Episodes

It took until the first snow day of the 2022-2023 school year on December 15, 2022, but we are finally back with the latest edition of the Cole Cast, featuring Cole Stuchko. It has been several months since we last spoke and a lot has happened during that time. Topics we covered in the episode include the need to stay on top of classwork as the academic rigor increases, how to work back when you don't get the grades that you want in a certain class, highlights of the beginning of the school yea...

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it's a great time to look back and reflect on the many positives in our lives for the fourth annual Attitude of Gratitude special episode. Members of the Emmaus High School community took time during this busy period of the school year to share a little bit about what makes them #EastPennProud and thankful. So before you fill your plate food, once again fill yourself with an attitude of gratitude with the students and staff at EHS. Previous Attitude of Gr...

When students have been asked what topics they want to hear more about on the 9th Grade Experience, mental-health related conversation is at the top of the list. Zoe Gaumer hopes her story about overcoming her own mental health battles can allow students to feel that they are not alone in dealing with their own struggle. Some of the topics Zoe covers in this conversation include The Reality of 9th grade versus what you see in the movies Her role and participation in Aevidum and her goal of pres...

As part of their on-going mission as an organization that allows students to facilitate diversity awareness and devise anti-bullying projects that affect the entire student body., the No Place for Hate club welcomed Dr. Mykee Fowlin to EHS on Friday, September 16, to perform his one-man show “You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me.” Dr. Mykee mixes psychology, performance, and poetry to, in his own words, “create an atmosphere of worldwide inclusion, not just tolerance, towards all people.” In this...

The first day of school presents challenges to all high school students, but especially to the newest members of the school community. To get the instant reaction to the first day of the 2022-23 school year for the Class of 2026, we catch up with Cole Stuchko for the August edition of the Cole Cast. We spoke about the benefit of walking through his schedule before the first day, what the lunch experience was like, and overall impressions of Emmaus High School. Stay tuned all the way through the ...

New school years often bring change, but the 2022-2023 school year begins with a new principal leading Emmaus High School. Beth Guarriello, previously the principal at Southern Lehigh HS and Saucon Valley HS, will look to create a safe, welcome and challenging environment for all EHS students. She is focused on helping students find their niche, create community, and have fun! In this episode, we cover: Her freshman experience at Freedom High School The goals she has for students during their fi...

Welcome to Season 5 of the 9th Grade Experience! In the summer kickoff of new episodes to gear up for the 2022-2023 school year and new season, the podcast is debuting a new feature: a regular interview segment with my son, Cole Stuchko, who will be entering 9th grade. He has agreed to come at least monthly to give us a first-hand account of the what life is like as an Emmaus High School freshmen. On this episode, we talk about his summer preparations for the new school year, seeing his prelimin...

The last day of school always brings mixed emotions. Mostly it is relief, for the students and the teachers, on the completion of another year. There is also opportunity for reflection by the members of the Class of 2025 on the transition from middle to high school. In this episode you will hear from several students who were in person on the final day of the school year that wanted to share the highlights of their year and some tips for incoming 9th graders. We also had a chance to hear from th...

As the 9th grade year is quickly coming to an end, it is only natural to think about what is ahead ... A relaxing summer? A first job? A fun vacation? College, trade school, military service, or an apprenticeship program? It's never too early to think about what you might want to do after high school and on this episode, we recap the 2022 Emmaus High School College Fair, held Thursday, April 28, 2022. Representatives from over 120 post-secondary options were available to assist students in learn...

We close out #EHSCareerMonth with a focus on Emmaus High School Class of 2018 graduate Jackie Bassett. She is the Founder and CEO of FD Market, which is a “a sustainable goods shop and zero-waste refillery. We're on a mission to make sustainable living obtainable and beautiful for everyone.” She does not have a linear path to business ownership, rather through a collection of experiences, both good and bad, established her values and ideas to create a thriving store, which is getting ready to op...

As part of the #EHSCareerMonth series, we talked to Bob Rotruck, the radio announcer for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a minor league hockey team based in Allentown that plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition to his duties on the microphone, he coordinates media coverage on the Phantoms’ website and does videos for the team’s social media accounts. During this conversation, Rotruck talks about his journey from carrying his own radio equipment to broadcast college hockey games on Fr...

As part of the #EHSCareerMonth series, we talked to Amy Keller, who is the Creative Director for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a minor league hockey team based in Allentown that plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). She coordinates the in-game fan experience for those attending the action at the PPL Center. She provided a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the production of a game discussing the long hours of preparation for the event. In addition to hearing about her duti...

