mars area school district winter 2005 — volume 42, no. 1 the … · 2017-07-05 · mars area...

Tax season is here and residentsof Mars Area School District willhave to make a few changes whenit comes to paying their local 2004wage taxes.

Mars Area School District resi-dents are required to pay a onepercent wage tax on all earnedincome.

The one percent is split betweenthe school district (0.5 percent)and the municipality (0.5 percent),depending upon the township orborough in which Mars Area resi-dents live.

If wage taxes are not withheld bya resident’s employer, wage taxesmust be paid quarterly.

All district residents with earnedincome are required to file anannual wage tax return whether ornot wage tax is withheld by theiremployer.

Residents may obtain wage tax

forms by contacting their wage taxcollector(s):

Wage taxes for Mars Area SchoolDistrict, Valencia Borough as wellas Adams and Middlesex town-ships and are to be filed withCentax (Central Tax Bureau ofPennsylvania Inc.).

For residents of Mars Borough,2004 wage tax returns are to befiled with Centax for the schooldistrict’s percentage and withBerkheimer Associates for the bor-ough’s percentage.

Residents of Mars Borough mustfile with Centax for the school dis-trict’s percentage and with Berk-heimer for the borough’s percent-age.

Mars Area School District Winter 2005 — Volume 42, No. 1

The CommunicatorA community newsletter serving almost 7,000 residents of Mars and Valencia boroughs as well as Adams and Middlesex townships.

Web sitewww.marsk12.org

Mars Area School District -TVCable Channel 50

Community Information Line(724) 625-1581, press 1

Sports Information Line(724) 625-1581, press 3

BOARD OF EDUCATIONDavid A. Howes, PresidentSusan Madeja, Vice PresidentRebecca BrownKimberly GeyerWilliam PangasKarl E. KennedyKaren A. SmailBonnie L. WeaverCynthia H. Yeager

ADMINISTRATIONSuperintendentDr. William Pettigrew Jr.Asst. SuperintendentDr. Sharon A. KamickerBusiness Manager/School Board SecretaryJill L. PuryearSpecial Education SupervisorDr. Susan G. CunnupMaintenance SupervisorFrank RandzaAssistant Maintenance Supervisorfor TechnologyJeffrey BitzerTransportation DirectorMatt MaierMars Area High SchoolAnna Saker, PrincipalTodd Kolson, Asst. PrincipalMars Area Middle SchoolRichard Cornell, PrincipalRandy Miller, Asst. PrincipalMars Area Elementary SchoolRobert Zaccari, PrincipalMars Area Primary CenterJames Delane, Principal

DISTRICT SUPPORTScott Heinauer, Athletic DirectorTony Merendino, Food ServiceDirector, Nutrition Inc. Scott Semow, School Psychologist,Intermediate Unit IVJosh Schwoebel, Public Relations

Mars Area School DistrictTaxpayer Bill of Rights Notice

You are entitled to receive a writ-ten explanation of your rights withregard to the assessment, audit,appeal, enforcement, refund and col-lection of certain School Districttaxes. The written explanation istitled Mars Area School DistrictTaxpayer Bill of Rights Statement.

Upon receiving a request from you,the School District will give a copy ofthe Disclosure Statement at nocharge. You may request a copy inperson or by mailing a request to:Mars Area School District; 545Route 228; Mars, Pa. 16046.

Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.on any weekday other than a holi-day. A copy will also be mailed toyou if you call the School District at(724) 625-1518.

Mars Area School District is an equal oppor-tunity education institution and will not dis-criminate on the basis of race, color, nationalorigin, sex and handicap in its activities, pro-grams or employment practices as requiredby Title VI, Title IX and Section 504.

FebruaryFeb. 16 — Market Day Pick-up,

6 - 7 p.m. @ High SchoolFeb. 21 — Act 80 Day Feb. 24 — Middle School Open

House, 6 - 8 p.m.

MarchMarch 9 — AFS Parent Meeting

@ High School, 7 p.m.March 11-12 — High School

Musical, 7:30 p.m.March 12 — “New” SAT Test

Date, 8 a.m.March 16 — Market Day Pick-

up, 6 - 7 p.m. @ High SchoolMarch 18 — End of Third Nine

WeeksMarch 21 — Parent/Principal

Communication Connection Meeting @ High School, 7 p.m.

March 24 — Act 80 Days; Parent Conferences (K-8 Only)

March 25-April 1 — Spring Break

AprilApril 5 — High School National

Honor Society Induction, auditorium

April 9 — ACT Test Date, 8 a.m.April 13 — AFS Parent Meeting

@ High School, 7 p.m.April 20 — Market Day Pick-up

6 - 7 p.m. @ High School

MayMay 4 — Elementary Teacher’s

Spring LuncheonMay 6 — Key Club Talent Show

@ High SchoolMay 7 — “New” SAT Test Date;

High School Chorus Trip to Geauga Lake

May 11 — AFS Parent Meeting @ High School, 7 p.m.; MiddleSchool Medieval Fair, 5 - 7 p.m.

May 12 — MS Medieval Fair

May 13 — Act 80 Day; HighSchool Prom; Primary Center, High School Blood Drives, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

May 18 — Market Day Pick-up6 - 7 p.m. @ High School

May 20 — Middle School Track & Field Day

May 23 — Middle School Track & Field Day Rain Day

May 25 — Mars Area Elementary Olympic Fun Day; Senior Awards & Academic Banquet @ The Chadwick, 6 p.m

May 26 — Primary Center Olympic Fun Day

May 30 — No School, Memorial Day

JuneJune 2 — Graduation, 6:30 p.m.

@ Stadium; Fall Sports Physicals 2005-06 , 8 a.m. - noon @ High School, 1 - 3 p.m.

Mark Your Calendars

Earned Income

The following is a list of MarsArea tax collectors:

4 Centax — (800) 569-6704438 Line Ave.Ellwood City, Pa. 16117

4 Berkheimer — (800) 360-3075

P.O. Box 902

Spirit of Giving

Mars Area seventh-grader Vinny Dennis graciously acceptsthe game ball from Plaxico Burress after the PittsburghSteeler scores a touchdown against the New EnglandPatriots. The “gift” was featured in an NFL commercial justbefore Christmas. For a story, see Page 5.

