The document summarizes the February 2007 issue of the Peters Township High School student newspaper, Smoke Signals. It provides brief descriptions of several articles, including a recap of the boys' basketball season, a feature on PT couples in theater and music, and a story about a new Dean of Students. It also announces that Smoke Signals will launch an online version to provide additional content like photos and surveys.
The article discusses a new program where high school students give presentations to elementary school students about not smoking instead of adults giving the presentations. The program uses animal puppets to teach the children reasons why different animals don't smoke, such as sharks not smoking so their teeth won't turn yellow. Initial feedback shows the elementary school students are really engaging with and learning from the high school student presentations.
The British International School - Hanoi newsletter provides information on upcoming events, sports activities, and other school news. It highlights that the school has a strong sports program with competitive fixtures against other international schools in Hanoi. It also discusses the school's participation in swimming and football tournaments in other cities and countries. The newsletter provides contact details for various departments at the school.
The newsletter provides information about upcoming events at Winchester High School, including a PFA meeting on February 13th to discuss the STEM departments, a practice SAT on February 9th for juniors, and a pizza party for sophomores on February 6th. It also provides an update on the school building project, with the MSBA requesting details on 4 renovation/construction options, and announces a 4.82% increase to the FY14 education budget. Additionally, it advertises community events like the Relay for Life kickoff on February 6th and Rock for Youth battle of the bands semifinals on March 1st.
This article profiles sophomore R.J. Pfeuffer, the starting quarterback for the Peters Township football team. Despite initial skepticism about his experience level, Pfeuffer has held onto his starting role through hard work and leadership. He focuses on executing the game plan and playing for his teammates. With support from coaches and players, Pfeuffer is making the most of his opportunity as starting quarterback.
The document is a newsletter from the Ivy International dormitory at Morgan Park Academy in Chicago. It welcomes new and returning students to the school year and dorm. It introduces the dorm staff, including the new head dorm parent Brian Bosack and dorm parent Jan Wieczorek. It describes some activities students have engaged in during the start of the school year like riding bikes along Lake Michigan and Homecoming Week celebrations at the school.
The summary provides high-level information about 3 main topics in 3 sentences:
1) A school play called "Fools" will be performed on April 19th-21st about a teacher who tries to educate foolish villagers in Russia. It stars Taylor Piedmonte and Lauren Yadlosky.
2) An article profiles the large cast of the play which takes place in a village cursed with stupidity where the teacher tries to educate them but risks becoming foolish himself.
3) The summary describes the annual Mr. PTHS competition won by Tim Beck, with a brief mention of the acts including Beck's impression of a teacher that won over the crowd.
Trips week is taking place from January 26th to 30th where Year 7 to 12 students will go on expeditions to places like Madagascar, Dalat, Mai Chau, Lantau, Kon Tum, Chiang Mai and Puerto Galera. Sports team photographs will be taken from February 4th to 6th for students who have represented the school. Nine Year 12 students began their PADI Open Water Diver training in preparation for the Year 12 dive trip to Puerto Galera next week.
This document provides a summary of important dates for seniors to remember in January and February, including SAT testing dates and financial aid meetings. It also lists upcoming UIL competition results and encourages students to attend club meetings and sign up for dance team tryouts. Key information includes dates for SAT testing, FAFSA meetings, electives fairs, scholarship deadlines, and sports game announcements.
The article discusses a new program where high school students give presentations to elementary school students about not smoking instead of adults giving the presentations. The program uses animal puppets to teach the children reasons why different animals don't smoke, such as sharks not smoking so their teeth won't turn yellow. Initial feedback shows the elementary school students are really engaging with and learning from the high school student presentations.
The British International School - Hanoi newsletter provides information on upcoming events, sports activities, and other school news. It highlights that the school has a strong sports program with competitive fixtures against other international schools in Hanoi. It also discusses the school's participation in swimming and football tournaments in other cities and countries. The newsletter provides contact details for various departments at the school.
The newsletter provides information about upcoming events at Winchester High School, including a PFA meeting on February 13th to discuss the STEM departments, a practice SAT on February 9th for juniors, and a pizza party for sophomores on February 6th. It also provides an update on the school building project, with the MSBA requesting details on 4 renovation/construction options, and announces a 4.82% increase to the FY14 education budget. Additionally, it advertises community events like the Relay for Life kickoff on February 6th and Rock for Youth battle of the bands semifinals on March 1st.
This article profiles sophomore R.J. Pfeuffer, the starting quarterback for the Peters Township football team. Despite initial skepticism about his experience level, Pfeuffer has held onto his starting role through hard work and leadership. He focuses on executing the game plan and playing for his teammates. With support from coaches and players, Pfeuffer is making the most of his opportunity as starting quarterback.
The document is a newsletter from the Ivy International dormitory at Morgan Park Academy in Chicago. It welcomes new and returning students to the school year and dorm. It introduces the dorm staff, including the new head dorm parent Brian Bosack and dorm parent Jan Wieczorek. It describes some activities students have engaged in during the start of the school year like riding bikes along Lake Michigan and Homecoming Week celebrations at the school.
The summary provides high-level information about 3 main topics in 3 sentences:
1) A school play called "Fools" will be performed on April 19th-21st about a teacher who tries to educate foolish villagers in Russia. It stars Taylor Piedmonte and Lauren Yadlosky.
2) An article profiles the large cast of the play which takes place in a village cursed with stupidity where the teacher tries to educate them but risks becoming foolish himself.
3) The summary describes the annual Mr. PTHS competition won by Tim Beck, with a brief mention of the acts including Beck's impression of a teacher that won over the crowd.
Trips week is taking place from January 26th to 30th where Year 7 to 12 students will go on expeditions to places like Madagascar, Dalat, Mai Chau, Lantau, Kon Tum, Chiang Mai and Puerto Galera. Sports team photographs will be taken from February 4th to 6th for students who have represented the school. Nine Year 12 students began their PADI Open Water Diver training in preparation for the Year 12 dive trip to Puerto Galera next week.
This document provides a summary of important dates for seniors to remember in January and February, including SAT testing dates and financial aid meetings. It also lists upcoming UIL competition results and encourages students to attend club meetings and sign up for dance team tryouts. Key information includes dates for SAT testing, FAFSA meetings, electives fairs, scholarship deadlines, and sports game announcements.
The newsletter provides information about upcoming events at the British International School in Hanoi, including sports fixtures, school trips, and a KS2 production. It also includes messages from the Principal and heads of Primary and Secondary discussing the school's application to join FOBISIA, recent science activities, and approaches to teaching and assessment. The menu and contacts section are also included.
This document contains information about students of the month, school lunch menus, PTA membership, school supply lists, bell schedules, sports schedules, and upcoming events at Northridge Middle School. It provides details about various school activities, fundraisers, and important dates in October. The document acts as a central information hub for parents and students.
The document provides information about various school activities at Northridge Middle School. It recognizes students of the month and discusses fairness as the word of the month. It also outlines daily breakfast and lunch menus, bus routes, supply lists, bell schedules, and upcoming events like track meets, band assessments, and a basketball game. Birthday announcements are provided at the end.
The document is a newsletter from the British International School - Ho Chi Minh City Secondary Campus. It provides information about upcoming events at the school including university information evenings, activities starting, and trips week. It also summarizes the results of the school's five-year accreditation visit by the Council of International Schools, noting several strengths identified and that the school continues to be fully accredited. The head teacher expresses pride in the school's commitment to its mission of developing global citizens and providing intercultural understanding.
The document summarizes Mountain Brook High School's Relay for Life event, which raised $227,662 for cancer research despite facing challenges. It describes the successful early event in April that included food, activities, and ceremonies to honor cancer survivors and victims. The luminaria ceremony and musical performances created a reflective atmosphere amid the fun activities of the event.
This document provides information about summer camps and classes offered through UNM Continuing Education for youth ages 4-17 from June 1-August 7. Over 120 camps are offered focusing on areas like fitness, STEM, creativity, culture and careers. Camp options include PBS learning camps, sports camps, yoga camps, and multiple week-long LEGO camps teaching skills like engineering, math and science. The document also details registration information, policies, and contact information for the youth programs.
The Waunakee Community High School unveiled a new student information system called Infinite Campus at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. The system replaced the previous attendance system SASI and family communication site ParentConnect. It allows students to check grades and attendance online. While a big change, teachers and students have embraced Infinite Campus, though some aspects remain cumbersome. The school chose Infinite Campus over other options like PowerSchool and Skyward because it was found to have the best features, ease of use, and future enhancements.
The newsletter provides information about upcoming events at the British International School in Ho Chi Minh City, including:
- A parent workshop on digital citizenship on March 18th.
- The spring concert on April 1st.
- Parent teacher meetings on April 7th and 8th.
- Details on sports programs, dance shows, and the new coffee shop opening at the school.
- Menus for the school cafeteria in the coming weeks.
The document is a school bulletin board from a local newspaper announcing various school and youth-related events and achievements in the area. It includes notices about an upcoming cross-country fun run being organized by the PTO at South Park Elementary to raise money. The 1-mile run is open to all elementary students and will award the school with the most participants $500 for PE equipment. It provides details on registration costs, dates, and how proceeds will support the PTO.
Stratton Elementary School is located in Champaign, Illinois. It has approximately 439 students in grades K-5. Stratton has a diverse student body and offers programs like gifted education and a project-based learning curriculum. The school receives Title 1 funding and has not met academic standards in recent years. Community organizations near Stratton provide after-school programs and activities for students. Safety routes have been established for students traveling to and from school via bus, car, walking or biking. A new issue arose regarding overcrowding on one of Stratton's bus routes.
This newsletter from the British International School in Hanoi provides information on upcoming events and activities at the school. It includes summaries of trips taken by Year 9 students to Sapa and Year 5 students to the Red River. It also announces a visit from rock climber Ben Heason and the second Challenge Day competition involving business, geography, ICT and English departments. Contact information for various school departments is provided at the end.
This document provides information about students of the month, the school word of the month (respect), lunch menus, bell schedules, school supply lists, extracurricular activities, and staff birthdays for a middle school. It recognizes several groups of students for being selected as students of the month and provides contact information for teachers, activities, and sports teams. It also includes announcements about book fairs, fundraisers, and clinics taking place at the school.
Announcements- Wednesday September 20, 2017Ken Stayner
- Student photo proofs have arrived and can be ordered online or through period 1 teachers by October 4th.
- Orange Shirt Day will be held on September 22nd in recognition of residential schools and reconciliation in Canada. Students are asked to wear orange.
- There is no senior boys volleyball game today and a meeting will be held in room 109 at 10:50.
- An athletic council meeting will be held tomorrow at the start of lunch in room 118 for those interested in a leadership role in sports.
The document provides information about upcoming events at the British International School - Ho Chi Minh City Tu Xuong Primary campus. It includes:
- Dates for parents' evenings, EYFS family mornings, club sign-ups, drop-in sessions, and the end of term 1.
- A summary from the Head Teacher about International Week celebrations, including performances, activities from different countries, and thanks to parent volunteers.
- Information about dance classes and a holiday sports programme being offered outside of school.
2019 Waynesburg Summer Leadership Institute Printed ProgramBonner Foundation
The document provides information about Waynesburg University and the 2019 Bonner Summer Leadership Institute hosted on its campus. It discusses Waynesburg University's mission of faith, learning and service. It highlights that Bonner Scholars across the country engage in meaningful service and civic engagement, leaving their fingerprints on their communities. The university president urges participants to consider how they will leave their fingerprints through their work this week at the leadership institute.
This document is a newsletter from Stayner Collegiate Institute that provides information to parents about upcoming events at the school and ways for parents to stay informed and involved. It includes details about parent-teacher interviews, school council meetings, guidance information on post-secondary planning, and extracurricular activities. The principal encourages parents to connect with the school through its website, social media, and by attending school events.
