October 2015 - Glenbard East High School
Transcription
October 2015 - Glenbard East High School
Glenbard East High School Volume 56 A&E NEWS SPORTS October 2, 2015 FEATURES Donald Trump 2 Wii Dance Through the Night 2 3 Mental Health Football goes 4-1 R e m e m b e r i n g By: Maryam Idris Staff Writer August 12th marked a somber day for the Glenbard East community: it was the day that we lost beloved librarian Ms. Jeannine Fournier. Suffering from several illnesses for almost ten years, her loss came as a shock to everyone who knew her. Ms. Arlene Stach, a dear friend and colleague of Fournier, reveals that her various medications ultimately resulted in organ failure. Ms. Fournier was much more than a school librarian; her kindness, creativity, and compassion allowed her to be friend and mentor to everyone she met. A Glenbard East faculty member for 20 years, Mrs. Fournier profoundly impacted both students and teachers, ensuring that we would never forget her brilliant mind and charming personality. According to her colleagues, Fournier’s love for education, reading, and writing ran in her blood. Fellow librarian Mr. Gabe Gancarz explains that her mother was a teacher, her father “owned a highly successful junk-mail business”, and two of her siblings were writers. Stach reveals that Fournier had wanted to become a librarian since second grade. She also disclosed that “because of her intelligence, she skipped two grades in elementary school, graduated from high school at 16, finished college at 19, and completed a Master’s degree by 21.” Fournier embodied her brilliance in the support she provided to the Lindsey Library’s visitors. Students and staff alike were amazed by her ability to recall the location of books as well as their content. Gancarz describes her as someone with “razor-sharp memory and a wealth of knowledge” who “pretty much contained the book/ a video catalog in her head.” According to him, “she could even remember particular pages of reference books with specific passages that students would find useful while researching for class projects.” Fournier’s incredible memory proved infinitely valuable to all the classes that came to the library to read or do research. Principal Mr. Shahe Bagdasarian adds that she was “an avid reader” whose experience proved to be extremely beneficial. As Stach puts it, “her [Fournier] ability to recall book titles, synopses, and which teachers needed certains books on their carts was almomagical.” In addition to her amazing mind, Fournier was very compassionate and friendly. Bagdasarian describes her as someone who “kids felt com- Issue 1 Extra-Extra Don’t Say This to Your Date 6 8 R a m fortable around” and who “encouraged kids to engage with each other.” Stach claims that her role as a mother enhanced the sensitivity and consideration with which she approached students. She convinced kids who despised reading to give it a chance, and she supported them throughout any adversities. Gancarz adds that people “found her to be a very easy person with whom to converse.” He says that “with her sympathetic ear and caring guidance she literally made the difference between certain students falling through the cracks versus getting help for various issues (such as) graduating and attending college.” Throughout her career, Fournier forged strong friendships and established a comforting, familiar atmosphere in the library. Fournier’s selflessness, brilliance, and compassion will be greatly missed. She impacted a major part of the Glenbard East community, and we will forever carry her memory in our hearts. Photo curteousy to Glenbard East Glenbard Parent Series welcomes Carlotta Walls LaNier By Ariel Barbee Staff Writer Glenbard Parent Series welcomed Carlotta Walls LaNier as guest speaker at Glenbard East on August 27th. GPS is an organization providing education for families, working to help improve parenting skills to socially and emotionally progress students in order for success. LaNier, their guest, was one of the nine AfricanAmerican students who were integrated into the all-white Central High School (Little Rock Senior High) in 1957 Arkansas. Known as the Little Rock Nine, they bravely stood up against segregation in a tumultuous time of racism and discrimination. Bringing together both her past and the future, LaNier spoke about both her history and the issues of today, hitting on topics such as social justice and education. The next GPS meeting occurs at Glenbard South on Thursday, October 8 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm with Julie Lythcott-Haims giving advice on how not to “over-parent” a child. Admission is free and the whole family is invited. “This truly touched my heart to know that if someone as young as only 14 years old can be able to stand up for her rights, then nobody should be afraid to truly express their feelings and beliefs when it comes to standing up for what is right. She also helped me to realize that neither family or friends can take away your education and all young adults today should use all of that learning to their advantage,” expressed Sophomore Kiante McGavock, right. “As Glenbard East parent, I would actually like to be able to see her again as well as many other presenters regarding our African American history,” expressed mother, Charhonda McGavock, left. “It was very encouraging, ” comments Glenbard East Junior Catera Thompson, right, and mother, Shondra Rhodes Williams, left. 2 Echo News October 2, 2015 “ L e t ’ s m a k e A m e r i c a g re a t a g a i n ! ” By: Ana Sanchez Staff Writer On June 16, 2015 realestate developer and politician Donald Trump declared his candidacy for President of the United States, claiming, “Let’s Make America Great Again!” However, since his declaration, many questions abound over whether his policies will truly “Make America Great Again” or not. Several subjects of debate have caught the public’s interest, especially future decisions on the Middle East, immigration, and income inequality. Initially, Trump’s approach to conflicts in the Middle East, as reported in a Fox News interview, was to "destabilize the Middle East." Trump wishes to seize control over the Middle East’s economy, specifically the importing of petroleum and oil-the two main natural resources that are the building blocks for their economy. Trump believes taking control of their economy will weaken the Middle East enough to the point where they won’t be able to create any more conflict than already present. Senior Serenity Brame comments that although it’s “possible he could eventually resolve conflict in the Middle East due to his background in negotiating business deals, his downfall will be caused by impulsive decisions.” In addition, Trump casually states he "doesn't have any respect for [Iraq]." Although this is only his opinion, it is the job of a president, and the future president, to establish good communication and relationships with other nations. As Junior Edward Pearson explains, “he is a man who is good at getting supporters but not presenting realistic solutions to the U.S’s problems.” Additionally, Trump's policies on immigration have sparked controversy--especially within the Latino community. In a recent interview with USA today, Trump claims he wants "[illegal immigrants] to be legal" and he would allow them to come back after his deportation policy is taken into effect; however, they must "go through the process” in order to be re-emitted into the United States. By requiring illegal immigrants to go through the immigration process, the United States gets a sense of who they are letting into the country. Although this may help with illegal immigration within the United States, many