Summer, 2013 - Cocalico Alumni Association

Cocalico Pride
Summer 2013
SAVE THE DATE
Cocalico Education
Foundation Events:
September 7 - Yard Sale
at Denver Elementary
September 28 - “Screamin’
Eagle” 5K Run/Walk
Alumni Association
Events:
October 11, 2013 - Tailgate
Party before the Homecoming
Game
Cocalico School
District:
August 26 - First Student
Day
Goals of the Cocalico
Alumni Association

Let people know about
upcoming events and reunions

Help Alumni get in touch with
other alumni

Raise awareness of the
Cocalico Education Foundation
and all of the great things the
organization does for the
community

Keep alumni connected to
what is happening
Volume 1, Issue 4
Featured Alumnus
Savannah Graybill - Class of 2006
Olympic Hopeful
During a short break visiting family at home in Denver, we
were lucky enough to catch up with Savannah and sneak in a
quick interview before she headed back to Lake Placid to
train.
Did you attend Cocalico School District for all grades K-12?
Yes, I did. My brothers and I (as well as my many other Graybill cousins) went to Cocalico.
What elementary school did you attend?
Reamstown Elementary
Tell us a little about your family. Do you have siblings? Pets?
My parents are Dwight & Angela Graybill. My dad is a general contractor and owner of
Cocalico Builders. My mom is an English teacher at Ephrata High School. I have 2 brothersmy twin, Donald ,and younger brother, Ben. Our family has an adorable vizsla, named Boris.
Were you an athletic child? What sports/hobbies did you try?
Absolutely! My twin brother and I spent all day, everyday, playing outside. As soon as we
could be signed up for organized sports, we did! (I think mainly to burn off all of that energy
for our Mom’s sake!). I remember playing baseball/softball and basketball at a very young
age and joining the Midget Cheerleading program. I picked up a field hockey stick in 3rd
grade and fell in love.
During high school, in what clubs, sports, or other extra-curricular activities did
you participate ?
I played field hockey, basketball, track & field, and was an active member and officer in
Student Government and the National Honor Society. I tried to be as involved as possible!
Do you have a favorite high school memory?
My favorite high school memory was the day I officially signed and committed to American
University to play field hockey. I was among friends and family as I sat alongside three of my
fellow teammates who were also going to Division I schools. My twin brother was even let out
of his basketball practice for 20 minutes to come watch me sign! In that moment I felt so
proud of all of the hard work I had put in to achieve my goals and felt so lucky to have friends
and family who were so invested in my future that they wanted to share that special moment
with me.
Did you have a favorite Cocalico teacher or a teacher that was influential?
I was fortunate to have many fantastic teachers while at Cocalico, many of whom I still keep
in close contact. Early on, Matt and Dave Gingrich were very influential figures while I was in
school. They both coached my brother and I through the track program since both of us pole
vaulted. They were there through the injuries, fights, and mind games we played with
ourselves, and they were really more like mentors than coaches or teachers. For that, I’m
incredibly grateful.
Greg and Jen Buck continue to be a very present influence in my life. They were the reason I
went to school for broadcast journalism and were the reason why I was successful while I was
there. They fought for the necessary equipment to properly teach us the ins and outs of the
business, and I couldn’t be more thankful. They are two of the most caring , incredible people
I have had the honor to learn from, and I always look forward to meeting up with them for
dinner when I’m back in the area.
(Cont. on page 2)
Was there anything that you took away from Cocalico that added to your life?
I took away the idea that nothing is impossible. The Cocalico School District is full of educators who are constantly asking,
“why not?” It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or what your circumstances are. While at Cocalico, I was
constantly challenged and encouraged to pursue the ideas I posed. No one ever told me I couldn’t do something. They never
said it would be easy, but I was never dissuaded from chasing my ambitions. To this day, whenever I am confronted by a
problem or inspired by a thought, I think, “Why not?”
Do you still live in the area? Do you come back to visit the area?
