
📚🏈 Readbowl Challenge Spotlight! 🏈📚
Mrs. Patchett’s class has been reading up a storm as part of the Readbowl Challenge! Students have already logged thousands of minutes of reading, and this week their class ranked 4th in the state for their grade level in total reading minutes.
Way to go, readers! Keep turning those pages and showing that hard work pays off!
Mrs. Patchett’s class has been reading up a storm as part of the Readbowl Challenge! Students have already logged thousands of minutes of reading, and this week their class ranked 4th in the state for their grade level in total reading minutes.
Way to go, readers! Keep turning those pages and showing that hard work pays off!

🎉🧓 Happy 100th Day of School! 🧓🎉
Our Wildcats traveled a century today - literally! Students and teachers at Shep dressed as 100-year-olds, and the hallways were full of laughs, glasses, canes, and gray wigs. 🥳💛
Celebrating 100 days of learning, growing, and making memories together!
Our Wildcats traveled a century today - literally! Students and teachers at Shep dressed as 100-year-olds, and the hallways were full of laughs, glasses, canes, and gray wigs. 🥳💛
Celebrating 100 days of learning, growing, and making memories together!







🥫🏈 Souper Bowl Week is underway! 🏈🥫
Check out these Wildcats showing their generosity by dropping off canned food donations! 💙
We’re collecting canned goods all week for our Souper Bowl Food Drive, and every donation helps support families in our community.
🏆 Who will win?
❤️💙 New England Patriots
💚💙 Seattle Seahawks
Cast your “vote” by donating canned goods and help us score a big win for others! 🥫🏈
Check out these Wildcats showing their generosity by dropping off canned food donations! 💙
We’re collecting canned goods all week for our Souper Bowl Food Drive, and every donation helps support families in our community.
🏆 Who will win?
❤️💙 New England Patriots
💚💙 Seattle Seahawks
Cast your “vote” by donating canned goods and help us score a big win for others! 🥫🏈




Don’t forget! 🥣🏈
Our annual Souper Bowl Food Drive is happening this week! Students can bring in non-perishable items and vote for their Super Bowl pick by placing their donation on that teams table. Let’s score big for a great cause! ❤️
Our annual Souper Bowl Food Drive is happening this week! Students can bring in non-perishable items and vote for their Super Bowl pick by placing their donation on that teams table. Let’s score big for a great cause! ❤️

💙 Happy National School Counselor Week! 💙
We are so grateful for Mrs. Lawler and all she does to support our students, staff, and families at Shep! Her care, guidance, and dedication make a difference every single day. Thank you, Mrs. Lawler, for being such an important part of our Shepherdstown team! 🐾
We are so grateful for Mrs. Lawler and all she does to support our students, staff, and families at Shep! Her care, guidance, and dedication make a difference every single day. Thank you, Mrs. Lawler, for being such an important part of our Shepherdstown team! 🐾

🐾 Shepherdstown January Community Meeting 🐾
What a wonderful way to come together as a school community!
⭐ Students were recognized for earning Super Paws, celebrating those who continue to show the Wildcat Way each day.
🧼 Mrs. Walker shared reminders about healthy habits, including the importance of hand washing.
🖍️ Mrs. Lawler highlighted the word diversity and the beauty it brings to our school community.
🎤 As part of Shep Spotlight, students interviewed Mrs. Diodato and Mrs. Foster, asking thoughtful questions and showing great confidence!
🎶 We wrapped up with energy and pride as third graders from Mr. DeCamilla’s and Mrs. Patchett’s classes led us in our CATS song - Communicate for Respect, Act Responsibly, Take on Challenges, and Stay Safe!
We are so proud of our students and staff for making Shepherdstown such a special place to learn and grow 💙🐾




🌌✨ Blast Off to First Grade Space! 🚀🪐
Our 1st grade Wildcats wrapped up their CKLA space unit with an out-of-this-world culminating event! 🌠 After learning all about outer space, students became planet designers and created their very own unique planets 🌍💫
Today, classrooms were transformed into glowing galaxies with black lights, making those planets shine bright like the stars ⭐🖤 The excitement, creativity, and curiosity were truly stellar!
Our 1st grade Wildcats wrapped up their CKLA space unit with an out-of-this-world culminating event! 🌠 After learning all about outer space, students became planet designers and created their very own unique planets 🌍💫
Today, classrooms were transformed into glowing galaxies with black lights, making those planets shine bright like the stars ⭐🖤 The excitement, creativity, and curiosity were truly stellar!





💓 Kids Heart Challenge Kickoff at Shepherdstown! 💓
Today our Shepherdstown students kicked off the Kids Heart Challenge by learning all about heart health and how they can make a difference by supporting the American Heart Association. Check out the website here: https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?pg=company&fr_id=12396&company_id=540645
Today our Shepherdstown students kicked off the Kids Heart Challenge by learning all about heart health and how they can make a difference by supporting the American Heart Association. Check out the website here: https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?pg=company&fr_id=12396&company_id=540645


❄️ TWO-HOUR DELAY, 1/29/26 and 1/30/26 // Mechanicsburg Area School District will operate on a two-hour delay schedule on Thursday, January 29, and Friday, January 30, 2026. Based on several factors—including cold temperatures, the need to navigate snow piles, and the benefits of increased daylight—a delay was the best decision for our students.
Thank you for your patience as we work our way back to a normal school schedule.
Thank you for your patience as we work our way back to a normal school schedule.

