The Wessex Wire The Student Newspaper of West Essex Regional High School
Vol. LVIII No. 5
65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, N.J.
TheWessexWire.com
June 2018
Peer leaders train to help freshmen adjust By Lauren Czachor ’20 and Megan Osborne ’19
proachable in case they have any questions about high school.” The program was created by a panel of six teachers, who recognized previous classes’ difficulty transitioning to the high school. It is common for most freshmen to be hesitant to adapt to the new school setting. “My switch to high school was difficult because it was a very big
school with many new faces,” freshman Gabriel Ruszala said. “The Peer Leadership program could be beneficial in making students feel more comfortable.” English teacher Alicia Perez, who took part in devising the program, says the stress and anxiety from academics and new social environments when transitioning to high school needed to be directly
adressed by the administration. “The idea for the program stemmed from the district’s overall intention to promote greater wellness among students and staff,” Ms. Perez said. Peer leaders must have certain leadership attributes in order to be accepted into the program. Teachers looked for peer leaders who have a positive attitude and
who will motivate and inspire the incoming students. “We’re not looking for students who get straight A’s because that is not the only factor that exemplifies a peer leader,” Ms. Perez said. “Their ability to reach out to freshmen is ultimately what we’re looking for.” Toni-Anne Cavallo, physical education teacher and program adviser, said that the peer leaders already attended a two hour “June Development Day” and over the summer will attend a two-day overnight training at the Fairview Lakes YMCA. The participating students will take part in a number of different activities from a structured curriculum focused on peer leadership and team building. The activities will help the seniors learn the skills needed to facilitate their own sessions with groups of incoming freshmen. “Our hope is that the seniors will also be positively impacted through discovering their personal strengths and leadership skills,” Ms. Cavallo said. “By building their own confidences in themselves as leaders through these activities, the new program will be more beneficial.” The school aims to have a successful first year for the program, laying the groundwork for future incoming freshmen.
New budget for 2018-2019 school year also earmarks funding for upgrades and renovations.
means that the new laptops will be sent to HP for repairs, while the old Acer chromebooks will be repaired by the school’s technology department. “The new HP Chromebooks will also have a protection plan that will allow for a quick turnaround time if we need to send them out,” Burrows said. The new repair process will hopefully allow repairs to be quicker so students can have their chromebooks back as soon as possible. Burrows said that the board plans to use the old chromebooks for replacement parts and loaners. News of the Chromebook replacements has some students excited for the possibilities new tech could offer.
“I believe that this update will benefit us, as the current Chromebooks often have issues and limit our learning experience,” freshman Abby Haenggi said. “I think it is a very good plan because our Chromebooks are falling apart all the time and new ones will help that,” freshman Wyatt Moskal said. On the other hand, some students believe the replacement plan is either flawed or insufficient. “Upperclassmen deserve new Chromebooks as well,” junior Matthew Mierzwa said. “A new Chromebook would be nice, but it is not a necessity right now,” freshman Nicholas Beyer said. “I think the school can purchase other things for $300,000
that can benefit both students and teachers.” “If they are planning to go completely online, then you should invest in better computers,” junior Ellie Decker said. “They can’t spend extra money to get new good computers for everyone?” In other expenditures, more than $500,000 was also approved by the board for renovations to the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms in the middle school. Renovations in both buildings are scheduled for the summer of this year, and should be done by the time school starts in September. $200,000 of the new budget will also be used to replace LED lights and ceilings in the middle school and to repaint the parking lot.
The Peer Leadership Program aims to help incoming freshmen adjust to the new high school environment with the help of more experienced seniors. The 69 peer leaders, working in pairs, will first meet with the incoming students at freshmen orientation in August where they will each be assigned approximately 10 freshmen. They will then meet once a month to discuss the struggles the freshmen have encountered in their high school experience so far, such as friends, classes or sports. Outside of the meetings, the peer leaders will take time to meet with freshmen to go to football games and hang out together. The upcoming seniors are looking forward to aiding the new students and they believe it will be an opportunity to better themselves and meet new people. “I hope to be a good influence on the underclassmen and hopefully make new friends,” junior peer leader Emily Amadeo said. “I will help [the freshmen] by giving them advice [on] how to balance their work and their extracurriculars,” junior peer leader Alexis Lombardo said. “I’ll be ap-
Photo courtesy of Lara del vecchio
Juniors Ellie Decker and Alexis Lombardo laugh while training at a Peer Leadership Program event on June 6 at school. Nearly 70 rising seniors are getting ready to lead groups of freshmen starting in August.
Chromebook replacements coming for two classes By Chase Morrone ’20 The West Essex B oard of
Education approved next year’s budget on April 24, which includes new Chromebooks for incoming 7th and incoming 10th graders, as well as renovations in both buildings. Chromebooks will be kept on a three year refresh cycle, with 7th and 10th graders getting new ones every year. According to a report from Tap Into West Essex, the budget also includes new band uniforms and internal servers for the school. The server upgrades
In This Issue:
will take place over the summer, but will have nothing to do with the chromebooks. The new budget will also allow the school to create a new course for next year in Digital Photography. All of the district’s current staff, courses and clubs will remain intact. Scott Burrows, the school’s technology supervisor, said that Chromebooks will be taken from 9th and 12th graders at the end of each year and re-distributed to 7th and 10th graders in September. He also says that the new HP Chromebooks have a protection plan included, which
3-4 Opinion
Is prom really worth the hype?
6-7
Arts vs. Sports
Artists & athletes benefit from W.E.
5 & 8 Features
Cooking teacher hangs up her apron
The Wessex Wire: News
June 2018
Page 2
Holocaust survivor stresses why memory is important
Santa Fe struggles to recover from shooting
By Olivia Lieberman ’19
By Sam Calick ’19
Holocaust survivor Ruth Ravina spoke to students in the Genocide and Holocaust history class on May 17 about her experience surviving one of the worst genocides in history. Although she discussed a depressing subject, her humor and lightheartedness made the speech more engaging for students as she emphasized the importance of Holocaust remembrance. Ravina was only 2 years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and she hid in three different concentration camps before the Holocaust ended. She traveled undetected in camps and on trains, and was carried in backpacks and duffle bags. Since children were not allowed in the camps, Ravina hid in her mother’s bunk,. Ravina was 9 when the war ended and after leaving Poland, she traveled to Switzerland and Canada with her mother before coming to the United States. Now in her 70s, she recounts the incredible story of her experiences with
the Holocaust Council of Greater Metrowest NJ in its “Twin With a Holocaust Survivor” program, which is how sophomore Evie Klein met Ravina. Klein, who asked Genocide and Holocaust teacher Chris Benacquista to bring Ravina to West Essex, stressed the importance of Holocaust remembrance to educate younger generations and keep the memory alive. “I feel that a lot of people, especially our age, are forgetting about what happened during the Holocaust and all of the struggles that Ruth faced and was able to overcome...It’s an inspiring story,” Klein said. The rest of the students in Mr. Benacquista’s class agreed that they found Ruth’s story inspiring, and they hope to share her story to teach others about the Holocaust. “It was a truly humbling and unforgettable experience hearing and remembering such a horrific event,” junior Sabrina Krasner said. “It was very touching to hear her story and to understand the Holocaust even more.”
Photo courtesy of Chris benacquista
Ruth Ravina speaks to Evie Klein and Mr. Benacquista’s Genocide and Holocaust class on May 17 about her experiences during the Holocaust.
Mr. Benaquista said that he hopes his students take away the message that Ruth is spreading, and that they have learned a lot about the Holocaust from both Ravina’s story as well as from taking his class. “This is why we study this subject and hopefully why you’ve taken this class, to learn more about stories like Ruth’s,” Mr. Benacquista said.
Santa Fe High School was the target of one of the most recent school shootings in a string of 23 this year alone. A 17-year-old student armed with a shotgun and a .38 caliber revolver opened fire on an art class around 7:40 a.m. on May 18. Eight students and two teachers were killed and an additional 10 were wounded, including a school resource officer who was recently discharged from the hospital. Explosives were also identified at locations both on and off campus. The tragedy prompted an overflow of grief and anger among students and parents in Santa Fe as well as throughout the country. Numerous candlelight vigils were held in honor of the 10 students and teachers whose lives were lost. According to an article from The Washington Post, authorities claim the motivations for the attack are unclear. The shooter, Dimitrios Pagourtzis Jr., is currently being held at Galveston County Jail with-
#IfIDieInASchool Shooting Following the Santa Fe High School shooting, college sophomore Andrew Schneidawind sparked a growing Twitter movement for students to showcase the things they will miss out on if they were to die in a school shooting. Some of the teenagers responding to the hashtag thought about the things they would miss out on in their future, such as attending prom, graduating high school, buying a car or having kids, while other teens wanted their deaths to symbolize the need for change in America.
out bond on accounts of capital murder and aggravated assault on a police officer. Journals found in Pagourtzis’s room stated that he eventually wanted to commit this act and then kill himself, but he gave himself up to the police.
