Vol. 117 No. 12 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 March 19 - March 25, 2006 50 ¢ EDUCATION Students become eteachers Ross sixth-graders teaching computers to kindergarten students For the Post The students from the class- rooms of Ross Elementary School teachers Jaime Hallowich and Me- lissa Sorber recently combined on a special project. The sixth grade students in Sor- ber’s class participated in an activ- ity with the kindergarten students in Hallowich’s class by using the school’s mobile computer lab. The lab features wireless laptop com- puters. The sixth grade students help the younger students navi- gate through many interactive and child-friendly Web sites on the In- ternet. “This year is the first year the ixth grade has been using laptops and its unbelievable how well they can utilize the technology, espe- cially to teach someone who can’t even read yet,” said Sorber. “This program really focuses on one on one instruction and the students learn so much from one another.” The first activity for the special project — which took place on Pres- ident’s Day — involved sixth grade students helping register their “Kinder-Buddies” to be “President for a Day” on the Web site www.pbskids.org. Students were given a job appli- cation to complete and a daily lanner with all of the activities @- events a president encounters during an average work day. Stu- dents learned the president starts his day at 6 a.m. with a few phys- ical fitness activities, meets with members of his staff, attends con- ferences, makes several phone calls, attends dinners, reads, and eventually goes to sleep at approx- imately 10 p.m. There were many photos of the events and activities to give stu- dents a better understanding of what really takes place at the White House. For the second President’s Day activity, students visited the Web site wwwwhitehouse.gov and learned many interesting facts about President George W. Bush. The students learned about the president’s birthday, hometown, siblings, childhood activities, See COMPUTERS, Page 9 SUBMITTED PHOTO Sixth grade students at Ross Elementary School recently assisted kindergarten students with the school's mobile com- puter lab that features wireless laptops. Sixth-graders Zach Seprish, far left, and Emily O'Neill, far right, help kinder- gartners Keara Gallagher, sec- ond from left, and Angela Lock- avitch. Dallas High School student Andy Judge gives his hand- made bi-plane a send off while partner Brian Mullen keeps record of the flight time. PHOTOS FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Josh Lubin of Lake-Lehman Junior High School, fills the sand bucket underneath the bridge built for the competition. Lake-Lehman's - Kelsey Amy puts the finishing touch on her project. Kallie Root is her part- ner. the battle of brains Dallas students earn berth at state Science Olympiad By GENELLE HOBAN Post Correspondent top four in 12 of 22 events at the Northeast Regional Science Olympiad at the Penn State Wilkes- Barre campus in Lehman Township landed the Dallas Middle School Sci- ence Olympiad team a spot in the state competition. The team of sixth through ninth grade students finished in second place overall in the middle school di- vision. The team will test its science skills at the state competition, which takes place in April at Juniata College. “l wasn’t really expecting to get that many medals,” said Monica Eso- pi, 14, who took home three medals at the competition. “I am kind of nerv- ous about states. Last year our team didn’t get any medals so I hope we win a couple at states this year.” The top two teams from the state competition will advance to a nation- al competition, which will take place in May at Indiana University. “We knew we had a strong team,” said Dan Flynn, teacher and co-coach. “We felt pretty confident we could make it to states. The kids definitely kicked some butt. It was a real big ac- complishment.” The purpose of Science Olympiad is to stimulate interest in science through the excitement of competi- tion, with individual and team D ALLAS TWP. - Placing in the awards. There were more than 20 events in middle school and high school divisions. Some event exam- ples include rockets built from soda bottles that fly up into the air, deploy- ing a parachute to see how long a team can keep their missile in flight, and insect identification. “Our boys did well, but not as good as our girls,” said Flynn, a Dallas resi- dent. See SCIENCE, Page 9 Man of many talents leading Trinity Presbyterian Church Pastor Roger Griffith has been a well-known musician and business owner By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor DALLAS TWP. —- Roger Griffith remembers looking out of the win- dow in his classroom at the former Dallas Township School, watching construction of the Trinity Presby- terian Church. He wondered about the people who would be attending the church. He wondered about the Presbyterian faith. And he won- dered what it might be like to be in- side the church. He doesn’t wonder any longer. The 1965 Dallas High School graduate was recently named pas- tor of the church on Irem Road. The Rev. Griffith conducted his first ser- vice during a recent Ash Wednes- day service. “I guess I've come full circle,” he said. “I grew up in the Shavertown United Methodist Church, so I didn’t know anything about the Presbyterian church. I was in junior high when they were building the church. I'd just stare out the win- dow and wonder about the church and the people.” Griffith certainly took a unique road to the ministry. After earning a degree in busi- ness administration and account- ing from the former Wilkes-Barre Business College, he left the Back Mountain in 1976 to start his own business, R.J. Griffith Co., Inc. in Montrose. Griffith joined a Presbyterian church in Montrose and in 1986 be- came its first commissioned lay pas- tor, serving a small rural congrega- See PASTOR, Page 9 Church. ] — FOR THE POST/JONATHAN J. JUKA Roger Griffith is the new pastor at Trinity Presbyterian V Inside The Post 10 Pages, 1 Section Puzzles hurch Services ivic Library news School Sports . N~NOUTWNN \& Former Lake-Lehman wrestling standout Matt Dragon is taking his place among nation’s elite. ( b N Take a look back at local history. Move over Sudoku. Puzzles. V¥ How To Reach Us News: 829-7248 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre PA 1871 Subscriptions and Delivery: 829-5000
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers