November 2015 - Milford Public Schools

The Mane Street Mirror
November 2015
Joseph A. Foran High School
Volume 3 Issue 2
BEAST Club is Back:
Stronger than Ever Before
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Phelan
Powder Puff Team
Prepares to Win
Shea Phelan
Staff Writer
Do you know what
time of year it is? It’s powder
puff time! For those of you who
aren’t familiar with the topic,
powder puff is flag football
empowered by the girls of Foran. Unlike American football,
powder puff does not include
tackling and the rules are a lot
stricter due to the lady lions not
having any helmets or equipment on.
Last season in 2014,
the girls lost to Law with a
score of 13-0. The team was led
by Mr. Troy, a former Spanish
teacher at Foran High. The girls
are now looking for revenge
on our cross town rival when
facing them this November.
With a new season comes a
new attitude, and a new Head
Coach. This year the Lady
Lions will be led by Coach
Phelan along with his assistants
Coach Kemp, Coach Raccio
and Coach Carlson.
Phelan, who has been
a part of the Foran football
coaching staff for six years, is
looking forward to avenge last
year’s loss. He says, “I feel the
returning players that we will
have this year will be a very
strong group of young women.”
He adds, “And anytime you lose
a hard working class of seniors,
like we did, it is always difficult
to replace them.”
A powder puff practice is very similar looking to
a regular football practice. The
girls practice a different variety
of drills and they also practice
their conditioning daily. A week
before the big game, the senior
boys of the varsity football team
come down to the field and help
the girls with their fundamentals. They finish the practice by
having a two hand touch game
with the boys.
Lindsey Carlson, a
returning senior on the team, is
pumped for the game. Carlson
says, “I am so excited! This
season is going to be very exciting with all of the additions
to the team,” She adds, “I feel
that it is our year to protect this
house, and our team can take
our trophy back!” Carlson is
very prepared for the big game
and says that it is a blast to be
a part of powder puff at Foran.
The preparation for
the big game is done in a short
three weeks, but a lot a hard
work is put in from both the
senior and junior girls. The
“season” starts November 2,
and the big game will be at
Foran on November 24.
This year’s players include
many juniors and many returning and new seniors as well.
Hannah Pouliot, a junior at
Foran, is looking forward to a
great game. When asked about
her contribution to the team, she
says, “Since I run cross country
and play lacrosse, definitely
the idea of speed will help me
because I’m a midfielder for
lacrosse. The running part will
definitely come into play for
powder puff.”
Pouliot adds that the
junior class will add an aggressive, strong and fast component
to the team.
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Juliana Tuozzola
Staff Writer
BEAST club is back
and more eager and determined
than ever! Ready to tackle bullying full force, Presidents Kyle
Cohen, Hannah Pouliot, and
Jules Tuozzola are working
to organize training events and
even get a guest speaker to come
in to speak about the effects of
bullying. BEAST held their first
meeting on October 5, making
all club members aware that
commitment and devotion are
necessary in order to withhold a
spot in this club. Each member
must exceed in creating a positive atmosphere not only here at
Foran, but in every life situation.
BEAST, or bullying elimination
alliance between students and
teachers, advocates for treating everyone equally. Unkind
remarks and actions are not
tolerated. The goal is to create
a welcoming atmosphere here
at Foran, where no student is
discriminated against or treated
poorly by peers. BEAST club is not
just a club that works to prevent
bullying, but it is also a club
that promotes generosity and
compassion. This club also imposes acting in situations where
unkind actions are being pursued.
BEAST is a bullying prevention
club, however, we are also here
as a support group for students
who have been victimized by
bullying. It is important that we
enforce the message that any
students who have been bullied or
mistreated, or even feel that they
are in need support or guidance,
can turn to the club. Members
of the club are more than will-
ing to talk to and befriend any
student in need of moral support.
Co-President Cohen says,
“BEAST club has died out here
at Foran last year, but Hannah,
Jules, and I decided to bring
it back and revamp it.” Cohen
also says, “Our goal is to create
an atmosphere at Foran that is
welcoming, compassionate, and
nice. We want to completely
abolish the possibility of anyone
feeling out casted or feeling as if
they are less than others. We are
planning to train ourselves and
members of the club on how to
eliminate bullying and step into
negative situations. It is important for all students to feel safe
and respected by their peers.”
This club is organized
and enthusiastic about working
towards achieving an overall positive atmosphere at our school.
Some exciting upcoming events
occurring soon for the BEAST
club include new tee-shirts, a
guest speaker, possible retreat,
and a pizza party. The presidents
are currently working on getting
someone who has been victimized by bullying to come in and
speak about their experience,
and relay any advice they can
give to students. Cohen says,
“We are working towards getting a guest speaker to come
in and educate students about
the real effects of bullying. Our
goal is to get someone who
will dive into the true effects
of bullying and not the sugarcoated version communicated in
middle school and high school.”
BEAST is also organizing a retreat where we
will interact with other students
upon the topic of bullying. Of
course the event that probably sparked the most attention
would be the pizza party which
BEAST is also thrilled about.
If interested in joining
BEAST, or getting involved
with this club, follow the twitter for information regarding
events, meeting dates, and reminders- @foranbeastclub. Don’t
hesitate to approach Presidents
Pouliot, Cohen, or Tuozzola
with any questions! BEAST is
passionate and prepared to prevent bullying and make every
person feel safe and welcomed.
Photo Class Snaps Away at FHS Campus
continued on page 12
Editorial ....... pages 2-4
Columns .....................pages 5-7
News.....................pages 8-9
Entertainment .........................pages 10-12
Sports ......................pages 15-16
Page 2
THE MIRROR
EDITORIAL
FORAN HS
November 2015
The Mane Street Mirror
Meet the News Crew!
Sports Editor
Reilee Barron
Hannah Buckley
Gavrielle Figueiredo
Emily Harrison
Wyatt Johnson
Joel Kozek
Jess Lavallee
Victor Rosado
Julia Silvestri
Julia Wargo
Madison Whitaker
Katherine Riordan
Junior
Katharine Buckheit
Editor-in-Chief
Front page Editor
Editorial Editor
Mark Duffy
Editorial Editor
Julia Astram
Seniors
News Editor
Jules Tuozzola
Khadija Ashfaq
Sophomores
Columns Editor
Kayleigh Paskiewicz
Entertainment Editor
Shannon Flynn
Eva Knudsen
Shea Phelan
Mrs. Farrell
Advisor
Joseph A. Foran High School Mission Statement
Joseph A. Foran High School is a partnership comprised
of educators, parents, students and the community devoted to helping students strive to become responsible,
educated, and productive citizens who will thrive in a
changing world.
Foran Students Tackle the College Search Process
Katherine Riordan
Editor
College tours are a
great way for prospective students to find out about their future home. During campus visits, a person can find out more
about that college or university
while experiencing its environment and lifestyle first hand.
Selecting which colleges to look at can be stressful, since many of the tour
dates overlap, and location can
be an issue. If you have a busy
schedule or you don’t have the
means of transporatation, many
colleges and universities offer
virtual tours on their websites.
The Foran Guidance
Department offers many visits
from college representatives;
that way you can still somewhat experience the feel of
the college and ask important
questions and receive helpful
handouts. Interested students
can sign up for the college of
their choice on Naviance.com.
Many universities and
colleges also offer tours for
high school sophomores and juniors for those who are looking
for a head start in the process.
When you arrive at
a tour, it would be helpful to
have a list of questions to ask
tour guides, such as how often students present in class
and how frequently they can
meet with faculty members
outside of class. That way,
you and your parents can get
a feel of both the educational quality and the involvement of the college itself.
Don’t be embarrassed
to ask questions or reach out
to faculty members about any
concerns. Remember that this
experience is designed to help
you, and it could impact the
way you perceive a school.
Another tip is to
schedule a tour when a semester is in session, that way you
can observe how the faculty
and students interact and what
campus life is like. Make sure
to set aside time to visit the importing buildings such as the
dorms, the dining hall, and the
department of your intended
major in. Talk to students and
faculty members to find their
opinions of the school or the
major that they are in/teach.
Also, make sure to check
out the vibe of the town or
city the campus is located in
and how safe the location is.
For those seniors
who are applying to a college
this year, it’s extremely helpful to ask the faculty and tour
guides about the application
process and acceptance rates.