Vape crackdown highlights Juul’s teen market Federal initiative targets retailers, but such a move is only part of the solution. By Sam Calick ’19 and Olivia Lieberman ’19 In April, the Food and Drug Administration crackdown on vape and e-cigarette companies attempted to prevent retailers from marketing their products to minors. The FDA is requesting documents from multiple companies in hopes of finding out why these products are so popular among modern teenagers. According to an April 24 statement from the FDA, the administration is collecting documents related to product marketing, health issues and details of whether certain product design features appeal to different age groups. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb also announced that they have begun sending warning letters to companies, threatening retailers that have been illegally selling their products to minors. In particular, Juul Labs Inc., the creator of the wildly popular Juul device, claims that although they are doing nothing wrong, they want to increase marketing restrictions to help prevent minors from gaining access to such products.
News Analysis The official Juul website claims that the company is “following strict guidelines to have material directed toward adult smokers and not to youth audiences,” yet somehow, minors are still accessing, buying and using Juuls and other vapes.
MARKETED TO TEENS?
According to a March 7 article from market research site Trendsource, Juul “knows exactly how much they are making from underage smokers and it must hurt to threaten that cash stream,” meaning that if the company loses their target audience, their profits can suffer drastically. So, what makes Juuls so appealing to teenagers? Writer Kate Zernike for the New York Times, in an April 24 article, wrote “Juuls resemble thumb drives, produce little plume and smell like fruit or other flavorings, making them so concealable that students can vape in class. Students who would never think to smoke a cigarette post videos of themselves doing tricks with vaping devices on social media. Schools, fearing students are becoming addicted to nicotine, are suspending students as young as middle school for vaping.” Increased use of the Juul has created new slang among its users, and as a result, “Juuling” has become its
own verb. Its increased popularity among teens has led to heightened popularity in schools. The halls of West Essex are no stranger to such trends, as more students are being caught with Juuls and other vape pens in school. However, many students believe that this crackdown will not have any impact on teenage usage of vapes. “I think some students are so addicted to Juuling that they will just find a new way to get around it,” junior Sadye Boshak said. “Kids don’t have to buy the Juul themselves; other people can buy it for them and they can’t get in trouble for it being in their possession,” junior Adem Kalici said.
SCHOOL VAPING POLICY?
T h e We s t E s s e x St u d e nt Handbook states that vaping in school will lead to a two, three or four day suspension, depending on how many times a student has been disciplined. From there, students are faced with social probation and other consequences determined by the administration, which can include a phone call home, longer suspensions and a drug test. The administration is highly aware of this problem, and Student Assistance Counselor Anthony Emering said that he believes the Juul is detrimental to both a students’ health and education. “We severely frown against anyone possessing or using vapes on
school grounds and have a legal and moral obligation to act in a manner that supports the health and safety of our students,” Mr. Emering said. The faculty has taken the necessary precautions to ensure all students are abiding by these rules on school grounds. H o w e v e r, the issue is taken out of the school’s hands when a student leaves school property, and it is put into the hands of the retailers. Even though the company denies it, the general sentiment among teenagers is that Juul Inc. markets their products to teenagers through flavor selections and targeted advertisements. “The manufacturers of these products are very savvy and are in the business of making money,” Mr. Emering said. “In my opinion they are not overly concerned about short-term and potentially longterm health risks. They spend thousands of dollars positioning
and marketing their product to appeal to their target market. With flavors like ‘Birthday Cake,’ ‘Banana Candy’ and ‘Piña Colada’ vape liquid sounds more like cake and candy as opposed to a nicotine based product.” Whether or not Juul is actually marketing to teens is only part of the problem. Once someone begins to vape, there is a particular set of ritualistic behaviors that begin to become reinforced. Pointing fingers at retailers alone won’t stop teenagers from purchasing and using Juul products. Illustration by bella valle and caroline quinn
FIND MORE ONLINE Visit thewessexwire. com for more West Essex news, including a visit from the state Attorney General, the annual art show, the Key Club blood drive and additional guest speakers.
Opinion
June 2018 Issue 5
The Wessex Wire Page 3
Trump’s tweets betray This year’s junior parking meeting fueled parental paranoia, distrust the idea of democracy By Monica Barker ’19
“As has been stated by multiple legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?” The words of President Trump, mostly through his Twitter account, have oftentimes been controversial and bizarre, but never so challenging to American democracy as these. On June 4, Trump tweeted this message to those who said he ought to be tried for alleged collusion with Russia. In a time where the idea of American democracy grows more confused every day, our president’s words are concerning at best, dangerous at worst to our government. Whether you are Republican, Democrat or independent, it is important to realize that ideas and words like these are against the ideals that the United States was founded on. It is true that Trump has divided America in a way not seen since before the Civil Rights Movement. Even if you are a Trump supporter, it seems to be in our best interest to disparage these kinds of comments whoever they are from. Virtually everyone in this country wants the same thing: a good life and a free life. The only difference is everyone has their own way of getting there. The words of our president cannot be ignored or buried because they directly correlate to the life we live. We as a country must stand up for justice so that we can continue to bask in the glow of freedom. After all, the Declaration of Independence does not say “I the president”—it says “We the People.”
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. 1251 2018-2019 STAFF: Managing Editor & Multimedia Director Shaun Goodman ’19 News Editors Sam Calick ‘19 Olivia Lieberman ‘19 Chase Morrone ‘20 Danielle Schwartz ‘20 Sports Editors Quinn Delehanty ‘19 Frankie Rizzo ’19 Josie Berger ’20 Staff Writer Megan Osborne ’19
Editors-in-Chief Jordan Flusser ’19 Dylan Lepre ’19 Caroline Quinn ‘19 Features Editors Hayley Brener ‘19 Sam Spero ‘19 Gabrielle Kesh ‘20 Opinion Editors Monica Barker ‘19 Hannah McCrone ‘19 Alex Rosenfeld ‘20 Faculty Adviser Mr. Hermosilla
Art Director Ally Schachtel ’19 Arts & Culture Editors Brenna Campanaro ‘19 Amy Grunther ‘20 Junior Editor:
Giuliana Calix ‘20 Photo Editor Lara DelVecchio ‘20 Illustrators Hailey DeVita ’19 Mark Digangi ’19 Rebecca Klein ‘20 Bella Valle ’19
Contributing Staff Lauren Czachor ‘20, Ava DiGiacomo ‘21, Genevieve Gustafson ‘19, Sophie Kearney ‘21, Garrett Kessler ‘21, Catherine McLaughlin ‘19, Ciara Morrissey ‘19, Nicole Moon ‘19, Sofia Russo ‘19, Chris Rysz ‘21
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.
It was supposed to be focused on senior parking, but this year’s junior parent meeting held on March 26 ended up providing a different topic for some parents: paranoia, fear and the suspicion that all teens are on the verge of engaging in dangerous or evil acts. Parents attend this mandatory meeting as a requirement for students to earn their senior parking privileges each year, but a “drug awareness program,” part of the meeting, was a surprise to many who attended this year. The email notice about the parking meeting sent out to parents and guardians of juniors only indirectly suggested that such topics would be brought up at all: One lone sentence simply mentioned the DEA and that a presentation titled “Hidden in Plain Sight” would be shown. Administrators said the drug awareness and vaping portions of the meeting were included so parents could have up-to-date safety information about what their children face. “The idea was to get an important message out on fatigued driving, which is underappreciated, and how people drive impaired in someway,” Student Assistance Counselor Anthony Emering said. Mr. Emering said as part of the staff, it was their responsibility to
inform parents on what may or may not be going on at home. “[We] enlighten parents so they can be more alert,” he said. “We are the daytime parents, [acting] in loco parentis. [But] we don’t want to replace parents; they are primary in parenting.” According to attendees, the presentation spilled the so-called “secrets” teens had been hiding from parents. Parents were told that students hide vapes in unconventional spots such as blow dryers and picture frames. Several students said after the meeting, their parents tore their rooms apart searching for anything contraband. Many students and parents who went to the meeting said this sudden shift in tone surprised and irked attendees. “My mom was annoyed they made the meeting mandatory and all they talked about was vaping,” junior Isabelle Rombough said. “They talked about senior year for, like, five minutes.” “My parents had to leave work early for a mandatory meeting they thought was about senior parking, but were shocked how it had nothing to do with it,” junior Nick Puorro said. However, Assistant Principal Damion Macioci said some parents gave positive feedback. “Some of the attendees did feel they walked out of there with some valuable information,” he said.
