Inklings May Issue 2017

Vol. 88, Issue 10

May 5, 2017

Staples High School

Inklings

INSIDE 1 7 11 17 21

News Opinions Features Arts Sports

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

‘13 Reasons Why’ removed for review from middle school English book rooms, Bedford library

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Melanie Lust ’19

ll hard copies of “13 Reasons Why” were removed from the Bedford Middle School library and from Bedford and Coleytown’s English book rooms on Monday, April 24, following concerns about the popular Netflix Original show’s adaptation. According to Coleytown’s librarian, John Horrigan, the book would have also been pulled from his library, but the only copy was missing.

In response to parent outcries, Superintendent Dr. Colleen Palmer sent a mass email to parents on Friday, April 21 warning of the graphic depictions of suicide and sexual assault found in the Netflix series. The email included talking points for parents to have with children who may have been watching the show.

“Many students were watching it

and the content could affect adolescents, especially pre-adolescents, in various different ways,” Palmer said. “We just want parents to understand what their students are watching and give them resources so they can have thoughtful conversations with their students.”

The following Monday, the books were removed from the middle schools.

“I asked that we do a temporary review [of the book], and based on the level of concern from our parents, I asked that while we’re reviewing [the t.v. show], if we would not leave [the book] out,” Palmer said. “I know that middle schoolers especially might be overwhelmed by that content that they maybe don’t understand or can’t process.”

According to the Westport Public School’s Board of Education [BOE] Policy Manual, typical Westport procedure for removing books consists of a ten-step

70 North Ave., Westport, Connecticut

review, where a written parent complaint is filed first through educators, followed by a review by the building principal and the Superintendent Review Committee, before reaching the Superintendent for final review. During the review, the material in question remains in schools until a decision is made.

Palmer’s decision to directly pull “13 Reasons Why” from the book rooms and Bedford’s library breaks with the established Westport book review procedure.

“It goes against BOE policy,” Horrigan said. “There was no written challenge so the school system has no right to [intervene].”

However, Palmer defended her decision to pull the book. “Under typical situations where there is no concern about the well-being of our students, I don’t think books would be removed; I think they would remain. This was an unusual

circumstance in which parents articulated concern about the safety and well-being of students.”

A committee of educators, led by Director of Technology Natalie Carrignan, has been called for additional review of the material and is set to meet the week of May 1.

Added controversy surrounds the administration’s decision to pull the book from the middle school library because doing so may be in violation of the 1982 Supreme Court ruling in BOE v. Pico.

The court decided in a 5-4 decision that school libraries were protected “centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas,” and that “school libraries enjoy a special affinity with the rights of free speech and press,” according to Oyez, an archive of the Supreme Court of the United States.

When Palmer was asked if she continued on page 2

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News | May 5, 2017

Board of Finance reduces education budget Claire Dinshaw ’17 & Madison Sell ’18

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he Representative Town Meeting [RTM] voted to restore $390,000 of the $1.4 million cut to the Board of Education [BOE] budget for the 2017-18 school year on Tuesday, May 2, bringing the total cuts to the BOE budget down to $1 million.

According to Superintendent Dr. Colleen Palmer, the cuts were originally made as a result of the BOF’s decision to cut the overall town budget by $3.5 million in response to actions taken by the Connecticut state government.

“The Connecticut fiscal crisis has really impacted local municipalities to a significant degree,” Palmer said. “[Our

budget was cut with] no warning, no opportunity for the town to prepare fiscally.”

The budget Palmer originally proposed to the BOE would have increased education spending by 2.44 percent from last year. However, the BOF asked for this budget to be cut by an additional $1.7 million before agreeing to a lower $1.4 million cut on April 5.

According to BOF member James Westphal, the discussion surrounding the budget is misleading. “The Board of Finance approved an increase of $1 million compared to 2017,” Westphal said.

“Enrollment is expected to further decline at similar or greater rates over the next five years.” With this, the question at hand, he says, is what the district can do to lower costs.

Palmer has eliminated $963,000 by decreasing the number of grade level assistants at the high school, raising money by increasing the cost of parking, and implementing other cost-saving measures in an attempt to meet the $1 million cut. “[We] tried to keep [the cut] away from the classrooms. We did not increase class size. We did not eliminate electives at the high school,” Palmer said. “I know students were upset about the parking, but I think it is a workable measure.”

None of these cost-saving measures have been formally approved by the BOE. Ultimately, Westphal said the BOF’s actions are not designed to undermine the quality of education in the district.

“As a father of two children in the school system, I am extremely appreciative

Graphic by Henry Koskoff ’19 & Melanie Lust ’19

of the efforts taken by the Board of Education and Dr. Palmer’s team,” Westphal said. “I’ve worked with them directly and they are a great group. But both the Board of Education and Board of Finance need to think even more creatively and thoroughly about how we can work together and solve our challenges rather than just throw up our hands and accept the status quo.”

Before the RTM agreed to restoration, there had been several proposals on the table designed to cut an additional $400,000 from the budget, including a delay to entering orchestra and Workshop (a program for gifted Westport youth) for a year in the elementary schools.

With the newly approved budget, the threats to delay these programs have subsided, relieving students.

“The delay [would have] set the entire music program back,” Lauren Schmittdt ’18, who is currently a member of both Symphonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, said.

Former member of Workshop, Madison Malin ‘17, on the other hand, did not believe a similar delay to Workshop would have had a negative effect.

“I don’t think it would be detrimental,” Malin said. “However, Workshop does give a chance for the kids who are bored in class to really have a place to fit in, so even though it seems like a decent place to cut the budget, it’s another year of a lack of true stimulation for these kids.”

Ultimately, Palmer is relieved to have reached a budget agreement.

“I am so pleased that the mandated reduction from our original budget has been modified to less than the 1/3 of the original reduction of the BoE budget,” Palmer wrote in an email sent to the district on Wednesday, May 3. “I thank all of those who contributed to our efforts on this very long and arduous budget journey.”

‘13 Reasons Why’ removed for review at middle schools Continued from page 1 Melanie Lust ’19

thought her decision to pull the book from the middle school library violated the BOE v. Pico ruling, she said that her actions were done in an attempt to protect children.

“Because we’re looking at the wellbeing of our students, I believe that that supersedes anything at this time,” Palmer said. “I don’t think those rulings about free speech and library books had anything to do with student well-being or students who may be in harm’s way.”

Nevertheless, there are those who object to the administration breaking with procedure.

Horrigan believes that any form of book censorship is worrisome. “I think there’s lots of different points of view out there about things and that we need to be extremely cautious before we ever even consider, you know, censoring or restricting access to information. It’s just a really slippery slope, very dangerous, and not anything that educators should be involved in,” Horrigan said.

Steven Rexford, eighth grade English teacher at Bedford, was also upset when the books were pulled for review, citing major differences between the graphic TV show and the book.

“In the book, you never see or know true in our schools,” Babich said. “It about the suicide; she just disappears,” kind of sends the message that Hannah Rexford said. “Besides, I mean, we Baker, the main character, was really have way worse. ‘The Bible,’ ‘Romeo struggling and nobody was noticing or & Juliet,’ how about ‘The Odyssey’?” making any attempts to help her. That’s Rexford added, however, that certainly not the message we want to send he does not wish to contradict to teenagers, where suicide is a concern.”

Palmer’s decision and respects the She added that the school caution the administration took. administration knows suicide is E n g l i s h preventable and does d e p a r t m e n t “We just want parents to extensive work to coordinator for sixth educate the community understand what their through 12th grade, about warning Julie Heller said the signs of depression. students are watching and book can actually be The controversy give them resources so beneficial to student surrounding “13 mental health.

Reasons Why” has they can have thoughtful “Given the garnered mixed conversations with their events of last year, community reactions. there might still Some parents students.” be students who took issue with the have questions -Dr. Colleen Palmer show’s depiction of about suicide, suicide, claiming and this book might be a platform it was heavily romanticized. for that discussion,” Heller said. .”I agree with the Superintendent’s Heller added that when she worked in message that it glorifies suicide and I a different school district in 2007, the book don’t think of it as censorship; I think of “13 Reasons Why” was offered as a means it as filtering,” Westport mother, Danielle for students to cope after the school district Teplica saidBut some sudents believed experienced an array of student suicides. that the book should not be punished for However, coordinator of psychological any failings found in the Netflix show. services at Westport Public Schools, Valerie “I honestly don’t believe that the Babich, does consider the temporary ban schools should be censoring such an as beneficial due to the misleading and important issue even though it is middle unrealistic TV adaptation of the book. school kids; they may still have thoughts “The way they portrayed the school of suicide or have dealt with rape and counselor in general, as not particularly reading about it can bring awareness to helpful and dismissive, is certainly not these topics,” Lexi Tuccinardi ’19 said.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

While many schools across the country have also pulled the book, some districts have decided to keep it in circulation. According to Ledyard Middle School’s [LMS] principal, Christopher Pomroy, to date, the only action taken at LMS was to send a letter to parents.

“The purpose of the letter was purely to inform parents of the show, although we did so without trying to place any judgement on the show,” Pomroy said.

“For the record, I personally do not have any issues with it, nor do I have any issues with kids watching it.”

Pomroy acknowledged the controversy middle schools face as they decide whether or not to ban the book, but stands by his decision to keep the book on the shelves. “Inevitably there will be those who support the cause and see the value in what we are trying to accomplish.

And on the other side, there will be those who misunderstand our intentions,” Pomroy said. “At the end of the day, I believe it is our responsibility to raise awareness, and I can tell you that here at Ledyard Middle we will continue doing just that if and when other issues arise.”

In contrast, the main concern, according to Palmer, is whether or not the material in the book is developmentally appropriate for middle school students. “[Pulling a book from circulation] is not anything I have ever done before,” Palmer said, “but again, I am going to err on the side of safety.

It’s just part of the business that we take care of our students each and every day.”

News | May 5, 2017

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What’s going on?

LOCAL BRIEFS WORLD BRIEFS Layla Wofsy ’19

A.P. Exams

Junior Prom Saturday, May 20 The 2017 junior prom will be held in the Staples High School courtyard from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Juniors will get dressed up with their dates and celebrate the end of the A.P. exams. Each prom ticket costs $65 and all students must have a signed prom contract in order to purchase a ticket.

Westport Arts Center Gala 2017 Saturday, May 20

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BY E LLIE KRAVET

’18

The Westport Arts Center will be hosting their annual gala at the Fairfield County Hunt Club from 5:30 p.m.

- 11 p.m. The Gala is cochaired by Westport Arts Center Board Members, Orly Angerthal and Erika Miller. The theme of the evening is the 1950s and early 1960s, taking attendees back to the past. The gala will depict Westport’s identity during the time period and it will focus on the work of the artists who are still recognized and admired as modern artists. Individual tickets cost $250.

Peter and the Starcatcher Thursday, May 25 - Sunday, May 28

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY KAYLA BILOTTI ’18

The Staples Players will perform “Peter and the Starcatcher” as their Spring Black Box show in the Staples auditorium.

