The Wessex Wire The Student Newspaper of West Essex Regional High School
Vol. XLVII No. 5
West Essex High School, 65 West Greenbrook Road , North Caldwell, NJ
June 22, 2008
Thanks For Four Memorable Years by Jeremiah Lim ‘08 Editor-in-chief
The senior staff of The Wessex Wire would like to thank the Class of 2008 for allowing us to bring them all the news that’s fit to print, and of course, much that wasn’t. The staff would also like to thank the student body for pointing out the many, many mistakes. We’ve dropped the N-bomb, we’ve offended female basketball players everywhere, and we once
called a prominent NFL quarterback gay. But you stuck with us, continuing to casually glance at the paper every few months before throwing it away (Incidentally, thanks for recycling). And we kept churning out papers too; as seniors, we were simply too legit to quit. Part of our goal was to capture the experience of attending West Essex. And that experience can certainly be characterized as memorable. There
have been plenty of bad memories: bomb scares, lockdowns, exploding backpacks, student-teacher sex scandals, the conspicuous lack of ceilings. But we’ve also seen outstanding achievement in the arts, athletics, and academics. We’ve seen friendships grow that will (hopefully) last a lifetime. It has been the great pleasure of every member of the Wire to chronicle and preserve these highs and lows. All of these memories, good or bad, have helped shape the character of the Class of 2008. These unique experiences helped define the way we were, the way we are now, and who each of us hopes to become
as we head off to college. The prospect of college is certainly a daunting one. For the first time in our young lives, we are being separated from the people who have shaped us for 18 years. As cliché as it may sound, we will grow and change in ways we never thought possible. But at least a small part of us will always have that indefinable West Essex mind-set. And besides, college shouldn’t be that big of an adjustment. We have four more years before that post-college malaise, before everyone is left wondering “What the hell do I do now?” Four more years. Here’s to hoping they are as memorable as the last four.
Editor’s Goodbye
by Amanda Nichols ‘08 Editor-in-chief
Dorney Park
In ninth grade, you not only think that high school will never end, but the idea of ever even reaching the actual high school building seems far off and daunting. Tenth grade is a little bit easier, but the completion of high school still seems distant. Junior year is the worst. Senior year is so close you can taste it, but SATs and the beginning of the college process are still never ending hurdles. Finally, you inevitably get to senior year. After a few months of mayhem, college applications are in and all there is left to do is wait. It is in these final months that you become the most reflective. All of a sudden high school is less like a race to the end and more like something that needs to be cherished. Suddenly you realize that these few moments we have left together are just that: few. As a class, we have to appreciate them while we can. It is now that we realize that getting older is as much about gaining as it is about losing. You lose not only what you can afford to lose, but what you have to lose as part of growing up. You lose a little bit of faith, in order to gain a greater perspective and understanding of what life has to offer. You lose a few friends, in order to gain better more lasting ones. You lose some of your inhibition and some of your insecurities. And as you move onto college hopefully you’re ready to lose a lot more. So looking back, don’t forget the good times or the bad. The things you gained and the things you lost. Never forget the first kisses or the breakups, the day someone gave you the cold shoulder or the day someone gave you a shoulder to lean on.
June 2008 Adrianne Aery University of North Carolina Wilmington Michael Agrifolio Sothern Conneticut State University
The Wessex Wire
Congratulation Andrew Christiana
Gabrielle Alfano
The University of Maryland
Catholic University
Jake Chusid
Mara Alessi
Rowan University
Washington University in St. Louis
Cristina Ciampi
Daniela Anton Fairleigh Dickinson University Samantha Ascher
Page 2
Montclair State University Marc Cifelli Kean University Sarah Cil
“Do not go where the path m
there is no path and leave a t Alyssa Francis Quinnipiac University Frank Firavanti Montclair State University Irina Gadvandovich
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Scranton
Cory Atkins
Anna Cirenza
University of Wisconsin
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Arizona
Jeremy Ciotol
Ray Gantz
Rowan University
University of Massachusetts
Matt Cohn
Jeff George
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Syracuse University
Rowan University
Dan Keegan
Casey Connelly
Joe Giordano
Montclair State University
UNC Charlotte
DeSales University
Ashley Kinsella
John Autorino Franklin & Pierce John Auriemma Fairfield University Briana Bednarski The University of Miami Ashley Begega
Montclair State University Dominic Gaiser Jeff Kayzerman
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Lauren Crooks
David Grau
The College of St. Elizabeth
Georgetown University
Notre Dame University
Alex Kolesnikov
Nikki Berse
Andrew Cross
Anthon Hayek
NJIT
Lehigh University
Marist College
Montclair State University
John Kurimella
Alexa Bernstein
Cody D’Alessandro
Jamie Hardy
TCNJ
Pennsylvania State University
Roger Williams University
University of Scranton
Kristin Kuscin
Britnee Berradino
Michelle Diflur
Drew Heller
Rutgers University
Ramapo College
Loyola College in Maryland
University of Scranton
Rachel LeWinter
Simone Billeci
Matt Dolph
Dave Hochberg
Pace University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Arizona State University
Jeremy Lim
Matthew Biront
Maria Dontas
John Hong
Villanova University
University of New Haven
Loyola College in Maryland
NJIT
Kaitlyn Lipkin
Janine Bunomo
Sara Dunberg
William Holden
Quinnipiac University
University of Scranton
Northwestern University
Virginia Tech University
Brittany Lipari
Nikki Burak
Jordan Entin
Robert Hrinuk
Montclair State University
Rutgers University
Washington University
Louisiana State University
Justin Lisa
Stef Caputo
Lauren Fallat
Ben Isaac
Indiana University
The University of Miami
Rutgers University
Ryan Logan
Tom Carragher
Jacki Farnese
The School for Visual Arts in Manhattan
College of Charleston
Rutgers University
Michael Cardace
Bryan Flynn
Montclair State University
Rowan University
Anthony Juiliano Lincoln College of Technology Chris Jung Notre Dame University
Rowan University Michelle Lupo Ithaca College Heather Mac Intosh Sacred Heart University
The Wessex Wire
June 2008
ns Class of 2008!
