Ephrata Area School District -

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!

At this week’s school board meeting, students in the National Art Honor Society unveiled the fourth phase of their mural project, a beautiful work symbolizing hope and happiness.

Each year, students create a new panel that is displayed in the district office board room, leaving a lasting legacy of creativity and inspiration.

We are proud to showcase the incredible talents of our student artists in public spaces throughout EASD and our community!

Officer Hirneisen was spreading smiles and positive safety vibes with our Akron Elementary School Mountaineer today.

Calling all rising fourth grade families...

It’s National Library Week! This year’s theme, “Find Your Joy,” celebrates the power of libraries to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.

We’re proud of our Ephrata Area School District learners and educators who make our libraries vibrant spaces for discovery every day. Thank you for turning pages into possibilities and helping every student find their joy!

While we're talking chess, we're SO PROUD of our Mountaineers who recently participated in the IU13 Chess Tournament! Both our elementary (The Dark Knights) and middle school (The Knight Shift) teams demonstrated commendable sportsmanship! Congrats to The Dark Knights who placed third, Sheldon who was a “Board Winner” winning all of his matches, and Chase who received an Honorable Mention for his board performance!

Checkmate! ♟️This year, Fulton Elementary launched a new chess club, and students are all in! Meeting weekly, they’re growing their love for the game while building important #EASDLifeReady skills.

Akron Elementary students who filled their “Mounts Card” by making positive choices earned a special visit from Cliff! They celebrated with fun activities, including a dance party. Congratulations to these Mountaineers on their well-earned reward!

Applauding the EHS students who attended the FBLA State Leadership Conference in Hershey... They learned a lot and were inspired by a personalized pep talk from Sheila Jones, CEO of Whicked Results, who encouraged students to embrace growth, resilience, and new opportunities. Her message left students motivated, confident, and better prepared for their next steps as future business leaders.

We are proud to have a group of students join Dr. Dietz and over 100 educators and advocates at the PA Capitol to raise awareness on a variety of needs to combat the state’s teacher shortage. Their message: Supporting future teachers is critical to equity, workforce stability, and student success. Well done, Mountaineers!

Another Reading Olympics in the books!
• 42 students
• 7 teams
• 56 competition questions
• 159 total books finished
• 161 days preparing and practicing
• 33,947 pages read

After three playoff rounds, here are the results:
First Place – The Last Chapter (EIS) – 27 points (Tie-Breaker Win)
Second Place – The Reading Renegades (HES) – 25 points
Third Place – The Title Titans (AES) – 23 points

Congrats to these deserving Mountaineers and thanks to all who support their love of reading!

Thank you to our generous community and Giant for "rounding up at the register" to help ensure all students are well fed and ready to learn!

Great news! Our Ephrata Middle School production team in the "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" contest received the Storyteller Award this year for their video featuring High Concrete. Well done, Mountaineers!

If you think their hands are full, you should see their hearts! 💜💛 Thank you to our team of paraprofessionals for the meaningful work they do to support our students and staff.

This year was a first, but definitely not the last! Mountaineers in our autistic support classes held their own science fairs, complete with presentations and live experiments for classmates throughout the school. Students did an incredible job, leaving everyone impressed by their creativity, confidence, and enthusiasm.

EASD will be attending the annual Millersville University Teacher Recruitment Day on Tuesday! We’re excited to connect with future educators and share opportunities to make a difference in our schools. Stop by and meet our HR team. We look forward to seeing you there!