Penn Points Online

“Failing” School Rejuvenates Schedule

By Cheyenne Weber and Connor Hughes~

Penn Manor’s schedule is getting a makeover.

The state of Pennsylvania has deemed Penn Manor High School in Corrective Action II after students in the class of 2012 reached proficiency in math and reading in only 12 of the 17 targets. Based on this performance Penn Manor is classified as a “failing school” and Penn Manor’s staff hopes the new schedule will redirect its path to proficiency.

Tuesday, September 6, Penn Manor High School introduced their new daily “enrichment” schedule. The new schedule consists of an enrichment period after or before one block daily. Understanding the schedule can be difficult, but it can be easily understood as a four-day cycle.

Day 1, after 1st block, students will have a 45-50 minute enrichment period in their 1st block class.
Day 2, students will have the same enrichment period, except with their 2nd block teacher.
Day 3, students will have enrichment before their 3rd block, with their 3rd block teacher.
Day 4, students will have enrichment before their 4th block with their 4th block teacher.

This extra period introduces some options. If a student is behind in a class or needs individual tutoring, they have the opportunity to receive the help they need during this 45-50 period. Also, PSSA benchmark assignments will be given periodically. The PSSA material will be incorporated with that class’s curriculum, according to assistant principal Krista Cox.

Students with sufficient grades get an additional perk. They may choose a club if it fits into the club schedule. Teachers may step up to create new, exciting clubs so students can have more options for which club they want to be involved with.

Members of the Penn Manor staff are excited for the new schedule and believe it will improve student productivity.

“I absolutely love it. It’s a great way to help students from falling behind and prevents students from wondering the halls and being unaccounted for,” said Cox.

Cox believes the schedule change is for the best. Although, teachers aren’t 100 percent positive about what the effects of the new schedule will be, they are optimistic.

“I hope the schedule works out. I think it will because it gives us teachers a chance to enrich and mediate,” said Joe Herman, a history teacher at Penn Manor.

A few Penn Manor students have a problem with the schedule change.

“(The new schedule) is hurting a lot of classes that need longer class periods, especially AP classes,” said senior, Eddie Bley.

“The top students sacrifice class time for the bottom one-third of the school who messed up on their PSSA’s,” added Bley.

Comets Football Looks to Shine

By Jake Shiner –

With a young but talented team that has seen a lot of success in the recent past, Comets football hopes for more this season.

“Penn Manor (football) is now looked at as a competitive program which is now respected around the county,” said head coach Todd Mealy.

Josh Shetrompf, Penn Manor junior, hopes to play in the team's opener Friday. Photo by Amber Brenner

In his five years coaching at Penn Manor, Mealy has already racked up 3 consecutive winning seasons, a first for the program. He believes this is because of the lessons he and the other coaches teach on and off the field and that these lessons will help them have a successful upcoming season.

Coach Mealy singled out Wilson as the toughest competitor this season.”Wilson is always the team to beat. They haven’t lost a game since 2008 in division play,” said Mealy.

All competition aside, Mealy admits, “There’s no doubt that we really enjoy coaching this group.”

He especially likes his more experienced players that he believes helped a lot in building the football program up to what it is now.

Coach Todd Mealy Teacher Football — Football coach Todd Mealy is hopeful about the new season.

Senior football player Cody Stryker thinks they have a good team this year and hopes for a great season.

“We have a good mix of talent and a lot of experience at important positions,” said Stryker.

“We like our seniors, but this year we only have 9. The smallest group in my five years here,” said Mealy.

But the coach doesn’t see this as a scapegoat for poor performance this year.

“The 101st airborne was dropped in on D-day and they never had any experience and they were still successful, so inexperience isn’t an excuse for anything,” said Mealy, throwing in a bit of his history knowledge.

The team’s biggest concern this year is cutting down on turnovers, and is something the coaching staff is concerned with. Last year they went through a four game stretch where they committed 14 turnovers, resulting in a 1-4 record.

“Three turnovers, you’re guaranteeing a loss. Five and you’re gonna get killed,” commented Mealy.

According to the coach, inexperience won’t be a problem because of how they are teaching the young players discipline on and off the field to cut down on turnovers and improve their play.

Mealy says, “If we teach them to be disciplined outside of football they can apply that to football.”

This would also make them better people in general for life outside of the game that can make them successful in their adult lives.

Coach Mealy has high hopes for the future of Penn Manor football and says “We’ve come close to winning a section title, but we haven’t got there yet. We have to find some way to get Penn Manor a section title.

Sam Valentin also contributed to this article.

Beyonce Announces Pregnancy, How It Will Affect Her Career

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.

