Progress

JSASD finds new ways to engage with students

JERSEY SHORE -- The Jersey Shore Area School District is continuing to find new ways to engage its students.

Two new initiatives have taken place within the 2023-2024 school year -- the approval of a girls' wrestling team and the creation of Unified Bocce team at Jersey Shore Area High School.

In January, the district joined the growing number of others to offer a wrestling program specifically for girls.

Until now, there were girls who wrestled on the boys team, but according to William Mincer, the district's athletic director, the girls would like to be on a girls only team. The six girls currently involved in the wrestling program moved to the new team.

The bocce ball team was enacted in November 2023 after the district's board of directors heard from Life Skills teacher Stephanie Machmer.

At the time, Machmer said she'd visited another district to watch a match and learn more about the program, after it was suggested as JSASD the year prior.

Special Olympics PA Interscholastic Unified Sports (IUS) are sports that include both special education and regular education students.

Both groups of students have trained and compete as equal teammates on teams that are like any other interscholastic sports team at the high school level.

Since its inception, the program has had a great year both on its home court and also at away matches.

Outside of its new programs, athletes at JSAHS are having a stellar year.

The cheer squad competed at the District 4 Championships in the fall. Also bringing home top honors in fall sports were the girls' tennis team, which earned the title of 2023-2024 District 4 Class AA Champions and the boys and girls Bulldog Golf teams that earned the title of 2023-2024 District 4 Class AA Champions.

The varsity football team had a hard fought and emotional season following the loss of their teammate, Max Engle. The entire Bulldog community, along with dozens of school districts throughout Pennsylvania came together to support the team and its fallen member during the season.

Through fundraising campaigns, the community was able to raise money to support the Engle family during such a difficult time.

That community spirit and support shines throughout the district as its students hold various drives and fundraisers.

In the fall, the Bulldog Marching Band hosted a school wide drive and brought in over 250 hygiene products for the Care Closet. The band also performed for residents of Nippenose Valley Village, participated in the "Out of the Darkness" suicide prevention walk at Indian Park in Montoursville and participated in the 2023 Cavalcade of Bands Championships.

The high school's Key Club sponsored a Holiday Food Drive in November. The club not only met but exceeded its goals to help provide meals for many area families.

At Avis Elementary School, students collected items for those in need and donated them to the Clinton County Children and Youth Agency in December.

Members of the Jersey Shore Middle and High School Cross Country teams joined together following a great season to help volunteer at the New Love Center's pantry.

And the Jersey Shore Area School District held a Military Appreciation Night at one of its basketball games in January.

In school, students continue to take part in a variety of activities to help broaden their education.

In November, students at the high school gave an excellent performance of "The Red Velvet Cake War" in the auditorium.

At Jersey Shore Area Middle School, students presented a wonderful production of "Matilda Jr. The Musical" in February.

In other performance news, Sarah Andrus represented JSAHS at the PMEA District 8 Choir festival in Montoursville in January. Andrus stood alongside almost 200 other singers from dozens of other schools in surrounding counties and prepared 8 pieces ahead of time. During the 2-day festival, Andrus took part in a grueling audition process and rehearsed together before putting on a delightful concert.

At both the elementary and middle school levels, students continue to be showcased for their hard work and dedication.

Students at Jersey Shore Area Elementary School participated in a BARK reward pep rally in October with students from the high school -- including members of the band, cheerleaders, football players and mascot Spike -- taking part in the festivities.

And at the middle school, exemplary students continued to take center stage during regular ROCK breakfasts.