CASD Community eNewsletter - October 5, 2016
Letter from the Superintendent
Too often we do not recognize the efforts of our faculty who contribute to make this district the public school of choice.  The business of education sometimes gets “lost” among other initiatives such as a balanced budget and infrastructure concerns.   

I want to take this opportunity to share an impressive academic initiative that took place during the first several weeks of school.   

  Our reading intervention specialists and literacy coaches (26 total) conducted a reading assessment on 4900 of our students in grades K – 5.  Also, our literacy coach at the middle schools has conducted a similar assessment on students in reading intervention classes at these schools.  This instructional reading assessment was done to gather the necessary data that is needed by the classroom teachers to successfully implement guided reading in their classrooms.  Guided reading is small group instruction that is based on skills needed by specific students.  Key data points must be gathered on each and every student to ensure that the instruction not only is individualized, but that the necessary skills each child needs are targeted.At the end of every school year, we do a similar assessment.  However, having the most accurate data at the beginning of the school year is critical because things change over the summer.  Some of our students lose ground simply because of their personal situations and others tend to grow.  It is imperative to have the most accurate information possible to provide best instructional practices which is one of our district goals. 

This huge effort also supports our district mission”…provide a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where students will receive a rigorous and responsive education”.  In our elementary classrooms, the first four to five weeks is geared toward the establishment of key routines and rituals that need to take place during reading and writing workshop.  Our classroom teachers do not have the time to conduct this key assessment and also look at other data sources, such as MAP data.  That is why this effort is so vital.  It truly is team work that takes time and very specific knowledge.  I am quite proud of the work of all of these specialists and coaches.

Kind regards,

Joe

District Needs Crossing Guards
The school district needs at least eight crossing guards to help at borough schools which are Stevens Elementary, Benjamin Chambers Elementary, and Andrew Buchanan Elementary.

“The job is at most 10 hours a week, two hours a day during a five-day school week.  Guards receive $10.00 an hour, but that rate may increase soon,” said Susan Henry, the crossing –guard coordinator for the district.  

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Intro to Piano
Did you know that we offer an Introduction to Piano class at CASHS?  Check out the video that Jordan Sawyers, a CASHS senior produced for the district’s YouTube channel.
Food Pantry to Help Needy CASHS Students

Editor’s Note: The following story was written by Hannah Cyr, a CASHS senior who is doing an internship in the district’s Communication Department.

The “CASHS Cupboard” is a food pantry founded by the Chambersburg Area Senior High School’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and a teacher that will be open and available for chronically hungry high school students at the Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS). 

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CASHS Connects is New Program to Connect with the Community
CASHS Connects is a new program designed to bring community and business members into the high school on a monthly basis. 

The first monthly meeting of this group took place on Wednesday, September 14.  It was attended by Leo Schoenhofen, VP Butcher Shoppe; Vince Ha from Vince Ha Photography, Nicole Garman from Garman Photography, and Dorcas Schmutzler, owner of Bruster’s Ice Cream,

The theme of the first meeting was Entrepreneurs.  The group began with a breakfast roundtable discussion in the assistant superintendent and interim CASHS principal Cathy Dusman’s office.  This was followed by a school tour and a visit to observe and participate in business education teacher Kathy Jo Reinsmith’s Entrepreneurship class. 



Students Learn About Monarch Butterflies in Scotland Garden
Colleen Woy, intervention specialist at Scotland, reads The Hungry Caterpillar to students in the school’s garden.  Mrs. Woy has raised native plants that attract monarch butterflies.  Several laid eggs on those native milkweed plants and hatched into caterpillars.  Mrs. Woy netted the area so students could observe the chrysalises and the monarch butterflies once they emerge.  So far, Mrs. Woy and the students have released four monarch butterflies.  
Franklin Virtual Academy Names Student of the Month
 Zametrius Gwynn, an 11th grade student who is new to the Franklin Virtual Academy (FVA) this year was recognized as the September FVA Student of the Month.

“Zametrius is taking Algebra, Biology, and Health.  As a new student to FVA, he has quickly learned how to succeed in these classes and has earned noteworthy grades.  I knew Zametrius when he was in the ninth grade and he struggled with school.  It is wonderful to see his success with FVA,” said Gail Schuyler, FVA district liaison.

“He was shocked and grinned from ear to ear and was extremely appreciative when he found out he received the award.  Right now he is definitely a success story for FVA and one of the reasons we exist - to meet individual student needs,” said Ms. Schuyler.
Data Reveals Real Progress in Closing the Achievement Gap
Administrators, faculty, staff, and students at Stevens Elementary have something to smile about.  Data collected at the end of the last school year shows a significant improvement in efforts to close the achievement gap in grades K – 5.