Beyonce outlines her baby bump for photographers at the VMAs. Courtesy of rosegoldproductions.com

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.

Beyonce's hand rests on her baby bump as she sings her song "Love On Top." Courtesy of collegedj.net

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.

Two Penn Manor Athletes Excel, Receive A. Landis Brackville Scholar Award

By Jay Jackson –

Katie Breneman and Ande Olsen represented Penn Manor at the the A. Landis Brackville Scholar Athlete Banquet, where two players from each school in the Lancaster-Lebanon League are acknowledged for their accomplishments.

“It was just a honor to be nominated,” said Olsen, who received second.

The award is given by the Brackville family and was originated by A. Landis Brackville, a former Penn Manor high school principal.

“It is the best of the best that get invited,” said athletic director Jeff Roth.

The award is given to student athletes that excel on the field as well as the classroom.

Roth said, “The students that are invited will be graded by 50 percent academic achievements, 40 percent athletic achievements, and 10 percent for how much they are involved in there community.”

It is an honor it be invited and even more to win the prize. Andy Olsen finished in the top five and was close to winning that award and the $1000 scholarship to the college of his choice.

“I was pretty happy and the kid that won definitely deserved it,” Olsen said.

Olsen was first team all-league linebacker for football and fourth in the senior class with a grade point average of 4.495. He participated in varsity track where he threw discus and shot put.

Katie Breneman also compiled a full resume including a PIAA field hockey state championship, field hockey LL league first team All-State, Penn Manor All around athlete and was a captain for all three sports. Those sports were field hockey, basketball, and soccer.

Breneman worked in the community by volunteering at the Woman and Babies Hospital and at Lancaster General Hospital.

Both Penn Manor students plan to continue their athletic activities in the future.

Penn Manor Students Predict Spectacular Labor Day Holiday

By Jared Heming, Monica Hoffman, Heury Ventura, Samantha Padua, Brooke Stoops, Delky Flores, Carly Rebman and Eric Gardner-

After four grueling days of school, the Labor Day weekend is finally here! The holiday will be fantastic because the weather will be mostly sunny.

This Labor Day weekend’s weather will be very nice but a bit humid for the first three days. Look out for possible thunderstorms on Sunday. Friday will be humid with a high of 80 degrees and a few showers on Monday may ruin some Labor Day plans.

Friday looks good for Penn Manor’s first football game. Fans will enjoy the summer temperatures.

sunny skies blue skies weather — Weather forecasts predict mostly sunny skies for Labor Day weekend. Photo courtesy of Stockxchange

Although mostly glorious, this long weekend may include intervals of clouds and sunshine with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms and showers on Sunday and Monday.

Friday through Monday it looks like the humidity will be mixed with sun and clouds throughout the days with highs mostly in the 80s.

Penn Manor Senior Chris Gotwals is hosting a family party and an all-day swim with friends. Later in the weekend, Chris is golfing with his dad and grilling out for Labor Day.

“It’s gonna be gorgeous, but I’m having my plans, rain or shine,” said Gotwals.

Another student, Penn Manor junior Jordan Machado said he is planning to go to Dorney Park Sunday.

“Sunny, hot, unbreezy. I would love it,” he said.

Delky Flores, a Penn Manor junior is hoping for good weather for First Friday.

“Saturday I have to work but I may go to the movies and have a picnic with my family on Sunday.”

Penn Manor’s Angelica Cruz, a junior, plans to go to First Friday (in downtown Lancaster) and to other parties during the weekend.

Although there is some chance of possible showers toward the end of the weekend, students should keep their heads up and enjoy the plentiful good weather that will be around.

Vick Inks New Deal

By Sam Valentin-

Many words can be used to describe Micheal Vick such as dog fighter, hero, reborn, bankrupt and now one of the highest paid players in the NFL, again.

Michael Vick recently signed a six year deal worth $100 million which will make him once again one of the highest paid players in the league.The Eagles quarterback contract contains about $40 million guaranteed according to ESPN insider, Adam Schefter.

The deal will make him the third highest paid player in the league behind only fellow quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

maclin and vick — Michael Vick left talks with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin at training camp in Lehigh. Photo courtesy of Philly.com

He has been with the Eagles for two years now. Vick took over the reins as starting quarterback after Kevin Kolb got hurt in the first game of the season.

Vick never looked back, winning eight of his eleven starts, being named comeback player of the year, starting the bro bowl and setting career highs in touchdown passes with 21 and he rushed for 9 more.

