The Colt Connection

Being here is important!

As we approach the midpoint of the school year and prepare for the upcoming semester change, I want to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support of our students and school community. Your involvement and encouragement play a vital role in the success of our students, and we truly value the partnership we share in their education. You are important!

With the semester change just around the corner, it is critical to emphasize the significance of good attendance. Regular attendance is key to academic success, as it ensures that students can fully engage with their classes, build positive relationships with their teachers and peers, and stay on track with their learning goals.

We do understand that illness or unforeseen circumstances may occasionally arise, but would you assist us by prioritizing attendance whenever possible. Here are a few ways you can help support strong attendance habits:

1. Set a routine: Establish a consistent bedtime and morning routine to help your student feel prepared and energized for each school day.

2. Communicate with us: If your student is experiencing challenges that impact their attendance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our staff is here to help and can provide resources or support as needed.

3. Reinforce the importance of attendance: Remind your student of the value of being present, both for their academic success and their relationships within the school community.

4. Plan appointments strategically: Whenever possible, schedule appointments or family obligations outside of school hours to minimize disruptions to your student’s learning.

As we move into the second semester, we are excited about the opportunities for growth and achievement ahead. Your continued engagement makes a significant difference, and we encourage you to stay involved by checking in daily with your student, joining school events, and staying in regular communication with your student’s teachers. You are important!

Together, we can help ensure a strong finish to the school year for all of our students. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to your student’s success. If you have any questions, advice, or concerns, email me at kfillgrove@wssd.k12.pa.us.

At Cedar Cliff High School, we continue to encourage our students to display DETAILS behaviors. When students do this, we recognize them with tickets that can be used for drawings. For the month of December, we had four goody baskets filled with blankets and snacks and other treats. But the big holiday surprise was two 32" smart TVs! It is the season of giving!

On Thursday, December 5th, Mrs. Kamp’s Special Interest students had fun competing in the National computerized 30-20-10 academic competition. Students spent the morning collaborating and answering 80 three-part questions, which ranged in subject matter from math and science to literature and geography. All participants were on one Cedar Cliff team. Students elected senior Timmy Valentine as the captain and senior Parker Graf as assistant captain.

Over 250 high school teams from across the country participated. Cedar Cliff finished 11th out of 39 PA schools and 59th out of 289 in the nation with a final score of 1540 and 64.17% correct (an increase in percentage from last year’s results)!

Here is an example of one of the three-part questions:

An element

B) This metal, which is made in the Downs cell process, produces a yellow color in a flame test. (Worth 20 points)

C) Natrium is another name for this element, which is why its chemical symbol is Na. (Worth 10 points)

The students in the West Shore Academy have been learning to cook since last January. This was made possible, in part, by equipment donated by the West Shore Foundation. On November 26th, the students put this equipment and their newly learned skills into practice by preparing a Thanksgiving meal.

In attendance were: West Shore Foundation board members, Cedar Cliff and Red Land administrators, faculty, and staff. They made most of the food from scratch, including; brined and deep-fried turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll, and peanut butter pie.

The Thanksgiving meal was a success and we can't wait to see what else WSA will cook up!

On December 10, a group of ELD families, ELD teachers, and Cedar Cliff Admin came together in an evening of bridging cultural differences. We discussed the improvement of communication with our non-English speaking families. The group of parents appreciated the changes that have been made this school year to prioritize better communication. The conversation led to inquiry about how our non-English speaking families can be more involved in day-to-day happenings within Cedar Cliff. We are excited to embrace the many cultures that are represented in the Cedar Cliff community and look forward to creating more opportunities to work together for our students! If you are interested in being involved, please reach out to your students’ principal.

Cedar Cliff High School is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $15,000 STEAM grant from the POWER Foundation, the philanthropic arm of global engineering and environmental firm, POWER Engineers. Each year, only ten such grants are distributed internationally, making this a significant honor for the school.

Mrs. Eisner applied for the grant to help support our STEAM initiatives here at the Cliff. The grant will provide additional graphing calculators to our Math department, a CNC plasma cutting table for our Technology and Art Department, a 3-D printer and VR headsets to support the Science Department. A special shout out to Miss. Bolen's husband's company for providing us with the information for the grant.

