Inklings back to school

Inklings August 25, 2014 Founded in 1933 inklingsnews.com

2014-2015

GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15 AND JULIA SCHORR ’16

Inside the issue

Tips for your first

Students experience the

Isreali-Palestinian conflict

Page 8

week of high school

Page 5

Meet the new teachers Pages 6-7

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Auditions for “Hello Dolly!”

Aug. 27, 28 Any students wishing to try out for Staples Players fall show “Hello Dolly!” should report for auditions from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Sign up for auditions slots will be available the first day of starting school outside the Black Box. Dance auditions will be held in the auditorium and singing in the Black Box theatre. More information about fall plays and auditions is available at staplesplayers.com.

Picture Day Aug. 28, 29

Students will report to the auditorium during their English classes to have their pictures taken for the yearbook and photo IDs.

Back to school night

Sept. 11: 9th and 10th graders Sept. 17: 11th and 12th graders Parents are invited to follow their child’s typical daily schedule, sit in on a brief introduction to each of their courses and meet their child’s teachers.

Students should supply their parents with a copy of their schedules.

October SAT registration Sept. 12

The deadline for seniors to register for the Oct. 11 SAT is Sept. 12. Any later registration will result in an additional fee and diminished chance of available seating. Staples is not a test site for the Sept. 12 SAT. Other nearby locations for the test include Fairfield Ludlow High School and Weston High School. The Oct. 11 SAT is the last chance for any seniors wishing to update their scores for consideration by early application colleges. Visit collegeboard.org for more information.

ACT Exam Sept. 13

Juniors and seniors may take the ACT exam on Sept.

13. Staples is not a test site for this test. Students who are not already registered for the test may register on test day for an extra fee, but will not be guaranteed a spot, and will receive entry in order of arrival. Nearby test centers for this date include Fairfield Warde High School, Danbury High School and Trumbull High School. Visit actstudent.org for more information.

For continual updates check www.inklingsnews.com

August 25, 2014 | Back To School

Students use unique skills in the world of internships

F

Ale Benjamin ’15

rom nearby New York City to far away London, students have spanned the globe seeking their passions through internships.

With college fast approaching, the summer before senior year is a popular time for students to start an unpaid internship in order to gain valuable job experience, practice their interests and skills first hand and build up their college resumes.

This year, a particularly popular field for internships among rising seniors was the fashion industry. Jessica Shaw ’15, Harry Epstein ’15 and Jessica Spector ’15 held internships relating to fashion in areas of public relations, business and design respectively.

Shaw, who found her internship at Bryn Moral Public Relations in London through a program called Discovery Internship, found herself quickly immersed in the thick of the industry.

“The company I worked for represented companies such as Mango, [and] Oliver Peoples.

I helped launch a new fashion app called M!LK [and] delivered products to Vogue, Elle, and Instyle,” she said.

Back at home, commuting to New York City on a daily basis, Spector and Epstein, too, found their days absorbed not just by errands, but also by the ins and outs of the fashion industry.

“I work on the design floor […], so I’m surrounded by people illustrating, testing fabrics, creating textiles and embroidery,” Spector, who worked for renowned designer Diane von Furstenberg, known for her iconic wrap dress, said.

Epstein, who worked for designer Donna Degnan, known for her classic and contemporary fusion designs, also got up close and personal with how a fashion business works.

“From sewing buttons to constructing flats of garments on the computer, I’m trying to take

PHOTOS BY KATIE SETTOS ’15

LEARNING THE ROPES While working for designer Diane von Furstenberg, Jessica Spector ’15 practices her techniques by sketching dresses on the job.

it all in,” he said.

Besides fashion, students have flourished in other fields as well. Staples Players Secretary and Student Director Isabel Perry ’15 was one of six interns at Encores! Off Center Series at New York City Center under Artistic Director Jeanine Tesori. Tesori is a composer for shows such as “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” which Players performed for their last fall show.

Perry was eager to start her internship largely because of the inspiring people she would get to work with, like Tesori, of whom Perry is a long-time fan. “On the first day of the internship, I was fifteen minutes early,” Perry admitted. “I was actually a half hour early, but I waited outside and texted my mom to ask how early was socially acceptable.”

Perry’s enthusiasm thoroughly paid off as early as her first day, when a man approached her before a show meet and greet.

“I told him about [my] in-

ternship, and he said, ‘I’m being nice to you because in five years you’ll run a theatre company and you’ll hire me,’” Perry recalled.

“It wasn’t until the meet and greet started when he stepped forward and introduced himself as the director, Oliver Butler, that my jaw nearly dropped.”

Perry and other students all agree that internships can be valuable, whether because of the people they meet or the experiences they have.

“The most valuable thing I learned from my internship is that everything is a learning process,” Spector said.

Spector experienced this process once when she and other employees were working on a jacket that had accidentally been cut the wrong way.

“We had to learn to be creative and figure out how to make the jacket work. In the end, it was created with a bunch of different fabrics and it looked so good,” she said.

