Dragon Tales Newsletter - Levittown Public Schools

Vol. 13 No. 3
Division Avenue High School
June 2016
NHS Competes Marching Band
Begins the
for a Cause
On Wednesday June 1st,
members of the National Honor
Society participated in the annual,
fun-filled trivia challenge.
Each year, the National
Honor Society, under the direction
of Ms. Rosenberg, holds an end of
the year trivia competition to raise
money for St. Jude’s Children’s
Hospital.
T h i s y e a r, m e m b e r s
established teams of four and
gathered in the cafeteria after school,
prepared to outsmart their peers.
Bobby Evans and Michael Mahoney
created this year’s question bank and
put every participant’s mind to the
test. For example, did you know that
the unicorn is the national animal of
Scotland? Or that the Razor scooter
was the most popular Christmas gift
in the year 2000? With questions
ranging over a variety of topics, each
member was sure to walk away with
some new fun facts. Ms. Rosenberg
commented, “The National Honor
Society raised $715.00 for St.
Judes Hospital during this year’s
trivia challenge. It was an intense
competition! Congratulations to the
winning team, BLAK.”
While “BLAK”, a senior
team consisting of Brendan Skillman,
Libbie Sudweeks, Anna Yoo, and
Kristin Schmidt, was crowned trivia
champs, everyone left knowing they
had a great time and donated to an
even greater cause. ~ Jessica Vespa
Take a LOOk Inside?
Girls Rule the Office Dragon Tank
Sitting Down with Mr. Maloney Senior Reflections Mrs. Lorelli Interview Ask an Alumni
Baseball Lacrosse Page 3
Page 4
Page 9
Page 10
Page 13
Page 12
Page 17
Page 19
Farewells
for the Mother
of Dragons
On Wednesday, May 25th,students from the Marching Band and some
staff members had a little surprise for Mrs. Lorelli. After hearing news of
her retirement, the group decided to show its appreciation and give her a
little surprise farewell party.
“It’s not that easy to keep secrets from me. I had no idea any of this
was going on and when they pretended there was an emergency and that
I had to go to the auditorium I wasn’t prepared,” Mrs. Lorelli said. As she
walked through the auditorium, the Marching Band started to play for her
making it an unforgettable moment.
The Marching Band came together with some gifts for her to cherish
as her time at Division has come to an end. Mike Mahoney said, “Mrs.
Lorelli has done so much for the Marching Band, that it was amazing to
give back to her.”
It was a happy, but sad moment for everyone because knowing this
will be her last year, it makes the students think and remember how she
impacted each and every person in the Marching Band. Brandon Hoyt
commented, “Mrs. Lorelli’s endless support for the Marching Band was
spectacular. For her to come on her own time and watch us perform is
amazing.” As the event came to a close and hugs and cheers were drawing
to a close, it was the wish of everyone there that Mrs. Lorelli will come visit
from time to time, because she is the one and only Mother of the Division
Avenue Blue Dragons. ~ Lizzie Cruz
Page 2
Dragon Tales
June 2016
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June 2016
Olympic
Preview
Let’s face it, athletes don’t go to the
Olympics to win silver or bronze, they go to win
gold and at this 2016 Summer Olympics at Rio,
expect a number of podiums to be topped with U.S.
athletes. The past few years has seen the rise of
some impressive
athletes and the
return of some
old-timers, but
whether they’re
new to the game
or not, here’s a
list of what to
watch out for
from the U.S. this
August.
Women’s
Soccer Team- This summer the U.S. Women’s
Soccer team, after trying to win a possible 26
games, looks to become the first team to win
the World Cup Champions and win gold at the
Olympics.
Women’s Gymnastics: Simone Biles-
This 19 year old is a three time all-round world
champion and a member of the gold-winning
American team in 2014 and 2015 and she holds
the record for most medals won by a female
gymnast in the history of World Championships.
Watch for her to thrive on the floor and beam.
Phelps’ and Bolt’s Last Stand- Everyone
thought 2012 was the end of seeinng Michael
Phelps in the pool, but despite the recent chaos in
his life, with his DUI and six month suspension
along with the more recent birth of his son, expect
him to surprise everyone, even himself. He says,
“I’m almost 30 years old and swimming almost
faster than I ever have before.” Usain Bolt, from
Jamaica, is looking to improve his record. He’ll
be aiming for wins in the 100,200, and 4 by 100
meter relay for the 3rd time.
Watching History: Katie Ledecky- This
summer will be Ledecky’s second Olympics,
her first being in 2012 in London where she won
gold in the 800 meter freestyle at the age of 15.
Since 2012 she’s been making history with new
world records in the 400, 800, and 1500 meter
events. She has broken a total of eleven records.
If that isn’t impressive enough, she hasn’t lost an
event, winning 15 gold medals in international
competition. Come July, Ledecky could be
looking at 7 gold medals in Rio, breaking the
record for most medals won by a female athlete.
Want to watch history? Then watch Ledecky.
The Return of champs- Michael Phelps
and Usain Bolt aren’t the only athletes making
a return, Gabby Douglas will also be back and
looking to add to her medal collection. On the
wrestling mat, Jordan Burroughs will have
the opportunity to win back-to-back freestyle
wrestling titles. Golf will make its return to the
games after 112 years. Over on the tennis courts,
Serena Williams will be defending her gold in
singles and in doubles with her sister, Venus.
The Olympics are always an exciting time
and this year will not disappoint, so while these
athletes and many more from around the world
train and prepare for the chance of a lifetime, fans
at home should get ready to watch as history is
made. ~Alicia Renda
Dragon Tales
Page 3
Trump Secures Nomination,
Hillary Waits
May 4, 2016-the day that John Kasich
dropped out of the presidential race. Its biggest
implication: it means that Donald Trump will
officially be representing the Republican Party
this November. Regardless of your thoughts
about him, he can no longer be dismissed as a
joke, fantasy, etc. It is possible that come January,
President Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th
President of the United States.
How did Donald do it? Well, quite easily
actually. Donald Trump attacked the largest
threat to his presidential campaign with personal
insults. Whether it was, “Lyin’ Ted,” “Lightweight
Jeb Bush,” and now “Crooked Hillary,” Trump
successfully puts his opposition in a negative
light for all to see over twitter and the news. His
previously more frequent outlandish comments
have earned him 2 billion dollars in free publicity
over the course of the election cycle. Clearly
he believes that there is no such thing as bad
publicity.
Who he will face in November? Most
likely, Hillary Clinton. Although Bernie Sanders
has continued to win primaries, such as Oregon,
his opportunity to gain the democratic nomination
has dwindled. As the race continues and Sanders
continues to win, Clinton continues to secure
enough votes to keep the majority of pledged
votes. Is she has more pledged votes than
Sanders at the Democratic Convention, it is all
but guaranteed she will receive almost all of
the remaining superdelegates. Even if Sanders
has more pledged delegates at the time, Clinton
is still likely to gain most of the superdelegate
votes. For those of you who are not sure what
superdelegates are, they are delegates from certain
states that can vote for whomever they want to
win the election. They do not have to vote for
the candidate that won the primary in their state.
And since Hillary Clinton is the nominee backed
by the democratic establishment, she will receive
most of the superdelegates regardless of how the
pledged delegates turn out,
So this November we will see Democrat
Hillary Clinton square off against Republican
Donald Trump. The policies that each candidate
stands behind do not resemble each other’s in
the slightest. Both candidates have scored high
unfavorability ratings in the polls, the highest ever
actually for respective party nominees. Although
this is not a traditional election it sure is unique
and certainly will be one for the record books.
For all you seniors eligible to vote, make
sure to research the candidates before voting later
this year, but most importantly, make sure to vote!
This election is a monumental election and will
affect the future of America and you want to have
a say. No matter what, this will sure be an exciting
and entertaining summer.
Thank you for following my political
updates all year, I hope that you enjoyed them.
~ Bobby Evans
Class Elections: Girls Rule
Last month, Division held the annual
school-wide elections to determine the class
officers for the 2016-2017 school year (see results
right).
This year’s election was especially
exciting due to the fact that every class officer
elected is female. This is such an interesting
coincidence with this being the first year that a
woman could be on the ballot for president. The
girls elected to officer positions for next year could
go on to become future legislators, senators or
politicians, especially with the changing attitude
toward women in politics. The amount of women,
young and old alike, holding positions in elected
office is growing, and Division’s school elections
could result in future leaders. Congratulations to
all the winners and good luck next year.
~ Olivia Vecchio
Class of 2017
President: Kristina Spano
Vice President: Samantha Medak-Carreras
Secretary: Camille Martinez
Treasurer: Regina Shin
Class of 2018
President: Heather Bonsignore
Vice President:
Amy Rzemieniewski
Secretary: Brooke Gambino
Treasurer: Cielo Jiminez
Class of 2019
President: Gina McGough
Vice President:
Melanie Vespa
Secretary: Madison Gillis
Treasurer: Rashmika Beesam
Page 4
Chocolate,
Business
and Art Join
Together at
Division
Mrs. Crusco’s College Level Business
Ownership and Marketing class together with
Mrs. Kessler’s Graphic Design 1 and Graphic
Design 2 classes join together over chocolate.
