Shepherdstown Community Update

July 31, 2025

Summer Greetings!

Greetings from Shepherdstown!

I hope your family has been enjoying a restful and relaxing summer. I’m excited to share the first edition of the Shepherdstown Community Update for the 2025–2026 school year! This newsletter will be sent weekly on Sundays via email and will also be available on our updated Shepherdstown website. We’re using a new platform this year that integrates directly with our relaunched website, making it even easier to stay connected.

This summer provided some meaningful opportunities for family time and travel. In early July, we had the chance to visit Niagara Falls and explore the surrounding area in Canada. We had an incredible vacation!

Back at Shep, our team is already hard at work preparing classrooms and materials to welcome students back. We can’t wait to kick off another great school year!

Homeroom placements will be posted in the Sapphire Parent Portal on Friday, August 1. Families will also receive a hard copy in the mail, which includes a welcome letter from your child’s teacher and transportation information. Bus assignments will also be available in the Sapphire Portal.

Please mark your calendars for Classroom Visitation on Thursday, August 14 from 3:00–4:00 PM. This is a great opportunity for students and families to meet their teacher, explore the classroom, reconnect with friends, and enjoy a sweet ice cream treat!

To support a smooth transition, Shepherdstown will once again use a staggered start for the first two days of school:

  • Tuesday, August 19: First day for students with last names A–K

  • Wednesday, August 20: First day for students with last names L–Z

  • Thursday, August 21: All students attend school

More details about upcoming events are included below.

I’m looking forward to seeing our students and families soon. Until then, enjoy the remaining days of summer!

Warm regards,

Mr. Echelmeier

Principal

Shep

Welcome to Shepherdstown!

We are excited to welcome several new staff members this year to Shepherdstown!

Shelby

Miss Shelby Forry (1st Grade)

Miss Forry will be joining us as our new first grade teacher. Miss Forry will be in Room 118 (formerly Mrs. Snyder's room). Miss Forry is a recent graduate of Millersville University. Welcome to Shepherdstown, Miss Forry!

Miss Gartner

Marcelia Gartner (1st Grade Long Term Substitute)

Miss Gartner will be in for Mrs. Brougher for the first half of the year. Most recently, Miss Gartner was our building substitute at Shepherdstown. Welcome, Miss Gartner!

Leslie

Mrs. Leslie Locy (2nd Grade)

Mrs. Locy will be joining us in Room 132 (formerly Mrs. Hennessy’s room). Mrs. Locy brings experience from her time teaching second grade in the Big Spring School District. We are looking forward to having Mrs. Locy as part of the Shep team!

Christine

Mrs. Christine Beard (2nd Grade Long Term Substitute)

Mrs. Beard will be in for Mrs. Albright for the first half of the year. Mrs. Beard has been working with MASD as a substitute for over 8 years. Mrs. Beard is happy to be joining the team at Shep.  Welcome, Mrs. Beard!

Louella

Mrs. Louella Sanders (Cafeteria Aide)

Mrs. Sanders will be working alongside the kitchen team in the café. Welcome, Mrs. Sanders!

Same Faces, New Places

We’re excited to share that a few familiar members of our Shep team are stepping into new roles this year:

  • Mrs. Cara Pehanich will now serve as our district literacy coach. She will support teachers at both Shepherdstown and Upper Allen Elementary with the implementation of our new reading program. Mrs. Pehanich will continue to have an office here at Shepherdstown.

  • Mrs. Andraya Hennessy is stepping into the role of reading specialist at Shepherdstown. Mrs. Hennessy previously taught second grade here at Shep and brings a strong knowledge of early literacy to her new position.

Upcoming Dates

August

  • Friday, August 1 - Homeroom assignments posted to Sapphire Parent Portal

  • Monday, August 4 - Thursday, August 7 - New Teacher Induction Week

  • Tuesday, August 12 - Staff Opening Day

  • Thursday, August 14 - Classroom visitations for students and families from 3-4 PM

  • Tuesday, August 19 - First day of school - Staggered Start (Last Name A-K)

  • Wednesday, August 20 - Second day of school- Staggered Start (Last Name L-Z)

  • Thursday, August 21 - Thursday, August 22 - All students at Shep

  • Friday, August 29 - Monday, September 1- No School - Labor Day Recess

September

  • Thursday, September 4 - Back-to-School Night from 6-7:30 PM

  • Wednesday, September 10 - PTO Meeting in person at Shep and virtual at 7 PM

October

  • Thursday, October 2 - Shep Fall Fest - 6-7 PM

  • Friday, October 3 - In-Service - No School

  • Wednesday, October 8 - PTO Meeting virtual at 7 PM

First Week of School

First Week of School

Homeroom Placement Information

On Friday, August 1, your child’s teacher assignment letter will be posted within the Sapphire Parent Portal. You can access the letter by logging into your child’s account, then from the menu on the left of the screen select “Reports” and then “Letters”. A copy of the letter will be sent in the mail also along with transportation information.

When you log on, also take a moment to complete the Student Emergency Information form. You’ll find the “2025-2026 Student Emergency Form” listed as a “Form Awaiting Completion”. All that’s required is for you to update contact information and complete the annually required permissions at the bottom of the page. Completing this now will allow you to have your child’s information ready for the start of the school year.

Shep Classroom Visitation - Thursday, August 14

Shep Classroom Visitation

PTO Meeting Schedule

Mark your calendars! Below are the Shepherdstown PTO meetings for the 2025-2026 school year. Please join us for the first PTO meeting in person at Shep on Wednesday, September 11 at 7 PM in the library.

  • Wednesday, September 10 at 7 PM (At Shep/Zoom)

  • Wednesday, October 8 at 7 PM (Zoom)

  • Wednesday, January 14 at 7 PM (Zoom)

  • Wednesday, March 11 at 7 PM (Zoom)

  • Wednesday, April 8 at 7 PM (Zoom)

  • Wednesday, May 13 at 7 PM (Zoom)

Back to School Resource Center

BTS Resource Center

Calendar, Schedules, and Handbook

District Calendar
Elementary Handbook
Shepherdstown

Shepherdstown Elementary School

Email: Dechelmeier@mbgsd.org
Website: https://shepherdstown.mbgsd.org/
Location: 1849 S. York Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Phone: 717-691-4589