Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034
FEBRUARY 2015
Volume 58 Issue 4
The Spotlight In this
Issue:
John Halligan Shares His Son’s Story with Students by Kylie Schmitt and Lizzi Thom
Want a sneak peak at the spring musical? Page 4 has the preview for you.
Have a special someone in mind? Maybe they wrote you a valentine! Turn to center spread to find out.
Crepe takeover at the promenade shops. Read more about it on page 11.
Are you one of Southern Lehigh’s cutest couples? Check out back page to see who made the cut.
Want to see more?
On Thursday, January 29, Southern Lehigh High School students gathered in the auditorium for an assembly on bullying. As students �iled in, a slideshow of a young boy and his family �lashed across the projector screen. A few moments later, high school principal Mrs. Christine Siegfried asked for all students to give their attention to the guest speaker, Mr. John Halligan. “We decided on Ryan's Story because we felt his story was one that our student body and community could really relate to,” Mrs. Siegfried said. After introducing himself, Mr. Halligan explained he was here to tell the story of his son, Ryan, who committed suicide in 2003 when he was only 13 years old. “I thought it was going to be the typical bullying assembly where they tell you to be nice to everyone,” senior Cooper Nagle said. “I was surprised when Mr. Halligan walked on stage and told us he was going to talk about his son.” He told the story of his son who struggled with bullying since he was in �ifth grade, just as he had �inally overcome a severe language development delay. Ryan was bullied by a boy in his class as well as a few of that boy’s friends. When Ryan was in seventh grade, this teasing culminated into malicious rumors that Ryan was gay. His parents knew about the torment taking place but assumed it stopped when Ryan no longer talked about it. It turns out, the bullying continued all through the summer between seventh and eighth grade. The morning of October 7, 2003, while Mr. Halligan was on a business trip, he received his wife’s call that Ryan had killed himself. That day changed his and his family’s life forever. Since Ryan did not leave a suicide note, Mr. Halligan wanted to search for answers about his son’s death. He found a folder on the computer that contained copies of all of Ryan’s AIM (instant messaging) chats. There he found out about the bullying, rumors, and schoolmates that started it all. Ryan had spent much of that summer chatting and building a relationship with a female classmate. However, when they returned to school in the fall, the girl told him that it was a joke, and she pretended to like him to �ind out personal information which she shared with her friends. Ryan was devastated, and ended his life not long afterward. Mr. Halligan was so upset by the cruel events leading to his son’s death, that he wanted to take action. After
discovering that there was no law to deal with this level of bullying, he took steps that resulted in the passing of Vermont’s Bully Prevention Law - Act 117, “an act relating to teaching signs of and responses to depression and risk of suicide in public schools.” Mr. Halligan has used this tragedy to help educate people on how to help others who are being bullied and the effects of peers terrorizing each other. He has been telling Ryan’s story for over ten years now and has been to over 1,000 schools in 40 states, Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. He has also appeared on televised interviews on Primetime with Diane Sawyer, PBS Frontline, and Oprah. “I thought he was a very good public speaker especially since it was something so personal and probably really hard to talk about,” senior Maddie Hallman said. In addition to speaking to students, Mr. Halligan also held an assembly in the evening for parents to learn about strategies to help their children cope with harassment. He hopes to educate other parents by explaining his own mistakes with Ryan. “The parent program focused on speci�ic things that parents could do to monitor their child's behavior as well as have open discussions with them about bullying,” Mrs. Siegfried said. Many students agree that this assembly is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. It is one thing to hear facts and statistics, but the heart wrenching �irst-hand account surely changed perspectives. “ I believe that every one of us walked away from that assembly with something that resonated with us in regards to bullying and it's negative effects,” Mrs. Siegfried said. “I encourage our students to make the culture of our school one that is positive and respectful.” The American Justice Department bullying statistics show that one out of every four kids will be bullied sometime throughout their adolescence. Southern Lehigh is aware that bullying is an issue in the school system. In order to help control this issue, the Student Assistance Program (SAP) is in place. SAP is made up of specially trained school staff who are capable of helping to remove possible barriers of student success. If anyone is concerned about a fellow classmate dealing with bullying or any other serious issues, SAP forms can be found in all classrooms and turned into the guidance of�ice. For more information about the Halligan family and bullying prevention, students are encouraged to visit www.ryansstory.org.
Photo Credits: ryansstory.org
2
NEWS
Southern Lehigh High School 5800 Main Street Center Valley, PA 18034 (610) 282-1421 x7122 slsdspotlight@gmail.com http://slspotlight.com
Jenna Forrester Appointed to USMA Earning herself a spot on the West Point Military Academy swimming and diving team, senior Jenna Forrester plans to start life as a cadet. by Lizzi Thom
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. Sponsorship rates are furnished upon request. Forrester receives a certificate of appointment needed to attend West Point Military Academy. Photo Credit: Jenna Forrester
Faculty Adviser Mrs. Marlo Spritzer
Editor-in-Chief Dana DiGiovanni
News Editor
Ashley Zamichieli
Features Editor Talia Trackim
Entertainment Editor Nicole Schroy
The West Point Military Academy will be adding a Southern Lehigh cadet-in-training next fall, senior Jenna Forrester. She plans to major in a life science or a foreign language, such as Arabic or Spanish. With her eyes set on the Medical Corps branch, she will compete as a Black Knight with West Point’s swimming & diving team. Founded in 1802, the prestigious school located in West Point, New York, has a very low acceptance rate of nine percent, with just under 5000 undergraduates enrolled. In order to be considered for acceptance, each hopeful must by Dana DiGiovanni
Katie Cole
Sports Editor
Cody Heffelfinger
Our World Editor Ashley Zamichieli
In-Depth Editor Kylie Schmitt
Web Editors
Copy Editor Lizzi Thom
2014 PSPA Gold Rating 2013 PSPA Silver Rating
obtain a recommendation letter from a congressional representative. Congressman Charlie Dent wrote Forrester’s letter. “I went up for a junior day and fell in love with the school and the people there. I continued my application and went back up for an of�icial visit and knew it was for me,” Forrester said. “I hadn't really thought of West Point until junior year when I began my college search and saw the opportunity to get one of the top educations in the country, and then help defend our country.” Tuition is entirely funded by the U.S. Army in exchange for active-service duty obligation. On top of that, a �irstyear cadet earns more than 900 dollars a month, and the amount increases each year. A portion of that cadet pay is deposited into a personal checking account. Another portion of cadet pay is deposited to a "cadet account" that is used to help a cadet pay for expenses such as uniforms, books, a computer, or activity fees. Each student is referred to as cadet, and will graduate as a second lieutenant in the Army. After West Point, second lieutenants must serve for �ive years on active duty. After West Point Jenna plans to go to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a medical school for the uniformed services, to one day become a military trauma surgeon. “I'm most excited for being a part of the swim team and getting to know all of them,” Forrester said. “I'm also really excited to get my uniforms!” One would think an intense army academy would be all work and no play, but Forrester is not phased. She is reassured that the cadets �ind ways to have fun. “Being on the swim team it will be much different than not being on a team,” Forrester said. “I will spend most of my day with my team; they will make the experience more enjoyable and easier.”
