mars area school district no. 40 the communicator · teacher selected for 2015 red apple award mars...

8
The Communicator e No. 40 Vol. 9 Mars Area School District A weekly eNewsletter serving residents of Mars and Valencia boroughs as well as Adams and Middlesex townships. Thursday, May 21, 2015 Upcoming Meetings Board Work Session, 7 p.m. Board Regular Meeting, 7 p.m. Mars Planet Foundation Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public and are held at the District’s Administration Office, 545 Route 228, unless otherwise noted. For details, call (724) 625-1518. Tuesday, June 2 — Tuesday, June 9 — Thursday, June 11 — 2015 PROM EXTRA — Pages 7-8 High School Sets Finals Exams for May 27-June 1 Mars Area High School’s Final Exams will be administered Wed- nesday, May 27, through Monday, June 1. The high school bell schedule will be altered to accommodate the exams. All exam periods will be approximately 80 minutes and non- exam periods will be around 30 minutes with four-minute breaks between all lunches and classes. For details, call (724) 625-1581 or visit www.marsk12.org . Fourth Grade Choir to Make Debut Performance Mars Area Elementary School will debut its Fourth Grade Choir during two special performances — the first for parents at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27; and, then for students at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 29. The choir, which is new to the school this year and made up of approximately 36 fourth-graders, meets once a week after school, says Kayla Searles, music teacher and choir director. At rehearsals, the students learn how to properly warm up their voices; the different singing techniques; and they have a chance to practice their repertoire for upcoming performanc- es. The choir provides many of the students with a chance to experience being in an ensemble as well as to learn and per- form music as a group, says Searles. For fourth-graders, this is the time in their music education during which their voices are developed enough and they have enough musical knowl- edge to learn longer songs and how to perform them. At Mars Area School District, music education begins at the On Stage Mars Area Elementary School music teacher Kayla Searles directs the school’s Fourth Grade Choir, which will offer its debut performance on Wednesday, May 27. Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaugh was selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award, presented by the Education Impact Council of the United Way of Butler County. An English, creative writing and public speaking teacher at Mars Area High School, Silbaugh came to Mars Area School District in 2006. She had pre- viously taught eighth grade communications at Arsenal Middle School in Pittsburgh Public Schools. She holds a master’s degree in English education from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor’s degree in English and communications from Pennsylvania State University. At Mars Area High School, Silbaugh is the Class of 2018 sponsor, Creative Writing Club advisor, and she served as sponsor of the summer charity performances of Batmann: The Musical and Suessical the Musical . And, she is serving as sponsor for the school’s upcoming production of Annie . Silbaugh says has truly found her passion in teaching, noting that not a day goes by that she does not leave with new knowledge or inspiration from her students and colleagues. For more information, visit www.butlerunitedway.org . Continued on page 5 Darcy Silbaugh Middle School to Hold Track & Field Day Mars Area Middle School will hold its annual Track & Field Day on Wednesday, May 27, at Mars Athletic Complex. Students in seventh and eighth grades will participate in numerous running events as well as the long jump, high jump, discus toss and more. The students’ scores will be compared to records from previous years. Note : In the event of inclement weather, Track & Field Day will be rescheduled for Thursday, May 28. For more information, call (724) 625-3145. District to Offer ‘Night of Jazz’Concert Mars Area School District will offer a “Night of Jazz” Concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 22, at Mars Area Middle School. The event will feature performances by Mars Area High School Jazz Band, Mars Area Middle School Jazz Band and Mars Area Centen- nial School Sixth Grade Jazz Band. Refreshments will be available. For more information, call (724) 625-1581. Photo by Josh Schwoebel

Upload: others

Post on 13-Jul-2020

1 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Mars Area School District No. 40 The Communicator · Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award,

The CommunicatoreNo. 40Vol. 9

Mars Area School District

A weekly eNewsletter serving residents of Mars and Valencia boroughs as well as Adams and Middlesex townships.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Upcoming Meetings Board Work Session, 7 p.m.Board Regular Meeting, 7 p.m.Mars Planet Foundation Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

All meetings are open to the public and are held at the District’s Administration Office, 545 Route 228, unless otherwise noted. For details, call (724) 625-1518.

