T H E
NOVEMBER
V o l u m e LXXXIX - I S S u e 2
highland/ F L I N G
2015
1886
2015
[ september 22 ]
The school population has settled around 500, and students consistently achieve top results in many measures--the Model UN club traveled to Montreal, and of the 40% of students participating in AP courses, 87% of them passed an exam. Good things are to come for the school.
The first class is held. Only nine students attended this school day, which was held in a a small, rented room in a local church.
start here
1890 Plans are laid for several new buildings to accomodate the growing student body. Total enrollment: 70.
1987
[ may 9 ]
[ october
13 ]
The first ever Fling is published.
1926 Construction on the modern-day Highland Park High School is finished. Named “Franklin Junior High School,” the new building houses students grades 7-10; for junior and senior year, Parkies attend other local high schools as tuition students.
Beloved Principal William H. Donahue is stabbed to death by his daughter’s boyfriend. The community comes together in the following days to mourn his death and celebrate his life.
THE HISTORY OF HIGHLAND PARK
1980s The Hamilton and Lafayette schools (now the Center School and condominums, respectively) close, while modern-day Bartle school is built to house middle schoolers.
1958
1938 [ june ]
INSIDE
Pressure on local schools has mounted, because in 1935 217 Highland Park students attend New Brunswick High School alone. The administration decides to unify the school system. Our current building becomes a typical four-year high school, with middle schoolers relocated to the Hamilton School. The first ever class graduates, and the first Albadome is published.
The post World War II baby boom fills the school, and the population reaches its maximum, almost 900 students. A gymnasium and cafeteria are built.
1955
[ november 1 ]
The Vietnam war quietly begins. Three HP students will eventually give their lives for it: Joseph Klein in 1968, Michael Robinson in 1969, and Wayne Pisciotta (pictured) in 1971.
NEWS
opinion
feature
arts
sports
true trump 3
letter from the president 6
festive fall cupcakes 12
hphs reacts to k-pop 14
tennis talk 19
TWO
News
papal phenomenon T
he phenomenon that is Pope Francis made his first visit to the United States in late September, bringing with him a deluge of media coverage. Although he only spent five days in the U.S., the effects of the iconic papal visit will surely be long-term. In 2013, the Argentinian was elected as the 266th pope after having fulfilled the duties of archbishop and cardinal, and is a new voice of Catholicism in many ways. For one, Pope Francis is the first non-European pope since 741 CE. However, the media’s fascination with Pope Francis comes not from his native country but more from the new ideas he promotes. The Pope’s visit to the United States was anything but relaxing—he met with a variety of people, sparking both admiration and controversy through his choice of audiences. In just five days he held multiple masses, including one at Madison Square Garden, and spoke to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, as well as students in East Harlem and inmates at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania, visits which brought Francis much praise. However, Francis’ meeting with Kim Davis, who famously refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses, brought opposition from many. Mr. Gold, a history teacher at HPHS, said that he thinks, “it’s possible that he didn’t know who she was. It’s more of a domestic story, and she wasn’t representing the Catholic church in any way. She became a symbol of religious liberty and I think that she was used—she has been used politically to promote religious liberty in the country. I think it was a very politically charged move but I don’t think there is any evidence to show that it was a move that the Vatican knew about.” Others are more skeptical.
Francis also addressed a joint session of Congress and spoke at the United Nations General Assembly. In his speech at the United Nations, the Pope reiterated the ideas he expressed in a recent encyclical, where he stood firmly with climate scientists. Pope Francis emphasized that climate change poses a global problem with not only environmental, but social effects, specifically for the poor. He put the blame on developed countries who can afford to cover up the effects of their harmful pollution. This is not the only new message we have been hearing from Pope Francis lately. He has taken the emphasis away from the usual conservative social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion, instead focusing on the central ideals and values of Christianity. His speeches at Congress and the United Nations reflected this, addressing the need for education for girls, compassion for immigrants, and the resolution of conflicts in the Middle East. The Pope also repeatedly called for bipartisanship, both in global and domestic politics.
“It feels like, as a Catholic, he is something that is yours. I always casually follow the popes, and it’s weird when other people, who are not Catholic or not Christian follow him because it feels more like he’s a celebrity and less like he is an actual holy figure. At the same time it’s also kind of nice, because you’re thinking, ‘Wow, people are interested in what I’m interested in!’ and that’s always a good feeling,” said Oshinskie. Oshinskie saw Pope Francis’ new ideas as an exciting new time for Catholicism, saying, “At my church, a lot of people have bumper stickers saying, ‘This pope gives me hope!,’ which I love because I think that’s sort of the Catholic feeling right now—‘Hey, we feel like the world is kind of leaving us behind—we are heavily criticized in the media, and it’s just not the “best” time to be Catholic. To have this person who is accepting that and trying to move forward with the church is exciting—it feels like a particularly exciting time to be Catholic!”
In Highland Park and around the country these new “progressive” ideas coming from such an important religious leader are very exciting to many, Catholic or not. Marc Ramrekha ’18 was especially supportive, saying, “The pope honestly seems very progressive—like a Democrat, almost. I think it’s great! From what I’ve observed, many people in the Republican party use religion to justify their actions, but you have a religious leader saying that all this stuff is wrong, and I think that’s great!”
The lasting effects of this visit are harder to predict. Will Congress and the UN take his message to heart? We have already see one politician who may have (John Boehner, an observant Catholic, resigned from his position as Speaker of the House just after hearing the Pope speak). Oshinskie predicts that Pope Francis will, “bring the Catholic community in the US in a more positive direction. He is giving us a more unified message and direction—that we love each other and we love Jesus. That’s something that people can agree more on than anything else.”
Although the generally liberal leaning students of Highland Park might tend to see the Pope in a more political light, senior Shana Oshinskie ’16 had a different perspective on the Pope’s visit.
Gab Rosenthal
short and tweet F
or years at Highland Park High School, students have expressed their concerns to the Board of Education through two representatives. This year, the representatives are Amita Shukla ’16 and Mateo Juliani ’16. They will serve as the outlet for hundreds of different voices. Amita and Mateo both attend the monthly Board of Education meetings. This month, they introduced the idea of a Board of Ed Twitter account to better promote communication between the student body and the Board. With so many opinions to represent, this may end up being a very good idea. Amita and Mateo make up less than .4% of the student population in the high school alone, and they may be the only students present at these meetings. This means that while they are the first to hear about decisions made by the Board, that news never reaches the student body as a whole. A Twitter account
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
will greatly expand the Board’s reach, opening up a new pathway between administrators and students. Mateo explained that he and Amita, “know that the board has the power to make important decisions,” and that these decisions must be known by the student body. The intention behind the creation of a school board Twitter account is to keep the student body constantly updated about what is going on within the school district. The idea of a school board Twitter account is supported by much of the school. Even students that currently do not have Twitter accounts, such as Wenyi Ouyang ’18, “would consider getting an account for updates on school announcements and news.” While the revamped school websites have certainly been very useful, some students feel that they need to be more engaged with the Board of Education. Once the Board creates a Twitter account, it will be able to do more than
simply post updates; it can respond to student queries, address specific concerns, and may even answer questions live, during the meetings, if a student is not at a meeting physically. Spanish student teacher Miss Khapukova compared the idea to the different social media platforms used by Rutgers University. “They have a page on Facebook, and also an Instagram,” she said, which are used to notify students of different events and opportunities. “You can also get a newsletter based on your department, which lists important things like conferences,” much like how the Board of Ed Twitter will post meeting schedules and recent updates. By the end of this month, students will experience all the benefits of a tech-savvy school board.
Michelle Fan
THREE
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the true trump
where does trump stand on the issues?
D
onald Trump is a developer, celebrity, author, and presidential candidate. He is running for the Republican nomination, and is currently the party’s front-runner. Trump has skyrocketed in polls and has become the focus of national—even international— attention due to his controversial remarks on various topics, most notably immigration. However, his policies are seemingly lost behind loud newspaper headlines announcing his latest comments. With this definitive guide, you will be able to understand the positions Donald Trump has on various issues. ...
Abortion: In earlier years, Donald Trump has declared that he is pro-choice. However, he now says that he is pro-life, and opposes abortions unless rape or incest occurred, or if the pregnancy is life-threatening to the mother. Health Care: Quite liberal on this issue, Trump supports single-payer healthcare (where the government pays for insurance). He believes that ObamaCare is a failure, and has promised to alter this system so that insurance is publicly funded if he becomes president. Gun Control: Trump passionately fights against gun control, citing the Second Amendment to justify his position. He believes that violence increases as a result of stricter gun control laws, that background checks rarely achieve anything, and that carrying concealed weapons is a right. Immigration: Haven’t we all heard about this one? Trump’s biggest claim to fame is his opposition towards undocumented immigrants. Equally famous is his proposed 1,934 mile wall on the border between the southern United States and Mexico that he insists that Mexico will finance. All
undocumented immigrants already in America will be deported, but he explains that the “good ones” will be allowed to come back. Climate Change: Donald Trump does not believe in “man-made” global warming. Instead, he believes that restrictions on emissions and other similar regulations are harmful for American businesses, the middle class, and the lower class because of the costs these limits will incur. Same-Sex Marriage: Although he has previously spoken on the issue, saying, “It’s not my thing,” Trump doesn’t believe that gay marriage is a topic of discussion anymore. The Supreme Court ruled for it, and he promised that he would not try to change its decision. Tax Reform: Trump intends to simplify taxation by dramatically decreasing the federal taxes that the wealthy, middle class, lower class, and businesses pay. Simultaneously, he wants to sharply increase the taxes that the hedge fund owners pay. “I don’t want to have certain people on Wall Street getting away with paying no tax,” he declared. He even went as far as saying that individuals who make $25,000 or below would have no taxes. To pay for all these tax cuts, he says he will close loopholes in the tax code and impose tariffs on certain products. Pretty revolutionary for the Republican Party, right? ... Polls show that Donald Trump’s nationwide lead is slipping, giving competitors like Jeb Bush and Ben Carson an opportunity to compete with him. An ABC News/ Washington Post poll put his unpopularity at higher than his popularity, which makes it unlikely that he will be able to win the presidential election. However, poll results differ throughout the United States.