Push Your Fitness to the Maxx
Opinion Editor
Kylie Schmitt Robyn Somers
SPOTLIGHT
In place of the old PathMark, Saucon Valley Square is revamped with Maxx Fitness. Photo Credit: Dana DiGiovanni
Residents of the Lehigh Valley were recently given the opportunity to push their �itness to the Maxx. A brand new Maxx Fitness Clubzz opened along Route 378 in Bethlehem, where a Pathmark previously resided. Maxx Fitness Clubzz offers a wide variety of exercise equipment for everyone. With over 20,000 square feet of space, the options seem endless. With a starting price of only 10 dollars a month, this gym seems a little too good to be true. For those looking to improve their cardio, Maxx Fitness offers 100 state-of-the-art machines, each equipped with its own 17-inch LCD TV. In addition, there are two separate
rooms designed for cardio training. One room is speci�ically designed for spinning classes with many indoor cycles and an elevated stage for the instructor. Another room, called the CineMaxx, is a movie theatre. This is not your typical cinema, however; instead of seats, there are treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals. Maxx plans on playing a different movie every day. “It’s great because you get to be healthy but hang out with your friends at the same time,” senior and Maxx Fitness member Julie Williston said. “Everyone really encourages each other and it’s a fun atmosphere!” For those more into weight training, Maxx Fitness provides a complete lineup of Life�itness strength training and free weights. “Their workout equipment is top notch,” senior and Maxx Fitness member Michael Ouly said. “I like to pick things up and put them down.” But wait, there’s more! With the purchase of a premium membership, 10 dollars extra each month, you can access unlimited group classes and tanning. GroupX classes range from yoga and kickboxing, to ZUMBA, and much more. You can view their weekly schedule and sign up for classes through their website. The addition of Maxx Fitness Clubzz has contributed to the revitalization of Saucon Valley Square, as well as Revolutions sports bar and the Dollar Tree. At The Maxx, they strive to deliver the best experience at the best price so that you don’t give up and you achieve the best results: The Maxx Results.
FEBRUARY 2015 Students Adjust to Changes in Grading and Assessments by Alex Baca and Kylie Schmitt
The beginning of the 2014-2015 school year brought a lot of changes to Southern Lehigh High School. Students learned on the �irst day of school that there would be no more midterms and that all classes are now required to assign a �inal project in addition to a traditional �inal exam. Moreover, students were informed that grades in all courses would now be calculated by weighted categories rather than a total points system.
No More Midterms
In previous years, students would have been coming back from winter break a few weeks ago, and starting to prepare for midterm exams. This year is different, however, as the school board voted to end midterms beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. “The real reason why the high school administration requested that we eliminated the midterms is because we’re trying to encourage more application of content in real-life projects that apply to the real world,” superintendent Dr. Leah Christman said. Now the cumulative �inal exam will cover everything students have learned from the last week of August all the way until the �irst week of June. With the elimination of midterms, the �inal exam will account for 20 percent of the student’s overall grade in the class. Some students, such as junior CJ Maron, think no more midterms can be bene�icial in a way. “I think it removes a bit of stress from the middle of the year, with the change of classes,” he said. “But I think it puts pressure on the end of the year with [cumulative] �inals.”
Final Projects
All classes are now required to have �inal projects as a component of their �inal exam grades. The written �inal exam makes up 60 percent of the student’s �inal exam grade, while projects are worth 40 percent of the student’s �inal exam grade. Teachers were encouraged to spread out the parts of the project throughout the year. “We have asked teachers to have parts of the project due over the course of the year so that students do not have six to eight projects due in the same week at the end of the year,” principal Mrs. Christine Siegfried said. “I think the projects allow students to showcase what they’ve learned in a way other than taking a written test,” English teacher Mrs. Amy Bausher said. “I just think it allows students to, in some cases, express creativity and knowledge of curriculum rather than taking a traditional paper-and-pen test.”
Weighted Grades
Finally, the last change for the school year is that high school administrators have required teachers of all courses to calculate grades by weighted categories as opposed to the total points system that many teachers used previously. Tests, homework, classwork and participation are all examples of categories that would be individually weighted within a class. “I don’t mind the weighted grades too much,” sophomore Mark Gianguzi said. “They help bring your grades up if you are struggling. If you do bad on one test and good on another, it can bring your grades up.” Categories are supposed to be consistent among teachers who teach the same course, but categories may be weighted differently from one course to the next. For example, Course A might have tests and quizzes worth 60 percent of students’ grades, while homework is 20 percent, and participation is another 20 percent. Course B might have tests and quizzes at 70 percent, with homework and classwork making up 30 percent of the quarter grade. “If one teacher gave two extra quizzes, but both classes have the quiz category weighted at 30 percent, the quiz grade still has the same effect in both classes on the overall quarter grade,” assistant principal Mr. Jason Lilly said. “In the traditional ‘total points’ system, the teacher with the extra quizzes would have their quizzes counting more in the �inal grade than the other teacher.” The administration believes the weighted categories will provide more consistency for students among all teachers and courses.
NEWS
3
New Science Courses Offer More Choices by Preston Amato
Planning for the 2015-2016 school year is already underway, with course selection taking place now. Students are looking forward to several changes to the curriculum including the addition of several new courses to the science department. The new courses include AP Physics I, AP Physics II, Applied Chemistry, Forensic Science, Zoology, AP Environmental Science, Genetics and Biotechnology, and Honors Anatomy and Physiology. “I plan and hope to be taking some of these classes in the future of my high school career,” freshman Olivia McDermott said. “These courses relate to some courses I may need to take in college so it will give me a good start into my future career.” The new classes vary in dif�iculty and give students the opportunity to build their transcripts for college. Students are able to take introductory courses such as zoology all the way up to advanced classes such as AP Physics II. “The advantage to the variety of the classes is that there is a different dif�iculty for all paths of students,” sophomore Timmy Walter said. “These new courses will allow me to take classes in high school at a CP level that I might take in college.” The school is buzzing with excitement for the new science classes, with creative advertisements on the morning announcements and the excitement over the availability to learn something new and different in the coming years. “I think I’ll be taking forensic sciences,” junior Dylan Niedbalski said. “I am excited for the reason that it’s something that I have always been interested in, and now that the school gives this opportunity, I can learn more about it.”
Students Attend Multicultural Leadership Conference
by Emily Oberlender On January 17, �ifteen Southern Lehigh High School freshmen and sophomores gathered together at Lehigh University for the �ifth annual Multicultural Student Leadership Conference presented by The Lehigh Valley Student Leadership Association. The conference was designed to encourage and motivate students to become leaders. Southern Lehigh students were able to participate due to the efforts of assistant principal Mrs. Beth Guarriello who organized and recruited freshman and sophomores to attend this year’s conference. “I used to work with Harrison Bailey, one of the men who started this conference. I really wanted to get Southern Lehigh involved in such a bene�icial activity,” Mrs. Guarriello said. “Being a leader is dif�icult. This conference gives students that extra push to shine at their full potential.” The conference was organized by Mr. Harrison Bailey III, principal of Liberty High School. He created this conference six years ago along with Mr. Tyrone Russell and Mr. Ferdinad Surita. “We knew that we often ask students to be leaders, but we don’t do a lot to teach them how to be a leader,” Mr. Bailey said. “We realized we had to train students and give them exposure.” Throughout the day, there were multiple activities including four workshops: What’s Your “Y,” which focused on discovering purpose, Seize the Day, which taught students how to make the most of time, Information is Power, which concentrated on being educated, and Opportunity is The New Freedom, which suggested that students take advantage of new experiences. Also at the conference, there many key speakers, panel discussions with questions, and even a college and career fair which featured 12 local and statewide postsecondary schools along with local workers in different jobs. “I took away multiple leadership skills, and I got to learn about many different colleges that I’m interested in,” freshman Vanessa Oviedo said. Along with Southern Lehigh, 15 other local high schools were represented at the conference. Thanks to many sponsors including PPL, Wells Fargo, Air Products, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and Easton Coach, all 450 students invited to the conference attended for free. Along with the experience, they also got complimentary breakfast and lunch. The Southern Lehigh students who participated all appreciated the experience. “I enjoyed the conference a lot,” freshman Shea Sullivan said. “It gave me ideas of what to think about along with different career options.”
