Penn Manor High School senior, Bailey Riffert, received the 2013 Craftsman of the Future Award presented at the MABX Celebration of Excellence Annual Awards Night held on March 21, 2013. The Craftsman of the Future Award is presented to five Pennsylvania high school seniors who have excelled in construction-related courses. Bailey attends the Brownstown Campus of the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center.
The students in Mrs. Vitti’s kindergarten class at Hambright Elementary are ready for Easter. Each student made a bunny “sleeve” that was attached to a small basket. The students then bundled up and went outside for an old-fashioned Easter egg hunt on the kindergarten playground. Each student was permitted to find two eggs that had previously been hidden by the elusive Easter Bunny! Tucking the eggs in their baskets along with Easter grass, the students have the perfect centerpiece for their Easter dinner table.
Students from kindergarten to 6th grade at Ann LeTort Elementary School had the opportunity to experience a science lab lesson in the PA Farm Bureau’s Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab. The mobile classroom lab, complete with all supplies and a certified teacher, teaches science lessons based on students’ grade levels. The lessons meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education Science & Technology and Environment & Ecology Standards and each teaches a lesson in agriculture.
Second grade students in Mrs. Winters’ class had a lesson called BEE-utiful. The students learned how and why bees pollinate. Each student made a bookmark outlining the lesson and took a turn being a bee and picking up pollen from a flower. Other grades had lessons entitled Water Analysis, Glue from Milk, Colorful Bean, Mighty Smooth Bean and Farm Charm. For more information on the Mobile Ag Lab, visit aglab.pfb.com.
Chas Alecxih (Class of 2007) came back to Central Manor Elementary to visit his former teachers and inspire the current students. During Shine Time, the all-school assembly, Chas told the students to follow their dreams because anything is possible. After graduating from Penn Manor, Chas went on to play football at the University of Pittsburgh graduating in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. He is currently on the roster as a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins. Chas encouraged the students to be determined, work hard in school, and have a good attitude. After the assembly, he signed autographs including shoes, shirts, and Dolphins merchandise and spoke with a smaller group of sixth grade students about his experiences as a rookie in training camp.
Penn Manor High School junior, Lily Wushanley, won the Hershey Symphony’s Young Artist Concerto Competition on Tuesday, March 12. She competed against four talented students from other Lancaster County high schools. Lily’s gave a phenomenal performance of a Haydn Cello Concerto and was awarded the first place $1,500 cash prize. She will be the featured artist in the fall concert series with the Hershey Symphony.
The purpose of the Young Artists Competition is to foster young artists with superior musical abilities who reside in South Central Pennsylvania. After sending in a recording and application to the Hershey Symphony Orchestra, several musicians are selected to audition before a panel of music professionals at Elizabethtown College. Each applicant must play one movement of any Concerto for Solo instrument. Students enrolled in grades 7 through 11 who reside in Central PA are eligible to compete in the Young Artists Competition.
The Penn Manor High School FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) Club kicked off February with their “Keep it Cuddly” campaign. Students were asked to bring in new or gently loved stuffed animals to be donated to the local Salvation Army and Penn State Children’s Hospital. After a slow start, the club was excited to receive donations of 600 stuffed animals from the high school students and staff. The 42 members of FCCLA sorted and counted the animals. The 294 new stuffed animals, complete with adoption certificates prepared by the club, will be delivered to Penn State Children’s Hospital. The remaining cuddly creatures will be delivered to the Salvation Army. Club advisers, Mrs. Elizabeth Sheerer and Mrs. Mindy Rottmund, will accompany the FCCLA Club officers when they deliver the stuffed animals.
Photo from left to right – Front row: Heather Moore (Vice-President), Jasmine Torres (Historian)
Back row: Leslie Mercedes (President), Sharon Moenga (Secretary), Jacquelyn Fitzpatrick (Vice-President)
On Sunday, March 17 at Marticville Middle School students in grades kindergarten to 6th grade are invited to bid at the Kids Only Auction! Each year the Penn Manor Education Foundation and Shaub Auction Services partner to raise money for Penn Manor Elementary School libraries by sponsoring the Kids Only Auction. Auction lots that appeal to students are available for the students to bid on. Movies, games, books, school specific lots, toys, craft items and more will be on display and up for bid in the Marticville Middle School cafeteria.
Doors open at 2:30 PM to review the auction lots. The auction begins at 3:00 PM. Bidders must be accompanied by an adult. All proceeds go back to libraries at Conestoga, Martic and Pequea Elementary. (Last year’s auction benefited Eshleman, Letort, Central Manor and Hambright Schools.)
Just a reminder that all students have school on Thursday, March 28. This is a weather make-up day due to the missed day of school on March 6.