Though their jobs may end for the summer, many students are carrying their new skills closely with them and continuing to follow their passions in different ways. Epstein, for example, will be continuing to run his own fashion company, Gracious Mfg, and Perry is planning on getting a subscription to City Center for the coming year. Spector will even be working on many of the company’s fashion shows throughout the year.

Students agree that internships are a great way to follow interests, and that obtaining success is all about personal motivation and attitude.

“Blow people away the first time you meet them, whether it’s the way you dress, or how confident your tone of voice is,” Epstein said. “You never know who you will meet and when.”

“I’ve learned that most of life is self-assigning your own work. You really have to go the extra mile,” Perry said.

iPhone apps artificially enhance appearance of photos Sarah Ellman ’15 A flat stomach, two-inch thigh gap, healthy bust, toned butt, perfect skin, flawless hair, and a scenic background is all any girl needs for her perfect profile picture. While these strict requirements may seem virtually unattainable, technology has proven them possible with just a swipe of the finger.

Facetune, RetouchMe: Body and Face Retouch, Bodytune and ModiFace Photo Editor are just a few of the body and face editing iPhone apps flooding the App Store. These apps let users reduce body parts they wish to be thinner and amplify body parts they wish to be larger by either pinching or spreading their pointer finger and thumb across their screen.

Eliminating blemishes, shaving off unwanted fat tissue, widening thigh gaps, shrinking stomachs and whitening teeth are some features othat help app users achieve the much sought after ideal look.

To some, this idea of manipulating and adjusting body parts may seem foreign, but there are in fact students at Stapleswho go a bit further than using simple Instagram filters.

Jennie Blumenfeld ’15 said she has some friends who use the app, Facetune. “They use it to whiten their teeth, sharpen their eyes, smooth their skin, or make them look skinnier,” Blumenfeld said.

She, herself, has also used Facetune to edit her friends photos for them. “Once my friend didn’t like the way her legs looked in a picture, so she had me make them look skinnier for her,” Blumenfeld said.

Similarly, Claudia Boland ’16 also said she knows people who use various apps to cover up acne, whiten teeth, and make themselves look skinnier. “It’s kinda sad that people feel the need to alter their bodies for pictures, but then again I understand why, considering how judgemental people can be,” Boland said.

Jack Marsilio ’15 also thinks it’s sad because “these girls think they have to live up to an image created by the media, when they should be comfortable with who they really are.”

Furthermore, Noah Prince ’15 recently learned about the new trend of girls utilizing these apps and was hugely surprised.

“That’s like really messed up. I don’t know why people would do

EDITING APPEARANCE Using Facetune, this photo of actress Melissa McCarthy was manipulated.

it,” Prince said.

Blumenfield thinks social media is one reason why people use these apps, “With social media being so prevalent in our lives, people are desperate to do anything to make themselves look better, and when word spread that

PHOTO FROM MCT CAMPUS GRAPHIC BY JANE LEVY ’16

In Brief

Inklings

there was a way, people couldn’t resist,” Blumenfeld said.

So, is that profile picture of that seemingly flawless girl with the insane body and pristine face real? Or did she spend hours in front of her iPhone screen? Who really knows these days.

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Inklings

August 25, 2014 | Back To School

Principal Dodig welcomes a new year I John Dodig am having a difficult time believing that I am beginning my 11th year as principal of Staples High School. The old adage, “Time flies when you are having fun,” must be true. Time has flown, and I am definitely having fun. The fun, for me, is seeing a new group of freshmen come into our building each year having to learn the culture of the school, learning to deal with more freedom than they have ever experienced in public school, and finding something that excites them about being a Wrecker.

It is almost impossible for Staples students to truly understand the pressures being put on

American public schools since we, in Westport, live in what some would call a bubble. O u r experience at Staples is so very different from the experience that millions of high school students have each day throughout our country. In some parts of our

The old adage, “Time flies when you are having fun,” must be true. country, juniors and seniors ride to school in pickup trucks with rifles affixed to their rear windows.

In many schools in America, students must pass through metal

detectors to enter school and can only carry items in clear plastic bags. Having two fully equipped restaurant kitchens, a radio station, a television station, a functioning pre-school, a nationally recognized music and theater program, a physical education program that offers kayaking and paddle board lessons, a science research program, three or four sections of Multi-Variable calculus, eighteen Advanced Placement courses, thirty-three varsity sports, a premier art program, a nationally respected academic program, as well as so many other programs too numerous to mention, and support services that satisfy the needs of just about every student, and much more, is

not the norm. This school is part of a very small group of extraordinary high schools in America.

Unless I am misreading the hundreds of seniors to whom I say goodbye each year, I believe the preponderance of them understand that the experience they have at Staples helps to set them up for success as adults, amd expectations are that they will give back to others what they have gained from living in Westport and experiencing public education in our schools. I know I am often criticized for being too positive, but my experience over 45 years in education in both urban and suburban settings leads me to the conclusion that by reaping the benefits of a Staples High School

education, our students will be part of the new generation that will lead our country through the problems we face today and in the future.

