Category: Uncategorized

By Jena Lacock-

Students that come from privileged families tend to preform better in school than kids in disadvantaged households.

According to the results of the 2009 reading test conducted by the Program for International Student Assessment shows that students with lower economic and social status have lower test scores than their more advantaged peers in every country of the U.S.

“If the student comes from a low income family they have to worry about stuff at home and they feel like it’s their responsibility”, says junior Kali Herr.

“I think it doesn’t matter if the student comes from a low income family because it depends on the persons work ethic”, exclaimed  junior Aaron Lugo.

One-fifth of American children live poverty which could be the reason why the U.S school system is falling behind compared to the rest of the world.

At Penn Manor High School, 26% of the student body is living in poverty. The year before that the school was at 13%. For the past two years Penn Manor failed to make the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress).

According to America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2002, Children who live in a household with only one parent are substantially more likely to have family incomes below the poverty line than are children who live with two parents. They are also more likely to suffer from academic problems.

The case seems to be that kids that are living in poor conditions are not capable of dealing with the effects of poverty. This contributes to students setting lower expectations and not believing in themselves.

“There is more stress for the kid, and if they don’t have internet then they are screwed”, stated junior Bonnie Prebolla.

Kids that come from more privileged backgrounds tend to do better in school. Most of them don’t have to get jobs because their families are able to pay for their child’s every want and need, while other students that are more deprived have to get jobs to pay for bills to hel

p out with the family.This takes away from their focus on their school work.

Research have shown that poor heath and nutrition yield a child’s development and learning. Early childhood plays a huge role in their education. Low-income students could of lacked some of these examples in their early stages. During the summer, poorer students experience greater learning loss than those who are more privileged peers who travel engaged in other enriching activities.

After high school, people from stable families go to college and don’t have to worry about the price. Students who come from less advantaged homes tend not to pursue education after high school because the expenses are too much of a burden.

“Since i have not been in that circumstance I can still understand that students that come from a lower income family that they wouldn’t do as well as a higher income student because they have to worry about things at home than focus at school”, said junior Meagan Miller.

Family background does play a big factor in a child’s education.

By Mark Dano-

Smooth legs and smooth strokes. This is the Penn Manor swim team. Instead of running or skating, these Comets are propelling themselves through the water.

“I have swam for so long that I can’t even imagine myself not swimming,” said junior Cooper Lindsley. “At the same time though I’m hoping to go on to college and hopefully I’ll be able to get some kind of scholarship for my sport and my passion.”

Some argue that swimming isn’t even a sport.

“It’s not a sport,” said a Penn Manor junior who wishes to remain anonymous. “It’s something you do to stay alive.”

But those who are apart of the team would beg to differ.

“It angers me so much when people say it’s not (a sport),” said senior swimmer Abby Barley. “I’d like to see every single person who says that jump in the pool and do what we do everyday. It’s not easy!”

Either way, the team goes through an extremely tough practice schedule.

“Practices are two hours of tough mental and physical pain,” said  Barley. “Like running, swimming is more of a mental thing. You have to tell yourself ‘I can do this.'”

According to senior swimmer Frank Herr, the practices start off with a warm up of various strokes for fifteen minutes. Then they complete ‘transition sets’, which are strict routines for twenty minutes. Then they move into the ‘long set’, which is  the very difficult endurance portion of the practice. Then more drills ensue. After this is a ‘semi-long set’, which is also difficult. The practice concludes with an ‘easy set’ to cool down.

The team has seen a lot of success that for some reason or another struggles to garner any attention.

“We always have a full boys/girls team qualify for LL leagues. We have at least one district qualifier and state qualifier each year,” said Barley. ”

Junior Cooper Lindsley and 2011 graduate Jess Burkhart have swam in YMCA nationals. Lindsley, and juniors Travis Wells and Steven Armstrong made it to districts last year. Sophomore Joelle Williamson also made it to districts.”

But no matter how hard they work and succeed, they can never find the publicity they deserve.

“We don’t get as much publicity, but we are definitely one of the harder working teams,” said Herr. “We are also one of the most underrated teams.”

The meets are a series of various events where both the boys and girls teams compete for the same goal, to defeat the opponent. In individual races or heats the top five finishers score points. Five points go to the victor, with one point going to fifth place. The relay heats award points to the top three finishing teams, with eight points going to the winning squad.

“Well we definitely lost a lot of seniors from both the boys and girls teams last year,” said Barley. “But with the experience of our upperclassmen and good leadership, and freshmen that came up to balance out numbers I think we’ll be okay. We always hope for a winning season, but even 50-50 I’d be happy with.”

The first meet of the season will be on December 13 at 6:00 pm against Ephrata High School.

By David Burch –

Brad Kruger is the “loud kid” that rides motocross and the “S” for the Comet Boys.

Many people know that his taste in music are polar extremes. You will hear either hardcore “gangsta” rap bumping out of his white Ford Ranger or Jason Aldean wailing away.

Not many know that he already, at age 17, is a successful businessman.

Kruger lives in the woodsy, Pequea neighborhood Lakewood.

In his own back yard he constructed a moderately sized motocross track that he and other local motocross riders, such as Kevin Holton, James Frese, Cole Martin and others, ride and practice on when they aren’t competing in races.

He is also the owner and designer of  his own motocross graphics company, Underground Industries MX.

Based out of his bedroom, Underground Industries MX is a well-known motocross graphics company in Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas…and it’s run by a high school kid.