Personally, I feel that if the school felt the need to warn parents about health risks and hidden drugs, then this intention should have been more prominent, rather than tucked in with the unrelated topic of parking. The assembly took some parents by surprise, which could have made discussed topics worse. By catching parents off guard it made many feel they need to be more aware of the issue at hand, but that is not the case for every student. “We have had programs in the past that were poorly attended and they wanted to get everyone present,” Mr. Emering said. “This makes it one of the few ways to get everyone there.” In the end, what was the school’s goal? I understand the need to keep parents updated, but many students felt that some parents took away a much harsher message than intended. It seems such misunderstandings can undermine the relationship between children and their parents. Instead of putting this information in a mandatory meeting for parking spaces, the school could make it optional, so parents have the choice and it could feel like less of a shocking expose and more of an informative assembly. If they’re eager to inform parents on what may or may not be happening at home, let those who want to be there be there. Don’t cross the line.
Our privacy is becoming increasingly rare By Hannah McCrone ’19 Does it bother you that your business is never just your own? As teenagers, drama is constantly being passed around us, to us or about us. From an early age we have heard gossip or shared gossip. What bothers me so much about this cycle, however, is that it seems like your own business is never yours anymore. Telling one friend something personal can somehow snowball into the world knowing exactly what happened, exactly how you feel and exactly what you didn’t want the whole world knowing. Rumors suddenly swirl, labels are created and somehow you’re being told the story you’ve just told your friend—only different. It bothers me that these rumors suddenly become the truth to anyone who hears them. Instead of laughing them off or ignoring them like you want to, you’re forced
to handle them. You find yourself having to explain personal matters to the whole world simply so they’ll stop sharing false statements with anyone that’ll listen. It bothers me, it probably bothers you and it’s just not fair. As a private person, I share very little. Only my closest friends are privy to my feelings and even then I’m not sharing everything with them. Then maybe if I was someone more open, this wouldn’t bother me so much. I might be able to thrive under the speculation and fire back harder against the rumors. Having my personal business out in the open for every person I know and even some I don’t - to give their unwanted opinions on is not something I can ignore. In today’s world, in high school especially, there are no boundaries. Anyone can ask you anything without breaking societal rules. This behavior is rude and intrusive, but unless you want to
Photo by Caroline Quinn
Hannah McCrone attempts to keep her business her own.
come off as unsociable or standoffish, you’re expected to openly offer up the information. That’s not a fair expectation and not something I’m personally OK with. It bothers me that I don’t have any privacy because of today’s culture. It bothers me that I have to worry about what others think because, if I don’t, rumors are created. And it bothers me that I have to bother with any of this at all.
Page 4
The Wessex Wire: Opinion
June 2018
PBA Q&A Testing isn’t painful, but PARCC’s By Monica Barker ’19
Every student has a different opinion when it comes to not having final exams and sticking to final projects. We asked people what they have to say about the PBAs for this year.
Do you think your PBA is related to what you learned in that class? “My PBA is relatively related to what I learned in class. However, it’s usually on something we learned early in the year.” Nick Wolfe ’19
silent stranglehold lasts all year By Alex Rosenfeld ’20
You get 40 minutes to answer seven questions, every question is essentially identical, technical glitches delay it for hours and nobody takes it seriously. Of course, we’re talking about PARCC. Truly a waste of time with no real impact for the majority of current students, PARCC is just a placeholder test meant to make the school look good. That’s what it may seem like. But PARCC actually has much more sinister, much less visible effects. Effects like dozens of unnecessary tests and quizzes, a drastic increase in homework and grades collapsing in a heaping pile of frustration and despair. And it all has to do with time, or lack thereof. Lesson plans and
“Depends on what we are working on, but I would most likely always choose partners.” John Torrillo ’18
Over the years, do you find PBAs to be getting harder or easier? “I think easier, probably because I am more comfortable and I know the process now.” Hafsa Seddiki ’20
social lives. “I have had at least five tests and many large projects and it’s been pretty stressful,” sophomore Hannah Skelton said. “My grades make a U,” junior Chris Duthie said. “They start great, begin to fail, and then summer school panic sets in and I have to get myself together.” The reason PARCC even exists is because of a 2010 initiative called the Common Core State Standards Initiative. But here’s what’s wrong with “Common” Core: not every student learns the same way. When you test students with a “Common” strategy, people who learn uniquely are going to fall through the cracks. It’s not because they don’t try or because of learning disabilities; their brains just work differently.
Feeding off of Common Core standards, PARCC results label those individuals as failures simply because they don’t conform to irrational government specifications. Basing futures off a test score, especially a test that is truly meaningless, doesn’t help anyone. And because the year is spent rushing to teach everything before the test, the mad scramble compromises everyone’s education. After taking office in January, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy promised to put an end to PARCC. But sources say this process will not be instantaneous. It could take two years or more for West Essex to phase out the test. Until that day comes, this archaic cycle of educational idiocy will continue to roll.
Is prom worth the hype? Nope. By Monica Barker ’19
Do you prefer partners picked by teachers or to work alone?
course curricula are tailored to fit throughout the year without time for screw-ups, and when things like snow days pop up, teachers are forced to assign more classwork, homework and tests to students. This is because the deadline for PARCC can’t be changed. So when anything not taught appears on the test and you don’t know it, you’re boned. Because of PARCC, teachers are forced to cram everything into a short amount of lesson days. A test or quiz always follows within under a week or so. But students barely retain the information since the teaching is so rushed. Now that’s only one class, so multiply that by seven at the most (gym doesn’t count). And that’s your formula for high stress, low grades and crushed
When it comes to stereotypical high school moments, there’s almost nothing that tops the idea of prom: the dresses, the limos, the promposals and the hours of preparation and buildup. But prom also causes tons of stress, tears, drama and—of course—financial ruin. But there’s nothing wrong with that, because prom should be a night to remember, right? Well, for many juniors here at West Essex, not really. When it comes to prom, all the excitement that’s slowly built up actually gets thrown away. “I think it’s funny how people were stressing for months just over a three-hour event,” junior Isaiah Jimenez said. “Personally I was excited to go down the shore and just get out of there,” junior Christina Doud said. Strangely, on the night of the big event itself, prom goes from being the best night of one's life to an awkward three hour “dance” everyone is dying to leave. The final cue for the night is the slow dance—and here, as girls grab their heels and guys sling jackets over their shoulders, they make a mad dash out the door. The promise of a weekend down the shore is really the main priority for most people attending the event. So if that's the case, why are there so many issues with prom preparation when nobody seems to care?
“I think we all run to go down the shore because the best part is the bus and prom isn’t fun,” junior Ryan Rusignuolo said. Students and teachers who helped plan the event are well aware of teens having a stronger urge to go down the shore rather than staying at prom. “I do not care too much that everybody rushed out; the shore was a lot of fun,” junior Class President Chris Duthie said. It seems like tradition builds up prom to be something bigger than it actually is. What people worry about are the pictures before prom; to look perfect for the Instagram posts everyone sees. “Honesty I was only looking forward to taking the pictures and getting all dressed up,” junior Abby Rondi said. Senior Zach Zerance went to prom both his senior and junior year. He felt going as a senior relieved the stress that came along with prom preparation, and ultimately let him have more fun. Going for a second time helps students realize it’s not just about going DTS. “Second time was better because it wasn’t mine,” Zerance said. Even I—a junior girl who dutifully spent weeks upon weeks prepping for the big night — found that as prom night was coming closer to an end, my desire to leave grew stronger. Why, though? Probably because that's how the mind of a 17-year-old works. Growing up, we put prom on
illustration by rebecca klein
Junior prom requires months of preparation but in the end many students don’t know if it’s worth it.
a pedestal, which is most likely why it’s so stressful. We build up the fantasy of a prom so grand it’s impossible to live up to. If that’s the case, make an attempt to salvage the night instead of wasting it as if it never meant
anything. Since you’re there, actually be there. Otherwise, if you go to prom only to rush through it, just save yourself hundreds of dollars, skip the event and start heading down the Parkway.
