Activities

The band program begins with like-instrument lessons groups (e.g. flute with flute, trombone with trombone, etc.) and is open to students in grades four and five who have an interest in studying a band instrument. The instruments offered for study are: flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, and percussion. Students receive one small group lesson once every week, in most cases with other students who play the same instrument, and one band rehearsal with all of the band members in the school once every week. These lessons are scheduled on a rotating system so that children do not miss the same time of day every week. Throughout the year students learn proper instrument performance techniques, as well as how to read printed music. Students are invited to join the large, mixed instrument group (concert band) when they have achieved the benchmark that appropriately prepares them to understand and perform the music used for concert performances. There is typically one performance in the winter and one in the spring. If your child participates in band, you will receive more information about the performances from the band director. Information will include location and time of the concerts, meeting place for performers, and proper concert attire.

In addition to the band program, there is an elementary honors band program.

Beach Book Blast

Get ready to ride the reading wave and surf into summer reading! At Salford Hills, we kick off summer with our Beach Book Blast - formerly known as Reading is Fun. This fun tradition, where every student gets to choose and keep a brand new book, is funded from our annual Book Fair during Open House Week. It’s all about keeping the joy of reading alive all summer long.

Blue Crew

At Salford Hills, we are the Blue Crew! That’s a great name for all the people that make our school great! Every kindergartener, every first grader, every second grader, every third grader, every fourth grader, every fifth grader, every helper, and every teacher are ALL on our Blue Crew Team! Together we will spread kindness, show our Salford Hills pride and build community!

An extension of Blue Crew is a small group of Blue Crew Ambassadors. Ambassadors (BCAs) are fifth grade students selected to lead Salford Hills with school spirit, enthusiasm, kindness and strong character. The BCAs participate in leadership opportunities during the school day as well as participate in some after school meetings. During these meetings, the BCAs are the voice of our student body, not only to share great ideas, but to put them into action!

Chorus

Elementary Chorus

Chorus is open to all fourth and fifth grade students. There is NO audition process. We encourage all of our students to be a part of this fun and challenging ensemble! Rehearsals are scheduled into the school day with students having one rehearsal every week. Students are expected to perform in the winter and spring concerts. If your child participates in chorus, you will receive more information about the performances from the choral director. Information will include location and time of the concerts, meeting place for performers, and proper concert attire.

There are many things that we work on during our chorus rehearsals besides just learning correct tones and rhythms. We work on extending the range of our voices and how to use the proper muscles to provide support for singing. We learn how to pronounce our words so that the audience can understand them. We work on getting the correct tempo (speed) of the music that we perform, the correct dynamics (levels of loud and soft), and the correct style of the piece. We prepare a variety of music that touches on many different styles, time periods, and cultures. We teach many facets of music performance and have a lot of fun in the process!

CROPS (Cultivating Responsible Options for Positive Sustainability)

At Salford Hills, we are a “caring community of learners”, as our school song says. And that character trait shines through in the work we do with our C.R.O.P.S. (Cultivating Responsible Options of Positive Sustainability) garden. Started in 2010, the garden was initially inspired by a handful of students and teachers who wanted to find ways to “go green”. Assisted by local businesses, a few small grants, and many kind volunteers, the garden has literally grown, year after year to be approximately 50x100ft. Our multi-pronged mission is to…

Provide fresh produce for students to enjoy--Produce harvested during the school year, such as our abundance of watermelons, has been shared with students. During summers, it’s available at Book & Produce Swaps.
Hold food swaps where families can bring their own garden’s bounty & trade for ours--or simply take ours if you don’t have a family garden…this is a community garden, after all!
Donate excess produce from food swaps to Keystone Opportunity Center, a local food bank. –Last summer we donated over 800lbs.!

Clearly, we could not attempt such a large venture alone. We’ve been fortunately for a number of grants supporting us finance, including one from the Indian Valley Education Foundation (IVEF). Local businesses helped with materials and tilling. Most importantly, we’ve had consistent community support within our school. Home & School has generously supported our efforts, and we typically have over 30 families help in the summer by weeding, watering, harvesting, and delivering produce to Keystone Opportunity Center.

C.R.O.P.S. perfectly exemplifies our goal to connect children to the broader world, a world where individuals, families, and the community must work together to care for others. Our garden teaches the benefits of working together and social responsibility, a character trait that Salford Hills values beyond measure. Hopefully, using a shovel or hose, picking veggies or taking donations to a food bank will help students become the dedicated citizens we all desire for our children.

Distinguished Readers

The Distinguished Readers honor celebrates students who’ve read 25 or more books in a school year — a true mark of dedication, curiosity, and hard work!

Each honoree receives a Distinguished Reader certificate signed by our principal and a special keychain for their bookbag to proudly show off their achievement. Their names are announced over the PA system and they’re celebrated at our All-School Assembly in front of the entire community.

It’s more than recognition — it’s a moment to shine as a leader in literacy!

Field Trips

Partially funded by the Salford Hills Home and School Association, each grade level enjoys the opportunity to attend at least one field trip during the year. Pre-Covid jaunts included:

Kindergarten – Center Point Pond Fishing Adventure
First Grade – Crayola Experience
Second Grade – DaVinci Science Center
Third Grade – Academy of Natural Sciences
Fourth Grade – Harrisburg Capital Tour, The State Museum of PA, and Hershey
Fifth Grade – Three Day Outdoor School Experience

Focused Open House: A Walk in Their Shoes

Grade 5 Celebration

We celebrate our fifth graders by inviting families to drive through a cheering tunnel of Salford Hills teachers and staff members wishing students well as they journey to middle school. With fire trucks, noise makers, lights, and other visuals, it is truly a sensational event. At the end of the tunnel, fifth grade teachers share students' elementary portfolios, a cumulative reflective showcase of their work at Salford Hills. Families, most of whom have decorated their cars, enjoy a lasting memory of their Salford Hills experience and are encouraged about their unfolding chapter yet to come.

Math 24 Challenge

Morning Meetings and Closing Circles in Classrooms

Orchestra

Elementary Orchestra

Fourth and fifth grade students who sign up for the Orchestra Program will gain experience playing an orchestral string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass). To play in the orchestra for the Winter and Spring Concerts, students must pass the beginning benchmark from their lesson book as indicated by their teacher. All orchestra students receive one 30-minute small-group lesson per week and attend one 40-minute orchestral rehearsal with the entire group. Throughout the year, students learn progressive technical and musical techniques and develop skills for group playing and performance. Students participate in both the Winter and Spring Concerts. Exceptional elementary string students who pass the required benchmark are invited to participate in the SASD Elementary Honors Orchestra.

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Band