Swatara Scoop

Student voices serving the Swatara Middle School community

Welcome to the Scoop!

Welcome to the premier issue of Swatara Scoop. We hope be a fun, informative, and supportive voice for the students, faculty, and families of our school. Putting a newsmagazine together is tough, especially for those who've never done it before. So we thank you for your patience while we get this thing together. Want to see the Scoop improve and grow? Get involved. We're looking for ideas: stories, people, and events that should be shared and celebrated. Send us your news tips, your photos, your questions about your school. We'll do our best to follow up and track down every lead. In the meantime, enjoy our stories this edition. We're eager to hear what you think.

Mr. Royce says goodbye to SMS for career in law enforcement

Mr. Royce at work as a mentor and mediator before he left to attend police officer training at Harrisburg Area Community College

Before Mr. Royce Urena departed SMS in January we had a chance to talk with him about his time here. This is a portion of our conversation

Scoop Staff

Tell us where you grew up?

I was born in Harrisburg, and went to Susquehanna Township High School, where I graduated in 2018.

What brought you here to SMS?

I thought it was a great opportunity to try and make a difference I always wanted to pursue a career that brought change to the community. This was a great way to get started.

When did you know you wanted to be a police officer?

For as long as I can remember, really. I guess maybe I was four or five years old when I started saying it to people. Nobody else in my family had been a police officer. It was always part of my life plan. I want to be in a career field where I feel fulfilled.

What made you want to make the leap now?

There is a definite need for police officers. There is a shortage in many towns and cities. I thought, "there's no better time than now."

What's the process to become an officer?

I got to a state police academy for six months, and then field training, which lasts another 12-14 weeks, about 160 hours in the field. Then, if I pass that probationary period, I'll be a fulltime officer.

Do you know where you want to serve?

I already have a pre-hire offer form Hanover, in Adams County. That's typically how it happens nowadays. A police department will conditionally hire you before you enter the academy. That way when you get out, there's a job waiting.

What will you miss about SMS?

I'll miss taking the time to get to know students. I'm not a teacher, but I get to take that time to establish relationships with people. That hopefully pays off when students are having a tough time. I'll be doing the same thing as an officer.

Hanover? I hear they make lots of potato chips there:

Yes. And there is one of the most famous hot dog places as well. I forgot what it's called at the moment. They're really good...they put too many onions on them though. Maybe when I roll up in uniform they'll go easy on them for me.

UPDATE: News reached us earlier this week that Mr. Royce set a new record for the obstacle course in training at HACC. He finished the course, which includes numerous physical and motor challenges, in just 51 seconds. The previous record was 57 seconds.

Black History Month: Harrisburg a key in freedom's journey

Harrisburg from the air

A secret tunnel once used to hide fugitive slaves

Tanner's Alley; a mostly African-American neighborhood.

by J'Liece Johnson Myers

For Black History Month, we decided to look around our neighborhood and we discovered that Harrisburg was a major stop for enslaved people fleeing North. It was called the Underground Railroad, and it was a network of routes and safehouses that people used to escape to freedom in the northern states before the Civil War. We would've never guessed that Harrisburg was a major hub, but it does make sense.

At the time Harrisburg was a major city and since it was close to the Mason-Dixon line (the border that separates free states from the slave owning states). It was the ideal place to stop when leaving Maryland.

Many of those who escaped people chose to stay in Harrisburg because they were able to blend in with the other African Americans, and Harrisburg offered jobs that weren't available anywhere else. They were able to socialize, marry, and educate their children. Even a school was established here mainly to educate children of the once enslaved. One area of the city, called Tanner's Alley, was a popular place for the once enslaved to live and work after their arrival.

Unfortunately, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 became a danger for enslaved people and for the free. This forced enslaved people and even some free people of color to travel to go all the way to Canada. The new law made it legal for slave owners in the South to chase their former "property" across the Mason-Dixon for the first time.

There isn’t a lot of physical evidence left behind about the Underground Railroad, but but there are historical markers around our hometown to show it’s significance, not just to the Underground Railroad’s history, but to American history in general.

Culture Corner: My father's journey form Peru

by Ivanna Carmona-Tirado

A series exploring the vibrant multicultural diversity of our SMS community

Arequipa, a city in the shadow of the towering Andes Mountains

The nation of Peru lies on the Pacific coast of South America

The citadel of Machu Picchu, located at an altitude of 7,900 feet

My dad moved from Peru to the U.S in 2001, at thirty years old. He's the youngest child, and arrived with little prior knowledge of the U.S culture. He also didn't speak English at the time. Non-English speakers face many challenges/obstacles when they move to the United States. Their success is mainly determined by their environment, social support, and education.

Peru is a country located on the west coast of South America, known for the beautiful cultural landmarks of the Inca empire. It is home to over 33 million people and is the sixth wealthiest country in Latin America. Fun Fact: Peru is home to over 4,000 different types of potatoes!

At first my dad had to deal with the language barrier, so he went straight to working in a factory. Although tough, he had family to support him. Some of his family members had attended college, and provided some guidance and resources for him. At work, he faced a lot of discrimination due to his language barrier/ ethnicity. He had to rely on others to help him navigate the challenges he was enduring at work.

He’s now a pastor at a church. After a long journey, he's now simply focusing on himself, family time, and helping others who were once like him. In conclusion, my dad is an example that despite the many obstacles faced when immigrants arrive in the United States, you can achieve success if you have the determination, willingness to work hard and surround yourself with the right people.