A Special Author Visit in 3rd Grade!
It was an exciting day in 3rd grade today! 😂📖 Our students were thrilled to welcome, via Zoom, author Kenn Nesbitt—a beloved children’s poet known for his hilarious poems about everyday situations. Families can check out more of his poems and resources on his website: https://poetry4kids.com.


❄️➡️📚 BACK AT IT // After two snow days (+ two hours), our Wildcats were all smiles and happy to be back together—learning, laughing, and filling our halls with energy once again. Welcome back, Wildcats. We missed you. 💜
📸 Photos of our little learners at Broad Street, Northside, and Shepherdstown (thanks, Shep, for sharing the photo of your Wildcats with Officer Mark).
#WildcatPride
📸 Photos of our little learners at Broad Street, Northside, and Shepherdstown (thanks, Shep, for sharing the photo of your Wildcats with Officer Mark).
#WildcatPride







❄️ Welcome back, Wildcats! ❄️
After a few snowy days off, our halls are buzzing again! Officer Mark was here bright and early this morning, greeting students in the Shep lobby. It’s great to see everyone back and ready to learn! 🐾✨
After a few snowy days off, our halls are buzzing again! Officer Mark was here bright and early this morning, greeting students in the Shep lobby. It’s great to see everyone back and ready to learn! 🐾✨

❄️💪 A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR MAINTENANCE & FACILITIES CREWS // Through heavy snowfall and challenging temperatures, our dedicated maintenance and facilities teams have been hard at work clearing parking lots, roads, and sidewalks to ensure our buildings and campuses are safe and ready for the return of our students and staff. They’ll be back at it again today for another round of winter weather cleanup.
Your long hours, teamwork, and commitment do not go unnoticed. We are incredibly grateful for all you do behind the scenes to keep our Wildcat community moving, no matter the weather. THANK YOU. 💜
📸 Special thanks to Erick Hoffman, Director of Facilities, for sharing these photos with us.
#WildcatPride
Your long hours, teamwork, and commitment do not go unnoticed. We are incredibly grateful for all you do behind the scenes to keep our Wildcat community moving, no matter the weather. THANK YOU. 💜
📸 Special thanks to Erick Hoffman, Director of Facilities, for sharing these photos with us.
#WildcatPride



❄️ CLOSED // All Mechanicsburg Area School District schools will be CLOSED tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2026. This will be a traditional snow day with no makeup day needed.
Our Facilities Department and local municipalities did an amazing job today, as they worked tirelessly to clear roads, sidewalks, and parking lots throughout the district. Unfortunately, there are still a few trouble spots out there that we'll hopefully see cleared up tomorrow.
Stay safe, Wildcats!
Our Facilities Department and local municipalities did an amazing job today, as they worked tirelessly to clear roads, sidewalks, and parking lots throughout the district. Unfortunately, there are still a few trouble spots out there that we'll hopefully see cleared up tomorrow.
Stay safe, Wildcats!

❄️ WEATHER ALERT // Mechanicsburg Area School District will be CLOSED on Monday, January 26, 2026. This will be a traditional snow day with no makeup day needed. We will continue to monitor forecasts and road conditions for Tuesday and will communicate with staff and families if there is a need to alter the schedule for the day.
💙 Please help us give a special shoutout to our in-house maintenance crews and all crews across our municipalities who are working tirelessly to keep our roads clear and safe.
Stay warm, dry, and safe, Wildcats!
📸 Special thanks to Music/Vocals Teacher Gordon Kaslusky for capturing this picturesque moment at Kindergarten Academy.
#WildcatPride
💙 Please help us give a special shoutout to our in-house maintenance crews and all crews across our municipalities who are working tirelessly to keep our roads clear and safe.
Stay warm, dry, and safe, Wildcats!
📸 Special thanks to Music/Vocals Teacher Gordon Kaslusky for capturing this picturesque moment at Kindergarten Academy.
#WildcatPride

🧤❄️ A SIGN OF THE SEASON // One brave glove. One cozy winter hat. Both waiting patiently on the fence.
If this looks even slightly familiar, consider it your sign to check the lost and found at your child’s school for anything that might be yours. Winter gear has a way of wandering off—and we’d love to see these items make it back home where they belong.
Pro tip: a quick label can help lost items find their way back next time. 💜
#WildcatPride
If this looks even slightly familiar, consider it your sign to check the lost and found at your child’s school for anything that might be yours. Winter gear has a way of wandering off—and we’d love to see these items make it back home where they belong.
Pro tip: a quick label can help lost items find their way back next time. 💜
#WildcatPride

Building positive connections! Several of our 2nd graders had the opportunity to have lunch with Officer Mark, our District Resource Officer. Smiles, stories and great conversations all around. 👮♂️💙

Our third graders are rolling into STEM fun! 🎉
In the library with Mr. Roberts, students planned, designed, and tested their own marble mazes, putting their engineering skills to the test.



Support That Makes a Difference
Every day at Shep, students receive individualized attention from caring teachers and staff who are committed to supporting both learning 📘 and well-being 💙.


Monday Smiles at Shep 😊🐾
Nothing like starting the week with happy faces! Wildcats were all smiles at lunch today—and even bigger smiles soaking up the sunshine outside with Kosmo. 🐶💙
Here’s to a great week ahead at Shep!
Nothing like starting the week with happy faces! Wildcats were all smiles at lunch today—and even bigger smiles soaking up the sunshine outside with Kosmo. 🐶💙
Here’s to a great week ahead at Shep!



