Students Thrive in NAHS and Mock-Trial

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by Grace Cardoni and Mae Grisenthwaite

Mock Trial and National Art Honors Society are vital parts of GS, yet many students and staff members remain unaware of their roles despite all of their accomplishments.  

Both organizations have been active for years and meet regularly, whether that be through a class or a club. Teachers in charge aide and guide members through the opportunities and challenges that come along with being a part of them. Despite all of this, many who are not involved are left unaware of what goes on behind the classroom doors.  

“With Mock Trial I know who’s on it but not really much of what they do; NAHS I know even less about,” senior Austin Brown said. 

The Mock Trial team, which is led by English Teacher Mrs. Kristen Solomon, is a competitive academic activity that challenges students to take on roles as lawyers and witnesses in a 30-minute simulated court room case.  

Members of the Mock Trial Team pose in the Cathedral of Learning after competing in a tournament at Pitt.

Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Solomon

“Mock Trial is part creative writing and part acting,” senior Mock Trial member Ian Smith said. “You work hard to write good material and then perform it to your best so you can win points.”  

Mock Trial gives students the opportunity to explore interests in law and exposes them to a fast-paced learning environment, whether that is through the Mock Trial class or the competitive team.  

“Mock Trial is a competition that tests your ability to think on your feet and respond to unknown elements,” Smith said. 

Similarly the National Art Honors Society is an organization that many students at GS may not realize exists, despite its long-standing presence.  

“We have had a chapter for probably about 15 years so it’s not new to our school, it’s just that we’ve kind of gone through some revitalization in the last couple years,” Art Teacher Mr.Darryl Audia said. 

National Art Honors Society, or NAHS, is a service organization that allows members to support others through their missions in art. They provide help to those who need it, doing things like face painting for Mini -THON or donating funds raised to organizations like the Giving Tree. 

“The mission is for them to gather service hours that are related to not just art, but helping people’s missions through art,” Mr. Audia said.  

Students utilize a model vinyl project created by Mr. Audia in order to create their own.

Photo By: Grace Cradoni

With these clubs not being well known by the school community, most students interested in either know truly little about how to get involved; Mock Trial being a great choice for students interested in law, and NAHS for any students interested in the arts.  

“Most students start in middle school with Mr. Doran,” sophomore Mock Trial member Ava Richards said. “Some of us started through the B- Team competition.” 

“B-Team” is a beginner trial attended once to see if there is true interest in the team. Mock Trial is a great choice for any student with a good writing foundation who can persevere in independent work. 

 “To solidify the understanding and concept it is great to take the Mock Trial class or Intro to Mock Trial class,” Richards said. 

NAHS also requires some further experience from students while still being broad enough that anyone interested can easily qualify to become part of the group. 

 “Students have to be in an art elective or have taken an art elective before,” Audia said. “Students who don’t meet these requirements would do more service hours to balance that out.” 

Both Mock Trial and National Art Honors Society have proven themselves to be parts of GS that uphold a strong community and culture. 

“I really think everyone should look more into both honestly,” junior Mock Trial member Kagan McBreen said. “I know people who are part of both NAHS and Mock Trial, and I think they represent our school well.” 

Girls Hit the Mat as a Team for the First Time at GS

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by Reese Price

This season marked a major milestone for the Girls’ Wrestling Club as they took the mat for the first time.  

At the beginning of the school year, GS introduced a Girls’ Wrestling Club, creating a new athletic opportunity for female students. The club began practicing in the fall to prepare for their first season. The team is comprised of 14 student athletes who compete in high school and junior high matches. 

“Teaching them something new was definitely a challenge,” wrestling coach Mr. Randy Parsley said. 

The female wrestlers have been practicing alongside the boys’ team since preseason workouts started. During these shared practices, the athletes have learned new techniques and skills that have helped and impacted all of the athletes. The female wrestlers have been extremely dedicated and hardworking as they build the program and shape the future.  

