Volume 2 Issue 2 - Greater Nanticoke Area School District

THE GNA INSIDER
OCTOBER 2014
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
Best Overall Costume: “Best Buds”
GNA TALENT
OUR FOREIGN EXCHANGE
STUDENT
SIX PACK SENIORS
WHATS HAPPENIN’ IN THE HALLS
The History of Halloween
President Obama, Coach Bruza
and his senior football players, the cast
of “Orange is the New Black,”
Mollie’s Clowns, anime stars, Reading
Rainbow, and bacon, could all be seen
together at this years annual GNA
Halloween parade. Traditionally,
seniors have spent countless hours
preparing for their moment to shine in
this event. As the participants strut
around the gym floor to their selected
music they are given the chance to
flaunt all their hard work.
Today, Halloween is a time for
trick-or-treating, parades, bonfires,
haunted houses, and costume parties.
You may think that it is more of an
child-centered holiday, but as the years
go on there are more attractions for
young adults. During October many
television stations have reruns of some
well-known and classic horror films.
Turn on the T.V. and you may find
Hocus Pocus, Halloween,
Halloweentown, Saw, Dracula, and
Frankenstein.
We all know that Halloween is
celebrated on the night of October 31.
But did you know the word Halloween
is short for “All Hallows Eve?” The
name was given to this night by
Christians when converting the Pagan
holiday, Samhain, to a more godly
centered celebration. This holiday,
Samhain, was originally a celebration
of those whom had died in the past
calendar year.
As one of the world’s oldest
holidays, Halloween is still celebrated
today in several different countries.
The holiday is most popular within the
United States of America and Canada.
65% of Americans decorate their
homes or offices for Halloween.
At Nanticoke Area, we celebrate
Halloween by performing many
different events. The main attraction
held in the High School is the senior
Page 1
Halloween parade. During the parade
seniors dress up and have the chance to
show off their ingenuity in their
costumes in front of the rest of the
school. While the seniors frolic around
the gymnasium, the crowd cheers for
their favorite costume. In the end, the
costume that generates the most
applause wins the title of “best overall
costume.”
This year Renita Burke and John
Corkell were the winners with their
costume entiled “Best Buds.” “It felt
amazing. I didn’t know what was
happening until they called our names.
It was nice having 15 seconds of
fame,” says John. Renita and John
chose their costume because it
represented their long lasting
friendship. When asked what advice
they have for future seniors
participating in the parade they said,
“Be creative, original, and just do it.”
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
PROGRAM
The international student exchange
program is a tremendous learning opportunity.
The exchange program allows for personal,
educational, and communal growth. It provides
diversity and understanding. The foreign
exchange student is provided the opportunity of
teaching others about their own country, while
schools and communities that host foreign
exchange students acquire a better
understanding and acceptance of different
cultures.
Table of Contents
PAGE 1 ~ THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN
PAGE 2 ~ TABLE OF CONTENTS, FOREIGN EXCHANGE PROGRAM
PAGE 3 ~ CONCRETE CITY
PAGE 4 ~ WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ IN THE HALLS?
PAGE 5~ SIX PACK SENIORS
PAGE 6 - CO-ED VOLLEYBALL
At GNA, diversity and understanding are
important. We value other cultures. As students
looking to break down the walls of ignorance
that sometimes surround us, we are interested in
learning and therefore appreciating ethnic
diversity. Our high school is currently hosting a
foreign exchange student from Thailand,
Pattharasuda Phetprasomgul and is staying with
the Olexy family. She is a part of two foreign
exchange programs, CHI and YES.
CHI was founded in 1980 by Tom and
Lilka Areton. It is a non- profit educational
organization. According to CHI’s official
website, it was set up to “promote international
understanding and goodwill through peoplepeople exchanges.” More than 250,000 young
adults and students from over 100 countries
participate in CHI.
PAGE 7~MEET OUR TEACHERS: AMBER HYDER, FIVE STAR REVIEWS
PAGE 8~ MEET OUT TEACHERS: JAMES LITCH AND MEGAN
IAGNEMMA
PAGE 9~ MEET OUR PRINCIPAL
PAGE 10~ MEET OUR SUPERINTENDENT: DR. RONALD GREVA
PAGE 11~ WHERE ARE THEY NOW? GERALD MULLERY: CLASS OF ’88
PAGE 12~ ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: ALEC NORTON
PAGE 13~ OUR FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT: PATTHARASUDA
PHETPRASONQUL
PAGE 14~ COLLEGE PREP ADVICE
ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
Page 2
HISTORY OF:
CONCRETE CITY
Concrete
City
is
mostly
characterized
by
locals
with
adjec5ves
such
as
eerie
and
abandoned,
however;
there
is
so
much
more
to
the
surprisingly
historical
city
than
graffi5.
The
local
military,
police,
and
fire
companies
have
found
it
to
have
unique
and
useful
proper5es
and
have
taken
advantage
of
such
uses.
Concrete
City
used
to
be
so
much
more
than
the
vandalized
ruins
it
appears
to
be
today.
By
the
account
of
Robert
A.
