The 9th Grade Experience

As we encounter the seventh week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with school librarian Kelly Bower and student Joshua Jones to see how they are continuing to adapt to our new normal. 

This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session. In it, we hear Ms. Bower tell own her unique 9th grade memories, discuss her move from the classroom to the library, detail how she is currently helping students, and offer some good book recommendations. 

She also highlights the upcoming online book fair to be held in conjunction with Let's Play Books in Emmaus to benefit EPSD libraries and a local business. 

We also hear from student Joshua Jones, who checks in about a book he is currently reading and lets us know how work is going during the 4th Marking Period. 

If you would like to view the podcast, go to https://youtu.be/_z2YXkxZPHY

Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here.

As we encounter the sixth week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with our 9th grade school counselors at Emmaus High School to see how they have adjusted to their new reality.

This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session that featured EHS School Counselors Colleen Demchak and Mike McInerney. We discuss what school counselors are doing without physically being in front of students, scheduling for next school year, the grading setup for the final marking period, and how to deal with the many issues facing students that have arisen during this time of distance learning.

Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here

As we approach the end of our fifth week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders and a few guests at Emmaus High School to see how they have adjusted to their new reality. 

This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session that featured EHS School Nurse Beth Ann Hendershot, 11th Grade Assistant Principal Greg Annoni, along with students Joshua Jones and David Svoboda talking about a variety of wellness issues . Some of the topics discussed included the importance of establishing healthy routines, taking brain breaks and getting physical activity during your day, avoiding social isolation as much as possible, and reconnection with family and past hobbies that may have been forgotten. Also, we hear from Mr. Annoni about some of the behind-the-scenes things that have allowed the first weeks of this new eLearning to function smoothly.

Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here

As we approach the end of our fourth week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders at Emmaus High School to see how they have adjusted to their new reality. This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session that featured Reid Scharer, Joshua Jones, and Avery Smith talking about the first week of new learning in the EPSD Continuity of Learning Plan. The students came together to share their challenges during the first week, what the requirements looked like in classes like Wellness/Fitness and Band, and some strategies to get back into that mindset of needing to get work done. At the end of the episode, we also touch on the decision that was announced on Thursday, April 9, that closed school buildings down in the state of Pennsylvania for the remainder of the year. 

Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here

As we approach the end of our third week of the Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders at Emmaus High School to see how they are feeling about our new reality. This week's episode uses the audio from a Google Meet session that had more than 15 students participate. It was offered as an opportunity for students to become familiar with the format and feel of a Meet session before the rollout of Phase 2 of the Continuity of Learning Plan on Monday, April 6. The students came together to express how much they missed coming to school (yes, even the crowded hallways), see and hear from their classmates for the first time in a few weeks, and ask lots of great questions about what their days will look like when new learning begins next week. 

Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here

As we approach the end of our second week of our Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders to see how they are feeling about our new reality. Some of the topics we asked about this week included understanding social distancing, how much they have been outside since the closure, how they are staying in contact with friends and family, how the shutdown of local business has impacted their lives, and if they live with or know anyone in the medical field.

Special thanks to my "co-hosts" my 11-year-old son Cole, my 9-year-old daughter Grace, and my 6-year-old daughter Joy.

Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here.

You never know what the answer to a question will be until you ask it. When Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the Showtime show Billions and co-writer of movies Rounders and Ocean’s Thirteen, put out a tweet and said he would appear on podcasts during the Coronavirus shutdown, I sent him an email. I never expected to hear back, but within 3 minutes of sending the message, he replied and said he would be “100 percent in.” Koppelman was gracious with his time and excited to share stories of his high school days and beyond. Some of the topics we discussed included

The impact that books can have at critical parts of your life

Involvement in different types of extracurricular activities that allowed you to span different peer groups

The need to listen to your instincts and the willingness to follow that voice toward work that makes you feel alive inside

The things that make people truly happy

The power of learning and using new words

So, it’s time to go all in, and listen to this wide-ranging conversation with Brian Koppelman.

As we approach the end of our first week of our Coronavirus shutdown in the East Penn School District, we check in with 9th graders to see how they are adjusting the new reality we are all living in. Via Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/9thgradeexperience and Google Classroom, we asked students to tell us about what they have been up to, the establishment of new routines, and how they are feeling about the whole situation. While some answers were not shocking (sleeping, eating, and playing video games), a few were unexpected, as they wrote about how much they missed the routine of school and their friends. 

Special thanks to my new "co-host", my 9-year-old daughter Grace!

Stay up-to-date with the official word from EPSD here. 

It's now less than one week to the opening curtain for the freshman and all those involved in the production of the theater department's spring musical Hello, Dolly! 

In Volume 4 of this behind-the-scenes look at the preparation before the show's Wednesday, March 18 debut, we check back in with Mason Steltz, Dom Zientara, and Jacob Klinedinst to get the scoop behind what it’s been like since we last heard them taking the to the stage for rehearsals for the first time in the middle of February. 

In this conversation, the boys discussed the lengthy process of getting each performance in the show “just right,” the bonding and feelings of family towards the cast from spending so much time together, and what will be going through their minds leading up to the performances and when they hit the stage. Near the end of the episode, we also discuss the effects that the recent Covid-19 outbreak could have on the scheduled performance dates and what that would mean to the performers. 

If you are interested in learning more about the performance of Hello, Dolly! or would like to purchase tickets, please go to https://www.eastpennsd.org/ehs/article/hello-dolly-tickets-on-sale-now/.

While March is usually a time reserved for college basketball madness, this year at Emmaus High School, the third month of the year will be devoted to an even crazier topic: What to do with your future? 

It may seem like just yesterday (or now 7 months ago!) that this year’s 9th grade class entered the halls of EHS. Yet, in our rapidly changing and evolving world, it is never too early to think about skills and strategies that may help prepare you to be successful in your post-school outcomes. 

Led and and coordinated by EHS School Counselors Mrs. Grim, Mrs. Demchak, and Mr. McInerney, March will feature a focus on employability skills and how career readiness is something that is happening everyday throughout your schedule without you even knowing it. In addition, there will be over 30 speakers from local businesses that can give real-world advice into potential careers that textbooks just can’t provide.

So it’s time begin to see where your path will lead with Mrs. Grim, Mrs. Demchak, and Mr. McInerney.