Whitehall-Coplay School District School Board held a meeting Dec. 16, 2024. The meeting had an absent president and vice president, so Patty Gaugler was elected president pro tem.

Student Council President Jalyn Jimenez gave updates about the high school. Student Council hosted a holiday spirit week, including ugly sweater day and Christmas pajamas, and they sold elf sunglasses for students to wear. The school’s band and choir held a holiday concert Dec. 10, 2024.

“It was an amazing turnout and a very well-held concert,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez also shared the pep band was back in action and can be seen performing at girls and boys basketball games, wrestling and winter events at the school. She also congratulated the cheerleading team for coming in fourth in the EPC Championship and the wrestling team for its win against East Stroudsburg.

Student Council held a tree decorating event at Lehigh Valley International Airport with the decor being holiday spoons. This was done to represent their “recipe for success.” Student Council also held an elementary school movie night where they watched “How the Grinch Lost Christmas” and held an activity.

On Feb. 21, high school students are expected to hold a Mini-THON and are looking for donations to go toward pediatric cancer and Penn State’s THON.

Jimenez then introduced the band and chorale members, who performed holiday songs for the board and attendees of the meeting.

Also at the meeting, Michelle Khouri, district registrar and community relations, gave updates about the second annual Zephyr Express holiday event, also known as Shop with a Cop.

“We had 23 students this year, which is five more than last year. Our donations increased, so we were excited to take more children,” Khouri said.

Students were paired up with a representative from either the Whitehall and Coplay police departments, the sheriff’s office or Lehigh Valley Health Network’s public safety. Students were taken to Burlington in Whitehall to shop, then to Fellowship Community, also in Whitehall, for a luncheon put on by Whitehall Fire Department.

The township provided a truck to help transport the gifts, along with Cetronia Ambulance Corps. The students were greeted by Big Z and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Everyone was able to enjoy a photo booth, compliments of Christmas City Studio. Volunteers from Whitehall-Coplay PTO PLUS, the township, Whitehall Lions Club, Whitehall Area Rotary Club and staff members helped wrap the gifts. Sam’s Club also donated personalized gifts for every child involved. The Lion’s Club created bags with goodies and candy for each child.

“We were so very happy to see the community working together, spreading cheer and allowing the children to have a very merry Christmas with their family this year,” Khouri said.

Eight high school students were chosen for the same program. Lunch was held in the Large Group Instruction room and provided by Mission BBQ, and they received gift bags from Sam’s Club and the Lion’s Club.

The board meeting then went into executive session.

School Director Allison Schultz submitted her letter of resignation, so a motion was made to appoint Joe Shields to fill the interim school director seat for the remainder of Schultz’s term, set to expire December of 2025. It was unanimously approved.

It was also reported Whitehall-Coplay Middle School has a new assistant principal — Andrew Czekner.

“Andrew brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise,” Principal Bethany Koenig said. “He has over 20 years of experience in education, currently serving in leadership as assistant principal of Sheridan Middle School in the Allentown School District. We are very excited to add him to this team.”

The next board meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Jan. 27.