4
FEATURES
SPOTLIGHT
SL Theater Presents The Drowsy Chaperone by Talia Trackim
It’s show time again at Southern Lehigh High School! Students in the theater program are preparing to perform the musical comedy, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” “[This musical] probably bears the closest resemblance to ‘Shrek’; however, it’s still not similar,” senior Madison Hallman, who plays Janet Van de Graaff, said. “Unlike many of the past shows we’ve done, this show is very much a comedy, so much in fact that I would say it’s is more of a comedy then a musical.” This musical is much newer than some of Southern Lehigh’s recent productions such as “42nd Street” or “Cats.” “The Drowsy Chaperone” features an agoraphobic man with a passion for musicals. One night he listens to his favorite musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and the record comes to life in his apartment. The record’s storyline follows an actress named Janet Van de Graaff who is soon to be wed to Robert Martin. Janet’s producer, relying on her to sell his show, works desperately to stop the wedding, creating room for other enjoyable sub-plots and side-stories to take the stage. “The hardest part of putting the show together so far is probably portraying the fact that the actors in the show within a show are actually a record playing,” sophomore Giulana Augello, who plays the title character, said. “At some points the record gets turned down or stopped, which results in the actors getting quieter or freezing for elongated periods of time. Also, at one point, the record starts to skip, so the actors on stage must perform the same movements over and over until the record skip ends.” Unlike the classic numbers from the fall production, “The Sound of Music,” this musical features jazzy tunes and upbeat melodies. “The musical style of the show is jazz and big band,” Augello said. “In the orchestra this year, there are no strings or woodwinds, but mostly brass instruments in order to portray the style of music correctly.” The performers look forward to perfecting their performance for opening night. “I’m really excited to �inally piece the show together and perform,” sophomore Lexi Brown said. The show will run from March 4 to March 8. For tickets and information, call 484-919-3851 or email SouthernLehighTheatre@gmail.com The Drowsy Chaperone comes to Southern Lehigh on March 4th.
Looking for an Adventurous Club? by Robyn Somers
Southern Lehigh boasts many new student groups this year, including adventure club, where students get together outside of school to go on fun adventures. Founded by junior Jocelyn Burns, and supervised by Mrs. Dottery, Mrs. Wlodek, and Mr. Gaugler, the club is booming with interest. “My friends and I were talking about how other schools have adventure clubs. And they do it for the discounts of group rates,” Burns said. “So we decided that we should make one for Southern Lehigh, for that reason and others.” “When you bring big groups in, it costs less than it normally would,” adviser and math teacher Mrs. Beth Dottery said. “Transportation is provided, and these are like nonacademic �ield trips. It is a club for smaller groups of students to get together and do things they normally wouldn’t do.” During the Spartan period on Day 2, students who joined the club get together to plan events. Together they plan trips that students, even ones not in the club, can participate in outside of school. Club members encourage students from all grades to come along, and provides transportation and a chaperone to accompany the group.
The Adventure club takes various trips, including going horsebacking riding. Photo Credit: Jocelyn Burns
Senior Shannon Barry enjoys being an active member of the adventure club. “It is a chance to do things out of my comfort zone. I also like being able to organize the events and create �lyers for them,” she said. “Overall, adventure club is a great club to be involved in.” “The only problem is that we are lacking participation in the events,” Burns said. There are times and announcements about the trips on Mrs. Dottery’s website, the morning announcements, and �lyers posted all over the building. “The participation has been very frustrating, but our hope is that next semester will be better,” adviser Mrs. Jennifer Wlodek said. “This is also open for the whole student body. We even have transportation, and the bigger the group the less it costs per student. Also keep in mind, us teachers are not there patrolling; we are enjoying it too.” Going alone or with a few friends costs much more than going with the group. Students can sign up for any of the trips and tag along with friends. Or you can join the Spartan period, and help plan all the events. Upcoming events that are being planned now include snow tubing, a zip-lining and ropes course, and archery.
FEBRUARY 2015
FEATURES
5
SL Students Play in PMEA District 10 Band by Kylie Schmitt
Beginning in early December, auditions for the PMEA District 10 Band were held at Parkland High School. Three Southern Lehigh High School students were selected for this prestigious band. Seniors Eric Boyd and Matt Delsordo, and junior Luke Simons were all chosen to participate in the 2015 PMEA District 10 Band concert held on Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 10, hosted at Exeter High School. Over 800 students from a seven-county area had the opportunity to audition for the this very competitive concert band. Around 100 students were selected. Boyertown, Blue Mountain, Easton, Emmaus, and Freedom are just a few of the other schools that were represented at the PMEA District 10 concert. The band was guest conducted by Dr. Andrew Yozviak, the Director of Bands at West Chester University. “It was a great weekend. The students were extremely professional, worked hard through two long days of rehearsal and presented two very musical concerts,” Dr. Yozviak said. “So very proud of their efforts!” Boyd, DelSordo, and Simons decided to audition this year after successfully auditioning in years past. Boyd, who has been playing the trumpet since fourth grade, said he was not nervous going into the audition since he knew what to expect from the year before. “I decided to audition again since it worked out well for me in the past. This year I had a great time,” he said. “I really enjoyed the guest conductor Andrew Yozviak. He was awesome and really fun to be around.” Each student auditioned alone in front of a panel of music teachers. The songs were picked by the judges for students to play and each instrument was assigned a different song. This year’s song for auditioning trumpeters was the Hummel Trumpet Concerto composed by Johann Nepomuk. The concert lasted about an hour and a half. They played four songs and ended with a four-piece movement called Shadow Catcher composed by Eric Ewazen. “I think the show went really well.” DelSordo said. “Everything sounded great and people really seemed to enjoy it.” The �irst night of the concert, students re-auditioned to see if they could move on to regions. Luke Simons was selected participate in the Region V Band. The concert will be hosted at East Stroudsburg South High School on February 11th-14th. From there the students go through a similar process and can audition to be a part of the state band. “I have always had a love of music,” Simons said. “I am inspired by it and plan to go on and have a career in it.” Southern Lehigh instrumental music teacher Mr. Doug Bolasky said the the show went very well, especially since before Thursday these people had never met each other and had to come together as a group.
Luke Simons (left), Eric Boyd, and Matt Delsordo played in the PMEA District 10 Band. Photo credit: Kylie Schmitt
“Successorys” Reward Teacher Success
A new system comes to Southern Lehigh that allows students to reward their teachers and other staff members for their helpfulness, guidance, and positive influence. by Allison Borelli Maybe you’ve seen the half sheets of paper appearing around your classroom or hung up on the wall. On most of these sheets, there’s one word that stands out the most: “Successory.” What are they? “In my mind, they’re basically a thank you note with a reason,” science teacher Mr. Rick Dreves said. The Successory (pronounced Suhk-ses-uh-ree) program is new for Southern Lehigh. They provide students with a way to say “thank you for helping me out at this point” and to give recognition to the staff for doing a good job. “The idea is that we have lots of ways to recognize students for the great things they’re doing, but sometimes we forget about the adults,” Superintendent Leah Christman said. If a student wants to �ill one out, they can go about doing it one of two ways. To submit a Successory online, go onto the school website and click on the student center. On the left side is a link called “Successory Recognition.” Once a student has clicked that, it will take them to a page informing them about the Successory program. Then, they simply have to
click on the “Successory form” link, �ill out the form from there, and press submit. The second option is to go to the of�ice and grab one of the paper forms. If you choose to do that, �ill out both the yellow and white form. Then, all you need to do is hand it to the of�ice secretaries. The reason for �illing out two forms is because one copy is kept for the records, and the other is sent to the corresponding staff member. “As a teacher who got a few, I can say it’s very rewarding,” math teacher Mr. Matt Greenawald said. Southern Lehigh administrators received the idea from Dr. John Draper, a speaker that came to the school to speak to the faculty on an inservice day just before school started. Dr. Draper discovered the program from the Sioux City School District, and has been spreading it to other schools ever since. “I’ve gotten three,” Mr. Dreves said. “They were the little pick me up I needed at the time.”
