Feb 13 full pdf

Inklings February 13, 2015 Issue 7 Founded in 1933 inklingsnews.com

Offer of free community college fails to shake stigma Michael Mathis ’15 & Katie Settos ’15

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n Jan. 8, President Barack Obama gave a speech that reawakened the longdormant app, Vine. In a small speech delivered from the seat of his desk, he said, “What I’d like

institution,” Deborah Slocum said. “They don’t have a real understanding of what community college offers. It just makes me sad.”

Francis Furmanek ’10, a graduate of Norwalk Community College and University of New Haven, took an Intro to Psychology course before transferring to a four-year university. According to him, he was just as prepared. “[The course] at NCC was

more expansive than UConn. I covered enough material for 2.5 classes at UConn,” he said.

Finance is another important factor to community college.

Even if Obama’s plan does not pass, students like Furmanek believe that the savings are still unbelievable.

“The year [at NCC] cost me about $2000, which is not a lot at all, including textbooks and tuition,” Furmanek said.

Not only did attending community college cut costs while Furmanek was enrolled, but it did so even after, as well.

Through transfer scholarships, he saved upwards of $10,000 per year.

Despite the economic appeal of a community college degree, some believe the return on the investment of a four-year degree is much more desirable.

“I believe that attending a four-year university is a necessary step in order to ensure the future I want for myself,” Evan Horowitz ’15 said. “People who attend community college are at a disadvantage when competing against four-yearcollege graduates for jobs.”

Timi Kolade ’15 agreed.

“My parents said that four-year colleges are better for preparing you for the rest of your life,” he defended. “I would like to be involved in the business sector when I grow up, and I’m pretty Continued on page 2 GRAPHIC BY MEGAN ROOT ’15

of community college, free, for everybody who’s willing to work for it.”

With over 2,500 re-Vines, internet users were eager to spread the news. However, in the halls of Staples, many couldn’t care less.

“You’d have to pay me a lot of money to go [to community college],” laughed a table of freshman boys.

“You only go there if you

have a low GPA,” a sophomore said.

“I [wouldn’t] want to spend the rest of my life caked in a mixture of fry grease and disappointment,” one senior wrote in a Facebook message.

Even with the possibility of free education, the stigma surrounding community college still seems to dominate the minds of a majority of Staples students.

According to guidance counselor Deborah Slocum, many students underestimate the curriculum rigor at community colleges.

“People think [Norwalk Community College] is a piece of cake, but it’s the same type of class you would take in a four-year

Statistics from National Student Clearinghouse and online poll answered by 100 random Staples students. Graduation rates indicate completion of degree within 150 percent of time required. Tuition fees are costs per year

Early Decision offers applicants a second chance at early admission Alison Morrison ’15 The Staples community buzzed around Dec. 15, the date when some seniors heard from Early Decision schools. What students might not know is that a second, less popular option, Early Decision II, bridges the gap between Early Decision I and Regular Decision.

ED II applications are due in either December or January, around the same time regulardecision applications are due, February, earlier than regular decision. ED II works similarly to ED I in that the application is binding, so if the student is accepted, he or she is required to attend.

For the universities that offer ED II, the second round of early applications brings in a bigger yield of applicants, which makes them look statistically better, according to The Examiner, a news website of articles by independent writers.

“Effectively, ED II offers

Inside Opinions Features A&E Sports

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institutions a second chance to grab guaranteed enrollees,” says College Transition, a site that provides information and counseling to college applicants.

It also says that ED II increases yield rates for schools, which boosts their ratings and desirability.

Another appeal for ED II is it gives applicants more time to

Sally Rubenstone, a senior advisor for the website Educational Weekly blog that ED II is a good option for seniors who need more time with their application, were disappointed with junior-year grades or haven’t completed their standardized testing.

There are some drawbacks,

“I’m really happy that Early Decision is an option — it takes a lot of the pressure off.”

— Kelly Coyne ’09 choose a college and complete their application, ensuring they are comfortable with their decision.

“Early Decision II has a student who may not necessarily be ready to commit to school in October or November,” guidance counselor William Plunkett said.

however. Staples alumnus Kelly Coyne ’09 explained her thoughts on ED II. “I’m really happy that Early Decision is an option — it takes a lot of the pressure off,” Coyne said. “The only downside of ED your other applications.”

Another drawback is that

ED II is not available at a wide range of schools. Most applicants seeking an earlier admission decision will have to apply through either Early Action or Early Decision I. According to Aristotle advising company from New York, 72 colleges and universities out of thousands around the U.S. offer ED II, including Vanderbilt University and New York University.

“ED II doesn’t come up all that much,” guidance counselor Leslie Hammer said. She also said most colleges don’t offer ED II because it creates another group of applications to review.

Sydney Sussman ’15 agreed.

“I did notice that ED II was

Sussman said in a Facebook interview.

Whether it’s ED I or ED II, Staples students often feel pressured to apply early decision However, Plunkett advises against such a mindset.

“Don’t feel forced to make a commitment before you’re ready,” he said. “Resist the temptation Decision to.”

option, and usually schools had an Early Action decision rather than an ED II decision,”

A look at Staples’ woodshop course Page 16

GRAPHIC BY MEGAN ROOT ’15

BOYS’ BASKETBALL ENJOYS SUCCESSFUL SEASON

Page 26

VALENTINE’S DAY BRUNCH RECIPES Page 19

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Inklings

In Brief February Break Feb. 14 - 23

Students will enjoy 10 days off from school, the second-to-last long vacation of the school year. In addition 23) is staff development day, so schools will only be open for faculty and staff.

Students will return on Tues, Feb. 24.

PPSAT Exam March 7

The PPSAT is a practice PSAT that will only be open to sophomores. The PPSAT is shorter than the SAT, but does include two reading sections, one math, and one writing. The Westport Continutickets online at westportcontinuinged. com or through the phone at 203-3411209. Tickets are limited.

“Sweeney Todd”

February 13, 2015 | News

Option of community college fails to appeal to some college-bound seniors Continued from page 1

college as “wonderful,” students like Greg

sure that a four-year degree is the only degree that is acceptable.”

Meanwhile, the Norwalk Community College website offers eight degrees

they wanted out of their experience. “[I wanted] the things that community colleges don’t have, like sports, Greek life, the actual campus,” he said, referring to his decision to apply solely to four-year universities.

The stigma of community college continues to be one of the more divisive debates of Staples culture. Though most acknowledge that the negative conceptions exist, the source is disputed. Students and counselors alike will point to the parents.

“Staples is very competitive. A lot of that competitiveness is driven by our parents or guardians, most of whom are very involved in the process,” Fisher said. “It might be hard for the guidance department to make [community college] a real option because of the lack of knowledge about it from the parents point of view.”

Slocum attested to this, but argued that the parents only push kids to attend

Marketing, Business Administration and Finance. In fact, job growth for associate degree holders is surpassing that of advanced degreed holders, with the fastest growing jobs in America, from therapists to dental hygienists, requiring only a twoyear degree. According to the Department of Labor, employment for Americans with an associate’s degree rose from 578,000, to 35.2 million over the course of the 2012 year, while employment for those with at least a bachelor’s degree increased by just 314,000, to 46.5 million.

But, at the end of the day, many Staples students agree that the experience of a four-year university outweighs that of a two-year college’s. While Furmanek described his experience at community

four-year colleges out of “good intentions,” meaning that parents think better career opportunities lie with a four-year degree.

Students like Kelsey Bobrow ’15, however, are less sympathetic to the guidance department.

“Sure, the guidance counselors say it’s an option every time they talk to classes about after high school, but I haven’t heard students talk about that as an option,” she argued. “Maybe it’s not talked about enough as a viable option,” she said.

Above all things, though, Furmanek, whose foot has been in both the two-year and four-year collegiate worlds, stresses that there is no right answer. But, if one wants to defend one side, they better be informed on the reality of each situation.

“You’re only hurting yourself.”

Furmanek took a pause and an audible breath. “If you are already blocking out something you don’t know too much about, and could possibly be a very useful tool, then you’re already shutting yourself out to a good portion of the world.”

March 13, 14, 15, 20, 21

The Staples Players spring production is based on the play “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” a Sondheim musical about a man who was wrongly imprisoned and seeks revenge on those who framed suspense, “Sweeney Todd” isn’t one to miss. For more information and tickets, visit staplesplayers.com.

SAT Exam March 14

The SAT is the only standardized test held in March. Tickets should be purchased on sat.collegeboard.org.

While Staples is not a testing site, there are many schools in the area that are testing on this particular exam date.

Testing sites include Darien High lowe, and New Canaan High School.

More testing locations can be found on the College Board website, collegeboard.org.

Penguin Plunge March 14

Westport residents will brave the cold waters of the Long Island Sound on March 14 for the annual Penguin Plunge. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the plunge begins at 1 p.m. Connecticut Special Olympics athletes will receive all of the proceeds from the event. Participants must be 8 years or older and must raise $100 to take part.

For continual updates, check www.inklingsnews.com

GRAPHIC BY CLAIRE DINSHAW ’17

Scan the QR code below to access our website

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Inklings

February 13, 2015 | News

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY 1973 STAPLES YEARBOOK

ATHLETE PIONEERS The Staples 1973 Ultimate Frisbee team, which was the third team created in the world, poses for a group photo. Al Jolley, the team’s founder, is pictured on the far left.

Staples’ Jolley spins into the Ultimate Frisbee Hall of Fame Andrew Vester ’17

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ongtime Staples staff member and math teacher Al Jolley was recently inducted into the Ultimate Frisbee Hall of Fame for his founding of the Staples Ultimate Frisbee team in 1971. At the time, it was the third ultimate frisbee team in the world.

Jolley, along with 28 others, was inducted and recognized as a “Johnny Appleseed” of the sport. Together, these original 29 helped to spread the sport from its starting location at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, to the rest of the world.

“I loved throwing a frisbee, and I had no idea there was a game until my sister sent me the rules,” Jolley said. “Once

I saw a game played, I knew I needed to make a team at Staples.” one team, it was at his urging that the neighboring town of Weston formed a team. In addition to this, he organized frisbee.

“Al was directly instrumental with Weston starting a team,” Ed Davis ’74, a Staples graduate and Ultimate Frisbee Hall of Fame inductee, said. “Al also ultimate game, with Staples taking on the originators and powerhouse of the game, Columbia High School.”

Many feel that Jolley’s love of children and his dedication to bring joy to them was vital to the success of the sport

in Connecticut.

“Al has always been involved with working with and mentoring youth, with being a teacher, a youth leader in his church, and ultimately with ultimate,” Davis said. “It was a way to bring together young men and women into a unique sport that encourages sportsmanship, fair play, mutual respect and ‘the basic joy of play’, and discourages ‘win-at-all-costs’ behavior.”

Many students believe that the sport would be nowhere near as large as it is today if it had not been for Jolley’s “Without Mr. Jolley’s dedication to the sport, ultimate just would not be the same, and I would not be the ultimate player I am,” Max Wimer ’15 said.

In addition, many students are glad that the man who brought the game of recognized for his work.

“I’m glad that Mr. Jolley was honored for all that he’s done,” Brooke Wrubel ’17 said. “I enjoy playing frisbee in gym, and without his work, I’m not sure that I would have ever heard about the game.”

Even fellow inductees were overjoyed upon hearing the news about Jolley.

Ron Kaufman ’74, another inductee and member of the original Staples Ultimate Frisbee team, thought Jolley’s induction was “an honor and deeply deserved.”

Kaufman added, “[Jolley’s induction is] a real testimony to the lifelong impact one person can have on so many others.”

Animal Behavior and Zoology courses roar into science department Ale Benjamin ’15 From studying chemical compounds to alternative energy to independent research, Staples may seem to offer However, with so much to cover in the general curriculum, it’s often hard to hit the details of every specialty.

For instance, science teacher Michael Lazaroff recently found Staples lacking in education on animals. As a result, he proposed and had approved two new elective semester science courses that will be available to students for the 2015 school year: Zoology and Animal Behavior.

“In regular biology we don’t really have time to go into different types of animals,” Lazaroff, who teaches Biology Honors, said. “And to me that’s where all the fun stuff is.”

Lazaroff thought to create the course when he was inspired by Josh Hauser ’16, who took Lazaroff’s Anatomy and Physiology course last year.

