The 9th Grade Experience: Recent Episodes
Chris Stuchko
The goal of this podcast is to give you the story of the 9th Grade here at Emmaus High School through the people who live it daily - the students and staff. We will attempt to touch on the real issues and stories that 9th grade students face in order to prepare them to know that #ehs9counts.
Join us as we chat with Chris Stone, the freshman tennis sensation from Emmaus High School, who recently won the District 11 boys single tennis championship. Chris shares his journey through 9th grade, detailing how his brother’s presence in high school eased his transition. Despite initial challenges with the workload and school size, Chris quickly adapted, finding his stride both academically and athletically.
Chris dives deep into his tennis season, highlighting the mix of nerves and confidence that fueled his performance. He discusses the fast-paced nature of the season, from tryouts to competitive matches, and how his familiarity with district players gave him an edge. Chris’s experience as the second singles player and his determination were pivotal in his high-level performance, helping his team secure significant wins.
Explore Chris’s insights into team dynamics and high-stress situations, where team support played a crucial role in his motivation. He recounts his thrilling matches and the unique dynamic of almost competing against his brother in the finals. Looking ahead, Chris is committed to rigorous off-season training, eager to improve next year. He offers valuable advice to incoming ninth graders in individual sports, emphasizing confidence, hard work, and a strong desire to succeed.
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.Musical CreditThanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music at the beginning of today's episode!Education Podcast NetworkI am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
In this episode, we delve into the journey of securing employment as a young individual, exploring the experiences and insights of our guest, Dorney Park Recruitment Manager Katie Knopf. Katie began her work career at Dorney Park during her 9th-grade year as a seasonal employee and has advanced through the years to full-time management positions.Katie stresses the importance for young employees to understand the balance of fun and responsibility in the workplace emphasizing the importance of maintaining professionalism while embracing the enjoyable aspects of the job. She talks about the work-life balance for young individuals involved in extracurricular activities, offering valuable insights for prospective job seekers.The conversation also touches on safety measures implemented by the park, including a chaperone policy, metal detectors, and comprehensive training for employees to handle any situation effectively in order to promote employee safety. The conversation concludes with insights into the application process for prospective employees, emphasizing the importance of attention to detail and readiness for the dynamic environment at Dorney Park.To apply for a job at Dorney Park, go to https://jobs.cedarfair.com/search-jobs?acm=ALL&alrpm=ALL&ascf=[%7B%22key%22:%22custom_fields.locationsNew%22,%22value%22:%22Dorney+Park%22%7D]For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.Musical CreditThanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music at the beginning of today's episode!Education Podcast NetworkI am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
Damon West, author of "The Coffee Bean," shares his inspiring journey from a 9th grader wanting to make varsity football in Texas to eventually serving a life sentence in a Texas prison and his ultimate transformation into a keynote speaker, best-selling author, philanthropist, college professor, and servant leader.
West reflects on his ninth-grade experience, highlighting the pressures of Texas high school football and struggling with math. Despite challenges, he excelled in sports to earn a college scholarship.
However, a career-ending injury derailed his plans, leading to a downward spiral of addiction and crime.In prison, Damon encountered a mentor who shared the story of the coffee bean, inspiring him to change his mindset and surroundings. He emphasizes the importance of being useful by serving others, avoiding negative influences like gossip, and seeking help when needed. Damon discussed the significance of fighting life's battles, acknowledging that everyone gets knocked down but stressing the importance of resilience and perseverance. He highlighted the connection between confidence and keeping promises to oneself, encouraging listeners to embrace change and continue striving for personal growth. Throughout the interview, Damon's message of hope and transformation resonated, offering valuable insights for listeners of all ages.
To purchase a copy of the Coffee Bean, visit Let's Play Books in Emmaus, Pa. and Allentown, Pa. or use the following link https://www.letsplaybooks.com/book/9781119430278.
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music at the beginning of today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
In this episode we continue the 9th Grade Experience Through the Decades series in collaboration with the Emmaus Historical Society. Our second episode welcomes Ruth Kemmerer, a graduate of Emmaus High School from the class of 1949, whose freshman year dates back to the 1945-1946 school year.Listeners can expect to hear about the unique challenges, memorable moments, and the overall atmosphere of Emmaus High School during that era. Ruth's recollections offer a window into the past, allowing the audience to connect with the history of the school in a personal and engaging way.
As the host and Kemmerer navigate through the freshman year of 1945-1946, the episode uncovers intriguing anecdotes, share nostalgic reflections, and highlight the significant events that shaped the early experiences of students at Emmaus High School. This installment not only contributes to preserving the school's history but also provides a platform for listeners to connect with the shared experiences of past generations, fostering a sense of continuity and community within the Emmaus High School legacy.For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.Emmaus Historical SocietyThanks to Jeanne Harakal, President of the Emmaus Historical Society, for facilitating this podcast conversation and for the picture in the cover art. The society’s mission is “to collect, preserve and exhibit Emmaus artifacts, documents, histories, photographs and genealogy for displays and research and to offer educational programs and events throughout the year.” Look for more podcasting collaboration in the future as we highlight stories of Emmaus 9th graders through the decades. For more information about the Emmaus Historical Society, visit https://www.emmaushistoricalsociety.org/Musical CreditThanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music at the beginning of today's episode!Education Podcast NetworkI am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
One of the fastest growing sports in the Lehigh Valley over the past few seasons has been girls wrestling. Emmaus High School becomes the latest school to add a a team in what the NCAA calls an Emerging Sport as it begins the 2023-2024 campaign.
For freshman Petra Perez and Kadence Yannotti it has been a steep learning curve to a brand new sport. Hear about their reasons for joining, what they have quickly learned about the sport and themselves during this process and what advice they have for girls who might also want join the fun!
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical CreditThanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music at the beginning of today's episode!Education Podcast NetworkI am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it's a great time to look back and reflect on the many positives in our lives for the fifth annual Attitude of Gratitude special episode. Over 60 members of the Emmaus High School community took time during this busy period of the school year to share a little bit about what makes them #EastPennProud and thankful.
So before you fill your plate with food, once again fill yourself with an attitude of gratitude with the students and staff at EHS.
Previous Attitude of Gratitude Episodes
2022- https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-5-episode-6-a-thanksgiving-attitude-of-gratitude-2022/
2021- https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-4-episode-12-attitude-of-gratitude-2021/
2020 - https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-3-episode-12-a-thanksgiving-attitude-of-gratitude-2020/
2019 - https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-2-episode-10-a-thanksgiving-attitude-of-gratitude/
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical CreditThanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music at the beginning of today's episode!Education Podcast NetworkI am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
As we prepare to enter the holiday season, our focus in this week’s episode is on three main topics: Remembrance, Gratitude, and Advocacy. RemembranceAt the beginning of the episode, we take time to remember Emmaus High School junior Edwin Cortes, who was killed in a car accident on October 31. Edwin was a student in my 9th grade science class in 2021 and I shared some thoughts about him and how quickly life can change for anyone at any age.GratitudeWe welcome Ms. Rosemary Lamparella back to the podcast to lead a discussion about the differences between gratitude and thankfulness. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and the annual Attitude of Gratitude podcast, Ms. Lamparella shares the benefits we can attain from incorporating more gratitude practices into our lives. She even speaks to students who may feel that they may have very little to appreciate in their lives and ways to reframe that mindset.AdvocacyWe conclude the episode in a conversation with freshman Kris Emmer, who spoke about her adjustment from cyber school in 8th grade to a traditional high school environment here at EHS. She has participated in the principal’s advisory council during the first two months of school and wanted to share her thoughts about why advocacy is important and things that can be done to improve the school community. For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.Musical CreditThanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music at the beginning of today's episode!Education Podcast NetworkI am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
“I remember when …”
In our modern, technology-driven school world, adults will often get caught up saying that things were much better and different when they were back in school.
But for Dorris Schaffer, she truly means.
The 99-year old Emmaus resident was a freshman at Emmaus High School during the 1938-1939 school year. There was no fancy technology - just papers, books, and pencils. She selected her classes on the first day of school. She was able to go home for lunch and was trusted to come back!
In the first episode of this special series, 9th Grade Experience Through the Decades, Schaffer recounts her days as she attended off-campus field trips to see Shakespeare plays, played on the basketball team, and recalled all the subjects she learned. She vividly recalls details, including teachers and classmates' names.
She also remembers an Emmaus community in which everyone was friendly and got to know each other.
At the end of the episode, she shares her best tip for current 9th grade students about how to become better people and grow as listeners.
This is an amazing walk through living history and we are happy to share Schaffer’s story!
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.
Emmaus Historical Society
Thanks to Jeanne Harakal, President of the Emmaus Historical Society, for facilitating this podcast conversation and for the picture in the cover art. The society’s mission is “to collect, preserve and exhibit Emmaus artifacts, documents, histories, photographs and genealogy for displays and research and to offer educational programs and events throughout the year.” Look for more podcasting collaboration in the future as we highlight stories of Emmaus 9th graders through the decades. For more information about the Emmaus Historical Society, visit https://www.emmaushistoricalsociety.org/
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music at the beginning of today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visithttps://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
On this episode, we focus on the re-emergence of the Emmaus High School Freshman Mentoring Program. The goal of the group is to establish a sense of community by having upperclassmen mentors meet with and guide the freshmen during monthly meetings. They will have an opportunity to learn about how to become a successful high school student from their upperclassmen peers.
Listen as the the mentors, as well as the building administrators in charge of the program, share their reasons for wanting to be mentors and offer tips and strategies for the ninth graders.
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
It's hard to believe but summer is quickly coming to an end!
As you gather up your materials, finish up your last-minute summer must-dos, and attempt to find the charger for your Chromebook, tune into this episode that features students handing out practical, bite-sized information on how to best slay your 9th grade year.
We asked students during the 2022-2023 school, ranging from 9th grade year to days before graduation and from Emmaus, Pa, to Mexico about what it takes to be successful in high school.
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
It has taken over 100 episodes, but finally the tables have turned on me on my own podcast! Usually I am the one asking students, educators, and others about their time in the first year of high school, but on this episode, Emmaus High School student Connor Miller had the opportunity to ask me what it was like to be a 9th grader at Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, Pa., back in the 1990s.
We did this interview as part of a project in which he needed to find an expert in a field for his journalism class during the 2022-2023 school year.
He wanted to focus his podcast on podcasting and asked me to sit down with him and answer a few questions about my own 9th grade experience.
He was curious about class/school size, how I received extra help, the opportunities available to me and if I would go back to teach at my old high school. He did a great job getting me to reflect on parts of my own educational journey that I hadn't thought about in many years.
Hopefully this conversation shows that no matter when you attended high school that many of the issues students encounter as very similar.
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
It seems the dream for so many high schoolers today is to become social media famous. With over 30 million videos posted daily to TikTok, the odds of more than just your friends seeing your latest creation is fairly slim.
But what happens when a post beats the algorithm odds and breaks through?
In February 2023, the members of the band visionblur had their viral moment as their cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in their first-ever live performance exploded on the social media app. As of July 2023, the video has garnered more than 1.8 million views and 320,000 likes.
Band members Ez Alexander and June Conrad discuss what it was like to deal with the this quick hit of popularity while trying to build their band. They talk about the making of their band, getting the nerve to play that first gig and what it was like in the hours after the post started gaining momentum.
To learn more about the band, follow them @visionblurband on TikTok
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Also thanks to Visionblur for the use of their logo and the audio clip taken from their TikTok page.
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
In this special episode recorded live from the Pennsylvania Convention Center at the end of June 2023, we sat down with 37 attendees of the 2023 ISTE Conference, including educators, industry experts, and students, to gather their best tech tips, time management hacks and other strategies to assist with a successful 9th grade experience.
The guests on today's episode come from diverse perspectives from all over the world offering quick, innovative approaches and personal anecdotes about what they feel it takes to excel during your freshman year.
The final 10 minutes of the episode features a longer conversation with Shaurya Sinha and Joseph Tay, sophomores at Stanford University, talking about their 9th grade experiences in their home countries, the idea and dream of coming to college in the United States, and what they are hoping to do in the field of Artificial Intelligence.Here is a list of the guest on today's show (arranged by the order of their appearance)
TeachersCarl Hooker, Author Ready, Set, Fail and Keynote Speaker Rachelle Denne Poth, Riverview Junior/Senior High School Matthew X Joseph, CEO X-Factor Education Lauren Zeznanski - Chestnut Ridge School District, Fishertown, Pa. Gwynn Moore - Aurora, CO, Aurora Frontier P-8 Jen Dawson - CDW Chris Aviles - Spectrum Industries, Inc Christopher Eide - Trumbull High School Paige Littlefield - University of Oklahoma Danielle Cowden - Crosstown High Memphis TN Dr. Laura McCusker - Lincoln IU 12 @mccusker105 Alexis Albertie - The New School Atlanta, Ga. @tnsatlanta Andre Simon - The New School Atlanta, Ga. Erin Cummings - Chester County IU @ErinC_CCIU Lauren Young - Beloved Community New Orleans, La. Anthony Iacobucci - TRECA Digital Academy Marion, OH Stephanie Howell - Pickerington Local School District Carroll, OH Eric Guise - Hopewell Valley Central High, Newtown Pa Daniel Nemerow - Gainesville High School (Va.) Scott Nunes - Canva for Education Eric Verlander - USD 457 Garden City, KS Giovanna Salas-Wert, Abington HS Karima Chandler, Charter School of Wilmington Ariana Ciamaricone, Charter School of Wilmington Nicky Acevedo, Vivacity Tech PBC Brandon Main, Milwaukee Public Schools Kerry Parrish, Crystal Lake Central High School D155
StudentsKeerthi Viijay and Riya Shah, STEAM Team Co-creators Simone Sibley and Jacob Deysher, Brandywine Heights High School Ana Camila Lopez Jonguitud, Cumbres International School Cancun Mariela Casteleyro, Highlands International School Mexico Camila Zamora, Highlands International School Mexico Atara Goldstein, The Frisch School Ari Katz, The Frisch School Shaurya Sinha and Joseph Tay, Stanford University
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
It has been almost six months since his last appearance, so we could not close out the 2022-2023 school year without having Cole Stuchko appear one more time on the podcast to reflect on his 9th grade campaign.
