The Student Newspaper of Bethel Park High School
May 2015
Hawk Eye BPHAWKEYE.ORG
Volume 1, Issue 1
Hawk Eye Releases First Print Edition For the first time in five years, the BPHS newspaper, Hawk Eye, is releasing a print edition featuring 12 articles chosen from the Hawk Eye website. This will be the first time the newspaper has been in print since the former high school paper, the Black Hawk Voice, went under due to low enrollment in the journalism class and a discipline issue among the paper's staff. Mr Allemang, the journalism class teacher, took over the paper, moved it online, and changed the name to its current Hawk Eye. This year, under the new student staff, Hawk Eye returns to its roots and releases this print form of the online paper.
Concert Raises $440 for Juvenile Diabetes On Friday, April 21, BPHS held a diabetes fundraising concert in the auditorium during Periods 5, 6, and 7. Students gathered around to hear music performed by students Dan Spanner (piano and vocals), Patrick Raymond (guitar and vocals), Ryan Veith (drums), and Jimmi Cortese (bass guitar). There were also various acts performed by a select few students. The musicians played "Sugar, We’re Going Down," "Tiny Dancer," and pretty much anything in between. Students had to pay a total of $2 for tickets. “Imma shouts out to the bassist Jimmi, drummer Ryan & Sebi on the keys,” said student Cameron Happe, who attended the concert. By Natalie Coccagno and Kayte Zeiler Staff Writers
Featuring several articles that from the online paper, the print edition also features advertisements from local businesses that the Hawk Eye staff hope will soon produce enough revenue to print the paper on a more frequent schedule. After more than two months of trial and error on the websites and Make My Newspaper PageProdigy, the staff writers at Hawk Eye finally completed the tasks of choosing the articles, arranging them on the program, and seeking out ads. By Greydon E. Tomkowitz Print Editor
SGA Grants Hawk Eye’s Wishes During Wish Week, which took place Feb. 9-13, SGA generously granted many wishes. Students were able to wish for anything reasonable, and SGA would try to make it happen! Many students, including the Hawk Eye staff, made wishes for food. The Hawk Eye staff was lucky enough to have two wishes granted during Wish Week! On Wednesday, Feb. 11, SGA delivered a Chick-Fil-A lunch to the Journalism class, treating them to chicken nuggets and Mr. Allemang to a chocolate milkshake. Then on Friday, Feb. 13, SGA set up a pizza party for the class in the LGI room, complete with decorations and all. They provided pizza, drinks and chips. As for other students, they received Starbucks, cookies, ice cream and much more. This week wasn’t without a good cause; SGA was collecting donations for Animal Friends in homeroom as well. By Taylor Scalise Staff Writer
2014-2015 Hawk Eye Staff
From the Desk of Dr. J: Graduation Requirement Changes Many students at BPHS are getting prepared for graduation every day. A part of this is the graduation project. Projects were needed to be completed in order to graduate from BPHS. Now, it is no more. As part of the new graduation requirements for the school, it is not needed for a student to complete a project for his/her graduation beginning with the 2015-2016 seniors. This is a result of the changes to the Core Education System. The school is now adopting the Pennsylvania Core Standards, which is based on Common Core Standards, but is not the same thing. “The graduation project that was required in the past is no longer a requirement from the state (PDE), so [the school] dropped it as well,” Dr. J said.
As part of the new graduation system, the 2017 seniors will now have to pass the algebra, biology, and literature Keystone Exams. In 2019, an english composition exam will be added, and in 2020, the civics and government exam will be included for seniors. Students will also have to pass these exams to graduate. “Beginning with the class of 2017, passing the Keystones is mandatory to graduate,” Dr. J said. “The changes were announced two years ago.” These changes also include the new Course Selection Guide, which was introduced for 2015-2016 high school students. The graduation project was initiated for Bethel Park in 1999 and has been in place ever since. Projects were started in other school districts in Pennsylvania during that year.
By Russell Finelsen Assistant Editor, Sports Editor
Hawk Eye
Page 2
NEWS Holocaust Survivor Speaks to BPHS Students
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Fritz Ottenheimer came to BPHS to tell the students about his experience in the Holocaust. He spoke in front of about 400 10th graders in the auditorium. English teachers Ms. Totty and Ms. Findlay invited Mr. Ottenheimer to speak. Ottenheimer was born in the small town of Constance, Germany. Constance is on the border of Switzerland. When Ottenheimer was eight, Hitler took control over Germany. Most kids were not conscious of what was happening with the government, but Ottenheimer knew something big was going to happen. His parents owned a little store that sold menswear. Two months after Hitler took over, Ottenheimer’s father was on his way to open the store and he noticed a voice over loud speakers around town saying, “Don’t buy from the Jews, buy from the Germans.” Eventually, they lost their store and times got tough.
