Hang Up And Drive - River Rock Academy

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River Rock Gator
Mar/Apr/May/Jun 2013
Volume 8 Issue 3
A newsletter for the students, families and friends of River Rock
Hang Up and Drive
Jacy Good is the type of person who made plans for her life and, for the most
part, things went as planned. She grew up in Lititz, went to Muhlenberg College,
met her boyfriend who became her fiancé, and was set to graduate and start her
dream job with Habitat for Humanity. But just a few short hours after receiving her
college diploma, her plans were shattered.
On the way home from graduation, the car carrying Jacy and her parents was
struck head-on by a tractor-trailer as both entered an intersection with green lights.
The truck had swerved to try to avoid a man coming from the intersecting road
who attempted to turn left through a red light. That man was talking on his cell
phone at the time.
As Jacy bravely shared her story at the
Shiremanstown Campus with their students and others
from surrounding Campuses who traveled to listen to
Jacy’s message, her fiancé Steve filled in the missing
pieces. His appearance via video helped the students
understand the seriousness of the accident, the hardship
they both went through as she recovered and just how
miraculous it is that Jacy is still alive.
Sadly, both of Jacy’s parents died at the scene of
the accident and she was given only a 10% chance of
(Continued on page 4)
Graduation Celebration
River Rock Academy seniors recently gathered with their fellow graduates, as
well as representatives from their school district, River Rock staff, families and
friends, in a celebration ceremony where they were awarded their high school diplomas. During that time, each individual delivered a heartfelt speech recognizing
an Impact Award recipient who made a positive difference in his or her life.
Graduation for students from the Carlisle, Newville, Shiremanstown and West
Perry Campuses was held on June 5th at West Shore Evangelical Free Church and
at LCBC’s York Campus on June 11th for Day Treatment, Hellam, Red Lion and
Spring Grove Campus students.
Both ceremonies were very meaningful and emotional as students reflected on
their past, celebrated their accomplishments and looked forward to their future.
Congratulations to the following graduates:
Graduate
Change
Effect
Improve
Referring School District
Impact Award
Recipient
Carlisle Area School District
Carlisle Area School District
Northern York County School Dist.
Northern York County School Dist.
South Middleton School District
South Middleton School District
Lisa Bowen
Jessica Pastucci
Nate Holmes
Steve Cutia
Ronald & Lois Arnold
Andre Anderson
Carlisle Campus
Cardigan Morgan
Darien Pastucci
Taylor Covington
Jeremiah Fanzo
Clinton Arnold
Kyle Shindel
(Continued on page 2)
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River Rock Gator
(Continued from page 1)
Referring School District
Impact Award
Recipient
Eastern York School District
Karl Munscher
Eastern York School District
Eastern York School District
Red Lion Area School District
York Suburban School District
Corbet Roschel
Phyllis Chalk
Diana Taylor
Leonard Manees
Big Spring School District
Big Spring School District
Big Spring School District
Carlisle Area School District
Carlisle Area School District
Carlisle Area School District
Shippensburg Area School District
Shippensburg Area School District
Guy Duff
Larry Parks
Sandra Barrick
Lena Graham
Cami Reynolds
Cory Nelson
Stephen Bittinger
Veronica Davis
Kyle Blank
Kyle Arnold
Dallastown Area School District
Red Lion Area School District
Ian Bennett
Edward Hilferty
Devin Hoerr
Michael Leed, Jr.
Jason Lighty, Jr.
Alyssa Myers
Benjamin Verill
Cody Little
Red Lion Area School District
Red Lion Area School District
Red Lion Area School District
Red Lion Area School District
Red Lion Area School District
Red Lion Area School District
Red Lion Area School District
South Eastern School District
Joshua Raivel
South Eastern School District
Robin Eckert
Truman & Deanna
Arnold
River Rock Staff
Beth Hilferty
Wes Franklin
Brenda McClasky
Matthew McClure
Amy Robinson
Donna Kennard
Robert Little & Glenda
Little
Joyce Raivel
Graduate
Day Treatment
Seth McKee
Hellam Campus
Chelsea Roschel
Ryan Smith
Kenneth Taylor
Bryan Manees
Newville Campus
Lois Duff
Morgan Parks
Lindsey Shoemaker
Joseph Graham
Jonathan Lepperd
Spencer Nelson
Brianna Bittinger
Elijah Nnaeto
Red Lion Campus
Former professional hockey player,
Kraig Neinhaus entertained and
shared his story with students at the
Red Lion Campus. Once a left wing
for the Boston Bruins, Neinhaus pursued his love of music after his retirement from hockey. He now takes his
talent on the road singing solo or performing with his band ‘9 House’ in
Canada and throughout America.