The business assignment was to conduct
market research and develop a new chocolate bar.
Students used focus group research methods to
understand the chocolate bar needs of their target
market. Once primary research data was collected
from their one-on-one interviews, students used
this primary data collected to write an on-line
survey using surveymonkey.com. The online survey was used
to gather additional
information for
product development
from a greater sample
size. Social media
outlets were then
used by students to
broadcast the survey
developed, inviting all
to participate in the survey. Upon completion of
the survey, students were amazed at how many
responses they collected; some teams collected
as many as 72 participants.
The next step of the assignment required
students to use the data collected and make
decisions about what the target market wants in a
chocolate bar that is not already on the market and
put together the ingredients for a new chocolate
bar.
Mrs. Kessler’s Graphic Design 1 and
Graphic Design 2 classes’ students worked
with the business students to illustrate the new
chocolate bar concepts creating the art for the logo
and the chocolate bar wrappers. Students learned
how to evaluate data collected, make decisions
and work together with others in a joint effort to
develop a new product.
Dragon Tales
June 2016
“Dragon Tank”
at Division Avenue HS
At Division Avenue HS among the
Business College level classes offered is Business
Ownership and Marketing, and this year Mrs.
Crusco led her students in a “Shark Tank” type
business plan competition through the Junior
Achievement of New York Association.
Since February, students have taken the
theories learned in class on entrepreneurship and
incorporated them into a new product development
challenge provided by Junior Achievement. This
year the JA Business Plan Competition challenge
was to develop a new product concentrated in the
Arts and Entertainment industry.
The Junior Achievement Business Plan
Competition provides students with the opportunity
to apply key business concepts and skills while
developing a blueprint strategy to launch a new
product or service. This unique project-based
experience helps students get excited about the
world of business and entrepreneurship, and
empowers them to use entrepreneurial thinking
to create value in their own companies. JA
Association also provided a “real world” business
volunteer, Wendy Fein, Marketing Specialist,
who worked with Division students prior to the
competition rounds.
Each of the Division teams were
responsible for the development of a new product
or service in the Arts and Entertainment industry.
All teams were required to write a business
plan outlining the mission statement, executive
summary, and the company objectives, as well as
the financials projected within five years. Specific
to the business plan, students were required
to identify a problem their product was going
to solve and how their product or service was
different from the competition.
Of the six teams in the first round three
were eliminated based on JA judges reading of
the written business plans only. The remaining
three teams competed in the next round.
The second round was held at Division Avenue
on May 9th and the three teams competing were:
These teams were judged on their written
business plans and their formal oral presentations
made to three judges from the business world,
Anthony Guida and Paul Guida, owners and Vice
Presidents of New Horizons Graphic Inc., a family
run company for over thirty years and Michael
Valveri Audit Manager, from Audit & Enterprise
Risk Services Deloitte & Touche LLP.
After a lively question and answer segment
for each team the judges deliberated on the merits
of each product/service students developed and
scored them accordingly. This process earned the
Celeb G.L.A.M team an opportunity to compete
on May 20th at Baruch College, Zicklin School of
Business, where schools from the five boroughs
and Long Island will also be competing for a
chance to win $2,500 in scholarship money for
each team member.
To all Division Avenue students who
participated in this competition congratulations
on a job well done!
Celeb G.L.A.M: Vinyl: CEO: Sara Schonmann
CEO: Brandon Soedarmasto CFO: Alexa Farrell
CFO: Ashpreet Singh CMO: Shannon Pousson
CMO: Nick Santanelli
CIO: Kayla Olivieri
Newspaper Staff
Advisor - Mr. Verdi
Student Editors - Alicia Renda, Nick Brown
Principal - Mrs. Lorelli
Assistant Principal - Mrs. Dolecek
Assistant Principal - Mr. Coscia
Computer Dept. - Mrs. Madzy
Currriculum Associate - Mrs. Slattery
Marketing - Jessica Vespa, Sara Wittenstein
Always looking for more reporters. Room 129
Paragon:
CEO: Marc Bain
CFO: Dylan Chase
CMO: Srikar Indrakanti
CIO: Caitlin Harrs
Reporters - Kristina Spano,
Emily Glynn,Courtney Lemmons,
Cameron O’Keefe, Alyssa Williams
Arianna Anzano, Sara Wittenstein,
Sean O’Regan, Danielle Mahn, Kayla Benischek
Eileen Hyland, Bobby Evans, Kim Rodriguez
Photojournalists: Liz Cruz,
Alicia Renda, Ashley Mamys,
Erin McCauley, Carmelina Baio
To all those who helped with the quick
questions and background checks,
thank you.
June 2016
Dragon Tales
Page 5
The Sun Shines Bright
on CD Field Day
On May 25th, 2016, the Career Development
Program put together and successfully completed
another Field Day.
The day consisted of six activities. There
was the Softball Toss, Javelin Throw, Beanbag
Toss, 20 Yard Dash, Relay Race, and Obstacle
Course. All six activities helped create the
competitive and exciting atmosphere the kids
brought to the field.
Senior Cameron O’Keefe said, “This
year’s field day was a success. Everyone came
down to show their support and it was a great
way to end the year.”
Three teams competed in the field day.
The Red Team, which consisted of all seniors and
the Blue and Green teams, which consisted of all
the underclassmen. Everyone who attended the
field day had a great time. Some spectators stood
on the sidelines and others relaxed in the bleachers
while the CD kids dominated the activities.
Another added bonus to the already
amazing day was the extra support shown by the
Wisdom Lane CD kids who came
down to watch and cheer on all the
teams. Senior and Best Buddies
member Jake Walsh said, “It was
a really fun event. I enjoyed it as
much as all the kids and it was a
beautiful day to have it.”
H e a l t h Te a c h e r M s .
Walsh, who organizes the events,
commented, “A great day was had
by all at the Blue Dragon Field
Day! It gives me so much joy to
see the smiles on the faces of our
CD students as they played the
games.” The CD field day
is an annual event that continues
to put smiles on everyone’s faces. ~ Jessica Fressle
Astounding Art
The 16th Annual Art Show was in full
swing on Wednesday, May 25th, and was another
year of success as many spectators walked around
and admired and were in complete awe at the
pieces presented in the show.
Art students had their work displayed
throughout the art hallway and all over the walls
of the art suites. All of them portrayed dedication,
creativity and commitment to their work and
deserved to be recognized, as they put their minds
and emotions on their artwork and turned them
into such fantastic artworks of color, wire, digital
animation, Mache, clay, and other mediums.
Featured Artists this year included:
Katherine Birmingham, Jessica Giuliani, Kelly
Lennon, Kayla Shapiro, Youssef Bayomi,
Kathleen Cracchiolo, Daniel Kinsella, Victoria
Want to get
involved?
Go to:
levittownschools.com/division/clubs/
or ask Mr. Verdi.
Perricone, Jessica Wagner and Elissa Bardhi,
whose artwork is represented on the cover of
the16th Annual Art Show poster. Honorable
Mentions also included Sophia DeFranco, Jared
Carandang and Elena Votta.
Ms. Kessler commented, “This year’s
show was the best one we have ever had at
Division Avenue. The students are so talented
and seeing all of their efforts displayed in such a
wonderful space put together by the teachers was
simply breathtaking. I am so honored to be a part
of this department and community and can only
imagine what next year’s show will bring.” Congratulations to the art department and
the students on another fine year of hard work and
great accomplishments.
~ Kim Rodriguez
Culinary Competition
On Friday, May 20th, Mr. O’Donnell’s 4th
and 5th period Culinary Arts classes took part in a
cooking competition simulating the famous food
network show Chopped. Each group of four had
42 minutes to make a dish containing 4 required
ingredients. These ingredients for 4th period were
chicken, pineapple, rice krispies and salsa, and 5th
period had graham crackers, chicken, duck sauce,
and strawberries. Each group had to make the best
of each ingredient with their creativity and their
knowledge of culinary.
By the end of the period, each group was
expected to have completed making their dish
to be judged by the judges. The judges included
Mrs. Lorelli, Mr. Coscia, and Mrs. DiRusso. With
each judge trying a sample from each group, they
submitted their ballots for the best dish.
The winners for period 4 were James
Horodecki, Chris Fusco and John McMahon
and the winners for period 5 were George Gatt,
Madison Cammarata and Said Naibzada. After
that, the students competed against one another
in an individual cooking competition. Meg Ruane
won for period 4 and Said Naibzada won for
period 5.
Every student involved enjoyed the
competition, as it allowed them to make a dish
that reflected their own creativity and personal
taste. The students want to thank their teacher, Mr.
O’Donnell for this experience, as he said “This is
a great way to allow them to experiment and give
them something to look forward to towards the
end of the year.” ~ Jalynne Medina
Page 6
Dragon Tales
June 2016
Making A Difference,
One Pillow at a Time
The Henrik Lundqvist Foundation
As hockey grows in popularity, so do its players. Henrik Lundqvist, a fairly notable face in the
NHL, has decided to use his prevalence in society for good. In 2014,
Henrik, alongside his wife, founded
the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation.
