The ecommunicator A weekly enewsletter serving residents of Mars and Valencia boroughs as well as Adams and Middlesex townships. No. 19 Vol. 8 Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013 Schools to Hold Annual Holiday Concerts Mars Area s schools will offer Holiday Concerts as follows: Tuesday, Dec. 17 Centennial School Band, Chorus & Orchestra Concert (Grade 5, 6 p.m.; Grade 6, 7:30 p.m.) (724) 625-2601 Wednesday, Dec. 18 High School Chorus Concert, 7 p.m. (724) 625-1581 Thursday, Dec. 19 High School Band & Orchestra Concert, 7 p.m. (724) 625-1581 All performances will be held in Mars Area High School auditorium. For more information, call the individual school buildings. Elementary Schools to Offer Holiday Parties Mars Area s elementary schools will hold various Holiday Parties on Friday, Dec. 20: Mars Area Elementary School 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. (724) 625-3161 Mars Area Primary Center Morning Kindergarten, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.; Afternoon Kindergarten and First Grade, 2 to 3 p.m. (724) 625-1588 Mars Area Centennial School Sixth Grade, 1 to 2 p.m.; Fifth Grade, 2 to 3 p.m. (724) 625-2601 For more information, contact the individual school building. Drive to Benefit Butler County Humane Society Mars Area Centennial School is holding a drive to benefit the Butler County Humane Society through Thursday, Dec. 19. The school is collecting canned dog/cat food, treats, leashes, paper towels, newspaper, heating pads, blankets/sheets, etc. Acomplete list of items is available at www.butlercountyhs.or/wish_list.html. Donations may be dropped off at the main office during school hours. For more information, call (724) 625-2601. District s Winter Break Scheduled Mars Area School District will hold its Winter Break from Tuesday, Dec. 24, through Wednesday, Jan. 1. An In-Service Day will be held on Monday, Dec. 23; therefore, there will be no school for students. Students and staff members will return to school on Thursday, Jan. 2. For more information, call (724) 625-1518. Upcoming Meetings Monday, Dec. 16 Special Board Meeting/Curriculum Meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 Board Work Session, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 Board Regular Meeting, 7 p.m. All meetings are open to the public and are held at the District s Administration Office, 545 Route 228, unless otherwise noted. For details, call (724) 625-1518. Across the Globe Mars Area Primary Center firstgraders paint their own poinsettias after learning about the legend of the plant. At left, students re-create the wreath crown worn by St. Lucia of Sweden. First-graders Celebrating Holidays Around the World First-graders at Mars Area Primary Center are learning how other cultures mark the holiday season across the globe. As part of a special activity, each student created a Holiday Express Passport to the World and a suitcase to carry what they learned on the travels. Each student received a stamp on their passport at each stop on their journey Germany, Holland, Israel, Italy, Mexico and Sweden. In Israel, the students learned about the significance of the dreidel and the menorah in celebrating the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. In Sweden, first-graders made paper wreath crowns to wear in celebration of St. Lucia Day, which marks the start of the holiday season in Scandinavia. In Italy, first-graders heard the legend of Old Befana, who delivers gifts to Italian children on the Feast of the Epiphany. While in Mexico, students learned about the legend of the poinsettia plant, which is associated with Christmas in Central America and South America. Before departing, each student received an information packet, discussing what they learned in each country to take home to share with their families. For details, call (724) 625-1588. Ensembles to Perform at District Schools Mars Area High School s Chamber and String Ensembles will perform on Friday, Dec. 13, at the following schools: Mars Area Middle School 8:30 a.m. Mars Area Centennial School 9:35 a.m. Mars Area Elementary School 1:30 p.m. For more information, call the individual school building.
