Ephrata Area School District Leaders Shadow Students
How does it feel to be a student for a day? After participating in the nationwide School Retool Shadow A Student Challenge for the fourth year in a row, Ephrata Area School District administrators are able to speak from their own experiences to answer this question. District and building leaders will shadow students in secondary schools on Tuesday, February 19 and elementary schools on Wednesday, February 20 to experience a school day as a student first-hand and gain a new perspective on learning.
District administrators are encouraged to participate with empathy and an open mind to feel what it is like to truly adopt a student’s point of view. “As part of the District theme to embody a growth mindset and a desire for continued improvement, administrators are trying to fully immerse themselves in student life for a day with the goal to better understand the students we serve,” said District Superintendent Dr. Brian Troop.
Administrators have been asked to keep a variety of questions in mind while shadowing students, including:
- How does it feel to be a student for a day?
- What is your student’s favorite moment of the day, and what makes it special?
- What do you notice makes your student feel uncomfortable, anxious, or bored? Why?
- When is your student engaged in learning?
- As you go through your day, what opportunities do you notice for use of critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, collaboration, and effective communication skills?
Following the events, administrators will reflect on their insights to compare students’ experiences with the learning and skills necessary for success through their academic careers.
There’s lots of excitement throughout the District as our EHS girls soccer team prepares for the State Championship Semifinals on Tuesday, November 13 versus Pennridge High School.
GAME DETAILS: Tues 11/13, 5PM, West Chester East High School, $8 – Adults, $4 – Students.
September 11, 2018 – Students in all Ephrata Area School District schools participated in activities and lessons to recognize Patriot Day on Tuesday, September 11.
District administrators and teachers developed age-appropriate content to help students learn more about Patriot Day and the many heroes who took part in the national response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, many of whom continue to keep us all safe today.
“As a District, we recognize the importance of our students having an age-appropriate understanding of the significance of 9/11, Patriot Day. Through the events of that tragic day there were so many stories of heroism, resiliency, and grit – dispositions we want all of our students to embody,” stated Mr. Josh McCracken, Fulton Elementary School Principal.
The scope of the content looked very different at each age level. While some High School activities may have included watching news coverage from the morning of September 11, 2001 and discussing how the effects of that day impacted the world, students in elementary schools had a much broader experience recognizing heroes who go above and beyond in times of need, including our military, emergency responders, and more.
Highlights of the activities in the District, included elementary students wearing red, white, and blue, a special school-wide assembly coordinated by Akron Elementary School second-grade teachers, and participation in the national Patriot Day moment of silence at the Ephrata Intermediate and Middle Schools.
Ephrata High School Social Studies Teacher and Department Supervisor Mr. Larry Hagan said recognizing Patriot Day is important for two reasons. “On a human level, our students are reminded of the bravery and the courage of the heroes who risked their lives to help others that day. On an academic level, students are reminded of the importance of our institutions, our form of government, our history, and our freedom,” he said.
Patriot Day also provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of living a life with Resiliency and Grit – a key component of the Ephrata Area School District Life Ready Graduate profile. “The inspiring stories of resilience and service associated with Patriot Day is something I am proud to have teachers elevating across the District,” said Dr. Brian Troop, Superintendent.
2018 – 2019 sports season passes go on sale starting Wednesday, August 1. Purchases may be made in the Ephrata High School office Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
Family pass: $120.00 (includes students K-12)
Adult pass: $50.00
Student pass: $25.00
FREE senior citizens passes are available for Ephrata Area School District residents and may be picked up during the times listed above.
Please call Mrs. Cummings at 717-721-1478 Ext: 19021
September 12, 2018 – Ephrata Area School District students in need of school supplies will benefit from a recent donation by the Akron/Ephrata and Lincoln/Ephrata branches of Fulton Bank. Backpacks, notebooks, binders, and much more will be distributed to students who have a need.
This is the fourth year both Fulton Bank branches have organized a donation drive of school supplies for District students. A donation table is simply placed in the bank and customers generously drop off donations throughout July and August.
Seen above are Ephrata High School students and Aevidum Club members – Jacob Welsh, Jazmyn Spangler, and Carsyn Greene – who will help distribute the items.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS IS MONDAY, AUGUST 27.
Please check the online District calendar for all important school events, closings, athletic events, and more.
WEBSITE – www.EASDPA.org
The District launched a new website in July. While the web address remains the same – www.easdpa.org – the new-and-improved site has been redesigned to better organize the information commonly used by students, parents, staff, and community members. The site is also more image-driven which will provide a nice platform to highlight students’ accomplishments and classroom activities.
New electronic signs were installed at each District building. The digital display provides a more eye-catching and efficient way to communicate timely information, upcoming events, and student achievements.
Mrs. Amanda Calhoun – Ephrata High School Assistant Principal
Mrs. Calhoun most recently served as the Lancaster Catholic High School Instructional Support Coordinator for students in grades 9-12. She has a Principal Certification and a Masters of Education Degree in Teaching and Curriculum from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Millersville University.
