The Summit January 2023 Edition

Always reaching new heights

The Summit

Operation Fairy Dust makes dreams come true

By Anika Thakkar

The Operation Fairy Dust club is back in full swing this year, spreading joy to young children in need of costumes and outfits for Halloween, First Holy Communions, Sweet Sixteens, baptisms and proms.

“It’s nice to give back to people who are not as fortunate and really need the clothing items,” says Ms. Analise Giraldi, club moderator. The club officers this year are Gabriella Sawa, Leah Seneca, Isabelle Wallace and Anastasiya Yasinski.

The Summit interviewed Gabriella about her experience with this initiative.

Q: Can you explain how Operation Fairy Dust works?

A: Operation Fairy Dust collects articles of clothing for various events and

provides these outfits to families to reduce their expenses for getting dressed up for special occasions.

Q: Where do the costumes go?

A: The costumes go to Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St Benedicta Parish on Staten Island. They are then handed out to parish and local community members.

Q: What is your favorite part?

A: Bringing the costumes to the parish. They are so grateful for the clothing we bring to them.

Q: What inspired you to do this work?

A: I know I had costumes from when I was younger. It seemed like everyone does. So rather than the costumes collecting dust in the basement or attic, we decided to bring them to younger children who could actually wear them again.

Hilltoppers go the extra mile for cancer research

By Mia Bavaro and Elizabeth Geissler

Hilltoppers turned out in full force for the Making Strides Walk sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Walkers gathered at Father Capodanno Boulevard to show support for those fighting cancer and raise money for ACS research.

Over 10,000 people participated in the Oct. 16 event by walking over five miles. While marching up and down the Midland Beach boardwalk, cheerleaders from schools all over Staten Island cheered students on. Countless stands featured boba, donuts and other food items from small businesses.

“While walking, I felt that I was helping those who are struggling with the battle against cancer,” said freshman Brianna

Senior Isabelle Wallace delivers donated costumes and clothing.

Seniors Michaela Capano, Emma Dinolfo, Mary Moore and Cecelia Gabriel.

Hilltoppers show support for cancer research

Azzarello.

Students who participated in this major event are a part of the American Cancer Society at St. Joseph Hill Academy. Boasting over 187 members, the American Cancer Society raises awareness and funds for those affected by cancer and for cancer research.

Most American Cancer Society members have had a personal experience with cancer and want to help gain recognition for those still fighting.

“I wanted to be a part of the American Cancer Society because after I graduated, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Being a part of the club really meant something to me,” said Ms. Nicole Vuono.

The Making Strides Walk isn’t the only event that the American Cancer Society hosts. Upperclassmen walked around Hill’s lunchrooms selling different pins and bracelets which could be worn during

the month of October. Another major event the American Cancer Society hosts is the Fashion Show, where students sign up to model dresses on a “runway” while friends and family cheer them on. There are a variety of raffle baskets featuring Dior products, Ulta gift cards, Starbucks

accessories, and more. This October, there were over 50 models participating.

The American Cancer Society plays a major part in advocating for the importance of cancer and methods by which we could work toward improving the lives of those struggling with cancer.

Freshmen Nicole Ruiz, Alexa Viggiano, Giavanna Scalici, AnnaDoreen Lanni, Adriana Fernandez, Alexandria Marciano, Daniela Luci, Sofia Saiti and Maria Vlahopouliotis participate in the walk.

Freshmen Daniela Luci, Emily Alia, Nicole Ruiz, Zoe Fotiou and Alexa Viggiano.

Who knew knitting could be so much fun?

By Julianna Bottalico and Julia Grandstaff

As the school year rolls in, the Knitting and Crocheting Club has been up and coming. The club teaches its members the basics of knitting and crocheting. No background knowledge is necessary to be part of the club.

Mrs. Sandra Nevins teaches girls the art of knitting, while junior Anissa Imran directs those for crocheting. Throughout the year, members will improve their skills by learning various techniques.

Knitting and crocheting relaxes the minds of those who are stressed or have mental health issues. This club serves as a great way to unwind and take a break from school work, while staying productive. Members learn many methods of knitting.

Freshman Nicole Ruiz loves the techniques taught by Mrs. Nevins, such as the “long tail cast-on” stitch. Her unique teaching style has allowed for many girls to be on their way to making more complex pieces.

