The Wessex Wire The Student Newspaper of West Essex Regional High School
Vol. LVI No. 6
65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, N.J.
Wessex bleeds success at this year’s blood drive By Grace Irwin ’18
Students eagerly volunteered in the American Heart Association’s annual blood drive on April 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the West Gym. Donors each gave one pint of blood, which will go to hospital patients in need of blood transfusions. Exceeding the goal of 64 donors, 66 successful donations were made, helping over 198 patients. “This year proved to be the most successful one yet for the blood drive,” school nurse Ms. Frisch said, with 97 students volunteering. The group used up all of the supplies brought for the day’s work, turning away 15 volunteers and making for a busy morning. “We had nearly a hundred students walk in, which is way more than what we’ve had in previous years,” Ms. Frisch said. “It was excellent.” Anyone 16 or older that meets the weight requirement is a viable donor. “I’m a healthy person and if I can help people who are less healthy than me, why not?” said junior Zoe Stern, who was a donator. “One pint of blood is able to help up to three people and can save a life.” For most students, the entire process of drawing blood only lasted 5 to 10 minutes. However, PHOTO COURTESY OF MS. FRISCH for those of the rare blood type O, Anthony Agrifolio ’17 next to “Buddy”, the Blood Drive mascot. the universal donor, the process took 20 to 30 minutes. Because of this, the blood taken from type O donors, was separated into red lected, each blood bag is packaged up and sent off blood cells and plasma, looking a yellow color in its to a laboratory in Philadelphia, where the blood is designated bag. tested for different diseases. Once verified as clean, “When the plasma started leaving, my lips and the blood is sent to hospitals throughout New Jersey mouth felt really cold. It was kind of like in those and Philadelphia. gum commercials when they put the gum in their “It is important that the blood is checked and remouths and act surprised by the coolness,” senior checked for possible diseases or other components Danny Calix said. that could make it unusable. Our goal is to help When finished giving blood, donors were asked to patients, not hurt them,” Riel said. sit down on mats, eat snacks, and drink fluids to give The American Heart Association, founded in their bodies the chance to recover. Once they felt they 1924, includes up to 22.5 million donors and supwere ready to go on with the rest of their school day, porters to date. By conducting research, providing they were given a sticker to show they participated CPR training, educating lawyers and lawmakers, and in the drive and were sent back to their designated collecting blood, the AHA works to raise awareness classrooms to go on with the rest of their day. and lower the amount of deaths by heart disease According to Gabe Riel, an AHA employee since per year. According to their website’s homepage, by 2008, the group gets on average 10 donors a day on 2020, the organization hopes to lower the amount a normal schedule. After the day’s donations are col- of Americans with heart disease by 20 percent.
In This Issue:
3-4 Opinion
Final exams vs. final projects
6-7
Summer
TheWessexWire.com
June 2016
2016 academic titles move on to Ivy League Seniors Isabelle Caine and Tim Ruszala acheive the 2016 titles of valedictorian and salutatorian. By Melanie Montes ’18 Seniors Timothy Ruszala and Isabelle Caine became valedictorian and salutatorian for the 267 students of the 2016 graduating class due to their hard work, persistance and dedication. “I don’t think it’s that much more pressure than other students because everyone has stuff to deal with,” Ruszala said.“Having good grades is not everything.” Ruszala took four AP courses this year; Literature, Micro, Macro, Physics and French. In his downtime, Ruszala is involved in outside music groups and often looks to motivate himself on playing the bassoon in his free time. “You realize that all the classes you take, they get more interesting the more you know because you go in depth on the subject,” he said. He’s been acknowledged for his seasoned musical talent as a bassoonist and performs concertos with groups such as the local Ridgewood Concert Band. “I happen to do the right things. I happened to choose the bassoon which is an instrument that will get people into college because no one plays it. In a way I’m lucky but I don’t think it’s fair to say that only hard work allowed me to get into Princeton,” Ruszala said. Salutatorian Isabelle Caine said she doesn’t let academics take over her life. “Academics are important to me but not the most important,” she said. “I love spending time with friends and family, traveling and playing tennis.” Caine said she went through a massive swirl of emotions upon hearing she was salutatorian. “I felt incredibly shocked, proud and happy in knowing I gave high school my all,” she said. Caine admits that straight A’s don’t come easy. She works hard to keep her grades up to par: “School doesn’t come easily for me. I have really tough classes and I see some
Summer ’16 bucket list ideas
5 & 8 Features
Tim Ruszala ’16
Isabelle Caine ’16 PHOTOS COURTESY OF MS. JAMESON
brilliant classmates getting A’s without breaking a sweat. I sweat,” she said. Ruszala’s English teacher Ms. Dunphy only had positive things to say. “I’m proud of him. I don’t think I saw a student deserve an Ivy league school as much as him in a while. He loves all of it and I think that’s what Princeton looks for,” Dunphy said. AP Literature teacher Ms. Macaluso described Caine as a hard worker. “I don’t think the word ‘slacker’ exists in Izzie’s vocabulary. Izzie is a lovely, personable, respectful young woman whom I admire tremendously,” Ms. Macaluso said. Information on the senior valedictorian and salutatorian, as Ms. Macaluso puts it, is “kept under lock and key” but she knew Ruszala and Caine would acquire the title. “I kind of had a feeling the final two were Tim and Izzie. They both have been so humble,” she said.
A look back at this year’s best
The Wessex Wire: News
June 2016
Page 2
Anti-trans law raises questions Senior English proposal over human rights across country aims to give kids choice
with semester options
By Jessica Cunha ’17 T he st ate gove r n me nt of Charlotte, N.C. set into motion a law that would block local governments from passing anti-discrimination rules to protect the rights of transgender people back in April. This legislation will now supersede any local nondiscrimination measures dealing with sexual orientation and gender identity, including the most controversial and talked about aspect of the bill, the debate over the bathroom. Now, transgender people are required to use a restroom that goes along or correlates with the gender on their personal birth certificate. Some of the public believes that this measure is a necessary and important precaution. NPR interviewed Charlotte resident Pam Burton, who claims that if the transgender community were able to use bathrooms based on their chosen gender, it would not only jeopardize her child’s safety, but many others. “I’m not scared of transgenders. That’s not what I think the problem is. Sexual predators are not good people,” Burton said. “They don’t do the right thing. They’re going to see this ordinance as a golden opportunity for fresh victims—our children and grandchildren.” At West Essex, the Gay Straight Alliance focuses on providing support and creating change, specifically putting an end to transphobia and homophobia. GSA advisorer Ms. Blanchard believes that this law would promote discrimination and inflict irreversible damage onto the transgender community. “With the skyrocketing number
New changes scheduled for the senior students in the near future By Megan Boeckel ’17
PHOTO COURTESY OF RALEIGH NEWS AND OBSERVER /TNS
Demonstrators sit chained together in the street during a protest on Thursday, March 24 in Raleigh, N.C. over anti-LGBT laws.
of suicides in the transgender community, we should be seeking to build a more accepting environment, not contributing to the increase of harassment and suicide rates,” Ms. Blanchard said. “The bill violates Title IX, possibly the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and numerous local laws extending tolerance to the LGBT community.” New Jersey school districts have begun to address this issue head on. Specifically, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District has introduced a policy in response to the North Carolina decision, allowing transgender students to use facilities based on their self identified gender. In an interview with online news source North Jersey, superintendent Erik Gundersen stood behind the decision made at the Board of Education meeting. “The Pascack Valley Regional High School district takes great pride in being an educational institution that is committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment
for all students,” Gundersen said. “This proposed transgender policy is reflective of our district’s philosophy of tolerance, acceptance and inclusion.” North Carolina’s decision to legitimize the legislation has not only impacted school districts, but their own industry. On April 6, USA Today reported that PayPal chose to cancel an opening of an operation center because of their company values. Other major companies, like Starbucks, Apple and Twitter have all followed suit. Even music artists, such as Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, have made the decision to not perform in North Carolina. Junior Madison Gemma agreed with the company’s decision, saying that it sends a negative message to other states. “Companies like PayPal need to make it clear that they do not stand by this discrimination,” said. Gemma. “By removing themselves from North Carolina, it shows that this type of legislation is not okay.”
