april 2013
Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034
Volume 56 Issue 6
spotlight
In this
issue
Southern Lehigh Alum and Rising Filmmaker Riley Geis Directing His Second Film by Jacob Boyer
On May 1st, seniors must commit to a college in order to be enrolled for the fall. Where is the class of 2013 headed? Find out on page 2.
Recently, Southern Lehigh students, including two Spotlight reporters, traveled to Spain. See pictures from the trip on pages 8 and 9 .
On April 4th, hit pop-rock band Maroon 5 rocked out at the Wells Fargo center in Philly. See page 13.
Spring sports are in full swing. Read updates about all the teams on pages 14 and 15.
Want to see more?
Over a year ago, Southern Lehigh graduate Riley Geis wowed the community with his debut feature film, “Perfect Circles.” The movie was praised for its razor sharp dialogue, beautiful cinematography, and exceptional acting. Now, he’s at it again. “Whenever I tell someone who’s seen ‘Perfect Circles’ that I’m
“
when Sean sets out on a cat-and-mouse course of revenge that goes further and becomes more deadly than either of them thought possible. “[There were] outrageous differences between [‘Perfect Circles’] and [‘The Cult of Persuasion’], chiefly among them is being a smaller fish in a bigger pond,” Geis said. “In Southern
In Southern Lehigh, I was ‘the kid who made movies.’ In a film school in California, everybody is the kid who makes movies, so I have to find a way to stand out.
”
making another feature, their first, and only, question is ‘How many people die in this one?’” Geis said. “So, I definitely have not lost my affinity for blood.” In “Cult of Persuasion,” longtime friends and college freshmen Sean and Harry (played by David Corbin and Nick McDonald, respectfully) decide to rush one of the country’s most powerful and influential fraternities. But after one hazing stunt turns ugly, the loyalty of their friendship is tested
Lehigh, I was ‘the kid who made movies.’ In a film school in California, everybody is the kid who makes movies, so I have to find a way to stand out.” And what better way to make his mark than to make a mark on the history of his school, Chapman University? “That’s why we’re doing a feature,” Geis said. “Because no freshman has done a full-length movie.” Making the film has been no easy task, however, as Geis and his
Photo credit: Riley Geis
collaborators have encountered the many challenges of real filmmaking. “[Back home] it was easier because all I would have to do is call up Kyle Brown and Nick Masciantonio, say ‘Hey, meet me here and know these lines.’ We would meet up, shoot it, and go home,” Geis said. “[‘The Cult of Persuasion’] is a little trickier than that. In addition to making the film, David and I have to manage production, correlate schedules, draw up contracts, and keep all the producers, marketers, copyright lawyers and whatnot in the loop. On top of all that is the actual making of the movie.” Although the project promises to be very difficult, Geis welcomes the challenge like an old friend arriving on his doorstep. “It’s tougher, but the challenge is only making me adapt quicker,” he said, “and learn how to effectively organize the swirling poop-storm of getting a movie to happen.” Production on the movie is nearing completion. Geis plans to edit the film over the summer, and release it on his campus in the fall, and distribute DVDs when he gets the chance to come back to Southern Lehigh. As for what to expect? “Watch the thing and find out!” Geis said. “It’s a fun thriller with a tight story told on a much bigger scale with infinitely superior resources and some excellent actors. Not Brad Zamojski caliber, but then again, what is?”
2
Spotlight
News
Fun Fact
Oh the Places Seniors Will Go!
Did you know SLHS seniors buckle down and begin to choose the that New colleges they will attend in the fall Mexico state by Lauren Gross May 1st marks the national college decision day, the travel costs, and many other reasons give in-state colleges an officials edge over out-of-state and private schools. “I think that Penndate by which all college-bound high school seniors must sylvania is the most popular location choose the college or university ordered 400 they will be attending in the fall. for colleges [among Southern Lehigh students].” Due to accessible transportation, words of “ex- increased advertising, and much However, some students do choose to take the plunge and attend far away today’s students have the plicit mate- more, universities. “I have a few students at ability to choose from a broader UC Berkley in San Jose, California,” rial” to be cut range of colleges and universities. Mr. Crouse said. “I have one at Baylor “There have been students in Texas and another student in North from Romeo that will go to the Carolinas and Dakota.” Virginia,” Southern Lehigh High It takes courage to move out of your and Juliet? School guidance counselor, Mr. Credit: www.dumblaws.com
Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034 (610) 282-1421 x7122 slsdspotlight@gmail.com http://slspotlight.com The Spotlight is published in print and online by the student members of its staff. Its purpose is to present news concerning Southern Lehigh High School and the Southern Lehigh School District, as well as to provide a forum for student opinion. Editorial content of The Spotlight expresses the view of the paper and not necessarily that of the Board of Education, administration, or faculty of the Southern Lehigh School District. Bylined editorial content and letters to the editor represent the opinion of the writer only. All contents are copyrighted by The Spotlight. Advertising and subscription rates are furnished upon request.
Faculty Adviser Mrs. Marlo Spritzer
Editor-in-Chief Casey Anthony
Managing Editor Lauren Gross
News Editor Lauren Gross
Features Editor Ashley Zamichieli
Entertainment Editor Mckenzie Browne
Opinion Editors Katie Cole Madeline Cole
Sports Editor
Cody Heffelfinger
Our World Editor Dana DiGiovanni
Asst. Our World Editor Anna Simoneau
In-Depth Editor Kylie Schmitt
Photo Editors Jenna Weigard Anna Simoneau
Video Editors Justin Malone Jacob Boyer
Carl Crouse said. “South Carolina is picking up too.” In recent years colleges have been increasing their propaganda in order to increase the enrollment of out-of-state students and other minority groups. Despite their efforts, SLHS guidance counselors feel that a majority of students will remain in Pennsylvania. “If you are eligible for FIA funds, they do not follow you if you leave the state,” Mr. Crouse said. Financial aid, in-state discounts,
Seniors Dan Marant and Danielle Renner pose for a picture in apparel from their future college: Penn State Photo Credit: Danielle Renner
comfort zone, but for some students the benefits outweigh the risks. SLHS senior Luke Feldman, future University of Florida student, had one clear reason for looking at out-of-state schools: “My biggest incentive for going to a far away college is because my parents can’t drive down and punish me when I do something bad.” All seniors have their own reasons for choosing their post-secondary schools. The decision can be stressful, grueling, and exhausting, but it seems most students find that they ended up where they belong.
Banned: Tetris24
The popular game site Tetris24 has been blocked on servers, leaving students in withdrawal by Emily Tkacik Tetris24, the newest tetris website that students have discovered, is now blocked by the Southern Lehigh firewall. Tetris24 is a free online game that hit astronomical popularity in the Southern Lehigh community. It is a game which, according to studies, actually helps our brains to develop. Playing Tetris for 30 minutes a day can increase memory and problem solving. So why was this educational game banned? “What happens is if a teacher requests a website to be blocked, then our IT department will put it on a list of other websites that the IU, or Intermediate Unit, will block,” Mr. Breisch said. “The IU has a web filtration system that also supports other schools in the Lehigh Valley.”
