50 YEARS AT CAMP SOLES
Each year , a group of eighth grade students from the Baldwin-Whitehall School District take a break from normal classes to spend a couple days at Camp Soles , a tranquil space with lush forests , mountain vistas , a lake teeming with life , and plenty of lessons to impart .
Students enjoy fishing , zip lines , obstacle courses , canoeing , rock climbing — and also learn about themselves along the way . John Kealey , a Baldwin Middle School teacher who facilitates the program , shares , “ I ’ ve seen kids who were quiet in school and went up to Camp Soles and flourished up there .”
Baldwin-Whitehall students have been making this trek for 50 years . There are now students attending whose parents and grandparents went as campers as well .
Camp Soles has become a rite of passage , signaling the transition from middle school to high school . Students can return as counselors once they are in high school . Throughout camp , the high school counselors not only help with activities and pitch in on KP , but also mentor the younger students . Dr . Randal A . Lutz , Superintendent of Schools , shares , “ The favorite night was always the final one . All the eighth-graders would attend the camp fire along with all of the high school counselors and the high school teachers . The folks from the high school would take incredible time to share about the transition to Baldwin High School , lessons learned , and mistakes to avoid . The partnerships formed between the eighth-graders and the high school counselors over the two days was incredible and really on display during that camp fire .”
In an age inundated with electronics , students set their phones down and connect with nature and one another . In an ever-changing world , it ’ s our traditions that anchor us and show us the way forward . We look forward to another 50 years at Camp Soles !
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GET TO KNOW THE DISTRICT TEAM Lori Heim Is Engaging Technology to Serve Students
Lori Heim , Information Systems Manager , has recently been recognized for her technological innovations . Heim presented at the Pennsylvania Department of Education Data Summit . She outlined the best practices she ’ s pioneered to track and manage state reporting through Google tools . Over 100 educators attended her session . She shares , “ The feedback was very positive . A few people said it was the best presentation they attended at the summit . I think people appreciated leaving the session with something tangible they could take back to their own district and customize for their needs .”
Heim also recognized a shortcoming in the way a widely used educational software worked . She explains , “ Skyward was exiting students out of special education services based on the IEP expiration date , which was not accurate . The student was still receiving services ; it was more of a timing and clerical issue within the districts . This was causing many errors in reporting across the state . The PA districts were frustrated , as was I , so I decided to try and get Skyward to change their software programming .” Heim formulated a solution and contacted the company , who is implementing her change . This update will not only serve BWSD students more effectively , but will benefit students across Pennsylvania . Heim notes , “ Ensuring data quality is essential for the overall effectiveness and success of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District . Providing accurate and consistent data through Google Workspace , Skyward reports , and PIMS reports allows administrators to make data-informed decisions which directly impact the educational experiences and outcomes of students .”