May / June 2015

South Western School District

Dear West Manheim Parents/Guardians,

We want to make you aware that after careful consideration, Camp Learn-A-Lot will not be occurring

as it has in previous summers. Instead, the district has an exciting plan to promote summer reading for all

South Western School District elementary students in an effort to keep their reading skills sharp!

The goal of the new Summer Reading Program, entitled Catch the Reading Wave, is for students

to read books of their choosing throughout the summer. Reading research shows that many children's reading

abilities decline between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next, because students don't read

as much over the summer. Children can stop this summer reading slump by reading as few as five books over

the summer, or for 15-20 minutes each day. Summer break is a marvelous time for readers to explore topics

and books of their own interest.

To help make this opportunity fun and engaging, the elementary schools PTOs and PTAs will be

holding Spring Book Fairs at each school throughout the month of May. Students will be asked to keep a

Reading Log of the minutes they spend reading over the summer. In partnership with Guthrie Memorial Library

in downtown Hanover, students can earn prizes for logging in a certain amount of minutes throughout the sum-

mer. In addition to the reading log, students will be given a Reading Passport to get punched at the various

events the district will be hosting throughout the summer. Here is a list of the ways that students can earn a

punch in their Passport: Read 200 minutes (up to 800 throughout the summer); attend all of our summer

open library nights; participate in a book talk with a teacher (in person or on-line); visit Guthrie Memori-

al Library; complete at least one (1) online task; attend our summer book swim and swap on July 20,

from 1-3 pm. or 5-7 p.m.. For earning just two (2) punches in the passport, the student will be given a

Catch the Reading Wave t-shirt. For reading 800 minutes, the student will earn lunch with their princi-

pal when they return to school. For obtaining eight (8) punches in the passport, students will have their

name put into a drawing for some incredible prizes. Each student will also be given a Catch the Read-

ing Wave bracelet at the end of this school year.

This new initiative is an excellent opportunity for all South Western School District elementary stu-

dents to choose books that interest and excite them, and to be a reader over the summer. Stay tuned for more

details coming home at the end of the school year.

Sincerely,

Elementary Principals and Reading Supervisor

South Western School District

Inside this issue:

Volunteer Information 2

School Counselor 3

PBIS 4

Parent Appreciation Day

5

Specialists 6

SPCA 9

Dates to Remember 10

West Manheim Newsletter

West Manheim Elementary School

2000 Baltimore Pike Hanover, PA 17331

Phone: 717-633-4890 Fax: 717-637-2011

Office hours: 7 AM-3:30 PM

A Tradition of Excellence.

Were on the web at:

swsd.k12.pa.us

West Manheim Facebook

West Manheim Website

Page 2 West Manheim Newsletter

2015 Changes to South Western School District Volunteer Requirements

Across the state of Pennsylvania, there have been some legislative changes that now require all volunteers to have required background

checks. Our current volunteers will be receiving a letter from Dr. Rupp in the near future explaining these required changes. In addition,

we want all South Western parents to know what they must complete, if they are interested in volunteering in a variety of ways in our

schools.

The information below clearly outlines what and when background checks are required.

The new Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) is very rigid with who must obtain clearances, so that is not up to the district. The law

specifically states that a volunteer is any adult responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children. Direct contact is defined as the care, supervision, guidance or control of children or routine interaction with children. The responsibility for and cost of securing the required records rests with the prospective volunteer.

Please review the attached information. You will note that three clearances are required. However, if you have lived in Pennsylvania for

the last ten (10) consecutive years, you may file for exemption from the FBI clearance. The attached information explains how you verify

if you have lived in Pennsylvania for ten years.

If you are interested in volunteering for the 2015-16 school year, please contact the administration office at 717-632-2500, to verify

your interest in volunteering and for assistance with the new procedures.

Clearances:

ACT 34 Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Background Check

Each volunteer must submit a Criminal History Record from the Pennsylvania State Police. Volunteers must submit an ORIGINAL report,

which may not be more than one (1) year old. Volunteers can go to the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History website and apply for

their criminal record check online with the Pennsylvania State Police at: https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp

If you have questions about the Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Record Checks form (SP4 164), please call: (717) 783-

9973 or toll free 1-888-783-7972.

ACT 114 Federal Criminal History Record Each volunteer must submit a Federal Criminal Record from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Prospective employees must sub-

mit ORIGINAL report, which may not be more than one (1) year old.