This year’s underclassmen, potentially, may have a brandnew set of books awaiting them senior year as West Essex has unveiled a plan that will change the English IV curriculum to be more college-like. The proposal includes breaking the year into two separate courses and moving “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” from sophomore-level English II to English IV, giving more options to seniors hopefully in the future. Ms. Casais, Instructional Supervisor of English, Reading and Library, said the school is looking to split English IV into two semester courses, following several similar models in other neighboring school districts. “Our goal is to allow students more choices,” Ms. Casais said. “This will also allow teachers to delve more deeply into their own areas of expertise.” In making this change, students will be able to choose two courses that interest them the most. Current underclassmen said anything that gives them more agency over what they learn is beneficial. “I would love to get the chance to choose what I’m learning. It seems like a cool way to prepare us
PHOTO BY ALEXA DRATCH
for the future,” sophomore Emma Evangelista said. “I think that a study about women throughout the history of English would be a class that I would be interested in,” sophomore Julia Farese said. Students aren’t the only ones looking forward to this change. Teachers also think it could be a fascinating new way to teach. “I like the idea a lot. We have proposed it before but we hit some roadblocks so I hope it all works out,” senior English teacher Mr. McNaught said. However the agreement to the proposal won’t come easy. For example, the department will have to work past its scheduling, Ms. Casais said. Senior Service has the threat of getting in the way of students being able to fully get through the second of their two course selections. It is a way to ready senior students for college.
Foreign language speakers take home silver at poetry contest By Melanie Montes ’18 Eleven students from both the middle school and high school competed at the annual William and Paterson University World Language Poetr y Recitation Contest. Eighth grader Gabriella Benevenga placed second in intermediate Italian. More than 600 middle and high school students from 48 schools were present in this contest. Participants recited poems in various languages including Chinese, French, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Latin, Spanish and ESL and were assigned to a level according to their language. The four levels include: beginner (Level 1 of the language), intermediate (Level 2), advanced (Level 3-5), and native. The students were judged on poise, intonation, pronunciation
and delivery. Trophies and medals were awarded to varying participants in each level for each language (first, second, third places and honorable mention). Eighth grader Gabriella Benevenga won second place in the intermediate Italian level. “There were mixed emotions going through my mind, but; at the end of the day, I was glad that I was recognized for my work in this journey that I will never forget,” Benevenga said. “Coming from an all Italian family, this was a great way to show my pride and hope that I made West Essex proud too.” Benevenga said she was excited to recite her poem with the teachers.“I loved exchanging ideas with each of them to try and make my presentation different from the rest of the ones I would be judged against,” Benevenga said. “When
it was my turn to recite the poem, I made sure I wouldn’t regret anything afterwards.” Freshman Christopher Duthie who presented his poem in Advanced German, was excited for the opportunity. “I love public speaking, especially in foreign languages,” Duthie said. “Last year, my audience was huge; with around 40-50 competitors, I expect a smaller turnout for the German Advanced section,” he said. French teacher Ms. Bolger is in charge of registering West Essex for the event each year. In 1987, Bolger taught at West Orange HS when the language teachers started the event for the very first time, it was such a success that the contest was moved to William Paterson University. West Essex participants competed with 60 other New Jersey high schools. Bolger wasn’t nervous for her
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEDDY PRESS
(From left)Chris Duthie ’19, Dorothy He ’18, Michael Bachmann ’17, Andrew Marashlian ’20 , Emily Johnston ’18, Gabriella Benevenga ’20, Jessica Mintz ’19, Jasmine Namyotov ’18, Pablo Murillo ’16 and Teddy Press ’19.
French students “I have done all that I can to prepare them,” Ms. Bolger said. Winner Benevenga had one
thing to say,“We are all winners for stepping up to the plate with bravery and going out to live in a moment,” Benevenga said.
Opinion
June 2016 Issue 6
Animals shouldn’t always be blamed
The Cincinnati Zoo found themselves in hot water after a 3-year-old boy climbed over the barrier and into the gorilla enclosure on May 28, which eventually led to the gorilla being shot and killed. While some believe that this was the only option, many have questioned why animals’ rights were not considered. A witness at the incident took a video of the gorilla, named Harambe, violently dragging the child across the moat in which he resided. There are theories regarding the gorilla’s behavior; some believe that since gorillas are so closely related to humans, his instinct was to treat the toddler like one of his children. The gorilla’s mannerisms in the video were one of protection, not violence. There were many other measures that could have been taken as opposed to a bullet. Tranquilizers were readily available for the zoo to utilize, but they were never considered as an option. But, even before reaching that point, the zoo’s lack of safety precautions to ensure that there is no way to enter the enclosure is the real issue. It showcases their lack of care when it comes to considering not only their patrons, but the animals as well. According to Michael A. Budkie, an executive of Stop Animal Exploitation Now, said in a reprort that the zoo “maintained an enclosure that violated the Animal Welfare Act.” Although the zoo could be at fault for potentially breaking precautions regarding the gorilla’s living area, killing Harambe violated his right to live. This instance is far from the first time that animals’ rights have been put on the back burner. Different species are becoming increasingly endangered, and some are now even extinct. The zoo favored the boy’s life over the gorilla, but in retrospect, while it may seem logical, animals shouldn’t be targeted as the perpetrator in every situation.
Staff Editorial
The Wessex Wire The Official Student Newspaper of West Essex High School A Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist Paper 65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, New Jersey 07006 (973) 228-1200 ext. 258 The Wessex Wire 2016-2017 STAFF Masthead Managing Editor & Special Projects Editor Daniella Ignacio ‘17 News Editors Melanie Montes ‘18 Junior Editor: Grace Irwin ‘18 Features Editors Micaela Weiss ‘17 Junior Editor: Maddie Galligan ‘18 Sports Editors Michael DeFranza ‘17 Mia Oyama ‘17 Daniel Laible ’18
Editors-in-Chief Jessica Cunha ‘17 Isabel Tabs ‘17 Jake Wolf ‘17
Art & Photography Director Jules Moskowitz ‘17
Opinion Editors Junior Editors: Michael DiGiacomo ‘18 Heath Kalb ‘18
Photography Editors Alexandra Codella ‘17 Alexa Dratch ‘18
Arts & Culture Editors Grace George ‘17 Olivia Ritter ‘17 Online Editors Megan Boeckel ‘17 Faculty Adviser Mr. Hermosilla
Advertising & Social Media Editor Lizzy Cimilluca ’17 Contributing Staff Kirk Geller ’16 Chris Tsakonas ’18 Illustrators Elia Pollio ‘17 Joey Ploscowe ‘18 Sharon O’Donnell ‘18
The Wessex Wire Editorial Policy
The national-award winning Wessex Wire is published with supplemental updates to inform, educate and entertain the approximately 1,200 students of West Essex High School, faculty and community. Unsigned editorials are the consensus opinion of the editorial board and do not always reflect the views of the adviser, staff, administration and/or board of education. Signed editorials reflect the view of the person whose name appears in the byline. The Wire serves as a forum for the expression of ideas and opinions of students, staff and community members. We urge readers to write letters to the editor on pertinent matters of concern. Letters must be signed; however, anonymity will be granted if necessary upon request. Members of the editorial board reserve the right to edit all letters to the editor for length or libelous content. Students, faculty or members of the community with an interesting experience or strong opinion on any subject are also encouraged to write or contact the Wire at thewessexwire@gmail.com. Several photos in this issue are used under various Creative Commons licenses. For more info and full licensing details, visit creativecommons.org.
The Wessex Wire Page 3
Final exams vs. Final projects The district’s change to finals has sparked a debate over how to best evaluate student academic performance. Hear both sides’ benefits.
New school: Projects
Old school: Exams By Alexandra Codella ’17
By Mia Oyama ’17
Even though having projects as finals sounds ideal, there are many downfalls that come with end of the year projects. Not studying may seem like a relief but having to complete multiple projects all at once will become overbearing. It takes both time and hard work to thoroughly complete each project. The anxiety of having six projects all due in the matter of one stressful week is becoming overwhelming. COLLEGE READY: Last year’s final exam schedule and traditional testing helped students prepare for college finals and other types standardized testing. By taking away final exams, students lose the advantage of extra preparation for standardized testing such as the SATs, ACTs and APs. Most colleges end their school year with exams, not projects. By allowing high school students to take final exams,they will have better training for what college finals are like so they are not caught off guard.
