The Viking Saga - East Lyme Public Schools

viking saga
the
east lyme high school
inside
Fall Sports Back in Action
september 2, 2008
volume 42
east lyme, ct
edition 1
Teachers Work, Students Play
Students benefit from upcoming
accreditation process
by Ellie Kleinhans
e.kleinhans/saga
The girls’ volleyball team must
be in top condition to hold onto their
reign in the Eastern Connecticut
Conference after losing six seniors,
most of whom were starters.
e.kleinhans/saga
The boys’ soccer team is looking
to improve last year’s record. They
have 12 returning varsity players.
e.newton/saga
The girls’ swim team is looking to
repeat their trip to the ECC title. Right
before school started, the team trained
in La Jolla, California for a week.
Good luck to
all athletes!
4
New Principal on
the Loose
Every ten years public high schools in
New England go through an accreditation
process run by the New England Association
of Schools and Colleges, or NEASC. Come
fall of 2010, East Lyme High School will
have its turn again.
“This is a good process to improve teaching
and learning. It helps point out what
changes need to be made,” said Principal
Dr. John Sullivan, who has gone through
the NEASC accreditation process at both
schools where he was principal prior to his
arrival at ELHS.
“This is a massive two to three year self
evaluation that the entire faculty is involved
in,” explained math teacher Eleanor
Maddock who, along with Family and
Consumer Science teacher Freda Gianakos,
is a co-chairman of the committee that
oversees and organizes the whole process.
“We must gather hundreds and hundreds
of samples of student work, our work,
assignments, lesson plans, tests, and so
on,” she continued. “But to make this less
daunting, we have split up all of the teachers
into eight different teams. Seven of the
teams will be focusing on one of the seven
standards that NEASC is evaluating us on.
The eighth team is to collect percentages
and write up an overall report.”
To collect data, the teams will use
surveys. This fall, the committees will
be posting surveys for students, parents,
teachers, and the Board of Education to
take anonymously online. “They only
take 15 minutes. We are really hopeful
that as many people participate as possible.
It is really important that everyone’s voice
is heard,” said Ms. Maddock.
So while the teachers are hard at work,
5
Athletic Director:
From Middle to High
collecting data and putting together
portfolios, students will be taking it easy—
from January to December of 2009
students will get half days one Wednesday
every month. “These half days are in place
so that Dr. Sullivan and the staff can prepare
for the NEASC evaluation,” said Assistant
Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman.
“We need that time to discuss, organize
and analyze,” added Ms. Maddock. “We
may think that we do a really great job at
something, but through discussion we may
find out that we aren’t so good at it.”
By the end of the 2009-2010 school
year the entire report will be completed and
sent into NEASC. Once school starts up
again in 2010 a NEASC committee, made
up of teachers and administrators across
New England, will be visiting for three
days. During their stay these people will
ask teachers, administrators, students and
parents about the school, ensuring that the
report is in fact correct.
“After the visit the committee will make
a report with suggestions on what needs
work, last time they addressed our small
custodial staff and lack of air conditioning.
Then the report will be taken to the Board
of Education. In the following years we will
make those changes and start preparing for
the next [NEASC accreditation process],”
said Superintendent of Schools Dr.
Paul Smotas.
In addition, the report says if the school
has been reaccredited, or if it is being put
on probation. “Schools that are put on
probation have to address that list and fix
the problems that NEASC has identified,”
said Ms. Maddock. A couple of schools in
Connecticut that are currently on probation
are Killingly High School and New Britain
High School.
“I have no doubt that we will be
reaccredited,” said Dr. Smotas confidently.
6-9
Meet the Editors
10
Summer Movie
Review
opinion
The first two days of school
are treacherous.
For the freshmen, it is
home to having butterflies and
running around the halls to
try to find where the heck Mr.
Kydd’s room is.
For the sophomores, they
become overconfident and
egotistical now knowing that
they are no longer at the bottom
of the food chain.
For the juniors, the realization
of the difficulty of classes
sinks in.
And for the seniors, arguably
the most important grade, the
feeling of having the last first
day of school brings forth
a smile.
High school is an inevitable
part of life. It mirrors the
real world, with the freshmen
being “The New Guys” and the
seniors being “The Veterans.”
Oh, and the teachers being the
terrible CEOs that make your
life, well, you know.
Since everyone has to go
to high school, no matter how
much they may hate it, it is
important to make the most of
the experience. Watching The
Family Feud one afternoon
during the summer, a question
asked people to rate how fun
high school was on a scale of
one to ten. The top two answers
were ten and nine. The reason
that people rated their high
school experience so high was
because
www.eastlymeschools.org
the viking saga
of just that, the experience.
