Back to School 2011 by Inklings

Inklings g Aug 31, 2011

Founded in 1933

For local and constant updates go to inklingsnews. com

inklingsnews.com

Admin Unblocks Facebook

InBrief

MARK SCHWABACHER ’13

Incoming 8th grader killed in car accident

Web Opinions Editor On Thursday August 25, 2011 Principal John Dodig announced that the popular social networking site, Facebook, will no longer be banned on campus. Facebook was originally blocked at Staples in the middle of 2006. At the time, administrators cited liability concerns as the basis for the ban. After almost five years of the ban, Dodig decided that it was no longer required and reversed the policy. The decision was made “to be consistent,” said Dodig. Other social networks, such as Twitter, have never been blocked at Staples before. To single Facebook out as the single social network to be banned made little sense to the administration. The ban was also lifted because it was almost impossible to enforce. “If you have a smartphone – and everybody does – you could use it anyway,” Dodig added. Smartphones do not use the schools wireless connection to access the internet like laptops do. Rather, they bypass the school’s internet restrictions by using cell phone signals to connect to the internet. Students have been using smartphones to work around the ban ever since the ban was put in place. Student reactions to the new policy are generally positive. “I think it’s a good way for kids to get news around the school even quicker,” said Sara Andros ’12. She believes that Facebook pro-

PHOTO BY RYDER CHASIN ‘14 STATUS UPDATE: Dodig feels that banning Facebook at Staples is no longer necessary in part because students can access Facebook on their smartphones anyway. motes, “extremely quick communication,” amongst students. Amareen Anand ’13 agrees. Now that Facebook is allowed in school Anand feels that, “Students will learn to control themselves and when they work.” Still, some are concerned that Facebook “could pose a threat as a distraction to students,” said Alex Elias ’15. While Elias plans not to use Facebook in school, he describes his goal as an “exercise in self control.”

While Facebook is one more temptation for students to stop paying attention in class, teachers are prepared to cope with distracted students. “In my classroom, I don’t allow phones or computers,” said World Language teacher Lillian Revel. She believes that Facebook could be a distraction, but teachers can deal with it easily. “Facebook doesn’t bother me that much,” Revel said. Dealing with classroom distractions is nothing new for teachers. With the rapidly in-

creasing prevalence of students with cell phones teachers have had to cope with text messaging in class. “Students are much more likely to send a text than to check Facebook,” said Italian teacher Enia Noonan, “text messaging is the most intrusive.” Students will always have cell phones in school so the risk for text messaging or using Facebook in class will always exist. In the end Noonan feels that, “We need to make peace with [technology] … its not going anywhere.”

Controversy leads Aitkenhead to leave GVI-run Wakeman Farm

On Wednesday, Aug. 17, 12-year-old Tess Meisel was killed in Farmington, Maine when a tractor-trailer truck crashed into the back of the YMCA truck that she was a passenger on. Meisel was already pursuing environmental interests., and was passionate and dedicated in creating a more “green” earth. Her proposal for a reusable pizza box won a top prize at Connecticut’s Investion Convention last year. Meisel would have been entering eighth grade at Coleytown Middle School this year. Donations in Tess’’s memory may be made to the Tess Meisel Memorial Fund at the Westport Public Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT, 06880 (westportlibrary.org).

9/11 10-year Anniversary Although unsure of exactly how, the administration plans on commemorating the 9/11 10-year anniversary on ‘Good Morning Staples.’ Also, the Westport Public Library will be having a Sept. 11 Memorial Viewing from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. where the day’s events will be broadcast live for viewing. The location is the McManus Room.

Back to School Nights

HANNAH FOLEY’14 Opinions Editor

As Staples students relaxed in the summertime heat, tensions ran high at Wakeman Town Farm. An abundance of controversy was stirred up at Wakeman when its tenant farmer and manager, Staples environmental teacher Michael Aitkenhead, along with his wife and two small children, stepped down from running the farm. The farm, situated next to Bedford Middle School, was run by Green Village Initiative, a nonprofit organization that promotes energy conservation, organic farming, and eco-friendly living. GVI leased the farm from Westport Town for $1-a-year and had a contract with Aitkenhead, who lived in the 120-year-old farmhouse with his family and turned the 2.2 acre piece of land into a fully functional farm that was open to the community. Internships were open in the summer

IRENE

Back to school night for 9th and 10th graders will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 7:00 p.m. The back to school night for 11th and 12th graders will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Schedule Adjustments PHOTO BY ERIC ESSAGOF ’12 GO GREEN: Along with running the farm, Aitkenhead also helped GVI with other projects such as running club green, which sponsored EcoFest. and workshops were offered to educate the public in sustainable living. The problems at Wakeman began when it was reported that members of the GVI Board of Directors had problems with

LOOKING AT THE

issue

KIDS TOURS Incoming freshman will be shown around by students only.

Aitkenhead’s management of the farm and that he had been offered a new contract without the knowledge and approval of all 25 directors. Dan Levinson, chairman of GVI, claims that those statements

are false. He said that the entire board had voted on renewing Aitkenhead’s contract and that “the vote was nearly unanimous Continued on pg. 4

A preview of the upcoming fall sports season.

A NEW SEASON

Schedule adjustments can be made on August 30 for Seniors and Juniors or August 31 for Sophomores and Freshmen during lunch periods only. No appointment is needed. However, there can be no teacher changes or overrides during this time.

NEWS

August 31, 2011

Single-stream Recycling Comes to Westport Will Staples Follow? RYDER CHASIN‘14 Sports Editor

For as long as recycling has been a part of the town of Westport, so too has been the trouble of differentiating separate bins for each of the recyclable items. Cardboard, bottles, cans, paper, glass—all organized, piled,

and stored away. Included in the stress of recycling is having to lose sleep over whether a plastic container was a No. 1 or 2, and if it wasn’t either of them then having to go through the process of finding where else the items could be kept out of landfills. Westport, worry no more. A newly implemented singlestream recycling plan went into

effect on July 1, thereby eliminating the need to separate bottles and cans from paper and cardboard and broadening the variety of recyclable parcels. “In the past we’ve been limited to recycling plastics labeled 1 or 2, and with this new process No. 1 through 7, as well as aerosol containers and several other items will now be able to

clean aluminum, steel, tin, foil food trays & cans

boxboard & paper egg cartons

be recycled as well,” Club Green president Caroline Foster ’13 said. According to Foster, the new single-stream process expedites recycling by 25 percent, and since the start of the plan just two months ago town recycling tonnage has increased by 60 percent. Although the town has adopted the single-stream plan, Staples has not determined how

junk mail plastic food & beverage containers #3-7 under 3 gallons

empty aerosol cans (non-toxic)

magazines, catalogs, white and colored paper

they will approach the new recycling process. However, Foster thinks it would be in everyone’s best interest. “Now there’s a lot more that can be recycled instead of thrown away, and residents don’t have to worry about sorting recyclables,” Foster said. “In the past there was a specific system residents had to know, but that no longer applies.”

newspapers

milk & juice cartons, juice boxes all plastic containers #1-2 under 3 gallons

glass food & beverage containers

GRAPHIC BY STEVIE KLEIN ‘12

News

Inklings / August 31, 2011 / inklingsnews.com

Curriculum News

Ninth Grade Global Themes Arrives: What to Expect DANNY COOPER ’13 Features Editor

In October, 2010 the Westport Board of Education approved a new class for freshman students, Global Themes, to replace current course Western Humanities beginning this school year. This class is a shift from the conventional memorization that was a large part of Western Humanities. The curriculum is more flexible, and it is less eurocentric. In the past, Western Humanities had been a pillar of the education that freshman students received. Older siblings were able to tell younger siblings about this class, what tests to expect, what work to be prepared for, what was fun and what was not. However, this year, that tradition breaks with Global Themes, a class that no Staples student has yet to take. Though incoming freshman might not have older students who from experience can tell them what to do to prepare for in this course, Social Studies department head James D’Amico has provided many essential details of the class, enabling incoming freshmen to have a basic idea of what this school year’s history experience will be.