questions arise as to how the process will be handled and how it is to be solved. Senior Jake Mcevoy comments on his neutrality towards Trump because he, "likes that [Trump] wants to work on getting rid of illegal immigrants, but is against Trump because of how hoarse he is." However, Trump contradicts himself by later discrediting the 14th Amendment, specifically the Citizenship Clause which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” By stripping away this unalienable right, Trump risks the futures of many children. Junior Joselyn Flores explains how "it wasn't their choice whether they were born here or not," and if Trump takes away the 14th Amendment, Flores adds, he is "essentially taking their whole life away." If Trump is to succeed with his policies, all the education and hard work accomplished by these children will be stripped from them, causing them to start over in a new country they may have never even been to before. Many of the children that are born from immigrant parents hope to create a better life for themselves. It is a major reason why parents choose to immigrate to the United States in the first place. America is a place for opportunity and by getting rid of the 14th amendment is removing that sense of optimism the U.S has established. Moreover, Trump’s proposed policies will affect his own life as several of his children were born from immigrant mothers, creating controversy over his approach. Lastly, the topic of in- come inequality did not merely begin as a modern day issue but has been a matter throughout many previous presidencies. Recently there has been debate on taxes fluctuating within the middle and high classes. Trump speaks about raising taxes on the very As U.S History teacher Mr. Christopher Pietsch observes, “what is interesting about Mr. Trump is that even though he is running as a Republican, many of his economic policies are more traditionally associated with Democrats.” It is no doubt Mr. Trump has created an uproar within the political world. a successful businessman, but it just seems like one day he rolled out of bed and said ‘I should run for president!’” To many he is straight talking, telling the public “how it is.” What gives Trump an advantage over other politicians is the fact that he is an outside, someone who has never held wealthy and favoring a government-run health care system, raising eyebrows in the Republican Party. As he stated in a Fox News interview, “I know people who are making billions of dollars and paying nothing in taxes.” By raising taxes, he hopes it will create stability in the economy. In addition to raising taxes, Trump speaks of a government-run health care system similar to that of the United Kingdom. He has opened discussion for issues avoided by most politicians due to their sensitivity to the public, and he has demanded a response. As U.S Government and Politics teacher Mr. Larry Grant states, “a lot of people dismissed him early as a candidate, thinking he wasn’t a serious candidate.” However, he managed to make it into the the Republican Debate and now leads the polls at 23%. Junior Genevieve Severini states, “He was already public office before. By being an outsider Trump appeals to the public in many ways politicians have not before. As Grant states,”[the public] sees a government that they perceive is no longer for them and Donald Trump has kind of captured this by saying, ‘No longer trust these politicians, even if they are members of your political party, pick someone who is an outsider.” How much Trump will triumph in forthcoming months is yet to be determined by the American public. suicide and what to do to prevent such things,” says school psychologist Genevieve Hebeka. Because the students are taught to be aware of the signs, many refer friends who are showing symptoms of a mental illness. “We never release the information of who told,” says Hebeka. There are many resources for anyone suffering with a mental illness. At school specifically there are groups that meet with each other and act as a support to one another allowing them to make a connection. There is even a Glenbard East Twitter account @GEHSSupport made as a support system. Outside of school, there is therapy, evaluation, and even medication for those who need it. “Just because you get help doesn’t mean you are weak. You can take care of those issues without medicine,” says Hebeka. As stressors increase, mental illness increases. “Early detection is a big step to preventing a disaster,” says Hebeka. “More people aware the less stigma there will be”. Getting help can give the person a sense of peace and let them be comfortable with one’s self. Comic credited to Imilio Galvez We have problems (not the math kind) By: Krystina Ladonski Staff writer In today’s society, 61,500,000 Americans experience a mental health disorder. That’s one in four adults. For instance 800,000 people die a year from suicide. The true definition of a mental illness is anything diagnosable that interferes with a person’s ability to function in everyday life, or something that affects a person’s mood, thinking and behavior. What many people don’t realize is that mental illness is not just depression or anxiety, and it does not happen to just one specific gender. There are many varieties of mental illness: Photo courtesy of Google.com ADHD, bipolar disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and the list goes on. These mental illnesses can affect anyone. But what are we as a society doing about it? Within Glenbard East the health teachers educate students on how to recognize the signs and what they can do to help a person who shows warning signs. “They are taught about suicide, the signs of October 2, 2015 Arts & Entertainment Fall production By Krystina Ladonski Staff Writer This year’s Glenbard East theater’s fall production is “Wii Dance Through the Night”, a story in dance. The main characters are eight sisters. The oldest turns eighteen, and for her birthday, she gets an enchanted Wii game from her father. She decides to play the game while everyone is asleep. While she is playing, she is transported into the Wii game. She comes back to get her sisters, and together they adventure from game to game. There’s even love between the sisters and game characters, confrontation with the evil queen, bats, and soldiers. Along the way the characters find out how much they really need each other. Sword of Summer, by Rick Riordan To be released October 6, 2015 By Ariel Barbee Staff Writer The first in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series, Rick Riordan has begun a new saga, this time incorporating norse mythology into modern day Boston. Magnus Chase was just a normal homeless teenager- that is until he died. Then things got a little bit crazy. Dealing with all the new punches that are being thrown at him, Magnus will have to come to terms with his new life. Will he survive? The first chapter is available online at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/ books/2015/06/18/rickriordan-magnus-chase--excerpt/71250906/ Echo 3 I am Number 4, by Pittacus Lore 4/4 RAMS- Science fiction By Ariel Barbee Staff Writer Paradise, Ohio, literally seems like paradise to newcomer John Smith. Once again forced to move, John settles into Paradise with his guardian Henri. John is used to a life of upheaval and stress, constantly having to move because of who he is and who is after him. This is because, well, the thing is, John Smith isn’t really John Smith. John is an alien-- an alien from the planet Lorien. No joke. He and nine other children were sent to earth in order to escape the Mogadorians, an evil race of aliens bent on destroying the