When else are you going to
be able to see your friends and
family every single day? When
else will you go to football
games and cheer on the Vikings
along with three-quarters of the
student body?
When else are you going to
kick back and read a Saga?
The answer is never.
It is up to us to make the
changes and to make high
school what we want to make
it. Looking back on the past
three years, I do not remember
the times when I stayed home to
finish my Chemistry homework,
nor the days that I decided to eat
lunch in the commons instead
of going to a club meeting with
my friends.
I remember what made high
school an experience – the
sports, the activities, the clubs
and the people.
As this year progresses,
seniors will find out where
they will go to college and may
realize that they will never see
some of their best friends ever
But we cannot
dwell on the negatives.
Transition is a normal
part of life and we have
to embrace it – every
single minute. Truth be
told time flies in high
school. Only 180 days of
again.
school and that is it.
So take each day like it is the
day before graduation. Then
hopefully at graduation you
will smile and not cry, realizing
all of the great things that you
have done with
y o u r
four years at
ELHS.
ellie kleinhans
september 2, 2008
emily newton
2
Change is inevitable;
and whether or not we want
it to happen, this is the year
that everything will change—
throughout the nation, in our
school and in our homes.
Throughout the nation,
change will come at the end
of this year’s race for the
White House. Either Barack
Obama or John McCain will
pull out successfully and
replace President Bush come
January 20th. And while many
Americans are counting down
until that day, others fear what
is in store for us if the country is
placed in the wrong hands.
On a less dramatic scale,
East Lyme High School will
also be going through a great
deal of change in leadership this
year—a new athletic director, a
new history department head
and most importantly a new
principal. With Mr. Roberts
gone, students and faculty will
have to get used to turning to
our new principal, Dr. John
Sullivan. I’m sure many have
been hesitant to accept such
change, but they will get used
to it.
I myself was hesitant. As a
senior I immediately thought
a b o u t graduation. Would
our
p r i n c i p a l ’s
speech be
insincere? How could he get
to know us in such little time?
But a few weeks ago I had the
chance to meet Dr. Sullivan
and he seems to be a genuine
man who wants to do his best
at getting to know us all.
Then comes the personal
changes. I’m a senior (now
that’s something strange to
say)…yet again changing
grades and moving on up the
totem pole. My brother is no
longer home, meaning my
mistakes will no longer be
overshadowed by his.
But then again I won’t have
him lecturing me on what and
what not to do. Although that
means greater consequences
for my actions, it also means
I’ll become more independent
and responsible. There is no
doubt that I’ll miss him, but he
being gone will prepare me for
the real world.
Change can create
problems, but most often
fear. Fear that Obama
will pull the troops out
too soon. Fear that Dr.
Sullivan will instate
stricter rules. Fear that
my brother will never
be the same.
But we need to try
to overlook the fear and
see the bright side of
every situation. If Obama
wins, he will make history for
being the first black president.
Dr. Sullivan will bring new
ideas to ELHS, helping our
learning environment expand.
And personally, it wont be too
hard to find the bright side of
my brother leaving, after all
the house will be a lot cleaner
and the car will be all mine.
opinion
3
Mission Statement
september 2, 2008
horns up...
To the maroon and white paint in the
althletic wing
To the new speed bumps that could tear
off your exhaust
To having the North gym for practices
and the pep rally
To depending on your alarm clock again
...horns down
Editorial Policy
2008-2009 Staff
Ellie Kleinhans Editor-in-Chief
elliekleinhans.saga@gmail.com
Emily Newton Editor-in-Chief
emilynewton.saga@gmail.com
Alex Addabbo Managing
alexaddabbo.saga@gmail.com
Ramona Ostrowski News
ramonaostrowski.saga@gmail.com
Kit Brown Features
kitbrown.saga@gmail.com
Brendan Welch Sports
brendanwelch.saga@gmail.com
Andrea Chrunyk Entertainment
andreachrunyk.saga@gmail.com
Matt Heath Back Page
mattheath.saga@gmail.com
Jeff Beale Advisor
jeff.beale@eastlymeschools.org
Catie Cameron Illustrator
We, The Viking Saga staff of 2008–2009, understand that the
responsibility of this newspaper is to inform students and the
entire East Lyme community of news pertinent to East Lyme
High School.
We aim to express information freely, truthfully and fairly by
printing stories of interest to all those who read this paper. We will
effectively represent the opinions of the students at ELHS.
The Viking Saga will act with taste, exhibiting ethics, accuracy
and a level of respect. Writers for The Viking Saga will show
excellence in writing, spelling and grammar. In addition to
continuing the traditions of our predecessors, we will strive
to make our own mark on the community using the articles in
this newspaper.