Homework/essays Similar to Western Humanities there will be one major essay each quarter. However, what is different is that these essays will connect more to the contemporary aspects of the curriculum. Students will also have to find more of their own sources for these projects, instead of relying on teacher provided sources. D’Amico said that there is no homework policy for the class, but similar to Western Humanities there will be a wide variety of assignments that relate to what is being taught

Other information D’Amico says that for now the same world history textbook will be used, but in the future he hopes to switch to online interactive sources. Similar to Western Humanities there will be a variety of projects throughout the course. He says that teachers will have more say in choosing these projects. According to D’Amico, one thing that will change about the lesson structure of the classes is that more time will be more opportunities for students to research and explore different topics.

Tests/quizzes

According to D’Amico teachers will assign test and quizzes throughout the course, and there will also be a test at the end of each of the themes to make sure students mastered the knowledge in the unit. A major difference from Western Humanities is that instead of having a final there will be a problem project where students will have to use the knowledge and skills they learned throughout the year to answer a question.

Units According to D’Amico, the class is based around three themes, Global Interconnectedness, Revolutions and Imperialism. While some of the same events that were covered in Western Humanities will also be covered in this course, the units themselves are completely different. A major difference is that in each unit a connection will be made to a more modern event. D’Amico said that this class is not designed as a history course, as it does not focus on one area, instead it ties together history, culture and social and economic systems of societies from around the world.

Junior Sam Boas Uses Medical Training to Aid Bear Attack Victims EMILY GOLDBERG ‘12 Web Managing Editor

Sam Boas ’12 expected to be “pushed to his limits” during the 30-day outdoor survival skills program organized by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Alaska. However, there was no way to know the trip could have easily cost him his life. On July 23 Boas and six other students encountered a grizzly bear that attacked four of the students, leaving two with life threatening injuries. The students were on the final leg of the program where they were expected to spend four days hiking through the Talkeetna Mountains without instructors. Boas, who is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), played an instrumental role in the boys’ survival. The two most seriously wounded included Josh Berg, 17, of New City, N.Y. and Sam Gottsegen, 17 of Denver, C.O. The boys suffered from significant blood loss, severe internal trauma, and broken and fractured bones. The group was as ready as they could have been for the fourday challenge, as no means of preparation could have protected the boys from the random attack. “We were definitely ready to be without instructors at that point,” Boas said. “We had about 50 hours of classes so we were prepared and even excited to get away.” The group was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when the 800 pound, eight foot grizzly attacked the boys. Berg was the first to spot the bear as the group was crossing a river. According to the Associated Press, the teens were taught

to play dead if they encountered a bear, however natural instinct took over and the boys’ immediate reaction was to run. Boas and two other students were able to escape to the top of a hill and avoided the bear. The four remaining students were not as lucky. “I sprinted up the hill and just thought ‘I’m getting out of here.’ I looked back and saw it look me straight in the eye, and thought it was going to kill me,” Boas said. “I felt guilty going up and leaving my four friends at the bottom though.” Thinking the bear was gone, Noah Allaire, 16, of Albuquerque attempted to activate their signal beacon to notify help. However, the bear returned to strike again, leaving Allaire with a punctured lung. Boas lay on top of the hill attempting to hide from the bear as he waited for it to leave. Later, the boys then ran down to aid their teammates. “It was just pandemonium. We didn’t know what happened and everyone was just screaming. I was shaken up at first but then I knew I couldn’t afford to be emotional because it could cost my friends their lives,” Boas said. “I thought Josh was going to die, he was my best friend on the trip and I was not going to let him go.” Once the bear was truly gone the group was successful in activating the signal beacon after having difficulty opening the broken cap. “At first we weren’t even sure if the signal was working so that was scary, but after a while we were confident it had worked and just left it alone,” Boas said. The group then waited six hours until help arrived. To make the situation worse, it had started

to rain, which contributed to the students’ hypothermic condition. The unhurt boys set up a tent and began tending to the injured. With his EMT training, Boas took a leadership role. “A lot of what I was doing was delegating where and what do to. I was showing people how to read pulses who had never done that before,” Boas said. Boas was able to recognize Gottsegen’s labored breathing as a sucking chest wound. He made a dressing to treat Gottsegen’s injury with the best wrapping they had available – a piece of a plastic garbage bag. Boas recalls that Gottsegen’s breathing was instantly controlled after the piece of plastic had been applied. Despite the experienced medical procedures Boas conducted, he has just completed his EMT training in June and has not had a shift in the ambulance yet, but rather has only been taught in theory. Six hours later, a trooper and pilot in a helicopter arrived on the scene and four of the students left in the helicopter. Troopers decided Berg and Gottsegen required a second, larger helicopter with more medical capabilities. Despite being offered a ride on the first helicopter, Boas chose to wait with his friends for the second ride. Upon arriving at Anchorage Hospital, Berg and Gottsegen were sent immediately into surgery. At this time Boas was able to contact his family who had already been alerted to the situation. “I’m proud that he didn’t leave on that first helicopter and stayed with injured,” said Carol Boas, Sam’s mother. “I don’t

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY SAM BOAS ‘12 RAISING THE ROOF: Boas and friends Victor Marin and Sam Gottsegan enjoy the outdoors in the beginning of their trip. know how many people, under that kind of pressure and stress, would be able to come through like that and keep composure, especially at 16 years old.” The media attacked the situation almost immediately. Boas said he was even swarmed by reporters when he was visiting one of his friends in the hospital in the days after the trip. The group has been given movie offers, and is considering writing a sevenway book about their experience. Boas has had the opportunity to visit Berg at his home, and was extremely happy to see his friend in recovery. Although Boas said he could still see the scars scattered over his friend’s head, the two boys are moving on and

even joked about going bear hunting in the future. Overall, the incident has given Boas a larger respect for nature, he said. “Some of my philosophies about life have changed. That thing could have killed all of us; we were really at its discretion,” Boas said. Yet the life threatening experience could not shake Boas’s high opinion of the NOLS program, and he does not regret taking the trip. “It was a pretty sweet program and I’d definitely think about doing another one in the future,” he said. “Up to that point, it had been the best 23 days of my life.”