It is common for an unorthodox candidate (like Trump) to be embraced at the beginning of election season. Later, as the general election draws closer, candidates from a party’s established base usually become more popular. Trump has also received criticism for his lack of specifics on policies and for his tendency to insult other candidates that are rising in polls. Recently, he compared Marco Rubio, another presidential candidate, to a kid, and attacked him for sweating too much. Comments like these have brought even more scrutiny, with people saying that he is more of a celebrity than a reputable politician. Among those that think Trump’s personality makes up too much of his campaign is Ms. Martin. “He strikes me as an entertainer—he has a lot of sound bites but no real policy,” she said. “That’s not about being president, that’s for entertainment. I do think people see through all that, and that’s why he will not be a suitable president.” Trump (who owns the Trump Taj Mahal casino resort in Atlantic City) is the most popular GOP candidate in New Jersey, beating our own governor, Chris Christie. Even in his own state, New Jersey, Christie scored less than Trump in the polls. But will this platinum-haired politician’s lead last? Olivia Estes, a sophomore, does not think so. “I think he has some pretty outlandish ideas,” she says. When asked about whether Trump could win the Republican nomination, she says, “He’s been up in the polls for a couple of weeks so I’m getting kind of scared, but I don’t think he’s actually going to win. He’s lost the respect of a lot of people and that’s going to hurt him.” With all that said, there is still much more that Trump’s campaign has to offer, and America will surely be listening. And if this man does get elected, will he “Make America Great Again”? Kaan Orgun
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
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scott’s thoughts
D
r. Scott Taylor meets me in the Main Office of the Middle School. He greets the lingering staff and teachers warmly, and then we enter the conference room. He is eager to know about me and how my year has been going. He praises The Fling, and is clearly flattered to be interviewed. He is candid and engaging, and I find myself put at ease. Dr. Taylor is not new to education. He has worked in the field for over 23 years; Highland Park is his fifth district. He has a Master’s Degree of Education from Rutgers, and a Doctorate from Columbia. His last position was Superintendent of Kenilworth School District. He formally started as Superintendent of Highland Park on October 1st. It’s not surprising to see Dr. Taylor in the office. He has two daughters in the schools—Sarah, Class of 2018, and Julia, Class of 2022—and must have been here countless times for conferences, board meetings, and other school functions. In many ways, this sets him apart from Highland Park’s previous superintendents: “I make roots,” he tells me. “My family has made roots in Highland Park, and I want to make professional roots in the school district. I hope to be here a really long time. I guess you could say I’m old school. I’m the kind of person who wants to work in town and get back to the town. You don’t see that a lot these days.” As Dr. Taylor points out, it is hard to remember the last time a superintendent lived in town, let alone had kids in the school. Students will not have forgotten Timothy Capone, whose presence caused visible and unsettling tension between the Board and students, teachers, and parents. Among other issues, members of the community were disturbed by the firing of nine employees. Ending with a $112,00 buyout, Mr. Capone’s term was an example of Highland Park’s frequent turnover in administrative positions. In response to the turnover, Dr. Taylor stresses his commitment to the community. “I want people to know I really want to be here… I want to make sure the students know I want to get to know them and that I really care about them,” he tells me. He says that he has made a point of going to town functions, “finding ways to see parents and introduce myself personally.” When I ask about communication, he tells me that parents should expect Honeywell messages every week: Wednesday at 7:00 pm. Dr. Taylor’s desire to really get to know students indicates another reason he seems different. He has a true passion for Highland Park, and unabashedly shows it. Twice during the interview he tells me that this is his dream job. He praises the nature of
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
the town’s ethnic, political, and cultural diversity, and adds that Highland Park is, “home to some really amazing minds.” He is open to these minds. When I ask him his initial plan for the schools, he tells me about a technique he has used at Kenilworth: a Strategic Planning Process. Essentially, people from the community—local business owners, parents, homeowners without children, etc.—would be invited to spend time at the schools over a period of several weeks. This group would be asked to identify problems in the district, choose three to five goals, and create action plans to address these problems. Dr. Taylor says that he will be responsible for supervising the process and long-term solutions. He wants everyone who wants to take part in the schools to have the chance. It’s clear that he has a lot of appreciation for outside input, so I ask how the community will impact his decisions. He answers: “I have the benefit of pulling on the amazing people of Highland Park to help me make some of the important decisions I have to make. I can really trust the community to guide me in making some of the rough decisions. There are a lot of opinions out there. I’m the kind of leader who likes to listen to all the kinds of opinions then make a decision… My decision-making will be greatly impacted by the community because they are a big part of the school district… Some people might see that as a negative, but I think the opposite; I really think it’s a positive.” He also has a lot of ideas and opinions of his own. He eagerly tells me all about his plans for technology. “There are lots of things we could be doing that don’t cost a lot of money.” Dr. Taylor plans to create Instagram and Twitter accounts, as well as expand the district’s Facebook presence. “People are still overly cautious about social media,” he says. According to him, teachers need to leverage the Bring Your Own Technology policy. He explains that there is a place for technology during class periods. In younger grades, for example, teachers have the opportunity to use technology to display classroom progress. Social media allows the opportunity to show off, and Dr. Taylor is anxious to use it. Eventually, we talk about standardized tests, specifically the PARCC. “I have a real problem with how PARCC has intruded instruction. We lost a lot of instructional time because of the PARCC, and I’d like to see that stop,” he tells me. “I get the need for standardized tests to serve the federal government’s needs as a measure of progress, but I question whether it’s an effective measure of progress.” He says that we need other ways for students to demonstrate their growth.
Dr. Taylor has many goals for the school but for now, he’s mainly trying to learn about the district, specifically curriculum and professional development. Students may have noticed him popping in and out of classes he recently because he pledged to spend two to three hours daily visiting schools. Just as at Kenilworth, he plans to have a presence in the hallways, and encourages students to say hi if they see him. He also tells me that the hardest thing about working here will be managing time. He wants to go to every event in the school district, but has to accept he can’t do everything. Around town, he knows it will different. “Going to Stop & Shop will never be the same,” he halfjokes to me. Dr. Taylor is also aware of how his role as a parent will change. Many times, he expresses a sense of responsibility for the town. Being superintendent comes with, “a whole new level of ownership.” He is conscientious that his role as a parent has evolved, that he won’t be going to his kids’ conferences, and that he has to reconcile his two different roles in interactions with his daughters’ friends. Beyond his plans for the district, Dr. Taylor is a very personable man. “I’m a dog lover,” he says. He also recently ran in his second New York City Marathon: “I’m a triathlete, thanks to Mr. Roig and Mr. Girvan—they’re my role models, shout out to them.” He talks about his background, saying, “I’m the product of artists and musicians, which kind of makes me a good fit for this town.” Before we end, I ask Dr. Taylor two more questions. First, if you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? Abraham Lincoln, he answers: “I know this sounds cliché, but I would love to have dinner with Abe Lincoln because of his leadership style. I aspire to be a leader like he was.” Second, if you could have one superpower, what would it be? “I would like fly... How cool would that be? Pack my bags, and off to the Middle East,” he responds. Dr. Taylor is innovative, honest, and excited; this is his dream job, after all. He can’t wait to dive into the everyday functions of the district. Already, he can be seen at football games and Back-to-School nights. You have likely seen him touring the schools, and we can expect him to have a strong presence over the next few years. He has passion for education, and he loves and understands Highland Park.
Julia Liebell-McLean
five
board of bed H
ave you ever gone to school feeling tired? Or not had enough time to finish homework? For many students, these situations are all too familiar. So, what is Highland Park doing to change this? Just before the end of school last summer, the Highland Park Board of Health (BOH) passed two resolutions regarding student health. One addressed school start times, and the other physical activity in schools. The BOH and experts in sleep and teen life alike suggest school start times should be no earlier than 8:30 AM. The first thought that often comes to the attention of parents, faculty, and students is that this would mean a later end time. However, the analysis of school schedules in the county clearly shows it is possible to have school start later without having to push back end times. For example, cutting 3 minutes off of every class, taking an extra 10 minutes out of the morning, and shortening hallway time between classes to 3 minutes would allow for a later start time by at least 30 minutes. The Board of Health continues to analyze these schedules in search of something suitable for Highland Park.
The BOH also advocates for increased physical activity among the general student body, and for study halls for student athletes. The amount of physical activity students in Highland Park School District currently receive is below the Affordable Care Act’s recommended amount. In contrast, student athletes far exceed their recommended amount of physical activity, but do not have enough time to complete homework. Many student athletes find themselves in a predicament in which they want to succeed academically and athletically, but cannot seem to manage both without letting one take second seat. In response, the BOH is looking into creating an option for student athletes use their gym period as a study hall while they are in season for a sport. For the most part, students at HPHS agree with the BOH. On the topic of student athlete study halls, Liz Girvan ’18 said, “I would like the study hall so that I can use it to do more school work, so that I don’t have to be up late, and so I can get enough sleep. I also don’t want to fall behind in my classes from sports and having the study hall would help me stay on top of my work.”
