GS Student Wins Equestrian Awards

Sophomore Holly Schnader, is a United States Equestrian Federation rider.  Holly and her horse, Darkcyde of the Moon, have been awarded the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation National Champion “Horse of the Year” for Half-Arabin Training level Dressage.  Holly was also awarded the US Dressage Federation Champion JR Rider for the U.S. in First Level Dressage.  Congratulations, Holly!

Work-Based Learning Program

Garden Spot students participate in the Work-Based Learning program and have jobs that will continue after graduation.

Travis Rohrer – was hired at Giant last Spring. He plans to work more hours after graduation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben Gornish – was hired to work in the Garden Spot Middle & High School cafeteria at the start of the school year

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Antes – was hired full time at Garden Spot Village in the Dietary department and she is planning to pursue further education as either a CNA or veterinary assistant.

Band Students Perform at Disney World!

At 3am on January 5, 2012, 107 marching band students and 21 parents and chaperones traveled and performed in the Magic Kingdom parade for 20-25 thousand people.  The Jazz Ensemble performed in Downtown Disney for 3000+ people.  The entire group stayed in the All-Star Resort on Disney property.  They traveled by way of two airplanes – Southwest and Air Tran – and used charter buses from GSHS to Philadelphia Airport and while in Disney.
The band arrived back at GSHS on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 at 8pm.  A parent volunteer drove the tractor/trailer from GSHS to Disney and back with all of the band’s instruments, uniforms and luggage.  Students were allowed only one carry-on while traveling on the plane.

The weather was perfect!  It was in the mid 70’s, very low humidity and not a cloud in the sky!  The students were AMAZING during the trip.  They were always where they were supposed to be, when they were supposed to be and were always helping each other out with equipment, uniforms and instruments.
Our students were the perfect ambassadors to Disney.  Myself and numerous chaperones received many compliments regarding our students, their behavior and how friendly they were to everyone.

Congratulations GS Band Students!

A French Fashion Show

Garden Spot High School’s French 2 students have been mastering how to identify clothing and apparel items in French, to include mastering how to describe in detail the colors,size, styles, materials, and costs of these items, which shops they would most likely find these items, and how to ask  a salesckek for help, pay for, return, and  buy these items using cash, ,debit/credit  cards, and checks, all in French.  To demonstrate and celebrate their extensive learning and application of all they mastered,  students were tasked with creating their own hilarious or elegant fashion outfit, compose the commentator’s description of their outfit which they then, of course modeled.  In addition to providing the outfit, students  provided an  imaginary description about themselves,  the ‘model’  which they shared with the audience.  The commentator’s information focused on at least five articles:  sharing what it was made of, where you could buy it, how much it would cost in euros, what kind of article it was (for an elegant dinner, casual soiree), and detailed descriptions of whether the items were high-heeled, long sleeved, without a collar, striped, polka-dotted etc.  Character descriptions shared with the class  included a student from Hogsworth, a divorced professor from China, a university student working to help pay for their education, and a mother of three who was from the United States.   Students not  only  brought in mis-matched clothing items, but availed themselves of wigs, glasses, amusing slippers, makeup, and eyeglasses with a fake nose, homemade ‘bling’, and other hilarious items to complete their outfits.   The most memorable aspects of this assignment was observing the energy, high interest, and creativity that the students displayed throughout develpment of their project and the support the students gave each other in their performances.

Students Participate in Penn State University Essay Contest

In December, ELanCo participated in Penn State University’s 29th Annual Essay Contest, a statewide writing contest for high school juniors.   The two top placement winners from Garden Spot were Katie Mueller and Sirena Rowland, and their essays have been entered in the state competition at University Park to compete against other local winners from around Pennsylvania.  In February, Penn State’s Department of English will announce twenty state finalists, and in the spring, the top three essayists will receive special commendations and honoraria for their distinguished work.

In adherence to Penn State’s guidelines for participating schools, Garden Spot’s local writing competition spanned sixty minutes, during which time the contestants read a recent Wall Street Journal article and composed an essay response to the piece.  The article, “Flash Mob Violence and the Constitution,” discussed constitutional, legal, and policy issues sparked by the use of social media to organize mobs and impromptu public gatherings in U.S. cities and in cities around the world.   Students’ essays were evaluated by a group of G.S. English teachers, and the two winning essays were sent to University Park to represent Garden Spot in the state competition.

Congratulations to all juniors who participated in the contest, and we wish Katie and Sirena the best of luck in the next round!

Student Intern Recognized for Outstanding Work

Adrianna Vargas Smith was placed as a student intern for Juile Groft for the fall semester.   She has done an amazing job for Julie.  Several of the activities she has created  have already been used in the Anatomy class.  The students have enjoyed all of the activities and said they helped them learn. The internship program is a wonderful opportunity for our students to gain experience in the teaching field.  Adriana created her own unit plan and even taught one  Anatomy classes.  Last school year, Arrianna took Anatomy, so her insight has been extremely beneficial.  Julie Groft would like Adriana to be recognized for her outstanding work as a student intern.