v88i2

Newtonite ◆ Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 • Volume 88, Issue 2

Non-profit org.

US postage paid Newton, Mass.

Permit no. 55337

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

Young tells how he calls off school S

JAY KRIEGER uperintendent Jeff Young said he gets “all kinds of free meteorological advice” from his children as well as from their friends when it comes to calling snow days.

His daughter graduated from Newton South and his son is a senior there now.

Young said safety is his main concern, but that he tries to keep schools open.

“Safety is far and away the major factor in making this decision,” he said.

But Young also said he knows that parents have jobs they need to get to and would prefer their children at school. ci. Newton.ma.us “A l s o, ” h e Jeff Young said, “the state mandates that every school district have 180 days of school each year.”

Young has made snow day decisions since 1992 when he became superintendent in Lexington. He became superintendent here in 1998.

In Newton, the process of canceling school starts early in the morning, he said.

“At about 4:30 a.m, I speak with Newton’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Department of Public Works and superintendents from neighboring communities—Brookline, Waltham, Watertown and Needham— to assess the situation,” he said.

“City officials help decide if the streets in Newton are clear enough for safe passage for students. The other superintendents help me assess the regional situation, so I can determine if faculty and staff, many of whom do not live in Newton, will have a safe passage to work.

“I have done the cancellation the night before a couple of times, but only when it’s very obvious that we are in the middle of a storm.

“Otherwise, the weather in New England is so changeable that it pays to wait to make the best, most informed decision.”

Young also commented on calling for delayed openings.

“If the snow has stopped and the city officials tell me they can get the streets cleared and the parking lots open, I will go for a delayed opening,” he said.

This year, Young has called one snow day: January 28. He also called a two-hour delay January 7.

BY

Shira Bleicher

Main Street Event: Sophomores Tom DeStefano, Ben Rosenblatt, Rory O’Neil, Rafay Jafri, Nick Ventouris and Eddy Segal assemble a gas internal combustion engine while other students watch. See pages 8-9.

SFA, administration discuss ways to make scheduling work better MARENA COLE REBECCA HARRIS Both the Student Faculty Administration Board and the administration are looking at ways to streamline course selection and scheduling.

Wednesday at the SFA meeting, senior Philip Engelke proposed dividing arena scheduling into two sessions based on students’ last names.

“Every year, the order shall be switched so that people whose last names come early in the alphabet do not always have an advantage,” Engelke’s proposal says.

Principal Jennifer Price told the board that the administration has already been considering changes to arena scheduling, BY

AND

but that it has focused more on sessions at the beginning of the year.

She suggested that the administration follow through with its own plans for September, but that Engelke’s proposal apply to June sessions.

At the faculty meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3, Price said the school needs to change how it builds the schedules.

Too many singleton classes conflict across departments, limiting student choices, she said.

“When creating the master schedule for the school, we want to minimize conflict and maximize opportunity for students,” Price said.

Another priority, Price said, is to streamline course changes,

especially so new students won’t have to wait up to a week to get enrolled.

“We want to have more arena scheduling sessions, a more centralized process for changes and registration after the first week of school, and clearer rules about when a department head needs to be notified.”

Counseling department head Beth Swederskas explained the course changing process.

“The current teacher must sign off on the sheet, and the department head has to sign it,” she said.

“Then, the teacher for the second class has to sign, as does the second department head.

“Then the parent has to sign and then the sheet has to be

brought back to the counselor.

“The student can’t go to the new class until the signatures are complete.”

Price said this system can leave teachers unsure of who is in their classes and create excess time between class changes where students have no class to go to.

“We’ll focus on optimizing common planning times for teachers, minimizing conflict among singleton classes while taking into account traveling teachers, state mandates and part-time teacher needs,” Price said.

Registration day will be Wednesday, March 11.

See editorial page 2.

N-rule discussion focuses on follow-up MARENA COLE Detentions may be more frequent next year.

At the faculty meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3, David Turcotte, a co-director of the Links program with Amie Harris, reported on the progress of the N-Rule Committee, of which he is a member.

Turcotte said the committee discussed a policy whereby students who received unexcused absences would have to serve detentions as an official policy.

“We want to distinguish beBY

tween students with excused absences and students who are cutting class,” he said. “Right now, the consequence—getting an N—is too far ahead to be effective.

“This year, students have three days to get in a note excusing their absence.

“In a new system, parents would have until 10 a.m. to call in a student as excused, or else the absence would be marked as unexcused.

“Detention wouldn’t have to

look the same for every case.

It could be before school, after school, or another time, but there would have to be some sort of a consequence.”

The current computer system, MacSchool, will be replaced with a new system called Student Management Systems in the fall, assistant principal Deborah Holman said.

“MacSchool is not very userfriendly,” Turcotte said. “Hopefully the new system will make entering attendance a less labori-

ous process.”

Principal Jennifer Price said teachers would have to enter their attendance in the computer system in a timely manner in order for this new system to work.

According to Holman, MCAS, special needs evaluations, exchange trips and IEP meetings will continue not to count towards the N. Meanwhile, the school has instituted a new grade of M for students who are medically excused from class, Price said.

See Deaf Culture Day stories pages 12 and 13

opinion

2 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Blue sheets signal hassles

N

o matter how anyone looks at it, schedule changing can be a hassle.

With required signatures from teachers and department heads, changes can take days from the time a student gets the blue sheet to the time he gets a fresh, new, official schedule.

The process can become even more frustrating if a department head is hard to find, if parents are away and/ or if a new class conflicts with a class that’s already in a student’s schedule.

In some cases, changes can take four or five days.

Moreover, when entering a new class after a wait of a week or so, students start out already behind.

For instance, in four days of English, a class might read an act of “Hamlet” or of “Romeo and Juliet.”

In four days of chemistry, a class can cover a whole chapter of stoichiometry, containing important information about the

editorial

construction of atoms.

During four days of math, a class can cover probability, take a unit test and move on to the next topic, maybe trigonometry.

And in four days of history, a class can cover a whole century or an entire world war.

Furthermore, for a new student, it can be difficult enough navigating the building from Main Street to the first floor to the fourth— let alone navigating through a sea of schedule changes.

In the end, those single sheets of blue paper can be more of a hassle than necessary.

The administration is looking into changes, and we hope that the Student Faculty Administration Board passes a proposal to ease the congestion of arena scheduling in June.

With registration coming up Wednesday, March 11, it’s good to see that there are changes under way.

Just think about it...

Happy vacation

It starts today at 2:20 February vacation is a welcome opportunity to take a break from day-to-day stress.

It will be great to take the

week off and enjoy some free time.

Congratulations

Both the boys’ and girls’ track teams deserve kudos for their great seasons.

Both teams will compete

Julia Belamarich

in the States. Good luck!

Congratulations to the students who received a Boston Globe Scholastic Art award. They put a lot of time and effort into their work. It is well earned!

Advice to seniors on making most of last semester JACOB BRUNELL AND GEORGINA TEASDALE rom retracing a journey through high school to supporting the underclassmen, people gave suggestions on what seniors should do to make the most of their last semester.

Jesse Appell ’08, last year’s class president, recommended that before graduating, seniors should Newtonian discover who Jesse they really are.

Appell “ The most important thing I think one BY

F

should do in the last semester at high school is find your bearings once more,” he said.

“Know where you are now so that when you leave school, no matter where you go or what you do, you know where you came from.

“It may seem like a foregone conclusion that you know where you are right now, but don’t take it as such. Think about it.

“Think of who you spend time with and who you trust. Think of what you enjoy and what you do not.

“Then when you go off in the world and change as you inevitably will, you can at least keep one end of yourself tethered to how you once were, rather than

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

Editors in chief — Eli Davidow, Matt Kalish, Ellen Sarkisian News editor — Marena Cole Arts editor — Alicia Zhao On campus editor—Olivia Stearns Feature editors — Emily Amaro, Jay Krieger Sports editors— Meredith Abrams, Josh Bakan Photography editors — Shira Bleicher, Gaby Perez-Dietz, Teddy Wenneker Graphics managers — Prateek Allapur, Peter Taber-Simonian Advertising managers — Joe Connors, Chris Keefe Business manager — Chris Welch Circulation managers — Caleb Gannon, Dan Salvucci Exchanges editor — Georgina Teasdale Adviser — Helen Smith Production advisers — Sue Brooks, Tom Donnellan

News staff — Rebecca Harris, Jaryd Justice-Moote, Rebecca Oran Features staff — Jacob Brunell Sports staff — Evan Clements, Nicole Curhan, Emmett Greenburg, Jeremy Gurvitz, Elliot Raff Arts staff — Eliana Eskinazi, Kate Lewis News Analysis — Kellynette Gomez Art staff — Julia Belamarich, Puloma Ghosh, Anna Kaertner, Hannah Schon Photography staff — Anna Gargas, Lucy Mazur-Warren, Aaron Siegel, Jesse Tripathi Circulation staff — Spencer Alton, Jackie Assar, Rebecca Kantar, Sydney Massing-Schaffer, Stoddard Meigs, Brooke Stearns, Daniel Tabib Production staff — Alison Wu

The Newtonite staff brings 16 issues a year to camera readiness for a circulation of 3,000 and goes online daily during the academic year.

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

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

symposium blindly going forward into the future.”

English teacher Beth Cronin suggested seniors “go cheer on the Tigers at a sporting event or go to a play in the little theatre.”

Adams housemaster James D’Orazio said, “If there’s somebody you’ve always wanted to meet or talk to, don’t let the second semester pass without doing it.

