By Shawn Gunarich Staff Writer Ten years of dancing for the students of Red Lion high school, from 2007 till present: Red Lion has been holding an event to help in ending childhood cancer. In the beginning of 2007, a young high school student named Savannah Smith went around, room to room, asking for help in starting an event called “Mini-THON”, a 12-hour long dance-a-thon, birthed from the yearly THON held at Penn State University. Savannah approached physical education teacher Miss Ashleigh Reinert. Miss Reinert willingly helped to the best of her ability, as her time was limited as a coach of multiple sports. One of the events leading to the first mini-THON was to go to Hershey Medical Center to visit the very children they were helping to save. “After I saw the first hand of the first child I knew how important it was,” Miss Reinert said. “In that moment, I knew what we were doing meant something.” It has been ten years since the first mini-THON, and Red Lion’s attendance and money raised only continue to rise, with over 300 students attending and over $53,000 raised during the 2014-2015 school year. The 2015-2016 mini-THON fundraising campaign has already started, and the first big fundraisers are already here. On September 11, mini-THON will be holding a chicken barbeque outside the pool area before the football game. November 5 is also a date to save as Red Lion high school will the host the Harlem Wizards basketball team in a staff vs. Wizards game. All proceeds will go toward Red Lion mini-THON. Red Lion mini-THON has also lost a valued adviser, science teacher Mrs. Misty Wilson, after she took a principal position at Dallastown High School. She has been succeeded by English teacher and mini-THON adviser Mr. Ryan Small, who has been given the title of head adviser. “We are a team and want to give credit where it’s due,” Small said. “While I’m labeled as head adviser, all other advisers put in the same amount as work as I do, this includes Ms. White, Mrs. Capiotis and Mrs. Beland.” Putting on mini-THON is very much a team effort, and requires the cooperation and effort of many students and staff, but the most important thing to remember is FTK. “FTK means hope for those diagnosed.”
-Ryan Small
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By Helen Zeidman Staff Writer “This is it, the big day. All your hard work will pay off.” Mrs. Mina Hoffman said to the high school art students as they walked into Windsor Manor elementary school on May 1. Hoffman has been working with the students for months to complete a collaboration project with the kindergarten art students at Windsor Manor. The kindergarteners drew pictures of monsters and the high school students sculpted them into three dimensional clay figures. The assembly was the big reveal where the kindergarteners were given their monsters. Mrs. McBrien, an art teacher at the high school, and Mrs. Filiziani, an art teacher at Windsor Manor, planned this project together. Filiziani, who used to be McBrien’s student teacher, knew that art could bridge the gap between the elementary and high school students. “I think it connects students,” Filiziani said. “It is nice for the kids to see how they can do art at the high school.” The high school students on the trip, 28 in total, were anxious to finally present the younger students with their masterpieces. The high school students were waiting to give their gifts to the kindergarteners, when they were surprised with their own. McBrien, who has been on leave from school since the end of April due to surgery, showed up at the event, surprising all of her art students. She walked in with watery eyes and a brace around her neck, but she still kept a huge smile on her face the whole time. She went hugging and fist bumping every one of her students. “I’m going to be pooped this afternoon, but it’s worth it.” McBrien said. After the reunion was over, the kindergarteners eagerly filed into the gym. They impatiently sat cross-legged in five lines that stretched across Windsor Manor’s gym. Meghan Rutzebeck, a senior who was crucial to the project, gave a short speech to the kindergarteners before they received their monsters. “See, at the high school we have art class like you do,” Rutzebeck said. “You gave us a monster and we made them into 3D figures. You can take them home and keep them forever. Isn’t that cool?” A chorus of excited “yeahs” erupted from the kindergarteners. Then, the students were given their precious monsters. The kindergarteners marvelled at the creations and the magic that brought them from a drawing into real sculptures. At the end of the trip, kindergarteners were hugging the high school students who made their sculpture, taking pictures, and playing with their creations. The sound of the kindergarteners’ thank-you’s was loud enough to be heard all of the way at the high school. In the past, clubs signups began a few weeks into the school year, and clubs themselves began in late October. Recently, a committee of Red Lion teachers have come together with an idea of change.