Tuesday, June 2 —Tuesday, June 9 —

Thursday, June 11 —

2015 PROM EXTRA — Pages 7-8

High School Sets Finals Exams for May 27-June 1Mars Area High School’s Final Exams will be administered Wed-nesday, May 27, through Monday, June 1.The high school bell schedule will be altered to accommodate theexams. All exam periods will be approximately 80 minutes and non-exam periods will be around 30 minutes with four-minute breaksbetween all lunches and classes.For details, call (724) 625-1581 or visit www.marsk12.org.

Fourth Grade Choir to Make Debut PerformanceMars Area Elementary School will debut its Fourth GradeChoir during two special performances — the first for parentsat 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27; and, then for students at 2p.m. on Friday, May 29.The choir, which is new to the school this year and made upof approximately 36 fourth-graders, meets once a week afterschool, says Kayla Searles, music teacher and choir director.At rehearsals, the students learn how to properly warm uptheir voices; the different singing techniques; and they have achance to practice their repertoire for upcoming performanc-es. The choir provides many of the students with a chance toexperience being in an ensemble as well as to learn and per-form music as a group, says Searles. For fourth-graders, thisis the time in their music education during which their voicesare developed enough and they have enough musical knowl-edge to learn longer songs and how to perform them.At Mars Area School District, music education begins at the

On Stage

Mars Area ElementarySchool music teacher Kayla Searles directs the school’sFourth Grade Choir, which will offer its debut performance on Wednesday, May 27.

Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple AwardMars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015Red Apple Education Award, presented by the Education ImpactCouncil of the United Way of Butler County.An English, creative writing and public speakingteacher at Mars Area High School, Silbaugh cameto Mars Area School District in 2006. She had pre-viously taught eighth grade communications atArsenal Middle School in Pittsburgh Public Schools. She holds a master’s degree in English educationfrom Slippery Rock University and a bachelor’sdegree in English and communications fromPennsylvania State University. At Mars Area High School, Silbaugh is the Class of 2018 sponsor,Creative Writing Club advisor, and she served as sponsor of thesummer charity performances of Batmann: The MusicalandSuessical the Musical. And, she is serving as sponsor for theschool’s upcoming production of Annie.Silbaugh says has truly found her passion in teaching, noting thatnot a day goes by that she does not leave with new knowledge orinspiration from her students and colleagues.For more information, visit www.butlerunitedway.org.

Continued on page 5

Darcy Silbaugh

Middle School to Hold Track & Field DayMars Area Middle School will hold its annual Track & FieldDay on Wednesday, May 27, at Mars Athletic Complex.Students in seventh and eighth grades will participate innumerous running events as well as the long jump, high jump,discus toss and more. The students’scores will be comparedto records from previous years.Note: In the event of inclement weather, Track & Field Day willbe rescheduled for Thursday, May 28.For more information,call (724) 625-3145.

District to Offer ‘Night of Jazz’ConcertMars Area School District will offer a “Night of Jazz” Concert at 7 p.m.on Friday, May 22, at Mars Area Middle School.The event will feature performances by Mars Area High School JazzBand, Mars Area Middle School Jazz Band and Mars Area Centen-nial School Sixth Grade Jazz Band. Refreshments will be available. For more information, call (724) 625-1581.

Photo by Josh Schwoebel

Page 2: Mars Area School District No. 40 The Communicator · Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award,

2 The Communicator — May 21, 2015 Mars Area School Districtee

Athletes Place at WPIALTrack &Field ChampionshipsSeveral members of Mars Area High School’s Boys & GirlsVarsity Track & Field Team competed in the 2015 WPIALClass AAATrack & Field Individual Championships, held May14 at Baldwin High School.On the girls team, sophomore Tori Kopchak took sixth placewith a time of 59.17 in the 400-Meter Dash and sophomoreSofia Beltran placed 15th (16.40) in the preliminary round ofthe 100-Meter Hurdles. Sophomore Sammy Papik received14th place (48.18) in the 300-Meter Hurdles and tied for 11thplace (4 feet, 11 inches) in the High Jump.The relay team of seniors Reilly Butler and Sabrina Edwardsand sophomores Brittany Dean and Annabel Hnath took14th place (4:10.54) in the 4x400-Meter Relay. The relay teamof Butler, Edwards, Hnath and Kopchak received 14th place(9:59.40) in the 4x800-Meter Relay.On the boys team, senior Ori Rinaman earned first place(14.29) in 110-Meter Hurdles. Sophomore Trent Williams took15th place (16.43) in the preliminary round of the event.Rinaman took first place (37.89) in the 300-Meter Hurdles.The relay team of seniors Nate Bayuk, Ben Luce and ReedMcDonough, and freshman Chris Check earned sixth place(3:25.68) in the 4x400-Meter Relay. The relay team of Bayuk,Check, McDonough and senior Brendan Knox took 10thplace (8:18.74) in the 4x800-Meter Relay.Bayuk tied for 14th place (5 feet, 9 inches) in the High Jumpand senior Brandon Marchese took 10th place (20 feet, 6.75inches) in the Long Jump and eighth place (42 feet, 3.5 inches)in the Triple Jump. Senior Gabe Spurlock earned third place(52 feet, 9 inches) in the Shot Put and 12th place (132 feet, 9inches) in the Discus Throw.The 2015 PIAAClass AAATrack & Field Championships willbe held May 22-23, at Shippensburg University in Shippens-burg, Pa. For details, visit www.wpial.orgor www.piaa.org.