Mr. Nathan Upham – Ephrata High School Assistant Principal
Mr. Upham was the Reading Intermediate High School Dean of Students and previously worked at Garden Spot High School in a variety of positions, including Dean of Students, Physics and Chemistry Teacher, Department Manager, and Summer School Coordinator. He obtained a Principal Certification and a Masters of Education Degree in Leadership for Teaching and Learning from Millersville University. He also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Adult/Young Adult Education with an emphasis in Physics from Cedarville University in Ohio.
Dr. Crystal Loose – Ephrata Intermediate School Assistant Principal
Dr. Loose was appointed the Ephrata Intermediate School Assistant Principal. Dr. Loose previously served as the Ephrata Area School District Coordinator of Learning Development from 2011 to 2013 before transitioning to Cocalico School District where she was an Assistant Principal, Title I Reading Coordinator, and most recently their Director of Reading. Her education includes a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Edinboro University; Doctoral of Education Degree, Principal Certificate, and Masters of Education Degree from Pennsylvania State University; Elementary Education Certification from Millersville University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetorical Communication from the University of Pittsburgh.
SCHOOL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
The District will now be using SchoolMessenger as their rapid communication system, which has replaced Blackboard Connect 5. District staff will use the system to continue to communicate information pertaining to student attendance, weather-related schedule changes, school events, and more. Additionally, parents and guardians will be given the opportunity to opt-in for text message alerts and reminders.
EPHRATA HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER
A full renovation of the Ephrata High School Media Center is nearly complete. The finished project will include more areas to facilitate small-group and project-based learning, technology, collaboration, communication, and more components of 21st century learning. The renovation incorporated elements from students who were part of the 2017 Media Center Design Challenge. Students shared many ideas to improve the old media center and worked alongside District administrators and RLPS Architects to incorporate many of their concepts.
The District will be expanding its social media presence beyond Twitter to include Facebook and Instagram. Follow the District on Facebook and Instagram @EphrataAreaSD and Twitter @GoMounts.
Link Crew is a program focused on supporting freshmen students socially, emotionally, and academically as they transition to high school. Large and small group activities are designed to address students’ needs and concerns in a fun and enjoyable way.
Important dates are below.
Freshmen Orientation – Friday, August 24, 8:00 AM – Noon, EHS Gymnasium
Students will learn more about Link Crew, meet Junior and Senior mentors, and participate in small-group meet-and-greet, team-building activities.
CRUISE THE HALLS
Parents, guardians, and students are invited to attend the following events to walk the student’s first semester schedule:
EIS – Thursday, August 16, 6:30 PM, Please enter via the Ephrata Middle School main entrance.
EHS – Friday, August 24 Noon – 2:30 PM, immediately following the Link Crew Orientation
Please check the online District calendar for additional opportunities to Cruise the Halls at EHS.
OPEN HOUSE DATES
All begin at 6:30 PM.
Grade 5 – Wednesday, August 22
Ephrata High School – Tuesday, September 4
Fulton Elementary School – Thursday, September 6
Grades 6 and 8 – Tuesday, September 11
Clay Elementary School – Thursday, September 13
Highland Elementary School – Monday, September 17
Akron Elementary School – Tuesday, September 18
Grade 7 – Thursday, September 20
Please check the online District calendar for all important school events, closings, athletic events, and more.
LIFE READY GRADUATE
Current Ephrata High School students will be among the first to have the opportunity to earn a Life Ready Graduate certificate upon graduation. The Ephrata Area School District Life Ready Graduate program aims to enhance students’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions beyond traditional content mastery and standardized assessments, including civics, financial literacy, collaboration, integrity and much more. To learn more about the Life Ready Graduate program, visit www.easdpa.org. Additionally, if you are part of a business that recognizes preparing students to have a positive impact on an ever-changing world requires knowledge, skills, and dispositions that extend beyond standardized assessments, please e-mail LifeReadyGrad@easdpa.org to join area businesses – including Astro Machine Works, Ephrata National Bank, and WellSpan – as a public endorser of the program.
Two Code Carts are now in each District elementary school to enhance STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) for students in grades 1-4. “The Code Cart is a mobile learning tool that is highly engaging for students,” described Mr. Nick Crowther, District Computer Science Supervisor. The cart includes various materials, including robotic devices, coding technology, Legos, and additional STEAM elements. Teachers may sign out the carts to use as part of classroom lessons and projects. Additionally, Districtwide Instructional Coaches use the carts for grade-level learning challenges.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AT THE FIGHTIN PHILS
Saturday, August 25, 6:45 PM
Enjoy a night of baseball and fireworks! Gather your fellow Mountaineers, wear purple and gold, and watch the Phils take on the Portland Sea Dogs. Tickets are $9 and available on the District website.
EPHRATA AREA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
PURPLE & GOLD COLOR RUN
Saturday, September 22,
7:00 AM Registration, 8:00 AM Start
Participate in the annual Foundation 5K and support Ephrata Area School District students. Learn more at www.ephrataeducationfoundation.org.