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SPOTLIGHT
OPINION
Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I think that we should go back to having midterms and �inal exams. I think that having just having a �inal exam will not be good for students. Once most students heard about not having midterms, they were very excited because they would not have to spend countless hours in early January studying for midterms. It sounded like a great idea until you realized how stressful it will be once �inal exam time comes. Most students do not remember what they learned last week let alone in the beginning of the school year. Along with the �inal exam administrators also decided that each student should have to complete a �inal exam project for each class they take. So that means that for every class a student takes no matter if it is a one semester class or a two semester class the student has to take a �inal exam for the class and do a �inal project. All of the projects are very lengthy and will take a lot of time and hard work. This puts a lot of stress on students because they are now required to start these projects throughout the year and still do all the work for their classes. I think that next year we should go back to the way it used to be. We should have a midterm worth ten percent of your yearend grade and a �inal worth ten percent of your year-end grade for each class. Sophomore Michelle Hendricks
Dear Editor, I wanted to share my opinion about the �inal exams and no midterms. The school board was very smart to just have �inal exams this year, with the addition of a project. I believe the addition of a project was a great idea because it gives student the creative ability to think outside the rubric. Even though these projects go throughout the year in sections, it takes a major weight off student’s shoulders knowing that they will have a protection blanket with these projects going into the �inal. For students who aren’t the best at test takers, I have noticed that will give them the extra boost of con�idence to work really hard on their projects, for a great end of the year turnout. With such a positive change, teachers and students are now given the freedom to take what they are learning outside the classroom, and make a difference in our local community. Sincerely, Sophomore Dominick Esposito
Laptop Filtering Limits Educational Opportunity by Nicole Schroy
The one-to-one student-to-laptop ratio certainly has its bene�its. And of course, like anything, there is good and bad in that ratio. Students and teachers have acknowledged that some of the “bad” includes the limited access given to certain websites, including video games. School policy makes it clear that videogames are not allowed in school. However, there are so many opportunities that the student body could potentially be missing out on when these sites are blocked. Electronic sports (eSports) is one of the fastest growing activities that is both a competitive sport viewed by millions and a hobby that is enjoyed worldwide. eSport teams participate in organized competitions in many online games including League of Legends, an online competitive game that has about 35 million monthly players. Sophomore Victor Aung attempted to get an eSports team started at Southern Lehigh High School. After spending about a month researching and raising interest, Aung took his �irst steps by writing an e-mail to the administration about the goals and bene�its of the club, and how the logistics were possible. “After a few days, I was �lat out denied,” Aung said. “I tried writing again, and asking to meet in person to discuss possibilities, but again, was denied due to the fact that the use of video games ‘goes against school policies.’” Many view video games and sports as two very different things. However, there is a clear similarity in competitive aspects. Even ESPN has embraced eSports, having streamed the multiplayer online video game Dota 2 championship in July 2014. For those who are not physically inclined, an eSports team would provide the opportunity to express competitive ambition through their mental ability. “eSports members would pursue to better themselves and compete in an activity, in this case video games rather than sports or academia,” sophomore Daniel Qian said. “One of the largest bene�its that it would provide is that opportunities for scholarships would arise only if the club was formed.” Not only would eSports be a place for students
to build leadership and teamwork skills, but it has potential to give students an academic advantage. Colleges have started to give out scholarships for those that excel in online games, such as League of Legends. “Games, both of�line and online, can be used to complement our learning and motivate us to do well during the school day,” Aung said. “Video games can be a huge distraction, and I support the school’s decision to block them during class, but as an afterschool club, eSports can be used to bene�it students, even to motivate them to do better.” With the various opportunities that could be provided through eSports, it would be a shame to see various possibilities go to waste. Physics teacher Mr. David Dougherty proposed the idea to create a game that would be an aid to teaching his students. “The game allows for opponents to launch projectiles at each other from various heights and distances. Each hit gives points and the player with the highest score wins,” Mr. Dougherty said. “I was teaching 2D-Kinematics to my Physics I class, and I needed a lab activity that would allow them to experience and practice the concepts and formulas associated with projectiles.” At the beginning of the school year, teachers were required to list goals they wanted to accomplish throughout the year. This year, teachers are required to utilize technology to supplement learning. The game that Mr. Dougherty created was one that many would see as �itting that requirement. However, the game was rejected due to the “no video game” policy for all laptops. “When I �irst heard the decision, I was upset with my administration for making the blanket rule. I now realize that they are the one party not responsible,” Dougherty said. “They are simply responding to the careless nature we all demonstrated [in the past by playing games during academic time].” Though the rules are put in order to prevent irresponsible behavior by students, not all students have contributed to the misuse of computers. The restrictions that are placed on the entire student body is depriving students of opportunities.
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FEBRUARY 2015
OPINION
Cost of College a Key Point of SOTU
7
by Lizzi Thom
President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
On January 20, 2015, President Obama addressed a Republican controlled Congress in his sixth annual State of the Union Address. With two years remaining of his second term, the President will not be eligible for reelection in 2017. That being said, his readiness for bold, controversial actions could be linked with his status as a lame duck president. In his hour long speech, Obama addressed a variety of issues and how he intends to see solutions through. Just a few of his plans include providing guaranteed paid maternity leave for every worker, improving broadband access through a “public option” that will increase private service provider competitiveness, tightening cybersecurity, raising the federal minimum wage, and providing two free years of community college for “achieving” students. Wait... free college? Well, kind of. The money has to come from somewhere. The White House announced a series of tax proposals that would raise taxes on �inancial institutions and wealthy individuals that would raise revenue to pay for his plan. These new proposals would raise taxes on capital gains that will affect only the wealthiest one percent of Americans, impose new fees on �inancial institutions that borrow heavily, and exempt Pell Grants from taxation. The proposal would hypothetically result in tuition-free classes for students attending school at least half time who maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and are making steady progress toward a degree or transferring to a four-year institution. The federal government would cover 75 percent of the average cost of community college, with states expected to pick up the remaining quarter of the tab. It is estimated the plan will cost an estimated 60 billion over 10 years. However, Obama has stressed that this is more than a legislative plan. Instead it as an effort towards a fundamental cultural shift. “I want to spread that idea all across America, so that two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today,” he said. Looking forward, a college degree is replacing a high school diploma. By 2020, an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require at least a bachelor’s degree and 30 percent will require some college or an associate’s degree. Clearly, the level of education needs to rise as an entire American workforce to compete with other advanced nations. “I don’t think it’s a feasible plan because it will raise taxes of higher income families who won’t bene�it because they will send their kids to college somewhere more prestigious,” senior Noah White said. “I don’t feel any legislation should be passed. Big name schools end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars but state schools can be very affordable. I think community college is feasible as it is for pretty much anyone.” Not everyone is as skeptical of the plan. “I support the idea but I think it should only apply to people under a certain income,” social studies teacher Mrs. Katie Quartuch said. “I also
think there should be a cap on the amount of the subsidy.” Extending public education may seem unnecessary and all too ambitious. However, nearly a century ago the movement that made public high school a reality for everyone resulted in decades of rapid American economic growth with the most educated workforce in the world. Through the 20th century, the rest of the world followed suit. Now, the demands of a growing global economy call for more knowledge than ever before. Maybe right now isn’t the best time to up our game as a country. Maybe it is. All I’m saying, widespread extended education is absolutely inevitable. Obama’s plan has little to no chance of being passed, especially with a Republican controlled House and Senate. But eventually, something similar will. Once, government-funded high school saw �ierce opposition. In hindsight, we can see how necessary it was. Now, in 2015, affordable college education is the same idea. Democrat or Republican, you have to agree, the cost of college is reaching astronomical amounts. As Obama put it, too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. Student debt is higher than ever before. The average amount of student loans has increased 25 percent over four years. Something has to be done, and soon. But what? How is it possible to save such a broken system? Why has this issue progressed to such severe degrees so fast? One would assume politicians would have done more to address the problem years ago, before our crippled education system got this out of control. Well, the most basic answer is that politicians don’t have to be too concerned with our demographic in order to be elected into of�ice. According to the U.S. Census in 2012, 45 percent of 18-29 year olds voted. Now, compare that to the 72 percent of Americans aged over 65 who voted. In short, the youngest demographic has the lowest voter turnout. When making promises to the public, Congressmen are primarily concerned with what will get them elected. If young adults want politicians to care about issues that affect them, a.k.a college debt, they have to show up to the polls �irst. “I think that something should be done to help students with debt,” Mrs. Quartuch said. “But I feel really lost on how to make that happen other than young people voting or their parents demanding government to do something about college tuition.” The president is facing severe backlash for his proposal. What people are failing to notice, is that we �inally have some sort of a plan. It’s about time someone as in�luential as the president has proposed a solution so publicly. Yeah, it’s bold. But what happens now is people criticize his plan. They come up with alternatives. They compromise. They think of other solutions. How I see it, it seems President Obama has to know this won’t go through within his last two years in of�ice. What he is really doing, is spurring debate. He is laying a foundation for the next Democratic president that could build off of his ideals.