The minutes summarize the May 16, 2012 meeting of the Academy for Lifelong Learning Advisory Committee at Lone Star College-CyFair. Key discussion points included:
- The successful conclusion of Spring semester classes and Focus Day event on May 14th.
- The nearly full schedule for Fall 2012 classes, with a few time slots still available.
- Upcoming summer registration and bus trip plans.
- Chairs' reports on curriculum, events, bus trips, communications/membership, outreach, and publicity.
- Thanks to volunteers who helped with recent events.
- "Meet You There" future event plans and new chair taking over that role.
- The meeting was
Here are the birthdays for this month:
2nd - Jan Redden
4th - Kathy Middleton
5th - Jeff Hight
11th - Rhonda Shade
18th - Danna Goodman
22nd - Jenny Resch, Don Mendenhall
24th - JR Mcphate, Tommy Gregory
28th - Tammy Grisham
This document provides a summary of information for parents about Kelvinside Academy Senior School. It includes contact details for the school, staff listings, details about the school day and calendar, policies on attendance, and information about extracurricular activities and support systems. The handbook is intended to give parents most of the key information needed about the daily operations and procedures of the senior school.
The document provides announcements and information for students and parents of Northridge Middle School. It includes details about tryouts for softball, earning Box Tops to support the school, lunch options and prices, and birthdays of staff occurring in upcoming months. It also lists the students of the month for past months and provides reminders about checking the school website and social media for updates. Key contact information is highlighted such as school hours, lunch times, and how to opt-in to text alerts for school closings or emergencies.
The annual Relay For Life event will be held at Peters Township High School on June 2nd and continue for 24 hours to raise money for cancer research. Teams from the school and community will walk around the track and participate in games and activities throughout the night. Last year students found creative ways to raise additional funds, like taping classmates to a fence. The goal is to keep people walking continuously to symbolize that cancer never sleeps. Students and families are encouraged to attend and support the cause, which helps many people who have been affected by cancer.
A pilot program is being implemented to give high school students interested in physical therapy careers a head start. The program allows students to train at a physical therapy center, learning fundamentals like taping and icing. This year three students will participate, gaining hands-on experience. The goal is for the program to expand and offer school credit in future years.
The newsletter provides information about upcoming events at the British International School in Hanoi, including sports fixtures, school trips, and a KS2 production. It also includes messages from the Principal and heads of Primary and Secondary discussing the school's application to join FOBISIA, recent science activities, and approaches to teaching and assessment. The menu and contacts section are also included.
This document contains information about students of the month, school lunch menus, PTA membership, school supply lists, bell schedules, sports schedules, and upcoming events at Northridge Middle School. It provides details about various school activities, fundraisers, and important dates in October. The document acts as a central information hub for parents and students.
The document provides information about various school activities at Northridge Middle School. It recognizes students of the month and discusses fairness as the word of the month. It also outlines daily breakfast and lunch menus, bus routes, supply lists, bell schedules, and upcoming events like track meets, band assessments, and a basketball game. Birthday announcements are provided at the end.
The document is a newsletter from the British International School - Ho Chi Minh City Secondary Campus. It provides information about upcoming events at the school including university information evenings, activities starting, and trips week. It also summarizes the results of the school's five-year accreditation visit by the Council of International Schools, noting several strengths identified and that the school continues to be fully accredited. The head teacher expresses pride in the school's commitment to its mission of developing global citizens and providing intercultural understanding.
The document summarizes Mountain Brook High School's Relay for Life event, which raised $227,662 for cancer research despite facing challenges. It describes the successful early event in April that included food, activities, and ceremonies to honor cancer survivors and victims. The luminaria ceremony and musical performances created a reflective atmosphere amid the fun activities of the event.
This document provides information about summer camps and classes offered through UNM Continuing Education for youth ages 4-17 from June 1-August 7. Over 120 camps are offered focusing on areas like fitness, STEM, creativity, culture and careers. Camp options include PBS learning camps, sports camps, yoga camps, and multiple week-long LEGO camps teaching skills like engineering, math and science. The document also details registration information, policies, and contact information for the youth programs.
The Waunakee Community High School unveiled a new student information system called Infinite Campus at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. The system replaced the previous attendance system SASI and family communication site ParentConnect. It allows students to check grades and attendance online. While a big change, teachers and students have embraced Infinite Campus, though some aspects remain cumbersome. The school chose Infinite Campus over other options like PowerSchool and Skyward because it was found to have the best features, ease of use, and future enhancements.
The newsletter provides information about upcoming events at the British International School in Ho Chi Minh City, including:
- A parent workshop on digital citizenship on March 18th.
- The spring concert on April 1st.
- Parent teacher meetings on April 7th and 8th.
- Details on sports programs, dance shows, and the new coffee shop opening at the school.
- Menus for the school cafeteria in the coming weeks.
The document is a school bulletin board from a local newspaper announcing various school and youth-related events and achievements in the area. It includes notices about an upcoming cross-country fun run being organized by the PTO at South Park Elementary to raise money. The 1-mile run is open to all elementary students and will award the school with the most participants $500 for PE equipment. It provides details on registration costs, dates, and how proceeds will support the PTO.
Stratton Elementary School is located in Champaign, Illinois. It has approximately 439 students in grades K-5. Stratton has a diverse student body and offers programs like gifted education and a project-based learning curriculum. The school receives Title 1 funding and has not met academic standards in recent years. Community organizations near Stratton provide after-school programs and activities for students. Safety routes have been established for students traveling to and from school via bus, car, walking or biking. A new issue arose regarding overcrowding on one of Stratton's bus routes.
This newsletter from the British International School in Hanoi provides information on upcoming events and activities at the school. It includes summaries of trips taken by Year 9 students to Sapa and Year 5 students to the Red River. It also announces a visit from rock climber Ben Heason and the second Challenge Day competition involving business, geography, ICT and English departments. Contact information for various school departments is provided at the end.
This document provides information about students of the month, the school word of the month (respect), lunch menus, bell schedules, school supply lists, extracurricular activities, and staff birthdays for a middle school. It recognizes several groups of students for being selected as students of the month and provides contact information for teachers, activities, and sports teams. It also includes announcements about book fairs, fundraisers, and clinics taking place at the school.
Announcements- Wednesday September 20, 2017Ken Stayner
- Student photo proofs have arrived and can be ordered online or through period 1 teachers by October 4th.
- Orange Shirt Day will be held on September 22nd in recognition of residential schools and reconciliation in Canada. Students are asked to wear orange.
- There is no senior boys volleyball game today and a meeting will be held in room 109 at 10:50.
- An athletic council meeting will be held tomorrow at the start of lunch in room 118 for those interested in a leadership role in sports.
The document provides information about upcoming events at the British International School - Ho Chi Minh City Tu Xuong Primary campus. It includes:
- Dates for parents' evenings, EYFS family mornings, club sign-ups, drop-in sessions, and the end of term 1.
- A summary from the Head Teacher about International Week celebrations, including performances, activities from different countries, and thanks to parent volunteers.
- Information about dance classes and a holiday sports programme being offered outside of school.
2019 Waynesburg Summer Leadership Institute Printed ProgramBonner Foundation
The document provides information about Waynesburg University and the 2019 Bonner Summer Leadership Institute hosted on its campus. It discusses Waynesburg University's mission of faith, learning and service. It highlights that Bonner Scholars across the country engage in meaningful service and civic engagement, leaving their fingerprints on their communities. The university president urges participants to consider how they will leave their fingerprints through their work this week at the leadership institute.
This document is a newsletter from Stayner Collegiate Institute that provides information to parents about upcoming events at the school and ways for parents to stay informed and involved. It includes details about parent-teacher interviews, school council meetings, guidance information on post-secondary planning, and extracurricular activities. The principal encourages parents to connect with the school through its website, social media, and by attending school events.
The minutes summarize the May 16, 2012 meeting of the Academy for Lifelong Learning Advisory Committee at Lone Star College-CyFair. Key discussion points included:
- The successful conclusion of Spring semester classes and Focus Day event on May 14th.
- The nearly full schedule for Fall 2012 classes, with a few time slots still available.
- Upcoming summer registration and bus trip plans.
- Chairs' reports on curriculum, events, bus trips, communications/membership, outreach, and publicity.
- Thanks to volunteers who helped with recent events.
- "Meet You There" future event plans and new chair taking over that role.
- The meeting was
Here are the birthdays for this month:
2nd - Jan Redden
4th - Kathy Middleton
5th - Jeff Hight
11th - Rhonda Shade
18th - Danna Goodman
22nd - Jenny Resch, Don Mendenhall
24th - JR Mcphate, Tommy Gregory
28th - Tammy Grisham
This document provides a summary of information for parents about Kelvinside Academy Senior School. It includes contact details for the school, staff listings, details about the school day and calendar, policies on attendance, and information about extracurricular activities and support systems. The handbook is intended to give parents most of the key information needed about the daily operations and procedures of the senior school.
The document provides announcements and information for students and parents of Northridge Middle School. It includes details about tryouts for softball, earning Box Tops to support the school, lunch options and prices, and birthdays of staff occurring in upcoming months. It also lists the students of the month for past months and provides reminders about checking the school website and social media for updates. Key contact information is highlighted such as school hours, lunch times, and how to opt-in to text alerts for school closings or emergencies.
The annual Relay For Life event will be held at Peters Township High School on June 2nd and continue for 24 hours to raise money for cancer research. Teams from the school and community will walk around the track and participate in games and activities throughout the night. Last year students found creative ways to raise additional funds, like taping classmates to a fence. The goal is to keep people walking continuously to symbolize that cancer never sleeps. Students and families are encouraged to attend and support the cause, which helps many people who have been affected by cancer.
A pilot program is being implemented to give high school students interested in physical therapy careers a head start. The program allows students to train at a physical therapy center, learning fundamentals like taping and icing. This year three students will participate, gaining hands-on experience. The goal is for the program to expand and offer school credit in future years.
This document outlines the assignments for the December issue including articles, layouts, event shoots to complete individually or with a partner. Students must also do current events and weekly online assignments due Thursdays containing photos or graphics. Additionally, they can choose to do two extra event shoots or one business ad by February to earn points towards their grade.
Students will be assigned specific computers and cameras to use for class. Daily procedures include putting backpacks in the front, being assigned seats by Friday, and checking the whiteboard for announcements. Grading will include classwork, proficiencies to learn equipment use, projects 1-3 per nine weeks requiring a variety of skills, and weekly discussion days focused on media topics.
This document provides an overview of the Media II, III, IV Journalism class. It introduces the teacher, Mrs. Nicole Sitler, and outlines what students will learn including print magazine creation, website design, journalistic writing, photojournalism, and marketing skills. It details assignments like articles, layouts, event photoshoots, and tutorials. Grading procedures are explained for surveys, current events, online assignments, the news magazine, marketing, and other projects. Classroom rules, procedures, and expectations are also established.
El documento analiza la evolución de la situación de la mujer en el sistema educativo español. Históricamente, las mujeres tenían menos acceso a la educación y estaban subordinadas a los hombres. Sin embargo, en las últimas décadas se ha producido un notable avance, con tasas de escolarización femenina que superan a las masculinas en la educación superior. Además, la mayoría del profesorado de educación infantil y primaria son mujeres.
This document summarizes several events that took place at a high school talent show and coffeehouse. It discusses the winners of the talent show, including a trio of string players who won first prize, two singers who tied for second prize, and two drummers who won third prize. It then describes the annual Coffeehouse event, where students perform musical acts, sketches, and other talents. It discusses the experienced student hosts, technical crew, and performances. The document highlights several performers and their positive experiences at the events.
