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Upcoming Events
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Jan. 27, Grades for secondary students will be available online. Jan. 30 -Parent Portal (HAC) opens for Elementary first semester special subjects Feb. 3 - 7-8 p.m. Community Conversation on the High School Project. Tour at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 7 p.m., Neighborhood Conversation on State High Project, Easterly Parkway Elementary. Feb. 8, 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Countdown to Kindergarten, Nittany Mall Feb. 17 - School will be in session. It's the second snow make-up day. Feb. 24 - PIAA Spring Sport Physicals are due Board Meetings: Jan. 27 and Feb. 10, 7 p.m. 131 W. Nittany Ave.
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Greetings!
Welcome to our January eNewsletter. We're including information about the State High Project, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and other news from around the district.
Please remember that you can share this newsletter with your friends by simply clicking "Forward Email" at the bottom of this screen. Have a great holiday!
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Teacher Feature
Introducing one of the district's many wonderful teachers each month.
 | Lori McGarry, right, receives congratulations on her award from William Bertrand,
PA Department of Education |
Lori McGarry, Park Forest Elementary School Lori McGarry was named the 2013 Pennsylvania History Teacher of the Year. The award was co-sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on behalf of its Preserve America Program, and the History channel.
Mrs. McGarry currently teaches 5th grade at Park Forest Elementary, where she previously taught 1st/2nd grade multiage and also served as a PDS intern. A graduate of the
University of Virginia, Duke University, and Penn State, she has presented at national conferences and published articles in national journals.
When not at school she enjoys playing piano, singing, and traveling, especially to sites of importance in American History. She and her husband have a son and a daughter.
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Kindergarten/First Grade Registration
Changes have been made to the process this year.
FOR KINDERGARTEN: Children five years old on or before August 31, 2014 whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) reside in the State College Area School District.
FOR FIRST GRADE: Children must be six years old on or before August 31, 2014 to be enrolled in first grade for the 2014-2015 school year, unless they have, or will have, successfully completed Kindergarten, and written confirmation is provided from the Kindergarten program.
The following two options are available for you to register your child for the 2014 - 2015 school year. This process does NOT include registration for a charter / cyber or private school.
Online Enrollment: A new online enrollment process will begin on March 3rd. Information about the process and how to access will be available on the Registration website at www.scasd.org/page/714. The Registration Office will NOT be able to accept in-person registrations until the dates mentioned below at the individual schools.
Registration at the Schools: Register at individual schools at the dates below. Times for all are 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Gray's Woods Elementary, April 1, 2014 Corl Street Elementary, April 3, 2014 Ferguson Township Elementary, April 7, 2014 Park Forest Elementary, April 9, 2014 Mount Nittany Elementary, April 15, 2014 Radio Park Elementary, April 23, 2014 Easterly Parkway Elementary, April 29, 2014 Lemont Elementary, May 1, 2014
Starting May 5, Registration will be held at the Student Registration Office, Room 119, Fairmount Building, 411 S Fraser St. - 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
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State High Project Update
| Projected Site Map for the High School Project |
The State High Project will:
Update Aging & Deficient Facilities
*Provide an urgently-needed updated facility
*Incorporate efficient, sustainable, and flexible design
*Maintain our community's infrastructure to support property values and economic growth.
Why: Our nearly 60 year-old facilities do not meet current codes or ADA standards and have failing, obsolete mechanical systems.
Enhance the Educational Environment
*Provide flexible learning spaces for project-based learning
*Give a smaller-school feeling to our large high school and improve student-teacher relationships.
*Increase time spent learning, decrease time spent between classes.
Why: The layout and design of the current buildings do not support current and evolving educational practices.
Increase Safety and Security
*Consolidate all academic spaces into one building
*Greatly reduce traffic in and out of the building
*Provide more tightly monitored access points
Why: With two buildings on an open campus divided by Westerly Parkway, students currently walk through parking lots and across a major thoroughfare between class periods.
Community Conversation, Feb. 3, 7-8 p.m., High School South library. Come early and tour the buildings at 5:30 p.m. Tour leaves from High School South lobby.
Neighborhood Conversation, Feb. 4, 7 p.m., Easterly Parkway School all purpose room. Everyone is welcome.
Coffee & Conversation:  Feb. 12, 9 - 10 a.m., at Denny's
Enjoy a cup of coffee and a friendly chat with administrators and board members. Ask questions, give your feedback about the project.
Board members and administrators are out in the community presenting information to community groups and would like to speak with your group. Let us bring you up to date. To schedule, contact Julie Miller, jlb51@scasd.org or 272-8600.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities
at State High, Jan. 20, 2014
State High welcomed Dr. Vernon Carraway as guest artist and lecturer to the South Auditorium stage in an exciting opportunity for our freshman class. Dr. Carraway offered a portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and led a talk-back session as part of his performance. An exciting new play was presented to State High sophomores, juniors and seniors as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities for our school community. Three performances of Blood at the Root, a one-act play, were performed by third-year graduate actors from the Penn State School of Theatre. Blood at the Root is a new drama by Dominique Morisseau inspired by the "Jena Six," six black teenagers convicted of beating a white student in Louisiana following the hanging of nooses in a shade tree on a high school campus by a group of white students. The play looks at the controversial case and the far-reaching implications of events as they unfolded on campus. The high school will also host a public benefit performance of Blood at the Root in the High School North Auditorium on Wednesday, January 29, at 7:00 p.m.
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 Black History Month Exhibition
Student work needed!
In February, the State College Area School District will be holding an Exhibition of History, Art, and Writing highlighting the African American experience. We are looking for student work that addresses the accomplishments of African Americans in the fields of Science, History, Technology, Medicine, Industry, Art, Music, and Politics. Your work may highlight contemporary achievements or historical accomplishments.
We invite any student in SCASD to submit a piece of work and participate in this event. All participants will be recognized at the Roots of Life community event on February 22, 2014 at Mount Nittany Middle School.
If you'd like to participate contact Mrs. Debra Daggs (272-8729) by January 31, 2014. Exhibits must be delivered to Mrs. Daggs at Mount Nittany Middle School by February 17, 2014.
See more information
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 Summer Youth FairFeb. 1, 2014
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Mount Nittany Middle School This free community event provides parents and caregivers an opportunity to meet with the largest gathering of youth program representatives in our area. - find out more about summer camps
- learn about summer activities available for various age groups
Snow date: Feb. 2, 1-5 p.m. Sponsored by State College Area School District Community Education. |
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We hope you enjoy this news from SCASD. Let us know your comments at info@scasd.org. Follow us on  Facebook and  Twitter.
Sincerely,
State College Area School District
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