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Teacher of the month: September

By Nathaniel Soellner

Ronald Wilson, ninth grade Earth and Space Science and AGMO teacher, has been chosen as September teacher of the month, Wilson has never received this award before.

Wilson has been teaching here at TAHS for 15 years as the ninth grade Earth and Space Science and AGMO teacher and was happy to finally be recognized for all his hard work.

“It’s just another reason why I love coming to teach here every day, I feel like it’s a privilege to teach here,” Wilson stated.

Wilson also said that he is so happy to get this award and he hopes that he got this award because of the students he teaches love to come to his class.

 

 

TAHS holds first pep rally

By Sadie Jackson

 

On Friday, August 31^st Tyrone Area high school held their first pep rally.

 

During the pep rally Mrs. Martin, math teacher, released who the winners of the PSSA math rewards were. The football team was introduced this year and the new coach was bid the best of luck from everyone in the gymnasium.

 

“I was really proud of this year’s seniors for the hard work they put into last year. And it was exciting to be able to reward them for their efforts,” Martin stated.

 

This pep rally included the middle school, which hasn’t been done for several years. The middle school added an extra dose of pep to the crowd.

 

This is also the first pep rally since Mr. Rhoades became the new high school dean of students, Mrs. Miksich the new middle school dean, and Mrs. Pinter the new middle school principal.

 

“I really liked that we were involved in the assembly. I have been going to the football games for a few years and I was really excited that the middle school was able to go to the assembly this year!” Maddie Veit, eighth grader expressed.

 

Buddy program starts 2012

By Nathaniel Soellner

April Campbell, middle school guidance counselor, and Amanda Albrecht, guidance office intern, are the people in charge of the buddy program.

The buddy program is a mentoring program for fifth, sixth, and sometimes seventh graders. What happens is the buddies have to fill out an information paper and so do the kids that are getting the buddies.

 Every Monday during advisory the buddy’s take their littles and do activities with them like go in the gym or they  could walk around the halls and just talk.

The most important rule about the Buddy Program is that you can’t hang out with your littles outside of the school!

  One of the most important aspects of the buddy program is to let your little buddy choose what they want to do.

“The program is for children who need a buddy in their life. These kids look up to you high school students, they think you’re like a super hero.” Campbell says.

“You have to take it seriously,  if you’re not taking it seriously you get three strikes and you’re out,” said Campbell.

The buddy system isn’t just about being a mentor it’s about being there for the little buddies. So, that your little buddy has someone to talk to, or so that they can open up to somebody.

“They respect you and trust that you won’t say anything about what they told you to other people,” Campbell says.

 

Students and staff prepare for keystones

By Elizabeth Hill

As we face a new school year, juniors prepare to take the Keystone Exams. While the Keystones resemble the PSSA in some ways, they are extremely different in others. This new exam tests students on a smaller and more specific level. Instead of a science, math, and English test, students will take the biology, algebra one or two, and also the reading and writing exams.

Mandy Lumadue, 10^th grade biology teacher expressed how the Keystones are more challenging, but it could become easier in the coming years. Students have to remember that when the PSSA’s were first created; there were many bugs that had to be worked out in its first years.

The difference is about 25% to 40% more students failing. Two years ago, the current seniors took a pilot version of the Keystone Exams. That year, only 22% of students passed the Algebra test instead of 69% on the PSSA. 20% of sophomores passed the biology test, while over 50% of students got proficient or higher on the PSSA’s. And, although 82% or students passed the PSSA reading exam, only 62% passed the Keystone reading test.

Steven Everhart, 11^th grade English teacher, stated that the students may have some difficulty welcoming the change in tests. “I’m not too sure students will welcome the change overall.” Also adding that, “Since most of the push to change to Keystones comes not from teachers but from politicians and the business community who have raised the passing bar so high that most students in the state will probably fail…as would Governor Corbet if he took some of them.”

 

Students awaken their faith

 

By Sadie Jackson

 

            On Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 7:15am the annual See You At The Pole (SYATP) event was held and students, staff, and adults banned together in prayer.

 

Despite the downpour, organizers concluded that SYATP was a huge success.

 

SYATP is a time that the Christians at schools and or workplaces pray for peers.

