Susquenita High School is thrilled to announce that Kyla Falzarano and Terrance Shepler have achieved the remarkable distinction of being welcomed into the highly esteemed Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) Class of 2023. This prestigious recognition by Apple, a leader in technology innovation, is awarded to only the most outstanding K-12 and higher education pioneers who are revolutionizing teaching and learning with the use of Apple technology. This achievement is a testament to the exceptional abilities of Mrs. Falzarano and Mr. Shepler to integrate cutting-edge technology into their teaching, resulting in outstanding academic achievement and empowering their students to become critical thinkers, innovators, and collaborators.

This incredible accomplishment is made all the more impressive by the fact that Susquenita High School has been awarded the coveted Apple Distinguished School designation for the fourth consecutive time. This remarkable achievement speaks volumes about the exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to educational excellence that characterizes Susquenita High School. With Apple technology at the forefront of its approach, Susquenita High School is creating a learning environment that inspires creativity, fosters collaboration, and nurtures critical thinking. The success of Susquenita High School as an innovator and its continued recognition as an Apple Distinguished School is a testament to the institution's dedication to providing its students with the tools and resources they need to succeed in the 21st century.

Reflecting on their achievements, Mrs. Falzarano, Calculus, AP Calculus, and Physics teacher, expressed, "It is a great honor to be recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator. The ability to provide authentic learning experiences and open up new horizons for learning and discovery through use of Apple technology has been a passion of mine since the beginning of the 1:1 iPad initiative. Our students collaborate and solve problems in new and exciting ways, and continue to display incredible creativity and innovation both in and out of the classroom. Fostered by a community of support, these accomplishments have been made possible thanks to the dedication and commitment to educational excellence set forth by Susquenita’s community, school board, administration, and staff. I am continuously inspired by our students and am extremely grateful for the surrounding community of support." Similarly, Mr. Shepler, US History, AP US History, and Civics and Economics teacher, added, "Being recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator is a tremendous accomplishment, and I am proud to be part of a community of educators who are dedicated to transforming teaching and learning. I could not have accomplished what I have without the creativity and drive of my students, the collaboration and support of my colleagues, and the leadership and vision of my administrators. Together, we have created something truly remarkable, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to achieve even greater heights of success in the future."

Celebrating 28 years, the ADE program has grown into a worldwide community of visionary and innovative leaders in education, helping other educators rethink what’s possible with iPad and Mac. Learn more about the contributions of ADEs worldwide at https://www.apple.com/education/k12/apple-distinguished-educator/.

On Saturday February 25th, students from both SMS and SHS traveled to Lancaster Country Day School to compete in the PA Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) Regional Meeting. Students had to give a 7 to 10 minute presentation on their science research. 

Students who earned first place awards have been invited to compete at the PJAS State Meeting, hosted annually on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University in University Park.

PJAS was founded in the 1930s and works to achieve the following goals, among others:  (1) To promote greater participation in science and mathematics activities among the youth of Pennsylvania, (2) to improve the quality of achievement in mathematics and science by encouraging students to participate in research and develop original ideas, and (3) to develop an understanding of the scientific community through close association with leaders in the sciences.

SHS students Ashleigh Rogers and Deena Korlewitz both earned first place and will be moving on to the state competition in May. Alayna Kelly and Gary Godfrey both earned second place.

SMS students Claire Finkenbinder and Kaitlynn Washington both earned first place and will be moving on to the state competition in May. Tristan Adams, Samuel LeFevre, Luke Schreffler and Zoe Snyder earned second place, and Tanner Bixler was awarded third place.

Congrats to our SHS and SMS students!

You can view CBS 21's report here:  https://local21news.com/sports/content/cbs-21s-scholar-athlete-of-the-year-samantha-wechsler

A Susquenita High School student has been named a regional 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Competition Honorable Mention recipient for her 3D sculpture.  This is the first time Susquenita High School has submitted artwork under the direction of art teacher Mrs. Tracy Hunter, and Susquenita’s first honorable mention.  Susquenita’s entry into the competition was supported by the Perry County Council of the Arts.  

