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THE KNIGHT STAFF Page 2
REPORTER
ADVISOR
Mina Kim
Elisia Harkins
COPY EDITOR
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Jessica “Jo” Aquino
REPORTER
Grace McKagan
Anna Hovanesyan
ADS MANAGER
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Ebone’ Chatman
REPORTER Sophia Page
Tayce Taylor
REPORTER Cameron De’Matteis
BLOG EDITOR
REPORTER Ben Sloan
Vaughn Himber
REPORTER
Devon Gearhart
LAYOUT EDITOR
REPORTER
Sidney Stephens
Tina Nagai
REPORTER Nick Halaby
The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
ND G N I M O C E HOM ISSUE 12
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4 Sweet Dreams Day 6 Mix and Match Day 8 Twin Day 10 Spirit Day 12 Homecoming Game 14 Homecoming Dance
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The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
t D e e reams w S
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The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
Counting sheep By Jo Aquino & Mina Kim This Monday, every student came to school in their most comfortable and fashionable pajamas. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, students acted accordingly to what they were wearing. Monday seemed like a social experiment and there were definitely interesting results. Clothes seem to play a role in behavior. What we wear may affect how we walk, how we socialize and how we handle a regular day. Does wearing pajamas to school actually make students sleepier? We went around and asked students if they were sleepier, and most said, “No, it’s just more comfortable. But I don’t go to sleep in class.” Some said, “I don’t fall asleep any more than usual.” Surprisingly, not many students fell asleep during class, at least not those who usually stay awake anyway. However, students were more relaxed in class, making them less nervous and scatter-brained— In comparison to the usually frazzled student population. Perhaps wearing pajamas to school is only an excuse for students to start falling asleep in class, because attire does not affect most people’s sleeping patterns. Page 5
Illustrati ons Provide d by Ke elin Quigley
Senior Josh Dzyak said, “I could fall asleep in jeans and a polo; I fall asleep when I’m tired, not just because I’m dressed for it.” So maybe pajamas have no affect on our day at school. In fact, Senior Samantha Bock said it had the opposite affect on her. She said, “I feel more awake today because I just rolled out of bed and came to school. I didn’t have to think too hard about it.” Due to the fact that she didn’t have to wake up so early to think about changing or what she would have to wear on any other Spirit day, she came early, she had a little bit more sleep (and doesn’t every second count?), and she was livelier that morning. Most students agreed with her perspective. However, because some students were all in more comfortable clothing, they were also not as formal as they usually were. Students were more comfortable with one another, joking about the footiepajamas all around school, and just friendlier and more inclusive in general. The sleepy Monday revealed that despite the comfort in our clothes that what we wear can affect the way we approach the day.
The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
y a D Clash
“It was defin itely a lot more fun an d bigger than what I exper ienced at my middle schoo l, and it was such a great experience.” -Anna Dzyak , Freshman
he amount of t y b d e is r p r su s “I wa particile p o e p e r o m y creativity. I’d sa ld school, and o y m t a n a h t D pated at N the day.” f o n u f e h t o t it really added eshman -Chandra East, Fr
“A lot of peo ple were ex cited about the ga mes and cand y we were passing out. I’m a me mber of ASB, and I w as helping up at the football toss . Most people really just wanted candy, but it was nice seeing people come out to try the games.” -Nia Naval, Sopho more Page 6
The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
“Clash Day re ally allowed people to let go for once . They didn’t care what th were wearin ey g and everyo ne enjoyed dancing durin g the lunch w hen Amp Radio came in . No one wa s judging any one and it w as a day to k ind of just b free.” -Joshu e a Dzyak, Sen ior
ows.” b n i a r of an. a m e h s s a e r “It was n Donbro, F ro -Came
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The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
