2014 - 2015
Echo
Volume: 85 Issue: 1
GCHS Masquers Proudly Presents:
Once Upon A Mattress Michael C. Arianas On Friday and Saturday, March 6th and 7th at 7p.m. in the Garden City High School auditorium, Masquers proudly presented “Once Upon a Mattress,” the Broadway show adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea.” Many moons ago, there was a kingdom with a prince. Throughout the land, no one could wed until Prince Dauntless (James Murphy) found a princess. This would seem simple enough, if it weren’t for his mother the evil Queen Aggravain (Megan Walsh) who had already rejected twelve princesses from taking Dauntless’ hand in marriage. But once the valiant Sir Harry (Michael Malaszczyk) returned from the northern swamps with the not-so-elegant Princess Winnifred (Cristin Crowley), there was once again hope
that the people of the kingdom may soon get married. The Queen was appalled with the prospect that her son may soon have a wife, but certain members of the royal court, including the silent King Sextimus (Anthony Boccia) and all too resourceful Minstrel (Erik Thorstenn), have other plans. Between the spectacular dance numbers and brilliant actors, this musical production was not one to miss. The crowd laughed at comical numbers such as “Spanish Panic” and nearly burst into tears during the heartfelt “In A Little While”. Seeing as this was my last performance at GCHS, I would like to wish all those who continue to have the courage to stand up and act in front of hundreds of their peers the best of luck as they move forward in the future.
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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Editors in Chief: Michael C. Arianas and Alexis Gogh Editors: Kaylah Bozkurtian Nicole Crilly Elizabeth Butler Brendan Dolan Jamie Silk Michael Snyder Seungmin Woo
Contributors: Dana Aprigliano Michael Desimone Kippy Donovan Annie Kane Hallie Mallozzi Layne Meyer Howie Miller Breanne Naegele Olivia O’Hare Katie O’Sullivan Emily Sauchelli Mary Vivian Schott Seunghyun Woo
Faculty Advisor: Ms. Samara Skolnik Send feedback to: skolniks@gcufsd.net Garden City H.S. 170 Rockaway Ave. Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 478-2000
Assistant Principals: Mr. Dave Perrotta Mr. Kevin Steingruebner Principal: Ms. Nanine McLaughlin Superintendent: Dr. Robert Feirsen
The GCHS community is encouraged to contribute to ECHO. Submissions may be emailed to Ms. Skolnik at skolniks@gcusfd.net
Editorial Alexis Gogh
Second Semester. The bittersweet feeling of being halfway done with the current school year. As the weather gets warmer breathe in that spring air and enjoy all that ECHO has to offer, especially since for three consecutive months all people have seen is constant snow. So, even though the snow might have caused delays Opinions expressed in your days, it has not stopped all the action and jam-packed are those of the writevents happening here at Garden City High School. Whether ers and do not represent the opinions you’re a senior excited about graduating or a sophomore exof the school board, cited about becoming an upperclassman, just remember that the advisors, or the administration. high school moves quickly and if you blink you could miss it all. Therefore, live in the moment, study hard, and get involved in your school. 2
Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Ten Interesting Facts About Garden City Kippy Donovan
I have resided in Garden City for my entire life, yet during my recent interview of local historian, John Ellis Kordes, I realized how little I actually knew about the history of our wonderful village. Mr. Kordes, who is a professional photographer and a historian of Garden City for some 25 years, is widely known for the two editions of his highly regarded book, Visions of Garden City, as well as for his two documentary films, “A.T. Stewart’s Garden City” and the “The Long Island Motor Parkway.” Over the years, Mr. Kordes has been responsible for popular bus and walking tours of Garden City, has written hundreds of articles for the local newspapers and is a frequent lecturer. Fortunately, when I asked Mr. Kordes for an interview, he was gracious enough to share his time and considerable knowledge of Garden City. For instance, the founder of Garden City, A.T. Stewart, was of Scotch- Irish descent and came to New York City as a young man. He went on to create the concept of the department store which bore his name (A.T. Stewart & Co,.) and became one of the wealthiest men in the world. Mr. Kordes notes, that at the time of his death in 1876, Stewart was estimated to be worth the equivalent of $50 billion in today’s dollars. To this day, he is considered to be in the top ten of the wealthiest people who ever lived in America. Stewart founded Garden City in 1869 when he purchased almost 10,000 acres of his treeless Hempstead Plains. This area was two-thirds the size of Manhattan. I was surprised to learn that Stewart never actually lived in Garden City, rather, our founder and his wife, Cornelia, lived in a
