Ephrata Area School District -

REMINDER: Tomorrow - Thursday, June 4 - is the last day of school for students.

Dismissal times:
Middle School 11:55 AM
High School 12:00 PM
Elementary Schools 12:40 PM
Intermediate School 12:45 PM

Our graduating seniors were welcomed with enthusiastic cheers, handmade signs, and countless high-fives from our youngest learners lining the halls when they returned to their elementary schools today. Along the way, they reconnected with former teachers, revisited old classrooms, and reflected on how far they’ve come. This heartwarming tradition is cherished by students, staff, and especially our graduates. Congratulations, Class of 2026!

Today, two Highland Elementary School students earned the opportunity to serve as "Principals for the Day." They are enjoying this special experience with Mr. Esbenshade and making memories they'll treasure for years to come.

Congrats to the Middle School Band who recently performed in the Hersheypark Music in the Parks festival. Our students received an "Excellent" rating and placed second, but most notably received the "Esprit de Corps" award! This award recognizes the band who demonstrates outstanding character, sportsmanship, and citizenship. It honors students who are respectful of their peers, directors, chaperones, and festival staff; who applaud the accomplishments of others; and who consistently display positive social behavior throughout the event. The award reflects qualities that contribute to success both in and out of the classroom, including empathy, respect, teamwork, and leadership.

Lastly, what a fantastic experience to share with Mr. Stephen Goss, who will be retiring in a few days after 28 years of service at EASD.

It was a beautiful day for Fulton’s Mount Money Experience! Over 40 students chose to spend their Mount Money on a hands-on animal experience with EHS Cloister FFA students, featuring horses, goats, chicks, a newborn calf, and more.
The best part? This experience was made possible by first-grader Wyatt, who saved his Mount Money and chose to share this special opportunity with his classmates.

This week, Akron kindergarten students proudly showcased all they have learned this year with their families and loved ones. Students shared stories they wrote independently, demonstrated their reading skills by accurately reading favorite books, and highlighted the math concepts they have mastered throughout the year.

To connect with their classroom theme, Caterpillars to Butterflies, students also created special snacks, including caterpillar Rice Krispie treat eggs and a colorful fruit salad. Just as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, students transformed larger pieces of fruit into a beautiful fruit salad to symbolize the incredible growth they have experienced this year.

We are so proud of our young learners and all they have accomplished!

Our 8th-grade students spent the year bringing their ideas to life through their Cornerstone projects! From developing innovative inventions to creating Shark Tank-style pitches, students applied learning across every subject area to finally present their concepts to a panel of "Sharks" yesterday. Many real-world skills - collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving - were on display, and we are proud of their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit!

Congrats to our elementary students who received Mountaineer Recognition Awards. From earning 1st place in the Coding Content to qualifying for the PA Invention Convention and much more, students had a special visit from Dr. Troop today to recognize a variety of achievements.

At this year’s Senior Awards Ceremony, nearly 100 seniors received awards and scholarships totaling approximately $1.9 MILLION! The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze us. Thank you for continuing to bless our deserving students and their families year after year. Your support is helping shape bright futures for the next generation.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! We look forward to welcoming our Mountaineers back to school tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26.

Thank you to our middle school Student Advisory Group who shared valuable insights, first-hand perspectives, and thoughtful feedback with Dr. Hornberger this school year about classroom experiences, school culture, and student life overall. Their voices continue to help shape a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Akron Elementary School third-graders wrapped up their week with a friendly game of kickball yesterday versus local police officers! Judging by all the smiles on the field, the matchup was full of fun, teamwork, and plenty of spirited competition.

Mountaineer Recognition Awards continued this week with over 70 students in grades 5-8 being honored for their achievements this school year. Well done, Mountaineers!

Best wishes to our student athletes who are headed to the state track meet today! You make us proud, Mountaineers!

Congrats to the top finishers in the annual Math 24 Competition. Over 200 EASD students in grades 3-5 took part in the fast-paced, tournament-style math challenge where students compete to use four given numbers and basic arithmetic operations to make exactly 24. The competition builds mental math, number sense, and quick problem-solving skills through increasingly difficult rounds. We celebrate all who participated and recognize our finalists for their outstanding performance.

Please join us in celebrating our Unified Track athletes who earned their senior banners and thanking Ames Construction for their sponsorship. What a deserving group of students and generous community we serve!

These seventh graders presented their NASA TechRise project alongside 60 U.S. schools and was the only group from Pennsylvania selected to send their payload into the stratosphere this summer! Their experiment studies how different materials, like titanium and plexiglass, block cosmic rays to help scientists design safer spacecraft. Along the way, students learned engineering, soldering, teamwork, and how to adapt and overcome challenges. With most participating schools at the high school level, this achievement is truly extraordinary AND it's the second time a team from EMS earned this opportunity with NASA. We are incredibly proud of these young innovators!

SHOUT OUT to our Mountaineers who recently participated in the spring Girls on the Run program! These students took part in weekly activities designed to build confidence, strengthen connections, and foster a sense of community, all while training to complete a 5K! Girls on the Run empowers participants of all abilities to embrace their inner strength, develop healthy habits, and create meaningful friendships along the way. We are so proud of their dedication, perseverance, and positive spirit!

Congrats to our Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science state qualifiers!

- Claire Altemos
- Kaelyn Brosnan
- Emily Comerford
- Anthony Froggatt
- Zoe Keller
- Kiera Navarich
- Tetyana Nebelyuk
- Anna Weidman

Best wishes to the Mountaineers who are moving on to compete in the state competition that kicks off TODAY at Penn State University!

Huge congratulations to Zoey Mohler and her team from Lancaster County Career & Technology Center! They earned first place in the 2026 SkillsUSA District Photography Promotional Competition, qualifying them for the PA SkillsUSA Championship, where they placed fourth in the state! This week, Zoey also received a School Board Resolution honoring her outstanding achievement, creativity, and hard work. Well done, Zoey!