Discover expert insights about online security and how to protect your digital life. Learn tips to create strong passwords across all of your accounts; strategies to enhance privacy settings on your social media platforms; and insights on using your browser's incognito mode to safeguard your online history. https://wcsdpa.onlinesafetyhub.io/parent/articles/protecting-your-digital-life-1
This Week’s Math Moment: Fractions with Dominoes! 🎲➗
Dominoes aren’t just for games—they’re perfect for exploring fractions in a way that’s hands-on and visual! Use the dots on each domino to build, compare, and simplify fractions in a fun and stress-free way.
This activity can grow with your child:
🔸 Younger learners can practice identifying and simplifying fractions
🔸 Older students can add, subtract, or even write equations using the values they create
🔸 Try turning it into a fraction memory match or sorting challenge!
All you need is a domino set and some curious math minds.
Make fractions make sense—one dot at a time! 🌟
Stay tuned for next week’s activity for more hands-on math fun at home!
2025 SUN Bucks Program Information
The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), or SUN Bucks Program, was authorized by Congress in 2022. The program, through participating agencies, provides $40 per summer month per child to families with eligible school-age children to buy groceries. The Pennsylvania Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Education (PDE) are jointly responsible for overseeing the SUN Bucks program in Pennsylvania, under the guidance of the USDA.
Each household will receive a $120 SUN Bucks benefit per eligible child, equivalent to $40 per month for June-August. SUN Bucks benefits are issued at the household level. DHS follows a hierarchy of where benefits are issued: the family’s state EBT card (ACCESS) if available, otherwise the family’s previously-issued SUN Bucks EBT card if available, otherwise a new SUN Bucks EBT card.
Most families will not need to apply for 2025 SUN Bucks since the bulk of eligible students are captured automatically by 1) being eligible for free/reduced meals at NSLP/SBP schools, or 2) if they didn’t attend an NSLP/SBP school, by being on the state’s direct-certified list and of compulsory school age.
Families with questions about whether their child is automatically eligible or if they need to apply should use the Eligibility Navigator tool on the DHS website. The self-guided series of questions tells the family if a child is automatically eligible, not eligible, or if they should apply for SUN Bucks. Please review the resources below for more information on the SUN Bucks Program.
- DHS SUN Bucks website – https://www.dhs.pa.gov/sunbucks
- DHS Statewide Customer Service Center – (877) 395-8930, or (215) 560-7226 in Philadelphia
- SUN Bucks family flyers (found at the bottom of the DHS SUN Bucks website)
- CAO locator: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/services/assistance/pages/cao-contact.aspx
- Summer EBT Income Eligibility Guidelines: https://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/resource/sebt-income-eligibilityguidelines
- Pre-recorded FAQ line for families – (877) 762-1575
Reminder: Kindergarten Roundup is right around the corner for WAEC!
The final WCSD Kindergarten Roundup session will be this Tuesday, May 27th, at Warren Area Elementary Center from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration for more information.
If you know someone else with a child ready for kindergarten, please share the information with them.
The following students were nominated for the Northwest PA C.L.A.S.S. Act Emerging Leader for the 2024-2025 school year within the Warren County School District. Nominations were presented to District Administration on a monthly basis and then presented to the IU #5 and ERIE NEWS NOW.
Criteria for being selected for the Northwest PA C.L.A.S.S. Act Emerging Leader includes the following:
· Effort – works hard and is persistent
· Character through compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, optimism, and responsibility
· Good citizenship
· Demonstrates responsibility
· Respectful to peers and teachers
· Serves as a positive/influential representative of his or her school community
Congratulations to all the nominees.
Weekly Math Fun: Measurement Mix! 📏🔍
This week, turn simple household items into math tools with a fun, hands-on activity that explores length, comparison, and units of measure! Whether your child is using crayons or measuring tape, they’ll build important math concepts through active exploration.
Extend the Learning:
🧮 Estimation Practice – Before measuring, ask your child to guess how many objects long the line will be. Were they close? What might affect their estimate?
🔄 Try New Objects – Switch it up by using different non-standard units: LEGO bricks, spoons, toy cars—anything that fits the line!
📊 Record & Compare – Create a chart with the name of each object and how many it took to measure the line. Which item gave the most accurate result?
💬 Ask Thinking Questions –
•“Why might your measurement change if you use different objects?”
•“When might it be important to use a ruler instead of other items?”
This activity builds number sense and introduces key concepts in estimation, measurement, and precision—all with tools you already have at home.
