Senior High

Exeter Team to Compete in National Academic WorldQuest This Weekend

a group of students stand in a classroom

Members of the Model UN Club include (from left): Mady Hirneisen, Jordan Wolfe, Shaun Rathman, Andrew Schwenk, Adam Cooke and Cooper Devlin. Not pictured are Ethan Tibbetts, Calvin McClain and advisor Mrs. Heather Mills. 

Several months ago, the Model United Nations (UN) Club at the Senior High didn’t know if they would continue to be able to meet when their advisor accepted another job and left the district. This weekend, though, their dedication and perseverance to keep their after-school club alive pays off as they head to Washington, D.C. to compete against 250 other students from around the United States in the World Affairs Councils of America’s Academic WorldQuest. 

Reflecting back on the time when their advisor had left, sophomore Shaun Rathman said, “The club basically fell apart for a little while. Well, almost did.” It didn’t, however, thanks to English teacher Mrs. Heather Mills, who rescued the fate of the club by taking over as its advisor and helped guide the students for a first-place victory at the Academic WorldQuest regional competition held in March. That win qualified the team for the national event this weekend, which three other members of club will attend along with Shaun, including sophomores Adam Cooke, Cooper Devlin and Andrew Schwenk. 

During competition, teams are asked questions about world affairs in countries or continents such as South Korea, Europe and Africa, as well current topics, such as Women in Diplomacy or Artificial Intelligence. Students are given a study guide with additional readings to help prepare them for the competition in which they are peppered with 100 questions on those topics and given less than a minute to answer each one. During the national competition this weekend, the study guide and competition structure is the same; however, students will be given less time to answer questions. When asked how the team’s been preparing for the stiffer competition in DC, Andrew said, “We’ve been revisiting the stuff we already studied, but we’re going more in-depth in our notes and reading more than we did for the regional competition.” Beyond the study guide, Shaun said that students who are successful at Academic WorldQuest have delved deeper into world politics and affairs on their own. “You don’t need to be just knowledgeable on your topics,” he said. “You need to be knowledgeable about the world and many geopolitical issues.” 

Prior to their win, the club admitted that they’ve struggling to recruit members and almost didn't have full representation at the regional competition in March. Academic WorldQuest allows schools to have up to two teams of four students in the regional competition, and up until two weeks before the competition, the club didn’t have enough members to make a second team. Thankfully, sophomores Mady Hirneisen and Calvin McClain agreed to join the club in February to help round out their second team with sophomore Ethan Tibbetts and junior Jordan Wolfe. Andrew said that the club is "actually a fun time," but they admitted that they might be struggling to recruit members since not all students are interested in studying world affairs after school. However, they're hoping that their representation of Exeter on the national stage this weekend helps them interest new members going into next year--as well as the club's inherent camaraderie and perseverance that led to their incredible ability to keep their club alive despite all odds. 

Exeter’s SHS Reading Olympics Team Earns its 7th Consecutive 1st Place Finish

a group of students in a library holding ribbons

Exeter Township Senior High School’s Reading Olympics team brought home the gold for the 7th year in a row during this year’s county-wide competition held at Conrad Weiser right before spring break. Exeter competed against nine other teams from Berks County in a head-to-head competition where students are asked questions about 25 books on an assigned reading list. Working collaboratively, Exeter finished this year’s competition with an outstanding 75 points, with Wilson coming in second with 70 points and Brandywine coming in third with 52 points.

Members include: Samantha Baer, Ian Carr, Owen Davis, Cooper Devlin, Jysadee Giddens, Madyson Hirneisen, Madison Kiesselbach, Lydsey Kline, Alexandra Kononov, Sarah McCarthy, Marissa Millar, Alexis Nonnemacher, Charlotte Rismiller, Kayla Schafer and Isabella Stoudt. The team is advised by SHS English teachers Mrs. Heather Mills and Mrs. Lisa McCoy, who shared more about the club’s accomplishments:

What are students required to do to be a part of the club? 