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District’s Annual Report/Calendar Now Available
The district’s annual report/calendar now is available at the district administration building.  The theme, “Oh, the places we will go!” profiles Student Standouts from each of the district’s schools.  These individuals were selected by administrators and faculty and staff at each building for many reasons.  Some of these students were selected for their accomplishments, kindness to others, and positive attitudes.  Others were selected because despite some adversity, they are succeeding in school.      
Apology to Alexis “Lexi” Boyd from Lurgan Elementary
Lexi is the student standout at Lurgan Elementary; she was inadvertently left out of the calendar.  We have apologized to her and to her family.  Read Lexi’s story here.

Students at Andrew Buchanan participate in an Ocean Themed Reading Incentive Program

“Throughout the year, we ask the students to complete a certain amount of at-home reading, and if each class meets its' goal (each grade level sets its' own reading goal), students are rewarded throughout the year with fun activities,” said Kelly Hurley, Title 1 intervention specialist.
Chris Barnabei Spoke at a TEDx Event
Chris Barnabei, librarian and technology integrator at the Career Magnet School (CMS), recently participated in a TEDx event in Lancaster and gave a speech entitled “Professional Educator, Amateur Coder .

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Homecoming Highlights
Homecoming Court 
Halftime at the Football Game
Homecoming Parade Float
Mythological Monday Begins Spirit Week
Mythological Monday
Powder Puff Football Game
Homecoming Parade

Homeless Matters is a New Community and District Imitative

Homeless Matters is an initiative that partners community members and school district employees in an effort to better serve those students who lack a permanent home.

“Committee members want to work together to address the most urgent and crucial needs of our homeless student population in grades K -12.  Those needs include hunger, as well as the inability to purchase school supplies or the proper school apparel,” said Kristin Carroll, Director of Pupil Services.

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The first delivery to the newly created Homeless Matters food pantry arrived recently at the district’s Administration Building.

Members of the Chambersburg Mountain Bike Team Place 1st and 2nd in Their First Race.

 Members of the Chambersburg Mountain Bike Team raced its first race recently in Marysville, PA with two team members taking top honors in their categories.

 Aidan Brechbill from CASHS placed first in the Sophomore Racing category, while Devin Ditzler from CMS took a second in the same category. The team consists of 16 racers from grades six through 12 in the school district.  The team is part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League (PICL).  

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Remembering 9/11
Sunday, September 15, 2016, marked the 15th anniversary of what has come to be known as 9/11.  It was September 11, 2001, when the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda high jacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against US targets.  Two planes flew into the World Trade Center towers in New York City.  A third plane hit the Pentagon and the fourth plane crashed in a field in western Pennsylvania.  More than 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York City and DC.  

What do our teachers, administrators, and staff remember about that day?

2016 CASHS Grad Member of NJROTC Now a Marine Corps Recruit Visits CASHS

Jonathan Ventura, a 2016 CASHS graduate member of the JROTC, graduated Marine Corps recruit training and received special recognition as the top graduate in his platoon of over 80 new recruits. During his 10-day “boot leave”, Private First Class Ventura visited this year’s JROTC students to share his experiences and explain the many ways that the JROTC helps prepare students for the challenges of recruit training.

“Ventura felt that the leadership opportunities afforded to him while in JROTC made him more competitive while undergoing training. While at CASHS, Ventura spent three years in the JROTC program and was assigned to a leadership position in his senior year. Private First Class Ventura’s next stop is to Camp LeJeune, North Carolina where he’ll undergo training at the Marine Corps School of Infantry,” according to Louis Montney, Master Sergeant / USMC (retired), Naval Science Instructor at CASHS.

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Congratulations to our employees who have completed courses and earned Professional Advancement in August 2016.   
Take a Survey For Us About the Role of Public Education     
The 48th annual PDK  (Phi Delta Kappan) Poll of the Public’s Attitude Toward Public Schools revealed that Americans don’t agree on the most basic questions about the very purpose of a public education. 

Less than half (45%) of adult Americans say preparing students academically is the main goal of a public school education, and just one-third feel that way strongly.  Other Americans split between saying the main purpose of public schools is to prepare students for work (25%) and for citizenship (26%),” from the PDK website.

We will randomly select one winner who will win an athletic Gold Card which provides free admission for one year to any district athletic events that are held during their regular seasons.

Please take a moment and click below to complete the survey.

Click here to complete the survey.
All School Board meetings and times are available  here .
School Board News

At the September 28th, School Board meeting, the following individuals were recognized: 

School Board Recognition
Sherry Bittinger, library remedial assistant at Scotland, was recognized by her peers for her dedication and efforts.
Janie Nunley, Hamilton Heights secretary, was recognized for her peers for doing an outstanding job.
Hayden Johnson, CASHS junior, was recognized by his teachers and administrators as a state champion percussionist.
Holly Strayer, CASHS art teacher, was recognized by her peers for her outstanding work on behalf of the district.
Elizabeth Stahl, CASHS music teacher, was recognized as the CAEA Secondary Teacher of the Year.
 

Kim Clugston, a CAMS North Business Education teachers, was recognized by her peers and administrators as an outstanding educator.

Joan Bowen, received words of recognition and appreciation for her many years of volunteer service to the district in the role of historian.
CASD Alumni Selected as PacWest Defender of the Week. 
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