2 The ecommunicator Dec. 12, 2013 Mars Area School District Thank You! Fifth-graders in Kiley Slowik and Brian Zima s classes at Mars Area Centennial School sign a Thank you banner that will be displayed with an American flag dedicated to the school by U.S. Air Force Sgt. Beau Skoneiczny. Fifth-graders Design Banner to Thank Veterans Earlier this year, fifth-graders in Kiley Slowik and Brian Zima s classes at Mars Area Centennial School wrote letters to local veterans in honor of Veterans Day. These folks were so touched by the letters that they sent pictures of the letters to friends and family that are in Afghanistan on active duty, says Slowik, who recently received a response from U.S. Air Force Sgt. Beau Skoneiczny. Along with a note thanking the students for their letters, Sgt. Skoneiczny sent an American flag that was flown from Kabul, Afghanistan, to Ankara, Turkey, aboard a C-17 military aircraft on a mission over hostile territory. Skoneiczny also sent several military patches, photos and a certificate dedicating the flag to the students at Mars Area Centennial School. Last week, the fifth-graders designed a Thank You banner to accompany the flag, which will be displayed in Slowik s classroom. For more information, call (724) 625-2601. Eighth-graders to Sing Carols Around Community Members of Mars Area Middle School Eighth Grade Chorus will sing caroling throughout the community on Friday, Dec. 20: Valencia Woods 10 a.m. St. John/LAS (Mars) 11:30 a.m. Cranberry Place Nursing Center 12:50 p.m. For more information, call (724) 625-3145. Library to Offer Christmas Cheer Celebration Mars Area Public Library will offer a Christmas Cheer Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21. Activities will include a reading of The Polar Express at 11 a.m.; a visit from Dotty the Miniature Horse at noon; crafts; and refreshments. To register, call (724) 625-9048. Boys Basketball Team Expects Competitive Season Mars Area High School s Boys Varsity Basketball Team is expecting a competitive season as the Fightin Planets look forward to a return to the PIAAplayoffs. The Fightin Planets ended the 2012-2013 regular season with an overall record of 18-3 and undefeated (12-0) in Section 1-AAA, clinching the team s first section title since 1987. The team advanced to the first round of the 2012-2013 PIAAClass AAABoys Basketball Championship and to the semifinal round of the 2012-2013 WPIALClass AAABoys Basketball Championship. This season, we play one of the most challenging schedules in WPIAL and we expect to improve every week, says Rob Carmody, head coach. (The team) is very young, but talented. Seniors on this year s team are Owen Nearhoof (who is on his way to becoming the school s all-time leading scorer), Nick DeCamp, Austin Fetsko, Errict Haas, Brett Kloc and Ethan Lewis. Other players to watch include sophomores Brent Ashbaugh, John Castello, Alex Gruber, Nathan Sablowski and Christian Schmitt. The Fightin Planets next game is against the Valley Vikings at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, at Valley HighSchool. Fund-raiser to Benefit Children s Hospital Mars Area Centennial School is holding a unique fund-raiser to benefit Children s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation through Thursday, Dec. 19. For each $1 dollar students donate, they will receive one foot of wrapping paper, which will be used to wrap principal Todd Lape during the school s Holiday Parties, which will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20. Checks may be made payable to Children s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. Donations of wrapping paper will also be accepted. For more information, call (724) 625-2601. Yearbook Committee Seeking Kindergarten Photos Mars Area Centennial School Yearbook Committee is seeking kindergarten photos of current sixth grade students for inclusion in the school s 2013-2014 Yearbook. Photos along with the student and teacher s names may be e-mailed to jodygagnon5@gmail.com or dropped off at the school s main office by no later than Friday, Dec. 13. Mars Girls Lacrosse Holding Online Registration Mars Girls Lacrosse is accepting Online Registration for its 2014 Spring Season through Friday, Jan. 31. Note: Program not affiliated with Mars Area School District. For more information, visit www.marsgirlslax.org.
