In This Edition - East Lyme Public Schools

T heViking Saga
Volume 44, Edition 19
June 7, 2011
In This Edition:
5
submitted by r. santo
Vandalism Strikes
Niantic Benches
6-7
www.thevikingsaga.org
Looking Back at
ELHS 2010-2011
9
litchfieldcountysports.com
ELHS Alumni in
Baseball
10
Art Wing Drenched
Water pipe burst causing
momentary
mess
in
art hallway
by Dan Gaffey
Panic struck on Thursday, May
26 when a water pipe in the art
hallway burst, causing gallons
and gallons of water to pour
into the hallway and rush into
the surrounding classrooms.
Freshman Emma Punsalan
first discovered the leak in
her Birth to Three class. She
immediately told Fine Arts
teacher Rachel Michaud about
the seeping water. The whole art
department then went into high
alert and started moving all the
paintings and supplies to higher
ground to avoid water damage.
The entire ordeal caught
head of Fine Arts Department
and junior AP English teacher
Arctic Monkeys
in NYC
On the back
If you were being
attacked by
zombies, where
would you hide
and why?
www.thevikingsaga.org
Mr. Olsen, Ms. Martin and Mr. Rheaume trek
through the water for some damage control.
James Warykas off guard.
After the water began leaking
into his room, he directed the
class to keep it from spilling
into the supplies closet, where
hundreds of dollars worth of
other materials are stored.
After the flooding ceased,
only a few supplies in one
closet got wet. By the end of the
day, head of maintenance Mike
Hewitt and the rest of his team
had cleared two inches of water
from the art hallway.
Money Matters
Superintendent Dr. James
Lombardo and Principal
Michael Susi comment
on the aftermath of the
budget cut
by
e.mooradian/saga
k.kielty/saga
Dan Gaffey
On May 23, Superintendent
James Lombardo spoke to the
Board of Education (BOE) and
addressed how the $460,000
budget cut will directly affect
East Lyme High School.
The Board of Finance (BOF)
worked in collaboration with
the BOE to decide where the
money should be cut from the
school’s budget. The BOF
made several suggestions to the
BOE board members on ways
to manage the money, so drastic
measures, like eliminating
multiple teaching positions,
could be avoided.
“I have been with schools
making budget cuts before,”
said Mr. Susi, “But this was the
most collaborative process I
have seen.”
On April 1, 20 pink slips were
issued to teachers district-wide
as the BOE was preparing to
cut back on spending. However
with the budget passing, the
BOE reevaluated the number of
teacher reductions, and reduced
this number to three reductions
district-wide.
With the help from the BOF,
the cutbacks on spending are
going to be easier to handle
than expected. There were
plans to update most of the
outdated technology within the
high school. The old computers
were to be replaced with newer
models with more memory
capacity. When the budget was
frozen earlier in the school year,
the order for new computers
was put on hold as well. With
guidance from the BOF, the
BOE decided to pay for the
new computers with a five-year
plan instead of paying in a one
lump sum.
Additionally, the BOE and
BOF decided that if there
happened to be any money left
over from this year’s budget, it
would go directly into (continued
as Budget Update on Page 5)
East Lyme High School, 30 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333
2
opinion
june 7, 2011
Talk Less; Say More
editorials by Kate Kielty and Emily Mooradian
b.e.grimwood
Extending NHS
by
Kate Kielty
Over the course of senior
year, I have had the privilege
to participate in many different
activities both in the high school
and throughout the community.
By far, my favorite of these
opportunities was being a
member of the National Honor
Society (NHS).
NHS is an organization
with chapters in middle and
high schools across the country
set to acknowledge outstanding
students who are leaders in their
community. The East Lyme High
School chapter is open to students
who are invited to apply based
on their academic standings at
the end of junior or beginning
of senior year. They are then
selected to join the group by a
committee of faculty members
should they display character,
service and leadership in their
extracurricular activities.
Once inducted into the
organization,
students
are
required to collect a certain
number of community service
hours and volunteer at either
one or two NHS events based
on what time of the year they
were inducted into the group.
This year, NHS organized a
food drive for Care and Share
and a carnation sale for their
annual scholarship, created the
“Pick Your Cause” fundraiser,
raising money for the Heifer
Foundation, relief efforts in
Japan, the American Cancer
Society (ACS) and adding to
the value of their scholarship.
NHS also had a strong team for
ACS’s annual Relay for Life
last month.
NHS at ELHS is composed
of leaders from various aspects
of the school, yet as the vicepresident of the organization, I
can see that there is one missing
component that could strengthen
the group’s efforts to its greatest
potential: juniors.
As experienced seniors
who have already participated
in similar clubs throughout
the school, NHS has all of the
resources to succeed. Yet, with
the initial stresses of senior year
and the final relief that school
is almost over, I can see that
members are struggling to find
the motivation and time to put
their maximum effort forward
for the group. With fresh faces
from another grade, the group
would collectively be stronger
and the seniors would be able to
lead the juniors and teach them
how to run the organization
Outside The Classrooms:
compiled by
Kate Kielty and Emily Mooradian
SEX
What is your opinion about students at East Lyme High School and sex?
“You should wait to have sex
until you are absolutely, totally,
completely positive that the
person that you are with loves
you and is not trying to take
advantage of you...”
