Southern York County School District students from Friendship, Southern, and Shrewsbury elementary schools performed in the Pennsylvania Music Educators District 7 Elementary Song Fest on March 31 at Cocalico Middle School in Denver, Pa. Students were chosen by recommendation of their choir teachers to perform in the festival, which includes singers from 42 different elementary and middle schools in York and the surrounding counties.

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By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

Glen Rock, Pa. – Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 at Friendship, Southern, and Shrewsbury Elementary Schools participated in this year’s National Geography Bee.

Following a qualifying test, the students from each class then proceeded to the preliminary round competition, where they answered questions on U.S. geography, state geography, American cities, continents, world capital cities and cultural geography.

The top 10 students proceeded to the final round of competition to determine the school winners. The National Geography Bee is an educational program of the National Geographic Society.

From Southern Elementary, winners are Michael Torbert, who came in first place; Katie Heiser, who placed second; and Josh Alwine, who finished third.

At Shrewsbury Elementary, the winners included Connor Woods, in first; Kyle Orndorff, who placed second; and Alec Kramer, in third.

The winners from Friendship Elementary included Ryan Pugaczewski, who placed first; Nick Standiford, in second place; and Steven Burchett, who finished third.

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By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

Glen Rock, Pa – When the Southern York County School District completes its additions and alterations at Friendship Elementary School next year, the 53 year-old school will contain components that will be used to enhance the science curriculum.

The Southern York County School Board recently approved enhancing the science program to reflect the learning components of the environmentally friendly building. The building will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which consists of a group of rating systems for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. According to Friendship Principal Beth Koontz, the project is being designed to obtain LEED Silver certification, and is intended to serve as an example within the School District as well as for the community.

The architect and administrators at Friendship collaborated so that the “green” design features may be used in the science curriculum. Students will learn important “green” scientific concepts through hands on learning stations that are part of the building.

“The building will be used as a learning tool,” Koontz said.

Students in each grade will study specific science units, using features throughout the “green” building. They include a butterfly garden, gymnasium solar wall, geothermal heating system, and also opportunities for students to learn about the school’s recycling program.

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By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

Glen Rock, Pa – Books at Southern and Friendship Elementary Schools took on new and altered states recently when they were transformed into sculptures. Fifth-graders converted used books into works of art, which are currently featured at the Paul Smith Library in Shrewsbury.

“An altered book is a form of mixed-media art where an artist changes a book from its original form into a different form, changing its appearance or meaning by drawing, painting, creating collage, cutting, tearing, and sewing,” Art Teacher Devon Smith said.

For the project, the students recycled old novels and picture books. Their sculptures make an artistic statement, Smith said. Each book has a theme and their work describes them as an artist. Pages of the books are glued, cut, painted and sewn. Some of the books become three dimensional pop-up art and contain glued objects, like cars.

Allie Grothey painted, ripped and used yarn to stitch pages together in her book. She also glued tissue paper. “I took colors and thought it would be cool for my theme,” she said. “I really liked the project.”

For Alaina Stromgren, flowers are the basis for her theme. For several of the pages, she sewed them together with yarn. She also used construction paper and glued pictures to other pages.

“This book was all about gardens,” Stromgren said and added that she used pieces of fabric and wallpaper to decorate the book’s cover.

Some of the other altered books have themes such as music, the ocean, fire, Christmas, and cars. Daniel Sov transformed a short novel, using fire as his prominent theme. By scorching the edges of several pages and painting them with the colors of red and yellow, he created the look of fire.

“I glued yarn and bubble wrap to some of the sheets to give them the look of firecrackers,” Sov said.

Hannah Dorr incorporated her love of music for her altered book. From Country and Pop, to Hip Hop and Rock, Dorr decorated her book with musical notes, songs, and artists.

The Paul Smith Library will be hosting the fifth-grade art exhibit until Dec. 10 with about 100 books on display during its annual Gingerbread Festival. The books were chosen, “based on their creativity and excellent craftsmanship,” Smith said. In addition, a reception will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7. Another 50 to 100 altered books will be featured for that night only, she added.

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By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District

Glen Rock, Pa – Excitement filled the halls and grounds at Friendship Elementary School recently as students spent their day bowling corn, playing Bingo, painting a reindeer for the troops in Afghanistan, spinning art, and learning about healthy habits. For the past 11 years, Friendship students have celebrated the start of autumn with the annual Fall Festival. More than 75 volunteers joined teachers and staff to aid in the festival games and activities.

“The volunteers worked in shifts throughout the day,” Principal Beth Koontz said. “This event would not have been possible without the parent volunteers.”

Students also listened to a story teller, watched performances from the Susquehannock High School Marching Band, and prepared a care package to send to a local marine. Friendship Elementary and Susquehannock High School graduate, Jacob Feinour, is stationed in Afghanistan.

“When Jacob opens this box and sees the big Rudolf, he will think this surprise is a piece of home,” Instructional Assistant Sue Willis told the students.

In addition, during the wellness center, a local pediatrician demonstrated to students about proper nutrition, bike safety, and the dangers of smoking.

Furthermore, to kick off the school year’s School Wide Effective Behavior Support program (SWEBS), students spent their UROCK coupons at the Rock Shop. The behavior program, which is in its third year, deals with five basic rules, Koontz said. UROCK means: U are responsible; Remember to follow directions; Own your actions; Control yourself; and Kindness counts. When students display positive behavior and follow the rules, they earn UROCK coupons for rewards. They purchased items such as stuffed animals, books, stickers, pencils, and notebooks.

Every year, the program draws outreach from community members. This year, local artist Pat Isch demonstrated some painting techniques for students. “She worked on a painting for students and showed them basic techniques, like how to use certain strokes,” Koontz said. “The students really picked up these techniques and some continued them with their own artwork at home.”

Although the current renovation project prevented some outside activities like the hayride, Koontz said it did not hinder the students in any way. Besides other outside activities, the school held parachute and additional fitness fun to keep the students moving, she said.

“It was like clockwork,” Koontz said. “I was concerned with the lack of space and how the flow of traffic would be, but it was never a problem. Everything worked so well and it was no different from any other year.”

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