Winter Issue 2024
Header photo showcases the River Hawks Jazz Band
Header photo showcases the River Hawks Jazz Band
Check out this Issue's Articles!
ASD Jazz Ensemble Performs First Concert as Two Students Attend PMEA District Jazz Festival
By: Nathan Ferraro
The Armstrong School District (ASD) Jazz Ensemble Program held its very first winter concert in late January at AHS. Mr. Lou Ribar, Lenape Elementary Bands Director and Armstrong River Hawks Marching Band Brass Instructor, directed the ensembles.
Rifle Team Breaks High Score Twice in 2023-2024 Season
By: Nathan Ferraro and Everett Walker
The 2023-2024 Armstrong Rifle Team is ranked second in its division and is expected to qualify for WPIALs. This year, the team broke their previous high score record twice.
Senior Jeramiah McDermott and junior Shannon Anthony described this season as “one of the best so far.”
Girls Basketball Prepares for Playoffs
By: Nathan Ferraro
Despite the season’s rocky start, the girls basketball team is preparing for the playoffs, according to Captains Kyla Fitzgerald and Sarai Weaver and senior Sophia DiGregorio.
Boys Basketball Focuses on Team Building and Growth in 2023-2024 Season
By: Nathan Ferraro
Senior Jack Valasek and Team Manager Cole Walker reported that the primary focus of this year’s basketball season is team building and growth, along with winning. Their record at the time of the interview was 9-6.
“We play good teams. We don’t get blown out,” Cole said.
9 AHS Students Advance from District Chorus to Region Chorus
By: Mia Shaffer
Nine of the thirteen AHS musicians who attended the 2024 District III Chorus Festival auditioned and were chosen to advance to the next level.
Bowling Captain Talks the Science of the Sport
By: Nathan Ferraro
This year’s bowling team is currently undefeated and making their way to the section championship. Jordan Harmon, the captain, said that the team is currently ranked fifth in the state of Pennsylvania.
Hockey Team Picks up Slack as Season Progresses
By: Anthony Reitano and Nathan Ferraro
Senior captains Logan Hooks, Adam Hooks, and Carson Franceshi predict that the rest of the hockey season will go well despite their self-described slow start.
Hopes are High for the 2024-2025 Wrestling Season as the Team Presents a United Front
By: Nathan Ferraro and Anthony Reitano
“It’s a very close family,” said captain Sam Jacobs of the wrestling team. Despite the sport’s individual aspects, Sam likened his teammates to brothers.
Armstrong Quiz Bowl Advances to National Competition in Atlanta, GA
By: Wyatt Prunty
Armstrong’s Quiz Bowl team achieved a double victory in the Indiana County Academic League, qualifying them for a spot in the national tournament in Atlanta, Georgia. The top four members of the team will be eligible to compete in the High School National Championship Tournament held in late May.
Swim Team Continues to Shine as 5 AHS Swimmers Qualify for WPIALs
By: Anthony Reitano and Nathan Ferraro
AHS swim team Co-Captains Bryony Shipe and Dylayn Shipe have high hopes for the future of the team in the coming years despite the team’s small size.
As of mid-January, juniors Bryony and Dylayn and freshmen Emily Eroh, Amelia Bissell, and Aynsley Shipe have all qualified for WPIALs.
English Electives at AHS
By: Jack Gilbertsen
Armstrong High School offers many English electives and opportunities, and in recent years, those choices have only expanded. This year, two English elective courses are now being offered as College in the High School (CHS) classes where students can pay to earn credit from a college or university with no additional assignments.
10 AHS Students Advance From PMEA District Band to Region Band
By: Mia Shaffer and Nathan Ferraro
Ten of the eleven students Armstrong High School sent to this year’s District Band Festival were selected to advance to Region Band in late February.
“This was the most prepared group I’ve ever had going into a district band festival. You never know if that will completely translate in an audition, but in this case, it did in spades,” said AHS Band Director and Music Department Chair Mr. Jason Venesky in a Facebook post.
Armstrong High School Government Students Prepare Civil Rights Timeline
in Recognition of Black History Month
By: Nathan Ferraro
This month, Advanced Placement (AP) US Government and Politics students created a timeline of civil rights featuring at least one entry every decade since 1780. Students researched developments in the expansion (or contraction) of the rights of numerous groups of people and chose the developments they deemed most important.
Ford City Public Library Offers New Teen Programs and Volunteer Opportunities
From: Katie Wolfe, FCPL Program Coordinator
By: Nathan Ferraro
The Ford City Public Library is excited to offer new teen programs and volunteer opportunities in the new year. The library has also extended its regular business hours to 3-8 on Monday, 10-8 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10-3 on Friday, and 8-3 on Saturday.
A photo essay by: Nathan Ferraro
Living Historian Kenneth Serfass presented a program on the relationship between General Ulysses S. Grant and President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War at the Ford City Public Library on Feb. 1.
New Songwriters to Watch in 2024
By: Anthony Reitano
We’re just a month into 2024, and there are already some big-time album releases from well-known singers to come this year, like Usher’s “Coming Home,” Jennifer Lopez’s “This is Me Now,” and Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine.”
With that being said, several rising artists have caught many people’s attention. Read the following list to see what rising artists may catch your attention this year. You may find a new artist that you’ll enjoy!