Does the game affect classroom teaching? “I had no problem with it if people were done with their work,” science teacher Mr. Edward Sinkler said, “but if they had work to do then I had a problem.” It seems the administration had a valid reason for banning the game, but for those enthusiasts, there is always a way around. “If you know how, then you can get on anything,” an anonymous source said, “but if you don’t know how, then I’m not saying.” Left: An example of a game of Tetris24 Photo credit: Emily Tkacik Above: Senior Tyler Davis pouts after losing a game of Tetris Photo credit: Lauren Gross
APRIL 2013
News
3
May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor! Ninth grade English students bring their reading to life with virtual Hunger Games
by Alex Baca and Jacob Boyer
Mrs. Kate Mack, a ninth-grade English teacher, plans to have her applied students play a virtual version of a popular book they are reading, “The Hunger Games,” on Minecraft software. “I think this is a great opportunity for the book to become alive for students.” says Mrs. Mack. “This ties the lessons of the story to the action of the plot while having fun at the same time.” However, the person behind the process of making the games possible is her coteacher, Mr. David Dougherty. “The students came up with the idea of playing a Minecraft version of ‘The Hunger Games,’” Mr. Dougherty said. “The point of this was to show students that if they write down a prediction of what will happen, the written prediction cannot be changed.” Students must ask a teacher in each subject area to “sponsor” them by signing a paper for certain powers, such as portions or weapons. Only one teacher in each subject area can sign a student’s paper. A student has to convince teachers why they should sign his/her paper. In English class, “I had students write a thesis on how they will survive the Hunger Games,” Mr. Dougherty said. “The outcome of the game will show if their thesis was successful or not successful.” After the games, the winners will receive awards from administrators Mrs. Christine Siegfried and Mr. Mark Covelle, and Officer Brian McLaughlin, with their signatures on special certificates. “I really enjoy this change of learning,” Mr. Dougherty said. “The students get to pick how they want to learn.”
Ninth grade students in Mrs. Mack’s classes have been reading “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. Photo Credit: Lionsgate
April Brings Victories for SLHS TSA The Technology Student Association continues their journey of technological success throughout the month of April Contribution by Mr. Richard Colelli, edited by Lauren Gross The month of April is an exciting time for the high school’s Technology Student Association. TSA is a career and technical organization that is a part of our technology education department. The chapter members that qualify at the regional conference participate at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County. This past April 17-20, eight qualifying students competed in various technological events. Juniors Christian Ricci and Kyle Vogeler defended their state championship in the Video Game Design competition. Freshman Keely Welsch and Karlton Finkbeiner placed second overall in the state in the same event. The goal of the event is to design an E-rated video game which contains five levels. Each group of students submit their video on a CD along with a notebook outlining the games purpose and description of the game, a reflection write-up, storyboarding, and a plan of work log. All four qualify for the national leadership conference in Orlando, Florida this June. Finkbeiner also placed in the top ten statewide in 3D Engineering CAD. Junior Brianna Prince qualified for the 2D Architectural CAD event and also placed in the top ten.
TSA winners Christian Ricci, Kyle Vogeler (top), Keely Welsh, and Karlton Finkbeiner (bottom) show off their awards Photo credit: Richard Colelli
Left: Kayelee Rupelll and Christian Ricci pass their technological knowledge down to aspiring TSA students Photo credit: Richard Colelli
Features
4
Spotlight
A SL Student’s New Feature Film: “Yours Anonymous” by Grace Reichard
Southern Lehigh junior Jacob Boyer has begun the production of his new film, “Yours Anonymous,” that will be based primarily at the high school and aims to send a positive moral message to viewers. “Yours Anonymous” follows the story of a prank gone wrong on a boy who loved a girl in another social clique, the storyline of which was taken from that of a mock trial. “I was just thinking about Mr. Orr and the mock trials and all that, and his book,” said junior Jacob Boyer, “and I just thought it would be a cool idea to turn into a script or a movie and we've been emailing for about a year.” Many remember Mr. Orr’s mock trials from the eighth grade, where students were able to partake in the legal proceedings that go into the actuality of the trial. The movie that Jacob is producing focuses particularly on this. “The movie is done a year after the fact of this girl that is interviewing the students and trying to figure out exactly what happened” said Jacob Boyer. Two audition rounds have already taken place. The movie is set to be filmed over the summer and will begin the editing process in the fall. It is expected to release in the fall or early winter of 2013.
Photo credit: Jacob Boyer
It’s All Up for Debate Crippled Part VI: The Final Chapter by Ashley Zamichieli
Southern Lehigh is home to a wide offering of clubs, and most students are able to find at least one club that hones in on their specific interests or strengths. One of the clubs that attracts many students year after year is the speech and debate team. The Southern Lehigh team has been guided by Mr. David Long for 21 years. He was drawn to the coaching aspect because of his prior experience as a member on his high school's team. He encourages students to participate in the club because public speaking is a skill that will be used for a lifetime. “Public speaking is probably one of, if not the most important, skills any student can learn to do,” Mr. Long said. “Even in your everyday job you will have to speak in front of people. It can be customer service or just asking your boss for a raise. You need to know how to speak confidently and make a good argument.” Assisting Mr. Long in coaching the team are overall captain Natalie Costa and her co-captain, Erin Howe. Together, they have lead the team of 25 stu-
dents to successful advancements in many of their regional and nonregional tournaments. The group practices day in and day out, and they place and perform at highly competitive events. “The team has award winners at almost every tournament we’ve gone to,” Mr. Long said, “including some of the best tournaments in the country such as Princeton and Harvard.” This year, at the state level competition, captain Natalie Costa, a member for four years, made it to states and was a semifinalist in her event. Three freshmen were able to make it into states as well. The speech and debate team looks forward to many more tournaments they have yet to compete in, including the Spartan Invitational here at Southern Lehigh, and nationals, which is being held in Birmingham, Alabama, this coming June. Students in all grade levels will be representing the Southern Lehigh speech and debate team in June, and all the hard work they have been putting will most certainly pay off.
Attention!!! The Speech and Debate team is holding their annual car washing fundraiser on Saturday May 18th at the Coopersburg Self Serve Car Wash from 9-2.
Cars are $7.00 each and bigger vehicles are $8.00 each. Be there and support the team!
by Robyn Somers
I hit the ground hard. I remember feeling sharp pain in my legs and looking up and seeing Peter at the top of the step. I turned over to Heather who was laying under me, not moving. I looked back up and Peter was gone. My legs were broken so I crawled using only my arms to the phone. I remember calling the police and telling them about Peter and how I thought my daughter may be dead. I blacked out. The next time I woke up I was in a hospital bed. I started screaming to see my daughter; the doctors and nurses ran in to try and calm me down. “Ma’am we have bad news.” One of the nurses said to me after they calmed me down a little bit. “Your daughter did not make it. She suffered dramatic trauma on her way down the steps.” I did not believe it at first, but once it hit me that she was not living when I checked her right after we fell down the steps, I began to freak out again. They injected something into my arm, causing me to black out. The next time I awoke there were police standing over me. “Can we ask you a few questions?” one of them asked me. I nodded and lifted up my head. “Tell us what happened.” “Peter pushed us down the steps.” “Who is Peter? A boyfriend or a husband?” “No! Peter is the boy who lives in my attic.” “Your attic? Did you put him up there?” “No his parents did.” “His parents? What are their names?” “I do not know but they locked him up there in the 1800s, and he tried to kill us.” “The 1800s? Then the boy would be dead.” “I know. Did you think he was alive?” They stepped back and looked at each other. They called the doctor into the room and whispered something to him, frequently looking back at me. “You think I am lying? I am telling you the truth!” They would not listen to me though. A few days later I was questioned again. I told them the same story. I told them the truth. Before I knew it I was on my way to a mental hospital. They thought I was insane. I told them to talk to the clerk at the corner store, but he denied everything I told them he said. They also never found any evidence of Peter and his belongings in his room in the attic. Now I sit, old and grey, in the Slippery Rock Mental Institution, still mourning the loss of Heather, wasting away in this facility, and constantly taking medication for my aching crippled legs.
