Shamokin Area SD staff report end-of-year celebrations, kindergarten readiness and summer STEAM program

At the Shamokin Area School District meeting staff reports highlighted end-of-year student events and previewed summer and back-to-school activities.

Missus Nery, a school staff member, told the board that kindergarten graduation and end-of-year events were successful and thanked kindergarten teachers, support staff and audiovisual staff for arranging a joint activity that paired kindergarteners with seniors. "It was very trying to get them all together to do it," Missus Nery said, and added that the activity and the kindergarten graduation were "really really nice in the end." She described a summer STEAM program that will run for four weeks with hands-on learning, arts and crafts, fitness and outdoor activities, and said the district will again run kindergarten readiness sessions in August that include classroom tours and a bus orientation for new students. Nery said the district will continue a staggered kindergarten start on the first days of school so teachers can coordinate classroom transitions.

Mr. Carnuccio, a high-school staff member, thanked teachers, aides, custodial and cafeteria staff and described spring activities including prom, AP and Keystone testing and award ceremonies. He said a graduating class of about 178 students is expected after summer school completion and estimated summer-school enrollment at roughly 18 students as of the meeting; he also said final AP scores were expected in a few weeks.

Board members and staff praised the district food-service efforts for catering prom events; Sherry Eichelberger was named in recognition for catering support. The board also acknowledged academic honors for the graduating class: co-valedictorians Alexis Bressey and Susan Kurtz, and other honor graduates listed in the minutes.

The board approved a motion to acknowledge the students and staff accomplishments and accepted the list of 2025 graduation candidates.