“Whenever we would talk about some aspect of anatomy, he would have interesting tidbits about different species,” Lazaroff recalled, and at the end of the course, Lazaroff asked Hauser if he would help him design a proposal for a Zoology course.

Lazaroff and Hauser had several meetings in October of last year to design the course, and eventually presented to Collaborative Team. The team approved their proposal in time to offer it in the course handbook for the 2015-2016 school year.

Zoology is described in the handbook as “the structure and function, as well as the behavior, of animals, and how they have adapted to their environments.” The course description also says that students will learn, “through the application laboratory investigation.”

Once Lazaroff received approval for Zoology, however, he realized that Zoology contained within it a distinct subset that could be its own course altogether: Animal Behavior. branch called Ethology,” Lazaroff said.

“Some students’ learning styles would be

DRAWING BY TYLER TESKE ’15

A STAMPEDE OF STUDIES will focus solely on the study of animals.

more interested in observation and social interaction.”

No matter their interest, both new courses will offer innovative opportunities for students.

Hauser described, for example, Zoology. “Students would be given an environmental situation, and then, using the information from the semester, create an original animal,” he said.

Lazaroff added that one of his goals for Animal Behavior would be to take Zoo and have students perform their own behavioral studies.

One major appeal of the courses is that it directly correlates with a path for

veterinary science, an interest held by many students.

Stacy Kaneko ’15, who intends to study veterinary science in college next year at the University of Michigan, has taken Anatomy, AP Environmental Science and AP Biology over the past four years.

“They’re pretty standard courses, so it’s good to have a general understanding of basic things,” she said. However, had she had the chance to take Zoology or Animal would have taken them.”

The difference between the general overview courses and the new electives, Lazaroff said, is really the “quirky” nature of the information these courses will delve

into.

“The whole thing with Animal Behavior is to try not to just look at [animals] as people with fur or feathers. A lot of things are really going to be an eye opener,” he said.

The prerequisite for Zoology is one full year of Biology and Chemistry and one full year of Biology for Animal Behavior.

The prerequisite courses can be completed at any level, making Zoology and Animal Behavior open to any interested and eligible students.

“If you love animals, you’re going to love both of these courses,” Lazaroff said, “and if you like things that are weird and mind blowing, you’re going to love both of these courses.”

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Inklings

Jackie Sussman ’17

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houses, and power-lines and downed trees blocked nearly every road.

Any Westport resident can attest to the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, a historic storm that hit in October 2012.

Since the winter of 2008, storms have been abnormally harsh and snow levels have been irregularly high. Although other generations may see such weather as shocking, millennials in Westport and all over the world have grown accustomed to the reality of global warming.

Climate change is linked to global warming and the greenhouse effect, which cause extremes in weather.

Because of climate change, “the amount of rain or snow falling in the heaviest 1 percent of storms has increased nationally over the last half century,” the Union of Concerned Scientists reported.

These storms have rocked Westport in the last few years. Hurricane Irene, the worst storm in Connecticut since The Connecticut Post), knocked out power lines, tipped over trees and destroyed houses. Grace McGinley ’17 said she “[lost] power for the longest time, and we were out for almost two weeks.

Flashlights [were] everywhere, and we [since] everything was electricity-based.”

The increasing frequency of storms cemented the reality of climate change in the current teenage generation.

“Everyone now gets freaked out whenever a major storm is announced,” McGinley said.

Julia Greene ’15 noted that growing up with extreme weather has affected how students think about the climate.

“[Global warming] has made students’ outlook very different than the perspective of our parents because it’s something that we’ve been told to accept our entire lives,” Julia Greene ’15 said.

Some students have taken steps to repair damage of the environment. Staples’ Club Green is “very invested in trying to inspire a sense of responsibility for our environment in the students at Staples,” club member Simon Ginsberg ’16 said.

Ginsberg described some changes Club Green has made to help the environment, including establishing a double-sided printer in the library.

Although unpredictable weather has become common, students like Ginny Gerig ’17 feel global warming “hasn’t really affected the students except to be more eco-conscious.”

Even so, Gerig feels “little things create big changes.” Ginsberg agreed and said there are many ways for Staples students to help the environment.

“We could most certainly reduce emissions and fuel consumption that occur every day with the hundreds of vehicles by putting a greater emphasis on riding the bus,” he said.

In fact, Westport is already combating climate change through requirements issued by the Department of Public Works.

Citizens are required to recycle electronics and put household hazardous waste in environmentally friendly waste collection programs, according to WestportCT.gov.

Furthermore, on an national level, climate change was addressed in President Obama’s most recent State of the Union speech.

“If we do not act forcefully,” Obama said, “we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous disruptions around the globe.”

World Briefs Sophia Hampton ’15

ISIS On Feb. 3, ISIS released a video of the alleged execution of a 27-year-old Jordanian Kasasbeh. Footage showed al-Kasasbeh being burned alive, despite the act going against the teachings of Islam, according to CNN.

Staple s

Students combat climate change

February 13, 2015 | News

Scho h g ol Hi

pilot to be captured from the effort led by the United States against ISIS. In response to his death, Jordan executed two of their Al Qaeda prisoners, one of which was a woman involved in a terrorist plot, whose freedom ISIS had demanded.

Two days after the release of the video, Jordan began embarking on an air mission called “Moath the Martyr,” according to CNN. al-Kasasbeh’s father vowed “to destroy [ISIS],” according to NPR. al-Kasasbeh had been part of a planned prisoner exchange that was under negotiation before his death. The exchange was intended to involve Kenji Goto, the Japanese journalist who was beheaded by ISIS after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refused to meet a $200 million ransom.

Vladimir Putin The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has made headlines again this week for his controversial involvement with Ukraine. According to The New York pressure on the Obama administration to give military aid to Ukraine. Obama had pledged to help Ukraine in every way “short of military confrontation,” but now, according to CNN, this stance may be shifting. The U.S. is now considering supplying “defensive lethal aid,” including anti-tank systems. That option is supported by NATO commander Gen. Phil Breedlove and Secretary of State John Kerry. The New York Times reported the are “upbeat” because of fresh Western support.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francoise Hollande are in meetings with Vladmir Putin, discussing possible low levels of trust between Ukraine and Russia present a serious obstacle in any negotiations, according to The New York Times.

“We are convinced that there’s Merkel said. “But we also know that it’s completely open whether we will manage

2016 Election As the 2016 presidential election heats up, the GOP recently began discussing its strategy.

It would seem Americans can expect to see some new faces from the GOP, although there are no candidates from the party who have formally announced their plans to run. “If [the Democrats are] going to take on a name from the past, which is likely to be former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, I think, for the party, we need a name for the future,” Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker said of the GOP’s 2016 plans on ABC’s “This Week.”

As such, Americans will not be seeing another campaign from 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Despite widespread speculation of a third attempt at the presidency by the former Massachusetts governor, Romney announced in January that he would not be running again.

According to Politico, the top GOP contenders for 2016 are former Florida Gov. and brother of President George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

According to RealClearPolitics.com, the polls show former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the Democratic frontrunner, but other possibilities include Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Opinions

February 13, 2015

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GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

Take the community stigma out of college

I

n spring of senior year, the question asked

by Aunt Laura, your boss, your math teacher, even your garbage man is usually, “Where are you going to college?” Not, “What are you doing after high school?”

Inklings EDITORIAL

This unwavering question fosters a stigma attached to students whose plans – whether a gap year, community college, the armed forces, employment, etc. – don’t include attending a four-year university.

The dishonor sometimes

Inklings

associated with anything other than the “traditional” four-year college is inherent in our community. Most of us grew up in households where going to college is expected and other options are rarely discussed and barely taken seriously.

Our money-centered society promotes a mindset that public or private colleges are the best and only choices.

You’ve heard the NCC jokes in the hallway, you’ve read them on Facebook and you may have even made the joke after you failed a test, “I’ll just go to NCC.” While it is true that over 90 percent of Staples students continue their education at a four-year

university, community college is also a viable option for many students. In fact, in the past three years, 37 Staples students have gone to NCC, while only 28 have gone to Tulane University, according to Naviance.

If you wish to attend a four-year university but presently cannot afford the admission costs, going to community college for two years and then transferring to a different school can be a wise way to save money.

Editors-in-Chief Zoe Brown Bailey Ethier

News Editors Greta Bjornson Sophia Hampton Quinn Hughes Megan Root

Crown Finalist for Inklingsnews.com from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2015

Managing Editors Alexandra Benjamin Caroline Cohen

Silver Crown Award for Newspaper Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2014

Web Managing Editors Nicole DeBlasi Cadence Neenan

Pacemaker from National Scholastic Press Association 2013

Breaking News Managing Editors Andrea Frost Taylor Harrington

All the opinions, news and features in this paper are those of Staples High School students. Inklings, a curricular and extracurricular publication, has a circulation of 1,800 and is uncensored. All letters to the editor must be signed. The editorial board reserves the right not to publish letters and to edit all submissions as it mines all editorial opinions, which are authored faithfully by the Editors-in-Chief. Inklings reserves the right to not publish advertisements that promote products that could be harmful to student health. The paper is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center.

Directors of Social Media Mat Jacowleff Larissa Lieberson Associate Managing Editors Gabrielle Feinsmith Claire Lewin Creative Directors Katie Settos Graphics Editor Olivia Crosby Photo Coordinator Justine Seligson

Connecticut community college graduates with at least a 3.0 GPA are guaranteed admission to UCONN. However, maybe

Opinions Editors Emma Berry Cooper Boardman Emma Lederer Izzy Ullmann Features Editors Claudia Chen Jackie Cope Jane Levy Margaux MacColl A&E Editors Jessica Gross Sarah Sommer Renee Weisz Emily Wolfe Sports Editors Claire Dinshaw Dylan Donahue Adam Kaplan Fritz Schemel

you to attend community college. Maybe you just don’t feel the need to go to a four-year college. Maybe you’re not ready to go away from home.

Whatever the reason may be, whatever you want to do is what you should do. Your life path is individualized.

While it’s often easier to follow the crowd, something that’s good for a classmate may not be best for you.

An Ivy League institution may be what’s right for you, but a large public university may be what’s right for someone else.

There’s no need to compare the university you will be attending to the Web News Editors Kaila Finn Daniela Karpenos Web Opinions Editors Julie Bender Michael Mathis Web Features Editors Jane Schutte Rachel Treisman Web A&E Editors Zach McCarthy Blake Rubin Web Sports Editors Talia Hendel Jimmy Ray Stagg Web Multimedia Editor Adam Kaufman Business Manager Kacey Hertan Assistant Business Managers Chase Gornbein Jacquelyn Sussman

university someone else will be attending. And there’s no point judging someone for doing something different than what’s perceived as “normal.”

You won’t be remembered for getting accepted early decision to a school. You won’t be remembered for which university you attended, if any at all. You will be remembered for what you did in your life. You will be remembered for the lives you touched.

So instead of spending energy focusing on other people’s choices, shift that energy towards choosing the best path for yourself.

Don’t add to the stigma.

Instead, “you do you.”

Advisors Mary Elizabeth Fulco Rebecca Marsick Cody Thomas 70 North Ave. Westport, CT 06880 Phone: (203) 341–1994 Inklingsweb@gmail.com Decisions of Inklings and Westport Public Schools are made without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other discriminating basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.

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Inklings

GRAPHIC BY SOPHIA HAMPTON ’15

February 13, 2015| Opinions

Some seniors remain stuck in college limbo Bella Gollomp ’15

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eing a senior in high school is the best and worst of times, especially after the grueling collegeapplication process.

Even with applying out of the way, if you are someone like me who has no clue where they’ll end up going to school next year, the weight has yet to be lifted off of your shoulders.

The congratulatory Facebook posts, logowear, and instagrams adds even more to this anxiety.

They are not only a way of

Receiving that letter in the mail was maybe the most anticipated moment of my life thus far.

showing support for your peers but also serve as a constant reminder that everyone is getting into college except for those who remain uncommitted ... or am I riding solo here?

No matter how many times I hear the phrase, “It will all work out the way it’s supposed to in the end,” there is a huge part of me that really wants to believe it fearful of the unknown.

In my situation, I’ve been deferred from, let’s just call it, my “top choice.”

As I read the words that thanked me for my interest in

the school but then informed me that my application would be reviewed at a later date, my heart sank and the tears followed.