This document appears to be the October 2014 issue of the Smoke Signals student newspaper from Peters Township High School. It includes articles on various topics happening around the school, including changes to the cafeteria cookies due to new nutrition policies, the search for a new assistant principal, and profiles of new clubs promoting acceptance, including the Femina Club and Gay Straight Alliance. It also features articles on sports and entertainment.
Andrew Paul, a junior at Peters Township High School, organized a district-wide shoe drive to collect gently used shoes for "Roberto's Kids," a charity that helps impoverished children in Latin America. Paul has already collected over 3,000 shoes for children in the Dominican Republic. The article commends Paul for his charitable work in making a positive difference in the lives of underprivileged children through his shoe drive.
This document is the summer 2007 issue of the Peters Township High School student newspaper "Smoke Signals". It includes the following articles:
- A story about PTHS photography students displaying their work at the local library gallery.
- Details about a "Drive to Stay Alive" auto safety program hosted by the school district and local police/fire departments to promote safe driving.
- An announcement that Students Against Drugs will be holding assemblies during prom week to raise awareness about drinking, drugs, and safety.
- Additional brief news stories and a calendar of upcoming events are also included. The issue highlights student accomplishments and community activities.
The article summarizes the history and potential designation of Fallingwater as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Specifically, it discusses how Frank Lloyd Wright designed the home in 1936 over a waterfall in Pennsylvania for the Kaufmann family. It was an innovative design that captured worldwide attention. Now, Fallingwater has been nominated by UNESCO for its outstanding architecture and place in history. If approved, it would join other notable sites around the world protected for their cultural and natural significance.
The document summarizes an auto safety awareness program called "Drive to Stay Alive" that was held in Peters Township. It details various activities at the event aimed at teaching student drivers safe driving skills. It discusses distracted driving simulations and how groups like the police and fire departments worked together on the event. The goal was to promote safety for young drivers around prom time and summer.
The document discusses a service project undertaken by sophomore students in Honors World Cultures classes called the Mahatma Project, which was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and involved various fundraising events and efforts over the course of a school year to benefit international causes. It focuses on one popular fundraiser organized by two students, Beth Herder and Claire LaRosa, called "Pie In the Eye" that involved teachers volunteering to have whipped cream pies thrown in their faces to support a free clinic in Mexico. The fundraiser was very successful in raising money for equipment for the clinic to perform complex eye surgeries.
This article discusses a survey of 135 PTHS students that found 85% order caffeinated coffee at Starbucks and 75% drink energy drinks or soda. Nearly 25% visit Starbucks daily or weekly. The article expresses concern about high caffeine consumption among teens and notes caffeine is addictive and can cause health issues with long term use like increased heart rate and anxiety. It also discusses how caffeine has become a social activity for teens and the financial costs of their caffeine habits.
The Peters Township High School Dance Team will host the first annual Homecoming "P-Rade" parade, with various student groups entering floats to be judged, hoping to continue the event annually. The parade on October 10th will be followed by a pep rally and bonfire to get students excited for the upcoming homecoming football game and dance. In addition to floats, the parade will feature a "Servant for a Day" auction where senior sports captains and club presidents will be auctioned off to complete tasks for their buyer the next day.
The document summarizes information about domestic violence and abuse. It states that approximately 3.5 million violent crimes are committed against family members each year, though only about 3 in 5 are reported to police. It also notes that 1 in 4 women experience abuse, and 40-60% of men who abuse their partners also abuse children. The types of domestic abuse are described as physical, verbal, sexual, stalking, economic, and spiritual. Signs of abuse can include fear of a partner and a loss of respect. While domestic violence occurs across all demographics, more data has been collected from low-income families. Overall, family violence has declined by about half from 1996 to 2006.
This deck contains research collected from 249 respondents about how long it takes to create different formats of learning including instructor-led training materials, Level 1 eLearning (Basic), Level 2 (Interactive), Level 3 (advanced, simulations and games), and blended learning. The research is available as Creative Common meaning you are welcome to share the contents with anyone, as long as you list the source when referencing. Enjoy!
The document summarizes the creation of a new Smoke Signals website. Computer applications teacher Mr. Sekely's classes designed layouts for the site, and freshman Andrea Briggs' design was selected. Journalism teacher Mrs. Sitler hopes to have the site fully operational by February, featuring articles, photos, videos, and interactive elements from all PTHS media classes. The goal is for the Smoke Signals website to be a central online hub for PTHS student news and media.
The article discusses a change in the parking policy at Peters Township High School where junior students are now able to apply for parking permits if they meet rigorous requirements, such as maintaining a 3.8 GPA or participating in extracurricular activities. However, some juniors argue that the point system is unfair because students with jobs and extracurricular commitments would still be unlikely to receive a pass even if they truly need it. The administration is experimenting with different solutions to address parking issues and will continue making changes in the second semester.
Three fifth grade teams from Cheyenne Mountain area schools won awards at the annual regional Battle of the Books competition at Colorado College. Cheyenne Mountain Elementary placed two teams, with one team placing second and the other placing third. Gold Camp Elementary also placed one team third. The competition involves answering questions about 40 pre-selected books in a series of elimination rounds. Over 500 fifth graders from 86 schools participated in the event.
This newsletter from the British International School - Ho Chi Minh City provides information about upcoming events at the An Phu Primary campus, including:
1) An 8th PTG Spring Fair from March 10th-13th, a parent workshop on digital citizenship on March 18th, and parent-teacher meetings on April 7th and 8th which will use a new online appointment booking system.
2) A performance of the musical "Oliver" by the AP1 Production Club that was well received by students and parents.
3) A math competition among Milepost 3 students that was organized to encourage math skills in a fun way through team-based activities like estimating and logic problems.
4)
This newsletter from McGary Middle School provides contact information for school staff, announces upcoming events like basketball games and an after school program starting on January 21st. It also provides updates on attendance procedures, a new school website, and community events happening in January like a snowman building contest at the local library.
The article discusses the debate between which NBA player is better - Lebron James or Kobe Bryant. It provides stats for each player and their accomplishments. Two writers then debate the merits of each player, discussing Lebron's talent and potential championships with the Heat versus Kobe's 5 NBA titles with the Lakers. They disagree on whether Lebron needed the help of Wade and Bosh, and whether Kobe is truly the better "clutch" player. The debate highlights the similarities between the two stars but ultimately comes to different conclusions on which player has the advantage.
Stratton Elementary School is located in Champaign, Illinois. It has around 439 students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The school has implemented various programs like gifted programs, uniform policies, and project-based learning. In 2010, Stratton did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress targets. The school is becoming a magnet school for leadership and microsociety programs. Nearby community resources that could benefit students include the public library, parks and recreation centers, and after-school programs.
This document is the November 2010 issue of Smoke Signals, the student newspaper of Peters Township High School. It includes articles about a beloved late social studies teacher, Mr. Brian King, who passed away from cancer, muffin days being cancelled at the school, and a fly fishing field trip for PE class. It also previews upcoming homecoming events and features student interviews and photos. The issue demonstrates the paper covers school news, features, sports, and entertainment and aims to engage the student body.
Bouchet's October 2010 Newsletter FinalLatonya Clark
This document is the October 2010 issue of the Bouchet Elementary Math & Science Academy newspaper. It provides information about the school's mission, leadership team, and academic achievements. It announces events like Red Ribbon Week, no school days, and a visit from the Fire Prevention Bureau. It recognizes the staff member of the month, Mrs. Ford, and provides community announcements like a play on community passion and Halloween events at Brookfield Zoo. It also lists the students selected for the newspaper team.
1) Boston University partnered with SCVNGR to create mobile games to engage students and teach skills.
2) They launched a Beanpot rivalry game between BU, BC, Northeastern, and Emerson that had over 14,000 points scored by BU.
3) Other games included orientation scavenger hunts, campus tours, and dining challenges to introduce freshmen to BU traditions and reward participation.
International Students Resource Guide_Fall 2015_Single PageBonnie Yingfei He
This document provides information to help new graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education adjust to their new environment. It includes contact information for various student support services, tips for being a successful student, descriptions of upcoming events, and information on student government organizations. The document aims to help students navigate Penn and provide guidance as they begin their academic programs.
This document provides a newsletter from Wyong High School with information about upcoming events and accomplishments of students and staff. It includes a calendar of important dates for various school activities, competitions and exams occurring in terms 3 and 4. It also highlights achievements of students in various academic and extracurricular areas such as athletics, music, and career preparation. Staff members provide updates on current term priorities and successes. The newsletter aims to keep the school community informed about news and events at Wyong High School.
The document provides information about upcoming events at the British International School in Ho Chi Minh City's Secondary Campus. It includes details about Year 12 induction, digital citizenship, an upcoming fun run, university visits, after-school activities registration, sports news and parent-teacher group meetings. Upcoming events include football registration, parent information evenings, university visits and the start of after-school activities. The head teacher encourages students to maintain a positive mood to support effective learning and provides traffic tips for parents dropping off students.
The article summarizes a family fun day event held by the RCTC Armed Forces Club at Sekapp Orchard. About 150 veterans and their family members attended the free event, which included hayrides, face painting, pumpkins, and apples. The owner of Sekapp Orchard generously hosted and provided the event after the Armed Forces Club asked for a few pumpkins for a pumpkin carving contest. The event was a success and the Armed Forces Club hopes to make it an annual tradition.
Preview of “newsletter firstquarter2014 15”puckettkm
The Isenberg Elementary School has had a successful first quarter with students participating in guided reading lessons, project-based learning, and other enrichment activities. Upcoming events include after school clubs, a soccer club, movie night, and a laser light show at the planetarium. The school also offers opportunities for leadership through programs like Student Government Association, K-Kids, and D.R.E.A.M. Girls.
Austin MN Community Education Summer Catalog 2019isd492
Austin Community Education is offering a variety of summer youth classes and activities including arts and crafts, sports, fitness, academics, and special events. Classes will take place at various schools and locations in Austin from May to August. Registration is required for most classes and financial assistance may be available for those who qualify.
The document discusses plans by Hoke County Schools to expand Hoke County High School by adding a third campus focused on STEM, career training, and health sciences. The new campus would include classrooms, labs, a gym with a pool, and training facilities for firefighters and EMTs. It aims to accommodate growth and offer students more opportunities to earn credentials. The school intends to partner with the community to make some facilities available for public use.
May/June Garfield Gazette - Lakewood City Schoolsbutest
The document is a newsletter from Garfield Middle School that provides information about upcoming events and accomplishments from the school year. It includes a message from the principal highlighting academic and extracurricular achievements. A calendar lists upcoming performances, field trips, and end-of-year activities. A sidebar lists many of the clubs, sports teams, and talents showcased by Garfield students throughout the year.
The article discusses how some students discovered the truth about Santa Claus through questioning parents or accidental discoveries. Paige Feltner's dad sarcastically told her when she was 5 that Santa wasn't real. Caroline May constantly asked her mom logical questions that eventually led her mom to admit the truth. Emma Fink accidentally found presents meant to be from Santa under the tree on Christmas Eve. These stories highlight the humor and memories involved in discovering the Santa secret.
This document lists senior superlatives for a graduating class. It recognizes students in categories such as best dressed, class clowns, most likely to win an Oscar, most athletic, best hair, winners and runner ups in various categories, and more. A total of 42 students are named under 27 different superlative categories.
Meeting your partner's parents for the first time can be nerve-wracking, but following some basic tips will help make a great first impression. Be respectful, use manners, engage in polite small talk, and dress appropriately for the occasion. Avoid being on your phone too much or having loud notifications interrupt conversations. Bringing a homemade gift, like baked goods, shows effort was made without the risk of alcohol. Ask your partner about their parents' interests beforehand so you have solid conversation topics prepared. With confidence and good etiquette, you are sure to leave them wanting to invite you back again.