“Whether that person is a teacher, a file photo peer or anyJames one else, don’t D’Orazio let that chance pass you by.

“At reunions, I often hear

people always say they wish they had gotten to know someone better in high school.”

History teacher Greg Drake said seniors should give the underclassmen support.

“Do something nice for them,” he said.

Math teacher Dennis Klem, an ’09 adviser, said seniors should not waste the last semester.

“It’s important that seniors maintain or improve upon the reputation they have created for themselves for the past three and a half years,” Klem said.

“It’s unfortunate when a senior in his or her final semester undermines any positive impression he or she once made on others.”

Librarian Kevin McGrath, the other ’09 adviser, suggested seniors “gain some real-world experience through internships, volunteering, senior projects or meaningful travel.

“This could be a great opportunity to make a difference in your life as you put the skills you have learned in high school to use.”

Business teacher Ellen Novinsky said seniors should “have a goal in mind for their future career, which will help them decide on a college major.”

History teacher Anthony Patelis recommended that seniors “learn to appreciate what they learned.”

Beals secretary Cheryl Newtonian Stover ’84 said Cheryl seniors should Stover “take a good look back and forward—back to see how far they’ve come, forward to see where they’re going.”

Take steps toward oral health TO THE EDITOR:

February is Dental Care Awareness Month, so the topic of oral health is as timely as it is important.

Oral health affects your physical and psychological health.

It affects your appearance, speech, chewing and tasting of food and overall social well being.

You can protect your teeth by drinking fluoridated water, brushing your teeth and gums twice a day with a soft brush, visiting your dentist every six months, eating fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and avoiding snacks that are high in sugars and starches.

Piercing of the lips, tongue, cheeks or soft palette at the back of your mouth is not as safe as some would have you believe, according to information from the American Dental Association.

“The moist environment of the mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria and therefore an ideal

letter place for infection that could be life threatening,” the association says.

Oral piercing can interfere with your speech, chewing or swallowing, Signs and symptoms of complications from piercing include excessive drooling, pain, swelling, chipped or cracked teeth, injury to gums, damage to fillings, hyTeddy Wenneker persensitivity Rozanne to metals and Milner, scar tissue. school Nerve damnurse age can affect mobility and the sense of taste.

Tobacco use—either chewing or smoking—has side effects including bad breath, stained teeth,

loss of teeth and bone, gum recession, oral cancer, mouth sores and wrinkles.

Smoking causes reduction of oxygen to the system and of nutrients to mouth tissue.

Taking good care of your mouth has benefits. You can reduce your risk of cancer, taste food again, feel more relaxed and have clean breath.

—ROZANNE MILNER, RN

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

news

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 3

Adam Brown this year’s Meserve teacher MATT KALISH Adam Brown, the director of Theatre Ink and this year’s winner of the Charles Dana Meserve Award for excellence in teaching, said working with students is what makes each day special.

“When I walk in every morning, I don’t feel like I’m at a typical job,” Brown said. “I don’t feel like it’s even a job. It’s an exciting and engaging vocation.

“You have to treat students as equals because that is who they are, and so they feel ownership, trust and responsibility,” Brown said. “You need to talk and listen to them, not at them, because their thoughts and ideas matter.

“That is the most important thing to remember.

“You would be amazed at the ideas students come up with.

“I try to teach that you have to care about your work,” he said.

“You may not love every detail about it, but you need to care.”

English teacher Inez Dover, who has directed plays here since the 1980s, said that it is a great honor for someone from the arts to win the Meserve.

“Adam Brown has created a strong and exciting theatre program, and the honor is a great tribute to that program,” she said.

Assistant superintendent Brenda Keegan, who hired Brown when she was English department head, said that he is one of the most creative and thoughtful teachers she knows.

“I was profoundly impressed with his decisions regarding the theatre,” she said. “The way he works with the students producing plays is unlike anyone I have ever seen.”

And according to English department head Tom Fabian, the recognition of Brown’s “thoughtful teaching, commitment to his students and contribution to our school is well deserved. His work is in many ways emblematic of the effort and achievement of all the teachers in our department.”

Born in Detroit, Brown was brought up in Queens, N.Y., and BY

attended SUNY/Binghamton where he majored in law and society, and theatre.

After graduating in 1986, Brown continued there and earned his master’s in education and counseling in 1989.

Brown went on to teach middle school students. At the UmanaBarnes Middle School in Boston, he directed plays and taught theatre for eight years before coming here.

“I loved teaching middle school students because they are full of life, engaging and willing to take incredible risks in class and on the stage.” he said.

“These are students who had never read plays or seen a live performance, and now they were performing at an incredible level.

“It was hard to leave Boston.”

Brown said that as a child, he loved school more than anything.

“Sports and theatre were my thing, and I just couldn’t get enough of either, whether it was baseball, football, Shakespeare or a musical,” he said.

“There was one night where I was in school until 10:30 or 11 p.m., and my mother got so worried that she called the police.

“I thought school was the greatest place to be, but I should have called my mother.”

Since Brown joined the faculty in 2001, Theatre Ink has put on 89 shows.

“Theatre is like a team sport, and everyone plays a position,” he said.

After every show is performed, Brown said, he always feels a huge sense of pride for everyone involved.

“To be able to see 11-12 productions a year with students for the past eight years has been absolutely incredible,” he said. “I’m speechless after each one.

“It’s special to see how every person involved developed through the production process and how each student ends up creating an incredible final product.”

Matt Kalish

“To be able to see 11-12 productions a year in the past eight years has been absolutely incredible,” says Theatre Ink director Adam Brown. “I’m speechless after every one.”

Brown said that he tries to design the theatre program as a student-centered community where everyone has a sense of ownership.

“When I was in Hillcrest High, my theatre teacher, Dr. Stephen Posner, used to give me his keyes to his office to work on theatre,” he said.

“It felt as if I was getting the

keys to the castle and I had a responsibility to the department.

“I don’t think he realized it, but by giving me his keys, he was giving me his trust and giving me responsibility, and it was a special feeling.

“That’s why you might come to the theatre program and see students in my office, doing work or just hanging out, because I

trust them just as I’d trust any colleague,” Brown said.

Just a few months ago, Brown said, he was reflecting on the experiences he had in elementary school and wanted to see if he could get in touch with his 5th-and 6th-grade theatre teacher, Ben Finn.

“I was remembering how great that period was for me, and I wanted to thank him for what he did and let him know how greatful I was for the experiences he gave me in theatre. I searched for him all over and believe it or not, I found him.

“After I e-mailed him, he responded with possibly the greatest letter that anyone has ever written to me.

“He remembered everything about me and told me that I was one of the best theatre students he had, but the fact that he could cite specific plays and roles I played just made it really special for me. He even remembered a play I invited him to when I was in junior high.

“Here is this man who, around 30 years after teaching me, remembered things only I would remember.

“His e-mail inspired me and validated why I chose to become a teacher,” Brown said.

“I want students to learn through theatre and cherish the experiences they have with each other and with every production they work on.”

The Meserve Trustees will give a dinner at which Brown will be honored March 25.

Newton North: first place winners in both Art & Essay in 2008.

Enter this year for the Environment!

Robotics to enter first competition REBECCA HARRIS Robotics team will participate in its first ever competition next month.

It’s a For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology—FIRST—regional event at Boston University March 5-7.

“For a rookie team, we are doing pretty well,” said senior Sarah Sanchez, a co-captain.

“There are a lot of things we just did not know when we first started, but if there’s one thing we love more than robots, it’s the opportunity to take on a challenge.

“We have learned how huge a project this is.”

To prepare for the competiBY

tion, the team is building and programming a robot.

“Right now we are focused on finishing our robot, meeting all of our deadlines, improving communication, and working better and more efficiently as a team,” Sanchez said.

The team has 50 members from both North and South.

“We’ve been using a rulebook and trial and error to figure out the design most able to carry out the necessary tasks,” she said.

March 26-28, the team will compete in another FIRST competition in Hartford.

The team volunteered at a FIRST LEGO league competition December 13 in Brookline.

Thanks to Newton North’s Students for a Greener World, EnviroJam 2008 and the Environmental Club!

4 â—† Newtonite, Newton North

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arts

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Jubilee emphasizes community spirit T

ALICIA ZHAO o shine both as an individual and as a part of a group is important, said music teacher Sheldon Reid as he opened Jubilee’s winter performance of “Let It Shine!”

Themes this concert emphasized with spirituals, hymns, and contemporary and traditional gospel were family and community.

Saturday night in Lasker Auditorium with South’s Harambee Gospel Choir, the Jubilee Band, seniors Rachel Bronstein, Eli Dreyfus, Neil Fulwiler and Jake Mazur-Warren and sophomore Isabel Dover, accompanied on the side with piano, guitar and BY

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 5

review

drums.

Jubilee Singers started with Israel and New Breed’s contemporary gospel piece, “You Are Good.” The uplifting song, which featured junior Tara McCarthy, an alto, foreshadowed the warm and peaceful night to come.

Next, the group performed “Jubilee,” which Reid composed.

Voices and instruments blended in soft harmony as junior Vivian Guzman, a soprano, soloed. The piece is about learning together and becoming a community.

Under the direction of South Metco counselor Katani Sumner, the Harambee Gospel Choir

performed three pieces: “Sing to The Lord,” “Hold Me Now” and “Melodies from Heaven.”

Although the group of 30 is significantly smaller than the 50 Jubilee Singers, it still presented a rich and full sound. The audience warmly applauded the group, which has performed at this school for three years.

