lampeter-strasburg school district pioneer review · teachers sit and watch as children jump on...

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A Quarterly Publication of the Lampeter-Strasburg School District

Winter 2009 In This Issue

Lampeter-Strasburg School District Pioneer Review A Quarterly Publication of the Lampeter-Strasburg School District

Keystone Achievement...........2

Task Force Created...………….3

Interact Club Trip......………4-5

The Tech Corner..……………….6

Student Spotlight....………….6

Alumni in the News.......……..7

Stethoscope Scoop....................7

Upcoming Events……………...8

Mission Statement

The Lampeter-Strasburg School District recognizes that each child hasunique abilities, talents, and needs.The district is committed to providing,in an accountable partnership with parents and the community, opportunities for each learner to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values to become a responsible, productive citizen

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L-S High School students fed the hungry. In late November, the Student Council held its annual food drive. All of the food was donated to the Water Street Rescue Mission.

Lampeter Elementary Schoolstudents collected 150 coats as part of the Salvation Army’s Coats For Kids drive.

Students at Martin Meylin Middle School collected used cell phones which will be traded in for calling cards and donated to soldiers serving overseas.

Happy Holidays from Strasburg Elementary School! Students collected toys for the Toys for Tots program.

Students at Hans Herr Elementary School donated hundreds of games, books, and toys to the Water Street Rescue Mission.

Season of GivingThe hustle and bustle of the holidays is over, the presents have been opened and the decorations are stored for another year. But the memory of helping others during this holiday season still warms the hearts of many at L-S. In a year that found many families across our area struggling to make ends meet, students and staff of the Lampeter-Strasburg School District have remembered the true meaning of the

holidays by giving to others.

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Lampeter-Strasburg School District Lampeter-Strasburg School District

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Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration is just around the corner. If your child is five on or before September 15, 2009, your child is eligible to enroll for the 2009-2010 school year. Pre-registration forms will be mailed in the next few weeks. If you do not receive anything by February 2, 2009, contact the District office at 464-3311.

An informational meeting for parents will be held on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 7p.m. at Lampeter Elementary School. At this meeting, parents will receive additional information about kindergarten as well as scheduled appointments. Parents need to complete the pre-registration forms by February 28, 2009, or call 464-3311, extension 5000, if your child will not be attending Lampeter-Strasburg kindergarten in the fall.

Books for Babies

If you recently had a baby or are a new family to the District with a newborn, you are eligible for a unique program available in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District called, Books for Babies. This unique program is coordinated by the Early Childhood Education staff to encourage a love of reading. Every newborn in the District is eligible to receive a gift bag filled with books delivered to your home.

To receive a basket, please contact Brenda Malcolm, Early Childhood Facilitator at [email protected] or by calling Lampeter Elementary School, 464-3311 ext. 5000.

Four Schools Honored By State for Academic Achievements

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is proud to present the following schools with a Keystone Achievement Award: Lampeter-Strasburg High School, Martin Meylin Middle School, Strasburg Elementary School, and Willow Street Elementary School.

The Keystone Achievement Award is given to a public school that has achieved adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years. This year’s award is for meeting AYP standards in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years. AYP is determined in part by a school’s performance on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, the standardized test given annually to students in grades 3-8 and 11.

Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak says the award is a testament to the tremendous efforts of the students, teachers, and staff in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District. “We have set high academic expectations in Pennsylvania, and the students in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District have responded in an impressive way.”

Substitutes NeededDistrict daily professional substitutes: Interested persons should apply to pa-educator.net and submit a letter of interest, copy of PA certificate, current TB test and the following clearances within the last year: PA child abuse, PA criminal, and FBI fingerprint.

Health room aides and nurse substitutes: Interested persons must have PA LPN or RN certification and be CPR certified. Interested persons should submit a letter of interest, a non-teaching application, HS diploma, current TB test and the following clearances within the last year: PA child abuse, PA criminal, and FBI fingerprint.