Sort of? While Denver, Pa is still considered my home base (at least that’s where all my mail is sent to!) I technically do not
live in the area. When I’m not traveling and competing across the world, I live and train at the Olympic Training Center in
Lake Placid, NY. I’m usually back in the area for holidays and for a small bit of time during my off-season to relax before
gearing up for the next season.
Looking back at your time in high school, is there anything you would change or have done differently?
While I think it’s necessary to reflect and learn from one’s past mistakes, I try not to brood over the past because ultimately
there’s nothing we can do to change it. I firmly believe that we are the creators of our own destinies, based directly on the
choices we make each and every day. Sometimes life throws an unforeseen curve ball into those plans, but how we decide to
react to those setbacks offers us another opportunity to find our way back to the things that matter most.
Where did you attend school after graduation?
I started at American University during the fall of 2006 and graduated magna cum laude in May 2010. Attending university
in Washington, DC was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had the great fortune of being exposed to. The culture of
the city is fantastic, and it’s a great area to learn and grow.
Did you play sports in college?
Sure did! One of the main reasons I attended AU was to play with their field hockey team. I was a four-year starter as a
forward for their Division I program.
Did you become involved in bobsledding/skeleton in college?
I was made aware of bobsledding/skeleton during the spring semester of my senior year at AU, but did not start until after
graduating university. Jason Riddell, our team’s strength and conditioning coach, sent me an email he received from a bobsledder who was recruiting brakemen for the upcoming season. He encouraged me to tryout, so I spent the summer training
and went up to Lake Placid for Combine testing in August. There, I found out that I wasn’t quite big enough to be a bobsledder, but a skeleton coach convinced me that I was indeed the right size for them, and that I should try skeleton. A month
later I was back up in Lake Placid taking my first trip down the track!
Can you explain how it feels to ride down the track on a sled?
That’s a little difficult to articulate, but I can say it’s certainly nothing like the Radio Flyer sleds we’ve all used in the winter!
Veteran slider and Olympian Katie Uhlaender very poignantly coined the term “relaxed chaos.” As you’re sliding, it’s very
important to be “quiet” on the sled: minimal movements and total relaxation. That being said, we’re moving at 70+ mph and
feeling up to 4 to 5 G’s of pressure, and there’s NOTHING relaxing about that. The more experienced you become, you learn
to develop a flow and rhythm with each track and everything slows down; you no longer feel like things are flying by you at
warp speed. I think the coolest part of skeleton is when you can make minute adjustments in the blink of an eye and not
even realize it. It’s a very cognitive sport.
Are you currently training for the Olympics?
Simply put, yes. Overall, I strive to make the Olympic Games, whether it’s 2014 or 2018. However, the selections are more
of an intricate, confusing process than people realize. The individuals chosen to represent the USA in skeleton at the Olympic Games are selected very close to the date of the Olympics and can be selected in a variety of ways. We never know how
they will decide for a particular Olympics. Additionally, sliders have to try-out for the team every year. One could be on the
National team one year, but not the next if they don’t slide well enough at team trials. I have to be on the top of my game
every year or someone will certainly step in to take my spot.
Have you been getting a lot of hometown support?
I’ve received a crazy amount of hometown support! Word spreads fast in a small town, but it’s honestly been incredible how
many are interested in how I’m doing and where I am in the world. Their support motivates me to train hard every day because I’m not just representing myself, I’m representing my community, and I would like to do so in the best way possible.
Do you stay in touch with any of your Cocalico classmates or alumni?
Yes! I think it’s hard not to stay in touch with high school friends after you’ve spent your entire childhood and teenage life
growing up with them. Facebook and other social media make staying in contact super easy, and I try to communicate with
as many as I can.
Do you have any hobbies?
I am a very active person, and I’m always game for outdoor activities or anything that gets me up and on my feet. If I’m not
out running around, I’m most likely reading. My mother is an English teacher and she instilled in me a healthy appetite for
literature. To me, happiness is sitting on the beach with a book in my hand!
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?
