Panther Press - Upper St. Clair School District

Panther Press
A publication of Fort Couch Middle School Students, Upper St. Clair School District
Volume 1
Issue 3
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011
Fort Couch raises $7000
for Casey’s Clubhouse
FCteachers line up in preparation to play against Boyce teachers
Staff Photo
School’s construction
nearing completion
By Rachel Krakoff and Emily Oates gym. The gym looked awesome, and
it is not even finished yet! It is huge
We recently got to tour the newer with nice windows as I’m sure many
part of our school. On our tour we saw of you have seen. There is going to be
many interesting things. The project an official size basketball court. Also,
there will be bleachers to seat 1,000.
The locker rooms
will be on the side
of the gym. Overall,
the gym is going to
have many useful
details and fun components.
On the tour we
saw some of the EA
classrooms. For example, we saw the
FACS room, which
is much larger than
The new gym, with the locker area on the right.
manager from PJ Dick, Mr. Joe Brennan, took us on the tour of the school.
He explained that there have been
some weather issues, but once the
gym is complete, it will be his favorite
section. We first saw where the new
offices will be and even got to tour
them. Then, we got to see the new
it is now. There will
be a lot of room for everything from
sewing machines to kitchens.
The art room is also nicely designed
with a good amount of storage space
for all of the supplies and projects.
Also, we got to see behind the
scenes in the fan rooms and elevator
shafts. The fan rooms circulate air
around the school.
By Lucy McKeever
When the charity basketball game
was first being planned by Mr. Wilson,
no one was sure how much money
would be raised for the charity Casey’s
Clubhouse.
Sean Casey, former Pittsburgh Pirate,
started the Clubhouse for special
needs children to have the chance to
get out and play some baseball.
After the game (which resulted in a
54- 45 victory for the Fort Couch
team) it was calculated that the
fundraiser had made over seven thousand dollars.
“I liked it because you got to see all
of your old and current teachers. It was
fun,” said Melina Kaduck.
Along with an entertaining game,
there was also a concession stand, a
raffle, and a chance to pie your teachers.
Maura Flaherty was particularly
lucky, and got a chance to pie both Mr.
Corr and Mr. Wilson, her science and
social studies teachers.
To say that this basketball game was
a victory is an understatement. Thanks
to Mr. Wilson for organizing this great
event, and thanks to the FC and Boyce
teachers for volunteering to help.
Students bought raffle tickets for a chance to “pie”
their teachers, like Herr Platts and Mr. Lucas
‘Fort’ Your Informa tion...
May 2-5
Terra Nova Exams
May 4
Spring Exhibit
May 6, 7
Spring Musical
May 13
Kennywood Ticket Sale
May 30
Memorial Day:NOSCHOOL
June 16
Last Day of School!
June 20
Kennywood Day
News
2
MAY 4, 2011
PANTHER PRESS
Guess which
teacher?
FC students receive award
for polio awareness video
By Claire Mesko
Have you ever heard of
polio? Do you know what it is?
Polio is a crippling disease that
effects nerves in our body,
which can lead to partial or full
paralysis.
Four Fort Couch students,
Eliza Luxbacher, Maddy Rees,
Nicole Joyce and Berit Klym,
did their own part to raise
awareness for this disease.
This year, they participated in
the “Take a Shot” competition.
This contest, inspired by the
movie The Shot Felt ’Round the
World, encouraged middle
school students and high school
students in Southern Pennsylvania to create an awareness
video about polio.
This video had to explain the
development of the polio vaccine and current efforts
to eliminate
the disease
worldwide.
Rees
and
Luxbacher
received the
Judges’
Award
of
First Place
Honorable
Mention.
Once
the
videos were voted on and
judged, the top four videos
The Panther Press is a publication of the students
at Fort Couch Middle School,
Upper St. Clair School District.
EditorsinChief
John Benhart
Kelly Conner
Photography Ed.
Julia Pfatteicher
7th Grade Managing Ed.