“Mrs. Nevins is very patient with beginners,” Nicole said. “She helps us whenever there’s a knot in the yarn so we can continue working.”

Throughout the next few months, members will advance their abilities and make scarves, hats, blankets, and more. These items will then be donated to various organizations and charities.

Being a member of the Knitting and Crocheting Club allows students to alleviate stress, learn a useful skill, and give back to the community.

The club meets after school on Thursdays in Room 223.

Enjoying a recent club meeting are freshmen Julia Grandstaff and Julianna Bottalico, photo left, and freshmen Mariella Rail and Natalie Kedzior, right.

NYC is Harry’s kind of town

By Alyssa Testaverde

From opening night on August 20, to the final show on September 21, Madison Square Garden became Harry’s house. New York City blocks were filled with loose boa feathers, and bicycle taxis blasted his music on every corner. Subways were filled with fans in sparkly jumpsuits and eccentric accessories, anxiously anticipating his outfits and set lists.

Styles released his newest studio album, Harry’s House, in May of this year. Shortly after that, he announced 15 consecutive shows at MSG.

Fans of all ages jumped on the opportunity to see Harry Styles live in concert. For nearly a month, Styles made New York his home. Natives encountered him on jogs and at local shops. Fans hoped they would run into him; his presence made the city electric.

Whether you are 70 or 17, you cannot deny Styles’ incredible stagepresence and enthusiasm. Senior Courtney Tirado explained, “His performance is very high-energy. When he starts dancing with his band members up there, you can’t help but dance along. I’m telling you, you are transported to another world.”

In addition to attracting many longterm fans, Styles’ residency also allowed for new fans to discover his music. Senior Juliana Purtill explained: “My aunt got free tickets, so she took me. I would see him again, 100%. Next time I’ll know all the words.”

“The show meant a lot to me, because getting tickets is really hard,” added Senior Courtney Tirado. “I went with both of my sisters — we all love Harry, so it’s really special.”

After selling out every show, and impacting thousands of fans, Styles was presented with a permanent MSG banner to commemorate his accomplishments. To acknowledge his last night in Manhattan, he sang “Ever Since New York,” a song he had not performed in nearly four years.

Styles’ MSG residency allowed for many people to experience his show, and his fan-base continues to grow. He will always have a home in New York.

Photo by Ashley Tirado

Senior Ashley Tirado in front of MSG.

Sophomore Gabriella Pirozzi.

Photo by Courtney Tirado

Photo by Juliana Purtill

Photo by Arianna Pirozzi ‘22

REMEMBERING STEPHEN GERARD SILLER

Hero firefighter is an inspiration

By Charlotte Curlin

Twenty-one years later, Americans and young Hilltoppers alike came together to mourn the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The “Hill Koalas” team transformed into marathon runners for a day to honor the legacy of victims and first responders. Students gathered at Hillside Swim Club for the Bravest Barbecue to create sand art and paint the faces of children who cannot understand 9/11 but understand the impact it might have on their family.

Our community values the humbling experience of running through the Hugh Carey Tunnel to reach the Freedom Tower, admiring the bravery and strength of Stephen Gerard Siller.

On September 11, 2001, Firefighter Siller had just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the World Trade Center.

Upon hearing the news, Siller called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later.

He returned to Squad 1 in Brooklyn to get his gear.

Siller drove his truck to the entrance of the Hugh Carey Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes.

Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back, and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others.

The NYC 5K run to remember began in 2002 and has consistently raised money to help survivors and the families of those who did not survive.

Another well-attended event hosted by the Tunnel to Towers foundation to pay respect is the annual Bravest Barbecue, a gathering for the community that brings joy to many New Yorkers. Food is served, games are played, and connections are rekindled.

After the immediate sorrow of an anniversary and a run, the barbecue becomes a source of happiness and hope.

Seniors Sabina Vukovic, Maya Polanish, Olivia Albano, Isabelle Wallace, Julia Ciaccio, Julia Polanish, Charlotte Curlin, Diana Cavalieri, Julianna Castellano, Ashleigh Polanish, Natalie Bala, Chloe Sonitis, Marissa Clark, Kate Lawton, Michaela Capano and Cecelia Gabriel.

