School News

To meet security and safety concerns, a security officer may be on the way to each of East Penn School District's middle Schools.

A change.org petition opposing the new mascot chosen by the Whitehall-Coplay School District has attracted more than 1,200 signatures. The mascot, named Big Z, is so named in honor of the school name Zephyr, which was also a train that once ran through Whitehall Township.

Planned upgrades include new bullpens and batting cages and many renovations throughout the park.

To help female chess players in her native Botswana, Lehigh University graduate student Besa Masaiti established a chess tournament there — the Besa Masaiti WIM Norm Chess Championship.

Five Lehigh Valley schools have rifle teams that compete in the Northeast Pennsylvania Rifle League. Says one student: “We want to get more people involved and show it’s totally safe. Sometimes, our sport gets a bad rap because of what’s going on (in the world).”

Parkland School District Social Worker Diane Irish has begun hosting office hours for the Parkland REACH Village, a gathering space and community hub of information for anyone who lives in the district.

The Allentown School Board approved updates to programs that add new language and career training options for students. Some of the changes are the result of a survey of more than 1,800 high school students and focus groups, officials said.

Allentown City Council approved a 10-year lease that will see the college pay $15,000 in rent each year and invest up to $4 million in the stadium.

Officials from the Allentown school district spoke with hesitant optimism about the benefits the state's new spending plan could bring to the district.

Away from the fields and courts used by thousands of student-athletes, some Lehigh Valley schools for decades have maintained rifle teams. The Northeast Pennsylvania Rifle League is made up of 11 teams including the Lehigh Valley's Emmaus, Freedom, Liberty, Salisbury and Southern Lehigh high schools.

Lower Saucon Township police say they once again found no evidence to corroborate a threat made Wednesday night. It was the second reported threat that prompted a second-straight day for closing the schools.

The three-hour festival highlights 12 short films by students from the university's film and television department.

The Lower Saucon Township Police Department has requested any information be submitted through its Crimewatch Tipline at lowersauconpolice.org or by calling the department at 610-317-6110.

Asst. Superintendent Timothy Chorones on Tuesday gave the Parkland School Board a presentation about staffing the district may need to add to next school year’s budget.

Fountain Hill Elementary School students will be eligible for daily transportation to the temporary facility as the new borough school is under construction. Students are expected to be away from the Fountain Hill school for two years.

Dieruff High School is in the process of modernizing and expanding its Learning Dome, a space for interactive, three-dimensional lessons.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Medical students across the country found out where they are headed for their residencies on Match Day on Friday. For the first time, St. Luke’s Katz School of Medicine held a ceremony in Bethlehem along with partner school Temple University in Philadelphia.

Amber Hikes, who got their start as a social justice advocate in Philadelphia, is the ACLU's deputy executive director for strategy and culture. Their appearance will take place on March 26.

The 2nd annual Parkland Community Resource Fair & Health Symposium will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Parkland High School cafeteria.

The event, put on by St. Luke's University Health Network and the Foundation for the Bethlehem Area School District, featured some striking auction items, as well as live music.

Early budget discussions among the East Penn School Board show expenses are projected to significantly increase in the next five school years.