Junior Takes Lead Role in Nutcracker Production Mars Area junior Claire Georgiadis took the lead in Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh s production of The Nutcracker, Dec. 6-8. I have gone to see The Nutcracker every year since I was very, very young, says Claire, who has performed ballet for several years. It is a tradition in our family. Claire began studying at the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh in 2010 and has joined in the academy s annual production of The Nutcracker in lesser roles each year. This year; however, she was selected for the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy based on her performance, commitment and capabilities. Ballet is combining gracefulness with strength, says Claire. I like the challenge. It looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do. In 2012, Georgiadis placed in the Top 12 in the Contemporary Category of the Junior Division at the Youth American Grand Prix. She attended the 2012 Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program and 2011 Walnut Hill School for the Arts Summer Dance Intensive, both in Boston, Mass.; and the 2012 Chautauqua Institution Summer Dance Intensive in Chautauqua, N.Y. At Mars Area High School, Georgiadis is a member of National Honor Society and has achieved High Honor Roll every year since eighth grade. She is also a certified Pilates instructor. For more information, visit www.balletacademypgh.com. MHYFamily Services Holding Annual Giving Drive MHYFamily Services will accept donations to its annual Holiday Giving Drive through Friday, Dec. 13. Requested items include new, unwrapped teen-appropriate (ages 9-18) clothing, toiletries, make-up, bedding, arts and crafts supplies, electronics, sporting equipment, batteries. Acomplete list of items is available at www.mhyfamilyservices.org. Donations may also be dropped off from 8:30 to 4 p.m. at the MHYFamily Services Administration Building, 521 Route 228, Mars, Pa. 16046. For details, call (724) 625-3141. Class Play The ecommunicator Dec. 12, 2013 3 Shopping Spree Students at Mars Area Primary Center (above) and Mars Area Centennial School (left) shop at the Mars Area Elementary PTO s Holiday Store offered at the individual school s earlier this month. PTO Holiday Store to Continue at Elementary School Mars Area Elementary PTO will continue to offer a Holiday Store at Mars Area Elementary School on Friday, Dec. 13. For more information, call (724) 625-3161. Winter Coat Drive to Conclude Dec. 19 Mars Area High School Student Council is holding its annual Winter Coat Drive through Thursday, Dec. 19. The school will be collecting new and gently used hats, gloves, boots and coats to be donated to students and families in need to help keep them warm during the cold winter months. Donations may be dropped off at the school s main office. In addition, this year s coat drive includes a class competition to see which class can amass the most donations. Four collection boxes, one for each class, are located outside of the Guidance Office. High School to Host Girls Basketball Tournament Mars Area High School will host its annual Girls Varsity Basketball Holiday Tournament on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 26-27. On Thursday, Dec. 26, the Lady Planets will enter the tournament at 7:30 p.m., playing against the Moon Area Tigers (JV at 6 p.m.). Other participating teams are the Pine-Richland Rams and Hopewell Vikings. On Friday, Dec. 27, Varsity and JV consolation games will begin at 6 p.m. and championship games at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for students. For more information, call (724) 625-9380. Third-graders in Amanda Morello s class at Mars Area Elementary School search for their missing gingerbread man as part of an annual Class Play, held for parents earlier this week. Photo by Josh Schwoebel Youth Boys Lacrosse Holding Online Registration Mars Youth Boys Lacrosse is holding Online Registration for its 2014 Spring Season through Sunday, Dec. 15. Note: Program not affiliated with Mars Area School District. For more information, visit www.marslax.org.