They based the foundation on their
mission, "The Henrik Lundqvist
Foundation, through its fundraising
efforts and community outreach,
strives to create positive changes
in the lives of children and adults
throughout the world through education and health services."
Supported by community
partners such as New York Presbyterian Children's Hospital, Food
Bank for NYC, Ronald McDonald
Barnfond ("Children's Fund"), Together for Better, and the Garden of
Dreams Foundation, the foundation
has been able to reach a large range
of people throughout the world. In
the foundations short lifetime the
two founders have accomplished a
lot. Among all the fundraising efforts of outstanding amounts, the
foundation has journeyed to the
Dominican Republic with community partner Together For Better,
donating school supplies, hygiene
products, and other necessities so
that the children there may have the
education they deserve. The foundation has also set plans to fund the
construction of two rooms at the
Ronald McDonald House in Gothenburg, Sweden, which will begin
construction this upcoming August.
Though the power couple
knew their acts alone were more
than sufficient, they decided to
share their platform. At the start of
Summer 2015, the foundation announced its Youth Ambassador program which would start in the Fall of
2015. Henrik and Therese explained
that, "The Young Ambassadors program was developed because HLF
believes in the incredible power of
young people to make
a difference
in the world
and we want
to give them
a platform
to do just
that!" They
received
thousands of
applicants
for sixteen
spots to represent
the
foundation, one of which I was
granted. As an ambassador I was
expected to complete fifteen community service hours, one service
project through the foundation, and
one independent service project
that supported the HLF mission. It
all happened in a whirlwind. One
moment I was sitting on my bed
squealing with excitement as I read
the email informing me of my acceptance and the next I was in the
city handing out food to the homeless population.
Volunteering with Food
Bank for NYC during the MLK
weekend was one of the most interesting and rewarding things I have
ever done. It made me slow down
and appreciate the things I have in
my life, putting everything in perspective. For just a sliver of time I
was connected to those less fortunate than I, and they were thankful
for my help and generosity. One
day out of my schedule meant all
the difference in their lives.
As a bit of motivation me
and my fellow ambassadors were
informed we
were invited
to dinner with
Henrik
and
Therese. I had
a feeling this
would happen
but in the moment it was
very exciting.
Henrik
has
always
been
such an athletic inspiration to me but
his life outside of hockey is what
really entrails me. The spot as an
ambassador was reward enough but
meeting Henrik, getting the chance
to explain my project to him and
Therese was mind blowing. I sat in
a big conference room at the Goldman Sachs building that gazed out
onto the beautiful view of New
York City. Me and my fellow ambassadors sat in nervous excitement
and before long I was shaking the
king of New Yorks hand. Within a
few minutes it seemed as if we were
all old friends and I forgot who that
man across from me was. We each
took turns explaining our projects,
everyone being accounted for and
appreciated. I told jokes and made
the Lundqvist family laugh and
Henrik answered all of our questions. He gave us advice on phil-
anthropic adventures and even just
daily struggles. It was a lovely evening, one I will never forget; not
because of who Henrik and Therese
are but because of the inspiration it
gave me.
Teenagers are thought to be
lazy and underachieving but when
you have someone as important as
Henrik Lundqvist telling you that
you matter and helping you achieve
great things it makes you feel just as
important as him.
Beside my hours of collecting food and volunteering outside
the foundation I still had to complete my independent service project. My goal was to make 250 pillowcases, which would be donated
to children at the Ronald McDonald House in Gothenburg, Sweden
as well as New Ground Shelter in
Hempstead, NY. It was quite the
task to take on but the foundation
and my family and friends supported me so I started on my journey. I
set up a GoFundMe so that I could
buy all the supplies for the pillowcases. After a few short months and
tons of sharing I had raised about
$1,400 (thank you to those teachers
that donated) as well as fabric donations! It was amazing to see my
community come together and the
generosity of others take control.
To make the pillowcases I
organized a Sew-A-Thon, collecting donations for local businesses to
make the day a success. The whole
day was a non-stop assembly line
of fun and personalized pillowcases
being made. At the end of the day
we had 190 pillowcases made, an
outstanding amount of work for just
one day. Since then we have continued sewing and have amassed more
than 250 pillowcases! This foundation has shown me the power that I
possess, even if I am just a teenager.
This past year has made me realize
things about myself that I never
have before and I've learned lessons
that I'll carry with me for a lifetime.
I thank the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation for this amazing opportunity
and I encourage my fellow classmates to go out and achieve greatness as well. ~ Emily Glynn
June 2016
Dragon Tales
Help Levittown
Create Hope ...
Page 7
Help Levittown Cut For A Cause… Will You
Nextthe
year,Cut?
come join the
Make
Levittown community in making
Join us in June 2017 as the Levittown community attempts to come together to donate
a change
andschool
donate
your hair you?
to
hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths!
Next year, your
is participating...will
Beautiful Lengths is a partnership between
Pantene®Lengths.
and the American Cancer Society®,
Beautiful
the largest nonprofit health organization committed to saving lives from every cancer and
Beautiful
is role
a partnership
improving the quality of life for
people facing Lengths
the disease. The
of Pantene is to help women grow long, strong*, beautiful
hair and provide
the funds toand
turn this
into free, real-hair
between
Pantene®
thehairAmeriwigs for women with cancer. So far, Pantene has donated more than 24,000 free real-hair wigs
can
to the American Cancer Society’s
wig Cancer
banks, whichSociety®.
distribute wigs Pantene’s
to cancer patients across
the country.
goal is to help women grow long,
Below is the most important information you need to know!
strong, beautiful hair and provide
* Donated hair must be a minimum of 8 inches long
* Hair may not
more than 5%to
gray
thebe funding
turn this hair into
* Hair may be colored with vegetable dyes, rinses and semi-permanent dyes
free, real-hair wigs for women with
* Bleached hair will not be accepted.
cancer.
Pantene
hasabout
donated
over
In September, you will receive
additional
information
hair donation.
At that point,
you can complete a permission slip to enable you to participate in creating hope and history in
24,000 free real-hair wigs to
Levittown!
distribute
patients
Last year we had over 500
students andto
staffcancer
donate! We
would likeacross
to surpass that
number next year to help as many people as possible.
Let’s come together as a community to
the
country.
help those in need. Please join us in reaching our goal!
Need more information?
Contact a committee
member in your area/school!
Guidelines:
Tips for Making Your Hair Healthy and Strong
~ Donated hair must be a minimum of 8 inches long.
 Use a conditioner after every wash to help keep hair moisturized and
protected
againstmay
damage.not be more than 5% gray.
~ Hair
School
Contact Person
 Use a spray, leave-in conditioner for extra protection when using heated
Hair may not be colored with vegetableAbbey
dyes,
or hair dye.
Lane rinses,
Susan Graham
hair~appliances.
 Look for new technology in your drying and styling tools to help
min- Gardiners Ave. Christin Tripp
~
Bleached
hair
will
not
be
accepted.
E. Broadway
imize damage.
Avoid excessive teasing of hair, as it can uplift cuticles, making them
fragile and susceptible to breakage.
 Use deep-conditioning treatments once a week, or as often as needed, to
help minimize split ends and keep hair in top condition

Northside
Lee Road
Summit Lane
Jonas E. Salk
Wisdom Lane
Division Ave.
MacArthur
Memorial
Jennifer Nadolny/Susan Cavanaugh
Cheryl Bamberger
Eileen Vogel
Lori McGill
Nara Denson
Mary Beth Chiocco
Melanie Murphy
Laura McCue
Nancy Stine
Any questions? Contact Mrs. Murphy.
“To us, it’s hair. But to
“Towomen
us, it’s hair. Butwith
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Page 8
Dragon Tales
June 2016
Dinner Anyone? Summer Movies
Check out the list of
Forget the meal; Summer Blockbusters
think of the guests!
If you could have dinner with two people from the
past or present, who would it be?
~Kristina Spano
Emily Glynn - Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon
Mrs. Fenley - Mom, Great Grandmother
Ava Catapano - Harry styles, Scott Disick
Nicole Bruckner - Drake, Fergie
Gabby Corona - Ed Sheeran, Ellen DeGeneres
Marcella Cisotto - JK Rowling, Walt Disney
Noah Hackmack - Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart
Kayla Frenger - Frankie Valli, Audrey Hepburn
Kara Haga -Poppy, Luke Bryan
Mrs. Madzy - Grandparents
Kevin Granger - Kendrick Lamar, Jesus
Danielle Mahn - Beyoncé, Albert Einstein
Melissa Rispoli - Justin Bieber, Grandparents
Taylor Moy - Brad Paisley, Great Grandpa
Cameron O’Keefe - Johnny Cash, Albert Einstein
Carmelina Baio - Selena Gomez, Zac Efron
Lauryn O’Keefe - Amy Winehouse, Justin Bieber
Melissa Margaria - Michael Jackson, Kendrick Lamar
Andrea Garthwaite - Grandma, Grandpa
Mario Buffolino - Leonardo DiCaprio, Lauren Cohan
Sean O’Regan - Matt Martin, Kyle Okposo
Marie Alexander - Grandparents
Kerry Chavez - Michael Jackson, Austin Mahone
Sam Carreras - Justin Bieber, Walt Disney
Kayla Benischek - Grandparents
Jimmy Langjahr - Mom, Dad
Laura Lazo - Michael Jackson, Grandpa
Julio Viafara - Jesus, Grandpa
John Cahill - George Washington, Donald Trump
Ally Brasino -Justin Bieber, Shane Dawson
Danielle Hall - Justin Bieber, Grandma
Stephanie Barreto - Justin Bieber, Dave Franco
Timmo Johannson - Vin Diesel, Jeff Seid
Nick Huckstadt - Elon Musk, Nikola Tesla
Brooke Gambino - Donald Trump, Kristina Spano
Aryana Caputo - Jennie Finch, Martin Luther King Jr.
