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Showing posts from February, 2017

Remember these sneakers?

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In December the Lampeter-Strasburg Varsity Club held their second annual sneaker drive.   Maybe you recognize this boy's sneakers. The sneakers were Philadelphia bound for poverty stricken youth. Without sneakers, these Philadelphia students were unable to participate in gym class. Early this month, the Varsity Club distributed flyers showing the sneakers happily on the feet of inner city Philly youth. Maybe someone recognizes the sneakers on this boy. Varsity Club is advised by Mrs. Bobbi Jo Garrett and Mrs. Sarah Geissinger. You can read the original sneaker drive article here.

DIY: How to do the backhand X-Step in Disc Golf

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Luke Brodersen is a sponsored disco golf player. In this special to LS News , Brodersen teaches readers how to throw a backhand x-step. The X-Step is a style of throwing that can generate a lot of power and distance if executed correctly. In this guide I will show you the steps of how to do this. Due to the length of my throw I usually start a little bit off of this size tee pad, but according to your style and tee pad it may differ. The first step is to step onto the tee pad and bring your back leg up behind your planted leg. Next, you will want to take your back leg and step, getting ready to transfer your weight onto this leg. After that, bring your previously planted foot up and behind your newly planted leg. While doing this you want to start turning your back away from your target. Now you will plant you leg again and focus on reaching your arm back as far as you can, this will generate the most power and spin in your throw. Your body weight should be mostly

The Life of a Busy Student

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Like so many Lampeter-Strasburg students, freshman Arylissa Diaz is busy. She is on a competitive  cheer team at Spooky Nook and in the spring musical, High School Musical  while still managing her studies.  In this installment of  In My Own Words ,  Diaz talks about how busy she is. This story is not unique to Diaz. It could be about many L-S students. My day starts out with a 5:30 am wake-up call. I then go to the bus stop for a 6:50 pickup, and I am at school by 7:25.  After a long school day with four 80 minute classes but only a 30 minute lunch break, I  either go to school cheer practice or musical rehearsal. With the musical this week, practice has been going until 9 pm.  With the musical opening on Thursday, rehearsals have been going late into the evening. I usually eat in the car. Depending on the day I either zoom to Nook cheer practice, dance, or youth group. These activities also often go until 9 pm so I usually get home around 9:30-10 pm.  I then have

Manchurian Candidates: Mrs. Getchis' second grade participates in Mandarin Chinese immersion experience

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On February 22, Mr. Brian Fisher, Mandarin Chinese teacher for Lampeter-Strasburg, was invited to show the Mrs. Michelle Getchis’ second grade class in Lampeter Elementary what it is like to be a foreigner to a different country. When one does not understand a syllable of the native tongue, something as simple as “stand up” or “sit down” can become more confusing than rocket science. Accompanied by two of his students, James McMichael and Jarrett Emmerling, Fisher introduced the young second graders to a new language by having them stand up, sit back down, and even learn one through 10, all in Mandarin.  Fisher taught them how to say and write the numbers, and even the hand signs that went with them.  The “xiao pengyou,” as Fisher called them (meaning “little friends” or “children” in Chinese), picked up on the simple words very quickly, as it goes with such spongy young minds.  The Chinese immersion was a hit among the class. The  second graders loved the experience

Varsity Club Senior Athlete Spotlight: Steven Hollern

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Varsity Club Senior Athlete Spotlight: Steven Hollern

Enigma Weekend Edition: 'What Could Be More Artificial'

"What Could Be More Artificial" By Anonymous What could be more artificial than rows of white mailboxes outside of identical white houses adorned with blue flowers? The only symbol of defiance among perfect symmetry The azure blooms are real and upon close inspection I realize with a small sense of satisfaction that they are ripped torn riddled with little imperfections and peering down I see blades of grass poking through cracked cement They will defeat the human quest for control for perfection

Varsity Club Senior Athlete Spotlight: Taylor Griffin

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Varsity Club Senior Athlete Spotlight: Taylor Griffin

FFA week concludes with Official Dress Day

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Today FFA members concluded FFA Week celebrations with Official Dress Day . Garden Spot FFA members sporting their official dress could be spotted everywhere in the hallways of Lampeter-Strasburg. Left to right: Jared Risser, Connor Ranck, Jordan Martin, Tyler Stoltzfus, Brandon Miller, and  Kyle Spots On the morning announcements, freshmen Jared Risser gave powerful rendition of the FFA Creed. See his rehearsal video below. The FFA Creed I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years. I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations whi

What if the best thing to watch wasn't on television? Meet the YouTubers of Lampeter-Strasburg

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The Cord Cutting Age In an age where the term "cord cutter" is a noun and content is king, Netflix rules supreme. Every night Netflix accounts for 37 percent of all North American Internet traffic boasting nearly 90 million paid subscribers. Those people pay $10 for the right to binge their favorite shows for 30 days. In exchange, that nets Netflix almost a billion dollars every month. Odds are if you are reading this via Facebook you probably have a Netflix account or at least borrow the login of someone who does. But Netflix has a hungry rival. Its eye's are fixed on the throne. Hulu, Prime Video, or even HBO might spring to mind as contenders, but the would be usurper is, in fact, YouTube. If you are older than 50 you probably didn't know YouTube was a thing. But it is a thing. It's a BIG thing. YouTube sits in second place for nightly Internet consumption with a respectable 18 percent. That number will undoubtedly climb as YouTube's young u

