EduBlog: 2009

LTHS Plastics and Polymers Program Featured on WVIA-TV

December 21, 2009

Last year, Loyalsock entered into a cooperative with the Pennsylvania College of Technology's plastics and polymers program. An enormously growing field, Loyalsock students in Mr. Lorson's Engineering class last year worked together with a Penn College crew in the development of a program in plastics. Students learned about the growing field, and participated in a model car competition which included the design of a car using plastics technology. The joint venture was chronicled by WVIA-TV and the Careers that Work initiative at Penn College. The product documenting their work has arrived. The segment is due to air on WVIA-TV in the near future. For now, follow this link to learn more about this very exciting opportunity for our students and our program with Penn College. Congratulations to Mr. Lorson and his Engineering class from last school year in a very successful experience!

Cody Kurtz Named 'Mr. Sock'

Congratulations to Cody Kurtz on being recognized by the senior class as earning the title of Mr. Sock for 2009! At last weekend's Winter Ball, the Mr. Sock court was introduced, with the crowning of Mr. Sock at the first home boys' basketball game by the Homecoming queen. Our student fan section, the Lunatics, were there in mass while rooting on their team and recongizing all the young men on the Mr. Sock court. Congrats again to Cody on a job well done!

Snow Ball a Hit

December 18, 2009

Last Saturday evening, students showed up in their best attire and rocked the night away at our annual winter formal. Typically held later in the winter, this year's student council group put on a fantastic event with a "snow ball" theme. Special thanks to the student leaders and advisors Miss Warren, Mr. VanFleet, and Mrs. Williams for all of the amazing decorations, food, and fun. At the event, our Mr. 'Sock court was introduced. A special twist for this year's crowning involves naming Mr. 'Sock at half time of the first home boys' basketball game with Montoursville on Friday evening. Congrats to all the young men nominated!

Food Drive Competition

The Leo Club, in conjunction with Loyalsock Lions, have facilitated a food drive for the local food bank. Classrooms have been in competition for raising as many donations as possible. Seen below is one example of one of Mrs. Brelsford's classrooms that has accumulated over 250 food cans/items for this worthy cause. We are proud of the generosity of our teachers and students during this special time of year!

Holiday Concert a Hit

Congratulations to Mr. Barrett, Mr. Saville-Andree, and our students in the Lancer Choir and Lancer Band on a fantastic holiday concert last evening! It is great to see so many of our students participating and coming together to make some great music. The evening's performance was also highlighted by special ensemble groups, including a men's and women's ensemble as well as Knightmusic. Thanks again to our your folks and dedicated music staff for starting off the holiday season in such a warm way!

Yearbooks Make Great Holiday Gifts!!

December 16, 2009

Wish to purchase a yearbook as a Holiday present? Just go to http://www.jostensyearbooks.com/ and place your order. In fact, a yearbook makes an easy holiday gift! If you purchase between Dec. 1st and Dec. 21st, the yearbook staff is providing your student with a complimentary "Happy Holidays Gift Card" that will arrive in your son/daughter's first block class December 23rd. This card acts as an additional notification to your student that his/her yearbook has been purchased.

Thank you for your continued support.

Key Club Spreads Holiday Cheer

December 15, 2009

Members of Loyalsock Township Key Club and the Lycoming College Circle K took time to spread the holiday spirit to some private nursing homes on Tuesday, December 8.

A total of 31 carolers piled onto a city bus on Tuesday armed with songbooks, holiday cards, and elf costumes. The idea of this outing was to visit small nursing homes that don’t receive many guests throughout the holidays. Miss Jennifer Beck, Loyalsock’s Key Club advisor, said “When I called to check with the homes, all managers were so grateful and commented that no one came to spread cheer last year.” The students sang for the residents of Tilburg’s Home for the Young at Heart, Insinger’s on Campbell Street, Insinger’s in South Williamsport, and Our House-Your Home.

The residents were visibly enthused by their spirited guests. Circle K made elf costumes for Key Clubbers Bryan Keith, Eric Djikowski, Jonathan Havens, Michael Hayes and Joe Cipriani. Tessa Harris, a sophomore, stated, “It was so rewarding to see how much they [the residents] enjoyed having us. Some sand and danced along, and I could tell they appreciated it.” Many students felt the same, and Miss Beck plans to make this an annual event.

Marlee Hibbs Earns First Team All State Soccer Recognition

Congratulations to Marlee Hibbs, one of our senior ladies on the girls' 2009 PIAA AA State Soccer championship team. As if it couldn't get any better, Marlee was recently named to the 2009 Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Female All-State team as a first team selection. Read more about this amazing recognition here.