T
he editorial policy of The Viking Saga
is published to make students, staff
and members of the East Lyme community
aware of the freedom of speech, press and
expression that is guaranteed under the
First Amendment of the United States’
Constitution. It also serves as a guideline for
all members of this student-run newspaper
to ensure that all news is reported accurately,
ethically and responsibly.
The goal of The Viking Saga is to provide
the community with information on school
activities and local events. National news
will also be reported if it is relevant to the
interests of the student body.
In addition, The Viking Saga will provide
student opinion through editorials or
letters to the editor. While any unsigned
editorial reflects the official position of the
newspaper, a signed opinion piece or letter
represents the viewpoint of the writer and
is not attributed to The Viking Saga staff as
a whole.
The newspaper staff highly encourages and
welcomes comments concerning all issues
from students, faculty, administrators and
community members. However, all letters
Have an opinion? Send it to us!
elhsvikingsaga@gmail.com
must be signed and limited to 250 words
and may be subject to alteration for spacing
efficiency. Anonymously signed letters
will not be printed unless the repercussions
could harm the author physically,
psychologically or academically. If such a
threat is present, the letter may be printed
under the circumstance that the Editors–in–
Chief know the author’s identity.
If a dispute over a controversial article
occurs, the entire Saga staff will discuss
further actions. In the event that the entire
staff cannot meet or come to a final decision,
the editorial staff will have the ultimate say
on what to do.
While dealing with controversial articles,
the staff will consider all audiences and
show no bias. All sides of the issue will
be covered and the story will be reported
accurately and fairly;it will cover the story,
not create one.
With this, accuracy in all articles is
critical so that this student-run newspaper
remains uncensored by the administration
and Board of Education. It also is vital
for The Viking Saga’s credibility with the
students and community readership. In
the event that an error is made, The Viking
Saga will take immediate responsibility
and correct it on the Opinion page in the
next edition.
If the journalism students of East Lyme
High School are to continue to publish
and distribute The Viking Saga to the
school and community, then it is asked
that the individuals involved cooperate and
understand the goals of this newspaper.
the viking saga
4
news
september 2, 2008
Problem Solved:
Dr. John Sullivan joins the East Lyme High School family
by Ellie Kleinhans and Ramona Ostrowski
When Mr. Lawrence Roberts announced
his plans to retire as Principal of East Lyme
High School, the administration embarked
on a nationwide search for his replacement.
However, despite a grueling 4-month quest,
the spot remained unfilled.
Many people learned this story when it
was reported in The New London Day. One
of them was former principal, teacher and
superintendent Dr. John Sullivan. “I know
Dr. Smotas (Superintendent of East Lyme
Schools) because I was a superintendent
and we traveled the same paths. So I
immediately thought that I would call
him up and apply for the position,” said
Dr. Sullivan.
However, he never made the call.
The next week, at a meeting of the
Connecticut Association of Public School
Superintendents, Dr. Sullivan was surprised
to see Dr. Smotas.Taking it as a sign, he
walked up to him and said, “Hey Paul, I’ll
retire [from my job] and solve your high
school principal problem.” Once he won
over the Board of Education and met with
the faculty, Dr. Sullivan was announced
as the interim principal of ELHS for the
upcoming school year.
“The Board was very impressed with
his credentials and the fact that he has
approximately 22 years of superintendent
and principal experience,” said Assistant
Superintendent Paul Freeman. “Dr. Sullivan
is now the principal of ELHS. Interim just
means ‘at the time being’.”
e.kleinhans/saga
Dr. Sullivan on his first day in the office
“It was all very serendipitous. I wasn’t
looking for you; you weren’t looking for
me,” said Dr. Sullivan, who at the time was
the Superintendent of Schools for the
Department of Children and Families and
had just finished his 35th year in education,
making him eligible for retirement.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been a
high school principal. I’m really excited
to be here,” said Dr. Sullivan with a
genuine smile.
Although he graduated from Southern
Connecticut State University in 1973
with a Bachelor’s of Science in Special
Education, Dr. Sullivan always wanted to be
Behind the Numbers with Dr. Sullivan
35
3.5
1
10
years he has
spent working
in education
years he has
worked as a
teacher
years he has
worked as a
superintendent
the viking saga
years he spent as
a House Master
at NFA before
the position was
eliminated
3
11
schools
where he
has been
principal
jobs in
education
he has held
a principal. “I liked the notion of leadership
and management,” he explained.
By the age of 24, Dr. Sullivan had
achieved his goal. He was principal at
Stonegate, a school for special needs
students in Durham, CT. Since then he has
also been principal of Nantucket Junior
and Senior High Schools and Wilton High
School.