Vick, 31, became the first player in NFL history to sign more than one $100 million contract in his career. He signed a $130 million contract for ten years with the falcons back in 2004 en route to a loss in the NFC Championship game to the Eagles. He only played 32 games under the new contract before his career turned upside down.

Even though he is guaranteed $40 million over the next six years he wont be getting all of that cash because he still owes creditors. But he should be able to pay all of that back by 2014 according to CNBC’s Darren Rovell.

The Movie, “A Royal Love Story” Showcases Wedding and More

By Jen Felegi –

It’s been all over the news. People have been talking about it for months. Millions watched it on television. Now it’s a movie.

The Royal Wedding, which took place on April 29, 2011, was made into a film a month later.

“William & Kate: A Royal Love Story” was released this month.

Linda Yellen is the director of the film. She was also the producer of “The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana” in 1982.

Yellen said, “William & Kate” is more than just a romance — it’s also “a psychological story of the memory of the mother, in this case Princess Diana, and her legacy.”

Yellen said, “In a way, it’s my tribute to her (Diana) as well as a tribute to the young couple.”

Actress Alice St. Clair playing Kate, and actor Dan Amboyer as William.

She met Princess Diana three times. When Yellen lost her father, on the first day of shooting the film, she better understood some of the scenes in which William was communicating with his mother.

It all began when William had given Diana’s ring to Middleton; the story came to Yellen that instant and within two weeks she finished the script.

Dan Amboyer, who plays William, called the film, “a modern fairy tale.”

The film shares William and Kate’s developing friendship while adding tributes to the memory of Princess Diana.

This film may seem like a true fairy tale for us all. Do not miss the film on the Hallmark Channel in August.

Sneezing, Wheezing and Coughing from Rat Allergies

By Abby Talbot –

Allergies are bad this time of year, especially when there are rats in Penn Manor.

Allergen build-up from rats actually can make humans sinuses erupt. According to the National Cooperative Inner-City Asthma Study (NCICAS), which did a study of rat allergens in inner-city homes, 33 percent of homes had rat allergens. Rat populations are higher in cities than other residential areas which is what inspired the study. The people exposed to rat allergens had more hospital visits and asthma-related symptoms than people who were not exposed to rat allergens.

rat — Rats can cause allergies just like dogs and cats. Photo courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

NCICAS also showed that school students with rat allergens miss a significant amount more of school than kids with less allergens to mice or rats when rodents were present in the classroom.

The article “Rodent Allergy- Symptoms, Precautions and Treatment” from YGOY, a health update website published a story warning victims of allergies caused by rodents.

The article described rat allergen symptoms including runny nose, itchy watery or sore eyes, swollen eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulty, scratchy throat, coughing and wheezing, itchy skin or welts of the skin and asthma-like symptoms.

Nearly the same allergy symptoms arise in people suffering more common allergies to dust, mold and pollen.

“Either I have a really bad cold or the rats are taking a toll on me, because I feel really crappy,” said Rebecca Shoe, a junior at Penn Manor who was in a classroom one block a day where rats are used and kept in cages.

Precautions that should be taken when handling a rat are simple, according to allergy experts. Avoid contact with the allergen, possibly take an anti-histamine to reduce irritation of the skin. Also wearing gloves and a face mask will help prevent allergy attacks from the rats as well.

People are sometimes surprised to hear about an allergy to rats.

Maddi Eckenrode, a junior at Penn Manor said, “ Cats and dogs are usually what people are allergic to, now rats are becoming the problem? That’s crazy.”

Allergies from rats come from their dander (dead skin cells), saliva and/or urine. Also certain types of bedding and hay can cause allergies to act up more than usual.

Egyptian Revolution Stirs Palestinian Conflict

By Joey Jackson-

An almost 63-year-old war has been raging in the Palestinian region of the Middle East.

Although not many Americans, much less high school students at Penn Manor may be aware of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it has been put back under the spotlight as revolutions in Libya and Egypt have rejuvenated the world’s interest in that region of the world.

Since the “birth” of Israel in 1948 there has been a multitude of violence, sparked from the conquering of Palestinian land by the Israelis, coupled with proposed treaties, almost none of which have panned out. To this day, Israel has only managed to maintain a state of peace with two countries, Jordan and Egypt.

Land owned by Israel, in white, compared to land owned by Palestinians, in green, since the creation of the Jewish state. Graphic courtesy foreignpolicyjournal.com

The Camp David Accords have successfully kept the conflict between Israel and Egypt in check since President Jimmy Carter brokered the agreements in 1978.

This peace with Egypt is under some tension currently, as, for the first time since 2007, Egypt will be opening its eight-mile-long border, known as Rafah, to the Gaza Strip.

