Area students are writing a weekly column for the Times News. The column is being coordinated by Sue Ann Gerhard from Carbon Career & Technical Institute.

Carbon Career & Technical Institute

Gracie Heintzelman

Hello everyone, here is what is going on at CCTI.

First, I would like to congratulate all the CCTI DECA members who attended state competition. DECA State competition 2024 was held in Hershey from Wednesday, FEb. 12 through Friday, Feb. 23. This year’s competition was met with over 3,000 students from across Pennsylvania. Competitors took a 100 multiple choice exam Wednesday evening and competed in two role plays on Thursday. The following students placed in this competition:

Jalin Burns - Placed third overall, and awarded a spot at Nationals for Hospitality and Hotel Management.

Chapter Banner (Art Contest) Team of Sierra Scheirer, Natalya Rivera, and Sydney Amorim - 3rd place

Breydon Hand - Triple medals for top scores in exam, and two role plays in Entrepreneurship.

DaShae Brubacker - Medal for top score in one role-play in Principles of Marketing.

Jordyn Drumbore - Medal for top score in one role-play in Retail Merchandising.

Hayley Hartung - Medal for top score in one role-play in Accounting.

Trent Hausman - Medal for top score in Automotive Services Marketing.

Javion King - Medal for top score in one role-play in Apparel and Accessories.

Savannah Klotz - Medal for top role play score in Automotive Service Marketing.

Elizabeth Lutte - Medal for top role play score in Restaurant Food service Marketing.

Makenna Montefour - Medal for top role play score in Human Resources Management.

Kyra Moore - Medal for top role play in Marketing Communications Series.

Grace Politi - Medal for top role play in Principles of Marketing.

Congratulations to all.

CCTI yearbooks are on sale for $35. You can pick up an envelop in the tech office or order online at https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/my/CCTI2024.

Yearbooks will be delivered at the end of May.

March 19 will be the National Technical Honor Society Induction from 6-8 p.m. in the CCTI cafeteria.

The end of the third quarter is March 21 and the fourth quarter will begin March 22nd.

Lehighton High School

Koy Wentz and Abby Bauder

Welcome back.

To start, a session was recently held with a representative from Lehigh Carbon Community College about the college scholar program offered at the high school. The college scholars program involves receiving a two-year associates liberal arts degree while completing high school requirements. This is an excellent opportunity for students and shows the great relationship between LCCC and LASD.

Next, a thrift shop has been set up in the guidance office at the high school. All items are free of charge. The thrift shop is open to all students and provides items for all types of things for anything from something warm to wear, to gym clothes. The high school thrift shop is open once a week. This was a joint operation between Aevidum, the high school nurse, Mrs. Rickert, and the guidance counselors.

Finally, a special congratulations to Addison Chavanic on making school history by earning the first girls wrestling District 11 championship. This is an amazing accomplishment. The entire high school is so proud of our student-athletes. In addition, congratulations to Reese Balk on securing the District 11 2A 285 pound weight class championship.

Thanks again. Till next time.

Panther Valley High School

Mikayla Yuricheck

Here at Panther Valley, there has been an abundance of great things occurring.

Many of our winter sport athletes have competed in their respective district tournaments. The boys basketball team came out successful, winning in the first round against Palmerton. Girls wrestler, Brenda Banks, had a stellar showing in both the district and regional tournament. She is now looking to win her second state championship as just a sophomore.

Panther Valley’s National Honor Society students are excited to announce that their sticky bun fundraiser went well, and they are hoping to reveal the amount that will be donated to pediatric cancer research in the near future. Other than fundraising, these students can be seen volunteering all throughout the community, but specifically at the Maple Shade Nursing Home. A group of student volunteers went to the nursing home and helped the residents create St. Patrick’s Day themed crafts, which was an enjoyable experience for all involved.

Academically, progress reports went home with students this past week. All students are reminded to keep their grades up, so they can compete in the end of year activities which will be coming up.

Spring sports physicals and recertification forms are due on March 4 which is the first official day of spring sports practice. Student-athletes who do not turn this form in, will not be able to participate.

An exciting new improvement has recently occurred outside of the intermediate and junior/senior high school. A new LED sign/message board was purchased by St. Luke’s and installed in front of the school complex.

That’s all for this week, looking forward to checking in next week.

Jim Thorpe High School

Gabriella Cerra

For this upcoming week, JTAHS has much in store, specifically community service.

First off, there are some volunteer opportunities available to anyone interested, specifically those intending to apply to the National Honor Society or help the PA FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Region 21, gain hours to be recognized, at the State Leadership Conference, as one of the Top 10 community serving regions in the state. Hours earned can be used for both. Access to the form to log FBLA community service hours is available on the Band app to any contributing members.

On Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m., the LB Morris Reading Night will be held. Volunteers are to contact Mrs. Zoba. Two days later, also from 6-8 p.m., the Penn Kidder Reading Night will be held, and volunteers are to contact Mrs. Andreas.

Another opportunity to earn service hours and make a difference in the community: Jim Thorpe’s guidance counselors, Mrs. Klotz and Mrs. Burchell, are hoping to start an Interact Club at Jim Thorpe for the next academic year. Interact is a service club, part of a network of Rotary sponsored clubs, making global differences. A certain level of student interest has to be met for the club to develop in Jim Thorpe. Anyone interested in becoming an active member of the community, gaining service hours, or just doing work for the benefit of others can contact his or her respective guidance counselor, Mrs. Burchell for last names A-L and Mrs. Klotz for last names M-Z, for more details or the flier regarding the Interact Club and the values that will be instilled upon members. Also, to any relatives or neighbors of Jim Thorpe students, encourage those you know to get involved. Increased membership benefits the community and will lead to the acquisition of important skills and experiences.

Jim Thorpe’s Literary and Arts Magazine, the Flame (theflamejtasd.com), is still running their St. Patrick’s program, requesting any luck or instance of fortune inspired literary or artistic works. Submissions can be sent to the-flame-staff@jtasd.org, or physically submitted to Ms. Maccorkle. The Flame staff would appreciate the help of anyone who personally took a photo that matches the scheme of a literary works to submit his or her images as potential cover pieces. All of the poems can be seen on the site attached to the link previously provided. A PODS meeting for staff members of The Flame, or anyone interested in joining, will be Wednesday in Ms. Maccorkle’s classroom.

History Club’s weekly meeting will once again in be held from 2:45-4 p.m. in Mr. Ellison’s classroom on Tuesday. Jim Thorpe’s History Club is always open to new participants, even if they do not plan to fully commit to joining.

If trivia is your jam, Scholastic Scrimmage is your peanut butter. Jim Thorpe’s Scholastic Scrimmage team practice will still be held in Ms. Maccorkle’s room, available to interested parties, during PODS Thursday. The March 14 Palmerton meet is nearing, so the time to join if interested, is now.

Thank you to everyone who supports Jim Thorpe in the many ways available.

Weatherly High School

Mellanie Marshman

This week for the Weatherly Wreckers will have a board meeting on March 6 where the new senior of the month will be announced.

A special congratulations will go to Remi Zubritsky, Kaiya Kunkle, and Christiana Wolfard for winning the first stage for American Auxiliary poppy poster contest.

That’s all for the Weatherly Wreckers - more news next week.