v89i15

Newtonite X Friday, Dec. 17, 2010 • Volume 89, Issue 15

Non-profit org.

US postage paid Newton, Mass.

Permit no. 55337

Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460

Wireless options explored REBECCA HARRIS Technology use, security and school life were topics of discussion at a Student Faculty Administration Board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Senior Emma Leader, freshman Ned Martenis and librarian Kevin McGrath suggested in a preliminary proposal that the SFA update the current technology policy to include mobile devices, create new guidelines for which websites should be blocked, and recognize every student’s right to access devices and technology.

Principal Jennifer Price said limited bandwidth currently makes it impossible to provide wireless internet for all students, but that the board could consider other options.

“What if we had students pay for Internet access in school on their own portable devices?” she asked.

The board must take students’ varying financial situations into account when considering this policy, she said.

McGrath suggested that the final proposal state all students’ rights to access the network.

Additionally, the board’s security sub-committee discussed how the lock down on Monday, Dec. 13 shaped the SFA’s perspective on security.

Housemaster James D’Orazio said that the lock down demonstrated how the new school’s windows change the security situation because both the police and the person they are pursuing can see what’s happening much more clearly.

Additionally, the board decided to wait until Whitsons School Nutrition takes over the cafeteria before discussing the potential creation of a “fast lane” for students who pay for lunch with PIN accounts.

BY

School life subcommittee

In the school life subcommittee, faculty and students discussed alternative sounds for the tone that indicates the start of each class and how to make Main Street a livelier place.

Chief innovation officer Steve Chinosi suggested that the SFA replace the tone with music. “ The tone is a horrible sound,” he said. “We never wanted them.”

Junior Caleb Bromberg said that the school should play music in the cafeteria during lunch.

“It’ll make for a better mood,” he said.

He also suggested that the screens on Main Street display the list of absent teachers for a greater portion of time.

The subcommittee also discussed eating on Main Street.

Instructional technology specialist Chris Murphy suggested that seating be put on Main Street, but said that he did not see eating on Main Street as an option.

“We’ve never seen students step up in the right way,” he said.

Teddy Wenneker

Girls’ basketball: Sophomore Madison Beatrice and senior Ella Scheuerell practice Thursday, Dec. 9. Today, the Tigers face Norwood on the road. See page 12 for coverage of the team.

Lighter mistaken for handgun HILARY BRUMBERG Monday’s lock down was caused by a student mistaking another student’s butane lighter for a handgun, according to principal Jennifer Price.

According to Price, the student saw the lighter that resembles a gun tucked into the other student’s pants and asked him what it was Monday morning. He walked away without responding, she said.

The first student immediately told a teacher, who notified a department head. Price and the police were notified.

The administration and the police then looked for the student reported to have a gun. When they were unable BY

to find the student, Price and the police decided to lock down the building around 9:30 a.m., Price said.

“The students and faculty were amazing in their response, and the school was secure within five minutes,” she said.

After searching for the student, Price and the police concluded that he was not in the building and it was safe to move out of lock down mode, she said.

By 10:15 a.m., all classes resumed. Police monitored all access into and out of the building, locking all exterior doors except those at the Tiger Drive and theatre entrances.

The police found the student

at approximately 11:45 a.m. as he attempted to enter the building. He and his family clarified that he was not in possession of a gun, according to Price.

She said that students and faculty handled the lock down “extremely well,” even though it was “a little upsetting.”

“The faculty’s quick and professional response was impressive,” Price said.

“I want to applaud the students for being quiet, considerate and patient.”

Although she does not believe students and faculty were in danger Monday, it was still important to call the lock down, a decision that is “never easy to make,” Price said.

“In such moments, I always try to err on the side of caution of making the decision that focuses on the safety of the students the community entrusts us with every day.”

Price said she commends the student who saw what appeared to be a handgun and promptly notified an adult.

“This student made the courageous decision to keep our school safe,” she said. “I encourage you all to make these courageous decisions in the future, as we all have some responsibility in keeping our school safe.”

Price said counselors are available to discuss any concerns students may have.

Policy explains lock down instructions HILARY BRUMBERG There are specific lock down and shelter in place instructions this school follows in response to dangerous or potentially dangerous situations.

According to the protocol compiled by administrators, all students and faculty should be silent immediately after the lock down or shelter in place is initiated over the public announcement system.

Faculty should then check the hallway to allow any students or staff in before locking all doors, closing window shades and turning off the lights and Eno boards. Students and teachers should BY

move with their backpacks to the corner of the room away from the door and the window, the protocol says. At that point, the teacher should take attendance.

No one should open the door during or after lock downs or shelter in places unless directed to do so by identified authorities.

Certain areas have specific lock down and shelter in place instructions, according to the protocol.

XClasses using Dickinson Stadium or the tennis courts should report to the SOA XStudents using Tiger Drive Field should report to the film lecture hall

XGirls in the locker room should take stairwell B to the SOA XBoys in the locker room should take stairwell A to the film lecture hall XStudents in the cafeteria at lunchtime should report to the auditorium XStudents and teachers in free blocks inside the school should report to the nearest classroom, auditorium or the film lecture hall XStudents and teachers in free blocks outside the school should report to Newton City Hall or the Newton Free Library during lock downs and should enter the Elm Road entrance and go to the auditorium during

a shelter in place “Students really have one main job during a lock down or shelter in place: to get to the corner of the room and be quiet,” Barry housemaster Aaron Sanders said. “We have to make sure the rules are simple because in an emergency situation, too much direction can be an overload.”

Sanders said that the protocol has been reviewed by the police and that he “compared notes” with Newton South and other high schools in the area.

“We feel confident that this is a solid protocol, and we plan to have it in place for a long time,” he said.

See Holiday Shopping Guide on page 7

opinion

2 U Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Lessons learned from lock down Even the most troubling incidents can provide a teachable moment.

editorial The lock down procedure on Monday, Dec. 13 has prompted a serious discussion about violence and effective ways to keep school safe for all students.

For more than 40 minutes, students went into lock down after the school administration received a tip that a student was carrying a firearm.

Following standard procedure, teachers locked the doors and covered the windows.

The lock down underscored the importance of implementing routine drills in preparation for a true threat.

This lock down is actually the second one to take place since September—the first one being a drill. By previously rehearsing what to do in case of an emergency, the entire lock down proceeded smoothly without incident.

These drills are essential for the maintenance of a safe school environment.

When a real threat did occur, the student body was

ready.

Almost as soon as the police arrived, local media mobbed the school building.

Four news trucks parked on Tiger Drive as helicopters circled overhead.

Per usual, the media sought to monopolize on the shock of a safe community with sensational reports that exaggerated the length of the lock down to an entire hour and played upon fears of violence.

Newton is a fixture on a list of the safest cities in the United States, compiled by Morgan Quitno Press. The “Garden City” claimed the top spot in the rankings in 2004 and 2005.

However, the lock down is hardly the first security threat to occur on North’s campus in recent years. In 2007, two separate bomb threats prompted the cancellation of classes for a day.

In 2008, another bomb threat caused a delay in the start of the school day. Still, the latest incident is unsettling to students and the community-at-large.

In the end, the school discovered that the object the student thought was the handle of a gun was actually the vinyl grip of a lighter. The whole incident was a false

Teddy Wenneker

Response: A police cruiser parks in front of the theatre entrance during the lock down Monday, Dec. 13. After the lock down, only the main and theatre entrances remained open for the remainder of the day in order to secure the building. alarm.

But under these circumstances, it is better to be overly cautious than to overlook a potentially dangerous situation.

A thousand false alarms are preferable to an undetected threat.

This school should be lauded for taking safety seriously. A student felt comfortable reporting the potential threat to a faculty member, a

fact which should not be understated, for student action is vital to keeping the school safe and secure.

Above all, the lock down showed that our system for the protection of students functions properly. A student tip traveled up the chain of command to the principal, who contacted law enforcement.

If threats can occur in even the most tranquil of

cities, the best option for the security of the student body necessitates full preparedness.

And this incident reveals a thorough procedure in place for student protections if there was a crisis.

Through the combined efforts of the school administration and student body, Newton North strives to create a safe environment for all students.

Eno boards helpful in the 21st century classroom GABE DREYER With the recent demise of the infamously messy chalkboard, the high-tech “Eno” board has emerged into our classrooms, serving a myriad of educational purposes such as a flat screen TV, a standard white board, a standard projector and apparently an easy way to present notes that can be electronically mailed to the students.

A new alternative to the classic TV-on-a-cart—wheeled in during an afternoon block for a party before December BY

break in years past—the Eno boards are connected to their classrooms’ individual surround sound systems. They make uneducational classroom movie showings, as well as funny internet video programs, more enjoyable.

However, non-educational movie-watching is not the sole non-educational use of the Eno boards. In fact, the legacy of its predecessor lives on today: the whiteboard.

As the trademark piece of dusty white chalk crumbled its

Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the newspaper of Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460.

