The 9th Grade Experience

It's time to get ready for Homecoming on this week's episode! It is hard to believe that we have just finished our 6th week of school and reached the halfway point of the first marking period. Listen in for strategies on finishing the grading period strong or even rebounding from a rocky start, the events and themes of homecoming week, and a reminder at the end that it is OK to change your mind and take chances. We are always looking for students to appear on the podcast, so if you are doing something awesome, reach out and tell us! 

It has been a month of great adjustments for the members of Emmaus High School's Class of 2025. In addition to the normal growing pains of entering high school, they have confronted a new block schedule, continued health and safety procedures due to Covid-19 and for many, reacclimating themselves to being in a school building for the first time since March 2020. To help us work through it all with helpful tips and strategies, our 9th grade school counselors Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney join the podcast.

In addition to advice for dealing with current situations, the counselors highlight the upcoming Naviance Information Night for 9th grade parents to be held Tuesday, September 28, at 6:30 pm in the EHS Auditorium.

Previous episodes with Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney include:

Season 3, Episode 13: The Counseling Suite with Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney

Season 2, Episode 10: A Thanksgiving Attitude of Gratitude

Season 2, Episode 4: The Counseling Suite

For students at Emmaus High School and around the country, the events of September 11, 2001, are history experienced through other's stories and images. Students rely on these recollections to gain perspective to the tragic events that rocked the country on that the day and the weeks after. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9-11 we hear first-hand accounts from EHS staff members about how the events impacted the students in their classroom or themselves as high school students.

Listen to reflections from:

Mrs. Burk - School Counselor, who was a 9th grade student at Liberty HS (5:10)

Mrs. Augustin - Chemistry Teacher, who was working at a school in New York City (18:46)

Mrs. Horner - Learning Support Teacher, who was student teaching in Norristown, Pa. (35:14)

Ms. Bower - School Librarian, who was teaching 9th grade at Whitehall High School (50:10)

Mr. Gallagher - Social Studies Teacher, who was teaching at Eyer Middle School (59:20)

Previous Appearance By Today's Guests

Mrs. Horner appeared on Season 3, Episode 31: Teacher Appreciation Week 2021 and Season 2, Episode 10: An Attitude of Gratitude

Ms. Bower appeared on Season 2, Episode 26: Coronavirus Update Week 7 - A Read Into the Library and Season 2, Episode 10: An Attitude of Gratitude

For all previous episodes, go to www.9thgradeexperience.com or subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify

It was a quite the first week back for the Class of 2025 at Emmaus High School. In addition to all of the first-week jitters that accompany entry into high school, a major, record-breaking storm caused a 2-hour weather delay. In this episode, hear from students Cyrus Mackey and Prince Scille as they give you a first-hand account on a memorable first week back to school. 

For all previous episodes and to leave a comment or voicemail that can be used in a future episode, visit www.9thgradeexperience.com

One of the biggest worries from incoming students is navigating the many halls of Emmaus High School. On this episode you will hear from five students who stopped to chat with us during a building tour opportunity leading up to the first day of school Monday, August 30.  Thanks to Tucker Evans, Derek Herman, Faith Riley, Jadon Pierre-Philippe, and Sarah Lorenzo for stopping to share their tips and strategies on finding their way around.

Freshman orientation at EHS is scheduled for Monday, August 16 beginning at 8 am. In order to get answers to your last-minute questions, 9th grade assistant principal Jordan Fortier joins us today on the podcast. In this episode, we talk about

* The schedule for orientation day 

* Building tours for all grade levels on orientation day and the remainder of the week

* Information about clubs and activities

* Chromebook upgrade and exchange

* The schedule for the beginning of the school year

* How to prepare yourself before the first day of school

For more orientation Information go to https://www.eastpennsd.org/ehs/9th-grade-orientation/

To listen to previous episodes with Mr. Fortier, visit the links below

Season 3, Episode 3: https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-3-episode-3-back-to-school-with-9th-grade-assistant-principal-jordan-fortier/

Season 2, Episode 30: https://www.9thgradeexperience.com/season-2-episode-30-coronavirus-week-11-9th-grade-assistant-principal-jordan-fortier/

What would it be like as a freshman in high school at the same time as a future NBA Hall of Famer? In this episode, you will hear Worcester Red Sox Radio Announcer Josh Maurer tell what it was like to "share" the halls of Lower Merion High School with then senior Kobe Bryant. Maurer talks about how some of the experiences during that year led him to what has become a near 20-year professional sports broadcasting career. 

Other topics Maurer discusses include:

* Involvement in media, sports, and drama in high school

* Creating opportunities and getting his foot in the door

* Adaptability and change in the sports media

* Daily life and routines of a professional baseball announcer

* Handling criticism 

Follow Josh on Twitter: @joshmaurerpxp and check out the Worcester Red Sox at https://www.milb.com/worcester 

Welcome to the Class of 2025 and to the first full show of Season 4! The beginning of this episode features Class of 2021 graduate Owen Hook, who talked about entering 9th grade as a brand-new student to the district. He found himself through academics and activities and will move on to Millersville University in a few weeks. In the second part of the episode, we take a look back at the 2020-2021 school year with over 40 responses from the Class of 2024 about how their year went, what they learned about themselves, tips for upcoming 9th graders, and what they would like to hear on future podcasts.

The 9th Grade Experience is gearing up for Season 4 and in this preview episode we got a little help from several members of the class of 2021 to give some tips that incoming 9th graders can use from Day 1. Listen for full-length episodes coming soon! 

On this special episode of the 9th Grade Experience we take it back to elementary school, as we hear 5th grade students at Wescosville Elementary share their passion projects.  Thanks to Mrs. Feher, one of the 5th grade teachers, for reaching out to the podcast to ask for assistance in helping her students record their work in audio form. In addition to the background information on the purpose of the projects, Feher also shared her own freshmen year story along with hopes for her current student's future school careers.

In sticking with the theme of the podcast, at the end of their presentations, each student was asked what they think 9th grade might be like for them in a few years. Below is a list of students, topics and the order they appear in this episode.

First group 

Ella and Maddy - Animal Extinction

Leah - Animal Shelters

Second Group 

Ryleigh and Grace - Saving Arctic Animals

Third Group

Paige - Depression in Older Adults

Olivia - Nature Therapy