Janosov,
Concrete
City
was
built
in
1911
by
the
Delaware,
Lackawanna,
and
Western
Railroad
(DL&W).
In
1913
the
city
was
unveiled
and
residents
flowed
in.
The
city
was
built
to
be
the
home
of
a
choice
few
DL&W
personnel,
all
of
whom
were
English‐
speaking
employees
who
held
high
value
posi5ons.
Only
40
of
the
1,700
staff
members
of
the
DL&W
companies
had
the
opportunity
to
live
with
their
families
in
this
community.
Concrete
City
was
constructed
in
the
shape
of
a
square
that
consisted
of
twenty
double
houses.
The
small
city
had
sidewalks,
electric
street
lights,
a
concrete
swimming
pool
(which
was
drained
when
a
boy
drowned
in
1914),
a
playground,
a
baseball
field
and
STORY OF
THE
MONTH
tennis
courts.
Each
home,
which
was
half
of
a
double,
was
rented
out
to
a
family
at
a
cost
of
a
mere
8
dollars
per
month.
The
houses
consisted
of
seven
rooms:
a
living
room,
dining
room,
kitchen,
and
four
bedrooms.
A
coal
stove
was
placed
between
the
living
and
dining
rooms
to
provide
heat.
The
houses
were
made
of
concrete,
which
is
where
the
name
Concrete
City
originates.
The
disadvantage
of
this
was
that
excessive
amounts
of
moisture
seeped
through
the
concrete,
causing
the
homes
to
be
damp.
Eventually,
The
Glen
Alden
Company
took
possession
of
the
property
and
refused
to
install
proper
sewer
systems
that
would
have
cost
$200,000,
ergo
demoli5on
began
in
December
of
1924.
Glen
Alden
had
abandoned
the
property
a_er
100
s5cks
of
dynamite
failed
to
do
a
significant
amount
of
damage
upon
the
buildings.
Perhaps
the
next
5me
you
visit
the
creepy,
vandalized
city,
you
can
imagine
it
as
it
once
was:
a
liale
city
that
families
lived
in
and
where
children
grew
up
with
sidewalks,
streets
lights,
baseball
fields,
tennis
courts
and
a
swimming
pool.
By: Renita Burke
During a research experiment a marine biologist placed a shark into a large holding tank and
then released several small bait fish into the tank.
As you would expect, the shark quickly swam around the tank, attacked and ate the smaller fish.
The marine biologist then inserted a strong piece of clear fiberglass into the tank, creating two
separate partitions. She then put the shark on one side of the fiberglass and a new set of bait
fish on the other.
Again, the shark quickly attacked. This time, however, the shark slammed into the fiberglass
divider and bounced off. Undeterred, the shark kept repeating this behavior every few minutes
to no avail. Meanwhile, the bait fish swam around unharmed in the second partition. Eventually, about an hour into the experiment, the shark gave up.
This experiment was repeated several dozen times over the next few weeks. Each time, the shark
got less aggressive and made fewer attempts to attack the bait fish, until eventually the shark got
tired of hitting the fiberglass divider and simply stopped attacking altogether.
B
JO V
SHARK BAIT
The marine biologist then removed the fiberglass divider, but the shark didn’t attack. The shark
was trained to believe a barrier existed between it and the bait fish, so the bait fish swam
wherever they wished, free from harm.
The moral: Many of us, after experiencing setbacks and failures, emotionally give up and stop
trying. Like the shark in the story, we believe that because we were unsuccessful in the past, we
will always be unsuccessful. In other words, we continue to see a barrier in our heads, even when
no ‘real’ barrier exists between where we are and where we want to go.
Page 3
Robert Burke
How do you feel about the upcoming
Nanticoke vs. Hanover game on
Halloween?
WHats Happenin’ in the halls?
Is that even a question?! It’s one of the biggest
games for our entire team. It’s also our senior
night so that makes it even more exciting.
What clubs do you think should be
added to our school?
Debate club. It would be funny to see everyone
arguing over a topic.
What are your favorite Halloween
activities?
Scaring the crap out of people!
Sam Vino
How do you
feel about the upcoming
Nanticoke vs. Hanover game on
Halloween?
I’m excited about it. I think it’s even more
exciting now that it’s on Halloween!
What clubs should be added to the
school?
Fashion club!
Top Left: Eryn Rackham, Middle: Amanda Valvano, Bottom Left:
Robert Burke, Bottom Right: Sam Vino,Top Right: Bailey Hamilton
Bailey Hamilton:
Amanda Valvano:
How do you feel about the upcoming
Nanticoke vs. Hanover game on
What are your favorite Halloween
Halloween?
activities?
Watching horror
movies with my friends and
going to costume parties!
Eryn Rackham
How do you feel about the upcoming
Nanticoke vs. Hanover game on
Halloween?
I’m pretty pumped! We’re going to purge those
I feel like we better win because we have
Hawks!
been talking a lot of smack on them!
What clubs should we add to our school?
What clubs do you think should be
Computer club, maybe.
added to our school?
How do you feel about the upcoming What are your favorite Halloween
Nanticoke vs. Hanover game on
activities?
Halloween?
