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

CCTI is hosting a Bag Bingo and Basket Raffle from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 9 in the CCTI cafeteria. Doors will open at 4 p.m. and the games will begin at 6 p.m. The bingo will benefit over 300 CCTI students. For more information and ticket prices, call 570-325-3682, ext. 1500.

Attention all students. Do you have a talent? We are looking for students (and staff) interested in performing in this year’s CCTI Talent Show. We need all kinds of performers: singers, dancers, comedians, musicians, or another awesome talent. Perform solo or with a group of your friends. If you are interested, come to the meeting Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 1:30 p.m. (during Activity Period) in Ms. Kowalcyk’s room #303.

Reminder: 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 to apply for National Technical Honor Society has been posted to the Junior and Senior Google Classrooms. Applications must be complete with all appropriate forms before submitting to Mrs. Gerhard. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Deadline for submission is Wednesday.

Lehighton High School

Koy Wentz and Abby Bauder

Welcome back everyone. This week there are many great things happening around Lehighton Area High School.

It is time for seniors to start ordering their caps and gowns. Graduation is rapidly approaching and the students can feel the anticipation. Many upcoming events will be occurring to prepare for the momentous occasion. We are almost there, Class of 2024.

Students have taken their midterms for all of their classes. Midterms are a cumulative test of everything that has been taught in a class during the first two marking periods. In more depth, midterm exams are used to evaluate students’ understanding of course material and gauge their progress before the end of the term. Midterms are typically more comprehensive than regular quizzes and may cover a significant portion of the course content.

Support groups and group counseling sessions are being offered at the school for any students who are interested in participating. Support groups and group counseling offer a way for students to speak with a professional. These groups are a great resource for many students at the high school.

LCCC spring semester began on Jan. 22 for dual enrollment and college scholars. If you have not done so already, check your LCCC portal to make sure that you are enrolled in your classes.

That is all for now. See you next week.

Panther Valley High School

Mikayla Yuricheck

Hello everyone. There have been some exciting things happening at Panther Valley. Our 8th grade boys basketball team took home the gold in the annual Redford Memorial Tournament. Our varsity girls basketball team clinched their District XI playoff berth for the 2024 season and they are hoping to keep their winning streak alive and improve seeding for both the district and the league. The varsity boys basketball team is hoping to win their upcoming games and secure their playoff seeding.

On the mat, our female wrestlers had a strong showing at the annual Coal Cracker Tournament. On the varsity level, Brenda Banks took first place at 235 pounds and Alisa Williams took fifth place at 172. For the JV girls, Kyla McQuillen took home two second place medals and Anelia Bennick took home a third place medal in their respective weight classes. The boys had the opportunity to wrestle against some really tough competition which will surely prepare them for districts.

Swimmer Michael Williams seems to be swimming personal records every time I see the write up, so hopefully he gets himself into districts. If you would like to follow these sports teams be sure to check out PV Sports on Facebook and Twitter. The Pawprints Newspaper staff proudly presented the second quarter issue of their newspaper this past week.

I am eager to announce that the Panther Valley National Honor Society has selected the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation as the organization they will be donating to this year. There will be a sticky bun fundraiser going home with all of the NHS members and the profits made will be donated to the foundation. That’s a wrap and we can’t wait to be back next week.

Jim Thorpe High School

Gabriella Cerra

Officially halfway through the year as of Monday, Jan. 19, the senior class is now kicking fundraisers for prom and other possible events into high gear. Junior prom is now scheduled for May 10, and planning is ongoing. Class members are selling Krispy Kreme donuts until Feb. 2, so anyone who is interested in purchasing to support the Class of 2024 should contact a senior or a class adviser.

For those who miss morning announcements, it is imperative to NOT carry around bags or wear blankets in school, which has become more prominent of an issue, due to now being in winter.

As per usual with the highly active Jim Thorpe FBLA chapter this year, there are opportunities currently available for members. One of said opportunities is registration for the Friday, March 1 field trip to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. the Charlotte Checkers game. The game is at Mohegan Sun Arena, starting at 7:05 p.m. Departure from the high school will be at 3 p.m., due to the behind-the-scenes tour students in attendance will be experiencing.

Drop-off destinations are the high school and Penn Kidder Campus. Members planning to attend are to fill out the Google form available on the Band App and hand in the $20 fee to Mrs. Thompson by Feb. 9.