"A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"

December 7, 2009

For those of us who are decendents of relatives of the "Greatest Generation," we should take pause and recall the events on this date in 1941. FDR's famous speech and the 2001 film "Pearl Harbor" recounts much of what our fore-fathers (and mothers) withstood on this fateful date. It is equally important that we continue to educate today's youth of the historical events that made the United States vulnerable then (and now) to other world powers.

EcoAct Club Going Green

We have a variety of students who are very interested in preserving our natural resources. For some, it is a passion. Each week, members of the school's EcoAct club take turns going around the school and collecting a variety of containers in order to recycle. Headed by their advisor, Mrs. Kindra Brelsford, EcoAct recycles 400 plastic bottles, 150 aluminum cans, 50 glass containers, and empties on a very regular basis various paper bins (including magazines) each month. It is not uncommon to see students doing so during REACH and after school. In fact, two students, seen in these pictures, take paper and magazines to the community recycling centers with their own vehicles. Kudos to each of them, and to the other twenty students and Mrs. Brelsford, for truly making a difference in Loyalsock's attempt at going green!

Lancer Football Defeated by Lancaster Catholic

If you happened to go to this past Saturday's PIAA game at Shamokin, it was definitely cold, snowy, and sloppy. But, it was obvious our Lancer football team came to fight. Slowing down a very powerful Lancaster Catholic team, our offense and defense both showed it could play with anyone. Going against the number one team in the state is no small task, but our young men made everyone proud and had a chance to defeat the state's highest ranked team - it just ran out of time. Congrats to our young men, their families, and a dedicated coaching staff on such a tremendous season. You can read more on this season's Lancer football team here.

Lancer Football Gets Ready for Lancaster Catholic

December 2, 2009

Steve Lloyd, sports reporter for WNEP-TV and a 1986 graduate of Loyalsock, stopped by the team's practice as they prepared for this coming week's contest. Check it out! Good luck men!

NHS Students - Good Samaritans for a Good Cause

November 30, 2009

Each year, students representing the National Honor Society complete a variety of community-based activities as part of their service to the organization. Recently, students packed 50 shoe boxes for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child project. These shoe boxes are distributed to approximately 93 countries throughout the world including the United States. Each box contained a shirt, soap and washcloth, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb, crayons, pencils, pens, tablets, pencil sharpeners and erasers, a toy or stuffed animal and candy. The students and Ms. Johnson donated most of the items for the shoe boxes. The kids met at 7 a.m. on November 18th to pack the boxes. Several NHS members also helped at the local collection site on November 22nd. Almost 2500 shoe boxes were collected from Williamsport and the surrounding area. The NHS kids helped process about 500 of those shoe boxes. A big, special thanks to Ms. Johnson and our very dutiful NHS students for helping once again with such a worthwhile endeavor!

Lancer Football Team - District 4 Champions!

November 29, 2009

Our Lancer football team dominated a very good Lewisburg team this past Saturday at Bucknell University. Outscoring the Green Dragons 41-6, our young men will now face Lancaster Catholic this coming Saturday, December 5 at 1:00 p.m. at Shamokin Area HS. The Sun-Gazette has many great photos and articles on our young athletes' success. Congrats to our boys, their families, and the coaches on such a huge win!

Caroling by Kids!

November 25, 2009

Each year the Key Club in conjunction with the Loyalsock Kiwanis embarks on a Tour of Lights with residents of a local personal care home. This year; however, so many students signed up for the Tour of Lights that the club opted create a second holiday spirit lifting opportunity. On December 8th at 5:30pm, 38 members of the club along with 12 Circle K members from Lycoming college, will depart on a caroling adventure, stopping at five personal care homes throughout the Williamsport area.The Key Club has been feverishly working to make over 100 holiday cards for residents in several small personal care homes throughout Lycoming County. Each caroler will be prepared with holiday cards ready to hand out to residents in an effort to lift holiday spirit.

Lady Lancer Soccer Team Wins PIAA State Championship!

November 21, 2009

What an amazing day it was for our young ladies on our girls' soccer team. On a gorgeous November Saturday, they claimed their first PIAA AA soccer championship! In front of many, many cheering family and friends, our girls persevered over Springdale, bringing home our school's third state championship in two years! More photos and video are forthcoming to highlight this special accomplishment. Enjoy the following introductory slideshow marking their victory!

