EXETER TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

An athlete from each varsity sport ooh'ed and ahh'ed yesterday as they tested out equipment and joined us at the unveiling of the newly-renovated weight room at the Senior High. The weight room, which is used by athletes and students in strength and other physical education classes "nine out of eight periods a day, plus before and after school" had taken a beaten throughout the years and hadn't seen a renovation or upgrade in 20 years according to Mr. Frank Vecchio, SHS Assistant Principal and former Health and Physical Education teacher. When students return to school, they will have access to a variety of new strength and conditioning equipment, including free weights, weight cages and strength machines to help them get stronger in class or in competition. #goeagles 💙🦅

Would you like to have the chance to make a meaningful impact on students' lives while enjoying a highly-rewarding career? If so, please join us for an Open House on July 15th from 9-11AM at Owatin Creek Elementary to learn more about becoming a Special Education Paraprofessional. Working alongside teachers, paraprofessionals (otherwise known as teachers' aides) help foster academic and personal growth for students with special needs. Explore job opportunities right here in Exeter and see firsthand what a difference you can make! Supervisors will be on site to answer questions and review resumes. No prior experience needed; all training will be provided. In addition to a supportive environment and a favorable work schedule with holidays, school breaks and summers off, we offer a complete benefits package to our paraprofessionals, including: Health, Dental and Vision Care • Paid Sick Days • Pension Plan Should you have any questions or are unable to attend, please contact the HR Department at 610-779-0700 or email descornavacchi@exetersd.org for more information. We look forward to meeting you!

School may have just ended, but we couldn't wait to welcome the newest Eagles to Exeter--the Class of 2037! During the last week, our incoming kindergarten students and their families learned all about becoming Eagles as they received their first spirit day t-shirt (to grow into) and signed a letter of intent to graduate in the Class of 2037! We saw so many happy and excited soon-to-be kindergarteners, all of whom we can't wait to welcome into our schools this fall! #goeagles #exeter2037 🦅💙

TWO TO GO!!! In a rematch of the District III Final, Exeter Township Boys Volleyball team will take on Manheim Central in the State Semifinals on Tuesday, June 11th at 7PM at Cocalico High School. Tickets are $8 for students and adults and can only be purchased online at: https://buff.ly/4c1sRMC (Select Boys Volleyball and then 2A) Come on out and support Exeter! Go Eagles!!! 💙🦅🏐

We miss you already! Have a great summer, Eagles! 🦅💙

While her friends are at the pool this summer, Hannah Martin (center) will be spending an extended weekend in June at Neumann University at the HOBY Youth Leadership Program. The program, which was established in 1958, provides leadership seminars to 8,500 students each year from more than 5,000 high schools and boasts an impressive half million alumni from the program. During the weekend, students learn through workshops or classes how to develop an awareness of their leadership strengths and an understanding of their leadership values. According to the organization, one weekend at a HOBY seminar unlocks a students’ leadership potential and helps them gain the confidence to make a positive impact on the world around them. Hannah said that she was initially really scared to apply because she is really shy, but she’s excited to soon take part in the opportunity to build her confidence. “To be honest, I was surprised that I was selected because there are a lot of people in my grade that are much more outgoing or smarter than me. I think this will be a great opportunity to get out of my shell a little bit." Students are invited to take part by writing an essay on why they'd like to participate and are then selected as sophomores to take part in the summer program soon after school ends. Following her attendance at the seminar, Hannah will speak about her experience to the Exeter Women’s Club, who funds Exeter students' attendance at the seminar. During the past two years, Lydia Smith (left) and Leah Schmid (right) both attended the seminar and found it to be a life-changing experience. “It was really interesting because I learned a lot about how to be a good leader and how you can be in leadership positions without really having a title by impacting the people around you. It was a very unique experience,” said Lydia. Leah, who just graduated, said that when she returned from the seminar two summers ago, she immediately put the leadership skills she learned during the seminar into action by taking on leadership roles at clubs she was a part of at BCTC. “The seminar honestly brought me a lot of opportunities. I’m glad that I took the chance to apply.” Congratulations to Hannah and all of our HOBY attendees, and a massive thank you to the Exeter Women's Club for funding such an exceptional experience for our students! #goeagles 🦅💙