The faculty and tour guides
will give you helpful information about what aspect of your
application to focus on and
what test scores are generally
accepted for each program.
Making the effort
to reach out to faculty members can be extremely helpful
because, as you make connections with them, they will
be more willing to assist you
with the application process.
Touring colleges and
deciding which ones you like
the most can be stressful. How-
Representatives from regional colleges and universtities frequently visit the Foran College & Career Center. Photo courtesy
of Foran Guidance twitter account.
ever, don’t forget to relax and
have fun. Enjoy the colleges
that you are experiencing and
take note of their surroundings.
Page 3
THE MIRROR
EDITORIAL
FORAN HS
November 2015
New Burger Joint Makes a “Smash” in Milford Area
Victor Rosado
Staff Writer
Smash Burger is the
new burger joint making a
name for itself here in Connecticut. The franchise has
over 350 stores worldwide,
and the first one in Connecticut happens to be right here
in our own city. The building
is located at 1590 Boston Post
Road, and although it has only
been open for seven weeks, it
is doing amazing always full
of excitement and customers.
From the minute
you walk into the door, you
are greeted with the enchanting smell of an American
style burger. You place your
order and then are seated
with a table stand designating your order number.
The menu contains a variety
of burgers and chicken sand-
wiches; the Avocado Ranch
Black Bean Burger, and the
BBQ, Bacon, and Cheese
Chicken Sandwich are popular entrees, to name a few.
Another stand-out food item
known only to Smash Burger
is the “Smashfries”. These
unique fries are thinly sliced
then fried in olive oil and carefully seasoned to perfection.
I went there personally and
the service was stellar; you
do not have to throw out your
The SmashBurger location in Milford is now open. Photo
courtesy of SmashBurger
Students Shine at Grecian Homecoming
Shannon Flynn
Staff Writer
Students
gathered
on Saturday, October 24 for
Foran’s spirit-filled Homecoming Dance. Homecoming
has welcomed all returning
students and for the first time
truly welcomed new freshman
in a great way, this year with
a ‘Grecian Gardens’ theme.
The cafeteria, courtyard, and
hallways were decorated in
floral arrangements, columns,
white fencing, and fountains.
The cafeteria had been transformed into a new space for
the dance with music, colorful streaming lights, food, and
hundreds of students along
with teachers and administrators.
This year was another success for the Natural
Helpers and their leaders, Mr.
Raucci and Ms. Basher, selling over three hundred tickets
for the dance and their annual
fundraiser. They also helped
set up and organize the decorations to make the Greek
theme come alive. The members also bought baked goods
that completely cover the dessert table in the front of the
room.
Sophomore, Cassie
Bennett, experienced her
second Homecoming on Saturday and agreed that it was
a huge hit, in her words, “It
was a really nice night, there
was a lot of good food like
the pizza they got, and good
music to dance to.” She also
agreed that Homecoming was
a good way to hang out with
friends, and she cannot wait
until next year's dance and
theme. Another sophomore,
Emma Longley felt that the
dance was a good place to
have fun with peers saying, “It
was a good night with great
friends.” Many other students
also enjoyed the event and its
theme after also going to the
‘Red Carpet’ event last October.
In addition to the
decorations, students wore
dresses and hairstyles to mimic those of the famous Greek
goddesses, to follow the
theme and enhance the atmosphere. Flowy white, black,
and red dresses were popular
along with curls and up dos.
The
Homecoming
court was also a big hit for the
10 students running. King and
Queen were seniors, Megan
Gosett and Marcelo Ribiero.
Freshman, Caleb Tendora
ran in the Homecoming Court
along with freshman Amanda
Boyles at their first Homecoming and said, “It was a lot
of fun and I enjoyed spending time with my friends.” He
also made a note to say thank
you adding, “Thank you to
the Natural Helpers who organized the event and made it
great.”
Overall, the night
was a success for everyone including returning students and
newcomers. The event raised
money for the Natural Helper
club and paid for the decorations, food, drinks, and piles
of candy, and all the students
had a lot of fun.
own food or mess, because
they will clean it for you and
serve you unlike other burger
joints and fast food restaurants.
Michael D., a customer at the store, said, “This
is a fast growing chain and I
was glad to see one pop up in
Milford. The service is good,
the restaurant is nicely decorated, and I like the presentation of the food. It makes me
feel like I'm getting an aboveaverage burger, which I am,
and the franchise does a great
job marketing itself. The classic Smashburger tastes great
and the fried pickles are to
die for. The burger is cooked
just right and the seasoning
makes it melt in your mouth.
I had a great experience.”
Many customers love
this new restaurant and expressed an interest in return-
Are We Truly Thankful?
Khadija Ashfaq
Editor
It is almost that time
of year again; many families
across the country will sit at
one big table, with the exception of the kids’ table, and have
a Thanksgiving feast.
At this time, hosts
and guests alike may state
what they are thankful for.
Some may say their family and
friends, while others will be
thankful for the food they have
been blessed with that night.
Others might mention the roof
above their heads, and then
there might be the person who
is glad for good health.
These are common
answers that are recited by
many, but some have come
to realize that we live in a
time where people care more
about whether or not they
have the latest iPhone than the
wellbeing of others. At this
point, people wonder if these
Thanksgiving-goers are truth-
Helping people is more
important in a moral
sense but in the society
most would prioritize
their phone over helping
people.
-Ryan Bartone
ful when they state what they
are thankful for.
Of course, when
Foran students and guests
looked like gods and goddesses at Grecian themed
Homecoming! Photos
courtesy of Gavrielle
Figueiredo, Julia Wargo,
and Reilee Barron.
Check out more Homecoming
pictures on Page 4!
ing in the future. One of the
biggest posters in the dining
area states the Smash Burger
mission statement, which
says, “Every burger at Smash
Burger starts as a fresh, neverfrozen ball of all natural 100%
Certified Angus Beef. When
you order, we SMASH that
fresh ball of beef on a hotbuttered grill to sear the burger
and seal in the juiciness. Next,
we season it to bring out the
natural flavor. The result is
a juicy and delicious burger
you can taste in every bite.”
I don’t know about
you, but to me, that sounds
delicious! The store is a great
place to spend your money
for a tasty and affordable
meal. Furthermore, they will
treat you with respect and
serve you at your seat. “They
do the work so you don’t
have to,” states the manager.
someone is thankful for family
or friends or the meal placed
upon the table, they must be
speaking the truth. See, the
question is not whether or not
they are speaking the truth, but
more so whether or not their
priorities are out of line.
Is it possible that right
after family and friends, there
is someone out there who is
thankful for their phones? In all
honestly there probably is. As
a society, we are so much more
concerned about things that are
tangible, like our clothes and
phone, that we may just forget the real value of the things
we are truly thankful for: the
family that will stand by our
side regardless of what is going on in their lives, the friends
who can be the support system
when things do not seem right,
and just everyday people who
bring joy and happiness to our
lives.
The type of phones we
carry or our designer clothes
we wear are nothing compared
to being blessed with having
good health and good food on
the table, for there are many
families, children and people
who would do anything for a
simple piece of bread, or wait
in a line for hours just for a
simple vaccination.
Society has reached a
point where these ideas do not
seem to be at the forefront of
our minds as our materialistic
nature is brought to life.
Page 4
THE MIRROR
EDITORIAL
FORAN HS
November 2015
Simone Scoops Her Way to Success at Sundae House
Emily Harrison
Staff Writer
As a high school student, needing cash quick is a
constant struggle. However,
having a steady job can solve
that issue. Although time consuming, the experience and
money one earns from a job is
worth the labor. When talking
to junior Nicolette Simone,
she explained her work experience thus far.
“My first few jobs
were babysitting and dog
walking,” said Simone. “My
current part-time job is a server
at Sundae House, where I have
been for the past two years. It’s
actually my family’s business;
I love working there because
the customers are always so
nice, and the tip money is an
added bonus.”
Having a job in high
school has many benefits outside of a weekly paycheck.
Simone said she has met many
great people over the dozens of
shifts she has worked.
“I have made so many
friends from Foran that, if it
weren’t for the Sundae House,
I would never have befriended.
It’s a great environment and
everyone is super nice to each
other,” said Simone.