Lancer Football Defeats Hughesville - In District 4 Final

Congratulations to our Lancer football team on an outstanding win Friday evening over Hughesville in front of an energetic crowd! The team has earned the right to play for the District 4 championship, squaring off against Lewisburg at Bucknell University stadium. This was a great win for our team, coaches and community.

Key Club Decorates!

November 20, 2009

On Sunday, November 23 the Key Club decorated a tree at the Lycoming Mall for Festival of Trees. The program is run by the Salvation Army and all trees are auctioned off on December 11th.

Good Luck to Lady Lancer Soccer Team at Hershey!

November 19, 2009

It's hard to fathom, but our young ladies are one day away from possibly coming home with a PIAA state championship! It is a huge accomplishment just to make it to Hershey, let alone win. But, our girls seem poised and confident. Best of luck to them! Many Loyalsock folks will be there cheering them on! Match time is 12:00 noon.

Directions to Hershey Park Stadium: (From Williamsport). Click here.

Big Game Friday Night vs. Hughesville

Without question, our Lancer football team is peaking at the right time this fall. This Friday evening, Coach Jackson and company get a second shot at Hughesville. Best of luck to our players and our coaches as they try to earn a shot at a second District 4 title in three years.

November 18, 2009

The Loyalsock Township School District's Relay for Life Team, Lancers Against Cancers, is currently selling Sheetz Coupons. They are $4 each and they can also be purchased in books of ten for $40. The make excellent stocking stuffers or thank you gifts. They are also wonderful for college students. They make great "emergency food coupons" to keep in the car in case you get an attack of the munchies but are low on cash. Checks can be make payable to the American Cancer Society. Please stop by the high school office to purchase some or call 326-3581 for more information.

Students Attend CAC Showing of Romeo & Juliet

Over 100 students from Loyalsock (mainly juniors a few seniors) attended the student showing of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, performed at the Community Arts Center. Our kids were a part of a phenomal group of students who got a chance to see Shakespeare live. And since Shakespeare was meant to be watched and not only read, what better way for high school students to engage themselves in their understanding of the themes of love and relationships. Thanks to our English faculty and Mrs. Griggs for securing and facilitating this great experience for our students!

Lady Lancer Soccer Team PIAA Eastern Champs!

What a match. It was shame that either Lewisburg or Loyalsock had to lose, but we are thrilled that our Lady Lancer Soccer Team defeated Lewisburg last evening before a huge crowd at Hughesville. With the 2-1 OT win, the Lady Lancers will play for the PIAA AA soccer championship against Springdale this coming Saturday, November 21 at 12:00 noon at Hershey Park Stadium.

Girls' Soccer Team Defeats Montoursville in States

November 15, 2009

Like last year, our girls' soccer team is one match away from going to the state championship! On Saturday, the team defeated Montoursville and will play Tuesday against Lewisburg. What a huge win for our girls - congrats to them, their parents and their coaches as they prepare for yet another battle with Lewisburg!

Veteran's Day 2009 - An Amazing Experience

Each year, our school (like many) pauses to recall the sacrifices of the men and women who have served and are currently serving in our nation's military by remembering their service through an assembly on Veteran's Day. Our History Club, advised by Miss Warren, puts together a very nice program and always invites someone from the military to speak to the students and staff. This year, the father of two of our students was able to be with us and share his remarkable and inspiring experiences. Mr. T. Daniel Capel captivated students and staff with his many experiences and thoughts about what Veteran's Day means to him.

Mr. Capel started his professional career at the age of 17, when he enlisted in the United States Navy and volunteered for the Navy SEAL Teams. He entered Basic Underwater Demolitions / SEAL (BUD/S) Training Class 132 which started with 120 students and graduated 16. Before his 18th birthday, he reported onboard SEAL Team 4.

SEAL Team Four’s primary Area of Operations (AO) in the early 80’s was central and south America. Mr. Capel served in a series of covert operations within hostile, non- permissive environments. Mr. Capel was awarded several medals for heroism and gained the recognition of his superiors.

Mr. Capel was selected for the USN SEAL’s premier counter terrorism unit (SEAL Team Six) and holds the distinct honor of being the youngest and lowest ranking in the unit’s history. Shortly after the initial selection process for ST6, Mr. Capel was hand-picked for a 12 man team called REDCELL: the country’s first anti-terrorism special operation team. After his distinguished service with REDCELL, Mr. Capel returned to ST6 and served out his career as an assault team member in the following campaigns: Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Just Cause, Operation Uphold, Kosovo Campaign, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm. Mr. Capel retired from US Navy service as a highly decorated SEAL in 1999, with 5 unit citations, 32 medals (8 for Valor/Heroism/Actions above and beyond the call of duty).