FIND MORE ONLINE Visit thewessexwire.com for more Opinion pieces on coffee breaks, online shopping, realistic advice and Post Malone.
June 2018 Issue 5
Features
The Wessex Wire Page 5
Ms. Maw is mixing things up one last time By Gabrielle Kesh ’20
Everyone knows the buoyant face from the cooking room that constantly lights up the halls. That face is Caren Maw’s: the culinary arts teacher at West Essex for the past 12 years. Between teaching five classes a day, advising members of the Cooking For a Cause club and being a mom to her actual family, Ms. Maw does it all. Sadly, she has announced her retirement after 12 years of teaching at West Essex and over 30 years of teaching in an illustrious career. “I will miss the kids and the special people in this building that feel like family,” Ms. Maw said. “But I know in my heart that this is the right decision for me.” Her history with teaching dates back to 1987. Ms. Maw started at West Morris Mendham High School as a family and consumer science teacher before coming to West Essex in 2006. Currently, Ms. Maw teaches three sections of Culinary Arts I and two sections of Culinary Arts II. She loves teaching her students to cook new foods and stresses the importance of her lessons for their futures. While they may not seem valuable now, her teachings will be
useful later on in their lives. “I had one student who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and I had another student become a recipe developer,” Ms. Maw said. “It’s very exciting to see my old students using what I taught them as they grow up.” In 2010, Ms. Maw earned the school’s Educator of the Year Award. It is her positive energy and passion that made her a prime candidate for the award. She had only been employed at West Essex for four years when she won the award, but had already made a significant positive impact on the school as her students adored her from the start. “Ms. Maw tries incredibly hard to see all of her students meet their highest potential,” freshman Emily Blake said. “She’s always smiling and will listen to anyone who wants to talk,” music teacher Alex Soares said. “I’m going to miss the time I spent working with her to put together the senior citizen brunch.” “Ms. Maw is the nicest and most awesome teacher I’ve ever had!” junior Melanie Turano said. Last year, Ms. Maw was asked to be the adviser of the Cooking For a Cause Club, which helps provide
food for those less fortunate and people in need. In early May, the club made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Tony’s Kitchen food bank in Montclair. Ms. Maw has spent countless hours planning activities, selling baked goods and hosting meetings to make the club successful. Despite not getting paid for her role as an adviser for the Cooking For a Cause Club, she takes it on because she is extremely enthusiastic about the club’s mission. “Ms. Maw is a friend to anyone and I can’t thank her enough for her dedication to the Cooking For a Cause Club,” said sophomore Gillian Wolf, president of the club. “She doesn’t have to be a part of it but she chooses to, and that’s something really special.” Outside of school, Ms. Maw focuses on family and travel. She is very close with her daughter, who graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, and her son, a rising sophomore at Rutgers. She enjoys taking trips down the beach and visiting antiques shows. During her retirement, she is excited to have additional time to explore other activities that interest her, although teaching is her passion.
Photo by Lara Del vecchio
Junior Dom Magro high-fives Ms. Maw. After more than 30 years, the cooking teacher has decided to retire.
Ms. Maw hopes that in the future, West Essex will create a family consumer science program with levels of sewing and flat pattern design. She believes that this class could benefit students by allowing them to use their dexterity to enhance their creativity. The lessons in the class would not only benefit children as high school students, but also throughout their lives. Although Ms. Maw will no lon-
ger be working at West Essex, she hopes that the cooking program will maintain its current momentum. She plans to visit once in a while and wishes her students the best of luck as they advance and along their culinary journeys. “I want my students to remember to have confidence in their abilities,” Ms. Maw said. “You never know what you can cook until you experiment with ingredients.”
Comp Sci teacher doubles as a freelance photographer By Gabrielle Kesh ’20
Vincent Carchietta is best known for being the AP Computer Science teacher in Room 500. But what is his life like outside of school? Beyond grading tests and creating worksheets, he freelances as a sports photographer who has shot professional night games for the NHL, NFL and more for over 12 years. When did you start photography? “I started photography in 2006. It was just sort of a hobby that turned into a business.” What organization do you work for? “I work for USA Today Sports Images. Becoming a member of this organization was an extremely difficult process. It took almost four years until I felt my photo work was strong enough to be accepted.” How do you manage teaching and photography? “They don’t really overlap because all of the sporting events are at night and I teach during the day. Teaching was always my first choice and it still is.” How many professional sports games have you been to? “I have worked over 100 assignments for USA Today, so I have been to well over 300 professional and college sporting events in the last 12 years.” What’s your favorite part of photography? “It’s a great feeling of accomplishment when I have a picture in a newspaper. I have had a double truck in Sports Illustrated.” How would you describe your life in three words? “Hectic, fun and tiring.”
Photos BY lARA dEL vECChio aND Courtesy of Vincent CarchIetta
Pictures taken by Vincent Carchietta (center) at professional sporting events.
What would you say to a student who was interested in photography? “Just know that you are going to make mistakes when you start photography and that you are not going to be great every time. You can always try again and do better work.”
June 2018
The Wessex Wire: Arts vs. Sports
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On the field or on the stage, st Athletes credit success to W.E.
West Essex is home to two programs: arts and spor different on the surface, the ideas of teamwork, str
The school’s athletic program has cultivated a culture of winning and athletes are grateful. By Jordan Flusser ’19 West Essex sports are known for their prestige, competitiveness and tradition. Many young players share the same goal; start on one of the school’s many varsity sports such as football, lacrosse, soccer and track. Student athletes have been given great opportunities to shine as a result of the school’s quality athletic program. Since he was able to pick up a baseball bat, junior Phil Lutz has dreamed of wearing a West Essex Knights jersey. He can always be spotted showing off his number 21, whether it be around town in his varsity jacket or sprinting down the football field in his uniform. His hard work and commitment to the school’s athletic program have shown through his achievements, and allowed him to become one of the most talented athletes at West Essex. Phil’s successes, which he attributes to the eminence of the West Essex athletic program and staff, include leading the football team to a State Championship and earning the title of captain of the boys lacrosse team. “The West Essex athletic program is always elite,” Phil said. “Every year our school dominates in a lot of sports.” Phil is not the only athlete that values the school’s athletic department. Sophomore girls soccer and lacrosse player, Lindsay Fusco, has been on varsity since her freshman year and said she’s not only formed many connections through athletics, but also discovered her goal of playing lacrosse in college. “The program has been extremely supportive,” Lindsay said. “All of my coaches have been amazing so far and have taught me a lot.” Lindsay has won several awards already for her athletic performance including freshman Rookie of the Year in lacrosse and First Team All Conference in soccer. She says the program’s dedication to their athletes is crucial in helping teams succeed. Lindsay said she believes sports have helped her grow as a person and that she is always learning new things about herself and her teammates. “Playing sports lets me be competitive and challenge myself,” Lindsay said. “It is always something I look forward to doing.” Although many see them as individual sports, junior runner Kouros Sadeghi-Nejad values the teamwork and family aspect of his sports of choice: cross country and track. Kouros has led both teams to many achievements and says their medals and trophies are a culmination of the team’s hard work and dedication to the program. “The West Essex Cross Country and Track & Field program has afforded its athletes the unique opportunity to be a part of a team where one not only gets to test the limits of his or her abilities, but also be a part of something greater than themselves,” Kouros said. No matter the sport or the level, the school’s athletic program is highly respected around New Jersey as a result of its accomplishments. Athletes across all fields say they benefit from the teamwork and communication skills they learn from athletics and help them feel like part of a community. “I love being on a team,” Phil said. “It develops tighter friendships and it feels great being on the field with your best friends having fun and winning as a team.” “We are more than just a ‘team’—we are a family,” Kouros said, “and every time we step on the track there is a great sense of camaraderie between each and every one of us.”
“” “The West Essex athletic program is always elite.”