Collectors of 2004 wage tax change

Students at Mars Area Elemen-tary School no longer have to fumble for loose change or worryabout losing their lunch money.

As of Thursday, Feb. 10, studentsare able to purchase school lunch-es with SNAP cards, pre-paid debitcard-like devices which will elimi-nate the need for parents and stu-dents to handle cash on a dailybasis.

SNAP (School NutritionalAccountability Program), which isalso in use at Mars Area HighSchool and Mars Area MiddleSchool, will establish a debitaccount for students in thirdthrough fifth grades.

Parents can deposit money intothe debit account for use by the

See SNAP, p. 2

In the Cafeteria

SNAP cards make buyinglunch easier

2 2005 Winter Communicator Mars Area School District

On the Horizon SNAP

student to purchase food items inthe cafeteria.

Payments can be made on aweekly, monthly or annual basis,depending upon what is most con-venient.

Elementary meals can now beprepaid by sending a checkpayable to Mars Area SchoolDistrict Cafeteria. The cancelledcheck will serve as a receipt

Cafeteria workers will continueto accept cash, but students arestrongly encouraged to use thenew system. Deposit slips areavailable upon request.

For students who are eligible forfree meals, the computer will readthe student’s card and proceed asif the student has cash in theaccount. For reduced meals, thecomputer will recognize thereduced meal price and deduct itfrom the student’s cash balance.

The cashier will not know if thestudent is eligible for free orreduced meals.

There is no limit to how much orhow little needs to be in a stu-dent’s account. When fundsbecome low in an account, cafete-ria staff are trained to let studentsknow a deposit is needed.

If any student forgets his SNAPcard, cafeteria staff will still beable to use the account.

Mars Area officials also plan tophase in the SNAP program atMars Area Primary Center in thenear future.

For more information, call TonyMerendino, food service director,at (724) 625-1988 between 1 and 3p.m., Monday through Friday.

Continued from p. 1

Access to the proposed school wouldbe located off Meredith Drive.

Plans and designs for an almost 70,000-square-foot school for fifth and sixth grade has beensent to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for its approval.

FIRST FLOOR(41,538 square feet)

SECOND FLOOR(23,145 square feet)

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O — Main OfficeC — ClassroomM — Music Rm.A — Art Rm.L — LibraryG — GymnasiumCR — Computer Rm.SE — Spec. Educ.CA — Cafeteria/Kitchen

In the Cafeteria

Election 2004

Mars Area Elementary students each took turnsfilling out their ballots on Election Day as part ofthe school’s mock-Presidential election.

Mars Area High School held aDrug & Alcohol AwarenessProgram for parents on Jan. 12.

The program discussed strate-gies for talking to children aboutthe dangers of drugs and underagedrinking as well as the latesttrends in drug and alcohol use.

A question and answer sessionwith students and school officialsfollowed the program.

Student representatives of SADD(Students Against Destructive De-cisions) and REACH (ResponsibleEducated Adolescents Can Help)assisted in the presentations.

Information on Mars AreaSchool District’s membership inthe Northern Area AllianceAgainst Highly Addictive Drugswas also available.

A students at Mars Area Primary Centerhands out an official election ballot duringthe school’s mock-Presidential election.

School hostsdrugs, alcoholawareness talk

For Parents

The Communicator produced byJosh Schwoebel, Mars Area School

District Public Relations Director

Bush defeats Kerry in landslide mock-election

The race for the presidency was no contest forstudents at Mars Area Elementary and Mars AreaPrimary Center, who cast their votes in a mock-election in November.

Students in third through fifth grades cast 481votes for George W. Bush, while John Kerryreceived 117. At the Primary Center, Bush obtained507 votes from students in kindergarten throughsecond grade and Kerry garnered 122 votes.

“(The mock-election) was a wonderful experi-ence, said Louise Spithaler, second grade teacher,adding students were very official about the elec-tion process as a whole.

Luke Salter, eighth-grader, haswon Mars Area Middle School’s17th annual Geography Bee FinalRound Qualifier.

In the final round of the compe-tition, Luke and Cameron Cressfaced off in a three question elimi-nation round, which asked:“Alaska borders the YukonTerritory and which CanadianProvince?” “What European coun-try borders the Atlantic Ocean andMediterranean Sea and is theworld’s leading producer of oliveoil?” and “Ship sailing from theCarribean Sea to Japan savedthousands of miles by travelingthrough what canal?”

While Luke and Cameron bothanswered the third question cor-rectly (Panama) and the firstincorrectly (British Columbia), thesecond question would decide vic-tory in the geography quiz.

Cameron answered “Italy,” whileLuke said "”Spain.”

It was this answer that earnedLuke the first-place title and a

Barnes & Noble gift certificate. And, this is the first time in the

competitions 17-year history that astudent has won in back-to-backyears.

“We need to focus on our worldand the people who live in it,” saidPeg Harding, social studiesteacher and event organizer.

This year’s competition was soclose that 12 finalist were selected

instead of the usual 10.Finalists included eighth-graders

Luke, Andy Knauff, BenDellatore, Bob Renfrew,Sarah Smelscer and KaraMatsey; seventh-graders MikeParrish, Alexandra Mykita,Vinny Dennis and DillonLennen; and sixth-graderCameron and Kevin Kalan.

Luke will now take the qualifying

test for the State Finals, held inHarrisburg.

Following the event, RandyMiller, vice principal, encouragedstudents to always learn aboutgeography.

“Make sure you always have asolid background in geography,”he said.

“So, you always know whereyou’re going.”

Mars Area School District 2005 Winter Communicator 3

Matt Lewis, a senior at MarsArea High School, is the firstindividual to be named theAssociation of FundraisingProfessional (AFP) 2004National Philanthropy DayOutstanding Youth inPhilanthropy.

In 1994, when Matt, then 7years old, went to his doctor for aroutine check-up, he was diag-nosed with an adult form ofleukemia.

