Carbon Career & Technical Institute

Gracie Heintzelman

Hello from CCTI. It’s almost the end of the school year and a lot is going on.

I would like to start off by congratulating Cosmetology Students who passed their PA State Board of Cosmetology license - Jada Saldukas, Fragile Colon, Carlos Lopez Rodriguez, Angelina Aurisano, Emma Hertweck, Alexa Martin, and Autumn Stepp. Great Job!

There will be no school on May 27.

Senior Awards is Wednesday, May 22, in the school cafeteria at 6 p.m. If your senior will be receiving an award, you will receive a phone call with information regarding this event.

The senior class trip will be on Thursday, May 23, to Knoebel’s Amusement Park in Elysburg. We will depart CCTI at approximately 8:30 a.m. and return at approximately 7 p.m. Seniors attending the trip may drive to school that day. If your student arrives on the bus they must be picked up at CCTI at 7 p.m. Students will need money for lunch. Any senior not attending the class trip will be expected to be in school on that day or receive an unexcused absence.

CCTI Class of 2024 graduation will be held at the CCTI campus on Friday, May 31 at 5 p.m. Seniors must be at the CCTI bus entrance at 4 p.m. This is a rain-or-shine event. The event will be undercover. In the event of severe weather, there is a rain date set for Monday, June 3, same time and place. All guests must have a ticket to attend, and all graduates will receive six tickets. If your student does not need all six tickets, please have them give extra tickets to a senior who may require more than six tickets. No additional tickets are available. All tickets will be distributed at graduation practice. Graduation practice is Thursday, May 30, 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Practice is MANDATORY for seniors to walk at graduation.

This event will be livestreamed. You may view the ceremony by going to CCTI’s homepage and clicking on the link. The graduation ceremony is handicapped accessible. Any guest who is wheelchair-bound can be dropped off at the field. Any guest needing to be driven up to the field can take the shuttle. For further questions regarding accessibility to the field please call the main office at 570-325-3682.

Congratulations to all three marketing seniors: Gracie Heintzelman, Haley Kuehner, and Breydon Hand for passing their NRF Customer Service and sales certification.

Lehighton High School

Koy Wentz

Lehighton High School Prom 2024 was held at Blue Mountain Resort. The theme for prom this year was “Gatsby’s Gala!” Incredible memories were made at prom, and it was a very enjoyable evening.

Before prom, many students engaged in a “Prom Promise.” On behalf of the Junior Advisory Board, students were able to sign their prom promise during lunch. The prom promise dealt with staying safe after prom and making good choices.

Speaker and former NFL player Cliff Crosby recently visited the high school. Cliff is a charismatic, inspirational, and former Super Bowl Champion. In conjunction with Carbon Treatment, Cliff made a presentation of how hard choices and hard work helped him overcome difficult family circumstances. Cliff’s presentation was extremely eye-opening and touching. His presentation also included motivational messaging on setting goals and acting on them, being where you are supposed to be, getting involved, and recognizing when you need help and asking for it.

Additionally, students have been busy producing the 2023-2024 high school yearbook. Members of the High School Yearbook Club have been taking photos, adding verbiage to the yearbook, and organizing the various sections.

Finally, a routine K-9 search was conducted at the high school. Working in collaboration, the Lehighton Area School District and Pennsylvania State Police work to ensure the safety of students. The routine search was conducted for the safety and integrity of students.

Jim Thorpe High School

Gabriella Cerra

The long-awaited prom took place on Friday, May 10. Last week was also the spirit week for Students Against Destructive Decisions. Monday was “Neon Day,” to show “you are too bright for destructive decisions.” To show that there is no reason for driving under the influence, Tuesday was “Rhyme Without Reason.” To keep students against destructive decisions for decades, SADD designated Wednesday as “Decades Day.” Thursday was “SADD Out,” which entailed wearing red, black, and white. Finally, Friday showed that destructive decisions “are a snore” via the wearing of pajamas.

On Tuesday, May 7, a demonstration of the fatal effects of driving under the influence was shown to all students who planned to attend the prom. For the rest of the week, SADD periodically handed out slips of paper to people, chosen at random. Each selected student was labeled as one of the 37 that are killed each day from drunken driving, rendering him or her unable to speak until dismissal, out of respect.

