Conestoga Community Corner

Sponsored by the Equity Leadership Alliance

The purpose of this display is to educate and inform about events that occur within the different cultures of our school community. This month’s display which is located in the library in the foyer near the main entrance, highlights Black History Month and The Lunar New Year.

The African American Student Union’s theme for Black History Month 2022 is “Know the Past, Shape the Future”. Our cultural display showcases just a few of the many inventions by Black inventors. The display highlights a few of the 100 Historically Black College and Universities. Founded during the segregated Reconstruction Era after slavery, HBCUs have been educating students of color, giving them economic opportunities, and instilling great values. The display also showcases some of the Black Greek fraternities and sororities: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. The organizations are members of the Divine Nine. The Divine Nine share two major values: academic excellence and service to the community. Nine Black sororities and fraternities were formed during a time when Blacks were not allowed to join similar social organizations on college campuses. Lastly, the display highlights images and historical accounts of African American struggle, progress, and achievements over the years. When we are informed of our past, we have the power to shape a promising future.

The Asian American Culture Club is celebrating the Lunar New Year. The holiday marks the beginning of a New Year on the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which means the date shifts from year to year on our regular Gregorian calendar. Lunar New Year usually falls in late January or early February. Lunar New Year is a time where home and family is a huge priority. In Asia, people will often travel far and wide to visit family in their hometowns and villages. Enjoying the Lunar New Year’s eve meal together with close family and catching up on the past year.

Senior Internship Program

 The Senior Internship Program offers seniors in good standing an opportunity to explore an area of career or academic interest during the last month before graduation. The Senior Internship dates this year are May 9 through June 3.

Again this year, we expect the Senior Internship Program to be impacted by changes in the work force caused by Covid-19. We continue to ask our long-standing Internship Community Sponsors whether they will be able to offer internships this May.  Seniors who are not able to secure an internship will remain in school. Our goal is to help the seniors explore many internship opportunities and provide some flexibility as they do that.

Seniors attended Internship Orientation sessions in January and February and have begun their search for internships. All information, materials, deadlines and communication for the Senior Internship will be available to students through Schoology.

Important Information for 17-Year-Old Seniors

In July of 2016, the PA State Legislature amended the Child Protective Services Law to include employees who work with children through internships, externships and work-study programs. This means that Community Sponsors of 17-year-old students must complete the PA Criminal, PA Child Abuse and FBI background checks

prior to the start of internship.

If you are interested in being an internship Community Sponsor, please contact Jeanne Braun. Questions about the Senior Internship Program may be directed to Jeanne Braun, Program Coordinator, at 610-240-1913 or [email protected].

Career Days at Conestoga

It is a tradition that 10^th grade parents, working in conjunction with the Student Services office, organize Career Days at Conestoga. Career Days are three days – March 22, 23 & 24 – where professionals come to Conestoga and share their careers, their career paths and what types of jobs are available in their professional fields. Typically, we have about 25-30 speakers in many different professional areas.

If you are a Sophomore parent and interested in being on the Career Days Committee, please reach out to Diane Pancoast at [email protected]. We will need parents to work on speakers, speaker schedules, marketing and hospitality.

AP Exam Registration Updates

• Final deadline to register for an AP Exam with a $40 late fee is February 15^th. Please see the CHS Advanced Placement Schoology group for the link to Total Registration to register.
• Final deadline to cancel an AP Exam in order to receive a partial refund is April 1^st. Please log back into your Total Registration account to cancel an exam.
• Attached is the 2022 AP Exam Schedule for your reference.
• Please see Mrs. Smyth or Mrs. Barthelmeh in Student Services with questions.

Please click here to view the 2022 AP Exams schedule.

Class Parent Meetings

Parents at Conestoga are invited to attend the monthly Class Parent Meetings. It is an opportunity to hear from CHS Administrators and Counselors and get updates on what is happening at school. At this time the parent meetings are being held virtually. The Microsoft Teams links for the February meetings are below. It is preferable to download Microsoft Team on your computer to successfully link to the meeting.

Class of 2025

Chairperson: Deb Delaney, [email protected]

Meeting Date: Thursday, February 10, 10:00 am

Link to Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

Class of 2024

Chairperson: Diane Pancoast, [email protected]

Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 8, 10:00 am

Link to Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

Class of 2023

Chairperson: Stacey Pellegrini, [email protected]

Meeting Date: Thursday, February 17, 10:00 am

Link to Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

Class of 2022

Chairperson: Carrie Erickson, [email protected]

Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 15, 10:00 am

Link to Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

 



Winter Sports/Spectator Update

Winter sports are wrapping up their regular season games and preparing for playoffs. We are pleased to have returned to full capacity for all home events. We will also continue to livestream all events held in the large gym on our YouTubechannel https://www.tesd.net/Page/16803. We wish our winter athletes good luck in the post season!

Our athletic website is a wonderful source of information regarding Conestoga Athletics: https://www.tesd.net/domain/1881

Message From The Key Club

We am excited to share that this February, Conestoga High School is uniting for American Heart Month to help Reclaim Your Rhythm to live longer, healthier, fuller lives. 

By participating in Heart Month, it is not only a great way for us to connect, but also a great way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association. Over the past year the AHA has been working tirelessly, making an impact on those most affected by COVID-19, fighting for health equity, and continuing to focus on overall brain and heart health for all. The AHA has been: 

• Addressing food insecurity through partnerships with local pantries and urban farms to distribute free and fresh produce by distributing 22 freezers to local pantries, over 2.000 bags of locally grown vegetables to North Philadelphia residents and provide 3.500 nutritious lunches to students who would normally access free school meals. 
• Working to ensure those with hypertension can manage high blood pressure from the safety of their own home through self-monitored blood pressure programs, distributing over 500 validated blood pressure cuffs and patient resources guides. 
• Focusing on healthcare and food access through relationships with Federally Qualified Health Centers, faith-based organizations and schools. 

CLICK HERE to make a difference right here in our community and support the mission of the AHA to help reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke, as well as improve the future health of our family, friends, and neighbors. 

Traffic Safety Reminders

• 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).

QUICK LINKS

• Student Services Department
• Conestoga High School website