FBLA is also still running a shoe drive for new or gently used shoes. A box open to donations is located at the beginning of the nurse/guidance hallway. Donations will benefit the Special Olympics, as the PA FBLA state project of this year. Members who paid the commitment fee and are going on the trip to attend the State Leadership Conference at Hershey, your fee due date, Feb. 12, is coming up. Make sure to have your savings ready. Lastly for FBLA members, log community service hours. Jim Thorpe’s chapter receives credit, and hours to be used for National Honors Society are accepted too. Support your chapter, and share your hours.

The Scholastic Scrimmage team participates in trivia competitions, the next is in Palmerton on March 12. Open practice will be hosted on Wednesday from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Mrs. Maccorkle’s classroom. Students interested in participating may also contact Mrs. Maccorkle to be added to the Schoology page, with updates and practice schedules. Competitors and alternates for the main team for the Palmerton meet will be selected sometime in February.

Mock Trial’s initial trial dates are approaching quickly, being in the second week of February, so any students interested in joining for the experience are encouraged to do so soon. Active roles are not required of any members, but under study positions are still available to anyone willing to learn the case under a time constraint. This year, the PA Bar Association made the case criminal, focused on small-town competition and if restaurant owner Addison Booker is willing to go so far as to murder her pizza shop competitor, Geoffrey Esper. For more details on the case, attend Tuesdays’s meeting in Mr. Strubinger’s room, starting at 4 p.m.

History Club’s weekly meeting, open to all of the student body interested in attending, will once again be on Tuesday from 2:45-4 p.m. in Mr. Ellison’s classroom. Members are still selling Blow Pops during each lunch. Each lollipop costs 50 cents, and change is available. The proceeds go toward the cost of transportation for next year’s multi-night trip to Boston.

The Flame’s staff members are scheduled to meet in Mrs. Maccorkle’s classroom on Wednesday during PODS. Anyone else interested in joining the school’s literary and arts magazine is welcome to attend.

On Jan. 26, the school’s newspaper, the Olympian Current, published recent articles about various events and topics relevant to JTAHS. For anyone who was unaware but is interested in seeing the work of the students, the web address with all of the Olympian Current’s articles published thus far this year is olympiancurrent.com.

For those who want to show their support to Jim Thorpe athletics and prove why Jim Thorpe is the home of the Olympians, below is the schedule of this week’s sporting events.

• Girls Varsity Basketball at Blue Mountain; Jan. 29, 5:30 p.m.

• Boys Middle School Basketball, Home (Penn Kidder) vs. Weatherly; Jan. 29, 6 p.m.

• Girls Middle School Basketball at Weatherly; Jan. 29, 6 p.m.

• Boys Varsity Basketball, Home vs. Blue Mountain; Jan. 30, 6 p.m.

• Boys Middle School Basketball, Home (Penn Kidder) vs. Tamaqua; Jan. 31, 6 p.m.

• Girls Middle School Basketball at Tamaqua; Jan, 31, 6 p.m.

• Girls Middle School Basketball at Lehighton; Feb. 1, 4 p.m.

• Boys Middle School Basketball Home (Penn Kidder) vs. Lehighton; Feb. 1, 6 p.m.

• Girls Varsity Basketball Home vs. North Schuylkill; Feb. 1, 6 p.m.

• Boys Varsity Basketball at North Schuylkill; Feb. 2, 6 p.m.

• Boys Junior High Wrestling (Tournament) Away at Mahanoy Area High School; Feb. 3, 9 a.m.

• Girls Varsity Basketball Home vs. Pottsville Nativity; Feb. 3, 11 a.m.

Weatherly High School

Mellanie Marshman

Weatherly Wreckers had their last day of the second marking period on Mon, Jan 22.

There are basketball games all week long varying from girls and boys varsity to junior high.

On Friday there will be a senior night for all senior athletes in every sport. Recently one of our senior athletes, Alexander Ortiz, was given Rec Specs from our Police Department for basketball.

Our Kindness Club is doing “Operation Valuable Veterans” and they are donating gift cards and cash to veterans in need.

The Interact Club will be hosting a bake sale on Friday during the basketball game to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

That is what’s going on with the Weatherly Wreckers.