—Phil Lutz
Arts and sports hold simil By Dylan Lepre ’19
In pop culture, arts and sports in high school are usually portrayed as vastly different realms. In film, it is common to see the bullies as ripped star athletes and the protagonists as geeky artists, introverted musicians, or pretentious actors. These films seem to say it is impossible to do both without being ostracized. However, as someone who participates in both, I disagree wholeheartedly. In fact, sports and arts are far more connected to each other than people seem to acknowledge. On the sport side, I run track, and on the arts side, I work on the tech crew and play in the band. If doing sports and arts has taught me one thing, it’s that they operate in a similar way. Everyone knows the differences between the two -The age old notion of
sports and arts being the antithesis of each other is unfounded. Both a play and a sports team rely on teamwork. A play operating with only one person is impossible, much like a one-man sports team. Both sides have stars, yet at their heart, each is a team game. As a member of the technical sides of production for the school’s musicals, I’ve seen the tight bonds that members of Masquers develop with each other. I’ve also seen that same sense of brotherhood bloom between athletes on the track team —such camaraderie is important to maintain a positive atmosphere for the entire program. Being a member of a sports team or an arts program means becoming a family. Some of my closest friends are in the band program, and we often work close together. Sports teams are similar as everyone is competing, trying to reach a common goal. There
seems to be som work that drives Hard work, ho of the shared m plague both spor tension that can b while working When disagreem flare, it’s easy to can lead to a ligh Often times on s form based on sk players usually ig ers. Teams in W of many differen school and it’s cliques to start. Throughout amount of vitri of less talented p The same goes fo specifically the M The amount of a
June 2018
The Wessex Wire: Arts vs. Sports
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tudents find common ground Artists given a chance to shine
prestigious, award-winning rts. While they may seem ey both share the same core rength and confidence.
Students excel in practical, visual and performing arts while gaining skills useful in the real world. By Caroline Quinn ’19
Illustration by Hailey DeVita
lar values, similar problems
mething about hard people together. owever, exposes one major negatives that rts and the arts: The build up and explode in close quarters. ments arise or tempers o see. Such passions ht form of tribalism: sports teams cliques kill level with the best gnoring lesser playWest Essex are made nt groups within the quite common for
high school, the iol thrown the way players is staggering. or the arts programs, Masquers program. attacks on talent and
“backstabbing” between people is quite common. It can scare off newcomers or turn away talent from any team activity, whether you’re gearing up for a game or settling down for a performance. While it is true friendships do form throughout these sports and arts, the idea of everyone being fully united is fiction. “They shouldn’t have been cast” or “I just pretend to like them because of the play” are common things that can be heard should one really dig into any high school drama program. Now replace the words “been cast” with “made the team” and you have any high school sports team. While sports teams and arts programs do act as pseudo-families, they also carry with them all the baggage of families like bitter arguments. Everyone is trying to get ahead of one another, creating a competitive atmo-
sphere that is not altogether positive. Both groups promise great things: improved performance in school, chances for lucrative scholarships and friendships. They aren’t these different entities, and their problems are intertwined representing the problem that large groups often create. My time as a member of both sports and arts has been valuable, but it is important to stress that neither side is perfect. Sports and arts are portrayed differently because of history’s emphasis on physical strength over artistic abilities, but really, they’re the same at heart. Both aim to push students to their limits while providing a safe place for teens to grow. As more and more people crossover from sports into arts and vice-versa, the divides between the two will dissipate and give way to individuals who are strong—mentally and physically.
Between halftime performances, art shows, fall plays, spring musical and concerts, the West Essex community has proven that they know art. The students and faculty have created a program that gives everyone a chance to display their talent and share it with their peers. Whether hitting all the right notes under the spotlight on stage, serenading the crowd with their classical music or putting the finishing touches on intricate murals or detailed pieces of woodworking, the students have reaped the benefits of fine arts, performing arts and practical arts. Although some believe art is individual, in reality most of it is collaborative and teaches the importance of teamwork. Artists constantly inspire one another and use their peers as motivation. Junior Madelin Morales can attest to the strength of a team and the support within the school after performing in multiple productions as a member of Masquers. “I really admire the inclusivity of the arts program here at West Essex,” Madelin said. “Everyone is given a chance to shine and we are all very supportive of each other.” Sophomore saxophonist Anthony Penna said working together in concert and marching band has taught him to work with others. “Music relies much less on individual skill and more on ability to work together,” Anthony said. “While someone’s ability is important in an ensemble, if they are able to work with the people around them, the group will still be strong and successful. In addition to collaboration skills, students say that engaging with art programs and classes has taught them to feel more confident in who they are. Putting work out there for others to see is not always easy to do and there is the risk of being criticized, but when students share their work they become stronger people. “Aside from teaching creativity and expression, I think the arts help develop self-confidence,” Madelin said. “In theater, you have to be able to stand confidently in front of people and deliver value. It’s part of the job description. This confidence also translates into being an effective communicator, which is a vital life skill.” Junior Mary Fant said her paintings and drawings have afforded her the perfect way to express herself through her artwork, fostered by a welcoming creative environment at school. “Wearing certain clothes and listening to certain music is one thing, but using colors and making designs is something completely different,” Mary said. “It allows me to try different styles and play around with colors in a way that I find is fun and interesting.” In the end, the medium—whatever flavor of visual, performing, and practical arts students chooses to immerse themselves in—isn’t as important as the message, which is creating a welcoming, fun atmosphere for students to get involved in. Whether the students plan on continuing their art after high school or not, they all say they’ve profited from it in some way. “I’ve made a lot of friends and have been offered many opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to find outside of the music program,” Anthony said. “All of the teachers, even the ones I have not had in class, are very supportive,” Mary said. “I have never felt like I did not have enough resources to make or do anything I wanted.”
“”
“I think the arts help develop self confidence.”
—Madelin Morales
June 2018
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The Wessex Wire: Features
Seniors use colorful creativity in 2018 mural By Hayley Brener ’19 Every graduating class has a chance to leave a permanent mark on West Essex. Class murals, which have become a treasured Senior Service position for art students, give the seniors an opportunity to show off their skills while also cementing their legacy. The murals are on display all over West Essex’s hallways, giving students a glimpse at what that year entailed. The murals often represent a significant event that has happened that year. This year, seniors Joey Ploscow, Nolan Yezhov and Nadia Belverio, with help from art teacher John Atura, are making the mural, which mainly showcases West Essex’s football victory at Metlife Stadium. Belverio thought of the idea to feature Metlife Stadium as the main visual in this year’s mural. “Since we won and it was a major event for our school it just needed to be in the mural,” she said. Although the mural uses Metlife Stadium as a background, a fiery centerpiece makes the mural stand out: Ploscowe dreamed up a ferocious-looking purple dragon that dominates the center of the frame, and other signs in the sky referencing important events from throughout the year. “I really wanted to include the dragon because I like to draw sci-fi creatures,” he said. “I also felt like the dragons on the other murals were done wrong, so I wanted to make this one right.” While Mr. Atura is the art teacher in charge of the mural production, he said he gives the students a great deal of freedom when making and designing the mural. “Creating the murals are really good for the kids to develop stronger artistic skills and work together,” Mr. Atura said. “I started to help out five years ago and it’s nice being a part of this school tradition.” Work on the murals for Senior Service started in late May. The senior volunteers
Illustration by joey ploscowe
Original design for the 2018 senior mural.
work all during the school day so that students and faculty can observe the progress that is being made. Students usually slow down or stop to observe the new mural. They are expected to be finished by the last day of senior service. “Ever since I was a freshman, I knew I wanted to help with the murals when I was a senior,” Yezhov said. “I always thought the murals around the school were so cool.” Last year’s mural focused on the the Lip Dub and featured the entire student body standing out on the turf, flanked by a confident female West Essex Knight and a cartoony West Essex mascot knight. For the 2016-2017 school year, the seniors highlighted the new Chromebooks in their mural, marking the first year the school had started using them. Every senior from the class signs the murals, personalizing them even further. “‘You see other murals from past years and it makes you want to be a part of it,” senior PHOTOs by ALLY SCHACHTEL and hayley brener Joey Ploscowe said. “I want to be a part of Several weeks of work show progress on the 2018 senior mural, revealing illustrations of Metlife something that will last in the school forever.” Stadium and a fierce dragon.
Tattoos are a permanent form of self-expression By Megan Osborne ’19
PHOTOS BY MEGAN OSBORNE From top left: Senior Giovanni Torrillo’s rose tattoo, science teacher Jody Dolce’s tattoo of an anchor and junior Brooke Carlton’s tattoo of her grandmother’s heartbeat.
FIND MORE ONLINE Visit thewessexwire.com for ‘Sam on the Street’ featuring prom and Chipotle 3 Day eating challenge.