Editors in chief — Marena Cole, Eli Davidow Managing editor — Teddy Wenneker News editor — Hilary Brumberg Sports editors — Jay Feinstein, Jacob Schwartz Arts editors — Kate Lewis, Perrin Stein Features editors — Jacob Brunell, Fatema Zaidi Freelance editor — Meredith Abrams News analysis editor — Steven Michael Talk of the Tiger editor — Georgina Teasdale Photography editor — Gaby Perez-Dietz Production managers — Gabe Dreyer, Ben Hills Advertising managers — Emily Gulotta, Tiphaine Kugener Business manager — Dan Salvucci Circulation managers — Alison Berkowitz, Caleb Gannon

Adviser — Kate Shaughnessy Production adviser — Tom Donnellan News staff — Malini Gandhi, Rebecca Harris, Kayla Shore Features staff — Emmett Greenberg Sports staff — Evan Clements, Jeremy Gurvits Arts staff — Becky Kalish, Gloria Li News analysis staff — Kellynette Gomez Art staff — Catherine Chen, Marissa Goldman, Anna Kaertner, Maddie MacWilliams, Monica Reuman, D’Jaidah Wynn Photography staff — Karen Brier, Eric Halin, Jaryd Justice-Moote, Edan Laniado, Jenny Lewis, Ivan McGovern, Matt Victor Circulation staff — Spencer Alton, Stoddard Meigs, Omar Pinkhasov, Michela Salvucci Production staff — Ross Swerling, Peter Taber-Simonian

The Newtonite staff does all the reporting, production work and photography to produce 16 issues a year for a circulation of 2,000.

To place an ad in the Newtonite or contact us by phone, please call 617-559-6273. Yearly subscriptions cost $20. Readers can also reach us at thenewtonite@gmail.com.

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

satire way into the annals of educational exposition, the dry-erase marker emerged. Not to fear, however, because the white board has not yet been fully replaced, in fact it has only been expanded upon.

Adorning our new Eno boards are the familiar streaks of black and blue Expo markers, which can still be seen throughout the school (with the exception of 264, in which Mr. Jobe prohibits any writing whatsoever on his board.)

The dry-erase markers are still useful when the expensive “smart pens” run out of battery power, and they truly look excellent on the faintly pixilated fa-

çade of the new white boards.

This “criticism” of the new technology should of course be taken with a grain of salt, as the benefits sometimes outweigh the drawbacks.

At the end of a teaching period, teachers are able to save their notes written on the board onto a computer and electronically mail them to students.

This sounds great, but what has not been taken into consideration is the fact that there are students who did not take notes in class before the advent of this technology, and who are now forced to review what transpired in class that day.

There is an injustice inflicted on those who have not paid attention to the chalkboard in the past, who now have to deal with

this extra work.

The only redeeming aspect is that students who do care neither have to pay attention nor attend class at all, when the teachings can easily be fetched from any home computer.

If the chalk dust of whiteboards past was not swept up in the teardown of the old high school, we would clearly be much better off.

The author would like to note that he rescinds his comment expressed at the beginning of the penultimate paragraph, as there are few redeeming qualities of the Eno boards, as well as the fact that one should watch his or her sodium intake, as it could cause an unsafe spike in cholesterol levels.

Just think about it...

Winter Break

Winter Break is right around the corner. Vacation begins Friday, Dec. 24 and classes will resume Monday, Jan. 3. Break provides a time to relax and escape from the stresses of high school life.

Whether you are traveling out of town or staying at home, Winter Break is a brief respite from the rigors of the academic school year. At this time, nearly the midpoint of the school year, we have a chance to reflect on what has happened thus far and get ready to finish the second half of the year strong.

Winter Break is also an ideal time to set goals for the upcoming year. Create New Year’s resolutions to

encourage yourself to pursue the ambitions you have never found the time to follow.

Support our underclassmen

Performances of “Freshman Cabaret,” a showcase exclusively featuring members of the Class of 2014, will open in early January.

“Freshman Cabaret” will have shows Thursday, Jan. 6 and Friday, Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

“Freshman Cabaret” gives freshmen an early chance to participate in a Theatre Ink production and get a taste of the Newton North drama program. This year’s performance boasts a record cast of 69 freshmen.

Support this school’s un-

derclassmen by attending a performance of “Freshman Cabaret.” The program provides a hilarious and enjoyable night of entertainment for the entire family.

Buy a ticket for $5 outside the caferteia during lunch or online at theatreink.net.

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 thenewtonite@gmail.com.

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, Dec. 17, 2010

Newton North, Newtonite U 3

Innovation lab, founding partner host event HILARY BRUMBERG To celebrate the opening of Newton’s Lab, its founding partner, PTC, sponsored a kickoff event Tuesday, Dec. 7.

According to the invitation, the innovation lab is a partnership between schools, communities and businesses dedicated to supporting student innovation and real world solutions.

At the beginning of the event, the school’s String Ensemble played and chief innovation officer Steve Chinosi, PTC senior vice president of solutions marketing and communications Robin Saitz, Mayor Setti Warren ’88, superintendent David Fleishman and Boston University engineering student Brendan Hathaway ’10 gave speeches.

Chinosi explained that inBY

novation can occur anywhere as long as people are willing to collaborate through growth and change.

“We need to observe and recognize the anomaly,” he said. “We need to entertain the fantastic.

“We need to build bridges.

We need to tolerate ambiguity because learning must engage the ambiguous. We must be committed to learning first, then teaching.”

Chinosi emphasized the “incredible partnerships we’ve established” to work toward making the changes that are “necessary to meet the present.”

He said the innovation lab is working with PTC to prepare the engineers of the future.

It also partnered with Save

That Stuff for “more recycling adventures than we can imagine,” Chinosi said.

He named Rick Heller and career and tech ed outreach counselor David Ticchi from Legal Sea Foods, Andy Davidson from Cape Cod Biodiesel, Sarah Hammond from the MIT Sea Grant Team, Howard Lurie from WGBH and Lee Kane from the Whole Foods Markets as examples of organizations that have helped innovation at this school.

Saitz then discussed the connection and commitment to the innovation lab by PTC, a “Needham-based software company devoted to helping our customers optimize their product development.”

“When I learned about the Newton initiative to fuel col-

Hilary Brumberg

Ligerbots: Junior Clarence Wong and sophomores Ross Stanley and Evan Nitkin give demonstrations during the opening ceremony of the innovation lab Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Students place in drafting contests

PERRIN STEIN Members of this school’s career and technical education program participated in structural bridge design and drafting contests at the Fitchburg State University engineering competition, said technology/engineering teacher Scott Rosenhahn.

In the drafting contest, which was Friday, Dec. 10, seniors Cassidy Chan and Sarah Wen placed first out of 18 teams, and juniors Bobby Joyce and Bernard McSally won third place.

The two first place winners were given tshirts and a plaque.

Newtonian This event required stu- Sarah Wen dents to use a computer program called Inventra to draw an object in only two hours, according to Wen. “The object was quite weird because it was from a strange perspective, but it resembled a pencil sharpener,” she said.

As a part of the same competition, engineering students participated in the structural bridge design contest. Sophomores Michael Courtney, Alex Marzilli and Gary Sarkisian won second place out of the 20 teams competing. For their effort, they received water bottles.

This contest required teams to build model bridges, according to Courtney. The group with the bridge that held the most weight won.

BY

briefs Tigers’ math team at top of division

KAYLA SHORE After a two-win streak, this school’s math team lost by one point to Newton South Wednesday, Dec. 8, according to senior Dong-Gil Shin, the captain.

“Newton South has always been a very solid team, but driven by momentum from the first two meets we were hoping to beat them again,” said Shin, who scored 17 points in the meet, the highest score of the team. North’s overall score was 81 of a possible 100.

Juniors Joseph Chan, Caroline Ellison and Boshan Mo and sophomore Christina Chen, were the other competitors.

Prior to the meet, the Tigers ranked first in their division.

The standings have not been updated with the latest meet’s results.

The Tigers’ loss follows two consecutive victories over South, the Tigers’ strongest rival in their division. Now, the team is looking ahead to the State competition in two months, Shin said. He hopes the Tigers will make it all the way to the New England level of competition this year. “Everyone’s been working really hard,” said Shin.

Being “so much stronger than last year,” according to Shin, the team will continue to practice and prepare every Wednesday for the two meets of the regular season. The team did not graduate any members last year and is benefiting from the experience of many of its members, he said.

BY

Debate team prepares for upcoming meet

MALINI GANDHI With a strong underclassman turnout, the debate team is focused on “learning from each other and gaining experience,” according to junior Abby Holtzman, a captain with sophomore Jordan Ecker.

The team is currently preparing for a tournament Saturday, Jan. 8, during which participants will debate plea-bargaining. The competition will be a public forum debate, which involves partners, Holtzman said.

To prepare their arguments, members meet twice a week in order to “share sources and help each other write our cases,” according to Holtzman.

“We collaborate a lot, and since we are all pretty opinionated, it can get interesting,” she said.

According to Holtzman, the coming tournament is particularly exciting because it will be the first for many of the team’s newcomers.

