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The Norwalk High School
Paw Print “How the Bears make their mark”
VOLUME X, ISSUE III March 2016
NHS’s annual PGP Fashion Show took place on March 4th, 2016. Seniors, Sara Meza (’16) and Jake Wilkins (’16), walk in the finale of the show. To see more pictures, turn to Page 20.
Media Center Stuck in 20th Century Since the budget cuts six years ago, The Media Center has faced countless problems and has struggled to maintain a 21st century learning environment for NHS students.
The library at Norwalk High School, titled as The Media Center, has expressed their concerns regarding a lack of sufficient resources to thus satisfy their name, “the media center.” Since the budget cuts in 2010, the library’s expenditures have decreased exponentially. NHS is just one of the many library facilities that have been fighting for funding, since it was substantially cut six years ago. NHS’s Certified Teacher Librarian, Mrs. Payton-Roby, works alongside Ms. McCormick, the Librarian Assistant. They both value the media center and explained the capabilities it holds for students; whether it is used as a research facility, a peaceful learning environment for students and
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O PINI O N Photo Credit: Giles Ruck
IN THIS ISSUE:
A&E
was also only one functioning printer connected to one computer in the library, which happened to be the catalogue computer. During this time, students had to constantly get off the catalogue computer to let other students print, which resulted in an unreasonable and timely process. Student, Alex Escalante (’16), commented on the situation. He stated, “The computers are outdated. It is hard to get my work done sometimes.” The computer lab on the second floor were replaced with new computers in the summer. “New” meant being replaced with old computers recycled from different departments. “They put in a new computer lab in The World Language Learning Center and their old computers went to our upstairs lab this summer,” Mrs. Payton-Roby said frustratedly.
SP ORTS
Cont. on Page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS: News...............................2 Arts & Entertainment.......8 Feature...........................10 Editorial.........................13 Opinion..........................14 Sports.............................18
leagueathletics.com
Editor in Chief
smaller groups, or to take a quiet break from the hustle of high school with a fiction book. Ms. McCormick explained, “some students come to borrow a book or to print.” Mrs. Payton-Roby added, “The library welcomes a safe environment with research databases, a fiction book collection, DVD’s, a gaming station with puzzles, quiet reading, group study, and more.” With the vast opportunity the media center holds, it is difficult to maintain the resources with a lack of funding. The library is outdated, the furniture is old, the non-fiction books are irrelevant, and the technology is not there, or is not updated. The first problem is the absence of much-needed technology. The library is only given two chrome book carts for 1600 students. When there is school-wide testing, the library is left with none. For the majority of the year, there
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Monica Mercuri
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nhspawprint@gmail.com - @nhs_pawprint - nhspawprint.com
Student Spotlight: Monica Mercuri Editor In Chief There are hundreds of kids at Norwalk High School that continue to make a difference everyday. Whether it is playing a sport, participating in student government, creating a club, or helping others within the community, these students deserve to be recognized by their teachers and peers. Every issue, there will be a new student featured in this column who has impacted NHS in extraordinary ways. The “Student Spotlight” for the March Issue is Thomas Jankovic (’16). Jankovic was born in Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, CT, on January 16th, 1998. Jankovic is currently a senior at NHS. He has a younger sister, Serena Jankovic (’18), a sophomore at NHS. Serena Jankovic acknowledged her brother for his accomplishments. She said, “I would say that he’s really hardworking and dedicated. He’s almost always busy with something but he’s still my best friend, whether we are at home or not.” She continued, “we have practically the same sense of humor and so many inside jokes. He has helped me with everything and I’ll miss him next year.” Jankovic has grown up in Norwalk for all of his life and values the diversity that it holds. His favorite spots to hang out in Norwalk include Panera Bread and Chocopologie. “Sometimes I spend three nights out of the week at Panera Bread, that is where I do my work,” he added. Many of the activities at NHS Jankovic is currently involved in revolves around The Music Department. They include The Marching Band, the musical, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, and Pit Orchestra. Jankovic was also on the track team, is a member of the Kevin M. Eidt Chapter of the National Honor Society, the Safe Rides club, and does the senior independent study program, Project Explore. Out of the many activities he participates in, his favorite is the musical. Jankovic continued, “My favorite is the musical and Candlelight, because all of the different aspects come together to work as one, like the singing, dancing, orchestra. Candlelight really shows everything coming together.” For Project Explore, Jankovic is making a short film called “Eugene.” It is around ten minutes, and is collaborating with his best friend, Kyle Brenn (’16). They met freshman year, when they walked into Mrs. Stamos English class, unexpectedly twinning wearing the same blue shirt, shorts, and the same shoes. It is difficult for Jankovic to choose his favorite subject, but considers it to be all of his musical classes. Over the span of three periods, he has Chambers, Band- where he plays the French Horn, the Orchestra- where he plays the Upright Bass, and Jazz Band after school. Jankovics biggest accomplishments throughout his high school career include winning Nationals at Metlife 2014 with The Marching Band; which came in 4th place this year in their conference. For himself personally, his biggest accomplishment so far is “learning how to sing again. I had not sang since fifth grade at Tracey Elementary school,” Jankovic said. In the future, Jankovic does not know where he will be attending in fall 2016. However, he is interested in music and engineering. “I am kinda torn between music and engineering. It would be awesome to do both, or majoring in one thing and doing the other on the side. I’d like to tie the two together like an audio engineer and music engineering, but not a lot of schools offer it.” NHS is lucky to have such a talented student like Thomas Jankovic to grace the halls. We wish him the best of luck in the future and know he will accomplish great things.
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Email nhspawprint@gmail.com to nominate a senior for the next “Student Spotlight” in the April issue.
Media Center Cont. Continued from Page 1
The library requested that the computers be connected to a printer last May 2015, but it happened eight months later in February 2016. The Media Center also does not have cameras or video equipment. “I am constantly trying to peice technology together to do lessons and presentations,” added Mrs. Payton-Roby. This all relates back to the budget cuts. Mrs. Payton-Roby said, “I have been here since 2008 and worked at the Brien McMahon library for two years. It has been six years since NHS has had no budget for books, print and digital media. Both BMHS and NHS lost the budget at same time. We had a 30,000 budget, then reduced to 18,000, and finally reduced to nothing.” Michael Lyons, Chairman for the Board of Education, explained, “libraries are definitely an area that saw budget cutbacks following 2010. Certified librarians were cut back, as were library clerks. In the years before that and immediately after, the amounts for books, supplies, etc. ranged from $1,000 – $2,000.” Principal Roberts responded that library expenditures are a “sensitive subject” and just “haven’t been there.” Roberts said, “there were two grants written to transform the library into a media center/learning commons, but we didn’t receive either grant.” The grants that Roberts were referring to were a proposal that would of enabled NPS to transition all of the school libraries and technology labs into 21st Century “Learning Commons.” Although Norwalk was a finalist for this federal program, they ultimately did not receive that grant. Lyons commented, “we continuously write grant requests for funding, but we do not always receive the funding. The grants and purchasing people met with the Norwalk High library staff not too long ago, to understand their needs so that they could be accounted for in our grant applications.” The student-based budget will be put in place for the 2016-2017 school year. Each school will receive its budget based on the number of students in the school, multiplied by the per pupil expenditure allotted. Going forward, library expenditures would be part of the student-based budget and under the control of the school. According to Roberts, “In order to cover all the costs of running the school, the costs associated with the library would be included in the student-based budget.” Students Justin Ennis (’16) and Sam Coonan (’16) expressed their concerns. Ennis said, “It should be funded. I believe it is beneficial for learning.” Coonan added, “It could use the funding that it doesn’t have, the books are old and falling apart.” After the budget cuts in 2010, Mrs. Payton-Roby and Ms. McCormick had to start funding on their own.
They have approached The Fathers Club and created a web page on DonorsChoose.com. Mrs. Payton-Roby explained, “we are really trying to get resources for our students and through small grants, but we are looking for district to pay more attention and plan a goal going forward.” The third problem is the lack of staff. Ms. McCormick stated, “there used to be three librarians. There are 1600 students at NHS, two is just not enough.” Mrs. Payton-Roby added, “Five years ago when I came, they eliminated a media-specialist position. If we had two media specialists, we could do more research and attempt to create a research curriculum.” Roberts commented there is “unfortunately not” a plan to hire another librarian assistant or media specialist in the future. The fourth problem is the aesthetic look of the media center. It does not satisfy the needs of a 21st century learning space and is uninviting for students. Mrs. Payton-Roby explained that when parents come back to see the library, they comment that it looks exactly the same as when they went to school. Chelsey Cerrato (’16) added, “I don’t really go to the library, I prefer the resource centers. It does not look like a welcoming environment to go and study.” The Media Center wants a makeover to satisfy the needs of an interactive learning commons, that all students can enjoy and be comfortable in. This includes portable chairs, more computers, and new technology that is not recycled from other departments. The fifth problem is the lack of a research curriculum, to properly teach students how to research from elementary to high school.“We need to start teaching kids how to use information effectively in a more systematic way, and give students the skills to be successful in research,” Mrs. Payton Roby stated. With the new block schedule next year, Mrs. Payton Roby is hopeful. Teachers can have the extra time to use the library for research, without worrying of interrupting their daily academic schedule. Last year, the NHS was accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). One of the recommendations in the report included, “ensure staffing levels, instructional materials, technology, equipment, supplies, facilities, and the resources of the library media center are sufficient to fully implement the curriculum.” Roberts responded that he has “included the library in another funding opportunity that may be accessible in the fall.” With the new student-based budget coming into place next year, library expenditures will now be included in the student-based budget. Whether or not the media center will receive enough funding to make their transition into a learning commons, lies now in the hands of the NHS administration.
Internship Program Sara Roman Opinion Editor The Norwalk High School internship program gives seniors the opportunity to explore a career of their choosing. The internship spans over four weeks starting at the end of AP exams, May 16th. Students that have at least a 2.7 GPA, and contain the qualities of a mature young adult, can be accepted into the program. Starting as a Project Explore, Krystina Lyons (’14) and Madeline Manuella (’14) created the program in hope it would help students get a taste of the working world. After the girls graduated, Mrs. Lisa Rivieccio took over. She is involved in college and career opportunities for high school students for twenty years. There are twenty-one seniors that applied this year to the program. Each unpaid internship is found and designed to go with needs or preferences of the student. After the internship begins grades are frozen, this will be the final grade. The way students are accounted for while on the internship, is by writing a required journal entry of their work hours and experiences every week and submit it to Mrs. Rivieccio for reviewing. “Today it is really very important for students to have exposure, they are going to college not really
knowing the demands of the work place or what the world of work is all about,” explained Ms. Rivieccio. The program allows seniors to work alongside people in their desired fields and see if it is what they really want to pursue. As well as allowing them to experience waking up early, social interaction with co-workers and teamwork in a workplace. “The program itself may be a good idea, but the execution of it could be considered not thought all the way through,” said Mr. O’Shaughnessy, head of the Social Studies Department. Since the GPA requirement was lowered after the first year of the program, having originally only students from Kevin M. Eidt Chapter of The National Honor Society participate, this was done to allow more seniors access to the program. After AP exams, it is assumed that there is not much left to be done until finals, but for other general classes there is still a steady amount of work that is being done.