4 News

Inklings /August 31, 2011/ inklingsnews.com

Aitkenhead Loses Role on Farm Due to Disagreements with GVI Continued from pg. 1 mous except for the five members that eventually resigned.” Those members included Sherry Jaegerson, Marty Yellin, Cathy Talmadge, Liz Milwe and Peter Wormser. We were unable to reach any of the former board members by press time. Levinson said that some of the members stepped down from their positions because they were part of the GVI Founders’ Team and that they were unhappy with the result of the vote. According to GVI’s website, Jaegerson and Milwe were two of the founding members of GVI. Levinson went on to say, “There are 25 members (of the board) total and 80% did not step down” and that “the people who stepped down were not active with us.” More stories circulated through the press that Aitkenhead was no longer being offered a contract, which created an uproar among his supporters. Levinson said that was completely untrue. He went on to say that Aitkenhead was offered a new contract “with the same compensation” as his original contract but that Aitkenhead turned down the offer. In an email, Mr. Aitkenhead said, “My wife and I valued our time there. We are proud of the work we did and miss the farm very much.” He went on to say, “More than anything we miss the community in Westport that had become such an integral part of our life, and we want to thank the community and all of our friends for their incredible and inspiring show of support throughout the summer. When asked about his contract, Aitkenhead said, “While there is some suggestion being made by some that my family and I chose to leave, I’d like to express that this is not the case.” He said, “We embraced our role

at the farm and we were looking forward to spending many years there building our lives and acting as stewards of the farm. Levinson stated that many rumors and lies were spread by different sources regarding the events that occurred and said that the “behavior of those people is unacceptable” and that “that is not what GVI is about. Through meetings with Second Selectwoman Shelly Kassen, Levinson and the rest of the board of directors decided that the best decision for the farm was to turn it back over to the management of the town. Levinson described GVI as a “change agent.” He said that GVI invests money into different projects such as school gardens and town farms and then once ready, they are turned back over to the community.

“My wife and I valued our time there. We are proud of the work we did and we miss the farm very much.” —Michael Aitkenhead The media and press played a large role in the circulation of these events, and in some cases rumors. One blog in particular, Staples soccer coach Dan Woog’s “06880”, drew a lot of attention from the public. Woog said, “I was very surprised that I got the story first. There wasn’t anything in the local media, and this was several days after it had happened.” Woog’s first post concerning GVI and the farm was on July 26th, 26 days after Aitkenhead’s contract expired.

PHOTO BY ANNIE NELSON ‘11 The house Aitkenhead lived in with his family on the Wakeman Farm prior to his removal. Woog went on to say, “other blogs hadn’t picked it up so 06880 was the only place to go for news on what had happened.” The posts began to draw the attention of more and more people and with those views came comments. Woog said, “Because you don’t have to register to comment on my blog people felt that they had a real voice.” The comments ranged from praising GVI to bashing the organization for letting go of the Aitkenhead family. Some comments went so far as to criticize Levinson’s character and personality. Woog said, “On my blog, posts are not moderated and very, very rarely do I delete a post and I deleted one or two that attacked Dan personally.” He went on to say, “they had nothing to do with the farm but his character and personality.”

All of the emphasis surrounding this topic had an effect on many Staples students. Caroline Foster ’12 and Shweta Lawande ’12, the Club Green co-presidents, were shocked when they heard that Aitkenhead would no longer be managing the farm. Lawande said, “I can’t imagine anyone better suited for the job. Mr. Aitkenhead set a great example for the rest of the town to follow.” Foster was just as shocked as her co-president. She said, “I felt he (Aitkenhead) was doing a really great job managing the farm and all of the programs that came along with it.” Foster also commented that Aitkenhead is “an incredible educator, and I learned so much from him in the classroom as well as whenever I went to see the farm. Lawande said that her biggest concern with returning the

farm to the town is finances. She said, “The farm runs on a budget, and if the town isn’t able to raise enough funds, we may not be able to utilize its full capacity as a town center that brings the community together through the promotion of local food production and the education of town members on energy conservation and other eco-friendly practices.” While the farm has officially been returned to the town, Levinson stated that GVI still has big plans for the future. He said, “GVI is growing like a weed. We have 20 school gardens and are planning for 30 more in the next year in places such as Bridgeport and Hartford.” Despite Wakeman now being town-owned, Levinson assures that GVI will still be a present force with the farm and that they will be willing to provide advice.

PHOTOS BY ANNIE NELSON ‘11 Left: Westport citizens walk around the farm upon its opening. Aitkenhead had hoped to turn the farm into a community enterprise. Top: Michael Aitkenhead and Monique Bosche welcome commu-

Although there will be issues,

5 August 31, 2011

IInklings

Access to Facebook is a Good Choice Inklings EDITORIAL

Stapleites will enter into the school year on a positive note: students can finally use Facebook on the school wi-fi network. Considering that students have already had access to the popular social network through mobile phones and proxies, we believe that this is a step in the right direction. It also should be noted that this decision adds consistency to the blocking policy currently in place. Since other social networks, such as Twitter, Tumblr, and even Gmail were never blocked,

reedom it made no sense to restrict access to Facebook. With the recent decision, almost all forms of social networking are open to the student body. Now, it is up to the students and teachers to utilize this powerful tool in academic ways. Students moving on to the real world will need to learn how to master new technology and understand

how to best use social media in a responsible and productive manner. After all, our recently developed school goal implores us to learn about “21st-century skills.” For example, classes could use the many group tools provided by Facebook to supplement Blackboard’s insufficient messaging system. Assignments could be post-

ed on a group wall, and message boards could be used to discuss class topics. Teachers can now get creative with the way their students interact with course material. Unblocking Facebook also gives students a great opportunity to learn selfcontrol. Although there are many other ways for a student to distract him or herself during class, Facebook is well-known for being a procrastinating and distracting device. Now is the time for students to prove that they can handle privileges like access to Facebook and still be focused on learning.

“Silver Crown Award” for Inklingsnews.com from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2011 “Crown Newspaper Finalist” Press Association 2011 First Place “All-American” from National Scholastic Press Association 2008-09 All the opinions, news, and features in this paper are those of Staples High School students. Inklings has a circulation of 1,800. The paper is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Natioanal Schoalstic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center. All letters to the editor must be signed before they will be published. The editorial board reserves the right not to publish letters and to edit all submissions as it sees fit.

Editors-in-Chief Eric Essagof Stevie Klein Managing Editors Julian Clarke Alix Neenan Web Editor in-Chief Isaac Stein Web Managing Editor Emily Goldberg

ADVICE

News Editors Rachel Guetta Alicia Lourekas Ben Reiser Bryan Schiavone Opinions Editors Molly Barreca Hannah Foley Jordan Shenhar Jamie Wheeler-Roberts Features Editors Leah Bitsky Danny Cooper Carlie Schwaeber Nicolette Weinbaum Arts & Entertainment Editors Jackie Kerames Rachel Labarre Deanna Schreiber Sammy Warshaw Sports Editors Ryder Chasin Kelsey Landauer Will McDonald Cole Tessler Webmaster Mark Russi Graphic by Erkina Sartbaeva ‘14

A Four-Year Journey: Taking Time to Enjoy High School Julian Clarke ‘12 Managing Editor

Four years sounds like a long time. Hell, it should be a long time. Fortunately, but maybe unfortunately, it goes by pretty fast. Many of you freshman are looking forward to your first few weeks of high school and rightly so; high school is an exciting time. You are finally leaving the paradigm of middle school, which is full of educational limitations and rules that keep your freely-expanding minds from their full potential. Staples gives incoming

freshman a multitude of opportunities. There are so many opportunities, it’s hard to take advantage of all of them. Even though you may not want to take part in some of these, they’re essential to your high school experience. And while it may be easy to pass these opportunities up, it’s far more difficult to look back and regret not taking advantage of those opportunities. So, freshmen, don’t look back on high school and think about the things you wish you would have done. Have the chance to look back on everything you did do. Sophomores, you’ve just finished your first year of high school. And apparently, you all think you’re on top of the world. Then you come to the realiza-

tion: you’re not even halfway done with school yet, you’re still probably playing JV sports, and most of you are months away from getting your permit. Please don’t embody the definition of sophomore. Juniors, I really don’t take an issue with anything that happens in junior year. The research paper sounds big and scary. However you’ll find if you put ample time into it, and allow for yourself to edit it a few times, you’ll be golden. Other than that, junior year is a breeze. It’s the best year besides senior year, so cherish it. Four years goes by incredibly fast. And I don’t feel like I’m ready to leave yet, which is probably a bad thing. In every teen movie you watch, there are always the kids who hate high

school and can’t wait to go on to wherever their next destination is. For me, and maybe for others, it’s the opposite. Staples is a great place to spend four years, and I’ve enjoyed (almost) every moment I’ve spent here. So seniors, it’s our final year at Staples; let’s do it right. Let’s have a great Homecoming, but let’s not send eight people to the emergency room. Red & Whites should be a lot of fun, but don’t start a fistfight with people from other schools. Let’s all walk at graduation, and let’s represent 2012 the way it should be represented. Not with the imminent destruction of the earth, but with class and professionalism. Because, let’s be honest, everyone else wishes they could be in the class of 2012.