Cole has been busy since December finishing up the basketball season, taking midterm exams, trying out and making the varsity tennis team and completing the year with final exam preparation. In this episode he talks about the importance of starting the year off strong to make the end of your first year easier and making sure you complete each assignment that is assigned in class. He talks about the challenge of being the only freshman on the tennis team and how he was able to feel comfortable with established upperclassmen. We finish the episode with some great tips for upcoming freshman to make the most of their school year.
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
Rosemary Lamparella, the current S.T.E.P. teacher at Emmaus High School, sees in her daily work the importance of helping students adapt, grow, and change to build the skills necessary to become members of a school and local community.
Even though May was Mental Health Awareness Month, she knows the social and emotional challenges high school students face can present throughout the year, even as we approach the summer vacation and strives to provide students the knowledge and support to assist them with their personal development.
In this episode, Ms. Lamparella explores the connection between Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and better outcomes. She describes the seven factors associated with PCEs and gives actionable steps to take incorporate them into your daily routine.
Topics from this episode include
- Her 9th grade experience in a small school with fewer than 100 students in her entire class
- Her career shift into education
- The definition of resiliency
- How Positive Childhood Experiences can shape your future success
- The importance of creating a good vocabulary around your feelings and emotions
- Identifying the need to practice and develop skills in different areas of your everyday life
- The connection between volunteering and gratitude
- Why a 15 minute conversation per day with a parent can make a big difference
To learn more about Positive Childhood Experiences, go to PACEs Connection https://www.pacesconnection.com/
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Joseph Tiwold, a junior at Kutztown University and graduate of Northampton High School, joins us on this episode to reflect on his 7 weeks of observation of 9th grade classes here at Emmaus High School. He is preparing to become a teacher and he shares his perspective as a student who is still in classes, while not too far removed from his own high school days.He comes from a family of teachers and shares his passion for entering the classroom at the end of his program.Topics from the episode include: Joe's 9th Grade Experience and dealing with a season-ending injury in his Freshman wrestling season How that injury impacted his friend group during that transition to high school His own 9th grade science class experience His observations of being an educator in a 9th grade classroom The biggest differences he notices from his own 9th grade experience to his educator experience The steps he still needs to take to be a teacherHe closes out the interview giving his best answer to future employers about why he would like to be a teacher.Musical CreditThanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!Education Podcast NetworkI am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
As the Executive Director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Ashley Coleman is one of the lead advocates and activists for the LGBTQ+ community in the Lehigh Valley. But the work that has taken her all over the United States began as a member of the Emmaus High School graduating class of 2003. As one of the only black and openly gay members of her class, Coleman didn’t have the option of being quiet, but rather leaned into the role of fighting for herself and others like her at EHS.
Coleman takes this opportunity to recount her time at EHS, calling it “a wonderful place to come from” as she traces her development through high school.
Topics from this episode include:
- Ashley’s 9th grade experience at Emmaus High School
- The impact of a teacher (Mrs. Rita Cortez) and importance of being a good person in addition to being a good student
- Being an advocate for herself, especially at a time when they were not many people like her at EHS
- How the advocacy work she did in high school, including her senior graduation project, prepared her for her future career
- Advice to students on how to begin the own journey of advocacy and overcoming adversity
- How dealing with criticism never gets easier
- Expanded resources and programs available through the Bradbury-Sullivan Center
- The importance of trying new things to get out your comfort zone
For more information on all that Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center provides, please visit https://www.bradburysullivancenter.org/
Photo credits for Coleman headshot: Megan Keller Photography
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
In the first of our senior rewind episodes, we catch up with Emmaus High School basketball players Dylan Darville and Chase Muckey, two guests from one of our most popular episodes (Season 2, Episode 16). In February 2020, Darville and Muckey were members of a freshman team that finished with a 25-1 record and promise to restore Emmaus Boys Basketball tradition. Through many ups and downs, their high school careers culminated this year with a regular season league championship, a trip to the PPL Center for postseason action, and a trip to the state playoffs. Throughout this conversation, they exhibit the hallmarks of the EHS program, with a focus on teamwork, togetherness, and passion for the game.
Other topics from the episode include
- A look back at the highlights from their senior season
- Lessons learned from 9th grade basketball and how they applied to future seasons
- The importance of playing as a team and growing into a role
- Advice for upcoming 9th graders - both on and off the court
- The role basketball can potentially play in their lives after their EHS career is now complete
To listen to their first episode on the podcast, click here
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
For the first time since 2020, the EHS World Language Department hosted the EPSD International Fair on Saturday, February 25, 2023. A celebration of culture, food, music, and traditions, this event highlighted many of the unique backgrounds of EHS students and community members in a celebration of our school's diverse population.
In this episode, we talked to the students that created presentations to represent their chosen countries as well as Mrs. Babbitt and Mrs. Kalb, who organized the event.
The countries/organizations represented this year included
- Ghana
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- Latin Club
- Germany
- Chile
- Siberia
- Pakistan
- Uzbekistan
- France
- Ireland
- Italy
The episode concludes with information about the 2024 trip to Spain led by Mrs. Ardito.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
Chris Singleton’s personal story has a 9th grade year that isn’t much different than your typical student. He wanted to play varsity sports, found an interest in books, got a low grade in a class for the first time, and had a first relationship. The years that followed sent Chris on many different paths, eventually winding up at Kalahari Resorts on February 14, 2023, to give a Keynote speech at the PETE&C technology conference. He then stuck around for a brief chat recorded for the podcast.
Chris had a brief career in baseball, being drafted by the Chicago Cubs and playing in the minor leagues. After his playing days, he now uses his personal story of overcoming “struggle moments” to inspire others. Chris’s mother was among nine people killed at the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, SC in July 2015. This moment forced Chris to become resilient while beginning the shift of focus on teaching love and unity and being the change needed in the world.
Topics we discussed during this interview included
- Chris’ 9th grade year and the importance of getting to know yourself and your values
- People who can be a generational curse breaker
- How to overcome a “struggle moment”
- Teaching Love and Unity and spreading the message of positivity
To learn more about Chris, check him out on Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Be Real using the handle csingleton_2
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
This episode is a wrap-up for the 9th Grade Experience Podcast’s appearance at the Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C) Kalahari Resorts in Pocono Mountain, Pennsylvania, on Monday, February 13, 2023. This is the third time the podcast has been invited to present at the conference.
The conversation featured on this episode were taken from the session titled “Taking the Podcasting Plunge to Tell Your Story” which was held on the first day of the 4-day event “that provides quality programs focused on technology in the educational field.”
Guests on the panel included:
- Kim McBryar - Teacher - STREAM K-6
- Karen Leisey - Librarian - High School
- Allison Keefe - Instructional Coach - Agora Cyber Charter School; Co-host of the Cyber Sisters Podcast
Topics discussed in this episode
- 9th Grade Experiences and the technology from that year
- What students will need in order to be successful while using and implementing technology
- How to use technology in order to solve problems
- Skills that 9th graders will need to be successful in and out of the technology world
- What can educators take away from the conference in order to help students to become successful
To learn about PETE&C, visit https://www.peteandc.org/index.cfm or follow them on Twitter @peteandc. The 2024 Conference will be back in Hershey, so get those proposal submissions ready!
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
Midterms exams can be a stressful time for students. For all Emmaus High School students except for seniors, this year will be the first time they have taken a traditional middle of the year assessment while in high school.
In this episode, we hope to ease that anxiety with helpful tips and strategies to overcome the challenge. First, we hear from school counselor Mrs. Demchak about the importance of coming up with a plan of preparation, the importance of scheduling breaks and self care time during your studying and how to tackle the remainder of the school year.
We also talk with the Stinger student newspaper's Social Media Editor junior Emma Dela Cruz about an article she wrote in the December 2022 issue of the paper about myths and misconceptions about midterms. Emma dives deep into the mental approach in preparation, active studying processes, and the importance of sleep.
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
To view the Stinger, EHS student newspaper, go https://stingerehs.com/
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
It took until the first snow day of the 2022-2023 school year on December 15, 2022, but we are finally back with the latest edition of the Cole Cast, featuring Cole Stuchko. It has been several months since we last spoke and a lot has happened during that time. Topics we covered in the episode include the need to stay on top of classwork as the academic rigor increases, how to work back when you don't get the grades that you want in a certain class, highlights of the beginning of the school year, and what it means to represent your school as a member of an athletic team.
Also, just in time for the holidays, Cole gives his best gift ideas for 9th grade students!
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it's a great time to look back and reflect on the many positives in our lives for the fourth annual Attitude of Gratitude special episode. Members of the Emmaus High School community took time during this busy period of the school year to share a little bit about what makes them #EastPennProud and thankful.
So before you fill your plate food, once again fill yourself with an attitude of gratitude with the students and staff at EHS.
Previous Attitude of Gratitude Episodes
2021- https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-4-episode-12-attitude-of-gratitude-2021/
2020 - https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-3-episode-12-a-thanksgiving-attitude-of-gratitude-2020/
2019 - https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-2-episode-10-a-thanksgiving-attitude-of-gratitude/
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
When students have been asked what topics they want to hear more about on the 9th Grade Experience, mental-health related conversation is at the top of the list. Zoe Gaumer hopes her story about overcoming her own mental health battles can allow students to feel that they are not alone in dealing with their own struggle.
Some of the topics Zoe covers in this conversation include
- The Reality of 9th grade versus what you see in the movies
- Her role and participation in Aevidum and her goal of presenting her message to middle school students
- Her journey with mental health
- The importance and definition of "self-care"
- How to talk to her peers about her own struggles and dealing with mental health
- The personal connection between physical activity and better mental health
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
As part of their on-going mission as an organization that allows students to facilitate diversity awareness and devise anti-bullying projects that affect the entire student body., the No Place for Hate club welcomed Dr. Mykee Fowlin to EHS on Friday, September 16, to perform his one-man show “You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me.” Dr. Mykee mixes psychology, performance, and poetry to, in his own words, “create an atmosphere of worldwide inclusion, not just tolerance, towards all people.”
In this episode, Dr. Mykee is joined by No Place for Hate co-advisors Steph Larkin and Brian Harkness, as well as around 50 students, for a conversation that occurred between his two performances. This is the second time this same group has appeared on the podcast to talk about diversity and inclusion. To reference the previous conversation, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com/s2e5.
Learn more about Dr. Mykee, visit his website: http://mykeefowlin.com/
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
The first day of school presents challenges to all high school students, but especially to the newest members of the school community. To get the instant reaction to the first day of the 2022-23 school year for the Class of 2026, we catch up with Cole Stuchko for the August edition of the Cole Cast. We spoke about the benefit of walking through his schedule before the first day, what the lunch experience was like, and overall impressions of Emmaus High School. Stay tuned all the way through the episode for a special announcement about an opportunity for some free 9th Grade Experience swag!
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
New school years often bring change, but the 2022-2023 school year begins with a new principal leading Emmaus High School. Beth Guarriello, previously the principal at Southern Lehigh HS and Saucon Valley HS, will look to create a safe, welcome and challenging environment for all EHS students. She is focused on helping students find their niche, create community, and have fun!
In this episode, we cover:
- Her freshman experience at Freedom High School
- The goals she has for students during their first year
- Orientation on August 17
- The changed to Hornet Homeroom and Hornet Huddle
- The need to create fun and community to help students find their niche
- Changes in assignment of assistant principals and school counselors to create a more cohesive 4-year experience for students and families
- First impressions of Emmaus High School after 1 month on the job
- One tip for incoming 9th graders to start off the school year
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025 for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
Welcome to Season 5 of the 9th Grade Experience!
In the summer kickoff of new episodes to gear up for the 2022-2023 school year and new season, the podcast is debuting a new feature: a regular interview segment with my son, Cole Stuchko, who will be entering 9th grade. He has agreed to come at least monthly to give us a first-hand account of the what life is like as an Emmaus High School freshmen. On this episode, we talk about his summer preparations for the new school year, seeing his preliminary schedule, and how he feels about having a parent currently teaching at the school he will attend. He also gives everyone a reminder at the end to complete your summer reading assignment!
