McDonald's fundraiser for Zephyr Elementary School is tonight, Thursday, Oct. 9. The time is from 5-8 p.m. Come out to see Zephyr staff flipping burgers and taking orders. It is sure to be a fun night. This is the McDonald's on MacArthur Road near the malls.

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Schools will be closed Monday, Oct. 13 for a professional development day for teachers. Please mark your calendars for this closing date.

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Gockley school pictures will be taken Tuesday, Oct. 14. Information will be sent home with students with order forms. Order forms and payment must be sent with the student on picture day. Parents may also pay online at www.christmascitystudio.com. Type in the password GOCKLEY14, Parents are asked to print out the receipt and bring to school on picture day.

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Mark your calendars for Gockley's "Wear Red Day" that is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20. The children are encouraged to wear red socks, red shirts, red hair ribbons and more to support the nationwide effort against drugs. Join in and support the event.

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The next PTSA Market Day Pick Up is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15. The PTSA will be at the Middle School between 4-5 p.m. The PTSA thanks everyone for their continued support of Market Days.

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Ready to get pied!? Join Gockley's Crusade to help "WHIP" Childhood Cancer.

As many have seen the ALS ice bucket challenge, a new challenge is under way at Whitehall Elementary schools to support an unusual pediatric cancer awareness initiative. In honor of September's Childhood Cancer Awareness month, it's time to "Whip Childhood Cancer." Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley began this raising awareness act last month, and it began as a Parkland Teacher, crusaded for the cause. Jacqlyn Mondschein, teacher at the Gockely Elementary contacted Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley to find out more information, and they explained the fun yet eye-opening challenge.

The goal of this initiative is to honor the seven children who die each day from pediatric cancer, and the 46 children diagnosed each day. Proceeds directly serve children of the Lehigh Valley and their families. They give so much time, hope and love to families whose lives are turned upside down.

Since it was founded nearly a decade ago, teacher Jacqlyn Mondschein has been actively involved in this organization. On Sept. 23, Mondschein took the challenge and donated $7 per whipped cream pie. She got pied seven times, enough so each child can get to hold a part of the pie. The donation will be on behalf of Mrs. Mondschein's first grade class, and she then nominated seven teachers. They can either choose to donate their time and face to join them in "Whipping Childhood Cancer" or making a $46 dollar donation. The goal is to raise awareness for childhood cancer, to honor the seven children who die each day from pediatric cancer and stand strong for the 46 children who are diagnosed each day.

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More teacher and student good news! Two Zephyr Elementary students won the Tech Wizard Jr. logo design. Alexis Bartosh and Jacob Busch, now sixth graders, designed the winning logo. Zephyr students in both fourth and fifth grades traveled to the Carbon County IU in Schnecksville with computer teacher Mrs. Roth throughout the school year. Students from neighboring school districts meet there to attend a program called Tech Wizards where they learn new technology. One of the assignments for the students was to design a logo using the grid on PowerPoint. Students first voted among themselves for the one they liked best. It was narrowed down to the top three. The staff then voted for the winning design. The logo is now being used on the Tech Wizard Jr website and will be the design on the T-shirts that this year's Tech Wizards will receive. Way to go Tech Wizards!

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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, PTSAs, 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.