Middle School

This week, our 6th Grade students had the exciting opportunity to visit Washington, D.C.! They toured the Pentagon and explored museums and historic sites around the National Mall. It was a memorable experience that brought learning to life beyond the classroom. A big thank you to the VFW for their generous support, and to Master Sergeant Andrew Gajkowski, USAF, for coordinating our Pentagon visit. Students, parents, and staff all had a fantastic day!

Congratulations to 6th grader Emma Jones for earning an Honorable Mention in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Art Contest! Emma competed against middle school students from across the state of Pennsylvania, and her hard work truly stood out. We are incredibly proud of her dedication and talent! Be sure to check out Emma’s artwork on display in the art gallery near the old gym.

📢 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!

🎨 Thank you to the SCA community for showing support for the arts last week at the HS Art Show. 🖼️ If you missed the show, please enjoy the snapshots of the exhibit. We have such talented students! Your support inspires creativity and makes a lasting impact—thank you!

🌾🐄 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

On Saturday, May 10th, members of the Middle School Bicycle Club met for a group ride on the Roaring Creek Tract Road at Weiser State Forest. Pictured from left to right are advisor, Mr. Deljanovan, Collin Maclay, Jackson Pfirman, Levi Hanaway, Joey Serafini, and advisor, Mr. Kelchner. Despite the chilly wind, the students successfully rode the entire 16-mile route, making it the furthest that some of them had ever ridden.

🎶 It was a music-filled week at Southern, and what a celebration of talent it was! 🎶 The week kicked off on Tuesday with the Middle School Spring Concert, where our amazing 5th–8th graders took the stage. Their performances were full of energy and heart—they did a fantastic job, and we couldn’t be prouder! On Wednesday, it was the High School’s turn to shine. The band rocked the house, and the choir delivered a phenomenal performance that left the audience in awe. Friday evening brought our cherished tradition—the Senior High Banquet. It was a night of recognition and celebration, as seniors were honored with awards for band and choral excellence and received their senior gifts in a heartfelt ceremony. Finally, Friday, our talented ENCORE students attended the Ray of Light Awards, which spotlight excellence in high school theatre. What an inspiring way to wrap up the week! 🎭🎵 Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams are incredibly proud of all the hard work, dedication, and passion their students have shown. Amazing job to everyone involved—you made this week unforgettable!

Lunch Menu Change for Monday, May 12, 2025: HS/MS Lunch will be French Toast and NOT French Toast Sticks. Students will still receive the required portion size, however the form of the French Toast will be slightly different. Thank you!

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.

Join us for an unforgettable experience of music and art at our Spring Concerts and Art Show on Tuesday and Wednesday evening at Southern Columbia High School. Enjoy vibrant performances by our talented musicians and explore stunning artworks created by our amazing students. Don't miss out on this celebration of creativity and community. See the graphic for more information. 🎨🎶

The following 5th Graders have been selected by Southern Columbia Middle School teachers as April SoCo Stars of the Month. These students were chosen because they have displayed self-control, tolerance, academic integrity, and resilience within the school setting. Congratulations to each student and their families! April 2025: Danaca Rhodes, Nathan Rosko, Keira Stakoski and Korra Caligiuri

The Southern Columbia Music Department is incredibly grateful for the recent donation of a beautiful Wurlitzer baby grand piano! We extend our heartfelt thanks to the piano movers, Mrs. Tammy Toczylousky for informing us about the piano, and Ms. Jane Evans for her generous donation. This piano belonged to Ms. Evans' mother, who always encouraged children to engage in the arts. We are deeply thankful, and the instrument has found a wonderful home here at Southern. Thank you to everyone involved for making this possible! 🎹

The following 6th Grade students were selected as April SoCo Stars of the Month! These students were chosen because they have displayed self-control, tolerance, academic integrity, and resilience. Congratulations to Ainsley Gajkowski, Isabella Karmilowicz, Giuliana Worhacz, and Jacob Long! We are SoCo proud!

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!

6th Grade students and their teachers kicked off the week with the annual 6th Grade PSSA Olympics. Each homeroom competed in four events: Hungry Hungry Hippos, Speed Shoe Box Skating, Scooter Bobsled Races, and Toilet Paper Hockey. Mr. Fegley's homeroom brought home the Gold Medal, while the teachers dominated the Hockey Championship for the third year in a row. Congratulations to all the competitors, and good luck this week!

Congratulations to Rhylin Faus and Marlowe Schock for winning 1st Place in the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Poster contest. Rhylin and Marlowe were winners at both the local level and at the 6 County Council. Both students were presented with a certificate and a monetary prize. Mrs. Brown is very proud of their hard work and would like to thank the 5th and 6th graders who entered. The poppy is a symbol of remembrance for our veterans. For those who wish to learn more, you can look up the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae.

Meet our 8th Grade Stars for March! Left to right: Cheyenne Steiner - ELA, Lana Stank - History, Joseph Katch - Math, Ralen Ferrara - Science. These students have shown exceptional dedication and achievement in their subjects. Congratulations!

On April 10 and 11, after a nearly eight-week learning process, 8th graders in Mr. Kelchner’s science classes presented their sustainable building design projects to a panel of engineers. 🏢 The winning group was selected by a guest engineer who played the role of the building owner, and it included Noah Esworthy, Graer Christian, and Gavin Trometter. These students presented their design with knowledge and professionalism. Their building had a unique terraced design and a gentle curve at each end that required complex calculations of overall square footage. They included a vast array of thoughtfully chosen energy-saving features and state-of-the-art amenities, while still managing to come in just under their allotted budget of $20 million. Their “design firm” was able to win the contract by efficiently and enthusiastically demonstrating how their systems reduced operating costs through lowered electricity and water bills, using their calculated reductions to justify their design choices. In addition to planning a striking and environmentally friendly building, the group researched the Sustainable D.C. 2.0 Initiative, a set of standards that seek to make Washington the most sustainable city in the world, and they explained how their building fits into that broader context. Among other prizes, they will have their names engraved on the classroom trophy that features all past winners of the competition. 🏆 A big thank you to the guest judges who generously gave their time to be with us for two days. These included Eric Fedder, 2005 SCA valedictorian, architectural engineer, and senior project manager for Project Management Advisors Inc. of San Diego, California; John Kelchner, retired electrical engineer and former President & CEO of Citizen’s Electric Power Company in Lewisburg, PA; and Noah Blusius, SCA alumnus, architectural engineer, and project engineer for Alexander Building Company in Harrisburg, PA. Congratulations to all 8th grade students for your outstanding effort and successful collaboration on a very challenging real-world project. 🏫

🎼Save the Date! 🎨 Join us for an unforgettable experience of music and art at our Spring Concerts and Art Show on May 6 and 7 at Southern Columbia High School. Enjoy vibrant performances by our talented musicians and explore stunning artworks created by our amazing students. Don't miss out on this celebration of creativity and community. See the graphic for more information. We can't wait to see you there!