Matt was taken to a hospital inPittsburgh then transferred toBoston where he was hospital-ized for three months.

Matt’s brother, Greg, now astudent at Mars Area MiddleSchool, matched as a bone mar-row donor and with the trans-plant, Matt went into remission.

A year after he was diagnosed,Matt’s mother, Mary Lewis,became involved with theLeukemia & Lymphoma Societybecause she wanted to educateothers about her son’s disease.

Matt then became involvedwith the society, first sending outmailings, then joining in 5Kfund-raisers and eventuallyworking to inspire others to con-tribute both time and money tothe organization.

The most important part aboutvolunteering is meeting peopleyou can help, said Matt, whorecalls being at the hospital for acheck-up, when a little boy camein for a blood test.

The boy wanted nothing to dowith needles, but Matt had hisblood drawn first to show theboy that “it was no big deal.”

Those who are diagnosed justhave to “stick it out ... live everyday to the fullest,” Matt says iswhat he tells kids and adults whoare diagnosed with cancer.

“In all phases of the disease,from undergoing rigorous treat-ment to the comfort of remis-sion, Matt seized this opportuni-ty to educate others on the dis-ease and survivorship. He is atrue symbol of courage andinspiration," said GeorgeOmiros, Leukemia & LymphomaSociety executive director andAFP Awards Committee Chair.

“(Matt) is the reason thePanther Athletic Golf Open wasable to net over $145,000. He isthe reason additional golf out-ings have raised over $20,000,Breakfast with Champions hadraised over $75,000, and Teamin Training participants keepjoining this endurance programand donating to the Society. Hehas become very engaged in find-ing new ways to raise funds andshare his story of hope.”

Matt, 18, is active on MarsArea’s golf, hockey and baseballteam as well as involved in sever-al clubs at the high school. Hehopes to further his educationnext year in college, workingtoward a degree in internationalbusiness or business finance.

The Association of FundraisingProfessionals’ members areactively employed by non-profitorganizations or by consultingfirms that work with non-prof-its.

The Outstanding Youth inPhilanthropy award is present-ed to a young person or groupof young people who havedemonstrated exceptional gen-erosity or exceptional initiativeand leadership in recruiting,coordinating and motivatingvolunteers to raise funds for acharity in support of a charita-ble cause or causes; as well asencouraged, by example, otheryouths to make charitable giftsand volunteer personal time tophilanthropic causes.

Eighth-grader wins geography bee for second year

Qualifying Round

Luke Salter (above), winner of the middleschool’s Geography Bee Final RoundQualifier poses for a picture with Peg Har-ding, social studies teacher. At left, DillonLennen ponders a geography question.

Senior named ‘Outstanding Youth’

Philanthropist

Inaugural Event

Elementaryto hold firstscience fair

Mars Area Elementary Schoolwill hold its inaugural non-com-petitive science fair from 6 to 8p.m. on Thursday, March 10.

“This is something we havewanted to do for a long time,” saysChuck Prijatelj, instrumentalmusic teacher and event organizer,adding the school has never beforeoffered a science fair for students.

“Our hope is that this introduc-tory science fair will stimulate aninterest in science in the class-room and beyond.”

More than 60 students at theelementary school have showngreat interest in participating in ascience fair, which will take thestudents through the scientificmethod from hypothesis to conclu-sion.

Because this is the first time thatthe school will be offering a sci-ence fair, each student participanthas been given a packet containingstep-by-step instructions, a guidefor parents, as well as ideas forprojects in the areas of astronomy,biology, earth science, engineeringand mathematics.

“We are hoping to have a reallysuper science fair,” says Prijatelj.

The goal of the program is tostimulate imagination and inde-pendent thinking; increase stu-dents’ knowledge in a variety ofscientific areas; teach the use ofthe scientific process; train stu-dents in organization and majortask completion; and provide anopportunity to enjoy science.

For more information, contactChuck Prijatelj at (724) 625-3161.

Matt Lewis, a sen-ior at Mars AreaHigh School, hasbeen named Out-standing Youth inPhilanthropy for hiswork with TheLeukemia & Lym-phoma Society.Diagnosed withleukemia at age 7,Matt, who is now inremission, becameinvolved with thesociety’s programs.


Students at Mars Area MiddleSchool held an annual tribute tolocal veterans as part of the Classof 2011 Flag Ceremony.

“This is a very special time.Today, we take time to showrespect and reverence,” saidRichard Cornell, principal.

“We must always remember ourveterans, not only on VeteransDay, but every day. Our studentshave a sense of respect, pride andpatriotism.”

The flag ceremony, establishedas a special program to commem-orate Veterans Day for Mars Areastudents who always had schoolon the national holiday, said PegHarding, social studies teacherand event coordinator.

The day always coincided withthe sixth-graders unit on patriot-ism, the flag and the great warsand battles of the 20th century.

Today, as part of the sixth-gradecurriculum, students are requiredto write an essay, the top six ofwhich were selected to be readduring the ceremony, saidHarding.

Essay finalists were Alexa Lee,Abby Iksic, Austin Miele,Nicole Soose, Kathleen Krausand Devin Harants.

“I hope that my generation willdevelop a deeper appreciation forour veterans,” Iksic wrote in heressay. “Our veterans have riskedtheir lives and gone through a lotto make sure we are safe,” wroteKraus.

In additions to the essays,poems were written and read bystudents Stephanie Karavlan,Angela Long and ChelseaThen; “Taps” was performed bytrumpeters Kelly Acree andChris Ausefski; the play, Who isa Veteran? was staged by AlannaHaefner, Paige Mundy, Shane

Smith and DominicCosentino; the Pledge ofAllegiance was recited accompa-nied by sign language done byStephanie Mellor, EricaHafner and Sarah Petro; andsixth-graders also participated inthree separate flag folding demon-strations

The eighth grade chorus andband performed “The Star Span-gled Banner,” “God Bless Amer-ica” and “The Battle Hymn of theRepublic.”