Lucy McKeever
Faculty Advisers
Ms. Lesley Fedorka
Mrs. Erin Peterson
Mrs. Erin Nanci
515 Fort Couch Rd., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15241
picked received $1,000, which
went towards the contestants
school and the filmmaker(s). The
grand prize winners then received $5000 and will have their
video aired on WQED. In addition to our FC participants, there
were also 14 contestants from
the high school. The winner was
a contestant from Mt. Lebanon;
however, we should give a
thanks to all of the participants in
USC for their hard work and research, as well as honorably representing our school district in
the competition.
The videos are still available to
watch online, so if you’re interested in checking them out, go to
http://www.takeashotcontest.org/
The videos weren't just based on
polio, but they were also based
on the idea of teamwork; for example, if we come together to try
to conquer something, nothing
can stand in our way.
Congrats,
participants!
Answer from
last issue:
Senora
Montgomery!
CONGRATULATIONS
FORT COUCH MIDDLE SCHOOL!
WE ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE
DON EICHORN
SCHOOLS TO WATCH
AWARD!
Opinions
MAY 4, 2011
3
PANTHER PRESS
Dear Fort Couch Middle School,
By John Benhart
Editor-inChief
What do
Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking
sites have in common with rewards programs such as Giant
Eagle’s Fuel Perks and Food
Perks program? They all are great
free programs that benefit consumers and users. Facebook allows for one to communicate with
all of his or her friends, while Fuel
Perks rewards cards give you free
and discounted gas for shopping
d
Foocts
Fa
at Giant Eagle stores. How can
these companies make money if
they charge nothing for membership? They get your information
for free.
Tonight, you may go on to Facebook and chat with your friends.
You talk about American Eagle
clothes, the Penguins playoff
games, and many other things. Tomorrow, you may go on again to
talk before school. A pop up add
catches your eye. It advertises the
new shirt you raved about, and another add shows a new Pens jersey.
Is this just a coincidence? No, it
probably is not. On Facebook’s
database, they have a record of
have ever purchased using
your advantage card. They
will then sell this information
to coupon and advertising
companies who will use the information to target customers.
So in exchange for this valuable information, all you receive is five cents per gallon
off your next purchase of gas.
Next time you go shopping
with your parents or you use a
social networking site, remember how your posts and purchases are used by companies.
You might feel that you deserve a little more for your
contribution to their database.
And some facts...
By Katherine Starr
make-up, and white house paint.
French fries are often shot through a
Carmine, which is used power gun to give them that crispy
to make processed food taste.
look pink, red, or purple,
is made from dead insects A hamburger that contains any
called Dactylopius Coc- pink at all could contain harmful
cus.
bacteria such as ecoli.
Americans eat 13 billon
Hamburgers originated from
burgers each year, enough to
meatballs
on a stick.
circle the earth more than 22
times.
On e fas t fo od b urger McDonald’s hamburgers now
weigh six times more than in
co ul d co n tai n m eat from
1957.
th ou sands o f di ffe ren t
Chickens, such as those
cattle.
used to make Mcnuggets,
The average American spends
more money on fast food than
books, magazines, newspapers,
and recorded music combined.
every post you have written,
every comment you have
made. They can sell access to
this information to companies
who can then use the information to target customers based
on age, sex, and interests. As
you may imagine, Facebook is
able to make a huge profit.
The situation is similar with
rewards cards at Giant Eagle
and other grocery stores. Every
time you make a purchase at
Giant Eagle using a rewards
card, your purchase is registered on your account. Giant
Eagle will then acquire the
knowledge of every item you
are
often
fed
the
cheapest things possible,
such
as
old
cookies
covered in a layer of
fat.
The mineral titanium dioxide is
used for frosting, icing, women’s Hungry? Be sure to check out the
cafeteria article on page 7!
By Ananya Cleetus and Alexis Scott
Intere
Tidbit sting
s
--Osama bin Laden lived in a $1 millon mansion with no
phone or internet connection. He insisted that all trash
be burned for fear of his location being discovered.
--At 29, Kate Middleton was the oldest Royal bride to get married. There
were over 2 billion viewers of Kate
and Prince William’s wedding, and
1,900 guests attended the affair.
--The state of Florida is bigger than England.
--To burn off one plain M&M candy, you need to walk
the length of a football field.
--In Kentucky, it’s illegal to carry ice-cream in your back
pocket.
--In the movie, the sounds of ET walking were made by
someone squishing their hands in jelly.