End of the year cramming and studying is no longer a worry in students’ June schedules. The administration’s choice to switch end of the year finals to projects is beneficial for students all around. As summer approaches, students lose focus and the weather makes it harder to study. Final projects give students the opportunity to work on projects from May through June that are worth 10 percent of their grade with limited distractions affecting their grade. MORE TIME: The projects are spread out with a good amount of time given to complete them. The decision to split up subjects and have certain due dates for each course allows students to ease into the process. It keeps students from becoming too overwhelmed. This is a better way to end the school year because students are less stressed and it gives them a better opportunity to keep their grades up.
LESS TIME-CONSUMING: Having final exams
tests takers are able to given the opportunity to end the year with a project that will have a positive effect on their overall grade. I am pleased that the idea of final projects was finally enforced because it allows me to work overtime on a project that will help keep my grades up. Being a bad test taker, exams have always had a damaging impact on my final grade and now finals will be less of a worry. NOT A MEMORIZATION TEST: Exams require a lot of memorization, whereas, projects allow students to continue to learn as they review material they have learned throughout the course of the year.
will lessen teachers’ worries about whether or not students will take the projects seriously. Among final exams in the past, after students took their test, they were able to go home early. I enjoyed this because it allowed me to have a head start on studying for the next exams and go to bed at a reasonable hour, so I was well rested for the next test day. This relieved a lot of stress for the week of testing.
SHOWS LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING:
People would argue that final projects do not test your knowledge as well as a final exam does for certain subjects. In particular, many people are concerned with the idea of projects for math classes. The best way to test a student’s knowledge on math lessons is by giving them on exam with multiple different problems.
GRADE BOOSTER: Students who are not good
STRESS-FREE: Projects allow students to end
the year with ease. Opportunities to work in class and spread out due dates prevent stress and allow students to enjoy the end of the school year.
Students’ opinions on finals, 10 days apart June 2
May 23
I don’t like this idea. I would rather take exams.
I think it is OK. It is better than traditional exams and tests.
43%
I think it is OK. It is better than traditional exams and tests.
I don’t like this idea. I would rather take exams.
25% 55%
20%
16% 16% I am very excited about it and think it is a great idea.
I am undecided about it.
10%
15%
I am undecided about it. I am very excited about it and think it is a great idea.
100 FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS POLLED FOR BOTH CHARTS.
June 2016
Page 4
The Wessex Wire: Opinion
Athletes at all levels shouldn’t be overlooked Freshman, JV teams’ efforts also deserve to be recognized By Jules Moskowitz ’17 It’s Friday night and the varsity football team is hyped, considering the game has been the talk of the school all week. The stands fill up around 6:30 and before the starting kick-off, it’s hard to even move. The game is exciting and everyone cheers for the Knights. During half time, the band performs and everyone awaits for the game to restart, munching on popcorn and candy. The boys varsity team is victorious, winning their first game of many. After the game, they celebrate by hanging out with friends or meeting at the diner. The boys get congratulated, and admired by other sports members, parents and friends. Now: It’s Monday after school. The JV and freshman boys are suiting up, getting ready for their own football game. In the stands,
there are some parents, but it’s not nearly close to full. The boys win in a landslide. They are congratulated by their coaches and parents, but then return to the locker room and forget about their big victory.The next morning: During homeroom, the varsity team’s win is projected and the star players announced. But everyone forgets about the JV and freshman team’s win. This scenario isn’t completely uncommon: There are roughly 550 West Essex students who play on JV and freshman sports, and these students make up the majority of West Essex athletes. Varsity players deserve to be on varsity and get recognition for doing well. The team is filled with dedicated, hard-working and skillful athletes. Each player fully and completely deserves to be a member of the team. But they’re certainly not alone. Members of the JV and freshman squads play the sport they play with the goal to be on varsity, and become the best they can be. Just because the JV and freshman teams aren’t playing the most competitive
level of the sport, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be noticed for what they’ve accomplished during their seasons as well. “I was on the JV soccer team this fall,” said sophomore Bailey Schuester. “We had a winning season and so many of my teammates are going to be better prepared when it’s our time to join the varsity squad.” It’s clear that players on the JV and freshman levels have an ultimate goal to work hard and compete. For that reason, all athletes should be recognized for excelling on their specific team. A way to make sure that all athletes are equally recognized could be by hanging a poster of their games schedules around the school. Even here on the Wire, writers and editors can dedicate some space to each freshman and JV team’s season statistics. Something that simple could help boost players’ confidence. All varsity players deserve their spot. They demonstrate commitment, passion and heart each and every day during their sports sea-
ILLUSTRATION BY JULES MOSKOWITZ
son. But varsity players gained their experience by practicing and putting in the work. JV and freshman players are the future of the varsity
teams. It’s crucial to congratulate and admire individuals who are making a difference on their JV and freshman teams.
Keep your hands to yourself Male modeling is By Grace George ’17
Does it bother you that people show unnecessary PDA (Public Displays of Affection, for the uninitiated) in school? We’ve all seen it. We’ve all walked past it. We’ve held back our bile as we see it. We avoid it like the plague yet some of the unlucky ones bump into it. It’s gross. It’s unnecessary. It’s uncomfortable. I ’m n o t t a l k i n g about a little shoulder punch here and there or a quick hug after waiting for each other outside of class. You all know the couples that walk everywhere together, holding hands More DIBY on and staring dreamthewessexwire.com: ily into one another’s The penniless plight eyes as the whole sciPHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXA DRATCH ence wing looks on in of today’s teens Columnists Grace George and Olivia Ritter are agony. Some go further appalled by affectionate students. than hand holding and full-body hug as they make their way through the the principal could be watching you go at it at any halls. And some, my personal favorites, sneak in point in time! Don’t you care?! little kisses before they depart from each other for It’s amazing that some people do not care in the an entire 55 minute period. slightest that every day they cause awkwardness in Now, I’m not opposed to relationships, or loving the halls and direct attention to themselves with embraces for that matter, but there is something their inappropriate expressions. All of their peers that gets under my skin about the PDA in school. and teachers disapprove, yet they don’t seem to Seeing boyfriends and girlfriends get all more-than- mind at all. friendly doesn’t necessarily anger me, but it does Maybe it’s because they’re really in love. Maybe I make me feel severely uncomfortable. should embrace their union and rejoice in the love As I accumulate a heavy pile of secondhand em- and happiness that they generate. Or maybe it’s just barrassment when seeing these couples, questions their hormones acting up and they can’t help it. ricochet throughout my mind. Does the thought Whichever it is, I say embrace your significant of teachers looking on as you grope your girlfriend other as often and as intimately as you would like in the halls not cross your mind as strange? Don’t at school if that’s what really brings you happiness. you think about how many people are watching Just don’t mind if I avert my eyes and mutter passiveyou do this? This school is riddled with cameras; aggressive comments under my breath as I walk by.
underappreciated
By Melanie Montes ’18
This is a common scenario: you walk into a store and the racks are full of elite fashion magazines like Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle, stacked one on top of another. You pick up one of them and lo and behold, there’s a woman on the cover. Another one catches your eye; a woman is still on the cover. Every single magazine you see has a woman on the cover. On most print issue cover-pages, all anyone ever sees are female models, and on rare occasion, a male model falling behind a female. The fashion industry is dominantly female, rarely giving male models a chance to prove themselves. Freshman Teddy Press has an idea of why women are always on the front page.“Female models promote an image of sex appeal on the cover, with men more likely to pay attention to her and women wanting to look like her,” he said. Each issue from Vogue and Elle contains photographs of mostly female models, but you rarely see any males grace their glossy pages. The value of hiring a better-looking male model pales by comparison because few men care about their appearances, and fewer read fashion magazines. Sophomore Emily Johnston believes society restricts men and women. “Most girls in school will have makeup on and dress nicely. Meanwhile, men are told that beauty
isn’t for them so they go natural faced,” she said. “Society wants girls to look perfect, so there are more fashion options available to them. Guys are expected to not care about their appearance.” When have you ever heard of a male model making millions? Sean O’Pry, the biggest male model to date, has made $6.5 million in a span of nine years, while Gisele Bundchen has made an estimated $44 million in the span of 20 years. With these staggering facts, the dark reality of the fashion world is brought to light. Both O’Pry and Bundchen are doing the same job, with equal amounts of dedication to the industry, but it is more difficult for men like O’Pry to make it big. Junior Isabel Parzecki said there’s societal pressure involved with men and their appearance. “There’s a stigma against men caring about their appearance she said. It just has to do with society. If men didn’t feel like buying products for themselves was looked down upon then they’d find a lot of choices. ” In order for us to take action, we need to value one another and realize that every one of us has something to offer, whether it’s in fashion, school, with ideas, anything at all. No one should ever give anything up because others don’t believe in their vision. If we start caring about everyone as equals and give everyone the benefit of the doubt then we are one step to changing and opening the playing field for other male models.
