JBHS March Newsletter
March, 2024
Opening Thoughts
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Can you believe we are already in March! Spring sports have started and we are rapidly progressing toward the final months of the school year. These final months and weeks tend to fly by rapidly with a flurry of activities, ceremonies, and events. Spring is always one of our favorite times of year. As a special note to Seniors I would direct you to the section below regarding Act 158 Statewide Graduation Requirements. If you have not met a Graduation Pathway please see your counselor today!
Throughout every year our students and families have many questions and this year will be no exception. It is my hope that this letter will provide many of the answers you seek. Much of the information will remain from month to month but we will continue to update it with new, current, and upcoming information as the year progresses.
Important Upcoming Dates
Click here to access the TSD 2023-24 Calendar
March 1 - Faculty/Alumni Basketball Game - 7pm, JBHS Gym
March 3 - TWEP Live Animal Program - 2:15 - 5:15pm, JBHS Auditorium
March 4 and 5 - 8th Grade Scheduling Meeting - Our Counselors will meet with students in their English classes at the MS.
March 4 - Middle School (upcoming 9th grade) Scheduling Window Opens
March 7- High School Scheduling Window Opens
March 8 - Act 80 Day for JB / FCCTC will be Open
March 13 - Athletic Boosters Meeting - 7pm, JBHS Library
March 15 - JB Open / FCCTC Closed for Spring Break
March 15 and 16 - Spring Musical - 7pm
March 17 - Spring Musical - 3pm
March 22-23 - County Chorus
March 23 - Hosting JBHS Indoor Show
March 26 - End of Marking Period 3
March 28 - 1:00 Dismissal for students
March 29 - April 1 - Easter Break
April 5&6- Franklin Co. Science Fair- Waynesboro Area Middle School
April 6&7- JBHS Indoor Guard and Percussion Championships @Chambersburg
April 21- Messa Vocce and JBMS Select Choir Concert- 3PM, JBHS Auditorium
April 27- JBHS Prom- Goldfish Barn- 7-10pm
Franklin Science Fair
April 5th and 6th at Waynesboro Area Middle School
Please encourage your student to enter a project in this year's Franklin Science Fair.
Deadline to register is Friday March 29th
For more information contact Emily Poffenberger (epoffenberger@tsdrockets.org) or visit the links below:
JBHS Spring Drama Production
PBIS Expectations
The acronym PBIS= Positive Behavior Intervention Support. While the students do not find ‘intervention support’ something that sounds exciting, we frame it to them as an incentive system (what they can earn for good behavior).--rather than the punishments that they will receive for negative behavior.
Faculty and staff reviewed our PBIS expectations for students on September 13th during Activity Period. We focus on Safety, Responsibility, and Respect. We explicitly defined what those three behaviors should look like throughout the school. We revealed that students can earn the opportunity to attend a movie with popcorn at the end of the semester for positive behavior. We also plan to incentivize our dances this year starting with the Homecoming Dance. We will also have reward days and activities throughout the rest of the year. Students who have more than 2 office discipline referrals or any suspension between reward activities are not permitted to participate. Students will have the opportunity to earn smaller prizes throughout the year like spirit wear, music rewards, and more! Our next PBIS Reward Event is the Valentines Dance on February 16th.
JBHS Prom 2024
James Buchanan Student Media
James Buchanan High School Named Jostens 2023 National Yearbook Program of Excellence
Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, today announced that James Buchanan High School’s yearbook program has achieved the Jostens 2023 National Yearbook Program of Excellence award at the Gold Level. The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration, and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy.
The James Buchanan High School award-winning yearbook program, led by sophomores, juniors and seniors taking the Journalism course under the direction of Danielle DeFelice and Erin Martin, JBHS yearbook advisers, utilize photography, writing and design skills in order to create the publication.
Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Awards are presented twice a year, in spring and in fall based on the yearbook’s arrival date at the school. The award was presented to the James Buchanan yearbook program for achieving defined criteria in between one and three of the following categories: creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement, and successfully managing the yearbook creation process.
- Visit The Rocket Flame for school based articles and information
- Visit James Buchanan Student Meida Instagram Page
- Order your copy of the James Buchanan Citadel Yearbook. Price increases January 27.
