The SPOKE April 2013

See p. 12-13

THE

Sp ke

CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL, BERWYN, PA

VOLUME 63 NO. 6

BOSTON STRONG

by Lavi Ben-Dor, Suproteem Sarkar and Simran Singh news Editor, Convergence editor and staff reporter See p. 3

Maddie DeVlieger for The SPOKE

APRIL 30, 2013

STOGANEWS.COM

PAGE 2 THE SPOKE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

NEWS

Devon Elementary principal prepares to retire after 21 years in district Claire Moran & Shwetha Sudhakar Business Manager & Operations Director On St. Patrick’s Day, Devon Elementary School students will no longer get to watch their principal sing “The Unicorn” while stretching his arms and bringing them together to imitate the alligator and other animals mentioned in the song.

Dr. Tom Tobin, principal of Devon Elementary School since 2007, is retiring after working in public education for 37 years. Tobin has worked in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District for 21 years as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Tobin left the district in 1999 to work in the Lower Merion School District before returning to work at Devon Elementary in 2007. Tobin said he decided to retire to “stretch out” and do activities “beyond public education.”

“Hopefully, I’ll get to spend increased time with family, to not immediately but hopefully travel both near and far to places I’ve always wanted to visit,” Tobin said. “I want to enjoy a different pace and think about a way I can give back to the world.”

Tobin said he will miss greeting students by the buses in the morning, something he is known for along with his singing. Freshman Emmi Dolph attended fourth grade at Devon Elementary while Tobin was principal and said she enjoyed his greetings when she got off the bus.

“It was just really nice to come into school and see a smiling face every morning, and it was good to start your day off really well,” Dolph said. “He really succeeded in getting involved with the students and really making sure that he wasn’t just a principal but he was also a friend to the kids.”

Dolph also retains fond memories of Tobin giving speeches about movie genres during “Arts Express Week” and dressing up as Charlie Chaplin to have his picture taken with students. Ruth Benning, a science aide at Devon Elementary, said that such efforts to connect with students paid off. She remembers Tobin singing in the cafeteria and playing songs during the morning announcements to interact with the students.

“He’s great with the children, getting to know all the kids,” Benning said. “He’s just an extremely supportive individual, making sure all of Devon is running smoothly.”

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Freshman Brendan Powell attended Devon for one year and said he was impressed by Tobin’s “attitude towards learning.”

“He was very encouraging in getting everything done,” Powell said.

Tobin returned to the district after an eight-year stint as the assistant superintendent of Lower Merion schools because he wanted to interact with students more as a principal.

He said he missed connecting with students as a teacher, but still enjoyed WKH LQÁ XHQFH D SULQFLSDO KROGV “I really enjoy being a principal because I think you can have a EURDGHU LQÁ XHQFH RYHU D VFKRRO DQG a school culture,” Tobin said.

Tobin’s successor, current Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School assistant principal Dr. Todd Parker, said that Tobin has greatly influenced Devon students.

“Dr. Tobin has been a great leader and he has a seven-year path for me to follow, and I’m very fortunate to be the beneficiary of his legacy,” Parker said.

Parker said he is currently working with Tobin in the transition months and has spent some time going to Devon to observe the environment. He said he is excited for the opportunity.

Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE

Devon Elementary principal Tom Tobin guides students after dismissal. Tobin will retire at the end of the school year, after working in public education for 37 years.

“I think that working with elementary age kids is very different than working with middle school or high school students, and I’ve [worked with both middle and high school students]. Elementary students, everything is new to them, and they develop their interests and abilities in different ways,” Parker said. “I’m looking forward to the job and the opportunity to see them as they do that.”

Parker added that he looks forward to seeing elementary students come to school “smiling every morning.”

Tobin said he feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the students at Devon.

“I’ve enjoyed the kids whom I’ve gotten to know over the years and the parents and community have just been great and really supportive. We have been blessed to have a really incredible group of teachers,” Tobin said. “So I think I’m the fortunate one who’s gained a lot from being able to work here in this district.”

Claire Moran can be reached at cmoran@stoganews.com.

Senior Map to be published in June issue The annual Spoke Senior Map will be published in the June issue of The Spoke. Seniors can submit the colleges they will be attending using the form on Stoganews.com.

Save the date: Upcoming in community

Sports Superstars

Snow Day in May

Claire Jackson

Snow Day in May will be held May 3, the last day of school for seniors going on internship. A picnic will be held on the football practice field.

AP Testing will begin May 6 and end May 17. This year, AP scores w i l l b e av a i l a b l e o n l i n e d u r i n g t h e s u m m e r a t a p s c o r e . o r g .

Sport: Lacrosse Position: Low Attack Years playing: 9 Pump-up song: “I Love It” by Icona Pop Favorite sports beverage: Water

Tri-M Recital

Alex Robertson

The Spring Tri-M Recital will be held May 8 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Members of the music honor society will perform in front of their friends and family.

Sport: Rugby Position: Prop Years playing: 6 Pump-up song: “Right in Two” by Tool *EZSVMXI +EXSVEHI ¾ EZSV Lemon-Lime

AP Testing

Health Fair Peer Mediation’s annual Health Fair will be held May 24 throughout the school day. The fair will feature club booths and inflatables.

Photos: Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

NEWS

PAGE 3 THE SPOKE

Students, alumni feel effects of Boston Marathon bombings Cover Story Freshman Anna Delaney sat in a Boston hotel room on April 15 as her friends and family passed the phone around. On the other end of the line was her mother, Debra Delaney, who KDG À QLVKHG UXQQLQJ KHU IRXUWK %RV ton Marathon and was on her way to WKH KRWHO 6XGGHQO\ WKH\ KHDUG H[SOR VLRQV DQG VFUHDPLQJ FRPLQJ WKURXJK the phone.

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A city shut down On April 19, as police searched the Boston area for the suspects, those in town were asked to stay indoors, public transit was shut down and many businesses and universities were closed to ensure safety.

Anderson said that Northeastern contacted students to inform them of the lockdown. ´0\ IULHQGV ZHUH VWLOO VOHHSLQJ VR P\ URRPPDWH DQG , ZHQW GRZQ WR WKH common room to watch the news— there were many students there,�

Anderson said. “We all watched the ORFDO QHZV WR VHH ZKDW ZDV KDSSHQ LQJ 6RPH JLUOV ZHUH FU\LQJ EHFDXVH they had family in the areas that were RQ ORFNGRZQ :KHQ , KHDUG DERXW WKH 0,7 SROLFH RIĂ€ FHU ZKR KDG EHHQ NLOOHG , LPPHGLDWHO\ WKRXJKW RI P\ IULHQGV ZKR JR WR 0,7 DQG KRZ , KDG MXVW EHHQ WKHUH WKH ZHHNHQG EHIRUH Âľ Junior Danny +HJJ *HRIIUH\ +HJJ¡V EURWKHU VDLG WKDW KDYLQJ D UHODWLYH be in the middle of the events “added to the stress.â€? ´+DYLQJ D IDPLO\ member that close to GDQJHU UHDOO\ PDNHV you take a step back and worry about the ELJJHU WKLQJV LQVWHDG RI JHWWLQJ PDG DERXW VPDOOHU LVVXHV Âľ 'DQQ\ +HJJ VDLG )RU *HRIIUH\ +HJJ WKH IDFW WKDW the search directly affected his school KDG D VWURQJ LPSDFW RQ KLP “The lockdown was what hit home WKH KDUGHVW :LWK WKH PDUDWKRQ ERPE LQJV LW ZDV TXLFN DQG WKHQ LW ZDV RYHU EXW ZKHQ , KHDUG DERXW WKH VKRRWLQJV VRPHWKLQJ WKDW ZDV RQJRLQJ DQG YHU\ FORVH WR 0,7 WKDW ZDV VFDU\ Âľ *HRIIUH\ +HJJ VDLG ´, KDG WR VKHOWHU in place after a rehearsal until 2 a.m.

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Senior Adam Whitaker was asked to remain in a Boston hotel after the city was locked down. Whitaker, who ZDV YLVLWLQJ %RVWRQ 8QLYHUVLW\ VDLG he found the lack of people on the VWUHHWV VWUDQJH DQG HHULH ´,W ZDV GHÀ QLWHO\ D GLIIHUHQW ZD\ to see a city that was in shock and fear [as opposed to] normal hustle and bustle and liveliness,� Whitaker said.

“Imagine being on the phone with your mom and trying to pick out your last words to her. It was awful.�

Witnessing the bombings Senior Juliana Suplee attended the marathon to cheer for her mother, Mary Suplee, who ran in the event. +HU PRWKHU KDG ILQLVKHG UXQQLQJ EHIRUH WKH ERPELQJV DQG FURVVHG WKH EDUULFDGH VHSDUDWLQJ WKH UXQQHUV IURP WKH FURZG WR SLFN XS KHU JHDU EDJ ZKHQ WKH Ă€ UVW ERPE H[SORGHG “We started to run really fast and then the second bomb went off, and WKHQ >ZH UHDOL]HG @ Âś2K VRPHWKLQJ¡V UHDOO\ ZURQJ KHUH ¡ DQG WKHQ HYHU\RQH MXVW >UDQ@ Âľ -XOLDQD 6XSOHH VDLG ´, ZDV VFDUHG EHFDXVH WKHUH ZHUH Ă€ UH WUXFNV DQG SROLFHPHQ UXQQLQJ DQG \HOOLQJ DQG DPEXODQFHV DQG WKHQ ZH MXVW JRW to the hotel and they told us not to leave, so we stayed there.â€?

-XOLDQD 6XSOHH VDLG VKH ODWHU UHDO ized that her family was fortunate to have survived. ´, GLGQ¡W UHDOL]H KRZ FORVH ZH ZHUH EHFDXVH LQ UHDOLW\ \RX GRQ¡W stopâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you hear that noise and you MXVW UXQ 0\ GDG NHSW RQ WHOOLQJ PH Âś<RX¡UH VR OXFN\ ¡¾ -XOLDQD 6XSOHH VDLG 0\ PRWKHU ´Ă&#x20AC; QLVKHG D OLWWOH HDU

-­  Freshman  Anna  Delaney +HJJ DGGHG WKDW KH IHOW PRUH VHFXUH DIWHU ZDWFKLQJ QHZV FRYHUDJH of the search for the suspects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we were told to shelter LQ SODFH DQG WKHQ ZH VWDUW UHDGLQJ DERXW DQ 0,7 SROLFH RIĂ&#x20AC; FHU NLOOHG LQ WKH OLQH RI GXW\ H[SORVLYHV JRLQJ RII DQG VKRRWRXWV WDNLQJ SODFH LW GRHVQ¡W H[DFWO\ FDOP \RXU QHUYHV Âľ +HJJ VDLG ´7KH QHZV FRYHUDJH JDYH PH VRPH UHOLHI ZKHQ >WKH SROLFH@ Ă&#x20AC; QDOO\ cornered the suspect, because it was WHOOLQJ PH WKH FUD]LQHVV ZDV RYHU Âľ 2012 alumna Stacy Anderson, who attends Northeastern, had planned to watch the marathon that day, but did QRW JR EHFDXVH VKH ZDV VLFN â&#x20AC;&#x153;We rushed across the hall to ZDWFK WKH QHZV RQ P\ IULHQG¡V WHOHYL VLRQ :H ZHUH DOO LQ DZHÂł, GLG QRW NQRZ ZKDW WR WKLQN , KDG IULHQGV ZKR went to the marathon to volunteer as ZHOO DV EH VSHFWDWRUV , ZDV KRQHVWO\ LQ D VWDWH RI VKRFN EHFDXVH , SRWHQWLDOO\ knew people who could have been VHULRXVO\ DIIHFWHG EXW DOVR EHFDXVH , FRXOG¡YH EHHQ WKHUH Âľ $QGHUVRQ VDLG ´, KDG EHHQ UHFRYHULQJ IURP D FROG DOO weekend, and with a natural tendency WR DYRLG FURZGV , ZDV UHOXFWDQW WR JR WR WKH PDUDWKRQ ,¡P KDSS\ , GLG QRW JR Âľ

Continued on p. 4

3KRWRV &RXUWHV\ $QQD 'HODQH\ DQG -XOLDQD 6XSOHH

Valley Forge Middle School gym teacher Pat Ryan (top) and Debra Delaney (middle) and Mary Suplee (bottom), mothers of Conestoga students, ran in the Boston Marathon on April 15.