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March 2016
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Reporter Recently three Norwalk High students were awarded in the twenty seventh annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. A national art award program for grades seven through twelve, is held at Silpe Gallery in Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford. The awards opened Sunday, January 17th and closed Friday, February 5th, 2016. Senior Nora Villalobos (’16), received a gold key award, silver key award, and several honorable mentions. Nora’s gold key award was won for a photograph piece. She originally sent sixteen pieces of art, equaling to, two portfolios. Five of Nora’s pieces were chosen with honorable mentions, silver key and golden key awards. Nora was very excited and surprised for her achievement. “But the ones that were chosen weren’t my strangest that I felt. They weren’t my favorite, so I thought it was very interesting that the judges picked work that I didn’t think
Ms. Delong, an art were very good,” said Nora, who plans to teacher at NHS, was more than study studio art in college. proud of her students for their Senior Charlene Atkinson (’16) , rewonderful achievement in ceived a gold key award for a printmaking such a great competition. “ Its piece. Charlene’s teacher really liked her exciting, and I’m glad that my piece of work, so she submitted her work to the competition. She said, “It definitely students are recognized outboosted my confidence in my art,” Charside of school for their artistic lene wants to major in pre-med and minor achievement,” she explained. in photography. Ms. O’Connor, chair Sophomore Megan Ruhnke (’18) , person of the NHS Art Departreceived a silver key award for drawing ment was proud of the hard Photo Credit: T h e Hour/ Erik Trautmann and illustration. “To receive such a great work put into this. Ms. O’Conaward like that, so I was really shocked and also kind of nor said, “All these endeavours are part of the learning happy of course,” said Ruhnke. progress...the NHS Art Department consider ourselves Catherine Robinson (’16) a senior, received second lucky to have all our students.” place in the High School Teen Visions Art Exhibition held This serves as proof that anyone can succeed if they at Sacred Heart University Art and Design Gallery. Her have the right mindset, heart, and devotion put into what artwork will be up at Sacred Heart University until Febru- they are passionate about. Congratulations to all the winners. ary 4th.
New Requirements Hannah Keyes
Sports Editor
Due to a new state policy the credit requirements at Norwalk High School have recently changed and will go into effect next year. NHS as well as other high schools in the United States have specific credit requirements that must be fulfilled in order to graduate. Here in Connecticut, there is no longer a twenty credit requirement, but instead twenty-five credits are needed. It is a mandate from the state that will affect all students starting next year with the freshmen class. The class of 2020 and beyond will be required to have a minimum of twenty-five credits by the time they accept their diploma at the end of senior year. All students in NHS currently are in the clear with only twenty credits. Many students agree with the new policy including Gaby Nunez (’18) said, “I think it’s good because it pushes students to take more classes instead of study halls and could give them the opportunity to find something they really enjoy.” All of these requisites are meant to prevent students from filling up their schedules with study halls and help to strengthen and intensify students learning in their core subjects. Mr. O’Donnell, D-House Guidance Counselor mentions that, “It will allow children to be more curious and have more control of their lives and education.” and adds, “It will enhance college prep classes”.
The Connecticut Plan mentions that a major focus will concern students working towards their Capstone project and fulfilling service requirements, this ensures that classes are being used effectively. The Capstone project experiences could include special projects, a reflective portfolio of a student’s best work, community service, as well as internships. English teacher, Mr. Pagano said, “It’s great for students because they can get real world opportunities and experience different classes.” History teacher, Mr. Laughton said, “I think it’s fair, kids get to take more rigorous classes and learn new topics.” This change will not deeply affect students at NHS much at all because most students graduate with over twenty credits anyways. Board of Education Chairman, Michael Lyons gave his input on the matter and says, “In the 21st century, kids who graduate with minimum math and science are going nowhere fast; we either up our game, or the Chinese and other foreign competitors will clean our clocks. Kids won’t like it; but they’ll like it more than being permanently unemployable!”. There are many altercations being made in the school systems as the times are changing, and this is just a small step in the right direction of improvement. There is only a minimum credit requirement being made, students have the ability to reach further and receive thirty-two credits if they so desire to. In the end, this credit requirement change is only meant to better the education and lives of students.
A Look Into The Past Anabell Builes Reporter Norwalk High School is no stranger to change, considering the building itself has been moved three times. Founded in 1902 on East Avenue according to the Norwalk High School Alumni Association, the school moved to West Avenue in the year 1908. After thirty years at its West Avenue location it moved to East Avenue which later became the current location of Norwalk City Hall. Social Studies teacher and Department Head, Mr.O’Shaughnessy, was a part of the class of 1971, the last class of Norwalk High School’s East Avenue location, which he calls “the old school building.” He recalls many changes within NHS starting with the famous “Cancer Corral”. According to Mr.O’Shaughnessy, Principal Eric Malmquist named a designated smoking area, which by the way was a thing at NHS once upon a time. Smoking is now prohibited according to the Norwalk Public Schools Code of Conduct which states, “Use of tobacco substances is prohibited in all areas at all times on the grounds of the Norwalk Public Schools. Students who violate this policy will be
subject to suspensions and fines.”, Times have clearly changed significantly. Mr.O’Shaughnessy also recalled that parking on campus was only available to seniors. If any juniors parked in the school parking lot, a group of seniors would personally tow the juniors car and half the profits of getting the car back would go towards the senior class. Being in the last class of the Norwalk High School East Avenue building, Mr.O’shaughnessy was a part of the overcrowding that led to the move and says, “We couldn’t even move in the hallways it was so crowded!” In the fall of 1971 NHS moved to the location students all know and love, twenty three Calvin Murphy Drive. More recently, Ms Kelly, an English teacher, class of 2008, was also a student at NHS. “A lot is still the same” she continued, about the subtle changes there have been. She noted that there are a lot more opportunities outside of the classroom recently, “Now we have programs like the Senior Internship Program, Little Bear Cafe, The Den.” Which she believes will help students succeed outside the classroom. In NHS’s 114 years, there have been countless changes. Only time will tell what the future holds.
Out of Date Giles Ruck Reporter The Norwalk High School Music Department is known for putting on some of the greatest and oldest on-going high school performances in New England. Though, the 600 plus students involved just barely manage to keep these performances coming with the deteriorating state of the auditorium. The current Lighting Technician, Lilly Portillo (’18) summed up how many feel. Portillo explained, “In recent years we’ve had people compare our shows to Broadway, this speaks volumes. If we are able to do this with outdated equipment, imagine what we could produce with new, modern equipment.” It may come as a surprise that many of the technical systems that shows including Candlelight, Footpath, and the Spring Musical depend on are decades out of date. Some lighting fixtures date back to the seventies and eighties. The rigging system which suspends thousands of pounds of equipment above the performers on stage is almost entirely original and under maintained. To add to the list, the workhorse of the school’s sound system; the analog mixing console is practically prehistoric, replaced by its digital predecessor in most modern establishments. Richard Taggart, a professional Entertainment Technician hired by the Music Department to work on the auditorium’s technical systems mentioned, “I could easily spend a couple million dollars just fixing things that need it.” Although the Music Department is accommodated with a reasonable budget provided for by the school, the Department is unable to care for the auditorium with the allocated budget. “The budget is very little and doesn’t last very long,” according to the current Band Director, Chris Rivera. He continued, “The money from the school goes to text books, sheet music, and other consumables.” This has lead to the Music Department taking matters into its own hands by replacing systems that were beyond repair. With funds gathered from music events and fundraisers the department recently shelled out thousands of dollars to replace the wireless mic system. When asked whether the school has made an effort to update the auditorium’s resources, Taggart replied, “Not at all. The Music Department pays for most of the maintenance and updates.” With almost one third of the school depending on the auditorium to be functional, it is now up to the school to take action. Photo Credit: Giles Ruck
Manuela Osorio
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NEWS
March 2016
The Youth Matters No Means No Aneddy Correa Reporter In 2012, during the Obama versus Romney presidential election, only thirty eight percent of young adults ages eighteen through twenty four voted, stated by census.gov. This suggests that not enough youth are interested in the future of the United States. Obama obtained about twelve point three million youth votes during this election, making fifty one percent of them high school graduates. President Obama achieved sixty percent of the nation’s youth votes making it eleven percent less than the 2008 Presidential Election. Unemployment grew with college graduates as they struggled to find employment. As social media contributed greatly with the 2012 election, it is expected the same for the following election being held in November of 2016. At Norwalk High School, thirty-seven out of fifty senior students who will be eligible are expected to vote for the next presidential election. Students at NHS have a point of view that is greatly diverse. Many students have their mind set on who and why they are voting. The vote of the youth this year is expected to contribute greatly, being that it is the largest generation containing eighty million Americans. “Eighteen to twenty-five year olds don’t have an excuse to not vote, they have all the information they need right at the tip of their fingertips,” said Mr. Karl, who teaches Ad-
vanced Placement Comparative Politics. Thirteen out of fifty students of which will not vote, claim that their votes will not make a difference or simply could not care less of who will be the next President. The biggest conflict during this election with the students at NHS is whether or not Donald Trump will win. However, some NHS seniors are going to the polls this fall. “I believe it is important for young people to have a voice in the election, because our values are different than older people, they should be considered,” said Monica Mercuri (’16), Comparative Politics student. When asked why the students were voting, many replied claiming their freedom of speech and practicing their civil duties as young citizens of the United States. “People complain that the President sucks and those are the people that don’t vote, I’m doing my duty as an American Citizen,” said Devon Barker (’16). For the Presidential Election of 2016, young adults are expected to make up forty percent of the electorate of 2020, according to the Washington Times.com.
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Abigail Kniffen
Photo Editor Sex·u·al ha·rass·ment is defined as “Harassment in a workplace or other professional or social situation, involving the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks.” Nearly twenty percent of girls between the ages of fourteen and seventeen have been victims of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault, according to the Justice Department. A 1990 study shows that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of eighteen. One in five women and one in ten men have experienced dating violence in high school. It has become a common and unwanted issue. The problem seems to circulate throughout Norwalk High school as well. “I never really considered it “Sexual harassment” when a guy would cat call at me but in more recent light it has progressed when guys started pinching and unhooking my bra,” stated a female student. Harassment does not have to be geared towards a sexual nature, but have the power to be directed at the sex of someone. Sexual harassment in-
cludes many things such as actual or attempted rape or sexual assault, unwanted pressure for sexual favors, deliberate touching, unwanted sexual looks or gestures and unwanted phone calls, emails, or any type of social media. The harassment does not have to be physical but can be other gestures such as “cat calling” or “elevator eyes.” Keeping students safe at NHS is one of the administrators biggest concern. B House Housemaster, Dr. Marinaccio is also the safety director. Marinaccio explained “I would like to have an assembly to re-educate the students and staff that sexual harassment, bullying and sexting is wrong. It hasn’t been as much of a problem t h i s year but is becoming more of a problem on social media. If you see something, say something.” A male student was asked what he thought about the problem. He responded, “ I feel girls have it a lot harder than guys. I can not personally say I’ve ever seen a guy get harassed like that, but I’ve seen plenty of girls at Norwalk High get bothered and I can tell they are not comfortable with it at all. I don’t think it has much attention by adults because people are afraid to report it.” Sexual harassment is a problem that needs to come to everyone’s attention and be addressed. It is unwanted and is frowned upon.
