G.C. Hartman Elementary

📣 Welcome Back, Students and Families!
We’re excited to begin a new school year!
🗓️ The first day of school is Monday, August 18th.
To ensure you receive all important updates and communications, parents and guardians should visit their Sapphire Parent Portal to review and update contact information as needed.
Stay tuned for more announcements as we get closer to the start of school!

SCA Families

If your child requires any prescription medication for the 25-26 school year, please be sure to have an updated Medication Order and Action Plan (if applicable) from your child's doctor. All medication must be brought to the school in the original prescription bottle with a medication order by a parent/guardian. Drop off times are as follows:

Monday, August 11th 5:30-7:00pm in the HS Office for K-12
Wednesday, August 13th 12-3pm Elementary & HS Office
Thursday, August 14th 9am-3pm Elementary & HS Office

Students' 5th- 12th grade are able to self-carry their inhalers and/or Epi-pens if approved by parent and doctor. Please submit a medication order stating they are self-carry. If --you would like to have your child's medication order faxed to the school the Elementary fax # is 570-356-7169 and the HS fax # is 570-356-2835. Thank you!

Alexis Spade
School Certified Nurse

📚🏆 Third Grade Reading Royalty! 🏆📚 Let’s give a huge round of applause to Ethan Thomas, our Top Accelerated Reader in 3rd Grade! 🎉 With an amazing 223.7 AR points, Ethan has shown an incredible love for reading and an unstoppable drive to learn. His dedication, curiosity, and commitment to growing through books are truly inspiring. Way to go, Ethan — we are so proud of you! Keep turning those pages and chasing those stories.

🌟📚 Celebrating an Academic All-Star! 📚🌟 We’re beyond proud to recognize one of our outstanding students who continues to set the bar high! Not only did he earn an incredible 125.4 Accelerated Reader points, showcasing his passion and dedication to reading 📖✨ — he also achieved the highest cumulative GPA of 99% in Mrs. Ivey’s 3rd grade math classes! 🧠📊 His hard work, curiosity, and commitment to excellence in both literacy and mathematics are truly inspiring. Keep aiming high and lighting the way for others Nolan!

Our Fourth Grade teachers went all out this morning, welcoming students with music, bubbles, and pool tubes. The energy was high, and the smiles were even bigger. What a fantastic way to start the last day of school! 🌴 We wish all of our students and staff a safe, joyful, and well-deserved summer break. You’ve worked hard—now it’s time to relax and enjoy! 🐯🌞

Shining Stars of AR! 🌟📚 These top readers have soared to the top with their incredible dedication and love for books. Their AR point totals are a testament to their hard work, curiosity, and passion for learning.

Dear families, As we finish the last few days of 2nd grade, I wanted to thank you for all of your support, kindness, and dedication you have shown this year. I will miss all of your children so very much! Have a wonderful summer and thank you. Fondly, Mrs. Bloom

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! 🏞️📖

📢 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!

📢 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!

🌾🐄 Farm Day Fun at Southern! 🐖🌱 The Agricultural Department recently hosted an exciting Farm Day for students in grades K–8, and it was a huge hit! The event featured a variety of engaging, hands-on stations where students could: -Get creative with face painting -Test their strength in a bale throwing competition -Meet and interact with farm animals -Explore the inside of a real combine harvester -Plant seeds and learn about crop growth -And enjoy many other agriculture-themed activities! It was a fantastic day of learning, laughter, and discovery—bringing the world of agriculture to life for our youngest learners. 🌻🚜 Contributor: Karleigh Sommers, Journalism Staff Member

Dear Parents/Guardians, We hope you are doing well. We want to bring to your attention a concerning trend circulating on TikTok that is negatively impacting school-issued student laptops and Chromebooks. Some students have been inserting objects—such as pencils, paper clips, and push pins—into the charging ports of their devices. This reckless behavior can cause electrical short circuits, device malfunctions, and even fires. Schools in different states have already reported incidents where classrooms had to be evacuated due to smoke and fire hazards caused by this dangerous trend. Beyond the serious safety risks, this behavior is also leading to costly damage to school-owned devices, which students and families may be held financially responsible for. We kindly ask you to speak with your child about this trend and reinforce the importance of treating their school-issued technology with care and responsibility. Please encourage them to avoid participating in harmful online challenges and to report any concerning behavior to a trusted adult. This is a no tolerance situation and potentially carries a minimum 3 days of out of school suspension along with referral to police for institutional vandalism. Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep our students and school environment safe. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.

The Class of 2027 hosted a Prom for the Class of 2037 last week. It was a wonderful and exciting event for the Kindergarteners!

Students in Mrs. Brown’s 4th and 5th Grade Art classes teamed up with the Columbia County Family Center to take part in the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance’s "Painting for Prevention" campaign. This meaningful initiative raises awareness about child abuse prevention throughout the month of April, which is recognized nationwide as Child Abuse Prevention Month. To help spread the message beyond the classroom, students also brought home informational packets to share with their families.

The SCA Baseball Team will take on Mifflinburg on April 30th at 4:00 PM at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in the city of Williamsport. The cost to attend the game is free. GO TIGERS!

Elementary staff and students rocked the stage at our PSSA Idol celebration on Tuesday, boosting excitement for state testing! 🎤📚 The event was filled with energy and enthusiasm as teachers and students showcased their talents, from singing and dancing to creative performances. The auditorium buzzed with cheers and applause, creating a supportive and fun atmosphere. Students felt motivated and encouraged, knowing their hard work and preparation for the PSSA tests were being celebrated. Teachers also enjoyed the opportunity to connect with students outside the classroom, fostering a sense of community and teamwork. The celebration not only aimed to reduce test anxiety but also to remind everyone that learning can be enjoyable and rewarding. Overall, the PSSA Idol celebration was a memorable experience for all involved, leaving everyone feeling pumped and ready to tackle the state tests with confidence!

G.C. Hartman Elementary hosted a fun-filled Egg Hunt today for students in Kindergarten through Fourth Grade to enjoy! A group of selected students also got the chance to take part in the “Bunny Hop,” a lively sack race where participants hopped to the finish line with their legs inside potato sacks. Students also got the opportunity to enjoy the Egg Decorating Station, where they made unique and beautiful creations. All of this was made possible by HART, as well as donations from parents and local businesses. Thank you for your invaluable support in creating an exceptional experience for our students! 🐰 Contributor: Ava Bixler, Journalism Staff Member

Mrs. Traugh's and Mrs. Huntington's classes enthusiastically crafted delightful Easter treats last week, bringing joy and creativity to the holiday season. 🐰🐣

This dedicated group of 11th and 12th graders volunteered their time every Wednesday after school to tutor 3rd and 4th graders in math and reading. Their tutoring sessions began in December and successfully concluded for the year on April 9th. Thank you for your commitment and hard work!