For all previous episodes of the podcast, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com. If you visit the site, you can leave us a voicemail, an email or a rate and review of the show.
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025 for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
The last day of school always brings mixed emotions. Mostly it is relief, for the students and the teachers, on the completion of another year. There is also opportunity for reflection by the members of the Class of 2025 on the transition from middle to high school.
In this episode you will hear from several students who were in person on the final day of the school year that wanted to share the highlights of their year and some tips for incoming 9th graders. We also had a chance to hear from those students who participated via the 9th Grade Experience message board but did not want to talk live on the episode.
The 9th Grade Experience will continue to produce episodes throughout the summer to share the stories of Emmaus High School alumni telling their 9th grade stories, experts in the field of education helping students prepare for their first year of high school, as well potential surprises to help grow and expand the podcast.
Thanks for listening during the 2021-2022 school year!
Special Shout Out
Thanks to Kyle from the Xhausted Educators Show for recently having me on a guest. On the episode, we chatted about my background in education, my role in the classroom and Philadelphia sports. To listen to the audio podcast, click https://www.teachbetter.com/podcasts/xhausted-educators/
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025 for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality. To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
As the 9th grade year is quickly coming to an end, it is only natural to think about what is ahead ...
A relaxing summer?
A first job?
A fun vacation?
College, trade school, military service, or an apprenticeship program?
It's never too early to think about what you might want to do after high school and on this episode, we recap the 2022 Emmaus High School College Fair, held Thursday, April 28, 2022. Representatives from over 120 post-secondary options were available to assist students in learning more about what they could do after high school graduation.
If you were not able to attend or did not get the chance to meet all of the representatives, we were able to ask 11 representatives the following three questions:
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What advice do you have for 9th graders beginning the college/trade investigation process?
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What is a misconception of parents and students during the college/trade investigation and application process?
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What can you tell us about your college, university, trade school, military service or apprenticeship program?
Special thanks to following counselors and representatives that took the time to speak with the 9th Grade Experience during the event (representatives are listed in the order of appearance)
John Carreiro - Graduate/Field Force Member - USMA West Point
Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Treiber - PA Army National Guard
Rachael Toonder - Admissions Counselor - Northampton Community College
Robert C. Franklin III - Training Director - IBEW Local Union No. 375
Kathleen Stango - Admissions Officer - University of Connecticut
Izzy Ambrogio - Admissions Counselor - St. Bonaventure University
Emily Grady - Career Planning Specialist/CSC - Empire Beauty School
Carrie Puentes-Bornmann - Admissions Counselor - Elizabethtown College
Christine Gibble - Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions - Neumann University
Chris Paul - Regional Recruiter of Central NJ/Eastern PA - University of Alabama
Layla Malewicz - Recruitment Liaison - St. Luke's School of Nursing
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025 for providing the music in today's episode!
Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality.
To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
We close out #EHSCareerMonth with a focus on Emmaus High School Class of 2018 graduate Jackie Bassett. She is the Founder and CEO of FD Market, which is a “a sustainable goods shop and zero-waste refillery. We're on a mission to make sustainable living obtainable and beautiful for everyone.” She does not have a linear path to business ownership, rather through a collection of experiences, both good and bad, established her values and ideas to create a thriving store, which is getting ready to open a second location in Easton.
Some of the topics discussed in this episode include:
- Jackie's EHS experience and how it didn't always work for her
- Inspiration for her business while on a trip with the National Parks Club
- The path Jackie took to business ownership
- Sustaining a business during the pandemic
- What people don’t know about owning their own business
- Satisfaction of giving back to your high school and the local community
- Career advice for current students
To find out more about Jackie and the FD Market, visit https://fdmarketco.com/ or check out the store at 348 Main St., Emmaus, PA 18049
Welcome to Education Podcast Network
I am proud to announce that the 9th Grade Experience Podcast has joined the Education Podcast Network (EPN). The passionate hosts of the EPN family are made up of a wide variety of teachers, administrators, and educators who are dedicated to bringing you the best in education-related content. The network covers everything from current events in education, technology, and best practices to the latest editorials and more on a regular basis in high quality.
To find out more information about all the great shows, visit https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/
Musical Credit
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025 for providing the music in today's episode!
As part of the #EHSCareerMonth series, we talked to Bob Rotruck, the radio announcer for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a minor league hockey team based in Allentown that plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition to his duties on the microphone, he coordinates media coverage on the Phantoms’ website and does videos for the team’s social media accounts.
During this conversation, Rotruck talks about his journey from carrying his own radio equipment to broadcast college hockey games on Friday and Saturday nights to being the only broadcaster in the history of the Phantoms. He stressed the importance of being versatile in the job, especially in aspects that have nothing to do with calling the action on the ice. He also gives advice for students on how to create their own opportunities to call games and get experience behind the microphone in whatever ways they can.
To learn more about other careers with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, listen to the episode featuring Creative Director Amy Keller on Season 4, Episode 23.
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025 for providing the music in today's episode!
As part of the #EHSCareerMonth series, we talked to Amy Keller, who is the Creative Director for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a minor league hockey team based in Allentown that plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). She coordinates the in-game fan experience for those attending the action at the PPL Center.
She provided a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the production of a game discussing the long hours of preparation for the event. In addition to hearing about her duties, responsibilities, and how she arrived in Lehigh Valley, Keller, a Northampton High School graduate, shares that she is in charge of sounding the goal horn after the Phantoms score. She closed out the conversation giving students advice on how to get started now if they hope to pursue a career similar to hers.
To learn more about other careers with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, listen to the episode featuring radio announcer Rob Rotruck on Season 4, Episode 24.
Thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025 for providing the music in today's episode!
We are privileged to share the story of one of this year’s EHS Shave for the Brave “Honored Kids,” current EHS freshman Sam Mackaravitz. At the time of the recording, Sam is two years cancer free in his battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
In this episode, Sam talks about
- His transition to EHS and participation in the marching band
- How did he become associated with Shave for the Brave and become an “Honored Kid”
- What does an event like Shave for the Brave mean to him
- What he wants people to understand about what he has gone through and the importance of being a fighter through tough times
Since its inception in 2010, the Emmaus High School Shave for the Brave event has steadily grown its size and ability in raising funds to donate to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in order to conquer childhood cancer. As of March 8, 2022, EHS has raised close to $500,000 through its current fundraising and six previous events!
In order to donate to the EHS Shave for the Brave, please use the links below
Donate to Sam: https://www.stbaldricks.org/donate/participant/1088427/2022?amount=50&donation_type=donate_once
Donate to Mr. Stuchko: https://www.stbaldricks.org/donate/participant/1088409/2022?amount=50&donation_type=donate_once
Thanks to freshman Eli Heckman for providing the intro and outro music for today’s podcast!
Where will your path lead?
Emmaus High School Counselor Mrs. Grim gives us all the important information to assist students, staff and parents on the road to answering that question as we kick off March Career Month. She assists everyone in where to go to find the calendar of speakers, biographies on each presenter, and how to sign up through Naviance to attend the sessions. She also talks about the importance of taking the time to learn about things that interest and excite students while gaining those foundational skills that are important in any job.
During the month of March, in addition to wearing the green career readiness t-shirt, the 9th Grade Experience will feature different members of our local community talking about their own careers and the things our students can do to prepare themselves to enter a particular field.
Please check out the links below for more information for Career Month and other Career-related activities here at EHS
Calendar of Speakers
Speaker Biographies
Career Readiness Requirements
Special thanks to Eli Heckman, Class of 2025, for providing the intro and outro music for today's episode!
While many of us hope the pandemic is beginning to finally come toward a resolution, the focus and attention on student mental health will not easily go away, as students will continue to face the challenges of the world around them. On this episode, we preview the 2022 EPSD Mental Health Symposium being held February 21 through March 6 which hopes to continue on previous work to help parents and members of the community understand more about this topic.
Co-chair Stephanie Cignarella, School Psychologist at Emmaus High School; details all of the amazing opportunities to learn about a variety of mental health tools and tips applicable to students of all ages.
For all of the information regarding the symposium and to access over 10 virtual asynchronous sessions on a wide-ranging variety of topics, go to https://sites.google.com/eastpennsd.org/virtuamentalhealthsymposim2021/home?authuser=0.
Highlights of the Symposium Include
Keynote In-Person Kickoff Event - Monday, February 21, 2022, at 6:30 pm at Eyer Middle School
- Dr. George DuPaul - Professor and Associate Dean of Research at Lehigh University will be speaking to participants on how to parent a child with a mental health condition, the epidemiology of these conditions, what parents can do, what has worked, what hasn't worked, how to be empathetic and relate to their children during these challenges and addressing the threshold for when to seek professional help.
- Mock Teen Bedroom - This interactive experience challenges parents and caregivers to find more than 100 hidden items including mock drugs/ drug paraphernalia, seemingly real containers that are actually "stash safes", and common household items that can indicate abuse.
- EPSD Therapy Dogs
A Survivor's Message: Parenting a Child with Disordered Eating - March 2, 2022 at 7 pm virtual Zoom session
After years of experiencing undiagnosed depression, coupled with a poor sense of self and family stress, Kirstin Day developed an eating disorder at the age of 13. Her disorder continued for the next 6 years taking her through several rounds of outpatient therapy finally culminating in inpatient treatment. She has spent the past ten years speaking about her experience sharing the message that "It's okay not to be okay."
Interactive Mini Panel Discussion - March 3, 2022 at 7 pm virtual Zoom session
Several of the Symposium's presenters will be available to discuss pertinent mental health topics and challenges and will be available to answer participant questions. Conversation topics will include the importance of sleep on the developing brain, parenting strategies, coping strategies, organizational strategies, and the effects of mental health on school performance.
Shave for the Brave Announcement
At the end of this episode, you will hear and see a commercial produced for the 2022 Emmaus High School Shave for the Brave event. To help support the fight to end childhood cancers, please donate at the link below. We will be featuring stories about the event in an upcoming podcast episode.
https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/1088409/2022
This episode is a wrap-up for the 9th Grade Experience Podcast’s appearance at the Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C) in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Monday, February 7, 2022. Excerpts featured on this episode were take from the session titled “The Future of the 9th Grade Experience” which was held on the first day of the 4-day event “that provides quality programs focused on technology in the educational field.”
This is the second time the podcast has been invited to present at the conference. In 2021, the session was virtual, so it was nice to have an in-person audience this time to talk about ninth grade experiences for students throughout Pennsylvania.
Three brave educators - Beth, Nicole and Kayla - representing different sized high schools throughout the state joined the panel They gave us different perspectives on ninth grade students, their own ninth grade experiences, different things that students can focus on to be content creators and things they should know at the end of high school to ensure technology success in high school and beyond.
To learn about PETE&C, visit https://www.peteandc.org/index.cfm or follow them on Twitter @peteandc. The 2023 Conference will be held at Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos, so get those proposal submissions ready!
At the end of this episode, you will hear and see a commercial produced for the 2022 Emmaus High School Shave for the Brave event. To help support the fight to end childhood cancers, please donate at the link below. We will be featuring stories about the event in an upcoming podcast episode.
https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/1088409/2022
Special thanks to Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C) Day 1 Keynote Speaker Jimmy Casas for taking time after his sessions on Monday, February 7, 2022, to chat with the 9th Grade Experience Podcast about his own middle/high school time, how to encourage and teach students and educators how to ask for help, and what he would do if he were back in the role of principal attempting to work first-year high school students in a school’s culture.
According to his PETE&C bio, Casas strives to “Eradicate Average! CULTURIZE Your School. Average schools don't inspire greatness--and greatness is what our schools need if we are going to produce world-changing learners.”
To learn more about Jimmy, visit https://www.jimmycasas.com/ and to purchase his book Culturize, go to https://www.amazon.com/Culturize-Every-Student-Whatever-Takes-ebook/dp/B077QVXCRN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EZSQG9VLYWQV&keywords=culturize&qid=1644257697&sprefix=culturize%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-1
To help promote the upcoming Emmaus High School Night at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on February 19, 2022, this episode features two members of the team talking about their unique 9th grade experiences while chasing the dream of playing professional hockey. Linus Sandin and Garrett Metcalf have both followed a long path to reach playing in the American Hockey League and look back on their experiences up to this point with special host, Phantoms radio announcer Bob Rotruck.
Sandin, originally born in Sweden, talks about how ingrained hockey was to his schooling experience while Metcalf shares how a decision made early in his high school career took him from home to pursue competitive hockey. Both interviews show the importance of focusing on a goal and doing everything possible in order to accomplish the desired outcome.
Additional thanks to Amy Keller, Senior Creative Director for the Phantoms, for helping to facilitate these interviews as well Rotruck, who stepped in to hold the conversations based on player media availability.
For more on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, visit www.phantomshockey.com
EHS Night at the Phantoms
We are having an Emmaus Phantoms Night!
The EHS Class of 2025 will be hosting an Emmaus Family/Friends Phantoms night open to all East Penn Families, Students, and Staff. The EHS Chorus will be performing the National Anthem and we have access to $40 tickets for just $25. If you order tickets before 1/21, you will be entered into a raffle for free future tickets, one of 8 spaces on the Fanboni during the game, and Phantoms swag. The more tickets we sell, the more raffle prizes we will have Use this link and share with anyone who you think would enjoy a fun night out at the Phantoms.
https://fevo.me/emmaus
Contact Mrs. Kaunitz for more information.