Sad the story is over? Read archived copies at the slspotlight.com. Scan the QR code to the right and it will take you directly to the site. Happy reading!
April 2013
Features
5
Arabic Teacher Recollects School Year at SL by Robyn Somers
Special guest teachers from foreign countries have spent this year at Southern Lehigh us to teach their native tongues. Arabic teacher Mrs. Hannan Gawdet, hosted by our superintendent, says she has learned a lot about America.
Q:
What is your impression of America now that you have stayed here
Q:
learned this year?
for a couple months?
A:“It is a very organized country. The people here are very kind and
friendly from what I have seen. If I ever have the chance to come back I definitely would.”
Q: What do you miss the most about Egypt? A: “I miss everything about Egypt, especially its warmth. I am not use
to all this cold weather. I miss the food, the sea, I miss the Call of Prayer, and I even miss the Egypt dust, as well as all of my family which is back home.”
Q: What has your stay been like so far? A: “Staying in America is good, but what makes me stay is the school
and my Arabic students and the relationships I have made with my colleagues.”
Q: Do you think you have gotten far with your Arabic students? A: “I think that I have taught what I wanted to teach them, and I think
that by the end of the year I will have reached my goal of having them retain all the information that they have learned.”
A:
“They learned how to make sentences and communicate with actual Arab people. I want the main idea to be that they know what to say and how to react in a real life situation.”
Q:
What are you going to take back
with you when you return home?
A: “I am going to take back with me
Current Arabic teacher Mrs. Hannan Gawdet-
Photo credit: Robyn Somers the wonderful experience of teaching my own language. The idea that I have learned to appreciate my language and culture more now that I have taught it. I never thought people needed to know about about my language or culture until I saw the fascination in my students and it makes me proud to be Arab, that is what I am going to take back.”
Q: What was the hardest part about teaching students? A: “Some of my students were taking Arabic, but I do not feel like they
were with it all the way. The other hard part was getting my students to study; they wanted the language to come easily with limited work, but that is not how learning a language works.”
Planting a Garden by Katie Cole
Spring flowers start blooming this month. Photo credit: Mckenzie Browne
With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planting a garden in your yard. Most students don’t want to try planting a garden, but rather leave it to their parents. However, putting the work into a garden can be a great hobby and makes the final product seem, and taste, even better. “We like fresh grown vegetables,” freshman Jacquelyn Hall-Yurasits said. Pennsylvania weather is perfect for crops such as tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, pepper, and corn. Right now the first flowers are coming up everywhere, from bulbs planted in the fall. Now is the perfect time to plant bulbs that will come up in late sum-
What have the Arabic students
mer. Bulbs don’t take much time to grow and look great. Plant them in the spring, and water them frequently. By late summer, they will bloom, and can be as tall as five feet. Many people enjoy gardening and find it is a great way to get outside and enjoy nice weather. “It gave me something to do so I wasn’t bored,” freshman Olivia Searfass said, ”and it got me outside when it was nice out.” Bulbs planted in the fall are the first ones to come up now and a way to all of sudden see all this beauty. Planting flowers is an awesome pastime, and is quite exciting when flowers will come up year after year once you have planted them, bringing a sudden burst of color.
Southern Lehigh‛s Gay Straight Alliance is looking for new members for next year. Come to a meeting on Mondays at 2:30 in room 183 or contact Antonia Somlai at antoniasomlai@aol.com or find us on Facebook!
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OP-ED
Spotlight
Let’s Be Marriage Equality Honest. by Casey Anthony
Samantha Rood said. “Gay rights are the next big issue in society.” I’ll give Americans some credit here for the prog ress we’ve made so far on this issue. Over the past few years, America as a whole has become more accepting of non-heterosexual lifestyles. “It’s much more open,” social studies teacher Mr. Matthew Cooper said, “open as a discussion and open in the idea of accepting it.” While I acknowledge that our society’s stance on this issue has come a long way, we’ve still got a long way to go. The first thing that has to change is the way we talk about people.
Your issues. Your concerns. Spelled out in black and white. by Danielle Renner
The symbol for marriage equality. Photo credit: Human Rights Campaign
Prom Woes
Lets be honest: prom season stresses almost every girl out. The place, the dress, and above all, the date, are all aspects of prom that never fail to make junior and senior girls anxious. For most, prom is seen as the highlight of the year. Personally, I blame the media for hyping it up so much. Whenever prom is showcased in a movie or book, it’s seen as some magical night spent with friends and a special someone where you dance until the screen goes black. News flash: prom used to be as simple as homecoming, with streamers and short, under-fifty-dollar dresses. Most schools stick to a classic ballroom venue and decorate with party city balloons and streamers, but not Southern Lehigh. For the past four years, prom has been held at classy establishments, such as Bear Creek. We dress the room to the nines with professional balloons and colorful centerpieces. You’d think we’d be attending a wedding. Therefore, we all treat it as something to be praised. Along with the location, how you get asked has to be something to gloat about. I asked Saucon Valley High School students how they asked their prom dates. “I asked my date after her team won a rivalry game just by asking and giving her flowers. She said yes,” Saucon Valley senior Alex Knauss said. It’s so simple everywhere else. Why does it seem like Southern Lehigh complicates prom? I believe what freaks girls out the most is getting a date. Many will shake over the thought of going alone, so getting the guy becomes top priority. Some girls create elaborate schemes in order to get asked. Girls, I give you credit for putting that much effort into it, but it’s just prom. Either you get asked, or you don’t. Don’t play a guy, have him buy an entree fee of nearly $150, then ditch him after three songs. On a final note, this dance is a one-night thing, so why are people spending near $300 for an outfit they’re only going to wear once? “This year is definitely cheaper than what I paid last year. It easy when you find neutral stuff that’s timeless and classic so you can reuse it,” advises junior Robyn Ferraro. So, let’s be honest. You really don’t need to stress about this. It’s one night and it will never be “perfect,” but if you’re going, I hope you have a good time!
History repeats itself and, unfortunately, so do our mistakes. Fifty years ago, people were being bullied, called ugly names, and harassed for something about themselves that they couldn’t change. There were court cases and rallies, tragedies and victories. But it’s not the ‘60s anymore. It’s the 21st century and, although we’d like to think that our society has risen above that sort of craziness, it’s happening again. This time it’s not about race; It’s about sexual orientation. “Just look at the fights to end slavery, gain women’s suffrage, and achieve civil rights,” senior
“I still hear the same kind of derogatory statements made,” social studies teacher Mrs. Katie Quartuch said. “That is still very prevalent, especially here at Southern Lehigh.” As a high school student, you may feel like you can’t make a difference on this issue. Well, I have news for you: you can. Start by standing up to derogatory comments. Participate in Day of Silence. “Like” and follow advocacy groups on social media. Support a friend who’s struggling with sexual orientation. There are a million little things you can do to make a difference. Actions like these may seem small, but they show that pro-equality is on the rise. History often repeats itself, but it doesn’t have to. This doesn’t have to go the same way the Civil Rights movement did. We have the power to change it. And we will.
