Once again, Blue Ridge Elementary partnered with Trehab and WNEP Channel 16 to collect food items during the annual Feed-A-Friend food drive.  Students in grades PreK-5th collected a grand total of 638 food items. Those food items ranged from jello mix to canned fruit and applesauce. This year the first grade class collected the most items with 157 donated boxes of pudding. They were rewarded with extra recess time on their new playground equipment. Pictured above, first graders at Blue Ridge Elementary School enjoy their extra recess time reward.

Kenneth F. Cuomo, Ed.D., Elk Lake High School Principal, is pleased to announce the following students who were selected as November 2011 “Students of the Month.”

Pictured (l-r) above: front - Shante Mowry, Kyleen Sisson, Alicia Smith; back - Krystin Reed, Danielle Sterner, Will Steer, Katie Herring, Taylor Watkins, Kenneth F. Cuomo, Ed.D, High School Principal; absent - Kali Cennamo.

Students of the month are selected by nominations of any student in grades 10-12 by a teacher for outstanding achievement. The student must show individual effort, community and school wide effort, as well as effort in the classroom.

Other important criteria includes: a showing of personal growth, skill development, dedication, leadership, academic growth and improvement, school service and community service.

Rob Presley, Principal, Mt. View Elementary School, is pleased to announce the December 2011 “Student of the Month” winners.

PreK - 2nd Grade

Pictured above: back - Stephanie Nichols, Julian Johnson, Adia Tompkins, Aliyah Williams, Madisyn Tellep, Isaac Lightfoot, Payton Gabriel, Rob Presley (Principal); front - Alex Donovan, Sydney Seman, Holly Harvatine, Deegan Ross, Ryan Supancik, Rachel Ann Hunter.

3rd - 6th Grade

Pictured above: back - Kelcie Pratt, Josephine Evans, Alexis Diaz, Paige Grunewald, Mackenzie Wilbur, Tosha Shay, Rob Presley (Principal); front - Holly Galvin, Morgan Hammond, Alex Carpenetti, Brianna Gabriel, Caitlyn Williams, Alexandria DeWolfe; absent - Grace Rosecrans.

On Tuesday, December 20 Blue Ridge Elementary school celebrated its 26th annual Sharing Parade. The Sharing Parade is an event where students, faculty and staff come together to help families in need. This year's theme for the parade was "Uniting." As the Sharing Parade coordinator Kathy Roe says, the purpose of the event is to "brighten the holiday season to those in our community; show we care; help instill in our students it is important to give, to help, to share, and the good feeling you get when you help someone."

Throughout December, students donated food items to their classroom. The day of the Sharing Parade, the students brought all their items to the auditorium and placed them on tables in front of the stage. This "parade" of giving is a very special tradition at Blue Ridge Elementary.

Students read their sharing thought on stage while their classmates hold the UNITE sign. From left to right (reading) are Brock Gumaer, Tommy Gudykunst and TJ Hand. Holding the sign are Evan Snyder, Andrew Merrell, Kaleb Folk, MaKayla Phillips and Jillian Stone.

Parents are invited to come and join in the celebration of singing and sharing thoughts. Kristen Burkhart, elementary music teacher, led the students in song. Thena Summers, a community member and volunteer for the Great Bend Fire Company and American Red Cross, came to speak about the unity she witnessed this September during the devastating floods our community suffered.

This year food boxes were given to 30 families in need. A ham and a bag of potatoes were donated by Blue Ridge Elementary PTO. Toys for each child in the family were added in by Kristen Hinkley, another Blue Ridge teacher, on behalf of the Toys N Tots and Leo Club programs.

Dr. Alice M. Davis, Administrative Director/Guidance Placement Director of the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, is pleased to announce that six members of the business education program attended a Reality Fair sponsored by the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation on November 16, at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Students were invited by the P & G Mehoopany Employees Federal Credit Union which has a student branch on the campus of the SCCTC.

Pictured (l-r) above: front - Tanner Reyan, Alicia Smith, Mrs. Lisa Smith, Ms. Elena Bennett; back - Zachary Moon, Peter McGee, Austin Conrad, Zack Canfield.

As part of the Reality Fair experience, students had to identify and research a career choice, amount of post-high school education required, and a beginning salary. This information was then used by the students to create individual budgets. The sections of the budget included credit union college loans, professional license fees, housing, transportation, utilities, nightlife, food, clothing, TV/Internet/Phone, cell phone, fitness & gym, pets, hair/nails/spa, furniture, credit card, and other credit union loans. Students were given an initial amount of money in their savings and checking accounts and had to calculate their net pay taking into account contributions to their 401(k) accounts. Through this experience, students were able to gain a better understanding of budgeting, credit/credit cards, credit scores, loans/lending, and checking accounts.

In addition to the Reality Fair, students were also given a tour of the Capitol Building which included an opportunity to see many members of the PA legislature.