Congratulations to MNHS Students of the Month November 2014

MARPLE NEWTOWN
HIGH SCHOOL
November 2014
Inside this issue:
Student Council
Students of the
Month
1
1
Principal’s Letter 2
Marching Tigers 3
Ultimate Frisbee 4
Life Skills
4
100 Year
Celebration
5
Youth Leadership Summit
5
Sports Update
6
Sports Update
(continued)
7
Sports Update
(continued)
8
Sports Update
(continued)
9
National Merit
Scholarship
10
Shadow Day
10
Hamlet Trip
10
Fall Play
11
Writing Center
11
Volume 2, Issue 2
Student Council Recognized at
PASC State Conference
C
ongratulations to our student council the major
for being in the first group of PASC
categories of
Keystone Councils. Last year, PASC
leadership
(Pennsylvania Association of Student
development,
Councils) introduced this brand new
council
awards program to recognize student
organization,
councils in Pennsylvania that are truly
activities, and
outstanding. Only ten schools across the
evaluation, but also minor categories such
commonwealth earned this great honor.
as financial procedures, community
There are two levels of awards: the
Keystone Council Award and the
Distinguished Keystone Council Award.
Each award is determined by specific
criteria and the amount of points earned.
outreach, and communication. MN
Student Council was recognized on
November 6th at the PASC 2014 State
Conference at Altoona High School as a
Distinguished Keystone Council.
Awarded councils had to excel in not only
Congratulations to MNHS
Students of the Month
November 2014
Melissa Patton
Kyle Bohn
Brianna Ferrell
Nicole Ozdowski
PAGE 2
VOLUME 2,
ISSUE 2
From the Desk of the Principal
Dear Tiger Families,
home does not always come to
fruition. In order to improve our
communication, we worked with the
staff last year during a faculty meeting
to highlight quick and easy ways to
keep parents abreast of their child’s
progress. This can include, although is
not limited to, mass email
notifications or individual progress
reports via Infinite Campus. The most
efficient and beneficial way to
communicate, however, is through
good, old-fashioned phone calls. I
have reinforced with the staff the
importance of calling home when they
need to share information about a
child’s progress, and I would request
that parents please do the same.
Often, parents immediately want to
bring their issue to the administration,
when a conversation with the teacher
can actually solve many of the issues. I
ask that parents first contact their
child’s teacher about an issue related
to their child’s performance before
they contact the administration. Also,
parents are encouraged to follow the
progress of their child online through
Infinite Campus. Teachers are
encouraged to keep their grades
updated regularly.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! During this
time of thanks I would like to take a
moment to thank the Marple
Newtown community for the support
we have received so far this school
year. We had thousands of people
show their support at our first home
football game where we came
together as a community to assist one
of our students and his family as he
battles cancer. The misty rain could
not stop people from coming out to
show their support at our annual
Bandarama. If you were there, you
saw an amazing performance which
eventually resulted in our MN
Marching Band winning the state
competition in mid-November. We are
so proud. Our community continues to
come together and that is what makes
Marple Newtown High School one of
the best high schools in the area. Once
again, our high school received top
honors when the recent Pennsylvania
School Performance Profile was
released, and MNHS was ranked with
some of the best high schools in the
county. We are proud of our students
and staff for doing a wonderful job
and we thank our parents/guardians
As the second half of the year is
for their support at home.
rapidly approaching, I am excited to
At the end of November, we will be
announce some upcoming events. Our
holding parent-teacher conferences.
Student Council will be holding its
These conferences provide our
annual canned food drive. Donations
families with the opportunity to sit
will be collected in the lobby and at
down with their child’s teachers to
the end of the donation window, the
discuss the progress their child is
goods will be brought to the Preston
making. It is a great time to learn
and Steve Camp Out for Hunger site.
about how each child is doing and ask The Student Council’s goal is to fill an
important questions of the teachers. entire box truck with canned goods.
Communication is a critical factor in
We hope you can help us realize this
the success of a child. Unfortunately, goal! As an entire school, we will take
for whatever reason, that
some time out of our busy schedule
communication between school and
on December 23rd to film our lip dub
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
video. Last year’s Roar video was
fantastic and we believe this year can
be even better.