On this episode we spotlight everyone's favorite Emmaus High School "freshman," Branch, the Therapy Dog. Branch has been present in hallways and classrooms since the beginning of the school year, offering students another layer of support and comfort as they have returned back to the halls of EHS. You will hear from Mr. Mihalik, the coordinator of the East Penn Therapy Dog program, staff and students about the impact that Branch has had on anyone who has come into contact with him.
Please consider participating in the #BettyWhiteChallenge in order to help fund this amazing program in our school district by donating at the link below in the show notes.
Episode Breakdown
:08 - Introduction
- Let's Learn a Little More About Branch
- Class of 2025 Phantoms Night - We are having an Emmaus Phantoms Night! The EHS Class of 2025 will be hosting an Emmaus Family/Friends Phantoms night open to all East Penn Families, Students, and Staff. The EHS Chorus will be performing the National Anthem and we have access to $40 tickets for just $25. If you order tickets before 1/21, you will be entered into a raffle for free future tickets, one of 8 spaces on the Fanboni during the game, and Phantoms swag. The more tickets we sell, the more raffle prizes we will have Use this link and share with anyone who you think would enjoy a fun night out at the Phantoms. https://fevo.me/emmaus
- EHS Shave for the Brave - March 11, 2022 Learn more and donate at https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/1088409/2022
4:04 - Staff Reflections on Branch
9:50 - Comparing Branch to Other Therapy Dogs
15:05 - How Should You Approach Branch
16:06 - Why Do We Need Therapy Dogs in EPSD
- Hear from student directly impacted by Branch
25:22 - Help fund Branch and his buddies
- To learn more about all of the dogs and to make a donation, go to https://www.epsdeducationfoundation.org/therapy-dogs
Welcome Emmaus High School Class of 2026! Though we haven’t had our first major snow of the school year, thoughts are slowly beginning to turn to fall and the arrival of the next group of freshmen who will roam the halls of EHS. The first in-person introduction to EHS came on January 11, 2022, at the counseling department’s 8th to 9th grade guidance information night. On this episode, hear from current LMMS and Eyer students about what they are looking forward to at EHS and advisors/representatives from groups detailing the support and opportunities offered to first-year students.
To learn more about events discussed on this episode, please see the links below:
Phantoms vs Utica Comets - Class of 2025 Emmaus High School Night February 19, 2022
https://offer.fevo.com/phantoms-game-24-vs-utica-comets-2dz5fjz-248af0b?fevoUri=phantoms-game-24-vs-utica-comets-2dz5fjz-248af0b%2F
2022 EPSD and Communities in Schools Mental Health Symposium - February 21 - March 6
https://sites.google.com/eastpennsd.org/virtuamentalhealthsymposim2021/home?authuser=0
EHS Shave for the Brave - March 11, 2022
https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/Emmaus7
It’s normal for high school varsity athletes to put pressure on themself. Being a freshman on a varsity team only magnifies that intensity. Now, think about the expectations of being a first-year member of the nationally-ranked, defending state champion EHS field hockey team.
Autum Kernechel and Lauren Kushma cracked through and earned a spot on the varsity squad in what turned out to be a historic year for the program. The team celebrated a second-consecutive and 14th overall state championship along with coach Sue Butz-Stavin’s 46th year of coaching capped by her national-record 1,000th victory. On this episode, listen to Autum and Lauren talk about what it took to make the team, compete at a such high level, and transition to high school all in the same season.
Advertisement
Emmaus High School Night at the Phantom
February 19, 2021
We are having an Emmaus Phantoms Night! The EHS Class of 2025 will be hosting an Emmaus Family/Friends Phantoms night open to all East Penn Families, Students, and Staff. The EHS Chorus will be performing the National Anthem and we have access to $40 tickets for just $25. If you order tickets before 1/21, you will be entered into a raffle for free future tickets, one of 8 spaces on the Fanboni during the game, and Phantoms swag. The more tickets we sell, the more raffle prizes we will have Use this link and share with anyone who you think would enjoy a fun night out at the Phantoms.
https://fevo.me/emmaus
Contact Mrs. Kaunitz for more information.
During the course of the fall semester, Kayla Canning, a senior, pre-service teacher from Cedar Crest College, shadowed me in the classroom, which was one of my first experiences with.a pre-service teacher. On today's episode Kayla will give her impressions and thoughts of what it's like as somebody that's learning to become a teacher, especially with 9th grade students. She also honestly looks back on her own ninth grade experience and assesses some of her decisions during that year and how those influenced her choice to be a teacher.
We have a couple shout outs!
The East Penn Education Foundation. At the end of November, the 9th Grade Experience was awarded a grant to purchase some new video equipment for the podcast, so hopefully you will be seeing our video quality increase in the new year. The east Penn Education Foundation also gave the initial grant for the equipment to start the podcast so they've been there since the since the beginning. We thank the East Penn Education Foundation for their generous support of the podcast, and for supporting different projects throughout the school district as well.
Thanks to all of you!
We are almost to the goal of reaching 5000 total views on YouTube. We appreciate how YouTube has caught on with students and staff and people in the community, making it easier to experience the podcast. So if you haven't subscribed yet we're still trying to build that subscriber number up, go to 9th Grade Experience on YouTube, hit the subscribe button, watch the videos, and get us over 5000 views. We're coming close to 10,000 total views and listens to the podcast since it started so it's really exciting to reach such a big number. So we appreciate all the people that have listened, over the course of the podcast as well.
At the end of this episode, you'll see a commercial that we produced for ETV asking students to participate in our next challenge our next getting getting out there to give their new year's resolutions so we're
looking forward to see what you're going to improve upon in the new year so listen all the way to the end of the episode to see how you can participate in that next week here at the high school and in the world if you're listening electronically or anywhere
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it's a great time to look back and reflect on the many positives in our lives for the third annual Attitude of Gratitude special episode. Over 50 members, and one four-legged friend, of the Emmaus High School community took time during this busy period of the school year to share a little bit about what makes them #EastPennProud and thankful. Ranging from just being back in the school building with students to feeling welcomed as a new student to supportive colleagues and friends, we hope the messages of gratitude in this episode will inspire you to reach out and share a special token of appreciation to anyone that has helped you along your journey this school year. So before you fill your plate food, once again fill yourself with an attitude of gratitude with the students and staff at EHS. Previous Attitude of Gratitude Episodes 2020 - https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-3-episode-12-a-thanksgiving-attitude-of-gratitude-2020/ 2019 - https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-2-episode-10-a-thanksgiving-attitude-of-gratitude/
With over 2,800 students, Emmaus High School is a community of learners from many different cultural backgrounds. The focus of the Global Citizens Club is to assist students in learning about and becoming actively engaged in promoting a globally-minded consciousness and worldview. On this episode we hear from club members Britney Cordero, Cecilia Christ, Shiv Patel, and Ariana Ruiz describe the ways that the group strives to help expand student's understanding on the importance of celebrating the many cultures at EHS. They do this through different themed events, learning opportunities, and fundraisers to make connections to people all over the world.
The club meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month in Room 230. For more information, please contact club advisor Mrs. Kita.
When entering 9th grade, some students choose to ease into this transitional time to get their feet under them by limiting their activities and focusing on school.
Will Buck is not one of those students.
He is currently participating on two school sports teams during the fall season: varsity football as the kickoff specialist and JV soccer as a goalie. He is taking a demanding course load, full of upper-level honors classes. He is also one of the first students to reach out on his own to be interviewed on this podcast.
In this episode, Will shares how he was able to balance his busy fall season, the importance of time management, and why he is interested in podcasting.
Look for more from Will in the future as we look to incorporate him into future episodes of this podcast and prepare him to potentially host his own show.
This recording is from a roundtable discussion during a session at the 2021 Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts Conference held October 22, 2021 in Harrisburg, Pa. This was a wide-ranging conversation about the impact that 9th grade English class can have on students during their remaining years of high school and beyond. Themes of connectivity, failure, and recovery came through many of the answers from four English teachers from across the state. The major questions addressed during the conversation included
- What was your 9th Grade English class experience?
- How can we encourage students during their 9th grade year to embrace the content, curriculum, and skills taught in their English class?
- At the end of a student’s 9th grade year, what should students have learned that will help to prepare them for success in high school and beyond?
Many thanks to the following educators who participated in the roundtable discussion
- Kristen Spangler, York Country Day School
- Kelly Jones, PA Cyber Charter School
- Sarah Wilt, Bridgeway HomeSchool Academy
- Jon Fogle, pre-service teacher studying at Lancaster Bible College
To learn more about the work of this organization and future conferences, please visit http://www.pctela.org/.
It's time to get ready for Homecoming on this week's episode! It is hard to believe that we have just finished our 6th week of school and reached the halfway point of the first marking period. Listen in for strategies on finishing the grading period strong or even rebounding from a rocky start, the events and themes of homecoming week, and a reminder at the end that it is OK to change your mind and take chances. We are always looking for students to appear on the podcast, so if you are doing something awesome, reach out and tell us!
It has been a month of great adjustments for the members of Emmaus High School's Class of 2025. In addition to the normal growing pains of entering high school, they have confronted a new block schedule, continued health and safety procedures due to Covid-19 and for many, reacclimating themselves to being in a school building for the first time since March 2020. To help us work through it all with helpful tips and strategies, our 9th grade school counselors Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney join the podcast.
In addition to advice for dealing with current situations, the counselors highlight the upcoming Naviance Information Night for 9th grade parents to be held Tuesday, September 28, at 6:30 pm in the EHS Auditorium.
Previous episodes with Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney include:
Season 3, Episode 13: The Counseling Suite with Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney
Season 2, Episode 25: Coronavirus Update Week 6 - School Counselor Update Season 2, Episode 17: March Career Readiness Month with Mrs. Grim, Mrs. Demchak & Mr. McInerney Season 2, Episode 10: A Thanksgiving Attitude of Gratitude
Season 2, Episode 4: The Counseling Suite
For students at Emmaus High School and around the country, the events of September 11, 2001, are history experienced through other's stories and images. Students rely on these recollections to gain perspective to the tragic events that rocked the country on that the day and the weeks after. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9-11 we hear first-hand accounts from EHS staff members about how the events impacted the students in their classroom or themselves as high school students.
Listen to reflections from:
Mrs. Burk - School Counselor, who was a 9th grade student at Liberty HS (5:10)
Mrs. Augustin - Chemistry Teacher, who was working at a school in New York City (18:46)
Mrs. Horner - Learning Support Teacher, who was student teaching in Norristown, Pa. (35:14)
Ms. Bower - School Librarian, who was teaching 9th grade at Whitehall High School (50:10)
Mr. Gallagher - Social Studies Teacher, who was teaching at Eyer Middle School (59:20)
Previous Appearance By Today's Guests
Mrs. Horner appeared on Season 3, Episode 31: Teacher Appreciation Week 2021 and Season 2, Episode 10: An Attitude of Gratitude
Ms. Bower appeared on Season 2, Episode 26: Coronavirus Update Week 7 - A Read Into the Library and Season 2, Episode 10: An Attitude of Gratitude
For all previous episodes, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com or subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify
It was a quite the first week back for the Class of 2025 at Emmaus High School. In addition to all of the first-week jitters that accompany entry into high school, a major, record-breaking storm caused a 2-hour weather delay. In this episode, hear from students Cyrus Mackey and Prince Scille as they give you a first-hand account on a memorable first week back to school.
For all previous episodes and to leave a comment or voicemail that can be used in a future episode, visit www.9thgradeexperience.com
One of the biggest worries from incoming students is navigating the many halls of Emmaus High School. On this episode you will hear from five students who stopped to chat with us during a building tour opportunity leading up to the first day of school Monday, August 30. Thanks to Tucker Evans, Derek Herman, Faith Riley, Jadon Pierre-Philippe, and Sarah Lorenzo for stopping to share their tips and strategies on finding their way around.
Freshman orientation at EHS is scheduled for Monday, August 16 beginning at 8 am. In order to get answers to your last-minute questions, 9th grade assistant principal Jordan Fortier joins us today on the podcast. In this episode, we talk about
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The schedule for orientation day
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Building tours for all grade levels on orientation day and the remainder of the week
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Information about clubs and activities
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Chromebook upgrade and exchange
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The schedule for the beginning of the school year
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How to prepare yourself before the first day of school
For more orientation Information go to https://www.eastpennsd.org/ehs/9th-grade-orientation/
To listen to previous episodes with Mr. Fortier, visit the links below
Season 3, Episode 3: https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-3-episode-3-back-to-school-with-9th-grade-assistant-principal-jordan-fortier/
Season 2, Episode 30: https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-2-episode-30-coronavirus-week-11-9th-grade-assistant-principal-jordan-fortier/
What would it be like as a freshman in high school at the same time as a future NBA Hall of Famer? In this episode, you will hear Worcester Red Sox Radio Announcer Josh Maurer tell what it was like to "share" the halls of Lower Merion High School with then senior Kobe Bryant. Maurer talks about how some of the experiences during that year led him to what has become a near 20-year professional sports broadcasting career.