A job in high school
is not only beneficial to the
student; parents can breathe a
sigh of relief as their children
are no longer in constant need
of money, and it gives students
the opportunity to do more
Students Face Wisdom
Teeth Woes
Madison Whitaker
Staff Writer
Everybody hates going to the dentist. More importantly, everybody hates hearing
from the dentist, “You have
wisdom teeth that have to be
removed as soon as possible.”
I know how you feel
when you hear that. When my
dentist told me six months ago
that I had all four wisdom teeth
growing in, I automatically got
nervous. Luckily, I only had
to get two removed, but just
thinking about it before the day
of the surgery made me cringe.
I kept thinking to myself, “This
is going to hurt. I won’t be able
to eat normal food for a while.
I won’t be able to sleep.”
If you have to get
your wisdom teeth removed,
here are some tips before going into surgery: Drink a lot of
water the day before, that way
you don’t get a headache after
the surgery is over (I didn’t do
that and I now regret it). Make
sure you ask your dentist what
type of food you should get before the surgery so that when
you are hungry, you don’t have
to worry about waiting for a
long time to have your mom
go shopping after the surgery
is over.
Finally, ICE, ICE and
ICE! You have to ice both sides
of your face for 20 minutes on
and 20 minutes off for the first
24 to 48 hours. It is annoying at
first to consistently ice for that
long, but once you start doing it for the first two to three
hours, you’ll get used to it. Another reason why it is good to
constantly ice your face is because it could take the swelling
down.
Senior Victor Rosado, who had all four wisdom
teeth out, said, “The operation
wasn’t bad; it wasn’t painful,
it just bothered me when food
got stuck. I was knocked out
for it and when I got home, I
just slept for the rest of the
day.” Some tips that Victor had
were, “Don’t eat rice because it
gets stuck easily, get good rest,
and don’t do any workouts
because it could cause your
mouth to bleed more.”
When getting your
wisdom teeth removed, you
should expect your dentist to
give you a certain medication
to take every two hours for
the first couple of days. But,
be aware of what you can and
can’t have because some medications can make you feel sick.
People usually get
their wisdom teeth removed
between the ages of 17 and 25.
If you are over 25 and you get
them removed, it might take
longer to recover from the surgery, so make sure you plan to
get them removed before then.
This diagram demonstrates why impacted wisdom teeth often
need to be removed. Photo courtesy of Teeth Removal
out-of-school activities with
friends.
Having a job in high
school gives students a good
sense of independence. Students are given responsibilities
that they are expected to uphold, and are transformed into
more professional individuals.
Dealing with customers and
difficult people are all part of
a normal work experience. By
learning how to handle and
appease different individuals,
students understand how to
act calmly and professionally
in many situations. If teens are
exposed to different types of
individuals while they are still
young, it will be easier to be a
cooperative worker as an adult.
A job is an opportunity that, as proven, provides
more than just one benefit. It
allows students to grow as individuals and professionals,
and it also puts much needed
cash in their pockets. Jobs
teach students to become less
dependent on their parents and,
as a result, they learn how to
save and spend according to
their wants and needs.
Nicolette Simone is just
one example of a student
who sees the many benefits
of a part-time job during
the school year. Photos
courtesy of Emily Harrison and Blogspot.
2015 Foran Homecoming Dance
November 2014
THE MIRROR
COLUMNS
FORAN HS
Page 5
Student Spotlight: Madison Helps Others
Reilee Barron
Staff Writer
Senior Madison Wong, an
active part of the Foran High
School community, has been
chosen to be featured as this
month’s Student Spotlight.
Madison takes part in many
school activities, has maintained proficient grades and a
challenging course schedule
throughout her high school career to this date, and is known
by many.
As Vice President of Key
Club, Wong has crucial organizational and social skills.
Talking about her role in Key
Club, Madison stated, “It is an
amazing club that benefits our
community and Foran students.
Key Club is important to me because ultimately, our goal is to
help people and better the world
we live in. I have had nothing
short of a great experience.”
Key Club is not the only activity that Madison is involved
in. She also competes as part
of the Foran High School Tennis team.
Wong “loves being out on
the court and being stress-free
for a while.”
Being stress-free is something that is very unusual for
high school students, especially
a senior like Madison.
With college planning, current academics, clubs, sports
and time for family and friends,
Madison Wong during class.
Photo courtesy of Katie Buckheit.
Madison admits that she struggles. She offers a word of advice as an experienced student:
“Time management and prioritizing are two very important
parts to a successful academic
career. Have fun, but also stay
focused on your academics, because they are more important
than you probably think. Also,
do not slack, stay organized, try
your best, and do your part in
making Foran a better place.”
Aside from clubs and sports,
the Mirror’s spotlight student
“loves spending time with
friends and family and sleeping
in,” being the exhausted high
school senior that she is.
A very determined student,
Wong has also started planning for her exciting future.
Attending college visits and
fairs, getting her applications
ready, and doing her best work
in school are some of the steps
Wong is taking to achieve her
future goals.
After high school, she plans
to attend a four year university,
and then continue her studies
and become a nurse.
When asked where she sees
herself in 10 years, Wong said,
“My goals are to be happy and
successful in my life. I hope to
be a pediatric nurse, working
with kids every day and hopefully have my own family and
home.”
Wong’s goals, achievements,
and personality are all part of
why she is such a well-rounded
and exceptional person.
What’s Appening?
Mr. Stern in his classroom. Photo courtesy of Ethan Hanna.
Teacher Spotlight
Reilee Barron
Staff Writer
Teacher Spotlight for the
month of November has the
inside scoop on Mr. Stern,
physics teacher.
For those who have had Mr.
Stern as their teacher, nothing
but pleasant experiences have
been noted and shared.
This year is Mr. Stern’s second year working at Foran High
School as a physics teacher, and
he has not taught at any other
schools. He also has not taught
any other subjects.
Senior Madison Wong was
a member of Mr. Stern’s junior
physics class. “Mr. Stern has
been an amazing addition to our
school,” Wong said. “He makes
physics such a good time and
for that, I am positive that many
students are happy to have him
as their teacher.”
Mr. Stern graduated from
Franklin & Marshall College in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with
a major in physics and a minor
in math and then went on to
graduate from the University of
Connecticut School Of Law, in
Hartford, Connecticut where he
graduated with a J.D and the Intellectual Property Certificate.
Stern’s teaching style is one
of the many things that students
love about him. Senior Sabrina
Morgan, who had him her
junior year for physics, said,
“Mr. Stern is one of my favorite
teachers, he always finds real
life examples to show us and
never fails to be creative with
his lessons.”
Although Mr. Stern may appear to be Superman, he does
admit that he might make the
job look easier than it actually is.
“Time management can be
difficult. There is so much to do
(planning, grading, lab preparation, researching new topics
and current developments) and
so little time to do it,” he said.
The job does not start at 7:20
AM and end at 1:58 PM, he
added.
Though Mr. Stern wishes
there was more time to do all
that needs to be done, he really
enjoys his job.
“By far my favorite part is
the students,” Mr. Stern said.
“Not only do they make it all
worthwhile, but they also make
it entertaining and engaging
for me.”
Senior Bobby McGinnis
said, “He is a great man. He
is more than willing to help in
the application of knowledge
outside of the classroom to
within. He has spent a great
sum of time just speaking with
me about my curiosity in law
and college. He has been an
enormous help in looking into
future careers for me.”
Gavrielle
Figueiredo
Staff Writer
Whether walking to a
get together or
walking your dog
alone at night, everyone can say
that they have had
that feeling of insecurity walking
alone in the dark.
Popular among college students, the
personal-safety
app by the name
Photo Courtesy of International Business Times
of “The Companto call the police along with alerting the person
ion App” is making
people feel safer at night knowing someone else watching that the user is not safe.
is virtually walking with them. Yes, this app lets
If the person is currently going to a
another person virtually walk with you by knowing your exact location with the click of a button. university, the university’s safety department will
This simple idea created by five students be alerted as well if the school has signed up to
from the University of Michigan allows the user be a part of the app.
Lexi Ernst, one of the co-founders of
to request a friend or family member to watch
where they are while walking. Each friend or the app, said, “Both men and women from all
family member does not need to have the app, demographics have emailed us saying they’d
and they can send multiple requests to different love to use the app. Lots of parents want to use
the app for their children, and some people want
people, making it even easier to use.
The person watching the user gets a text their elderly parents to use it, too, to make sure
message with a link to a map that shows the GPS they don’t get lost.”