* The Pennsylvania Department of Education utilizes Cogent Systems to process finger print based FBI criminal background checks

for prospective employees of public and private schools. Under Act 114 of 2006, ALL prospective school employees, school contrac-

tors and student teachers are to use the Pennsylvania Department of Education system. This includes but is not limited to: Teachers,

School Administrators, Substitute Teachers, Teaching Assistants, PIAA Sports Officials, School Bus Drivers, and Student Teachers.

Applicants may register online at: www.pa.cogentid.com/index_pde.htm

Following registration volunteers must go to a local Fingerprint Center.

* Applicants must provide proof of identity upon arrival at the Fingerprint Center such as a state issued drivers license, state I.D card, passport, etc. A complete list of approved ID types may be found on the Cogent Systems website. Applicants will not be pro-cessed if they cannot produce an acceptable photo ID.

* After being fingerprinted, volunteer must provide SWSD with the registration confirmation number. SWSD will then obtain the

original clearance via the website. SWSD MAY NOT provide a copy of the clearance to the applicant.

ACT 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Each volunteer must submit an official clearance from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Volunteers must submit an ORIGI-

NAL report, which may not be more than one (1) year old. Creating an account and submitting your clearance application online will give

you immediate access to your results or the status of your results if your results cannot be processed immediately.

Child Abuse History Clearance Online: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS

Note: Upon receiving your clearances, please submit the originals to Duane Bull in the administration office. Originals must be viewed

and the office will make copies for our files. Originals will be returned to the volunteer.

Page 3 May / June

Page 4 West Manheim Newsletter

Page 5 May / June

SWSD COMMUNITY ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES

BEAT THE WINTER BLUES

IPADS, IPHONES, TABLETS, OH MY?! CLASS

S.W. WELDING ACADEMY GMAW (MIG) BEGINNER AND ADV.

UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA CLASS

YOGA 101 ~~ AQUA ZUMBA ~~ ZUMBA ~~ ZUMBA GOLD

OPEN VOLLEYBALL ~~ COMMUNITY SWIM

Visit www.swsd.k12.pa.us for more details about adult education classes at South

Western School District

Page 6 West Manheim Newsletter

Answers from Art By Mrs. Shaub

Page 7 May / June

Page 8 West Manheim Newsletter

Music Notes By Mrs. Evelan

Page 9 May / June

MAY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

5/27 Kindergarten Trip to East Woods

School Board Meeting, 7 PM at Admin.

5/29 Spirit DayWear WM T-shirt or blue and yellow

WM PTO Carnival, 6-9 PM

5/30 WM PTO Carnival Rain date, 3-6 PM

6/1 Parent Appreciation Day, 9-11 AM & 6-7 PM

6/2 WM PTO Board Meeting, 6:30-7:30 PM

6/3 Early Dismissal at 12:30 PM for all Elementary

Schools

Spirit DayHawaiian Dress

WM PTO Market Day Pick up, 7-8 PM

6/4 Grade 5 Farewell, 9:45 AM10:30 AM

Early Dismissal at 12:30 PM for all Elementary

Schools

Spirit DayWear WM T-shirt or blue and yellow

Page 10 West Manheim Newsletter

5/1 Grade 3 Trip to SkyZone

Ag Lab at WM

5/2 WM PTO Yard Sale, 8 AM4 PM

5/4 & 5 SWSD Kindergarten Registration 8 AM-3:30 PM

5/4-8 Childrens Book Week

5/6 Spirit DayACES, Wear Fitness Apparel

WM PTO Market Day Pick up, 7-8 PM

5/7 Bricks for Kidz, 2:40-3:40 PM

5/8 WM Grandparents Day

5/9 Grade 5 Trip to Washington, D.C.

5/12-15 WM PTO Spring BOGO Book Fair

WM PTO Meeting, 6:30-7:30 PM

5/13 Spirit DayWear Project Harmony T-shirt or

black and white

5/14 Grade 1 Trip to Catoctin Mountain Zoo (Rain

date)

5/15 Elementary Gym-O-Ree

Spirit DayWM T-shirt or blue and yellow

5/18 Rain date for Gym-O-Ree

West Manheim Music Fest, 7-8 PM

5/21 Grade 2 trip to Environmental Center

5/22 Grade 5 Trip to Maryland Science Center

Spirit DaySpecialists Day, dress as an Art,

Music, Phys. Ed. or Library Teacher

5/25 SCHOOLS CLOSED

5/26 Spirit DayWear Red, White, and Blue

JUNE DATES TO REMEMBER