Conestoga High School

Panoramic CHS Mike Starner Photo.jpg

Issue 2 : September 2022


Principal's Welcome

 

As we come to the end of our second week of classes, I hope our students are establishing routines and enjoying the start of the new year. It is great to have the classrooms and hallways buzzing with activity. Today was certainly eventful as we navigated the water main break and early dismissal. Thank you to all our staff, students and families for their flexibility. We anticipate the repair will be made quickly and we will be ready for opening on Monday.  


During our opening week, we introduced some additional safety protocols to ensure accountability, particularly during free periods. Sign-ins using iPads have been established in the common areas, so we know students’ whereabouts throughout the school day. We will continue to monitor and make enhancements to streamline procedures in the coming weeks. A big thank you to our students for their cooperation.


I look forward to working with our students and their families during the upcoming school year. I welcome your involvement, questions and input.  Please feel free to contact me at any time, and as always, go ‘Stoga!



Amy A. Meisinger, Ph.D.

Principal

Open House


Conestoga High School will hold its annual Open House Program on Thursday, September 15 at 7:00 PM. Open House provides parents with the opportunity to experience their children’s schedules and to meet their teachers. Each class will meet for twelve minutes, during which teachers will discuss course content, requirements, homework, and grading practices. Study halls and unassigned periods will provide opportunities to visit the library, atrium, nurse’s office and cafeteria.


Parking for the event will be available in the main parking lot, the two north parking lots adjacent to the track, T/E Middle School, and only the right side of Old State Road (no cars will be permitted to park in the bus drop-off loop). Bus shuttles to transport families to and from Conestoga will also circulate between the parking lots at all T/E Elementary Schools and Valley Forge Middle School. Shuttle buses will run both before and after the event, beginning at 6:00 PM.  Return shuttles will begin leaving the high school at 8:30 PM. Parents are strongly encouraged to carpool to assist in accommodating the large turnout that is expected.


Student schedules may be accessed via Powerschool and the evening will follow a Day 1 class sequence as listed below. Homeroom is not included in the Open House schedule.


Parents should report directly to first period upon entering the building. Student guides will be present throughout the building to provide assistance with finding specific locations. Building maps and additional programs will be available in the main lobby as you enter.

 

Please note that our Parent Conference Day this year is scheduled for Monday, November 28. More information regarding Parent Conference Day will be coming in a few weeks. Thank you for supporting Conestoga High School; we look forward to seeing you at Open House!


Homecoming Dance

Saturday, September 24, 2022


The annual Homecoming Dance, sponsored by Student Council, is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Students from all grade levels attend the dance, with or without dates. The dress is "semiformal," which means acceptable attire is considered a dress, dress pants, or coat and tie and no jeans. Parent volunteers staff the water station and the coat check. If you are interested in selling volunteering at the dance, please click on this link Volunteer for Homecoming.


A helpful hint for parents: Please label your students' items (such as blue blazers!) so they can be easily found at the end of the evening. Unfortunately, blazers, phones, and shoes have been lost in the past. Conestoga cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items.


Homecoming tickets will be sold at Conestoga September 19th – 23rd during all lunches. No tickets will be sold at the door. All Conestoga High School Code of Conduct Rules are in effect.


*Additional Homecoming Information*

With the arrival of Fall, we eagerly anticipate our annual Homecoming Weekend on Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24. Activities scheduled for the weekend include:

·        Homecoming Pep Rally on Friday, September 23 at 1:00 pm

·        Homecoming Football Game vs. Marple Newton on Friday, September 23 at 6:00 pm

·        Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 24 from 6:00 pm to 9 pm at CHS

·        Students should arrive by 6:00pm and will be allowed to leave as early as 8:45pm.


Additionally, administrators will be visiting homerooms in the coming weeks to discuss appropriate decorum and expectations with the students. We encourage you to consider the following suggestions to ensure a successful homecoming weekend. Communicate clear expectations to your child. Help your child make the right choices by giving a clear, uncompromising message that discourage drinking alcohol and the use of drugs. With your support of our efforts to provide a positive, safe environment, we are confident that our students will have a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Attention Seniors and Families


Senior year is finally here! On Friday, September 16th, the Student Services Department will post “Your Application Journey” on our website (we will leave it there throughout the fall). In our presentation, we will cover everything you need to know about applying to college at Conestoga. We hope you enjoy it! 

Fall Extended Experience Physical Education 

 

The Fall Extended Experience Physical Education coursework will now revert to coursework that students will be engaged in outside of Conestoga High School and outside of the home. Guidelines for the EEPE course can be found here at EEPE Overview. To prevent confusion between the EEPE and Team Sport courses, please visit EEPE vs. Team Sport to ensure that your child is enrolled in the correct course.  