The user also has the option to hit an
location of the user. The friend or family member
will be notified if the user starts running, gets their “I feel nervous” button. This marks on the map
headphones ripped out of their phone, is pushed, where the person feels most unsafe. The option
helps campuses to then see where people feel
or goes off their path.
When this is detected the user can sim- less secure so that those areas can be monitored.
Even if you have a few more years beply push an “OK” button within 15 seconds if
they’re safe. If this isn’t pressed, the user’s phone fore the campus scene, this app is still great for
begins to sound an alarm and will give an option even a night time walk to the diner.
Page 6
THE MIRROR
COLUMNS
FORAN HS
November 2015
Figs Food and Fitness
Gavrielle Figueiredo
Staff Writer
Want some quick fitness tip pick me ups? When
you’re either out at the gym or
home getting some muscle training in, core exercises are always
a must.
The core acts to maintain balance and structure, especially for your back. It’s crucial
that when doing any core exercise, the back stays flat to the
ground. Coming from personal
experience, I’ve strained my
back before, making it difficult
to even stand up just from doing
a simple exercise wrong.
Learning from mistakes, I’d like to pass that tip
along to readers. This same act
of caution and awareness also
applies to the squatting exercise.
When squatting, just like doing
core exercises, there is a specific
point in the body that can be easily affected and hurt if not done
correctly.
Squatting targets the
quad (thigh) and glute (butt)
muscles. When doing these,
either with or without weights,
there is a large amount of weight
that is placed on these muscles.
If done incorrectly, instead of
placing the weight on these
muscles, the weight will be
placed on the knees.
To properly perform
these exercises, begin by stretching the leg muscles so that
nothing important gets pulled.
Starting with your own body
weight, spread each leg apart
until they’re shoulder width
apart. Keeping the toes pointed
slightly outward, making sure
your back stays straight, squat
down as if you’re going to sit in
a chair. Make sure your knees
do not go past your toes! This is
crucial because if the knees go
past over your toes, instead of
the weight being placed on the
leg muscles, it will be placed on
to the knees.
Now, let’s move onto
some cardio shall we? Unless
you run track, usually cardio
isn’t about how far you run, but
instead it’s about the amount of
time that is spent running.
Did you know that at 20 minutes
of cardio the body begins to
burn carbohydrates, then by 30
minutes it begins to burn fat? So,
yes, that 10 minute run is better
than nothing, but if you want a
better result, you should be exercising 20-30 minutes anytime
you run.
It is said that everyone
should be getting 60 minutes of
physical activity a day, but let’s
be realistic, not everybody has
time for that.
Well, Happy Thanksgiving and
see you next month. Stay golden
Foran.
Hyped: What’s Playing in the Box Office
Joel Kozek
Staff Writer
Last month I was told
I had to write about upcoming
releases that the Journalism class
liked, so here is a list of cool new
stuff that the Journalism class is
hyped for, except for Fallout 4,
which I’m hyped for.
Good Dinosaur: After
the success of films the likes of
Monsters University and Cars 2,
Pixar has decided to make a film
about dinosaurs and cavemen
living together.
As with every Pixar film,
its purpose is to tell people that
friendship is important. In this
film, the friendship is between
a cave boy and a long necked
dinosaur, which will result in
some sort of Flintstones situation
where the cave boy uses the neck
and tail as a slide and flips off
somewhere.
Devon Verma, sophomore,
said, “Am I on the record? It’s
Pixar Animation so it might be
good. Am I off the record now?
Why’d you even ask me to say
something about the Good Dinosaur, it’s going to be terrible.”
With support like that from
the Foran community there is no
way a movie like this could fail.
However it doesn’t really matter because as always Pixar just
wants to show off how good they
are at animation. In every movie
they show off something new
and innovative. This time it’s the
landscapes. With Wall-E being
everyone’s favorite Pixar movie
and that being full of landscapes,
it’s clear that Pixar has its priorities straight. The Good Dinosaur
releases on November 25.
Spectre:
The James Bond film series
is time tested with seven differ-
ent actors portraying the famed
007, with everyone’s favorite
being Sean Connery.
Now, Daniel Craig is James
Bond and he is performing
well as the super spy. The newest film, Spectre, is bringing
back old characters like the one
played by Christoph Waltz and
introducing new ones like the
one played by Daniel Craig. The
only info out so far is that it is
bringing back the old evil agency SPECTRE, last seen in the
1971 film Diamonds Are Forever, which also features the
best James Bond. Spectre was
scheduled to be released in the
UK on October 26 and here in
America on November 6.
Fallout 4:
Fallout 4 is the next and
fourth game in the Fallout game
series, signified by the number
4 in the title of the game. The
game is set in a post-apocalyptic
Boston and surrounding New
England, which means that
maybe Milford and Foran could
be in the game. You could show
your Lion Pride while taking out
feral ghouls.
Since it is unlikely that Milford will be in the game and
more likely that the game will
be set around the actual New
England area, you could make
you own Milford since this
game allows the ability to craft
settlements.
Rob Romano, senior, says
“I’m extremely excited, I’ve
been waiting all year. I’m a fan
of the detail free roam worlds.
Fallout 4 releases on the
PS4, Xbox One, and Window
on November 10.
We do birthday parties! We also teach hockey
and skating lessons. House and Travel teams
utilize our pavilion.
Page 7
THE MIRROR
COLUMNS
FORAN HS
November 2015
What Happens When a Dream is Deferred?
Drew Lenz
Alumni Writer
Senior year was stressful…fun, but stressful. The college application process was long and for
some, it was worth the wait. For others like myself,
I was disappointed with where I was and was not
accepted. Now that I am a freshman in college, I
find myself reflecting more and more about what I
could have changed during high school to better my
chances when applying.
My college list consisted of huge schools.
They were relatively competitive, but for the most
part I thought I stood a chance of being accepted. I
should have spent more time researching schools
because there are hundreds in the United States
that quickly got my disapproval because of minor
details such as their size and what they looked like
on Google Images.
My tip: don’t limit yourself to a specific
“college quota.” Be open to smaller schools and to
some, the dreadful Liberal Arts schools. Of the seven
schools I applied to, all seven were in cities such as
New York and Boston. At the time I thought a city
setting was what I wanted. I soon found out that going
to school in a city (Stamford) was not for me. Being
a very business-oriented city without much room
for creativity and individuality, I began to research
other schools not located in bustling cities and once I
visited them (being a freshman in college), I noticed
it was these smaller communities that would foster
my academic and personal goals.
Like many of you will, I applied to UConn
as a “backup.” I did not understand at the time how
competitive college was. I suppose I didn’t have
all of the qualities the admissions counselors were
looking for, and thus when I received my decision
letter I read to my surprise that I would be taking
my smarts and good looks (kidding) to their satellite
campus in Stamford.
I was obviously very disappointed and because the other schools in which I was accepted cost
way too much to comprehend, I applied to two other
schools within my academic reach. After multiple
fights with my parents over how big a of role money
was going to play in this decision, I decided to try
UConn Stamford.
Many of you may be assuming you’ll be
accepted right away to Storrs, but don’t be too quick
to change your Instagram and Twitter biographies to
“UConn Storrs ’20.” Being branched will be a reality
for many of you.
In my current situation, I do not like Stamford. I do not like commuting Monday-Thursday on
the train and staying on campus for a class or two
just to get back on the train home a couple hours
later. Stamford does not have a dining hall or dorms
to hang out in or athletic fields to play on. Not saying
that these were my deciding factors when first applying, however I don’t feel like I am a college student
without these college “essentials.”
Being in this situation has forced me to look
elsewhere for schools that can offer me everything I
need to make me feel like a real college student, thus
I have began the transfer process. Usually transfer
students wait until they have one year of college
instruction under their belt but for me I could not
wait a year.
I have looked at colleges I never would
have imagined if I were still a senior. My second list
of colleges has been schools in small communities
and environments and the majority are Liberal Arts
schools. I realized that these types of smaller schools
are really what will make me feel like the college
student I have always wanted to be. They offer great
educations and opportunities as other colleges and I can
imagine myself very happy at one of these schools.
This article was not written with the intention of
crushing your hopes and dreams of attending your top choice
college (and I really hope it didn’t do that or else I will be
hearing from my old teachers). I wrote this article honestly
and upfront because college can be a harsh reality for some.
