Fall 2011 - Western Wayne School District

Planet Wildcat
Western Wayne HS
Lake Ariel, PA
Volume 6, Number 1 November/December 2011
PSSA
scores
meet state
mandates
WWHS has met 13 out of 13
target areas on the Spring’s PSSA
tests. Mr. Sheehan, principal, is
pleased to announce that this
means that the high school has
met required “Adequate Yearly
Progress” (AYP) for the second
consecutive year on PSSA tests
in both Reading and Math. As a
result, the district has moved out
of all warning areas, meeting and
in some areas, even surpassing,
the performance level required
by the state. “I am extremely
proud of our academic performance and I want to thank the
students and staff for their hard
work,” Mr. Sheehan said.
PA’s Department of Education
website explains that AYP is part
of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. “The purpose of AYP
is to ensure that all students have
reading and math skills that prepare them for the future.” Every
student must score Proficient level or higher in Reading and Math
by 2014. Districts must show
AYP in several areas including
Attendance or Graduation Rate,
and Test Participation.”
In addition to PSSA performance results, data, as shown in
the below graph, indicates that
WWHS has also been making
consistent yearly advances on the
SAT. Mr. Sheehan encourages
this year’s test takers to continue
this trend by earning high scores
on this year’s tests as well.
Mr. Matthew Barrett newest
addition to administrative staff
by Maria Ingaglio
Co-Editor
Fourth time’s a charm for the
newest vice principal at Western
Wayne High School, Mr. Barrett. During the past four consecutive years at Western Wayne High
School, four different VPs have
sprouted. Mr. Barrett’s eagerness in
successful consistency of the profession makes him stand out from
the crowd. In the upcoming school
year, Mr. Barrett plans on becoming part of the community as well
as getting to know the student body,
faculty and staff.
Upon entering Western Wayne,
Mr. Barrett took notice of the many
successful programs within the
school. “The number of activities
available at a student’s fingertips is
remarkable, providing options for
every individual student,” Mr. Barrett said. Impressed by gradual increase of student improvement, he
looks forward to being part of the
school district’s progress in a positive direction.
Despite the fact that Mr. Barrett is the latest authority figure in
WWHS, he has a much lighter and
down to earth manner. In his spare
time, he enjoys golfing, fishing,
traveling and, most of all, spending time with his family. A s a loyal
Penn State Alumni, he also enjoys
watching his alma mater dominate
other collegiate football teams. Mr.
Barrett’s enthusiasm for sports has
already spread to Western Wayne as
displayed by his Wildcat Pride.
“It’s really awesome to see Mr.
Barrett attend a lot of school sporting events, including our varsity
football games. His attendance
proves that he’s making a great attempt at getting to know his students,” Varsity Quarterback Johnny
Rhodes said.
Sports are not only a hobby; they
Photo by Samantha Sinclair
Reporter Maria Ingaglio welcomed the chance to sit down to talk
with new Assistant Principal Matthew Barrett as he settles into his
position here at WWHS.
were also part of an unusual student
teaching experience for Mr. Barrett,
who is certified as an elementary
education teacher as well as a principal. “I spent a semester in South
Dakota at a Native American boarding school. We took students from
13 different reservations across the
Midwest in order to educate them.
It was one of the best experiences
of my life, and I learned a tremendous amount about education. I also
had the privilege of coaching their
football team which went undefeated for the season!” Mr. Barrett explained with an enthusiastic smile.
This adventurous side of his per-
fun FACTS!
A few favorites:
Team: Penn State Football
Food: Italian
Author: John Grisham
Music: All types
Candy: Sour Patch Kids
sonality is most likely part of what
has led Mr. Barrett to WWHS, despite a 50-minute commute here
from his home in Factoryville. He
entertains himself by listening to
satellite radio and to audio books
while he drives.
As one who enjoyed his own
youth, Mr. Barrett gives this advice
to today’s students: Treat others
the way you’d like to be treated.
Teachers credit Mr. Barrett with
a good start. “Mr. Barrett has
been great to work with,” English
teacher Mr. James Rebar said. “He
brings warmth and personality to
what can be a difficult position.”
Attended: Bishop O’Hara High
School; Penn State University
Best advice ever received: Treat
others the way you’d like to be
treated.
Professional goals: To develop
consistency in the profession
and build his career.
Inside this issue
3
OPINION
Does
appearance
really
matter?
10
FEATURES
School
pride
strong at
Fall 2011
Spirit
Games
11
FEATURES
Get in step
with Nick
VanLeuven
Planet Wildcat
Page 2
Editorial
OPINION
MEET THE PRESS
Breaking news!
The word is out:
Exercising can be fun for everyone!
by Harry Harrison
Some people love to go for a run on a nice Fall day; others
like to gather friends and shoot some hoops. Some people
enjoy going for a bike ride, and others playing a pick-up
football game. Some people hate walking, but love to jump
on their trampolines. There is one thing all of these people
have in common: they’re exercising!
Exercising isn’t just for athletic people; it’s for everyone!
Many believe that they can’t, or shouldn’t, exercise because
they don’t play a sport or plan on playing one. However,
exercising is an important factor in a healthy lifestyle, and
it can be fun! Some people wonder, “How much fun is going
for a run?” It can be fun though! Going for a run, taking a
walk or a job, playing recreational sports with your friends,
jumping on a trampoline, dancing, and even playing Wii or
XBox Connect are all great ways to get moving.
I found myself interested in raising awareness for fitness
when I was signing in to my AOL email account and saw
something about obesity flash across the news feed. I read
the article and was in complete shock. Obesity is a huge
problem that is completely taking over the United States.
The title of the article I read was simply put: America, the
Fattest Country on Earth.” In our “fat country,” 15 out of
20 tenagers are overweight, and 12 out of 20 are obese.
As of 2011, we are at the highest obesity rate of all time. It’s
not something to joke about anymore. For years, we have
sat back and laughed at people who struggle with exercising
and staying fit. It’s now time to start helping them - and
helping ourselves. Being overweight is related to many negative factors such as heart problems, diabetes, shortness of
breath, lack of self-confidence, poor sleeping patterns, short
concentration spans, bad joints, in many cases, humiliation,
and the scariest part, death! I’m smart enough to know this
article in our school newspaper won’t change America, but
let’s try to change our community. Let’s get active! It can
be fun, and the outcome can be a great feeling!
*Please note, the views expressed in this editorial are the views of the
student writer and, as such, do not necessarily reflect the views of
other students at WWHS.
Planet Wildcat
1970A Easton Highway Lake Ariel, PA 18436
(570) 937-4112 EX. 3104
Co-Editors: Mark Yamialkowski, Christina Gabriele, Maria
Ingaglio, Shaun Howard
Photographers: Samantha Sinclair, Giovanni Clark
Reporters: Samantha Burge, Allison Hess, Harry Harrison,
Danielle Reed, & Mallory DePew
Advisor: Mrs. Marianne Morgan
November/December 2011
Meet senior Harry
Harrison of South Canaan,
one of Planet Wildcat’s
valued staff members.
Harry has been a staff
member for three years,
first as a freshman and
then as a junior and senior.
Harry took some time off
from writing, but newspaper advisor, Mrs. Marianne
Photo by Maria Ingaglio
Morgan, recruited him again last
Going with his gut feeling is the
year, and Harry has never regretmost important part of the job
ted his decision to return to writfor editorialist Harry Harrison
ing. “One of the best lessons I’ve
who is known for his candid relearned here at Western Wayne is
flections on high school life.
to not hide my talents to write and
draw. I learned this by writing for
Planet Wildcat.”
