Annual Packet Information

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

We are very excited to welcome Pottsgrove students back to campus for the 2025-26 school year!  
The first day for students is August 20th.  State law and district policy requires that we provide you with certain information at the start of each school year.  At the bottom of this letter, you will be prompted to access and complete these documents.
Attendance is critical to student success - healthy students should be in school.  Please be aware that Educational Trip Requests will not be honored during Keystone and PSSA Testing periods for students in grades 3-8 or Keystone trigger courses where these assessments are required.  Testing dates are noted on the district calendar which may be viewed on our website. 

We invite you to partner with us to enhance your child(ren)'s education.  We are better when we work together!  Please plan to attend our Back to School nights and connect with your child(ren)’s teachers.  We encourage you to have daily conversations about school work, school activities, and to read with your young child(ren) every day.  We also encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities to enrich their academic experiences. We offer a wide range of activities, clubs, and athletics to appeal to your children’s talents, interests, and abilities.  Engagement in extracurricular activities has been shown to benefit students in many ways including attendance and academic achievement.

Let’s make it a great year together at Pottsgrove!

Sincerely,

SB 815 - Acceptable use of computers, network, internet, electronic communications and information policy

Notice to Parents 

According to state and federal special education regulations, annual public notice to parents of children who  reside within a school district is required regarding child find responsibilities. School districts (SDs),  intermediate units (IUs) and charter schools (CSs) are required to conduct child find activities for children who  may be eligible for services via Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For additional information  related to Section 504/Chapter 15 services, the parent may refer to Section 504, Chapter 15, and the Basic  Education Circular entitled Implementation of Chapter 15. Also, school districts are required to conduct child  find activities for children who may be eligible for gifted services via 22 Pa Code Chapter 16. For additional  information regarding gifted services, the parent may refer to 22 PA Code Chapter 16. If a student is both  gifted and eligible for Special Education, the procedures in IDEA and Chapter 14 shall take precedence. 
This notice shall inform parents throughout the school district, intermediate unit, and charter school of the child identification activities and of the procedures followed to ensure confidentiality of information  pertaining to students with disabilities or eligible young children. In addition to this public notice, each school  district, intermediate unit, and charter school shall publish written information in the handbook and on the  web site. Children ages three through twenty one can be eligible for special education programs and services.  If parents believe that the child may be eligible for special education, the parent should contact the  appropriate staff member identified at the end of this public notice. 

Children age three through the age of admission to first grade are also eligible if they have developmental  delays and, as a result, need Special Education and related services. Developmental delay is defined as a child  who is less than the age of beginners and at least 3 years of age and is considered to have a developmental  delay when one of the following exists: (i) The child’s score, on a developmental assessment device, on an  assessment instrument which yields a score in months, indicates that the child is delayed by 25% of the child’s  chronological age in one or more developmental areas. (ii) The child is delayed in one or more of the  developmental areas, as documented by test performance of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean on  standardized tests. Developmental areas include cognitive, communicative, physical, social/emotional and  self-help. For additional information you may contact Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, Early  Intervention Services, 2 West Lafayette Street, Norristown, PA 19401. The telephone number for the Early  Intervention Program is (484) 685-1856. 

Evaluation Process 

Each school district, intermediate unit, and charter school has a procedure in place by which parents can  request an evaluation. For information about procedures applicable to your child, contact the school, which  your child attends. Telephone numbers and addresses can be found at the end of this notice. Parents of  preschool age children, age three through five, may request an evaluation in writing by addressing a letter to  the intermediate unit staff at Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, Early Intervention Services, 2 West  Lafayette Street, Norristown, PA 19401. The telephone number for the Early Intervention Program is (484)  685-1856. 

Consent 

School entities cannot proceed with an evaluation, or with the initial provision of special education and  related services, without the written consent of the parents. For additional information related to consent,  please refer the Procedural Safeguards Notice which can be found at the PaTTAN website, www.Pattan.net. 
Once written parental consent is obtained, the district will proceed with the evaluation process. If the parent  disagrees with the evaluation, the parent can request an independent education evaluation at public expense.  

Program Development 

Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified professional and parents determine whether  the child is eligible. If the child is eligible, the individualized education program team meets, develops the  program, and determines the educational placement. Once the IEP team develops the program and  determines the educational placement, school district staff, intermediate unit staff, or charter school staff will  issue a notice of recommended educational placement/prior written notice. Your written consent is required  before initial services can be provided. The parent has the right to revoke consent after initial placement. 

