Lancer Pride

Hello everyone and Happy 2021!

As we look forward to a new year filled with hope and opportunity, we encourage you to continue to look to our newsletter as it relates to events, highlights and important upcoming information about life here at LTHS. With first semester coming to a close soon, we encourage all students to work diligently to complete first semester work and be ready to begin their new courses for the second semester. We wish all families well as we welcome in a new year in 2021!

Please remember to follow us on all of our social media accounts:

Facebook - @lthsprincipals

Twitter - @lths_principals

Instagram - @lths_principals

Snapchat -

Remember ~ You CAN control your attitude, efforts, actions, manners and word. #ControlWhatYouCanControl

Sincerely,

Dr. Matthew Reitz, Principal

Loyalsock Township High School

Mr. Jamie Yonkin, Assistant Principal

Loyalsock Township High School

In the mid-1970's this emblem was a part of the old school sign on Northway Rd. It was recently found in a closet behind a shelf and now is proudly hung on display in the entrance to the High School.

1/4 - 1/8 - Remote Learning

1/11 - 1/15 - Keystone Testing

1/13 - School Board Meeting

1/18 - No school for students - Professional Development

1/21 - Final Exams for Semester #1 - Blocks 1 & 3

1/22 - Final Exams for Semester #2 - Blocks 2 & 4

1/22 - Last day of MP #2/Semester #1

1/25 - No School for students - Clerical Day

1/26 - First Day of MP #2/Semester #2

1/27 - MP#2 Report Cards Issued

1/27 - 1/29 - Keystone Make-up dates

Please click here to read the official document outlining details and expectations for students attending school under quarantine, hybrid or remote learning. These expectations have been reviewed with students and will be in effect beginning December 1.

This is an update for all parents and guardians:

We continue to track data relative to COVID-19 and have been monitoring both Lycoming County data as well as that of Pennsylvania. Lycoming County continues to show a substantial rate of transmission along with a very high percent positivity rate. This rate has climbed significantly over the past six weeks.

Therefore, we will continue with remote instruction the week of January 4, 2021 through January 10, 2021.

The District will provide transportation for students attending the Lycoming County Career and Technical School starting on Monday, January 4, 2021. Students should report to the front of the high school by 12:00 noon in order to be transported and should also call the high school office if they need transportation from their residence to the high school.

The District will plan to provide Special Education services for many of our severe need students here at the Loyalsock Township School District starting on January 5, 2021 and we will contact students and their families who will be receiving these services. (see details below).

We will resume athletic and extracurricular activities on January 4, 2021.

We will continue to monitor the health and safety of our students and staff and will make adjustments as necessary. Enjoy the remainder of your holiday season and be safe.

Starting Tuesday January, 5 through January 8 - The Loyalsock Township School District will operate the following classes in our facilities.

Elementary Supplemental Learning Support Classroom (Mr. Lopez-Medina/Ms. Sarah Keiser)

Middle School Emotional Support Classroom (Mr. Thomas)

High School Emotional Support Classroom (Mrs. Carner)

High School Supplemental Learning Support (Ms. Muthler)

In addition, BLaST Intermediate Unit will operate the following classes:

Elementary Life Skills (Mrs. Haussaman)

Middle School Autistic Support (Mrs. Sponhouse)

Jerry McLaughlin, Superintendent

Loyalsock Township School District

Teaching for 34 years

• 4 years in Canton Area School District (7 -12)
• 30 years at LTSD - 18 years at the MS & 12 years at the HS

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Health & Physical Education from Slippery Rock University
• Drivers Education Certification from Lock Have University

Fun Facts

• Born and raised in Loyalsock
• Played 4 years of Lacrosse at Slippery Rock University
• Assistant Women's Basketball coach at Lycoming College (late 80's)
• Coached Track & Field and JH girls basketball at Loyalsock (90's)
• Loves to participate in "theme" days at school

Activities

• Curriculum Coordinator for K-12 Health & Physical Education Department
• Wellness Committee
• Student Assistance Team Member (HEART Team)

Hobbies

• Reading
• Running/Walking
• Crossword Puzzles

You can always find Setti at all the sporting events, most likely running the clock for the games, keeping stats, announcing, or just enjoying watching her students perform on the field, court or track.

