Shelley Gill recently enthusiastically talked to the students at Mountain View about her adventures and life in Alaska and how it became her life work to write about those adventures in children’s books. Her visit was generously sponsored by the Mountain View Elementary School PTO.

Author Shelley Gill with kindergarten students Emma Pratt, Elise Argust, and David Parry who are in Mrs. Borgna’s class at Mountain View Elementary School.

Her presentation was accompanied by a power point of her magnificent photographs of the animals, the landscape, and her Alaskan adventures. The first slide was a map of the United States with Alaska over laid directly on the US map. It was amazing for the students and teachers to see the actual size of Alaska. She explained that when we look at a map of the USA, Alaska is usually in a small box to the bottom left of the map which never really represents the enormity of the state. From there her presentation included breath-taking photos of her adventures, some of which were accompanied by actual sounds of whales and other animals. Alaska was certainly brought to life by her lively presentation.

Shelley is the author of over thirty children’s books based on her life experiences living in Alaska for almost 40 years. In order to better address students in smaller groups and age appropriate talks she did three presentations at the school the same day.

The following day, Shelley spoke at the Young Author’s Day at Keystone College to an audience composed of students from seven districts in the area. She traveled from Alaska and noted that events like this are inspiring to the development of children who are interested in writing. She told them, “make your writing exciting by using your words to express your senses.” The same evening Ms. Gill presented a professional development session for teachers at the University of Scranton showing how to spark interest in children and instill an appreciation for nature through books. That talk was sponsored by NPRA (Northeastern Pennsylvania Reading Association) as a part of their on-going professional development series.

After taking a weekend off, the Elk Lake Forensic s Team’s Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debaters were back in top form at the LaSalle Forum Tournament at La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, PA on December 10.

EL Forensics Team Place-winners at LaSalle Forum Forensics Tournament: Matthew Horvath, 1st place in Novice LD Debate; Austin Cohen, 1st place in Varsity LD Debate; Richard Guiton, 4th place in Varsity LD Debate.

EL varsity debaters Austin Cohen and Richard Guiton, along with first year debater Matthew Horvath, in only his second tournament, all brought home trophies from a tournament that brings together the top debaters from the Philadelphia area.

Austin Cohen led the team by compiling an undefeated record during the three preliminary rounds and advancing to Semi-Finals in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate as the top seeded debater.

In Semi-Finals, Cohen was paired with EL senior Richard Guiton who had also compiled an undefeated record and was seeded fourth. Based on his seeding Cohen advanced and Guiton placed fourth.

In Finals, Cohen defeated Jared Fenton from Harriton High School on a unanimous 3-0 decision and won the championship in Varsity LD Debate.

Matthew Horvath, in only the second tournament of his career, advanced to Semi-Finals in Novice LD Debate by compiling an undefeated three win and no loss record during the preliminary rounds.

Horvath won a unanimous decision over a debater from Truman HS in the Semi-Finals and advanced to the Final round where he also faced a debater from Harriton High School.

Horvath, like Cohen, won a unanimous 3-0 decision and captured the Novice LD Debate title.

The three debaters also set a team record by going undefeated on the day. Beyond that, none of the debaters dropped a ballot from a judge through the entire day.

“This was an incredible performance by these three debaters. In 20 years, I have never had three debaters dominate a tournament in Philadelphia like these boys did. They worked hard and they earned these titles,” commented EL Forensic Director Keith Brosious.

The team will travel to Shikellamy High School in Sunbury on January 7 for the prestigious Blue, Maroon, and White Tournament.

Luzerne County Community College will offer courses for the spring semester in Elk Lake, Susquehanna and Tunkhannock. Registration for courses in Susquehanna will be held at Susquehanna Community High School on Thursday, January 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration for courses in Elk Lake will be held at Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center on Wednesday, January 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration for courses in Tunkhannock will be held at Tunkhannock High School on Thursday, January 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Classes scheduled to be offered in Susquehanna include Anatomy & Physiology, English Composition, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Nutrition & Wellness, and Philosophy.

Classes scheduled to be offered in Elk Lake include Psychology, Math, and Chemistry.

Classes scheduled to be offered in Tunkhannock include Art Appreciation and Advanced Composition.

Classes for the spring semester will begin on Tuesday, January 17.