I think my greatest accomplishment is the fact that I jumped at the chance to chase this dream. It’s not very often that an
opportunity such as this one is offered and I’m proud of myself that, at the very least, I had the courage to try and make it
happen, instead of sitting back and hoping and wishing. Competing at the Games has always been a dream of mine, and
whether or not I ever make it to the Olympics, this journey has been extraordinary and full of so many amazing moments.
No matter how long or short my time spent in this sport is, I know I won’t ever regret a single minute of it.
Do you know someone who would make an interesting Alumnus for our feature? Email [email protected] or call (717) 336-1413.
2
Senior Citizen’s Social
Each spring Cocalico’s Student Government holds a senior citizen social in the high
school cafeteria. Any senior in the community or at local retirement homes is
invited to a free night of dancing, Bingo, prizes, and fun. This year’s turn out
wasn’t the best, but everyone that came had an enjoyable time bowling a strike or
getting a hole-in-one with putt-putt. Each year the students on the committee see
some familiar faces from previous years or make new friends. The senior citizen
social is a great way to connect the school with the community and should be
marked on every senior’s calendar for next year! Article by student, Ryan Shupp.
**Look for information about the 2014 Senior Citizen Social in upcoming issues of the Alumni Newsletter.
The Cocalico Class of 1968 will be holding
their 45th Reunion on
Saturday November 9, 2013
in the Palmer Room at Foxchase Golf Club.
The event will include a buffet dinner and
conversation. Please contact Greg Strunk at
[email protected] or by phone at
(717)484-2047 for more information.
Help Wanted! The alumni association would like to start holding annual events, but we need volunteers to help plan and organize.
If you have an interest on serving on the event committee, please contact Lesley Worline Stricker (’87) at [email protected] or 717-336-1413.
3
Teacher in the Spotlight
Mr. Joseph Geesey
After interviewing Mr. Joe Geesey it is clearly evident that he loves kids. He
loves teaching them; he loves coaching them; and he loves helping them.
Keith Greusel, a colleague, states, “Joe has positively touched the lives of
literally thousands of students. He is a caring, dedicated teacher who would
help anyone: student, teacher, administrator, or parent. He will be greatly
missed here at Cocalico.” Mr. Geesey’s commitment to his students is
apparent when you look at what he has accomplished. While principal at
Cocalico High School he was vital in setting up the Cor/Scip Program
(Coordinated School & Community Intervention Program, better known as
the modern-day SAP program). Dave Davies added, “Joe has an excellent
rapport with his students. Past students always remember him fondly for his fantastic teaching style.”
Mr. Geesey began his teaching career at Northwest Junior High School in Reading after serving two tours in the Pacific
with the Navy and receiving his teaching degree from Millersville State Teacher’s College. At Northwest he taught
Social Studies and coached the junior track team. He then moved on to Reading High School teaching 10 th-12th grade
social studies while coaching the boys’ track and cross country teams and starting a girls’ track program. Fortunately
for Cocalico, our district was his last destination. He held positions of Assistant Principal at the High School, Principal
at the Middle School and later returned to teaching 8 th grade social studies and starting the Middle School’s Crisis
Response Team.
Mr. Geesey was born and raised in Columbia, PA where he attended grade school and junior/senior high school. In
addition to his teaching license, Mr. Geesey also has his Master’s degree in history from Kutztown University and his
Principal’s certification from Villanova University.
Mr. Geesey has been happily married to his wife Cindy for 42 years, and he added that she has always been there to
support him in his career. He also has 3 daughters and eight grandchildren that he and Cindy ”plan to spoil rotten.”
They range in age from 2 months through 16 years old.
When I asked Mr. Geesey what some of the biggest changes have been during his career, he thought that there wasn’t
enough room in this article for a complete list, but if he was to choose one item, it would have to be the evolution of
computers. “I remember when a complete wing at Reading High was for just one computer, using air conditioners in
each window and those punch cards! All the different strategies, methods and techniques that has been introduced
that have come and gone.” But he also adds that the kids have changed, too. “They’ve gotten smarter, bigger, and are
so intelligent when it comes to technology. I have no qualms about asking my eighth graders for computer help!”