Early in 1938, when Ottenheimer was 13 years old, Hitler announced he would take over Austria. Jewish families from Austria were escaping to Germany, but due to laws made by the Nazi’s, Jews could not stay in hotels, so the Ottenheimer family decided to house a family. The family came to Constance to go across the border into Switzerland. They told stories of how gangs of Austrians attacked Jewish people, broke into their homes and store, robbed them, and beat them. The Ottenheimers were shocked. Fritz Ottenheimer’s dad showed the Austrians the border, and they then escaped. After this, many families came to the Ottenheimers to be smuggled across the border. Then in August 1938, Switzerland closed off the border and said they would arrest anyone who illegally crossed the border and return them to the Germans. After being returned to the Germans, they would be sent to a concentration camp. The Ottenheimers Christian land lady told them all men in Constance had been arrested. He was confused because his dad had not been arrested.
They came to the conclusion that he was not arrested because they had just recently moved into their new apartment, but soon enough, there was a knock on the door to take him away. The Gestapo, or secret police, did not read any charges to the men as they arrested them. They had no reason as to why they were arresting them. A month later, his father had returned from the camp he had been taken to. He was very ill and weak, but he recovered. In May 1939, the Ottenheimers got permission to leave for the United States. They had relatives there that they would stay with. They escaped Germany before anything worse could happen to their family. In America, Ottenheimer fought against the Germans in World War II. After he was discharged from war, he got a degree in mechanical engineering. He was a mechanical engineer for 40 years, and he retired 20 years ago. Continued on page 3
BP Honors Little Joey Fabus Earlier this year, Bethel Park lost a little hero with a big story. Little Joey Fabus left an impact on the community that will never be forgotten. Last April, Washington third grader Joey Fabus started having vision problems which prompted a visit to the eye doctor. Shortly afterwards, in the middle of May, Joey’s family’s world was turned upside down as they discovered Joey’s vision problems were the first signs of his diagnosis: DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). DIPG is an inoperable brain tumor with no cure and leaves patients 9-12 months to live. An 8-year-old boy who was supposed to have his entire life ahead of him, Joey’s family, friends, and the community reached out to make sure the next 9 months would be the best that they could be for Joey. It all started when Bethel Park Police Officer Tom Rigatti made Joey’s dream of becoming a police officer come true. Joey was sworn in as a police officer for a day.
Krista Vandyke, Staff Writer He got his own uniform and got to holiday. ride in the police car, and he even Wristbands and t-shirts have been pulled over Officer Rigatti’s daughter sold to many students and members of for going through a stop sign outside the community as everyone wanted to of the police station. With his big be a part of Little Joey’s Army. heart, Joey decided to let her go and Joey’s friends and classmates not give her a ticket. made cards and sent presents, and The community was so touched by there was even a build-a-bear wearing the police department’s actions that a police uniform at Joey’s desk in everyone wanted to hear more of class whenever Joey was unable to go Joey. This is when Joey’s family to school. decided to share Joey’s story with the Joey also received memorable world through a Facebook page called surprises like getting to throw the first Joey’s Journey. Joey’s parents, Cindy pitch on opening day at PNC Park. and David Fabus, shared all of the ups June 24, 2014 was designated as and downs of Joey’s story with over Joey Fabus Day in Bethel Park, and 5,000 people who “liked” the page. August 29, 2014 in the City of Over the past few months, many Pittsburgh. people have reached out and made All of this was done for one very several special events happen for special boy who deserved the best last Joey. Joey’s cousin, Justin Fabus, few months of his life. Joey passed held a benefit concert with his band to away peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. raise money and “make people forget 21, 2015, surrounded by his loving about the pain and heartache for a few family. But Joey’s story does not end hours.” Various sports teams held there. Joey was given the funeral a events in honor of Joey, and the real fallen officer would receive. He National Honor Society held a was buried in his police uniform, and Halloween parade and party for police officers from departments all Joey’s neighbors, friends, and family, over, since Halloween was Joey’s favorite
even out of state, showed up to honor their police brother. The funeral procession was huge with countless police vehicles. Roads were closed for the procession as Bethel Park residents and students lined the procession route with “Stay Joey Strong” signs in support of the Fabus family. School was closed not only due to snow, but due to the road closings. This prompted many students to get up early on their snow day, make signs, and go out and show their support for Joey despite the bad weather. Joey’s Journey truly brought the Bethel Park community together as everyone was praying for a miracle for Little Joey. No one should ever have to go through what Joey and his family did. Please consider donating to the Fabus family and donating to the Joey Fabus Childhood Cancer Foundation. Every little bit makes a difference. One day, a cure will be found so that no child will have to suffer from this terrible disease like Joey did.
