It’s a new year with a lot of new teachers!
Thinking about joining a club? See page 3
See page 7-8
Summit High School
125 Kent Place Blvd. Summit, NJ 07901
New adviser arrives By ALEX ARIAS Editor-in-Chief
Students acclimate to curtailed drop-offs By MEREDITH ROBERTSON Buzz Editor
the chain of students attending schools in the Northeast area. There are so many schools out there with great opportunities that I want us to branch out,” said Grill. Grill is not only here to help out the seniors, but also here to help out underclassmen as well. “I want to develop a curriculum for every grade so that students start taking classes that will interest them as potential majors,” comments Grill According to the Summit District Schools, website, Grill graduated Summa Cum Laude from Drew University. She later went on to earn her Master’s of Arts in Counselor Education from Kean University. She received a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA in 2012. For the past four years, Grill worked at Morristown High School as a counselor. She also spent several years as an Independent College Counselor at Admit U Consulting in West Orange, NJ.
At the beginning of the school year, a new policy was enforced which prohibits anyone from entering the building unannounced, and more specifically prevents parents from dropping off anything for their child during the day. It is confirmed that almost 400 people visit the school on a daily basis, and to reduce security risks, that number must be reduced significantly. Superintendent of Summit Schools, Dr. Nathan Park-
“Every time the front door opens, it creates a risk”
Photo by Alex Arias
There has been a new addition in the guidance office this year. Ms. Allison Grill has been hired as a College Specialist, to help out with the complete college process. The newly created position has been funded through a grant from the Summit Education Foundation. There are a lot of aspects to her new role. “In school my jobs are to review college lists, help students on how to apply, and enhance a student’s resume so that they are marking their strengths,” Grill said. “One of my goals is to increase acceptance in the nation’s high-end schools,” she continued. Along with in-school sessions with students, Grill will also be traveling to colleges across the country. I’m going to be traveling and meeting with college representatives to promote Summit High School. I want to break
College is her specialty! Ms. Allison Grill will be here all year, helping seniors with the college applica-
Volume XIV Issue 1
er, clarified that this policy has never been officially labeled“Zero-Tolerance,” however, and he is sorry to hear that a rumor has spread. “Basically all we ask is for parents to give us a heads up when they come to school,” explains Parker. “Every time the front door opens, it creates a risk, and if we can reduce that risk it will be a much safer
Photo by Meredith Robertson
October 2013
Sadness strikes. Senior James Farley, upset that the drop-off privilege has been taken away.
place.” The policy also states that students are required to bring in a note the day before they plan on getting picked up from school early, or have their parents call into the main office. Drop-offs of items are prohibited, but Principal Paul Sears explained that if it’s an emergency, a parent only has to call in ahead of time. “We have people piggy backing to get inside the school,” he elaborated. “One person will have the door opened for them, and then another will walk in after them.” To increase the safety of the students, this new policy will be enforced in years going forward.
Parker also made a point saying, “It could really teach the kids something in the end. Responsibility, strategizing, remembering all the things you need. In a way it’s helping to make them more mature.” To many, frequent drop-offs have become a way of life, making this new transition especially hard. Junior Emily Chin stated, “I really can’t imagine life without the comfort of the drop-off. There have been so many times where I’ve been able to grab my sneakers, gym clothes, and even homework from the front office. This new policy may make things a little tricky, but I’m sure well all get the hang of it,” she said.
tion process.
With grant, iPads play new role in LCSMJ classrooms By EMILY GAO Reporter
As technology evolves and changes, teaching methods in the classroom tend to follow those trends. The Summit Education Foundation decided, during its spring grant cycle, that sixth grade is a fit time to provide iPads for the students as they begin the secondary part of their education. A grant of $139,000 was provided to fund distribution of these powerful educational resources, according to Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School Principal, Matthew Block. The students will be able to keep the iPads throughout their middle school career and use these tools as a new way to assist them in their studies. Block stated, “I am hoping that this will have a major impact on teaching. iPads provide opportunities for input and output that have not consistently been available to teachers at the middle school
before. The iPad will open the doors to resources that teachers can use in their planning and instruction.” Students will be receiving the iPads in January, though middle school teachers received them during the week of Sept.
“It’s good that they’re getting technologically advanced, but on the other hand, it can be more distracting than beneficial” -Heather Wang
9, in order to incorporate the use of this new technology into their lessons. However, there be no required applications that students will need to download; they will be encouraged to use the iPad and download applications that will help them individually. Technology Supervisor Dory Marcus explained, “This is about having another tool to use in the classroom.” Supervisor of Technology Douglas Orr said that the technology department expects “that students and teachers will be able to access resources to meet their individual needs. “We also expect that learning will become increasingly more collaborative because of the powerful social elements that the devices provide.” Concerns arose with the idea of handing the young middle school students such technology.” The iPad distribution is also interesting news for the upper
grades. “It’s good that they’re getting technologically advanced, but on the other hand, it can be more distracting than beneficial,” sophomore Heather Wang said. Students will be reminded that the iPads are school property, according to Marcus. In addition, in order to prevent possible technological issues, the network infrastructure of the district was upgraded to support a large number of wireless devices before the project was launched. “It’s really unfair. I want an iPad,” eighth grader Katie Buchan said. Though current seventh and eighth graders will not be receiving these new tools, the hope is that the budget will allow the middle school to provide every future student an iPad as they ascend into sixth grade, Orr explained.