Many of Mr. Geesey’s colleagues mentioned his wonderful sense of humor and his great story telling abilities. Kevin
Leonard added, “Mr. Geesey is the ultimate professional. He always did whatever he could to the best of his ability and
always put the need of the student first. Because of this he endeared himself to his students and earned their respect.
His heart for his students was always as big as his stature. We will miss his presence in the middle school.” Many of his
other colleagues have wished him a happy, well-deserved retirement.
Congratulations on your retirement Mr. Geesey!
4
Congratulations to Our Newest Alumni!
Class of 2013
Justin Michael Abraham
Matthew D. Anderson
Evan Royal Baker
Samantha L. Blouch
Kristen Lee Boyer
Daryl Lamar Brubaker
Devin Burd
Zachary David Byers
Mikala Dawn Clark
Cassie A. Davis
Domenic Mariano DeSimone
Amanda Lynn Drexel
Francesco Adriano Elia
Shea Alexander Evans
Michael L. Firestone
Emily K. Frey
Alyssa Hanifa Gantert
Megan Leigh Glover
Liam David Greenwood
Jeremy P. Haldeman
Jessica Joua Herr
Halle Christine High-Benson
Ki-Jana Ray Hoover
Tyler Andrew Ingram
Zachary Ryan Kodym
Austin Randall Krick
Madison G. Lawson
Ashley Marie Lesher
Jesse Bryan Longer
Brittany Nicole Martin
Ashleigh Elyse McLean
Matthew N. Mitchell
Josiah P. Moyer
Michaela Erin Naulty
Emily Grace Opiela
Antonio G. Polverini
Aubree Alicia Redcay
Delaina Alexis Riggle
Rachel Kathryn Roseboro
Sean F. Adams
James Matthew Anthony
Corey Tyler Barnett
Angela Eileen Boronow
Sydney Nicole Brandt
Joey M. Buchter
Alexander R. Burkhart
Samantha K. Carr
Caitlin A. Cooper
Patricia Anne Dean
Lucas J. DiCiano
David Christopher Dueck
Jesse Enck
Michelle Lynn Eyster
Jacob P. Fodor
Sonya Noelle Fry
Kyle Christopher Garman
Ryan Scott Good
Rebecca Louise Grube
Sarah Elizabeth Harbst
Kara A. Hess
Alisha Marie Hikes
Caleb James Horning
Kenneth M. Kaufman
Zane Kenneth Kohl
Reece Hamilton Kupp
Kathleen Louise Lawver
Gavin Reed Lippold
Goashoua Lor
Cassie L. Martin
Rachel Nicole McPeak
Ryan Joseph Monteleone
Paige Noelle Moyer
Jennifer Lynn Newman
Frankie Padilla
Benjamin Thomas Porter
Jenna Marie Reisig
Justin Lee Risser
Jadon S. Rothenberger
Brittney Ann Ryan
Alec Kade Sensenig
Sarah Irene Shreiner
Brandie Marie Snyder
Daniel Paul Stephany
Kayla Marie Sweigart
Kelly Elizabeth Toner
Christopher M. Ward
Patrick Lynn Weidman
Sarah Ann Whitaker
Allison Rebecca Witmer
Anna K. Yefimov
Katie Elizabeth Zoll
Abby Rose Sauder
Ryan A. Seymour
Chantel Lee Shuman
Molly R. Sohn McDonel
Nathan Robert Stewart
Hiram A. Tapia-Ciprian
Amber Anne Townsend
Jenna M. Weachter
Edward J.Weinhold
Robert E. Wiedemer
Carissa J. Witmer
Danielle Louise Yost
Diwyanshu Agnihotri
Nathan Eric Artz
Kilyan Reed Beck
Zachary M. Bottenfield
Amber Joy Bressler
Corey Lee Buckwalter
Nathan Kyle Burkholder
Michael Todd Carty
Emily Jane Cuthbert
Dalton W. DelPiano
Alexander Jesse Dillon
Wyatt Christopher Dungan
Carrie Jane Eshleman
Zachary S. Feltch
Larissa Teal Formica