Advice for Juniors:
What to Consider as You Apply to College by Jenna Weigard Applying to college in the fall can be one of the most stressful times of your life. Juniors, follow these tips, so you don’t mess up the application process. 1) Be realistic It’s ok to have a dream school or two, but don’t just apply to those schools. Dream schools don’t typically have a high acceptance rate, so don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Apply to reach schools along with a few back up schools so you’re safe. Also, if you know you can’t afford the college, don’t apply to it. It will only be more disappointing if you are accepted and can’t attend. 2) Choose colleges based on internship opportunities Internships are one of the most important experiences in your life. Usually internships lead to job opportunities for after college, so make sure you pick a school that will provide opportunities for internships. 3) Choose colleges based on locations Location is extremely important in order for you to enjoy your college experience. You have to choose the location that is best for you and your future career. Some careers require certain environments, while others don’t. Choose which location is best for your career and also makes you happy.
4) Choose colleges based on programs This is one of the most important factors in choosing a college: choose the colleges with the best programs for your major. A better education will lead you to a better job in the future. 5) Don’t just apply to a college because your friends are This might be the stupidest thing you could do. Chances are, you won’t be friends with most of your high school friends after college, so don’t base your decision on where they’re going. Also, if you hate the school and only applied there because your friends are, you aren’t going to get anything out of college. Senior Drew Walcowicz advises, “Complete the application for the colleges you care about the most. Apply to early action for all of the colleges that have that opportunity and deadline because you will have more time to make your decision and sometimes even a better shot at scholarships.” Following this advice will help you be successful when applying to college and being accepted to college. Don’t stress too much and remember the important things, and hopefully you’ll be pleased with the results.
April 2013
OP-ED
7
SLHS Dress Code Falls Short on Shorts by Anna Simoneau
At Southern Lehigh this year, the administration has started enforcing the dress code more strictly to ensure students dress appropriately. But does the dress code restrict too much? While I completely agree that a dress code should be implemented, the rule on shorts seems too severe. I think we can all agree that if your skirt looks like you squeezed into one leg of your tights, or if we can see through your shirt, it’s inappropriate for school, arguably for anywhere, but the rule on shorts is more subjective. While I do think that some shorts are too short to be worn in school, mid thigh seems a bit long. Somewhere in between would be appropriate. I’ll start with my weakest point: style. While it probably doesn’t weigh in much on the minds of those who make the rules, style is a big factor in students’ apparel choices. With the new dress code in place and the weather getting warmer, girls now have to wear mid-length shorts, which only look normal on people who are pediatric or geriatric. This means that girls have to man up and commit the fashion faux pas, or wear dresses or skirts that look more normal when longer. While this seems perfectly fine for those who didn’t already have their school wardrobe, replacing these
items can get pricy. When you break it down, there are five days in a school week. Since we wear something different each day, that’s five dresses, skirts, or shorts. Since we don’t want to wear the same outfits every week, we’ll need ten different outfits for good measure. Averaging the cost of a sundress or a pair of bermuda shorts at Target, not a popular, more expensive store like Aero or Hollister, is around 24 dollars. The lowest possible cost for a dress code appropriate wardrobe, for those who have to start from scratch, is around 240 dollars. This could get even more costly if you go to the more trendy stores. Personally, I only own two dresses and a skirt and not 240 dollars to spend on a new wardrobe. It also seems a waste to replace my perfectly fine wardrobe when I know there are plenty of people who can’t afford the clothes I already have. Many other girls I spoke with agreed the rule on shorts is too strict and feel the administration should relax the rules a bit. “I think it’s irrational because hardly any stores that sell clothing for people under 30 sell mid-thigh shorts, so unless you have short thighs, that’s absurd,” junior Rachael Christman said. “I understand shorts can be too short, but if they are a
reasonable length, you’re fine.” The majority of the girls here are reasonable as well; we know that too short is unacceptable and can recognize when it goes too far. “[Mid-thigh] doesn’t look good on everyone,” junior Gemma Malone said. “I think as long as they cover the places they need to cover, they’re fine.” The girls here understand the school needs a dress code in place; we just want a little more freedom. “[The Dress Code] is good because girls are more modest, but I think they’re being too strict about it,” junior Casey Comfort said. What can we do to solve this problem? A rule on shorts definitely needs to be in place. I’ve seen shorts so short the pockets hang out, and we can see way more of the person than we wanted to, but mid thigh is still too long. A good compromise may be if the rule was changed to one-third thigh length shorts. This way people would be covered up, and students would be able to wear the shorts they already have. While I know rules are rules and we have to follow them, I hope the administration takes our plea in mind and alters the dress code rule on shorts.
Summer Reading: A Waste or Worth It?
by Kaitlin Cole
An example of a book students may read for summer reading. Photo Credit: Kaitlin Cole
When summer finally comes at Southern Lehigh, students first experience feelings of exhilaration, but frustration quickly follows when they remember the books they are required to read before the start of the next school year. Books can be extremely exciting and interesting; however, when students are required to read specific books, they often don’t go out of their way to find other books they would legitimately enjoy reading. This makes students feel that no books are fun to read, and discourages many from reading for pleasure. According to hotforwords.com, 42 percent of people who graduate from college never read another book. “I like reading when it’s a good book,” freshman Madison Anthony said. Some schools allow students to choose summer reading books from a list, giving them the chance to select books they may enjoy more. This year, Southern Lehigh has changed the summer reading for most of the college prep level English courses to allow students to select books from a list in addition to reading some mandatory books. Although it is important to expose students to different types of literature, it is also important
Editor’s Note:
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If you have an opinion to share or want to respond to one of our articles, feel free to send an email to slsdspotlight@gmail.com.
to show students that they can enjoy reading. “I would like [this system] better because I would be able to choose something I am interested in,” sophomore Arden Stayer said. Many students also struggle with the exams on summer reading material when they return to school. When students read books at the beginning of the summer, they have two months to forget the material they have read. With the new summer reading system, many courses require students to keep journal entries as they read which will eliminate the struggle to remember details of a book read so long ago. “You read it at the beginning of the summer, then you forget it,” freshman Kristen Kylish said. Reading is only fun for students when they read something that they are interested in, and while it is important to be exposed to a wide variety of literature, it is also important to expose students to books they actually enjoy. Students should have the opportunity to find books that they don’t want to put down, not books they don’t want to pick up.
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8
In-Depth
Spotlight
El Viaje a España Copy by Abby Muth. Photo credits: Dana DiGiovanni
On Wednesday, March 20, 47 students and teachers embarked on the trip of a lifetime: the much talked about bi-annual Spain trip. After 11 days of travel, the tour group is back home safe and sound and have many great stories to tell and pictures to share.
GRANADA
The first stop on the Spain adventure was Granada, a city in the south of Spain. Granada is influenced greatly by the moors; therefore, much of its architectural style looks very similar to northern Africa. The main event in Granada was visiting the Alhambra, a palace in which many different rulers, and even peasants, lived throughout hundreds of years. Many students on the trip agreed that this was their favorite spot that they visited while in Granada. “The views were incredible and it was so interesting learning about the history of the palace,” junior Suzanne Selman said. Another culturally rich experience was visiting a moorish tea house, where the students drank tea in the moorish style. “I liked the moorish tea house a lot! It was interesting to see a cultural aspect that we hadn’t learned very much about,” junior Kayla McGuire said. “The tea was so good, and the whole place had a really authentic feeling to it.”
