📚🎩 OH, THE PLACES WE’LL READ // If you spotted a red and white striped hat at Kindergarten Academy drop-off this morning, you weren’t imagining things … 👀 It's Read Across America Week!

Reading Interventionist Lisa Hoover kicked off the day in full Dr. Seuss style, welcoming students with smiles, stories, and a reminder that reading opens the door to adventure. From silly rhymes to beloved classics, this week is all about celebrating the joy of books and the power of literacy.

When our teachers show up with this much spirit before the first bell even rings, you know it’s going to be a good week. 💙

Let the reading fun begin.

#WildcatPride

🍲 FROM KITCHEN TO COMMUNITY // A big round of applause for our Mechanicsburg Middle School Wildcat Cafe students, who once again brought their talents to Wildcat Foundation Night last week with a delicious soup bar experience.

From planning and preparation to serving guests, these students showcased impressive culinary skills, teamwork, and Wildcat pride. Their hard work helped make the evening warm, welcoming, and memorable for everyone involved. 💙

📸 Smiles shared with us courtesy MMS Teacher Rebecca Kuhn.

#WildcatPride

🦬 BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE // As part of their unit on Native American studies, our KinderCats are learning about the important role bison played in daily life. To help them truly understand just how massive these animals are, Scott Herbein created a life-sized bison silhouette right inside his classroom. Let’s just say… there were some wide eyes when our little learners realized how big “BIG” really is.

Hands-on learning makes history unforgettable.

📸 Special thanks to Mr. Herbein for capturing the moment.

#WildcatPride

🔎 EXPLORING FUTURE PATHWAYS // Recently, some of our future-focused Wildcats at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School stepped beyond the classroom to explore careers in both the military and legal fields.

Students connected with members of the PA Army National Guard to learn about field artillery roles, engineering support careers, and both college and non-college pathways. Another group attended a Law & Corrections career exploration event, speaking with state representatives, state troopers, attorneys, and law professors about careers in law and law enforcement.

Real conversations. Real professionals. Real-world possibilities. Real connections.

Special thanks to Jeff Luttermoser and team for coordinating these amazing opportunities! (📸 And for the photos.)

#WildcatPride

🧦 HEY CHRIS, YOU KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF // Bringing people together to learn and grow is no small task — and Chris Haldeman, Executive Assistant/Superintendent's Office, made it happen. Recently, she coordinated a hands-on training at the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute (PennSSI), creating an opportunity for administrators and administrative assistants from across the district to connect, collaborate, and strengthen their skills through meaningful, interactive learning.

Chris is always looking for ways to build connection and support professional growth, and based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, this experience did exactly that. Thank you, Chris, for helping our Wildcats learn, grow, and work stronger together.

#WildcatPride #YouKnockedOurSocksOff

🛍️ GET YOUR WILDCAT MERCH // Your new go-to spot for Wildcat gear is officially open.

Run by student volunteers and coordinated through our Athletic Department, the school store at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School offers Wildcats a chance to build real-world skills while helping our school community show their pride.

COMMUNITY HOURS: The store is open during select hours throughout the school day for students and staff, and the community is invited to stop by beginning at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday, 2/26/26, to grab Wildcat merch before heading into opening night of the spring musical, Hello, Dolly! (Don't have your tickets yet? Check out the link in the comments for more details.)

Come support our student leaders and gear up with some Wildcat pride.

📸 Photos courtesy Karyn Lombardi.

#WildcatPride

🧦 HEY NATE, YOU KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF (again) // Everyone needs more than one pair of socks — and Nate Chesky has earned them. Our first two-time honoree, Mr. Chesky was nominated by a colleague after delivering a K’NEX Challenge prize to a student’s home when the student had gone home sick before break.

As the longtime coordinator of Elmwood Academy’s K’NEX Challenge team, Mr. Chesky consistently goes above and beyond to support and celebrate his students. Thank you for the care, dedication, and extra steps you take to make a difference.

#WildcatPride #YouKnockedOurSocksOff

🎳🥈 ROLLING INTO SUCCESS // Congratulations to MASH's Jackson Coy, who bowled his way to an outstanding second-place finish at the PIAA District 3 Championships over the weekend. Frame by frame, he showed skill, focus, and determination, all the while making our Wildcat community proud.

👏 Congratulations, Jackson!

#WildcatPride

❄️ TWO-HOUR DELAY // Tomorrow, Monday, February 23, 2026, Mechanicsburg Area School District will operate on a two-hour delay schedule. We will continue to monitor conditions overnight and will reach back out if weather or road conditions necessitate any further changes. Thank you and stay safe, Wildcats.

🧦 HEY CARA, YOU KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF // Elementary Literacy Coach Cara Pehanich knocked it out of the park by designing and leading a professional learning experience that was practical, collaborative, and immediately impactful for our elementary teams.

Through rotating grade-level stations, teachers connected directly with our special education, reading intervention, English language development, and gifted service providers—gaining targeted insights to strengthen their CKLA literacy lessons. Even better? They left with color-coded lesson notes and ready-to-use strategies they could implement right away.