 

The Fall Semester EEPE Application Survey will be posted on September 6th on the EEPE Schoology course site. All Fall Semester Application Surveys must be submitted by September 16. Any student who does not submit the application by September 16 will be dropped from the course and added into a PE course for the remainder of the semester. Parents will have access to this information through their Schoology parent account. 


Emergency Card, Registration Form and Media Consent Form

 

New this year, we are asking parents/guardians to complete three forms virtually instead of on paper:

  • Emergency Contact Form
  • Registration Form
  • Media Consent Form

All three of these forms are available to be completed on the PowerSchool parent portahttps://powerschool.tesd.net. Once logged in, please click on "TESD Forms" on the left side of the site.


A Note from the Attendance Office

 

When your child is going to miss school or is going to be late you must:

 

Send an email to [email protected] or a written note within 3 days of your child's absence/ lateness with a valid reason.

 

If you send a note without a valid reason (listed below), then the absence or lateness will remain unexcused.

 

If you email with a valid reason for the absence/lateness before 9:15 a.m. on the day of the absence/lateness, you will not receive phone calls, emails and texts. If you do not send an email before 9:15 a.m. then you can respond to the automated email you receive.

 

You do not need to call prior to your child's absence. You only need to send an email or a note for their return.

 

What to include in your emails/notes:


FULL NAME OF YOUR CHILD

GRADE

VALID REASON (listed below)

 

Please note: missing the bus, traffic, and oversleeping are not reasons for being late.

 

Each semester your child is permitted 4 excused tardies and 2 unexcused tardies. Students who exceed this will receive a school detention, an ESS, or loss of privileges based on the Code of Conduct. If you receive a phone call, email, or text that your child is absent, and you believe it is in error, please contact the attendance office as soon as possible.

 

 Excused Absences and Tardies Reasons:

  

1. Personal illness 

2. Family Emergency

3. Death of a Family Member

4. Medical or Dental Appointments

5. Authorized School Activities

6. Educational Travel with Prior Approval 

7. Pre-approved Religious Instruction (limit 36 hours per year) 

8. Bona Fide Religious Holiday 

9. Tutorial Instruction in a field not offered in the District's curricula

10. Attending Court Hearings related to involvement with the County Children and Youth Agency or Juvenile Probation Office

11. When the student is required to leave school for the purposes of attending court hearings related to their involvement with the county children and youth agency or juvenile probation office 

12. If the student is absent due to participation in a project sponsored by an organization that is eligible to apply for a grant under the Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Act 

13. If a student is dismissed from school during school hours for health-related reasons by a certified school nurse, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or a school administrator or designee employed by the District. 

14. For the purpose of obtaining professional health care or therapy service rendered by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts in any state, commonwealth or territory.

15. If a student whose parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or is immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, with regard to school attendance, tests and extra-curricular or co-curricular activities, at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee, no penalties shall be imposed for absences of up to five (5) days.

16. Where the Superintendent has approved an attendance plan necessitated by rare and extraordinary circumstances. In this context, "rare" means typically no more than 1 or 2 per year District-wide and "extraordinary circumstances" means the student is engaged in a profession or activity at a nationally recognized level.

            

 Student Privileges


Conestoga High School administration and faculty believe students benefit from increased opportunity for self-direction as they mature. Consistent with this belief, our students' eligibility for privileges increases as they progress through their high school years. Privileges are granted only with permission of the parent or guardian. The student must have the ID card in his/her possession or access to their virtual ID card to exercise privileges. Students will scan their ID card or their virtual ID card when using their privileges to leave or enter school. Privileges may be rescinded at any time by the parent/guardian or by the school authorities if the student experiences academic difficulty or for failure to follow the school rules. All privileges may be suspended by the administration for safety/security reasons. The following privilege options are available to eligible students:

 

  • Delayed Arrival: Seniors and Juniors who have unassigned time during first period have the option of late arrival in time for homeroom. Homeroom attendance is required of all students. Students are required to enter the building through the Main Lobby no earlier than five (5) minutes prior to the start of the next period. Students will be required to scan their virtual or traditional privilege cards when entering the building.

 

  • Early Dismissal: Seniors and Juniors who have unassigned time during eighth period have the option of early dismissal. Seniors who have unassigned time during eighth, seventh and eighth, or sixth, seventh and eighth period have the option of early dismissal. Students are required to leave the building through the Main Lobby. Students will be required to scan their virtual or traditional privilege cards when leaving the building.

 

  • Lunch Privilege: Seniors have the privilege of leaving campus for lunch during their assigned lunch period (5th period or D Lunch). Students are required to leave and return through the Main Lobby and return no earlier than five (5) minutes prior to the start of the next period or for their assigned class. Students must scan their virtual or traditional privilege card when leaving and rescan their virtual or traditional privilege card when returning. Students returning late from Senior Lunch Privileges will forfeit their privileges for a minimum of five days for the first offense, in addition to receiving other disciplinary consequences for any missed class time. With parent permission, seniors who do not have scheduled classes after the lunch period are not required to return to campus.

