Editor’s note: Kate Baumgardt’s journalism class at Palmerton Area High School will be submitting regular reports on students news. If your school is interested, send an email to editor Marta Gouger at mgouger@gmail.com.

A lot is happening at the Palmerton Area High School.

Envirothon 2026 is going to occur on April 8. About 20 students from Palmerton High School are attending the event. They will leave school at around 7:35 a.m. and return at around 2:15 p.m.

They will report to block one at the start of the day for attendance and wait until they are called to the lobby by an announcement, and they are expected to make up any missed work.

Envirothon is an annual event where high school students critically think about the environment and their effect on it. They will compete in field testing based on aquatic ecology, soils and land use, forestry, wildlife, and environmental issues.

March mammal madness

In the Biology classrooms, “March Mammal Madness” brackets were revealed on Feb. 19. March Mammal Madness will start on March 9 with the wild card round. Each year, the students of the biology classes of Palmerton High School fill out brackets where they will try to predict which animal will win.

March Mammal Madness is an annual tournament that answers the question of what animal would win in an altercation in a fictional, simulated scenario.

To be defeated, an animal has to perish or leave the “field of battle” during the simulated altercation. Which animal wins is usually determined by habitat advantages, temperament, weaponry, armor, body mass, speed, fight style, physiology and motivation.

Environmental essentials

Two officers of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission delivered a presentation to the environmental science essentials class on Feb. 5.

The main focus of the discussion was on the negative impact that human activities can have on aquatic ecosystems and natural resources.

The importance of Waterway Conservation Officers in enforcing environmental regulations, promoting responsible stewardship, and protecting Pennsylvania’s waterways and wildlife for future generations was also highlighted in the discussion.

An environmental educator from the Carbon County Environmental Education Center visited the Environmental Science class to present on bats on Feb. 12. This session helped familiarize the students with native bat species, their importance to the ecosystem, and challenging common misconceptions about bats while emphasizing how important they are for maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Pet supply drive

Palmerton Against Animal Cruelty is running the annual blanket, towel, and pet supply drive on March 16 through April 22. This is just in time for spring cleaning.

Buddies Club

The Buddies Club is planning an upcoming field trip to North Schuylkill in May. Students with disabilities will be playing different sports and activities. The members going will be helping the kids and working the stands. Students attending must meet a requirement of points that are gained through meeting attendance and involvement in the club.

Drama Club

The drama club” is hosting “Legally Blonde. The show will be performed on April 23 to 25. Legally Blonde is about a fashion-forward sorority queen who enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner.

Journalism competition

Coming up in March, 12 students will be attending the Pennsylvania Student Press Association State Competition at Penn State University Park.

These 12 select students have each placed first in their individual categories in the regional competition this past October. The categories they will represent will be podcast, broadcast video, video production, editorial writing, broadcast journalism writing, and literary magazine poetry.

When students arrive, there will be a press conference to learn about residence life at Penn State. Additionally, students will compete in their categories, participate in a student media roundtable, and have a tour of campus.

Sports

• The varsity softball season at Palmerton Area High School is set to begin in March, with tryouts scheduled today through Wednesday. Players will fight for their spot on the team based on their overall skills over the three day process. Practice will take place either outdoors or inside the high school gym, depending on weather conditions. As the season approaches, players are training for the season at optional practices.

• The tennis team will start conditioning exercises and have a meeting before the official season beginning today. This team is coed, meaning girls play against boys all season long.

• The girls wrestling team has ended its season with a glorious win and a Colonial League title. Coming up, girls are starting offseason practices on March 10 with lifting on Tuesday and Thursday, and open mats on Wednesday and Friday. Additionally, Boys Varsity wrestlers held their districts at Freedom High School last Friday and Saturday.

• The track team’s voluntary practices have already started and they will be getting a computer system. The season begins today and the track team is also looking for more athletes to join.

Senior prom

As the PAHS Senior class of 2026 prepares for graduation in June of this year, the Senior prom is wrapping up the final preparations and fundraising. Senior prom’s official date is on May 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. It is being hosted in Macungie at Bear Creek Resort. At 4 p.m. beforehand, there will be a Prom in the Park where families can watch their kids and dates walk around the park.

Most of the planning phase has been finalized. Attendees can expect a wide array of activities and events including, photo booths, DJs, and professional photography. The staff estimates an attendance roster of around 160 prom goers, currently out of the 120-strong senior class. To facilitate, the event will include its own staff, such as security transferred from the school itself.