Jamie Alvino - Nanny, Grandpa
James Margaria - Jesus, Babe Ruth
Brianna Guzman - Paul Walker, Princess Diana
DJ Melgar - Jackie Robinson, David Wright
Carly Kiernan - Leonardo Dicaprio, Celine Dion
Drew O’Mara - Grandma, Grandpa
Gabby Sennert - Ransom Riggs, J.K Rowling
Caitlin Harrs - Mac Miller, ASAP Rocky
Kayla Olivieri - Donald Trump, Audrey Hepburn
Michael Stinnet - George S. Patton, Ronald Reagen
Sean Paprocki - Bryce Harper, Marcus Stroman
Aaliyah Durant - Grandma, Grandpa
Erin McCauley - Walt Disney, Ellen DeGeneres
Deanna Pasqueralle - Derek Jeter, Shawn Johnson
Lizzy Myers - Kristina Spano, Liam Hemsworth
Mr. Martino - Mr. Verdi, Mrs. Negron
Mrs. Negron - Genghis Kahn, Derek Jeter
Mr. Verdi - Robin Williams, Dad
Kristina Spano - Grandma & Grandpa Spano
Summer is known for its
barbecues, beach days and of course
its blockbusters and this summer is
gearing up to be one with something
for everyone.
Starting off the summer
season is the sequel to the previously
successful Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles,
only this time it will
have the addition of
the star of the TV
show Arrow, Stephen
Amell as Casey Jones.
Along with the return
of Meghan Fox as
April O’Neil, Beebop
and Rocksteady will
be making their big
screen debut.
If that doesn’t kick start any
desire to head to the nearest theater,
than what about the transformation
of the well-known videogame, World
of Warcraft, to the big screen in the
film Warcraft. With an Avatar feel to
it, this is bound to be a blockbuster.
Pixar’s only release this year
will be the long anticipated Finding
Dory where everybody’s most loved
and most forgetful fish seeks out the
true meaning of family.
Another movie, fans
have been waiting a long time to
see, twenty years to be exact, is
Independence Day: Resurgence
which hits theaters June 24th. To
many fans disappointment, Will
Smith will not be returning for this
alien invasion. Instead fans will get
newcomers Liam Hemsworth, Vivica
A Fox and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Some other old movies being
brought back to life include the
new Ghostbusters
film and Star Trek
Beyond, which will
be celebrating its
50th anniversary.
Steven
Spielberg will be
making his first big
family blockbuster
in a long time with
The BFG, which is
based on the children’s book by the
same name and is expected to be a
big hit with families.
Any fans of the Harry Potter
star, Danielle Radcliffe can look
forward to his return to magic,
though vastly different from the
wizarding one, in Now
You See Me 2 along
with Mark Ruffalo,
Woody Harrelson,
Dave Franco, Morgan
Freeman, Michael
Caine and Jesse
Eisenberg.
For those
who appreciated the
live-action Jungle
Book, July 1st will
see the premiere of
the live-action Tarzan featuring
some big name stars like Samuel L.
Jackson and Margot Robbie. Robbie
will also be in the superhero or
more accurately supervillain movie
coming out in August The Suicide
Squad, also featuring Jared Leto and
Will Smith.
Comedy is strutting its stuff
on the screen in Central Intelligence
with Kevin Hart and Dwayne “The
Rock” Johnson while the next
installment of Ice Age comes to the
screen July 22th with Ice Age 5:
Collision Course.
Horror fans aren’t being left
out completely and can take a look at
The Purge: Election Year on July 1st.
So, remember to reserve
your seats early for some of the
blockbusters. And, don’t forget to
live long and prosper while always
just keep swimming. Cowabunga! ~ Alicia Renda
Sitting Down with
Mr. Maloney
June 2016
Dragon Tales
Page 9
For those who don’t know Mr. Maloney, he’s been teaching health, physical education, and CPR Where was your favorite place to travel?
for sixteen years. He also coaches the Boys’ soccer and bowling teams, and previously was the J.V. The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.
Lacrosse coach for ten years. In a brief sit-down, the Hofstra graduate shared some of his teaching
stories along with some of his personal ambitions. ~ Alyssa Williams & Arianna Anzano
Where is your dream vacation spot?
Bora Bora, Tahiti
What is your favorite aspect of teaching?
The students keep me young, and it gives me an What do you think the greatest challenge
excuse to know bad music.
students face today?
The college acceptance process seems so stressful
What’s your favorite sport to watch?
for students today.
My favorite sport to watch is U.F.C. because
I think these athletes are the best and most What do you want students to remember most
dedicated athletes in the world. This sport is about you or your class?
exciting because anyone can win at any given My students should remember the significance
moment.
of the topics we cover in class and how life can
change in an instant.
What’s your favorite TV show? Why?
I don’t really watch too much T.V. I spend most
of my free time outside.
If you could coach another sport, what sport
would you like to coach?
If I could coach another sport, it would have to be
swimming because I recently started swimming to
train for sprint triathlons and want to know more What’s your favorite song?
about the sport.
“Whoops, There it is!” Just kidding! But I have
many favorite songs, it just depends on my mood.
What was the best moment during this school
year for you as a teacher?
Where is the most recent spot you have
The best moment during this school year was travelled?
when a student asked me for advice with a Over April break, I went Scuba diving in St.
personal issue; after it was resolved, the student Martin.
came back to me to say thanks. Sometimes it’s
nice to just hear a thank you.
If you weren’t a teacher, what occupancy would
you most likely have?
I would 100% be a Police Officer.
What lesson have you learned from your
students?
My students have taught me to appreciate what
I have and don’t obsess over what I don’t have.
What’s the best advice you can offer a student?
My best advice is to experience life. Try everything
once. School develops well rounded individuals,
but you learn most through experiences.
What is your funniest moment as a teacher?
The funniest moment was getting invited to the
senior prom. I laughed because now I have to go
find a suit and tie.
Name one thing about you most people don’t
know?
Something most people don’t know about me
is that I’ve owned nine Volkswagens and seven
motorcycles.
What are 3 of your favorite countries?
USA, USA, and USA
What is your favorite thing to do in your free
time?
My favorite thing to do in my free time is
travelling. I like experiencing new things and
places.
What was your happiest moment?
My happiest moment would probably have to
be reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro. I have
experienced so much in life, but that was one time
that I had counted on so many friends and family
members for support and charitable donations.
Because of the amount of people giving to me
in so many was, I felt the pressure to accomplish
the goal and give back. By reaching the top I was
finally able to take a big sigh of relief and joy.
Speed Round
Favorite Color?
Blue
Favorite Food?
Tacos, because they are the perfect food
Favorite Band?
Pearl Jam
Favorite Sport to coach?
Soccer
Page 10
Dragon Tales
Senior Reflections
With graduation next week, Dragon Tales spoke with some of the seniors about what some of their favorite memories are that they are taking with them as well as things they are going to miss. As much as the seniors
love the weekends and days off, Division Avenue High School will always hold a special place in their hearts.
~ Mahpharah Khan & Brianna Diaz
I am going to miss being with
my best friends Noelle and
Ivian and John Messina. They
are going away and I cherish
every moment I have with
them.
My favorite memory is
when Marz announced that
the seniors won Spirit Night
and all of the grade ran to
the center to celebrate; it
was a sense of unity and just
enjoying the moment.
What I will miss the most
is being a part of the Science
Olympiad, Student Council and
the badminton team! Being part
of these helped me not only grow
but also make friends from other
grades and form everlasting
bonds with my friends. I will
also miss Spirit Week as it was
so much fun where our grade
gets together and put all our
effort in to win. It was such
a great experience from the
Thanksgiving Food Drive, Board
Game Day, to Spirit Week, Spirit
Night, etc.
My favorite memory is
winning Spirit Night this year! It
was such a great moment as all
our hard work and effort came
into use. I›m gonna miss all my friends
that are underclassmen and
seniors that I have become so
close with. The school musicals
really brought me together with
everyone and it has brought me
close with a lot of people.