Neinhaus has opened for a wide variety of artists including David Lee
Roth, The Beach Boys, ZZ Top and
The B52’s.
Shiremanstown Campus
Aaron MacMullin
Brittanie Smith
Matthew Faust
Cody Briner
Destini Mundt
Ieisha Hughes
Dalton Williams
Camp Hill School District
Carlisle Area School District
Derry Township School District
East Pennsboro Area School District
Mechanicsburg Area School District
Sean MacMullin
Kimberlee Smith
Jennifer Faust
Shannon Wonders
Bobbie Singiser &
Rodney Mundt
Middletown Area School District
Patricia & Lamont
Griffin
Northern York County School Dist. Joelle Williams
Spring Grove Campus
Dalton Eckert
Robert Lightner
Dustin Sentz
Paul Pietrusza
Richard Ness
Justin Moody
Bermudian Springs School District
Dover Area School District
Littlestown Area School District
Northeastern School District
Southern York County School Dist.
Spring Grove Area School District
Russell Eckert
Beth Lightner
Jill Crouse-Wolf
Geneva Pietrusza
Joyce Knapp
Ray & Emma Moody
(Continued on page 3)
Shiremanstown Campus staff members Brian Rohm and Troy Sunderland competed in a hot dog eating
contest and raised over $900 for
the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation
River Rock Gator
Page 3
(Continued from page 2)
Graduate
Referring School District
Impact Award
Recipient
West Perry Campus
Joseph Paul
Joseph Weaver
Zachery Groce
Matthew Huynh
Dakota Mills
Zachary Smith
Juniata County School District
Juniata County School District
West Perry School District
West Perry School District
West Perry School District
West Perry School District
Mrs. Chasteen
Robert Darrow
Tony Groce
Justin Mattes
Daryl & Tanya Nardis
Richard Smith
Chili Cook-off
The Hellam Campus was the
Champion in a recent Chill Cook-off
with their entry titled “The Munscher
Surprise.” Day Treatment, Red Lion
and Spring Grove Campus students
also submitted delicious entries. We
were honored to have NHL legends
serve as judges for the Cook-off.
The following students also graduated but did not take part in the
graduation ceremony:
Carlisle Campus– Zachary Smyser, Big Spring School District; Robert Kelley,
West Shore School District; Day Treatment– Richard Grant, Southern York
County School District; Jacob Becker, South Western School District; Herbert
Cole-Brown, School District of the City of York; Balijah Davis, School District
of the City of York; Hellam Campus– Adam Chirico, York Suburban School
District; Alfonso Cucuzella, York Suburban School District; Newville Campus–
Tracy Hoffman, Carlisle Area School District; Red Lion Campus– Gabriel
Palmer, Red Lion Area School District; Benjamin Seward, Jr., Southern York
County School District; Shiremanstown Campus– John Kuharic, East
Pennsboro Area School District; Clayton Stong, South Middleton School
District; Johnathan Howard, West Shore School District; Spring Grove
Campus– Kyle Franklin, Bermudian Springs School District; Brandon
Johnson, Gettysburg Area School District; Tiffany Kehoe, Gettysburg Area
School District; Anna Bell, Hanover Public School District; Sydney Guthrie,
Red Lion Area School District; Tristan Myers, South Western School District;
Travis Green, Spring Grove Area School District; Rachel Hewitt, Spring
Grove Area School District; Julien Pesta, Spring Grove Area School District;
Alexis Riggin, Spring Grove Area School District; West Perry Campus–
Damajah Maue, West Perry School District; Brandon Morrison, West Perry
School District
Front Row From L-R: Thank you to
Joe Watson, Bernie Parent, Stefan
Matteau and Stéphane Matteau for
judging the Chili Cook-off
Back Row L-R: Student Jalaun
Moore, Hellam Campus Behavior
Manager Karl Munscher and student
Trevor Forry
Red Lion Campus students enjoyed
tasting the creative chili recipes.