The events of September 11, 2001, however, changed the face of America. All Americans in some respect answered the call. Mr. Capel was no different. Within months, Mr. Capel was serving in Afghanistan. Since 9/11, Mr. Capel has served 6 Combat Tours in Afghanistan and 3 Combat Tours in Iraq. During his tenure he has earned multiple awards for valor in the face of danger.

Accompanied by a slideshow of his tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Capel described to the audience what it means to be American through service to one's country. There are many of local men and women who have served and are serving our nation’s military, and we at Loyalsock could not be more proud of their dedication and service to protect and defend our freedoms that we often take for granted as Americans.

Tim Smith - October Student of the Month

Congratulations to Tim Smith, son of Mr. Joseph W. Smith III, Dr. Mona P. Chang, for being recognized as Loyalsock Township High School's Student of the Month for October, 2009. Nominated by the English department, Tim's academic accomplishments include being a member of the National Honor Society and a consistent member of the school's high honor roll for four years. His favorite subjects include Digital Studio Recording, Creative Writing, and le mort Francais. Tim's college plans are to attend Belhaven, Houghton or Geneva College and major in Creative Writing.

Tim's extracurricular activities include Christian Club, French Club, Odyssey of the Mind, and One-Act plays: one of which was written by Tim entitled "The Dentist," which will be performed on November 19, 2009 at the high school.

Tim has also been active in the community, where he has performed piano at Elmcroft nursing home; served as an usher at New Life Presbyterian Church; and served meals to the homeless at Sojourner Truth.

His hobbies include games (card, board, and video), writing stories, taxidermy, and composing music.

Congratulations, once again, to Tim Smith and his parents.

Lancer Football Pounds Danville, 35-3

The Loyalsock football team rolled easily at Danville, putting together a stunning run and pass attack with an over-powering defense. The team plays a re-match this coming Friday evening against Hughesville at Hughesville. Congrats to Coach Jackson, his staff, and our young men on an outstanding win!

Lancers Travel to the Holocaust Museum in DC

November 12, 2009

On Tuesday, November 10th, LTHS student joined Ms. Beck and Mr. Bower for a tour of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Washington DC. The Holocaust, one of humankind's most gruesome and disturbing pages of history, involved the deaths of millions and impacted tens of millions. Student explored the context in which the Holocaust took place including, (from the USHMM website) "antisemitism, Jewish life in Europe before the Holocaust, the aftermath of World War I, and the Nazi rise to power."

20th Anniversary of the Fall of Berlin Wall

November 9, 2009

It seems hard to believe, but today marked the 20th anniversary of the literal and symbolic fall of communism: the Berlin wall. 1989 marked a significant time in history, and our country had much to do with it. Check out this video about the rise and fall of an iconic symbol.

Having Fun While Getting Fit!

While students still do quite a bit of team sports in PE, health and wellness classes, they also have the opportunity to take advantage of some very new equipment in our weight and fitness area, located on the second level of our MS/competition gymnasium. Miss Massetti's classes, as well as Mr. Waller's classes, use the machines and equipment weekly, and from all accounts, students seem to really be enjoying the use of the equipment. Check out this brief video...

Lancer Football Team Featured on WNEP-TV

This year, WNEP-TV began a new show called Coaches Corner. Each Wednesday, two former, tenured coaches showcase the previous week's games. On October 28, sports anchor Jim Coles and the coaches highlighted the Lancers' win over arch rival Montoursville. Check out the 10-28-09 segment here. Congrats again iron-gridders!

Middle and High School Career Expo 2009

November 8, 2009

Like every year, we experience a tremendous turnout for our annual Career Fair, engineered by Mrs. Christina Herman, our Career Development Specialist. The Middle School/High School Career Expo 2009 took place on October 27th in the high school gymnasium. This Expo provided the perfect opportunity for students and parents to interact with a vast number of career representatives covering a wide range of career areas. Over 300 students, parents and staff learned about many exciting career possibilities as they spoke directly with the experts themselves. Some of the career areas represented at this year’s event included: Aviation Technology, Architecture & Design, Healthcare, Hospitality Services, Protective Services, Military, Legal Services, Industrial & Engineering Design, Environmental Protection, Computer Technology, Veterinary Medicine, Horticulture, Automotive Technology and many more! A special thanks goes out to all of our area businesses, community agencies and education partners who came out to share their career expertise with our school community. A special thank you and congratulations goes out to Mrs. Herman, who spends countless hours in preparation for this outstanding event!

