Issue 1
February 2017
Contents: Oxford News: Pages: 1-11 World News: Pages: 12-14 Sports: Pages: 14-17 For Fun: Pages: 18-20
Front coverage image by Graeme Cohen
Oxford News
Community Values- Term 3= Integrity By Will Feinberg How to model integrity at Oxford (a way to win the Term 3 Student of the Term Award)
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Lead by example Do not gossip Clean or improve a common space Do not talk badly about others Be kind even when nobody is watching
Cartoon by Quinn Ruso
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Interviews around Campus By: Geoff Cartier Haven’t you always wondered what Chef Dave smells like after a hard day’s work? Or where the well-traveled Dr. Landry would like to go on his next vacation? The staff at True Blue discussed who we wanted to learn more about within our tight-knit community. We identified Dr. Landry, a first-year member of the residential faculty, Sean Markham, who joined the dining hall three years ago, and Dewey Worms, Business Manager and veteran of many years, as persons of interest.
1. TB: What experience has most prepared you for working at Oxford? Dr. L: Working in such a multicultural environment successfully requires that staff possess a degree of open-mindedness, compassion, and polyglotism. My hometown and region in south Louisiana are twinned with towns and regions all over the Francophone world. As part of these twinnings, my family hosted students from Canada, France, Belgium, and Switzerland when I was a kid,
Americas, Asia (Middle East), Africa, and Europe. For speakers of English, who have little contact
and as a teenager, I returned to their homes, also. In my twenties, I . . . took up a position as a French interpreter on long-haul flights to Francophone destinations with Continental Airlines. This contact has enabled me to understand that teaching to an international body of students requires approaches that are culturally meaningful to the students (and staff). 2. TB: Working with young people from different countries: discuss an interesting similarity and difference that you have noticed in the kids from the US and England. Dr. L: The major difference is that British schooling, from elementary school, teaches children to be critical thinkers, arriving at their conclusions after careful and critical thought, but also through research.
oad, teaching, and in community and governmental work. This burned me out, and sociopolitical
The expository writing style favored in US schools for quite a few decades, enables students to only scratch the surface, in comparison to the evidentiary style used in all UK schools. This means that already in high schools, in the UK, students can write quite well, and explain things more cogently than their US counterparts. It also means that UK undergraduates tend to have less anxiety, and better assessment results. 3. TB: Describe a little known fact about yourself that would be interesting to our readers. Dr. L: I'm neither black nor African American. I am Latin American, more specifically Louisiana Creole, with genealogical roots from 4 continents in the last 6 generations, including the (continued on page 3)
I have always been had an affinity with nature and animals, and
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with Latin Americans, this often comes as a surprise, as binary raciality (blackness and whiteness) tends to be the primary identity in these spaces. But my community, historically, and even today, identifies primarily with culture and second with genealogical roots/routes. This distance from racialization in my community is deliberate. Race may unify people around common causes like the civil rights movements, and also unify people around arbitrary ideas, like a common ethnicity/ancestry, memory, or collective distaste for Arab Muslims. But in the last 400 years, race has been the cause for immeasurable suffering, dividing families and communities. 4. TB: Why did you switch careers from the airlines to education? Dr. L: I had a very rigorous undergraduate experience. I was busy with my course
issues in education left me a bit jaded. But I knew that my calling in this life was education, somehow. So, I decided to take a few years off to work, see the world, gain more experience, which led me to my cabin crew career for Continental Airlines. I loved that job a lot. But I found myself still gravitating towards the type of work I was doing before Continental. I was becoming bored by flying also, needing more intellectual stimulation. I then decided, in 2011, to hang up flying, in exchange for a doctorate in American History in the United Kingdom. 5. TB: If you could go somewhere tomorrow on vacation, where would it be? Why? Dr. L: Probably Yellowstone National Park. I've been many places, but Yellowstone is not one. I have only heard great things about it from people who have been, and it seems serene and breathtaking in images. It would be a great respite from term 3 in our academic calendar.
Yellowstone is overly abundant in both. ** Sean’s picture here 1. TB: What experience in your career most prepared you for working at Oxford? SM: I’ve been a Chef for over 15 years. I’ve worked in several high end restaurants and Pubs. Every position I’ve had has taught me something and made me a better Chef. I believe that working at Farrell’s Restaurant and Catering and also at the Chowder Pot has prepared me most for working at Oxford. At those restaurants I cooked for up to 350 people in a fast paced environment. 2. TB: What's a dish that you have made at Oxford that you are proud of? Why? SM: Making scratch soups and coming up with new menu items such as Farro and Quinoa salads are things I’m proud of. I enjoy and am proud of dishes in which I can use creativity in my cooking, and seeing the students and staff enjoy them makes me happy.