Are HS Relationships Worth It? Effy Guzman News Editor While dating can start at any age, most adolescents partake in more “serious” relationships during their high school careers. It is often up for debate whether or not those relationships should be pursued. The longevity of high school relationships is often put into question. According to brandongaille.com, less than two percent of marriages are to a high school sweetheart. This gives people leverage to say that high school relationships are simply not worth it. Yet, despite what the common mindset may be, marriage is not the only endgame to dating. When asked whether she believes high school relationships last, Norwalk High School student Jennifer Morlot (’17) says, “Mine has, definitely, it’s been like almost
three years now. It just depends on the couple really, if you want it to last then you’ll make it last.” She replies with, “I don’t think it necessarily matters if they last as long as what you get out of the relationship is a growing experience,” when further asked about the importance of that longevity. It seems that NHS students have a firm grasp on the concept that not everything you partake in in life needs to be about succeeding or failing. Another subject of concern that comes to mind when speaking about high school relationships concern whether they affect students’ grades or not. According to blog. childrensdayton.org, “There is ample research to indicate that dating is associated with bad outcomes for some of our teens—lower grades in school, increased drug and alcohol use, and increased levels of depression. Other research supports many positive effects from dating—better school performance, increased confidence, and a positive self-concept.”
While some students’ grades can take a hit once they get into a new relationship, other students’ grades may remain stagnant or even improve. Nico Roldan (’17) states that a relationship “could end up distracting [students], but also if you’re in a really good relationship it builds up your personality so you could have more confidence. So, it could be detrimental but it could also be beneficial.” The answer always seems to be a resounding “depends” when questions over whether students should partake in high school relationships are asked. Mr. Grady, a Latin teacher at NHS, says “I just think that interpersonal relationships at [these students’] age have benefits, but they also need to realize that due to the age group things might not work out, due to where they are on the maturity spectrum.” A case for and against high school dating can both be made, but in the end it has less to do with relationships themselves and more to do with the individual’s mindset.
Advice For College Freshmen Reporter Norwalk High Class of 2015 just finished their first semester of college. These students have now experienced what they have been preparing for since their first year of high school. The Class of 2015 had over three hundred and fifty graduates. Some of these kids went on to four year universities. About twenty of these kids came back to talk to the graduating seniors of Class of 2016. They discussed typical college topics like roommates, scheduling, classes, and other things. This gave the kids a little more insight on how college is going to work and how different it is going to be. They talked about how not to schedule an eight AM class if you are not a morning
person. If you do not attend class, you are only hurting yourself. These college freshmen were asked if Norwalk High well prepared them. Mallory Rochefort (’15) said, “I do believe Norwalk High prepared me well because I chose to take AP classes while I was in high school but I don’t think any high school can really compare to what college is like. They are extremely different styles of education.” Allie Hall (’15) also said, “I was well prepared for college because I pushed myself to talk harder classes.” College is definitely expensive, the price can range from nine thousand to sixty thousand. That number does not include the miscellaneous spendings that a college kid has to do. “I wish I knew how much money you spend and need because it’s all really expensive,” said Leslie Garcia (’15). Another thing kids realized is that college is not going to be the same as high
school. The professors are going to treat you like adults and they are going to make the student responsible. “I wish I knew that I need to be organized and write in a planner. The syllabus is a lifeline, there
are times where you will have a paper due and they won’t tell you,” Nicole Bonanni (’15). College is the start to the beginning of the best years to come.
Photo Credit: Monica Mercuri
Allison Pitasi
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NEWS
March 2016
Diabetes Truth The Middle East Joel Degray II Reporter There are many students in Norwalk High School that have health problems that many people do not understand and should not make assumptions about. One of the health problems that most commonly causes confusion is diabetes, so people with it are often questioned for it. For example, a diabetic is usually asked the infamous question, “Can you eat this?” and the answer is yes. Still, much to their aggravation, they are not fully trusted on their word due to how much people are mistaken about it. The main aspect of diabetes that is not known, is that there are multiple types with different causes. As of now there are four known types: type one diabetes, type two diabetes, LADA, and gestational. This also is why it is not talked about, many people do not want to make mistakes on the subject and so they prefer to not talk about it at all. Several students at NHS know a diabetic, but not that much about diabetes itself. NHS student, Sara Grant (’18) said, “It is a blood disorder and your pancreas cannot produce insulin.” This is partially true, it is a general statement and the case varies for each type but it is not a blood disor-
der.
NHS student, Jason McKelvy (’18) described it as, “When you cannot eat certain things like candy and you have to monitor your blood sugar.” This is also partially true, a diabetic does have to check their blood sugar, but there are no restrictions on what a diabetic can eat, the only thing that changes is the amount of insulin they need. A physician at the health center of NHS PA-C, Rose Sferlazza, responded, “Diabetes is when the body cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin or none at all.” She went on to say that while there is juvenile diabetes, it is not uncommon for there to be adults with diabetes. Displaying diabetes is not caused by the age of an individual. The truth is that diabetes is a strange thing to understand and as such it is hard to get many of the facts straight.
Lester Harris Reporter The students at Norwalk High School are aware of the basic knowledge on ISIS, but lack depth of what is happening. Israelis have always held a cherished place in American hearts. ISIS has now caused chaos and havoc in the lives of people in Iraq, Israel, Iran, and Afghanistan; because of this, the U.S. reacted in defense of Israel. On Saturday, January 20th, ISIS sent an audio statement warning against all Western nations sending troops into their group’s territory. Lexi Randazzo (’18), a sophomore at Norwalk High School, said, “helping Israel is right, but we can’t help everyone.” Bianca Randazzo (’18), also a sophomore added, “helping everyone is putting us in a deeper hole.” Katherine Abreu (’18) said, “The U.S can come to an agreement on what is right and is wrong. It is controversial” There was a survey conducted asking a number of students questions on current events happening in the Middle East. Twelve students said the U.S. is not handling the situation with ISIS correctly. “We need more boots on the ground, in coordinates with other countries in the United Nations,” explained Devon Barker (’16), a senior ROTC student at Norwalk High. According to hufngtonpost.com, ISIS is believed to be holding up to 3,500 people as
slaves. Most people enslaved are women and children from the Yazidi community. So far, the U.S. army has 6,000 troops in total in the Middle East. President Obama wants to have about 20,000 troops over in the Middle East by 2020. By 2024, the U.S. expects the mission to be complete and to no longer have a problem with Al Qaeda or ISIS. A number of students were asked if they were aware of what is going on in Middle East, if they often watch the news about it, if they would ever visit the Middle East, if they think the U.S. is handling it appropriately, or if they think the problem can be solved. Out of fifty students, thirty said they were aware of what’s going on, fifteen said they watch the news often, twenty three said they would visit the Middle East, sixteen students believe the U.S is handling the problem ISIS is causing appropriately. The other twenty two students did not know if it was right or wrong. Finally, twenty four students said it could be solved, twelve said it could not, the other fourteen said they did not know. This can affect the U.S. and Norwalk students because, based on how diverse the school is and the different opinions and beliefs there are, this can cause a lot of problems with students and people amongst each other with stereotyping, discrimination and racial comments . It will also get the youth involved with what is going on and if they speak their mind the government can hear what everyone has to say and then maybe make necessary changes.
Confirmed Courses for 2016-2017 Priyanka Thakkar Social Media Editor Teachers continuously try to get new courses integrated into NHS’s curriculum. This year many teachers have proposed new and exciting courses for students to take. There are many steps before a proposed course can become a class. First, there needs to be an interest in this course. Students or parents can ask for a particular course or a teacher can show that there is an interest. Once interest is shown, teachers desiring the course create a proposal, stating the materials that will be needed, whether it will be a half year or full year class, etc. This proposal is shown to Brien McMahon; if they agree to move forward with it, it is taken downtown. The course is discussed in a round table discussion. After that, it is either accepted or rejected. Many times courses are rejected because of funding. “Funding is really the big one. All these courses are expensive,” said Mr. Anastasia, the Science Department Head. Sometimes it takes teachers years to get their courses accepted. “AP Economics got denied three times,” added Mr. O’Shaughnessy, Social Studies Department Head. Courses that do get accepted are integrated the next
English: • Digital Story Telling • Literacy Workshop Social Studies: • American Studies & Pop Culture • Broadcast Jounalism II: Production & Editing Other: • Leadership Developement • Freshman Seminar
school year. This particular year, the History, English, and Science department are offering some unique classes for students to take. Mrs. Truitt is teaching a new class called American Studies and Pop Culture. The class is designed to analyze various forms of popular culture and the connection to society. “We will look at many things: popular movies, advertisements, fashion trends, and use that as the impetus to then draw conclusions,” stated Mrs. Truitt. It is a good class for students who are able to make connections between society and history. “It teaches students to evaluate their own culture that they are living in. I know students will remember history much more vividly this way,” added Mrs. Truitt. Her next task is to let students take this class as a replacement for US History. Digital Storytelling is another great class coming to the English curriculum next year. The course will consist of using technology to tell stories. “We will be using film to create our own story. Whether it’s using the camera or writing the story. We are basically trying to address the elements of creating a film with the aspects of writing, dialogue, and acting,” said Mr. Pagano. This particular course is going to work well with block scheduling, coming next year. “It’s an opportunity to teach
Science: • AP Environmntal Science • ECE Biotechnology • PLTW Honors Principles of Biomedicine • PLTW Honors Civil Engineering & Architecture • Genetics • ESL Science Foundations
specific skills such as different camera angles, how the cameras work, etc. And it can be done in one period,” added Mr. Pagano. Lastly, the Science Department has many new classes coming such as a new AP Science course, genetics, and Project Lead the Way courses. Those who want to go into the medical field now have the opportunity to take Bio Medicine. Those who want to pursue Engineering, can take Civil Engineering. Genetics is a also a good class that can be paired with another science elective. “It’s a nice combo for students who don’t take the normal AP or Physics route,” added Mr. Anastasia. Take advantage of these new courses, Norwalk High School. Now is the time to explore new interests.
Art: • Honors Photo III • Honors Photo IV • Honors Advanced Photography • Cultural Perspectives & Art • Music Theory • AP Music Theory • Digital foundations in Communications • Intro to Video Game Design
6
NEWS
March 2016
Dedicated Citizens Improve City James Hobayan Reporter Once a month, a group of dedicated citizens known as the Common Council meet at City Hall to discuss the future of Norwalk. One of the many things they discuss is propositions for potential new business for the city, like a Chick-Fil-A or a shopping mall. The students of Norwalk High School often compare the very few modern venues in Norwalk to neighboring cities such as Stamford or New Haven. Any citizen actually has the power to inflict change within the city by simply contacting a member of the Common Council to voice their concerns. The council represents the legislative body of the City of Norwalk, who are responsible for passing city ordinances, also known as city laws and regulations. The council is composed of twelve members, all who are nominated by either the Democrat or Republican parties here in Norwalk. There are two representatives from each district, Cranbury-Silvermine, Central, South, and East Norwalk. They take notice of concerning issues with-
in their city district and bring it before the council, who then discuss what can be improved upon through an official proposal after very close analysis. However, despite the possibility of being some of the most influential and work-demanding citizens within the city, the council is only paid a staggering fifty dollars a month. “You really have to love your city to be able to do this,” said Councilwoman Giandurco, a second term council woman. Despite the payroll, it is evident that the members of the council clearly enjoy serving their city, working effortlessly to make the City of Norwalk the thriving community it is. “We have it all, we have beaches, ponds, parks, urban-rural housing, diverse income and cultures,” explained councilman Bruce Kimmel. When asked about his vision of Norwalk ten years from now, the optimistic fourteen year councilman continued “I see in ten years
the best school system in the state, mixed housing, see our diversity flourish - a city we [are] all proud of.” Contact your local common councilman/woman via email or phone to voice your concerns and desires for the city. Their contact information can be found on the City of Norwalk’s website.