The ceremony also featured astory about Joe Benvin, a veteranand father of middle school mathteacher Joanne Van Deusen.

“War Remembrances” recalled

Benvin’s participation in Oper-ation Overload on Thanksgiving in1944, when he was injured by anexploding mortar shell.

A gift was presented to Benvinthanking him for his service andspecial thanks was extended toHarding, who will be retiring atthe end of the 2004-05 schoolyear after 35 years with the schooldistrict,

“Over these many years, (Har-ding) has never let us forget whywe have the freedoms that wehave,” said Kent Shoemaker,math/student governmentteacher.

“We hope the patriotism she hasestablished here will continue on.”

Middle school remembers veterans

Tribute

Sixth-graders SarahBaehr, Katie Gable,Kaitlin Easley, andKylee O'Donnell foldan American flag dur-ing the middle schoolsannual Veterans Dayflag ceremony. At left, JoeBenvin, veteran andfather of math teacherJoanne Van Deusensalutes the flag during the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

Renaissance

Businesses contribute to program

Several local businesses havemade contributions to the MarsArea Renaissance Program break-fast to honor those students withperfect attendance.

Shop ‘n’ Save in CranberryTownship donated a $25 gift cer-tificate. Kim and Bob Geyer ofGeyer Construction presented 10$10 American Eagle and Dick’sSporting Goods gift cards, six $10Barnes & Noble and Pizza Hut giftcards, and five $10 Panera Breadgift cards.

Mars Area Athletic Departmentcontributed five Mars Area visors;North Park Lounge Deckhouseoffered 397 certificates of excel-lence for free Lounge Fries; andCapelli’s Inc. in Mars donated twocomplimentary haircuts and five-session tanning packages.

Mars Area High School ActivityFund donated a $5 Target giftcard and $10 Applebee’sNeighborhood Grill & Bar giftcard; Joll Enterprises Inc. inCranberry Township contributedtwo $10 Quaker State & Lube giftcertificates; and Wal-Mart inCranberry Township contributedfour $5 gift cards.

Quizno’s in Cranberry Townshipoffered a 6-foot catering sub; SkiNorth in Wexford, four Rockin’Rollers Santa Skiers; and H.J.Heinz Company donated fiveHeinz Field prints, large goldshirts, Teddy Bear cooks, eightJerome Bettis Shows tapes fromNov. 24, three 1957 Sweptsides,1957 Chevy convertibles and 1957Chevy sedans; two soccer balls,1928 panel trucks, and blackSidewinder bags; a red mini foodservice radio; and a ketchup bottleraft.

Students at Mars Area HighSchool will present the classicMeredith Willson musical, TheMusic Man, at 7:30 p.m. on Fridayand Saturday, March 11 and 12, inthe high school’s new auditorium.

Reserved seat tickets are $7 perperson For more information, call(724) 625-1581.

In Brief

School to present The Music Man

Field Trip

Kindergartners from Mars Area Primary Center join in a field trip to Kaelin’s Farm Market inFranklin Park . Photo by Bethany Boarts

Photos by Bethany Boarts

Three 2004 Mars Area graduateshave been named AP Scholars bythe College Board for theirachievement on the college-levelAdvanced Placement (AP) Exams.

Matt Hudak qualified for theAP Scholar with Honor Award.

Meredith Barbour andMallorey Bugel qualified for theAP Scholar Award.

Graduates recognizedfor AP achievements

Mars Area seventh-graderVinny Dennis is all smiles whenhe recalls the Steelers gameagainst the New England Patriotson Oct. 31.

The young Steelers fan went tothe game with his father, Mark,who received tickets for seats inthe endzone from a friend of afriend.

The father and son had no ideahow great their seats were untilSteeler Plaxico Burress caughttouchdown pass from quarter-back Ben Roethlisberger andhanded the ball to Vinny.

“I thought it was pretty cool,”says Vinny, 12.

And, as if getting to take homethe game ball was not enough,the whole event was captured onfilm and was featured in a NFLcommercial that aired just daysbefore Christmas with the tagline, “It’s better to give than toreceive.”

The Dennis family did not seethe commercial when it original-ly aired, but family and friendswere quick to pick up the phone.

Finally, in the week beforeChristmas, the family saw thecommercial and since then hasbeen fielding calls from newspa-per and television reporters.

The commercial has been com-pared to the now famous Coca-Cola advertisement featuring for-mer Steeler “Mean” Joe Green.

Vinny says he has been aSteelers fan since birth, mainlybecause his parents are such bigfans of the Black & Gold.

“(The Steelers) are such a greatteam. They are not a bunch ofshowboats,” says Kelly Dennis,Vinny’s mother, adding Plaxicoprobably had to pay a fine to

give Vinny the ball.The coverage of Vinny and the

commercial has been “so nicebecause there have been so manybad things going on in profes-sional sports,” she says.

“(Vinny) is such a quiet youngman... but in my mind, he is likea legend,” says Tami Tritch, sci-ence/social studies teacher atMars Area Middle School.

“This is something he is goingto remember forever.”

Tritch whose family is friendswith Kevin Colbert, PittsburghSteelers director of football oper-ations, helped Vinny to get hisfootball signed by Plaxico.

The Steelers also sent Vinny anautographed picture and Steelersshirt.

Vinny’s had hoped the Steelerswould be playing in the SuperBowl this year, but the team’sloss to the Patriots in the AFCChampionship only has himlooking forward to next footballseason.

Vinny is still hopeful that hewill get to meet the Steeler whomade him a local celebrity.

When he was asked in recentinterview if there was anythinghe would like to say to theSteelers, Vinny simply said, “SignPlaxico.”

For the first major performance inMars Area High School’s new audi-torium, students presented thecomedic farce, My Son the Rock.

The play tells the tale of PrincePlucky (played by Mark Stenner)who is not living up to the expecta-tions of his father, King Norom(Brad Hasek).

Comedy ensues when the princeis captured and held prisoner by anevil witch (Amy Jones) and theking and queen (Jennifer Merkel)believe their son has been trans-formed into a rock.