Although the Nantucket schools were
much smaller, Wilton High School (CT) is
about the same size as ELHS. Dr. Sullivan
said that he tries to “make big schools
feel small.” To accomplish this, he has a
philosophy: every student needs to make
a meaningful connection with one adult in
the building.
While he hopes to make an impact on
the students, Dr. Sullivan does not intend to
make any big alterations in school policies.
“It would be unfair and unprofessional
for me to come in and make changes on
something I don’t know anything about,”
he explained.
“I’m a student advocate. That is what
I’ve been for all my years. Everything I do
is for the best interest of the kids. However,
I do think that when rules are made, they
need to be fulfilled,” said Dr. Sullivan, the
son of a policeman.
On a more personal note, Dr. Sullivan
is a true family man. He lives with his
wife Carol, a teacher at Madison Middle
School, and their 11-year-old son Riley.
They spent a portion of the summer in Bald
Head, North Carolina relaxing on the beach
before school started up again.
Fun Fact:
Red Sox or
Yankees?
“I’m a Red
Sox Fan, but I
haven’t always
been,” explained
Dr. Sullivan. “When I
was a little boy I used to be a Yankee fan.
But there was a guy in the neighborhood
who took us up on hikes at Devil’s
Hopyard. He always told us ‘No Yankee
fans come with me.’ Of course he was
just kidding, but I was young so I didn’t
know better. So I went home and took
my Yankees jacket off. Now I’m a proud
Red Sox fan.”
news
Getting in the Game
East Lyme High School’s new athletic director
prepares for the job
by Ellie Kleinhans
James Moran is new to East Lyme High just last May Mr. Moran finished his sixth
School. He comes from the middle school, year degree in Education Administration at
but he is not a student—he is nearly 40 the University of Connecticut.
“Always take an opportunity to learn if
years old, is married and has two children.
He is also the new athletic director of the it is there. Take advantage of it,” said Mr.
Moran, who is also in the Army National
high school.
“I told my eighth graders I’d be following Guard and is currently stationed at Camp
them [to the high school],” joked Mr. Rell as an Officer Candidate School Director.
Just four
Moran, who
years ago
has taught
he served
Physical
in Iraq.
Education
“Having
at
the
been on a
middle
battle field
school for
fighting for
14
years
freedom,
and
will
it means a
continue
lot to me
to do so. “I
seeing kids
will teach
use their
two classes
freedom to
in
the
make good
morning at
e.kleinhans/saga
choices and
the middle
do
good
school,
Mr. Moran getting to know his two assistants, Ms. Asciolla
things,”
and
then
and Mr. Biggs
said
Mr.
spend the
rest of my day with the high school,” Moran. “I am an advocate for athletes to
learn respect for themselves, for others, and
he explained.
Mr. Moran was hired just two weeks ago for their school. And to learn the value of
and is already settled into his new office. hard work and to appreciate the freedoms
“I love this school system. They’re like my and luxuries in this country.”
With this, Mr. Moran hopes “to develop
family. I just finished my administrator’s
certification; the A.D. position was an the sportsmanship aspect of our program
opportunity to use my certification. I see it and emphasize the lessons that can be
learned from participating in sports.” He
as an exciting opportunity,” he said.
“We hired him because he has also wants to continue developing the great
experience as a coach and has leadership sports program already in place at ELHS.
“In many ways being the athletic director
experience in terms of the intramural
programs at the middle school that he is like being the principal of a school. He has
runs,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. to organize all the activities and make sure
that all of the[Connecticut Interscholastic
Paul Smotas.
Mr. Moran is also highly qualified due to Athletic Conference] requirements are
his education. He graduated from Eastern met,” said Assistant Superintendent of
Connecticut State University with a degree Schools Paul Freeman.
So along with his two assistants,
in P.E. and Health. Then he obtained a
Masters in Exercise Physiology from P.E. teachers Jack Biggs and Carolyn
Southern Connecticut State University. At Asciolla, Mr. Moran will tackle his first big
the United States Sports Academy he got his administrative job. “I think he’ll do a great
second Masters in Sports Management. And job,” said Dr. Smotas.
september 2, 2008
5
Much Too
Young
commentary by Alex Addabbo
Here in America, when we proudly
watch the red, white and blue clad
United States Olympians compete,
we expect to come out on top (of the
podium, that is). When our expectations
aren’t met, the accusations start to pop
up. The other teams must be cheating
if they can defeat the all-powerful
Americans, right? This year, however,
the accusations may actually have some
truth behind them.
Two words–Chinese gymnastics.