“It was great seeing them compete with other girls, using the moves we’ve been going over,” Mr. Parsley said. “I am very impressed with them; they are very hardworking and are anxious to learn more.” 

The PIAA hosted its first season for girls wrestling in 2023-24, opening this sport up to many high school students across Pennsylvania. Girls wrestling has become one of the fastest growing girl’s sports in Pennsylvania. More than 100 girls wrestling teams have been established which was needed for the state to gain PIAA sponsorships. GS’s increase in female participation has allowed them to compete in girls’ wrestling events instead of wrestling only boys’ teams or not at all.  

“Wrestling has increased my self-confidence, mental toughness, resilience and discipline,” sophomore Zoey Zeoli said. “It teaches accountability and has empowered me to get in the best shape of my life.” 

GS hosted the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Wrestling Tournament, marking the school’s first year entering a girls’ team. As more local schools add programs, the participation in the sport has continued to grow.  

“It’s an honor to be a part of the first ever girls’ wrestling team and to pave the way for younger athletes who want to be involved in a sport that pushes them to be their very best,” Zeoli said. 

Senior wrestler Sadie Sarver has been competing since eighth grade and is a captain of the high school team. She committed to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown to continue her academic and athletic career. Sarver is ranked 16 out of 118 wrestlers in District 7 girls wrestling so far this year.  

Senior Sadie Sarver looks into the crowd before a match

Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Sarver

“The hardest part of wrestling is that you need to build a whole different mindset,” she said. “It’s physically demanding and learning how to wrestle takes time, but once you get used to it, it’s all about feel and looseness.” 

Learning and adapting to a new sport can be hard for any athlete, but these girls have paved the way for future athletes. Young middle school and elementary school kids have already showntheir interest in starting wrestling at a young age. The PIAA has worked very hard to grow the sport, involving 264 teams and over 100 clubs across Pennsylvania, with GS being one of them, which has contributed to the growth girls’ wrestling has seen in the past few years. 

“Wrestling has helped me become more confident and disciplined to be the best I can be, showing me a true supportive environment,” Sarver said 

Idewild

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by Ever Schmidt

The world’s largest rubber duck is splash landing at Idlewild this summer. 

Idlewild is one of many amusement parks in the Pittsburgh area. They opened May 24 and this is the 148th season.  

“I go every year with my family,” junior Mariah Mann said. “I have two younger siblings and it’s something we enjoy doing together. Personally, I am very excited that they are adding the rubber duck; I think it will bring some personality to the park.”   

An example of a season pass to Idewild

Photo by: Ever Schmidt

The rubber duck is going to be part of a special event from June 27-29 at Idlewild as a part of duck themed games and merchandise, according to CBS News. This year is going to be the first since 2013 that the duck is visiting the Pittsburgh area.  

“I have gone since I was a little kid, even now that I am an adult,” math teacher Mr. Jake Cole said. “My daughter is a little over two years old and this is going to be the first year we are going to be taking her.”  

Many people, like Mr. Cole, have gone from a young age and continue to go with their families. Now, as summer approaches, people are ready to enjoy the water again. Health and Physical Education teacher Mrs. Alyssa Lukatch has season passes. 

“I have season passes and I’m going to take my daughter,” Mrs. Lukatch said. “We have already gone once this year and have more fun memories.”  

New Electronics for the 2025-26 School Year

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by Kerrick Shaw

District Approves $535K for iPads and MacBooks in 5–4 Vote

Students will be welcomed with new electronics next school year following the $535,000 funding approved by the GS School Board.

The decision, which followed a split vote of 5-4, will fund the purchase of updated devices and classroom technology designed to support student learning. The plan is part of the district’s ongoing effort to keep pace with the evolving demands of digital education.

The funding will provide 900 iPads for high school students and 65 MacBook Air laptops for teachers.