– senior girl
“I think we’re at the age where
we should be able to have sex
as long as both the male and
female are ready.”
– senior boy
“It seems like such a casual
thing to some people, but sex
is meant only for marriage, not
any time before that.”
– sophomore girl
“Personally, hearing a rumor
about myself having sex with
someone makes me laugh,
because it’s so far from the truth.
But hearing about other people
is just is hurtful, and honestly
none of anyone's business.”
– senior girl
“It seems like they’re doing
it too young and too soon.
If you’re fourteen, you’re
probably not mature enough
for sex. For the most part, the
people that I know are being
safe and mature about it.”
– senior girl
“If two people want to have
sex, they have to be responsible
about it, think of our bodies as
a privilege, don’t abuse that
privilege by sleeping around
because something bad will
come of it.”
– senior girl
“Sex is whatever you make of
it. If virginity is something you
hold sacred, more power to
you. But having sex is usually
inevitable in most high school
relationships.”
– junior boy
successfully the following
year, a job that is currently the
responsibility of advisor Henry
Kydd as students enter the club
with no knowledge of how to
run the events.
As it stands now, ELHS’s
chapter of NHS is dedicated to
recognizing seniors who have
been successful throughout high
school, but the organization
has the potential to achieve
much more than that. NHS
members want to raise money
for meaningful causes such
as the Heifer Foundation and
give back to the community,
yet as a one-year activity it is
difficult to organize these events
without the knowledge of prior
years’ successes or failures and
the motivation to carry out the
groups goals with everything
else that is going on during
senior year. By allowing fallsemester juniors to join the
organization, the two grades
could combine and make one
powerful team for ELHS.
Outside The Classroom
compiles statistics and
quotes from ELHS students
about various topics. The
information
and
data
published in OTC’s is
gathered from Saga surveys
that can be accessed at
www.thevikingsaga.org.
“It seems rather common, but
the lack of teen pregnancies
and (I think) STD's attests to
how well educated we are.”
– sophomore girl
“No one cares anymore, it’s
just like another thing on the
checklist. And it’s assumed for
all couples, too, even if they’re
not having sex.”
– junior girl
The information and data published in ‘Outside the Classrooms’ is strictly for informational purposes and The Viking Saga does not encourage or discourage any of the views presented.
the viking saga
opinion
n.maddux
Buying Success
by
Emily Mooradian
The sentiment ‘money can’t
buy happiness,’ has become a
common phrase within society
over the years. And while it’s
invariably true that happiness
cannot be bought or sold, is
there a way to buy away a
students desire to go to college?
Is it possible to pay away the
need for one to educate his
or herself?
One businessman in San
Francisco thinks there is. Peter
Thiel, a graduate of Stanford
Law School and one of the
original co-founders of PayPal,
recently invested $2 million
june 7, 2011
into a new kind of ‘scholarship’
coined the ‘20 Under 20.’ Each
of the 20 recipients receives
$100,000, not for enrollment
into the college of their choice,
but as an alternative to attending
college, a chance to “chase their
entrepreneurial dreams for the
next two years.” In short, the
winners are being paid not to
attend college.
While each handpicked winner
ranges from valedictorians to
academically inept super coders,
all have promising futures in
the technology industry. Some
of the projects these former
students are looking to pursue
with their new-found financial
fuel include creating a mobile
banking
system,
cheaper
biofuels and household robots.
Thiel argues that some of
society’s most talented young
minds can help make great
strides in the world by skipped
the debt-inducing stage of
life that college inevitably
is and moving onto the ‘real
world.’ Although his ideas and
undoubtedly radical and risky, I
can’t help feeling that he might
be onto something.
While it can’t be guaranteed
that these young adults
will catapult themselves to
Zuckerberg-like status, the
entrepreneurial
experience
they will garner could be a
lesson they would otherwise
not have gotten the opportunity
to absorb.
Education is never
something to undervalue however a higher education
does not necessarily guarantee
a higher success rate. With the
extreme prices of college only
further skyrocketing it’s hard to
blame Thiel for proposing an
alternative to this economically
draining social standard dubbed
‘necessary’ for those seeking
out career success.
For most of us, myself
included, a college degree
is the only way of getting
anywhere. But for some, the
best career move ultimately lies
in following their dreams rather
than the beaten path. I admire
the students who have chosen
to take that risk, and look
forward to seeing what these
bright minds can produce in the
next two years.
Letter to the Editor:
Dear The Viking Saga staff,
All it takes is one sliver of
a story you overheard in the
commons one morning and
BAM, the rumor pandemic
spreads faster than any
possible disease.
No one can say honestly
that they have never spoken
about someone they know
behind their back, or, aided in
the spreading of a rumor even
if it is unintentional. Everyone
can also say that they have been
the subject of such rumors.
The effects of even the smallest
rumors can be enormous;
friendships are lost, boyfriends
and girlfriends break up, and in
the worst of cases, trouble with
the administration.
Now I realize everyone should
accept their consequences with
any faults they make, myself
included. However, a person’s
faults should not be exploited
throughout anyone else in the
school. Quite frankly, it is
nobody else’s business.
Someone once told me
“rumors begin usually with a
shred of truth.” On the other
hand, I can name off many
friends of mine that have gotten
the butt end of every rumor,
and by the time they circulate
throughout the school, there is
not one shred of truth left in the
story. People stretch the truth so
far that it no longer exists.