Features
June 2016 Issue 6
Year in review: Wessex Land
This school year has been a wild and eventful one. Roll the dice and move ahead to relive this year’s best moments.
Mr. Diliberto’s First Year as Principal “One more minute till the bell! Better start running, you don’t wanna miss out on Senior Service!” Although he has worked here for eight years already, this year was Mr. Diliberto’s first as principal, a position he took on eagerly and with determination to improve the school. “An important part of this job is decisiveness; collaboration and communication with my colleagues is crucial,” he said. He credits the ease of his transition from assistant principal to the hard work of his colleagues and the students.
The Wessex Wire Page 5
By Maddie Galligan ’18 Illustrations by Elia Pollio and Micaela Weiss ’17
“One of my favorite parts of the job is seeing everyone rush in the morning like it’s Times Square and watching them run to class.”
Chromebooks With a full school year of using this new tech under our belt, most students found Chromebooks useful, but others said it was also a distraction at times. Most of us are no strangers to getting scolded for online shopping or watching YouTube videos rather than doing actual work. The significance of schoolwork wanes in comparison to beating Cupcake 2048 when you have an operating Chromebook sitting in front of you. “Yeah, I’ve got caught a few times playing games,” sophomore Emma Evangelista said. “It’s just too tempting. Sometimes I just get in the Bubble Shooter mood and can’t fight it.” It happens to the best of us.
Junot Díaz Visit Author Junot Díaz made life a lot more interesting when he came in October to talk to the students and teachers about his novel “The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” in the sophomore English curriculum. Díaz spoke candidly about issues like racism and sexism in society. His message had diverging effects: He ruffled some feathers for sure, but other audience members were moved to tears.
Final Projects
Finals week is one of the worst weeks of the school year filled with stress and worry. This year, we won’t be partaking in this form of torture, but is the alternative any better? Final projects are meant to encourage creativity and more practical implications, which it does in comparison to exams, but the stress of these projects is equal in magnitude to that of exams. Obviously, stressing for finals is inevitable, but when all seven of your final projects are due within two days of each other, it tends to be a little extensive.
“I remember he had a lot of character. He was a very outspoken person and told it like it was.” - Julia Farese ’18
“Final projects would have been more successful if they were assigned at different times and we had a longer period of time to complete them.” - Amanda Margiolas ’17
PHOTO COURTESY OF KARLY BLUME ’17
summer’s here!
June 2016
The Wessex Wire: Summer 2016
Page 6
Check out some fun activities you c Catch these upcoming movies to brighten up a rainy day this season By Olivia Ritter ’17 As glorious as summer is, the time can’t all be beachworthy. Rainy days can come around and leave everyone bored and sad. The spirit of summer is lost, but don’t forget that the movie theater still exists. Before you spend those gloomy days sleeping, check out the endless movie options for this summer. “Me Before You” - June 3 What it is: This book-to-movie adaptation tells the story of Louisa “Lou” Clarke, a young woman struggling to find a steady job. She finds work as caretaker to a paralyzed man, Will Traynor. Louisa changes Will’s cynical outlook on the world and teaches him how life is worth living at any cost. Why you should see it: “Me Before You” holds lessons about life and love in an atypical way. Instead of the perfect Nicholas Sparks couple, Louisa and Will embody overcoming real, difficult obstacles for their love. Plus, Sam Claflin plays Will and that’s reason enough. Who’s excited for it: “It’s kind of cliche, but cliche is what really gets me.” —Catherine DiGangi ’17 “The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist” - June 10 What it is: Ed and Lorraine Warren are back as paranormal investigators, examining a supposed haunted family in a London suburb. The couple faces the same spine-chilling horrors that they did two summers ago in the movie’s predecessor, “The Conjuring.” Why you should see it: As most horror-lovers can attest, “The Conjuring” was terrifying. People ran from the theaters in fear during the summer of 2013. James Wan, renowned horror movie director, aims to revive the same thrill in the sequel. Who’s excited for it: “I hope it’s as good as the first one, which was really scary.” —Brianna Convertino ’18 “Finding Dory” - June 27 What it is: Six months after the events of “Finding Nemo,” the world’s favorite forgetful blue tang fish, Dory, is back. She struggles to remember her family and makes the decision to find them. However, Dory is not alone; she is joined by Nemo and Marlin on her journey to discover the family she thought she forgot. Why you should see it: If you’re a part of humanity, you have labeled the original “Finding Nemo” as your go-to summer movie. Some of you may have been anxiously waiting for this sequel since your toddler years.
“I’ve spent the last 10 months patiently waiting for camp. I am so excited to reunite with my friends.” Olivia Lieberman ’19
“I’m so excited to go to Italy this summer with my family. They have good food and culture that I would like to explore.” Michael Luongo ’19
PHOTO BY ALEXA DRATCH
Local movie theaters are ready to begin screening a variety of summer films for our entertainment.
Who’s excited for it: “I’m psyched to bring back my childhood.” —Sophie Moyer ’17 “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” - July 8 What it is: Brothers Mike and Dave Stangle are instructed to bring dates to their sister’s wedding to prevent chaos. Instead of asking girls out themselves, they appear on the Wendy Williams Show to advertise themselves. This stunt attracts two unhinged party animals: Tatiana and Alice. Why you should see it: This is our bet for that movie you’ll laugh at and quote all summer long, no matter how plotless and dumb it is. Plus, it takes place in Hawaii, so Zac Efron will be shirtless for at least half of the movie. Who’s excited for it: “Zac Efron is my idol. I’m so excited to see him act again.” —Shaina Barreto ’18 “Ghostbusters” - July 15 What it is: A paranormal researcher, a physicist, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker come together to combat the ghosts haunting Manhattan. This reboot has a star-studded cast, including Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Why you should see it: Other than being an update of the ’80s blockbuster, its cast is almost entirely made up of women. This bold choice puts a whole new spin on the story, while keeping with the hilarious plot from the original. Who’s excited for it: “I’ve seen movies with all those actresses and they’re some of my favorites. I can’t imagine how good this is going to be.” —Liam Fost ’17
“I will do the Musical Theatre Conservatory in Livingston, where I also get to perform in a cabaret in New York City and train in dance and voice.” Paige Wasserman ’18
“I’m really excited to go to Thailand and help communities and wildlife. I’ll also do fun activities like riding elephants, zip lining and scuba diving. ” Lindsay Feldstein ’17
By Daniella Ignacio and Isabel Tabs ’17
June 2016
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The Wessex Wire: Summer 2016
can do on a hot sizzling summer day Students plan to brush up on sports skills for next year’s school athletics By Dan Laible ’18 Sports consume the lives of many students during the school year, but for some, that’s not enough. These students pick up their cleats, sticks and helmets to play their sport during the summer. From practices and camps to full games, playing a sport in the summer can be time intensive with very little downtime. Many cannot go on vacation or miss practices because of it. In fact, most of the time students travel with the team to other states to play in tournaments. In a poll of 100 West Essex students, 41 percent of students play summer sports. Clearly, many students find it to be a fun way to spend their time in the summer doing something they love. “Those that go to camps and are part of club team usually turn out better than other players who don’t, but with every athlete it’s a different journey,” said Mr. Schwindel, assistant boys lacrosse coach and director of personnel for Trilogy lacrosse. “Just playing in the summer from a camp to a clinic is very helpful for getting to that next level.” There are many positives to playing a summer sport. One is being able to keep active during the summer, which is a main reason why students at West Essex play. Those that don’t play can often find themselves sitting at home playing video games or watching Netflix. By playing in the summer, you stay in shape and have fun in the process. “Getting to meet new people and travel to different states for tournaments is the best part about playing in the summer, it also is very good to prepare you for your season during the school year,” said freshman Mac Farrell, a varsity soccer player.
