volume89 issue4.indd by The Newtonite

Newtonite ◆ Friday, March 26, 2010 • Volume 89, Issue 4

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

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

FY11 budget minimizes cuts to classroom E MARENA COLE ven with budget cuts, class sizes will not increase next year if the School Committee passes interim superintendent V. James Marini’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal 2011. Marini presented the proposed $168,235,667 budget at a School Committee meeting Thursday, March 4. The FY11 budget proposes a 2.1 percent increase over the FY10 budget of $164,708,394. In the creation of the budget, Marini said that much of the emphasis was to limit the impact on the classroom itself. “The school system really should be focused on classroom teaching,” Marini said. “The most important thing that happens in a school happens between students and a teacher in a classroom. “If we believe that, then we’ll budget for it, we’ll plan for it, we’ll fight for it—we’ll make it happen.” The proposed budget outlines general goals for the high schools in FY11. “The high schools have developed a number of efficiency and cost-cutting measures in non-teaching areas,” the proposal says. “The budget supports the high schools in their ongoing work to close the achievement gap,” it says. To achieve these goals, the proposal outlines three major areas of focus. First, the budget proposal emphasizes an effort to minimize class sizes and maximize program offerings. “This budget has been constructed such that there will be no reduction in the teaching staff, allowing academic programs

Teddy Wenneker

Lacrosse practice: Sophomore Shawn Seamans cradles the ball. Spring sports began last week. See related sports stories on pages 13, 15 and 16.

to remain intact,” the proposal says. In his budget message, Marini said the FY11 budget contains enough cost-saving measures to maintain class sizes at the FY10 levels. Second, the budget outlines steps to reorganize administration at the high schools. The proposed changes are ◆ eliminating the positions of assistant principal, which would result in a reduction of 3.0 FTEs. ◆ addition of vice principal positions, which is an addition of 2.0 FTEs. ◆ eliminating library department chair positions. ◆ reducing secretarial time by eliminating the position of executive secretary and reducing 1.55 FTE secretarial positions. Also proposed is the addition of a 0.2 FTE Grade 2 secretary to each main office staff. According to the proposal, the expected outcome of the changes will be that there will be a negative impact on department supports. However, “restructuring of administrative tasks at the high schools will result in cost efficiencies without affecting classroom instructional time,” it says. Additionally, the budget proposes the elimination of the position of on campus coordinator, which currently accounts for a total of 1.0 FTE, 0.5 FTE at each high school, it says. In a third point, the budget emphasizes support for current initiatives in the high schools. “This budget supports the high schools’ ongoing professional development efforts to encourage teacher collaboration and to close the achievement gap,” it says. ◆ SEE EDITORIAL ON PAGE 3.

Proposal discusses lifting restrictions on Facebook REBECCA HARRIS estrictions on Facebook access from Newton North computers may be lifted if the Student Faculty Administration board passes a proposal sponsored by librarian Kevin McGrath and seniors Jonathan Bressler and Ezra Cohen. The SFA discussed the propsal at a meeting Wednesday, March 17. As written, the proposal says BY

that Facebook would be removed from the web filter, and therefore be unblocked. However, principal Jennifer Price said that doing so may not be possible because both Newton high schools currently use the same filter. “The decision would have to be made at both high schools,” she said. “This is not a decision I can make unilaterally.”

The proposal says that students should be allowed to use Facebook because they use it for schoolwork. “Students constantly rely on Facebook for communication when coordinating group projects,” the proposal says. “If one has essential information on their account for an in-school project, they will not be able to access it, and it will

impede their work.” Also, the proposal says that it is inconsistent to ban Facebook, because other sites that serve some of the same functions are permitted. The proposal says that allowing Facebook would not affect the learning environment. “Students often do not use the computers for work with websites such as Sporcle, so Face-

book would not cause students to procrastinate any more than they already do,” the proposal says. The SFA also discussed ways to introduce students to the new building next fall. Riley housemaster Mark Aronson said that the SFA should be especially sensitive to the needs of the Class of ‘11, because the shift to the new building will impact it the most.

Minga in contest to win funds MALINI GANDHI inga is in conten tion to win $25,000 in funding, said senior Rebecca Kantar, the director of Minga’s Public Service Announcement campaign. Minga is Newton’s youth-run, non-profit organization that seeks to educate students about the global sex trade. According to Kantar, Minga’s PSA campaign was launched this year with the goal to reach youth through television, with hopes to partner with celebrities from

programs such as Glee and Gossip Girl to broadcast messages on networks such as CNN, and programs such as Good Morning America. With the hopes of beginning to film the PSAs in May, Minga entered Pepsi’s Refresh Everything contest, which is giving 10 organizations $25,000 each, Kantar said. If Minga wins the $25,000 it is running for, the money will cover the cost of producing one of the PSAs, she said. According to Kantar, the top 10

organizations with the most votes online will receive the $25,000. “Without funding, the project is pushed back,” she said. “This is our chance to be in the spotlight. “Out of over 1,903 other groups in the competition, we are one of the only student groups, and definitely the only non-profit, youth-run organization. We are extremely excited.” Those interested in supporting Minga can go to www.refresheverything.com/minga to vote. Voting ends next Wednesday.

Around the world See exchanges on pages 7-9

opinion

2 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, March 26, 2010

Good to see cuts out of classroom, but they still hurt Creating the budget for a school year is full of tough decisions. This year, as with every year, cuts had to be made to assure that the school system could operate within the budget of $168,235,667. Interim superintendent V. James Marini has made it clear that the priority in making the budget this year was to minimize the effect cuts would have on the classroom, emphasizing that classroom sizes will not increase from FY10 levels. The whole goal of public education is to teach students, and so we agree that it’s crucial to take steps to make sure that students get the highest quality education possible. Keeping class sizes small and maximizing course offerings are important objectives to have, and it’s great to know that those creating the budget are working to minimize cuts in those areas. Maximizing the programs available gives students many more opportunities to find their passions and talent as they go through high school. However, over the past few years the Russian language program, the fashion design course, and last year, the Electrical program, had to be cut due to budgeting. And so, the fact that the classroom is not a place for cutting is great for everyone. However, budget cuts can negatively affect other areas of the school besides the classroom. Currently, the budget proposal proposes a reduction in secretarial time and the elimination of the position of

editorial executive secretary. Reducing secretarial time puts a lot of stress on the secretaries as they already perform vital jobs in running the school. Although they are not part of the classroom itself, secretaries are essential in the handling of the day-to-day operations of the houses, individual departments and the main office. Additionally, the budget proposes to cut the on campus position. Over the years, hundreds of presenters have spoken to students here, with topics ranging from genocide to study skills to traditional Chinese art. On campus presentations have provided students with valuable opportunities to learn about things they might not have encountered in the classroom. Proposed staffing reductions to the library can also be detrimental, as hundreds of students come in and out of the library each day. And next year, the library will be a Learning Commons, with a new approach to using technology in the library. Librarians handle much in the operation of a location with so much student activity and so many learning opportunities. It’s important to see that even though these cuts may not affect the classroom directly, and they may not directly influence class sizes or course offerings, they still affect the education of many students in the school.

Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the newspaper of Newton North High School, 360 Lowell Ave., Newtonville, Mass. 02460. Editors in chief — Marena Cole, Eli Davidow Managing editor — Teddy Wenneker News editor — Hilary Brumberg Sports editors — Jay Feinstein, Jacob Schwartz Arts editors — Kate Lewis, Perrin Stein Features editors — Jacob Brunell, Fatema Zaidi On campus editor — Meredith Abrams News analysis editor — Steven Michael Photography editors — Gaby Perez-Dietz, Ivan McGovern Production managers — Katrina Barry, Ben Hills Advertising manager — Emily Gulotta Business manager — Dan Salvucci Circulation managers — Alison Berkowitz, Caleb Gannon

Adviser — Kate Shaughnessy Production advisers — Sue Brooks, Tom Donnellan News staff — Malini Gandhi, Ilana Greenstein, Rebecca Harris, Kayla Shore Features staff — Emmett Greenberg, Gavi Kaplan Sports staff — Evan Clements, Nicole Curhan, Jeremy Gurvits Arts staff — Audrey Derobert, Becky Kalish News analysis staff — Kellynette Gomez Art staff — Anna Kaertner, Maddie MacWilliams, D’Jaidah Wynn Photography staff — Karen Brier, Ryne Duffy, Anna Gargas, Gabe Dreyer, Jaryd Justice-Moote, Edan Laniado, Isabel Meigs, Matt Victor Circulation staff — Spencer Alton, Stoddard Meigs, Omar Pinkhasov, Michela Salvucci, Stephanie Vitone Production staff — Peter Taber-Simonian

The Newtonite staff does all the reporting, production work and photography to produce 16 issues a year for a circulation of 2,500. 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 thenewtonite@gmail.com. To find the Newtonite online go to www.thenewtonite.com.

Ivan McGovern

Inflatable jousting: Sophomores Anthony Sposato and Justin Keefe face off in the lower gym during the sophomore carnival Friday, March 5.

Missing support for girls’ team SAMANTHA ALPERT If there is one thing I love most about Newton North, it is the school spirit. I have not seen a more spirited school, and it makes me so proud to be a part of it all. Many people are shocked by the power of our 6th Man section at many sporting events. The most popular are the post-season games, and most of all basketball games. Oops! I mean boys’ basketball games and post-season. My question is, why is this true? I always thought the main reason why so many people go is to support their classmates and show their Tiger Pride.

guest column There is a huge number of people in the stands at the boys’ games who don’t know the first thing about basketball, and many of them don’t even care. They come to be social and cheer. If I’m not mistaken, I’m pretty sure the only thing missing from the girls’ games are the dunks, but I promise—they aren’t boring! This year, the girls’ basketball team was the best it has been in a very long time. People can’t even come to games that don’t even conflict with the boys’? The fact is, the girls’ team had

one more loss than the boys’. The girls’ Sectional semi-final game was the day after the boys had lost. The opposing coach had told the students at his school to get their seats early because he saw how we supported our boys on the road. I’m not going to completely blame the 6th Man for the loss, but I’ll just say the game would have been much different if there were at least some people there to support us. They had about 150 people in their student section. We had two. That may have hurt more than the actual loss.

Tips to stay healthy outdoors It’s time to get outside and experience the warmer weather and longer days. Make sure your family stays healthy this spring and summer with these great outdoor health tips. Remember to Slip! Slap! Slop! to prevent the sun from damaging your skin and potentially causing cancer in the future. ◆ Slip on a t-shirt: A t-shirt over a bathing suit is a great way to help block some of the sun’s rays ◆ Slap on a hat & sunglasses: A brimmed hat and sunglasses help protect the face and eyes. ◆ Slop on sunscreen: Apply

letter SPF 15 or higher sunscreen before going outside and reapply at least every two hours, even if it is cloudy. For more information, contact your School Nurse or visit http:// www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/ types/skin Use a bug repellent that protects against ticks and mosquitoes to prevent diseases like West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease. Different products work against different bugs. Products with DEET or permethrin are rec-

ommended for protection against both ticks and mosquitoes. DEET products may be applied to skin or clothing. For more information about ticks, mosquitoes, and the diseases they cause, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website at www.mass. gov/dph. Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or scooter, using in-line skates or other manually propelled wheeled vehicles. For more information, visit www.mass.gov/dph/injury or contact your school nurse. —ROZANNE MILNER, RN

Janice Keefe took on any task ELI DAVIDOW Mrs. Janice C. (Norton) Keefe, a secretary from 1981-1996, died Sunday, March 7 in Gardner. She was 71. According to semi-retired English teacher and former Adams housemaster Peter C a p o d i l u p o, Mrs. Keefe was a “very warm Newtonian and embracing Janice person.” Keefe “No problem a student had was too big for Janice,” he said. “She would always do her best to try to help.” Mrs. Keefe, who worked here for 16 years, was a person who brought this school to a human and personal level, Capodilupo said. “She cared so deeply about the school. Janice was one of the people who made Newton North a special place, an academic in-

in memoriam stitution that was also very deep and caring.” Although Capodilupo said that he did not directly work with Mrs. Keefe, she still made an impression on him because of her undeniable pride for this school. “She was a warrior,” he said. “She took on any task with a passion.” Mrs. Keefe grew up in Waltham, and she graduated from Waltham High in 1956. She was the mother of five children. In 1981, Mrs. Keefe began working here part time, splitting her time between working in the Summer School office and driver’s education office. Mrs. Keefe started working full time in 1983 in the Adams house office. When the house system changed, she worked in the combination Riley/Adams house. For the last three years at Newton North, she worked in Riley. Friends and family gathered

to celebrate Mrs. Keefe’s life at The Joyce Funeral Home of Waltham for a wake Wednesday, March 10. Following the wake, a funeral mass took place at Our Lady Comforter of the Affected Church of Waltham. Mrs. Keefe’s burial was held in private. Donations may be made in Mrs. Keefe’s name to the Heywood Hospital Oncology Department, 242 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440.

