Email sent 11/28/23

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Thank you to all who RSVP’d to our Spud, Soup, and Social Media Presentation. This is a friendly reminder that we will hold this event in-person on November 30. Dinner will begin at 5:30, and the presentation will begin at 6:30 pm. This event will be held in the high school's Performing Arts Center. Please enter from the back of the building (upper entrance), and follow the signage. If you haven’t RSVP'd yet, please do so here. The form will close for dinner at the end of the business day on Wednesday 11/29.  Anyone is welcome to attend the presentation, beginning at 6:30, even without RSVP. 

We hope to see you there. 

Thank you, 

Secondary Administration Team

Email sent 11/27/23

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Thank you to all who RSVP’d to our Spud, Soup, and Social Media Presentation. This is a friendly reminder that we will hold this event in-person on November 30. Dinner will begin at 5, and the presentation will begin at 6:30pm. This event will be held in the high school's Performing Arts Center. Please enter from the back of the building (upper entrance), and follow the signage. If you haven’t RSVP'd yet, please do so here. The form will close for dinner at the end of the business day today. Anyone is welcome to attend the presentation, beginning at 6:30, even without RSVP. 

We hope to see you there. 

Thank you, 

Secondary Administration Team

Email sent 11/9/23

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

As a parent or guardian of a high school student, social media has likely been a part of your child’s adolescent development. Social media encompasses digital APPs focused on communication including, but not limited to Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Discord. While social media is a tool utilized by individuals and organizations to spread information, it can also be difficult for teens and families to navigate. On Thursday, November 30 SCASD middle and high schools will host a Soup, Spuds, and Social Media Presentation. A free soup and baked potato dinner will be served by our Culinary Arts program prior to the Social Media Presentation. Our presenters include our school resource officer, Officer  John Aston, Deirdre Houck, Title IX Investigator, and Trooper Jacob Rhymestine from the Pennsylvania State Police. Please fill out this form to RSVP. This form will close at the end of the business day on Monday, November 27 so that we can provide our culinary arts program with an accurate count for dinner; however, anyone can attend the presentation (beginning at 6:30 pm) without an RSVP. 

SCASD secondary schools have seen an increase of inappropriate social media use centered around harassment, sexting, bullying, racism and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. Children often use social media to communicate and connect with friends; however, social media can also be used to incite conflict, which impacts our school environment. 

We believe it is imperative to partner with parents in our community to keep our children safe while navigating social media and the digital world. We hope to see you at this event. 

Thank you,

HS and MS Administration

Email sent 11/1/23

Hello State High,

As of November 1, we will no longer be offering the Lion’s Learning Lounge for after-school tutoring. We will revisit this decision at the change of the semester in January.  We will continue to provide a range of academic support for students and we always encourage you to reach out to your teachers when you need help with your schoolwork.

If you need help or assistance with any homework, review, or assessment preparation please see the below list of resources:

In-School Academic Resources (open every block)

• STEM Center A242

• Humanities Center C142

Peer Tutoring by The National Honor Society

• To request a tutor, please fill out this form.   

• Please review this information about the available tutoring from NHS students and the expectations for tutors and students.  

Online Support

• Math Department Resources

• English Department Plagiarism and Research Resources

• World Language Resources

• “All Ready Access” portal, a partnership between Schlow Centre Region Library and SCASD offers an endless world of opportunities and resources to all students in the district. Schlow is subscribing to "HelpNow by BrainFuse." It is fully accessible with a Schlow Library Card. (Every SCASD student automatically has a Schlow card, look it up here)

• Digitally connect to live tutors (not a video connection) between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m. every day. 

• Tutors have background checks and clearances

• Variety of subjects, including math, reading, writing, social studies, and science

• Help with completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application

• In addition to the live tutoring service, the SkillSurfer section has recorded lessons and practice tests for a variety of subjects so you can build your skills.

• Create a free account to track your progress and see a record of past tutoring sessions, create flashcards, tests, games, and more.