Although memories fade, tattoos are a permanent symbol of love, loss and hope. Many West Essex students and staff have tattoos with deep and sentimental value. Science teacher Jody Dolce knew she wanted to get a tattoo for quite some time. “I think it’s a way to express yourself, the same way you would wear certain clothing and dye your hair,” Ms. Dolce said. “It’s a cool way to have something that’s a part of you because it’s permanent. It’s like wearable artwork.” Ms. Dolce has an anchor tattoo that represents faith and hope. Tattoos are a way to keep something special with someone forever. “I got my tattoo in honor of my grandfather,” senior Giovanni Torrillo said. Torrillo’s tattoo has Pop Pop
written above a rose, along with the dates his grandfather was born and passed away. Getting a tattoo in remembrance of someone important in a person’s life is a way to keep someone close at all times because it’s permanently engraved in their body. Another reason people want to get some ink is because they simply look cool. “I’ve always wanted a tattoo,” junior Brooke Carlton said. Carlton didn’t doubt for a second that once she could get a tattoo, she would get one in memory of her grandmother. Carlton’s tattoo is of her grandmother’s heartbeat and birthdate with the words “my angel” printed on it. Students who admired a good piece of ink said that tattoos show individuality and creativity. “I just feel like I don’t want my body to be plain, I want to be different and have things that I feel
express who I am,” senior Larissa Roldao-Ramos said. Ramos’ tattoo is of a rose. Although tattoos are popular, there are some people who do not understand marking up the body permanently. “I wouldn’t get a tattoo because I am scared it will come out bad,” junior Kelly Coughlin said. Tattoos have the ability to make a body an art masterpiece and expresses one’s individuality, while representing something important. “I don’t regret my tattoo at all,” junior Hailey Vincelette said. Vincelette got hers in honor of her mother. It is an infinity sign with a heart that has “mom” written on it. The appeal of an everlasting design on the skin has caught the attention of teenagers as well as adults. The ink on a tattoo cannot be washed away—and neither can its personalized meaning.
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Arts Arts
Culture
June 2018 Issue 5
The Wessex Wire Page 9
Rapper Cardi B, 0 to 100 real quick By Lara Del Vecchio ’20
From top: “Aladdin” by Vagueonthehow (flickr.com/photos/vagueonthehow/16566468730); “Come from away on broadway” by steam pipe trunk districy venue (.flickr.com/photos/waffleboy/27859631169)
Bro ok ly n n at ive B e l c a l i s Almanzar, a high school dropout and former exotic dancer never expected to be one of the hottest names in music throughout 2017 and the start of 2018. In one year, she signed her first major record deal and continued this fast track to fame with the commercial debut of her single “Bodak Yellow,” which was released in June and hit top charts in October. This new force in the music industry is known better as Cardi B. Cardi B is a New York native who incorporates her hometown slang into a variety of her songs, which humors and attracts her audience, especially fans from the tristate area. Being from New Jersey, students enjoy being able to understand her lingo and relate to many of her song lyrics. “Most of the other rappers and singers from other places, I have no clue what they’re trying to talk about when they make comments like that in their songs,” freshman Julia Mazolla said. Some of her shoutouts to NYC include “flexing,” “eating halal,” Middle Eastern food sold in Manhattan and “driving a Lam.” Appearances on talk shows such as “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “The Ellen DeGenerous Show,” attract a wider
span of audiences, while also popping up on “Saturday Night Live” announcing her pregnancy with fiancé Offset. “Fans, including myself, love her attitude and her fun and interesting antics,” sophomore Jack Steer said. “She has catchy music and vibrant style.” Male rappers are more popular in the music industry, making it difficult to find a female with similar talent. Nicki Minaj currently stands as one of the only other well known and well-appreciated females in the rapping industry. Female rappers either make a statement or fall straight back to the bottom where they started, but Cardi B made her way up and is currently at the top. “Cardi B is the newer, and better, version of Nicki Minaj,” sophomore Natalie Carnovale said. She wasn’t always at the top, but her rise has been nothing but fast. Cardi B began her career as a social media and reality television star. But soon caught the attention of many people through her tough attitude and hardships she encountered growing up. When September 2017 came around, Cardi B conquered four radio charts with “Bodak Yellow,” becoming the second woman in 2017 to top the charts simultaneously, and made rap history when she hit No.1. Her fast track to success continued as “Bodak Yellow” also grabbed the top spot
FIND MORE ONLINE Visit thewessexwire.com for a video of students (and a surprise faculty guest) trying their hands at saying some of Cardi’s signature lines. in the Billboard’s Hottest 100 triple platinum. By June, Cardi B had earned nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist for the BET Awards along with two Grammy nominations for Best Rap Performance and song. For the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, Cardi B recieved eight nominations. Her second single “Bartier Cardi (feat. 21 Savage)” lasted 18 weeks on the top charts. Both singles, “Bodak Yellow” and “Bartier Cardi,” prepared the media for the release of her debut album, “Invasion of Privacy”, in April 2018. Since Cardi’s singles were a success, her new album was eligible to recieve a Gold certification before it was even released. w This album includes collaborations with a variety of artists including Migos, 21 Savage, Chance the Rapper, SZA and Kehlani. The mixes with the well known rappers, Migos and Chance the Rapper, include “Drip” and “Best Life”. Cardi’s collaborations with newer and less-
known singers such as “Ring (feat. Kehlani)” and “I Do (feat. SZA)” are songs with two female rising stars, potentially bringing attention to their talent as well. “I blast her new album in my car,” senior Danielle Farina said. “My favorite song is ‘I Do’ because I love SZA and Cardi B so it’s just an iconic duo. That song also sounds the best in my car.” Cardi B shouts out her AfroCaribbean roots in her mashup with bilingual artists, Bad Bunny and J Balvin,“I Like It,” sampling the ‘60’s classic,“I Like it Like That” by Pete Rodriguez. Her song “Birkenhead” also reimag-
ines “Chickenhead,” which was a battle-of-the-sexes classic. Cardi touches upon everyday aspects of life in multiple songs in her new album as well. Some lyrics hint at NYC culture and universal experiences such as the constant bounce back and forth in relationships in “Ring” and dealing with infidelity in “Through Your Phone.” Being that she is a perfectionist, Cardi B doubted the quality of her albums before they were released. Little did she know that her music would be a huge success all over the country and she would even become a well known performer and a house-hold name.
If you like drama:
If you’re a kid at heart:
If you like nonfiction:
Illustration by Mark Digangi
A drawing of Cardi B making her signature face.
Broadway musicals for Broadway haters
By Amy Grunther ’20 Broadway lovers are often caught gossiping about which show is the best, talking about their favorite performers or singing their favorite theater songs. Hearing all of this musical theater chatter often causes non-Broadway lovers to get the wrong impression about musicals as a medium: “Showtunes” have a modern stigma that, frankly, is undeserved. Some people get the feeling that musicals and Broadway are weird, boring or dumb. Not all Broadway shows are the same; they all have different plots, music and themes. Some shows are funny and light hearted, while other musicals are heavy and are made to get you thinking. Based on what genre a person likes (comedy, romance, etc), there is a way for non-Broadway lovers to find a show they’ll enjoy. Here is a list of shows to see based upon your interests if you don’t like Broadway.
If you like comedy:
“Mean Girls-Broadway”
Photo by jOsie berger
Get in, loser: The story of the Plastics, cheese fries and kalteen bars that everyone knows and loves has come to the stage. “Mean Girls-Broadway” has all comedic aspects of the movie plus a soundtrack. The soundtrack contains catchy beats and important messages about high school, including bullying, love and body image. The show puts an emphasis on social media as well, making it relevant to today’s teens.
“Dear Evan Hansen”
Photo by jOsie berger
If you need a good cry and want to learn a lesson about high school, love and family relationships “Dear Evan Hansen” is the show for you. “Dear Evan Hansen” is a story about suicide, depression , loneliness and desparation that touches the hearts of each audience member.The music is beautiful and incredibly well written, the story is touching and the characters are relatable, making the show a hit.
“Aladdin”
Photo courtesy of vagueontheho W (CC BY 2.0)
Want to feel like a kid again? Check out “Aladdin” the musical, which brings the beloved story of Aladdin to Broadway. The show takes a movie that everyone knows and loves and sprinkles some Broadway magic on it. The show has songs from the movie and new songs too. If you want to feel nostalgic, but still want to see something fresh, fly on your magic carpet to the New Amsterdam theater.
“Come From Away”
Photo courtesy of Steam Pipe Trunk District venue (CC BY 2.0)
After The World Trade Center was hit on September 11, 2001, 38 jumbo jets made an emergency landing at Newfoundland Gander International Airport. The tiny island in Newfoundland was taken over by foreigners. This setup is the hook for “Come From Away,” a musical that takes this incredible story and shares in an informative and entertaining manner.
