New Students Get the Big Red Welcome
Trending
STEUBENVILLE -- As incoming freshmen and their families entered Steubenville High School Wednesday, they were given a checklist of things to find, from its greenhouse to advice from a senior class member, at its STEM center and other areas of the building and grounds.
The scavenger hunt was part of an open house held to familiarize freshmen and other new students with the variety of courses and extracurricular activities offered by the school.
Erin D'Aurora, the school's new agriculture instructor, could be found greeting visitors in the 600-square-foot greenhouse added to the school with the Pugliese Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy building in 2024.
D'Aurora said a climate control system maintains a temperature of about 80 degrees year-round to support the growth of various plants.
She said students have grown tomatoes, cucumbers and assorted peppers there and she plans to add flowers.
D'Aurora said the school offers courses in agriculture, farming and natural resources, plant science and rooftop gardening as part of its agriculture and environmental systems pathway.
One of a variety of career pathways students may pursue, the program introduces students to jobs related to food production and natural resource management, she said.
"There are so many aspects of agriculture you don't think about. It's not just farming," D'Aurora said.
She added that technology plays a major role in the field, with some farms using computerized drones to detect nutrient levels in specific areas of soil.
D'Aurora's indoor classroom includes five hydroponic towers, each more than 6 feet tall, allowing students to grow plants in water alone.
There also is a fish tank rigged with tubes through which ammonia produced as waste by the fish is converted by bacteria into nitrates that support plant growth in another tank above.
She said the setup is a small model of aquaponic operations that involve ponds and other large water sources.
In another STEM classroom was Ron Salvino, an educator of more than 50 years who has embraced 3D printers and other new technology as a means of introducing his drafting and engineering students to various aspects of those fields.
Salvino said his students have learned architecture and other principles of building construction by designing homes and planning aspects ranging from landscaping to utility connections over a three-year period.
They also have participated in hands-on projects, including producing laser-engraved plaques commemorating student accomplishments in the Commons Area's Heritage Hall.
In another classroom, John Abram, coach of the school's esports team, was watching students play various video games.
Abram, who also teaches government and world history at the school, said the team has participated in national competitions for several years, testing students' skills at various video games. The competitions are held online, eliminating the need to travel.
While video games are a pastime for many youth and adults, students who excel at them may be rewarded, as representatives of colleges with esports teams have visited the school to discuss scholarship opportunities.
"A few years ago, five team members were each offered a $1,500 scholarship by Marietta College," Abram said.
Through the scavenger hunt, new students also were invited to have their photos taken with the school's cheerleaders or horse mascot and meet representatives of various clubs and sports.
Among them were Anthony Biasi, president of the school's Key Club, and Ross Ivkovich, its adviser.
They noted the group's community service has included serving as bell ringers for the Salvation Army's Christmas campaign and collecting litter at Harding Stadium following each home football game.
The club also organizes the Sweetheart Dance held for Steubenville High School students around Valentine's Day.
Students who completed a scavenger hunt card received a prize at the Commons Area concession stand.
Students and their families also picked up schedules for the new school year, met their academic advisers and, if they wished, used computer kiosks to complete required online enrollment forms.
Before they set out into the school, they were welcomed by Principal Aaron Newman and Assistant Principals Jennifer Agresta and Deanna Bell.
Newman told parents his son is among the incoming freshmen and said he feels much like them, wondering where the time has gone.
"The next four years are going to fly by," he predicted, adding that the high school years also will be formative ones for their children.
Newman said that as a student at Steubenville High School, "I learned values that are central to who I am today."
He encouraged students to work hard to prepare for their future careers while pursuing things that interest them and getting involved in the school's extracurricular activities.
Newman told them, "Your future begins today."