Other topics Maurer discusses include:
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Involvement in media, sports, and drama in high school
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Creating opportunities and getting his foot in the door
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Adaptability and change in the sports media
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Daily life and routines of a professional baseball announcer
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Handling criticism
Follow Josh on Twitter: @joshmaurerpxp and check out the Worcester Red Sox at https://www.milb.com/worcester
Welcome to the Class of 2025 and to the first full show of Season 4! The beginning of this episode features Class of 2021 graduate Owen Hook, who talked about entering 9th grade as a brand-new student to the district. He found himself through academics and activities and will move on to Millersville University in a few weeks. In the second part of the episode, we take a look back at the 2020-2021 school year with over 40 responses from the Class of 2024 about how their year went, what they learned about themselves, tips for upcoming 9th graders, and what they would like to hear on future podcasts.
The 9th Grade Experience is gearing up for Season 4 and in this preview episode we got a little help from several members of the class of 2021 to give some tips that incoming 9th graders can use from Day 1. Listen for full-length episodes coming soon!
On this special episode of the 9th Grade Experience we take it back to elementary school, as we hear 5th grade students at Wescosville Elementary share their passion projects. Thanks to Mrs. Feher, one of the 5th grade teachers, for reaching out to the podcast to ask for assistance in helping her students record their work in audio form. In addition to the background information on the purpose of the projects, Feher also shared her own freshmen year story along with hopes for her current student's future school careers.
In sticking with the theme of the podcast, at the end of their presentations, each student was asked what they think 9th grade might be like for them in a few years. Below is a list of students, topics and the order they appear in this episode.
First group
Ella and Maddy - Animal Extinction
Leah - Animal Shelters
Second Group
Ryleigh and Grace - Saving Arctic Animals
Third Group
Paige - Depression in Older Adults
Olivia - Nature Therapy
Grace Comfort, Class of 2021, has an impressive list of accomplishments displayed on her #2021EHSGradSpotlight poster that has been promoted through various East Penn School District social media accounts over the last few months. She serves as the president of Peers Assisting Learning Support (PALS), Student Government Association Secretary and EPSD School Board Representative, and National Honor Society member among many other things.
But most importantly, Grace is a strong self-advocate. During a Genius Hour project in middle school, Grace investigated her own learning challenges and eventually discovered she had dyslexia. While transitioning to high school, Grace spent her 9th grade year figuring out how she could best learn and perform at a high academic level. While it wasn't always easy, Grace's story shows that with courage, compassion, connection and a desire to never stop questioning that great things are possible.
She plans on majoring in psychology at Lafayette College.
For the second anniversary of the 9th Grade Experience Podcast, we highlight the work of freshmen Elizabeth "Tami" Adesanya and Brasciana "Brassy" Ford in the establishment of the newest student group Students Organizing Against Racism (SOAR). Along with faculty advisor, Eyer librarian Mrs. Magro, Tami and Brassy are working to bring awareness and change to the mindsets of the Emmaus High School community through information and advocacy about what it means to be a person of color. Topics discussed include:
- The purpose behind SOAR
- What does it mean to be "anti-racist"
- How do we involve and engage students to care about these issues
- What does it mean to be an "ally"
- Messages for adults serving on committees attempting to drive equity discussions at EHS
We also asked today's guests to provide some additional resources beyond our show to expand our listener's knowledge about these issues and those are included below:
Tami’s Pick
Racial Equity Tool Kit
Brassy’s Picks
I know the books “Heavy” by Kiese Layton and “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas are both amazing books to put into perspective what it’s like to be Person of Color (POC) in America. Also, raceforward.org is a website that can be helpful for others to recognize their privilege and become a better ally.
Mrs. Magro’s Picks
If I could recommend just one book (tough for me to do!) that I think everyone should read it would be This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell, and one podcast for teachers would be the Teaching Hard History podcast from Learning for Justice.
Mr. Stuchko’s Picks
Listen to the EHS student newspaper podcast interview with Tami and Sydney Clarke - EHS Stinger Podcast SOAR Interview
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X.Kendi
All book links above will take you to the website for Let’s Play Books in Emmaus, Pa.
This week, we give a special shout out to our amazing teachers here at Emmaus High School as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week! We hear from three of our outstanding faculty members - Mrs. Horner, Mr. Remaly, and Mr. Iobst - as they give a little background about themselves while attempting to make connections to their 9th grade year and what influenced them to become a teacher. We asked each teacher the following questions:
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Did something during your 9th grade year influence your decision to become a teacher?
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What do you love about your job?
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What are some words of advice that you have for current or upcoming 9th grade students?
This special edition of the podcast was recorded on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at the virtual Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C). The session titled “9th Grade Experience - PETE&C Edition” was held on the final day of the 4-day event which is a “statewide event that provides quality programs focused on technology in the educational field.”
During this interactive session that featured educators from across the state, some of the topics covered included
- Attendees and their 9th grade experience
- Anticipated technology knowledge for students entering high school
- Expansion of the use of technology for more creation
- Expectation of student’s relationship with technology by the end of high school
Thanks to Hayley Gunther, Instructional Technologist at the Academy of the New Church for appearing on audio and video during this presentation. Also thanks to Kelly Ender, Paula Bridgewater, and Amy Mele for providing written feedback in the chat throughout the presentation.
Thanks to PETE&C for allowing the podcast to use the audio and video from my presentation. For more information, please visit https://www.peteandc.org/ or follow them on Twitter @peteandc. Next year’s conference is scheduled to be held February 6-9, 2022 in Hershey, Pa.
Brendan Baig has quite the resume. He is the current Class of 2021 president. He is a National Honor Society member. He is a member of the Track and Field program. He founded S.A.V.E. (Students Advocating Vape Elimination) and participated in several organizations and clubs. In the fall of 2021, he will be attending the prestigious CALArts program, with the intention of majoring in film composition in order to compose music for films.
But, as we learn in this episode, the story behind Brendan’s resume is way more impactful than the words on the paper. He tells us about the moments during the transition from middle school to high school that changed his mindset, his experience as a foreign exchange student and host when he hadn't even studied the language, and how improving the skills of communication has opened the door for so many opportunities throughout high school. Brendan’s stories are a tale for ninth graders and all high school students as to what is possible when you have vision, develop key skills, and reach out for support along the way.
Follow and Subscribe to Brendan on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baigel21/
YouTube: The BB Composer
Special thanks to Brendan for allowing us to his parts of his original composition “The March of the Hornets” during the beginning and end of this episode. This song is scheduled to be performed during the 2021 Baccalaureate celebration and will be featured during the 2021 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s Open Track Competition session. For more of his original work, visit his YouTube Page.
This short episode is a non-released excerpt from a December 2020 interview with New York Times best-selling author Jessica Lahey, whose new book, The Addiction Inoculation, was released on Tuesday, April 6. We only scratched the surface in discussing the book, which according to her website "helps parents and educators understand the roots of substance abuse and identify who is most at risk for addiction, and offers practical steps for prevention."
To learn more about Lahey:
Listen to our full episode: https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-3-episode-16-new-york-times-best-selling-author-and-educator-jessica-lahey/
Website: https://www.jessicalahey.com/
Twitter: @jesslahey
Instagram: @teacherlahey
Get this book at Let’s Play Books in Emmaus, Pa. https://www.letsplaybooks.com/
Today's episode is the final installment of the 3-part #EHSCareerMonth podcast series, as we remix last March's episode with screenwriter, director, filmmaker, and podcaster Brian Koppelman. Best known for his work on the movies Ocean's 13 and Rounders, as well as the Showtime show Billions, Koppelman gives practical advice that anyone can implement today in order to grow and develop as students toward whatever their potential career may be.
For the original, full-audio only episode, go back to Season 2, Episode 20: https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-2-episode-20-career-readiness-with-brian-koppelman/
REMINDERS
Don't forget to enter the contest for the t-shirt or sweatshirt, by posting to social media using #EHSCareerMonth to show what you have been doing this month to get career ready.
Does your club or organization want their shirt and message featured on the 9th Grade Experience Podcast? Reach out to Mr. Stuchko and get some free publicity for your group!
Seniors - We are looking to feature senior advice to freshman in future episodes. Do you want to share some parting words of wisdom or the tale of your own 9th grade experience? Be on the lookout for recording opportunities with Mr. Stuchko!
Follow the 9th Grade Experience wherever you get your podcasts at https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/follow/
It is hard to believe that it has been over one year since the last time that the entire student body of Emmaus High School has been in the building together at one time. This week we take a look back on the past year as we hear reflections from several students who participated on our message board answering the question: What have you learned about yourself in the last year? There was a wide-range of answers showing the interests and growth of our 9th grade students.
We also try a new feature by starting off the episode with news from around the school to enhance your 9th Grade Experience.
Links From the Episode
Class of 2024 Fundraiser: https://ehsfc21.superfanfundraising.com/
Stinger - EHS Student Newspaper: https://stingerehs.com/
EHS Career Month - https://www.eastpennsd.org/ehs/article/career-month-at-epsd/
9th Grade Experience - www.9thgradeexperience.com/follow
We are close to the halfway point of #EHSCareerMonth and on this episode we have remix of two earlier episodes of the podcast featuring EHS graduates Lisa MacDonald '14 and Senator Clarence Lam '99. We pulled out great career advice for students at all grade levels who may be interested in starting their own business like Lisa or mixing multiple areas of interest to arrive in a career like Clarence.
Don't forget to check your Class of 2024 Schoology page on how to access all of the #EHSCareerMonth speakers and activities and share your pictures of career readiness activities on Instagram or Twitter using the #EHSCareerMonth
Lisa's full episode: https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-3-episode-1-ehs-graduate-spotlight-imperfection-is-beautiful-with-lisa-macdonald-14/
Clarence's full episode: https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-3-episode-2-ehs-graduate-spotlight-maryland-state-senator-clarence-lam-99/
The Emmaus Boys and Girls Freshman Basketball teams have recently finished seasons unlike any other due to Covid-19 restrictions. Through masks and in spite of missing out on traditional team-bonding activities, the teams persevered to finish "full" 10-game seasons against other Lehigh County schools.
On this episode, we hear from Jametric Harris, Daniel Rohlsen, Matthew Volquez and Teagan McCourt about the ups and downs of the boys' season, how a commitment to defense led to a season of success, and the confidence and swagger that comes as a team rolls to an undefeated 10-0 season.
Don't forget to listen or watch all about the girls' season in Episode 23!
The Emmaus Boys and Girls Freshman Basketball teams have recently finished seasons unlike any other due to Covid-19 restrictions. Through masks and in spite of missing out on traditional team-bonding activities, the teams persevered to finish "full" 10-game seasons against other Lehigh County schools.
On this episode, we hear from Alexis Krum, Taylor Gitski and Juliana Stichter about the ups and downs of the girls season, the pressure when each game feels like it could be their last for the season, and when it finally felt like the team came together as one unit.
Don't forget to listen or watch all about the boys' seasons in Episode 24!
Where will your path lead? On this episode, School Counselor Mrs. Grim gives us all the important information to assist students, staff and parents on the road to answering that that question as Emmaus High School kicks off March Career Month. She assists everyone in where to go to find the calendar of speakers, biographies on each presenter, and how to sign up through Naviance to attend the sessions.
As an added bonus, thanks to the counseling department, we will be giving out prizes to students and staff as they display examples of career readiness. Take a picture of something career-related, yourself watching one of the career speakers, or a potential job or career related to something you are doing in or out of class and post it to Twitter or Instagram using #EHSCareerMonth to enter. Names will be drawn at random at the end of the month.
On this episode we are joined by licensed clinical professional counselor, certified professional school counselor, journalist, and podcast host Phyllis Fagell to talk about the current challenges students are facing as they begin the process of transitioning from middle school to high school during the pandemic. Her book Middle School Matters: the 10 Key Skills Needs to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond - and How Parents Can Help gives actionable steps for students, parents, and teachers to develop the important skills necessary to grow inside and outside the classroom. Phyllis also shares her own memorable 9th grade experiences and parental advice from two of her own children's journey through freshmen year.
To get your own copy of Middle School Matters from Let's Play Books in Emmaus, Pa go to: https://www.letsplaybooks.com/book/9780738235080
To read the Washington Post article referenced in the interview go to: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/resilience-pandemic-kids/2021/01/25/d4037b12-5c1a-11eb-b8bd-ee36b1cd18bf_story.html
Follow Phyllis
On the web: https://phyllisfagell.com/
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pfagell
With an even greater emphasis during these unprecedented times, student mental health has gained a heightened awareness as students face the challenges of the world around them. On this episode, we preview the 2021 EPSD Virtual Mental Health Symposium being held February 15 through 28 which hopes to begin helping parents and members of the community understand more about this topic.
Co-chair members Amy Williams, Communities in Schools at Emmaus High School; Stephanie Cignarella, School Psychologist at Emmaus High School; and Lisa Shirvinski, School Counselor at Lower Macungie Middle School, detail all of the amazing opportunities to learn about a variety of mental health tools and tips applicable to students of all ages.