I guess my message to you today is to begin freshman year from day one being serious about your education. Every day counts. For sophomores, juniors and seniors I remind you to make a conscious contribution to the positive climate and supportive culture we have at Staples, and to set a personal goal to leave our high school in June of your senior year knowing that you have helped to make Staples a better place than when you entered the front door for the first time.

Welcome back.

Take time to appreciate the little things Where do you picture yourself 10 years from now?

Getting that big promotion that you worked so hard for?

So hard that you made phone calls on the weekends. So hard that you sent e-mails while you were on “vacation.” So hard that you traded sleep for spreadsheets. All for what? To achieve happiness someday? Why not just make “someday” today?

If you spend too much time working for the future, for the next big thing, you’ll miss

Inklings EDITORIAL

what’s right in front of you.

Whether this is your last first day of high school, your first day of a new year or your first time walking into Staples for the first time, you have to remember to appreciate the little things while you are here.

•A good hair day •Finding a heads-up penny

•Laughing •Seeing the waiter come around the corner with your food

Inklings

•Your favorite song playing on the radio •The smell of spring

•Walking into class to find a sub

•Having free first period

•Having free last period

•No homework on Schoology •Snow days

•Seeing your camp friends outside of camp •Putting on a shirt just out of the dryer •Waking up early and realizing you can go back to sleep

•Older kids saying hi to you in the hallway •A teacher telling you they’re proud of you

•Falling asleep to rain •Fridays

•Your dog greeting you at the door Your happiness right now is just as important as your happiness in 10 years.

Editors-in-Chief Zoe Brown Bailey Ethier

Silver Crown Award for Inklingsnews.com from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2013

Managing Editors Alexandra Benjamin Caroline Cohen

Silver Crown Award for Newspaper Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2013

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 sees fit. The editorial board determines 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 Photo Coordinator Justine Seligson Creative Directors Olivia Crosby Claudia Landowne Katie Settos

GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

News Editors Greta Bjornson Sophia Hampton Deanna Hartog Megan Root Opinions Editors Emma Berry Quinn Hughes 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

Web News Editors Kaila Finn Daniela Karpenos Web Opinions Editors Julie Bender Michael Mathis Web Features Editors Rachel Treisman Jane Schutte Web A&E Editors Zach McCarthy Blake Rubin Web Sports Editors Talia Hendel Jimmy Ray Stagg Business Manager Kacey Hertan Assistant Business Managers Chase Gornbein Jacquelyn Sussman Web Multimedia Editor Adam Kaufman

Advisers Mary Elizabeth Fulco Rebecca Marsick Cody Thomas 70 North Ave. Westport, CT 06880 Phone: (203) 341–1994 Inklingsweb@gmail.com Decisions of Inklings 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

H

Jane Levy ’16

ere you are, dozing off in the cafeteria, caffeine surging through your bloodstream, dreading the bell, a cue for tests to be taken and papers to be written.

But here I am, couldn’t be happier to see all your exhausted faces from the moment I danced out of bed at 6:30 a.m. as “Boom Clap” blared from my alarm. I have no problem sleeping until noon and hanging at Compo,

August 25, 2014 | Back To School

ish, but still.

There’s no question that summer is a well-deserved and much-needed break from overbearing pressures that come hand in hand with high school, but there is something so appealing about walking from English to math, waving at all your smiling faces that I missed almost as much as I missed school itself.

But before I get ahead of myself, the tools for success are a must. My mom and I proudly

I long to graph a logarithmic function, to balance a chemical equation, to translate “Una Carta a Dios.” but I might lose my mind if I go another day without being somewhat productive.

I have found myself rereading my research paper and thumbing through my heavily annotated version of Catcher in the Rye. For fun.

I long to graph a logarithmic function, to balance a chemical equation, to translate “Una Carta a Dios.”

Okay, maybe not the Span-

strutted down the aisles of the Staples Office superstore in early August with Staples Rewards cards in hand. You best believe that I am color coordinated and now I am just itching to take notes on hyper-partisanship for Gov. in my all white, five-star notebook.

My love for school is profound; just don’t ask me how I feel about school in the thick of January.

GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

Hey Staples!

Show your TRUE colors...

Sunday, September 21st at 10am Sherwood Island State Park

Get covered with color! Food trucks and lots of give-aways.

Register Today! www.colorflash5k.com All proceeds donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for Pediatric Cancer Research

The Joyce and Bernie Zimmerman Foundation — The Friezo Family Foundation — Rob and Cindy Citrone

A

Fritz Schemel ’17

h, the first day of high school. I had to face these challenges just one year ago: where to sit at lunch, how to navigate the halls, and ,wait, “You mean period one isn’t always the first period of the day?”

It can be daunting.

Thankfully for this year’s freshman class, I’m here to help.

1. mySHS app

I recommend you download the mySHS app, which will give you the two essentials you need for the week: your schedule and your lunch wave.

2. Schedules

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Inklings

August 25, 2014 | Back To School

Once you have a schedule in hand (whether it’s your mySHS app or good old fashioned paper), it isn’t too complicated. Just glance at your schedule before your next class, and you’ll know where you’re heading.