After that, Jubilee came back on.

An especially energetic piece was “Carry Me Home” by Alexi Paraschos ’05 and Reid. The soloists, seniors Louis Brown, a tenor; and Julia Hausman, an alto; and junior Ryan Vona, a tenor; captivated the audience with their strong, soulful voices.

Another highlight was “This Little Light of Mine,” a spiritual arrangement by Moses Hogan, in which senior Emma Mayville soloed. Mayville’s sweet and clear soprano as well as the a cappella harmonies in the background gave a sacred tone to the selection.

A fast and fun spiritual arranged by Moses Hogan, “My Soul’s Been Anchored” featured juniors Will Batchelor, Elliot Raff and Laura Swager and sophomore Nuala O’Donovan. The quick-paced rhythm and the impressive vocal ranges combined to earn the a cappella piece much applause.

Reid then introduced his friend

Rev. Teddy Hickman-Maynard as a special guest to solo in the upbeat and engaging “You Are My Daily Bread,” a contemporary gospel piece by Fred Hammond.

For the final piece, “Psalm 23” by Asbury Jones and Reid, Reid invited past Kuumba or Jubilee members present in the audience to come on stage and sing.

The piece was especially moving with the additional singers and as it carried on, almost everybody was standing up, swaying and clapping to the beat.

Audience members were in high spirits as the evening came to a finish, having found a renewed sense of family and community.

‘The Illusion’ blends fantasy, romance, action KATE LEWIS ifferent worlds collided in a stunning combination of fantasy, romance and action in “The Illusion” under the direction of seniors Jackson Davidow and Rachel Stubblefield.

Tony Kushner’s drama, which went on stage Thursday through Sunday in the little theatre, centers on the aging Pridimant of Avignon.

Years earlier, Pridimant had driven his son away, but as Pridimant’s life draws to a close, he seeks the aid of a sorceress, Alcandre, who conjures three illusions about Pridimant’s son.

As Pridimant, junior Jordan Ascher presented a troubled and proud man who yearns to see his son one last time.

Senior Annabel Raby portrayed Alcandre as a sinister character who enjoys inflicting pain upon her submissive slave, the Amanuensis. Through the Amanuensis’ pain, Alcandre creates the illusions.

Hunching over and moving with hesitancy, sophomore Derek Butterton portrayed the Amanuensis as fearful and inquisitive.

Each illusion is set in a different world and occurs during a different period of the son’s life. All three illusions share a continuous and similar story line, but the son and the people around him go by different names each time.

In all three illusions, senior George Barclay played Pridimant’s son as bold and ambitious, sophomore Mercer Gary presented the son’s love interest as romantic and stubborn, and junior Jennifer Diamond portrayed Gary’s maid as devious and jealous.

BY

Aaron Siegel

On a search: Sophomore Derek Butterton as the Amanuensis, senior Anabel Raby as Alcandre and junior Jordan Ascher as Pridimant dominate the plot.

Aaron Siegel

Plotting: Sophomore Mercer Gary as Isabelle and junior Jennifer Diamond as Lyse make plans together.

D

Calisto and Melibea

Aaron Siegel

On a quest: Senior George Barclay as Clindor jeers at sophomore Skylar Fox as Matamore, a potential rival.

The first illusion introduces Pridimant’s son as Calisto.

Barclay’s Calisto was a stereotypical young lover, obsessed with the beautiful high-class woman Melibea, played by Gary.

The young man dramatically expresses his love for her in a series of monologues.

At first, Melibea snubs Calisto’s affections, saying that he is a poor man. However, with the help of her maid Elicia, Melibea realizes her true feelings for Calisto.

Although Elicia helps her mistress on the outside, she reveals her plotting in asides to the audience.

Calisto then encounters one of Melibea’s suitors, Pleribo, played by junior Chris Annas-Lee. Feeling threatened, Calisto attacks Pleribo, but the timid Pleribo is unwilling to fight Calisto.

Calisto and Melibea soon meet for a romantic encounter, but the moment is short. Elicia enters to

review inform the lovers that Pleribo has reported their secret romance to Melibea’s strict father.

After the first illusion, Alcandre creates a second one.

Clindor and Isabelle

This vision begins with Pridimant’s son, now known as Clindor, fulsomely praising his master, a military general named Matamore.

Sophomore Skylar Fox portrayed Matamore as a comical character who puts up a brave front but is actually a coward inside.

As Fox strutted about the stage, waving around a large sword and gesturing dramatically, he garnered laughs from the audience.

Gary’s Isabelle came on stage, with Annas-Lee as the nobleman Adraste in pursuit of her affections. Despite his advances, Isabelle expresses great disdain for Adraste.

But when Adraste reveals that Isabelle’s father has approved of a marriage between the two, Isabelle apparently has no choice.

When Matamore and Clindor appear, Matamore attempts to flirt with Isabelle, but she is interested only in Clindor.

After Isabelle sends Matamore away, she and Clindor share a private moment and exit the stage together.

Diamond, playing Isabelle’s scheming maid Lyse, has an affair with Clindor, but Clindor chooses Isabelle because of her high-class status.

Because of this situation, Lyse is resentful and divulges information about Isabelle and Clindor’s secret meetings to Adraste, who vows to kill Clindor.

Meanwhile, Isabelle and Clindor decide to marry. As they prepare to exchange vows, Adraste enters and starts a violent fight but dies at the hands of Clindor.

Stopping the illusion mo mentarily, Alcandre reveals that Clindor has been arrested and put into jail for killing Adraste.

Pridimant is distraught by this information and watches in horror as Alcandre forces the Amanuensis to join the illusion, playing the role of Isabelle’s father Geronte as an angry, dominating nobleman.

Isabelle and Geronte argue heatedly over Clindor’s fate, and Isabelle threatens to take her own life.

Geronte leaves his daughter alone before Lyse enters and explains her plan of rescuing Clindor and starting a new life.

Isabelle and Lyse take as many of Geronte’s treasures as they

can, and as they help Clindor escape, they decide to change places. Now Isabelle will abandon her aristocratic life style and Lyse will indulge in Isabelle’s riches.

Much to Lyse’s dismay, Clindor chooses to stay with Isabelle despite her newfound poverty.

Theogenes and Hippolyta

The third illusion begins with Gary as Hippolyta and Diamond as her maid Clarina.

In this illusion, Clarina’s social status has risen because of the riches she received in the previous illusion, and she speaks with Hippolyta as a friend rather than a maid.

As they walk together, they discuss Theogenes’ infidelity.

The last incarnation of Pridimant’s son, Theogenes, is also Hippolyta’s husband and has been having various love affairs, including one with Prince Florilame’s wife.

Hippolyta decides to confront Theogenes, who promises to remain true to her. Hippolyta then agrees to stay with him.

Just as the two are about to reaffirm their love, Prince Florilame, played by Annas-Lee, enters.

Aware of Theogenes’ affair with his wife, the prince draws his sword and kills Theogenes.

Dying of grief, Hippolyta collapses at Theogenes’ side. The bodies of the two lovers lie next to each other as the final illusion ends.

Alcandre at last ends the illusions as Pridimant weeps over his son’s death.

But the sorceress then reveals a pivotal secret that makes the audience question the conflict of magic and reality.

“Love which seems the realest thing is really nothing at all,” Alcandre says at the end. “The art of illusion is the art of love.”

Costumes by senior Jazzy Pullen-Schmidt reflected the social hierarchy of the characters.

For example, Gary wore beautiful hand-sewn silk gowns in bright colors, and her hair was styled in an elegant updo while Diamond wore plain dresses that showed her lower status.

Senior Pheobe DeGroot’s simple and abstract set of circular raised platforms allowed for different worlds to be played out effectively.

Lighting effects by senior Kristof Janezic helped portray the eerie cave of the sorceress and the fantasy worlds of the illusions.

Energetic actors, beautiful costumes and a riveting story made “The Illusion” another fantastic Theatre Ink performance.

6 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

1: a flammable odorless very toxic/poisonous gas used to manufacture chemical products; it is also present in the exhaust gases of internal-combustion engines and advertisements furnaces 2: an ingredient in cigarettes

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You can find more information about smoking and quitting on our web site www.nwh.org and through The American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/tobacco, and at www.gottaquit.com.

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Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

arts

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 7

Music groups to present Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ ALICIA ZHAO Two works

by Vivaldi—a concerto and a religious piece—will be on the program Sunday, March 1 at 2 in the Presbyterian Church in Newton Corner.

BY

Orchestra will play Vivaldi’s “Violin Concerto with Four Violins in B minor” under the direction of music teacher Adam Grossman. Then, all three music groups will combine to perform in Vivaldi’s “Gloria” under the direction of music teacher Richard Travers.

The concert will honor Ray Smith, a late music department

head, and raise funds for a scholarship in his name.

“This concert has the significance of honoring a master teacher with a lasting influence on Newton students,” Travers said.

According to Travers, a Gloria is a religious piece performed during church services.

Vivaldi’s “Gloria” contains 12

movements of religious text, lasting about 40 minutes in all.

“The idea was that the listener is hearing melodies, but also surrounded by religious words the whole time,” Travers said.

Antonio Vivaldi, who worked during the Baroque period, lived in Venice from 1678-1741. One of his best known works is “The Four Seasons.”

He wrote most of his music for orphans he felt connected to, Travers said.

“Vivaldi wrote some really great music for kids,” he said.

“He was a very prolific composer who really understood how to write for violins.”

Tickets are available in the music office for $5.