Kim also has a 9 month old Mini Labradoodle puppy named "Swish". He keeps her quite entertained!

Thank you Setti for always being a team player and for being willing to help out whenever needed! We appreciate you!

Mr. Smith, outreach counselor, and Mrs. Rippey presented a lesson to all 9th grade students in the building that utilized the Signs of Suicide (SOS) curriculum. SOS is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program offered by The Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (CSPR) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Students were taught possible warning signs of depression and suicide and were encouraged to seek help if they or someone they know could be in need.

Mrs. Rippey visited block English 10 classes to work with sophomores on a number of activities within Smart Futures, our district’s new career planning and portfolio platform. Students completed personal interest and personality type assessments. They also analyzed how these factors relate to possible career options and explored careers that match their personality type. In addition, students completed an updated 4-Year College and Career Plan, including projected high school coursework, that aligns with their interests and future goals. This lesson will be repeated for students enrolled in this course year-long and during the second semester.

Students in the junior class took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) in October. The ASVAB is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures skills and abilities and helps predict future occupational success. Mrs. Campman visited English 11 classes to review ASVAB results with students. Students also completed an interest inventory that was combined with their ASVAB score. These combined results gave students a personalized list of potential careers that would match their interests and skills. This lesson will be repeated for students enrolled in this course during the second semester.

Mrs. Campman visited Senior Seminar classes to teach students interview skills and etiquette. Students will be able to practice these skills in future job, college, and/or scholarship interviews.

Seniors, local and LTHS-specific scholarships can be found on the counselors' section of the school website. Please check our site often, as more scholarships will be added throughout the school year. Please click here to learn more about these scholarship opportunities.

Congratulations to the six Loyalsock students who have qualified for the 2021 PMEA District 8 Band, Chorus and Orchestra Festivals. These students were selected via video audition to participate in this year's virtual festivals. The six festival participants are: Zackary Keller (Class of 2021, Bass 2, Choir), Spencer Millay (Class of 2021, Tenor 1, Choir), Brendan Kriner (Class of 2022, Trumpet, Band and Orchestra), John Nickolaus (Class of 2022, Tenor 1, Choir), Caleb Shimko (Class of 2022, Alto Saxophone, Band) and Ian Hornberger (Class of 2023, Tuba, Band and Orchestra).

Congratulations to our own LTHS sophmore Gabriel Severn for winning the prestigious 2021 National Youngarts Award in the Jazz category. Youngarts identifies the nation's most accomplished young artist in the visual, literary, design and performing arts.

He is also one of five finalist in the "2020 Bassist of the Year" competition, sponsored by Bass Player magazine. Finalist were selected by judges but the winner won't be determined through a curated, juried selection process, instead, there'll be a certain amount of weight for fan votes. Stay tuned for the results.

Gabriel has been playing the electric bass since the age of seven and has received Jazz Education Network awards and DownBeat Student Music Awards in performance, soloing and composition. He is currently working on his upcoming solo EP.

Please click here to read the full official press release.

You can also visit www.gabrielsevern.com to learn more about Gabriel Severn, multiple award winning bassist, composer and band leader.

The interact club was happy and grateful to adopt one local family this Christmas season! Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed to this project by making monetary gifts or donations.

• Practices will resume on Monday, 1/4.
• First varsity contest can start on Friday, 1/8
• First wrestling for both Varsity and MS can begin on Saturday, 1/9
• All league matches for wrestling have been rescheduled
• Regular season for HS basketball has been extended to 2/27
• Regular season for MS Basketball has been extended to 3/6.
• Basketball will only play the second half of PHAC (for PHAC championship)
• Basketball tournament will be suspended this year (PHAC)

Please email coaches with any specific questions.