The show describes how a miserable orphan boy became the legendary Peter Pan. It will be the final Staples High School performance for the senior Players.

Westport Memorial Day Parade

Monday, May 30

The annual Memorial Day Parade begins at 9 a.m. at Saugatuck Elementary School and will travel up Riverside Ave. over the Post Road and finish at Town Hall.

The Bedford Middle School, Coleytown Middle School and Staples High School bands will march and perform in the parade. At the beginning of the parade there will be coffee and doughnuts, provided by the Westport Kiwanis Club, available by Saugatuck Elementary School.

On Monday, May 1, citizens of nations around the world took to the streets in support of workers’ rights as a part of International Workers’ Day, known as May Day, an annual celebration of the strides labor unions have made around the world. This year, in addition to workers’ unions, members of the Women’s March, Muslim civil rights group and Black Lives Matter also organized.

In Los Angeles, California, a coalition of 100 groups brought an estimated 100,000 people to rally in the downtown area. Immigration reform and immigrant civil rights was at the forefront of this march, as many people see the march as an opportunity to protest against President Trump’s conservative policies. However, LGBTQ perspectives, as well as racial and religious minority groups, were present.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY KIRO.COM

Beginning May 1, A.P. exams started at Staples. Any student enrolled in an A.P. course who planned to take an A.P. test should have registered for the test by March 6. The testing schedule is posted on the Staples website.

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May Day ignites protests, celebration

Monday, May 1- Friday, May 12

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Brendan Massoud ’17

MAY DAY 2017 An annual, peaceful immigrant and worker march takes place during the day on May 1.

Thousands gathered from all over the country to protest many different controversial issues including immigration laws and anti-war veteran protests.

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ISIS targets Coptic Church in Egypt

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Two Coptic-Christian churches in Egypt were bombed on Sunday, April 9, in the Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria. The attacks left a total of 49 people dead and 100 people injured, according to state media, and took place on Palm Sunday, the Sunday prior to Easter and one of the holiest days in the Coptic Church.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks; in response, the Egyptian Cabinet declared a three-month state of emergency.

In addition to signaling a stronger stance by authority on acts of terrorism, the declaration of emergency also serves as a message to the Egyptian people of the true importance of fighting against terror.

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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY TIME.COM

ISIS ATTACKS A pair of bombings claimed by ISIS targeting Egypt’s Christian community killed at least 49 people on Sunday, illustrating the militant group’s ability to launch attacks across the country and the threat it poses to the country’s millions of Coptic Christians.

North Korea launches failed missile

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North Korea, on Saturday, April 29, attempted to test a nonnuclear, short-range missile, but the missile exploded shortly after launch. The attempted launch is the ninth since January, which has raised eyes in neighboring countries Japan and South Korea.

The South Korean government called the actions by North Korean president Kim Jong-un to be “provocative” and in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. “We are closely monitoring North Korea’s further military provocation and are totally ready to meet any and all kinds of provocation,” a South Korean military official stated, according to CNBC.

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News | May 5, 2017 Graphics by Sam Effman ’18

France’s elections approach controversial close Macron from his selfcreated “En Marche!” party securing a majority of the votes.

This election qualifies as one of the most controversial in France’s history, shattering the normality of the Socialist party that ran the French government

Colette Lippman’17 & Sebastian Shuken ’18

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he first round of the French election occurred on April 23, with Marine Le Pen from the National Front party and Emmanuel

since the 1950s. According to the BBC, France is in store for “an unpopular and divided ruling Socialist party and a Republican candidate in the crosshairs of judicial inquiry,” who have “cleared the way for a president who has never been elected to the French National

The Westport Youth Commission holds first ever creation market Becky Hoving ’17 & Alice Hickson ’17 The Westport Youth Commission (WYC) is hosting the first ever “Student Creation Faire” May 21, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Saugatuck Rowing Club and will be catered by the Boathouse restaurant.

WYC president Renée Weisz ’17 spearheaded the event, which was inspired by a boom in student business and will host vendors from the Westport Public School district as well as any student who lives in Westport but does not attend public school.

Student businesses are asked to fill out an online application, posted in the Staples Superfan group, and will hear back from the commission upon review of applications in early May. “With the abundance of student business at Staples and in Westport, we thought it would be a great idea to bring them all together in one place,” Nicole

A rel la no ’18, a member of the T o w n - Improvements Sub Committee, said.

Grace Shi ’19 and Amanda Cohen ’19 hope to showcase their bath bomb business and spread awareness about natural alternatives to brand products. Both Shi and Cohen were also drawn to the opportunity of an all-student-run event.

ZOKAI GROWING IN POPULARITY Zoe Barnett ’19 and Kai Dasbach ’19 bring a fun and original jewlery company to the halls of Staples.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

“We applied because we wanted to meet other people who also started businesses,” Shi said. “It’s pretty inspiring to see just a bunch of people who had an idea and grew it.”

Arellano noted that the setup of the event is relatively simple and relies on student participation.

“We’re basically going to set up a bunch of different tables and allow each business to sell their product s,” A rellano said. “Our mission is to provide a platform for student creators to share their work with the community, and in doing so, fill a need and promote a resource for peer-topeer connection by way of interest in local student creation.”

Sam Laskin ’20, another member of the commission, expressed that if the Faire were successful, the WYC would consider expanding it. “I personally hope we can make the Faire into an annual event, so more students have the opportunity to participate,” Laskin said.

BATH BOMBS Amanda Cohen ’19 and Graci Shi ’19 will showcase their alternative bath bomb business at the upcoming student fair.

Assembly.”

The round set the foundation for a closely fought race, and determined the two candidates who will compete in a final election on May 7. Each candidate holds starkly different political views, with Le Pen being a member of the conservative National Front party and Macron holding far left liberal beliefs.

Le Pen has been compared to President Trump with her nationalistic views and anti-Muslim sentiments, The Telegraph wrote. She believes in the halt of immigration from Middle Eastern countries, and plans on having France dissolve from the European Union, a cont roversia l issue both dome s t ic a l ly a n d internationally.

S o m e s t u d e nt s reacted to Le Pen’s rise to power with shock and fear.

“Her party threatens progression in the developed world,” Peri Kessler ’18 said. “I am most concerned about the implications her presidency would have on the European Union and the Jewish and Muslim communities.”

Many Jewish people both in France and around the world have also expressed fear over Le Pen’s platform due to her antisemitic views. During an interview with the Israeli channel Arutz Two, Le Pen said Jews should not be allowed to wear yarmulkes on the streets. She also rejected the fact that France had any connection to the roundup of Jewish people that were sent to Auschwitz during the holocaust.

“Especially for Jewish people, it’s scary to see a leader rise who resembles Hitler. The idea of another holocaust or anything close to it scares me,” Alyssa Hyman ’18 said.

As for Macron, he “seemed to be doomed for failure,” The Independent wrote after Macron resigned from the government of Socialist President Francois Hollande in 2016. However, “in just 18 months the movement now has more than 200,000 signed-up members.”

But the election remains close.

According to estimates from CNN, “newcomer Macron secured 24 percent of the vote, with National Front leader Le Pen close behind on 21.8 percent,” and the final estimates predict 23.9 percent for Macron and 21.4 percent for Le Pen. “This election has a similar political polarization that the American election had with many people being either strongly opposed to one candidate or another,” Isaaya Ta ’17, a former Staples student who now lives in Paris, France said.

“Her party threatens progression in the developed world.”

- Peri Kessler ’18

News | May 5, 2017

Next generation science standards bring changes in curriculum Sophie Driscoll ’19

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eginning with the 2017-2018 school year, science classes will undergo a series of changes in accordance with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which will replace the standards tested by the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT).

The CAPT test will no longer be administered to sophomores. Instead, beginning with the class of 2020, juniors will be required to take the NGSS assessment.

Although they will be implemented at Staples for the first time next year, the NGSS were adopted by the State of Connecticut almost two years ago. They are a national set of standards, and they have been adopted by a total of 26 states.

Changes to science curriculum will be phased in gradually. In the 2017-2018 school year, the biology curriculum will be modified. In the 2018-2019 school year, the chemistry curriculum will change. Finally, in the 2020-2021 school year, the physics classes will become a physics-earth science hybrid.

The NGSS encourages learning through “discovery and collaboration,” science department head Dr. AJ Scheetz said. This means that instead of having teachers present information to students directly, they will be asked to generate questions about subject matter and work with classmates to find answers.

“I think learning by discovery and collaboration has really increased how much I keep in my head and remember,”

one of Camillo’s students said in an anonymous survey. “Being active and hands-on with the assignment helps me learn greatly.”

Some students, however, feel as though the curriculum changes are nonessential.

“I have heard a little bit [about the curriculum changes], but I don’t know the specifics,” Lily Kane ’20 said. “Personally, I don’t think any changes are necessary.”

Incoming freshman will also be offered the opportunity to take Accelerated Science, a new two-year program incorporating aspects of biology, chemistry and Earth sciences, all of which will appear on the NGSS exam. Essentially,

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Michael Aitkenhead, future teacher of the Accelerated Science course Photo by Charlie Colasurdo ’18

over the two-year period, the course teaches students the material that would normally be taught to them in a three-year sequence.

Accelerated Science will be taught by current AP environmental science, horticulture a n d env i ron menta l studies teacher Michael Aitkenhead, who says he has spent the past two years “doing extensive reading and professional development,” as well as taking online courses, in order to learn about the NGSS and the most effective way to teach the class.

“The hope is to cover all the [NGSS] standards in a two-year course sequence

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

instead of three,” Aitkenhead said. “The accelerated approach lends itself more to making connections across the disciplines, which students may find more appealing.”

Physics and computer science teacher David Scrofani noted that it is important that accelerated science focuses on integrating only the most important aspects of biology, chemistry, physics and earth science.

“What you want to avoid is just having teachers take what they already do [and] compartmentalize it,” he said.

Additionally, some teachers are opposed to potentially moving away from teaching their areas of expertise if they were to teach the Accelerated Science course in the future.

“They’re nervous, obviously,” Sheetz said. “It’s very easy to commit to memory a specific set of facts and understand relationships and so on and so forth, but when you’re letting the students generate the questions, they don’t always ask the questions you want them to ask and that you feel comfortable answering.”

Aitkenhead, however, notes that, while adopting new standards may be difficult, the introduction of NGSSstandards and accelerated science may prove beneficial to students.

“It is an attempt to take a leap and try something new, rather than simply stick to what we already do for no better reason than ‘that is how it’s always been done,’” Aitkenhead said. “The new course may be dramatically better than the traditional sequence, but it could very well be far worse. We won’t know, though, unless we give it a serious try.”

Westport Young Woman’s League holds 39th Minute Man Race Emma Rojas ’18 The Westport Young Woman’s League (WYWL), who is celebrating their 60th year, held their 39th annual Minute Man Race at Compo Beach on April 23. The events kicked off at 8 a.m. with three Kids Fun Runs for children, followed by a 5K run/walk and a 10K run for adults.

The WYWL, according to their website, “is a non-profit philanthropic organization of women committed to promoting a sense of community t h r o u g h volu nteerism, social activities and fundraising for local charities.”

