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Articles by Cate Trapani
Just the beginning for Mrs. Andrea Roney
From falling in love with theatre because of Shirley Temple to Children of Eden being her last production at North Penn, Roney has had a magical journey with theatre that will continue into her retirement. The end of her time here is just the beginning. It;s not easy to put 20 years of hard work, dedication, and inspiration at North Penn into an article.Mrs.
Grad Party Prep
There are just 21 days left until graduation. And with this momentous day comes: graduation parties! Whether you’ve been to a million “grad” parties or you’ve never attended one, it can be stressful to plan your own. From invitations to decorations to catering, where do you start? First I think the most important thing to figure out is: where are you having the event? There is no wrong answer. There are so many options such as your own backyard, your favorite restaurant, or an event center.
Creative Edge Center of the Arts: where talent takes center stage
Cruising south 25 MPH from Sumneytown Pike to Main Street, you’ll see out your left window a plaza of shops. Nearby Little’s and The Green Fork is the hidden gem Creative Edge Center of the Arts. Creative Edge Center of the Arts goes by a variety of names. Whether it’s “The Center”, “Creative Edge”, or “CECA” 125 S Main St in North Wales is home for many North Penn students and has provided them with the tools to succeed in programs at the high school.
Retirement is just the beginning for NPHS Theater teacher Andrea Roney | NorthPennNow
From falling in love with theatre because of Shirley Temple to Children of Eden being her last production at North Penn, Andrea Roney has had a magical journey with theatre that will continue into her retirement. The end of her time here is just the beginning. It’s not easy to put 20 years of hard work, dedication, and inspiration at North Penn into an article. Roney has taught a multitude of English classes and has spearheaded the North Penn Theatre and Thespians program for the past two decades.
The time spent out of the stage lights
With only 24 hours in the day, 7 hours spent at school, 8-10 hours recommended for sleep, and about 7 hours spent at rehearsal, how do students involved with North Penn’s spring musical, Children of Eden, get everything that needs to be done finished? This week is officially show week for Children of Eden, and naturally it is full of rehearsals and prep that many people aren’t aware of. For example, student’s were there from around 9 AM to 9 PM last Saturday.
Knights Next Quest: Laynie Drolet
What schools did you apply to? I applied to UMD, UMich, Penn State, UConn, UDel, JMU, and Pitt. Where did you commit to, and why? I committed to Maryland (UMD) because I especially loved the viola teacher and the music education department. Each time I met with Dr. Kramp and the rest of the faculty, I could envision myself attending UMD more and more. I also love the atmosphere that a Big 10 like Maryland provides while also maintaining rigorous academics and high levels of achievement.
Knights Next Quest: Malini Kondisetty
What schools did you apply to? Pitt, Temple, Bucknell, South Carolina, Delaware, Massachusetts Amherst, Penn State, Lafayette, and Ursinus. Where did you commit to, and why? I committed to Pitt because it was the overall best option for me! Along with a scholarship and honors college, the academics and school culture is such a good fit. Pitt offers so many opportunities to travel abroad, and try different classes and clubs.
Knights Next Quest: Julia Beaver
What schools did you apply to? Belmont University, Berklee College of Music, University of Miami, Columbia College Chicago Where did you commit to, and why? I committed to Belmont University because I intend to major in songwriting. Belmont is in Nashville, Tennessee which is the best place to be surrounded by music and other artists. After visiting, I not only loved the school and their music program, but also the surrounding community.
Chamber Singers set to make a “note”worthy PMEA performance
North Penn High School offers a vast variety of after-school activities to be a part of. Some choose to play football, or crochet, and some spend their Monday and Wednesday afternoons in F051 with North Penn Chorus Director Mr. Matthew Klenk. The selected 45 students in North Penn Chamber Singers, directed by Mr. Klenk, have been chosen to perform tomorrow, Friday, April 10th, at Kalahari for PMEA. “PMEA stands for Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
NPHS Senior prom: the night under the midnight sky
With spring time upcoming, the birds chirping, the sun shining, and the end of the school year is in sight. This all means that prom season is in full swing. Junior prom just passed and now ticket sales are occurring for senior prom. Here’s everything you need to know about the class of 2025’s senior prom! “This year’s senior prom is on May 10th from 6:30-10:30 pm at Drexelbrook Event Center,” class of 2025 vice president Meryame Hameg explained.