While I have been doing rather well in my classes and look
forward to completing my first semester with good grades,
I always think that the Drew attending UConn Stamford
will not be nearly as successful and happy than a Drew
somewhere else.
Ultimately, keep your mind open. Do not limit
yourself to where you will go and what you want from a
school. Choosing the perfect school is a process and it can
be hard, but no matter what obstacle is in your way the end
goal is to be happy wherever you are. And to be honest I
am not the happiest at Stamford, however I keep doing my
best and staying on top of my work so that when and if I do
go somewhere else for college, I will be happy.
News Quiz
Do the News Quiz to have a chance at winning a $25
Visa gift card.
Congratulations to Tyler Tanych for winning the $25
Visa gift card in October. Return to Mrs. Farrell by Nov.
24th in Room 255
1) What are the two things that you shouldn’t do while
you’re at the gym?
2) Who was the Homecoming King?
3) What is the wisdom teeth removal age range?
4) In what film did we last see the evil agency SPECTRE?
5) Who has the highest poll percentage after the first
Democratic Debate?
6) In the movie Scorch Trials, who was taken into a secret rooom to get tested?
7) Where does Nicolette Simone work?
8) What dates did Ariana Grande perform at Mohegan
Sun?
9) Who are the chaperones of Ski Club?
10) Who is the film maker of The Intern?
Page 8
NEWS
THE MIRROR
FORAN HS
November 2015
First Democratic Debate: Who was the Winner?
Victor Rosado
Staff Writer
The question on
many minds is, who won
the first democratic debate?
Well there is no exact answer but here is the
overview of the first debate.
Clinton stood her ground
that night giving the usually
strong answers that she was
expected to give. She said she
“has a plan” for almost every
problem that came up. This
seems to work because she
still is at the top of the polls.
Bernie
Sanders
was Bernie like always.
He came across with great
power but at the same
time grumpy, unfiltered
and righteously socialist.
Martin
O'Malley
was strong in his views
and kept attacking Clinton.
And Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee remained for
the most part marginal to
the conversation going on.
Gun control was
actually one of the biggest
disagreements that occurred.
Bernie Sanders, the rural
Vermont senator, and Clinton
had a heated conversation
The members of the democratic debate lined up. Photo courtesy of www.politifact.com
about guns. Clinton actually
attacked Bernie, stating that
he was “too soft on gun control”. An alliance did form
though between Sanders, the
most liberal candidate on
stage, and Webb, the most
conservative. The two men
both have strong ties to rural areas, and they both have
strong ties to white working-
class voters, and strained
relations with minorities.
One of the most
amusing moments that occurred during the debate was
when Lincoln Chafee defended his vote to repeal the
Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 by
protesting that it was his first
vote in the Senate, and he’d
just taken his father’s seat.
Then there was the
moment when Bernie said to
Hillary, “I think the American people are sick and tired
of hearing about your damn
emails.” Instead of jumping on her for her emails, he
defended her. Was that a bad
move on him? Not exposing
one of her biggest weaknesses.
Overall, the Demo-
cratic candidates do not have
the same disputes and differences that the Republican
candidates have, nor are they
as exciting as the Republican debates, (but how could
it be without Donald?) but
they had great points being made. The candidates
all stood relatively the same
in their views. They want to
raise taxes on the wealthy,
expand the social-safety net
(social security), regulate
guns, reduce mass incarceration, and, for the most part,
avoid foreign entanglements.
They all want to fight
climate change and expand
access to higher education.
But the most prominent difference is the way
in which those reforms will
happen. All of that leaves
the democratic arena much
as it was before the debate
began: Clinton is still the
clear frontrunner and most
polished candidate in the
field. Sanders has impressive
rally power, but it’s still not
able to overcome Clinton.
O’Malley is treading water behind them. And Webb
and Chafee are not going to
be president anytime soon.
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November 2015
THE MIRROR
NEWS
FORAN HS
Page 9
Poetry Out Loud
Hannah Buckley
Staff Writer
Ms. Gagne, one of
Foran’s newest additions to
the English Department, heard
about the competition: “Poetry Out Loud” last year from
a colleague of hers. She participated and loved it. She’s
looking to attract “any student
who loves poetry or the written
word and students who want
to work on public speaking”.
Poetry Out Loud is a
national competition where students memorize a famous poem
and then have to recite it to an
audience. The primary level of
this competition is done in individual schools. Once a champion from each school is chosen,
they’re invited to participate
in the semi-finals in February.
This year the Nationals will take place on May 2-4 at
George Washington University
in Washington DC. Last year’s
Connecticut State winner was
Owen Elphick, a junior at E.O.
Smith High School in Storrs.
Fear and hatred of po-
Photo courtesy of http://www.poetryoutloud.org/
etry seem to be an epidemic that
is being spread rapidly around
Foran. Students, like senior
Sarah Moon find poetry confusing. “It says one thing but
it means another,” says Moon.
On the other hand
some people cling to an appreciation for poetry. Senior Michelle Hovey says that she likes
poetry because “it gives the reader a different kind of feel than
other, more rigid, literature”.
Lindsay Broderick,
senior, says “I love poetry because of the symbolism behind
every poem.
There is still
a little hope for those who enjoy
the art of poetry: those who love
poetry or need work on their
public speaking skills may want
to check out Poetry Out Loud.
Some
feel
that
it is important to preserve
the art of poetry, considering its endangered status.
“We need to keep poetry around because it allows people to express their thoughts and
feelings in an artistic way. Poetry
doesn’t have any structure either
so anyone could write it well,”
says junior, Angelo Simonelli.
Helene From Young Parent Program
Hannah Buckley
Staff Writer
The goal of the Young
Parent Program of Milford is
to help teens make smart, appropriate decisions on issues
of adolescent and parenting
while helping them to remain
independent.
The program
also supports youth up to 22
years of age in need of prenatal care, individual support,
and community resource referral, according to their website. Their services are free.
The organization is
divided into two sides. Amanda helps with young parents in
need of guidance. She is primarily located at the Academy
but also makes home visits.
Helene works with
the other aspect of the program,
prevention. “I wasn’t really
looking for it. It came to me,”
Helene says when asked about
why she chose to be a part of
the program. Her friend used
to be the director of the Young
Parent Program. When she
stepped down from that posi-
tion, she gave the new director
Helene’s name. The new director, Karen Schur, contacted
her and gave her the position.
Helene is trained in
family therapy, giving her a
good insight into many problems faced by teens today.
She comes to Foran Thursday mornings from about 7:30
to 10:30. She also works at
Law at least one day a week.
Helene is available to talk
to students about relationships and reproductive health.
All meetings with
her are confidential. It’s a safe
place to talk about relationships, sexual safety, and other
things. Students are welcome
to come alone or together.
Helene has even done
couples counseling before
for teens in relationships. Her
schedule is very flexible and she
is happy to work with students
and their schedules. Everyone
is welcome to meet with Helene. They can go to the nurses’
office the day before and schedule an appointment or simply
show up that day and ask for a
Michael P. Lynch
Attorney -at- Law
(203) 878- 4669
Lynch, Trembicki
(203 876-0644 Fax
& Boynton
mlynch@ltmblaw.com
63 Cherry Street
Milford, CT 06460
Helene in her office. Photo courtesy of Katherine Riordan
meeting. The program is voluntary and students are welcome
to come whenever they want. If
the meeting is urgent, the nurses will let Helene know that.
The program is an
excellent way to learn more
information
about
sexual
safety and problem solving.
Helene is available to talk to
everyone and eager to help
students with their problems.
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Svogun.
Foran Holds Annual
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Khadija Ashfaq
Editor
The Thanksgiving
Food Drive, which is hosted
by Student Government for
the entire student population
at Foran High School, is one
tradition that Foran has recognized for many years now.
For the past two years, Mrs.
Svogun has been the one
to take on the tradition and
hopefully take it forward for
many more years to come.
The Thanksgiving
Food Drive runs from October 29th through November
19th. Mrs. Svogun gave a
quick overview of the whole
event. She said, “Each holiday season, Student Government hosts a Thanksgiving Food Drive for less
fortunate families in Milford. We ask each advisory
at Foran to bring in canned,
non-perishable goods such
as but not limited to: corn,
carrots, stuffing, peas, cranberry, gravy, green beans,
squash, mashed potato boxes, croutons, pie, and dessert mix. Last year, we were
able to provide baskets for
over 30 families by reaching our goal of 1,500 items.”
