OPINIONS

Bring back ‘Good Morning Staples’

Business Manager

early four years ago, I

Nsat in the back of a silent classroom, craning my neck to see the television along with my fellow classmates. Our eyes fi xed on the screen, we laughed and smiled at the upperclassmen relaying the week’s news on the “Good Morning Staples” broadcast. Talk of the broadcast’s content would carry into the lunch waves and through the halls of the building for the hours to come.

But that was then and this is now. The attentive viewing of “Good Morning Staples” has been replaced with idle chatter over the morning announcements. The colorful green screen is replaced with a barely audible microphone. The student-run interviews are replaced with faculty announcements, and the “Good Morning Staples” news show exists only as a faint memory. Staples should bring back the “Good Morning Staples” news show to help reunite the community post pandemic and to engage students in current events around the school. In a majority of my classes, the morning announcements over the loudspeaker are often ignored due to their unengaging presentation. On the rare occasion that the microphone picks up the speaker’s voice, the speaker typically reads off a laundry list of items that need to be covered; however, without being able to associate a face with a voice, many students tune out what is being said altogether. The Staples morning show would mitigate this issue, because it would offer a platform for students and faculty to interact face-to-face about ongoing school issues of importance to the rest of the student body. The most important aspect of fostering a community of diverse thinkers is giving a variety of voices a platform to speak on. In the morning announcements this year, the student body has heard about a plethora of groups’ accomplishments from Principal W Thomas Jr. instead of the students themselves. All of these groups were represented as part of the Staples community with respect; however, if they had represented themselves instead, the announcement wouldn’t have lacked authenticity. “Good Morning Staples” broadcast had a segment where students interviewed various clubs and groups of students and highlighted noteworthy achievements. This was an advantageous form of representation, as the

is replaced with a barely audible microphone. The student-run interviews are replaced with faculty announcements, and the “Good Morning Staples” story being shared story being shared came directly from the source. came directly from the source. Given the state of our world, Given the state of our world, it is crucial to keep students edit is crucial to keep students educated. There is no time in the morning announcements to talk about things such as the nomination of the new Supreme Court justice, or the petition to keep Joey’s open by Compo beach. Oftentimes, when current events are not mentioned in the mornThe most important ing announcements it can feel aspect of fostering a as though the administration does not deem them important community of diverse enough to talk about. While idethinkers is giving a ally this is not the case, the morning show would offer more air variety of voices a time to talk about these relevant issues, and it would also give stu-platform to speak on. dents the opportunity to make an appearance and shed light on issues that they believe should be heard and talked about at Staples. Good Morning Staples is an important tradition that has been discarded. This show acts as a medium for exercising our First Amendment rights as students in our community and needs to be brought back. As a graduating senior, I implore the underclassmen to carry on this tradition so that their voices can be heard.

Graphic by Rachel Greenberg ’22 Photos contributed by Dan Woog’s 06880 blog

RADIO REGULARS Mike Zito (upper left) and Jim Honeycutt (upper right) advised “Good Morning Staples” for decades, airing the show three times a week at 8:25 a.m. Students such as Jack Caldwell ’19 (lower left) and Cooper Boardman ’17 (lower right) helped to air this show.

10 | FEATURES

Players’ ‘Descendants’ crew supports successful production

Talia Varsano ’24

Staff Writer

he deep red velvet cur-Ttain drew open on April 1. With that, Staples Players’ production of Disney’s hit “Descendants” commenced. The audience’s senses were immediately drawn to the harmony of voices and energetic choreography on stage. While the show had begun on stage, there was also a “show” behind the scenes where all the preparations were made. Behind any Staples production are dozens of students spending countless hours over multiple nights working on the details of lights, costumes and sets that make every show special. Max Kirkorsky ’22 is a devoted member of the tech crew and works hard to help make scenes more realistic and come to life.

“To be in the tech crew is honestly a lot of fun,” Kirkorsky said. “Sure there is work involved for the set, the lights or whatever the show demands, but there is so much opportunity for people to be able to connect with each other. The hours can also be extremely long, sometimes even having nights all the way until 11 p.m., but it’s always worth it.”

Similarly to Kirkorsky, Tess Feldman ’24, who works backstage, recognizes the amount of work that a Staples play requires and is proud of the contributions she makes to the production.

