar Pride,

Nicole L. Malinoski, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

The Lebanon School District Schools will be closed Monday, December 23, 2024, through Friday, January 3, 2025. Schools will reopen for students on Monday, January 6, 2025!

We hope our students had a wonderful winter break. When we return to school on January 6, we want to remind our families about the importance of consistent daily attendance. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to develop personally, socially, and academically. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage attending school every day. Daily school attendance is critical to building life-long skills.

We thank:

• Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it isn’t easy.
• Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.
• Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.
• Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.

The holidays can be a difficult time for many, and it’s okay to not feel okay. If you’re struggling today, please know there is support and help available. 💙

You can call 800-273-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 741741 at the @CrisisTextLine – both are available 24/7, 365 days a year.

You are not alone. You matter, and there are people ready to listen and help. ❤️

Back Row: Mrs. Tracy Johnsen, Mr. Matthew Hershey, Mr. Scott Barry, Mr. Kerry Shuyler, Mr. William Eckenroth, and Mr. Cedric Jordan. Seated: Mrs. Debra Bowman (Vice-President), Dr. Nicole Malinoski, Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Robert Okonak (President), and Ms. Janice Falk

January is School Board Recognition Month, a time to celebrate and honor the dedicated individuals who serve on our school boards. These leaders work tirelessly to ensure our schools provide a quality education, making decisions that shape the future of our students, schools, and communities.

School board members are volunteers who commit their time, energy, and expertise to advocate for the needs of students and educators. Their leadership helps create opportunities for success and builds a strong foundation for the future. This month, let’s show our gratitude for their service and commitment to education!

Thank you, school board members, for all you do to support our students, teachers, community, and schools!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader who dedicated his life to fighting for equality, justice, and civil rights.

Dr. King believed in the power of nonviolence and unity to create change. Through his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, he helped challenge racial segregation and injustice, inspiring generations to work toward a more inclusive and equitable society.

This day reminds us to reflect on his message of hope, equality, and service to others. It’s not just a day off—it’s a day to reflect, to act, and to continue the work of building a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

We are pleased to share The GIANT Company is again partnering with our school district’s food service organization, Nutrition, Inc., to help support our students facing food insecurity.

From January 1 through March 31, everyone who shops at GIANT, MARTIN’S, and GIANT Heirloom Market stores will be invited to “round up” at the register and donate the round-up amount of their bill to support Feeding School Kids. Customers can also give by converting their CHOICE Rewards Points to donations in the GIANT app or purchasing a reusable bag.

We ask our school community to help spread the word of the Feeding School Kids initiative to ensure its success. Our goal is to support the children in our district who need the most help accessing nutritious meals and snacks. The funds will be provided directly to our district’s food program to address food insecurity in our school community.

Our district looks forward to partnering with The GIANT Company to fight childhood hunger. Please join me in supporting and advocating for this initiative to help ensure no child in our district experiences hunger at school or at home.

Did you know the IU13 opened a Community Education Center in Lebanon this past year? The IU13 Chestnut Street Community Center provides a variety of services to adult learners. Most classes are free.

Some classes and supports include:

• High School Equivalency (HiSET/GED)
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Citizenship

Classes are located at:

Community Education Lebanon
611 Chestnut Street
Lebanon, PA 17042

The Lebanon School District is committed to strengthening our bond with parents and families. We believe this bond begins with excellent communication, which is the heart of successful organizations. PowerSchool is the student information system used in the district by teachers, counselors and administrators to manage student data. Parents/Guardians use their account to view their child(ren)'s grades and attendance.

If you do not have a PowerSchool Parent Account, please fill out the information listed in the link below and we will send detailed instructions to the confirmed email address, allowing you to view data for your child(ren).

As cold weather continues, we want to inform you about our plan for inclement weather. The Lebanon School District has always been committed to in-person instruction and there are three weather make-up days built into our 2024-2025 school calendar: Monday, February 17, 2025, Thursday, April 17, 2025, and May 23, 2025.