Inside this issue of Verve!
Globe 2 Buzz 3 Screen 4 Opine 5 Sports 6 New Staff 7-8
Globe
Verve 2
October 2013
Project Bright launches rooftop solar repair project
Photography teacher displays art at Mondo By JAMIE MACPHERSON Sports Editor
Shining Bright: Pictured are the broken panels currently atop the school. Photo taken last spring when assessing damage and consulting for repairs.
panels installed and functioning in the future. Project Bright, the name of the new group, will focus on raising awareness for the cause. When asked if he believed a solar club would be beneficial to the school, Sears responded, “Absolutely. Solar is a key energy source, and the more people that understand it, the better. I think that firsthand, actual understanding, is a great basic skill for people to have.” Other benefits include its money-saving potential, a big reduction in the school’s energy footprint, and it being an excellent model of an efficient alternative energy source
for the community to study. Sears also mentioned that, “schools are uniquely suited for solar because of their flat roofs and open spaces.” Once the standing panels are repaired and the efficiency can be monitored, the Project Bright team will be looking to generate as much student involvement as possible. If the maximum space of the school’s roof is covered in panels, it has the potential to generate a third of the school’s energy. The team encourages students to stay updated through the Project Bright Facebook page, and are investigating the possibility of securing official club status. Listen to announcements for future meetings.
Threat of October storm looms over town
By DAVID MEYERS Globe Editor
October has traditionally been known for Halloween, and the month’s end is highly anticipated by kids who dress up in their favorite costume and trawl the streets for candy. However, over the past two years, a chainsaw or a snow plow would have been essential to clearing a pathway for candy acquisition. October has emerged as a month known for a new kind of scare: natural disasters. The snowstorm of 2011 and the hurricane of 2012 have become a part of local weather lore, forcing many people to ask: what’s the deal going to be this year? The weather is tricky to predict and no one knows for sure what will happen at the end of October. However there are arguments to be made for and against the possibility of
Summit High School 125 Kent Place Blvd. Summit, NJ 07901
another storm. An April 2013 article from the “New York Daily News,” by weather experts Lee Moran and Stephen Rex Brown predicted “one heck of a hurricane season” this fall, and added, “The odds of the U.S. being clobbered by a major storm system are about 70% greater than last year.” Since the US has yet to be hit by a major storm, odds are greater that a storm will come in the last month of hurricane season: October. Environmental sciences teacher Caitlyn Botti was in agreement that another storm is a strong possibility, saying, “A storm seems likely this year. Not just because of the developing weather pattern from the past two storms, but also because of the weather prediction in the ‘Farmers’ Almanac’.” So what does the “Farmers’ Almanac” predict for this
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Alex Arias & Gwen Rogers MANAGING EDITORS Principal: Mr. Paul Sears Tom DiSibio & Stephanie Ollom Assistant Principals: FRONT PAGE Mr. Tony Akey Editor: Alex Arias Mrs. Stacy Grimaldi GLOBE Adviser: Mrs. Anne Weisgerber Editor: David Meyers English Supervisor: Mr. Corey Walsh
Mr. Don Standing, teacher of photography, created an art exhibit to be displayed through Oct. 20 at Mondo. Known as “Full Circle,” the exhibition consists of drawings and paintings. Because of Standing’s status as a high school photo teacher, most people were unaware of his artistic talents in drawing, painting, and collage. Describing his interest in painting, he said, “After being a teacher for many years I decided to try and return to other forms of art. My career had been based completely on photography and--as an artist--that wasn’t enough anymore.” He learned to draw and paint in art school while taking classes in photography; which helped him gain a wide variety of skills. The symbol most commonly used in his art is the circle. Standing chose to use the circle as “his” sym-
bol because he sees it as universal. For Standing it represents his “love for punk rock” and his eventual return to his hometown and high school, as a teacher and parent. So far, student response towards the exhibit has been great. Those who have seen it, are positive about it. Senior Nick Testa stated, “After having him as a photography teacher, I found it very surprising that he held talents in other fields of art. The gallery looks well put together and the outcome seems to reward the amount of time he must have put into the pictures he created.” With just a few weeks until the gallery closes, attendence is a must for all of Summit’s art fans. Even if only curious, students the incredible work of Standing is sure to impress anyone who visits the exhibit. The exhibit will remain open through October 27th.
year? Notorious for its successful weather predictions, it states that the 2013/2014 winter is going to be a very snowy one. However, the FA has predicted that, while a great deal of rain is expected this October, a hurricane does not seem to be in the mix. So with all the confusion regarding the weather, it seems the only thing anyone can do is pray that there is a break in the weather pattern and avoid another October disaster. When describing his experiences with Summit’s recent weather fiascos, senior Eric Guarino stated, “I hope that we don’t have another storm. It’s nice to be out of school, but losing power is really tough to deal with and I’d rather just be in school around the end of October.” Without weather delays, the school year will end on June 19 for students; with delays, it Creation! Standing’s exhibition, Full Circle, on display in the artcould be as late as June 25. space@Mondo, 426 Springfield Ave, Summit, through Oct. 27.
