Building on yesterday’s spotlight on model rocket construction, we’re proud to feature 8th grade students Gavin Trometter, Noah Esworthy, and Graer Christian, who took their project to the next level—literally. As the winning team in a recent class building challenge, these students earned a unique secondary reward: the opportunity to design and construct a large-scale rocket.
This hands-on experience not only celebrated their success but also deepened their understanding of engineering principles, teamwork, and problem-solving. The project served as both a reward and an extension of their learning, offering a memorable and inspiring conclusion to their classroom competition.
Their achievement stands as a testament to the creativity and dedication of our students, and we look forward to seeing where their curiosity and talent will take them next. 🚀
As part of their final unit of study on the history of human spaceflight, eighth graders built model rockets. Throughout the unit, students learned about the early development and advancement of rocket flight. They studied the spacecraft used to land astronauts on the moon in the 1960s and 1970s, those used to build the International Space Station in the 1990s, and the private companies that regularly launch space missions today. They explored the great triumphs of human spaceflight, as well as the tragic events that have resulted in the loss of 17 American lives since the dawn of the space age. While building their model rockets, students learned about the design features that make rockets more reliable and capable of reaching higher altitudes. Finally, they launched their rockets, witnessing flights that soared hundreds of feet into the air and, if all went well, achieved successful parachute deployment and recovery. 🚀
⚾Congratulations to Coach Meyers on being named the PHAC Co-Coach of the Year—a tremendous recognition of leadership and dedication! A huge shoutout as well to our standout athletes for their incredible accomplishments this season. Levi Everitt, Brayden Andrews, Kole Myers, and Caden Hooper were all selected to the PIAA District IV Small School All-Star 1st Team. These four also earned PHAC 1st Team honors, with Levi recognized as a pitcher, Brayden in the outfield, and both Kole and Caden in the infield. Additional congratulations go to Andrew Novak (2nd Team Infield), Ethan Makowski (2nd Team Utility), and Guy Longenberger (2nd Team Pitcher) for their PHAC 2nd Team selections.
Ethan Reed delivered an outstanding performance at the PIAA Track & Field State Championships, earning a 4th place finish in the state 🏅. His hard work and dedication truly paid off on the biggest stage—congratulations, Ethan!
As a creative post-AP exam activity, students in Mrs. Troutman’s AP Calculus class designed and painted a mural to celebrate their year together. The mural features a symbolic integral stretching from 2024 to 2025, representing the school year, with the result of the integral being 7—the number of students in the class. Each student signed their name within the integral symbol and inside the number 7, adding a personal touch to the artwork. Each student also put their handprints surrounding the integral. On another wall, the class collaborated to paint vibrant flowers, bringing color and life to the wall and showcasing their shared effort.
Contributor: Makayla Baylor, Journalism Staff Member
Southern Columbia Area School District is accepting applications for:
Superintendent of Schools
Please check out www.scasd.us and click on Employment for more information and for other current open positions.
Southern Columbia Area High School will be offering Summer School options for students this year. Information and a registration form were emailed to your student today. Forms are also available in the Guidance Office and the High School Office.
Summer school will run from June 9–26, with registration and payment due by June 4. If you anticipate that your student will need summer school, please complete a pre-approval form and return it with payment to the High School Office by June 4.
Third Grade had a special visit from Brian Knoebel, who shared the story of the Walking Purchase and even brought the original deed showing the Knoebels' land was purchased from William Penn’s sons! What an amazing hands-on history lesson! 🏞️📖
We’re thrilled to announce that Siena Rovito, representing Southern Columbia High School, will be cheering for the Maryland team in this weekend’s Big 33 Football Classic! Even more exciting — Siena has been named CAPTAIN of the cheer squad! Congratulations, Siena!🏈💥
📍 Where: Cumberland Valley High School
🗓️ When: Sunday at 7:30 PM
🎖️ Special Tribute: All veterans and active military get in FREE — and there will be a tribute honoring their service during the event.
AP European History students brought World War II to life through hands-on learning by designing and constructing intricate 3D battle maps. Focusing on major conflicts such as the Battles of Midway, Berlin, Britain, and Okinawa, they explored key military strategies, turning points, and the broader impact of these events on the war’s outcome. This creative project blended research, collaboration, and critical thinking, allowing students to engage with history in a visual, interactive way while deepening their understanding of the global conflict.
