v90i6 master (2) by The Newtonite

Newtonite ◆ Friday, April 29, 2011 • Volume 90, Issue 6

Non-profit org. US postage paid Newton, Mass. Permit no. 55337

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

Meeting ends in frustration Samantha Libraty Jared Perlo Tension ran high during Wednesday’s Student Faculty Administration meeting, with several faculty members walking out after the meeting was adjourned due to lack of student representative attendance, according to principal Jennifer Price. History teacher Gregory Drake, faculty co-chair, presented a motion that called for a quorum, which means there needs to be 16 members present in order to run a meeting. Because there was not a quorum, the meeting was adjourned. Out of the 12 student representatives on the committee, four attended Wednesday’s meeting. Drake said that some faculty members left because “we weren’t going to find any solutions with four students.” Price said, “I have been frustrated all year with the lack of student leadership and participation in SFA. “I am hopeful that the students, under the direction of student co-chair junior Allision Wu, will find a way to actively engage in the SFA and begin to represent their constituents properly.

“This followed a conversation at the last SFA meeting about the importance of student participation and leadership.” After the meeting was officially over, “there was a productive conversation on how to make SFA more effective,” Drake said. Although some faculty members were frustrated, many of the student representatives, including junior Joanna Saikali, feel that it was inappropriate for them to walk out, she said. “There should definitely be more students showing up, but this week was different because upper classmen have SATs and AP exams,” Saikali said after the meeting. “It was wrong for the faculty to walk out. Students were there to fix the issue, and the faculty just gave up.” Wu said after the meeting, “The frustration the faculty showed was not completely unwarranted, but on the other hand, it could have been dealt with by much more effective means.” Although some meetings this year have not been as productive because of the lack of attendance, the representatives have been communicating outside of meetings, according to Wu.

and

Jacob Schwartz

Facing the Mustangs: Junior Will Spiro cradles the ball in the game against Needham Tuesday, April 12 at home. The Tigers won 14-5. See story on page 14.

Cindy Bergan appointed assistant superintendent Hilary Brumberg Earlier this month, math department head Cindy Bergan accepted the position of assistant superintendent for secondary and special programs. Because it is so late in the school year, this school will hire an interim math department head for next year, according to vice principal Deborah Holman. A small committee, co chaired by Career and Vocational Technical Education department head Diana Robbins and Special Education department head Walter Lyons, will choose candidates to be interviewed, Holman said. Principal Jennifer Price will then choose the 20112012 interim math department had from that candidate pool. “We’d like to have an interim

in place by the end of May,” Price said. The position of interim math department head will only be posted internally and will be open to anyone certified in mathematics, she said. Bergan, who co-led the committee to hire a new English department head this year, said that often an interim is used for a year because it is “less complex” to hire an interim on such short notice. She said, “They’ll try to involve as many people as they can because they want to hear the voices of the department. “It is very important that the new person understand the extent to which collaboration is used in the building,” she said. Next school year, the math department will do a full search for a long-term department

head. The district will then advertise both internally and externally, Bergan said. As assistant superintendent for secondary and special programs, Bergan will work with the four middle school and two high school principals to “collaborate on aspects of teaching and learning,” she said. Bergan will also oversee four district-wide special programs: Career and Vocational Technical Education, METCO, Community Education and Summer School. “I will work with the directors of these programs and see how these programs are being integrated into the school system,” Bergan said. “My role will be to support them and see what kind of resources I can bring.” The assistant superintendent

for secondary and special programs is a new position in the Newton Public Schools. It was created when superintendent David Fleishman eliminated the positions of deputy superintendent of schools and executive director of instructional programs. These changes will be effective at the end of this school year, according to a letter Fleishman sent to NPS staff in February. In the letter, Fleishman said his sole purpose in restructuring the assistant superintendent positions is to “serve schools as effectively as possible and ultimately create the most optimal conditions to improve student learning.” Bergan, who has taught at this school since 1999, said that she has had “wonderful oppor-

tunities” at this school. “The math department is a collaborative group of educators who just care deeply about teaching and learning.” Bergan said she applied for the assistant superintendent for secondary and special education position knowing that however the application process worked out, she would be “very happy,” because “I love my current job, and I am excited to work with another amazing team in the central office.” In a letter to NPS faculty announcing Bergan’s appointment, Fleishman said that Bergan’s “well-deserved reputation as a highly respected leader in Newton will enable her to be a major contributor at the district-wide level” and that he looks forward to working with her.

Samantha Libraty Students from this school will be walking in a Tiger team at Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger Sunday, according to sophomores Caroline Ayinon and Deanna Cortina. Ayinon and Cortina are heading the Tiger team. This is the first year that there has been an official Tiger team, they said.

They created a group on Project Bread’s team site and invited many students via Facebook, Ayinon said. She volunteered at the Walk for Hunger last year, and she asked Cortina to walk with her this year, she said. “We later thought of organizing a schoolwide team.” Cortina said, “We knew that

a lot of students participated in the Walk for Hunger individually or with their parents, so we thought it would be a good idea to combine and walk in a team representing this school.” The Tiger team will meet in Newton Centre and walk 6.5 miles to the Cambridge Boat Club, Ayinon said. The Walk for Hunger is a

fundraiser for Project Bread. “Walkers raise money by getting sponsors to pay them a certain amount per mile or a flat donation,” Ayinon said. The Tiger team is aiming to raise $1,000, she said. “But we know the Tigers can go above and beyond if we work hard,” she added. Cortina said, “The money we

raise goes a long way to help others that aren’t as fortunate as us. Being high school students, usually our focus is on ourselves, but this walk lets us focus on those who are in need and do not have the simplest thing, like food.” Students interested in partcipating can go to www.projectbread.org/goto/tigerwalk.

Tiger team to participate in Walk for Hunger by

See inside for Springfest, old school demolition and sailing

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pages 8-9

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opinion

2 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Plagiarizing merits serious consequences Teachers have been telling us since elementary school that plagiarizing will result in serious consequences.

editorial We are lectured on the penalties of plagiarism and basically scared out of even attempting to do it. But when do we stop to think about what plagiarism really is? Plagiarism is not just printing out another person’s history paper from Google and handing it in as your own. It is not just using somebody else’s slideshow presentation and claiming it as your work. There are also less obvious offenses of plagiarism, like when you are taking notes in a textbook and copy down what the textbook says word for word without putting it in quotation marks. Or, when you inadvertently forget to cite a source you refer to in a paper. Students have to be very careful of plagiarizing. It is easy to carelessly neglect to write a bibliography at the

end of a presentation or use someone else’s idea and call it your own. But we must be more aware of what we are doing and what our actions could result in. Plagiarism is considered a serious transgression in this school––as it should be. According to this school’s course catalogue, plagiarizing could result in a zero, informing the student’s parents, or a one-day suspension. It also can go on the student’s file. In a community where kids are constantly thinking about their future, students should consider how their decisions today will affect them in the long run. The choices you make today, no matter how minor, will have a great impact on you tomorrow. There is too much at stake to decide not to think through your actions. Students need to be extremely conscientious about plagiarizing. There are harsh repercussions that no one wants to face.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Gabe Dreyer

Swedish breakfast: Senior Jared Kalow, sophomore Sejal Vallabh, seniors Rebecca Engelke and Rebecca Harris and junior Emily Schacter stand outside of Ann Sather, a Swedish restaurant in Chicago, Il., on a Model UN trip to Northwestern University.

Distant crises can affect people around the world Amanda Hills Half way around the world, 7,000 miles away, a massive tsunami hits Japan. The underwater earthquake’s 8.9 reading on the Richter magnitude scale devastates the people of the by

column nation. Its aftershocks continue for days, each one tearing down homes, sparking fires and continually sweeping up innocent people. Radioactive chemicals are released and force the remaining citizens to evacuate.

