South Lebanon Elementary
January 2024
Notes and News from the Principal
I would like to welcome back our South Lebanon students from the winter break as we begin 2024. I hope that all of our students and families had a restful break and were able to enjoy your time together. We are excited to enter the second semester in a few weeks, which means we are already almost half way through the school year. As the cold weather sets in and the potential for snow arises, please remember to update your contact information in Skyward to ensure that you receive weather notifications in the event of a closing or delay. The district website is also a great source to check for school updates relating to weather. Lastly, please remember that it is our goal to get students outside as much as possible for recess. Please be sure that your child is dressed for the weather with hats, coats, and gloves as necessary. We are looking forward to a great month ahead. Please read below to find out about some of the events that we have planned in January.
South Lebanon is about to take part in a special, communitywide shared reading event! Every family will receive a copy of the same book and will be asked to read it together at home. The book title will remain a surprise until it is announced at a special assembly on January 5!
Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares your child to be an effective reader, and it is also a fun, worthwhile family activity. With this program, we aim to build a Community of Readers at our school. Everyone – students, parents, teachers, even administrative staff – will all be following along together.
Along with the book, you will receive a reading schedule so that you can keep up at home. Generally, you will be asked to read about 15 minutes each weeknight.
In school, your child will be invited to answer daily trivia questions to encourage and reward attentive listening. You will soon find that your child will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story. In class, students will explore the book through activities and discussion. You will want to make sure your family keeps up so that your child can be included. When our program concludes, your family can keep the book and enjoy it again for years to come, or you can donate it back to the school.
When a whole school reads a book, there’s a lot to talk about. With your help, we can build a Community of Readers at our school. Special thanks to South Lebanon’s Parent Teacher Partnership (PTP) for helping to fund this important event.
Reminders from the Nurse's Office--Mrs. Kline
School dental exams are on January 5th. Please contact the nurse if you would like to be present for the exam. If you selected to have a private dental exam completed for your student, please turn in the required paperwork from the dentist as soon as possible.
School physicals will be determined at a later date and notification will be sent home with your student when the date is determined. If you selected to have a private physical exam completed for your student, please turn in the required paperwork from the doctor as soon as possible.
If your child has tested positive for COVID, please inform your child’s healthcare provider and follow their guidance regarding a return-to-school date. A note from the healthcare provider should be submitted to the school office upon your child’s return to school. In the event the provider’s note does not indicate a return date, the school nurse will work with parents/guardians to determine a return date, based on CDC guidelines. Parents/guardians who do not have a healthcare provider’s note are advised to write a parent ill note that will count toward the 10 days of allowable absences per school year.
Thank you and stay healthy!
South Lebanon PTP Happenings
Holiday Shop Thank you
Thank you to Charlotte Badger, Maria Sabados, and Alisha Fleischer for their hard work and dedication. Your support is greatly appreciated. Holiday Shop was a success because of YOU!
Monthly Meetings
Please join us on January 10th, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the library. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. Free childcare will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in helping with one of our upcoming events? We would LOVE to have you join us! Please click the volunteer link below to sign up!
Important Links:
Race for Education:
Donate to the Race for Education
PTP Volunteer Survey:
Click here to sign up to volunteer
Directions on how to use the new Box Tops app:
Physical Education News-Mrs. Houtz
January Newsletter Information:
Physical Education News:
Our annual American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge event will begin with a kickoff assembly on January 16th 2024. Follow the directions below to register! Your child will earn a wristband just for registering! Along with the wristband, there are various other prizes students can earn based on how much they raise. So start raising money now! Our ultimate goal as a school is to have EVERY STUDENT REGISTERED ONLINE (this involves no donation at all).
Here’s how you can register: (pick 1 of 3 options)
- http://www2.heart.org/goto/SLKHC
- Search, “Kids Heart Challenge” in your app store
- scan the QR code below
More information will be sent home after the kickoff assembly. Our official Kids Heart Challenge Event will take place on Friday, February 16th, 2024 during the school day.
Parents/Guardians: Interested in volunteering to help with our Kids Heart Challenge Event? Be on the lookout for a sign up message coming in January.
Please reach out to Mrs. Houtz (jhoutz@clsd.k12.pa.us) with any questions.
Are you interested in Volunteering at Physical Education Events?
If you are interested in helping to volunteer for Kids Heart Challenge on February 16th, 2024 and/or South Lebanon Field Day on May 29th, 2024. Please make sure you complete the necessary paperwork to be a Volunteer in our District. See Volunteer Information on the Community tab on the www.clsd.k12.pa.us website for more information on being a volunteer.
Falcons For Families
Falcons for Families
Falcons for Families (FFF) is open for business! FFF has free clothes, toiletries, and school supplies for Cornwall-Lebanon families.
