Embedded Files
By Marshall Shank
Adjusting to high school as a new freshman can be daunting, but students from the sophomore to senior years here to help. To aid in the transition from middle school to high school and to acclimate the Class of 2030 with the culture and climate of the high school, student leaders from the Knight’s Order held Freshman Workshop.
Freshman Workshop, one of the many events around the school, like Wellness days and Stuff the Bus, are managed and coordinated by students in the Knight’s Order,which is a club made by the Character. Students in the Knight’s Order are grounded and familiar with principles of universality, reversibility, and most importantly, the pillars of the Knight’s Code. They also work towards giving others the initiative to convey the Code of the Green Knights and to build character within themselves and others.
“They are guiding freshmen, learning patience, and determination and grit to keep doing an activity even when some freshmen are unwilling to do so,” said Krista Campbell, Knight’s Order Advisor.
During the Freshman Workshop on September 10, students participated in activities to convey the importance of The Code of the Green Knights. Freshman learned these pillars through different activities, as many of those walking the high school hallways did when they were freshmen. They were taught the importance of protecting integrity and telling the truth through games of Go Fish, learned to work together with their group to overcome challenges in a scavenger hunt, completed bingo style boards where they had to ask questions about their classmates to learn more about their peers, but also how to accept and learn about other’s differences, and created paper kindness flowers with nice phrases to spread and salute kindness.
"The Character Education program has become larger than life at PAAHS, and that is a great thing. The Code of the Green Knights has so many facets and can be applied in so many different ways; quite frankly, two hours is not enough time to discuss it with our incoming freshmen. That is why they also take the Character Education course every year. It is only appropriate that students who have experience with Character Education 'light the way' for those who are just being exposed to it," said Nolan Gerencser, Principal.
Junior Will Manning and sophomore Caden Metzgar were the coordinators for the workshop and planned most of the event last spring, and only had to set up their activities the day of the workshop.
“I always have fun being able to participate in these projects with the other Knights' Order members and being able to work with them. I think one of the best reasons for students to join and take part in Knights' Order events would be that they can see and experience how much the club is involved with both the school and the community outside of school,” said Will. Will started Knight’s Order halfway through his freshman year, and took over Pen Argyl graduate Ella Mamana’s spot for lead coordinator this year, when Will himself graduates next school year, Caden will step up for the same spot.
Photo courtesy of Madison Dietz
Brody Hannick, senior, and Caden Metzgar, sophomore, lead a group of freshman for an activity.
“I think one of the best reasons for students to join and take part in Knights' Order events would be that they can see and experience how much the club is involved with both the school and the community outside of school,” Will said. In order to be a member of the Knight’s Order, you must be invited to join the Knights order by being a student that shows exceptional amounts of character and demonstrates the Knight’s Code even when nobody is watching.
As the year continues, events like the Freshman Workshop allow the Class of 2030 to demonstrate the pillars of the Code of the Green Knights, and use what they have learned from the workshop in action, one day being able to lead others just as they have been led.
Page updated
Report abuse