Wednesday, May 4, 2016
News
Shaking it up: sophomore earns study trip to Germany Jordan Liu Staff Reporter Four weeks in Germany with all expenses paid? Sophomore Greg Shook was one of 39 students nationwide awarded the AATG Pädagogischer Austauschdienst Study Trip Award, or the Preistraeger Award, a study trip to Germany. The National German Ex-
ams, administered each year to
nearly 22,000 students nationwide by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG), indicate a student’s proficiency in the German language. The two-day exam, which is composed of reading and listening sections, is offered to second, third and fourth level German students. To be considered for the Preistraeger program, Shook scored in
Courtesy Cathy Lucas
Herzliche Glückwünsche (Congratulations): Greg Shook (left) will be going to Germany over the summer as a recipient of the Preistraeger Award.
the 90th percentile nationally in their respective levels. He then moved on to the interview phase with their local AATG chapters, where he was interviewed by a panel of German teachers and wrote letters to potential host families. Following this, regional winners were announced before the AATG National Committee, which then awarded the Preistraeger study trip to a select few. Dr. Kevin Nerz, German teacher and vice president of the Southeastern Pennsylvania AATG chapter, believes there is more to the exam than just the awards. “It’s great for the students to measure their abilities and see how they compare nationally, and it’s a fun challenge without any stress,” Nerz said. “It’s nice to have students in a position to take a test where there’s not a lot to lose, but there’s a lot to gain.” Shook, who began studying German in eighth grade under a private tutor, currently studies AP Spanish 4 and German 3 and plans on continuing both.
He looks forward to the trip for an immersive experience. “The trip means that I’ll finally get to see German culture up close instead of just studying it,” Shook said.
“It’s great for the students to measure their abilities and see how they compare nationally, and it’s a fun challenge without any stress.” -German teacher Dr. Kevin Nerz The Preistraeger summer study program, paid for by the German government, aims to immerse the students in the country’s lifestyle and culture. Starting on June 22, Shook will spend three and a half weeks with a German host family in Nuremberg or Hamburg, attend
a German high school and go on a five-day excursion to Berlin to explore places of cultural and historical significance. This year, seven students qualified for the interview phase by scoring in the 90th percentile, making it Conestoga’s most successful year. Additionally, this is the second year in a row that a Conestoga student has won the Preistraeger award, as senior Callie Maslowsky won in 2015. Nerz enjoys seeing his students’ growth through the exams. “For many of my seniors, their scores have dramatically increased since their junior year, which is nice to see because students can plateau in their language abilities,” Nerz said. For Shook, the Preistraeger Award is only the beginning of his German studies. “Right now I’m just exploring my opportunities at Conestoga with German,” Shook said. “It’s hard to say where it will take me in the future, but I certainly didn’t expect this to happen when I chose to take German two years ago.”
Coach charged in teen sex scandal Jerry Zhu News Editor Christine Towers, a former teacher’s aide and coach, was charged Thursday, April 21 with institutional sexual assault, endangering welfare of children and corruption of minors by police. Towers was arraigned Thursday morning after Chester County Detectives received a child-abuse
“The welfare of our students remains a top priority.” - Dr. Richard Gusick, Superintendent report from the Chester County Department of Children, Youth and Families. She is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old male student during the 2015-16 school year as a district employee. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Chester County District Attorney, Towers tutored the student before their relationship turned sexual. Between
March 17 and April 17 when she was not employed as a teacher’s aide, Towers allegedly had unprotected intercourse with the student on four separate occasions. The student claimed that Towers asked him not to disclose their relationship with police. In a statement released to parents, Superintendent Richard Gusick stated that Towers had no criminal history prior to her employment. Towers resigned from the district before any charges were filed. She coached JV girls soccer, ninth-grade girls basketball and JV girls softball during the current school year. From September 2014 through February 2016, she also coached eighth-grade girls soccer and seventh and eighthgrade track at Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School and worked in the extended school year program during the summer of 2015. Tower’s attorney, Cary McClain, countered the criminal complaint stating that Towers was not employed as a teacher’s aide during the period of the allegations but rather assisted with the softball team as a private contractor. “Christine Towers is a good person, a hardworking person and
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Arrested: Christine Towers was taken into custody last Thursday for having sex with a 16-year-old. She was released on bail the same day. she maintains her innocence,” McClain said. Towers was released Thursday after posting 10 percent of her $50,000 bond. The district will continue to assist police in the investigation. “When those placed in positions of supporting our children are charged with violating a fundamental trust, it is deeply disturbing to us all. The welfare of our students remains a top priority. We will continue to support all students as this case moves through the criminal justice system,” Gusick said.
Do you know which Supplement essay is most important? Marylyn E. Calabrese, Ph.D., writing coach and teacher, has helped thousands of students in preparing successful college application essays. She is the former chairperson of the Conestoga High School English Department with an A.B. from Bryn Mawr College, an MAT from Wesleyan University, and a Ph.D. in Teaching Writing from the University of Pennsylvania. Contact Dr. Calabrese: writedrmec@aol.com Works with students in person—at a mutually convenient location—or online and by telephone.
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