- Enjoy the National Yearbook Program of Excellence press release the Citadel staff received from the publisher
- Order your copy of the James Buchanan Citadel Yearbook. The current price is $86
JLG School To Work Program
JLG Overview meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 13th during AP in the auditorium for all 11th graders. We will have representatives from JLG here to help answer questions, explain the process of onboarding students and an overview of the program.
Work Experience
Work Experience reminder: As the scheduling process begins and juniors are thinking about electives and their course load for next year, please remember that any junior interested in participating in the Work Experience program needs to see Mrs. Horst in room 108 to discuss the application process. The Google Form application will also be emailed to all juniors within the next few weeks.
Driver's Ed
Did you know that James Buchanan High School offers a Behind the Wheel Driver Education Program? The program consists of 9 hours of simulated driving and 3 hours of on-the-road driving with certified instructors. Added benefits include PA driver’s license testing at JBHS, avoiding the DMV, and a potential reduction in student driver insurance costs. Please see the link below for further details.
* A student is eligible for this program once receiving their driving permit.
College & Career Happenings
Mrs. Haley Hager is our College & Career Adviser. We are excited to have her back and working with your students to plan for their future! If you have any questions or want to meet to talk about your student’s plans for life after high school, please feel free to contact her either by email (hhager@tusge.org) or by phone (717-352-2164 ext. 5417).
Encourage your student to check the daily announcements and emails from Mrs. Hager for further information!
*Scan the QR code to visit the JBHS College Advising Instagram page for the most up to date information regarding JBHS College and Career Advising Events
JBHS Student Parent Handbook- Points to Review
Please click HERE to access and review the JBHS Student/Parent Handbook. A few items of note:
Pg. 12 - TSD Chain of Communication Chart
Pg. 14 - Overview of Disciplinary Infractions and Consequences
Pg. 20 - Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Pg. 20 - Appearance and Dress Code
Pg. 42 - Electronic Device/Cell Phones/Images
Pg. 47 - Grading Policy and Graduation Requirements
Pg. 64 - Special Education
Pg. 70 - Video/Audio Recording
Pg. 71 - Work Coop Program
E-Cigarettes and Vaping Device Concerns
We encourage all of our families to talk to your children about electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, Jules, and other names. Unfortunately, we are continuing to find students in possession of e-cigarettes at school, which, in the state of Pennsylvania, is against the law on school property, regardless of age. Unfortunately, we are also seeing an increase in possession of e-cigarettes that contain THC and/or marijuana. Possession of this type of e-cigarette on school property is also against the law and will result in more serious criminal charges filed by our school police officers. Due to their ability to deliver any manner of substance these devices are also considered drug paraphernalia under TSD Policy and students may be suspended or expelled and cited by our school police officer for such possession.
Thank you for partnering with us in keeping our schools free from electronic cigarettes and other items prohibited by PA law and TSD School Board Policy.
Notes from TSD Online Academy
TSD Online Academy
Students and families participating in our TSD Online Academy program should take time to click here and read and review the TSD Online Academy Handbook (Draft). For more information regarding the TSD Online Academy please contact the following:
TSD Cyber Coordinator- Mrs. Ashley Wilhelm- awilhelm@tusge.org
JBHS Athletics
Once again this year we will offer a full range of athletic teams and activities for our students and we look forward to another exciting year of Rocket Athletics. For more information about all of our Rocket Athletics Schedules as well as game results, please click here.
The following home athletic events will be livestreamed on the NFHS Network during the Winter Season:
Boys and Girls Basketball
Wrestling
Bocce
*Please note NFHS access requires a subscription. Subscriptions are available on a monthly or annual basis. See the NFHS Website for more information.
Act 158 PA State Graduation Requirements
Act 158 of 2018 (Act 158), provides alternatives to Pennsylvania’s statewide requirement of attaining proficiency on the three end-of-course Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology) for a student to achieve statewide graduation requirements. Effective with the graduating class of 2023, students have the option to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness through one of four additional pathways that more fully illustrate college, career, and community readiness. Click here for more information regarding the Act 158 Statewide Graduation Requirement Pathways
Final Thoughts
As with any school year there will be challenges and successes along the way as we progress through 2023-24. Communication is an essential element to that success. In addition to the many School Messenger calls and emails we regularly issue we will endeavor to update this letter throughout the school year. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at the school.
Chip Dickey
JBHS Principal
717-328-2146