PAGE 4 THE SPOKE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

NEWS

Community remembers victims, unites in support Continued from p. 3

Responding to attacks Karen Friedman, mother of sophomore Sam Friedman, finished running the marathon about an hour before the blasts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fanfare that you get from the people there on the sidelines, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what really motivates you,â&#x20AC;?

Karen Friedman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And to know that innocent people were injured is a tragedy.â&#x20AC;?

Karen Friedman also commented on the location of the bombings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People run for several reasons but in particular to run for causes, and at that point so many people were coming in around that timeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the time of the initial bombing,â&#x20AC;?

Karen Friedman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were thinking that the only reason it went off then was that there were more people there, the crowds were bigger.â&#x20AC;?

Hillary Stroud, Media Relations Associate for the Red Cross, said the Red Cross is working to support the victims of the bombing and holding blood drives throughout the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After traumatic and emotional events like [the Boston bombings], people want to know what to do, and preparing yourself and your family for future emergencies can help bring peace of mind,â&#x20AC;? Stroud said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Taking actions such as GRZQORDGLQJ WKH 5HG &URVV Ă&#x20AC; UVW DLG DSS UHJLVWHULQJ IRU D Ă&#x20AC; UVW DLG class or building a disaster supply kit can help you feel empowered to face future emergencies.â&#x20AC;?

Math teacher Leanne Pretz and her husband have attended all three Boston Marathons that their daughter has participated in the past; however, her daughter did not participate this year. One of the locations they had watched from in the past was in close proximity to the location of the second bombing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was kind of an eerie feeling, and knowing that she still has a lot of friends that are either still in Boston, or run Boston, we contacted [our daughter] right away just to make sure all of her friends were okay, and she said everybody was checking in on Facebook, just saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m okay, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m okay, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m okayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that kind of a thing, so that

everybody knew everyone was all right,â&#x20AC;? Pretz said.

Anna Delaney said she is still recovering from the effects of the bombings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The experience has very much affected me. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t concentrate for long periods of time and I completely shut down or get very defensive when people ask questions or just when the city is mentioned,â&#x20AC;? Anna Delaney said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are videos of [the bombers] placing the bombs and continuing to walk by the familiesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that family could have been mine.â&#x20AC;?

Senior Ary Swaminathan, who will be attending Harvard University next year, planned to visit for a college preview day when the bombings occurred, and was unable to attend because of security concerns. Swaminathan said he was impressed by the unity shown by residents of Boston after the bombings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all had that show of solidarity, that show of togetherness,â&#x20AC;? Swaminathan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tragic event, but to the extent that such events do bring people together, bring communities together, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad to see that everyone is unconditionally supporting Boston through this whole trial.â&#x20AC;?

Racing forward In response to the Boston Marathon bombings, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced plans to increase security at the

Photos: Maddie DeVlieger for The SPOKE

Top left: People gather at a memorial site to honor those affected by the bombings. Bottom left: Memorial posters honor the people injured or killed by the attacks. Right: A child observes the memorial. she had to be scanned with a wand before she was able to enter.

Bette Kozlowski said she felt the increased security did not detract from her experience at the relays. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It makes you feel more secure so you can enjoy the event more and not worry about what could happen,â&#x20AC;? Bette Kozlowski said.

Math teacher Heather Hall, who has run marathons in the past, said she was impressed by the courage those running in the Boston Marathon demonstrated after the explosions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The silver lining was seeing the community of runners DQG Ă&#x20AC; UVW UHVSRQGHUV all rallying and doing what they could to immediately help out,â&#x20AC;? Hall said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Speaking as a woman who has run several marathons, your body is exhausted DIWHU Ă&#x20AC; QLVKLQJ +HDULQJ RI DOO WKRVH runners who immediately went to donate blood, it brought a feeling of hope. Even after such an exertion, they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think twice about donating, knowing there were others with greater need.â&#x20AC;?

Anderson said that the bombing

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The silver lining was seeing the FRPPXQLW\ RI UXQQHUV DQG Ă&#x20AC; UVW responders all rallying and doing what they could to immediately help out.â&#x20AC;?

-­  Math  teacher  Heather  Hall Broad Street Run on May 5.

In addition, the Penn Relays, which were held from April 25-27 at the University of Pennsylvania, stepped up their security, banning spectators from bringing backpacks and large bags and prohibiting coolers, cans, glass bottles, weapons and poles.

Bette Kozlowski, mother of sophomore Paige Kozlowski, attended the Penn Relays and said

and aftermath have driven her to be more cautious in public places. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This event has made an impression on my freshman year of college. I have seen the effect it KDV KDG RQ WKH FLW\ Ă&#x20AC; UVW KDQG VRPH of my friends are going through are experiencing some emotional GLIĂ&#x20AC; FXOW\ EHFDXVH RI WKLV HYHQW DQG some other recent events. I am no-

ticing a lot of devastation happening globally right now,â&#x20AC;? Anderson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know that when I go to a large event, such as a concert, I will be more conscious of my surrounding, similar to how I am more cautious at a movie theater after the shooting in Colorado.â&#x20AC;?

Continued on p. 5

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

PAGE 5 THE SPOKE

NEWS

Nation strives to recover from bombing, looks to future

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My thoughts are, if we stop, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re winning. They canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t scare us from living our lives.â&#x20AC;?

lp HHooww ttoo he American Give blood to the American Red or text REDCROSS to Red Cross Cross 90999 to donate $10.

THE ONE FUND

BOSTON

2013

Donate to One Fund Boston organized by the state and local governments at onefundboston.org.

NCY Â DISA GE

THE TION VA SALARMY SE

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really the inspiration that we should look toward and make this a better Anna Delaney said her mother place.â&#x20AC;? has decided to run the marathon Pretz said that she hopes that the again next year despite the attacks. tragedy will not discourage people â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mom has been wearing from participating in public events her Boston gear all week and inin the future. stead of people asking, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh wow, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m scheduled to run [in the did you run the Blue Cross Broad marathon? Good Street Run] in for you!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; it has two weeks, and I turned into â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve talked my God, were with some peoyou there?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? ple that are also Anna Delaney scheduled to run, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know for and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said sure that more â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hmm, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t people will be know, do I want -­  Math  teacher  Leanne  Pretz running and to? Kind of scary.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; watching the My thoughts are, Boston Maraif we stop, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thon next year. winning. They This year was my momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be happy being here if they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t scare us from living our lives,â&#x20AC;? time running Boston and it was wanted to live here,â&#x20AC;? Karen Fried- Pretz said. supposed to be her last, but we man said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The pain I feel is just have already booked our hotel awful. And if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not mental then Staff reporter Yuge Xiao contribrooms for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race because obviously itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical. The people uted to this report. my mom wants to show off her that have been injuredâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;seeing them, watching them on TVâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Lavi Ben-Dor can be reached at strength.â&#x20AC;?

Karen Friedman said she still motivation that they give to us is lbendor@stoganews.com. is adjusting to the events that took place in Boston. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You hear in America having the opportunities to do and be independent. And to have that taken away from you, you have to wonder what people are thinking and why they

EME R

Continued from p. 4

Donate to the Salvation Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boston Emergency Services Fund at salvationarmyma.org/marathonrelief

RVIC E S Graphic: Anisa Tavangar/The SPOKE Zoe Au for The SPOKE

Club works to renovate, restore local war memorials

Maggie Chen & Emma Purinton Staff Reporters

Hallowed Ground Organization, a group that aims to preserve historical monuments and memorials for veterans and patriots around the Students armed with wax and world.

Hough hopes to renovate other toothbrushes work diligently, rubbing cotton swabs over the war sites in the area to provide a glimpse memorial at Berwyn Train Station. into the history of communities $W Ă&#x20AC;UVW WKH VZDEV FRPH RII GLUW\ and further spread the refurbishing However, when they grab tooth- project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we could research those times brushes and wax and do it again, the and tie it in with our local residents, tools come off clean.

The Saving Hallowed Ground weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to learn a lot more. If Club met at the Berwyn Train Sta- we can set an example in the Berwyn tion Memorial on April 18 to plan community, then we can share this how to refurbish the memorial. program with other schools,â&#x20AC;? Hough History teacher Timothy Decker said.

With Houghâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideals in mind, the started the club in November and said they will not only renovate the club will work to research veterans Berwyn veteran memorial, but will and keep the memorials in good condition. The club also hopes to also focus on others in the area.

Decker, a veteran himself, said create phone scans for each of the that he was inspired to start the names of veterans on the memorials. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Somebody wants to go to the club after hearing about efforts to memorial, they see it, they want to renovate other buildings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had a local community leader learn more about that person, you come to me through a former stu- scan it and you get a biography on dent. They started with [the reno- the person,â&#x20AC;? Decker said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about vation of] St. Katherine of Siena in refurbishing, cleaning them up and Wayne last year and it went really then learning about the actual individuals who are named on them, and well,â&#x20AC;? Decker said.

Eugene Hough, who contacted Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJ RXW WKHLU KLVWRU\ Âľ Hough thinks that the research Decker, is the founder of the Saving

Courtesy Timothy Decker

Students pose at the Berwyn Train Station Memorial on April 18 after helping clean the location. The Saving Hallowed Ground Club plans to renovate war memorials in the area and preserve the legacies of local servicemen. Â reon the veterans will help bring the granted as quickly as we move in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for people to memorials back to life. life,â&#x20AC;? Hough said. member the brave men that fought â&#x20AC;&#x153;It truly becomes the history of Freshman member Jackson Reus- for this country,â&#x20AC;? Reuschel said. a living memorial. And weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hop- chel was attracted to the club by the ing that we will take a better look prospect of commemorating local Maggie Chen can be reached at at these sites and not take things for veterans and servicemen. mchen@stoganews.com.

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PAGE 6 THE SPOKE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

NEWS

Little Mulan Dance Troupe twirls its way to success

Mary Mei Staff Reporter Five Conestoga students headed to the International Dance Challenge (IDC) Regionals in Albany, N.Y. on April 14 and came back with four awards for their group dance entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blooming Time.â&#x20AC;?

Juniors Alice Wu and Annie Shen, sophomore Maggie Chen and freshmen Melissa Zheng and Nancy Jin are among the 11 dancers in the Little Mulan Dance Troupe. The group consists of high school girls who perform a variety of traditional Chinese dances that showcase the dance styles of Chinese minorities.

Zheng, a dancer of seven years, said the dances help portray unique features of various Chinese cultures. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chinese dance has some ballet and other dance techniques but it also includes aspects from minority groups,â&#x20AC;? Zheng said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each minority group has their own little specialty that brings something different to the performance.â&#x20AC;?

The group threw and twirled handkerchiefs in the air during

their winning number, which they performed at the IDC. They use props that include peacock feather headpieces, long skirts and braids.

Wu said dancing has allowed her to connect with her heritage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I dance Chinese dance because of my culture and how it allows me to show my character,â&#x20AC;? Wu said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I started dancing, it was always Chinese dance before ballet. I also think that my parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; LQĂ XHQFH DIIHFWHG PH Âľ The troupe practices at Rosemont College every Sunday for two hours as part of the Great Wall Chinese School. When they prepared for the IDC, the practices were much longer and more frequent for the girls.

At the competition, the troupe received the Best Presentation Award and was named the Platinum, Teen Large and Teen Ultimate Champions. Last year, they were awarded the Best Costume Award along with the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Global Entertainer Award.

Zheng said the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success came as a surprise. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were all sitting on the stage and listening when they

Photo Courtesy Chester Gu

Members of the Little Mulan Dance Troupe perform at the International Dance Challenge Regionals in Albany, N.Y. on April 14. The team, which performs dances portraying Chinese cultures, won four awards. called our number for the dance.

We sat there for a few seconds taking in the information because we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe it. Then we jumped up and celebrated,â&#x20AC;? Zheng said.

Community protests demolition contributed to the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuing effort to keep the courts. First was the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s realization that the courts After six weeks, three meetings were used more often and by more and 42 emails, the Tredyffrin/East- people than it had previously thought. town school board continues to face The second was the townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willthe problem of the Valley Forge ingness to renegotiate.

Elementary School (VFES) tennis Throughout the past six weeks, courts. the community has been actively 7KH FRQĂ LFW DURVH PRUH WKDQ D involved with the school board on decade ago. Since 2002, the district the issue. Two meetings at which the had been looking at future needs for tennis courts were on the agenda were parking at VFES because of a 45 packed with local residents.