“We’re in charge of everything that comes on and off stage, so it’s a bunch of heavy labor and thinking on your feet,” Feldman said. “That being said, it’s really satisfying to have your hard work seen and appreciated by the audience.” Feldman noted that some work may go unnoticed, but accepts that reality. “ A lot of the time even actors involved in the show just don’t know exactly what it is we do,” Feldman said. Costume crew member Sorel Kennedy ’25 fi rst joined Players for her love of sewing and craft-

ing. She continues to thrive in her role and loves how unique costumes for “Descendants” are. “It’s made very clear within Players that the show can’t go on without its amazing crew,” Kennedy said. “Crew members “Even if the audience get shout-outs for their work, may not notice and the cast is very appreciative for the most part. Even if rhinestones on the audience may not notice rhinestones on costumes or the costumes or the painted details, we know that painted details, we those are the things that make the show really come together.” know that those are As the curtain closed on the things that make “Descendants,” all actors and crew took a fi nal bow the show really come and were eager to celebrate their selfl ess collaboration. together.” “I think our own sense of - Sorel Kennedy ’25 accomplishment is the biggest thing,” Kennedy said. “Some of the things we do can take hours to accomplish but seem minor on stage. But that’s also not the reason we do what we do - we know it’s there, and the actors know it’s there, and that’s enough.”

TECH CREW Players’ tech crew fi nalizes lighting adjustments for their production of “Descendants,” which opened on April 1.

BEHIND THE SCENES The Staples Players’ costume crew sew unique costumes for each production. They feature their process on @costumeisthebestcrew on Instagram.

BUILDING SETS The Players’ crew constructs each production’s set. The crew works after school to ensure the play runs smoothly.

12 |FEATURES Westport community’s efforts support Ukraine

Charley Gutharz ’22

Opinions Editor ver since the current war started in Ukraine on Feb. 24, the Westport community has come together in many ways

Eto support Ukraine. From donating to educating, Westporters have made a joint effort in aiding Ukraine from afar.

CLOTHING DRIVE

CLOTHES FOR UKRAINE

Westporters collect clothing, toiletries, bedding and towels to send to Ukraine. Photo by Charley Gutharz ’22

The Westport community is always trying to fi nd ways to contribute to places in need. One specifi c thing that Westporters are participating in is a clothing drive in support of Ukraine. They are specifi cally asking for clothing, toiletries, bedding and towels. Lisa Rowan, a Westport resident, was one of the many people who participated in the clothing drive. She has been friends with a Ukrainian woman for 13 years and she knew she had to do something to help.

“She came to my house crying telling me her son and grandson are still in Ukraine,” Rowan said. “Aside from donating money, she said she would take clothing that I was giving away and send it to her family back in Ukraine.” Since the beginning of March when the clothing drive started, there have been 48 full bags of materials sent to Ukraine, and they are still working on how to fi nd a way to send the other 100 bags of clothes they have collected.

STAPLES UKRAINE SUPPORT ALLIANCE CLUB

Thomas Sargent ’22 created the Ukraine Support Alliance club on March 2 after learning about the effects in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. This club is a space where the students update themselves on the confl ict and organize ways that they can help. With the current seven members, they split into two different groups that take on different tasks. One group focuses on advocacy and the other focuses on fundraising. “The advocacy team focuses on ways in which we can raise awareness and support for Ukraine as well as organize boycotts and divestment efforts,” Sargent said. “Then the fundraising team will focus on organizing fi nancial assistance to Ukraine, as well as material drives.”

Photo contributed by the Yearbook Club

SUPPORT ALLIANCE

CLUB Thomas Sargent ’22 founded the Ukraine Support Alliance Club, which focuses on advocacy, awareness and fundraising.

SUPPORT BLANKETS Social studies teacher Carol Kaye and her Children’s Development class make baby blankets to support Ukraine. Photo contributed by Carol Kaye

BLANKET MAKING

Staples social studies teacher Carol Kaye decided to participate in the support for Ukraine by making baby blankets in her Children’s Development class. The blankets are going to be sent to Ukraine through an organization called Maidan United which is working with a local organization called Binky Patrol. “Aside from blankets, they are collecting items such as clothing for newborns, socks, medicines, etc. to send to Ukraine,” Kaye said.