💡 TEAMWORK + LEARNING = GROWTH // Professional development days give our team time to learn, connect, and grow—so we can give our best to our Wildcats every day. 🌟 Today, our Instructional Aides came together for hands-on collaboration and shared learning.

💜 Thank you to our families for supporting this important time dedicated to staff growth and continuous improvement.

#WildcatPride
3 months ago, MBGSD
Staff members collaborating during professional development.
Staff members collaborating during professional development.
Staff members collaborating during professional development.
Staff members collaborating during professional development.
Staff members collaborating during professional development.
🧺 SHOP FOR A CAUSE // It's not too late to swing by the Operation Wildcat’s 24th Indoor Yard Sale, open until 8 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 24) and from 7:30 a.m. to noon tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 25, at Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ Church. Find treasures big and small — books, collectibles, home décor, jewelry, toys, and more — all while helping students and families in need right here in our district. 💜

📅 Friday, Oct. 24 | 8 AM–8 PM
📅 Saturday, Oct. 25 | 7:30 AM–12 PM
📍 1050 S. York St., Mechanicsburg

Cash and credit accepted. Every purchase supports a Wildcat family! 🐾

#WildcatPride
3 months ago, MBGSD
Photo of a yard sign advertising a charity yard sale, as described in our post caption.
United in Orange! 🧡
Our Wildcats showed their support for Unity Day by proudly wearing orange to stand for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Together, we spread the message that every student belongs.

#UnityDay #ChooseKind 🧡
3 months ago, Sara Kuhn
photo of students wearing orange
photo of students wearing orange
photo of students wearing orange
Challenge accepted. Challenge conquered. 🐾 Congrats to Mrs. King’s class for earning their celebratory paw by living the Wildcat Code! 🩶
3 months ago, Upper Allen
photo of a group of students receiving a paw print in mrs king's class

🚌 IT’S NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK // Every day, our amazing bus drivers safely transport our Wildcats — rain or shine, morning and afternoon, always with care. Thank you for the patience, smiles, and watchful eyes that keep our students safe.

🚨 Safety reminder: When a bus has its stop arm out and red lights flashing, all traffic must stop — in both directions. Through our enforcement program that equips each school bus with stop-arm cameras, law enforcement issued 131 citations in May and September to drivers who illegally passed stopped MASD buses.

Let’s all do our part to keep Wildcats safe. ❤️ Slow down, stay alert, and always stop on red!

📸: A student-made “World’s Best Bus Driver” sign — proudly displayed on the dashboard of one of our school buses.

#WildcatPride

3 months ago, MBGSD
A "World's Best Bus Driver" sign proudly displayed on the dashboard of a school bus.
“Wind: 1 | Hats: 0 🎩💨 The playground turned into a full-on blustery adventure yesterday, but these Wildcats held on tight and had a blast!”
3 months ago, Upper Allen
photo of students at recess on a windy day
Today we opened Upper Allen’s 1965 time capsule—a true peek into our school’s beginnings! 📜 While the documents inside weren’t exactly thrilling for our students (lots of paper, little glitter 😄), they were beautifully preserved after 60 years. Now the real excitement begins as our Wildcats decide what to include in our new time capsule—a snapshot of 2025 for the next generation to discover! 🐾✨
3 months ago, Upper Allen
photo of mr mcintosh and dana padfield in front of the time capsule
photo of mr mcintosh taking items out of the time capsule
photo of documents found in the time capsule
🎃 Our students are diving into all things pumpkin! From cutting and gluing to scooping and exploring, it’s a hands-on fall adventure in the classroom! 🍂✨
3 months ago, Upper Allen
Photo of a smiling student making a pumpkin craft
photo of student exploring a cut pumpkin
Exploring Trails & Trees 🌿
Our 2nd graders had a blast at Mechanicsburg’s Trails & Trees Environmental Center, learning about plant parts, seeds, and ecology while hiking the forest trails and listening to the sounds of the stream.

Thanks to the beautiful 26-acre preserve, students got hands-on time with nature — turning curiosity into discovery. 💧🌱
3 months ago, Sara Kuhn
students studying parts of a plant
student studying different parts of a plant
students making leaf rubbings
photograph of students walking on a trail

Our 3rd graders spent the day at Messiah University’s Oakes Museum of Natural History, where they dove into guided, interactive tours of African and North American exhibits.


Highlights included:

Viewing taxidermied big game and animal specimens—all more than 75 full mounts on display

Learning about skulls, furs, and predator/prey relationships

Exploring creek life and macroinvertebrates near campus streams during creek-study time

It was a day of curiosity, discovery, and hands-on learning. Thanks to Messiah’s docents for making it come alive!