nine and all that they stand for. With a charm placed on the nine children allowing them to only be killed in order of their assigned numbers, the Mogadorians are forced to hunt them in order. The story begins just as number three is killed. John is number four. Narrating through first person, John’s voice is in no way alien. A relatable teenage boy, John is easy to connect with as he desperately tries to find normalcy in his life. As John begins to make new friends, it is enjoyable to watch the relationships form as he becomes more entrenched in Paradise. Never a boring moment, the book is well paced, alternating between supernatural powers and typical high school relations. This book is sure to be liked by those who enjoyed Divergent and The Maze Runner. Picture coutesy of Google.com TO BUY: Barnes and Noble- $9.99 Amazon Kindle- $8.99 Artist recognition at Institute By Kayla Cook Staff Writer Picture coutesy of Google.com TO BUY: Barnes and Noble- $19.99 Amazon Kindle- $10.99 The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, better known as SAIC, is holding this year’s annual “Portfolio Day” on October 18th. This day is an amazing opportunity for anyone to discuss their work with professors from around the country. There will be over sixty representatives from different universities and art schools across the United States at the event speaking Picture coutesy of Google.com with artists to help them improve their work. All mediums of art are acceptable to discuss. An information meeting on October 17th, from 3PM to 6PM to help participants utilize their time at Portfolio Day. If you are even slightly considering a career in art or you simply draw for fun and you would like some pointers, you should seriously consider attending this event at SAIC. To RSVP go to saic.edu. What to expect when you’re infecting By Kayla Cook Staff Writer Fear the Walking Dead is the new companion show to The Walking Dead which begins its sixth season in October of this year. While The Walking Dead began as a comic book series by creator Robert Kirkman, Fear the Walking Dead is ity surviving. As Rick meets various survivors, he is able to piece together a patchwork understanding of what happened without ever knowing how this all started. Fear the Walking Dead takes us to the very beginning of the event, when these separate violent incidents start to broaching new territory that was never explained in the comic book series and is wholly original and not based on comics as source material. Both shows are about a zombie apocalypse and the dystopian vision of human survival in that world. However, The Walking Dead began when we meet our presumed main character, Atlanta deputy sheriff Rick Grimes awakens from a coma from injuries sustained on the job. When he awakens and explores his world, the zombie apocalypse has fully taken hold with only pockets of human- take place, no one is given an explanation. When Fear the Walking Dead begins, we are introduced to a “blended family” just beginning their lives together, with lots of confusion as to who is loyal to whom. As each character is exposed to “the infected” as they come to be called, each one shows who they are by the way they respond to them. Nick, a young drug abuser is the first to contend with them, and his bleak world view brings an understanding to the catastrophic events unfolding around him. His mother, Madison Clark, shares in his Picture coutesy of Google.com pragmatism and is prepared to do what is necessary. Her new husband, Travis Manawa, is more optimistic and does not want to harm “the infected” in case a cure can be found. One fascinating element to both shows is they are zombie shows that never use the word zombie. The undead have been referred to as “walkers,” biters, chompers, stenchers, but never zombies. The Walking Dead has veered off from the comic book storyline on several occasions creating, or replacing, new characters that never appeared in the comics, as well as killing some on the television show that still live in the comics, and vice versa. There have also been plot changes and timeline shifts that differ from the comics. Usually this would irritate a fan base, yet The Walking Dead has kept the usual themes of the storyline the same, if they differ it is often a pleasant surprise. A wonderful disparity, in the show from the comics, is Carol’s character. In the comics she is seen as an obnoxious hindrance to the group. Carol is a com- plete mess in the comic books, understandably so. The comic gives us a bit of insight into how Carol came to be. The man she dated the longest came to be her abusive husband; she married him out of the fear of being alone. Her husband, and father to her child, Sophia, was unnamed in the comics. Nonetheless, he was the main cause for Carol’s attitude in the comics and the show. He abuses Carol, and we are introduced to her as a victim. Perhaps as payback, he husband is bitten and commits suicide rather than allow himself to come back as a walker. This is where we see the shift of Carol’s character in the show. She becomes much more independent and a strong-minded warrior that saves the group on more than one occasion. Her daughter Sophia does not live long enough to see this change in her mother, as her death is the catalyst that causes the change. Carol will do what she must to protect her new family. The variance of Carol, and most other adaptations of the storyline, are marvelous. We can only expect great things from Fear the Walking Dead. Fear the Walking Dead is not encumbered by a previous history and that lends more of an element of surprise and danger because the viewer has no frame of reference as they do in The Walking Dead. Both shows have been created by comic book writer, Robert Kirkman. Fear the Walking Dead can be seen on AMC at 9/8c every Sunday. 4 Echo By Syeda Sameeha Staff Writer It is the beginning of a new school year and Glenbard East High School just kicked off to a great start with some amazing new faces. Ms. Marissa McLean, choir teacher, is one of those new faces who is excited to be here. “It’s been great coming to East. We got awesome staff here and some amazing students who are so excited to do great things. Working with students like that is probably the most amazing thing I can think of.” McLean graduated from Elmhurst College with a bachelor’s degree in Music and Music Education. This is her second year of teaching. Last year, she taught at Danville, Illinois at Southview Middle School, about 35 minutes from Champaign. Music has always been a passion for McLean. In high school, there was a part of her that wanted to be a teacher, but she didn’t want to admit it to herself. Instead, she planned on pursuing music engineering as her career. But after her first music By Naryan Aggarwal Staff Writer Among the many new staff is Mrs. Laura Grabowski, out new nurse here at East. She was first inspired to become a nurse when she was a teenager, and her father was in the hospital. While visiting her father, she observed and valued how well the nurses took care of him, and decided to devote her life to taking care of others. After high school, she attended Wayne State University as her undergrad for two years. She then attended North Park University for another two years and By Kayla Cook Staff Writer Glenbard East’s social studies department welcomes Mr. Bertane. Mr. Bertane has grown up around teachers. His mother, stepmother, and aunt were all teachers. His stepmother worked at Glenbard West which influenced him to work in the Glenbard District. Although Mr. Bertane is a graduate of Geneva High School, most of his family has gotten their secondary education here. We are lucky