SDUNLQJ VSDFH GHĂ&#x20AC; FLW ,Q 0D\ Junior Karl-Luis Neubig, a memthe Tredyffrin/Easttown Township ber of Conestogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tennis team, spoke agreed to allow the district to use the at the April 2 meeting and attended the pavement next to the courts as park- RQH RQ $SULO 1HXELJ Ă&#x20AC; UVW SOD\HG ing. However, the district could not tennis at the courts when he was eight begin construction until the courts and had hoped the district would were removed. Consequently, the change its original decision. courts were scheduled for demolition â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was glad to see that the school on March 23 to provide the space board considered the options,â&#x20AC;? Neuneeded to build the parking lot. big said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We, the community, let However, as a result of public con- them know that it was not the best cern, demolition was postponed. At idea. A lot of effort was put into makthe April 22 school board meeting, the ing sure the tennis court stayed.â&#x20AC;? board voted to seek a variance from Dr. Bree Christine, a township resthe district zoning board. If granted, ident, mentioned the physical aspect the variance will allow the board to of children and the rising obesity rate. retain the courts and proceed with the To Christine, it â&#x20AC;&#x153;would be a travesty construction of the 24 parking spaces. to take away some sort of exercise the Dr. Pete Motel, head of the fa- children have.â&#x20AC;? cilities committee, said two factors Other concerns involved the

Yuge Xiao Staff Reporter

$14,000 fee to breach the contract with the demolition company and the delay in which community memEHUV ZHUH QRWLĂ&#x20AC; HG DERXW WKH FRXUWV¡ demolition.

Despite the uncertainties and complications, board member Karen Cruickshank hopes to retain the courts. At the same time, she reminded both the board and community members of the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main duty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do agree that we can only keep those courts if we do in fact get a variance. I hope that we go to the zoning board and everything proceeds smoothly and we get it,â&#x20AC;? Cruickshank said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, we need, and we are the school district, more parking at that school. And in the case that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a variance, those tennis courts have to come up. Do I like that?

No, but again our job is maintaining the educational program here.â&#x20AC;?

Neubig appreciates the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts in retaining the tennis courts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The school board works hard and they deserve the credit,â&#x20AC;? Neubig said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I realize that there is still a lot that must be worked on to keep the tennis courts, and I hope it will work out.â&#x20AC;?

Yuge Xiao can be reached at yxiao@stoganews.com.

Shen attributes the troupeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success to the membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dedication and hard work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We worked extremely hard in preparation,â&#x20AC;? Shen said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After we performed, it was really rewarding

to say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re done and we did it,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and know that we did pretty well.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my favorite part.â&#x20AC;?

Mary Mei can be reached at mmei@stoganews.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

NEWS

PAGE 7 THE SPOKE

Students win awards at regional research competition Wendy Tan Staff Reporter

the judging process required competitors to answer questions about their projects.

From the moment the gadget Bharadwaj sought to create a ranArduino Uno is activated, data imme- dom number generator in his project GLDWHO\ EHJLQV Ă RZLQJ IURP D FLUFXLW titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;How Random is Random?â&#x20AC;? He to a rectangular blue microcontroller. spent four months building and testOver time, the current signals are ing the generator, and he won second measured and used to generate com- place in the Computer category and pletely random numbers. After 25 the Nano/Bio Interface Center Award. tests, sophomore Narahari Bharadwaj â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were certain points where succeeded in building an efficient I felt that I was at a dead end, but random number generator, his project HYHQWXDOO\ , Ă&#x20AC; JXUHG HYHU\WKLQJ RXW for the Delaware Valley Science Fair. (YHQ DV , ZDV IDFLQJ GLIĂ&#x20AC; FXOWLHV , VWLOO Participants sophomores Narahari found it interesting,â&#x20AC;? Bharadwaj said.

Bharadwaj and Suproteem Sarkar and Chang and Ho competed together juniors Dorsin Chang and Elaine Ho in the team competition with a project TXDOLĂ&#x20AC; HG IRU WKH 'HODZDUH 9DOOH\ 6FL that examined Erwinia amylovora, a ence Fair, held from April 2-4 at the YLUXV ZKLFK FDXVHV Ă&#x20AC; UH EOLJKW D FRQ Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in tagious disease often affecting apples Oaks, Pa., where contestants battled and pears. They began experimentagainst more than 1,000 participants ing with the virus last summer and from the tri-state area for scholar- focused on cloning and expressing ships and prizes totaling more than virulence factors in the pathogen. $3 million.

Chang and Ho won honorable High school students competed mention for their project, as well as based on their grade level and were the Future Scientist Award. Despite judged on April 3 by professionals setbacks, such as performing the gel LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; HOGV RI HDFK FDWHJRU\ 3DUW RI electrophoresis process that separates

various molecules based on size, Chang maintained a positive attitude. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were some technical difficulties with making gel electrophoresis. That took a long time to Ă&#x20AC; [ EXW , VWLOO IHOW OLNH LW ZDV D FRRO opportunity,â&#x20AC;? Chang said.

Despite the challenge and time consuming commitment, Bharadwaj thought the science fair was a fun learning experience and plans to compete again in the future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think [the science fair] is a great place to learn a lot about computer science, statistics and mathematics, DQG , WKLQN ,¡OO GHĂ&#x20AC; QLWHO\ GR LW QH[W year,â&#x20AC;? Bharadwaj said.

Chemistry teachers Scott Best and Derrick Wood helped the students prepare and perfect their projects.

Best views the fair as an opportuQLW\ WR ERWK VKDUH DQG JDLQ VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC; F knowledge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It gives the students a chance to present their research to their peers as well as to professionals who know more about what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing,â&#x20AC;?

Best said.

Best enjoyed interacting with the

Courtesy Narahari Bharadwaj

Sophomore Narahari Bharadwaj poses with his project, in which he created a random number generator. Bharadwaj placed second in the Computer category at the Delaware Valley Science Fair. students and is impressed with their of an award, so they did a fantastic achievements. job,â&#x20AC;? Best said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think they all did great. Each of them were successful in a variety of Wendy Tan can be reached at ways and they all gained some type wtan@stoganews.com.

Opinion TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

The Spoke is published seven times per year at Bartash Printing. It consistently receives the Gold Award from the Pennsylvania Scholastic Press Association and is a National School Press Association Pacemaker award-winning publication. The Spoke serves as a public forum for student expression.

Editors-in-chief: Heather Ward, Haley Xue Managing Editor: Jenna Spoont News Editor: Lavi Ben-Dor Op/Ed Editor: Allison Kozeracki Features Editor: Natalie West Sports Editors: Maddie Amsterdam, Abby Pioch Design Editor: Margot Field Photo Editor: Karolis Panavas Centerspread Editor: Callum Backstrom Convergence Editor: Suproteem Sarkar Business Manager: Claire Moran Operations Director: Shwetha Sudhakar Graphic Designers: Sophie Bodek, Anisa Tavangar Cartoonists: Callum Backstrom, Sophie Bodek, Maggie Chen Staff: Andy Backstrom, Kelly Benning, Maggie Chen, Isha Damle, Stephane Hardinger, Courtney Kennedy, Emily Klein, David Kramer, Mary Mei, Patrick Nicholson, Sophia Ponte, Emma Purinton, James Redmond, Shivani Sanghani, Emily Seeburger, YingYing Shang, Simran Singh, Wendy Tan, Yuge Xiao, Navin Zachariah Faculty Advisers: Susan Houseman, Cynthia Crothers-Hyatt

From the Editors:

Give and take

The Spoke stresses need for open-minded compromise Over the past few years, our district, like many others in the area, has faced a daunting EXGJHW GHĂ&#x20AC;FLW $FFRUGLQJ WR GDWD DYDLODEOH IURP the March 4 Finance Committee meeting, the SURMHFWHG EXGJHW GHĂ&#x20AC;FLW IRU QH[W \HDU LV PLOOLRQ DIWHU WKH $FW WD[ LQFUHDVH RI SHUFHQW and the implementation of budget impact items as approved by the Finance Committee on Jan.

To combat this problem, the school board has attempted quite a few budget strategies, many of which have garnered heated community backlash. Some contentious subjects include the demotion of highest salary teachers which led to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Up, Doc?â&#x20AC;? protest last year, the outsourcing of custodial staff, the teacher contract negotiations and the community quarrel about $FW WD[ LQFUHDVHV 0RVW UHFHQWO\ ERWK WKH SURposals to demolish the Valley Forge Elementary 6FKRRO WHQQLV FRXUWV DQG GHFUHDVH WKH PLOOLRQ VSHFLDO HGXFDWLRQ EXGJHW E\ KDYH also faced community opposition.

The Spoke wants to keep all of our programs just as much as everyone else in the community, but we all have to remember that the school ERDUG LV IDFLQJ D YHU\ GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW VLWXDWLRQ 7KH SURMHFWHG GHĂ&#x20AC;FLW LV ULVLQJ IRU WKH FRPLQJ \HDUV EHFDXVH RI LQĂ DWLRQ DQG RWKHU IDFWRUV ZH FDQ¡W control. We have to face these facts.

We have to accept that we are all going to KDYH WR PDNH VRPH VPDOO VDFULĂ&#x20AC;FHV QRZ WR DYRLG WKH SRWHQWLDO RI D PXFK ODUJHU VDFULĂ&#x20AC;FH ODWHU 7KH budget crisis is a universal problem, and ultimately everyone in the district has to deal with

it. Property owners may need to pay higher taxes, students and parents may need to accept cuts to certain programs and extracurricular activities and teachers and staff in the district have to be willing to communicate with the board and, in the future, consider the renegotiation of conWUDFWV DQG EHQHĂ&#x20AC;WV JUDQWHG LQ D PRUH SURVSHURXV economy. Widespread problems require univerVDO VDFULĂ&#x20AC;FHV 7KH GLOHPPD DIIHFWV HYHU\RQH VR we all have to work together to solve it.

The school board members are faced with an unfortunate situation that they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change, but we can help them. We can agree to compromise.

We, as a community, may not agree with the school boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to cut a particular part of the budget, but we as a community owe it to them and to ourselves to carefully consider all the aspects of the situation, both the pros and cons of the budget strategy, before we jump to condemn it. Student protests can be effective vehicles for expression and we encourage activism in school board activities. However, we hope that students make sure they know all the facts and consider alternative solutions to the problem before they decide to protest.

2QO\ ZLWK WKH FROOHFWLYH VDFULĂ&#x20AC;FHV RI HYHU\one will our school district be able to maintain its high standard of excellence. We need to remain open minded to compromise and look toward the future together as a community.

Somewhere down the road something has to be cut. It can either be a few little things now, or a big thing later, but in the end something has to change.

Submissions

The Spoke will print letters of general interest to the student body and community. Signed letters under 200 words may be submitted to Susan Houseman, Cynthia Hyatt, Heather Ward or Haley Xue. Unsigned editorials represent the views of The Spoke editorial board, and not necessarily those of the administration, student body, community or advertisers.

The opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of The Spoke.

Contact Us

Email: spoke@stoga.net 3KRQH The Spoke accepts paid advertisements.

Email cmoran@stoganews.com.

Visit The Spoke online at www.stoganews.com News Director: Suproteem Sarkar ssarkar@stoganews.com

Lean on me Heather Ward and Haley Xue Co-editors-in-chief :KHQ ZH ZHUH Ă&#x20AC;UVW DSSRLQWHG DV WKH QH[W editors-in-chief of The Spoke at the end of last school year, we looked at each other, wondering what exactly we had just gotten ourselves into. %XW VHYHQ LVVXHV ODWHU ZH FDQ Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ VD\ WKDW ZH somehow got through it all. Together.

Sometimes, as our friends know so well, we start to lose our minds from all those late production nights, last minute changes and general mishaps that inevitably happen during every issue.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stressful job, but one that we both would readily take on again if we were given the chance.

But the thing is, neither of us could have done it alone. Although we sometimes wish that an army of magical elves would break into the SURGXFWLRQ URRP DW QLJKW DQG Ă&#x20AC;QLVK SXWWLQJ WKH paper together for us, we have a team thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even better: our wonderful, hardworking reporters and editors. We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have done it without our editors who do anything from teaching reporters to designing graphics. We also couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have done it without our staff reporters who are willing to WUDFN GRZQ D VRXUFH RQ D ZHHNHQG WR Ă&#x20AC;QLVK WKHLU articles. And of course, we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have done it without The Spokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advisers who offer us support, guidance and who make sure that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose our sanity. Each issue thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s published is only made possible by this team dynamic.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to say that everything always runs smoothly. There are times when a source needs to be replaced last minute or a front page story is changed mere days before the issue is released.