To learn more about the speakers, the schedule and the sign-ups for the virtual mini-panels go to https://bit.ly/epsdmhsym2021.
During the first few days of February, the Lehigh Valley got walloped with over 27 inches, making it the second biggest snowstorm on record. It gave the freshmen of Emmaus High School an opportunity for 2 snow days -- no Zoom, no Schoology, and no work! We asked students what they did to take advantage of historic weather and on this mini-episode we hear some of their awesome responses about their time in the snow.
This past week saw Emmaus High School finally reach the 2nd half of our 2020-2021 school year. Due to our current block schedule, It came with a different opportunity than most years, as students, teachers, and parents alike had a chance to hit the reset button, beginning new classes with the potential for a fresh, improved outlook on finishing the school term. In this mini-episode, Mr. Stuchko takes some thoughts from our Schoology Class of 2024 message board about how the year has been going, focuses on things to be grateful for and gives ideas on how to turn around your academic year.
On this episode, we catch up with student Grant Gallagher, whose post on our podcast message board for the Class of 2024, invited us to tell his story of how Covid-19 impacted him and his family earlier this year. Gallagher, who is currently enrolled in the Jasper Learning Initiative Program, discussed both the physical and mental strains that students encounter as they battle through this illness. Gallagher also talked about how, even in a hybrid setting, he has found a sense of belonging and growth through academics and activities at EHS.
Production note: Gallagher disclosed information about his Covid-19 test results in his original post on the message board post, which asked students to talk about their 9th grade year thus far. Permission was granted by his mother for him to tell his story on the podcast.
Jessica Lahey is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, keynote speaker, wife, and mother. But at her core, she is an educator. She has worked with a wide variety of students at all levels from sixth through twelfth grade. In this interview, she gives tips and strategies from her teaching career and her 2015 book “The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed” for students, teachers, and parents to apply during that all-important 9th grade year.
Where to find Jessica online:
Website: https://www.jessicalahey.com/
Twitter: @jesslahey
Instagram: @teacherlahey
Get any of the books mentioned during today’s show at Let’s Play Books in Emmaus, Pa. https://www.letsplaybooks.com/
Sometimes it is fun to look outside of our school community to see what other students around the country are experiencing during their 9th grade year. During this holiday break, I chatted with my nieces, Catalina and Maddy, about their freshmen year experience. Catalina, who is attending the largest high school in Chicago and second largest in the state of Illinois, has not stepped foot in her school since a tour last spring; Maddy is attending a high school in Central New Jersey that has been in a hybrid setting since the start of the school year. They share stories similar to what many of our EHS students have experienced during these beginning months of school.
In our final episode of 2020, you will hear from close to 40 members of our Emmaus High School community talk about ways they will look to improve themselves in the classroom and beyond in the new year. If you are struggling to come up a resolution, we provide tips on how to arrive at a personal goal to jumpstart your 2021.
Resource: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/resolutions/
Our 9th Grade School Counselors Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney return to the show this week to help you finish up the calendar year 2020 as strong as possible and give you momentum toward a much needed new year. Some of the topics we covered included
- A recap of the first 3+ months of the school year (marking periods, grades, timelines, and deadlines)
- Tips and strategies for improving your learning remotely
- The importance of reaching out for help and being your own advocate
- Scheduling for next school year, which starts on Thursday, December 17
As we approach the holiday season and the end of 2020, it is a great time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for here at Emmaus High School on the second annual Attitude of Gratitude special episode. There are many people, either in a classroom, on the field or court, or in the school’s many offices that work together to make the transition from middle school to high school as smooth and successful as possible for all students. On this episode you hear from students through Zoom interviews or from students and staff who contributed written response through email and message boards. So before you fill your plates with food, once again fill yourself with an attitude of gratitude, with the members of the EHS community.
This year’s 9th Grade Experience has been like no other and this week’s episode, recorded during EHS’s Covid-19 one-week closure in November 2020, was yet another memory to add to the digital scrapbook.
On this episode Elizabeth Samer, Molly Himes, and Victoria Toto chat about being involved with in-person school activities during the beginning of the year, strategies for hybrid/distance learning and things they learned about how they work best, and their hopes for a return to normalcy at some point in order to participate in desire events later in the school year.
To watch the full video version of this podcast and multiple recent episodes, visit https://youtube.com/channel/UCfFzJMX3LZtPPkGol7qFjOw
While much of the start of the 2020-2021 school year has been anything but normal, there are still time-honored school traditions that have occurred during the first 9 weeks of school, including the the election of class officers. On this episode, you will hear from three out of the four newly elected leaders, including President Bella Desiderio, Secretary Angela Tran, and Treasurer Sarah Greene as they discuss the start of their school year, the beginnings of hybrid learning, what led them to become involved with these positions, and tips going forward to balance a jam-packed academic and extracurricular schedule.
For more information from the class officers, check the Class of 2024 Schoology Page and be on the lookout for a new Class of 2024 Instagram page.
For the full video, go the 9th Grade Experience Podcast on YouTube.
Week nine of the 2020-2021 school year will present the next in a line of challenges thrown in front our students since March 2020 - the return to our EHS school building for the beginning of hybrid learning. While some students will seamlessly transition back this setup, others may struggle with different worries and adjustments. On this episode, we talk to our school psychologists Mrs. Stephanie Cignarella and Dr. Trevor Pinho about those feelings and when to take action on them.
Topics covered include:
- How Mrs. Cignarella’s 9th Grade Experience shaped how she views her work today
- The message behind Unity Day and Anti-Bullying
- Mental health issues regarding the beginning of the hybrid schedule and effects of the pandemic
- When anxiety turns from normal to something requiring adult help
- To know it is OK to not be OK
- How to navigate and maintain social connections
- Tips for social connection for students staying 100 percent remote
- Strategies on goal setting, controlling the controllables, and the importance of routines
For the two-part video version of this podcast, search for the 9th Grade Experience Podcast on YouTube.
Without our normal club fair at the beginning of the year to learn more about the 70+ organizations here at Emmaus High School, the 9th Grade Experience has been reaching out advisors to bring you more information on some of these different groups to see if one is the right fit for you.
On this episode, we hear from Alexzander Toto and Sam Comfort discussing the Economics and Investment Club; and Briahna Milander, Natalie Ruschman, Chanelle Peña, Michaella Moyer and Avery Edelman to talk about Buzz Magazine.
To get more information about clubs and activities, listen to the announcements during 3rd period Advisory or visit https://www.eastpennsd.org/athletics-activities/clubs/
For full videos of each interview, subscribe to our YouTube page
This is Part 2 of the discussion with our EPSD Technology Integration Specialists Heather Moser, Dylan Peters and Brian Scholl. If you are looking for some of the best tips and strategies for Zoom, Schoology, and a reminder on what to do when your computer is not working, this is the episode you have been looking for.
For more information about all things technology, please go to https://sites.google.com/eastpennsd.org/epsdfamilytech/home
If you missed it, go back and listen to Part 1, which was released last week. The group discussed the best ways to tackle technology during this remote time. Surprisingly, most of this conversation does not deal with hardware and connectivity issues, but how to communicate with teachers, collaborate with other students, and problem solve through challenges.
On this week's episode we hear from our EPSD Technology Integration Specialists Heather Moser, Dylan Peters and Brian Scholl on the best ways to tackle technology during this remote time. Surprisingly, most of this conversation does not deal with hardware and connectivity issues, but how to communicate with teachers, collaborate with other students, and problem solve through challenges.
For more information about all things technology, please go to https://sites.google.com/eastpennsd.org/epsdfamilytech/home
Please tune in next Tuesday, September 29, for Part 2, where we continue our discussion to include some of the best tips and strategies for Zoom, Schoology, and a reminder on what to do when your computer is not working.
Without our normal club fair at the beginning of the year to learn more about the 70+ organizations here at Emmaus High School, the 9th Grade Experience has been reaching out advisors to bring you more information on some of these different groups to see if one is the right fit for you.
On this episode, we hear from Mrs. Grim and Dr. Pinho discussing the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA); Ms. Martini explaining Kid to Kid, and Mrs. Shimmel doubling down with Latin Club and Foreign Cultures Club.
To get more information about clubs and activities, listen to the announcements during 3rd period Advisory or visit https://www.eastpennsd.org/athletics-activities/clubs/
For full videos of each interview, subscribe to our YouTube page
One of the themes that has come up time and time again as we have detailed successful 9th graders on this show has been their involvement in extracurricular activities. But, during a time when school is remote or hybrid, how will students be involved in clubs, activities, and organizations?
On this episode Assistant Athletic Director Matt Spengler gives the latest information on getting involved virtually and hopefully face-to-face, when it is safe for students, He breaks down the challenges and the current solutions for beginning activities like marching band, athletics, and finally clubs. He also directs students where to find out information about each club and its advisor.
With the start of a new school year just days away and feelings of unease about the unknown about the jump from middle school to high school in most student's and parent's minds, today's episode hopes to give some information to alleviate those fears.
Today's guest, 9th Grade Assistant Principal Jordan Fortier, gives the most up-to-date information about the first two weeks of school. We talk about Week 1, when students will have the opportunity to come to the building and meet their teachers and participate in classes, both in person and online, and what is in store for students after Labor Day when we begin our all remote option.
At the end of the episode, we talk about the importance of controlling things within your reach and some strategies to help with the transition to high school.
We often tell high schoolers that to be successful, they should eventually pick one area and focus their attention heavily. For Clarence Lam, a 1999 Emmaus High School graduate. it was a desire to pursue multiple passions that has led him on a unique career path.
After finishing at EHS, he went on to study both political science and biology. He has gone on to become a physician in preventive medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Maryland State Senator for District 12 in Baltimore and Howard Counties, since his election in November 2018.
During this conversation, Lam talks about his high school social studies classes opening his eyes to the world and the importance of civics and government, his unique combination of skills being an asset during the Covid-19 pandemic, and his advice about taking the new found independence of being in high school and using it to figure out a future direction.
Where to find Senator Lam online:
Website: http://www.clarencelam.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarenceLamMD/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarencelammd
Lisa MacDonald ‘14 is living her dream. When she entered Emmaus High School as a freshman during the 2010-2011 school year, she was unsure about where she was going, but knew she would need to overcome challenges, including her learning disability, to get there . A freshman year art class, opened the door that Lisa has burst through to blossom into an abstract motivational artist and speaker through her brand “Imperfection is Beautiful.” She is currently a student at Cedar Crest College majoring in Art Therapy and minoring in Psychology and Spanish and sells originals, prints, and coloring books through her online platforms. Lisa’s inspirational story and honesty will hopefully show students that no matter where you start in your 9th grade year, you can create your own path and paint your own picture.
Please stop out and support Lisa, who will be holding an art show on Sunday, July 26 at 2 pm at Macungie Park, or check out the links below to see her work on social media.
Where to find Lisa online:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGeyeRfVcp6cXmvbBc3HqyQ?view_as=subscriber
Etsy: Abstract Art & Imperfection is Beautiful Art by ImperfectionByLisa
Facebook: Imperfection is Beautiful
Instagram: Lisa MacDonald (@imperfection_is_beautiful17) • Instagram photos and videos
Podcast: March 16, 2020 by Imperfection Is Beautiful • A podcast on Anchor
The first year at Emmaus High School for the Class of 2023 will be one that they surely will never forget. This week in Part 2 of the year-end reflections, we hear the words of over 20 freshmen who offered thoughts on their year, tips for upcoming 9th graders, and what they learned about themselves through this challenging time.
Once again joining the podcast to read student's reflections are my children, Cole, 11; Grace, 9; and Joy, 6; and my wife, Jen.
The first year at Emmaus High School for the Class of 2023 will be one that they surely will never forget. Over the next two weeks, we hear the words of over 40 freshmen who offered reflections on their year, tips for upcoming 9th graders, and what they learned about themselves through this challenging time.
Once again joining the podcast to read student's reflections are my children, Cole, 11; Grace, 9; and Joy, 6; and a new special guest, my wife, Jen, who talks about her own 9th grade experience.
Whether it has been on the football field on Friday nights, at community events, or posing under a billboard congratulating the Class of 2020, the Hornet mascot has become an unmistakeable symbol of Emmaus High School over the last three years. But, despite being so visible, how much do you know about the student in the costume and his family?
On this episode, we hear from the Hornet himself, graduating senior Zachary Conner, his mom Jennifer, and his soon-to-be 9th grade brother Andrew about what it has been like to watch the Hornet mascot grow and evolve.
Zach and his mom share the story of his 9th grade year, which despite strong grades, was filled with depression and a longing to find a spot to fit in. Little did Zach and his family know that a random tweet before his sophomore year looking for students interested in becoming a mascot would change his high school path.
We also listen to Andrew explain his experience becoming the LMMS mascot, his hopes for continuing with it at the high school, and how he is preparing for his arrival at EHS in the fall.
Finally, we get some tips for parents from Jennifer, about things to look for in your 9th grader that may be signs to watch for and the importance of getting involved and finding your way.
There is no way that 9th Grade Assistant Principal Jordan Fortier could have envisioned his first year as the freshmen-level principal finishing the way that it has. But it has created a moment that our students will not soon forget and will impact their remaining years here at Emmaus High School.
