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Upcoming Events
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For a listing of upcoming events, please see our calendar:
Dec. 23-Jan. 1
No School
Winter Break
(Dec. 23 a snow-makeup day if needed)
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Greetings!
It may not have seemed like it lately with our warm December, but it's the holiday season, the time for giving. And we've got a gift for you.
For your enjoyment, we present the December edition of the SCASD eNews, no assembly required. It's loaded with features. There's a profile of Cisco Networking Systems teacher James Byrns and his goal of having students create virtual reality programs for district classes. Also check out articles on State College Education Support Personnel Association members, district schools and the State High Little Lions FFA chapter helping to feed local families.
Speaking of giving, we also bring you news of the SCASD Education Foundation, which aims to support student programs and activities through charitable gifts.
Here's wishing you and your family a happy holiday season and new year.
Please remember that you can share this newsletter with your friends by simply clicking "Forward Email" at the bottom of this screen.
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"The sky's the limit"
Cisco Networking Systems Teacher James Byrns Sees
State High Students Writing Virtual Reality Programs
Standing in front of his Cisco Networking Systems class, James Byrns got down to the basics of his field.
He reviewed a diagram of the correct sequence for attaching exposed cable wires to an RJ-45 plug. There were two rules for his State College Area High School students to remember: stripes and solids can't be neighbors, and colors stay in pairs except green.
It could have been as dry as a Nevada gulch, but Byrns made it sound as though he were presenting an adventure. With a cheerful, rousing delivery, he showed how to strip and expose the wires, straighten them with a round object like a pencil, organize and bunch them, trim them, and slide the plug on -- a prelude to more demonstrations for small groups and individual coaching as students practiced. Read more and view slideshow...
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SCASD Schools Spread Holiday Cheer
By Helping Families In Need
Emmi Gratz was helping get dinner ready.
She grabbed a can of green beans, then a jar of applesauce and boxes of macaroni and cheese and stuffing. It was turning into a tasty meal -- for another child.
The Gray's Woods Elementary School second-grader stuffed a sturdy plastic bag with enough items for a family in need to prepare a holiday feast. All around her in the classroom, classmates followed suit. Read more and view slideshow...
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New Foundation Created to Enhance the Educational Experiences and Lives of Students
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State High students Kristina Bonness and Lauren Gierchak observe Easterly Parkway first-graders playing with a table coated with a blackboard surface. Bonness and Gierchak designed and built the toy for their Nested Advanced Physics I and Advanced Engineering Technology Class -- taught by Doug Ripka and Wendy Watts. Students brought their toy projects to Easterly for field testing.
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To enhance student educational experiences, the district has started the State College Area School District Education Foundation in hopes of attracting community gifts to support programs, projects and learning opportunities outside existing budgets.
A student could afford to travel with her club to a national conference. Another could enjoy painting, foreign languages and martial arts through the Community Education Extending Learning program. Science lab equipment, musical instruments and fitness center machines could be updated, or a computer programming class could be added to the curriculum.
The creation of the foundation is an exciting step toward providing more opportunities for all students. To learn how you can support this important initiative, please visit www.scasdfoundation.org.
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SCESPA Holiday Food Drive
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State College Educational Support Personnel Association members made more than 350 holiday cookie bag baking kits and donated them to the State College Food Bank for families to enjoy together. Read more... |
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New Members on the Board of School Directors
Welcome new Board members:
Amy Bader, Gretchen Brandt, Dan Duffy
A resounding thank you to our 2016 Board members (pictured above), and to former members Ann McGlaughlin, Jim Pawelczyk and
Dorothea Stahl for their service. More information about the Board can be found on the District website.
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State High Project Updates
On Dec. 15, SCASD Director of Physical Plant Ed Poprik, State College Area School District Board of School Directors President Amber Concepcion and board member Gretchen Brandt spoke about the State High Project at the Centre Region Council of Governments meeting. The trio briefed COG representatives on the project's costs and progress. At this stage, the construction management team is securing the necessary permits and making other preparations to begin the first demolition work on the western wing of the South Building early next year. A winter start date has not been established yet, and work is not anticipated over the holiday break. Poprik compared the project now to a train getting underway, noting it needs a bit of time to gain speed and move forward. Sign up for project updates via e-mail or text:
Updates include timely news and features about project progress, parking and traffic, construction phasing, project milestones and more. Sign up here: www.scasd.org/shpsignup
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Little Lions FFA Chapter Chooses Saucy Way
to Help
State College Food Bank
State College Little Lions FFA chapter members can say they stand out from their peers across the country.
They have the National FFA Organization to back them up. In the FFAs recent Food For All grant Impact Report, the Little Lions FFA grant project this year was one of two highlighted, out of 138 nationwide.
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Faculty/Staff Wellness:
Focus on Water
Visit the faculty/staff wellness page on the district website today and get started toward a healthier future. A prize is awarded each month to participants who enter!
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Weather-related Closings and Delays 
Winter's start draws near, and that means the possibility of weather-related school delays and closings.
Winter break is currently scheduled for Dec. 23 - Jan. 1. If there is a weather-related school closing before December 23, then December 23 will become a regular school day.
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Tuba or Not Tuba?
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| | PFMS student Neil Haas playing at the State College Tuba Christmas on December 12 at Penn State |
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Straight Talk Presentation
Steadying the Emotionally Reactive Child, Part 2:
Managing Challenging Behaviors
Tuesday, January 19, 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: Mount Nittany Middle School
Presenter: Dr. Rachel Love, Taking Flight Developmental Center
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Wishing you a happy holiday season and new year!
We hope you enjoy this news from SCASD. Let us know your comments at info@scasd.org. Sincerely,
State College Area School District
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