3 months ago, Upper Allen
students posing at oakes museum
image of students at creek
image of students with polar bear
Sequencing success! 📚✨
This smiling storyteller is proudly showing off his hard work on a story sequencing activity — building reading skills and confidence, one story at a time! 💛
3 months ago, Upper Allen
image of boy smiling, holding his school work
🧦 YOU KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF // Wow! In just about 20 minutes, Amanda Payne recently served breakfast to more than 150 Wildcats (because who can resist a chocolate chip muffin? 😋). But that’s not all—Amanda has also taken it upon herself to learn basic sign language so she can connect and communicate with EVERY student who comes her way at Upper Allen Elementary. 💜👏

Your heart, hustle, and dedication make a world of difference, Amanda. Thank you for spreading kindness (and muffins!) every day.

#WildcatPride #YouKnockedOurSocksOff
3 months ago, MBGSD
An adult male presenting branded socks to a female staff member.
Soft Start = Strong Start! 🌞✨

A student in Mrs. Maloney’s class kicked off the morning with some kinetic sand fun 🏖️ during soft start time — a great way to spark creativity, calm minds, and get ready for a day of learning! 💛
📸 Photo credit: Mrs. Maloney 👏
3 months ago, Upper Allen
picture of a student playing with kinetic sand
Rhythm and movement in PE! 🥁

Our 3rd graders had a blast drumming, moving, and keeping the beat during a recent PE lesson!
3 months ago, Upper Allen
image of students drumming in PE class
🍦 FIELD TRIP FUN // Wildcats in Jen Bitz's class at Upper Allen Elementary School recently visited the Turkey Hill Experience — and it was a sweet success! Students had a blast exploring and discovering the science (and fun!) behind most everyone’s favorite frozen treat.

📸 Special thanks to Mrs. Bitz for capturing the smiles throughout the day.

#WildcatPride
3 months ago, MBGSD
Students smiling at a toy kitchen.
Students working at a pretend kitchen.
Student driving a pretend milk truck
Students standing in a pretend ice cream container.
Student standing next to an oversized cow display.
💙 CELEBRATING OUR OLYMPIANS // Today our Wildcat athletes shined bright at Special Olympics! With determination, teamwork, and big smiles, they gave their all — showing us the true spirit of sportsmanship and Wildcat Pride. 🐾🏅

A huge thank you to the buddies who cheered, encouraged, and stood side-by-side with our athletes every step of the way. Together, you created memories full of joy, friendship, and celebration.

We couldn’t be prouder of our Wildcats — you inspire us all! 💛

Visit our official Facebook page for a full photo album from this beautiful day - www.facebook.com/MASDwildcats

#WildcatPride
3 months ago, MBGSD
A special olympian competing in the long jump. He's mid air.
A special olympian and her big buddy.
Special Olympics parade of athletes.
Special olympians and their buddies walk in the opening ceremonies.
A student smiling with a little student in a wheelchair during special olympics.
A special olymian and his big buddy.
Group of student celebrating special olympians.
A young special olympian walking hand in hand with his big buddy.
Young special olympians standing with a college mascot dressed like a red devil.
A special olympian and her big buddy.
🏈 Relationships that matter most often start with something simple—like a game of catch.

We love seeing our District Resource Officer, Officer Mark, connect with our students on and off the field. These moments build trust, belonging, and smiles that last well beyond the school day. And we’re so grateful for strong partnerships with our local police departments and for the ways they support the success and safety of every Wildcat. 💙

👏 We'd love it if you would give Officer Mark a round of applause in the comments.

📸 Special thanks to Abbie Thompson, third-grade teacher at Upper Allen Elementary School, for capturing this special moment.

#WildcatPride
4 months ago, MBGSD
A police officer plays catch with a group of young students on a school playground.
🚌 SAFETY FIRST // Last week, Wildcats across the district participated in bus evacuation drills. These important exercises give students the chance to practice what to do in case of an emergency while riding the bus.

By pausing to review safety procedures together, we help ensure that every student knows how to respond quickly and calmly if the need ever arises. Safety always comes first in MASD. 💛

📸 Thanks to Nick Wilson, Supervisor of Student Affairs and Safety, for the photos of our Wildcats in action.

#WildcatPride
4 months ago, MBGSD
Students practicing how to safely exit the back of a school bus in an emergency.
Students practicing how to safely exit the back of a school bus in an emergency.
Students practicing how to safely exit the back of a school bus in an emergency.
💛 KINDNESS ALWAYS // First graders in Kelsey Sharpe's class at Upper Allen Elementary School have been busy spreading kindness! After reading All Are Welcome, they worked together to create a beautiful collaborative poster. Their message of belonging is simple but powerful. 🐾

📸 Special thanks to Ms. Sharpe for the photo of her kind and caring Wildcats.
4 months ago, MBGSD
Students sitting on the floor in front of a poster they designed that says All Are Welcome.
Upper Allen is bursting with creativity as we celebrate International Dot Day 🎨✨
A day where students let their imaginations run wild and “make their mark” in colorful, whimsical ways! From polka-dot https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/mechanicsburg_area_school_district_ar/live_feed_image/image/18867296/large_Dot_day.jpegoutfits to playful projects, it’s all about spreading joy, creativity, and a little bit of magic 🌈🖌️.
4 months ago, Sara Kuhn
image of Mrs. Shenk with school-wide dot day project
Mrs. young's class with their dot day projects