ILLUSTRATION BY MICAELA WEISS MUGSHOTS BY LIZZY CIMILLUCA, DANIELLA IGNACIO AND ISABEL TABS
“I am going to Antigua this summer with my family, and we plan to be going snorkeling and deep sea fishing while we are there.” Michael Richardella ’18
A student tosses out the idea of summer leisure and starts training instead.
ILLUSTRATION BY SHARON O’DONNELL
Many students use club teams, camps and showcases as a way to get recruited by a college. Showcases and camps happen during the summer and are known to be some of the best ways to get noticed by a college. This is a major key in the recruiting process for students at West Essex and around the country. Students also commented that even though sports during the summer can be fun, they can be annoying at times. “I have to wake up very early and have a lot of practices and meets on the weekends which can cut into my time with friends,” said sophomore Emma Bossaert, a swimmer. Sports can start to cut into time off from school. Many of these sports have practice at least three times a week and have games or tournaments on the weekends. “If you really love that sport, it will make you become a better player,” sophomore Thomas
Fabiano said. “The only negative is that it takes up time to relax in the summer.” Playing these sports doesn’t come cheap. It can cost $1,000 to just be a part of the team, not including additional travel prices or equipment. Many students still pay to better enhance their abilities and get better for their seasons that are coming up during the school year. The main summer sports are soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball and softball. However, there are many other interesting sports to play in the summer, such as horseback riding, swimming and golf. Clearly, there are many options to choose from that can be a fit for anyone who wants to stay active during the summer. “If it is something you enjoy and something you can get better at,” said sophomore Alex Franchi, “there is no reason not to do it.”
“My internship at VitaQuest will serve as a great learning experience and it will help prepare me for the real world.” Dan Librizzi ’17
“This is my first full family vacation in two years. I’m going to Costa Rica, and we are jumping off the La Roca Waterfall in Arenal.” Ellie Decker ’19
June 2016
The Westminster Choir sings for love By Daniella Ignacio ’17 All is dark inside the London church, but members of the Westminster Choir still continue their last song in the opening night of “Walking In Space,” this year’s annual cabaret, and the show they selected to perform for choir tour. Candles, flashlights and lanterns dimly illuminate the room as they begin singing “Let The Sunshine In” from the musical “Hair.” At the end of the number, the audience applauds wildly. As the performers finish bowing, their power surges and the lights turn back on. They have literally let the sunshine in. With the choir tour ending a few days later, now they’re ready to return home with “The Baker’s Wife.” This is Westminster Choir, which is lovingly referred to as “Piercy” by its members in honor of their leaders, Barbara and Noel Piercy. Since September, they have rehearsed every Sunday and some weeknights at the First Presbyterian Church in Caldwell to perfect their performances. Such performances include choir tour,
in which the group traveled overseas to perform “Walking In Space” in host churches in England last February; “The Baker’s Wife,” this year’s musical; singing at Sunday masses; and an upcoming senior recital in mid-June. West Essex students involved are seniors Sophie Wenzke, Erin Bogert and Hannah Ploch, juniors Kelsey Witzel, Schafer Witzel and Rose Schuchard, eighthgrader Hayat Pryor and several younger children from the sending districts. “Once you do something like [Piercy] with a group of people, you create such a bond,” Wenzke said. “I used to be afraid of social settings and getting used to people, but now, three years later, I am excited to go and I always leave in a great mood, knowing that I have a family—people, my people.” Piercy has been a place for people to connect like this since it was first instated. The program began in 1986, when Barbara and Noel Piercy started working at the Caldwell church. One of their job requirements was to start a youth choir, which they happily did.
Ava DeMary shines under Broadway lights By Isabel Tabs ’17
Clear the hallways, lay out the red carpet and make way for freshman Ava DeMary, West Essex’s own Broadway star. Whether she’s diligently making up endless piles of homework or spending an afternoon in New York City for an audition, DeMary constantly works to her potential as an actress, while trying to be “one of us.” She clearly gets the best of both worlds. After an audition for her local playhouse’s “Sound of Music,” which her dance teacher kindly forced her into, DeMary traded her private concerts in the car with a real stage and soon with one of the world’s biggest tourist attractions. DeMary’s broadway debut was at age seven in “Billy Elliot,” playing the roles of ballet girls Julie Hope and Allison Sommers. Although they were minor roles, DeMary confesses, “I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was shocked when I found out that I had even made it.” Ever since, DeMary has held a tight bond with the stage which has expanded her acting career and her resume. Due to her success with “Billy Elliot,” DeMary wanted to continue grasping for more audition opportunities. Her next shows were “Evita” and, most recently, “Matilda” which she says is her favorite show she has done. She
played many roles, however most familiar to us would be Alice and Lavender, which is quite the an accomplishment and a fret if you’ve seen the way Miss Trunchbull treats those children. Senior Alexa DeMary, Ava’s sister, says the sky’s the limit for what Ava can achieve. “I admire my sister for all that she has accomplished at such a young age,” Alexa said. “I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her.” DeMary says that her time in the spotlight hasn’t been easy, though; her social life shifted dramatically when she was on Matilda because she started to be homeschooled. “I kept getting pulled out of school and with practices during the school week with about eight shows a week, homeschooling was the only option,” DeMary said. Throughout 7th and 8th grade, DeMary’s life was like a broken record player. She would religiously practice her lines, going to a series of dancing, singing and acting rehearsals, doing safety checks and at the end of the day, reflecting on what she learned and give her reflection to the choreographer the next time they meet. However, now DeMary is back into the reality of an average teenager going to school. “I was so nervous to come back to school because I didn’t know a quarter
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The Wessex Wire: Features
PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIANA PIERCY
The cast of “The Baker’s Wife” is eager to perform in the show they have been passionately preparing for months.
Their daughter, Adriana, now directs the shows too. The groups are open to anyone who wishes to sing, regardless of their membership in the church, though most discovered the choirs through the parish. “How to sing in a choir and how to sing in a congregation needs to be taught at an early age. That is why there are children’s choirs,” Mrs. Piercy said. “If there was no youth choir then there would be a big generation gap.” Beyond the music, a common thread between choir members is their acceptance of different sects
of Christianity and nonconforming religions. “I like being able to talk about spiritual matters and relating that to our music,” Mrs. Piercy said. “Choir can be a safe place to discuss feelings and ideas.” “In the past, it’s been a safe haven that high school doesn’t give you, there’s this feeling that we’re all going to do this together and it’s gonna be great,” Bogert said. “It’s different from other religious organizations in that they let you explore your faith.” West Essex students aren’t the only ones to experience the welcoming environment that
Senior Service serves a greater purpose By Jake Wolf ’17
PHOTO COURTESY OF AVA DEMARY
Ava DeMary plays Alice in “Matilda,” her favorite show, onstage in New York City.
of my grade since I never went to middle school,” DeMary said. She still gets pulled out of class frequently for auditions and works hard to maintain her grades. DeMarys most recent audition was for a Nickelodeon television show. For the first two weeks of May, agents flew her out to Los Angeles for callbacks hoping to be casted—to no avail. “Although it’s disappointing not getting a part, there are tons of opportunities for me,” DeMary said. She continues to go work with her acting coach, as she hopes to one day have her own TV series and star in more broadway shows. Ava certainly brings some diversity to the community. How many people can say they sit next to a broadway star in math class?
these group exudes. Members of Westminster Choir hail from other high schools around the area as well, such as James Caldwell High School, Verona High School and Mount St. Dominic Academy. ¨I feel very close with everyone in the group even though I haven’t been here very long and have never even gone on tour,” said Lauren Dwyer, a freshman at Mount St. Dominic who began performing with Piercy in 2013. “I still feel just as much a part of [it] as the cast members who went to England.” In short, “Piercy people are the best people,” Kelsey Witzel said.