“We’ve had a great turnout of freshmen this year and really want to them to get involved,” Holtzman said. “We’re excited to get them out there for their first debate.”

Saturday, Dec. 4, four members of the team participated in a tournament at LincolnSudbury, in which they competed against schools including Catholic Memorial, Needham, Newton South and Shrewsbury, according to sophomore Zachary Rosenof.

Rosenof, sophomores Aneesh Anand and Hoot Hennessy and freshman Daniel Smith deBY

laboration between businesses, the community and our schools, I knew PTC had to be a partner right from the start,” she said.

“We’ve demonstrated our commitment to science, technology, engineering and math education for our 25-year history, training over 10 million students and 45,000 teachers on the same software we’re donating to the Newton Lab. “We believe the lab can accelerate innovation locally, nationally and globally, and that’s why we’re committed to supporting the mission of the lab: ‘Educate to Innovate.’”

Saitz, a Ligerbot parent and mentor, said the Ligerbots and the Greengineering program are examples of organizations at this school that have benefited from outside business partnerships.

Mayor Warren highlighted the importance of innovation and the innovation lab’s mission on a national and global scale.

He said, “Often we hear in the news about America and the challenges we have in front of us: the 21st century jobs that are supposed to be produced and the training that it’s going to take for us to be in a leadership position as far as innovation, as far as the environment, as far as new technology.

“I say, ‘Let them come to Newton. Let all the people that are asking those questions see what’s happening here.’”

Warren said that it is going to take “terrific” private-public partnerships of community members and the education system, like those set up for the innovation lab, to make sure this country can contribute to the world “the way we know it should and meet its full potential.”

Superintendent Fleishman said that the innovation lab is achieving something that is very hard to do and that he has

struggled with in his career: bringing partners into schools from the outside.

“This partnership in the innovation lab should be a model for others, and it has incredible potential because it is individuals and schools, leaders and schools, and teachers and schools working together with partners from the outside. And that’s incredibly exciting.”

Fleishman said he thinks partnerships between businesses and schools are especially important because they have a lot to learn from each other.

The innovation lab also strikes Fleishman because it has adults and students working together to address serious societal problems, he said. “That should happen more.”

Fleishman, like Warren, said he believes that the innovation lab is an example of something that should be implemented nationwide to help resolve national problems.

“Some of you may have seen the Newsweek headline a couple of months ago that students are experiencing a creativity crisis in this country,” Fleishman said.

“Well, I think today is kind of a kickoff of a new wave of creativity.”

Fleishman said that he—like many others—wondered where the innovation lab was when he heard about it.

“I was picturing a real lab,” he said. “But the lab is all the wonderful ideas and the creativity that the people will bring to the table.”

After the opening speeches, students led tours of this school and gave lab demonstrations, such as a Robotics project presentation from Engineering and Robotics.

Newton South principal Joel Stembridge and principal Jennifer Price gave speeches at the end.

bated the moral and logistical concerns regarding the use of drones in Pakistan, according to Rosenof.

lems with drugs and violence, according to Sancho.

“We’ve talked to the teachers there and they’ve assured us that it’s very quiet,” he said.

“But it’s really a question of what you read in the newspaper and see on T.V.,” he said, referring to the fact that violence in that area is emphasized in the media.

Although no students from Newton are going to Mexico, 13 Mexican students will still come here, according to Sancho.

“We decided it was worth it to have half the exchange,” he said.

He said finding Newton host families for the Mexicans “won’t be a problem because we usually have more people who come here than go there.”

Exchange cancelled due to lack of interest

HILARY BRUMBERG Because not enough students have signed up, the Mexico exchange will be cancelled this year, according to Spanish teacher Jose Sancho, the coordinator.

Sancho said that many students who were interested in visiting Mexico did not sign up for the exchange because they were afraid of the country’s “unstable political situation.”

However, the area of Mexico the exchange would visit, Guanajuato, does not have any probBY

Teddy Wenneker

Debate team: Sophomores Ryne Duffy and Jordan Ecker, freshman Tristan Rus and junior Abby Holtzman practice.

arts

4 U Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

‘Freshman Cabaret’ to present ’14 talent No-cut cast includes more participants than ever KATE LEWIS “Freshman Cabaret,” the annual variety show celebrating the talents of the freshman class, will be performed Thursday, Jan. 6 and Friday, Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

Sophomore Eliza Burr said t h a t “ F r e s hman Cabaret,” also known as “Frosh Cab,” is “all about the Newtonian freshmen.”

Eliza Burr She is a director of the show, along with sophomores Jack Reibstein, Greta Schindlar and Rowan Sockwell. “ We have put together a set list that caters to the skills that were shown by this year’s freshman class,” Burr said. “It’s a great way for the freshmen to begin their time in Newton North’s Theatre Ink program, as well as make new friends and show the rest of the school their talent.”

Like fall freshman sports teams, “Freshman Cabaret” does not cut any freshman who tries out in order to include anyone who wants to get involved.

This is a unique attribute of the show. Due to the no-cut policy, there are 69 freshmen performing in the show, making this the largest group ever, Burr said.

Despite the large cast, Burr said that rehearsals have been BY

going well, and “as there are so many people in the cast, there’s always something to rehearse.”

Reibstein also said that the rehearsal process has been running smoothly. “With such a large cast, one would expect a lack of order in rehearsals and such, however, this is not the case,” he said. “It is incredible to see the kind of dedication and drive that the cast has put on display.”

The large number of freshmen in the show also provides a variety in talent, which is shown through the various songs, scenes and dances in the show, Burr said.

“The show is packed with hilarious sketches, heartwarming songs and a variety of dances,” Burr said.

“Every act has something special in it, something that will put a smile on the audience members’ faces.”

One highlight of the show will be “Put Your Records On”

by Corinne Bailey Rae, which will be sung by all of the girls in the show. According to Burr, this number “shows off the singing power of the girls.”

Another highlight is the Boys’ Dance, which “showcases the dancing and comedic skills of the males performing in the show,” Burr said.

The show’s comedic sketches vary from original short pieces written by the directors to sketches from Monty Python

and A Prairie Home Companion.

Tess Vasiliadis is a freshman who is making her Theatre Ink debut in “Freshman Cabaret.”

She also worked backstage on “Eurydice” and will be appearing in “Under Milk Wood” in February.

“The experience has been awesome. I love it,” she said.

“Frosh Cab is a really good way to ease your way into the theatre at North.”

Vasiliadis said that “Freshman Cabaret” has helped her to learn time management skills and get involved with Theatre Ink. “The show’s different from middle school plays because the expectations are so much higher,” she said. “Frosh Cab has taught me to manage my time well and not procrastinate on school work.”

Musical accompaniment will be provided by Common Illusion, a band that includes sophomores Alec Mapes-Frances and Owen Weitzman and freshman Emmett McCleary. In addition, senior Kelly McIntyre will accompany some numbers on the piano.

“Above all, I think this year’s ‘Freshman Cabaret’ will show the bright future that Theatre Ink has to look forward to, for they are a group of truly talented people,” Reibstein said.

Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased online and outside the cafeteria at lunch.

ICE CREAM & RESTAURANT

Gaby Perez-Dietz

Rehearsal: Freshmen Shani Yavin and Marianne Engelke practice The Black Eyed Peas’ “Let’s Get it Started” for this year’s production of “Freshman Cabaret.”

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arts

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Newton North, Newtonite U 5

Acting, set, lights create memorable show PERRIN STEIN Sarah Ruhl’s “Eurydice” takes a contemporary look at the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The show, directed by seniors Derek Butterton and Mercer Gary, went on stage Wednesday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 11, in the little theatre.

BY

review

Jaryd Justice-Moote

The Underworld: Senior Skylar Fox, as Eurydice’s deceased father, writes a letter congratulating her on her wedding.

The story of these two lovers is well known, but the depiction of the characters kept the play interesting. The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is a story of temptation and love transcending death.

Orpheus, a talented musician played by junior Charlie Beers, married Eurydice, a book-loving girl played by senior Rosie McInnes. The two were “a little too young and a little too in love,” according to the play.

Their love made them blind to the world around them. This was clearly depicted through the acting and costuming in the opening scene, where Eurydice and Orpheus were walking

Jaryd Justice-Moote

Finding the right song: Orpheus, played by junior Charlie Beers, tries to find the musical note that will bring him to the Underworld, where his lover Eurydice is waiting.

Jaryd Justice-Moote

Wedding day: Senior Justin Phillips, as a Nasty Interesting Man, tries to convince Eurydice, played by senior Rosie McInnes, to follow him to his home.

along a boardwalk.

Orpheus was dressed in pale blue shorts and a white tank top.

Eurydice was also dressed like a small child in a pink 1940s-style bathing costume.

Costumes were designed by senior Anna Gargas. The costumes in the opening scene showed that Beers and McInnes were supposed to be quite young. Throughout the show, the costumes were visually interesting, and they also did an exemplary job of displaying the characters’ personalities.

Orpheus and Eurydice were quite energetic and constantly tried to please each other.