I remembered thinking to myself: “Why on earth are you crying? It’s not a ‘no,’ it’s just a not right now!” You prepare yourself for that moment, but no matter the outcome, you automatically react as if your life’s destiny depended solely on that acceptance.

It took a while to realize that a college deferral really isn’t the end of the world.

Sure, maybe I don’t feel the ease of being a second semester

senior just yet, and, yeah, just because we’re past the time of hearing back from ED and EA schools, the Facebook posts haven’t come to a halt and probably won’t anytime soon, but I have to take them with a grain of salt.

It wasn’t and partially still isn’t easy to put my future into some stranger’s hands and give them the power to simply say “yes,” “no” or “maybe later.”

But in the long run this process only makes us stronger, and we have to believe that there is a silver lining to all of this chaos; that’s just life.

Acceptance rates for popular universities Tulane Accepted 26%

Vanderbilt Accepted 13%

Michigan Accepted 21%

Fordham Accepted 47%

ACCEPTANCE RATE INFORMATION FROM WWW.NAVIANCE.COM

INFOGRAPHIC BY EMMA LEDERER ’16 AND IZZY ULLMANN ’17

Junior stress levels run through the roof Caroline Lane ’16 People say that junior year is the scariest year of high school, but I’m here to let you in on a little secret: the fear of junior year is knowing that senior year is right around the corner. Senior year is the time when we have to make some of the biggest decisions of our lives, and that is truly nerveracking.

The thought that in a year I’m going to have to decide my college and my potential future career is terrifying because I can’t even decide between rye and wheat bread on my sandwich.

Seniors post videos of them crying as they open the acceptance letters to the schools of their dreams, which makes me so incredibly jealous.

All I want is to be a second semester senior, with my only care in the world being losing a feather off my boa or blowing my whistle loud enough.

GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

day hoping that I will have the

discover who I am and where I’m going in life.

But when I think of myself in two years, I have no idea who I’ll be.

Maybe I’ll be off studying in some remote country or learning my best scare tactics at Monster University.

But right now, I have to make decisions about the size, location and majors of a college.

The worst part is that I’m completely clueless.

On college tours, there’s always that one mom who has a question about every little thing: the food, the housing, even the blue light system, which I swear is the same on every campus.

However, I can’t even form the words to ask one question, and I’m supposed to be the one going to college, not that mom.

All I can do is pray that, one year from now, I’ll be ready to take this big bad world by storm because it’s waiting for me whether I’m ready or not.

Letter to the editor

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Febuary 13, 2015

Member of Staples’ community expresses concern over college rape culture

D

ear Inklings Staff, I am writing to you about an article from [the Jan. 9] edition of Inklings titled, “University of Virginia rape story sparks Staples conversation.” First off, I would like to compliment Caroline Cohen and Andrea Frost on their work addressing such an important issue. I found the article to be one of the most writers did a good job tackling as a victim of rape, the article left Among other initiatives, the article argues that educational efforts should be increased in order to mend this issue, a proposition I wholeheartedly agree with. Other social issues, such as racial discrimination or drug abuse, have been alleviated using the same tactic for the simple reason that it is a very effective one.

However, the article directly opposes this mission with the following anonymous quote: “Often in college scenes, and even in this

school, girls go to parties, get too drunk and provoke guys and, after, regret decisions they make.”

This quote angers me for several reasons.

It directly counters the goal of educating the Staples audience about rape by providing a misconception the situation he describes, while unfortunate, is not actually rape. That the women in this example “provoke guys” and are later upset by “the decisions they make” creates a stigma that entirely implicates women as the instigators and perpetrators of their own crimes.

It is intrinsically impossible, by the decide that it will happen. The Federal Bureau of Investigation matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”

The inclusion of “without the consent of the victim” is the key distinction that the quote violates. What I personally have

found so emotionally traumatic about being raped lies in that very distinction. The offender revokes the victim’s power to decide, their power to choose, their power to exercise free will, thereby reducing the victim to an object. In essence, it strips the victim of their humanity.

That wound, of being reduced to less than human, has been more components of the trauma I have faced. Being stripped of your humanity, even momentarily, is psychologically excruciating, making that distinction of “without the consent of the victim” versus “decisions [the victims] make” a very, very important one.

Further, this idea the quote creates that women are in any way responsible for being raped works to isolate and silence survivors even more. For fear that they will be viewed as liars, exaggerators, attention-seekers or drama queens, many survivors will stay silent about their stories, not only failing to press charges but oftentimes denying the existence

of the event. The article cites that only 1 in 10, or 10 percent, of rape victims report the incident. That everyone can agree that women should feel empowered to tell the truth about their attack without fear of judgement and to report their attack without fear of being blamed for its occurrence.

My attack was six months ago, and I honestly am only about it now -- which is made no easier in the face of this idea (insinuated by the quote which I have addressed) that I should be to blame for what happened to me.

There are measures that men and women can take to protect themselves from inadvertently becoming the victims or perpetrators of this crime. Girls need to know that they can protect themselves by traveling in groups, by carrying a rape whistle at night and perhaps by avoiding certain public areas. They can help avoid making regrettable decisions by taking inventory of their own limits (before a party

starts,) with a sexual partner and with alcohol.

My proposal is as follows; if the next issue of Inklings should choose to continue the discussion, I urge you to pay attention to some of the issues I have addressed here, such as carefully precautions both men and women can take, and how our culture can be sensitive to this topic, etc. I give Inklings permission to use anything I have said in this letter, version.

Again, I would like to reiterate that Andrea and Caroline wrote a very good and very important article, and my letter here is no attack against them, but just an expression of concern that if even one person walked away from reading it with the misconception about rape that that one quote created, then we have all failed to educate them about this issue properly.

Sincerely, A hopeful survivor

Inklings

8

February 13, 2015 | Opinions

Kit Epstein ’17

might not be rounded anymore, I literally gasped. I felt a little bit queasy and, of course, had to sit down.

I don’t know about you guys, but my grades depend on the rounding system.

With Staples being such an intense academic environment, a whole GPA point can be based on whether a letter grade was rounded or not. The fact that grades are rounded has always been a kind of safety net for all of us, a net that we rely on heavily.

The rounding system is a GPA booster and a nice reminder that your grades can be saved. Let’s face it; the rounding system is our friend.

The original rumor surfacing around school was that decimal points were basically going to be “removed” from the rounding system. In simpler terms, an 89.7 would just be an eighty-nine visually, resulting in a B+ as a opposed to an A-.

According to a mass email sent out to Staples staff, the “no-rounding” rule was supposed to be in effect at the beginning of the school year but was never adopted into eSchool. The change of no rounding was randomly put into action in December without the Adminstration’s notice, and it

PHOTO DRAMATIZATION BY CAROLINE COHEN ’15

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t the end of December a rumor arose at Staples claiming that grades in Home Access Center would no longer be rounded, sparking a major crisis among students. Although this rumor was soon debunked by Collaborative Team, the reaction to this crisis from Staples students was shocking.

If grades were not rounded anymore, an 89.5 percent would be a B+, not an A-. I

HOME ACCESS CENTER CAUSES ANXIETY In December, Home Access Center stopped rounding grades. However, since it was not the beginning of the school year, the administration decided to return back to the original grading system. Students were relieved that their grades would be rounded once again.

caused lots of chaos.

Now, I was outraged by the possibility that the rounding system was being diminished. I was asking every teacher in sight if it was true.

Once I got home from school that day, I talked to my mom about the situation.

I raged, “Staples is clearly just defying simple math!”

She turned to me and said, “Who cares? It’s just a number.”

Well duh, Kit. Even though the rounding system was ultimately never changed, I can still look back on my reaction that day and have a good laugh about it.

The Staples student body got extremely upset over the rounding of a number. Yeah, the rounding of a number.

This is one of those moments where the stress levels of students at Staples is clear.

Sure, one grade might have been able to

Molly Liebergall ’17

spot someone sporting a red shirt or pink socks, but the shoe boxes of candy are long gone.

Chocolates, lollipops, heart-shaped everything. Yes, they are nice perks of the 14th, but they often blind people from the real reason to appreciate the holiday.

The holiday originated with Saint Valentine, a Roman priest, who rebelled against an edict banning young marriage and wed people in secret. He was discovered, imprisoned and later died on Feb. 14, 270 A.D. Valentine’s Day commemorates Saint Valentine’s bravery and devotion to love.

However, this meaning often gets lost in the midst of materialism.

During my elementary school years, love rarely crossed my mind on Valentine’s Day because I was too busy with the

On the top shelf of each third grader’s cubby, colorfully designed shoeboxes of Sweethearts, while the rest of the classroom is engulfed in a frenzy of sugarrushed chattering and card exchanging.

Meanwhile, at 70 North Ave., a senior casually prints “Feb. 14, 2015” on top of his or her worksheet, pauses to remember and then lets out a yawn.

Valentine’s Day. The 24-hour period chock-full of love, chocolates and horrible Hallmark movies.

When I was in elementary school, I thought of Valentine’s Day as a sort of second Halloween. From Kindergarten around, I was sure to replenish my candy stash with a huge haul of heart-themed sweets.

I did not mess around when it came to my candy. down with a cold the morning of Valentine’s grade brother about seven times to pick up my shoebox at the end of the day. To my delight, he came through for me.

DRAWINGS BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

departure from Greens Farms and arrival at Bedford meant that the annual Valentine shoebox was M.I.A. Stacks of Sweethearts boxes were swapped out for stacks of heartthemed math worksheets and History-of -Valentine’s-Day readings.

Now, another four years later, I might

shoebox. The vague Valentines attached to each candy were just extra baggage, and since they were not the real focus, these cards were usually ripped off and tossed.

After all, each Valentine I received from a classmate held no sentimental value since they were usually the “To/From” cards, and every student was required to give one to all of his or her classmates.

Now, I undestand that the best part of receiving a Valentine or a lollipop candy gram is not the sugar rush, but the happiness you feel when the people around you show that they care.

From Kindergarten to 10th grade, the meaning of this holiday has evolved for me. I now focus less on the candy and “things” and more on the people around me. People tend to stick around longer than a box of chocolates.

drop from an A to an A-, but can’t we all Grades certainly are not everything, and we need to stop acting like it. The pressure at Staples to do incredible in every class is shocking, and the anxiety levels of students is palpable when walking down the halls. The crazy reaction to a simple rounding rumor shows just how much pressure is placed on Staples students, and maybe that should be what changes.

Inklings

February 13, 2015 | Opinions

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Builders Beyond Borders breaks native hardships Eliza Goldberg ’17

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f one were to look at Builders Beyond Borders (B3) member’s Facebook albums, they would see photos of members smiling as they stand in a home they were building, making funny faces with members of the community, and seemingly posing for hundreds of casual photos. Because of the silly nature of the photos, it is possible to get a false impression that B3 is all about fun and games. But under no circumstance should B3 be dismissed simply as a volunteer in order to enhance their college applications.

According to an article about Builders Beyond Borders by the

Norwalk Hour, B3 will have contributed about 20,000 man hours of community service by the end of 2014. Of that time, 18,000 hours will have been spent in the Dominican Republic aiding communities in need, while 2,000 will have been spent volunteering locally.

In fact, last February, while I was relaxing at a beachside resort in the Dominican Republic, about 80 Builders Beyond Borders volunteers were in the same country, sleeping at schools or in tents. While I was skimming through a magazine by the pool, they were spending multiple hours each day completing strenuous volunteer work in the 90-degree heat.

The volunteer group has about 370 members, so their community service hour totals break down to about 54 hours

per person per year. I blush to think that while I sat around attempting to watch as many “Gossip Girl” episodes as I could, B3 members were off volunteering their time and doing good for the world.

According to the B3 website, in La Berma, B3 teams constructed 20 prefabricated houses. In El Pomier, they installed 28 latrines and a 500-foot pipeline into the city. In Tio Fellin, B3 provided the community with latrines, there. In Paso De Moca, the B3 team built two water tanks and built 28 pit style latrines. Lastly, in Rio Grande Abajo, B3 partnered with a youth-based group, and constructed a much needed medical clinic and multi purpose building.

The work Builders Beyond Borders does is specialized to aid each community

with what it needs most. All B3 projects share the common goal of helping improve the living conditions of those in need.

But B3 is not without a sense of fun. On the service trip there is time local beach and spend the last night in a hotel. But all of these activities are well-earned rewards for the incredibly hard work they do.