Cannot Escape Cyberbullying Julia Negron Reporter Cyber bullying has been a problem since the 1990’s when the first types of social media such as MySpace were invented. Nine out of ten children before high school are exposed to harassment through social media. Many different social media outlets have been used to attack people, whether it is a classmate, or someone who lives in the area. Brighten, an app that is used to write anonymous and polite comments on people's profiles, was taken too far and the comments became degrading. NHS Librarian, Ms. Payton-Roby commented on the situation, “As a school we should build a culture and tell the students that this is not okay, education should always come first. Workshops should be held for teachers to help inform the students about this on going problem.” According to PureSight.com, within the last year, one million children have been subjected to cyberbullying, and only ten percent of parents knew about their child getting harassed on social media. “Bullying is all other
the place whether it's face-to-face or through an electronic device.” said D-House master, Mr. O’Donnell. Bullying can be prevented. However, bullying that takes place on social media cannot be investigated, unless it is brought up as a serious issue. Cyberbullying can string from anything about a person, whether it is their sexuality or even just the way they look. Shane DiTullio, NHS (’18) , had a lot to say on the topic. “Not everyone is going to fit in and bullies are everywhere. I went to catholic school for ten years and it is much worse there than in public school. The school cannot do anything about the bullies, and if they did it would cause more chaos.” Rumors spread about anyone and anything, but sadly with the use of social media, it progresses into something bigger. NHS parent Carmen Negron explained her experience as a victim of bullying when she was in high school, has a lot to say about the topic, “When I went to high school, you only got bullied face to face, or sometimes fist to face. It was a lot more physical then it is now. With social media being so popular, those bullies follow you home and there is no escaping it which leads the kids to
feeling hopeless and sadly ending their life.” Cyberbullying is unfortunately something some people face everyday, and there is no escaping it. Speaking up about bullying can save someone's life. If any student or staff member is ever feeling helpless, they can call 1 (800) 273-8255.
photo credit: www.dallas.adl.com
NHS Dodgeball Tournament March 16th, 2016 6:00-9:30 PM NHS GYMNASIUM Tickets are $5 Design by: Priyanka Thakkar
¡Viva España! NHS Students Take on Spain!
Ava Rosato (’16)
“Ten days, seven cities, breathtaking sights, and some wonderful memories. My experience on the trip has definitely convinced me to take advantage of any opportunities to see new places, it’s so worth it.”
Design by: Monica Mercuri
Jayda Cruz (’16)
“Going to Spain was surreal. Seeing the way they live on a day-to-day basis and how it differs from the way we live in the U.S. was intersting. I loved it.”
Elvira Theodoridis (’16)
“It was definitely a trip that was worth experiencing. It was just amazing and the cities were absolutely beautiful and it was great to experience the different customs.”
George Kutrubis (’16)
“It was an unbelievable experience to see a new country with my friends and embrace a new culture to which I have come to love.”
Gracie Bradley (’17) “I’m so fortunate to have been able to go to Spain. Not only was it culturally amazing, but I was able to spend ten days making friendships that I know I’ll never lose.”
Photo Credit: instagram- Kyle Fallon, Gaby Davilla, Ava Rosato, Elvira Theodoridis, Arissa Troy
A&E
nhspawprint@gmail.com - @nhs_pawprint - nhspawprint.com
Zayn Goes Solo 21 Pilots Album
photo credit: cbslocal.com
The moment fans have been eagerly awaiting has finally come. On January 29, 2016, Zayn Malik dropped his first single as a solo artist. The single, titled “Pillow Talk,” taken from his upcoming debut album, “Mind of Mine,” is all people can talk about since Zayn announced via Twitter that he was making new music soon. Since his departure from One Direction in March of 2015, the question that the fans have been asking has now been answered. Why would he leave the band he has worked tirelessly for, for five years? In a recent interview with thefader. com, Zayn has revealed that his ideas for what direction their music should take were always shot down by producers. “Whenever I would suggest something, it was like it didn’t fit us. There was just a general conception that the management already had of what they want for the band.” He stated in the interview. He continued, “I just wasn’t convinced with what we were selling. I wasn’t 100 percent behind the music. It wasn’t me.” Fed up with his ideas being constantly rejected because they did not fit into the band’s genre of music that they produced, Zayn decided to leave for the sake of his happiness and so he could produce music that was more suited for his taste, which was more R&B oriented. “Pillow Talk” has definitely taken a step away from the pop-oriented music that One Direction produced throughout the years. Since the single has dropped, it has received support from several of Zayn’s peers. One peer who commented on the
Sara Roman Opinion Editor Smearing black make-up over his hands and neck in order to represent the suffocating insecurities felt by the character manifested by music in Blurryface, Twenty-one Pilots’ most recent album. February eleventh marks the start of the Emotional Road Show world tour for the duo, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dunn of Twenty-one Pilots. Starting as a high school trio in 2009 in Columbus, Ohio, Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas, and Chris Salih the began of Twenty-one Pilots. The trio toured across Ohio and the Midwest in a Bandwagon RV with a bumpy suspension and a disgusting toilet. Persevering the trip and spreading their name throughout the nation made them grow, not only as artists but in their fan base as well. Twenty One Pilots self-released their first debut album of their rap-infused, hightech pop in 2010, with a series of videos to accompany it made by their friend Mark Eshelman. Thomas and Salih left the band in 2011. Despite this, Tyler Joseph carried on with a new member, Josh Dun. Later on in 2011, they released a second album called, Regional at Best. “Guns for Hands” landed twenty one on Japan’s Hot 100 list in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, “Holding On To You” earned the tenth spot on Hot Modern Rock Tracks, and thirty three on Rock Songs Most Popular List. Twenty-one Pilots signed to Atlantic Records subsidiary Fueled by Ramen in 2012 while releasing their debut album for that label that same year. The debut album called Vessel went from forty second in 2013 to twenty fifth in 2014 then to the
ninth spot in 2016 on the Top Digital Albums list for the U.S. Vessel and also went from fourth on Top Pop Catalog in 2015 to second in 2016. Just last year, they released another album titled, Blurryface. The mass amount of popularity with this album was outstanding. Gaining them three number one spots in 2015 and 2016 for Top Modern Rock/ Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and The Billboard 200. Tyler and Josh started out as two strong willed teens in Ohio, to becoming a voice to all those who struggle with the pain of reality.
photo credit: rollingstone.com
A&E Editor
success of the song was Gigi Hadid, who made an appearance in the “Pillow Talk” music video. That video was released the same date as the song. The song “Pillow Talk” rose to number six on the iTunes charts, only minutes after it was released. According to billboard.com, “Pillow Talk” was one of the songs on the top charts for Digital Songs and Streaming songs, with 267,000 first-week U.S. downloads sold and twenty two point three million U.S. streams, which is the fourth largest streaming start, ever. Since the single has been released, Zayn has taken to Twitter to claim that he is “blown away” by all of the support given to him by the fans and his peers. Twitter was taken over by Zayn’s fans the very minute the song was released, and in only minutes of the song being released, #PillowTalk was trending on Twitter. Zayn’s voice was angelic in all of One Direction’s songs, but he has taken it to a whole other level of greatness.
Photo credit: billboard.com
Jennalee Potmesil
RIP David Bowie Death of Fame Sports Editor Recently the musical genius and cultural icon David Bowie passed away but his legacy will continue to remain intact. The English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, painter, and actor died at age sixty-nine in early January this year. A post on his official Facebook page read, “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer..” He was well loved and lived a rewarding and eventful life. Bowie taught generations of musicians about the power of drama, images and personas. He struck chords of courage to the “weirdos” of the world encouraging them to love their true selves. With songs like “Space Oddity” and Let’s Dance” Bowie topped the charts and spread his message among the masses. David’s songs were mostly about being an outsider. He was a misfit of sorts and did not feel like he ever belonged. Music was an outlet where he could express whatever he felt. During a time where homosexuality was considered shameful and disgusting, Bowie boasted that he was gay after being newly married to his wife. He used an alias, and went by the name of “Ziggy Stardust.” He later came out as bisexual and this did not detract from his fame, but only added fuel to the fire. He led the way in contextualizing pop through LGBT
identity. Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and had created a total of twenty-six legendary albums. The music he produced varied from rock, cabaret, jazz and “plastic soul” — which is a term used to describe white musicians singing soul music. He also captured the drama and longing of everyday life, enough to give him number one pop hits. His producer and friend Tony Visconti on Facebook mentioned that his last record, Blackstar, was “his parting gift.” When all is said and done, David Bowie was a revolutionary man who completely changed the face of the music industry, and should be remembered fondly for his work.
huf fingtonpost.com
Hannah Keyes
Emma Daignault Business Manager The Hollywood walk of fame, TV shows, tabloids, and social media; an average person is surrounded by famous people everyday. Many famous musicians have died in January within weeks of one another. David Bowie, Maurice White, Paul Kantner, Glenn Frey, Dale “Buffin” Griffin, Pete Huttlinger, Lemmy Kilmister, Jimmy Bain, and the list goes on. These people shaped the face of the music industry and fans would be lost without them. Music is an important aspect of many people’s lives and certainly captures the attention of the media. Everyone has spent time in their room listening to their favorite song while singing along. There is a shocking reality that has come to surface from the death of some of these famous musicians, and which is they are more famous after death. It seems that the death of a celebrity instantly equates to more fame. And more “Fans” for example David Bowie album sales increased by five thousand percent in the aftermath of his death on January 10th. Why should one care about losing an “inspiration” when 151,584 people die everyday. When 260 school children have died in Chicago from gun violence in the past three years. Do these people really change the world so much that people mourn in front apple stores when Steve Jobs died? Or Mi-
chael Jackson who was accused of molesting a child. These celebrities have become even more popular than before. In cases such as John Lennon, he was more than a musician. He was an anti-war activist and a peace activist and helped the world with more beyond what his music could provide. Although famous people shape social media and society, the average Joe’s death should matter as much as Michael Jackson’s. It is because they are famous that they mean more to people.