The article summarizes the winter sports season for the girls' basketball team at PTHS. After an undefeated season in 2019-2020 that resulted in WPIAL and state championships, the team had high expectations entering this season but faced challenges. They worked hard in preseason to prepare but struggled during the regular season to a record of 6-10. However, the season proved to be a growing year as the team focused on improving and supporting each other through positivity and encouragement.
David Watterson and his photographer Eeshaan went on a journey to try various pumpkin spice foods and drinks during the fall season. They were disappointed by a pumpkin bagel from Einstein Bros Bagels that lacked flavor. However, they greatly enjoyed a pumpkin iced coffee and donut from Dunkin', giving it a perfect 10/10 rating. While a pumpkin pie blizzard from Dairy Queen was too strong, they enjoyed talking to the manager Ed. Their taste test came to an unfortunate end when they tried a bowl of pumpkin frosted mini wheats with pumpkin milk from Giant Eagle, an experience that left David never wanting to eat anything pumpkin flavored again.
David Watterson and his photographer Eeshaan went on a journey to try various pumpkin spice foods and drinks during the fall season. They were disappointed by a pumpkin bagel from Einstein Bros Bagels that lacked flavor. However, they greatly enjoyed a pumpkin iced coffee and donut from Dunkin', giving it a perfect 10/10 rating. While a pumpkin pie blizzard from Dairy Queen was too strong, they enjoyed talking to the manager Ed. Their taste test came to an unfortunate end when they tried a bowl of pumpkin frosted mini wheats with pumpkin milk from Giant Eagle, an experience that left David never wanting to eat anything pumpkin flavored again.
The document provides requirements and guidelines for a final web design project for a media class. Students must create a two-page website on a self-selected theme using at least 4 photos. The website must include specific elements like a banner, navigation bar, social media button, external link, and photo effects. It will be graded based on a rubric assessing technical requirements, design principles, and the quality of content and photos. Students should meet with the teacher to approve their topic before designing the site and validating the code for errors.
The document discusses upcoming issues of the school magazine including:
1) The May issue and Class of 2015 Commemorative Issue will be the last two print issues.
2) A survey will be conducted of all homerooms to collect information.
3) Deadlines for submissions and layout for the May issue are to be determined. Individual assignments include writing an article or assisting with layout and taking photos of a school event.
4) The Class of 2016 issue will have 12 pages focusing on senior events with information about its production coming later.
This document provides information on various photography composition techniques, including:
- Deep depth of field and shallow depth of field
- High and low camera angles
- Tilted frames, subject positioning, and nose room
- Use of color, texture, leading lines, and framing
It describes each technique and gives examples of when and how it could be used to enhance photographs. The document encourages students to experiment with these compositional elements to create more interesting and impactful photos.
The document describes several media electives offered at a school including year-long courses in broadcast, photography, journalism, and yearbook as well as semester courses in basic editing and design, on air talent, and web page development. The broadcast, photography, journalism, and yearbook courses involve both group and individual work creating content, while the semester courses focus on specific skills like using Adobe software, on-camera presentation, and website design.
Media I policies and procedures include storing backpacks in front of the room, assigned seating by Friday, and checking the whiteboard for announcements. Daily procedures assign each student a specific computer and camera, and prohibit food, drink, homework, or non-related web surfing by equipment. Cellphones require prior permission. Safety procedures cover fire drills, lockdowns, and the emergency folder location. Grading includes classwork, proficiencies/tutorials, projects, discussion days, and communication through the class website, calendar, Remind app, and handouts. Students need materials like pens/pencils and a folder, and will work in teams on projects while sharing equipment and learning teamwork.
Media I policies and procedures include storing backpacks in front of the room, assigned seating by Friday, and checking the whiteboard for announcements. Daily procedures assign each student a specific computer and camera, and prohibit food, drink, homework, or non-related website surfing by equipment. Cellphones require prior permission. Safety procedures cover fire drills, lockdowns, and the emergency folder location. Grading includes classwork, proficiencies/tutorials, projects, discussion days, and communication through the class website, calendar, Remind app, and handouts. Students need materials like pens/pencils and a folder, and will work in teams on projects while sharing equipment and learning teamwork.
This document outlines the deadlines and goals for producing a December news magazine. Rough drafts are due by December 3rd, event photos by the 9th, and final copies by the 10th, with the goal of efficiently producing a high quality magazine in only 14 class periods and sending it out by the 18th. Students need to sign up for articles using a shared Google Form.
The December issue of the magazine recapped issues with the previous October issue including a slow and disorganized process and lack of tutorials that hurt production. It provided details on distributing news magazines on Tuesday and Thursday of that week and noted subscriptions and ads were down slightly from the previous year. The document also outlined upcoming tutorials on layout and quoting, assignments and due dates for different levels of students, and adjustments for the December issue including no journals and moving the brainstorming session.
The document provides tips for taking student photos, warning that backgrounds can be distracting and subjects can look strange if not careful. It advises turning the camera slightly to one side for tilted compositions rather than large angles that cause discomfort. Framing subjects on three sides is also suggested, pointing the viewer to the subject like a bullseye and working like an actual picture frame by surrounding the subject.
High angle photography positions the photographer above the subject, making subjects appear smaller and evoke feelings of peace. Typical high angle subjects are nature, children, and small animals. Low angle photography positions the photographer below the subject, making subjects seem larger and can elicit feelings of dominance. Common low angle subjects are buildings, large animals, mountains, adults, and authority figures.
The document discusses shallow and deep depth of field in photography. Shallow depth of field means part of the photo is in focus while other parts are blurred, and the point of focus can be in the front, back, or middle. It is difficult to achieve without a manual camera. Deep depth of field means everything from front to back is equally in focus, focus is softer throughout, and it is usually used for large landscapes with no true subject.
The document discusses techniques for positioning subjects in photographs. It recommends placing subjects slightly or dramatically to one side to add interest. Nearly all professional photos use subject positioning. Subjects can also be positioned up or down simply by moving the camera. The document also discusses following the rule of thirds and positioning subjects and centers of interest at the intersections for a clear focal point. It notes that occasionally breaking the rule of thirds can also make for a good photo.
This document provides an overview of the journalism class taught by Mrs. Nicole Sitler. It outlines class procedures, assignments, and grading procedures. The class focuses on creating a print news magazine and maintaining a website. Students will learn journalistic writing skills, photojournalism, and how to market a publication through advertising sales. Assignments include weekly journals and current events discussions, articles and layouts for the news magazine, event photoshoots, and marketing subscriptions and business ads. Grades are based on these assignments and meeting deadlines. The goal is for students to work together to represent the media department and high school.
1. Volume 38 Issue 4 February 2007
SmokeSignals
Monthly
Feature:
PT Couples
Pages 6 & 7
pt focus
Index
News
Troupe 185’s production
of Shenandoah
Page 3
Opinion
What electives should you
take next year?
Pages 4 & 5
Sports
Boys’ basketball season
wrap up.
Pages 8
Smoke Signals,
Online,
Page 3
Milchovich makes move to main office
Arts on display
Dean of Students Mr. Milchovich reviews his email to
locate student issues as part of his new position.
“Many students do not
have the chance to see
what’s going on in other
departments”
PTHS competes on Hometown High-Q
Emily Bigley
Staff Writer
News
Ashley Czajkowski
Staff Writer
Mrs. Mary Fecher, Library Secretary
On January 13th, five PTHS
students competed on KDKA’s quiz
show Hometown High-Q, designed for
academically talented students. The PT
team was comprised of senior captain
Kevin Danchisko, junior Elizabeth
Zeffiro, and freshmen John Wawrose
competed on Hometown High-Q. The
team was coached by social studies
teacher Mr. Mark Redilla. The Peters
team battled against Ringgold and
Redbank Valley. Although Peters
came in last place with a score of 380
(Ringgold 400, Redbank Valley 460),
it was a well-rounded competition.
Peters Township High School hopes
to become a regular contender on the
show for years to come. Considering
being invited to participate in the
show for the first time was an
accomplishment. The match is based
on the It’s Academic format, which
is another high school game show
competition. There are five rounds
in the game that all include sets of
questions. Before the start of Round
1, each team is given 100 points.
During the first round, “Start
Smart,” each team is asked a series
of ten questions that have a universal
topic. Every question that is answered
correctly results in 10 points added to
the team’s total. If the answer to the
question is incorrect, 10 points will
be subtracted. For the duration of the
second round, “Database,” students
Photo submitted by Jaylan Pinto
Photo by Bill Berry
are asked a sequence of six questions.
Luckily, if a team answers incorrectly
there is no penalty. For each question
answered accurately, teams pick up
20 points. During the third and fourth
rounds, “Pix File” and Advantage
Round,” visual aids on the team’s
monitors and envelopes filled with
questions come into play. The final
round, “Quicktime,” is based solely on
speed. Each team has a member start
on the buzzer. After Ken Rice finishes
asking the question, the floor is open
to whoever hits their buzzer first. The
point values in this round range from
20-30 points. Students can watch
Hometown High-Q every Saturday on
KDKA television.
The 2006 school year has
brought many changes to the
high school, including the new
position of Dean of Students.
Former mathematics teacher
Nick Milchovich accepted the
new job in mid-November.
This role was created so that
students could go directly to an
administrator with any issues
and that administrator would
be available to give his full
attention to the student body.
Milchovich’s new position not
only required him moving from
his third floor classroom to the
principal’s office, but it also put
him in charge of disciplinary
actions, parking passes,
attendance, and supervision
of students. The new position is
a learning experience and he said
it is hard to compare this position
with teaching because they are so
different. Though he misses being
in the classroom, Milchovich said
of his new position that he now
has an opportunity to work with
students on a different level. Other
job perks include on increase in
salary, a new office, and the ability
to control his schedule. Though
he undecided about whether he
will be back in the classroom or
the office next year, he has had
a positive experience. “Dr. Hajzus
and Mr. Henaghan have been
great and I have learned a lot.”
The PTHS students and faculty
have expressed confidence
in Milchovich as the Dean of
Students. “By promoting Mr. Milchovich it’s a
huge benefit because it saves the principals time
from having to train a brand new employee,”
Media teacher Mrs. Erin Boni noted.
Rachel Horensky
Co Editor-In-Chief
The Library Arts Café is an annual, weeklong
event that showcases and gives students a chance to
view the school’s elective departments. Each day of
this week, the library hosts a
different “act”. These acts can
range from students sculpting
on the potter’s wheel to artistic
photography posted throughout
the library.
On Monday, the Café will
host the theater department.
Tuesday will consist of visual arts
such as sculpting, painting, and
computer design. The orchestra
will be performing during
the Café on Wednesday. The
media departments, including
photography, journalism, and
broadcasting, can be seen on Thursday. The Café will also
boast a rock band on the Friday of that week.
“Many students do not have the chance to see
what’s going on in other departments,” according to Mrs.
Mary Fecher, the library secretary. The Café, however,
gives students a chance to witness first hand the different
classes they may have thought they would never have
had interest in. This is especially
convenient because it is hosted
right before scheduling. Thus, the
Café consequently gives students
a chance to perhaps take a new
interest in a class they may have
not been aware of prior to the
Café.
After watching the various
acts, students have an opportunity
to meander throughout the library,
socialize, and purchase food
and drinks. The proceeds from
selling food will then go towards
sponsoring Drop Everything and
Read days (DEAR) and the library luncheons.
The Library Arts Café takes place during all nine
periods during the week of March 2nd. Students will attend
the Café with their English class.
2. PT Reference
February 2007
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals is produced seven times during a school year by the students
of Media II,III, IV Journalism and extracurricular staff at Peters Township High
School, 264 E. McMurray Road, McMurray PA 15317. Telephone: 724-941-
6250 x.5379. E-mail: sitlern@pt-sd.org.