I am pumped and excited
Trick or treating!
Biology club!
What are your favorite Halloween
activities?
What clubs should be added to the
school?
Scaring the crap out of people.
Music Club
What are your favorite Halloween
activities?
Dressing up and eating lots and lots of
candy!
By: Renita Burke and Tyler Otero
Page 4
ATHLETES OF THE MONTH:
“The Six Pack Seniors”
The Girls Volleyball team is one
of the most competitive sports teams
in the WVC, and one of the biggest
team oriented sports! The girls are
coached by Deb and Jim Gavin, and
assisted by John Pietrzyk. The
2014-2015 Girls Volleyball team was
led by their “Six Pack Seniors”.
When asked of Coach Deb
Gavin to pick an “Athlete of the
Month” she said “it would be
impossible to pick one.” “Volleyball
is a true team sport” says Gavin, she
explains “Three people must touch
the ball 90% of the time in order to
score and win in a game.” Other
sports are not as team oriented as
volleyball, she says “in basketball one
person can run and gun. Baseball
you can hit it out of the park. In
football you can run and score as the
top dog.” Gavin describes her favorite
NFL team, and compares it to a team
sport. “Of course you need my
favorite team and quarterback to get
the job done- Peyton Manning and
the Broncos.” Without 3 people
touching the volleyball, the teams
cannot score.
Gavin says she “will not pick just
one athlete since a pass, set, and hit
must happen a majority of the time.”
Volleyball is a true team sport.
The team was led by Deanna
Thomas, Chrislyn Cabonilas, Tina
Overwise, Kiley Bartusek, Celeste
Deslich, and Lauren Rinehimer.
“They are true team athletes who do
their job on a weekly basis.”
By : Denna Thomas
Artist of the Month: Johanna Tushinski
Who or what has inspired you as an artist?
My grandmother Joanne Tushinski; she always
loved to paint and draw.
YES! My emotions usually show up with the
paintings that I blend and use. I mainly do
landscape paintings.
Have you participated in any art shows or
competitions?
Yes, Fine Arts Fiesta. 2 out of 4 of my paintings
were accepted.
Who is your favorite artist and why?
Bob Ross! I like him because he is always happy
and he reminds me of myself.
Do you consider studying art in college and
would you pursue it as a career?
No, I do not wish to study art, however: I do want
to piat for fun. I want to be a pediatric nurse.
What do you enjoy most about art?
I love how you can tell a story on the canvas.
Are emotions involved in art? If so, how do
emotions help you as an artist?
Page 5
What artistic accomplishments are you
most proud of ?
Getting two of my paintings in the Fine Arts
Fiesta.
How long have you been interested in art?
Ever since I could remember.
Do you have any advice for other artists?
Be happy, and show the happiness in your
painting! :)
Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament
Completion of the senior project is
mandatory for graduation. However, for
some students it is more than just a
requirement; it is a chance to raise
awareness and money for causes that are
important. It is an opportunity to make a
difference.
Students who choose to
participate in fundraisers typically raise
funds by selling t-shirts, long sleeve shirts,
sweatshirts, or bracelets. Some GNA
students go beyond mere fundraisers and
host events in the community or within their
school which allow people to become active
in supporting the cause.
Greater Nanticoke Area juniors
Lauren Rinehimer and Veronika Popyk are
students who rose above expectations and
made a difference. Lauren and Veronika
sold t-shirts for $10 and half – zipped
sweatshirts for $45. The logo on the t-shirt
was an orange cancer ribbon and a royal
blue cancer ribbon slightly overlapping each
other on the left hand shoulder. Besides
selling t-shirts and sweatshirts to raise
money, they went a step further and held a
co-ed volleyball tournament at the EdCenter. All proceeds went to LCCC’s Relay
For Life Foundation and The American
Cancer Society.
The GNA Insider sat down with
Veronika and Lauren a few questions to
learn more about “Set For a Cure.
Selling t-shirts and sweatshirts is
a time consuming task alone, along
with holding a co-ed volleyball
tournament. Roughly how much time
and planning would you say went into
your senior project?
It really was a big project altogether. It
took about six months to actually think
every detail through. The planning was
extensive; it took time, patience, and hard
work to pull everything together.
Typically students choose to
participate in raising money for a
cause that has significance to them.
What is the main reason you decided
on raising money for The American
Cancer Society?
The main reason why I decided to
raise money for The American Cancer
Society is because cancer is a disease that
seems to affect everyone in all different
ways, whether it be that a loved one who got
diagnosed or being a survivor yourself. By
raising money for this specific society we
hoped to aid in finding a cure for all the
various types of cancer and support good
health.
What were your expectations or
goals in Set for a Cure? Are you
satisfied with the amount of money
you raised and the end result?
Our goal was simple: we wanted to
make this event a big success while raising
as much money as we could for a cure. As
an end result we are very satisfied with the
amount of money that we raised, but what
really made this tournament an
unforgettable experience was the energy,
excitement, and determination from all the
participants.
I n o r d e r t o f u l fi l l t h e
requirements for their senior project,
many students do the bare minimum
to meet the requirements. You went
above and beyond and chose to make
a difference. In your opinion, what
would you say is most rewarding
about making a difference and
supporting an important cause?
