GS Language
Students Dominate
APPLES Competition
Overall winners Thomas Barnette-Contreras, Kiera
Flanigan, Abbey Schwartz, and Kara Uhlinger
O
n Saturday March 23rd, 27 French
students from 8-12th grade
competed at the annual APPLES
foreign language festival held at IUP.
More than 300 students from many area
schools participated in French, Spanish
and German competitions in the areas of
Composition, Reading Comprehension,
Listening Comprehension, Speaking
Proficiency, Literary Recitation, Dance,
Music- Vocal, Music-Instrumental, Art-
Original, Art- Reproduction, Construction
Model, T-shirt design, and Drama.
Additionally, students in levels 4, 5,
and 6 had the opportunity to compete
in the Overall Award, which is the
combined score for all of the main
academic categories. Thomas Barnette-
Contreras won the level 5 Overall Award
and Abbey Schwartz won the level 6
Overall Award, each winning $50 for
their efforts. GS French students were
awarded 45 individual awards for their
efforts.
Golden Lion Spanish competitors also
walked away from APPLES victorious.
Kiera Flanigan took the level 5 Overall
Award, while Kara Uhlinger claimed
the level 6 Overall Award. Elizabeth
Armentrout won several AP awards,
and there were several winners in the
music categories, as well as MANY in
literary recitation. Greensburg Salem
students secured 35 awards across the
26 students who competed.
What a great weekend for GS World
Language!
26
GREENSBURG SALEM
Order in the Court!
Greensburg Salem High School’s Mock Trial team took to the courtroom this
year to argue cases and
prove points in simulated
court proceedings. Mock
trial, a program that
meshes law with theater
and public speaking,
enables students to act
out the roles of lawyers,
witnesses, and litigants in
civil or criminal cases.
The team, led by
teacher Kristen Solomon
with assistance from
attorney Eric Dee,
researches and prepares
their cases, presents their
arguments, and follows
the typical rules of court.
Community leaders and
attorneys serve as jurors who decide on the trial winners based on each team’s
performance.
At a competition at Penn State, the team took third place and had some
notable standouts. Thomas Barnette-Contreras and Bridie Flanigan
received awards for Best Witnesses, and Madison Rugh was recognized as Best
Attorney. Beyond a reasonable doubt, this is a team to keep your eye on!
Educators and Employers Collaborate to Enhance
STEM Education in Schools
Coordinator of Secondary Education Dr. Ken Bissell and GSHS teachers
Rachel Sassani, Mary Logan, Roger Pechart, Missy Gibbon, Jackie Yuhas, and
Angelo Testa, along with guidance counselor Debbie Rietski, participated in
the Educators Corporations Partnership for STEM Learning presentations at the
Allegheny Intermediate Unit. The team presented their plan for partnership
with PPG to support career readiness efforts, STEM education learning, and
open opportunities for GS students and teachers to learn and work alongside
PPG employees.
Dr. Bissell also presented at the Future Ready Partnerships Conference
sponsored by The Consortium for Public Education in early April, where he
discussed ways business engagement is benefiting Greensburg Salem students
and helping them to become future ready.