Editor’s note: Students from area school districts are providing regular columns on happenings in their schools. The project is being coordinated by Sue Gerhard at Carbon Career & Technical Institute.

Palmerton

By Natalie Mosiera and Kira Houser

The Palmerton FBLA hosted the Region 21 Future Business Leaders of America Regional Conference at Palmerton High School on Jan. 5. Over 300 students from eight schools in Carbon and Monroe counties attended the event.

Superintendent Dr. Jodi Frankelli welcomed students. Maggie O’Brien, Scranton regional manager of Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania was the Keynote speaker. O’Brien encouraged the fundraising efforts of the organization. Make-A-Wish is the Pennsylvania FBLA state project for 2022-2023.

The Palmerton FBLA had 77 of 103 members qualify for states. These students will compete at the state level on April 17 to 19 in Hershey.

The group will be holding a Krispy Kreme fundraiser to help offset the cost for these students to participate. The doughnuts will be sold between Feb. 1 and 10. Glazed and mixed flavors will be available (chocolate glazed, raspberry glazed, glazed lemon-filled, and glazed creme-filled.)

Contact a Palmerton FBLA member to place your order. Email their adviser, Kerry Palumbo, at kpalumbo@palmerton.org.

The Keystone testing at Palmerton was held through Thursday. The students are tested on literature, biology, and algebra. Each morning, the students go to their assigned testing rooms to be tested on the various subjects. If a student does not pass a particular test, they have to take that test again the next year. Passing these tests is a graduation requirement, so they are very important.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley visited our school and toured the building with Principal Paula Husar. They were joined by Superintendent Frankelli and School Board directors Brandon Mazepa, Doris Zellers, Tammy Recker, and Pennsylvania School Board’s Association member Katie Gilmartin.

Weatherly

By Michael Berger and Kelly Michaels

Our boys’ basketball team placed second in the CMVT Tournament over our winter break. Kicking off the week in Weatherly, our boys’ basketball team has games on Jan. 17 against Tri-Valley at home, Jan. 20 against Schuylkill Haven away, and varsity starting at 7:30 for both. Girls basketball also has games on Jan. 16 against Tri-Valley away and Jan. 19 against Schuylkill Haven at home, with varsity starting at 6:30 for both.

We are also excited to announce, our FBLA chapter has 11 people qualifying for the state’s leadership conference. We also want to recognize December’s Senior of the Month, Angelina Fewins. We are so proud of you, Wreckers!

Lehighton

By Gabriella Di Dea and Josiah Kimmel

Thank you for continuing to read our weekly updates.

There’s been an exciting buzz throughout the school because of two big achievements. First, the competitive cheerleading team won districts for the first time in Lehighton history. This weekend, the team competed at Easton Middle school against six other teams, and placed first in their division. They are now looking ahead to the State Competition which will be held in Hershey on Jan. 27.

Then, FBLA announced they have 14 members going to states for their respective competitions.

In the spring, the following members will be attending the State Leadership Conference at the Hershey Lodge:

Katie Wojton, Ciara Behrel, Layla Bravo, Emma Gaston, Riley Nothstein, Jackie Rodgers, Josiah Kimmel, Anna Howland, Gianna Failla, Alex Sebelin, Madison Smith, Aiden Zelrick, Rebecca Dishong, and Maggie Pagatto.

Rehearsals have begun for the spring musical “Bye, Bye, Birdie” directed by Laurel Zimmerman.

Showtimes are scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 20, 21 and 22, so mark your calendars.

The annual Coal Cracker Invitational wrestling tournament will be held at the high school and elementary center on Jan. 20 to 21.

The wrestling team will also be attending the Schuylkill League Championships on Saturday.

The girls basketball teams play at Panther Valley tonight, and the boys teams played here at the Elementary Center on Thursday.

For real-time updates and news, follow the school’s official Instagram page @lehightontribe or on Twitter @LehightonHighSc

LCCC Dual Enrollment registration is open for the spring semester. Classes offered at LAHS include Intro to Mass Communications, Intro to Political Science, World War II, Nutrition, Intro to Literature, and College Algebra. We would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Cheers to our fellow columnists, everyone at Times News, and all of our readers.

CCTI

By Isabel Wentz

Happy New Year!

CCTI students participated in Keystones retakes, literature, English, and math.

SkillsUSA competed on Jan. 5, and awards will be given next week.

Congratulations to everyone who competed on Jan. 5 at SkillsUSA competition.

The following students placed in the competition:

Valerie Kruslicky, Panther Valley, first place, advertising design; Garrett Balliet, Palmerton, CNC Milling Specialist; Colby Haydt, Palmerton, CNC Technician; Kyle Kuznicki, Lehigihton, CNC Turning Specialist; Ashley Little, Panther Valley, commercial baking (Baking and Pastry); Julia Romankow, Panther Valley, T-shirt design; Noah Bryfogle of Palmerton, Information Technical Services, second place; Eliana Brazil, Palmerton, nursing assistant; Dylan Shick, Palmerton, third place, customer service.

First place winners will move on to the state competition in April.

Great job to all!

Seniors and Juniors: in good standing with your grades, attendance and discipline record - This is your opportunity to apply for membership into the National Technical Honor Society. The application, directions for application, service hour form, requirements and teacher recommendation form are all attached to the Junior and Senior Google Classrooms. Questions can be directed to Mrs. Gerhard. This completed application packet is due by Feb. 10.

CTI Month is fast approaching. Many activities are planned for the month of February for all students.

Panther Valley

By River Knoblauch

Happy New Year!

After a much-needed break to enjoy the holidays, the Panther Valley School District is entering the New Year by preparing for an end to the first semester. With midterms and finals approaching, students are busy studying and preparing for new classes to begin. The school district is starting off 2023 with a new assistant principal, Mrs. Jones, who will be working across the Elementary, Intermediate, and JSHS buildings. Not only has the PVHS received new staff, but some much needed improvements as well. The old scoreboard at the football stadium, which was damaged and often unreadable, has been upgraded with a brand-new replacement.

Athletics

Following up with the last column, the boy’s basketball team took another successful win over their rivals Marian Catholic, with a final score of 66-56.

The girls took a soaring win over Palisades on Dec. 28, with a score of 60-32. The girls are scheduled to play at Tamaqua on Jan. 10 and will be taking on Lehighton at home on the 13th.

To wrap up 2022, our athletes and directors’ outstanding performances were proved. Junior Riley Mcardle won the title of Times News Volleyball Player of the Year, which could not have been achieved without the mentoring of coach Emillie Baker, who won Republican Herald Coach of the Year.

The Panther Valley newspaper, Pawprints, is working on finalizing and composing the second issue of the year. Make sure to keep an eye out for when it is published, which will be accessible on the Panther Valley JSHS Facebook page, and the Pawprints Instagram Page!

The boys’ Basketball Team will face off three different schools on the home court. Jan. 17, the boys will compete against Jim Thorpe for the second time this season at 7 p.m., hoping to achieve another win against the Olympians. Friday the 20th, they will face Pine Grove at 7 p.m., and Hamburg the following day, with Varsity at 1:30 p.m. The girls basketball team will play at Jim Thorpe on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m., and at Pine Grove on the 19th. They will play Salisbury Township at 5 p.m., after the boys game vs. Hamburg on Jan. 21.

The Panther Valley Harmony Scholars club is kicking up their practices this week, coming up with new skits and dances for the final show that will take place in April.

On Tuesday, the National Honor Society will be making its monthly trip down to the Elementary School to help with the Second Harvest, unloading the trucks and organizing the school food bank, which is done every third Tuesday of the month.