Boys Varsity & JV Basketball - Ron (CI) Insinger rinsinge@loyalsocklancers.org

9th Grade Boys Basketball - Lynn Datres ldatres@comcast.net

Girls Varsity & JV Basketball - Curtis Jacobson cjacobson@loyalsocklancers.org

Varsity Wrestling - Ben Hepburn benjaminhepburn692@gmail.com

Swimming & Diving - Brett Johnson bjohnson@wasd.org

Cheerleading - Marissa Barnett mjcbarnett@gmail.com

Reminder: There are no parents/spectators allowed indoors at practices. In addition, masks are required at all times, including during competition.

Special congratulations to Aeden Holler for earning First Team All State honors as a defensive end!

Aeden Holler was also named to the PFN 2020 All-state Class AAA second team at defensive end, along with teammate Chase Cavanaugh (offensive athlete).

The following student athletes were named as PHAC All Stars:

First Team

Division III Overall Athlete: Chase Cavanaugh

Quarterback: Chase Cavanaugh

Offensive Line: Jeff Hamilton

Wide Receiver: Naz Smith, JerVal Weeks-Shuler

Defensive End: Aeden Holler

Defensive Back: Rian Glunk

Second Team

Offensive Line: Dre Taylor, Aeden Holler, Aspen Stahl-Emig
Running Back: Korie Mayer

Wide Receiver: Rian Glunk

Tackles: Dre Taylor, Jeff Hamilton

Inside Linebackers: Cy Cavanaugh
Outside Linebackers: Logan Bastian, Joeb Schurer
Defensive Backs: Chase Cavanaugh

Honorable Mention
Offensive Line: Julian Wilson
Running Back: Nick Barone
Defensive End: Korie Mayer
Inside Linebackers: Nick Barone
Defensive Back: Tyler Gee

The following student athletes made the Sun Gazette 2020 Football All-star team:

First Team Defense

Aeden Holler - DL

Chase Cavanaugh - DB

First Team Offense

Jeff Hamilton - OL (SJNRA)

Second Team Offense

Chase Cavanaugh - QB

JerVal Weeks-Shuler - WR (SJNRA)

Julian Wilson - OL

Second Team Defense

Rian Glunk - DB

Congratulations to you all for this well deserved recognition!

Photo credit: Pinkerton Pix

Congratulations to Coach Insinger (CI) on being named the Sun Gazette's Decade's best No. 1 of the top 10 boys basketball teams, coaches and players from the last decade.

Click here for the full article.

CI and his 19-20 Boys Basketball team were also the recipients of the WNEP-TV

Super 16 Boys #1 Team award. They ended the 19-20 season with a 28-1 record and captured the District IV AAA Championship.

CI is the state's all-time wins leader and has compiled over 1,000 victories in 46 seasons. In the last decade, CI has led the Lancers to a district best of 220 wins, compiling a .794 winning percentage. The Lancers averaged 22 wins per season, captured four district championships, won seven HAC-II titles, three HAC Tournament crowns and reached seven district finals and nine state tournaments. The decade includes wins no. 800, 900 and 1,000 as well as eight 20 win seasons, three state quarterfinal appearances and a Final 4 berth in 2015.

CI, you are a true leader and inspiration! Thank you for all you have given to the HS Boys Basketball program and Loyalsock Township School District Athletics!

Sportsmanship, while important for the participants of a sporting activity, is also of the highest importance for the spectator as well. The center of attention during an athletic event should be on the game and its participants, not on any spectator who causes a disturbance or makes comments because of a disagreement with an official’s call or a coach’s decision. It is the duty of event security to maintain appropriate conduct of spectators. Inappropriate actions will be dealt with quickly and swiftly, with progressive enforcement up to and including ejection of an unruly spectator. Spectators ejected by an official will be immediately removed from the premises by event security and law enforcement.