Band Boosters to Sponsor 10K/5K/Children’s Fun RunMars Band Boosters will hold its annual “Mars Band on the Run”5K Run/Walk, 10K, & 1K Children’s Fun Run at 8 a.m. on Saturday,May 23, at Mars Area High School.The 10K/5K Race is sanctioned by the USATrack & Field Assoc-iation and will be timed by Elite Running Race Management. (Allresults will be posted online at www.eliterunnersracing.comandwww.marsband5K.com.) The non-competitive 1K Children’s FunRun, for kids ages 11 and younger, will take place immediately fol-lowing the 10K and 5K events. Awards will be presented to the top male and female runners in various categories and age groups. All 5K participants ages 14 andyounger will receive finisher ribbons. Apost-race “Out of This World”Party will include refreshments, music, prizes and an awards cere-mony. Race Day registration is $25 per 10K/5K runner and $10 perChildren’s Fun Run participant. All proceeds benefit Mars Area HighSchool Marching Band. For more information, visit www.marsband5K.com.

Literary ChallengeMars AreaCentennialSchool fifth-graders answerquestions aboutvarious fantasynovels as partof a “Battle ofthe Books”event on May 14.

Fifth-graders Compete in ‘Battle of the Books’Students in four fifth grade classes at Mars Area CentennialSchool tested their knowledge of various fantasy novels aspart of an annual “Battle of the Books,” held May 14.Winners are the “Old SchoolReaders” team of AudreyGehm, Madalyn Henderson,Aurora Manningand GillianPorterand the “Book Agents”team of Haley Hessinger,Sophie Huff, TimothyJayamohan, Brandon Kruland Aidan McCarty.As part of the competition, teams of students answered aseries of questions about the several books including “TheCity of Ember” by Jeanne DuPrau, “Witch & Wizard” byJames Patterson, “Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark” byRidley Pearson, “Gregor the Overlander” by SuzanneCollins, “Indian in the Cupboard” by Lynne Reid Banks and“Coraline” by Neil Gaiman. For more information, call (724) 625-2601.

Photo byJosh Schwoebel

Teams of fifth-graders work together tocome up with the correct answers.

Primary Center to Offer Olympic Fun DayMars Area Primary Center will hold its annual Olympic FunDay on Friday, May 29.Students in kindergarten and first grade will participate in a vari-ety of activities including a three-legged race, an obstaclecourse, potato sack race, tug of war and more. For more information, call (724) 625-1588.

Elementary School Holding Annual Food DriveThird and second-graders in Danielle DeMay and SarahSondej’s classes, respectively, at Mars Area Elementary Schoolare holding a school-wide Food Drive through Friday, May 22.The food drive is being offered as part of the students’socialstudies lesson on the importance of volunteers and volunteer-ing.Donations may be dropped off at the school’s main officeduring school hours. On Friday, May 22, volunteers will transport all collected fooditems to The Lighthouse Foundation in Middlesex Township. Formore information, call (724) 625-3161.