\“Harry is naturally gifted,” Mrs. Morgan said. “I most admire his ability
to really show his emotion in his writing. Many people have stopped me
to compliment his work.”
Harry most enjoys writing about sports and editorials. “I like to teach
people lessons based on experiences that I’ve had that other people can
learn from,” he explained.
Harry, who is also known for his artistic talents, is planning a career as
an art therapist. “Art is relaxing,” he said. “It allows me to relieve stress
caused by the day. I’m lucky to have art second, seventh, and eighth
periods this year.” Harry said that he most enjoys his Advanced Art class
because students have the freedom of choice of what they do. Harry’s
favorite medium is pencil, and he has earned many admirers already this
year for his pencil drawing of The Beatles on display in the art room
window. Harry is excited about a career in art therapy. “I’ve always been
helpful toward others and enjoyed art, so this will be a chance to combine these in a great career.” As for athletics, Harry plays both football
and baseball. He enjoys the physical activity and the camaraderie of
working with his friends on both teams.
Claws &
Paws
by Christina Gabriele
Co-Editor
PAWS to our Homecoming Court
PAWS to seniors for their great PSSA results
PAWS to our football team’s great season
PAWS to Fall sports teams who were so dedicated this year
PAWS to marching band for their great parade awards
PAWS to Mark Yamialkowski for his award as best drum
major in the Hazelton parade
PAWS to the new semi-formal theme
CLAWS to snow in October
CLAWS to two flood days so early in the year
CLAWS to injuries to some of our best football players
CLAWS to the Penn State scandal
CLAWS to long lunch lines
Planet Wildcat
November/December 2011
How much do looks
really matter?
OPINION
by Mark Yamialkowski, Co-Editor
“I
Photo by Mark Yamialkowski
Studies show that males, like
Jordan Rola,
9th grade, are more apt to look in a mirror to
check out how good they look while, sad to
say, females check their flaws.
think my style varies. I change my appearance depending on my mood,” sophomore
Ashlyn Anderson said. When Ashlyn is feeling confident and happy, you’ll see her striding
through the hallways with a smile on her face
and wearing outfits that say, “I care about my
appearance.” “I think that people that a lot of
people who don’t know me get the wrong impression of me.” This is how Ashlyn sees herself
through her peers’ eyes. Though Ashlyn feels
that her peers have the wrong impression of her,
she cares about the way she looks. This can give
a first impression about Ashlyn that she is an outgoing, friendly person.
So, you might ask, “Do looks really matter?”
Yes, looks do matter. In fact, it is said that it takes
just three seconds for someone to evaluate you
when they first meet you. First impressions are
made from the clothes we wear, to the way we
wear our hair, to even how much we weigh. Snap
judgments like these about people are crucial to
the way we function, even when these judgments
can be wrong. Stereotypes are seen as a neces-
Page 3
sary component for making sense of the information we receive from first impressions.
Savannah Jablon, senior, agrees that appearance
matters. “A person’s appearance can show what
kind of person they are. For example, someone
in formal attire can be an intelligent, well mannered, proper person. Someone in a jeans and
a hoodie could be a more relaxed person who
doesn’t care about looks,” Savannah said.
Savannah believes that people perceive her as,
“just another girl.” She thinks of herself as a shy,
smart, and non-judgmental person, and describes
her personal style as comfortable, relaxed, and
easy-going. She abides by the school dress code
policy and doesn’t think that it is very limiting
because our dress code is very lenient, and everyone seems to dress in the same attire.
Let’s look at how Ashlyn and Savannah view
different aspects of appearance.
Ashlyn: “When I see someone who is dressed
dark and scary, obviously I am led to the stereotype that they would fall under the categories of
“gothic, emo, or punk.” I think we should dress
respectfully, and however we feel like. Our appearance should reflect ourselves and our attitude.”
See APPEARANCE on page 9
STUDENT SPEAK:
good-looking: adj. handsome or pretty
We like to say that LOOKS don’t matter,
but there’s no denying that there are times when
looking good feels undeniably good! So we asked some students,
“When is there a time when you know you look ‘just right’?”
Photos and interview by Samantha Sinclair
Andrew
Stine, 10th
grade:
“During
football
games
because I
feel pride in
wearing my
uniform.”
Allie Miller, 9th
grade: “When
I’m with my
friends at a
football game
because I’m supporting our team
and also having
a good time with
friends.”
Vinny DeLeo, 11th grade:
“Whenever I’m on a hot date
because I feel more confident.”
Matt Lukeski, 12th grade: “The day I
presented my senior project. I dressed for
the occasion and got good remarks for it.”
Desire Shradnick, 12th
grade: “In the winter I feel
warm because of the furs I
choose to wear.”
Brittney
Greaney,
11th grade:
“On the first
day of school
because I
dressed to
impress.”
Izzy Esposito, 10th: “I
feel that during FBLA
and TSA, dressing up
makes me look presentable and professional.”
Planet Wildcat
FEATURES
Page 4
poetry
author
BioPoem
Ashley Gay
Smash
S m a r t , i n t uitive, enthusiastic
B e s t f riend to brother
L o v e r o f l i n es, rhymes, and times
W h o f e a r s t h e unknown, limits, and my
b r e aking point
W h o w o u l d l i ke sanctuary, peace st a bility
R e s i d e n t o f h a rd covers, soft covers,
b u t n o t judging covers
Gay
P oet’s
S oul
poetry
BioPoem
author
Tarina Usher
Tarina
Tenacious, Tantalizing, Tolerant
Daughter of Tina
Lover of Music, Tea and the Sea
Who Fears Failure, Death, and Disappointment
Who Would Like More Sleep, More Silence and
More Sunshine
Habitant of the Hideout
Usher
poetry
BioPoem
author
Cassie Reeke
Cassie
Loving, Compassionate, Sweet
Sister of Renee
Lover of food, sleep, and family
WHO FEARS BUTTERFLIES, DEATH, AND
FAILURE
Who dreams of being successful and happy
Who would like sleep, love,
and creativity
Resident of Pennsylvania
November/December 2011
poetry
BioPoem
author
Katie DeCan
Katherine
Optimistic, hopeful, quirky
Sister to Anna
Lover of art, music, and intelligence
Who fears loss, heartbreak, failure
Who would like knowledge, understanding,
a sense of accomplishment
Resident of the planet Earth
DeCan
poetry
BioPoem
author
Myranda Strada
Myranda
Caring, diligent, and understanding
Daughter of Tia and Ed
Lover of animals, UGGS, and shopping
Who fears DEATH, dark, and dusk
Who would like less homework,
longer weekends,
longer summer vacations
Resident of South Canaan
Strada
Reeke
What do you listen to when
getting pumped up for a game?
by Samantha Burge
Ron Music, 10th grade: “Rock is my favorite music to listen to because it gets me motivated to do
better in the game. (Ultimate Frisbee)
Bryane Burns, 10th grade: “On bus rides to my game I listen to my iPod, but I listen to the Dave
Matthews Band because for some reason, I think of my events.” (Track and Field)
Kade Kolheffer, 12th grade: I listen to “Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber because this is an
inspirational song to listen to before the game.” (Basketball)
Chris Tomasetti, 11th grade: “I usually listen to heavy metal, like Disturbed; they get me pumped
up and my blood moving before a game.” (Ultimate Frisbee)
Michael Roses, 9th grade: “I would listen to “Not Afraid” by Eminem because I want to feel strong
and fearless before the game.” (Golf)
Photo by Samantha Sinclair
Listening to music is a great way to
Bob Dyer, 12th grade: “I would listen to rap music like Rick Ross “Ima Boss” because it gets me get pumped up for a game, just ask
senior Kade Kolheffer!
pumped up for the game!” (Golf/Baseball).
