Shepherdstown Community Update

Welcome to May! This week is Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week. We have a fantastic team at Shepherdstown. Our teachers and staff make an incredible difference in the lives of our students. Our PTO has planned fun treats and prizes throughout this week; thank you, PTO!

This month is busy with wrapping up end-of-year activities and events. Spring benchmarking testing begins this week and continues into next week. Our last PTO meeting of the year is this Wednesday, May 8 at Shep or on Zoom. Next week, our PTO will have an event at Rakestraw's Ice Cream in Mechanicsburg on Monday, May 13 from 3-9 PM. Please bring the flyer below!

There are a number of events happening to support our third graders in their transition to Elmwood. This Thursday, May 9, third grade students will be going on a visit and tour of Elmwood from 8:45-10:30. Mr. Underkoffler, Principal at Elmwood, will also be coming to Shep on Thursday, May 23. Elmwood Academy will also host an ice cream social on Wednesday, May 29 from 6:00-7:30 for our third graders. Please see the flyer below for more information.

Field day is fast approaching on Friday, May 24. Please see more information about Field Day and volunteers in the flyer here. Thank you to our many volunteers for making this day a success!

As a reminder, we do not have school on Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day. Our last day of school is on Thursday, June 6. Students will dismiss at 10:45 and no lunch will be served. Report cards will be mailed home and will be posted to Sapphire by Tuesday, June 11.

Have a great week!

Mr. Echelmeier

Week of May 6 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week!

Tuesday, May 7 - Spring Benchmarking Testing Begins

Wednesday, May 8 - May PTO Meeting at 7 PM at Shep or via Zoom

Friday, May 10 - ELD Community Dinner at Trails and Trees Environmental Center

Tuesday, May 21 - 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Environmental Center

Tuesday, May 23 - 3rd Grade Elmwood Academy Principal Visitation

Friday, May 24 - Field Day

Monday, May 27 - No School - Memorial Day

Thursday, May 30 - Kindergarten Transition Visit to Shep from 8 AM to 10 AM

Friday, May 31 - 1st Grade Field Trip to Lake Tobias

Friday, May 31 - 2nd Grade Genius Hour Open House

Monday, June 3 - 2nd Grade Field Trip to Environmental Center

Thursday, June 6 - Last Day of School - Early Dismissal at 10:45

Come out to Rakestraw's in Mechanicsburg on Monday, May 13 from 3-9 PM. Make sure to bring the flyer below.

See the poster below about the Elmwood Academy being open during the summer.

Join the Elmwood Team on Wednesday, May 29 from 6:00-7:30 PM

On any day that your student is unable to attend school, the student’s parent/guardian is expected to contact Shepherdstown within the first hour of school to provide the reason for the absence.

We strongly encourage families to e-mail ShepOffice@mbgsd.org to report your student's absent. This e-mail counts as the notification and the written documentation of the absence.

If the office does not receive an e-mail (or call) notifying us that your child is absent, you will receive an automated phone call from the school.

More information about our absentee process is available in the MASD handbook linked here.

A few reminders for private vehicle drop off in the morning:

• Students should remain in vehicles until 7:30 AM (the bell will ring outside).
• Be sure to pull your vehicle up in the line as far as possible.
  
• Students may exit the vehicle only onto cement or macadam (not into the grassy area).
  
• Only pull around a stopped vehicle if directed by a staff member.
  

Thank you for your patience during this busy time of day as we ensure the safety of our students!

PTO Meeting Dates

Wednesday, May 8 at 7 PM (In person and virtual - Zoom link will be provided)

Please take a moment to update your contact information in the Sapphire Parent Portal here.

If you have not had a chance to register for a Sapphire Parent Portal account, please see the information here.

Below is the 2023-2024 Shepherdstown Daily Schedule:

Please see the important information below about the Shepherdstown drop-off and pick-up procedure.

For the safety of all students, please note the following:

• In the car line, please stay in the lane and wait until cars move forward to exit the lane. Please do not go around other cars, unless directed by a staff member to do so.
• For walkers at our front gym doors, please refrain from sending students with extra items, such as balls, bats, gloves, etc. Students at these doors are very close to the buses arriving to school, and sports equipment could easily go out into the bus lane.
  

The MAPTO Spirit Wear Store is still open! Please visit the MAPTO STORE to view items and see delivery options or scan the QR in the graphic below.

Last spring, the MASD Dress Code Board Policy was updated. Please take a look at the update here.

We welcome volunteers at Shepherdstown! If you would like to volunteer in the classroom, for a field trip, or during field day, please see the information below.

MASD Volunteer Process Overview

Volunteer Checklist - quick list of items needed to volunteer

Volunteer Handbook - comprehensive handbook

Please complete the volunteer information as early as possible and submit to Mrs. Dentler in the main office or to the MASD Administrative Office.

Email: shepoffice@mbgsd.org
Website: https://shepherdstown.mbgsd.org/
Location: 1849 South York Street, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA
Phone: 717-691-4589