Confidentiality of Information:  

The SDs, IUs and CSs maintain records concerning all children enrolled in the school, including students with  disabilities. All records are maintained in the strictest confidentiality. Your consent, or consent of an eligible  child who has reached the age of majority under State law, must be obtained before personally identifiable  information is released, except as permitted under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The  age of majority in Pennsylvania is 21. Each participating agency must protect the confidentiality of personally  identifiable information at collection, storage, disclosure, and destruction stages. One official at each  participating agency must assume responsibility for ensuring the confidentiality of any personally identifiable  information. Each participating agency must maintain, for public inspection, a current listing of the names and  positions of those employees within the agency who have access to personally identifiable information. 

In accordance with 34 CFR § 300.624, please be advised of the following retention/destruction schedule for  the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA), Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA),  and Keystone Exam related materials: 

• PSSA, Keystone Exam, and PASA test booklets will be destroyed one year after student reports are  delivered for the administration associated with the test booklets.  
• PSSA and Keystone Exam answer booklets and PASA media recordings will be destroyed three years  after completion of the assessment.  

For additional information related to student records, the parent can refer to the Family Education Rights and  Privacy Act (FERPA). 
This notice is only a summary of the Special Education services, evaluation and screening activities, and rights  and protections pertaining to children with disabilities, children thought to be disabled, and their parents. For  more information or to request evaluation or screening of a public or private school child contact the  responsible school entity listed below. For preschool age children, information, screenings and evaluations  requested, may be obtained by contacting the Intermediate Unit. The addresses of these schools are as  follows: 

INTERMEDIATE UNIT 
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 
Early Intervention Services 
2 West Lafayette Street 
Norristown, PA 19401 
(484) 685-1856

The Federal Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requires all school facilities to receive an intensive inspection to locate, identify and deal appropriately with the various types of asbestos that may have been used in the construction of the buildings.

In July 1992, all of our buildings underwent an extensive inspection where Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) were located and documented in a “Management Plan.”  This plan identifies and describes the appropriate methods of handling and maintaining any ACM that was found in the District’s buildings.  A copy of the Management Plan is located in the principal’s office of each school building.  It is available for review by students, staff members and the public.

The mere presence of ACM does not represent a health hazard.  Asbestos presents a health hazard only when the fibers become airborne (friable asbestos).

Any insulation that contained ACM and was in areas of direct access by students and staff has been removed or encapsulated.  Other areas containing asbestos where there is no student or staff exposure will be monitored according to code requirements for damage and repaired or removed as necessary.  

Our maintenance and custodial staff have been trained to identify ACM and are taking special precautions during their work to guard against disturbing the material.

Pottsgrove School District has maintained an asbestos management plan and is committed to protecting the health and welfare of our students, staff, and all those who use our facilities.

If you have any questions concerning asbestos, please feel free to contact Mr, Casey Blankenbiller,  Director of Facilities, at (610) 327-2277.

*This assessment is not administered at Pottsgrove, but at an alternative location, except where noted.

Please complete the form here for authorization of student pick-up

The Children's Health Insurance Program — or CHIP — is Pennsylvania's program to provide health coverage to uninsured children and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medicaid/Medical Assistance.

Regardless of the reasons your children might not have health insurance, CHIP may be able to help you. 

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/chip

CHIP School flyer (EN)

CHIP School flyer (SP)

Click here to view the Chromebook handbook, including information regarding the tech insurance.

Management of students with diabetes - https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/school-health/diabetes.html

CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/about-type-1-diabetes.html

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Diabetes Center - https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/diabetes-center-children

Mayo Clinic - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444

MedlinePlus: Type 1 Diabetes - https://medlineplus.gov/diabetestype1.html

• A playbill, showing your child’s role in a drama production;
• The annual yearbook and class pictures
• Honor roll or other recognition lists;
• Graduation programs;
• Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members
• Pottstown Regional Public Library Access

• Student’s name
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Address
• Telephone listing
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Electronic mail address
• Photograph
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Dates of attendance
• Grade level
• The most recent educational agency or institution attended

Click here to view the current District calendar

Pottsgrove School District is pleased to announce that all students will receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2025-2026 school year. Families do not need to fill out a free/reduced application to receive free breakfast and/or lunch.

Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pottsgrove School District has been granted the opportunity to provide nutritious and delicious lunches to every student without any cost to families.

We intend to continue to provide a safe learning environment for all students. Please review the below Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in our schools. The risk of accidental exposure can be reduced in the school setting if schools work with students, parents, teachers and physicians to minimize risks and provide a safe environment for all students.

The following guidelines will continue to be in effect this school year:

1) Birthday Recognitions

Birthday food treats are NOT permitted in PGSD schools. If families choose to acknowledge student birthdays, all birthday treats must be non-food based. This may be accomplished by giving pencils or stickers to each classmate or by donating a book or game to the school library or classroom.

2) Classroom Celebrations

If a classroom event involves refreshments, one or two common food items will be served. An announcement will be made at least one week in advance in order for parents to determine if their child is able to participate. When appropriate and to the extent reasonable, the school nurse will be consulted for determination of safe food choices.

3) PTA and special events held during the school day:

PTA and special events held during the school day will only serve store-bought foods with a complete list of ingredients. An announcement will be made at least one week in advance in order for parents to determine if their child is able to participate. When appropriate and to the extent reasonable, the school nurse will be consulted for determinations for safe food choices.

By working together and following the food allergy guidelines, we can provide a safe, secure environment for all students. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and look forward to a productive and enjoyable school year.

Pottsgrove School District participates in the National School Lunch Program and CEP Program, which is governed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), to assist parents/guardians in providing lunches for their children. The USDA provides funding to school lunch programs for those districts that participate.  At lunch, schools must offer students all five required food components in at least the minimum required amounts.  The components at lunch are:

• Meats/meat alternate
• Grain
• Fruit
• Vegetable
• Fluid milk

A student MUST take at least three components in the required serving sizes AND one of the three MUST be at least ½ cup from either the fruit or vegetable component to qualify for the meal lunch price.  Lunches are FREE to ALL students for the 2024-2025 school year.  If the student wishes to purchase a second lunch the prices are listed below:

• High School - $3.40
• Middle School - $3.05
• Elementary Schools - $2.70

If your children do not take the required components discussed above, the food will be charged at ala carte pricing which is higher than the meal price and will NOT qualify for free lunch treatment. If your children do not have enough money in their lunch account, students will not be permitted to purchase ala carte items. Please discuss with your children the importance of selecting all the required components for lunch in order to keep your costs down.

For more information regarding the National School Lunch program, please visit:

https://www.fns.usda.gov/

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Business office.

Sincerely,

RONALD D. LINKE, JR.
Business Manager

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has revised the immunization requirements for students effective for the 2024-2025 school year. This revision replaces the 8-month provisional period for immunizations with the new requirement of a 5-day provisional period.

If the student is in the middle of a series, the parent/guardian must provide the school nurse with a plan for immunizations (signed by a healthcare provider) within the first 5 days of school. If the student has incomplete immunizations and no medical plan, the student will be excluded from school.

These requirements allow for the following exemptions: medical reasons, religious beliefs, or philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction. If your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be removed from school during an outbreak.

Children in ALL grades (K-12) need the following immunizations for attendance:

• 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (1 dose on or after 4th birthday) (DTaP)
• 4 doses of polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given) (IPV). A 4th dose is not necessary if the 3rd dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose.
• 2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• 3 doses of hepatitis B (Hep B)
• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity (history of chickenpox or antibody titer)

7th through 12th Grade ADDITIONAL immunization requirements for attendance:

• *1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) given at age 11-12 If your child was fully vaccinated with DTaP, then a dose of Tdap received at 10 years of age may count as the adolescent Tdap booster.
• *2 doses meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)
  • first dose prior to entry into 7th grade
  • a second dose is required at age 16 or prior to entry into 12th grade.
  • If the first dose is received on or after age 16, only one dose is required.

Get immunized

PARENT NOTIFICATION OF MEDICATION PROCEDURE

It is our intent to ensure maximum safety for all students in the Pottsgrove School District. We realize that at times students have medical conditions, which require the use of medication. In most situations, all doses of the prescribed medications can be given at home. However, there are times when it will be necessary for a student to receive medication during school hours. Therefore, the district adopted revised procedural guidelines for medication administration in the schools. These procedures are necessary for compliance with the Pennsylvania State laws including those of the State Board of Nurse Examiners. Please review the following guidelines carefully and consult the nurse in your child's school if you have questions.