My favorite memory would
have to be all the school
musicals. It›s the one thing I
did at school, but everyone is
so supportive in the cast and I
love them all to death. Having
West Side Story be the last
school performance for me was
outstanding. Being with my friends
everyday and having the
greatest teachers.
Going to Homecoming every
year.
Hanging out with amazing
friends and playing soccer on
the turf.
Marching Band
Championships.
All the friends I made with both
students and teachers, my swim
team, and my Science Olympiad
team.
It›s so hard to pick one! All the
inside jokes and fun times I›ve
had are my favorite memories.
Seeing my friends and
getting to hang out with them
everyday and the amazing
teachers.
Winning Spirit Night this year
and getting to storm the court
with the whole grade at the
end of the night.
I›m gonna miss all of my
teachers and all the fun events
we participated in Division
such as Spirit Week. My favorite memory would
be getting a first place medal
in a Science Olympiad event.
June 2016
Class
President’s
Final
Salute
to the
Seniors
The school year is coming to
an end and summer is just about to
begin. Every one of us is certainly
viewing this change of season in
a different way; some of us see
summer as an escape, some of us see
it as an opportunity to have fun and
others see it as an opportunity to tan.
Many seniors have a far more serious
approach to this summer. To us it
marks the end of probably the most
important era in our lives to date and
the beginning of the most important
time in our lives to come.
Speaking on behalf of the
Class, we are extremely grateful and
privileged for all Division Avenue
has given to us throughout our
four years. We would not be in the
position we are today without the
amazing staff of Division and the
culture that they bring to the halls
every day.
As the Class of 2016 bids
DAHS farewell, I leave you with
some advice. Everyone should see
the summer as a beginning. My time
at Division has helped me realize that
every day allows for the opportunity
to build upon what I have learned the
day before and I should never stop
trying to be a better person and live
a better life. Life moves faster than
you think and soon enough the “Cap
and Gown” ceremony will come and
go for all of us.
A lyric from my favorite
band Pearl Jam has helped me learn
a lot: “I know I was born and I know
that I’ll die, the in-between is mine. I
Am Mine.” In other words make the
most of the time that you have, take
ownership of who you are and don’t
take anything for granted.
~ Anthony Anzano
"Carpe, carpe.
Carpe diem. Seize
the day, boys. Make
your lives
extraordinary."
- Dead Poet’s Society
June 2016
Dragon Tales
Horoscopes of June
By Courtney Lemmons
Finish what you have on your plate before you ask for
seconds this month. You have a tendency to bite off
way more than you can chew. You’re more grounded
later on this month.
You’re the only one holding you back this month. If
you can find a way to be your own cheerleader, you
have a real shot at accomplishing your goals. Someone
is checking you out on Thursday and Friday.
Page 11
Around Division
Dragon Cup
Badminton Champs
Sambat Bhandari &
Prabhakar Pandey
Seems too good to be true this month, it probably is.
Ask as many questions as you need to in order to find
out whether an opportunity is legitimate or not.
When good news seems too good to be true this month,
it probably is. Ask as many questions as you need to in
order to find out whether an opportunity is legitimate or
not.
Life is good and you’re feeling confident this month. If
you’ve been putting something off because you’ve been
scared to do it, the beginning of the month is the time
to give it a go.
Dragon Cup Dodgeball Winners
Nora Tracey, Mike Freeman, Jess Pedroza,
Will Torres, Dom Chuisano, Maddie Gillis
The impossible is actually possible this month, but you
have to pay attention to the details. The minute you
take your eyes off the prize, it will be out of reach.
Something you forgot to do in the past comes back
to get you this month. You know what they say about
good intentions. The Moon gives a unique perspective
on the world this month, so put it to good use.
Work hard this month, but also keep in mind that luck
is on your side. If anyone’s going to win a prize at the
beginning of the week, it’s probably you! You’re a
leader, helper, and all-around go-to person this month.
If there’s one word you need to embrace at the
beginning of the month, it’s “new.” New places, new
people, new things - the world is your playground,
this month is the time to take advantage of new
experiences.
You’re the first one to put your money where your
mouth is this month, but certain risks aren’t guaranteed
to pay off at the beginning of the month.
Playing with someone’s emotions is a dangerous game
this month. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say
anything at all. Someone is holding you back on this
month.
Doing only what you want to do is overrated at the
beginning of the month. Paying attention to someone
else’s needs between this month and the next will make
you feel really good about yourself.
Important Dates to Remember
June 9th - Senior Prom
June 13th - Lockers must be emptied
June 15 - CD Prom
June 17 - CD Awards Night
June 18th - Graduation 1:00
(Senior arrive by 12:30)
Christina Constant Walk
Students spent May 4th walking around the track to celebrate the life of
Division student Christina Constant. Bubbles were flying in the air to
show support for all loved ones who have passed.
Page 12
Dragon Tales
Mother of Dragons
Leaves the Lair
June 2016
Mrs. Lorelli Retires, But Will Always Carry the Flame
The Mother of the Dragons, Mrs.Lorelli, has recently made a
huge announcement. Mrs.Lorelli proclaimed that she will be retiring at
the end of the 2016 school year. Mrs.Lorelli sat down for an interview
to answer some questions that need answering before she departs from
this wonderful school.
~ Interview conducted by Cameron Scott O’Keefe
Why retire?
Retirement is a very personal topic for everybody. There is a designated
age and amount of years that are required for someone to retire and
I have met all of those. I am looking forward to the next part of my
life where I am still able to enjoy it and still have so many things
that I would like to do. Most importantly, I am about to become a
grandmother this summer and that has been something I have been
waiting for for a very long time. That is really what sealed the case
for my retirement.
What do you consider to be your most memorable moment at
Division Avenue?
It’s really tough for me to single out one specific moment as my
most memorable, even though I know it is a very popular question.
Of all the lovely moments that I have had here, I would say that being
Grand Marshal of the Homecoming Parade my first year was a really
terrific moment and of course, it was a moment that lasted all day
long and it was amazing to say the least. Science Olympiad winning
the Write Flyer event was another amazing moment; I cannot tell
you how exciting that was for me. Winning the Long Island Baseball
Championship was another tremendous moment. I would also have
to say most recently that West Side Story was a real joy.
What is the most difficult part of the job of principal at Division
Avenue?
This is also a very personal question. I think that the most difficult job
of any principal is whatever conflicts come to them. My own personal
conflicts always come from discipline and compassion. I think that
I am first and foremost a mother and I have tremendous compassion
for young people that are in the most tumultuous parts of their lives.
I have a lot of sympathy and a lot of compassion for every student
here, but a school cannot run without rules and without structure. For
me, I’m going to say that the most difficult part of the job is to look
someone in the eye who I know means well, and say this situation
has to be dealt with in a disciplinary matter. For me that’s been hard.
What would you want your legacy to be after your time here is up?
This is a very interesting question because legacy for me is a word that
should really be reserved for a statesman, an inventor, someone that
does monumental things to leave a legacy. I don’t really see myself
that way. I would love to be remembered. I think I would want to be
remembered for recognizing people that don’t always get recognized.
I feel like that is such an important part of life. I never want people
to feel invisible. I hope that people remember that I stood out front
every morning and said good morning and tried to stand out there in
the afternoon to say hello to as many people as I could and recognize
that everybody here is an essential part of the school.
What are your hopes for the future of Division?
Division is a terrific place. It’s got character, it’s got grit and it’s got
tremendous potential. I have always believed, and after all I have
worked on both sides of town, my heart belongs here. The students are
so extraordinary in every way and in everything that they do. I want to
see the amazing students keep up their good nature while the teachers
and administration continue to push them to do the best that they can.
Believe in Legends
Behold the Dragons
June 2016
Dragon Tales
Ask an Alumni
Leaving Division Avnue High School is always harder than students want
to admit, but as Holden Caulfield fought so hard against, everyone must
grow up and take the necessary steps into the adult arena called life. It is
always nice to get some advice from people who have made the journey
already. In this Ask an Alumni edition, Class of 2015 graduates Lizzie
Mercado and Krysten Garcia answer some questions about what it is like
to go away for school.
Lizzie Mercado
College Attending:
SUNY New Paltz
Major
Communication Disorders
a lot more information in such a short
period of time. Because of this, you
must do a lot more studying on your
own rather than information being
repeated to you daily.
What advice would you give to
students considering going away?
If you want to go away to school,
you really have to figure out a couple
things first. Ask yourself if you
could really live on your own and
be mature enough to be responsible
for yourself. You would also need to
figure out what school would be the
right fit for you, both academically
and socially. Many schools are
known for specific types of people
and how those people interact with
each other. These are both important
because going away to college is a
What was the most surprising
privilege, but you must be able to
thing about being away?
handle a lot of changes that come
I was surprised by how easy it is to
to you all at once. It may be hard at
be away from home for such long
first, but it will most likely be some
periods of time. During the Fall
of the best years of your life.
semester, I was able to go home
almost every month, but now in
the Spring semester there is a much
longer period of time being away and
I find that although I do miss home,
it’s not that hard to be away.
What were you most nervous
about going away to school?