The most rewarding experience was
making a difference and supporting an
important cause. Everyone was having a
good time and everything came together;
raising money was a bonus.
Regarding the senior project, do
you have any advice for students
debating on whether to take the extra
time to do a fundraiser?
It takes a lot of time, effort, and
determination to figure out a topic and
make it come to life. My advice for students
debating on whether to take the extra time
to do a fundraiser is that if you are not busy
in your daily life and are ready to take on a
challenge then you definitely should.
CONTINUED ON BOTTOM OF PAGE
12
Page 6
Five Star Reviews
“If I Stay” Movie Review
A 17-year-old cellist named Mia Hall (Chloë
Grace Moretz) had everything going for her. She had
an amazing life, an attractive rocker boyfriend name
Adam Wilde (Jamie Blackley), cool parents, a doting
little brother and a near acceptance to Juilliard. On a
snow day, Mia and her family were in a fatal car crash.
Mia was the only one to survive the crash and was in a
coma. Mia could see everything that was happening to
her from an out- of- body experience. After the
accident, she followed her body back to the hospital
where she learned the fate of her family. During this
out- of- body experience she has memorable
flashbacks like, first falling in love with her boyfriend
Adam and first learning to play the cello. Adam, her
best friend Kim, and her grandparents try to convince
Mia to wake up. Mia had to choose between joining
her parents in death or wake up and live her life with
her boyfriend, best friend, and grandparents. What
will she choose?
Meet Our Teachers: Ms. Amber
Hyder
I think “If I Stay” was a great a movie about
love and conquering life’s challenges. The movie was
believable and the actors portrayed the story very well.
You can feel the emotions of each individual
character. It was relatable and really touched my
heart. It is a must see movie.
By: Tori Rozell
Asylum – Madeleine Roux
Dan Crawford, a sixteen year-old gifted student,
enrolls in the New Hampshire College Prep program
for the summer. His love of academics usually sets him
apart from his peers at home, but here, he is finally
going to fit in. When he arrives, he finds that the usual
dorms are being quarantined, forcing the students to
stay in the Brookline dorm, which was an old
psychiatric hospital that happened to be on campus.
Dan easily makes new friends: Abby, an artist, and
Jordan, a mathematician. As they explore Brookline’s
old, locked-off offices and hallways, they uncover the
twisted secrets of what really happened there.
Asylum is beautifully written - perhaps one of
the best books I have read. I would recommend it to
anyone who asks. It was captivating from beginning to
end. The characters were dynamic and relatable to
almost anyone who picks up the book in one way or
another. There was one problem: it was a very short
read. A sequel, “Sanctum,” was recently published,
which I can’t wait to get my hands on
Pictured above is Ms. Hyder in her natural habitat: Room 111
Was being an English teacher
your dream job?
No. I wanted to be a singer.
What do you enjoy doing in
your spare time ?
I like to fish, read, go to the movies,
hang out with my dog and go to dinner
with my friends.
Do you have any bad eating
habits? If so, what are they.
What are some of your pet
peeves?
Rude people, bullying, people who
constantly put people down.
What’s the most embarrassing
thing that’s ever happened to you?
I had an allergic reaction in the copy
room and my throat closed up, so I was
gasping for air and scared the heck out of
Mr.Fig.
Name something you regret
not doing in your
career?
Ye s ! I l o v e
eating junk food.
Candy, fudge, pie,
anything sweet. I
also eat too much
fast food.
Not getting a masters
degree.
BY: RENITA
BURKE AND
By: TONYA HILL
TYLER OTERO
Page 7
Meet Our Teachers: Mr. James
Litchkofski
Was teaching world cultures
always your dream job?
I have a bit of OCD, so I have a
hard time with disorder
I always wanted to teach, and I
always loved history, so teaching
World Cultures is the perfect job for
me.
What’s the most
embarrassing thing that’s ever
happened to you?
What do you enjoy doing in
your spare time?
Most of my spare time is
chumming around with Luke. We
like walking Honey Pot mountain
and doing some target shooting. Luke
has a beagle named Rosie and we are
just starting to teach her how to
chase. Also, Luke has been taking
karate lessons for a couple of years
and I am always there to support him
as he moves up in rank.
When I was in college I parked
my car on a hill and left it in neutral
and didn’t fully set the emergency
brake. It rolled down the hill and hit
a tree.
Name something you regret
not doing in your career.
I regret not enlisting in the
military.
BY: RENITA BURKE AND
TYLER OTERO
Do you have any bad eating
habits? If so, what are they?
I have a weakness for Kelsey’s
wings and pizza.
What are some of your pet
peeves?
Meet our Teachers: Mrs. Megan Iagnemma
Was being a math teacher always your dream job?
I always wanted to be a teacher. All through elementary school, I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. When I
got into Algebra 1 I really started to love math and wanted to be a math teacher. Math always has an answer, that’s
what makes it cool.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love to read and do yoga. I am currently working on how to do elbow stands and hand stands. My husband has also
been teaching me how to play video games. We have spent entire weekends playing Diablo 3.