Cassara Wagner, 9th grade: “I listen to country and rap before a game. This kind of music pumps
me up and gets my mind off of everything else besides the game.” (Volleyball)
Ryan Gisinger, 11th grade: “I listen to rap and rock. It helps me get in the zone and gets me excited for the game.” (Basketball/Baseball)
Alex Tufano, 11th grade: “I listen to “Hurt” by Alone with the Seas because it relaxes me and calms me down for the game.” (Ultimate Frisbee)
Michaela Killian, 10th grade: “I listen to “Stronger” by Kanye West with my friend, Abby Hemmler, because we sing this in our heads when
we run.” (Cross Country/Track and Field)
Planet Wildcat
FEATURES
November/December 2011
Back to School . . .
If you HAD to
Choose. . .
Page 5
Caring attitude pillar of
Acts of Kindness program
by Samantha Burge
Peanut Butter Sandwiches or
Yogurt?
Sam Merrifield: Yogurt because I dislike peanut butter.
Sean Masgula: Yogurt because it has more flavor.
or
Pencil Pen?
Natasha Gregorski: Pencil because you can erase your mistakes.
Alyssa Etchie: Pen because it makes my handwriting look neater.
or
Notebook Binder?
Louie Vitorio: Notebook because you lose papers in binders.
Jesse Thorpe: Binder because you can put the notebook in the binder.
or
English Math?
Colton McDonald: English. There is less thinking.
Angelena Campisi: Math because you have to use your mind more.
or
Breeze Through Study Hard?
Tony Hartnett: Breeze through because I already do
Ashley Michiels: Breeze through because I want to get it over with.
or
Drive Take The Bus?
Sam Kresge: Drive because there are annoying children on buses.
Destiny Fraschilla: Drive because the bus is annoying and way too long.
or
Sleep In Be On Time?
Cheyenne Wilmot: Sleep in because it gets me more ready for class.
Dan Weiss: Be on time because you won’t get into trouble.
or
Work After School Practice after school?
Nick Weiss: Work after school because I will be more prepared for class.
Cassie Reeke: Practice after school because you get to work out and
have fun with your friends!
or
Best Friend Hang out with a group?
Tristen Locklin: Best friend because it is nice to hang out with one person.
Zoe Lyons: Best friend because you can tell them stuff that you do not
want anybody else to know.
or
School T-Shirt
Collared Shirt?
Gary Thoman: School t-shirt because I don’t have to buy new ones, and
I won’t ruin my collars.
Dylan Black: Collars because I don’t like Western Wayne stuff.
Giving a friend a pencil is second-nature for junior Derek
DeGroat who earned a kindness award for his good deed.
L
oaning a classmate a pencil, carrying supplies for a
teacher or making a cupcake to celebrate a friend’s birthday
might not seem like a big deal at first, but guidance counselor
Mrs. Adrienne Nipper assures us that it’s the little gestures that
count.
That’s why Mrs. Nipper helped to institute the guidance department’s school-wide Education Program in 2010. The program contains six pillars representing trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship, all of which are
displayed on banners in the cafeteria.
As a student at WWHS, you can expect to be introduced to
these pillars through a variety of school-based activities, but
one of the pillars - caring - is already seen every day through
our new “Acts of Kindness” program. Since caring is shown
through altruism and concern for others, it is the basis of “Acts
of Kindness.” It’s designed to recognize students who go out
of their way to do something kind for another student, teacher,
or staff member. This can include opening the door for someone, helping a classmate who has dropped his or her books in
the hallway, sharing lunch with someone who forgot his or her
money, or giving a classmate a pencil when one is forgotten.
Students who have been “caught” performing an act of kindness are acknowledged during school announcements and receive a prize of a pen, pen/highlighter or lanyard emblazoned
with the “Acts of Kindness” logo. All nominated students are
also entered in a monthly drawing for bigger prizes such as
backpacks, DVD player, iTunes gift cards and more! The high
school had more than 225 nominations last year and 43 nominations in the month of September 2011! To recognize a student
who performed an act of kindness, student and staff members
can fill out a nomination form found in the guidance office and
put the nomination form in the Acts of Kindness jar also found
in the guidance office.
“Students tell me it is a great feeling to be recognized for
doing something good. As a school, we want to continue to
praise others for being kind and caring. It creates a sense of
camaraderie in the building among students and staff,” Mrs.
Nipper said.
Some of this year’s ‘Acts of Kindness’ students
Destiny Frashila who helped a lost freshman get to class.
Josh Cohawitz who helped put up and repair the spirit streamers in the hallway during Homecoming.
Nina Fumanti who closed a friend’s locker, left open accidentally, so no one could steal anything.
Kyle Troiano who assisted another student (not in his class) on
where to go for picture day.
Derek DeGroat who helped other students by loaning them
pencils and more.
Kaelyn Jacques who made a friend a cupcake to cheer him up.
Jacob Gillis who helped carry supplies for a teacher.
Planet Wildcat
FEATURES
Page 6
November/December 2011
Puttin’ on the glitz
Charming Charlie boutique now open at Montage
This store has three other locations in Pennsylvania as well. You can find this store not far from
the Guitar Center.
Charming Charlie is a fashion accessory boutique with a unique blend of fun, style, color and
affordability. Charming Charlie pulls looks together for costumers with touches such as– earrings, necklaces, bracelets, handbags, scarves,
belts, clothes, and more. As soon as you enter
the store you are greeted by a friendly associate
who gives off a warm and friendly vibe.
The atmosphere of the store itself has a lot of
ambiance such as chandeliers, decorative walls
and a very feminine look.
Paula Wisnewski, assistant manger of Charming Charlie, wants her customers to know that
the name Charming Charlie comes from a man
in Houston, Texas whose parents own a fine
jewelry store. His idea was to create a store that
made women look and feel fabulous at all ages
with reasonable prices. Paula said that the main
trend right now in Charming Charlie is scarves
because of imminent cold weather. The big color
category is berry and red. “Charming Charlie
is different from any other accessory store because our main goal is customer service.” Ms.
Wisnewski said.
When first walking into the store you might
Photos courtesy of Christina Gabriele
feel overwhelmed by all of the color choices, but
Christina shows us that accessorizing is easthe store is actually well-thought-out. It is set
ier than ever thanks to Charming Charlie
up with many booths that are organized by color
boutique! Watch: $15; Scarf: $12 ; Purse:
families. If you need a red purse to match red
$30
high heels, you can easily find it because the accessory booths are color-coordinated!
In each section, you can find matching shoes, hair items, purses, scarves,
by Christina Gabriele
jewelry, hats, and shirts. This store
Co-Editor
has unique items for woman all ages.
Tired of shopping at the same old stores? If Great prices range from $4.97 to
so visit Charming Charlie! Charming Charlie is $49.57. You can’t go wrong shopping
one of the newest stores located at the Shoppes for unique items that you won’t find
at Montage Mountain that has an endless sup- anywhere else for an excellent price!
ply of accessories! Charming Charlie stores have Charming Charlie even has its own
been around since 2004, but it has opened in our section for younger girls ages 4 to 14.