Location: Cedar Crest High School
Hours: By appointment only
*Appointments are available Monday - Thursday from 8am-3:30pm
To make an appointment to shop, please email falcons4families@clsd.k12.pa.us.
Please include your name, preferred day and time, phone number, and your child’s name and school.
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Halcones para familias
¡Falcons for Families (FFF) está abierto al público! FFF ofrece ropa, artículos de tocador y útiles escolares gratuitos para las familias de Cornwall-Líbano.
Ubicación: Escuela secundaria Cedar Crest
Horario: Sólo con cita previa
*Las citas están disponibles de lunes a jueves de 8 a. m. a 3:30 p. m.
Para programar una cita para comprar, envíe un correo electrónico a falcons4families@clsd.k12.pa.us.
Incluya su nombre, día y hora preferidos, número de teléfono y el nombre y la escuela de su hijo.
South Lebanon PTP Scholarship
The South Lebanon Parent Teacher Partnership is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring scholarships for Cedar Crest students who will be enrolling in any institution of higher learning. This scholarship is for any student who attended South Lebanon Elementary for at least their 3rd, 4th and 5th grade years at South Lebanon Elementary.
As a parent organization, we are an outreach of South Lebanon Elementary and we are actively involved with our school’s ideals. Many of our students have espoused these ideals while attending South Lebanon and we desire to honor those students who are pursing educational programs and associated fields beyond high school education. These scholarships are for all CCHS students who attended South Lebanon for their last 3 years of elementary schooling. Grade point average will not be the sole determining factor in scholarship selection. We encourage you to have your seniors who attended South Lebanon apply for these scholarship awards.
Please follow the criteria outlined in the attached information and application. An electronic copy can be found on the under the South Lebanon tab of the Cornwall Lebanon School District website or in the CCHS Counseling Office. https://sites.google.com/view/southlebanonptp/home?pli=1
We plan to again offer (2) - $1,000 scholarships and have named one of the scholarships as the, “Stacey Seldomridge Pennington PTP Memorial Scholarship.”
Scholarship applications are due no later than March 1, 2024. Any questions can be directed to Blythe Heisey, bheisey@clsd.k12.pa.us
Mrs. Blythe Heisey
Chorus News from Mr. Small
“The South Lebanon Chorus was recently selected by The American Prize national competition to receive ‘First Honorable Mention’ in the national winners group just below the top 3 ensembles in the United States. This is for the concert performance of one of our songs written by an American composer. Congrats on this national achievement!!!! Click on the link to view the results: https://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2023/11/national-winners-american-music.html (scroll down to the bottom!)”
District News, Events and Information
Did you know?
· Information about any School Closings or Delays will be posted FIRST to the District Home page: www.clsd.k12.pa.us and also to the Cornwall-Lebanon School District Facebook page and Twitter (@CLSD_Schools). Be sure to update your weather emergency contact information under the Skylert tab on the parent portal in order to receive calls and emails. Any emergency messages are sent via text messages; be sure to list a cellular phone number in the SMS section if you wish to receive these calls.
· Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year: If you have a child residing in the CLSD who will reach the age of give (5) BEFORE September 1, 2024, please visit the CLSD website and click on the Kindergarten image on the Home page to begin the online registration process. You may also click on the link below.
· Each year, CLSD and the CCHS Key Club host a Spring Dinner & Dance for CLSD Residents Age 65+. This year’s event is Friday, March 22, 2024, 5:30-9 PM, in the CCHS café. The theme is “Cloud 9.” In early January, visit the CLSD website under the COMMUNITY tab -->Events & Activities to download an invitation/registration form; or, visit the District office or any CLSD school building to pick up a form. The evening event is Free; registration is required by Friday, March 8 for menu ordering and facility set-up needs.
January 2024 Calendar Notes (January is School Directors Recognition Month):
· Monday, Jan. 1: No School – New Year’s Day; Last Day of Winter Vacation
· Tuesday, Jan. 2: All Schools are In Session
· Sunday, Jan. 7: CCHS Winter Band Concert, 2 PM, CCHS Aud.
· Tuesday, Jan. 8: CLSD Board of School Directors Public Work Session, 5:30 p.m.; Please register to attend under the School Board tab on the District website.
· Thursday, Jan. 11: CLSD Maintenance & Custodians Recognition Day
· Monday, Jan. 15: No School – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
· Tuesday, Jan. 16: CLSD Board of School Directors regular meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Please register to attend under the School Board tab on the District website.
· Monday, Jan. 22: End of the 2nd Marking Period/1st Semester
· Wednesday, Jan. 24: High School Orientation for Current 8th grade Parents, 6 PM, CCHS Aud.
· Friday, Jan. 26: No School for Students (Professional Development Day)
· Tuesday, Jan. 30: Report Cards Available Online beginning this day
· Thursday, Feb. 1: Kindergarten Orientation, All Elementary Schools, 6 PM. See bullet point about Kindergarten registration, above.