October 1, 2015 Volume XXII Hawk Issue 1 Happenings A Publication of Hamburg Area High School, Windsor Street, Hamburg, PA 19526 Gravish Joins Meet our new superintendent - Dr. Mextorf Hamburg Eliza Moseman - 10 Area High New to Hamburg this year is Dr. Richard Mextorf, the superintendent from Grove City Area School District. Dr. Mextorf began his new career at Hamburg Area School District Staff July 1, and has said to have been graciously welcomed ever since. He and his wife Sierra Hafer – 9 moved here to be closer to their family. The main difference between Grove Dr. Stanley Shawn Gravish City and Hamburg is the atmosphere. became the principal at Hamburg Area High over Grove City hosted a college, and the summer. He attended obviously, Hamburg does not. However, Kutztown University to major in he says that Hamburg has very down Social Studies and Secondary to earth people that support the youth. Education and graduated with He originally began his love for his Bachelor’s in Secondary education and helping children when Education. During his college years, 1990-1994, he was he was about ten years old. Though he a student representative at resisted his parents made him attend KU on the Student Council, a Vacation Bible School. While there, he letterman on the men’s tennis was assigned to take care of Eric who team, and he had many other jobs. had cerebral palsy and spina bifida and Dr. Gravish’s favorite times of his high school days were lunch and history. After college was restricted to a wheelchair. A young he decided to pursue his career in teaching. He was the Alternative Education teacher at Dr. Mextorf was assigned to care for Hamburg Area School District for one and 1/2 years, only to shortly leave to work as a History Eric during this week of VBS. His duties teacher at Conrad Weiser for six years. He returned in 2014 to work at Perry Elementary were to make sure Eric got around center as a principal for the 2014-2015 school year. He said he wants to work at Hamburg alright, was eating, and to generally out of all the other school districts because the staff makes him feel like family and the make sure he was comfortable. This was kids are great! He would love to see the kids and how they grow and mature. Dr. Gravish said the school year so far has been crazy. He said the new kids do not his first experience working with young people and brought him to the position he is at now. His know where to go and neither does he, but eventually they will find it together. He said in work with Eric made him realize that he wanted to do the kind of work that dealt with the heart. high school, he participated in the men’s tennis team, cross-country, and basketball. What One of Dr. Mextorf’s main goals for Hamburg Area School District is to confirm that every makes him motivated is the staff and students at Hamburg Area High. He adds, “Not only child feels as though they have a home at Hamburg. He wants to make sure that “every that but also knowing satisfaction at a job well done”. If he was not a principal he said he child, without exception” feels loved, cared for, that they matter, and that they are worth it. would like to be a rock star, but he added everyone that knows him knows he can’t sing, Dr. Mextorf would like every student to know that they should not be afraid to stop by so in reality a professional tennis player. The advice he gives to kids that are nervous about coming to high school is; “Being his office and introduce themselves. He loves getting to know his students and build a nervous is good. It shows that you actually care about coming to the high school.” Words of relationship with them. encouragement to all the students at Hamburg would be, “Keep at it! Study hard and learn lots of new things! Try all the hard or challenging classes!” Lastly, he wishes everyone, teachers, students, and the rest of the staff, to have an excellent year! Homecoming 2015 Hamburg Area High school library welcomes changes Sage Bausher - 10 In the past, libraries have been seen as quiet places where lovers of books can go to read in silence. Now, they are changing into something much greater than a bibliophile’s get away, starting with our own school library. This year’s changes to the library have a huge impact on student life. It has several work areas in which students are no longer shushed at to be silent. The library is now seen as a place where students are invited to come together and work on team projects together. Miss McCarthy is now located there and has all her classes there. She has had 24 years of experience of working in libraries at her alma mater, DeSales Melanie LeMasters - 12 University, so the change is nothing new to her. Also, there One of the school’s most exciting weeks just passed. Homecoming week ran from are computers that the students September 21 – 26. can use, and Dr. Ryan has also Leading up to the Friday and Saturday homecoming sport events, students enjoyed moved her computers into the spirit week. Monday students dressed in super hero attire. Squad day was Tuesday, library, which are music lab students got together with a group of their friends and dressed alike. The halls were Macintosh. People are welcome bright on Wednesday, neon day, and on Thursday, students dressed like their favorite to use them for Garage Band, Disney characters. Friday was the pep rally and homecoming, so students wore red and which makes music. white to show their school spirit. The library is seen as a On Tuesday, athletes rode around town on fire trucks for the annual homecoming collaboration of work areas parade. After the parade, students listened to the marching band while gathered around which are located through the the bonfire. library, such as the book shelves, The main event at the pep rally was the obstacle course. The homecoming court the tables, the smaller tables for competed against one another for a chance to win a gift card. After a hilarious competition group projects or hangouts, and Hannah Shirk and Erik Fleischel took home the prize. the computer sections. Students Homecoming king and queen were crowned before the football game began. The court are working on different projects all in the same room. consisted of ten people; five girls and five boys. The girls were Hannah Burns, Chelsea Another cool feature is that Mr. Hetrich’s Business Entrepreneurship class is making Forrest, Chyanne Lesher, Cheyenne Rudis, and Hannah Shirk. The boy candidates were plans to create a coffee shop in the library. The class said that Mr. Spohn, the principal, Erik Fleischel, Tyler Herber, Micheal Madera, Aaron Nelson, and Janson Youndt. Of those and a few students came up with the idea. They want the library to have a college feel ten, Tyler Herber was crowned king, and Chelsea Forrest was crowned queen. to it. The coffee shop would be selling coffee, tea, hot chocolate, snack items, and more Hamburg won Friday night’s football game against Fleetwood with a score of 55:26. possibly in the future. All in all, there are many news and upcoming updates to the library. On Saturday, the field hockey team won their game against Saucon Valley, 4:1. Also on It is still a library, full of books, but it seen as a place where students can work on projects Saturday, both the girls’ and boys’ soccer teams brought home a win. Girls with a score of and still have easy access to the needed materials. 2:1, and boys with a score of 1:0. Senior girls won the annual powder puff soccer game. Page 2 Hawk Happenings October 1, 2015 2015-2016 Pinnacle Information Rhiannon Elias – 12 This year’s yearbook is bound to please the entire student body. With a circus theme, there will be animals, bright colors, clowns (not the scary kind), etc. incorporated throughout. Students in Publications work extremely hard on their pages during the year while juggling assignments from other classes as well and deserve some recognition. Other students may also contribute to the yearbook by submitting full color photos. They can be emailed to Ms. McCarthy, Rhiannon Elias, Morgan Krick, or any other Publications members looking for extra pictures. Hamburg’s Pinnacle is always the lowest Saying a proper goodbye to wisdom teeth price in Berks County at a fair $60. They Annie Crider – 12 will be on sale from November 16-24, and there are payment plans available. When order forms are handed out, teachers, staff, Many high school students are told by their dentist that they need to have to undergo underclassmen and upperclassmen are all encouraged to purchase a yearbook. No one the process of having their wisdom teeth removed. Though it can seem intimidating, going should miss out on such a great deal! through the surgery and recovering from it are simple so long as the proper steps are taken before, during, and after the surgery. The first necessary step is to schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon in order to Celebrating Labor Day learn the details of why the teeth must be removed and to discuss the medicines used during and after the surgery. Reasons for the removal of one’s wisdom teeth can be Ashley Lojko – 10 because: there is no room for those teeth, the teeth may be coming in at the wrong angle or are going to interfere with the jaw, or there may be a risk of gum disease or cavities near Every year, on the first Monday of September, Labor Day is celebrated.