IN Mars Area Winter 2019 | Page 40

Mars School District NEWS Mars Area Elementary School library so that the school’s students can learn more about the purpose of the bench and how it can help others. Girls Tennis Team Ends Season in WPIAL Playoffs Senior Installs ‘Buddy Bench’ as Part of Service Project As part of an Eagle Scout community service project, Mars Area High School senior Michael Riggio has installed a “Buddy Bench” on the playground at Mars Area Elementary School. “It’s a kind of bench that you put out in a public place, especially at a school, so that if a kid is feeling left out or at all bullied in any way, he can then go and sit there to be helped or to find a friend,” says Riggio, a member of Scout Troop 400. The rainbow-colored bench, made from 540 recycled milk jugs, is engraved with the phrase, “The only way to have a friend is to be a friend.” “Whenever I first moved to Mars, back in fourth grade… it was very hard for me, as an already very shy person, to get into a friend group,” says Riggio. “I felt like I could have used this when I was a kid; so, why not take my experience and put it in to help someone going through the same exact experience.” The project is a continuation of Mars Area School District’s participation in the “Rachel’s Challenge” positive school culture program, which focuses on replacing acts of violence, bullying, and negativity with acts of respect, kindness and compassion, says Riggio. The program is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School tragedy. In addition, Riggio has donated the book, “The Buddy Bench,” by Patty Brozo to the 38 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE ❘ Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Tennis Team advanced to the first round of the 2019 WPIAL Class 3A Girls Varsity Team Tennis Championships on Oct. 10, but was defeated 5-0 by the Fox Chapel Foxes. The Lady Planets defeated the West Allegheny Indians 3-1 in the preliminary round of the WPIAL playoffs on Oct. 8. The team ended the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 10-3 and 7-3 in Section 2-3A. This season, the Lady Planets took first place at the MAC (Midwestern Athletic Conference) Girls Varsity Team Tennis Tournament. Team members who competed at the tournament included seniors Julia McCarty and Emma Nelson; juniors Riya Cherlakola, Isabella Gaydosh, Emily Ivory and Alexandra Knotts; and sophomore Lauren Miko. Junior Isabella Gaydosh took third place overall at the 2019 Girls Varsity Tennis Section 2-3A Singles Tournament and advanced to the first round of the 2019 WPIAL Girls Varsity Tennis Singles Championships. Junior Emily Ivory advanced to the quarterfinals of the section tournament. The doubles teams of juniors Isabella Gaydosh and Emily Ivory and seniors icmags.com Julia McCarty and Emma Nelson advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2019 Girls Varsity Tennis Section 2-3A Doubles Tournament. Other players on this year’s team included juniors Chloe Ceasar, Riya Cherlakola, Peyton Felicetti, Sara Hart, Janie Hodder and Anita Kaul; sophomore Julia Rice; and freshmen Carla Genevro, Blythe McClure, Grace Roda, Sydney Terzich and Autumn Wilson. For more information, visit wpial.org. Elementary School Engages Students with Sensory Path Mars Area Elementary School students have been hopping, skipping and jumping to class since the start of the school year, as the school has installed a new Sensory Path in its fourth grade hallway. Instead of just walking down a typical hallway, students can take a Sensory Path, which asks them to complete a variety of activities, such as wall push-ups, a crab walk, leapfrog, planet bounce, an ant march, yoga poses and more. The pathway also includes positive messages throughout. Stephanie Graff, along with her fellow fourth grade teachers, Chris Petrini and Jamie Waters, worked to install the Sensory Path before the start of school. Students may use the Sensory Path on the way to the Nurse’s Office, or coming back from the restroom or lunch, or even sometimes when they just need a break from learning.