Do you have any bad eating habits? If so what are they ?
I am a chocolate fiend. I love almost everything chocolate. Whenever I go grocery shopping I either buy Kit Kats or
Ben & Jerrys ice cream.
What are some of your pet peeves?
I hate it when someone leaves the room and keeps the light on, or when there are multiple switches on a light panel; I
like them to all go the same way.
What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?
When I was in college for my undergraduate degree , I fell asleep in my science class and right when the professor
stopped talking, I woke up screaming. An awkward silence followed.
Name something you regret not doing in your career.
As cliché as this sounds, I don’t like to live with regrets. I think of how I can fix the mistake and avoid recurring regret.
Page 8
Gna
Talent
Morgan Elmy
Getting to Know Our Principal:
What inspired you to be a singer?
Mr. Joe Long
I was inspired by my mom’s boss Jeanne who
at the time was the singer of “Flaxy Morgan,”
and who is now the singer of the “Jeanne Zano
Band.”
What genre of music do you like to sing
the most?
I sing all types of music but my favorite will
always be country.
How much time do you spend
practicing?
I don’t spend much
time practicing, I will
usually practice two to
three days before and I
will try not to talk the
day of a show.
Do you see yourself
being a singer in the
next 10 years?
It has always been a dream of mine. I plan to
create my own band and entertain people just
like Jeanne and the 40lb Head.
Do you feel nervous being in front of an
audience?
As Robert Kennedy stated, “Some
people look at things as they are and ask why;
I dream of things that have never been, and
ask why not.” According to Mr. Long, this
quote applies to education because “as an
educator, you have to have a vision of what
you want in the future; anything is possible.”
Two time conference coach of the year, Mr.
Joe Long is the new principal at the GNA
High School. He had been a principal at the
GNA Educational Center for several years,
and the 2014-2015 school year marks his first
year leading our success at the High School.
Not only has Mr. Long been an inspirational
academic leader, he has also motivated many
student-athletes on the hardwood as well. His
ability to lead our school as principal is rooted
from his ability to lead his former teams to
successful seasons.
I have never felt nervous being in front of an
Mr. Long began his coaching career
audience; singing in front of big crowds
as an assistant basketball coach at Coughlin
actually calms my nerves.
High School, where he coached for 5 years,
and then at Meyers, where he coached for 10
What events have you performed at?
years. For the next 9 seasons, he continued his
I have performed at the
success at Seton Catholic High School as the
Buttonwood bazzar, the
head basketball coach. Later, he made his
Clif Lewis event, and the
way back to the area and for 4 years was the
head coach at LCCC. Basketball wasn’t the
Valley With a Heart
only sport Long had coached, however. He
Benefit.
also coached cross country, softball, and
What
other
baseball.
activities do you
When asked about his most
enjoy?
rewarding experience throughout his
I also enjoy working out and covering coaching career, he recalled when he was
songs with my friend Elvis (my guitar player). head coach at Seton Catholic, the night they
won the division title: “It was the bestWho is your favorite singer and witnessing how much my father enjoyed it.”
why?
Fans from both teams congratulated Mr.
Long Sr. for his son’s victory during the game,
My favorite singer is Pink. She has always and the pride he felt was irreplaceable. “It
been my favorite because of the quality of her was a priceless moment.”
voice and the things she is able to do with it.
She has inspired me to try and do different
Mr. Long’s father had a huge
things with my voice.
impact on his life. He not only made him the
Page 9
man he is today, but he shared his love for
sports teams. Mr. Long loves the Cowboys,
Celtics, Yankees, and, of course, Notre Dame.
“My dad was a Notre Dame fan. I grew up in
a Notre Dame house, and my father was my
inspiration,” says Long. He also shared his
admiration for Bruce Springsteen, saying he
has attended 46 concerts. “You can place
yourself in his songs, and you can direct it to
your life,” he says.
Mr. Long is a competitive man and
a natural motivator. Many of his leadership
techniques he mastered as a coach, he uses in
his role as principal. “They’re both [coaching
and being a principal] the same” he says. “It’s
all about leadership, formulating a team,
having common goals, and working with
people to achieve those goals.”
Coming from the GNA middle
school, Mr. Long had to acclimate himself to
life at the high school. “Scheduling, credits,
and preparing for graduation was the greatest
adjustment,” Long said. “In the middle
School, I didn’t have to worry about that.”
Another adjustment he had to make was
managing a student body that was three times
larger than than he was accustomed to. “It’s
much busier and there’s more activities going
on . It was overwhelming at first.” Under his
leadership, Mr. Long hopes to “improve the
safety of our entire school, increase
graduation requirements, offer more
advanced courses, and increase SAT scores.”
Lou Holtz once said, “Ability is
what you are capable of doing. Motivation
determines what you do. Attitude determines
how well you do it.” As GNA students, let us
follow Mr. Long in the quest to improve not
only our school, but ourselves as well. It all
starts with attitude! Attitude after all is
everything!
By: Deanna Thomas
Q AND A
WITH DR.
GREVERA
What is your favorite movie?