Finally, a motion was approved by the
School Board to close the athletic
facilities during the school day. Our
students are often outside for classes,
whether it is for gym class or
photography class to take pictures,
and while the students are outside,
people are out there with them. It is
our goal to make sure that we provide
your children with the safest
environment possible. We want our
students to be able to take advantage
of our facilities and at the same time
feel safe doing so. I recognize that for
some, the track or tennis courts being
closed will be an inconvenience;
however, the decision by the School
Board to close those areas is the right
one. We do our best to make sure we
practice our emergency drills and
protect our students while they are in
the building, and with the closing of
the athletic facilities during school
hours and events, we can now say that
we are one step closer to protecting
our students while they are outside of
the building. I thank you in advance
for your support with this sensitive
subject. I know the staff and students
will appreciate the fact that they can
feel a little bit safer while they are
using the facilities outside of the
school building.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving
holiday and enjoy the time with your
families.
Sincerely,
Gregory Puckett
Principal
NOVEMBER 2014
PAGE 3
Marple Newtown Marching Tigers
are Cavalcade Grand Champions
T
he MNHS Marching Tigers finished their fall marching by the musicians and auxiliary in all facets of the visual
season on some extremely high notes. A long sought- presentation. Things like meter, tempo, pulse, expressive
after Championship win, the likes of which has not been
efforts, environmental challenges, training, and technique
seen in more than a decade, capped an award-winning
are considered and scored.
th
season. On November 9 at Millersville University, the
The “Effect” award credits the creation and
band and color guard performed their 2014 field show
communication of a successful, effective, and entertaining
“Haunted” for the last time as contenders in the Yankee
audio-visual program with a focus on musical
Open Division at the
contributions.
Cavalcade of Bands
Emphasis is placed
Championship Show
on the
(“Champs”). Despite a
demonstration of
strong wind disturbing
expressive musical
the set props, the
skills by all
ensemble pulled off a
musicians and
dramatic, high-spirited
auxiliary
performance of the show
throughout the
that it has performed and
program. Things
fine tuned since August.
like showmanship,
At the awards ceremony,
staging, creativity,
it came down to Hatboro-
originality,
Horsham and Marple Newtown being the last two bands
imagination, variety, range, intensity, and professionalism
standing, the same heartbreak situation seen for several
are considered and scored.
years now. Only this year, instead of losing by fractions of
As if those awards were not enough, Band Director
a point to Hatboro-Horsham, the Marching Tigers
Michael Massimo won the award for “Favorite Band
succeeded in winning the top spot with a score of 96. In
Director.” Senior band members and color guard accepted
addition to the title of “Champion” of their division, MNHS the award on behalf of Marple Newtown High School.
won the awards for “High Visual,” “High Effect,” and
The excitement of being Cavalcade Grand Champions fell
“Overall High Score.”
right on the heels of being named band of the week by
The “Visual” award credits the depth and range of the
NBC News on November 8th. http://
technical and expressive skills required of the performers www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/#!/news/local/Band-ofthe-Week--MarpleNewtown/282049681
with respect to form, body and equipment, and the
achievement of excellence by individuals and small
groups. Emphasis is placed on the demonstration of skills
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
PAGE 4
VOLUME 2,
ISSUE 2
Junior Class Ultimate Frisbee Night Fundraiser
T
his month, the members of the junior
class cabinet organized an Ultimate
Frisbee Night and raised over $1000 for
the Class of 2016. Members of the
School Masters. The Marple community
really came together; there were almost
300 students, teachers, administrators,
and parent volunteers participating
throughout the night. We are already
looking forward to the next tournament.
Members of the Spinners with the winning student team.
Spinners, Philadelphia’s professional
Frisbee team, acted as referees and
played the winning student team, The
Junior class officers pictured left to right: Phoenix
McFetridge, Ms. Firkser, Mrs. O’Neill, Delaney Hussey,
Marissa Villano, Eli Caldwell, and Melissa Roth.