“I wanted to get a head start on what I want to do after college,” said Kruger. “I took my knowledge of graphic design and skills, got together with Black Heart MX and formed Underground Industries.”

Kruger explained his affiliation with Black Heart MX, “Black Heart MX handles all the printing and shipping since the cost of getting my own print equipment was too high.”

Underground Industries MX specializes in motocross bike decals, rider ID, neck braces and more. It’s not your “Average Joe’s” motocross shop either. The graphics company based out of Lancaster is becoming more recognizable around the region.

“So far I have been just trying to get my main amount of sales and exposure in PA and surrounding states.” said Kruger.

Most business owners are well educated, middle-aged men and women who have resumes and experience to back up their company. So it’s very rare to find one that is still in high school.

“Sometimes it can be hard for people to take you seriously when competitors’ companies are run by old people with college experience,” said Kruger, “but at the same time they see the design and work I put into it and see I take it seriously and therefore give me their business.”

Owning a business means that you will, more times than not, have a direct competitor that might snag some customers away. Kruger acknowledges this but is confident that he has the best quality products out there.

“As a young amateur motocross racer myself, some old racers would rather give me their business as an up and coming then to an already big established company,” said Kruger.

Kruger has realistic goals for his company.

“My main goal is to be able to make it my career after college and have it be my main job.”

Kruger hopes to get enough money to buy his own printing equipment so he doesn’t have to rely on other companies to run his business.

“I hope to be able to to purchase my own printing equipment when I get out of college so I don’t have to get my products outsourced through Black Heart MX anymore. This would increase my profits and allow me to create all product in-house and ship orders directly to customers.”

By Jay Jackson –

No more thick planners, no more lunch schedules and no more little things.

With excitement surrounding the beginning of the school year, it didn’t take students long to realize that this year may be a bit “cut back.”

The budget has taken a hit and it is obvious to teachers and students. It isn’t a shock that there were cut backs however some are astonished with all of the little things that they can no long take advantage of.

“A lot of little cut backs add up to a big cut back,” said assistant principal Dr. Jason D’Amico.

In this economy and the lack of state funding, these cut backs were expected.

“It is expected something is going on. Most people know that there were going to be cut backs,” said D’Amico.

Despite the money trouble, the school is up and running and isn’t out of money as of now.

“The district isn’t running out of money but we are being fiscally conservative,” said D’Amico.

The teachers were asked to cut down on the materials because every little thing counts.

“We are definitely more conscientious of what we really need like all of the materials and papers. I am trying to save as much as possible,” said Melissa Frerichs, an English teacher at Penn Manor High School.

The whole staff is feeling the pressure to save money, paper, ink and other resources. It is school wide savings.

“Both teachers and students need to budget supplies,” said Jeffrey Taylor, also an English teacher at Penn Manor.

There are cuts with the transportation as well. They are making kids walk a little bit further so the bus doesn’t have to stop as much, and no more late sports bus. Which saves gas, and money.

Some students are up in arms with the cut backs.

It is obvious around the school to the senior class to all of the cut backs.

“It is incredibly noticeable with all the cut backs around the school. It is ridiculous,” said Ryan Martzall a senior at Penn Manor.

“I think it is ridiculous that my planner is like 3 pages. It is crushed and wrinkled in my backpack and I had to buy I new one,” said Abby Barley senior at Penn Manor.

“I think it is stealing from my education,” said Eddie Bley, also a senior at Penn Manor High School.

By Alicia Ygarza –

Lights, camera, forget about it.

Singer Beyonce Knowles announced her pregnancy to the world Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards. Recently releasing her fourth album “4,” it is a mystery whether she will go on tour and how her career may alter.

So far, Beyonce has performed songs from her “4” album at the world famous Glastonbury. She’s rocked the stage at Good Morning America and presented her show, “Four Intimate Nights with Beyonce” in New York’s famed Roseland Ballroom.

Before the VMAs, Beyonce began outlining her baby bump on the black carpet and to many people’s surprise, the bump was fairly big.

It seems Beyonce’s performing days will be left on hold and, according to The Christian Post “Back in June, Beyoncé told CNN, ‘I always said I would have a baby at 30.’ She also added, ‘I was going to retire at 30.’ ”

Beyonce turns 30 September 4, she’s lived up to her word so far, but will she retire?

This news leaves fans on the edge of their seats.

According to People News, “When she does have a child, it will add another major element to an already hectic life. Finding a balance amid the craziness, Knowles admits, is sometimes hard. ‘I love so many different things, and to have the discipline to turn certain things away and focus on one thing at a time so that I can give it 100 percent is really hard,’ she says. ”

Beyonce quotes, “Probably the biggest challenge in my life is time – making sure I have time to be a wife, to be a singer, to be a songwriter, to be an actor and still have time for my clothing line and now for my perfume [Heat].”

According to MovieTakeOut.com, “A bad time in Beyonce’s career is now. Beyonce was signed on to star in a Clint Eastwood directed remake of the movie, A Star is Born. Even though the movie has not yet been made – many industry insiders were saying that the role was “perfect” for Beyonce and she could win an Oscar.”

Though Beyonce’s pregnancy may seem to cripple her singing career, it could also turn her singing career to a new direction.

Perhaps Beyonce may turn to the more instrumental side of music by leaving her up-tempo single ladies dances behind and learning the skills to play the piano.

Beyonce is an intelligent artist and has many ideas up her sleeve, fans believe she will find a way to provide the action.