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3. TB: What's a dish that you would like to see added to Oxford's menu? Why?
DW: My senior year of college (Stetson Univ.), myself and another student created a shelter for juvenile runaways in Daytona Beach Fl. It was called Youth Alternatives, Inc. Had desire to work there upon graduation but was denied because I did not have a masters – even though my friend and I created it!
SM: I’d like to see Braised Short Ribs, Seafood Pot Pie, Spare Ribs, Chicken Fried Steak and a variety of home- made desserts. Why? Because they’re yummy!
1. TB: What work experience most prepared you for Oxford Academy?4. TB: Discuss a positive and a negative of working with Chef Dave (Have some fun with this if you want). SM: Working with Chef Dave has been a great privilege and honor. Chef Dave has a great attitude and sense of humor. We bounce ideas off of each other to improve our meals and step up our kitchen game. We have a lot of fun planning and cooking special events such as Parents Weekend and our famous Christmas Parties for Oxford. It’s been a lot of fun working alongside Chef Dave, he’s a great person inside and out. (I just wish he’d shower more often). **
DW: I began working at the Connecticut Motor Club, AAA, at 15 years old. Worked there thru High School and college whenever possible. Started in the stock room, worked in a AAA garage, worked as a tow truck driver over MANY holidays. Also worked in summer travel – creating the famous trip-ticks. After college I worked at AAA full time – and worked in every department from worldwide travel to Road Service. Eventually became a Managing Director in charge of various departments including: budget creation, income & expenses and creating reports for the Board of Directors. Great prep for Oxford. 2. TB: Tell us something we don’t know about Dewey Worms.
We went through 8 years of scary times, exciting times, and turning many positive corners to get where we are today.
Long story short – had I continued my education while working at the shelter – I would have gotten my Masters in Social Work and been a Social Worker today! 3. TB: Discuss something that you have been a part of at Oxford that you are particularly proud of. DW: Started here in summer of 2005. Next summer was the lead in the renovation of Davis Hall. Oversaw daily work and made sure plans and budgets were followed. It was exciting and very fulfilling. Also VERY proud of standing by our new Head of School in 2009 when the tide seemed to turn for Oxford.
We hope you found these interviews enlightening and that you start to recognize that there is a lot more going on with the people who live, work, and study here. It is reflected in the back stories that Page 4, Issue 1
4. TB: Please give us an update on your health and the treatment you are undergoing. Diagnosed with cancer in my liver in May 2016. Source was un-known until December 2016 re-diagnosed as cancer from the bile-ducts of the liver. Stared chemotherapy June 2016 through November 2016. Lost my hair, 20 lbs. and still have it…not great success from treatment. Little known about his type of cancer. Now have a small piece of the same kind in my right lung.
led them to Oxford and in their experiences since their arrivals. Please let us know (cartierg@oxfordacademy.net) if there is anyone you would like to see interviewed for the next addition of T rue Blue, especially a student since we did not get to one this time around. For the full transcript of the interviews click here.
On a brighter side: starting a new experimental treatment at Smilow Phase 1 trials February 13th. Still have some treatment options after the trial. Positive side – hair has come back and I feel fine. To look at me wouldn’t know I was sick.
Rock, Paper, Scissors Annual Event January 19, 2017:
Mr. Lasota was the winner! Photo by Graeme Cohe
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Mindfulness at Oxford
By Quinn Russo Life can be stressful and infuriating at times. Although there can be things that obstruct ourselves from that peace of mind, there are many ways of coping with these struggles. One method practiced at Oxford is mindfulness. The practice of mindfulness is to focus on the breathing while you let your thoughts effortlessly flow. This will allow yourself to concede all thoughts in the processes of helping overcome stressful situations. Once you begin focusing on your breaths and let your thoughts flow, you can achieve the benefits. These benefits include self-control, objectivity, affect tolerance, enhanced flexibility, equanimity, improved concentration and mental clarity, emotional intelligence and the ability to relate to others and one's self with kindness, acceptance and compassion. Anyone can learn to practice this, and are always encouraged to join the group Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays right after morning announcements in the Brainerd room. Start your day off right!