mansion in New York City. The couple had no children who survived birth. Initially, in 1872, there were ten identical first houses built in Garden City. Older histories have mentioned nine or twelve, but Kordes states that there were actually ten. Six of these homes remain today (three on Rockaway, one on Hilton, one on Cathedral and one on Eleventh Street). These ten houses were nicknamed “Apostle Houses” by the children at the Cathedral School. In October 1917, the Chicago White Sox and New York Giants, the two teams that had just competed in the World Series, played an exhibition baseball game at St. Paul’s School. According to Kordes, the purpose of the game was to entertain the troops from Camp Mills, which was located in the southeastern section of Garden City and housed troops during WWI. Have you ever wondered why there are so many train stations in the village? It turns out that in the 1870s, Garden City actually had its own railroad. Known as the Stewart Central Railroad of L.I., it is now part of the Long Island Railroad. Consequently, we have five active stops and it was once six (when the Clinton Road stop was active). Also unbeknownst to me, the St. Paul’s athletic field was named Trump Field in 1956, in honor of Fred Trump, who had donated money to have the fields improved. Two of his sons, Fred Jr., ’56 and Robert, ’66 both graduated from St. Paul’s School, but the other Trump son, Donald Trump, went to a military school. When the village incorporated in 1919, we had just over 2,000 people
living here. Also, in 1919 we had less than 400 houses, but by 1970, we had over 6,500. While we have over 22,000 people living in Garden City today, the population actually peaked at over 25,000 in 1970. “MAST”, the high school yearbook, got its name from the flagpole at the original high school (today’s middle school). The first high school, built in 1924, acquired the mast from the America’s Cup racing boat Shamrock in 1935 to use as a flagpole. Garden City’s first mayor, George Hubbell, was behind these efforts. The flagpole was blown down in the 1950s during a hurricane and replaced with the current flagpole but the name “MAST” has endured all these years. Back when Roosevelt Field was actually an airfield, it acquired its name in 1918 from Theodore Roosevelt’s youngest son Quentin. Unfortunately, Quentin, who was trained there as a pilot, was killed in the fighting in Europe in 1918 during WWI. Today’s shopping mall retains the name, but is not actually part of Garden City (although it shares the same zip code) and pays no taxes to Garden City. The Village of Garden City is governed by eight trustees (two from each of the four property owners associations). They serve without pay and the mayor is selected from among them. Every two years, a different trustee from a different section gets to be mayor. This system of government is called the “Community Agreement” and dates to 1919.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Courtesy of NYPL Digital Library
Courtesy of m.simon.com
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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Advice from the Counseling Center Compiled by Seunghyun Woo As school counselors our mission is to provide inThe ECHO staff asked dividualized guidance and support for our students in all areas. As each year passes, the responsibilities of students are the Counseling Center for some advice for students enhanced by their future endeavors. Some students decide in all grades about how to to work directly after high school, others decide to join the armed services; however, 99% of our students continue onto prepare for future success. We are grateful to them higher education. To ensure that students are putting their
9th – 10th -11th Grade Academic: Remember that
for their thoughtful and thorough feedback.
not only in school, but throughout life. each year counts as part of your Create academic goals overall GPA! If you do not take and a timeline of testing with freshman year seriously, it will be your counselor. Know what type harder to bring your grades up as the coursework becomes more of diploma you are working towards, know when and if you difficult. If you are struggling in need to take subject tests and a class, seek the necessary supdiscuss when the best time for port from your teachers, attend extra help and utilize the resourc- YOU to take any standardized es available within the school (i.e. exams (SAT/ACT/AP) would be. Have an open dialogue with math lab/writing center). Your your counselor each year about high school GPA is made up of potential college majors or ca9th -11th grade. reers options. Attend programs Take a challenging curthat are available through the riculum within your limits. Do not try to compete with others in counseling center, such as College Major Night. your class or grade; know your strengths and weaknesses. If you Character: Freshman year are not doing well, seek the guid- is the time to start building a ance of your teachers and coungood reputation, for others to selor. When students ask, “Is it know your name and associate better to take honors/AP classes you with positive characterand have a lower average or take istics. Such qualities include: a Regents class and have a higher integrity, reliability, responsiaverage?” our advice is always: bility, kindness, civic mindedknow yourself! Speak to your ness, maturity, advocacy, and counselor to help you look at trustworthiness. Each year, you different perspectives and come should allow others to see who to a decision that would be best you genuinely are and get to for you, and remember this is an know your counselor, teachers INDIVIDUALIZED process. The and coaches both in and out of honest answer to that question, the classroom. Learn to selfrelated to college admissions, is advocate and to become more that if you are taking honors and independent; speak to your AP classes, then you should be counselor and teachers about doing well (this is relative to the what you need and want. We all student’s ability). work together as a team. Ensure that you have a Be mindful of what you strong work ethic; this will lead say and post on social media to your success. Do your homesites. This can be harmful to work, study in advance, take your reputation and to your thorough class notes, participate future plans. Identify who you in class, etc. If you do not have are and what you do; you have good study skills, organization control over your decisions. skills or time management skills, Decide on the person you want seek help from your counselor to be and how you want others and teachers. These are all areas to remember you. that will help you to be successful
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best foot forward, the counseling center has provided a few tips to consider at each grade level. First and foremost, for those planning on postsecondary education, there are three main areas that admission counselors rate for candidacy consideration: Scholarship, Character and Involvement. Below are a few things to consider in each of the aforementioned categories.
Involvement: Have a pas-
sion!! Find what activity is right for you. Get involved in clubs, sports, research, community service and move outside of your comfort zone. The more involved students are in high school, the better experiences they have. If you have a unique hobby, how do you demonstrate that in your activities? You don’t have to be the president or founder of every club; you can show your commitment and involvement in other ways. Do not take on more than you can handle. We want students that are well rounded and involved in a few different activities that are meaningful to them. We do NOT want to see someone who is overbooked and burning the candle at both ends. Focus on how you are spending your summer, are you engaged in something that will enhance who you are as a person? What do you truly enjoy doing during your free time? How do you take advantage of your interests if they are not offered at school?
Rising Seniors For students who are going into their senior year, they have met with their counselor to discuss the college process and finding the right fit for them. We always tell students that there is no such thing as “The Perfect School” however there is such a thing as the perfect school for you. During this process, know who you are, what you want, and what type of environment you want to be a part of. The name and perceived prestige of the school does not make it the right fit for every student. Your counselor will help to guide
you along this path even if you do not know what you are looking for. Take advantage of all that the counseling center has to offer, both during the day, during the summer and any evening programs! Attend college fairs, work on your college essay over the summer, prepare for admission interviews, ask for letters of recommendation (this is where that stellar character over the past few years will help you), visit colleges and build a rapport with the admission representatives. Your counselors are full of information and advice, so seek their support during this crucial time in your decision making process. The more you seek them out, the better they will be able to guide you. Regardless of your grade level, you can benefit from any of these suggestions. If you have questions or are feeling unsure about anything, see your counselor. We see our students on a regular basis to reduce any anxiety that they may be feeling, whether it is personal, academic or future oriented. As counselors, we do not want our students to feel overly stressed or burdened and encourage students to see us for any and all reasons. On behalf of the counseling center, we hope that this information has been insightful and helpful. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Miracle Club’s Annual Dodgeball Tournament Jamie Silk One of the most anticipated events of each school year is the famous Miracle Club dodge ball tournament! This fun event takes place every winter at Garden City High School. Students get together in teams of six and come prepared with crazy costumes to defeat the other teams in a game of dodge ball. While a lot of students participate, even more stay after school and sit in the bleachers to watch all the fun taking place. Through the sales of t-shirts and food and the fee to participate, Mrs. Flemming and the Miracle Club are able to raise more and money each year. As the years progress, the dodge ball tournament gets bigger and bigger which means more fun for the players and more money raised for charity! This year’s winners were Victor Danza (12), Joe Leto (12), TJ Paisley (12), Justin Samardich, and Katie Muldoon (11). Congratulations to this year’s winning team and to everyone who participated! Without players and the fans who watch, this event would not be able to raise all of the money that it does!