If you have any questions or comments regarding the Career Expo, or would like more information on how to participate in future Expos, please contact Christina Herman, our Director of Student Services & Career Development at 323-5326, ext. 1115 or by email at cherman@loyalsocklancers.org.

Is Chivalry Dead?

November 6, 2009

Ever see the recent Liberty Mutual commercials? How about opening a door for someone else? Ever hear about someone standing up for someone else when it was the complete, right thing to do? Today, one of Mrs. June's tenth grade English classes performed speeches based on a unit Mrs. June designed on chivalry. The task presented to the class was to compose an essay that demonstrated each student's understanding of chivalry from a historical/literature perceptive and then compare and contrast that with modern examples in which chivalry exists. Members of the class then presented their findings through a speech to the class. What a fun and completely relevant experience for these students to have through the reading of the literature they are studying!

Key Club Supports UNICEF!

November 4, 2009

Congratualtions to Key Club and their fundraising efforts for UNICEF. They raised over $827.82! This is more than they have EVER raised for UNICEF. All proceeds will be sent to Uruguary to help children who live on the streets in Montevideo. Uruguary has almost 500,000 adolescents living in poverty because the lack of job opportunities, high drop out and teen pregnancy rate and a failing school system. Only 1/3 of the Uruguayan population ever graduates high school. UNICEF is donating to Operation Uruguay this year to help protect Uruguary children and provide opportunities that never existed before. Operation Uruguay is a foundation located in Montevideo, the capital. Most of the funds will go to city children and adolescents who live in or around the capital.

Great job Key Club!

Kelsey Cantor - September Student of the Month

November 3, 2009

Kelsey Cantor, daughter of Kirk and Patsy Cantor, has been selected as our September Student of the Month for the Class of 2010. The Social Studies Department nominated her for this recognition.

Kelsey is very musically inclined as well as being involved in community service projects. She enjoys playing the bass guitar and is involved in the Uptown Music Collective. She played in last year’s fall show, the Collective’s Pink Floyd Show, at the Community Arts Center, the 2009 Billtown Blues Festival and various other gigs. Currently at the Collective, she is involved in workshops, participating and helping organize the upcoming fall show, and helping with a short, online show about the Collective and the music community.

In the community, she volunteers at the Sojourner Café (soup kitchen) and plays music at various church events. She has been privileged to do service in Mexico, Kentucky, and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Although Kelsey is quite active in the community, she has also managed to maintain honor roll status each and every marking period. Her favorite subjects are biology, music, speech and drama, and history. When not involved in musical or community activities, she enjoys being outside and reading.

Upon graduation from high school, Kelsey would like to work for a year with a missionary or community service group and then go on to learn more about the bible and experience the world and other cultures.

Lancer Band Competes at ACCs

November 2, 2009

Our Lancer Band competed yesterday at the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships at Hershey. Comprised of bands from an eight state region, the Lancer Band posted a 17th place finish in a very competitive lineup of championship bands. A regional high school band from Pittston Area won the Group 1 title this year. Congrats to students in the Lancer Band and to Mr. Barrett for the countless hours put into a show that puts music and motion together. Thanks, too, for representing Loyalsock in such outstanding fashion year after year!

Lady Lancer Soccer in District 4 Semis

Although our boys' soccer team was defeated by East Juniata on Saturday, our girls' soccer team advanced to the District 4 semi finals to be held at Hughesville at 5:00 p.m. against Lewisburg. The winner advances to the title game on Thursday evening. Congrats to our boys' team on a very successful season, and best of luck to our young ladies as they advance to yet another title shot!

Red Ribbon Week

Last week, the school district took several opportunities to make children and adults aware of the dangerous effects of illegal substances. Red Ribbon Week's theme was "join the fight against drugs," and the middle school and elementary schools took time to share with their students many educational facts about red ribbon week. The week concluded with 65 high school SADD members visiting Schick Elementary to share with children their reasons for resisting drugs and alcohol. High school folks suggested several extra-curricular opportunities in which kids can get involved and make good use of time instead inappropriate choices. Elementary students even received dog tags from the U.S. Army with their individual name on it as well as camouflaged wrist bands, "join the fight against drugs."