If you wish to apply for Student Privileges, please complete the Student Parent Authorization Form for Student Privileges.


 

CONESTOGA 2022-2023 PARENT DIRECTORY

 

The Conestoga Directory is now available online!

 To access the directory, you must register,

sign-in and confirm your contact information.


The CHS Directory is ‘opt-out’, so your information is included in the directory unless you indicate that you don’t want it to be. You should log in with your email address and confirm your Family Information. Once you’ve done that, you will choose Directory and Publish Preferences, where you can determine what information, you’d like others to see and what you don’t want shared.


Here is the link to register and access the directory: https://conestogahs.membershiptoolkit.com


Information in the CHS Directory is safe and secure and will not be shared or sold to third parties by the School District or by Membership Toolkit. Each person using the Directory must agree to a Privacy Statement.


We offer the directory at no cost to parents. And don’t forget, you can download the CHS Directory App (from the Membership Toolkit website) so the information is easily available on your devices. 


 

Class Parent Organizations & Class Meetings


Each class at Conestoga has a Parent Chairperson, and the parents meet monthly with Administrators and Counselors to get updates on what is happening at school. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents, get information and have your questions answered. 


Class of 2026

Chairperson: Tricia Jennings, [email protected]

First Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 13th, 10:00am

Link to Meeting: Click here to join the meeting



Class of 2025

Chairperson: Deb Delaney, [email protected]

First Meeting Date: Thursday, September 15th, 10:00 am

Link to Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

 



Class of 2024

Chairperson: Diane Pancoast, [email protected]

First Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 20th , 10:00 am

Link to Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

 

 



Class of 2023

Chairperson: Stacey Pellegrini, [email protected]

First Meeting Date: Thursday, September 22nd, 10:00am

Link to Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

 


 

Athletic Update

 

Varsity and JV teams began on Monday, August 15th. JVB and 9th grade programs began on Monday August 29th. All students and parents are invited to the Winter Sports Meeting that will be held on Wednesday, October 19th in the auditorium at 7:00 PM. This is a great way top meet the coaches and ask questions regarding specific programs. Please use the following link for all PIAA paperwork. https://www.tesd.net/domain/1881

Club Fair 2022


Do you have a student interested in learning more about the clubs and activities offered at Conestoga High School? Please encourage your child(ren) to spend some time at the Club Fair, which will take place from September 19 - 23, 2022. Students will have access to meet with Club members who will share highlights of the various clubs and activities offered at Conestoga High School. In addition, students will be able to sign up for clubs via Schoology during the fair. All students are encouraged to go to the club fair during a free period or during their lunch. Conestoga offers more than 200 various clubs for students to explore and participate in. Student Activities provide a wonderful opportunity for students to enrich their high school experience and be connected to something fun and meaningful. Club Fair is the perfect time for students to join or re-join any clubs of interest. We encourage students to explore the clubs and activities at Conestoga High School.


Senior Portraits 


Final dates at Conestoga: Saturday, September 10, 17, 24 and October 1 from 8:00 am-2:00 pm. Informationabout scheduling an appointment will be mailed to your home by the studio. To contact thestudio, log on to  http://www.ouryear.com/ school code 87046

or call 1-800-OUR-YEAR™ (687-9327) or email [email protected].


The yearbook staff does not schedule your appointment.  If you have not had a picture taken during one of the scheduled sessions and would like to appear in the yearbook,you must go to the studio for a session. All pictures must be taken by October 30 in order to appear in the yearbook. Contact the studio for more information.  

 

Once your pictures have been taken, thestudio will send you proofs. Follow their directions to select a picture for the yearbook. If you do not select a picture, the studio will select one for you.

Youmust select a pose for the yearbook by October 30. If you tookyour pictures after the photo deadline, you might not be able to select youryearbook pose due to the late date.  

 


Traffic Safety Reminders

 

  • DROP OFF – Parents may drop off in the front of the building using two lanes. The bus circle is available beginning at 7:40AM as an additional drop-off location.
  • PICK UP - Parents may pick up in the front of the building using two lanes. The bus circle is available at 3:00PM for parents to pick up students.
  • Please DO NOT use the Main Lot for drop-off and pick-up as it creates more congestion for our student drivers.
  • Drive slowly and carefully on school drop off areas and nearby roads.
  • Obey all traffic flow patterns and rules of the road DO NOT MAKE ILLEGAL U-TURNS
  • Please be respectful of our neighbors. DO NOT use driveways as a turn around.
  • The Timothy School should not be used as a drop-off/pick-up location.
  • When dropping off and picking up students, please pull all the way up allowing traffic to flow.
  • Discuss pedestrian safety with your kids (use crosswalks/sidewalks, look both ways, don't "walk and text," etc).



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