Twin Life with a Twin By Nick Halaby Twin Day is a big part of our Spirit Week. No matter what the Homecoming theme, there is always a Twin Day. It is something that gives you the opportunity to match up with a good friend and look exactly like someone for a whole day. It is something that most students look forward to, but what about those kids who are actually real twins? What is it like for kids with identical siblings, who basically experience Twin Day every day, to go to twin-themed spirit day or even just live their everyday life with someone who looks exactly like them? Twins are normal kids, just like you and me. The only difference between them and anyone else is that they have a brother or sister that is identical to them. That is why having Twin Day at school might be a little weird to them. According to Tristan and Cameron Klier, Sophmore twins, Twin Day is not that weird at all. “Every day is twin day,” they said. “Having a twin is normal to us.” When asked what having a real twin is like, they jokingly said that, “The only bad thing is that when you call him ugly, you’re basically calling yourself ugly.” According to the Kliers, the best part about being a twin is always having somebody to hang out with. Alia and Ariana Taghaddos would agree. Being twins themselves, they say that the best apart about it is always having someone there for you. “The worst part is that we’re always together; you’re never alone. Aside from our looks, we’re nothing alike.” The same can’t be said for Aodhan and Billy Kinksmon, who say that they both share the same taste in music. “To me the best part about having a twin is deniability: sometimes you can frame the other one for something you did,” said Aodhan. “The worst part is that you have to share everything. As for Twin Day, it’s not all that weird; it just gets a little annoying when people keep making jokes about having a built-in Twin Day partner.” So it turns out that having a Twin Day at school is not a very big deal to kids with identical siblings. To them, it is just another normal day. Twins, just like everyone else with siblings, have to share and learn to sacrifice a little privacy in their lives. The biggest difference is that unlike having a younger or older sibling, twins have someone that is identical to them. This is something that can sometimes cause confusion for other people about which twin is which, among other things, but for the most part, it is not that different from having a normal sibling. Twin Day is not a big deal for real twins, it is just something that is a part of their school life, just like every other student. Page 8
The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
Day “The only bad thing is that if you call him ugly, you’re basically calling yourself ugly.” -The Klier Twins
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The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
t i r i Sp Day
By Sophia Page
Homecoming has come again! Spirit Day’s outside activities were an exciting prelude to the Homecoming football game against Loyola High School. They served to rouse the school with excitement and pump the students with school spirit. The football field was an array of white, black, gold, and blue dressed students and faculty Friday morning. The field activities included games like tug of war, an obstacle course, and a football throw. Students from all grades got to compete and represent their grade victoriously while the crowd cheered them on. Junior, Krista Goosen, said, “The activities on the field were really fun and got me excited about the football game”. The Seniors rose to the top and proved to be the strongest and most triumphant at the games. They used their strength to beat the faculty at tug of war. Sophomore, Mary Hovanesyan, said, “My favorite part was watching the tug of war. It was really exciting.” The obstacle course was full of amusement. Plenty of laughs arose from the crowd when the participants hit the ground in some seemingly painful ways. The field games served to excite the whole school and get them pumped for the Homecoming game.
Let’s go Knights!
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The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
By With all the excitement of Nick Halaby the game, Homecoming was as incredible as always. At half time, after the bands performance, it was time for a senior princess to be crowned queen of the Homecoming court, an honor that would be voted on by the senior class. One by one, each princess was carted in with her escort, the happy fathers, and each stepped onto the stage to receive a beautiful bouquet of roses. Finally, the envelope was delivered and the crowd erupted with cheers as Stephanie La Face’s name was called out. La Face received her crown and a hug from her proud father as her face light up with joy. “It goes to show how blessed I am to have all these people in my life,” she exclaimed. “I’m so thankful. It’s great to be in a community like this.” And just what did Queen’s father have to say about his daughter being voted the top of Homecoming court? “I think it’s fabulous and I’m so proud. She’s worked so hard to become the great young woman she is.” It was magical evening for Stephanie, whose Homecoming fairytale ended happily ever after.