That’s what it looks like to support colleagues, elevate instruction, and keep our Wildcats future-focused. 🐾

#WildcatPride #YouKnockedOurSocksOff

📚👏 SHE’S A PUBLISHED AUTHOR // Join us in celebrating Shepherdstown Elementary second grade teacher Laura Mull on an incredible accomplishment.

Mrs. Mull is officially a published author with the recent release of her book, Tobias: Trash Truck Extraordinaire. What an inspiring milestone, and a powerful reminder for our students that authors are real people who follow their passions, embrace creativity, and bring stories to life … sometimes right from the front of the classroom.

Congratulations, Mrs. Mull, and thank you for inspiring the next generation of readers, writers, and future-focused Wildcats.

#WildcatPride

🚓💜 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS // Future-focused Wildcats in Jessica Ackley’s first grade class recently welcomed Trooper Melder from the Pennsylvania State Police into their classroom.

Students learned about her role as a State Trooper, explored her patrol car and sirens, listened to a story, and asked thoughtful questions to learn more about her career. Some even had the chance to try on her vest and hat for a hands-on look at the job.

Experiences like this help students connect classroom learning to the real world while building curiosity about future pathways. Thank you, Trooper Melder, for inspiring our Wildcats and strengthening the connection between our schools and community.

📸 Special thanks to our friends at Broad Street for sharing these moments with us.

#WildcatPride

🧦 HEY MR. GAYMAN, YOU KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF // Small deposits of confidence and care can make a lasting impact. Todd Gayman, Social Studies Teacher at MASH, consistently invested in a student’s growth, offering encouragement and guidance across multiple classes — and when the opportunity arose to support that student through a competitive scholarship process, he stepped up without hesitation.

That investment helped the student overcome challenges and earn a full scholarship to a top university. Thank you, Mr. Gayman, for making a difference that extends far beyond the classroom. 💜

#WildcatPride #YouKnockedOurSocksOff

👮‍♂️💜 NATIONAL SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER DAY // Today we recognize and celebrate Officer Mark, our District Resource Officer, for the important role he plays in helping our schools remain safe, welcoming, and supportive places for students and staff. Beyond safety, Officer Mark builds meaningful relationships, offers guidance, supports problem-solving, and helps create positive connections throughout our school community. His presence across our schools reflects care, consistency, and his commitment to our Wildcats. Thank you, Officer Mark. Today we celebrate you. Every day we appreciate you. #WildcatPride

💜❤️ FRIENDSHIP, FUN & KINDNESS // On Thursday, many of our young Wildcats celebrated Valentine’s Day with crafts, games, laughter, and lots of smiles. While the day may often come with hearts and sweet treats, what truly stands out is the kindness, friendship, and sense of belonging our students and staff share with one another.

📸 Photos of friends at Upper Allen shared courtesy Gr. 2 Teacher Thamina Peti.

#WildcatPride

🧦💜 HEY MELINDA, YOU KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF // Shoutout to Melinda Gochenaur, Administrative Assistant at Kindergarten Academy, for going above and beyond to make substitutes feel welcomed, prepared, and part of the team.

Anyone who has ever substituted knows how challenging it can be to arrive without knowing the day’s details — from spirit days to recess duty on bitter cold mornings. Mrs. Gochenaur takes the extra step by reaching out ahead of time to share helpful information, ensuring substitutes walk in feeling confident and supported.

Small actions like these help build a stronger sense of belonging and community for everyone at Kindergarten Academy. Thank you for making a difference, Melinda.

🧦 (One pair of socks just isn’t enough anymore — with so many reasons and people to celebrate, you may just begin to see two recognitions each week.)

#WildcatPride #YouKnockedOurSocksOff

🏀 MEET YOUR MID PENN CHAMPS // Please help us celebrate our girls basketball team on their 39-37 win tonight to secure the conference championship title! Congratulations!🎉 #wildcatpride

💜 THIS IS COMMUNITY // Elmwood Academy crossing guard Kim Wolfe was spotted bringing her own shovel to clear snow and ice that formed at a crosswalk near the school — helping keep the path safe for our students.

Our municipal partners and community members do a great job keeping roads and sidewalks clear, but we all know winter weather has a way of shifting, day by day. Seeing members of our school community step in like this is a powerful reminder that safety is a shared responsibility. Thank you for showing what Wildcat community looks like in action.

📸 Special thanks to Heather Strock for sending us this photo so that we can celebrate this small act of kindness and care.

#WildcatPride

👏 WILDCAT SPOTLIGHT // Please join us in sending a big round of applause to second-grade Wildcat Carter, who alongside Principal Dave Echelmeier shared a special presentation with the Board of School Directors at last evening’s meeting.

Representing Shepherdstown Elementary, Carter spoke with confidence as he helped highlight how Shep is using social media with intentionality — sharing their story, celebrating successes, and building meaningful connections within the school community.

We couldn’t be more proud of Carter for representing Shepherdstown and MASD with such confidence and Wildcat pride. 💜

#WildcatPride