There is absolutely no way that those
girls are 16-years-old and the fact that
they expect the world to believe that
they are is insulting. Do they really
think that the rest of the world is that
clueless? The toothless grins that they
flash each time they unfairly beat out the
Americans for the gold is just one of the
many signs. The last time I checked, 16year-olds have all of their adult teeth.
Cheating at the Olympics can be
put into the same category as death and
taxes–they are inevitable. This year
alone, athletes from both China and the
United States have been disqualified
for drug use. There must be a way to
determine an athlete’s age, as birth
certificates and passports no longer
cut it.
If their unsportsmanlike behavior
was solely that, a demonstration of
dishonesty, then maybe we would
simply turn the other cheek. However,
it is more than that because the younger
athletes have clear advantages in
competition. They are more flexible and
more willing to do tricks with higher
start values as they are more daring.
Though I have been appalled by this
deceitful behavior, I can still look back
at the Summer Olympics and smile.
Though the Chinese have won more
gold medals than the U.S., we have won
the most medals of all the countries that
competed in the summer games. So
China, take your underage gymnasts to
the Junior Olympics where they belong
and leave the real games to those who
are old enough to play them.
the viking saga
6
september 2, 2008
meet the editors
emily newton
ellie kleinhans
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Of all your favorite foods, which one would you find most
difficult to give up?
Definitely ice cream because I pretty much eat it every day!
What do you want to major in in college?
Well, I had this idea that I could be a cake decorator by day, and
a secret investigator by night... but it turns out that’s not very
practical, so engineering is my second calling.
All photos submitted.
Which famous person do you imitate or impersonate
the best?
Steve Carell... I am pretty good at ‘that’s what she said’ jokes.
If you could have one superpower, what would you want it
to be?
I would want to have long arms to reach whatever I wanted.
Besides its intended purpose, what’s the most creative way you
can think of using a paper clip?
Making a paper airplane with it... even though I stink at
making them.
If you could proclaim a new national holiday, what would it be
and how would we celebrate it?
National Relax Day. Everyone would just have to chill out for
a day.
What particular sound annoys you the most?
Anyone who has a nasal voice.
You have been offered the chance to jump off a diving board
into a pool filled with anything of your choice. Into what
substance would you want to jump?
Soft serve vanilla ice cream.
If you could create and market toothpaste in any flavor other
than mint, what would it be?
Eggplant.
the viking saga
What is the worst dream you’ve ever had?
When I was in preschool, I had a nightmare that a wolf - a very
big wolf - came out of my closet and was about to eat me. I ran out
of the room (not in my dream) and I swear he followed me until I
turned a corner. I think it was real. I swear it was real... and until
I moved out of that house, in the third grade, I slept with my arms
crossed on my chest like a mummy. The wolf never returned.
Worst moment of freshman year?
Going to Catholic school.
If you owned a yacht, what would you name it?
Titanic II. I’m not the best at driving a boat...
If you could go back in time and somehow avert any tragedy in
American history, what incident would you choose
to prevent?
Obama running for President.
Worst thing about East Lyme?
How the entire town shuts down at 9 p.m.
Red Sox or Yankees?
Baseball puts me to sleep.
Favorite sculpture when you were in elementary school?
I made this one that had Kobe Bryant’s head, with a zebra body
and a baboon’s backside. It was an assignment...
meet the editors
september 2, 2008
7
alex addabbo
ramona ostrowski
MANAGING EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
Of all your favorite foods, which one would you find most
difficult to give up?
Peanut butter. I’m a vegetarian, so if I gave up that I wouldn’t have
anything to put on a sandwich!
Which famous person do you imitate or impersonate best?
Audrey Hepburn... because I’m just fabulous.
If you could have anything in the world completely to yourself
for one day - any object or place - what would you choose?
Disneyland - no lines! I would ride California Screamin’ and Space
Mountain until I couldn’t see straight!
If you had to describe your personality using a Native American
name, what would it be?
My mom says that my Native American name would be “Bossy
Puma,” but she’s crazy.
If you had to be trapped in a TV show, what would it be?
I would be a judge on Iron Chef America, but I would have to run
laps around Kitchen Stadium in my spare time otherwise, after a
month I would be facing serious health problems.
If you suddenly became a star and had to choose a stage name,
what name would it be?
Xzandra. It’s the rapper name that we came up with in Ms. Burton’s
class and it would be perfect because that’s obviously what I would
be famous for.
You have been offered the chance to jump off a diving board
into a pool filled with anything of your choice. Into what
substance would you want to jump?