In other words, for the first THREE days the district closes due to inclement weather, schools will be closed and students will not work online from home as the instructional days will be made up.

If the district needs additional weather make-up days beyond these three, then we will transition to Flexible Instructional Day (FID). On FIDs, students will complete work at home and receive credit for the day. Please click on the link below to learn more about FIDs.

We are excited to offer a new way for you to show your support and pride for your schools! Whether you're attending a sporting event, a school performance, or just out and about, wearing Cedar gear is a great way to represent our amazing district.

Our exclusive line of Cedar apparel is now available for purchase, with options for all ages! From cozy hoodies to stylish tees and hats, there’s something for everyone. By wearing Cedar gear, you not only show your school spirit but also support our students and programs.

Thank you for being part of the Cedar family and showing your support!

Note: Our online store will open for three weeks and then close for five days for inventory updates. This will continue throughout the year, so if you find the store closed, please try again in five days.

Join us in celebrating Lebanon High School's Rotary Students of the Month for December.

Aiden, son of Andrea and Guzman Rodriguez, is an accomplished student. He is a member of the National Honor Society and actively participates in The Technology Student Association. Additionally, Aiden is involved in the LHS Marching Band and Mass Communications. He plans to pursue a Computer Science major at a four year university.

Diarlenys, daughter of Diana Tejeda, is an active student leader. She participates in various organizations, including LHS Cedar Leaders, the Student Ambassador program, and the Superintendent Student Advisory Council. Additionally, she is a member of The Key Club, the Volleyball Team, and the Softball Team. Diarlenys plans to pursue a Biochemistry major at a four year university.

Are you interested in joining our team? Do you have questions about the process, credentialing, or employee benefits? We are here to help and want YOU to become an employee in our Cedar Family!

We have both full and part time positions, as well as substitute positions available in various departments in our district. Please send us an email or call us!! We want YOU to be a Cedar!!

Click here to be directed to the listing of positions for which we are currently hiring: https://www.applitrack.com/lebanonsd/onlineapp/

For Questions:

1. Email: hr@lebanon.k12.pa.us
2. Phone: (717) 270-6730

All Lebanon School District students are eligible to apply for a Lebanon Transit student fare card and ride the bus for $1.00. Students will need to complete a brief application and verify school enrollment (student photo ID, a letter signed by the school, or student fare card from the previous academic year). Once the application is approved and the fare card is received, students can board a Lebanon Transit fixed route bus, present their student fare card, and pay the reduced fare of $1.00.

Please see one of our SAIP coordinators for more information!

Welcome to our new Cedar Family Members:

• Kirstin Brown: District – Substitute Teacher
• Christine Dilger: District – Substitute Teacher
• Tina Ingram: District – Substitute Custodian
• Ann Reigle: District – Substitute Teacher
• Tatyana Torres: District – Substitute Secretary
• Bentley Bartell: Harding – LTS School Counselor
• Madison Vosburgh: Harding – LTS Grade 1 Teacher
• Nadine Finn: Northwest – Intervention Support
• Julie Royer: Northwest – Intervention Support
• Jacob Green: Southeast – Elementary Music Teacher
• Victoria Roberts: Intermediate – LTS Itinerant Learning Support Teacher
• Pedro Rodriguez Badia: Intermediate – 2nd Shift Custodian
• Ian Blankley: High School – Social Studies Teacher

We invite you to follow us on our social media platforms! Staying connected with us on social media is a great way to keep up with the latest news, important updates, and inspiring stories happening across our district. From highlights of student achievements and school events to important reminders and helpful resources, our social channels are here to keep you informed and engaged.

Follow us today on:

• Facebook - Lebanon School District
• X(formerly Twitter) - @Lebanon_SD_News

Let’s stay connected and celebrate our students, staff, and community together!

If you have any ideas we can highlight in a future monthly newsletter, please contact Dr. Malinoski (nmalinoski@lebanon.k12.pa.us) or Mrs. Minnich (kminnich@lebanon.k12.pa.us)