According to www.charmingcharlie.
area June 2011.
Staff
Profile
Mrs. Marianne
Morgan
Job Title: English
Teacher, English
Department Chairperson,
Newspaper Advisor
Resides in: Moscow
Family: Husband Charles and
children Ryan, a sophomore at
Columbia University, NYC;
Emily, a junior at North Pocono
High School
Fun fact: Mrs. Morgan was a
communications assistant in the
Director’s Office at FBI Headquarters in Washington DC.
Hobbies: Reading, listening to
music, going to concerts
A Few Favorites:
Books: Their Eyes Were Watching
God, Anna Karenina, The Great
Gatsby
Drink: Diet Peach Snapple
Food: Anything Mexican
Musicians: John Mellencamp, Jon
Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen
I’d like to meet: Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr. and President Clinton.
com, the company fundraises for local charities;
loocations have donated items to Look Good
Feel Better, which is a charity that helps women
with cancer. The goal is to help women feel better about themselves by donating hats, scarves,
and other accessories. Clearly, this store isn’t
just selling accessories, it’s helping the community as well! Check out www.charmingcharlie.
com for fashion ideas and challenge your fashion ability.
Help others see the world
in a new light!
Donate your used eyeglasses now!
Millions suffer from poor vision
because they don’t have access to
eye care or simply cannot afford
it. Poor vision impedes a child’s
ability to learn in school and robs
and adult of independence, mobility and quality of life.
You can help by donating gently
used eyewear. Just place it in the
collection box in guidance.
Planet Wildcat
November/December 2011
FEATURES
Page 7
Back when I was in high school...
Our teachers, once students, too!
by Maria Ingaglio
Co-Editor
We’ve all heard them…the stories about our own teachers when they were our age. Most of the time, teachers insist that
they were perfect students who had excellent behavior when they were in high school, but that’s highly unlikely.
Let’s take a look back at some of our favorite teachers.
Chemistry teacher Ms. Maria Masankay, also known in high school as “Ria”, graduated from Forest City Regional in 1989.
Another nickname Ms. Masankay had was “Doc” because her father was known throughout the school for his medical pro- Ms. Masankay on her
fession. She was a twirler for the band and was a member of her school’s scholastic team. As a
graduation day
classic rock and roll fan, she listened to bands such Aerosmith, Meatloaf, Def Leopard and the
Steve Miller Band. “I was rocking on my chair in class one day repeatedly and my teacher told me
to stop because I was going to get hurt. I didn’t, and then proceeded to sneeze while rocking. I
knocked my head off the back wall and fell flat on my butt!”
New Jersey native, Mr. Anthony Zoppi, graduated from Seton Hall Prep in 1994. During
high school, Mr. Zoppi participated in football, track, chess club, math team, ecology team and
even founded his own school club. “I was a founder member of the Pirate Adventure Club, also
known as PAC, which was dedicated to wilderness, hiking and biking.” Mr. Zoppi’s favorite music included Nine Inch Nails and Pearl Jam, while his favorite movie was The Cross. Although
Mr. Zoppi clearly enjoyed his high school career, he has yet to reveal all of his high school secrets. “Let’s just say I was in detention A LOT, but we won’t say why.”
Mr. Zoppi’s senior portrait
A 1995 graduate of Bishop Hanan High School, Family & Consumer Science teacher Mr.
Kobeski was extremely active in both his school and community. With the nicknames “Coco”
Mr. Kobeski’s
and “Smiler”, Mr. Kobeski participated in the school play, soccer, foreign language club, Christian living club, and mission
senior portrait
club. In the community, he was part of the Irish and Polish Clubs and even ran for the State Democratic Committee, which
he lost by only 54 votes. In addition, Mr. Kobeski had a total of three part-time jobs! When Mr. Kobeski wasn’t involved in his school or community, he
was getting into a little bit of trouble. “My cousin and I happened to be in a car without a license driving to Wilkes-Barre at midnight to see the Rocky
Horror Show when we happened to have a little accident that delayed getting my license by an extra year.”
Educational video game earns praise
by Christina Gabriele
Co-Editor
Have you ever wondered what it would be
like to create your own computer game? Senior
Shaun Howard had the wonderful opportunity to
achieve making his own online computer game
for children that helps them learn to read. Just
at the age of four, Shaun was introduced to Super Mario Nintendo by his father. His interest in
video games has expanded throughout the years.
As a gaming enthusiast, Shaun was immediately
receptive when North Pocono junior Emily Morgan asked him to build a game for her senior
project website. Shaun had been recommended
by his Computer Programming IV teacher, Mr.
Salley to do this as his senior project. He subsequently spent several hours every day to complete this project which took him two months.
Shaun started creating the game as soon as
possible, using Adobe Flash Professional CSS.
He first conducted research on his own in order
to gain new programming skills by utilizing the
tutorials of the programs he reviewed. Shaun’s
literacy game, created for young children trying to strengthen their abilities to read, includes
many sounds and effects, a descriptive menu option and three different stories which can be read
in either English or Spanish. “I included Spanish because it opens more doors for Spanish students, and it also promotes my abilities to speak
Spanish,” Shaun said.
The three levels in the game are provided by
the three different stories which vary in difficulty with “Pop Goes the Weasel” being the most
Photos by Christina Gabriele
difficult. To help beginning readers who might
struggle reading the rhymes, Shaun added audio with high school teachers Ms. Grace Piconi
and Mrs. Melissa Orner narrating. Narration is
included for both English and Spanish versions.
“The best part about completing the project was
the attainment of advanced knowledge and skills
pertaining to vex images and animation,” Shaun
said. As a result of his positive experience building the game, Shaun is now considering game
design as a career.
Over all, the experience has made him even
more advanced in computer programing. Shaun
gives this advice to those interested in creating their own games: “Be creative and use your
imagination. If you have any ideas, write them
down. Even if ideas clash at first, don’t be discouraged.”
Those who have tested Shaun’s game have
high praise for it, especially its Spanish portion.
“I’ve been praise because of its ease of use and
organization,” Shaun said. “Users have found it
fun with graphics that are appealing to children,
as it should be for elementary level literacy.”
Creating a reading-based computer game was
child’s play for programmer Shaun Howard.
Emily said that children in her summer reading
class had a chance to test the game and found it
“a lot of fun.” Shaun also went beyond his original plan to simply build the game by connecting
the site to other organization’s sites and to make
it something a person could find through a search
on Google.
WWSD second grade teacher Mrs. Stacy Box
is a fan of the game. She wrote to both Shaun
and Emily via the comment section of the website to say how much she liked their work. Mrs.
Box wrote, “I had fun visiting this site both as
a teacher and parent to three young children. I
am excited to show my youngest the games later
today, as I think she’ll really enjoy them. You
should be so proud of this work and all of your
efforts to promote literacy. Best wishes to you!”
Shaun and Emily’s literacy game can be found
on www.eatabook.webs.com. If you have young
siblings who are interested in trying to strengthen their reading abilities, this game is highly recommended! It is also fun for students who are
studying Spanish!
Planet Wildcat
Page 8
by
b
A
t
e
e
y!
M
d
o
m
Car
All About
Abby...
Who is the teacher she is
most inspired by?
