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Newtonite

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US postage paid Newton, Mass.

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Newton North High School, 360 Lowell Ave., Newtonville, Mass. 02460

◆ Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 • Volume 88, Issue 9

Marini named superintendent for ’09-’10 year MARENA COLE MATT KALISH James Marini, former principal of this school, is now interim superintendent for this school year.

Last year, former superintendent Jeffrey Young accepted a position as superintendent of schools in Cambridge.

Marini spoke to Newton Public Schools faculty at the Shira Bleicher opening day V. James meeting Sept.

Marini 2 at South.

“I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be with you today,” Marini said. “Last year, I had no idea I would be here.

“Every school year brings the possibility of hope, optimism,and excitement for a new school year.

“I want to provide the leadership for you to do what it is you need to do.”

School Committee chair Marc Laredo ‘77 said seven applications were submitted for the job, but a subcommittee deemed none of the applicants qualified.

“We reached out to former principal Jim Marini,” Laredo said. “Because he was retired, we had to go through a process to get permission from the state.”

Laredo said the Committee voted unanimously to elect Marini interim superintendent until July 1, 2010.

Marini graduated from Newton High School in 1963. He attended Newton Junior College until 1966, when he entered Boston State College. He majored in mathematics and earned a bachelor’s of science in 1970.

He began teaching math that BY

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year at F. A. Day Junior High.

In 1974, while still at Day, he received a master’s in education from Antioch University.

Marini was assistant principal at Day from 1978 to 1985, when he became associate principal at Concord Middle School.

In 1987 he became principal at Concord, where he stayed until he became principal here in 1990.

In 1999, Marini left to become assistant superintendent for high schools and operations. In 2002, he became superintendent of schools in Winchester, until he retired in 2007.

Laredo said the School Committee has formed a Search Committee, which is in the process of conducting a nationwide search for a new superintendent, to be hired by March or April.

The 21-member committee is chaired by Claire Sokoloff, the School Committee vice-chair, and Reenie Murphy, a School Committee member.

English teacher Inez Dover said Marini’s ability to work with people will benefit him as superintendent.

“He had a knack for being around,” Dover said of his time as principal. “He was always on Main Street, and he always knew what everybody was doing.

“One of his best skills was being able to communicate with all kinds of people. He is so personable.

“He was able to bring out the best in people. He knew everyone’s skills and how to make them shine, and use their capabilities.”

History and social sciences teacher Ty Vignone said Marini’s best features include “being upfront, honest and shooting from the hip. He loves his staff and his students,” he said.

Shira Bleicher

In the International Café: Italian exchange students Maria Chiara Cepparrone and Chiara Luzzi talk at breakfast Monday. Twenty-two students from Liceo Antonio Gramsci in Florence arrived last Friday and will be staying until next Friday. The students are visiting host families and sightseeing in Boston. Activities have included walking the Freedom Trail and visiting the Museum of Fine Arts. The exchange dates from 1982.

Tutoring seeks more members Two teachers pilot peer tutoring program this year MARENA COLE his year, students can receive academic help through a new peer tutoring program.

The program has two sides, Academic Tutorial for students to be tutored, and PTP, or the Peer Tutoring Program, for tutors.

Math teacher Karly Braden and science teacher Melissa Rice will run the program, which is piloting this year.

“We are in need of juniors and seniors to tutor,” Braden said.

Approximately 45 students were signed up to tutor, she said.

According to principal Jennifer Price, the program has exciting possibilities.

“We looked at a model at Framingham High School before BY

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we started the program, and it’s a very exciting model,” Price said.

“It has a lot of potential, not only for grade improvement, but for giving kids good role models.”

According to Braden, the program will provide a one-on-one environment for students in need of academic support.

“It will benefit both the student getting tutored and the student tutoring by creating a cooperative and compassionate environment,” Braden said.

The program will pair freshmen and sophomores in need of academic assistance with juniors and seniors, who will tutor in specific subject areas, Braden said.

To tutor, juniors and seniors must first fill out an application

and have a teacher fill out a form verifying their ability in a specific subject, she said.

Then, the student must have an interview and complete several training sessions.

Tutors will need to commit to at least two blocks per week for one semester, Braden said.

Braden said the program is not accepting any more students to be tutored until next year.

“We hope to have an open referral process, where students can either refer themselves, or be referred by counselors or teachers,” she said.

Applications for tutors are available in the peer tutoring office in 230, or in the peer tutoring center in 239. Applications are due next Friday.

Building to be emptied by July MARENA COLE n preparation for the move to the new building, this school must be emptied

by July 15, according to Heidi Black, the administrator of high school construction and strategic planning.

Black spoke to faculty Sept. 5 about plans to move into the new high school building.

“Right now, the project is on schedule, if not ahead of schedule,” Black said. “My expectation is that this building will be empty

by July 15.

Black said anything left behind in this building will become property of the demolition contractor.

“If anything is left in the school, you’ll never see it again,” BY

Shira Bleicher

In construction: According to administrator of high school construction and strategic planning Heidi Black, the new building is on schedule to open for classes September, 2010.

I

she said. “We will provide boxes, tape and shredders for everyone to use.

“It’s a good time to purge and get rid of anything you don’t need.”

Black said many supplies and furniture will be moved from the old building into the new building.

Over the summer, furniture consultants surveyed and put stickers on furniture to categorize what will and will not be moving into the new building, she said.

According to Black, furniture that is either deemed to be in terrible condition or does not meet a fire safety code cannot be moved into the new building.

Some upholstered and some hard plastic furniture does not

See Talk of the Tiger — page 13

meet this code and therefore will not be moved into the new building, Black said.

“We’re going to try to use as much as possible from the old building, but we know there are needs for new furniture,” she said.

“Department heads will work to see what new equipment is needed. For example, we’re going to have a new fitness center, so we know we’ll need some new cardio equipment.”

Crews will move classroom furniture into each classroom, she said.

“Any furniture that can be moved by the movers will be,” she said. “We will be asking faculty to move their own fragile and personal furniture,” she said.

2 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Students, teachers share thoughts on new year GEORGINA TEASDALE With the start of the new school year, many students are looking forward to new experiences and being back with their friends.

Junior Monica Reuman said she is excited to “hang out with friends during my frees. It’s my first time with frees and I’m really excited.

That, and the teachers and new faces, and I’m just really glad to be back in school.”

Sophomore Laura Murray said, “I’m looking forward Newtonian to getting to Monica know all my Reuman classmates and teachers.”

Freshman Jill Zwetchkenbaum said, “I’m looking forward to meeting new people and maybe doing activities I couldn’t do in middle school.”

Many seniors are looking forward to the privileges that come with being the oldest in the school.

Senior Rani Jacobson said, “I really like my classes, so I’m looking forward to them and being captain of gymnastics because it’ll be good to be a leader of the team after all my years of effort.”

S i m i l a r l y, senior Leanne Newtonian Precopio is Leanne “looking forPrecopio ward to being a leader of the school and senior activities.”

Some students are looking forward to finishing at this school.

Senior Alex Feinberg said, “I’m looking forward to being done with high school and flying away to another part of the country.”

Junior Jing Cox-Orrell said she is looking forward to, “getBY

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Still summer

mass interview

ting through junior year and just being done.”

Junior Gina Nathwani is most looking forward to “Junior Prom and getting through the year.”

Junior Phoebe Nesgos is looking forward to “being a junior and to start looking forward to college.”

Others are also looking forward to new experiences.

English teacher, Tim Finnegan said, “I’m looking forward to being able to launch the new Shakespeare English elecNewtonian tive that I’m Tim teaching.”

Finnegan Student teacher Meghan Silvia said, “I’m actually doing some student teaching. I have been working as an interpreter, so it’s a different role.”

Junior Molly Doris-Pierce is looking forward to “being a junior and finding what truly inspires me and what I really want to be.”

Students also said they are looking forward to experiences new classes will bring.

Senior Emily Lemieux is l o o k i n g f o rward to all the field trips her classes are taking.

Junior Hannah Herrlich Newtonian said she is Hannah “looking forHerrlich ward to being introduced to new books in English class.”

Sophomore Arthur MossHawkins said, “I’m looking forward to having new teachers. It’s just nice for a change.” ◆ REBECCA HARRIS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY.

Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the newspaper of Newton North High School, 360 Lowell Ave., Newtonville, Mass. 02460.

Editors in chief — Eli Davidow, Matt Kalish, Ellen Sarkisian Managing editor — Prateek Allapur News editor — Marena Cole Sports editors — Meredith Abrams, Josh Bakan Arts editor — Alicia Zhao Features editors — Emily Amaro, Jay Krieger On campus editor — Olivia Stearns News analysis editor— Georgina Teasdale Photography editors — Shira Bleicher, Gaby Perez-Dietz, Teddy Wenneker Graphics managers — Max Fathy, Ben Hills Advertising managers — Chris Keefe, Jack McLaughlin Business manager — Chris Welch Circulation managers — Caleb Gannon, Dan Salvucci Exchanges editor — Peter TaberSimonian Adviser — Kate Shaughnessy

opinion

Production advisers — Sue Brooks, Tom Donnellan Volunteer layout adviser — Rob Greenfield News staff — Ilana Greenstein, Rebecca Harris, Stephen Michael, Rebecca Oran Features staff — Emmett Greenburg, Jacob Brunell Sports staff — Evan Clements, Nicole Curhan, Jeremy Gurvits, Elliot Raff Arts staff — Eliana Eskinazi, Kate Lewis, Fatema Zaidi News analysis staff — Kellynette Gomez Art staff — Julia Belamarich, Puloma Ghosh, Anna Kaertner, Stephen Liu, Hannah Schon, D’Jaidah Wynn Photography staff — Anna Gargas, Helen Gao, Jaryd Justice-Moote, Lucy Mazur-Warren, Jesse Tripathi Circulation staff — Spencer Alton, Jackie Assar, Rebecca Kantar, Sydney Massing-Schaffer, Stoddard Meigs, Brooke Stearns, Daniel Tabib Production staff — Graham Stanton

The Newtonite staff brings 16 issues a year to camera readiness for a circulation of 2,500 and goes online daily during the academic year.