A Peer Buddy meeting will be held during PODS in Mrs. Hower’s room on Monday.

History Club will be meeting again to prepare for the Memorial Day Program the group plans to present to the high school student body, LB Morris Elementary, and Penn Kidder Elementary. This meeting will be after school on Tuesday, starting at 2:45 p.m.

Members of the Future Business Leaders of America will be selling lottery tickets until May 28, for $10 per ticket. A winner will be drawn for each day of the month of June.

On Friday, there will be a community service opportunity at Dimmick Memorial Library, from 4 to 7 p.m. The following day, the same event will be available at the Penn Kidder Library branch, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is looking for volunteers to help with “Device Advice,” giving explanations as to how people can properly care for their devices.

Winners of the officer elections for the 2024-2025 school year will be announced at the End of the Year Banquet. Officers in the positions of president, senior vice president, junior vice president, secretary, treasurer, historian, parliamentarian, reporter, fundraising coordinator, community service coordinator, website coordinator, and social media coordinator will be announced. The banquet will be on May 21, starting at 5:30 p.m. with a potluck dinner.

The Spring Band and Choir concert will be on Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m., though doors open at 6:15 p.m. The price of tickets will be $5 for adults, $3 for students, and no charge for children ages 5 and under.

This week marks the widely dreaded Keystone testing. Keystone testing dates will be Wednesday for Literature, Thursday for Algebra I, and Friday for Biology. For any students enrolled in a 10th grade literature course, any Algebra I course, or any biology course, test taking is mandatory. What is considered passing is proficient or advanced in each one and is a requirement to graduate.

For any students that are not test taking, there will be a Flexible Instruction Day. Students are to keep up with and complete assignments given by teachers on the FID Days.

Next week will begin final testing for seniors. The senior final testing schedule is World Languages and Language Arts on Thursday, May 23; Social Studies and Math on Friday, May 24; Science and Business on Tuesday, May 28; and Make-Ups on May 29.

Thankfully for all of the underclassmen Keystone testing, they catch a break for a week before their final testing commences. Each day will work on a three-hour delay schedule following the last testing session. PODS will be from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m., as always. Testing session 1 will be from 8:20 to 9:25 a.m., followed by testing session 2, from 9:35 to 10:40 a.m.

On Thursday, May 30, testing session 1 is for first period, followed by testing session 2 for second period. On May 31, testing session 1 will be for third period, and session 2 will be for fourth.

Monday, June 3 follows suit for fifth and sixth period, and finally Tuesday, June 4 will have seventh period for the first testing session and then work by a two-hour delay schedule.

June 5, the last day of this academic year, is an early dismissal and the Senior Rehearsal, Picnic, and Baccalaureate. Graduation is Friday, June 7.

Palmerton High School

Mrs. K. Baumgardt’s Journalism Class

This week, seniors began preparing for their futures as many took the economics and literature AP exams. In addition, several seniors were interviewed for the prestigious Nanovic Family Memorial Scholarship.

Last week, many student-athletes were interviewed for the John C. Young Memorial Scholarship. Recipients of these scholarships will be announced on Senior Awards Night, May 28.

This week was important for many clubs and extracurricular activities.

Many students embarked on field trips this week, including the Buddies Club who traveled to North Schuylkill High School to participate in the Spartan Games and the National Honor Society/Gifted Program who traveled to the Philadelphia Zoo. The spring band concerts were on Thursday, in which Palmerton students showcased their musical talents.

Lastly, this week was crucial for many of the Palmerton sports teams. Twenty-eight students earned a spot at the League Championships for track and field and competed fiercely.

Boys baseball concluded their season on senior night with a game against Northern Lehigh. Girls softball had three games this week against Wilson, Northern Lehigh, and Pleasant Valley.

Weatherly High School

Mellanie Marshman

Senior Awards will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

Graduation for the Class of 2024 will be held on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Middle School gymnasium.

Tom Gerhard, class of 1974, will be the guest speaker. The Weatherly Area High School Alumni Association will be honoring members of the Class of 1974 with a “Meet & Greet” in the LGI Room in the middle school.