Jazz vocalist teaches master class ELLIOT RAFF Singing jazz well means that the emotions have to be honest, said Rebecca Parris, a jazz vocalist, during the master class she gave Tiger BeBop. Parris, a South graduate, taught Tiger Bebop in an open master class Thursday, Jan. 29 in Lasker Auditorium.

She came to give Tiger BeBop tips before the group performed Saturday, Jan. 31 at Berklee’s 41st Annual High School Jazz Festival, said music teacher Richard Travers, who opened the class.

“What is wonderful about jazz is that there are no boundaries between the musician and the audience,” Travers said.

Parris began performing at age 6 and studied with the vocal coach Blair McClosky, her uncle.

She attended the Boston Conservatory, where she studied opera and theatre.

She said she worked with bands in the Northeast, and soon realized that she preferred singing jazz.

Since then, Parris has performed around the world with musicians including Dizzy Gillespie and Gary Burton.

During the master class Parris listened to individuals perform, gave them tips, and had them perform again.

Senior Miriam Raffeld sang “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” by Manning Sherwin and Eric Maschwitz.

Parris listened attentively and then gave notes to Raffeld.

Senior Rachel Bronstein then took the stage and performed Duke Ellington’s “Solitude.”

Parris praised Bronstein for her vocal quality and made suggestions on her phrasing.

After that, the whole group of 16 presented its set for the Berklee Festival.

Accompanying were junior Paul Batchelor on bass, junior Nik Klebanov at the piano, and junior Dan Friedman on drums.

They performed “Day in the Life of a Fool” by Luis Bonfa and Carl Sigman, “Small Fry” by Frank Loesser and “He Beeped When He Should Have Bopped” by Dizzy Gillespie.

“At first, I was nervous to have a professional singer sitting in on our rehearsals,” junior Will Batchelor said.

“Now that I have worked with her, it was very relaxing and less technical than I expected.”

BY

Robin Hayashi

“Thought Process,” a print, is part of a Gold Key Art Portfolio.

Emma Kornetsky

“Bridge in the Berkshires,” a photograph, won a Silver Key.

16 win awards in Boston Globe contest Teachers select work by 30 here to submit in competition ALICIA ZHAO Sixteen students from this school have received recognition in the 2009 Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards, said art teacher Sandra Truant.

The Gold Key, Gold Key Art Portfolio and Silver Key pieces are on display at the Newtonian Mass. State Transportation Sandra Center in BosTruant ton until Friday, Feb.27, she said.

Truant said that she, photography teacher Ron Morris and art teacher Shannon Slattery submitted works from 30 students to the competition.

“We chose the pieces based on their personal vision, style and originality,” Truant said.

“In some cases, we chose artwork from students who have worked hard and have shown tremendous growth.

“This year, there has been a good turnout of students who have submitted, and even those who didn’t receive an award we believe show great promise in their work.” ◆ Gold Keys went to senior Angelina Zhou and junior Puloma Ghosh. ◆ Gold Key Art Portfolio awards went to seniors Robin Hayashi, Jasmine PullenSchmidt, Jasper Waters and Zhou. ◆ Silver Keys went to seniors Nolan Gargas and Maggie Seldin, junior Emma Kornetsky and sophomore Theodore Wenneker. ◆ Honorable Mentions went to seniors Maura Liebendorfer, Samson Resnicow, Joshua Sears, Fiona Stoltze and Waters, juniors Olivia Glennon and Hannah Howcroft and sophomore Tatiana Froehlich.

Zhou said she assembled her portfolio by finding connections BY

Angelina Zhou

“Interior Space,” a drawing, won a Gold Key and is part of a Gold Key Art Portfoio.

“The Pear,” a drawing, won a Silver Key.

Maggie Seldin

among the pieces.

For example, a drawing of a doll transitioned into photographs of a human and then to a drawing of a skull, she said.

“I do all this artwork and it usually ends up sitting in a pile in my room,” Zhou said. “I wanted to get my artwork out there and let it breathe.”

“It’s fun to see others’ works too because everyone Newtonian is so talented, Angelina and seeing my Zhou artwork against theirs is very humbling.”

Ghosh said that her drawing, “Olivia,” is a portrait inspired by a photograph of a friend.

“I entered the contest last year, and I didn’t spend much effort on my piece, so I told myself that I was really going to do it this time,” Ghosh said.

“I have ups and downs with my art, and winning the Gold Key has taken me from a down to an up.”

According to Truant, submitting one’s artwork is not an easy process.

“It’s hard on you because artwork is a very personal statement,” she said.

“It makes us vulnerable because someone is always judging you and looking at what you’ve created.”

Newtonian Wo r k b y Puloma Gold Key and Ghosh Gold Key Art Portfolio winners will continue to compete in New York City, and winners from that round will proceed to Washington, D.C., the final national competition, Truant said.

8 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Fe

Shira Bleicher

Graphics Communications: Juniors Dru McInerney and Brittney Jaillet, Majors in the program, look at a poster.

Drafting: As te sophomore Cas

Shira Bleicher

Culinary: Juniors Eric Howard, Amanda Lau and Emily Brophy serve dumplings.

National certification for Culinary program MATT KALISH ulinary has met the requirements of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Secondary Certification committee for culinary departments in secondary schools, Culinary teacher Bill O’Neill said.

“This allows all Culinary Majors to receive a diploma with all of their hours, station by station,” O’Neill said.

The program got certified by submitting a self-study, having a representative observe during September and interviewing students from the Tiger’s Loft, he said.

“Students from the program will be nationally certified and receive credentials towards becoming a professional,” O’Neill said.

The certification will last for three years, he said.

BY

C

Teddy Wenneker

Electrical: Sophomores Robert Dalton and Colin Brooks show a lights-in-a-series project.

Child Development/Early Education: Teacher Michelle Ramsde Christina Pressley, senior Marisa Petitti and junior Alicia Dow as

Shira Bleicher

Carpentry: Junior Ricky Lu and Carpentry teacher Garrett Tingle enjoy the gazebo students constructed.

Technology/Engineering: Junior Kevin Yan and senior Wayne Jasset show junior Billy Pearson a subwoofer their c

eb. 13, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆9

Shira Bleicher

Design and Visual Communications: Sophomore Casey Bryson points at posters.

Students, faculty display programs on Main Street EMILY AMARO areer and technical education students displayed their work during the Main Street Event Thursday, Feb 5.

“Students are able to use their knowledge and skills and show how they apply them in the products or projects they create,” said Diana Robbins, the department head.

“When you walk down Main Street and see the students’ creativity and see the pride and the caliber of the work, it is amazing.

“To have the resources and talented instructors teaching and supporting the students is a tribute to Newton North and the Newton Public Schools.”

Robbins said 736 students are enrolled in courses this year, including a total of 322 Majors.

Automotive Technology displayed an internal combustion engine to show four-stroke operation.

There was also a laptop to display a visual of an auto undergoing repairs.

“We teach students the theory of how automobiles work and how to repair them,” said Arthur Kadehjian, a technical assistant who works with Automotive Technology teacher Paul Wagner.

The program offers both classroom time and time in the lab working on live jobs, Wagner said.

Students explaining the display included seniors Mike Collins, Neto Prata de Lima, Chris Howes and James Jewett, all Majors.

Carpentry students constructed a gazebo between Adams and Riley houses.

“Building the gazebo teaches students about how to build a whole project,” said Ed Ellis, a teacher in the program with Garrett Tingle.

Carpentry Majors working on the display included seniors Joe Banks, Faisal Mayanja, Jake Sampson and Garrett Turner, juniors Jakob Levin and Ricky Lu and sophomores Marco Delicata, Mike Denny, Will Dunham, Ryan Griffin, Sam Kinsella, Dan Salvucci, Nick Santana and Brian Zabchuk.

Child Development/Early Education and Care gives students who go through the program eligiblity to receive a teaching certificate, said the teacher, Michelle Ramsdell.

The toys on display were the final projects for students in the Child Development Exploratory program, she said.

According to senior Kayla McQuade, a Major, “The program helps you figure out your interests and who you are as a person. You get to design lesson plans as a Major and work with really awesome kids and be their role model.”

Cosmetology Majors, who study at Blaine Beauty School in Waltham, demonstrated hair styling techniques using mannequins and willing volunteers.

Working on the display were seniors Marilyn Flores and Brianna Grasso and juniors Rae Catrambone and Krystal Robinson.

Work-study coordinator Molly Gadenz is this school’s liaison with Blaine.

“By the time you graduate from Newton North and Blaine, you have completed the required number of hours to take the state cosmetology licensing exam,” she said. “Once you’re licensed, you can open your own business.”

Culinary served food during the morning, starting with donuts, then serving empinadas, Spanish rice, pulled pork, sushi, dumplings and chicken parmesan.

In the program, based in the Tiger’s Loft restaurant on the fourth floor, students plan the menus, order the food and create the meals.

Students can get a diploma that lists all the hours they have participated in the program, said Bill O’Neill, who teaches Culinary with Lisa McKinney.

BY

Shira Bleicher

ell, the teacher, works with sophomores Christina D’Angelo and they display Exploratory projects.

class designed, engineered and built.

Tech Plays host

Shira Bleicher

eacher Jim Gray brings up the Revit program on a computer, ssidy Chan and junior Rachel Martin discuss the program.

Shira Bleicher

C

“It’s a great program for everyone,” said junior Sara Koumantzelis, a Major. “You start to learn how to cook and how to organize and manage a business, and you build up a good relationship with everyone.”