Final Week of Oxford's Short Short Story Contest!
Submit entries to Mr. Hayden *These stories should be submitted to haydenz@oxfordacademy.net as google docs or MS Word docs. *Hard copies can work as well. *The contest ends next Thursday 2/16 by 12pm. *Full Announcement with visuals: http://bit.ly/2lq48th Who will be the king or queen of short story writing?!!
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Oxford Bull
Fabulous advice given by: Bailin Pollard As a seasoned student at boarding and private schools, I am very qualified to give advice to students in one such school. With a worldly perspective and a range of experiences, I hope I can answer your questions and provide some help and humor in this bleak horizon of Beachtown, Connecticut. Be sure to email in questions and suggestions to myself, other contributors, or Mr. Cartier. Let’s be real here. I'm the new kid and you probably don't want to hear my crap. Despite this, I have been qualified to be an advice columnist by my English teacher, so here I am answering your questions. My answers should speak for themselves, and if that's not enough credibility for you, ask somebody else for advice. How do I stop people who are physically bullying me? As you probably know, many of the students here are quite physical, even outside of sports. This is not inherently bad, however, it can lead to some uncomfortable situations. I know from experience that if someone seems to be pushing you around, they may just be trying to engage you. This is, of course, not always the case, but either way the key is to establish boundaries. You and I both know some roughhousing can be fun sometimes, and that’s probably what your “bully” has in mind. Let them know that you aren't in the mood, or don’t want to pushed around at all. Hopefully, the direct approach will let them know where your boundaries lie. If they are like me, they might need a direct heads-up, but will probably understand and be conscious of their behavior. If you feel the person is truly attacking you, however, you should tell an adult. My roommate and I are friends, but sometimes we get at each other's throats...any ideas how to fix this? First of all, it’s normal for friends to have conflicts. I, for one, think they define friendships. If you remain friends through the conflicts, you are true friends. That’s how I see it. If, however, you feel as if these conflicts threaten your friendship, then you should approach him. Your first call should be to contact Doctor Phil. Your second should be to sit down with your roommate and express your feelings. All jokes aside, this usually helps. Your roommate is your friend, so he must respect you to some degree, and if you talk it out, it can be a big help to your relationship dynamic. The other option, of course, is trial by combat...something that will end up with a visit to a doctor, but not the kindly southern TV show host...good luck with that… My roommate hangs his wet towel on my chair all the time. I make a big deal of picking it up and moving it and hoping he’ll get the hint. I’ve asked him to move it, and he does, but it reappears a day or two later. What’s the best next step for me? I'm not usually violent. -Wet Seat
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It's good to know that you aren’t usually violent. Do you ever hear voices or forget things? It’s possible you are schizophrenic and your “roommate” is an alter-ego of yours that has a different towel. Do people ever see you together in the same room? Let's be real here, Mr. Seat, our chairs are plastic, so your “roommate” probably thinks it is fine as long as you aren't sitting there. I mean, wouldn't you do the same if you were him? But you are him, so that’s unfair of me. I recommend a visit to a psychiatrist and some antipsychotics. If the aforementioned solution falls through, I would go for a specific discussion with him about which version of you is really in control and which should stay in your mind at most times.
Oxford Academy Book Club
Thirteen Reasons Why Thursday, March 16th @ 6:30 pm at the Westbrook Public Library Pizza will be served
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Face Ox: Newspaper Reading By Chris Curtice What would Oxford be without the regular arguments between the students and administration? Almost every day, a new (or old) issue ignites the tensions between a student (or students) and the faculty. Now, with Face-Ox, you can get both sides of these hot button topics. For this week’s edition, we’ll be looking at the often maligned tradition of Newspaper Reading.
Mr. LaSota’s response to Newspaper Reading: True Blue: So first of all, just to get a background, how long have you been here at Oxford? LaSota: Seventeen years. TB: Over that long period of time, what meaning has Newspaper Reading had to you? L: Well, through the course of my entire time here it’s typically been a place for students to catch up with current events, unplug, even do, you know, word puzzles, but just a chance to regroup and educate themselves. TB: With technology as we have it today, where, people can get the news at the touch of a button, do you feel that students would not be as a whole, well the majority, would not be aware of current events without Newspaper Reading? L: Well, I’m just not sure where, no I think students are really in tune with current events, I just, the sources from which they procure these current events sometimes are probably less valid at times than a print paper that’s a credible source.