 

“I think SYATP is a great opportunity for the students, staff, and parents to come together in fellowship. I am delighted that the school district allows SYATP to take place on campus. I would like to see better publicity for this annual event in order to attract even more people in the coming years. Mr. Kilmartin stated that they have been doing this since 1991, but this was the first year that I had heard about it. Although the inclement weather may have played a part in the number of participants, I was impressed at the number of people of all ages, students and adults, that attended, and I look forward to attending with my children and other family members again in the future,” Lori Weakland, elementary school secretary, stated.

 

The turnout for TASD is usually about twenty students and four to five adults. This year was much larger than usual. There was a total of at least 60 students and staff combined.

 

This year’s theme was Awaken, and the verse was Ephesians 3:14–21—“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father… I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts…And I pray that you… grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and…that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…’”

 

Sadie Jackson, senior, and Seth Umholtz, junior, lead SYATP this year with the help of Jim Kilmartin, Joshua House director.

 

Jackson expressed, “I think this year was a really good turnout. I love the fact that more and more Christians are stepping out in their faith and standing up for what they believe in, even if it means standing alone. That despite that it was pouring down rain there were still so many people gathering in the one thing we can agree on, our faith.”

 

 

“As a local youth group leader and parent, I thought that SYATP was a great experience! It was refreshing to see and hear so many youth proudly standing for something in which they believe. I am also thankful we are able to meet around the TAHS flag pole. This was my first time attending SYATP – and I’m already looking forward to next year!” Tracy Focht, secretary, stated.

 

 

 

 

New year and new goals

By Elizabeth Hill

High school principal, Thomas Yoder gave an overview of his goals to improve Tyrone Area School District.

Some major subjects that will be addressed this year include increasing the graduation rate, refining student behavior, and incorporating the Keystones into the school’s curriculum.

The district plans on working hard to improve the current graduation rate because in past years, the school district has struggled to maintain a good graduation rate.

While discussing previous graduation rates, Yoder stated, “Last year, we missed our goal by two students.”

Yoder and several teachers are heading a new group called Project Safeguard which helps guide students to be responsible when it comes to grades and attendance.

With the Keystone exams being imposed on all Pennsylvania schools, integrating the test into the curriculum with is also a subject of utmost importance this year.

Yoder believes that the school year has gone “really smooth so far” and hopes that it will continue to do so. And when visitors come to Tyrone, the hope is that the school will portray welcoming and positive attitudes.

Tyrone indoor majorettes

By Meridith McManis

 

The 2012-2013 season for the indoor majorettes began in mid-September. Competitions will be held beginning in December and the season will end with the annual trip to Wildwood, NJ for the Chapter championship. The instructor of the group is Skip Headings for his 2^nd year and he is very excited to start up another great year with his twirlers.

Headings said “my goal for the season is to work hard and improve in every aspect of twirling”. Heading has said that he had some ideas for this year’s show, including an artistic piece of music with lots of colors and twirling tricks. Headings likes to set personal and team goals for the season and have all the twirlers improve year by year.

Headings enjoys working with the Tyrone majorettes be “because of the hard work and dedication I have seen over the years at Tyrone”. Headings is a teacher at Bellefonte and coaches cheerleaders there as well.

The majorettes practice for two hours a week until November then the twirlers will practice 4 hours a week. The twirlers compete in competitions every Saturday. The date for the preview show has not yet been scheduled but will be soon.

After all the majorettes have gone through all the competitions and the chapter champions, the group takes a trip to Wildwood, New Jersey. This is where the Tyrone majorettes get to compete in their division and hopefully bringing back the gold! So let’s wish the Tyrone majorettes to go far in this year’s competition.

Coach Guthoff leads Tyrone football

By Nathaniel Soellner

Steve Guthoff is the new head coach of the Tyrone football team.

 

Born and raised in Queens New York, Guthoff went to an all-boys school at Holy Cross High School where he played football and was all city offensive line. He was an honorable mention all-star and academic honor student at Saint Johns.

 

Guthoff is replacing Coach John Franco. When asked how he plans to replace Franco, Guthoff said, “You don’t replace a guy like Franco, you can only hope to lead on the tradition that he led on at Tyrone.”

 

Originally Guthoff was going to go to Altoona with Franco and help coach him, but then when Tyrone called him and offered him the head coaching job he just couldn’t say no.

 

For the future and for the overall football program Guthoff says that not much is going to change and that were still going to shoot for playoffs and state playoffs. When asked if Tyrone will ever win a State Championship under his coaching.

 

Guthoff said, “I can’t really say yes for sure but I can at least say we will always have a chance to go and win.”