From L-R: Ashley Shannon, Behavior Manager Paul Grier and Taylor
Schaeffer
Newville Campus staff volunteered at
the Cumberland Valley Breast Cancer
Alliance 5K on Saturday, May 4th in
Chambersburg. While some staff members walked or ran the race, others
manned the water station. It was a
great way for the Newville team to
come together in support of a great
cause.
Staff from Hellam, Red Lion and
Spring Grove challenged themselves
both mentally and physically by participating in the York CerebRun, a
unique race that combined a mud run
with problem solving obstacles that
determined the difficulty of the race. Someone’s sitting in the
shade today because
someone planted a tree a
long time ago.
~Warren Buffett
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River Rock Gator
(Continued from page 1)
survival as she lay comatose and nearly unrecognizable in intensive care the
first night. Her recovery was slow but after four months she was released from
the hospital. The traumatic brain injury she suffered has resulted in some
cognitive issues and she is unable to use her left arm and lower leg.
Jacy shared details of the ripple effect the accident had on so many lives as
well as the studies and statistics she has learned about the dangers of using a
cell phone while driving. As an advocate on changing cell phone use laws and
encouraging others to make wise choices, she and Steve have a website,
www.hangupanddrive.com. Viewers can learn more about her story and efforts
to change laws as well as pledge not to use a cell phone while driving.
Her message resulted in many interviews and public appearances including
The Oprah Winfrey Show, a guest of Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at the
United Nations, a ‘Hero Among Us’ in People Magazine, a speaker at Maria
Shriver’s Women’s Conference and dozens of articles, television news pieces
and press conferences nationwide. She and Steve realized that their story could
impact lives by encouraging the public to make safer choices, companies to
develop and enforce cell phone policies and legislators to put in place the
necessary laws to protect the public.
Appealing for support in her efforts, Jacy encouraged the River Rock
Academy students to do what they can to save lives. “I need your help. Be
smart and conscious of what is going on around you. Be on guard and have all
your attention on driving. No call and no text is more important that your life or
others lives,” she said.
Jacy admits that sharing her tragic story hurts and is very difficult to do.
Her brain injury no longer allows her to cry but the painful feelings and
emotions are still there. What does bring her peace of mind is changing one
person’s choices at a time. Many students were
inspired by Jacy’s story and when one asked her
about her outlook she said, “What happened to me
can’t be undone. I’m an optimist. It’s the way I
was raised. There is always something to look
forward to in life.”
River Rock Academy thanks Jacy for having
the courage to share her story with our students
and we wish her and Steve the very best as they
get married next fall.
Congratulations to Carlisle Campus
Counselor, Andre Anderson, who in
his second year as Head Coach for
the Carlisle High School Basketball
Team, was named 2012-13
All-Sentinal Boys Basketball Coach
of the Year
West Perry Campus students enjoyed
a peanut butter party in celebration
of those who participated in the
student council sponsored
community service project by
donating jars of peanut butter for the
West Perry Food Bank
Staff Achieve Perfect Attendance
Thirty-three River Rock Academy staff members
achieved perfect attendance for the school year. A
celebration in their honor was held at Momma Spriggs
restaurant in Carlisle and they were recognized at our
graduation celebrations. Congratulations for your hard work
and dedication!
Perfect attendance recipients by campus include:
Carlisle: Drew Alosi, Andre Anderson, Jon Fritz, Nate
Holmes, Kelly Leib, John Walton, Stephen Young
Day Treatment: Kip Aldinger, Tracy McClintock, Stacy
Williams
Hellam: Nick Brady, Jen Fischer, Mike Hodge, Karl Munscher
Newville: Monica Bradshaw, Donna Gano, Cortney Hostetler, Len Nealy, Ron Reinhardt, Troy Snyder
Red Lion: Molly Currie, Shannon Engles, Becky Grim, Charlie Jacobs,
Shiremanstown: Rob Bozart, Kari Cover, Jebb Nelson, Troy Sunderland, John Tantala
Spring Grove: Tony Brady, Kevin Deane, Kelly Gable
West Perry: Shawn Lee
Ri
Page 5
Senior Spotlight
The River Rock Academy mission is to provide our
students with the power to change, effect and improve
their lives. These graduating seniors are being recognized
for going above and beyond as they made the effort to
fulfill that mission. Whether it was being a good role
model to others around them, working hard academically
or going the extra mile to pursue their post graduate goals,
these students are recognized in the Senior Spotlight for
the graduating class of 2013.