Design and Visual Communications allows students to work on projects from ad design to web design, said Sue Brooks, the teacher.

“Students get to work with programs that professional designers use,” she said.

“Whatever skills they learn, they will be able to apply them later in life.”

Students are currently working on websites for the Scientific Publishing Company on children’s books and for the career and technical education department website for the Newton Public Schools, Brooks said.

“We use the latest programs and technology for everything we do,” she said.

Majors displayed posters, which involved using Flash, Photoshop and Illustrator.

Senior Caitlin Caudill, a Major, said she enjoys being able to work with professional programs.

“I want to become an illustrator, and this class helps me learn what I need to,” she said.

Drafting displayed a virtual walkthrough, which shows a scene or a building that may not even be built, said Jim Gray, the teacher.

“This course offers a program called Revit, which is used for three-dimensional building,” Gray said. “We also offer a course in Inventor Virtual 3D Prototype software, which makes a working model,” he said.

“Newton North provides all the students with upto-date programs that some companies don’t even use. They’re working with stuff that professors aren’t even using yet.”

Electrical displayed two doorbells, two series of light bulbs and relays.

“We start with basic projects, and then they become more complicated,” said Steve Grimaldi, the teacher.

“My class learns in a hands-on way, using basic electronics, motors, transformers and relays,” he said.“We then apply everything to hands-on projects.”

Apprenticeship is also available by taking Electrical, he said.

“It is a Chapter 74 licensed trade, and by majoring in this class students are able to complete the first part of apprenticeship,” Grimaldi said. “If students wish to continue on the path of electrical, they will eventually be able to take a test to certify them as electricians.”

Graphics Communications displayed projects students have done, which include business brochures, posters and creative projects.

“This is a great chance to show the students’ skills,” said the teacher, Tom Donnellan. “This is a foundation for the graphics trade, and it’s a fun course where you get to meet a lot of great people.”

Senior Mike Royzen, a Major, said that the course is great.

“For almost everything printed up in the school, we had a part in it,” he said. “In the shop, it’s like a real job. We get real experience, and when you see one of your designs up in the school, you can take pride.”

Technology/Engineering showed projects from each of the department’s four class offerings: computer repair and support, engineering, robotics and technology.

Projects on display included a remote-controlled robot, computers, speakers and subwoofers students had designed, engineered and built.

“The class offers an exploratory of occupations involved in this field,” said the teacher, Scott Rosenhahn. “It has the benefits of preparing students to be college majors in this area.”

—MEREDITH ABRAMS, JOSH BAKAN AND OLIVIA STEARNS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COVERAGE.

10 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

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news

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Minga to host fashion show

MARENA COLE Minga aims to increase awareness about child sex slavery, said junior Rebecca Kantar, an officer.

According to Kantar, Minga is an Ecuadorian word that means “the coming together of a community for the betterment of all.”

Sunday, March 15 from 7 to 9, Minga will host a fashion show to demonstrate how everyday choices can positively or negatively affect slavery, Kantar said.

The fashion show, sponsored

by Barney’s of New York, will feature free-trade clothing, Kantar said.

“We want to show how we can make everyday choices that affect slavery,” she said. “It’s part of a new campaign to bring academic advocacy to slavery.”

Tickets are $15 and are on sale Thursdays at the beginning of X2, Kantar said.

Also, Minga will be hosting bake sales every X-2 up until the fashion show, Kantar said.

BY

“In each committee they will be debating with other schools and writing resolutions,” he said.

Topics the delegates will discuss include African regional security and preventing nuclear terrorism, Drake said.

To prepare for the conference, students will research topics to understand the viewpoints of the country they represent, Drake said.

Boston University and MIT will host the event, which takes place at the Park Plaza Hotel.

Seniors Sara Adelsheim and Adam Levin are secretariesgeneral.

Undersecretaries-general are senior So Jin Lee and juniors Ezra Cohen, Ken Landers and Ben Miller.

In November, Model United Nations attended a conference in Berlin, Germany.

It also attended the Harvard Model United Nations in Boston in December, with Levin receiving an honorable mention.

Model United Nations meets Thursday at 6 p.m. in 311.

Introducing

CLUBS and organizations

Science Team to compete in State Olympiad

Model United Nations to attend conference

STEVEN MICHAEL Model United Nations plans to attend a conference in Boston from Friday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 1.

The conference provides “a nice chance to meet students from other parts of the country and other parts of the world,” said history teacher Gregory Drake, a co-adviser with history teacher Albert Cho. In its fifth year attending this conference, the school’s 25-member delegation will compete with students from the local area and from as far away

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 11

BY

CHRIS WELCH MARENA COLE For the Science Team, the biggest competition will be the state-level Science Olympiad Saturday, March 21 at Framingham State, said senior Nathaniel Gilbert, the president.

“There are more than 20 different events, from robotics to satellite imagery analysis to physics,” he said.

“In the last two years we’ve won the Olympiad at the state level and then gone on to the Nationals,” he said.

BY

AND

Teddy Wenneker

Science team: Seniors Nathaniel Gilbert and Willie Perreault look over a cello combined with a banjo. The team will compete in the Olympiad Saturday, March 21. as China, Drake said.

“The students will work with delegates from other schools

to find cooperative solutions to pressing international problems,” he said.

“We hope to replicate the feat, but anything can happen.”

Meanwhile, Saturday, Feb. 28, the team will compete in the Science Bowl at Boston University.

“Last year we placed third, so this year we hope to place the same or better,” Gilbert said.

The team practices Tuesdays in 234. The team also meets Friday nights and Saturdays before meets to do last-minute practice and preparation, Gilbert said.

The adviser is science teacher Barbara Gibson.

Sophomores to have sleepover

EMILY MCLAUGHLIN Sophomore sleepover will be unforgettable, said Brad Fenniman, the class president.

The sleepover will be Friday, March 6 starting at 9 p.m.

Doors will open at 8:30.

Activities will include a giant blow-up twister game, an obstacle course, movies and dancing, Fenniman said. Tickets will cost $40 and will go on sale next week.

Planning the event have been Fenniman and sophomores Kevin Barisano, Emily Cetlin, Molly Doris-Pierce and Nicole Goldberg, vice presidents, and counselors Matt Ford and Amanda Tsetsi, the class advisers.

“It’s a great chance for students to have fun, enjoy themselves and bond with other classmates,” Doris-Pierce said.

All school rules will apply at the sleepover, Beals housemaster Michelle Stauss said.

“In addition, students may not carry any electronic devices, including cell phones,” she said.

BY

The Newton Schools Foundation presents

Parents, you are invited to celebrate the Greening of the New Newton North!

– March 3rd

The Newton Schools Foundationʼs 2009 “Green and Global” annual fundraiser will offer a diversity of dinners presented by local restaurants and community hosts across Newton.

Each venue offers a distinct green and global theme supported by international cuisine and stimulating conversation: a unique opportunity to spend an evening with friends and neighbors while supporting public education.

This yearʼs Winter Dinner Series will begin on February 28th and run through March 29th, with all proceeds benefiting Newton Public Schools.

Details on specific dining options can be found at www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org, by emailing tori_filler@newton. k12.ma.us, or by calling the Newton Schools Foundation office at 617-559-6120.

We look forward to dining with you!

Join past and present principals, Jennifer Huntington and Jen Price, for a very special evening at Ariadne on March 3, 2009 to support the fundraising efforts of the Newton Schools Foundation.

The evening will include a presentation on the new LEED qualified high school. NNHS teacher Steve Chinosi will inspire you with the first fully integrated bio-diesel project in the country.

Chef Christos Tsardounis is preparing a special menu for the evening. The cost of this fantastic evening is $100 per person. Please call 617.559.6120 to make a reservation, or visit our website: www. newtonschoolsfoundation.org.

The mission of the Newton Schools Foundation is to enhance and broaden community support for public education and to provide private funding for innovative and challenging programs in the Newton Public Schools.

This year, the Newton Schools Foundation granted Newton North $44,410 towards Science, World Languages and Narrowing the Achievement Gap.

features

12 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

These signs spell EDCO in American Sign Language.

Deaf Culture Day courtesy of EDCO

The EDCO Collaborative Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing began in 1973.

This year, there are 33 students, with 24 at Newton North and nine at F.A. Day Middle School.

EDCO has 19 staff members in all with 13 here and six at Day.

“The EDCO Program aims to provide the best education possible for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students,” says program director Ed Mulligan.

Professionals share their experiences T MATT KALISH hree Deaf professionals described the challenges and rewards of living in two worlds.

One panelist, David Del Pizzo, said he grew up in Philadelphia and became deaf at the age of 14 months.

“My main mantra is ‘Prove others wrong,’” Del Pizzo said. “Many people think Deaf people can’t do things that hearing people can, but that notion is absolutely not true.”

Del Pizzo said he developed meningitis when he was a toddler, but his parents did not realize he was deaf until he was 2.

“Over the course of my life, I have made many friends, most of whom are Deaf,” he said.

“It’s much easier to connect with Deaf people because communication is not a problem. Communicating with people who don’t know American Sign Language is difficult.

“Technology is one thing that has made communication much easier. With the invention of e-mail and instant messaging, communicating with anyone is now always possible.”

Del Pizzo went to Northeastern, where he majored in business.

He said he has been married for five years, and that his wife is also Deaf.

“We plan on having kids, and as long as they are healthy, we will find a way to communicate with them, whether or not they can hear,” he said.

