Pioneer Review A Quarterly Publication of the Lampeter-Strasburg School District Winter 2010 School District Pulls Together for Haiti Relief Like many others around the world, the Lampeter-Strasburg community quickly pulled together to offer money, food, supplies and support to the hundreds of thousands of victims following the earthquake in Haiti. Considered one of the worst natural disasters in recent history, it will most likely take years and millions of dollars in aid for this already impoverished country to rebuild. Over the years, Lampeter-Strasburg has developed a rich tradition of responding to humanitarian needs, and this disaster was no different. High School science teacher and Interact Club advisor, Matt Cooper stated, “The L-S community has always been very generous in times of need, whether it is a local family, Hurricane Katrina, or an international event such has Haiti.” Just days after the tragedy, several clubs and student organizations began coordinating various fundraisers and donation drives. HELP FOR HAITI Jeans for Haiti Student Council at LSHS donated After the earthquake in Haiti, Ms. Leah Panico more than 500 pairs of jeans to the was the first teacher in the High School to respond, Jeans for Haiti program. The program with her sociology classes leading a fundraiser. was organized by the clothing store, Ms. Panico, along with Mr. Cooper and Interact, Aeropostale. Senior, Ariel Frick, said chose to give a portion of the money raised to the of the collection, “This was an awesome Mennonite Central Committee, “because it has an opportunity because it gave us a chance excellent reputation for using a large percentage to help the Haitians who had lost all their of their proceeds for disaster relief, instead of material possessions.” The gently used using it for administrative fees,” said Panico. “The jeans will be distributed through the MCC also already had relief work set up in Haiti YMCA in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. before the earthquake.” Junior, Joelle Godfrey, Katie felt that raising this money was very important for Doughty, Tiffany Doughty, Kelsey the students because it, “encouraged [the] student Robinson, Cayli Schumann, Ariel body to get involved and help the less fortunate in Frick, Kayla Heiney, Lindsay Doughty, Haiti.” Students and staff at Martin Meylin Middle Jessica Visneski, Emily Simmons, School also contributed funding with a combined and Sarah Carlson all worked together total of over $2,500. to lead the clothing drive. Interact Offers Sweet Relief... Along with helping the sociology classes, the Interact club worked with Evans Candy to make and sell 1000 bags of candy. Thanks to their hard work, the students raised more than $5,000. The money was given to the Mercy & Sharing Foundation and the Mennonite Central Committee to help with their relief efforts in Haiti. According to the students involved in the project, having the opportunity to do something to help the Haitians was an incredible opportunity. Because of a previous trip with Interact, senior, Jenna Mitchell was familiar with the Dominican Republic and the state of ruin that those areas suffered even before the earthquake. Jenna said, “It really hit home for me because while I was watching the video, I just saw all the WGAL’s Anne Shannon featured the District’s Haiti relief efforts children and it reminded me of the kids in the Dominican that I taught. So we cancelled the on a recent newscast. Pictured are, Jenna Mitchell, Ms. Leah Alaska trip and put our focus on Haiti.” Panico, and Anne Shannon. Inside the lobbies of Strasburg, Lampeter, and Hans Herr Church in New Holland to see how she could help in the relief Elementary Schools, bars of soap, blankets, pasta, and effort. The church organized a collection drive and filled a flashlights filled relief boxes. These were just some of the 48-foot trailer with food and supplies. Kelly knew this would hundreds of items students donated as part of the District’s be a tremendous opportunity for the L-S community to once Help for Haiti effort. The donation drive was the brainstorm again give back. As expected, all three elementary schools of Gaelle Kelly, a Strasburg parent and also a native of in the District quickly jumped onboard to lend their support. Haiti. Kelly is a third generation Haitian and lived in Port-au- Kelly expressed her appreciation Prince, the epicenter of the quake, until she was 17-years to everyone who made a donation Strasburg Elementary students, Luke Kelly, Haley Breslin, Chloe Blantz old. to this collection drive. and Delayne Breslin display some of the items students collected to After hearing of the devastating earthquake in her homeland, donate to victims of the Haiti earthquake. Also pictured is Mrs. Kara Grove, a program specialist at Strasburg, who helped coordinate the donation