The intense radiation stretches far out to the outskirts of the island. When natural disasters such as this occur, our everyday problems seem petty. When you turn on the news and see an earthquake has taken the lives of thousands and counting, suddenly, your bad math grade seems less important. Major issues overshadow our minor ones and make us more appreciative for what we have. Even catastrophes that happen thousands of miles away cause us to think about how fortunate

Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the newspaper of Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460. Editors in chief — Hilary Brumberg, Ben Hills, Perrin Stein Managing editors — Jay Feinstein, Jacob Schwartz Graphics manager — Gabe Dreyer News editors — Alex Feit, Samantha Libraty Sports editors — Gloria Li, Kristian Lundberg Arts editors — Malini Gandhi, Fatema Zaidi Features editors — Meredith Abrams, Julia Oran, Kayla Shore Freelance editors — Ryan Condon, Steven Michael News analysis editor — Amanda Hills Talk of the Tiger editor — Julia Moss Photography editors — Maliha Ali, Alec Mapes-Frances Production manager — Gabby Ginsberg Advertising managers —Tiphaine Kugener, Evan Nitkin Business manager — Alison Berkowitz

Circulation managers — Phil Rubin, Michela Salvucci Online Editor — Henry DeGroot Adviser — Kate Shaughnessy Production adviser — Tom Donnellan News staff — Emmett Greenberg, Jared Perlo Features staff — Anna Clements, Jared Freedman Sports staff — Jesse Metzger, Infiniti Thomas-Waheed Arts staff — Ned Martenis, Noah Thompson News analysis staff — Kellynette Gomez Art staff — Catherine Chen, Arielle Conti, Rin Rogers Photography staff — Judith Gibson- Okunieff, Emma Hanselman, Jenny Lewis, Solomon Mercurio, Ivan McGovern, Teddy Wenneker Circulation staff — Irene Betts-O’Rourke, Eyob Gizachew, Sam Jones, Phillipine Kugener, Matthew Soloman Production staff — Charles Attisano

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.

we are to have what we have. Tragedies emphasize that life is short, and what you love could vanish in a second. Freshman Hiroki Shibuya, whose extended family lives in Tokyo, has had to face some direct effects of the tsunami and earthquake. “Things like the shortage of gas, the empty supermarkets and the shutting down of public transportation has caused my family in Japan to live a harder life than before,” he said. When he heard about the earthquake, his mind imme-

diately jumped to negative outcomes. He said, “I was very worried, and the images on TV and in the newspaper did not help raise my hopes. My parents stayed up all day and night trying to reach family and friends that may have been affected.” We often focus on the negative outcomes of an event and neglect to recognize indirect, positive results. While we are worrying about the future of Japan, we should realize that we have an opportunity to improve our outlook on our daily lives. Disasters such as this should

remind us that nothing should be taken for granted. When major problems occur throughout the world, we should reevaluate how we value our everyday items, problems and routines. We should use the opportunity to take a step back and appreciate what we have a bit more deeply. Shibuya said, “Now that many people of Japan have lost everything in the tsunami, we should feel more grateful for our precious belongings––belongings that the innocent victims have lost.”

Moving means life changes Jessica Chaikof Sometimes I feel like I am the only southerner at this school. Whether I am or not, my experiences as an outsider feel the same. by

guest column This is my first year in New England and, having been born and raised in Georgia, living here has been a peculiar experience. Living in Newton, I feel like Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee, except a Georgia peach in the Yankee Court of Massachusetts. I am in the middle of a cultural crisis: trying to keep my Southern traditions but at the same time, bringing in new Northern ones. It is often the everyday details, rather than the major life changes, that affect me most. One of the first details I noticed was the way people address each other. Back in Georgia, the more formal way of greeting people is with “hey.” Many people from here proba-

bly greet their friends by saying “hey,” but not their teachers. Since my move to Massachusetts, I have had to make other little adjustments, as well. For example, on New Year’s Eve, I watched a New York City ball drop instead of an Atlanta peach. And, worst of all, I have had to accept the fact that my favorite place to get subs, Jersey Mike’s, is not around the corner from my house. For all that I do miss, I do not miss the Georgia public school system. According to Morgan Quitno Press, Massachusetts is rated second in public school education, while Georgia is ranked 41st. Because the schools are better, students here seem to be more enthusiastic and eager to learn. Even though adjusting to a new school has been difficult, I do feel like I am better off here, at this school, than at the school I would have gone to in Georgia. Massachusetts is less racially diverse than Georgia, but is more diverse in its appreciation for the arts. Massachusetts is full of historical sites, museums

and art galleries. In Georgia, it is a weekend tradition to go shopping and spend all of your money instead of going to a gallery or even a sporting event. At times, I feel like I am an outsider trying to find my role here. I am a puzzle piece that will not fit into place. Perhaps, the puzzle will somehow fit to my new perspective, if I am patient and willing to adjust. I have begun to adapt, but I still have a ways to go. Until then, I am that shy girl in the hallways with a southern accent.

Letters Readers are invited to submit guest articles and letters to the editor. Letters should be put in the Newtonite box in the main office 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, April 29, 2011

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 3

Sophomores start club to help fellow students Sixbillionsecrets.com serves as inspiration Alex Feit In order to help students who may be struggling with challenges, such as depression or eating disorders, several students have started the HOPE Club, a student-run support group. Inspired by the website sixbillionse crets.com, in which users post topics that have been troubling them in order to reNewtonian ceive support, Lynn sophomores Chou Lynn Chou and Jen DelGrande started the club in order to by

“make a difference in people’s lives,” according to Chou. “One thing that really inspired us was how much it meant to someone when a person they didn’t even know complimented them. We just want to help people wherever and however we can,” she added. The club will run discussions in which members “discuss how we can help people with their troubles,” Chou said. However, the group is hoping to also organize bake sales and concerts with student bands in order to raise money for various charities, such as the Red Cross and Multiservice Eating Disorders Association, Chou said. This year will mainly be an organizational year, she said.

Many of these events will not take place until the next school year. “The main goal for this year is just to spread the word about the club and possibly make a website for it,” Chou said. The group has already affiliated itself with initiatives such as Operation Beautiful, which posts inspiring messages in public places, Chou said. “We’re hoping to post similar messages as well.” Still, the end goal is to “teach people that little actions, smiles and compliments can go a long way,” Chou said. “It’s never too late to show someone that you care.” The club meets Thursday Xblocks in 266.

Math team places fourth at State Meet in Shrewsbury Samantha Libraty At the state competition Monday, April 11 , this school’s math team came in fourth place, according to math teacher Elisse Ghitelman. The meet was held in Shrewsbury, with 16 large schools participating, Ghitelman said. “Our team was very strong this year,” she said. Each student competed in three individual rounds, worth six points each, according to Ghitelman. Sophomore Christina Chen scored 18 out of 18 in her individual rounds. On her score, Chen said, “It was pretty exciting, and I wasn’t expecting it.” by

In the team round, the math team received 16 out of 24 points, Chen said. Ghitelman said, “We had set a goal of beating Newton South and Canton at States. We met our goal of beating Canton, but South was very good this year.” Chen said, “The meet was pretty good overall. We definitely did well.” At the end of the regular season, the math team finished second overall in its league. “Second overall has been the highest position the team has placed in the 18 years I have coached,” Ghitelman said. Senior Dong Gil Shin, the captain, has been a strong mem-

ber of the team, Ghitelman said. He has been a part of the team for four years, she said. “Shin will be greatly missed,” Ghitelman added. “I hope that we will have a strong team next year,” Ghitelman said. Junior Caroline Ellison will become captain next year, she added. There are many strong rising freshmen, Ghitelman said. “The team is going to get a lot better next year. I know we have a lot of rising freshmen who will do well,” Chen added. The top seven teams from the State Meet advanced to the New England competition. The competition is today at Canton High School.

Class officers prepare for annual end-of-year events

Celebrations to be held within next few weeks Hilary Brumberg Sophomore, junior and senior class officers have been planning their respective class events since the beginning of this school year. Tonight, the Class of 2013 will hold the first annual Sophomore Shindig. Sophomore class president Carl Whitham, who has been planning the Shindig with vice presidents Selly Altman, Ivan McGovern, Caroline Nunberg, Justin Piselli and Mike Safran, suggested the name because he thinks it “sounds a little more fun and inclusive of everyone,” he said. From 6 to 11 tonight, the athletic wing will be full of sophomore students eating carnival food, listening to music and playing “super fun games,” such as jousting, velcro wall, bungie run, basketball and volleyball, according to Whitham. “Having a Shindig like this, with the help from faculty chaperoning, brings our special Class of 2013 together by having fun on our familiar turf, hanging out and just having a silly fun night,” Whitham said. McGovern said the Shindig will be fun because “there will be many different games for people to play, such as inflatable jousting and the velcro wall. “But for those who dont want to play games, there will also be food, movies and, towards the end.” by

Tickets are $30 and available at second lunch today, but not at the door. The Junior Semi-Formal will be Saturday, May 7 at the New England Aquarium. Junior class president Jon Paul Roby and vice presidents Stephanie Brown, Bernard McSally, Diana Sapashnik, Brooke Stearns and Hansen Yang chose to hold it at the Aquarium because it is “modern and something that has never been done before,” Roby said. Roby said that this Newtonian year’s SemiFo r m a l i s Jon Paul “cooler” than Roby in past years because it will have “the best music” and finger food, instead of a sit down dinner. “Students should attend the Semi-Formal to celebrate the end of the year and because it’s going to be one of the best junior semi-formals this school has ever seen,” he said. Tickets are $70 and are on sale at lunch until the day before the event. Students must have a consent form signed by their parents in order to attend. To reward the Class of 2011 for the “strength and unity it

has shown in times of tragedy,” Senior Prom will be held at Gillette Stadium Sunday, June 5, according to senior class president Molly Doris-Pierce. Doris-Pierce, who has been organizing Prom with vice presidents Kevin Barisano, Emily Cetlin, Tiffany Chen and Amy Ren, said they picked Gillette because it is unprecedented for a senior-class prom. “We are fully committed to pampering our class in a night of celebration for how far we have all come since freshman year,” Doris-Pierce said. “I hope to see every member of 2011 at prom because this is one of the last times we will all be together. It doesn’t matter whether you have a date, the right shoes or a certain hairdo. “Everyone should come to celebrate with their friends. 2011 has achieved so much and every single one of my classmates should be so proud.” Senior Prom tickets are $80 and are on sale at lunch until two weeks before the event. Students must have a consent form signed by their parents in order to attend. Celebration, thr after-Prom party held at this school, will have a Mardi Gras theme. It is free for all seniors, including those who choose not to come to the Prom, according to DorisPierce.

Hilary Brumberg, Jay Feinstein and Perrin Stein

Murals: Students are currently painting murals in locations such as staircase G, the ramp and outside of the library.

arts

4 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, April 29, 2011

Alec Mapes-Frances

Springfest II: Senior Evan Zhang, one of this year’s Concerto Competition winners, performs Bach’s “Concert Concerto for Two Violins,” on the left. On the right, seniors Linda Bard, Lydia Tarnower and Annie Gombsi sing during Family Singers’ performance earlier that evening.

Annual ‘Springfest’ full of energy, variety Malini Gandhi Ned Martenis Touched with warmth, musicality and a soft, contagious energy, Springfest provided a satisfying compilation of music that highlighted student work and growth as well as engaging the audience. by

and

review The annual concerts, which took place Wednesday, April 13 and Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, truly proved to be showcases of musical variety. While Springfest I presented a series of short, contrasting pieces, with clanging military marches giving way to folk tunes and upbeat renditions of pop songs, Springfest II tackled some of the masterpieces of classical music through its featured Concerto Competition soloist winners. The various selections were compiled from the repertoires of seven different ensembles. Springfest I included performances by Concert Choir, Jubliee Singers, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and a guest appearance from Haileydury College, a visiting Australian music group. Springfest II featured String Ensemble, Family Singers and Orchestra.

Springfest I

Concert Choir opened the evening with the famous Renaissance madrigal “Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes” by John Wall Callcott, a soft, sweet tune enriched by a trickling melody and deeper undertones. This piece was followed by a lighter, moving arrangement of “I Will” by the Beatles, which was sung with solid, confident voices. The most intricate, impressive selection performed by Concert Choir was the spiritual tune “Wayfarin’ Stranger.” Beginning with smooth, melancholy voices that rose to a resounding pronouncement of sadness. The song proceeded to break into multiple parts, creating a many-layered climax. Jubilee Singers presented a powerful, vivacious performance that captured a soulful forcefulness, with each singer seeming to add a new level of energy and conviction. Their first song, “Soon Ah Will Be Done,” by Jessye Norman began with a soft, foreboding whisper, and as the pronounced syllables grew faster, the group leaned forward as if to lure in an unseen being. “Psalm 23,” the group’s second selection, was slow but firm, growing in intensity and conviction as the singers began to sway back and forth.

Symphonic Band presented the entirety of Gustav Holst’s “Second Suite in F,” a challenging, four-movement piece that allowed the students to experiment with contrasting emotions and techniques. After opening with a steady military march, featuring impressive percussion and a powerful brass section, the piece moved on to the lonely, dramatic second movement, “Song Without Words,” which included a heart-wrenching oboe solo over a dissonant background. The third movement, “Song of the Blacksmith,” had a catchy melody and a hammer of drums, while “Fantasia On The ‘Dargason’” concluded the piece with a rising, many-layered section. Next, Wind Ensemble performed “Overture for Winds” by Charles Carter, which included a soft and melancholy, section, as well as “Irish Tune from County Derry” by Percy Aldridge Grainger, a flowing, resonant song with layers of oboes and clarinets accentuated by the shatters of cymbals. To conclude the evening, the Haileybury College Ensemble, which included 34 visiting students from Australia, presented a variety of pop songs pulsing with energy. The two vocalists had rich voices that complimented each other beautifully. Finally, in a vibrant testament

String Ensemble started off the program with the first and second movements of Louis Spohr’s “Double String Quartet.” A hushed yet dramatic piece, the ensemble increased and decreased the volume throughout the movements, all while raising the intensity. Family Singers followed with five varied numbers. Starting with “Three Hungarian Folk Songs” by Bela Bartok, the Family Singers quickly moved from a haunting melody to an upbeat rhythmic chorus of “hurry, hurry” to an ethereal, sweet section that capped off the piece. “Serenade,” by Anton Arensky came next, accompanied by Family Singers’ member Linda Bard on the cello. This Russian lullaby showcased the singers’ sensitivity to tone, especially in softer volume ranges. The Beatles’ “Blackbird” came up next, with junior Emily Paley doubling as the whistler. In a lighter mood, “Peanut

Song,” by Jean Berger followed. Similar to a popular children’s song, the playful tune speaks of a peanut flattened by a train. The second half was dedicated to the Orchestra. The first movement of Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins” opened the soloist portion of Orchestra’s set. Seniors Ezra Lichtman and Evan Zhang provided the twin solos in the Concerto, with interweaving melody lines backed up by gentle underscoring. The second and third movements of Ernest Bloch’s “Concertino for Flute, Clarinet and Strings” centered on seniors Ellen Goldberg on flute and Carissa Lin on clarinet. The strings in this number built up to a rich finale, swelling to meet the flute and clarinet lines. The first movement of Elgar’s “Cello Concerto” was led by junior Laura Cooke on cello in this dark, brooding piece. The cello leads the strings in a swell of sound, finally dying down to just the cello again. The last number in the concert was the first movement of Trumpet Concerto by Joseph Haydn. Featuring senior Peter Wu on trumpet, the soaring melody spiraled into a duet with flute, culminating in a cadenza, or solo improvisation, to end the concert with thoughtful beauty.

Senior Kate Lewis is part of the North-South production, and she plays the part of Polonius, the adviser to the king and Ophelia’s father. “He is arrogant and careerdriven, and he puts his social status above his family, but he’s also very funny and a lot of fun to play,” said Lewis. According to Lewis, working with the South students builds a bridge between students from the two schools. “It’s been so much fun working with everyone. We clicked almost immediately as a group, and I loved getting to know the actors from South and bonding with the whole cast,” she said. As to why “Hamlet” is such a special show, Lewis said, “‘Hamlet’ is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays and the show itself is really engaging and suspenseful, but it’s all about what the actors bring to it. “No two interpretations of ‘Hamlet’ ever look the same— it’s all about what the performers put into it and how they see

their characters, and that’s what makes it unique.” Butterton is also excited to be a part of the show and play the role of the villain, Claudius. “Claudius is well-liked but not a good person, and he has to deal with being guilty yet enjoying the power he gained,” Butterton said. In order to make his character come alive, he said, “one of the most important things is that feedback and connection that you make in embodying somebody else.” According to Butterton, working with South students allows him to work with a different group of people and “it’s nice to talk with them,” he said. “‘Hamlet’ is such a special show because it manages to capture so many different things. It talks about love, death, revenge and power,” he said. “People should come and see it because it is fun, entertaining and thought-provoking.” Tickets cost $7 and can be bought at the door.

to the bridges built by music, Wind Ensemble joined the Australians for the last pieces of the evening. On a stage crammed with nearly 100 students, the dark wood of dozens of string instruments and the glint of brass, the two groups played “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” to the cheers of the audience.

Springfest II

Annual Shakespeare play features North, South actors

Fatema Zaidi Theatre artist and creative consultant SerahRose Roth directed “Hamlet,” a show about revenge and desperate love, which went on stage at Newton South yesterday and continues tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. The show centers around Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, played by South senior Maddy Schulman. Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, played by senior Derek Butterton, murders Hamlet’s father, takes his throne and marries Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet feigns insanity and attempts to avenge his father. But his love interest, Ophelia, played by South senior Zoe Clayton, complicates matters. Although she is in love with him, Ophelia is confounded by Hamlet’s fake insanity, which drives her mad. People also take advantage of her by constantly controlling her life—characters such as her father, her brother and even Hamlet. by

Kate Lewis

Rehearsal: South senior Maddy Schulman and North freshman Susannah Thal-Nir practice a scene for “Hamlet.”

news

Friday, April 29, 2011

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 5

Photo featured in calendar Steven Michael Senior Matthew Goldman’s photograph will be featured in Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation’s 2011-2012 calendar. The foundation honors the memory of this school’s late soccer coach and guidance counselor Ucal McKenzie by organizing youth soccer clinics, fitness education and health and wellness initiatives, according to the foundation’s website. Photography teacher Ron Morris assigned his Photo Minor 2 and 3 students the project of creating a soccer-related graphic for the calendar. “It had to be something that would look good on a calendar

and really stand out,” Morris said. “I encouraged them to use graphic design and design elements.” Morris selected exemplary photographs to submit to the foundation for the calendar. Students whose photographs were submitted wrote a brief biography and explanation to accompany their work. The foundation chose Goldman’s photograph and will highlight pieces by junior Janellan O’Connor and sophomores Maya Ingram and Rebecca Mead in other materials, he said. Morris said that Goldman’s photograph stood out for its creativity. “The soccer ball was at the

top with a lot of empty space and looks like it will go into outer space,” he said. In his description of the photograph, Goldman said he aimed “to show the universality of soccer.” “I took the picture off of the field to show that soccer is a sport that can be played just about anywhere and by anyone who has a passion for the sport,” he wrote. Goldman began photography classes during his freshman year at this school. The foundation’s calendars will go on sale at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

Pilot program holds Red Cross blood drive

handed out in homerooms and making morning announcements. They also worked hard for three days during lunch, recruiting students to sign up to donate blood,” she said. This school has held a blood drive for many years. According to Cacace, “We haven’t collected anything over 43 units since 2007, when we collected 45 units. This is especially impressive because there were no height/weight eligibility guidelines beyond the minimum 110 pounds before 2010 so the donor pool was much larger in 2007,” she added. Next year, Pilot is planning to organize another blood drive, Cacace said. “Every year we will hope to meet or exceed the previous year’s numbers.” Students involved were excited to be able to help out and initiate a school wide event, ac-

in brief

Samantha Libraty Adult and student donors participated in a Pilot program sponsored Red Cross blood drive at this school Wednesday, March 30. Fifty-two presenting donors and 34 first-time donors gave blood at the event, according to Pilot teacher Katie Cacace. “This year we collected 43 units of blood, which is a full 10 units more than last year,” Cacace said. “The Red Cross was very pleased with the turnout this year,” she added. Pilot students helped organize the event with the Red Cross, Cacace said. “The students worked very hard informing students about the event by hanging posters, creating postings for the TVs in the school, putting together packets of bookmarks to be by

cording to Cacace. “They were very proud on the day of the event to see all the people donating as a result of their efforts. They were so proud of what they had accomplished that many of them invited their parents to come donate,” Cacace added.

Ligerbots prevail after robot improvements

Alex Feit This school and South’s robotics team, the Ligerbots, has significantly improved since its previous meet, according to junior Paige Grody, a captain. After a touch-up of the robot since its performance at the Worcester Polytechnical Institute Regional Competition in February, the team was able to finish 23rd out of over 50 participants at the Boston Robotics by

courtesy Matthew Goldman

Ucal McKenzie: Senior Matthew Goldman’s photograph was chosen to be in McKenzie’s commemoration calendar. Competition at Boston University April 7-9, Grody said. The team was also chosen for one of the final alliances, a group of several teams working as one to compete, qualifying it for the quarter-finals of the Boston Regional competition, she added. “We had a really good experience. Everyone was really invested and put in a lot of effort,” Newtonian Grody said. Paige Much of the Grody team’s success can be attributed to a restructuring of a robot’s arm and to the team’s enthusiasm, she said. “Everyone on the team really wants to be here. Everyone wants to see the robot shine and do well. We can’t expect to be

perfect, but because we have a common goal, things get done easier,” she said. Still, Grody said that the team needs to work on its communication issues and getting tasks done on time. “There’s always room for improvement,” she added. The team also hosted the CyberGnomes, a robotics team from the Stayner Collegiate Institute in Stayner, Ontario, Grody said. “They finished third overall, which was a lot of fun,” she said. The Ligerbots are finished with their formal competitions for the team and instead focus on improving the Newton community, Grody said. The team will host an event in May called Meet the Robots at the Hyde Community Center, designed for children to have a look at robots, Grody said.

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6 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

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Friday, April 29, 2011

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Friday, April 29, 2011

Tiger

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 11

Talk of the

Team Spirit

Double Standard

Julia Moss With spring sports starting up this month, athletes at this school have been carrying on this school’s tradition of exhibiting team spirit. Both on and off the field, players are proud to express their Tiger Pride. “Participating in spirit activities demonstrates unity and bonding for the athletes on the teams,” athletic director Tom Giusti said. “It’s good to see that kids show their Tiger Pride on game days.” According to Gi usti, there are many ways teams have shown their traditional spirit. Newtonian Depending on the team, Tom Giusti game day attire at this school could mean anything from the traditional uniform to themes like twins, ’70s or even “crazy day.” “We had a ‘crazy day’ for spirit,” said freshman Evie Heffernan, a member of girls’ track. “We wore suspenders, shorts, tights and tutus, and all sorts of different patterns that clashed. People got really into it and wore the most mismatched clothing they could find.” “I once dressed up as a full out zebra,” said senior Ellen Goldberg, a captain of girls’ track. “Another time, I was Superman, with a floor-length red cape.” Giusti said another crucial element of team spirit is just cheering on others. “One of the things I would like to see come back is teams taking five minutes out of practice to go cheer on other teams that are competing that day,” he said. “It gives players that extra charge of adrenaline to hear their friends shouting, ‘Go Tigers!’” Team spirit certainly brings energy and color to this school’s environment, but it also serves a greater purpose. Showing spirit brings teams together. “There are so many spirited traditions at Newton North,” Giusti said. “In football, there’s the tradition of the pre-Brookline haircuts. The boys’ soccer team by

Julia Moss

Weirdest Dreams

Although many students at this school don’t get much sleep, they have managed to have very peculiar dreams. Students were asked to share the weirdest dreams and nightmares they have ever had. “One time, when I was “I once dreamed that a two- in this weird plaza with sleeping in a bunk bed, I foot tall demon invaded my other dancers. We were had a dream that I fell off Spanish class. I woke up all wearing these ridicuthe empire state building. screaming.” lously poofy dresses and When I woke up, I had —senior Jared Kalow hula hooping.” fallen to the ground.” —senior Simona Gilman —freshman Eric Weiss “I had this dream like five times, where I was with “I had this dream once “In my dream, somebody all of my siblings and got that a friend of mine was brought in a real tiger as trapped in a tank with on top of a building, and a prank, and it started sharks. At some point, we he was going to jump. He attacking everyone.” went to another level of the just thought it would be —sophomore Yarden tank, and there were crocofun. I tried to stop him, Gavish diles that attacked us, and but I couldn’t, and he I had to save my siblings. jumped. When he hit the “In my dream, I was in But, eventually, a unicorn ground, he exploded into this city where everything saved us and flew us away.” butterflies. Then, the butwas made out of Jell-O. It —junior Maria Romero terflies picked me up and was crazy.” carried me home.” —sophomore Nick “I dreamed that I was a —junior Graham Techler Rodriguez flamenco dancer, and I was —Julia Moss

has been bleaching their hair for years. I’ve also seen girls’ teams recently dying their hair. It’s all about team bonding.” Student athletes feel the same way. “Spirit really does help the team bond,” junior Christina Caira, a softball player said. “When you’re all in uniform to show spirit, you can pick out your teammates in a crowd.” Senior Zach McAuliffe, a lacrosse player, said that team spirit traditions bring his team closer. “We bond as a team at our pre-game locker room ceremonies and team dinners. Now, we also hang out on the weekends.” Senior Amy Ren, a co-captain of girls’ track with Goldberg, said spirit is important because it can help the team get excited for the competition. “Team spirit can make a team more united and is a way of celebrating the sport,” she said. Team spirit also motivates individual athletes. As Goldberg explained, it “pumps up the athletes during the day and mentally prepares them to play.” Sophomore Madison Beatrice, a softball player, said “When we wear our uniforms for team spirit, it feels like we’re ready for the game,” she said. “It helps us get in the right mindset for playing.” There is one special character who may have the most spirit of all, but he is not an athlete. He is this school’s mascot, George the Tiger. Giusti said this school is one of the only schools that still keeps the mascot a secret. In fact, it is a long-standing tradition at this school that no one knows who is inside the tiger costume. According to Giusti, George was named for George Jessup, a former teacher, coach, parent and administrator who died of a heart attack in the mid 1980s. “We want George’s passion and enthusiasm to be shared by all our community,” he said. Student athletes have been showing their pride all around school, with their game day attire and enthusiasm. Giusti said, “We want our student athletes’ energy to be contagious throughout the school as we move forward, continuing many of the old traditions and establishing new ones.”

De-friended

Eli Bock

features

12 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, April 29, 2011

Financial aid offered for trips abroad Julia Oran Junior Sarah Bolden went to Spain last year in February with the exchange program. Bolden said, “I wanted to travel in Spain to improve my Spanish skills and see a new culture. I’d never been out of the country before, and I was eager to travel.” She continued, “It’s helped me out tons with my Spanish abilities. I can speak better, understand it better, and I have more of a passion for it. It’s made me eager to learn more.” However, Bolden would not have been able to enjoy one of the various exchange programs this school offers without financial support from the Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF). GELF, an organization under the Newton Schools Foundation, which awards scholarships to students who need financial aid to participate in a schoolsponsored international trip. “I think a good candidate for a GELF scholarship is anyone who works hard and is eager about or dedicated to the program that they’re applying to get a scholarship for,” Bolden said. “Students deserve this opportunity in order to learn. It’s much different to study a language and a different culture outside of a classroom. It makes everything more real, I think. On top of that, you meet a new group of people and friends. I still keep in touch with lots of the hosts from Spain.” Senior Josseline Godoy also benefited from GELF when she traveled to Paris two years ago as a sophomore. “I went because I wanted to get an experience that no one in my family had gotten before,” Godoy said. “I was the first in my family to travel overseas.” Although she said that living with her host family was challenging, Godoy said, “This experience helped me a lot to value some things that I had never really thought about.” “I don’t regret anything because it was all an eye-opening experience,” she said. by

file photo

Singing abroad: Music students perform as a part of their 11-day trip to Italy last April. Students traveling abroad, on trips such as this one, can apply for scholarships. Godoy added that prior to the trip, she had a hard time keeping her grades up. However, she said, “This trip gave me a big push to keep them up so that I would still be able to go on the exchange.” Students must be in good academic standing and submit two teacher references in order to receive money from GELF. Reflecting on the opportunity for international trips at this school and South, Godoy said, “I believe that anyone who truly wants the experience deserves to go on the trip and be part of GELF.” In particular, Godoy said, “someone who has a true interest on learning about a new culture,” should really be a part of GELF. According to principal Jennifer Price, GELF was started around three years ago when she was speaking at a Newton Schools Foundation dinner with South’s former principal, Brian Salzer. Price said she was talking about the many exchange pro-

grams at this school, which “are wonderful, but for many students, they are out of reach financially.” She said she specifically mentioned two students who wished to go on an exchange, but could not afford it. A week and a half later, Price said this school had received $10,000 to “support kids on exchange programs.” As a result of this donation, GELF was founded by a group, including Price, Salzer, world language department head Nancy Marrinucci, world language department head Suzanne DeRobert from South, history teacher Gregory Drake, French teacher Fiona Blyth and parents from both schools. Price said for many GELF recipients, it is their first time out of the country or on an airplane. “To live and study in another country is amazing,” she said. “I believe international travel can change the perspective on our world. Especially for kids who have not had the opportunity, it can be life-changing,”

Price said. “It can change the lens through which they look.” Marrinucci became a GELF committee member because, she said, there are several language exchanges and a “chronic issue” was always “how to support students with financial need.” She said this problem is important because this school believes that all students should have equal access to all programs. The GELF committee, made up of principals, world language department chairs, teachers and parents from both high schools, is involved in the two-part “process of supporting students,” according to Marrinucci. The first part is fundraising, which this year included donations, a benefit concert series and the annual GELF dinner, said Marrinucci. In terms of donations, Marrinucci said GELF receives an annual $5,000 anonymous donations, as well as donations from various individuals. This money includes other participants in the international programs who must donate to

GELF as part of the fee they pay, according to Marrinucci. She said this year, the benefit concert series raised about $2,800 and the GELF dinner raised close to $15,000. The second part of the committee’s process is the application review and approval. According to Marrinucci, for the past two years, GELF has supplied up to 70 percent of the cost of the trip, depending on student need. Applications have four deadlines because trips take place at different times during the year. This year, between this school and South, GELF awarded 18 scholarships. The application includes personal information, academic standing, references from two teachers, previous travel experience, financial information and a personal statement from the student. Additionally, after the trip, GELF recipients must write a reflective essay on their experience. Drake, also a GELF committee member, said the scholarships are given based on need and whether or not the student has traveled out of the country before. Additionally, when the committee reviews the applications, Drake said it looks for “leaders in our community at North who are going to bring back their experience and share it with others.” Every year since 2002, Drake has gone on the Prague Summer trip. He was inspired to become involved with GELF because, as a high school student, he went on a five-week exchange to Germany. International trips help students “grow as a person and become more confident,” commented Drake. He said it has “the potential to change people’s lives and give them a new perspective on the world.” Donations to GELF may be sent to the Newton Schools Foundation and more information may be found on its website http://gelf.weebly.com/index. html.

Pledge raises awareness about dangers of tanning Julia Oran Prior to prom, and even all year around, many high school students tan naturally or in tanning beds to achieve that sunkissed glow, despite the known health consequences. According to the Melanoma Foundation, people who tan at least once a month before the age of 30 increase their risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent. Melanoma is the second most common cancer for young adults ages 15 to 29 years old, and it kills one person every 50 minutes. As a result of these statistics, the Melanoma Foundation began the “Your Skin Is In” NoTanning Pledge, which offers prizes to schools with pledges from at least 70 percent of the class. The pledge says that the signer will not intentionally tan and is aware of the dangers of tanning beds and lying out in the sun. Senior Isabel Dover said she came across the pledge while doing a project for her anatomy class. Dover said, “I chose to study the dangers of tanning beds because my parents are both dermatologists, and my mom is on the FDA panel of doctors trying to restrict the use by

of tanning beds. “I thought that the No-Tanning Pledge would be a great way to get people involved in the project I am doing.” Although Dover said she has not handed out any pledges yet, she hopes that the students in her classes will sign the pledge and “spread the pledge to their friends so that it becomes a school-wide movement.” According to Dover, “Many people don’t fully understand what they’re doing to themselves by lying in tanning beds, so I hope that this pledge will increase awareness amongst students.” However, senior Dominique Coppola said she would never sign the pledge because “when you say ‘Dominique,’ the first thing that comes to mind is a tan.” She said she would “feel naked without a tan” just like some people “feel naked without jewelry or makeup.” Coppola said she has been tanning every day since sophomore year. She spray tans every night but also tans in tanning beds three times a week, so she can get the “vitamin D your body needs.” “All I know,” Coppola said, “is

that I am not signing this pledge because one of the biggest parts of my personality is my tan and they aren’t taking that away. I live in a world where it is supposed to be freedom of choice, and this is my choice, and I have the freedom to make it.” On the other hand, senior Stacey Terman said she would not tan because “it’s disgusting, it’s unhealthy, it’s unnecessary.” Terman also said, “You can look beautiful without risking skin cancer. “Too much tanning makes you look like an Oompa-Loompa. That’s not even attractive.” Considering the dangers of tanning, registered nurse Kathleen Walsh said that many people do not know that skin is the largest organ in the human body. “You have to take care of it,” she said. “Cancer is hard to treat. Don’t do it.” According to registered nurse Rozanne Milner, a little bit of sun, milk, orange juice and fish oil are good ways to get vitamin D, which is necessary to stay healthy. However, Milner said, “Everything in moderation—don’t over-do it, and always ask your doctor.”

The Pledge

I pledge not to go tanning prior to spring break. By this I mean that I will not intentionally tan by lying out in the sun or using tanning beds. I realize that by getting a tan I am sharply increasing my chances of developing melanoma, which can be fatal if not caught in time. I have read the Facts of Tanning and understand the dangers of tanning beds and lying out in the sun. If you want to look tan, try a self-tanning product, but be sure to also use sunscreen with SPF 30 as most self-tanners do not provide any sun protection

Tanning Facts

◆ The World Health Organization has determined that UV rays

from tanning beds cause cancer. ◆ People who use tanning beds once a month before the age of 35 increase their melanoma risk by 75 percent. ◆ Melanoma kills one person every 50 minutes. It is the second most common cancer for young adults ages 15-29 years old. Rates for melanoma are increasing faster than nearly all other cancers. ◆ It is not safe to tan in the sun or in a tanning booth. Using a tanning bed for 20 minutes is the same as spending 1-3 hours a day at the beach with no sun protection at all. Tanning beds put out 3-6 times the amount of radiation given off by the sun. ◆ For most people, 5-10 minutes of unprotected sun 2-3 times a week is enough to help your skin make vitamin D, which is essential for your health. Getting more sun will not increase your vitamin D level, but it will increase your risk of skin cancer. Vitamin D also comes from orange juice, milk, fish and supplements. compiled by Julia Oran from http://www.mfne orgpublicYSII2010PledgeFormTanFacts_Col.pdf

sports

Friday, April 29, 2011

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 13

Sailing hopes to become a varsity sport Julia Oran Among the multitude of athletic options at this school is the opportunity for a student to enjoy a sunny afternoon sailing on the Charles River with this school’s sailing team. Junior Veronica Ingham started the club as a freshman because, “I was surprised when I got to North that there wasn’t a team in such a diverse school,” she said. “I wanted to start the team because I knew that there were other sailors out there.” Ingham said, “One of the reasons athletic director Tom Guisti was so supportive was because it was a great opportunity for kids to learn a new sport, which is sometimes difficult to access without a club or team to join.” In order to start a club, Ingham needed at least five students who were interested, but about 30 students showed up to the first meeting. In addition, each club needs a faculty adviser, so Ingham asked scheduler Richard Ballou. After that, Ingham said she applied to be a club her freshman year. She said, “My mom was also a big help with all the paperwork, but I have done most of the work for the team.” The sailing team was started in the spring of 2009, Ingham’s freshman year, and it is now beginning its third season. However, the club is not yet considered a varsity sport because, according to Ingham, it “needs at least three years as a functioning team to be considered for a varsity standard.” Ingham, the team’s captain, said, “I’d like for it to become a sport before I leave because I by

worry the team won’t outlive me unless it has school funding.” As a result, she said the team is “working with the school to apply to be a varsity sport, and we are recognized in the league as a sport by other schools.” Ingham said, “My role at this point is organizing all the kids. I am the liason between our coach, Alex Sherman-Ash, and all the kids. I send out emails and my mom works out carpooling with the parents.” Ingham has not been organizing the team alone, though. Junior Lillian Robinson said she has “been involved with the team since the beginning” by helping Ingham recruit students and teach newcomers the basics

junior Veronica Ingham “I would like for it to become a sport before I leave the school because I worry that the team won’t outlive me unless it has other school funding and support.” about sailing. In addition, Robinson said she is in charge of fundraising for the team, which, this year, means she is selling candy like all of her other teammates. According to Ingham, although Robinson is not a captain, they have been friends since the beginning of high school, and “she has been the biggest help ever.” The most difficult part of starting the sailing club was finding a place to sail “because

boats are so expensive, and we didn’t have enough funding to buy boats at all,” she said. The team ended up joining the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association sailing league, which suggested Ingham “check out Community Boating Inc. in Boston on the Charles River because a ton of teams sailed there,” she said. The team sails two different kinds of boats, Robinson said. It sails Mercurys, which are mostly for new sailors, and 420s, which are “faster and tippy-er” and are used for races, she said. Robinson said the team sails in “all types of weather, including snow and rain. However, we never sail in thunder and lightning because the metal masts on our boats would become lightning rods.” This year, the team has about 20 students, mostly sophomores and juniors. According to Ingham, “We have a lot of returning sailors and a ton of new kids,” which is good because, “we’re always looking to teach people to sail and we encourage any level of experience.” The team also has “about seven students who are very talented, and our juniors are very strong,” she said. They practice twice a week and race twice a week against other schools, such as Quincy, Cambridge, Newton Country Day, Natick, Needham and Brookline, she said. Overall, Ingham said, “I think it’s really a great program, and the kids who do it love it. We’re down in the city, on the water on beautiful days, and it’s really what makes sailing so fun.”

Gabe Dreyer

On the Charles: Junior Jack Ingham jibes around the leeward mark on the course Wednesday during sailing practice.

sports

14 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, April 29, 2011

Boys work on individual improvements Gloria Li Boys’ track, 4-0, is seeking individual improvement, according to coach Jim Blackburn. “Most of the runners have a lot of self-motivation to do their best this season,” Blackburn said. “Others, however, need to have their parents light a fire under them to motivate them,” he said. Blackburn claims that the track members with parents who give their children unconditional support at home tend to do the best. “And as for those who might not, I always try to talk to them. I praise them for their good efforts, and I always communicate with them to make sure that I understand them,” he said. Successful members are used as examples to help other members learn how to perform well during practices, Blackburn said. According to Blackburn, “Track is a very individualized sport; therefore, pinpointed practice and improvement techniques are necessary for each member of the team. “The boys can get a hold of stats about how well the members at other schools do in their particular events, and they can then compare themselves and see how well they match up and what they need to do to improve,” he noted. by

Jumping: Senior Tylor Hart practices hurdles as coach Jim Blackburn looks on.

Jay Feinstein

He said he believes the members have already started off on the right foot this season and that they just need to focus on getting better at their individual events in order to perform well at States. Blackburn said he thinks, though, that the boys will be able to win easily in the upcoming meets against Framingham, Wednesday at home, and against Brookline Wednesday, May 11, also at home. Wednesday, at home, the Tigers defeated Needham 91-45. “We swept the 2-mile and won first place in numerous events such as the 200-meter, the 400-meter and the 1-mile,” said sophomore Jonny Long. Against Wellesley at home, Wednesday, April 20, the Tigers led a sweeping victory, winning 123-19, according to Blackburn. “Senior Ezra Lichtman had a championship performance in the javalin,” said senior Dan Ranti, a captain with seniors Ryan Donovan and Isaiah Penn. In addition to Lichtman’s show of talent, “senior Tylor Hart did a great job in the 4x4,” Ranti noted. At Braintree, Tuesday, April 12, the Tigers won 108-28. Blackburn noted, though, that the 4x200, the shot put and the sprint medley relays were the strongest events.

Tigers hope to use practiced techniques in games Gloria Li Boys’ tennis, 3-2, has three primary goals this season, according to coach Phil Goldberg. “Our goals are to get fitter as a team, to learn to practice correctly and have that carry over to matches,” he said. Goldberg said that he believes in “school and then team.” He said that all members of the team should have a strong sense of commitment, goal setting, work ethic and the ability to put the team above oneself. He hopes that the team will be by

victorious against its opponents in the upcoming matches. “Wins against Weymouth at home today and at Milton Tuesday are to be expected based on last year’s matches,” Goldberg said. However, he expects the matches Thursday at Brookline and Friday at Framingham to be tough. According to Goldberg, the Tigers have beaten the Framingham Flyers in the past. He hopes that the boys will beat Natick again at home, Tuesday, May 10.