Commentaries, reviews, and opinion columns are the expressed opinion of
the author and not of Smoke Signals, its adviser or the Peters Township School
District. Member of the Pennsylvania School Press Association.
Co-Editors in Chief
Kaitlin Houser
Rachel Horensky
Kara Krawiec
Layout Editor
Catherine McCarron
News Editor
Angelina Nepa
Life & Style Editor
Colleen Counihan
Opinion Editor
Brittany Beyer
Sports Editor
Sean-Paul Mauro
Marketing Editiors
Emily Bigley
Nick Sikora
Staff Writers
Jessica Berardino, Bill Berry, Emily Big-ley,
Ashley Czajowski, Garrett Dennis,
Drew Karpen, Sean Naccarelli, Chris
Portz, Derek Redding, Brendan Sikora,
Nick Sikora, Renee Wunderlich
Layout Team
Megan Enscoe, Katie Gavlick, Stepha-nie
Gillece, Lisa Lerario,
Adviser
Nicole Sitler
1
Girls Varsity
Basketball @ Shaler
7:30
Boys Varsity Wres-tling
vs. Mt Lebo 7:30
Varsity Ice Hockey @
Greater Latrobe 7:30
2
Boys Varsity
Basketball vs. Mt
Pleasant 7:30
Ground
Hog Day
3
4 5
Girls Varsity
Basketball vs.
Trinity 7:30
Senior Rec.
6
Boys Varsity
Basketball vs. Moon
7:30
Pay A
Compliment
Day
7
Varsity Wrestling
vs. Hopewell 7:30
8
Varsity Ice Hockey
@ TJ 6:15
Girls Varsity Bas-ketball
@ Cannon
Mac 7:30
9
Varsity Wrestling
@ Montour 7:00
Boys Varsity
Basketball @
Cannon Mac 7:30
10
Snowball
7:30-10:30
11
Satisfied
Staying Single
Day
12
Varsity Ice Hockey
vs. Montour 9:30
13 14 15 16
Varsity Wrestling
@ Greensburg
Salem 7:00
17
18
19 No
School
20 21
For the Love
of Milk Day
22
Varsity Ice Hockey
@ Elizabeth For-ward
6:15
Faculty
Dodgeball
Game 6:00
23 24
25 26
Varsity Ice Hockey
vs Erie Cathedral
Prep 7:30
27 28
International
Pancake Day
3. News
J. Berardino
A. Czajkowski R. Wunderlich A. Nepa
Outside
Pizza Patron, a Dallas based pizza company,
has begun accepting Mexican pesos at all
of its 59 locations scattered throughout
Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada and
Colorado. Andrew Gamm, director of brand
development for the firm asserted, “We know
that a large number of them travel back
and forth between the U.S. and Mexico and
consequently have some pesos left over in
their pocket. The pizza business is extremely
competitive and…this was a way to position
ourselves in relation to our competitors.”
Never before has any U.S. company accepted
Mexican currency so far from the border.
A zoo in Adelaide, Australia, recently put a
group of humans on display so that scientists
can observe their behavior over the course
of a month and make conjectures about
the influence of captivity on large primates.
The zoo’s visitors have a chance to vote for
their favorite subject and the winner will
reside over the entire zoo as resident “Super
human.” Billed by the zoo as “Big Brother
Behind Bars,” volunteers imitating primates
wear mikes and act out in front on webcams.
New Jersey’s legislature recently convened
and proposed cutting the word “idiot” from
its state constitution. The words “no idiot
or insane person should enjoy the right of
suffrage” were penned nearly 150 years ago.
State Senate President Richard Codey, the
father of the legislation, declared that “idiot”
is “outdated, vague, offensive to many and
may be subject to misinterpretation.” Codey
intends to extend voting rights to people
with emotional or cognitive disabilities.
On January 11, thousands marched in New
Orleans to city hall to protest of a string of
recent murders. “We have come to lodge
our complaint…We have come to declare
that a city that could not be drowned in
the floods of a storm will not be drowned
in the blood of its citizens.” Reverend J.C.
Raphael explained. Since the beginning of the
year, eight murders have been committed.
Nakita Shavers, sister to one of the victims,
recently said, “My intention is to … become
a prominent politician for this city…but the
sad part is, if the violence keeps up the way
that it is, I won’t have a city to come back to.”
Planning to stop drunk drivers
Toyota Motor Corporation is developing
a reliable system for cars that automatically
shuts down the vehicle if its sensors pick up
signs of excessive alcohol consumption. The
cars fitted with this detection system will not
start if sweat sensors in the steering wheel
recognize a large amount of alcohol in the
driver’s bloodstream. The system could also be
useful if the sensors detect unusual steering.
If this would occur, the car would then be
slowed to a stop. The system could also take
action and slow to a stop if the special camera
installed along with this system shows that the
driver’s pupils are not in focus. The system
not only hopes to prevent drunk driving but to
prevent driving while drowsy or fatigued.
“By the end of 2009, Toyota hopes
to fit cars with this system,” according to
Barry Wood returns to Troupe 185 with Shenandoah
In March, PTHS
Thespian Troupe 185 will be
performing the Broadway
musical Shenandoah. English
teacher Barry Wood is directing,
with Ryan Perrotte serving as
musical director and
Donna Fox conducting
the orchestra. Dawn
Basham student
directs while Renee
Wunderlich serves
as stage manager.
Shenandoah, like
previous spring musicals,
brings together many students
and teachers from the Music
and Theatre departments.
“My favorite part of the show
is working with the
students, I love the
rehearsal process
and I am thrilled to
be working with Mr.
Perrotte, Mrs. Fox, and
technical director Mr.
Walsh…We have a great
team,” stated Wood.
Shenandoah
stars Thomas Rauch
as Charlie Anderson,
Paige Venanzi as
Jenny, Tom Norton as “the
boy”, Carl Mitchell as Sam,
Becky Rosky as Anne, Taylor
Piedmonte as James, and
Abu Shettima as Gabrielle.
Performances will be March
1st at 7:00, and March 2nd and
3rd at 7:30. Tickets are $7 for
general admission and $4 for
students and seniors.
Smoke Signals goes high tech
PTHS has
stepped into the
21st century: Smoke
Signals is now
accessible on the
web. The new online
version will not only
feature the same
topic categories as
the monthly hard
copy of the paper, but
also extra articles,
pictures, and surveys.
P r e p a ra t i o n
for what is hoped to
be the new number
one resource for
high school student
news officially started
at the end of last
November. “Mrs.
the Associated Press. Another Japanese car
manufacturer, Nissan Motor Corporation, has
already been researching and experimenting
with breathalyzer-like devices. These devices
could potentially detect if the driver was
drunk. Similar technologies, such as alcohol
ignition interlocks, are in use in the U.S. and
elsewhere.
Actions such as these are being taken
to hopefully reduce the spike in drunk driving
crashes that not only the U.S. is experiencing,
but other countries such as Japan are enduring
as well. For example, Japan experienced a
series of alcohol-related accidents last year.
These incidents prompted increased research
and experimenting in order to get these new
cars on the road as soon as possible.
Sekely’s computer
class worked on
designing the layout
for the website. It
had to be something
both functional and
visually appealing,”
said Mrs. Sitler,
journalism teacher
and coordinator
of the Smoke
Signals website.
S e k e l y ’ s
classes submitted
their best original
designs, the top
three were then
forwarded to Sitler’s
journalism classes.
Her newspaper staff
voted on their favorite
The Tony award
winning Shenandoah
centers around a
widower, Charlie
Anderson, who lives
with his large family in
Virginia during the Civil War.
Anderson does not wish to be
involved in the war because he
doesn’t consider it relevant to
his family. However, the family
is forced into action when
the youngest son is taken
prisoner by Union Soldiers.
Shenandoah marks
the return of Wood as a
director in Troupe 185. Wood,
who created the troupe in
1970, said, “Shenandoah is a
challenging, serious musical
which contrasts the previous
productions this season.”
The main theme of
Shenandoah is family, both
immediate and worldwide.
“Throughout the show, the
central character discovers
that he is part of the family
of man…he realizes that every
man and woman on this planet
is his brother and his sister and
we are all responsible for taking
care of each other,” said Wood.
layout, which was
the one developed
by freshman Andrea
Briggs. “I tried to
make something
user-friendly-really
understandable- and
easy on the eyes. It
wasn’t hard to do,
and it was a lot of
fun,” said Briggs.
While the
site is still currently
under construction,
Sitler hopes to have
it fully operating
by the beginning of
February. She also
plans on featuring it
at the annual Library
Arts Café. “The
goal is to eventually
have this site to not
only showcase the
newspaper, but for it
to be something all
media classes can
contribute to. We’ll
be adding photos
and short video clips,
as well as further
developing student
surveys and other
interactive activities.
It will be a mass
PTHS media center.”
To access
the Smoke Signals
website, just go to the
Peters Township High
School homepage and
look for the link: PTHS
newspaper, “Smoke
Shenandoah marks the
return of Wood as a
director in Troupe 185.
Ashley Czajkowski
Staff Writer
Taylor Piedmonte
Staff Writer
Renee Wunderlich
Staff Writer
Entries submitted by Angelina Nepa
Photo by Sean Naccarelli
Sophomore Julia Broglie visits Smoke Signals
website, the brand new faction of PTHS news-paper.
4. Opinion
B. Beyer G. Dennis N. Sikora S. Naccarelli
Classic love stays in style
Classic love never goes out of
style.According to dictionary.com, a
“chick flick” is a movie directed towards
a female audience that displays deep
emotions of love and conflict resolution.
Yes, the chick flick is known for its
basic storyline: boy meets girl, boy
and girl fall in love, a problem arises
and then boy and girl end up back
together in the end. For some reason,
though, these steps can be mixed and
matched in a variety of ways to make
the basic chick flick interesting enough
for hundreds of similar, but still unique,
plots for movies. So to get ready for
those romantic days of February, here
are a few suggestions of the classic
chick flicks that should definitely be
watched during this season of love.
Sleepless in Seattle- Ah, two
people brought together by a radio
show that go to great lengths to meet
and ultimately fall in love. Is there a
better example of a chick flick? Oh, I
think not. When a little boy calls into
a local radio show in Seattle to tell the
story of his widower father and how all
he wants for his dad is to find a wife,
of course, hundreds of women are
moved by this and send in letters from
all over the country to offer marriage
proposals. One woman in particular
feels a connection to this man and
his son and knows that she needs to
meet him, even though she’s already
engaged. This 90’s classic has captured
the hearts of thousands with the help
of the dynamitic duo, Tom Hanks and
Meg Ryan.
Miss Congeniality- This stars
the sensational Sandra Bullock. This
movie has just the right ingredients
to make the perfect piece of chick
flick greatness. When Gracie Hart, a
woman that has anything but “grace”,
has to go undercover as a Miss America
beauty pageant contestant to save the
show, this strong-willed leading lady
makes us laugh out loud. Bullock pulls
this character off with just the right
amount of sass and class with a little
hopeless romantic side to make this
movie worth seeing again and again.
How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days-
ABC and Fox attract viewers
“ What’s your favorite
Romantic
Movie
“I liked the Notebook.”
Valentine’s Day
He Said vs. She Said
Nick Sikora Brittany Beyer
Drew Karpen
Opinion Writer
Kara Krawiec
Co Editor-In-Chief
Is Valentine’s Day a Hallmark
No way, but it is definitely blown out
of proportion by them.
Who would be your ideal
Justin Broglie because his break
dancing skills are absurd.
What would be the best Valentine’s Day gift for
Getting accepted to Parson’s. Actually,
getting accepted into college in
general.
What do you plan to do on Valentine’s
Ask my boyfriend! It’s a mystery to
me.
