Category: Student Life

By Taylor Goldberg –

The Millersville community is cordially invited to the Millersville 250 Anniversary Grand Finale.

“Is it a big birthday party for Millersville,” said Penn Manor Assistant Superintendent Pollock. “It is an event for the whole family to come out and enjoy.”

Millersville is celebrating the special 250th anniversary of the town’s original land purchase. John Miller founded Millersville in 1761. Millersville was originally called Millersburg and was later name Millerstown before becoming Millersville in the 1800s.

To celebrate 250 years of the community, The Millersville Historical Society, Millersville Lions Club and the Millersville Woman’s Club are sponsoring events that kicked off back in March and continue through the end of December. There have been a variety of activities and events that attracted all ages. Events included: art, music, dance, exhibits, parades, community celebrations, and so much more.

The kick-off event took place in February. Dancing through the Decades, included dancing, food and beverages, an historical photo display, a fashion display from the two centuries, a special cake prepared by Carlo’s Bakery (aka TLC’s The Cake Boss of Hoboken NJ) and fireworks.

In April, Millersville held an Exhibit Opening Reception. The public was invited to see bottles, furniture, oil paintings, garden equipment, WWII items, Boy Scout items, police badges, historical records, trolley items, cigar boxes, publications, postcards, ribbons, photos, clothing and business ads/marketing items.

Summer events included  a children’s ballet – Swan Pond held at Manor Middle in May. In June, Lancaster County Firemen’s Parade saluted the 100th Anniversary of the Millersville Fire Company. And in July the community celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Lions Club Pool.

Come fall Millersville’s Got Talent competition started auditioning contestants. Along with the annual Millersville Parade. Beginning of November was round 1 of the Got Talent competition and the Finale was held 2 weeks later. Millersville students, faculty, staff, community members and residents competed for a grand prize of $500.

Penn Manor senior Alicia Ygarza competed in the Got Talent competition. She sang “Fever” by the famous Elvis Presley.

People who are interested can celebrate the Millersville 250 Anniversary Grand Finale on Nov. 27 starting at 2:00 pm. The event takes place at Turkey Hill Experience. 301 Linden Street, Columbia, PA. Admission for children ages 4 and under is free. Admission for everyone else varies. It is $4 for just cake and ice cream and $12 for the tour, cake and ice cream.

This day they will be featuring Penn Manor’s Brass Quintet, balloon sculptures, tours and a photo booth (including a Turkey Hill cow backdrop). The closing presentation starts at 3:00 pm. Following the presentation will be a special cake and ice cream.

Also, stick around for the special unveiling of the Turkey Hill’s new ice cream flavor—the Swan Swirl, in honor the 250 anniversary.

According to Pollock the ice cream is vanilla and contains fudge swirls, marshmallow bits and chocolate chips. “It was really good!” she said.

Lets give it up to the first 250, and the next 250 years to come.

By David Burch and Brandon Schuman –

They’ve always been the object of ridicule.

And at Penn Manor it is no different as this bold but small group of students has experienced an age-old prejudice against them or, more exactly,  their hair color.

Red.  Orange.  Auburn.  Carrot top.

Red heads tend to stick out because of their pale skin and auburn to orange hair. You can pick one out a mile away. They’ve been discriminated against for centuries. During the Dark Ages, Gingers were abused and sometimes even killed because the color of their hair was considered to be evil. The question is, why?

“What’s up Ginger.”

“Look at that Day Walker.”

“No wonder it’s hot in here, look at his hair.”

“I’m not a Ginger,” said Penn Manor senior Joey Jackson, “I’m a Day Walker, there’s a difference.”

Apparently there are different species when it comes to red heads.

Penn Manor senior Kara Overmeyer claims, “By definition, I am a Ginger.”

When people refer to “Gingers” they are talking about people with very bright red hair, pale skin like that of a polar bear, and freckles that look like a child’s connect the dots game gone wrong. They are also known as the pure bred.

The term Day Walker pertains to red heads, however do not have all the characteristics as a Ginger. They either have just the reddish hair, pale skin or freckles, not all three.

Red heads, Day Walkers and Gingers all throughout the world have to deal with discrimination just because the color of their hair. Penn Manor is no different.

An anonymous student stated, “I don’t mind them as long as they don’t talk to me.”

“I’ve been called a couple names before,” said Overmeyer, “like Red Robin and Freckles McGee.”