I personally challenge my
peers to think before you speak,
because in the end, what goes
around comes around, and
no good ever comes out of it.
For anyone.
Sincerely,
Senior Ian McFarland
Do you have any suggestions for next year’s
The Viking Saga editorial staff?
If so, email elhsvikingsaga@gmail.com!
3
Editorial Staff
2010-2011
Editors-in-Chief
Kate Kielty
Emily Mooradian
News
Christine Durkee
Features
Mike DeFaria
Sports
Bryan Swenson
Entertainment
Ally Sloss
Managing
Samantha Lyall
Website
Kiersten Sinko
Media
Raj Thanabal
Advisor
Jeff Beale
Staff Writers
Page Burns
Stefanie Duda
Dan Gaffey
Kaytlin Murphy
Ben Ostrowski
Kaley Roberts
Francis Shields
Zoë Smallidge
the viking saga
4
news
june 7, 2011
Passion to Profit
Culinary teacher Ms. Frausini piloting a brand new business course called and cooperative case studies.”
So far, Ms. Frausini has booked a field
“Passion to Profit.”
offers new business class
“Students taking this class will explore trip to Ashlawn Farms, a business that sells
by Zoë Smallidge
what it takes to turn an idea into a product and distributes their own coffee to places
or service,” said Ms. Frausini.
The main goal of the course will be to let
students think creatively, and use potential
business ideas to form a strategy that will
make their plans successful.
“Each person has a skill or
idea or specific interest, and
this class is about harnessing
that creative energy as
entrepreneurial
thinking,”
said Ms. Frausini.
Ms. Frausini currently
teaches multiple Culinary
classes and the Fashion class,
so she is very excited about
piloting “Passion to Profit.”
“I am expecting this
to be a high-energy class
with ideas bouncing off the
walls and students working
cooperatively to develop
plans that they may ride to
success in the future,” said
z.smallidge/saga
Ms. Frausini. “Students will
be involved in active learning
Ms. Frausini poses with one of her culinary through guest speakers, field
trips, community placements
students, sophomore Emma Arnold.
Culinary teacher Laura Frausini, who
just began to work at East Lyme High
School this past year, is extending herself
in the school’s curriculum in yet another
way. Starting next fall, Ms. Frausini will be
all along the Connecticut shoreline. Also,
the founders of G.I. Nutrition, a sports
protein and supplement company out of
New Jersey, are booked as guest speakers
for the class.
“Through analyzing consumer demands,
market opportunities, and social needs,
students will enhance their skills in problem
solving, communication, organization, and
leadership,” said Ms. Frausini. “Ultimately,
students will choose an area of focus,
whether it is tech development, music
production, interior design, sports nutrition
or anything that is a passion, and work to
analyze whether this is a viable product
or service.”
“I know that students here at East
Lyme High School have so many talents
and interests, and I hope that by offering
this course, students realize that these
interests or ideas that they are passionate
about have great potential to grow into a
financial resource for themselves,” said Ms.
Frausini. “If students are as enthusiastic as
I am, I can see this course growing to be
an integral part of the culture at East Lyme
High School and in the community.”
Students Bite into Spanish Culture
Ms. Barry’s Spanish students get the
chance to taste Spanish cuisine
by Francis Shields
Thirty-five of Ms. Barry’s Spanish
students recently had the opportunity to
eat at an authentic Spanish restaurant in
Hartford on a field trip. At the restaurant,
called Costa de Sol, the students were served
a variety of authentic Spanish dishes.
“This is the only restaurant nearby that
serves real, authentic Spanish food,” said
Ms. Barry. “It was a good experience for
the kids.”
Different types of Spanish paella dishes
were served to the students at the restaurant.
Their options included seafood, chicken
and chorizo (sausage), and vegetarian. The
students also got to sample the Spanish
the viking saga
dessert flan. All
of the waiters
and waitresses
spoke
fluent
Spanish and tried
to
encourage
students to use
as much of
the
language
as
possible
when ordering.
“It was great
to learn all about
ordering
food
at a Spanish
restaurant,” said
freshman
P.J
Craddock about
the field trip.
hartford.cityvoter.com
The restaurant at which ELHS Spanish students ate
on a recent field trip.
news
Boardwalk Vandalism
ELHS community speaks
about the damage to
boardwalk benches
by
Kaley Roberts
june 7, 2011
5
Budget
Update
(Continued from Front Page)
The spray paint did its damage
on April 8: 25 of Niantic’s
boardwalk
benches
were
anonymously colored by the tag
“Snorp.”
A reward of $500 was
immediately offered to anyone
with information leading to an
arrest. Sixteen days later, a local
submitted by r.santo
nonprofit organization increased
that sum to a whopping $17,000.
The arrest of Clint Franklin, The tag “Snorp” was put on the Niantic
a 22 year-old man from Old boardwalk benches in April.
Lyme, quickly trailed the reward
increase. On May 17, he appeared in the meaningfulness destroyed by some random
New London Superior Court, where he guy…I’m glad he got caught.”
