School District of Lancaster

For many students, a school day might begin with math, include a trip to the library, and end in the gym. But for a group of students in our multiple disabilities classrooms, a recent day looked a little different, it involved casting a line, feeling the tug of a trout, and smiling from ear to ear as they reeled in their very first catch. In partnership with Springside Trout Farm in New Holland, our Adaptive Physical Education team organized a fishing trip that was an experience designed with intention, accessibility, and joy at its core. With the help of assistive technology, creative engineering, and a passionate team of educators, students who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to fish were given the tools and support they needed to fully participate and thrive. As Adaptive PE teacher Brett McCoy shared, this idea was born in the fall and brought to life through months of collaboration across our Special Education team, district administration, and the Lancaster Education Foundation. “Kids need opportunities,” he said. “And for students with multiple disabilities, that often means reimagining what access can look like.” This outing reflects what’s possible when we invest in inclusive, student-centered experiences that meet learners where they are and imagine where they can go. It’s about showing our students and our community that inclusion isn’t just a buzzword. It’s action. It’s joy. It’s innovation. And sometimes, it’s a sunny day at a trout farm with a fishing pole in hand Read the full story on our website, link in comments #lancasterpa #education #sdolpa #sdolproud #community

We walked, ran, and moved with purpose through the streets of our city as part of the 2025 Race Against Racism. This annual tradition, hosted by YWCA Lancaster, offers a powerful reminder of why we show up: to stand against hate, to stand with one another, and to build a future where every student and staff member feels seen, valued, and safe. For the School District of Lancaster, this work is deeply personal. Our schools reflect the diversity of this city, and we are proud to stand alongside students, families, educators, and neighbors in a shared commitment to creating a world where every child can thrive. Thank you to YWCA Lancaster for leading this work, and to everyone who ran, walked, volunteered, or supported. We are proud to be part of a community that chooses courage and compassion every single step of the way. #lancasterpa #sdolpa #sdolproud

We’re proud to share that several of our students have been recognized with nominations for the 2025 Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards, one of the region’s highest honors in high school theatre. This year, McCaskey High School's production of The Wedding Singer has earned six nominations, including one of the evening’s top distinctions: Outstanding Musical. As a nominee in this category, our entire cast will take the stage once again, performing a musical number at the Apollo Awards on Sunday, May 18 at the GIANT Center in Hershey. We’re so proud of our student performers, musicians, crew, and staff for their artistry and commitment to their craft. Whether they were center stage or behind the scenes, their passion brought The Wedding Singer to life and now, to a regional audience of peers, professionals, and supporters. We also celebrate the following student nominees whose performances stood out among dozens of schools across Central Pennsylvania: Callaghan Petrosky – Outstanding Lead Actor Annika Locke – Outstanding Lead Actress Celia Keener – Outstanding Supporting Actress Duo Caraballo-Cruz – Outstanding Featured Performer Lydia Corvino – Outstanding Featured Performer Outstanding Dance Number Rehearsals begin again as our students prepare to share their passion and hard work with an even wider audience. Congratulations everyone! Read the full story on our website, link in comments. #SDoLPA #SDoLProud #lancasterpa #education #theatre #arts

This week's staff shoutout goes to someone whose heart, hustle, and homegrown roots continue to make a lasting impact in the School District of Lancaster. Meet Lakeesha Bair-Myers, School Social Worker at Reynolds Middle School and proud McCaskey High School alum, Class of 1991. Lakeesha’s connection to the School District of Lancaster is personal. She attended SDoL schools from kindergarten through graduation. She returned to the district professionally eight years ago, beginning as a Special Education Social Worker before taking on her current role at Reynolds in 2022. For Lakeesha, serving in the community where she was raised is a commitment to giving back in ways that are personal and lasting. “I love being able to support the school and community where I grew up,” she shares. “It gives me the opportunity to combine my personal experiences with my passion for helping others.” That blend of lived experience and professional expertise has made her a trusted resource for students, staff, and families alike. One of Lakeesha’s notable contributions this school year has been her leadership in a growing partnership with the Riverside Camping Association. Together, they’ve helped stock care closets at Reynolds and other schools with essentials like food, clothing, and hygiene items providing more than $15,000 in support over the past year. Just as important, the partnership has opened doors for students to serve as volunteers at five community events, offering them firsthand experience in civic responsibility and community care. We’re proud to have Lakeesha as part of our SDoL family, and grateful for the care she brings to every student, every family, and every day. Thank you, Lakeesha. Your work reminds us what it means to truly show up for a community. Read her full shoutout on our website, link in comments. #SDoLPA #SDoLproud #lancasterpa #education #teamwork #community #strongertogether