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

news

Friday, March 26, 2010

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 3

What makes a mentor? MEREDITH ABRAMS Jean Rhodes is a leading expert on mentoring and a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, according to principal Jennifer Price. Rhodes was the keynote speaker at the Huntington Lecture Thursday, March 11 in the film lecture hall. Price opened the presentation by explaining how the annual lectures began. “When I entered this institution, we had a conversation, in this very room, about how to connect the community and the school,” she said. “A parent suggested an intellectual discussion, and we named it for a past principal,” she said. “So far it’s been quite a fun adventure—I’ve learned about gravity, jazz and had lots of wonderful experiences.” Rhodes spoke about “the risks and rewards of mentoring today’s youth.” For her dissertation, she studied the effects mentors had on students in Chicago. “At the time, Chicago was the epicenter of the crack epidemic,” Rhodes said. “I asked teachers to find students who were outstanding, who were going to college, and they could just rattle off a couple names. “I was trying to think about what they had in common, and I found a theme—they all have someone looking out for them, someone who cared about them,” she said. Rhodes said she ended up with some very important questions. “I wondered, ‘Is having a mentor a cause of resilience, or is it a factor?’ And, ‘Why do some people find mentors, but others don’t?’” Next, Rhodes spoke about former Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez and his mentor, Makako. “I talked to Makako, and I learned about all the other mentors Manny had,” she said. “I found out that he was irresistible to mentors, so coaches just loved him. “Mentors have the triad of protective factors, and they look for kids who thrive.” Then Rhodes spoke about the role mentors can play in children’s lives. “I developed a theory about how mentoring works,” she said. “A successful relationship is conditioned by many things, but three stood out to me, Good mentors must help social and emotional development, enhance cognitive development and provide a role model. “Social and emotional development works like therapy,” Rhodes said. “The mentoring reverberates back to the closest relationships in the lives of the person being mentored. “Enhancing cognitive development means there is a zone of proximal development,” Rhodes said. “Good mentors can stretch you to your limits and pull you to your best. Role modeling—especially in boys—is absolutely essential. “Children tend to feel like everyone is watching them all the time, so they are constantly performing. Sometimes mentors can insert themselves into that imaginary audience and raise the standard.”

Teddy Wenneker

Registration day: English teacher Melissa Dilworth and junior Sam Majewski discuss English course offerings.

Club teams prepare for upcoming events Debate team prepares for competitions MALINI GANDHI Novice talent has allowed the Debate Team to perform very well and build experience, according to senior Ezra Cohen, cocaptain with senior Caeden Byrnie. Newtonian The team Ezra Cohen will compete in States Sunday, a competition where Cohen is “hoping for a strong performance.” North’s doubles team will argue whether affirmative action is justified, while the singles team will debate jury nullification. The team is diligently preparing for the competition through research and running rounds, according to Cohen. Saturday, Feb. 27, the team debated in Shrewsbury, a competition that went well for North, according to Cohen. “Though facing more experienced teams, our novices performed very well,” he said. One major difference between this year’s team compared to last year’s is the many talented underclassmen that have stepped up and contributed, Cohen said. “I walked into captainship this year with most of the team made up of juniors and seniors,” Cohen said. “I realized it was critical to

Seniors to compete for National Merit funds STEVEN MICHAEL Six seniors were named as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. This school’s finalists are seniors Naomi Genuth, Nathan Harris, Nikolai Klebanov, Nathaniel Roth, Alexander Talishinsky and Michael Weinfeld. Students are chosen for the National Merit Scholarship Program based on their scores on the PSAT during the fall of junior year. Of the estimated 1.5 million students who take the PSAT each year, 50,000 receive letters of recommendation for their scores. The top 16,000 scorers are chosen as semifinalists. Of those students, 15,000 advance to become finalists. Finalists will compete for $36 million in scholarships nation-

find a new mass of people to recruit. Now we have a bunch of freshmen and new talent, and we are looking forward to building experience and improving as a team.”

Science team competes in Science Olympiad KAYLA SHORE After three consecutive years of winning the Science Olympiad and reaching Nationals, the Science Team hoped to make it a fourth this year, said senior Jen Liu, team president. However, the team was second to ActonBoxborough this year. The Olympiad, held at Framingham State Saturday, March 20, included 40 teams from around the state. The 24 events covered many topics, including biology, chemistry and forensics. The team placed in the top 10 of every event except for three, a highlight for Liu. “We can’t help but be a little disappointed, but I’m proud of how we came together,” she said. In preparation for the Olympiad, the team competed in West Suburban Science League competitions. They have been “using them as a training ground” for larger comNewtonian petitions, said Jen Liu science teacher Barbara Gibson, an adviser with science teacher Peter Hamel. BY

in brief wide, assistant principal Deborah Holman said. Of the 15,000 finalists, about 8,000 will win National Merit Scholarships. “It is prestigious because so few receive the award in the country and the school,” Holman said. Holman said the principal holds a reception for the semifinalists and their families. Semifinalists receive a packet and go through an application process to become a finalist. “For the finalists, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation sends letters to the families of the students and a certificate of merit is given to each student in homeroom,” she said. “At Newton North, there is recognition for numerous extracurriculars and achievements,” Holman said. “And yet our main purpose is scholarship—and

The team’s next event will be the Envirothon in May, which focuses on earth science. The team placed second in last year’s competition, and it hopes to do well again this year, Gibson said. In the Science Bowl Saturday, Feb. 27, the A team placed in the eighth to 16th range and the B team placed in the fifth to eighth range.

Ligerbots participate in regional competitions HILARY BRUMBERG In their regional event, the Ligerbots hope to make it to at least the finals, senior Daniel Smith said. Starting yesterday and continuing through Saturday, the Ligerbots will compete against 62 other teams in the Boston Regional event. Newtonian The robots Daniel will compete Smith in Breakaway, which is similar to soccer. The playing field has many obstacles that teams must overcome and bonus points are awarded at the end when a team’s robot can climb a tower and completely suspend itself off of the ground. The purpose is to score as many points as possible in 2 and a half minutes. “The competition is in Boston, which is really close to where people live in Newton,” Smith said. “It would be really great if a

these students have achieved at the highest level.”

Student advances to States for recitation HILARY BRUMBERG After winning this school’s poetry recitation contest and placing in the top three at Regionals, senior Max Gerekht advanced to the State Poetry Out Loud competition. In the Regional competition in Framingham Sunday, March 7, Gerekht recited “If” by Rudyard Kipling and “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman. Of the nine students who competed, Gerekht placed in the top three, who then advanced to States. Gerekht said he thinks the judges scored him favorably because “I can use my voice very well and make people feel my voice,” he said. Sunday, March 14 in the Hun-

lot of people could come see it. “There’s actually an award, the Spirit Award, for having a large cheering squad.” The Ligerbots played Breakaway in the Worchester Polytechnical Institute Regional competition Thursday, March 11 through Saturday, March 13, their first event of the season. They placed eighth in the qualifiers, enabling them to pick two teams to join them in the best-of-three quarterfinals, according to technology and engineering teacher Scott Rosenhahn, a coach. Due to communication failure between the robot and the tower, the Ligerbots and their alliance teams lost the first match 6-2, Rosenhahn said. In the second round, they originally won 4-3. However, a malfunctioning censor did not register the ball being returned to play quickly enough, thus deducting four points from the final score. “I think we did great,” Rosenhahn said. “If it wasn’t for some mechanical, software and electrical failures, we would’ve gone further. “Once we got into the game and we were able to troubleshoot our robot, we were able to start scoring goals and we emerged as one of the best offensive teams.” The Ligerbots also won the Imagery Award, which was given to the team that “best promoted their team and their name and their logo as a brand,” according to Rosenhahn. tington Theatre, Gerekht competed in the Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts State competition. There, he placed in the top 20 of 14,000 students. However, only one competitor from the entire state of Massachusetts advanced to Nationals. “The competition was really, really tight— Newtonian there were no Max bad kids at all,” Gerekht Gerekht said. Being at the statewide competition was “interesting,” he said. “It was a new experience. I’ve never done anything like that.” Gerekht said he would like to thank English teachers Adam Carpenter and Tim Finnegan for “helping me prepare for my competitions.”

arts

4 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, March 26, 2010

Jacob Schwartz

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome: The Emcee, played by senior Ryan Vona, leads the Kit Kat Klub dancers in an explosive opening number.