Hawk Eye
Page 3 Student Life BPHS Art Club Wins First Place in Extreme Rack Holocaust Survivor Speaks to BPHS Students Continued from page 2 Makeover Contest Fritz Ottenheimer and his wife “It’s not just a couple thousand Recently, the BPHS Art Club won an Almanac sponsored contest against five other school districts. The contest was to see who could most creatively transform a regular newspaper dispensing box into a functional work of art. The newspaper dispensers were set up in the Galleria mall where people could vote by putting coins into the machine. Not only did the public vote, but a panel of local artists scored them. The BPHS art students turned the newspaper dispenser into the Cathedral of Learning building and had King Kong hanging onto the top of it. Art teacher Mr. Wallisch oversaw the students while they made the project. They spent an entire month on the project. Mr. Wallisch said everyone contributed to the idea of the project. At first they were just thinking of doing a building, and brainstormed interesting buildings in Pittsburgh.
They decided on the Cathedral of Learning because it’s the largest school house in the western hemisphere. They then thought to put King Kong on the top to represent the movie industry in Pittsburgh.
The final project was about six feet tall, and was made of newspaper, cardboard, wheat paste, plaster of paris, polyurthane, and painted with acrylic paint. Their award for winning first place was a plaque, a pizza party, and $300. The Galleria will keep the box on display for some time, so you can still check out the award-winning BPHS art! By Cameron Happe, Staff Writer
live in Oakland, Pittsburgh today. Nazis who murdered, but 65 He has two children and four million Germans who allowed it to grandchildren. He’s currently 89, happen. A bystander who knows but he turns 90 next month! He is it’s happening but doesn’t do the author of his memoir Escape anything is an accomplice of the and Return. murder. When you find out After Mr. Ottenheimer’s speech, something unjust is happening, students were invited to ask speak up and get involved,” questions. Questions were Ottenheimer said. submitted in writing and reviewed before being asked. By Cameron Happe Mr. Ottenheimer presented and Kayte Zeiler, BPHS with a copy of his memoir Staff Writers and in turn Ms. Totty presented Mr. Ottenheimer with a Bethel Park Black Hawk hat which he proudly donned. Mr. Ottenheimer was also interviewed by The Almanac, the Tribune Review, and The PostGazette. 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust. 1.5 million of them were children.
Opinion: How Effective Opinion: A Pressured Student Isn’t a Productive One Is Censorship? We can all agree that censorship has changed over the years. Recently there was controversy over the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover featuring a model Hannah Davis. Some say that it was too revealing whereas others thought it was fine. I side with the first. Moral censorship may be debatable as to what qualifies to be censored. But can the system be refined? I think so. Now that a new generation has emerged that is associated with technology, there are many different ways to access different types of information. Although it is a great way for students and others to work on projects and research topics, it may be too easy to access controversial media. Steps should be taken to avoid the release of controversial propaganda to the whole general public. New restrictions should be made in order contain the media to those who are eligible. As for who is eligible, that is another topic. By Nathan Runja Staff Writer
In society, it is clear that a student is expected to keep up with his/her grades. Students are taught (whether it be through a teacher’s words or an implied message) that keeping the perfect 4.0 is the only way to success. Now don’t get me wrong, grades aren’t something to let slip into oblivion. But should we really be stressing constant A’s? Even if a teacher isn’t explicitly saying it, there’s definitely the underlying message of perfection being completely necessary. Being a teen is a stressful time as is. Trying to figure out who you are, who your friends are, battling with self-confidence… Throw in nine teachers a day telling you how to do perfect in school, and you’re in for an overload. My point is one C isn’t going to kill you. Being yourself and trying hard is what will get you far in life. Keep your grades up, but don’t stress over a missed homework or a little less than perfect test grade. Keep your head high and determine your own success. By Brooke Worrall Staff Writer
Ground Broken for New #BPpond Students may have noticed Mr. Nagel hopes to have some dirt being dug up in the the pond finished by the end of courtyard this week. Believe it the school year. or not, we do not have a Drama Club president Abby groundhog problem here at Martz said, “We hope to BPHS. include salamanders, fish, and a This is the beginning of a turtle in the pond!” pond being created by Mr. Nagel Other students have their and the Drama Club. own hopes for the pond. Senior Mr. Nagel, an avid gardener Taylor Scalise said, “I hope to and landscaper, took on the see a dolphin in the pond.” challenge of creating the new Only time will tell what the pond that is being funded by pond will look like at the end PACS. of the year. Mr. Nagel brings a shovel or two to school, and the group By Krista Vandyke gets to work after school while Staff Writer singing the song “Dig It Up” from the movie Holes.