Being able to reach
the goal and provide baskets
for over 30 families is indeed
an amazing thing. The Thanksgiving Food Drive is a great
opportunity for our students,
teachers, and staff to give back
to the Milford community in a
positive and meaningful way.
Kayleigh Paskiewicz,
a senior, said, “I love doing the
food drive because it allows
us to help out the Foran community and Milford community. It's a way to give back and
lend our support to people who
need it. The food drive is very
rewarding because you know
that you're making an impact
on someone's life and that all
the hard work will pay off!”
All of the food from
the food drive goes to the Department of Human Services'
Thanks-For-Giving Food Basket Program for local families
in Milford, CT. This year the
goal is to donate more than
1,500 cans to the Thanks-ForGiving Food Basket Program.
Mrs. Svogun said, “This year
we will look to match our 1,500
item total and extend the number of community baskets we
make as we had leftover items
at the conclusion of the event.”
Every year the food
drive is a huge success, therefore there is no doubt in
the minds of many that this
year will be no different.
ENTERTAINMENT FORAN HS
We’re off to See the Play
November’s New Releases
November 2015
THE MIRROR
The Wizard of Oz Comes to Foran
Photo courtesy of Emily Harrison
Emily Harrison
Staff Writer
The Foran Drama
Club is preparing this year’s
show, The Wizard of Oz, and
everyone is excited about
what’s to come. There are
so many hardworking students and staff that make these
shows the best that they can be.
The main director,
Ms. Theresa Voss, is one of
the main reasons the show
always goes off with a bang.
Scheduling auditions, running
rehearsals, making costume
arrangements, and conducting
the pit of musicians are only
a few things that she does to
contribute. The Wizard of Oz
is Voss’s seventh show here
at Foran. She has been directing plays 19 years overall.
“My favorite play
we’ve done so far is Once
Upon A Mattress. The play is
all about breaking stereotypes
which is near and dear to my
heart, and the characters are
absolutely hilarious,” said Voss.
Voss also voices her
reasoning for loving her position as a musical theater director.
“Musical theater allows students to express
themselves through the characters. As a director, I love
watching students find and
show the talent all of them
have through the characters.”
Throughout her directing career, Voss says that
she forms strong connections
with students every single year.
“I learn more about
each show as the years go on
through kids portraying characters and their interpretation of it.”
Voss hopes to increase
ticket sales, and to highlight
as many students as possible. She and everyone else
in the organization hope to
see a bigger turnout of Foran students in the audience.
Nicolette Simone
has been a part of the Foran
Drama Club for three years.
She has done nine shows in
her life. At Foran, she has
participated in riveting performances of Shrek, Hairspray,
and this upcoming performance of The Wizard of Oz.
“Drama has definitely made me a more artistic
person, and has driven me
in the direction that I want
to go in life,” Simone said.
Simone’s favorite
show so far at Foran was
“by far Hairspray.” When
asked why, she says, “We all
knew what we were doing
and knew what the play was
about. We all really got into
our characters and thoroughly
enjoyed every minute of it.”
Simone said she would
like to see a large amount of Foran students coming to watch.
“I, and I’m sure everyone
else, would like to genuinely
feel good about this show and
its turnout. I’m really excited about what’s to come!”
The film’s promotional poster. Photo courtesy of en.wikapedia.
org
Kayleigh Paskiewicz
Staff Writer
Parkway Drive- Ire
Go Download: Fractures
It’s been three years since Parkway Drive has released an album, but there was no shortage
of enthusiasm when Ire was
announced in late August. The
fifth studio album to be released
by the band features a heavy
assault of percussion, captivating guitar riffs and unfamiliar
vocals to the classic Parkway
Drive people know. “Writings
on the Wall” hooks the listener with the scratchy, almost
monologue- type intro from
lead singer, Winston McCall.
“Vice Grip” pushes Parkway’s
message of never giving up
and always trying to conquer
your fears. The progression
of this band from their first
album is astonishing as they
twist their style while stay true
to the scene. Make sure you
catch them on their American
tour beginning October 29th.
The Front Bott o m s – B a c k o n To p
Go Download: West Virginia
New Jersey pop rockers The
Front Bottoms are back at it
with the release of their fifth
studio album. Back on Top.
Although the album sounds
similar to their previous releases, singer Brian Sella was
able to pen out lyrics that have
shown how the band and the
members have grown since the
first release. “Cough it Out,”
perfectly portrays the message
that everything will be okay,
and that sometimes you need
to take a deep breath. “The
Plan” is an angst-ridden song,
captivating listeners with relatable messages about attitudes
towards people who put them
down. With similar sounding
bands slowing emerging on the
scene, don’t overlook the potential of the Front Bottoms and
the success of their new album.
5 Seconds of Summer – Sounds Good Feels Good
Go Download: Jet Black Heart
5 Seconds of Summer is back
with their pop rock anthems and
teen heartthrob looks, gaining
support from listeners across
various age groups and music
genres. 5SOS recruited the help
from producer John Feldmann,
producer of their first album
from 2014. This album features
songs like “She’s Kinda Hot,”
that talk about the pressures of
growing up and society. “Fly
Away” possesses the sound of
the typical teen anthem about
wanting to leave to become
your own person. “Money”
and “Hey Everybody!” draw
influence from co-producers
and members of Good Char-
Page 10
lotte, Joel and Benji Madden.
Alex Gaskarth of All Time
Low also lends his producing
and co-writing support. Before
assuming they’re like every
other “boy band,” give 5SOS
a chance to prove you wrong
as they break boundaries of
the power-pop and pop genres.
State Champs
– Around the World and
Back Go Download:
A l l Yo u A r e i s H i s t o r y
With a whole new sound and
attitude, State Champs broke
through music barriers with
their sophomore album, Around
the World and Back. After a
summer tour with 5 Seconds
of Summer, the band gained
a whole new fan base but still
stay true to the pop punk roots
that they’re known for. The lead
single from the album, “All You
Are is History” sounds like a
mash-up of The Story So Far
and All Time Low. Rather than
focusing on the high school
and young adult messages
that would relate most with
the fans, lead singer Derek
Discanio reflects on those high
school mistakes and the trails of
growing up in the song “Losing
Myself”. The high energy songs
are share-worthy with everyone
in your friend group. Don’t
miss out on this booming band!
The Maze Runner: The
Scorch Trials
Julia Wargo
Staff Writer
Now playing in movie
theaters near and far is Maze
Runner: The Scorch Trials.
Avid movie fans that enjoy
dystopian, science fiction, action, and thriller type films: attending this movie premier is
something to look into. Scorch
Trials is the second novel in
the Maze Runner book series, and second installment of
The Maze Runner film series.
The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials starts off as Thomas, casted
by Dylan O’Brien, is shown
having a terrifying dream of
himself attempting to remember his past, then shows him
and the rest of the Gladers
climb out of a helicopter where
rescuers brought them after
they escaped from the Cranks. The Cranks are zombie-like people who have been
affected by a plague called
“the Flare”. After getting into
the building where they are
housed, the Gladers find out
that the only girl in their group,
Theresa, has been taken by the
administrators into a secret
room to run several tests on
her. A boy named Aris Jones,
who had been there the longest,
forms an alliance with Thomas
and the rest of the Gladers in
order to defeat the organization, WICKED (World in Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department). The rest of
the movie portrays these teenagers attempting to accomplish
their goal to defeat WICKED.
The Maze Runner:
Scorch Trials is based on the
novel, written by James Dashner. Some people believe movies are better than books, vice
versa. Other people compare
the two after reading and seeing them, and conclude that the
movie is similar yet different
from the book. Senior, Magdalena Greene, said, “This film
is nothing like the book. Important parts that were left out
of the movie include how the
teenagers did not escape from
the scorch; they were let out as
a test and were given a week
to reach a certain location in
order to get the cure from the
Flare. Also, in the book, different groups battled each other
in the rescue center, and in
this event Theresa tries to kill
Thomas, which was also a test.”
Cast member, Kaya Scodelario
who plays the role of Teresa,
stands out in the movie as she
is an important aspect to be
aware of. Greene adds, “The
whole movie was a surprise to
me, but the only part you would
expect is how Teresa is affiliated with WICKED. If you pay
good attention to her actions
and words, you would be able
to notice that she had been acting strange the whole time,
and she was showing signs
of how she didn’t agree with
what the others wanted to do.”