Club periods are an enjoyed break from the everyday lives of Red Lion students. Since the high school first introduced the flex bell schedule, club periods have fallen on the last day of a seven-day rotation. In the upcoming school year, they are set to most likely continue this trend. The difference will be the date that clubs kick off. The school will make club signups available at the end of the current school year instead of waiting until the beginning of the next. This will enable clubs to begin in early September instead of late October. Mrs. Wilson, Red Lion science teacher, is one of the teachers on the committee that came up with this idea. She hopes that this will raise club participation from its current 65% to 80%. “I am impressed how much club participation has grown,” said Wilson, “but I know that we can do even better.” When asked, senior Bailey Tomes thought the early club date is an excellent idea. “This will be especially beneficial for clubs like Mini-THON,” said Bailey. “They won’t have to waste time at the beginning of the school year, and they can get right down to business.” Junior Mickayla Smith, however, had some reservations about the changes to clubs. “I think that it could benefit certain clubs, but what about the incoming freshman?” asked Mickayla. “I hope they can explain it well enough to them, and that they already have their student council members chosen.” Club signups began on May 12 and will run until the end of the school year. Students may go to Edline for the provided link to sign up for a club. Future clubs to look out for include Yoga, Slapstick Hockey, Faith (Religion), iPhone Photography, and Scrapbooking. To sign up, visit http://tinyurl.com/rlclubs1516 By Bella McCarey
Co-Editor-in-Chief Red Lion’s music program is one that has been acclaimed for its accomplishments on both the local and national level. It was recently named by the NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants) as one of 2015’s Best Communities for Music Education. Within the Red Lion community, there are select individuals who shine as musically inclined students, one of those students being senior Joelle Godfrey. Godfrey is one of the choreographers for the Red Lion Show Choir, along with senior Hannah Sattazahn. “I’ve been choreographing for about two years now, and it mainly entails picking five pieces that are modern, fun music,” Godfrey said. “We want to be able to make it look bold and big, but also make it easy and fun.” The Show Choir had been preparing for their concert May 2 since September, putting in three hours worth of choreographing per piece. They also performed at Voices of the Pride, at the Habitat closing ceremony, and MoTown. Once she has the dance choreographed, then they teach the dance to the whole choir. “We [Hannah Sattazahn and I] put in two hours every Monday September through February working on dances,” Godfrey said. “It’s a lot of work, it’s not simple.” Godfrey uses her own 13 years of experience of taking various types of dances lessons as well as her experience teaching dance to younger children. “It’s helped to teach me about being refined and show worthy,” she said. “It’s all about responsibility and taking on a lot of leadership. But we have a lot of positive energy.” Godfrey plans on attending York College next fall to dual major in Special and Early Childhood Education. She also intends to continue to teach dance to younger kids. By Mike McCarty Staff Writer Students from Red Lion Area Senior High School’s drafting and design level four class have begun a remarkable self-driven project. Seniors Drake Schaefer, Hunter Kinard, Mike McCarty, Sebastian Smith, Joshua Ziolkowski, Ben Clark, and junior McKayla Cooley are those in charge of the effort to restore the Neff’s single-room schoolhouse. Located on 220 Country Club Road, this historic landmark is in dilapidated condition and in need of improvements and repairs. With only a few months and a couple of field trip days lefts within the school year, the pressure is on, but the students of Red Lion are more than up for the challenge. “Simply it has to be done, and it’s a fun challenge,” senior Hunter Kinard said. The one overseeing this project is their very own drafting/design level four teacher Mr. John Royer. With immense enthusiasm he encourages the students to not only do this for a grade, but to find out what this project means for those working on it and to find out what you’re passionate about in life. Mr. Royer’s passion for the project is closely tied to the reason he wants to be involved. “Why? To restore and honor the impacts that single room schoolhouses had on our community, simple hardworking close knit families who loved to help each other was a part of life,” Mr. Royer, said. Neff’s single room schoolhouse was just a stepping stone to many of the students striving to make it to high school, where most of the core