Stay tuned for next week’s post, where we’ll explore another way to make math fun and meaningful in everyday moments! 🧠✨
Reminder: Kindergarten Roundup is right around the corner for YES!
The next WCSD Kindergarten Roundup session will be this Tuesday, May 20th, at Youngsville Elementary School from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration for more information and the schedule of the last session at WAEC
If you know someone else with a child ready for kindergarten, please share the information with them.
Weekly Math Fun: Fractions with Homemade Playdough! 🧂➗🎨
This week, bring math into the kitchen with a hands-on fraction activity your child will love—making playdough! Measuring ingredients offers the perfect opportunity to explore whole, half, and quarter measurements in a real-world setting.
Math Learning in the Kitchen:
🍴 Practice Equivalent Fractions – Use different measuring cups to build one whole.
🧠 Build Number Sense – Talk through what it means to double or halve a recipe.
🥣 Compare Quantities – Ask questions like, “Which ingredient do we use the most of?” or “How much more salt than cream of tartar?”
🖐 Reinforce Math Vocabulary – Use terms like cup, half, quarter, double, and equal parts while mixing and measuring.
Once the playdough is ready, shape it into numbers, fractions, or math symbols to keep the learning going!
Stay tuned for next week's post, where we’ll explore another creative and practical way to practice math at home! ✨📏
Reminder: Kindergarten Roundup is right around the corner for EES!
The next WCSD Kindergarten Roundup session will be this Monday, May 12th, at Eisenhower Elementary School from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration for more information and the schedule of sessions at YES and WAEC
If you know someone else with a child ready for kindergarten, please share the information with them.
Attention Parents and Community Members: The WCSD All-County High School Art Show Opening Reception planned for tonight, May 7th, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM has been cancelled due to an unplanned Power Outage at the Warren Public Library. The show can still be viewed during regular library hours from May 8th until May 16th in the Wetmore Gallery.
Warren Area High School nominates Leihden Wotorson for the C.L.A.S.S. Act Emerging Leader for IU5. Leihden has been a leader among his classmates and has proven in his academic and extracurricular endeavors that he is worthy of being a C.L.A.S.S. Act Nominee.
Leihden has been an excellent academic student at WAHS and previously at Sheffield Area High School, taking a challenging courseload while being involved in numerous extracurricular activities. Leihden has maintained an excellent GPA while taking advanced courses including AP and Dual Enrollment offerings. Leihden plans on attending college next year to major in a career in the Business/Finance field. In the building Leihden has been active in Key Club, a Class Officer, Varsity Club, the "Flannel Panel", Varsity Basketball, and Varsity Golf. Leihden has been a team captain for both the Sheffield basketball team and this year after transferring for the WAHS basketball team, a testament to his leadership qualities as soon by both schools and coaching staffs.
In addition to school sponsored activities, Leihden has been involved in a number of organizations outside of school. He has participated heavily over the years in AAU basketball, traveling long distances throughout the week and to tournaments on the weekends. He has volunteered at the food pantry in Sheffield in his free time. Leihden is admired by administration and the teaching staff for his relentlessly positive attitude and demeanor. He also exhibits a tremendous family bond with his parents and his siblings, seen nightly as he is attending and extremely supportive of his siblings in their athletic and academic endeavors. Most nights, Leihden and his younger sister are the loudest supporters of each other in the gymnasium or on the athletic field. Leihden made the difficult decision to transfer schools due to a looming reconfiguration/consolidation in our school district during his senior year. This decision allowed him to take advanced classes to prepare for his future. These decisions and activities are a testament to his empathy, giving, time-management, tireless work ethic, loyalty, and fearlessness in his convictions, all traits associated with future leaders.
Leihden is an excellent representative for Warren Area High School, the town of Sheffield, and Warren County as a whole, and I hope that you will consider Leihden for the C.L.A.S.S. Act Emerging Leader program.
Come and view the creative artwork of our High School students here in Warren County. Student artwork was submitted from around the county, currently from: Youngsville High School, Eisenhower Middle High School, Sheffield Middle High School, and Warren Area High School. These hardworking students feature their current artwork from their courses created during the 2024-2025 school year.
**Warren County School District 2025 Summer School Program – High School Credit**
Warren County School District is offering its 2025 Summer School Program for high school students seeking either initial credit or credit recovery.
This opportunity is open to any student who will be enrolled in high school for the 2025-2026 school year.
* Earn initial credit for a course
* Recover credit for a previously failed high school course
**Please note:** This program is *not* available to students who failed a middle school class in the 2024–2025 school year.