MADRID
Madrid is a bustling city not too far from what New York is like, some would say. This city was very different than the other ones previously visited. While it still had a lot of history, it was much more modern than Granada or Seville. “I loved the city aspect [of Madrid]. There were so many antique shops, but also tourist-like places,” junior Kayla McGuire said. “It reminded me of New York City at first, but when we really got into the local parts of the city it was great.” It may have been raining a lot in Madrid, but that didn’t stop people from having a good time. “My favorite part of Madrid was definitely the shopping!” Selman said. “The view from our hotel was amazing!” Shopping in the city of Madrid was a great experi-
ence for a lot of the students, but they soon realized that while they may have been in a city similar to ones near home, they couldn’t let their guard down. “[In Madrid] you had to be on your guard and constantly holding onto your purse,” junior Megan Luybli said. “Not to mention, some of the pick pocketing experiences we had were pretty crazy.” Pickpockets were a very serious issue in Madrid, but the students made sure they were always aware of their surroundings and didn’t let the idea of pickpockets ruin their once-in-a-lifetime trip. The students that chose not to go shopping visited various museums. “I chose to go [to La Reina Sofia] because I like modern art,” Sullivan said. “All the pieces there were very unique and interesting. They had one of Picasso’s paintings that took up a whole wall.”
april 2013
In-Depth
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SEVILLE
through the city with crosses and in their special robes on Seville is a beautiful their way to the cathedral. city full of culture and life. “I thought [the procesThere were many great historical sites to see and a lot of sion] was an excellent cultural experience,” senior Olivia culture to take in. During each city, there Muth said, “although it was a little bit frightening seeing was generally one big cultural event that the group got people parading so proudly to see and be involved in. For in costumes that we would not normally be accustomed Seville, it was the popular to seeing on the streets.” Flamenco dances. Seville and Granada “My favorite part about are not too far from each Seville was the Flamenco other geographically, but dances because it was nothare almost like two different ing I’ve ever seen before,” worlds. junior Kirstin Quilty said. “Seville was a big Since the visit took change from Granada; we place the week before Easter, or La Semana Santa, the went from the countryside to a busy city,” junior Kira Sulstudents and teachers got to witness a holy procession on livan said. “It was a lot more crowded, but still just as the streets of Seville. Many brotherhoods paraded fun.”
BARCELONA
Barcelona was the last stop on the Spanish tour of a lifetime. A lot of students loved this city, and many agreed that they would definitely want to come back. One of the things that the group did together was go on a bike tour. “I loved the bike tour because it was a cool experience to be able to bike around Barcelona instead of just walking or taking a bus,” Sullivan said. “They have designated bike routes there, unlike here, where you just share the road or sidewalk with everyone.” Aside from the bike tour, there were many other places the group visited, such as the beach, parque Güell, and Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is sort of like the main street in Barcelona. There are many shops and places to eat, and also the entrance to the famous market. Everyone believed Barcelona to be a wonderful city full of life, beauty, and adventure. “I loved the city and how beautiful it was,” Luybli said. “Las Ramblas was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. There were flowers everywhere and the market was a lot of fun.”
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Our World
Happy Earth Day! by Casey Anthony
Photo credit: Digitalart
Spotlight
Every year on April 22, people around the world plant trees and turn off lights in celebration of Earth Day. Mr. Edward Sinkler, former Ecology Club adviser and current science teacher, said the club has taken some initiative to promote Earth Day at Southern Lehigh. In the past, the club has facilitated a lights out day, a wear green day, and a fundraiser to plant trees. That’s the only activism the club ever did, according to Sinkler. They never followed through with any other ideas. How important is Earth Day? “It makes students aware of the things they can do,” biology teacher Mrs. Adrienne Searfoss said. “It doesn’t require a lot of effort for them to make a difference.” Senior Shannon Crossan doesn’t remember learning about Earth Day since elementary school. She agrees with Searfoss that it learning about how to make a difference would be beneficial. “[We should] learn what it’s all about and how to help the planet,” Crossan said, “I think that would be good.” Freshman Lucy Zhang also feels that schools don’t do enough to recognize Earth Day.
“I feel like as you get older, people expect you to know about these things yourself,” Zhang said, “so they kind of slack off in teaching you.” Sinkler argues that, regardless of whether schools address Earth Day, it should be celebrated. “I think it’s important to take a moment out of your day,” Sinkler said, “to support the planet which supports you.”
Photo credit: Phiseksit
Tragedy at the Annual Boston Marathon by Danielle Renner First Connecticut, now Boston. Should Americans fear their everyday routines? On Monday April 15th, the annual Boston Marathon was abruptly stopped due to a fatal bombing attack. Around 2:50 Eastern time, a bomb exploded nearly two blocks from the finishing line while the race was still ongoing. Minutes later, a second one. Two other bombs were found later and disarmed before they exploded. The Marathon dedicated the final mile to the victims of Sandy Hook which left many to assume that’s why the bombs were placed so close to the finish line. According to witnesses, limbs and blood were everywhere. It was a sight of horror. The attack left three dead, including an eight-year old child, and nearly 150 people injured. The local hospital had to shut down due to the rush of marathon runners that they needed to attend to. According to the hospital’s doctors, more than 23 patients needed amputations for severed ligaments. Hundreds of investigators worked around the clock on the case in order to discover what caused someone to commit such an awful act. Do we need to fear that our country is downward spiraling? Should we as Americans fear public settings? Are we no longer safe? “Since it’s impossible to ever understand the motive for someone to commit this sort of act, the only thing we can really do is focus on the positives and stick together as a country,” junior Jake Kohler said. The attacks that took place these past months were not in private settings. Each were in public places and in broad daylight. It makes you think that attacks no longer happen in private settings during the quiet hours of the night. Fortunately, police received leads on the potential suspects. Their profiles were displayed and eventually cops confronted one of the men. A late
night car chase and shootout left one of the bombers,Tamerlan Tsarnaev, dead and his brother (the other suspect), Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, on the run. Boston police found Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, hours later hiding out on a boat. They wounded him and took him into custody for questioning. With Boston no longer on lockdown, residents flooded the streets, repeatedly chanting the city’s name. The Boston Bombing killed three, left over 150 people injured, and the pursuit left one MIT police officer shot dead. “It’s sad America can’t put on a truly charitable event without someone looking to sabotage it. I hope they are repercussions for those at fault,” senior Amber Peiffer said. While investigators attempt to discover why the Tsarnaev brothers committed this crime, many are certain they have to go about living daily life as it was. “Life goes on,” senior Luke Feldman said. “I try to stay strong everyday I get out of bed, fearing something may happen, but I know I have to keep living my life as it was.”
