By The Editorial Board
Another school year is drawing to a close, and students and teachers have accomplished a lot this year.
Our business is news, and we’re here to educate and inform – send up the warning flags when trouble is brewing, arm you with the knowledge you need to navigate your day.
But there are moments in a community that call for celebration. As community journalists, we’re here with you.
Sto-Rox School District has made strides to stop hemorrhaging staff by negotiating a pay increase for teachers with their union. It’s one of many steps they’ve taken to right the ship after being placed on a state-mandated recovery plan, along with improving their communications and transparency, as well as trying to increase security and mental health for students.
They’re bringing back the girl’s softball team and have actively participated in girl’s flag football to help students stay active and engaged.
They were forthcoming with a list of students who’ve garnered scholarships for academic excellence.
Kudus go out to Carlynton School District – the small but mighty. State test scores there are consistently ten points above the average for schools in Pennsylvania, according to U.S. News and World Reports. When administrators noticed a trend in self-harm among students this year, they acted rather than ignoring the problem.
This year at the Cornell School District students seem to be excelling in the digital realm. Their High School Esports team is part of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) playoffs. Senior Ciara White-McShane won an award for Aspirations in Computing from the National Center for Women & Information Technology. Senior, Anderson Bando, was a finalist in the Games for Change Challenge. Last year, Cornell High School Computer Science teacher, Susan Dunning received the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for her outstanding work to engage more female students in computer science.
At the Montour School District student test scores are above the state average in math, science and reading. This year has been particularly stellar for students who participated in cross country and track and field. Many other sports teams made it to post-season play.
Coach Robert Naylor was one of seven coaches named PIAA’s Coach of the Year for the 2021-2022 cross-country season. In addition to that, the girls’ cross-country team brought home the WPIAL trophy for the second year in a row. As previously reported by Writer Lori Altmeyer, they placed third at the PIAA state championships after winning the Cal U Marty Uher Cross Country and placing second at the PIAA Foundation Cross Country invitationals.
The girls were named undefeated Section Champs for the third year in a row this year and also Mid-American Conference Champs.
Cross-country runner and wrestler Peter Chacon was named 2023's WPIAL Championship Wrestler for Class-2A.
We salute all the students who won awards and scholarships, who excelled on the field, academically and with technical skills.
And we celebrate the students for whom graduation was the biggest hurdle, the ones who struggled to keep up academically, or struggled to get to school, but did it anyway. For the students who worked a job after class, and those who came to school hungry, but managed to reach the finish line anyway.
You did it – you got that certificate.
Build on your success. Your future is in your hands now and we can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish.