The IHS AMBASSADORS are a vital group in our school. Every year the Ambassadors reach out to teachers for recommendations of students that have the potential to become an ambassador. From there the students who were recommended, receive an email to let them know that they were recommended to be an ambassador for IHS.
When asked what exactly an ambassador is, Maura Knepper described the responsibilities of the ambassadors. “IHS Ambassadors is a program that mainly works to welcome and support incoming new students and 9th graders. When a new student enters the district, they are assigned ambassadors who will welcome them, show them around the building, be there to answer questions, and take on the role of a first friend and someone who can be looked to for support and guidance at the school. We also run the beginning of the year 9th Grade Orientation and Welcome Day at which we welcome incoming 9th Graders and new students to the Senior High. Our team includes around 70 students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade, and we are currently in the process of onboarding and training the next group of Ambassadors.”
Ambassadors play a big role in keeping the school community all together, in ways most of us couldn’t. To become an ambassador you have to have important characteristics. Knepper explains important characteristics they have, and how the onboarding team selects the students who would be best of fit to the group.
“Ambassadors recruits on a teacher recommendation basis, through which students who are recommended by one or more of their teachers as someone who is kind, trustworthy, and willing to go out of their way to help others have the chance to attend an information meeting, meet current ambassadors, and then apply to become an ambassador themselves. Following that, our Onboarding team reviews applications and selects the next class of Ambassadors. The selection process, which is currently underway, is very competitive, and we know we often have to turn down many worthy candidates as we only accept 25-30 of those who apply to become ambassadors. Having been selected, new Ambassadors are paired with older Ambassador mentors who will guide and support them as they take on this new role in our school, specifically by running a mock tour that gives them the chance to practice welcoming a new student and showing them around the building under the guidance of an experienced Ambassador. Inductees also attend a training meeting where we cover what they should expect as an ambassador and different topics and scenarios that are important to be prepared for.”
Junior Ambassador Caleb Campbell commented, “Ambassadors come from all sorts of different friend groups, interests, and programs at IHS. During the onboarding process, we always try to get a wide variety of people whether they be an athlete or drama member so they can help new students that may have similar interests. Some important traits to have as an ambassador are empathy, kindness, respect, and reliability just to name a few. I’m always an advocate of our ambassadors being really reliable and being able to respond to emails about new students so we don’t have to scramble to find an ambassador. Being able to persevere even after being rejected or pushed away by a new student is another really important quality too.”
“If you’re interested in learning more about what the IHS Ambassadors do in our school, feel free to reach out to our advisor, Mr. Neil, our President, Isaac Myers, or Vice President, Maura Knepper.”
By IHS High Arrow Staff The IHS High Arrow Staff would like to thank everyone for a wonderful 2023-2024 reporting season! Take a look at the link below for our “year in review.” See you next school year! High Arrow Year in Review 24-25
By Samantha Aljoe Beloved IHS teacher Mr. Eric Brocious is retiring after teaching for 32 years. Mr. Brocious has been a wonderful educator at IHS. He taught Computer Applications, Personal Finance I, Personal Finance II, and Web Page Design. He also advised the Senior Career Seminar and Future Business Leaders of America. Mr. Brocious strives to make sure his classroom is a safe and helpful place in the school. He is always providing students with constructive criticism. Mr. Brocious was able to see his students grow into wonderful people. After Mr. Brocious retires, he has plans he’s looking forward to. He shares that some of his goals are to “work in my business and travel with my wife, and be an IASD school board member.” He is also looking forward to “having some free time to do stuff that I would like to do.” Mr. Brocious has made many memories