--The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.
--In Singapore, it’s illegal to sell or own chewing gum.
4
Here’s What You’ve Missed...
MAY 4, 2011
PANTHER PRESS
Looking back on the
cold winter storms
By John Benhart and
Robbie Mertz
Over the years, Pittsburgh has
experienced and toiled through
many snowstorms. However,
two stand alone in record
books: March 1993 and February 2010. These two storms,
though very different in many
categories, had the same devastating effects to Pittsburgh and
its surrounding suburbs.
In March 1993, a blizzard
with momentous force behind it
assaulted Pittsburgh.
This
storm would simply come to be
known as the winter of '93.
The third largest single snowstorm to ever come to Pittsburgh, the March 1993 blizzard,
deposited 25.3 inches, a little
over 2 feet throughout three
days, the 12th through the 14th.
Power was out for multiple
days, and children basked in the
glory of no school for a week.
The winter of '93 still stands in
many peoples' hearts as the
worst snow storm to encounter
Pittsburgh.
In February 2010, Pittsburgh
experienced a snowstorm that
will live in the record books and
in the people who experienced
it. Last year's blizzard was the
fourth largest snowstorm ever to
hit Pittsburgh.
The snowstorm has been divided into two: February 5-6
and February 9-10. The two
storms dropped around 29
inches combined, about 2 1/2
feet.
Upper St. Clair School District
experienced a whole week without school.
Entire blocks of St. Clair were
lacking power, and the National
Weather Service declared Penn-
sylvania in a state of emergency.
Children of all ages participated in activities such as snow
men building, sledding, igloo and
snow tunnel building, and disappointingly, shoveling walkways
and driveways.
February 2010 was an eventful
month that will not be forgotten
very soon.
To summarize, the March of
1993 and February 2010 were
eventful months that contained
the two greatest most recent blizzards to strike Pittsburgh. Many
lives were marked by these
storms, and they will go down as
a child's heaven and a landscape
of peaceful distress.
Holiday Update
Va le n t i ne’ s
Da y
By Kelly Conner and sacrament of matrimony. Against
the Emperor’s wishes, St. ValenKatie White
tine began performing secret marAround the world everyone is riage ceremonies for those who
aware that February 14th is the were truly in love. His good deeds
day spent appreciating the loved resulted in the bonding of many
ones in his or her life. But how did couples, but St. Valentine was
this great jubilee come about? eventually caught and placed in
Many are surprised to find that prison.
Eventually, St. Valentine was
Valentine’s Day is in honor of a
priest who lived a few thousand sent to be executed. The hardest
part about being ordered to death
years ago.
This priest’s name was St. for him was being forced to leave
Valentine. He lived during a time his love, the cell guard’s daughter,
when marriage was outlawed. The whom he had fallen in love with
Emperor was determined to have while in jail. Before he passed,
the strongest, most able-bodied Saint Valentine expressed his feelmilitary, and he feared that if his ings for his darling in a letter. That
soldiers had wives to worry about was the first of millions of love
at home, they would be too preoc- notes to be sent.
cupied to fight. To solve this prob- In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius chose
lem Emperor Claudius II decided February 14th to honor him. Once
that all young men were forbidden a Roman and Christian tradition,
Valentine’s Day is now celebrated
to marry.
This new order crushed St. internationally from the U.S., to
Valentine, for he favored the the United Kingdom, to Australia.
S t.
Pa t ri ck’ s
D ay
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated
on March 17, his religious feast
day and the anniversary of his
death in the fifth century.
The Irish have observed this
day as a religious holiday for
over a thousand years. On St.
Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of
Lent, Irish families would tradi-
tionally attend
church in the
morning and celebrate in the afternoon.
Lenten prohibitions against the
consumption of meat were
waived and people would dance,
and feast—on the traditional
meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
E a st e r
Pa ss ov e r
Easter, which celebrates
Jesus’s resurrection from the
dead, is a very important holiday in the Christian faith. Culturally, Americans use symbols
such as the Easter egg, bunny,
and traditional chocolate treats
to celebrate the coming of
spring in concordance with the
Easter holiday.
Christians celebrate Easter on
the first Sunday following the
full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21, so Easter is
observed anywhere between
March 22 and April 25.