Photo courtesy of Google Images
Images Courtsey of Mary Vivan Schott
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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Teacher Feature: Ms. Kuster Elizabeth Butler
For this issue, the teacher spotlight is shining on Ms. Kuster, the school social worker. Her commitment to the students, hard work and determination make GCHS a better place! Anyone who knows Ms. Kuster can say she is one of the most dedicated and supportive members of the GCHS community. As the school social worker, Ms. Kuster is always ready to listen to a student and offer advice. With her respectful, understanding, and helpful nature, all students appreciate her input and have a great respect for her. Being a support system for the students, however, is just the beginning of her hard work. She is the advisor of the PeerAids Leadership program, Students Helping Students program and SADD club. She is involved with many organizations in Garden City, and educates teens and families about support resources on Long Island. Although not everyone has
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had the pleasure to know her, those who are lucky enough to work with her can certainly agree that her work ethic is astounding. She never fails to accomplish tasks given to her, no matter how challenging. She’s the first person you’ll find at early morning meetings, she’s the one racing around during the day to take care of her many responsibilities, and she can be found at her clubs’ evening events to make sure they run smoothly. Ms. Kuster’s guidance has helped students’ difficult tasks seem easy, her words have inspired students to make positive changes and her kindness has always made the students feel appreciated. Ms. Kuster is a one-of-a-kind teacher and person, and Garden City High School is lucky to have her.
Heard in the Halls: “Ms Kuster is one of the most efficient women I know. She completes tasks thoroughly and accepts other peoples’ ideas willingly.” –Alexis Gogh (12) “She always stays on top of things, every day and every week without fail.” – James Ostrowski (11) “Ms. Kuster has helped to make the school a better place and has always been extremely helpful to me.” –Alessia Merritts (12) “I’ve definitely grown and become a better person under Ms. Kuster’s support and guidance. I really appreciate all she’s done for me.” -Jennifer Grocki (12) “She inpsires me to educate and always help others.” -Eileen Farrell (10)
Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Teacher Feature: Ms. Kuster Q: Where did you go to college and how long have you been a social worker ? A: I went to Adelphi University for an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Psychology, and I got my masters degree in Social Work. I’ve been a social worker for 30 years. Q: What are your goals as a social worker? A: To support students, their parents and school personnel in helping young people reach their full potential, socially, emotionally, and academically. I want students to thrive and reach their full potential and to know that there are adults, outside of their family, that are also willing to support them as they grow and navigate through this hectic, confusing world.
Q: What is the best part of your job ? A: First, I love interacting with all types of students with diverse interests. Second, I love how varied my job is. I’m involved in individual and group counseling, I advise peer leadership programs, work with Garden City community organizations, support parents in the raising of their children, collaborate with teachers and staff on special projects or specific issues and I educate individuals about resources that exist on Long Island or beyond to support teens and families.
Q: What is your most memorable moment as a social worker? A: The day of 9-11 and the weeks that followed. It was so remarkable how everyone in the school building and in the Garden City community stepped up to help and support one another during the time of crisis. I was proud and touched by the outpouring of care and concern that everyone demonstrated toward each other. Everyone pitched in to help: custodians, secretaries, hall monitors, support staff comforted teachers, students and parents. Kindness and caring abounded in our school community. People cooked meals for others, held doors, students who weren’t necessarily friends asked about each other’s family members. People of all ages also supported those directly impacted by the trajedy and attended wakes and funerals or visited the Q: What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes outside of school ? A: I enjoy playing golf and tennis, shopping and spending time with my family, along with volunteering and teaching at vacation Bible school in the summer. I also love traveling!
TOP 3 THINGS STUDENTS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT MS. KUSTER
1. Her Energy For such a small person, Ms. Kuster has an outstanding amount of liveliness. Her cheerful and dynamic personality stands out strong no matter the hour of the day. Whether at seven in the morning or seven at night, she accomplishes all of her duties with undying energy, and always with a smile.
Image Courtesy of Google Images
2. Her Emphasis on acceptance Ms Kuster is in charge of three very important programs: the Students Helping Students leadership program, the Peer-Aids Leadership Program and SADD Club. In each group, she emphasizes a common theme of acceptance. Whether it’s regarding bullying, awareness about disease, or students’ well-being, Ms. Kuster is the least judgemental person you will find, and one who encourages everyone else to have the same not only tolerant, but accepting, attitude. 3. Her Work Ethic We sometimes can’t comprehend how Ms. Kuster gets everything done with only 24 hours in a day. Her continued hard work, effort, and determination lead to the best possible results, and so often hat anyone would be wise to take a leaf out of her book and use the same diligence and efficiency she practices every day. Your tireless work is appreciated, Ms Kuster!
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cho Echo Echo Echo Echo Ech Ellen DeGeneres is on Snapchat
Sam Smith’s Promise to Beyoncé
Hallie Mallozzi
Nicole Crilly
Everyone knows Sam Smith had an amazing year at the Grammy’s. He was nominated for 6 awards (Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best New Artist) and won 4 of them (Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist). Sam Smith was nominated for Album of the Year along with Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Beck and Pharrell Williams. Before the winners were announced at the 57th
Tired of the same old boring selfies? Then you’re in luck because Ellen DeGeneres is now on Snapchat! Be sure to check out her hilarious and random Snapchat stories. You can add her manually by putting in her username, “ellen”, or by taking a picture of the image below in the Snapchat app. Happy Snapchatting!
Annual Grammy Awards, he opened up to a reporter saying that, he couldn’t stand the thought of winning the Grammy over Beyoncé. He claimed that she deserved the award way more than he did and if he won, he would give her the Grammy. Unfortunately, neither Sam Smith nor Beyoncé won the award (instead, it went to Beck for his album Morning Phase), so we will never know whether Smith would have followed through with his promise.
Photos courtesy of Google Images
The Dress Michael Snyder By Friday, February 27th, the notorious dress had already spread to every corner of the internet. It was on the news, on social media, and in tons of articles. But where did this epic battle between the white and gold and the blue and black (and all colors in between) begin? The photo was taken at a wedding in Scotland, by the bride’s mother, who then sent it to her daughter. The picture spread around the wedding instantly; the wedding band barely made it to the stage due to the arguing. People have various theories about why the dress can be perceived differently. For many, the colors even changed. Some say it’s due
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to different moods, lighting, or age. In reality, it has to do with the rods and cones in a person’s eyes and how they perceive light. Basically, because a person’s eyes are meant to see in daylight, their eyes try to remove the influence of different shades of daylight from the picture; or, in more technical terms, they “try to discount the chromatic bias of the daylight axis,” says a neuroscientist from Wellesley College. People either discount the blue side or the gold side, seeing white and gold or blue and black. Jay Neitz, a neuroscientist from the University of Washington (who sees white and gold), remarked with awe at the dress: “I’ve studied individual
differences in color vision for 30 years, and this is one of the biggest individual differences I’ve ever seen.” A survey conducted by Buzzfeed determined that about 75% of people see white and gold. Interestingly enough, the dress had apparently been confirmed by its owner as blue and black (obviously, the true colors are much more apparent when viewing the actual dress). However, the colors of the dress may not match up with those in the picture for certain viewers. Neuroscientist Bevil Conway says that people misinterpret the dress due to its white background. Taken from a patch on the dress, a few pixels have the RGB values
R 93, G 76, and B 50. “Show that same patch on a neutral black background and I bet it would appear orange,” Conway says. Sure enough, Photoshop determines that the dress is blue and orange. Likewise, many people who see white instead of blue have brains which are subconsciously factoring out the white illuminant in the background (in other words, we think it’s a shadow). When taken out of context, the ‘white’ portions of the dress are undeniably blue in every way; in their color makeup, visually, and of course, in reality. It’s fascinating to think that what should have been a simple picture took over a nation in just one day!
Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Miller on Politics: Mario Cuomo and Women’s “Right to Choose” Howie Miller When Mario Cuomo took office in 1979, the right to choose was a pressing political topic. As mentioned by Elizabeth Kolbert in her Times article “Cuomo Takes Abortion Stance Favoring Women’s Right to Choose”, the relatively recent ruling of Roe v. Wade, which called for limitations on abortion, put politicians in a position in which they needed to hold a firm stance on abortion. Cuomo was forced to decide between his personal religious beliefs, and the principles of the United States Constitution. Cuomo’s Roman Catholic upbringing helped to form his personal opinion on the matter. However, Cuomo recognized that his stance was skewed by his religious upbringing. He felt that to use his religious beliefs as a reasoning for his stance would be a violation of the freedom of religion. He recognized that his duty as a representative of the people was to fulfill the rights granted to them in the United States Constitution, and not to comply to the values of a holy book. After making up his mind, Cuomo had to face the opposition of the Catholic Church, the very religion that his immigrant parents had raised him under. As well as supporting the right to choose, Cuomo supported the funding for those who
wanted to get an abortion but could not afford it. This allowed equal opportunity for those who were less fortunate and truly represented the precept that “all men are created equal.” This act contributed to the Catholic dissent towards Cuomo. He realized that a large amount of his Roman Catholic voters would not agree with this, and that he would lose many of them as a result. Not only that, but he also recognized that his personal relationship with the church would be hurt as well. His opposition to the Catholic beliefs not only sparked an uprising in the Catholic community, but also put him at risk of excommunication. He often times faced protesters, and was tagged as a “Baby Killer”, and an enemy of the unborn. There was not simply disapproval from fellow Catholics, but anger directed towards him as well. Despite the threats of excommunication and constant protest and hate thrown his way, Cuomo stood by his pro choice stance. This did not stop him from standing by his decision, because he understood that the United States Citizens are not comprised solely of Catholics. He knew that heeding the calls of the Catholic demographic would be unfair to other religions who do not share the same values. He let his new opposition know that he
had to fulfill a duty, and that allowing his religious beliefs into his political career would be a misrepresentation of the United States Constitution. Although he made many enemies through his decision, he also gave many other Catholics the courage to take a similar stance on abortion. Among the most significant of this was when Chicago Cardinal Joseph Bernardin pleaded to voters that abortion was a small part of many world issues that should be considered when voting. By doing this, he was telling Catholic voters that it was okay to vote for a politician that supports abortion, and that it should not be a “deal breaker” for them. Cuomo’s decision, and its affects on fellow Catholics helped to further the separation between church and state, satisfying the same principles instituted by our nation’s forefathers. It is far too common in American government that we see politicians forming decisions based off of interest groups, with the goal of getting votes. As a result, we see politicians implementing policy that does not reflect their beliefs, but more so the beliefs of those around them. We also see a link between church and state that should not exist under the Constitution. Religious institutions like the Catholic church have far too much influence on
Governor Mario Cuomo Photos courtesy of Google Images
things like gay marriage and abortion. Politicians cite the Bible as a reason to oppose gay marriage. Any citation to the bible, or any other religious book as a reasoning for a political position is contradictory to the ideals that the founding fathers of our country intended. Mario Cuomo recognized this corruption of American ideals and stood by his decisions regardless of the ideals of outside groups that did not represent the entire population of The United States. He understood when it was and was not appropriate to allow religious ideals influence his politics. If religious ideals reflected something that would be in the interest of all, and not just some of those he represented, Cuomo allowed it into his politics. However, in the case of abortion, Cuomo recognized that his personal beliefs were not in the interest of all. He represents everything that a politician should be. Cuomo’s stance on abortion not only represents immense political courage, but a true understanding and honest representation of the United States Constitution.
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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo SHS: Valentine’s Day Scholarship Katie O’Sullivan For the first time ever, Students Helping Students hosted a Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt open to all students on the 12th of February. This holiday-themed scavenger hunt required students to acquire a total of three hearts, two hearts labeled with an “S” and one heart labeled with an “H,” so as to spell out the club’s nickname, “SHS.” Over sixty hearts were hidden around the school and even on the persons of a select few teachers and staff members. Once a student retrieved a full set of hearts, he or she could claim a prize of a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card. Nine of the hidden hearts were orange, instead of red, and finding a set of three orange hearts could land a student the Grand Prize of a $10 gift card to Bagel Man.