A second panelist, Sarah Fish, said she was born hard of hearing but that her parents didn’t realize it until she was 5.

When her mother found out, she couldn’t stop crying, Fish said.

“Being hard of hearing has usually been a positive experience for me because it forces me to always work harder,” she said. “It also creates a unique identity for me.”

Fish works at Boston University as a linguisBY

Sarah Fish

Shira Bleicher

Specializing in Italian, American and French Pastry (617) 527 2246 317 Watertown Street (617) 527 9193 Newton, Mass., 02458 (617) 527 6747

David Del Pizzo

Matt Kalish

tics researcher, and she said she loves it there.

“I have both Deaf and hearing friends, which give me the best of both worlds,” she said.

“Around my Deaf friends, I feel as if I can be myself, whereas around my hearing friends I often have to ask them to repeat what they’ve said or to speak louder.”

Fish said that the most difficult part of being hard of hearing is the label she sometimes receives from others.

“I would rather have people accept me for who I am,” she said.

Marc Olsson, the third speaker, said he has been deaf all his life and works as a data analyst

for a medical insurance company.

“When I was young, being Deaf was a huge struggle for me, but I’ve now learned to appreciate myself for who I am and enjoy my life,” Olsson said.

He said he got meningitis when he was two weeks old and nearly died from it. Then, when he was 2, he got measles, which made him fully deaf.

“My parents weren’t really happy with the situation, but I learned to be happy with who I was,” Olsson said.

“The most important part of living as a Deaf person is to always have patience.”

MARENA COLE eing deaf and blind means having to rely on other people, but Jaimi Lard said it hasn’t stopped her from having fun.

“I love to go out and do fun things, but sometimes I can’t do things alone,” she said.“I always need someone to help me while traveling. I have service providers, and they’re limited to 16 hours a month so I have to plan ahead and I can’t be flexible.”

But Lard said she is able to enjoy a range of activities.

“I go kayaking and canoeing and biking using tandem bikes,” she said. “With my computer, I’ve been able to use a program to zoom in on text so I can read.”

Lard said her deafblindness results from an illness her mother had while pregnant.

“In the early ’60s, there was an epidemic of

rubella,” Lard said. “It caused deafness in some, and sometimes blindness as well. There’s a vaccination now, so it’s not as big a threat any more.

“I see the world like a black and white TV set.

I can see things up very close, but I can’t make out the details.

“When my parents first found out I was deafblind they were upset, but they got in touch with a social worker to help, and it really was a positive environment.

“I was born on Long Island, in New York, but when I was 5 I moved to Framingham so I could attend Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown.”

“For the first time, I was around other people who were Deaf or Deafblind.

“While I was there, I swam on the swim team and ran track, but my favorite thing to do was just to be with my friends and talk with them.”

Deafblind, she balances her life by planning ahead BY

Sharing experiences: Jaimi Lard tells about experiences growing up deafblind in a presentation on Deaf Culture Day Wednesday, Feb. 4. With her is her interpreter, Christine Dwyer.

Matt Kalish

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features

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 13

Hearing dogs trained to respond to sounds

Canines for Disabled Kids can provide support KELLYNETTE GOMEZ ew assistance dog programs are willing to provide trained animals for children under age 12, said Tom Rich, a spokesperson for the program.

But Rich said his program, Canines for the Disabled Kids, saw a need and worked to fulfill it.

“These dogs are trained to make life easier for individuals who have autism, Asperger’s, hearing impairments or physical disabilities,” he said.

Canines for Disabled Kids began in 1998 as an offshoot of the Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans program, he said.

Based in Princeton, Mass., it has trained more than 1,000 dogs in different breeds and sizes and gets its dogs from rescue shelters or kennels, he said.

“Hearing dogs can inform the Deaf if there is someone at the door, or if the phone is ringing,” Rich said. “If something is out of reach, the dog will get it.

“The dogs are trained to respond to specific noises such as smoke alarms, alarm clocks, door bells and telephone rings. They will bring you to where the sound is located.

“They are also trained to listen to commands and they learn basic obedience.”

During Rich’s presentation, a hearing dog named Millhouse gave demonstrations and sat at his side.

Millhouse showed that he heard knocking and let Rich know. The dog also heard Rich’s name called and let him know.

Rich also spoke about different kinds of assistance dogs, what to expect and how to behave BY

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Shira Bleicher

Millhouse takes a chill.

around them.

People should not touch the dogs without permission because they are working, Rich said.

In addition, people should not feed or play with service dogs because it ruins their training, he said.

“The law guarantees all disabled people the legal right to have their assistance animals in areas open to the general public, even in facilities that sell or prepare food,” Rich said.

“When a working dog travels overseas with its owner, it needs to have met the requirements and have the permits before traveling.”

Shira Bleicher

At work: Tom Rich of Canines for Disabled Kids gives a demonstration with Millhouse as junior Nneamaka Mordi applauds.

Using sign language, students describe significant milestones of social change ELI DAVIDOW n a Sign Language Workshop, students presented significant moments in Deaf culture and taught different signs.

Sophomore Tom Ansill introduced four students who take American Sign Language here: junior Phillip Jasset and sophomores Rebecca Engelke, Annie Gombosi and Sachi Hashimoto.

As each presenter signed, a voice-over translated what he or she was saying.

Jasset signed about the Deaf Olympics as “a high level competition. The first games were held in Paris in 1924.”

This year, the competition is taking place in Taiwan, and more than 3,000 athletes have participated in the past, Jasset said.

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Engelke was the last speaker, and she signed about an international organization called Children of Deaf Adults.

It can be challenging for children to live in both the hearing world and the Deaf world, she said.

After the presentation, students congregated in groups to learn some sign language from EDCO and American Sign Language students.

Students learned miscellaneous vocabulary, including every day expressions—“Thank you,” “Hello” and “Please.”

They also learned the seasons, kinds of fast food including hamburgers and french fries and sports including snowboarding.

Gombosi, the next presenter, told about different ways people become deaf.

“People can become deaf from illness, complications during pregnancy, genetics or premature birth,” she said.

Diseases such as measles and meningitis can also cause deafness, Gombosi said.

Hashimoto, the third presenter, talked about a movement that students at Gallaudet, a Deaf university, led in March, 1988.

Students wanted a president who was Deaf rather than hearing, and they “became incensed,” Hashimoto said.

Eventually, a Deaf man, I. King Jordan, became the university’s president, Hashimoto said.

Panelists describe their challenges here GEORGINA TEASDALE ccording to junior Ketya Destin, communication is most important.

Destin, who has been part of EDCO since last year and for whom this is her first experience in an integrated setting, said that using gestures and writing words down can be helpful.

“Don’t be afraid to look for different ways to get your message across,” she said.

Destin is one of five Deaf and hard of hearing students in the EDCO program who participated in a student panel to share their experiences.

Panelists with Destin were seniors Joey Belschner, Janay Mitchell and Pakdey Mao, and BY

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junior Gilberto Richardson. Moderators were juniors Kayonna Mitchell and Nneamaka Mordi.

Describing his life in this school, Belschner said when he is an integrated classroom, communicating with other students is difficult, but it helps to write things down, to text and to use gestures.

Talking about life outside of school, Mao said for fun he socializes with friends and goes to the movies.

Having a cochlear implant has been a great help in every day life, said Mitchell.

She said that when her parents discovered she was hard of hearing, they were shocked and they didn’t know what to do.

Also, Mitchell said that she has sometimes

felt left out and lonely.

She said that before she got her cochlear implant she often “couldn’t keep up with the conversation.”

Richardson said that outside of school, he plays several sports.

Talking about the easiest part of being hard of hearing, Richardson said, “Teachers can’t get mad at me for needing them to repeat things.”

He said that he feels that he has a good sense of communication throughout the school as he can hear well enough to communicate with hearing people as well as Deaf.

“I feel proud because I feel that Deaf people work hard to overcome obstacles and prove stereotypes wrong,” he said.

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Here, there are three teachers of the Deaf who teach self-contained classes – classes with just Deaf and some Hard of Hearing students.

This year six interpreters work in integrated classes so that EDCO students can understand what teachers and other students are saying and vice versa.

Students come to Newton from 28 different towns from all over Massachusetts.

More than 90 percent of EDCO students go on to post-secondary schooling—hearing colleges and colleges for the Deaf.

—facts and statistics compiled by Kellynette Gomez from an interview with EDCO director Ed Mulligan

sports

14 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Swimmers in Sectionals having finished at 6-0

BY JOSH BAKAN JEREMY GURVITS Having finished the season at 6-0, the swimmers expect to succeed at Sectionals tomorrow at MIT, said coach Paul Perz.

“We have a small group of guys going into it so we aren’t in the running for a championship,” Perz said. “It’s more individual, so our swimmers can beat their times that they submitted.”

To prepare, the swimmers are working on details, Perz said.

The competitors for the Tigers will be senior John Heilbron in the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle, senior Dong-Yeop Shin in the 100 breaststroke and 100 AND

Teddy Wenneker

Starting position: Junior Adam Lafleche gets ready to wrestle senior Tom Dekel at practice.

Wrestlers look to post-season

JOSH BAKAN Wrestling needs to stay healthy, injury free and motivated, coach John Staulo said.

“At the end of the season, it’s a matter of who has the most survivors,” Staulo said.

“All the kids are looking forward to the postseason.”

Tomorrow is the individual Division I Central Sectionals at South, where there will be 11 teams with each able to enter one wrestler per weight class.

Friday, Feb. 20 is the start of the two-day State Tournament at Springfield Cathedral.