L: No, I still think that it serves its function, it’s kinda one of those things that has stood the test of time in my opinion, of delivering information in a format that I think is useful for students, and ... the times we live in with the internet and the information that’s available, kids will always kind of feel like they’ve seen enough news for the day. TB: Do you think if someone, if a student or a faculty, someone proposed a way, another way of implementing current events into the school life, do you think that would be an acceptable replacement for Newspaper Reading, or would you still want to have it? L: Yeah, I mean I would listen to any reasonable request to change it. The most common one I hear is “I hate newspaper reading”, and it’s just not, something I’m interested in hearing, because ...it’s not a reason I can get behind. But, make proposals because things change all the time, and if it’s got good enough legs to it and it makes sense I’d be willing to consider it.
TB: Are there currently any aspects of newspaper reading right now that you are not currently happy with?
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Daniel Fernandes’ response to Newspaper Reading:
F: You could sleep, or study [laughs]. OK I’ll be realistic. You could do your homework.
True Blue: How long have you been at Oxford? Fernandes: Two years and a summer. TB: Over your time at Oxford, you’ve done varsity sports a few times… F: Yeah. TB: When you have done varsity sports, was not doing Newspaper Reading an influence on your decision to do that sport? F: It was a huge one, of course, it was like 75% of my choice, or like 60%. TB: Do you read, or otherwise consume, news outside of newspaper reading? F: Of course, the news is, a daily feed, news is news, it’s never gonna stop. TB: What sources do you tend to get news from, outside of newspaper reading?
TB: Something that is still focused on Newspaper Reading, but there’s something you can change about how you do it. F: Probably go online with the news maybe? You have more options, rather than trying to struggle to get a paper. TB: During Newspaper Reading, what paper do you like to read, and what sections do you typically read? F: USA Today, and I usually read what’s wrong with Iran. Yeah, USA Today is a big one. TB: Like the International section? F: Yeah, mostly, just you know, terrifying events. I don’t pick it, I have to grab it. TB: Do you ever have issues getting the newspaper section you want?
F: Oh just feeds, like update feeds on my laptop. F: Of course, it’s a struggle. TB:What sites do those feeds usually have? F: Like, usa.com, very, high quality. I guess I get some from Buzzfeed sometimes, I just click no [laughs]. TB: If there was one thing you could change about Newspaper Reading without outright removing it, what would it be?
TB: On a scale of 1 to 10, how big of an issue is newspaper reading to you? 1 would be you don’t mind it at all, 10 is it is the absolute worst thing at Oxford for you. F: I’d say it’s a 7, because it’s a waste of time. I could be studying, I could be on the internet looking at news, I could be doing a lot more things. When I had to do it, I don’t have to right now because I’m in varsity, I hated it. It was a huge hassle.
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When offered a chance to comment on Fernandes’s arguments, Mr. LaSota said that he “really liked Dan's idea to open [Newspaper Reading] up to school work if students didn't want to read the paper.” Finally, in response to LaSota’s point of view, Fernandes said that he felt that Mr. LaSota is not as open to suggestions as he says. This is an issue I sympathise with both sides on. On the one hand, it’s important for students to keep up to date with current events, the required period can easily become an annoyance for students, who for the most part stay up to date on current events outside of newspaper reading. As for the reliability of the information students are finding on their own, I personally believe that learning to seek out reliable sources is an important skill to learn by oneself, rather than having those reliable sources selected and spoonfed by a higher authority. One way this could be achieved is by having the school offer a “Fake News” seminar, as an alternative to having to do Newspaper Reading. One of the most poignant elements of the interview with Fernandes for me was his choice to take even more time and effort than Newspaper Reading required in order to do varsity sports, with the lack of Newspaper Reading being his primary motivation. This presents a twofold issue. First of all, it shows that students find Newspaper Reading to lack meaning, and some are willing to undertake more time and effort in sports in order to get out of it, as they find sports to at least be meaningful. Secondly, it brings up the potential issue of students who don’t really care about varsity sports taking them just to get out of Newspaper Reading, which could result in the teams having players who aren’t truly trying their hardest. While this hopefully isn’t the case, even with people who are doing varsity to get out of Newspaper Reading, it is undeniably a possibility. If you feel strongly about Newspaper Reading, and have your own suggestions as to how it can be improved or supplemented, make sure to talk to the administration about it meaningfully and respectfully, in order to make real change happen.