District support staff substitutes: Interested persons should submit a letter of interest, a non-teaching application, HS diploma, current TB test and the following clearances within the last year: PA child abuse, PA criminal, and FBI fingerprint.

All paperwork should be submitted to: Kristle F. Evans, Director of Human Resources Lampeter-Strasburg School District 1600 Book Road, PO Box 428 Lampeter, PA 17537-0428

Inclement Weather InformationDelays and cancellations of school because of bad weather will be announced on both television and radio. Parents are encouraged to listen to the following stations for announcements:

WGAL-TV WHP CBS 21WLAN WIOVWJTL WDACWLPA/WROZ 101.3 WSBA/WARM 103WITFInformation will also be posted on the District website, www.L-Spioneers.org


Drug and Alcohol Task Force Created for District

Earlier this year, Dr. Robert Frick, addressed the Lampeter-Strasburg Board of School Directors and shared information regarding recent data received from the annual drug and alcohol survey of students and the concerns expressed by members of the administrative team regarding the

prevalence of drug use in our schools. Upon hearing this information, the School Board unanimously voted to approve the initiation of a Drug and Alcohol Task Force chaired by board treasurer, Scott Riekers. The Task Force is comprised of parents, administrators, staff, students, and school board members with their purpose to perform a comprehensive review of the District’s drug and alcohol prevention efforts, both with academic programs and disciplinary policies, and to research the validity, legality, and effectiveness of a random drug testing program.

The Drug and Alcohol Task Force so far has reviewed the 2007 Pennsylvania Youth Survey Report, which is generated from input provided by our students, and the data confirms the prevalence of drug activity in our school district, but it is equivalent to other districts and communities similar to Lampeter-Strasburg. Chief James Walsh of the West Lampeter Police Department also provided the group with information about the police department’s involvement in various drug related offenses within the school district community. Additionally, the School District administrators provided a review of drug and alcohol related offenses over the past five years.

The Task Force consulted with the School District solicitor to learn about the legal ramifications of a drug testing program in regards to protecting the rights of students as well as the School District. Representatives of two neighboring school districts that have initiated a drug testing program briefed the Task Force on their efforts. In one district, the random drug testing program is required of all students who are involved in extracurricular activities, those who apply for a high school parking permit, and those who voluntarily wish to be tested. Court decisions have determined that a school district cannot perform random testing of all students, but it may perform a test to those who participate in activities considered privileges.

Both neighboring districts who have implemented random drug and alcohol testing do not punish the student academically or legally for a positive test result. If the student is an athlete, they are unable to compete as a part of the team for a period of time; however, they are required to continue to practice with the team. The theory is that athletics can be a positive influence on students and could deter the student from negative behavior versus a removal providing additional opportunities to indulge in “less than positive” behaviors.

Based on the information received to date, the Task Force is working toward presenting a recommendation to the school board and administrative team for possible program and policy enhancements for the 2009-2010 school year. The next Task Force meeting will be scheduled in early 2009.


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Making a Difference in the Dominican Republic

“It was a totally life changing experience.” Strong words to hear from a high school sophomore. But these are the words that echo from the 21 students and six chaperones that traveled to the Dominican Republic over Thanksgiving break as part of a program called Orphanage Outreach. The students who went on the trip are all members of Interact, a student service organization affiliated with the Lancaster South Rotary International. Their destination this year was the Hope of a Child Orphanage, located in the town of Monte Cristi.

Monte Cristi is an impoverished village just outside Haiti. The orphanage is home to nearly 40 orphans. Their living conditions are simple - primitive at best. Students and volunteers slept in bunk beds covered with mosquito netting in what’s called a “ramada”, a tin-roofed cabin surrounded by chicken wire; a far cry from a hotel room. “These kids don’t have much,” said sophomore Brianna Hartman. “They have a roof over their heads. They don’t have a family except for the other kids and volunteers.” With no hot water and limited supplies, the orphanage depends on the kindness of others, especially the

volunteers of Orphanage Outreach.Founded in 1994, Orphanage Outreach is a non-profit organization

whose volunteers are primarily high school and college-aged students. Since its inception, more than 6,000 young people have volunteered their time to the charity. Mr. Matthew Cooper, an Earth Science teacher at the High School and Interact’s advisor, organized the trip. In an e-mail sent out to his colleagues following the trip he wrote, “There are moments in our career that we truly know we are making a difference; this week was one of those moments.”