The top four in each weight class qualify for the States. Fifthplace finishers are alternates, Staulo said.

Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday Feb. 28 is the All-State Tournament, a two-day event at Salem.

The top six in each weight class, in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 qualify, a total of 18 wrestlers, Staulo said.

Saturday the Tigers hosted a quad meet. They beat Brookline

42-18, Malden 42-10 and Randolph 38-6.

Staulo said he had expected Brookline to be the strongest competition.

“It came down to our last weight class,” said junior Sam Shames, a captain with seniors Hagai Brandon, Jared Forman and Tom Dekel.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 Walpole hosted the Tigers, winning 4235.

“People didn’t really come out ready,” said Shames.

Senior Sam Bock at heavyweight got the last pin, Shames said.

The Tigers placed sixth out of 17 teams in an invitational tournament for individuals in Methuen Saturday, Jan. 31.

Shames at 103 placed first.

Forman at 112 placed sixth.

Dekel at 152 placed third. Junior Alex Westlund at 160 placed fifth.

Junior Alex Talishinski at 189 placed fourth.

The Tigers were to have visited Waltham Wednesday.

MEREDITH ABRAMS Girls’ gymnastics finished at 8-2, doing the best its done since its 9-3 finish in 2000, coach Jim Chin said.

Tuesday, Feb. 3 the Tigers defeated Dover Sherborn/ Medfield at home 130.7-130.6.

“It was a great way to finish the season, with a win, and it was extra special because the coach of that team is Bill Matyskiel, who works at Day Middle School with me,” Chin said.

Matyskiel teaches physical education, and Chin teaches science.

At the Bay State Conference Championships at Needham Saturday, the Tigers competed against all 10 teams in the Bay State Conference.

gymnastics

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Girls make it 8-2 BY

Junior Rani Jacobson took second on all-around with 33.95 and second on bars with 8.7, sophomore Victoria Mirrer took third on beam with 8.4 and second on floor with 9.0, and senior Nevart Veradian took fifth on floor with 8.4. Veradian is co-captain with senior Arliene Posno.

In addition, Jacobson was named a Bay State Conference all-star for all-around, Mirrer a Bay State Conference all-star on floor, and Chin was named the Bay State Conference gymnastics coach of the year.

Posno cited the Tigers’ improvement on the floor.

“Everyone was able to get a great routine,” Posno said.

freestyle, senior Sam Wyler in the 200 freestyle, junior Aidan Breen in the 100 backstroke and junior Sam Rolfe in the 500 freestyle.

Thursday, Feb. 5, the Tigers also came out on top of the six teams in the Bay State Championship Meet in Brookline with a score of 306. Needham finished second with 293.5 points.

“Needham was the toughest team at the meet,” said senior Luke Alie, a captain. “It came down to us and them.”

Standout performances included Heilbron, Rolfe, Wyler and junior Nick Blenis, Perz said.

Heilbron finished second in

the 100-backstroke behind only senior Ed Timmerman of Needham, its star swimmer, Alie said.

Rolfe finished second in the 500-freestyle to Timmerman.

Blenis finished third in diving.

“Dong-Yeop Shin was a standout in the BSC,” Perz said. “He finished first in the breaststroke and second in the butterfly, and that was the only time we came in first.”

The Tigers also finished third in the medley relay and second in the 200 freestyle.

Girls’ track polishes its skills Tigers get set to compete in Class A Meet MEREDITH ABRAMS Girls’ indoor track, 5-1, is fine tuning its skills and getting ready for the Class A Meet Saturday Feb. 21, said senior Michele Kaufman, a captain with senior Carolyn Ranti.

Those who qualified are Kaufman in the hurdles, Ranti and sophomore Margo Gillis in the 1,000-meter, the 4x800 relay team of Gillis, Ranti, senior Emma Kornetsky and junior Samantha Gluck, in the two-mile, sophomore Emily Hutchinson in the high jump, and Kaufman in the long jump.

“We’ve been getting a lot bet-

ter in competitions, and we’re stepping it up when we need to,” Kaufman said.

At the McIntyre Elite meet Sunday, Feb. 4, the 4x800 relay team took first with 9:29, and Kaufman, sophomore Amy Ren, juniors Emily Denn and Jen Liu took first in the 4x50 hurdles in 29.78 seconds, breaking the school record time of 29.87 seconds set by Alex Blenis, Morgan Faer, Vicki Marone and Leah Weisman in 2006, coach Joe Tranchita said.

In addition, Hutchinson took second in the high jump, and Kaufman took

fourth in the long jump.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 the Tigers defeated Natick 51-35 at the Bay State Championships Inter-Division Meet.

“We competed really well, and we did what we had to do on our own terms,” Tranchita said.

Gillis, Kaufman and Ranti were represented the team to compete in the State Coaches Elite Meet Sunday, Feb. 1.

Ranti took fourth in the 3,000meter, Gillis took second in the two -mile and Kaufman took fourth in the hurdles.

MEREDITH ABRAMS EMMETT GREENBERG Boys’ track will enter the Mass.

Class A Meet against about 30 other teams Saturday, Feb. 21 in Boston.

Seniors Sam Arsenault and Tony Chen in hurdles, junior Ben Kiley in the 55, senior Neil Fulweiler in the 600-meter, sophomore Ezra Lichtman in the 1,000, the 4x400 relay team of Arsenault, Fulweiler, junior Alon Soran, and sophomore Isaiah Penn and Arse-

nault in the long jump qualified.

The Tigers won 50-36 Wednesday, Feb. 4 against Wellesley in the Bay State Conference InterDivision Meet.

Arsenault, a captain with Chen and senior Dan Hamilton, was out with a foot injury.

“It was a close meet, and we were happy to win even without Sam Arsenault,” coach James Blackburn said.

Hamilton praised the efforts of the long-distance runners,

most notably sophomore Ezra Lichtman.

“They really improved our middle distance, especially in the 1,000,” Hamilton said.

In the State Coaches Elite Meet Sunday, Feb. 1, Chen finished in the hurdles with 8.16 seconds but didn’t advance to the finals.

Hamilton ran the two-mile in a season-best 9:53, finishing 12th.

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Boys’ track goes to Class A’s BY

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Boys in league meet JOSH BAKAN Newton South senior Oleg Kodysh will lead boys’ gymnastics into the Bay State Championship Meet today in Braintree, competing in the all-around category, coach Steve Chan said.

The top competitors besides Kodysh will be junior Jon Shaw in the high bar and pommel horse and junior Jon Hathaway in the parallel bars and pommel horse, Chan said.

“It’s an individual championship and a team championship,” Chan said.

BY

Burlington and Braintree will be the strongest teams of the six at the meet, said junior Justice Hedenberg, a captain with junior Buzz Cochran.

Monday at the Coaches Invitational at Andover top performances came from Kodysh, Cochran and senior Jonah Dorfman, Chan said.

Friday Jan. 30, Andover beat the Tigers 131-103 in Andover.

Dorfman won the rings and junior Jon Shaw won the pommel horse.

Hurdles: Senior Ethan Goldman leaps over a hurdle at practice.

Teddy Wenneker

sports

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 15

Nordic to send 4 to New England Regionals MEREDITH ABRAMS Four nordic skiers have qualified for the New England Regionals March 13-15, coach Sarah Holton said.

Each state enters a team of the top 24 skiers who competed that season. There is one team at the varsity level and one at the junior varsity level, Holton said.

Junior Michael Goldenberg qualified for the varsity, and senior Chloe Kuh and sophomore Ellen Goldberg qualified as alter-

nates. Freshman Stoddard Meigs qualified for JV. Next Friday and Saturday, the Tigers will compete in the Stowe Derby in Vermont, which they participate in “to have fun and enjoy the scenery,” said Kuh, a tri-captain with seniors Sam Gant and Jason Luttmer.

“We have good team bonding and we worked hard this season,” Kuh said.

Adjusting to a more disci-

plined training schedule and dealing with inexperience have been challenges for the team, she said.

But Holton said the Tigers “have great team spirit and though it’s a challenging sport, the team keeps improving.”

The Tigers came in third Tuesday, Feb. 4, against the three other teams that compete in the Bay State East league: Newton South, Dover-Sherborn and Wellesley.

JOSH BAKAN JACOB BRUNELL Three alpine skiers will compete in the Individual State Meet Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Berkshire East, said senior Harrison Keyes, a co-captain with seniors Anitra Kloczewiak, Dan Kulla and Maddie McSally.

Kulla, Kloczewiak and senior Peri Silverman will participate with 39 of the other best skiers in the Mass. Bay East Ski League

race, Keyes said.

Kloczewiak ranks fifth in the Mass. Bay East Ski League girls’ individual standings and Silverman ranks 21st. Kulla ranks 18th in the boys’ standings.

During the regular season, 10 schools attend each meet, with hundreds of athletes participating, Keyes said.

The girls rank second in the league behind Marblehead, and

the boys rank fifth.

Kloczewiak, McSally and Silverman have been skiing exceptionally for the girls, Keyes said.

“Overall, this has been a good season for us given the fact that we only have so many people, with eight boys and 12 girls on the squad,” he said.

Monday at Blue Hills, Kloczewiak finished fifth for the girls.

Kulla finished 16th for the boys.

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Individuals ahead for alpine BY

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Skiers make Special Olympics MARENA COLE Three students who love the sport will compete in downhill skiing at the Special Olympics winter games, said their coach Mark Kelly.

Senior Ben Majewski, junior Ned Reichenbach and freshman Nathan Orlov will be on the Newton team at Mount Wachusett in Princeton Saturday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 1.