Email sent 10/17/23

Hello State High Parents and Guardians,

This is a reminder that we will be administering the PSATs tomorrow Wednesday, October 18th. 

• All of our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders who will be taking the PSATs must bring a picture ID to test. 

• Students must bring a fully charged device - either their school chromebook or their own personal device.

  • If bringing their own device, students must already have the College Board Bluebook app installed on it.

• Students can bring calculators, but they are not required as the testing app has an integrated calculator.

  • If you/your student does bring a calculator it must be on the College Board approved list.

• It would be helpful to make sure you/your student brings several #2 pencils as they will have access to scratch paper. 

To determine which room you/your student are testing in please use this PSAT Room Assignment Lookup Tool.

Students must be in their assigned testing rooms no later than 9:00 am. We have a small window of time to allow late test takers, but if students arrive too late to take the test, they can be dismissed into their parent/guardian’s care or they will be placed in a study hall in B229/B230 until dismissal. Please have your student bring a water bottle and/or a snack as our snack bar will close at 8:40 am per College Board regulations.

Email sent 10/13/23

Dear Families,

The PSAT test administration is now less than one week away on Wednesday October 18th. As a reminder the test is being offered for all students in grades 9-11. If your student is in 12th grade, or will not be taking the test, they are excused for the day and should not plan to come to school.

If you have a student in 9th-11th grade and do not wish for them to participate in the test, only the parent/guardian can opt a student out using this form: https://forms.gle/RrYH3GGLqyo126LH8.  If a student completes the form we will not be able to process the request.

For those students who will be joining us please remember the following:

• You must have an ID - this could be your school ID, drivers license. Students may use their IDs from last year (including middle school IDs) if they have not yet received an ID this year.

• You need to know your full address in order to complete the demographic section of the test if you did not fill it out during the Digital Readiness Check.

• You may bring snacks and bottled water to consume during specified breaks.

• You should not bring your phone or wear any SMART watches - such as Apple Watch - if you do, they will be collected by the room proctor and returned at the end of the test.

• If you bring a backpack, teachers will line them at a specified location in the room - you may not keep them as your seat.

Finally, parents/guardians of students who are testing with extended time will be receiving an additional email today with the option to buy a bag lunch for the student to be delivered at the end of the testing period (students in extended testing will not have time to get lunch from the cafeteria as the buses are leaving at 12:30 pm which is around the time the extended testing time ends). Students will be charged for the lunch at their normal rate.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please email Jennifer Scudder at jls68@scasd.org

Sincerely,

Jennifer Scudder, Testing Coordinator

Laura Tobias, Principal

Email sent 10/5/23

Hello State High and Delta Families,

Email sent 9/27/23

Hello, State High 

We are so excited for our Homecoming parade and dance this week. Please see below some important Homecoming reminders for the dance this Saturday.

• The dance is Saturday, September 30 in the high school gym from 7:30 - 10:00 pm

• You may enter the dance in multiple locations: the Locker Room entrance, and four lines at the upper main office entrance.

• In an effort to speed up the process, have your Student ID and ticket READY on your phone. Do not wait to open your ticket when you get into the building.

• This is a semi-formal dance.

• Students may leave the dance after 9 p.m. If a student should want to leave prior to 9 p.m., the administration will have to have verbal confirmation from a parent/guardian to leave the dance.

• Students are not permitted to bring bags to the dance. If a student would need to carry a small purse/clutch bags will be searched at the doors.

We hope you have a great time! 

See you there.

High School Administration

Email sent 9/19/23

Email sent 9/14/23

Dear State High Families,

Email sent 9/11/23

Dear State High Families,

We hope that the new school year is off to a great start. We look forward to seeing you for our Back To School Night events this week.

Back To School Night - Thursday, September 14, 6:30 - 8:00

Our Back to School Night for all grades will take place Thursday, September 14, beginning at 6:30pm. It will be an open-house format. Please use this link to find the classroom where you will be able to meet your student’s teachers.  We look forward to seeing you. 