To place an ad in the Newtonite or contact us by phone, please call 617-559-6274. Yearly subscriptions cost $20. Readers can also reach us at Newtonite@newton.k12.ma.us.

To find the Newtonite online go to www.thenewtonite.com.

Shira Bleicher

In bloom: Flowers outside the building are in full blossom in the last days of summer.

Peer tutoring is a good choice Recently, narrowing the achievement gap has been one of this school’s top priorities.

After a proposal passed by the Student Faculty Administration last year, juniors and second semester sophomores with grades below a C- do not have open campus privileges.

The school has a clear focus on improving the academic performance of all students.

And now, with a new peer tutoring program, upperclassmen can get involved.

Juniors and seniors can volunteer two blocks a week to tutor a freshman or sophomore who is struggling academically.

editorial This is a great step in the efforts to increase overall academic performance in the school.

It’s not only a good opportunity for those being tutored, but for the upperclassman who tutor.

Everyone can remember a time when they needed academic help.

This new program is a great opportunity to give back and to help someone who really needs it, but it can only work if upperclassmen are willing to step up.

This program will be a good

support system to have in the school for years to come.

Not only does this program have the potential to provide support for students in their schoolwork, but also, pairing students in a one-to-one environment can provide a freshman or sophomore with a good upperclassman role model.

The administration is making great strides in improving the school. However, students need to get involved as well.

Helping a struggling student can be a very rewarding experience. If you have some extra time during the school day, consider signing up to be a peer tutor. Someone could really use your help.

Just think about it...

Mayoral candidates Setti Warren and Ruth Balser will have their first debate as finalists in the mayoral race here.

The Political Forum Club is hosting the debate in the Film Lecture Hall next Wednesday

at 6 p.m., according to history teacher Jim Morrison, the adviser.

History teacher Brian Goeselt will be the faculty panelist, and members of the Political Forum Club will form

a student panel. Junior Peter Wu will be the moderator.

The debate is open to the public. It’s a great opportunities to hear the candidates speak about their views and get involved.

Lori Borden taught English, advised speech team, Newtonite

BY MATT KALISH Lori Borden, who taught English, advised the speech team, and advised this newspaper died July 11.

A winner of the Paul E. Elicker Award for excellence in teaching in 1992, she retired in 1993 after teaching here for 28 years.

Ms. Borden said that this school was the chief influence in her life.

“I have learned so much from the people here about every aspect in my life—not just from my colleagues, but from the students,” she said in the retirement story this paper ran about her in 1993.

She was a “model teacher,” said retired English department head Mary Lanigan.

“She represents scholarship in the school and an extraordinary knowledge of her subject.”

Borden also served on the Student Faculty Administration Board and was a Heintzelman trustee.

Born in Houston, Texas, Bor-

Lori Borden

file photo

in memoriam den graduated from Rice University in 1954 with a major in English before receiving her master’s degree in the teaching of English in 1955 there.

Starting in 1962, Borden taught here for two years and then moved on to teach at Middletown High School in Connecticut from 1964 to 1966. She came back to

Newton High in the 1966-1967 school year and taught here until her retirement.

Commenting on Borden’s love of learning, former English teacher Sheila Zolli said, “she lives the idea that learning is forever. She truly believes that she is a student forever.”

In 1973, Borden went with her husband to Liberia, where she studied the connections between the folk tales of Liberia and the folk tales she grew up with in the South.

Letters Readers are invited to submit guest articles and letters to the editor. Letters should be put in the Newtonite box in Beals House or emailed to newtonite@newton.k12. ma.us. The Newtonite reserves the right to edit all letters, which must have the writer’s name, class and homeroom. The Newtonite serves as a forum for student opinion.

news

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 3

Soccer game honors late counselor, coach ELI DAVIDOW o commemorate the life of Ucal McKenzie, the first annual McKenzie Friendly at Warren Field honored the late counselor and coach by playing the game that he loved so much: soccer.

“I think this is great,” his wife Suzanne McKenzie said. “We’ve got the whole community to gather together. It really speaks about how much the community cares about Ucal.

“It’s the most appropriate way to honor him.”

The event was sponsored by the new Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation, which will run soccer clinics for ages 8-18.

“These clinics will have fitness incorporated into them too,” McKenzie said. “The clinics will encompass all the points that Ucal wanted to make.”

At the event, four scrimmages were played: the girls’ varsity team against current faculty and alumni, the boys’ varsity team against Cambridge Rindge and Latin, the boys’ junior varsity team against Cambridge Rindge and Latin and two club teams, Newton BAYS U10 against Valeo FC Blast U11.

McKenzie used to coach the Valeo FC Blast U11 team along with coaching the boys’ varsity soccer team.

After the scrimmage between the girls’ varsity team and current faculty and alumni, four speakers talked about their unbreakable connection with Ucal.

James Nelson, the athletic director at Ucal’s alma mater Suffolk University, said that Ucal BY

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“Ucal always pushed us our hardest. He always emphasized professionalism, and that will stay with me forever.”

-Phil Song ’08 had the “voice of all the young people.”

“His voice was the voice that brought pride to the sport of soccer, his family and himself,” he said.

Next Phil Song ’08, a captain from Ucal’s 2007 team, said that Ucal’s stress on doing everything the right way will remain with him into the future.

“Ucal always pushed us our hardest,” he said. “He always emphasized professionalism, and that will stay with me forever.

“His legacy will live on, it will live on in the way we practice, live on in the way we do everything in life.”

After Song, New England Revolution Vice President Craig Tornberg presented Ucal’s jersey to his family. The Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation has retired his number eight.

Senior Ryan Vona ended the program with beautiful interpretations of the United States’ national anthem and the Jamaican national anthem.

New faculty members in the building BY

MARENA COLE, JAY KRIEGER OLIVIA STEARNS

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Who: Sarah Hoffman What: Guidance Counselor Background: Earned a master’s in education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education in 1990.

She worked as an assistant director of admissions at Smith College and then as a college counselor at Northfield Mount Hermon School until family photo 2009.

Excited about…: Sarah “Finding out what Hoffman matters most to students and helping with the complicated application process.”

Teddy Wenneker

Retiring the number: New England Revolution vice president Craig Tornberg presents Suzanne McKenzie, wife of the late Ucal McKenzie, with his retired jersey at the Breakaway Foundation’s soccer event Sept. 3.

Who: Sherley Blood What: Latin Teacher Background: Earned a master’s in technology from Marlboro College in 2005 and a master’s in Latin and classical humanities from UMass Amherst in 2007. Most recently, she taught Latin at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School Gaby Perez-Dietz from 2007 to 2009.

Sherley Excited about…: Blood “The kids, teachers, and everyone at Newton North are great. It is an honor to succeed Bob Mitchell.”

Who: Jerry Etienne What: Guidance Counselor Background: Earned a master’s in education from Cambridge College in 2007. He then worked at Boston Latin High School as a guidance counselor from 2007 to 2009.

Looking forward to…: “I am looking forward to getting Shira Bleicher acclimated as soon Jerry as possible, as well Etienne as building lasting relationships with students and fellow faculty members.”

Who: Emily Hartz What: History Teacher Background: Earned a bachelor’s in history from Smith College in 2007.

Taught World History at Hopedale Junior-Senior High School from 2007 to 2009.

Looking forward to...: “I hope to get Shira Bleicher involved with the travel programs Emily Hartz here. I think it’s pretty unique that students get to go to China and other places around the world.”

Who: Andrea McClellan What: Pilot Teacher Background: Attended College of Wooster in Ohio and Lesley University of Education before beginning work as an English teacher at Dearborn Academy from 2006 to 2009.

Excited about...: “I’m excited about meeting new peoShira Bleicher ple and getting the Andrea full experience of a McClellan working at a public school.”

Who: Laura Rice What: Director of Pilot Program Background: Earned a bachelor’s and master’s from Boston College.

Most recently, she worked at Dearborn Academy in Arlington as the director of the Step program.

Excited about…: “I’ve been lucky to work with the PiShira Bleicher lot team. They care Laura Rice about the kids.”

Who: Andrea Shurtleff What: Drafting Teacher Background: Graduated from this school in 1991 and earned a bachelor’s in architecture from Boston Architecture College in 2000. She worked as a senior associate in a residential design office for 12 years until 2009.

Looking forward Shira Bleicher to…: “Having never Andrea worked with kids Shurtleff before, I’m looking forward to my first teaching experience.”

arts

4 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

‘Wonder of the World’ engages audience Production combines wit, charm and message

ELIANA ESKINAZI An active cast and delightful characterizations made “Wonder of the World” refreshingly whimsical and thought-provoking.

Under the direction of Molly Goodman, South ’06, the play went up July 10 through July 18 in South’s Lab Theatre with an eight-person cast.

The play begins in Park Slope, New York, with a woman named Cass packing her bags to leave Kip, her husband of seven years.

Upon looking through Kip’s sweater drawer, Cass has discovered a terrifying secret, and she leaves digusted because he has not lived up to her expectations.

Nathan Wainwright ’09 played Kip’s needy and awkward character exquisitely. He knows his secret is outrageous and understands why Cass would want to leave, but he will let nothing get in the way of their happy marriage.

Played by junior Mercer Gary, the spirited and chatty Cass promises herself that she will complete a lengthy list of tasks during her journey. Her goals include making conversation with strangers, driving cross-country, learning Swedish and finding her soulmate.

On a bus heading towards Niagara Falls, she strikes up a conversation with Lois, a suicidal alcoholic who was abandoned by her husband. The audience burst into laughter when Cass began rambling to Lois and talking rapidly out of her anger.

Played by South senior Alexandra Lewis, Lois is traveling to Niagara Falls with a barrel in which she plans to jump the BY

review falls. As she and Cass become best friends, Cass makes it her first priority to prevent Lois from jumping.