Page 3: Mars Area School District No. 40 The Communicator · Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award,

The Communicator — May 21, 2015 3eMars Area School District

Girls Lacrosse Team Ends Season in WPIALPlayoffsMars Area High School Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team ended theregular season with an overall record of 11-5 and 11-1 in sec-tion, tying with the Shaler Area Titans for the Section 3 title.The Lady Planets advanced to the quarterfinalround of the 2015 WPIALDivision II GirlsLacrosse Championship on May 14, but weredefeated 14-13 by the Moon Area Tigers.Outstanding players on this year’s team includedsenior Jackie Bushee; juniors Erin Bissett, Camille Cipkins,Shannon Doyle, Eden Fletcher, Blake Kitt, MargaretManjerovic, Lilli Marcoux, Kelly O’Connelland Charla Tate;sophomores Cassie Buzzelliand Graycen Vitale; and fresh-men Landri Shannan.For details, visit www.wpial.org.

Junior to Attend Summer Science CampsMars Area junior Lukas Johanssonwas selected to attend threesummer science camps.Johansson will attend the St. Francis UniversitySTEM Summer Academies: EnvironmentalEngineering Design Academy (June 21-26), dur-ing which participants will work on projects todesign drinking water filtration systems and protectsoil, air and water from pollution. He will alsoattend the university’s Chemistry Academy (July5-10), through which students will research anddesign a solution to a real-world problem using“green” chemistry principles.He also received a scholarship to attend the 2015 PennsylvaniaState University Science-U Camp — Science Leadership: AFestival of Innovative Ideas (July 19-24). The camp integrates sci-ence with the arts and field challenges to spark leadership skills instudents who are interested in advancing and changing scientificenvironments. Johansson has previously participated in PJAS Science Saturdaysat the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University and CarnegieMellon University (CMU); the CMU School of Computer Science’sLeap Program; St. Francis University STEM Protein SynthesisAcademy; CMU’s SPARK Saturdays and SUCCEED SummerCenter for Climate, Energy & Environmental Decision-making; theUniversity of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering’s PTEIRegenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering program; the 2013Amazing Math Race; and 2012 Camp Lutherlyn Rocketry Camp. At Mars Area High School, Johansson has served as a studentmentor for the school Water Protection Program’s annual Break-neck Creek Stream Testing field trip for District fifth-graders and hejoined in the school’s 2014 Marine Science Field Trip to Chinco-teague Bay Field Station in Wallops Island, Va.Johansson is a member of Mars Area High School’s STEM Club,Science Bowl Team, National Honor Society, German Club, FilmClub, Show Choir, Men’s Ensemble and Chamber Ensemble aswell as the school’s Boys Varsity Cross Country and Track & Fieldteams. He was selected to participate in PMEA(PennsylvaniaMusic Educators Association) District and Honors Chorus festivals;has volunteered with Mars Area High School Marching Band; and,has joined in annual play and musical productions.For more information, call (724) 625-1581.

Around the World

Students in Colleen Hinrichsenand Amanda Morello’s third gradeclasses at Mars Area Elementaryoffered a trip around the world aspart of an “International Night” pro-gram on May 14.

Ph

oto

s b

y Jo

sh S

chw

oeb

el

Third-graders to Offer ‘International Night’EventThird-graders in Jaime Bresnei’s classroom at Mars AreaElementary School will host a trip around the world as part ofan “International Night” event from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight(Thursday, May 21).Students will give PowerPointpresentations on various coun-tries including Canada, China, England, France, Germany,Italy and Mexico.Immediately following the presentations, third-graders will offera display of items and sample foods from their selected coun-tries. Parents and visitors will be given a passport to be stamp-ed at each table. For more information, call (724) 625-3161.

Group to Sponsor “Mars Families Arise Night”“Mars Parents Pray & Do!” and Crossway Church will spon-sor a “Mars Families Arise Night” from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday,May 22, at Mars Area HighSchool cafeteria. Note: The event is not affiliated with Mars Area School District.For details, send an e-mail to [email protected].

Lukas Johansson

Middle School Fund-raiser to Benefit MIRAFoundationMars Area Middle School’s Community Service Committee is hold-ing a “Pops for Pups”fund-raiser to benefit MIRAFoundationthrough Friday, May 22. Students in seventh and eighth grades may purchase coupons fora frozen fruit bar that will be redeemable during the school’s annualTrack & Field Day on Wednesday, May 27. Cost is $2 per coupon.Aportion of all fruit bar sales will be donated to MIRAFoundation,which provides guide dogs for visually impaired children ages 11-17. Monetary donations may also be dropped off at the school’s mainoffice during school hours. Checks may be made payable to “MIRAFoundation.” For details, call (724) 625-3145.