Jeremy Raff, DPA, our Director of Data Analytics & Strategy and an SDP Fellow (Cohort 15), was recently highlighted by the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University for his impactful work in the School District of Lancaster! From building customized dashboards to leading research that addresses critical academic transitions, like the drop in math proficiency between 5th and 6th grade, Jeremy is helping our district turn data into action. His capstone project translates them into tools teachers can use, like student conferencing dashboards and transition planning protocols. It's work that directly supports our mission of educational equity and student success. As Assistant Superintendent Dr. April H. shared, “Jeremy’s thoughtful and thorough work identifying data that assists us in creating solutions to declining academic achievement is invaluable to our mission.” We’re proud to see Jeremy’s leadership and collaboration recognized nationally. Thank you, Jeremy, for ensuring our data serves our students. Read the full story in the comments. #SDoLPA #SDoLproud #education #data

Hersheypark is offering specially priced tickets for School District of Lancaster families! Through this exclusive link, you can purchase tickets at a significant discount, no contracts or signatures required. Ticket Options: $40.84 Ticket – Valid for any 1 public operating day through July 31, 2025 $47.84 Ticket – Valid for any 1 public operating day through January 4, 2026 Whether you're looking for a summer adventure or planning a festive holiday visit, these flexible tickets are a great way to enjoy “The Sweetest Place on Earth” at a sweet price. Use the promo code: SDoL The link to purchase is in the comments and will be active until April 30, 2025, so don’t miss out! #sdolpa #hersheypark #summer

“Our staff has always believed in meeting families where they are,” said Rachel Esh, principal of Carter and MacRae Elementary. “Becoming a community school gives us more tools to do that. With Lancaster Rec as our partner, we’ll be able to expand after-school offerings, increase access to resources like food and mental health services, and create stronger connections between home and school.” The School District of Lancaster is proud to announce that Carter and MacRae ES has officially joined the district’s growing community school initiative. It becomes the seventh school in our network to adopt the community school model, an approach centered on supporting the whole child by bringing educational, health, social service, and community development partners directly into the school building. We’re equally proud to share that Lancaster Recreation Commission (Lancaster Rec) will serve as the lead agency at Carter & MacRae. For over a century, Lancaster Rec has worked in close partnership with families across Lancaster City and Township. Known for their inclusive programs that span early childhood education, youth sports, senior activities, and after-school enrichment, Lancaster Rec has long played a meaningful role in promoting well-being and connection across generations. Their deep familiarity with our neighborhoods and the families who live here makes them uniquely positioned to support Carter & MacRae students both during and beyond the school day. Read the full story on our website, link in comments. #SDoLPA #SDoLproud #lancasterpa #education #community #communityschool #strongertogether

