Valley students gather, pause to offer praise
From left, Pastor Alan Petke of the Gospel Alliance Church in Rostraver, along with Charleroi students Peyton Trollinger and Breanne Zippay, listen as a daily devotional is read by Eric Miller (not shown) during a religious observance held at Charleroi Area High School.
Darnell Graham
Darnell Graham
From left, Charleroi Area High School staff members Pam Miller and Dayna Zajack both participate in in a moment of prayer on the grounds of the high school Wednesday morning.
On a chilly early fall morning, students across the valley — like their peers nationwide — gathered outside to pray for their schools and their communities.
The students took part in the national event called See You at the Pole, where students meet at a flag pole at their school.
Since 1990, See You at The Pole has occurred on Sept. 28 nationwide as well as in Canada and 20 other countries, primarily across Europe and Asia.
It was repeated this morning in the Charleroi Area, California Area, Ringgold, Frazier and Yough school districts. A similar program was conducted last week in Monessen.
About 20 were gathered outside Charleroi Area High/Middle School. Senior Erik Miller, president of the high school’s Bible Club, led the solemn service.
Miller then encouraged those gathered to join hands and offer their own prayers.
Teacher Barb Todero said the students were expressing their desire to be heard in prayer.
The students said they felt the service was an outlet for them to express their faith among friends.
“I like being with people,” said sophomore Breanne Zippay. “Even though we are different, you can fit in.”
Peyton Trollinger, a sophomore from Charleroi, said he sees the ceremony as a way to praise God.
“He has done a lot for me,” Trollinger said. “This is a way of paying God back.”
Ann McCurdy, a junior, stressed unity. “I feel that we may all be different but we can come together,” Anna said. “The point is to come together to pray.”
“I think it’s important to meet other people to come together and pray even if we do not know each other,” added her sister Delia McCurdy.
Sisters Victoria and Sam Anders, a junior and seventh-grade student, respectively, said they understood that their actions would raise important curiosity among their classmates.
“Every kid who comes in (to school) will see us and ask what we are doing,” Victoria said. “They will see why it is important to pray for our schools and our communities.”
“I feel we need to pray for our schools,” Sam added.
Although a voluntary exercise, it did have the moral support of the administration.
“I think it’s a positive,” said Dr. Ed Zelich, superintendent of the Charleroi Area School District. “Kids need to have the right to express their First Amendment rights. I see nothing but positive from it.”
In the Ringgold School District, PTAs at the middle school and both elementary centers sent out letters informing families of See You at the Pole services held this morning at those schools.
It was not held at the high school this year, because the flag pole has been temporarily removed due to construction, said Superintendent Dr. Karen Polkabla.
“We offer our students as many opportunities as we can,” Polkabala said. “So if this is something they feel is important, we offer them that opportunity to participate.”
California Area High school senior Dylan Beckowitz participated last year, but fellow Dakota Staley admitted she didn’t have a ride to the school for the early morning event.
They were among the students who gathered at the flag pole in front of their school at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The activities lasted about 20 minutes, concluding in time for the start of the school day.
After some shared a discussion of faith, California Area teacher Nadia Uhall played the guitar and the participants prayed for the school and community.
“The students gather as a faith-based community,” Dylan said.
“Dakota and I did not know each other was faith-based until we both went to Winter Jam (a Christian music concert) at Consol Energy, last year. There were at least five others from school there.”
Dylan attends the First United Methodist Church in California, where he is the leader of the youth group.
“It’s important because it gives me a different perspective,” Dylan said. “It lets me grow myself and gives me a purpose.”
Dakota is a member of Braznell Christian and Missionary Alliance in Grindstone, where she is a member of the teen group and helps teach Sunday School.
California Area Superintendent Michael Sears said he supported the students when he was presented with the idea for See You at the Pole. Sears said if business had not taken him away from the district this morning he might have been inclined to join them outside the school.
“I think it is a positive thing they are doing,” Sears said.