to have him. Mr. Bertane has been interested in teaching history since his freshman year of high school, He has always enjoyed the subject, and he felt comfortable presenting ideas to a class. Therefore, he knew just the path to take when entering Illinois State education class at Elmhurst, she was hooked and decided this was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. “My favorite part of the job is actually seeing what students create. It is really cool to be a teacher in secondary education, and even cooler to be in music, because what the students create is awesome and they way they think about things helps me expand my mind and my way of thinking. Being able to get that kind of feedback and hear mature young adults talk about music like that and create something that they couldn’t do by themselves, I feel like the luckiest person in the world.” McLean, who describes her personality as goofy, outgoing, and compassionate, is dedicated to using music as a way to help others. “I want my students to see significant growth in themselves, not only as a musician, but as a human. What does our music tell us that we can share with the world and that we can help change the world? There is so much craziness happening all around us. Music can help us communicate with each other and teach us about other people in the world for a better tomorrow.” Students and staff also testify about her great teaching and passionate nature. Junior Sydney Jenkins, said “I look forward to choir because of Ms. McLean’s stories. She is so funny and choir is always a blast with her.” “Being in Ms. McLean’s class is extremely fun, said Cassie Piper, At the same time, you work really hard,but it is enjoyable work and really pays off in the end.” “We’re really very glad to have Ms. McLean. She brings a lot of positive energy to her classes and it’s clear to the singers that she enjoys what she’s doing. Like all of the music faculty at East, she is great at encouraging participation and excellence,”said fellow music teacher, Mr. Charles Snider. achieved her bachelor’s degree of science in nursing. She then worked at Alexian Brothers Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse for nineteen years. After attending the University of Illinois at Chicago to qualify as a school nurse, she came to East. She loves working with the students and her other associates. “I feel very lucky to be working here at East with such great students,” says Mrs. Grabowski. Mrs. Grabwoski loves working with the students and feels she is ready to take on Glenbard East High School. University. After taking up almost all of his time, he earned his degree in History and Secondary Education. Now that he was able to become a teacher, Mr. Bertane worked at UNO Major Hector P. Garcia M.D Charter High School before he came to Glenbard. He described the progression in his teaching style as becoming more interactive with students, “Hopefully we can break the monotony and have fun.” As a teacher, Mr. Bertane’s goal is to work full time so he can develop better relationships with his students. His favorite part of teaching is getting to know students and helping them. He has admitted that he has not yet fully mastered teaching, but he hopes to someday. We are all excited to share our school and to grow with Mr. Bertane. Amazing new faces By Jillian Lawerence Staff Writer New teachers bring new perspectives, backgrounds, and objectives that will form the minds of this generation. You may have seen her in the halls, or in the classroom, Mrs. Bindi Patel is a fresh face to East. Coming from a charter school in the city of Chicago, East is a bit roomier than her pervious school she taught at for four years. With the many resources we have here at East, Patel is excited to get to work with the diversity of students. Patel knew she was going to be a teacher from a very young age. When she went to high school at East Laydon, she had a history teacher that brought the relics of the past to life. This inspired her to become a history teacher herself. Patel’s parents have also been a huge impact on her life. They’ve always motivated and supported her to be what she wanted to be and helped her become the woman she is today. She went to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and majored in history. She earned her masters at National Louis University studying Curriculum and Instruction. Social Studies department chair Mr. Rasavongxay said, “Number one: I think she [Patel] is connecting with her fellow staff members very well, especially in the social studies department. “We were fortunate enough to have her join us at Lake Geneva leadership weekend, where she volunteered her time to support the growth in our leadership program. Number two: she has a great passion for the students coming to us from Chicago. She has a vast experience that students can see. In her career is going to do wonders for most of our students, if not all of them.” Patel has so many ideas to contribute to East. One of them is standardized testing. When you’re taking a test, the stress level can be overwhelming. Patel hopes to change this culture by focusing on your GPA more than actually learning. Some students just temporarily memorize the material, trying to pass the test and forgetting about it soon after. Patel wants to ease off the testing and make sure that we actually learn the material-- that we’re not just memorizing, but soaking up the information-- so we have it for the rest of our lives. Patel said how excited she is to teach, especially at East. “ I don’t wake up every day dreading going to work; I’m really excited, and I’m glad I picked a career where I get to be excited.” By Savannah Hink Staff Writer This year, we welcomed a new head librarian. Kelly Roberts describes herself as an optimistic, book-loving individual. Other than reading, her hobbies include riding bikes and cooking. As the head librarian, Roberts will always be available to help students with anything, especially book recommendations! Although she cannot pick a favorite book, her favorite author is mystery-writer Harlan Coben. This is not Robert’s first year working at the Glenbard district. In the past nine years, she has worked at West for 3 years, North for 2, and South for a combined nine years. Prior to becoming a librarian, Roberts had worked in marketing communication. When asked why she decided to become a librarian, Roberts said, “I figured since I liked books and kids, I should explore the options.” Since 2015 is Roberts first year at East, she has many goals for our library. “I want the library to be an open and welcoming place.” Roberts also has a multitude of ideas to update the library, implementing new furniture, adding electronic devices such as charging stations within the area, and better access to online resources. Roberts looks forward to the future, especially because her first impressions of East were great. The first day, Roberts recounts that she, “loved it, the students are awesome, and the staff send nothing but good vibes.” The last thing Roberts wants the students to know: she is a diehard Packers fan; sorry Bears fans! to look for at East Echo 5 By Kayla Sisonphonh Staff Writer By Elane Pfluger Staff Writer This year the East staff has added a new Spanish teacher to its ranks. His name is Mr. Timothy Miller. Miller is previously from Naperville but now he resides in Downers Grove. His two years of experience came from Neuqua Valley and Plainfield South. Right now Miller spends his first part of the day at East but after third period travels to North for the rest of his day. Miller says, “ It is sometimes challenging to travel from school to school .An example would