I would jump into water. It’s boring, but I fear that if I jumped
into jello or pudding I wouldn’t be able to swim in it and I would
suffocate. That would be a terrible way to go. It’d literally be
‘death by chocolate!’
If a sculptor were making a statue of you, in which position
would you like to be rendered?
Sleeping, because that’s my favorite position.
Which daily activity do you perform with the greatest care?
Checking my Facebook!
Worst habit when driving?
The fact that I can’t drive...
Favorite flavor of Gatorade?
I don’t do sports drinks.
Favorite flower?
The rose (cliché - but classy).
Favorite athlete?
Derek Jeter, but only because he’s hot. Once I saw him on
the highway!
You are going to the beach for the day. Besides your swimsuit,
what other item will you take with you?
Tanning lotion, and aloe vera for when I inevitably get burned.
Summer job?
Busser at Niantic Diner. And yes, it’s as bad as it sounds.
Of all your favorite foods, which one would you find most
difficult to give up?
Potatoes, in all forms.
the viking saga
8
september 2, 2008
meet the editors
kit brown
brendan welch
FEATURES EDITOR
SPORTS EDITOR
Summer job?
Sales associate at American Eagle – trust me,it sounds better than
it really is.
Favorite object in your room?
My bed. Sleeping is kind of a big deal during the school year.
All photos submitted.
Favorite word?
Allegedly, or smorgasbord.
Worst habit when driving?
Drinking (nothing alcoholic, though!).
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Super strength… no, invisibility… no, x-ray vision… oh I just
can’t choose!
If you had to describe your personality using a Native
American name, what would it be?
Sleeping Wizard by the River.
If you had to choose a stage name, what name would it be?
I like to consider myself a star already, but I’d go by Kitt – the
extra T is for emphasis (no last name necessary).
If you were to make a Top Ten list of the the all-time greatest
Americans, whom would you rank first?
Kit Brown.
Least favorite article of clothing?
Glasses, they make my eyes look really big.
What do you believe is the greatest unsolved mystery of all?
Mr. Warykas.
In your opinion, what is the best piece of music ever written?
“My Girl” by the Temptations. Greatest. Song. Ever.
If you could go back in time and somehow avert any tragedy
in American history, what incident would you prevent?
Brendan Welch from taking Journalism.
If you were one inch tall for a day, what specific place would
you like to explore?
My backyard, as long as I don’t get trampled by one of the rabbits
or skunks that chill back there.
Favorite summer memory?
Performing at Drum Corps International open class semifinals
with 7th Regiment.
If you were an entry in the dictionary, under which word
would people find you?
Creeper.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’ll just end up doing whatever I feel like doing. I would get
bored doing one thing for my entire life... so honestly I’m not
really sure!
If a sculptor were making a statue of you, in what position
would you like to be rendered?
The “thinker pose.”
If you could have any building or institution named after you,
which one would you choose?
A high tech porta-potty.
the viking saga
meet the editors
september 2, 2008
9
andrea chrunyk
matt heath
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
BACK PAGE EDITOR
Favorite vacation spot?
Although I’ve only been there once, I liked Paris. Even though
going there made me pretend to be Canadian out of shame for
being American.
If you could fly in a hot-air balloon over any city, in what city
would you choose?
Gotham, so I could get a good view of the Joker blowing up
hospitals.
Dislikes of ELHS?
Kind of cliche, but there aren’t enough chairs. And also, I’m
about 37% sure it’s haunted. That is not really a dislike, more of
a fun fact.
Of all your favorite foods, which one would you find most
difficult to give up?
The cheesy bacon tender crisp because it’s new and exciting.
Favorite word?
It’s a tie between paradoxically and esoteric. And I like adroitly,
but never adroit. I only like it as an adverb.
Worst habit when driving?
I guess slamming my sister into the window on turns, but I think
that it bothers her more than it does me. Especially when it’s on
purpose. Then it really doesn’t bother me. Oh, and texting.
Favorite athlete?
Emily Newton. And Ellie Kleinhans. It’s a tie.
Favorite summer memory?
Surviving an earthquake, because how many among us can say
that we have survived a natural disaster?
Periwinkle or Lime Green?
Lime green because I always wanted a Volkswagen Beetle that
was lime green for some reason.
Worst moment of freshman year?
Getting a terrible nosebleed during the condom presentation in
freshman academy. That was sufficiently awkward.
In your opinion, what is the best piece of music, pop or
classical, ever written?
“A Day in the Life” by The Beatles.
If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which
show would you choose?
The Girls Next Door.
What do you believe is the greatest unsolved mystery of all?
What state the Simpsons live in.
If you had to describe your personality using a
Native American name, what would it be?
Screech of chimpanzee.
If you could proclaim a new national holiday?
