The Elk Lake Forensics Team continued their winning ways at the Scranton Catholic Forensics League’s Final practice tournament of the season at Abington Heights HS on January 26.

The EL Forensics Team brought home 4 trophies, which included 2 first place finishes.

Pictured are EL Forensics Team Place-winners at Scranton CFL Tournament at Abington Heights HS: LaAnna Farnelli – 4th Place in Novice LD Debate; Austin Cohen – 1st Place in Varsity Student Congress; Haley Skinner – 1st Place in Novice LD Debate; Mika Smith 2nd Place in Novice LD Debate.

In debate, the team was led by sophomore Haley Skinner and freshman Mika Smith who closed out Finals in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate and placed 1st and 2nd, respectively.

Skinner compiled an undefeated 3 win and 0 loss record during the preliminary rounds by defeating debaters from Abington Heights and Pocono Mountain West HS.

Smith had a 2 win and 1 loss record by picking up wins over debaters from Pocono Mountain West and Abington Heights HS.

Freshman LaAnna Farnelli placed 4th in Novice LD as well.

Senior Austin Cohen switched events for a week but the results were the same.  This week, Austin won Varsity Student Congress.

“This was a very good end to the regular season for the underclassmen.  They have been working hard all season.  For Austin (Cohen), it was just another tribute to how hard he prepares for everything.  To come in and win a varsity event that you don’t compete in regularly is truly a sign of his commitment to forensics,” commented EL Forensics Director Keith Brosious.

On February 1-2, the varsity debaters were to travel to Pennsbury HS to compete against some of the best debaters in the region at the Pennsbury HS Falcon Invitational Tournament.  This tournament regularly brings in the top 100 debaters from the mid-Atlantic region to compete for a grueling, 6 preliminary round tournament.

Robert Presley, Principal at Mountain View High School announces the following students who were selected as Students Of The Month for January, 2013.

Pictured (l-r) are: Donna Porter (guidance counselor), Joseph Nally (9th-10th grade), Victoria Sterling (11th-12th grade), Alex Showalter (7th-8th grade), and Robert Presley (principal).

The following local residents have been named to Millersville University of Pennsylvania's Dean's List for the fall 2012 semester: Miles Fischer, of Hallstead, Pa.; Seth Fox, of Friendsville, Pa., Susan Greene, of Susquehanna, Pa.; Christopher Mordovancey, of Friendsville, Pa.

Students from practically every state and several countries competed January 23rd in the 48th 5th and 6th Grade Knowledge Master Open academic competition. The teams, consisting of fifth and sixth grade students, used computers to answer 100 challenging questions from all curriculum areas.

A team of six students at Mountain View Elementary School score 688 of 1,000 possible points and placed 102nd out of 210 teams.

Pictured is the Mt. View Elementary School team of Danny Tran, Jacob Andzulis, Cameron DeManicor, Thomas Sheridan, Lena Penny, and Miranda Button.

The Knowledge Master Open was designed to stimulate enthusiasm for learning and recognition for academic accomplishment. The contest runs on classroom computers to allow all students the opportunity to compete in a large academic event without the expense of traveling to a central site. Results of the contests are tabulated into overall, state and enrollment-size rankings by Academic Hallmarks, a Colorado publishing firm that hosts the event. Contest results and example questions are available at www.greatauk.com.

Jami Hyndshaw, sixth grade teacher at Susquehanna Community School District received a $150 educational support grant from the Susquehanna Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) at a recent school board meeting.

Pictured (l-r) are Ellen Holdredge – PASR, Jami Hyndshaw – recepient and Bob McNamara – PASR.

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 McNamara, president of the chapter.

Susquehanna Community School District has implemented a new reading requirement of 15 minutes per night for sixth grade students to be recorded in a daily reading log. In an attempt to keep interest and raise motivation, Ms. Hyndshaw has created a reading challenge with extra rewards for those completing the required reading.  She will use the grant to provide a special end of year reward for one lucky student. PASR commends Jami Hyndshaw on her attempt to inspire her students to keep reading.

Ryan W. Holleran, of Susquehanna, Pa. has been named to Penn State University dean’s list for the fall 2012 semester:

The University of Scranton has announced it’s Dean’s List, which recognizes students for academic excellence during the 2012 fall semester. A student must have a grade point average of 3.5 or better with a minimum number of credit hours to make the Dean’s List. The list includes students from the Jesuit university’s College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management, the Panuska College of Professional Studies and the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.

More than 1,300 students were named to fall 2012 semester Dean’s List, including the following area residents: Kelsey A. Carmody, Thompson; Sydney N. Carmody, Thompson; Emily A. Gontarski, Hallstead; Nicholas B. Hollister, Montrose; Craig A. Noldy, Forest City; Gregory H. Stonier, New Milford.