subjects were taught, including geography, mathematics, English, and especially religion. What was once a treasure to the town and its students this historic institution is rotting away sadly. “I feel it is important to secure the legacy left behind so future visitors may take a trip back in time. My local history students continue to be amazed at what took place in this building. Education has changed and grown exponentially over the past 65 years but it is important to reflect on our beginnings,” Mr. Sam Cooley, local history teacher said. With panels falling from the ceiling, paint chipping, and splintering floorboards, the school house is slowly decaying, though with the help and compassion from the students, this barely recognizable structure will once again stand proud. “It’s a part of our towns history, not everyone has the chance to tackle a project like this so why not?” Drake Schaefer said. By Claire Krackow
Marketing Editor Seniors, it’s the time of year that you’ve all been waiting for! “All that Jazz” is coming to the Valencia in York on Saturday, April 25 at 7 PM. “So we have many different committees. We have invitations, we have decorations, we have gifts and we have food committees,” Senior Class President Heather Jackson said. “We already picked all the food that we want so that’s taken care of, and we have all of our decorations.” The decorations for this years’ prom will be very fitting to the theme (All that Jazz) as there will be pearls and feather boas. “Also, there will be jazz dancers’ from Joelle (Godfrey’s) dance team and we might be offering some sort of payment to them for courtesy,” Jackson said. They will be dancing as the prom court, King and Queen are announced. Voting for prom court took place the week of April 6-10. Tickets were on sale April 1-10 in Mrs. Wiremans classroom, D227. They are $40 per person. By Bella McCarey
Co-Editor-in-Chief For the last 12 months, the Red Lion community has been surrounding the efforts of Habitat for Humanity to build a home for Ashley Moffitt and her daughter Shaelynn. Superintendent Dr. Scott Deisley and Assistant Principal Mr. Grant Gouker teamed up to bring the dream of participating in Habitat for Humanity to the school district. The house is in the final stretch, with the ending date rapidly approaching. March 23, 2015 is the date that Mr. Gouker has in mind and would like to continue working to meet the deadline. “The interior is about 98% finished. There is still a little bit of painting to do, electrical fixtures to install, and window treatments to do, “ Mr. Gouker said. “There are also some exterior things to do all of which will have to be completed when the weather gets warm.” As of now, the itinerary or location of the closing ceremony isn’t absolute. The one thing that Mr. Gouker is aware of is creating a “special project” to create for the homeowner, which will be a gift highlighting the building process. The house was made possible mainly based on fundraising efforts by the community itself as well as the school districts, including staff, administration and students, participating in the building process. The fundraising goal for the project was met, a $90,000 figure necessary for finishing the home. By Ian Adler Multimedia Editor This year marked the sixth annual “Polar Bear Plunge” to help benefit Special Olympics of York County. The event’s main goal is to fundraise to help pay for programs SOYC runs for its athletes. Participants raise money, show up to the John Wright restaurant in Wrightsville and take a dip in the frozen Susquehanna River. However, there is much more to it than just hopping into ice cold water. Many plungers dress up in creative costumes, as the event features a “costume contest” with categories such as “most outrageous” or “most creative.” There are also fun activities, with 96.1 WSOX broadcasting music for everyone to dance to throughout the day (the event goes from around 10 AM to 1 PM). “The energy was a lot higher this year than last year,” Mrs. Carrie Smeltzer, Health teacher and event organizer said. “I think the weather had a lot to do with it and we had a lot of the athletes participate in the dances and things, so I think that made the energy a lot better.” Red Lion’s team, “RL Hardcore” brought plenty of first time plungers to the stage. “I think it’s a great event,” English teacher Mr. James Marsala said after taking the plunge. “It’s my first time here, and it’s awesome. It’s a great cause and a really fun time.” “It was a shock at first, but after coming out of the water, it wasn’t that bad,” Mr. Ryan Small of the English department said. “My sister is actually in the special education program up at Bloomsburg, and she loved doing this last year, so I figured I’d come out and help a good cause and help Mrs. Smeltzer out too.” “From Red Lion, I would like to see more of our administrators and teachers, colleagues, joining