The L-S group arrived in the Dominican Republic on Saturday, November 22, 2008. After a long plane ride, then a three-hour bus ride from the airport, they arrived at the orphanage. For many on this trip, what would happen over the next week would be eye-opening to

say the least. “I have a whole new outlook on my life and I appreciate everything I have now,” said Hartman. Her classmate, Haley Kauffman agreed. “It was incredible. I want to go back so bad.”

Since May, the teens have been raising money for the trip and collecting supplies which they donated to the orphanage. In addition to their clothes, their suitcases were filled with crayons, coloring books, toiletries, and sports equipment. They also brought along 13 laptop computers, which were donated to the orphanage’s school.

The L-S group spent nearly four hours each day at the school teaching the



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kids English. Every day, the children must walk 30 minutes to get to their school which has no paper, pencils, or chalk. Teachers sit and watch as children jump on desks, throw things, and scream. But despite this, Mr. Cooper said, “It was the greatest educational week of my life.”

Each night, the L-S students would prepare for the next day’s classes. Because of the language barrier (the children mostly speak Spanish) the group incorporated games like bingo, charades, and Pictionary into their daily lessons. Kauffman said they taught the students about vegetables, clothing, emotions and greetings. “The kids were so much fun,” she says, “They just loved life.”

A special moment for the entire group was getting to share Thanksgiving dinner with the children at the orphanage. It was an emotional experience for everyone as they realized how truly thankful they are to be living in the United States. “I’ve learned that life is short.” Said Hartman, “You never know what you’re going to have, when you’re going to have it, so you might as well love as much as you can while you’re here.” Kauffman agreed, “They have so little, but they are the happiest people.”

This is the first time the Lampeter-Strasburg School District has traveled outside of the country for this type of mission trip, but is just one of many where students have given their time and energy to help others in need. In 2005, 40 students and 13 adults traveled to Mississippi to provide an elaborate Homecoming gala for two high schools devastated in Hurricane Katrina. Last year, students built homes in Kentucky. Cooper hopes the club will be able to take an international mission trip at least once every four years.

2008 Interact Club Trip Participants

Sandra Barr – ParentMatthew Cooper – TeacherJeff Landis – ChaperoneJeffrey Wright – ParentEmily Anderson Abigail ArndtJustin BarrMelanie BarrKayla Bauer

Kelsey CooperKatelyn DarrenkampBen DeMoraBrianna HartmanHaley KauffmanKelsey KingKarlee KurtzKarren KurtzJenna Mitchell

Jillian NeffMatthew NielsenKiran SinghAshley TurriJessica VisneskiNathaniel Wright



Technology is constantly affecting our lives and is changing the way teachers and students interact in the classroom. At Lampeter-Strasburg High School, one major change has been the introduction of the Activboard. The Activboard, a 3’ x 5’ interactive whiteboard connected to a computer and projector, replaces the regular classroom chalkboard. With a

click of a mouse, the board is transformed from an ordinary passive board to an interactive wonder. Mrs. Claudia Ruoff is a Language Arts teacher at the high school and uses the Activboard in numerous ways in her classroom. Instead of writing notes or reading them aloud, she can project a power point presentation onto the board with all of the necessary information. Like a computer, the Activboard can also save notes or lessons for another class or even another semester. Mr. Matthew Shockey also enjoys using the Activboard with his social studies classes. He says, “I use the scanner to scan in student homework assignments, which allows me to write on their worksheet so the whole class can see it.” The Activboard also allows teachers to integrate the use of various websites into their lesson plans. “If I want to demonstrate how to learn about a Wikipedia page to determine whether it is a credible source,” says Ruoff. “ Then I can show them on the board, and then have them do it on their own computers.”