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Current- Kevin Costner Past- Charlton
Heston
Where is your favorite place to eat?
Café Toscana and Marianacci’s in
Wyoming
What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas
What is your favorite band/
musician?
Country- Florida Georgia Line and Jason
Aldean
Do you follow any sports team?
All Philidelphia Teams: Phillies, Flyers,
Eagles, and the Sixers
MEET OUR SUPERINTENDENT:
DR. RONALD GREVERA
According to Merriam-Webster
Dictionary, a superintendent is defined as
“a person who directs or manages a
place, department, organization, etc.”
The superintendent of a school plays a
critical role in setting the tone for a school
district. Students, teachers, and
administrators report to him and he has
the task of solving problems. As many are
aware, GNA has introduced a new
superintendent, Dr. Ronald Grevera. As
Dr. Grevera steps into this vital role at
Nanticoke, many of us are wondering
same thing. Who is he? The GNA Insider
had the opportunity to sit down with Dr.
Grevera to get to know him not only on a
professional level but also on a personal
level.
possible.”
Dr.Grevera took his first
superintendent position at Northwest
Area before arriving at Nanticoke.
D r. G r e ve r a a t t e n d e d B i s h o p
O ’ Rei l l y H i g h S ch o o l wh ere h e
participated in Baseball and Chorus. He
is an alumnus of Indiana University of
Pennsylvania and received his Master’s
degree from Wilkes University. Growing
up he had two role models, his
grandmother and his father. His
grandmother played a critical role in
raising him and in helping mold him into
the person he is today. His Father was a
blue-collar worker, who was very humble
and taught him the value of hard work.
In choosing a career path, his parents
were skeptical about his desire to go into
the education field because they felt
finding a job may be extremely hard
without personal connections. However,
Dr. Grevera exemplified the value of
hard work and paved his own way to the
top.
Dr. Grevera enjoys collaborating
with students, faculty, and administration
alike. He looks forward to the rest of the
school year, especially graduation.
“Seeing the achievement of the students
and having the honor of giving each
graduate their diploma is a prideful
experience.”
Dr. Grevera began his career
teaching History at Columbia Montour
Area Vocational-Technical School before
becoming an administrator. He later
served as an Elementary Principal in the
Crestwood School District for eight years
and was a Middle School Principal for
the Panther Valley School District in
Carbon County for two years. Dr.
Grevera made the transition from
principal to superintendent because he
wanted to “impact as many students as
Page 10
As our superintendent, Dr. Grevera
has already implemented academic
changes to better prepare students for
standardize tests such as PSSA’s and
Keystone exams. Our school has received
grants that allow students to take a
Reading Diagnostic Test which will track
students’ reading levels. Other items atop
Dr. Grevera’s agenda include an
examination of our school structure and
grade configuration, the security of the
school, and promoting diver sity.
“Students should come to school feeling
safe and comfortable,” he states.
Despite his high-profile job, Dr.
Grevera is just a normal person. He isn’t
just about suits and ties. Outside of
school he wears jeans and jogging pants
along with t-shirts and Under Armor.
That’s right GNA, he knows what styles
are “hip” or “in.” He enjoys reading,
fishing, hunting, spending time with his
kids, and coaching soccer and little league
teams.
When asked what advice he would
give to our student body, Dr. Grevera’s
response was: “The best way to get along
with one another is to be kind. To have a
positive impact, people need to care and
treat others as they would want to be
treated. A positive attitude is infectious.”
Students, let us be forever mindful of this
advice and continually work every day to
make the Greater Nanticoke Area School
District an ideal place to learn.
By: Noelle Race and Jaclyn Victor
Other Highlighted
GNA Graduates
At the Greater Nanticoke Area
School District, we have a reputation for
producing the area’s best and brightest
students. Upon graduation, our students
continue to not only impact our local
community but the broader global
community as well. In the “Where Are
They Now” section, The GNA Insider
features alumni who have been extremely
successful in their endeavors. In past
issues, The GNA Insider has interviewed
GNA Alumni:
Jim McDermott: Hall
of fame inductee; AllAmerican baseball
player drafted by the
Chicago White Sox.
John Yudichak: PA Senator.
Abigail Gesescki: U.S. Naval
Academy graduate; one of the first
females to serve on U.S. Submarine; she
earned her dolphin (submarine warfare
pin).
Dr. Stanley Dudrick: Inventor of
Intravenous Hyperalimentation, which
has been described as one of the four
most significant accomplishments in the
history of the development of modern
surgery.
Lynette Paczkowski: Notre
Dame graduate and trial
attorney; recognized as
one of the “up and
coming” impact makers
in the Boston Area;
founder & president of the
Young Professional Women’s Association.
Micheal Height: NYU graduate;
company manager and associate
manager of “The Lion King” and “Mary
Poppins” of The Walt Disney Company.
Micheal Hofherr: Vice President
and Chief info Officer of the Ohio State
University.
Ellen Bartuska: Zookeeper at the
Philadelphia Zoo; member of the 1990
Trojanette State Championship team.