As worrisome as those times can be, we know that we can count on each and every member of the paper, from staff reporters to our fellow editors, to step up and get the job done.

But the sense of teamwork and collaboration LQ FUHDWLQJ 7KH 6SRNH LVQ¡W VLPSO\ FRQĂ&#x20AC;QHG WR our staff members. While it takes the effort and dedication of all of us to publish a cohesive and well-written newspaper, it also requires the cooperation and help from students, teachers, faculty, community members, administrators and the school board. Their interviews and information are vital because they are the people who create the stories we write about. This synergistic dynamic is what allows The Spoke to exist as a vehicle for positive change and information.

It hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been an easy journey this year, but having the opportunity of working on a team and sharing a bond as student journalists makes everything weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done as a part of The Spoke all worth it.

Heather Ward and Haley Xue can be reached at spoke@stoga.net.

Sophie Bodek/The SPOKE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

PAGE 9 THE SPOKE

OP/ED

A letter to my freshman year self social dystopia it presents and how to avoid it at all costs. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll start feeling out the academic ropes.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll try to reinvent yourself and fail miserably, only to realize you were kind of okay to begin ZLWK <RX¡OO Ă&#x20AC;QG D SDVVLRQ DQG the people to go with it, and dive LQ KHDGĂ&#x20AC;UVW DQG DFWXDOO\ VWDUW Emily Seeburger to be at peace with life.

Columnist Freshman Emily, you can never be quite at Dear Freshman Emily, peace for too long.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll then become SophDespite what you think, that long hallway that stretches from omore Emily. Everything the lobby to the gym isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that big on the outside seems to be and scary, even when turning that falling neatly into place; corner for the first time. Those however, when something unfamiliar faces arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually falls, it never seems to actuout to get you nor do they have ally land, collapse or crash some preconceived hatred toward neatly, now does it? Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll you. This is just high school; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learn this soon. Sophoa transition, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a change, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more Emily, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get knocked down quite for the better.

These four years wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the a bit, invest your reworst of your life, nor will they sources in the wrong be the best. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just be, well, places, get knocked down a part of life. A part where, like a little more, and during the everyone else, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get knocked long-fought battles, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll transidown, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get up, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll tion into Junior Emily.

Junior Emily, after you get usually get a funny story to tell some much-needed separation out of it. <RX¡OO IHHO DZNZDUG DW Ă&#x20AC;UVW DQG from school over the summer, I mean very, very awkward. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll focus on you, put life into feel like the puzzle piece that if high gear and wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t slow down.

IRUFHG LQ FDQ Ă&#x20AC;W EXW LV QRW UHDOO\ Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll really settle into the jigsaw supposed to go in that spot. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll puzzle thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meant for your puzzle start looking around at the new piece and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do a heck of a lot world youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in, perplexed by the of maturing and growing.

Then, after wondering how in the world time moved so quickly and how exactly you made it here alive, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll become me, Senior Emily. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll reflect on Freshman Emily and how different everything is now, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll learn

Sophie Bodek/The SPOKE

the true value of Sophomore Emily and the inner strength she gave you, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be inspired by the workhorse nature of Junior Emily and where it has taken you.

And most of all, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know that exactly where you are right now is where you want to be.

Freshman Emily, there are a few things I want you to know. I want you to know that time doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop.

Remove yourself from the mindset that is only capable of thinking weeks or months in advance; live for today, because if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop to look around once in a while, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll miss the small, wonderful things that make this life great.

Know that trials and tribulations are the true stepping stones in life, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re nothing to be ashamed of. Know the power of forgiveness, and with that, the importance of time.

Time does heal all, but be patient and appreciate that time is a long-lasting BandAid, and for good reason.

Know that there are people that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll let go of, but at the same time, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll meet people that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never say goodbye to, and those people will inspire you to be a better person.

Know that any time is a good time for self-discovery, and in order to give your love to RWKHUV \RX Ă&#x20AC;UVW QHHG WR ORYH DQG understand yourself Most importantly, know that, in the end, everything turns out exactly how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meant to be.

people you can call your real friends.â&#x20AC;?

Emily Seeburger can be reached at eseeburger@stoganews.com.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find an internship early.â&#x20AC;?

-­  Senior  Stephen  Watts

-­  Senior  Catalina  Acosta

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Study good.â&#x20AC;?

-­  Senior  Matt  Cordell

Snow Day in May + One last chance for seniors to hang out together - Only takes up part of the school day

Seniors Leaving + Hallways and parking spaces open up - Senior friends will be sorely missed

Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day + Reminder to appreciate all your mom does for you - Mothers should be celebrated all days of the year

With Love, Senior Emily

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is your best advice to underclassmen?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153; The people who stick by you all four years are the

Report Card

Junior Prom + Dinner, CAPCO and long dresses make for a special occasion - Dates and dresses create â&#x20AC;&#x153;pramaâ&#x20AC;?

Senior Recitals + Musical seniors get one last chance to perform at â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stoga - Many students never get the chance to attend

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find fun, constructive activities and pursue them;

Parking Lot Tickets

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look at high school as a place to build a college resumĂŠ.â&#x20AC;?

+ Justice for those who bought parking passes

-­  Senior  Joani  Etskovitz

- Remorse for those who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

PAGE 10 THE SPOKE

YingYing Shang Columnist I was a new student to the district freshman year: the â&#x20AC;&#x153;smart girlâ&#x20AC;? from my old school. I was not 13-year-old adolescent awkward at DOO $W Ă&#x20AC;UVW WKH SRSXODU JLUOV KDWHG me. But then I went on to date the VWDU VSRUWV SOD\HU DQG FDXVHG WKH whole cafeteria to break out into song and dance.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just kidding. None of that DFWXDOO\ KDSSHQHG WR PH IUHVKPDQ \HDU GHVSLWH WKH SURPLVHV RI ´+LJK 6FKRRO 0XVLFDO Âľ WKH 'LVQH\ RULJLQDO PRYLH WKDW LQVSLUHG P\ dreams of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;idealâ&#x20AC;? high school career. My freshman year actually VWDUWHG GLVPDOO\ ZLWK PH VOXPSHG RQ WKH Ă RRU RXWVLGH P\ (QJOLVK classroom after going to the wrong OXQFK SHULRG , GLGQ¡W PDNH UHDO friends for a long time.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

OP/ED

High school movies set high expectations %XW LW JRW EHWWHUÂłVLJQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQWO\ better.

I came into high school fully H[SHFWLQJ LW WR EH KLJK VFKRRO PRYLH SHUIHFW ZKHUH , ZRXOG LPPHGLDWHO\ Ă&#x20AC;QG D JURXS RI IULHQGV WR IDOO LQ ZLWK DQG LPPHGLDWHO\ Ă&#x20AC;QG P\ QLFKH OLNH LQ ´+LJK 6FKRRO 0XVLFDO Âľ &RQWUDU\ WR P\ H[SHFWDWLRQV , ZRXOG HQFRXQWHU GUDPD , would struggle with AP Biology. I would not immediately make real friends. +LJK VFKRRO PRYLHV QHYHU show schoolwork or embarrassLQJ PRPHQWV %XW LQ UHDOLW\ WKRVH PRPHQWV LQHYLWDEO\ KDSSHQ 7KH\ never show that time your French teacher made you cry because \RX KDG FRPSOHWHG DQ DVVLJQPHQW LQFRUUHFWO\ RU WKDW DZNZDUG PRPHQW ZKHQ WKH ZKROH FODVV HUXSWHG LQWR DSSODXVH IRU \RXU RSSRQHQW LQ D GHEDWH LQ (XURSHDQ +LVWRU\ 7KH\ QHYHU VKRZ WKH FRQĂ LFWV RYHU WKH FRORUV RI SURP GUHVVHV RU WKH DQ[LHW\ RI Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJ D SURP GDWH RU the tension among seniors when college decisions are released.

2I FRXUVH , GLGQ¡W JR RQ WR GDWH WKH VWDU EDVNHWEDOO SOD\HU HLWKHU Although every high school ro-

Maggie Chen/7KH 632.(

PDQWLF FRPHG\ HQGV ZLWK D SHUIHFW NLVV WKH UHDOLW\ LV WKDW \RX PLJKW QRW KDYH WKDW SHUIHFW KLJK VFKRRO boyfriend youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll marry and have NLGV ZLWK ,I \RX GR KDYH WKRVH Ă&#x20AC;UVW NLVVHV ILUVW GDWHV DQG ILUVW ORYHV WKH\

PLJKW HQG XS DZNZDUG DQG LPSHUIHFW ZLWK QR YLROLQV SOD\LQJ in the background. You might QRW HYHQ KDYH WKRVH VWHUHRW\SLFDO ´Ă&#x20AC;UVWÂľ H[SHULHQFHV DW DOO LQ KLJK schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay too. You have your whole life ahead of you:

even though the movie cuts off at JUDGXDWLRQ WKHUH¡V PRUH Sometimes it felt like I was the only one that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the restâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the only one who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the moves to the song and dance QXPEHU 7KH RQO\ RQH ZKR ZDVQ¡W KDYLQJ ´KLJK VFKRRO H[SHULHQFHV Âľ But the truth is that everyone feels DORQH VRPHWLPHV (YHU\RQH IHHOV different. $QG HYHQWXDOO\ DIWHU DOO WKDW WXUPRLO , HPHUJHG D EHWWHU SHUVRQ As I grew and learned and found P\VHOI , ZRXOG VWLOO KDYH GRZQ GD\V EXW , DOVR JDLQHG D Ă&#x20AC;UPHU sense of self and a more concrete VHOI FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH 7KRVH JDLQV ZHUH internal and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be shown on a movie screen.

It got better. If you learn from \RXU KLJK VFKRRO H[SHULHQFHV FRPH VHQLRU \HDU \RX WRR ZLOO emerge (or are emerging) a better SHUVRQ $ VWURQJHU SHUVRQ $ SHUson with a long future ahead of you DQG SOHQW\ RI GUHDPV WR UHDOL]H outside of the myth of high school SHUIHFWLRQ YingYing Shang can be reached at yshang@stoganews.com.

1MWFILEZMSV [SVWIRW GSRžMGX MR >IXXPIQS]IV *SVIWX

James Redmond Columnist 2QFH XSRQ D WLPH LQ D GHHS GDUN DFDGHPLFDOO\ SUHVWLJLRXV ZRRG URXJKO\ PLOHV RXWVLGH RI PHWURSROLWDQ 3KLODGHOSKLD WKHUH OD\ D FOHDULQJ WHHPLQJ ZLWK throngs of adolescent forest creaWXUHV RYHU ZKLFK VHYHUDO ZLVH oak trees stood guard.

0RVW HYHU\ FUHDWXUH VSHQW LWV VKDUH RI WLPH LQ WKH FOHDULQJ where they could take a break IURP WKH SUHVVXUHV RI WKH IRUHVW OHDUQ WKH URSHV RI OLIH LQ UHODWLYH SHDFH RU VTXHDO RYHU WKH ODWHVW SURP JRVVLS 7KH WUHHV ORYHG WR ZDWFK WKHP OHDUQ DQG PDWXUH and the creatures loved the treesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ZLVGRP DQG KHOSIXOQHVV $V JXDUGLDQV RI WKH FOHDULQJ KRZHYHU WKH WUHHV DOVR KDG WR HQIRUFH LWV UXOHV DQG NHHS WKH

SODFH LQ RUGHU %XW WKH \RXQJ creatures had always been kind DQG ZHOO PHDQLQJ VR WKH WUHHV UHIUDLQHG IURP GLVKLQJ RXW SXQLWLYH ZDOORSLQJV :KDW did it matter if five FKLSPXQNV LQVWHDG of four were sitting in the branches TXLHWO\ FKDWWHUL Q J D Z D \ doing no h a r m to anybody? For D ZKLOH WKH trees bore the extra weight gladly. %XW RYHU WLPH as more and more FUHDWXUHV SDVVHG WKURXJK VRPH EHgan to take the clearing IRU JUDQWHG 7KH WUHHV GLVFRYHUHG WR WKHLU KRUURU WKDW some of the creatures had been yanking tabs and NH\V RII NH\ERDUGV 7KH trees were confused and VDGGHQHG 7KHQ WKH\ GLVFRYHUHG WKDW IRU VRPH UHDVRQ D IHZ FUHDWXUHV KDG

HOHFWHG WR IOLQJ SHQFLOV IHHW XS LQWR WKH G U R S

FHLOLQJ 7KH WUHHV ZHUH GLVmayed. It seemed to them from WKHVH XQSURYRNHG HSLVRGHV RI negligent nefariousness that the creatures didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about the clearing any more.

