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Reiffton Students’ Good Behavior is Rewarded by Blue-Haired Principals

It's not everyday that Reiffton students are given permission to be so bold to call their principals "Smurf" or "Sonic" and laugh as they point at their hair, but principal Dr. Greg Fries and assistant principal Mr. Joe Alcaro couldn't have been happier to be the center of their 5th and 6th graders' jokes today as they walked around Reiffton after having their hair spray painted Exeter blue this morning. It was all part of a school-wide challenge for students to earn 600 Character COWnts good-behavior tickets over a 4 week period. Reiffton students being the competitive and well-behaved bunch that they are not only met their principals' goal of 600 tickets in 4 weeks--they blew past it by earning an additional 400 on top of it!

"We've been averaging about 75 tickets a week," said Mr. Alcaro. "We wanted to up the ante, and we were so excited to see that they earned over 1,000!"

Dr. Fries said that the challenge truly created a fun atmosphere at the school over the past few weeks. "From the very beginning of the challenge, they were excited that we were willing to dye our hair blue. Every time I walked through the hallways or entered the cafeteria students came up to me to let me know how excited they would be to see me with blue hair. Several even mentioned that it looks better than my normal gray hair."

The Character COWnts program, which is now in its 9th year at Reiffton, is meant to build upon the pro-social skills taught in the homes of our students and in our elementary schools. The program focuses on the 3C's: caring, cooperation and citizenship, and was designed specifically to meet the needs of the students at Reiffton.

Although he's glad the hair dye that was used today was temporary, Dr. Fries said that he hopes the lessons learned from the challenge are more permanent. "We are extremely lucky to have such an outstanding group of students at Reiffton. Their success with this challenge demonstrates their willingness to see things from different perspectives and put the needs and feelings of others first."

TSA students win regional awards; 15 advance to state competition

More than 30 Exeter Township Senior High Technology Student Association (TSA) students attended the Pennsylvania TSA "Discover Your Journey" regional competition in Stroudsburg, PA on Saturday, February 5, 2022 to compete against students from 17 other area schools in individual or team-based categories, including video game design, photographic technology and transportation modeling. When the day's presentations were over, 15 Exeter students qualified with their technology-based projects to move on to the state competition in in April. Please check out the video to see some highlights of our students' projects!

TSA is an after-school, extracurricular club advised by Mr. Zachary Potter and Mr. Terry Lorah that meets weekly to create technology-based projects exclusively for this regional conference. Reflecting upon the students' achievements he said, "I am extremely proud of all of our club participants for their hard work and efforts. These students are taking time out of their busy schedules to participate in academic events that are not only fun, they help to improve upon important skills these students will be using in their futures."

Here are the results from the day's competition:

  • 1st Place - Engineering Design: Corinne Scherer, Sherry Heckman, Leahnessa Ortiz, Becca Zilinski
  • 1st Place - Transportation Modeling: Zachary Kauffman
  • 2nd Place - Extemporaneous Presentation: Saishree Mupparaju
  • 2nd Place - Photographic Technology: Hailey Keperling
  • 3rd Place - Video Game Design: Evan Miller, Rohan Talagadadeevi, Zach Badinger, Colson Tsakonas, Ethan Le, Prateek Kunduru
  • 3rd Place - Webmaster: Evan Miller, Rohan Talagadadeevi, Zach Badinger, Colson Tsakonas, Prateek Kunduru
  • 3rd Place - Biotechnology Design: Saishree Mupparaju, Hailey Keperling, Hansika Kunduru, Corinne Scherer, Peyton Seamans
  • 3rd Place - Scientific Visualization: Peyton Seamans, Hansika Kunduru
  • 4th Place - Digital Video Production: Katelyn Nichols, Emma Howerter
  • 4th Place - Architectural Design: Corinne Scherer, Nora Kern, Maya Metz, Leahness Ortiz, Sherry Heckman, Hayden Adams
  • 4th Place - Board Game Design: Zak Kauffman, Juniper Barouth-Sherman
  • 4th Place - Prepared Presentation: Hansika Kunduru
  • 5th Place - Essays on Technology: Sophia Jones
  • 6th Place - CAD Engineering: Richter Bogust
  • 6th Place - Debating Technological Issues: Hansika Kunduru, Sophia Jones
  • 6th Place - Dragster Design: Maya Metz
  • 8th Place - Dragster Design: Richter Bogust
  • 9th Place - Dragster Design: Katelyn Nichols
  • 10th Place - Flight Endurance: Noah Gaters

Congratulations to all!

National School Counseling Week: Focus on Lorane

photo of kaley ryan

This week, we’re excited to celebrate National School Counseling Week to help bring awareness to the important role that our K-12 school counselors have as they dedicate their professional lives to care for and support our students to help them achieve school success and plan for their futures. From providing safe and supportive areas for students to receive mental health or social help, to helping students remove barriers to academic success, to providing classroom lessons, to helping kids figure out “what they want to be when they grow up,” school counselors are celebrated not only this week–but every day–for the unique work they do to support all aspects of a student’s journey through school as they help each reach their potential to become his or her best. Today, we’re proud to highlight Lorane's counselor, who is new to the district this year. Meet Mrs. Kaley Ryan:

Q: How long have you been a school counselor? How long have you worked at Exeter?