Siller strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he lost his life saving others.

Class of 2026 comes together

By Amanda Amir and Alexa Viggiano

A retreat for St. Joseph Hill Academy’s Class of 2026 was held at St. Christopher’s Church on Sept. 28. The class learned valuable ways to connect with God, pray and bond with one another.

Their first bonding exercise involved putting the whole class in birthday order without speaking at all. This helped the girls see further into each other in order to complete the task. Next, the students made two circles of chairs facing each other and had to answer one assigned question with the girl they were paired with. The chairs rotated for many rounds, so the girls wound up talking to 15 people that they may not have spoken to before.

The students were then put into random groups to make new friends and played a game where they wrote 10 things the whole group had in common.

They made prayer beads with at least one bead representing the Class of 2026, and the rest symbolizing personal intentions. The girls then closed out their afternoon with a Mass.

The Freshmen Retreat was a wonderful experience for the future leaders of our school.

Laughter and creativity

fill the auditorium

Harvest Happening, a favorite Hill tradition, brings the whole school together with skits and competitions

By Alyssa Testaverde

Halloween is associated with many traditions; some choose to bob for apples, while others visit haunted houses, and trick-or-treat with friends.

At St. Joseph Hill Academy, the student body celebrates through Harvest Happening, an in-school assembly run by Student Council. The event consists of costume and door-decorating contests, and an always memorable senior skit.

This year, costume contest contestants were particularly creative. Each homeroom presented a costume pair; judges Dr. Anthony Valentino, Mrs. Lisa Bifalco, Nurse RuthAnn Corazza, and Ms. Analise Giraldi narrowed the pool down to four final pairs.

This year’s finalists were Smurfette and Gargamel (freshmen), the Lorax and the Once-ler (sophomores), Elvis and Priscilla Presley (juniors), and grandma and reindeer (seniors).

The overall winner was then selected by the student body. Whichever pair prompted the loudest reaction was the victor.

Grandma and reindeer won by a landslide, and the Lorax and the Once-ler were an arguable second.

Another Harvest Happening custom is the door-decorating contest. Homeroom representatives decorate their doors on the days leading up to Halloween, and faculty decides which doors are deserving of an award.

Representatives compete to have the scariest, cutest, or most school-spirited door.

As always, all members of the winning homerooms receive a celebratory dress down day.

The senior skit is a renowned event at St. Joseph Hill. Underclassmen anticipate the day they will mimic their favorite teachers, and seniors face the

pressure of living up to the standards set before them. The Class of 2023 put on an outstanding performance; specifically, Isabelle Wallace and Erin Hagen. Their masterful impersonations of Mr. Stephen Darrup (Religion teacher) and Dr. Valentino (English teacher) captivated the entire crowd.

As expected, Harvest Happening was a success. Many students were able to showcase their creativity and acting abilities, all while celebrating Halloween.

The auditorium was filled with laughter, and the memories made there will surely withstand the test of time.

Each freshman made prayer beads.

Lily Bosco and Gabriella Pirozzi pose as the Lorax and the Once-ler during Harvest Happening.

Photo by Samantha Marrone

Meet Hill’s resident artist, and a future animator

By Anika Thakkar

Have you ever wondered who was behind the amazing artwork on the booklet covers for St. Joseph Hill’s events? I interviewed Hill’s very own student illustrator, senior Kate Farhat, to learn more about her artistic inspiration and journey.

Q: What was the first piece you drew for the school?

A: It was a portrait of our patron saint, St. Joseph, which people received a print of for contributing more than $100 during Hill’s Giving Day last year. It’s currently hanging on the board at the bottom of the staircase on the third floor!

Q: How did you start drawing pieces for the school? What happened first?

A: It all started with the St. Joseph drawing. Ms. Laureno told me about an event the school was doing that required a drawing done by a student.

I was one of the people she asked for a drawing. I had to draw something that represents Hill. I was a little stumped actually at the start. I thought of doing the saddle shoes, senior sweater, school ring, but

nothing really stood out to me.

Then I realized I could do our Patron Saint. Drawing portraits has always been my thing so it was perfect. My piece was chosen, and from there I got more and more requests for different events.

Q: What were some other pieces you worked on?