When it is necessary for a student to receive ANY medication at school (including over-the-counter drugs), your responsibility as parents/guardians will be to do the following:

1. Complete the form "Authorization for School Medication Administration" which includes both PARENT/GUARDIAN and PHYSICIAN signatures. A copy of this form is attached. Medication cannot be given until written permission is obtained from both the parent/guardian and the student’s physician.
2. Parent/Guardian should HAND DELIVER the medication to the school nurse in the labeled prescription bottle and/or original over-the-counter container. (Upon request, most pharmacists will provide two labeled bottles for a prescription so that one can be brought to school.) If this is not possible, the labeled prescription bottle and/or the original over-the-counter container should be delivered to the nurse in a sealed, labeled envelope.
3. Parent/Guardian should maintain an adequate supply of unexpired medication in the nurse’s office throughout the school year.
4. Notify the school nurse in writing with a physician's note and your written instructions if the medication is to be changed or discontinued.
5. Provide the school with a written list of all medication currently being taken by the child.

We appreciate your partnership and cooperation to ensure the health of our students. As always, your inquiries to the school nurse are welcome if clarification is needed.

Sincerely,

Ann Marie Lucas Ed.D
Director of Pupil Services
Attachment: Authorization for School Medication Administration

Deaths from prescription painkillers (opioid or narcotic pain relievers) have reached epidemic levels in the past decade according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2014a). Naloxone, an opioid overdose antidote, can prevent overdose deaths by reversing life-threatening respiratory depression. When administered quickly and effectively, Naloxone has the potential to immediately restore breathing to a victim experiencing an opioid overdose (Hardesty, 2014). Naloxone saves lives and can be the first step towards OPR abuse recovery. It provides an opportunity for families to have a second chance with their loved ones by getting them into an appropriate treatment regimen (Lagoy, 2014).

Ensuring ready access to Naloxone is one of the SAMHSA’s five strategic approaches to prevent overdose deaths (SAMHSA, 2013). More information can be found here at this link to the SAMHSA website. (https://www.samhsa.gov/)

Naloxone, per Board Policy 823, is available to treat opioid drug overdoses in all Pottsgrove public schools.

The symptoms of opioid drug overdose are:

1. A history of current narcotic or opioid use or fentanyl patches on skin or needle(s) in the body
2. Unresponsive or unconscious individuals
3. Notbreathing or slow/shallow respirations
4. Snoring or gurgling sounds (death rattle signifies near death)
5. Bluelips and/or nail beds
6. Pinpoint pupils
7. Pale, clammy skin
8. Slow heartbeat or pulse

A suspected opioid overdose is a life-threatening emergency. If you suspect an overdose, immediately activate the school crisis response team. The school nurse and other trained personnel will respond immediately.

The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act- Drug Overdose Response Immunity, (Act of Sep. 30, 2014, P.L. 2487, No. 139) provides protection from criminal prosecution and civil liability for persons who report overdoses or administer Naloxone in overdose emergencies. See the specific details in Act 139 at this site. (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/LI/uconsCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&yr=2014&sessInd=0&sm thLwInd=0&act=139)

This policy was a collaborative effort between the PGSD certified school nurses, school physician, central office administration and the school board in alignment with Pennsylvania laws and recommendations. Utilizing our Student Assistance Teams and Drug Task Force, we remain committed to the health and safety of our PGSD community.

REFERENCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014a). Vital signs: Prescription painkiller overdoses in the US. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/opioid-prescribing/

Hardesty, C. (2014). Five things to know about opioid overdose. Office of Drug Control Policy. Retrieved from http://whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/02/10/5-things-know-about-opioid-overdoses

Lagoy, A. (2014). Heroin and naloxone. American Journal of Nursing, 114(10), 12.doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000454829.51619.02

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2014, September 4). The NSDUH report: Substance use and mental health estimates from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Overview of findings. Rockville, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-SR200-RecoveryMonth-2014/NSDUH-SR200-Reco veryMonth-2014.htm

Pottstown to southern Lehigh High and Middle Schools

1. Go north on Route 663 to Quakertown ~ 20 miles
2. Go north (left) on Route 309 to where Route 378 goes right ~ 6 miles
3. High school and Intermediate school parents make a right off Route 309 into Southern Lehi High school just after Route 378 intersection with Route 309.
4. Elementary School parents take Route 378 off of Route 309 and turn left on Preston Lane into Southern Lehigh High Middle School.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the National Defense Authorization Act allow the district to provide the names, addresses, and phone numbers if published, of all juniors and seniors.  