Contributor: Isabelle Baylor, Journalism Staff Member
Yesterday, SCA’s 5th and 6th grade band students came together for a special combined rehearsal led by Mr. McWilliams. It was a powerful moment of collaboration, with experienced players helping newer musicians grow. Events like this highlight the strength of SCA’s music program and the bright future ahead for these young performers. We can’t wait to see them shine at games and parades in the years to come! 🎼
Mrs. Zysset’s Child Care and Development class teamed up with the third graders for a fun and colorful jellyfish art project. It was a wonderful collaboration full of creativity and smiles!
Contributor: Lauren Davis, Journalism Staff Member
High School yearbooks will be distributed at B and C lunches on Friday, May 23rd!
Hello, Southern Columbia Area families! We're excited to invite your kids to “Dive into Discovery!” at the 2025 SCA STEM Summer Camp!
📅 Dates: July 29th ,30th , and 31st
⏰ Time: 8:30- 11:30
🏫 Location: G. C. Hartman Elementary Center
This camp is open to all students entering grades 2nd- 8th for the 2025-2026 school year. Elementary and Middle School students will be grouped based on grade levels and enrollment numbers.
To Enroll, Fill out the form via the link below. Remember to complete the allergy section to ensure we provide safe snacks for everyone!
Transportation: Parents, please arrange drop-off at 8:15 am and pick up at 11:30am each day at the gym/café entrance. There will be NO school district transportation for SCA Summer STEM Camp.
On the last day, join us at 11:15 am for a special presentation showcasing your child’s activities!
Our campers are expected to: Attend camp each day unless sick or otherwise arranged. Follow the rules set by teachers. Be responsible and respectful. Work through challenges and ask for help. Cooperate with everyone. Speak and act kindly. Listen attentively.
Have FUN, make FRIENDS, and LEARN! To secure a camp T-shirt, please register by July 4. Registration closes on July 18th.
https://forms.office.com/r/EK4mzwhzzJ
Congratulations to Ava Bixler and Saira Sodergren for being recognized at the CSIU Student Art Gallery Reception. Both Ava and Saira submitted outstanding pieces that are now proudly on display in the CSIU art gallery. The photo shows Ava and Saira standing beside their beautiful artwork, celebrating this well-deserved recognition. 🎨
Each year, the CSIU selects two pieces of student artwork from participating area school districts to add to its growing art repository. Ava and Saira were each awarded $300 for their outstanding work and were honored last night.
‼️ATTENTION SENIORS‼️ See the attached graphic for information regarding Senior Sunset! ☀️🎓
Congratulations to our 6th Grade Students of the Month! We’re proud to recognize Cristian Torres (Mrs. Powell), Ryan Maciejewski (Mr. Visnosky), Charlotte Paul (Mr. Kaseman), and Brynn Rosini (Mr. Fegley) for their outstanding efforts and positive contributions to our school community.
Kindergarten students in Mrs. Sharrow's class had a great time exploring basic geometry concepts using geoboards. Through hands-on play, they created shapes, discovered patterns, and practiced spatial thinking—all while having fun and building foundational math skills in a creative way.
📢 End-of-Year Technology Return Reminder 📢 Dear Parents & Guardians, as we approach the end of the school year, we’d like to remind you that all school-issued technology equipment — including laptops, chargers, and cases — must be returned by May 30th. 🔹 Grades 1–8: Students will return their devices to their homeroom teachers when instructed. 🔹 Grades 9–12: Students must return their devices directly to the Technology Office (Room 103 in the High School). If a student has completed all coursework requiring a laptop, they may return their equipment at any time. 📌 Important Notes: Once a laptop is turned in, it will not be returned. All equipment must be returned in working condition. Fees will apply for any damaged or missing items. 💻 For a list of potential fees, please check the Sapphire Parent Portal under the File Cabinet section, located in the 24-25 First Day Parent Forms. Thank you for helping us wrap up the school year smoothly!
Beginning in June, we are excited to offer a Girls Only Summer Lifting Program open to all girls entering 8th through 12th grade next school year. This program will run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings throughout the summer from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. All interested students are invited to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, May 22nd, in the auditorium during activity period. We encourage anyone who is interested to come learn more about the program and how it can benefit your strength, confidence, and injury prevention. We hope to see you there!