B3 service trips have a healthy balance of service and fun. While there is an immense amount of time and effort spent improving living conditions in all different parts of countries in need, the B3 group also encourages team bonding and makes the experience enjoyable. That

MAKING CONNECTIONS Members from the group such as Charlotte Rowland ’14 make unbreakable bonds with the children from the Domincan Republic, while building bathrooms for their community. The group plans to continue their work during this February break in Guatemala to help more impoverished communities.

GRAPHIC BY JULIA SCHORR ’16

PHOTO BY CAROLINE O ’KANE ’16

SBAC leaves students dreaming of CAPT Alison Morrison ’15 Ah, CAPT. Those pesky tests in midMarch that left sophomores drained while the rest of the school caught a few extra hours of sleep. I relished those days when the earliest I had to be in school was a lovely 10:40 a.m.

This year, CAPT was dropped in favor of the Smarter Balance Assessments, which juniors will take during class time.

This means that I will be attending all of my classes as well.

Don’t get me wrong, if I were a sophomore, I’d much rather have the Smarter Balance tests. When sophomores were the only grade in the building during CAPT testing, Staples seemed like a deserted wasteland.

However, since it is the second semester of my senior year, I’m more partial to getting up at a nice 9:30 a.m.,

and rolling into class with coffee and breakfast.

What this also means for those of us who used to capitalize on the extra hours of sleep in the middle of March is that it’s going to be a long haul from February to April break. I used to count on those extra hours to get in that extra homework assignment that I was too busy to do the night before, or catch up on a TV show I missed.

school’s point of view. They no longer have before the AP tests start at the beginning of May. CAPT offered a fantastic two-week period where I was well-rested and happy.

Now, March will just be another month where I trade jeans for sweatpants and consider myself lucky for getting to school in time to get a parking spot.

Features

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Students don’t play it safe in game

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Jennifer Gouchoe ’16

t was the dead of winter in Michigan and Lucas Manning ’16 was dared to jump into a frigid lake, coated in a thin layer of ice. His choices were either to take a dip in the ice-cold water or receive an equally cold slap in the face.

Manning decided to go with the former.

He and his friend cracked open the icy top of the lake with hockey sticks and Manning plunged into the arctic waters.

Manning was playing a twisted version of Truth or Dare called Odds, or What are the Odds? It is a game where one do something, like jumping into a lake in the middle of winter.

Then the two people choose a number (usually one through 20) and on the count of three, if they say the same number, the person dared must do the dare or take a punishment.

Although the odds of choosing the same number as someone else are slim, many people still end up faced with the dare.

Dared by his friends and family, Spencer Daniels ’17 once jumped off a moving boat into an ocean off Mexico. He also once dared a friend to drive 80 miles per hour down his street.

The initial thrill of the game is enticing, but to some, this game seems crazy and dangerous.

When social studies teacher the game, her eyebrows knitted in concern. “It sounds like it could go very badly,” Pinchback said.

However, despite the potential danger in participating in risky dares, the participants always have the option not to do the dare.

For instance, Manning once dared his friend, a “5 foot 6 inch suburban white kid,” who goes to Michigan State University, to try out for the school’s football team. They both chose the same number, one through 70; however, Manning’s friend chose not to do the dare, and received a slap in the face instead.

Many people would think taking the punishment is the better option, but Manning, along with many other players of the game, prefer to take the dare.

“If you don’t do it, you live with the shame of being that guy that ruined the game,” Manning said. “It sets a bad precedent for the game.”

While some dares are extreme, many are fairly harmless.

Nicolas Amato ’16 has enjoyed the game while partaking in less dangerous stunts. He recounts the time he played with his girlfriend on their second date. He dared her to drink “a bunch of nasty sauce.”

Amato summed it up, noting that playing the game “is to accept risk and invite possibility and, in doing so, transcend the drudgery of normal life.”

They now have an almost-one-yearold daughter who, according to Wirkus, acts like her and looks like her husband. She says her daughter is stubborn and talkative like she is, yet has her husband’s determination and eyes.

“When you’re with someone for so long, you see the change in the type of relationship: from high school relationship to long distance to now co-parenting her future,” Wirkus said. “We

Some couples prove that young love can last Rachel Treisman ’15 High school views on relationships range from those held by starry-eyed romantics to those held by eye-rolling cynics.

Yet there is one kind of love story that has universal appeal: the story of the high-school sweethearts.

Looking around the halls of Staples, it may be hard to picture any of the handholding, snapchatting couples getting married down the line. But it could very well happen – according to iHigh.com, about 10 percent of high school sweethearts get married.

Cupid’s arrow has landed at Staples, where high school romances-turned-marriages are not uncommon.

Science teacher Heather Wirkus met her now-husband in 2001 at Cheshire High School, where their lockers were side by side.

“He was always in my way, and I was always very academically inclined, so I actually did not like him in the beginning,” Wirkus said with a laugh. “But when you run into someone every day, between all periods, you just get to know them. One day he even stole my backpack because he thought I needed a break from studying, and I was dying inside.”

Wirkus added that as soon as their relationship began, they realized how much they helped each other and complemented each other.

“He would help me with math and I would help him with English,” Wirkus said. “I’m very type A and he’s more relaxed, but somewhere between us there’s the perfect person.”

Wirkus and her nowhusband dated on and off while they attended separate colleges, and got married in the summer of 2010.

FROM YEARBOOK TO FAMILY ALBUM (Upper left) Donned in caps and gowns, Heather Wirkus and her now-husband proudly hold their diplomas after graduating from Cheshire High School in June 2003. (Upper right) Their faces shining with a newlywed glow, Wirkus and her husband smile into the camera. Their wedding was on July 24, 2010 at the Farmington Club. (Bottom left) In Charleston, Rhode Island, Wirkus, her husband, and their almost year old daughter share a family moment. (Bottom right) Wirkus and her husband, happy and beaming, on vacation in Jamaica in July 2013.

so happens I had to bag mine up quick.”

Marjory Watt; mother of Kevin Watt ’15, has also been with her husband since high school.

The two grew up together in Long Island, where Doug played baseball for Marjory’s uncle’s Little League team.

Year’s Eve of sophomore year in high school, and we’ve never, ever parted since,” Marjory said.

“There was never anyone else.”

Like Wirkus, Marjory and her now-husband maintained a long distance relationship at their separate colleges before getting married.

Their son, Kevin, said he is glad that his parents have such a history.

“I’m lucky to have a mother and father who are so happy

t o g e t h e r ,” Marjory said.

Marjory’s advice for young couples today is to give each other room to grow independently.

“Other people, when I was younger, glommed on and didn’t give each other any room,” Marjory said. “Don’t try to follow each other’s footsteps. It will happen if it’s meant to be.”

A couple who lived up to this advice is Nancy and Steven Tanzer, parents of Jamie Tanzer ’15.

According to Nancy, the two had known each other since Hebrew school but didn’t start dating until seeing each other at their 10-year high school reunion.

“My high school friends were very surprised when we started dating, and they were thrilled,” Nancy said. “I don’t think you change much from what your true self is in high school, and [Steven] has stayed true to being a great guy to this day.”

The bonds formed in high school, whether with best friends, boyfriends or girlfriends, evidently can extend far beyond grade school years.

“Together, Steven and I have about 20 friends we still keep in regular touch with who we have known since kindergarten,” Nancy said.

Even the people who rolled their eyes at “Romeo and Juliet” have to admit the high-schoolsweetheart story is a great one.

11

Inklings

February 13, 2015 | Features PHOTO BY JUSTINE SELIGSON ’15

humans

of staples

Rachel Beck embraces life’s constant uncertainties Justine Seligson ’15 ome seniors know exactly what they want to do once they graduate this June. But ask Rachel Beck ’15 what her future entails, and she will have

S ALL SMILES Pursuing her passion for theater, Rachel Beck ’15 will be in the upcoming Staples Players production of “Sweeney Todd.” The play will make its debut on March 13.

“I’m more of a goofball now. [...] I no longer keep to myself.”

- Rachel Beck ’15

constantly changing.

“I love challenging myself by trying new things,” Beck said.

As a result, she has changed greatly since freshman year.

In her underclassman years, Beck spent much of her time team. As much as she loved being a part of the sport, she gradually became drawn to quite a different organization: Staples Players. the ‘Chorus Line’ auditions] my sophomore year, I was a little nervous because I felt like the odd one out,” she explained.

“However, every single Players kid in the room was unbelievably kind and welcoming to me. That’s

Wong rolls with the punches from the science wing to China Becky Hoving ’17 There is an old adage claiming “those who can’t do, teach.” However, here at Staples, there are many teachers who prove this adage wrong. Physics teacher Humphrey Wong is one of these teachers.

While his typical day at Staples may begin with a cup of coffee and a scribbled out to-do list pocketed with his iPhone and glasses, it is what Wong has done outside of school that transcends beyond the manila folders and knick knacks that surround his desk.

A master of karate, a leader in a coalition against lead poisoning, a cat lover, a math-science mentor for underprivileged students and a comic book enthusiast, Wong certainly has a lot on his plate.

A plate which (dare I say?) he could chop in half if he really wanted to.

The hallways often buzz about Wong’s quirky demonstrations, but he is famous for his board-breaking lab practicals. “I believe it’s a really helpful demonstration,” Wong remarked with a laugh. “When

you think about it, chopping a board in half may seem very not to think about it.” Wong explained, generally, people do not fully commit to something that they may fail at. “But, if you fully commit and put everything you have into something, like chopping wood or executing a Lutz in ice-skating, you will succeed. It’s all about trust in physics.”

And trust in physics is something Wong certainly has.

For years, Wong has used his passion for physics to make an impact, whether it be with a student struggling to grasp a concept on their next test or helping to rebuild a school in a dilapidated area of China.

It is because of his many talents that some may ask what a man like Wong is doing teaching. “I’ve been fortunate enough to do a lot of things in my life, but what I found out when tutoring in a jump-start math and science program was that I loved teaching,” Wong said. “Interacting with people and feeling like you have an

when I knew I wanted to be a part of Players.”

After initially trying out for “A Chorus Line” her sophomore year and not getting a part, she was not the least bit discouraged.

That following summer, Beck auditioned again and made it onto the cast list in the Players production of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

“I’ve matured a lot in the process,” she said. “I think there’s a special maturity that comes with being a different person onstage.”

Her role in Players has continued to rise. This fall, she snatched up her highest role in “Hello Dolly” as Ermengarde, a character who allowed her to be “crazy and throw tantrums.”

“Crazy and throwing tantrums” is quite a contrast to how Beck was before devoting herself to the stage. According to Beck, she was very quiet and reserved at the start of her high

school career. She credits the community aspect of Players for helping her come out of her shell.

“I’m more of a goofball now, and I have a more positive outlook on life,” she said. “I no longer keep to myself as much.”

Extracurricular activities are not the only area of her life that has a dramatically changed.

In the classroom, Beck formerly self-described as an “English kid” at the start of freshman year, but has now found her passion for math and science. Some classes she has especially enjoyed are Anatomy and AP Calculus.

In college, Beck said she interests in theater as well as in math and science.

However, when asked about what kind of career she may pursue, she replied, “I haven’t really thought that far yet.

Circumstances can change so much.”

PHOTO BY JUSTINE SELIGSON ’15

is something I discovered was extremely rewarding, and that’s where teaching comes into play.”

It’s not only clear to Wong that he has a passion for teaching, but this passion is clear to his students. “For Dr. Wong, teaching at Staples isn’t a job, it’s a choice, and you can tell he ’16 said.

Wong’s eyes light up at Spider-man, Scrabble and “Supernatural” to list a few. But he becomes most passionate when delving deep into more thought-probing subjects, such as foreign affairs, social change, astronomy and, of course, physics. His interest in human interaction and service combined with engineering and technology suggests he is a jack-of-all-trades.

Dener though, fortunate enough to have Wong not once but twice in her high school career, says it best: “He is so many things besides a teacher; an inventor, a researcher, a philanthropist and more, but he chooses to teach because he truly wants to, and that is deeply evident in his dedication to the sciences.”

Chopping a board in half is a demonstration that Wong performs for his physics classes. He has done karate for over 20 years.