4 The ecommunicator Dec. 12, 2013 Mars Area School District Mystery Skype Third-graders in Colleen Hinrichsen s class at Mars Area Elementary School join in a Mystery Skype activity to determine in which state the school that they are communicating with is located. Photos by Josh Schwoebel High School to Hold Alumni Basketball Games Mars Area High School will hold its sixth annual Mars Area Alumni Basketball Games at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28, in the gymnasium. The event will begin with a Women s Alumni Basketball Game at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Men s Alumni Basketball Game at 7:30 p.m. All Mars Area alumni basketball players are welcome to participate in the event. No registration needed. Admission is $3 per person. Proceeds will benefit Mars Area High School s boys and girls basketball teams. For more information, call (724) 625-9380. Activity Engages Students in Learning Geography Third-graders in Colleen Hinrichsen s class at Mars Area ElementarySchool are connecting with classrooms across the nation as part a Mystery Skype activity. At the start of two separate activities held earlier this month, students sat at the ready with a variety of paper and other maps as well as fact sheets. The students then connected with their peers at two undisclosed schools located somewhere in the United States via Skype. The students then had to ask questions related to outdoor activities, climate and geographical features such as mountains, oceans and rivers to narrow their search and determine in which states those schools are located (California and Oklahoma). After each Skype session, the third-graders used a class blog to reflect on their successes and individual roles in each activity. The students also discussed which questions were effective and those that were not. Students consult a map to narrow down the location of the mystery school. When students are taught about geography, they sometimes have a difficult time understanding where they are located in relation to the rest of the world, says Hinrichsen. This activity, not only supplements what students are learning in their social studies textbooks, but engages the students, enhances their map skills and gives them insight into other regions and cultures. Hinrichsen learned about the Mystery Skype activity on Twitter s @Skype Classroom, which connects a worldwide community of teachers to develop lessons using Skype. The activity has been so well received by her students that Hinrichsen is planning to continue the program in hopes of connecting with classrooms in each of the 50 states and possibly in other countries as well. For more information, call (724) 625-3161. National Honor Society Applications Available Applications for Mars Area HighSchool s National Honor Society program are available in Room 12. Interested sophomores, juniors and seniors with a 3.75 or higher grade point average may pick up an application in Room 12. Students must submit the completed application and three teacher reference forms by no later than 2:55 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16. Note: The school s 2014 National Honor Society induction ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, in the auditorium. Students to Join in Molecular Biology Lab Advanced Placement (AP) Biology students at Mars Area High School will learn about DNAFingerprinting as part of a Molecular Biology Workshop at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the University of Pittsburgh s Clapp Hall. The workshop, which will be conducted by a university professor and a graduate assistant, will offer hands-on experience in real life crime investigation techniques. The activity is a unique opportunity for the students to study their own DNA in a real college laboratory. Toy Drive Ethan Vactor, kindergartner at Mars Area Primary Center, came up with the idea for a Toy Drive, held last week at the school. The drive brought in more than 130 toys to benefit the Childlife Department at Children s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Photo by Josh Schwoebel Mars Area School District 545 Route 228 Mars, Pa. 16046 Phone: (724) 625-1518 Fax: (724) 625-1060 www.marsk12.org l l l l l Questions regarding The ecommunicator may be addressed to Josh Schwoebel, Director of Communications, at (724) 625-4589 or via e-mail at jschwoebel@marsk12.org.
The ecommunicator Dec. 12, 2013 5 Sounds of the Season Holiday music filled the air at Mars Area Middle School earlier this week as the school offered its annual holiday assembly. Members of the school s seventh and eighth grade choruses and bands as well as the school s orchestra performed a variety of tunes in preparation for their annual holiday concert at Mars Area High School auditorium on Dec. 11. For details, call (724) 625-3145. Holiday Assembly Members of Mars Area Middle School Seventh Grade Chorus perform during the school s annual Holiday Assembly on Dec. 10. At left, Sarah Grimm, Haylee Fredericks and Hayley Ward join the Seventh Grade Band as they share some holiday music. Clayton Merriman, eighth-grader, accompanies Mars Area Middle School s Eighth Grade Chorus on the drum. Below, eighth-graders Eva Shterengarts and Carli Walker perform as members of the middle school s orchestra. Jack Harsch, eighth-grader, joins Mars Area Middle School s orchestra in performing some holiday selections at the school s annual Holiday Assembly, held earlier this week. At left, Nathan Walker and Evan Kuntz perform with the Eighth Grade Band. Members of Mars Area Middle School s Seventh Grade Band Megan Hooper, Claire Valentine, Rachel Scherer, Jenna Halenda, Caroline Richard, Stephanie Streb, Sara Augustine and Natalie Sobel perform as members of a flute ensemble at the school s annual Holiday Assembly.