P a n t h e r e t t e Volume 57, Issue II 16 Oct 2017 To You, From A Senior her. Go to every school Inside this issue: dance. Pick a day and go on a road trip with your best Homecoming Court 4 If you ask me what in that stadium in your cap I’m most excited for right and gown, you can look friends. Try a new style. now, my answer is going back and say that you Dress up for school for no Our Spirit Kings, 7 to be graduation, obvi- made the most of this. reason. Learn a new instru- ment. Try to cook a who are they? ously, but only because Editor-in-Chief, Ellen Robinson I’ve already exhausted new dish. Buy those Meet Miss Harle! 8 most of the opportunities shoes you’ve been this school has to offer. wanting. Keep a jour- I’ve joined clubs. I’ve nal. Hold steadfast to The Stadium Pro- 9 gone on trips. I’ve gone every dream you’ve ject to coffeehouses. I’ve ever had. Eat twelve cupcakes in one sit- Freshmen Advice 10 been to prom and the winter dance. I’ve gone ting. Join a band. to Homecoming, three Write a story and Jake n’ Ally’s Ad- 19 times. I’ve taken the share it at a coffee- vice courses I wanted to take, house, or even submit Vegetarian: It’s Not 27 dressed up for Spirit, it to the magazine. As Hard As You week, marveled at the Visit places. See Think hallways, done college things. Tell everyone summer programs. Also, you care about that I’ve had the opportunity you love them. Laugh to write for Pantherette loudly. Live freely. Spirit Week and Epiphany. I’ve Love passionately. Do talked to new people and anything and every- Monday- College Day made new friends. I’ve Along with making thing that you’ve wanted to formed relationships with the most of everything, do but have been afraid of Tuesday- Twin Day teachers and student don’t be afraid. Fear will (within reason, of course). Wednesday- Pink Out teachers. I’ve gone to foot- only keep you from oppor- This is your only time in ball games. I’ve gone to tunity. Try out for the mu- high school. Do so many Thursday- Hawaiian Day school activities. I’ve sical even if you have stage things that when senior reached for dreams and fright. Go to sports games. year rolls around, you won’t Friday- Red and Black goals. So, please do not Dye your hair purple. Start even realize that much time tell me that graduation is training for a 5K, 10K, or passed. Day the only exciting thing even a marathon. Sing to And to my fellow this school can give you, people in the hallway. Bake seniors, this is our year; and, whatever you do, cookies with your best let’s make the most of it! don’t sit around waiting friend at 9 p.m. simply be- Welcome back! for your graduation to cause you can. Wear black arrive, or you’ll miss eve- lipstick, and rock it. Join a Get to know rything along the way. sports team or a new club. You’ll have your time to Listen to a new style of our new super- be excited to graduate, music. Take bubble baths. and it will be here soon; I Sit with someone new at promise. But right now, lunch. Buy your mom flow- intendent on focus on taking every sin- ers to show you appreciate gle chance you are given, her. Better even, clean the page 3! so when you finally stand house or make dinner for Marching Band Emily Hoffert ‘20 If you’re looking for a way to show off gether in one big happy dys- some school spirit and musical talent, then functional family. The seniors why not join marching band? Many think the this year are Sarah Edris, stereotypical marching band member is a geek, Olivia Jenkins, Bryce Burnett, but it's more than that. In a way, marching Mary Brooks, Emily Gunkel, band is like a sport. We work hard and sweat a and Rebecca Zeiner. To the lot, but instead of tackling someone or kicking seniors: we will miss you a ball, we create wonderful music. A day in the dearly next year! life of marching band is a lot of work. At the beginning of the year, we work on basics like roll steps, backwards marching, and transi- tioning to our positions on the field. We then have to memorize our music for the field show to perform at halftime. After that, we have to practice pep tunes to play at the football games to get the crowd pumped up. In my opinion, music is a beautiful thing and can express peo- ple's emotions and sometimes bring people together. We as a group have definitely grown over the past few months and formed great friendships. We all love music; it brings us to- Pantherette is now available on the SV website in color! The Pantherette is published by students of Schuylkill Valley High School, Leesport, Pennsylvania, 19533 Advisor: Heather Barrett Secretary: Starr Neidlinger Editor-in-Chief: Ellen Robinson Treasurer: Elizabeth Clement Administrative Assistant: Donald Ballou Sports Editor: Brenden Livinghouse Technical Editor: Layomi Adeojo Sports/Technical Editor: Skylar Renninger Junior Editors-in-Chief: Charanya Birabaharan and Lily Whitmoyer Sophomore Editor: Reiley Bagenstose Contributing Pantherette staff: Mary Brooks, Hallie Jacobs, Cecily Ramirez, Hannah Seltzer, Michael Shott, Josh Calancea, Jessica Shomo, William Stevenson, Jasmine Stoudt, Jakob Strausser, Molly Wenzel, Vito Zazo, Molly Ballou, Tessa Bewley, Mackenzie Bossler, Alana Boyle, Tatum Brown, Stephanie Brumbach, Julia Craft, Brock Dalton, Allison Henwood, Emily Hoffert, Lilyanna Isenberg, Emily Kale, Kaydence Muller, Chloe Peters, Danielle Readinger, Gabby Rider, Hope Rozycki, Skylar Weddle, Lily Wiley, Addison Angstadt, Mandi Brush, Kara Faulk, Sandra Goho, Vanessa Jones, Abigail Kunkle, Bryce Romberger, Samantha Stewart, Emily Zaharia Our New Superintendent, Eager and Ready to Work Charanya Birabaharan ‘19 I open the door to a authentic self, and Dr. find a chain of offices, file Mierzejewski intends cabinets, and administra- to approach problems tors working intently at and issues with the their desks. Anxiously, I same morals and val- knock on the door, and the ues for each. secretary tells me to wait Dr. Mierzejewski outside. She will invite me g r a d u a t e d f r o m in soon. Three minutes Schuylkill Valley High later, the new superinten- School and later at- dent welcomes me into her tended Alvernia Uni- office. Five minutes passed, versity to earn her and then ten. After speaking Master's degree. Mar- with Dr. Mierzejewski for ried with a grown son almost forty minutes, my and daughter, she also apprehension dissolved. I has two wonderful arrived for my interview ex- grandchildren; like pecting to interview an ad- every grandmother, ministrator, and soon real- she spoils her grand- ized I was interviewing the children with trips to most kind-hearted, authen- the beach and gifts. tic, and optimistic individ- Aside from spending ual. time with her grand- Dr. Mierzejewski started as children, she travels a chemistry teacher and with her husband and later became the assistant reads during free principal of Fleetwood. She time. then worked at Tulpe- Truly, her insight and hocken, Wilson, and now, intentions are solely we are grateful to have such to benefit SV. Dr. an experienced individual Mierzejewski is more here at SV. their own way of learning, and than a leader but a considerate, Dr. Mierzejewski selected the school has the responsibility generous person whose heart lies Schuylkill Valley because of our en- to help students identify student in the students’ best interests. I vironment, staff members, reputa- interests and effective learning opened the door expecting to in- tion. Most importantly, she was at- methods. Also, she believes stu- terview a professional, business- tracted to our passion and determi- dents who make an impact on like superintendent; I left knowing nation to help students and provide others through clubs, sports, and Dr. Mierezejewki is both of these. them with the best opportunities activities are successful. Further- However, I also learned our school possible. According to Dr. Mierze- more, her previous position has has secured a capable and person- jewski, she has received a warm wel- given her the insight to know fail- able leader who hopes to better come, which has helped her adjust ure should be expected, and the SV’s environment and grant stu- to SV. She is eager to learn about importance of failure is learning dents opportunities to fulfil their the school, set goals, and ensure all from our mistakes and trying potential. In fact, she even offered initiatives are carried out. again. These mistakes and experi- to help me with my chemistry Dr. Mierzejewski’s philoso- ences help us evolve, which leads homework. phy on learning is truly an inspira- to her next piece of advice, “be tion; she believes everyone finds yourself.” A leader calls for an Page 4 Meet the 2017 Homecoming Court! Hallie Jacobs, ‘18 Kasey Bubel lives in the outskirts of Leesport with her parents, Tricia and Jim Bubel, along with her older brother, Zach. She loves to participate in NHS, LEO Club, PYEA, Panther Elite Club, Zen Club, Field Hockey, Track and Field, SV Ambassador program, Student Senate, Basketball, and as an 8th grade camp counselor. Kasey had the honor of being named All County Pole Vault in 2016, All Divi- sion Pole Vault, also in 2016, and All Division Field Hockey in 2016.