The purchase of the Activboards is part of the Classrooms for the Future grant which was awarded to the District last year. Currently there are 38 Activboards in use at the High School.

The Tech Corner...

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Instruments Needed

Miss Jennifer Theilacker, Music Teacher at Martin Meylin Middle School is collecting unused instruments. Whether you have an instrument that is broken or is just never played anymore, it can be put to good use. Donated instruments will be cleaned, repaired, and given to local children in need in and in the New York City area where Miss Theilacker volunteers. Help keep the sound of music alive in schools by donating your unused instruments. Instruments can be dropped off at Martin Meylin Middle School. For more information about the program, please contact Miss Theilacker at [email protected]

Student Spotlight

This month’s student spotlight is on Hans Herr Elementary School student Marco Peticca. At the young age of 11, this fifth grader is already making a name for himself in the world of Irish Dancing. In October, Marco traveled to Scotland

to compete against some of the world’s best dancers during the All Scotland Nationals. In April, he will compete at the Irish Dancing World Championships being held in Philadelphia, the first time ever in the United States.

Marco first became interested in Irish Dancing at the age of six after attending a concert with his parents that featured two male Irish dancers. Marco was fascinated and asked if he could begin Irish Dance lessons. When he turned seven, his parents enrolled him in the Cara School of Irish Dance in Chester County. In the beginning, he trained once a week. Four years and dozens of competitions later, he now trains up to five days a week. It’s a busy life for this family, but one they all enjoy. Marco’s mother, Beth Peticca says, “We are at dance class more often than we are home!”

Every month Marco competes in local competitions called Feiseanna. He competes as both a solo dancer and in team dancing. Team dancing includes, 8-Hand Ceili dancing, which is composed of 8 dancers dancing together, and Figure Dancing, which is 16 dancers dancing at a time. In November, he finished fifth at a regional competition for his solo dance, which qualifies him to compete in this year’s World Championships. He’ll also be dancing with one of his teams which

finished second at Nationals this summer. Despite this hectic schedule, Marco is just

like most kids his age. In school, he loves reading and gym and attending SACC. This spring, in addition to his dancing, he plans to play lacrosse in the L-S youth league. Congratulations Marco and good luck at World Championships!



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STETHOSCOPE SCOOP

Tips From Your School Nurse to Help Keep Your Child Healthy With flu and cold season upon us, the school nurses in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District have provided these tips to keep our children and school healthy and flu- free. The flu is caused by the influenza virus which attacks the lungs, nose, and throat. The close contact of children in a school setting makes them two to three times more vulnerable to contract the flu than adults. Common symptoms of the flu include severe headaches, high fever, muscle and body aches, dry cough, and exhaustion. In children, additional symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can be seen. These symptoms differ from the common cold which is less severe and shorter in duration. Cold symptoms also start gradually, but people describe the flu as “being hit by a truck.” According to the CDC, the best way to prevent your child from getting the flu is the flu vaccine. October and November are prime months for vaccination, but it is never too late to be vaccinated. It takes about two-weeks for the flu vaccine to be fully effective. Practicing healthy habits with your child is another way to protect them against any infection. Teach and model frequent hand washing using soap and water for twenty seconds. For younger children, singing the “Happy Birthday” song while washing works well. Teenagers should be reminded not to share drinks, water bottles, and utensils. If the flu does strike your household, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces can reduce the spread of the virus. Lampeter-Strasburg School District policy states children should not return to school unless fever-free for 24 hours. Fever is defined as a temperature 100 degrees or higher. Additionally, the policy states that students should not have vomited or had diarrhea for 24 hours prior to their return to school. This policy was designed to reduce the incidence of illness, to contain future outbreaks, and to keep all staff and students healthy.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact your school nurse:Teddi Book, Lampeter-Strasburg High School; Leslie Darrenkamp, Martin Meylin Middle School; Mary Vestermark, Hans Herr Elementary; Michelle Monborne, Lampeter Elementary/Strasburg Elementary Schools.