By Ella Mosco and Cheyenne Rayba It is finally time at IHS to spring into the new sports season with Spring sports. The season has just begun and the teams have a great season ahead. The Boys’ Lacrosse team currently holds a record of 5-4. The boys’ team has continued to push forward in their season, trying to obtain a good WPIAL playoff seeding. Junior Domonic Lonetti mentions, “We are about to hit a very tough stretch of games, but we feel confident as a group that if we continue to take it one game at a time and do the little things right, those wins will come.” To accomplish this, the team is putting all of their efforts into practice to tie up any loose ends they may have. The Boys’ and Girls’ track team currently hold a record of 1-4. This year, the team seems to be at
By Emma Buterbaugh Many IHS students made the trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania, this year to compete at the Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference (SLC). They competed for the chance to go to the National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Anaheim, California, in June. FBLA is a national organization that prepares students for careers in business. IHS’s FBLA chapter is the second largest club in the school, behind Key Club. Mr. Eric Brocious and Mr. Brian Schreyer, along with a group of officers, run the club. Students in the club often go above and beyond what is required or expected from them. Rocco Cosentino, a senior and the president of IHS’s FBLA chapter, expressed, “The students that made it to the state conference are often motivated and hard working. They go above and beyond to give effort by taking an objective test or making a presentation.” The
By Gabi Isenberg IHS welcomed a new attendance officer this month, Ms. MarCha Ellis. Ms. Ellis will be the new friendly face students encounter when they walk into the attendance office. Ms. Ellis, an IHS alumni, has joined the staff as the attendance officer, a change from her previous occupation as a direct care worker (DCW)/direct support professional (DSP), a profession in which she assisted people with disabilities. Ms. Ellis shares, “Working with people who are younger, going off into the real world afterward is kind of a career switch for me.” At IHS, Ms. Ellis’s daily duties consist of checking in students who come in late or get dismissed early. Additionally, she emails the coaches of student-athletes to inform them whether their athletes are in school for the day. She also commented, “The main purpose of this job is to keep track of kids’ attendance and find ways to
By Cheyenne Rayba IHS is welcoming Mrs. Stephenie Armstrong as the new administrative assistant in the main office. Armstrong joins the staff at the beginning of February and is excited to be part of our school community. Mrs. Armstrong grew up not far from Indiana, in Homer City. She graduated from Homer Center in 1996. After high school, Armstrong attended IUP where she graduated in the class of 2007, with a degree in art education. Prior to working here at IHS, Armstrong worked at REA Electric as a front office manager. Outside of IHS, Armstrong spends most of her time with her two sons and husband. Currently, Armstrong is working to train the family dog to become a bird dog for her sons. She also enjoys skiing in her free time with her family. Previously, she also ran and owned a sugar cookie business. Armstrong hopes to be able to
By IHS High Arrow Staff The IHS High Arrow Staff would like to thank everyone for a wonderful 2023-2024 reporting season! Take a look at the link below for our “year in review.” See you next school year! High Arrow Year in Review 24-25
By Samantha Aljoe Beloved IHS teacher Mr. Eric Brocious is retiring after teaching for 32 years. Mr. Brocious has been a wonderful educator at IHS. He taught Computer Applications, Personal Finance I, Personal Finance II, and Web Page Design. He also advised the Senior Career Seminar and Future Business Leaders
By Ella Mosco and Cheyenne Rayba It is finally time at IHS to spring into the new sports season with Spring sports. The season has just begun and the teams have a great season ahead. The Boys’ Lacrosse team currently holds a record of 5-4. The boys’ team has continued
By Emma Buterbaugh Many IHS students made the trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania, this year to compete at the Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference (SLC). They competed for the chance to go to the National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Anaheim, California, in June. FBLA is a
By Gabi Isenberg IHS welcomed a new attendance officer this month, Ms. MarCha Ellis. Ms. Ellis will be the new friendly face students encounter when they walk into the attendance office. Ms. Ellis, an IHS alumni, has joined the staff as the attendance officer, a change from her previous occupation
By Cheyenne Rayba IHS is welcoming Mrs. Stephenie Armstrong as the new administrative assistant in the main office. Armstrong joins the staff at the beginning of February and is excited to be part of our school community. Mrs. Armstrong grew up not far from Indiana, in Homer City. She graduated