The members of the club work together to share the reading responsibilities of 25 books determined by the Reading Olympics Committee. As a club, we try to have at least two to three people read the same book so that they can collaborate. Usually members read on average five to seven of the books on the list.

How do you think students fit all of that reading into their busy schedules? Are a lot of them involved with other extracurricular activities and sports/music?

Many of our club members are busy in various other clubs, sports, music, and theater activities, but they manage to fit reading into their schedules. Some make it a part of their independent reading assignments in their English classes, while others set aside time from their busy schedules to read a chapter or two until they have completed the book. Our members love reading, so it is not seen as an arduous task but a labor of love.  They are also excellent at holding one another accountable and checking in on each other's progress. No one wants to let the team down.

How long have you and Mrs. Mills advised the Reading Olympics? What's your membership been like? Is it up/down? What about since the pandemic? 

Mrs. Mills and I have been the advisers since its inception in 2016, and our membership has been constant. Mrs. Sowers at the Junior High School does such a great job with their Reading Olympics team that we normally have a few students who come to the high school looking to continue their Reading Olympics journey and usually jump in. Also, being English teachers makes it easier to recruit new members!  We have won every single competition that we have attended (2020 is of course an exception because of COVID). That is seven straight victories!  Who doesn't want to be a part of a winning tradition?

In this day of social media, how does it make you feel to see kids dedicating time to the pleasure of reading? Do you think many of them will continue to read for pleasure as adults?

Most of our students enjoy being able to escape into a good book. These are students who actively seek out books to read and love receiving and offering book recommendations to others. They see value in what books offer, and reading has become an integral part of who they are. They are building positive lifelong habits that will continue to benefit them as they increase their vocabulary, knowledge, and empathy through reading. Many of them will undoubtedly become future leaders due to these strengths. So, yes, absolutely they will continue and encourage others as well.

 

Exeter’s Esteban Ruiz to Perform in Berks Jazz Fest

three students stand on a stage with their instruments

Members of "So What?" from left: Exeter's Esteban Ruiz, Wyomissing's Noah Gibney and Wilson's Dexter Sales.

student poses next to his bass

Esteban Ruiz

Junior Esteban Ruiz will be a featured performer in the 33rd Annual Berks Jazz Fest, which begins tonight. Esteban, who plays the bass in a jazz trio called “So What?” with percussionist Dexter Sales from Wilson High School and keyboardist/vocalist Noah Gibney from Wyomissing High School, will be performing at the DoubleTree’s Cheers American Bistro tonight at 4:30PM; Saturday at 11:30AM; Friday, April 12th at 4:30PM; and Saturday, April 13th at 11:30AM. They also will be performing this Sunday at 3PM at the Legacy Cigar Lounge in West Reading. 

The trio jammed together initially at one of Noah’s well-known open mic nights. Their chemistry was undeniable, which led to the formation of “So What?” and a chance to win the Chuck Loeb Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship jointly established by the Jazz Fest and the Reading Musical Foundation to honor the memory of Grammy-nominated guitarist Chuck Loeb, who loved teaching as much as he enjoyed making music. The trio won the scholarship last year–and again this year in 2024. 

Esteban said that the audition for the scholarship judged musicality, improvisation, balance, creativity and other criteria. The judges, in particular, look for chemistry as an ensemble. “This is not a competition where one musician can be a showoff. Entrants are especially judged on their ability to perform as a group,” he said. The winner of the scholarship enjoys a performance slot alongside other world-renowned jazz musicians during the 10-day music festival, as well as a cash prize. “Winning the scholarship means a lot to me and the other boys in ‘So What?’ because it allows us to get more recognition by other people and musicians which can further our popularity as a band and as individuals,” he said. “Simply having the opportunity to compete is an incredible honor. Competition is keen and gets stiffer every year.”