Throughout the scene, McInnes’ voice was bubbling with admiration and love for Orpheus. For example, when the two began to argue about whether books or music was the better art form, McInnes was quick to grab Beers and try to lead him over to the edge of the boardwalk, so they could go swimming and forget about arguing.

Beers and McInnes came across as carefree in the opening scene. This starkly contrasted their emotions after Eurydice’s death.

Immediately following, there was an introductory scene of the Underworld. The Overworld was physically above the Underworld because it was a boardwalk, while the Underworld was the theatre floor.

By physically placing the two worlds on different levels, the distance between them was cleverly emphasized.

Junior Aaron Siegal designed the set, which included a river and ferris wheel in the Underworld portion of the stage.

In the first scene in the Underworld, Eurydice’s father, played by senior Skylar Fox, composed a letter to his daughter. Throughout the play, letters were used as the sole means of communication between the Underworld and the Overworld.

These letters were read to the audience by the characters, so the audience could understand what was happening.

When Fox sent Eurydice a letter for her wedding day, all he did was gently touch the letter to his lips, before dropping it on the stage. This small touch conveyed the deep love Eurydice’s father had for her.

After this brief introduction of the Underworld, Eurydice and Orpheus’ wedding day arrived. A Nasty Interesting Man, senior Justin Phillips, lured Eurydice away from her wedding to his apartment by saying that he was accidentally sent a letter from her father.

Reminiscent of “Alice in Wonderland” characters, Phillips’ costume was a pair of bright orange pants, a huge purple coat and a hat with a feather in it.

Eurydice was confused and intrigued because her father had been dead for over 20 years.

She followed this stranger to his apartment, where he offered her wine and gave her numerous compliments. Phillips delivered all his lines what a slightly menacing and threatening tone.

Phillips’ delivery was convincing, so when he suddenly snapped and grabbed Eurydice, the audience gasped, as the lights cut to black. This staging was far more powerful than actually showing Eurydice’s death because it left the audience wondering what exactly resulted in her death.

During the long blackout, the three Stones, senior Amanda King, junior Lior Percher and freshman Emily Clott, took the stage, where they remained for the rest of the show. The audi-

ence was shocked upon first seeing their over-the-top outfits.

The Stones wore white makeup, white wedding-like dresses and white wigs, similar to those worn by upper-class women of the 1800s. Clott and Percher each had a small amount of color on their extravagant costumes.

The three Stones worked well together to maintain a strong and critical voice throughout all the Underworld scenes. When they recited lines in unison, it was so overpowering that Eurydice’s retorts were nearly drowned out.

Eurydice’s entrance to the Underworld was spectacular.

During the blackout, there was a faint “ding,” and the ferris wheel skeleton on the right of the stage lit up. This illuminated a pink elevator in front of the wheel. Then, a blue and black spiraling light seemed to come out of the elevator. The lighting, which was designed by senior Kevin Zabrecky, was fantastic and mysterious.

Once Eurydice entered the Underworld, letters were sent back and forth between her and Orpheus as their only means of communication.

Prior to dropping the letters off the boardwalk and into the Underworld, Orpheus always paused pensively, as if wondering whether his decision to maintain contact with Eurydice was right.

Each time Eurydice read a letter, she also thought deeply before beginning to read. By using small nuances such as these, the actors created believable characters.

Eventually, Orpheus was so overcome with his love and feeling of loss that he decided to find Eurydice. He discovered a song that would open the gates to the Underworld.

Beers’ performance of this discovery was realistic, as he was able to portray Orpheus’ pain in a strained shout.

Throughout Orpheus’ monologue about his discovery, the entire stage was black, except for a single spotlight on Beers.

This was cleverly portrayed the isolation and loneliness that Orpheus felt without Eurydice.

During this scene, there were loud drizzling sounds that almost drowned out Orpheus’ guitar playing.

Rain was used throughout the show to depict the sadness brought by death. Because it was so loud in this scene, it made the audience incredibly aware of Orpheus’ emotions.

The lighting used when Orpheus entered the Underworld seemed like something out of “Alice in Wonderland.” There were bright blue and magenta lights flooding the floor, like those found at a carnival. Superimposed on these lights were dozens of small white dots of light, which looked like snow.

The lighting confused the audience because it was no longer certain that the Underworld was a horrible place, so Orpheus’ bold move to rescue Eurydice no longer seemed necessary.

During this scene, the sound, which was designed by sophomore Amalia Sweet, was a calming lullaby-like instrumental.

This choice of music complimented the scene’s lighting.

The effort of everyone involved in “Eurydice” was clear from the elaborate set, costume, lighting and sound.

All seven actors also did a wonderful job of making the play’s characters believeable.

The combination of these things brought the ancient Greek myth of Eurydice to life.

6 U Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, D

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Dec. 17, 2010

Newton North, Newtonite U 7

Holiday Shopping Guide Books

Movies

Clockwork Angel—Clarissa Clare Fantasy lovers will enjoy this prequel to the Mortal Instruments series for its exciting plot, lovable characters and new setting—the 1800s. The story follows Tessa Gray, who goes to London to visit her brother and finds herself to be the prisoner of the Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club. There, she finds that she can change herself into anything and that the powerful leader of the Club wants to take advantage of her powers. Tessa meets Shadowhunters, who fight demons and tries to save her brother with their help.

Readers will laugh, cry and fall in love with the characters. Those who have read the Mortal Instruments will meet familiar characters and see how they relate to their ancestors, and those who haven’t read them will meet characters that they will come to love.

The Indigo Notebook—Laura Resau Each character in Laura Resau’s The Indigo Notebook has her own personal truths, secrets and journeys that provide a satisfying read. The book follows the life of Zeeta, a 15-year-old girl who travels the world with her hippie mother. Although the traveling lifestyle and a “fun” mother is every teen’s dream, all Zeeta wants is a “normal” life. When the mother-daughter team spends a year in Ecuador, Zeeta is forced to reconsider her definition of “normal” and what she truly wants in life.

The unique characters, with their charming quirks and spiritual ideas, add layers of depth to the story. They share their wisdom and unorthodox philosophies with each other and the reader. This spices up the book—a nice break from the usual materialistic, shallow characters portrayed in the typical teen novels.

Rebecca—Daphne DuMaurier If you’re looking for a great holiday gift idea, try Rebecca—a ghost story with a classic twist. Rebecca is a haunting tale of a young woman in her marriage to the intriguing Max DeWinter of Manderley. But upon her arrival at Manderley, she finds herself in the shadow of Max’s first wife, Rebecca.

Rebecca left her mark on Manderley in more ways than one, including the household routine, which our narrator feels compelled to follow. Nevertheless, our heroine continues to try to connect with her husband, who remains emotionally distant, seemingly preoccupied with his lasting love for Rebecca. In her struggle for his affection, she explores the mystery surrounding Rebecca’s life—and her death. But when the truth comes to light, she learns far more than she had ever suspected.

Inception With a multilayer plot, Inception keeps your mind reeling. The plot follows Dom Cobb, a thief who can extract dreams. For corporate espionage, Cobb is the go-to man. However, when asked instead to plant a damaging idea in his victim’s head, Cobb is given the chance to regain his old life and achieve redemption. Although it can be hard to follow what exactly is happening throughout the movie, sci-fi thriller fans will love Inception as a holiday gift for its action and intelligent plot. Its replay value adds to its appeal because each time you watch it, you learn something new.

Toy Story 3 Everybody loves Toy Story. The perfect holiday gift, the third movie in the classic Pixar series transports one back to a vividly rendered childhood. Toy Story 3 is set when Andy is going off to college and has to decide what to do with his toys. Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang are sent off to a seemingly pleasant daycare center, and the movie quickly evolves into an elaborate prison break film. Toy Story 3 is a gift that everyone will enjoy. New and old characters bring lots of laughs to the film for viewers of all ages. Anyone can appreciate the funny, suspenseful, poignant and profoundly relatable moments that fill Toy Story 3.

ESPN Films “30 for 30” gift set collection, Volume 1 This gift set is an absolute must for any avid sports fan this holiday season. While a little more expensive than a typical DVD, this six-disc gift set provides more bang for your buck than just about anything else you can buy as a gift. Since October 2009, ESPN’s acclaimed “30 for 30” series has continually released movies in honor of the 30th anniversary of ESPN’s 1979 debut. The films focus on some of the most influential and interesting moments in American sports history, from the locally relevant—“Four Days In October,” about the Red Sox’ legendary comeback against the Yankees in the 2004 playoffs—to the relatively unknown—“The Best That Never Was,” about Marcus Dupree, the running back who had the skills to become one of the greatest NFL running backs ever, had he not quit football in college. The 15 films included in this box set would surely provide hours of entertainment for even the most hard-to-please sports fan.

Music My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy— Kanye West The biggest jerk in the music business just released a gem. Far superior to the other rap music released this holiday season, Fantasy would be a great gift idea for the hip-hop lover in your life. On Fantasy, Kanye went for it all with an extensive list of featured artists and progressive hip-hop production that sounds like nothing else on the radio. Sampling from R&B and

rock music, Kanye uses a fierce, raw drum machine to create a heavy sound that hits the listener hard. The rapping responds with similar power with original lyrics. In short, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy goes so far beyond today’s vapid hip-hop and pop, it makes everything else on the radio sound amateur.

