Conestoga High School

Panoramic CHS Mike Starner Photo.jpg

Issue 1: August 2025


Principal's Welcome


 

On behalf of the administration, faculty and staff, I welcome you to the 2025-26 school year! We are very excited to welcome our students back to the Big C. Last week, I emailed my Welcome Letter to all families which contained the details of our opening. We are looking forward to having the halls and classrooms buzzing again with activity. 

 

School will begin on Monday, August 25th. Freshmen and new students in grade 10 through 12, should report to the Auditorium by 7:50am for orientation activities. Returning sophomores, juniors and seniors should report directly to homeroom by 11:20am. Lunch will only be served to students participating in Orientation. Bus transportation will be provided for the 7:50am and 11:20am arrival, with the 11:20am arrival operating on a three hour delay for pick up. We look forward to kicking off the school year as we welcome the Class of 2029.

 

Welcome back and as always, Go ‘Stoga!

Amy A. Meisinger, Ph.D.

Principal

Back to School Information


Dear Parents,

It is my pleasure to share with you the “Back to School Information” packet in digital format. Please complete the Emergency Card, Registration Form and Media Consent Form on the PowerSchool parent portal https://powerschool.tesd.net. Once logged in, please click on "TESD Forms" on the left side of the site.

 

The Back-to-School information documents can now be accessed online by clicking on the link below. We ask that you review them and complete those that require a response. 

 

Please click here to view the Back-to-School information 2025 – 2026.


EEPE APPLICATION

FALL SEMESTER 2025


Conestoga High School requires that alternative physical education programs completed outside of Conestoga High School include a minimum of 30 hours per semester of physical activity supervised by a credentialed adult. To be approved, programs must include an ongoing instructional component.


Submission of this application by the aforementioned date acknowledges that the course is on the student’s schedule and that the student understands the requirements and deadlines required. The course will be removed from the student’s schedule if the survey is not properly completed.

A completed application must be submitted on or by September 12, 2025.

*Students participating in a Club Sport must complete an application survey if EEPE is on the student’s semester 1 schedule.

  

Click here for application

  

For Families New to the T/E School District

 

We are inviting Conestoga parents who are new to the T/E School District to a Welcome Reception prior to Conestoga’s Back To School Night on September 11, 2025. Please join us in the Cafeteria from 5:15pm-5:45pm. The Back To School Night program for all Conestoga parents will begin at 6:00pm. 

Message from the Student Services Office


The Student Services Department would like to welcome everyone back to school. We hope you had a restful summer! Please be sure to check these bulletins for the most up-to-date information about our programming throughout the year, also click on the link to view the Student Services webpage for additional informaton. We look forward to working with you.

Picture Day

August 29, 2025


Conestoga High School will hold its annual Picture Day for all students on Friday, August 29th. Parents should have received a flyer in the mail / email with information regarding ordering pictures from Barksdale Photography. If you did not, flyers are available in the main office at Conestoga High School. 

Students will be directed to a scheduled photo session with their assigned Social Studies class throughout the day on August 29th. The senior picture on this date is for their ID only. This is not their senior portrait for their graduation picture or yearbook. Students will receive a picture slip in their Social Studies class on the day of Picture Day. If a student misses the opportunity for their picture during their assigned Social Studies class, they may have their picture taken during the lunch period. If a student does not have an assigned Social Studies class on Friday, August 29th, they will be asked to have their picture taken during their lunch period on that day. 

Shortly after the photo session, a picture proof should be sent home for your approval. If your child is absent on Friday, August 29th, a picture day make up session will be held on September 2nd, during all lunch periods. An announcement will be made reminding students that if they missed their original photo session to attend the make-up session on September 2nd during lunch periods. This picture will be used to generate their ID card, their PowerSchool ID, and underclassmen (9th, 10th and 11th grade) yearbook photos.


Dr. Patrick Boyle

Student Privilege Application for 11th and 12th Grade Students 



The Conestoga High School administration and faculty believe students benefit from increased opportunities for self-direction as they mature. Consistent with this belief, our students' eligibility for privileges increases as they progress through their high school years. Privileges are granted only with permission from the parent or guardian. The student must have access to their PowerSchool ID card to exercise privileges. Students will scan their PowerSchool ID card when using their privileges to leave and enter school. Privileges may be rescinded at any time by the parent/guardian or by school authorities if the student experiences academic difficulty or for failure to follow the school rules. All privileges may be suspended by the administration for safety/security reasons. The Student Privilege Application will be available on PowerSchool starting on August 13th. A detailed email will be sent to all 11th and 12th grade students and parents / guardians on August 13th with more details.

 

A Note from the Attendance Office

 

When your child is going to miss school or is going to be late you must:

 

Send an email to chsattendance@tesd.net or a written note within 3 days of your child's absence/ lateness with a valid reason.

 

If you send a note without a valid reason (listed below), then the absence or lateness will remain unexcused.

 

If you email with a valid reason for the absence/lateness before 9:15 a.m. on the day of the absence/lateness, you will not receive phone calls, emails and texts. If you do not send an email before 9:15 a.m. then you can respond to the automated email you receive.

 

You do not need to call prior to your child's absence. You only need to send an email or a note for their return.

 

What to include in your emails/notes:


FULL NAME OF YOUR CHILD

GRADE

VALID REASON (listed below)

 

Please note: missing the bus, traffic, and oversleeping are not reasons for being late.

 

Each semester your child is permitted 4 excused tardies and 2 unexcused tardies. Students who exceed this will receive a school detention, an ESS, or loss of privileges based on the Code of Conduct. If you receive a phone call, email, or text that your child is absent, and you believe it is in error, please contact the attendance office as soon as possible.