As far as your lunch wave, if you don’t know when it is, just go to the class you have for lunch. If no one shows up, chances are you have first lunch, or maybe they’re just as confused as you.

information you need to know is that any room in the 1000s is on the first floor, any in the 2000s is on the second and any in the 3000s are on the top level.

I suggest, however, you just attempt to find your way around, and if you get lost, ask for help from teachers or upperclassmen.

Learning to find your way around can be challenging, and the experience of trying for a week is the best way to learn. By the end of the week, you’ll know where everything is.

4. Lunch

During your first week, don’t wait in the long line for a sandwich, it will only make your day harder. No one wants to spend their entire lunch waiting in line and then scrambling to get to class.

On second thought, scratch that last part; the sandwiches are well 3. Navigation You may now be wondering, I worth the time if you have the paknow when my class is, but where tience to wait. I could sit here and in this giant building is it? The basic suggest all my favorites sandwiches,

GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

but that would be a different article altogether.

5. Getting Ahead

My last piece of advice is to always try to get ahead on assignments so you never hit the moment of despair whenyou realize you’ll be up until 2 a.m. If you ever hit that

point, caffeine does help.

Well, Class of 2018, I hope these tips relieve some of your jitters.

Manage your time, don’t procrastinate and relax. Even if the upperclassmen wanted to lock you in a locker, they couldn’t; no one knows their locker combination anyway.

ENJOYING CAFETERIA FOOD Once lunch time approaches, Schemel and his friend Anders Hovstadius ‘17 satisfy their hunger with jelly doughnuts.

LEARNING THE HALLS As the first day of school approaches, Fritz Schemel ’17 introduces rising freshman Alex Cheena ’18 to the halls of Staples.

PHOTOS BY COOPER BOARDMAN ’17

WORKING HARD Schemel finishes up summer assignments in order to get ahead in his classes so he can manage his time properly.

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Inklings

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August 25, 2014 | Back To School

Rookies of the Year

Meet the newest additions to the Staples team

World Language

English

Player Stats

Hometown: Wallingford, CT

Position:English

Pre-game ritual: Before a game, I had to make a goal in the warmup.

Fun fact: I got married to my high school sweetheart.

Mary Katherine Hinman

Brian Solomon

Player Stats

World Language

English

Hometown: Palmyra, NY Position: US History and Economics Pre-game ritual: Listening to “Jungle” by X Ambassadors Fun fact: Visited Russia, Norway, Estonia, Sweden and Denmark

Social Studies

Hometown: Xiamen, China Position: Social Worker and Open Choice Coordinator Pre-game ritual: None Fun fact: I have been skydiving twice and absolutely love it!

Special Education

Player Stats

Hometown: Trumbull, CT Position: Geometry and Algebra 2 Pre-game ritual: Find food Fun fact: I spent the last four years living and teaching in New York City.

Hometown: Manlius, NY Position: Special Education Pre-game ritual: Listening to all pump-up jams Fun fact: I love to Irish Step Dance.

Special Education

Thomas Scavone

Julia Svec

Player Stats

Hometown: Fairfield, CT Position: Spanish Pre-game ritual: Meditate Fun fact: I used to boogie board in Peru.

World Language

Math

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Player Stats

Social Studies

Julia Svec

Brendan Giolotto

Player Stats

STAPLES WORLD CUP

STAPLES WORLD CUP

STAPLES WORLD CUP

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Player Stats

Music

STAPLES WORLD CUP

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Player Stats

Hometown: Greenwich, CT Position: US History and Global Themes Pre-game ritual: None Fun fact: I played clarinet in UConn’s Marching Band for five years!

Social Studies

Vivian McMullen

Hometown: Connecticut Position: French teacher Pre-game ritual: Finding friends Fun fact: I play piano and violin.

STAPLES WORLD CUP

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Position: English and Intro to Journalism Pre-game ritual: Setting up a nice spread of snacks and drinks Fun fact: I worked for WWE for seven years.

Player Stats

English

World Language

Jonathan Watnick

Hometown: Woodbrige, CT Position: English 9H and 9A Pre-game ritual: Yummy food Fun fact: I have held the Olympic torch in London in 2012.

Hometown: Springfield, MA Position: K-12 Music Supervisor Pre-game ritual: None Fun fact: I have two daughters, ages 10 and 12.

Player Stats

Hometown: Stamford, CT Position: English 10A, AP Lang and Contemporary Pre-game ritual: None Fun fact: My son gave me his Chinese fire belly newt.

Noreen McGoldrick

World Language

Player Stats

Hometown: Venezuela Position: Spanish Pre-game ritual: Traditional food Fun fact: I was born in the rain forest of Venezuela.

Joseph Williamson

Hometown: Norwalk, CT Position: Latin teacher Pre-game ritual: None Fun fact: I am a huge fan of table-top games, board games, and card games!