Sophomore James Barone’s grandparents
was charged with criminal mischief and
criminal trespass. East Lyme High School also purchased a bench when they went on
students felt his arrest was justified, because sale around the time the boardwalk was
many of the $700 benches were purchased finished. He was equally as disappointed as
Horner to hear about the vandalism, as it
to commemorate their families.
Sophomore Madison Horner’s family, also struck his family directly.
Senior Kate Powers, however, has a
for example, purchased a bench in memory
of her grandfather. The plaque on it reads, bench on the boardwalk that is for “The
“In Memory of Stan Horner. Gone but not Powers Family.”
“When I first heard about the vandalism
forgotten.” Upon hearing that the sentiment
could have been destroyed –spray-painted I didn’t immediately think about the fact
over –Horner said her primary reaction was that my family had a bench,” said Powers.
“I was more upset that someone would
anger.
“I just thought, ‘Why would someone do vandalize such a great spot of town. I was
that?’ I mean, people spend tons of money happy that they found the person that did it,
on those, and they’re meant as memorials,” though, and hopefully he can repay the cost
said Horner. “To have all that money and of the damages done.”
www.publictrustfoundation.org/
The Niantic boardwalk memorial benches before they were tagged.
the budget for the next school year.
With the cut however, advanced
placement and accelerated learning
classes are in jeopardy. “There is
always a direct effect [to classes] with
cuts,” said Mr. Susi, “[It is] either
reducing classes with low enrollment,
or lose electives.”
The budget cuts are also going to put
a hold on maintenance work around the
school. The proposed repaving of the
back parking lot where the pavement
has been in poor condition will have to
be put off until it is financially feasible.
Also, the maintenance department will
have to wait on the plans to make
the school building m o r e
handicap accessible in compliance
with the Americans With Disabilities
Act (ADA) guidelines.
An unexpected return from the
district’s insurance helped lower the
budget cut. Although the insurance
rates were expected to increase, they
actually decreased, making the bottom
line lower than projected.
The Alternative Education School is
also under close scrutiny. “We’ve done
all the research and have looked for the
best practices and other opportunities
that other schools offer,” said Mr. Susi.
“We are looking to dissolve the program
[there is] now, and replace it.”
Contrary to speculation, if the school
was going to be replaced, the money
would not come from the BOE’s
budget. The funding for that operation
would come from federal grant money
which may not be refunded if it is
not used.
Although these are rough economic
times, Mr. Susi seems to approve of
the way this budget is heading. “We
are working smarter, not harder,” said
Mr. Susi, “We are maximizing every
dollar we have.”
the viking saga
6
features
june 7, 2011
Tauro Helps Haiti
Sophomore Gabi Tauro to spend the
final week of school year helping
the children of Haiti
by Page Burns
On June 19, while the majority of students
will be spending time cramming for final
exams, sophomore Gabi Tauro will be
doing something much more meaningful.
As the seniors are getting ready for the next
day’s graduation, Tauro will be flying to
Jérémie, Haiti to assist a group of doctors
in hopes of caring for Haitian people.
Tauro’s father, a neurologist, is long
time friends with the Haitian Health
Foundation’s founder Jerry Lowney, and
after 25 years of working hand-in-hand he
determined that it is time to pass down the
tradition of helping others, by getting his
eldest involved in the project.
“I’ve always wanted to go,” said Tauro.
“My dad used to show me pictures of all of
the kids and it made me want to help make a
difference in their lives. This just happened
to be the year that the trip worked out and I
am so excited.”
Even at the age of 5, Tauro showed
signs of her desire to help those in need.
On a Christmas card she even wrote, “Dear
Santa, please visit the children in Haiti.”
Though she was not eligible for the trip
until the age of 15, Tauro had to postpone
her trip plans for
earlier this year due
to the earthquake
that occurred in Haiti
last year.
“I am ready to see
the culture and meet
all of the people
in the town,” said
Tauro. “I, hopefully,
will be helping out
with young children
and babies. Even
if helping means
giving
them
a
McDonald’s toy to
submitted by g.tauro
play with, I hope I
can make some kind Gabby Tauro hopes to volunteer like her father
of difference.”
(pictured above) in Haiti.
Tauro will be
While Tauro continues to prepare herself
the only teenager on her trip. For the most
part, she will be surrounded by doctors to make a difference on her trip, it is the
who will be giving out immunizations and inevitable truth that Haiti will still need help
other forms of basic health care at hospitals even afterwards.
“I do hope that this is the first of many trips
such as a local government hospital and
Mother Teresa’s Hospital. She will also in my life and if not, I know I will always be a
visit the village of a family in which her part of the Haitian Health Foundation,” said
Tauro. “[The Haitian Health Foundation’s]
own family sponsors.
“My parents have always come back main office is in Norwich, and they need as
saying how rewarding the trip was, and how much help as possible from anything like
[the sponsor family] has helped them more loading the shipping crates, to adopting a
family, donating clothes or even food.”
than my parents helped them,” said Tauro.
Remember When...?