Taylor Covington
District: Northern York School District
Campus: Carlisle
Future Plans: Enter the Phlebotomy
Program at HACC
Taylor has been accepted in to the Phlebotomy Program
at HACC and is very energetic about her post graduation
plans. At River Rock Academy, Taylor grew as an individual, worked hard and now strives to continue being
successful as she enters college.
Darien Pastucci
District: Carlisle Area School District
Campus: Carlisle
Future Plans: Work in the Day Care field
Carlisle Campus Counselor Vanessa Witmer has seen Darien grow into a mature
and helpful young lady this school year and has been
please with her academic progress. She has balanced
school and her part-time job well. Darien is excited to
graduate and enter the field of Day Care provider.
Lois Duff
District: Big Spring School District
Campus: Newville
Future Plans: Attend Wilson College to
pursue Journalism
After falling in love with Wilson College in 6th grade,
Lois says everything feels right about her plan to study
Journalism in the fall. Her counselor Donna Gano said,
“Lois has such a bright future ahead. She is compassionate and has the drive to complete her dreams.”
The fireworks begin today. Each
diploma is a lighted match.
Each one of you is a fuse.
~Edward Koch
Joseph Graham
District: Carlisle Area School District
Campus: Newville
Future Plans: Attend Academy for Media
Production in Gettysburg
Joseph has been interested in music production since he
was 16 and has been accepted to the Academy for Media
Production where he can get the training to pursue this as
a career. His counselor, Donna Gano said, “This is his
passion and he is very excited about what this opportunity can do for him.”
Brittanie Smith
District: Carlisle Area School District
Campus: Shiremanstown
Future Plans: Attend Commonwealth
Technical Institute to become a Nursing
Assistant
Brittanie has been a positive influence to those around
her and did a great job as Student Council President of
the Shiremanstown Campus this year. She enjoys community service and has a huge heart for helping others
that was evident at her time working with the elderly at
Messiah Village this year. She looks forward to becoming a Nursing Assistant and later hopes to become an
RN.
Dalton Eckert
District: Bermudian Springs School
District
Campus: Spring Grove
Future Plans: Culinary Arts
Dalton is a very respectful, hard working
student and it has been an honor for his counselor Ryan
Wall to watch him grow and mature through the years.
Not only has he done well at achieving River Rock
Academy’s mission, he has also modeled it to others
around him. Dalton looks forward to pursuing a career in
Culinary Arts.
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River Rock Gator
River Rock Students of the Month
The Students of the Month for March, April and May have been announced. Students are selected based on their
behavior, grades, attendance and positive attitude. Congratulations and keep up the great work!
April
March
Carlisle Campus
Hunter Fife &
Justin Taylor
Carlisle Campus
Lakota Drake &
Alexander Delano
May
Carlisle Campus
Malik Bright &
Darien Pastucci
Day Treatment
Campus
Day Treatment Campus
Day Treatment
Campus
Tyler Veld
Herbert Cole-Brown
Alan Trout,
Amber Eckert &
Tayontre Hannah
Hellam Campus
Hellam Campus
Hellam Campus
Jalaun Moore &
Lonnel Bolta
Lonnel Bolta &
Nicholas Knee
Newville Campus
Ethan Crook
Red Lion Campus
Michael Leed &
Kayla Lee (not
pictured)
Newville Campus
Brandon Owens
Dante Martin &
Kaiah McMurphy
Newville Campus
Orian Hosler
Red Lion Campus
Red Lion Campus
Tyler Shanklin &
Joshua Taylor
Tay-Quan Fields &
Brendan Kinard
Shiremanstown
Campus
Shiremanstown
Campus
Shiremanstown
Campus
William Sears &
Brittany Montague
Zachary Arnold &
Blayke Snell
Courtney Seachrist
& Daniel Thomas
Spring Grove
Campus
Spring Grove
Campus
Spring Grove
Campus
Kenton Arnold
West Perry Campus
Alisha Inch
Brandon Garrett
West Perry Campus
Joseph Paul
William Masser
West Perry Campus
Brian Shuman
River Rock Gator
Page 7
River Rock Perfect Attendance
The students listed below had perfect attendance for
March, April and May. They were rewarded with a River
Rock snack gift card.