Graphics and Photo Editors Madison Horne Nate Rosen Business Manager Charlotte Breig Video Editors Katie Cion Elizabeth Coogan Advisers Elizabeth Humphrey Julia McNamee Stephen Rexford Correspondence and Subscriptions:

Inklings 70 North Ave. Staples High School Westport, CT 06880 Phone: (203) 341–1994 Inklingsnews@gmail.com Printed on recycled paper

Opinions Inklings /August 31, 2011 / inklingsnews.com

My Sad End to a Great Potter Era Stevie Klein ‘12 Editor-In Chief I didn’t feel old when I started filling out college applications. Or when I ordered my senior shirt. No—I felt my oldest this summer, on July 15th at 12:01 a.m., when, in my Gryffindor robe, wand in hand, the last Harry Potter movie commenced. See, Harry Potter, essentially, represents my childhood. I can remember where I spent each moment reading each book. The growth between books of both me and Harry. I can remember crying hysterically when I finished the last one. But then again, at least I had the movies. Although they were nothing compared to the books, they were another chance for fellow Harry Potter fans to gather and experience another enthralling magical experience.. When I was old enough to go to the midnight premieres, a whole different world erupted. Those in costume acknowledged others by their Harry Potter names—a Ron hugs a Hermoine, a Snape hurries a Malfoy along the snack line. There is a consen-

Expelleirmus: The writer before a quidditch match against Slytherin. sual understanding that you are not alone, that there are others who share a part in this world. Coming from a premiere (Deathly Hallows Part 1) where I led the entire theater in the Harry Potter theme song and a few small children bowed to me, getting kicked out of a theater and the movie starting late were definitely not good starts to the last premiere. I was separated from my friend in Hufflepuff, other Gryffindor comrades including Ron, and was only followed into

my second theater by my best friend from Ravenclaw. My upset about the beginning of the night ceased as the familiar music began to play. I laughed and cried and smiled and the movie was excellent. However, it was definitely missing a few things. Having just re-read the last book for the 8th or so time a few nights before, I took notice of every detail missing. I am aware that it is unlikely that the director could have included all aspects of the book,

but it was missing some very important details, such as much of the conversation in the white room, the whole explanation of Dumbledore’s struggle with the Hallows and his connections to Grindlewald and Arianna. And a lot of the deaths played out differently and less intensely than in the book. But for what it’s worth, I still give it an A. One thing, though, peeves me about this whole process: those who attend the midnight premiere who have not read a book. Okay, I get it; you want to see the movie. You’ve been watching all the movies since they’ve come out. Cool, that’s fine, everyone should experience Harry Potter in some regard. But those fully in costume, jumping on 5-hour Energy who have never read a single line of a single book and are actually there to see if Harry lives need to wait until morning. Premieres are a chance for the true Harry Potter lovers to convene. Those who actually feel this is an end of an era, who see this as the ending of their childhood, those are ones who this premiere should capture. There is another showing at 3 a.m. Read the books, or go see that.

Don’t Judge a Country by its Cover dream of holding a candle to the Mark Schwabacher ‘13 marvels of London. With this perWeb Opinions Editor My day in London was the very epitome of a tourist’s lifestyle. I ran out of space on my camera as I took pictures of every famous sight I could put in front of my lens. Through that lens I saw only the best that London had to offer. Glorified clock towers, prisons, and churches leapt up into the sky, begging to be photographed. It only took a couple of hours for me to start to idolize London in my mind. The city I walked became the ideal metropolis that balanced history with all the comforts and wonders of modern life. My poor, poor little Westport Connecticut could not even

fect image of London in my mind I boarded a train and bid my final farewell to the United Kingdom. About twelve hours later riots broke out in one of London’s districts. Then the riots spread across London and even sprang up in some other cities where they continued for four nights. When the fires finally died down, about £200 million in goods and property had been thrown out the window –a good portion of it quite literally – by looters and arsonists. With my preconceived tourist fascination with the ideal London, a riot there seemed almost as ludicrous as a riot in Westport. After years of exposure to American media that takes pleasure in its duty to highlight all that is wrong with our country, mod-

ern Europe appeared to me as a peaceful place. I had been reluctant to leave London earlier that day, but now I am happy that I left in time. As Staples students travel the world to see beautiful places or historical sites, we should keep in mind that no matter how fantastic a building may look or how magnificent a beach may be, there are things are going on behind the scenes. Things like pent up resentments and racial tensions that, when sparked, can cause violence to break out at any moment. It can be really easy to get carried away during summer break as long days and longer plane rides slowly corrode one’s brain. After eight or more hours in economy, any light at the end of the airport terminal has got to be heaven. However just because a

place looks like a foreign dreamland does not mean that it is free from the same sorts of problems we face at home. Once the looting and burning started it did not take long for me to realize London wasn’t the utopia I had photographed. Startling events like these have the power to change how we think about certain places. London aside, riotlike behavior in Italy and Greece has made me think twice about the reality of what’s going on underneath the Pantheon and Parthenon. Now I’m just glad to be home. Westport might not have the same history or sights as London, but at least I can go to sleep at night and not worry about anything really crazy going on. And after my summer, that’s fine by me.

New Year for Student Assembly By: JJ Mathewson’12

First off, I would like to welcome everybody, including the freshmen class, back to Staples. I hope everyone had as good a summer as I did. Before we get into what my initiatives with Student Assembly are this year, I also want to thank Inklings for giving me the opportunity to introduce myself for the first time and write this column. My name is JJ Mathewson, and I am this year’s president of the Student Assembly. For those of you who don’t know what we do, the Student Assembly is an organization made up of elected students who represent the interests of the student body here at Staples. We hope to continue improving the Student Assembly’s relationship with the student body as a whole. Last year, I heard the question, “what does student assembly even do,” too often. Al-

though we have improved in the realm of public relations, we can definitely improve even further. If you have a suggestion for the school, don’t hesitate to bring it to our attention. We created Formspring and Facebook accounts last year so we could hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to put them to good use. In our weekly Student Assembly meetings, we discuss what we hear from fellow students and try to create action plans to address them. We attend a weekly

meeting with teachers and administrators called Collaborative Team. Attending Collaborative Team allows us to go straight to the source and tell the administration what is on your mind. We love to see student activism because it makes our job representing your interests significantly easier. If you are feeling a little bit bolder than just bringing issues up to members of student assembly or writing on our social media pages, then look into joining the student assembly itself. It’s a really fun way to be active in the Staples community. Run for election! We love bright students who have interest in our student body. This fall, we are kicking everything off with a bang, with our 5k run in the sun for Staples tuition grants. For various reasons we decided to move the race to the early fall. Don’t forget to mark that down on your calen-

dar. Staples Tuition Grants is a great thing to contribute to and what better way than to have some friendly competition with your family and friends. Expect to see the race sometime early in the fall. Since the 5k is now in the fall, we will also be pushing up our election dates as well so that the full assembly is ready to help out on race day. Expect to see posters and information on Good Morning Staples regarding both the 5k and SA election dates soon! I think Staples is going to have a great year, and we are really excited to continue to help make it a better place. See you in the hallways soon!