North Penn English and AP Seminar teacher Megan Schmidt spreads smiles and support | NorthPennNow
Peddling down the Wissahickon trail with the shining warm sun out and coming home to see a nice ready home cooked meal for dinner, only to then cuddle up with a Maggie Smith poetry book is the dream evening after school for Megan Schmidt. The 11th grade 6.0 English and AP Seminar teacher’s kind heart and positive outlook radiates into her classroom. From management consultant, to high school teacher, Schmidt has seen it all.
Schmidt spreads smiles and support
Peddling down the Wissahickon trail with the shining warm sun out and coming home to see a nice ready home cooked meal for dinner, to then cuddle up with a Maggie Smith poetry book is the dream evening after school for Mrs. Megan Schmidt. The 11th grade 6.0 English and AP Seminar teacher’s kind heart and positive outlook radiates into her classroom. From management consultant, to high school teacher, Schmidt has seen it all.
Knights Next Quest: Ethan Kwon
What schools did you apply to? I applied to Penn State, Pitt, Temple, Rutgers, Northeastern, Thomas Jefferson, and Saint Joseph’s. Where did you commit to, and why? I have committed to the University of Pittsburgh because I love the campus and I’ve always wanted to live in the city. Additionally, I have chosen this school because its nursing BSN program is ranked 4th nationally! What are your career/academic aspirations?
Knights Next Quest: Kajsa Stanley-Erickson
What schools did you apply to? I applied to UNH, UVM, UMaine, New England College, Utica, Champlain College, and SNHU. Where did you commit to, and why? I committed to UVM because I love Vermont, and I also love to ski, and UVM is located in Burlington, which is near many good ski resorts. I also have family in New England and just over the border in Canada so I wanted to be near them. What are your career/academic aspirations?
Knights next quest: Lauren Arney
What schools did you apply to? I applied to Saint Joseph’s University, Millersville University, West Chester University, Moravian University, Penn State University, and James’s Madison University. Where did you commit to, and why? I committed to JMU! I absolutely fell in love with the campus the moment I saw it. Ever since I was little I loved Virginia and would vacation there often. When I heard about James Madison University, I toured it that spring and knew it’s where I wanted to go.
Kenny Felton: a Leader, not a Follower
When it comes to any schedule changes, students don’t have to fret about knowing the schedule because North Penn senior Kenny Felton always has their backs. For those that aren’t on Snapchat, you may not see Felton’s posts every time there is a schedule change. He always makes sure to post the new schedules to help everyone out. It all started with the introduction of Knight Zone. “It mainly started around 11th grade, around the end of the year because Knight Zone came up for the first time.
OPINION: Grammy’s Galore
Sunday, February 2nd, CBS’s 67th Grammy Awards streamed and the music industry was shown on display. From Taylor Swift to Stevie Wonder, the best of the best attended the event. Of course naturally, after any award show everyone has their opinions and so here’s mine. Looking at the “big 4” awards only: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
It’s fry o’clock somewhere
French fries have always been a staple side in American culture since the nineteenth century. Since then, major fast-food chains have adopted this cherished delicacy to their menus, bringing thousands of hungry customers into their restaurants. However, there are many fast-food restaurants that surround the Lansdale area. This leads to the question: Where does one get the best french fries? McDonald’s One of the most famous fast-food places for fries is of course McDonald’s.
Bachman haromizes sucess with Brown’s Jabberwocks
It’s easy to forget how many opportunities North Penn provides students to succeed after high school. Looking at class of 2023 graduate Jack Bachman, he is continuing his passion’s that North Penn sparked into his higher education at Brown University. Bachman was heavily involved in the student body during his time at North Penn. “At North Penn, I was in Theatre and Thespians, chamber singers, link crew, NPTV, NHS, and the President of SGA.
Capture the Moment with Photo Club
North Penn High School has an abundance of unique clubs. Some are performance-based and some are cultural-based. But North Penn Photo Club is unlike any other. It not only helps students grow their photography skills but also provides services to other events and clubs in our North Penn community. “It [Photo Club] helps people learn more about photography. It’s also just fun,” exclaimed Photo Club president Kate Romanoski. Photo Club offers an array of utilities. “Photo Club has our photo booth.