Reichenbach said he qualified on his birthday, January 31.

“I found out I was going to BY

Teddy Wenneker

Ned Reichenbach

get a birthday present from the Special Olympics,” Reichenbach said, displaying his blue ribbon.

“Skiing is one of my favorite winter sports, and I’ve been skiing since I was 5. I was really happy and excited.”

Kelly, the director of special needs at the Newton Parks and Recreation Department, said all three of the students love skiing, and the Special Olympics is “just another avenue to get them on the slopes.”

BRODERICK, BANCROFT & GOLDBERG attorneys at law

Leah Cepko

At Weston Ski Track: Senior Sam Gant, a captain with seniors Chloe Kuh and Jason Luttmer, participates in a race Tuesday, Feb. 4 . The Tigers finished in third place.

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.”

—Anthony J. D’Angelo, Author

Thank you for your efforts to enhance the quality of life in the villages we call home.

313 Washington St. Suite 207 Newton, Mass. 02458 Telephone: (617) 641- 9900 FAX: (617) 641- 9920

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sports

16 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

Boys to host Needham squad Coach Ryan cites improvements

JOSH BAKAN Hosting Needham for Valentine’s Day, boys’ hockey will try to capitalize on its improvements, coach Tom Ryan said.

“Our zone coverage is much better than it was earlier and we move the puck well,” said Ryan.

“But we need to score more goals and do a better job killing penalties.”

Needham beat the Tigers 3-0 in their previous meeting Saturday, Jan. 17.

“They’re big, they’re poised and they know how to win,” Ryan said about Needham.

“We’re trying to be like them in the future. They’re solid from the goalie on out.”

Senior Pat LeBlanc, a captain with seniors Anthony Moscatelli and Mike Asaley, said the Tigers have “a lot of young talent.”

“Michael Uberti has been holding his own lately,” LeBlanc said, referring to the freshman goalie.

Also, Ryan said senior Jake Mahoney, a center, and sophomore T.J. Ryan and freshman Ryan Fanning, forwards, are a BY

hockey

great front line.

Monday the team will visit Acton-Boxborough for its final game of the season.

“We’ve never played them,” LeBlanc said. “We don’t know what to expect.”

Saturday, the Tigers visited Wellesley, which won 2-1.

“It was pretty close throughout the game, but we got too many penalties,” LeBlanc said.

“We lost our poise with a one goal lead and we let them score two goals,” Ryan said.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 Weymouth beat the Tigers 4-2.

“We trailed by a goal in the third. But Weymouth got a goal with three and a half minutes left,” said Ryan. “We just haven’t been able to get over the hump late in games.”

The Tigers visited Dedham Saturday, Jan. 31 and won 4-2.

“We skated well and moved the puck well,” Ryan said. “We showed great character.”

The Tigers were to have visited Brookline Wednesday.

Girls aim to qualify for state tourney

MEREDITH ABRAMS Girls’ hockey, 7-6-3, aims to qualify for the State Tournament, coach Bob MacDougall said.

“Our strategy is to approach each play and each shift, and to play with intensity,” said MacDougall.

“The girls are skating fast and making plays, but we keep losing by one goal on flukes,” MacDougall said.

The Tigers visit Needham today, and the game could go either way, MacDougall said.

“Needham plays good hockey, so the winner will be whichever team capitalizes on the opponents’ mistakes,” MacDougall said.

The Rockets’ coach, Allisyn Furano, said that she expects the game to be “very interesting.”

“Newton North has many talented scorers, and it has always been a healthy rivalry against us in all sports,” she said. “Their style of play is very similar to ours.”

Tuesday, the Tigers visit Barnstable for their last game before the State Tournament.

“Barnstable has a challenging team,” MacDougall said. “They have an excellent program, and they were bumped up a division two years ago.”

Shooting and looking for net, BY

breaking the puck out and seeing which systems work best on offense and defense are the main areas the team is working on, said senior Morgan Abbott, a captain with junior Kim Gillies.

“We’re working hard every time we step on the ice,” said Abbott.

“The team has really connected, now that it’s spent so much time together—we know each other as players and as people.”

Wellesley defeated the Tigers 3-0 here Saturday. The Tigers lost because Wellesley “didn’t allow us to get into the game, and they capitalized on our mistakes,” MacDougall said.

The Tigers beat South at home, Thursday, Feb. 5.

“The girls really took it upon themselves to dominate,” MacDougall said. “They came out slow, but then the brought it together.”

At home Wednesday, Feb 4, the Tigers defeated Weymouth 6-0.

MacDougall said, “Weymouth has a first year hockey program, so we had an edge in experience.”

Dedham beat the Tigers 1-0, here Saturday, Jan. 31.

The Tigers were to have hosted Brookline Wednesday.

ELI DAVIDOW CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY.

Teddy Wenneker

On home ice: Junior Hannah Jellinek handles the puck.

Wellesley beat the Tigers 3-0 here Sunday.

Teddy Wenneker

Playing defense: Sophomore Brianna Hunt keeps the ball away from junior Catherine Warren against Wellesley Friday. The Raiders won 66-48 .

Girls to play in Bedford MEREDITH ABRAMS Better defense could help girls’ basketball, 10-8, win a tournament next week in Bedford, coach Hank DeSantis said.

In addition, the team is trying to pass the ball inside to post players and use more diverse ball handling, DeSantis said.

When the Tigers travel to Bedford Monday and Tuesday, they will face Medford, Waltham and Wellesley, which ranks No. 1 in Boston Globe’s top 20.

Medford’s Mustangs are “strong opponents,” DeSantis BY

said.

“In preparation, we are working on our ability to play through mistakes.

“We have improved our rebounding, we’ve improved on the glass and we’ve improved our shot selection.”

Senior Hallie Vitagliano, a co-captain with senior Mariah Wynn, said the team is making progress.

“We are learning to trust each other and come out strong,” Vitagliano said.

Tuesday the Tigers defeated Brookline here 59-33 after beating Weymouth here Monday 40-25.

DeSantis cited junior Lucy Abbott who shut down Sarah Collins, the player of the year, on defense.

Wellesley defeated the Tigers 66-48 here Friday.

“We played extremely well, but we were a little shaky and they had a lot of free throws down the aisle,” DeSantis said.

The Tigers learned from the game that they can play with the best teams in the state and compete at their level, DeSantis said.

Friday, Jan. 30 the Tigers beat Dedham 46-38.

Yesterday the Tigers were to have hosted Needham.

Boys to compete in Comcast

JOSH BAKAN ELI DAVIDOW At the Comcast Tournament tomorrow at B.C. High, boys’ basketball, 16-3 Wednesday, will go up against some of the state’s premiere programs, coach Paul Connolly said.

“The Comcast Tournament is a great opportunity for us to get ready for the State Tournament,” he said.

First, the Tigers will play Watertown, an “excellent” team that is star-studded, Connolly said. Last year, Watertown won the Division 3 State Championship.

“Kyle Stockmal, a senior, is a very good player, and Connor Stockdale, a sophomore, is also good,” Connolly said. “He might have the most potential on the team.”

To beat Watertown, the Tigers will have to “defend the three-point line, contain their guards and play good basketball inside and outside,” Connolly said.

The winner of the Newton North-Watertown game will play the winner of the Central Catholic-B.C. High game Sunday.

Central Catholic senior Carson DeRosiers is the focal point of his team, Connolly said.

If the Tigers happen to play the host, B.C. High, they will BY

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basketball

anticipate a team that may start to “get in a groove,” Connolly said.

Last year in the South Sectionals, B.C. High beat the Tigers in Braintree 59-44.

“We’re excited to play them again,” he said.

Next Friday, the Tigers, the Bay State Conference champions, will find out their seeding and opponents in the South Sectionals, which will be after vacation, Connolly said.

“If we continue our winning ways, we’ll hopefully get homecourt advantage,” he said.

The Tigers have major offensive threats with senior Craig Marriro, a captain, senior Geoff Woodbury and junior Greg Kelley, said senior Matt Berkowitz, a captain.

“They’re three of the best in the Bay State Conference offensively,” he said. “Most teams can’t stop all three.”

Connolly said that especially Marriro and Kelley have started to work together.

Tuesday Brookline beat the Tigers in Brookline 63-53.

“We were down 17-6 in the first quarter, and it seemed as if we were sluggish,” Connolly said.

“We just did not have the right mental approach.

“By half time, we battled back within four, but for the rest of

the game, we ended up where we started. We were trying to play catch-up against a hungry team.”

Monday the Tigers defeated the Wildcats in Weymouth 85-56, “another solid game,” Connolly said.

Kelley had 30 points and 18 rebounds, and Marriro had five three-pointers.

Friday in Wellesley, the Tigers defeated the Raiders 69-46.

“Greg had a monster game with 29 points and eight rebounds,” Connolly said.

Sunday, Feb. 1, Brockton beat the Tigers in Brockton 81-60.

“Brockton is arguably the best team in the state,” Berkowitz said.

“It was a one-point game with six minutes. They had an amazing run in the fourth quarter and we weren’t able to recover.”

Connolly said that he thinks the Tigers should have taken the same approach to Brockton, but played better overall.

“We really just needed to play better in the fourth quarter,” he said.

Friday, Jan. 30 the Tigers visited Dedham, winning 71-38.

“We were in control for most of the game,” Berkowitz said. “Any road win is a good win.”

The Tigers were to have hosted Needham for Senior Night yesterday.