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On school start times, Farhan Rozaidi ’16 said, “Our circadian rhythm would not be interfered with as much and so students would not be as groggy in school. We would be more likely to wake up from external stimuli, and it is generally healthier for students to get more sleep.” Both proposals have been met with general approval by both students and parents alike. In order for either of these proposals to become a reality, they must be passed by the Board of Education (BOE). On school related issues the BOH can only propose solutions, but cannot enforce them. However, with these resolutions passed by the BOH, it is much more likely BOE will soon take action. Although this may not be a possibility for the current school year, talking to the BOE student representatives (Mateo Juliani ’16 and Amita Shukla ’16), or attending a BOE meeting to advocate for the cause may help to expedite the process.
Julia Brennan
powder to the
people T
he first ever Highland Park Color Run was held by the Class of 2016 and DECA on November 1st in Johnson Park. The Fling interviewed Eliana Hriczo ’16, the senior who planned and organized the event in collaboration with DECA and the officers of the Class of 2016. What was the Color Run? It was a huge 5K event, open to everyone. During the race, paint (colored powder) was thrown on the runners. Besides the 5K run, there were food stands, a DJ, and other activities including henna and face painting. What did the Color Run try to raise money for? It was fundraising for the Class of 2016 and Operation Shoebox. A portion of the proceeds went to the Class of 2016 to help out proms and senior trips, and the rest will soon be donated to Operation Shoebox to send packages filled with various care items to veterans overseas to support their living. The fundraising goal of the event was to raise over ten grand. What gave you the idea of raising money through a Color Run? Are you doing this through a club? I went to an obstacle course challenge in New York, and it made me want to fundraise through a 5K. It was held in Brooklyn, and it was a ROC, which stands for “Ridiculous Obstacle Course.” The race was a 5K that had blowup obstacles on the course. I’m doing this for the Class of 2016 since I’m the class president, and also to help DECA raise money for charity. Where did you get the funding to host the Color Run? We had sponsors sign up for advertisements and had them give us money to spread their company name. The sponsors included: the Play Learn and Care, Multilingual
Child Care Center, All Colors LLC, the Highland Park BPA, and Quick Chek. How was the turn out for this year’s color run? Would you like to see Highland Park High School host another Color Run next year, and if our school was to hold another Color Run, what changes/improvements would you make? The turnout was extremely successful and there were over 600 people who attended the event! It went above and beyond our expectations and we did reach our goal! I would love to see something like this continue, however it’s a big job, so be aware! The only improvement I would have made was to make color stations on the actual run so people would get more colored! The Fling also interviewed Michael Choi ’17, who worked alongside Eliana and Kyle Thieringer ’16 on the Color Run for DECA. How did DECA working in collaboration with Eliana on this event? Eliana, Kyle, and I are all in DECA, and we decided to do the Color Run as our manual, since we are already in DECA and Eliana is the Class of 2016 President. DECA and the class split the profit, and the profits made in DECA will be sent soon to help out soldiers in Afghanistan. How did you get into the Color Run with Eliana and Kyle? I got into the Color Run because I thought I wanted to try a 30-page manual. I also thought that it would be a lot of fun (with a lot of work). Although I have never done one of these, I just wanted to try one. And of course the Color Run itself is quite fun!
How is this event different from other events such as DECA’s Make-a-Wish walk? Although this was the first year Highland Park High School and DECA are holding the Color Run, there are similar events like the Color Run in New York that turn out to be successes. From this, we anticipated that our Color Run would similarly have a favorable outcome. While the Color Run’s main intention, like the Makea-Wish Walk, was to fundraise money, it also offered people not living Highland Park a chance to be more involved for a great cause. What are your feelings or thoughts on the Color Run? The run itself was great since it helped soldiers that are out of the States, and I think it was a fun way of raising money. Would you like to see our school host another Color Run next year for a charity and Class of 2017? Oh yes, I would like to see it happen again before I graduate for sure! If Highland Park High School was to hold another Color Run, what changes/improvements would you make? There were people who wanted to throw some more paints at the end of our run, so I think ordering more paint would be nice. Did the event meet your expectations? What is your opinion on how it went? The event was a success, and I enjoyed it for sure. I think I can do small changes for the next run, if there is one. Alexandra Li & Anne Lin
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
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OPINION
letter from the president Leo Goldman
Dear Highland Park High School students, I want to take this opportunity to write to you all and express not only my gratitude for your votes in this election on behalf of all of our elected officers, but also my vision for Student Congress this year. To demonstrate my thanks for being given this opportunity to contribute to our high school, I have already begun working, with all the Student Congress officers, on shaping this year to include an involved Student Congress and an engaged student body. My ultimate goal for this year is that Student Congress may positively interact with every student, no matter their grade or prior involvement in Student Congress, whether that interaction involves providing funding or holding a fun event at the school. When I was a freshman in Highland Park, I had no idea what Student Congress was or what it did. I recall someone explaining to me that Student Congress helped with Spirit Week and I remember maybe attending one fundraiser they organized. Fortunately, both my involvement in and awareness of Student Congress activities has increased each year since then. My sophomore year, Student Congress organized several fun events that many Highland Park students took part in. My junior year, I managed to win a $500 grant from Student Congress that would benefit several different school sports teams. This year, my goal is to increase Student Congress’ presence in the high school and increase each student’s participation in and understanding of our events. Whether you are a junior or senior with no prior involvement in Student Congress, or a sophomore or freshmen and are still navigating your way throughout high school, Student Congress is here to help. I think that Student Congress’s greatest impact is its ability to provide funds to clubs that need them in a system of tight budgets. I encourage all of you to speak with your club representatives or to assume a role as one and draft a proposal for what your club or clubs would do with the money. Hopefully, we will have at least three opportunities to grant $500 to clubs throughout the year, and my only hope is that club representatives take this opportunity to give back to the programs that have helped shape them. Getting the overall funds to provide these opportunities will mean work, but that does not mean that we cannot have fun in the process. From Boograms to video game tournaments to school dances, the Student Congress officers hope that we can organize events that get everyone excited. We are always open to suggestions. Along the way, of course, we will be doing our best to make a positive impact in our community, through events such as Service Day, but I know that together we can make a tremendous impact on our school as well, and I look forward to doing that with each of you. Your Student Congress President,
THE
Leo Goldman
highland/ F L I N G
Editor-In-Chief / Shana Oshinskie managing editors / TIA WANGLI / AMITA SHUKLA layout editor / JISU JEONG news / MICHELLE FAN opinion / AMITA SHUKLA feature / GAB ROSENTHAL arts / TIA WANGLI sports / CAMRYN KOZACHEK adviser / BRETT ROCHE
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
WRIters & Photographers
CONTACT US
/ / / / / / / / / /
kaan orgun Julia Liebell-McLean julia brennan alexandra li anne lin leo goldman Sam Leibowitz-Lord andrew moore silas westfall ethan bull
/ wenyi ouyang / elizabeth john / amelia wilkerson / alyssa pilch / eli copperman / juhee jeong / zachary kauz / william chen / tiffany liang / kate Atschinow
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he school administration has adjusted the schedule yet again in an effort to resolve some of the school’s inefficiencies. Vice Principal Ms. Brady explained, “Tardies have become a huge issue in this district because it is a walking district, not a bussing district, so everyone is really on their own to get here on time. With homeroom it gave them a little bit more flexibility in getting here because they weren’t in an academic class. Now they’re missing an academic class, so the hope is that getting to school on time will become more of a priority.” While this reasoning is admirable, we see it as slightly misguided. There are inherent flaws in the classic high school schedule that hurt students every day. It just doesn’t work with teenage psychology. We believe that while the school’s intention to eliminate tardiness is a good one, there is a better way to it. The American Psychological Association says in an article on teenage sleep and school schedules, “...some sleep experts contend that the nation’s early high-school start times, increasingly common, are tantamount to abuse… Insufficient sleep has also been shown to cause difficulties in school, including disciplinary problems, sleepiness in class and poor concentration.”
In addition to starting too early, we don’t get enough time to relax; longer lunch times and more breaks have been proven to increase student productivity, attention, and positive behavior. A study in nutrition done by Professor Juliana Cohen of Merrimack University concludes, “Giving kids enough time to eat plays an important role.” We think the district should follow the examples of dozens of other districts, such as Ridgewood High School, and push back the start time of school, in addition to breaking up long periods of continuous instruction with a few breaks.
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our brain needs more sleep We have drawn up a radical new schedule that incorporates optimal class time, sleep time, and eating time in one package.
the teenager’s schedule 10:30 am-11:26 am
block 1
11:30 am-12:26 pm
block 2
12:26 pm-12:44 pm
morning break
12:44 pm-1:40 pm
block 3
1:44 pm-2:40 pm
block 4
3:00 pm-6:00 pm
general break ( sports, )
6:20 pm-7:16 pm
dinner
7:20 pm-8:16 pm
block 5
8:20 pm-9:16 pm
block 6
resting, clubs
While we understand that this is an extreme shift, it is optimized to fit the teenage lifestyle. This proposed schedule gives ample amounts of instructional time while leaving room for extracurriculars and additional activities. While athletes might complain that going back to school after practice can be rough, the extra dinner break time would be more than enough to compensate. Teenage bodies want to stay up later and wake up later. Therefore, staying up a bit later to do homework is not a problem, as long as we are able to start the day later. In fact, many students, especially athletes, start their homework quite late anyways.
