ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — The new school year has started and there are lots of things going on at Edgewood Senior High. We have new classes and new opportunities. Edgewood has an excellent rating as well. This is sure to be a promising year.
Along with the hustle and bustle of new students, we also have added some classes. Students have the choice to take journalism, anatomy and physiology and/or organic chemistry.
Journalism is a single class filled with passionate writers. In this class, they write and distribute a school newspaper. There has not been a school newspaper at Edgewood in four years. This class gives student journalists great practice for the future.
“Journalism has been a great experience so far. We have learned a lot of new writing skills along with how the newspaper is laid out,” said journalism student Jessica Rich.
Anatomy and physiology is another class that gives students a great opportunity to learn. In this class, students learn about the human body and the differences and similarities between organisms. This is a hands-on, laboratory course that is great for students who are serious about science-related fields.
Our final new class is organic chemistry, the study of all the carbon-containing compounds. Students explore the structure, properties, synthesis and reaction of organic compounds. Organic chemistry is designed for higher level chemistry students.
Edgewood is also thrilled to have been awarded an “excellent” school rating on the State Report Card. This gives our students and staff a sense of pride and accomplishment.
“I am very pleased with the work of the staff and students,” said principal Karl Williamson. He also said that Edgewood provided diligence and hard work.
According to Williamson, to get an “excellent” rating students did short cycle assessments and staff utilized data more efficiently. He plans to maintain this rating by continuing to utilize data and provide feedback to the students and staff.
To acknowledge this accomplishment, Edgewood had a celebration at one of the home football games. Board members, staff and students were introduced on the field. The junior class officers were also provided with an “excellent” sign that is hung in the school.
There is no better way to kick start the year and welcome back students than Homecoming, and Edgewood certainly went wild with the “Enchanted Amazon” theme.
In order to get into a spirited mood, Edgewood spent the week before the actual dance celebrating with the fun activities of Spirit Week. Throughout the week students dressed according to the theme of the day.
By actively participating, senior Jade Arkkelin said, “I’m having an identity crisis!”
Themes included Teacher/Faculty Day. Students had the opportunity to emulate their favorite Edgewood staff member. Friends wore similar outfits on Twin Day. Students embraced their inner geek on Nerd Day. Halloween Day allowed students to celebrate a favorite holiday early.
Red and Gray Day is Edgewood’s traditional end to Spirit Week. A formal ceremony was held on Friday morning. This ceremony presented the girls of the court and their escorts to the student body which allowed them to get to know the candidates. Details such as activities they were involved in, their ambitions and their fondest memories during their time at Edgewood were revealed.
The 2009-2010 Homecoming Court consisted of Kianna Barranco, Alyssa DiBenedetto, Makenzie Koman, Kimberly Mascatelli, Amanda Pendelton, Ariel Rosario, Ashley Shoenberger and Emily Stolfer.
“It’s been an honor to be on court knowing that my class supports me,” said Stolfer.
Mascatelli concurred. “It’s been an enjoyable experience,” she added.
A pep assembly Friday afternoon allowed for the cheerleaders, athletes and the Homecoming Court to pump up the students for that evening’s football game versus Geneva.
The culmination of the week was the Homecoming dance held at the high school. Homecoming night, the cafeteria was transformed into an “Amazon Jungle.” Students got to feel like Tarzan and Jane as they walked into an array of palm trees, tropical leaves and a waterfall.