The New Year started off with a
bang when several TV series premiered
in January. The popular series on ABC
and Fox were anticipated to be bigger
and better than before, but the shows
did not live up to the much-anticipated
hype. ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate
Housewives, and Lost, all came out with
new episodes last month. Everyone
seems to be in love with the show Grey’s
Anatomy. Everywhere I go, I hear
people talking about how much they
love it. “It has a phenomenal cast with
really interesting, surprising twists in
the show, not to mention the fact that
I’m practically in love with McDreamy”,
said senior Brandi Kohne. Desperate
Housewives is back, but boring and
not really entertaining. On the other
hand, the new season of Lost is going
to be the best one yet because of the
unexpected twist that will occur.
Fox had three main shows
premiering in January: Prison Break,
American Idol, and 24. Senior Kerstin
Makowski said that Prison Break “is
intriguing and adventurous because the
second season is all about the brothers
and their escape.” Next, American Idol
is very entertaining because at first you
There was a real St. Valentine, so I
guess it’s a holiday. Hallmark definitely
invented the holiday though.
Its a tough choice between Connor
Tarwater and Sean-Paul Mauro. Close
third is Justin Broglie.
Advil. Because 50% of the girls I know
and 83.6% of those I don’t know give
me headaches, and the whole holiday
is about girls.
Decide on a Valentine.
Jessica Policz, ‘09
“I love A Walk to Remem-ber.”
Savannah Lindberg, ‘07
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre is
definatley the best.”
Mary Irwin, ‘08
“My favorite romantic movie
is Gone with the Wind.”
Tom Norton, ‘10
5. 5
Smoke Signals
February 2007
Effective elective enlightenment
It is 8:45 A.M. and you hear
your phone buzz; you open your
phone and read the text message,
“Wat classes r u takin?” You realize
you have not even thought about next
year’s classes, and start to panic. As
a senior, I have gone through all the
struggles of deciding which classes
to choose, and I would recommend
listening to the guidance counselors’
presentation. This presentation gave
general information on the electives
offered and advice on how to plan next
year’s schedule. Step one in making
the right choice is to look at all your
options in order to have a complete
perspective of what is offered. Then,
balance required classes with elective
classes. With your open periods,
choose the electives that would be
most interesting and which ones could
possibly wait until the following year.
If you have any interest in media, then
your schedule will be tight. I have been
in journalism for two years, and I had to
make several choices in order to keep
this class. My best suggestion would
be to take summer gym. This was the
best decision I ever made, because it
freed up one elective allowing me take
something else.
What classes are beneficial to
college? From my experience, and from
talking to other people, I have come
up with a must-take list. First, if all
possible, take Writing Workshop. This
class has improved my writing, given
me more confidence, and helped me to
write my college essays. Next, take a
Media class -- Production, Journalism,
Photography, or Broadcasting --
because these class teach independence
and time management skills, two
essentials to survive in college. Senior
Heather Sickmund said, “I would
suggest taking Media I if you have any
interest in taking a media class. I only
got to take Yearbook because I was in
an Honors English class. Yearbook has
been such a fun class.” A yearlong
class, Personal Finance, will help you
to balance a checkbook and write a
check, among many other things that
all are necessary in order to live on
your own. These are only a few of the
many electives to take. Whether your
interests lie in architecture, the arts/
theater, writing, music, accounting,
childhood growth, or anything else,
Kaitlin Houser
Co Editor-In-Chief
What’s your favorite
“ Elcetive
“Music Theory is my favorite
elective because I’m in Garrett’s
class, and Doc is an awesome
teacher. Know thy clefs. ”
Keith Quinn, ‘09
“Dan like Ceramics, yay.”
Dan Urbanowicz, ‘08
“World Mythology because it
was a fun class that you can
talk to your friends in.”
Chris Schilling, ‘07
“Accounting because it is a lot of
fun and it wasn’t hard.”
Sam Fortna, ‘10
take the opportunity now and find your
niche.
You may be thinking only nine periods
and four years of high school is not enough
time to fit everything in that you want to take.
Paninis: lunch time winners
Nick Sikora
Staff Writer
It seems
that in the first few
months after New
Years fewer and
fewer people keep
with the mounds
of New Year’s
resolutions that
they promised.
And why not, its
two months into
the new year,
its cold outside,
and cutting carbs
really isn’t all that
its cracked up to
be. Watching other
people eating
“guilty foods”
doesn’t help
much with dieting
either. Eventually,
a loaf of bread
somewhere will call
a carb conscious
person’s name,
and then the hunt
for grains is on -
but don’t worry,
because dieting
fails all the time,
every time. Even
with the new and
improved healthy
school lunches,
diets usually
don’t work. Whole
grain cookies
can only do so
much; they’re still
cookies despite the
foreign, bamboo
taste. Aside from a
huge limit on fries
and the cookies
that just aren’t
up to par with
last year’s gems,
there are things
to look forward
to at lunch. Take
the Panini line, for
example. Quite
possibly the best
thing since the
internet, school
paninis are the
most delicious
lunch item to
eat in the entire
school.
Every day
the flavor is new,
and just thinking
about the day’s
Panini can be
enough to take a
Monday and make
it worth going to
school. At many
r e s t a u r a n t s ,
grilled sandwiches
are quite good, and
the Peters School
district apparently
decided to go out
on a limb and make
extremely good
food available
every day. Pressed
Cuban sandwiches
that are widely
sold in Florida
are absolutely
amazing, and with
the popularity of
“Quite possibly the best thing since
the internet, school paninis are the
most delicious lunch item to eat in
the entire school.”
the Primanti Brothers style sandwich,
it’s no surprise that the school jumped
on the bandwagon and combined not
only grilling, but also introduced new
Photo by Nick Sikora
Junior Nick Fazio buys a delicious steak
and cheese panini. Lines were often
long but these sandwiches are worth the
wait.
6. T V E B P
Jess Berardino
&
Zack DeFelice
How long have you been together?
We have been together for three months; we
are a brand new couple.
What first attracted you to the other
person?
We started out the school year in the same
class, and I thought he was so cute.
Who asked whom out first?
I offered to take him home from school and we
would hang out at his house. When we were
sitting on his couch one day he asked me if I
Becky Pfeifer
&
Timmy Reeder
How long have you been together?
Almost four months.
What first attracted you to the other
person?
He was fun to hang out with and easy to talk
to…plus he had a cute smile.
Who asked out whom?
Timmy asked me out.
would want to date him and I said yes!
Describe your first date.
We went to go and see Open Season. Then
we went to Bravos for dinner. Coincidentally
Mr. & Mrs. Pinto
How long have you been together?
Five years in May.
What first attracted you to the other
person?
Mr. Pinto’s sense of humor.
Mr. Pinto liked that Mrs. Pinto was older and
wiser.
Who asked out whom?
Mrs. Pinto gave Mr. Pinto her phone number
and then Mr. Pinto called and asked Mrs.
Pinto out.
Photo submitted by Mrs. Pinto
Photo submitted by Jess Berardino
Photo submitted by Becky Pfeifer
L O
7. Emily Labovitz & Mike Debowski
How long have you been together?
Two months
What first attracted you to the other
person?
The way Mike would drool when he fell asleep
in study hall and the even more attractive way
Emily would drool when she was still awake.
Who asked whom out first?
It was mutual.
Describe your first date.
It consisted of hanging out at the Half Price Book
Chelsea Ali & Mark Chedgy
How long have you been together?
We’ve been together for seven months.
What first attracted you to the other person?
I noticed his sweet personality. I felt very comfortable
around him. And I thought he was very very cute!
Who asked out whom?
Mark asked me out first.
Describe your first date.
We went out for lunch. I was pretty shy at first, but
really enjoyed getting to know him. After that we
spent almost everyday of the summer together.
N ...
Photo submitted by Emily Labovitz
Melanie Zuccarini
&
Matt Bianco
Photo submitted by Chelsea Ali
B
E G
I
S
How long have you been together?
Roughly two years.
What first attracted you to the other
person?
Mel was funny.
Who asked out whom?
I asked Mel out at Homecoming.
8. Sp rts
Sean-Paul Mauro
extra p int
Chris Portz
Emily Bigley
Young talent gives PT hope for future
Sean-Paul Mauro
Sports Editor
With a sub 500 hundred season and no
playoff victory to show for it – some PT seniors
might not consider this past season to be the
one that they had hoped for. However, seniors
Kevin Noone, Spencer Smith, John Mathis,
Alex Radke, and Justin Fehl should be able to
hang their heads on the certainty that they
contributed in building a foundation that will
be formidable for years to come.
It was apparent in any Peters Township
game that you watched this year that the
Indians were extremely deep. Coach Gary
Goga was able to go nine players deep into
his bench for each game. This allowed the
Indians to keep fresh legs on the court at all
times, and to eventually wear opposing teams
out.
Another characteristic of the Indians
that, undoubtedly, stood out to anyone with
“Everyone on the
team really came
together”
a media guide was how young they were.
Although, the Indians had a tremendously solid
senior class – the young talent on the team is
what oftentimes sparked them. Freshman point
College coaches rarely find success in the NFL
Connor Tarwater
Like in most jobs,
success leads to an upgrade,
whether it is a raise or a
promotion. This is no different
in the business of football,
where often time’s college
coaches are awarded with NFL
jobs when they have a lot of
success with their respective
college. Unfortunately for
most of those coaches, college
success rarely
translates to NFL
success.
T h e r e
“College coaches
are used to different
techniques and
mentoring players.”
are three prime
examples when it
comes to college
coaches flopping at
the pro level. Nick
Saban had moderate
success at Michigan
State until he took
the LSU coaching job
in 1999. In five years
with the Tigers, he
had a record of 48-16 and won
a National Championship in
the 2003-2004 season. After
the championship, he bolted
for the Miami Dolphins head
coaching job. He went 15-17
in two seasons, and has thus
agreed to coach again at the
college level for the Alabama
Crimson Tide.
Steve Spurrier had
unprecedented success as a
head coach at the University
of Florida. He won six
Southeastern Conference
titles, was the Southeastern
Conference coach of the
year three times, and won
a National Championship.
This success landed him an
NFL coaching job with the
Washington Redskins. In his
two seasons with the Skins,
he had a record of 12-20.
He is now coaching for the
University of South Carolina
Gamecocks, and he is having
a lot of success, where he
went 7-5 and 8-5 in his first
two seasons, respectively.
Former Miami
Hurricanes coach Butch Davis
took a team of disarray and
turned it into a powerhouse,
Sports Writer
guard, Craig Wolcott, was a huge contributor
to the team. He was a starter in every game
– a remarkable feat for a freshman – and was
one of the team leaders in assists. Although,
extremely young and inexperienced – Wolcott
showed that he was able to run the offense
without turning the ball over. “Everyone on
the team really came together. The support of
the older players made it easier to contribute,”
said Wolcott.
Sophomore Nick Wilcox was also a huge
contributor to the team as a first year starter.
Wilcox was among the leading scorers on the
team throughout the entire season averaging
nearly 12 points a game and, remarkably, he
led the team in steals, with almost three steals
a game. Sophomore center, and teammate
Derek Redding explained, “I am really looking
forward to next year’s team. I know that the
experience that all of our young players got
Who is the most dominate athlete in
sports?
CT: Roger Federer is the best
athlete in the world. For those of
you who don’t know who Federer
is, he is the number one ranked
tennis player in the world since
February 2, 2004. Let that sink
in. That’s almost 3 years. What
makes him the most dominant
athlete in sports is that he rarely
ever loses, and he wears a really
sweet headband. You can’t go
wrong when you’re wearing a
sweet headband.
SPTM: Sweet headband aside, you’re
obviously wrong again. Although,
Roger Federer is arguably one of the greatest
tennis players of all time and his dominance in
the sport is unrivaled – how can you not go with
Tiger Woods? As soon as Tiger Woods came
into the professional golf world he immediately
took over. Only 42 weeks into his career, he
became the number one ranked golfer in the
world. He then set a record for 264 straight
weeks atop the World Golf Rankings. Woods is
the most dominant athlete in sports because he
is nearly impossible to beat when he plays to
his potential.