An anonymous biology teacher agreed that in strictly biological terms, this is a teenager’s dream schedule—it matches the sleep cycle that nature intended for us to have. Additionally, starting school later in the day when students have more time to sleep and get ready for the day will reduce the number of tardies, which we agree is a major problem. This proposed schedule gives ample amounts of instructional time while leaving room for extracurriculars and additional activities. The hour between this block and the first evening class, marked on the schedule as “Dinner,” is an open hour in which students can relax after their practices and eat either at home or at school. Some students we talked to said that this schedule, with classes being spread out through the day, bears a striking resemblance to college—the very place high school prepares us for. We believe this schedule is pretty close to the best thing a student could hope for—it is optimized for every aspect of an adolescent lifestyle, from our natural inclination to sleep late to our distaste for working for hours on end. It should be acknowledged, however, that this schedule prioritizes the needs of students over those of parents and teachers. After all, school today starts early so it can match up with 9 to 5 jobs, and so that adults, most awake in the morning, can be alert at work. However, it does this at the expense of those who matter most in the education system: the students. Is it not the purpose of school to provide the best educational experience it can? Older generations should sometimes make sacrifices for the success of younger generations, and this one is worth it. We know a project of this magnitude probably won’t happen in our time at Highland Park High School, but we hope the administration will consider what is best for the students next time they change the schedule. Sam Leibowitz-Lord & Andrew Moore
the shawshank perception T
he Fling has already published two articles in the last four years comparing the college admissions process, and senior year, to the Hunger Games. I won’t do that again, but I do think there are more, and better comparisons to be drawn with another movie: The Shawshank Redemption. Its narrator, Red, talks a lot about being an institutional man. Having been very accustomed to the Shawshank prison system for years, the prisoners find the thought of leaving terrifying: their identities are so built up around the place that leaving the place is leaving a part of themselves. The realization then struck me: I too, am institutionalized. The concept was a little unnerving. Like the prisoners, I have a definite routine: I like some parts and dislike others, but it is comfortingly familiar. I am taking nearly the same classes this year as I was last year, from the same teachers. Now, with the college admissions process looming, I’m realizing that I am soon not going to be working within the bounds of this particular system anymore.
It’s a little exciting and a little scary, this idea of so much freedom. There is a definite sense of, “well, duh” about the whole thing. I knew all along this was coming, but that doesn’t make all the last-times easier.
The college admissions process has made me realized just how institutionalized I am, which is on many levels disquieting. But that’s not the point. The point is that I now realize that other options do exist.
Like many of the prisoners at Shawshank, I’m getting the sense that there were somehow better things I could have been doing. There’s also knowledge, vague and suppressed, that somewhere “Out There,” someone is doing more worthwhile things. Someone, somewhere, is transcending the institution.
I should take a moment here to say that this is in no way an indictment of the school or of the school system. Interestingly, it has been at school that I have been beginning to break of out of the mindset. Efforts like the Global Citizenship Program help, a lot, with a think-outside-the-box approach to education. They’re a lot of the reason I’m now realizing this.
The whole concept Red broaches, though, is that the institution is far more than its four bounding walls. It is also the way of thinking, which is the more difficult by far to break out of. This exemplifies the Failed Simulation effect: paths that seem more successful and more interesting are more difficult to mentally trace. The institutional path is less exciting than the self-made path, but also infinitely easier.
This article, the movie, and my high school career all have a sort of bittersweet ending. This is not the best we could have been, but we are now out of the institution, for better and for worse.
Amita Shukla
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
eight
O
flingonomics: “academic integrity” Cheating on Tests
Copying Homework
E A
D
D
A C C B B
A: never cheated on a test 29.25% | 31 students
D: cheated on many tests 7.55% | 8 students
A: never copied homework 8.49% | 9 students
B: cheated on one test 19.81% | 21 students
E: cheat on tests all the time 3.77% | 4 students
B: rarely copy homework 55.66% | 59 students
C: cheated on a few tests 39.62% | 42 students
Total Surveyed: 106 students
C: sometimes copy homework 25.47% | 27 students
D: often copy homework 10.38% | 11 students
Total Surveyed: 106 students
“If morality represents how people would like the world to work, then economics shows how it actually does work.” -Levitt and Dubner, Freakonomics
E
ach year, in one of your classes, it is probable you will receive a lecture on morality. The premise? “Thou shalt not cheat.” The teacher will likely say, “I’m not saying all of you do it,” and he or she is correct; 4.7% of Highland Park High School students claim to have never cheated on any test or copied any homework. In a grade of 100, that leaves fewer than five “academically honest” students. Is this an issue? Many teachers and administrators see any kind of cheating as an evil that must be stamped out. Students, on the other hand, seem to adhere to a different set of morals. A whole 46.2% of HPHS students don’t see copying homework as wrong, and 16% don’t even consider cheating on tests immoral. Each year, then, that lecture on morality fails to convince nearly half of its audience that cheating is wrong. Why does it fail? What should be done? As it is the more rampant issue, let us first address homework. History teacher Mr. Broadfoot explains that, “the point of homework is, or at least should be, to reinforce something from class. When students copy the work, they
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
are not reinforcing anything, just saving themselves time.” This seems reasonable enough. Why, then, do so many people think that copying homework is okay? The answer can be found in the lecture on morality itself. In one such lecture, AP Language and Composition teacher Mr. McCrae told his students that they must be “independent learners, like college students.” It is this idea that students should know how they learn best and be driven to exercise that method on their own that sows the seed of copying homework. Once students reach the point where they are responsible for their own learning, they feel they can make the decision of whether they need reinforcement in that subject or not. For example, if you spend two days in Spanish class doing worksheets on the future tense, and then receive another sheet for homework on the same topic, you probably feel like that homework will be a waste of time. To arrive at this conclusion, you ask yourself, “Do I need that reinforcement?” If you are a responsible, independent learner, we presume you will make the right decision, whatever that may be for you. If you are irresponsible, you will pay the price come test-day. So a student who grasps the material very well may make the decision
that he does not need reinforcement, and will spend his time on something he deems more rewarding academically, athletically, or otherwise. He will copy the homework from his classmate in gym the next day. This student’s decision is further “justified” by the fact that the homework will be checked for completion, not correctness. Therefore the student does not have to worry about whether his classmate got all the answers right. In addition, the quick glance that the teacher gives the student’s paper devalues his work. It stops seeming worth the time and effort if the teacher doesn’t say if he’s doing it right. Tests are a different matter. They are the evaluation of the material that homework reviewed. If homework cannot be used to judge academic advancement, then tests must be. It is very important, then, that students do not cheat on tests. It is also much easier to ensure that this does not occur, as a teacher is observing the class the entire time. The lectures we receive may tell us that cheating is wrong, but in practice, very little is done to discourage it. There are solutions, however. Most teachers believe that immediate consequences are effec-
tive. In other words, if you are caught cheating, you fail that assignment and occasionally get written up. Math teacher Mr. Moore supports this practice, but adds that teachers must also adapt to the inevitable presence of cheating. He comments, “Homework should not count for more than 10 percent of a student’s grade.” This ensures that only a relatively small amount of a student’s grade could be earned dishonestly. A more extreme option would even be to make homework optional. This would give students flexibility in their schedule and eliminate incentives to copy homework. On the other hand, collecting and correcting everyone’s homework would also decrease cheating for fear of a friend’s incorrect responses or the teacher recognizing identical answers. Even more importantly, it would give the students a sense that their work is truly valued. Whatever the solution is, it must be one that balances the busy and rewarding schedules of many students with the teachers’ wants. It must be a compromise. We must end the lectures on the immorality of cheating, and begin the discussions of its economics. Silas Westfall & Ethan Bull
nine
FEATURE
apply yourself A
ttention seniors! Congratulations! You’ve made it to your last year of high school. What often comes after high school? College. What does that mean? College applications will take over your life for a solid portion of this year. Stressed, tired, confused, a total mess? Not to fear; most of your classmates feel the same way.
were asked their opinion, many answered with a firm no, asserting that college applications are limited and fail to exhibit how hard you have worked. However, there were a couple of students who weren’t so sure—Sunny Yang ’16 explained, “Some aspects of college apps do, such as the essay and interview. They’re good because they portray you as a person.”
Now, you’re probably wondering how anyone manages to finish their college apps while still keeping their grades up. When selected seniors were asked how they balance working on applications with schoolwork, all of them admitted to having some difficulty. Eliana Hriczo ’16 summed it up by saying, “Not well… But hey, that’s what seniors do!”
A common struggle for seniors is finding out where they stand numbers-wise. Everyone can relate; after getting back a test, you want to find out what your friends got, but then you’re not sure if it’s appropriate to ask. Similarly, is it awkward to ask someone what colleges they’re applying to? Would you come off as being nosy? But the curiosity is killing you! Don’t worry about it. Seniors have been interviewed, and conclusions have been drawn.
Although time management is undeniably challenging, there are some seniors who have a pretty good system down. “During the week, I do schoolwork, and during the weekends, I do college apps,” Emma Weaver ’16 answered. The key is planning ahead; it might be fine to procrastinate on your English paper, but procrastinating on college apps is not a good idea. Spacing out your applications will make your life much easier. Also, the people reading your applications will probably be able to tell if it was completed last minute. Don’t take that risk! Many debate whether or not college applications are able to show your worth as a student. When students
The Class of 2016 is a group of intelligent and well-rounded people, so it isn’t the least bit surprising that most students interviewed are applying to at least one Ivy League college. What is pretty shocking, though, is that none of the interviewed seniors applied to over 8 schools. The average number is around six but drops as low as two! All of the seniors interviewed have decided on their majors in college, but that does not in any way mean that you have to be. It is perfectly fine to go in undecided. College is the place to discover and develop your interests.