12

Inklings

February 13, 2015 | Features

ROBOTICS CLUB PHOTOS BY MARGAU X MACCOL L ’16

Robotics battles to the technological top

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Brendan Massoud ’17

our teams from different schools, districts and states, each controlling one robot they built from scratch, balls. The intensity in the air is palpable as each side looks to prove their worth by using their robot to complete a number of tasks within the arena. This is where the Wreckers Robotics Together, the team creates robots that compete in meets around Connecticut, New England and the United States. Their ultimate goal is advancing past other robotics teams, ultimately reaching the international competition in St. Louis, Missouri, in April.

The team itself is made up of extraordinary Staples students, all of whom share a common interest in subjects such as math, science and

engineering.

For Ben Rosoff ’17, a member of the club for just over a year, the Wreckers Robotics team is an outlet for a life-long love of building and creating structures. “I have always enjoyed building, from Legos and K’Nex to woodworking and making robots,” Rosoff said.

Others, including senior captain Madeline Schemel ’15, joined because she thought robotics sounded interesting. “I joined Wrecker Robotics at the beginning of last year mainly because I thought building robots sounded cool,” Schemel said.

The team thinks of and builds an original robot prior to competition after receiving the objective from The First Tech Challenge, the organization under which Wreckers Robotics competes.

Sage Vouse ’15, who has been a member for about a year, was astounded by her enjoyment of robotics. “I’m really surprised

Best buddies takes to the ice Katelyn DeAgro ’17 Best Buddies took to the ice at Longshore rink for their annual skating event on Sunday, Jan. 25. The sky was blue and the air was brisk, setting the tone for a great day.

“My favorite part was knowing ice skating without giving up,” Jessica Parnas ’18 said with her cheeks still Even though the event was scheduled to be from 1 to 3 p.m., many students chose to stay later and continue to bond and skate.

Hilary Gee, Staples Alumni, was probably the most enthusiastic to hit the ice. “I love skating,” Gee ’14 said, following up with, “I’m good [at it].”

This event is one of various others designed to build relationships with regular-education and special-needs students. “I heard it was a club about making friendships, and I just moved here when I was in eighth grade [...] so I didn’t know anyone, so it’s really helped me,” Parnas said. “But skating has really been one of my favorite

activities that we’ve done so far. It’s new but fun.”

According to Lily Daine ’17, ice skating was a unique way to get to know all the students out of school and in a fun atmosphere. Though she spent most of her time skating with Hilary Gee, Daine says that she feels that skating really helped form long-term connections between students.

“Best Buddies is the best program I ever joined,” Johnny Bairaktaris ’16 said with a smile. Bairaktaris mentioned that, like many good things, the program gets better with age. “It’s getting a lot better, and each year new students join, and [that] gives everybody a chance to meet new people they haven’t met before. This wasn’t my

last year.”

Seasoned skaters and novices alike enjoyed the ice and company despite the chill. “Skating and sitting with a slightly too chocolate-y hot chocolate with the buddies has been great,” Daine skating, but I’m looking forward to next year.”

PHOTO BY KATELYN DEAGRO ’17

Lily Daine ‘17 and Hilary Gee ‘14 skate at the Longshore rink at the Best Buddies annual event on Jan. 25

about how robotics is something you can get into without a lot of prior experience,” Vouse said.

When asked about the most interesting device she’d ever built, Vouse stated, “I’d have to go with the conveyor belt on the robot and collected blocks.”

Last year, the team traveled to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis for the international championship, and placed 32nd. Dylan Gleicher ’17, a member of last year’s exceptional squad, described the event as quite profound, with “people from around the world all with their robots in one big room.”

Many team members are quite hopeful and enthusiastic about the season ahead. Gleicher put it quite simply, saying, “We’re going all the way.”

The robot pictured has been the club’s collaborative project since October. It will be entered in competitions where students must program robots to do simple tasks like picking up balls.

13

Inklings

February 13, 2015 | Features

PHOTO BY CAROLINE O’KANE ’16

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Local businesses prove that it really is “all in the family” Emily Olrik ’16

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PHOTO BY GRACE FOSTER ’17

(Above) Sherwood Diner, owned by the Mitas family, has been serving hungry Westporters for 30 years.

(Upper right) Isabelle and Vincent Koenig, owners of Isabelle et Vincent, previously had a bakery in Strasbourg, France, before moving to the U.S. in 2007.

to place for families to bond and eat a pleasure,” Koenig said.

Tziolis also agrees that working According to Sam Galvao ’16 with family members is a key to there is no better feeling than sliding a business’s success. “Working into the upholstered yellow-green amongst family is one of the major booths at the end of a long night. reasons we have been successful “The fact that the diner is a throughout the years,” Tziolis said. family business allows everyone to Koenig believes the hallmark of just feel comfortable and relaxed,” family businesses offers a different, Galvao said. “When you’re at the more individualized experience diner, you simply feel accepted.” than chain corporations.

Mitas believes family-owned businesses offer a completely customer,” Koenig said. different atmosphere than that of Catering to the needs of each chain restaurants. individual is a crucial element of a “You get the sense that your family business. Tziolis puts in all needs are taken care of, and there’s his effort to treat his customers like a very ‘homey’ vibe to it all,” Mitas his family. said.

“Everyone gives it 110 percent Xenogon Tziolis, Mitas’ relative and also supports each other so and part owner who is known around that we serve our extended family the diner as “Zenny,” stresses the [Sherwood Diner customers] with importance of having a friendly the utmost attention to detail and atmosphere. quality,” Tziolis said.

“When a customer walks into Mitas also stresses the Sherwood Diner, I want them to feel importance of customizing their like they just walked into their own services to meet the needs of kitchen,” he said. “[And] even better, individuals. they don’t have to clean up.”

“Family businesses are open Family businesses tend to build to criticism and will actually make close-knit communities and strong a necessary change if you let it be bonds with customers, which is known,” Mitas said. also apparent at Isabelle et Vincent, “If a customer is unhappy, I will a traditional French bakery also know it right away,” Tziolis said.

lizabeth Mitas ’16 escapes the wintry night, steps inside the comfort of the Sherwood Diner and immediately takes in the aroma of Greek food. She removes her coat and scans the room for open tables. The swim team gathers in one booth relaxing after a meet, a group of middle schoolers congregates in the corner occasionally erupting into giggles and stressed seniors sprawl out at another table with notebooks and vanilla milkshakes cluttering their table. The room is an overwhelming sea of people, but when a few familiar faces catch Mitas’ eye, her lips curl into a smile.

Mitas approaches a couple of diner workers at the counter and — to the surprise of her friends — they all kiss and embrace each other.

“Greeks are very affectionate,” Mitas laughs.

Mitas’ family has owned and managed the Sherwood Diner for more than 30 years and, ever two owners, Isabelle and Vincent Koenig, and their son Philippe themselves unable to resist the Koenig ’16 craft delicate French beckoning diner sign out front that pastries. promises fast and friendly service.

Koenig enjoys the many hours The diner is known as a late- he spends with his family in the night refuge for teenagers to refuel, bakery. relax and socialize, as well as a go“Working amongst my family is

off their crispy chicken tenders and curly fries and walk up to the cash register to pay for their food. Mitas shifts her weight from one foot to their wallets. When it’s Mitas’ turn to pay, her uncle crumples up her check with a smile.

Staples students take care of business in new club Alice Hickson ’17 After a busy day, when the bell buzzes at 2:15 p.m., students bustle to the buses or cafeteria to scoop up bagfuls of sports gear.

However, in room 3042 every Thursday, another adventure awaits.

The students of the Business and Entrepreneurship Club may not be playing catch on the ball

Klein, and get more experience with business.”

The club is made up of about 15 dedicated members, spanning all grades, who work together as a cohesive group to learn and go through all of the processes of how to start and build a business.

Prior to teaching,

a rather different challenge: building a business.

The club is swinging into the business world with the help and enthusiasm of club leader Ben Goldstein ’16 and advisor Lenny Klein, math teacher for classes like Personal Finance and Accounting.

“I decided to start the Business and Entrepreneurship

accountant in the corporate world and was certainly enthusiastic about the idea of a business club. However, he agreed to advise the club on one condition: he wasn’t going to do the work for them.

Speaking from previous experiences as a club advisor, Klein said, “Early on in the life of a club, there is a lot of enthusiasm and involvement; but that energy quickly dwindles until there are only a few dedicated members, and I’ll end up getting stuck doing a lot of

with the ‘Business Club’ at Staples,” Goldstein said. “I believed that this would be a fun and interesting way to learn from others and our advisor, Mr.

the work.” Klein is a part of the club in “an advisory and consulting capacity only” and steers the students down the right path.

So far, Klein has described the whole process as “pain-free.” The product, Staples “S” stickers, without Klein having to “make a single call.”

In order to fund their new product, the Business and Entrepreneurship Club has taken out a small loan from the school, which they believe should be easily repayable as the stickers should earn a large

The Business and Entrepreneurship Staples “S” stickers, in the near future. They will cost $2 each.

Every member worked in pitching ideas for the product, and once the idea was chosen, they worked in their areas of specialty — whether that be production — to produce the

As the club is still in its infant stages, having just started this school year, there have been some stalls in the past month due to breaks and midterms.

However, the club hopes to release another product later on this year, perhaps coinciding with spring sports.

“Each person is able to contribute to every aspect of the process while still contributing the business they choose to work on,” Jack Sila ’16, a club member, said. “We all work together.”

While Goldstein has played a large part in building momentum and making the club an established group, Klein is convinced the club will continue to thrive after he has left Staples.

“One of the things I love about this club is it has all grade levels,” Klein said. “I hope the current freshmen and sophomores are able to carry the torch well past Ben Goldstein graduating.”

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February 13, 2015 | Features

The sport that has no bounda I

Zoe Brown ’15 & Jane Levy ’16

The walls resemble a city skyline at dusk, with a real brick wa occupied by boxes painted as lit-up skyscrapers with real windows

in the art of their movements.

This is none other than parkour in action, a discipline that is gr “It’s in the early stages such as, say, skateboarding was at one ti Academy (GCA) Parkour and Freerunning Academy coach, said Just as the sport is growing in popularity, the gym at which Parkour recently added two additional rooms to the space. “[The gym] was so boring before,” Julian Wang, a 12-ye

of parkour.

In its most basic form, parkour is “getting from poin ’16, a trainer and parkour enthusiast. This skill is also poetry of movement, where it is a lot of gymnastics a Floyd’s friend and co-trainer Michael Oppliger “I like how if you play another sport, the p practicing either dribbling or shooting; but in p want,” he said.

While he doesn’t participate himself, Li which incorporates a lot of parkour, and Bor awe.

impossible for me to do, and how talent Back in the gym, on a trampoline

“Everything kind of slows dow to be and how you’re going to lan Using the urban environme

“I started at [Compo] be

Both Floyd and Oppl to the sport is even simp “It’s just the fact t

really get stressed Being an un Cannata ackno “You hav on your min

and darin “If

students.

February 13, 2015 | Features

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aries

all in the center of the room. All corners are s for jumping through and makeshift roofs for

PH

O OT

SB

Y

R CA

OL

I

NE

O’

rowing in popularity. ime,” Joe Cannata, the Gymnastics and Cheerleading d. h four Staples students train is growing in size, as GCA

ear-old boy in the intermediate class, interjected.

nt A to point B as fast as you can,” as described by Casey Floyd o combined with the aspect of “free-running, which is more the PHOTOS CAROLINE O’KANE ’16 and climbing in an urban environment,” he BY added. ’16 appreciates the differences in parkour from conventional sports. practices are all structured, like soccer for example. You’re always parkour, you can pretty much practice what you want, whenever you

iam Borner ’16 watches the television show “American Ninja Warrior,” rner has also seen Oppliger do parkour himself, both of which leave him in

ted some of these people are,” he said. e as strong as the ones used in the Olympics, Floyd and his parkour community,

wn,” he said. “It gives you time to react and think about what your next move is going nd.” ent — including railings, walls and roofs — is a key component of parkour. Oppliger has

each on top of the lockers. I would jump from one locker to another. And once I got good at

liger said their favorite part of parkour is the freedom the sport offers, but Cannata’s connection pler. that there really aren’t any boundaries to it,” he said.

d about one particular thing.” nconventional art and sport, those who aren’t familiar with parkour are subject to speculation, which owledges. ve to forget what other people are going to think, how other people are going to perceive you and just focus ndset.”

ngly making up their paths as they go. you see a railing outside, most people are walking next to it,” Cannata said. “I’m balancing on top of it.”