be when East and North are on different schedules due to assemblies. However, working at two schools gives me twice the number of people to share ideas and collaborate with.” Miller first became interested in the Spanish language while in his third year of high school Spanish class. After high school Miller then went to Purdue University to study Spanish. He then traveled abroad to Spain , Chile , and Peru and said those were very rewarding experiences. Miller then suggests all students to study abroad if possible. He then states “ Traveling to Spain , Chile , and Peru was very rewarding because I went to a foreign country by myself for extended periods of time and lived with families that did not speak English. To be able to communicate in another language and go through your daily life without using English is a very rewarding experience. All the hard work of learning a language pays off.” What word or phrase is his favorite , Miller then stated “ Que chevere”. This is a phrase he heard a lot in Peru and it loosely translates to how great or how awesome. When asked how long it takes to really learn Spanish Miller replied, “No matter how long you study a language I think you are always continuing to learn that language. Even though I am a native speaker of English and teach Spanish I continue to learn about both languages all the time.” Miller says the best way to learn Spanish is to study vocabulary , be immersed in it, and travel to countries that speak that language. Some of Millers future goals include, “ to find new ways to use the iPad in class and new ways for students to practice speaking. Speaking is such an important skill but difficult to master.” Que chevere to have Miller as one of our Spanish teachers at East? By Marek Novak Staff Writer Mr. Patrick Gan was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. A successful student, Gan eventually attended Binghamton University in upstate New York, where he earned his physics degree. It was graduate school, however, that brought him to Illinois. Gan has a dual master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago for Physics and Education. Gan feels that physics and education “...is like a puzzle, and teaching people how to solve puzzles, is fun.” He says that although a master’s in physics is not necessary to teach physics, it gives him confidence. During his spare time, Gan enjoys hitting the weight room, playing video games and was recently introduced to the card game Magic: The Gathering. Gan looks for a balance, as he says, “Lifting is something considered for meatheads, and then Magic: The Gathering is something for nerds. But I enjoy both equally.” Gan’s science hero is Richard Feynman, a physicist. Feynman jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physics during the 60’s for his work in the development of quantum electrodynamics. Later, he also developed the Feynman diagrams. Feynman was an individual with unique hobbies including lock picking and an interesting teaching style. Gan connects with Feynman’s weird passion range, character and, of course, his teaching style. As a teacher, Gan loves when students appreciate his work and succeed. “When you start to see your work happen, and the students are understanding. That’s what teaching is,” he remarked. He believes that although a master’s in physics is not necessary to teach physics, it gives him confidence as a teacher and helps him explain physics concepts better. This year Gan is entering his fifth year of teaching. Earlier in his career, he taught at four other high schools including Glenbard South last year. Now, he is split between Glenbard South and East, spending most of his day at South. At East, he teaches Physical Science and looks forward to “getting to know students, and especially staff.” He also stated that everyone in science has been nice to him, so far. At South, Gan is involved in Robotics Club, is on the Homecoming Committee, and likes helping out with track and field. Mr. Scipione, the department chair of Science praised Mr. Gan’s attitude and teaching style. “He connects with students, making sure he puts students first, in the classroom and wants students to succeed and do well.” Scipione also added, “We’re going to try and make him a (full time) Ram one day, maybe”. Gan is “... looking for a successful year at East and a great school year.” The Math Department welcomes Algebra and Geometry teacher, Ms. Jordan Flowers. She was inspired to become a math teacher because it was her favorite subject and she deeply respected her educators. Flowers said the reason she chose to be a teacher in the first place was because she had instructors that influenced her. “They were really good teachers and I knew that I wanted to be like them.” One of Flowers’ goals is to show students that math isn’t always a topic to groan about, but a topic that can be fun and exciting. “I always keep in the back of my mind, it’s really important to just keep a positive attitude in the classroom at all times and have it be a fun experience.” She graduated from North Central College and aside from majoring in mathematics she minored in Secondary Education. Flowers has already made a very positive view on East in and out of the classroom. “Ms. Flowers has and will continue to impact her students due to her desire to serve/ help others. This servant’s heart will also help her impact her colleagues in the math department and throughout GEHS.” said Mathematics Department Chairman, Mr. David Elliot. Flowers plans to be involved in track during the spring, explained her love for Abraham Lincoln and stated that she’d teach History if she wasn’t teaching math. She says she loves the school, students and teachers. By Krystina Ladonski Staff Writer This year we welcome a new English Department Head Chair, Ms. Sara Schumacher. Schumacher has been an English teacher for ten years, previously teaching at York High School. She taught advanced reading, sophomore honors, and freshman courses. As a high school student at Willowbrook, Schumacher was inspired to become a teacher through a negative experience with one of her own high school English teachers. The teacher viewed the students in a negative light. “She was very dismissive of kids,” says Schumacher. “I was motivated to take on the position that respected students”. But deciding to be an English teacher was a different story. “I loved writing,” says Schumacher. After high school, Schumacher went By Arianna Perez Staff Writer In addition to the many new staff members at East this year, the math department welcomes Algebra 1 teacher, Mr. Robert Dobosz. While Dobosz started at Washington University in St. Louis, he unfortunately injured his knee playing football as a running back while returning the returning kickoff of a game his sophomore year. However, on the upside, he met his future wife, Sally Lee, while attending the University. After his injury, he then transferred to Illinois State University where he graduated. Dobosz says his role models are his parents and his former high school football coach, Bill Duchon, because they taught him to have great faith and humility. They also taught him to respect authority, work hard, and love every minute of his life on earth. Chairman of the Mathematics Department, Mr. David Elliott, says, “Mr. Dobosz brings a wealth of experience with him as he’s been a teacher at Glenbard South. He has already to Illinois State University for her undergrad in English. For teacher training, she advanced to University of Illinois where she earned her Masters in Education. One of the biggest differences for her new position is the fact she is in only one place, her department chair office. “The