Cv COVID response Opinions

Due to Coronavirus 19, also known as COVID-19, Conemaugh Valley has had some major changes from last year to this one. Some of the major changes are having to wear masks, using the block schedule, not coming into school on Fridays, and limited attendance at sporting events. For me personally, the changes have been mostly negative. The masks make it hard to breathe, the block schedule makes school seem to last forever, and not coming in on Fridays has affected my work ethic in school. Sophomore Mathew Jasper thinks that the block schedule makes school harder and feels that the traditional eight-period schedule is better. The masks haven’t really affected him. Senior Dylan Chontas doesn’t mind the block schedule, but to him the 8-period schedule is still better. He also wishes there wasn’t limited attendance for sporting events because it’s his senior year and wants family members to be able to come to his games, especially with the success they’ve been having. Senior Cameron Lauer thinks that the block schedule is easier than the 8 periods a day. However, he doesn’t like having to wear masks all day during school.

All in all the block schedule is different and is going to take some getting used to, the masks are a required inconvenience, and the limited attendance is only really affecting the students who play sports and their families. All in all, COVID could have really affected us worse than it did.

Formal 2020

Conemaugh Valley High School has recently hosted its annual winter formal this past week. The cafeteria was packed with loud music and happy energy as students crowded into the room, dancing and laughing. The dance was decorated with balloons, streamers, and snowflakes, and there was even a decorated area just for pictures. As the votes for snow queen and king came in, it was announced that Molly Hamula won snow queen, and Jake Richards won snow king!

They also had a concession stand full of a variety of surgery candy, and chips. They were also selling buffalo chicken dip and pizza for students to munch on before they got back to the dance floor to dance the night away!

Johnstown Halloween Parade By Hanna Mikesic

November 4th, 2019

Conemaugh Valley High School Marching Band has been apart of the Johnstown Halloween parade for over a decade and has been the winner of the best costume contest for the past twelve years. This year the band decided to give the “greatest show” as The Greatest Showman as their Halloween parade theme. They have lions, tigers, bears, lion tamers, mimes and even gorillas! The parade is an extraordinary event for the CV Marching band and is a lot of fun for everyone involved and watching the parade. Congratulations Conemaugh Valley Band!

Blood Drive

Conemaugh Valley is holding a blood drive through the Red Cross, October 9th. This blood drive is for the students and the community. This blood drive is put together by the Student council. Any student who is interested in donating must go get the proper form from outside Mrs. Rutledge's room (113) and sign up for a time slot. Currently, we only have 4 students signed up to give blood. Remember if you play a sport and have a game that day you are not allowed to give blood. Mrs. Rutledge is afraid we will not have enough people to have a successful blood drive. More people need to sign up! There are many amazing things your donation of 1 pint of blood can do. This saves lives. Your 1 pint of blood can help serval individuals, who need blood transfusions or that lost to much blood in an accident. Studies even show that donating blood is beneficial to your health. Donating blood burns calories, reduces your risk of cancer, and preserves heart health. This also gives you a great sense of pride and joy knowing that something you have plenty can be donated to help save someone's life. Please consider donating, if you have any questions ask Mrs. Rutledge (113).

FCA by Paul Buriak, Jr.

FCA, or the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is an international non-profit Christian sports ministry. It has staff offices located throughout the United States, which Conemaugh Valley is a part of. FCA has a mission to lead coaches and athletes or players to grow their relationship with Jesus Christ and the church. Miss McDonald is the huddle leader here at Conemaugh Valley, she said that FCA has been in existence since 1954. You can find FCA groups in high schools, colleges, and professional sports around America, along with 84 other countries around the world. Here at Conemaugh Valley, everyone is welcome to join, you can even ask questions to our regional director Matt Lushko. Miss McDonald also told me about 4 upcoming events, on October 13th the Windber football stadium will be hosting the Fields of Faith event will be held. Another event will be held in November where the CV huddle will be serving at Johnstown’s Produce to People distribution. Over Christmas break, a leadership camp will be taking place at Spooky Nook Sports Camp in Manheim, PA. Then finally, the second annual St. Pat’s Showdown is scheduled for March, they’re not sure what they will do to raise money, but they promise they will find a “worthwhile cause.”