Come to the cabaret: Sophomore Emily Paley, a lead dancer, coerces Cliff, played by junior Skylar Fox, into a night out.

‘Here, life is beautiful’: ‘Cabaret’ cast shines KATE LEWIS “ Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome,” crooned a flamboyant Emcee, played by senior Ryan Vona, welcoming audiences to the Kit Kat Klub, and to the musical “Cabaret.”

review Performed Thursday, March 11 through Sunday, March 14 in Lasker Auditorium to nearly sold-out audiences, “Cabaret” was an amazing show highlighted by song, dance and incredible technical work. The show was set in a tawdry nightclub, the Kit Kat Klub, in Berlin at the dawn of Nazi rule, and centered on a romance between American writer Cliff Bradshaw and Sally Bowles, an English cabaret singer. Cliff, played by junior Skylar Fox, comes to Berlin in search of inspiration for his next novel. Instead, he finds himself living with charismatic Sally, portrayed by junior Kelly McIntyre. Fox and McIntyre had wonderful chemistry, despite highly contrasting characters. Together, they played out conflicts between an idealistic young woman and a more practical young man. Complications arise when Sally reveals that she is pregnant. Desperate for money, Cliff resorts to running mysterious errands for a friend, Ernst Ludwig, who may be hiding dark motives. Another plot of the show involves Cliff and Sally’s landlady, Fraulein Schneider, an old spinster who is romanced by her widower neighbor, Herr Schultz. Senior Joella Tepper portrayed Schneider as a kind, modest woman resigned to the hardships

Jacob Schwartz

Song and dance: Junior Kelly McIntyre as Sally Bowles performs a flirtatious number at the Kit Kat Klub. around her. When Schultz, played by junior Edan Laniado, asks Schneider to marry him, she accepts. However, when Nazi-sympathizing friends discourage Schneider from a relationship with the Jewish Schultz, she struggles between her love for Schultz and her loyalty to Germany. Schultz tries to convince Schneider that even if the rest of the world rejects them, they will always have each other. In the song “Married,” Schultz tenderly sang about the happiness marriage can bring to two lonely people. Laniado created a sensitive, caring character who earnestly

loved Schneider and would do anything for her. Full-cast numbers helped to progress the story and provide commentary on the action. For example, in “Money,” Cliff ’s distressing situation was accentuated by the eerie chorus, led by the Emcee: “Money makes the world go round.” Green lighting and tight choreography helped to heighten the ominous nature of the song, as Cliff wandered nervously on a business trip for the mysterious Ernst Ludwig, played by junior Sam Melnick. “Tomorrow Belongs to Me,” sung at Schultz and Schneider’s

engagement party, started out as a beautiful tune sung by Melnick and senior Caeden Brynie. However, the song had a deeper meaning, as it was revealed to be a Nazi hymn. When the entire cast joined in singing “Tomorrow Belongs to Me,” it became clear to the audience, as well as to Cliff and Sally, that the political climate in Germany was on the verge of a dramatic turn. Other songs helped the audience to understand the characters’ inner thoughts. In “Maybe This Time,” sung by Sally, she expressed her apprehension at being in love for the first time with Cliff and her hope that “maybe this time, I’ll win.” McIntyre’s deep, gentle voice showed that Sally was a character jaded by failed relationships, but who still had love in her heart. Likewise, Fraulein Schneider expressed her difficult conflict in “What Would You Do?” Her voice full of anguish and grief, Schneider explained her reasons for not marrying Schultz, resigned again to a lonely life. All of the musical numbers were backed by an 11-piece orchestra, which consisted primarily of student musicians. The orchestra provided a perfect accompaniment to the musical numbers, their instruments adding to the mood of the song. The elaborate set, designed by senior Chris Annas-Lee, consisted of many levels, doors and staircases, as well as a huge hanging frame, which could be illuminated to create strong emphasis on a musical number. Annas-Lee created a set that played off the idea of seeing the show through the lens of the Kit

Kat Klub. Minimal sets for specific locations, cabaret tables set in the front row of the auditorium and ensemble members lingering around the stage really made the audience feel as though they were at the club. Designed by junior Kevin Zabrecky, dramatic lighting also helped to tell the story. For example, in “Tomorrow Belongs to Me,” red lights and footlights, which created ominous shadows, gave actors a darker look and revealed the true nature of their characters. Tight, stark spotlights were used in Kit Kat numbers to create a realistic nightclub feel, and a hazer’s ominous fog added to the seedy air in the club. Costumes were phenomenal, many of them handmade by junior Anna Gargas, the costume designer. Each cast member was carefully outfitted in clothes that reflected his or her character. In the engagement party scene, girls wore elegant dresses in light colors. Sally stood out in a deep purple dress that matched her vibrant personality, and Ernst Ludwig wore a black suit to mirror his dark, mysterious personality. Fraulein Schneider wore a modest party dress, which reflected her reserved yet cheerful nature. For scenes at the Kit Kat Klub, the cabaret dancers wore outfits in black, white and red. Boys wore dark shirts and dress pants. These dark outfits held true to the show’s menacing feel. Altogether, “Cabaret” was an exceptional example of musical theater, in which “life is beautiful, and the girls are beautiful and even the orchestra is beautiful.” ◆ AUDREY DEROBERT CONTRIBUTED.

Seven students perform in annual All-State Festival JAY FEINSTEIN Music students performed in the Massachusetts Music Educator’s Association All-State Festival at Boston Symphony Hall, Saturday, March 20. “This is an opportunity for our students to perform with some of the best students in the commonwealth,” said fine and performing arts department head Todd Young, the All-State assistant conference chair. “It’s a real honor for all of our students participating in it.” Young’s responsibilities at the festival include managing the audio-visual needs of the conference, which provides professional development for music educators. Almost 1,000 music educators attend this conference each

year. Four students took part in the festival last year. Seven students participated in this year’s AllState Festival. According to the concert coordinator Colleen MacDonald, the most important part of the festival is how it brings the “most talented music students from across the whole state together to celebrate their talent,” she said. “Symphony Hall is the perfect venue to perform in, too,” MacDonald said. All-State Festival is made up of four ensembles: an orchestra, a symphonic band, a jazz ensemble and a chorus. The orchestra, conducted by Jung-Ho Pak, performed “Romeo and Juliet” by Prokofiev. Senior Paul Batchelor, a bass-