Students who had perfect monthly attendance and
spent no time in the resource room were entered into a
contest. One student from each campus was selected at
Carlisle Campus
random. March’s winners received a Subway gift card,
April’s winners received a Rita’s gift card and May’s
winners received a Turkey Hill Minit Market gift card.
Contest winners have a * next to their name.
Congratulations to all the students!
May
Conrad, Trevor; Hardy, Tyler; Hill,
Cheyenne; Millington, DeShawn; Moat,
Richard; Pastucci, Darien*; Shindel,
Kyle; Taylor, Justin
Bigler, Mikael*; Foor, David; Johnson,
Carmen; Lepperd, Jonathan; Markelwitz,
Abigail; Nelson, Spencer; Owens,
Brandon; Shank, Joshua; Smith,
Alexander; Smith, Andrew; Stoner,
Dalton; Yeomans, Aaron
April
Red Lion Campus
March
Miller, Walker; Millington, DeShawn;
Pastucci, Darien; Pierce, Jr., Gregory;
Shindel, Kyle; Stambaugh, Austin*
May
Hardy, Tyler; Millington, DeShawn;
Pastucci, Darien; Shindel, Kyle*
Day Treatment
March
Noll, Johnathan; Veld, Tyler*
Hellam Campus
March
Conner, Katlyn; Holtzinger, Elijah
April
Hamel, Shawn; Holtzinger, Elijah;
Manees, Bryan*; Pietrusza, Joseph;
Worley, Jr, Anthony
March
Ankers, Dylan; Graffious, Ryan;
Hemmig, Taylor; Winemiller, Jr.,
Gregory*
April
Ankers, Dylan; Buckley, James; Evans,
Tracy; Fields, Tay-Quan; Holzer, Kyle*;
Huffaker, Zachery; King, Nikolay;
Palmer, Gabriel; Roberts, Jeremy
May
Erdman, Troy*; Evans, Tracy; Hemmig,
Taylor; Holzer, Kyle; Paul, Anthony;
Phillips, Zachary; Reynolds, Joseph;
Roberts, Jerem; Ryan, Lauren; Snyder,
Patrick; Teter, Harley
Shiremanstown Campus
March
Ball, Ryan*; Balmos, Jefferson; Furey,
Kijuan; Holtzinger, Elijah; Kreiger,
Zachary
Briner, Cody*; Colvin, Logan; Cuomo,
Michael; Fletcher, Derek; Greenfield,
Steven; Hughes, Ieisha; Jackson, John;
Lynn, Mathew; Metz, DeVante; Phillips,
Ivy; Sears, William
Newville Campus
April
May
March
Crider, Dillon; Crook, Ethan*; Deihl,
Michael; Hoffman, Tracy; Johnson,
Carmen; Lepperd, Jonathan; Markelwitz,
Abigail; Nelson, Spencer; Shank, Joshua;
Stoner, Dalton
April
Crook, Joslyn; Duff, Lois; Gussler,
Nathan; Harrison, Zachary; Hoffman,
Tracy*; Johnson, Carmen; Lepperd,
Jonathan; Lescalleet, Anthony;
Riggleman, Terrance; Smith, Alexander;
Stoner, Dalton
Aldaz-Freire, Larry; Casterlin,
Christopher*; Jackson, John; Lynn,
Mathew; Metz, DeVante; Phillips, Ivy
May
Aldaz-Freire, Larry; Casterlin,
Christopher; Colvin, Logan; Cuomo,
Michael; Deimler, Matthew; Fletcher,
Derek; Hughes, Ieisha; Jackson, John;
Lindenmuth, Kortney; Miller, Jason;
Nieves, Manuel; Phillips, Ivy; Sears,
William; Stong, Clayton; Wood, Jordan*
Spring Grove Campus
March
Anderson, Alexandria; Brownson,
Jordan; Cotterell, James; Ebron Jr.,
Robert; Fregm, Andrew; Garrett,
Brandon; Gladfelter, Tyler; Gurreri,
Brody; Kennedy, Jasmine*; Layer,
Khi’Asjia; Mancilla-Hernandez, Usiel;
Mundy III, Harry; Myers, Tristan;
Osborne, Ariel; Real, Jordan; Syed,
Rafeu
April
Anderson, Alexandria; Arnold, Kenton;
Barnett, Timothy*; Brownson, Jordan;
Fregm, Andrew; Garrett, Brandon;
Gladfelter, Tyler; Hidalgo, Kidanny;
Jackson, Khiary; Morel, Wichelle;
Mundy III, Harry; Real, Jordan; Rodola,
Jacob; Smallwood, Destiny; Topper,
Destiny
May
Arnold, Kenton; Bercik, Mason;
Brownson, Jordan; Fregm, Andrew;
Fritz, Nathan; Hidalgo, Kidanny;
Jackson, Khiary; Masser, William*;
McIntosh, Brandon; Morel, Wichelle;
Mundy III, Harry; Osborne, Ariel; Real,
Jordan; Spangler, Shandom; Wolfe,
Nicole
West Perry Campus
March
Bechtel, Alexander; Kenny, Joseph;
McKeehan, Michael; Negron, A’ceaire;
Siegfried, Eric; Smith, Bryson;
Tambasco, Dylan*
April
Baker, Adam; Johnson, Logan*;
Siegfried, Eric
May
Baker, Adam; Johnson, Logan; Shuman,
Brian*; Siegfried, Eric; Smith, Bryson;
Tambasco, Dylan; Whitesel, William
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River Rock Gator
