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 throughout the Southern York County School District recently celebrated their 100th day of school with decorations, costumes, and projects. Kindergarten students at Shrewsbury Elementary School also participated in a community service project that combined observing the 100th day with helping people in need.

The students collected canned goods and other nonperishable foods for the Southern York County Food Pantry. From canned soups and vegetables, like corn and carrots, to pasta, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, and pancake mix, more than 220 food items were collected.

“Students talked about the idea of sharing food,” Instructional Assistant Barbara Kroner said. “They also counted and sorted the foods to incorporate math lessons with the many food items that were donated.”

During the collection period, just the kindergarten families donated the food items.

“My class brought in 84 items and Mrs. Schiding’s class was a super close second with 83,” Kindergarten Teacher Michelle Johns said. “The children grouped the food items by tens and we counted them. They also lined some up according to height and sorted a group of ten in their own way.”

The Southern York County Food Pantry is a co-op effort of 35 churches. For more than 30 years it has provided needed goods for area families. Once the items are donated, they get separated by food type and stored until they are needed. Southern Community Services helps distribute the food.

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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 – Sixth-graders at Shrewsbury Elementary School recently learned the meaning of philanthropy by participating in a food collection project. They accumulated, packed, and donated hundreds of nonperishable items for the Southern York County Food Bank. From pancake mix, pasta, peanut butter, and canned goods to brown paper bags, several boxes were packed with goods for the holidays.

The students spearheaded the food drive, making signs and morning announcements, as well as sending letters home that asked for the donations.

“We started the project because we were learning about the concept of philanthropy in our BizTown unit,” teacher Karen Deluca said. “We decided to actually do something philanthropic, instead of just talking about it.”

Besides advertising the food drive, the students also helped to collect bags of food from each of the classrooms, and boxed up all of the donations, she added.

“I am sad for the families who aren’t getting enough food,” Caity Minor said. “I love to help.”

Although the project lasted just one week, students in every grade contributed to the effort. They also helped to load the pantry truck with the items on collection day.

“The students collected a lot of food for such a short period of time”, sixth-grade teacher Lisa Kline said.

Students said they were inspired by all of the collection efforts. “It felt good to help all of these people,” Kevin Tanner said.

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

Glen Rock, Pa – Johnny Appleseed surprised first grade students at Shrewsbury Elementary School recently, when he wandered into their playground. A lost Appleseed was traveling to Ohio to plant his apple trees and needed help with his map and directions.

Each fall, Appleseed (otherwise known as Dale Keagy, retired District Business Administrator) takes a break from his travels to visit and entertain the elementary students.

“We take the kids outside on the playground and he comes walking through the grass with a pot on his head, carrying a bag,” First Grade Teacher Rebecca Cohenour said.

Appleseed entertains the students with songs and also shows them the items in his bag, which include his harmonica, a bugle, a bird caller and a bag of apples.

“He talks with the children about his life and then he chants the song, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” First Grade Teacher Erica Allen said.

Keagy has been performing as Appleseed for about 25 years. “I started doing it when I was asked to read the Johnny Appleseed story to the first graders as a part of the folklore unit,” he said. “I thought that it would be more interesting if I did in costume. Then I added a few songs and some musical accompaniment.”

Students act out with sounds and hand motions, Allen said. Throughout the visit, Appleseed accidentally hits his head with his pat/hat, which makes the students laugh.

“I try to add a few new things each time, Keagy said. “I use a harmonica, a bird call, and a tin whistle. I still tell the story – the folk tale part and the true part.”

During the last week of September, the students study a unit on apples, Cohenour added. “Johnny Appleseed’s birthday is on Sept. 26, so we learn about him at this time.”

First-graders also celebrate with an Apple Day, Allen said. As part of the language arts curriculum, each teacher prepares a special “apple” activity and then classes rotate so that the students complete different apple activities with each first grade teacher.

“Johnny is always our ‘opening act’ on that day,” Cohenour said.

Students enjoyed the visit and presentation from Appleseed, the teachers said. They even wondered if he was the real Johnny Appleseed.

“Over the years, the students have been remarkably consistent,” Keagy said. “They know I’m not the real Johnny Appleseed, but they like pretending that they do.”

Dale Keagy portrays Johnny Appleseed.

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