Senior Service is one of the most anticipated times of the year because students begin their journey outside of the classroom. This year’s program includes seniors who are volunteering at elementary schools, fire or police departments, or even working with horses. “I am spending Senior Service at the barn where I keep my horse,” Sammi Mazzella said. “The program is valuable because seniors get to experience what the work field is like and get to give back to our community at the same time.” According to directors Ms. Zuppa and Mr. McGlynn, it has been around for at least 13 years. “I have received many emails from public schools in our area asking questions about how to start a program like this,” Ms. Zuppa said. Seniors who have a grade point average of at least 3.0, with under 10 absences and 10 tardies, are eligible. They have the choice to apply to help out local businesses, schools or other organizations. Senior Service is regarded as a positive experience by students, and it is widely awaited throughout high school. “I have been looking forward to Senior Service
since I saw the seniors when I was at Gould,” junior Max Prince said. While it’s an enjoyable experience, it’s more than simply fun for the seniors. “It is a learning experience for many, and it gives students the chance to interact with others professionally and personally,” Ms. Zuppa said. “Some students have the opportunity for career exploration as well, affording them future jobs.” Some of the most interesting placements in the past include working with special needs students, creating murals around town, and working as an EMT. “I am completing my EMT certification as an active riding member of the West Essex First Aid squad,” senior Chris Malanga said. “Senior Service is pretty valuable, you definitely have the potential to accomplish more than you could inside of school.” While it can be a fun experience for eligible seniors, some decide to opt out of the program and stay at school for the final weeks of the year. “The only Senior Service project I wanted to do was the elementary school, but when I wasn’t placed there, I didn’t want to work 25 hours a week for no pay,” senior Greg Yezhov said. “In hindsight though, I should have done Senior Service.”
June 2016 Issue 6
Snapchat now dominates world of social media By Lizzy Cimilluca ’17 Snapchat has taken over social media, whether those using it are students in our halls or celebrities in Hollywood. Snapchat is a way to communicate with someone by sending and receiving pictures or videos that can include a limited amount of characters. Students across the board have become infatuated with Snapchat. Students have Snapchatted during the day so often that teachers have taken notice. A teacher will turn around for a second only to turn back and see their students replying to a snap. “It’s either a kid is Snapchatting in my class or playing Bubble Shooter,” said English teacher Ms. Dunphy. Today, people even establish relationships through this app. These messages take the place of an actual phone conversation, email or text messages. All the stages of dating can be seen through Snapchat. First, add your crush’s username and then send pictures back and forth. Once you establish a “streak” and become
each other’s “best friends”, the relationship is official. From there, a couple develops. So what makes Snapchat so appealing? It turns out pictures actually can say a thousand words. “I feel it is a better way to communicate with people,” senior Tess Dyer said. “It is more personal to me. Also I like being able to send pictures and see their face.” Most people would agree that they’d rather have Wi-Fi for Snapchat over text messages. This goes to show how Snapchat has taken over high school students.“It is an entertaining way to see what all your friends are up to and to talk to them,” said sophomore Bailey Schuster, “You can interact with your friends and the new effects that are provided make it more fun than texting.” In past years, Twitter was the default mean of communication in terms of social media. Students could tweet about their feelings, pet peeves or current status, essentially keeping their followers constantly updated. Twitter is still popular, but other social media apps are rapidly
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Arts Arts
Culture
The Wessex Wire Page 9
Orange jumpsuits are back in style this June By Grace George ’17
ILLUSTRATION BY SHARON O’DONNELL; PHOTOS COURTESY OF (FROM TOP) JACK DELEHANTY, TESS DYER AND BAILEY SCHUSTER
moving past it, such as Snapchat, Vsco, Musical.y and Instagram. Most people use Twitter only to follow funny accounts and watch humorous videos. Making stories on Snapchat is one of the most popular features on the app. A story is something you can post on your Snapchat that can include a picture or a video. They are a way to show your followers what you’re doing and essentially keep one
entertained and constantly laughing. Much can be assumed about a person based on the types of stories he or she will post. Students can use stories to track their favorite celebrities as well. “I really like DJ Khaled stories, they’re great,” said junior Jack Delehanty. Snapchat has become the biggest 2016 social media hit; that is, until something better comes around to take its place.
Masquers alum shines as new director By Alexa Dratch ’18 West Essex alumnus Greg Contaldi can honestly say he’s well on his way to achieving one of his life’s dreams only two years after graduating high school. A film and television major, Contaldi’s meeting with fellow NYU student Alain Polanco in 2013 led to a partnership in film neither of them expected. But before producing their dream series, the two created Art City, their production company. In the eight months since Art City’s launch, there’s been a total of over 12,000 views on the channel. Their quick rise to Internet fame finally led Contaldi and Polanco to release the miniseries that started it all: “Bromance Boys,” an “Entourage” meets “30 Rock” comedy focusing on three guys who form an unlikely friendship while on set of a remake for Saturday Night Fever. The show explores themes such as male friendships and the quest to make it in modern-day New York City TV. “A pilot episode for ‘Bromance Boys’ was drafted almost immediately, but quickly shelved in order for us to focus on other projects,”
PHOTO BY ALEXA DRATCH
The “Bromance Boys,” Alain Polanco, Greg Contaldi and Brian Alevis are pictured with the second assistant director, Lucy Batten.
Contaldi said. “It wasn’t until this past January where we dusted off that original pilot script and moved forward with writing the rest of the first season.” “Bromance Boys” was released May 15 on the Art City YouTube channel and has accumulated over 5,000 views in the first week it went up. The production starred a number of extras from West Essex’s surrounding towns as well as students from NYU. It was written, filmed
and edited at various locations around New York and New Jersey, including Nightstand Studios in Fairfield, over the course of only five months. A big time film career has been something Contaldi and Polanco dreamt of creating since before their NYU days. Nothing could have stopped the duo from creating their series and having it run online. “Luckily Greg and I both have the same passion for this
project that whenever a challenge did arise we took it head on and figured it out,” Polanco said. The partners have been working to their best abilities to create a loyal fanbase to showcase “Bromance Boys” too. “We hope that it gets in front of the right person and hopefully strikes up some deals,” Contaldi said. “Hi Netflix!” Contaldi’s journey from a hopeful 16 year old student in awe watching filmmaker Andrew Jenks to a successful 20 year old producing his own films wasn’t a quick and easy one. “It was Andrew Jenks who ultimately influenced me to create a film festival at West Essex,” Contaldi said. “With much help from the school administration and my independent study adviser, Mr. McGlynn, we were able to pull it off.” After years of working towards “Bromance Boys,” Contaldi and Polanco finally saw their dreams come alive. They’re only going up from here, and prove to be an inspiration to not only West Essex students, but also any other young filmmakers doubting what they’re worth. “Bromance Boys” is proof that perseverance pays off.
As one of the most popular series on Netflix, “Orange is the New Black” has received abundant praise for its candid and raunchy portrayal of reallife struggles that has attracted a diverse group of viewers Last June’s release of Season 3 of “OITNB” sent series fanatics flocking to their computers in a frenzy, only to subsequently spend the next few days bingewatching the entire season. The West Essex community in particular is a large fan base for the show, and this month, West Essex students are readying their chromebooks amongst the hype of Season 4. “I got so hooked with the first three seasons,” said sophomore Emma Evangelista, “I can’t wait for the fourth.” Cliffhangers from the third season have undoubtedly driven watchers crazy over the past year and enabled them to make their own predictions on the upcoming season in June. “I think that Alex and Piper are going to get back together again,” said senior Ryan Applewhite. “I can’t wait to see the new season.” Some, on the other hand, are disillusioned by the show’s lacking in Season 3. The legacy of Season 2’s ending set high expectations that many felt were not met in the third season. Heightened popularity of Netflix and Cable TV shows have steered people away as well. “I’m over it. I think it’s over.” said Accounting and Sports Marketing teacher, Ms. Mondadori-Llauget, expressing that her new obsession for the HBO series, “Game of Thrones” has helped her throw “OITNB” out the window. No matter what comes June 17, we’ll always support the show for its originality and duality. It is unique and rich with wit and passion. Regardless of what happens this season, this show is undoubtedly special and praiseworthy. But fans might just hope that it’s Piper who gets hit by a truck this time around.
June 2016
The Wessex Wire: Arts & Culture
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#concertszn
Whether you have Bieber fever, are a country fanatic or want to hear that hotline bling, here is your guide to the hottest summer tours. By Micaela Weiss ’17
POP
Another exciting duo hitting the road this summer is Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa on “The High Road” Tour. They bring along a handful of guest performers, including Kevin Gates, Casey Veggies, DJ Drama and Jhene Aiko. See these hit artists Tuesday, Aug. 2 at the PNC Bank Arts Center and Friday, Aug. 5 at the BB&T Pavilion.