Guest Composer Visits 'Sock

On Wednesday, September 30, the Lancer Choir hosted a special guest speaker. Robert S. Cohen is a professional composer from New York City. During his visit, Mr. Cohen provided insight and performance suggestions for a piece of music that he wrote. The Lancer Choir performed Cohen’s “I See” on the Band and Choir Fall Preview Concert on October 22. While he was at Loyalsock, Mr. Cohen also discussed the creative process he undergoes when writing music and how most of the music he writes is for new music commissions requested by various organizations.

One of his latest commissions, a piece titled “Alzheimer’s Stories”, was commissioned by the Susquehanna Valley Chorale. The text that Mr. Cohen set to music comes from stories collected from people who live in and around the Lewisburg area whose lives have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The Susquehanna Valley Chorale, under the direction of Dr. William Payn, premiered the piece on October 9 at the Weis Center at Bucknell University.

Lancer Band Headed to ACCs

October 27, 2009

For some, reaching the T.O.B. Atlantic Coast Championships may seem an easy task. Rest assured, the Lancer Band's ability to reach ACCs this year, like any year, is a tall order. Think of it as the equivalent of PIAA State Playoffs, in which there are also four classifications as a result of band size. ACCs spans eight (8) states and comprises over 250 bands of varying sizes. This past weekend, the Lancer Band placed first at their Chapter 4 Championships at Shamokin, qualifying them for this coming weekend. Lead by Mr. Robert Barrett, the band is seeded 17th out of over 80 bands from several states. ACCs have been in existence for over 30 years, and have seen several fantastic finishes. (Check out the video clip below for an idea of what yours truly was a part of while teaching English and assisting with marching band.) Best of luck to the Lancer Band students, their families, and Mr. Barrett as they travel this coming weekend to ACCs being held at Hershey Park stadium!

Brain Surgery

October 25, 2009

On Friday, one of Mrs. Brelsford's classes dissected sheep brains. Students completed the dissection using laptops and on-line simulations to guide them through it. Students were totally having a great time, even though the smell was a bit "different." Awesome work folks!

The Bridge is Ours!

Another very wet and chilly evening found our Lancer football team victorious over arch rival Montoursville. The bridge rivalry has become a much anticipated matchup each year between the Lances and the Warriors. On any given year, the team that perseveres the most wins, and this year was no exception as the entire team came together to defeat Montoursville 21-8. Congrats to Coach Jackson and our young men on an outstanding win!

Girls' Tennis - District 4 Team Tennis Champs!

October 23, 2009

Our athletic program continues to grow in terms of championships. Our girls' tennis team recently defended another team title with a District 4 crown! What's even more noteworthy is that these ladies are excellent scholar athletes. Their attention to detail both in the classroom and on the tennis court will continue to earn them success. Congratulations to Coach Zimmerman and his young ladies on bringing home another championship!

LTHS Students Meet Living History!

October 22, 2009

LTHS students were witnesses to living history today. Father Sipers, a holocaust survivor and German native, shared his experiences being persecuted under the Nazi regime. Loyalsock was his last stop prior to leaving the area. The 96-year-old priest survived torment for four years in Dachau Concentration Camp and described the prison camps, his survival and near death experiences.

Many thanks to our four social studies teachers who made this opportunity available to current social studies students. Special thanks goes out to Miss Beck and members of our student body who assisted in bringing Father Sipers to Central Pennsylvania. You can read more about his experiences in a recent Sun-Gazette article.

LTHS Educators Meet Howard Gardner!

Mr. Lee Saville-Andree, music teacher at Loyalsock Township Middle School, poses a question to world-renown psychologist Howard Gardner. Dr. Gardner, a professor with the Harvard Graduate School of Education and most well known for his theory on multiple intelligences, was part of the Bucknell Forum series. I ran into Mr. Saville-Andree after the Q&A session as well as Mr. Scott Mato, former principal of Shick Elementary.

Lancer Drawings

Mr. Barrett proudly shows off his students artwork. Way to go!

Governor Rendell Proclaims Oct. 18-24 Teen Driver Safety Week

October 20, 2009

PennDOT recently reminded teen drivers of the deadly consequences of driving while distracted and encouraged parents to talk with young drivers about unsafe driving behaviors. Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed Oct. 18-24 as Teen Driver Safety Week to coincide with the national observance.

"Teen drivers lack the experience needed to recognize and react to high-risk conditions and situations on roadways," said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. "Distractions such as additional passengers in the vehicle, talking or texting on the cell phone, adjusting the radio, and eating while driving only compound the inexperience factor and increase the risk of a crash occurring."