Exeter is so very grateful and humbled to have been chosen once again as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation--an honor bestowed upon fewer than 800 schools throughout the nation who demonstrate outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. This is the 12th year that Exeter's received this honor, and continues to be something that Exeter's music department is especially proud to receive. We've put together photos from some of our favorite moments from the past year, as well as a wrap up of awards and achievements for our bands, choirs, orchestras and musicians on our website at https://buff.ly/4bLX9DH But before you head off to check out the amazing achievements of our students and teachers during this past year, please check out this video of sophomore Andrew Schwenk: https://buff.ly/4e99jIe Andrew was one of several recipients of this year's Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association (PMEA)'s Outstanding Composition Award for his piece, titled, "Fantasia." The composition award encourages compositional talent among young students, collegiate PMEA members and unpublished adult PMEA members. Submissions must be completely original, without transcriptions or arrangements, and without prior competition accolades. Elementary students, middle school students, high school students, college students and adults from across Pennsylvania participate in the program by submitting their original compositions in written scores accompanied by recordings. A panel of music educators specializing in composition then rigorously assesses the entries. This year, the PMEA received 48 submissions, of which eight were deemed exceptional by the adjudicators and selected to be showcased at the Outstanding Compositions Session during the PMEA In-Service Conference, which was held several weeks ago in Erie. Andrew has been writing his own music since eighth grade, and spent about four months composing "Fantasia," which he did mostly digitally through software called "Musescore." He explained his process by saying, "I will digitally write down what sounds good and makes sense to me in my head as I compose. I will frequently stop writing and review what I wrote while composing, which helps to make sure I am happy with what I wrote, but also contributes to writer's block, which is a major problem of mine when it comes to writing music," he said. After he completes two more years of high school and graduates, Andrew hopes to study music composition in college. Andrew's state achievement signifies just one of the many reasons why Exeter is so honored to have received this nationwide recognition once again. Congratulations once again to Andrew and ALL of our amazing musicians and teachers! #goeagles 🦅💙🎵

Sean Smith is a junior completing an internship with Taylored Physical Therapy, a physical therapy company specializing in orthopedic and sports injury prevention and rehabilitation. Nate Taylor, owner, says that having interns offers a great opportunity to connect not only with the students but with the community and was happy to give Sean the environment to grow and learn more about physical therapy. “It’s personally very satisfying to see the growth in the students throughout their time here and we are happy to have an environment that can support and push them. The students do a great job getting some of the basic tasks done around the office and grow into excellent representatives of our business and become a valuable part of our team.” To read more about Sean, our featured intern for the month, and his internship experience, please visit our website: https://buff.ly/4bAOhk5

THREE to go! The Exeter Township Boys Volleyball team will advance to the quarterfinals of the State Tournament against Blue Ridge High School on Saturday, June 8th at 1PM at Wilkes University. Get your tickets at 👉 https://buff.ly/4c1sRMC (Select Boys Volleyball and then 2A -- Note that the ticket link is not yet live. Please check back later to purchase tickets.) Come out and support our team! Go Eagles! 🦅💙🏐

As we celebrate the end of the 2023-24 school year, we also celebrate the careers of our dedicated teachers, custodians, food workers, aides, secretaries, bus drivers and administrators who will soon begin their well-deserved retirements. In all, our 20 retirees this school year have given a collective 400 years of service to Exeter, supporting the education of thousands of students--and sometimes, even students of students! Their dedication to education and commitment to the Exeter community is simply remarkable, and they will surely be missed! Those retiring with more 20 or more years of service at Exeter are: Mr. Terry Lorah - 40 years Mrs. Lorraine Gajewski - 37 years Mrs. Loretta Gaetani - 35 years Mr. Lowell Keebler - 31 years Ms. Theresa Wentling - 31 years Mrs. Nancy Barrasso - 26 years (retiring in September) Mrs. Jodi Bixler - 26 years (not pictured) Please help us wish ALL of our employees who are leaving us at the end of this year a wonderful and happy retirement! We will miss you! #goeagles 🦅💙