Tyler Alan Fry
Alexander P. Genova
Tyler Jamison Good
Morgan Marie Gruber
Melody Joy Harper
Sarah Noel Hibbert
Cody Scott Hinks
Matthew M. Howe
Nicholas A. Keffer
Thomas Koller
Emily Nicole Lagaza
Todd Russell Leach
Brianne Louise Little
Harry Edward Major
Dylan Scott Martin
Alysha Renee Miller
Kevin Moody
Courtney Nicole Murphy
Olga Novokreshchenov
Meranda R. Lynn Pfamatter
Edmund John Puodziunas
Nicholas Dean Reitenbach
Zachary Alan Rissler
Nicholas D. Aldrich
Bradley S. Auker
Aryn Paige Beiler
Kyle Harrison Boulanger
Xylina Marie Breton
Tyler Joel Buckwalter
Nicholas Scott Burkholder
Jessica Lynn Cataldi
Marissa Elizabeth Cutts
Roman A. Denisenko
Kevin Myles Dirks
Brittany Alice Earhart
Taylor Nicole Esterly
Anja Mae Ferry
Mitchell Jesse Franck
Olivia Rae Fryberger
Kyla Shawrie Giliberti
Colton Tyler Goshert
Kaitlyn Marie Gummel
Paul David Heller
Janelle June High
Shannon Elizabeth Hoeveler
Aleksey A. Hrishka
Amanda J. King
Mitchell Emmett Kovall
Chee Lin Lai
C. Alex Leh
Kaitlyn Marie Little
Mackenzie Taylor Mann
Jordan M. McGinnis
Andrew Miller
Kyle B. Morgan
William Grant Musselman
Ashley Nichole Ohman
Touyer Pha
Diana Rabchuk
Holly Marie Renninger
Brett Thomas Rissmiller
Brianna Marie Rottmund
Nathan J. Sauder
Kathryn V. Shilov
William P. Sinnott
Brooke Ashley Stafford
Ashley Nicole Strenko
Anthony K. Tchekalenko
Samantha E. Vulopas
Justine Nicole Weaver
Zachary M. Weinhold
Devin D. Wiley
Charles R. Wolf
Dalton N. Zerkowski
Erin Lynn Ruth
Kaitlyn Nicole Rutt
Taylor Allen Schmeck
Holly Joy Schreiber
Emerald Susan Shobe
Hans Dieter Shollenberger
Emily I. Smith
Nichole Renae Smoker
Allison Paige Stauffer
Julia Kate Stauffer
Zackary K. Struzinski
Joshua Bradley Sweigart
Juan E. Teran-Lopez
Brennan Derrek Thompson
Travis M. Wagner
Austin R. Wanner
Knute Titus Weber
Ashley Nicole Weidman
David S. Wenger
Kara A. Wentzel
Darren Michael Wilson
Emma Marie Witenski
Kristin Wolf
Jonah Miles Wood
Jayme Autumn Zimmerman Joshua Robert Zimmerman
5
Casandra Marie Aminto
Kelly Jo Auker
Nathan A. Bergman
Amber Elizabeth Boyd
Daryn Ray Brubacher
Daniel Anthony Bucolo
Harrison Alexander Burnett
Qayla Chanel Chism
Chelsea Linn Dale
Oliver M. Denlinger
George Thomas Ditsious
Jill Elizabeth Eiding
Olivia H. Evans
Hollyn Jeffery Fertig
Jared Fredrickson
Layne LaRae Gable
Collin William Glassey
Brock Logan Gosling
Destiny Lynn Haines
Daniel Hemler
Logan Tyler High
Nathan Thomas Holmes
Dylan Charles Hrubochak
Kurt L. Knoll
Makiya Cheyenne Kreisher
Brett Cody Landis
Kayli Marie Lescoe
Bao Lo
Rachel Lynea Marstellar
Kristina Faith McKinney
Katherine May Florence Miller
Jonathan P. Moyer
Marissa Rose Natale
Julia Onishchenko
Bryan James Phillips
Wesley Scott Rathman
Christina Marie Rhinier
Courtney E. Roseberry
Up the Down Staircase
Or
Life at CU During the Fifties and Sixties
By Peter W. Riffle, Class of ‘64
Before I take you along on my journey back in time, I need to caution
you about the possibility of encountering time bumps along the way.