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APRIL 2013
Our WOrld
What You Can Do to Save Earth special contribution by Shelby Fassbender
Earth Day is a day to acknowledge that we al share the same planet. It is a day to take responsibility for your actions that impact the Earth. Although this should be considered every day, it allows us to appreciate the world we live in. Senator Gaylord Nelson of the United States founded the first Earth Day. Twenty million people and thousands of schools across the United States celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Because Earth Day had such a large turnout, it was considered the largest organized celebration in United States history. After establishing Earth Day, it promoted the United States to create and enforce stronger laws to protect the environment. Traditionally Earth Day has been celebrated by ringing bells for peace; this takes place all over the world including New York City. In Kenya, students plant over a thousand trees to replenish the endangered forest of Karura. There are so many different ways to help the environment. Remember to “Reuse, Rethink, Recycle!” “If you do not like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time.” -Marian Wright Edelman Ten things to do to help save the environment: 1. Carpool. 2. Shorten your showers. 3. Use reusable shopping bags. 4. Refill your water bottles. 5. Use CFL light bulbs. 6. Limit the amount of napkins, paper towels, and tissues you use. 7. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. 8. Use rechargeable batteries 9. Use scrap paper when printing. 10. Wash clothes in cold water.
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National Poetry Month by Kylie Schmitt
In 1996, the Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month in April each year. This is a time for schools, libraries, and poets throughout the United States to come together to celebrate poetry. Many organizations participate in National Poetry Month through readings, book displays, workshops, and other events. “Poetry lets us express our inner emotions,” sophomore Nicola Donato said. One way people are celebrating National Poetry Month is through Poem in Your Pocket Day. Held on Thursday, April 18th, people carried their favorite poem so they could share it with other students, coworkers, or family. Twitter users shared their poems by using the hashtag #pocketpoem. Another National Poetry Month celebration is inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet, a book where Rilke replies to letters from a military cadet and aspiring poet asking for advice. Students are invited to handwrite letters to poets who serve on the Academy’s Board of Chancellors. For a list of poets on the board you can use this link: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/619 Even though April is National Poetry Month, poets.org encourages everyone to celebrate poetry all year round to help people realize the important effect poetry has on our culture.
April is Known for Many Things Including.... by Grace Reichard
The Great Gatsby was published in 1925 and the newest remake of the popular book will premiere in May.
In 1894, the first motion picture public showing occurred
April also featured the famous sinking of the Titanic ship in 1912
First U.S. Mint established in Philadelphia, and now the mint in produces the coins that we see and use everyday. Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball in 1947, this popular story of his life is also supposed to hit modern pop culture in the new film “42”. Photo credit: Scribner
Photo credit: Warner Brothers
After 1500 years, the first modern Olympics took place in Athens, Greece in 1896 and continues to be held today as one of the largest athletic events.
The first patent law was passed in April of 1790
In 1970, the Apollo 13 mission began The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. occurred in 1968 which marked the death of a significant leader in the civil rights movement.
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Entertainment
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Emily Tkacik
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” has recently become a major motion picture and has garnered international attention. The book, written by Stephen Chbosky, has also been recognized for its ability to capture a teen audience. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a great story for every teen who has ever felt themselves standing on the fringes of friendship and acceptance. Charlie opens his heart to his “Friend,” someone not even he knows, by writing letters, starting with the first day of high school. The School Library Journal states that “Charlie develops from an observant wallflower into his own man of action, and, with the help of a therapist, he begins to face the sexual abuse he had experienced as a child. This report on his life will engage teen readers for years to come.” Readers beware: there is graphic, controversial content including an abortion, drug use, and other mature content. This novel may not be good for younger readers. This book can be found at the Southern Lehigh Public Library.
JT: The 20/20 Experience by Jenna Weigard
Justin Timberlake’s muchanticipated new album, “The 20/20 Experience,” was released all over the world on March 19. Is the album all it’s hyped up to be? “The 20/20 Experience” includes ten songs, twelve on the Target exclusive. Most of the songs are over six minutes long. Although that may scare some people off, they are definitely worth the time. Out of the ten songs on the album, there have already been two top five selling songs on iTunes. “Suit and Tie” almost immediately jumped to number one when released, and “Mirrors” has already reached top five and is still climbing. Favorite songs from the album are “Don’t Hold The Wall” and Photo credit: RCA Records “Strawberry Bubblegum.” “Don’t Hold The Wall” is a solid song all the way through, especially the male and female conversation parts and the chorus. In “Strawberry Bubblegum,” the final two minutes put the song into the favorites category. “I think the album is good. It has some really upbeat songs, but also some slower and more meaningful ones,” senior Emily O’Reilly said. “I would rate it a 7 out of 10, but Justin Timberlake is hot, so that automatically makes it a 10 out of 10.” This album has a nice pop feel to it, but it isn’t too obnoxious. JT also mixes it up with a slower song titled “Blue Ocean Floor.” The 20/20 Experience Part 2 has officially been announced for release later this year, which exciting news after hearing part one. This album is definitely all it is hyped up to be.
The Host by Ashley Zamichieli
Photo credit: Pocket Books
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment
Emily will be writing a book review for each issue. She is open to suggestions!
Spotlight
Stephanie Meyers is most famously known for her vampire saga, “Twilight.” But before the four-part series finished its multiple debuts onto the New York Times Bestsellers list, her novel “The Host” was racking up its own sea of fans. After all the hype of “Twilight” finally wore down, it was time for “The Host” to hit the big screen. But, after all these years of waiting, did the movie meet the anticipated reaction readers were hoping for? “The Host,” originally published in May 2008, is a science fiction/romance story set in the future where Earth as we know it is long gone. “Souls,” as they’re called in the novel, have come to take over in hopes of returning peace and tranquility to the planet. The story itself revolves around a soul named Wanderer who is implanted into the host body (human body) of a girl named Melanie, who was one of the few humans still not overtaken by the aliens. Melanie’s presence grows stronger as the novel progresses; this is not supposed to happen, and she leads Wanderer on a journey in hopes of finding the ones she had risked her life for, praying that they’re still alive. Needless to say, the book was complicated and took about the first 100 pages to explain what exactly differentiated hosts from humans, souls, and seekers. The movie merely brushed over this, and if you hadn’t read the book prior to the movie, there’s a good chance you were a bit confused throughout the film. “Had I not read the book I would not have had as well as an understanding of what the movie was even prefacing,” sophomore Gabrielle
Koehnlein said. “Besides, understanding what is going on is pretty important in terms of knowing why [the aliens are] invading, because that’s the basis of the whole book.” Another thing that was a downfall on the director’s part was the sound control between Melanie and Wanderer. Melanie is supposed to be inside Wanderer’s head, telling her what to do and where to go, but that is much easier read than done. When Melanie first speaks to Wanderer in the movie, it makes most of the people in theater jump out of their seats because the voice is overpowering. The movie wasn’t all bad, though. The set and scenes were fantastic, and there wasn’t anything the screenwriters missed in terms of broad concepts and ideas. Trying to squeeze a 600-page book into less than three hours is a challenge, and they did not leave anything too important out. “I thought the movie was great; I read the book awhile ago and loved it then,” sophomore Leah Hantz said. “Although I wish they showed more of the animosity between some of the characters, because it was much more prevalent in the book” “The Host” itself is a nice overview of the book, and keeps you at the edge of your seat. But, if the choice between the book or the movie had to be made, the book would definitely win.
