Happenings on the Hill
September 2023
Celebrating the First Weeks of School!
The first few days back at school can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. From grade-level meetings to collaborative expectation setting, and classroom team building activities, teachers and students priortized positive relationships to ease the transition and set a strong foundation for high academic achievement. It is energizing to see so many smiling faces back at the Hill Campus, reconnecting with friends, forging new relationships, and participating in a variety of extracurricular activities.
Our focus areas this year include strengthening parent engagement, increasing student regular attendance, monitoring each student's graduation progress, growing STEM opportunities, and differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students.
In partnership with our families, we are nurturing responsible caring citizens, promoting high achievement, and building a school community that provides a positive, safe, and supportive environment for every student, every day.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
New Faces on the Hill
Ms. Lauren Lutman: Student Services Administrative Assistant
Mr. Nicholas Blair: HS Social Studies
Mr. John Cassidy: MS Learning Support
Mr. Michael Cheezum: MS Math
Mr. Jeremy Ewell: HS/MS Speech
Mr. Andrew Eyster: HS Science
Ms. Sandy Gadberry: MS STEM
Mr. David Herring: HS Emotional Support
Ms. Kaitlyn Hicks: MS Science
Ms. Heather Lischner: HS/MS Music
Ms. Alyssa Selander: MS English
Attendance
Our 2023-24 attendance goal is for 75% or more of our students to regularly attend school. Pennsylvania defines regular attendees as students who have fewer than 10 absences per year. Students who have 10 or more absences per year are considered "chronically absent." Chronic absenteesim can affect academic achievement and student's social-emotional health.
Please encourage your child to arrive by 7:50 a.m. Doors open at 7:55 a.m. If your child is struggling to attend school, contact their school counselor or a principal for support.
Tardy: A student is considered tardy if they arrive after 8:00 a.m.
Absent: A student is considered absent if they do not attend school. Parent/Caregiver or doctor excuses must be submitted to the Attendance Administrative Assistant within three (3) days of returning for the absence.
An Online Excuse can be filled out and submitted for any absence.
2023-24 Updated Cell Phone Policies
High School
- Cell phones may not be visible or used during class time.
- Cell phones must be silenced and left in backpacks or turned in to the classroom teacher for the duration of the class period.
- Cell phones may be used in the hallway during transitions and in the cafeteria during lunch.
Middle School
- Cell phones may not be used during the school day.
- Cell phones must remain in lockers or be turned in to a student’s homeroom/first period teacher upon arrival.
Athletics & Extra-Curricular Activities
Hometown Ticketing
As we gear up for an exhilarating 2023-24 extracurricular year, our mission is to craft a comprehensive experience for you, and we're excited to reveal the key to unlocking this year's events.
Introducing the Convenience of Digital Tickets: Your Passport to Unforgettable Moments!
In our pursuit of providing you with the best, we're thrilled to introduce digital tickets for students and adults.
What's In Store for You:
- Access All Areas: Dive into the heart of the action with unrestricted entry to every home extracurricular event throughout the 2023-2024 school year. Whether you choose to purchase a season-pass or individual digital tickets, the choice is yours, from the thrill of fall classics to the excitement of winter and spring showdowns.
- Value Beyond Compare: Your season-pass grants you unbeatable savings and incredible value. If you choose not to purchase a season-pass, you can still purchase an individual ticket for just $5 for adults and $3 for students/senior citizens. It's an investment in experiences that will last a lifetime.
- Hassle-Free Convenience: Purchasing your All-Sports Season Pass is now easier than ever. Secure your pass seamlessly online on our website here. Act swiftly to ensure you get all the benefits, as we're committed to upholding our spectator capacity limit for everyone's enjoyment.
To dive into the specifics and grab your All-Sports Season Pass or individual tickets, explore the attachments provided or visit our dedicated webpage here. Everything you need to know is at your fingertips.
Join us in embracing the transformative power of unity, excitement, and camaraderie as we set sail on this incredible journey together. Let's make this year's extracurricular events the talk of the town!
HOMETOWN Ticketing PDF Flyer
Student Services
Upcoming Events
SAT School Day
- October 26th, 2023 (This is an early dismissal day.)
- For 12th graders – the fee is $8
- For 11th graders – the fee is $60
- Please sign up by emailing your student's school counselor.
College Fair
- November 16, 2023, 8:30-11:00 am in the high school gym. This event is for students only.
FAFSA
- For caregivers of seniors interested in college after high school.
- You will need to complete the FAFSA (financial aid). The application will not open until after December.
- The first step is completing your FSA ID. We will have a FSA completion night on January 9th from 5-6pm.
- The FAFSA can be completed after the FSA ID is done. The FAFSA completion night will occur on February 13th from 5-6pm (subject to change based on PHEAA rep availability).
Counselor's Corner
Seniors: Check out Counselor's Corner for outside scholarships that are available now!
Dual Enrollment
CBSD is committed to allowing qualified high school students the opportunity to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. By participating in Dual Enrollment, students are exposed to college classes, coursework, and expectations while still in high school, at what is typically a reduced tuition rate.
Successful students may be able to transfer those credits earned through dual enrollment, onto another college and/or toward their college degree. Transfer credits are dependent on the discretion of the destination college.
Health Room
Family First Dental Health Information
- Dental Exams
- X-rays
- Dental Cleaning
- Fluoride Treatments
- Sealants
- Oral hygiene education
Please complete the attached consent form if you would like your child to participate in these services.
Dental Form: English
Dental Form: Spanish
Protecting Mental Health
For some children, the transition back to full time in-person learning may be a stressful one. Here are some tips for supporting your child:
- Monitor your child for signs of increased stress or anxiety. These may include: Returning to old habits or developing new ones, actng out, increased crying or having stronger emotional reactions than usual.
- Talk to your child about the stressors that are facing and let them know that it is okay if they are struggling with all the new changes at school.
- Make sure that your child is getting plenty of sleep at night and at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day to help them cope with stress.
- If you have concerns about you child's mental health, talk to their healthcare provider or a school counselor about other ways to help.
Important Reminders about Arrival and Dismissal
- The car drop-off lane is meant for quick drop-offs. If you plan to have a conversation with your child prior to them exiting the car, please park in a spot in one of the lots.
- It is critical that cars dropping off students pull up to the farthest spot possible. This allows more cars to drop-off students at one time and moves the line along more quickly.
- Students can be picked up from either parking lot. To ensure student safety, the front of the building and top of the hill may not be used for pick-up.
For Your Review: Complete Arrival & Dismissal Information
Arrival
- Cars arrive via the front hill and separate into two lanes.
- Interior Lane: Drop-off; Exterior Lane: Thru traffic
- Signage will be posted to alert traffic to appropriate lane.
- No long-term parking/idling along the red curb areas or front hill.
Dismissal
- No students dismissed via front doors to alleviate traffic congestion and increase student safety.
- Car riders will meet their rides in the gym or cafeteria parking lots.
- If your child is a car rider, please create a pick-up plan with your child.
- No parking permitted along the front of the building, cafeteria sidewalk, or hills.
Hill Campus Hours
Office Hours
7:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Student School Hours
8:00 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.
The Reason We Are Here!
CBSD CREDO
We pledge to provide an innovative place of learning where individuals will always enjoy a positive, supportive, and safe environment.
The CBSD experience honors everyone's personal story, nurtures well-being, and fulfills even the unexpressed needs of our community.
CBSD Hill Campus
Columbia, PA 17512
717.684.7500