Page 4: Mars Area School District No. 40 The Communicator · Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award,

4 The Communicator — May 21, 2015 Mars Area School Districtee

Musical, Students Nominated for 2015 Mancini AwardsMars Area High School’s spring production of Shrek theMusicalwas nominated for several 2015 Henry ManciniMusical Theatre Awards.The musical received nomina-tions for Outstanding OverallProduction, Outstanding OverallPerformance, OutstandingEnsemble and OutstandingVocal Ensemble. Four students also receivednominations for their individualperformances in the musical —junior Hunter Baselj (Donkey),Outstanding Leading Actor; jun-ior Allison Wright (Fiona),Outstanding Leading Actress;freshman McKenzie Hutch-ison (Pinocchio), OutstandingSupporting Actress; and senior Nicholas DeLeone (Gingy),Outstanding Noteworthy Individual.All nominees will be recognized at the 21st annual Henry Man-cini Musical Theatre Awards to be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday,May 30, at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. In addition, thecast of Mars Area High School’s production of Shrekwill per-form the musical number, “Freak Flag,” during the ceremony.The Mancini Awards recognizes achievement in high schoolmusical theater in Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties. Tick-ets are $10. For ticket information, visit www.lppacenter.org.

Graduation Seats Fund-raiser to Benefit Class of 2016Mars Area High School’s Class of 2016 is selling chances to win five (5) reserved seats in the front of the auditorium forthe school’s Class of 2015 Commencement Ceremony at6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4.Tickets are $1 each or $5 for seven tickets and are being soldduring all lunch periods through Friday, May 29. All proceedswill benefit the Class of 2016. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 2. Handouts forall winners will be distributed at graduation practice on Wed-nesday, June 3.For more information, call (724) 625-1581.

Boys Lacrosse Team End Season in WPIALSemifinalsMars Area High School Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team ended the2015 regular season with an overall record of 11-5, sharing the Sec-tion 4 title with the Quaker Valley Quakers and Hampton Talbots. The Fightin’Planets advanced to the semifinal round ofthe of the 2015 WPIALDivision II Boys Lacrosse Cham-pionship on May 19, but were defeated 10-8 by theCanon-McMillan Big Macs. The team conquered theGreensburg Central Catholic Centurians 16-5 in theWPIALquarterfinals on May 13. Outstanding players this season included senior Hunter Mincer;juniors Nick Cimini, Gino Crognale, Mitch Corsi, Cole Hetzler,Pat Morrow, Ian Newman, Jake Porter, Zac Sicher, Pete Stahl,Blake Thompsonand Owen Vasbinder; sophomores JoeCrognale, Joe Horvatand Ben Lewis; and freshmen AnthonyGriecoand Andrew Moyer.For details, visit www.wpial.org.

Library to Offer Summer Reading ClubMarsArea Public Library will offer a Summer Reading Club, Mon-day, June 8, through Friday, July 24. This year’s theme is “Every Hero has a Story.”The library will kick offthe free program with an Ice Cream Social & Registration from 1 to3 p.m. on Monday, June 8. Note: The program is not affiliated with Mars Area School District.For details, visit www.marsarealibrary.org.

Field Trip

Mars Area studentsjoin in a field trip toElliott Acres Thera-peutic HorsemanshipCenter in Chicoraearlier this week. Thestudents learnedhow to ride and toproperly care forhorses at the center.

Photos by Josh Schwoebel

Juniors Allison Wright and HunterBaselj are nominated for 2015 ManciniAwards for Outstanding Lead Actressand Outstanding Lead Actor, respec-tively, for their roles as Fiona andDonkey in Mars Area High School’sproduction of Shrek the Musical.

District Developing 2015-2016 Bus SchedulesMars Area School District is in the process of developing busschedules for the 2015-2016 School Year.Parents with any changes in bussing needs because of day-care arrangements or relocations are encouraged to contactthe Transportation Office at (724) 625-1507 by Thursday, June11. The District will make every effort to accommodate bussingrequests.The District’s 2015-2016 Bus Schedules will be distributed toparents in mid-August. For a list of frequently asked questionsregarding school bus transportation, visit www.marsk12.organdclick on the “Transportation” link under “School Services.”