BUZZ Editors: Megan Shaw & Meredith Robertson SCREEN AND SOUND Editor: Carly Leiter OPINE Editor: Ellie Schaeffer NEW TEACHERS/ page 7 Editor: Laura Pasquale
NEW TEACHERS/ page 8 Editor: Dan Montgomery TURF Editors: Niko Nyktas & James Macpherson ART DIRECTOR Nic Lalicato CIRCULATION MANAGER Jackson Sidebottom
STAFF REPORTERS Cam Fuoti Emily Gao Ethan Mandelbaum Bobby Moriarty Anna Tselevich Ashley White Nate Bowyer Anika Becker
Photos by Jamie Macpherson
In the 2010-2011 school year, five solar panels were donated to the school by solar company Sunlight Photonics. Over the course of time, however, a problem with the panel’s connection into the building’s electrical system came to light, in addition to normal wear and tear. For the past year, junior Zach Rissman has been working with Principal Paul Sears to find a way to get the panels up and running once more. They reveal progress, in that local company Nautilus Solar will begin repair on the damage and will try to figure out a way to coordinate the panels with the current electrical system. Rissman, along with junior Mitchell Booth and senior Claire Harrison, is going to be working and keeping track of progress, and then attempt to get even more
Photo by Paul Sears
By ANNA TSELEVICH Reporter
Buzz
October 2013
Blind Date: Putt-Putt swings into new romance
Variety of clubs offer something for everyone
By NIC LALICATO
By ETHAN MANDELBAUM Reporter
Black lights! Monster Mini-golf in Union was the scene of this month’s blind date.
While the black lights of Monster Mini Golf made it hard to see, conversation was still sparkling. Everyone was having a great time, even Nate who got a little too mad about Maria taking a do-over putt. When asked about how he was feeling Ethan said, “This is the second most fun Thursday night I have ever had.” Unfortunately for everyone, at around the 13th whole the game became total mayhem as the three tried to hit the ball over the objects, play hockey with their clubs, and ended up needing to yell “fore” more than once. As the round wrapped up the clubs were returned and everyone headed back to the car. It seemed as though the first blind date of the 2013-2014 school year was successful. Was a new friendship beginning or was love in the air? It seems only time will tell.
http://www.vitachocolates.com
Vita Organics: A Healthy Twist on Chocolate
Delicious! Vita Organics display their tasty chocolate bars. Sold at their store located at 320 Springfield Ave!
By editor-in-chief GWEN ROGERS with Reporter NATE BOWYER Vita Organics, a new business in downtown Summit stands by its mission to,“Live and Eat Simple, Clean, and Whole.” Summit resident and Certified Holistic Health Counselor Jen Meister opened Vita Organic Foods, which has a large selection of healthy chocolates and snacks. Vita Organics was opened in December of 2012, with the mission in mind to “educate and empower the community through food and nutrition,” Meister said. “So we started with chocolate. Raw, organic chocolate. Why? Because everyone loves chocolate. Keeping chocolate’s essential properties in, (whereas candy takes the essential properties out) we kept our chocolate simple, clean, whole and healthy,” Meister and cofounder Adele DiBiase said. “We welcome all students from our community to come try our nutritious array of food, snacks, and our very own Vita Organic Dark Chocolate,” Meister added.
“The Healthy Athletic Bars or the Vita Organic Dark Chocolate are each a great alternative to processed chocolate,” Meister explained, adding that these snacks are great healthy alternatives for high school students. There are various chocolate bars sold, each of which have different flavors and added nutrients. Some of the popular bars include: Cacao with Antioxidants, Coconut with Metabolism Boost, and Peanut Butter loaded with protein. Vita Organics’ products are a healthy alternative to unhealthy snack foods. All the other foods the store carries are from small companies like Vita Organics’ and cannot be found in most supermarkets. This chocolate has also been given out at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards to celebrities, and is sold online and in their store. Located on Springfield Ave in downtown Summit, Vita Organics is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
STEP TEAM: Over the years step dancing has changed from very traditional to more modern styles. However, step is actually over 150 years old. The Step Team is an integral part of the high school’s creative community. With students involved from all grades, the SHS Step Team members formed a fun community of people with a passion for dance and music. Adviser Asha Bailey joined this summer, and so far says she loves it. “I enjoy the culture and the creativity. I honestly joined Step because it’s fun and I love music,” Bailey said. She and Ms. Stephanie Baptiste are the current advisers for this club. The Step Team is looking forward to performing a routine in the gynamisum later this school year. Additionally, the team will compete at Six Flags this April. Last year, the team placed, and Bailey said the team is hoping to continue their previous year’s success. During the 2014-2015 school year the Step Team plans to go to Disney World to perform. The tournament draws teams from all over the country to compte, so they are excited to experience an even bigger competition. There are currently 13 members on the team, and they say they are always open for any new recruits who enjoy dance as much as they do. KEY CLUB: Key Club members are a community of students who enjoy volunteering through various projects that benefit the community. For more than ten years, the Key Club has been a part of the school, with Ms. Amelia Petrocelli and Ms. Danielle Dombrowski as the current advisers. The Key Club meets about twice a month, every other Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., in the auditorium or library. Anyone can attend the meetings, even if not yet a member. Math teacher Petrocelli is entering her sixth year as an adviser to the Key Club. She says that many of the ideas for service actually come from the student leaders themeselves. “Very little of what comes out is what I put in; very little of what we do