Photo credit: Little, Brown & Company
Entertainment Page
APRIL 2013
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Maroon 5 Rocks Philly by McKenzie Browne The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia has been host to thousands of events, ranging from Flyers hockey games to a sold out Bon Jovi concert. On Thursday, April 4, the WFC hosted yet another huge concert, which starred hit pop-rock band, Maroon 5. Philly was the 32nd stop on the North American “Overexposed” Tour. This is Maroon 5’s fourth worldwide tour to celebrate their fourth studio album, “Overexposed,” released in June 2012. The concert began with two very well known opening acts. First up was Myspace breakout star Owl City, who was then followed by alternative rock band Neon Trees. Owl City closed their set with “Good Time,” the song that has been made so annoyingly popular at Southern Lehigh through the morning announcements. Neon Trees, who are becoming very popular of late, played around five songs, including their biggest hits, “Animal” and “Everybody Talks.” Once the opening bands finished and got the energy pumping in the building, there was about a half hour break to get the stage ready to go. Finally the lights went dim, and Maroon 5 took their spots behind the huge curtain hanging in front of the stage. The curtain dropped, and Adam Levine broke out in song with some of today’s best known lyrics, “I’m at a payphone!” The rest of the setlist for the night was definitely an incredible one. It featured a total of 18 songs from all of their albums (2002-2012). Many of the older songs featured included “Sunday Morning,” “Harder to Breathe,” “This Love,” and the obvious crowd favorite, “She Will Be Loved.” “Maroon 5 definitely lived up to my expectations,” junior Amanda Lewis said. “They played so many of their old songs, and they were all fun and upbeat.” The best song they played, in her opinion? An acoustic version of “She Will Be Loved.” Maroon 5 also stole the night with performances of their new songs that most had been hearing live for the first time ever. “Payphone,” “Lucky Strike,” “Stereo Hearts,” “Daylight,” and “One More Night” were among the newer songs. Sophomore Julia Asselin thought the concert was “unbelievably awesome.” “I thought Maroon 5 was amazing!” she said. “The concert went beyond my expectations and I loved all the songs they played off of their new album.” After Maroon 5 finished their regular set, they went off stage and came back on for a four-song encore. They closed with one of their top selling, most popular songs of all time, “Moves Like Jagger.” Overall, the concert was one of the best I personally have ever attended. The way they put on a show was absolutely incredible. Maroon 5 left thousands of fans from the Philly area with enough memories to fill a lifetime.
Photo credit: McKenzie Browne
42: A Number That Changed The Game by McKenzie Browne On Friday, April 12, the newest sports blockbuster was released into theaters across America. “42” is an inspirational movie about Jackie Robinson, the first professional African-American baseball player. It tells his story about how he fought through all the racism of the 1940s and became one of the greatest baseball players of all time. The movie begins with Brooklyn Dodgers team executive Branch Rickey calling up Jackie Robinson. He invites him to leave his Kansas City team in the black-only league to compete for a spot on the Dodgers’ affiliate team, the Montreal Royals, and eventually the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he will wear the number 42. “42” takes place mostly in Florida where racism is huge at the time. The Dodgers are from New York, but are in Florida for the annual spring training. Residents of the town where they are playing do not take lightly to Robinson living there. The issue of racism in the film, although the
worst in the south, is also highly present in northern cities including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. When playing Pittsburgh, Robinson is purposely hit in the head with a pitch simply because he is black. Also, while at bat in Philly, he is taunted by the Phillies’ head coach and is called awful names over and over again. This film tells the story of Jackie Robinson’s life in a very inspiring way. The way it shows how the game of baseball has evolved is amazing. It truly shows how bad racism was during the 1940s and how hard it was for Robinson to be accepted as a professional baseball player. “42” is not only a movie for baseball players or those who are die hard fans, but also a movie for every American. I highly recommend you see this movie to see an inspirational story about a black man in an all-white game of baseball when racism is at its prime, as well as to understand why baseball is considered America’s national pastime.
NOW PLAYING Pain & Gain The Big Wedding Mud At Any Price 42 Iron Man 3
The Iceman Scary MoVie G.I. Joe: Retaliation Oblivion Olympus Has Fallen The Croods
Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
COMING SOON The Great Gatsby (May 10) Peeples (May 10) Aftershock (May 10) Star Trek Into Darkness (May 17) Fast & Furious 6 (May 24) The Hangover Part III (May 24)
Epic (May 24) Before Midnight (May 24) After Earth (May 31) Now You See Me (May 31) The Kings of Summer (May 31) The East (May 31)
Spotlight
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Girls Lacrosse Shoots to Shine This Season by Kylie Schmitt
Girls Lacrosse team huddles during their game against the Baldwin School. Photo credit: Dave Browne
The Southern Lehigh girls’ lacrosse team recently began their spring season. The team, lead by senior captains Katelyn Ambrose, Lily Shields, Mariah Moyer and Cailyn Breski, is currently 7-2. The girls started off the season rough with a loss to Upper Perkiomen and Baldwin School. But that did not slow them down; in their third game of the season, they came back from being down against Emmaus to win by one goal. “[W]e were on a roll after Emmaus,” sophomore Kristin Kidd said. “It feels great to make such a strong comeback after out slow start.” The team has continued on a winning streak beating Moravian, Easton and Nazareth. Nazareth was a big game since last year Nazareth beat the girls, knocking them out of playoffs. That loss gave them the motivation to go on and beat Nazareth 11-5 this season. “It was awesome crushing Nazareth [because] they beat us in district finals last year,” sophomore Lizzy Lievendag said. “You could see they were getting upset with each other, and it was great because we really worked as a team.” The team is working hard to prepare for one their toughest games this season against Wyoming Seminary on April 18th. Playoffs begin May 16th.
Solehi Track Team Ready, Set, Spike! Sprints to Success by Cody Heffelfinger
by Robyn Somers
On Thursday March 4th, the Southern Lehigh track team held a meet against Pen Argyl and Catasauqua. The girls defeated both teams, while the boys defeated Pen Argyl, but lost to Catasauqua 73.5 to 75.5. The stars of the meet, Robyn Somers and Katelyn Bergey, tied for first place with a time of 13.5 seconds in the 100-meter dash. For the 200-meter dash, a girl from Catasauqua reigned supreme with a 28.3 followed by sophomore Robyn Somers with a 28.4. For the boys 100-meter dash, Catasauqua took first and second place, but junior Trent Silfies came in third with an 11.8. In the boys 200 meter dash, Catasauqua took first and second. In third place, there was a tie between Southern Lehigh senior Daniel Marant and another Catasauqua athlete. In the 400-meter run, senior Collin Bergey came in first in 53.7 seconds. As for the girls, junior Dana Musgnung came in first with a time of 1:04.8. In the 800, Rosalie Mattiola came in first for Southern Lehigh. For the boys’ 800, Isaac Mosebrook came in second while Catasauqua took first. In the mile and the two mile, Ryan McGinty came in second. For the girls mile, Isamarie Ramos came in first with her time being 5:48.6. In the two mile, senior Shelby White came in first with a time of 13:26.1. Lauren Bertucci and Daniel Fulmer took first place for both the 300 and 100-meter girls’ and boys’ hurdles. Southern Lehigh girls took first for all of the jumping events, second for shot put, and first for discus and javelin. The boys did not do as well, and were beaten for most of those events. However, senior Tyler Glueck came in first for discus. Girls took first for both the 4-by-100 meter relay and the 4-by800 meter relay, running the times of 55.0 and 11:13.7. The boys came in first for the 4-by-400 meter and 4-by-800 meter relays, running a 3:44.1 and 8:50.9. In jumping and pole vaulting, Southern Lehigh took quite a few first and second places. Some of the pole vaulters even passed seven feet for the first time. “I think that overall everyone did really well and brought a lot of competition with them,” team captain Michelle Moreira said. “Southern Lehigh did good and the girls are still undefeated.”