B r a n d i Briggs, the o r g a n i z a t i o n’s current president said, “All the money we make we put right back out to the community [...].

This year we focused on education grants, whether that be textbooks or laptops. The Minute Man Race is an event for Westport and the surrounding community to come together and raise money.”

Michael Grant of Wilton, who

finished in the top three for the 5K with a time of 17:06 said, “It’s a great race; really well organized. Top notch for a local 5K.” A few minutes after Grant, Amanda Morgan of Fairfield, crossed the finish line at 20:16 to be the first woman to finish. “I just had a baby, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to run, but it’s a great course and really flat which is nice,” Morgan said, adding that she has run the Minute Man for five years and looks forward to it every year.

This year’s 10K winners were Petteri Kuorikoski of Westport with a time of 34:51 and Mary Zengo of Wilton coming in at 39:00.

With roughly 1200 participants, the race was made possible with the support and sponsorship of 40 companies, including Westport Wakeman Town Farm, Star 99.9 and MLB, to name a few. Participants could enjoy food, music, massages and performance physical therapy before and after the race. The Kids Fun Run also included food and a bounce house.

“It’s a great race; really well organized. Top notch for a local 5K.” -Michael Grant

Photos by Emma Rojas ’18

STRIDE IT OUT! (from top left to top right) Westport participant stays in stride halfway throughout the 10K charity run. Minute Man Race yard sign brings attention to Westport residents of the WYWL race. The Minute Man banner lines the starting and finish line of the race.

KEEP RUNNING! (from bottom left to bottom right) Local Westport runner maintains pace towards the end of the race. Participants round one of many turns during the race. Star 99.9 radio station was one of the sponspors of the race.

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Advertisement | May 5, 2017

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Opinions | May 5, 2017

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opinions

Inklings Editors-in-Chief

Amelia Brown & Anay Simunovic

Managing Editors Max Appell & Ian Bernstein

Creative Director

Melanie Lust

Associate Managing Editors

Izzy Blansfield & Alex Reiner

Web Managing Editors

Megan Doyle & Tori Lubin

Breaking News Managing Editors Emma Greenberg & Julia Rosier

Assistant Public Relations Manager

Cate Casparius

Assistant Creative Directors Charlie Colasurdo & Ellie Kravetz

Business Director

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

Brett Franklin

Assistant Business Managers Caroline Donahue, Ben Klau, Joshua Paul, & Emily Stone

News Editors

Jack Beck & Zach Horowitz Sophie Driscoll & Dan Harizman

Opinions Editors

Izzy Connors & Alexandra Sprouls Kaya Leitner & Layla Wofsy

Features Editors Bailey Blaikie & Lili Romann Jonathan Kaner & Liv Ronca

Arts Editors

Allie D’Angelo & Olivia Foster Audrey Bernstein & Anna Rhoads

Sports Editors

Jack Caldwell & Erin Lynch Jackson Daignault & Amanda Kaplowitz

Web News Editors

Nicole Dienst & Adam Wenkoff

Web Opinions Editors

Temporary removal of ‘13 Reasons Why’ shields students from confronting real world issues

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hile the book “13 Reasons Why” was published almost ten years ago, the widespread popularity of its accompanying Netflix show has led to its temporary review and removal from the Bedford Middle School library and the Bedford and Coleytown Middle School English book rooms.

Inklings

EDITORIAL

Kaela Dockray & Arin Garland

Web Features Editors

Nicky Brown & Sasha Narang

Web Arts Editors Molly Mahoney & Maddie Phelps

Web Sports Editors Elliot Kaufman & Ben Pearl

Advisors

Mary Elizabeth Fulco, Joseph DelGobbo, Matthew Bohn & Brian Solomon Crown Finalist for Inklingsnews.com from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2015 Silver Crown Award for Newspaper from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2014 Pacemaker from National Scholastic Press Association 2013 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 70 North Ave. Westport, CT 06880 Phone: (203) 341-1994 Inklingsweb@gmail.com

As the Editorial Board, we recognize the complexity of this predicament. We ourselves have struggled to identify what is and isn’t the administration’s duty in regards to censorship and student safety.

We acknowledge the administration’s concerns, as many, including parents and students, feel that the show romanticizes suicide and paints it as a resolution to personal

struggles. And we recognize that while the book and show differ, the popularity of the series has essentially intertwined the two, making it difficult to decipher the differences in message and overall theme between them.

However, the administration’s decision to disregard procedure and pull the book prior to a thorough review failed to abide by precedent set in the Supreme Court case Board of Education v. Pico, which limits a school board’s power to restrict the availability of books in its libraries.

Therefore, the administration has jeopardized the student’s fundamental freedom to access information.

Regardless of the outcome of the review of the book, we believe that the facilitation of a discussion about suicide must take place within the school district.

We recognize that as a result of the lack of maturity of middle schoolers, engaging in a conversation about suicide is difficult. However, in order to prevent such a tragedy from taking place, educating both middle and high school students is necessary.

By doing this, students will be better equipped to understand the warning signs of suicide as well as the ways to seek help for themselves and others.

There is a wide variety of educational methods that can be utilized in order to accomplish extensive comprehension and understanding of suicide. For example, Socratic discussions should take place where students may read literature commenting on suicide and discuss the issues. In addition, speakers with personal insight could present to the school or there could be a greater incorporation of suicide education within the health curriculum.

Last year, our community suffered the loss of a high school teacher and student to suicide; thus, we understand that the administration has to be cautious, and we understand why the administration might perceive the ideas expressed in “13 Reasons Why” as dangerous.

But hiding behind a blanket of ignorance is even more dangerous.

Our Editorial Board voted 24-2 in favor of this editorial.

May Political Cartoon

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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Graphic by Cat Graham ’19

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

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Opinions | May 5, 2017

College campuses halt free speech for conservatives

The Artichoke *Inklings Satire

Alex Reiner ’18

The Democrats’ alternative facts: building imagination brick by brick* Melanie Lust ’19

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ecretary of State Rex Tillerson has maintained ties to the Kremlin for nearly two decades, according to Adam Schiff, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. Schiff based his claims on a dossier he read after it was tied to a brick and thrown through his bedroom window, late at night on April 29.

“The dossier gives no clear information on what Tillerson and Putin talked about during his visits,” Schiff admitted. “There are no pictures or testimonies, but the text of the dossier was so moving that I know deep down in my heart that they must have been acting far too friendly.”

When pressed, Schiff said the dossier sparked his imagination leading him to recall a daydream he once had in 2015.

The daydream featured Tillerson and Putin knitting friendship bracelets at a park in Moscow. Schiff recalled that at the end of his dream, Putin gave Tillerson a peck on the cheek.

“And then I thought, ‘It makes perfect sense,’” Schiff said.

“It was such a vivid dream, but why?

Because it was real. It happened.

Tillerson and Putin are in love with each other and there is no greater truth. Republicans say they have no relations whatsoever, but these are alternative facts.”

Sally Yates, former U.S. Attorney General, confirmed that she, too, has found inspiration after reading the dossier. “A sudden image came to my head capturing

Putin buying Tillerson a shirt that said, ‘Someone I love refrained from torturing me in a KGB unit and all I got was this lousy t-shirt,’” Yates recalled enthusiastically.

“Life is what you make of it, you know? I just feel like if I tell myself it’s true enough times, soon enough I can make it real.”

The dossier’s implications of strong ties between Trump’s cabinet and Putin also have the American public incensed.

“If we can imagine a bond of that scale existing between the Secretary of State and Putin, who knows what influence that could have over political decisions in our country?” Ima Bogus, a granola-eating mother of two, said.

The brick to which the dossier was tied is now sitting in a glass case in Schiff’s apartment as a “reminder of what can be achieved if you truly believe.”

Graphic by Margot Mather ’17

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Since the election, many Americans have expressed fear that the Trump administration would encroach upon their basic constitutional rights by preventing abortions or denying a pathway to citizenship. But a more vital constitutional right being strongly violated by college campuses and ignored

by American citizens is freedom of speech.

America’s foundation revolves around the concept that every citizen, no matter his or her beliefs, cannot be limited in speech based on how others feel about the statements. Within the past year at Wisconsin, Yale and other colleges, however, conservative speakers have been denied such a right when on college campuses. These speakers are not preaching violence, terror or hatred.

Rather, they are expressing their beliefs that cause some college students to feel uncomfortable.

Ben Shapiro, who is known to be a vocal conservative and is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Wire, had to be escorted out of the University of Wisconsin by the police in November of 2016. He was giving a speech called “Dismantling Safe Spaces: Facts Don’t Care About Your Feelings,” which is not even one of his most controversial viewpoints.

Yet, because of his conservative viewpoint, students did not feel comfortable with his opinion, according to The Badger Herald.

In March of 2017, Dr. Charles Murray, a conservative author, was invited by students to speak at Middlebury College. However, liberal audience members shouted over Murray as he tried to speak and as he was escorted out of the building by administration. Afterward, he was “physically and violently confronted by a group of protesters,” Middlebury spokesman, Bill Burger, said. According to Burger, the protesters shook and attempted to tip Murray’s car.

It is true, not all speech is protected by the first amendment. For instance, fighting words are unprotected speech.

However, not all offensive, discriminatory or derogatory language is hate speech, which means some insulting language qualifies as protected speech. In fact, in Texas v. Johnson, the Rehnquist Court ruled that speech cannot be limited based on public opinion.

Colleges do have the authority or right to invite or disinvite speakers, however, they are in the wrong when they allow their students to prevent speakers from expressing themselves. Even if the majority object to what a speaker preaches, there will be some students who align with the speaker’s opinions.

Colleges should encourage students to hear a variety of viewpoints, rather than keep a closed-minded view of policies.

When conservative speakers are prevented from speaking at liberal colleges, conservative students are sent the message that they are unable to express themselves freely. Without conservatives being able to express themselves, it denounces their right of free speech. It creates an environment where having a certain opinion is morally wrong. Nobody should be told how to think or what to believe.

I do not necessarily agree with everything the aforementioned conservative speakers say, but I do believe that every American is granted the fundamental right of expression. This cannot and must not be ignored. Much of the population is being denied the right to truly convey their opinions, yet American citizens have turned a blind eye, and, frankly, it is quite disgusting.

While college students exercise their basic right through protesting these conservative speakers, they are then violating the right to free speech.

Conservative Americans should and must be allowed to freely speak their minds.

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Opinions | May 5, 2017

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Large corporations overshadow mom and pop shops Alex Spadacenta ’17

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om and pop shops are what built small suburbs, like Westport.

Getting a matzah ball soup from Oscars and picking up a set of paints from Max’s Art Supplies were part of a typical day in Westport in the past.

However, unfortunately due to the rent costs of downtown Westport, the smaller locally-owned stores have been forced to shut down with larger brand-name stores taking their place.

More and more stores and restaurants have been closing in town, including Neat, Oscars, Max’s Art Supplies, Aqua, The Red Barn and many others.

The variety of these local businesses

is one of the great features of Westport. if it is really the best fit.