Player Stats

Player Stats

English

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Drew Coyne

Player Stats

Steven Winters

Hometown: Montana Position: Latin teacher Pre-game ritual: Yelling curses in German Fun fact: I am the only teacher in this area from Montana.

Hometown: Connecticut Position: Sophomore and Junior English Pre-game ritual: Turn on the pregame show Fun fact: I saw FC Barcelona play while I was traveling.

STAPLES WORLD CUP

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Perry Tavenner

Player Stats

Player Stats

Library

Samantha Ginzberg

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Hometown: New York Position: Co-Library Media Specialist Pre-game ritual: Enjoy a cup of tea and read a book Fun fact: My children are more fun than I am.

STAPLES WORLD CUP

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Yasu Huang

Special Education

Player Stats

Kristen Reopell

Hometown: Rochester, NY Position: School psycologist Pre-game ritual: None Fun fact: I am a twin.

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Caroline Henry

Player Stats

Special Education

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Kristen Plumeau-Chang

Kristen Plumeau Cheng

Hometown: Connecticut, formerly Massachussets Position: Study skills Pre-game ritual: Music Fun fact: My family is from Ireland.

Brigid O’Dea

Player Stats

STAPLES WORLD CUP

Tamara Weinberg

STAPLES WORLD CUP

English

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August 25, 2014 | Back To School

Inklings

Staples students witness the Israel Palestine conflict first-hand Summer programs in Israel inspire new perspectives on international dispute hile Baxter Stein ’14 originally traveled to Israel to immerse himself in its ancient history, for the past eight weeks, he also watched history unfold right before his eyes.

According to BBC, after World War II, Israel was “given a large part of Palestine, which they considered their traditional home but the Arabs who already lived there and in neighboring countries felt that was unfair and didn’t accept the new country.”

This conflict between Israel and the Palestinians over who has the right to the Gaza strip has put them in a state of war.

While traveling and exploring Israel, Stein, along with Nikki Lynch ’16 and Sydney Sussman ’15, who were in different programs, shared their experience with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and how it affected their experiences and perspectives.

At some point during their trips, all three encountered missile sirens, Israel’s system of alerting the public of a potential attack. Stein recalled that in the week before he arrived to the tennis center that brings together Israeli and Arab children to play tennis, where he’s currently working, “The missile sirens had gone off forcing Arab and Israeli kids to hide together in the bomb shelters, a somewhat symbolically powerful moment.”

In fact, the warning of a siren cut Lynch’s five-week leadership program through Dor L’ Dor Cohen Camps short. In response to the missile warnings in Tel Aviv, which was supposed to be Lynch’s final destination, her program fled to the Golan Heights to ensure safety. Lynch remembered, “Eventually, there

was nowhere else safe to go where we hadn’t toured, so our trip left a week early.”

Sussman, united through the program I Speak Israel, which teaches students advocacy for Israel in their daily lives and on college campuses. She was anxious about the unpredictability of the sirens, especially about the high chance that she “would be woken up in the middle of the night and have to run to a bomb shelter.”

From inside a shelter, Stein recalled feeling the “shockwave of the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepting rockets overhead” which, in fact, made him feel safer.

In spite of the country being in a state of war, all three Staples students rarely felt unsafe in Israel.

Stein felt safe, “Knowing that nearly all the missiles are intercepted or land in open areas and when the sirens go off we have 90 seconds to find shelter.”

“Each bus that traveled with us had a security guard that watched us at all times,” Lynch recalled. Sussman even said, “Never once did I feel that it was the wrong deci-

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY NIKKI LYNCH ’16

sion to stay in Israel.”

Stein felt that along with the knowledge of history and Israeli culture, his experience gave him a new perspective on international conflict as a whole. Stein said, “It’s one thing to talk about the issues from the safety of your home in America. It’s easy to get into fights about being pro-Israel or pro-Palestine ... but it’s another thing entirely to do so after emerging from a bomb shelter, or seeing the fear and anger of people towards Hamas and their inhumane and abhorrent tactics.”

CULTURALLY CONNECTED (Top right) Nikki Lynch ’16 poses with a friend in the Negev Desert, where her group hiked and camped out for three days.

(Bottom right) Baxter Stein ’14 and a friend stop by a warning sign for mines leftover from the SixDay War of 1967 in Golan, Syria. (Left) Sydney Sussman ’15 and friends stand outside the oldest synagogue of Peki’in, Israel. The Jewish population of Peki’in consists of only one person, however the temple is still considered to be active.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

BY BAXTER STEIN ’14

W

Jane Levy ’16

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY SYDNEY SUSSMAN ’15

Interactions between Israel and Palestine chronicled through the years Andrew Vester ’17

Sirens wail. Gunfights rage. Rockets explode overhead. Over the past month, these are some of the everyday sounds heard by residents of both Israel and Gaza. The following timeline, based on reporting from The New York Times, Fox News, CBC News, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and the Counsel on Foreign Relations, outlines the violence occurring in Israel and Gaza.

Hamas, a political and militant organization devoted to replacing Israel with a Palestinian state, formed. The extremist group aligns with the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and does not recognize Israel as a nation.