photo credit: vibe.com
An upcoming R&B artist from Louisville, Kentucky has been stealing teenage girls hearts with his most recent album, “Trapsoul.” If there is ever a question as to how he is stealing teenage girls hearts, all that has to be done is view one of his pictures. Nothing else has to be said. Since he became so famous so fast a lot of people do not know much about him. He has a beautiful daughter named Harley, who he obsessively posts pictures of on his instagram. What many people do not know about Bryson is that he had a rough childhood, which has helped shape his career in the music industry. He grew up with his younger brother Eric and was raised by his Grandmother. Unfortunately, his mother passed away when he was young.At the age of fifteen, Bryson was writing and recording his own music. He now has over 685,000 followers on twitter and 1.4 million followers on instagram. Tiller was born into a city where talent goes unnoticed way too often, but when he released his hit single, “Don’t” is when he blew up. He was awarded a well deserved spot on Billboard. His song was the thirteenth most played during the week of January 30, 2016. Tiller offers a fresh, nostalgic sound that is raw and dope at the same time. Now being a hometown hero, he only wants to prove to the world who he truly is and what he has to offer. His sudden explosion in the music industry left everyone in awe. According to boombox.com his song, “502 Come Up” is being ackwoledged as him being on his
grind and taking whats rightfully his. His album featured other songs such as, “Exchange”, “Been that Way”, and “Rambo”, all have which captured my heart, therefore my soul is trapped, literally. A few other people in the business such as, Timbaland, Drake, and Fetty Wap, who are clearly very talented musicians, especially in the R&B and Rap industry, co-signed Bryson. Many artists make huge impacts on people through their music, but Bryson’s impact cut the deepest. His music is amazing. It is astonishing, really.
photo credit: gotthathiphop.com
A&E Editor
Hip-Hop Royalty Justis Picci Reporter The Palace Dance Company hold three gold medals for the Hip-Hop International World Championships for 2011, 2012, and 2013 representing their home country New Zealand. It houses some of the most talented hip-hop dancers on the planet, shown by them winning the gold medals for a world championship. Each individual who is a part of this dance school is more than committed and knows that they come there to work and soon compete in many dance competitions that end in world championships in Los Angeles. Within this enormous company there are some familiar faces including “The ReQuest Dance Crew” and yes, they were featured in Justin Bieber’s music video “Sorry”. Along with the Request Crew there are more competitive crews inside the Palace including, Bubblegum, The Duchesses, Sorority and The Royal Family. Bubblegum is the junior division dance crew which is typically made up of middle schoolers, they won second place at the Hip-Hop International (HHI) World Championships last year. The Duchesses is an older group with many new dancers. They are part of the Varsity division along with Sorority, which is now an all girl hiphop crew. The Duchesses took sixth place and Sorority took fourth place at the HHI World Championships. Then all of their older groups combine to form a so called, “Mega Crew”, The Royal Family. The Royal Family, is their biggest crew and brings out the best in all the groups. They have been the only Mega Crew to win back to back to back gold
medals in the HHI Championships in 2011, 2012, and, 2013. They received silver this 2015 season after taking a year’s break. Lastly, there is the ladies of request. “The Re-Quest Dance Crew” is their most famous and oldest known group. They have been involved with Justin Bieber, JLo, and many more artist. This group includes the dancers from “Sorority” and then the Adults who cannot compete in the Varsity groups anymore. Although they do not compete anymore they are actually still the most known internationally. They are recognized mostly from Justin Bieber’s new music video for his song “Sorry”, which features the dancers throughout the whole video. This crew was started by the famous Parris Goebel the choreographer known around the world. Parris runs the Palace Dance studio and also choreographs music videos, movies, concerts, and much more. Parris dances with “The Royal Family” and “Re-Quest” and does choreograph for both crews. Parris started her dancing career with the request crew when they were in middle school. They soon went on to join an American Television dance competition. They were voted off in the fourth week but that did not stop Parris. She then opened her own studio and it all grew from there, now she herself is part Justin Bieber’s new Album “Purpose” and that is something they can never forget.
photo credit: youtube.com
TRAPSOUL Evan Watson-Shannon
9
A&E
March 2016
buisnessinsider.com
Deadpool Abigail Kniffen Photo Editor Deadpool is a fictional anti-hero appearing in American comic books, published by Marvel Comics. Deadpool tells the story of Wade Wilson. Wilson is devastated as he learns that he has cancer in his liver, lungs, prostate and brain. Not quite ready to leave his existence, and devoted to his love interest, he decides to enlist what he is told is a “government program” that will turn him into a super soldier. However, he is not informed that the actual point of the program is to turn him into a super slave. Various painful experiments leave Wilson with an incredible healing factor, but also horrifically scarred and completely psychotic. Putting on a red and black suit and calling himself Deadpool, he becomes a mercenary on the prowl for the man responsible for his tortured existence Actor Ryan Reynolds portrayed the role of Deadpool and
rumor had it that he had wanted to play the role for quite some time. “Obviously most comic book movies are family friendly. Deadpool’s unique,” he said. “He’s aware he’s in a comic book movie. He breaks the fourth wall, addresses the audience directly. It’s very meta, but at the same time, as the canon would suggest, it’s quite cruel and quite dark as the world is.” Reynolds said in a recent interview according to www.etonline.com. After years of being stuck in development because of studio executives who did not understand the concept for the potential of comic book movies, Deadpool was moved forward. 20th Century Fox officially announced that the movie would be released on February 12, 2016.
It was also stated that Deadpool would be an R- rated Marvel movie, the first one since “The Punisher” which came out in 2004.The movie earned its R-rating through a mix of strong language, extreme violence, and sexual content far beyond that is usually found in the Marvel universe. Deadpool became the first R-rated movie to achieve $100 million in domestic box office sales over its opening weekend, pulling in an impressive $135 million in North America and $260 million worldwide, according to box office research firm Rentrak. The massive amount of money earned boosted the sequel to be in the works very soon.
An Interesting Way To Make Pizza Priyanka Thakkar Social Media Editor Let’s Pizza is the world’s first vending machine that makes pizza. Conveniently, this pizzeria is open 365 days and 24 hours a day. This machine allows pizza enthusiasts to enjoy fresh food that takes a short amount of time with a minimal cost.
The pizza is made from scratch with the dough made from a mixture of flour and water. Then the dough is kneaded and flattened into a ten and half inch pizza by the machine. The machine spreads the tomato sauce on to the pizza and then adds the toppings. Customers have an option of selecting toppings that include pepperoni, ham, bacon, or cheese. The pizza is cooked in a 700 degree
oven, which is why the entire process takes less than three minutes. And customers have the opportunity to see the entire process happen, from the forming of the dough to the building of the pizza box. Thankfully, the machine has enough ingredients for 100 pizza’s before it needs to be re-filled. Let’s Pizza is originally an Italian product that now has locations in the Unit-
ed Kingdom. But it has yet to be integrated into the United States due to it’s large cost. According to dailymail.com, the machine retails for $32,000, whereas the pizza’s only sell for $4 to $6. Plans to come to U.S. have been unfulfilled but social media has only strengthened its outcome to come to the U.S. Hopefully, Americans will be seeing this machine soon.
Where top candidates
NHS Student Opinions Sean Sullivan (‘16)
“Socialism will not work in America. Free college, free healthcare, free everything: it’s not possible. Someone needs to pay for it. Do not feel the bern.”
Nathan Tynik (’17) “It is good that the people have the right to vote, however how ever I believe most voters don’t make proper use of this right.”
Harper Gande (‘16) and Lindsey Dell’isola (‘16) “Being able to vote is a good thing. Don’t just vote because you can vote because you can, do your background checks.”
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Introducing.... Humans of Norwalk High
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E DITORIAL
The Trash Blame Game Monica Mercuri editor in chief
Norwalk High School 23 Calvin Murphy Drive Norwalk, CT (203) 838-4481 The Paw Print would like to thank all journalism students for their work in the creation of the paper.
Advisor Mr. Karl Editor in Chief Monica Mercuri ______Designers______ News Editor Effy Guzman Opinion Editor Sara Roman A&E Editor(s) Jennalee Potmesil Evan Watson-Shannon Sports Editor Hannah Keyes Photo Editor: Abigail Kniffen Social Media/Website Editor Priyanka Thakkar Business Manager Emma Daignault Staff Writers Mackenzie Lowden Justis Picci Cassandra Arce Anabell Builes Aneddy Correa Joel Degray II Lester Harris James Hobayan Julia Negron Manuela Osorio Giles Ruck Matthew Schwartz Reid Singewald Allison Pitasi
POLICY: Our newspaper reserves the right to edit all submissions for space and clarity. All entries must include name, year in school, and phone number for verification. The opinions expressed in the opinion section are those of the writers, not the entire staff.
Students are constantly complaining about the cleanliness of Norwalk High School and that resources do not work. The bathroom stall walls are full of grafti, containing offensive remarks that are written in black sharpie. Trash is discarded in the hallways and in the crevices of the stairwells. Water bottles, wrappers, and left over food are thrown to the ground. Keyboard keys are ripped off of the chromebooks, and hundreds of gum pieces are pasted under desks, railings, and on the stairwell floor. It is so easy to complain about the school, based on the conditions witnessed on a day-to-day basis. Let’s point fingers away from blaming “the school” generally for being dirty and not having workable resources, but on the students. “The school” is a not the bully; fiercely writing disgusting remarks about others on the stalls, damaging reputations and hurting feelings, the students are. “The school” is not throwing water bottles, wrappers, and food on the ground, when there are perfectly working trash cans scattered virtually around every corner, the students are. The NHS custodians work late every day, cleaning up classrooms,
bathrooms, and the hallways for the next school day. However, their job would be much easier if students did not selfishly throw their trash on the floor. Often, students also leave trash behind in classrooms, leaving teachers to clean up the mess, which they should not have to do. Just pick it up. Mistakes happen. However, leaving the trash on floor like nothing has happened contributes to this negative outlook and is not what NHS is all about. Those that acknowledge it and do anything at all, are just as bad as the litterer. Think about a Norwalk High School, one without littering and negligence. Many of the bathrooms might actually all be open, rather than being closed to be repainted constantly. We need a cultural change. One that looks down upon the students that kick apples down the hall and leave milk on the stairs. We must raise of collective expectations of one another and reiterate that this is not acceptable at our school. As students, our part must be done to keep NHS clean. Seven hours a day, five days a week, eight months out of the year, and four years of your life are spent here. The least students can do is be respectful of the school environment.
Project Explore Annoucement **Atention Juniors** Please see Mr. Seaburg or Mr. Karl to pick up a Project Explore Application for 2016-2017 school year.
OPINION
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Lack of Diversity in Nominations Effy Guzman News Editor Dear Academy Awards, Representation. You lack it. For the second year in a row you have had completely white Oscar nominees. It is no fluke, or something that just happened by chance. According to economist.com, “the odds of seeing at least one sequence of back-to-back whiteouts are around one in 100,000.” This pattern of having a completely whitewashed list of nominees has happened before in 1995, 1997, and 1975 to 1980, the economist.com also points out.
