At the Dec. 9 Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting, Nathan Davidson, Whitehall High School principal, discussed WHS clubs and activities, including Student Council and Aevidum.

Student Council teaches leadership skills and provides opportunities for students to participate in conferences such as the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils, where attendees discovered new ideas for fundraising and mini-THON events. They also had the opportunity to hear speakers, attend workshops and enjoy a banquet.

Most recently, Student Council members helped plan a December movie night at WHS, which included a short film, followed by a book, crafts and snacks.

Aevidum, which means “I’ve got your back,” is a new club at WHS. It had already been a club at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School. Its goal is to promote acceptance, appreciation, acknowledgment and caring in the district. Members spread messages of positivity, design posters and discuss mental health awareness.

Normally during the December school board meeting, the WHS Chorale performs its holiday set; however, the group was already performing at both Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and the women’s Christmas dinner at First Presbyterian Church in Allentown.

“We bring the chorale out every year as an opportunity to showcase what our students do outside of the classroom,” Davidson said. “Their ability to learn, their ability to perform, their ability to engage in events that go beyond what our kids learn in a traditional setting is what is so valuable about what our kids have the opportunity to do at Whitehall.”

Also at the meeting, PTO PLUS President Toni Fillman introduced second-grader Grace Sulter to the board to showcase a special achievement.

Grace, who has been making and selling bracelets to teachers, family and friends, was featured recently in the Whitehall-Coplay Press for using her earnings to buy books and gifts for children at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, saw the Press story and sent Grace a letter recognizing her kindness and generosity. Boscola also offered to make a donation of coloring and activity books to the hospital’s children’s unit in Grace’s name.

Grace passed out bracelets to each school board member and Officer Matthew Christman, WHS’ resource officer. She is continuing to sell bracelets and will be giving the proceeds to the Zephyr Elementary Key Club’s holiday toy drive.

In other news, the board approved the collective bargaining agreement between the school district and the Whitehall-Coplay Education Association, dated July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024.

The board also approved the appointment of Tina Koren to fill William Leiner Jr.’s seat on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Board of Trustees for a three-year term ending Dec. 1, 2022.

The board approved a field trip request from Edward Hong for the WHS Chorale to travel to Hershey Park to perform for the Christmas Candylane program Dec. 15, at the cost of one bus.

The board approved the testing, adjusting and balancing contract between H.T. Lyon Inc. and WCSD for the WHS additions and renovations project, pending administration and solicitor approval.

Also approved were the PlanCon A justification and PlanCon B schematic drawings of the new elementary school building.

New appointments include Douglas Barriner, WCMS health and physical education teacher, at the rate of $49,345, and Sandra Hoenl, middle school custodian, at the rate of $25.85 per hour. New teacher induction participants include Marisa Gilbert, mentor to Barriner, with compensation of $650.

Committee meetings on finance/personnel, education/student activities and operations/transportation will be held 4 p.m. Dec. 16 and Jan. 27, 2020.

The next school board meeting will be held 7 p.m. Jan. 13, 2020.