The Wessex Wire The Student Newspaper of West Essex Regional High School
Vol. XLVI No. 1
West Essex High School, 65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, N.J.
September 2011
Alumnus injured in Afghanistan
Essex, his mother recalls his interests were “his girlfriend Krys West Essex 2008 graduate Private First tina Dressler, mixed martial arts, his Class Derek McConnell lost both legs up friends and charming his teachers.” to the knee when wounded by Impro- “Derek is a daredevil and wanted to vised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while serve his country. He was not sure what he really wanton patrol in Afghanistan ed to do with his this past July. His mother Siobhan Photo courtesy of Ms. Siobhan Fuller life, so he thought the military would Fuller has dedicated give him discipline, most of her time to direction, college his care, and she blogs and help guide him about her experience for the future. After at walkingwithmyhis deployment, he w o u n d e d w a r r i o r. wanted to check into com. McConnell is Special Forces. He currently undergoing was very gung-ho,” a series of operations said his mother. at a military hospital D r e s s l e r, a in Bethesda, Md. member of the West The North Caldwell Essex class of 2009, Police Department has been at Derek’s (NCPD) is hosting a bedside helping him pasta dinner at Fireman’s Community Cen- PFC Derek McConnell during through the rehabilitation process along ter on Sunday, Oct. 16 to his tour in Afghanistan. with Fuller. benefit McConnell and “Derek has a his family. In addition to the NCPD, Notre Dame Church has also very positive attitude. He has a long, raised the community’s awareness about hard road ahead of him, but if anyone this event, and is urging parishioners to can make it, he can. We almost lost help the family in any way they can. The him a couple of times. We were very Friends of Derek McConnell Fund was lucky we didn’t. He is a blessing to created to help the family with what- us,” said Fuller. ever needs and costs that may arise in To show support for McConnell and his family, care packages and cards can the future. “I remember that Derek always aspired go to Derek McConnell at 12 Adelto serve the country. He was the kind of phia Road, Parsippany, N.J. 07054. kid that was always smiling,” said English Donations can be sent to Friends of Derek McConnell, PO Box 1811, West teacher Ms. Toni Zuppa. During McConnell’s time at West Caldwell, N.J. 07006-1811. by Sam DiGrande ’13
Photo by Jackie Fusco
Photo courtesy of Melissa Kuscin
Fairfield residents had to rip up floor boards and household amenities in an effort to clean up the damage left by Hurricane Irene. See the Features section on pages 3-6 for more detailed coverage.
West Essex commemorates Sept. 11 with memorial garden by Julie Kayzerman ’12
West Essex commemorated the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on Monday Sept. 12 by inviting speakers and presenting additions to the school’s memorial garden. One of the speakers, Lia Ward, shared her story, “Remembering Sept. 11, 2001” in the high school auditorium. Ward said that she worked as a stock trader in New York City and witnessed the planes crash into the Twin Towers on that day. She ran for her life down 42 flights of stairs and found sanctuary in a bank after almost being killed by the collapsing towers. Ward’s speech related her ordinary experiences to the way she survived the terrorist attack. She used a PowerPoint presentation to provide visuals that highlighted her points. Throughout her presentation she portrayed the message of “not looking back” to the students and then later opened up the microphone for questions. Ward quit her job in New York City a year later and went for a psychology master’s degree at Seton Hall University. She now works as a therapist and
Inside This Issue:
1
Opinions
a school counselor. She explained that she deals with her 9/11 experience by taking it day by day and portraying her message to students in bits and pieces. Ward said, “I’m no longer motivated to make a million dollars. I’m motivated to make a difference.” Also commemorating the remembrance of 9/11 was the dedication ceremony that presented additions to the school’s memorial garden. It acknowledged the families of Norman Rossinow, Class of 1980, and John Salamone, Class of 1982, two graduates who perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Senior Ryan Towey delivered a speech that reflected on a teenager’s experience with 9/11. The choir sang the National Anthem. Senior Krista Liotti said, “The ceremony was beautiful. After it ended I went up to Mrs. Rossinow and hugged her and told her I was speechless.” She also said, “I feel changed by being at the ceremony. Every day we worry about such menial complications when people in our own neighborhood are suffering through tragedies.”
HIB Head-to-head Does it bother you?
3
Features
Hurricane Irene Fairfield flooding
Upcoming Events Back to School Night- Oct. 6 PSATs- Oct. 12 College Fair- Oct. 18 Spirit Week- Oct.7-14
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Arts & Culture
Summer blockbusters Celebs and rehabilitation
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Sports
Player Profiles Girls’ Tennis