Students at Mars Area Elementary School donned pirate hats and eye patches as they joined in celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept. 19).

Throughout the day, lads and lasses in several classrooms tested their sea legs by participated in a variety of pirate-themed mathe- matics, reading and social studies activities. Students determined their pirate names; learned about pirate speak, including such phrases as “Ahoy, Matey” and “Shiver Me Timbers;” used a compass to follow treasure maps; and completed reading prompts, word searches, and more.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day was created by John (Ol’ Chumbucket) Baur and Mark (“Cap’n Slappy”) Summers in 1995. After receiving media attention, the parody holiday became an international phenomenon and is now celebrated, not only to engage students in education, but as a way to raise funds for charity organizations, such as Childhood Cancer Support and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

For details, call (724) 625-3161.