the team,” said Smeltzer. “I know that the students have a lot more fun when they have those individuals joining with them.” With over 1,000 participants this year, about 350 showed up on the day of the plunge to sign up, marking a record attendance for the event. The planning committee will meet in May to determine a date for next year’s plunge. Participants can start signing up around the 2015 holiday season. “I want to put it out to the Rowdies to come next year.” Small said. Polar Bear Plungers ‘Freezin for a reason’, raised over $115,000 By Ian Adler Multimedia Editor “Cancer sucks, Mini-THON rocks,” Four Diamonds parent and English teacher Tina Funke said at the Mini-THON kick off assembly in January. For those who don’t know, Mini-THON is a scaled down version of Penn State’s “THON”, in which students, called dancers, raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund and come out for an evening of fun, games, dancing and of course, support. This upcoming year will mark Red Lion’s eighth annual Mini-THON, with the event only expanding and increasing funds since the first one in 2008. “You may have seen me this morning on the weather for the morning announcements,” Junior Billy Jackson said at the kick-off assembly. “But it was January 2, 2001 that I received the gravest forecast of all. A 100 percent chance of ALL leukemia.” ALL Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affected Billy’s life 13 years ago, and still affects him today. Billy attended THON at Penn State in late February. “The atmosphere is great,” Jackson said. “I like to help the little children. It’s like a giant party. It’s a really fun atmosphere.” Billy will also be attending Red Lion’s Mini-THON. “It’s fun, exciting and it shows support for people who don’t have it so well. It’s a good way of showing that you care,” Jackson said. “I’m heading up to THON with some other families to support my sister,” Sophomore Carter Beyer said in a recent phone interview. Carter’s sister Cora has recently switched medication for her cancer treatment, and she is doing better now. “She’s pretty much in the clear. We just worry about the after-effects.” Beyer said. With so many touching stories told at the assembly, staff and students can really see the difference their support for Red Lion mini-THON and the Four Diamonds Fund makes. New events at Mini-THON plan to bring new dancers to the floorBy Shaw Gunarich
Staff Writer In addition to non-stop dancing, free food and the opportunity to help out childhood cancer victims, Mini-THON also offers a wide array of activities for dancers to engage in during Red Lion’s 12-hour Mini-THON. “Mini-THON is an overall good experience for people to raise money for childhood cancer,” Kyle Palmieri, co-chair of the day of committee said. Mini-THON is brought to Red Lion students by the hard working staff and students of the Mini-THON committee who work from the previous year of Mini-THON until the next Mini-THON to bring every participant fun, games and of course, dancing. “2015 Mini-THON will encompass a day that will bring more attendance than ever,” Mr. Ryan Small, a committee teacher for the day of Mini-THON said. “The variety of things to do are a guaranteed good time, so come support our cause.” Dancers at Mini-THON can look forward to ultimate frisbee games up on Horn Field. Also, a new event this year includes the “World cup”, which is a game based off of the FIFA World Cup. It is a game of soccer which has rounds of elimination until one team is left standing, so break out those cleats and choose your partner. Another very popular event at Mini-THON is the revered “Can Jam” in which Mr. Small and mathematician Ms. Arvanites will defend their title against any who are bold enough to challenge. Some other events to look for are dodgeball, junk-in-the-trunk, relay races, the oreo roll and basketball. There is a large poster in the Commons area for students discretion displaying the events at Mini-THON. In addition to athletic activities and games, the local band TAMMA will be making their second Mini-THON appearance in the commons at midnight. “We’ll be opening with some Seven Nation Army, then playing Santeria by Sublime, Voodoo Child by Stevie Ray Vaughn and several others,” Ian Adler, Red Lion junior, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist said. Mini-THON is closer than it may seem; starting on Friday March 27 and trailing into the following morning. If a student has not signed up already, see any of the following teacher advisors: Mr. Small, Miss Capiotis, Miss White, Mrs. Wilson or Mrs. Beland. Seventy-five dollars will need to be raised in order to attend and it will be collected the day of Mini-THON during student sign in’s before the event begins. See any club member or chair or advisor with any question, as always, FOR THE KIDS (FTK). |
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