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CENTER SPREAD
SPOTLIGHT
Valent
To: Hayley Sipling
To: Alyssa Dottery
Just 2 short months ago, I had said yes to you. In those 2 months I had visited you at your house, we had our first kiss of many, and my Mondays got much better when I saw you. The worst part of my week is when I see you walk away from my bus. They said “we would not last” I guess we proved them wrong. I love you Hayley.
Hi, my name is Ladaisha and you’re lucky that you get to be my valentine. You’re funny and you’re a great friend. You’re really pretty. (: From: Ladaisha Pleasant
From: Chris Lane To: Scott Polek YOU ARE OUR FAVORITE POLEK. <3 <3 <3 LOVE ALWAYS, BRAD’S LUNCH TABLE
To: Brittany Campolei When I am with you, there’s no place I’d rather be. From: Nico Bonnie
To: Mikey Figler Hey pal. Tbh I don’t know you very well, but you seem nice! We should hang out sometime! From: Anonymous
To: Nik Pauling Some say it may be weird, but that is their opinion. You and me were friends since the first time we met. I am not your girlfriend but she wants more affection from you. From: Anonymous
To: Trevor/Kyle Hey ya, our love is not just a boulder... IT’S A ROCK! With Love, Kyle/Trevor
To: Casey Asman
To: Chris Lane
When you left us, you created a void in our hearts that can never be filled again. Please come back. Carl misses you, too.
You are the peanut to my butter, the water to my ocean, the glaze on my donut, the spring in my step, the twinkle in my eye, the blue in my sky, the cherry to my sundae, the flip to my flop, the milk to my cookie, the sweet to my dreams, the cheese to my macaroni, the best to my friend, the love of my life.
From: The Spotlight Staff
From: Hayley Sipling
FEBRUARY 2015
CENTER SPREAD
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tines Dear Lee Zeisloft, No matter how hard you try, Parker will always be cooler than you. Just kidding, ily (gfy). Love always. Your favorite Varisty Club Treasuer (Mackenzie Koziel) P.S. Troy is a better volunteer coach.
Dear Bradley Siesko, You are the light of my life. Whenever I’m sad I think of you and it’s all okay. You’ve made my 4 years here better than my wildest dreams. You will always hold a spot in my hear.t Stay golden. With love, Anonymous
To: Dana DiGiovanni
Your dimples are as deep as my love for you. Your arm hair is as thick as the passionate tension between us. Your sarcasm cuts as deep as if you had broken my heart and rejected me. Your eyebrows are on fleek, just like The Spotlight, for which you are Editor-in-Chief. Your leg hair feels like a prickly porcupine, so will you be my valentine? <3 From: Sydney Hall To: Kate Bergey
To: Mark Haverhill
Will you marry me? From: Lucas Anderson
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’ve had “Never Better” a friend than you.
To: Derek Barnes
With Love, Anonymous
Dearest Splash Brother, Please wash your home basketball shorts. You’re welcome. P.S. #python From: Anonymous
To: Julia Dunham Roses are red Violets are blue Use some deoderant Cause you smell like poo. From: Cassidy Tabor
To: Emily Oberlender Emily, Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? To be, or not to be: that is the question. Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind will you be mine? From: Anonymous
To: Olivia Kae Durkin Honey, My love for you burns with the intensity of 1,000 hot suns. Every day I wake up just so I can see your radiant smile. Will you be my valentine, babyboo? XOXO, Gossip Girl (JK your secret admirer)
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OUR WORLD
SPOTLIGHT
Leelah Alcorn Ignites Transgender Awareness In lieu of one tragic death, the LGBT community has rallied together to seek laws that will protect the lives of transgender and LGBT teenagers whose rights are compromised
by Jamie Kish
On December 28, 2014, a 17 year-old transgender teenager named “When I �irst learned of Leelah Alcorn’s death, I was very sad. Any Leelah Alcorn, born with the name Joshua, committed suicide. She was situation in which a teen’s life is cut short is tragic, but when it’s prestruck by a tractor-trailer on a busy freeway in Kings Mills, Ohio. Shortly ventable, it’s even worse,” GSA adviser Mrs. Marlo Spritzer said. “While I after her death, a queued suicide note was posted on social media outlet believe in the value of many kinds of therapy, conversion therapy can be Tumblr. In her suicide note, Alcorn accused her quite harmful in a mental and emotional sense, and conservative Christian parents of psychological does not recognize the diversity among individuals. abuse, and blamed them for not accepting her I really feel for what Leelah and others go through in gender identity by sending her to homosexualbeing forced to be someone they are not.” to-heterosexual conversion therapy. The Southern Lehigh GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) In the months before her death, Leelah provides a safe place for transgender teens, along Alcorn reached out to fellow members of the with those who identify as gay, lesbian, and bisexual, LGBT community on social media websites, to be themselves without being judged. such as Reddit, detailing the homophobia that Any student can take steps to support transgender she endured in her household. Alcorn asked if peers. what occurred in her household could legally “Take the time to hear or read the story of what a be considered child abuse. She claimed that at transgender individual has felt or endured for a lifethe age of 14, she came out to her parents, and time before coming to terms with the next step. This was immediately rejected and shunned. Alcorn is not a decision that is made lightly,” Mrs. Spritzer claimed that she was never physically abused said. “Next, be willing to say to your friend or peer, by her parents, but she was frequently told that ‘hey, I can’t pretend to know exactly what you are goshe “would never be a real girl,” and that she had ing through, but I accept you for who you are no matbeen told “God is going to send you straight to ter what.’ We are all very different from each other, hell.” Incidents like Leelah’s have gotten people but the one thing we have in common is wanting to be to start thinking about the ethical treatment of accepted for who we really are.” transgender youth in society. Her advice to transgender teens can be applied to sitting against a wall in London, England In the days preceding Alcorn’s death, a peti- Candles any student. following a candlelight vigil for Leelah Alcorn. Photo tion appeared on Change.org titled “Leelah’s Law Credit: Excesses on Wikimedia Commons “High school can be such a weird time, and every – Ending Transgender Conversion Therapy.” The teenager dreams of the day he or she moves out away law seeks to make it illegal for parents to send LGBT teens to anti-gay from home and no longer has to follow rules made by parents,” Mrs. conversion therapy. Within two days, the petition received over 240,000 Spritzer said. “Just hang in there, and as you mature and you gain indesignatures. Transgender rights activists are hoping that this law can be pendence, you really will �ind that it gets better, and you can be who you a stepping-stone for acceptance and tolerance of LGBT youth around the were always meant to be. Your friends and family who love you will acU.S. cept you in time.”