The border was closed between Gaza and Egypt in order to weaken the military group Hamas, a group that governs the Gaza Strip but is also considered to be a terrorist organization.

Israel also had built a barrier between them and the Gaza Strip between 1994 and 1996, to improve Israeli Security.

This decision is a direct effect of the Egyptian revolution, as the decision to close the border was made under former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.

The pro-Palestinian public of Egypt never backed Mubarak’s decision due to the fact that it limited the ability of Palestinians in Gaza to live wealthy, free lives.

With Mubarak out of office and on trial for crimes committed during his presidency, the new Egyptian government has taken advantage of the situation and ended the four year blockade on May 28.

History teacher Joe Herman has another theory as to why Egypt’s transitional government made the decision to open the Rafah border.

“By giving relief to Palestine the Egyptians are hoping this will help them in the eyes of the Arab world but also give them a new outlet for trade.”

Egypt could use all of the positive press it can get in the eyes of Palestine, as Egypt has been practically shunned by other pro-Palestinian countries since agreeing to the Camp David Accords in 1978.

Soon after the announcement that the border will be opened, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh requested his people respect the border in hopes to keep this viable source of economic power open.

“As long as the shipments are consumer goods and medical supplies there should be no problem,” Herman said about the future of the border. “If the radical factions of the Palestinians use the border openings as a means to bring weapons into Gaza,
then there will be trouble.”

Hamas have been disappointed so far, as the high expectations that they had for the border had been severely miscalculated as restrictions have slowed movement down to a crawl.

Egypt opens the Rafah border. Photo courtesy the-explorer.com

Surprisingly, the move to open the border has been largely beneficial to Israel who had been pleading with Egypt to keep the border closed. Essentially, the open border is dumping the Hamas issue onto the shoulders of Egypt’s transitional government.

Israel has been preparing for the worst however, upping the work schedule on a permanent barrier dividing the nearly 135-mile-wide border between Egypt and Israel.

Israel has been having trouble with a different border recently as protesters from Syria were shot upon by the Israeli government at the border of the Golan Heights, a small region in between Israel and Syria that has been held by Israel since 1967.

Strikes in southern Lebanon, a region north of Israel that was occupied by Israel until 2000, have started to protest violence committed by Israel.

The hundreds wounded last Sunday were part of the worst bloodshed the Golan Heights has seen since the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

Israel is denying claims by Syria however, claiming the casualty numbers were inflated. Israel also went as far as to say Syria sent the unarmed civilians to the border to distract the world from its own violent revolution.

The Golan Heights would be some of the land that Barack Obama asked Israel to retreat from since Israel had taken control of that region after 1967.

These requests were shot down by Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leaving these proposals just another failed attempt at peace.

Pippa Middleton, “The Royal Hotness”

By Alicia Ygarza –

Who’s the real princess? Pippa or Kate?

Kate Middleton’s younger sister, Pippa, has suddenly grown increasingly popular and has even been considered the “funner, hotter” sister.

“To a certain section of British men, she’s become the most eligible girl in England,” said Catherine Ostler, editor of Tatler Magazine to an ABC News interview.

“At parties, people are always terribly keen on talking to Pippa. And she has a magnetic effect on men,” said Ostler.

According to US Magazine, Pippa and Kate are publicized as the best of friends but they do have a healthy rivalry.

Pippa Middleton leads the way while sister Kate follows behind

“She was the sister who sparkled,” according to US Magazine’s The Making of a Royal Romance.

According to that article, when Kate went to Marlborough C0llege, the students didn’t recall noticing her.

“Pippa was always more liked at school than Kate because she was very outgoing while Kate was more of a loner,” said an insider in an article in Style Forever.

According to USA Today, Life Line Live, while “racy” pictures of Pippa swarm the web of her in a white skirt and purple bra dancing with a man in his boxers, pictures of Kate pushing a shopping cart while standing on the back of it are the most “racy” pictures people have seen of her yet.

The sisters look identical with their large bright white smiles, button noses and large brownish hazel eyes. Which one would you prefer to date or hang out with?

“I would prefer to date Kate. She has sexy dimples and a beautiful smile. Pippa looks older than Kate and has wrinkles,” said Angel Sanchez, a student at Penn Manor.

“I would rather hangout with Pippa. From what I’ve heard she seems like more fun and she’s more attractive than Kate,” said Troy Diffenderfer, a student at Penn Manor.

“I’d rather date Kate because she has a nice body and her hair is prettier than Pippa’s. Pippa has no swag, she’s an alcoholic and she has a big forehead,” said Shahir Wahidullah.

It seems British and American men don’t have the same taste in women.