The British Colonial Mandate over Palestine expired, which led to the United Nations’ creation of Israel, a home for the Jewish people.

1993 Hamas initiated terrorist attacks against Israel, relying mainly on suicide bombings aimed at civilians and government personnel.

The Israeli army withdrew from Gaza. The destruction of the tunnels was successful, but members of the Israeli military, members of Hamas, and citizens of Gaza were killed in the process.

July 2, 2014

2001

1987 1948

Hamas fired rockets into Israel, and reduced its use of suicide bombers.

A 16-year old Palestinian boy was burned to death by Jewish extremists in response to the murders of the three Israeli students.

June 30, 2014 The bodies of three Israeli students were found in the West Bank, and appeared to have been executed. This led to the arrests of many known Hamas operatives inside of Israel.

Aug. 5, 2014

July 17, 2014 The Israeli army invaded Gaza in an attempt to destroy secret tunnels Hamas built into Israel.

Aug. 13, 2014 The death toll for the Israel-Palestine conflict stands at 1,845, with many more injured. 1,360 of the fatalities are Palestinian deaths.

GRAPHIC BY ALE BENJAMIN ’15

August 25, 2014 | Back To School

9

Inklings

Take a look back on summer trends

GRAPHIC BY JULIA SCHORR ’16

Jimmy Ray Stagg ’16 I-g-g-y and Ariana Billboard’s top two songs of the summer both have one thing in common: the breakout Australian rapper, Iggy Azalea. At the top of the list sits her breakout song “Fancy.” Even though this song came out during the school year, it continued to stay prominent throughout the whole summer.

Ben Thaw ’16 had a simple explanation for why he thinks the song has stayed so popular, “It’s catchy,” Thaw said. “Need I say more?” The song, coming in second on Billboard’s list, is Ariana Grande’s “Problem,” which also features Azalea. After her stay on the Nickelodeon show Victorious, Grande’s career has skyrocketed, with hits like “The Way,” “Problem” and “Break Free.” Together, Azalea and Grande are easily the stars of the summer.

Share a Coke Back in the Australian Summer of 2011, Coca-Cola began replaced their usual logo with

the 150 most popular Australian names. Since then, this campaign has spread to over 50 countries.

This summer, it found its way to the USA, using the 250 most popular names among “American teens and millennials.” The campaign, which runs through the end of Aug., has swept across the nation, with kids rooting through entire fridges of Coke to try and find their name, often settling for a close substitute. Jessy Nelson ’16, who found and settled for a

bottle bearing the name Jess, had a theory as to why the campaign is so popular.

“I think that targeting people specifically with the names on

Choker necklaces and other fashion Popular back in the 1990s, choker necklaces have made Stores like Brandy Melville sell

“It’s catchy. Need I say more?”

-Ben Thaw ’16 the bottles has made people more encouraged to buy and share these bottles,” Nelson said.

them again due to the high demand. Allison McGovern ’15, who loves chokers, didn’t even

have a definite explanation for their return. “I guess it’s just one of those things that became fashionable and flattering again, like high waisted pants,” McGovern said. Halter tops and strappy sandals have also come back into fashion. “I think girls in Westport started wearing halter tops because stores like Urban Outfitters and Brandy Melville were selling them, and they look flattering on anyone,” said McGovern. “And the sandals are just really cute.”

School kicks off too early

Fall into the school year with new fashion

Anders Hovstadius ’17

Hang up your high-waisted shorts and crop tops, your bikinis and flip flops. We’re headed back to school, which means dressing back-to-school appropriately. All things must come to an end that’s true for your summer, and your tan midriff.

Each year, Staples students debate what they will wear for their first day of school attire: What top just screams ‘me’?

Should I be more formal so my teachers take me seriously? How much black can I wear without anyone calling me out on it? Am I trying too hard?

You’re not trying too hard; don’t worry.

Fashion should be a source of pleasure for students since your style is a reflection of who you are and what you like. Whether you’re boho or preppy, clad in leather or Vineyard Vines, so long as you’re comfortable, who cares?

So, here are my fall fashion tips; but if you’re still feeling the sweatpants come Monday morning, rock it. You have my full support.

This autumn, I have one word for you: cardigans. They’re the best. Neutral tan colors that are slouchy and oversized look great with your Brandy Melville printed shorts (that you swear don’t resemble pajamas, but I remain unconvinced), or your jeans and sneakers staple. Thick knit or lightweight, cardigans are the best and the comfiest.

Boots are awesome. Get some riding boots. Get some Timberlands, or Timberland knockoffs because $150 dollars is pretty steep for a pair of shoes. Same goes for Doc Martens. Ebay is your friend. Get some combat boots from Payless or Marshalls. Go for neutral colors and wear them everyday. The plus of combat boots is the more wear and tear, the more rebellious you can pretend to be. Worn with flirty dresses, you get a clas-

As the last days of summer roll by, students savor the final days of freedom before the familiar stresses of academics return; however, this year, teachers’ and students’ summers will be cut short.