Walking around Westport, locally-owned Groove, owned by Staples mom Corri businesses include restaurants, sports Neckritz, is one of the few stores left in equipment stores, hardware stores and Westport where the personal connections flower shops. Other smaller exist. Neckritz I have seen downtown still enterprises also include knows just about tailors and shoe repairs, every customer Westport go from a but as rent prices rise, all by name, even if of these businesses are more homely feeling they have only struggling, forced to either been in the store place to an outdoor once before. It is close their doors or raise their prices. important to know mall.

Larger corporations and trust the staff unfortunately don’t seem to from whom one is establish a personal relationship with the buying clothes and while Urban Outfitters people of Westport. While Gap and LOFT and Brandy Melville are notable brands, have great selections of clothes, there is no they don’t provide much attention to each connection to the customer and so there is person. Groove and other stores like it a little less trust in what one is buying and create a sense of community which stems

from the comfort in buying everyday items from acquaintances around town.

I’ve grown up in Westport my entire life, and I have experienced firsthand what the changes to downtown have done. I used to be able to go to Main Street and grab a slice of pizza from Westport Pizza, a hot cocoa from Oscars and stroll on over to Oddz to shmooze through the clothes, not feeling overwhelmed by the amount of people in the store. But now I have seen downtown Westport go from a more homely feeling place to an outdoor mall.

Local businesses are an integral part of Westport citizens’ everyday lives and should not be overlooked. Westporters must actively support the town’s small businesses, or else Westport’s unique character will eventually disappear.

4 MILLION 92 PERCENT 95 PERCENT jobs have been eliminated by big businesses since 1990.

of Connecticut’s small businesses say the state’s public policies do not facilitate the efforts of small businesses.

of small businesses fail within five years.

Information contributed from The Huffington Post and U.S. Small Business Administration

In defense of Tomi Lahren: why this liberal wants her back Lulu Stracher ’17 Never would I have thought I would be on Tomi Lahren’s side, let alone defending her. If you don’t know Tomi Lahren by name, you would definitely recognize her voice. The 24-year-old conservative commentator rose to fame after her diatribe against President Obama’s response to a 2014 mass shooting of a military base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, declaring it the result of “radical Islam.”

On her show, “Tomi,” broadcasted on Glenn Beck’s network, The Blaze, Lahren has referred to the Black Lives Matter movement as “the new KKK” and has proudly stated that she “doesn’t see color.”

When I watch her viral videos, I often develop a headache and become so frustrated that I have to turn my computer off. So when I read that her show was suspended for a week and then cancelled, my first reaction was joy. I was glad that

Glenn Beck is the reason for Lahren’s her views, which I vehemently oppose and sometimes find outright despicable, departure. He’s one of many rich, white, conservative males would no longer reach such who rail against young a wide audience. coddled liberals But when I read and their about the reasoning ‘safe spaces’ for her departure, and “trigger my reaction wa rni ngs,” shifted. Lahren but was so was kicked off the triggered air because on a by Lahren’s March 17 taping one public of “The View” display of a liberal Lahren proudly position that announced that he removed she was pro her from his choice, saying, “I network. can’t sit here and Despite be a hypocrite the fact that and say ‘I’m for I disagree with limited government, almost every single but I think that the thing Lahren says government should on her show, she decide what women shouldn’t have been do with their bodies.’”

Graphic by Carly Mori ’18

kicked off the air simply because her prochoice beliefs don’t fit inside the package that Glenn Beck wants her to be in.

The fault in this situation doesn’t fall under Lahren — she did nothing wrong for practicing her freedom of speech. The fault in this situation lands under Glenn Beck — and similar conservative pundits who punished Lahren for her valid and popular beliefs.

It is now clear that Beck didn’t hire Lahren to actually use her platform to promote her own views and values, but to advance his own agenda — and when she didn’t fit that agenda, he no longer found her worthy or profitable, despite the fact that her statement on abortion caused me and a lot of other liberals to gain more respect for her.

Lahren is talented, fierce and will not be fading from the public spotlight soon. This liberal wants her back, even if I’ll groan when she does return. No one deserves to be silenced for going against the status quo.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

10 Opinions | May 5, 2017

Respect Communication Time, teachers Eliza Goldberg ’17 You’ve just finished first period, and you tiredly rub your eyes and prepare yourself for the walk to your next class.

Only this one is not like your first; it is 30 minutes longer.

However, you aren’t upset because you remember that the first chunk of the class is spent watching a morning show video production put on by your peers. Perking up, you take your seat ready to watch, only to hear your teacher announce, “We’re going to review for a test. Take your materials out.”

According to the Staples Student and Parent Handbook, “The purpose of the Communication Time period is to create an informed school community, which fosters greater and more effective engagement in the overall life of Staples High School.” Unfortunately, teachers often seem to neglect this fact and ignore Communication Time altogether, starting class as soon as the clock strikes 8:35 a.m.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Communication Time is supposed to feature Good Morning Staples (GMS) which helps to promote “an informed school community.”

However, on Wednesdays, and any other Communication Time period when GMS doesn’t air, teachers tend to drop the ball on adhering to Communication Time guidelines.

Ignoring Communication Time is especially violated by teachers teaching faster-paced classes, like Honors and A.P. Since these courses have a lot of content to cover, some teachers decide to teach during the entire 80 minutes.

This extra teaching time is unfair to the students in these classes, since the only classes that are legitimately allowed to ignore Communication Time are science classes (they need the extra time for labs).

School can be grueling. Eighty minutes is an extremely long time to have to pay attention, especially early in the morning. Since Staples has the special time slot in the morning, it’s only fair that it is used consistently and properly across the board.

If all non-science teachers agreed to use Communication Time appropriately, either with discussions or watching GMS, students would be more engaged during the 60 minutes of teaching as opposed to annoyed and distracted throughout all 80 minutes of class.

Ultimately teachers should use Communication Time for something other than regular class work.

Communication Time is there for a reason, so we might as well use it in a way that makes the long class period most effective.

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A.P. tests scam students rather than spur academic excitement Jackie Sussman ’17

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tudents are hammered since preschool with the mindset that they must go to a good college in order to accomplish their dreams — or even to be safely middle-class. How do students get into these increasingly competitive colleges? They take and strive to do well in A.P. classes.

Congrats, College Board. You’ve done what no other business could: become an indispensable part of the American dream. It’s too bad that your A.P. classes are a waste of money.

What the College Board offers is a deal that, bluntly, is too good to be true: give students the opportunity to complete college-level coursework, gain an edge over other applicants and earn college credit early for the comparatively small price of $93 per test. And, as the Atlantic reported, millions of students enroll in A.P. courses “at an annual growth rate almost 10 times the yearly percentage increase in the number of high school

graduates.” But A.P. classes are not all they are cracked up to be.

The issue starts with the axiom of the A.P. curriculum: A.P. classes exist to level the playing field between struggling and wealthy schools. The level of the class, and even the grading of the exams, are at an intrinsically lower level than at top colleges; such is one of the reasons why many top 50 schools fail to accept a lot of A.P. credit (or, in Dartmouth’s case, no A.P. credit at all).

And yet the College Board boasts that A.P. courses make a college education more affordable, that they enable students to graduate early by using A.P. credits to place out of courses. According to the research paper “A.P.: A Critical Examination of the Advanced Placement Program” published by the Harvard Education Press, research concluded that “claims that the program helps students graduate on time or save money are found generally to have no validity.” As Denise Pope, a Stanford education expert, said, “Many students end up repeating the course in college anyway, and you can run

[INKLINATIONS]

the risk of memorizing material for a test versus delving into a subject.”

In relation to the above statistic that the growth rate of students enrolling in A.P. courses is 10 times the percentage increase of high school graduates, the research also found that this push in favor of the A.P. program may be pushing “poorly-prepared students to fail courses they shouldn’t be taking in the first place.” Which leads me to my final point: students often take these A.P. courses for the wrong reasons. Instead of taking these rigorous courses to pursue a field of interest, the New York Times reported a study which found that 90 percent of teachers attributed the “growing allure” of A.P. classes to “students who want their college applications to look better.” I would know: I’m a student who has taken A.P. classes partly because they look good.

Most students do.

Students: beware. Understand that some things in life are too good to be true, and make decisions accordingly.

Unfortunately, the A.P. program is one of them.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE DURING COMMUNICATION TIME?

Photos by Ellie Kravetz ’18

“If the morning show isn’t on, students should have free time that they can use to do homework or chat with their friends.”

- Arantxa Rodriguez ’19 inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

“Sometimes with our super busy schedules, with only five minutes between classes, the 20 minute break is neccesary for students to recoup.”

- Drew Coyne, social studies teacher

“I think using the time to discuss current events is great. It’s important that kids know what’s going on in the world.”

- Charlie Zuckerman ’18

Features | May 5, 2017

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Adventure abroad: Ostbye travels to Spain host parents driving me to school or eating lunch at my host grandma's house. The stuff that makes me feel like I've lived there forever,” Ostbye said.

“My most favorite specific moments onique Ostbye ’18 has had would probably be going to my host her fair share of international family's family reunions because all experience. This year, she is my host aunts, uncles and cousins studying abroad in Catalonia, Spain, but are so caring and treat me like one this isn’t her first time living overseas. of the family.”

During sixth and seventh grade, Ostbye But not all of Ostbye’s experiences lived in Limassol, Cyprus for her father’s abroad have been so pleasant. Ostbye’s job, and then moved back to Westport. time in Cyprus during middle school While living in Cyprus, Ostbye came with its difficulties, and she spoke English but was introduced to was bullied due to her American Greek and French in school. Despite nationality. this, she chose to pursue fluency in other “I heard everything from ‘fat languages. Ostbye is now trilingual American,’ to being shoved into in Portuguese, Spanish and English. lockers, to people yelling McDonald's Her mother is Brazilian, so she speaks at me in the halls,” Ostbye said. “Teachers Portuguese and English at home, but she made fun learned Spanish of the [U.S.] “Those two years were the entirely through government classes at school. in class, most definitive years of my Ostbye continues which would to try to learn life, and they honestly made give the class more languages permission me into the person I am with Catalan to call me being the next on the ‘dumb today.” her list, which the American.’” locals speak in B u t -Monique Ostbye '18 the area of Spain despite the that she is currently bullying, living and studying in.

Ostbye’s experience abroad proved to be “In the beginning it was hard to beneficial in a various ways. understand since it's what most people “Those two years were the most speak between each other, but after the definitive years of my life, and they honestly first 2-3 months I got the hang of it, and made me into the person I am today,” now I understand the majority,” Ostbye Ostbye said. “It also made me much more said. confident because when I came back I was Currently, Ostbye is spending a full able to make friends and be outspoken; it year in Spain through the Rotary Youth didn't matter to me what people thought Exchange (RYC) program “because [she] or said about me, and I think that honestly wanted to learn a new language and changed my life.” expose [herself] to a totally new way of This summer, Ostbye’s “biggest bully living,” she said. However, Ostbye did reached out to me over facebook and not explicitly choose to be placed in apologized to me which meant a lot even Spain. The RYC program asks students though I had already moved on,” she said. to submit a list of their top five country Even though she felt distanced from choices, and from that list the program the majority of her peers in Cyprus, she decides where to place the students. credits the experience as having brought Ostbye’s first choice was Norway, but her closer to her family. she was still incredibly excited to be put “I talked to [my parents] about in Spain because, “I think I knew deep everything that was going on and how down that Spain was the best placement I was feeling, and they supported me for me,” she said. through the whole time,” Ostbye said. “I Ostbye’s favorite part of studying am extremely thankful that we have such a abroad are the “little things, like my close relationship.”