250 More Signatures by Allison Borelli
On December 9, 2014, Brittany Asbury received a call from her boyfriend, and his words still impact her today. Their friend Crystal Schaller had been killed in a crash on Mountain Road in Slatington, PA. Determined to do something about this tragedy, Asbury and other friends of Schaller have started a petition to put up a guide rail alongside of this dangerous road. “It’s been really hard because just about every day something reminds me of her," junior Brittany Asbury said. "She was always the person with the pretty smile that could brighten anyone’s day." The petition is hosted online on MoveOn.org, at: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/guardrail-on-mountain?source=s.icn.tw&r_ by=12046149 . Currently, there are 2750 out of 3000 needed signatures, with the most recent added on January 10. Once the petition receives the last 250 signatures, it will be passed on to PA State Representative Julie Harhart. Through Representative Harhart, the petition will be sent to the Pennsylvania State House, the Pennsylvania State Senate, and �inally Governor Tom Wolf. “If through her action she can do something that can make the road safer, I think that’s a very good project to initiate,” driver education teacher Mr. Doug Roncolato said. The state of Pennsylvania uses the term “guide rail” instead of “guard rail.” This is because the guide rails are intended to guide vehicles back onto the road and to attempt to keep them from going off the road, but these guide rails were not designed to guard vehicles from going off the roadway. “I think it’s a good idea to create a safer zone where an accident happened to prevent any further accidents,” junior Mason Pellegrini said. So far, Schaller has not been the only death on Mountain Road. Eighteen-year-old James V. Skubish, died there in 2007. If a guide rail is not put up, Asbury believes Schaller will not be the last.
In the News: January and February
January 5: Jury Selection Begins for Boston Marathon Bombing Trial January 12: Twelve Are Killed in Terrorist Attack at Newspaper in Paris January 12: Ohio State Upsets Oregon in College Football Championship January 21: Measles Cases Increase Across the Country February 1: Patriots beat Seahawks in the Superbowl
FEBRUARY 2015
OUR WORLD
The Promenade Welcomes Two New Restaurants
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Torre Restaurant by Brandyn Berean
Inside look at the new mexican restaurant. Photo Credit: Brandyn Berean
This fall, the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley welcomed a new Mexican restaurant. Replacing Paci�ico, Torre Restaurant comes in to give the Lehigh Valley a Mexican twist. Owned by George Paxos of the Paxos Restaurants Group, Torre Restaurant, which opened on November 13, 2014, now offers a Mexican restaurant along with the group’s other two restaurants: Melt, located right across the street in the Promenade, and Blue, a grill house in Bethlehem. Torre Restaurant’s menu offers a wide range of starters, snacks, and appetizers. They are also proud to offer a number of gluten free and vegetarian options for diners. “Our menu is a journey throughout Mexico, and we want our guests to experience every bit of it,” Jillian Bevacqua, marketing director for Paxos Restaurants Group, said. According to Bevacqua, the items that are very popular are the corn tortilla enchiladas and their grilled, marinated carne asada prime skirt steak served with yucca fries. Torre Restaurant offers their guests �ive different varieties of made-to-order guacamole, as well as a rich, �lavorful chicken tortilla soup they believe is a perfect lunch or dinner meal. Torre Restaurant also incorporates seafood by adding a Mexican twist. Their most popular seafood options are the tamarind-glazed mahi mahi and the blue corn crusted los cabos tacos. They also serve something called tres ceviche, which is a seafood trio of tuna, shrimp, and mahi mahi. And don’t worry, they didn’t leave out dessert. Their avocado ice cream served with their tres leches cake is a hit. Bevacqua says it’s a must try
dessert experience alongside their signature hot chocolate cake called the Mexican chocolate caliente. “My favorite item on the menu is the alas de pollo,” senior Lucas Anderson said. Although Anderson doesn’t care for Mexican style food as much, he does enjoy these Mexican style chicken wings. “My favorite item on the menu is the fruta guacamole because to me personally, the fruit served with it goes with the guac very well,” sophomore Dominick Esposito said. Mango and pineapple are the fruits served with it and it also includes sweet onion, pickled jalapeno, and basil. Torre Restaurant offers daily happy hour specials at their bar from 5-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. “We have remained very busy since the grand opening,” Bevaqua said. “Diners have been intrigued by our modern take on Mexican cuisine. Our Sunday Brunch, which is something that sister restaurant Melt does not offer, has been very well received.” The Sunday brunch starts at 10:30 a.m. every week. A unique Mexican culture kids menu attracts families. “Our goal is to provide excellent food, drinks, and service along with an unforgettable atmosphere and experience,” Bevacqua said. “We serve our guests at Torre with the same �ive star treatment as Melt and Blue, only with a modern Mexican twist.” Torre Restaurant will be participating The Lehigh Valley Beer Week from February 15 to the 22, and in Restaurant Week from February 22 to the 26. Diners follow their participation via social media including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information, visit torrerestaurant.com. And if you’re in the search of a job, Torre Restaurant is always looking for new motivated and energetic staff members. If you're interested, visit paxosrestaurants.com. You must be 18 years or older to apply.
Crepe Soleil by Anna Esposito
Bon appetit. Photo Credit: Anna Esposito
The Promenade, in Saucon Valley, has welcomed a new restaurant: Crepe Soleil. Replacing Nestle Toll House, Crepe Soleil has taken the Promenade Shops by storm with their mouth-watering selection of crepes. Their selections of crepes range from quick meals to sweet treats. Out of the choices between having a meal crepe or dessert crepe, the dessert crepes seem to be preferred by most Promenade shoppers. “The Mariquita is the one that we have sold the most of,” manager Shannon Luke said. “It has strawberries, whipped cream, and Nutella.” Crepe Soleil became a site for Promenade shoppers a little after the New Year, with its grand opening planned for February 5, 2015. The restaurant �irst provided more of a soft opening to public, and since then business seems to be doing really well. “We think its a great spot; people are more high class,” Luke said. The community has responded quite well to this new restaurant. “I thought the overall experience of the restaurant was enjoyable,” sophomore Madeline Hoffert said. “There could be some menu changing, but overall the menu was an interesting selection.” If you are looking for a great way to start your morning or a unique treat to conclude your long week at school, Crepe Soleli is about �ive minutes away from the school and is waiting to give their customers a taste of France.
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ENTERTAINMENT
SPOTLIGHT
Upcoming Music Releases in 2015 February
February 17th: Imagine Dragons Layout Idea: Brandyn Berean
March
February 24th: Big Sean, Misterwives and All That Remains
March 3: Modest Mouse and March 10th: Olly Murs and Hinder Madonna
March 31st: Wale and Ludacris
April
April 7th: All Time Low and Halestorm
J. Cole: 2014 Forest Hills Drive by Preston Amato Renowned music artist J. Cole recently released his third studio album “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” titled after his childhood home address. J. Cole’s prominence rose through his unique storytelling abilities intertwined with his smooth rapping style. Until now, Cole was known for such studio hits as “Who Dat” and “Work Out.” Although these put him on the map, this is not his true style. Before releasing his junior album, Cole released a promotional video for this new project. In this promo, Coles states, “a lot of people in Hollywood right now who have been there for a long time, and they have forgotten about their small-time lives because they feel like this life is better.” The whole idea of the album “2014 Forest Hills Drive” comes from this statement. Unlike other artists, Cole wants to stay true to his roots and be true to the people who formed him into the person he is today. There was almost no marketing campaign for the album and J. Cole made it a priority to have no lead singles from the album and no collaborations. Unlike his last album “Born Sinner” which produced several hits, Cole decided to forego
the radio singles and produce a classic hip-hop album. Cole starts off the album with “Intro” where he shows his diversity by singing and rapping to a slow beat, conveying the range he has. This is a song for fans interested in the mixing of styles and catchy mesmeric lyrics, featuring Cole’s aspirations for the future. Following “Intro” is a song titled “January 28th,” which is named for J.Cole’s birthday. The song’s raw sound and Cole’s ability as a lyricist to speak on his early life in North Carolina is very impressive. One of the best tracks on the album is “Apparently.” A slick, upbeat tempo and quick punchlines work to Cole’s advantage in this very powerful song in which Cole reflects on all the mistakes he has made in his life. Overall, the album is a hit and exceeds expectations. The hard work that Cole put in by himself to create the album and to top the Billboard at number one is very impressive. Fans can be excited about the diversity that Cole presents and the possibilities in the future for this young star.