Speak Now—Taylor Swift Nowadays, it seems every time you turn on the radio, you hear a Taylor Swift song, which is probably due to her catchy, thoughtful tunes. Swift has made another masterpiece with her new album, Speak Now, and there is no doubt that many more of her songs will be on the radio in months to come. With tracks like “Mine” and “Back to December,” Swift shows maturity in her songwriting. The album ranges from serious to funny, featuring songs like “Innocent,” during which Swift addresses Kanye West and forgives him for his behavior at the Grammy’s, as well as “Better Than Revenge,” in which Swift criticizes Camille Belle for taking Joe Jonas from her. This is the perfect holiday gift. It deals with many themes, such as unrequited love and revenge, that almost anyone will be able to relate to.

The Beatles, now on iTunes It’s been 40 years since The Beatles broke up, but the “Fab Four” and their incredible music endure to this day. Despite their legendary status, the music of the Beatles was not available for download from the iTunes music store until last month. Now, you can purchase all 11 of their albums, from Please Please Me to Let It Be, in addition to a few compilation albums, digitally remastered for the 21stcentury music lover. These digital albums would be a perfect gift for the Beatles fan in your life. Individual songs can be downloaded for $1.29 each, albums are available for $12.99 each and the entire collection may be purchased for $149. The iTunes store features a “Gift This Album” option, where you can send a digital copy of an album to a friend’s iTunes library.

to become not only the fastest selling, but also the best-selling sports video game in history. This is probably due to the fact that it is fun to play with everybody: friends, family, random people you meet online, and even by yourself.

Xbox Kinect Like the Nintendo Wii released four years ago, the Xbox Kinect looks to be one of the hottest, best-selling holiday gifts this season—and for good reason. The Kinect is revolutionary in that it does not need any type of controller in order to use it. A webcam allows you to control the in-game motions with your hands, arms, body and legs. Not only is it extremely innovative, but it is also a ton of fun. The Kinect comes with Kinect Adventures, a game with dozens of fun mini-games. In addition, you can buy sports, dance and other types of games that all allow you to be active instead of just holding a controller. If you know somebody who has an Xbox 360, or is thinking of buying a video game system, the Xbox Kinect won’t disappoint.

Call of Duty: Black Ops No matter your taste in video games, Call of Duty: Black Ops should be number one on your holiday wish list. It combines skill with strategy and strategy with competition. And that’s just the single player mode. The online play is immeasurably fun, and it is practically flawless—you can play with and against people from every different continent at the same time fluidly. The multiplayer game modes are also addictive because you can play online on the same team as a friend who also has the game, or you can play against him or her. More than any other gift this holiday season, any videogame fan should put Call of Duty: Black Ops at the top of his or her wishlist.

MEREDITH ABRAMS, HILARY BRUMBERG, JACOB BRUNELL, TIPHAINE KUGENER, KATE LEWIS, SAM MAJEWSKI, KAYLA SHORE, BEN TACK, TEDDY WENNEKER AND FATEMA ZAIDI CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SPECIAL.

Video Games FIFA ’11 If you know somebody who was engulfed in World Cup fever this summer, or even someone who just enjoys video games, this is a great gift to give. Not only is FIFA filled to the brim with different game modes, each one more fun than the last, but its hyper-realistic graphics allow you to feel as if you are actually watching a soccer game on T.V. while you play.

More than any other popular video game released recently, FIFA ’11 has replay value. It is not the type of game in which you become bored after playing for a few weeks.

Since its release in October, FIFA ’11 has managed

art by Rin Rogers

features

8 U Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Weighing pros, cons of religious schools AMANDA HILLS According to the 2000 census, out of the 83,000 residents in Newton, 28,000 are Jewish.

When these Jewish kids reach high school age, they have to make a tough decision: will they attend a public school or a private Jewish high school?

For many of these families, the decision is distressing.

Sending their child to a public school could mean dropping their faith. Parents and students feel that without studying Judaism every day, they will lose their culture.

Alisa Feldman, a freshman at Gann Academy, a Jewish high school in Waltham, expressed concerns about a non-Jewish education after going to middle school at Solomon Schechter Day School, a private Jewish school in Newton.

“Pursuing a Jewish lifestyle has always been easy to maintain while studying Jewish texts and such on a daily basis,” she said. “Schechter definitely had the hugest impact on my decision. There, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to maintain my Judaic knowledge without spending my day studying them.”

Feldman was originally enrolled at this school, but after having serious second thoughts at Jewish summer camp, she asked her parents for a change.

“My parents knew I’d make the right decision, so they didn’t show a preference in schools,” she said.

Kids who spend kindergarten to eighth grade at Jewish BY

Julia Moss

Choosing whether to go to a Jewish day school can be difficult for some students. day schools such as Solomon Schechter or Rashi can find public school extremely overwhelming, as public schools often have larger student bodies. For many, having over 500 people in your class is daunting after spending nine years with the same 40 kids.

Feldman added, “I felt that I would have a wider variety of kids at Newton North, but that Gann would be more sheltered, and I really like being in an allJewish community.”

Freshman Emma Siegenberg went to the Rashi School, another private Jewish school that

recently moved its campus from Newton to Dedham. Coming to North from an enclosed community made her nervous. She recalled being scared that North was “too big of a school.”

But, Siegenberg said, she realized that a bigger school would mean exposure to many more students than she had known at a smaller private school, as public school students come from varied backgrounds and upbringings.

“Over my years at Rashi, I developed a dislike for the people in my grade,” she said. “I knew they were going to Gann.”

Junior Molly Mamon had similar feelings when she decided to go from Schechter to Newton North.

“I wanted to switch to public school because I really needed a change,” Mamon said. “I was tired of the same people and the same classes, and I was ready to become a part of the more diverse world of Newton.”

Others appreciate the excellence of the Newton Public School system and want to take advantage of the solid education.

“One of my sisters went to Newton North while the other

went to Gann Academy,” Mamon said.

“They both had good experiences, but as I heard about their daily lives at school, North sounded more appealing. North offers many more classes and electives.”

Freshman Jacob Prince, who also attended Rashi, said he decided to come to this school for the “great academics and athletics.”

Prince said he was initially afraid of “not finding a close group of friends” here, but that his time at Rashi affected his decision.

“After Rashi, I gained a lot of self confidence,” he said. “I was sure that I would be okay at a huge public high school.”

Coming to this school from a tight Jewish community is easier said than done. Whether it is socially or academically, the transition can be difficult at first.

“Some teachers assumed that I knew things about Christianity and other religions,” said Siegenberg on her classes here.

“We didn’t learn about that at Rashi.”

Prince has faced a more serious issue of Jewish stereotyping based on his experience at Rashi. “I have had people throw money on the ground and wait for me to pick it up,” he said.

When it’s decision time, kids from Jewish day schools have to make a complex choice.

No matter who or what sways the conclusion, it is a stressful process.

Panelists share stories of siblings with disabilities MEREDITH ABRAMS EMILY GULOTTA As a part of Inclusive Schools Week, a panel which included Newton Public Schools faculty and current students shared personal stories of what they learned from growing up with a sibling with a disability.

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on campus The presentation, which was C-block Friday, Dec. 10, in the film lecture hall, began with a short video, “A Recipe for Life.”

The video provided inspirational sayings to live by, such as: “The time is always right to do what is right,” and “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”

The film also explained the “ABC’s: acceptance, belonging, community.

Newton Public Schools’ outof-district director Paula Black said her brother has a mental disability caused by his umbilical cord wrapping around him before he was born.

According to Black, her brother has always been hardworking. After getting a job at a post office, he had to work his shift every weekday for nine months without missing any work, she said.

Though he has his own home, Black said, his family still drives him around and cooks for him.

“He will eventually have to learn self-sustaining skills such as cooking,” she said. “When you have a sibling with a disability, all personal relationships are based on that and how people will react.

“He will be as independent as he can be, but we have to

Gabe Dreyer

In the film lecture hall: To celebrate Inclusive Schools Week, a panel of Newton Public Schools staff and current North students spoke C-block Friday to share personal experiences about growing up with disabled siblings. remember to put effort forth,” Black said.

David Tynes, a physical education teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School, said his sister was born with an IQ of 52.

Tynes said that he had to stand up for his sister when people called her derogatory

names.

“We need to remember that empathy is important,” he said.

“Ignorant language is derogatory, such as the word ‘retarded.’

“The quest is to educate students about empathy and the importance of language,” Tynes said.

Tia Marola, an inclusion facilitator at Burr Elementary School, has a brother with Asperger’s Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Marola said that when she was growing up, she didn’t understand why people treated her brother differently.

“Having different chores based on disability wasn’t equal, but it was fair,” Marola said.

The day also included “shoutouts,” displayed on Main Street television screens from students who have disabilities to teachers who helped them feel included.

See ToBGLAD coverage in our next issue!