Life Skills Excursions
T
he Life Skills classes and members of stress. Stop by room 119 and join our
the Best Friends club (photo below)
students in this wonderful class; you will
take time out from watching the different feel 100% better.
migrating birds at the Heinz Refuge this
October. Students were excited to see
two eagles soaring above the large
wetlands. Everyone had a wonderful time
using the binoculars and bird charts, and
the class was able to spot thirteen
different birds.
T
he Life Skills classes and members of
the Best Friends club (photo below)
celebrated October 31st with their 9th
annual Halloween Party. It was a monster
F
or the past two months, the Life Skills
students (photo top right) have been
taking Gentle Yoga with Val Boyko, a
registered yoga instructor. Students are
learning to combine stretching and yoga
poses, to relax their breathing, to increase smash! Students had a great time dancing
muscle strength and flexibility, to improve to Michael Jackson's Thriller and
balance and coordination, and to relieve Ghostbusters soundtracks.
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
NOVEMBER 2014
PAGE 5
Marple Newtown High School
Celebrates 100 Years
O
n October 24th, Marple Newtown
High School celebrated its 100th year
of operation
with a parade
before the
Springfield vs.
MN football
game. Our
Homecoming
King and
Queen
entered the stadium in convertible cars
along with the class officers. The senior
football players and senior
band members arrived on
flatbed trucks.
Superintendent Dr. Merle
Horowitz greeted the crowd
and recognized the
members of the Class of
1964 who were present at
the game and celebrating
their 50th class
reunion. A
special thank
you is
extended to
Mitchell
Robbins and
Paul and Cathy
Alberici for
allowing us the
use of their
convertibles, and to Ed Protesto for
lending us the flatbed trucks.
7th Congressional District Youth Leadership Summit
On Wednesday, October 8th, Congressman
Patrick Meehan hosted the 7th
Congressional District Youth Leadership
Summit at Marple Newtown High School.
There were over 500 students from thirtyfour high schools across the region that
participated.
The students were welcomed by
Superintendent Dr. Merle Horowitz and
Congressman Patrick Meehan. Speakers
included Miss Delaware 2014 Brittany
Lewis, former Penn State football player
Adam Taliaferro, and Villanova mens’
basketball coach Jay Wright.
Pictured with Congressman Meehan (center) are Marple Newtown HS students: Gillian Abel, Aaima
Amer, Kyle Bohn, Patrick Carr, Matthew Deacon, Jamie Dietrich, Elizabeth Fastman, Christopher
Feltner, Nicholas Henderson, Danielle Jameison, Robert Kauffman, Benjamin Kelly, Somi Kim, Nick
Molinaro, Mary Montgomery, Athanasia Papadopoulos, Jake Rosenberg, Shayna Singh, Nicole
Smythe, Elena Thomas, and Angel Wu.
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
PAGE 6
VOLUME 2,
ISSUE 2
2014-2015
Homecoming
King and Queen
Carley Hamilton
Byong Yoo
Homecoming Court:
Kyle Bohn
Josh Gotlib
Luke Megonigal
Kyle Pedley
Byong Yoo
Danielle Collins
Jamie Dietrich
Carley Hamilton
Rylee Power
Michelle Wise
All Central
Girls’ Tennis
First Team:
Rylee Power (14-2) finished in 3rd place in the Central
League Singles and then lost in the District Quarterfinals.
George Lambritsios, MVP, boys’ soccer
Holly Nicolardi, girls’ soccer
Rylee Power, girls’ tennis
Second Team:
Kelly Houghton, field hockey
Joey Delfranco, golf
Devon Delfranco, golf
Kostas Slikas, boys’ soccer
Hunter Dyson, boys’ soccer
Bree Ferrell, girls’ soccer
Sarah Roberts, volleyball
Honorable Mention:
Antonio Mandell, boys’ soccer
Megan Lynch, girls’ soccer
Emma Clancy, girls’ tennis
Liz Conca, volleyball
Emma Clancy and Rylee Power (pictured at left) lost in the
finals of the Central League Doubles, which qualified them
for the Districts. They finished in 5th place in District
Doubles making them alternates to go to States.