Photo credit: iTunes
Follow J. Cole on Twitter (@JColeNC) or visit his website (jcolemusic.com) to stay updated on his latest music.
“The New Classic”: Iggy Azalea by Anna Esposito Australian Queen of Rap Amethyst Amelia Kelly, more popularly known as Iggy Azalea, is taking over the rap scene like no female rapper has ever before. Starting out as a model, she ditched the high heels and catwalk for fans across the country. The dream of becoming a rapper for Azalea all started by being influenced by legendary rappers TLC, Missy Elliot, and Tupac Shakur. At the young age of 16, Azalea moved to the States because of her love for the birthplace of rap. Azaleas debut album “The New Classic” came out April 21, 2014. In the United States, her first album sold 52,000 copies in the first week of the release. The 23-year-old super star also landed spot
number three on the U.S Billboard top 200 Chart. “I love Iggy Azalea, I listened to her first album the entire first month of its release and I love every song,” junior Brianna Laughlin said. “Black Widow” is a song that has an interesting story behind it. Azalea and Rita Ora portray the ideas of feminism and revenge. Reaching number four on the Billboard Chart, this song has gathered a high level of fans. “Fancy” is the story about fame. She talks about glamour and how young teens are influenced by the news they hear in the media. Azalea also relates back to fame and how many people do not know how one actually lives with the constant fame. Reaching number 35 on the charts, this song
has made an impact on young listeners. “I think the song ‘Fancy’ is a great song. [It is] fun to listen to, has a catchy beat, and fun lyrics,” Southern Lehigh Middle School 7th grade student, Lauren Wilkins said. “The New Classic” is an album that started Iggy Azalea’s success as an artist in the states. Each song has a story that people can relate to, or the beat can just make people get up and dance. Lastly, Azalea’s style of rapper is something that has not been heard before. Azalea has given a new message to rap for females that has changed the whole stereotype of female rappers for the better.
FEBRUARY 2015
ENTERTAINMENT
13
Breaking Bad Spinoff: Better Call Saul by Dana DiGiovanni
“Traffic accident? Better Call Saul! Injured on the job? Call now! Confessed to a homicide? What are you waiting for?! Hi, welcome to the law offices of Saul Goodman and Associates,” an animated character of Saul Goodman greets when one opens the website, www.bettercallsaul.com. For those who did not follow AMC’s hit television drama series “Breaking Bad,” Saul Goodman is a sleazy attorney in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, notorious for defending drug lords and criminals. A spin-off series featuring Saul Goodman is set to release on February 8, 2015. The new series, dubbed “Better Call Saul” after Goodman’s tagline, will be set six years before his involvement with the main characters of the original “Breaking Bad” series. Characters from “Breaking Bad” have been rumored to make an appearance, but only Saul Goodman, played by Bob Odenkirk, and Mike Ehrmantraut, played by Jonathan Banks, are guaranteed to appear. “I’m skeptical about it because most spin offs are really bad, but I’ll probably watch the first few episodes,” junior Torin Vanin said.
The majority of the show’s details have been kept classified. However, we do know episodes will be one hour long and a mix between drama and comedy. Odenkirk himself has categorized the show as “85 percent drama, 15 percent comedy.” Season one will have ten episodes, and the show has already been renewed for a second season. Vince Gilligan, the creator, head writer, and executive producer of “Breaking Bad,” will be involved in the production of “Better Call Saul.” The executive producer for this series will be Peter Gould, the creator of the Saul Goodman character. “I’m excited for Better Call Saul since ‘Breaking Bad’ ended over a year ago,” senior Mark Haverhill said. “ It’s going to be great to have a new show to fill the void that was left in my heart.” “Better Call Saul” holds a lot of promise and viewers hold high expectations due to the prior success of “Breaking Bad.” Tune in for the series premiere on February 8 at 10 p.m.
Book Review: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Allison Borelli
Not a big reader? No worries! “Blue Lily, Lily Blue” by Maggie Stiefvater will leave even those normally apathetic to reading, interested. Of course, you’ll have to start at the beginning of the series. “My favorite things about [“Blue Lily, Lily Blue” were] that it was interesting and how the characters were well developed,” sophomore Sophie Boyle said. ”There was always something cool and new going on.” “Blue Lily, Lily Blue” is the third book in the Raven Cycle, a series awaiting a fourth and �inal conclusion. The �irst two books in chronological order are “The Raven Boys” and “The Dream Thieves.” Adventure, mystery, the supernatural, and even some romance all come together in a beautiful blend within the bookbindings of the Raven Cycle.This series is published by Scholastic Press. “I love the series, mainly because there’s a lot of unique aspects to it that you don’t see in a lot of other books,” sophomore Georgian Fan said. In this novel, the main protagonists -- Blue, Gansey, Adam and Ronan -- continue their quest for the Welsh king, Glendower. Formidable problems and unforeseen enemies seemingly
crawl up from the ground around them as they �inally grow closer to achieving their goal. “I like its unique plot,” sophomore Allyson Yanega said, “I like the characters and I feel like you really know them. They’re all different, but they’re connected in a way.” “Blue Lily, Lily Blue” is better than the second book in the series, “The Dream Thieves,” with the amount of time spent in each protagonist’s perspective being more equal. Questions are de�initely raised, but also answered in equal measures within this third installment of the Raven Cycle. Although there honestly aren’t really many �laws to this book, one would have to be ending on an excellently executed cliff hanger. The changing perspectives and many layers might also lead to some confusion. “There’s always a point in the middle that gets really confusing, because there’s so many layers to the story,” Yanega said, “but it always clears up in the end.” The pros of “Blue Lily, Lily Blue” de�initely outweigh the cons. The plot advances nicely through character’s personal goals and the main objective of �inding Glendower. The characters, especially protagonist Adam, develop and grow
throughout the book. If you’re interested in the series, stop by the school’s library and pick up a copy of “The Raven Boys,” the �irst book of the series.