“It’s a fairy tale gone awry,” saidCharlesa Fassinger, director, addingthe three-act play is set in amedieval kingdom.

Other cast members includedElizabeth Kimbell as MissBrazen; Matt Lamendola,Sergeant Dimlit; Matt Cesare,Police Chief; Ian Ferguson, Mr.Steelson; Elise Ferguson, Jester;Dominic Janidas, Pierre; JasonGrubb, Mario; Dave Obringer,

Luigi; Caitlin Leopold, Hilda;Bryn Hollen, Princess Alaina; Jordan Szilagy,Milkman; Dante Ferrese, Garbageman; Christine Clark,Belly Dancer; Kelly Doyle and EllySchmitmeyer, Rockettes;Morgan Laubach and Lisa

Moser, Ballet Dancers; MaxMeese, Guard; Katy Doyle, StaciMoeller, Anna Riley andMallory Smith, Cooks/Maids; andAlex Brueckner, Shan-nonBuffone, Megan Sauter, KatieShrock and Jen Shore asCheerleaders.


My Son the Rock takes stage in new auditorium

King Norom, played by Brad Hasek, talks with his son, PrincePlucky (Mark Stenner) in Mars Area High School’s production ofMy Son the Rock.

Seventh-grader is local celebrity

Vinny Dennis, a seventh-graderat Mars AreaMiddle School,holds the footballhe received fromPlaxico Burressat the Steelersfirst gameagainst the NewEngland Patriots.With some helpfrom his socialstudies teacher,Tami Tritch,Vinny has sincehad the ballsigned byPlaxico.

Spirit of Giving

Performance

Photo by Louis Raggiunti

Social studies students from MarsArea Middle School participated instate Sen. Jane Clare Orie’s 2004“Reach Out & Touch A Hero” pro-gram press conference, held atNorthway Mall in early December.

Students who won a Veteran’sDay essay contest and completed24 hours of community servicewere permitted to attend the event,which highlighted a program to linkservicemen and women stationedoverseas with local students andcommunity members through e-mail and other sources of commu-nication.

“With the help of (Mars Area stu-dents), the press conference wastruly a success,” said Orie (R-40).

“It served as a wonderful show ofsupport and encouragement to ourarea troops that have spent somuch time away from their familiesalong with honoring those veteranswho have fought to preserve ourway of life.”

For more information, visitwww.reachoutandtouchahero.org.

Reaching OutStudents take part in press conference

Mars Area Middle School ReadingTeams placed at a Greenville HighSchool competition.

Members of “Revenge of theChihuahuas,” Chelsea McKier-nan, Jake Miszuk, Walter Rado-vich, Samantha Brandon, KaylaEsterline, Luke Gruber, JessicaLenoir, Erica Mason, RebekahParson, Ryan Miller, KaraAngeletti and Jessica Seiberttook first place at the competition.

The “Mission from Mars” teamtook 11th place in the event. Teammembers are Nicole George, Jac-lyn Reiger, Brittany Robison,Monnet Marfori, Krystle Smith,Michelle Moser, Lauren Gay-nord, John Kramer, MeredithSweet, Alyssa Marino, MikeMolinaro and Taylor Kaclik.

Students answered trivia questionsfrom 24 different novels.

Chorus FestivalMars Area High School Chorus

members Katie Roth, MarkStenner, Amber Saville-Andree,Kerri Allen and Grant Giel per-formed in the Pennsylvania MusicEducators Association District 5Chorus Festival at Lakeview HighSchool earlier this month.

Charitable EffortsMars Area Middle School Student

Government’s committees raisedmore than $1,500 for local charities.

The Spirit Committee held a raffleand a dance/activity night, raising$500 that was split between fivelocal charities.

The Charity Committee’s serviceauction brought in $1,039.78 for TheLighthouse Foundation, which alsoreceived $85.46 from the SocialCommittee’s Holiday Gift Basket

Accolades

Teams place atreading contest


Students at Mars Primary Centerdress up as pilgrims and indiansas part of the school’s ColonialDay celebration. Below, high-schooler don costumes at theschool’s Trick-or-Treat Night.

Crowned with rein-deer antlers made

from nylons and bal-loons, a Mars AreaElementary student

wins a competition tosee which team couldassemble the hat the

fastest. When studentscompleted the antlers

and stretched theircreation onto one

of their teammate’shead, they had to

sing a chorus of“Jingle Bells” to win the contest.

‘Round the HolidaysStudents throughout Mars

Area School District celebratedthe holidays in style with vari-ety of events at each school.

In the week beforeHalloween, Mars Area HighSchool Student Council held itsannual Trick or Treat Night.

District children were able towalk the halls of the highschool and collect candy andother treats from rooms spon-sored by high school clubs,classes and sports teams.

The event also featured a cos-tume contest every half hour inthe cafeteria.

At Thanksgiving, Mars AreaElementary and Mars AreaPrimary Center held theirannual Colonial Days celebra-tions.

Students learned about thedifferent aspects of ColonialAmerica and were invited todress up as pilgrims, colonistsand Native Americans.

And just before winter break,students at Mars Area Elemen-tary join in a number of holi-day activities and games frommaking candy cane reindeer tocarrying a snowball (cotton-ball) without using their hands.

Dressed in pilgrimgarb, two studentsjoin in a ColonialDay activity at MarsArea Primary Center.Below, Mars AreaHigh School stu-dents pose for a pic-ture with PrincipalAnna Saker at Trick-or-Treat Night.

Ghost bingo (above)was one of many

games played by stu-dents during Mars

Area Primary Center’sHalloween celebration.

At right, a Mars AreaElementary student

makes a candy canereindeer, complete

with googly eyes andantlers made from

pipe cleaners.

Photos by Josh Schwoebel

The Jeff Danner MemorialScholarship has celebrated its 20thyear of supporting Mars Area’sgirls and boys basketball teams.

Established in 1985 by Mr. andMrs. Robert Danner, Jeff Aikenand former boys basketball coachand teacher David Skurcenski, theannual scholarship honors the lifeof Jeff Danner, a member of MarsArea boys basketball team whodied of leukemia two years aftergraduating from Mars Area HighSchool.