A: The next thing I drew was the junior ring for the cover of the ceremony booklet. That one was a lot of fun, scaling up all the small details of the ring. I had never drawn jewelry before. I also designed the Cinderella poster for the play, and that one was digital. Then I drew both the elementary and high school entrances.

They’re being printed on the front of greeting cards for Hill, and my name is printed on the back of them, which is really exciting. And this year, so far, I drew the front of the Senior Tree Planting booklet.

Q: What is your favorite part about creating art for Hill?

A: It was really my first look into doing custom pieces for people, which was a very interesting experience. It definitely helped me expand my abilities and it

forced me to step out of my comfort zone and draw more than just faces.

I drew buildings, jewelry, and posed hands. I even did some digital things too which was definitely new for me. It's also really cool seeing my work hanging in the halls and posted on Hill’s social media. People I don't even know compliment my work, which is really flattering!

Q: Do you plan to pursue art after high school? What are your plans?

A: So I actually went through a lot of different majors before I finally settled on digital design/animation. It's definitely different from the 2D paper art I'm used to, but I find it really interesting. Every time I watch animated films, I’m always paying attention to all the little details.

Just seeing the general progression in detail, from Ariel’s hair in “The Little Mermaid,” which moves as one solid body, to Maribel’s individually moving coils in Encanto, is really cool to me. I’m still not fully sure of my plans for the future but I would love for it to have to do with art, and animation is really cool, so I can’t wait to see where this goes.

Introducing 2 of our newest teachers

Ms. Nicole Vuono, Religious Studies

By Mia Bavaro and Elizabeth Geissler

Q: Why did you choose to teach at St. Joseph Hill?

A: I’m a Hill alumna and enjoyed my four years at Hill. When I heard there was a position open, I was very excited to come back and teach at my alma mater.

Q: Where did you previously teach?

A: I taught 3rd and 4th graders at the Academy of St. Dorothy.

Q: What was your first impression of Hill?

By Gabriella Sawa

Q: Why did you choose to come to St. Joseph Hill?

A: Well I wanted to come to Hill firstly because I never taught at a Catholic school. Also, currently it is tough to find a job as a counselor and Hill had an opening.

Q: What graduate school did you attend?

A: St. John’s University.

Q: What was your first impression of Hill?

A: The students are great and the staff is very nice. Everyone is very welcoming to me as a new teacher. The school is also very nice and clean.

Q: What was your favorite subject at St. John’s?

A: My psychology classes because it was very interesting to me and there were a lot of options. Anything that I got to choose outside of my prerequisites intrigued me.

Q: What are your interests outside of teaching?

A: I go to the gym, read occasionally, and I like to hang out with my family.

Q: Do you have a favorite movie or TV show?

A: I enjoy watching “The Couple,” “New Girl” and sitcoms like “The Office.”

Q: Where would you want to travel one day?

A: I have never been to Europe. So, I would like to visit Italy, Greece. Also, I would definitely want to see California and Arizona one day.

Q: If you had to pick one cuisine to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: Probably Italian food because there are just so many options. Pasta and pizza are definitely my favorites for sure.

Q: What are you most excited about for this school year?

A: Getting to know the students, and attending the events like Murder Mystery and judging at Harvest Happening.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Hill so far?

A: I enjoy the relationships I’m building with all of the students.

A: As a freshman, I was intimidated and afraid at first. I soon realized that the school is really here to help me and I fell in love with it. As a teacher I still feel the same as when I went to high school here, and it feels like a second home. It is hard to realize I’m now a teacher and not a student; I was even scared to pick up the phone! It is taking some adjustment.

Q: What are your interests outside of teaching?

A: I enjoy staying home with my niece and watching my favorite shows on Netflix. I also love going to the beach and shopping.

Q: Do you have a favorite movie or TV show?

A: I like “Stranger Things” and “The Vampire Diaries.”

Q: Where would you want to travel one day?

A: I really want to visit Greece soon since most of my friends are Greek.

Q: Why did you decide to be a part of the American Cancer Society?

A: I was a part of it when I was a Hill student, and after I graduated my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. So being a part of the club really meant something to me.

Q: Who's your favorite Hill colleague?