 

Guthoff said that he will be the head coach for at least five years that’s when he can retire from being a guidance counselor.

 

A long time Golden Eagle player Max Soellner was a player when coach Guthoff was a helper of Franco.

 

Soellner said that “Guthoff was a high energy guy he always knew how to get us ready for the game Friday night .Guthoff was the defensive coach. He was the first to give me my shot in a Friday night game. He then put me on the starting team defense and worked with me a lot. Although they were both great coaches the only difference I could say is Franco was a little stricter and Guthoff was the more fun one.”

 

Ben Makdad said “Franco was a good coach and so is Guthoff. They are good in different ways.

Makdad says I hope Guthoff stays here awhile for the next generation of football players because he’ll teach them the right way.”

Mrs. Orlosky fills new teaching position

By Silas Crawford

Susan Orlosky has moved from fifth grade to seventh grade English

This change occurred when Ms. Johnston former seventh grade English teacher retired. Due to this change Mrs. Orlosky stated that “When the opportunity came up, I wanted to go for it.”

A big difference in teaching 7^th grade now from once teaching 5^th grade is that the kids have matured more over a 2 year period. But “Both grades take the same time and effort, because there is no easy factor in teaching.”

Mrs. Orlosky loves her staff, “The golden team is what I call them.”

Orlosky stated, “My heart will always be in 5^th grade, but I’m finding my nitch in 7^th grade.”

 

 

 

Mr. Cammarata the new newspaper head advisor

By James Marquette

Ms. Dobrowolsky was the newspaper advisor for eight years;  this year Mr. Cammarata, tenth grade civics teacher, is now taking over newspaper class for this school year.

Mr. Cammarata is extremely excited to have fun while putting out the best product that he and the staff can put out possible.

His main point of interest that he is stressing to all of his students is that

“The best way to learn how to write is to write,” Cammarata stated.

 Cammarata says that the style will come along with the more you write. His favorite part about being the new head advisor is, having up to date issues, also how it breaks up his schedule in the day so that it’s not the same thing over and over every single day is pretty nice as well.

 Not only is he primed and ready to go, but he has experience in the newspaper industry. His father ran a weekly newspaper in Patton.

It gives me a chance to work with kids one on one. I enjoy getting to know them better that way.

Cammarata said, “I basically grew up writing printing and working for a newspaper. I want to be able to bring my experiences over from the real word, and produce the best product possible.”

                                 

 

Mrs. Miksich Moves to MS Dean

By Conner Stroud

Mrs. Lindsay Miksich, math teacher at Tyrone for 11 years, has taken the position of middle school dean. 

She plans to move away from the traditional negative consequences for misbehaving and onto more positive consequences for following the rules.

Miksich says she likes the job so far, “There’s something new every day.” She likes being able to talk to all of the students instead of the few she taught on a daily basis.

Miksich says that she hasn’t had a chance to think about teaching but doesn’t think she misses it. “Teaching becomes routine, but being dean is always exciting.”

She was picked out of eight people after an extensive interview process.

Miksich is very happy with the way Mr. Rhoades handled the discipline in the past years, “It’s made it very easy to transition into the job.”

She hopes to be doing the job for at least five years, but might stay longer if she likes it. She’s looking for administrative experience until she gets her doctorate.

Mrs. Erica Burger is taking over Miksich’s duties as a math teacher.

Morus hired as new band director

By Conner Stroud

David Morus has been selected as Tyrone’s new school band director, replacing Mark Murphy.

Morus went to Duquesne University for music education and graduated magna cum laude. Although he said he cares more about the knowledge he gained, and can now use with the band, than the grade.

He’s been teaching for five years total, Windber and Highlands as choir director and Steel Valley as band director. While at Steel Valley he helped the band to a Chapter championship.

Morus said that the interview was very long, but not intimidating. He was being interviewed at the same time as he was planning his wedding and found out he got the job the week of his wedding.

He said it was a little intimidating coming into a band that has been so successful in the past, but he got more comfortable as he got to know the students and the dynamic of the group better.

Some of Morus’ short term goals are to change up the recruitment in the band program. He wants to go after the fourth graders so he knows who will be in his classes before the year starts. He also wants to continue the success for all bands.

As for his long term goals Morus “Wants the band program to be so big and visible that people will see us and assume that we’re from a Quad A school.”