Upon their arrival at Niagara Falls, Cass and Lois board a sightseeing boat, the Maid of the Mist. It is here that Cass meets Captain Mike, whose wife died when a peanut butter jar fell on her. Max Pava, South ’09, portrayed Captain Mike as a lively and charming fellow.

Soon, Cass and Captain Mike begin to have an affair, and Cass strongly believes that he is her soulmate.

Adding to the absurdity, Cass then comes across Glen and Karla, an energetic and bubbly couple, only to find out that they are actually private detectives whom Kip hired to find her.

Senior Joella Tepper played Karla and South junior Max Grossman played Glen; together, they portrayed a bickering dynamic duo that amused the audience with their spontaneity and eccentricity. The two fight all the time and call each other crazy, yet they remain true to one another.

The journey culminates when a marriage counselor suggests all the characters play the “Newlywed Game” in a group therapy session.

South senior Hannah Furgang played the marriage counselor, taking the stage as she coaxed the rest of the characters to pour out their life stories.

Impressively, South junior Ellie Crowley played four characters: three servers at themed

courtesy Gaul Porat

Stranded: Playing Lois, South senior Alexandra Lewis attempts to jump Niagara Falls in a barrel with junior Mercer Gary, playing Cass, towards the end of “Wonder of the World.” restaurants and a helicopter pilot, giving each one a distinct personality.

As the characters finish their stories, the audience realizes that these people are all linked in ways they will never fully understand.

Although simple, the set and costumes were effective in allowing the audience to concentrate

more on each character.

Senior Meital Sandbank designed a set that changed between a wooden bed—representing Cass’ and Kip’s home—and the sightseeing boat.

Costumes by Liz Fitzpatrick, a professional costumer, added to each character’s personality. For instance, Lois wore plaid, baggy clothes, showing her laidback na-

ture, while Karla and Glen wore extreme outfits full of colors and patterns, displaying their wild and friendly attitudes.

A witty and charming show about life’s ever-changing nature and its transitions, “Wonder of the World” brought across the idea that the most meaningful experiences often come unexpectedly.

Students perform in humorous, chilling musical Cast members bring life to dark, twisted story line

courtesy Gaul Porat

In public: As Edgar, junior Edan Laniado belts out in front of the townsfolk, singing about his evolution to a civilized boy.

BY KATE LEWIS With off-the-wall comedy, a dark, convoluted story line, and chilling scenes, “Bat Boy: The Musical” was a hit.

Under the direction of actor, director and theatre educator Jessica McGettrick, the production showed at South’s Seasholes Auditorium July 11, 12, 18 and 19, with book and lyrics by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, and music by Laurence O’Keefe.

The musical begins in Hope Falls, West Virginia, when a halfhuman, half-bat creature attacks siblings Rick, Ron and Ruthie Taylor, portrayed respectively

by Alex Caron, South ’09, sophomore Jon Paul Roby and junior Linda Bard. Ruthie becomes hospitalized, and the people of Hope Falls are outraged.

Hoping to destroy this creature, the sheriff brings him to the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker.

Junior Skylar Fox portrayed Dr. Parker as a corrupt, villainous man who wants to please his society.

Dr. Parker’s wife Meredith, played by junior Kelly McIntyre, was a firm but loving mother figure. The two also have a teenage daughter named Shelley, presented by sophomore Emily Paley. Shelley is at first obedient but becomes rebellious later on.

Junior Edan Laniado played the bat boy. Despite Shelley’s hatred of him, Meredith immediately takes a maternal liking to the boy and christens him with the name Edgar. She promises

review to give Edgar a loving home in the song “A Home for You,” and as Edgar responds, his animalistic howls harmonized with McIntyre’s sweet voice.

Meredith then tries to teach Edgar how to talk and behave like a normal human. Laniado did a remarkable job conveying Edgar’s evolution from a repulsive, uncivilized animal to an almost human-like being. But even as Edgar slowly starts to look and talk more like a boy, he still can’t get rid of his love for drinking blood.

Meanwhile, Ruthie recovers, and the townsfolk urge Dr. Parker to send Edgar away.

Fox delivered an excellent portrayal of Dr. Parker’s internal struggle, with a quiet intensity while debating whether or not to kill Edgar and lose Meredith’s love.

At home, Shelley has finally warmed up to Edgar, who now stands straight and speaks in coherent sentences. The two fall in love, and Shelley admits this to her mother. Meredith is violently opposed to this, declaring a relationship between Shelley and Edgar “not right” and “hideous.”

Shelley runs away to meet Edgar in the woods, where they share a romantic moment in a whole-cast dance sequence “Children, Children,” which collected laughs and culminated in a Bacchanalian festival.

When Meredith enters and interrupts this rendezvous, Edgar

attacks her. Screaming, Meredith finally reveals that she is his mother.

Edgar learns that Dr. Parker had raped Meredith, his thenfiancée, after he accidentally spilled chemicals on himself.

Soon after, a swarm of bats attacked Meredith, leading to the birth of twins: human Shelley and mutant Edgar. Although she demanded that Dr. Parker destroy Edgar, Dr. Parker couldn’t do it and instead abandoned the bat boy in a cave.

The minimal set, designed by Gaul Porat, South ’09, included stalagmites evoking Edgar ’s original cave home, movable furniture for scenes in the Parkers’ home, and a large cave in which Edgar lived for the first few scenes.

With direction by Sabrina Learman, a professional singer, the music added a dark feel to the play.

Costumes by Liz Fitzpatrick, a professional costumer, demonstrated Edgar’s evolution from an uncivilized cave creature, wearing tattered shorts and a dirty T-shirt, to a member of society in a dress shirt, slacks and a bow tie. The citizens of Hope Falls wore clothes from the 1950s in earth tones.

A truly spectacular show, “Bat Boy: The Musical” showcased the students’ hard work through its impressive array of scary moments, funny scenes and enjoyable numbers.

arts

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 5

‘Rabbit Hole’ a poignant, touching play Drama moves audience with emotion review MARENA COLE Moving the audience with its emotion and depth, “Rabbit Hole” depicted a sad struggle between loss and acceptance.

David Lindsay-Abaire’s play went up under the direction of Adam McLean, a freelance director and fight choreographer, July 9, 11, 17 and 19 in South’s Lab Theatre.

“Rabbit Hole” tells the story of Howie and Becca, a young couple who lose their son in an accident and struggle as they cope with the loss.

The play opens with two sisters, Becca and Izzy. Ruthie Bolotin, South ’09, played Izzy as talkative, animated and energetic, contrasting to an uncertain, conservative and conflicted portrayal of Becca by Anya WhelanSmith, South ’09.

Their distinct personalities provided an interesting dynamic—Izzy’s vitality served as a counter to Becca’s hesitancy, and having this difference gave the show more energy.

When Izzy reveals that she is pregnant, Becca is initially shocked, but then sifts through a box of baby clothes and toys to see what she can give to Izzy.

At this, Izzy is uneasy, saying it would be weird to see her child in Becca’s son Danny’s old clothes.

Izzy’s reaction and stories about interactions with friends clue in the audience about Danny’s death.

The audience soon finds out that Danny had died in a car BY

courtesy Jeff Knoedler

Confrontation: As Jason, South junior Harry Neff talks about rabbit holes with Anya Whelan-Smith, South ’09, as Becca.

crash eight months prior, and that Becca and her husband Howie still suffer from its repercussions.

Playing Howie, Noble and Greenough senior Edwin To was methodical, clearheaded and intelligent. Still, the accident affects him, as well as his relationship with Becca. Arguments occur frequently between the two, as Howie is tense and often confrontational, and because such a recent accident remains very painful, it is clearly difficult for them to discuss their son.

Howie thinks Becca should go to therapy to talk over her issues, but Becca argues that it would be most helpful if the couple sold their house; she feels haunted by the memories of her son.

At a birthday party for Izzy, tensions rise between Becca, Howie, Izzy and Nat, Becca’s and Izzy’s mother.

South junior Tanya Lyon played Nat as matronly in her attempts to comfort Becca and support Izzy simultaneously.

In an effort to help, Nat draws a comparison between Danny’s death and the loss of her son, Arthur, who committed suicide at 30. But this only leads to Becca’s irritation, and as the conflicts escalate, all four characters become upset.

The audience also discovers that Becca and Howie have been receiving letters from Jason, a high school senior who confesses that he was the driver in the accident.

South junior Harry Neff portrayed Jason as uneasy and remorseful. He struggles to find the right course of action in dealing with his own guilt, even though Becca and Howie tell him that they don’t blame him.

Eventually, Jason and Becca sit together and talk, relieving the tension on both sides. They discuss a story Jason wrote, in which rabbit holes in space lead to parallel universes.

In these parallel universes, Jason says, the same people can lead completely different lives. Hearing this, Becca jokes that it’s comforting to think that somewhere, she’s having a good time.

Adding a sense of realism to the play, costumes by Liz Fitzpatrick, a professional costumer, clearly reflected each character’s personality — with Becca and Howie in clean-cut button-down shirts and Izzy in eclectic patterns. This allowed the audience to see their personalities from the outside.

Sets by South senior Meital Sandbank consisted of simple household items, including tables, chairs and a television, arranging the scene for what at first appears to be a typical home.

This straightforwardness created an empty feeling, which added to the sentiment.

“Rabbit Hole,” through an emotional portrayal of a family in conflict, left the audience with the message that you must accept loss before you move on.

‘The Producers’ introduces the world of Broadway ALICIA ZHAO “The Producers” brought to life the world of Broadway with its robust combination of witty humor, vivacious characters and jazzy music.

BY

review

With book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music

by Brooks, the musical showed July 30 through Aug. 1 in South’s Seasholes Auditorium under the direction of Nancy Curran Willis, a freelance director.

The story begins with Max Bialystock, a Broadway producer.

The citizens have just deemed his latest production as the worst show in town, and as he reminisces about his better days in “The King of Old Broadway,” a tragic and nostalgic piece, he is determined to seek revenge and regain his fame.

When Max’s accountant Leo Bloom comes to work, he helps Max realize that a producer could make more money with a flop than with a hit. Thus begins Max’s new plan.