L-S Alumnus Wins Composer’s Awards

Justin Hoke has always loved music. At the age of five he began studying the piano. At 14, he wrote his first music piece, and now at the age of 20, he is receiving world-wide recognition for his compositions. This year, he won third prize in the Young Composer’s Competition sponsored by Austin Peay State University and most recently he was one of nine young classical composers to win the BMI Student Composer Award.

The BMI Student Composer Awards are awarded annually and recognizes superior creative talent in the field of music. Many of today’s most prominent and active classical composers received their first recognition from the BMI Student Composer Awards. Winners

receive scholarship grants to be applied toward their musical education. In 2008, more than 500 manuscripts were submitted to the competition from throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Justin Hoke is a 2006 graduate of Lampeter-Strasburg and is now attending the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. During his years at L-S, Hoke was very active in the music department, participating in both the concert and marching bands. He says teachers like Mr. Erik Welchans, Mr. Larry Royer, Mr. Scott Cantrell, and Mrs. Jennifer Braas gave him constant support as he pursued his musical and artistic endeavors. “Every time I sit down, without fail, I feel like I’m back at square one.” He says, “Composition has never been easy for me. I have to make myself do it.” But, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love it.

Today, Hoke is an active pianist and often performs in chamber ensembles. He is expected to graduate in 2010 from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree. After graduation he plans to move to Paris and continue studying composition.

If you know of an outstanding L-S alumni that should be recognized, please contact Julie McCrary, Public Relations Coordinator at [email protected]

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Lampeter-Strasburg School DistrictSchool Board Members

Mr. James H.Byrnes, PresidentDr. Richard A. Graff, Jr., Vice PresidentMr. G. Scott Riekers, TreasurerMrs. Melissa S. Herr Mr. John E. Hults Mrs. Suzanne L. Keene Mr. Jeffrey A. Mills Mrs. Rebecca F. Neimer Mr. Philip R. Wimer

Pioneer Review StaffEditor: Kristle F. EvansWriter/Designer: Julie E. McCrary Printer: Cooper Printing

Lampeter-Strasburg Spiritwear On Sale Now • Go to www.L-Spioneers.org to place orders

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDLancaster, PA 17604

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Lampeter-Strasburg School DistrictP.O. Box 4281600 Book Road.Lampeter, PA 17537-0428717-464-3311

To find out the latest news in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District, be sure to go to our website,www.L-Spioneers.org

UPCOMING EVENTS1/16 District Chorus Festival @ Waynesboro Area H.S.1/17 District Chorus Festival @ Waynesboro Area H.S.1/19 Teacher Inservice Day – Students Do Not Report1/22 Teacher Inservice Day – Students Do Not Report (Note: Dates may change depending on Snow Days)1/24 Sports Physicals @ High School, 8:00 a.m.1/29 District Band Festival @ Hempfield H.S.1/30 District Band Festival @ Hempfield H.S.1/31 District Band Festival @ Hempfield H.S.2/3 Story Hour @ Lampeter Elementary - 1:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.2/5 District Orchestra Festival @ Spring Grove H.S.2/6 District Orchestra Festival @ Spring Grove H.S.2/7 District Orchestra Festival @ Spring Grove H.S.2/10 Story Hour @ Strasburg Elementary - 1:00 p.m.2/13 Snow Make-Up Day (if not needed, will be vacation day)2/14 County Chorus @ Pequea Valley H.S.2/16 President’s Day – No School2/19 Back to School Night @ High School - 7:00 p.m.2/20 8th Grade Ski Trip3/3 Student Early Dismissal: 12:15 p.m. (K-5) 1:15 p.m. (6-12) 3/12-14 HS Musical, Bye, Bye Birdie @ L-S HS PAC - 7:00 p.m.

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