Certain terms from the fifties and sixties had a totally different
meaning than they do today and could be confusing or foreign to the
modern-day reader. For example: depends! Enough about that, but
you see what I mean. Now let’s buckle up and take a cruise down
memory lane.
Why CU? In the old days, Cocalico was officially called Cocalico Union. Supposedly, the word cocalico is a Native American (Note
that I am being politically correct here!) term meaning “den of snakes.” None of us ever knew if that
was true or not, but it sounded good so we believed it. The term union was added to the name because Reamstown and Denver had combined their high schools to form the present- day Cocalico School
District. Prior to Cocalico being formed, Adamstown kids, of whom I was one, went to the old elementary school built up on the hill adjacent to the town’s cemetery. This school consisted of grades one
through eight. After eighth grade, students had to choose which high school they wanted to attend. Atowners could pick between Wilson, Shillington, Mohnton, Denver, or Reamstown. This practice existed
until the new jointure was established, and then all of us who lived in Lancaster County went to CU.
In the fall of 1958, I began my illustrious (?) journey to CU, an experience that is still fresh in my mind today. Going to seventh
grade was a traumatic experience for me, and I was scared to death I’d get lost. Then right before school started, my older brother
Paul dropped a bomb on me. He told me there was no recess in seventh grade! No recess? I’d never make it, that much I knew .
One cool thing about going to CU was having a cafeteria. There would be no more sandwiches for lunch; our menu was now spiced
up with such hot culinary delights as Spanish rice. Any of you who went to CU during this same time period will remember Spanish
rice lunches. Government food subsidies were available in unlimited quantities, and growing kids like me would eat huge portions of
the large blocks of sliced orange cheese, bread, and butter. We never went hungry, that’s for sure. Our cooking staff consisted of
a former Navy cook and five or six local women who did a fantastic job feeding all of us. The only irritating factor was our faculty
members jumping the lunch line rather than waiting their turn in line with us. Funny how time and circumstances changed my viewpoint
on that particular pet peeve. I was in the teaching profession for forty years and jumped the line every day while frequently wondering what kids were thinking about me doing what I swore I’d never do.
Our faculty was made up of many local people who taught only for the love of teaching; there
was certainly not much money to be earned back then. Many of the men had been World War
II veterans, and several had been severely injured. George Richards, an English teacher, had
been wounded by a grenade while fighting in the Pacific Theater. He was a mountain of a man
who was rough and gruff but who really was a great teacher with a soft heart. It didn’t take me
very long to realize that every teacher knew every kid and, more importantly, they knew where
you belonged at all times, pointing that out to me on more than one occasion. One thing we all
learned early on was not to try fooling Mrs. Hulshizer, our school nurse. She was a wonderful
lady but don’t think for a moment you could ever use some bogus illness or injury to get out of
class; it would never happen. I remember faking passing out in an 8 th grade English class just to
torment the teacher – not proud of this. Anyway, he got upset and was going to call Mrs.
Hulshizer to come to his room to help me. As soon as I heard that, I made a miraculous recovery.
My maturity level as a 13-year-old was about negative three.