June 2018
The Wessex Wire: Arts & Culture
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Staff Review
‘Infinity War’ is a game-changer for Marvel films By Dylan Lepre ’19 photo courtesy of hannah mccrone
If you went to Gov Ball and didn’t take a picture, did you really go to Gov Ball?
Gov Ball was a feast for eyes and ears By Giuliana Calix ’20
Governors Ball Music Festival is a three day, multi stage music event held in Randall’s Island, New York City. It took place from June 1 to June 3, and students all around the school were asking, “Did you go to Gov Ball?”. When the festival started back in 2011, produced by Founders Entertainment, it was just a one-day event. Two years later, Founders Entertainment announced that the 2013 festival would be three days long. Ever since then, Gov Ball has been the Coachella of the East Coast. The day starts at 11 a.m. and runs to 11 p.m., rain or shine, and music is the primary focus with over 60 artists of all genres ready to perform.
Gov Ball attracts talent from all around the world, but mainly pays tribute to the tri-state area. It’s difficult to describe the lineup as a singular vibe. There is a huge diversity of music which made the festival so popular in recent years. Students were looking forward to attending the event and seeing their favorite artists perform live on stage. “Post Malone was absolutely amazing,” sophomore Nuala Hanley said. “I fainted because it was so hot.” Students were buzzing about the festival and most agreed that the Sunday lineup rocked the hardest: Eminem, Khalid, Lil Uzi Vert and Billie Eilish were just a few of the top selling artists that were slated to take the main stage.
And what’s a daylong music festival without delicious food? Gov Ball offers a wide variety of select restaurants, food trucks and the best eats in town. Throughout the entire island, there were food stands, merchandise being sold, professional henna tattoos and plenty of trendy clothing shops. Gov Ball is an all-day event so the fashion has to be comfy, but of course, still cute. Fashion is extremely important when going to a music festival and a lot of planning goes into finding the perfect fit. Festivalgoers want to make sure their outfits look perfect for all the pictures they will take at the event. When walking around the festival, there is plenty to do. Festivalgoers love to take trendy photos in the tricked-out lounges
and spread them across Snapchat and Instagram. Gov Ball also features the creativity and inspiration of New York’s best street artists. Statement pieces such as wall murals and sculptures are everywhere around the park for everyone to pose in front of for pictures. “It was the best thing I’ve ever been to in my life,” sophomore Gianna Silletti said. “I’m going for sure next year.” The eighth annual music, art, food and entertainment event drew over 150,000 fans to Randall’s Island. Students loved taking Snap stories with their festival hair, makeup and clothes. With calm lounges, crazy concerts on each ends of the park and delicious food, Gov Ball had it all.
Cuffing season ends; bring a new date out-and-about By Brenna Campanaro ’19
High school students have turned “dates” into watching movies and ordering in. Making this a weekend routine gets boring. To spice things up, couples should go out and enjoy a nice, sit down meal or snack together. Honey’s Kitchen (Fairfield)
With breakfast being the most important meal of the day, Honey’s Kitchen offers a variety of breakfast meals, specials and serves lunch as well. Some fan favorites are the Thick Sliced Challah French Toast and Gyro Hash. Honey’s is extremely tiny but filled with friendly and kind employees and tasty food. With excellent service and the best breakfast in town, Honey’s Kitchen is one of the greatest hidden gems of Fairfield.
Lola’s Ice Cream and Sweet Shoppe (Fairfield)
Sure, the usual ice cream places like Baskin-Robbins or Carvel are always great, but Lola’s is the new hit in town. Not only do they have delicious creamy ice cream, but there is also a candy bar filled with all kinds of sweets. It opened up just this year and Lola’s is already flooding with customers. It’s the perfect “getaway” for couples who have a sweet tooth.
Fresco Market and Catering (Caldwell)
Fresco is an authentic Italian market and caterer. It is located in a prime location on Bloomfield Ave, which lets people explore the area and grab a bite to eat all in one. They offer weekly specials for a family dinner, which is also great for a couple. Their menu has a wide variety of Italian food, ranging from soups, salads and pizzas, to entrees such as Chicken Saltimbocca or Flounder. This homemade Italian food is the way to go for a fun date.
Photo by Giuliana calix
Lola’s in Fairfield is the perfect place to enjoy ice cream on a first date.
Rock N Joe (Caldwell)
This coffee shop does a great job of living up to their name. Along with enjoying a rock ‘n’ roll theme, you can find delicious coffee, desserts and even meals. Live music is played there often and it’s a delightful place to enjoy some fresh air with a cup of joe. It’s open seven days a week and is the ideal place for a quick morning coffee date.
Nikko Hibachi Steak House and Lounge (Fairfield)
Looking for a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for the perfect date night? Nikko Hibachi is the place to be. The staff and food brings positive vibes to the table. It might be on the pricier side, but it sure lives up to its expectations. There is a sit down lounge area as well as a hibachi area. The chefs bring fun to your night with their show of tricks and skill. It’s a perfect icebreaker if the date isn’t going as planned. The distraction can be used as a tool to avoid awkward conversation and is a great way to be entertained while enjoying some Japanese food.
“Avengers: Infinity War” had everything riding on it. Ten years worth of films and characters. It had to successfully introduce the villain Thanos, a villain who has been teased for ten years, and had to bring together every single Marvel Cinematic Universe hero. The film, directed by the Russo Brothers, centers on Thanos, an alien from the planet Titan who seeks the six Infinity stones that have been teased throughout the franchise. If he collects all the stones, he can wipe out half of life in the universe. Therefore, the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy must team up and try to stop him. “Infinity War” is one of the strangest films I’ve ever seen. The only character that has an arc is Thanos (which is a very interesting decision and one that I loved) and the whole film feels like the conclusion to a long running TV show. It’s an unrelenting film that just throws heroes into your face. It is messy, features almost zero subplots and is completely unapproachable to outside audiences. Yet, in my eyes, it is perfect. The film combines all of my favorite characters into one massive film. It features a terrific villain in Thanos, who may be the best villain created by the MCU. It is funny, emotional (very emotional) and gets the blood pulsing. The fact that this 2 hour and 36 minute film managed to pull off 60 characters is astounding. The effects are top-notch, but there are some scenes that are mesmerizing, especially one scene on a certain planet that will not be named. All I will say is that it is dark, mysterious and very beautiful to look at. Overall, “Avengers: Infinity War” is a powerhouse of a movie. Yes, it has flaws and is quite strangely setup, but it works for it. It really is the finale to a massive TV series that has been built for the past ten years. Kudos to the Russo Brothers for pulling off a massive hit and I look forward to “Avengers 4” next year.
FIND MORE ONLINE Visit thewessexwire.com for stories on Avengers, makeup tips, clothing trends, Post Malone and more.
June 2018
The Wessex Wire: Sports
Page 11
School’s oldest locker rooms undergo remodel Nearly 50-year-old sports facilities are being rebuilt to mimic college and pro locker rooms.
By Quinn Delehanty ’19
The locker rooms located in the basement of the middle school building are being redone for the first time since they were built in 1970. Being the oldest locker rooms on campus and used for 48 years, administrators found a way to give the facility a muchdeserved remodel. The Board of Education earmarked more than $530,000 for this new project. The redesign model is coming from a collaboration of the head coaches of all of the teams who currently use the locker rooms. “As coaches we are very fortunate at West Essex to have administrators and leadership in our superintendent, Barbara Longo, and our athletic director, Mr. Minella, who have given the head coaches an opportunity to work with them on the layout,” said Jill Cosse, head coach of field hockey and lacrosse.
School officials said the redesign is not completely set, as they have different ideas flowing continuously. What they do know is that the 50 year old locker rooms were long overdue for a revamp and everyone is very excited to see the final product. “It is more of an open plan with upgraded shower and bathroom facilities, coaches offices and large lockers similar to a college or professional athlete’s locker,” athletic director Anthony Minella said. “It’s going to be awesome!” These two locker rooms are used by the football and field hockey teams in the fall and the girls lacrosse and softball teams in the spring. They have bred many championship teams and manysuccessful athletes, holding a lot of history. “The locker rooms are going to be magnificent,” Coach Cosse said. “Alumni that come back will be super-proud that our facilities are being brought to the next level.” The students who will use these new locker rooms in their 20182019 seasons said they can’t wait to see how they will turn out and are ready to make new memories with a brand new locker room. “They’re going to be a lot nicer and more open and I’m excited to
Photo courtesy of Mary Wojtowicz
The girls lacrosse team honors Coach Cosse’s 300th win on May 4.