Each of the hearts were created to look original and were made into many shapes and sizes in order to represent how the club strives to promote the tolerance and respect of all different types of people despite differences in appearance. Although this was a new endeavor for the club members, hard work and cooperation made such a task possible and successful! Despite there being no Grand Prize winner, there were a multitude of runner up winners including: Fiona MacLeod, Bobby Menges, Jen Gerland, Christian Schott, Jimmy Knap, Brian Wolfe, Caroline Ferri, and Lauren Weisburg. Thank you to all of those who participated!
Image Courtesy of Google Images
The Peer AIDS Educators Hallie Mallozzi
Some Information About HIV Prevention •HIV is spread through contact with the blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, or breast milk from a person infected with HIV. •In the United States, HIV is spread mainly by having sex or sharing injection drug equipment, such as needles, with someone who has HIV. •More than 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV infection, and almost 1 in 7 (14%) are unaware of their infection. •Deaths: An estimated 13,712 people with an AIDS diagnosis died in 2012, and approximately 658,507 people in the United States with an AIDS diagnosis have died overall. The deaths of persons with an AIDS diagnosis can be due to any cause—that is, the death may or may not be related to AIDS. •Treatment with HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART for short) helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. Although ART can reduce the risk of HIV transmission, it’s still important to use condoms during sex.
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Source: UK National Institute of Health & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
During the second quarter, Peer Aids Educators presented to freshman English classes to help spread awareness about HIV and AIDS. The presentations consisted of educational games and activities that required lots of class participation. The Peer AIDS Educators help make freshmen feel as comfortable as possible while discussing the risks associated with HIV and AIDS. Along with presenting to the freshman class, the Peer AIDS Educators sold lollipops during lunch periods for a week in February; they raised a total of $168. Once they were acquainted with the role and responsibilities of the Peer AIDS Educators, many freshmen, along with interested
sophomores, began submitting their applications to become Peer AIDS Educators. In order to become a Peer AIDS Educator there is a lengthy process of applying and being interviewed. Once the newest crop of Peer AIDS Educators has been selected, they will receive intensive training at the North Shore Hospital, just like all previous groups of Educators. Spreading awareness about AIDS and its prevention is so incredibly important, and we’re lucky to have such an active club to take on that responsibility here at Garden City High School. Thank you Peer AIDS Educators and Ms. Kuster for everything that you do!
Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo What’s New and Exciting at FBLA
The MAST Yearbook Club
Dana Aprigliano FBLA, otherwise known as the Future Business Leaders of America, is a business based club in Garden City High School that has been doing a lot of things recently that are both brand-new and very exciting. Recently, we began working with the Red Cross to create a fundraiser. We have also been doing bake sales to raise money, and we have made quite a bit of money this year. The FBLA also recently participated in multiple business competitions, including the Spring District Meeting at Molloy College, in which many members placed 2nd through 5th. Because of all of these new things going on in the club, it would be a great idea for anyone interested in business to support the club and join next fall!
Olivia O’Hare For over eighty years, since the establishment of Garden City High School, the MAST committee has created the yearbooks for graduating seniors. The 2012 and 2013 yearbooks have been inducted into Walsworth Publishing Company’s Gallery of Excellence. The yearbooks included in the Gallery of Excellence represent a small percentage of all yearbooks published by Walsworth. A premiere showcase of the company’s top yearbooks, Walsworth’s Gallery of Excellence recognizes a small percentage of published books that exemplify excellence through their comprehensive
coverage, innovative design and superior copy and photography. The staff works very hard to produce an award winning 370 page yearbook every year. Meeting typically once or twice a week in the photography room, the members of this club work long, hard hours in order for the seniors to look back on their fondest memories of their time in high school. The advisors of the club, Mr. Karp and Mrs. Squires, are always on task and ready to help any of the members at the drop of a hat. These two teachers do their very best to balance
work and the club that students of every grade look forward to attending each week. None of the yearbooks published would be completed if it weren’t for the creativity and consistency of the group. It is such an accomplished feeling every time a member of this club sees a senior walking down the hall, yearbook in hand. We absolutely love what we do for the school and even though one day we too will graduate from high school and have our very own yearbooks in tow, the memories and the support provided by MAST will always be in our hearts.