Each year, members of thescholarship’s board or directorsselect college-bound seniors fromthe boys and girls basketball teamswho best exemplify Jeff’s spiritand character.

Scholarships are awarded annu-ally to and eligible boys or girlsvarsity basketball player(s) atMars Area High School.

Over the past 19 years, 47 stu-dents have received almost$25,000 to help offset their col-lege expenses.

Each year, Mars Area HighSchool hosts the annual JeffDanner Memorial men’s andwomen’s alumni basketball gamesand an open three-point shootingcontest.

The tournament began as one

men’s and one women’s gamebetween alumni and faculty.

As the event grew, more gameswere added and a swell in interestlimited participation to only thosealumni who had played basketballduring their senior year at MarsArea.

Today, the games provide an

opportunity for former players,families and friends to share expe-riences, relive old memories andcreate new ones.

The Jeff Danner MemorialScholarship games attract around100 former players representing35 years of Mars Area basketballhistory.


Scholarship marks 20th anniversary

Five members of the Mars Area boys swimteam are headed to the WPIAL playoffs thisyear.

Senior Dan Pierre; juniors PhilipArmstrong and Philip Karavlan ; and soph-omores Dave Pierre and Jeff Gavin will com-pete in their individual events.

On the girls swim team freshman ChloePierre, senior, Amber Saville-Andree, andsophomores Jessica Nowicki and ClairePacey are making waves this season.

Mars Area divers Eric Crowley (junior) andElise Ferguson (junior) have also had strongshowings this year.

Crowley took second place at the Pine-Richland invitational and is diving in the 200s.

Boys BasketballMars Area boys basketball team this season

has had the “best record in 25 years,” says coachRob Carmody.

With an overall record of 16-6 and 8-3 in sec-tion play, the team is heading to the playoffs

for the second time since1987.

“Despite being a relativelyyoung team, the boyshave worked very hardfor the success they’ve

had,” says Carmody.The boys team gained a lot ofexperience this season, playing

in a tournament in Floridaand against a team from aschool in Brazil at home.

Outstanding playersthis year include junior

Tim Fry, who wasinjured last season and is now working his wayto becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer,

and senior Sean Gallagher, who averages 15points and 11 rebounds a game.

Other leading scorers include seniors MarkLucas, Dusty Wessel and Scott Martinellias well as juniors Robbie Herold and CharlieJaicks.

HockeyMars Area hockey team is headed to the play-

offs this year with an overall record of 10-5-1 onthe season.

“We have all strong players,” says coach EricGlover, who is in his second year coach-

ing the team. “We have a lot of talent

spread throughout the team.”Outstanding players this

season have include senior cap-tain Sean Becker, junior goalieBrian Ross; and juniorMichael Randolph.

Other notable players areMike Kenit, MikeRiefner, Tyler Calderon,

Brian Reel, StevePetruska, Tommy Day,

Ian Finney, Shuan Becker, Carroll Smith,Adam Becker, Cody Kier and JV playerDave Anderson.

Girls BasketballMars Area High School girls basketball team is

heading to the playoffs with a 15-6 overallrecord and 10-3 in section.

“The team is doing really well. We’ve been veryvery competitive,” says Dana Petruska, coach,adding this year the team has the largest groupof girls it has ever had.

“The girls are really playing with confidence”despite being a relatively young team, she says.

Outstanding play-ers this seasoninclude the team’slone senior, TarynAdamski, andjuniorsHeatherCarpenter,Anna Hudac andJulie Utz. Also tear-ing up the court aresophomores CaraHudac, MeganGibson, Abby Marshall and MaggieBulman.

WrestlingMars Area wrestler Adam Smetana (119 lbs.)

has won the WPIAL championship in his weightclass.

This is the second year the senior, who was28-2 on the season, has won the title.

Several other members of Mars Area wrestlingteam, had strong showings thisseason. Notables include juniorDavid Pisarcik (189 lbs., 11-1) who came on strongdespite aninjury; and jun-ior Matt Perri (112lbs. 23-6)has beena pleasant sur-prise, says Don Cooley, coach.

“The whole team overall has done their partthis year. They have a definite ‘team’ attitude.”

Other outstanding wrestlers are juniors LoganGiger (145 lbs, 26-7), Peter King (125 lbs., 23-8) and Alex Kokkinakis (125 lbs., 18-11); aswell as senior Calvin Brooks (130 lbs., 1-2).

Mars Areaalumni teamsbattle it out inthe 20th annu-al Jeff DannermemorialScholarshipAlumni Bas-ketball Gamesheld in lateDecember.

Annual Event

Sports Round-up

Boys swim team members headed to WPIAL playoffs

Mars Area School District willhold physicals for spring and fallsports on the following dates:

Spring Sports 2004-2005 4 Tuesday, Feb. 1 — 8 - 11

a.m. @ Middle School4 Tuesday,

Feb. 22 — 8 - 11a.m. @ MiddleSchool

4 Thursday,Feb. 24 — 8 - 11a.m. @ MiddleSchool

4 Tuesday, March 1 — 8 -11 a.m. @ High School

Fall Sports 2005-2006 4 Thursday, June 2 — 8

a.m. - noon @ Middle School, 1 -3 p.m. @ High School

4 Tuesday, June 7 — 8 a.m.- noon @ High School, 1 - 3 p.m.@ Middle School

4 Tuesday, July 12 — 8a.m. - noon @ High School

4 Tuesday, Aug. 2 — 8 a.m.- noon @ High School

For more information, callMars Area Athletic Office at(724) 625-9380.

