Dear Friends of Southern Columbia & Pennsylvania FFA:
The Pennsylvania FFA Association and The Pennsylvania FFA Alumni is committed to embracing opportunities, experiences, friendships, and growth as individuals throughout this school year and help FFA members write a beautiful year of FFA experiences that will truly allow them to go “Redefine Possible”. Over the past nineteen years, the Pennsylvania FFA Alumni Association has worked diligently to provide 8,616 Pennsylvania FFA members the first step in a student’s success in this organization, which is affording them with a National Blue and Corn Gold corduroy jacket.
As organizations advocating for agriculture, we hope to present over 1,000 students with jackets this winter. To reach our goal, we are asking for your assistance. For $85 you can sponsor a jacket for a first year FFA member. If you are interested, you may send a check, payable to Southern Columbia FFA, c/o Steve Roth, 812 Southern Drive, Catawissa, PA 17820. Donations for the January 2027 Convention presentation will be accepted until Friday, October 30, 2026.
We will provide FFA jackets to all chapter members that successfully complete a worthy jacket application. As alumni, friends and supporters we know the tremendous number of opportunities that lie before each of these young FFA members and the excitement of becoming a part of this life-changing organization.
Thank you for considering assisting us change the world, one national blue and corn gold jacket at a time. The Pennsylvania FFA Association, The Pennsylvania FFA Alumni, and the Southern Columbia FFA Chapter secures the promise of the FFA mission and agricultural education by creating an environment where people and communities can develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. Thank you for considering this opportunity to assist a young FFA member and open the door to the unlimited possibilities of this tremendous organization!
Feel free to contact me at sroth@scasd.us with questions. All donations can be mailed to Southern Columbia FFA, ATTN: Steve Roth-FFA Advisor 812 Southern Dr., Catawissa, PA 17820.
Sincerely,
Steve Roth
Agriculture Program Teacher
FFA Advisor
These students have demonstrated outstanding effort, positive attitudes, and a commitment to success in the classroom. We are proud of their accomplishments and the example they set for their peers. Keep up the great work!
Contributor: Lillian Beyer, Journalism Staff Member
Thank you to the first responders who took time out of their schedules to visit with our students and staff. We appreciate your service, commitment, and the positive impact you make in our community every day!
With the growing needs we are seeing among our students, we are working to expand our successful Tiger Care Closet program from the elementary school to the middle school and are seeking gently used clothing, non-perishable food items, hygiene products, snack donations, and more to help make this possible. Items can be dropped off at the middle school office.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity! 🖤💛
Mara and Dillen were recently interviewed and filmed at the WVIA studio in Pittston. Mara showcased her artistic talents by sharing five of her acrylic paintings, and Dillen shared his musical talents by performing a special musical selection for his segment. Their finished segments are expected to be released on the WVIA website sometime in April, so stay tuned.
We can’t wait to see their incredible talents shared with a wider audience!
Pictured from left to right are Dustin Searfoss (Science), Mallory Funkhouser (ELA), Paisley Major (Math), and Beckett Pesarchick (Social Studies).
Congratulations to these students on this well-deserved recognition!
ELA: Cole Spotts
Math: Forest Ziegert
Science: Rhylin Faus
Geography: Anthony Lengyl
Keep up the great work! ⭐
Each year, the Southern Columbia High School Student Council hosts its Change Wars Fundraiser to support a local family in need. This year, we are honored to support the Harmon Family. Malania Harmon, a 9th-grade student at Southern Columbia, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and is currently receiving treatment at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville. Her parents, Ashley and Drew, are both employees of the Southern Columbia Area School District.
HOW IT WORKS:
The competition is open to all homerooms in grades K–12. From now through October 23, homerooms are encouraged to collect and bring in spare change to support the Harmon Family. The homeroom in each building that collects the most change will earn a prize! Every coin counts, and together, our Southern Columbia community can make a difference for the Harmon Family.
Their support has helped fund classroom supplies for teachers, the Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Competition, the Patriot's Pen Patriotic Youth Essay Competition, the National Citizenship Education Teacher Award, the Little Tiger Care Closet, district coloring contests, field trips across all schools, scholarships presented to graduating seniors, senior class trip hotel expenses, the SCA Athletic Hall of Fame, SCCA Bingo sponsorships, and a contribution toward the new scoreboard in the Old Gym.
The VFW has also supported numerous athletic and youth organizations, including the Football and Cheer Boosters, SCA Baseball, SCA Softball, Ralpho Youth Sports, and Southern Columbia Little League.
These are just some of the many ways Catawissa VFW Post 8306 continues to give back to Southern Columbia. Their generosity has touched students of all ages and helped provide opportunities both in and out of the classroom. We are grateful for the strong community partnerships that help make Southern Columbia a special place for our students and families.
Students spent the day working together, reading, solving problems, and taking part in hands-on activities without relying on technology. It was a great chance to slow down, connect with classmates and teachers, and see that learning can happen in plenty of ways beyond a screen.
Contributor: Destiny Deeter, Print/Digital Media Intern