is what I bring, much is what the kids bring,” Petrocelli said. The Key Club participated in Nickelodeon’s Day of Play on Sept. 21. Also, Key Club members are contiuing to tutor Brayton students after school this year as well as many other service projects. They are really excited for their upcoming events, including Toys For Tots during the holidays, the spring blood drive, and Little Black Dress event in January. FRISBEE CLUB: “It’s like the hidden gem of this school,” Don Standing, the fifth year advisor of the Ultimate Frisbee Club said. Believe it or not, the Frisbee club has has a sporadic existence since Mr. Standing was a student in the 70s. Reminiscing about his high school days, Standing said, “Back then, we were called SNUFF, which stands for the Summit Notorious Ultimate Frisbee Freaks.” At that time, SNUFF took on other towns in games and even participated in weekend tournaments. However, now, the Ultimate Frisbee Club is much more relaxed. Anyone can join, even without past frisbee experience. Throughout the spring and fall, as well as the summer, the Frisbee Club meets two to three times a month. This summer, they met almost every Friday. However, the club has no formal meeting schedule. Senior Michael Le, a Frisbee veteran, explains that the club has left a positive imprint on his high school experience. “I have been a part of the Frisbee Club for a little more than two years. The meetings are always different, in respect to time and space. We just post on Facebook in the SHS Ultimate Frisbee Group and head somewhere to hang around and play a game, usually at Memorial Field at 1 p.m. on Sundays. Anyone can do it, no frisbee experience required. We usually play casually so I would advise anyone to join...especially if you do have frisbee experience!” Le said.
taken by Meredith Robertson
Photo by C.A. Brockman
Reporter
With a new year, new relationships start to bloom around here. At 6 p.m. on a rainy Thursday night, Verve staff reporter sophomore Ethan Mandelbaum was chauffeured to a date at Monster Mini Golf in Union with senior Maria diMayorca. The two had never met before, but were more than ready to converse and sink some putts while they were at it. Because of his love for golf, fellow Verve reporter Nate Bowyer, came along for the ride. “I brought my own club,” Bowyer exclaimed “I don’t trust those makeshift excuses for a putter!” When the group arrived at the destination it was apparent that this was no friendly game of mini golf. Could the two blind-daters ruin their first date over one round of 18-hole putt putt? Fortunately for the two, Ethan’s mini golf skills were “sub par” so the mood simmered down a bit and competition was not too heated.
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Frisbee! Don Standing poses with the Ultimate Frisbee tee-shirt for their annual fall tournament for the cure!
Screen & Sound
October 2013
It is fall, and along with the start of school, television shows that fans have been anxiously awaiting since springtime are premiering. No longer will students have to watch reruns or obsess over Netflix, because shows like “American Horror Story”, “Breaking Bad”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, and “New Girl” are all back with new season runs. Premiering on Oct. 9, “American Horror Story” has fans hyped, such as junior Maddie Simko. “I’m so excited for the new season of AHS because the producers never fail in making
a creepy and scary yet totally addictive and dramatic season,” Simko said. “American Horror Story” is definitely a terrifying and disturbing show. According to the show’s official website at Fox, the third season will take place in New Orleans and tell the story of a group of witches while flashing back and forward between the present and the 1830s. These women are members of a coven, or group of witches that gathers together often, who escaped from persecution at the Salem Witch Trials. It has the potential to be the scariest season yet.
High School Who-sical
Who can forget their alltime favorite childhood movie? Whether it’s memories of dancing in front of the TV screen with beloved heart throbs or singing along to the soundtrack with a hairbrush microphone, every teen can reflect on their generational TV sensations with a smile. “I can honestly say I still know every lyric to every song from High School Musical. No shame,” admitted junior Emma Flannery regarding the 2008 hit Disney movie, High School Musical. HSM, starring then-unknown actors such as Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale, made waves as the most popular movie of the year in ’08. But since then, it appears that another teen movie musical has made its mark. “Teen Beach Movie” starring Disney channel stars Ross Lynch and Maia Mitchell premiered July 10 this past summer, and is eerily similar to its predecessors. “The New York Times” critiqued, “The film, featuring a song-and-dance face-off between a biker
gang and a group of cleancut surfers, closely channels its’ elder relative, High School Musical.” So what? The 8 and 9-yearolds of 2013 simply never knew of HSM? “It’s so sad that the future generations of girls will never experience HSM. Teen Beach Movie…well…movies have just really degraded,” sighed sophomore Sam Hanley. Traveling through time, it seems this is not the only time a generation has felt the pain of their classics being left in the dust. “My mom said the most popular movie when she was younger was Saint Elmo’s Fire, whatever that is,” explained junior Jenny Martino. While the twinge of maturity may hit some upon realizing their youthful movies have expired, senior Dyami Jasandwala found a silver lining, “It’s their loss: more Zac Efron for me!”