Spring, fall physical dates set

Of Note

Spring Sports 2004-2005 Home games are in Bold* denotes conference game

Mars Area School DistrictAdministrative Offices545 Route 228Mars, Pa. 16046

CARRIER SORT ROUTEResidentMars Area School District


GIRLS VARSITY SOFTBALL3/15/05 — Upper St. Clair

(scrimmage), 3:45 p.m. 3/17/05 — Union Area (scrimmage),

3:30 p.m.3/24/05 — Sto-Rox, 3:45 p.m.3/29/05 — New Castle, 3:45 p.m.4/01/05 —Pine-Richland 4 p.m.4/04/05 — Highlands*, 4 p.m.4/06/05 — Kittan-

ning*, 3:45 p.m.4/08/05 — North

Hills, 3:45 p.m.4/11/05 — Indiana*,

3:45 p.m.4/13/05 — Valley*,

4 p.m.4/15/05 — Butler, 3:45 p.m.4/18/05 — Knoch*, 3:45 p.m.4/20/05 — Pine-Richland,

3:45 p.m.4/22/05 — Deer Lakes, 3:45 p.m.4/25/05 — Highlands*, 3:45 p.m.4/27/05 — Kittanning*, 4 p.m.5/02/05 — Indiana*, 3:30 p.m.5/04/05 — Valley*, 3:45 p.m.5/05/05 — New Castle, 3:30 p.m.5/06/05 — Fox Chapel, 3:30 p.m. 5/09/05 — Knoch*, 3:45 p.m.5/11/05 — Hampton, 3:45 p.m.

GIRLS JV SOFTBALL3/29/05 — New Castle, 3:45 p.m. 3/31/05 — Pine-Richland,

3:45 p.m.4/04/05 — Highlands, 3:45 p.m.4/06/05 — Kittanning, 4 p.m.4/07/05 — Riverview, 3:45 p.m.4/08/05 — North Hills, 4 p.m.4/11/05 — Indiana, 3:45 p.m.4/15/05 — Butler, 4 p.m.4/18/05 — Knoch, 3:45 p.m.4/19/05 — Ford City, 3:45 p.m.4/20/05 — Pine-Richland, 4 p.m.4/25/05 — Highlands, 4 p.m.4/26/05 — Riverview, 3:45 p.m.4/27/05 — Kittanning, 3:45 p.m.4/28/05 — Ford City, 3:45 p.m.5/02/05 — Indiana, 3:30 p.m.5/05/05 — New Castle, 3:30 p.m.5/06/05 — Fox Chapel, 3:45 p.m.5/09/05 — Knoch, 3:45 p.m.5/11/05 —Hampton, 4 p.m.

7TH/8TH GRADE SOFTBALL3/31/05 — Butler, 3:30 p.m. 4/01/05 — North Hills, 3:45 p.m. 4/04/05 — Shaler, 4 p.m. 4/05/05 — Valley*, 3:45 p.m. 4/07/05 — Burrell*, 4 p.m. 4/08/05 — Deer Lakes, 3:45 p.m. 4/11/05 — Pine-Richland, 4 p.m. 4/12/05 — Hampton, 3:45 p.m. 4/14/05 — East Allegheny*,

3:45 p.m. 4/18/05 — North Allegheny

(Marshall Middle), 3:45 p.m. 4/19/05 — Highlands*, 3:45 p.m. 4/21/05 — Valley*, 3:30 p.m.

4/25/05 — Shaler, 3:45 p.m. 4/26/05 — Burrell*, 3:45 p.m. 4/27/05 — Butler, 3:45 p.m. 4/28/05 — Hampton, 4 p.m. 4/29/05 — Deer Lakes, 3:45 p.m. 5/02/05 — Pine-Richland, 3:45 p.m. 5/03/05 — East Allegheny*, 4 p.m. 5/05/05 — Highlands*, 3:45 p.m. 5/06/05 — North Allegheny (Marshall

Middle), 4 p.m.

BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL3/22/05 — North Allegheny (scrim-

mage @ South Carolina), 11 a.m. 3/23/05 — Heathwood Hall (scrim-

mage @ South Carolina), 4:30 p.m.3/24/05 — Peters Township (@ South

Carolina), 10 a.m. 3/24/05 — Keystone Oaks (@ South

Carolina), 2 p.m.3/29/05 — Deer Lakes, 3:45 p.m.3/30/05 — Freeport, 3:45 p.m.4/01/05 — Riverview, 3:45 p.m.4/04/05 — Burrell*, 4 p.m.4/06/05 — Blackhawk*, 3:45 p.m.4/08/05 — New Castle*, 4 p.m.4/11/05 — Pine-Richland*, 3:45 p.m.4/13/05 — Highlands*, 4 p.m.4/15/05 — Ellwood City*, 3:45 p.m.4/18/05 — Knoch*, 3:45 p.m.4/20/05 — Hampton*, 3:45 p.m.4/25/05 — Blackhawk*, 4 p.m.4/27/05 — New Castle*, 3:45 p.m.4/29/05 — Pine-Richland*, 4 p.m.5/02/05 — Highlands*, 3:45 p.m.5/04/05 — Ellwood City, 4 p.m.5/09/05 — Knoch*, 3:45 p.m.5/11/05 — Hampton*, 4 p.m.

BOYS JV BASEBALL3/29/05 — Deer Lakes, 3:45 p.m.3/30/05 — Freeport, 4 p.m.4/04/05 — Burrell, 3:45 p.m.4/06/05 — Blackhawk, 3:45 p.m.4/07/05 — Riverview, 3:45 p.m.4/08/05 — New Castle, 3:45 p.m.4/11/05 — Pine-Richland, 3:45 p.m.4/13/05 — Highlands, 3:45 p.m.4/15/05 — Ellwood City, 3:45 p.m.4/18/05 — Knoch, 3:45 p.m.4/20/05 — Hampton, 3:45 p.m.4/22/05 — Ford City, 3:45 p.m.4/25/05 — Blackhawk, 4 p.m.4/27/05 — New Castle, 4 p.m.4/29/05 — Pine-Richland, 4 p.m.5/02/05 — Highlands, 4 p.m.5/04/05 — Ellwood City, 4 p.m.5/09/05 — Knoch, 3:45 p.m.5/11/05 — Hampton, 4 p.m.

9TH GRADE BASEBALL3/22/05 — Hopewell (scrimmage),

4 p.m. 3/29/05 — North Hills*, 3:45 p.m. 3/30/05 — North Allegheny

(Ingomar Middle), 3:45 p.m. 3/31/05 — Butler*, 4 p.m. 4/05/05 — Pine-Richland*,

3:45 p.m.