The two day earlier start date is not what seems to be bothering students. They are balking more at the full week that introduces the school year.

In the past, there was not a full week of school before Labor Day. Instead, there was a shortened week, with school starting on Tuesday or Wednesday. Students and teachers both appreciated the shortened week, as it allowed for an easier transition between the end of summer and the start of school.

Many students, like Ben Shmaruk ’17, feel they need a smooth shift back into the academic environment after a long break. Shmaruk thinks that easing back into the rigors of the year would be far easier than jumping in with a full week.

According to Superintendent Elliott Landon, one reason for school starting earlier is because “Greater learning takes place at the beginning of the school year rather than in the warmer month of June.”

Another reason for the earlier start and the full school week is that the Board of Education is taking a cautionary approach to the possibility of some really big storms. In recent years, Staples has closed school for hurricanes and winter storms like Nemo, Irene, Sandy, and the October Nor’easter in 2011. In addition, the Farmer’s Almanac states that this winter is going to be colder and wetter than normal with above average snowfall. Looking back at last winter, the Farmers Almanac prediction was very accurate to the actual weather.

The good news is starting the year earlier means ending the year earlier!

GRAPHIC BYKATIE SETTOS ’15

Jackie Cope ’15

sic feminine-meets-tough edge.

Skinny jeans and boots? Life is great and mornings are easy.

To get past the basics, I’d recommend unusual color combinations. Mustard yellow is probably the most underrated color of all time. It’s very fall, and when worn as a cute corduroy skirt, or as opaque tights with a darker purple dress, you’re a knockout. Think of the colors of fall leaves: deep oranges and reds and yellows. In the early weeks of September, I recommend mixing

brown pieces with light pastels.

Brown is less harsh than black (duh) and looks great with oatmeals, lavenders, and pale pinks.

Another fun tip is to play with length. Instead of a t shirt, try a ¾ sleeve with a boat neck. It’s very Audrey Hepburn and winged liner makes it all the more feminine and retro. Cropped jeans that go right before your ankles or even pedal pushers (stopping mid-calf) are adorable, and make classic pants interesting.

When dressing vintage, don’t

over do it. So, with that grunge-y flannel, do yourself a favor and avoid wearing the Nirvana t-shirt and acid wash jeans. It’s a little much. Same with a drop waist smock dress— that Gatsby headband is cute, but save it for something less matchy and costume-like. Take risky or trendy pieces and make them the star of the show, like you would a red lip or a lot of eye makeup.

But if you wanna have raccoon eyeliner, go for it. I won’t say anything.

10

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11

Inklings

August 25, 2014 | Back To School

LACROSSE PLAYERS

FACE-OFF FOR EARLY RECRUITMENT

Competition rises as lacrosse players compete to earn a spot on a college roster as early as freshman

C

Izzy Ullmann ’17

ollege coaches are recruiting high school athletes at increasingly younger ages because of summer league lacrosse programs.

Varsity lacrosse player Colleen Bannon ’17 explains that there are major differences in the regular season of lacrosse and the summer programs.

“When you play for your school team you play because you want to represent your school and have fun with your friends while doing something you enjoy,” Bannon said.

On the other hand, Bannon explains, “Summer teams are mainly for exposure and where you really have the opportunity to improve your game.”

On average, most athletes go to four or five tournaments or showcases every summer, where they play at elite levels with college coaches watching them.

“For club, it’s very competitive and high skill, which I love, and you also get to play against top teams from all over the country,” Amelia Heisler ’15, who is committed to Lafayette College for lacrosse, said.

The coaches that follow these elite club teams even have “top prospects,” lacrosse player Tanner Wood ’17 said, whom they follow throughout the summer in order to recruit them.

“If a college coach is interested in you, there’s a good chance they will be watching you play from the sideline,” Isaac Paparo ’15, who is committed to University of Massachusetts for lacrosse, said.

These college coaches also fill the sidelines with specific ideas of the type of player they are looking for, in order to then contact

the players who fit their requirements.

“They will have binders of every team’s roster with our info on it, and they will put a mark by your name if they like you,” Heisler said.

If the coach is interested, they are allowed to then send a general email encouraging the athlete to attend their school’s camp for further evaluation.

Due to NCAA rules, Division I and II coaches cannot contact the athlete until September 1 of their junior year, so they usually contact the player’s summer coach who then can relay the information to the athlete.

However, these rules have not stopped college coaches from looking for earlier commits. Lucas Jackson ’15, who is committed to Loyola University for lacrosse, feels that this has increased even more in the past decade.

“Top Division I scouts and coaches have info on seventh and eighth graders, and can offer kids a commitment and scholarship before a kid even touches a varsity field his freshman year,” Jackson said.

Now the recruiting process has started in most athlete’s sophomore year, compared to in the past when it was the summer of junior year going into senior year.

“Last year was much more intense because it was like the prime time for getting recruited,” Heisler said.

Heisler’s teammate Paige Murray ’15, who is committed to ACC school Virginia Tech, said “Every girl I’ve played with regularly through the years is committed on my team.”

