It's spring concert season! Going first, Mr. Weaver's and his 5th grade band rock the stage tonight at Elmwood!

Math 24 finals were held this morning at Elmwood where the top students in the challenge competed against each other to determine which students would represent the school at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit to face other schools later this spring. Major thanks to Mrs. Baum, Mrs. Hutcheson, and Mrs. Weiler for their leadership and coordination, making this possible.

🧦 HEY HOLLY, YOU KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF // If you need a spreadsheet built or data uploaded, look no further than Holly Hellam, our masterful Reading Specialist at Elmwood Academy.

Holly consistently goes above and beyond, taking on the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our Reading Department running smoothly and making data collection more efficient across MASD. A true team player, Holly is always willing to help others, and her positive attitude and contagious smile make a difference well beyond the walls of Elmwood.

Holly, you are seen and appreciated. Thank you for being a literacy leader in our Mechanicsburg community. That’s definitely sock-worthy.

#WildcatPride

Some of our 4th graders participated in "Ag Day" today. They contributed in the production path from farm to table as they made their own butter, lemonade, and French fries. Thanks to our amazing volunteers for helping today!

🌎🔧 BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW // What happens when creativity, teamwork, and a little K’NEX come together? Big ideas… and even bigger results.

Elmwood Academy's 5th grade engineers took on the CAIU STEM Design Challenge, spending months researching, designing, and building eco-friendly factory prototypes with sustainability at the center of their thinking. Then, they brought those ideas to life in front of judges and peers from across the region. And our Wildcats didn’t just show up… they stood out.

Out of 18 teams, Elmwood earned TWO spots on the podium and captured the crowd:

🥈 Team Sea Savers — 2nd Place + Fan Favorite (Lynn, Aiden, Finn, and Kaycee)
🥉 Team Duckie Bags — 3rd Place (Everly, Tate, Bryce, and Avery)

From thoughtful design to confident presentations, these students proved that innovation has no age limit. The future is in good hands. Congratulations, Wildcats!

📸 Special shoutout to Elmwood Librarian Nate Chesky for advising our Wildcats and for the photos.

#WildcatPride

Amazing performance by our 4th graders tonight at the Wonder Showcase! Our students were poised and professional as they presented their research findings to our families, community, School Board Members, and Superintendent Dr. Bitz!

5th graders did an amazing job presenting their investigation findings at our Science Fair last night! Our K'NEX Challenge team presented too in anticipation of today's competition!

Thank you to Representative Sheryl Delozier who came into Elmwood to read to our students this morning!

Happy Read Across America Week! We're grateful for all the guest readers we had come to our school this week from parents of teachers and students to state representatives! Thank you for sharing the gift of reading with our students!

💙 SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WEEK // This week, we recognize the incredible impact of our school social workers and the vital role they play in supporting students and families. They help navigate challenges, connect families with resources, and partner with staff to ensure students have what they need to be successful in school. Their work often happens quietly and behind the scenes — but it strengthens our entire Wildcat community.

Today we celebrate you. Every day we appreciate you. 💙

#WildcatPride

Storytelling commences at our February Community Meeting with 7 brave students telling their stories to the entire student body and faculty of around 800 people! Stories were supported by family artifacts/pictures such as a National Park passport, Family store calendar from 1926, Ecuador Carnival regalia, pistols gifted by George Washington, pension paystub from Bethlehem Steel, family saxophone used across 3 generations, and letters from Presidents celebrating the birth of one of our students. Our students were amazing!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Shively! Students in Dr. Dankosky's class surprised Mr. Shively with a birthday song they created using these pieces in Soft Start. Tomorrow is Mr. Shively's last day with us and we couldn't be prouder of the work he's done for us over the past two years at Elmwood and five at MMS. We wish him well in his future endeavors!

🧦 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

❄️ 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.

💜 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

❄️ TWO-HOUR DELAY, 1/29/26 and 1/30/26 // Mechanicsburg Area School District will operate on a two-hour delay schedule on Thursday, January 29, and Friday, January 30, 2026. Based on several factors—including cold temperatures, the need to navigate snow piles, and the benefits of increased daylight—a delay was the best decision for our students.

Thank you for your patience as we work our way back to a normal school schedule.

❄️💪 A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR MAINTENANCE & FACILITIES CREWS // Through heavy snowfall and challenging temperatures, our dedicated maintenance and facilities teams have been hard at work clearing parking lots, roads, and sidewalks to ensure our buildings and campuses are safe and ready for the return of our students and staff. They’ll be back at it again today for another round of winter weather cleanup.

Your long hours, teamwork, and commitment do not go unnoticed. We are incredibly grateful for all you do behind the scenes to keep our Wildcat community moving, no matter the weather. THANK YOU. 💜

📸 Special thanks to Erick Hoffman, Director of Facilities, for sharing these photos with us.

#WildcatPride