“Everything kind of

slows down.”

-Casey Floyd ’16

K

E AN

6 ’1

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February 13, 2015 | Features

[

Woodshop students build art and practical skills Sarah Sommer ’16

A

Technology Education room may seem like a regular classroom. Nestled

Tech. Ed. 1 has a variety of projects that include a balsa wood bridge and a bat. In Tech. Ed. 2 students move on to build CO2 cars and steam engines.

SAFETY FIRST Because of the potentially dangerous saws and equipment, protective eye gear is crucial for a safe class.

lobby and the long row of health classrooms, it has the typical characteristics that most students are accustomed to: a teacher’s desk in one corner surrounded by a slew of tables and chairs, scattered papers, Mac laptops strewn across desks and the soft sound of scratching pencils on paper.

But, throw in some heavy machinery, thick molds and various types of woods, metals and pastes and suddenly the room takes on an extraordinary uniqueness.

“I’m sure it’s one of the only James Rubidge ’16 said.

Staples offers three levels of tech. ed. (or woodshop) classes. students learn the basics of woodworking. They typically begin with a free-build, in which most students make simple objects like baseball bats and create structures such as bridges made out of Balsa wood. Also,

Throughout tech. ed., students are carefully taught to use various saws and other equipment to execute their project, including the circular saw blade pictured above.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW VESTER ’17

year, students create rockets.

“Mine exploded,” Rubidge admitted.

In Tech. Ed. 2, students are able to do a more advanced freebuild, as well as learn to create motorized objects, like steam engines and CO2 cars powered by 8-gram CO2 gas bulbs.

By Advanced Tech., the

highest leveled class, students do free-builds for the whole semester.

“We do everything from making goblets to injection molding [heated rubber or plastic injected into a mold to create shapes],” Jonathon Maragos ’16 said. “It’s really up to you. The options are limitless.”

On top of its unusual risks and assignments, Tech. Ed. is unique in its demographics. The classroom is brimming with boys and tends to lack female students.

“I didn’t really expect a lot of girls to be in the class,” Nick Benjamin ’17 said.

However, he also expressed that this trend may not be so boy-heavy because it gets a reputation as a boys class, but from what I know, girls who try the class usually like it.”

Sophie Corde ’15 agrees.

She took tech. ed because the class teaches skills that are useful in everyday life. For her, things around the house was extremely appealing. And as for the unusual demographics of the class, Corde says that they actually motivated her. “Having it be a boy-heavy class [...] just made me want to prove that I can do everything that they can.”

Overall, Maragos considers experience, both as an art form and a chance to learn life skills.

“Tech ed is like no other class,” he said. “It’s so hands on and you can really see your skill come out in your work.”

The life of an EMT Students become EMTs in order to save lives Jackie Cope ’15 Many teenagers spend their hours minimum is expected), spare time asleep. Others hold many Westporters continue to down a job or devote extra time sign up to save lives. Over 100 people volunteer at the Westport to their studies.

However, Jaime Bairaktaris Volunteer Emergency Medical ’15 volunteers as an Emergency Service, and more than 20 of Medical Technician (EMT) and those volunteers are in high school. saves lives.

With plans to become a physician’s assistant later in life, Bairaktaris volunteers “I’ve had to experience as an EMT in order to gain crucial medical experience. death in a very raw and “Since spring of freshman year, I have given around 700 real way.” hours of my time,” Bairaktaris -Jaime Bairaktaris ’16 said. “I’ve experienced car accidents, drug overdoses, and everything in between.” students must take a 60-hour EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) course and a 120hour EMT course, as well as pass both respective Connecticut practical exams.

“An EMR can do lots of things but, unlike an EMT, an EMR can’t administer medications or apply neck collars,” Aliza Gross ’15 said.

Gross is currently an EMR and is hour EMT course.

Despite time-consuming course requirements and

their double lives begin. By day, they’re high-school students. But hour shift, they become heroes.

“This man’s carotid artery had burst and we had to do CPR on him and everything,” Gross said. “I was mostly in charge of suctioning his airway and ventilating him,” Gross also did compressions, though she is, by her own admission, not strong enough to do them for long.

Despite Gross’s attempts, the man didn’t survive. However, Gross was undeterred by the

PHOTOS BY JAIME BAIRAKTARIS ’16

traumatic event, as she plans to be a surgeon.

“Now I know that I can stomach things like that,” Gross said. “The next time I get a bad call, things won’t seem so scary.”

There are a wide range of calls that EMTs receive. Psychiatric calls with lucid patients and domestic disturbances often occur, but so do heart attacks and strokes.

“I’ve had to experience death in a very raw and real way that normally you can’t see Yet, on a regular night, Chaotic calls are rare, while bonding with crews is common.

“Usually, things are pretty uneventful in Westport, and I often go shifts without getting any calls,” Gross said. “[It’s] more rewarding hang out in the break room,” Claire Grosgogeat ’15, another volunteer, added.

When on a shift but not on a call, volunteers generally watch movies in the break room and can even make dinner.

“We really are just some big crazy family hanging out in a living room,” Bairaktaris said.

“But, naturally, the call has to come in the middle of dinner.”

of the three state-of-the-art ambulances that Westport’s EMT volunteers use for calls. (Bottom) Volunteer EMT Claire Grosgogeat uses the “CMED” radio, connecting EMTs and Paramedics to doctors at the hospital to alert them of incoming patients.

February 13, 2015 | Advertisement Wislist_9x14Ad_Aug14_Wislist_9x14_SepSaleAd 9/2/14 12:27 PM Page 1

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February 13, 2015

Orphenians and Broadway pros take the Staples stage Renee Weisz ’17

E

veryone knows that the Staples Orphenians shine, but on Monday, Feb. 23 the stage will ignite with not only Staples stars, but also Broadway

by Staples alum and Broadway’s Kaplan ’08. funding the Orphenians’ trip

their day off.

Yet, his friends are motivated to spend their time performing and the students are equally spurred on by their admiration for the professionals.

“We look up to all these that they are doing this to help

Kaplan’s father. said something along the lines of, ‘I did something bad,’” the younger Kaplan said. happy to be doing this for a group

“In the Heights” and “La Cage aux Follies,” and others.

From a Broadway

turnout.

“Ro

[Rosenberg]

gave

as he handed them out, a boy would never be able to sell all selling all ten in less than a week

freshman year, said.

“I loved when alumni would and hard work.

The Orphenians have spent two hours a week at regular

Kaplan said.

Orphenians members are before only seen on a Broadway

strong support for the arts in the

its relaxed atmosphere. is gonna love it. It’s gonna be a lot of fun, it’s gonna be very style.”

Many

Orphenians

agree,

member, said.

PHOTO BY JESSICA GROSS ’15

strong arts program.” Kaplan said. “I often forget that not everyone went to Staples.”

SAN FRANCISCO BOUND Orphenians prepare for their upcoming concert on Feb. 23, which will raise funds for their chance to perform in San Francisco with the famous men’s choir, Chanticleer.

Seeing Stars

A Staples student predicts this year’s Oscar winners Bailey Ethier ’15 Best Picture:

Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”

person.

Budapest Hotel.” The movie’s

and Reese Witherspoon.

is framed in the murder of his him a valuable painting in her right there so I don’t spoil the

“The Theory of Everything,” and Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed, a woman who hiked over a thousand miles following

Best Actor:

mother in “Wild.”

However, the determining

Therefore, I believe that

his role as Woodroof.

Bradley

Cooper

Best Animated Feature:

also

went

of dropping weight, however, pounds to play the role of Chris Cooper

Cooper

has

was

gone

from

absolutely

are brave enough to defend the United States.

Everything is not awesome.

“The Lego Movie” didn’t get nominated for best animated feature, and yet it was undoubtedly the best animated Freeman, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson and Chris Pratt that ends as “The Lego Movie” deserves to

February 13, 2015 | A&E

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A “brunch” of recipes to love this Valentine’s Day Kaila Finn ’16 here are a lot of ways to

others spend time with friends

Some people go on dates,

groups of girls get together on

T

Strawberry sweetheart smoothie

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Bar Claire Lewin ’15 is the holiday of love, roses and relationships, it is also the holiday

County offers a wide variety of options for Staples students to

Isabel et Vincent

Ingredients: Half bag of frozen berries Half of a banana yogurt

the blender. minutes or until desired

Address:

Eggs-in-a-heart Ingredients:

Best

Valentine’s

Day

buy:

Walgreens Westport, Walgreens has an

bread until lightly brown. need. allowing part of the egg to the rest in.

plate, add salt and pepper to tost, and garnish with

it is right in town,” Helena buy some Reese’s Peanut Butter intimidating.”

Address: 880 Post Road East, Westport Best Valentine’s Day buy:

Saugatuck Sweets

Chocolate-and-mixed-berry pancakes

newly opened store in Westport.

Ingredients: moistened. half way with mixture and powder Half teaspoon of baking soda

Address:

buttered griddle.

Be st Va lent i ne’s Day buy:

2 large eggs

Godiva Chocolates

berries

bubbles and edges look dry baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

four minutes or until done.

and granulated sugar in a bowl.

sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Address: Trumbull Mall Be st Va lent i ne’s Day buy:

PHOTOS BY KAILA FINN ’16

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February 13, 2015 | A&E

Fall in love with romantic movies W

Julia Greenspan ’16

The New Release

The Sweet Story “Never Been Kissed” stars really your thing, then the movie never been in love. She goes

Shades” has established a huge

student to report for a story and

in attending the premiere. “It

“It’s a sweet and funny story,” Kelly Shamas says.

storyline to it,” Turner said. and hilarious movie about the real meaning of love.

with love.

holiday.”

The Bittersweet Tale

Fernandez adores this love movie “It

has

every

kind

of is the one who got away.

Be sure to have a box of two reunite after years of longing.

GRAPHICS BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

Second time’s the charm

Old favorites return to wow new audiences GRAPHIC BY JESS GROSS ’15 AND EMILY WOLFE ’15

Max Bibicoff ’16 from loyal fans and routine the making for future releases.

“Finding Nemo” that featured the

most

popular

movies,

“Star

A SEA OF SEQUELS “Finding Nemo” was released in 2003; it’s sequel, “Finding Dory,” will premiere June 17, 2016. “The Avengers” was released in 2012; installment of the series will be released on December 18, 2015.

prior to the new year had many fans anxiously waiting for more information on the newest installment.

“‘Finding Nemo’ was such a big part of my childhood.”

— Jackie

Hornung ’16

that has garnered a great deal of attention.

as though it will not be an issue this year.

Sharing similar sentiments,

superheroes.

“I’m a huge fan of the series

really looking forward to seeing in it.”

for the return of some of their

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February 13, 2015 | A&E

Francesca Truitt ’17 h slang, or whatever the days.

You hashtag everything, and you’re “sorry not sorry”— whatever that means. whether a boyfriend or a pizza,

forgot the rest of the word,”

ignorant.”

hashtag rude.” more endearing term. It’s another word for “on point” or, more simply, “good.”

But the little word has a pretty bad reputation.

Language and Usage,” the term

of the term either.

agreed.

“It’s kind of sexist when you really think about it,” Clanton said.

Meanwhile, Kaela O’Kelly “It’s not mean at all,” O’Kelly said. “It’s empowering women.”

“I’m a thot, you’re a thot, we’re all

he loves it. smiled. “Like why are you so

advised.

2000s, teens had their “peeps”. take it somewhere else, not on my feed.” my peeps,” Krubski said. “I mean my friends, though, not like the marshmallow treat.”

nowadays is pretty harmless,

or “seize the day” in English,

meaning.

“That’s wrong,” Harrison

said.

and even sexist.

“You’ll see a row of guys all wearing khakis, all wearing Nike elites, but still you’d never

be treating women like that.”

added.

happen. It’s not going to happen!

GRAPHIC BY JULIA SCHORR ’16

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February 13, 2015| Advertisement

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February 13, 2015| A&E

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Slippers are not the new sneakers Ben Foster ’16

S

liding into a warm pair of slippers after a long

like you’re at home, asleep, is a blessing.

Frankly, I don’t blame those But to wear slippers for an

Relaxing my feet in a pair of slippers is like sinking them into a soft, warm hug.

Eight whole periods are going to deform the poor things.

preferable mood.