ist, junior John McGaffey, a violist, and sophomore Laura Cooke, a cellist, took part in this 117-person ensemble. Senior Camilla Shearman and junior Carissa Lin, both clarinet players, and sophomore Rosie Sokolov, a flautist, participated in the symphonic band with 123 other students. The band played “Fantasy Variation” by James Barnes, “His Honor” by Henry Fillmore, “Sky Splitter” by Vincent Joppido and “Hot Land Sketches” by Mark Camphouse. All of these pieces were conducted by Anthony Jmaiello, a music professor at George Mason University. Band members had to memorize “His Honor” because it is usually a marching band tune,

according to Shearman. Shearman said, “it’s a little intimidating” to play with so many good musicians, but exciting to perform at Symphony Hall. Senior Hayley Travers is one of 250 singers participating in the All-State chorus, and she was able to sing a solo at the concert. “Performing a solo at Symphony Hall was one of my dreams, so that was really the highlight of the weekend,” she said. The chorus opened with “Petite Accipetis” a piece by Hayden. It was followed by “Where Your Barefoot Walks” by David M. Childs. Then the chorus sang “Ritmo” by Dan Davison. Fourth, the song was “The Seal Lullaby” by Eric Whitacre. Next was “My Good Lord’s Done

Been Here,” which was composed by the concert’s conductor Dr. Andre Thomas, and Travers had a solo in this piece. The chorus concluded with “Shine the Light,” by Raymond Wise. In order to participate in the All-State Festival, students had to audition for the senior districts. Those who achieved qualifying scores on their senior district auditions were able to audition for the All-State Festival Saturday, Jan. 23. Music was handed out during February vacation, so students could begin practicing the pieces. Group rehearsals occurred all day Thursday, March 18 through Saturday, March 20 at the Seaport Hotel. Students performed that afternoon in Symphony Hall.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 5

Improv troupe readies for comedic shows KATE LEWIS “Spontaneous Generation,” Theatre Ink’s annual improv show, promises to be an exciting comedic performance, said sophomore Graham Techler. Techler, a director with junior Mercer Gary, describes “Spontaneous Generation,” also known as “Spon Gen,” as a “gratuitous explosion of energy and fun that will shock your systems and razzle your nervebones to the point of no return.” The show will be performedWednesday, April 7 to Saturday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the little theatre. Each night’s performance will be completely unique, said Techler. Through a variety of improv games and the participation of the audience, the cast of “Spon Gen” is able to create a totally different program for each night. “‘Spon Gen’ is an incredibly audience-heavy show,” Techler said. “When you’re here, you’re not just watching, you’re part of the experience. All of our suggestions during the show come from the audience.” Among the diverse games in the cast’s repetoire are “But Not Really.” “Freeze”“Spinoffs,” and “World’s Worst.” “Spinoffs” is a scene game in which a godlike character guides the actors, occasionally freezing the action and changing it on a whim. “World’s Worst” involves one-liners in which the audience suggests a profession, then the actors must portray someone

Gaby Perez-Dietz

Improving at improv: Junior Derek Butterton and sophomore Graham Techler practice scene games in preparation for ‘Spontaneous Generation’ Wednesday, April 7 to Friday, April 10. who would be the world’s worst person for the job. Both games are inspired from the audience, he said. “Freeze” is another game in which the audience can participate. In this game, two actors begin a scene. When someone in the theatre, either an audience member or cast member, yells “Freeze!” the scene stops, and the person who froze the scene

must take the place of an actor and begin a new scene. In “But Not Really,” an actor is sent out of the theatre, while the other actors ask the audience for an activity. Then, they change objects and locations associated with the activity while the actor is still outside. “Say the activity is brushing your teeth,” said Techler. “But instead of a toothbrush, you have

a chainsaw, and instead of a sink you have Oprah Winfrey.” Without using their words, the other actors must express these silly changes, often leading to hilarious results. “It’s a crowdpleaser, and the audience always gets really into it,” Techler said. A very special part of “Spon Gen” is the musical finale. An adult audience member is interviewed onstage, and the cast

creates a short, comedic musical about the audience member’s life based on the interview. The cast of 13 includes the directors, as well as seniors Chris Annas-Lee, Jen Diamond, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Ingrid Rudie, Seth Simons and Ryan Vona, juniors Derek Butterton and Skylar Fox, sophomore Nicole Bunis, and freshmen Sam Raby and Nick Rodriguez. Senior Nathan Harris will accompany the troupe on the piano. Mike Manship, who has advised Newton North’s Improv Club and “Spon Gen” for eight years, said he is always impressed with the talent here. “Working at Newton North is more like working at a college than a high school. The talent level is very high every year, and more importantly, the level of dedication and interest in theatre and the arts in general,” he said. In rehearsal, Manship works with the cast and emphasizes the importance of teamwork. “The most important thing for improvisers to learn at the start is that they don’t need to try to be funny,” he said. “Funniness will come naturally when you have the kind of comic talent that exists at North. Things like sharing the stage and really listening to one another may not.” Manship said that it is always a joy to work with students who are committed to a great show. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at lunch and online at www.theatreink.net.

10 acts to take stage in pollution-free EnviroJam BECKY KALISH Students and a faculty band will perform tonight in EnviroJam, a fundraising event to benefit the environment through the Green Decade Coalition. EnviroJam will include 10 acts, most of which are student groups. Some of the performing bands include The Downtown Collective, NNHS Faculty Band, Bandanasaurus and Common Illusion. Newton North’s sketch comedy troupe, Nitrous Oxide, and a cappella group, Forté, will also be performing. In between acts, juniors Linda Bard and David Gore, the student emcees, will give environmental

facts about “how to green up the environment,” according to biology teacher Zach Snow. Snow is a leading organizer of the event, along with English teacher Stephen Chinosi. According to Snow, EnviroJam is carbon neutral, Newtonian which means Zach Snow there will be no carbon dioxide generated at the event. “This is usually accomplished by purchasing carbon offsets such as tree planting that absorb carbon dioxide from the environ-

ment,” Snow said. This will be accomplished by having someone pedal a bike to power the lights and sound system in the little theatre. “It’s an interesting educational component for the audience to experience, and it’s also a good promotion for the environment,” Snow said. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at all lunches or at the door. Proceeds from the event will go to the installation of solar panels in the Newton Public Schools, such as those at South. In addition to ticket sales, money will be raised through the sale of refreshments and recycled handbags made by Greengineer-

ing students, available at intermission. EnviroJam has been a great success since it began three years ago, Snow said. Tickets often sell out, and the event has raised $3,000 in total for the Green Decade Coalition. Before EnviroJam, “an environment-based event called Acoustic Night existed, but after that faded I wanted to bring something else back,” Snow said. “I wanted to rebrand the event as a fundraiser for the environment,” Snow said. “I announced the idea to a couple of my students and they agreed to help,” he said, referring to Rachel Gore and Annabel

Raby, both ‘09. Among those helping out are Bard and senior Carissa Chan, the main student organizers for this year’s EnviroJam. Their responsibilities include coordinating ticket sales and publicizing the event. “I got involved with EnviroJam because I’ve performed in it over the past few years,” Bard said. “The people who did it last year were graduating, and I thought it was a real cool idea, so I volunteered to help with it this year.” Bard thinks EnviroJam is a great event because she’s “doing something good for the environment and playing music at the same time.”