I was most nervous about finding a
whole new friend group and having
to live on my own. In college, you
need to be open to new things and
new people while learning how to
take care of yourself without your
parents. I think these two aspects of
the college transition are the most
difficult to freshman because it’s
hard to juggle the classes with clubs
and also worrying about a social life.
What do you miss most about
being away?
Being away, I miss that I can’t see
my friends and family whenever I
want. Sometimes you need a friend
that just knows you or a family
member to hug. This is definitely
a huge adjustment when it comes
to college. You are not constantly
surrounded by family and your
friends may be able to visit you, but
it’s definitely not the same as seeing
them everyday at school and being
just a five-minute drive away.
What is a typical day like for you?
On the weekdays, I normally go to
my classes which are an hour and
fifteen minutes each. Usually, I only
get to eat two meals a day. After
my classes, you can find me doing
homework in my room, or maybe
watching some Netflix. On the days
that I have off, I like to sleep in and
hang out with my friends or get some
homework done. Occasionally, I get
to go into town and get dinner or go
shopping with my roommate.
What is the biggest struggle?
The biggest struggle that I found was
the amount of work that you have
to do in order to succeed in college.
College is more academically
challenging due to the fact that it is
Page 13
What do you miss most about
being away?
I miss my family and friends,
College Attending:
including my dog, and not being
Johns Hopkins University
able to see them all the time. I always
Major
ate dinner with my family and I was
Behavioral Biology
used to seeing my friends every day,
so it’s hard now to not have that.
What were you most nervous Though I still text/call them often,
about going away to school?
I miss having them in my lives in
I was most nervous about not finding the same way as they were before
my place at the school, whether college.
it be academically, socially or in
extracurricular activities. However, I What is a typical day like for you?
took advantage of every opportunity I don’t really have a typical day
my school had to offer and as a because besides my classes, I don’t
result, I made a lot of friends quickly have a regular schedule. I have class
and I was able to find a good balance from 10 to 1 Monday, Wednesday
between studying and being a part of and Friday, a three hour lab on
clubs. I learned that it’s important Wednesday from 1:30 to 4:30 and
to stay open minded to all different class from 9 to 2:45 on Tuesday and
kinds of people and interests as this Thursday (with a break in between).
will lead to a fully satisfying college On Sundays, I have tap dance
experience.
practice and on Tuesdays/Thursdays,
I have soccer practice. In addition,
What was the most surprising I am part of a community service
thing about being away?
fraternity in which I participate
I was most surprised by how easily in a variety of community service
I adjusted to living on my own. activities and attend fellowships
Coming from not knowing how (bonding activities), which differ
to do laundry and relying on my week to week. When I’m not busy
parents for a lot of things, I quickly with extra-curriculars, I spend my
became very independent. I find that time studying, exploring Baltimore,
I enjoy the freedom and that being and occasionally, catching up on
away from home helps me grow as Netflix.
a person.
What is the biggest struggle?
My biggest struggle is finding time
to go out and experience more than
just what the campus has to offer.
Between studying and clubs, it’s very
easy to get absorbed into and stuck
in a schedule. However, I joined
a fraternity this semester which
allows me to get really involved in
Baltimore and participate in new
activities every week. In addition,
my friends and I go off campus
at least once a week and try new
restaurants/watch movies.
Krysten Garcia
What advice would you give to
students considering going away?
I would advise students to not worry
about having everything figured out.
A big part of going away and being
in college is finding out what you’re
really interested in and trying new
things. I came into college thinking I
was going to be a pre-med Cognitive
Science Major and I ended up
switching my major and deciding not
to be pre-med. It’s important to be
open to these kinds of changes and
to always follow what you are most
passionate about.
Once a DRAGON
Always a DRAGON!
Page 14
Dragon Tales
June 2016
High School Students Wanted!
Do you know energetic, dependable and responsible high school students
interested making a difference in the life of a camper with disabilities while
earning community service/volunteer credits?
The REACH program is looking for student volunteers to work with our campers
this summer!
The REACH program is an exciting opportunity for campers with autism
spectrum disorders and other special needs to experience Hofstra Specialty
Camps with typically developing peers. The central responsibility if the REACH
Volunteers Core is to utilize strategies and techniques (learned through training)
to provide a safe and supportive summer camp environment for campers with
special needs.
Eligibility Requirements
 Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age (high school only).
 Volunteers must have an interest in working with campers with disabilities.
 Volunteers must be able to accept supervision and guidance.
 Volunteers must be enthusiastic, possess a sense of humor and have patience.
 Volunteers must be available to attend Camp Orientation.
 Volunteers must be available to commit to the entire summer.
 Camp dates: June 27—August 5, 2016—6 weeks.
 Monday—Friday from 8:15 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
 Additional session: August 8—12, 2016 (optional & upon invitation from Director)
** Transportation may be provided, please call 516-463-7098 for more information**
For more information please contact Julie Duenges, Director of Pupil Services at:
(516) 463-4974 or Reach@hofstra.edu
June 2016
Dragon Tales
WHY “GAY”
ISN’T AN INSULT
Hello, friends, it’s me again. Now once again,
like all my other articles, this is just a completely
opinionated article. I’m just words on a paper. So
before you go saying, “Oh, this author is forcing
an opinion on me,” I’m not. I’m simply discussing
a controversial topic and hoping to influence the
way you think. Whether it works, depends on you.
These days, somehow, the word “gay” has
become synonymous to calling something “lame”
or “stupid.” I’ve never understood the reason why
people use this word
as an insult. I mean,
being gay is nothing
bad, is it? When did
someone’s sexuality
become an insult? It
doesn’t make sense.
I don’t understand
how using gay as an
insult works in any
context. Take this as
an example: “Why
can’t you hang out
today? Dude, stop
being gay.” You mean
anti-social? Lazy?
Dull? Why were
none of those words
suitable instead of
saying gay? This
shows that there are
other words that are
both more politically
correct and accurate
to what you’re
describing, other
than the word “gay.”
The fact people try
to justify this word
by saying, “It’s just a word!” or “I didn’t mean
to hurt anybody,” is not really justifiable at all.
Words can hold a lot more power than one may
think, and the fact people decide to use sexuality
as an insult like “stupid” or “boring” is a punch
packed with that power.
To some, it may be just a word. A word that
Have an opinion about something?
Want to have your voice heard?
Join Newspaper Club and let your
voice be heard.
See Mr. Verdi in Room 129.
doesn’t mean much. That’s not the case for others.
Consider the oppression and pain and suffering
the gay community has had to go through, and
are still going through, for so long. Imagine this:
You’re out at a diner with some friends. One of
your friends says something ridiculous about
someone else, and you reply with, “Really?
Haha, that’s so gay.” Imagine the person in the
booth next to yours is someone who has been
struggling with the fact that they are gay and have
finally settled into their
new lifestyle. Now, this
could be a one out of onehundred chance, but not
a zero percent chance.
Words affect people.
The fact that there are
people associating the
word “gay” with negative
adjectives is kind of like
a slap to the face and
saying, “What you are
is bad and not okay.”
I do not want a world
where young gay people
are growing up and
associating themselves
as something that
people hate. This isn’t
about only restraining
a person’s freedom of
speech anymore. It’s
about assuring that gay
youths grow up in an
environment that accepts
them, even if society
doesn’t mean to sound
harmful.
Sure, you may not be
homophobic; I believe you. But the fact remains
that one slip of the mouth can change lives.
Whenever I hear someone say, “That’s so gay!”
I can’t help but cringe. People tend to forget the
true meaning of gay. Say someone calls a car
gay. A car can’t be gay, only people, because it’s
a sexuality, a way of living and a way of loving.
Love is not a bad thing. It’s not dumb or stupid or
boring or lame. It’s a few steps toward happiness
and the fact that people are trying to take that
significance away from LGBT+ people is only
causing setbacks to that road to happiness. It’s 2016, so I think it’s time we move on
from this stage of using such derogatory terms. ~ Eileen Hyland
PTA
Page 15
REFLECTIONS
NATIONAL ART
CONTEST
Division Avenue PTSA is proud to report
that Carly Kiernan, Natalie Mojica and Alicia
Renda have advanced to the New York State
competition in the 2015 PTA Reflections art
contest in the areas of dance choreography and
literature.
Reflections is a national PTA art
competition that allows students of all ages
and ability levels to explore and present their
creativity in six categories of art. This year’s
theme, “Let Your Imagination Fly,” inspired 37
DAHS students to produce exemplary artwork
in the areas of visual art, dance choreography,
photography and literature. All students who
participated had their artwork exhibited at the
February 1 PTSA meeting, and first, second and
third place winners received awards. First and
second place winners in each category also moved
forward to the Regional level of competition,
where DAHS students Carly, Natalie and Alicia
qualified for the New York State finals. Congratulations to Carly Kiernan and
Natalie Mojica for placing in the Regional level
with Awards of Merit in the Dance Choreography
category.