drive. Kelly attended a meeting at the Salem Pentecostal Haitian www.L-Spioneers.org 1 Back Row: Mr. John Hults, Mr. Philip Wimer, Mrs. Rebecca Neimer, Mrs. Melissa Herr, Dr. Richard Graff (Board Vice-President), and Mr. Jeffrey Mills. Front Row: Ms. Katelyn Stauffer (Senior Student Representative),Mr. Scott Riekers (Board Treasurer), Mr. James Byrnes(Board President),Mrs.Patricia Pontz, and Mr. Spencer Haldeman(Junior Student Representative). New School Board Member Takes Office The Lampeter-Strasburg School Board welcomes new School Board member, Patricia M. Pontz. Mrs. Pontz fills the seat vacated by Suzanne Keene, who did not run for re-election. Pontz is a former language arts teacher at L-S and currently works for the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 as a communications/project coordinator. “Public education has always been important to me, and I am honored to be able to serve in this important role for our District’s students, as well as for the L-S staff and community.” Pontz will sit on both the District’s academic and personnel committees. She will also serve as the District’s representative to the Lancaster County Academy Joint Operating Committee. She and her husband, Bob, have two children in the District. Also elected for new terms on the board are, Mr. G. Scott Riekers and Mrs. Rebecca F. Neimer. Action Based Learning…Where Mind Meets Body Kindergartner Alyssa Sangrey smiles as she crawls through a series of colored hoops. Once she’s through, she runs to the next station and waits her turn to walk across the balance beam. This is how Alyssa and her classmates start every day at Lampeter Elementary School. While it looks like a typical gym class, it’s actually part of a program being specifically used for kindergarten students at Lampeter this year called the Action Based Learning ™ Lab. The program is based on the concept that physical activity increases academic performance. As students move from station to station, they will experience challenge, feedback, and physical activity, three components that are necessary for optimal brain function. Melissa Weaver, the physical education teacher at Lampeter Elementary, and Kathy Focht, Principal, started the program this past fall. “The students LOVE coming to the gym in the morning,” said Weaver. “I have had moms stop in and tell me how much their child looks forward to coming to the gym in the morning.” The other kindergarten teachers have noticed a change too. “I think it starts the students off at school in a positive frame of mind,” stated kindergarten teacher, Amy Deardorff. “I think it’s a great program and would allow my students to participate as long as it is offered to them.” Weaver hopes to continue the program as well. Currently it is only being used for the morning kindergarten classes at Lampeter, but in the future, Weaver would like to expand the program to include all kindergartners in the District. The Action Based Learning ™ Lab was started in the Ephrata Area School District in 2005 by Cindy Hess, a physical education teacher. Now the program is used in over 40 states and Canada. L-S Family Health Festival Thursday, May 20, 2010 Free Health Screenings Fun For the Whole Family! Hans Herr Elementary School 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Susan Brynes Center, Central PA Oncology Group and Jack Hubley www.L-Spioneers.org 2 www.L-Spioneers.org Become a Mentor... The Memory Project Change a Child’s Life Alyssia Whalen enjoys mostly everything about painting. “For me, The Lampeter-Strasburg School District is looking for a few good men and painting is a freeing experience in women to serve as mentors to our students. There are many students in the which I can turn my thoughts and District who need caring adults to help them reach their fullest potential, not ideas into a reality that others can only in school, but also in life. react upon in their own way. I feel that with paint, ideas can be expressed in To be a mentor, you don’t have to have any special skills, just an ability ways that no words or actions could.” to listen and to offer friendship, guidance, and encouragement to a young The Lampeter-Strasburg High School person. Mentors will be paired up with students in grades three through senior hopes that love will show through twelve and will meet throughout the school year. in the portrait she painted this year of Fiona, a little girl from Uganda. Fiona The L-S Mentor Program is similar to Big Brothers/Big Sisters and provides is just one of over a thousand orphans to receive a portrait through The students with another positive role model in their lives. Memory Project. Started in 2003, by Ben Schumaker, The Memory Project is a unique How does mentoring help? initiative in which art students create portraits for children around the The benefits of mentoring are well documented.