A: I love all my colleagues and they have all been so kind and supportive, but my “work bestie” is Ms. Pugliese because we were on the dance team together in high school.

Q: What is your favorite topic to teach?

A: I make sure students are understanding their faith and religion; even if it's not their religion, they are being aware of other religions. But I'm most excited to show the “Ten Commandments” movie to anyone who hasn't seen it.

Q: What are you most excited about for this year?

A: The Christmas Coffee House performance ... and Color Wars and graduation.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: I have two dogs named Rocky and Ellie. They are Havanese Cuban Dijons.

Ms. Analise Giraldi, Guidance

Carnival fun for everyone

By Angelina Ochoa

There’s no better way for Hill students to kick off the school year than with a carnival in the upper parking lot, featuring games such as the strength tester, bowling, skeeball, soccer, bean bag tosses and more.

Students were awarded blue tickets which could be exchanged for prizes that included hacky sacks, keychains and squishes. To make the night more interesting, Student Council President Michele Chahwan and Vice President Kristen Farhat presented a challenge to guess how many Skittles were in a jar. Freshman Alexandria Marciano came out on top, with 3,456. There were 3,487 Skittles in the jar — good guess! As a reward, Alexandria received a $50 Starbucks gift card.

An excellent addition to the night were the concessions available, which included popcorn, hot dogs, pretzels, cotton candy, and Lickety Split ice cream. More baked goods which Student Council supplied were given as prizes, such as sweet chocolate-covered Rice Krispie treats and Oreos. After around two hours of festival fun, the night came to a close with everyone dancing and singing along to “Cotton Eyed Joe,” “September,” and other throwback songs.

The Back to School Carnival was a special way to celebrate being reunited as the pandemic eases. Mrs. Kristin Sherwood and Ms. Mara Pagan, moderators of Student Council, promise more fun events are on tap. Student Council’s hard work continues to shine at St. Joseph Hill Academy and is paid off with smiles, laughs and many memories to be treasured.

Leadership, scholarship, service and character

113 are members of Hill’s National Honor Society

By Ewa Pekala

Under the instruction of the moderators Ms. Sharai Mojica and newly instated moderator Ms. Jennifer Pla, 52 juniors, 17 new seniors and 44 returning seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society.

The NHS is a nationwide student organization that recognizes high school students with high academic accomplishments. To be inducted into the Society, students must meet a certain set of requirements. They must demonstrate a moral character, a service commitment including a minimum of 50 service hours per school year, the qualities of a good leader, and must maintain a minimum grade point average of 90.

Keeping up grades and being a part of service opportunities is the right way to start the path to success and induction into NHS. It is an honor to be invited to apply to the Society in junior year at Hill.

Emily Vitulli is serving as NHS president, followed by Vice President Ewa Pekala, Secretary Angelina Ochoa and Treasurer Emma McLaughlin.

The National Honor Society at Hill leads many service projects throughout the year. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, there are drives to collect clothing, food and toys for charities and nursing homes. Even during the pandemic, NHS members still succeeded in delivering food and clothing to those in need.

The club and its moderators are in charge of organizing peer tutoring sessions. It is important that every member of the club puts forth their best effort to tutor an underclassman. The club prides itself in the work it is able to do to help out others. President Emily Vitulli, along with the other executives, will work hard for this year’s club members to have the best experience possible.

“As I look upon all of you today, I see strong and determined students,” Emily said during the Oct. 3 induction ceremony. “Students who exemplify the four pillars of the National Honor Society: Leadership, scholarship, service and character, and will continue to use these qualities to make an impact.”

Senior Megan Buckley lights fellow senior Kelly Bruen’s candle.

Juniors Giuliana Contrada, Faye Vidal, Chloe Schettino, Isabella Dicostanzo, Fiona Caputo and Gabrielle Williamsen.