Goldberg said he considers the Rockets to be a major rival as well, and he expects the Tigers to put forth their best effort to win, Wednesday, May 11 at home. “Needham has an awesome team,” Goldberg said Wednesday at home, the boys lost to St. John’s Andover, 5-0. “St. John’s is a really good team, and they were a hard team to play against,” said sophomore Kris Labovitch. The Tigers suffered a 5-0 defeat Thursday, April 21, against Wellesley at home.

According to senior Eric Krasnow, “Although we lost to Wellesley, we had a very close tie-break loss in the second set in first doubles.” The Tigers won, 5-0, Thursday, April 14, at Braintree, Krasnow said. “We didn’t drop a single set in the first two matches in singles or doubles,” he said. Tuesday, April 12, the Tigers won against Norwood, 5-0, at home, according to Krasnow. “The goal for the team this season is to make it to the State Tournament at the end of the

year,” Krasnow said. Goldberg expects senior Zev Cariani and junior Parker Swiston to lead the way to victory for the team. “They’re our number one and number two players,” Goldberg said. He said he believes that they are more skilful than most of the other players on the team. “Overall, though, we’re a deeper team this year than we were last year,” he said. According to Goldberg, the doubles teams have improved since last year.

Boys’ lacrosse stays balanced Jay Feinstein Boys’ lacrosse, 6-2, has imporved its ability to work as a team instead of relying on one person to score, according to coach Bussy Adam. “We have a well-balanced team, so we’re able to work together well,” he said. The Tigers are working on “all facets of the game, especially defense,” he said. “We’re working on different ways to defend and ways to dodge.” Tuesday, the Tigers will visit Milton for a night game. “It’s a big game. Night games are always exciting,” Adam said. Visiting Framingham Friday, the Tigers expect a tough game, according to Adam. “Last year we beat them twice, but this year, they’re a physical team.” At home Tuesday, May 10, the team will play Natick. “They’re an improved team this year, and they’re out to win,” Adam said. At home Tuesday, the Tigers defeated Walpole 5-2, according to junior Jake Shearman, a captain with senior TJ Ryan. “It was the first time in a while that we beat a well-coached team, but we made lots of errors, which will be deciding factors in future games,” he said. by

Saturday, the Tigers hosted Waltham, losing the close game 10-9, according to Adam. “The game came down to turnovers, and we had a bunch of unforced errors in the offensive zone.” Wednesday, April 20, the Tigers lost at an athletic Catholic Memorial team, 9-4, according to Adam. “We didn’t recognize some of their defensive positions, and it hurt us.” At home Saturday, April 16, the Tigers beat Winchester 7-2 in one of the team’s best games of the season, according to Adam. “We had solid defense and balanced offense,” he said. “Nate Menninger had a great game and won a lot of face-offs, and John Hogan did a nice job as goalie, making 13 saves.” At Braintree Friday, April 15, the Tigers won an “outstanding” game 20-15, Adam said. “We had great offense and found all sorts of scoring opportunities,” he said. Hosting Norwood Tuesday, April 12, the Tigers defeated the Mustangs 14-5. “We were off to a good start during the first half, and we kept control of the game,” Adam said. Yesterday, the Tigers were to have hosted Weymouth.

Jacob Schwartz

Cradle: Senior Zach McAuliffe looks to pass against Norwood Tuesday, April 12, as senior Joey Cunning looks on.

sports

Friday, April 29, 2011

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 15

Baseball works to make States Kristian Lundberg After a strong performance in the season opener, baseball, 1-4, finds itself in a grind to qualify for the State Tournament. “We have a good squad this year,” said senior Danny Anderson, a captain with senior Jack McLaughlin. “We’re working hard, trying to make it to the State Tournament. Our goal right now is to keep winning more games so that we’d be in a good position for States.” Anderson said the team is “working to stay positive and keep confidence at the plate.” “In practice, we’re coming full force, working hard every day. We’re having fun, but we’re still trying to improve.” Coach Joe Siciliano said the team is “still a work in progress.” “We’ve only played a few games so far,” he said. “We’re still trying to figure out where we stand.” Siciliano said that the team is concentrating on its pitching during practice. “Our pitchers are trying to get more command of their pitches. However, our hitting is one of our strengths, and we’re very strong up the middle,” he said. Upcoming for the Tigers are four games in six days, including an away game at Milton today, followed by two back by

Gabe Dreyer

Focus: Junior Ryan Fanning stares down the Braintree pitcher during the Thursday, April 14, which the Tigers lost. The Tigers fell to Braintree, again, at home, 6-3, Thursday, April 24.

to back home games against Catholic Memorial tomorrow and Brookline Monday. The Tigers will then hit the road, traveling to Framingham Wednesday and Needham Friday. The team will then return home to face Natick Monday, May 9, before traveling to Braintree Wednesday, May 12. “All of the teams in the Bay State Conference are strong,” Siciliano said. “It’s a wood bat league, with good pitching. Every team in the conference will challenge us.” The team has dropped its past four contests, most recently a close 4-3 loss at Weymouth Wednesday. “We were tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, but they got a hit with a runner on third to win the game,” Anderson said. Monday, the team lost 9-3 to Walpole at home. Thursday, April 21, the Tigers were shut out at Xaverian by a “very good pitcher,” Siciliano said. “We just didn’t hit him. He had a no-hitter late in the game.” The Tigers suffered their first loss of the season in a 6-3 defeat to Braintree at home Thursday, April 14. The team crushed Norwood 12-4 Monday, April 11 in the season opener. “We had a lot of timely hitting—we ended with 15 hits,” Siciliano said.

Undefeated girls’ track, 4-0, focuses on lowering times Perrin Stein Girls’ outdoor track, 4-0, is working to achieve faster times and improve techniques in the jumping events, according to senior Ellen Goldberg, a captain with seniors Margo Gillis and Amy Ren. At the new school, it is difficult for the coach and captains to teach the team because the different events practice far apart from each other, Goldberg said. For example, according to coach Joe Tranchita, the shot put practice is half a mile away from the runners’ practice. “Despite this, the seniors’ leadership has helped make practices run pretty well,” she said. Tranchita said the Tigers are “working on getting all members more fit and on establishing our 16 events. Developing and maintaining team chemistry is always a work in progress.” Although the team has a “solid group of veteran members who have done an outstanding by

job mentoring our newer members,” the Tigers still need to work on depth in all the events, he said. Also, the Tigers are getting used to the new facility and practicing in all types of weather, according to Tranchita. The distance runners have to practice outside, so when it is raining, it is difficult for them to practice, he said. Sunday, the Tigers will participate in the State Relays, which “will be one of our biggest meets of the season,” Tranchita said. The Tigers are defending State Champions, and they hope to “again have a strong showing,” he said. Both the Freshman/Sophomore meet and the competition against Weston are Saturday, May 7. At Weston, the Tigers will run at night under the lights, making it “one of the more fun meets for our team each year,” according to Tranchita. Junior Prom is the same night as the Weston Twilight

meet, so many students will be unable to compete in the meet, he said. Thus, some of the freshmen and sophomores who competed earlier in the day may end up participating in the Weston meet, as well. The Tigers will host the Brookline Warriors Wednesday, May 11 at Dickinson Stadium. Wednesday the Tigers “won big” against Needham at home, according to Tranchita. During vacation, Wednesday, April 20 the Tigers defeated the previously undefeated Wellesley Raiders. “The girls used their field event depth to pull away, sweeping the high jump, discus and triple jump and taking 1-2 in the long jump, outscoring the Raiders 47-7,” Tranchita said. At Braintree, Tuesday, April 12, the Tigers won 106-24. A number of students qualified for States based on the times and distances they achieved at this meet, he said.

Jacob Schwartz

Endurance: Senior Devika Banerjee runs in the home gam against Needham Wednesday.