One of the Jewish religion’s
most sacred and widely observed holidays, Passover (Hebrew: Pesach) commemorates
the story of the Israelites’ departure from ancient Egypt.
Jews observe the weeklong
festival with a number of important rituals.
These traditional Passover
meals known as seders, the removal of leavened products
from their home, the substitution of matzo for bread and the
retelling of the exodus tale.
www.historychannel.com
www.historychannel.com
www.historychannel.com
Sports
MAY 4, 2011
ZACH’S CORNER:
SPORTS UPDATE
By Zach Dudas
Dudas poses with Pittsburgh Pirates Ross Ohlendorf (and Andrew McCutchen in background)
Pirates visit, give advice
On January 26, Ft. Couch
welcomed Pirates Andrew McCutchen, Evan Meek, and Ross
Ohlendorf for a special assembly.
It was quite a day for Pittsburgh sports fans! The players
are preparing for spring training
in Florida.
They said they now have a
new manager, Clint Hurdle, and
they are accepting a new coach,
John Wagner. They seem very
excited about the upcoming
season! Students even got to
meet Bob Walk, the broadcaster
for the Pirates! He was a righthanded pitcher for the team
many years ago.
Evan Meek, a new relief
pitcher, pointed out that players
must face obstacles as they try
to improve their game. Evan
himself has worked very hard
in his throwing, and he was on
the All-Star Team last year! He
enjoys playing baseball with his
teammates.
Andrew McCutchen, center
fielder, faced the challenge of
knee surgery, and he strived to
get back in the game!
Ross Ohlendorf is a pitcher.
He went to Princeton University on a scholarship. He said he
worked hard in school and also
in baseball. He noted that there
is always room for improvement!
These Pirate players reminded
the students and teachers how
unnecessary it is to bully or to
tease others. McCutchen encouraged Ft. Couch members to
“be nice to everyone!”
He suggested to give someone
a high five and said it might
brighten his or her day.
“Treat everyone the same,” he
advocated.
5
PANTHER PRESS
TRACK & FIELD
Team six
science
teacher Mr.
Calvetti has
been teaching at Fort
Couch for
MR. CALVETTI eleven years.
He has been coaching track for
eight years. He enjoys working
with students outside of the classroom in a different way. Mr. Calvetti said, “It’s fun to see more of
who students are and what they
like to do, beyond the normal routine of the school day. Going to
the California Invitational is always challenging due to the level
of competition among the twenty
MS. FEDORKA
Ms. Fedorka
has been teaching
at Fort Couch for
two years, and she
has been coaching
track for two seasons as well. She
enjoys working with students and
helping them to improve over the
season. Ms. Fedorka said, “The
Cal U Invitational is our toughest
meet because Fort Couch com-
SOFTBALL
MS. HOUGH
This is Ms.
Hough’s first year
teaching and coaching Girls’ Softball at
Fort Couch. She enjoys coaching because it gives her
the opportunity to work with students that she may not get to meet
or work with otherwise. “Being a
part of a team allows middle school
students to meet new friends and
build a support system, in which
By John Benhart
score on one of the innumer- they can encourage each other and
After a dramatic and heart
able power plays (ending with push themselves towards improvebreaking ending, the Penguin's a six on four) has undoubtedly ment,” said Ms. Hough. She thinks
season has drawn to a close.
left some fans frustrated,
that it is awesome to be part of the
Pens, continued on page 5
The Penguins’ inability to
Hough, continued on page 7
Penguins’ post-season update
different school districts.” Fort
Couch usually places several athletes in the top eight, but the competition is tough.
Mr. Calvetti has played soccer
since he was in elementary school
and still occasionally plays. He
has played ice and roller hockey
all through high school and college. He plays roller hockey if his
brother’s team needs an extra
player, but only rarely. Mr. Calvetti enjoys bike riding (road,
mountain, and cyclo-cross.)
He also does ice and rock climbing, as well as caving. He thinks
that bocce is a nice way to get the
whole family out, so he plays
bocce every now and then.
petes with over ten area schools.”
Right now, the boys’ team is undefeated, and the girls’ team is not
too far behind.
Ms. Fedorka says the best thing
about track is watching the athletes cheer each other on.