NHS Executives Emily Vitulli, Ewa Pekala, Angelina Ochoa and Emma McLaughlin.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Newly Inducted Juniors:

Giada Arciprete

Erin Aversa

Kristen Badichek

Olivia Bair

Ashley Barrett

Brianna Bello

Brianna Buckley

Victoria Buono

Aniela Campisi

Fiona Caputo

Francesca Carroll Emily Cioczeck

Meghan Clark

Giuliana Contrada

Julia Cuomo

Noelle Curlin

Victoria D’Agostino

Victoria D’Ovidio

Olivia Deegan

Isabella Dicostanzo

Kathleen DiScalo

Bianca Gastaldi

Erin Gorman

Kelly Giuliano

Erin Harris

Isabella Idone

Megan Jansky

Sophia Kovacevic

Oliwia Kuracinska

Magan Liang

Hanna Ljikovic

Sara Macchia

Sophia Miceli

Tara Murphy

Andrea Olmedo

Francesca Pallotta

Brianna Paturzo

Gabriella Petrungaro

Julia Rimshnick

Sophia Romeo Grace Ruocco

Chloe Schettino

Isabella Sheikowitz

Catherine Smith Zoe Sonitis Giana Spangnuolo

Sophia Teutonico

Madison Tomeo

Amma Treska

Faye Vidal

Gabrielle Williamsen Alexandria Yates

Newly Inducted Seniors:

Alice Adamo

Megan Buckley

Caitlin Diaz

Diana Gervasi

Colleen Keating

Katherine Kim

Julia Lavelle

Adrianna Mastrogiulio

Ava Pizirusso

Gabriella Sawa

Alessia Scalici

Chloe Sonitis

Ashley Tirado Courtney Tirado Grace Venezia

Rebecca Walsh

Sophia Woods

Returning Seniors:

Amelia Atassi

Nicole Barone

Elizabeth Bennett

Sofia Biondi

Gabriella Brenowitz

Kelly Bruen

Michaela Capano

Juliana Castellano

Diana Cavalieri

Michele Chahwan

Julia Ciaccio

Alexa Ciccone

Taylor Crisera

Madison Crocco

Charlotte Curlin

Emma Dinolfo

Sophia Dowd

Kate Farhat Kristen Farhat Julia Ferrante

Cecilia Gabriel

Emma Gambino

Paige Jerrahian

Ava Katz

Bridget Keag

Julia Lalla

Kate Lawton

Samantha Lorenzo Melinda Lukolic

Maria Mignano

Kayla Montemarano

Mary Moore

Christina Muraca Kristen Norberg Emma O’Neill

Jessica O’Regan

Alexandra Palladino Maria Romano

Elena Scarso

Alyssa Testaverde

Anika Thakkar

Sabina Vukovic Isabelle Wallace Dea Zenelaj

THEIR ROOTS RUN DEEP: The Hill campus owes much of its beauty to senior classes who honor the tradition of a tree planting each October. All 103 members of the Class of 2023 shoveled dirt around a young Crape Myrtle that will remind them of their four-year journey as Hilltoppers whenever they return to the campus as alumnae. Prayers were said, class pictures were taken, and the seniors sang “Wake Me Up” by Avicii and “I Lived” by OneRepublic” during a sentimental ceremony, one of many as they spend a final year together.

— By Charlotte Curlin

Slamming lockers, flickering lights

School hallways become asylum hallways for annual Murder Mystery event

By Gabriella Sawa

A night filled with both screams and laughter, St. Joseph Hill’s annual Murder Mystery once again was a huge success.

With a return to normalcy following the Covid-19 pandemic, the event was able to once again take place inside the school, making it more frightening than ever.

On Oct. 27, the halls of our school were transformed into the halls of a gruesome Zombie Insane Asylum.

With slamming lockers, flickering lights, and Student Council Members dressed as zombies, the night was one to remember.

The ghostly night centered around Dr.

Abraham Weiler, portrayed by Mrs. Virginia Mayrose. Dr. Weiler used the inmates of the asylum as research subjects in his quest to find a cure for the zombie virus that is ravaging the world.

All of a sudden, Dr. Weiler was found dead. Murder! It appeared that someone did not approve of what’s going on at Penderghast.

Hilltoppers then sought out to find out “Who dunnit?” The girls traveled through the frightening halls, piecing together clues found in classrooms and from characters portrayed by our dedicated teachers. Of course, not without a jump scare at every corner and behind every door.

Ultimately, the night sparked what seemed to be a heated debate between students who believed the clues pointed to Ms. Nicole Vuono or Mrs. Lauren Gaudet as the ghostly murderer.

It became a huge shock to all when the murder revealed to be Dr. Gerald Featherton — motivated by jealousy — portrayed by Ms. Kristin Sherwood.