I used the title Up the Down Staircase for this article because we actually had designated up and down staircases. In the old high school, now the Denver Elementary
School, there were three stairwells. The two up stairs were situated at either end of
the long hallway while the down stairs was a wide staircase in the center of the
school. Getting caught going the wrong way on the steps always resulted in disciplinary action. One day I was apprehended for this egregious offense by one of our
history teachers and taken directly to the office. Our principal asked me if I had my
own set of rules rather than the rules that were set in place for the rest of the students. Wisely, I didn’t argue and escaped with only a warning. My biggest fear, as
well as my brother’s, was that the school would call our Dad about some inappropriate behavior. Certain death would have awaited us when we got home that day!
(Article continued on Page 7)
6
Co ca l i co A l um ni A s so ci a t i o n
Hello Fellow Alumni!
Cocalico School District
P.O. Box 800
Denver, PA 17517
Wow! The 2012-2013 school year has come to a close,
and it’s hard to believe this is the fourth issue of our
Alumni Newsletter!
Phone: 717-336-1413
Email: [email protected]
DID YOU KNOW?
Senior Citizens, age 65 & over, living
within the Cocalico School District are
eligible for special lifetime passes which
admit them without charge to all HOME
sporting, drama, & musical events.
These passes can be obtained by
visiting the Administration Office at the
front of the senior high school during
normal business hours.
This issue features some current and upcoming events
and our popular spotlight interviews. In addition, you
will also meet our new friend Peter Riffle from the
Cocalico Union High School class of 1964. He’s going to
share some of his C.U. experiences with you in this issue
and upcoming issues. We’re excited he has agreed to help
us out with some of the articles. We’re still on the
lookout for others who would like to share some of their
memories and stories in the future. Don’t be shy! We’re
all alumni!
Regards,
Kristy Good Firestone
(‘92)
& Lesley Worline Stricker
(‘87)
(article cont. from Page 6)
The dress code for students was vastly different from what it is today.
Girls had to wear dresses or skirts with blouses or sweaters. Since all girls dressed in this manner, the boys
developed an art form called dropping your pencil in class. The girls knew exactly what we were doing,
but ignored us. All of the guys wore dungarees (a term derived from WW II combat uniforms worn by US
Marines and now called jeans) or dress slacks with shirts. Some of the cool guys had steel heel cleats.
These popular shoe innovations had been developed to prolong the heels on shoes, but we wore them to
make noise. I still remember seeing a classmate run down the hallway near the auditorium and slide like he
was on ice with his horseshoe cleats. More than one young man got sent to the woodshop to have his cleats
permanently removed.
I can’t possibly bring you back to the present without reminiscing about gym class. The girls wore the
ugliest gym uniforms on the planet! They were blue, one-piece bloomers (?) and, as I said, flat-out ugly.
The boys wore blue shorts and white T-shirts. Mrs. Heckman, who taught Girls’ Phys. Ed., bet me I didn’t
have enough guts to wear one of the girl uniforms for class one day. Guess what? I did it! Barb and I
taught together at Wilson High School for many years, and I never let her forget that lost wager. And
who could ever forget climbing the ropes in gym class. Why would anyone in their right mind want to
climb to the top of the gym and touch the beam before coming down? Most of us couldn’t master this
monkey stunt, but we at least attempted to get a few feet off the floor. The boys and girls were kept
apart in gym class except for the occasional co-ed volleyball game. Since all of the young men were
projected to go into the military following high school, part of our phys. ed. training focused on marching
and following military commands. I wonder how today’s students would react if the phys. ed. teachers
taught them military drills. Most of us would probably agree that back then it wasn’t as common to
question what authority figures expected us to do.
I hope this article brought back some long-forgotten memories for those who attended CU during this time period and enlightened
those of you who are too young to have shared these experiences. I will be writing subsequent articles in upcoming editions of the
Alumni News. Subjects to be covered will include dances, music, class trips, sports, etc. If you have any thoughts, anecdotes, or just
want to say hello, please contact me at [email protected].
GO EAGLES!!!
Peter Riffle is a 1964 graduate of Cocalico Union High School. In high school he was on the baseball &
football teams and also participated in the senior play. He is a graduate of Kutztown University and was
drafted by the Atlanta Braves. Peter has spent most of his career as a special education teacher with the
Wilson School District. He is the recipient of many educational and civic honors and is also a published
author. You can read more about Peter on his website at thecloudchaser.net.