What issues do you want to see covered in Face-Ox? Talk to Mrs. Gilman or Christopher Curtice, or email one of them at librarian@oxfordacademy.net or c urticec@oxfordacademy.net.
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World News
The retaking of Aleppo and its benefit to Syrian Christians By Ruslan Tangborn
url: http://www.bosnewslife.com/36833-200-christians-killed-in-syria-bombardments-hope-remains
In the last 5 years Aleppo has been a particularly dangerous and unhappy place for Syrian Christians. Until its fall in 2016 it was under the radical control of both ISIS and Syrian rebel groups such as the Free Syrian Army. They did many crimes that some would call atrocities but most importantly they kept the 40,000 Syrian Christian population from being able to openly practice their religion. The retaking of Aleppo under Al-Assad’s Syrian control is for the religious benefit of any and all Syrians who practice a religion as the President has not made any aims towards restricting any religions or their practices. During the anti-christian regime of insurgency that held Aleppo Syrian Christians were prevented from being able to openly celebrate holidays, and practice their own religion. This included not being able to attend mass, practice holidays such as christmas, easter, etc without significant danger and risk of bodily harm for the 5 years of terrorist control.
These occupying extremist regimes have earned a reputation for their countless human rights violations. This includes drowning, burning, shooting, beheading, and maiming prisoners as well as enemies of the state. They have also made it clear that “enemies of the state” can be anything from an enemy fighter to an innocent civilian who practices a different faith from them. Now that Aleppo is back under the control of Bashar Al-Assad, Syrian Christians are now able to practice their religion freely, Though the previous oppressors had enacted their anti-christian laws throughout the city the new management has made no effort nor has promised to make any effort to ban any Muslim or Christian practitioners from celebrating their religion in the way they see fit. This means that under the new (or should it be said original) government Christians and Muslims will be able to practice their religions as they want with hopefully little to no fear of backlash from either sides of the table.
Sources: Al-Khalidi, Suleiman. "Aleppo's Christians Celebrate Christmas and Hope for Peace." Time. Time Magazine, 25 Dec. 2016. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. Chastain, Mary. "Syrian Christians Cry 'Jesus!' Before ISIS Mass Beheading." Breitbart. Breitbart Inc, 05 Oct. 2015. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. O'Connor, Tom. "Christmas In Syria Pictures: As War Rages In Aleppo, Assad Supporters Share Christian Holiday Traditions." International Business Times. IBT, 10 Dec. 2016. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
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Erasmus. "Aleppo presents a moral dilemma for Christian leaders." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 18 Dec. 2016. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
Opinion Piece
Op-Ed- Why Israel Should Stop Settling By Will Feinberg
There is controversy over Israel’s “holy” expansion into Palestine. Israeli settlements in Palestine are harmful and self destructive. Israel shall be constantly rebuked by the world while it continues to expand its frontiers into Palestine. The UN condemned the settlement project after the Obama administration had surprisingly abstained from vetoing the UN decision in December of 2016. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel lashed out at the UN in a harsh speech, asserting his vision: “Ladies and Gentlemen, Israel is ready, I am ready to negotiate all final status issues but one thing I will never negotiate: Our right to the one and only Jewish state.” These are the three considerations Israel should weigh to save itself from further damage. A UN 15-member Security Council agreed to officially condemn the Israeli settlements, encouraging and warning the United States and Israel to abstain from provocative actions. Israel has labeled this summit as ‘rigged’, and it strongly opposed the outcome. Additionally, President-Elect Donald Trump has defiantly vowed to make the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem, a priority -- a long requested action from Israel. “As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.” Trump posted on Twitter. Consequently, there may be a surge in tension and violence between Israel and Palestine, potentially crippling the two-state solution. The 15-member security members’ chamber of the United Nations applauded after a resolution to condemn Israel’s settlements. It passed 14 to 0, making this decision a decisive blow to Israel. There are 15 members of the UN Security Council, of which 14 voted. The United States abstained, distancing from its longstanding historical protection of Israel. The Obama administration contrasts from the Trump Administration in their support for Israel. “Today, the United States acted with one primary objective in mind: to preserve the possibility of the two state solution, which every US administration for decades has agreed is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement (Collinson, Wright, and Labott). This statement displays what imperils Israel's security in the middle east. In the United States Israeli support among democrats is wavering. There is a growing disapproval for the settlements and it is increasingly becoming a partisan issue. Senator Bernie Sanders denounced Israel for their settlements as he stated that they have wounded 10,000 and killed 1,500 in Gaza, refering to top Jewish groups including the Anti-Defamation League. He also stated that "we are going to have to treat the Palestinian people with respect and dignity" and "we are going to have to say that Netanyahu is not right all of the time" (Goldberg). In a Gallup Poll (2015), 2015 60% of US Democrats viewed Israel favorably compared to their support in 74% in
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2014. Also, 48% of Democrats sympathise with Israel over Palestine whereas an overwhelming majority of US Republicans do at 83% (CNN). UPDATE (2/2/2017): Near midnight, the israeli government approved 3,000 more settlements in the west bank. For this, world leaders have denounced Israel. This denouncement is another part of the indirect harm Israel is inflicting on itself.