Frenchy Truitt '17

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PARK GUELL Ostbye sits on a bench in Park Guell, a park comprised of gardens and unique architecture in Barcelona, Spain.

EASTER TRADITIONS Ostbye displays traditional Catalan Easter cakes she decorated with her host sister and cousins.

HOST PARENTS Ostbye celebrates her arrival in Spain with her host parents as they picked her up from the airport.

Photos contributed by Monique Otsbye '18

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

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Features | May 5, 2017

Westport’s annual “Green Day” em Daniel Harizman '19 & Kaya Leitner '19

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pril 22 marked the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement known as Earth Day. Started in the late 20th century, Earth Day recognizes the abundance of issues pertaining to the global environment. As the nationwide fight for a clean environment continues with increasing urgency, the attention

Staples clubs and students devote to the Green, advocates for the improvement of Staples’ ecological footprint. In months issue is growing exponentially.

Staples clubs centralized around the prior, the club has taken initiative through their composting program in the cafeteria, advocacy for sought environmental "[...] we produce about six to 12 gallons which to “decrease health utilized the waste of compost each week."

Earth Day as [ s t u d e t s] a platform to -Jane Handa, president of Club Green produce nhere raise awareness at Staples.” surrou nd ing “The program has been running for their clubs, while additionally raising their concerns and sharing the about two months now and we have been impact Staples students have on the really successful at running this program within the kitchen, and we produce about environment.

Jane Handa ’17, a 2017 co-president of six to 12 gallons of compost each week,” Handa said. “This Earth Day, Club Green Club [helped]out with Green Day (the town Photos by Melanie Lust '19 wide en vironmental awareness day).

The main event was held at Earthplace, with different activities for both kids and adults, with a rally for the environment included as well.”

According to the Staples High School Club Green website, “Club Green is committed to helping promote sustainability and ‘green’ living within the Staples High School and Westport community while improving the local environment and working to make a difference within the community.”

Not only did Staples students take advantage of Earth Day as an opportunity to reflect on environmental impacts of the community, Westport hosted the fifth annual Green Day on April 29. According to their website, the day was centered around “celebrating the environment and welcoming in spring.”

“Green Day has grown dramatically in just the past five short years. Most events are family oriented, and it is an excellent way to reconnect with family and friends,” the website states. “Most events are free or charge a nominal entrance fee.

Come alone or with your family. Attend

CLUB GREEN Jane Handa '17, co-president of Club Green, promotes the Westport community to be enviornmentally concious.

Graphics by Channing Smith '17

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Features | May 5, 2017

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CLUB GREEN Sarah Sherts '18 will be taking on the position next year that co-presidents Jane Handa '17 and Isabelle Amlicke '17 fulfill this year.

mboldens environmental awareness one event or attend all. It is really up to you but it is all about celebrating sustainability in our town.”

However, not all environmental efforts are as prominent as Green Day. Entrepreneur, Hillary O’Neill ’19, believes her small terrarium business, distributing decorative containers in which plants are grown, can allow students “to get involved with caring for plants” on a smaller scale.

“Terrariums are, in a way, a mini ecosystem. Seeing what things are necessary to keep an ecosystem thriving on a small scale can help people realize what they need to do to keep the larger one healthy,” O’Neill said.

Over the past century, the growth of greenhouse gasses and other emissions has led to a one and a half degree increase in average world temperature, according to the United State Environmental Protection Agency.

Environmental Science teacher and six year steward of Wakeman Town Farm, Michael Aitkenhead, believes much of the reasoning behind these environmental issues comes as a result of implicit actions residents take within Fairfield County.

“The average person in Fairfield County has among the highest ecological footprints or impacts on the environment.

Not because any one of us is evil or malicious but because of the lifestyle we lead,” Aitkenhead said. “I think if more people understood the extent to which some of their lifestyle choices impact the environment, they might make better choices. But most of us are shielded from seeing or experiencing the repercussions of

our decisions first hand; this makes it easy to go about our normal daily activities without much thought.”

The Earth Guardians, a newly established club at Staples, is taking an international organization’s initiative and making it a local chapter in Westport.

In honor of Earth Day, they anticipated that they would participate in the Earth Guardians’ international Pledge to Plant as part of their Protect Our Future campaign by planting a Red Oak Tree.

“It is important to recognize the impact that you carry and how that affects the world around you,” Carla Paiva, Advisor of Earth Guardians Club, said.

“The club tries to live each day with the intention of making the necessary changes in order to minimize our impact on the earth, water, air and atmosphere.”

Aside from those who took initiative to promote environmental change on a school-wide, even town-wide, scale, many students strive to be environmentally active within their day to day lives. Biz Fay ’19 believes Earth Day gave individuals the ability to reflect on their treatment towards the environment and hopefully create change in areas they are harming.

“Climate change is not only a dangerous global reality with devastating repercussions, it also should be the inspiration and reminder to reflect on the way one lives his or her life,” Fay said.

“As humans, we hold the responsibility to nurture and protect our home. There is power lying in the individual and their capacity to make simple habitual changes.”

Infographic by Lili Romann '19 & Bailey Blaikie '19

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

14

Features |May 5, 2017

Young voices emerge through political activism

Photo contributed by Peri Kessler '18

MARCHERS Staples students Xi Jones '17 (left) and Olivia Payne '18 (right) unite in Westport to protest the current presidential administration.

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attended a Refugees Welcome protest.

“This was in response to the disgusting fervor with which Donald Trump speaks about refugees. I wanted to let people know that refugees are human beings, not rapists or murderers or terrorists, and that they have been through what we c a n' t possibly i mag i ne,” Koskoff said.

Although the Democracy Walk was in the form of a march, there are many other ways to carry out a political activist event.

These include: rallies, protests, volu nteer i ng, petitions, b o y c o t t s , demonstrations and more. This long list and a never-ending amount of opportunity is the reason so many Staples students have gotten involved.

Another one of these students is Anna Uman ’19, who attended the Democracy Walk and the Women’s March in New York City last January.

“For me, the achievement is letting

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taples is known for providing students the opportunity to fight for what they believe in. Clubs like Social Activism, JSA and the Young Democrats and Republicans clubs, along with local events such as the Westport Democracy Walk held on March 26, give students an outlet to speak their minds.

Across the country, local and nationwide political activism events have gained popularity. These events call upon thousands of citizens to peacefully demonstrate their beliefs. The purpose is to spread a message to the government and the people of America with the intent of hopefully making a positive impact.

“If democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people, then the people need to do something,” Cathy Schager, social studies teacher,

said. “It’s especially good for you guys to be involved and start figuring out what matters to you because there is only so much we can do in the classroom to prepare you to be citizens.”

With more organizations forming in the area, such as CT, Fairfield Standing United, Connecticut Against Gun Violence and Indivisible Connecticut, there will be more events in the future and additional chances to practice political activism.

The Democracy Walk was the beginning of a more outspoken Westport. The purpose was to exercise the citizens’ right for peaceful protest in a democratic country and to show their dissatisfaction with current governmental actions.

Theo Koskoff ’18 was one of the marchers in the Democracy Walk.

He also recently participated in a Black Lives Matter rally.

“I participated in it because the criminal justice system has been rigged to hurt African Americans for years now,” he said.

Along with the Black Lives Matter rally, Koskoff also

Grpa hic

Anna Rhoads '19

Photo contributed by Lili Romann '19

DISSENT One of many attendees of the Women's March on Washington, D.C. shouts in protest of administrative plans to defund Planned Parenthood.

the government know that there are people in our country who disagree with their new policies and budget cuts,” Uman said. “We aren’t going to just sit around and let it happen without showing our condemnation.”

The growth in political activism events can be credited to the start of a new presidency and the fact that technology and social media advances every day. “A lot of millennials have been discouraged for a long time,” Zellie Thomas, social commentator and activist, said. “Now, with social media, they feel empowered, like people are hearing their voice.”

Many of these millennials who feel the way Thomas described are at Staples.

“I think political activism is important because to me it is the cornerstone of American freedom,” Uman said. “It’s standing up for what you believe in even if the rest of the country or government thinks oppositely.”

New developments in Bedford Square draw attention downtown a newly planted tree lingering near outdoor seating for Amis.

Kelly Griffin ’19 recently dined at the restaurant With heads tilted up and reflected on the admiring browned striped experience. apartments and fingers “I thought the tracing along the edges service was great,” of freshly painted green Griffin said. “My window sills of restaurants, waitress always the advances in Bedford checked in on how we Square continue to draw were doing and was interest to Main Street. respectful.”

“I think this However, development will create Griffin noted some a more urban and lively issues with clarity in downtown area,” Jerrett the menu. "I thought Rende ’17 said. “It will they should’ve used attract the crowd from more English than nearby cities.”

Italian, so people Located in the heart could understand of downtown Westport, which food they were Bedford Square is a ordering.” new retail, dining and According to residential development Amis’ website, their which officially opened goal is “Mastering a two stores at the end of NEW DEVELOPMENTS (clockwise from top left) The new Anthropologie has three floors consisting of a wide range of jewlery, clothing craft without ceasing March: Anthropologie and and room decor. Amis Trattoria, the newest Italian restaurant, has satisfied many with its flavorful Italian classics and pleasing views of to create,” similar to Amis Trattoria.

Westport's Main Street. The exterior of Anthropologie maintains the architecture of the previous YMCA. A wall of travel luggage lines the Griffin’s authentic The development, wall behind the cash register at Anthropologie. The opening arch to Bedford Square welcomes pedestrians into the townscenter. experience at the which previously stood as restaurant. the 1923 Bedford Mansion As for the future and the YMCA, has people and awesome clothes.” or white sleepwear. of Bedford Square, it goals to “further elevate Tucked behind two winding ramps These drastic changes to downtown is unknown what shops will open in the the exposure and draw of downtown on each side, Anthropologie greets do not end in the dressing room. near future. According to their website it Westport,” according to the website. customers with a black rustic steel Next door to Anthropologie, the will “be home to the area’s most soughtOn March 31, Anthropologie hosted banner draped in blue and orange ropes entrance to Amis Trattoria, standing next after retail frontage as well as the newest its grand opening and Emily Bass ’18 can leading into the store. The store itself to a brick arch, lies on the surroundings and most upscale residential living on vouch for a positive experience. is sectioned off into three levels, each of a circular courtyard linking several Connecticut’s well established ‘Gold “It gave off a very welcoming vibe,” divided by color accents such as denim shops together. A patterned ledge circles Coast.’”