Demi Lovato (below) and Nick Jonas are bringing back “Camp Rock” memories with their “Future Now” tour. Lovato and Jonas will sing their latest albums, “Confident” and “Nick Jonas X2,” respectively. Nearby tour dates include Friday, July 8 at the Barclays Center, Tuesday, July 12 at the Prudential Center and Thursday, July 14 at the BB&T Pavilion.
With a new album on the market, Drake (below) announced his Summer Sixteen Tour. After recently releasing three singles that topped the charts, his album “Views” was bound to be a success. Future will be Drake’s coperformer on this tour, backed by the new album and mixtape he dropped this year. You can find them Aug. 4, 5 and 6 at Madison Square Garden.
COUNTRY
Attending country concerts at the PNC Bank Arts Center is a summer must. Florida Georgia Line (above) stands as the fifth show in this year’s Megaticket lineup. Their “Dig Your Roots” Tour includes performances from The Cadillac Three and Kane Brown.
Cole Swindell will be joining them as well. You can find them Thursday Aug. 4 at the PNC Bank Arts Center. If the PNC country craze isn’t your thing, you can catch Kenny Chesney headlining at Metlife. His new single “Noise” will make fans wild as well as his other classics. Chesney will be joined by other powerhouse artists such as Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt and Old Dominion. You can find them Saturday, Aug. 20 at Metlife Stadium.
Silence left in wake of musicians’ deaths By Heath Kalb ’18
This year’s passings of cultural icons have made recent months a dark and mournful time for fans of these notable stars. Deceased celebrities have made an impact on countless lives including many in the West Essex community. Noteworthy deaths in 2016 include Alan Rickman, Patty Duke, Maurice White, Sir George Martin, Muhammad Ali and Doris Roberts. These deaths have contributed to an unfortunate trend of celebrity passings this year, but the legacies of Prince and David Bowie have left a particularly lasting mark on the world. “I feel like there is a relevant important celebrity death every week,” said freshman Sam Rosenberg. In fact there have been more so far than normal in 2016. According to BBC, the online news source has already used 24 celebrity obituaries for this year. This doubles
the amount from last year, when they used 12 obituaries. All of these deaths have caused an emotional outcry from fans. Throughout the world memories have been shared and tributes have been made to commemorate these stars. Fans of these celebrities were heartbroken when they heard the news, including sophomore Justin Ajmo, who said both Bowie and Prince’s deaths left the world of music a little quieter. “I was very sad because I know I’ll never be able to see them live,” Ajmo said. Senior English teacher Mr. McNaught, has been a lifelong fan of Prince and was shocked by news of the artist’s death. “Purple Rain was the first cassette tape I ever owned and I’ve loved his work ever since,” he said. Sophomore English teacher Mr. Myerson, who doubles as a guitarist, is an avid fan of both Bowie and Prince. “I wish I could sing
like Bowie and have the theatrics of Prince,” said Mr. Myerson. Not only has Mr. Myerson been covetous of their talent but he has also been inspired by them. “I play funk music because of Prince and always jump on the opportunity to cover a Bowie or Prince song,” he said. Even though these celebrities such as David Bowie and Prince were at the height of their fame decades ago, their work has managed to touch millennials. “I became a fan of David Bowie when I was young and my dad would play him on the radio in the car,” sophomore Jake Haenggi said. Some students are, unfortunately, unfamiliar with their work. “I’ve heard all my life from my parents who are big fans of Prince, Bowie and Alan Rickman that I’m missing out.” said junior Mike Centrella. Many have certainly have missed out on ILLUSTRATION BY JOEY PLOSCOWE experiencing these artists’ talents, but it’s Combination of the late artists Prince and never too late to enjoy their timeless works. David Bowie.
CONCERT SCENE: “IMG_8793” BY RUFUS (CC BY 2.0) (FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/RUFUSOWLIEBAT/8463005227/); TICKET: “METALLICA 2008 ONTARIO CALIFORNIA” BY JONDOEFORTY1 (CC BY 2.0) (FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/JONDOEFORTY1/3107080560/); CIRCLES FROM LEFT: “DEMI LOVATO” BY JENNIFERLINNEAPHOTOGRAPHY (CC BY-SA 2.0) (FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/JENZBIE/23816854050/), “134293_3220” BY DISNEY | ABC TELEVISION GROUP (CC BY-SA 2.0) (FLICKR.COM/ PHOTOS/DISNEYABC/11042392754), “DRAKE” BY MUSICISENTROPY (CC BY-SA 2.0) (FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/BANDFAN/4972816866/)
RAP/R&B
After a three-year hiatus, Justin Bieber finally made his comeback with the album, “Purpose,” that hit no. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Bieber has set four different dates in this area, so it’ll be hard to miss him. Catch him Saturday, July 9, at Prudential Center; Friday, July 15, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City; Monday, July 18, and Tuesday, July 19, at Madison Square Garden.
The Wessex Wire: Sports
June 2016
Page 11
Latest punishments may deflate Patriots fans’ hopes By Michael DeFranza ’17 Deflategate is not over; the scandal has received a reboot after Tom Brady has been re-suspended by a federal appeals court. Coming off a strong season with a 12-4 record and a loss in the AFC Championship game, the Patriots went into the offseason looking to build and make a run back at the Super Bowl. The 2015 offseason was spent on the appealment of Brady’s original four game suspension. He had won his appeal six days prior to the 2015 season starting. Tom Brady decided to file an appeal as his response revealing he still is innocent. The impact of this case may travel to the Supreme Court if Brady chooses to go that far. This would be the first NFL case to go to the Supreme Court since 2010. “The facts here are so drastic and so apparent that the court should rehear it,” Ted Olson said, an attorney for Brady, in a televsaised interview with ABC. The Patriots may not be able to completely focus on just the playing aspect of the season. If Brady chooses to deal with the suspension, the Patriots will have to prepare the young, inexperienced backup Jimmy Garoppolo who was going to be the starter for the previous suspension, but that was upheld a few days before the 2015 regular season began. They also addressed the quarterback issue by drafting Jacoby
Brissett in the third round in the latest NFL Draft. The suspension is only one fourth of the season, but those four games could be crucial to how the team develops chemistry. Changing quarterbacks mid-season will do some damage to the rhythm of the offense. West Essex students were mixed on what to think of the suspension. Those who didn’t support the suspension thought that the NFL failed to find a valid reason for the suspension to be specifically for Brady. “I thought it was unnecessary and they didn’t have enough evidence, they kind of just blamed him,” junior Dan Librizzi said. Supporters of the suspension said this can potentially help the NFL. It seems as if their is a rising number of penalties to the league’s rules, but the NFL has done nothing to enforce a stricter policy. “I thought it was justified not due to the actions during the game, but the non-accommodating actions taken to help the NFL including breaking his phone to delete all evidence that this did go on,” freshman Ross Fundler said. This far into the case, Brady has already played a season since the Deflategate scandal started and it might seem unethical to suspend him for the upcoming season. Fundler opposed this popular opinion and suggested that the suspension should still happen to protect the values of the sport. “I believe they should keep the suspension in order to show that
the NFL has power and cheating is not condoned in the sport,” Fundler said “If no punishment is given, this leads people to believe that cheating is allowed if nothing will be done to stop it.” In recent years, Roger Goodell has been receiveing some serious hate from NFL fans as the commissioner. The NFL draft is evidence for when he walks up to the podium and receives loud “boos” from fans in the crowd. “It’s finally a win if he serves the four games. People thought he wouldn’t serve it because of Goodell’s relationship with the Patriots,” media teacher Mr. McGlynn said. At this point of Deflategate, West Essex looks exhausted and would like to move on with the season. “The deflategate has annoyed me, I hope the league would just move past this so my fellow fans and I can enjoy the season,” junior Frank Ferrante said.
Wise Words: Coach Plesnitzer
Deflategate Timeline
Jan. 18, 2015 Patriots defeat the Indianapolis Colts to move into Super Bowl XLIX.
Jan. 19, 2015 NFL begins Deflategate investigation.