Sources: Goldberg, Michelle. "What a Mensch 5.2k 299 206 Sanders Took a Welcome Political Risk with His Defense of Palestinian Rights." Slate. Slate Group, 15 Apr. 2016. Web. 10 Jan. 2017. Stephen Collinson, David Wright, and Elise Labott. "US Abstains as UN Demands End to Israeli Settlements." CNN Politics. Turner Broadcasting System, 24 Dec. 2016. Web. 8 Jan. 2017.
Sports
2016-2017 NFL Season Review and Superbowl Recap By Noah Lau The 2016-17 NFL season ended on February 5 with another Patriot’s victory. The game in Houston kicked off with Atlanta considered the underdog and New England the favorite. After Robert Alford’s pick 6 to make the score 21-0 Atlanta, Patriots fans began to give up hope. The half ended with a field goal which didn’t make much difference. It was 28-3 when the Pats finally got a touchdown with 2:06 left in the 3rd. Then Stephen Gostkowski hit a 33 yard field goal to make it 28-12. They scored another touchdown with 5:56 left in the 4th. It was now 20-28. 17 unanswered
Reyes, Lorenzo. "Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, Roger Goodell End Season with One Last Awkward Moment." USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, 06 Feb. 2017. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
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points for the Pats. With 57 seconds left in the game James White drove right up the middle to score the potential game tying conversion. The Pats completed the conversion to tie the game 28-28 and send it to overtime. New England won the coin toss in overtime and obviously chose to receive. The Patriots were strolling down the field. Play after play they were gaining yards. They were getting a first down every play or one time on second down. 2nd and goal for New England. They quick tossed it again to James White who rolled right into the endzone for a New England game winning touchdown to get them their 5th super bowl victory to tie with Dallas and San Francisco for 2nd most in NFL history behind the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He got it just in time and he kept it in his hands. It was a completion even after Atlanta challenged it.
"Julian Edelman's Super Bowl Miracle Catch Gives Patriots Answer to David Tyree." The Washington Post. WP Company, n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
2. The 2nd moment in this year’s NFL season is Tony Romo’s press conference about his injury return and the new starting quarterback Dak Prescott. Tony Romo has always been “Dallas’s QB.” Now it is Dak
It was a great season this year for most NFL fans. There were a lot of good and bad memories for fans all over the place. Remember when everyone thought Cleveland would go 0-16 until they beat San Diego 20-17 in week 16 on Christmas Eve. That was the best Christmas present that Cleveland fans got this year. Also when everyone thought that Dallas was unbeatable and lost in the divisional round 34-31 on a game winning field goal. They also went 14-Giants These are the top 5 moments of the 2016-17 NFL season: 1. The best moment in this year’s 2016-17 NFL season was in the super bowl when Julian Edelman made an astonishing catch with 2:28 left in the game. It was 1st and 10 at the Patriots 38 yard line. Tom Brady dropped back threw it to Julian Edelman but the pass was tipped by Robert Alford. All three Defensive back’s and Julian Edelman dove at the ball.
This was also said by Tony during the press conference. These two quarterbacks were closer than ever between two quarterbacks both fighting for their position.
