Palmyra Area High School

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Palmyra Area Sr. High School
Motto "Excellence in Education, for ALL Students"
Address 1125 Park Drive"
City Palmyra, Pennsylvania, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, 17078
Established 1963
Type Public Secondary
Superintendent Dr. Larry Schmidt
Principal Dr. Kelly Harbaugh Ed. D – Vice Principals Mr. Paul Steigerwald & Mr. Daryl Reisinger – Grades 9 to 12
District Palmyra Area School District
Mascot Cougar
Colors Black and Orange
School website PASD Home Page

Palmyra Area Senior High School (typically referred to as Palmyra High School or PHS) is a public high school located in Palmyra, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

The school, located at 1125 Park Drive in North Londonderry Township serves students in grades nine through 12 from the western part of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Including the Boro of Palmyra, North and South Londonderry Townships, the Villages of Campbelltown, Lawn and Mount Gretna. The school was founded in 1962. The school's mascot is the Cougar.

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[edit] Administration

The Palmyra Area High School is a part of the Palmyra Area School District. Dr. Larry Schmidt is the Superintendent of Schools. The High School's principal is Dr. Kelly Harbaugh. Palmyra High School has two vice principals, Paul Steigerwald and Daryl Reisinger. There are four guidance counselors serving the school.

[edit] Education

The Palmyra Area High School is an accredited school by most post-secondary institutions. Below is a list of the different academic departments in the school, and who heads them. Mostly they are teachers who have served for many years.

  • English Department - Susan Stroh
  • Science Department - Ronald Ruth
  • Math Department - Kathy Baum
  • History/Social Studies Department - Larry Geib
  • Foreign Languages - Cynthia Hitz
  • Related Arts - Joan Linn
  • Business/Computer Department- Mary Jane McDevitt

Palmyra High School's academic day is part of Block Scheduling in which students participated in four classes a day for 85 minutes, plus a 30 minute lunch and remedial period, known as Flex. Students are required to have eight credits per year (Four 1st semester, Four 2nd Semester).

[edit] Renovations

The Palmyra Area High School recently underwent a $35 million renovation to the existing school, as well as additions. Due to the major population explosion in the Palmyra area, school officials decided that the aging building could no longer support the projected increase in numbers. The School Board decided a renovation with additions was more sensible than building a new school.

[edit] Phase I

The first phase was the construction of a new 15 classroom, 2 story addition to the existing school. This was completed in December 2006, and held student occupation on January 2, 2007. Also, the new cafeteria was completed for January 23, 2007.

The project's general contractor is ECI construction Group, of York County, Pennsylvania. Additions include; a new two story, 15-classroom wing, new weight training center, new art rooms, a new cafeteria and new communication and production technology classrooms. Renovations to the existing building will take place when the additions are complete.

[edit] Phase II

The second phase of construction is expected to be completed in mid April, 2007. This will occur when the remaining areas of the first floor are renovated. The first floor will house the English Department (will be in same area as previously held) and the Foreign Language Department (will be housed in the old history/social studies area). However, the Business Ed. classes will be held in the Foreign Language Area until that area on the second floor (N) can be completed. The math department on the second floor will move to their new permanent locations on the second level of the new wing, which was completed in January 2007.

In addition Administrative Services and Guidance Services will be relocated to their new offices. The new main office will be in the new wing, across from the new cafeteria and the Guidance Office will be next to the main office, in the old social studies wing. When the old main office and guidance offices are vacant, renovations will begin on those areas for additional Art and Communications Technology classes.

[edit] April 09, 2007

Despite the large amount of progress with the project, work was stopped suddenly both on renovations and in the classrooms. On Monday April 9, 2007 at about 8:50AM, a fire broke out on a Tar Roofing Machine on the north end of the campus, by the new wing. An immediate evacuation of nearby classrooms into the gymnasium was conducted for a short time, and nearby propane tanks which fueled the device were removed. Local fire services arrived shortly thereafter and extinguished the fire. Exhaust and smoke then moved into the school building and covered windows and vehicles. The event caused a minor delay in the school schedule.

[edit] Phase III

Phase III is expected to be completed by the mid-summer 2007. It will include the renovations of the Business Department Wing, which went under renovation on April 17, 2007. Also, the new Library is expected to be open, in the area of the old Kitchen and Production Technology Room. Additional miscellaneous classrooms will be opened in the old cafeteria location.

[edit] Athletics

Palmyra competes in District III of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Palmyra fields teams in the following Mid Penn Conference sports:

→1999 PIAA Class AAA State Champions

→2005 PIAA Class AA State Champions, 2007 PIAA Class AA State Runner-up

→2007 PIAA Class AA State Champions

[edit] Clubs and Activities

Student activities at Palmyra High School include:

[edit] External links