Project Pan: Embracing Less in 2025
With the start of 2025, many influencers have taken it upon themselves to start Project Pan. This test challenges them to not purchase any new products and to finish what they have in their collection. This project has revealed the mass amount of products that influencers stockpile. From lipgloss to shampoo, they have it all and they are not using them. So now they are challenging themselves to stop adding to their expensive supply and start decluttering.
The sky isn’t the limit for Rayat Karim
December 12, 2024 One may know North Penn senior Rayat Karim from NPTV, Dude Report, or Homecoming Court. However, what isn’t seen on the surface is that he’s a future aerospace engineer. What’s ironic is that most of Karim’s extracurricular activities don’t align with his future career goals. “I love music. It’s a big passion of mine so I feel like I have to put in hard work to do well because everyone is so talented,” Karim explained.
The sky isn’t the limit for Rayat Karim
December 10, 2024 One may know North Penn senior Rayat Karim from NPTV, Dude Report, or Homecoming Court. However what isn’t seen on the surface is that he’s a future aerospace engineer. What’s ironic is that most of Karim’s extracurricular activities don’t align with his future career goals. “I love music. It’s a big passion of mine so I feel like I have to put in hard work to do well because everyone is so talented,” Karim explained.
Fa La La La La: When to deck the halls
November 19, 2024 When the clock on October 31st turns from 11:59 pm to 12:00 am, a certain type of person is born. That person rips down all their Halloween/fall decorations, and starts to deck the halls with festive trimmings. Surprisingly, this is an extremely controversial opinion. It is argued everywhere whether the winter holidays start November 1st or after thanksgiving. One of the biggest arguments is that celebrating right after Halloween skips Thanksgiving.
Deep dive into class of 2027 newly elected officers
Last week, the class of 2027 held their elections, ushering in a new wave of leadership. While seniors and juniors elected their officers at the end of last year, the class of 2027 elected theirs last week. These new officers are set to bring a dynamic energy to their class and reflect the motto of North Penn United. The sophomores elected Bailey Bart as their president, Lily Wang as vice president, Jason Kong as treasurer, and Yashvi Patel as their secretary.
Spooky November 1st deadline: college applications and what’s next
November 1st is a date that strikes anxiety upon high school seniors all over America. For most schools, it’s either their early decision (binding) or early action (non-binding) deadline. According to Common App 53% of students apply early action and 13% apply early decision. “Whether it’s early action or early decision, it’s a big deadline,” Future Plans Counselor, Patrick Brett said. While Halloween may be the scary day before, for most seniors November 1st afflicts more fear into them.
Lovers on stage, best friends off stage
October 29, 2024 Wouldn’t it be weird to pretend to be in love with your best friend? But for seniors Weston Paskewich and Julia Beaver it’s not because they are best friends. The pair plays the lead love interests in North Penn Theatre’s fall play As You Like It, and they also work closely as activities and events co-coordinators for North Penn Thespian Troupe 5464. This has helped the pair learn each other’s work ethic and style.
Bows and ballads: the Gracie Abrams concert
You may know Gracie Abrams as the opener for Taylor Swift or the “whisper singer”. But for so many people she is the girl who ignited the bow trend ignited a sense of community through her music. As Abrams grew as an artist, she was often underestimated due to her father, JJ Abrams, the American filmmaker and composer. But true fans of her see her talent outside of her father’s presence. Her new album The Secret of Us, released this summer, is described as “more extroverted” than her other albums.
Cell phone policy all the buzz in new school year
The buzz of a cellphone in a pocket pulls not only one’s hand to it but also one’s attention. Thai battle for the full present attention of students at North Penn High School’s, like many schools across the country, has resulted in a new cell phone policy that cracks down on the outlines time and place for cellphones in school. Checking that text message may lead to unwanted consequences with this new policy.
Swyter leading through life
September 27, 2024 Being a leader means many things to different people, but to senior Hailey Swyter it means helping others in their path of becoming a leader. She has been an active leader in and out of our North Penn community in many different ways, the drive for which was sparked by her journey with gymnastics. “I’ve done gymnastics for ten years. It got to a point where I wasn’t really having fun with it anymore.
Albert sticking to goals in senior year
TOWAMENCIN – Many athletes grow up dreaming of playing collegiate sports. Few make it, but those who do have a very different process of applying to college. While many seniors are actively going through the application process and have no clue where we are going, senior Laura Albert is already verbally committed to Bloomsburg University to play field hockey next year. Albert found her love for field hockey at a young age and was inspired and motivated by her older sister who also played.
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