He teaches all the band classes, from fifth grade band to the high school Jazz Band. He also teaches seventh grade general music. Morus really enjoys having band classes from start to finish.

“Everyone at Tyrone Area School District is very supportive and there is a lot of enthusiasm.” Morus stated.

He plans to stay for a while. He says he can see himself being very happy here for a long time.

His hobbies are reading, hiking, and geocaching. Geocaching is a sort of treasure hunt, where people leave “caches” in the woods or some other secluded place, and log their latitude and longitude so others can find them. Morus even proposed to his wife through the use of a geocache.

Morus says that if you want to know more about him, you can join the band and get to know him yourself.

Mr. Small’s big move

By Dillon Lego

Stephen Small, former ISS Supervisor of the Tyrone area Middle and High School, has moved to Potter County to become a pastor.

According to Small, he made the switch because it was Gods calling for him.

“I am glad I finally took the steps I needed to do what God wants of me. It will be challenging, but life is a challenge, and my family and I are enjoying every bit of it!”

 His entire family approved before moving and all of them seemed to be enjoying the changes. Small stated that it wasn’t a hard decision at all when answering the call to be a Pastor he knew it could take them anywhere in central PA.

 Being a Pastor has a long list of requirements like preaching, teaching, visiting sick, baptisms, weddings and funerals, or to being available to help with things like painting or seal blacktop with the church members. Small has also started full time college online and is currently coaching his 5-6 year soccer team.

“Pastoring four churches brings huge responsibility,” said Small, “People call you to speak or pray at public events, and you are expected to know everything and everybody.”

He is very busy and everyone looks closely at him because he is a Pastor.

“Integrity has been important to me ever since I chose to follow Jesus, and it has encouraged me to start college that I have put off for many years.”

Rhoades parking reward spots

By Meridith McManis

 

This school year Luke Rhoades, the high school dean of students, has put together the idea for rewarding students with three parking spaces.

Rhoades decided to start this because he heard other schools using a similar reward system.

“There is no cost for rewarding the student’s with the parking spaces out front,” Rhoades stated.

 The students that get rewarded are eligible to park in the spaces for one week. Rhoades draws the names randomly, and three students get chosen.

Rhoades stated, “Students don’t like where the spaces are located at, and they are not using them as much.”

Rhoades has decided that the idea is going to continue over the next couple years. He also has said that he’s going to try to revamp the idea, and also to move the spots to where the students will use them more. The students must be in eleven to twelve grades to be eligible for the parking spaces.

Jessica Grazier as ISS teacher

By Karah Postreich

Jessica Grazier was offered a position as the ISS teacher, after six years of working with the retired Paula Binus. In this position she must supervise the students who receive ISS and make sure they complete all of their assignments.

                Besides this position, Grazier was also offered to take over as a study hall teacher for all seven periods of the day.

                “Working in this position is definitely different from working in the culinary arts position,” Grazier stated, “These kids have to be treated differently and with much respect in order to gain it from them as well.”

                Grazier feels obligated to help her students in any way she can so that they are able to get a better understanding of school in order to succeed.   

                “This offer seemed like a challenge to me at first.” Grazier declared, “But in the end I knew that I had to accept it for the betterment of the kids who will enter my classroom.”

DePiro receives support from staff and students

By Sadie Jackson

Staff members, Jessica Hetrick, Sandra Mitchell, Susan Orlosky, Julie Rice, Rebecca Barlett, Kristy Fochler, and Eric Vonada got together and decided to start a committee for Adam DePiro.
With the help of all the staff, the committee works together in organizing fundraisers to help raise money to support DePiro in his battle with cancer.

A fundraiser was held for middle school students giving them the chance to pay five dollars to wear a hat on Friday, September 28, 2012. All the funds raised were donated to DePiro.

In addition to the hat fundraiser, five seventh graders, Cierra Catron, Perry Gillespie, Brittany Weaver, Harley Stimer-Heywood, and Brittany Gill, decided to make t-shirts that read “Team AD” on the front and “DePiro is our hero” on the back.

“I think the fundraisers will help exceed in teacher’s expectations of students and their ability to stand up for a good cause,” Stimer-Heywood, seventh grader, stated.

Lori Weakland, secretary and mother of Harley Stimer-Heywood, and Sadie Jackson, senior, also had the t-shirts on.

The t-shirts were worn the same day as hat day.