Bass said. “There was good music, nice Pictures by Ellie Kravetz '18 & Roxy Augeri '20

Izzy Ullmann '17

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Features | May 5, 2017

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A.P. Government We the People makes wildcard national spot Shaina Selvaraju '17

one of the three questions for each unit.

After the speech was completed, the judges fter coming in second place would have six minutes to ask the students in the state competition at the open-ended questions for which they did We the People: The Citizen not previously get to prepare.

“I think they did a great job; it was and the Constitution in December at Central Connecticut College, Suzanne so impressive what they managed to do Kammerman’s A.P. U.S. Government and in a short period of time, particularly in Politics class placed 37th in the wildcard keeping their composure,” Kammerman said. “It’s intimidating to sit in front of spot they earned at nationals.

The competition was conducted by the a bunch of people who have law degrees non-profit organization Center for Civic [who] then ask you about many supreme Education at Washington, D.C. on April court cases. The questions were definitely university or law school questions so 22 and 23, 2017.

“I felt prepared to compete, but it the [students] really needed to become experts.” was challenging In addition because we had to “I felt prepared to to competing, work on our questions compete, but it was the class had while learning gov the opportunity curriculum,” Brooke challenging because to tour D.C. Wrubel ’17 said They visited in regards to the we had to work on our the Holocaust preparation process. questions while learning M u s e u m , “Nationals was really the Capitol exciting. There were, gov curriculum." building, the I think, 56 teams competing. It was -Brooke Wrubel '17 N e w s e u m , the Lincoln much better than states because the judges asked Memorial and the memorial for Korean better questions. The material was more War Veterans. They even got to meet with Connecticut’s senator, Chris Murphy, on complex this time around.”

The competition was done in a Capitol Hill.

Though the class did not make top congressional hearing style. The class was split into six units that each covered a 10, the students were proud of their topic in regards to the constitution. Topics accomplishments. “I still feel incredibly included what influenced the constitution satisfied and happy with the fact that we and how it has evolved, civil rights and civil have gained important, lifelong knowledge liberties and branches of the government. about the principles that our government Each unit contained three to four students was founded on,” Anna Greenspan ’18 who had to write four-minute speeches in said, “and that, with this knowledge, we response to three questions related to their have grown into more civically-minded topic. At the competition, the judges chose individuals.”

A

POLITICAL PRODIGIES

Photos contributed by Perri Kessler '18

The We the People Government & Politics class poses at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial (above) and the National Mall (below) in Washington, D.C. Members of the class (bottom left) sit by the water at the Martin Luther King Memorial. Other members of the class (bottom right) stand at the We the People competition.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

16

Features |May 5, 2017

The gap year:

an uncommon domain few seniors dare to approach

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such an easy or desired decision for the rest of Staples students.

“I couldn’t take a gap year. Since a young age we have been taught to go about our lives a certain way. To go from high school, to college, to work.

I couldn’t think of doing things any other way,” Jordan Cutler ’18 said.

T h e hesitancy in Staples students is reasonable since “[many] aren’t as understanding that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break,” McCarthy said.

H o w e v e r , McCarthy found that “everyone [ended up being] super supporting, [in fact] some people were even jealous,” she said. “I would really recommend a gap year to anyone. There were literally no cons and it was the best decision I ever made."

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lan Me by

9

'1 st Lu

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

succeed after doing this first.”

Sam Zaritsky’s ’17 gap year process is a bit different due to the fact that his main focus is hockey and finding the opportunity to play at the college level.

In order to achieve this, he plans on spending the year focused and training his hardest, while still planning on picking up a job and taking classes at a local university.

“It was an easy decision [for me to take a gap year] since it’s r e a l l y popular in the hockey world if you want to play in college,” Zaritsky said.

However, taking a gap year is not

hic ap Gr

Staples student who spent her gap year staying in Indonesia on a cultural immersion program, traveling through he gap year: an uncommon domain Africa and volunteering at an animal a that few seniors dare to approach. conservation center — received While most high school seniors countless number of benefits that have prepare themselves for the next chapter of stuck with her to this day.

“I made so many friends around their lives at the university level, several Staples students have decided the world that I still keep in touch with. to take the more "I learned more than I ever I learned more than I ever have in the classroom about myself, u nc onvent iona l have in the classroom [and] I gained confidence,” route: the gap year. about myself, [and] I McCarthy said. “Everything Taking a gap worked out better than I could’ve year at Staples is gained confidence.” “not common [...]

-Crissy McCarthy '13 thought.”

Due to the benefits of a and is often seen gap year, Harvard University’s as a bad thing,” admissions office now Marnie Adelkopf ’17, who plans on taking a gap year next year, “encourages admitted students to defer said. However, taking a gap year has been enrollment for one year to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work, or proven to hold many benefits.

Some of these include boosting job spend time in another meaningful way.” prospects, self improvement, college The array of Staples students planning on preparation, and gaining new experiences, taking a gap year share similar hopes for the outcome of the year, for they see it as according to theglobalcitizenyear.org.

In fact, Leslie Hammer, a Staples time for self improvement and opportunity.

Adelkopf hopes to “grow as a person guidance counselor, highly promotes taking a gap year because she sees no [...] and go into college the next year with a downsides to the process, disregarding better mindset,” she said.

In regard to Adelkopf’s time after her special circumstances.

Crissy McCarthy ’13 — a former gap year, she is confident that she “will

Izzy Blansfield '18

Arts | May 5, 2017

17

Arts

Seaside restaurant pairs picturesque views with palatable plates

Renée Weisz ’17

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long Compo Road South’s driveway to the Long Island Sound waterfront lies a gem in the Westport restaurant scene: Pearl at Longshore.

On a rainy Wednesday night, the country club-esque exterior and a fireplace at the entrance radiated an especially romantic mood. Though the evening weather was dreary, the cozy restaurant interior, alive with couples and coworkers enjoying an after work meal, transported visitors to an upscale night-out on the town. My waiter was vibrant with chatter, adding a more personalized layer to my dining experience. As he seated me at a table on the covered patio, my stomach growled for what I was sure would be an exquisite meal.

Filled with modern and inventive selections with a sophisticated American style to their cuisine, the Pearl menu boasted a wide variety of fresh items with unique seasoning accents. After about 15 minutes of indecision due to the mouthwatering diversity, I decided upon the harvest kale salad ($12) and the daily soup special which consisted of the chef ’s take on matzoh ball soup ($10).

Four small matzoh balls arrived in a steaming hot broth with a smattering of herbs, cooked carrots, and shredded chicken. The matzoh balls retained the perfect moisture to melt in my mouth yet remained chewable enough to soak up the chicken broth flavor. Nevertheless, the rest of the soup was a bit bland and in need of seasoning, and the chicken was a bit too dry for my taste.

My second starter, the harvest kale salad, consisting of a colorful plate of gala apples, shaved carrots, pumpkin seeds, a pinch of sesame and miso dressing, immediately offset any lack of flavor in the

soup.

The satisfying crunch of the pumpkin seeds paired with the sweet apples created a mixture of textures that left me savoring each bite. The miso dressing and sesame seeds also added an Asian twist, and there was just enough smattering of dressing to lightly brush the kale.

As for the entrée, I followed the recommendation of my waiter and ordered one of the restaurant’s grassfed meat specialities, the chicken milanese ($23). The fried chicken cutlet arrived with an artfully arranged selection of pink radish, cabbage, watercress, gala apples and lemon atop the meat. The sliced chicken tender intertwined with the bitter vegetables for a deliciously crispy combination.

Though fried, the thin breadcrumb lining was not overwhelmingly greasy, but rather held the rich chicken flavor and softened the meat. While on the pricier side for a traditional chicken dish, each forkful left my tongue tingling with a savory culinary excellence.

Lastly, I ordered the cauliflower steak ($9) as a side dish to my main plate. A browned stalk of cauliflower brushed with butter and big enough to serve as an entrée floated above a pool of Romesco nut and pepper-based sauce mixed with the southern Italian Salmoriglio condiment made of lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped oregano and parsley.

Though too full from my past dishes to finish the cauliflower, this was by far my favorite item of the night. Each individual spice and herb component of the sauces could be tasted and complemented the less intense flavor of the cauliflower itself. For a cauliflower lover like me, this was an item worth every dollar.

From the scenic setting to the friendly service and upscale offerings, the Pearl provides an appetizing coastal dining experience. Though priced for an older crowd, every dish can be easily shared, allowing students an affordable special night out.

Photos by Daniel Harizman ’19 & Kaya Leitner ’19

PEARL BY THE WATER The Pearl at Longshore boasts an elegant interior design (bottom right) with a tasteful menu, featuring a harvest kale salad (bottom left), chicken melanese (top left) and cauliflower steak (top right).

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

18

Arts 5, 2017 Arts| |May Novem-

ber 22, 2016 Photos by Alex Spadacenta ’17 Graphics by Melanie Lust ’19

Westport Academy of Dance: performers fall into fantasy to present “Alice in Wonderland” Julia Rosier ’18

that year,” Nancy Hyland-Zindell, director of the of studio, said.

The show features numerous, classic characters such as the Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit, the Caterpillar and Cheshire Cat. This year, it even features the new role of Humpty-Dumpty.

Rachel Wolfe ’18 has been in the production for four years and has played many roles, including Tweedle Dee, Cheshire Cat and currently the Dormouse.

“I love being able to take part in a more jazz-based show, since most of the other performances we do are ballet,” Wolfe said.

According to the Westport’s Academy of Dance website, the performance is a “fun and funky new take on the children’s classic ‘Alice in Wonderland.’” The “Alice

in Wonderland” performance showcases dancers from the ages of eight to 18, and this year it will feature 106 dancers.

Tess Davis ’19, a veteran performer, will be serving tea in her role as the Mad Hatter.

“I like that the [Mad Hatter] is a major tap [dancing] role in the show,” Davis laughed. “It’s cool to be a unique role in that sense, and I also get to do something I really like.”

Dancers especially recognize and appreciate the show’s ability to flex, grow and change as the talents in the dancing group develop and mature each passing year.

“The show is really unique like that, where we can adjust the dances based on ages and amount of dancers,” Hyland-

Zindell said.

Mae Logan ’19 has been in the performance for four years and will be playing the White Rabbit this year.

“My favorite moment in the show is the dance ‘Hey Alice.’ It features the Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts and Alice.

It’s about Alice choosing between going home and staying in Wonderland,” Logan said. “I’ve loved the dance ever since I was a kid because the whole cast watches it backstage and the song is very powerful.

I am really excited to be able to dance it this year.”

The show will be taking place Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Bedford Middle School. Tickets are available for purchase on the Westport Academy of Dance’s website as well as at the door.

holiday through parades and nationalistic speeches about the importance of the victory. From there, it took off in the States, despite the fact that many Americans confuse its significance.

“It is important for me that In the year 1862, a measly Mexican students know that Cinco de Mayo is Army of 2,000 faced off against the not Independence day in Mexico,” French fleet of 6,000 in a fierce battle Spanish teacher Ana Deluca said. now known as the Battle of Puebla. The While Deluca does not winner? The scanty Mexican army. personally celebrate Cinco de The beneficiary? America’s youth, who Mayo, she shares the holiday celebrate this victory in much greater with students in her classes. galore than the residents of Mexico.