Effective beginning of the 2020-2021 winter sports season, the following consequences will be issued to spectators (adult or student) who causes a disturbance and/or is removed from athletic contests:

• First Offense – the removed spectator will be banned from attending the next competition in that sport, and will continue to be banned from all competitions involving LTHS teams until they present to the Athletic Director satisfactory completion of the NFHS Sportsmanship course.
• Second Offense – the removed spectator will be banned from attending ANY LTHS athletic contests, for a period of 14 days (beginning with the date of removal). Should the season end before the 14-day period ends, the consequence will be carried over into the next sports season (i.e. Fall to Winter), with the count resuming on the day of the first scheduled athletic contest of that season.
• Third Offense – the removed spectator will be banned from attending ANY LTHS athletic contests, for a period of 45 days (beginning with the date of removal). Should the season end before the 45-day period ends, the consequence will be carried over into the next sports season (i.e. Fall to Winter), with the count resuming on the day of the first scheduled athletic contest of that season.
• Fourth and Subsequent Offenses – the removed spectator will be banned from attending ANY LTHS athletic contests for a period of one calendar year (beginning with the date of removal).

Exceptions WILL NOT be made for special events, including Senior night. Attempts to enter a contest from which the spectator is banned will be viewed as trespassing, and law enforcement will be called should the banned spectator refuse to leave the premises. The banned spectator will also be immediately subjected to the next offense in the sequence (i.e. should a spectator that is banned for 14 days attempt to enter an athletic contest during that 14-day period, that spectator will now be banned for 45 days, starting from the date of the second infraction).

Be sure to download the Activity Scheduler App from the Apple App Store or get in on Google Play, so you will know when all your favorite sports teams are playing. You’ll never miss a game again.

For Athletic related questions please contact:

Ron (CI) Insinger - Athletic Director rinsinge@loyalsocklancers.org

Shannon Butters - Athletics Secretary sbutters@loyalsocklancers.org

US ARMY SFC Wade Mitcheltree grew up in Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Army during high school and left for basic training two weeks after graduating. Wade spent several years at Ft. Bragg and Ft. Richardson before deploying overseas. He served three tours, one in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. His platoon worked with local police to ensure the security of their surrounding areas. On August 31, 2012 near Kandahar, Afghanistan, Wade was severely injured by an improvised explosive device (IED). He lost his right leg above the knee and his right arm below the elbow. He also suffered muscle and nerve damage in his lower left leg, a snapped pelvis, and ruptures to both ear drums.

A month later, Wade was flown to Brooke Army Medical Center. In January 2013, Wade was discharged and began rehabilitation at the Center for the Intrepid. His progress in rehabilitation has continued to improve and his outlook on life has been positive. In 2016, due to the severity of Wade's injuries, his left leg was amputated below the knee.

“My biggest desire now is to be there for my wife and children as much as possible,” Wade said, explaining, "I have missed so much.”

On August 11, 2017, The Gary Sinise Foundation was proud to welcome the Mitcheltree's into their specially adapted smart home through the R.I.S.E (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program. The R.I.S.E program is building specially adapted smart homes for our most severely wounded heroes. They are also providing home modifications, mobility devices, and adapted vehicles to injured, wounded, ill and/or aging heroes.

For more information on the Gary Sinise Foundation and its programs, click here.

Wade is currently residing in Portland, Oregon with his wife of 21 years, Katie and their two sons, Joseph (20) and Ethan (15). He is an active volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House in Portland, Oregon. Wade spends much of his free time in the gym weight training. He said, "Lifting, exercising and keeping active are his saving grace. It literally keeps him on his feet."

Wade's strength and determination, both physical and mental, has been an inspiration to many. His sister Denise says, "He is unstoppable and I am grateful every day for his strength to fight his way back through the traumas. In that fight, he has inspired friends and family and strangers too numerous to count. I think that unintentional inspiration is his superpower."

When asked what message he would like to pass along to Loyalsock Township High School students, he said "It's all about mind-set. If you have the right mind-set, you can get through anything. The ability of the human body is mind-blowing."

Click here to see more about Wade's story.

Thank you Wade for your service and sacrifice for our country. We are proud to call you a Loyalsock Township High School Alumnus.