Hawk Eye
Page 4
Student Life
Student Spotlight
Eight Students Named National Merit Scholars “Who’s watching me while I eat my lunch?” Many BPHS students have been wondering this ever since the new display was erected in the cafeteria featuring professional photos of eight star-students. Joseph Beaver, Gabrielle Brookins, Aaron Coplan, Steven Davis, Alexander Fleming, Jessica George, Emily Kukan, and Giffin Werner were named National Merit Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The display was a collaborative idea between Dr. J and AP English 12 teacher, Mr. Youngs, to promote academic excellence and to “filter [National Merit] into studentto-student and student-to-parent conversations,” Dr. J said. Every year, about 1.5 million high school students across the United States of America take the Practice SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The exam is not only a competition for scholarship, but just being commended is so highly regarded by every US university that one may even offer a university-level scholarship. Out of the gigantic pool of testers, 34,000 top scorers are commended by National Merit. To put things in perspective, this puts BPHS’s eight Merit Scholars in the top 2% of all students who took the test.
However, Dr. J said that he’s not only rewarding them for an exceptional PSAT score, but he said he’s acknowledging them for “a history of good choices.” Dr. J plans to make Bethel Park history with this display as he intends on renewing the photos every February when the new list of commended students is released by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The amount of Bethel Park’s commended students has already grown from three in 2012 to eight in 2015; Dr. J feels that the display will increase motivation for students to take the PSAT with diligence and in turn, increase the amount of faces on the National Merit Scholar display. Sophomores are required to take the test, for free, as practice for the SAT and in coordination with the school’s performance profile. However, students that pay to take the test again their junior year are eligible to be commended or even to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Good luck to students taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the future, and congratulations to the eight seniors that are commended this year! By Corey Kroboth Guest Writer
E m m a B r u n o
Grade: 11
Age: 16 Do you play any sports?: “On the record: I DO! SOCCER! I LOVE SOCCER! Are you in any clubs?: DECA, SGA, Latin Club Favorite subject?: “Not chem…chem is the bane of my existence. I like marketing.” Favorite teacher?: Mr. Santora Favorite TV show?: Gossip Girl Favorite musician?: Zac Brown Band Celebrity crush?: Chace Crawford Favorite movie?: Green Street Hooligans Favorite member of One Direction?: “Zayn, obviously.” Words to your haters?: “You’re irrelevant.”
By C a m e r o n H a p p e
Grade: 12
Teacher Advisor
Staff Writers
Mr. Allemang
Nathan Runja Brooke Worrall Michael Herrington Angelo Bruno Cameron Happe Natalie Coccagno Taylor Scalise Krista VanDyke Joey Cinello Kaitlyn Ellsworth Kayte Zeiler
Print Editor Greydon Tomkowitz
Editors Russell Finelsen Ty Miller
Guest Writers Corey Kroboth
Bethel Park High School 309 Church Road Bethel Park, PA 15102 Phone: (412) 854-8581 Fax: (412) 854-8510 District Voice Mail: (412) 833-5000
Principal Dr. Zeb Jansante Hawk Eye is the student-written, studentedited, student-managed news of Bethel Park High School. Hawk Eye does not represent the views of Bethel Park High School, its administrators, faculty, and/or staff.
A n g e l o B r u n o
Age: 18 Height: 6’4 Favorite food?: Pizza Favorite TV show?: Dance Moms Coke or Pepsi?: Coke What is your dream job?: Trophy husband Favorite musician?: Lady Gaga Would you rather be hot for a year then die, or be ugly but live forever?: Hot for a year Favorite animal?: Dogs Favorite member of One Direction?: It’s a tie between 2013 Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. Any words to your haters? “You’re my motivators.”
Grade: 10
Z o e Z i l c o s k y
By
Age: 16 Do you play any sports?: Lacrosse and cross country Are you in any clubs?: SGA and homecoming committee Favorite teacher?: Mr. Allemang Favorite TV show?: Parks and Recreation Favorite movie?: The Way Way Back Who do you hate more, the dentist or the doctor?: The doctor because shots Favorite musician?: Lana Del Rey Celebrity crush? Nick J. Robinson Would you rather be fat and happy or sad and skinny?: I’m already sad and skinny Words to your haters?: “Do your knees hurt from jumping to conclusions?”
B r i a n M a l a r k e y
By C a m e r o n H a p p e