During this conversation, Fortier discusses how his 9th grade year, which included some personal challenges, helped to guide him into a career in education and gave him a perspective about how important the social/emotional learning perspective is in his job. He also shares what he would like to see a 9th grade student look like at the end of the year and encourages them to not let anyone else write their story.
At the end of the episode, Fortier shares what upcoming 9th graders can do to prepare themselves for next school year, no matter what school looks like.
As we head into the Memorial Day Weekend, the podcast is trying a new format - a shorter episode without a guest.
I wanted to share a personal reflection that I had after visiting school for the first time since late March. Every member of the Emmaus High School community has been experiencing this shutdown in their own way during the last two months. We have been saying even though the building is closed, our school is still open.
But when I stepped foot inside of a practically empty EHS building, the feeling of closure really hit home. What follows is a reflection on my possible final visit to building during the 2019-2020 school year.
This week, we will take a slight break from the weekly Coronavirus updates to reflect back and look forward as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the release of the podcast. It is a time of great thanks and recognition for the many students and staff that have participated in telling the stories of our 9th graders here at Emmaus High School. Even in these uncertain and crazy times, we can come back to the idea that we have amazing people doing amazing things at our school!
To celebrate and get perspective from the district level, there was no better choice than to feature EPSD Superintendent Kristen Campbell on this episode.
Of course, we ask Mrs. Campbell about her 9th grade experience, but we also get perspective on what it is like to lead a school district through this time and how she is dealing with the challenges. We talk about how the district's focus on technology just happened to come at the right time and how to build a culture when people are scattered throughout the district and not in our buildings. We finish with Campbell's vision of what she hopes the 9th grade experience should be like for all students, including her own children, as we prepare them to become members of the global community.
As we encounter the eighth week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with students Joshua Jones and Reid Scharer, as well as over 20 additional students who contributed written tokens of gratitude, to celebrate Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week.
This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session. In it, we hear Scharer and Jones give recollections of their favorite teachers and break down some of the qualities that make up an outstanding educator. Sprinkled into the discussion are small accounts written by students that could not be present for the recording of the podcast that detail what teachers have meant to them.
The episode closes with a memory from science teacher Mrs. Kneller that speaks to the lasting impact teachers can have on all of us.
Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here regarding any Coronavirus updates.
As we encounter the seventh week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with school librarian Kelly Bower and student Joshua Jones to see how they are continuing to adapt to our new normal.
This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session. In it, we hear Ms. Bower tell own her unique 9th grade memories, discuss her move from the classroom to the library, detail how she is currently helping students, and offer some good book recommendations.
She also highlights the upcoming online book fair to be held in conjunction with Let's Play Books in Emmaus to benefit EPSD libraries and a local business.
We also hear from student Joshua Jones, who checks in about a book he is currently reading and lets us know how work is going during the 4th Marking Period.
If you would like to view the podcast, go to https://youtu.be/_z2YXkxZPHY
Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here.
As we encounter the sixth week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with our 9th grade school counselors at Emmaus High School to see how they have adjusted to their new reality.
This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session that featured EHS School Counselors Colleen Demchak and Mike McInerney. We discuss what school counselors are doing without physically being in front of students, scheduling for next school year, the grading setup for the final marking period, and how to deal with the many issues facing students that have arisen during this time of distance learning.
Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here
As we approach the end of our fifth week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders and a few guests at Emmaus High School to see how they have adjusted to their new reality.
This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session that featured EHS School Nurse Beth Ann Hendershot, 11th Grade Assistant Principal Greg Annoni, along with students Joshua Jones and David Svoboda talking about a variety of wellness issues . Some of the topics discussed included the importance of establishing healthy routines, taking brain breaks and getting physical activity during your day, avoiding social isolation as much as possible, and reconnection with family and past hobbies that may have been forgotten. Also, we hear from Mr. Annoni about some of the behind-the-scenes things that have allowed the first weeks of this new eLearning to function smoothly.
Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here
As we approach the end of our fourth week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders at Emmaus High School to see how they have adjusted to their new reality. This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session that featured Reid Scharer, Joshua Jones, and Avery Smith talking about the first week of new learning in the EPSD Continuity of Learning Plan. The students came together to share their challenges during the first week, what the requirements looked like in classes like Wellness/Fitness and Band, and some strategies to get back into that mindset of needing to get work done. At the end of the episode, we also touch on the decision that was announced on Thursday, April 9, that closed school buildings down in the state of Pennsylvania for the remainder of the year.
Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here
As we approach the end of our third week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders at Emmaus High School to see how they are feeling about our new reality. This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session that had more than 15 students participate. It was offered as an opportunity for students to become familiar with the format and feel of a Meet session before the rollout of Phase 2 of the Continuity of Learning Plan on Monday, April 6. The students came together to express how much they missed coming to school (yes, even the crowded hallways), see and hear from their classmates for the first time in a few weeks, and ask lots of great questions about what their days will look like when new learning begins next week.
Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here
As we approach the end of our second week of our Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders to see how they are feeling about our new reality. Some of the topics we asked about this week included understanding social distancing, how much they have been outside since the closure, how they are staying in contact with friends and family, how the shutdown of local business has impacted their lives, and if they live with or know anyone in the medical field.
Special thanks to my "co-hosts" my 11-year-old son Cole, my 9-year-old daughter Grace, and my 6-year-old daughter Joy.
Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here.
You never know what the answer to a question will be until you ask it. When Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the Showtime show Billions and co-writer of movies Rounders and Ocean’s Thirteen, put out a tweet and said he would appear on podcasts during the Coronavirus shutdown, I sent him an email. I never expected to hear back, but within 3 minutes of sending the message, he replied and said he would be “100 percent in.” Koppelman was gracious with his time and excited to share stories of his high school days and beyond. Some of the topics we discussed included
The impact that books can have at critical parts of your life
Involvement in different types of extracurricular activities that allowed you to span different peer groups
The need to listen to your instincts and the willingness to follow that voice toward work that makes you feel alive inside
The things that make people truly happy
The power of learning and using new words
So, it’s time to go all in, and listen to this wide-ranging conversation with Brian Koppelman.
As we approach the end of our first week of our Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders to see how they are adjusting the new reality we are all living in. Via Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/9thgradeexperience and Google Classroom, we asked students to tell us about what they have been up to, the establishment of new routines, and how they are feeling about the whole situation. While some answers were not shocking (sleeping, eating, and playing video games), a few were unexpected, as they wrote about how much they missed the routine of school and their friends.
Special thanks to my new "co-host", my 9-year-old daughter Grace!
Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here.
It's now less than one week to the opening curtain for the freshman and all those involved in the production of the theater department's spring musical Hello, Dolly!
In Volume 4 of this behind-the-scenes look at the preparation before the show's Wednesday, March 18 debut, we check back in with Mason Steltz, Dom Zientara, and Jacob Klinedinst to get the scoop behind what it’s been like since we last heard them taking the to the stage for rehearsals for the first time in the middle of February.
In this conversation, the boys discussed the lengthy process of getting each performance in the show “just right,” the bonding and feelings of family towards the cast from spending so much time together, and what will be going through their minds leading up to the performances and when they hit the stage. Near the end of the episode, we also discuss the effects that the recent Covid-19 outbreak could have on the scheduled performance dates and what that would mean to the performers.
If you are interested in learning more about the performance of Hello, Dolly! or would like to purchase tickets, please go to https://www.eastpennsd.org/ehs/article/hello-dolly-tickets-on-sale-now/.
While March is usually a time reserved for college basketball madness, this year at Emmaus High School, the third month of the year will be devoted to an even crazier topic: What to do with your future?
It may seem like just yesterday (or now 7 months ago!) that this year’s 9th grade class entered the halls of EHS. Yet, in our rapidly changing and evolving world, it is never too early to think about skills and strategies that may help prepare you to be successful in your post-school outcomes.
Led and and coordinated by EHS School Counselors Mrs. Grim, Mrs. Demchak, and Mr. McInerney, March will feature a focus on employability skills and how career readiness is something that is happening everyday throughout your schedule without you even knowing it. In addition, there will be over 30 speakers from local businesses that can give real-world advice into potential careers that textbooks just can’t provide.
So it’s time begin to see where your path will lead with Mrs. Grim, Mrs. Demchak, and Mr. McInerney.
In the world of high school athletics, and even on previous episodes of this podcast, most of the attention is placed on the results of the varsity teams. But before the Friday Night Lights, local television, newspaper and radio coverage, and league and district championships, many athletes improve their skills on junior varsity or freshman teams. In perennially strong programs, like boys basketball, making any of the three teams is quite the accomplishment for a 9th grader.
If the success of this season’s Freshman Boys Basketball team is any indication of future fortunes, the Hornets hoops program will be in great shape. The boys went 20-1 during the regular season and won a season-ending tournament, while outscoring teams over the course of the year by an average of 28 points per game.
In this episode, we catch up with three members of the team, Chase Muckey, Dylan Darville, and Daniel Charlot, who spoke about the process of coming together as a team, the sacrifices of individual players for team success, and the adjustment to competitive high school basketball.
So it’s time to run the three-man weave as we go strong to the hoop with Chase, Dylan, and Daniel.
It's getting closer to the opening curtain for the freshman involved in the production of the theater department's spring musical Hello, Dolly! In Volume 3 of this behind-the-scenes look at the preparation before the show's Wednesday, March 18 debut, we check back in with Mason Steltz, Dom Zientara, and Jacob Klinedinst to see what has happened to them since their auditions at the end of December. In this conversation that took place right before taking the stage for an afternoon dance routine practice on the stage for the first time, the boys discussed the anticipation of waiting to hear if they made the show, what the practice schedule has been like, and how they have adjusted to their roles in the show and their place in the theater department. If you are interested in learning more about the performance of Hello, Dolly! or are interested in purchasing tickets, please go to https://www.eastpennsd.org/ehs/article/hello-dolly-tickets-on-sale-now/.
The beginning of the 2020-2021 school year will provide students with a unique school experience unlike anything currently offered at Emmaus High School. The Jasper Learning Initiative will debut with up to 125 upcoming 9th grade students who are looking to learn in a setting that values collaboration, curiosity, and authenticity that promises to be community-inspired, project-based, and inquiry-driven.
With its name taken from a hard but workable mineral found in our area, Jasper is looking to create exciting and memorable learning experiences that benefit both students and the local community.
In this episode, Mike Mihalik, Supervisor of Secondary Curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, takes us through the program’s formation and some of the commonly asked questions about Jasper’s role within Emmaus High School. So, if you are a problem-solver, collaborator, and critical thinker looking to extend your learning beyond the classroom, let’s meet Mike to learn about the Jasper Learning Initiative.
One of the goals of the 9th Grade Experience is to tell the stories of the widest-range of students possible who are involved throughout Emmaus High School. In order to dive a little deeper and really get some behind-the-scenes information, at least one time per month, the podcast will attempt to follow a group of students who are attempting to excel outside the classroom. For the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, that focus will be on the Emmaus Theater Department and its production of the musical Hello, Dolly! We will be talking with freshman cast members, crew members, and anyone who has a hand in making the show a success in time for the anticipated opening in March 2020.
In Volume 2, you will hear from Abby Roth, Brielle Eisenberg, and Liza Duerholz right after their first round of singing auditions. They will tell you what it was like to be alone in the audition room belting out some of the musical's most know tunes and trying to impress the directors of the show. They also talk about the jump from middle school productions to the demands and expectations here at the high school.
In the Volume 1, released in December 2019, you can hear from theater director Mrs. Kuebler about her background in the theater, what roles freshmen have in the production, and how she keeps the whole operation running smoothly. In the second half of the episode you will hear from Mason Steltz, Dom Zientara, and Jacob Klinedinst before they audition and how they hope to be a part of such a strong and proud EHS Theater tradition.
Volume 2
Abby Roth
Brielle Eisenberg
Liza Duerholz
Volume 1
Mrs. Kuebler
Mason Steltz
Dom Zientara
Jacob Klinedinst
One of the goals of the 9th Grade Experience is to tell the stories of the widest-range of students possible who are involved throughout Emmaus High School. In order to dive a little deeper and really get some behind-the-scenes information, at least one time per month, the podcast will attempt to follow a group of students who are attempting to excel outside the classroom. For the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, that focus will be on the Emmaus Theater Department and its production of the musical Hello, Dolly! We will be talking with freshman cast members, crew members, and anyone who has a hand in making the show a success in time for the anticipated opening in March 2020.
The first installment will be in two parts. In the opening volume, you will hear from theater director Mrs. Kuebler about her background in the theater, what roles freshmen have in the production, and how she keeps the whole operation running smoothly. In the second half of the episode you will hear from Mason Steltz, Dom Zientara, and Jacob Klinedinst before they audition and how they hope to be a part of such a strong and proud EHS Theater tradition.
In Volume 2, slated to be released in early January, you will hear from Abby Roth, Brielle Eisenberg, and Liza Duerholz right after their first round of singing auditions. They will tell you what it was like to be alone in the audition room belting out some of the musical's most know tunes and trying to impress the directors of the show. They also talk about the jump from middle school productions to the demands and expectations here at the high school.