Give Matt Heath a Dollar Day.
If you were an entry in the dictionary, under which word
would people find you?
Velociraptor.
What particular sound annoys you the most?
Children’s laughter.
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10
entertainment
september 2, 2008
Summer
Movie Showdown:
Worst
THE LOVE GURU
Best
TELL NO ONE
4
Something That You Purposefully and
Insightfully Dislike. Or STUPID.
That is all that can describe this
movie. Stupid.
The plot was highly improbable.
For a guru to be so selfish as to
want to do anything to win the title
of “Best Guru in the World” goes
against all of the principles that he
supposed to instill in people. And
his ridiculous (and rarely funny)
acronyms became old really fast.
The performances, led by the
always terrible Jessica Alba,
hammered the nail in the coffin for
this rotten tomato.
by Andrea
Chrunyk
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF
THE DRAGON EMPEROR
The always mediocre Mummy series
takes a turn for the worse in this latest
attempt at suspense.
The plot was odd, to say the least.
Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) is on
another world-saving, mummy-slaying
mission with his wife (Maria Bello) and
son who appears to be about 10 years too
old for them. Except for this time there
aren’t really mummies, only undead terra
cotta soldiers.
The acting was too much, the dialogue was
too cheesy (“here we go again” is the start of
the mess), and the plot was too predictable.
Rachel Weisz was lucky to get out while she
could, before this disappointment was made.
INDIANA JONES AND THE
KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
While it may have been the earliest of the
summer movies, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of
the Crystal Skull was one of the worst.
With a star-studded cast, and a beloved character
and franchise, it seemed like this film would be the
long-awaited return everyone was hoping for.
Perhaps under all of this pressure George Lucas
cracked, and produced one of the worst storylines
possible for the series.
The beginning seemed to be ok. Nazis, the frequent
foe of Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), are replaced by
communists during the Cold War. Marion, his former
flame from Raiders of the Lost Ark, is back, and brings
Shia LaBeouf’s Mutt Williams along for the ride.
But with a sci-fi twist, rather than religious angle, this
latest installment does not stay true to its roots, and diehard fans will be completely disappointed.
the viking saga
A recap of the summer’s best (and worst) movies
all photos from imdb.com
Besides having a great title, this French film is full of suspense and intrigue.
The movie is very similar to The Fugitive in that Alex Beck’s (François
Cluzet) wife is murdered and he is framed for it. But is she really dead?
The film is one that will have you thinking about it hours after the credits
roll. The intricacies within the plot, and the dynamics between characters are
thought-provoking, and provide for an non-stop thrill ride.
So if subtitles are your thing, or even if they aren’t, Tell No One will
not disappoint.
MAMMA MIA!
Ok, so maybe it’s cheesy, but what else would you expect from a film
based around ABBA songs? It’s not synthetic cheese though, it’s the
expensive kind.
In this adaptation, Amanda Seyfried plays the completely fatherless
Sophie. With her wedding approaching, what’s a girl to do but read her
mother’s (Meryl Streep) diary to find that missing piece?
Unfortunately, her mom may have been a bit more promiscuous than
she had hoped, but she narrows it down to three unsuspecting fathers
and sends out the invitations just in time for her wedding.
Along the way to discovering her father, songs such as “Voulez
Vous” and “S.O.S.” are peppered throughout. In context, the usually
random lyrics finally obtain meaning.
The film supplied plenty of laughs, and the singing was
excellent (well, Pierce Brosnan might need a few more lessons
before Mamma Mia! 2). So if you are in the mood for some
cheese, then this light-hearted blend is perfect for you.
THE DARK KNIGHT
The pinnacle of the summer blockbusters is The Dark
Knight. Breaking all previously set movie records, this
wonderfully crafted dark superhero film is worth
every penny.
The movie opens with a magnificent bank
robbery by Batman’s nemesis, The Joker, who
whittles down his accomplices one by one.
This scene sets the tone for the rest of
the movie as The Joker becomes a twisted
version of James Dean— a rebel without
a cause.
The actions of The Joker would not
have been made possible without
the brilliance of Heath Ledger.
His commitment to the character
showed in his ad-libs, such as
the sarcastic clapping in the
jail cell.
But the story is about
the vigilante known as
Batman. And as the film
concludes, a question
is posed: should a
superhero continue
to fight crime when
lives are at stake?
A thinking man’s
comic book movie,
this film is a
must- see.
entertainment
september 2, 2008
Gad-Zeus! The O
lympics Are Back!
This Olympics has been
http://www.cbc.ca
one of the highest rated in
history. But why?
by Andrea Chrunyk
As with what is customary every the Olympics, how have the ratings skyfour years, the summer Olympics have rocketed?