Here Comes the Queen! Page 11
The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
Staying
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The Knight Magazine
Homecoming 2012
g Alive
By Nick Halaby was Notre Dame14 and Loyola 7. This year’s Notre Dame High School HomecomDuring the second half of the game, Notre ing was much more than just the Knights’ last Dames’ offense didn’t struggle nearly as much home game. The Knights were trying to accomand the defense completely owned the cubs. plish making the playoffs, after the rut they were Kelly Hilinski got his first touchdown pass of his stuck in the past couple of years. In order to do last home game with a huge pass to Daniel Khan. so, Notre Dame needed to win three out of their Muhammad also had a big gain, which he capifour league games. After a league opening loss talized with a 3 yard touchdown. Going into the to Alemany, the Knights chances of going to the final quarter, the Knights were 28 and the Cubs playoffs seemed slim. But the very next week, were still at 7. At the beginning of the Fourth Notre Dame pulled off a four over-time win over quarter, Loyola made efforts in trying to get a Crespi, which might have provided the spark they comeback. They went for it on fourth down and needed to make playoffs. With Seniors Kelly Hilgot it, capitalizing with a field goal. When they got inski and Khalfani Muhammad playing their last the ball back, they drove it down the field and got home game, the Knights hopes of making playstriking distance. They went for it on fourth down offs hinged on whether or not they could pull out yet again but this time they were stopped by the the homecoming victory. powerful Notre Dame defense, which sealed the The first quarter started off a little crazier victory for the Knights. Cheers boomed from the than expected. The defense did great, not letcrowd and sideline as the final seconds ticked off ting Loyola score any points the entire quarter. the clock and the Knights playoff hopes were kept The offense was a completely different story. alive. Quarterback, Kelly Hilinski, fumbled the ball on After the victorious Haka dance was perthe first drive, which looked to have a promising formed in front of packed bleachers, Coach start. Luckily the Knights were able to drive the Rooney commented on the Knights recent drive ball down the field and Chris Colarassi rushed for the postseason. “It feels great, this league for a 1 yard touchdown to put the Knights on the is tough and we are now in a great place to be bored. At the beginning of the second quarter, when it comes to reaching the playoffs.” Though Notre Dame started off deep in their own territory this victory was a great one, it was a little bitand gave up the ball when Hilinski fumbled once tersweet for the Seniors, like quarterback, Kelly again, giving Loyola the ball on the Notre Dame Hilinski, who played their last game in front of 1 yard line. Loyola scored pretty easily from that the Notre Dame home crowd. When Hilinski was position and the Knights were not able to answer asked how it felt to win his last home game, he on the following drive. Luckily the defense held said, “It feels amazing, it’s so special to go out up and was able to hold Loyola, making them with a win and now it’s time to get to the playoffs.” punt. Running back, Khalfani Muhammad, who Though the excitement from the past two weeks was pretty quiet for most of the first half, came may be overwhelming, the Knights have to stay alive on a huge 62 yard gain to give the Knights focused and concentrated during their by-week an excellent field possession. He would deliver so they can beat Bishop Amat and reach the yet again, scoring on a 1 yard run, to give Notre Playoffs for the first time in recent years. Page 13 The Knight Magazine Homecoming 2012 Dame the lead going into halftime. At the Half, it
Sweet, Sugar, Candyland
As students excitedly danced in the gym, most seniors only had one thing on their mind: Homecoming King. It seems overrated, but winning Homecoming King is still considered a big deal. After all, when handed the ballots, seniors were scrambling to figure out whom to vote for, trying to vote for the “right” person. What exactly makes for a good Homecoming King? Some adjectives the boys in the Homecoming Court threw around were “athletic”, “personable”, “intelligent”, “funny”, and “just an all-around good guy”. But that hardly helps with voting for a king. Even I had a hard time choosing the “right” king.
Senior Armand De La Torre said, “Any one of us could have won, and we were all deserving of the crown.” Which has to be true because according to Allyssa Moscotte, member of Senior ASB, “The ballots that I saw were very mixed.” The dance itself was charged with anxiety and excitement, constantly asking, “When are they announcing king?” Finally, ten o’clock struck, and students flocked to the edge of the stage. As the five nominees were commended— Tanner Appel, Tyler Burke, Armand De La Torre, Noel Duer, and Zack Maddren—everyone cheered and whistled and some seniors were even crossing their fingers for their nominee to win. “At the dance, I wasn’t thinking too much about the announcement,” said Tanner Appel. “Once we got on stage, it was just exciting to be up there with a great group of guys.” But the small, white envelope was ripped open and only one name was announced: Tanner Appel. He graciously hugged his other nominees as they congratulated him. Appel said, “I was so surprised! It didn’t really hit me right away.” The Homecoming Princes were all deserving, though, and each one accedes as much. Burke even admitted, “Heck, I voted for Tanner.” Duer, Homecoming Prince, said, “I was a little disappointed, but seeing how good Tanner looked with the crown on compensated for everything.” Many seniors conceded that they did, in fact, predict that Appel would win. However, De La Torre jokingly added, “You won, Tanner, but I’m still liked more than you.” Thankfully, none of the guys were sour about losing to Tanner. Zack Maddren, Homecoming Prince, also said, “It would’ve been nice to win, but this isn’t Obama-Romney 2012.” And this is true, but students will always care about the Homecoming court because tradition will remain the same. Page 14
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Homecoming 2012
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