For full details and to register, please visit the link below:
👉 https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/virtual-academy
The 2025-2026 fall marching band and sports registration will be from June 2 - July 6, 2025, using Arbiter Sports formally known as Family ID.
Weekly Math Fun: Fact Fluency Memory Match! 🧠🎲
This week, make math fun and interactive with Fact Fluency Memory Match! This game turns math fact practice into an engaging challenge that builds confidence and speed.
Ways to Extend the Learning:
✔️ Make it multi-step – Match a problem to two cards (e.g., 6 × 7 = 42 and 42 ÷ 6 = 7). ✔️ Incorporate word problems – Write a math fact on one card and a short word problem that matches on another. ✔️ Try fractions & decimals – Match ½ to 0.5 or ¾ to 75% for an extra challenge. ✔️ Increase the difficulty – Instead of direct answers, match a fact with an equivalent expression (e.g., 3 × 4 to 6 × 2).
With endless variations, this game keeps math exciting for all ages! Stay tuned for next week’s post, where we’ll introduce another creative way to build math skills at home! 🔢✨
Reminder: Kindergarten Roundup is right around the corner for SAES!
The first Kindergarten Roundup session will be this Monday, May 5th, at Sheffield Area Elementary School from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration for more information and the schedule of sessions at EES, YES, and WAEC
If you know someone else with a child ready for kindergarten, please share the information with them.
Navigating Social Media and Gaming Apps Safely
Age recommendations alone are insufficient to ensure your child has a positive experience with social media apps and online games.
Following our ABC model (safe Access, clear Boundaries, and open Communication) will help keep your child safe online.
https://wcsdpa.onlinesafetyhub.io/parent/articles/navigating-social-media-and-gaming-apps-safely
I am honored to nominate Cali Chapman as a C.L.A.S.S. Act Emerging Leader. Throughout high school, Cali has demonstrated exceptional leadership, responsibility, and dedication to both her school and community. Her contributions as a student leader, volunteer, athlete, and academic achiever make her a deserving candidate for this recognition.
As the Class of 2025 President for three consecutive years, Cali has shown dedication and leadership. She also served in Student Council, progressing from Secretary to Vice President, and has been an active member of Key Club throughout high school. These roles require perseverance and a strong work ethic, which she has consistently displayed. Her academic commitment is also evident through her taking six dual enrollment courses at Pitt Bradford, balancing rigorous coursework with extracurricular activities.
Cali was named 2023 Warren County Fair Queen Runner-Up, reflecting her integrity and ability to serve as a role model. Through Key Club, Cali has contributed to numerous service projects, always looking for ways to give back. Her volunteerism extends to local organizations as well, where she coaches a mini hip-hop team at her cheer gym and volunteering as a Junior Auxiliary at the Sugar Grove Fire Department. She has mentored elementary students, demonstrating patience, responsibility, and a passion for helping others succeed. In addition to her leadership and volunteer work, Cali maintains employment while balancing a rigorous academic and extracurricular schedule.
Cali exemplifies respect toward teammates and coaches, fostering positive relationships. Her involvement in athletics, including high school cheerleading from 7th through 12th grade and varsity softball since 9th grade, highlights her ability to work as part of a team, while her leadership sets a good example for younger teammates. Outside of school, Cali is an integral part of the Extreme Athletix competitive cheer and dance team.
Cali has been accepted to the University of Pittsburgh Main Campus. This further demonstrates that she is not only recognized on a school / community level but that this prestigious university recognizes and wants her to bring these characteristics with her to contribute to their campus going forward.
Due to pending Severe Weather all after school activities have been cancelled for today, 4/29/2025.
Weekly Math Fun: Weather Graphing Fun! ☀️📊
This week, turn weather observations into a hands-on graphing activity! Tracking the weather helps kids build skills in data collection, pattern recognition, and statistics while making learning fun and relevant.
Math Connections:
🌦 Data Organization – Creating a chart reinforces how to categorize and track information over time.
📉 Graphing Skills – Recording daily weather builds an understanding of bar graphs, line plots, or pictographs.
🔎 Pattern Recognition – Discussing trends in the data helps develop critical thinking.
💡 Prediction & Probability – Kids can use their observations to make predictions about upcoming weather patterns.
Try extending the activity by comparing temperatures, tracking wind speeds, or exploring seasonal weather trends. Stay tuned for next week's activity, where we'll bring more math into real-world experiences! 🌎📏✨