JJ Mathewson is president of Student Assembly and a Staples student.

Letter From the Principal By: John Dodig One of the things I spoke about at the graduation was the environment we have created at Staples that is different from many high schools in America. To make my point, I mentioned that at the Variety Show held in May, one young man did a standup comedy routine based upon his experiences growing up as a dark-skinned Muslim. He was very funny and had the audience laughing. Later in the same show, a boy performed a beautiful modern dance all alone on stage. In many schools in America, either or both of those two boys would not have dared to perform, OR they would have endured catcalls, booing, or worse throughout their performances. I also described a conversation I had with a student whom I saw in our cafeteria wearing a tee shirt that had “Legalize Gay” emblazoned on the front. When I asked him if he had endured any negative comments or behavior towards him that day, he looked at me and said “no” in a manner that led me to believe that it was a silly question. That, again, is something that could not happen in thousands of high schools in America. I chose this topic for the first issue of Inklings and will speak of it at our first class meetings because I want to bring this matter to the surface and have people talk about WHY we are able to sustain this reality at Staples and how we can make it even better. It has always been my passionate belief that every student has a right to a free education in an environment free of bigotry, harassment, bullying, teasing or physical harm. I have been outspoken about my belief in every school district in which I have worked. At Staples, however, my belief is slowly becoming a reality. We are not perfect, by any means, but do enjoy an environment that allows our students to pursue what interests them without fear of ridicule. The few cases of harassment or bullying takes place on social networks which some believe has nothing to do with school and, therefore, should not involve administrators. Not only has the law changed on this issue, but when a student recipient of this kind of behavior on a social network makes it difficult or impossible for her/him to come to school or to be productive in school, it becomes our responsibility to eliminate it. I am very proud of what we have all created at Staples. There is room for improvement and we will work on that this year and in years to come. It is the student body, however, that is most important in this effort. Over my seven years at Staples I have watched freshmen come into our building and, over a few months, begin to understand the expectations for behavior and buy into the environment I have described. Let’s talk about it this year in class, in the cafeteria, at home with parents and anyone who wants to listen. It is another reason we are such a great school. Let’s all be proud of what we are both academically and socially. I certainly am proud of you.

John Dodig is the principal of Staples High School.

Opinions Inklings / August 31, 2011 / inklingsnews.com

Mari

a Zac

issinger

Theron K

s (AP Calculu th a M t: c je b Su try) AB, Geome “The of subject: t r a p e it r o Fav on of nd applicati creativitiy a .” the courses ewalking Hobby: Rac d to: king forwar Is most loo dents ith great stu w g in k r o “W staff.” and a great ld how: Seinfe S V T e it r o e: Fav he would b l, a e r e c a s If he wa ar.” kes, they ro “Frosted fla

hary

Subje ct Favor : World L an it oppor e part of s guage u tu b new t nity to ex ject: “The hings perie nc daily. routin It isn e e.” ’t a se Hobb t y: Tra vels a East C r o o yogur ast search und the t stor ing fo es. H r froz “Top as en T nectic his is the b been to 15 0. est in u ConIf she t.” w be: “C as a cerea l, hocol ate Ch she would cause e t choco hey combi erios, bene my late a nd he althy love of grain .”

Madame Jud

ith Hayward

Subject: French Favorite part o f subject: Student discussion s Hobby: USTA re creational ten nis coach. Is most looking forward to: Student presen tations and projects. Favorite TV Sh ow: 60 Minute s If she was a cere al, she would be: “Wheaties, because I like the box.”

Dana Levy Del Shortlif

Chrissy Hirth Subject: Biology Favorite part of subject: “I am especially interested in DNA and genetics.” Is most looking forward to: “Meeting lots of new people, and getting involved with all Staples has to offer Favorite TV Show: “True Blood, but I’m still mourning the loss of Lost.” If she was a cereal, she would be: “Cinnamon Toast Crunch, because it’s sweet, loud, and I have a real sweet spot for toast.

Subject: Engli sh 3A Favorite part of subject: “I love American Lit erature.” Hobby: “I pla y the blues on harmonica an d piano.” Is most lookin g forward to: “Getting to kn ow my colleagues and e specially my st udents while te aching course s.” If he were a ce real, he would be: “This grea t granola a friend of min e makes: healt hy, crunchy with some soft spo ts, best when sw eetened by ho n ey, and someti mes quite nutt y”

Subject: Math Unusual activity “I love to snowboard.” Is most looking forward to: “Meeting all the students and staff, and getting to know them.” Favorite TV Show: Modern Family, or Curb Your Enthusiasm. If she were a cereal, she would be: “Cheerios, because who doesn’t love Cheerios? Plus, it’s so much fun to say ‘Cheerio.’”

FEATURES

August 31, 2011

ERIC ESSAGOF ’12 Editor-in-Chief

With its expansive hallways, endless rows of lockers, and tough academic reputation, Staples can be an overwhelming place to enter for the first time. That is why Inklings compiled a list of 15 necessary tools for the Class of ’15.

Phone Numbers to Set As Speed Dial Snow Line: 1-203-341-1SNO Westport is known for being conservative when it comes to canceling school due to inclement weather, so be sure to check in with the town before hitting the snooze button on a snowy day. Athletic Hotline: 1-203-341-1333 For those those that plan on joining sports teams this year, this number will help make sure all players are up to date on last minute cancellations Westport Pizza: 1-203-226-4094 Rated as the best pizza in Westport by Inklings, this local pizzeria has been around for 37 years. They are always willing to deliver to the school for any club or team. 24-hour Student Attendance Hotline: 1-203-341-1281 For those that ever plan on missing school, they must call this number the day before. It also helps to have a good reason. SafeRides: 1-203-383-9492 SafeRides is a program that offers a safe ride home on Saturday nights until 2:00 a.m. This is a last resort only, but provides a useful service for those not able to bring themselves home safely.

Must Have Apps myStaples This app, invented by Staples Alumni Eric Lubin ’11, displays the schedule for the day, how much time is left in the period, and how much time is left in the rest of the school day. It can also be used to keep track of lunch periods and homework assignments. Graphing Calculator Even though it cannot be used in class, this app is a decent replacement for a TI-84 for homework. Should that calculator ever be misplaced, this app has almost all of the same functions. Flashcards* The age-old studying technique has finally gone digital. This app lets the user either create their own set of cards, or download a set of pre-made cards for a variety of topics. Evernote This is not a normal note-taking app. It allows the input of text, photo, and audio so that the user can truly remember anything. It will also upload all notes to an online account so that memories can be accessed on a computer at home. This can be great for homework assignments or plans with friends. Inklings For school news on the go, there is no better choice than the Inklings mobile app. Access the most recent articles on the front page, or save your favorites to be viewed offline.