In her spare time, Ms. Fedorka
plays soccer, takes ballet classes,
and runs 5k races. She has been
playing soccer since she was six
years old and has been running
since she started running track in
seventh grade.
VOLLEYBALL
MR. DUCHI
Mr. Duchi has
been teaching at
Fort Couch for
eleven years. He
has been coaching Girls’ Volleyball for ten years and has been
coaching Boys’ Volleyball for
seven years. He loves the fact
that opposed to other sports, “Volleyball is a complete game. One
person cannot carry the entire
team.” He also said, “Bethel Park
will be our toughest game for the
season. For the last ten years, he
has played in an indoor volleyball
Duchi, continued on page 7
6
MAY 4, 2011
Meet
Team Six
By Kelly Conner and Katie White
One, Two, Three, Four, Five… SIX! Welcome to Fort Couch’s last, but certainly not
least, eighth grade team!
This year Team Six consists of four main
teachers: Mrs. Peterson, language arts; Mr.
O’Rourke, social studies; Mr. O’Brien, algebra; and Mr. Calvetti, science. Each of
them has been a part of Team Six for at
least a few years. However, at the beginning of the first nine weeks, Team Six was
very fortunate to receive a new member.
His name is Mr. Salaway. He is the language arts intern and has been an admirable
Meet
Team Two
By Lucy McKeever and Rachel Bash
Team two has had a wonderful year so far.
The seventh grade teachers on this team are
Mr. Corr, science, Ms. Fedorka, language
arts, Ms. Rummel, math, and Mr. Wilson,
social studies.
When Team Two students were asked
how their experience has been this year,
there were nothing but good things to say.
“I like it a lot. There are great teachers and
students,” says student Erin Pacalo.
“I’m learning a lot,” said Paige Borst.
April showers...
Team News
addition to the team.
Besides their spare instructor, what, you
may wonder, makes Team Six special?
Mr. O’Rourke thinks it’s the students. He
stated, “Team Six has a fantastic group of
students this year. Collectively, we have a
very hard-working and driven group of students who are fun to have in class!”
Mr. Calvetti agreed and added, “There are
quite a few who bake really good cookies!”
Beyond Team Six’s unique personality
traits, they are also noted for the enjoyable
field trips and activities they have been a part
of this school year. For one, they took a journey to Camp Guyasuta’s Ropes Course. Mr.
Calvetti says it’s his favorite activity of the
year, “It gives everybody a chance to try
something they may never have done before.
It’s challenging and fun all at the same time.”
Team Six students will continue to prove
themselves as adventurers when they visit
PANTHER PRESS
Kennywood Park in May!
Looking past the field trips, Team Six has
also done a number of worthy projects. Mrs.
Peterson is fond of the Anne Frank reports
the students are doing now. “I am looking
forward to see what they create,” she says.
In science class, individuals researched an
astronomy topic and proposed a paper on
their findings. All the finished products
were turned into a book called the ABC’s of
Astronomy!
As for social studies, there is a countless
amount of creativity put into the pupil’s
projects. Everything from giant game
boards, to rap videos and delicious cakes
have been made to help grow an understanding of history in the 1900’s!
So, watch out for Team Six updates in the
future! They are sure to get better and
bolder as the year comes to an end and the
eighth graders are sent to the high school.
Pens, continued from page 5
In addition to being a good learning experience, students on Team Two also had a good
time this year.
“It’s quite fun!” exclaimed Emily Brinsky.
When asked if she has had a successful year
so far, Emma Galligan answered, “Yes! My
grades are high and I have many friends on
Team Two.”
Some activites the students have enjoyed so
far are the mall field trip and making videos
for Mr. Wilson’s class.
Students are also looking forward to some
upcoming activities such as the bowling and
park field trip, field day, and the math candy
carnival.
Ms. Rummel says, “It has been a great year
working with our Team Two students. I know
they will go on to 8th grade well-prepared!”
Spring has
sprung at
FCMS!
Illustrations by Julia Pfatteicher
although everyone must focus on the
achievements of this season. When the
Penguins lost Malkin and Crosby early
in the season, it seemed that it would be
a miracle if the Pens got the eighth seed
in the playoffs.