Girls’ lacrosse, 4-1, turns to JV players for depth Kristian Lundberg Although girls’ lacrosse, 41, has started the season with four wins in its first five games, junior Kayla Farina, a captain with junior Michela Salvucci, remains levelheaded about the team’s fast start. “It’s important that we don’t get too confident about how we’ve done so far,” Farina said. “We haven’t yet played some of our best opponents in the Bay State Conference, and we can’t overlook them.” Farina attributes the team’s success in the beginning of the season to “having great teamwork and strong defense.” by

“Our midfield play has also been very strong. We’ve been getting good transitions, so we can move the ball from our defensive to offensive zone easily,” she said. Upcoming for the Tigers is an away game against Woburn tomorrow, followed by home games against Milton Tuesday and Framingham Wednesday. Afterward, the Tigers will travel to Natick Tuesday, May 10. “This could be a tough stretch for the team,” said coach Kim Hamilton. “We’re not a very deep team, so we need to make sure people are at the games and healthy. We

needed to pull a few kids from the JV team for the upcoming games.”

junior Kayla Farina “We haven’t yet played some of our toughest opponents in the Bay State Conference, and we can’t overlook them.” With the integration of players from the JV team, Hamilton stressed the need for “kids to

know our offensive and defensive strategy and be smart with the ball.” Wednesday, Walpole handed the team its first loss of the season in a 11-10 nailbiter on the road. Prior to their game at Walpole, the Tigers squeezed out two consecutive one-goal games, defeating Braintree 11-10 Friday, April 15 at home and edging Norwood 12-11 Tuesday, April 12 on the road. “During practice, we had worked on situational strategies and knowing what to do with the ball. Preparing in practice really helped us make good de-

cisions on offense in those close games,” Hamilton said. “In the Norwood game, we were down at halftime, but we never gave up. We were fired up at the start of the half and scored a goal. After that, we started to come back one by one, until we were finally able to take the lead at the end,” Farina said. “Our entire team was focused on the game, cheering other players and providing encouragement from the sidelines. The win was a complete team effort.” The Tigers were to have faced Weymouth yesterday on the road.

sports

16 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, April 29, 2011

Girls’ tennis strives for strong finish Gloria Li Girls’ tennis, 3-3, does not need much external motivation to perform its best, according to coach John Gaustchi. “In this tough league, we have four major rivals. Wellesley, Needham, Framingham and Brookline are all very strong,” Gaustchi said. “Our ultimate goal is to be among the top three in our league this season, and to make it to the tournament,” Gautschi said. The Tigers always play to win, but Gaustchi said that winning is not the most important thing. “We want to play without regrets,” Gautschi said. He said he thinks that the Tigers show better sportsmanship than many other teams in the league. “Sometimes we see members of other teams throwing temper tantrums on the court after their

games but that never happens with this team,” he said. The Tigers also have strong communication, he said. “The girls communicate and play well with each other in doubles on the court,” he said. Today at Weymouth, the Tigers expect to perform well, Gaustchi said. Tuesday against Milton at home, however, the singles are expected to be somewhat of a challenge, he said. The match against Framingham Friday at home will pose a greater problem. “They’re a part of the four toughest teams to beat in the league,” Gaustchi said. Later in the season, though, the Tigers expect matches to become easier again, and they expect to beat Natick at home Tuesday, May 10, Gaustchi said. Gaustchi said he expects that all the members of the team will

perform at their highest level at the Sectional finals at Needham, Wednesday, May 11. Wednesday, April 27 the Tigers defeated Framingham 3-2 on the road. Tuesday, April 26 at Walpole, the Tigers won 3-2. The Tigers fell to Braintree, Thursday, April 14, at home, 3-2. The team’s two captains, senior Emily Kelly and junior Emily Chan, won first and second singles, respectively, according to Kelly. Tuesday, April 12, at Weymouth, the Tigers won in all categories, 5-0. The Tigers suffered a defeat at Wayland, Monday, April 11, 3-2. Despite the loss, Chan and Kelly both won the singles while junior Abby Dalzell and sophomore Malini Gandhi claimed a victory in the second doubles, Kelly said.

The Tigers shut out Waltham on the road Friday, 5-0. On their own turf Friday, April 15, the Tigers were defeated in a nailbiter by Braintree, 5-4. Braintree scored the first two runs in the second inning, but sophomore Madison Beatrice brought in sophomore Zoe Cassidy with a triple. Beatrice earned the tying run soon after, crossing home on a wild pitch. The Tigers came back from a 4-2 deficit, and the score was locked at 4 going into the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, Braintree scored the

go-ahead run on a walk, after a questionable call by the umpire. The Tigers were unable to score in the bottom of the inning. Coach Lauren Baugher said the outcome would have been different had the team “not made as many errors.” However, she said the Tigers “showed resilience, and that was why we were able to come back.” For the second time this season, the Tigers met with Lincoln-Sudbury Thursday, April 14, this time at home. The Tigers won in a blowout, 14-4. At Norwood, the Tigers lost

5-0 Monday, April 11. According to Pursley, mental errors by the Tigers were a factor in the loss. However, Tiger pitching was strong. Senior Rachel Miller had seven strikeouts and junior Claire Doolin struck out four of the eight batters she faced. The Tigers won at LincolnSudbury 9-3 Friday, April 8. Baugher also commended Beatrice, who homered over the fence in center field. “It was my first home run, and I didn’t know if I should trot around the bases like in the MLB or run,” Beatrice said.

Gabe Dreyer

Against Braintree: Junior Abby Delzell hits a forehand.

Softball aims to reduce errors in upcoming games Jacob Schwartz Softball, 3-4, will host Milton today. The Wildcats, 1-5, have had a challenging schedule, facing teams such as Braintree, Norwood and Brockton. At home tomorrow, the team will face a closely matched Woburn team, according to senior Meghan Pursley, a captain with senior Ali Pappas. “They have a similar skill level, but we have a much different team than last year because we are younger. It should be a good challenge. They always take advantage by

when they get on base.” The Tigers “expect to win” at Brookline Monday, Pursley said. “Our goal is to stay focused. We can’t overlook them.” Framingham “should be strong when we play them,” according to Pursley. The teams will meet here Wednesday. Like Brookline, the Tigers cannot overlook Needham when they meet at Albemarle Field Friday, May 6, Pursley said. Wednesday the Tigers lost 6-3 to Weymouth at home. On the road, the Tigers lost 2-0 to Walpole Monday.

Dominant Tigers host Flyers today

Tigers look to avenge only loss Kristian Lundberg Through the first few games of the season, boys’ volleyball, 7-1, has been so dominant that coach Richard Barton called his team “potentially the top team in the state.” The difficulty, however, may lie in maintaining focus in the latter half of the season. “In the Bay State Conference, there are only a couple of teams that challenge us, so the competition level isn’t too strong,” Barton said. “We need to stay motivated and push the pedal, even against weaker teams.” In particular, Barton cited playing defense and “controlling passes off serves” as areas where the team could improve. An extremely close 3-2 loss at Framingham in the Tigers’ second game of the season is the only blemish on an otherwise near-perfect season. Aside from the loss to the Flyers, the Tigers have dropped only one set the entire season, in a 3-1 win against traditional rival Brookline on the road Monday, April 11. The Tigers followed that victory with consecutive 3-0 drubbings at home against Weymouth Wednesday, April 13, at Needham Friday, April 15 and at home against Wellesley Monday. The Tigers then traveled to Norwood to defeat the Mustangs Wednesday, Barton said, winning 3-0. According to junior Luke Westman, a returning player, the Tigers’ success so far “is attributed to the amount of players with varsity experience that we have returning, as well as the by

new players who have adapted quickly to a high level.” Senior Zach Knotts, a captain with seniors Mikey Barbone, Matt Laredo and Nick Link, said that the integration of JV players “that have been practicing with the varsity since Newtonian the end of last Zach year,” was key Knotts for the team’s overall performance. “A majority of other teams this year have players coming up from the JV who are not accustomed to the varsity level of play. Those teams will make errors due to inexperience and communication problems that we attempt to avoid,” he said. The Tigers will look to exact a measure of revenge against Framingham today, as the squad will take on the undefeated Flyers at home. With a win, the Tigers will gain a share of first place in the Bay State Conference with Framingham, currently 8-0 in the conference. After the rematch against Framingham, the team will host Braintree Monday, travel to Natick Friday and host Brookline Monday, May 9. The Tigers have defeated all three of those teams so far this season. “The schedule kind of works against us,” Barton said. “We’re playing weaker teams as we get closer to the State Tournament, but at that point, we’re trying to improve for the tournament.”

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