Next year’s theme will be “What is Your
Story?” and will kick off in the Fall. DAHS PTSA
thanks Mr. Coscia and the DAHS staff for helping
to make this program a success, and encourages
students of all ages and abilities to participate
next year. Phone Dilemma
I hate my phone yet I feel as if I can't
live without it. Constantly, I find myself flipping from app to app in search of human connection, which is anything but. My life has become consumed by the amount of strangers that
electronically "follow" me and whether or not
they "like" my photos and what I have to say. It
seems ludicrous from afar but up-close this way
of living has become normal and expected of my
generation as well as those not too far from my
age group. Scrolling through Instagram I watch
videos of concerts and think nothing of it. It's not
until later on that I realize the stupidity of it all.
We spend an astonishing amount of money on
these tickets and then make the conscious decision of viewing it through a tiny glass screen.
The crowds of fans that were once filled with
meaningful hands and lighters are now polluted
with bright, shining screens and flashes. Living
in the moment has become a thing of the past. I
envy the smartphone free youth of my sister, the
one where life was experienced through senses
rather than a screen. I want to enjoy the outdoors
and not fear that I might have missed a prime
photo-taking opportunity. I want to look around
a subway and see strangers choosing between
staring into oblivion or actually speaking to one
another. I want to rid myself of my diseased mind
and feel good without my seemingly meaningful
piece of technology. I see the stupidity of it all
but I've fallen into the same trap that most of this
unfortunate population has. I want to get rid of
my phone but I know I never will.
~ Emily Glynn
Page 16
Dragon Tales
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June 2016
June 2016
Dragon Tales
Page 17
JV Baseball
Varsity Baseball
Continues Division Proves Its Worth
Division’s sophomores along with 2 freshmen have returned this
2016 season ready for baseball. After a previous less than successful 2015
season with a 3-15 record, the JV team has come together to finish the 2016
season with triumph racking up a 13-7 record.
The JV team was also assisted by freshmen Hunter Traenkle and
Colin Diez. These players proved to be an integral part of the team, playing
major roles at Third base and Centerfield respectively. In the infield, Hunter
made many great plays and showed off his skills with ease. At centerfield,
Colin dominated the outfield with his great range for tracking down flyballs ,
as well as his strong arm. Both players also did an outstanding job pitching,
as Colin Diez threw a no-hitter against South Side.
As for the sophomores, they played throughout
the entire season with a newfound intensity. In the
infield, Joe Migliorino, Jayson Melgar, Dylan Chase,
James Horodecki, Matt Trentacosta, Connor Centonze,
and Thomas Colamartino kept the infield on lockdown,
stopping any ball in their direction. Also contributing
equally was the outfielders: Jason Holt, Matt Longo, Jake
Thomas, Jack Stanley, and Nick Arsenault who all robbed
numerous “dingers” from unsuspecting hitters. Behind
the dish, Bobby Benz & Victor Lemoine blocked every
wild pitch and prevented many runners from advancing.
The stellar pitching staff including Jake Thomas,
Jayson Melgar, Colin Diez, Dylan Chase, Hunter Traenkle,
Matt Trentacosta, Tom Colamartino, and Matt Longo all threw “cheddar”
along with a commanding knuckle drop control. Up at bat the JV team did
an outstanding job with both their ability to drive the ball, and several bunts
throughout the season.
Coach Zarzycki commented, “These young men came in shaky and
uncertain after last year’s season. Those same gentlemen ended this season
as solid winners.”
The players are very content with the way their season turned out
and cannot wait for the upcoming year on the Varsity Roster.
~ Dylan Chase & Joe Migliorino
“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the
road, long before I dance under those lights.”
~ Muhammad Ali
Coming back from a fantastic Division 2015 baseball season, the
2016 team had almost a completely new roster. With only having a few
returning seniors in Ronmel Ocampo, Sean Cook, Cj Pasqurelli and Nick
Tomaselli, the team took a lot of criticism as to what it could accomplish
this year. These naysayers became the focus of a determined team who used
all of the doubts as motivation during practices and games.
The team’s first opponent of the regular season was New Hyde Park.
The junior based Division team took two of three games from a well-known
tough opponent. These wins turned many heads showing the true skill of
this 2016 team. After the series concluded, the team noticed a new addition
in the locker room. Coach Tuttle had taped a quote above
the door of the locker room stating, “Gain a little more
each day.” What Coach Tuttle meant was every day this
team stepped on the field it has to work to gain a little
more respect. Throughout the season the team did just
that, ending with a 16-2 record and becoming Conference
Champs.
The team came into the playoffs as the two
seed, starting their playoff run with Garden City. With
a nail biting finish Division pulled away with a win by
returning varsity pitcher and first baseman Brandon
O’Brien. Although the team didn’t finish the season with
its ultimate goal completed, the team accomplished a lot
and not only had a great season, but also gained the respect
of many people.
What most people see is the team winning games, but what people
don’t see is the amount of effort and hard work that brought the amount of
success this team achieved on and off the field. Working together for three
months day in and day out, on and off the field not only helped with winning
all of the games, but it also brought all of the players closer together as a
family. The team chemistry was outstanding; if a player messed up or made
a mistake, there was always someone there to pick him up.
The returning players of the 2017 season aren’t done yet and cannot
wait for the season to start next year to show everyone how good this team
really is. But, for the seniors, the journey is over and the team will miss
playing by your side day in and day out. Ronmel Ocampo, Sean Cook,
Danny Gordon, Cj Pasqueralli, and Nick Tomaselli all showed what great
athletes and leaders are. ~ Jordan Volpe & George Hafner
Track
Attack
Page 18
This season, the track team was a little different than the recent
years. The team was led by head coach Maini and assisted by assistant
coach O’Rourke.
Practices were different but enjoyable. The workouts consisted of
stretching, a mile warm up, and then sometimes splitting into our respected
events. When the teams did not split, they sometimes did workouts that
were a bit tiring, but helpful.
This season had many great runners who have made it to Counties,
those including: Sarah Mack, the girls 4x8 team, Kayla Shapiro, Pat Carew,
Jake McAleer, and Timmo Johansson. Sophomore Amy Rzemieniewski
also made it to states for the 400 hurdles and the track team is proud of her
great achievement.
This season, it is sad to be losing many seniors that the team was quite
close to. The team would like to send fond farewells to the following: Noelle
Whitney, Ivian Vasquez, Jason Colato, Kelly Lennon, Timmo Johansson,
Kayla Shapiro, Brandon Soedarmasto, and Hector Figoroa. ~ Subin Heo
Division
Tennis
This year the boys Tennis
team unexpectedly won 10 out of
14 matches. The season
was rough do to the
weather, but the guys
stuck together and
pulled off a winning
season. Rain or sun
the boys practiced
persistently so they
could be victorious in
the end.
New rookies
joined the team this
year and played a key role in doubles
play. Led by Co- Captains Anthony
Richard and Nicholas Cody, the
Dragon
Softball
Dragon Tales
team really found its groove and
played amazing tennis throughout
the season. The
excitement all year
long and a victory
in the last match of
the season secured 3rd
place in the counties
for Division Tennis.
When Coach
Kilmnick was asked
how the season went
he said, “The season
went well, the boys
kept their heads in the game and
drove us to victory, I look forward to
next year’s team.” ~ Nicholas Cody
In the beginning, the Girls
Varsity Softball Team started their
season winning every non-league
game but one. Although some of the
victories did not make it to the league
games, the girls continuously fought
and tried their best to always play a
close competitive game.
Junior Aryana Caputo and
seniors Justine Jean and Alexis Haga
led the girls to work hard each game
and practice. With this, the girls were
defensively strong. Jean pitched her
heart out game after game and had a
high count of strikeouts. Catcher and
freshmen Hailey Giles and junior
Meagan Schulman
were aggressive
behind the plate
with strong arms
throwing out base
runners on stolen
bases. Outfielders
Zoe Kelly in
center and Caputo
in right tracked
down every
ball hit to them
while Alexis
Haga, Kayla
Benischeck,
Gabby Corona, and Christina
Acquaotta charged each ball in the
infield making every play possible.
The girls were also able to
speak with their bats. Freshmen,
Daniella Roselli never disappointed
her team. She always came in
clutch with a handy
homerun/grand
slam in close
games; she had 5
for the season and
one in the playoffs.
Justin Jean and
Kara Haga also
battled well at
the plate adding
to the team’s RBI
total. Base runners
Danielle Poje and
Kristina Spano ran
as fast as they could around the
bases to score any chance they had.
Caputo and Kalyn Sotomayor laid
down the perfect bunts and zoomed
right to first, helping to move the
base runners along.
Senior Justin Jean stated,
“Playing four years on varsity was
such a pleasure, it’s so bittersweet to
end my high school career.” We will
definitely miss the seniors leaving
this year. We wish the best of luck
to all of you. Looking ahead, junior
and Captain Aryana Caputo warns
the returning players to, “Get ready
for a great season next year!”
June 2016
Win or lose, the JV Softball
team definitely had a memorable
season. The girls gave their all each
game and practice, all while holding
onto the real reason this game is
played, for fun. Brianna Guzman
and Gina McGough led the team
and never let the girls get down
on themselves. They were always
uplifting the team in some way.
