District news: Program for parents starts today, Feb. 23
Help your student make a smooth transition to the teen years. The program Strengthening Families, for ages 10 to 14, will be held in seven consecutive sessions. It is sponsored by Valley Youth House and Whitehall-Coplay School District. This exciting and proven-to-work program is designed to help your children succeed.
During the sessions, parents and caregivers can enhance their parenting skills with many proven successful ideas such as learning to set limits and showing love, making house rules, encouraging good behavior, protecting children from substance abuse and learning ways to handle stress.
The sessions also will help children prepare for their teen years, communicate with their parents, deal with stress and peer pressure and avoid alcohol and drug problems.
This free program includes dinner for the family, child care for children ages 2 to 11 and prizes for attendance. The session dates are Feb. 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6; a makeup day is April 13. They are held 5:30-8 p.m. at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School.
Those interested can sign up until the second week of the program, March 1. Participation is limited to 12 families.
Contact Pam Colton, youth education program coordinator for Valley Youth House, at 610-954-9561, ext. 339, or email pcolton@valleyyouthhouse.org.
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Feb. 24 is Penn State Day at Zephyr Elementary School. Donations collected this day will go to Penn State’s recent dance THON to benefit childhood cancer and Four Diamonds Fund.
Students and staff are encouraged to wear their Penn State blue and white attire.
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Gockley Elementary’s Penn State Penny Challenge is underway. During the month of February, each classroom is collecting spare change for pediatric cancer research. The donations will be given to the Penn State THON team at Whitehall High School.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three kindergarten and top three first-grade classes. The last day of the collection will be Feb. 28. Students may place their pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters in the collection box located in each homeroom.
Thank you for your support!
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Read Across America will be observed throughout the district March 2 with fun activities. This is a national program that promotes reading and adult involvement in the education of students. The goal is to motivate children to read.
March is the birthday month of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. His books have helped many generations of children learn the joy of reading.
Gockley’s theme this year will be “Fox in Socks.” Students and staff are encouraged to wear mismatched or crazy socks. There also will be a variety of classroom activities. Students will receive a Dr. Seuss item, too.
Parents are encouraged to make a special time of reading together and to visit local libraries.
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Zephyr Elementary will have its annual Zephyr night at Barnes & Noble 6-8 p.m. March 2. Come on out to see some special guest readers!
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The high school’s Student Council will hold its annual Mini Thon 2-8 p.m. March 3 in the high school gymnasium. Students will dance for six hours to support childhood cancer research through Four Diamonds Fund.
If you would like to sponsor and donate, go to whitehallcoplay.org or send any donations to the high school, c/o of Student Council, 3800 Mechanicsville Road, Whitehall, 18052.
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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 jamb87@hotmail.com with “Whitehall-Coplay School News” in the subject line at least a week before an event.