A: This is my first year as a school counselor and my first year at Exeter!

Q: Did you do anything prior to becoming a counselor? If so, what? Why did you change your career?

A: I previously worked at a Behavioral Health Outpatient Center as an Employment Specialist. I then became a NeuroLogic Specialist providing School Districts with professional development on how trauma can impact the brain. Now, I am working my dream job as a School Counselor!

What’s your favorite part of your job?

A: Getting to work with students and helping them process big emotions.

Q: What's the most challenging part of your job?

A: I wish I had more time during the day to get everything done.

Q: If you were talking to someone who knew nothing about your work, how would you complete this sentence? “People are surprised to learn that..."

A: ...I run 15 different small groups a week and meet individually with over 30 students weekly.

Q: The theme for this year’s School Counseling Week is “Better Together.” What does that mean to you?

A: "Better Together" means that the school counseling program is better together with teachers, administrators, school based mental health providers, parents and community members. When we work together, we are better able to meet the needs of our students.

Q: When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: I wanted to be a WNBA player and if that didn't work out, I wanted to be a librarian 🙂

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

A: I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with your student! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concern or just to say hello.

National School Counseling Week: Focus on Exeter Township Junior High

photo of autumn rheaume and kim shaw

This week, we’re excited to celebrate National School Counseling Week to help bring awareness to the important role that our K-12 school counselors have as they dedicate their professional lives to care for and support our students to help them achieve school success and plan for their futures. From providing safe and supportive areas for students to receive mental health or social help, to helping students remove barriers to academic success, to providing classroom lessons, to helping kids figure out “what they want to be when they grow up,” school counselors are celebrated not only this week–but every day–for the unique work they do to support all aspects of a student’s journey through school as they help each reach their potential to become his or her best. Today, we’re proud to highlight the Junior High's counseling team of Mrs. Autumn Rheaume (A-L) and Miss Kim Shaw (M-Z).

Q: How long have you been a school counselor? How long have you worked at Exeter?

A: Mrs. Rheaume: I have been a school counselor for 20 years. I have worked at Exeter for 15 years.
Miss Shaw: I have been a school counselor for 18 years. I have worked at Exeter for 8 years.

Q: Did you do anything prior to becoming a counselor? If so, what? Why did you change your career?

A: Mrs. Rheume: While in graduate school I worked as therapeutic support staff and as a prevention specialist with a local drug and alcohol commission.
Miss Shaw: While in graduate school I worked as therapeutic support staff and as a vocational disability evaluator.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

A: We enjoy being a part of the junior high community, not only because we work with great teachers, but also because this age is a time when kids go through multiple changes and together, as a team, we get to be a part of that journey.

Q: What's the most challenging part of your job?

A: We cannot keep to a strict schedule because every day is different. While this is challenging, it also makes our job very interesting, which we love.

Q: If you were talking to someone who knew nothing about your work, how would you complete this sentence? “People are surprised to learn that..."

A: ...We are no longer called guidance counselors. The term changed in 1990 when the American School Counseling Association decided the job encompassed much more than career guidance. Today's school counselors assist students not only in academics and post-high school planning, but also in the areas of emotional support, family intervention and social development. Our degrees and certifications are in school counseling, not guidance.

Q: The theme for this year’s School Counseling Week is “Better Together.” What does that mean to you?

A: Collaboration with all constituents is the key to success for all students. We value the coordination with principals, teachers, parents and community members. We are also very happy to work together because we make a great team!

Q: When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: Mrs. Rheume: I wanted to be a teacher.
Miss Shaw: My uncle was the town fire chief so I thought I'd be a firefighter.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

A: We went to the same college together during the same years, but didn't know each other back then.

National School Counseling Week: Focus on Jacksonwald

photo of kate sowers

This week, we’re excited to celebrate National School Counseling Week to help bring awareness to the important role that our K-12 school counselors have as they dedicate their professional lives to care for and support our students to help them achieve school success and plan for their futures. From providing safe and supportive areas for students to receive mental health or social help, to helping students remove barriers to academic success, to providing classroom lessons, to helping kids figure out “what they want to be when they grow up,” school counselors are celebrated not only this week–but every day–for the unique work they do to support all aspects of a student’s journey through school as they help each reach their potential to become his or her best. Today, we’re proud to highlight Jacksonwald’s counselor, Mrs. Kate Atkinson.

Q: How long have you been a school counselor? How long have you worked at Exeter?

A: This is my 13th year as a school counselor overall. I have been at Exeter for 4 years, and before that I worked at Daniel Boone for 9 years.

Q: Did you do anything prior to becoming a counselor? If so, what? Why did you change your career?