Three unforgettable events that defined school year 2010-2011 at ELHS
The Heated Spirit Week
Although tension always arises during
that epic week in October, Spirit Week
this year was not only competitive but
controversial. Seniors dominated the whole
week, leading them to their precedented
“three-peat,” and the freshmen were, well,
freshmen, but what happened between the
sophomores and juniors will forever remain
a little fuzzy. The two classes were neck
and neck throughout the whole week, but
once the pep rally came around, emotions
heated up. Whether the accused juniors
actually cheated in a few of the rally events
or points were miss-counted, the world
may never know.
the viking saga
The Infamous Winter Ball
Whether it be the auditorium lecture
about inappropriate behavior or the
gossip centralized around the night for
days afterwards, this year’s Winter Ball
was certainly the most discussed dance,
but maybe not for the best reasons.
Undergarments were lost, less-than-classy
“dancing” was executed and disciplinary
actions were required to take place. Though
this dance may not have turned out the
best, it served as a lesson for the students
of ELHS as behavior and dancing was
improved in time for Spring Fling, a couple
months later. Just remember, four-on-thefloor was meant for tables.
Kaytlin Murphy
Never Ending Snow
by
Mother Nature hit Connecticut as well
as the majority of the East Coast pretty
hard this year with hundreds of inches of
snow just over a course of a few months
during the winter. As a result of this
weather catastrophe, numerous snow days
affected this year’s schedule. After the
first few days off from school, students’
cheers of joy turned into moans of agony as
midterms seemed to never end since they
were repeatedly delayed. Not only were
exams affected, but students anxiously
anticipating the upcoming summer learned
they would have to wait longer than planned
to be released from school in June.
features
june 7, 2011
7
Inside and Out of the Box
Moffat’s production revolves around ourselves to this hilarious show before the
Students prepare for this year’s
four
proclaimed “crazy people” in jail pressure is on.”
Black Box production
by
Page Burns
There is no doubt that East Lyme High
Schools Drama Club is overflowing with
talent. With new and developing talent
each year, the club’s success continues to
outshine itself. On June 13 and 14, however,
ELHS students will utilize their talent in the
unique annual Black Box performance.
Black Box productions are minimalist
theatre experiences. The audience sits upon
risers to watch short productions using less
costuming, make-up, stage lights and set,
that are written and directed by seniors Pat
Moffat and Cam Lecce. These productions
will feature seniors Kathy Dana and
Nate Whipple and juniors Adam Pilarski
and Miranda Mugovero. Black Box will
also include segway performances from
seniors Brenton Kelley, Kelly Eberle and
sophomore Katelyn Ollhoff.
“For me, this was a fun and creative
project in which I could show off my
creative energy and have fun,” said Moffat.
“It’s like a full length movie that subtracts
all of the non-funny parts.”
and their wild shenanigans. According to
Despite the stress of final exams and
Moffat, his eight minute show is intended the show itself, the pressure has not limited
to have no plot.
Moffat, Lecce and the other members from
“Plot gets in the way of the funny parts,” expanding their talent.
said Moffat.
“[Moffat and Lecce] are artists growing
Lecce’s play, on the other hand, is a and experimenting in their element,” said
romantic comedy in which a young woman Pilarski. “It really is incredibly beautiful to
(Mugovero) facing romantic predicaments experience, especially when you’re working
meets a relationship
with people as
counselor (Pilarski), ‘They are artists growing in their passionate and
who flips her world element. It is incredbly beautiful well-defined as
around in a frantic
Pat and Cam.”
to experience, especially when
attempt to help her out.
Unlike any other
you’re working with people as
ELHS
Drama
Though the date of
passionate and well-defined as
experience,
the show is persistently
Black
Box
creeping onto the
Pat and Cam.’
deserves
an
calendar, Moffat, Lecce
-junior Adam Pilarski
a t t e n d a n t
and crew continue to
audience.
aim their efforts toward
“It is truly a unique experience for both
the success of the show, as well as the end
audience members and actors,” said ELHS
of the 2010-2011 drama season.
“I want to go out shining and I think we Drama Club advisor Mr. Place. “It is a last
need to go out on a high note,” said Lecce chance for seniors to perform as a part of
as he commented on the thought of his final the school, but it also is a great experience
ELHS production. “Black Box is also right for the underclassman, and will make
before finals start and we all deserve to treat them better.”
Year One
Mr. Susi reflects on his first year at like, it could be almost anything.
But I think you guys – when I say
ELHS
you guys, I mean the students –
by Kaley Roberts
are extremely creative. … I think
The Viking Saga: What are your feelings
on the first day versus today?
Mr. Susi: I was excited about coming
here; I think the excitement has continued.
Things like Spirit Week, the different plays
that I’ve gone to, interacting with students,
teachers … I’m still very excited.
VS: What was your favorite day of the
year?
Susi: I’m not sure if I can pick just one
day. I’m having a blast, I really am. I
enjoy coming to work every day, I enjoy
interacting with the people. I’m having a
lot of fun. … For me, just to see what you
guys are doing is a blast.
VS: Any ideas or alterations planned for
next year?
Susi: I’d like to see more entrepreneurial
type things in the school. What that looks
there are a lot of opportunities
here to take that ingenuity and
creativity and help create new
ideas and new opportunities.
VS: What are the final
achievements of the NEASC
process?
Susi: It highlighted two things.