A big portion of the graduating class participates in sports; in fact, the majority of those interviewed are involved in at least one. Yet when asked if they are planning to do a sport in college, most expressed that they were only interested in participating in an intramural sport—nothing too serious. Colleges are as numerous as they are different. When seniors were questioned about what exactly they’re looking for in a college, answers differed. Patrick Liu ’16 specifically mentioned, “I’m looking for a college with a good program in the subject I want to study.” Others are attracted to historical buildings, study abroad programs, or a lively location. Overall, most seniors claimed to be looking for a welcoming and diverse atmosphere (much like that of Highland Park). After interviewing a range of seniors interested in different fields and applying to different colleges, one thing is clear. They are all stressed. Their futures depend on what they put on these applications! Being stressed is normal, but just remember that what’s done is done. You have already made it through a full three years of high school. You have proven to be a dedicated student and a hard worker. You have acquired a great deal of knowledge and developed a better understanding of yourself. Now, all you have to do is put it on paper. Wenyi Ouyang
new clubs preview T
he halls of the Highland Park High School are invariably ornamented with countless flyers that read, “New Club! Interest meeting on Thursday!” Most students, however, do not stop to read the details and continue rushing to class. But if you read these signs closely, you will notice that there are many new and diverse additions to the list of our school’s clubs this year, including Key Club and Spanish Outreach Club. Key Club is an international organization that provides high schoolers with a platform to contribute to the community through different service projects. Their mission is to “provide service, build character and develop leadership.” This year, our high school has started its own branch of Key Club. Our chapter was created this May by Dika Okeke ’16. She said, “I started Key Club because I wanted to start something that is international and is a good opportunity for the students at our school.” Though Key Club has only just begun, it already has lots of members who are eager to participate. Yasmine Lekhal ’18 said, “I joined Key Club because I wanted to get more service hours and I wanted to be a good member of the
community by doing service. I hope that Key Club will be able to help not only Highland Park High School but also the Highland Park community as a whole.” So far, Key Club has already attended the Fall Rally on October 12th, where they went to Six Flags Great Adventure. This conference allowed members of Key Club from throughout New Jersey to come together and motivate each other to do more service this year. Key Club also plans to host a community garage sale to raise money for the Highland Park Police Department so that they can start a breakfast program for children who do not have enough food to eat in the morning. It will also initiate and participate in many other activities, such as attending service conventions and conferences. To join Key Club, come to its meetings on Tuesdays during lunch in room C6 or talk to Dika Okeke. For more information about Key Club International, visit its web site at http://www.keyclub.org. Another addition to our school this year is the Spanish Outreach Club. This club was created this August by Brent Szklaruk ’17 and Silas Westfall ’17. It focuses on
Spanish language and culture and participates in community service to help bridge the gap between Spanish-speaking people and the rest of the community. However, the service is optional. Brent and Silas said, “You don’t have to participate in the outreach part of the club; you can just come to our meetings to have fun and learn Spanish.” They also explained why this club was created, stating, “We created the Spanish Outreach Club because we wanted to discover more about and explore Spanish culture.” This year, the club plans to host weekly meetings to incite interest in students. It will also celebrate Spanish holidays, like Cinco de Mayo and Day of the Dead, and start “Spanish Word of the Day,” in which a unique Spanish word will be designated to each day. To join Spanish Outreach Club, come to their meetings in Room 222 or talk to Brent Szklaruk and Silas Westfall.
Elizabeth John
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
ten
F
freshman foresight T
hink back to the night before the very first day of your freshman year. Were you nervous, worrying about where and with whom you might sit in the cafeteria? Maybe frantically trying to finish your summer work? Or perhaps sweating over finding the perfect outfit to wear the next day, tossing piles of clothes all over your bedroom floor? Whatever the case, I can guarantee you we have all been there. Though most of us tend to downplay our expectations of high school life, there is no denying that we have all felt that little surge of butterflies on our first day. It’s difficult not to overanalyze high school life when in middle school, to picture it as something much scarier than it actually is. The class of 2019 freshman seemed to have their heads squarely on their shoulders coming into the 2015-2016 school year, but I had a feeling there were some underlying questions and concerns before their first day. Leah Mack ’19, a freshman transitioning from several years of homeschooling into the public school system, expressed her initial expectations of what high school would be like, describing her transition as “going from doing your own thing, to having a schedule and classes.” She expressed her concerns of high school, stating that she was “expecting her classes to be way too hard,” and that she “wouldn’t have a lot of friends.”
Max Rayside ’19, also an incoming freshman, said he wasn’t worried about making new friends or losing the ones he already had; the one thing he was most concerned about was getting lost. This may sound like a funny thing to worry about considering the size of our school, but in reality is a valid concern. It’s easy to forget that for people newer to the school, the high school can look like a big scary place, when in reality it is quite the opposite. In the end, Leah’s experience so far has been much better than she had originally imagined, and Max only got lost once so far! With time both of these students were able to realize their worries were a bit overblown, though still somewhat relevant. Many of the upperclassmen had fears such as these at one point. Sam Leibowitz-Lord ’17 said going into high school he was worried that “everything was so serious” and that he would be “stepping up into the real world, and that it would all be so scary.” Looking back at his concerns now, he was able to conclude that though high school seems like fun and games a lot of the time, it is also a huge stepping stone that potentially sets the course of your entire life. Ian De Uriarte ’17 had a slightly different take on what high school would be like as a freshman, thinking he would be able to just “breeze through high school with-
out studying and working hard,” but quickly met the cold truth of reality after entering Ms. Yang and Ms. Finklin’s classes in his sophomore year. Although these juniors haven’t quite been able to easily glide through high school, they’ve still been able find ways to sit back and enjoy their time spent here, whether it was spent playing sports, hanging out with friends, or participating in other stress-relieving activities. Looking back on these concerns, one thing is clear— while high school isn’t the walk in the par some seem to imagine, nor as hard as medical school, it is a hugely important part of everyone’s future, a stepping stone towards the independence each student will find post-graduation. In other words, if you’re a nervous freshman or just another student at Highland Park High School worried about whether you’ll fit in, find your way around school, do well, or more, don’t be afraid to ask for help! We have all been in your shoes at one point or another, and you will soon come to find that though high school may be a lot of work from time to time, it also has its benefits. Don’t forget to have fun!
Amelia Wilkerson
crossword
Across
Down
3. a desktop belongs on the desk, a ______ on your lap 4. if you’re _______-intolerant, dairy products cause discomfort 6. in Monopoly, the “B. & O. ______” costs $200 to purchase 7. when the plot ends with no closure 8. the nastier version of chickenpox that appears later in life 9. Columbia a university, Colombia a _______ 12. the magical substance in coffee that heightens alertness 13. purple vegetable 14. cow-related or cow-like
1. it’s the end of the world! 2. what’s made at a tannery 5. 10-letter word meaning “a bad-tempered person” 10. “Something is ______ in the state of Denmark” 11. Japanese poetry form using a “5-7-5” syllable structure
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
eleven
F
teacher’s pet Shana Oshinskie
H
ighland Park High School’s faculty has a pretty interesting cast of characters. Where else could you find a math teacher that yells “Hump Daaaaay” on Wednesdays with the intensity that Ms. Finklin does it? Or an English teacher that has as much wit and sass as Ms. Marionni? Or a principal that can do the percolator as well as Mr. Lassiter? Needless to say, our staff has got a lot of unique personalities. To find which one is most similar to yourself, do the following path quiz!
what is your favorite subject?
{english or foreign languages}
[social studies}
what do you do in your free time?
{be fierce}
{the sciences/math}
{gym}
does your acaddemic enthusiasm ever translate into song?
are you more of a katniss or a tom brady?
{weep for the future of America}
Who is your favorite athlete of all time? superhero shows or cooking shows?
{sure!} {not usually!} {any other athlete}
{superheroes!}
puritans or politics?
{crazy about canines}
{Lionel Messi}
{archery all the {football for me!} way}
spanish civil war or american civil war?
{‘murica}
cycling or gardening?
{spanish} would you rather take a Model UN class or WISE?
diplomacy or literacy?
{cycling} {literacy}
{puritans}
{politics}
{gardening}
{diplomacy}
{model un}
{WISE}
Ms. Marionni
Ms. Martin
You’re sassy and fierce and you probably hate “to be” verbs. You’re Marionni to the max!
I certainly hope you aren’t going on maternity leave anytime soon... but you are basically Ms. Martin.
Mr. Roche
Mr. Gold
Ms. Stephen
Mr. Nobles
Perhaps you should take up Formula One racing, because it seems you’re already Roche-like.
Join Model UN and buy yourself a new suit, you’re Mr. Gold, through and through.
You love Mole Day, I bet, and cannot wait to sing about it to the whole school!
Learn about business; participate in competitions. Advisor: Ms. Harper.
Mr. Esteban
Mr. Kruger
Ms. Sanders
Ms. Schmon
Go check out some Cervantes from the library and watch FCB. No hay duda que eres Esteban.
Get out your helmet and your hand sanitizer, because you bear some similarities to “Krugie.”
Yee-haw! I hope you like gardening, because homesteading could be in your future.
I’ll bet you have a penchant for catchy acronyms and track jackets!
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
twelve
F
ak es
t s FE
fall cup e c iv
Alyssa Pilch & Wenyi Ouyang
INGREDIENTS 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon coarse salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1 cup packed light-brown sugar 1 cup granulated sugar
T
here is no better way to welcome the fall than with a festive, seasonal cupcake that will warm you up inside and out. This autumn-inspired recipe is the perfect way to cap off Thanksgiving evening and ensure that all of your guests leave the dinner table with a smile on their face. Whether you are eating dinner with your family, or simply spending a cozy day enjoying the vibrant colors outside your window, these cupcakes are sure to please. Indulge in the classic flavors of fall with this delicious pumpkin treat.
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled 4 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
Utensils
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set aside. 3. In a large bowl, whisk together, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth. Add pumpkin puree. 4. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Bake until a fork inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Rotate pans once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.
Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart. Dominant photo by Alyssa Pilch and Kate Atschinow. Surrounding photos by Shana Oshinskie.