Cosse celebrates 300 lacrosse wins
By Josie Berger ’20
Jill Cosse achieved her 300th win in lacrosse against Newark Academy with a score of 15-3 on May 4. This is Cosse’s 21st year at West Essex, making this her 21st season coaching both field hockey and lacrosse. Although this game was a special win, Cosse acknowledges all the girls and all of the games they have played, which helped her get to this point in her incredible career. There have been hundreds of girls that contributed to this win and left their hearts on the field. Over the course of a season and with this specific conference schedule, it was hard to predict when this achievement would take place. Although this win was not overly shocking to the team, the
athletes were thrilled for Cosse. “Cosse is a really great coach and leader and our team wouldn’t be where we are without her,” freshman Kylie O’Connor said. “I love getting to know the girls and seeing what they are capable of doing over the course of a season.” Cosse said, “[Coaching] has become my life and I love everyday.” At times, the talent level of the team is so high, that they are expected to win, but with this much talent also comes dedication. Coach Cosse constantly works hard to ensure the success of her many teams. “I hope I can continue to do the best I can at coaching,” Cosse said. Coach Cosse has achieved another milestone win for the books, with a total of 738 wins for field hockey and lacrosse.
see everyones reaction to them,” said junior Ryan Rusignuolo, who plays football. The old locker rooms held a lot of memories and destroying them took the writing and all of the names on the walls with them, but the players said they will forever hold a special place in all of the teams’ hearts. “I’m kind of sad about all of the memories leaving,” said sophomore Cameron Kinsella, who plays both field hockey and lacrosse. “But I’m excited to have a much cleaner locker room.”
Photos by Ally Schachtel
The locker rooms at the middle school, nearly 50 years after their construction, are in the process of being rebuilt from the bottom up.
Tilton gives it his all for the boys tennis team Stephen’s laid back attitude doesn’t accurately reflect his passion for the sport.
By Olivia Ranucci ’18 Junior tennis player Stephen
Tilton is new to the West Essex boys tennis team, but not the sport. Tilton has played tennis for six years and although his practice attendance might not always show it, his passion still remains strong. Tilton has proven his skill this past season, but despite his achievements on the court, he gives off a very laid back, carefree vibe. He enjoys playing tennis and does not stress about being the top player in his group. “I guess I have to say tennis is my favorite sport because it’s really the only one I play,” Tilton said. “I’m pretty hyped for next season but can’t say I’ll be preparing for it at all.” Fellow teammates and his coaches admire Tilton’s unique attitude on the court and because he always puts his best foot forward.
“He’s a really interesting character,” senior Peter Molina said. “Honestly, everyone on the team seems to think of him this way. He definitely likes the game—I wouldn’t say he loves it. When he gets on the court, he plays like he has trained and dedicated himself for the game his entire life.” In the past, Tilton played lacrosse, another spring sport that overlapped with tennis, but in his junior year he made the bold decision to switch and join the school tennis team. Tilton plays mostly singles on the court and occasionally doubles. This season, Tilton has had to challenge himself as a player due to injuries on the team which made him stand out as a player and valuable team asset. He helped the team earn the Essex County Consolation trophy this season which was an exciting win for the group. “I’m a pretty flexible player which is why I think I was helpful to the team this year,” Tilton said. “As long as I am playing this sport, I’m happy.” With absent players on the team, Tilton had to step up and sub in. His easygoing attitude
contributes to the team’s ongoing success. Tilton accpeted any challenge given to him. “He was forced into new roles for different matches and he did it without complaint,” Coach David Semaya said. “Everyone will be looking for Stephen to lead by example from both a commitment and on court play perspective.” Although Tilton does not plan on continuing his tennis career when he goes to college, he does plan on playing his senior year for West Essex and is considering going out for captain. Tilton’s favorite part of the tennis team is that although it is individually played, in the end the game, it still requires a team effort. “Next year is a big year for Stephen,” Coach Semaya said. “I have every expectation he he will challenge for a starting position on the team.”
FIND MORE ONLINE Visit thewessexwire.com for more sports profiles on freshman golfer Garrett Kessler and senior lacrosse player Sam Adams.
June 2018 Issue 5
The Wessex Wire Page 12
Girls track heads to nationals By Josie Berger ’20
The Girls Varsity Track team is heading to nationals on June 15 in North Carolina. This season, the team has competed in and won numerous meets that have contributed to their success. They won the SEC Liberty Division Championship on May 11 and have placed in many other meets. The team is one of the best and most prepared in the state and is looking to use this momentum to try their best to place at nationals. Photos courtesy of Anthony Emering
FIND MORE ONLINE Visit thewessexwire.com for special video features on the track and baseball team, and Q&As with the girls track team.
By Frankie Rizzo ’19
Senior Julia Geiger
Sophomore Jenna Chan
Senior Reanda Richards
“The team’s goal is to definitely compete at our best. Placing at nationals is extremely hard but it’s definitely something all of us dream of. ...We’ve trained really hard this whole season. A personal goal for me would definitely be to place in the shuttle hurdles. It’s something I have always dreamed of, and I think this year could be a reality.”
“Track has not only helped me as an athlete, but it taught me what it means to be a part of a team. ...We are preparing for nationals by continuing to work hard every day. My goals for the next two years is to continue to get better and push myself as an athlete. I hope to qualify for nationals this year, or by my senior year in Long Jump.”
“The journey to getting where I am now hasn’t been easy. I’ve been training for six days a week for nine years. The support of my peers, parents and coaches has helped greatly. ... Ever since I was young, I’ve always dreamed of doing something incredible. It feels as if I have accomplished one of my goals and I’m so thankful for being given the opportunity to do that.”
Baseball shocks and impresses Disappointing end to season does not stop team from making school history. By Frankie Rizzo ’19 Even though the varsity baseball team faced a heartbreaking loss in the semi-final of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 State Tournament to Pascack Valley on May 29, they still exceeded their season’s expectations. The team finished the year with a record of 20-2, going 13-0 in the SEC Liberty conference to win for the first time since 2010. Their notable games include a 10-0 victory against a state ranked Millburn team and 4-2 win over their everlasting rival, Caldwell. “Millburn and Caldwell definitely were highlights this season,” Coach Eric Johnson said. “Strong play from all of our players plus the team chemistry are what really got us these impressive wins.” Even with these big wins, the team never let their many successes get to their head. The whole season, the team followed the same motto day in and day out: “Stick to the process.” “You just stick to the process and keep doing what you’re doing,” Coach Johnson said. “You prepare the same way and stick with your
Underdog volleyball team brings home title
Photo courtesy of Ben Ruvo
The varsity baseball team celebrates a win on May 11. It was a big victory over their rival, Caldwell.
philosophy and just keep going.” This season was led by a strong group of seven seniors, most notably captain Ian McLaughlin. McLaughlin, a three year varsity starter with 70 career hits, was this year’s sole captain, but did not fail to mention that he was not the
only true leader. “All seven of us seniors worked really well together this season,” McLaughlin said. “I feel like I didn’t have that much of an added role as captain. I was just one of the seven seniors.” Despite the early exit this sea-
son, the varsity baseball team raised eyebrows all over the state of New Jersey. With returning players from all three grade levels, plus a new group of freshmen to correspond with them, the team will look to pick up where they left off next season.
Persistence pays off: After weathering several unsuccessful years and powering through an uneven season, the boys volleyball team proved themselves by capturing the SEC Colonial Division championship on May 15 in a 2-0 victory over Montclair Immaculate. This was the team’s first conference championship since 2012. “It felt really amazing to win the conference this year,” said Mike Mathios, team captain. “It was the second time volleyball ever won the conference, and it feels good to have a year that I’m a part of.” In recent years, the team has struggled to have any type of success on the court. Coach Bryan McNaught has been coaching since 2012, the first time the team had ever won the conference. “Winning the conference is a step in the right direction for the program, but there is still more to do,” Coach McNaught said. “We had a core group of returners and some new additions that showed potential early on in the season.” This monumental feat has everyone on the team excited, no matter what grade they are in or how much experience they have playing. Juniors Justin Turanick and Mike Jannicelli were huge contributors to the team in their first season playing. “Never did I ever think I was going to play varsity this year,” Turanick said. “I’m glad to have played in this championship run.” “I went into this season to just have something to do,” Jannicelli said. “But volleyball turned into something I was pretty good at and enjoy doing.”
Wise Words: Coach Linsalato “Fear not giving your best more than making a mistake.”