Penn Manor townlively.com
JANUARY 17, 2024
&
health
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LX • NO 38
wellness
How to prevent common fire hazards this winter BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
No matter what season it is, there are many fire hazards that have disastrous potential if they are overlooked. However, the winter months are a busy time of year for many departments due to the additional safety concerns that accompany cold weather. From an unmonitored fireplace to poor placement of electrical
appliances, being mindful of common fire starters takes a small amount of effort - but it can prevent a big problem. Many homes rely on the use of space heaters to keep the cold out, but these little devices are one of the most common causes of house fires. Space heaters should be placed far away from anything remotely flammable, including window curtains, See Winter fire safety pg 5
Students in Beth Neumann’s class assembled and coded robots to demonstrate the biological adaptations of certain animals.
Bringing biology to life BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
I PEN
n December, Central Manor Elementary School teacher B e th Ne umann gave her fourth-graders an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of a biology unit through a hands-on computer science project.
Photo provided by Harry Beauchamp Fire Photography
After completing a module on how it helped the animal survive.” ecosystems and animal adapta- Neumann acquired the idea for tions, the students brought the the project through a course at material to life by constructing Millersville University, where she robotic animals and learning how is studying for her master’s degree. to program them. First, Neumann’s Students learned students worked “Students learn about ecosystems together to come best when subjects up with a prototype as a whole in Neumann’s biology unit, design for their are integrated but they specifically animal, which they together.” focused on the many constructed out of ways that animals any materials they evolve to suit their environments. could find around the classroom After finishing the unit, Neumann and at home. The budding engiinvited Penn Manor School District neers then used felt, cardboard technology training consultant tubes and googly eyes to assemble Judy Keller to teach the kids about monkeys, cheetahs and hummingcomputer coding. birds. Neumann’s students used “I was looking for an out-of-the- wires, motors and bulbs from a box way to evaluate my students robotics learning kit to incorpoand to challenge them,” Neumann rate into their designs. said. “Students needed to work Once Neumann’s classroom as a team to create an animal to was effectively transformed into demonstrate its adaptations and a mechanical zoo, each team
Every winter, local fire departments such as Blue Rock Fire Rescue often respond to more emergencies as a result of seasonal safety hazards.
See Animal robots pg 5
See FCA pg 3
Be an influencer BY ANN MEAD ASH
“There’s more demand for character coaches than there are volunteers,” said Ben Swarr, director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Berks County, who works with athletes in Twin Valley and Governor Mifflin school districts. Swarr is also a former character coach for Cocalico High School wrestling. “We are looking for volunteers and for coaches willing to have character coaches (help out),” added FCA’s Kyle Martin, who works with students at LampeterStrasburg, Conestoga Valley,
and Solanco high schools. Adam Burns, FCA area representative with Pequea Valley and Ephrata high schools, noted that the job of a character coach is to serve the coaching staff team in any way he or she can, and that a volunteer need not be proficient in a sport to be a character coach. Character coaches are asked to aid the head coach with a focus on social and emotional development of student-athletes. Objectives include encouraging athletes, working to create a positive culture, and helping to develop leadership characteristics in athletes. The first year
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