“We investigated multiple options for student use, including HP laptops, Google Chromebooks and iPads,” GS Superintendent Dr. Ken Bissell said. “Ultimately, the iPads met all of the instructional and learning needs and were the most cost-effective in building a four-year cycle of device replacement. The cost of the device includes a keyboard case, a plan for broken or replacement devices, and a buy-back plan at the end of the 0% lease.”

The total cost per device will be $513, according to Dr. Bissell; but this price will be discounted after the buyback by Apple in four years. 

Although the vote was not unanimous, board members who supported the investment emphasized the need to modernize the district’s educational tools. Board member Ms. Kacey Byrne-Houser described technology as “vital” rather than a luxury.

The exterior of a students’ old laptop

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

“It’s a smart, forward-thinking move that aligns with where education is headed,” Ms. Byrne-Houser explained. “This new approach not only saves money over time, but also supports sustainability and better tech management. I have a great deal of trust in our school administrators who spent considerable time researching and evaluating options before bringing this recommendation forward.”

In agreement, board member Mr. Brian Conway thinks the access to technology is essential, stating that the new electronics “will allow the district to ensure that the necessary devices are available.”

“Initially, I had reservations about transitioning from laptops to tablet devices,” Mr. Conway said. “However, after considering the inclusion of protective cases and keyboards, along with assurances from the administration that no additional technology would be necessary to facilitate the change, I ultimately supported it.”

While some board members opposed the purchase due to cost concerns, board Vice President, Mrs. Robin Savage, voted against the purchase based on the limited time board members had to fully review the details before voting.

“The main reason I voted against it is we were not given what I believe was enough time to review,” Mrs. Savage explained. “As a board member, I felt that we should have had a thorough discussion and had more time to review the proposal.”

Despite the differing viewpoints, the district will be able to move ahead with its technology replacement in time for the 2025–26 school year.

Students, who use the current laptops on a daily basis for everything from taking notes to submitting assignments, are especially eager about the arrival of the new technology. Sophomore Kelsey Wigfield said she found out about the purchase through teachers.

“I’m excited to have a working school device,” Wigfield said. “Our laptops now never wanted to load and are very slow; they freeze a lot, too. I know from having my own iPad that they work really well even if they’re not brand new.”

Students current laptop conditions

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

Sophomore Grady Rizzo heard about the iPads from other students. He explained the new electronics will be “great” as he uses his laptop in nearly every classroom.

The implementation of this Apple package is one of the most significant steps in upgrading the educational process over recent years, going along with multiple upgrades underway at different buildings in the district.

“At the end of the day, this isn’t just about upgrading devices,” Ms. Byrne-Houser said. “It’s about investing in our students’ future, supporting our educators, and making sure our district stays ahead of the curve.”

Senior Events

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by Adison Poole

The sun is setting for seniors as the school year comes to a close.

To wrap up the seniors’ final week, clubs such as SCA have planned several fun events to celebrate the upcoming graduation.

“The next two weeks are going to be extremely busy,” senior Kayla Ramer said.

Over the course of the last two weeks of the school year, seniors will have the opportunity to participate in activities such as senior sunset, a class picnic and a spirit week just for seniors.

Seniors Alice Wilkinson and Olivia Smith pose in their favorite FNL themes

Photo by: Adison Poole

“Senior sunset is one of the newer ones,” SCA advisor Mr. Christopher Gazze said. “One of our senior class officers proposed that and it got approved a few years ago. It’s just kind of a cool hangout with a smaller group of people.”

Earlier in the year seniors participated in a senior sunrise. This was a day when seniors gathered in the gravel parking lot and were able to hangout with friends and watch the sunrise.

“We had a huge crowd for fall’s (event), so it would be cool it you guys could match that,” Mr. Gazze said.

Seniors also can take a walk through their old elementary school dressed in caps and gowns to visit old teachers and show off their graduation gear for the younger kids.

“I’m excited to see all my old teachers,” Ramer said. “I think it’s such a cute idea.”