“Mr. Hayden because he inspires
me to think outside of the box. He
helps me develop creative ideas
that transpire into works of art
when I’m finished.”
Some favorites:
Book: Sarah’s Key
Music: All kinds
Color: Green & Orange
Drink: Apple Juice
Food: Chocolate
Subject: Art
Movie: The Grinch
Abby’s advice to
underclassmen:
“Be dedicated, do your
homework, and be friendly
to others because you never
know when you will need
their help. Be polite as well.”
S
November/December 2011
FEATURES
he’s bright, creative, and dedicated!
Meet The Senior Class president!
Bits & Pieces
by Shaun Howard, Co-Editor
Would you like to know a little more about Abby?
She was born on October 24th, 1993 and is 18 years
old. She has two younger sisters, Rebecca and Rachel,
who are twins.
She enjoys hobbies such as drawing, scrapbooking,
going to the movies, playing with her dog, Holly, and
camping.
Abby was an intern at SEEDS in Honesdale, Pa.
SEEDS stands for Sustainability, Energy, and Education Development Support.
She is a member of the following: Future Business
Leaders of America, National Art Honor Society,
National Honor Society, Students against Destructive
Decisions, Cross Country, Basketball, and Track.
Abby’s favorite extracurricular is basketball, although
she’s involved in a plethora of other activities.
Abby enjoys basketball the most because she finds it
fun. “Also, everyone tends to agree with each other,”
she said.
She is treasurer of the National Art Honor Society and
captain of Cross Country.
Abby finds enjoyment in art, but she takes the subject seriously as well. She draws for the National Art
Honor Society, Art for Seasons, and Scholastics, and
she has obtained the Congressional Award for her art.
Abby plans to attend a four-year university to major in
environmental design or graphic art design. Some of
the universities she is considering are Arcadia,
Pennsylvania State University, and Kutztown. She desires to make environmentally-sound products and advertisements.
Where does she want to be in ten years?
“I want to move out west and further develop my art techniques in the radiant
atmosphere!”
The “best” lesson she’s learned so far?
“To always be dedicated to myself and things will fall into place.”
How would Abby like her classmates to remember her after graduation?
“As a dedicated and involved person, willing to lend a hand to anyone!”
Her role model?
“My mom influences my creativity, work ethic, social characteristics, and inner strength.”
What is the best advice Abby has received at WWHS? :
“To do what I want to do. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Lastly, what motivates this girl? Abby is motivated by the thought of failing. “If I fear failing at something I will work
harder at it until I can make it worthwhile,” she said. Abby’s perfectionist attitude & creativity drive her to overcome any
obstacle. Abby says she is also motivated by her parents.
Planet Wildcat
FEATURES
November/December 2011
Creative teaching increases learning
in ‘21st century classrooms’
In “A “Twisted Tale” Mousetrap competition
Lucas Karnick and Danny Guo were challenged to design a car powered only by the
spring of a mousetrap, but able to complete
an obstacle course with turns, all dependent
on technology in labs dealing with concepts
such as chemical reaction rates, fluid dynamics, and geo-technical engineering.
by Allison Hess
Look into any art classroom, and it is obvi-
ous that “creative juices” are flowing as students
and teachers express themselves through various
means of cooperation and mediums.
The same scenario can be seen, or rather heard,
in music class, where students work under their
teacher’s direction to create works of musical
genius. In addition, although it is not as obvious, creativity is also present in math, English,
and science classrooms. Teachers in core classes
strive to bring in real-life and creative applications to otherwise “boring” subject matters.
Math topics often have a way of being perceived as, well, uninteresting. Although useful in
everyday life, many students have trouble seeing
its importance in the future. Mrs. Wendy Bochnovich, statistics and geometry teacher, uses real
data collection to engage statistics students with
their subject. “We just finished gathering data
and organizing into graphs,” she said. “This is
exactly what so many organizations from insurance companies to sports people do to inform us
of everything from accident rates to most points
scored.” This creative method of teaching helps
students to remember the concepts.
Math teachers agree that Promethean boards
are immensely time efficient. This technology is
useful in all classes, and students notice the effect of it on the way they learn. Students are very
involved in class, since teachers can easily send
students to the active board to work through a
Attractiveness enhanced by
attitude, smiles, social skills
Appearances continued from page 3
Savannah: “If I saw someone who was dressed preppy or in formal or business
attire, my first thought is
that they look sharp. Maybe
they have a senior project
presentation or an upcoming sporting event. Appearance is how you see or view
someone or something,
much like a stereotype. A
stereotype is how a person
categorizes another person
by the way they dress, act,
and even by the activities
they are part of.”
Luckily, our appearance is
under our own control. We
can cover tattoos, change
out of suits, and wear makeup. We can appear laid-back
for social occasions, flirty
for a date, and professional
for a job interview. The way
we want to be perceived as
people is in our own hands.
Now take a good look
at yourself in the mirror.
Women and men do this
differently. When women
look in a mirror, they look
to see if their flaws are hidden. Men look in mirrors
to admire themselves. If
a woman gains a pound,
she may automatically feel
overweight, but if a man
gains a pound, he may think
it is normal.
Simple things such as a
smile can make your first
impression better. It makes
you seem more approachable. When talking to someone, look him or her in the
face and don’t cross your
arms or stare at your feet.
These signs of shyness often come across as coldness.
David Amodio, assistant
professor of psychology at
New York University said,
“Stereotypes are seen as a
necessary mechanism for
making sense of information. If we look at a chair,
we can categorize it quickly
even though there are many
different kinds of chairs.”
Chairs, like people, come
in different shapes, sizes,
and colors. Some even give
off different types of moods,
just as people do.
Susan Fiske, professor of
psychology and neurosci-
Page 9
problem for the whole class. The board’s interactive features keep students engaged. Learning
actively is beneficial to the way they remember
their topics.
Technology is also vital in science classes
where students get hand-on experience working
with equipment useful in real-life lab settings. It
also prepares them for college level labs, which
require knowledge of the mechanics of equipment. That’s why science teacher, Mrs. Christine McClure, makes sure her students understand important technology.
Students in these classrooms work with microscopes and gram staining in order to better
understand bacteria, and a spectrophotometer is
used when dealing with plant pigments. These
skills will help students going into science in
college with their lab style classes. Working
with the equipment also helps students to relate
to the topics being studied.
In many English classes as well, students relate to topics through creative project which
help them understand the important parts of
the material. What’s more, projects require that
students collaborate as team members, another
important skill. Making posters that summarize
the main points of a novel or concept is often a
tactic teachers use to get students to work together and truly understand important facts.
Each teacher is different, but in any classroom
or on any topic, creative ways of teaching are
at work, and students say such methods do enhance learning, particularly when “old” topics
are taught the “new” way.
out with your friends. Wear
clothes that are comfortable.
This will show that you are
relaxed with those who you
are with and will make you
look and probably feel more
personable.
ence at Princeton UniversiYou don’t have to be a suty, said that attractiveness is permodel or spend a fortune
one thing that can actually on clothes and accessories
make stereotypes self-fulfilling and reinforcing. “Attractive people are credited
with being socially skilled,”
said Fiske. “If you’re unattractive, it’s harder to be
socially skilled because
people don’t seek you out.”
If you want people to notice you, remember that less
is more. If you are trying
too hard to get people to notice you, it will surely look
this way. Dress and act in a
way that is socially acceptable. If you must dress in
business attire, don’t over
or underdress. Wear dress
pants or a skirt of appropriate length, a nice shirt or
blouse, and dress shoes.