When Max asks him to coproduce the new show, Leo is at first hesitant. He is conflicted between his two paths: he wants to follow his dream of becoming a producer, yet he isn’t sure if he should let go of accounting.

After much persuasion, however, Leo gives in and together, the two pick out the worst play ever written: “Springtime for Hitler.”

Communicating Max’s ambition and guile, Max Pava, South ’09, was persuasive and scheming.

Nate Richardson ’09 played Leo as pure, sincere and passionate. The two brought great

courtesy Joella Tepper

Celebration: Cast members break into dance on opening night of ‘Springtime for Hitler’ as junior Skylar Fox, playing Roger De Bris, performs the role of Hitler. contrast to the show, and audience members watched on as the two became best friends despite their differences.

In order to gain rights to the play, Leo and Max visit its writer, an ex-Nazi storm trooper named Franz Liebkind. Isaiah Plovnick,

Brookline ’09, portrayed Franz as a fervent yet oblivious admirer of Hitler.

With his spirited dances and jumpy personality, Franz gained many laughs from the audience.

To make certain that the show is a flop, Leo and Max meet with

Roger De Bris, the worst director in the business.

Roger, played by junior Skylar Fox, was flamboyant and hysterical. In a musical number called “Keep it Gay,” he strutted across the stage in a dress while hues of pink light flashed over him,

his equally showy assistants accompanying.

Now, with the worst play and the worst director, Leo and Max need actors. When Ula, a Swedish actress, auditions for a part, the two decide to hire her as a secretary.

Wellesley senior Madeline Buckley presented Ula as a sweet, showy foreigner who cannot speak much English. She auditions with “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It,” a song that starts out quiet and mellow, then becomes stronger with fluid dance movements, telling the audience not to be modest.

After Leo and Max have determined the cast, everything is set for having the worst show ever.

However, when the play turns out to be a hit, Max and Leo end up in jail for investment fraud.

Costumes by Liz Fitzpatrick, a professional costumer, reflected the Broadway theme, with Max and Leo in black tuxedoes with top hats and Ula dressed like a showgirl.

South Stage technical director Joe Grassia created a set that effectively conveyed each location, showing the many places that Max and Leo visit. For instance, Max’s office included a couch and a desk while Franz’s building had a pigeon cage complex.

With Sabrina Learman, a professional singer, directing the music and Maia Kipman, South ’07, arranging the choreography, the musical numbers set the mood and communicated the characters’ thoughts and conflicts.

At the end, having thoroughly enjoyed this lively, hilarious production, audience members gave “The Producers” a standing ovation.

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6 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

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Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆7

Biodiesel class recycles grease into fuel Q&A with English teacher Steven Chinosi, founder of the Greengineering program EMILY AMARO Amaro: What is the new biodiesel program offered at Newton North?

Chinosi: What we’ve done over the last two years is essentially create this biodiesel program, which takes the cafeteria grease from North and South and turns it into burnable fuel. We can burn it in any diesel engine and in any oil-heating furnace.

You can heat your home with it or drive your car. I drive my car with recycled grease.

Amaro: How do you collect the grease from the cafeteria?

Chinosi: We literally walk over and grab it. They put it in a 5-gallon bucket for us and we grab it.

Amaro: It’s just from cooking?

Chinosi: Yes. It’s from the French fries we eat here— Amaro: —you collect the grease— Chinosi: —and we turn the grease into fuel.

Amaro: How much have you collected so far?

Chinosi: Our rough numbers are, between the two schools, maybe about 150 gallons a year.

Amaro: How far would 150 gallons of fuel power the average diesel engine car?

Chinosi: With 15 gallons in my Jetta Volkswagen, I can drive 600 miles. When I make it from my own sources, separate from the school, it costs about a dollar to make. I only pay a dollar for my gallon of gas, instead of $2.70 or more.

Amaro: What is the class called?

Chinosi: The program is called Greengineering. So this year is biodiesel, and each year we’re going to add a new course. We’ll have solar and wind, and geothermal, and hydroelectricity; we’ll look at all alternative energy as the bigger picture, and all of the components for that.

Amaro: Where is the class held?

Chinosi: For this year the old electrical shop is now the Greengineering shop. In the new building, there is a Greengineering lab, so that’s pretty exciting. We do our chemistry work right here in our kind of makeshift lab.

Amaro: How long is the process of turning grease into usable fuel?

Chinosi: The whole process with the machines we use is about 24 hours. We can turn 40 gallons of grease into burnable fuel in 24 hours.

Amaro: What is the course description for the class?

Chinosi: The idea is that we’re BY

Matt Kalish

Problem solving: English teacher Steven Chinosi and senior Alex Feinberg talk over a proposition in moving the grease from one source to another.

Matt Kalish

Exploration: Senior Olivia Margolin and junior Nathaniel Sweet collaborate on a project. setting up the whole thing as a corporation. You know, theoretical and real. Like the Tigers’ Loft is a viable business, right?

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Matt Kalish

Brainstorming: Junior Dan Foreman and senior Sam Shames work on the logo.

Amaro: Right, they make money and sell food…

Chinosi: Yes, right, well our job, hopefully, if we do it right,

will be to create a corporation for Tiger fuel. We have a raw product, a manufacturing process, and we have customers. And there are

teachers, including myself, who drive diesel, and we’ll be the first customers. There are also plans to put it in a snowplow, one of the big trucks in the city, or use some of it to offset the heating oil. Now, we don’t have access to enough to make a real dent commercially now. So we have only 150 gallons…Well, a few cars using the fuel we have now for a year is all we can provide. So we don’t have the raw material yet to make more.

Amaro: But it’s the start. And you’re teaching students how to actually go through the process.

Chinosi: Yes, it’s the beginning. I wrote a grant for the Newton Schools Foundation; they were phenomenal. They gave us a lot of money, and that really got us to that place where I could use the two years, I could buy some stuff, really experiment, bring other teachers in to help. We had a whole team of people involved, and everyone could slowly get a handle on, “What does this really mean? How will it work with the students?” It’s really just broken down to a big vision: the curriculum, schools who are already doing similar things, and the technical information.

Amaro: What are some components offered to students?

Chinosi: Right now it’s just a four-block class, under the guides of Career and Tech Ed. The cool thing about it is that it is unlike any other course, in the sense that we’ve taken out the specific content. This is not a chemistry class, this isn’t an engineering class, this isn’t a hands-on electrical class, it’s all of those things. It’s also economics, entrepreneurship—we’re setting it up as a company. This team is the board of executives; we have to learn every aspect. In the class, students’ natural inclinations guide them.

Amaro: So in a sense it offers a real world aspect, it gives you everything. Students who may not necessarily be talented in science class can come anyway; maybe they’re interested in mathematics, or customer service, or just helping the planet.

Chinosi: Yes, in the first few days we heard a lot of people with very different reasons, I’m here for an environmental reason; I’m here because I want to work with machines; I’m here because I like chemistry; I’m here for economics. It’s all here. It’s going to be an issues class, where we focus on this one issue, a notion of energy in the fuel form, and expand later. I believe that high school kids are more prepared and more ready than we ever thought.

Central High introduced as third high school, saves money

BY MATT KALISH Newton Central High is debuting as an alternative high school for students with educational issues looking to find a better fit, said Special Education department head and administrator of Newton Central Walter Lyons.

“For years we have had to send students out of the city to a school where they can work better, but we felt like we could do a better job here and save money,” he said.

“We have some excellent teachers that will teach 14-16 students from both here and South.”

Students will be able to go back and forth between their original school and Central for classes that cannot be offered there, such as a world language class or a class in the Career and Tech Ed department, Lyons said.

“For some students, there are just too many distractions here and the size is too big,” he said.

“Central provides a much better environment for these kids.”

The new school is located in the annex building of the Newton Community Education center and has recently been renovated.

“Not only does this save us money, but it makes it much easier on the students because they don’t have to worry about traveling a far distance to get to school each day,” Lyons said.

The school will likely stay the same size for the near future, but it may grow in a few years.

“We’ll see how the program goes, and we might accept tuition students from out of district,” he said.

Susan Rosenzweig, former special education department head, will work here part time to fill in for Lyons.

8 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Se

Around the world Students learn in summer travels

Exploring the variety of cultures in Asia ANDY TSANG ver the summer I traveled with my family to four countries in Asia: Japan, Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong.

We stayed in Japan for two days, but not many people spoke English, so it was difficult to communicate. This was especially true when ordering in restaurants because the menus were only in Japanese.

We also took the subway to see Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensoji.

Next, we traveled to Seoul, Korea and Phuket, Thailand. I learned a lot about Korean and Thai culture. In Thailand, we visited James Bond Island where the movie The Man with the Golden Gun was filmed.

On the first day we were in Korea, we went to an unusual spa.

People would go to this spa to relax and sleep. There were certain rules that you had to follow.

First, you couldn’t wear shoes in the building, and then they would make you change into these clothes that everyone had to wear.

People would go to these rooms and just sleep on the floor with everyone else.

The rooms were really humid, and there was also a steam room BY

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and another room that was really cold. People would find a spot on the floor and just go to sleep.

I actually didn’t do anything at this spa, because I thought it was too awkward to just go to sleep on the floor and have other people watch you sleep.

The final place I visited was Hong Kong—my favorite part of the entire trip. We climbed 268 steps to reach the Big Buddha on Lantau Island.

Unfortunately, it was humid every day, and sometimes I had to stay in the hotel just to avoid the weather.

But what made Hong Kong special was that I saw a lot of family friends and the food was amazing.

In Hong Kong, my family and I went to an ocean park. There were many roller coasters and a water park.

I got the chance to see a panda there, which was pretty exciting.

There were two sections of the ocean park, so we had to take a cable car to the second section. It was a great view when we reached the top of the mountains. The ocean park was actually really fun and I had a great time.

This vacation was fun, and I hope to go back to Hong Kong.

courtesy Andy Tsang

In Japan: Senior Andy Tsang visits the Sensoji Temple.

courtesy Rosie McInnes

At the Fountain of Hope: Juniors Rosie McInnes (far left) and Mackenzie Hollister (far right) are in Zambia with their translator and their new friend, Fred.