Pitcher, McGough had such
control over the ball and moved
it right over the plate each throw
to catcher Olivia
M o l o n e y, w h o
constantly was
hustling around
the plate. Melanie
Vespa also did a
great job getting
the ball over
the plate when
she was needed.
D e f e n s i v e l y,
Jenna Horan,
McGough, and
Vespa were always
there to scoop up the ball in any
shape and form. Camille Martinez
and Brooke Gambino shared the
spotlight at third and Elena Burwell
and Horan caught everything in sight
on first. Outfielders, Guzman, Alyssa
Philips, Sam Volpe, and Aaliyah
Durant made some awesome catches
and tried their best
to not let a ball go
past them.
The Girls
did have some
awesome hits as
well. McGough hit
the first Homerun
of the season off of
the first pitch she
saw way back in
the season opener
against New Hyde
Park. Both Gambino and Guzman
hit triples with Burwell adding a slew
of doubles to the lineup. Horan was
always able to put down the perfect
bunt when needed. With some
clutch hitting, especially in the game
against Seaford, the girls always
knew they were in every game.
Coach Verdi commented, “This was
a fun season. We played some close
games against some tough teams. I
will always be in awe of how much
respect and honor the girls feel being
a Division Dragon and I am honored
to be their coach.”
~Kayla Benischek & Kristina Spano
June 2016
Dragon Tales
Page 19
Blue Dragons Boys Lacrosse A Young Girls Lacrosse Team
Builds Toward the Future
Seasons Come to a Close
The Division Avenue Boys
Lacrosse season ended on May 12th,
after a tough battle with the players
from Friend’s Academy. The JV and
Varsity teams undoubtedly put in
hard work throughout the season, but
unfortunately both came up short.
Varsity was able to end the season
with an overall record of 5-10, with
a conference record of 2-5.
The Blue Dragons Varsity
Boys Lacrosse team put in long
hours of practice, working hard to
win as many games as possible this
past season. The Dragons, led by
Coach Nolan and Coach O’Daly,
achieved their first “W” of the season
against Island Trees, providing a
thrilling away game that ended with
a score of 13-4 in favor of Big Blue.
Another close game took place at
Plainview JFK High School, where
the Dragons overcame the Eagles
15-12. Their final win came against
West Hempstead, where the Dragons
trumped their opponents 14-3.
Unfortunately, the team was not able
to pull off a final victory against the
Quakers of Friend’s Academy, where
the guys fell to the Quakers by a
score of 5-10.
The Junior Varsity Lacrosse
team here at Division had a similar
fate. With wins against teams such as
Roslyn and Roosevelt, the JV squad
saw some promising improvement
as the season progressed. Under
the leadership of Coach Davis
and Coach Phillips, the JV boys
witnessed a huge growth in skill and
performance over the season. This
spark was ignited by team players
like Kenny Riley, Tommy Heslin,
and James Gallego. Also, Kyle
Bruckner moved from long-pole to
goaltender in order to keep the team
in the mix. This team shows potential
for the future of Division Avenue
Boys Lacrosse, especially if they
keep working hard.
As the season ends for the
lacrosse here at Division, the players
know they have to keep working
hard to improve their results for next
year. With determination and a little
elbow grease, the Dragon’s lacrosse
program can go far. Good work boys,
keep it up! ~ Phil Downes
Badminton on the Rise
Where to begin? The Varsity
Badminton Girls team at DAHS has
clearly made a statement. Kicking
off this season, the girls put all their
effort into making this team one
never to forget. With their great
dedication, they truly have made this
year worthwhile.
The girls ended the season
with 6 wins and 4 loses in all
conference and 6 wins and 6 loses
overall. As the years roll by more and
more talented Division students are
joining this spectacular team.
A major accomplishment
of the team this season was 5 girls
making All Conference. Division
is very proud of how far these girls
have come. Proud Coach Larkin
commented, “This has been our best
season of all time. We continued to
grow and had a lot of fun. We all
thank our seniors for such a great
season.”
It is clear badminton has
found a home at Division and next
year will be just as exciting. Go
Dragons!
~ Vicky Marinakos
The Division girls lacrosse
team had a season full of ups and
downs. The girls faced tough
losses, fantastic wins and incredible
comebacks.
Some of the players who came
up to varsity were not expecting the
amount of hard work and dedication
that would have to be put in to have
a great season, but at the end of the
season every player improved and
grew as an individual.
With impeccable coaching
from Mr. Donnellan and Ms.
Boneillo, the girls became stronger
as a whole. Senior captain Elena
Votta had an amazing season and
with the help of fellow Captains
Danielle Hall, Jamie Alvino, and
Sam Carreras, they led the team to
many victories. Coach Donnellan
said, “Despite only having one
senior on the roster, we made some
tremendous strides this year. We
competed hard in every game we
played and really grew as a team,
ending the season winning 4 of
our last 6 games. We finished tied
for fifth in the conference with a
winning record of 8-7. Jamie Alvino
solidified herself as one of the top
players in the county finishing the
regular season 3rd in points for the
county, and we are ready to come
back next year with the goal of
returning to the playoffs and making
a run for the county championship.”
The girls finished the season
with a record of 8-7. Throughout the
season the girls truly became more
than a lacrosse team, but a family.
The girls are prepared to have an
even better season next year. Best
of luck to the Lady Dragons on the
next season. ~ Kelsey Skillman
Page 20
Dragon Tales
June 2016
One Last Look and a Step Ahead
A Letter to an Underclassman
Dear Underclassman,
It is often said that time flies when you are having fun and the four years spent at high school will go by faster than
you think. Therefore, it is advised that you make the most of them. These four exhilarating years begin when you first step
foot into Division Avenue as a naïve freshman who is rather oblivious to the world of opportunity that lays ahead. Yet, they
quickly conclude as you walk across the stage at graduation, ready to take on the real world. Though, it is safe to say that
one’s limited time at Division is filled with great joy as each and every year is jam-packed with success stories. This year, in particular, was full of stellar achievements. Not only did the senior class prove they are a force to be
reckoned with by pulling off a spirit night victory in one of the biggest nail biters off all time, but they have also flaunted
their academic talents by receiving an array of awards and recognition as well. To name just a few:
• Six DAHS seniors were pronounced National Merit Commended Students. Guidance chairperson, Mark Curtis,
proudly commented, “These six seniors, Jessica Vasseghi, Arnav Sharma, Joseph Dipaolo, Michael Mahoney,
Anna Yoo and Libbie Sudweeks demonstrate academic excellence in all disciplines and model a most admirable
commitment to the effort and dedication that drives success.”
• 35 high achieving seniors attended the Blue and Silver Luncheon in honor of years of hard work
• Haniya Abbasi interned at Memorial Sloan Kettering and shared her experience by saying, “It was just so inspiring seeing all of these people to be passionate and have one main common goal: to help fight and cure cancer.
Every little contribution in the field made a difference, and knowing that the results that I have gathered may
one day progress into something bigger is so gratifying.”
• Bobby Evans was named a Siemens Semifinalist after attending a summer research program at Stony Brook
University.
• John Genzale performed with the All-National Mixed Choir of 2015 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
• Many senior athletes are continuing their sports careers by committing to play at the colleges such as Hofstra,
Hartford, Alabama State, and Concordia.
Yet, you don’t have to be a senior to get in on all the action. The highlight reel of 2015/16 would be sure to include some
of Division’s greatest moments. To name a mere couple, the physical education department’s first flag football turkey bowl
tournament ended up being a huge success and fun for everyone; Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach, Mr. Kissane, celebrated
his 300th win this season; the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team along with the Varsity Baseball team were conference champions;
the Science Olympiad team earned their spot at states; Mr. Marzigliano was nominated Teacher of the Year by the National
Honor Society as many were inducted; and Division’s very own talented show-people put on an outstanding performance
of West Side Story. As this is only a handful of the events that contributed to one fun-filled year, it is clear that there are so
many opportunities for students and faculty to thrive at Division. Do you have what it takes?
On another note, as a senior, it is crazy to think how fast these four years have gone by. Of course, there were stand
out moments like winning spirit night, attending homecomings, and getting to spend each and every day with your friends.
Yet, there are so many little things about Division that one will surely never forget. Like knowing when the culinary class is
baking cookies because the English hallway is filled with sweet scents, or having the privilege of being located in such close
proximity to “the Cow” where you can order your egg sandwich and half and half. As seniors are taking a leap ahead and
embarking on the journey to their future, little reflections on the good times we have shared frequently pop up. Yet, I’d like
to say to the underclassmen that it is now up to YOU to leave your mark on this school. One must be determined, motivated,
and willing to challenge themselves by taking on a full plate in order to do so. Whether you are an intellect, an athlete, a
musician, or an artist, my advice to you is to always aim high in all that you do and strive for success. Cherish every moment
you have at Division Avenue and produce an enriching high school experience, for yourself, to reflect on. Wherever you go,
always take pride and remember your Blue Dragon roots.
Sincerely,
A Sentimental Senior
-Jessica Vespa