Highlights of the Year
As the school year winds down, it’s interesting to look back on the lessons learned that impactful classroom experiences, guest speakers, field trips and community service have had on the lives of the students at River Rock Academy.
Whether helping at the local food bank, brightening the day of local veterans, taking part in a team building exercise in
social skills class, grasping a concept explained just the right way by a teacher or hearing about future opportunities from
a college admissions representative, the students at River Rock Academy can use these opportunities to grow and continue their journey of learning.
While it’s very difficult to name just a few positive experiences of the school year, the following are just some
events each Campus Director shared when asked to name their highlight of the year.
Carlisle Campus
Steve Cutia
Our staff and students visited Shanksville, PA
for an educational field trip on the history of
the 9-11 attacks where we toured the new memorial that
was designed to honor the passengers of Flight
93. Students also spent several weeks with Dickinson
College students building art projects expressing positive
messages for teens that were later displayed at the college
auditorium. (see pg. 11)
Day Treatment
Brian Billman
The Day Treatment students assisted the Adams County United Way with their annual
Holiday Toy Drive and visited the Freedom Pass tour in
Lancaster County that reenacted the significance of the
Underground Railroad. Several female students gained
hands on experience relating to the field of cosmetology
when they spent the day job shadowing at Empire Beauty
School.
Hellam Campus
the Parent Advisory Board held during the annual Christmas luncheon with over 40 parents and guardians in attendance.
Red Lion Campus
Jill Crouse-Wolf
The Red Lion Campus students enjoyed a very
busy year volunteering at the Red Lion Food
Bank, local Youth Center and Shady Pine Farms. We
partnered with Mrs. Mancuso, the owner of Shady Pine,
to make crafts and sell them at the Central Market, which
allowed the students to learn about the retail process from
start to finish.
Shiremanstown Campus
John Dechert
Over the course of the school year, our Shiremanstown Campus students and staff collected donations from the community to help lighten the
financial burden for the Humane Society. Two members
of our staff also competed in a hot dog eating contest to
raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. (see pg. 2)
Jennifer Long
Spring Grove Campus
Students participated in community service
projects at the Columbia Food Bank on a
weekly basis, breakfast for Veterans, Christmas at the
Veteran’s Hospital and the restoration of the Hellam Preservation Society. Field trips that students were able to
enjoy included visits to Central Market, Harley Davidson,
YTI and the York Culinary Arts School as well as fun
times ice skating and bowling.
Brandon Hoff
Newville Campus
Shawn Witmer
Newville celebrated another successful year
while incorporating academically strong field
trips. Students toured the Capitol Building in Harrisburg
and the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville as well as
hosted influential speakers such as Craig LeCadre from
the Attorney Generals office and two local politicians,
Rob Kauffman and Susan Spicka, who were running for
state representative. One of the standout highlights was
Our students enjoyed Lake Tobias as an adventurous kick-off to our school year. Most
recently, Special Agent Craig LeCadre brought some
valuable awareness to our students, as well as the Day
Treatment students, by instructing them on the importance of a flawless character, the existing dangers of prescription drug abuse and cyber bullying.
