Whitehall-Coplay School District students will be dismissed early Dec. 21. Winter break will be from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2019. Schools will reopen Jan. 2, 2019.

***

Reminder: Zephyr Elementary School’s winter fun days continue.

Dec. 20 - holiday or favorite hat day

Dec. 21 - holiday sweater or a favorite sports team jersey day

***

The 22nd annual holiday Festival of Trees at Lehigh Valley International Airport will continue until Dec. 26. Steckel Elementary School students, under the direction of Mrs. Bryk, created handmade ornaments that were placed on Steckel Elementary’s holiday tree.

The display of trees, which were donated from local tree farms, are on both the lower and upper levels of the main terminal building. In prior years, the holiday creations of 20-plus schools were viewed and appreciated by thousands of travelers who passed through LVIA.

If you’re traveling through the airport during the holidays, be sure to stop and look for Steckel’s tree.

***

An after-school program for third-graders at Steckel will be starting the beginning of February and will run for 19 sessions. It will focus on basic skills needed for a proficient level of performance in reading and math. Teachers’ goals include individualization of instruction and reteaching/reinforcement of skills. Students will also be assisted with organizational skills as time allows.

In order to provide effective small-group instruction, the student-to-teacher ratio is kept at a minimum; therefore, the number of students participating in this program is limited.

Placement in the program is based upon teacher recommendation and assessment data. Sessions will be held 3:35-4:35 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Parents must provide transportation home. To make the program more accessible, there will be a window of opportunity for parent pickup until 5 p.m.

***

Do you know a Zephyr Graduate of Distinction? If so, WCSD eagerly awaits the opportunity to recognize graduates accomplished in the areas of academic achievement, music, the arts, civic and/or military service, community service or significant personal achievements.

Nominations for the 2019 Zephyr Graduates of Distinction are being accepted until Jan. 11, 2019. Any graduate of Whitehall High School, past/present employee or past/present resident of the district may submit a nomination. A nomination submitted will continue in the active nomination file for five years.

Additional information regarding this distinction can be found on the district website, whitehallcoplay.org, under the “Community” link.

***

Do you have any WCSD news? Teachers, administrators, parents, students, coaches, PTAs, club advisers and any other community members are invited to share their upcoming activities. Email me at jamb87@hotmail.com with “Whitehall-Coplay School News” in the subject line at least a week before an event.