Pottstown Giving the Gift of Life for the Holidays

Submitted photos

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

Pottstown High School students and staff understand, when it comes to donating blood every drop counts. 

There is always an urgent need for blood and platelet donors to give during the holiday season to ensure blood is available for medical treatments and emergencies. 

PHS Health Care Technology students recently held their first of three yearly blood drives. They exceeded their goal of 35 donors by collecting 37 units of blood. 

The Miller Keystone Blood Bank calculates that each unit collected can be used to help save three lives. All units collected go directly to the Pottstown Hospital. 

Health Technology teacher Michaela Johnson said, "I am very proud of our students and staff, their gift of life helps make Pottstown High School one of the top donating sites in Southeast Pennsylvania."

Johnson added, "our Health Tech students also gained some excellent real-world experience while assisting the phlebotomist on the floor and in the canteen area. They were able to implement skills they learned in the classroom while helping to make a difference in the community. We are thankful that we are able to host blood drives every year."

"We understand how important it is to have a supply of blood ready and available to those in need," said student Wynter Harris. 

"I really enjoyed helping out at the blood drive and knowing that what we did will make a lifesaving difference for someone," Harris said.

At Pottstown High School, Helping Is In Their Blood

Photos by John Armato

ABOVE: D'ssandra Garcia, Alexis Anderson-Perez, and Kay'lah Pearson-Moore were among Pottstown High School's Health Occupations students who helped out with the final blood drive of the school year.

AT LEFT: Myrical Giddens and Jacob Howard sport the blue bandages that marked those who- gave blood.

BELOW: Kay'lah Pearson-Moore checks Trojan Man's vitals before taking any blood. As we all know, Trojan Man bleeds blue and white.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Pottstown School District.

When it comes to life saving blood there is no substitution for the real thing.

The Pottstown High School students and staff who took part in the end of year blood drive know that every unit of blood donated can be used to help save three lives.

The spring drive, which is done in partnership with the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, resulted in the collection of 44 units,which went to our local hospital where it was used to save lives.

Student Aaliyah Palmer gives her all.

The high school Student Government sponsors the drive three times a year and Health Occupations students gain real life experience by helping in the collection.

Carol Graves, Miller-Keystone's Donor Resource Representative noted that once again this year PHS
was a member of 100 Club.

That's the name used to recognize those who donate  more than 100 units of blood during the year.

She said, "year in and year out Pottstown High School is one the top donors in Southeast Pennsylvania."

Health Occupations teacher, Michaela Johnson said "I am very proud of our students and staff who are enthusiastic and eager to help make a difference in our community." 

She added, "our school mascot, Trojan Man comes out to help encourage and support our donors. Patients, their families, and healthcare workers truly appreciate those who donate blood," Johnson said. 

"We have not yet developed the technology to create a reliable artificial blood supply, so blood is the one thing that we need people to continuously donate," she said.

Johnson added, "knowing that what we are doing is helping people in need gives us one more reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown."

Arraya Graves-Butler, Onjelay Nixon, Destinie Harris, and Rachel Martin are thanked by Trojan Man after they donated blood to help save lives during the spring blood drive at Pottstown High School.

No Tears, No Sweat But Plenty of Blood from PHS

Photos courtesy of the Pottstown School District

Pottstown High School Senior Eriq Johnson donates blood for the seventh time.

Student proctor Tim Mutter has given blood more than 100 times.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

Pottstown High School students and staff showed their love for the community by literally giving a gift from the heart.

Forty-three units of blood were donated during the recent blood drive sponsored by the high school Health Occupations class in partnership with the Miller Keystone Blood Bank. 

Nala Johnson was among the Pottstown students who donated.

Senior Eriq Johnson, a Culinary Arts student, who has already donated six times said, "the first time I was just curious about my blood type, but I have come to realize how important giving blood is to the efforts of saving people's lives."

He plans to enter the military as a chef and, when he returns to civilian life. open a restaurant. 

Student proctor Tim Mutter is no stranger to caring and giving since entering the military in 1969 he has donated over 100 units of life saving blood. 

Pottstown High School studdnt Bryce Redd
was happy to donate blood.

"Knowing that I can help a family in need, just like I would want someone to help my family is important," said Mutter. 