Hope still lives in Zambia amongst poverty, adversity A

ROSIE MCINNES pprehension knotted in my stomach as we bumped down the dirt road towards the Fountain of Hope.

The way was familiar the second time, and I could see the barefoot kids in torn dusty cutoff shorts and dirty T-shirts out the window.

The van slowed to a stop outside of a brightly painted cinderblock wall, and I knew we had arrived. It still felt strange to have every pair of eyes turn from shooting a basket or kicking a ball to stare at us.

As our group prepared to get out and start the interviews, I saw three kids from the window; huge smiles lit their faces and they waved at us in excitement. I felt ready to take a chance and try something new.

We were there with the Communities Without Borders program to conduct interviews with street teens who lived at the Fountain of Hope, a library with dorms and classrooms for street kids and vulnerable children.

After visiting the library the previous week, our group thought it would be interesting to interview and talk with some of the street kids our own age. We wanted to get to know someone who lived in such drastically different conditions than we had ever experienced.

Our peer translator and I were going to interview a boy named Fred. When we met, I noticed nothing extraordinary about him.

He was 17, he told us, and a little taller than me. He walked with a slouch, his face unsmiling, but not unfriendly.

His large, brown eyes were his most noticeable feature. Sitting in a stone-floored classroom at a wooden desk, Fred told us his story.

Fred told us his mom died when he was so young he didn’t remember. He lived with his grandmother for a while, and then went to live with his aunt and uncle.

This was a tough time, he told us, because his aunt would beat BY

him and take the money a charity had given him. He said he liked his uncle okay, but he didn’t really help him at all.

After a few years of the abuse, Fred moved out and onto the streets. His description of the three years he lived on the streets was truly heartbreaking. He told us he slept in a cardboard box every night with sacks for blankets. He would eat garbage—if he ate anything at all.

He said you had to be careful when you were sleeping because it was common for the older street kids to set plastic on fire and put it on your skin. He had the scars to prove it.

He pushed up his sleeve to show us the scar—and that did it for me.

I was filled with despair and sadness for this boy sitting two feet away from me, who had already suffered more than I will in my whole life.

However, Fred seemed unfazed telling us the horrors of his life; he calmly described all his experiences as if he were talking about a T.V. show he’d seen. He twisted a blue bandana around his hand the whole time, twisting it in different ways.

Slowly, Fred opened up to us more. He told us how he really wants to go to school, and when he sees other kids his age going to school he feels sad and jealous.

He said he prays to God every day, with hope in his heart.

What was really beautiful about Fred was his art. He told us he paints and makes mosaics and sculptures. He said his experiences have influenced his art and that he has even sold some pieces.

He began to talk more animatedly when discussing his art.

Without realizing it, he picked up my pen and began drawing little things on the paper or his hand.

He wants to be an artist, he told us. He said he thanks God every day for bringing him off the street and giving him the ability to

make his art. That’s when I realized—Fred is an artist already.

It just hurt my heart to see Fred, a kid who is basically my age, a kid who has lived such an incredibly difficult life, yet finds joy, hope and strength doing what he loves.

He laughed and smiled more towards the end of the interview as he grew more comfortable, and he took a picture with us. Afterwards, it all began to weigh on me, the whole Zambia experience. I wrote in my journal that night: “There is so little these people have, and so much that I have, and I feel like what we do is so insignificant. There are so many people in the United States who have absolutely no idea what these people go through every day, and that I cannot continue to do that.

“I would give every child at Fountain of Hope a home in my house if I could. It seems everything in my life is so selfish now.

“But I am trying to still feel hope because that is all these kids have to live on. When they have no home, food or family, they can still have hope, and that’s why we are here, to give them that hope.”

Now that I’m home, I want to tell everyone I can about Fred, and about all the Zambians we met. I want to tell them about all the children, with their enormous smiles and excitement to learn and talk to us. I want to tell them how awful some people have it there so that maybe they will tell someone else about it, who will tell someone else.

I now realize that a really important job we did in Zambia was bearing witness. Witness to Fred, and his story, and the many other stories we were told. Then we can come home and tell their stories, and raise awareness so that more aid can be given.

Maybe Fred, or a kid like Fred, can be an artist if he wants to, and does not have to live on the street.

By telling their stories, we can give Fred and others like him hope.

ept. 18, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆9

Microfinancing in the slums of India PRATEEK ALLAPUR he plane took off at 5 that Tuesday evening and 24 hours later I was in India, hugging my grandparents.

This summer was to be the greatest fun I’d had in a long time.

I visited all of my family across India, traveling sometimes for hours together in a car to reach the next destination.

However, we not only visited family members, we also were able to complete some extensive sightseeing on a 10-day trip that we took across southern and western India. We managed to see Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains a magnificent set of structures including over 200 temples and sites of worship.

Meeting my family, vacationing at the beach, and even sightseeing were great parts of my trip, but the most fulfilling aspect of my journey to India was volunteering for CARE International, a non-profit organization based in Atlanta.

I met the head of operations in Andhra Pradesh, the state I was living in, and she connected me with her field workers. The project I worked on was a micro-credit assignment that the State Bank of India, the World Bank, and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation were funding. The goal of the project was to create at least 1,000 self-help groups (SHGs) per month for women from urban slums.

I went to these slums three times a week, and I helped the field coordinators present money-saving strategies to the women who lived there.

I helped the field coordinators as they put on presentations at community centers to try to convince BY

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women to organize themselves into effective SHGs. We conducted three-day workshops to train women how to be effective group leaders. We taught them the importance of saving money so they would be prepared if and when a need for that money arose.

I was also able to participate in a nine-day workshop that was led by CARE India. The workshop aimed to consolidate the data and community responses from on-going projects in the region, such as the International Health and Nutrition Project, and assess it to improve the programs.

The workshop was also important because it was going to be used as a template and planning tool for similar workshops that the individual CARE State Headquarters across India were going to conduct in the future.

Therefore I was given the responsibility of writing up the template and presenting it to the group. This was a daunting task, but with the help of the coordinators, I was able to create this organization.

This was an important achievement for me this summer, as I was able to take what I had experienced and learned in the field and put it to use in a document that would be used as a guide for CARE across India. I am extremely grateful for everyone who helped me in this process and allowed me to experience what a career in social development was actually like.

Overall, this summer in India was among the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. Not only because I visited my family and had fun, but because I was able to balance it out with work that made me feel good.

Prateek Allapur

In Hyderabad: Women work in their jointly-owned textile shop, funded by various microfinance organizations.

In Prague: The students of “Prague Summer” stand invd Wenceslas Square.

courtesy Gaby Perez-Dietz

History will not be forgotten Students discover the past in ‘Prague Summer’ ELI DAVIDOW ome say that after history is done, history is classified as “lost.”

So, I guess that statement turned out to be wrong.

This summer I spent two weeks deep in the remnants of history, ranging from the times of the Middle Ages to the Cold War. History is indeed alive. History is preserved on the left-over slabs of the Berlin Wall. Silent screams for a democratic government were painted over the expressionless grey walls. Bright and energetic colors demonstrated to the Communist regime that the people welcomed Western democracy and freedoms.

I was among 38 students from four different schools who traveled to three major Central European cities: Krakow, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic; and Berlin, Germany.

Run by the Newton Summer School program, the “Prague Summer” program brought students from Newton North, Newton South, Dexter and Rolling Hills Prep, a Californian private school.

“Prague Summer ” began in 1990 when history teacher Ty Vignone led a group to tear down the Berlin Wall.

We visited the cities from June 28 through July 14.

Between seeing AuschwitzBirkenau, arguably the largest BY

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concentration camp during the Holocaust, and Checkpoint Charlie, the crossing point between East and West Berlin, history undeniably has been preserved for the future.

Our first stop was in the stunning Krakow, which was the original capital of Poland.

It houses the biggest public square in all of Europe, full of tasty kebab shops and inexpensive ice cream cones. An advantage was that Poland had not switched to the euro yet, so everything was cheaper.

During the Middle Ages, Krakow was the center for Poland’s economic boom, primarily centered around its abundant amount of salt. Actually, we visited a salt mine that goes almost a mile underground, where we licked the walls made up of salt. Later, the country bowed to Nazism.

The largest of all the concentration camps set up by the Nazis was in a small industrial town called Auschwitz—only a 45-minute drive from Krakow.

More than one million people died at Auschwitz. The barracks still stand, but the surrounding land looked rather tranquil; the sunshine looked beautiful on the verdant grass.

It seemed unfathomable to me that the greatest atrocities in human history occurred on this soil. Here, seeing the grounds was believing history.

Before visiting a place like Auschwitz, the Holocaust is just an idea. Then, it becomes real.

The next city we traveled to was Prague, filled with nuggets of historical treasure.

This Czech city had pristine looks and timeless architecture, including the astronomical clock and the gothic Tyn Church.

Much like Krakow, Prague was another jewel taken up by Hitler during World War II. Eventually the Communists claimed the city after the Second World War in 1945.

Because of the various styles of architecture showcased in the city, Prague is like stepping into a world of other worlds.

On one block there might be an ornamental, overly-decorated baroque church presented by the Communists to undermine religion, while down the street stood modern architecture, like Frank Gehry’s “Dancing House.”

Because of the variety of buildings still around Prague, it was a unique way to view the past.

The last city on our tour, Berlin, felt like a modern city with spectacular squares tucked away, like the Sony Center. Similar to New York, it had sausage stands on almost every street corner.

Yet, the Berlin Wall reminded us that history was here and alive.

The trip proved to me that the sites of history remain and educate us far into the future.

‘Snap-shots’ of working in an urban Chinese orphanage MOLLY KAUFMAN ike any other Newton North student, initially I was melancholy about summer coming to an end.

It’s always hard to enjoy the final throes of those warm months, knowing that the days of stretching out on a hammock, Newtonian swimming at the Molly beach and go Kaufman ing barefoot are numbered.