It was the Friday before Thanksgiving break, and Mr. Murphy's sixth period AP Calculus class was engaged in a lesson about Related Rates. Students were exploring the Falling Ladder Paradox, specifically the special case when the top of the ladder impacts the ground.

Mathematics suggests that upon impact, the top of the ladder reaches infinite speed. What would that speed do to a person sitting on the ladder? What breakthroughs could be realized?!

Izzy Nguyen bravely took a spot at the top of the ladder, Scott Numford used rope to pull the ladder away from the wall, safety glasses were distributed to students sitting in the Zone of Uncertainty.

Just as the experiment was about to begin, Mrs. Stoner, the school nurse, rushed in with a wheelchair and a bundle of gauze. “Stop this madness," she exclaimed, "you know what happened the last time you tried to reach infinity?” Mr. Murphy starred with wide eyes at the nurse who stood at the door trying to catch her breath. Mrs. Stoner insisted, “NO MORE INFINITY!”

With a look of relief on her face, Izzy scurried quickly off the ladder, and the students continued their study of Related Rates, without incident, for the remainder of the class.

The CC Unified Bocce team is participating the Special Olympic Polar Plunge on February 7 and 8. Please help us reach our goal of $500 by joining our team, donating to the team, or sharing our team link on your social media.

https://give.specialolympicspa.org/team/613516

Course Selection Night will be held on Wednesday, January 22nd at 6:30pm. This event is planned for parents to learn about course offerings for the 25-26 school year. School Counselors will meet with parents by grade level to present information on opportunities and requirements for their students. All Cedar Cliff parents are encouraged to attend.

Join PHEAA (PA Higher Education Assistance Agency) for a line-by-line explanation of the 2025 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This is an online presentation for all seniors and their parents. The webinar will be held on January 13th at 6:30pm. More information can be found in the calendar on the Class of 2025 Schoology page.

FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) is designed to prepare students for careers in business and leadership. Members engage in activities such as developing business skills, learning about entrepreneurship, and improving communication and public speaking abilities. The club often organizes workshops, guest speaker events, and community service projects to foster professional growth and networking.

Additionally, FBLA provides opportunities to compete in regional, state, and national competitions, where students demonstrate their knowledge and skills in areas like marketing, finance, management, and technology. By participating in FBLA, students gain valuable experiences that prepare them for college and future careers.

We will have around 20-30 FBLA club members participating in the Regional Leadership Competition at Shippensburg University on January 8th. On this day, students will participate in various business workshop activities as well as competitions.

As winter settles in, we want to ensure that learning continues seamlessly, even Weather-Related Remote Learning Days. Below is the High School Zoom Schedule for Weather Related-Remote Learning Days, designed to maximize instructional time and maintain high standards for student success.

Our commitment to providing quality education remains persistent, regardless of the weather. By staying engaged and making the most of our virtual learning opportunities, we can ensure students stay on track and continue to thrive.

Thank you for your dedication to helping our students succeed, no matter the circumstances.

If you need more information about Inclement Weather and West Shore School District, follow this link.

Cedar Cliff wishes to congratulate the following senior student-athletes that have announced their commitment to compete at the next level.

Ella Frey- Women's Soccer- LaSalle University

Bennett Secrest- Baseball- Kutztown University

Alaina Tarnoci- Field Hockey- Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Carter Imes- Football/Track- Juniata College

Owen Shensky- Men's Lacrosse- Thiel College

Luke Sowers- Baseball- Penn State Altoona

Joan Olson- Women's Volleyball- Penn State - York

Cassie Nugin- Track and Field- West Chester University

Madeline Bogovic- Women's Volleyball- Kutztown University

January

• Jan 17 - End of the Second Marking Period
• Jan 20 - No School
• Jan 22 - High School Course Selection Night

February

• Feb 3 - 2nd Marking Period Grades available on PowerSchool
• Feb 14 - Remote Learning Day
• Feb 17 - No School
• Feb 21 - Progress Reports Due