Health Occupations teacher Michaela Johnson said "I am very proud of our students and staff for many years Pottstown High School has been one of the top donors in the region."

Johnson added,  "our efforts are truly a expression of caring for the Pottstown community."

The donations stay right here in Pottstown with every unit able to help save seven lives.

Pottstown High Students Do a Bloody Good Thing

Photos Courtesy of John J. Armato

Pottstown High School student and Air Force JROTC Cadet Rashad Cole does his part for the blood drive.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by John J. Armato, director of community relations for the Pottstown School District.

Kayla Walton does not seem to mind giving blood.

Pottstown High School students and staff showed their commitment to our community last week when they took part in the Miller Keystone Blood Drive. 

Thirty-Five units of blood were collected and will be used by our local hospital. 

Each unit can be used in life saving measures for three people. 

This Thanksgiving 105 people will enjoy a happy holiday because Pottstown School District cares.

In 2014, Carol Graves, Donor Resource Representative of the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, said, “Pottstown High School is consistently one of the strongest participating schools in our donor program." 

"Of all of the schools in the nine county area that we service, Pottstown, in spite of being one of the smallest school enrollments, is second in overall number of units collected. They have played a very important role in helping to save hundreds of lives in the Pottstown area,” she said.

Pottstown Students Give Blood, Save 78 Lives

Photos Courtesy of Pottstown High School

Health Occupations student Zechariah Howard, center, oversees the donations being made by Kameron Penn, left and Tyron Hakim.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Pottstown School District.
Recently, students and staff at Pottstown High School took part in the annual Winter Blood Drive as part of the Pottstown CARES Day events.

The 26 units of blood collected by the Miller-Keystone Blood Center is enough to to help save 78 lives. 

The blood drive was organized by the school’s Health Occupations students under the leadership of Michaela Johnson. 

“I am very proud of our students and staff for their willingness to give of themselves and make a donation that truly helps to save the lives of many people,” she said.

Health Occupations students assisting at the drive were Destiny Willis, Breana Bodnar, Devon Clary, Zikia Paschall, Denkera Chestnut and Zechariah Howard. 

Pottstown High School student Tim Grassi gives blood.

The Health Occupations students received real-life educational opportunities by assisting in the collection of the donations. They worked side-by-side with Miller-Keystone phlebotomists as they gained valuable skills.

“This was a great learning experience for us," said Chestnut. "One of the phlebotomists taught us a lot about how to safely collect donations and what to do in case of emergencies.”

“This was exciting. At first I was nervous because there were a lot of people and a great deal of activity going on," said Howard. 

"But I soon became comfortable with the staff and enjoyed being able to help in a project that I knew would save lives,".

“Pottstown High School is consistently one of the strongest participating schools in our donor program. Of all of the schools in the nine county area that we service, Pottstown, in spite of being one of the smallest school enrollments, is consistently one of our top collection centers," said Carol Graves, Donor Resource Representative of the Miller-Keystone Blood Center. 

"They have played a very important role in helping to save hundreds of lives in the Pottstown area.”

Pottstown High School HOSA students are hoping to set a new goal of collecting 35 units at its May 25th spring donation event. 

Donors can register by contacting Michaela Johnson, Health Occupations Instructor, at mjohnson@pottstownsd.org or 610-970-6700 extension 82238.

Pottstown HS Shows They CARE by Giving Blood

Photos by John J. Armato

Richard Duvivier, Tyler Keefer, Bryant Quill and Timothy Mutter, rear, recharge after donating blood during Pottstown CARES Day. 

BLOGGER'S NOTE: The following was provided by information maven, John J. Armato.

Students and staff at Pottstown High School taking part in the second annual Pottstown CARES Day helped to save more than 140 lives by donating blood at the Miller-Keystone Blood Donation Station set up in the high school gymnasium.

Senior Alex Huma gives blood.

 A total of 47 units were collected during the event which was organized by the high school Student Government sponsored by teacher Mark Agnew.

“This is really a student-organized and driven event. ROTC Cadet Ben Habekost was our lead student and was assisted by senior and junior class officers Brigid Benfield and Emanuel Wilkerson,” said Agnew.

Students from Michaela Johnson’s Health Occupations class received some real-life educational opportunities by assisting in the collection of the donations. 

