CSIU Program Highlight: 2025 Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties Transition Conference
The annual Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties Transition Conference was held on March 4 at Susquehanna University in Degenstein Theatre with a theme of “Unlocking the Future: From Teen to Tomorrow”.
The Transition Conference is planned each year to inspire regional special education students and provide knowledge on topics that will help them as they transition into life after high school. The event included a special Keynote speaker, student awards, visiting with therapy dogs and various breakout sessions.
The Central Susquehanna Esports League (CSEL) hosted a regional tournament on March 6 at the CSIU, showcasing the talents of local student Esports teams. Students competed head-to-head in the popular video game, Rocket League. The winners of the CSIU tournament will move on to compete at the state level.
WINNERS: A-Team Winners: 1st place – Berwick Area High School (Nate Hook, Keaton Albertson and Derek Moss) 2nd place – Shamokin Area High School (Nathan Clauser, Mason Smith and Cameron Smith)
B-Team Winners: 1st place – Milton Area School District (Tobin Strous, Tanner Bardole and Aaron Parker) 2nd place – Danville Area School District (Porter Walker, Will Anderson and Cam Gansen)
This league competition highlights the growing importance of Esports in education. Beyond the thrill of competition, Esports cultivates valuable STEM and computer science skills, including strategic thinking, problem-solving and data analysis. Furthermore, participation in Esports fosters essential teamwork, communication and leadership skills, preparing students for future success in college and careers.
CSEL is committed to inclusivity, providing a platform for students of all abilities to participate alongside their peers and represent their schools. This tournament offers a unique opportunity to witness the dedication, skill and sportsmanship of these young competitors.
Special Education Be Kind Campaign As part of Random Acts of Kindness Month in February, Five Star Elementary students in grades 3-5 visited Nottingham Village to spread warmth and kindness. They created 15 fleece blankets, which were donated to the residents. This special project provided a meaningful opportunity for students to practice generosity, teamwork, and compassion. The residents were delighted to receive the handmade blankets, and the students took great pride in giving back to their community.
Students celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Month at Five Star Secondary by creating a Kindness Tree in the cafeteria. When students were caught performing acts of kindness, staff members wrote their names on hearts and added them to the tree. As a reward for their kindness, participating students earned the opportunity to participate in a Spirit Dress-Down Week at the end of the month. This initiative encouraged students to be kind and fostered a positive and supportive school culture.
Cabrera Systems Thinking
CSIU teams met with Laura and Derek Cabrera from Cabrera Labs, Cornell University, on February 24 and 25, 2025, to continue working on research and evidence-based thinking strategies that result in clearer communication and decision-making. Thirty people from various departments applied the thinking strategies in a hands-on workshop that helped them with real-time planning and solutions. The wide-ranging topics included ways to expand employment opportunities, rebranding current programs, developing new programs, structures for early identification of students’ needs, hiring practices and profit-sharing across the intermediate unit. The Cabreras will continue to coach some of these teams throughout the year, and the senior leadership team will hold their summer retreat with them at Cornell University.
The second annual Youth Mental Health Summit, hosted by CSIU AWARE IMPACT youth mental health interns, Ruth Kraus from Lewisburg and Caleb Biddinger from Watsontown, was held on March 11, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Miller Center in Lewisburg. Funding was provided by the CSIU AWARE grant in partnership with Wellspan Evangelical Community Hospital and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Grace Project. The summit was open to all CSIU school districts’ students and advisors, and up to 200 people registered. As mental health concerns continue to rise, this summit served as a vital platform for youth across the region to share their experiences, gain meaningful insights, and access valuable information. Participants left equipped with resources and actionable ideas to enhance mental health awareness and prevention in their schools and communities, with a strong emphasis on youth leadership and advocacy.
Upcoming Board Meetings: April 16, May 21 and June 18