bell rings but I don’t have to move. It feels like I have to be somewhere but I don’t,” says Schumacher. Ms. Schumacher’s biggest goal is to make a positive impact on a variety of groups. “Before, as a teacher, it ended at the door. With this role, it gives me the opportunity to help impact a larger number of students and reach beyond the classroom,”says Schumacher. shared other resources and ideas with teachers in my department. He also cares deeply about students and wants them to work to their highest potential.” Outside of teaching, Dobosz enjoys being an avid Chicago sports fan, especially claiming his allegiance to the Chicago Black Hawks. He also enjoys gardening and following politics. He says he’s a staunch Constitutionalist and an Independent. In discussing his view of the current candidates running for presidency in 2016, Dobosz says,”We need a leader. We have serious issues that need to be addressed in this country and in this world. I continue to evaluate all of them, but we need to establish [the importance of] following of our Constitution and respect for individual freedom.” Dobosz is looking forward to working with our students. “I enjoy seeing students find their passion in life and become givers to society. The journey is always greater than the destination.” Echo 6 Sports Fo o t b a l l o f f t o a f a s t s t a r t By Gorgi Solar Staff writer Under the leadership of Mr. John Walters, the football team is determined to have successful season. As of Friday, September 25th, the Varsity team is currently 4-1 overall, and 1-0 in conference with a solid 3-0 start with victories at home against Willowbrook, Glenbard South, and East Aurora respectively. The team is displaying confidence in their abilities early in the season, the best start since the 1999 season. The Rams were perfect until they met Glenbard North High School, losing by a score of 17-41. The game was scheduled on September 18th, but was held off until the next day due to lightning. After leading at the end of the 3rd quarter, the team could not capitalize on the opportunity and ended up losing. The senior class has led the team due to its experience and the knowledge of what it takes to prepare for a game and to compete. Walters prepared his team in the offseason through the winter, spring and summer. “We lift all winter and spring in conjunction with speed training. We have a comprehensive summer program. Then a three week preseason of practices before our first game,” says Coach Walter has contributed to the early success. “We have been playing a solid three phase game: offense, defense, and special teams,” says Coach Walters. “Our goal is simply to be the best we can each day whether it’s a practice or a game. Thus far, the philosophy has been successful.” Even when the starting defensive end was no longer available due to injury, several guys stepped up into the role to fill in the void. East’s football team also established an IHSA record was set when senior Rebecca Deluca-Lane scored a touchdown versus East Aurora. This was the first time a female scored a varsity touchdown in an Illinois High School football game. Deluca-Lane wrestled the ball away from two East Aurora players and she celebrated once the touchdown was recognized by the referee. Later, she celebrated that night with a raspberry “Slurpee.” Congratulations to Deluca-Lane on this accomplishment. Soccer kicks off the season By Krystina Ladonski Staff writer The Rams Boy’s Soccer team kicks off the season with a 2-6-2 overall record. Some of their goals as a team is to focus on urgency, perseverance and committing as a program. “We talk as a group” says the head soccer coach Mr. Josh Adler. All though there are no predictions this year, “we’re always faced with challenges,” says Adler. A way to ensure the team is ready for games the practices are harder, allowing the game situations to be simpler. “We have to work for the success. Just because we were successful last year does not guarantee us success this year,” says Adler. With a young team the Rams look forward to learning throughout the year. Yo u n g t a l e n t s e t s t h e t o n e By Gorgi Solar Staff writer Starting off the fall season, the girl’s tennis team is excited with what it has to offer. With a good season last year and several girls partaking in the summer league or receiving training at tennis facilities, Coach Bill Burt is optimistic for the road ahead. The girl’s tennis team is looking to prove themselves as a strong competitor. As of the week of 9/23, the girl’s tennis team is off to a 7-1 overall start and took first place at the Ram Invitational tournament under the leadership of sophomore Kolie Allen in singles and seniors Sam Naughton and Stephanie Chlopek in doubles matches. “We want to finish first in conference, play our best tennis in October, and qualify multiple players for the state meet,” says Coach Burt. Finding consistency in their play is the key to reaching their goals. “It’s a work in progress,” says Burt. Allen emerged as a team leader this year after qualifying for state last season and is one of the elite players in Illinois. There is also a bright future ahead for the girl’s tennis team. Freshman Shreya Sharma and sophomore Bailey Ekstrand were a surprise coming into the season. “They are playing quality tennis, and are higher in the lineup than I was anticipating,” says Coach Burt. With an optimistic start and blossoming talent, the Girl’s tennis team definitely has something to look forward for this season and in the future. October 2, 2015 Girls volleyball continues to set the tone By Gorgi Solar Staff writer The Girl’s volleyball team is working hard to reach their potential and regain last season’s success of winning a regional title. Coach Ms. Marci Meier and her players come into the season prepared after players spent time playing club volleyball to further develop their skills. As of 9/23, the girl’s volleyball team is currently 11-11, and 3-0 in the Upstate 8 conference. The girl’s have gone undefeated thus far in conference, developed a strong team bond, and set high academic standards under the captaincy of seniors Allison Farell, Elin Ream, and Jessie Spontak. As returning players, the senior class stepped up to lead the team by example and aspire to surpass expectations of the program. Their strong leadership has not been a surprise. Coach Meier states her biggest surprise: “Allison Hamaker [is a] starting freshman on varsity and is one of the most consistent hitters.” However at the same time, the Girl’s volleyball team experienced a key injury in senior Emily Hamaker, tearing her ACL. Hamaker was a four year varsity starting middle, but Sophomore Erin Cluskey and Junior Kate Tadda have stepped up to fill the void. “Thus far, we have maintained our pasing and serving goals to help us become a defensively sound team,” says Meier. Team chemistry plays a role when maintaining goals and the team has developed chemistry by going on a camping trip before the season started for the purpose of building a strong team unity. Wins against Elgin and East Aurora and a memorable effort against Wheaton North allowed the team to compete at its potential and find its chemistry. With a freshman and two sophomores, the Girl’s volleyball team has the experience and potential to compete at a high level for the rest of the season and the future looks bright. October 2, 2015 Sports Seniors take the lead By Gorgi Solar Staff writer The Girl’s golf team continues to grow from season to season. Coached by Mr. Scott Miller, this year’s varsity golf team is looking to finish at the top half of their conference and hopefully advance to sectionals and then state. After