At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting Dec. 19, PTO PLUS President Toni Fillman discussed the Lil Shoppers’ Shop at Gockley, Steckel and Zephyr elementary schools. The shop is not a fundraiser but rather a fun opportunity for the children to buy presents for family members.

Fillman said every child gets a Shoppers’ Dollar, so children who don’t bring money can still participate. There are three tables of items for children to spend their Shoppers’ Dollar and other tables of gifts that cost varying amounts.

“They’re so excited when they come in, and it’s wonderful. Everyone walks out with something, so that’s why we do it. And we do it because they don’t always get to a mall, and this way they can wrap a gift for their mom or their dad or whomever,” Fillman said. “This is done by us because we really love your kids, and we want every child to be happy at Christmastime. And the smiles - it’s so magical.”

Fillman said the students are excited at the chance to give gifts, not just receive.

“They aren’t saying, ‘This is for me.’ They’re saying, ‘This is for my mom, this is for my sister,’ and that is Christmas,” Fillman added. “You’re giving, and you’re loving and that’s what we’re promoting.”

Fillman also briefed the board on the Cherrydale fundraiser sale, saying it was very successful for all of the schools.

Also at the meeting, Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel thanked community groups and members for donations to WCSD students and families.

“Year in and year out, the amount of generosity in our community is just fantastic. We appreciate the community support of our students,” Steckel said.

Steckel thanked Lehigh Valley Physicians Group, Muhlenberg, Musculoskeletal Services, coordinated by Ashley Venanzi, for a donation of 15 meals that were distributed to WCSD families; Whitehall Lions Club for adopting a WCSD family in need and providing each family member with a generous gift card for holiday shopping; an anonymous community member for a large donation of toys that were given to Zephyr Elementary children as holiday gifts; an anonymous community member for adopting a WCSD family in need and providing them with holiday gifts; Lafarge for a donation of 20 Christmas food baskets, which were distributed to district families in need; and CIS for a donation of gift boxes containing items such as gloves, scarves, hygiene items and more, which will be given to identified students in need.

Steckel also reminded the community WCSD would be closed for winter break and school will resume Jan. 3, 2023.

In other news, Student Council representative Ethan Guzenski updated the board on recent events at Whitehall High School. Guzenski said they held a Scooby Doo Christmas movie night Dec. 9; Student Council attended Christmas tree decorating at Lehigh Valley International Airport; wrestling began with a 2-0 start; boys basketball is 5-1; the swim team is 1-2; girls basketball has begun; winter sports meet the team night was held Dec. 2; football lost in state quarterfinals; the holiday concert was held Dec. 13; Inclusive Schools Week was held Dec. 5-9; winter spirit week was presented by Zephyr Nation; and the cast of WHS Theatre’s musical “9 to 5” was set.

In other business, the board approved the amended Act 93 Compensation Plan, the tax collection services agreement with Whitehall Township, the Fulton Bank resolution that adds WHS Principal Dr. Peter Mayes and Nicole Eiden to the WHS student activity account, the Power School Modules Agreement and the “A Better Way” contract and the resolution to award the bid for the makeup air handler unit replacement project at WHS and Zephyr, as well as the resolution to reject the bid for the WHS softball dugouts project.

The board approved field trip requests for the boys basketball team to travel to Bloomsburg University, which took place Dec. 10-11, with the use of school vans and lodging paid for by the basketball booster club and no days of school missed; for the wrestling team to travel to the Wrestling War on the Shore Tournament Jan. 13-14, 2023, in Ocean City, Md., with the use of school vans and lodging paid for by the wrestling booster club and no days of school missed; and for the softball team to travel to the Ripken Experience, March 15-19, 2023, in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on a charter bus, with all accommodations and expenses covered by the softball booster club, with two school days missed.

The next school board meeting is 7 p.m. Jan. 23, 2023. Committee meetings on operations/transportation, finance/personnel and education/student activities is 4 p.m. Jan. 9, 2023.