At each of the scheduled events students can expect food and snacks provided and games such as spike ball and cornhole.

“I plan on playing spike ball the whole time,” senior Everett Redinger said.

Class picnics also provide students with one last opportunity to hang out before graduation. Students who ordered them receive their yearbooks right before, so it provides students with time to get them signed.

Seniors also had a chance to participate in a spirit week for their last week of school. The themes chosen were dress as your younger or older self-day, favorite FNL theme, dress as your favorite teacher and decision day.

“The themes made the week interesting,” senior Alice Wilkinson said. “I made sure to go all out since this is my last one ever.”

SCA plans events such as these to bring students together one last time and as a sort of send off to the graduating class.

“I think it’s good to hang out,” Ramer said. “It’s nice to all be together one last time.”

Senior Academic and Athletic Awards Ceremonies

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by Theresa Schuetz

The class of 2025 had their academic and athletic achievements recognized with two assemblies open to parents, guardians and fellow classmates.

Each May, GS honors its seniors with academic and extra curricular assemblies mentioning the scholarships and achievements seniors have received. This year the class of 2025 welcomed parents and guardians to come and acknowledge their accomplishments.

The first assembly was Tuesday, May 20and it honored the Athletics and Activities successes students have completed throughout their high school careers. Varsity letters students earned through sports, as well as some students’ extra activities they took part in throughout high school, such as the gifted program, as well as band and choral talents, were recognized throughout the assembly.

Students on stage listen to a speaker at the awards ceremony

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“I was recognized for being a four sport athlete, and I was also recognized for the Westmoreland County Scholar Athlete award,” senior Olivia Smith said.

Wednesday, May 21 marked the Academic Achievements Ceremony. Students were recognized for scholarships, their involvement in Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center and the rigorous courses they have taken.

“I learned about the scholarships and the scholarships page on the class of 2025’s Teams page,” senior Bailie Merichko said. “Once I filled out certain scholarships, some of them directed me to others I also was applicable for.”

No matter what the Members of the Class of 2025’s goals are for the future, GS or WCTC helped lay down a foundation for their goals and may have inspired post secondary plans.

“It is okay if you change direction or don’t know what you want to do after high school,” guidance office Administrative Assistant Mrs. Julie Ebersole said. “Life is about trying, experimenting, failing and learning; test the waters until you find what is right for you.”

Culture Day

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by Emma Helmick

The crowd roared as students were treated to dance battles, history and stories for culture day

The foreign language students usually come together at the end of the semester to create presentations, songs, skits and more as their final project. The shows were during first and second block.

“I love seeing students so excited about something related to foreign language,” Spanish teacher Miss Miranda Filak said. “I think it is uplifting to see such excitement brought to a class that sometimes people might associate with grammar and vocabulary when it is so much more than that.”

Every class had the opportunity to go; it was up to the teachers and if they were willing to take their students or not.

“A big improvement we made this year was more performances,” senior Greta Hagofsky said. “In years past, kids would sometimes do just presentations, but this year we saw a lot more of students partaking in dancing and singing.”

French and Spanish Students present their projects for the crowd

Photo Courtesy: Kayla Tamer

Some of the acts changed between the first and second block show, but some are performed twice for the new audience.

TikTok content creator Maddox is Bussin’ not only attended this semester’s Culture Day, but he also participated in a dance battle on stage. His attendance was advertised around the high school and on social media days prior.

“It was a way for us to draw more kids to Culture Day,” Hagofsky said. “We saw a big turn out this year and I think we partially have Maddox to thank for it.”

Maddox came out on stage at the end of the second block show. He danced against seniors Wesley Heverly and Lauryn Swierczynski. The audience voted Maddox as the winner.

“I think that Culture Day was super fun, and it taught me a lot of things about what people in the French and Spanish cultures practice, do in their lives and are accustomed to,” freshman Ava Richards said.