But nothing grinds my gears more than Staples students wearing slippers out of the house and strolling down the Staples hallways, thinking nothing of

and up and down stairs, sitting

Sure, I understand the allure

and mustard, salad dressing,

a poor shoe.

To be frank,

traipsing around during the hours a pair of slippers makes about pair of sneakers after an evening

room in a while.

They are not materials you

wouldn’t mind slowly destroying

up in bed with the sneakers still strapped on.

It doesn’t look or feel right.

Slippers also don’t have the

have a rubber sole and are usually

them more vulnerable to slipping

polyester.

These are materials you would normally

Even if you never see yourself giving up the high

Why risk one of your ankles,or even your life when

Popular slipper brands like

hallways.

We need a safe haven that will allow us to run like the wind

in the head.

two hours of grueling testing, I sweater.

These are

around in their slippers. all night studying, anything that makes you feel more

PHOTO BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

Staples boys sport

“no sweat” fashion statement Jenna McNicholas ’15

reasons behind wearing the style.

When asked about the trend, yet intrigued.

“I hate it, but at the same time I kind of like it,” Blevins said.

The identity of the founder of this popular trend is widely debated by Staples boys.

But all agree on the various pros and opportunities the style provides.

here, I only do it when I’m playing

who trip are the people guarding me,” Feinstein said. “I’m a natural athlete.”

While some have

said.

Matt Bateman, senior athlete, agreed.

PHOTOS BY JESSICA GROSS ’15

statement.

Of late, many athletes have

another

it,” Bateman said. said.

Making a fashion statement isn’t the only purpose for the trend, though.

status, the boys at Staples are to looking their best and staying

TO TUCK OR NOT TO TUCK Staples boys choose between the traditional of pants–over–socks and the new innovative style of pants–tucked–into–socks.

Sports

24 Cooper Boardman ’17

T

he crowd roars its approval as the basketball swishes through the net.

It’s just another Friday night for Madeline Schemel ’15, a senior captain on the Staples girls’ basketball team.

At 5 feet 11 inches, Schemel is one of the best centers in the FCIAC, leading the Wreckers to two state tournament appearances in three seasons at Staples.

She began her basketball career in second grade, competing for the Westport P.A.L. travel basketball program.

This experience paid off during her high school career, as it helped build her skiLls enough to land a spot on the varsity team as a freshman and an All-FCIAC Honorable Mention during her sophomore year.

By her junior year, Schemel began playing for a well known AAU basketball program, the Connecticut Premier, alongside fellow Wrecker Maggie Fair ’15.

As a member of the Premier, Schemel made the Pool NN all-star team at the U.S. Junior Nationals.

Her third year at Staples also introduced Schemel to a different

activity— robotics.

“I joined the robotics team last year because I was always interested in science and math, and I thought it sounded interesting,” Schemel said. That interest grew to a passion, and she is now a senior robotics captain, a 2014 Connecticut State Robotics Champion and even a participant in the World Robotics Championship last year in St. Louis, Missouri.

“I enjoy the problem solving of robotics,” Schemel said.

Her basketball and robotics teammates alike admire her leadership qualities on the court and while building models.

“She’s a good leader,” robotics teammate Noah Pines ’16 said. “She knows what needs to get done for the team, and does a good job communicating her ideas to the rest of the team.”

Basketball coach, Paco Fabian, echoed this sentiment. “When Madeline speaks everyone listens,” Fabian said. differences in leadership between each activity.

“In robotics, being captain is a lot of organizing meetings,” she said. “In basketball, it’s more

leading by example.”

Her work ethic may be why she draws admiration from onlookers everywhere. Both robotics and basketball require multiple hours of practice and work after school, but Schemel

February 13, 2015

PHOTO BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15 GRAPHIC BY JULIA SCHORR ’16

her efforts have clearly paid off.

She has received numerous awards, including the Westport News athlete of the week, a Barnard Book Award and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Schemel is also currently deciding between attending the California Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Basketball teammate Gabby Perry ’16 and robotics teammate Dylan Gleicher ’17 describe Schemel as a “quiet leader” and “dedicated”.

Wrecker Robotics will attempt to qualify for nationals once again this spring, while the girls’ basketball squad is trying to get back to the state tournament after missing out last season.

With Madeline Schemel ready to lead each, don’t be surprised if both teams reach their goals.

CREATING A WINNING FORMULA Madeline Schemel ’15 preps for a state playoff push. The Wreckers are 5-11 and need three wins to qualify.

Schemel is also one of the captains of the robotics team where she spends hours each Friday programming and builiding in preperation for nationals.

PHOTO BY CAROLINE O’KANE ’16

Students make tough calls about referees Jesse Greenspun ’16 Often the most

PHOTO BY CADENCE NEENAN ’15

SPLITS AND SPINS From left: Club Advisor Samantha Ginzberg, Tory Lubin ’18, Kate Lewis ’18, Paige O’Brien ’18, Izzy Chun ’18, Jessie Parker ’18, Rachel Wolfe ’18, Leah Robins ’18 and Gabi Nuefeld ’18 practice dance in one of the school to meet.

Cadence Neenan ’15 Staples cheerleaders, SuperFans, and sports teams have been working together for years to bring pep to Staples.

There have been spirit weeks, pep rallies, homecomings and whiteouts, but never a dance team.

Staples’ all-new dance club is hoping to change that. source Wikipedia, a dance team is “a team of athletes that participates in competitive dance.” Dance teams are usually made up of high school students who participate in dance outside of school, gather together at school spirit events, and compete against each other in dance team

competitions.

While the Staples Dance Club has aspirations of one day being a highly competitive team, for now they are happy with just club.

“A group of my students approached me and asked if I would be interested in coaching, and I said, ‘of course,’ and now we meet once a week[…]” the Dance Club advisor Samantha Ginzberg said. “And it’s just fun, it’s not competitive at the moment.”

Being registered as a club has its perks as it allows them to have fun at their practices because they aren’t in constant preparation for competition.

“I had one student who, at the

end of our practice the last time I saw them, she said, ‘I really love this because it’s not competitive, it’s not so intense. This dancing is my release,’” Ginzberg said.

However, members of the Dance Club do hope to step it up in the future.

“My hopes are to compete against other schools,” Dance Club member Julia Rosier ’18 said. “And to form a team that simply loves to dance.”

But for now, it seems as though the Staples Dance Club is Staples students to leap, jump and turn to their hearts’ desires.

“The best part is probably just dancing,” Rosier said. “We all love to dance, so this is a great experience for all of us.”

referees have a profound impact on many high school athletes.

Many Staples athletes have polarizing viewpoints when it comes to referees; however, whether their opinions are positive or negative, there is often a very unique relationship forged between high school athletes and referees.

Ben Popkin ’16, an avid rec basketball player, does not believe that there is a positive relationship between referees and players and believes that many referees are not very good at their jobs.

“They make some pretty awful calls,” Popkin said. He even highlighted an incident where a basketball referee had a physical confrontation with a student. However, Popkin did note that, “outside of calling fouls, most of them do seem like pretty great guys who are passionate about what they do.”

While Popkin has had some negative interactions with referees, other students say otherwise.

Stephen Rowland ’17, a varsity ice hockey and soccer player, is quite fond of referees. “They know the game [of soccer] really well,” Rowland said. Contrary to the beliefs of many Staples students, he went on to add that “referees don’t want to get people in trouble.”

One Staples student, Drew Cohen ’16, attests to the passion of high school sports referees. Cohen has been refereeing various levels of ice hockey for six seasons, and has had many great and some very unfortunate situations dealing with players and coaches alike.

Cohen believes that the relationship between players and referees deteriorates as kids get older.

“The older guys try to take advantage of us and start [talking trash],” Cohen said.

However, Cohen attributes the negative feelings held against refs to the few referees who “just go through the motions.” He explained that most referees are very good at what they do, and deserve to rather than mediators.

25

26

February 13, 2015 | Sports

Jimmy Ray Stagg ’16

F

or a lot of people, running is not something done for fun. But for a few people, all-out sprinting is enjoyable.

Philip Han-Lemus ’16, one of Staples’ top sprinters, is one of those seldom few. “I really enjoy the rush I get while running,” Han-Lemus said.

Han-Lemus joined the

Second place at Yale 4x400m relay team

Staples Indoor Track Team in the winter of his freshman year and for states. Although he has always been fast, Han-Lemus still says he needs to work hard. “[Being a sprinter] requires a lot of persistence with workouts, you have to be really consistent,” Han-Lemus said. “You can’t just bulls--- your way through training.”

Han-Lemus’ personal records include a 200m sprint at 23.84 seconds, as well as a 38.17 second time for 300m. He is also part of a 4x400 team (with track captain Luis Cruz ’15, James Lewis ’16 and Denzel Robinson ’15) that won a silver medal at the 33rd Yale Interscholastic Track Classic on Jan. 17 with a

the Central the 300m

collective time of 3 minutes 31.06 seconds.

“Without [Han-Lemus], our 4x400 wouldn’t be complete,” Cruz said. “He is one of our most important sprinters.”

Track coach Laddie Lawrence agreed, saying HanLemus is “joining a select category” of great athletes.

One of Han-Lemus’ attributes that have helped him reach this level is his fervency during a meet. Leading up to a race, he prefers solitude and quiet over pep talks and music. distracting. I just try to be in tune with myself as much as possible,” Han-Lemus said. “I am my own pump up music.”

Lawrence also noticed this trait during Han-Lemus’ races.

“When he runs, he is very intense, focused and thorough,” Lawrence said. “Some runners

Personal Record 400m: 52.1 seconds

don’t have to tell him that.”

Despite wanting to stay within himself, Han-Lemus still enjoys attention. He always wears “the brightest green shoes as possible, so when I’m on the track, I stand out the most.”

Han-Lemus also enjoys the praise he garners through his successes. He cites his proudest moment on the team as being when Lawrence recognized his accomplishments at the Endof-the-Year Banquet after his sophomore season. “That’s all I ever really wanted since joining the team,” Han-Lemus said.

Lawrence lists Han-Lemus as Staples’ best runner in the 200m and 300m sprints (with times of 12.25 seconds and 23.84 seconds), and says he is one of the best 400m sprinters on the team.

He also sees a bright future for Han-Lemus.

“If he keeps improving the way he’s improving, he’ll probably break 50 seconds in the 400m,” Lawrence said.

To put that into perspective, that’s the equivalent of running in 50 seconds. The average speed someone has to be running to go that far that fast is a blistering 18 miles per hour.

Cruz also has high hopes for Han-Lemus.

“If he keeps getting better, he will earn a spot at nationals,” Cruz said. “I believe in him.”

Personal Record 200m: 23.2 seconds

Boys’ hockey team skates to success players Max Bibicoff ’16 The lack of seniors on the boys’ hockey team has prompted others to step up.

After 11 games this season, the Staples boy’s hockey team is off to a fast start, holding a record of 6-5. Comprised of students from Staples, Weston and Shelton, the hockey team is without a single senior player this season.

So, while the position of captain is typically taken on by seniors, Jesse Greenspun ’16 and Ian Offenberg ’16 stepped up to lead the way as co-captains.

“The absence of seniors really hasn’t impacted our team that much,” varsity player Sam New ’18 said. “We have tons of talent with the younger kids that makes up for the lost seniors.”

Sam Zaritsky ’17 shared similar thoughts on the matter.

“I wasn’t on the team last year to know what having a senior captain was like, [but] the juniors have been a big help with the incoming players,” Zaritsky said.

Another freshman player, Zach Bloom ’18 expressed optimism about the junior leadership this year.

“Both the junior captains are great leaders, and they are like our seniors [...],”Bloom said.

Coach Todd Sharin also had little concern over his team’s lack of experience.

“You know, younger guys have been forced to step up, and in some cases even freshman,” Sharin said. “We have a very strong team that will grow into Captain Ian Offenberg ’16 did not hesitate to show his faith in the team.

“We have a strong core of juniors who have helped to hold the team together,” Offenberg said.

He continued, “We [are] one team, we motivate ourselves, and we’re all leaders. It’s all one big unit.”

PHOTOS BY CAROLINE O’KANE ’16

Jack Zeldes ’16 Many people believe that high school athletics are only about the state and FCIAC championships. However, the experience of being on these teams consists of so much more than winning. Coaches want their athletes to also be student athletes, taking on academic responsibility and excelling in the classroom.