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Newton North, Newtonite U 9

Talk of the

Tiger

Critic’s Picks Cannibal— Ke$ha

Ke$ha’s adolescent lyrics have become somewhat old in her EP Cannibal, a follow up to her debut album, Animal. It seems she has figured out that any song she creates will become ridiculously popular, and therefore she doesn’t have to put much effort or thought into her creations.

Her most popular song off the album, “We R Who We R,” has lyrics that sound like they were written by a child.

The majority of the songs are about dancing in clubs, being drunk, or both, except for “The Harold Song,” an interesting ballad about an important man in Ke$ha’s life. This track shows that Ke$ha really has potential as an artist.

However, she didn’t harness any of this potential in the rest of the album.

Ke$ha needs to buckle down and sing about how she feels when she isn’t partying, because when she is partying, we get the picture already.

Key Tracks: “The Harold Song,” “Sleazy” and “We R Who We R” Grade: C-

December Break Events

The Beginning— Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas’ latest album lacks the musical originality the group had in its earlier albums Monkey Business and Elephunk. Lyrics-wise, the songs use seemingly forced rhymes, and have little meaning.

The chorus of “Love You Long Time” begins with a the line painfully repeated six times.

While the Black Eyed Peas still know how to drop a good beat, The Beginning is overly synthesized and its lyrics are unoriginal. “Someday” is the album’s only exception.

It may not be the most popular song on the album, but it has a theme that isn’t partying or women.

The Beginning displays the Black Eyed Peas’ dissent into the conformity of pop music. My advice to the Black Eyed Peas is to return to their old ways: turn down the auto-tuner, and use your older albums as a guide on how to improve the lyrics and music.

Key Tracks: “Just Can’t Get Enough,” “Someday” and “The Time” Grade: B-

Loud— Rihanna

With a little help from its featured artists, Rihanna’s Loud makes up for a lack of good lyrics with very well-produced music.

Many songs have mediocre lyrics but come with catchy synthesizer riffs echoing in the background, making the songs more enjoyable. Overall, the album is filled with catchy beats and melodies which blend together to make good songs.

Many songs have details by the featured artists that set the tone for the rest of the song.

A verse by rapper Drake gives “What’s My Name?” a great introduction, and “Love the Way You Lie: Part II” is even better than the original, thanks to Eminem’s verse, which he shouts with emotion. “Fading” is an excellent break-up song, which seems to be sung directly from Rihanna’s heart.

Rihanna’s vocals fit well in the music, and it’s hard to imagine how Loud would have sounded without her voice.

Key Tracks: “Fading,” “Love the Way You Lie: Part II” and “What’s My Name?”

Grade: B+ —JACOB SCHWARTZ

Teachers’ Picks Dr. Gibson Favorite Artists Beethoven Flatt and Scruggs Jefferson Airplane Cheryl Wheeler Pink Martini

Favorite Movie Lord of the Rings

Favorite Show Nova

Mr. McGrath

Mr. Tingle

Favorite Artists

Favorite Artists

Deftones Radiohead Pin Back Working for a Nuclear Free City Tricky

Favorite Movie Pi

Favorite Show The Office

What: First Night Boston: ImprovBoston When: Friday, Dec. 31 Time: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Hynes Convention Center, Boston

Johnny Cash Willie Nelson Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen Van Morrison

Favorite Movie Raging Bull

Favorite Show Democracy Now

What: ARTiculation When: Friday, Dec. 31 Time: 8 p.m.

Where: Hynes Convention Center, Boston What: First Night Grand Procession When: Friday, Dec. 31 Time: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Boylston Street, Boston What: Harvard Square Holiday Fair When: Wednesday, Dec. 22 Time: 11:30 a.m.

Where: First Parish Unitarian Church, Cambridge

Did you know?

Beth Busa, special education aide, graduated from this school in 1995.

Busa participated in cheerleading her sophomore and junior years before becoming captain her senior year.

Additionally, Busa rowed crew all four years and was on the gymnastics team her freshman year.

In her senior year, Busa was the Italian Club president.

She was in Orange Shield all four years and worked on the Interhouse Council. The Council was a group of students from the four houses, which were mixed grades, who met in the morning to plan fundraising events and help build a sense of community in the school.

Busa won the Newton Community Service Award her senior year.

One of her favorite memories from high school was going to Spooky World, a haunted house, with the other cheerleaders and football players, she said.

She said the biggest change at Newton North is the transition from houses being mixed grade to single-grade. “I think

Beth Busa

Newtonian

it’s easier for the faculty to focus on the needs and the interactions of different grades, but I think something was lost when it shifted,” she said.

“My favorite thing at Newton North is that I was able to do so many activities and meet so many people I’m still close with today,” she said. “I think it’s a great school because there’s something for everyone if you look hard enough.”

White Christmas?

Maddie MacWilliams

sports

10 U Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Swim strives for unity, progress

Boys’ gymnastics focuses on basics Upperclassmen teach new members fundamentals JACOB SCHWARTZ Many players on the boys’ gymnastics team are very enthusiastic and enjoy the sport, according to coach Steve Chan.

However, the team will have to make up for a lack of experience in the new players, he said.

“Over half our team is new this year, so we have a lot to teach them,” Chan said.

He said these new players are learning many fundamentals including handstands, forward and backward rolls and different skills on the rings, among other necessities.

According to senior Alex Petitti, a captain with Carlos Morales, a senior at Newton South, experienced teammates on boys’ gymnastics have been teaching underclassmen the basics of the sport in preparation for the beginning of the season.

The Tigers start their season at home Thursday, Jan. 13, facBY

ing State Champion Braintree.

“They practice year round and that makes them an extremely tough team,” Petitti said.

“I’m not really expecting us to win, but if we break 100 points, I will be very happy.”

According to Petitti, the Tigers would “need to do every move flawlessly in order to win the meet.”

Petitti said that the Tigers’ strength is that they have “a lot of young talent.”

“The underclassmen are determined and have a lot of potential,” he said.

“Because they are underclassmen, they have time to develop skills.”

Petitti also noted that the team has many athletes who are good at floor, which is a plus, he said.

“Also, our seniors have a lot of experience and are incredibly determined to do well because it’s their final season.”

Teddy Wenneker

Hand stand: Senior Alex Petitti practices Wednesday, Dec. 9 in the SOA.

Girls prepare for obstacles

Tigers ready to face tough competition, work to keep focus EVAN CLEMENTS JACOB SCHWARTZ Girls’ gymnastics is preparing for what should be a smooth start to a season full of challenges, according to coach Jim Chin.

The team’s first meet will be at Norwood Tuesday.

“We’ve never had a hard time with Norwood, and we should win,” Chin said.

“However, in order to do this, we must keep focus. We must focus on how we’re doing and not worry about Norwood.”

Chin said it will also be important that “gymnasts make sure to try their best regardless of the score.”

The Tigers have a good chance at defeating Braintree in the first home meet of the season Tuesday, Jan. 4. “It’s another meet we should be able to win,” Chin said.

“Our biggest challenges of the season will be when we face Framingham and Wellesley.

“They have proven to be a difficult team for us in the past,” he said.

According to Chin, the team is stronger than ever this year.

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Teddy Wenneker

Balance beam: Senior Andrea Marzilli works on a routine Tuesday, Dec. 8 in the SOA.

“ We have many talented freshmen, and we only had to graduate one senior, Rani Jacobson,” referring to one of last year’s captains who was a top scorer for the Tigers.

“The girls that returned are better than they were last year.

Their skill level has improved, and because of this they are trying much more difficult routines.”

Senior Andrea Marzilli, a captain with senior Victoria Mirrer, said each of the team’s members “bring something original to the table.”

“However, we have a tendency of distraction during practice because we share the same space with the boys’ team, track and wrestling,” she said.

“We need to make sure we stay focused during every single practice.”

This year, the team gained sophomore Ariana Paone, who Chin said he has wanted on the team for a long time, but couldn’t join due to other commitments.

“I’m very excited about her practicing and playing with us,” he said.

Badminton team to host Lions at Day ELI DAVIDOW Stacked with a strong group of returnees, this school’s badminton team will play rival South tomorrow, said senior Chris Yee, a captain with senior Kelly Huang.

The tournament will take place in Day Middle School’s gymnasium.

“It’ll take some time to get used to the new setting,” Yee said.

“It’s a different place, which means that we’ll need to get adjusted to the court surface and the lighting. It may not come easy.

BY

“However, it will help us when we have more away matches later in the season,” he said.

In order to win the match, it will be necessary for the Tigers to win three of out five separate games.

These games include men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

In general, Yee said that he feels confident that the team will be prepared to take on the Lions.

Last year, the Tigers won 5-0 in their meeting.

“They weren’t too bad last

JAY FEINSTEIN Drive is a strength for boys’ swimming, 0-1, according to coach Amy Richard.

“We are a team of motivated young men who work really well together and get along,” she said.

“They have a strong work ethic, showing up on time every day and doing what is asked.”

If there’s one thing that the team is lacking, it’s experience, Richard said. “Half of our team is new, and our new swimmers still have to learn how to be competitive.”