A: After I finished my graduate program I spent a year working at the 422 Sportsplex as the Party Planning Coordinator and Coordinator for their Youth Developmental Soccer Program “Lil Kickers” while I searched for my first position as a school counselor. I learned many valuable skills from this position and had a lot of fun working with great people!

Q: What’s your favorite part of your job?

A: My favorite part of my job everyday is just working with the kids. I enjoy getting to know them, their different fun personalities, feeling inspired by their wonderful energy and excitement and helping them grow in different ways and past various challenges. The absolute BEST part of this job is watching a kid succeed with something that has been hard for them and seeing their confidence grow. The best reward for this career is when a student tells you that you helped them with something and that somehow you have made a positive impact in their life. That is the goal every single day and the hope that keeps me going, even on hard days.

Q: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

A: The hardest part of my job is prioritizing student needs and trying to fit it all in during the school day! There are so many students who have needs and lost of other roles and responsibilities that we fill as school counselors and only 7.5 hours each day to try and get it all done. It is a real juggling act to try and balance all of the various needs and tasks throughout the day/week/year.

Q: If you were talking to someone who knew nothing about your work, how would you complete this sentence? “People are surprised to learn that I….”

A: “… do more than listen to kids who are crying or upset at school!” Students and families today face many different challenges and school counseling has shifted a lot in the past decade to have more of a focus on proactive advocacy and social/emotional/mental health supports. I work with so many different stakeholders in a child’s life to try and help support through a challenging time, identify needs (social, emotional, behavioral, academic), and connect families and students with resources. Additionally, I teach classroom lessons on social-emotional topics, teach career-readiness lessons (3rd and 4th), and facilitate small group counseling for students with a specific needs. I tell kids all the time: “My main job is to listen, understand, and try to help you with anything that might be holding you back from being successful at school.”

Q: The theme for this year’s School Counseling Week is “Better Together.” What does that mean to you?

A: Partnership in education. “It takes a village to raise a child,” and we are most successful when all adults in a child’s life are working together and supporting each other through our common goal: growing successful, confident, kind humans.

Q: When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

A: When I was little I wanted to be a teacher, just like my mom!

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

A: It is a joy and a privilege to be a part of my students’ lives and a support and resource on their educational journey. I am thankful for the teachers, administrators and staff that support our school counseling programs and the work we do with kids.  I am also thankful to all of our families for your trust and support on the home front. #BetterTogether

National School Counseling Week: Focus on Reiffton

photo of diana ricci and emily seeberger

This week, we're excited to celebrate National School Counseling Week to help bring awareness to the important role that our K-12 school counselors have as they dedicate their professional lives to care for and support our students to help them achieve school success and plan for their futures. From providing safe and supportive areas for students to receive mental health or social help, to helping students remove barriers to academic success, to providing classroom lessons, to helping kids figure out "what they want to be when they grow up," school counselors are celebrated not only this week--but every day--for the unique work they do to support all aspects of a student's journey through school as they help each reach their potential to become his or her best. Today, we're proud to highlight Reiffton's counselors, Mrs. Diana Ricci (A-K) and Ms. Emily Seeberger (L-Z):

Q: How long have you been a school counselor? How long have you worked at Exeter?

A: Mrs. Ricci started as a school counselor in September of 2008, and Ms. Seeberger started in December of 2014. We have both worked in Exeter for our entire careers.

Q: Did you do anything prior to becoming a counselor? If so, what? Why did you change your career?

Ms. Seeberger: Prior to becoming a school counselor, I worked as a Summer Camp Coordinator for a day camp. This job was an awesome stepping stone before I began my role as a school counselor.

Q:What’s your favorite part of your job?

Both: Encouraging students and helping them discover their strengths and how they are unique.

Q: What's the most challenging part of your job? 

Both: Prioritizing the needs of our students. They are all important so sometimes it is hard to make a decision to focus on one need over another.

Q: If you were talking to someone who knew nothing about your work, how would you complete this sentence? “People are surprised to learn that I….”

Both: People are surprised that we work to develop a relationship with every one of our students and do not just respond to crises. We do this through individual sessions, small group counseling and classroom lessons.

Q: The theme for this year’s School Counseling Week is “Better Together.” What does that mean to you?

A: We have found the most success with our students when several members of the school support team (teacher, school counselor, parent, principal) work together. With different perspectives we can come together to better meet the student’s needs.

Q: Finally, when you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

Ms. Seeberger: When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be an archeologist or an artist.  I loved exploring, learning and finding new ways to be creative!  

Mrs. Ricci: I wanted to be a teacher or a concert pianist.  I still love music and have incorporated that into my small groups and lessons.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Both: Together we bring color into our students’ lives. With the support and collaboration of all staff at Reiffton, here is a small snapshot of what we have been able to accomplish so far this year:

  • 111 Classroom lessons
  • 116 Small group sessions
  • 125 Relaxing recess student experiences (calm recess in the counseling suite)
  • 974 Individual student sessions