The 23,059 crashes involving 16- to 19-year-old drivers in Pennsylvania in 2008 resulted in 194 fatalities. Although more than one factor may contribute to a crash, statistics show that driver distractions are major contributors to highway crashes as these behaviors take the teen driver's full attention away from the driving task. Driver distractions contributed to approximately 10 percent of crashes involving 16- to 19-year-old drivers in 2008. Additionally, driving too fast for conditions, driver inexperience, and improper or careless turning were also major contributors to highway crashes.

In fact, 39 percent of the crashes involving a 16- to 19-year-old driver in 2008 involved at least one of these factors. The risk of a crash involving any of these factors can be reduced through practice, limiting the number of passengers a teen driver can have in a vehicle, parents setting a good example for the teen driver, obeying all rules of the road and exercising common sense.

With this in mind, PennDOT offers the following safety tips to teen drivers:

* Always wear your seat belt.
* Do not drink and drive; drinking under the age of 21 is illegal.
* Do not talk or text on your cell phone while driving.
* Obey the speed limit; driving too fast gives you less time to react.
* Do not eat or drink while driving.
* Adjust radio and climate controls before beginning your trip, have your

Battle of the Bridge - This Friday

October 18, 2009

Each year, our rivalry with Montoursville is one in which both communities await with anticipation. In recent years, the local Cable Sports channel and ESPN radio hypes up the game as the Battle of Bridge. There has been some controversy as to whose bridge it actually is... Maybe PennDOT has the answer? Anyway, another classic matchup occurs this coming Friday evening at Kenneth M. Robbins memorial field as the Lancers look to reclaim the bridge trophy. In recognition of the game, the blanket in the photo will be raffled off during the game. Best of luck to Coach Jackson and the entire football team!

Senior Kyle Winton Headed to States!

Congrats to Kyle Winton and his family on his success this golf season as a senior on the Lancers 42-0 record. Kyle advanced through districts and earned the right to head to States this week. Best of luck Kyle!

Loyalsock Grad Dan Hutchins Making Impact for Pitt Football

Perhaps you saw a post a few weeks ago where we mentioned that Loyalsock grad Dan Hutchins was given the nod to do the place kicking and punting for the Pitt Panthers. In last week's win over Connecticut, Dan kicked the game-winning field goal. The win, plus the one just this weekend, catapulted Pitt into the AP top 25. Congrats to Dan and his family on such an outstanding opoortunity. Best of luck Dan.

Great work by LTHS scientists in Mrs. Christ's class!

October 14, 2009

Mrs. Christ's second block science class had a interesting problem to solve: how does the process of osmosis change when water contains different levels of salt? As you can see, students were hard at work!

Key Club Active in School Again This Year

October 8, 2009

According to Miss Beck and senior Emily Trautwein, September has been an exciting month for the Loyalsock Township Key Club. The main focus has been on recruiting new members, which has been going extremely well. Many freshmen and others have shown a great interest in joining Key Club and being active.

The first meeting was conducted during a new period called REACH, and the advisor, Miss Beck, recruited so well that the auditorium was required for the meeting. Key Club president, Caroline Heilmann, explained to the students what Key Club is all about. The students found out that Key Club is a service club in which they can make a difference in other people’s lives.

The main activity this month was the American Red Cross Blood Mobile. The Blood Mobile came on September 30th to our high school gym where people could come give blood. The week before the blood drive, many members, both old and new, sat outside the cafeteria for sign ups and promotions. On the day of, Caroline Heilmann, Michelle Sekunda, Kaitlyn Pelligrino, Bryan Keith, and Bryan Eck all worked at the Blood Drive.

Homecoming 2009

Despite the cold rainy atmosphere for the Loyalsock/Bloomsburg game, the girls of the 2009 Loyalsock homecoming court remained picture perfect for the crowning of the 2009 Homecoming Queen and Princess at half time. Members and escorts of the 2009 court included the following: Cassandra Beck escorted by Tyler Marshall, Beth Braunegg escorted by Craig Fought, Angela Cipolla escorted by Donny Kinney, Gina DiFrancesco escorted by Alex Cillo, Marlee Hibbs escorted by Kyle Winton, Paige Klingerman escorted by Craig Rockoff, Paige Robinson escorted by Michael Hayes, Heidi Stetts escorted by Brett Wise, Emily Trautwein escorted by Evan Nardone, Meredith Waters escorted by Brandon Smith, and Porshia Wilson escorted by Jacob Mackey.

