A Strengthening Families Program will begin on March 18 and run through April 29. This is a free Tuesday night program for parents and caregivers and their middle schoolers, ages 10-14, sponsored by the Whitehall-Coplay Middle School, Penn State Extension and Valley Youth House. There will be a dinner served for the entire family, and free child care for younger family members. Dinner is at 5:30 and the family fun sessions are from 6-8 p.m., in the middle school cafeteria.

Parents and caregivers can enhance their parenting skills by learning to set limits and showing love, making house rules, encouraging good behavior, protecting children from substance abuse and handling stress. Students learn about preparing for teen years, communicating with parents, dealing with stress and peer pressure and avoiding alcohol and drugs. For information or to register, call the school at 610-439-1439 and ask for your child's guidance counselor or administrator.

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Make note of the following dates that are scheduled for make up days. There will be school April 17, May 5, June 12, June 16 and June 17. There will be no school March 14, for teacher in-service. School will also be closed April 18 and 21 for spring break.

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McZephyr Night at McDonalds will be held 5-8 p.m. March 13. It is in the McDonald's next to Taco Bell on Macarthur Road. Come out and support the Zephyr Elementary School. Teachers and staff will be working and serving up your meal.

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PTO market day pick up is scheduled for March 19. You may pick up your items at the middle school cafeteria between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. The PTO will also be meeting at the Zephyr Building for their monthly meeting on March 18 at 7 p.m.

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Whitehall Boys Basketball Team presents The Fourth Annual Night at the Races. The event is scheduled for March 29 at the American Club of Coplay. The doors open 5:30 p.m. and the races begin 7 p.m. The ticket price includes beer, soda, barbecue, chips and pretzels. Call or email Linda Melosky for tickets and information at lmelsoky@gmail.com or 610-730-4045

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Whitehall High School Theatre proudly presents Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific."

Tickets are on sale. The show runs April 3-6 with performances 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Cost is $12 per adult and $8 per senior citizen and students. There is also an optional dinner theatre Saturday 6 p.m. The cost of the dinner is an additional $17 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the high school box office on Saturday's from 9:30-11:30 a.m. or you can mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to Whitehall High School Theatre 3800 Mechanicsville Road, Whitehall, 18052 with the number of tickets needed, the date of the show you would like to attend and a check payable to Whitehall Theatre. Tickets are first come first served for best available seating.

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Do you have any school news? This column is a compilation of upcoming school events in the Whitehall-Coplay School District. Teachers, administrators, parents, students, coaches, PTOs, club advisers and any other community members are invited to share their upcoming activities. Email me at jamb 87@hotmail.com with "Whitehall-Coplay School News" in the subject line at least a week before an event.