To grab someone’s attention, you don’t have to overaccessorize, either. Wearing
a couple pieces of jewelry
can make your appearance
either seem business like or
fun and flirty. Don’t overdress for social occasions
such as a party or hanging
to make a good first impression. You need to let people
to get to know you properly by being yourself and
by dressing and acting for
the appropriate setting. It
is what is on the inside that
matters most. Smile often.
Appearance is a mind game
to be taken seriously.
Planet Wildcat
Page 10
FEATURES
November/December 2011
Homecoming, a chance to shine and show school pride
Chilly weather. Leaves. Pret-
ty dresses. Handsome suits. Al
these words can be linked to one:
Homecoming!
This year’s tradition of Homecoming took on a new spin as
students also celebrated an early
Spirit Week. Both are now a tradition in schools across the nation
when alumni are invited back for
festivities including the crowning of the current year’s king and
queen and activities designed to
get just about everyone involved.
This year’s Homecoming was
highlighted by the crowning of
queen Abby Carmody and king
Garrett Enslin. Court members
were Paige DeBastiani, Mikaela
Carey, Kim Finkle, Katie Getz,
Nick VanLeuven, Adam Gillis, Matt Rosensweet, and Matt
Lukeski. Congratulations to all!
Showing
school spirit
and class
pride means
friendly competition between classes
as students
sport their
class colors
while competing in spirit
games.
The band is a huge part of
Homecoming at WWHS as they
take the spotlight at the anual
pep rally.
Senior court members
basked in the glory of
one of the last hurrahs of
high school.
Photos by Maria Ingaglio, Giovanni Clark, Samantha Sinclair, & courtesy of Mrs. Riley
Planet Wildcat
FEATURES
November/December 2011
Page 11
Projects on display
Senior Projects
showcase students’ interests, talents in
and out of the classroom!
Dog houses make for outstanding project!
When seniors Taylor Robinson and Keandra Zdziarski were set to begin their senior project,
they knew that they were going to have to learn new skills, but didn’t realize how much math would
“matter.” “It was interesting to see how much math you are using when building something like
this without really thinking about it,”
Keandra said about the two doghouses she and Taylor built. “It made me realize I like hands-on
projects,” she added. To Taylor, it was especially interesting to see blueprints on paper come to life.
The girls even went “green” by using recycled materials. Upon completion, they donated pet supplies and both dog houses to a local dog shelter.
“Music Camp” focuses on culture, theme snacks,
and lots of fun!
F
or musician Thomas Christopher, holding a music camp was both
fun and rewarding. Thomas’s camp, which was held for three days was all about making music education fun.
Thomas taught the children different aspects of culture and music and how to play instruments Each day followed
a theme including Hawaiian, African, Patriotic, and Spanish. Children had fun dressing up for each day of camp
according to that day’s theme.
At the conclusion of the four days, participants celebrated in a closing program. Thomas even provided snacks
such as frozen bananas with
peanut butter and crushed
peanuts for African Music
Day. The chidren leaned
to use “boom whackers”
and bells. Sounds like a
rewarding,
educational
experience for all!
In Step with
NICHOLAS
VANLEUVEN
by Maria Ingaglio, Co-Editor
1 Tell us about FBLA and football!
FBLA is a great organization where your own potential and drive determine your success. It’s
a great place to network and build experience in the business world. I’ve been playing football
since I was in fifth grade. The increased support of the team in the community makes me proud
to be part of my team even more. Our team is a family that works together, plays together and
wins together.
2 What have you gained the most from FBLA?
I’ve learned to speak clearly and effectively in order to portray a message. Achieving your goals
isn’t always easy and most likely won’t come on the first try.
Nicholas’s future plans
include attending a fouryear university to major
in biochemistry and be
part of a ROTC Unit.
3 What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from football?
Age: 17
Family: Brothers, Brad
and Jeffrey
Parents: John and Amy
VanLeuven
Resides: South Canaan
Take advantage and push yourself with AP and honors courses. Get the
most you can out of your high school to prepare yourself for the next step
in life.
Favorite quotation:
“Chance favors only
the prepared mind.”
-Louis Pasteur
6 Fondest high school memory?
Since I’m captain, I’ve advanced my own leadership skills as well as my
athletic skills. We learned to work as a team to focus and achieve one goal.
4 Best piece of advice to underclassman?
5 Who’s your biggest inspiration?
My dad because he never ceases to push me to my full potential.
By far, my fondest memory was beating Wyoming Area’s football team at
the begining of September. We were predicted to lose, and during the game
we were down in points. As a team, we rallied together for a defeat. In
addition, I scored my first varsity touchdown during the game!
Planet Wildcat
FEATURES
Page 12
November/December 2011
What’s cookin’ Western Wayne?
by Maria Ingaglio
Try this recipe for a fun Christmas gift idea!
Co-Editor
Caramel Apples
8-10 tart apples
8-10 craft sticks
2 cup Packed brown sugar
1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Coatings (nuts, chocolate chips, coconut, etc.)
1. Thoroughly wash and dry apples. Insert craft sticks into apple at stem.
2. Lightly butter bottom of a cookie sheet.
3. In a heavy bottom three quart saucepan, combine brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk,
corn syrup and butter.
4. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently over medium heat, stirring frequently, until
caramel reaches 240 degrees F (approximately 25 minutes).
5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Allow to cool slightly.
6. Working quickly, dip each apple into the hot caramel mixture. Allow excess mixture to
drip off the apples.
7. Dip bottoms of apples into the coating of your choice.
8. Place on buttered cookie sheet. Let stand until firm, about 25 minutes. Store uncovered at
room temperature.
Tip! If the caramel gets too stiff to dip, place it back on the stove over a low heat until soft
enough to continue dipping.
Recipe and photos courtesy of Mrs. Stephanie Zoppi
and her Gourmet Cooking Class
Illustration by Abby Carmody
Officers hope to foster unity Leaders take part in workshop
Seven FBLA members and busi-
Q: How do you plan
to make your mark as
class president?
ness students from WWHS joined
students from several area schools
to participate in a workshop sponsored by King’s College and the PA
Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). Entitled “A Passport
to Opportunity,” the purpose of the
day was to highlight the variety of
careers that exist for those people
with degrees in accounting.
Keynote speaker was John Jones,
CPA and Director of Human Resources, Knoebels Amusements.
Also, four presentations were held
C.K.: As president, I
plan to institute an augmented tolerance and
anti-bullying policy in
order to make school
a safe and welcoming
place for everyone.
I.E.: To use my efforts
to unite the class!
Q: What do you think
is your best leadership
trait?
C.K. Listening to the
needs and opinions of
my peers in order to
compromise and form
the best opinion or
plan.
I.E.: My willingness
to succeed.
Photo by Samantha Sinclair
Junior class president Cameron Karnick and
sophomore class president Isabella Esposito,
are excited as they plan for the year ahead.
is to mediate between
differing opinions of
students as well as the
wants of the student
body and the restrictions imposed by the
Q: What’s your great- school administration.
est challenge as class I.E.: I see disagreements amongst the
president?
C.K.: My challenge class as the greatest
challenge I’ll face.
Q: What might we
be surprised to learn
about you?
C.K.: That I fenced
for three years as a
child!