Page 5: Mars Area School District No. 40 The Communicator · Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award,

Eighth Grade Recognition/Dance Set for June 1Mars Area Middle School will hold its annual Eighth Grade Recog-nition Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 1, at Mars Area HighSchool auditorium.Eighth-graders will be honored for their contributions and achieve-ments at the middle school. The event will be followed by a dancefrom 7:30 to 10 p.m. in The Commons at Mars Area MiddleSchool. Theme of the dance is “Black & White.” For more information, call(724) 625-3145.

Centennial School to Host ‘Solar Quest’ProgramMars Area Centennial School will welcome Carnegie ScienceCenter’s “Solar Quest” program from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. onTuesday, June 2.The program blasts into orbit with NASA’s Solar DynamicsObservatory to explore and study the composition, light, heatand magnetic energy of the Sun. Students will also learn aboutspace weather events such as sunspots and solar flares.For more information, call (724) 625-2601.

Class of 2015 Commencement Set for June 4Mars Area High School will hold its Class of 2015 Commence-ment Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, in the audi-torium.Note: Mars Area High School does not announce its valedicto-rian and salutatorian until after the last day of school when allfinal grades have been tabulated. Therefore, those studentswho are invited to speak at graduation may not be the valedic-torian and salutatorian.For more information, call (724) 625-1581.

The Communicator — May 21, 2015 5eMars Area School District

Questions regarding The eCommunicator may be addressed to Josh Schwoebel, Director of Communications, at (724) 625-4589 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Mars Area School District 545 Route 228 Mars, Pa. 16046 Phone: (724) 625-1518 Fax: (724) 625-1060 www.marsk12.orgll ll ll ll ll

elementary level in first grade. Students experience listening andmoving to music; reading basic rhythms and melodies, singing sim-ple songs; and playing games that teach different aspects of music.In second through fourth grades,students build upon their experi-ences by reading and improvisingmore complex rhythm andmelodies; experimenting with class-room percussion instruments;singing songs; and playing instruc-tional games. Students also learnabout various composers and theirmusic and listen to music from alltime periods and cultures.In fifth grade, all students participate in chorus and students maychoose to join band, which teaches students how to us their instru-ments to create a tone; the fingerings/ techniques needed toachieve certain notes; and how to read music at a beginner level.Sixth-graders may participate in chorus, band and orchestra. With the success of this year’s Fourth Grade Choir program, Sear-les says she hopes to begin the choir earlier in the school year nextyear to allow more time for developing singing techniques as well asmusic reading and listening skills. The choir would then also havemore opportunities to perform at other District schools, in the com-munity and members could possibly attend the annual Pennsyl-vania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Elementary ChorusFestival, she says.For more information, call (724)625-3161.

Fourth Grade Choir to Make Debut PerformanceContinued from page 1

Members of Mars Area ElementarySchool’s Fourth Grade Choir practice fortheir upcoming debut performance.

Parent Picnic

Parents and students enjoy lunch on the lawn at Mars Area Primary Center as partof the school’s annual First Grade Parent Picnic on May 14.

Photos by Josh Schwoebel

Registration Open for Annual Golf OutingMars Planet Foundation is taking registration for its third annualGolf Outing, to be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, at Ritts-wood Golf Course.Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon and afour-person scramble start at 1 p.m. Refreshments will be pro-vided.Cost is $300 per four-member team. Various sponsorship op-portunities are also available. Registration forms are availableonline at www.marsk12.org.

Elementary to Hold World Record Field DaysMars Area Elementary School will hold its annual World RecordField Days from noon to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

vvv

Students will participate in a variety of games from a jump rope con-test and potato sack race to a beanbag toss and tug of war. Formore information, call (724) 625-3161.

Tuesday, June 2— Third GradeWednesday, June 3— Fourth GradeThursday, June 4— Second Grade

@MarsAreaSD@MASDasst_super@MASDAthletics

Follow Mars Area School District on

Page 6: Mars Area School District No. 40 The Communicator · Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award,

Maxwell Hessinger, seventh-grader, makescrepes at Mars Area Middle School’s annualSeventh Grade Medieval Fair, held May 18. Atleft, seventh-grader Olivia Lockette plies herskills as a jester to draw in a crowd.

Brooke Dean,seventh-grader,paints a pictureto sell. At left,seventh-graderAmanda Molinaasks passers-byto try their handat a balloon toss game.

Seventh-graders Emily Hayward,Ruby Watson and Sydney Barshick,smile for the camera. At right, Adrian

Zugehar, seventh-grader, demon-strates his gaming contraption.