The goal of Culture Day is to allow students to educate their peers about what they have learned throughout the semester. “I hope that it gives all students the opportunity to be exposed to something outside of what they see every day,” Miss Filak said. “Even if it’s just a minute or two of a catchy song in another language, it is always exciting to see students being exposed to something new and different.”

Seniors Return to Camp Soles

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by Reese Price

Trading smartphones for s’mores, a group of seniors took a step back in time to guide sixth graders through the Camp Soles experience.

19 GS senior mentor students were offered an opportunity to attend the annual sixth grade field trip to Camp Soles. Sixth grade students at GS Middle School have been going on this trip for 55 years and GS plans to continue the tradition.

 “It was really nice to get a better idea of what everything looked like because I kind of forgot,” senior Braedon Leatherman said. “It’s crazy how big everything seemed because of how small I was.”

Camp Soles sits on 264 acres, offering wetlands, a lake, woods, meadows and other environmental attractions. This is a perfect opportunity for the students to combine learning and fun. Whether the students were figuring out how to get across the challenge course, ziplining, or testing the water quality, they were constantly learning through real experiences.

 “I really like fishing, finding little water bugs in the creek, and the wetlands,” Leatherman said.

Seniors who went back to Camp Soles pose for a group photo in the dining hall.

Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Rachel Brannigan

At the beginning of the school year, each senior mentor was offered a trip to Camp Soles if they had perfect attendance to freshman mentor sessions. Seniors were in charge of groups of sixth grade students to mentor them through the activities.

“To be able to get Seniors back to that spot, I felt was somewhat of a ‘full circle’ moment,” History teacher Mr. Matthew Boe said. “I’m grateful administration gave us the green light to get back.”

The trip included hands-on activities which encouraged all students to use teamwork and collaboration skills. All of the activities were spread across two and a half days for each sixth-grade group, with senior mentors joining in for one of those days.

“I feel like the sixth graders were happy that we were there,” senior Blessing Gantt said. “I feel like we made them have more fun especially since the day we went was rainy and cold.”

As older students, seniors being able to go allowed for aspiring students to have role models and mentors to guide them through the experience. The mentors were in charge of showing students how to be respectful, responsible, and kind, all while being able to learn and have fun.  

“To have Seniors back leading groups of 6th graders around and sharing their experiences I think was beneficial,” Mr. Boe said. “At the same time, it was in some ways a chance to say thank you to those Senior Mentors for their commitment to helping others find their path and making GS a better place for it.”

The hope for the seniors and the sixth graders is to interact and work together. The seniors were very excited to be able to go back and experience the amazing field trip to Camp Soles.

“I was super excited to put a place to all the memories I made there in sixth grade,” Leatherman said. “I also made a bunch of new friends there that I got to go back with as seniors, so that was nice.”

The Camp Soles field trip served as a valuable experience not just for the middle school, but also for the seniors who got to revisit a part of their middle school career. It was more than just a tradition; it was an opportunity to build connections, create memories, and to give back while reflecting on their journey through school.

“I really enjoyed going,” Gantt said. “It brought back a lot of memories, especially sitting in the dining hall and going near the fire.”

GS’ 2025 Prom | “Meet Me at Midnight”

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by: Theresa Schuetz

GS’ prom 2025 had a theme tailored for students, made by students.  

At the end of last school year, SCA met and started to plan homecoming and prom as well as their themes. The president of SCA, senior Lauryn Swierczynski, helped to pick the theme of “Meet Me at Midnight.”  

The event was held on May 9, starting at 6 pm and ending at 10 pm.  

Teachers and students dine as dinner is served at Stratigos.

Photo by: Emma Helmick

“Me and my other group partners, one of them being Anna Spigarelli, are big Taylor Swift fans,” Swierczynski said. “We thought why not put two and two together and make a subtle Taylor Swift reference while also making the general vision purple and blue.”  