Image from www.irononsticker.com
By ELLIE SCHAFFER Opinion Editor
The HSM crew from the third and final movie.
Comedy fans should check out “New Girl”, which premiered on Sept. 17, and runs Tuesday at 9:00 pm. Fans like junior Sarabeth Arnold rave about the show. “I think Zooey Deschanel is a cute and funny actress, so the show is just something light and fun to watch at night after I finish my homework. I’m excited because I love all the characters and it’s just a well written show that always makes me laugh,” Sarabeth said. The hype is rising as live television comes back on, opposed to old reruns. “I’m tired of the boring reruns because people like to watch
live Television more” Junior, Peter McKinley said, adding that he’s especially excited for “Parks and Recreation,” “The League,” and the continuation of “Breaking Bad.” Finally, students just couldn’t wait for season 10 of “Grey’s Anatomy” which just returned on Sept. 26. “I’ve watched all nine seasons
so far, and I think season 10 has potential to be the best one yet. I’m definitely excited to see how all the plot lines from season 9 pick up, because there were a lot of cliff hangers” Grace Totman said. From thrillers to science dramas to comedies, back-toschool coincides with a wide range of entertainment.
By JACKSON SIDEBOTTOM Reporter With the movie year of 2014 just a couple of months away it’s time to take a look ahead at what cinema has to offer and skip over straight to the year 2015. Yes, 2015. With a couple dozen films already slated for certain release dates, 2015 is becoming one of the most anticipated movie seasons of all time. Due to the incredible amount of blockbuster sequels, reboots, adaptations, and spinoffs “2015 is poised to become one of the most epic years in cinematic history” according to Justine Browning, film and culture reporter whose work has appeared in “USA Today”, “Indie Wire” and “The Huffington Post.” The list of films to be released include: “SpongeBob SquarePants 2”, “The Fantastic Four”, “Cinderella”, “Ted 2”, “Marvel’s the Avengers: Age
of Ultron”, “Assassin’s Creed”, “Jurassic World”, “Terminator”, “Batman/Superman”, “Smurfs 3”, “Bond 24”, “Peanuts”, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part II”, “Finding Dory”, “Kung Fu Panda 3”, and “Star Wars VII.” With the current group it looks like super heroes and scifi are set to rule the year with a couple of sequels and animated features thrown into the mix. Although it’s over a year away, the promise of such films is exciting. Junior Luke Helper said, “I can’t wait for all the super hero movies and “Smurfs 3!” The movies sound like they’re going to be great. And I can’t believe
that there’s going to be more “Finding Nemo” and “Kung Fu Panda”. It’s too bad 2015 is so far away,” Helper said. In addition to fan anticipation, the season of 2015 is set to make a slaying at the box office. “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, “Star Wars VII”, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part II”, “Jurassic World”, and “Finding Dory” are all sequels to 20 of the highest grossing films of all time in the U.S. box office, according to boxofficemojo.com. In fact the only thing negative about the 2015 movie season is the fact that it doesn’t occur sooner.
iPhone 5s to come out because of all the different colors it comes in and the new finger-
home key, making it nearly impossible for your friends to hack your phone (or lock the screen for an absurd amount of time after trying to figure out the four-digit passcode.)
Movies of 2015
Grey’s Anatomy Season 10 premiered on Sept. 26 amid rising hype, owing to its cliff-hanging season 9 finale.
Image from pixar.wikia.com
By MEGAN SHAW Buzz Editor
Photo provided by www.christiantoday.com
It’s September: Goodbye Netflix, hello fall TV hype
Apple strikes again By BOBBY MORIARTY Reporter
It’s hard to believe only six years have passed since Apple released its original iPhone. Despite the frequency with which Apple comes out with new versions of the hit product, people still seem to be filled with excitement to find out what the next new piece of technology Apple will hold. Senior Mike Facchinei has bought into the hype of the 5s saying, “I’m excited for the
...only six years have passed since Apple released its original iPhone.
print technology sounds really cool.” That’s right, the latest iPhone boasts an all-new Touch-ID
vr-zone.com
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Opine
October 2013
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By ANIKA BECKER Reporter
Every teacher, parent, sibling, and fellow student has heard the warnings of the infamously stressful junior year. Now that the class of 2015 has reached this pinnacle of panic, current juniors are beginning to feel those junior year jitters. The class of 2015 has quite a lot to look forward to, but with that comes a lot to be nervous about. One student, junior Jenny Martino said “The hype of this year is already stressing me out!” Junior James Demakos said that he is really excited for this year and that “So far this year has been treating me well.” Senior, Julia McNally advised the grade below her to “get an early start on your college preparations.” Junior, Peter McKinley is one student who is seeing the
light at the end of the tunnel, and cannot wait to get there. McKinlay said “I am very excited about this year and am looking forward to going to college.” Students’ source of stress typically stems from SATs and
“Get an early start on your college preparations.”