“We love to have our players be student athletes who are also responsible and organized,” head basketball coach Colin Devine said. “We emphasize the word ‘student’ in

the words ‘student athlete’.”

In order to honor these athletes who excel outside of their sport, The FCIAC, gives out the FCIAC scholar of the month.

Recently, several athletes at Staples have had the honor of winning the award.

Gabe Pensak ’15, a varsity soccer player, won the award in September.

“It was very humbling to win the award. I didn’t realize what it was until the FCIAC commissioner emailed me saying I was a recipient; so it was a nice surprise,” Pensak said.

According to the former soccer player, he was nominated

by his coach, Dan Woog, and had no idea he was in the running for FCIAC scholar of the month.

“We emphasize the word ‘student’ in the words ‘student athlete.’”

-Colin Devine The nomination process begins with each coach in the FCIAC choosing the student athlete

he or she deems to be the most deserving.

The conference selects a different amount of students each month, varying from 29 in September 2014 to 12 in November 2014.

The scholar award is one of only two awards given out by the FCIAC and has included months of September, October, and November.

One of them was Fleur Byrne ’17, a track star. While she never worked to receive the award directly, it was a reward for all of her hard work on and off the track.

“Sometimes it can be a challenge to balance school work and sports on an everyday basis. Coming home after practice after 5 p.m. and then starting a night of homework can wear you down; but if you give your best effort to both, it pays off,” Byrne said.

Not only does the award promote pride for winning, but the award of FCIAC Scholar of the Month comes with a nifty prize.

“I received a framed it as well as a Scholar Athlete t-shirt,” Pensak said. “ And that was pretty cool.”

27

February 13, 2015 | Sports PHOTOS BY JIMMY RAY STAGG ’16

Cooper Boardman ’17

C

in 2014, not much was expected of the Staples boys’ basketball team. But, after missing out on both the FCIAC and state playoffs last year, the team’s 2015 campaign has been one of the surprises in the FCIAC thus far.

The Wreckers got off to a hot start in league play—winning a shocking upset over state title contender Stamford- and have already matched last season’s win total.

Led by stellar outside shooting, the guard-heavy lineup head coach Colin Devine elected to go with provided a potent offensive attack that was no match for Ludlowe and Newtown.

The starting lineup is one of the most unique in the FCIAC, featuring three sophomores, no juniors and two seniors.

6’4” center and post presence Nicolaas Esposito ’15 dominates inside and is the main rebounder on an undersized Wrecker squad.

Connor Whelan ’15 provides senior leadership and plays with emotion that is unmatched by as a de facto power forward— grabbing rebounds that Esposito can’t get to—but is better known for his clutch three point accuracy in big situations.

Point guard Justin Seideman ’17 has great speed and often pushes in transition for easy layups, but he also has the court Ben Casparius ’17 is deadly from beyond the arc, knocking down three after three and is the man with the ball at the end of close games. Small forward Sean Pritchett ’17 may have been the surprise performer for the Wreckers. He made a

STRIVING FOR STATES Starters Nic Esposito ’15, Ben Casparius ’17, Connor Whelen ’15, and Harry Kohn ’15 push

start, scoring the game winning layup with under a minute to go in Staples’ opening night victory

After improving to 3-0, the Wreckers lost a close battle in the 2014 Wilton Holiday Classic Championship game to Wilton—one of the best teams in the FCIAC—but rebounded with a gritty win over St. Joes in overtime.

However, the team lost Warde, Greenwich, Wilton and Harding, but three of those four games were lost by seven points or less.

The Wreckers seemed to fall away from the perimeter philosophy that had put them in FCIAC title contention. They had a tough time getting the ball in the hands of their dangerous three point shooters—Casparius did not score until the fourth quarter in their loss versus Wilton.

However, Staples got back to their winning ways with a 6654 victory over Brien McMahon last Friday night. In that game, Casparius dropped 19 points and the team looked like it was back to normal. The Wreckers also received a key contribution off the bench from three-point specialist Harry Kohn ’15, which was vital because it gave the starters time to rest while the offense continued to thrive.

The Wreckers dropped their next game Wednesday night, falling to below .500 for the second time all year, but then rebounded with three straight wins.

With six games remaining, Staples is in ninth place in the FCIAC, tied with Bassick, who they will face tonight.

The Wreckers have a tough schedule ahead as three of their last four games are against opponents with records above .500 in league play. The team has an opportunity to qualify for both the FCIAC and state playoffs— which they were unable to accomplish last season—and they will begin that quest tonight as they face Bassick.

The story was updated Feb. 10.

Follow the QR code for more sports updates.

Chase Gornbein ’16 Though they had two coaches prior to the start of competitive season, the Staples girls’ cheerleading team has remained both poised and hungry to make it to regionals again.

“I really think the squad as a whole has great motivation to push ourselves hard and kill our routines in order to make it,” Jessica Nelson ’16 said.

However, after losing their coach just two weeks before the start of the competitive season, the girls had to make a decision.

The team was forced to make a choice: either sit back and watch their season disintegrate right before their eyes, or take action in the wake of a new coach in order to perform their best come championship season.

The team chose to stick it out.

“As a whole, we have really had to dig down deep and come together in order to perform our

best,” Nelson said. “We were a little behind with our own coach, so we’re all pushing ourselves really hard to catch up and put ourselves in a position to succeed.”

Even though the team lost many cheerleaders, they were able to work past those obstacles, according to Sloane Cooper ’15.

“As a team we have had many struggles, including losing our seniors and gaining many new girls on the cheer team,” Cooper said. “So this year has really just wanted to brush all of that off and work as a team to win FCIACS and hopefully states.”

The new head coach, Devin Zayas was introduced right before the start of the competitive winter season, making it really hard for the team to learn a successful routine on such short notice; however this did not dampen the mood, according to Liv Blevins ’15.

having to learn a brand new routine with a new coach in literally two weeks, but we love the new coaches and have been working really hard during Blevins said.

In cheerleading, team chemistry is a vital necessity if you want to succeed.

Haley Burns ’16 believes that getting a new coach midway through the season has actually helped to bring the team closer.

“Getting a new coach actually brought the team closer because it was a problem we had to solve together,” Burns said.

Although you may have expected the aura of the team to be dampened by losing a coach, this was not the case.

In fact, it was far from it.

“Overall,” Cooper said, “”we just want to work our hardest and have fun as a team.”

PHOTO BY JULIA EITHIER ’17

STRETCHING FOR SUCCESS Cheer team holds a pyramid as they practice routine at each competition.

Update: The cheer team just placed second in the FCIAC at the

SPORTS

Inside

The Wreckers

Philip HanLemus ’16 hits his stride as the track season continues

Madeline Schemel ’15 anchors robotics and basketball to success

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“As superhuman as captains can seem, we have to remember that they’re just our fellow students.”

-Spencer Daniels ’17

“Since tennis is such a mental game, inspiration is a big part of a captain’s job” -Bobby Becker ’16

Additional Reporting by Grant Sirlin ’16

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! N

Emma Berry ’15

othing quite matches the knee-shaking nervousness junior athletes feel sitting at the Endof-the-Year Banquet awaiting the announcement of next season’s captains. After votes from returning team members and deliberation from coaches, be put at ease as the news is revealed.

Team captains hold a very special place and take on many new responsibilities. It is a large commitment with both time and effort to any Staples team. “I’m gonna have a lot more responsibilities, both on

be more than worth it,” future boys’ soccer captain Kenji Goto ’16 said. “Knowing that the team trusts me to lead them and makes the experience even more enjoyable.”

After years of playing and being dedicated to the team, announcement of captains at the End-of-the-Year Banquet was a memorable moment for Ben Thaw ’16. “I was really happy because I’ve wanted to be captain since I was a little kid,” football captain Thaw said.

The leadership role of a captain requires them to steer the team in the right direction

and ultimately put them on the path to success.

“We’re hoping to become FCIAC and state champions,” track captain James Lewis ’16 said. “We’re in a good position for next season.”

Working from the examples set by previous captains, the rising seniors are starting to think and strategize how to achieve the teams’ goals next season. “The captains we had for the 2014 year were outstanding, and it is going to them,” girls’ soccer captain Elizabeth Mitas ’16 said.

Even with the start of the season months away, the newly-selected captains are

InBrief

Girls’ Basketball The girls’ basketball team is up against Darien High School on Monday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Staples gym. Just two days later, on Wednesday season game against Bridgeport Central at home.

PHOTO BY JIMMY RAY STAGG ’16

“A captain’s responsibility is not only to foster relationships but to uphold the values of the program.”

-Gilli Rozynek ’16

eagerly awaiting their chance to lead their team to success.

Jordan Ragland ’16, a girls’ wait to reunite her team in the fall. “Last year we had a really strong team, and this year we are hoping to come out just as pumped,” Ragland said.

“One of the reasons we were able to do as well as we did this year was because all the underclassmen wanted to win for the seniors,” Goto said. “I want to make sure the same thing happens next year. With this group’s talent combined with that chemistry, we can achieve the ultimate goal of an FCIAC and state championship.”

Boys’ Swimming At 4 p.m. today, Feb. 13, the boys’ swimming and diving team has a meet against New Canaan High School at the Staples pool. It is their last dual meet of the season until FCIACs, which start on Feb. 24. The boys currently have a record of 6-3 and hope to end the dual meet season on a high note.

Girls’ Hockey Before this season, the Staples-Stamford-Westhill girls’ ice hockey co-op has never had more than eight wins, but their current record is 13-3.

The girls’ ice hockey co-op has a game Feb. 17 against West Haven. Recently they have been working on breakouts, power plays and penalty kills.

Boys’ Hockey St aples-Shelton-Weston boys’ ice hockey co-op faces off against Stamford’s Westhill High School tomorrow, Feb. 14. According to captain Ian Offenberg ’16, this year Ryan Johnson ’16 and Sam New ’18 have both stepped up and are the ones to watch tomorrow, at 8 p.m. at their home rink in Milford.

Gymnastics The Staples gymnastics team competes in FCIAC Championships tomorrow, Feb. 14, at Jonathan Law High School at 10:30 a.m. Margaret West ’17, who excels in uneven bars and off the season in a Feb. 10 meet PHOTOS BY JIMMY RAY STAGG ’16, DANIELA KARPENOS ’15, JESSIE GREENSPUN ’16 AND CAROLINE OKANE ’16

Junior captains look past age to lead their teams Sarah Ellman ’15 Choosing captains at the end of each athletic season is a common tradition at Staples and the majority of the chosen candidates are seniors. But recently, students who are juniors have been awarded the title.

“For me personally, it doesn’t matter what grade the captain is in as long as he or she is someone the rest of the team can look up to and view as role models,” girls’ soccer captain Caroline Rossi ’17 said.

As juniors Rossi and Lydia Shaw ’17 have been elected captains for next season alongside senior Elizabeth Mitas ’16. It was during a one-on-one conference at the end of the season that head coach Barry Beattie told the girls they would be captains.

“All three have accumulated huge high school soccer experience and have already displayed various characteristics of a captain; so, for me, the choices are very good ones,” Beattie said.

Although Rossi and Shaw are going to be junior captains,

“following the example that all the captains before me have left,” Shaw said.

The girls’ soccer team has had junior captains before. In fact, last year’s captains included three seniors and one junior.

Captain Lauren Garcia ’15 saw no difference in the level of authority between herself and junior captain Kate Lesch ’16.

“Having Kate as a captain was good,” Garcia said. “You could tell that she cared about the team, which is very important when being a captain.”

Mary Bennewitz ’15 was captain of the girls’ golf team last year as a junior and is looking forward to being captain again. in my abilities to motivate and organize the team for the coming season,” Bennewitz said.

To Bennewitz, age doesn’t matter when it comes to leadership. “Leadership isn’t based on grade but rather maturity and responsibility,” Bennewitz said.

Beattie echoed her sentiments saying, “The saying goes, ‘if you are good enough, you are old enough.’”

Ludlowe.

Indoor Track Both boys’ and girls’ indoor track have LL State Championships tomorrow, Feb. 14, in New Haven at 4:30 p.m.

The boys’ and girls’ teams are set to have strong relays, as Staples looks to be a front runner. The following Saturday, each event move on to compete in State Opens where Staples’ toughest competitor will be Darien High School.

Forcontinual continual For updates, check updates, check inklingsnews.com inklingsnews.com