One was the dedication of the
faculty – that was articulated
www.thevikingsaga.org
well. The second part was about
the students. They were really Mr. Susi with senior Eric McGlone and
impressed with you guys, as they junior Sean Chimilewski at the Pep-Rally
should be. During the visit, talking
this year.
with other principals and teachers
that were on the visiting committee, they faculty, how the students respect the school,
couldn’t get over how respectful and those things were all looked at and reported
appropriate the students were. … The on. And we got great marks on them, so,
relationship between the students and the it’s really a great place.
the viking saga
8 june 7, 2011
sports
End of the Year Awards
Sports superlatives for the 2010-2011 school year, one of the more exciting years
Athlete of the Year
Best of the Best
by
Dan Gaffey
Freshman of the Year
r. thanabal/saga
submitted by j. combies
Across the board, ELHS has gifted
athletes. It is hard to isolate one as the
absolute best, but this year’s winner is
senior track-star Ben Lakeman.
In the winter season, he placed second
in the state for the 600-meter, and placed
tenth in the All New England’s.
Also, Lakeman placed first in the 400meter and second in the 100-meter at the
ECC Championship meet on May 21.
submitted by k. nickerson
the viking saga
Without a doubt the award for best team
goes to the volleyball team.
After making it to the state championships
with a 23-1 record, the Lady Vikes swept
the defending champions Darien in three
straight matches.
This was quite an extraordinary feat,
seeing how Darien has never lost in a
state final.
Players
To Watch
An athlete never stops training, and two
athletes this year who will certainly gain
recognition during their senior years are
Chad Berry and Kennedy Nickerson.
Berry played in the 2010 football state
final game against New Canaan, and was a
returning starter this past season. Over the
past two seasons, he has racked up nearly
140 tackles.
He has received interest from big name
schools like Harvard, Princeton and the
University of Tennessee.
Also, he led the lacrosse team in goals
this past regular season and will return as a
top starter next season.
Nickerson has already verbally committed
to the University of New Hampshire to play
soccer, and is sure to dominate the field
during her senior year.
submitted by b. mauthe
It is not very often when the freshman or
junior varsity teams get the limelight like
that of the varsity.
The freshman athlete of the year goes to
diver Caroline Gonsalves. She shattered
the East Lyme diving record with a
245.7 performance.
She will keep getting better in hopes to
break the East Lyme pool record of 276 in
the years to come.
submitted by b. cohen
sports
june 7, 2011
9
Alumni Make Big Marks
Two East Lyme alumni make big an hour, he has the credentials and
arm strength to move his talents to the
names for themselves
Major League.
by Bryan Swenson
Another ELHS alum who has made
East Lyme High School graduate Sean
Donatello, now pitcher for the Avery
Point baseball team, was named Player of
the Year by the National Junior College
Athletic Association.
Donatello dominated in his 17-team
conference this season. With a 1.53 ERA
(earned run average), Donatello has made
his presence known within the Northeast.
When Donatello pitched for ELHS
in his senior season, he led the team to a
15-4 record and was noticed by several
college coaches.
Now a sophomore at Avery Point, he
led the team to a 39-9 record and an East
District Championship title 6-0 over
conference rival Monroe College.
Donatello’s game keeps improving.
With a fastball that hovers around 90 miles
an unbelievable achievement is 2007
graduate Adam Rand. He has been
offered a contract to play with the
Hamilton Nationals, a Major League
Lacrosse team.
Rand plays lacrosse as a senior at
Division I Stony Brook University in
Long Island, and is the team’s starting
face-off midfielder. He is in third place
for the all-time NCAA Division I faceoff wins, and led Stony Brook to their
NCAA championship semifinal run in
the 2009 season.
Rand is looking forward to joining
the Nationals once he completes his
studies at Stony Brook.
“It's a goal that I've always had to
get to that level,” said Rand, “It was a
great honor to get drafted.”
litchfieldcountysports.com
Sean Donatello was voted Conference
Player of the Year this past season.
Young Guns of Track and Field
Two ELHS underclassmen dominate
Eastern Connecticut Conference
Ben Ostrowski and
Francis Shields
by
Chelsea Stevens
submitted by l. banker
Freshman Chelsea Stevens carries
the baton during a race.
Freshman Chelsea Stevens got an early
taste of winning this outdoor track season,
taking first in the 100 and 200 meter dashes
at a meet at Fitch. But it did not stop there.
The freshman speedster is part of the
varsity 4x400 relay team along with
sophomore Amanda DeMaio and seniors
Lauren Kirshblum and Samantha Lyall.
The team has taken home first place against
Waterford, NFA and Woodstock.
“My teammates are so supportive,” said
Stevens. “I look up to older team members
who have given me amazing advice and
helped me through those nervous times
before meets.”
Stevens qualified in the 100 and 200
meter dashes for the State meet at the end
of the season.
“I feel like to be successful you have to
really enjoy what you are doing, and even
though there are those days at practice
where it seems like it can't get any worse,
in the end I really do enjoy running,”
said Stevens. “I like hearing what I have to
improve on because I know it will help.”
With an attitude like that, the sky is
the limit.
Kevin Foster
East Lyme High School sophomore
Kevin Foster is crushing the competition
throwing the javelin. He has won five of
his first six events.
However, his dominance did not
fade throughout the season. At the ECC
Championship Meet, he placed first in
the javelin with a throw of 164 feet and 9
inches.
Kevin is the brother of former ELHS
javelin thrower Jeff Foster and says he has
learned a lot from him.