Groups to perform ‘Requiem’ PERRIN STEIN Together, the orchestra, Concert Choir and Family Singers will perform Mozart’s “Requiem” Sunday. For the past few years, this piece has been performed because it is “a masterpiece of the classical period,” said Richard Travers, the director the Family Singers. “‘Requiem’ is a relatively famous piece and is under an hour, so it’s well suited for a high school performance such as this. A good high school choir can do a great job on ‘Requiem,’” he said. Travers was going to conduct “Requiem,” but due to an injury to his shoulder, he will be unable to do so. The piece is a Mass for the Deceased, and it is used frequently at funerals. “Requiem” was written at the end of Mozart’s life, but he died before he was able to complete the piece. “It features many beautiful melodies that the choir and soloists sing,” said Travers. There-

fore, the piece gives a number of students in Family Singers a chance to perform solos. One such soloist is senior Nathan Harris, who will be singing the movement “Benedictus.” “‘Requiem’ is one of the monumental pieces in the classical repertoire,” Harris said. According to Harris, the movement he will be singing “sounds very pastoral, and it is peaceful, flowing. Overall, it’s an optimistic movement,” he said. “Requiem” as a whole “has some very intricate parts, and some sections that “are beautifully simple,” he said. The movements are “ very cohesive, and they fit together nicely,” which makes it a good choice for a performance like this, he said. To prepare for this event, both the Family Singers, Concert Choir and orchestra had many rehearsals devoted to “Requiem.” Together, as a final preparation for the performance, they practiced the piece Tuesday evening

March 23 and Friday, March 26. These two combined rehearsals included over 100 students. “It is a nice collaboration that we have done for the past few years,” said Adam Grossman, who directs the Newton North orchestra. The concert will be held in honor of Ray Smith, who taught music in Newton for 35 years and conducted the Family Singers before Travers took the job. After his death, Travers decided to have a concert in Smith’s memory. The tickets, which cost $5, will go to supporting the Ray Smith Scholarship. This scholarship was created by students, faculty and parents after Smith retired 24 years ago. This scholarship is used to provide financial assistance to music students for college. Every year, one member of the Family Singers is awarded this scholarship. “It’s in memory of the wonderful concerts and teaching style of Smith,” Travers said.

Jacob Schwartz

For “Requiem”: Junior Peter Wu rehearses with the orchestra in preparation for this Sunday’s concert.

on campus

6 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Friday, March 26, 2010

Conservator preserves art through science MEREDITH ABRAMS Ingrid Neuman, a sculpture conservator at the Rhode Island School of Design, uses science to study art, she said. Neuman gave a presentation on the “merging and melding of science and art,” Friday, March 19 during E-block in the film lecture hall. “These two often thought as ‘opposite’ subjects are in fact integrated in the professional world

of art conservation as an exciting and potential career path,” Neuman said. She spoke about “scientific instrumentation that can be used in the museum conservation field to determine the provenance of some museum objects.” One example Neuman gave was the use of isotopic analysis to determine which quarry the marble in a sculpture came from. “By using this technique, we

can determine how the sculpture was made and if the fragments ‘belong’ together or if there are fragments from different sculptures which have been ‘married’ together,” she said. Another was the use of X-ray fluorescence to learn more about the specific pigments in Japanese paintings. “This information will help us understand more about which minerals the artist used to paint

the paintings and also to perhaps authenticate the painting as well,” she said. Neuman also told students that saliva can be used to clean marble. “It is the pH of the saliva, the elevated temperature of 98.6 degrees and the enzymes in the saliva which make it a unique and effective cleaning agent,” she said. While she was talking, Neu-

man also presented a slideshow. Prior to the presentation, Neuman ran a workshop for chemistry and art students. In the workshop, all the students were able to “experiment cleaning paintings, preparing Japanese paper hinges with wheat starch paste for prints and cleaning silver with a mild abrasive called calcium carbonate in a slurry of distilled water,” Neuman said.

Filmmakers to shoot Adam Underground at North ELLEN SARKISIAN This school will be a shooting location for a short film over April vacation. The film, called Adam Underground, will be made by professionals and students, said Nick Weiss-Richmond ’03, a writer and director of the film. It takes place over the course

of one day and follows the story of a secret cheating organization in a high school, which must be dismantled before the school newspaper publishes an exposé on it. He spoke about the film and explained how students can get involved in a presentation Wednesday, March 17. Rachel

Cole ’03, co-writer and co-director; Nikhil Melnechuk, the producer; and Lily Wahrman, the associate producer, also spoke. There is a program in which students can “apply to be involved in film production every step of the way,” Wahrman said. There are 10-15 spots available for apprenticeships, Melnechuk

said. Students can also apply to be extras, Weiss-Richmond said. The apprenticeship program is a partnership with the Newton Schools Foundation. “It’s a way of getting as many students involved as possible,” Melnechuk said. Applications for apprenticeship were due yesterday. Audi-

tions were yesterday afternoon. There will be a kickoff event for the project Thursday, April 1 at the New Art Center in Newtonville from 7-10 p.m. with live music and free food provided by Blue Ribbon Barbecue. Students who are interested can email info@workbenchprod uctions.com.

North alumnus shows art from high school to present KATE LEWIS Visiting artist Clara Lieu ’94, an art professor at Rhode Island School of Design and Wellesley College, spoke to Art Major classes Monday, March 4. Lieu, who was an art student herself during her time at Newton North, presented a slideshow depicting her works from high school to the present. She said that although she was not necessarily proud of all the works she showed, the slideshow “shows successes, as well as flaws, accidents and mistakes.” “From a standpoint, these are the most interesting pieces,” she

said. In addition to showing her work, Lieu explained how she went from a high school student interested in art to a professional artist. “High school was a tough time,” she said. “At times, I felt very isolated. Art really helped to expel those demons.” She was later accepted early decision to RISD, where the intensive art curriculum allowed her to explore all areas of art, like sculpture and charcoal drawing, she said. At RISD, Lieu became interested in direct observation and

Clara Lieu ’94 “High school was a tough time. At times, I felt very isolated. Art really helped to expel those demons.” portraiture, and often “begged” her friends to model for her, she said. After graduation, Lieu said she found herself unsure of what she wanted to do. She acquired a few jobs working at schools and also did commissions on the side. Soon, Lieu returned to RISD to get her Master’s degree

in sculpture. Lieu said she also struggled to find a subject for her Master’s thesis, and she spent months trying to find inspiration. “In high school, my art was just like, ‘hey, I’m weird,’ but it wasn’t engaging enough,” she said. “I had to find something more.” She finally decided on an idea: she would pour her frustrations about looking for something and not knowing where to find it into her thesis project. “I wanted to capture that desperation I felt, and I did that by doing many works based

on digging, a gesture everyone understands,” Lieu said. “Soon, I was getting ideas so quickly I couldn’t make art fast enough to keep up.” Lieu created many pieces surrounding the theme of digging, ranging from sculpting to painting to drawing. “As a high school student, I stuck primarily with painting, but in later years I was exposed to many mediums,” she said. “I’m happier working one medium into the next.” For more information, visit Lieu’s website at www.claralieu. com.