Johnson said, “Our students are learning some valuable lessons as they work side-by-side with the professional staff of Miller-Keystone.”

Health Occupations students taking part included: Tiffany Cuascut, Adriana Saenz, Mieshia Dyches, Breanna Byrne, Brigette Mundo, and Cydney Andrews.

Myesha Dychess, left, helps Danny Tucker 

“It was exciting, said Dyches. "At first I was nervous because there were a lot people and a lot going on, but then I got comfortable with the staff and enjoyed being able to help others." 

“This was a great learning experience, Mundo said. "One of the phlebotomists taught us a lot about how to safely collect donations and what to do in case of emergencies."

Carol Graves, Donor Resource Representative of the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, said, “Pottstown High School is consistently one of the strongest participating schools in our donor program. Of all of
the schools in the nine county area that we service, Pottstown, in spite of being one of the smallest school enrollments, is second in overall number of units collected. They have played a very important role in helping to save hundreds of lives in the Pottstown area.”

Tori Gery gives blood

PHS senior Alex Humma, a member of the football and wrestling teams, said after donating, “I am glad to be able to help serve our community and show pride for our school and our town. It made me feel very proud to know that we have helped make a difference.”

The donation event was part of the second annual Pottstown CARES Day which sees over 700 students and adults from The Hill School, the Pottstown School District, and the Borough of Pottstown taking part in a massive community service project that includes cleanup of streets, donation of food items, and lifesaving units of blood.

Give Blood

It's In Their Blood

Blogger's Note: Once again the redoubtable John Armato (Have you guessed, it's December's Word of the Month?) has provided us with information about what goes on inside Pottstown Schools. Read on:

Pottstown School District students and staff have a long history of helping others in need.

Recently, Pottstown High School Student Government and Healthcare Technology students partnered with the Miller-Keystone Blood Center to conduct a drive for blood donations.

 Seventy-seven registered donors were able to donate 62 units of blood in a highly successful event.

Carol Graves of the Miller-Keystone Blood Center reported, “This was the most successful fall blood donation drive that the high school has conducted. There was an increase of over 37 percent of donations with 48 new donors. Pottstown School District should be proud of its students and staff who have shown that they understand the value of caring for those in need.”

Student Government advisor Mark Agnew was overwhelmed by the response.

“I am so proud of our students for organizing this event and participating at such a high level,” he said.

Healthcare Technology students from Michaela Johnson’s class not only donated blood but assisted technicians from Miller-Keystone.

 “Our students learned some valuable lessons today that will not only help them in the classroom but in their future lives," said Johnson.

Comments from the students included:

• Sidney Sanford: “It made me feel happy to donate blood as well as help out at the blood drive.”
• Kasia Butts: “I am glad I was able to help out at the blood drive and at the same time learn some new techniques that will help me in my coursework.
• Kenisha Holloway: “It felt great to be able to help those who are donating their blood to help others.” 
• Kourage Norris: “It made me feel good knowing that I was helping others and that the blood donated today will benefit numerous people and save lives.”

Success of Their Own A-Cord

So this guy makes you want to donate blood right?

The Miller-Keystone Blood Center recently recognized nine Pottstown High School seniors for their efforts to help save lives through participation in the high school blood drives.

Students received the coveted Cord Award signifying that they have donated blood at least four times in their high school career.

Mark Agnew, Student Government Advisor, said, “We are extremely proud of all of our students.

Those being honored with the Cord Award have already learned valuable lessons about the importance of commitment to community. Their efforts have literately helped to save lives.”

Carol Graves, Miller-Keystone Donor Resource Representative, explained, the High School Cord Recognition Program is designed to recognize students for being lifesaving donors and to honor them for making a significant contribution to our community.

In many cases these students not only donated blood but made a commitment to training as volunteers in the canteen and as donor aides.

Today’s high school students contribute approximately 20% of our community’s blood supply.

We want these young people to continue to be regular blood donors after they leave high school and go on to work, college, or military service.

As our nation’s population ages, it places an increased demand for blood. These young people have demonstrated that they are willing to take their place in our community as our future leaders.

Students receiving the award were; James Yoder, Brianne Penrose, Erin Smith, Ruel Johnson, Amber Lichtley, Richard Gibson, Zach Hanies, Kenny Arndt and John Cormican.