Southern Columbia Area School District

Good afternoon. Due to students practicing bus evacuations, buses may run five minutes late today, Tuesday, March 24. Thank you.

On Friday, the Class of 2027 hosted Southern Columbia’s 2nd annual Kindergarten Prom, creating a fun experience for the district’s youngest students. Organized by junior class advisors along with several dedicated juniors, the event was designed to bring kindergarteners together to interact, build friendships, and practice social skills outside of the classroom. The prom featured a variety of activities to keep the children engaged, including flowers, coloring stations, face painting, snacks, drinks, and exciting raffle baskets. This event created lasting memories for both the young students and the high school volunteers.

Contributor: Abigail Apichell, Journalism Staff Member

Congratulations to our 8th Grade Students of the Month for February, who continue to impress their teachers with their hard work, positive attitudes, and meaningful growth. ⭐

Victoria Haupt, Science

Victoria Haupt was selected as the February SoCo Star for Science. She is a hardworking student who consistently puts quality effort into every assignment. She arrives prepared each day and participates fully in class activities. Victoria maintains a positive attitude, gets along well with her peers, and brings a light sense of humor to the classroom. She makes thoughtful choices, uses her words carefully, and avoids negative situations.

Jayde Smith, American History

Jayde Smith was chosen as the February SoCo Star for American History. She arrives on time, comes prepared, and shows strong responsibility and dedication to her learning. Jayde participates actively each day and brings a level of enthusiasm that improves the classroom environment. She interacts respectfully with a wide range of classmates and communicates with her teachers in a friendly and respectful way. Her genuine interest in the material is clear from her thoughtful contributions to discussions. Jayde’s positive attitude, wit, and support of her peers help build a stronger classroom community.

Lincoln Barnette, Mathematics

Lincoln Barnette was selected as the February SoCo Star in Mathematics. His performance in Algebra has been outstanding throughout the school year, with near perfect scores on assessments. He demonstrates responsibility by communicating consistently with his teacher and completing his work to the best of his ability. Lincoln participates during lessons, works well both independently and in groups, and treats others with kindness. He is creative, witty, and able to apply mathematical understanding to challenging problems.

Xavier Longenberger, ELA

Xavier Longenberger was named the February SoCo Star for ELA. While he meets expectations for work completion and participation, his nomination is grounded in the impressive personal growth he has shown. His improvements in responsibility, accountability, and self-control have been significant and reflect the kind of development that is especially important as students prepare for high school.

Middle school students had the opportunity to take part in the "Unsolved" short story writing contest. Students stepped into the role of a suspect, witness, victim, or investigator to tell a dramatic and intriguing story. Seven SCA middle school students were selected to have their work published in the Unsolved stories collection book. Congratulations to Tucker Hartranft, Brynn Rosini, Charlotte Paul, Sophia Stewart, Emma Maciejewski, Allie Delgrippo, and Ava Kate Maciejewski. 🔍

Tickets are going fast for this year's ENCORE production of Sister Act! One must "act" quickly and get their tickets now! You won't want to miss this show and these talented actors and actresses!

🎟️Order your tickets here: https://our.show/t14ljcnsbd

This week our student teacher feature highlights Taylor Shapcott, who is completing her placement with Ms. Habowski in 2nd Grade. Taylor has been a great addition to the classroom, building positive connections with students while gaining valuable hands‑on teaching experience. Learn more about Miss Shapcott in the graphic!

This week we’re excited to spotlight Emma Freeswick, who is completing her student teaching in Mrs. Pfirman’s 3rd Grade classroom. Emma brings enthusiasm, creativity, and a genuine love for helping young learners grow. Check out the graphic for more fun facts about Miss Freeswick!

Lunch on Wednesday, March 25 will now be Turkey Noodle Soup instead of Chicken Noodle Soup. All other menus will remain the same. Thank you!

Some magically fun Saint Patrick's Day math in kindergarten! 🍀🌈

Yesterday, students in Miss Haines' kindergarten class used Lucky Charms marshmallows to practice their sorting, graphing, and addition skills!

There were lots of smiles, a little bit of counting, and a whole lot of learning! 💚

This is a reminder that there will be no school for students on Friday, March 20, 2026, due to a scheduled Non-Instructional Day. Thank you!

8th Grade Elective Showcase - Get inspired. Get excited. Get ready for high school!

Hey 8th graders and families—this is your reminder that the Elective Showcase is happening Thursday, March 19th at 6:00 PM in the HS Auditorium!

This is your moment to explore what high school has to offer and start building a schedule that actually excites you.
✨ Discover new classes
✨Find your interests
✨ Start shaping your high school journey

All current 8th grade students and their parents are strongly encouraged to attend—you won’t want to miss this chance to see what’s ahead!

The revised 2025–2026 Academic School Calendar is now available for viewing. To access it online, please visit www.scasd.us, click on ‘About Us,’ and select ‘Academic School Year Calendar.’ The newly approved 2026–2027 Academic School Calendar is also available. Thank you!

This week in Science Club…

Students received an inside look at the advanced science courses that will be offered at SCA next year and collaborated to design creative new decorations for our class pet. 🦎🎨

We are incredibly proud of this group for combining creativity with scientific curiosity. We can’t wait to showcase their work in the future! 🔬

🏫Don't Miss Out! Early College Meeting Tonight!

📅March 18 in the HS Auditorium at 5:30pm

Are you a current sophomore or junior who is thinking about the possibility of taking an early college class next school year? Then this meeting is for YOU!

This mandatory meeting is for current sophomores and juniors, and their parents, who are considering taking any early college classes during the 2026-2027 school year.

🌟BONUS: Meet our 3 University Partners!

Get the info & explore your options at Commonwealth, LCCC and Lackawanna!

Congratulations to Vivienne Bobek, our Citizen of the Month! Vivienne stands out for her kindness, responsibility, and positive leadership. She consistently treats others with respect and contributes to our school community with a positive attitude and strong character. We’re proud to celebrate her achievements!

Southern Columbia will be closed today, Tuesday, March 17, due to icy backroads.

Southern Columbia will operate on a 2 hour delay today, Tuesday, March 17.

The girls basketball game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 17th at 7:30 PM at Big Spring High School. Address: 100 Mt. Rock Rd. Newville, PA 17241 Good luck to the team! 🏀

Due to the pending storms, tonight’s girls basketball game has been canceled. The game will be rescheduled for tomorrow. The location and game time will be sent out later this evening. Thank you for your understanding.

This morning, FFA members visited Kindergarten classrooms to assist with activities and engage with students. The visit provided an opportunity for the younger students to learn more about agricultural education and interact with positive role models from our high school program.

Students were especially excited to try on an official FFA jacket, which gave them a closer look at the organization and its traditions.