So the trees became more ZDWFKIXO DQG their sense of leniency began to wane. :LWK VXFK VKHnanigans afoot they felt they could no longer trust the creatures enough to allow them to EHQG WKH UXOHV DQG VR WKH\ began to disband even the JURXSV RI TXLHW ELUGV DQG FKLSPXQNV WKDW FRQgregated densely XS LQ WKH EUDQFKHV Believing that across-theboard strictness ZRXOG TXLFNO\ bring an end Maggie Chen/7KH 632.( to this new tom-

IRROHU\ WKH\ KRSHG WKH QHFHVsity for such measures would EH WHPSRUDU\ DQG KDUPRQ\ DQG leniency could soon return. But WKH\ ZHUH RQFH DJDLQ GLVDSSRLQWHG³WKH PLVFKLHI SHUVLVWHG and even many of the ordinarily well-mannered creatures would JODUH DQG PXWWHU RU VRPHWLPHV UHVLVW ZKHQ GLVEDQGHG 7KLV RQO\ KDUGHQHG WKH WUHHV¡ UHVROYH DQG VR ZLWK KHDY\ KHDUWV WKH\ FRQWLQued to admonish the increasingly belligerent forest creatures.

If only the creatures had shown the trees their kindness and coRSHUDWLRQ RQFH PRUH GHVSLWH WKH sometimes inconvenient rules. $IWHU DOO WKH WUHHV ZRXOG EH PRUH inclined to be lenient with them if they showed them that they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to be destructive RU XQFRRSHUDWLYH $V VRXUFHV RI LQILQLWH NQRZOHGJH WKH WUHHV ZHUH QRW SHRSOH WR EH PDNLQJ HQHPLHV RI DQ\ZD\ If only the creatures had realized that a smile would get them further than a bad attitude.

James Redmond can be reached at jredmond@stoganews.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

PAGE 11 THE SPOKE

OP/ED

Millennials exhibit qualities that help forge bright future

Allison Kozeracki Op/Ed Editor I often wonder about how my lifetime will be written about in history books. Will the debate over gay marriage seem like a no-brainer? Will Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidency be considered a success or a disappointment? What technology that has yet to be invented will seem impossible to live without?

And, a question that has recently come to mind, how will they describe my generation: the Millennials?

Until now, that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem like a very easy question to answer. After all, Millennialsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;those born between 1980 and the start of the new millenniumâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are a tremendously diverse group. Fortunately, a Pew Research 6XUYH\ WLWOHG ´0LOOHQQLDOV &RQĂ&#x20AC; dent. Connected. Open to Changeâ&#x20AC;? shed some light. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Generations, like people, have personalities,â&#x20AC;?

the survey reported, â&#x20AC;&#x153;And Millennialsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the American teens and twenty-somethings who are making the passage into adulthood at the start of a new millenniumâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;have begun to forge theirs.â&#x20AC;?

7R Ă&#x20AC; QG GHĂ&#x20AC; QLQJ FKDUDFWHULVWLFV LW helps to compare Millennials to other generations. Generation X, â&#x20AC;&#x153;often depicted as savvy, entrepreneurial loners,â&#x20AC;? refers to those born from 1965-80. Baby Boomers, obviously, were born in the fertility spike from 1946-64. And the Silent Generation, born from 1928-45, exhibits â&#x20AC;&#x153;conformist and civic instincts.â&#x20AC;?

So what is it that makes the Millennials unique? Are we really ´FRQĂ&#x20AC; GHQW FRQQHFWHG DQG RSHQ WR change?â&#x20AC;? For the most part, I think we are. &RQĂ&#x20AC; GHQW My peers are definitely confidentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not only in themselves, but also in the future. Nothing shows this quality better than the college admissions process: putting our best foot forward to show that we are worthy of admission to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best colleges and universities. Of FRXUVH WKLV FRQĂ&#x20AC; GHQFH FDQ OHDG WR disappointment for students like

&DOOXP %DFNVWURP The SPOKE

Suzy Lee Weiss, who expressed her frustration in a Wall Street Journal article titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;To (All) the Colleges That Rejected Me.â&#x20AC;? I sympathize with Weiss because the process drives me a little crazy sometimes (a lot of the time), but it also inspires me. It shows hope for the future and IXOĂ&#x20AC; OOLQJ D QHZ NLQG RI ´$PHULFDQ dreamâ&#x20AC;? through education. My peers DOVR KDYH WKH FRQĂ&#x20AC; GHQFH WR DGYRFDWH for change and voice their opinions, even if those opinions are unpopular.

Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaigning for a politician or running for student council, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not afraid to take action. &RQQHFWHG Some characteristics are mainly UHĂ HFWLRQV RI FKDQJHV LQ WKH WLPHV According to the study, more than eight in 10 Millennials said they sleep with their cell phones near their beds and three-quarters had created a proĂ&#x20AC; OH RQ D VRFLDO QHWZRUNLQJ VLWH 7KLV is a blessing and curse: though social media is great for keeping in touch with (stalking) people, I cringe when I think about the amount of time and energy Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve devoted to analyzing likes and comments.

2SHQ WR &KDQJH The changes I found most inter-

esting were those in social attitudes.

Millennials are more accepting of nontraditional family arrangements such as gay couples raising children, mothers of young children working outside the home and people of different races marrying each other.

According to 2013 Pew Research Center polling, 70 percent of Millennials support same-sex marriage, compared to only 31 percent of the older, more conventional Silent Generation.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changes like these that will GHĂ&#x20AC; QH RXU JHQHUDWLRQ :H DUH QRW the â&#x20AC;&#x153;tech generation,â&#x20AC;? nor any other hip-sounding name assigned to kids these days, because economies and technologies will continue to advance long after we are gone. But our generation holds in its hands the opportunity to improve the lives of disadvantaged groups like gays, women and minorities. With this mixture of FRQĂ&#x20AC; GHQFH FRQQHFWHGQHVV DQG RSHQ ness to change, we have the chance to make real, lasting changeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;change thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more important than checking your Facebook from your bed.

Allison Kozeracki can be reached at akozeracki@stoganews.com.

Unsung heroes keep â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stoga running like clockwork Let me start with the big picture: the TV studio. Teacher Keith Nunnelee battled a brain tumor this past VXPPHU DQG PLVVHG WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW KDOI RI the school year. I have to say, Nunnelee inspires me to face any obstacle head on, no pun intended. That is the kind of witty remark that Nunnelee would make; I am sure of it.

Jenna Spoont Now to T/E TV Production Club Managing Editor adviser Michael Baskin. Whether our The TV studio at Conestoga runs after school conversations consisted OLNH FORFNZRUN 6SHFLĂ&#x20AC; F WLPHV IRU of discussions about my college VSHFLĂ&#x20AC; F GXWLHV $QG HYHU\ :HGQHV plans or simply about â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seinfeld,â&#x20AC;?

GD\ DW D P , DP VXUH WR Ă&#x20AC; QG Baskin was there to add humor at Philadelphia Soft Pretzels, home- the end of a long school day. And a made chocolate bread or Dunkin special thanks to TV studio aide Chris Donuts awaiting the TV students. Pierdomenico for being my go-to TV studio technician Art Phillips is â&#x20AC;&#x153;tech-guyâ&#x20AC;? with any question I had more than the man in charge of wires about video editing. and cables; he keeps every student I could not have achieved my and teacher in the TV studio smiling. journalism goals without the support $V , ZULWH P\ Ă&#x20AC; QDO UHPDUNV DERXW and insight from The Spokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredConestoga, I want to thank some of ible advisers, Susan Houseman and the heroes who inspired me to ven- Cynthia Crothers-Hyatt. These are ture out into the real world. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t two women who do not leave their fret if you are not mentioned, please job simply in the classroom. They do not think that you were forgotten. are passionate about spreading their With the support of every staff mem- love for journalism to their students ber and student, I am able to sincerely inside and outside of school. say that I will miss the people that Now onto a teacher who never make this building a unique place. actually taught me in class. Photog-

raphy teacher Pierra Raffaele lent me her personal camera to take to the Presidential Inauguration in January.

She gave me a 30-second tutorial in still-photography and trusted me with her equipment. Her kindness made me further realize that teachers work in our school to watch us succeed. They will do whatever they can to make our experience the absolute best.

In the closet-sized room in the English wing, I found Conestogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hidden gem, writing tutor Lynn Israel, who helped PH UHĂ&#x20AC; QH P\ FROOHJH essays. Underclassmen, if there is one person you want to visit before you graduate

from Conestoga, Israel is the patient perfectionist to help you with any writing woe that you face. $OWKRXJK \RX ZLOO QHYHU Ă&#x20AC; QG PH swinging a bat or shooting some hoops at â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stoga, coach John Vogan triggers some incredible memories of covering the football games for T/E TV this past fall. This year was my Ă&#x20AC; UVW \HDU FRPPHQWDWLQJ DQG VLGHOLQH reporting, and Vogan was always open to speaking with me about the football team.

To all of the cafeteria workers, thank you for your enthusiasm and your friendly smiles every day. Your hard work is greatly appreciated.

I want to thank the administrators for their continued support of The Spoke.

Principal Dr. Amy Meisinger gives her input regarding how to improve our publication. Assistant principals Patrick Boyle, Kevin Fagan, Andy Phillips and Michelle Staves have interviewed with me and other reporters on countless occasions, and I want to thank them for their willingness &DOOXP %DFNVWURP The SPOKE to help.

Guidance counselor Leashia Rahr KHOSHG PH Ă&#x20AC; JXUH RXW ZKLFK VFKRROV to apply to and welcomed me into KHU RIĂ&#x20AC; FH 5HJLVWUDU *UHWFKHQ %DUN man printed countless transcripts for me during the college application process. And without a doubt, it was touching to welcome guidance counselor Andrew Mullen to the high school. He was my guidance counselor at Valley Forge Middle School, and I am glad that we got to meet again.

Now to you, reader, I have a mission that I want you to accomplish before you walk out the main OREE\ GRRUV RQ \RXU Ă&#x20AC; QDO GD\ RI KLJK school, whether it is in three days or three years. Think about a time when a staff member really made your day, made you laugh, made you smile.

When you get the chance, thank the people around you for making your life even more special. And remember, a hero does not have to be Batman or Wonder Woman. Look around you; there is probably a hero looming in the background, waiting to help you succeed.

Jenna Spoont can be reached at jspoont@stoganews.com.

Features TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

STAN DING OUT IN THE T-â&#x20AC;?BEN DONNIE Senior and member of the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; soccer team T-Ben Donnie LV NQRZQ IRU GRLQJ EDFN Ă LSV most notably during soccer games. Donnie sometimes GRHV D Ă LS DIWHU VFRULQJ D JRDO as a celebration, but avoids doing it too often because showboating is discouraged.

'XULQJ WKH Ă LS 'RQQLH FRQFHQWUDWHV on completing his rotation successfully. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going through my mind is I QHHG WR ODQG WKLV Ă LS RU ,¡P FRPLQJ GRZQ RQ my face and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be embarrassing,â&#x20AC;?

Donnie said.

Donnie loves doing back flips during games to help boost the crowdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy and get spectators more involved in the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something different that not everyone FDQ GR 2QFH \RX GR >D EDFN Ă LS@ HYHU\ERG\ JHWV >H[FLWHG@ÂłWKH WHDPPDWHV DQG WKH FURZG Âľ 'RQQLH said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Building up the crowdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy helps me play better.â&#x20AC;?

C ROW D d CLASS o f 2013 E

By David Kramer, Staff

Reporter

d come Conestogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seniors will be leaving the school behin unique The . mark their leave to sure are nts May, but some stude . characteristics of these four seniors set them apart

Mike Warren

Fritzi Fischer He may be stealing some of science teacher Tim Liggetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thunder, but senior Fritzi Fischer has taken up wearing bowties to school every day. Fischer simply felt it was time for a change in his wardrobe. ´, ZDV ERUHG ZLWK WKH RXWĂ&#x20AC; WV WKDW SHRSOH wear to school,â&#x20AC;? Fischer said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted to be able to set myself apart.â&#x20AC;?