“There have been some instances of emotional bruising,” said Penn Manor senior Ginger Aaron Sellers.

Sellers claimed he has heard fellow Red Head Joey Jackson  called “Ginger Jackson” by a teacher whose identity will remain anonymous due to possible repercussions.

Gingers are also accused of having no souls. Hundreds of years ago, red heads were considered to be “of the Devil.”  Even an episode of Comedy Central’s South Park, made fun of red heads, depicting them to be, in fact, soul-less.

Reknowned Ginger science teacher Erick Dutchess had this to say about South Park:

“When the creators of a nationally syndicated television show have the audacity to create an episode centered around the premise that Red Heads (Gingers) have no soul, the feeling of discrimination is palpable.”

Anonymous stated, “I believe everything on South Park, so yeah, they don’t have souls.”

Anonymous also states that he/she has witnessed Jackson and Sellers being treated maliciously and abusively solely based upon the fact that they have red hair.

Red heads of all shapes and sizes get abused during the school day.

“I’ll bring the hammer down if I see Gingers getting harassed in the school,” said Dutchess.

This discrimination needs to come to an end. We as a people cannot move on unless we all get along.

Sellers says it all when he said, “We’re people too. We have feelings too.”

By Alicia Ygarza, Alexander Sanchez-Cruz and Amber Brenner- 

50 colleges, numerous schools, and a large crowd of productive students.

Students, regardless of race, are headed toward a bright future in Lancaster County area schools.

McCaskey East High School held its first Hispanic College Day, calling to a large crowd of students from different schools and of different ethnicities.

According to Fred Lane, Director of Operations, the event was set up by the school district, and was sponsored by Career Council Inc. Career Council Inc. conducts 75 college expos around the U.S. Only a few are held in Pennsylvania including Philadelphia, however McCaskey’s was the only one held around Lancaster.

“I think the College Day is a good idea because students can explore colleges and see what they can offer Hispanics,” said Chad Wise, senior at Central York High School.

“It’s shocking that many Hispanics aren’t going to college, but this is good because it helps students. I’m happy that McCaskey is making an effort,” said Wise.

The Hispanic College Day exists because Hispanics are being undermined in the college world. McCaskey is making an effort to help the Hispanic students in each school in Lancaster County.

However, some of the Hispanic students that attended the expo should not be undermined.

“I am planning to go to a four year college and major in criminal justice,” said Adrian Viruet, junior at Penn Manor.

“I plan on going to college for four years,” said Will Torres, senior at McCaskey.

One reason some students may not excel to college is because their parents never went to college.

“Neither of my parents went to college, and I wish they had because I would have more benefits,” said Robert Wolpert, senior at McCaskey.

When a person’s parents don’t go to college, they may experience a harder life because their parents do not work in a profession, therefore making less money.

The college expo was a success, and many of the students that attended had new thoughts about going to college.

“I learned about colleges I’ve never heard of. This really made me want to explore more minors and majors,” said Joziah Rodriguez, junior at Penn Manor.

“This made me more interested in college, and what I want to become,” said Wolpert, who plans to attend college but not immediately after high school.

By Adam Rohrer –

There are signs that more students may be turning to the old reliable school bus for transportation as rising gas prices take a bite out of their budget.

“You wait for years to be able to drive but now that I can I cant even afford to drive to school” said Ben Nogueras

Requests for parking passes are lower this year than in several of the previous years and ridership on buses is up as the district struggles to reduce its cost of transportation.

“In a poor economy, gas prices are higher which restricts my spending as a consumer,” said C.J. Capwell, a junior at Penn Manor.

There are symptoms of our weakened economy all around but for many new drivers one of the heaviest burdens is just getting from point A to point B. In Lancaster County the average price for gas is $3.50 a gallon.

In the year of 2009-2010 parking pass sales numbered 372, in 2010-2011 there was a slight drop to 362, this year however the sales have dropped significantly down to 262.

If those hundred additional students need public transportation, buses will become increasingly crowded as the district’s budget cuts dropped the number of buses from 77 to 75 this year.

“I’m supposed to cut as much as I can” said Sue Kelshaw, the transportation director for Penn Manor.

Shaw cut $175,000 from her annual budget this year.  One big change was that kindergarten students are only driven one way for their half-day program and parents must take them the other trip.

