Shepherdstown Community Update

September 28, 2025

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🍎🍎Apple Day on Friday, September 26

From taste-testing to crafts to games, our students in Ms. Cerio's class made sweet memories while learning all about apples. See some pictures below!

🥞CKLA Folklore and Fairy Tale Event

On Friday, September 26, our 2nd grade classes celebrated the completion of their first CKLA unit on folk tales and fairy tales. The classrooms came alive with storybook characters, delicious treats, and plenty of laughter. To top it off, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox even stopped by to join the fun!

🐾 Shepherdstown September Community Meeting

Also on Friday, September 26, our school came together for our September Community Meeting! Students met Officer Mark and School Psychologist Tracy Watkins-Harper, celebrated peers earning Super Paws for Communicating with Respect, and reviewed our monthly guidance lessons. Super Paw winners also received a Wildcat Jibbitz Charm for their Crocs. We wrapped up the meeting by singing our CATS song as a school!

📚 Book Fair is Coming This Week!

Get ready for the Scholastic Book Fair during the week of September 29.

  • Monday: Preview day for students. Schedule here.

  • Tuesday-Thursday: Shopping days for students. Schedule here.

  • Thursday Evening: Families can shop during Shep Fall Fest from 6-7 PM!

If you’re able to volunteer, please consider signing up using the link HERE.

🍁 Shep Fall Fest - Thursday, October 2

Mark your calendars! Join us for Shep Fall Fest on Thursday, October 2, from 6–7 PM. Families can enjoy free activities and crafts, and the book fair will be open for evening shopping. Plus, the East Coast Mini Donuts food truck will be on site with delicious treats available for purchase!

No School Friday

Just a reminder: There will be no school on Friday, October 3, due to a teacher in-service day.

Have a great week!
Mr. Echelmeier

Apple Day in Ms. Cerio's Room

Apple1
Apple2
Apple3

Photo credits: Tracy Panzer, District Communication Specialist

September Community Meeting

Community Meeting 1
Community Meeting 2
Community Meeting 3

Second Grade Tall Tales & Fairy Tales CKLA Event

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Photo collage
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This Week

September 29 - October 2 - Scholastic Fall Book Fair
Volunteer Sign Ups
E-wallet Link

  • Monday, September 29 (Day 4)

    • Pre-K Soccer Shots

    • Book Fair preview day. See schedule here

  • Tuesday, September 30 (Day 5)

    • Book Fair shopping day. See schedule here.

  • Wednesday, October 1 (Day 6)

    • Book Fair shopping day

    • Wildcat Wednesday - Dress in your favorite Shep/MASD attire!

  • Thursday, October 2 (Day 1)

    • Book Fair shopping day

    • Happy Custodian Appreciation Day!

    • Special Olympics Sendoff (tunnel in lobby)

    • 1st Grade Environmental Center Trip

    • Fall Fest at Shep from 6:00-7:00pm

  • Friday, October 3

    • No School - STAFF ONLY

October

  • October 6 - Hearing and Vision Screenings

  • October 8 - PTO Meeting (Zoom only) - 7:00pm

  • October 9 - Fire Drill

  • October 14 - School Safety Drill

  • October 17 - Lifetouch Picture Day

  • October 20 - Fall Safety Mini Assemblies with Officer Mark

  • October 23 - Early dismissal for students - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 11:00am- 7:00pm

  • October 24 - No School - STAFF ONLY - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 8:00 am-3:00pm

  • October 27 - No School

  • October 29 - October Community Meeting

  • October 30 - 2nd Grade Field Trip to Hershey Gardens

  • October 31 - Fall Classroom Parties

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We are still missing Student Emergency Forms from over 100 families! It is important that this form is updated so that we have your correct contact information and so that our nursing staff has all updated medical information about your student in case of emergency.

Follow the instructions below and update this important information ASAP:

  1. Log into Sapphire

  2. Go to My Backpack

  3. Click on Student Data Forms, then Student Emergency Information Form

  4. Complete Student Emergency Form (one form for each student in the district)

Specials
Music notes

Welcome back to music!

1st Grade -

We are learning and practicing our 1st grade music class routines - where we sit, how we move, singing voice, and schedule. 

2nd Grade –

We have been practicing music class routines, remembering our singing voice, and are beginning to lay the foundation for reading music.

3rd Grade –

We have been practicing 3rd grade music class routines, reviewing known folk dances, and learning a Patriotic folk song for our Veteran’s Day celebration.

Miss Cerio’s Class -

We’ve been practicing our music class routines, engaging our voices, and getting used to taking turns!

~Miss O’Donnell

https://sites.google.com/masdstudent.org/miss-odonnell-music/home?authuser=0

As me Card - Music
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Veterans Day Flag

Mark your calendars for our special Annual Veteran's Day Community Meeting. We will celebrate on Tuesday, November 11 at 1:30pm.

An invitation to join this community meeting will be posted in the newsletter in the coming weeks. If you would like to include your Veteran's photo in our slideshow presentation, please click on the box below.

Veteran's Slideshow
Scholastic

The Scholastic Book Fair is from September 29-October 2. Please click the link HERE to set up an eWallet for your student and preview the Shepherdstown Book Fair.

book fair
Fall Fest

NEW this year, we welcome East Coast Mini Donuts food truck to our event. They will be onsite to offer sweet and savory treats for purchase.

food truck
PTO

💼 Open Positions

  • We are currently seeking a Treasurer and a Secretary.

  • Interested? Please email ShepherdstownPTO@gmail.com

🍎 Homeroom Parents Needed

  • We are also looking for Homeroom Parents for each classroom. More information is available below.

  • E-mail ShepOffice@mbgsd.org if you’d like to help!

HR Parent
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🎃Community-Based Halloween Opportunities

  • Mechanicsburg Borough Halloween Parade: October 14, 2025 -- 7:00 p.m.

  • Mechanicsburg Streets of Treats: October 18, 2025 -- 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

🎃 Trick-or-Treat

  • Mechanicsburg Borough: Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

  • Upper Allen: October 30, 2025 from 6:00 -8:00 PM

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Gear
Misc. Shep Info
Sept Lunch
Oct lunch
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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 10 at 7 PM in the library.

  • 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)

Follow MASD on Facebook

Facebook

If you haven't already done so, you're invited to like and follow our official Mechanicsburg Area School District Facebook page for the latest celebrations, news, and updates from across the district: www.facebook.com/MASDwildcats.

Calendar, Schedules, and Handbook

District Calendar
Elementary Handbook

Prior Editions of the Newsletter

Prior Editions
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