According to Berks Arts, which presents the festival, the Jazz Fest is one of the most prolific festivals of its kind, drawing nearly 30,000 visitors from all over the world right here to Berks County. Musicians from all backgrounds, locales and genres convene annually, performing dozens of concerts at venues across the region. 

In addition to larger-scale concerts, dozens of smaller, live-music events featuring local musicians, such as “So What?,” perform free concerts in area clubs and restaurants. The festival combines touring artists with unique collaborative performances while providing performance opportunities for world-renowned musicians and emerging artists alike. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of genres including jazz, blues, R&B, funk, soul, bluegrass and more.

If you miss one of the trio’s performances, be sure to check out their YouTube channel for videos of the high schoolers jamming together: https://www.youtube.com/@SO_WHAT_BAND

Alycia Lenart Nominated for BCIU’s Annie Sullivan Award

a woman receives a certificate and poses with her husband

Mrs. Alycia Lenart, right, with her husband, Joe.

Mrs. Alycia Lenart, Exeter's K-12 Student Supports Coordinator, was Exeter's nomination for this year's BCIU's Annie Sullivan Award. This annual award recognizes people who work in educational institutions who provide outstanding advocacy and service to students with disabilities. This year’s ceremony was a historic occasion, recognizing an unprecedented 20 nominees, representing each of the 18 school districts and two career and technology centers within Berks County. Mrs. Lenart was nominated by her peers for her ability to "move mountains" for students who are struggling. Mrs. Lenart's role in the district is so broad--it's often hard to define exactly what she does since she will do anything to help any student who needs it--but if forced to define her role, Mr. Tom Campbell, high school principal, says: "She works with at-risk students who have academic, attendance or behavior issues in a much more holistic manner than a typical school counselor. Her work with kids is often about things in their lives that extend beyond the school day and beyond the school walls."

In her nomination letter, Mrs. Vickie Willier, Exeter's 5-8 Special Education Supervisor, wrote: "Our students are struggling, our resources are strained, and our programming development has shifted. In the gray areas between IEP service and medical need, there can exist a disconnect that becomes a student’s biggest barrier to school success. And while these barriers are very real and can feel impossible to displace, Exeter is able to do just that through (her) tireless work."

Anyone who works with Mrs. Lenart describes her as creatively able to bridge school and community agencies for students and families by tapping into a wide network of resources that she's built during her 20-year career in Exeter. But Mr. Campbell noted that it's also Mrs. Lenart's ability to build relationships that makes her such a valuable asset to the Exeter student community. "She has a wonderful ability and skill to develop trusting relationships with both students and families." Indeed, in her nomination, Mrs. Willier echoed Mr. Campbell's thoughts: "If you don’t know Alycia personally, you most certainly have a friend of a friend or a cousin who does, as she seems to know, have graduated with, be related to, or is somehow connected to everyone in Berks County and she will not hesitate to ask for a favor! She is well respected by clinicians, and routinely can find appointment openings, funding streams, and opportunities for students where there seemed to be none."

Mrs. Willier noted that the work that Mrs. Lenart puts in daily is rewarded when she sees students she's worked with receive their diplomas on graduation night: "If you ever need to be reminded why we each do the work we do, stand with Alycia at our high school graduation ceremony. She is easily one of the most sought after hugs from our graduates, who melt into her with gratitude and relief on the night they receive their diplomas. She is often the unilateral support that created their path to success... She is often the only one they are looking for in the crowd."

The Annie Sullivan Award is given in recognition of an individual who has worked to encourage the understanding and promotion of students with disabilities in his or her school or community. Annie Sullivan was Helen Keller’s devoted teacher and mentor who was nearly blind herself. After treatment, she regained her sight and committed herself to teaching the blind and deaf. Our warmest congratulations to Mrs. Lenart and her fellow nominees for their heart-felt and dedicated work for students throughout Berks County.