A special thank you to all of the staff that participated in the event: teachers who performed as characters, Ms. Sherwood and Ms. Mara Pagan who facilitated the event. Thanks aslo to the Student Council members who helped spook everyone throughout the night.

Melinda Djinovic, Kayleigh LaPointe, Lianna DiMartini, Sarah Fong and Emily Giammarino don matching costumes.

‘Silent Night’ is a double win for Hill

Every winter, Hill faces off against its longstanding rival, NDA, in a double-header basketball game called “Silent Night.”

This year, the event took place at NDA’s home court at the College of Staten Island on Wednesday, December 21. Nevertheless, Hill had an outstanding turnout with a large and loud student section that did not disappoint, as the students cheered for Hill’s JV and Varsity teams throughout both games.

“Our fans ‒ the sixth man ‒ were the best part about the game and created an exciting environment,” remarked senior Varsity player Madison Crocco. “They definitely helped us get excited and into the spirit of the game. We knew that with the large crowd, we had to keep our focus, and that’s how we got the win.”

Both JV and Varsity captured the victory against NDA’s respective teams.

The JV game was a blowout with a score of 59-22, while the Varsity game was much tighter, with Hill winning 50-40.

‒ By Anika Thakkar

Senior Elizabeth Bennett jumps up for a rebound.

Students are decked out in spirit wear for the event.

Senior Elena Scarso and junior Francesca Carroll celebrate after Hill Varsity triumphs against NDA. Hill’s Varsity team huddles up during a timeout.

Photos by Athina Sonitis ‘19

TEA TIME

The Freshmen Tea has become an elegant tradition, the perfect way for classmates and moms to bond as they begin their four-year journeys at Hill.

The Summit

Always reaching new heights

The student newspaper of St. Joseph Hill Academy High School

850 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, N.Y. 10305

Editors-in-Chief

Anika Thakkar

Kristen Farhat

Managing Editors

Angelina Ochoa

Kate Farhat

Alyssa Testaverde

Charlotte Curlin Ewa Pekala

Staff

Amanda Amir

Alexa Viggiano

Julia Grandstaff

Alexandria Yates

Brianna Paturzo Mia Bavaro

Elizabeth Geissler

Gabriella Sawa

Julianna Bottalico Daniela Luci

Faculty moderator Ms. Claire Regan

Join The Summit staff as a reporter, editor, photographer or designer! New members are welcome all year.

Email cregan@stjhill.org for the next meeting date.

Photo at left: Freshmen Mia Bavaro and Emma Gigantiello.

Photo at right: Freshman Amanda Amir with her mom.

Top

Getting up at the crack of dawn is fun this one day of the year SENIOR

Bottom

SUNRISE

Top left: Kristen Norberg, Angelina Ochoa, and Ewa Pekala.

right: Chloe Sonitis, Ashleigh Polanish, Maya Polanish, Julia Polanish, Elizabeth Bennett, Ava Pizirusso, Isabelle Wallace and Marissa Clark. Bottom left: Emily Wu, Rebecca Walsh and Julia Lavelle.

right: Anika Thakkar, Natalie Bala, Gabriella Sawa and Anastasiya Yasinski.

Hilltoppers YELLOW follow the BRICK ROAD

Hill presented “The Wizard of Oz” as its annual musical the first weekend of December. Directed by Ms. Samantha Hermansen, the cast included Michelina Hodgens as Dorothy Gale, Bridget Keag as the Scarecrow, Ryan Albertson as the Tin Man and Meghan Clark as the Cowardly Lion. Alexandria Yates and Gabriella Cochran were the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, with Max Gordon as the Wizard. Luke Bonifacio and Megan Jansky were Uncle Henry and Auntie Em, while Vincent Williams played Nikko and Kyle Fisher was the Winkie General. Ensembles included Bonifacio, Jansky, Williams and Fisher alongside Mercedes Clark, Brianna DiGennaro, Gresa Laze, Olivia Santana and Alexa Viggiano. The dance ensemble, captained by Emma Dinolfo, included Leila Parnese, Isabella Sheikowitz, Sean Woods, Jessica Wells, Olivia Deegan and Julianna Baldwin.