CT: Wrong again. Remember, the time
you picked the Ravens to go to the Super
Bowl and I picked the Bears? We all see
how that worked out for you. Federer has
won the US Open three times, Wimbledon
four times, and the Australian Open two
times…all since 2003. His career record is
483 wins and 125 losses. In 2004, Federer
won 11 titles with a 74-6 record. In 2005,
he went 80-4 with 11 titles again. In 2006,
he continued his domination with a 90-5
record and another 12 titles. He is the only
player to have won both the Wimbledon
and U.S. Open singles titles in three
consecutive years from 2004 to 2006. In
2004, Federer became the first man since
Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three out of
the four Grand Slam singles tournaments in
the same year. In 2006, Federer repeated
this feat and became the first man in
the open era to win at least ten singles
championships in three consecutive years.
U.S. tennis great Andy Roddick once said
of Federer after a match, “He’s probably
as close as there has been to unbeatable,
I feel like I played decent and the stats
are decent, and I got straight setted. I’m
not going to sit around and sulk and cry.
I did everything I could,” (USA Today).
Also, TheSportsTruth.com named Federer
the Number 1 tennis player to ever live,
above names such as Pete Sampras, Andre
Agassi, Rod Laver, and John McEnroe.
SPTM: Tiger has become the face of American
sports – the face of World Sports for that matter.
He is an icon. His dominance is unrivaled. He
has won the PGA Tour player of the year for
the eighth time in 10 years. He just beat out
Roger Federer for the AP Athlete of the year.
Even other players on the
PGA are in awe of what he
has accomplished. They
speak of him like he’s above
the sport, they just enjoy the
opportunity of playing with
him because they know they
have no shot at winning; U.S.
Open champion Geoff Ogilvy
said, “Any time you get to
play with him, it’s a privilege.
You can learn something from
him,” according to an ESPN.
com article.
going 51-20 during his tenure
with the Hurricanes. In 2001,
Davis went to the Cleveland
Browns and couldn’t repeat the
success he had with the Canes.
Davis went 24-35 and was 0-1
in his only playoff appearance.
He resigned in 2004 as the
Browns coach and will start his
first season at the University of
North Carolina next season.
Senior Sean-
Paul Mauro stated,
“I believe there is a
different mentality
in the NFL. College
coaches are used to
different techniques
and mentoring
players, but in
the NFL, players
don’t feel that
they need to be
mentored.” Senior
Taylor Piedmonte
said, “The college
coaches don’t have as much
control over their players as
they did in college.”
“The NFL is a difficult
league to win in for any period of
time, especially if you take over
a losing team. And that’s where
the jobs are,” said former Dallas
Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson.
“It’s difficult to have success no
matter where you came from.”
– Sean-Paul Mauro ‘07
– Craig Wolcott ‘10
Photo by Brianna Rafferty
Sophomore Nick Wilcox defends against oppo-net
from Erie McDowell. Wilcox was just one of
several underclassmen varsity starters.
9. 9
Smoke Signals
February 2007
SPORTS
BRIEFS
The team’s current record is 5-11. They
will look to get their younger players
more experience. Upcoming games
include rivals Montour and Elizabeth
Forward, and a rematch against Thomas
Jefferson.
Girls’ swimming
Currently, the girls’ swim team is a strong
competitor in the WPIAL. They started
off 2-0 and are not looking back. Senior
Dina DeVincentis looks to assert her
leadership during the upcoming meets
against: Bethel Park, Mount Lebanon, and
Chartiers Valley.
BOYS’ SWIMMING
The boys’ swim team has started out
undefeated at 2-0. They beat Moon (97-
72) and Upper St. Clair (59-40). Seniors
Chris Graves and Dan Smith look to lead
the boys’ swim team to victories against
upcoming opponents: Bethel Park, Mount
Lebanon, and Chartiers Valley.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The boys’ basketball team is 3-14. The
Indians are getting what they wanted
from their big man, John Matthis, who
has been a major contributor, scoring as
well as rebounding off the glass. Unfor-tunately,
the great performance of Mat-this
has not been enough to overcome
opponents.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Girls basketball is 13-4. They have been
known to blow out the other teams with
the ability to win by as much as 50 points.
With this phenomenal start the girls’ bas-ketball
team is looking like a strong play-off
contender. Upcoming games include
rivals Shaler, Trinity, and Canon McMil-lan.
WRESTLING
Bill Berry
Connor Tarwater
Derek Redding
Brendan Sikora
HOCKEY
Oregon and Clemson verge of fairytale season
Chris Portz
Underdogs have
existed as long as the game of
basketball. Last year George
Mason accomplished an
unfathomable feat as a team
off the radar. They made the
playoffs and managed to make
it to the final four. On the way
they knocked off teams like
North Carolina, Wichita State,
and Connecticut. Similarly,
Oregon and Clemson are
poised to perform well at
the big dance, the Men’s
Basketball NCAA tournament.
The college basketball season
is here again and these
Cinderella teams are turning
heads. Dick Vitale, longtime
basketball broadcaster and
analyst, said “There’s no
doubt that they’ve been a
real surprise. This team has
amazing camaraderie. They
play together; they’ve done a
phenomenal job,” said Vitale
(Sports Illustrated).
Currently, three teams
that have stood out and have
the best records in the NCAA
halfway through the season.
UCLA was number one and
undefeated, not a surprise.
What was surprising was
Oregon upsetting number
one UCLA. Oregon, who
totaled 16 wins last season,
was 14-1 halfway through
the season. Maarty Leunen
is averaging 10.5 rebounds
per game, dominating the
glass. Senior Aaron Brooks
is averaging 17.6 points per
game and 4.8 assists per
game. They lost their first
game against conference rival
USC. Their contention in the
NCAA tournament in March
will depend on how this team
responds to this adversity.
Clemson was 16-0,
boasting the most wins at the
halfway point in the season.
Sports Writer
Pens future still undecided
Bill Berry
The Penguins have been vigorously
campaigning for a new arena over the last
two years. Currently, the situation has become
more intense than ever
since the Isle of Capri
lost the slots bid in
Pittsburgh. Now Mario
Lemieux may be forced
to move the franchise
from Pittsburgh where
they have been since its
inauguration forty-years
ago.
Until December
20th the hopes of the team
staying in Pittsburgh
rode on The Isle of
Capri winning the slots bid, which would have
guaranteed the Penguins a new arena. The
arena would have been built for $290 million
at zero cost to the franchise or taxpayers. Now
a shadow of uncertainty has been cast over
the entire situation. National Hockey League
Commissioner Gary Bettman is dedicated to
keeping the team in Pittsburgh according to an
Cowher resigns for now
Bill Cowher, a Pittsburgh native, legend,
and hero has stepped down from coaching the
Pittsburgh Steelers after having 15 successful
seasons. Coach Cowher has been a legend
in Pittsburgh and across the nation. Under
his tenure the Steelers made eight playoff
appearances and won Super Bowl XL.
Last year, his final goal was accomplished:
winning a Super Bowl. “My family has made a
lot of sacrifices for me, and I’m looking forward
to being there for them. It’s the right time
to retire.”(Espn.com) This made it easier for
Cowher to resign from coaching the Steelers.
He wants to show his devotion for his family
by this decision. Cowher bought a retirement
home in North Carolina so that he could spend
more time with his family. There are numerous
rumors that this isn’t the last time he will be
involved in the NFL. These rumors are plausible
because of Cowher’s competitive nature, and
the fact that he could possibly be the highest
paid NFL coach in history.
Steelers players have mixed feelings
about his resignation. Receiver Hines Ward
was in tears when he heard Cowher’s decision
at a press conference. Ward stated, “ I knew
he was prepared to resign after we won Super
Bowl XL in 2006, he wanted to spend time
with his family and that’s what he’ll get.”(ESPN
News).
Brendan Sikora
Sports Writer
article from espn.com. He broke off negotiations
with Jim Balsillie by placing a restriction over the
control of the team in fear of Basille relocating
the franchise. Basille withdrew his offer to
buy the franchise for $175 million. It was
long believed that the Canadian businessman
had plans to move
the franchise to
his hometown
of Hamilton,
Ontario. Despite
the overwhelming
support from both the
NHL Commissioner
and fans the Penguins
could end up relocating
to Kansas City come
next season.
The Penguins
continue to have one
of the most dedicated fan bases in the entire
country. This year the fans have filled Mellon
Arena to 94% capacity, among the top in the
NHL (espn.com). The Penguins are a part of
the culture and a symbol of the rich heritage in
Pittsburgh; the franchise has been the home of
great hockey legends such as Mario Lemieux
and Jaromir Jagr. To see the team leave would
Staff Writer
The Peters Township wrestling team
has struggled this season. They were
winless in their first 8 matches and look
to rebound. Senior Ryan Carey looks to
lead the wrestling team through the rest
of the season with more success.
James Mays and K.C. Rivers
were two main contributors on
this Clemson team leading them
through the majority of the
season. Good news for Clemson
considering that neither is a
senior yet. Mays is a junior and
Rivers is a sophomore. This
team is competing in one of the
toughest divisions in college
basketball, the ACC Conference
with division rivals North
Carolina and Duke. Being in the
ACC Conference is a good way
for Clemson to prove themself
before the NCAA tournament.
The tough competition will
prepare Clemson for any
opponent it faces in March.
Numerous upsets have
unfolded this season, by other
underdog contenders. Syracuse
upset number 21 Marquette;
unranked Indiana defeated
number 24 Michigan State;
and Virginia Tech upset number
5 Duke. Surely, there will be
“This year the fans
have filled the
Mellon Arena to
94% capacity”
10. P T L I F E & S t y l e
Cinema influences fashion
I Can’t Tell You
By Hillary Frank
Amber Doerr
Guest Writer
Stranger Than Fiction
Derek Redding
Staff Writer
Colleen Counihan
Features Editor
Flashback to the year 1999 and the
average teenage girl would recognize herself in
sparkly sweaters and pink and green Skechers.
This can be accredited to the popularity of
stores such as Limited Too, but what many
girls don’t realize is that their favorite fashions
were popularized by their favorite movies.
Those platform shoes that crowded the closets
of preteen girls were the result of movies such
as Clueless and many of the crazy patterns
and bright colors were based on the idolization
of the Spice Girls, most importantly the pop
stars’ wardrobes in the movie, Spice World.
In the recent years, Hollywood’s old
and new films have influenced some of the
most recognizable styles walking the runway.
Though designer Marc Jacobs does not admit
to his influences, the consistent flow of baggy
slacks and asymmetrical jackets that graced
his Fall 2006 line were almost identical to Diane
Keaton’s outfits in the cult-classic, Annie Hall.
Sophia Coppola used Victorian-style garments
to enhance her latest movie Marie Antoinette,
but she was also setting a new trend for the
fashion world. The new “bubble” skirts and
puffy dresses seen in Balenciaga’s and Peter
Som’s Fall 2006 lines look very familiar to the
bouncy gowns worn by the women in Coppola’s
movie.
Men’s fashions are not exempt from
the big screen’s influence. Marlon Brando’s
outerwear (black motorcycle jacket, leather
cap and cuffed jeans) in “Wild One” is listed
on msn.com as one of the top ten film fashion
moments. Designer, Alessandro Dell’ Acqua,
seems very familiar with this Brando’s stylish
character. His latest men’s line included
motorcycle jackets in varying colors and
washed-leather ranger caps.