--Julia McNally ‘14
ACTs. Year after year, more and more kids are applying to school, and colleges are not increasing their incoming classes at the same rate. The competition is so great that many students may feel the
From the editors Yay we are finally seniors, can we get a “woot woot?” After the thrilling feeling of parking in your own spot in the Senior Lot wears off, you think to yourself “alright, let’s graduate already!” Then it sets in that we have 180 days of school. While juniors battle with the SAT and ACT tests, seniors can finally be done. Another benefit to being a senior: unassigned. No more racing to study hall to get the one spot to the library. It’s an awesome feeling to just sign in and be able to do what we
want. Yet it’s kind of sad that we can’t have the pep rally anymore due to the increase in class size. Sorry freshmen, we guess you won’t get the whole high school experience. We also can’t have Homecoming, due to some problems caused in the past years, so we’ll apologize to the sophomores who weren’t allowed to go last year. But don’t despair everyone, we have confidence that President Max Graeb has plans for us to enjoy this fall.
need to step it up. One question that has become quite controversial over the past thirty years for students aiming to attend college is which entrance exam to take: the SAT or the ACT. Among the 1.6 million students across the country taking the SATs and the 1.7 million taking the ACTs this year, which test ensures better results? The answer is different for everyone and many will take both. To guarantee success on these exams, take McNally’s advice and start preparing now! Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, Eric J. Furda, told the “New York Times” that “I think the dramatic increase over the last five years in the number of ACT scores we receive
Verve letters and publication policy Verve is a publication open to opinions of its readers. Please submit all letters to shsverve@fc.summit.k12. nj.us Letters must be signed, and will be subject to editing for space, grammar, and factual accuracy; however, all efforts will be made to preserve the writer’s intent. Libelous and inappropriate writing will not be published in Verve. If Verve has made an error and a correction is warranted, the editors take reader feedback seriously and will promptly deal with concerns. Reader corrections welcome at shsverve@ fc.summit.k12.nj.us
Standardized tests! They love you, they love you not, they love you, they love you not...
comes in conjunction with the increased selectivity.” This harkens back to the idea of higher education becoming more and more selective, and students across the country going above and beyond to stand out in an admissions office. Dean of Admissions at Harvard University, William R. Fitzsimmons, added to Furda’s comment in the “New York
Artwork via ragemaker.net
Jump starting junior year by test decision
Times” that “… it doesn’t concern us at all whether students send the SAT, ACT, or both.” So, Juniors, keep your head up and remember how many other students are in the same boat. Be prepared, enjoy the journey and remember... to breathe.
Freshman congestion By CARLY LEITER Entertainment Editor Each year, the halls seem to become more and more congested. Swarming freshman students crowd the corridors, making it problematical to arrive to class in the diminutive specified four minutes offered in between subjects. Within the past three years, the class size has increased by almost one hundred students. “The school feels so much more crowded this year, I have no idea what Summit is going to do over the next few years when even more kids come” senior Olivia De Santis said. The current senior class
has 267 students, the juniors have 272, there are 314 sophomores and the new freshman class has 344 students. Each class amount has gradually increased over the past three years and there is still more to come. The current eighth grade class has 340 students and the seventh grade class contains 343 kids. By the 2015 school year, the school size will have increased over a two-year period by 144 students. With the continuous growing population, the administration will soon begin to have difficulty allotting rooms and teachers to instruct the overflowing amounts of students.
Verve Views: Senior Hot Spots By TOMMY DiSIBIO Managing Editor
As a senior, where will you go out to lunch this year and what’s your go-to order?
Brianna Boze orders a classic cheeseburger and fries at Smashburger
Conor Ferriso orders the Italian Stallion sandwich from Marie’s
Dyami Jasdanwala’s favorite is a Cowboy burger from Food
Kerri Hannigan goes to Hoboken Farms to get a Caprese sandwich
Nick Lioudis is all about the Urban Cowboy sandwich from Millburn Deli
Turf
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Sail! Summit competes in the Raritan Regata last season. By NIKO NYKTAS Sports Editor
The Sailing team is arguably the fastest-growing sports team in the school right now, and considering how new of a team they are, it doesn’t look as though things will settle down. Less than four years ago, Summit Sailing was just a club, founded by now seniors Jake Groskoph, Will Elia, Amy MacDonald, Tyler McDonald, and Will Berkery. Its popularity soared immediately after people started to realize that there was a club for it, eventually leading to its upgrade to a school team. Now, the sailing team has a full roster coupled with a waitlist exceeding 30 people who are all waiting for spots to open up in the spring season. Co-captain Alex Guior said “Yeah it’s crazy, I didn’t really expect the team to get this large by the time I became a senior. I can’t wait until the spring, when I can sail more often.” The fall season has been quiet for now and has been about building experience for the new sailors in preparation for the spring, when most of the races will take place. In spite of the lack of races, the team is looking in great shape, with many members of the varsity squad being returning seniors. It also doesn’t hurt that a large chunk of kids on the waitlist are freshman, some of which could potentially become long time members. “I think we are going to be really good this year,” co captain Amy MacDonald exclaimed. “We have a lot more people on the team and a lot of good racers.”