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Getting a job is a great way not only to earn some money, but to try out a new situation, take on responsibility and learn professional skills. Volunteering and community service provide similar experiences. Future employers, colleges and other programs consider previous job or volunteer experience a plus when looking at candidates. To see our Job Listings Page, go to www.connection.naviance.com/nnhs and click on the “job listings” link under the “pages” category. For more info, contact Molly Gadenz, Work Study Coordinator, at molly_gadenz@newton.k12.ma.us.

features

Friday, March 26, 2010

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 7

Around the world Group visits school in Beijing, China MIKE HERSCOTT So far my experience in Beijing, China, has been incredible. I have loved every aspect of the exchange program from my host family welcoming me as if I were their own child to traveling around the many beautiful attractions China has to offer. Our group consisting of seven students and two teachers set out towards Chengdu in Sichuan province almost immediately following our arrival to Beijing. We visited many monasteries, predominantly Buddhist or Daoist, and we saw the world famous giant sitting Buddha in Loshan City. Of course, we could not visit Sichuan province without seeing the renowned Giant Pandas. From Chengdu, we proceeded to Guilin to lose ourselves in the incredible mountains that look as if they were spears shot up from the earth. The scenery and agricultural areas in and around Guilin added to my unforgettable experience.

After our vacation, we all returned to our host families for Spring Festival, otherwise known as Chinese New Year, on Saturday, Feb. 13. I was lucky to be in Nanjing with my family, a very big city with a lot of history. I made dumplings with my family and prepared for the festivities that would come at night. After an incredible and extravagant dinner accompanied by a plethora of toasts and cheery faces, we received red envelopes filled with money, then watched a famous TV program that airs on New Year’s Eve showing all of China’s stars. At the stroke of midnight, we lit off our endless supply of fireworks. Afterwards, the aunts, uncles and myself played Mahjong until we were all half asleep at 3:30 in the morning. Then we returned to Beijing to start school. I assumed that school wouldn’t be too different from Newton North, but I soon

courtesy Mike Herscott

In Yangshuo: Senior Mike Herscott stands with a guide on the top of Moon Mountain. found out that that it is extraordinarily different. We wake up early and make sure to not be late. Once we rush into the classroom, we have our morning announcements from the teacher. Shortly thereafter, we are rushed out the door for morning exercises. I expected a few jumping jacks, not military training. We stand in an absolutely perfect grid staring straight forward, all standing in the same position.

We learn how to march in perfect unity and how to make all our actions synchronized. I also find it comical and extremely different how some of the younger students sporting red ascots are enrolled in Communist youth. These kids are signed up to train so they can be the future members of China’s Communist party when they are adults. After a very busy day in Chi-

nese class, we go home. They have massive amounts of homework, and most attend classes on the weekend. They work three times as hard as most Americans and complain much less. Living in China has opened my eyes to the way people live in another part of the world and has rewarded my peers and I with experiences and knowledge that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

Chinese Exchange well worth last four months of senior year EMILY DENN In a rather hasty decision I made my junior year, I decided to not live on the same continent as my 2010 classmates for the last four months of senior year. I am attending the Beijing Jingshan School in Beijing, China. Although I have a few regrets about sacrificing the last four months of my senior year to experience a new culture, I know it is completely worth it. Everything about China is so different from my daily American life, I hardly know where to start describing it. Some days it can be quite overwhelming. People spit wherever they please and traffic laws don’t really exist. I’ve gotten into the habits of watching where I step and crossing the street in large groups of locals. Sometimes people will point and whisper in my direction while I ride the subway and the bus home because I appear so physically different from the other 1.3

courtesy Emily Denn

In Chengdu: Senior Emily Denn stands in a Buddhist temple.

senior Emily Denn “Every day I come across something that I’m not used to, but I know that this exchange was started so people like me can have opportunities to experience these things. ” billion people in this country. Sometimes I would give anything for a western toilet or sip of cold water at school, but I’ve almost become content in knowing those things will not happen. Regardless of the less appealing aspects of my life, it seems as if I am always smiling in this country. Whether it’s because I am pleasantly surprised upon finding bean paste in the middle of my doughnut, because of the lovely weather I experienced while in the southern China, or because I find myself sitting next to Buddhist monks in vegetarian restaurants (drastically different from the belligerently pro-animal

rights hipsters I find myself sitting next to in American vegetarian restaurants), I know there are so many lovely things to come across in this country. Until I am able to have a breath of fresh American air again, I think I’ll try to get used to the air in Beijing. Every day I come across something that I’m not used to, but I know that this exchange was started so people like me can have the opportunities to experience those things. It’s been a month and a half and I still can’t believe that I’m in China. Maybe I’ll begin to believe it over the next two and a half months.

Anna Kaertner

8 ◆ Newtonite, Newton North

Frid

Around the world Students in Spain experience new culture, make new friends, improve language skills SARAH BOLDEN left for Spain with very few expectations. I was told, vaguely, what would happen—what we would see there, what we may do there, but beyond that, I wasn’t entirely sure what would happen. Upon arriving, I was immediately in awe. While visually, Spain looked fairly similar to the United States, differences quickly began popping up, and the new culture proved to be significantly different. In Burgos, the city we stayed in, we went to school essentially every day. We went to classes with our hosts some periods, and others, we stayed in the library doing homework. Classes in Spain were stricter than here at North. The teachers expected the students to listen—if they didn’t, the teachers would continue talking over them. It was the student’s responsibility to pay attention. The curriculum was also much tougher than ours, in many cases, though this easily could have been because of the language barrier. Language courses were structured similarly to what we have here. They were more interactive than the other classes, and they BY

courtesy Michael Kenslea

In Barcelona: Junior Emma Leader and seniors Kendra McCabe, Melissa Forster and Michael Kenslea stand in front of a cathedral. proved to be effective—most Spaniards spoke English better than we spoke Spanish. After school, typically, we would have lunch with our host families at home, then there would be a three or four hour siesta before we would head out, usually a group of

Americans and their hosts. From there, we would shop, head to the center of the city or go to a café. Some days, just the Americans went out as a group to go sightseeing. We took a day trip to Salamanca, where we saw the cathedral

and university. We were able to witness lots of Spanish culture firsthand, too. We were in Burgos for a Spanish holiday, Carnivale—a major event through all of Spain, as well as many other countries in Europe. For them, it essentially was a

cross between Mardi Gras Halloween. We all wore costumes and w out as a group to the cente town. There was a parade t and tons of people. The en objective that night was to ha good time. It was a major ho for the Spanish, and we were to experience it with them, w provided us interesting cult insight. We spent five days away our host families altogether—t nights in Barcelona and two in drid. In both cities, we explore our own, as well as in groups The weather wasn’t ideal, bu got to see sun a few different ti Both cities were gorgeous. T was a lot to see, though we d get to see as much as we’d ho given the time restrictions. I feel like participating in Spanish Exchange was one o best decisions I’ve made. A with making a whole new grou friends, I’ve gotten to experien whole new culture for three w and work on my Spanish skil Upon returning, it is clear the trip was an educational ex ence as much as a social and tural one. The three weeks I s in Spain were easily three o best weeks of my life.