“He (Jeff) has helped me a ton with my
form and mechanics. All I have left to do is
just go out there and throw it,” says Kevin.
the viking saga
10
june 7, 2011
Arctic Antics:
by
Emily Mooradian
In the ever-clever words of Arctic Monkeys
front man Alex Turner, “Anticipation has
the habit to set you up for disappointment
in evening entertainment.” Fortunately for
myself and my fellow co-chief, Kate Kielty,
the heavily anticipated Arctic Monkeys
concert Tuesday, May 24 was anything but
a disappointment.
Hailing from sheffield, England, this
own indie alt-rock Brit Band made the trip
across the pond with an impressive line up
of gigs all over the country, one of which
included a stop at Rumsey Playfield, the
outdoor venue tucked away in Central
Park. The excursion to see our favorite
Sheffield four-piece in the flesh had been
in the planning stages for about three years,
so Kate and I were beyond thrilled.
Upon entering the arena, we managed
to squeeze up to the very front row, a mere
railing separating us from the stage the
Arctic Monkeys were soon to set foot on.
The Vaccines, an up-and-coming band
from London, England, opened with a
short set from 7:30-8, which was politely
received, but the crowd was for the most
part just anxiously awaiting the arrival of
the Arctic Monkeys - The Vaccines were
merely elevator music.
After the openers traipsed off-stage,
it remained without Tuner & Co. for an
entertainment
Arctic Monkeys come to New York City for
May 24 show at Rumsey Playfield
additional 45 minutes of sound system set
up. When it was finally time for the Arctic
Monkeys to make their appearance, all of
my exhaustion and irritation dissipated
immediately; the energy was positively
palpable within the Playfield, and the
appearance of the quirky quartet resulted
in a surge forward from everyone within
the vicinity, despite the fact that there was
virtually no room to move anywhere.
After a thunderous applause, Alex was
short, sweet and to the point, greeting the
crowd with a heavily accented “Hello,”
before launching into the opener, ‘Library
Pictures,’ from their soon to be released
fourth album Suck It And See, scheduled to
sell June 7.
The rest of the night went by in an
energetic whirlwind, with the Monkeys
playing hit after hit. The set list comprised
of an eclectic mix from all three of their
albums, including “The View From The
Afternoon”, “If You Were There Beware,”
“Pretty Visitors,” and “I Bet That You
Look Good On The Dancefloor,” as well
as some more spectacular surprise songs
from SIAS including “Don’t Sit Down
Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” and
“She’s Thunderstorms.”
Although the boys briefly left the stage
at the end of their set they were back within
minutes to answer to the uproarious cheers
The Sounds of Summer 2011
Mac Miller
by
Ally Sloss
Mac Miller is steadily rising to the start of an epic summer
fan-base.
A 19-year-old from Pittsburgh, PA, Mac Miller is following
the trends of today’s popular rap artists, spitting rhymes that are
less vulgar and easier on the ears than the hard-hitting jams of
the 50 Cent era.
Songs like “Cruise Control” and “Keep Floatin’” (which
feature artist Wiz Khalifa) have 70s style music and thumping
backbeats, with lyrics that are easy to catch onto and are almost
(but not really) appropriate to repeat in public. His songs are also
highly dance-able, making them great for bonfires and impromptu
twilight dance parties.
While it is unlikely that Q105 will be bumping any of Mac
Miller’s hits on the radio, his EP “On and On and Beyond”
is available on iTunes. And, when dozens of beach bums at
McCook’s will inevitably blast his songs day in and day out, Mac
Miller might find a place in your heart long before he finds his
way to your iPod.
the viking saga
for “one more song.” They delivered and
then some, playing “The Hellcat Spangled
Shalalala,” “When The Sun Goes Down”
and, my personal favorite, “Fluorescent
Adolescent.” While there wasn’t much
chatter from Alex and the gang, there
wasn’t any need for stage banter- the boys
just played at a breakneck pace, cooly
confident and giving the impression of
watching a band of best friends jam out in
their basement. Just really, really talented
best friends.
e.mooradian/saga
Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex
Turner rocks out on the guitar.
Two summer
your Library
sensations
Florence & the Machine
for
In a world where Auto-tune has replaced authentic vocals and
the actors on Glee perform popular songs better than the original
artists, Florence & the Machine is nothing short of a miracle.
Florence Welch, the lead singer and namesake of the band, has
a set of pipes that even angels would kill to have; slightly raspy
and resonating with tone, vibrato and emotion, Welch’s voice
coats every note with the care and devotion a mother would give
to her child.
The band as a whole incorporates a wide range of instruments.
Piano, guitar, synthesizer, drum-set, tambourine, violins and
cellos – this well-oiled Machine backs up its leading lady’s voice
in unique and captivating manners. If you are looking for a band
that is under the rader and ahead of the curve, this band is it.
“Cosmic Love,”- “Swimming,” and their most recognizable
song, “Dog Days Are Over,” are just a few of their songs to start
off your summer playlist. You will not get the full Florence + the
Machine experience, however, if you do not consider purchasing
their album, Lungs.
entertainment
Art for All
ELHS’s
11th
annual
Expo shines
by Kaley Roberts
Art about whether people would come, but we
had a good turnout.”
The immense turn out truly benefitted
the student artists, who worked yearlong
The commons was a museum, the to harness their individuality and display
cafeteria a stage. Art oozed window it at the May 17 expo.