Release of information form

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), affords parents and students who are 18 or emancipated minors (“eligible students”) certain rights regarding the Pottsgrove School District’s conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical examinations. These include the right to:

Consent:

Before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education:

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged relationships such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:

1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosisscreenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under Pennsylvania law; and
3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

Inspect, upon request and before administration or use:

1. Protected information surveys of students;
2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

Pottsgrove School District has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes.

Pottsgrove School District will directly notify parents and eligible students of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes.

Pottsgrove School District will also directly notify parents and eligible students, such as through U.S. Mail or email, at least annually at the beginning of each school year of the specific or approximate dates of the below-listed activities and provide an opportunity to opt a student out of participating in the specific activities or surveys. Pottsgrove School District will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. The list of specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement are:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Anynon-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

Parents/eligible students who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with: Family Policy Compliance Office, U. S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605

The Pottsgrove School District uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents, and weeds. Our goal is to protect every student from pesticide exposure by using an IPM approach to pest management. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for these pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. We routinely monitor the school buildings and grounds to detect any pests that are present. The pest monitoring team consists of our building maintenance, office, and teaching staff and includes our students. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM coordinator who evaluates the "pest problem" and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pest, etc. 

From time to time, it may be necessary to use chemicals to manage a pest problem. Chemicals will only be used when necessary and only applied when students and staff are not in the application areas for extended periods of time. Notices will be posted in these areas 72 hours prior to application and for 48 hours following the application for any and all chemical treatments whether inside or out of the building.

Parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications made at the school. To receive a notification, you must be placed on the school's notification registry. If you would like to be placed on this registry, please notify the district in writing. Please include your email address if you would like to be notified electronically. 

If a chemical application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be provided by telephone to any parent or guardian who has requested such notification. Exemptions to this notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students, and gel type baits placed in cracks, crevices or voids. 

Each year the district will prepare a new notification registry. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Facilities.

Sincerely,

CASEY BLANKENBILLER
Director of Facilities

The Pottsgrove School District has developed plans to protect students in the event of an incident at the Limerick Generating Station. Normally, school will be canceled or closed before any protective action is necessary. However, detailed plans have been developed in the event that the children must be sheltered in our schools or evacuated to a safe area.

IN THE EVENT OF THE NEED TO SHELTER OUR STUDENTS

• Students will remain in their own school building.
• Student dismissal will be delayed until the order is lifted.
• Dismissal times will be announced through our normal announcement channels.
• Please do not attempt to pick up your children at their school because we have been advised to restrict the flow of outside air into the building for the safety of the students.

IN THE EVENT OF AN EVACUATION

• Students will be safely transported to Southern Lehigh School District. (See the attached sheet for directions.)
• PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PICK UP YOUR CHILDREN at their school because of the added confusion and resulting slowdown in the evacuation process. However, if an emergency requires you to pick up your children at the school prior to evacuation, he/she will only be released to parents/guardians of the individuals previously designed on the attached “authorization for Student Pick up.” PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN BUS LANES.
• Parents/guardians should pick up their children at Southern Lehigh High School not later than 8:00 p.m. Children not picked up by 8:00 p.m. will be bused to the Red Cross Center at the Emmaus High School for feeding and continued care. (See the attached sheet for directions.)
• During the entire process, students will remain under the supervision of the Superintendent and school staff and meals will be provided as required.
• Pottsgrove students attending schools in areas outside of the risk area will be retained in those schools until they are picked up by their parents/guardians.
• After you have read and understood this process, please sign and return the “Authorization for Student Pickup” record. This authorization shall remain in effect until canceled by you.

Sincerely,
DAVID C. FINNERTY, ED.D.
Authorization for Student Pickup

Click here to view all PGSD school policies

To see policies under consideration and available for public inspection, please see the PGSD website, under School Board, Policy Review. Send comments or questions to schoolboard@pgsd.org.

