Show Your Spartan Pride

Hello Fellow Spartans,

Here’s you chance to show your Spartan pride and also support the High School Technology Students Association (TSA).  TSA members are making these 3.25″ x 5” stickers in order to raise funds to attend the State Conference.  Last year we had several top 3 places at the State level and this should be the case this year.  The stickers, being produced in-house, are outdoor rated vinyl that will hold up to years of exposure to the elements.  They also would look great in your classrooms, windows, wherever.  See examples below.  stickersTo help us keep up with inventory, please complete the GS Sticker Request form.  Cost is $2.00 and you can see me in room 806 for payment or Patty Montagna in the Senior High Office.  More locations to be announced.  There is also an option for customization of these stickers on the online form.

 

Thanks!

Mike Stitzer

High School TSA Co-Advisor

Health Council – Duathlon

The Coordinated School Health Council put on its first ever duathlon on May 22.  The event was a great success.  There were three lengths of races; a beginner, intermediate and challenge course.  The Health Council students worked extremely hard leading the different packs through the course.  We would like to thank all who participated in our inaugural event.  We even had a four year old from Ephrata complete the beginner course.

National Honor Society Inducts New Members

The Garden Spot National Honor Society added 43 members at its Induction Ceremony on April 24.  Principal Matthew Sanger,  welcomed the inductees and their parents.  Christy Weaver, NHS president, presented an overview of the activities and service projects the group has accomplished this school year.

The inductees were introduced  and presented with a NHS certificate and pin. They also recited the NHS pledge in a candle lighting ceremony.  The inductees include seniors, juniors, and sophomores that were selected based on the four pillars of NHS which are scholarship, leadership, character and service.

FBLA State Leadership Conference

Members of Garden Spot Future Business Leaders of America attended the State Leadership Workshop on November 4 – 5 at Penn State.  Students were able to listen to keynote speakers, participate in workshops and learn how to become a leader in their community.

To kick off the SLW, students first listened to Byron V. Garrett,

keynote speaker, who is the Director for Microsoft’s Innovative Schools program and is the Senior Consultant for NBC News’ Education Nation.   Byron inspired students to ignite innovation, reminding students that you should measure success by what is in your head and in your heart, and not by what is sitting in your driveway.  He challenged students to believe in themselves and not to meet expectations, but to exceed them!

Next, students participated in a variety of workshops such as, The First Three Seconds, First Impressions, Grand Slam Communication, The Game Nobody Wins, and Building My Team.   To end the first day, students played games to get to know the other FBLA students from around Pennsylvania.  They played Battle of the Chapters, Dodge Ball, and Pie in the Face!

There were 99 total games played in the Dodge Ball double elimination tournament.  Garden Spot students teamed up with FBLA students from around PA, and went on to be Dodge Ball Victors by never loosing  a game!

On the last day, students participated in the closing ceremony where they stated the FBLA pledge and vowed to be a leader in their community.

FBLA students took full advantage of the opportunities afforded to them at the State Leadership Workshop!

GSHS TSA Competition Winner!

Four Garden Spot High School students competed at this year’s State TSA (Technology Student Association) Competition that was held at Seven Springs Resort in Champion, PA from April 18-21 this year.  There were over 1000 students from across the state at this year’s competition.  Lizz Wagner performed well by winning a second place trophy in the PA Material Process competition for her 12’6” long skin-on-frame kayak that she built in her second level woodworking class at Garden Spot that was taught by Mark Kaufman.  The kayak is a semi-replica of an original Aleutian-style kayak or baidarka that is based on the MAE AC from 1845. The overall size of the original kayak was 18”4” long x 17” wide.  The one that she built was 12’6” long x 22” wide.   She had to change the overall size of the kayak so that it would not take up more than sixteen square feet of floor space when it was on display at the competition.  In order to do this a special stand was made to hold the kayak in a vertical position rather than displaying it horizontally.  The length was limited to 13’ since this is how high the ceiling was in the display area. The finished kayak, constructed from Western red cedar with steam-bent white-ash ribs and a stitched-on-nylon skin weighs 24.5 pounds.  She also built a replica of the original Aleutian-style paddle from the museum drawings.  Her project also included a very detailed photo and written journal of the entire build process.