“The expo is sort of what we’ve been
to window at East Lyme High School,
coating its walls in the whimsical youth of working for all year,” said senior Marisa
Glynn. “It’s our one big hoorah type of
high school imagination.
This year’s Art Expo was a gigantic deal, where we can celebrate how far
event that encompassed art as it is written, we’ve come and celebrate each other.”
“It’s nice because people can actually
performed, constructed and put on paper.
see what
With a two
we’re
hour running
‘It’s our one big hoorah type of deal, where
doing,”
time – 6 to
we can celebrate how we’ve come and we can
s a i d
8 p.m. –
celebrate each other’
senior
and over 50
-senior Marissa Glynn
Emily
students’
Rosa.
w o r k
“They
displayed,
the expo was no simple event. The woman can see that we take [art class] seriously
who braved its complexity for the 11th and it’s not just a blow-off class.”
Glynn and Rosa are two of the five
consecutive year was fine arts teacher
members of Ms. Michaud’s AP art class.
Rachel Michaud.
“It was successful as always,” said Ms. They, along with their classmates, seniors
Michaud, at the expo’s end. “I was wary Sawyer Marchand, Danielle Shen and
june 7, 2011
11
Megan Disch, were assigned specific
spaces and left to drench them in their art
samples. The display areas received a letter
grade, leading the ambitious students to
break out everything from holiday lights
to drapes. It created an extravagant effect.
“Earlier it was stressful, trying to set
all my work up,” said Shen. “But now,
seeing everyone else’s work all together,
it’s very cool.”
While the AP art students busied
themselves with set-up, though, their
peers warmed up musically. The expo
featured the Chamber Singers, Sweet
Harmony, Digital Piano and Guitar
students and a string quartet. The 2011
Fine Arts Magazine was also presented for
the first time.
Not even tunes and a fabulous magazine,
however, could distract from the artwork.
“We see [her work] all the time,” said
Rob Wilson, as he stepped out of the crowd
surrounding his daughter, junior Fallon
Wilson’s, graphite sketches. “It’s just nice
to have other people enjoy them.”
“There are so many talented people,”
said Shen. “It’s great for other people to be
able to come see their work, because you
wouldn’t really, anywhere else besides at
an expo like this.”
Confessions of a
Bookworm:
Confession Number 19: I still wish I were a wizard. Ever
since my August discovery of wizard rock, my passion
for magic has grown immensely. It seems the only way
to satisfy this wish, unfortunately, will not come around
until July 15.
by Ally Sloss
July 15 is the release date for the second installment of
The entertainment
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Part Two of this
world from a nerd’s epic movie picks up where it ended in November, with
Harry, Ron and Hermione still on their treacherous quest to
eye view
defeat Lord Voldemort and save the wizarding world from
his control. For most of the world, Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows: Part Two marks the end of an entertaining movie series that
has captivated them for 10 years. For another group of people, myself included,
this movie symbolizes something far greater: the end of an era.
There is a group of Muggles out there who have been enthralled with Harry Potter since the very
beginning. Our parents used to sit us on their laps and read us a story about a peculiar boy with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
When we were old enough to read on our own, we reread this story by ourselves, and then the next story, and the next story, and the next
story. When a new Harry Potter came out, we locked ourselves in our room for days, not coming out until we had completed the book,
cover to cover. And then, when our books became movies, we would complain for hours about the Quidditch matches or Death Day
parties the director so carelessly left out.
We could barely contain our tears when J.K. Rowling tied together all the loose ends with the closing sentence of her last Harry Potter
book; I highly doubt we will be able to contain ourselves at the end of the last Harry Potter movie.
It is a strange coincidence that the end of the Harry Potter era comes at the same time as the end of another era in my life: the end of my
childhood. While Harry, Ron and Hermione prepare to leave Hogwarts behind, I am preparing to leave East Lyme behind. Surprisingly,
though, I am not afraid of either of these ends. No matter how far away I go, I will always have East Lyme to return to. No matter how
mature I become, I will always have my beloved Harry Potter books to reread. And, no matter how old I become, I will never be too old
to believe in magic.
the viking saga
12
back page
june 7, 2011
If you were being attacked by zombies where
would you hide and why?
“Mr. King’s room.
There are all kinds
of zombie-fighting
weapons in there
from throughout
history.”
- freshman
Evie Moore
“Behind Dan
Scheyder’s calves
for obvious
reasons.”
- senior
Zach Skelton
submitted by z.skelton
facebook.com
“Jack a ferry since
I’ll have food,
bathrooms, and
zombies can’t
swim.”
- senior
Tori Luce
“I would hide in
Sarah Lento’s arms
because they are very
comforting.”
- sophomore
Annie Lussier
facebook.com
s.lyall/saga
“Sasquatch’s hairy
belly because
who would attack
him?”
- sophomore
Matt Gillespie
“China... My brain
is inferior to the
other billion people
there.”
- senior
Jay McCaffery
s.lyall/saga
s.lyall/saga
“Mr. Buchan’s room
because his music
would scare them
away.”
- junior
Rafeed Hussain
s.lyall/saga
the viking saga
“In a hut of dead
zombies because
they are not
Cannibals.”
- senior
Patrick Moffat
s.lyall/saga