Group tours Italy, looks forward to hosting Italian students in fall ROBYN ESTWICK y experience in Italy was great. I got to see things that most people don’t always get the chance to enjoy. The exchange really gave me an opportunity to get to know the city that we were in and be able to navigate it like it was home. We took the bus alone and walked around the city by ourselves. We were always able to find our way to our meeting place from anywhere. We stayed in Florence and Tuscany. We visited Venice and Rome. We also went to Pisa, Lucca and Siena. In Pisa we saw the Leaning Tower, and in Siena we visited the famous square where horse races take place.

In Vienna we experienced a gondola ride, and since there weren’t any cars, we took a boat bus and climbed many bridges. We went to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps in the Vatican City. We also climbed the church and saw all of Rome from a very high balcony. We learned about significant people from Italy, such as Michelangelo. We visited various museums and churches and learned about the architecture of the buildings. The families were hospitable and went out of their way to make us happy. My family and I were very close and I loved them so much. I feel like I could go to Italy on vacation and call up my family. I am very excited to host my student

in the fall. They took us to their school and we made friends with people who weren’t a part of the program. The school was small and there were only two bathrooms with no toilet paper. The classes stayed together all day—very different from North. At the school, the students were welcoming and curious to learn about America. We met other students who went on this exchange when they went to North and now study in Italy. They told us that their trip was such an amazing experience and made it easier to be in Italy. They were still connected with their families and called them a lot. We did a lot of walking, so my feet always hurt. I wish I could have more of the food. The ingredients were always fresh and there were many vegetables. I got more out of this trip than I would have on a family vacation. I think that it is amazing that Newton North offers this program because it’s a great opportunity and everyone should have the option to do it. It is also great that we have the scholarship program to make sure anyone can go even if they can’t pay. I was really lucky to be selected and I am happy that I was. There isn’t anything that I regret about this trip.

courtesy Maria B

In Florence: Senior Tamar Al-Shwauva, sophomore Ro Estwick and junior Maria Brandi pose in front of the Duomo

Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 9

arch 26, 2010

Close Up class visits Washington, D.C. STEVEN MICHAEL or over a quarter century, this school has sent a delegation of students from the Close Up elective to Washington, D.C., to learn about how the nation’s government operates. For the entire school year in Close Up, we had read articles and taken tests to understand how the U.S. government works. During class, we learned about a variety of issues confronting America, including the poor state of the economy, nuclear proliferation and the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. At the Close Up conference in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Feb. 28 to Friday, March 5, we gained the opportunity to see the government in session firsthand. Our group of 50 sophomores stayed at the Sheraton Crystal City in suburban Washington, along with students from across the country and the territories of Guam and Micronesia. Pairs of students from North roomed with pairs of students from another school in order to meet new people. In a series of seminars, we learned from Close Up program instructors about how to be more active citizens. Students can be politically active by writing to a Congressman, writing an editorial for a student newspaper, staying informed about current events or volunteering for a political campaign. At the beginning of the week, the majority of students were at the inactive side of the spectrum. By the end of the seminars, students moved farther towards the politically active side of the spectrum. The conference took full advantage of our backdrop as we made the complete Washington BY

Ben Hills

Capitol Hill: Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown shakes hands with sophomore Gabe Dreyer.

grand tour. We visited the Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt presidential memorials, as well as the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Korea, Vietnam and World War II war memorials. Contrary to traditional classroom teaching, where the subject matter may feel distant and the significance can be hard to grasp, on-site learning makes the content seem more relevant. For example, at the World War II Memorial, we discussed the sacrifices endured by American civilians. Our trip to Washington culminated with Capitol Hill Day, in which we roamed the Capitol, home of the Senate and the House of Representatives. We met with recently elected Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and Rep. Barney Frank, who represents this school’s congressional district. The politicians answered questions we prepared, ranging from health care reform and the Cape Wind alternative energy project on Nantucket Sound. Meeting our representatives in Washington, we discovered just how accessible they actually are. The Capitol and the surrounding office building are open to the public at large. Although it may seem difficult to secure an appointment with a representative or senator, they are often willing to meet with students. Because politicians are elected to serve the people they represent, meeting with constituents is a responsibility that congressmen do not take lightly. After traveling to Washington, we returned with a greater understanding of how our nation’s democracy works.

Students make adjustments to French traditions and culture EMMETT GREENBERG f course, I saw plenty of interesting sights in Paris, some more tourist-friendly than others. The city is an endless piece of art too big to digest in one trip and packed with history, from the masterpieces of Claude Monet at the Musée d’Orsay, to the golden palace of Versailles just outside of Paris. What I will remember most about this experience, however, are the struggles and successes that I experienced while living with my host family. The experience of coming into a strange family with foreign habits is what separates the French Exchange from any common vacation at a hotel in Paris. I was very excited to get to know my exchange student and his family when I first arrived, but soon I had to face several challenges. My first major adjustment was adapting to the later and more lenient Parisian schedules, especially during the vacation weeks. Dinner was served late, usually not before 8:30. I was not prepared for this at first, so I became impatient. Instead, I learned, Parisians eat a traditional afternoon snack called le goûter. So I learned to satisfy myself with this snack rather than wait until dinner. During the vacation weeks, my family and I went to bed and woke up far later than I’m used to. BY

At first, this made me anxious, but it soon became routine for me to go to bed every night at midnight or later. I usually woke up slightly before my hosts and waited for them so we could eat our breakfast or brunch together. Eating meals as a family is an invaluable part of the Parisian culture, as well as staying at the table until everyone has finished. Newtonian I found this out Emmett when, one time, Greenberg I got up after finishing breakfast to brush my teeth while others were still eating, and was called back to the table. Sitting together made the meal more pleasurable. My exchange student, Samuel,

gave me some helpful advice on “being cool, French style.” He taught me some teen expressions that he and his friends use and helped me pick out stylish clothing from a department store. I bonded well with Samuel. We joked with each other and talked about movies and music. We also shared the cultural similarities and differences between Paris and Newton. I got along well with his parents and his younger brother and shared my experiences with them. My host family understood my hardship and helped me get through it. I was lucky to stay with such a great family, and I am looking forward to hosting Samuel when he comes here in April. Adapting to a new family was a challenge, but it was very rewarding in the end. This experience is what makes the French Exchange a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

courtesy Alex Feinberg

At the Louvre: Sophomore Abby Dalzell and senior Eliana Eskinazi pose in the famed French museum.

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