According to senior Jeremy Markson, a captain with seniors Jamie Lew and Ramzy Kahhale, this part of the season is just for building endurance.

“We’ve done some technique, but we’ll do most of that as the season progresses,” he said.

“Later in the season, we’ll work on more specific things. We’re building our way up.”

“We want to see everyone on the team have improvement, and practice is the best way to achieve that,” he said.

Hosting Natick Tuesday, the Tigers expect tough competition, according to Richard.

“Their coach is very cunning, but they always have a strong freestyle,” she said. “This meet will be hard, but it’s okay because the teams are evenly matched in the conference.”

Expecting a spirited meet Tuesday, Jan. 11, the Tigers will host Brookline, according to Richard.

“Both of our teams have a strong rivalry that stretches for a pretty long time, so this meet is always very competitive,” she said. “It’s in this meet that many of our swimmers make their best times.”

This season, the Warriors have a new coach. “We’ll see how it is when it happens, but usually Brookline is a very difficult meet,” Richard said.

The Tigers will visit Framingham Friday, Jan. 14.

“The coach is highly competitive, doing everything he can do to win every meet,” Richard said.

“It’s always a challenging meet because their swimmers are always ready to race.”

Last year, Framingham beat the Tigers 99-85. “There was an influx of talented new swimmers on their team,” she said.

“That will definitely add to the intensity of this meet.”

For a non-league meet Tuesday, the Tigers hosted Reading, losing 95-76.

“It was a clean meet, meaning that we had no disqualifications,” Richard said. “That was our goal. Reading showed up as a strong team, and they did very well.”

A highlight was senior Ryan Chan’s dive, according to Richard.

He scored 160.1 points, qualifying for Sectionals.

“Although we didn’t win the meet, we hit times that we were looking for,” she said.

The first meet is just a starting point for the season, according to Richard.

“It’s the first meet to which we compare all of our other meets. We always keep our first meet in mind, so we can see how far we’ve come later in the season,” she said.

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year, and they tried really hard to win, but I think we were just stronger as a team,” he said.

“This year’s team is totally different, which means that the outcome will also be different.”

Yee said that the Tigers have learned how to control the birdie and their movement around the court.

“Last year, we put more power into our shots,” he said.

“We would whack the birdie hard, bashing it with all our strength, but now we have acquired much more skill. We’ve learned to use the birdie to our

advantage.

“Also, they have gotten better at moving quickly around the court,” Yee said.

“Badminton is a fast-paced sport, and that’s a skill they needed to develop.”

As a whole, Yee believes that the team continues to work well together.

“We have a family-like chemistry,” he said.

“We’re all comfortable with each other, and that’s why we can improve.”

The team practices during X-blocks Monday and Thursday in the SOA.

sports

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Newton North, Newtonite U 11

Wrestlers, 4-1, strengthen, hold lasting mentality JAY FEINSTEIN Wrestling hopes to continue its season strong, said coach John Staulo.

“Our goal is for our wrestlers to understand all aspects of wrestling and for them to improve in as many ways as possible, both on and off the mat, as the season progresses,” he said.

“Although we were hit hard at graduation, losing Sam Shames, the best wrestler in school history, along with the other seniors, the mentality is still there in the younger wrestlers.”

Tomorrow, the Tigers will compete in a quad meet at Norton with Plymouth North and North Attleboro. “It’s a nonleague meet, but it’s fun because it reconnects us with a former wrestling coach and teacher here, who is now the wrestling coach at Norton,” Staulo said.

According to Staulo, their coach, Pat Coleman, coached North’s best wrestling periods.

The Tigers will visit a competitive Dedham team Tuesday.

“They have a new coach, but they have a great youth program,” Staulo said.

For a traditional holiday clash Thursday, the Tigers will visit South. “It’s a huge event with much spirited rivalry,” he BY

Teddy Wenneker

Against Needham: Senior Matt Victor attempts to pin a member of the Rockets Friday, Dec. 10. The Tigers won 49-27. said.

“Our teams have great respect for one another, so this match is always a thrill,” he said.

The Tigers will participate in the Lowell Holiday Wrestling Tournament, a two day tournament, starting Wednesday, Dec. 29.

“This tournament is a barometer to see where you stand.

Many of the top teams in the state, along with many teams out of state, will be there,” Staulo said.

Wednesday, Jan. 5, the Tigers will host an even Braintree team. “They’re similar to us in many ways,” Staulo said. “They have a huge team, yet they have a lot of beginners.”

The Tigers will participate in the Brendan Grant Wrestling

Tournament at Belmont, Saturday, Jan. 8. “It’s a 16-team tourney,” he said. “There’s JV in the morning and varsity in the afternoon, so it gives some of our younger wrestlers some experience.”

Wednesday, the Tigers hosted Framingham, losing 52-24.

The Tigers went to a quad meet Saturday with Catholic Memorial, Cambridge and Jo-

siah Quincy, according to Staulo. They won the matches 40-31, 62-18 and 56-21, respectively.

“Catholic Memorial especially has an outstanding program,” he said.

Friday, the Tigers hosted Needham, defeating the Rockets 49-27.

“They have a large, competative team, which is much like our team,” Staulo said.

Boys’ basketball prioritizes defense, rebounding JACOB SCHWARTZ Because boys’ basketball may have less of a height advantage than last year, the team is trying to improve its rebounding and boxing out, according to senior Avi Adler-Cohen, a captain with senior Tevin Falzon.

Adler-Cohen said improving rebounding will be a good challenge for the team, because Greg Kelley ’10, a strong defensive player last season, graduated, and Falzon is injured.

“We took advantage of Greg and Tevin’s defensive ability, and since they’re not playing with us, guards will have to get better at that and step it up,” BY

he said.

The Tigers’ season begins today against Norwood at 6:45 p.m in the Reginald E. Smith Gymnasium.

“We’ll have to execute if we want to do well,” Adler-Cohen said. “Last year we were able to pound them on the glass with our rebounds, but we might not be able to do this as much, because we won’t be bigger than them. We’re going to try more outside pressure defense.”

The team will face a “hardnosed” Braintree team here Tuesday, said coach Paul Connolly.

“Braintree has one of the best

coaches in the league, and that makes them more of a threat because they really know how to play,” Connolly said.

In the Garden City Tournament at this school, the Tigers will face South Wednesday, Dec. 29, Adler-Cohen said.

“It’s always fun to play them, and it’s over the holidays when there isn’t school, so everyone is in a good mood,” he said.

If the Tigers defeat the Lions, the Tigers will face either Catholic Memorial or St. Anthony’s of New Jersey, a team coached

by Bob Hurley, “a basketball legend,” according to Connolly.

Hurley was recently inducted

into the Basketball Hall of Fame for coaching and achieving 23 State Championships.

Then, the Tigers visit Needham Friday, Jan. 7, which will not be easy, Adler-Cohen said.

At the start of the season, Adler Cohen said that the team had to focus on fundamentals because of the number of first year varsity players.

“We made sure it was ingrained in everyone’s heads, and I think it worked,” AdlerCohen said. “The kids really bought into the way we play basketball and dedicated themselves to the sport.

“We’ve definitely had some

speed-bumps, but the difference of where we were at tryouts and where we are now is exponential. Our goal is to win as many games as we can. We mean business.”

The team has been trying to improve cohesion, Connlly said.

“We’re all trying to get to know each other better,” Connolly said.

Connolly said he is also excited for the return of junior Michael Thorpe, a first team Bay State Conference all-star last season. “He started off this season sick, but he fought itvvv, and now he’s ready to play.”

Girls incorporate incoming runners PERRIN STEIN Although girls’ indoor track just began, all of the team members are enthusiastic and are working hard to learn their events, according to senior Katie Brandl, a captain with senior Amy Ren. “People are trying out different events so they can learn what they like best,” Brandl said.

“At this point, we just want people to discover what they’re interested in.”

There are many underclassmen on the team this year, but they are doing well thus far, according to Brandl.

“We want to be able to incorporate everyone into the team, especially the new members,” she said.

Last year, the Tigers were undefeated and won the State Championship. “We hope to defend this title,” Brandl said.

“I think we can do it, if we work hard.”

In practice, the team is working to prepare for its upcoming meet, according to Brandl.

The Tigers were to have faced Braintree at the Reggie Lewis Center yesterday.

“The first meet is always a big question mark because we don’t know anything about the other teams, and we don’t know how BY

we’ll perform under pressure,” said coach Joe Tranchita.

Over the course of the next month, the team has seven meets scheduled, but not everyone attends every meet, according to Tranchita.

Tomorrow, the Tigers will attend the Winter Festival at the Reggie Lewis Center. “This is a developmental meet. There, we will get a handle on how the other teams are doing,” Tranchita said.

The Winter Holiday Qualifier meet is Monday, Dec. 27 and Wednesday, Dec. 29. The Tigers are likely to attend both days, according to Tranchita. “They just let us see how other teams perform.”

Framingham will compete against this school Thursday, Jan. 6.