West Perry Campus
Austin Myers
River Rock West Perry highlight of the year is
the relationship we built and continue to build
with the Perry County Food Bank where the students volunteer regularly. It has been great to see the work ethic of
our kids develop and the many life lessons learned while
they volunteer at the Food Bank.
River Rock Gator
Page 9
Our Elementary Programs
Pebbles, Cobblestones & Boulders
Earth Day Celebration
Red Lion Campus
Students hopped down the
bunny trail in their masks they
made in art class
Shiremanstown Campus Cobblestones students recently learned many lessons about taking care of the planet when they celebrated Earth Day. As the
future caretakers of the environment, children have the most important stake in
keeping the Earth clean and healthy. Ms. Paterniti and Ms. Shealer helped students understand their responsibility by planning fun and educational activities
as part of the Earth Day celebration.
Students got involved in keeping their campus beautiful by cleaning up
around the school and weeding the garden beds. They also planted a variety of
fruits and vegetables that they later took home for Mothers Day. In addition,
the students used plastic milk jugs to create reusable sandwich containers in a
process called upcycling that involves taking used or scrap materials and turning them into useful products.
The lessons concluded with the reading of My Earth Day Birthday, which
taught how Earth Day began and what the students can do to make everyday a
day to care for our environment.
Newville Campus
Baby piglets got lots of love
from the students thanks to
their owner, Vicki Poe, who
was generous enough to bring
them for a visit
Students were all smiles when
they got the chance to hold newborn baby chicks
Coloring eggs made celebrating
Easter lots of fun
Page 10
River Rock Gator
River Rock Academy Honor Roll
Three students made Distinguished Honor Roll for the third marking
period. Congratulations to Deshawn Millington from Carlisle, John DeJesus
from Day Treatment and Mackenzie Lycliter from Spring Grove for getting
straight A’s to achieve this honor.
The following is a list of those who made Honor Roll by receiving all A’s
and B’s. Congratulations to each student for their hard work!
Ivy Phillips
Emily Swartz
Daniel Thomas
Carlisle Campus
Hunter Fife
Darien Pastucci
Gregory Pierce, Jr.
Justin Taylor
Spring Grove Campus
Kenton Arnold
Abigail Bosley
Jordan Brownson
Robert Ebron, Jr.
Zachary Friese
Jasmine Kennedy
Jada Gotwalt
Usiel Mancilla-Hernandez
Brandon McIntosh
Ariel Osborne
Alexis Riggin
Jacob Rodola
Eli Sipling
Shandom Spangler
Destiny Topper
Day Treatment
Students from the Shiremanstown
Campus volunteered with the Special
Olympics that were held in April at
Dickinson College. By interacting
with the young children as they
played a game and picked a prize, the
students really enjoyed themselves
and felt good about helping others.
Dillon Ahrens
Herbert Cole-Brown
Tyler Veld
Mario Ambris, Jr.
Brandon Arnold
Sakiah Dickson
Amber Eckert
Courtney Frazier
Calteesa Jones
Hellam Campus
Tariq Harris
Jalaun Moore
Annie Hoke
Trevor Forry
Zachary Kreiger
West Perry Campus
Adam Baker
Jade Fitting-Seibert
Dylan Tambasco
William Whitesel
Newville Campus
Karsyn Casey
Victoria Charles
Michael Deihl
Tracy Hoffman
Aaron Yeomans
DeShawn Millington
Red Lion Campus
“We couldn’t have done it without
River Rock,” said Vicki Corbett
from the United Way of Adams
County in a letter to the Spring
Grove Campus thanking them for the
volunteer efforts of the students who
removed and sorted items for the
Give It Up For Good event. Over 27
tons of leftover items were moved
out of Gettysburg College and sold
in a community yard sale that raised
over $20,000.