I.E.: I hate snow, but I
love winter!
featuring a public accountant, Samuel Siracuse from Parente Beard,
Joe Noone, an accountant and special agent with the FBI, and two
student panels—one speaking about
making the transition from high
school to college, the other about
internships they have taken part in.
Participating in this informative
day were Brekke Green, Patrick
Dzikowicz, Savannah Jablon, Katie Lescinski, Makayla Beavers, Liz
Osborn, and Mikayla Maher. Business Department Chairperson Ms.
Fran Vitovsky, FBLA adviser, accompanied her students.
Planet Wildcat
November/December 2011
FEATURES
Musician Stephen Trygar finds
voice as composer, performer
by Mark Yamialkowski
Co-Editor
As Stephen Trygar arrived at his
elementary school Christmas concert, he was very excited for one of
his first performances. Stephen was
dressed as a little elf for the concert
and was surrounded by colorful
Christmas scenes and songs ready
to celebrate the holiday season.
Today, if you see Stephen, he is
no longer little! This TALL trumpet player has been raising his own
standards as a musician and as a
composer, challenging himself each
and every day on higher and higher
levels of musicianship. Stephen became very involved with music after his first practice with the Marywood Wind Ensemble. He listened
to the people he was playing with
and they inspired him to play the
best he could.
So what grabbed Stephen’s attention and got him so interested in
music? Up until high school, music
was something fun to do and came
easily to Stephen. A natural talent
that many people wish to have or
to acquire, Steven worked on his
musical career on trumpet with his
private teacher Mark Howonetz
(Mid-Valley). Stephen said that
taking lessons with Mr. Howonetz
changed his life because it gave him
the career that he would like to pursue for the rest of his life.
Music has offered more than a career for Stephen. It has given him a
sense of confidence. Just like everyone, Stephen had to discover who
he was and what he really loved doing. “Music has given me a creative
train of thought, and I now look at
obstacles from different points of
view,” he said.
With entering high school as a
freshman in the 2008-09 school
year, Stephen was given the assignment in English class to pick a
senior project. What would be better for someone so musical than to
write an original musical composition? Deciding to do just that, Stephen set himself on a two-year journey in writing melodies, harmonies,
and pondering just what he wanted
his song to be about.
One night, as Stephen sat on his
back porch he stared at the stars and
began humming. He had already
begun to write a song for his project, but his humming cleared it all
up. The tune he was humming gave
inspiration to his original composi-
Photo by Samantha Sinclair
Composing a song for his senior project was a warm-up for musician
Stephen Trygar, who is trumpet section leader.
tion, “The Zodiac: A Story Told by
the Stars.”
Once Stephen knew what he
wanted melody-wise in his composition, it was time to write the song.
Stephen used a computer program
called Finale to write his composition. This program allows users
to write music and listen to (play
back) what they have written.
“A song is another way to express
emotions, just like a piece of artwork or even the types of clothes
you may wear on a given day,”
Stephen said. “When you begin
to write a piece, you must have a
reason, but you must also have an
understanding of music and how it
is structured.” To Stephen, the most
important thing to be understood in
composing is harmonization (the
process of writing a harmony that
will complement the melody).
Stephen said that once his melody
was written, he wrote a countermelody which he then harmonized.
After doing this, Stephen had to
extract each instrumental part and
go over every note, articulation,
and expression with a fine-toothed
comb to ensure that the outcome of
his composition would be nothing
less than extravagant.
Audience members were treated to
some of Stephen’s compositions at
the Marywood University’s Wind
Ensemble concert on November 6,
where the Marywood University
Trumpet Ensemble played two of
Stephen’s arrangements, “Fun and
Jokes,” and, “Eto Triumf.” Also,
Stephen arranged five Christmas
carols (“Carol of the Bells,” “O
Come, Immanuel,” Trepak from
“the Nutcracker,” “Huron Carol,”
and “Do You Hear What I Hear?”)
for Brass Ensemble which will be
featured in this year’s Christmas
concert.
Stephen wants everyone
to know:
“Music isn’t just playing, or listening. Music is a way of life. In the
car you listen to the radio, while
you do activities you listen to your
iPod. People idolize bands and musicians. When you walk into a department store, is it silent or is there
music playing? Think about all of
the places you hear music and don’t
realize it.
For many, being a musician is a
way to think or a way to let out emotions. When I am angry, I go to the
piano and play soft music. When I
am upset, I sing. This is where my
compositions come from. My emotions bring forth creative knowledge, and if it sounds good, I write
it down. Just consider, what would
life be like without music?”
“A song is another way
to express emotions,
just like a piece of
artwork or even the
types of clothes you may
wear on a given day.”
Page 13
Mole Day
fosters interest
in chemistry
Students in Mr. Mark Nebzy-
doski’s chemistry class celebrated mole day, by creating
“moles,” eating mole-themed
treats, and even calculating the
number of moles in their chalk
drawings. The moles created
were based on an element chosen and required information
about the element to be present.
The moles had to resemble the
element in some manner. Additional mole projects were created
for extra credit. Holey Moley!
Celebrated annually on October 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02
p.m., Mole Day commemorates
Avogadro’s Number (6.02 x
1023), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Mole Day
was created as a way to foster interest in chemistry.
For a given molecule, one mole
is a mass (in grams) whose number is equal to the atomic mass
of the molecule. In general, one
mole of any substance contains
Avogadro’s Number of molecules or atoms of that substance.
This relationship was first discovered by Amadeo Avogadro
(1776-1858) and he received
credit for this after his death.
For more information visit:
http://www.moleday.org/
Substitute Spotlight
Meet
Mr.
Jared
Hayden
by Danielle Reed
& Mallory DePew
Mr. Hayden, a certified
social studies teacher,
is a substitute teacher
at WWHS. A graduate of
WWHS and Marywood
University, Mr. Hayden’s
hobbies include music,
reading, and archery.
A Few Favorites:
Author: Bernard Cornwell
Movie: Lord of the Rings
Store: Barnes and Noble
Football Team: Eagles
Fun Fact: Mr. Hayden
plays the trombone.
Planet Wildcat
FEATURES
Page 14
November/December 2011
Taking a look at
the “Novel” music of November & December
Check out these current events, upcoming concerts, technology, iPad apps, and favorite bands!
Top Three Music Videos:
Breathe Carolina – “Blackout”
MUTEMATH – “Blood Pressure”
Lagato Shine – “You’re Wrong”
Current Events:
◊
Jay-Z, subliminally referring to Lil Wayne in several of his songs, describes this name-calling as ‘Just Sport.’ Jay-Z claims rap music is simply
the essence of the moment. Whether he refers to Lil Wayne or any other prominent artist, he means no harm.
◊
Michael Jackson’s Immortal Album came out on November 21st. This release features songs and compilations from the Cirque du Soleil show
of the same name.
◊
Demi Lovato and Jason Derulo recently gathered to record a track on Lovato’s new album, Unbroken. The ballad was included to deliver a
message to people about how they can change the world if they come together.
Upcoming Concerts:
December 10th – Joe Jonas – The Scranton Cultural Cengter
December 16th – Lady Antebellum – Mohegan Sun Arena
December 29th - Wu Tang Clan - Sherman Theatre
February 17th – Rascall Flatts – Mohegan Sun Arena
Technology and Music: The future of the music industry and how avid listeners are affected.