Kelshaw said she already cut activity buses that shuttle students around after school and shortened bus routes so that some buses don’t go as far into some developments as they did in other years.

A long-time bus driver for Penn Manor, Bernadette Newcomer, agreed that buses are more full this year.When Newcomer first started she said many students would drive themselves but this year they don’t.

“Its been an ongoing thing with gas prices rising,” said Newcomer.

 

 

By Alicia Ygarza and Taylor Goldberg-

“It has to have color, and it has to have swag,” said Reagan Forrey, student at Penn Manor.

Penn manor students are turning their “swag” on high this year with stylish clothes from stores all over.

“If I’m going to the beach or on vacation, I’ll save up my money to shop there; I’ll find new styles that no one has ever seen,” said Forrey.

Many students at Penn Manor shop at Burlington Coat factory, Target, and Tanger Outlets; but the first place students typically go to is Park City Mall.

“When I’m at the mall, I always go to Pacsun because their pants are two for $60,” said Dimitrius Dennison, student at Penn Manor.

“I get my shoes from Footlocker and Finishline, and I’ll buy some clothes from Aeropastol,” said Dennison.

Since many students have their own jobs and are shopping with their own money, how much are they willing to spend?

Dennison said, “Less than $100 on a pair of shoes, the most I would spend on a shirt is $30, and no more than $50 on a pair of jeans.”

However, Forrey is willing to spend more.

“I’d spend $200 on shoes, $40 tops on a shirt, and $65 on a pair of pants.”

Both boys said price is the first thing they take note of while shopping, and both boys pay for their own clothes.

Girls on the other hand, are more lenient when it comes to the cost of items, especially when it involves shoes.

“There is NO price limit on shoes!” said Jenna Hess, student at Penn Manor.

Hess with her funky, cool style, never sticks to one store when she’s shopping.

“I will definitely shop anywhere. There are always little stores, especially downtown that people would not usually walk into that have cute stuff,” said Hess.

Lancaster is a great place to go if you’d like to give your wardrobe a new look.

By David Burch-

There’s nothing better to wake up and start your day to than a nice steaming hot cup of Joe.

“It wakes you up and never lets you down,” says Penn Manor senior, Lauren Anderson.

Coffee has a bad reputation for stunting growth and staining teeth, but recent studies are showing that it’s not as bad as people think.

In fact, coffee is good for you.

Studies have shown that people who drink coffee on a daily basis are less likely to have heart problems or strokes, along with many other health problems.

Coffee is overlooked when it comes to healthy beverages. It’s frowned upon as an addictive caffeinated drink that stains teeth and gives you the jitters.

People don’t realize all the health benefits of drinking coffee.

Other than helping relieve those nasty headaches and migraines, coffee also helps prevent against deadly diseases like type 2 diabetes, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

It’s definitely worth a few tinted teeth.

According to EatingWell Magazine’s Associate Nutrition Editor, Kerri-Ann Jennings, coffee has more antioxidants per serving than blueberries, making it the biggest source of antioxidants in American diets.

It’s healthy and delicious. So it’s no wonder why so many Americans religiously drink coffee.

Neil Osterweil of WebMD stated that the average American drank 416 eight-oz. cups of coffee in 2009.

Although caffeine is technically a drug, drinking some home-brewed coffee before you go to work might be one of the healthiest things you do all day.

 

 

 

 

By Corey Fry –

The current drop in the job market isn’t only affecting the adult world.  Teens are feeling the recession too.

The US Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 24 percent for people aged 16-19.  This is the third consecutive year that teen unemployment was over 20 percent.

Even in Penn Manor one can see the effects of a weak job market.

Dozens of students struggle on a daily basis to find employment and with so few jobs available, students can’t afford to be particular.

“I’ve applied everywhere, but they just never call back,” said Matt Libonati a Penn Manor junior who said he tried to find a job at two dozen places including Dunkin’ Donuts, Dollar General, Cherry Hill, Turkey Hill, Country Dairies, Scheids, Walgreens and his list goes on and on.

Ian Tahmasbi, a junior, is also having a difficult time landing part-time work.

“I apply at places and I know they won’t give me the job,” said Tahmasbi.

Why exactly is it so hard for students to find a job?  Some common reasons students report:

First of all, students’ time is limited especially when they are involved in extracurricular activities.

“Asking for hours is difficult,” said Steve Long, a Penn Manor junior.