2013 PSSA Assessments will be held as follows:
March 11 – 15 PSSA Writing Assessment – Grades 5 and 8
April 8 – 19 PSSA Reading and Math Assessment – Grades 3 through 8
April 22 – 26 PSSA Science Assessment – Grades 4 and 8
2013 High School Keystone Exams will be held as follows:
May 13 – 14 Keystone Exam Literature
May 15 – 16 Keystone Exam Algebra I
May 17 Keystone Exam Biology
For more information on these tests and tips to help your child perform well, please download the information here.
Formal kindergarten registration will be held at each of the district elementary schools the first week of March – see specific dates and times below. Children must be five years old on or before September 1, 2013 to enter kindergarten for the 2013-2014 school year.
Kindergarten Registration Dates & Times
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 8:00-4:00 – Conestoga, Pequea and LeTort
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 8:00-4:00 – Eshleman – WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 7
Thursday, March 7, 2013 8:00-4:00 – Central Manor and Martic
Friday, March 8, 2013 8:00-4:00 – Hambright
You may register your child at any of these elementary schools. Registration does NOT guarantee specific school placement. Please bring your child’s birth certificate, immunization records and two proofs of residency (driver’s license, utility bills, etc.)
An evening registration session is by appointment only on Wednesday, March 6 at Eshleman Elementary School from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To schedule an evening appointment, please call Louise at (717) 872-9540.WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 7
The Penn Manor Education Foundation is sponsoring a Basketball Foul Shooting event open to all students K-12, teachers, parents, community members, and alumni on Saturday, March 9 from noon to 1:30 PM in the Penn Manor HS West Gym (located by the football field). Participants should collect pledges prior to the event. No pre-registration is necessary. All proceeds will benefit the students in the Penn Manor School District with a grant for a wellness/fitness initiative at each participating Penn Manor school. Interested participants should download an information and pledge sheet here. Win prizes! Make 20 out of 25 foul shoots and earn a sharpshooter award!
The science expo projects all started with a different question. Which Birdseed Do Birds Prefer? Which Baseball Bat Hits Further? Which Paper Towel Holds the Most Weight? Using the scientific method, students developed a hypothesis, performed experiments, collected data, analyzed the data, made observations and came to a conclusion based on their findings. The students, in grades 4th, 5th, and 6th, then displayed their research on a tri-fold board and presented their findings to their classmates, parents, and teachers.
Penn Manor’s ice hockey team will compete for the CPIHL Tier 2 League Championship against area rival Manheim Township on Friday, March 1 at 7 PM at the Hersheypark Arena. The winner of the Tier 2 title game will be awarded the Viola Cup. Come out and show your support. Go Comets!
Penn Manor Productions will present the uproarious new musical comedy featuring the unforgettable hits of Elvis Presley, ALL SHOOK UP is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, and tells the story of a guitar playing roustabout, Chad, who rides into a struggling square Midwest town and changes it forever with the power of love and rock-and-roll. This wacky ‘50s styled musical is written by Tony Award-Winner, Joe DiPietro (writer of Memphis and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change). Featuring the classic hit songs “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Burning Love”, “Jailhouse Rock”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “It’s Now or Never”, “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Fools Rush In,” ALL SHOOK UP is clever, fresh fun for all ages.
Performances will be held on March 1st and 2nd, 8th and 9th at 7:30 pm. Tickets ordered prior to February 28th save $1 per ticket. Advance tickets for students are $6 for students (any child who needs their own seat up to grade 12) and $8 for adults. Any remaining seats will be sold at the ticket table in the lobby the night of the show for $7/students and $9/adults. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime – but with all seats reserved, your seat is assigned. To order tickets contact Melissa Mintzer at PMHS. Email: Melissa.mintzer@pennmanor.net Phone: 872-9520 x1515 or order online at blogs.pennmanor.net/mmintzer.
Pictured from left to right: Cody Scheid (Sheriff Earl), Alyssa Crook (Mayor Matilda), Katie Irwin (Sylvia), Jared Bonawitz (Jim), Jessica Hanner (Natalie/Ed), Paul Harrold (Chad)
The 13th annual Penn Manor Read Across America Read-A-Thon will be held on Sunday, March 3 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Penn Manor High School East Gym. Children of all ages are welcome to attend with a caring adult. This year’s theme is Oh, the Places You’ll Go! There will be stations for children to try fun activities, a visit by the Cat In the Hat, and a birthday celebration for the Cat in the Hat.
You should bring a book for D.E.A.R. Time (Drop Everything And Read!) and if you are able, a new book as a birthday present for the Cat in the Hat. The books will be distributed to children who are less fortunate.
Please register by February 22 at 872-9500 x1515 or go to https://www./pmreadathon.wikispaces.com/ to register to win Dr. Seuss items and gift certificates. Snow date is Tuesday, March 5 from 6-8 p.m.