Substance Abuse and Awareness assembly planned

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In conjunction with the Lancaster District Attorney’s office, Lampeter-Strasburg High School will be presenting a Substance Abuse and Awareness assembly for all high school students on Thursday, February 23, 2017. The students will hear from two different presenters regarding their experiences with substance abuse, recovery, and the opioid epidemic that has seen nationwide growth in recent years. Substance Abuse Awareness Event on Thursday, February 23 at 7 pm in the high school cafeteria The presentation is designed to give students new information and perspectives from individuals who have been close to the current substance abuse issues. The students will attend the presentation in grade level groups, and they will have opportunities to ask questions of the presenters at the end of each session.  Additionally, the presenters will be available during all lunch periods to have small group conversations with students, and school guidance counselors will be available to talk

The only thing better than flannel is free hot chocolate

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Today, the Lampeter-Strasburg chapter of the FFA treated the entire high school to free hot chocolate. The lobby to the cafeteria was FULL of students waiting for their free hot chocolate from the FFA.  Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week. The week-long tradition began in 1947 when the National FFA Board of Directors designated the week of George Washington's birthday as National FFA Week in recognition of his legacy as an agriculturist and farmer. The first National FFA Week was held in 1948. This year, FFA Week always runs Saturday, February 18 to Saturday, February 25 which encompasses Washington's birthday February 22 birthday. Students throughout the school were seen enjoying hot chocolate. The Garden Spot chapter will be having different themes each day. All students and staff are invited to participate. Those themed days are: Tuesday,  February 21 :  FFA Apparel Day Wednesday,  February 22 :  Flannel Day, Free Hot Choc

If you build it. They will come. Family builds ice skating rink in backyard.

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The Ice Skating Rink in My Backyard and How We Built It Now you are probably wondering how could someone possibly have an ice skating rink in their backyard? Well... My dad got the idea when he was driving past an Amish farm. He saw that they had dug a hole in the ground and filled it with water. My dad loves to build and destroy things, so he started researching how to build an ice skating rink. When he proposed the idea to my sister and I, we were both thinking how is that even possible. Nagle and friends standing on the ice eager to start skating. So a few weeks later we went to Home Depot to buy supplies. We need plywood, stakes, staple gun, nail gun, 2x4s, and thick plastic trap that painters or construction workers usually use for projects. The ice rink is about 40 feet long and 17.5 feet wide. About a week after our trip to Home Depot, my dad, my sister, and I started to assemble the pieces to our new ice skating rink. First, we would lay out the plywood into a rec

The weekend I'll never forget--Battle at the Capitol: All Star Cheer & Dance

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In My Own Words Arylissa Diaz competes on the competitive cheer team Nook All-Stars. In this installment of  In My Own Words ,  Diaz talks about her recent cheer competition Battle at the Capitol. Last weekend my all-star cheer gym, Nook All-Stars, went to Washington D.C. to compete at the Battle at the Capitol. It is one of the most exciting times of the year for cheerleaders on the east coast as an incredible number of teams all compete to win jackets. Nook All-Stars were up against some very famous gyms with the competition consisting of some of the best teams on the east coast. S4 Vanish The two teams that I am on, J2 blackout and S4 vanish, both performed really well. While we did not win, I could not be more proud. On the first day, Vanish's music stopped but we kept going and had the entire crowd counting for us. It was something I will never forget. Both Vanish and Blackout did the best they have ever done. I am so glad I got to spend the weekend with my incr

Tales of caddying for an 8-year-old sponsored athlete

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In My Own Words Luke Brodersen is a freshmen at Lampeter-Strasburg and a sponsored disc golf player.  In this installment of  In My Own Words ,  Brodersen talks about caddying at a recent disc gold tournament.  This past weekend I had the pleasure of caddying for Evan Jones . Evans is the youngest player sponsored by Latitude 64. Evan lining up a putt The tournament  was called  The Woodchuck Chuck . Evan decided to play in the recreational division, this meant he would be playing against grown men four to six times his age. Despite this disadvantage Evan still manage to beat two of them. Evan Jones driving. Caddying for Evan was very enjoyable, being able to build a relationship with him and give him some tips was great. He was very attentive and would listen when I gave him a pointer on how to improve. Walking to the next hole. Some of the highlights from caddying for him were watching his face light up as he got a three or made a long putt. Evan ended up shoot

Varsity Club Senior Athlete Spotlight: Isabel Gleason

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Varsity Club Senior Athlete Spotlight: Isabel Gleason

Enigma Weekend Edition: 'Living In A Dream' by Allyson Deihl

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Varsity Club Senior Athlete Spotlight: Cory Quigley

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Varsity Club Senior Athlete Spotlight: Cory Quigley

In My Own Words: Practice makes perfect which often occurs before dawn on the ice

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In My Own Words Three days a week Hannah Mencer is lacing up her skates before many Lampeter-Strasburg students are even awake. In this installment of In My Own Words , Mencer talks about her figure skating training.  There is a lot of commitment that goes into skating, and it isn't easy. I go to skating practice every day except Saturdays, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays I have to go in the morning before school. On Mondays and Fridays, I go right after school for about an hour.  I have a 45 minute group lesson on Sundays. Landing position The tough part is the days when I have to go before school. Those days kill me. I don't have to be on the ice until six but I usually get up anytime between 4 and 4:30 a.m. I have many alarms set. The reason why I get up so early is because I have to have time to get ready, travel to the ice rink 20 minutes away, and put my skates on. I have a lesson on Wednesdays, and in the mornings I practice for half an hour.