Girls’ Soccer Goes Pink
The girls’ soccer team goes pink! The team held a
bake sale and a 50/50 raffle and raised $396.31 to
be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
All Delco
First Team:
George Lambritsios, boys’ soccer
Second Team:
Hunter Dyson, boys’ soccer
Football Records Tumble
All Southeast PA
Senior running back Adrian Sapnas rushed for 2,110 yards
this season with 24 touchdowns. His rushing total set
the school’s single season and career records at Marple
Newtown. His rushing total was the fourth best single
season ever recorded in Delaware County history.
First Team:
George Lambritsios, boys’ soccer
All State
First Team:
George Lambritsios, boys’ soccer
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
Junior wideout Abel Hoff hauled in 70 catches, 774 yards,
and 10 touchdowns this season. His 70 receptions set the
Marple Newtown single season record and the Delaware
County record for catches in a season.
NOVEMBER 2014
PAGE 7
Winter Sports Season
E
xcitement looms as our basketball
teams, wrestling team, swimming and
diving teams, indoor track teams,
competitive cheer squad, and ice hockey
club prepare for their upcoming seasons.
We look forward to seeing much continued
community support of our student athletes
as we embark on a new season.
As you cheer on our teams, please help us
in instilling the proper values to our
student athletes. Within any academic
institution, educating students is the top
priority. This holds true within our athletic
programs. Marple Newtown, in
conjunction with the Central League, is
promoting competition and sportsmanship
and the values that go along with that. It is
All of our schedules can be accessed
important to remember that during a
through the high school web page. Once
contest, we are to support our student
there, click on Athletics, then schedules. At athletes and root them to victory.
that point, you can reference an individual Inevitably, officials will make calls that do
sport in order to locate the schedule you
not go our way. Please let the coaches
would like to see. Admission is charged for work with the officials to ensure fair play
all varsity basketball games and wrestling
and encourage our athletes to do the same.
contests and is $5 for adults and $3 for
Please join us in putting our best foot
students.
forward this winter season!
Powder Puff
I
t was a balmy 55-degree evening as Marple
Newtown High School kicked off its annual
Powder Puff game on November 11th.
The first game of the night proved to be a real
nail biter between the girls of the freshman
class and the girls of the sophomore class. By
raising the most money during lunches, the
sophomore class started the game with a
7-point lead that would prove crucial in the
end. The Class of 2017 held the 7-point lead
through the first half, but the freshman team
struck early in the second half to tie the game.
seniors proved less dramatic on the score
board, but much more intense on the turf. The
seniors jumped out to an early 14-point lead
and never looked back. The juniors struggled
to convert on several attempts, and the end
zone continued to evade the Class of 2016.
Senior girls went into the half with a healthy
21-0 lead. The juniors scored one touchdown
in the second half to bring the final score to
35-7 in the varsity powder puff battle.
The real winner of the night was the Kelly
Rooney Foundation, an organization “driven to
inspire support, research, and eradication of
breast cancer in young women.” The powder
puff teams, along with the entire Marple
Newtown High School community, raised $600
to be donated to the Kelly Rooney Foundation
http://kellyrooney.org/foundation/
Pictured is the winning sophomore team .
With time expiring on the clock, the
sophomores scored on a 12-yard pass to take
the lead and the coveted JV Powder Puff
trophy.
The varsity game between the juniors and
Pictured is the winning senior team .
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
PAGE 8
VOLUME 2,
ISSUE 2
MN Boys’ Soccer Loses in Playoffs but
Aiming towards Next Year
T
he 2014 boys’ soccer team’s season came
to a halt in the first round of District
Playoffs. After a roller coaster beginning to the
season, the team lost its first two games
before going on a four-game winning streak
and then dropping four in a row. The topsyturvy beginning to the season placed the
players’ backs against the wall with eight
games remaining. The team needed to win
seven out of its remaining eight games. After
running off six wins in a row, the team was
down to its last two games needing to win just
one of them. As the boys got off the bus at
Radnor knowing a win that night would put
them into the playoffs, the stage was set. It
was Radnor’s senior night, so this was not
going to be an easy task. The boys were
primed for the game, and they ended up
beating Radnor and clinching the playoff spot
they coveted since defining their goals for the
season.