Taylor Hemmig
Nikolay King
Ben Verill
Kyle Holzer
Carrenna Graham
Dylan Ankers
Mackenzie Lycliter
Shiremanstown Campus
Logan Colvin
Matthew Faust
Johnathan Howard
Ieisha Hughes
John DeJesus
River Rock Gator
Page 11
Red Lion Partners with Habitat for Humanity
Carlisle Campus students spent
several weeks with students from
Dickinson College creating projects
that allowed them to express positive
messages that influence teens in a
healthy way through art. The projects
were on display at an Art Show Exhibit held on the campus of Dickinson College. Shawn Bucher, Lakota
Drake, Kayla Kuhn, Richard Moat,
Haley Weibley and Wade Westbrook
were the Carlisle Campus students
who participated in this great experience.
Thank you to the college students
who assisted our students with this
wonderful project.
The River Rock Gator is written,
compiled, edited and designed by
Wendy Capoferri and Barbara Rodgers
in the interest of RRA students, parents
and Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin,
Franklin, Perry and York County
School Districts.
RRA Administrators
Steve Capoferri – CEO
Patti Shatto-Young – CBO
Bob Howard – COO
For the first time in their 27-year history, York Habitat for Humanity is
partnering with a school district to construct a home for a family in need. On
April 15th, Red Lion Area School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Deisley
signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which pledged that the district will
fund and construct a new home at 101 Schoolhouse Lane in Windsor. All materials and money necessary for the project will be solicited through private
fundraising efforts.
River Rock Academy presented Red Lion with a donation at the signing
and looks forward to becoming involved in the project. Steve Capoferri, River
Rock Academy CEO said, “We are pleased with the relationship that has been
built with the Red Lion School District over the years and look forward to
partnering in this wonderful project that will impact the family receiving the
home as well as students and other members of the Red Lion community.”
Debbie Krout-Althoff, Executive Director of York Habitat for Humanity,
shared her enthusiasm for this project that will teach students about giving
back and being involved in their community. “I have no doubt that this relationship and experience will be phenomenal,” she said.
At the signing, Dr. Deisley shared, “This is a community that knows how
to pull together for the common good and how to help one another. Our staff
and students, along with the many organizations that will assist us like our
friends at River Rock Academy, are ready and eager to begin this project.”
River Rock students will be trained by Habitat for Humanity so they can
volunteer with the construction of the home. The walls will be raised in May
of 2014 and the home will be complete approximately one year later.
Jill Crouse-Wolf, River Rock Academy
Red Lion Campus Director, presented
Dr. Deisley and members of the Red
Lion Area School District School Board
with a donation for the construction of
the project
At the site of the future home, Habitat
for Humanity’s Debbie Krout-Althoff
explained how it will be built on the
existing foundation to save costs and be
environmentally friendly
Winding Down
As we wind down the final days of the 2013 school year I wanted to thank
everyone for making it a success. Thanks to all the staff at River Rock staff
who, as Tina Turner would say, are “simply the best.” Thanks to all of our
community partners who gave our students the valuable experience of working
with them. Thanks to all the speakers who came in to help inspire and educate
our students. Thanks to all the volunteers and interns. Thanks to all
the school districts and county agencies that support our schools.
Thanks to all the students families for partnering with us. Finally,
thanks to all our students for allowing us to work with you.
Good Luck! Have a great summer! And be safe!
Steve
River Rock Academy
Administration
268 West Beaver Street
Suite 109B
Hellam, PA 17406
Three basic behavioral norms that are the foundation of River Rock Academy are:
• No student has the right to hurt, intimidate, or ridicule another student.
• Education and the classroom are sacred.
• Our school is sacred and we will always protect its property and belongings.
Mar/Apr/May/Jun 2013
Campus Happenings
Carlisle Campus students
enjoyed getting creative
while decorating Easter
eggs
Red Lion Campus students
learned about many species
of animals when they visited
the Nixon Park Nature Center
Students from Day
Treatment cheered on the
York Revolution baseball
team
Hellam Campus students
planned their strategy as
they competed in a game
of flag football
Captain John Eichenberg
from the Camp Hill Prison
explained the daily life of a
prisoner to the
Shiremanstown Campus
students
Spring Grove Campus students
met State Representative Seth
Grove in the Rotunda of the
State Capital
While visiting McCann
School of Business,
Newville Campus students
participated in mock job
interviews
Students from the West
Perry Campus toured
the Julius Sturgis
Pretzel Bakery in Lititz