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
thirteen
ARTs
movie review: Hotel transylvania 2
I
n 2012, Sony Pictures Animation and Genndy Tartakovsky released their seventh joint feature-length film, Hotel Transylvania. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film was enjoyed by audiences, making it a box-office success and winning it a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film. Considering how successful it was, it only makes sense that a sequel would be greenlit, with Tartakovsky back as director, and the original cast back as well. One of the qualities from the original movie that made it so loved by audiences was its humor; jokes came constantly throughout the picture. In Hotel Transylvania 2, although there are some jokes that are rather predictable (and some that will be out-of-date soon), a lot of them really hit the bulls-eye. This results in some wacky fast-paced screwball humor, dark comedy, silly one-liners, hilarious facial reactions, well-done poses, and even some cutaway gags. However, as child-friendly as the jokes are, there are a few catered towards adults, which gives the humor a little bit of attitude as well. Although there are times when the jokes can ruin serious moments, they never try
to overstay their welcome and usually only come when they need to. Another quality from the original movie that really added a “wow factor” was its animation, which was far more sophisticated than a typical cartoon. The same applies to the sequel, but the animation is even better than before. Although the character designs would fit in with a 2-D cartoon, they still look unique in terms of how they’re rendered. Even though the animation is fast paced and chaotic, the timing is perfect. The backgrounds and the special effects animation also look realistic and amazing. The scenes with bats flying, trains, or stunts really look impressive, and give the movie some depth. There are even some well-done visual gags that work with the animation, and some really fast-paced and well-animated action scenes that put the audience on the edge of their seats. The whole cast is back, but they have had their roles changed up a bit since the first film. Dracula (Adam Sandler) is the grandfather who wants his grandson to be similar to himself. Johnathan (Andy
Samberg) and Mavis (Selena Gomez) are the worried parents who are concerned about where they fit in most. Frankenstein (Kevin James), Wayne the Werewolf (Steve Buscemi), Griffin the Invisible Man (David Spade), and Murray the Mummy (Keegan-Michael Key) add comic relief and help the plot along at critical points. The new characters are more of a mix. Characters like Johnny and Mavis’ son Dennis (Asher Blinkoff), Vlad (Mel Brooks), Bela (Rob Riggle), and Linda (Megan Mullally) contribute to the plot and have their own distinct personalities and weaknesses (and can even be threatening at times). Others such as Johnny’s parents Mike (Nick Offerman) and Linda (Megan Mullally); vampire camp director Dana (Dana Carvery); and the werewolves daughter Winnie (Sadie Sandler) are usually just there with not much to contribute to the story, and can be a tad bit annoying. The actors themselves, however, pull off great and funny performances. However, the main problem that this movie suffers from is the same one the first movie had. The plot is predictable and has been done before; it’s just the
grandpa or other guardian wanting to change a character into something he’s not. The movie also contains other clichés and plot points that have been done before, like the wife meeting her husband’s wacky family, the elder family member disapproving of something, difficult parent-child relations, and a character wanting to be something despite not having natural talent for it. Overall, despite following a predictable storyline, Hotel Transylvania 2 is a solid continuation of the previous film thanks to its quick and silly humor, amazing cartoon-y animation, interesting characters, and a sense of fun, wit, and even attitude. It even beats the first film in terms of quality of the animation, the pacing, and even the sound mixing. If you like the first film and Genndy Tartakovsky’s other work, then this might be for you; if not, then don’t even bother. Halloween may be over, but at least we got something fun, bright, colorful, and amusing out of it, as well as a little scary too.
Eli Copperman
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
fourteen
A
hphs reacts to k-pop
P
sy’s hit single “Gangnam Style” reached approximately 2.4 billion views on YouTube. From parodies to setting the record on YouTube’s view count, “Gangnam Style” is the “big bang” that allowed K-Pop to grow famous internationally. However, most people think that “Gangnam Style” is the only K-Pop song there is. The Fling interviewed students from Highland Park High School about their knowledge of, opinion on, and reactions to K-Pop.
Talia Sclafani ’17: Korean pop music.
What is K-Pop?
SM: “Wolf” by Exo.
Sophia McDermott-Hughes ’19: Korean pop music.
YN: Probably “Gangnam Style.”
Yulin Ni ’18: Kpop is a popular, modern genre of music, originating from South Korea. It has mainly elements of pop and whatever else that makes it kpop-y. William Chen ’16: Korean singers rapping and making noises.
Colin Marx ’16: It is a cultural phenomenon from South Korea that has become massively popular. Zenobia Murphy ’17: A music genre that a lot of people enjoy. ... What is your first K-Pop song?
WC: “Gangnam Style.” TS: Honestly probably “Gangnam Style” by Psy, but “She’s a Monster” by GOT7 was also probably one of my first songs. CM: “Kim Jong Style.” I saw the parody before the original.
ZM: “Gangnam Style.” ... What are your opinions of the two songs: “Call Me Baby” by Exo and “Party” by Girl’s Generation? SM: I didn’t like the music video for “Party” very much. Not one of their best. I like “I Got a Boy” better.” [“Party”] is super high pitched and kinda annoying. Exo, on the other hand . . . I could watch “Call Me Baby” all day. They’re so awesome at dancing (and hot).” YN: For “Call Me Baby”—well, hot Asian boys. I like the song. It looks like they spent a lot of money on the music video. [Party] is a really colorful, lively, pretty music video. I don’t like the lyrics because they’re too generic and stupid, but I like the instrumental. [Girl’s Generation] girls are really pretty. I like their makeup.
WC: The songs are upbeat and catchy, but I don’t understand what they [sic] saying. TS: These guys [from Exo] are so pretty, this song is now my jam, the dance moves fit perfectly with the song, I love it. Wait some of this is in English? Oh my god, [the Girl’s Generation members] are so flawless! CM: I give them both a thumbs up. I really don’t think too critically when it comes to music. Nothing about the music particularly annoyed me. ZM: [Only for Exo] Well, there’s not much to say. I mean it’s just like the boy bands we have here in America and the ones we obsess over in Britain. I don’t have anything against it but they’re all themed the same and generally uncreative to me.
“I’m so glad i didn’t buy a yearbook!” -no one ever purchase your book today at the reduced rate of $90. Prices will increase after the new year. talk to ms. Marionni or Ms. krubski or scan the qr code at left for more information. to design an ad, use the qr code to your right. NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
Juhee Jeong
fifteen
A Zachary Kauz
november PLAYLIST “Real Life” by The Weeknd
“Hotline Bling” by Drake
genre: r&b
genre: r&b/pop
Recommended for fans of Michael Jackson, Frank Ocean, and/or R&B in general.
Even without dropping an official album, this has been an eventful year for Drake. Despite having already released 2 projects this year, Drake is already working on a third with this song rumored to be the lead single.
“Half Dome” by Toro Y Moi
“Annie” by Neon Indian
genre: indie rock
genre: indie pop
Hiking season may be over but that doesn’t prevent Half Dome by Toro Y Moi from being a catchy and energetic rock tune about hiking said area. Recommended for fans of Blur, Weezer, and/or Indie Rock in general.
Recommended for fans of anything 80s.
“Leaves” by Miguel
“Pony” by Wavves
genre: alt. r&b
genre: pop punk
Recommended for fans of Prince, Jhene Aiko, and/or Alternative R&B in general.
Recommended for fans of Green Day, Weezer and/or Pop Punk in general.
“Crosswords” by Panda Bear
“Lost My Head There” by Kurt Vile
genre: indie pop
genre: singer-songwriter
Recommended for fans of The Beach Boys, MGMT, and/or indie-pop in general.
A calm yet ear-grabbing tune that is potentially the happiest song about losing your mind because of stress (something all high school students can relate to). Recommended for fans of Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, and/or singer-songwriter music in general.
“Loud Places” by Jamie XX ft. Romy genre: indie pop Previously known as the producer for The XX, Jamie XX made a name for himself this year with the release of his solo album In Colour. Jamie has worked with everyone from Drake to Radiohead but for this new single has reunited with Romy Croft (of The XX) to make a moody yet danceable track about a relationship gone bad.
“What You Don’t Do” by Lianne La Havas genre: soul Hailing from London, Lianne La Havas is already huge in the United Kingdom but is still a relatively unknown name in the States. That is likely to change soon with her new single “What You Don’t Do,” a jazz influenced soul song with a catchy hook and retro instrumentation.Drake is already working on a third with this song rumored to be the lead single.
“Don’t Wanna Fight” by Alabama Shakes
“No Other Heart” by Mac Demarco
genre: rock
Recommended for fans of singer-songwriter music that manages to simultaneously be catchy and stripped-back.
genre: indie rock
Recommended for fans of The Black Keys, Jack White, and/or Garage Rock in general.
“Sunday Candy”
“Omen” by Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
genre: pop
genre: indie pop
Last year, Disclosure and Sam Smith hit it big with their hit song “Latch”; here they have reunited for another attempt. Sam Smith remains as strong of a singer as ever while Disclosure cooks up another earworm of a beat.
Recommended for fans of Chance the Rapper (a member of “The Social Experiment”), J Cole, and/or Pop Rap (with a hint of R&B) in general.
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
sixteen
SPORTS
turnout for what
W
hat sport best represents high school? - A quick poll of the school presents an almost unanimous answer of “football.” But why is football so appealing to the average high school student? Winning is a large part of sports culture, even at a high school level. It may not be explicitly expressed, but most student athletes are anxiously anticipating the next game, meet, or match where they will triumph and shine. For Highland Park High School, sports like tennis, cross country, and track have been highly successful in their division, but a quick glance at one of their games shows no one present other than teammates and the occasional parent. In contrast, football, one of the currently less “decorated” sports at HPHS, consistently draws a sizeable audience. If winning is not a determining factor for popularity, then what is? Part of it comes down to tradition. There has always been a “classic American” tradition surrounding football, varsity jackets, and late night games. Football has become an American staple in which the Super Bowl is practically a holiday while Homecoming and Thanksgiving games have become common high school celebrations. Even for those who do not particularly enjoy the sport, the idea of “Friday night lights” is still a tradition students come out to enjoy with their classmates and show some school spirit.