“I do have an activity “I think that Cinco de Mayo has where I direct students to do become popular in America simply research about the Cinco de because there are so many Mayo celebration and its MexicanI have “It is important for me origins.

Americans some specific in the states,” that students know questions and Olivia Payne afterwards that Cinco de Mayo is we share our ’18, whose m o t h e r ’s with not an independence findings side of the the class,” family is of D e l u c a day for Mexico.”

Mexican a d d e d .

-Ana Deluca descent, Payne said. “The celebrates day is very important in Mexico, the holiday by so when people came to the States, they cooking a Mexican brought their traditions with them.” dinner with her In the years after the Franco- family, though American War, Latinos in Northeast she notes that America and California celebrated the “we never do

anything too big for the holiday.”

Food is an essential part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

Popular Mexican dishes include mole poblano, a meat dish served with a type of chocolate sauce; chalupas, a kind of fried thick tortilla; and chiles en nogada, which consists of a stuffed poblano

student and current resident of Mexico, however, does not see these kind of food festivities taking place in her community.

“Cinco de Mayo is simply just another day here in Mexico,” Alanis said.

Nevertheless, Westport residents gorg on traditional MexicanAmerican cuisine to celebrate the holiday, as observed by Chris Autore, owner of the Mexican restaurant Border Grill Restaurant in Westport.

Autore noted that during and around Cinco de Mayo, there is a large influx of requests for catering services from Border Grill, especially for platters of American favorites like burritos, quesadillas and salads.

In reference to Westport residents’ reactions to Cinco de Mayo, Autore believes “there’s a lot of people who do celebrate.” He thinks this celebration of Cinco de Mayo in Westport is common “because it’s a fun holiday and a way to celebrate Mexican culture.”

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he dancers at the Westport Academy of Dance will be falling through the rabbit hole on May 14 for their fourth full-length production of “Alice in Wonderland” at Bedford Middle School.

Started in 2012, the performance, directed by dance instructor Courtney Poulos, includes various styles of dance including ballet, hip-hop, jazz and modern.

“There is a lot of flexibility when telling this story, and Courtney has such an incredibly creative mind that she is always able to come up with new ways to make the show work for the cast we have

Cinco de Mayo spirit celebrates Mexican culture Tori Lubin ’18

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

pepper topped with walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds. The colors of chiles en nogada mimic that of the Mexican f l a g .

Fatima Alanis ’18, former Staples

CELEBRATING CULTURE Olivia Payne ’18 enjoys partaking in Cinco de Mayo festivities every year.

Payne and her family like to cook classic Mexican dishes for the holiday, such as mole poblano and chalupas.

Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18

Arts | May 5, 2017

19

How to create the perfect Mother’s Day: a guide Nicky Brown ’19 As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s time to start thinking about potential gifts and ways to celebrate all of the mothers out there. This year, Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 14, which is a little more than a week away.

Moms are a major part of all our lives, so it’s only fair to dedicate a day to

Graphic by Adam Greenlee ’20

celebrate all that they do for us. Although you do not have to get a gift to show your gratitude, it is a nice gesture that would be appreciated by your mom.

“My mom loves flowers, so there is this garden that we go to every year and we always have my mom’s favorite dinner and give her cards and stuff like that,” Hillary O’Neill ’19 said.

One way to start off Mother’s Day right is by making breakfast in bed.

Preparing a fruit salad, pancakes and a cup of coffee served on a tray

is the perfect way to wake up your mom.

Besides food, you can always buy your mom a gift. Westport has many stores for you to choose from. You can always opt for clothes, shoes or jewelry if you know that your mom has been eyeing something specific.

If you are looking for a gift to meet a restricted budget, stores downtown such as Diptyque and Bluemercury can meet your financial needs and still please your mom. Those stores sell a variety of candles and cosmetic products.

“I usually split something with my sister. Last year, we got her different candles that we know she likes,” Mae Logan ’19 said.

If you have the extra money to spend, Mitchells offers many designer brands including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Céline and many more.

Perhaps a homemade gift is more your style. If so, head to Michaels to buy materials for a do-it-yourself project. Making a scrapbook of pictures, or even just getting a frame for a family picture would be a great gift and show a personal touch. Don’t forget that making a homemade card is always nice.

“I usually make my mom something just because that is usually what she is happiest with and it is more meaningful that way,” O’Neill said.

Whether you decide to buy a gift or not, just remember to show your appreciation for your mom this Mother’s Day.

THE BUTLERS Kristen Butler ’18 (right) with

her mother, Lora Mazurak (left), after a tennis match.

THE COCITOS Luiza Cocito ’19 (left) with her

mother, Leila Cocito (right).

Photos contributed by Kristen Butler’18 & Luiza Cocito ’19

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

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Arts | May 5, 2017

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

HGG

Sports | May 5, 2017

FRESHMAN STAND-OUT Sam Lampert ’20 is the only freshman on the Varsity tennis team.

A NEW MEMBER Evan Felcher ’18 recently transferred to Staples, and is already making his mark on the tennis team as the No. 2 singles player.

Cooper Boardman ’17

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ax Zimmerman’s ’17 racket flew out of his hand and clattered to the hardcourt.

It fell with a crash that would not be heard, as the crowd screamed in celebration.

Zimmerman was engulfed in a sea of teammates clad in blue and white—for the third straight year, the Staples boys’ tennis team was the FCIAC champion.

It was on that blazing afternoon last May when the Wreckers achieved their second three-peat and ninth overall title, extending their reign of dominance that began in 2014. This year, Staples is back, attempting to become the third FCIAC program to capture four straight titles.

“Not a lot of guys can leave high school saying they’ve won one FCIAC championship. It’s truly a special program,” Zimmerman said.

2016 was supposed to be the year in which the Wreckers were toppled from their pedestal atop the league. Staples’ 42-game win streak was snapped in the team’s fifth match of the season by rival Greenwich, and the team fell in u nprecedented fashion to an u p s t a r t West hi l l— each by just one point.

But the Wre c k e r s reloaded, notching playoff wins over Fairfield Warde and New Canaan before exacting their revenge over the Greenwich Cardinals in the league final. The team pointed to chemistry as the main reason for its bounce back performance, and this season

SENIOR LEADERSHIP Timothy Chiang ’17 looks to win his fourth straight FCIAC title on Varsity tennis.

the camaraderie is even stronger.

“I think we all respect each other as players and caliber competitors, so the mutual reverence is there as well,” co-captain Jay Mudholkar ’17 said. “I think this duality, in part, makes this year special.”

In fact, the team’s first pasta dinner went an hour longer than usual because the team was so engrossed in its conversation.

The senior co-captains, Zimmerman and Mudholkar, have played together since freshman year. As the team battled against Greenwich earlier this season, the echo of tennis balls ricocheting off rackets was drowned out by cheers of encouragement from teammates.

The bonds have also translated to success on the court, as Staples has opened the season at 9-0, outscoring opponents 62-1.

“We all know how the guy next to him plays, his styles, his shots, where he likes to hit the ball, how hard, the amount of spin and that knowledge just leads to more success,” Ben Stein ’18 said. “I think that because we are all just having fun and enjoying our experience, our chemistry is reaping the benefits.”

The team takes the court with “Staples” across their chests, carrying on a legacy of a program that has played in 16 FCIAC title matches since 1997. Three teams have dominated the boys’ tennis since the league began keeping records in 1963—New Canaan (19 titles), Greenwich (16 titles) and Staples (nine titles). Each of these squads has been to the final game in the last six years, but only Staples has been there every single year in that span.

Nonetheless, the Wreckers’ focus is on completing this season in the same fashion they did a year ago.

“One day I hope I can have a legacy that is remembered with the Staples boys’ tennis team,” Stein said. “But for right now I’m just trying, with my teammates and coach, to have a great 2017 season.”

LEADING IN Kion Bruno ’18 expects to make an impact in his third year of Varsity tennis.

Photos contributed by staplesboystennis.com

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Sports sports

Staples boys’ tennis eyes fourth straight FCIAC title

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Sports | May 5, 2017

Saugatuck rowers steer into the new season beat Marin, a team from California that beat them in the sprint (the last five meters of the race) last year by one second. Unlike he tension-filled air was palpable as the girls’ varsity team, the boys’ team teams of rowers sat in their boats graduated seven seniors and expected anxiously waiting for the flashing of to face tough competition from the west the red flag to signify the start of the 2017 coast teams such as Newport, Oakland San Diego Crew Classic. This race sets the and Marin.

In order to beat these competitors, tone for the rowers’ power and ambition in both teams saw the importance of mental the upcoming season.

On April 1 and 2, two teams of eight strength. “Mentally preparing for a race is rowers from the Saugatuck Rowing Club tough. You have to be at your best and you participated in the annual regatta in have to be confident,” Michael Cantor ’18, Mission Bay, San Diego, California. The a rower on the boys’ team, said. “If you’re girls’ high school boat of eight took home not ready at the start you won’t get another the gold in both the varsity and junior chance.”

The strong mindset of both the girls’ varsity races, and the boys’ high school and boys’ team stems from the immense boat of eight placed 12th.

“As a boat, it was an incredible feeling amount of trust and chemistry between to see our hard work paying off,” Kelsey each squad. “Everyone wants to give up at McGinley ’18, a member of the girls’ the end of the race but you have to trust winning team, said. “Over the winter you that the people behind and in front of you aren’t going to give up, so you can’t can see your times either,” Isabelle and how you are “As a boat, it was an Grosgogeat ’18 improving as an said. individual every incredible feeling to see our Grosgogeat, day, but this was a coxswain (the the first test of hard work paying off.” person who steers our improvement -Kelsey McGinley ’18 the boat) for the as a boat.” girls’ team, spends While the race can be nerve-wracking at times, the the race calling out motivational sayings girls start out the race day with a group and telling her teammates the boat’s breakfast and a short walk. Once at the placement in the race.

“I’ve been doing this for four years, event, everyone listens to their gameday playlists and prepares for the grueling day so I feel more comfortable and I have a lot of trust with my teammates,” Grosgogeat ahead.

Although the winter weather was not said.

To help them win their third gold in favor of either of the two teams, the snow storms and freezing temperatures were no medal at this event, the girls’ team started match for the players who practiced on erg out strong and was able to capture an machines, indoor rowing machines, and early lead, which they then focused worked on conditioning until they were on lengthening throughout the race. able to hit the water. For two weeks, the Although the boys’ team didn’t finish crew practiced every day for two and a half with the results they expected, both teams hours and even spent time before school in are looking forward to competing in hopes to land a spot in the first race of the upcoming races.

In an interview with the Westport spring season.

The girls’ varsity team was essentially News, Gordon Getsinger, head junior the same as last year, so they were eager to girls coach, is prepared for more “strong

Olivia Foster ’18

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performances throughout the season,” which she credits is a “testament to the team’s depth.”