Where are they now? Gerald Mullery
Representative Gerald Mullery is a
1988 graduate of Greater Nanticoke Area
High School. He currently serves as a
Congressman for the 119th district.
After practicing law for twelve years,
Mullery made the transition into public
office. His children inspired him to enter
into politics. “I didn’t like the direction the
state was going. I thought we were making
too many cuts to education and there was
not going to be any quality jobs left for
them.” In addition to his passion for
education and job growth, Mullery serves
on three committees which are associated
with issues close to his heart: Game and
Fish, Veterans Affairs, and Health.
Representative Mullery accredits his
success to his teachers whom he describes as
“encouraging and always saying you could
accomplish whatever you put your mind
to.” Out of all of his teachers his favorite
was Mr. James Carey: “He made class very
interesting and we had a Notre Dame
bond.” His favorite class was gym, and he
was an active participant in baseball,
football, and wrestling. His extracurricular
activities, however, went beyond athletics.
Mullery was a member of the French club,
a class representative, a writer for the
Trojan Tribune, and a leader of the GNA
Jungle (which was established by his class).
Representative Mullery shared many
fond memories of his high school career.
One aspect of high school that he took
tremendous pride in was overcoming the
negativity associated with our area. “It was
always Nanticoke vs the world mentality.”
While attending GNA, Mullery met and fell
in love with his current wife. Their first date
was at GNA’s junior prom and eventually
went on to become the class couple. Today
they have four children.
Gerald Mullery serves his community
as a volunteer as a youth sports coach, a
Page 11
member of the Knights of Columbus,
AOH and NTCO. Being in office for four
years gives him a good understanding of
what the community wants and needs. He
understands that when in Harrisburg
casting votes, he has the best interest of the
119th district in mind and has the
confidence that the community has faith
and trust in him. Mullery finds it important
for students to get involved in politics
because “it’s your future and your soon to
be adult life.”
A law that Representative Mullery
would want to change would be to
eliminate school property tax. He wants to
have an effect on education and businesses
in this area as well as homes being
affordable for everyone. Mullery’s proudest
accomplishment in office is constituent’s
service; he has the busiest office in the state
and is very proud of that.
Even though he has been a State
Representative for four years he hasn’t met
President Obama. Last year when our
President came to Scranton he had the
opportunity to meet with him and get a
photo opt but he had already pre-scheduled
plans with his family. Mullery’s all-time
favorite politician is Bill Clinton because it
seems that “every time he was talking, it
was like he was talking to you. Times were
good and it seemed that everybody was
thriving under Clinton.” Mullery doesn’t
see himself going any further in politics;
after his run as State Representative he will
return to practicing law.
Representative Mullery’s advice to
students: “I know it’s hard as a teenager to
decide what you want to do, but when that
time comes, make sure it is something you
can see yourself enjoying and then attack it
with vigor; you will not only be a success,
but you will be happy as well.”
By: Jaclyn Victor and Noelle Race
Athlete of the Month: Alec Norton
What sports do you play? Which sport
do you prefer?
Football and baseball. I prefer playing
Football.
What do you want to do after high
school?
I want to continue to play sports in college.
What is your favorite subject?
Math
What is your favorite activity to do
outside of school?
I enjoy watching football and going fishing.
What is your biggest accomplishment
in your sport?
My biggest accomplishment is being named
1st team All-Conference last year.
Where do you draw your inspiration
from?
My Dad inspires me and always gives me
confidence that I can do my best. I draw my
inspiration from trying to be the best I can
be.
What was the best advice you were
ever given?
The best advice I was given was to not let
one bad thing bring me down.
What would be your ultimate
achievement?
My ultimate achievement would be to
receive a scholarship for football.
How many years have you been
playing sports?
I’ve been playing sports since I was 5 years
old.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself still in college.
What is your favorite part about being
a Nanticoke Trojan?
My favorite part about being a Nanticoke
Trojan is trying to get our sports the respect
that it had in the past.
Meghan Boyle
CO-ED VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
(C0N. FROM PAGE 6)
Since you were successful in helping The American Cancer Society, do you
plan on helping out and impacting other causes in the future?
Making a difference is a rewarding feeling, but you have to give your best every time. I
would love to help out and impact other causes in the future, but that is only when my
hands are free from my daily busy life.
Lauren and Veronika are living proof that if you take your time and dedicate yourself
to make a difference, it is possible to successfully accomplish your goal. If you are unsure
and doubt your ability to succeed, these two students should be a positive reinforcement to
help out a cause that is important to you. Determination and dedication are key to
overcoming any uncertainties stopping you from impacting the lives of others with your
senior project.
Page 12
Our foreign exchange student: Pattharasuda Phetprasomqul
YES was founded by Congress in
October 2002 in response to the events of
9/11. According to YES’s official website,
“the program is funded through the U.S.
Department of State and sponsored by the
Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs
(ECA) to provide scholarships for high
school students from countries with
significant Muslim populations to spend up
to one academic year in the United States.
Students live with host families, attend high
school, engage in activities to learn about
American society and values, acquire
leadership skills, and help educate
Americans about their countries and
cultures. “In 2009, YES began a new
program called YES Abroad for U.S
students and the students (15-18 years old)
within the program spend one academic
year in YES countries.”