We are privileged to share the story of one of this year’s EHS Shave for the Brave “Honored Kids,” current EHS freshman Sam Mackaravitz. At the time of the recording, Sam is two years cancer free in his battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). In this episode, Sam talks about His transition to EHS and participation in the marching band How did he become associated with Shave for the Brave and become an “Honored Kid” What does an event like Shave for the Brave mean to him What he wants peo...

Where will your path lead? Emmaus High School Counselor Mrs. Grim gives us all the important information to assist students, staff and parents on the road to answering that question as we kick off March Career Month. She assists everyone in where to go to find the calendar of speakers, biographies on each presenter, and how to sign up through Naviance to attend the sessions. She also talks about the importance of taking the time to learn about things that interest and excite students while gain...

While many of us hope the pandemic is beginning to finally come toward a resolution, the focus and attention on student mental health will not easily go away, as students will continue to face the challenges of the world around them. On this episode, we preview the 2022 EPSD Mental Health Symposium being held February 21 through March 6 which hopes to continue on previous work to help parents and members of the community understand more about this topic. Co-chair Stephanie Cignarella, School Ps...

This episode is a wrap-up for the 9th Grade Experience Podcast’s appearance at the Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C) in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Monday, February 7, 2022. Excerpts featured on this episode were take from the session titled “The Future of the 9th Grade Experience” which was held on the first day of the 4-day event “that provides quality programs focused on technology in the educational field.” This is the second time the podcast has been invited to pr...

Special thanks to Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C) Day 1 Keynote Speaker Jimmy Casas for taking time after his sessions on Monday, February 7, 2022, to chat with the 9th Grade Experience Podcast about his own middle/high school time, how to encourage and teach students and educators how to ask for help, and what he would do if he were back in the role of principal attempting to work first-year high school students in a school’s culture. According to his PETE&C bio, ...

To help promote the upcoming Emmaus High School Night at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on February 19, 2022, this episode features two members of the team talking about their unique 9th grade experiences while chasing the dream of playing professional hockey. Linus Sandin and Garrett Metcalf have both followed a long path to reach playing in the American Hockey League and look back on their experiences up to this point with special host, Phantoms radio announcer Bob Rotruck. Sandin, originally born...

On this episode we spotlight everyone's favorite Emmaus High School "freshman," Branch, the Therapy Dog. Branch has been present in hallways and classrooms since the beginning of the school year, offering students another layer of support and comfort as they have returned back to the halls of EHS. You will hear from Mr. Mihalik, the coordinator of the East Penn Therapy Dog program, staff and students about the impact that Branch has had on anyone who has come into contact with him. Please consid...

Welcome Emmaus High School Class of 2026! Though we haven’t had our first major snow of the school year, thoughts are slowly beginning to turn to fall and the arrival of the next group of freshmen who will roam the halls of EHS. The first in-person introduction to EHS came on January 11, 2022, at the counseling department’s 8th to 9th grade guidance information night. On this episode, hear from current LMMS and Eyer students about what they are looking forward to at EHS and advisors/representati...

It’s normal for high school varsity athletes to put pressure on themself. Being a freshman on a varsity team only magnifies that intensity. Now, think about the expectations of being a first-year member of the nationally-ranked, defending state champion EHS field hockey team. Autum Kernechel and Lauren Kushma cracked through and earned a spot on the varsity squad in what turned out to be a historic year for the program. The team celebrated a second-consecutive and 14th overall state championship...

During the course of the fall semester, Kayla Canning, a senior, pre-service teacher from Cedar Crest College, shadowed me in the classroom, which was one of my first experiences with.a pre-service teacher. On today's episode Kayla will give her impressions and thoughts of what it's like as somebody that's learning to become a teacher, especially with 9th grade students. She also honestly looks back on her own ninth grade experience and assesses some of her decisions during that year and how tho...

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it's a great time to look back and reflect on the many positives in our lives for the third annual Attitude of Gratitude special episode. Over 50 members, and one four-legged friend, of the Emmaus High School community took time during this busy period of the school year to share a little bit about what makes them #EastPennProud and thankful. Ranging from just being back in the school building with students to feeling welcomed as a new student to supporti...

With over 2,800 students, Emmaus High School is a community of learners from many different cultural backgrounds. The focus of the Global Citizens Club is to assist students in learning about and becoming actively engaged in promoting a globally-minded consciousness and worldview. On this episode we hear from club members Britney Cordero, Cecilia Christ, Shiv Patel, and Ariana Ruiz describe the ways that the group strives to help expand student's understanding on the importance of celebrating th...