“Michael Phelps!” exclaims sophomore
enthralled people around the world. But
this year brought a strange revelation to Rachel Merry.
Although it may seem like a personal
American audiences.
Average viewership of the Beijing opinion, there may be some truth to Michael
Olympics is up 13 percent from the Athens Phelps boosting ratings. In fact, according
games, according to sportsbusinessnews. to celebritygenius.com, on the evening
com, and is the highest rated non-American he won his eighth gold medal, 40 million
Americans tuned in.
based Olympics since Barcelona
No matter what the reason, whether
in 1992. The place that started
rooting for a favorite athelete or watching
it all failed to get as many
history happen,
viewers as the games
these Olympics
in Beijing.
show
how
This begs the question as
t r u l y
to what the major difference
patriotic
is between this Olympics and
a n d
games in years past.
dedicated
Many locations of Olympic
to
home
Games have been protested, and
team
athletes
Beijing definitely falls in that
Americans
category.
have become.
So with a significant amount
of people boycotting watching http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Sex sells.
Everybody on the planet knows this
marketing cliché all too well. But on the
1960s based drama Mad Men, advertising
is so much more than gimmicks like these.
It’s about people. Or so Don Draper (Jon
Hamm), an advertising executive at Sterling
Cooper, claims.
Draper is one of many employees at the
Madison Avenue based advertising agency.
Combined with young copy writers trying
to move up in the world, and the secretaries
who are willing
to do anything
to
ensure
their
boss’
happiness,
this ensemble
effort
is
heavy on the
http://www.imaginaryforces.com
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item of the
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vorite Th
drama. But less in a Laguna Beach and more
in the vein of The Sopranos.
hdhThe show follows Draper through his
normal life. From meeting and pleasing
clients, to meeting and pleasing mistresses,
his seemingly stressful days are glamorized
by the backdrop of 1960s New York City.
No matter what Draper does, he will
always remain a hero, even as more and
more skeletons burst out from his already
brimming closet. With bigger secrets come
bigger scandals, a bonus for anyone who
watches the show.
The show has new episodes every Sunday
at 10 p.m. on AMC, so tune in for backstabbing, money-grabbing, and ladderclimbing that won’t disappoint.
11
From Summertime
Reading, to
Primetime Watching
What should happen this season on our
favorite shows
by Andrea Chrunyk
The Office:
After accepting Andy’s marriage proposal,
Angela marries him in a private, and very
preppy, ceremony where no one from
Dunder Mifflin has been invited. Although
she is now a married woman, Angela
continues her illicit affair with Dwight.
But after a Bible salesman shows up at
the office, she decides to end it immediately.
The next day, she shows up to work with
the letter “A” emblazoned on her sweater
set. Thinking she is just going through
a Laverne and Shirley phase, everyone
ignores her symbol. Until her marriage
crumbles and Andy is sent back to anger
management for undisclosed reasons.
House:
With all of the intense moments of the
last season, Dr. House needs a break so he
can recuperate. He puts himself under selfimposed house arrest, which starts to scare
his neighbors.
His odd hours at the hospital have
already led many to believe that the abode
is haunted, and watching a sad House
hobble through his home catches the eye
of two young children that are neighbors of
his. They set out to see if he is actually real,
or just the ghost they have been imagining,
and find that maybe they should not have
bothered the man. He is House afterall,
and would not hold back in chastising, and
ridiculing, two young children. After this
incident, he finally feels ready to go back.
Pushing Daisies:
Although new episodes did not resume
after the writer’s strike ended, during the
fall season this show is going to be back
and better than ever! The show left off with
Ned telling Chuck that he accidently killed
her father, and her leaving.
In the new season, he should throw lavish
parties in his pie shop, with the hopes that
one day she would show up and he could
make everything better between them.
Even if being back in her life might lead to
her eventual demise, he will be willing to
do so because he is in love.
the viking saga
12
back page
september 2, 2008
What is the one thing you hope
to see at school this year?
“To see the juniors come in
last place during Spirit Week,”
-senior Sarah Mooradian
e.kleinhans/saga
“I want caffeine back in our
school system,”
-senior Matt Sangster
www.facebook.com
“[Mr.]Sandford!!”
-senior Olivia Formica
“To see East Lyme
beat St. Bernards in
every sport,”
“Mr. LaConti with hair,”
-seniors on varsity volleyball
team
-senior Ali Facchini
e.kleinhans/saga
“Those speed bumps
removed,”
“For me to get my
license,”
-senior Sean Doherty
-senior Ryan Cave
e.kleinhans/saga
the viking saga