The group of staff members also came up with the idea to sell silicone bracelets reading “DePiro is our hero.” The bracelets are $1 for the half inch bracelets and $2 for the one inch bracelets.

 

“…The ‘DePiro is Our Hero’ bracelets make me feel like Lance Armstrong. There are not enough words to express the gratitude that my family and I have for the students, their families, the faculty and staff of Tyrone,” DePiro expressed.

DePiro was told of all the support when his first health care treatment was due.

 

“I was actually receiving support from the school since the day of my surgery. Members of the faculty came to see me in the hospital and I decorated my room with the cards that the students had made for me. I’m overwhelmed by the support that the student body and faculty have given me this year and I am humbled by the generosity of all of those involved,” says DePiro.

Student assistance program

By Elizabeth Hill

Depression affects 18.8 million people across the United States or 9.3% of people under 18 years old. 80% of people who are depressed are currently not receiving treatment and 15% of depressed people will commit suicide.

For 28 years the Student Assistance Program has been running behind the scenes, and helping the troubled students of Tyrone Area School District. Tyrone was one of the original five schools to test this program and in 1990, Act 211 was enacted and required all Pennsylvania schools establish SAP programs.

SAP is mandated by the state and was created to remove barriers in student learning. The Student Assistance Program website (www.sap.state.pa.us) states that “SAP helps schools identify students who are experiencing behavior and or academic difficulties that are posing a barrier to their learning and success in school.”

SAP works with several foundations that help to provide counseling to students. Home Nursing Agency, Altoona Regional Health Systems, and Blair Family Services are contracted with to provide services to students within the program.

The program is voluntary unless the drug and alcohol rules of the school are broken. And although it is voluntary, a parent or guardian must give written consent for the student to be allowed to participate in the program. If a student is uncomfortable with their parent knowing, Mrs. Johannides stated that “Parents don’t have to know anything that is said in counseling unless you are in danger of hurting yourself or others. “

Anyone can refer a student to the SAP program. If you notice that they are struggling academically or behaviorally you can contact one of the SAP Core Team members in person, via email, or by completing a referral form. Referral forms can be found in the guidance office and also on the district website. The SAP Team members will be listed at the end of the article.

The high school SAP Team members are Rhonda Hocutt, Kourtney Klock, Luke Rhoades, Molly Stroup, Julie Patton, April Campbell, Tiffany Johannides, Suzy Park, Leah Dobrowolsky, and Todd Cammarata.

Pinter starts new position as principal

By Silas Crawford

Kristen Pinter, formally a high school English teacher is now the new middle school principal.

Pinter misses her high school kids and working with her old colleagues the most.

“I did this to try new things at Tyrone Area School District other than being a teacher,” said Pinter.

Pinter is still equally busy as she was as a teacher, but just with different things this time around.

“The Middle School team is great, hardworking, dedicated to each other and to their students; they have also been very supportive of me as the new Middle School principal.”

She taught for 15 years, and enjoyed it, but she was ready for new challenges.

The biggest difference for her is that her schedule is not going to be run by a bell anymore, like it was when she was a teacher.

She became the new principal by applying for it when the position came about, and then later getting accepted for the job.

Mrs. Pinter’s goals for this year are to learn more about her middle school colleagues as teachers, be an instructional leader to support her team, and get as much accomplished this year as possible.

Dr. Simmons retires after 30 years of teaching

By Sadie Jackson





Dr. Danis Simmons began her career as a guidance counselor at Tyrone Elementary on September 27, 1982.  After 30 years she is set to retire, leaving Mrs. Kim Eaken as the only elementary school counselor.





Simmons recalls her best memories as simply working with the children and the worst part was that the children were hurting and no one knew.  “Working with children is the most rewarding job you can have,” Simmons said.





As far as how the students will react, Simmons says that students are resilient.





Simmons graduated from Dubois Central Catholic High School, where her counselor was Father Pudlo.“Father Pudlo was very humorous, musically inclined, and always helpful,” she stated.





Simmons attended Penn State University three different times— for her bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, her master’s in elementary school counseling, and for her doctorate degree in elementary school counseling.





Simmons added her final thoughts, “I have many fond memories of students, staff and families. I wish them all well and hope that through these turbulent times in education that they can maintain focus on the needs of all children and that the support staff will continue to do their best to keep them safe, while growing and learning about life, citizenship and the 3 R’s.”





After retiring Simmons plans to take a year of rest and then she is going to start a new career.