Recap On Homecoming by Sydney Richards

Conemaugh Valley just recently held its annual homecoming festivities. Homecoming is a big deal at CV. Our celebrations start on Monday with the begging of spirit week and it ends Saturday night with the dance. This year's theme was “out of this world”! Our spirit week started with class colors, Tuesday was Twin day, Wednesday was Alien day, Thursday was Hippy day, Friday we finished up with good old blue and white day. Thursday night we had the homecoming parade, where sports teams, Court, and other activities can ride in the parade, starting in Conemaugh ending at the Franklin ballfield, where a bonfire is there waiting. Friday is our “fancy pep-rally’. Saturday is our football game and the dance follows that night.

This year Cvs homecoming court consisted of 6 queen candidates and 6 king candidates. The follow escorted each other, Mikayla Burke and Jacob Urban, Megan Hamilton and Alec Coppola, Molly Hamula and Travis Graffius, Alyssa Lee and Gage Urban, Sydney Richards and CJ Selfridge, Autumn Stoup and Ryan Sida. Court gets announced at the bonfire and also gets their own floats in the parade.

Friday was the pep- rally where they announced the court again and the band played. Saturday was the football game the boy lost a tough one against Ferndale. At half time the winners were announced. The second runner up was Autumn Stoup, The first runner up was Megan Hamilton and our 2019-2020 homecoming queen was Molly Hamula. At the dance, the king and runner ups were announced. Jacob Urban was our second runner up, Travis Graffius was our first runner up and Gage Urban was our king.

The dance when great. The students who attended said they had a great time! Student Council put in great effort to have yet another successful homecoming!

The New Bookbag Rule by Paul Buriak, Jr.

There have been some new rules set for the 2019-2020 school year at Conemaugh Valley Jr./Sr. High School, one of them is not having the ability to use and carry your bookbag to classes. This rule has created a lot of different feelings and opinions throughout the whole school, from all or most of the students to even some of the teachers. As quoted from Senior Jacob Mackel, “I feel as a senior, that we should be able to use our backpacks, especially when we have a lot more work to carry around like the higher ed classes.” Senior Chris Malfer thinks that “It makes a lot of things inconvenient for students like being prepared for class with all of their supplies.” Another Senior, Michael Houck added, “I like the change because I got used to it and I would like to see the rule stay.” Jonah Rigby said, “I can’t carry around half of the stuff I need and it’s stupid as heck.” Our final Senior that put their input in was Megan Hamilton, she said, “I believe it gives the kids a sense of responsibility for when they grow up.” Juniors Zach Konicky and Malichi Wilson don’t like the rule as Zach said that the rule was “stupid,” and Malichi simply added, “I don’t like the new rule.” Taylor Koss feels the same as his fellow classmate Malichi Wilson by saying he didn’t like it either. Another Junior, Daniel Munoz adds “I don’t like the rule, but I do also see the reasoning behind it, but I think there are way better alternatives that would make the rule better like clear and see-through backpacks.” Zack Scott and Aiden Graffius also pointed out their feelings about the rule. Zack was the first to mention about safety by saying, “I understand that the rule is for safety, but I don’t think it will help anything,” Aiden added his opinion, “I agree with the rule one hundred percent because it forces people to actually use their lockers. I also like the extra benefit of having four minutes in between classes now.” One of the newer teachers here at CV, Mr. Sherwood said, “I think the rule is good, it has kept my classroom less cluttered, it’s made people more efficient and quicker to get to class, and has also made for fewer distractions.” Then one of our experienced and long-tenured teachers here at CV, Mrs. Williams says, “Years ago, students were only allowed to carry clear backpacks. I do understand the reason for the new rule, and it will definitely take time for kids to get used to getting what they need at their lockers.” Mrs. Williams then added at the end of her statement, “With effort, we’ll be fine,” which I think we all can agree with at Conemaugh Valley.