Cinema’s effects on the latest trends
exist outside of the runway as well. A quick
browse through the public’s favorite stores,
such as Gap and Banana Republic, reveals
classically cut outfits that were once worn by
the greatest actresses of the past. Audrey
Hepburn’s cropped black pants that made an
appearance in her movie Charade are now the
staple of Gap advertisements. Commercials
have labeled them “Audrey Hepburn pants”
for the public’s recognition. As long as movies
Unwritten Law: the Hit List
Sean Nacarelli
Staff Writer
Since the formation of Unwritten
Law in 1990, this San Diego based
band has released six CDs on five
different record labels. Unwritten Law
formed around original drummer, Wade
Youman. Although he’s no longer the
drummer, Scott Russo (vocalist) and
Steve Morris (guitarist) are original
members. Quickly after they formed,
the band became friends with other
successful San Diego bands like Blink
182. With blends of heavy alternative
riffs and jumpy choruses, Unwritten
Law’s songs that have topped the
charts are “Seein’ Red”, “Celebration
Song”, “Lonesome”, “Save Me”, and
“Rest of my Life”. Unwritten Law’s new
CD, The Hit List, lures all of their fans
back to these hits because they’ve
re-recorded all of their top songs.
Morris declared, “It’s cool to be able
to go back and do these songs. If you
listen to all the records, they all sound
different because we were young and
inexperienced. Back then, we were
kids, now we’re seasoned veterans.” I
think this CD will be able to recapture
the spirit and talent that was put into
Unwritten Law from the first day they
formed almost seventeen years ago.
“U.G.H. I know it SOUNDS
like I’m being the same old me. All
jokey+everything. But I don’t FEEL like
me. After blurting all that stuff out to
Sean. You know how people pretend
to zip their mouths shut, then lock
them+throw away the key? That’s what
I’d like to do. Minus the pretending
part.”
Jake is a college guy, living the
normal college life, until he gets into
a huge fight with his best friend. Jake
decides that “talking=trouble” and he
should think about what he says before
he says it. He also decides that the only
way to do that is to communicate through
notes. Soon, he finds that his friendship
with Xandra is growing into something
more, but doesn’t know whether or not
to tell her of his feelings. He relunctly
decides if he did, it would probably mess
everything up. As Jake struggles with his
emotions for Xandra, he also discovers
some truths about himself.
This book is a little difficult at
first, but soon you fall in love with the
characters and the storyline itself. Hillary
Frank brings the troubles of a young
life to artistry when she shows us each
character’s feelings on notes, together
as a book. I give this book four and a
half out of five stars.
From the makers of Finding
Neverland and Monster’s Ball comes
the new movie Stranger Than Fiction.
This comedy has a knockout cast
including Emma Thompson, Will
Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Maggie
Gyllenhaal, and Queen Latifah. The
story starts with writer Karen Eiffel
(Thompson) trying to finish her latest
work supposedly her best.
Eiffel needs to find a way to
take her main character out of the
picture for the ending, but the main
character Harold Crick (Ferrell) can
hear her every word for in reality he is
alive. The movie chronicles Harold’s to
quest to find the author and tell her to
end her book in a different way so he
can live.
Reviews of this movie have
proved to be good. Critics say the
movie is funny, emotional, and
reported to be Ferrell’s best work. This
movie will attract the attention of Will
Ferrell fans and provide them with
lots of laughs. It’s definitely worth
watching. I give this movie 4 out of 5
Stars. See Stranger Than Fiction out
on the shelves February. 27th.
“Audrey Hepburn’s cropped black
pants that made an appearance
in her moive Charade are now the
staple of Gap advertisements.”
The movie that I think has
a big influence on fashion
is, any movie that has Bam
Margera, Chris Pontius and
Johnny Knoxville in it.
–Bobby Ihrig, ‘08
The movie that I think has
a big influence on fashion
is, Prince’s Purple Rain.
-Taylor DiBart, ‘10
The movie that I think has
a big influence on fashion
is, Harold and Maude.
-Aimee Hecht, ‘07
The movie that I think has
a big influence on fashion
is, Devil Wears Prada.
-Megan Carone, ‘09
11. 11
Smoke Signals
February 2007
Becoming healthy starts with you
Jess Berardino
Staff Writer
breakfast with a coffee is actually healthier
than not eating breakfast at all. Skipping meals
will cause you to overeat at your next meal,
“For example, eating a donut
for breakfast with a coffee
is actually healthier than
not eating breakfast at all.”
Eating healthy requires a strict diet that
is based off the food pyramid, not just fruits
and vegetables. If you simply eat the proper
amounts of food in each section everyday you
will see a significant change in the way your
clothes fit. Along with your clothes, your skin
and your mental health will also improve. By
teaching yourself good eating habits now, you
will prepare yourself for the rest of your life.
If you do not want to completely change your
diet, then eliminate some items like pop, fast
foods, and candy. It is all up to you what you
put in your body and when you are faced with
a multiplicity of “bad” foods, eating healthy
is much more difficult. Exercise is also a good
addition to a healthy life style. Eating regularly
is the key to good health and maintaining a
desirable weight.
For example, eating a doughnut for
which will cause your stomach to expand even
more and make you feel like you’ve gotten
Spring break dreams
Katie Gavlick
Staff Writer
Spring break is nearing, which means hundreds of thousands of
high school and college students are flocking to the beach to kick back
and relax. However, if Cancun, the Jersey Shore, and Cabo San Lucas
aren’t for you, there’s plenty of alluring beaches to go round.
Santa Cruz, California. Not only is this small town a surfer’s
paradise, it’s a short drive from San Francisco. The beach boardwalk,
dating back to the 1900s, is full of life. You can also rent a bike and
ride on the prize winning bike trails that cut across beaches and deliver
heart-stopping views.
Antiparos, Greece. Visitors who come to this tiny, laid back
island must fly or sail to Paros, then take a 10 minute ferry ride to
Antiparos. The island is home to small-whitewashed houses, land
caves, ancient historic ruins, miles of beaches, and blue grottoes that,
according to legend, have mysterious powers. Antiparos has no large
hotels, which preserves its quaint atmosphere.
Corpus Christi, Texas. This small beach town possesses all
the right ingredients for the perfect spring break vacation: the sun,
the sea, and sights. You can spend the day at the shore, or on the
waves; wind surfing, the city’s favorite pastime. Corpus Christi is also
the hub for daytrips to the world famous King Ranch and Mexico. Plus
the average temperature of Corpus Christi is 71.2 degrees.
Placencia, Belize. Located at the end of a tiny peninsula in
the south of Belize, this vacation is one you will never forget. Placencia
brags the mainland’s best beaches, and the most relaxed lifestyle. While
photo courtesy www.emeraldwaterangles.com
Belize features some of the world’s best beaches along with many exhilarating
activities including kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkeling just to name a few.
scuba diving, kayaking and snorkeling trips are available, climbing a
coconut tree to hack down a fruit is the most work you could possibly
do on this vacation.
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Truthfully, Manuel Antonio looks
like a picture perfect postcard complete with heavenly white beaches
and lush tropical rainforests. The offshore coral reefs bustle with marine
life including dolphins and whales. If you like scuba diving, take a day
trip to Caño Island for spectacular underwater sights. Or you can stroll
down several walking trails and admire coatimundis, ocelots, sloths,
Artist of the month: Corey Grabowski
Rarely, we hear a solo artist
that can capture the listener’s ears
as much as a full band of musicians.
Corey Grabowski has been satisfying
our ears with his acoustic-indie
melodies and sing-along lyrics for
a long time. In that time he’s also
managed to grow a decent fan
base by performing at shows and
coffeehouses all around the area.
It has been a short three
months since the birth of Grabowski’s
solo project, but his plans for the
future are nothing but mature.
When asked about goals, he can only
smile. He acts as if the rest of us
haven’t realized it yet, but his fame
is inevitable. “I want to record my
sounds and circulate the CDs through
coffee shops, record stores and
recording studios. Hopefully one will
call me and make me famous,” said
Grabowski. His solo act wouldn’t
be able to exist without confidence,
but he describes his music with
the utmost modesty. He labels his
acoustic sounds with adjectives such
as “calming” and “easy-listening,”
but these are descriptions of an
outsider, examples of Grabowski’s
ability to see his own music from
the viewpoint of his listeners.
After hearing one song
from Corey Grabowski, it is not
difficult to reference his musical
influences. His acoustic melodies
resemble those of the Goo Goo
Dolls and his intentionally whiney
vocals resound with the similar
intensity of Matchbox 20 front
man, Rob Thomas. Grabowski
would never primarily call himself a
cover artist, though. He does not
strive to be the next opening-act
for Justin Timberlake or the new
John Mayer, but instead a name in
his own category. “I will be Corey
Grabowski because I don’t want to
be like anyone else, I want people
to want to be like me,” he said.
Grabowski’s new album is
called My Story Untold, a perfect
title for such a romantic song list.
He will be unveiling many of these
heart-warmed lyrics and slow
guitar rhythms at his upcoming
show at Farmhouse Coffee on
March 2nd. It’s obvious that
Corey Grabowski is not planning
on leaving the spotlight anytime
soon. He is looking for a musical
career similar to current groups,
Dashboard Confessional and Bright
Eyes; he wants to be the main
musician with a background band
for live performances. Though his
Colleen Counihan & Sean Naccarelli
Features Editor & Staff Writer
larger. If you balance out your meals into
smaller portions and eat healthy snacks such
as fruit or pretzels in between meals you will
actually lose more weight. Eating is all about
how much of a certain food you eat in a certain
time. By following a recommended diet and
exercise schedule you will help yourself become
healthier, avoiding “crash diets”. Those diets
often lead to anorexia and on bulimia. These
diseases cause a mental state of extreme
confusion in body image. In simple terms,
this problem is that girls who were obese as a
child or believe that they are overweight now,
will over exercise and go to extreme dieting
tactics such as stop eating, ceasing eating is
the last thing that you should do. I understand
that these are considered disorders, so if you
believe that you are suffering from one of
these; tell someone.
So students here’s an idea; eat healthy,
Photo by Nate Meyers
12. If you could design your own candy heart, what would it
Voicesin the Hall
say?
TC Rauch 08: “ These
“Flowers are like my
love for you; in time,
they will fade and
die.”
TC Rauch , ‘08
Describe the worst Valentine’s Day gift you’ve ever recieved.
“A Warped Tour CD.”
Rachel Paul, ‘07
“Don’t eat me.”
Kierstan Arnoni, ‘07
“A fireman outfit.”
Joe Stepusin, ‘07
“Stay Classy.”
Rachel Cichowicz,’07
“Yeah, Grandma!”
Shelby Gregor, ‘08
“A 5-pound Hershey
kiss.”
Ms. O’Connor
“The Notebook.”
Josh Keffer , ‘07
A PT Minute With...
Chuck Nettles Jordan Settimio
1. What is your favorite Crayola Crayon color?
Tickle-me-pink -- the best crayon name
ever.
2. What is the funniest word you know?
Booger, because it should be pronounced
“boo-ger.”
3. What is your favorite movie line and why?
From Daddy Daycare: “Write that down!”
It’s the funniest part.
4. If you could be any boy band member, who would it
be and why?
Justin Timberlake, because he’s bringing
sexy back.
5. If you could be any athlete, who would it be and
why?
Sidney Crosby, because he’s all around
amazing.
1. What is your favorite Crayola Crayon color?
Macaroni and cheese -- my favorite color
and a great food.
2. What is the funniest word you know?
Bedazzle/hernia... I can’t decide, but
they’re both fun to say.
3. What is your favorite movie line and why?
”We’ve got a stage five clinger.” Wedding
Crashers is my favorite movie.
4. If you opened a restaurant, what would you call it?
Chester’s Cheese House; It’s my nick
name, and I would serve cheese.
5. If you could be a food, what kind of food would you
be?
Baby Quiche, because it’s wordly and
everyone loves it.