Nicole Magliaro St. Joseph’s University Dave Mascera Virginia Tech University Alyssa Martino Marist College Jay Mariani University of Delaware Joshua Marx Muhlenberg College Scott Mc Donald York College Caitlin McGarrity Rowan University
Carnegie Mellon University
Michael Reichel
Jen Silverstein
University of Pittsburgh
University of Michigan
Mike Rieckert
Tara Molesworth
Sean Smith
Syracuse University
Carnegie Mellon University
Montclair State University
Joe Ricciardi
Giovanna Monaco
Rebecca Spano
University of Scranton
Boston University
Montclair State University
Theresa Rodriques
Anthony Morresi
Cara Silverman
Montclair University
Rutgers University
University of Connecticut
Anthony Romandetto
Jimmy Moy
Dan Silverman
Monmouth University
NJIT
Indiana University
Angela Rombola
Joseph Muglia
Dan Spinelli
New York University
Wagner College in Staten Island
James Madison University
Joe Rolli
Jocelyn Steinfeld
Rutgers University
Rowan University
Sarah Roth
Joe Taylor
Barnard College
Le Moyne College
Evan Roth
Megan Toumanios
Indiana University
Lehigh University
Mike Ryan
Ashley Vegliante
Ramapo College
Drexel University
Ashley Safir
Jack Vidovich
TCNJ
New York University
Arielle Samra
Mike Vidovich
The College of Saint Elizabeth
University of Hartford
Nancy Salluce
Nicholas Vidovich
William Patterson University
Parsons the New School for Design in New York City
Briana Mullin William Paterson University Melissa Munoz University of Scranton Cassandra Natali Ithaca College Amanda Nichols Oberlin College Rosie O’Connor Loyola College Tyler Panetta Green Mountain College Christina Paparella TCNJ
Jessica Savarese
Kellyann Petry State University of New York at Purchase College
George Washington University
Jennifer Picariello
Arielle Schneck
NJIT
Syracuse University
Dickinson College
Chris Miller
Robert Plucinsky
Samara Schlossman
Ramapo College
Syracuse University
Tom Ponsart
Jared Shabbab
Northeastern University
Montclair State University
Igor Ponomoronav
Allison Shearin
TCNJ
Washington and Lee University
Andrew Pryor
Tara Shulman
Susquehanna University
Syracuse University
University of Virginia Mike Middleton
Michigan State University Eric Miller University of Connecticut Ethan Miller Vanderbilt University Robin Miller Boston College
Villanova University
University of South Carolina
Rider University
Billy Mensch
Sam Serpe Josh Sigler
trail" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
University of Maryland
University of Connecticut
Jared Rakotci
may lead; go instead where
Daniel Malet
Page 3 Cara Silverman
Meridith Satz
Anthony Volanti Rutgers University Adriana Volina Bergen County College Jenny Wang Rutgers University Melissa Weston Syracuse University Jamie Yontef University of Arizona Alex Zisis Northwestern University
June 2008
The Wessex Wire
Page 4
Senior Memories
What is your favorite West Essex Memory?
When Dr. Weiner had Dayaamayi meditate during the lockdown because she had to pee.
ky bac m n Whe ot blown g pack ing the ur up d before week ms r midte
Shopping cart racing with joe taylor, cody d’alessandro, shaun norman, colleen caprio and myself through the halls without getting caught. Oh Oh. t men e mo olli was t i r o R av My f hen Joe n Loa w y R s a s en w na e k nd th ho a a t mis father, ple w gan’s t the peo h foug at. th said
When Mrs. Bailey re-hung the “ALOHA” sign meaning school is almost over.
zy ome cra When s ped ryan stop teacher osing om exp r f a k o r so . himself
My favorite memory in high school was when I used the senior edition of the school newspaper to come out of the closet.
Mr. Fardin racing Robin Miller through the halls.
Prom Weekend ‘07
AP Euro with Mr. Boyd and all his philosophies and stories
Lockdown ‘08 Being a Playa The Musical Getting The Robotics Gauntlet