 

 Excused Absences and Tardies Reasons:

  

1. Personal illness 

2. Family Emergency

3. Death of a Family Member

4. Medical or Dental Appointments

5. Authorized School Activities

6. Educational Travel with Prior Approval 

7. Pre-approved Religious Instruction (limit 36 hours per year) 

8. Bona Fide Religious Holiday 

9. Tutorial Instruction in a field not offered in the District's curricula

10. Attending Court Hearings related to involvement with the County Children and Youth Agency or Juvenile Probation Office

11. When the student is required to leave school for the purposes of attending court hearings related to their involvement with the county children and youth agency or juvenile probation office 

12. If the student is absent due to participation in a project sponsored by an organization that is eligible to apply for a grant under the Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Act 

13. If a student is dismissed from school during school hours for health-related reasons by a certified school nurse, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or a school administrator or designee employed by the District. 

14. For the purpose of obtaining professional health care or therapy service rendered by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts in any state, commonwealth or territory.

15. If a student whose parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or is immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, with regard to school attendance, tests and extra-curricular or co-curricular activities, at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee, no penalties shall be imposed for absences of up to five (5) days.

16. Where the Superintendent has approved an attendance plan necessitated by rare and extraordinary circumstances. In this context, "rare" means typically no more than 1 or 2 per year District-wide and "extraordinary circumstances" means the student is engaged in a profession or activity at a nationally recognized level.

            

Club Fair 2025


Do you have a student interested in learning more about the clubs and activities offered at Conestoga High School? Please encourage your child(ren) to spend some time at the Club Fair, which will take place from September 15 - 18, 2025. Students will have access to meet with Club members who will share highlights of the various clubs and activities offered at Conestoga High School. In addition, students will be able to sign up for clubs via Schoology during the fair. All students are encouraged to go to the club fair during a free period or during their lunch. Conestoga offers various clubs for students to explore and participate in. Student Activities provide a wonderful opportunity for students to enrich their high school experience and be connected to something fun and meaningful. Club Fair is the perfect time for students to join or re-join any clubs of interest. We encourage students to explore the clubs and activities at Conestoga High School.

 

Conestoga 2025-2026 Online Directory


The CHS Directory will be available in early September at no cost to families. Conestoga will provide families with a link to access the Directory and is available via a website or a cell phone app. Even if you had access last year, you still must log in and register. You will log-in and ‘register’, verify your information, and decide what information – if any – you’d like included in the directory. Also, if any of your information changes throughout the school year, you will be able to update it in the directory.

 

You may opt out of having any information in the CHS Directory. Once you log-in and ‘register’, you will be able to opt-out of having any of your contact information included in the CHS Directory. If you don’t take this action, your information will appear in the directory.

 

Information in the CHS Directory is safe and secure and will not be shared or sold to third parties by the District or by Membership Toolkit, our vendor. You can only access the Directory via a link using your registered log-in. Additionally, each person using the Directory must agree to a Privacy Statement.

 

More information about the directory and how to access it will be available to Conestoga parents once the school year begins.

Class Parent Organizations & Class Meetings


Each grade level at Conestoga has a Class Parent Organization which meets each month virtually. The meetings are led by the Class Parent Chairs and include updates from Dr. Meisinger, the Assistant Principals, and Counselors. Information provided at the meetings also includes school activities and events, community announcements and parent volunteer opportunities. Meeting dates, meeting links, and Parent Chair contact information can be found from the Parent Chair emails and on the CAPCO website

 

First meeting dates of the school year, all at 10:00am on Teams:

Class of 2026 - September 16

Class of 2027 - September 18

Class of 2028 - September 9

Class of 2029 - September 11

 

Fall 2025 Athletic Update

 

Varsity and JV teams began on Monday, August 11th (Football started a week earlier on August 4th for heat acclimation). JVB and 9th grade programs will begin on Monday August 25th. As a reminder, all athletes interested in participating in a fall sport, must complete all required paperwork in Powerschool. Please use the following link for all PIAA paperwork and directions. Home / Overview (tesd.net) If you can’t make it to our games you can view our livestream at: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/pa/berwyn/organization/16532/conestoga-high-school



Senior Portraits 


Members of the class of 2026 should schedule their senior portraits with Cady Studios. Cady will hold limited sessions at Conestoga on September 6, September 20 and September 27, but they have many available appointments at their studio that might better fit busy schedules. The sessions vary in price, but, as always, you will have the choice of a free yearbook-only option. Their weekend schedules fill up fast, so book early to secure your spot! They will open appointments for sessions after the completion of the current session. For example, August will open after June fills up. Visit cady.com/schedule to book now 📸 More information about booking your session can be found in the Senior Portrait Booking Flyer.

 



Traffic Safety Reminders

 

In agreement with the township, the New Lower North Parking Lot is not to be used as a Drop Off in the morning or a Pick-Up in the afternoons. We ask our parents to please plan accordingly when dropping off and picking up your child.


  • DROP OFF – Parents may drop off in the front of the building using two lanes. The bus circle is available beginning at 7:40AM as an additional drop-off location.
  • PICK UP - Parents may pick up in the front of the building using two lanes. The bus circle is available at 3:00PM for parents to pick up students.
  • Please DO NOT use the Main Lot for drop-off and pick-up as it creates more congestion for our student drivers.
  • Drive slowly and carefully on school drop off areas and nearby roads.
  • Obey all traffic flow patterns and rules of the road DO NOT MAKE ILLEGAL U-TURNS
  • Please be respectful of our neighbors. DO NOT use driveways as a turn around.
  • The Timothy School should not be used as a drop-off/pick-up location.
  • When dropping off and picking up students, please pull all the way up allowing traffic to flow.
  • Discuss pedestrian safety with your kids (use crosswalks/sidewalks, look both ways, don't "walk and text," etc).




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