7
Save the Date
Homecoming Weekend
October 11 – 13
Cocalico Alumni Association’s
1 Annual Homecoming Tailgate Party
st
The Cocalico Alumni Association is having their 1st Annual
Homecoming Tailgate Party happening on Friday, October 11,
2013 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. at the Middle School faculty parking
lot. This is a family event with food and games for children. Invitations will be sent
out electronically, so if we do not have your email address, please register on our website. For
those with no email and would like and invitation, please call Kristy at 717-336-1413.
Alumni Reception
The Cocalico Alumni Association would like to hold an adult-only reception immediately following
the homecoming game on Friday October 11 at a local establishment. We are in need of
volunteers to help plan this event. If you would like to help with this endeavor, please contact
Kristy Firestone at 717-336-1413 or Lesley Stricker at 717-336-1405.
Foxchase Golf Course
The Foxchase Golf Course owned by Doug (’80) & Steve
Graybill (’79), will be offering discount green fees for Cocalico
Alumni during homecoming weekend. Reservations are
required. Look on our website. More information will be
posted at a later date.
Visit to register your contact information:
https://sites.google.com/site/cocalicoalumniassociation/
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Miracles From 4th Street is a club that focuses on getting Cocalico High School students involved with students that have special
needs. Miracles From 4th Street was started as a club called Pit Crew. One of the 21st Century Communications classes thought up
the idea of Miracles from 4th Street, which happened to tie in really well with the already existing club, Pit Crew. The central idea
of the club is to get students with special needs interacting with other students in the school, or as I like to think about it, getting
other students in the school to interact with students with special needs. So far this year our club has gone to a football and
basketball game, Park City on a field trip, held an ice cream and game time party at school, and gone to the Ephrata Rec Center. We
also have done a book drive for the Cocalico Care Center across the street from the Denver Elementary School. All of these things
have been a lot of fun and have given us a chance to get to know each other better. I have met a lot of new people though this club
and have had experiences that I would not have been able to have without it. Article by Ronnie Derr (a student involved with the
program).
Miracles From
4th Street
Club members handing
out books
This project began as a class activity and has now continued as a club
program
with help from a grant from the Cocalico Education
Foundation. The club is directed by Mrs. Andria Weaver and Miss
Brianne Esbenshade, and the 22 club members are a motivated and
dedicated group of students who have a special place in their heart for
students who typically struggle to make friends easily. The goal of the
club is to get to know students identified with special needs, talk with
them to understand their wishes and goals, and then make them a reality.
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Season Record
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so that we can email you the next issue when it’s
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Baseball
Varsity
Jr. Varsity
2-7
8-10
Boys’ Volleyball
Varsity
Jr. Varsity
5-9
9-5
Boys’ Lacrosse
Varsity
Jr. Varsity
5-12
5-10-2
Girls’ Lacrosse
Varsity
Jr. Varsity
6-8
7-8
Softball
Varsity
Jr. Varsity
7-12
12-6
Boys’ Tennis
8-6
Girls’ Track
6-2
Boys’ Track
4-4
Looking for:
The person(s) responsible for class reunions for each class.
Someone who enjoys writing and would like to help with the newsletter.
Someone who likes to work on Facebook and websites.
Someone who likes to track down lost people.
Someone who enjoys planning events.
Do you have suggestions for someone or
something interesting for an upcoming issue? Let
us know by emailing us at [email protected].
Would you like to help out with this newsletter or
upcoming Alumni events? Please contact us!
If you would like to help with any of the items above, please email us at:
[email protected]
SAVE THE DATE!
Screamin' Eagle Run 2013
Saturday, September 28th @ 9am
For more information, please contact [email protected].
The planning committee for the Screamin’ Eagle is also looking for help. Please
contact Sean Killen at [email protected] for more information..
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