It is not for lack of trying either. There were plenty of noteworthy films that offered a variety of talented, nonwhite actors for you to look at. Creed’s black director and writer, Ryan Coogler, and star, Michael B, Jordan, both failed to get a nomination. Instead, the film’s nomination went to Sylvester Stallone for Best Supporting Actor. Similarly, Straight Outta Compton offered a lively cast who played a black hip hop group and was directed by black director F. Gary Gray, but the film’s only nomination went to its white screenplay writers. Beasts of No Nation, starring Idris Elba, was snubbed despite
its incredibly high and consistent critical acclaim. Now, maybe this might have something to do with the fact that ninety-four percent of your voting members are white. Nonetheless, it is not just your issue. No, your work is a reflection of all that is still wrong with the film industry. The problem begins at the very top of the industry, UCLA’s Ralph J. Bunch Center for African American Studies looked into film studios’ executive ranks in 2013 and found that “94 percent of CEOs and/or chairs and 92 percent of senior management were white.” Even further still,
USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism conducted a study that revealed seventy-five point two percent of speaking roles went to white actors in the top-grossing films released in between 2007 and 2014. You and the rest of Hollywood would be wise to observe the fact that around forty six percent of movie ticket sales are bought by Latinos, Blacks, Asians and “Others”, according MPAA Theatrical Market statistics. It would also be wise to observe the fact that you should diversify and represent minorities because a completely whitewashed ballot of actors is not an accurate representation of the talent that is available for acknowledgement.
Petty Lifestyle The Theory of Time Sports Editor
Emma Daignault Business Manager Time travel is a popular, perplexual topic in today’s society. Whether it is a movie, book, or conversation, the theory of time travel is everywhere. The possibility of traveling into the future is theoretically fairly simple. According to Physics.org, “Einstein’s special theory of relativity, developed in 1905, shows that time passes at different rates for people who are moving relative to one another - although the effect only becomes large when you get close to the speed of light.” Tests have been conducted to prove this theory. During one test conducted by Joseph C. Hafele, and Richard E. Keating at the United States Naval Observatory two clocks were synchronized. One was left on the ground and one was put into a long distance flight jet. Then the jet made several trips. After the flights, the time of the clock on ground was behind the time of clock on the jet. If given the possibility to travel in time, I would venture into the past. Life was much simo
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The human race suffers from a common problem that borders absurdity, and it concerns everyone’s uncanny ability to be so unbelievably petty. It has nothing to do with a person’s age or how intelligent they are, everyone can be petty at times. Especially angsty teens who cannot seem to get over themselves because there is an overwhelming need to act dramatic and irrational. Being a teenager myself, I can attest to this. Taking a small or insignificant subject and blowing it way out of proportion perfectly sums up what qualifies as a petty action. So, if someone is naturally a stubborn person then pettiness is probably second nature to them. Pettiness is extremely present in today’s society, and is more prevalent in the everyday adolescent lifestyle. Technology causes teenagers to live their lives on a screen and use the keyboard to aid their pettiness. Truly, the world is going to end if one does not get at least one hundred likes on
their last Insta selfie and yes, one will “die” if One Direction breaks up after their largely controversial hiatus. Students tend to overreact to school itself. Most of them complain about every test that is taken, the homework that is received, and the teachers in general. Everyone judges each other and gossips because it is the social “norm.” Pettiness appears to be the cause. The aim is not to be pretentious. This is a crucial topic to bring to attention, seeing as I struggle with this detriment as well. Humans cannot help their trivial habits but individuals can reduce how much they let it dictate their lives. Many people these days tend to dwell on the negative and assume the worst. Optimism and open-mindedness is the only thing that can counteract the petty mindset. Think ‘high energy’ thoughts and rid yourself of pessimistic energy. When something peeves you off, go over the positive aspects of the situation, look at it from a different angle. When one avoids being petty they have more energy to focus on what is actually important in life.
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Hannah Keyes
pler then. There was less technology so people actually spoke to one another. And there was not as much gun crime as there is today. The sixties and seventies are by far my favorite decades. The clothes, the music, the history—all masterpieces in design. Major historical shifts occurred during these two decades. The civil rights movement, environmental awareness, the fight for equal rights, and other consciousness, all caused cultural growth in our time. This is all part of America’s cultural revolution. In the sixties, The Beatles came to America, changing pop culture forever. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon for the first time, and the civil rights movement swept across America; thus changing and improving lives for the better. It was a time of awareness and social consciousness. Great strides have been made, in terms of social justice and awareness. Today, many people dress the same, listen to the same music, and lack the creativity and spontaneity of this passionate period in history.
Declining State of Musical Theatre James Hobayan Reporter The once beaming fine art of Musical Theatre continues on a major decline as the majority of musicals on Broadway continue to be produced in favor of popular appeal and commercial success rather than creative originality. “Broadway producers are still looking primarily at movie adaptations and revivals because, simply put, they make money” said Kevin O’keeffe, from The Atlantic.com Shows such as School of Rock, Wicked, and Spring Awaking are such examples of the modern Broadway Musical trading the fine art of deep, intricate storytelling for catchy, hummable tunes and glamorous, distracting scenery. Young theatre fans obsess over these small, yet memorable moments of a Broadway Musical, memories that do have a positive effect towards one’s inspiration. Yet the harsh reality that the young very few realize is that these spectacles are nothing more than entertainment compared to art, leading many inspired individuals to mediocrity as a result of equally mediocre works of art. What began the decline in the fine art of musical theatre was when British producer Cameron Mackintosh delivered the pop-opera sensational hits Les Miserables and
The Phantom of The Opera, which escalated the American Musical Theatre, also known as Broadway, to massive international popularity. The tragedy in this fantastic worldwide expansion created a demand for much larger and more extravagant productions that escalated expenses. The average production budget for a Broadway musical was nearly $400,000 in 1973, but has since then increased exponentially to a staggering $10 Million by the early 2000s. This rise in production cost has lead to an increased amount of producers per show, sometimes totaling to an amount of at least ten major investors, which all have complete power over a production. Just like the majority of the entertainment industry, Broadway producers look towards shows that will guarantee profit rather than risking their investment on young aspiring playwrights with great creative ideas and ambitions. Great works will continue to be revived for a new generation while popular hits will continue to sell tickets by the tens-of-thousands per week. The quality of shows and their content varies on individual opinion, yet it is apparent that the broadness of heavy subject matter has disappeared from the musical stage. The greatness of Musical Theatre is not that it is a conduit to escape reality, but the unmatched ability to present subject matter in an very personal, intimate setting that could never be produced from a book or movie.
Musical Theatre should not be known for it’s entertainment value. It should be an experience that will change your views and outlook on life after leaving the theatre. This is impossible to accomplished when shows are designed to sell tickets rather than journey into uncharted territory.
OPINION
March 2016
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This is Awkward Cupid Go Away Sports Editor Not only is awkwardness a common occurrence, but a way of life, a science if you will. I believe that I have mastered this technique to its fullest potential and feel completely and utterly obligated to let people know just how much of an awkward individual they really are. First things first, if you happen to be one of those special human beings who miraculously manages to trip even though nothing is there, then you may very well be an awkward and/or clumsy person. It is obvious that the gods are against you and decide that you need to be publically humiliated. Another sure sign of sheer awkwardness is if your teacher walks by you everyday in class and asks you what is wrong when all you are doing is smiling awkwardly, like I tend to do, then you may suffer from extreme awkwardness, or you may just be very scary looking. Also, handshakes prove to be a problem to those most awkward. They are never firm nor confident. The real problem though is what way to come about the whole process. Should I give a fist bump? Possibly just a traditional handshake? Or maybe they want some kind of elaborate
drug dealer type thing? As you decide to be safe and go for the casual handshake, it turns out you were all wrong. They go in for a hug instead. This brings up a whole new series of problems that I would not care to delve into. Another huge but common dilemma amongst the awkward is the feeling one can get when a person looks them in the eye for too long. Staring in the general direction of someone is in fact not the same thing as looking them directly in the eye, despite what one does to try to convince themselves otherwise. Throughout the duration of the conversation one is deduced down to nodding at everything because their mind is preoccupied with the quandary of whether to look towards the left, the right, or take the agonizing risk of looking them in the eyes. Just make sure you remember to blink in order to avoid further awkwardness. Ultimately everyone can be awkward at times and it is important for one to not think less of themselves just because of it. So maybe someone tripped over some air and fell flat on their face or possibly a teacher now thinks they are mentally insane. Awkwardness resides among us all and is not specifically something to be proud of, but certainly not something to be ashamed of, instead one should be content with who they are.
Art of Clothing Justis Picci Reporter
One swoosh, three stripes, a pink whale, and the enormous variety of logos that define one’s clothes can be crucial to the survival of a student. These miniscule logos have immense meaning. Most of the people who shop for these brand name clothes including myself understand the ridiculous price that comes along with it. Paying sixty dollars for a T-Shirt that simply has a two centimeter wide logo, can be mind numbing. Handing the money to the cashier cringing with every inch, but knowing you will overcome the slight hesitation and have one more thing to crowd the closet, because to some the more clothes the better. Now, a good amount of people believe in purchasing these products, to fit in with the popular styles, but not everyone. There are certain individuals who get sick to their stomach, knowing that more than often these items are cheaply made, but twice the price as a regular brandless clothing. Clothing is a form of art, it expresses the emotion and personality of every single human being, but in many situa-
tions the desire to obtain all brand name items could take away from those unique qualities. If the feeling that having a designer Gucci watch on all day, every day, is pleasing then by all means wear it and wear it with pride just do not let others change your view on it. There are many people that do not always want to be different, or odd, and that is totally understandable. Especially with teens, being the odd man out or being yourself can be extremely difficult, but when you overcome the average teenage fears life can be a lot different, and that includes what you wear. Teens hiding behind their clothing is very common. This article is not to degrade brand names or stop one from purchasing them, because everyone has something with a brand on it and maybe that brand really expresses who you are, and appeals to your taste. It is just while paying a often ridiculous amount make sure that money is well spent, and not to appeal to others. Remember, want it, buy it, and stay stylish.
Evan Watson-Shannon A&E Editor The Valentine’s Day hype has been making me nauseous lately, which has led to my last minute and problematic shopping sprees being torturous. Not because the items are not sparking any interest, trust me they are (my bank account can attest to that), but almost every store is overly decorated with red paper, hearts, and dyed red chocolate covered pretzels. First things first, February fourteenth is my birthday. I should not devote twenty four hours of my day to love or buying into the dramatic and extremely exaggerated, Valentine’s Day. No, I am not salty because I do not have a date or someone to celebrate with, I never had to because that day, at least in my family, is about celebrating me. Okay, well maybe I am a little salty. I do have a hot date though; including netflix, a bowl of popcorn, and my couch. It is not to say my birthday is neglected, but it is hard to celebrate with my friends and family because they would much rather be out on a romantic date. The history of this day dates back to when St. Valentine who was thought to be murdered, sent the first “valentine” to his jailer’s daughter whom he had fallen in love with. The “valentine” he sent was in fact, just a letter. Last year, 2015, brought an approximate nineteen bil-
lion dollars from people’s love day craze. Thinking about how many presents I could of gotten on my birthday from nineteen billion dollars amazes me and actually really upsets me because in no way, shape, or form did I receive nineteen billion dollars. Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday. We are supposed to treat our loved ones with the utmost respect and attention everyday. Since that is the case, everyone should really set their attention elsewhere, like to me and my birthday. Think about it, one day out of the whole year society advertises as the day of love and romance. Cherishing each other should be something we practice daily. That is why, I say, to forget Valentine’s Day and say Happy Birthday to moi.