May 12, 2015 Brady appeals the original four game suspension July 28, 2015 NFL decides the suspension will not be reduced.
Sept. 3, 2015 U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman erases the suspension and says the NFL went too far.
April 25, 2016 Brady’s suspension is reinstated.
May 23, 2016 Brady appeals once again.
“Every champion
was once a contender that refused to give up.”
WE softball’s success Summer Olympics come to Rio By Dan Laible ’18
By Chris Tsakonas ’18
L e d by Ms. Mond ador iLlauget, (a.k.a. “Mondo”), varsity softball has been on fire this season, including beating the No. 1 ranked team in the state and winning counties. Coach Mondo herself was even able to pass another milestone in her career, gaining her 200th win in May. The team has been driven by a number of players, while key contributers include Sami Huetter, Kate Jencarelli and Bridget Betley have contributed to the Knights success. “The chemistry of the team allowed us to be very successful,” said junior Alexa Estrada, “We all bonded. We are friendly, help and support each other.” Betley, a junior, is having a season for the ages. She currently has a .506 batting average along with 36 runs batted in(RBI) on the season. Betley bats third in the lineup and has been a big part of the Lady Knights run production.
The long wait is over, and the Olympics are back. For two weeks starting on Aug. 5, thousands of athletes in 28 sports will come from sporting powerhouses like the US, China and Burkina Faso to compete for the gold medal in their respective events. While the Olympics are considered to be the pinnacle of sports by many, the student body at West Essex has a mixed reaction. “I don’t really care about the Olympics, to be honest,” sophomore Peter Molina said. This year, the Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro, which has proven to be a controversial choice. Major problems like pollution, construction delays at venues and the outbreak of the Zika virus have thrown a wrench into the preparations. Many athletes, such as Marc Leishman of Australia and Vijay Singh of Fiji, are skipping the Games entirely out of fear of contracting the virus. The South Korean team have designed uni-
PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA CODELLA
Coach Mondadori-Llauget enjoying a good season with the Knights.
But the Knights’ success isn’t limited to the upperclassmen. Freshman Julia Vardiman has provided a strong boost to the Knights lineup this year, batting .381 with 7 extra base hits. “We have 15 girls on our team this year and all 15 are strong players and contributors to the program’s success,” Mondo said. “The girls are so much fun to be around, they are so supportive and truly root for each other,” Mondo said. “I’ve been apart of some great teams, but this team is special.”
forms with built-in insect repellant to protect athletes, and US women’s goalkeeper Hope Solo told CNBC recently that she will stay inside the hotel as much as she can. The major change this year is the addition of two new sports to the event: Golf and Rugby. This begins a new era in the modern Olympics that is celebrating its 120th anniversary. The golf tournament has already made headlines, with No. 7 ranked golfer Adam Scott of Australia announcing that he will not participate, and other golfers on the fence, concerned about the tournaments’ place in the busy pro golf schedule. The other new addition, rugby, is somewhat of a curiosity to American sports fans. Rugby is a niche sport in America that is just getting a foothold in the sporting landscape. Sevens is a game derived from the more popular rugby union, with the major difference being that there are only seven players on each team as opposed to 15. As a result, the game
is much faster paced, with scores matching rugby union games but with only 16 minutes of total game time. Legendary U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is competing for the last time this summer, capping off an unprecedented career with 8 gold medals at the 2008 Games. His biggest rival heading into these Games is U.S. teammate Ryan Lochte, who is considered by many to be the successor to Phelps. The U.S. women’s national soccer team is threatening to boycott the Olympic tournament to protest what they believe is an unfair disparity in prize money from last year’s Women’s World Cup. Starting goalkeeper Hope Solo told the Today Show that the dispute was a matter of gender equality. “We continue to be told we should be grateful just to get the opportunity to play professional soccer,” she said. These controversies are by no means settled, and will be playing an important role as the build up to the Olympics continues.
June 2016 Issue 6
The Wessex Wire Page 12
Spring teams finish strong in States By Mia Oyama ’17
SOFTBALL: The Lady Knights have fought their way to the top. After an outstanding season with a record of 26-2 the softball team grabbed a State Sectional title by defeating Sparta, on June 3 with a score of 2-0. Sami Huetter and Bridget Betley helped lead the team to their victory. Huetter pitched a five hit shut out and Betley had the game winning hit that brought in Julia Vardiman and Amanda Garofalo. “They have all of the elements and pieces needed to be a very successful team,” Coach MondadoriLlauget said. “We were going for a triple grab: winning Counties, the Conference and States.” Mondo explained that the games they played the best were the games they showed the most character. The Lady Knights were County champs for the first time since 2007 and they defeated Mount Saint Dominic and Ridgewood, two of the top teams in the state. In addition to the exceptional victories, Mondo received her 200th win this season and senior Kate Jencarelli had her 100th career hit. Huetter had a strong season and played an impact role for the team. As pitcher, Huetter had 139 strikeouts and only gave up 18 earned runs this season. In the
lar season and hit 50 consecutive wins for the team. The girls team placed 3rd in Sectionals, 2nd in the conference and 2nd in Groups. BOYS TENNIS: The Boys Tennis team advanced through states and won the Group 2 State Sectional title after a 9-12 record within the regular season. In the State Section Final match, second singles, Joe Torter; first doubles, Evan Katz and Max Solidar; and second doubles, Spencer Peckman and Matt Caplan, were all victorious in their matches. The Knights came up victorious and defeated Fort Lee 5-0. Unfortunately, the team was defeated by Holmdel in the Group 2 Championship 5-0. “We are very pleased with the outcome,” Coach Albanese said. “We were in a tough conference and we were the underdog all the time. I attribute that to part of why we were successful.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW MILLS, NJ.COM AND JIM LAMBERT
(From left) Sami Huetter, Cole Marrone and Liam Fost lead their team to newfound success as they head into states.
preceding four games she only let up eight hits. TRACK: The boys and girls spring track and field teams had over 30 qualifiers for the 2016 Group 2 Championship. Junior Anthony Steets and sophomore Reanda Richards led the Knights
in Sectionals with three gold medals each.The boys and girls 4x400 meter relay both took home gold medals. The boys team finished with a time of 3:26.42 and the girls team finished with a time of 4:00.46. Both relay teams will be competing at the Meet of Champs along with some runners compet-
ing in other individual events. A few runners have also qualified for the New Balance Nationals in North Carolina in late June. Overall, the track team has had an outstanding season. The boys team won the SEC Liberty and the SEC Conference champs meet. They went undefeated in the regu-
GOLF: The boys golf team had a record of 12-13 this season. As a team, they tied Seton Hall for 2nd place, out of 7 teams, in the SEC American Division championship. Junior Will Reif placed 1st overall and junior Adam Scheckman placed 4th overall. “We put in a lot of time in order to succeed,” Scheckman said. “We improved and are proud of it.”
Knights bring new energy into spring season Girls Track Alexia Perez ’18
Boys Track Anthony Steets ’17
Boys Tennis Joe Torter ’17
Motivation: “To beat school records.” Goals: “To make it to Nationals for the 4x100m.”
Favorite part: “The team aspect; we can always rely on each other to perform.” Goals: “To go top 10 in the nation for the 400 hurdles.”
Motivation: “I want to win.” Favorite Part: “I like how when I play singles it is just me versus him and I only have to depend on myself.”
Baseball Ian McLaughlin ’18
Softball Julia Vardiman ’19
Position: “I play pitcher, first base and outfield.” Favorite part: “The mental aspect of it.”
Goals: “To win states and possibly play in college.” Favorite part: “It is a team sport and you are always together.”
Golf Will Reif ’17
Favorite part: “It is truly a man versus self sport.” Future: “I will not play at a collegiate level, but I will play for pressure.”
Boys Lacrosse Thomas Pescatore ’18
Start Playing: “I started playing in first grade.” Favorite Part: “I play for the competitiveness.”
Boys Volleyball Nolan Yezhov ’18
Motivation: “The defeat of my enemies.” Goals: “To learn leadership and discipline.”
Girls Lacrosse Jordyn Thies ’17
Position: “I play midfield and take the draws.” Favorite part: “Being with my friends and staying active.”
Girls Lacrosse
Sabrina Krasner ’19
Motivation: “To win and get better every day.” Goals: “To be an impact player.”