February 13
February 20
February 27
The Last Five Years
The DUFF
The Lazarus Effect
Photo Credit: goodreads.com March 13
Coming Soon... Photo credit: imdb.com
Cinderella
SPORTS
14
SPOTLIGHT
Patriots Desert Seahawks to win 49th Superbowl by Brandyn Berean
Photo Credit: NFL
On the �irst day of February 2015, one of sports greatest championship stages was held at The University Of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The New England Patriots of the American Football Conference, coached by Bill Belichick, and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football Conference, coached by Pete Carroll, battled in the forty-ninth edition of the Super Bowl. This year’s Super Bowl was a close one. New England got the �irst crack at the score as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw an eleven-yard pass to Patriots receiver Brandon LaFell to take a 7-0 lead. Seattle, however, answered right back, at the end of the �irst half. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson handed the ball off to his powerful running back Marshawn Lynch for a three-yard score to tie the game at seven. Both teams would score again in the �inal two minutes of the �irst half. Brady found Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski for a twenty-two yard touchdown and Wilson found wide receiver Chris Matthews for an elevenyard touchdown. At halftime, the game was tied at fourteen. At halftime, fans of the NFL and across America enjoyed a performance by pop star Katy Perry. Perry lit up the stage with mashups of some of her most popular songs including “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls,” and “Firework.” She also got help from rock star Lenny Kravitz and rapper Missy Elliot. Once play resumed in the second half, Seattle received the kickoff. Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka put it through the uprights for a �ield goal and Wilson connected with Doug Baldwin for a three-yard touchdown to make the score 24-14. New England’s chances started to fade away from them as the fourth quarter approached. Brady however, gained back their con�idence with about eight minutes in the game, Brady threw a touchdown to Danny Amendola to make the score 24-21. New England quickly got the ball back and Brady led them down the �ield once again, throwing a strike to Julian Edelman to take the lead 28-24. They scored two seconds before the two-minute warning of the second half
putting pressure on Wilson and Seahawks to score. All six of Belichick and Brady’s Super Bowls came down to four points or less. The two they lost came down to remarkable endings by the New York Giants. In Super Bowl XLII, Giants quarterback Eli Manning escaped pressure from the New England defensive line to throw an amazing pass to Giants receiver David Tyree, who caught the ball on his helmet. In Super Bowl XLVI, Manning threw another incredible pass down the sideline to Giants receiver Mario Manningham, who just got his feet in bounds for the catch. Would something similar happen again? It did. Wilson threw the ball deep into Patriots territory. The pass was well covered as Patriots rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler tipped it. But what Butler didn’t know was Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse, who caught the winning touchdown to put Seattle in the Super Bowl, tipped the ball back to himself to catch it while laying on the ground. New England’s chances of winning the Super Bowl were getting slimmer. But as the Seahawks got the ball down to the about the �ive yard line of New England, Butler redeemed himself, intercepting Wilson’s intended pass to Ricardo Lockette, which if caught, would have won the Seahawks a second consecutive Super Bowl. However, Butler, of the Patriots, intercepted the ball on the one-yard line. The New England Patriots won their fourth Super Bowl as a franchise. For Belichick and Brady, it will be the fourth ring they won together. “I think this year’s Super Bowl was an overall good game with an amazing ending,” sophomore Gary Popowitz said. As for the thirty-seven year old Brady, his career is de�initely shaping up to be a Hall of Fame resume. Four Super Bowl championships, three Super Bowl MVP’s, including being named this years Super Bowl MVP. The question still remains, will Brady become the only quarterback in NFL history to win a �ifth Super Bowl? The odds with Belichick at the helm are pretty high. “Anything is possible for Brady and Belichick,” senior Jacob Martin said.
SL Represents in Phantom Youth Hockey by Robyn Somers
Photo Credit: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Most are aware that Southern Lehigh has an ice hockey team, but you may not know that several Solehi players also play for the local Phantoms Youth hockey team, a travel program that is supported and helped run by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. “It is close and I thought it would be sweet to get help from the professional players,” freshman Jimmy Gold said. The goal for this youth team is to create a travel team mostly in the Lehigh Valley. That way it is close for the players in the area, and the players can learn from the pros. It is a learning experience for all the boys who join the league. “This year I am assistant captain. I have to show a lot of leadership with the team,” junior Ryan Luybli said. “With travel hockey you train a lot and practice more. [The team includes] boys from all over so you don’t know everyone, while with scholastic it is pretty much everyone from your school.” Junior Justin Taylor and sophomore Alex How are also members of the team. This year the team is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Last year, the team was sponsored by a gym which meant the Phantoms did a lot of off ice training. The team hopes, despite the sponsor change, they will be just as competitive this year.
FEBRUARY 2015 Mirth Pins His 100th Win by Alex Baca
On January 10, senior Matt Mirth became the �irst Southern Lehigh wrestler to reach the 100-win mark in a doubleovertime victory over Lehighton junior Connor Frey. He won in a 2-1 decision in the 182-pound weight class at the Lehighton Duals. “I was happy to get my 100th win, and coach bumped me up so I wouldn’t have a forfeit, so it was a good one,” Mirth said. “I didn’t feel good afterwards. He scratched me up really bad.” Mirth originally decided he was not going to come out for wrestling, but before the Saucon Valley match, he made the decision to come back out for the team. Mirth returned in the Senior Matt Mirth boasts an incredible high school wreslineup against Northern Letling career. Photo Credit: Matt Mirth high. “I wanted to hang out with my friends and have fun and not take it as seriously as I had in the past,” Mirth said. No Southern Lehigh wrestler has had a more incredible career than Mirth. As a freshman, he placed �ifth in districts and quali�ied for regionals and �inished with a 28-6 record. As a sophomore, he was a District XI 3A and Northeast Regional 3A champion and quali�ied for states with a 26-6 record. As a junior, he placed third in districts and placed fourth in regionals and came close to qualifying for states, posting a stellar 37-3 record. “Matt’s work ethic and dedication to the sport of wrestling and his goals is what makes Matt a special student-athlete,” head coach Ed Labatch said. “He continuously provides a solid example for younger student-athletes and is someone the entire wrestling program is very proud of.” Mirth has decided to not pursue wrestling in college. He is considering attending Florida Gulf Coast University or somewhere near a beach.
SPORTS
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Athletes Of The Issue
Name: Trevor DeCastro
Name: Raechel Rodriguez
Sport: Boys Swimming
Sport: Girls Swimming
Best Events: This season Trevor swam the 50-yard freestyle 22 seconds and the 100-yard freestyle in 49 seconds.
Best Events: This season Raechel swam the 200-yard individual medley in 2:19 and the 100yard breast stroke in 1:08
Trevor has gone all the way to states in both his sophomore and junior years. Last year at states, he placed 5th in the 200-yard, 2nd in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Raechel is went to states all four years of her high school career. She won the 100 breaststroke at districts for the past three years and placed 2nd at states in the 200-yard medley relay.
After graduation Trevor plans to major in chemical engineering. He is currently deciding between Colorado Boulder, BU, and NC State.
Raechel has committed to the swim team at Kutztown University where she plans to major in biology.
Star Soccer Player Abbey Cerciello Wins Lehigh Valley Scholar Athlete Award
by Cody Heffelfinger
Senior Abbey Cerciello is the third girl from SL to win the award since 2011. Photo Credit: Cody Heffelfinger
This year, Southern Lehigh is honored to have one of their own win the girls’ 2014 Lehigh Valley Scholar Athlete award. Senior Abbey Cerciello was selected out of 40 candidates to receive the prestigious award. “I was honored to be named the scholar athlete because this award encompasses two of the things that I value most in my life, academics and athletics,” Cerciello said. “I’ve put in a great deal of time into these two aspects of my life and I’m honored to represent Southern Lehigh and our community.” Abbey is not the �irst Cerciello to win the award, however. Her sister, Emily, won the award back in 2011. “I’m so happy that this is an award that my sister and I can share. I remember the night that Emily won the award and how it was so exciting for my family and friends,” Cerciello said. “It’s awesome to have that same experience and follow in my sister’s footsteps. My sisters have always been my biggest role models both in the classroom and on the soccer �ield.” Although Abbey won the award for being an athlete and scholar, she does not plan to play soccer at the collegiate level. She does hope, however, to play for a club or intramural team. Abbey still has not made her decision on which college she will attend next year. Since 2011, Southern Lehigh has had three girls soccer named Scholar Athletes: Emily and Abbey Cerciello, and Abby Kohler, who won the award last year. “I think it’s the most important honor as a coach that any of my players can individually earn,” head soccer coach and physical education teacher Douglas Roncolato said. “It’s the whole package, it’s not just academics or athletics; it’s about how you are in your community as well. It’s great to have coached someone of that caliber.”
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ODDS AND ENDS
SPOTLIGHT FEBRUARY 2015
COUPLES OF SOLEHI Contributions by Anna Esposito
Sopohomores Sean Welsh and Justine Groeber Seniors Ian Sullivan and Julie Williston Seniors Eric Fulmer and Julia Asselin
Senior Michael Zabrecky and Sophomore Kaitlyn Torcivia
Senior Eric Kaufmann and Junior Baleigh Bradley
Junior Bridget Cerciello and Sophomore Timmy Walter
Seniors Trevor De Castro and Madison Hallman Junior Sam Pring and Freshman Victoria Melton
Sophomores Danny Flounders and Ashley Jann