Big Spring High School News

Summer 2018 Edition

Welcome Back Letter: 2018-2019

Dear Parents and Guardians;

The 2018-2019 school year is close at hand and we are excited for another great year! The purpose of this newsletter is to communicate out important information that will help make the start of school smooth for our families and students.

At Big Spring High School we believe that learning should be fun, interesting and challenging and that everyone (students and staff) can and should be doing it because it changes lives. As a school, this is our "Why" statement. This is the reason we do what we do every day. Teaching with this philosophy, and infusing this type of mindset into our school, is the best way to prepare students for the increasingly changeable world they will enter upon graduation.

We are looking forward to working with our students and families this year, and recognize that students do best when the school and parents/guardians work closely together. Our goal is to connect with our families by communicating as much as possible through a variety of channels and highlight the amazing things our students are doing by having them share out to a wider audience. To this end, we have restructured our Open House/Back to School Night and Parent/Teacher Conference times. Details are contained within the newsletter below, but I can say that we are looking forward to these changes and the benefits we think they will have.

Additionally, we rely on Aspen as a major communication channel and would ask that if you have any changes in your contact information that we get those updates as soon as possible.

In closing, thank you for your continued support and get ready for an awesome year! Below please find some important dates for the beginning of the school year that may be helpful. Enjoy your remaining summer and we will see you soon!

Important Upcoming Dates

August 21: New Student Luncheon (for High School families new to the District)

August 22: Dawg Day (orientation for freshmen students)

August 27: First Day of School for Big Spring and CPAVTS

August 30: High School Picture Day

August 31 & September 3: Labor Day Recess (Vo-Tech in session on 31st)

September 11 & 12: Senior Portrait Make-Ups

September 14: High School Back to School (6:00-7:00 Bulldog Stadium)

September 24: Two Hour Delay

Ever, Always Strong,

Mr. August

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New School Traffic Patterns

In an effort to improve student and traffic safety, there will be a new traffic pattern for this year intended to reduce and separate student pedestrian traffic to and from the student lot from car and bus traffic. The plan is relatively simple in that the section of road that runs parallel to the building from the Band/Agricultural wing to the drop off circle will be closed to vehicle traffic with the exception of the buses that take students to the Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School in the morning. This area will be closed to through traffic from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Student drivers will be able to enter and exit from either end of campus from Mt. Rock Road. They will access the student lot from the formerly unused entrance by the softball field and the one by the drop off circle. The two middle entrances/exits will not be opened during the designated times above.

Parents dropping off students are encouraged to enter campus by the turf field entrance, use the loop to drop off students at the Main Office doors, and exit out the same way.

For an aerial view of the parking plan, please click here

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New Additions to our Staff

It is our pleasure to welcome the following new staff to our Bulldog Family:

Mr. Tony Casella: Technology Education

Mrs. Judy Metcalf: School Nurse

Ms. Jennie Ortiz: English Department

Ms. Erica Grove: Merakey

Mrs. Rachel Shambaugh: Administrative Assistant in the Counseling Office

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Schedule Fixes and Changes

Our counselors return to school on August 14th, and will be available to address any schedule changes or fixes that have not already been addressed over the summer. Contacting your student's counselor via email regarding any requests is the most efficient method to make changes and schedule appointments. The counselors' emails are as follows:

Mrs. Kraus: Last names A through F, (Gifted, NHS, and Lifeskills students)

jkraus@bigspring.k12.pa.us

Mrs. Mains: Last names G through M (ES students)

smains@bigspring.k12.pa.us

Mrs. Creps: Last Names N through Z (ILS students)

jcreps@bigspring.k12.pa.us

We ask that all schedule changes are completed by the first day of school.

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Dawg Day 2018: Freshman Orientation

Dawg Day is our orientation day for incoming freshmen and has proven to be a really fun and effective way to get our new high school students ready to go to have a successful year. This year Dawg Day will be on August 22nd at the high school.

Students will attend from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and participate in a number of activities designed to help them understand how to navigate their way through their schedule and all the little things they need to know now that they are at the high school.

If your student is not signed up for Dawg Day or is in need of transportation in order to be able to attend, please contact the high school office at 717-776-2434 for assistance.

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New Format for "Back to School" Night

Our "Back to School" Night will look a little different this year as we look for ways to connect with our parents and school community. On September 14th, 2018 from 6:00-7:00 p.m., all high school teachers will be at the football stadium prior to the game to meet and talk with parents and guardians. This is intended to be an informal time to meet your student's teacher and gain an understanding of the courses they will be taking.

If you are planning on attending the game, you simply need to enter the stadium as usual and then come to the grass area by the visitor's bleachers to meet the teachers.

If you do not wish to attend the game, but would still like to meet and talk with the teachers, you may enter for free by the designated gate and exit by kickoff.

Parents will have the opportunity to win a prize drawing for merchandise from our school store that evening as well for attending.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

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Conferences and Student Exhibition Nights

In an effort to better serve our school community, we have redesigned our parent/teacher conferences format. We will continue to have evening times when parents and guardians can meet with teachers to discuss their student's progress. Additionally, we will have Student Exhibition Nights during conference times where students' work and learning will be on display. Below are the dates for conference and Student Exhibition Nights.

Oct. 18th 6:00-7:30 Conferences

Dec. 17th: Conferences/Student Exhibition Night: Semester 1 Classes

(6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.)

March 7th: Conferences 6:00-7:30

May 14th: Conferences/Exhibition Night

(6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.)

A Few Closing Reminders

1.) Juniors and Seniors wishing to purchase parking permits should check the H.S. website for dates and times the week of the 20th. Passes will also be sold during lunch times the first week of school as well.

2.) Seniors on "late arrival/early release" should plan on attending school at normal times (7:30 a.m. to 2:51 p.m.) to participate in homeroom and school activities the first day of school.

3. Bus assignments will be made available in Aspen through Parent Portal prior to the start of school. Please be patient the first week of school as kinks in route times are worked out. Should your student miss the bus or not be picked up, please call the school at 717-776-2408 for assistance.

4. Students who attend CPAVTS will stay for homeroom on the first day of school and be transported after those activities are completed.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Big Spring School District, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and its corresponding regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities. For additional information regarding this notice or the non-discrimination policy, please visit the District website at www.bigspringsd.org or contact Dr. Kevin Roberts, Assistant Superintendent, at 717-776-2413.

Website: www.bigspringsd.org/Domain8
Location: 100 Mt Rock Rd, Newville, PA, USA
Phone: 717-7762434
Facebook: facebook.com/BigSpringHighSchool
Twitter: @BSHSPrincipal