Overall, the Maze
Runner: Scorch Trials is a remarkable film, with incredible acting and marvelous
settings and wardrobe. 10 out
of 10 would recommend this
movie to viewers like you.
November 2015
THE MIRROR
ENTERTAINMENT
FORAN HS
Page 11
Summer Concert Reviews: Lots of Energy
Mark Duffy
Editor
Over the summer, children, teenagers and
adults enjoyed many highenergy, extravagant concert
tours put on by some of today’s most successful artists.
Ariana Grande, in support of her sophomore album,
My Everything, performed at
Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville on both March 14th and
August 2nd. The concert began
with a dramatic countdown, as
Grande and her dancers’ silhouettes burst onto stage, covered
in clouds of smoke. As Grande
began to perform “Bang
Bang”, the arena was illuminated with dazzling fireworks
and a stunning light show.
Grande’s vocals
were striking her four octave
range sounded even better live
than on any recording, and the
acoustics at a small arena such
as Mohegan helped round out
all of her high notes perfectly. Many of Grande’s performances were supported by live
musicians, such as an acoustic
version of “One Last Time”
accompanied by a trio of violinists. Grande’s choreography
was mesmerizing; she owned
the stage even in high heels,
never missing a beat or a note in
dance numbers such as “Break
Free” and “All My Love”.
Grande also performed her share of covers
while she was at it, including a mash up of Madonna’s
“Vogue” and Chaka Khan’s
“I’m Every Woman”, prompting nearly every parent in the
audience to get up and dance.
In recent shows, a cover of
Justin Bieber’s new hit single,
“What Do You Mean”, has
made its way onto the set-list.
In terms of criticisms, I was expecting more
interaction with the audience from a global superstar
such as Ariana. The concert
felt a bit rushed as she simply went from one song right
into the next, barely stopping to chat with her fans.
Taylor Swift also
toured this summer in support
of her first primarily pop album, 1989. She had four shows
in the area, two at MetLife
Film Review: The Intern
Ariana Grande preforms at a concert. Photo courtesy of www.
musictimes.com
Arena in East Rutherford, New
Jersey and two at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Taylor toured with
three openers Shawn Mendes,
Vance Joy, and HAIM. The artists represented a wide array of
music genres, but three opening
acts seemed a bit much and ate
up a huge block of time. When
the sun finally set, Taylor came
out and opened with the fitting “Welcome to New York”
as she expressed her gratitude
Scream Queens: Made for Teens
Julia Silvestri
Staff Writer
Eva Knudsen
Staff Writer
The Intern is a heartwarming tale of friendship between a young, career-driven
woman and her newly retired
70 year old intern. This movie
is best described as a comedy,
mainly targeting the young or
middle aged population. Both
Academy Award Winners, the
dynamic duo Robert De Niro
and Anne Hathaway create a
bond between boss and intern
stronger than ever. Anne Hathaway portrays the character
of Jules Ostin, the ambitious
founder and CEO of a company called About the Fit, a fastgrowing e-commerce fashion
company. When she agrees to
a senior intern program, she encounters Ben Whitaker who is
played by Robert De Niro, a retired executive at a phone directory company. The relationship
between the two is rocky at first,
but after De Niro becomes popular amongst his younger coworkers including Hathaway,
his charm and wisdom begins
to strengthen the bond between
them. Their co-worker relationship turns into a best friendship.
Not only does Nancy
Meyers, the filmmaker of this
major motion picture, do a
fantastic job of producing, but
Theodore Shapiro does an exquisite job adding music. He
includes hit new artists like
Kendrick Lamar and Meghan
Trainor, but also throws some
oldies in there such as Ray
Charles, KC and the Sunshine
Band, and Billie Holiday.
If you’re a fan of
American Horror Story or
Glee, then we know the perfect
show for you. The producer
of both series, Ryan Murphy,
has made a new masterpiece,
A.K.A. Scream Queens.
The first season focuses on the Kappa Kappa
Tau sorority, at Wallace University led by Chanel Oberlin (Emma Roberts) that is
threatened by Dean Cathy
Munsch (Jamie Lee Curtis);
leading to events that reignite
a 20-year old mystery, with
the reemergence of the Red
Devil. The guest stars make
the show even more anticipated, which includes Ariana
Grande and Nick Jonas. A
face that will be making reappearance from American Horror Story is Skyler Samuels.
She plays Grace Gardener,
who is one of the main char-
Promo for The Intern. Courtesy of www.thebreeze.com
Nancy Meyers has
also produced well-known movies such as The Parent Trap, It’s
Complicated and Father of the
Bride. Between the amazing
screenplay and the manifold music choice, this movie is a can't
miss. Supporting actors/actresses included Rene Russo, Adam
DeVine, and Anders Holm.
If I could rate this
movie I'd give it a 10 out of
10. Between the actor and actress choices, music choice,
and story line, I thought this
movie was a great motion picture. Jess Lavallee states, “This
movie is an absolute must see.
I’ve loved Anne Hathaway
ever since the Princess Diaries
and to see her in a completely
different setting and do such
a good job is amazing.” Julia
Wargo adds to that, “I agree
with Jess. Also, this movie was
a great comedy but also had
many sentimental moments.”
The Intern came
out in theaters on September 25th; make sure you
catch it before it’s gone!
for her New York fan base.
Everyone in the
crowd, no matter how close
or far they were seated from
stage, was a part of the show’s
explosive atmosphere. Every
guest was given a light-up
bracelet upon entrance to the
stadium, and the lights emitted were synced with Taylor’s
performance. Fans young and
old shared in Taylor’s enthusiasm and passion as their
wrists lit up in bright hues of
yellow, green, red and blue as
the live musicians played loud,
nearly earth-shattering riffs.
It was clear Taylor
put a great deal of effort into
crafting the perfect show the
clips that played across the
big screen during her costume
changes were very representative of her character and talent
as an artist, and the “speeches” she delivered in between
songs were very uplifting and
inspiring to young minds.
Taylor’s vocal ability exceeded
my expectations, and it was
amazing to watch her ability
to totally transform many of
her songs to fit new genres, including a “rock version” of her
2012 hit single, “We Are Never
Ever Getting Back Together”.
Overall, both Ariana
and Taylor’s shows were beyond memorable experiences
in terms of vocals, choreography and visual effects for any
music fan. As the two pop stars
continue to produce new music, I wholeheartedly encourage you to splurge a bit and
see a show put on by either of
these phenomenal performers.
acters rushing to become a
part of Kappa Kappa Tau.
Mark Duffy, senior
says, “The show is the perfect
mixture of comedy and horror.” Duffy’s favorite character is Chanel #2, better known
as Ariana Grande, and is sad
to see her go so early in the
season. He suggests this show
for teens or anyone that loved
the movie “Mean Girls.”
If you were to ask
anyone about the mood of
Scream Queens they would
tell you it gives off a “Texas
Chainsaw Massacre” feel. It
is also very suspenseful and
makes you sit at the edge of
your seat. Dramatic irony is
incorporated into the show
when the audience knows
something
the
character
doesn’t. An example of this
in the show is when the audience knows that Chanel #2
is killed by the Red Devil,
but the sorority girls thinks
she’s killed by the maid.
Juliana Tuozzola’s,
junior, favorite character is
Chanel Oberlin because she
is a strong female lead and
a little bit cynical. Tuozzola has a sneaking suspicion that the Red Devil
is the dean of the college.
This new show is
perfect for mystery lovers.
Each episode gives clues to
the audience and brings you
one step closer to revealing who the devil could be.
The writers made sure that
the killer was predetermined
so throughout the show they
could trick people about
who the real murderer is.
Shea Phelan, a
sophomore at Foran High,
says, “The first episode
gave me the impression that
it was more like American
Horror Story than Glee,
and I can’t wait for more
episodes to come out!”