preparing for this season by playing summer tournaments and practicing, as of 9/23 the Girl’s golf team is 7-3 overall and 2-3 in the Upstate Eight Conference. Captained by senior Grace Ludwig and Gillian Ostrowski, the Rams finished 3rd of 15 teams at the Ram invite and placed second in the District 87 Invite. Medalists for the Invite included Lugwig (3rd place) and Ostrowski (tied for 10th). To reach their goals, the team must find consistency in their play. Miller states, “We are working harder to overcome the struggle of inconsistency.” Some surprises for Miller this year have been seniors Sammy Caruso and Olivia Sterling due to the fact that they have been able to produce solid scores. The girl’s golf team built early team chemistry when they went to West Aurora Glow Golf together. The team will try to continue to build on past results to assist their desire to reach their goals. Bates has visions By Gorgi Solar Staff writer Athletics is an important aspect of student life. Sports can be an escape from the challenges of everyday life for many high school students. Being part of a team allows athletes to have a sense of pride and passion. The significant job of making sure that all events are organized for each team and are going as planned rests on the shoulders of the high school athletic director. The role of an athletic director can sound overwhelming, but it is essential for keeping any high school running. At Glenbard East, Mr. D’Wayne has eagerly accepted that position. Bates grew up with a single mother in the small town of Jackson, South Carolina. On his mother›s side of the family, he has an older sister. On his father’s side, he is the third oldest of eleven children. Sports were always his passion while growing up. Bates was a four sport athlete in high school where he played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. “It definitely took a lot of time management. I was able to play baseball and spend time running track in the spring,” said Bates. During his high school football career, he was awarded the Bulldog Award, which was given to the most valuable football player. Bates was also recognized as an All-Conference, AllState, and All-American football player. After high school, he was privileged enough to play football in college and chose to attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Bates chose Northwestern because, “There were really three reasons why I chose Northwestern. I wanted to get away from home, Northwestern’s academic prestige was also very appealing, and I was given an immediate opportunity to be a part of something special.” Northwestern is where Bates transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver. After four years of college football, he was drafted into the National Football League (NFL) by the Chicago Bears. He definitely left his legacy at Northwestern by being inducted to the Northwestern Football Hall of Fame. “I was privileged enough to be one of the less than 1% to make it to the NFL,” says Bates. He spent three seasons playing for the Bears until he got traded to the Minnesota Vikings. Bates also spent some time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before eventually retiring from football in 2004. After retirement, Bates chose to pursue a career at Evanston Township High School and later became the athletic director at LaSalle-Peru High School. His path would then lead him to Glenbard East High School. One of the biggest reasons why he chose East was because he liked the demographics and diversity of the school. Inspiring and empowering students to grow also appeals to Bates. “I saw the opportunity to see everyone work together and also to encourage students academically where everyone is passing all of their classes especially student-athletes,” replied Bates. Building a positive climate and ensuring that everyone is having an enjoyable experience are Bates’ favorite parts of his job. When it comes to being an athletic director, authenticity is a key quality. Bates states, “I want everyone to know I have a vision for this school.” Bates plans to promote East in the community by the means of academics and excellence in sport. His biggest goal this year, however, is to increase participation in extracurricular activities. Although he has been impressed with the student body and its potential, he feels that every student should participate in one activity. A way that he has already promoted the importance of athletic involvement is by setting an athletic fee of $150.00 that covers athletes for as many sports as they want to play. Last year, each sport had its own athletic fee which could have been a barrier for participation. I am comfortable with communicating to coaches in every way, but I am still learning to communicate with students, but I do not find it difficult.” An athletic director must be well versed in communicating with coaches as well as with students and athletes. The task of communicating, organizing, and planning is not easy. According to Bates, “Athletic directors work eight days a week, from six in the morning to whenever the custodians kick me out. I want to make sure that everything goes well and never lose sight of the daily vision.” Echo 7 G i rl s c r o s s c o u n t r y By Marek Nowak Staff writer Coach Latala and Lady Rams to Make Cross Country History. Last year, both varsity and the freshman/sophomore levels won second place at the Upstate 8 Cross Country conference meet. This year coach Mr. Joseph Latala is planning to win first! “It would be the first time that we’ve been conference champions, I think. It’s school history for Cross Country.” He also said it would be a “huge jump forward and really good for the girls.” The team’s goal is to also get to the State meet, which they missed by one place last year. So far, the girls had much success and “took a major step forward,” since last year praised Latala. The Ladies won the Marmion Cadet Invite. Varsity was also awarded 3rd place and three frosh-soph girls placed in the top five. The biggest surprise is sophomore Lexi Wellton who achieved second place. She ran the three-mile race in just 18:58, which is the second fastest time the team has managed to achieve at the Marmion invite since 2010. The team has been improving exponentially over the last two years mostly due to the coaches’ high expectations and the team’s hard work. Team captain, senior Jayne Peters stated, “The coaches have really been pushing us,” However, it has not always been this way. Latala has described that they are a team who has, “been coming out of the blue. No one expected us to be super good last year.” The Lady Rams’ success is certainly not by accident. They have undergone a rigorous training regimen. “The way our training is designed, we peak when we are supposed to peak,” said confident senior captain, Yoselin Toledo. That time is October and November when the lady Rams hope to garner historic success for East. Boys cross into new territory By Marek Nowak Staff writer The boys are constantly getting better. Their practices revolve around a cycle of tiring “work out” days consisting of cruise interval along with other challenging activities as well as less intensive “recovery” days when the boys usually go on a longer run. AP U.S. History teacher and head coach Mr. Chris Pietsch guarantees that “if you work hard, you will get faster” and promises that, “virtually, everyone [on his team] will work hard, have fun and get better.” The biggest success indicator for Pietsch has been the fact that most people did far better than at Marmion, a way in which the team measures their success. The coach highlighted the performance of sophomore David