Month: March 2012

Science Olympiad Competes at Millersville University

jhackman Clubs

The Garden Spot Science Olympiad High School Team competed, Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the Pennsylvania Central Region Science Olympiad competition at Millersville University.  Two students, Cody Fields, 12th grade, and Rebecca King, 9th grade, placed second in the category of Microbe Mission.  These two had to answer questions, solve problems, and analyze data pertaining to microbes.  The team overall had an exciting day competing in 21 of the 23 events from chemistry, biology, physics, and earth and space science.

51 Students Inducted into NHS

jhackman Clubs

Garden Spot High School welcomed 51 students into the National Honor Society in an Induction Ceremony on March 21.  As part of the ceremony, new inductees recite the NHS Pledge and participate in a candle lighting ceremony.

Students selected for NHS must exhibit exceptional scholarship, leadership, character, and service.  This year’s inductees include seniors, juniors, and sophomores.  Members of NHS participate in service projects in the school and in the community.

 

Grassland FFA Greenhands Excel in Public Speaking Competitions

jhackman FFA

Six 9th grade members of the FFA competed in various County Public Speaking Competitions at Solanco High School on March 22. The students competed in preliminary competitions as part of their FFA Leadership 9 class and were selected by their peers to enter county-wide competition.

Front from left row left:  Derick Weaver 2nd in Conservation; Ben Lehman 3rd in Conservation; Brynn Griffin 4th in Junior Prepared; Back row from Left: Morgan Mueller 3rd in Junior Prepared, Blake Martin 2nd in Creed Speaking, Kelly Seifrit 4th in Creed Speaking. They will compete at the Regional level April 12th hopeful of qualifying for state competition in June.

Andy Schrantz Will Compete at Swimming Championship

jhackman Athletics

Andy Schrantz (grade 11) recently won both of his events at the Lancaster-Lebanon League Swimming & Diving Championships, which were held on Feb. 9th.  (Officially, we’re not a school sanctioned sport with Garden Spot therefore he must swim independently as a non-swim school)  Andy won both the 100-yard backstroke (48.31 his personal best) and the 100-yard butterfly (52.65).

Next, Andy swam at the District Three Swimming Championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Fri., March 2nd and Sat., March 3rd.  Andy finished 3rd in the 100-yard butterfly (50.96) and finished 2nd in the 100-yard backstroke (52.41) which guaranteed him a spot to swim at States!

Andy will get the opportunity to swim with other top seeded swimmers from throughout the state of PA at this weeks’ (Wed., 3/14 and Thurs., 3/15) PIAA Class AAA Swimming & Diving Championships, held at Bucknell University.  Andy is seeded 9th in the 100 fly and 13th in the 100 back. 

Andy swims throughout the year with the Diplomat Swim Club at Franklin & Marshall with the Lancaster-Lebanon League’s other top swimmers!

 

FFA Milk Quality &Products Team Places in County

jhackman FFA

If you like to identify cheese, milk defects, and other dairy products, you might enjoy the milk quality and products CDE. One of the favorite activities for students involved in FFA are CDEs or Career Development Events, in which they get to compete in various competitions with FFA members from other schools. On Thursday, March 8th, fifteen members of the grassland FFA chapter competed in the Milk Quality and Products (formerly known as Dairy Foods) competition at Lampeter-Strasburg High School. This event consisted of an exam, problem solving, fat content, California mastitis test (CMT), milk testing, cheese ID, and cheese characteristics. The students did very well and many placed within the top fifteen of Lancaster County (individual/team results shown below). Now they will continue to study and practice in hopes of taking a team to Penn State this June for the State competition

Ben Wagner (left) Connor Bender (head down) and Ed Wilson (right) check milk samples for a variety of off-flavors. Contestants must identify the off-flavor as well as its intensity.

Lancaster County Milk Quality and Products Competition 2012
Team
1st Connor Bender 2nd
4th Josh Weaver 2nd
5th Alex Weaver 2nd
10th Andy Horst 2nd
11th Taylor Martin
12th Corey Twaddell
13th Bryan Zimmerman
14th Clay Lehman
15th Jessalyn Horst
15th Matt High

Corey Twaddell (left) Matt High (center) and Alex Weaver (right) completes a California Mastitis Test as part of the Milk Products and Quality CDE.

NHS Celebrates Read Across America

jhackman Classroom, Clubs

Members of the National Honor Society visited the District’s three elementary schools to help them celebrate Read Across America on Friday, March 2. The event is held each year to celebrate reading and is traditionally held on Dr. Seuss’ birthday.  NHS members visited several classrooms to talk with the younger students and to read stories to them.  The project was coordinated by National Honor Society members and librarians in all the buildings.  Students of all ages enjoyed the special day!

  

Grassland FFA Winter Officer Retreat

jhackman FFA

Planning and communication. These were the two main points discussed at the winter officer retreat on March 2-4, held at Mountain Dale Farm. The purpose of this retreat every year is to discuss events that have happened the first half of the year and how they could be improved, and begin planning for the rest of this year. There is also an emphasis on getting to know one another better, as there were about 25 officers, 2 teachers, and 1 student teacher along. A few of the favorite icebreaker games played included: four on a couch and psychiatrist, which were played Friday night after unpacking. Afterwards, each person wrote down a few of the goals they hoped to accomplish by the end of the weekend.

Saturday was the day to buckle down and get to work. There were three meetings throughout the day focusing on a variety of topics such as the Ag Olympics, National Chapter Rating, how to have better communication within the chapter, and much more. The conversations held during the meetings were very productive, and everyone left with an idea of what they would need to do to finish the 2012 school year off strong. Then in the evening there was free time that was spent playing capture the flag, manhunt, talking to peers, and sitting around a campfire. Sunday finished off the weekend with devotions and reflections, in which there was a consensus that the weekend was successful, with many of the goals being achieved.