In every school and office across the School District of Lancaster, there’s someone who knows the pulse of the building before the first bell rings and long after the final dismissal call. Someone who remembers every face, manages every form, fields every question, and does it all without fanfare. Today, on Administrative Professionals Day, we honor those individuals, the ones who keep everything moving, often behind the scenes. Administrative professionals are the warm voices on the other end of the phone when a parent calls in, the steady presence when a student needs comfort, and the logistical minds behind calendars, registrations, meetings, and more. Their desks might be covered in post-it notes and to-do lists, but somehow, they manage to meet every challenge with a sense of calm, care, and reliability that our schools have come to count on. They are the first to welcome you into a building and the last to leave when everything’s been squared away. They troubleshoot tech issues, help translate for families, process time-sensitive forms, coordinate events, and support teachers and principals with incredible adaptability. Simply put: they make it all work. They know the inner workings of each building, the stories of the students and staff who walk through the doors, and the importance of each task, no matter how small it might seem. Their work builds trust, keeps families informed, and helps every part of the school day unfold with a little more ease. Today, we want to say thank you. Thank you for your time, your attention to detail, your patience, your empathy, and your ability to make a hundred things happen at once. You are essential to our mission and to our community. To all of our administrative professionals your work doesn’t go unnoticed. We see you. We appreciate you. And today, we celebrate you. #SDoLPA #SDoLproud #administrativeprofessionals #education #teamwork #community #strongertogether

This week’s staff spotlight is shining bright on Laura Reynolds,or as her students know her best, Miss Laura. As a Building Assistant at Burrowes Elementary School, Laura has become an essential part of the school’s daily rhythm, community spirit, and heart. Her role may come with many hats, but every day she leads with kindness and purpose. Miss Laura’s day begins before the first bell rings, and for many of our students, she’s one of the very first faces they see. Every morning, she greets students at breakfast alongside her teammate Mrs. Patterson, offering hugs, smiles, and warm hellos that help set a positive tone for the day. These seemingly simple morning moments are deeply meaningful, especially for students who rely on school for a sense of connection, comfort, and consistency. And for Miss Laura, that morning energy, those grins, giggles, and tight little hugs, immediately fill her with joy and motivation to tackle the day ahead. From there, she shifts between classrooms and responsibilities. Her role is intentionally flexible designed to meet the needs of students and staff across the building. She might be sitting beside a student working through a tough math lesson, jumping in to help a teacher with a lesson transition, or answering behavioral support calls with a calm, centered approach. She’s someone who can be counted on to lend a hand without needing to be asked. Her presence is steady and unassuming, but deeply valued by everyone around her. But if you ask Laura what her favorite part of the day is, she'll tell you it's lunch. The cafeteria can be noisy and full of energy, but for her, it’s a time when she gets to check in with every single student in the building. Every other week, Miss Laura also runs the school store, where students use their earned Dojo points to “buy” small items as a reward for positive behavior. What looks like a simple transaction is actually a celebration of growth and effort. Laura delights in seeing their faces light up with pride and accomplishment. She doesn’t just see what they’ve earned, she sees who they’re becoming. A colleague who nominated her shared: “Miss Laura is a vital part of our building. She not only supports in multiple classrooms, but also is in charge of our positive behavioral reward system. It takes an endless amount of time and energy to create our Burrowes bucks as well as calculate every students amounts and help run the school store. Miss Laura also is on cafeteria duty, which is no small feat! She is patient, kind, understanding, and respectful of students of all needs! Miss Laura goes above and beyond to connect with students and build relationships. There are multiple students who seek her out when they are having any type of problem or issue and need a trusted adult. She also assists in bus dismissal, which is a heavy task! Our building would not be what it is without building assistants like her!” Read her full story on our website #SDoLPA #SDoLProud

When students are well-nourished, they’re better equipped to learn, grow, and thrive not just in the classroom, but in life. That’s why we are proud to share that Giant Food Stores has donated $5,615.92 to the School District of Lancaster through its 2025 Feeding School Kids campaign. Running from January 1 through March 31, the campaign invited GIANT customers to contribute in small but meaningful ways by rounding up their purchases at the register, donating CHOICE points, or participating in vendor promotions. Those individual acts of generosity added up to something powerful, enabling school districts like ours to expand food access for students and families. This year, GIANT's donation to SDoL will directly support The Edible Classroom, an initiative that weaves gardening and nutrition education into the school day. Through hands-on learning, students not only get their hands dirty in the soil, they cultivate a deeper understanding of where food comes from and the importance of healthy eating. Read the full story on our website! Thank you to GIANT and everyone who contributed! #sdolpa #sdolproud #education #lancasterpa #community #strongertogether