New athletic director chosen from large field of candidates
By CAM FUOTI Reporter
The athletic department gained a valuable member over the summer: its new athletic director. Mr. Robert Lockhart most recently worked at Warren Hills in Washington, NJ. In SHS he replaces Mike Sandor who is now head of the Physical Education and Health Department. “I saw the opening for what I feel is the best school in the state, and I jumped at it,” responded Lockhart. Lockhart was one of ninety-one people to apply for the job, then made the cut to a final five where Board of Education member Mr. Rick Hanley and others picked him to fill the need. When asked about why Lockhart was the right fit for the new Athletic Director, Hanley replied “The level of experience not only in athletics but in student activities and his breadth and depth of understanding a wide range of issues and understanding the Summit culture and philosophy” When asked about his feeling toward his new job, “Excitement” was the first word out of Lockhart’s mouth. He has participated in multiple coaching jobs at Warren Hills, ranging from the head coach of the girls’ basketball team to coaching the baseball team. Also, starting in 2011, he was
Photo by Cam Fuoti
Photo from: http://summitsailing.weebly.com
Sailing team tacks into new season
October 2013
Change: New AD Robert Lockhart plans to help bolster Summit’s already impressive athletic programs, with an eye on academics, keeping scholarship the top priority for scholar athletes.
Warren Hills’ athletic director. However, he feels like Summit is the best chance he has to succeed and excel as a mentor. “I’d like to know the athletes,” states Lockhart, “I’ll be putting in the hours, and you’ll be seeing me around.” Lockhart will be concerned for his student athletes on the field, and off the field too. “Biggest thing is to empha-
Strong start noted for Girls’ tennis season By ALICE KIM Reporter
This year, the girls’ Varsity and JV tennis teams are excited for a wonderful season. There are eight girls on Varsity while JV has fifteen. The team has grown since last year, when there were only nine Varsity and four on JV. Last year, five out of the nine varsity players were seniors, but eventually many of the JV members took over the missing spots. The captain, senior Kristen Miller added, “This year we are hoping to rank at least as high up if not higher.” Varsity already won its first match against Scotch PlainsFanwood (SPF) 5 - 0, with everyone winning straight sets. They competed in the county
tournament on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20. Also, there is a match every Tuesday and Thursday, come and cheer for each players. The head coach, Mr. Vincent Turturiello and the JV coach, Mr. Peter Tierney can’t wait to show the girls’ strong effort and Summit spirit to other towns. As Tierney said, “These young teens are getting better every day!” Even JV players are ready to improve and work harder to pull a lot of wins. They won their first match from a score 3-2 against SPF. Sophmore Juliana Rustum stated, “I’m looking forward to a great season and to improve.” The team’s next home match is against Randolph, at 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 4 at War Memorial Field.
size is work ethic. I think it’s two-fold. One is in the classroom. One thing that cannot be tolerated is the lack of academics. We have an old saying, us coaches, if you’re lazy in the classroom you’re lazy on the field,” Lockhart said. Lockhart knows how to succeed as the new athletic director and be a mentor to all the coaches and students. He’s
confident about his skill and knowing that he is a “part of something that (he) feels is the best in the state.” Principal Paul Sears supports Lockhart’s philosophy, and said, “Students are students first and athletes second. The whole committee was impressed with (Lockhart’s) thoughtfulness, and his very calm demeanor.”
Girl’s soccer squad finds success fielding freshmen
By ASHLEY WHITE Reporter
Freshmen are not only being noticed in the hallways, but also on the fields. With freshmen customarily designated to freshmen teams, it is rare for them to stand out at a more competitive level. However, freshmen girls Cecily Stabler and Stella Spotts have earned their place on the Varsity girls’ soccer squad. Coach Michael Poller explained their success came, “because both players separated themselves during preseason and were young players that could make an impact on the Varsity level.” Spotts missed the beginning of the season due to a shoulder injury, but she returned to the field at full health on Sept. 13. Stabler continued to progress as a Varsity player by helping the team with a victory against Kent Place on Sept. 9. Stabler appreciates the assistance of teammates and stated, “I have definitely learned a lot
and everyone has been really nice!” Senior captain, Emmie McCaffrey, comments, “Cecily and Stella are great additions to the team. As the only two freshmen, they show strength and dedication on and off the field. They’ve had a positive influence on the team so far and I look forward to see how they will continue to show their abilities.” Fellow teammates realize that it is difficult to step up to the Varsity level as a younger player. Junior Brynn Johnson relates to her new teammates because in 2011 she made the Varsity team as a freshman. “At first it was scary because I felt inferior to the older girls; eventually I felt very welcomed by the upperclassmen, and it was one of my best high school experiences,” she recalled.
New Teachers
October 2013
Verve 7
Enthusiastic new faculty welcomed by staff and students Stories and photos by Laura Pasquale and Dan Montgomery Staff Reporters
Ashley Wollesen English
Tara Marrero Guidance
Sarah Wagner Mathematics
Carly Berwick English
One of the three new English teachersthis year is Ashley Wollesen. After attending Monmouth University, Wollesen taught at Manville High School for six years. She wanted to teach in a school in which “the community was invested in education.” Wollesen instructs both English I and English II classes.