Other Garden Spot high school students that competed at this year’s competition were Haley Reccek, Riley Kohl, and Chris Hare. There were also twelve students from Garden Spot Middle School that competed and received numerous awards.  Their advisor was Rob Cuthie and Mike Stitzer was the advisor for the high school students.

FBLA Members Inspired by SLC

Nine members from Garden Spot Future Business Leaders of America attended the FBLA State Leadership Conference held in Hershey, Pennsylvania from April 16 – 18.  3700 + students attended the conference.  The theme for the 2011-2012 SLC was, “Gateway to Greatness.”  Students attended workshops, listened to speaking and performance events, voted for the 2012-2013 officers, competed against other PA FBLA members from across the state, listened to Keynote Speaker, Josh Sundquist, networked with leadership presenters, and made new friendships with PA FBLA members!

Ethan Spadino, Mrs. Hackman, Peter Fortuna and Tolea Grigorutsa met Keynote Speaker, Josh Sundquist.  Josh motivated students to pursue their dreams no matter what bull they may face.  Josh is an amputee who lost his leg due to cancer at 9 years old.  Since then, he has gone on to inspire people around the country by sharing his experiences of competing on the Paralympic Ski Team and becoming a best seller author.  To learn more about Josh, visit his website.

On the last night of the SLC, students went to the closing ceremony where they listened to Cooper Nordquist, PA FBLA President; speak about his journey to meet his goal of attending West Point.  Through all the time and preparation, he was accepted into West Point with three Congressional Nominations.  But soon after being accepted, he was disqualified.  Through this very disappointing situation, Cooper found the light at the end of the tunnel.  He was accepted to American University.  He learned that life is not about the destination, it is about the journey.

 

 

 

 

(Photo from left:  Jennie Wenger, Dina Novic, Ethan Spadino, Peter Fortuna, Cooper Nordquist (PA FBLA President), Alex Aharonian, Tolea Grigorutsa, and Maddy George)

 

The State Leadership Conference inspired Garden Spot students to keep reaching for their goals and to always give their best!

Garden Spot students found their Gateway To Greatness!

GS March Madness

From March 26th to March 30th, Garden Spot High School students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities and events offered during flex periods of this week known as March Madness.  Conceived 4 years ago as a way to promote positive attitudes, school culture, and climate, this yearly event is sponsored by the Student Advisory Board.  Student Advisory is a group of students advised by high school teachers Michelle Custer and Jennifer Cline who work together with the administrative team to devise ways to promote cooperation, positive interactions, and a welcoming environment at Garden Spot High School for students and faculty alike.  The Student Advisory Board is composed of 7 students of various grade levels:  Kobi Martin, Emily Strothers, Ryan Overly, Corey Twaddell, Amanda Maldonado, Suzy Dariychuk, and Allison Smith.  The students and advisors worked hard to plan and carry out all the activities and events for March Madness Week 2012.

This year’s activities and events included a basketball tournament, a floor hockey tournament, ping-pong doubles and singles tournaments, a Just Dance competition, an arm wrestling competition, and a Talent Show.  In addition, the Student Advisory Board also hosted their inaugural “Coffeehouse Friday” to cap off the week.  New Holland Coffee Company provided various hot and cold beverages for students to purchase prior to their first block classes, and Garden Spot students Gabe Stoltzfus, Gloria Grigorutsa, and Tatum Murray entertained students with vocals and guitar.  Based on the success of this event, the Student Advisory Board is currently planning several more of these events for the remainder of the school year.

At the end of the week, all Garden Spot students gathered together in the New
Gym to watch the Talent Show finals and cheer on the final teams in the basketball tournament.  Winners of the other tournaments and competitions were also honored for their performances throughout the week.  It was a great way to end another successful March Madness week!

March Madness Winners 2012

Ping Pong Singles: Caleb Williams
Ping Pong Doubles: Jeremy Dautrich & Anthony Perrachio
Just Dance:  Leah Strother
Arm Wrestling:  Alex Wilson
Floor Hockey:  The 10th Grade Team (Tolea Grigorutsa, Justin Stoltzfus, Nils Villman, Peter Fortuna, Aaron Strubel, Micah Hostetter, Ethan Spadino, Mark Neff)
Basketball:  The Brecknock Ballers – 9th Grade Team
Talent Show:  Gabe Stoltzfus, Tatum Murray, Gloria Grigorutsa

Science Olympiad Competes at Millersville University

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

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.