9th Grade Welcome - Thursday, September 14, 6:00 - 6:30

We invite our 9th grade families to join us for our 9th Grade Welcome event, Thursday, September 14, from 6:00-6:30 in our Performing Arts Center (PAC). Our 9th Grade Counselor/Administrator Team (CAT) will share first-year-of-high-school information. Back To School Night for all grades will immediately follow from 6:30-8:00.

10-12th Grade Welcome - Thursday, September 14, 6:00 - 6:30

If you have a 10-12 grade student please come and meet the school counselors in the small  auditorium (through the cafeteria) for a short presentation about how we can support your student for the 23-24 school year.

Food Service

Our Food Service staff will be on hand in the food court to answer questions and for parents to see the food court area where their students eat lunch and breakfast each day.

Community Engagement

Our Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) will host a table in the student hub area. Please stop by their table to learn how you can connect with our high school community. 

Our student clubs and organizations will also host tables outside of the Performing Art Center and through the main corridor. These groups will have information about how your child can get involved with a club or activity this year. 

The Jana Marie Foundation will host a table in the student hub area. They are partnering with our high school to help support, inform, and care for our students during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Jana Marie Foundation envisions communities working together to knock down walls and transform emotional distress into resilience and hope.

Email sent 9/8/23

Back To School Night Information

Dear State High Families,

We hope that the new school year is off to a great start. We look forward to seeing you for our Back To School Night events next week.

Back To School Night - Thursday, September 14, 6:30 - 8:00

Our Back to School Night for all grades will take place Thursday, September 14, beginning at 6:30pm. It will be an open-house format. We look forward to seeing you. 

9th Grade Welcome - Thursday, September 14, 6:00 - 6:30

We invite our 9th grade families to join us for our 9th Grade Welcome event, Thursday, September 14, from 6:00-6:30 in our Performing Arts Center (PAC). Our 9th Grade Counselor/Administrator Team (CAT) will share first-year-of-high-school information. Back To School Night for all grades will immediately follow from 6:30-8:00.

10-12th Grade Welcome - Thursday, September 14, 6:00 - 6:30

If you have a 10-12 grade student please come and meet the school counselors in the small  auditorium (through the cafeteria) for a short presentation about how we can support your student for the 23-24 school year.

Food Service

Our Food Service staff will be on hand in the food court to answer questions and for parents to see the food court area where their students eat lunch and breakfast each day.

Community Engagement

Our Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) will host a table in the student hub area. Please stop by their table to learn how you can connect with our high school community. 

Our student clubs and organizations will also host tables outside of the Performing Art Center and through the main corridor. These groups will have information about how your child can get involved with a club or activity this year. 

The Jana Marie Foundation will host a table in the student hub area. They are partnering with our high school to help support, inform, and care for our students during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Jana Marie Foundation envisions communities working together to knock down walls and transform emotional distress into resilience and hope.

“Explore More in 23-24!” 

Email sent 8/10/23

Subject: 2023-2024 Beginning of School Year Information

August 10, 2023

Greetings State High Families,

We hope you have had a relaxing summer and took the opportunity to enjoy time with your friends and family. As we look to the start of the 2023-2024 school year our goal is to guide students to success in meeting high expectations through collaborative school, family, and community support. We are excited to share our student-generated theme for the year: “Explore More in 23-24.” 

Important Information: 

Schedule: 

• Doors will open at 7:40 a.m. for students.

• Our school day begins at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 3:40 p.m. 

• Please refer to the following link for the Bell Schedule. 

• The first two days of school (August 22 and 23), students will report to orientation groups at 8:40am. The groups can be found here. 

Counselor-Administrator Teams

• The 9th Grade Learning Community (9LC) focuses distinctly on students’ academic and social growth, connection to school, and learning.

• The structure of the high school counselor-administrator teams is a team model; the purpose is to be able to create relationships with students and families. Please review our Counselor-Administrator Teams to determine who supports your child(ren) and how you can contact them.

  • Your child’s assigned counselor-administrator team is based on their last name.