Websites To Bookmark Sporcle For those that have nothing to do during those lastperiod frees on Friday, Sporcle is here to pass the time with fill in the blank challenges. Whether the goal is to name the 50 states or to list all of the Pixar films, Sporcle is sure to entertain. Google Translator While it should not be used as a crutch, Google Translator can certainly be a useful tool for those who need some help on their world language homework. It is great for defining a single word, but do not paste a whole paragraph into it. EBSCO EBSCO is a great place to start when it comes to research. This database has newspaper articles, journal entries, and detailed essays on a plethora of topics. It is perfect for just about any essay. Simple English Wikipedia While the regular Wikipedia can be a great tool for finding basic information, it can sometimes be confusing, especially on any article about science. That is where Simple English Wikipedia comes in. Using only simple language, it makes complex ideas accessible to anybody. Prezi Often billed as a “more exciting PowerPoint,” Prezi is a new and creative way to express a thought or display information for a presentation. Using zooms, paths, and the ability to embed Youtube videos, Prezi can turn a boring slideshow into an exciting presentation.

Features Inklings / August 31, 2011 / inklingsnews.com

Students Instead of Teachers Lead Freshman Tours CHLOE BAKER ’13

Web Opinions Editor A freshman’s first step into Staples is not on the hectic first day of school. The student is actually reminded of the start of their high school career when they receive a letter in the mail detailing the day they can come into this scary new place and be guided through the expansive halls clad with linoleum floors. In the past, not only did they get to meet an experienced high school student but they were guided also by a teacher at Staples. However, that has all changed. The freshman orientation has been changed to eliminate teachers from the tours and only to have students guiding. “The best part of my freshman tour was definitely having a teacher present,” Alec Maki ’13 said. “It gave me a more person, academic view and having an actual teacher there made me feel more welcome. Without having a teacher present, a freshman’s tour definitely won’t be as good.” More students, such as Michelle Elsas ’12, truly appreciated the presence of a teacher during their tour. Although some students are against the elimination of teachers, student ambassador Marc Himmel ’12 supports it. “I think the students will have a better experience without teachers because they will be more comfortable and relaxed and students can definitely give freshman a more realistic sense of what freshman year is like.”

Though this change is very different for current and past students at Staples, many agree this will have little effect on the tours. Elsas said, “Honestly, most freshman don’t even know teachers were ever on the tour, so they don’t really have anything to miss.”

“I think the students will have a better experience without teachers ... students can definitely give freshman a more realistic sense of what freshman year is like.” —Marc Himmel ‘12 Izzy Calderon, an incoming freshman, said, “I do not think a teacher could have contributed much because my tour guide was able to answer questions about the social and academic aspects of high school. I would have felt awkward if a teacher had been there.” Despite the changes, the freshman tours seemed to still be extremely helpful. Calderon felt that it gave her confidence and eased her worries about coming into a new school with a new layout and schedule. “Being able to see and experience Staples before the first day of school made me feel a lot better,” said Calderon.

PHOTO BY HANNAH FOLEY ‘14 Briyana Theodore ‘12 explains the lunch schedule to Topher Brown ‘15 and his father.

Catherine Claire ‘12 shows Zoe Brown ‘15 the second floor.

PHOTO BY HANNAH FOLEY ‘14

A E

August 31, 2011

Concerts You Don’t Want To Miss

Katy Perry - Nov. 16 Taylor Swift - Nov. 21, 22

Mat Kearney - Nov. 2 Matisyahu - Sept. 4 Royce Da 5’9 - Sept. 9

RAM

KE CKIE A J BY TOS PHO

Jackie Kerames ’12 A&E Editor

hile other kids run off to camp, vacation, or enrichment programs, the concept of being left behind in Westport over summer break can seem awfully dull. However, there is no better way to spend your summer than at a good concert. Summer is synonymous with concerts. Almost every artist tours throughout the few warm months, providing plenty of entertainment for those who seek it. Big-name artists, including Rihanna, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, and Britney Spears, all kicked-off this summer with a nation-wide tour. Amongst the many other names, I saw Avicii, White Panda and Bassnectar. I was able to get my ticket to

ROCK ON: Teens party with their friends during the summer while listening to great music at the Bassnectar, Avicii, and White Panda concerts. Avicii a few hours before the concert began. It was a last minute decision, but reviews of a previous Avicii concert lead me to believe that it would be worth it’s while. Fortunately, the Swedish DJ was able to live up to his hype. The concert was held on Governors Island, a small island accessible by a free ferry from Manhattan. It was a night packed with familiar faces, plenty of food, and a constant soundtrack of catchy house-beats. The concert took place on what was essentially a beach, but the sand in my shoes was unable to faze me in the presence of my friends and good music. After a night as memorable as Avicii, I had hoped that attending White Panda at the infamous Toad’s Place in New Haven would be comparable. Although I wasn’t a fan of the music, I assumed that White Panda’s mash-ups of familiar songs would still be just as fun to listen to. The venue was certainly more crowded, and being

stuck under a ceiling rather than the stars was definitely a downgrade. In the end, being at White Panda was equivalent to listening to the radio with a bunch of strangers. There was virtually no performer, and far too many of the songs were unrecognizable. The night was still entertaining, but too many concerts of my past exceeded the performance of whoever White Panda really was. I traveled back to Governors Island for my third and final summer concert. Bassnectar, a “dubstep” DJ, was truly a unique experience. The space was even larger than Avicii, the crowd much more wild, and the music much louder. The opening act, Lupe Fiasco, surpassed the no-names at Avicii and White Panda, almost matching the performance of Bassnectar himself. From the moment we got there was great music and live-

liness from the moment we got there. Aside from the infestation of drug-users, the crowd at Bassnectar had an energy that was palpable. By the end I was exhausted, yet entirely fulfilled. It was the perfect end to my streak of summer concerts. Overall, I have no regrets for attending any of the three concerts. Each night provided me with memories that I will never forget. As long as you are somewhat familiar with an artist, it’s hard not to enjoy a concert when friends, food, and beautiful summer weather surrounds you. Fall is inching closer and summer is coming to an end, but I take comfort in the fact that a new array of concerts is already lining up for next year.

Paramore - Sept. 17 OFWGKTA - Oct. 19

The Script - Oct. 15

Colbie Caillat - Sept. 19

A&E Inklings / August 31, 2011 / inklingsnews.com

Music Review

Haute Hip Hop

Personal Tech

Spotify Makes Finding Music Simple

Alix Neenan ’12 Managing Editor

Ned Hardy ’13 Web A&E Editor

eorge Washington didn’t run for president again for a reason: he knew that he had already made history. But making history once is never enough for rap warlord Kanye West. West’s 2010 masterpiece, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” was hailed by almost everyone in the music industry as a monumental piece in the relatively new genre of hip hop, complete with a 35-minute long YouTube music video. Less than a year later, West, along with fellow powerhouse Shawn Carter (Jay-Z), has come out with another, gold-encrusted (literally) album called “Watch The Throne”. At one point, West called his work the “Hermes of verses,” and to some extent, he’s right. The album used samples that could not have been cheap to obtain, a reoccurring theme is the almost obscenely opulent lifestyle that both West and Carter live, and even the album cover screams luxury (it was, after all, designed by Givenchy’s creative director Riccardo Tisci). But there are moments of the album that should have delivered but just don’t. On “Fantasy,” there were so many fantastic parts, that frankly, I think Kanye’s fiercely loyal fandom has become spoiled. But this album was disappointing for two reasons: 1) it was very hyped up and promoted as the Sgt. Pepper’s of rap 2) it would be very difficult to make an album better than “Fantasy.” The disparities between the songs are very big. Some I’ve add-