The Dartmouth Relays will take place Saturday, Jan. 7 for juniors and seniors. For freshmen and sophomores, it will take place Sunday, Jan. 8.

“The team will attend both of these, but different runners will participate in each one.

We’ll have to wait a couple more weeks before we decide who will perform in each of these,” Tranchita said.

Thursday, Jan. 14, the Tigers will have a meet against Brookline.

Teddy Wenneker

In the SOA: Sophomore Carla Forbes and seniors Emily Hutchinson, Meghan Pursley, Amy Ren, Suzy Bennett and Katie Brandl warm up during practice Tuesday, Dec. 7.

sports

12 U Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Girls to open in Norwood JAY FEINSTEIN Focusing on execution, girls’ basketball hopes to play “at a very high level,” according to coach Hank DeSantis.

“We want to be a competitive team who can both minimize turnovers and be good at rebounding,” he said.

“Our goal is to sustain the success that we’ve had in the past and to take steps forward.”

According to senior Briana Hunt, a captain with seniors Ella Scheuerell and D’Jaidah Wynn, the Tigers are working the hardest on team unity.

“We are finding ourselves as a team right now, and we need to be able to work hard together,” she said.

“We’re a strong team and we work really hard, so we need to make sure we can achieve our potential.”

Hunt, who recently committed to play basketball at Franklin Pierce University next fall, said that the goal of the season is to reach the State Championship.

To start the season, the Tigers will visit Norwood today.

“It’s always tough to win on the road,” DeSantis said. “We’ll have to be strong and do all of BY

the things we’ve worked on in practice.”

According to DeSantis, it will be important for the Tigers to play hard in every possession.

On the road again Tuesday, the Tigers hope to come out strong against Braintree, according to DeSantis.

“It will be a difficult game, so we’ll need to try our hardest to use our defense to take on their best players.”

The Newton Girls’ Holiday Tournament will start Wednesday, Dec. 29 at South.

“We’ll play Newton South, and it’s always a big rivalry,” DeSantis said.

“We’ll need to take each game one at a time.”

At Walpole Tuesday, Jan. 4, the Tigers are in for another tough game, DeSantis said.

“They have a very good program, so everyone on our team is going to have to be prepared to give their best shot.”

For the Tigers’ first home game, they will host Milton Friday, Jan. 7.

“I always tell the players not to worry too far into the schedule,” DeSantis said.

“What matters most for the team is our effort for games closer to now.”

Boys hope to make States AND

Teddy Wenneker

Jumpshot: Junior Gracie Rolfe takes a shot at practice Thursday, Dec. 9 in the Reginald E. Smith Gymnasium.

Girls’ hockey aims for better defense JACOB SCHWARTZ While girls’ hockey is looking forward to using its powerful offense, the team hopes it can find more players for its defense, according to senior Michele Troy, a captain with her sister, senior Marissa Troy and juniors Katie Caruso and Stephanie Vitone.

“We have a lot of experience with our offense, but defense BY

will be more of a challenge because we have a lot less players on defense this year,” she said.

Coach Bob MacDougall said, “This season is going to be a big challenge. We will face very tough competition in December.”

MacDougall said he hopes the team can have a season similar to that of boys’ soccer,

Teddy Wenneker

At Fessenden Rink: Senior Gabby McNamara receives a pass in a drill during practice Friday, Dec. 10.

which this year advanced all the way to the State Division I Semifinals with first-year coach Roy Dow. “Their record indicated they were average, but they were far from it,” MacDougall said.

“They were in a very challenging league. They played tough teams in the regular season and made it much further in the State Tournament than expected.”

Tomorrow, the Tigers travel to Braintree for their second game of the regular season.

“They’re very good,” Troy said.

“They tied Saint Mary’s this year, and Saint Mary’s won the State Championship last year.

That’s very impressive.”

Dedham will host the Tigers Monday. “They aren’t quite as good as Braintree, but they should still be a challenge,” Troy said.

Wednesday, the Tigers will continue their road stretch at Walpole.

In one of the most intense games of the year, according to Troy, the Tigers will visit Newton South Sunday, Jan. 2.

“It’s definitely one of the most anticipated games of the year, and all the girls get really into it,” she said.

“This school has a reputa-

tion for being good at sports, and their hockey has definitely gotten better. We plan to outplay South and show them who is boss. It’s going to be a great game.”

According to MacDougall, the team is focusing on three parts of the game in practice to prepare for the rest of the season: the defensive zone, the breakout and avoiding opponents’ breakouts with forechecks.

“By practicing the defensive zone and putting pressure on the defense with a fore-check, we are ensuring that the other team does not get many scoring chances if the puck is coming into our zone,” he said.

The team is also intensely conditioning itself to be able to skate with its tough opponents, according to Troy. “We have one conditioning drill called ‘Minnesota,’ which is just a big suicide drill on ice.”

During this drill, players,start from the goal line, skating hard to the blue line and back, and then to the next farthest line and back, and then repeat this until they have to skate all the way around the net.

The Tigers were to have began their season at Norwood Wednesday night.

Boys’ track maintains high standards Tigers hope hurdling will help extend 14-year undefeated streak JAY FEINSTEIN Boys’ indoor track hopes to have another undefeated season, according to coach Jim Blackburn.

“We’ve been undefeated for 14 straight years, so we don’t want to lose that,” he said. “We need to do our best on all of the league meets.”

According to Blackburn, the Tigers have many strong competitors.

“We have a great new hurdler, which we’re particularly happy about,” he said.

“We’re also very strong in the BY

shot put, relays and distance events.”

The Tigers’ strongest members this season are seniors Ben Clark, Ryan Donovan, Ezra Lichtman, Isaiah Penn and Dan Ranti and junior Justin Keefe, according to Blackburn.

According to Lichtman, a captain with Donovan and Clark, for distance events, the Tigers still need to figure out who’s going to run each event.

“We need to build the base of the season before we do anything else,” he said.

For other events, the Tigers

ELI DAVIDOW JACOB SCHWARTZ Boys’ hockey’s ultimate goal is to clinch a spot in the postseason, which has not happened since 1997, according to coach Tom Ryan.

“The most important thing we need to work on is understanding how good we are,” he said. “This team is talented physically, and they have to accept that responsibility and win games, no excuses.

“As a team, we need to work hard to get better every day and win each and every game to qualify for the State Tournament.”

So far, strengths for the Tigers, 0-1, are goaltending by junior Michael Uberti and sophomore Hector Coscione, power plays and the strong leadership from the senior class and the captains.

Concerning their upcoming games, the Tigers will need to be strong physically and mentally to beat Braintree Sunday at Fessenden Rink.

“They are always good,” Ryan said. “They develop year after year, and have been successful the past few years. They also know how to execute during power plays, which we will need to watch out for.”

At home, the Tigers meet with Walpole Wednesday, Dec. 22.

“Like most of the teams in our league, they will be a big challenge. Conditioning will be important for that game.”

Continuing the home stand, the Tigers host St. Peter-Marian Monday, Dec. 27. “It will be different because they’re not in our league,” Ryan said. “It should be an interesting game.”

For the first time in years, the Tigers will face the Lions Friday, Dec. 31, at Newton South. “We used to play them every year, but we haven’t played in a few years, for reasons I don’t know,” Ryan said. “Their program has improved and so has ours, so it should be a very exciting game.”

Ryan said he does not know what he will anticipate when the Tigers travel to Milton Wednesday, Jan. 5.

Facing a “great hockey town,” according to Ryan, the Tigers will visit Weymouth Saturday, Jan. 8. “They are big, strong and fast, and know how to move the puck well. They’re used to having success, and that’s one of the reasons they continue that success year after year.”

Playing at home against Brookline Wednesday, Jan. 12 will be a very competitive and fun game, Ryan said.

“It always brings out the best in both teams,” he said. “Brookline, in terms of skill level, is closer to us than most of our competition, so that typically leads to a much better hockey game.”

According to senior T.J. Ryan, a captain with junior Ryan Fanning, “Everyone’s been putting a lot of effort in and working really hard.”

In the first game of the season Wednesday, the Norwood Mustangs defeated the Tigers 7-0 at Fessenden Rink.

“In the first period, we did okay, but in second period, we just got sloppy in our zone,” Fanning said.

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are focusing the most on technique, he said.

“We want every event to be strong and have a lot of depth.”

Tomorrow, the Tigers will run in the opening meet of the season, at the Winter Festival. “A lot of teams in the Boston area will be at the Festival, so it will be a nice first meet,” Blackburn said.

Wednesday, Dec. 29, it is possible that the Tigers will send individuals to the Holiday Qualifier, according to Blackburn.

“Many people are going away,

so we might not participate in it,” he said. “We’re thinking about it.”

The Tigers will face Framingham, Thursday, Jan. 6. “They’re not very tough as a team,” he said.

“Weymouth will really be our only big challenge this season.”

Brookline, which the Tigers will face Thursday, Jan. 13 is “alright,” according to Blackburn.

All meets will be held at the Reggie Lewis Center.

The Tigers were to have run against Braintree yesterday.