  • For hyphenated last names, your child is assigned by the name prior to the hyphen. 

ParentVue

• To access your child’s student information please visit the ParentVue link. 

• It is critical that you update your address, telephone number, and contact information with any changes.  In the event that we need to contact you, we will utilize the information in ParentVue.

**In ParentVue, you will be able to find the following information: school attendance, grade book, student schedules, and course information.  There will also be a list of documents that you will need to check off that you have read (i.e. K-12 Student Handbook, 6-12 Code of Conduct, and District device usage sign-off).

9th Grade Parent and Guardian Welcome - Thursday, September 14, 6:00 - 6:30

We invite our 9th-grade families to join us for our 9th-Grade Welcome event, Thursday, September 14, from 6:00-6:30 in our Small Auditorium. Our 9LC Counselor/Administrator Team (CAT) will share first-year-of-high-school information. Back to School Night will immediately follow from 6:30-8:00 pm.

10-12th Grade Counseling Presentation- Thursday, September 14, 6-6:30

We invite our 10-12th grade families to join our counseling team for an informational parent meeting, Thursday, September 14 from 6:00-6:30 in our Performing Arts Center (PAC). Our 10-12th grade counselors will share information regarding academic counseling and college/career readiness. Back to School Night will immediately follow from 6:30-8:00pm. 

Back To School Night - Thursday, September 14, 6:30 - 8:00

As you plan ahead, we would like for you to save the date for our Back to School Night. This year, we will host Back to School Night on Thursday, September 14, beginning at 6:30pm. It will be an open-house format. We look forward to seeing you. 

Parent and Community Outreach

• Please consider joining the PTSO

  • Meetings are first Tuesday of the month

  • The next meeting (via Zoom)  will be on September 5 at 7pm. An email reminder with the Zoom link will be sent on the day of the meeting. 

  • Reach out to PTSO President, Lisa Cohen: lcohen@artemisgroup.com  

  • Please look for forthcoming communication via email.  We are grateful for our partnership with the PTSO collaborate frequently throughout the school year.

• Please join us for our quarterly School-Family Connection Events

  • Please look for forthcoming communication via email for informational evening presentations.

• Homecoming Week

  • State High Homecoming will be held the week of September 25 

  • Homecoming parade will be on Thursday, September 28

  • Homecoming game will be held on Friday, September 29 

  • Homecoming dance will be held on Saturday, September 30 

Parent Drop-Off and Student Parking

• For the safety of our students, all drivers must follow drop-off traffic protocols.

  • The front parking loop facing Westerly is for district transportation only. Parent drop-off is prohibited in this area.

  • Parent drop-off has been moved to the Food Services loop off of O’Bryan Lane.

  • Attach PDF

• Please plan for additional commute time in the opening weeks of school, as we all adjust to increased traffic. 

• For senior students who are interested in purchasing a parking pass, students received an email on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 that outlined the steps required.

• Junior eligibility depends on space availability and a valid need to leave campus, (enrolled in courses that require you to arrive at school before the school day or leave school early.) Junior Option, clubs, activities, sports, or work after school does not qualify juniors for a pass.

School Safety

• We will continue to follow customary attendance and safety protocols in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines. 

• This will include taking attendance on a daily basis and conducting evacuation, stay put/lockdown, and severe weather drills throughout the school year. 

In closing, we are looking forward to a productive partnership that ensures our students can achieve their highest potential. In order to be successful in school, students need support from both home and school. We know a strong relationship with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. State High administration, faculty, and staff look forward to welcoming your child for the 2023-2024 school year.

Your educational partners,

State College Area High School Administrative Team 

Mrs. Tobias - Building Principal

Mr. Wilson- Associate Principal (10-12, P-Z)

Mrs. Ambrosia- Assistant Principal (9th grade)

Mrs. Saylor- Assistant Principal, (10-12, A-G)

Mr. Walsh- Assistant Principal (10-12, H-O)

Dr. Mordan - Director, Career & Technical Center (CTC)

Email sent 8/2

9th grade Newsletter