Fischer wears a bowtie everyday unless it is a spirit day. In college, he plans to wear them only on special occasions. He explains that, aside from 6HQLRU 5HDJDQ &RQVDOR JRW KHU Ă&#x20AC; UVW being a fashion statement, they are useful because they do not get in the pair of Ugg Fluff Momma boots in eighth grade and has been wearing them ever way like normal ties. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think they have a bit more since. She has them in blue, pink, white character than regular ties. It is fun to and black. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I try to wear them once a week during >ZHDU D ERZWLH@ EHFDXVH \RX KDYH D lot of freedom, but at the same time it the winter,â&#x20AC;? Consalo said.

As the only person at Conestoga to is also a lot of pressure because you have to measure up to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wear such fabulously furry boots, Consalo H[SHFWDWLRQV >RI \RXU ERZWLH@ Âľ has become known throughout the school for her unique sense of style.

Fischer said.

itio n

REAGAN CONSALO

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I go out in public, people stare at me,â&#x20AC;?

Consalo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At school everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty used to them.â&#x20AC;?

Consalo receives many compliments on her boots, and people will even stop to pet them. Ugg has discontinued Fluff Mommas, so pairs are now selling online for $500-700.

Consalo plans on taking all four pairs with her to Penn State University, where she will be attending college in the fall.

Last Halloween, senior Mike Warren dressed up as a hockey player and had fun roller skating on the tile floors. He wanted to continue this new mode of transportation, so he started bringing a foldable Razor scooter to school and riding it in the halls between classes and during free periods. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would sit there in my free periods thinking this is really boring,â&#x20AC;? Warren said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be way better if I had a scooter.â&#x20AC;?

To avoid problems with the administration, he only rides the scooter on some days, although it has been FRQĂ&#x20AC; VFDWHG RQFH ,Q WKH KDOOV KH VFRRWHUV slightly faster than a normal walking pace and notes that he gets funny looks from students and teachers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There will be no one else in the hallway.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be me on a scooter and a teacher,â&#x20AC;? Warren said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I make eye contact with them and all they say is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hey, how are you?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

According to Warren, riding through the KDOOV RQ D VFRRWHU LV PXFK PRUH HIĂ&#x20AC; FLHQW WKDQ walking. One of the perks is being able to make it to his car at the end of the day EHIRUH WKH WUDIĂ&#x20AC; F MDP LQ WKH SDUNLQJ ORW Photos: Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE Design: Margot Field/The SPOKE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

PAGE 15 THE SPOKE

FEATURES

Abuzz about bees: keeping hives, helping environment

Isha Damle Staff Reporter Freshman Olivia Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother Rebecca Tavangar can be seen walking into the sunny, enclosed section of her backyard where colonies of bees reside in their hives. Tavangar sports WKH RXWĂ&#x20AC;W RI D ZHOO HTXLSSHG EHHNHHSer: a traditional netted beekeeperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hat and a veil along with a long-sleeved beekeeping suit and gloves. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My husband and I purchased a pack of bees last month [and we were] eager to bring them home and learn about the art of bee guardianship,â&#x20AC;?

Tavangar said.

Tavangar was further motivated to become a beekeeper after learning about Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon in which the worker bees of the hive disappear because of pesticides or other toxins in the environment, resulting in the demise of the hive and a diminished bee population. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The [prominent] reasons why we started beekeeping are to pollinate our garden and to increase the number of bees. There is a growing concern [in the world] about the recent disappearance of bees related to Colony Collapse Disorder,â&#x20AC;? Tavangar said.

Tavangar is not the only person in the community to take an interest in beekeeping. Junior Meagan Hudson and her father, Duncan Hudson, began beekeeping earlier this year. Like Tavangar, the Hudsons were motivated to start beekeeping after researching the decrease of the bee population. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My dad read a lot about the plight of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bees and he was really worried that if the world lost all [of its] bees, things would go badly. We Ă&#x20AC;JXUHG LW ZRXOGQ¡W KXUW LI ZH NHSW RXU own,â&#x20AC;? Meagan Hudson said.

According to Meagan Hudson, during the cold weather months and early springtime, there is not enough food available to the bees that can be obtained naturally, and they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to search for food outside the hive in the cold. She has to feed the bees and supplement their food and water supplies with sugar water and fondant. The hive also must be checked once a week to ensure that it is not getting overcrowded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My favorite thing about [the beekeeping experience] was picking XS WKH EHHV LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SODFH QRW RQO\ >EHFDXVH@ LW ZDV SUHWW\ VFDU\ DW Ă&#x20AC;UVW [and] because I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what we were getting into, but it was a very

cool learning experience,â&#x20AC;? Meagan Hudson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a lot of things you need to [learn about] to protect the bees and make sure they stay healthy. The bees are actually really friendly, and they really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother you unless you bother them.â&#x20AC;?

Tavangar hopes to include her friends and family in the beekeeping process by providing them with honey when the bees eventually produce it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We look forward to extracting honey at some point in the future, but we did not become beekeepers for that reason. We will use it in our kitchen and give to family and friends. Honey never expires,â&#x20AC;? Tavangar said.

Even though Tavangarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experiences with beekeeping have been positive, she still worries about the beesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wellbeing.

My least favorite aspect of beekeeping â&#x20AC;&#x153;is worrying about the chance of something happening to [the bees]. We have really become attached to them; they are part of our family,â&#x20AC;? Tavangar said.

Isha Damle can be reached at idamle@stoganews.com.

Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE Suproteem Sarkar/The SPOKE

Photo Courtesy Meagan Hudson

Junior Meagan Hudson had a hive of bees delivered to her house in March, and her family has been beekeeping ever since. She says that the beekeeping process has been a learning experience for her and her family.

Student sets sights on World Series of Birding

Jenna Spoont/THE SPOKE

Senior Ben Bussmann became interested in birds during a nature walk with his summer camp and has been birdwatching ever since. He is part of a team of competitive birdwatchers who study for months in preparation.

Kelly Benning Staff Reporter April arrived with warm temperatures, bright sunshine, blue skies and, to the delight of ornithologists everywhere, the return of the daily morning symphony

of birds. Senior Ben Bussmann is one of those bird enthusiasts who delights in listening to the birds chirping.

He has been an avid bird watcher ever since his interest was SLTXHG GXULQJ D QDWXUH ZDON ZLWK his summer camp. He spied a

scarlet tanager, a beautiful red bird rarely seen because they spend most of their time in the canopy out of sight, and he has been hooked ever since. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pretty much every time that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking out a window or walking around outside thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a

good chance that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking for birds,â&#x20AC;? Bussmann said, adding that he also goes on full expeditions to nature preserves in the area or to New Jersey at least once every two weeks. According to Bussmann, New Jersey has â&#x20AC;&#x153;some of the best birding in the world.â&#x20AC;?

New Jersey is also the location of the annual World Series of Birding, a 24-hour competition sponsored by the Audubon Society every May which Bussmann competes in annually with his team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I understand that this is a little bit of an oxymoron, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m part of a team of competitive bird watchers. We study for months on end every year,â&#x20AC;? Bussmann said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The studying itself is real studying. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard work, but it has really honed our skills. We have won our division multiple years in the past and we work really hard for this.â&#x20AC;?

The team meets at the Upper Main Line YMCA through the Y Earth Service Corps, of which Bussmann is the president. The members meet once a week for an hour to study different types of birds. They study the characteristics of the birds and the sounds of their calls to help them identify a

ELUG TXLFNO\ DQG FRUUHFWO\ 2QFH a month, the team goes to a preserve to practice birdwatching as a group.

When the competition starts, they have 24 hours to roam the entire state and check off birds on a list of about 300. The winning WHDPV XVXDOO\ Ă&#x20AC;QG XSZDUGV RI birds, but the average is closer to 20-30 different species.

Bussmann advises anyone with a slight interest in birds to consider birdwatching. The beauty of birds, he says, is that they can be seen everywhere for anyone to observe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Around here house sparrows are everywhere. Cardinals are everywhere. I get mourning doves and tufted titmice, catbirds, nuthatches, downing woodpeckers and red-bellied woodpeckers,â&#x20AC;?

Bussmann said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the school you see a lot of crows, sometimes grackles and more robins. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strange to think about how many birds there are to see even on the highways, but red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures are always there.â&#x20AC;?

Kelly Benning can be reached at kbenning@stoganews.com.

PAGE 16 THE SPOKE

FEATURES

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

7XYHIRXW ½ RH GSQQSR KVSYRH XLVSYKL ³3RI 4SIQ 3RI ´7XSKE´ Emily Klein & Natalie West 7XEJJ 6ITSVXIV

*IEXYVIW )HMXSV English teacher Kathryn Pokalo walks down the hallways, admiring the colorful poems that cover the walls. Groups of students gather around certain poems, while other passersby stop to read one before entering their classrooms. To Pokalo, this scene is what makes â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Poem, One â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stogaâ&#x20AC;? worthwhile. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think [the students] enjoy it, even if they do moan a bit in the beginning,â&#x20AC;? Pokalo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delightful to watch them stop along the hallways, looking for their own poems or to read the work of their fellow students. One student told me he sees it as a sign of spring.â&#x20AC;?

Pokalo, who has been organizing â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Poem, One â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stogaâ&#x20AC;? since 2006, begins the process in February, when she asks her English Department colleagues to suggest poems that they think would be fun and accessible for all grades. She then creates

a survey and asks her fellow teachers to vote. This year, the winner was â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Changing Lightâ&#x20AC;? by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We, the English Department, choose a window of dates during which weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll work with the poem in our classes,â&#x20AC;? Pokalo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Generally speaking, once the poem is chosen, several other members of the English Department suggest approaches to the poem that we share and use with our classes.â&#x20AC;?

The English teachers often suggest poems from their favorite publications, like the New Yorker or the Times Literary Supplement. No matter the source of the poem, the teachers must agree that all students would not only be able to replicate the style of the poet, but also make it their own. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think [â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Poem, One â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stogaâ&#x20AC;? is] the only all-school activity that every student will have in common,â&#x20AC;?

Pokalo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are fortunate to have so many clubs, activities and sports that allow students to enhance their interests, but as far as I know, this is

the only â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stoga experience they all share.â&#x20AC;?

Patricia Littlewood helps out with the process by organizing parent volunteers to hang up the poems in the halls. This year, 17 parent volunteers came in to work in two-hour shifts.

7KH WHDFKHUV Ă&#x20AC; QLVKHG SXWWLQJ XS WKH rest of the poems the next day.

Freshman Shannon McQuaid thinks that â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Poem, One â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stogaâ&#x20AC;? allows students to be creative and try their hands at a new style of writing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It allows students to express their feelings without being judged because everyone else is doing it,â&#x20AC;?

McQuaid said.

McQuaid thought that the English teachers made a good choice because the poem was easy to understand and left room for interpretation.

The poem was â&#x20AC;&#x153;very creative and the shape was unique and made the poem look very scholastic,â&#x20AC;? McQuaid said. I â&#x20AC;&#x153;was writing about a VSHFLĂ&#x20AC; F SODFH WR >PH@ VR LW ZDV HDV\ to write because [I] know that place very well.â&#x20AC;?

Junior Nathan Leibowitz dis-

+7% %(0 GPYFW TVSXIWX (31% Patrick Nicholson 7XEJJ 6ITSVXIV On April 19, students took a stand against the current Supreme Court case on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), but it did not raise a ruckus in the halls; instead, a lack of sound made this event stand out.

Conestogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) held a Day of Silence to raise awareness of the intolerance that many homosexuals experience. Though the Day of Silence has taken place in the past, this year it is especially relevant because of the controversy over DOMA, a 1996 federal act that defines marriage as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a legal union between one man and one woman.â&#x20AC;?

Junior Lizzy Racca, a member of Conestogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GSA, was among those taking part in the Day of Silence and opposes the act.

DOMA â&#x20AC;&#x153;initially wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t intended to be a discriminatory measure. But the fact that they decided to define marriage as between a man and a woman rather than defer to the states on this, it has become a discriminatory measure,â&#x20AC;? Racca said.

Like Racca, junior Katherine Dautrich opposes DOMA, and

hopes that the Supreme Court rules against it. As a member of both the GSA and the AntiDefamation League (ADL) at Conestoga, Dautrich is involved in this issue, and says that both clubs have demonstrated support for marriage equality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do the Day of Silence every year to protest against the crimes against the LGBT community,â&#x20AC;? Dautrich said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aside from that, we just try to promote a safe environment and prepare the next generation for being more tolerant toward these ideas.â&#x20AC;?

Senior Katelynn Taylor, another GSA member, also participated in the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day of Silence.