Madison Egresits, a junior, submitted “Gnome Home,” a hand built ceramic teapot vibrantly adorned with flowers, mushrooms and gnomes, and accompanied by a teacup.  

“Madison is a hard-working student who spent countless hours inside and outside of the classroom perfecting this whimsical piece. I always enjoy seeing what creative ideas she comes up with for her artwork. I look forward to seeing what Madison and other Susquenita students create in the future and hope to continue promoting and celebrating our student artists’ accomplishments through the Scholastic Competition,” said Mrs. Hunter.  

Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized the talent of our nation’s youth and provided opportunities for creative teens to be celebrated. Each year, increasing numbers of teens participate in the program, including artists and writers, filmmakers and photographers, poets and sculptors, video game artists and science fiction writers.

Click the link below to see a list of SHS students who achieved honor roll and distinguished honor roll for Marking Period 2.  Congrats to our amazing students.  Go Blackhawks!

SHS Honor Roll List - Marking Period 2

On Thursday January 26, approximately 37 education professionals from 16 school districts throughout Central and  Eastern PA converged on Susquenita High School to learn about what it takes to be an Apple Distinguished School, and to see firsthand how SHS students are using technology to be at the forefront of learning, collaboration and creativity.  Susquenita invited educational professionals from across the region to visit SHS and engage in a student showcase, building tour, and professional development sessions.  

SHS was named an Apple Distinguished School (ADS) for the fourth consecutive time in October 2022, for the period of 2022-2025.  Previous distinctions were earned in 2015-2017, 2017-2019 and 2019-2022.  

In the student showcase, visiting educators were able to cycle through interactive displays and connect directly with students to learn about their experiences.  The topics included EPUB children’s book, QR code workout, Friction in Physics, Hawk Squad, Presidential Pages Project, The Adventure of Bill Boy, News from the Nest Podcast, and PA Quarter 3D Project.  Students demonstrated how they use technology to create eBooks, 3D printed materials, and a podcast.  

During the building tours, guests visited classrooms to view teachers and students in action.  The tours included visits to a wide sampling of classrooms, including calculus, sports leadership, advanced drawing and painting, economics and civics, among others.  Teachers and students spoke to the visiting educators and demonstrated how they’ve integrated technology into learning.  

SHS has had iPad devices in class since 2015.  Since that time, both teachers and students have been able to take risks, learn new skills, and were given the opportunity to succeed - and sometimes fail.  Mrs. Kyla Falzarano, physics teacher and technology co-coordinator at SHS, complimented Mr. Craig Funk, SHS principal, saying, “Our administration, from the building principals to the district office, always gave us the opportunity to try new things.  Sometimes that resulted in failure, but our students and educators were able to learn from it and try again.  We have received the ultimate support from our administration.”  

When asked how SHS measures the success of our technology integration, Dr. Jon Fox, Susquenita School District Superintendent, said that success can be measured in various ways.  “We measure success by seeing increased attendance, which equals increased engagement.  We also use the 5-year graduation cohort rate as a marker of success to make sure our students are graduating when they should be.”  

SHS History teacher Mr. Terrance Shepler had an additional point of view: “We can measure our students’ success by examining the types of things they are creating.  Our students have become content creators creating materials for authentic audiences.”  Not long ago, Mr. Shepler’s AP History course created an eBook about US presidents, which was used as a learning tool in Mrs. Emily Book’s third grade classroom, who built an entire lesson and activity around the eBook.  

In the Q&A that followed, a visiting educator noted that SHS students seem to welcome collaboration among peers.  Many SHS educators agreed.  “The technology we use in the classroom lends itself to collaboration,” said Mr. Shepler, “and our students enjoy having other people’s input while being able to share their own ideas.”