Photo credit: Hannah Keyes
Hannah Keyes
A Bad Hair Day Abigail Kniffen
Photo Editor
There is nothing like asking for a specific haircut and having it butchered beyond what you thought was capable. Maybe one did not notice until after they saw the final product that it was not what was asked for. A bad haircut can corrupt your anxiety levels and break your spirit. One does not typically cope well with a horrendous incident like this. The wannabe “beautician” females in this society who have no idea what layers or highlights are may need to seriously rethink their current occupation because it is obviously not going to
be in hair dressing. Why not try something that does not come in contact with scissors. If an individual was someone who has been unfortunate enough to go through a nasty butchering job and are in the process of growing it out, try some of these tips. Tip number one, “Do not try to fix it yourself.” Just breathe. It is possible to find yourself sitting in front of the mirror frantic beyond words and the number one idea you probably are contemplating is just fixing it yourself. That is a major NO-NO. Visit the proper stylist to fix the monstrosity before you make it worse yourself. Tip number two, “Try different styles.” If still concerned about the bad do, try investing in different hair styling products. It is a great opportunity to get with the program and the newest must have hair. Tip number three, “Go shorter.” Start a new trend and just chop it all off. Pull a Britney Spears 2007. Just shave it all off, eyebrows and all. Who could forget those those ugly Rachel Berry bangs from Glee, maybe you can pull it off. Make the other females jealous. The most important tip of all.. “Embrace the new found style.” Change is always something that takes time to get used to. Do not knock it until you try it. Try rocking it around town or at least over snapchat. Start appreciating those good hair days. Maybe your crush will notice your bold mane of the year. Who says the tragic event cannot be a good thing. Be the next Beyonce, okay maybe not Beyonce but just work your new found hair. Follow in Spongebob’s path and repeat “I’m ugly and I’m proud.”
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OPINION
March 2016
Mandated Testing, A Sad Reality Editor in Chief I can sincerely thank standardized testing for a large accumulation of my high school stress. There is nothing more personalized than taking the same test as every other student in America, constantly being compared to one’s peers, and hearing the same, excruciatingly annoying question, “What did you get?” Standardized testing teaches students that if they get below a 2000 on the SAT, “Ivy Leagues” will most definitely not consider them. As a matter of fact, if students get above a 2000, they are now considered a “genius,” leaving those under 2000 tiredly trying to break the mark. Wasting thousands of dollars on test prep is the most rewarding, when most of the time, scores only increase a little bit or stay the same. While parents are dishing out large sums of money that could go to other important assets, CollegeBoard is getting richer and richer. An SAT test administered by College Board, including the essay, is approximately fifty-four dollars. According to collegeboard.org, “it’s taken by more than two million students every year.” Most students take the SAT at least three times, according to collegeconfidential. org. Based on this information, it is estimated that College
Board makes more than $336 million a year - not including the fee’s to send the scores to colleges, which costs $11.25 per school. The mondey all adds up. Standardized testing defines a student’s “academic ability.” It is the most important factor that college admissions look at to make a decision, and a number that is highly regarded next to your name. No longer is one an individual with unique academic talent that is stronger and lesser in a variety of subjects, but is now a part of a wider spectrum that represent percentiles and statistics. Not good at math? Well, you will be tested on it anyway. A student that takes AP Calculus will receive the same test as a student taking Algebra II. Let us say there is an instance in which a student does not do their best and gets a low score. Dishing out another fifty-four dollars may be the sole solution to gain the satisfaction of having a “high score” and the chance to get into a high-performing college. Students are discouraged from applying to colleges due to the high “standards” of scores that students should receive. Many students are nervous to share their scores due to the fact that these numbers do not accurately measure their academic accomplishments. Out of the 148,920 hours I have lived and thrived academically, only three hours of pure stress and anxiety matter to the colleges I am applying to.
photo credit: http://1938news.com/
Monica Mercuri
Guilty By Disobeying Unclear Rule Joel Degray II Reporter In Norwalk High School there are many rules, some of them are simple and others are annoying and not often listened to. Sometimes these rules make school staff believe a student is doing something wrong and the student gets yelled at. More often than not a simple cell phone sighting sets off an alarm and some of the staff and the student will either lose their phone or have to put it away even when it is turned off or being used during something like a study hall. Sure staff do not want students texting in school or looking away from their school work, but even listening to music with headphones in some study halls is a taboo. Rules are there to keep order but ironically, they can do the opposite when the original meaning of the rule is lost. People might be passing on important information from their personal lives, given this is a rare case but still
sometimes students get yelled at silliest of times. In the NHS code of conduct as is stated under rule 1d, “Any items that disrupt the educational process will be confiscated.” While stating electronic devices in the rules, if they are not disruptive to anything there should be no problem. Most of the time there are little complications with the rules but, they are pretty fair. Yet when the meaning of a rule is lost an assumption is easy to make and tag a person with. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, a definition of assumption is “a willingness to accept something as true without q uestion or proof.” Not all assumptions are wrong, but they are usually never the whole truth or always on a topic where it is easy to say somebody had done wrong. When a rule is made it is meant to stop people from doing something bad without consequence, but by no mean are there to falsely accuse and punish the innocent. It is simply that rules are meant to be enforced as is, any difference in them should be noted to ensure that everybody is on the same page. Photo credit: www.cs.miami.edu
Pollution, the Human Footprint Sara Roman Opinion Editor
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part as well, meaning the drilling of oil in the sea floor when it is known to be hazardous to the wildlife and the allowance of ocean dumping needs to stop. Go out spread the word and do a deed, every little thing counts. Do not believe me? Lookup, Flint Michigan water, California natural gas leak, pacific garbage patch and Beijing air pollution, it will surely change your mind.
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photo credit: www.cbj.org
Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting over 100 million people. It is hard to go on any news channel and not see at least one event pertaining to pollution or the environmental destruction of the earth. Day by day more and more of the Earth is being consumed by, “The human footprint.” Currently eighty three percent of land surew s/w face is being influenced by orl d-a siahumans in some type of way 2100 5228 and ninety eight percent of the areas where it is possible to grow the world’s three main crops—rice, wheat, and maize(corn)— is directly influenced by human activities,” stated nationalgeographic.com. The numbers are scary, but that does not mean
something can not be done. In the twenty-first century this should be one of the most important and influential things, yet it is not being talked about enough. Not to mention, only democratic candidates for presidency, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have mentioned pollution awareness this year. Without all the resources the Earth provides people, humanity would be nothing. So why is not protecting that, not at the top of the list of things to do? “Fourteen billion pounds of garbage mostly plastic, is dumped into the ocean every year,” said on nrdc.org. Awareness needs to be spread. Humans have a huge impact on the Earth, it is up to us, the things that affect it the most, to protect it. “Recycling and composting prevented eighty five million tons of material away from being disposed of in 2010, up from eighteen million tons in 1980.” stated on 3.epa.gov. Everyone can do their part. Simple things like recycling or picking up trash in a park or at the beach, are important. Even enforcing the fact that people need to be more eco friendly is a start. Yes, everyday people play a large part in the cleaning up of the earth but they can not be the only ones at blame. The government needs to do their
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OPINION
March 2016
College Tuition Is Rising in U.S. Matthew Schwartz Reporter Just in the past year, over twenty million students were accepted to attend American colleges and universities. However, college tuition is well over financial means of most American families. The average cost to attend a public university in America is $15,000, the average cost to attend a private university is $40,000 according to Nces.ed.gov. Even though most colleges offer financial aid many graduated students still remain in debt. The average student loan debt has hit $30,000. Due to the high cost of tuition most high school graduates are not able to fulfill the college career they desire. The fact that their family are not wealthy enough to be able afford over
$20,000 a year, not including books, food, etc. Unfortunately, college tuition prices are rising in the state of Connecticut. The University of Connecticut also known as Uconn is raising their costs over the course of the next four years. The tuition increases will start next fall when in state students will pay $700 more than they do this year, a 6.7% jump. In the fall of 2019, tuition will hit $13,700, compared with the current figure of $10,524. courant.com It is difficult for students to dream about attending college if they most likely cannot even afford the first semester. President Obama's recent claim on the topic created a buzz . He believes making
all community colleges free and lowering college costs, no matter student's financial background/ “We’re creating a new college ratings system that will give parents and students the kind of clear, concise information you need to shop around for a school with the best value for you and gives us the capacity to recognize schools that offer a great education at a reasonable price” said President Obama. college.usatoday.com. However college tuition is not much of a problem faced overseas. In Northern Europe tuition is free. Such as Estonia, Norway, and Finland. Higher education in Germany is surprisingly free for international students, so is it really worth attend-
Offended
Free Seaworld’s Orcas
Photo credit:www.nccnews.co
SeaWorld confines orcas, who could swim up to 100 miles a day in the wild, to tanks that, to them, are the size of a bathtub. At least 150 wild orcas have been captured from their families since 1961. They have been forced to adapt in an artificial and unfamiliar setting with other captured whales. As of December 2015, a total of fifty six whales have been enslaved in twelve different marine parks, including Seaworld. Seaworld first opened its gates in 1964, founded by George Millay, Milt Shedd, Ken Norris and David DeMott. It was originally planned to be an underwater restaurant, but the idea then grew into a marine zoological park along the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego. It started off with forty five employees, several dolphins, sea lions, and two saltwater aquariums, more than 400,000 visitors came in its first year. Today, there are three Seaworld parks in San Antonio, Texas, Orlando, Florida and the original in San Diego, California. Seaworld is infamous for its orcas, the most well known being “Shamu.” Currently, there are five orcas who have been seized from their oceanic homes and there were more since then who have died. Orcas in the wild have an average life expectancy of thirty to fifty years their estimated maximum life span can range up to eighties, nineties even hundreds. The median age of orcas that live in tanks is nine years old. When confined, male orcas have collapsed dorsal fins, which is a sign of an unhealthy orca. SeaWorld claimed that, “This condition is common and natural for all orcas.” However, collapsed dorsal fins are caused by the unnatural environment and are not typically seen in the wild. On January 11, 2012, the USDA issued a warning to SeaWorld San Antonio for their “repeated failure to pro-
vide drain covers that are securely fastened in order to minimize the potential risk of animal entrapment.” “Blackfish” a documentary directed in 2013 focuses on the orca by the name of “Tilikum,” and the controversy over killer whales. Tilikum was involved in three deaths, including a trainer at Seaworld. To help all animals owned and trapped by SeaWorld, take a stand by not visiting the parks, purchasing a ticket, or supporting SeaWorld in any other way.
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Abigail Kniffen Photo Editor
ing college in America. Few costs of American life have risen as quickly as higher education. In the last decade, average tuition has risen 80%, twice as much as healthcare and costs and four times as much as housing costs, many wonder where the money goes. Only 40% of the average private school tuition go towards the actual school. State schools have a 40% rate of where the money goes, another 20% from state appropriations. Most of the money comes from grant, loans, etc. Overall colleges and universities are the best option to further one's career. Just make sure to get involved in school activities, community service and anything that could help further your chance of getting scholarships. Also be sure to apply for financial aid better known as FAFSA.