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
Another part is the social aspect of football. As Simon Garcia ’16 states, “People really come for the social gathering, not the game,” when they choose to attend a football game. While students may not know all the terminology associated with football, there is always a sense of comradery and unity as the school collectively cheers or groans with each successful or failed play. Throughout a game of football, students can freely converse with each other while also watching the game whereas sports like tennis and cross country require a significantly quieter audience or are more difficult to follow. Generally speaking, students also tend to enjoy team sports, like football and soccer, much more. Angelina Li ’15 reasons, “That’s probably because they’re more popular sports and are more exciting to watch.” Team sports rely heavily upon the cooperation of the players to pull off a win as they communicate with each other and move as one whole. On the other hand, Highland Park High School’s more decorated sports tend to be team sports with individualized components. In these sports, there is less player-on-player interaction, as individuals focus on their own matches and trust their teammates to do well. In cases like tennis, there may be four individual matches occurring at once, making it much more difficult to cheer and build a sense of excitement when compared to football’s single game.
As insignificant as they may seem, time and location also play a part in the audience size. Football games are always located on the turf and have much more accessible times as games often occur in the evening or on weekends. Even for parents, football games are more accessible as they occur out of the traditional 9 to 5 working period. On the other hand, track and field, cross country, and tennis tend to take place right after school and/or at locations farther from the school, thus deterring students and parents from attending. Altogether, football’s current popularity is grounded more so in culture and tradition rather than achievements and accomplishments. While other high school sports may have won more games in recent years, Highland Park High School’s football team still holds a history of success and as Adriana Diaz ’16 mentioned, “We were once a solid team and I think people wish to go back to that team.” When attending football games, we do not attend knowing the team will win; instead we attend for the thrill of each play, for the companionship of our friends, and for the pride of our school. Football may not be the most successful sport in our school right now, but it is one of the few capable of bringing together so many students and parents with different backgrounds and interests for a single cause. Tia Wangli
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touchdown traditions E
ver since the sport’s conception, American football has had a uniquely close relationship with Thanksgiving. In a bond that originated in the 1870s and continues to this day, football has become ingrained in American society and culture. The illustrious tradition of football and turkey also has deep roots in right here in Highland Park. Our high school football team has played Metuchen’s high school team every Thanksgiving day since 1949 (save a 12-year gap from 2001 to 2013), with the first ever Thanksgiving game between the two resulting in a 2-0 victory for Highland Park. Interestingly enough, though, the Thanksgiving game in 1949 was not the first time the Owls and Bulldogs met on the football field. The two schools first played in 1937, and the teams have continued with at least one matchup every year since (except 1942). It is, in fact, the second-longest running rivalry in Middlesex County— usurped only by Carteret and Perth Amboy, who began in 1927.
However, generally speaking, the historical context of the Owls and Bulldogs rivalry helps frame the current picture of Thanksgiving football in Highland Park. After all, even as past contests are slowly being forgotten, Highland Park players today still express a yearning to play and beat Metuchen on Thanksgiving Day. “This tradition,” said Cameron Petkov ’16, football team captain, “has turned into continuing the pride in our school and furthering the rivalry. With so much history between the schools, this game proves to be extremely important.” Petkov’s voice is not alone; many players from the current roster are open in their desire to beat Metuchen. But, although any game between Highland Park and Metuchen naturally holds extra emphasis because of the teams’ long-term rivalry, the Thanksgiving Day event adds larger, more intangible significance to the matchup. And that factor, perhaps, is the one that best explains why American football goes hand-in-hand with the Thanksgiving celebration—there is an unquantifiable yet
understandable feeling of prominence and tradition attached to Thanksgiving games that simply does not exist for normal contests. For example, in college football, an array of rivalry games takes place every Thanksgiving weekend, which— like Highland Park and Metuchen—add on to the already-storied histories of many established colleges and universities. On the professional scale, in the National Football League, the Detroit Lions have played a home game every Thanksgiving Day since 1934 and the Dallas Cowboys since 1966. “Football and Thanksgiving go together so well,” said Ish Zubairu ’17, member of the football team, “because it’s watching America’s game on America’s day. What can be better than that?”
Amiri Tulloch
taking shots
D
epending on where a high school athlete is in his or her career—whether they’re rookie or a seasoned veteran—they have a unique perspective on the sports season. The Highland Fling caught up with some members of the boys’ soccer team to see how their views differed. According to the team, the biggest adjustment freshmen must make is to the physicality of the game; players are faster, stronger, and smarter. On the other hand, seniors come into the season more prepared than ever.
juggling and dribbling. In addition, I do fitness, consisting of push-ups and sit-ups, twice a week.”
and tell me how to improve my defense,” he said. “The coaches help with the plays and different strategies.”
Players also have different goals for the season. According to senior and captain John Buzzbee ’16, “I wanted to enjoy my senior year on the soccer team and team-wise I really hope that the team can make it to states finals.”
Each player also realizes the different role he plays on the team. “As a senior, you have to lead by example. I tried to go to as many captains practices as possible and simply be a good model for the younger members,” said Ambrosio.
“This is my third year playing varsity soccer, and previous years have definitely prepared me. When I first started playing, I would play scared and hope to not make mistakes. Now, however, after lots of experience, that has completely changed. I am comfortable taking players on, playing my game, and am just a better player overall,” said Matt Ambrosio ’16.
Senior Ambrosio also chimed in on his final season. “I have pretty high expectations. We have pretty much our whole lineup returning, and last year we lost so many games by one goal and in overtime. It is obvious we have the skill to compete with the other teams so I expect to win more. Another team goal is the goal we set every year, win Central Jersey Group 1. From the beginning of the summer, our coaches talked about becoming the first team in Highland Park history to win States, and with so many people returning and just greater team chemistry, we want to make a good run in states.”
One of the team’s newer members, freshman James Ouyang, is working hard to adapt to the more physical game. “Every morning I run a mile and try to do ball work for at least an hour. Ball work consists of basic things such as
Freshmen Ouyang, however, focused more on personal development; he hopes to start on junior varsity and learn as much as possible from more knowledgeable players. “Many older players helped me with positioning
Buzzbee, though, takes a different approach when it comes to leading. “It is important to just stay positive. I try to never criticize one person in specific because that’s counterproductive.” Meanwhile, Lorenzo Bowers ’19 has a completely different job. “I play left back and my role is really just to cheer on the team during the game and to cheer them up after a bad game.” Despite the different views from the soccer team, one thing is certain—soccer players both young and old work hard to improve during their high school careers. William Chen
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
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america’s next top coaches
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n every sports team in Highland Park High School there is a crucial member that sits out every game, match, and meet. Throughout the fall sports season, the coaches of Highland Park High School oversee dozens of competitions, attend countless practices, and witness the intangible melding of a team as a unit that naturally happens over the season. They coach the teams through wins and losses, continually striving for improvement. The coaching team at Highland Park High School is not unlike the lineup on The CW’s America’s Next Top Model, if only in its size and dedication. There’s Coach McGlynn, head coach of football, accompanied by four other characters: Washington, the girls’ tennis coach; Stark, cross country; Ruckdeschel, girls’ soccer; and Roig, boys’ soccer. If the coaches were truly the cast of a reality TV show, Athletic Director Craig Girvan would be the host, the Tyra Banks, if you will. According to Mr. Girvan, “A good coach should really know the sport. We need a dedicated coach who’s willing to work hard to improve the kids and improve the team, so knowledge and dedication are the two main things.” All the coaches meet these qualifications, but cross country coach Tim Stark might know a thing or two extra about dedication. He confided, “Yesterday I was on a run myself, and I was struggling on the last mile of it, and I was going to stop but I didn’t because I thought about all of you guys who never get to stop during the races and workouts, and keep going, so I feel like I would be a terrible coach if I stopped and gave up when I expected my team to keep going.”
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling
Sports seasons, akin to America’s Next Top Model cycles, are full of moments, happy, sad, emotional, and even funny. In his 15 years as a boys’ soccer coach, Keith Roig has experienced all of these and more. One of his favorite stories to tell his players happened before he was coaching varsity soccer. “When I was a JV coach I once had a boy who played the entire second half of a game with a cheeseburger in his pocket. We were playing a game at Perth Amboy Vo. Tech and the bathrooms were locked. There was a McDonald’s across the street and he asked me if he could go to the bathroom there. I agreed but what I found out later was he also ordered a few cheeseburgers and kept one in his pocket for after the game. I still can’t believe that actually happened.” While his over a decade coaching soccer at Highland Park High School is impressive, Coach Roig isn’t the only seasoned coach at the school. Head football coach Richard McGlynn has been coaching the sport for 23 years, 15 of which he’s spent at Highland Park High School. “The older I’ve gotten I think I’ve gotten better. I used to think it was all about win win win. I used to hate losing and love winning, but as I‘ve gotten older, it’s more about the relationships I have with my players, and trying to help them become better people. I think overall that’s where I’ve become more complete as a coach.” His football players agree. According to Noah Pointer ’16, “He pushes for the team to be more than just a group of guys trying to get wins, he really wants us to be a family, and I think that is really going to help us achieve our goals.” Girls’ soccer coach Christopher Ruckdeschel has a plethora of experiences as well, with 13 years at HPHS under
his belt. “When I got here they threw me onto JV boys, and I guess I made an impression, so they gave me a chance at girls. When I was offered girls, I was hesitant, because I had never worked with girls but we had just had a baby girl so I thought maybe this was my calling. Once I had coached girls for 2 to 3 years I don’t think I could ever coach boys again.” Coaching the girls’ team allowed Mr. Ruckdeschel to continue his 15 plus years of playing soccer in a way that, in his words, is, “totally unique, I never expected it, and I have to say I love every minute of it.” Many of the other coaches here at Highland Park High School have found coaching to be a natural transition from being an athlete as well. Erin Washington, girls’ tennis coach, “wanted to become a coach because when I was growing up playing sports my coaches were people I looked up to. Part of me would like to be a role model for kids, and I love being around sports.” When questioned, many of the coaches said similar things; they love their sport, their job, their players. The trend seems to be that coaches ultimately get into coaching to make a difference in the lives of students. In the end, maybe they’re not like the cast of America’s Next Top Model at all; sports and reality TV shows about modeling can be equally cutthroat, but at Highland Park High School, there is no ultimate winner. Sure, the sports teams have varying degrees of success, but in the end, the coaches, players, and teams are a community. They support each other through wins and losses of the fall sports season. Besides that, the main difference is still that none of the coaches cry because Tyra Banks decided they would look better with a blue mohawk. Camryn Kozachek
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TENNIS TALK Conversations with coach washington and several Girls’ tennis players
T
he voices of the Highland Park High School girls’ tennis team thunder across the courts: “1, 2, 3, OWLS!” Come to Donaldson Park and you can hear the thwack of racquets connecting with balls, the grunts of effort, the pounding footsteps, and if you listen really closely, Washington’s inward groans every time an easy shot gets messed up.
