Month: January 2012

FFA Members Awarded Keystone Degree

jhackman FFA

As part of the Pennsylvania FFA Convention, 7 members of Garden Spot’s Grassland FFA were awarded the prestigious Keystone Degree. This is the highest award an agricultural education student can earn within the state of Pennsylvania. Applicants completed an extensive application and have their applications and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Records reviewed by a local committee before being sent on to a state committee for final verification.  The Keystone Degree is the culmination of a three or four year effort recognizing excellence in leadership development, SAE, and involvement in FFA school and community activities.  This year’s recipients increase the total number of Keystone Degree winners from the Grassland FFA to 350 . See the following link to see a listing of all the recipients in the history of the Grassland Chapter. http://grasslandffa.org/Keystone-Degrees.php

The 2012 Recipients are:
Conner Martin, New Holland son of Scott Martin and Jo Harsh
Cortney Martin, East Earl, daughter of Barry and Pam Martin
Jonathan Martin, Narvon, son of Brian and Shirley Martin
Joshua Martin, Morgantown, son of and Leonard and Linda Martin
Paul McFarland, Narvon, son of  Paul and Marrine McFarland
Regina Sauder, East Earl, daughter of Cliff and Anna Mae Sauder
Janelle Weaver, East Earl, daughter of Gerry and Lynda Weaver

 

From left:  Josh Martin, Cortney Martin, John Martin,. Conner Martin, Secretary PA of Agriculture George  Greig,  Paul Mcfarland, Regina Sauder, Janelle Weaver

YPC Collects Items for Homeless

jhackman Clubs

Garden Spot Youth Peace Council (YPC) has been hard at work collecting needed items for the homeless at Water Street Rescue Mission.  They travelled to the Lancaster YPC meeting with other Lancaster area schools to hear a presentation from Water Street about poverty and homeless issues.  Our students collected items on their needs list and compiled Totes of Hope with the other schools.

In addition to helping those in our community, YPC is also thanking those in our school who work hard and are often not recognized.  YPC appreciates the cafeteria workers consistently helping out with new students in our building and the interactions and relationships they make with our students during  lunch.  The group put together bags of candy for our cafeteria workers along with appreciation messages in October.  The group will be doing the same for our bus drivers in the Spring.

YPC is also working on fundraising for KIVA, the program provides micro-loans for entrepreneurs starting businesses in third world countries.

FFA Freshman Awarded Jackets

jhackman FFA

Freshmen members of the Grassland FFA were awarded FFA Jackets by the FFA Alumni at the Mid-winter FFA Convention held in conjunction with the PA State Farm Show. First year FFA members were encouraged to complete an application

which highlights level of involvement in FFA activities so far, plans for future participation and career goals. The applicants also wrote an essay describing what the FFA Jacket means to them. The following Garden Spot students were selected by a panel of judges and awarded their jackets on Monday. State-wide, 250 jackets were awarded.  FFA Alumni or anyone wishing to support the FFA Jacket program by sponsoring one or more jackets may contact Krista Pontius at   KPontius@GREENWOODSD.ORG The number of jackets awarded depends upon the amount of sponsorships available.

Recipients came to the mid-winter convention in official dress, except for their jackets,  and were presented  their jackets during a special ceremony which culminated in the 250 simultaneously students putting on their jackets for the first time.

Grassland recipients front row: Derick Weaver, Wesley Weaver, Blake Martin

Grassland recipients back row:  Jenna Diehl, Jessica Zimmerman, Bethany Sauder, Kelly Seifrit, Travis Stauffer

NHS Students Meet the College Freshman

jhackman Clubs

National Honor Society alumni from the class of 2010 returned to Garden Spot on Dec. 22 to meet with current NHS members.  The recent graduates participated the Meet the College Freshmen program, and shared advice on surviving and coping with the first semester of college.  They offered insight into how to select classes, how to cope with roommates, how to get involved with clubs, and how to prepare now for college life. They also discussed which classes and experiences at Garden Spot have helped them in college.   Current NHS members had a chance to ask questions and to socialize with the returning members.  The graduates who participated attend a variety of colleges such as Penn State, Temple, West Chester, Messiah, and Syracruse.

GS Students Selected for Lancaster County Young Artist Exhibit

jhackman Arts

Competition is the key to this year’s Lancaster County Young Artists Exhibit!

Garden Spot students selected by their teachers, Sandy Cooper, Toni Myers and Todd Reitnouer, to enter the competition are:  Angel Adams, Kianna Anderson, Alex Diem, Hannah Faber, Jenna Fisher, Katie Fitz, Emily Glick, Anna Keens, Kristine Koch, Lauren Martin, Koua Moua, Shannon O’Malley, Carlos J. Rivera, Caitlin Rizzo, Renee Roggie, Micoleen Schonour, Andrew Schrantz, Erin Shirk, Shawna Stauffer, Abbi Stoltzfus, Nancy Wanner, and Austin Wise.

However, just being selected by their high school teachers does not guarantee a student will be selected to exhibit in the upcoming show.  The entries will be reviewed by a selected panel.  The individuals on the panel will accept student work for the show based on  quality, skill, creativity and other designated  standards.  There are thousands of entries.

This year marks the 49th year for the show.  The show is open to Lancaster County students from all districts and offers a great opportunity for young artists to enter a juried show and display their work.

The show will be on display in two locations, Mulberry Art Studios and the Ware Center of Millersville University at 42 N. Prince Street, Lancaster.

The Ware Center will see its first full year of scheduled events.  The Ware Center plans to be a community arts center and there are many scheduled art events for this year, some of which include dance programs, concerts, films and opera!

This year’s show will open on First Friday, March 2 and end on Sunday, April 1, 2012.

Congratulations to our selected Garden Spot students to compete in such a great show!

The drawing at the top of the article is by Abbi Stoltzfus

Trevor Murray

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex Diem

GS FBLA Students Compete at Regional Competition

jhackman Clubs

Congratulations to the Garden Spot Future Business Leaders of America for their successes at the Regional FBLA Competition!  GS FBLA students competed in typical business activities against FBLA students from Cocalico, Conestoga Valley, Donegal, Hempfield, Lancaster Mennonite, and Pequea Valley.  The results are as follows:

1st Place:  Business Math:  Alyssa Buhalo, 9th grade
1st Place:  FBLA Principles & Procedures:  Madeline George, 10th grade
1st Place:  Introduction to Business:  Ethan Spadino, 10th grade
1st Place:  Introduction to Business Communication:  Dina Novik, 10th grade
1st Place:  Introduction to Technology Concepts:  Peter Fortuna, 10th grade
1st Place:  Sports Management:  Alex Aharonian, 10th grade
2nd Place:  Hospitality management:  Cara Discavage, 11th grade
3rd Place:  Business Communication:  Jennie Wenger, 11th grade
3rd Place:  Introduction to Business:  Hannah Tennis, 9th grade
3rd Place:  Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures:  Tolea Grigorusta, 10th grade

The students will be attending the FBLA State Leadership Competition held in Hershey in April.  They will be competing in the same events but against FBLA students from all over Pennsylvania – close to 100 competitors in each event!  Over 3000 FBLA students will attend the FBLA SLC.

“I am so proud of my FBLA students!  I wish them luck at the upcoming state competition!”  ~ Jill Hackman, Advisor