BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS TO INFORM, TO PERSUADE, the TO INSPIRE, TO AMUSE Vol. LXII, No. 1 Poland Seminary High School Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 What’s new for you this year... PSHS students now move to beat of different bell By Ellie McDanel and Claire Morris Seminarian Staff Writers With an earlier start to the school year paths. office hours were important for Sny- Due to the positive response of the came an earlier start to the school day. Snyder is very happy with the new der because nothing like it was ever staff, students and community mem- It is not just an earlier start, though; it schedule, and even claims that he set in stone. He wanted the students bers, Snyder foresees this schedule is a whole new schedule. loves the early start. Contrary to what to have a period of time every day continuing next year. Periods are shorter, the day starts some may think, he has not had any when they are sure that their teach- As for the parking lot issue, it has and ends earlier, and there is no early major complaints about the new start ers will be available if they need help improved greatly in the past weeks. release. Those are just of the few ad- time. with anything. Parents of students that need picked justments that the students and staff Another major aspect of the new The teachers this year have to ar- up are getting into the routine of of PSHS are getting used to this year. schedule is the shorter periods. When rive at the school at 7:40 a.m. and coming closer to 2:45 p.m. to pick up The principal of Poland Seminary asked why the decision was made to stay until 3:10 p.m. This gives 30 their children, helping the issue a lot. High School, Kevin Snyder, was moti- shorten the periods, Snyder said that extra minutes for assistance. If you “Change doesn’t always equal vated to create this new schedule due he wanted to allow the time for after do not like getting here at 7:45 a.m., progress, but progress always en- to the redistricting of the schools, and school “office hours” and shortening do not get any detentions because compasses change. Small change, consequently the new transportation the periods would do just that. These then you will have to get here at 7:15! big impact,” concluded Snyder. Six full-time teachers join staff By Cailey Barnhart and Tessa Snider Seminarian Staff Writers Madison Gessler A life-long Poland resident, Madison Chris Martin Gessler graduated from PSHS in Chris Martin has been teaching 2010. She was graduated in May from for a total of four years. He previ- Youngstown State University, having ously taught science and 7th grade Nichole Blaze completed her student teaching as- history at Poland Middle School, Nichole Blaze has been a teacher for five signment at Campbell Memorial High and is currently teaching modern years. Prior to teaching at PSHS, she taught School. In addition to being a member world history here at Poland Semi- at Youngstown Christian High School. She of the girls’ soccer coaching staff, nary High School. teaches American history and psychology, Gessler teaches College English 9, and her favorite part about teaching “build- College English 11 and Composition ing relationships with the students.” She got and Research. her teaching degree at Rutgers University. Pat Williams Biographies continued Christy Mitch Susan Holub on Page 4. BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS BULLDOGSvoices BULLDOGS Page Two Staff editorials: Sem urges passage of bond issue Nov. 3 Voters in the Poland Local School The Poland Middle School, built as well as failing heating, cooling, ings and efficient heating, cooling, District will determine the future of in 1897, has a deteriorating founda- and electrical systems. and lighting. Plans call for separate the Poland Schools in the voting tion, as well as a failing heating and learning spaces for grades K-5 and The school district’s insurance car- booth on Tuesday, Nov. 3. On the cooling system which will cost $2.8 6-8 as well as fenced-in playgrounds rier has raised the district’s deduct- ballot Nov. 3 is a 4.5-mill bond issue, million to repair. The school also has for student safety. ible from $1,000 to $10,000 due to the NEW SCHOOL proposal put forth failing plumbing, sewer, and electri- the declining condition of the build- The building would also offer 21st- by the Poland Board of Education. cal systems. ings. century security, fire, phone, camera, We urge passage of this bond issue and building entry systems. to ensure the safety, quality and ef- Middle school students and staff will have to move to McKinley in Passage of the bond issue would re- ficiency of our schools for years to sult in a brand new, 138,000-square- The Seminarian agrees that the come, the middle of the school year if the heating system stops working in the foot K-8 building built close to Poland NEW SCHOOL proposal is the only Seminary High School. More than permanent fix for the school district’s Our schools throughout the district middle of the winter. $7 million would be provided by the deteriorating buildings and urges are showing their age despite being State of Ohio for the new facility, passage of the 4.5-mill bond issue on well maintained. Dobbins, North, and Union el- ementary schools have failing roofs which would offer an optimal learning the November ballot. environment including new furnish- Yes! for Poland Schools It’s all about time Letter to the seniors The tides of change rise slowly, es- tage of that homework-help time to This is it, guys. We’re almost done. We have around eight months left of pecially in the field of education. So teach for the entire 50-plus minutes. high school. Eight more months of sports practices after school, of staying when change does occur, it is like a This, in turn, resulted in very little up all night cramming for the test you forgot about, of also cramming in the fall breeze wafting through a musty time for individual student help. Sparknotes of that book you also forgot about, and of being known as the closet. So it is with the new bell sum of your choices over the last four years. schedule here at PSHS. For the first One of the advantages of the new time in at least forty years, there is bell schedule is the time set aside We tend to dismiss the overstated saying that senior year flies by, but it change. for teachers to be available to the really, really does. Whether you love it here or not, it’s rapidly drawing to students who need extra help. There a close, and you probably can’t wait for what’s ahead. But what’s ahead The previous bell schedule, boast- is now also time for teachers to talk shouldn’t get in the way of what’s right now. ing 53-minute classes, was based on not only with students, but also with the outdated and erroneous assump- each other. We at the Seminarian While college is on the horizon, we still have this last year of high school, tion that teachers would teach for 40 applaud the decision by the Poland an entire year to make the absolute best of. If you’re not sure how to go to 45 minutes, assign homework, then Board of Education to approve the about doing that, consider this a little senior year bucket list: have the remaining time to help stu- new bell schedule as submitted by dents with their homework. PSHS Principal Kevin Snyder. Stay involved! Don’t quit your clubs and extracurriculars your senior year. It’s great to have something to do and something to be involved in, and Then teachers began to take advan- It’s about time. you’re definitely going to miss all of them once you graduate! Go to everything! Football Games! Basketball Games! Soccer, Baseball! Dances! It’s the little things that accumulate to make these four years memo- rable. The Seminarian Editorial Policy 2015-2016 Be sure to thank your teachers and all of the other adults who have The Seminarian’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events helped you throughout high school! Your parents, teachers, coaches and and issues of the school and community as well as those of national or mentors have been with you this whole way! Make sure they know you defi- international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school popu- nitely appreciate all that they’ve done for you. lation. The Seminarian will provide a public service, a channel for student Have fun with your best friends! You still have eight months’ worth of and community comments and a source of entertainment. inside jokes and memories to make before you have to focus on saying goodbye. Opinions expressed on the editorial (Voices) pages do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. Signed editori- Visit the colleges you’re considering attending! Don’t base where you’re als, columns, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author going to spend the next four plus years of your life on other people’s opinions and not necessarily those of The Seminarian editorial board. All unsigned and experiences! editorials represent a majority opinion of the editorial board. All in all, just realize that your days here are limited, but the memories you make here are not.