For more information, call LCCC at (800) 377-LCCC, extension 3826 or 3835 or email lsalamon@luzerne.edu or lhahn@luzerne.edu.

Rob Presley, Principal, Mountain View Elementary School is pleased to announce the November 2011 Students of the Month.

PreK - 2nd Grade

Pictured above: back - Gavin Bewley, Sophia Striefsky, Gavin Natterer, Hailey Gray, Dillon Pallman, Rob Presley (Principal); middle - David Parry, Scott O’Dell, Wyatt Yachymiak, Ricardo Hernandez; front - Alexis Frisbie, Casey Congdon, Dominic Rinaldi, Jocelyn Schwartztrauber.

3rd - 6th Grade

Pictured above: back - Payton Rosecrans, Kurstian Stankiewicz, Brandi Taylor, Holly O’Brien, Evan Clarkson, Rob Presley (Principal); middle - Emma DeMark, Alex MacDonald, Abigail O’Dell, Tajah Thomas, Hannah Geron; front - Christopher DeManicor, Michael DeWolfe, Madison Hunter.

Karen Voigt, Director of Curriculum & Instruction/ Federal Programs at Mountain View School District, received a $150 educational grant from the Susquehanna Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) at the school board meeting on December 19.

With budgets being cut in school districts across the state, the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) created this grant to make possible a program or activity that might not have been possible because of budget constraints. Ellen Holdredge, Educational Support Chairperson of the Susquehanna County PASR Chapter, presented the award, assisted by Bob Orner, president of the chapter, and Mary Ketterer, Region 3 PASR Educational Support Chairperson.

Pictured (l-r) above: Bob Orner, Ellen Holdredge, Karen Voigt, Robert Presley, Mt. View Elementary Principal.

Mountain View Elementary School has implemented a School Wide Effective Support (SWEBS) program. This research based program will improve student behavior school wide, and improved behavior improves student achievement with more time-on-task and focused attention to school assignments and instruction. Soaring eagles hang from the lobby ceiling with the names of students who have been demonstrating appropriate behavior. Students move their clips for misbehaviors. They cannot attain the status of soaring eagles with clip moves.

This grant from PASR will help to finance the incentive component of the SWEBS program for students modeling appropriate behavior. Several times a year, students are recognized for their good behavior. Each grade level may show a movie, do an art activity, receive prizes, or have some other type of reward in which students with good behavior participate.

PASR congratulates Karen Voigt and Mountain View School District on their attempt to shift attention to good behavior by rewarding it throughout the elementary school.

Alice M. Davis, Ph.D., Administrative Director of the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center (SCCTC) is proud to announce the SCCTC’s “Students of the Month” for November 2011. Pictured (l-r) above: Jessica Prevost, Charles Brand, Caleb Wilkes, Lindsey Shingler, Michael Shevchuck, Tanner Reyan, Ryan Tingley, Victoria Clouse, Devin Hoffman, Helen Schoonmaker, Allison Kiefer, Alice M. Davis, Ph.D., and Danny Addice; absent - Jesus Avila, Amanda Tanzini and Will Weida.

LOCK HAVEN, PA - The Lock Haven University 2011 winter commencement ceremony was held Saturday, December 17. There were 307 degree candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Human Services.

President Michael Fiorentino, Jr. presented degrees. Among the students receiving degrees was Stephen A. Stahl of New Milford who received a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Mr. Robert Keyes, Principal of Susquehanna Community Elementary School, announces the “Students of the Month” for November 2011 for kindergarten through sixth grade.

Kindergarten, First, Second and Third

Pictured (l-r) above: row 1 - Lily Hansen, Colton Stone, William Lawrence; row 2 - Christopher Olmstead, Brianna Ashman, Jordan Towner; row 3 - Jordyn Glover, Jackson Batzel, Devlin Ace, Adriana Zebrowski; row 4 - Anthony Palonis, Sophie Lawrenson, Jenna Krall; absent - Dominick Murphy, Chasity Rafferty, Aiden Rumola.

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth

Pictured (l-r) above: row 1 - Dakota Sanders, Zachary Meck, Taylor Huyck, Elizabeth Barnes; row 2 - Benjamin Prentice, Cody MacDonald, Bianca Ramos, Chloe Tinklepaugh; row 3 - Travis Rockwell, Kolby Baker, Chloe Haskins, Jorge Bautista.