In order to enhance the safety and security of our school buses, the Pottsgrove School District equips its buses with video cameras. These cameras have the ability to record audio and video. We are notifying you that your children may be videotaped during their bus rides to and from school. These tapes are only viewed if there is an issue that occurs on the bus that the administration deems important enough to investigate. 

Sincerely,
RONALD D. LINKE, JR.
Business Manager

The Administration has analyzed plans offered by several insurance companies, and the Board of School Directors has selected AG Administrators (United States Fire Insurance Company) to underwrite the student accident policy for the 2025-2026 school year. The insurance is offered on a VOLUNTARY basis and should be considered in conjunction with any other family medical insurance that you may have. 

The student policy is a primary accident policy which means that AG Administrators will pay benefits for covered expenses from the first dollar; no deductible, no co-insurance, paying in addition and without regard to payments by other insurance. Benefits may be payable for a maximum of 52 weeks. Primary coverage is available only for student accident coverage. 
The cost for school time protection is $22.50. School time is defined as the time when students are traveling without delay to and from school (usually within one hour before school and one hour after dismissal). A twenty-four (24) hour protection plan is also available at the rate of $90.00. 

If you are interested in obtaining this coverage, you can access the application on the district website under Parent Forms- First Day Packet. A complete description of the plan is included with the application form. 

Applications will be accepted at the school until October 1, 2022. Applications after that time must be arranged through Mr. Bruce Walsh at CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services, 401 Plymouth Road, Suite 200, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, phone number (610) 862-2306. 

Sincerely, 

RONALD D. LINKE, JR.
Business Administrator

Ticks can transmit disease and make people sick. A common illness caused by ticks in Pennsylvania is Lyme disease. Not all tick bites lead to Lyme disease. We advise that you record the date on which the tick was removed. It is recommended that you seek medical treatment from your child's doctor promptly if you notice any early signs or symptoms of illness within three (3) to thirty (30) days of the date of removal. 

Some people with Lyme disease will get a bull's-eye rash. Others may have an atypical rash. Not everyone who has Lyme disease gets a rash. Other symptoms which may occur during the early stages of Lyme disease include chills, fever, headache, tiredness, stiff neck, joint pain or swelling and swollen lymph nodes. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. If untreated, infection may progress to joint, heart, brain or nerve abnormalities. More information and resources on Ticks can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website (below) but please contact your child’s physician if there are any medical concerns.

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/diseases-conditions/infectious-disease/vectorborne-diseases/tick-diseases.html

Removal protocol

Act 120 of 2024 requires a school nurse to remove a tick from a student in accordance with guidelines issued by the Secretary of Health.

Remove the tick using the following procedure from the Health Room Tick Removal Reporting Form:

1. Grasp the tick close to the skin with tweezers
2. Pull the tick straight up
3. Contain the tick by placing it in a sealed plastic bag under tape
4.  Wash the bite area well with soap and water

Send the preserved tick, the PADOH Health Room Tick Removal Reporting Form and the Pottsgrove Health Services Tick Bites Letter home to the parent/guardian.

To:  All Parents in Title I Schools
Subject:  “Right to Know” Notification to Parents of Teacher and Teacher Assistant Qualifications

Federal law requires school districts to notify parents of children attending a Title I school of their right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct their child. 

As a recipient of these funds, The Pottsgrove School District will provide you with this information in a timely manner if you request it. Specifically, you have the right to request the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers: 

• Whether the teacher meets the state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grades and core academic subjects he or she teaches. 
• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency status because of special circumstances. 
• The teacher’s college major, whether the teacher has any advanced degrees, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
• Whether teacher assistants provide services to your child and, if so, their qualifications. 

In addition, the law requires that all schools that receive Title I funds must provide notification to every parent in the school whose child is being taught for four or more weeks by a teacher who is not Highly Qualified.  

The Pottsgrove School District is committed to providing quality instruction for all students and does so by employing the most qualified individuals to teach and support each student in the classroom.  If you would like to receive specific information about your child’s teacher or paraprofessional, please contact your school principal.

Our district is fully committed to the success of your child.   We appreciate your partnership in our efforts to provide the best education for your child.

Coming soon.

Coming soon

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