Crossland, who came in second and has significantly improved since this time in 2014, and Freshman Alex MacDonald, whose focus is on achieving a better time and continuing to stand with the winners by placing first, second or third. MacDonald’s teammates also jokingly suggested that he not passed out, like he did during the first meet. “I was conscious, but I couldn’t get up,” recalled MacDonald. Sophomore Talyor Westerhoff also ran with Varsity and the team looks for a continued solid effort from him. Senior captain Josh Schafaer says (of Westerhoff), “He deserves the recognition. He’s really coming through the last couple of meets.” As far as goals, Pietsch aims to get at least two of his runners to the Sectionals, just like last year by building on last year’s efforts and hard work. Some people have gotten sick or injured, yet it has not and will not stop the team. Cross Country is an individual sport, although injuries occur and it is important to help that person. “You should be focusing on what you can control, which is your own individual improvement because you have a responsibility to yourself,” says Pietsch. This year’s senior captains are Josh Schafaer and Patrick Mikel. Pietsch also stresses the importance of the summer running and how essential it is to the season. “Summer running is the foundation of the pyramid.” The boys all agree summer running is a necessity which requires a great effort, yet brings great achievement and success. 8 Echo Fa l l re c i p e i d e a s : By: Kayla Sisonphonh Staff Writer Mini Pumpkin Pies Caramel Apple Pie Cookies Ingredients / Materials: 1 package refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts) 5 oz caramel topping 10 oz apple pie filling 1 egg 1 tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp nutmeg ¼ cup sugar Ingredients / Materials 4 inch round cookie cutter (or bowl) to use as a template. 1 muffin / cupcake tin Fall piecrust cutters (optional, can be bought from WilliamsSonoma or Michaels) 1 package of refrigerated pie crusts 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin / pumpkin filling 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk 2 eggs 1 tablespoon of Pumpkin Pie Spice (can be substituted for cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove mixture.) Instructions: Preheat oven to 425°F Mix pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl until smooth. Pour into pastry lined muffin cups to the top. Top with pastry leaf cut-out if desired. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temp. to 350°F. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until knife inserted comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes in pan for filling to set completely. Directions Take crusts out of fridge / freeezer to get to room temp. to make them easier to work with. Preheat oven to 350°F Spray cookie sheet with nonstick spray. Duat work area with flour and roll out crusts. Spread a thin layer of caramel on one of the crusts Use a knife to chop pie filling into smaller pieces and spread over top of caramel. Cut other crust into ½” strips. Use strips to create a lattice top over pie covered crust. Cut out circles and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Beat egg in bowl until well blended. Mix together sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Brush lattice tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar mixture made in previous step. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Hovertrax The Hovertrax Solowheel, also known to some people as the first modern hoverboard has already hit the stores. Featuring a small, compact design, lightweight hardware, and an advanced motor, the Hovertrax is a hands free segway that has revolutionized the way that people will be traveling. Pick one up yourself in stores today for a pretty cost of $1,450. iPhone 6s Featuring a whole new level of technology, the iPhone 6s is bound to hit the shelves soon, taking their 3D touch ability right with them. 3D touch is a brand new way, invented by Apple, to interact with your iPhone. Based simply on how much pressure that you apply By: Kayla Sisonphonh Staff Writer Konow’s Corn Maze September 19 - October 30 (Homer Glen, IL, 60491) 2 corn maze’s perfect for all ages. Maze for serious maze masters is approximately 3.4 miles. Maze for brave souls that want to walk a shorter distance is 0.4 miles. Also includes an animal barn, hayrides, corn pits, cow train express, spider web challenge, weekend concerts and much more! Zombie Safari Haunted Hayride - Open every weekend in October, 7pm - 12 midnight (19111 S Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL) Odyssey fun farm opens its gates at night and challenges brave hearts to hunt for zombies on a pitch black, winding, narrow path. Will you take on the challenge? to the screen, 3D touch revolutionizes the way that smartphones will be made from now on. Press the screen lightly to view a preview of an email or to view an address; press the screen harder and instead, the email will open up as it does on our phones now, and on addresses the street view function will appear. Pick up an iPhone 6s at your own leisure from the low price of $100, up to a higher price of $750 based on how much memory you would like your phone to have. Sony VR Headset And lastly, moving towards a recreational setting, Sony has announced that they plan to release their own Virtual Reality headset. For those of you that do not know, Virtual Reality is a new type of video game that has been in the works for many years now, allowing players to slip into whatever game that they are playing actually feel like they are there themselves. With Sony’s headset, players will be able to have a one hundred degree view around them, which is equivalent to nearly a third of your entire vision. While we will have to wait a little longer for this to be released, with a confirmed date of early 2016, we can all say that the wait will be worth it once we can experience the games we play for ourselves. Fear Fest October 2nd - 31st (South Beloit, IL 61082) The Haunted Barn built in the 1830’s is a classic haunt designed to target all your fears. New features every year frighten newcomers like The Haunted Hayride. Enter the woods if you dare behind a John Deere Tractor on a real Haunted Hayride. Nightmare From North Street October 2 October 31 (East Dundee, IL - 880 E. Main) Nightmare from North St. is 16 acres of terror and horror in one location. When the park closes down, the Morbid Army rises from the shadows to take over the whole park! If you survive Twisted Madness you will be led to the Morbid Manor where you face your ultimate fears. Statesville Haunted Prison October 1 (Crest Hill, IL) Statesville Haunted Prison is 5 miles south of I-55 on Weber Road in Crest Hill, IL. Statesville is an aggressive interactive experience made for teen and adult audiences. This haunting takes you through the twisted chambers of the darkest creatures ever imprisoned with over 150 live actors, over 40 horrifically detailed rooms. Average time to get through the walls is 40-50 minutes. What not to say to your homecoming date By: Dylan O’mera, Kayla Sisonphonh, Jalen Jackson, Jillian Lawrence, Marek Nowak and Elane Pfluger Staff Writers Techno-trend 2015 By Dylan O’mera Staff Writer Extra-Extra October 2, 2015 5 T h i n g s t o d o d u r i n g Fa l l “How are you getting home?” “Dinner’s on you, right?” “You couldn’t find anything better to wear?” “How’s your sister?” “Who’s your friend?” “Are you wearing deodorant?” “You’re not as pretty/ handsome as I thought you’d be..” “Was that on clearance?” “What’s your name again?” “How much do you weigh?” “I support Donald Trump.”