Lebanon School District

This communication is intended for our Lebanon School District families. Our Back to School update includes information about district events, new personal technology procedures, district priorities, and more!

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.

As the Superintendent of the Lebanon School District, it is my pleasure to welcome you back to another exciting school year. I hope that your summer has been filled with relaxation, adventure, and time spent with loved ones. As we gear up for the 2024-2025 school year, I want to share our enthusiasm for the learning and growth that lies ahead for our students, staff, and community.

At Lebanon, our mission is to inspire minds, enrich lives, and shape futures. Whether your child is entering kindergarten, moving up to a new grade level, or beginning their senior year, our dedicated team of educators and support personnel are here to support them every step of the way.

We have exciting initiatives planned for this year that align to our new comprehensive plan. Our focus will be fostering a culture of high expectations, strong student engagement, and consistent attendance—key elements that drive academic success. We know that the partnership between home and school is vital to your child's success, and we encourage you to stay actively involved in their education. Please mark your calendars for our upcoming events listed on the district calendar linked here.

As we embark on this new school year, I want to express our deepest gratitude for your trust and support. Together, we can create an environment where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed!

Thank you for being a part of our Cedar family!

With Pride,

Nicole L. Malinoski, Ed. D.

Superintendent of Schools

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope this letter finds you and your family well. As we continue to strive for an optimal learning environment for all our students, the Lebanon School District has decided to implement new procedures regarding "personal electronic devices" usage during the school day.

The following plan will be implemented beginning on August 26, 2024.

Personal Electronic Device Procedures

• Prohibited Use of Personal Electronic Devices: Students are not permitted to use cell phones, smartwatches, or bluetooth headphones during school hours, including class time, lunch periods, and between classes.
• Storage: Cell phones, smartwatches, or bluetooth headphones must be turned off and stored in designated areas during the school day.
• Emergencies: In case of an emergency, parents/guardians can contact the school office, and messages will be promptly delivered to the designated student.
• Consequences: If a student is found using one of these devices during the school day, the device will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day. Repeated offenses will result in further disciplinary actions.

Rationale for the Policy

The decision to prohibit personal electronic devices is based on extensive research and feedback from teachers, parents, and students. Our primary goal is to:

• Enhance Learning: Minimizing distractions will help students stay focused on their studies and participate actively in classroom activities.
• Promote Social Interaction: Encouraging face-to-face communication during breaks and lunch periods fosters better social skills and relationships among students.
• Improve Mental Health: Studies have shown that excessive cell phone use can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. By limiting access to personal electronic devices during the school day, we aim to create a more positive and less stressful environment for our students.
• Ensure Safety: Reducing personal electronic device use can help prevent issues such as cyberbullying and the unauthorized sharing of images or videos.

Age-Appropriate Storage Solutions

• Elementary (K4-5) students will ensure all electronic devices are powered off and stored away in student bags or designated areas throughout the duration of the school day.
• Intermediate and Junior High School (6-8) students will power off all devices as they arrive and utilize technology carts to secure electronic devices throughout the duration of the school day.
• High School (9-12) will begin the year ensuring all electronic devices are powered off and away during the instructional time.
• For trimester one, each classroom will be equipped with a cell phone pocket holder. It is expected that each student keeps their phone at home, or places it in the cell phone holder at the start of each class. If a student signs out to use the bathroom, it is expected their phone stays in the classroom during that time.
• At the beginning of trimester two, all high school students will transition to a similar storage system as those in the Intermediate and Junior High Schools. Technology storage carts will be utilized to secure personal electronic devices throughout the duration of the day.

Parental Support

We understand that these devices are an integral part of our daily lives and can be a valuable tool for communication and safety. We kindly ask for your support in reinforcing this policy with your child. Please discuss the importance of focusing on their education and adhering to school rules.

Non-compliance with this policy could result in the following responses:

• First Offense - Warning and / or parent meeting
• Second Offense - Mandatory pick-up and drop-off in the main office
• Third Offense - Detention
• Additional Offenses - Suspension

Additional Resources

If you have any questions or concerns, or your child has medical concerns that need to be addressed by the use of a device throughout the day, do not hesitate to contact the main office in your child's school building or the school district offices at (717) 273-9391 and follow the prompts.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work together to create a productive and safe learning environment for all our students.

Our district utilizes School Messenger to deliver text messages regarding important school information, school closings, events, and safety alerts to your mobile phone.

We encourage all parents and guardians to participate in this free service by sending a text message of Y or Yes to 67587.

You can opt out of these messages at any time by replying to a district sent text message with "stop". School Messenger is compliant with the student privacy pledge so your information is safe and secure.

One area of focus in our new comprehensive plan is to increase the collaboration between families and schools. To begin this task, we ask for your ideas about parent or family engagement or information sessions. We are committed to inspiring minds, enriching lives, and shaping futures. Please tell us what you want to learn more about, what programs you would like us to offer for both parents, families, and/or students. Your input is critical to the implementation of this initiative.

For the most up-to-date athletic information, visit the website: www.lebanonhsathletics.com

Live Stream for Home Athletic Events

The direct link to the WLHS Livestream is: https://www.youtube.com/c/WLHSTV/live

The homepage for the YouTube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/c/WLHSTV or, search WLHS on YouTube.