A boys volleyball team at Southern Lehigh? Since when? The team is in its second year of existence, and holds a current record of 1-2. “I think we can become better this year if we take practice seriously and not goof around as much as we do,” senior Jake Cummings said. The players have a lot of fun on the team no matter what their record is. They don’t care if they’re winning or losing. No matter what, they go out and play hard every game. “I enjoy going to practices and playing in the games,” sophomore Logan Koch said. “They are always entertaining and fun.” As a second year team, they don’t have much experience, but they’re working hard to improve. “I think our best player has to be Ian ‘Merica’ Sullivan, because he can hit the hardest,” sophomore Scott Gehman said. With promising young players, it won’t be long until the team competes for a title.
LAX Bros Shoot and Score by Alex Baca
The Southern Lehigh Spartans boys’ lacrosse team has started what they hope to be a successful 2013 season, with key players leading the way. Standout junior midfielder Greg Farris has already committed to play at Lehigh. Other key players are senior goalie Tim Flounders, junior attacks Zach Wilson and Ryan Kearns, junior midfielder Tom Dex, and freshman midfielder Michael Nelson. “We’ve done really good,” freshman JV player Blake Levengood said. “But I personally think we could do better.” So far, the Spartans have a 3-5 record. Their five losses came from Emmaus, Nazareth Parkland, Easton and Newhope Solebury. Their first win was an easy 13-1 win against Bethlehem Catholic. In the following two wins, they beat both Moravian Academy and Saucon Val-
ley.
“Central Catholic is probably the biggest team we want to beat,” Farris said. “[They have] a very good lacrosse team that has won many district titles over the years and it would be awesome to beat them.” Since Southern Lehigh, Saucon Valley, and Moravian Academy are the only Colonial League schools that have lacrosse teams, the Spartans play against the competitive Lehigh Valley Conference schools, so they have a harder schedule to follow. But, they hope to try their hardest against these teams. “Our goal is to make the district playoffs,” Farris said. “Winning districts is the biggest goal our team has.”
april 2013
Sports
Spartans Determined to Dominate the Diamond by Cody Heffelfinger
Starting their season off right, the Southern Lehigh baseball team is now 9-3. They have high expectations this year and were eager to get their year started. Beating Central Catholic 1-0 in the first game of the year, the Spartans earned Head coach Todd Miller his 200th career win. Junior Nikos Milios had the teams only RBI of the game in the fourth inning. Pete Long was the winning pitcher with two strikeouts and one walk. “It was pretty cool to win Coach Miller his 200th win,” senior Pat Rhoads said. “Its nice to be a part of something special like that.” The Spartans leading pitcher, Pete Long, is currently three-zero on the season with 11 strikeouts and four walks. Nikos Milios is leading the team with eight runs batted in. “The goal has been the same from the start,” junior Trevor Musselman said. “We show up and work hard everyday, so we can win.” Are they doing everything they can to win a championship?
“We need to practice hard just as if we are playing a game,” Tyler Mann said. “We need to play every game, every inning, every pitch like it’s our last. The little things will take us far.” With six starters returning, the Spartans are looking for them to step up to help them win the championship. According to sophomore Preston Amato, “Not one player is more important than the other; we need a group effort to win a championship.”
Senior Jake Hendrzak throws a pitch during his start against Palisades (Left). Sophomore Preston Amato makes an out against Palisades High School in their game (Top). The team huddles around the pitchers mound during their game (Right). Photo credit: Ashley Dawe
Southern Lehigh Goes Mad for March Madness Brackets by Anna Simoneau Southern Lehigh students, teachers, and many others across the U.S. have joined the melee of March Madness, filling out brackets to predict the outcome of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament each March. This year’s tournament was fraught with upsets, such as Harvard’s 68-62 win over third seed New Mexico, and 15th seed Florida Gulf Coast’s surprise journey to the Sweet 16, beating Georgetown and San Diego State. Ninth seed Wichita State also went further than expected, making it to the Final Four, the furthest a ninth-seed team has ever gone. The Final Four came down to Louisville vs. Wichita State and Michigan vs. Syracuse. Wichita State fell to the Cardinals losing 72-68. Syracuse also fell, coming close at the end but losing 61-56 to Michigan. This led to the championship game, Louisville versus Michigan. Louisville, already a strong team, had extra motivation to win after the gruesome injury to Kevin Ware in the Elite Eight against Duke, while Michigan was chasing their first championship win since 1989. The championship was close and Michigan was only up one point at the half. The game stayed close until the final five minutes, when Louisville
pulled forward with a 15-point lead to win the game 82-76. So now that the nerve wracking, yet exciting journey through March Madness is over, our teachers and students look back on this year’s tournament. “My bracket was horrible, I only had one of my picked Final Four teams actually make it that far,” junior Eric Scott said about his bracket predictions. “I also had Indiana winning the championship, but they lost in the Sweet Sixteen.” Arguably the most exciting parts of March Madness are the upsets and Cinderella stories of small, unheard-of teams knocking out the top seed giants. “[I thought the best upset was] Wichita State. They knocked out number one seed Gonzaga and made it to the final four,” junior Connor Lamelza said. In the end, despite our destroyed brackets, March Madness is still a thrilling way to start the spring sport season. “I thought it was fun because of the upsets,” social studies teacher Mr. Lee Zeisloft said. “As a North Carolina fan, however, I was disappointed, but excited to see good basketball.”
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Odds and Ends
Spotlight APril 2013
Sick of Instagram? Try Out These Cool New Photo Editing Apps! By Abby Muth
With social media growing, networks such as Twitter and Instagram have a higher demand for photos. This means people will want to edit those photos to make them look more presentable. Before Instagram, Twitter, and many other social media sites became popular, photo editing was mainly for the professionals. Now that more people have iPhones, iPods, or some other form of iSomething, more want to share photos their photos, which creates a demand for photo editing apps. Let’s be real, no one wants to put a picture out there and have it look bad. There are hundreds of apps for editing photos, but a few popular apps work best for the majority. These four apps are very popular amongst Instagrammers, and also people who just like to make their photos look a little more interesting.
Lo-Mob: $1.99 Lo-mob is great if you like to change up your pictures but don’t feel that you have the creative ability to change it all on your own. This app has set filters to choose from. Most of them are vintage-looking, so if you want to make your pictures look old and retro, lomob is the way to go.
Camera Bag: $1.99 Camera Bag is similar to Lo-mob in the sense that you don’t get to edit your pictures, and instead you just choose a filter. A few of these filters are also vintage inspired, but there are also very unique ones that no other app has. For many of the filters, you can change the color of them by double tapping the photo.
Afterlight: $0.99 This is one of the most popular editing apps right now. Afterlight has many qualities that make it a popular photo editor. Instead of just picking one filter, you can adjust many different photo components such as the brightness, contrast, and saturation. You can also select from many different color filters to enhance your photo further, and you can also add a light leak to make it look unique. This app also has an array of frames to choose from, ranging from a classic circle to funky shapes like stars.
Over: $1.99 In Over, you choose a picture that you’ve already taken, and instead of editing it, you add typography to it. There are many different font styles, and you can change the color and size of the font as well. It is a very artistic app that many people use to express their thoughts on photos.