Yet because of amazing
goaltending by Fluery and a shut-down
defense, the Penguins were able
to secure a formidible playoff spot in the
Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For all who are disapointed by the
Pens’ loss, look at the bright side and get
ready for Malkin and Crosby next year.
Until then, Let's go Buccos.
bring May flowers!
8
MAY 4, 2011
Arts & Entertainment
Cast of Joseph set
to take the stage
By Katherine Starr
Fort Couch’s music department is producing the musical
“Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dream Coat.” This
musical is the story of Joseph,
a caininate, who is sold as a
slave to Egypt by his brothers.
This preformence features
young voices such as Jonathan
Summers as Joseph, Brianna
Spilsbury as the Butler, and
many more talented preformers.
The show will be on May
6th-7th, 7:30 pm at the high
school theater. Admission will
be $4 for adults, $2 for students, and free for seniors.
Simple girl makes it big
By Electra Janis and
Mariah Kelly
Before 2008, most of us were
unfamiliar with the name Katy
Perry.
Since then, she has accomplished many things and established a name for herself in the
music industry.
Her first pop music album
was called “One of the Boys,”
and it was released in 2008.
That album had four hit songs
that we all knew and loved.
The first hit song on that album
was “I Kissed a Girl.” Also,
that album featured her other
hits, such as: “Hot ‘n Cold,”
“Thinking of You,” and “Waking Up in Vegas.”
Her most recent album was
released on August 23, 2010,
and was called “Teenage
Dream.” That album had “California Girls,” and her most
popular song up to date, “Firework.”
Katy did not make it this big
from the beginning.
She
The Critical Movie Critic:
The Green Hornet
By Donny Lund
Now playing: The Green Hornet
Director: Michel Gondry
Featuring: Seth Rogen and Jay
Chou
Seth Rogen is Britt Reid, a
partier by day and a superhero by
night. However, after the unexpected death of his father, Britt’s
partying days are over. He teams
up with Kato, his Dad’s assistant,
and they start a duo in order to become a master crime-fighting
team. Some call the Green Hornet
(Britt Reid’s alias) a hero, and
still, others believe him to be a
villain.
The main plot involves Britt’s
started out small with baby
attempt to stop Benjamin Chudsteps before we even knew
nofsky, a Russian mobster, who is
about her.
trying to unite the criminal famiShe grew up in a very religious family with one brother
and one sister. Her parents
were very strict. She could
watch TV only on special occasions, and she could only listen
to religious music.
Katy grew up with the birth By Rachel Krakoff and
name of Katy Hudson. She re- Emily Oates
leased her first album in 2001.
Have you ever wondered what
It was gospel and under the
Faculty chorus is? The faculty
name of Hudson, not Perry.
Katy changed her name from chorus, or Faculty Forte, is the
Hudson to her stage name, faculty of Ft. Couch Middle
Perry before releasing “I School coming together to sing.
Kissed a Girl” on October 23, They sang at the Winter Assembly, and they will be performing
2010.
Katy then got married in at the Spring Musical as well.
We interviewed Mr. Hunsberger
India. She did not change her
to find out more. He said, “We
name again.
Watch out for Katy, because sing different songs that the
she is bound to come out with teachers like, yet they fit with the
voices we have.”
more hit songs soon.
He has no preference with
working with the kids or the
adults. The faculty chorus prac-
Katy Perry:
PANTHER PRESS
lies of Los Angeles under his
command. The action that surrounds the plot is centered on the
battle between the Green Hornet
and Chudnofsky.
After viewing this movie, I have
to say that I enjoyed the action
scenes much more than the comedy. I actually thought the comedy was a little hokey at times.
Although Seth Rogen was funny,
I think Jay Chou as Kato stole the
show.
The special effects were mindblowing, and the set design was
awesome.
If you see this movie, I recommend you see it in 2D; it is available in 3D as well, but I don’t
think it would be worth the price
of a 3D ticket. It focused on the
action scenes more than the comedy, but overall I would say it is
an enjoyable movie!
Faculty Chorus prepares for
upcoming spring performance
tices once a week in the mornings.
When asked who the best singer
was, Mr. Hunsberger said, “We
have a lot of good singers.”