HIP HOP ROYALTY: Jay-Z and Kayne West released “Watch the Throne” on August 8th. The album was in stores on August 12th. The “Watch the Throne tour starts September 22nd. ed to playlists to listen to again (such as darkly synthesized, mildly philosophical opener featuring #TheNextBigThing Frank Ocean, “No Church in the Wild”) while others will only remain on my Recently Added playlist until I get new songs (i.e. “Who Gon Stop Me,” which samples dubstep. Dubstep?! And I thought Kanye was above such nonsense.) Despite the negative reviews saying that all the album talked about was money and cars, there were some deeper moments. In the song “New Day,” West and Carter both rap to their unborn children. “I’ll never let ‘em ever hit a strip club / I learned the hard way, that ain’t the place to get love,” West promises, which is quite a departure from his senti-

ments on “Fantasy,” where Kanye raps about how he’s going to marry a porn star. There are more political parts of the album as well, such as on “Murder to Excellence,” where Jay-Z references Danroy Henry, a football player who was shot by police officers, or “Made In America,” where Frank Ocean sweetly croons to “Sweet King Martin / Sweet Queen Coretta / Sweet Brother Malcolm” and “Sweet Queen Betty.” “Watch The Throne” is a must-buy (please don’t illegally download, it’s just bad karma), but don’t expect it to be “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Part II.” This album is different in many ways, some good, and some bad.

When the opportunity to try Spotify arose on a hot day in early July, I was slightly hesitant. The music streaming service, which landed on American shores just a few months ago, has been wildly popular in Europe for years. But I just couldn’t see how it was different from iTunes, the music streaming service that was been wildly popular in my computer for years. I hesitated for a few seconds before realizing that I quite literally had nothing else to do and no reason not to try it. I decided to conduct a completely unscientific test of the free, ad-supported version of Spotify. It turned out that Spotify differed from iTunes in a few very

Unlike iTunes, nothing needs to download. As long as one has an Internet connection, full albums and songs play with one click. One cannot help but wonder how Spotify is legal, yet most of the major record companies are behind it. After listening to an exorbitant amount of music, I decided to end my grassroots test. My conclusion: Spotify lived up to the hype. Time to upgrade to Spotify Premium.

Spotify Plans Free:

What you get: not much. Ads play after every five or six songs, and there is a ten hour per month streaming limit. It is pretty basic, but then again, there is absolutely no cost.

Unlimited:

$4.99 per month. What you get: a fairly solid deal. No ads and unlimited streaming, but your computer is still the only place that you can use Spotify.

Premium: significant ways. Without spending money, I was able to listen to anything that my heart desired. Some 2001-era Outkast? Absolutely. In the mood for a little Bon Iver? Coming right up. Care to hear some of that newfangled Odd Future Wolf Gang? Listen away.

$9.99 per month. What you get: everything. No ads, unlimited streaming, offline mode for playlists, and the ability to use Spotify on mobile devices.

Staples Players Presents

Jesus Christ Superstar

PHOTO BY KERRY LONG WHATS THE BUZZ: On July 28, 29, and 30, Staples Players performed “Jesus Christ Superstar” as their summer show. It provided incoming freshman, as well as students from other towns, an opporutnity to be in a Staples Players show. In addition, the 2011 graduates were in this large cast. The show had a great turnout at every performance.

A&E Inklings / Aug. 31, 2011 / inklingsnews.com

2010

Today

ͺͲ ǡ ǯ ǡ Ǧ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǧ Ǥ ǡ ǯ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ

To Pay by Check: ̈́͵ͲǤͲͲ ǣ

͹Ͳ ǡ Ͳ͸ͺͺͲ

SPORTS

August 31, 2011

O OT PH

FALL PREVIEW

O SY TE UR CO FW

quad-captains Jessie Ambrose ’12, Abby Fagan ’12, Abbey Lake ’12 and Shannon Lesch ’12. Ambrose and Lake received All-FCIAC Honorable Mention honors after their notable performances on the field last season. The girls look to improve on their strong run in the playoffs last year, where they were cut down in the FCIAC semi-final against Greenwich and in the CIAC Quarterfinal against Hamden. With a strong core of returning players, the Lady Wreckers look to improve on last year’s success. Season opener: Sept. 13 vs. Fairfield Ludlowe, 4 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CT POST

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.STAPLESGIRLSSOCCER.COM

Girls’ Volleyball

After a 12–6 campaign last fall, the girls’ volleyball team will look to the newly announced tricaptains Joosje Grevers ’12 (see bottom right), Anna Link ’12 and Kenzie Roof ’12 to lead them back to the playoffs. Last year, the Lady Wreckers were left with a chip on their shoulder. After a loss to Fairfield Ludlowe in the first round of the FCIAC playoffs, the girls won two straight in the state playoffs, including one against third-seeded Glastonbury, who had lost just once all season. In the state quarterfinal, the squad again matched up against Fairfield Ludlowe. Unfortunately for Staples, the Falcons proved to be too much and won the match three sets to none. They face each other again on Oct. 17 at Staples to rekindle the rivalry that began in last season’s playoff race. Season opener: Sept. 14 vs. Fairfield Warde, 4 p.m.

Field Hockey

With a 7–6 record last year, the Lady Wreckers entered the postseason looking to make a memorable showing. Unfortunately for the team, things didn’t go as planned. In the first round of the FCIAC playoffs, players were pitted against undefeated Darien and in the first round of states against sixth-seeded Fairfield Ludlowe, which posted a 9-2-3-2 record going into the tournament. This season, in hopes of improvement, second team all-FCIAC selection Emily Ashken ’12, first team all-FCIAC selection Callie Hiner ’12, and honorable mention all-FCIAC Misha Strange ’12 are all returning to the Lady Wreckers. Season opener: Sept. 13 vs. Wilton, 4 p.m.

eira ’13. A key loss for the team is Molly Loftus ’11, an All-FCIAC honoree last year. Season opener: Sept. 16 vs. Ridgefield, 4 p.m.

Water Polo

The boys’ water polo team goes into the fall season with a pair of new captains, a load of young talent, and ambitions of improvement on last season. David Katter ’12 and Daniel Nussbaum ’12, co-captains of the 2011 squad, look to complement returning seniors Jacob Epstein ’12, Kyle Bacon ’12, Dan Haroun ’12 (see below), and Nick Yu ’12, as well as lead the rest of the team to improvement and much-deserved success. Although the players lost four seniors to graduation, they are still taking to the water as strong as ever. Season opener: Sept. 16 @ Greenwich, 4 p.m.

Boys’ Cross Country

After last year’s seventh place performance at the CIAC

LL championships, the Staples runners are pacing themselves for a steady improvement. With returning runners all around, the Wreckers aim to claim even more titles this year. Henry Wynne ’13 (see bottom left) will be the key runner for this year’s team. He posted astounding times as a sophomore and undoubtedly will help out more than his fair share this year. The team lost Ben Aldrich ’11, who is now running at Colgate, Jack Roche ’11, who is running at Vermont, and Kentaro Higuchi ’11, another former captain. Season opener: Sept. 13 vs. New Canaan, Brien McMahon, St. Joseph, Greenwich, 4 p.m. Girls cross country

honrable mention runners in Judy Feng ‘13 and Caroline Smith ‘12. In addition, the team gains indoor and outdoor track standout Georgia Kursten ‘13, who is running cross for the first time after two years of soccer. Also, the team is looking towards Caroline Keonig ‘14, last year’s FCIAC freshman champion, to step up and help fill the roles of the departed Johnson and Hanrahan. With a strong cast of returning runners, the team is very optimistic that it can improve on last year’s 6th place FCIAC finish and 11th place finish at the Class LL championships. Season opener: Sept. 13 vs. New Canaan, Brien McMahon, St. Joseph, Greenwich, 4 p.m