The new face in the guidance department is none other than Tara Marrero. She completed undergrad and graduate school at the College of New Jersey. The former cheerleader speaks fluent Spanish. She enjoys attending concerts and recently saw a live performance by Taking Back Sunday.
A Summit native and former student, Sarah Wagner, rejoins the mathematics department. She was hired after attending Wilson College. After taking a hiatus from teaching, Wagner returned last year, to serve as a subsititute. Ms. Donat was once a student of Mrs. Wagner’s!
Another of the three new English teachers is Carley Berwick. As an instructor of English III: American Literature, Berwick teaches mostly to juniors. She attended Stanford University and formerly taught at NJCU. Berwick has previous expirience as a journalist in addition to teaching.
Erin Fogarty P.E. / Health
Meredith Cohen Biology
The new cheer coach and physical education teacher is Erin Fogarty. After graduating from Kean University, Fogarty was a permanent substitute physical education and health instructor at Kearny High School. She used to swim and was involved in competitive cheerleading. Fogarty describes herself as a “CrossFit fanatic.”
After filling in as a maternity replacement here last year, Meredith Cohen decided to return to Summit. Previously, she had taught science for 30 years. Cohen teaches Biology to sophomores. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Rutgers University. Cohen enjoys riding in bike tours.
Karen McIntyre Technology
Filling the position of Technology Specialist is Karen Stephanie McIntyre. Her duty as a tech coach is “to help teachers integrate technology into the curriculum.” McIntyre attended Brooklyn College and worked on a degree at Rutgers University. She derives happiness from her love of dancing.
Vanessa Hernandez Spanish
New to the World Language department is Spanish teacher Vanessa Hernandez. “It’s a very multicultural school and I love that,” said Hernandez. She has her bachelor and master degrees from universities in Columbia and now a second masters degree from the College of New Jersey. When she herself was a high school student in Columbia, she sang in the chorus with none other than Shakira.
They made it! Four of SHS’s newly tenured staff: Scott Rebholz (L), Lorena Dolan, Kelly Coyle, and Kevin Schauer. Not pictured is Erin Day.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, 19 teachers in the district earned tenure. Scott Bagish, Beth Boak, Thomas Bowers, Valerie Coronel, Kelly Coyle, Daniel Cummings, Erin Day, Lorena Dolan, Anthony Ferrante, Amanda Jacobs, Lori Kerzner, Alicia Luick, Abigal MacDonald, Erin Mitschke, Christy O’Connor, Scott Rebholz, Kevin Schauer, Jeremy Travis and Kate Warren were recognized for their achievements in teaching. In addition, Lisa Britton, Janet Gibney, John Kratch, Debra Kosak and Robert Lamparello were honored for their 25 years of serivce. The ceremony was accompanied by a string quartet of high school students.
25 years! History teacher Mr. John Kratch and special services teacher Mrs. Lisa Britton, recognized for 25 years of service
Photo by Verve staff
Photo by Verve staff
Teachers celebrate milestones
New Teachers
Verve 8
October 2013
...continued from page 7 Mr. Casey Sink Mathematics
Ms. Marie Barber Guidance
Mr. Sink and his family had lived in Brenham, a small town near Houston, for 20 years. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, and is stoked to see what life in Summit is like. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family. He has five children, so there is always a sporting event or Broadway play on his to-do list. He said, “I am excited to see some of the extra curricular activities, like lacrosse, wrestling and ice hockey that were not options in Texas. “This is a very diverse place with diverse activities, clubs and organizations.”
Ms. Barber has not always been a guidance counslelor, as she worked in the corporate world before taking time off to raise her children. As a counselor, she has worked at Madison High School, Kenilworth and Springfield school districts. She attended TCNJ for her BA and College of Saint Elizabeth for her MA. “I like to spend time with my family and be active. Running and biking with friends, last year, I ran my first full marathon in Philadelphia. I also like to read and spend time with friends.” Ms. Barber cannot wait to meet students and help them with all areas of their academics and social/ emotional needs.
Mr. Joe Meier History
Ms. Jamie Farber Special Education
Although this is his first full year here, Mr. Meier is a familiar face: he was Mrs. Berberich’s leave replacement for four months last year. He also spent three months with the Ramsey High School faculty. Prior to that, he attended Rutgers University for his B.A. in History and Political Science and his Ed.M in Social Studies Education. “I love to spend my free time either reading about history or watching my favorite sports teams play, he said, ‘‘I am a big Dodgers, Devils, and Cowboys fan.” “SHS is a great place to be and I am looking forward to a great year!”
Before coming here, Ms.Farber graduated and finished her Master’s Degree in Special Education at The College of New Jersey. Outside of school, she loves to spend time with her family, friends, and dog Zoe. Ms. Farber is anxious to get the year started, and said, “I am very excited to become part of the Summit community, meet new people, and grow professionally.” She added that her goal is to “provide students with the best possible experience in class.”
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