and district directors. At the meeting they spent three days listening and learning from keynote speakers and presenters. They went to several breakout sessions. There were a variety of presenters from school districts all over the state of Pennsylvania. In this meeting there were over 1,000 Pennsylvania participants and learners from school districts all over. This gave the participants an opportunity to talk with each other about PBS in the different school districts.They also talked about what works and what they need to do to continue to work on to make it better for us to learn and teach others. Mrs. Godzwa said she learned a lot within those three days and is really looking forward to meeting with Mrs.Gloystein, Mr.Fuhrman, and the rest of the SWPBIS team at Strong Vincent to discuss some ideas that could help better our school. She said her important takeaway is that, “Administrators,teachers,students,parents and community members are all stakeholders in the success of our school. Positive behavior leads to an increase of success in learning both academically and personally. B3R isn't just a SWPBIS saying it's a life skill.” 

     The students at SV are doing pretty well with B3R for this school year. If you didn’t know B3R stands for Be ready, Be responsible, and Be respectful. B3R has helped out this school year a lot more than last year especially with the 8th graders. They are doing a better job this year with being less chaotic, staying in their assigned areas, and being respectful to the adults in the building. The 8th grade goal in being B3R should be to teach the 7th and 6th graders about it so they can follow it as well. It’s also 

As we get ready for the holiday season, we wanted to put together some tips to help any young people who might be struggling this time of year. Whether the holidays trigger traumatic memories or the stress of the season is too much, we hope these tips can help make the season a little easier.

Take time for self-care: The holidays can be all about celebrating with other people. That can be fun, but don’t forget to set aside time to do things you enjoy. No matter what that looks like, you’re important, and you have to take care of yourself. Go for a walk, watch your favorite TV show, or enjoy another activity that brings you enjoyment.

Talk to someone: Whether it’s a friend, trusted adult, or therapist, it’s important to have someone with whom you can share your feelings and experiences.

Don’t put pressure on yourself to act or feel a certain way: TV and movies can portray the holidays as a time when people and families enjoy perfect relationships, but reality is never this simple. Don’t let yourself think you, your family, or what happens this time of year has to be perfect.

     So for the people who don’t have plans for this Winter break here are some ideas:

The point is, the opportunity to spend Winter break relaxing, doing something fun, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and resting up for the second half of the school year is entirely up to you and your adults.  Enjoy your time off! PS - Mrs. G. said you could also log in some i-Ready minutes!

Here is what I asked them: 

 How long have you been a teacher at SV?

Ms. Schultz:   I was at SV, then at Harding and now back at SV.

Mr. Vath: This is my first year at SV. 

Were you always a gym teacher?

Mrs. Schultz:   I was really always a gym teacher but last year I taught 1st grade.  Which is really surprising!

Mr. Vath: I did tree service for a living, and I wanted to be a gym teacher since I was 7-8.

Would teach a different subject or stay a gym teacher? 

They both agreed that they would stay a gym teacher. 

Finally, if both teachers could say something to the entire world, it would be encouragement, never give up and give thanks to Jesus Christ. So in conclusion, both gym teachers enjoy their jobs here at SV and would love to stay here for many years!

Thanks for reading Colonels are… B3R!

The first Student Council meeting was held this month. There are a lot of  new possibilities and things coming to our school. It was great to bring our suggestions and ideas to the meeting. Get ready, Strong Vincent, because there is much to look forward to after winter break! Email me with any of your suggestions and I'll be happy to listen!

   Besides the excitement of watching the boys play some amazing ball, you can also join in with our cheerleaders who lead a super student cheer section, especially at home games.  Thanks to Miss Gina, the cheerleaders are sounding better and better at every game.

     Other winter sports appearing on the SV weekly calendar are wrestling and swimming.  Good luck to those student athletes as well.  Stay strong, stay healthy, and keep your grades up!

He feels very honored to be chosen for this award. His mother says he is a very smart and hard working kid. Owen believes his overall personality is one of many reasons his teachers chose him for this award.

Owen is not only a hard worker, but he is also a kind person who offers to help other students.  Owen Hartleb, you very much deserve this award . . .  so congratulations and keep being an awesome Colonel! 

     Having a new atmosphere means getting used to everything being new. Second quarter can be enjoyed, in my opinion, by building stronger friendships with your peers. By this time, you have already gotten used to your schedule. The second quarter also has many extended holiday breaks which can be enjoyed by students. In my opinion, the 2nd quarter can be very stressful because you have to maintain good grades which can be difficult with minimal time due to many breaks.

     Therefore, my conclusion between first quarter and second quarter is they are both equally tough and have equal amounts of pros and cons.