While this event is directed toward spreading tolerance and does not focus on marriage equality, Taylor feels the event does a great job of promoting general awareness of the issue and gathering support. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You take the vow of silence to show your support for people who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just come out and say that they are gay, or theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re scared to come out to their parents or friends. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just our way of showing support,â&#x20AC;? Taylor said.

In addition to these club activities, students have demonstrated support for marriage equality

through a Facebook campaign. In the campaign, students changed their Facebook profile pictures to an equal sign with a red background, which represents marriage equality. More than 2.7 million social networkers nationwide are participating in the campaign.

However, Dautrich believes that these online activists could be doing more for the cause than just showing their support online. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish that the people who were changing their profile pictures would also take the step to sign petitions and take activism offline,â&#x20AC;? Dautrich said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to claim to be a supporter, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just not as simple as changing your profile picture.â&#x20AC;?

Unlike Dautrich, Racca supports the online efforts, and believes they represent good intentions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think [the online activism] has been very helpful,â&#x20AC;? Racca said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fact that people are vocalizing their support for it, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s making it a lot easier for people who are trying to come out at home right now. Just to demonstrate youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an ally is one of the biggest things you can do.â&#x20AC;?

Patrick Nicholson can be reached at pnicholson@stoganews.com.

Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE

English teacher Katherine Pokalo admires the poems that her students wrote for â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Poem, One â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stoga.â&#x20AC;? She organizes the event every year and creates a survey that the English teachers use to vote on the poem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it is a positive addition, agrees, and thinks that his classmates did not gain anything from the â&#x20AC;&#x153;One [and] I think it helps the school to unite over one concept,â&#x20AC;? Fogarty said.

Poem, One â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stogaâ&#x20AC;? experience.

Despite the differing opinions of â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel like it helps very much because no one takes it seriously and students, Pokalo thinks that the activeveryone just kind of messes around ity is successful in uniting the school and makes things up,â&#x20AC;? Leibowitz said. and hopes to continue it in the future.

Freshman TJ Fogarty agrees with McQuaid that it creates a sense of Emily Klein can be reached at eklein@stoganews.com. community among the students.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 The Spoke (T.S.): What is the most important thing that you are in charge of on a daily basis?

DeeDee Dohan (D.D.): I get all of the substitute teachers up and running. It takes a whole village to get the whole school running in the morning, and when I get here I pull out the substitutes’ folders. [Receptionist] Mrs. Thomsen is in charge of getting the substitutes to the teachers but then I put the pieces together.

T.S.: How long have you worked at Conestoga?

D.D.: Fifteen years.

T.S.: What is your favorite part of your job?

D.D.: The students and the faculty.

I really enjoy the interaction; they keep [me] feeling young.

T.S.: If you could change one thing about Conestoga, what would you change?

D.D.: I would change the time school starts and make it start a little bit later!

running. Then I get all the folders for the substitutes for the teachers who are going to be out. I make sure that all the people who come in as subs get the lesson plans and that everything connects

to be made, I do those over the loud speaker. I take the mail when I leave in the afternoon to Southeastern 3RVW 2IÀ FH

T.S.: If you weren’t a receptionist, what could you see yourself being?

D.D.: A professional traveler. [I and that everything is up and running T.S.: What is your favorite part of would travel] all over the world. I by hopefully 7:15 [a.m.] because the your work day? just got back from England and the classrooms need to be open then. D.D.: The morning when everyone French Riviera. I love being a parent, 7KHQ , À HOG DQ\ RI WKH SKRQH FDOOV is starting their day. I like when too. My daughter is 29, she graduthat come through; there are always SHRSOH FRPH LQWR WKH PDLQ RIÀ FH ated Conestoga in 2002. Her name is different types of questions that and say, “Hello.”

Elizabeth. She is becoming a doctor everybody has. I have a couple of on June 7. My son David graduated three-ring binders here that I affec- T.S.: Why are jobs like yours im- in 2004 and he is a Philadelphia tionately call my “Bibles” because portant?

SROLFH RIÀ FHU they have everything that I need D.D.: The receptionist job itself is to know: the room extensions, all LPSRUWDQW EHFDXVH >,·P@ D UHÁ HF T.S.: What is something most people the teachers’ voicemails, important tion of the school. That’s why it’s don’t know about you? people, that kind of thing. I familiar- important for both myself and Mrs. D.D.: ,·P Á XHQW LQ VLJQ ODQJXDJH , ize myself with what’s going on in Thomsen to be welcoming to people went bungee jumping when I was the main lobby or after school. If and helpful if we can. in New Zealand. There there are announcements that need were five people in front of me, so I

Movie: “Dirty Dancing”

TV Show: “The Big Bang Theory”

wasn’t the first one to take the plunge.

T.S.: What are your hobbies?

D.D.: I enjoy traveling. I also enjoy reading, and I do a little bit of garGHQLQJ , DOVR KDYH D À VK SRQG T.S.: What activities were you involved in in high school?

D.D.: When I was in high school, I was on the track and gymnastics teams. I sang in the choir, too.

T.S.: What is your advice for students?

D.D.: Always try and do your best.

Show respect and appreciation to your teachers. Treat others the way that you want to be treated.

T.S.: Who is your role model?

D.D.: My mother and father. Because I always admired them and they taught me a lot of things and they gave me unconditional love.

T.S.: If you could have dinner with any three people who would they be?

D.D.: My two children and my husband.

T.S.: If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?

D.D.: I would really like to go to China. I’ve never been there and I’d love to see the Great Wall. I think it’s a very interesting culture.

Interview by Natalie West, features editor Design by Anisa Tavangar Photo by Karolis Panavas

Favorites

Season: Spring

T.S.: What is your least favorite part of the job?

D.D.: Taking the mail to the post RIÀ FH DW WKH HQG RI WKH GD\ T.S.: How has Conestoga changed since you have started working here?

D.D.: Not nearly as much paper is being used now. For example, student schedules, telephone messages (were) on paper, now voicemail and email are used.

T.S.: During a typical day, what are you in charge of?

D.D.: When I get here in the morning, I get the money out of the safe to get the cafeteria up and

Song: “Runaway” by Dale Shannon or “I’m Alive” by Celine Dion.

PAGE 17 THE SPOKE

FEATURES

Quote: “Never, never, never give up.”

Band/Singer: ABBA or Celine Dion

Book: 1RW RQH VSHFLÀ F ERRN I enjoy reading all different kinds of books.

PAGE 18 THE SPOKE

FEATURES

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

Sam Sedor for The SPOKE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

PAGE 19 THE SPOKE

FEATURES

Table tennis players enjoy competitive atmosphere of game Sophia Ponte Staff Reporter After elementary school ended in the early afternoon, junior Jess Yang would step out onto the track to run laps and do pushups to build up her strength and endurance.

Her agility and strength training that started at her school in China while she was in third grade was aimed at developing her into a highly skilled table tennis player. Yang played competitively at her boarding school for several years before moving to the United States. The boarding school she attended was a special school focusing on athletics. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was really competitive, but since I was just a beginner, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play too much. But it was hard; we had four hours of training [daily],â&#x20AC;?

Yang said.

During the summer, Yang practiced for four hours every day, and during the school year, she practiced for three hours each day after school. However, when the school workload eventually picked up in middle school, Yang left to attend a traditional academic school. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We practiced a lot,â&#x20AC;? Yang said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though you think the table is

small and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to run, we would go out and run laps on the track. We did everything to make our muscles stronger and to make our bodies faster. It was really tiring.â&#x20AC;?

Aside from the intensive physical training school members went through, the students also learned strategies and game tricks to more fully understand the mental aspect of the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I liked how you needed to think more and how there were a lot of strategies to learn,â&#x20AC;? Yang said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were a lot of different ways to play different people, so you needed to learn how they played to beat them. You needed to have a lot of skills and you needed to understand the weaknesses of all the other players.â&#x20AC;?

In competition, Yang was eventually ranked among the top 16 players in China for her age group.

Although the intense atmosphere and high level of competitiveness sometimes frustrated Yang, she said that she appreciated her experience

at her old school and continues to play the sport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like team sports more, but I like table tennis because it was the Ă&#x20AC;UVW VSRUW , HYHU SOD\HG Âľ <DQJ VDLG Senior Allen Zhu also used to play table tennis at a competitive level throughout middle school although he remained in the United

competitively; it requires a lot more [physical] effort.â&#x20AC;?

Zhu, like Yang, appreciates the heightened atmosphere of the competitive table tennis games. He also enjoys table tennis because the sport can be played in many different ways, from a casual setting to professional games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Table tennis in general is a very flexible sport in terms of how you play it,â&#x20AC;? Zhu said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Basically anyone can play itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it is fun, and you can also play table tennis extremely c o m p e t i t i v e l y.

Also, surprisingly, it exercises your full body. You actually have to turn your entire waist and you have to jump around a lot. It requires a lot of Ă&#x20AC;QHU PRWRU FRQWURO Âľ Zhu no longer plays competitively because it became too much of a burden to handle since the location he played at was too far away, there were not enough people playing in the club and games did not occur frequently. However, Zhu likes the social aspect of table tennis, which is why he continues to play for fun with his friends.

Some students like seniors Bryan Bae and Andrew Essex also enjoy the

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Basically anyone can play [table tennis] â&#x20AC;&#x201D;it is fun, and you can also play [it] extremely competitively.â&#x20AC;?

- Senior Allen Zhu

States for his experience. He started playing table tennis at a young age with his family and eventually decided to try out competitive table tennis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started playing competitive table tennis partly out of curiosity and partly out of interest for meeting other people who played table tennis like me,â&#x20AC;? Zhu said. Table tennis â&#x20AC;&#x153;is a lot more intense when you play

Karolis Panavas/THE SPOKE

Senior Andrew Essex enjoys playing table tennis in his basement with his friends and family. He likes the sport because of the competitive and social aspects of the game and especially enjoys playing against his dad in his free time.

competitive aspect of table tennis, although neither of them play in competitions.

Bae said that the main reason that he enjoys playing table tennis is that it is a social activity. Bae has been playing table tennis since he was young, but plays strictly for fun with friends and occasionally with family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I usually just play for fun with friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t practice or anything,â&#x20AC;? Bae said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But it can get kind of competitive. Sometimes the balls breakâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it happens.â&#x20AC;?

Essex also enjoys playing table tennis with friends, but prefers to play with family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like to play with friends, but a little bit more with family, because everyone in my family is pretty good,â&#x20AC;? Essex said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It can get pretty competitive, and if I am playing my dad, what I do is just slam the ball really hard and he just ends up playing defense.â&#x20AC;?

Essex and Bae both enjoy playing table tennis not only for the competitive and social aspects, but also because of the mental and physical demand of the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Table tennis] takes a lot of concentrationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I really like the spirit of the game,â&#x20AC;? Essex said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just for fun, but it is still one of my favorite sports.â&#x20AC;?

Sophia Ponte can be reached at sponte@stoganews.com.

Sports TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

LEAPING INT O

ACTION

Junior Eric Frederick competes in the triple jump during a track meet at Conestoga on April 23. The triple jump, along with the long jump, high jump and pole vault, are the four jumping events that track athletes compete in at Conestoga.

Courtney Kennedy Staff Reporter

the tuck jump, with knees to the chest, and the hitch kick, jumping in running position.

With a gymnastics background, junior The high jump is similar to the pole $GDP 7ZRPEO\ ZDV XVHG WR Ă \LQJ KLJK vault, but competitors have only their through the air during competitions. bodies to help them launch over the pole.

Now he takes those high jumping skills The jumper runs on an angle towards the to a new sport as a pole-vaulter for the jump and then throws his or her body &RQHVWRJD WUDFN DQG Ă&#x20AC;HOG WHDP 3ROH over the pole. vaulting is only one of several jumping 3ROH YDXOWHUV PXVW OHDUQ KRZ WR FRUevents in which the track team competes. UHFWO\ KROG WKH SROH EHIRUH Ă&#x20AC;UVW DWWHPSWJumping events are their own catego- ing to pole vault. As one of the most U\ LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOG SRUWLRQ RI PHHWV VHSDUDWH dangerous jumps, pole vaulting requires from sprinting and long distance run- not only speed and technique, but also ning. The Conestoga team competes in determination because of the patience pole vault, triple jump, long jump and required to master the jump. high jump.