Please click here for a printable version of the January 2021 MSHS Lunch Menu.

Just a reminder that Loyalsock Township School District continues to offer FREE breakfast and lunch to ALL students. Students may receive one FREE school breakfast and one FREE school lunch each day school is in session. FREE meals for ALL students will remain in effect until the end of the school year!

DID YOU KNOW?

When school is being conducted remotely, FREE meals for children 18 years of age and under are still available. Routinely, the meals will be available for curb-side pick-up at both the Loyalsock Township front entrance area and the Donald E. Schick Elementary school rear entrance area on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 am through 1:00 pm. Inclement weather and holiday schedules may impact the curb-side pick-up schedule from time to time.

For the week of January 4 - January 8 meal pick-up will be available on Monday, January 4, Wednesday, January 6th and Friday, January 8th from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Walk-up or Drive-up service will be available at both the Loyalsock Township High School front entrance and Donald E. Schick rear entrance.

Free Family Food Boxes are also available. Please contact our Food & Nutrition Services Department at 570-323-3211 or email bhufnagel@loyalsocklancers.org to reserve your family food box.

We are so grateful to be able to offer free meal service during these challenging times and hope that all students take advantage of this amazing program. See you in the Cafeteria!

Masks - an updated order has been issued by the Secretary of the PA Department of Health. The District WILL follow this new order. Please click here to read through the order.

Travel - Essentially, anyone travelling out of state must quarantine for a period of 14 days unless they get tested within 72 hours prior to returning to Pennsylvania and have a negative test. This includes travel to all states outside of Pennsylvania. Please refer to the PA Department of Health frequently asked questions for guidance on holiday travel.

Please don't hesitate to contact us should you require any further information or clarification.

Masks and face coverings are most definitely not comfortable, but are our new reality. We want to focus our time at school on learning, building positive relationships and keeping each other safe and healthy. Thank you for encouraging a positive attitude from your child.

What if a student doesn't wear a mask properly?

1. Student will be asked by a staff member to put on the mask and cover required areas.

2. If student refuses, and administrator will ask the student to put on the mask.

3. If student refuses, parent/guardian will be contacted.

4. If a student continues to refuse, they will be placed in isolated area away from others or need to be picked up by guardian.

Please remember to wear your mask, wash your hands and maintain a distance of 6 feet from others whenever possible.

There will be no tolerance for intentionally trying to spread germs or any type of related behavior. If this should happen, parents will be contacted. Again, our focus is on learning and safety. We want to maximize every moment we are at school. Thank you for your support!

Please click here to download and print the Early Dismissal and 2-hour Delay schedules.

Do you have the LTSD School App? It's a great tool to help you keep up to date with everything happening in the LTSD. Just visit the App store, search Loyalsock, download and then in settings, add the schools you want to follow. You can also copy things from the calendar onto your own personal Google Calendar, as well!

As a result of changes related to COVID-19, the state has recently changed the way students are able to get their working papers to get a job. Please complete the following steps to process your working papers:

1. Student/parent downloads work permit application from LTSD website: Application for Work Permit download
2. Parent completes application and signs electronically
3. Student/parent emails application as an attachment to: workingpapers@loyalsocklancers.org
4. Once received, the student will be contacted and instructed to come into the office to complete the working permit (parent does not need to be present unless online application could not be filled out and submitted electronically).

This form must be submitted two (2) weeks prior to planned event for approval purposes.

Please click here to consult the PA Department of Health's travel list prior to submission. States indicated on the list, when traveled to may require a 14 day quarantine period, upon return.

Please click here to download a copy of the approval form.

December 2020

November 2020

While empowering students to uncover their true passion, Loyalsock Township High School prepares, engages, and inspires all students to seek academic and personal excellence.

Email: mreitz@loyalsocklancers.org
Website: www.loyalsocklancers.org
Location: 1801 Loyalsock Drive, Williamsport, PA, USA
Phone: (570) 326-3581
Facebook: facebook.com/ltmsprincipal
Twitter: @lths_principals