Carroll, Robert H. "If Football Is a Meritocracy, Tony Romo Should Start over Dak Prescott."The Landry Hat. FanSided, 04 Jan. 2017. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
3. The third best moment in the 2016-17 NFL season was when the Cleveland Browns beat the San Diego Chargers in week 16 20-17 to get there first win in the Page 15, Issue 1
Prescotts turn to be quarterback. The franchise decided to stay with Dak when Romo was back from injury. Dak Prescott was 11-0 when Tony was back active on the roster. I am not surprised that they did that. If I was an owner of an NFL team and my rookie quarterback lead my team to 11-0. I would have done the same thing. During the press conference we heard what has never been heard from Tony Romo. "He's earned the right to be our quarterback." Romo said. "As hard as that is for me to say, he's earned that right." That was very big of him to say that and a lot of people respected him more than ever because of that. "I think Dak knows I have his back, and I know he has mine."
season. At the beginning of the season reporters and analysts were talking about how the Browns could go 0-16. Very few people believed it. As the season went on more and more people started to talk about the Browns going 0-16, Which hasn’t happened since the 2008 Detroit Lions. By week 13 and their bye week very few people thought that they were going to win a game. With only two games left in their season they were 0-14, Until they played the Chargers. They were winning 20-17 with 1 second left in the game when the San Diego Chargers missed a game equalizer field goal, Which gave the Browns their first W.
Opinion Piece
Focus on the Game By Dan Harrington
Dailymail.com, Liam Quinn For. "It's a Christmas Miracle! Cleveland Browns Actually Win a Game to Improve Record to 1-14 and Avoid Going Winless on the Season." Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 25 Dec. 2016. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
4. The 4th best moment in the NFL season is when the Giants beat the Cowboys for the second time in the season giving Dallas it’s second loss. The Cowboys record at the end at the season was 14-2. Also you could say 14-Giants.
5. The 5th best moment in the season was when Ezekiel Elliott jumped into the Salvation Army bucket in week 15 when he scored a touchdown against Tampa Bay to give them a 10-3 lead. He also donated
It's been only two weeks since Donald Trump was sworn in to become the 45th President of the United States of America. And to put it simply it's been wild. Protests, a controversial ban, and celebrities speaking out against Mr. Trump. So when Super Bowl media day started Monday, January 30th it was inevitable that politics would be dragged into the questions. I think politics should stay out of sports entirely, but that is a conversation for another day. When a reporter asked Martellus Bennett if the Patriots were to beat the Falcons on Sunday would he go to the White House with the team, he responded to it by saying “I most likely would not go because I don’t support the person in it.” Now when the Patriots beat the Seahawks in 2014, Tom Brady didn't attend the White House. Tom Brady stayed in New England and worked out before heading up to New York the next day and checking out the new Apple watch. However, this wasn't made into such a big deal as it is with Bennett. Martellus Bennett has always been an outspoken person on and off the field, so this comes as not as big of a surprise as it may appear. It is his right not to go if he doesn't want to. No one can force him to. Was it the best idea to say what he did? No, it wasn't the best idea because of everything going on right now like the protests and stuff. But it his right to do so. So I feel that everyone should just calm down, stop blowing this out of proportion and respect Page 16, Issue 1
21,000 dollars to The Salvation Army. He say’s he supports the organization.
the man's decision. This example is exactly why politics should not be allowed in sports. Politics in sports don't matter; they aren't meant to go together. (Continued on page 15)
(Continued from page 14) I honestly believe that not a lot of people really care, and they should be focused on the game, not what someone said. Because honestly why care? Everyone needs to calm down.
Oxford Basketball:
Photo by Graeme Cohen
Page 17, Issue 1
For Fun
Crossword by Graeme Cohen
Page 18, Issue 1
Submitted by Mrs. Sorensen
Page 19, Issue 1
True Blue Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Mrs. Gilman Co-editor: Gordon Graham Faculty Advisors: Mrs. Gilman Mr. Hayden Mr. Cartier Ms. Hahn Photographers: Graeme Cohen Sam Nickol Graphic Design: Graeme Cohen Will Feinberg Layout & Design: Noah Lau Mrs. Gilman
Writers: Oxford News: William Feinberg Quinn Russo Geoffrey Cartier Chris Curtice Arts & Entertainment: Bailin Pollard World News: Ruslan Tangborn Will Feinberg Sports: Noah Lau Daniel Harrington Special Contributions: Quinn Russo Mary Sorensen Graeme Cohen Zack Hayden
We are always looking for new contributors for our paper. If you are interested please see Mrs. Gilman or email her at librarian@oxfordacademy.net.
Page 20, Issue 1