November 2015
THE MIRROR
ENTERTAINMENT
FORAN HS
Page 12
Mrs. Palmer’s Digital Photography Classes
Students Take to the Outdoors and Capture the Moments
Converse by Regan Taylor
Form by Jessica Forlenzo
Altered POV by Madison Ganter
Abstract by Allison Lasorso
Foran Landscape by Kelly Kuryla
Golden Hour by Lorenna Laporte
Page 13
THE MIRROR
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November 2015
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FORAN HS
Page 14
Page 15
THE MIRROR
SPORTS
FORAN HS
November 2015
Foran Athletes in Action
Photo courtesy of Jeff Phelan
Photo courtesy of Michelle Hovey
Photo courtesy of @Manestmirror
Photo courtesy of @Manestmirror
Ski and Snowboard Prepares for the Slopes
Jess Lavallee
Staff Writer
Winter is quickly
approaching which means
Mr. Williams and the Ski
and Snowboard Club will
hit the slopes. Many people
are counting down the days
until they can get back on the
slopes. Erica Hanson, senior,
says, “It’s a lot of fun and it’s
a great experience.”
A meeting was held
October 15th to talk about
the upcoming season. Foran
will be going to Gore in New
York, Bromley and Killington
in Vermont, and an overnight
at Jay’s Peak or Stowe is a
possibility.
The typical day starts
with waking up at 5:30 with
puffy eyes and getting on the
bus to embrace up to a 4 hour
drive. Upon arrival, you head
into the lodge to get dressed
and then you and your buddy
decide what lift to take and
explore the mountain. Hanson
also says, “It’s important to
stick with your buddy and not
go on unmarked trails.”
Everyone typically
eats lunch around 12; you
can either bring money to buy
lunch or bring a lunch to eat.
Usually everyone goes back
to the lodge around 4 and 5
and heads to the bus to endure
the ride home. The cost of the
day trips vary from $75-$85,
it’s very affordable. The cost
includes the bus ride and ski
and snowboard lift ticket. A
coach bus is taken and most
Photo courtesy of Jess Lavallee
of the time a movie is played
for the ride up to make it go
by a little faster.
The ski and snowboard club is
the largest club at Foran with
approximately 110 people.
The chaperones will include
Mrs. Miller, Ms. Basher,
Mrs. Farrell, Mr. Kelly, Mrs.
Lavery, and Mr. Czarnecki.
It’s important to bundle up and wear lots of layers
because it gets really cold. It’s
better to be hot rather than
freezing. Senior, Jake Lambert says, “My favorite part
is the bus ride up and hanging
out with everyone and having
a good time.”
Every year on the
ski and snowboard trip, Mr.
Williams raffles off many
different prizes from shirts to
sweatshirts. Even if you don’t
know how to ski or snowboard
you can join and take lessons
at any of the mountains. Williams says, “I didn’t know
how to ski when I first started
Ski and Snowboard club sixteen years ago.”
Pro Home Builders &
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Victor Rosado
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November 2015
THE MIRROR
SPORTS
FORAN HS
Page 16
Foran’s Cross Country Runs for the Gold
Freshman Kevin Prenteta runs in
latest the home meet.
Mark Duffy
Editor
Much like last year,
this season has proven to be
successful for both the boys’
and girls’ cross country teams.
The boys, currently 7-3, have
made strong strides to replace
the gaps left behind by many
of last year’s senior varsity
runners. They have taken home
wins against cross-town rival
Jonathan Law and divisionrival Hillhouse. The girls’ team
also currently stands at 7-3,
and while nearly every varsity
runner has returned from last
season, the team has been fortunate enough to work alongside a
talented group of freshman runners. Many of whom are members of the varsity team. Both
teams are looking to secure
divisional titles, a feat the boys’
team accomplished for the first
time last season, as they take
on Guilford and Daniel Hand.
“In my many years as a
track and cross country coach, I
have never been this fortunate in
Junior Jack Ardrey well in
front of the competition.
Photos courtesy of Ms. Condon.
terms of freshman recruitment.
Nine freshman girls joined the
team this year, much more than
in previous seasons, and they
have all proved to be valuable
assets to the team. I hope this
season sets a precedent for
incoming freshman classes
in years to come, and demonstrates that we are a strong
force in the world of Foran
athletics,” said girls coach and
English teach Mrs. Ramsey.
Freshman runners
Jenna French, Sam Inthapanhya, Emma Cote, and Kelly
Strom have all been strong
additions to the varsity roster.
The girls have attended multiple invitational meets
this season, and their track
record has proven to be strong.
Foran girls placed 4 th at the
Neubauer Invitational at Sheehan High School and 2nd at the
Harry Geraghty Invitational in
Vernon, CT. Junior, and varsity
runner, Lily Stiffler has continued to dominate, as well, placing 1st in nearly every dual meet
thus far. She also placed 11th at
Haddam Windham Invitational,
and 6th at the Harry Geraghty
Invitational. Lily is hoping to
once again earn a spot on the
All-SCC Team and qualify for
the State Open Championships.
The girls have developed a very close bond, and it is
evident through their continued
success. All of the varsity runners feed off of one another’s
energy and determination, and it
has proved to help each girl improve their times tremendously.
“As a team, we have
become incredibly close with
one another. Having all of
our top five varsity runners
run a 5K in under 23:00 has
to be our biggest success on
the season thus far. We all
push each other to be the best
we can be,” said junior, varsity runner, Hannah Pouliot.
Unfortunately for the
boys, many of their strongest
varsity runners graduated after
last season, including Tyler
Porcello, Kevin Mastriano,
and Kevin Aiken. However, the
boys practiced diligently over
the summer, and juniors Ryan
Griffin and Ethan Jorgenson
have stepped up to fill their
shoes. Freshman runner Kevin
Preneta has also had a very
successful first season and has
consistently placed within the
top five for the team- the scoring
group. After last year’s recordbreaking season, the boys were
ready to match their successes.
“I try to consistently
run 6 days a week, if not 7, and
the team has grown to be very
supportive of one another. Nearly every runner has improved
their times tremendously thanks
to all the hard work and mileage we put in every single day.
We hope to finish 8th place or
better at the state championship meet to remain a formidable opponent in the state.”
Much like the girls,
the boys have proven to be very
competitive in SCC-play. Their
biggest success may have come
in the Wickham Invitational, the
largest cross country invitational in the state, where they placed
11th out of 70 teams competing.
Jack Ardrey, the team’s star
junior runner, placed 17th out of
nearly 500 runners in the race.
At the conclusion of
last season, Ardrey was one
of the strongest runners on the
team and was the top contender
to fill the void left by Porcello,
the team’s top runner for the past
three seasons. Ardrey surely has
not disappointed. Much like
Stiffler, Ardrey has been dominant in conference play, placing
1st at every meet against SCC
opponents. As the season comes
to a close, Ardrey is quite close
to breaking the 17:00-mark.
With the curtain closing on most of the fall sports,
it has certainly been a very
successful for both the girls’
and boys’ cross country teams,
and next year looks incredibly
promising as every runner continues to improve. Go Lions!
Recap of the Girls’ Soccer Season
Julia Wargo
Staff Writer
As the soccer season
quickly comes to an end, all
girls senior soccer players said
they are devastated as they have
finished their last year participating in fall sports at Foran.
One of the three captains, Samantha Mitchell, expressed her feelings about their
final season on the Foran Girls’
Soccer Team; “We definitely
have improved this season. So
far, we have accomplished our
goals, which were to use our
talent to our greatest potential.
There is still so much room for
improvement and we are going
to keep working hard until we
get the outcome we want on the
scoreboard.”
Their games against
Law held constant as they tied
the first game, 2-2. October
marked the nearing end of the
season for the girls, as they still
had six more games, including
another battle against cross
town rival, Jonathan Law, on
October 19.
“We aren’t done yet;
we still have a couple more
games left in October to show
the skills we have,” Mitchell
added early in October. Senior
night for the girls was to be
held at Foran High School on
Saturday, October 17 at 5 p.m.
against Guilford High.
The girls’ record in
early October stood at four
wins, two ties, and four losses.
In the 2014 soccer season, the
girls held a winning record
as they advanced to the State
Championship. Attempting to
make it again this year, they
showed that everything is possible.
Looking into the future, Mitchell said, “Next year’s
captains and players need to
keep pushing each other in
order to be successful and have
outstanding results. Along with
that, they need to make sure to
keep team chemistry alive; it
will translate from their minds
to the fields.”
College comes quickly, but not as quickly as the end
of the fall sports season. Mitchell said she will continue with
this sport in college; “I have
been playing this sport for 10
years, and I do not want to stop
anytime soon,” she said. “I love
this sport, it’s my passion.”
.
w