Mr. Hunsberger said that his favorite part was, “Watching teachers who think they can’t sing find
out they actually can.” We can’t
wait to see their next performance!
Staff members gather together for a rehearseal
with Mr. Hunsberger.
MAY 4, 2011
News
7
PANTHER PRESS
The scoop about our cafeteria Faces of the Fort:
than last year. Also, the full tray-slides
make for fewer spills. It’s also nice
that
the back of the cafeteria might be
It is no secret that the cafeteria is
reserved
for ping-pong.
making an effort to be healthier. As a
matter of fact, our very own lunch
menu is actually changing every year. Q: How have the menu choices
A great amount of work goes into changed over the years?
choosing kid-compatible menu items,
as well choosing healthy options to A: There have been a lot of changes
over the years! We used to serve naserve for lunch.
In an effort to set the record straight chos, for instance. However, we got
about healthy choices, we conducted rid of them because they have little
an interview with Mrs. Pembrooke. nutritional value.
Mrs. Pembrooke is the kitchen man- When I first worked at Fort Couch,
ager, and she has been working at Ft. the kitchen had a deep fryer, but not
anymore. Actually, the menu choices
Couch for 25 years.
change every year. We serve white
whole
wheat in our cookies, which is
Q: What is the cafeteria doing to
much
healthier
(but it doesn’t actually
help make the food healthier?
look like whole wheat.) All of our
A: This summer, the food-services di- chips are baked, our slushies are made
rector (Mr. Phillips) worked to make with real juice, and our snacks have
healthier menus. That’s how we got become more nutritious. All snacks
sweet potato fries. Also, they go to are approved by the nutrition advisory,
food shows each year to try new items. which is a council of parents and
Everyone who works for the cafeteria teachers who work to make lunch an
has to undergo sanitation courses and enjoyable and beneficial experience.
pass a health-training test. All of our
food is baked, and nothing is deep- This is the real scoop when it comes
to school lunches, directly from the
fried.
source. Not only has the menu greatly
Q: How much food do you cook in a evolved over time, but it has also become much healthier!
day?
The interview with Mrs. Pembrooke
was
very inspiring. A lot of love goes
A: Today, we made 400 servings of
into
the daily lunch routine, and the
mashed potatoes. Usually, we plan for
hope
is that readers will be appreciaat least 360 lunches a day.
tive of the staff of the Fort Couch NuQ: What do you like about the new trition Center. After all, it takes a lot
of work to make 400 servings of
cafeteria?
mashed potatoes!
A: I love the new kitchen. Since there
are 4 lines, the place is less crowded
By Alexis Scott and Ananya Cleetus
SURVEY:
What food item would
you most like to see in
the cafeteria?
Mozzarella sticks
Burgh’s wings
Chocolate
Pop
Nachos
Candy
Salt
Ribs
Salad bar
Steak
Displaying consistent excellence in academics
and actions.
January
Scott Moskal
Kara Ravasio
Brad Vespa
Laura Johnson
Daniel Quiroga
Ally Steve
Yuya K
Katie Torkos
Eddie Zunic
Francesca Cappetta
Peter Riley
Morgan Hogenmiller
February
Maddie Degnan
Jordan Rongaus
Maura Flaherty
Bryce Cook
Catherine DeLo
Jacob Reinheimer
Sami Lackner
Aaron Harris
Natalie Fiedler
Marcus Galie
Lauren Schoeppner
Garrett O’Grady
March
Connan Rooney
Jacob Riberi
Mark Vlah
Jacob Heller
Rocky Alfera
Brooks Wilding
Hannah Cafaro
Kaedryn Keller
Alyssa Montgomery
Shivani Patel
Eliza Luxbacher
Sarah Seitanakis
Congratulations!
Hough, continued from page 5
process. She thinks that the toughest opponent so far
this season has been the rain! She and the softball team
are hoping for nice weather so that they get a chance to
play the rest of their games.
Miss Hough has played a variety of sports including softball, soccer, volleyball, ice skating, and
gymnastics. She currently enjoys aerobic classes, kickboxing, and boot camp. Her favorite extracurricular
classes are Zumba and hip Hop.
Duchi, continued from page 5
league in the North Hills and an outdoor sand league in
the summer. He played golf in High School and continues to play golf.