As for Wood, who is yet to be recruited, he is planning on playing his hardest for the upcoming seasons and is hoping to be verbally committed by the end of next summer.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY ISAAC PAPARO ’15 PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY: AMELIA HEISLER ’15, ISAAC PAPARO ’15 AND PAIGE MURRAY ’15

Wreckers Lacrosse Standouts Amelia Heisler

Isaac Paparo

Paige Murray

First Team All-FCIAC Committed to University of Lafayette Captain

Honorable mention All-Metro Committed to UMASS Captain

Second Team All-FCIAC Committed to Virginia Tech Captain

Sports

Inside

Lacrosse committment starts early

Page 11

The Wreckers

From Westport to Rio

World Cup fever runs rampant Cooper Boardman ’17 ailed as one of the single greatest sporting events on the entire globe, the World Cup headed to Brazil this past summer. Of 32 teams, Germany emerged victorious, but the passion and love for the game of soccer reverberated throughout each participating country.

A multitude of Staples students experienced the World Cup not just in America, but also in countries throughout the world.

Luca Cocito ’17 was one of over three million people who attended the World Cup, including the thrilling elimination game on June 28 between host nation Brazil and neighbor Chile. Brazil won the game 1-1 (3-2) on penalty kicks “It was probably the best experience I’ve had in my life,” Cocito said, adding, “Just the feeling of being part of the match.”

Cocito had the unique experience of seeing the tournament through the eyes of a Brazilian while watching games with friends and family in São Paulo.

H

“Watching the games [in Brazil] was incredibly fun even when we weren’t in the stadiums… every time a team scored, you could hear people screaming from everywhere.”

Nick Ribolla ’16 also traveled to Brazil and echoed Coci-

to’s thoughts, saying “If you added up all the fan bases in America for basketball, baseball, football, and hockey, it still wouldn’t be as big of a deal as soccer is in Brazil.

When there’s a game, you watch.

No questions asked. There’s almost a religious love and respect

and pride for the game.”

Emily Porter ’17 observed the World Cup final in a village located in Manú National Park, Peru, not far from the soccer-crazed nation of Argentina.

“It was a big deal, Argentina is close and the locals loved soccer,” Porter said.

This remote area was suddenly transformed into a soccer mecca.

Porter huddled around a small television along with the locals to watch the final. She recalled, “When Messi screwed up a free kick, they were mad, and when they lost, the locals were so mad they didn’t say anything and left.”

In Berlin, Germany, Josephine Freeman ’16 awoke at 3 a.m. when German fans honked car horns all over the city in celebration of a win. Thousands of people attended festivals that included humungous screens for fans to watch the games.

“Every German is crazy about the cup.”

GRAPHIC BY CHASE EMILIO ’16

INFOGRAPHIC BY COOPER BOARDMAN ’17

In Brief Football After back-to-back years placing in the top four in the FCIAC, the Wreckers failed to make the playoffs in 2013, despite posting a 8-3 record.

Coach Marce Petroccio has the task of replacing four year starting quarterback Jack Massie ’14 with Teddy Coogan ’15. The Wreckers play their first game this year against Xavier at home on Sept. 12.

Boys Soccer

Boys soccer posted a 126-2 record and earned a state tournament berth despite four players missing time with concussions. With key players returning, including three year starter Joseph Pravder, ’16 as well as Captains Michael Reid ’15 and Andrew Puchala ’15, the Wreckers should be in position to vie for a state championship.

Staples will face off against St. Joes in their first game on Sept.

9 at Ginny Parker Field.

Girls Soccer

Girls soccer went 8-8 and did not qualify for the FCIAC Tournament last year. However, the Lady Wreckers earned a trip to the state tournament and look to build on that momentum this year. Captain Meghan Root ’15 returns for the Lady Wreckers, along with seven sophomores, including Tia Zajec ’17.

Cross Country

Superstar runner Hannah Debalsi ’16 closed the outdoor track season in June with a dominating performance at outdoor nationals, coming in first place by 13 seconds. Erica Hefnawy ’15 will also return for the Lady Wreckers, coming off a personal best of 5:13:00 in the 1600. On the boys side, Oliver Hickson ’15 returns after placing in the top 20 during the 2014 Outdoor New England Championships.

Field Hockey

Field hockey finished the season with a 7-10 record, qualifying for the state tournament. With a strong returning class, including Captain Maggie Fair ’15 and top scorer Jenna McNicholas ’15, they are looking for a chance for an FCIAC berth.

Girls Volleyball

Last season, SGVB won our hearts as their dominating performance led them all the way to the state finals. This year they will have to replace exceptional talent, including Cornell signee Amelia Brackett ’14 and Captain Lauren Mushro ’14. The Lady Wreckers plan to duplicate their success from last year with Elizabeth Knoll ’15 and Kaela O’Kelly ’15 taking over the reigns. SGVB takes on Fairfield Ludlowe on Sept. 10.

DATA FROM FIFA.COM CREATED ON EASEL.LY

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