Volume 1
Mrs. Kuebler
Mason Steltz
Dom Zientara
Jacob Klinedinst
Volume 2
Abby Roth
Brielle Eisenberg
Liza Duerholz
As a player and a teammate, starting varsity girls basketball player Keziah Brantley is always looking to conquer the next challenge ahead of her.
As an 8th grader at Lower Macungie Middle School, she played for the high school freshman team, coached by Emmaus social studies teacher Mr. Carolla. This year, she reached her goal of making the varsity team as a 9th grader. She scored a team-high 17 points in her second varsity game, a 51 to 46 victory on the road over Northwestern on Saturday, December 7.
But it is her team-first, humble attitude that really stands out about Keziah. She spoke of team goals - strong defensive effort, getting her teammates involved, and winning enough games to get the Hornets back into the playoffs - as real motivators for her upcoming season.
So it’s time to lace up those sneaks and hit the hardwood and meet Keziah Brantley.
As we approach the holiday season and the end of 2019, it is a great time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for here at Emmaus High School. There are many people, either in a classroom, on the field or court, or in the school’s many offices that work together to make the transition from middle school to high school as smooth and successful as possible for all students. On this very special episode, we hear from 40 people within EHS as they tell us who or what they are thankful for from the first three months of school. So before you fill your plates with food, fill yourself with an attitude of gratitude, with the members of the EHS community.
Many thanks to all those who appeared in this episode! Below is a list of all students and staff who participated in order of their appearance
Dr. Kieres
Mr. Annoni
Colleen Demchak
Zachary Zoltack
Sheldyne Pierre
David Svoboda
Cameron Blews
Jhomar Rosaliere
William Holmwood
Emily Terrero
Kaleb Tran
Deb Kalb
Victoria Smith
Tiffany Shimmel
Dawn Laubner
Tammy Kita
Zoe Spalding
Hannah Schneider
Marina Lamb
Jaiden Singleton
Emily Carchipulla Paladines
Jill Killo
Lesha Kershner
Kristen Scrak
Carol Richards-Brown
Noelle DeRienzo
Alison Horner
Pam Hunter
Beth Stoudt
Celine Pissarra
Eric Luckenbill
Kevin Remaly
Katie Pfenninger
Kelly Bower
Aimee Green
Reid Scharer
Chris Bowser
Ian Rompilla
E.J. Boney
Austin Portz
Chris Stuchko
When Maddie Carlson was asked to be a guest on today’s show, she had one favor to ask - she wanted her friend Abby Burnett to record as well. Luckily for the listeners, her request is everyone’s benefit because on this episode you will get to hear from two high-performing students making great strides in their ninth grade years.
The girls are both members of the Key Club as they look to help out in their community and build friendships with other classmates. In addition to taking rigorous class loads, Maddie is a member of Student Government and orchestra while Abby just completed an outstanding season as a starter on the District 11 Champion and State Final Four field hockey team.
So remember, that as you go through your ninth grade year, everyone is figuring high school out together, and here to help you along the way are Maddie and Abby.
For Sophia Iacobelli and Nicole Nosal, keeping busy has been key to a successful transition this year at Emmaus High School. These freshmen are taking demanding course loads, which include at least two honors classes each, a Project Lead the Way Engineering class, and a shared Spanish 2 class at the end of their days.
Outside of the classroom, Sophia is involved in orchestra, student government, and will soon begin tryouts for the swim team; while Nicole recently finished her cross country season and is now training with the Fitness Team. In this episode they talk about the importance of balancing their time, keeping up with their work, and getting involved early in their high school career in order to learn the school and make friends.
We slowed them down just enough to record this episode, so here are Sophia and Nicole.
Senior night in the next to the last game of the football regular season is not usually a time to make a change to a new quarterback, especially not to a freshman who hasn’t seen the varsity field all season. But for Jake Fotta, who was facing a 13 to 0 deficit, the second quarter of the Hornets’ game on Friday, October 18, against Bethlehem Catholic was the time. Unfazed, he stepped in and threw a touchdown pass before halftime to narrow the score and then went on to lead the team to 20 more unanswered points in the second half as Emmaus stormed back to win 27 to 13.
Adding to the unique nature of his story, it is unofficially the first time since the early 2000s that a freshman quarterback has seen action for the Emmaus varsity team.
It has not only been his preparation on the football field that has allowed Jake to succeed, but also his humility and team-first attitude, approach to getting work done, managing his time, and finding balance as a potential three-sport athlete. In this episode Jake talks about finding out how he was no longer on the freshman team, what it was like in the huddle on the first drive, and how he was able to be successful in such a pressure-packed situation.
So line up and get ready for the pass as we catch the freshman experience from Jake Fotta.
High school is a time for new beginnings, making changes, and preparing yourself to move towards adulthood, especially if your middle school years did not go exactly as planned. For two best friends, Chris Alfau and Donavan McCargo, coming to Emmaus High School meant making an agreement that they would push each other academically and socially in order to make the most of their high school years and leave behind some of their previous behaviors and mindsets.
Since meeting on Donavan’s first day of seventh grade, the two middle school transfer students, have become accountability partners for each other and maintained a friendship that they hope will carry them through the next four years.
In this episode, Chris and Donavan talk about the importance of time management and getting stuff done, adjusting to academic challenges, and why it is so critical to pick good friends. So find a buddy and make a plan to listen to this conversation with Chris and Donavan.
On the first Monday of every month, the faculty and staff at Emmaus High School trade their normal clothing for the opportunity to wear gear in a visual and symbolic support of No Place for Hate, an organization that allows students to facilitate diversity awareness and devise anti-bullying projects that affect the entire student body.
As part of their on-going mission to bring unique speakers and topics to student’s attention, the club welcomed Dr. Mykee Fowlin to EHS on Wednesday, September 25, to perform his one-man show “I Am Not the Enemy.” Dr. Mykee mixes psychology, performance, and poetry to, in his own words, “create an atmosphere of worldwide inclusion, not just tolerance, towards all people.” This year’s performance was a follow-up to “You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me,” which was held during the 2018-2019 school year.
In this episode, Dr. Mykee is joined by No Place for Hate co-advisors Steph Larkin and Brian Harkness, as well as several members of the club, for a follow-up conversation that occurred immediately after his production. The panel talks about some of the best ways to find your voice in order to tell your story, what to do in the face of adversity, and some suggestions on what a student should do if they identify with one of the characters in Dr. Mykee’s show. So let’s take some time to celebrate our differences and accept our shared experiences in this wide-ranging chat with Dr. Mykee and No Place for Hate.
Learn more about Dr. Mykee: http://mykeefowlin.com/ and all social media platforms
Learn about No Place for Hate: Meetings on Thursdays (listen to the announcement for more details) https://twitter.com/NPFHEmmausHS
In the ever-evolving world of education, the traditional role of the guidance counselor has seen a dramatic shift. Gone are the days when the only time you would see your counselor would be when making decisions about your post-high school path, whether it would be college or career. Now, counselors play an important role in not only helping to shape a student’s academic outlook, but assist them in dealing with issues related to their social and emotional well-being.
In this episode, 9th grade counselors Mike McInerney and Colleen Demchak share the challenges that students are facing both inside and outside the classroom, the impact of social media on their jobs and interactions with students, and when to come down and seek the advice of a counselor. They also discuss why it is important to get involved in a club, activity, or sport; important events put on by the guidance department each year; and the best strategy on how to find the counseling suite.
So it’s time to take a deep breath, pull up a chair, and listen for some advice from Mr. McInerney and Mrs. Demchak.
Find more information: https://www.eastpennsd.org/ehs/counseling/ or https://twitter.com/CounselorsEHS
As a freshman, one of the biggest challenges at Emmaus High School is finding the best way to get around. Now that you have seen your schedule on PowerSchool, you may be wondering how you will make it from room 227 to 580 and then back to the auditorium for a study hall? Hopefully, you had a chance to come into the building on one of the days available to take a walk through with a map and a Hornet Ambassador to learn the best way to avoid the crowds and not be late to class. If you didn't, no worries, because on this episode, we caught up with nine students at different points of their day of exploration at EHS before school kicks off on Monday, August 26. They spoke about what they discovered during their time in the building, some things they might be nervous about on the first day of school, and some ways they are already fitting into the EHS community.
Entering her third year as principal at Emmaus High School, Dr. Kate Kieres brings a unique perspective to leadership and an understanding of what makes a 9th grade student successful. She began her career as a high school English teacher before moving into administration as an Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs at EHS from 2006-2011. She then went to Palisades School District to serve as a Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, and later an Assistant Superintendent before coming back to this district. But not only does Dr. Kieres possess a bounty of educational knowledge through research and administration, she recently completed a first-hand version of living through her own 9th grade experience as a parent of a now-rising 10th grader. In this conversation, Dr. Kieres combines personal stories with practical advice to give both parents and students a real sense of what to expect as they walk through the doors to become the Emmaus High School Class of 2023. #ehs9counts
As a freshman at Emmaus High School, you are at the beginning of a four-year odyssey that will see you progress in many different ways. As you explore the clubs, activities, athletics, and all of the awesome things EHS has to offer, a critical question exists: What does it take to be successful in the classroom? In this episode, you will hear from several teachers who have worked with 9th graders for many years that want to help you make that transition to EHS as smooth as possible. This two-part episode features a round-table discussion with Kristin Susens, Jake Hildebrand, Heather Spotts, Stacey Yapsuga, and Amy Kaunitz giving their tips and tricks to get an edge in the classroom, followed by a 1-on-1 interview with Tim O’Connor, who stresses the balance needed to be successful in the classroom and beyond. So sharpen those pencils or charge up those Chromebooks, because it is time to take notes as class is back in session as the teachers of EHS welcome you!
If you really want to know the inner workings of a school, there are two groups of people to chat with: the custodians and the office staff.
As she finishes up her second year as the administrative assistant to 9th Grade Assistant Principal Mr. Miller, Lisa Lucchesi-Wood is that go-to person if you want to get the scoop on the freshman class.
She has served in several roles during her time at EHS, including staff assistant, in-school suspension staff, and administrative assistant to former EHS assistant principal Mr. Breiner. These experiences, along with being a mother to three EHS graduates and one current EHS student, give Lucchesi-Wood an array of tips and tricks to pass along to current and future first-year students.
In this episode, we ask Mrs. Lucchesi-Wood about what she sees from her office that leads to student success, some of the important day-to-day things she handles from her office and why it seems like you can find half of the freshman class in her office before school starts.
So come for the information and stay for snacks as you learn about the 9th grade from Lisa Lucchesi-Wood.
Everyone knows how difficult the transition to high school can be … but what if you were doing it two times a day in two different locations?
For our 9th grade students who are attending Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, they have lived that reality this year by needing to adjust to multiple buses rides, two sets of building expectations, various schedules, and 3:15 returns back to Emmaus High School.
They have done all this while balancing their core academic classes and the potential to learn about careers that could shape their future. In this episode, you will hear the stories of Ainsley Waldrab, Brenden Aldinger, and Chris Rohrbach, who have taken on these challenges, been successful both at LCTI and EHS and have even gained student of the month recognition in their labs.
These students will tell the stories of why they chose to attend LCTI, the importance of finding the lab that interests you and breaking out of your comfort zone in order to learn more about yourself and the careers around you.
It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get ready for some hands-on work as we hear from Ainsley, Brenden, and Chris!
Every Wednesday of the school year presents a unique scheduling opportunity for all students at Emmaus High School - Flex Block. This 37-minute period allows students the chance to complete work, check in with teachers for extra help and make-up assignments, or acquire information about school-wide events through announcements or assemblies. On this episode of the 9th Grade Experience, we chat with four 9th grade students -- Joshua Castro, Katie Christman-Conrad, Liza Centeno, and Emily Buss -- during a Flex Block to get some tips about using that time wisely, clearing up misconceptions about what they thought high school would be like, and those important tips to make your 9th grade year the best that it could be.
Whether it is under the Friday night lights, beneath waves at the swimming pool, or the beautiful sunshine out on the tennis court, the games you witness involving our varsity athletes here at Emmaus High School only tell part of the student-athlete story. What you don’t see are the hours practicing and perfecting their sports, the homework thats gets started at 9 PM after the long bus ride from the Poconos, or the sacrifices of not hanging out with friends or going to that late night movie. On this episode of the 9th Grade Experience, we are going to explore the world of becoming a varsity athlete in your first year on campus. Told through the stories of Nick Velde, wrestling, and Sarah Hoch, basketball, these two students give insight about the dedication and perseverance needed in order to excel in the area of athletics. They also talk about the importance of time management to get things done both on and off the court. Before you hand in that physical and get ready for the first day of tryouts, listen to Nick and Sarah give you the tips that could you from the bench to the starting lineup
Between clubs, activities, sports, and socializing, sometimes it is hard to remember that the real focus of high school needs to be on the academics and the work students do in the classroom. In chatting with our guests today, you will see how two high achieving 9th grade students balance their time in order to excel in some challenging classes. Both Megan Petrizzi and Ben Thomas have found that school-life balance and are anxious to share their stories with you. They discussed topics such as the hardest adjustments from middle school, managing the workload, getting involved in the school community, and those important tips to make your 9th grade year the best that it could be. Let’s hear from Megan and Ben!