All in all, it has been a great season for the mostly victorious team; so far their overall record is 8-1. The girls’ tennis team started off the season playing and defeating Middlesex (4-1), South Amboy (5-0), Carteret (4-1), Mother Seton (5-0), and Woodbridge (5-0). First singles is Nicolette Polos ’16, followed by Emma Weaver ’16 as 2nd singles, with 3rd singles belonging to Tia Wangli ’16. First doubles is played by Jamie Atschinow ’16 and Wenyi Ouyang ’18, and second doubles is played by Tiffany Liang ’19 and Sendy Lin ’16. Every varsity member is a senior except Wenyi, a sophomore, and Tiffany, a freshman.
I had to change my coaching personality. Coaching tennis is different from other sports because during matches there are certain times that you are allowed to coach or speak to your players. There really isn’t any yelling like in other sports, which was a hard adjustment, but I got used it really quick. What would you say are your best/worst experiences being a tennis coach? (and/or) What things do you find most rewarding being a tennis coach? The best experience besides winning is getting to coach a different type of athlete. Tennis is not like other sports. It is more laid back and reserved, so the change of scenery and intensity is good. So far, the worst experience was when we lost in the Central Jersey Group 1 final 3-2 to Point Pleasant Beach. Hopefully we can get back this year and make up for that. What are your future goals for the team?
GMCs were held on September 28. The girls played their best and all passed the preliminary round, however, on the next round they were all up against tougher opponents and no one was able to pass.
To win the division, Central Jersey Group 1. The girls’ sportsmanship is respected throughout the conference. Coaches are always telling me that their teams think we are a pleasure to play against, even when we beat them.
...
...
Ms. Washington is the coach, devoting much of her time and energy to helping the girls practice. The Highland Fling interviewed her about her experience as being the head of the team.
The Fling also interviewed two of the new members on the team! Their names are Alexandra Li ’19 and Anne Lin ’19.
How is the tennis team doing this year versus previous years? The tennis team to this point is 5-0. Our goal is to repeat as division champions which will be our 3rd in five years if we can reach our goal. I find that the tennis teams each season are like an extension of the previous year. The girls get along, help each other, and love to win and compete. Since I’ve been coaching we have had between 1520 girls on the team each year, which are good numbers for us. What got you into tennis, and/or why did you become the high school girls’ tennis coach? I became the tennis coach five years ago. The coach before me retired and Mrs. K (Klimowicz) talked me into doing and I am glad she did, it’s been the most fun I’ve had coaching. The girls are great and we are successful. How have things changed, and/or how have you as a person changed, since you first started at a tennis coach?
What got you into tennis? Alexandra Li: I had a friend who had been playing for two years already, and I thought it looked really fun, so I decided to start playing when I was in 6th grade. Anne Lin: At first, I didn’t really show any interest for tennis and it was basically my mom forcing me into joining a sport because she thought I was too bored at home. However, I’ve always admired the skills my brother and sister had. In my opinion, I thought it was cool to be able to play an actual game of tennis. The feel of hitting a ball and winning the point or score fascinated me. Influenced by my brother, sister, and friends that play tennis, I started to want to learn. I wanted to be able to play tennis to understand their experience and actually be able to play them for real and maybe even surpass them one day. For me, I thought that practice was going to be dreadful since I was like the only beginner at it on the tennis team, but the radiance of it developed my love for it. I may be bad and often miss balls, but what really got me into tennis is that I want to surpass people and actually stand on a real court and be the one playing this great game.
What do you look forward to/hope for being in the tennis team (improving skills, competition experience, meeting fellow tennis players, etc.)? AL: I looked forward to meeting some of the upperclassmen on the tennis team, and I hope that I’ll improve my match-playing skills and gain competition experience while I’m on the team. AnL: What I look forward to is improving my skills and also the experience. With competitions and matches, I often get nervous and won’t do as good as I usually will, but I think being in the tennis team, I’ll be able to gain more experience. This experience not only will make me more comfortable with playing matches, but also a match can teach you a lot. Your opponent may use strategies and techniques you can take as a guide. The tennis team really had improved my skills. We may only do drills and keep on repeating them, but these drills are what taught me how to hit a ball correctly and have my body remember it. Further on, I look forward to learning more advanced techniques like a slice. What parts do you like most about being on the team? The least? AL: I like how the tennis team almost feels like a mini family, and while the daily practice and matches are good for practice, it can get pretty busy when you have to juggle homework and other extracurriculars. AnL: The part I like most about being on the team is that I got to meet new people and that whenever we win a match, I’m there to see it happen and am able to share this happiness with others. Everyone in the tennis team is like part of a family and together we share all the sadness, torture, and gratefulness. The thing I like least about being on the team is that I often get home late (although it’s fun watching games) and it gives me less time to do homework, and with tennis I feel like my life is more packed. ... These girls and their coach clearly work hard to bring school pride onto the courts. Good luck to the Highland Park girls’ tennis team for all seasons to come!
Tiffany Liang
THE highland fling NOVEMBER 2015
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PLAYER For the past years, the Highland Park girls’ tennis team has dominated its competition. Just last year, they held a very impressive record of 14-4. Leading the way for the Owls is first singles player Nicolette Polos. The Fling met up with to ask her a few questions! When and why did you start playing tennis? I had always seen people playing tennis at the park and it looked like fun so I wanted to try it out. My freshmen year in high school I just went for it and joined the team. How do you typically prepare for a season? To prepare for the season, I try to do a lot of work with a racket and work on conditioning. Every morning, I try to run a mile to keep myself in good shape for the season. In the winter, I usually play volleyball which helps me stay in condition. I also take lessons which really helped improve my technique and sharpen my game.
PROFILES Highland Park High School boasts a variety of multitalented students who are involved in sports both in and out of school. The Highland Fling caught up with Jonah Botvinick ’17 to discuss his dedication to juggling. When and why did you begin juggling? I started juggling when I was 10. I had a friend who was really into it and he wanted to teach me how to juggle three balls. It took me a month to learn, but finally I got the hang of it. Shortly after I learned how to juggle, my friend got disinterested in it. At that point, I had realized how fun it was to juggle and see myself progress, so I stuck with it and taught myself the rest with the help of YouTube videos. How many hours a week do you typically practice? I practice between 4 and 14 hours a week, depending on how busy I am. During the school year, it’s never usually much more than 7 or 8 hours unless I have a competition coming up.
What is one aspect of the game you have worked on improving?
Have you ever competed in anything juggling related, or showcased your juggling anywhere?
One aspect of my game that I have improved is definitely my focus.
I’ve competed in the World Juggling Federation’s competitions. I won the juniors competition in 2012, the advanced competition in 2013, and I placed fourth in the advanced competition in 2014. I will probably compete there again in November.
What was your biggest tennis victory/favorite moment? My favorite tennis moment was when our team won the division. It was a really tough match for me and I had to play with a sprained ankle, so when we won it was one of the greatest feelings ever.
What’s your favorite thing about juggling? I really like the juggling community. I’ve made friends all over the world from having attended different conventions and competitions.
As a leader, how do you help the younger members of the team? During the summer practices the captains and I would stay after and try to work with the younger members. We usually start by playing games since it encompasses all parts of tennis, and from there we can determine their weaknesses and work on them.
What can you juggle? I normally just juggle balls, rings, and clubs, but I can juggle almost anything that can be thrown and caught with one hand. Once I juggled fire, but I didn’t like it. It was scary.
You’ve played on the tennis team every year since you entered high school. What is something special about the Highland Park girls’ tennis team this year?
Did juggling fire hurt? Have you gotten any juggling related injuries? No, I didn’t get hurt. Most of the juggling injuries come from rings. They tear up your skin and hurt a lot if you catch them the wrong way, especially if they land on your fingernails. At one point I also had some wrist injuries from juggling; I’m pretty sure the doctor said it was tendonitis.
This year especially, we try to do more team bonding so everyone feels included. We try to do team lunches and we always encourage each other during matches and practices. We have also played different games like queen of the court or volleyball tennis and these games would really bring us all together. What were your goals for this year, both personally and for the team? My goal for this year was just to help the team in any way I can.
Nicolette Polos Senior Tennis William Chen
Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse Junior Juggling Camryn Kozachek
CONGRATULAtions to jonah Botvinick-greenhouse! Over the weekend of November 5th to November 8th, he participated in the Overall Championships at the World Juggling Federation in Las Vegas and won first prize!
NOVEMBER 2015 THE highland fling