JOURNALISM STUDENTS EARN AWARDS

Drew Giorgi, Emma Singer, Angie House and Will Hicks

Three of Mr. Giorgi's journalism students have earned writing awards from The Intelligencer's Newspapers in Education. Senior -Will Hicks, sophomore -Angie House and freshman - Emma Singer each were selected as first-place winners in the 2011 Write a Poem Contest. In addition, Emma Singer was also selected as a first-place winner in the 2011 Design a Business Ad Contest. They and their families are invited to an awards ceremony at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit on April 14th where they will receive a medal and certificate commemorating their achievements. They will also be featured in a special issue of The Intelligencer on May 11th.

VIOLIN STUDENT ADVANCES TO STATE COMPETITION

New Hope-Solebury junior, Greg Chen, placed 6th on violin in the Regional Orchestra festival on March 10th at West Chester East High School. Greg will be moving on to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All State Orchestra competition on April 13th in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

AWARD-WINNING PAINTING DONATED TO NH-S HIGH SCHOOL

Principal, Stephen Young, accepts painting donation from Pamela Miller

On March 8, artist, Pamela Malabre Miller, generously donated her painting, January Afternoon Moon, to New Hope-Solebury High School. Pamela’s son, Tim, had attended New Hope-Solebury schools since kindergarten and graduated in 2006. “I’m giving the painting to the library as a thumbs-up to the district, teachers and principal, Dr. Young,” remarked Pamela. “This painting is award-winning and has been quite successful for me. It’s a pleasure to have it on display in the high school library.”

Pamela received both a bachelor of Arts degree in Art and a teacher certificate in Art Education from Northland College in Wisconsin. She has been painting with pastels for over twenty years and has won numerous awards for her paintings, as well as her ceramics. January Afternoon Moon has won the Radcliffe Gallery Award for Traditional Bucks County Landscape in 2009 at the Phillips Mill 80th Annual Fall Show and an award from the Lambertville House given at the 29th annual Lambertville and the Surrounding Area winter show. It was also accepted into the first juried art show for the New Hope Art League held at the Prallsville Mill, Stockton, NJ in 2010.

January Afternoon Moon is a scene of hayrolls on Kitchens Lane in Solebury before it became a housing community. “I like to compose landscapes defined by intense color and the changing light of day,” said Pamela. “Many of my landscapes represent the round shape in the familiar form of the hayroll. These hayrolls are part of the local New Hope scene that will soon disappear.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have this beautiful painting on display in our library,” said principal, Stephen Young.

STUDENTS GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT SCIENCE-RELATED CAREERS

S.Y.S.T.E.M.S. (Stimulating Your Science Technology Engineering and Math Students), is a New Hope-Solebury High School program which conducts multiple sessions throughout the school year about science-related careers. On March 22 from 7:00 – 8:00pm in the district’s administrative board room, one such session will be lead by founder and director, Michael Daley, Phd. He and local community and parent volunteers that work in science related careers will give a brief and personal overview of how they got interested in science, what training and education was required, what they do now and what they love about a career in science. The five ambassadors on the panel are:

an RN that went on to get her MBA and now has a company that does marketing support for the pharmaceutical industry
a PhD trained in Biochemistry that is a Research Assistant Professor at Rutgers
a practicing veterinarian that trained at the University of Pennsylvania
an environmental and geological scientist who works as a geotechnical consultant
an RN who now consults for pharmaceutical companies for medical writing and drug safety

“We invite you to come and hear how these scientists have enjoyed a challenging and rewarding career in science,” said Daley. There will also be applications for the 2011 the SYTEMS Star Summer Scholarship Award. New Hope-Solebury juniors can qualify for up to a $1000 scholarship for internships in a STEM related field this summer. “Come get an application (due May 16th ) and hear the specifics, as well as get updated on even more exciting SYTEMS Programs to come!” exclaimed Daley.

Click here for a S.Y.S.T.E.M.S. brochure!

NH-S STUDENTS CELEBRATE READING

Top photo: Senior, Rob Parla, plays the guitar as principal, Ken Silver, and sophomore, Will Shadle, listen on.

Photo below: Sophomore, Nevin Rae, reads to a group of kindergartners.

On March 2nd, approximately twenty New Hope-Solebury High School students visited the district’s Lower Elementary school and read to the kindergartners and second graders. The trip, which was arranged by reading specialists Emi Lengyel and Nancy Rachlin, was in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Senior, Rob Parla, played his guitar for the students in addition to the reading.

“There was a mutual joy of reading between the older students and the younger students,” said Dr. Lengyel.

STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY INSPIRED BY MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

NHS Care Members John Warren and Frank Cosner, Milton Creagh, NHS Care Members Bill Reilly and Stephen Young (HS principal)

On February 22nd, New Hope-Solebury High School students were captivated by a presentation by Milton Creagh, a nationally recognized motivational speaker. A sizable man with a commanding presence, Creagh presented a straightforward, no-nonsense view of how drugs and alcohol can permanently change or end a life. Many times during Creagh’s presentation, he spoke directly to individual students about the dark reality of drug and alcohol use. He asked some tough questions about issues in the students’ lives, bringing attention to the fact that all communities must come to terms with addressing these concerns. “Do you think this just happens in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?” he inquired of the students. “No! Wake up, New Hope! It may look different here in your community, but you’re facing the same deadly issues as any other city.”
“I really liked him,” commented one freshman. “He was straightforward and really made an impact on all of us.”

In the evening, Creagh addressed the community in a presentation on how parents can help their children grow to be responsible and successful adults. This presentation was equally direct as his talks with students earlier in the day. Parents were encouraged to set reasonable limits for their children and to communicate directly and honestly with them on topics related to work ethic, the value of the dollar and the management of social and relational issues.

The presentations were sponsored by the NH-S Cares committee whose mission is to champion the healthy and full development of all youth in the New Hope-Solebury Community. Creagh, who has previously visited New Hope-Solebury through NH-S Cares sponsorship, is well known for his tough, inspirational talks to teenage students. He has served on the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Expert in Residence program, has been invited to the White House, and has authored a book, Nobody Wants Your Child, about how to prepare young adults for the global workforce.

NH-S JUNIOR ADVANCES TO DEBATE FINALS

On February 4th and 5th, the New Hope-Solebury High School Debate Team competed in the 25th annual Pennsbury Falcon Invitational (PFI) at Pennsbury High School. PFI is a national tournament with over 50 schools competing.
Kevin Li, a junior, advanced to the Quarter Finals in the Lincoln Douglas debate. Of 89 participants, Li earned a 3rd seed spot for the out rounds. Out rounds started with a double octofinal bracket (top 32) and Li advanced to the semifinalist level. He lost to Elk Lake’s Austin Cohen who went on to win the tournament.
Li will be competing in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Debate League Finals held at New Hope-Solebury High School on February 16th.