The future is approaching rapidly as innovative new ideas are being established day by day, but one thing remains, dedication to quality musical production. Along with the revision of technology has come the increase in quality of musical production. Production is much simpler than it was in the past,
for now complexity has been subtracted from the science of music. Instead of utilizing ancient reel-to-reel’s and cutting tape manually, producers are
now able to press one button to record audio and another button to cut audio. These actions all happen on a computer or mobile device. Technologies
like the iPad have further improved one’s ability to make and produce music, within minutes. There are several apps available for download on the iPad
that are free to use and account for quality musical production. These apps provide music listeners with the opportunity to feel creative and original.
After realizing how simple music can be and how expressive it truly is, one may have feelings of hope and dignity.
Beatwave - a great (free!) music App!
Beatwave is an app for the Apple iPad that is completely free to download and use. It requires little to no
musical ability, and it is a visual kaleidoscope of sounds, provoked by the fingers of the user. The music isn’t
completely based on their finger notions, but a user has a great deal of control over the music being produced. Some features include: saving patterns, changing the tempo of rhythms, altering sounds, and even
adding alternate tones. The best part of the app is its ability to allow a user to create music that is pleasant
to the ears, at the control of their fingertips.
Band of the Month: Nickelback
Song of the Month: “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana
Friends’ Favorite Bands:
Brad Boots - Led Zeppelin, Otep, Mötley Crüe, and White Chapel
Paige Fratamico - Metric
Aaron Kizer - Sublime
Colin Kovaleski - Sublime
Danielle Reed - Nirvana and Avenged Sevenfold
Co-Editor
A Life’s Interest in Music…
This month junior Kelly Conklin was asked to express herself in the words of music.
“Music to me is the story of the heart. Music blooms from an unknown space bank in a great poets mind, and it is expressed to the
world in a familiar way. It calms me down on stressful days, and on others it lifts my spirit. Music is the universal language of love,
of comparison. Several people who do not associate with each other may not realize that they both have the same favorite song. Some
lyrics are so admirable that I choose to quote them and place them upon my walls. Music to me has meaning, but unfortunately,
many people do not tend to have a taste for meaningful music anymore. The music I have collected has a meaning to me, through
every lyric written. I only listen to the music that I can connect to and thoroughly enjoy.”
Planet Wildcat
November/December 2011
FEATURES
Page 15
Something’s happening in every corner!
Brandon Aleckna and Jason White (Right) install a new shock in
automotive class; (Below left) Katie Hebert works on her Frankie
“Snookistein” project.
Spanish students Caroline Laabs, Dana Rooney and Nathan Sosa,
(Below) along with Kaelyn Jacques and Hannah Peifer, (Mid-Center) were happy to show off
their treats in commemoration of their class’s Day of the Dead celebration.
Multicultural Club member Josh Cohawitz and teacher Beverly Beers receive a certificate
for their project to help end the current famine in the horn of Africa (Far Right).
Rachael Yamialkowski is all smiles as she shows off her “Mole Day” poster (see page 13),
while Katie Hemmler and Veronica Witt (bottom) busily research this year’s Technical Students Association competition topic in Biotechnology Design. While Katie is new to the club,
Veronica participated last year.
Junior Alyssa DeKnipp (Below) is the proud artist behind the
winter scene. Alyssa attended “Arts Alive” this summer. “It was
a great experience. The teacher allowed us to choose our own
styles and be creative inside the boundaries
he set for an earthy, eco-friendly piece. I
really enjoyed that,” she said.
Senior Abby Carmody (Bottom) put her artistic abilities to work on a “sustainability”
mural for the new EverGreen Elementary
School. Abby used artifacts from the recently closed Hamlin and Lake Ariel schools
including a desk top, a locker door, and a
pencil sharpener.
Marching Band officers posed for a photo
(Bottom Left) while Frankie Bunk, (Bottom
Center) cooked delicious and
easy caramel apples. See Page
12 for the recipe!
Select photos by Maria Ingaglio,
Samantha Sinclair, Mark
Yamialkowski, & Giovanni Clark
The annual semi-formal was
celebrated with a new theme,
The Harvest Ball. Students
decorated the gym, with
juniors Jordan Liptak and
Samantha Dougherty (Left)
going to great heights to help!
Planet Wildcat
November/December 2011
SPORTS
Girls relish race that’s pure
Page 16
Go, Wildcats!
• Show your school pride!
Attend winter sports events!
Photos courtesy of Mrs. Cindy Rizzi
& Mrs. Heather Hess
Being on the cross country team means extensive workouts followed by tough competition.
Both the boys and girls team were set on improving last year’s records.
Commentary by Allison Hess
go out there and just run,” Coach Collins said
when asked about his team’s pre-race planning,
“It’s really important for each athlete to know
very Tuesday afternoon this Fall, more who our competition is and what they need to
than 100 students athletes from all over the North do individually and as a team in order to pull out
Eastern region “toe the line” and got ready to a win.” He puts in an enormous amount of time
run three miles over hill and dale. Among them, and effort to give a plan to each athlete and to
WW runners wished each other good luck and propel his team towards excellence.
prepared for the race. These cross country athletes knew what they are going to do; they were
Last year, the boys’ varsity team’s record was
going out with a game plan, school spirit, and two wins to 20 loses. Coach Collins’s goal this
a reverberating word through their minds, their year was to beat this record, and already they
team pre-race cheer, “kill.”
are well on their way, with three wins already
and one race to go. The varsity girls team beat
Captains Garrett Enslin, Abby Carmody, Brian their past record early in the season with 16
Escobar, and Shannon Myers, along with the rest wins to a prior 13.
of the members of the cross country team, know
that when they yell ‘kill’ in the huddle, they aren’t
Most of the freshman girl runners are on junior
promoting aggressive running. Rather they are varsity this year, and they are making Western
getting ready to race, against nature itself.
Wayne proud as well. These girls have a lot a of
potential, and they are sure to keep a winning
“Cross Country is pure,” the slogan on their legacy alive after seniors leave in June. “Unteam apparel advertises, “It’s a race against other fortunately, we will be graduating nine seniors
runners, nature, and yourself.” Spectators of the this year,” Coach Collins said. “Their positive
WWHS cross country team know that these run- attitudes and leadership will be missed.” This
ners have run in some extraordinary conditions. feeling is common among all of the runners.
Mud, rain, and snow are often the forces press- Yet, even with this loss, the cross country team
ing against them, yet they push themselves to the has its eyes set high for the coming years. They
limit to beat their personal records, the hills, and know that they can be competition to some good
other teams. Running against other teams re- teams, like Holy Cross and Prep. Other schools
quire a game plan, one made way ahead of race in the area did well to be on the look out for
day. Head Coach Justin Collins is the “man with some yellow jerseys making their way to the
the plan” when it comes to running. “We can’t front of the pack.
E
CALENDAR
Boys’ Basketball
Dec. 29: @ Hawley Rotary
Tournament vs. Monticello
December 16 @ Susquehanna
December 21 @ Riverside
December 23 @ Forest City
Tournament
December 26 @ Forest City
Tournament
December 27 @ Honesdale
Jaycees Tournament vs.
Honesdale
December 29 @ Honesdale
Jaycees Tournament
January 3 H vs. Carbondale
January 6 @ Old Forge
January 10 H vs. Holy Cross
January 13 @ Valley View
January 17 @ Mid Valley
January 19 H vs. Dunmore
January 26 H vs. Riverside
January 28 @ Carbondale
Thanks for a great season, Wildcat football team & cheerleaders!