H o w e v e r, there is a certain air of excitement in returning to school and seeing everyone again. Not only BY

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does seeing fellow classmates and friends keep you distracted from the inevitable stress of starting new classes, but you are also given an opportunity to fill someone in on how you spent your two months of freedom.

Many of my peers spent their vacations in fascinating ways, including traveling, working and relaxing. I, for one, did all three.

I began my summer in Beijing, China. In light of completing AP Chinese my junior year, my parents agreed to let me travel to Beijing and volunteer at a social services agency in a run-down district called Gao Bei Dian.

I chose to not go on an expensive program; rather, I went by myself to have more independence in finding something that would

improve my Chinese fluency.

I spent July in Gao Bei Dian, a poor district that not many tourists see. Being one of the last remaining old cities, it will likely be gone in a few years to make way for urban development.

Many of the people I worked with on medical issues, as well as the orphaned children I helped care for, were surprised to find a western girl in the agency—one who spoke Chinese, no less!

Every day for a month, I was surrounded by native Chinese speakers, and my fluency improved immensely. However, what surprised me most was how eyeopening working in Gao Bei Dian was.

My experience volunteering and the perspectives I heard from co-

workers who have witnessed China’s evolution over time prompted me to think about China on a larger scale.

Not only did being there help me comprehend how rapidly China is changing, but it also made me realize how much of a work in progress it still is.

In the span of a few years, China has undergone technological, economic and social changes that took the United States decades to complete. These changes are ongoing.

Still, many effects go unnoticed: the disappearance of old hutongs (traditional city housing districts) to make way for skyscrapers, charity agencies struggling to keep up with the demands of a poor, over-populated district. I found the whole situation fascinating.

Despite my summer being packed, I definitely spent it well, doing things that catered to and expanded my interests.

This summer showed me how important it is to pursue (and renew!) your passions and not be afraid of finding new ones.

During the stress of the school year, I find that it can become far too easy to lose sight of the things you love to do. Currently, I’m feeling refreshed and ready to get back into the rhythm of Newton North.

However, I know that as the year progresses, homework and college applications pile-up, and my gusto for beginning school fades, I will often hearken back to various “snap-shots” of my summer, which I will always treasure in my mind.

10 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

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Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Newtonite fall calendar

September

Rosh Hashanah begins today at sundown.

Student Orientation Skills for freshmen ends Monday, Sept. 21 in X-block.

Senior Parent Night is Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 in Lasker Auditorium.

On Campus sponsors Minga Day Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Parent Night for Theatre Ink is Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 in the little theatre.

No school Monday, Sept.

28 in observance of Yom Kippur.

The PTSO meets Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Film Lecture Hall.

October

Club Day is Monday, Oct. 5 in X-block in the cafeteria.

Warnings for Term I are due Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Back to School Night for parents is Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7.

The SATs are Saturday morning, Oct. 10.

No school for Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 12.

School and College Nights are at Newton South Wednesday, Oct. 14 and Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7.

Under the direction of English teacher Inez Dover, Theatre Ink’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” opens Thursday, Oct. 15 through Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the little theatre.

The PSATs are Saturday morning, Oct. 17 at 7:45.

There will be an Orientation Seminar for freshmen Tuesday, Oct. 20 in F-block.

Members of the Alliance for Climate Education will present programs on campus during D, F and G blocks that day.

Student photo retakes are all day Wednesday, Oct. 21.

School ends at 11 on Thursday, Oct. 22, for a profession-

al half day.

ACTs are Saturday morning, October 24 at 7:45.

The PTSO meets Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Film Lecture Hall.

Training Day for Mentors in Violence Prevention is Thursday, Oct. 29. Theatre Ink Parent Night is that evening at 7 in Lasker Auditorium.

Halloween is Oct. 31.

November

Voting for city and state elections is here all day Tuesday, Nov. 3.

English MCAS retests are Wednesday, Nov. 4 though Friday, Nov. 6.

Financial Aid Night is Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 in Lasker Auditorium.

Term I ends Friday, Nov. 6.

The PTSO’s Progressive Dinner is that evening.

The SATs are Saturday morning, Nov. 7.

Term II begins Monday, Nov. 9. Math MCAS retests are Monday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 10.

No school Wednesday, Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day. The Huntington Lecture Series begins Thursday, Nov. 12 at 4 in the Film Lecture Hall.

Under the direction of seniors Julia Mandel-Folly and Ingrid Rudie, Theatre Ink’s “20 th Century” opens that evening at 7:30 through Saturday, Nov. 14 in Lasker Auditorium.

Grades are due for Term I Friday, Nov. 14.

Harvestfest I is Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 in Lasker Auditorium.

Thursday, Nov. 19 is a professional half day, with school ending at 11. Harvestfest II is that evening at 7 in Lasker Auditorium.

Athletic Awards Night is Monday, Nov. 23 in Lasker Auditorium at 6:30.

Parent Conferences are

Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 2-5 p.m.

School closes for Thanksgiving Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 11.

The Brookline game is Thursday, Nov. 26 at 10 a.m.

December

On Campus sponsors Inclusive Schools Day Thursday, Dec. 3. The Singer/Songwriter Symposium is that evening at 7:30 in Lasker Auditorium.

Parent Conferences are from 4-7 p.m.

On Campus sponsors Human Rights Day Friday, Dec. 4.

The SATs are Saturday morning, Dec. 5.

The PTSO meets Monday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the library.

Mediation training for PAWS—Positive Agreement Works—is Tuesday, Dec. 8 and Thursday, Dec. 10.

Under the direction of seniors Seth Simons and Chris Annas-Lee, “Caligula” opens Thursday, Dec. 10 through Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the little theatre.

The ACTs are Saturday morning, Dec. 12 at 7:45.

Warnings for Term II are due Tuesday, Dec. 15.

On Campus sponsors ToBGLAD Day on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

There will be an Orientation Seminar for freshmen E-block Thursday, Dec. 17.

Theatre Ink Parent Night is that evening at 7 in Room 127.

School closes for winter vacation Thursday, Dec. 24.

January

School reopens Monday, Jan. 4.

The PTSO will have a meeting for new parents Wednesday, Jan. 6 in the library at a time to be announced.

The Huntington Lecture

Series continues Thursday, Jan. 7 at 7.

Under the direction of sophomores Caleb Bromberg, Maddie Cetlin, Sonia Douglas and Pamela Chen, Theater Ink presents Freshman Cabaret that evening through Friday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 in Lasker Auditorium.

The PTSO meets Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Film Lecture Hall.

Sophomores will be presenting their Modern Hero essays Friday, Jan. 15.

There will be no school for Martin Luther King Day, Monday, Jan. 18.

Term II ends Friday, Jan. 22.

The SATs are Saturday morning, Jan. 23.

Term III begins Monday, Jan. 25.

Grades are due for Term II Friday, Jan. 29.

Jubilee performs Sunday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. in Lasker Auditorium.

—COMPILED BY ELLEN SARKISIAN

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 11

12 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

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Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

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Cost: $120 per player for 6 week program Email or call Mike Scheffler to reserve spot at �������������������������������������

Good Luck in the new School Year.

Go Tigers!

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Talk of the Critic’s Corner

Waltz With Bashir

One night, Ari’s friend tells him of a recurring nightmare that takes place during the Lebanon war. Ari then realizes he cannot remember the period of his life when he fought in the war, so he sets off to interview friends and comrades from the war to try to piece together his past. The film is animated in a graphic novel style instead of live action shots.

The unique animation enables the viewers to grasp the film’s gritty and disturbing subject matter, making them feel uneasy. If documentaries have turned you off in the past, Waltz With Bashir will change the way you look at documentaries in the future.

-RENT

Se7en Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman play hot-shot and retiring detectives, respectively, investigating a serial killer who picks his victims according to the seven deadly sins. The director, David Fincher, films most scenes in gritty, dimly lit areas, showing

the city as the cesspool of crime and violence that it is. This is an extremely graphic movie and is not for the weak-hearted. While the plot isn’t original and it’s a paint-by-numbers film, the actors make it enjoyable to watch.

While the ending isn’t of the same quality as the rest of the film, it pleases nonetheless.

-BUY

Gran Torino Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a racist Korean War veteran who lives in a mostly Korean neighborhood in Detroit.

One night, his neighbor Thao breaks into his garage to steal his Gran Torino as part of a gang initiation. As punishment, Kowalski makes Thao work for him while trying to keep him away from the gangs that plague the area. Clint Eastwood also directed the movie, which shows he is a talented director in addition to an actor.

While the ending isn’t exactly surprising, Kowalski’s character development is well done.

-RENT

Friday the 13th (2009) Let’s be honest, we have all lost count of how many Friday the 13th movies have been made.

With the exception of the first film, none of them has been any good, and the recent iteration isn’t much better. The movie starts with teens searching for a mysterious field of marijuana in the woods, where they end up running into Jason the hockeymasked slasher. The movie then runs the course of teens drinking and doing drugs while Jason kills them in grotesque ways. There are no redeeming qualities in this movie; it follows the same formula as all of its predecessors, and it doesn’t do it nearly as well.

-PASS - Jay Krieger

Around the Town ...

Laser Rock 2009 Friday, Sept. 18, 8:30 p.m.

Museum of Science Boston, MA Price: $6.50

Improv Asylum Fridays, 8 and 10 p.m.

Saturdays, 7 and 9 p.m.

Improv Asylum Boston, MA 617.263.6887 Price: $15

Lebowski Fest Tour 2009 Saturday, Sept. 19, 8 p.m.

House of Blues Boston, MA Price: $20

Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers Exhibition Game Saturday, Sept. 19, 4 p.m.

TD Banknorth Garden Boston, MA Price: $29.50

Teachers’ Picks Mr. Sanders...

Tiger

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 13

Mr. Aronson...

Mr. Giusti...