Rachel Kaminski, seventh-grader,dances to earn a few coins. Below,Rachel Ronczka Caroline Stamperand Hope Lampenfeld pause for apicture.

Medieval FairMedieval Fair

DDaayyss ooff YYoorreeDDaayyss ooff YYoorree

6 The Communicator — May 21, 2015 Mars Area School Districtee

Visitors to Mars Area Middle School were trans-ported back in time to the Middle Ages earlier thisweek as the school hosted its annual SeventhGrade Medieval Fair.Seventh-graders dressed in medieval garb as theypeddled period-esque wears, foods and othergoods. Students and visitors received plastic goldcoins to be spent on items at the fair.The annual event is an end-of-year social studiesproject for seventh-graders, who were asked toresearch an individual profession that was preva-lent during the Middle Ages and to embody theperson in that occupation at the fair.For more information, call (724) 625-3145.

Clara Pastorius,seventh grader,

entertains visitorsto Mars Area

Middle School’sMedieval Fair. At

right, seventh-grader Blake

Duffy counts outthe gold coins he

has earned.

Ph

oto

s b

y Jo

sh S

chw

oeb

el

Page 7: Mars Area School District No. 40 The Communicator · Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award,

The Communicator — May 21, 2015 7eMars Area School District

Prom 2015

Elizabeth Studebaker and Jacob Fickessmile for the camera at Mars Area HighSchool’s 2015 Senior Prom Walk on May15. At left, Emily McMaster and JordanDrexler make their way into the promwalk. Below, Reed McDonough andBailey Campbell pause for a picture.

Mars Area High School’s 2015 Senior Prom was held on May 15at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.Approximately 260 students attended this year’s prom, themed“Glow.” The Prom Walk was held at Mars Area High Schoolauditorium and the After-Prom at Stage AE. Prom and After-Prom activities included dinner, dancing, casinogames, a photo booth and refreshments.

Nick Pecora and CourtneyMcKinnis prepare for theirturn on stage. At left, AngelaPerri and Mitchell Verplankarrive at the Prom Walk.

Brandt Kepreos,Erin Posey, NateBayuk and ReillyButler pose for a

picture before taking the stage

at Mars Area High School’s

2015 Prom Walk.At right, Emily

Sippey, KendallAngeletti and

Megan Totzkeshow off theirprom gowns.

‘GLOW’‘GLOW’

Photos byJosh Schwoebel

Page 8: Mars Area School District No. 40 The Communicator · Teacher Selected for 2015 Red Apple Award Mars Area teacher Darcy Silbaughwas selected to receive a 2015 Red Apple Education Award,

Prom 2015Megan Moser and MattBrand (left) arrive at MarsArea High School’s 2015Senior Prom Walk on May15. Below, Justin Mack andOlivia Recchia smile for thecamera.

Jason Skurkaand AmandaCouch maketheir way intothe Senior Prom Walk at Mars AreaHigh School.

Kristen Davidson, Kalei Tacikand Dana Kingsley get ready

for their turn in the spotlight. At right, John Castello and

Sarah Getsy pose for a photo.

Zarek Simkovich, Adriana Mazzotta, Matt McMahon, Maddi Brown, Justin Simakas,Maddie Brake, Adam Brandl and Hadleigh Roy gather for a picture at Mars Area HighSchool 2015 Senior Prom Walk.

Brendan Murphy, Taylor Campbell, Natalie Hannaand Andrew Plesniak (left) await their turn on stage.Below, Ori Rinaman, Casey Merritt, Sydney Cole andDane Zortman pause for a picture.

Morgan Herold and PeteMcMaster have a photo

taken. At right, Sorina Wittig,Kelli Conley, Rochelle

Standish and Sarah Hen-derson smile for the camera.

Ian Houk, Kaitlyn Smith, Alex Stepke, Jessica Griest,Zach Robinson and Karli Hart are all smiles. At right,Tommy Pierre, Lexi Mowery, Claire Georgiadis and

Jimmy Pierre get ready to take the stage.

For more Prom Walkphotos, visit Mars Area

School District’sFacebookpage

Photos byJosh Schwoebel

8 The Communicator — May 21, 2015 Mars Area School Districtee

Brooke Jedry, Eric Farabaugh, Hope Berne-burg and Ryan Giallonardo prepare for theirturn on stage. At left, Jon Jackson and MorganMontgomery arrive at the Prom Walk.