Students Perform with PMEA District Chorus
Seven members of Mars Area High School chorus were selected by solo audition to perform in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association ( PMEA ) District Chorus Festival , held Jan . 25 through 27 at New Castle Senior High School .
Students include seniors Braeden Rawa , Chase Reck , Eva Shterengarts and Alec Strawn ; junior Mia Manuppelli ; and sophomores Griffin Miller and Mitchell Wright . Jim Papoulis — internationally recognized composer and conductor — will serve as guest conductor .
The event concluded with a public concert at 4 p . m . on Saturday , Jan . 27 , at New Castle Senior High School .
For more information , contact Jennifer Kennedy , Mars Area High School chorus director , at 724.625.1581 , or visit pmea5advocate . com .
Mars Area High School students ( from left ) Mitchell Wright , Alec Strawn , Mia Manuppelli Braeden Rawa , Eva Shterengarts , Griffin Miller and Chase Reck were selected to perform at the PMEA District Chorus Festival . cKeesport AREA
CITY MARS OF AREA MCKEESPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS NEWS
District to Partner with Pine-Richland for JROTC Program
In conjunction with its approval of several curriculum changes at Mars Area High School for the 2018-2019 School Year , Mars Area School Board voted in favor of a crosstown agreement with Pine-Richland School District to enable interested Mars Area High School students to participate in the Pine-Richland U . S . Air Force JROTC program .
The JROTC ( Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp ) program will be open to all Mars Area High School students in Grades 9 through 12 . Participating students will be bussed to and from Pine-Richland High School daily to attend JROTC courses and activities .
Air Force JROTC is a leadership and character education program that motivates students to be better citizens , says Maj . Michael Morrison , who instructs the Pine-Richland program along with Chief Master Sgt . Michael Gasparetto . The program is focused on community service and teaches respect for self and authority , personal responsibility , and teamwork skills .
In the classroom , the JROTC curriculum will focus on different aspects of Aerospace Science , says Morrison . Participants will also have an opportunity to visit Air Force bases , aerospace facilities and historic sites ; receive flight simulator training ; attend drill competition and other JROTCrelated socials and sports activities ; perform color guard duties ; participate in summer cadet leadership camps ; and to organize and join in programs serving the local community . Students participating in JROTC are not obligated to serve in the military and the program is not an avenue for recruitment , says Morrison . All uniforms and training materials will be provided .
“( Mars Area School Board ) has every confidence that this is going to be a excellent partnership ,” says Dayle Ferguson , Board president . “ Our students will now have an opportunity to learn , serve and grow in a way that they could not ( before ).”
For more information , contact Mrs . Kara Eckert , Director of Curriculum , Instruction & Innovative Practices , at 724.625.1518 or visit pinerichland . org / Page / 658 .
46 MARS AREA
Junior Receives
Women in Science Day Award
Mars Area junior Vincenzia Vargo received an award for excellence in chemistry at the 29th annual Women in Science Day , held Dec . 13 at Seton Hill University in Greensburg , PA .
At the event , Vargo joined in laboratory activities focused on biology , chemistry , computer science , dietetics , exercise science , forensic science , mathematics , physician assistant , and physics . Rebecca Winek , Mars Area High School chemistry teacher , nominated her for the program .
The annual event recognizes young women in their junior year who have been nominated by their teachers as students who excel in mathematics , biology or chemistry .
For more information , visit setonhill . edu .
Students Selected Perform with
PMEA District Band
Six members of Mars Area High School Band were selected by solo audition to perform in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association ( PMEA ) District Band Festival , held Jan . 11 through 13 at Neshannock Senior High School ( New Castle , Pa .).
Students include senior Matthew Brazel ( trombone ) and Michelle Manukas ( flute ); and juniors Tara Brazel ( French horn ), Sarah Grimm ( clarinet ); Jenna Halenda ( flute ) and Jacob Smith ( trombone ). Dr . Travis Weller , Messiah College director of music education , will serve as guest conductor .
The event concluded with a public concert at 3 p . m . on Saturday , Jan . 13 , at Neshannock Senior High School .
For more information , contact Mark Rodgers , Mars Area High School band director , at 724.625.1581 or visit pmea5advocate . com .