The 9th Grade Experience

The Emmaus Boys and Girls Freshman Basketball teams have recently finished seasons unlike any other due to Covid-19 restrictions. Through masks and in spite of missing out on traditional team-bonding activities, the teams persevered to finish "full" 10-game seasons against other Lehigh County schools. 

On this episode, we hear from Alexis Krum, Taylor Gitski and Juliana Stichter about the ups and downs of the girls season, the pressure when each game feels like it could be their last for the season, and when it finally felt like the team came together as one unit. 

Don't forget to listen or watch all about the boys' seasons in Episode 24!

Where will your path lead? On this episode, School Counselor Mrs. Grim gives us all the important information to assist students, staff and parents on the road to answering that that question as Emmaus High School kicks off March Career Month. She assists everyone in where to go to find the calendar of speakers, biographies on each presenter, and how to sign up through Naviance to attend the sessions.

As an added bonus, thanks to the counseling department, we will be giving out prizes to students and staff as they display examples of career readiness. Take a picture of something career-related, yourself watching one of the career speakers, or a potential job or career related to something you are doing in or out of class and post it to Twitter or Instagram using #EHSCareerMonth to enter. Names will be drawn at random at the end of the month. 

On this episode we are joined by licensed clinical professional counselor, certified professional school counselor, journalist, and podcast host Phyllis Fagell to talk about the current challenges students are facing as they begin the process of transitioning from middle school to high school during the pandemic. Her book Middle School Matters: the 10 Key Skills Needs to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond - and How Parents Can Help gives actionable steps for students, parents, and teachers to develop the important skills necessary to grow inside and outside the classroom. Phyllis also shares her own memorable 9th grade experiences and parental advice from two of her own children's journey through freshmen year. 

To get your own copy of Middle School Matters from Let's Play Books in Emmaus, Pa go to: https://www.letsplaybooks.com/book/9780738235080

To read the Washington Post article referenced in the interview go to: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/resilience-pandemic-kids/2021/01/25/d4037b12-5c1a-11eb-b8bd-ee36b1cd18bf_story.html

Follow Phyllis

On the web: https://phyllisfagell.com/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pfagell

With an even greater emphasis during these unprecedented times, student mental health has gained a heightened awareness as students face the challenges of the world around them. On this episode, we preview the 2021 EPSD Virtual Mental Health Symposium being held February 15 through 28 which hopes to begin helping parents and members of the community understand more about this topic.  

Co-chair members Amy Williams, Communities in Schools at Emmaus High School; Stephanie Cignarella, School Psychologist at Emmaus High School; and Lisa Shirvinski, School Counselor at Lower Macungie Middle School, detail all of the amazing opportunities to learn about a variety of mental health tools and tips applicable to students of all ages.  

To learn more about the speakers, the schedule and the sign-ups for the virtual mini-panels go to https://bit.ly/epsdmhsym2021.

During the first few days of February, the Lehigh Valley got walloped with over 27 inches, making it the second biggest snowstorm on record. It gave the freshmen of Emmaus High School an opportunity for 2 snow days -- no Zoom, no Schoology, and no work! We asked students what they did to take advantage of historic weather and on this mini-episode we hear some of their awesome responses about their time in the snow.

This past week saw Emmaus High School finally reach the 2nd half of our 2020-2021 school year. Due to our current block schedule, It came with a different opportunity than most years, as students, teachers, and parents alike had a chance to hit the reset button, beginning new classes with the potential for a fresh, improved outlook on finishing the school term. In this mini-episode, Mr. Stuchko takes some thoughts from our Schoology Class of 2024 message board about how the year has been going, focuses on things to be grateful for and gives ideas on how to turn around your academic year.

On this episode, we catch up with student Grant Gallagher, whose post on our podcast message board for the Class of 2024, invited us to tell his story of how Covid-19 impacted him and his family earlier this year. Gallagher, who is currently enrolled in the Jasper Learning Initiative Program, discussed both the physical and mental strains that students encounter as they battle through this illness. Gallagher also talked about how, even in a hybrid setting, he has found a sense of belonging and growth through academics and activities at EHS.

Production note: Gallagher disclosed information about his Covid-19 test results in his original post on the message board post, which asked students to talk about their 9th grade year thus far. Permission was granted by his mother for him to tell his story on the podcast.

Jessica Lahey is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, keynote speaker, wife, and mother. But at her core, she is an educator. She has worked with a wide variety of students at all levels from sixth through twelfth grade. In this interview, she gives tips and strategies from her teaching career and her 2015 book “The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed” for students, teachers, and parents  to apply during that all-important 9th grade year.

Where to find Jessica online:

Website: https://www.jessicalahey.com/

Twitter: @jesslahey

Instagram: @teacherlahey

Get any of the books mentioned during today’s show at Let’s Play Books in Emmaus, Pa. https://www.letsplaybooks.com/

Sometimes it is fun to look outside of our school community to see what other students around the country are experiencing during their 9th grade year. During this holiday break, I chatted with my nieces, Catalina and Maddy, about their freshmen year experience.  Catalina, who is attending the largest high school in Chicago and second largest in the state of Illinois, has not stepped foot in her school since a tour last spring;  Maddy is attending a high school in Central New Jersey that has been in a hybrid setting since the start of the school year. They share stories similar to what many of our EHS students have experienced during these beginning months of school. 

In our final episode of 2020, you will hear from close to 40 members of our Emmaus High School community talk about ways they will look to improve themselves in the classroom and beyond in the new year. If you are struggling to come up a resolution, we provide tips on how to arrive at a personal goal to jumpstart your 2021. 

Resource: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/resolutions/