Favorite Artists

Favorite Artists

Favorite Artists

◆Robin Thick ◆Usher ◆Michael Jackson ◆Jamie Foxx ◆Barry Manilow

◆The Grateful Dead ◆Van Morrison ◆Miles Davis ◆Muddy Waters ◆Kings of Leon

◆ Frank Sinatra ◆ The Grateful Dead ◆ The Rolling Stones ◆ The Beatles ◆ James Taylor

Favorite Movie

Favorite Movie

Favorite Movie

◆Dirty Dancing

◆The Godfather: Part II

◆Remember the Titans

First day on the first floor

Laugh a Little ...

BY ALICIA ZHAO

I’ll admit. Maybe school isn’t exactly the best thing to follow up a relaxing summer. After all, it entails that familiar black hole we like to call stress.

Homework. Extracurricular activities. Tests. Projects. Where does it end?

In times like these, I have a little tip for you all: Loosen up once in a while and laugh, because when people say that laughter is the best medicine, they aren’t too far from the truth.

Sure, we all know what laughing feels like. The chemistry beneath it all? Not so much. Let me introduce you to gelotology, the official study of laughter. And no, I’m not kidding.

Fortunately, we were all born with the ability to laugh. But besides laughter being a universal language and a tension reliever, it is also beneficial to our health.

Yes, especially for stressed out students.

According to a study done by Loma Linda University in California, you increase the amount of disease fighting cells to strengthen your immune system by laughing. Laughing also reduces stress hormones, improves circulation, strengthens your bones and helps you release your emotions.

Say you laughed 100 times today—Well, congratulations, that’s the equivalent of a 10-minute workout on a rowing machine.

Bet you didn’t know that.

The thing is, it’s not that hard to laugh, especially when laughter costs nothing and helps express yourself in a positive way.

What have you got to lose?

As e.e. Cummings once said, “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”

So make it a goal to laugh more—lighten up, see the humor in certain situations—and along the way, you might just relieve some of that stress.

Interested in being in the next issueʼs Talk of the Tiger?

Call 617-559-6274 or stop by room 101 D’Jaidah Wynn

sports

14 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Boys’ soccer looks to build strong offense Tigers want to develop new players MEREDITH ABRAMS With a relatively inexperienced team, boys’ soccer coach Brian Rooney said he sees the potential to improve every day.

“I’ve enjoyed working with them a lot,” he said. “They have good enthusiasm for the game.

They enjoy being with each other, and they enjoy playing soccer.

“They give the coaches a lot of joy to be working with them,” he added. “It’s going to be a fun year because with this team, they come to play every day.”

Rooney said the team’s strength is defense rather then offense, because “it’s harder to score.”

“We’re going to have to get better at offense. So, we’re doing a lot of work on crossing and finishing.”

He said goals of the team are to come out focused every day, and adjust mistakes at practice.

Commenting on upcoming games, Rooney said, “Having not coached this team before, I’m not overly familiar with the teams.

“However, the strengths of our league are always in our division—Needham, Brookline, Weymouth, Framingham—every team is extremely talented.

“In some other games we have a little better chance, like against Walpole or Milton.”

The Tigers visit Walpole today and Weymouth Monday, and host Milton Wednesday. Friday they visit Brookline and Tuesday they host Needham.

Junior Gianluca Viscomi, a captain with senior Gabe Paul, said he would like to make the State Tournament, and hopefully win it.

“We have a lot of potential,” he said. “If we work together we can make our goal and have fun while we do it.”

Braintree defeated the Tigers 2-0 at home Wednesday.

“We started out strong and BY

Teddy Wenneker

Battle for possession: Senior Guillame Kugener races to the ball. The Tigers, 1-1, lost to Braintree 2-0 at home Wednesday. moved the ball around well in the beginning,” Viscomi said.

“But we lost our finish in the final third, and we didn’t capitalize on chances.”

Thursday, Sept. 10, the Tigers beat Norwood 1-0 in Norwood.

New girls’ coach excited to teach the game he loves MEREDITH ABRAMS Replacing Brian Rooney as girls’ soccer coach, James Hamblin said he wants to make sure the team enjoys itself and has fun, while learning and developing skills.

“In moving forward we have to work hard and communicate and play as a team a little more,” he said.

Hamblin grew up in England, where he has been playing soccer since age four, and he has been coaching soccer for about 11 years, he said.

“Soccer isn’t really a job,” Hamblin said. “I played at a decent level back home, and enjoyed playing it. I find it enjoyable to work with young players and help them develop the game I grew up with.”

In England, Hamblin played with a club team from ages six to 15, then for a men’s league until BY

he was 18. He also played for three years at the University of Wales Institute of Cardiss.

In addition to coaching at Newton North, Hamblin has coached the Boston Renegades in the 14’s, 18’s, and women’s league divisions, as well as the professional women’s Boston Renegades.

He is also a director at Mass.

Premier Soccer, a soccer club that has teams for players four years old to players in college.

Hamblin said he did not want to change the tradition of winning at North, but wanted to bring his own coaching style to the team.

“I want to bring my own coaching personality and develop the team under my name while keeping tradition and keeping the team together. It would be hard to fill Brian’s shoes—I want to make my own.”

“We just dominated the whole game, and finally at the end we finished and got a goal,” Viscomi said.

Rooney also said he is not trying to fill the late Ucal McKenzie’s shoes.

“He coached really well, and he had a really good relationship with the team,” he said. “We talked as a group about what Ucal brought to the team—energy, enthusiasm, and a passion for the game.

“That’s what we want to bring to our games. Our practice shirts say ‘Continue the Legacy,’ because we want to continue what he started—energy, enthusiasm—that’s what I want to bring to the team.”

Girls’ soccer to host Walpole MEREDITH ABRAMS Looking to build a strong program is the long-term goal of girls’ soccer, coach James Hamblin said.

In the short term he is looking to, “get to know the players and their positions, strengths and weaknesses, and how to improve and develop them.”

“We have a very well organized group of players who are very committed,” he said. “We just need to get on the same page a little more and work on training.

“Obviously, we want to make the State Tournament, and we want to make sure every individual works together to build a team that’s hard to break down,” Hamblin said.

Senior Kim Gillies, a captain with seniors Camilla Jackson and Lee Ford, said the 0-1-1 team needs to “get back into the swing of things and make the transition from pre-season to school smoothly so we can play as a team as well as we can individually.

“Our strengths are the drive and desire we have. But, it’s early in the season, so we’re learning how we each play and how to play together,” Gillies said.

BY

Hosting Walpole today, the Tigers will have to “come out with energy and connect passes, and hopefully we’ll have a positive result,” she said. “We tied last year, and they have a few girls who are really tough.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to isolate strong players to score goals early then hold on to the lead,” she said of Monday’s home match against Weymouth.

At Milton Wednesday, Gillies said the Tigers have been unlucky against them.

“We want to play with a lot of heart and play together.”

Of the match at home against Brookline Friday, Sept. 25, Gillies said their program has been developing a lot.

“This year we really need to come out and take control of the game from the start, and have a hunger for the ball,” she said Wednesday, the Tigers tied Braintree 1-1 at Braintree. “We started off really strong, but then we lost our momentum and couldn’t pick it back up during the second half,” Gillies said.

Norwood defeated the Tigers 3-1 at home Friday, Sept. 11, in a match Gillies said was very close.

“It was just like adjusting from school mode to soccer mode—we were asleep the first half, and we stepped up the intensity but we couldn’t pull it off.”

sports

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 15

Golf, 3-1, relying on player development MEREDITH ABRAMS Despite a lack of varsity experience, coach Bob MacDougall has high hopes for the golf team, which has a lot of depth, he said.

“Hopefully, midway through the season we’ll be seasoned and able to take on better teams,” MacDougall said. “We need to be better in matches and become a more experienced team.”

MacDougall said that the team is looking to juniors T.J. Ryan and Eric Regensburg and senior Ben Sauro for leadership.

He also cited senior Mike Zegarelli as a strong player.

BY

“He’s come on strong from the beginning of tryouts and worked hard,” MacDougall added. “We’ve got high hopes for him.”

MacDougall said that the Tigers are learning by doing.

“For our schedule we have matches pretty much three days a week, so it’s just about getting involved in matches,” he said.

“So far I have a very talented group—13 players who can and have already contributed,” MacDougall added. “To get contributions from new guys is fantastic, and helps us become strong as a team and much more dangerous to opponents.

The Tigers visit Brookline Monday.

“Brookline is one of the elite teams in the league,” MacDougall said.

“They have a lot of talent, so we have to play our game and keep things simple.”

Hosting Needham Tuesday, MacDougall said it will be a tough match.

“It’s always entertaining and comes down to the last hole,” he said. “I hope we play well but understand they have to be focused.

It will come down to whether we contend or not.”

Commenting on the match

at home against Framingham Thursday, MacDougall said the Tigers would be much more comfortable on their home course.

“We need to keep the effort level up and continue to do well on our course,” he said.

The Tigers visit Brockton Monday Sept. 28 for the Sullivan Tournament, and visit Needham Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Against Needham the Tigers have to try not to get greedy because Needham has a difficult course, MacDougall said.

However, their program is not particularly strong, he said.

Senior Jonathan Levine said

the goals of the team are to “do well in the Bay State Conference, with good wins over challenging teams like Brookline and Needham.

“We’re a good team, and we have good team chemistry and strong leadership,” he said.

The Tigers defeated Weymouth, 60-48, Tuesday in Weymouth.

“The team did a good job of playing a course many had never seen before,” Levine said. “We picked up after each other and ended up doing well.”

The Tigers were to have hosted Milton yesterday.

Football led by receivers, defense

BY JOSH BAKAN Three goals for football, 0-1 and 3-8 last season, are to beat Brookline at the end of the season on Thanksgiving, win each upcoming game and have a winning season, coach Peter Capodilupo said.

“We are inexperienced on some parts of the team, such as our offensive line and linebackers, but we hope to get better as the year goes on.

“Our wide receivers were inexperienced last year, but they’ve become a strength.”

Leading the wide receivers are seniors Nate Birnbaum, Ben Kiley, Faisal Mayanja and Kourtney Wornum-Parker, Capodilupo said.

One obstacle will be replacing senior Conor O’Neil, the starting quarterback, while he has a back injury, Capodilupo said.

“He has a lot of experience throwing the ball, which we don’t have without him,” he said.

Senior Humberto Castillo, a captain with Mayanja, O’Neil and senior Eddie Pang said, “Our team is returning most of the talented players from last year. Our wide receivers and our defense are our strengths.”

Key returning players include the aforementioned receivers, Pang, a defensive lineman and senior Troy Peterson, a running back, Castillo said.

In the home opener Sunday, the Tigers host Framingham at Boston College.

“Framingham has a very good offense,” Capodilupo said. “They play a spread offense. They have a big running back, and they’re great at throwing the ball.”

Saturday, Sept. 26, the Tigers will visit Walpole, ranked second in the state in the Boston Globe high school football poll last year.

“They have a tough defense,” Capodilupo said. “They’re a tough opponent, but any team can beat any other team.”

Last Friday, Natick, one of the strongest teams in the state according to Capodilupo, beat the Tigers 27-0 at Natick.

“It’s a disappointing way to start the season, but I’m not distressed because we’re a young team,” Capodilupo said.

Peterson had a good game at running back, Capodilupo said.

The Tigers’ home games will be at Bentley and Boston College.

Girls’ swimming to visit Wellesley JOSH BAKAN Girls’ swimming, 1-1 as of Wednesday, is more experienced than ever, said senior Zoe Talkin, a captain with seniors Caeden Brynie and Carissa Chan.

“In previous years, we’ve had girls who didn’t know their basic strokes, and this year, all the girls do,” Talkin said. “This year, we can focus on teaching girls to improve technique and increase endurance.

“Our goal is for everyone to be at the caliber where they’re able to swim individual events. We also want to see a lot of qualifiers for Sectionals and States.”

Tuesday, the Tigers visit Wellesley, “a really strong team this year,” coach Kirsten Tuohy said.

“They’ve had some of the top divers in the state,” she said.

“They also have great sprint freestylers.”

Next Friday, the Tigers visit Natick.

“They’re similar to Wellesley,” Tuohy said. “They have a new coach. Their old coach is at Wellesley.”

Tuesday, September 29, the

Teddy Wenneker

Football tryouts: Senior Troy Peterson, a running back, runs the ball as senior Maxx Lyman follows and senior Scott Giusti watches. The Tigers lost their season opener 27-0 at Natick.

BY

Tigers host Braintree, “a good chance to develop some of our younger starters,” Tuohy said.

Tuesday, the Tigers beat Boston Latin here 95-73.

“We haven’t beaten Boston Latin in about five years, but we got off to a great start,” Tuohy said.

Sophomore Jackie Comstack finished first in the 200 freestyle at 2:19.12. In the same event, freshman Nina Kaplan finished second at 2:34.60.

Last Friday, Norwood beat the Tigers here 94-92.

“First meets are often a challenge, but we knew they had a lot of juniors and seniors, but we had a great meet, especially with out diving.”

In the Medley relay the Tigers finished second with 2:07.09, qualifying for States. The medley relay team includes Talkin, Comstock and seniors Allison McCay and Alyssa Wolyniec.

Sophomore Stephanie Brown finished first in diving at 2.09.13.

The Tigers were to have hosted Acton Boxborough yesterday.

sports

16 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Tigers build on success

JACOB BRUNELL fter advancing all the way to the state sectional semi-finals last year, girls’ volleyball hopes to have an even more successful run this season.

Last season, Newton North finished the regular season 12-8, and the postseason 14-9.

The Tigers hope to build on their experience, said head coach Richard Barton.

“All of the main techniques and fundamentals we pretty much have down as a team because of how much experience the players have.

“Our biggest challenge this season will be the mental aspect of the game,” Barton said.

“We are trying to gain a sense of invincibility as a team. To do that we must build up our confidence and be mentally prepared for all games,” said Barton.

Girls’ volleyball defeated Norwood 3-0 in home match on Thursday, Sept. 10.

“We beat Norwood in a very similar way to the Framingham game. We came out a little too strong, but eventually hit our stride,” Barton said.

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the BY

A

Making the pass: Junior Ella Scheurell dives for the ball in practice Monday. team hosted Framingham, and won 3-1.

“The Framingham game was a little bit of a struggle because the players tried to play a little too powerfully, in term of smacking serves out of bounds or passing without touch or placement,” Barton said.

But after the initial game of the match, the Tigers got going and dominated for the rest of the

game, said Barton.

“One of our main objectives for this year is to try to play a different, more advanced type of volleyball than we have in the past, which I believe will be more successful,” Barton finished.

Senior Zoe Pepper-Cunningham, a captain, said goals of the team are to “work as a team, do the skill, never let up and play how we know we can,” she said.

“Our defense has been pretty strong, but we still need to learn how to play smart, and to be mentally stronger and play like a team.”

Pepper-Cunningham said the team is working on “hitting sets that aren’t favorable and becoming really strong, agile volleyball players.

“Every day we do strength and conditioning before and after

Teddy Wenneker

practice. Right now one of our biggest competitors is ourselves.

We’re playing in situations we’ve struggled with in games, simulating real game situations,” she said.

“Overall, we have a lot of strengths and we know we can do really well this season. We have a really great group of girls, and we have a lot of fun working together.”

Boys aim for States, girls rebuild in cross country JOSH BAKAN EVAN CLEMENTS oys’ cross country, 2-0, is hoping to contend for States. Girls’ cross country, 0-2, hopes to develop its younger players during its rebuilding process.

BY

AND

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Boys’ cross country to contend for States

Expectations are high for boys’ cross-country, said senior Michael Goldenberg, a captain with junior Ezra Lichtman.

“We’re going to win States,” Goldenberg said.

Coach Jim Blackburn said, “we expect to win every meet.”

Team goals are to win the Bay State Conference and place high

in the State Meet, Blackburn said.

With 45 kids on the team, the Tigers’ depth is a major strength, he said.

“We know what to expect from our opponents, and we know that we’re going to win every meet within the league,” said Blackburn. “Our only tough competition is against Brookline in the last meet of the season.”

The Tigers have a meet with Milton, Sept. 30.

The Tigers opened their season Sept. 9 in Needham in a meet that included North, Needham and Walpole. The Tigers beat Needham 17-43, and they beat Walpole 19-39.

The Tigers won thanks in large part to Goldenberg, Lichtman and junior Dan Ranti, Blackburn said. They were the Tigers’ top three finishers.

Ranti finished first at 16:44, Goldenberg finished second at 16:50 and Lichtman finished third at 16:59.

Home meets are at Cold Spring Park.

The Tigers were to have visited Dedham yesterday.

Girls’ cross country develops young talent

Girls’ cross country, 0-2 as of Wednesday after finishing 8-3 last year, is going through a rebuilding season, coach Peter

Martin said.

“Our strengths are enthusiasm, numbers and youth,” Martin said. “However, this is the least experienced team since I’ve been coach.

“We’re a year away from being at the top of the league again,” he added. “We want to be State qualifiers by year’s end. We’re taking a patient approach.”

The Tigers have high potential and great leadership, Martin said.

“We have great sophomores and four excellent captains,” he said.

Tuesday, the Tigers visit Weymouth, “one of the toughest teams in the Bay State Confer-

ence,” said senior Adele Levin, a captain with seniors Julia Belamarich, Susannah Gleason and Shoshana Kruskal.

Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Tigers play host to Natick and Milton.

“Natick is usually a strong team,” Levine said. “Milton usually isn’t very strong, but teams change every year.”

Wednesday, Sept. 9, the Tigers visited Needham. Needham won 32-25 and Walpole won 31-25.

Junior Margo Gillis finished first with 19:12, a course record, Martin said.

The Tigers were to have visited Framingham to face the Flyers and Braintree yesterday.

Field hockey to host Walpole There are no easy games, coach says ELI DAVIDOW ield hockey coach Celeste Myers knows that the road to success may be a long one, but it is reachable this season.

The Tigers finished 0-10-4 last season.

“This year, we have proven we have the potential,” she said. “We have our goals set out. We want to be consistent in our play, work on our communication skills and solidify our defense.”

Holding down the fort on the Tigers’ defense are the captains, seniors Leanne Luke and Tal Shamesh.

“They’ve done a great job managing team and especially working with the younger players on varsity,” Myers said.

Other important returning players are juniors Ali Pappas, a forward and defender, and Marisa Troy, a defender, according to Myers.

The Tigers, 1-2, will not to judge opponents differently, as each game will be approached in BY

Teddy Wenneker

Ready to pass: Senior Leanne Luke, a captain, prepares for the season opener Sept. 9 against Framingham.

F

Coach Celeste Myers “All teams that we play are strong teams. I’m not overlooking any of them.” the same manner, Myers said.

“All teams that we play are strong teams,” she said. “I’m not overlooking any of them.”

Today against Walpole, Myers expects a difficult game.

“They’re one of the best teams in the league,” she said. “We’ll have to take a lot of shots and stop holding the ball.”

Milton, hosting the Tigers Wednesday, poses a similar threat, Myers said.

“For sure, Milton will not be an easy team to play,” Myers said.

Although the teams have an evident rivalry, the Tigers will ignore that fact when Brookline visits Friday, Myers said.

“I don’t see a rivalry,” Myers

said. “If I do see anything, I see them just like everyone else.

Regardless of who they are, we won’t prepare more or less.

The same game plan will be executed.”

In Needham Tuesday, Sept. 29 and Framingham Thursday, October 1, strong teams will provide the Tigers top-notch competition, Myers said.

The Tigers got their first victory of the season in Braintree Wednesday, shutting out the Wamps 5-0.

Freshman Steffi Katz led the Tigers with three goals.

“We were finally seeing our passes and our connections,” Luke said. “It was an important game for us to win.”

Here Friday, Norwood defeated the Tigers 2-0.

“It was an emotional and frustrating game,” Luke said. “It came down to our emotions. We didn’t keep our composure.”

In the season opener Wednesday, Sept. 9, Framingham shut out the Tigers 3-0.