Pink Out

On October 5, 2012, the teachers, staff and students at Jackson Elementary School were encouraged to wear pink in support of raising funds for Breast Cancer Research.

Stomp Out Bullying

On October 1st, the students at Jackson Elementary School were encouraged to wear blue to show their support for the National “Stomp Out Bullying” Campaign.

Central Cambria Students Assist at Local Food Bank

On Tuesday, September 25th students from Central Cambria’s NHS (National Honor Society) attended the first Community Food Bank to be held at the Cambria County Fair Grounds. NHS was contacted by Amanda Maust an AmeriCorps worker associated with St. Vincent DePaul for their assistance with this project.

The food drive was planned to start at 10 am and was run by Josh Murphy the manager for the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. While things did get off to a rocky start with a produce truck running a bit behind schedule, the organizers are hopeful that they may be able to make this event a monthly occurrence with everything running a bit more smoothly.

Regional Outreach manager, Sue Smith stated that they in no way want to this program to replace other food pantries. Instead, they would like to help supplement with fresh vegetables purchased through the charitable monetary donation given by Wal-Mart. This money is then used to purchase produce from our local farmers.

Individuals knew about this supplemental food bank by means of flyers posted at other food banks around the area, an article also ran in the local paper, and a spot on the nightly news aired details about the distribution.

Ms. Sue Smith stated that we were prepared for over 500 families to attend and had help from not only CC students but also St. Benedict, Flood City Church, and some homeschooled students. Sue stated, that “it was phenomenal to have the youth volunteering because it can turn into a life-long pursuit.” Sue also stated that it is important to get the youth involved with such important volunteering opportunities because, “we need to get them prepared to take over.”

Zach Mazzarella an NHS member that participated in the event stated, “ It was nice to see all the volunteers that gave up their time to help others in need.”

Central Cambria NHS students that participated in the event were: Punjari Vyas, Adam Trexler, Mikayla Wyrus, Taylor King Brothers, Sabrina Blake, Sam Stevens, Sarah Hansen, and Zach Mazzarella. The students all shared that they had had a positive experience. Many students mentioned how concerning it was to see so many people show up just from Cambria County. “It really makes one see just how much need is in our local area; I truly felt good after leaving the fairgrounds,” stated senior NHS member Sarah Hansen. Punjari Vyas another NHS stated commented, “Volunteering at the food bank was an eye opening experience. It was nice to speak to the people we helped, and see how truly thankful they were for the time and effort we put in to making the event a success.”

Adam Trexler, NHS student left a lasting impression when he stated, “I am very proud of NHS’s contributions to the food bank and [I] feel honored to be part of an organization that contributes so much to its community. Everyone worked hard provided assistance to each other, and adeptly performed their duties, all while maintaining a positive attitude. Seeing the smiling faces of the people we helped was truly satisfying; I sincerely hope that NHS will be able to participate in more charitable events.”

Doc Dixon’s Anti-Bullying Magic Program

The students at Jackson and Cambria Elementary Schools participated in the Doc Dixon Program on September 13th.

Doc Dixon uses magic to illustrate his steps on handling bullying in appropriate ways. His presentation was both fun and engaging for the elementary students. Studies have proven that people retain more when the information enters their mind with an entertaining and visual aspect. Plus, magic puts an audience in a mood that’s both fun and analytical – the perfect mood when hearing an important message regarding "Bullying."

Doc Dixon described his Four Star Steps of “What to do when you meet a bully:"

1. Stick together
2. Tell the bully to stop
3. Alert an adult at school and home 
4. Respect others and treat them the way you want to be treated

Students received Four S.T.A.R. Steps cards as reminders.

ARCC Kick-Off at CCSD

Over the past year, we have revitalized our District Bullying Prevention program with ARCC – Atmosphere of Respect, Courtesy, and Courage. Our goal is to use this theme as a vehicle for developing a positive school culture based on these character traits. Motivational speaker Mr. Mike Hall visited Central Cambria on September 11th with presentations for both middle school and high school students. Mike has traveled the nation talking to various schools and teen groups about their lives and how to rise above the pressures they face. His “Zero to Hero” assembly emphasized the expectations of our ARCC program and encouraged the student body to make a difference in creating a positive school climate for all. The date of September 11th was selected to accentuate the Courage aspect of character, often needed to stand up for what’s right. Mike used his experiences moving from school-to-school as a military child to connect with the hardships of building and maintaining friendships. He encouraged students to keep the “big picture” in mind and to treasure the gifts that we encounter every day. Students were able to interact throughout the program and then participate in a “meet and greet” session for follow-ups conversations and book signings. The High School AV/Media class recorded the assembly and will be using segments in future productions.