The GNA Insider sat down with
Pattharasuda Phetprasomgul to ask her a
few questions:
What is the biggest difference
between attending school in your
home countr y versus attending
school in Nanticoke?
Nanticoke offers more extracirculars.
There are more kids here that actively
participate and/or work after school. There
are about 4,000 students at my school in
Thailand compared to the 800 students we
have at Nanticoke. In Thailand from 7am7:40am, there is a school wide meeting
where the national song is sung and prayers
are said, then classes are held from 8:30am
- 4:00pm.
What is the biggest adjustment
you had to make since beginning
school at Nanticoke?
I came here on my own. There was no
one else I knew on the plane. The flights
took me from Thailand to Japan and then
to the United States.
Can you describe the process of
becoming a foreign exchange student?
First, I had to take a test for CHI,
Cultural Homestay International, and
YES, Youth Exchange Scholarship. The
organizations defray 70% of costs while the
rest is out of pocket. Thailand takes care of
contacting a host family that is willing to
take me in.
What is your favorite class and
why?
French is my favorite subject. Mrs.
Harbaugh is a nice person. I enjoy learning
other languages. I also like chorus and art.
What are some of the cultural
differences you have experienced thus
far?
Pe o p l e i n t h e U. S. a r e m o r e
independent. I feel as though I have the
freedom to be anything I want to be here.
What are your favorite foods?
In the U.S I enjoy pierogies and pizza.
In Thailand I enjoy hot and spicy foods
and foods made with curry.
Do you have any hobbies? If so,
what are they?
My hobbies include listening to music,
singing, painting, art, chorus, and
cheerleading.
What are some misconceptions
that you had before coming here?
In simple terms I thought that
everyone would be much taller from seeing
them in American made movies. The
organization, which runs the exchange
program, taught me not to expect the
families to be rich with large houses as seen
in the movies. We were also told not to
expect the school to be perfect like in the
movies. There would be issues in the
schools; some of them might even be
rundown. The program instilled in us the
ability to adapt very quickly because we
need to realize that each student would
have different experiences no matter where
they went.
Ploy enjoys being in the States
because:
People are much more independent
The classes are much smaller
Americans are able to think for
themselves
Americans are thoughtful and
empathetic
One on one teacher-student
interaction.
Page 13
Ploy will be sepending an entire
school year here at GNA. She
intends to become a part our our
Trojan cheerleading squad for the
winter and spring of 2015
College Prep Advice
Preparing for college starts earlier than
most people think. Mr. Hischak, a guidance
counselor here at GNA, explained that
students who plan on attending college after
high school need to start preparing their
freshman year. He also elaborated on the
many different things colleges look at when
d e t e r m i n i n g a s t u d e n t ’s a d m i s s i o n
requirements. An important part of
preparing for college is choosing a major
and career path. There are some aspects
that high school students tend to overlook:
Choose your classes wisely.
The classes you choose in high school
are important. You have to plan your classes
around what you want to pursue as a career.
For example, if you wanted to go into the
medical field after high school, you should
take certain math and science courses. It is
important to know what you want to study
so you can get a jumpstart on those topics
now in high school. If you are not sure what
you want to do just yet, don’t panic, just
broaden your course choices. Who knows,
you might find something that really
interests you.
Keep your grades up.
People with higher grades are more
likely to be accepted into their college of
choice.
Get involved.
West Point
Colleges don’t only look at your grades;
they also look at your extra-curricular
activities. Sports, community service, and
other extra-curricular undertakings look
respectable on college applications.
Take the SAT/ACT exams.
Students have multiple chances to take
the SAT and ACT state standardized tests.
The SAT test is an aptitude test. The ACT
test is more of an achievement test,
measuring what the student has learned in
school. Choose the one that suits you and
the needs of the college you plan on
attending. Take them as many times as you
can. Don’t wait until the spring of your
senior year to sign up for the exam. For
practice, take the PSATs in your sophomore
and junior years. These scores are one of
the most important aspects that colleges look
at for admission.
Princeton
Johns Hopkins
Boston College
Apply for scholarships.
College can be expensive and everyone
can use a little help, right? Scholarships are
a great way to take some of the burden off
of college expenses. Scholarships are
defined as free money based on matching
certain criteria or qualifications. They are
not based on grade point average (GPA)
alone. There are scholarships for just about
everything. Apply for all that you can.
US Naval Academy
Tonya Hill and Tori Rozell
A Note from Our Councilors
Stanford
Notre Dame
There are many different aspects in preparing for college that students tend to
overlook. College preparations begin as early as your freshman year of high school. These
include choosing the right classes, keeping your grades up, getting involved, taking the
SAT/ACT exams, and applying for scholarships. Good luck on your future endeavors
Prestigious Colleges and Universities of GNA Graduates:
Yale
Cornell
Bucknell
University
New York University
Carnegie Mellon University
Johns Hopkins
Cornell
University
Boston College
Dartmouth College
University of Notre Dame
Page 14
Harvard
University
United States Naval Academy
Princeton
University
West Point
Yale
University
Stanford