The rain let up just in time for the returning 2008 homecoming queen, Cassandra Leete, to crown the 2009 queen, Marlee Hibbs. Returning 2008 princesses, Tali and Taigen Thorne, had the honors of crowning the 2009 princess, Paige Robinson. After the crowning, the rain returned, but the Lancer Football Team knocked out a 14 to 0 victory, after four straight losses to Bloomsburg. For both ladies and lads, the night was one that will never be forgotten. Congratulations ladies, and special congratulations to our new homecoming queen, Marlee Hibbs and princess, Paige Robinson!

PSAT/NMSQT Testing

October 5, 2009

The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Competition) is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at the Loyalsock Township High School. If you are college-bound, this test is a must for you! Even if you took the PSAT as a sophomore, we highly recommend you take it as a junior because ONLY juniors can qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Your test results will be returned to you before Christmas, and it is an excellent way to prepare for the SAT I in the winter/spring. Remember that the PSAT does not qualify as a College Entrance Exam and is not included on the high school transcript.

The cost of the test is $13.00, and checks should be made payable to Loyalsock Township High School. Any student who has difficulty paying the fee should contact either counselor about a possible fee waiver.

We will open registration for Juniors ONLY on September 29, 2009. On October 6th, sophomores may begin registering for the exam. NO sophomore registration will be accepted before October 6th. Students should register in the Guidance Office.

When you register for the PSAT, you will be given an excellent study guide and preparation materials. USE THEM!!! Statistics support that those students who take advantage of the free preparation materials tend to do better on the test than those who do not prepare.

Two Spring 2009 Teams Bring Home PHAC Championships

October 2, 2009

On Wednesday evening this week, two of our spring sports teams were honored at the annual Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference banquet. Accepting the awards are Coach Zimmerman of the boys' tennis team, and Coaches Frederick and Thaler of the boys' baseball team. Each team had another stellar season last spring, and their acheivements were recognized by all in attendance. Congratulations to both coaches and respective student athletes on yet another successful spring sports season!

Red Cross Bloodmobile Visit a Success

On Wednesday this week, eligible students and staff donated much needed blood. Several people donated double reds. While our spring bloodmobile typically produces more pints of blood, students and staff came out for a very good cause. Thank you to each perosn who donated, to Miss Beck for coordinating the event, and to the students who assisted with putting on an outstadning blood drive.

Golf Team 42-0 this season!

Wow. This year's Golf team is now 42-0. The team has easily handled all of its competition, with several of our golfers only underclassmen and contributing a great deal to this year's success. Good luck to Coach Whiteman and his team as they enter District play. The team is in first place in the PHAC - one of five of our Loyalsock teams that also are currently in first palce in the PHAC. What an outstanding season golfers!

Lance & Shield - New Journalism On-Line Newspaper

For the first time ever at Loyalsock, the new Journalism and Media class has designed a student-published digital newspaper, The Lance & Shield. The newspaper can be found on the homepage to the LTHS website. The first publication has been posted, with October's edition now live.

The students of Yearbook & Media Journalism invite you to peruse the articles and watch the embedded slideshows set to music. Congratulations to Miss Stiber and her class for embarking on a fantastic opportunity for our students.

Great teaching going on!

Each year, we are impressed by the type of teaching and learning our staff designs for our kids. This week was no exception in which multiple classrooms were engaged in some fantastic activities that had our students highly involved in their own learning. From Mr. VanFleet's student-led informative projects to Miss Stiber's journalism class's first publication of the Lance & Shield, students were using technology and teacher-designed activities to maximize their learning. Mrs. June's guests, Mrs. McCarty and Mr. Smith, assisted her one English class with clinically diagnosing Hamlet's psychoses (or not?) evidenced in perhaps Shakespeare's greatest play. In short, kids and the teaching staff have been having what appears to be a fantastic time learning. Frankly, it doesn’t get much better than what was observed this week. Thanks to these folks, and many more of our staff, for putting their heart into the teaching and learning process, and kudos to our students for allowing learning to actually be a fun and exciting process! Check out the video...

Girls' Soccer Blanks South

September 30, 2009

On a pretty dreary evening, our girls' soccer team dominated South Williamsport last evening, 5-0, at the Balls Mills complex. Our young ladies came to play and showed why they are in first place in the PHAC. Outstanding job ladies! Read more about their success here.

Spirit Week - Day 1 - Twin Day

September 28, 2009

Will the real Mrs. Kidd please stand up!? In recognition of Spirit Week, many staff and students met the mark by surprising many of us with some very life-like outfits. Thanks to everyone who started Spirit Week in true Lancer fashion! Tomorrow - WHITE OUT day!

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