In the first round of the playoffs, the team lost
to Central League Champion Conestoga in a
1-0 game. The boys let up a goal in the first
five minutes of the game, and after that it was
all Marple Newtown for the rest of the
game. They had Conestoga on their heels for
75 minutes, but they couldn’t find the back of
the net.
George Lambritsios was named the MVP of
the Central League, 1st Team All Central, 1st
Team All-Southeastern PA, and 1st Team All
State. He is only the second player in our
school’s history to be awarded those honors.
Hunter Dyson and Kostas Slikas were named
2nd Team All Central League. Antonio Mandell
and Josh Gotlib were named Honorable
Mention All Central League.
The team will return with much of its nucleus
and looks forward to a strong 2015.
Paxon Hollow Middle School Unlimited
Football Team Goes UNDEFEATED
T
he Paxon Hollow football team played
nine local middle school teams and
pulled out a victory every time. They
finished with a win over Drexel Hill Middle
School on November 3rd with a 40-19 win.
Congratulations on a great season!
The undefeated Paxon Hollow
heavyweight team pictured below from
the bottom left: Jake Bullock, Gavin
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
Gilronan, Matt Walter, A.J. Katrakazis,
Liam Ferry, Cameron Leone, Blake
Turnier, Kevin Merrone Marlon Weathers,
Jack Wilson, Alden Mathes, Michael
Harrington, James McCabe, Sal Tartaglia,
A.J. Grosso, Mustafa Elkhashab, Gavin
Welch, Fotis Kotopoulos, Pat Malone,
Ricky Wysocki, Nick Escurra, Anthony
Marcellino, Jim White, and Zach Baroni.
Not Pictured is Colin Ferry. Coaches: Joe
Rufo, Bob Turnier,
and Andrew Davis.
NOVEMBER 2014
PAGE 9
Marple Freshman Team Completes
Undefeated Season
C
ongratulations to Marple Newtown’s
freshman football team on an
outstanding season. The freshman team
went undefeated for the 2014 season with
Pictured are team members: Mike Avellino, Nick Battista, Luke Cantwell, Dash Dulgerian,
Jack Fallows, Jimmy Geraghty, Manveer Grewal, Kevin Hahn, Jake Huey, Anthony Irvin,
Teron Johnson, Joe McMaster, Ryan McVeigh, Jeremy Meier, Mike Miller, Stephen
Morrison, Rob O’Brien, Anthony Paoletti, Matt Peel, Jeff Piscitelli, Zach Quinn, Mike Shelly,
Chels Thiruselvam, Jason Tierney, and Kyle Tobin.
impressive victories against Central
League and non-league opponents. This
freshman team showed toughness all
season long as the players stuck together
and worked as a unit. Dealing with injuries
throughout the season, several players
stepped up and helped the team out at
numerous positions. The coaching staff is
proud of what this team has accomplished
this season and knows that this is only the
beginning of a very successful career for
all of them at Marple Newtown. This was
also a very special season because it was
dedicated to freshman football player
Michael Shelly who was diagnosed
with Burkitt’s Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
during camp. Mike’s courageous battle
helped fuel the team as they played for
him each and every time they stepped
onto the field. The "ShellySTRONG"
mantra has carried throughout the entire
Marple Newtown community in support
for Mike.
Future for MN Football Program Looks Bright
T
he Marple Newtown Football Program
finished its first season under Coach
Gicking’s staff, and the future looks very
bright for the Tigers. The varsity team
finished with a record of 4-7, but saw many
fine individual efforts, especially on offense.
The team will return 17 of 22 starters for
next year, not including potential additions
from the JV and freshman teams. The
junior varsity program recently completed
its best season in years, finishing with a
record of 5-3.