Prom was held at Stratigos this year, just as it has been for years. The banquet facility was recently renovated as well, providing more space for attendees to enjoy the night.  

“Prom is the nice end of the year event for all schools,” physics teacher Christopher Gazze said. “It’s a very prototypical high school event.”  

Everyone who attended voted for prom king and queen out of a list of seniors picked out by the seniors through a form. The students nominated to be prom queen were Sloane Potter, Anna Shevchik, Ksena Spencer, Lauryn Swierczynski, Grace Sybesma and Tymara White. Students nominated for prom king were Logan Dunkerly, Azreal Franklin, Gregory Paravate, Nick Reinhart, Dominic Rosensteel and Keegan Young. 

On each ticket bought for prom there was a spot to vote for prom king and queen. The winner for prom king was Gregory Paravate and the winner for prom queen was Anna Shevchik.  

“I did not expect to win prom queen, but it was a nice surprise to wrap the night up with,” Shevchik said. 

“Meet Me at Midnight” proved to be a fitting theme for an evening that was as magical as it was memorable, marking a highlight in the high school journey for students who attended.  

“Seeing and hanging out with the students in my grade all in one place before graduation was the most memorable part of the night,” Paravate said.  

Storm Season

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by: Adison Poole  

This year storms have seemed more and more common in the area. With constant rain and thunder rolling in, several areas have experienced power outages and damage to their property.  

A storm develops in the sky.

Photo Courtesy: Logan Dunkerly

“We lost power from about 5:30 pm on Tuesday until about 4:30 pm Friday,” history Mrs. Beth Simone said. “We quickly realized the damage around our neighborhood was much more extensive than previous storms, so we would most likely not get power back quickly.” 

Many experienced power outages throughout the area. Nearby school districts even experienced closures due to the outages.  

“My daughter did not have school on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday,” Mrs. Simone said. “Her school building did not have power restored until Sunday, so they were able to go on Monday, but they did not have phones or internet at that point.”  

Others who lost power struggled with the lack of air conditioning and keeping a refrigerator running without a generator.  

“It was hot outside, so my house was definitely stuffy,” senior Grace Sybesma said. “I didn’t realize that our garage doors wouldn’t open, so we had to find a key for out front door.”  

Some reported issues with power companies and lack of response on their end.  

“It was annoying because we have West Penn Power and every time we would call them, there was never an estimated time of when it would be back on,” senior Gracie Susick said.  

Others were lucky enough to have a generator on standby in case of emergencies.  

“Luckily we already owned a generator, so we were able to use that to run the refrigerator, a few lights and our Wi-Fi,” Simone said. “The generator is loud, so we turned it off for much of the night, but we were still able to preserve our food and keep devices charged. My husband works from home, so Wi-Fi was essential.”  

The storm also caused damage to several properties. Many experienced fallen trees and road closures due to the strong winds from the storms. 

A tree covers Route 8-19 in the middle of a storm.

Photo by: Reese Price

“An approximately 80 foot pine tree collapsed in my back yard,” she said. “It did not hit the house, so there was no structural damage. We had the tree removed on Monday, just shy of two weeks after the storm.”  

Many people kept busy while experiencing the power outages and pushing through in the dark until power could be restored.  

“I had to study for my tests with a flashlight,” Susick said. “For online work I went to either other people’s houses or Barnes and Noble.”  

Others went out and kept up with extracurricular activities to avoid being at home without power and to charge electronics.  

“During the outage, I actually had dance during the evenings,” Sybesma said. “While at dance, I would charge my phone and do homework so I could complete it in the light. After dance, I would go to my grandparent’s house to shower so that I could have warm water.”  

While the storm brought on hardships for many at GS, roads and properties have been cleared and storms have calmed down in the area since.  

“Even though I didn’t have power for some time, I’m just glad that nothing serious happened to my house,” senior Josselyn Blawas said. “It was a relief to be safe inside my house.”