Sharon Kriz, head junior boys coach,

followed Getsinger’s sentiments in saying, “it’s always valuable to see how we measure up against top teams from the West Coast and beyond early in the season.”

ROWING TO VICTORY Saugatuck Rowing Club’s varsity boat racing in the San Diego River on April 1 at the San Diego Crew Classic.

Photos contributed by Kelsey McGinley ’18

GOLD Both girls’ varsity rowing teams won first place at the San Diego Crew Classic for the second straight year. The team is also looking to repeat last year’s success at the National Competition in June.

Scholar-athletes commit to four more years Less than two percent of all high school athletes make it to the Division I collegiate level, according to the NCAA. Despite these odds, Staples boasts 13 Division I athletes in the 2017 class: Zak Ahmad, Colleen Bannon, Gillian Birk, Ethan Burger, Ben Casparius, Ryan Fitton, Ivy Prince, Charlotte Rossi, Lydia Shaw, Robert Stone, Olivia Troy, Tanner Wood and Tia Zajec.

As these athletes transition to their new schools, they typically have a bittersweet feeling leaving the comfort and familiarity of their teammates, along with coaches that have surrounded them for the last four years.

“I’m going to miss representing Staples and putting on the uniform for the school, but I’ll always have memories from the past years and hopefully more this year,” Ben Casparius ’17, University of North Carolina commit, said.

Staples’ large number of commits does not do justice to the difficulty of attaining a college roster spot. The required training and athleticism is only half of the process of recruiting; academics also hold significant weight. Even after making it to college, athletes still have to balance academics and athletics.

According to the NCAA,

Division I athletes must maintain at least a 1.8, 1.9 and 2.0 GPA over their first, second and subsequent years, respectively.

Additionally, athletes must fulfill certain credit requirements based on their majors every semester. While these requirements are based off each university’s minimum, student-athletes have more to balance than a typical academic student.

Division I student-athletes spend between five and six hours playing their sport every day during their season, as stated in a study conducted by the University of North Carolina. These numbers vary depending on the school, however Ivy League athletics in particular have historically placed a larger focus on

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

Ben Pearl ’18

the academic side of student-athletics.

Earlier this year, Lydia Shaw ’17 committed to Yale University, the third ranked academic school by U.S. News.

In regard to Yale’s academic rigor ,“I’m a little nervous, but at the end of the day I have always had to find a balance between school and soccer, so it’s nothing I’m not already used to,” Shaw said.

Like Shaw, University of Connecticut football commit Ryan Fitton ’17 will also be

continuing his athletic career in-state.

Fitton has to leave Staples on June 10 to begin practices for next season and to get a jump start on classes. The transition from Staples to the UConn campus in Storrs is harder than the easy hour and a half drive makes it seem.

Ever since the Wreckers’ football season ended, the 6-foot-5 tight-end has been following a workout program crafted by the UConn strength and conditioning coach to prepare him for what Fitton called the “huge jump from high school.”

While he has not yet physically stepped on the field with the Huskies, Fitton has watched multiple games and practices since announcing his commitment.

“A big change that I’ll go through on the college level is the intensity and speed of practices[...]; that’s a challenge I’m looking forward to,” Fitton said.

Aside from the challenges, college sports are often seen as an easy way to transition into a new school, as teammates are guaranteed friends, coaches are making sure you are performing well in the classroom and you have a consistent schedule for all four years.

“I am most excited for the team,” Colleen Bannon ’17, Lafayette College lacrosse commit, said. “I already know a few of the commits from my club team, and I know I’ll always be able to count on them, both on and off the field.”

HGG

Sports | May 5, 2017

23

Staples sports’ rising expenses brings concern to athletes Nicole Shapiro ’18

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laying a high school sport comes with expected costs, like necessary gear and uniforms. Some Staples athletes, however, are at risk of not being able to play the sports they love because of potential rising costs. In addition to fees that are already implemented, due to budget cuts, there is speculation about new costs that athletes might have to ‘‘pay to play’’ to participate in athletics at Staples.

“We are not going to cut any sports due to the budget cuts, but I do believe we will be adding a fee per athlete per sport,” Marty Lisevick, Staples Athletic Director, said. “It is probably going to be somewhere around $100-125 per player.”

‘‘Pay to play’’ is an added on fee, not including the equipment, that each player has to pay if they want to play on that sports team. According to Forbes, a “pay to play” program ‘‘sends a clear message to everyone in the school district, a message opposite of that intended by communitysupported public schools: opportunities are available only to those who can pay the fee.’’

However, many Staples students disagree with the decision. ‘‘I do not necessarily think that if the board of education implements this new ‘pay to play’ deal that kids will quit sports, especially in a town like Westport because most kids can afford it, and if not I am sure they can find a way for those kids to still pay,’’ Sofie

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

Calderon ’18, former Staples field hockey and lacrosse player, said.

Students will not be banned from playing a sport if the new money requirement can not be met for a certain reason. ‘‘If there is a kid that can not pay the ‘pay to play’ next year, they can just come to me and we will find a way to pay for that like the booster club,’’ Lisevick said. ‘‘I don’t ever want to be in a situation where we have a kid that can not play a sport here at Staples because money is the situation; we will always figure it out.’’

But the cost of playing a Staples sport varies due to which sport it is. ‘‘Funding one sport more than another can vary dramatically,’’ Lisevick said. ‘‘For example the wrestling team are due for new mats for next year and that can be around $15,000 that can not be covered by budget the board of education gives us, so we get a lot of help from our various booster clubs.’’

Along with their $2,000 equipment, the Staples Hockey team is another sport

that highly relies on their boosters and sponsors. The Staples hockey team is made up of students from not only Staples, but Shelton High School and Weston High School as well, and all of them have to take a bus everyday to and from school to the Mildford Ice Pavillion located in Mildford, Conneticut. ‘‘The board of ed pays for the hockey teams transportation, but paying for the time on the ice can be around $300 an hour and that high cost is covered through outside resources,’’ Lisevick said.

Along with the booster club, the hockey team raises money through many other ways to fund their necessities. ‘‘We get our money from sponsors in the roster book and having fundraisers at banquets and bake sales as well,’’ Sam New ’18, Staples hockey player, said. ‘‘What we get from the board of education doesn’t cover everything that is necessary,” Lisevick said, “so thank god for booster clubs because they have kept us afloat for the last many years.’’

Staples Girls’ lacrosse lifting for success in the spring season Shane Rabacs ’18

has hit high school sports recently.

“My number one goal is to keep the girls on the field and off a set The girls’ lacrosse team decided of crutches. Seems every team in to implement a new offseason weight the FCIAC has lost top players to an training program, the same training as ACL/MCL tear,” Tim Taylor said.

The team hoped to improve after the Wreckers state championship field hockey team. Inspired by their success, a first round loss to Glastonbury in the state playoffs the girls’ lacrosse “Everyone was super last season team hopes to and an 8-6 bring another state committed which has helped overall record. championship to “We have Staples High School. a lot and is paying off.” been doing To prepare for -Meghan Johnson ’18 s t r e n g t h the season, the team w o r k o u t s underwent a weight three times a training program at Tim Taylor’s Athletic week in addition Performance Center. Taylor is the father to supplemental of key player Christine Taylor ’18. running workouts, “They trained their bodies to which are completely reduce injury, increase strength and optional, which a large speed. They were put through a majority of the team has conditioning program much been showing up to which like you would see at the is great,” captain Olivia Troy college level,” Tim Taylor said. ’17 said. “We do wallball twice Despite the intensity of a week and participate in the workouts,the players were Sono clinics and league play.” happy to take part in them.

Tim Taylor praised the “We did a lot of weight girls’ willingness to work at and speed training which improving for this season. was different from the “As busy as these athletes previous years. Everyone are they still found time to train. was super committed Most great athletes will tell you which has helped a that championships are won in lot and is paying off,” the off season,” he said. “These team captain Meghan girls really worked hard and Johnson ’18 said. continue to train while they One of the focuses are in season so my hope is that the team worked on was injury prevention, which is something that this carries over to a successful season!”

SOPHOMORE STAR Alexa Mysel ’19 (top), one of the key sophomore players on varsity, looks to dish a pass against New Canaan.

SHE SHOOTS SHE SCORES Elle Fair ’19 (bottom) scores a goal against the New Canaan Rams on April 25.

FUTURE HUSKY University of Connecticut commit Olivia Troy ’17 plays against the New Canaan Rams on April 25.

Photos contributed by Stamford Advocate

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Sports | May 5, 2017

Staples sets sail for a redeeming season Izzy Blansfield ’18 & Hannah Bolandian ’19

T

he Staples sailing team is one of the less popular sports in the Staples community, with a lack of super fans at their re g at t a s

and knowledge surrounding the intricacies of operating a sailboat.

According to team member Andrew Breschard ’18, sailing is a more skills-based sport that requires patience, adaptability and precision.

“You need to really understand the sport and realize that the sometimes slow pace of it can often make it more exciting.

When the wind’s lighter, it’s important not to let yourself fall behind and to sail much smarter.”

Captains Burke Anvari ’17 and Nicole Welch ’17 elaborate on the demands of sailing, explaining that intense concentration, knowledge, practice and fitness levels are also important to the success of a sailor.

While the sailing team might not be spending day in and day out in the gym lifting weights and

bulking up, they do focus on maintaining last year’s team graduated, with four key a strong core and strong hands in their sailors moving on to Division I sailing team workouts to perform their best on schools. Despite the loss of great talent, Anvari remains high in spirits. the water.

“We have big shoes to fill, we have a lot Many members of the team have been working on developing and strengthening of new talent on the team and are confident these qualities since early on, whether it that we can repeat our success of last year,” be picking it up as an activity at summer Anvari said.

By practicing four days a week at the camp or learning the ropes on Sundays Cedar Point Yacht Club and attending from mom or dad. many workout “I’d say “You need to really understand and classroom the average sessions, the amount of the sport and realize that the team is prepared time people give their best on the team sometimes slow pace of it can to efforts on and have been off the water to sailing is often make it more exciting.” have a successful around six or -Andrew Breschard ’18 season. seven years,” Additionally, Breschard the team’s coach, Samantha Parisi, has said.

The team’s hard work has paid off, been a huge contribution and role model as they had their best season in history that has beneficially impacted the success last year. The team finished with a 12-4 of the team.

Due to the work of Parisi, “The team record and placed second in the Fairfield County’s sailing league. They remain as a whole has seen improvement in in high hopes that their success will understanding the rules of sailing and team racing concepts,” Will Rudaz ’18, a continue into this season.

However, half of the members of member of the team, said.

Ph ot os

THE WEATHER FACTOR Nicole Welch (left) and David Adipietro (right) heel (leaning under wind pressure) in order to compensate for the strong winds.

PREPPING FOR VICTORY The sailing team practices on the waters at the Cedar Point Yacht Club.

SAILING THE SOUND The sailing team competes on the Long Island Sound, training for the New England Women’s Championship.

CAMMRADERIE The twelve members of the sailing team, led by captains Burke Anvari (top far left) and Nicole Welch (bottom row, second to the end), celebrate their accomplishments after being ranked fifth in Connecticut.

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