Marple Newtown Athletes Already
Setting Their Sights on Their Future
COLLEGE
CORNE R
The following athletes have confirmed their plans to play at the collegiate level:
Josh Gotlib, boys’ soccer Division III at Franklin and Marshall
Sarah Roberts, volleyball Division III at Eastern College
Tyler Kostack, boys’ lacrosse Division I at Highpoint
Tom Higgins, boys’ lacrosse Division III at Elizabethtown
Billy Morgan, boys’ lacrosse Division III at Cabrini
T.J. Reiley, boys’ lacrosse Division III at Cabrini
Stephen Viola, boys’ lacrosse Division I at Marist
Carley Vegso, girls’ lacrosse Division II at Kutztown
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
PAGE 10
VOLUME 2,
ISSUE 2
2015 National Merit Scholarship
Commended Students
P
rincipal Gregory Puckett of Marple
Newtown High School has announced
that Sohyeon Park, George
Hughes, Timothy Callahan, Kelly Stipa,
Olivia Stepanic, Rachel Dennin, and Nicole
Ozdowski have been named Commended
Students in the 2015 National Merit
Scholarship Program. A letter of
commendation from the school and
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
(NMSC) which conducts the program was
presented by the principal to these
academically talented seniors.
About 34,000 commended students
throughout the nation
are being recognized for
their exceptional
academic promise.
Commended students
placed among the top
five percent of more
than 1.5 million students
who entered the
2015 competition by
taking the 2013
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
Seniors Participate in a Shadow Day
T
hree Marple Newtown Senior girls
participated in a Shadow Day at the
University of Pennsylvania’s Engineering
School on October 29, 2014. Shayna Singh,
Carolina Carlton, and Lauren Gries were
nominated to attend the program by
MNHS Science Department Leader Dennis
Andrews. The program is intended to
introduce high school girls to the field of
engineering and to encourage them to
explore engineering as a potential college
major. The program is sponsored by the
Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at the
University of Pennsylvania. The girls heard
presentations from SWE members at the
University of Pennsylvania and were taken
on tours of some of the engineering
classrooms and facilities.
Students Attend Production of Hamlet
D
r. DeLuca's 12th grade World
After studying the play in class, students
Literature II classes attended the
truly enjoyed Director Dan Hodge's
Hedgerow Theatre Company's
interpretation and engaged in
production of
lively
William
conversations
Shakespeare's
with the
Hamlet on
actors after
Wednesday,
the show.
November
Brava! Bravo!
th
12 , 2014.
THE EYE OF THE TIGER
NOVEMBER 2014
PAGE 11
MNHS Fall Play—“The Crucible”
M
arple Newtown High School Drama
Department presents Arthur
Miller's "The
Crucible." The
performance dates are
December 18th, 19th, and
20th at 7pm and
December 20th at 2pm.
The play is directed by
Angela Wertner and Andy
Wertner.
woods and conjuring potions to catch
young men. Two of the youngest girls,
Betty Parris and Ruth Putnum, become
stunned, and the girls are all convicted of
witchery. They are forced to tell lies that
Satan had invaded them and had forced
them to do the devil’s work. Arthur Miller
Marple Newtown High School
wrote of the Salem Witch Trials, where
Presents
those who demanded their innocence
The Crucible
were executed, those who would not
th
th
th
December 18 , 19 , 20
name names were incarcerated and
tortured, and those who admitted their
The story takes place in
guilt were immediately freed. Join us for
1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. A group of the moving and enchanting piece of
teenage girls is caught dancing in the
theatre; you will not be disappointed.
Marple Newtown High School
Writing Center
Located in the High School Library
Open Daily!
Looking to improve your writing skills? Stop by and visit the Writing Center.
Receive feedback on any type of writing assignment. Bring your ideas, notes,
rough drafts, rubrics, or any questions about assignments.
Stop in during study hall, lunchtime, before/after school, or by appointment if needed!
Take advantage of the services the Writing Center offers!
You have nothing to lose AND your teachers will love you for it!
Marple Newtown High School
Principal:
120 Media Line Road
Mr. Gregory Puckett
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Assistant Principals:
(610) 359-4215
Mrs. Lauren Hopkins
www.mnsd.org
Mr. Dennis Reardon
Mr. Donald Tabar
THE EYE OF THE TIGER