Although many athletes choose to The triple jump is an event often specialize in jumping once at the high referred to as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;hop, step and jumpâ&#x20AC;? school level, some start out in running event because of the three phases of the events and then make the leap over to jump. The runner uses momentum from jumping. Senior Lauren Bailey, who each phase to help him or her cover more competes in triple jump and long jump, ground. began jumping before high school beThe long jump requires a mixture of cause she wanted to experience a new speed, technique and strength. There are WUDFN DQG Ă&#x20AC;HOG HYHQW several jumping techniques, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;I jumped a little in middle school

but started more competitively in high school because it seemed really fun,â&#x20AC;?

Bailey said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really liked short sprints and thought jumping would be a good way to get good at running and try something new.â&#x20AC;?

Not only do jumpers have to be fast and agile, but they also must be able to use different muscles for the jump itself.

An athlete must be a powerful runner and possess a strong mental skill set to be a successful jumper. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The hardest part about jumping is the mental part because there are so many things that you have to focus on to get a good jump,â&#x20AC;? sophomore Elise Odell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t over think it and let that psych you out or else your jump wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be as good as it could possibly be.â&#x20AC;?

Although jumping and running are very different in some ways, Bailey said that success in jumping can be traced back to an athleteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s running and sprinting abilities, which make up the basics of the events. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have to get in good running

shape first,â&#x20AC;? Bailey said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jumping technique can be taught later, but you need to have good sprinting abilities. I would [tell beginning jumpers] to look up videos of professional jumpers so they could get an idea of what the jumps are all about.â&#x20AC;?

In addition to strong sprinting abilities, the technique of the jump is critical for success in the event. Twombly said that in pole vault, each part of the jump requires prefect body positioning in order to ensure that the jump is high enough. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It requires immense repetition because proper technique is absolutely necessary for high jumps,â&#x20AC;? Twombly said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very long and irksome learning process. When you start, you may execute the technique picture perfect one day, then lose it the next. It requires a lot of patience. Be prepared for a long learning process.â&#x20AC;?

Courtney Kennedy can be reached at ckennedy@stoganews.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

PAGE 21 THE SPOKE

SPORTS

Boys lacrosse gears up for promising postseason Maddie Amsterdam Co-Sports Editor In 2012, the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lacrosse team huddled around its third consecutive State Championship trophy. As the sweaty athletes smiled for photos in Hershey Park Stadium, they knew the moment was bittersweet. The boys said their goodbyes to one of the strongest senior classes in Conestogaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. Twenty seniors OHIW WKH WHDP LQFOXGLQJ Ă&#x20AC;YH $OO Americans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had a special group of seniors,â&#x20AC;? junior Connor Ashton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We miss the guys from last year, but we understand we have a legacy to uphold.â&#x20AC;?

This spring, the team is left with a younger group of lacrosse players. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are a young team, so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve experienced some growing pains,â&#x20AC;? senior Nick Reitnour said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve KDG D GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW VWDUW WR RXU VHDVRQ Âľ The Pioneers opened their season losing 8-9 in double overtime to St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prep. Following that, the team suffered losses to

two nationally ranked teams from Maryland. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously it is tough losing, but I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done a good job RI ZDWFKLQJ Ă&#x20AC;OP DQG XQGHUVWDQGing our mistakes,â&#x20AC;? Ashton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the season progresses, we are looking to just have more team

chemistry, and as the chemistry builds, we will play better.â&#x20AC;?

Despite the difficult start to the season, the team has won its two Central League games and is hoping to remain undefeated in the league. The boys also hope to repeat as District Champions for

WKH Ă&#x20AC;IWK \HDU LQ D URZ 7KH ELJJHVW goal for the season, however, is to win the State Championship for the fourth consecutive time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a young offense and just need to work a lot harder to get back to the level we were at last year,â&#x20AC;? senior captain Tim Langer-

hans said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have no doubt weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get there, it will just take time.â&#x20AC;?

Assistant coach Craig Gratton VDLG KH LV FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW WKH WHDP FDQ get back to the champion-like level come playoff time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The last couple of years we have returned a larger number of players and were able to pick up where we left off as a team,â&#x20AC;?

Gratton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With more positions EHLQJ Ă&#x20AC;OOHG E\ \RXQJHU JX\V ZH have to understand that it will take time to mature into the team we will be. The regular season games have to be viewed as a time to learn and improve as a team in time for the playoffs.â&#x20AC;?

Although the team has big VKRHV WR Ă&#x20AC;OO WKLV \HDU 5HLWQRXU LV FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW WKDW WKH 3LRQHHUV ZLOO pull through despite a rocky start. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The start to our season hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deterred us, it has only made us more determined to work harder and produce results,â&#x20AC;? Reitnour said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We continue to improve on a daily basis.â&#x20AC;?

Keith Petersen for The SPOKE

Junior Jake Scott cradles the ball during a game against Haverford. The team is attempting to win its fourth state championship in a row.

0DGGLH $PVWHUGDP FDQ EH UHDFKHG at mamsterdam@stoganews.com.

Softball players improve skills with â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stoga team, travel teams

Andy Backstrom Staff Reporter Balancing practices and games for multiple sports teams can be challenging, but athletes on the Conestoga softball team have perfected this balancing act.

Many softball players are members of two different teams, which allows the girls to improve and practice with their travel teams year round while representing the Conestoga Pioneers during the spring season.

Senior softball player Karla DiPietro said she believes training with other Conestoga softball players on a travel team allows the girls to develop their team dynamic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You get to play with them all year round, and it is really important to play with the same girls so you can get into the same mindset with them during the game,â&#x20AC;? DiPietro said.

While competing for multiple teams allows players to have the same mindset, head coach Meghan Brogan said that year round training is also beneficial because of the physical demands of softball, especially for pitchers and catchers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So much of [the girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;] game relies upon their legs and core, so

they have to maintain a strength and conditioning program if they want to maximize their potential,â&#x20AC;?

Brogan said.

According to junior Monica Hood, besides allowing players to stay in shape year round, playing for a travel team opens up new opportunities for a playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s softball career. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you want to play in college, there are showcases that you can go to and that is where colleges are really looking if you want to go Division I,â&#x20AC;? Hood said.

Brogan said she is convinced that playing for a travel team prepares girls to perform well under pressure not just in softball but in other stressful life situations as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are tournament tested, which often requires them to play multiple games in tough conditions,â&#x20AC;?

Brogan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It can help create a mental toughness that will help them throughout all aspects of life.â&#x20AC;?

Andy Backstrom can be reached at abackstrom@stoganews.com.

Zach Lowry for The SPOKE

Senior Karla DiPietro UXQV WR Ă&#x20AC;UVW EDVH LQ D JDPH DJDLQVW 0DUSOH 1HZWRZQ on April 22. â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Stoga softball players like DiPietro play for multiple teams.

PAGE 22 THE SPOKE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

SPORTS

Philly sports see changes in past four years, not for the better

Stephane Hardinger Sports Columnist I entered high school in the fall of 2009 as a timid freshman. Of course, having an older brother who directed PH WR WKH WKLUG Ă RRU SRRO RQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW GD\ RI VFKRRO GLGQ¡W KHOS PDWWHUV ,Q many ways, my insecurities were the H[DFW RSSRVLWH RI KRZ WKH 3KLODGHO SKLD VSRUWV WHDPV ZHUH DW WKH WLPH 7KH 3KLOOLHV ZRQ WKH :RUOG Series and went to another in 2009.

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ers had lost to the Orlando Magic in WKH SRVWVHDVRQ EXW WKH GXR RI $QGUH Iguodala and Elton Brand seemed to bode well for the future. $V , ORRN EDFN RQ KLJK VFKRRO GD\V IURP LQWHUQVKLS DQG ZHHNV IURP JUDGXDWLRQ ,¡P VKRFNHG WR VHH KRZ PXFK WKH FOLPDWH RI 3KLODGHOSKLD VSRUWV KDV FKDQJHG IURP ZKHQ , HQ WHUHG &RQHVWRJD 7KH 3KLOOLHV DGGHG more talent to the team each season, yet the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successes decreased each year, bottoming out with a 2012 VHDVRQ ZLWKRXW SOD\RIIV VR IDU ORRNV WR EH PRUH RI WKH VDPH The Eagles traded Donovan 0F1DEE DIWHU WKH SOD\RII ORVV and the whirlwind that followed saw the rise and demise of both Kevin .ROE DQG 0LFKDHO 9LFN 7KH VKRUW FRPLQJV RI KLV TXDUWHUEDFNV GRRPHG $QG\ 5HLG DQG &KLS .HOO\ LV LQKHU iting a roster with a lot of question PDUNV DPLG LWV WDOHQW 7KH )O\HUV JDYH XS D NLQJ¡V UDQ VRP IRU GHIHQVHPDQ &KULV 3URQJHU in the summer of 2009, and he KHOSHG OHDG WKH WHDP WR ZLWKLQ WZR ZLQV RI WKH 6WDQOH\ &XS LQ IDOOLQJ WR WKH &KLFDJR %ODFNKDZNV $IWHU D GLVDSSRLQWLQJ WKDW VDZ

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Stephane Hardinger can be reached at shardinger@stoganews.com.

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*All updates as of April 26.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

PAGE 23 THE SPOKE

SPORTS

Little brothers continue big ’Stoga baseball tradition

Navin Zachariah Staff Reporter Three brothers. Three baseball players. Three pitchers. The Little brothers consist of Austin, Jordon and Brendon. All three have played on the Conestoga baseball team.

Two of them played for the state championship team two years ago. Two are on the current team that hopes to win a championship title this year.

Growing up in a baseball family meant a lot of competition, hard work and fun over the years for the brothers.

Senior captain Jordon Little started playing baseball when he was just 5-years-old. He believes that the desire to play baseball came from his older brother Austin Little.

“It started when we were younger, watching our older brother play.

We wanted to play at his level.

When we got to his age, it was all about playing at the next level.

Now I want to get to the level of a college player,” Jordon Little said.

Both Jordon Little and his younger bother, sophomore Brendon Little, are excited to be teammates this year. Their older brother, Austin Little, who graduated in 2012, now plays baseball at Eastern University. Austin Little said he believes that he is very fortunate to share a common love of baseball with his two brothers.

“There’s no better feeling than playing [baseball] with your brother,” Austin Little said. “It’s really fun. It takes off a lot of pressure knowing that he’s there, and you really enjoy having each other there to cheer for.”

Brendon Little believes that competition between the three brother has helped them reach their current skill levels.

“Once both my older brothers started playing, they both had success. So I felt that I had to be just as good as them, if not better, as a player. That’s what is really great about having siblings that play the same sport as you: you have that extra push to want to outdo them,” Brendon Little said.

Their mother, Kate Little, has enjoyed watching all three of her

sons grow up playing baseball and said she has attended many great games.

“It’s been fun to see them grow up through little league, pitching in middle school and now high school. Austin is in college now, and we hope Brendon and Jordon will pitch there too,” Kate Little said. “It can be pretty nerve-

“It is really awesome because when we get home there’s like a pile of all our batting bags and everything. Our mom is used to it. We ask each other how all our games went and give advice to each other. It’s just really fun,” Brendon Little said.

Jordon Little loves how baseball has allowed him to spend more time with his family and get to know them better. He believes that having such a committed baseball-enthusiastic family is one of the reasons why the sport is so enjoyable for the entire family.

“We all grew up playing baseball so it’s kind of the mindset that we have,” Jordon Little said.

“When spring time rolls around, it’s baseball time. It’s like part of the family.”

“That’s what is really great about having siblings that play the same sport as you: you have that extra push to want to outdo them.”

-­ Sophomore Brendon Little wracking as well. Over the years I have gained confidence over their abilities and it’s been great to watch them improve.”

Brendon Little says that it is great being in a baseball family.

He said he is fortunate to have had all the support that he has around him.

Suproteem Sarkar/The SPOKE

Senior Jordon Little and sophomore Brendon Little pose before a Navin Zachariah can be reached game against Lower Merion. Their brother, 2012 ’Stoga graduate at nzachariah@stoganews.com. Austin Little, also played baseball for Conestoga.

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VOLUME 63, NO. 6

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

Jumpers compete in unique events See p. 20

INSIDE Family continues baseball legacy See p. 23

Picking up the pace After a rough start to the season, boys lacrosse looks ahead See p. 21

Baseball photo

Senior Zach Schleicher cradles the ball at a lacrosse game on April 25 on Teamer Field against Haverford. The Pioneers won with a final score of 12-2.

ZachJenna Lowry for The SPOKE Spoont/The SPOKE Zach Lowry for The SPOKE