Day 1: News Quiz

Hyatt retired in December after teaching English and theater courses at Conestoga for nearly two decades. Roberts, previously an educator within the Philadelphia School District, now teaches Writer’s Craft and serves as adviser to the Annenberg Medical Research Symposium.

Correct Answer: Schuylkill Valley High School

Bainbridge is a current graduate student working toward her Master of Science in Leadership at Cabrini University in Radnor, PA. A communication studies and journalism major in college, she works as a news reporter and fill-in anchor at WRDE NBC Coast TV in Milton, DE. She is also the founder of Tyler’s Triumph, a non-profit organization in memory of her late brother who passed after an opioid overdose, providing recovery and rehabilitation services to substance abusers.

Correct Answer: History

Keystone Exams are mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to help gauge districts in their ability to guide students toward meeting state educational standards. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, proficiency in all subjects covered in the Keystone Exams has dropped. This follows a nationwide trend in decreasing standardized test scores, indicating a definitive negative impact of the pandemic on primary education.

Tickets for Luminature, the annual exhibit that illuminates the Philadelphia Zoo with millions of twinkling decorations, are on sale now. Visitors can see penguins, gorillas, flamingos and other wildlife favorites in holiday exhibits from the start of December to the beginning of January.

Conestoga’s musical groups will display their skills and talent to concertgoers on Dec. 7 and 14. Performances focus on holiday and classical genres to get into the holiday spirit. Conestoga Music encourages students, teachers, parents and community members to attend, admission free of charge.

Toys for Tots began in 1947 and has since expanded to cover all 50 states. Major Bill Hendricks of the Marine Corps Reserve founded it after being inspired by his wife, Diane, who asked him to donate several handmade dolls to children in need. Toys for Tots will begin collecting toys in the main gym lobby on December 7th (to be sorted and distributed to the local community), so keep an eye out for any new and unwrapped toys lying around the house!

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, is the best blockbuster you’ve never heard of. A refreshing twist on the age-old “Nutcracker”, Clara and her soldier Phillip will take you on a hundred-minute thriller. With eye-catching sets, beautiful costumes, and euphonious music. Watch it right now on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, or Redbox!

The annual Christmas Village, which is held every year from mid-November to Christmas Eve, features an authentic German market resplendent with a ferris wheel, carousel, and wooden vendor booths. Set some aside to pick up some Belgian Fries or Käsespätzle (Germany’s version of Mac n’ Cheese) while exploring the items the 110+ vendors have to offer! 

Grace Hafer has been teaching Culinary Arts, Regional Cooking, Nutrition and Foods, Childhood Development, and Early Learning and Play at Conestoga High School. This is Hafer’s 10th year teaching. Her favorite subject to teach is cooking and her favorite holiday is Christmas. 

According to a survey of 2,000 Americans who celebrate a winter holiday the top recurring gift (as of 2021) was sweets with that being said by 47% of the people surveyed. This is interesting because even though 61% said that they have a traditional gift that they give, 81% of the people said they prefer a gift that they can use throughout the year.