Teens are feeling just as much pressure to find employment despite the economy because parents still want them to foot the bill for gas, insurance and more, students say.

“Everyone I know has jobs,” said Tahmasbi, who does not get an allowance.  “But no one will hire me.”

Trent Sheaffer is a Penn Manor student who is just dipping his toe in the job market but has had no luck yet.

“I mowed lawns during the summer for my neighbors and now I’m trying to get a real job,” said Sheaffer who estimates he has been looking for about one month.

Most teens who were interviewed say they just drop off applications at places of business without first checking out if they are hiring.

Tahmasbi thinks he applied to at least ten places.

“Being unable to support myself is the worst feeling,” he said.

Regardless of whether the economy is what’s causing the trouble, or if students simply aren’t applying at the right places, many will continue to go jobless.

By Julia Norton –
Applying to college is a pretty basic concept, right? Not always. There are many complications and frustrations to filling out college applications.

High school seniors are starting to stress over completing their many applications with deadlines approaching more and more quickly.

Tatiana Houser, Penn Manor senior, finds a few things about applying to colleges especially inconvenient.

“Making sure the information actually gets to the college, ridiculous application prices and each school having a different application deadline are the most frustrating things I’ve experienced,” said Houser.

Letters of recommendation are one of the most difficult things to acquire. Teachers are constantly being asked to write letters for students and trying to get teachers to complete them on time can be practically impossible.

Guidance counselors are there to guide you and help you out with deciding what you want to do and what colleges you may want to apply to. Students think they do a good job of that.

“The guidance counselors were helpful with the questions I had about applying and with sending my transcript,” said senior Alex Lombardo.

While students are finding the applications frustrating, school guidance counselor James Yearsley thinks they should focus more on the financial aspect of college.

“From a parent’s perspective, students think parents are responsible for all the costs. Most parents do pick up some of the slack, but kids should really be thinking about what they’ll have to pay back later,” said Yearsley. “They think that student loans will just pay themselves off.”

Yearsley also stressed, “visit schools before you apply! Something that seems as trivial as a dirty cafeteria can totally turn you off from a school.”

These complications are only a few of the many things that students applying to colleges must deal with.

By David Burch and Kevin Holton –

You may be old and experienced, but you’re still at risk.

All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) accidents are a tragic possibility even when safety measures are followed. Recently a Lancaster County man was killed on an ATV as a passenger.

Since off-road riding is a popular pasttime among Penn Manor students, the safety of ATVs is an important issue here.

“I’ve been riding my four wheeler for six years,” said Penn Manor senior Matthew Shroyer. “I’m still taking a risk every time I go out and ride.”

Shroyer explained some of the safety precautions he takes and recommended the same to others before getting on any kind of ATV.

“Before every time I ride, my dad goes over my four wheeler and makes sure everything is working properly,” said Shroyer.  “Every time I ride I make sure I’m wearing my helmet, goggles, chest protector, neck brace, long sleeve shirt, long sleeve pants, boots and occasionally a mouth guard.”

Shroyer stated that every ATV has a list of safety precautions on the plastic fender that every rider should follow.

After hearing about the 42-year-old Lancaster County man recently dying in an ATV accident in Potter County, Shroyer said it reminded him of  a personal story of an accident that effected his life while riding his ATV.

“It was my third lap of practice and I had a bad feeling,” Shroyer said. “I hit a jump and when I landed, my wheel broke and my front end hit the dirt.  I flew over the bars and landed right on my head and shoulder.  I laid there for a while and I was in a lot of pain. I got hauled off to the hospital and I ended up with a concussion and a broken collar bone.”

Zach Sinz, a Penn Manor junior, also described a story of an accident he suffered while riding an ATV.

“I was in ninth grade and I was riding in the mountains with my friends,” said Sinz. “I didn’t know the terrain I was riding on and was going too fast for the conditions. I flew off the trail and hit a tree and flipped down a hill. Luckily I was wearing my protective gear and walked away with only minor scratches.”

Both students were very lucky their accidents weren’t life threatening. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how experienced you are when riding ATV because there’s always a chance that you won’t walk away  unharmed.

“Anytime someone gets in control of any kind of ATV,  they should have the proper gear on, ” said Penn Manor senior Dylan Tremellen, “Even if your only riding to the end of your driveway.”

Penn Manor Senior Braden Kruger shows how to have fun and stay safe while riding