School Notes 12/14/2015

Dec. 14--Carbondale Area

On a hill behind the Carbondale Elementary School, members of the high school science and technology club had a small campfire to keep them warm while they gazed into the night sky.

The club, including President Tyler Deuel, hosted a star party on Nov. 5 to observe celestial objects, including the moon, stars and constellations, using telescopes and binoculars.

They also had hot chocolate and camp foods, including s'mores, brownies and hot dogs.

"I believe that my fellow officers and I have a lot of good ideas that will help the club out this year, so I wanted to be a leader and help turn these ideas into realities," Tyler said about leading the group. "We have club T-shirts for this year that we are designing ourselves and hope to plan a field trip in the spring."

Other officers are Aislinn Toolan, vice president: Cody Calabro, treasurer; and Marina Lumbag, secretary.

-- KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter

Career Technology Center

Austin Flyte, a junior in the building mechanics trades program, has received the service ambassador's award. Austin recently volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in West Virginia, helping build houses through the Church of St. Catherine of Siena.

Austin is also a volunteer firefighter for the Moscow Fire Department and is involved in the Science Olympiad at North Pocono High School.

-- SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Delaware Valley

Senior Anastasia Vigilante was chosen as fine arts student of the month. She is serving as president of the art club and is also a member of the school orchestra.

"I have been able to meet some of my closest friends that I never would have met in my normal core classes," Anastasia said.

She donates her time in her community as well, including various volunteer projects with the Orange County 4-H program.

"Volunteering makes me feel good about myself, knowing I helped a total stranger and made their day a little better," Anastasia said.

She hopes to further her education at the University of Albany next year.

-- LISA ZACCAGNINO

lzaccagnino

@timesshamrock.com

Dunmore

The sixth-grade classes at the Dunmore Elementary Center are making baskets, raffling them and purchasing gift certificates so needy families in the borough can have a nice meal during the holiday season.

Students Marcel Fediw, 12, and Emma Pasko, 11, are student organizers who have worked diligently with their teachers to prepare for the holiday raffle. Each homeroom in the sixth grade is responsible for creating a giant basket based on a theme, including a pasta basket and holiday basket.

With the proceeds from the project, students will purchase gift certificates from local supermarkets and present them to needy families.

"It feels great to help and think about others while we are getting ready to celebrate the holidays," Marcel said. "Some people in our community could really use our help."

All of the sixth-graders are excited about the project, Emma said. "The spirit of giving and helping others is what this time of year is all about," she said.

Chances for the raffle can be purchased from any sixth-grade student or in the school's main office during the week. They are 25 cents each or five for $1. The raffle ends Friday.

-- SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Elk Lake

Rachel Zayleskie, a senior-class member of the chorus, was recently chosen to participate in Region 9 District Chorus, singing alto 1.

"It's an audition process where you prepare a piece, and when you go to your tryout, they give you a section of the piece you prepared," she said. "And then they judge you on how well you did, including your dynamics, how well you knew the piece and for projection."

The concert is set for Feb. 5 at Lackawanna Trail High School.

Rachel is also involved in band, drama club, student council, prom steering and day crew. In her spare time, she enjoys singing and playing her alto saxophone.

Next year, Rachel plans to attend college to major in biology.

-- LISA ZACCAGNINO

lzaccagnino

@timesshamrock.com

Forest City Regional

Lauren Hall assisted two of her teachers with the Memorial Day program as her senior project. "Honestly, I was cramming for a project. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I wanted to help my teachers with it. I wanted something that was going to be very involving," Lauren said.

She is a member of National Honor Society, with which she volunteers for roadside cleanup and the Feed-a-Friend program, and CHOPS.

In her spare time, Lauren works at the View in Clifford Twp. and Frank's Place in Fell Twp. Her hobbies include hunting, riding ATVs and working on cars.

Next year, Lauren plans to attend a four-year college for engineering; she hopes to become a biomedical engineer.

-- LISA ZACCAGNINO

lzaccagnino

@timesshamrock.com

Holy Cross High School

Senior Alexandria Arbie volunteers at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, where she learns about the hospital and about career options in the medical field.

"I enjoy helping and serving the people at GCMC," she said. "I meet new and great people each day."

Alexandria is also captain of the football cheerleading squad.

-- SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Lakeland

Grady Toolan's rendering of the famous sculpture Stabile was picked by his peers to represent his class at Mayfield Elementary's art show last week.

The recreated piece was originally sculpted by Alexander Calder, an American sculptor famous for creating mobiles, moving pieces of art that feature balanced or suspended shapes.

"Calder was cool because he used organic shapes. ... (He) was the first to make moving sculptures," said Grady, a third-grader.

Lakeland Elementary's first art show was held Monday at the Mayfield Campus and Tuesday at the Scott Twp. Campus.

-- KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter

Montrose Area

Senior Joni Host was recognized by the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit as scholar of the year.

She was nominated in October by Principal William King in recognition of her hard work.

Joni was interviewed on Nov. 16 and announced as recipient of the award, which she received based on academic success.

"It was a huge honor to be chosen as Montrose's nominee for scholar of the year by Mr. King," Joni said.

Joni plans to pursue a career in the medical field.

-- AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

Mountain View

Sophomore Briana Frankovsky participated in Young Author's Day, when authors talked to students about how they wrote their books. The event at Keystone College taught students how to improve their writing.

"I love writing," Briana said. "Going there and getting to work with people who write for a living gave me more information on what could help my writing."

Students participated in workshops, including one in which Briana participated, focusing on writing poems based on sound.

Briana likes to write novels, and she plans to expand on the poem she wrote at Young Author's Day.

She is also a member of art club, senior band and Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science.

-- AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

North Pocono

Senior Cassandra Caparo spends her time in school focusing on her studies, and her time outside of school volunteering and working.

The daughter of Loren and Susan Caparo, Cassie has taken 12 accelerated and seven advanced placement courses during high school. A member of the National Honor Society since 10th grade, Cassie has received high honors during her time at North Pocono High School.

She is the school's president of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, vice president of Students Against Destructive Decisions, and a member of the reading competition team and library club. She is an avid runner, captain of the cross country team and member of the track team.

She is actively involved at St. Eulalia's Church and is an altar server. She volunteers at the church's monthly breakfasts and helps in the kitchen at the annual summer festival.

Outside of school, Cassie is a bus girl at Mendicino's Pizza in Covington Twp.

After graduation, she plans to attend the physician's assistant program at either St. Francis University or Lock Haven University.

-- KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter

Riverside

Fourth-grader Alex Pica and his Junior Vikes football team defeated Valley View in the ACC Superbowl.

"It was the first time in many years that our team won," said Alex, a wide receiver. He compared football practices to studying.

"Practicing football is like doing my homework and studying because you can win at both if you don't give up," he said.

-- SARAH SCINTO

sscinto@timesshamrock.com, @sscintoTT on Twitter

Scranton

Members of West Scranton High School's German club celebrated St. Nicholas Day last week in the German classes of Jacquelyn Harris.

Germans celebrate the day on Dec. 6, the feast day of St. Nicholas, who was the precursor to the western figure of Santa Claus. Traditionally, children place their shoes outside the door on the evening of Dec. 5 in hopes that good behavior will be rewarded with treats.

West students enjoyed authentic German products from Aldi, a supermarket chain based in Germany. They included stollen, a raisin and marzipan sweet bread; lebkuchen, similar to gingerbread cookies; and baumkuchen, a cake coated in chocolate. The classes also recited a poem and listened to carols.

German club members include RaeAnn Topa, secretary; Jacob Dolinish, vice president; Jasmine Mailler, treasurer; Gage Lewis; and Butchie Smith, president.

-- SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Scranton Prep

Elizabeth Gumula will be singing, dancing and playing the piano for Prep's Christmas concert this week.

"I sort of do it all," the sophomore said, laughing.

Elizabeth will sing with both the choir and the a capella ensemble, which is composed of about 20 students.

"It's a great way to showcase some of the talent we have," she said.

Students will also perform several dances from around the world. The concert is Thursday at 7 p.m.

At Prep, Elizabeth is also involved with the Prep Players, student council, mock trial, service club and Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, and is a freshman orientation director and a writer for the Cavalier Chronicle.

-- SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Susquehanna

Junior Evan Haley set a goal to complete 100 hours of community service by May.

Evan decided to take on a community service challenge after he attended the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar at Shippensburg University. The seminar teaches students how to be leaders and how to contribute to the community.

A member of the Pay it Forward community service club, Evan is helping to plan a food drive for the holidays. Members of the club, including Evan, also volunteered to ring the bell for the Salvation Army outside Schneider's Market in Susquehanna.

"Our goal is to spread positivity throughout the community," Evan said. "I've been having a great time doing community service."

Evan is also a member of student council, Envirothon and National Honor Society, and has participated in the 4-H Mentor Program for the past 10 years. He also plays varsity baseball and football.

Evan has been awarded the Presidential Gold Seal and Ray A. Kroc Scholarship.

After high school, he plans to attend Johns Hopkins University or the University of Maryland to major in biochemistry, and play Division III baseball.

-- AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

Valley View

For her improved speaking and GPA in Spanish class, Minahil Sami was selected as student of the month for the foreign language program.

"I was excited and motivated to continue to work hard at mastering the Spanish language," she said.

The award is sponsored by the Blakely-Peckville Lions Club and the Valley View student council.

In her senior year, Minahli is a member of art club, biology club, computer club, reading club, yearbook, National Honor Society, math honor society and STEM.

-- KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter

Wallenpaupack Area

Sixth-grader Anastasia Ioppolo won first place for her artwork.

The contest, "Hometown Creative heART," was sponsored by the A.M. Skier Insurance Agency in Hawley. She won the 9-11 age group.

Her artwork was a depiction of Disney's Aslan, the lion from "The Chronicles of Narnia," and was displayed at the Hawley Silk Mill.

-- AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

Wayne Highlands

Senior William Asinari is a service-oriented student who says he is focused on following God's plan to enter seminary and become a Roman Catholic priest.

He has been involved in St. John's Parish for the past eight years, serving as an altar boy, an altar server trainer, a faith formation teacher and a vacation Bible school teacher.

William is also involved in school, where he participates in mock trial, wood tech, welding, Latin and stage crew.

Also, William has been a camp counselor for the mentally and physically challenged, and he served on a pontifical mission trip to Mississippi through the Diocese of Scranton.

William said his motto is, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

After school, he plans to attend St. John's University, where he will study to become a priest.

-- AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

Western Wayne

Recognized as an outstanding senior, Makenna Enslin spoke about her accomplishments throughout her high school years at the December school board meeting.

She is enrolled in numerous AP courses, is a three-year member of the National Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions, and is a member of Envirothon, Future Business Leaders of America and this year's Scholastic team.

After school, she participates in cheerleading for the basketball team, has spent five years with the competitive World Cup All Stars and works with a group of special needs cheerleaders on an all-star team for her senior project.

Makenna plans to attend a four-year university to pursue a degree in physical therapy.

"The rigor of my science courses influenced my decision to become a physical therapist," Makenna said. "My anatomy teacher, Mrs. McClure, was so enthusiastic about the course that it became more of a passion for me than a school subject."

-- AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

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