4/07/05 — Seneca Valley*, 4 p.m. 4/12/05 — North Allegheny*,

3:45 p.m. 4/14/05 — North Allegheny

(Marshall Middle), 3:45 p.m. 4/19/05 — Shaler*, 4 p.m.4/21/05 — Fox Chapel*, 3:45 p.m. 4/23/05 — Hampton*, 11 a.m.4/26/05 — North Hills*, 4 p.m. 4/28/05 — Butler*, 3:45 p.m. 4/29/05 — Pine-Richland*, 4 p.m. 5/03/05 — Seneca Valley*,

3:45 p.m. 5/05/05 — North Allegheny*, 4 p.m. 5/10/05 — Shaler*, 3:45 p.m. 5/12/05 — Fox Chapel*, 3:30 p.m. 5/13/05 — Hampton*, 3:45 p.m.

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS3/16/05 — Hampton (scrim-

mage), 3:30 p.m.3/17/05 — North Allegheny (scrim-

mage), 3 p.m. 3/21/05 — Burrell, 3:30 p.m.

3/22/05 — Butler, 3:30 p.m.

3/23/05 —Sewick-ley Academy*, 3:30 p.m.

3/24/05 — Seneca Valley*, 3:30 p.m.

4/04/05 — Roches-ter*, 3:30 p.m.

4/05/05 — Center*, 3:30 p.m.4/06/05 — Quaker Valley*, 3:30 p.m.4/07/05 — Neshannock, 3:30 p.m.4/08/05 — Knoch*, 3:30 p.m.4/11/05 — WPIAL Section Singles

(@Sewickley Academy), 1 p.m.4/12/05 — WPIAL Section Singles

(@Sewickley Academy), 1 p.m.4/13/05 — Butler, 3:30 p.m.4/14/05 — Shaler, 3 p.m.4/15/05 — Sewickley Academy*,

4:15 p.m.4/19/05 — Hopewell*, 3:30 p.m.4/20/05 — Center*, 3 p.m.4/21/05 — MAC @ North Park, 9 a.m.4/22/05 — Hopewell*, 3:30 p.m.4/25/05 — WPIAL Section Doubles

(@Sewickley Academy), 1 p.m.4/26/05 — WPIAL Section Doubles

(@Sewickley Academy), 1 p.m.4/27/05 — Rochester*, 3:30 p.m.4/29/05 — Quaker Valley*,

3:30 p.m.5/03/05 — North Hills, 3:30 p.m.5/04/05 — Knoch*, 3:30 p.m.5/05/05 — Blackhawk, 3:30 p.m.

GIRLS 7TH/8THVOLLEYBALL (GOLD)2/17/05 — North Hills, 3:30 p.m. 2/23/05 — Riverview, 3:45 p.m.3/01/05 — Knoch, 3:30 p.m.3/03/05 — Hampton, 3:30 p.m.3/04/05 — Butler, 3:30 p.m.3/08/05 — Plum*, 3:30 p.m.

3/09/05 — Pine-Richland, 3:30 p.m.3/10/05 — Wilkinsburg*, 3:30 p.m.3/15/05 — Steel Valley, 3:30 p.m.3/17/05 — Riverview*, 3:45 p.m.3/18/05 — Seneca Valley*, 3:30 p.m.3/22/05 — Fox Chapel*, 3:30 p.m.3/29/05 — Plum*, 3:30 p.m.4/31/05 — Wilkinsburg*, 3:30 p.m.4/05/05 — Steel Valley*, 3:30 p.m.4/07/05 — Riverview*, 3:30 p.m.4/08/05 — Montour, 3:30 p.m.4/11/05 — Pine-Richland,

3:30 p.m.4/13/05 — Fox Chapel*, 3:30 p.m.4/14/05 — Seneca Valley, 3:30 p.m.

GIRLS 7TH/8THVOLLEYBALL (BLUE )2/17/05 — Ambridge, 3:30 p.m. 2/23/05 — Butler, 3:30 p.m.2/25/05 — North Allegheny

(Black), 3:30 p.m. 3/01/05 — Burrell*, 3:30 p.m. 3/03/05 — Valley*, 3:30 p.m. 3/04/05 — Riverview, 3:30 p.m. 3/07/05 — Montour, 3:30 p.m. 3/10/05 — Shaler*, 3:30 p.m.3/14/05 — Knoch, 3:30 p.m.3/17/05 — Deer Lakes*, TBA3/22/05 — Pine-Richland*,

3:30 p.m.3/24/05 — Burrell*, 3:30 p.m.3/29/05 — Valley*, 3:30 p.m.3/30/05 — Seneca Valley*,

3:30 p.m.4/06/05 — Shaler*, 3:30 p.m.4/07/05 — Seneca Valley*, 3:30 p.m.4/11/05 — North Allegheny (Black)*,

4 p.m.4/12/05 — Deer Lakes*, 3:30 p.m.4/14/05 — Pine-Richland*, 3:30 p.m.

COED TRACK & FIELD3/22/05 — North Allegheny/

Blackhawk (scrimmage), 3:30 p.m.

4/04/05 — Highlands, 3:30 p.m. 4/06/05 — Plum, 3:30 p.m. 4/08/05 — Butler Invitational, 4 p.m. 4/12/05 — North Hills, 4 p.m. 4/14/05 — Shady Side Academy,

3:30 p.m. 4/15/05 — Pine-

Richland, 3:30 p.m.

4/18/05 — Deer Lakes, 3:30 p.m.

4/21/05 — Hampton, 3:30 p.m.

4/26/05 — Knoch, 3:30 p.m.

4/28/05 — Mars Area Junior High Invitational, 3 p.m.

5/03/05 — Seneca Valley Invitational, 3:30 p.m.

5/05/05 — North Allegheny Invitational, 3:30 p.m.

mars area school district winter 2005 — volume 42, no. 1 the … · 2017-07-05 · mars area...

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