Girls’ Cross Country

Despite losing first team allFCIAC runner Ingrid Johnson and seniors Emily Hanrahan and Rachel Myers, the team retains two all-FCIAC

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.STAPLESSWIMMING.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF CT POST

Girls’ Swimming

The Staples’ girls swimmers and divers look for another competitive year in the pool after a ninth place finish at last year’s state open and a third place finish at the LL Championships. The girls bring back Verity Abel ’14, a first team All-FCIAC selection, Gabrielle Wimer ’12, second-team All-FCIAC pick, and Alexis TeixPHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.STAPLES RUNNING.COM

PHOTO BY ERIC ESSAGOF ’12

Girls’ Soccer

The Lady Wreckers have high ambitions for the 2011 season with the new leadership of

M CO G. IN

The three-time returning FCIAC Champions are looking to produce yet another season teeming with success. Returning to the team is captain Jake Malowitz ’12, along with starting goalkeeper and co-captain James Hickok ’13. Also coming back after a breakout sophomore season is Lorenz Esposito ’13. Nevertheless, some of the standouts of the 2010 campaign are starting their college careers while the 2011 Staples team is starting its season. Brendan Lesch ’11, Sean Gallagher ’11, Greg Gudis ’11 and Frankie Bergonzi ’11 were all lost to graduation and are now on to play at Notre Dame, Navy, Columbia and Colgate, respectively. Although every season poses its challenges, Staples boasts one of the best teams in the FCIAC year after year, and this year shouldn’t be any different. Season opener: Sept. 14 vs. Ridgefield, 4 p.m.

Soccer

Football Coming off of an 11–2 campaign last year, the Wreckers sport one of the toughest schedules in the FCIAC, highlighted by their season opener in Trumbull against last year’s Class S state champion, St. Joseph’s. Led by senior captains Bo Gibson ’12, Jack Gibson ’12, and Peter Bonenfant ’12, the Wreckers are in for a unrelenting season. Following their first game, Staples takes on a strong Bridgeport Central team, again on the road. The squad faces off against last year’s FCIAC champ, Darien, and goes head to head with Trumbull, which last year made it to the FCIAC final game. Even rival Greenwich is taken on in the traditional Thanksgiving Day match-up. The Wreckers return starting quarterback Jack Massie ’14, running backs Jon Heil ’12 (see right) and Nick Kelly ’12, and cornerbacks Greg Strauss ’13 and James Frusciante ’13. Season opener: Sept. 17 @ St. Joseph, 1:30 p.m.

W SS LE AP .ST W

Managing Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF CT POST

NEW SEASON, NEW CHALLENGES

JULIAN CLARKE ’12

ports ports

INSIDE:

Fall Sports Preview, Pg. 15

The WRECKERS

STAPLES WRECKERS

Together as

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA O’KANE ’13

BY WILL MCDONALD ’14 AND RYDER CHASIN ’14 Sports Editors For as long as athletes have been running routes on the gridiron, sprinting down the pitch, or charging across the diamond, the phrase “There’s no ‘I’ in team” has been a mainstay in the jargon of coaches. How coaches prefer to instill this mindset into their players varies. Some may prefer to punish the infractions of a single player by forcing the entire team to do sprints. Others schedule events outside of school—fundraisers and pasta dinners—where teammates have the opportunity to get to know each other and see what people are like when they’re not wearing razor-sharp spikes under their feet or carrying a gigantic stick that could double as a bludgeoning tool. However, some teams, such as field hockey or boys’ soccer, prefer to revamp the concept of extra-curricular team-building activities and, instead of relating on solely a player-to-player level, elevate it one step further. According to boys’ soccer

PHOTO COURTESY OF CT POST HIGH AMBITIONS: The field hockey team members are confident their off the field chemistry will lead to on the field success.

coach Dan Woog, in years past the boys’ soccer team has gone on trips that vary from the everentertaining whitewater rafting in Maine to the adrenaline rush of bobsledding in Lake Placid to even the exhilarating and strategic violence of paintball. In keeping with CIAC regulations, these excursions are always strictly non-soccer and are only meant to provide an opportunity for the team to be together, grow close, and allow the players to mentally prepare themselves for the rigors of the upcoming season. Although they were not able to go on a trip this year due to scheduling conflicts with all but four of the players, usually all of the returning varsity players, which is typically around 10-12 boys, are invited. Both Woog and a former player accompany them. The team’s lodging has ranged from cabins in Maine to an old Victorian house in Vermont. In order to contribute to the teamonly atmosphere, no parents are permitted to attend. “It’s a great, fun experience,” Woog said. “I always make sure that best friends do not room together, and even though it’s only a few days, the team really grows close, and focuses on the upcoming season.” After making the varsity squad as a freshman, James Hickok ’13 had a bright outlook on the upcoming season but still felt a little distant from the upperclassman-dominated ranks that made up the rest of the team. Following a whitewater rafting trip to Maine with his soon-to-be teammates, his perspective quickly changed. “As an underclassmen it really helped me get to know the seniors on the team, but more importantly brought the whole team together,” Hickok said, “I think team trips are vitally important for team chemistry and creating lasting friendships.” Meanwhile, the field hockey team also embarked on a team

ONE

How some Staples sports take a group of athletes and forge them into a team

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY DAN WOOG PART OF THE TEAM: James Hickok ’13 sits among then-senior teammates, from left, Sean Gallagher ’11, Hickok, Court Lake ’11, Connor Walsh ’11, and Mikey Scott ’11.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY EMILY ASHKEN ’12 DON’T LET GO: Teammates Emily Ashken ’12 and Misha Strage ’12 hold on tight as they ski across the water trip—but unlike the soccer team, the athletes went alone. The returning varsity players voyaged up to Northern Michigan to stay at the house of Emily Ashken ’12, who is one of the team’s five captains. According to Ashken, “The idea behind it was to really get to know each other on a more personal level as opposed to the occasional wave in the Staples hallways.” In Michigan, the teammates participated in many leisurely, relaxed activities such as water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, boating, team yoga, scary-movie-watch-

ing, and, according to Ashken, even “intense” hikes up very steep sand dunes. “All the activities we did were aimed at bringing us closer as a team,” Ashken said. “There was never a dull moment; even the car rides were full of excitement.” Caroline Kearney ’12, another captain of the team, emphasized that she feels this unique kind of experience has provided a boost in team chemistry that will benefit the players as the season begins. “Before we went, I wasn’t sure what to expect due to the fact that we had never done any-

thing like this before with just the team,” Kearney said. “Now I really understand my teammates at a deeper level rather than just knowing how they play on the field.” In addition to the trip, the team also found a way to cross the boundaries of the freshman, junior varsity, and varsity squads. Last Thursday, the three levels united at a mega-pasta dinner held at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. According to Ashken, the event provided team members of all grade levels to “make a variety of different foods and work with groups to build team spirit and just have fun.” “Planning these kinds of activities does take a lot of work,” she said, “but the camaraderie and team energy that comes out of something like this is well worth it. And whether it’s a field hock-

“The idea behind it was to really get to know each other on a more personal level as opposed to the occasional wave in the Staples hallways.” -Emily Ashken ’12 ey trip to North Michigan, or a soccer trip to Maine, the feelings are consistent. “Each player’s character really shows up in those few short days, whether they were the leader, or the funny guy, or anything like that,” Hickok said. “Looking back a year later, the bonds that that upperclassmen created with me on that trip have only grown.”