NEW CASTLE —
A presidency was decided yesterday.
No, not that one.
The winner in this campaign was Madeline Spadafore, who was elected school president at Hartman Elementary in Ellwood City. Her vice president is Tara Marsh.
“I feel as if I have won the election for the president of the United States,” Madeline said. “Since I won, I think that I can help many people at Hartman school. Thank you to all who voted for me and to everyone who supported me through this process. We are the future, and it’s our job to make Hartman a better place.”
About 300 students voted yesterday morning after an elaborate mock debate Monday that was patterned after the real-life political process.
It started with students nominating three candidates — Zoe Maine and Michael Medlin, were the other two — who then debated each other on the issues.
But forget jobs and foreign policy.
“We didn’t want it to be a popularity contest, with kids voting for their friends,” teacher Darin Morella explained. “We wanted them to focus on the issues — but not national and international issues. We created our own issues.”
Those, Morella said, included school activities, and how to enhance inside recess; ways to get the school and students more involved with the community; and how to increase school spirit and student motivation.
“Each candidate then had to form a committee for each issue,” Morella explained, “so we had at least 80 kids involved in the entire process.”
Candidates also chose theme songs, Morella said, and entered Monday’s debate arena while their particular song played. At least one even came with “Secret Service” guards wearing suits and sunglasses.
“With the (national) election up,” Morella said, “we wanted to create our own election as a social studies project. We wanted to help the kids learn about the political process, but we also wanted to make it about them organizing their campaigns and learning how to become leaders themselves.”
(Email: d_irwin@ncnewsonline.com)
Lincoln
Related Photos
-
Hartman Elementary student and candidate for school president, Zoe Maine greets other students after the mock debate. Erica Galvin
Related Links
Discussion
Photo Gallery, Story: Hartman Elementary elects a school president one day after mock debate
- Lincoln
-
-
Ellwood OKs budget with no tax hike
The Ellwood City school board adopted the district’s 2013-14 budget with no increase in taxes. The budget totals $26,512,279. Property taxes are set at 15.81 mills.
-
Tim Kolodziej: For the Class of 2013, there’s no looking back — promise?
Congratulations, Class of 2013! You made it. Your last history lesson is history. Your last final — final. The unsure children who once needed help to climb the school bus steps will now stride confidently across the stage to receive their diplomas.
-
Law Day essay winners announced
Matthew Barnes and Hannah Branscome are the winners of the Lawrence County Law Day Essay Contest. Each received a $1,500 scholarship check.
-
Photo Gallery: Check out our images from the Lincoln High prom!
The pomp. The pageantry. The pairs. The pictures. Yes, it’s prom season once again in Lawrence County and the New Castle News is on hand to document all the fun and excitement. We hope you enjoy our photo galleries! Today, Lincoln High.
-
Athlete of the Week: Meet Angela McCowin of Ellwood City
What happens when you’ve beaten everybody else? You look for ways to beat yourself. As the WPIAL track and field season progressed for Ellwood City Lincoln High, it was clear that Angela McCowin was running a race of her own in Section 1-AA.
-
Ellwood City schedules kindergarten registration
The Ellwood City school district has set kindergarten registration for the 2013-2014 school year. Registration will be April 12, 19 and 26 at the North Side Primary Center.
-
High School Wrestling: Ellwood earns playoff berth
After just two seasons, the Ellwood City Lincoln High wrestling team is playoff-bound. The Class AA, Section 1-B Wolverines knocked off host Laurel in section competition, 51-26, to seal a playoff berth.
-
Shooting Aftermath: Local school districts gear up for crisis plan reviews
Lawrence County’s district attorney is planning a school safety summit of sorts after the first of the year. Joshua Lamancusa said he will meet with district officials, security guards and police to determine what security measures are in place at local schools and what can be done to enhance them.
-
Ellwood City Wrestling Preview: ‘Next guy in line’ has Wolverines ready to roll
In resurrecting the Ellwood City Lincoln High wrestling program, Craig Alberts was there all the way. After Ellwood City disbanded the sport in 2001, former Wolverines coach John Barnes organized a youth program for the sport in 2005. He asked Alberts to help get the program off the ground.
-
School to honor war hero with renaming
The Ellwood City school district is renaming its auditorium after a fallen war hero. A formal ceremony is planned for 9 a.m. Friday at Lincoln High School to name the auditorium the Leslie H. Sabo Jr. Memorial Auditorium.
Sabo was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously on May 16, 2012. - More Lincoln Headlines
-
Ellwood OKs budget with no tax hike