Anabell Builes Reporter
In 2016, it seems that not a single soul can take a joke without taking offence to it. Whether they feel offended on behalf of another group of people, or themselves, today’s society itches to be offended by something. This is especially true among the millennial. Humor has lost its edge due to the easily offended. Being politically correct has become the new norm, to the point where many noteworthy comedians such as Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfield are refusing to perform at college campuses. Although the intent of jokes is to make someone laugh, the joke has truly lost its meaning. Many people misunderstand the concept of comedy and satire and immediately get offended about subjects and controversies they are hardly educated in. In a recent interview with Colin Cowherd, Jerry Seinfeld says, “They just want to use these words: ‘That’s racist;’ ‘That’s sexist;’ ‘That’s prejudice,’” later stating. “They don’t know what the hell they’re talking about.” when referring to the youth. We tend to throw these phrases around as if we truly know the meaning. Yes, we can define the words, but it seems like we do not know how to interpret them. The definition of comedy goes as follows: professional entertainment consisting of jokes and satirical sketches, intended to make an audience laugh. However, people seem to be offended by something intended to induce laughter not to be racist, sexist, or prejudice. Jokes may come off as so, but it is important to always see the humor rather than complicate it and add ulterior meanings to them. When a person feels offended by a joke, remember it was meant to be funny, not to hurt one's feelings. Instead of picking at every joke to try to find something to be offended about, brush it off and find the humor. It was meant to make people laugh.
We Need More Gun Precautions Reid Singewald Reporter The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Obama’s executive action to close the loopholes on buying guns, buying guns at gun shows, no guns for those on the “no fly list,” and reporting mental health to the background checking system has caused an uproar of opinions for and against. The argument against Obama is that he is completely going against The Constitution and violating the second amendment, the right to bear arms as well as violating Article
I and II, by taking away certain people’s rights to own their own gun. The argument for Obama is that he is not fully taking away the right because he is still allowing the sale of guns, it will now just be a harder process to buy and sell guns and certain people depending on their mental health will not be able to purchase a gun. I am all for guns. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. It is the same thing as saying forks make people fat. A gun does not get off the gun rack, walk out of the store, and shoot a place up, people do. It is the mentally unstable that cause the uproar and make guns a problem. I believe that guns are a great form of
protection, but with that comes the need for certain regulations. I totally agree with Obama. It is completely idiotic to let someone go to a gun show with their license and let them buy a gun. No background checks, no evaluation of mental state, nothing. The only way we can crack down on gun violence is to dig it up from the root. We need to take guns out of the hands of the violent, and unstable, but keep it in the hands of the good. According to the National Library of Medicine, since 1970, 60% of mass shooters have been reported to be mentally unstable and had symptoms of paranoia, depression, and delusions. Why put a gun into the hands of a per-
son like that? It is just illogical the people of the U.S., and the stubbornness of the NRA (who have a great sway in politics because of their funding towards certain politicians) that have kept guns in these people’s hands. It is time we start thinking like logical human-beings. We do not let certain people fly on a plane because we see them as a threat but we give them a gun. We diagnose people people mental illness, put them psychiatric care but once again, give them the chance to own a gun. It is asking for problems. We need more background checks to keep guns out of dangerous hands so we can keep them in the hands of the good.
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Makin’ a Splash Lady Bears Score Abigail Kniffen Photo Editor
The Norwalk High school boys swimming team was off to a fast pace their past season. Recently the boys were able to make it FCIAC and came in seventh place with a total of 160 points. The races were held at Greenwich high school. In the 200 freestyle relay, Norwalk-McMahon Kyle Lumsden, David Maya and Valentin Britto posted a time of 1:32.56, breaking the record of 1:33.02 they set in FCIAC. Coach Passamano said, "Everybody swam better times than they did walking in the door, that's the highlight for me.
Our guys swam really well. We had a good night." Passamano added. "Our goal was to come out today and beat a couple teams we may have lost to in the regular season. I want to see how it shakes out but almost every swim we had today was a personal best or a season best." Nico Roldan (‘16) who is a captain for the 2016 boys swimming team said,“Swimming is a really big commitment and has taken up a big part of my life, and a lot of the guys on the team can second that. Roldan continued “It’s not easy and it takes a lot of training and some days you just feel like quitting, but the suffering is nothing compared to the victory against rival teams. It has been an honor competing for these four years.”
Evan Watson-Shannon A&E Editor Norwalk High School's girl's basketball team brought a lot of “game” with their 2015/2016 season. Co-Captain, Asiah Knight (’17) said, “I think the season went well. We had a couple of injuries and lost some players, but we continued to fight through that. My expectations were to make FCIACS and States and to play better as a team. We may have not gotten as far as I wanted to, but we got there and I am proud of my team.” The girls team went ten to twelve for the season. They tried their hardest and gave their best, which is what is most important. “This is what I’m saying. This is one
of the most complete teams I’ve had,” said Coach Fuller, who was quoted on the hour. The girls support each other constantly, on and off the court. They show what it really means to be a team. “We had an okay season. We became closer than ever as a family and support each other constantly. We always keep our heads up and never give up,” said Tomeisha Barrett They showed positivity and great team spirit which is why next year they will come back with a even better ratio. The Bears are preparing and are set to win more games and win FCIACS for the 2016/2017 season. The girls will continue to excel through the upcoming seasons if they keep and maintain the chemistry.
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NHS Bears Wrestle For Victory Business Manager The wrestling team had a clear finish this season with a record of 8-11. Mr. Fernandez, coach of the wrestling team and a Math teacher at NHS, said, “It was a good season as experience was concerned.” Fernandez added that he believes there is “no substitute for experience.” It can be said that the off season may be even more vital than the season itself. “I am looking forwards to the off season for the growth of individuals,” Fernandez stated. Off season is vital for wrestlers who want to get better, the season itself is a time for fine tuning. Team Captain, Franklin Ceron (’16) had a pretty good season. Ceron stated, “I won a lot of matches I did not ex-
pect I would. But I also lost a few matches where I should have won easy, but just had a bad day and it affected the way I wrestled. But I still would say it was great.” When asked, another member of the team Mike Oviedo (’18) commented on the new players. He said, “The first year wrestlers did alright for themselves.” Franklin Ceron agreed with Oviedo saying, “There is a lot of freshmen and sophomores that will be amazing if they stick to wrestling and wrestle in the off season.” This year overall was really good for the boys wrestling team, as everyone worked hard and did their best to win matches. The team remains optimistic for next year’s season.
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Emma Daignault
Boys Track Achieves Great Strides Opinion Editor Track is not only an individual sport that allows one to train in order to qualify for championships, but it also allows players to thrive as team in large events. The more people on the team the more events are available. ¨We try to encourage as many kinds as possible that are not doing a winter sport, such as baseball players and lacrosse players, to come out and run track because it will help them get faster for the other sports.¨ said Mr. Patrick Moffett, the boys track coach. Aside from an initial group that does track all year round, most other athletes do not take up this opportunity. Meeting people is also another great benefit of joining the track team. Though the first initial thought of joining a the team might be intimidating, but there is nothing to fear. The team is supportive of one another but when it comes
the individual competitions, “My teammates are competitive which pushes me to work harder.” said Andrew Goldstein (’16). The achievements of the boys track team this year consisted of three out of the top five school record list were
broken, along with a small group of boys qualifying for the championships. The NHS community congratulates the team for all of their hard work, and looks forward to the spring season that is approaching. leagueathletics.com
Sara Roman
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SPORTS Priyanka Thakkar Social Media Editor Boys Basketball did not do as well as expected. Head Coach, Mr. Keyes, commented on the bear’s season. “This season we struggled a little bit, to pick up wins,” stated their Coach, Mr. Keyes. With a record of 4-16, the team saw many losses, including their loss with long time rival, Brien McMahon High School. Captain of the team, Jakari Gainer (’16) stated, “The season did not go the way any of us expected. We should have done a lot better.” Last year, the team finished with a record of 18-7, a huge achievement for the Bears. This year they had hoped to be even better and qualify for states, “Our goals were to be a team and play hard and play together. To put in an effort of 100%.,” stated Gainer. The team hopes to start new next season. “Guys need to come back with a better attitude and better leadership,” continued Gainer. All in all, Coach Keyes finishes off by saying, “We had a lot of good moments.”
photo credit: Sharon Cadden
The Norwalk High School girls track team did a great job this season. Most of the runners were able to improve their skills so that they could gain a myriad of medals and wins for the school. The track website, runningbears.m.webs.com, offers the information on the accomplishments the team has gained. That can be seen in the congratulations the site gives to “Deanna [Singewald] on winning the FCIAC Championships by a landslide in the 300m,” and in detailing that “Other medal performances included Penda M'Bengue and Jazmine Manning in the hurdles.” The team’s distance captain, Anne Caldwell (’16), demonstrated satisfaction in the team when stating, “The team did better than expected. A lot of girls came very close or made FCIACs.” It seems it was not an easy task to accomplish and the team faced some obstacles along the way. “We had to deal with the cold and icy track. A bunch of practices had to take place inside which the floor is not good for your shins because outside was just too cold or slippery. But actually it wasn't as
photo credit: Sharon Cadden
News Editor
bad as last year which was just a disaster. ANd also, a lot of people were complaining about shin splints.” Anne went on to say. The girls track team still managed to generally meet their goals. Anne believes this to be true because even though she admits, “There were some people who didn't achieve as much as they would have liked,” there were also people who did “far beyond what they thought they could.” It is important to see improvement of team members because it means progress as a whole as well.
Effy Guzman
Boys Basketball
Sprint to Finish
March 2016
Ice Hockey Co-Op Makes States Sports Editor Winter sports this school year is over and so is the sea-
son for Norwalk-Brien McMahon High School’s boys ice hockey team. It has been a rough and tough season this year for the ice hockey team, but they have given it their all every time they got out on the ice and have improved immensely since last season. The team had a big FCIAC win against rival Wilton, which went into overtime. “I think that we had a pretty good season this year, the team had its first FCIAC win in a long time, and the closest we have been to being able to play post-season, and I feel that we all got better as players and connected well as a team,” said Chris Platt (’18) There were some stellar players and plays this year that made for a competitive and legitimate season. For example, Kevin Remson (’18) scored five goals in one game against
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2005-2006 season, according to The Hour.com. NHS wishes the best of luck to Ice Hockey at states.
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Hannah Keyes
Housatonic to help the team come back from 4-2 and end up winning 7-5. He said, “I think we had a great run this season. There were definitely some obstacles that we had to face but there were also some milestones that we made as a team. Overall I think the atmosphere and the brotherhood we had this season is something to remember forever.” There was extremely good goaltending this season especially from Phil Uva (’16) one of the team captains, Grant Riordan (’18), Wyatt Machette (’19), and Kevin Elzea (’18). Overall, this has been a big year for the boys ice hockey team and the successes and losses this season have proved to be a learning experience for the team. They plan to keep pushing next year and gain some more wins. Player Bobby Gummer (’18) said, “We are looking to build off of our strengths and weaknesses this offseason to become a dominant team next season.” The hockey team beat the Eastern CT Eagles at the Dayton Arena in New London. The score was a 4-1 win against the Eagles, and the team receieved a spot in the in the Division III state tournament; there first since the
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NHS FASHION SHOW March 4th, 2016