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Episodes

Feb. 12, 2021

Season 3, Episode 20: EPSD Mental Health Symposium 2021

With an even greater emphasis during these unprecedented times, student mental health has gained a heightened awareness as students face the challenges of the world around them. On this episode, we preview the 2021 EPSD Virt…
Feb. 6, 2021

Season 3, Episode 19: Snow Day Shenanigans

During the first few days of February, the Lehigh Valley got walloped with over 27 inches, making it the second biggest snowstorm on record. It gave the freshmen of Emmaus High School an opportunity for 2 snow days -- no Zoo…
Jan. 30, 2021

Season 3, Episode 18: Second Semester Reset Button

This past week saw Emmaus High School finally reach the 2nd half of our 2020-2021 school year. Due to our current block schedule, It came with a different opportunity than most years, as students, teachers, and parents alike…
Jan. 21, 2021

Season 3, Episode 17: Student Spotlight - Grant Gallagher

On this episode, we catch up with student Grant Gallagher, whose post on our podcast message board for the Class of 2024, invited us to tell his story of how Covid-19 impacted him and his family earlier this year. Gallagher,…
Jan. 7, 2021

Season 3, Episode 16: New York Times Best-Selling Author and Educator Jessica Lahey

Jessica Lahey is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, keynote speaker, wife, and mother. But at her core, she is an educator. She has worked with a wide variety of students at all levels from sixth through twel…
Jan. 1, 2021

Season 3, Episode 15: Freshman Year Perspectives from Chicago and New Jersey

Sometimes it is fun to look outside of our school community to see what other students around the country are experiencing during their 9th grade year. During this holiday break, I chatted with my nieces, Catalina and Maddy,…
Dec. 23, 2020

Season 3, Episode 14: New Year's Resolutions for 2021

In our final episode of 2020, you will hear from close to 40 members of our Emmaus High School community talk about ways they will look to improve themselves in the classroom and beyond in the new year. If you are struggling…
Dec. 10, 2020

Season 3, Episode 13: The Counseling Suite with Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney

Our 9th Grade School Counselors Mrs. Demchak and Mr. McInerney return to the show this week to help you finish up the calendar year 2020 as strong as possible and give you momentum toward a much needed new year. Some of the …
Nov. 25, 2020

Season 3, Episode 12: A Thanksgiving Attitude of Gratitude 2020

As we approach the holiday season and the end of 2020, it is a great time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for here at Emmaus High School on the second annual Attitude of Gratitude special episode. There are man…
Nov. 12, 2020

Season 3, Episode 11: Student Profiles - Elizabeth Samer, Molly Himes, and Victoria Toto

This year’s 9th Grade Experience has been like no other and this week’s episode, recorded during EHS’s Covid-19 one-week closure in November 2020, was yet another memory to add to the digital scrapbook. On this episode Eliza…
Oct. 29, 2020

Season 3, Episode 10: Freshmen Class Officers

While much of the start of the 2020-2021 school year has been anything but normal, there are still time-honored school traditions that have occurred during the first 9 weeks of school, including the the election of class off…
Oct. 22, 2020

Season 3, Episode 9: Welcome Back to Hybrid Learning with Our School Psychologists

Week nine of the 2020-2021 school year will present the next in a line of challenges thrown in front our students since March 2020 - the return to our EHS school building for the beginning of hybrid learning. While some stud…
Oct. 16, 2020

Season 3, Episode 8: Club Spotlight - Economics and Investing Club and Buzz Magazine

Without our normal club fair at the beginning of the year to learn more about the 70+ organizations here at Emmaus High School, the 9th Grade Experience has been reaching out advisors to bring you more information on some of…
Sept. 29, 2020

Season 3, Episode 7: EPSD Technology Integration Specialists, Part 2 (Tech Tips)

This is Part 2 of the discussion with our EPSD Technology Integration Specialists Heather Moser, Dylan Peters and Brian Scholl. If you are looking for some of the best tips and strategies for Zoom, Schoology, and a reminder …
Sept. 25, 2020

Season 3, Episode 6: EPSD Technology Integration Specialists, Part 1

On this week's episode we hear from our EPSD Technology Integration Specialists Heather Moser, Dylan Peters and Brian Scholl on the best ways to tackle technology during this remote time. Surprisingly, most of this conversat…
Sept. 20, 2020

Season 3, Episode 5: Club Spotlight - Gay-Straight Alliance, Kid to Kid, Latin Club and Foreign Cultures Club

Without our normal club fair at the beginning of the year to learn more about the 70+ organizations here at Emmaus High School, the 9th Grade Experience has been reaching out advisors to bring you more information on some of…
Sept. 3, 2020

Season 3, Episode 4: Clubs and Activities with Assistant Athletic Director Matt Spengler

One of the themes that has come up time and time again as we have detailed successful 9th graders on this show has been their involvement in extracurricular activities. But, during a time when school is remote or hybrid, how…
Aug. 27, 2020

Season 3, Episode 3: Back to School with 9th Grade Assistant Principal Jordan Fortier

With the start of a new school year just days away and feelings of unease about the unknown about the jump from middle school to high school in most student's and parent's minds, today's episode hopes to give some informatio…
July 31, 2020

Season 3, Episode 2: EHS Graduate Spotlight Maryland State Senator Clarence Lam '99

We often tell high schoolers that to be successful, they should eventually pick one area and focus their attention heavily. For Clarence Lam, a 1999 Emmaus High School graduate. it was a desire to pursue multiple passions th…
July 23, 2020

Season 3, Episode 1: EHS Graduate Spotlight "Imperfection is Beautiful" with Lisa MacDonald '14

Lisa MacDonald ‘14 is living her dream. When she entered Emmaus High School as a freshman during the 2010-2011 school year, she was unsure about where she was going, but knew she would need to overcome challenges, including …
June 18, 2020

Season 2, Episode 33: Reflections on Freshmen Year 2019-2020, Part 2

The first year at Emmaus High School for the Class of 2023 will be one that they surely will never forget. This week in Part 2 of the year-end reflections, we hear the words of over 20 freshmen who offered thoughts on their…
June 12, 2020

Season 2, Episode 32: Reflections on Freshmen Year 2019-2020, Part 1

The first year at Emmaus High School for the Class of 2023 will be one that they surely will never forget. Over the next two weeks, we hear the words of over 40 freshmen who offered reflections on their year, tips for upcom…
June 4, 2020

Season 2, Episode 31: Inside the Hornet's Nest: At Home with The Conner Family

Whether it has been on the football field on Friday nights, at community events, or posing under a billboard congratulating the Class of 2020, the Hornet mascot has become an unmistakeable symbol of Emmaus High School over t…
May 30, 2020

Season 2, Episode 30: Coronavirus Week 11 - 9th Grade Assistant Principal Jordan Fortier

There is no way that 9th Grade Assistant Principal Jordan Fortier could have envisioned his first year as the freshmen-level principal finishing the way that it has. But it has created a moment that our students will not soo…