By Megan Hromika
Siren Staff

As the new year is approaching, you may be starting the new year with the new you. Stop eating junk food? Drop a few pounds? Be positive? Here are goals that some Lincoln Park students and teachers are setting for 2013.

Sophomore Haley Coe wants to get organized.

Senior Kenna Rearick wants to graduate with a GPA above 3.9 and earn at least 10,000 dollars in scholarships for college.

Junior Amberlyn Ryan wants to set goals for herself, do well in school, and be “doggin’.”

Edward Weslowski’s New Year’s resolution is to be a better person, a better father, and a better husband.

Freshman Danjiel Babic wants to get fit.

Freshman Savanna Fox says, “My New Year’s resolution is to be less lazy but that would require effort, so…”

Freshman Tom Scuilli’s New Year’s resolution is to have no New Year’s resolution. “I hate New Year’s resolutions. I can change myself at any time.”

Jared Schmidt wants all of his students to get all A’s.

by Nicole Andrasko
Siren Staff

It seems like most people at Lincoln Park have seen at least one of the plays. And you can’t forget the dance performances or musical shows. But how many people have seen the media department’s talents in action? How about the literary arts department?

If you haven’t attended one yet, the Literary Arts and Visual Arts events (aka LAVA) are a great way to experience both the literary and media departments. When asked to describe what LAVA is, Media Director Laura Humbert describes it as “an art show for the media arts department and an opportunity for the literary arts students to perform readings to the public.” And you can experience all this for just five dollars.

There are a couple of LAVA events during the second semester in the Black Box – in January, and again in May, when the year-end, two-day LAVA Festival is held. There are also three LAVA Lites. LAVA Lite is a new addition this year. Basically, it is a smaller version of LAVA.

Ms. Humbert explains LAVA Lite: “We wanted to give the students more opportunities to show their art and read. Since the atrium is not the lunch room anymore, we have more time to leave up the art exhibits. We also have themes for the media side of things in the LAVA Lite shows. For LAVA Lite, we do work in progress for media arts and we don’t do a ticketed event for literary readings.”

The last of the LAVA events is LAVA On The Road, which will take place on Feb. 7 It was added just last year and is being brought back for a second round. It is the same event as LAVA essentially, but it takes place at Barnes and Noble at Settlers Ridge. “It is a good way to expose the school to people who can’t come down here or don’t know of Lincoln Park,” says Ms. Humbert.

Meanwhile, this year’s LAVA festival is set for May 28-29, and will include the annual awards ceremony for the literary arts and media departments.

By Shannon Cavender
Siren Staff

Seeing friends, attending an exciting assembly, and of course, testing. That’s what you can often expect on your first day at Lincoln Park.

When we came back from summer vacation, everyone, except the seniors, had to take tests. These were no surprise to returning students, because this is a normal occurrence to prepare for the PSSA’s. However, this year the state has added a new test called the Keystone. Therefore, the beginning-of-the-year tests, called benchmarks, were different as well.

The math benchmarks were split up into six sections: operations, inequalities, linear inequalities, functions, data analysis, and coordinate geometry. These are the recording sections for the keystones.
To pass these tests, you had to get three of eight correct in operations and a three-of-five in every other category. If you scored below the listed, you were placed into comprehensive math courses that focused on the area, or areas, you weren’t proficient in.

In addition to the math benchmarks, there were also benchmarks in literature. To avoid being placed into comprehensive reading classes, you had earn a passing grade on the exam. Your previous English grades were also taken into account. “We even went as far to talking to past English teachers,” Dr. Lindsay Rodgers, head of the math department and Lincoln Park’s Title I coordinator, says.

This is the first year that the Keystones are being administered in Pennsylvania. Adds Dr. Rogers, ” I think it’s going be a learning experience for everyone in the state.”

LP students, staff share Thanksgiving traditions

By Jonnah “Juice” McClintock, Siren Staff

Every November, families gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving. But not all students and staff celebrate the holiday by eating to their hearts’ content.

Gus and Gabe Danko

Sophomore Gus and Senior Gabe Danko go old school, eating turkey and having fun with their family. Gabe says, “This year, I get to butcher the turkey!”

Caitlain Froce

Freshman Caitlain Froce will be spending her Thanksgiving at the Beast’s Castle in Disneyland with her family.

Dr. Butterini joins his family for the holiday and has a great time with the tradition.

Dr. Larry Butterini

Tommy Kraus

Junior Tommy Kraus says he prank calls EVERYONE on his contact list. “I called this girl Marissa and she legit thought there was a serial killer in her house.”

Sara Santa is spending her Thanksgiving at Peak n Peak Resort, a great place for skiing.

Sara Santa

By Nicole Andrasko

Siren Staff

1. What is the biggest difference in terms of food preparation between this year’s lunches and last year’s?

The main kitchen was in Midland Elementary last year.We had to get food to the atrium, and we had to satellite food. It was very challenging, the variety was  limited, and we didn’t have much space. Some food doesn’t hold well (fries, baked items) and sateliting the food sometimes changed the consistency of the food.

The new facility has unlimited opportunity in types of food and the food court allows different types of food every day.

2. How is it having just two lunches? Is it easier? Harder?

I initally had concerns. We had back to back periods last year and there were smaller groups. This year has been actually working very well. There’s an hour between lunch periods. A great benefit is the fresher food. There’s also opportunity to clean between lunches and make more food and catch your breath.

3. With the elimination of B lunch, and the addition of new students, you’re serving even more students this year. Does that change anything?

There hasn’t been a huge impact since we’re in a new building this year. The only big change for our staff is probably the increase in sales. Since there is a new facility there’s not much of a change.

4. Have you had to hire any new staff members because of the addition of students? How do your staff members feel about the change?

The staff was separated last year and this year we put them all together in the same kitchen. I’m very proud of them, they have formed a great team. We added  one staff member; now there are three cashiers.

5. If you could make one change to the lunches, what would it be and why?

It’s a dream come true, really happy with the results, no changes.

6. There have been some student complaints about the crowds since the stations are very close together. Do you see a resolution for that in the future?

I would like to have the cashier stands moved farther down. It would cause the crowding to be less.

Students react to lunchtime changes at LP

By Nicole Andrasko

Siren Staff

As everybody knows, there’s been a huge change this school year. And everyone has their opinions on it. A new building, the impressive Alumni Hall, has been added to the Lincoln Park grounds. It’s being used by the music students for classes and everybody is using it for lunch.

So how are the lunches, food-wise and area-wise, different from last year’s?

Madison Stearns, a sophomore and music student, says the biggest difference to her is the change in price. It’s gone up a bit since last year and she said that the sides, such as muffins or chips, are now a lot pricier. She said that the prices may be her least favorite thing about the lunches, but the lines this year are pretty awful too.

However, she says that being able to sit outside where there is a lot of room to sit wherever you like is a really nice addition.

Sydni Kreitzburg, a junior and literary arts student, agrees. She said, “My favorite thing [about the new lunch] is eating outside and having more space outside. It’s bigger and even the inside is a bigger lunch area than before.

There’s also more choices which is prompting more people to buy lunch.”

Sydni said that her least favorite thing about the new lunches is the lines. She said, “They need more checkout lines. It’s really ridiculous.”

Christina Speanburg, a sophomore and dance student, also said the lines were her least favorite addition to the school lunches. She said there’s a lack of organization between the lines and the different stations.

If you want to know about potential changes in the lunch lines, read an interview with the school’s chef, Kevin Lloyd, in this edition of The Siren.