Exeter Releases Winter Data Report

During the March 19th Board of School Directors' meeting, Dr. Josh Hoyt, Director of Teaching and Learning, presented the winter results of Exeter's benchmark testing, which gives the teachers and the administration a spot check on student progress and academic growth throughout the district. Mrs. Becky Bush, Supervisor of Literacy and ESL, presented updated Acadience and Star assessment results for the elementary grades; while Dr. Joe Alcaro, Supervisor of Mathematics and Academic Enrichment, presented CDT data given at the secondary grades. In nearly all areas, Exeter students showed improvement and growth from the beginning of the year. 

While the team reminded those in attendance that these tests are only a snapshot of student abilities and are helpful in predicting early literacy skills and success on state assessments, they illustrated how valuable the tests are for teachers to make real-time strategic instructional shifts in their classrooms in response to their students’ scores. For example, they cited winter data in Lorane that showed gaps in student growth. Through a series of instructional strategies that teachers immediately implemented, students were able to drastically increase their scores just a few weeks later on follow-up Progress Monitoring tests.  

Internship Spotlight: Madison Grider

a student stands near a coffee maker

Madison Grider is a senior completing an internship at FXV Digital Design, a marketing agency in Wyomissing. Freddy Vasquez, owner, says he's impressed with how helpful Maddie's been to his agency--particularly with creating content for social media: "Maddie is absolutely remarkable! Since she became part of our team, she's swiftly become the go-to person for our TikTok content, enhancing our consistency--a key ingredient in our formula for success!" However, he said that he's even more impressed with Maddie's work ethic, which has given her an opportunity to return to FXV following her internship: "While it's feasible to teach someone various skills, imbuing them with genuine character and a robust work ethic is a different ball game. Maddie has integrated wonderfully with our team, building strong relationships and steadily gaining confidence in her decision-making and social interactions," he said. "We champion individuality and confidence in idea-sharing among our staff--it's what fuels a team's passion and originality. Maddie has genuinely become an integral part of the FXV Digital Design family, and we're hopeful she'll choose to continue her journey with us after her internship."

Maddie, can you tell us a bit about what your plans are for after graduation? Have you selected a college and a major?

After graduation, I will be attending Penn State University Park in the fall, studying under the College of Information Sciences and Technology. I am super excited to explore my major, which is called Human-Centered Design and Development.

Can you tell us a bit about your internship? What does a typical day look like for you?

My schedule is generally pretty relaxed. My typical work consists of tasks related to social media management and also content creation and planning. So far I’ve worked on blog posts, which require lots of research and copywriting, as well as TikTok videos, which I get to script, film, and then edit for FXV’s social media.

How did you select your internship? Did someone help you select it? Did you seek out the opportunity on your own? Were you asked to do the internship?

I selected this internship because it was extremely intriguing to me and I also just wanted to get some more work experience before stepping into the real world. Mr. Ricketts, the internship coordinator at Exeter Township Senior High School, was a big help with finding an internship that felt like a good fit. I wasn’t really sure where to start initially, but Mr. Ricketts provided me with tons of resources and we ultimately selected FXV. Soon after deciding on the internship, I met with my mentor and it felt like it was going to be a great environment. The entire team at FXV Digital Design has been so great to work with and they have made me feel so comfortable.

Do you think your internship is helping you feel more confident about your decision to go to college and pursue your major?

I would say so! Even though my major doesn’t revolve around social media management or content creation, this internship has helped me learn many real-world skills that I can use when I get to college. I have become a more confident and outspoken person since starting this internship, and this makes me convinced that I can conquer any challenges that college might throw at me.

What do you like most about your internship? 

The thing that I like most about my internship is that I get to work on a variety of assignments in a given week. I never find myself bored or without something to keep me busy. I love that I get to acquire many different skills through the diverse projects I work on.

And finally, what would be your advice to a high school student who's thinking about Exeter's internship program?

My advice to a high school student thinking about getting involved in the Exeter internship program is to do it! Even if you don’t know where you want to intern, take advantage of the opportunity. There are endless options for you to explore and you will definitely be able to find an internship that interests you. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new, you never know what might come out of it!