The 9th Grade Experience

Our 9th Grade School Counselors Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney return to the show this week to help you finish up the calendar year 2020 as strong as possible and give you momentum toward a much needed new year. Some of the topics we covered included

As we approach the holiday season and the end of 2020, it is a great time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for here at Emmaus High School on the second annual Attitude of Gratitude special episode. There are many people, either in a classroom, on the field or court, or in the school’s many offices that work together to make the transition from middle school to high school as smooth and successful as possible for all students. On this episode you hear from students through Zoom interviews or from students and staff who contributed written response through email and message boards. So before you fill your plates with food, once again fill yourself with an attitude of gratitude, with the members of the EHS community.

This year’s 9th Grade Experience has been like no other and this week’s episode, recorded during EHS’s Covid-19 one-week closure in November 2020, was yet another memory to add to the digital scrapbook. 

On this episode Elizabeth Samer, Molly Himes, and Victoria Toto chat about being involved with in-person school activities during the beginning of the year, strategies for hybrid/distance learning and things they learned about how they work best, and their hopes for a return to normalcy at some point in order to participate in desire events later in the school year.

To watch the full video version of this podcast and multiple recent episodes, visit https://youtube.com/channel/UCfFzJMX3LZtPPkGol7qFjOw

While much of the start of the 2020-2021 school year has been anything but normal, there are still time-honored school traditions that have occurred during the first 9 weeks of school, including the the election of class officers. On this episode, you will hear from three out of the four newly elected leaders, including President Bella Desiderio, Secretary Angela Tran, and Treasurer Sarah Greene as they discuss the start of their school year,  the beginnings of hybrid learning, what led them to become involved with these positions, and tips going forward to balance a jam-packed academic and extracurricular schedule. 

For more information from the class officers, check the Class of 2024 Schoology Page and be on the lookout for a new Class of 2024 Instagram page.  

For the full video, go the 9th Grade Experience Podcast on YouTube. 

Week nine of the 2020-2021 school year will present the next in a line of challenges thrown in front our students since March 2020 - the return to our EHS school building for the beginning of hybrid learning. While some students will seamlessly transition back this setup, others may struggle with different worries and adjustments. On this episode, we talk to our school psychologists Mrs. Stephanie Cignarella and Dr. Trevor Pinho about those feelings and when to take action on them. 

Topics covered include:

For the two-part video version of this podcast, search for the 9th Grade Experience Podcast on YouTube.

Without our normal club fair at the beginning of the year to learn more about the 70+ organizations here at Emmaus High School, the 9th Grade Experience has been reaching out advisors to bring you more information on some of these different groups to see if one is the right fit for you.

On this episode, we hear from Alexzander Toto and Sam Comfort discussing the Economics and Investment Club; and Briahna Milander, Natalie Ruschman, Chanelle Peña, Michaella Moyer and Avery Edelman to talk about Buzz Magazine. 

To get more information about clubs and activities, listen to the announcements during 3rd period Advisory or visit https://www.eastpennsd.org/athletics-activities/clubs/

For full videos of each interview, subscribe to our YouTube page

This is Part 2 of the discussion with our EPSD Technology Integration Specialists Heather Moser, Dylan Peters and Brian Scholl. If you are looking for some of the best tips and strategies for Zoom, Schoology, and a reminder on what to do when your computer is not working, this is the episode you have been looking for.

For more information about all things technology, please go to https://sites.google.com/eastpennsd.org/epsdfamilytech/home

If you missed it, go back and listen to  Part 1, which was released last week. The group discussed the best ways to tackle technology during this remote time. Surprisingly, most of this conversation does not deal with hardware and connectivity issues, but how to communicate with teachers, collaborate with other students, and problem solve through challenges.

On this week's episode we hear from our EPSD Technology Integration Specialists Heather Moser, Dylan Peters and Brian Scholl on the best ways to tackle technology during this remote time. Surprisingly, most of this conversation does not deal with hardware and connectivity issues, but how to communicate with teachers, collaborate with other students, and problem solve through challenges. 

For more information about all things technology, please go to https://sites.google.com/eastpennsd.org/epsdfamilytech/home

Please tune in next Tuesday, September 29, for Part 2, where we continue our discussion to include some of the best tips and strategies for Zoom, Schoology, and a reminder on what to do when your computer is not working. 

Without our normal club fair at the beginning of the year to learn more about the 70+ organizations here at Emmaus High School, the 9th Grade Experience has been reaching out advisors to bring you more information on some of these different groups to see if one is the right fit for you.

On this episode, we hear from Mrs. Grim and Dr. Pinho discussing the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA); Ms. Martini explaining Kid to Kid, and Mrs. Shimmel doubling down with Latin Club and Foreign Cultures Club.

To get more information about clubs and activities, listen to the announcements during 3rd period Advisory or visit https://www.eastpennsd.org/athletics-activities/clubs/

For full videos of each interview, subscribe to our YouTube page 

One of the themes that has come up time and time again as we have detailed successful 9th graders on this show has been their involvement in extracurricular activities. But, during a time when school is remote or hybrid, how will students be involved in clubs, activities, and organizations?

On this episode Assistant Athletic Director Matt Spengler gives the latest information on getting involved virtually and hopefully face-to-face, when it is safe for students,  He breaks down the challenges and the current solutions for beginning activities like marching band, athletics, and finally clubs. He also directs students where to find out information about each club and its advisor.