Versailles Chapter of the National French Honor Society Hosts Bake Sale for The Mary Brennan INN Annie Kane On Tuesday, December 9th, the Garden City High School Versailles Chapter of the National French Honor Society hosted its first bake sale of the year to raise money for their society. Offering their baked goods in the hallways during and in between most class periods, the French Honor Society sold a hefty amount of treats for students to buy at low prices of $0.50 and $1. The National French Honor Society, an organization of French students selected based on academic
excellence in French, dedicated to promoting and doing community service for the school, strives to help out the community, and the bake sale was a great way to raise money for the society. Every year the society donates a percentage of their sales to the Mary Brennan INN. The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) addresses the issues of hunger and homelessness on Long Island by providing food, shelter, long-term housing, and supportive services in a dignified and respectful manner
for those who seek help. This year, as in years past, the Society was able to donate $100 to the Mary Brennan INN. During the successful bake sale, the French Honor Society sold a broad variety of baked goods, such as homemade and store bought (mini and full size) cupcakes, homemade Rice Krispies treats, cookies and brownies. At the end of the bake sale, the French Club earned a substantial amount of money for a first-time bake sale, an impressive feat for the club. All of the members
of the club are proud of the work that the club does. The officers of the Versailles Chapter of the National French Honor Society are Delaney Hall, who serves as President, Bridget Bingham, who is the Vice President, Julia Hall, who handles the club’s finances as Treasurer, and Annie Kane, who holds the position of Secretary.
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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Sports Debate Club
The Spanish Club
Layne Meyer and Michael Desimone The Sports Debate Club finished its third year with another season of lively debates on the hottest sports topics. Each week between 20 and 30 students showed up to debate. Students from freshman through senior year were passionate about their sports and well prepared to present their viewpoints. A big thank you to Mr. Casale for advising the club. Club President Michael DeSimone and Interim Vice President Layne Meyer welcome all sports fanatics to the club next September to debate more sports controversies, the pennant races, the new football season and preview the upcoming basketball and hockey seasons.
Emily Sauchelli The Spanish Club at Garden City High School is all about the Spanish culture. The club is known for helping others through fun events and activities held at the high school as well as on Long Island. The Spanish Club is very involved in helping raise money for children who are less fortunate in the Latin, South, and Central Americas. The money that we raise through bake sales and other fundraisers are what makes the club so successful. The most important thing about being a part of the Spanish Club is getting a response back from one of the children we help. This makes being part of the club so rewarding
and special! The Spanish Club gets involved with a lot of events, such as selling candygrams in February, and the money that is raised goes directly to the children that we sponsor. Every year the Spanish Club raises money for the Jones Beach Breast Cancer Walk and also participates in the walk. The walk is held every October and the Spanish Club is known for raising the most money. In the past few years, the Spanish Club has won banners from the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer foundation, since we were so successful in raising money for breast cancer research and awareness.
Every few months, the club goes to Cozymel’s to have authentic Mexican cuisine; we enjoy great dishes such as enchiladas, chimichangas, burritos and more. It is a wonderful atmosphere that is infused with Spanish culture and we have such fun times with none other than Señora Artibée herself! Being in the Spanish Club is a fun and rewarding experience! Divirtámonos!
Garden City Fencers Succeed In Individual And Team Events Michael Snyder The fencing season this year was very successful. Both teams did very well by placing in the top three at county championships. The boys’ team qualified for county championships, along with Great Neck North, Great Neck South, and Jericho. They lost their first meet with Great Neck North, who went on to win 1st place. In the bronze medal round, the boys defeated Great Neck South for third place, making this their second consecutive 3rd place win. The girls’ team also qualified for county championships, along with Manhasset, Great Neck North, and Valley Stream. While the girls barely lost their first round, the Manhasset team was disqualified, allowing the girls to progress
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to the championship round. The girls’ team came very close to winning, but just barely lost their championship meet, earning them 2nd place. Unfortunately, this ended their winning streak of several years. Garden City fencers also did very well in the Individual County Championships, which were held at Garden City High School this year. Several fencers placed in the top 8 while Alex Joudeh, Charlotte Osborn, and Bridget Strysko all placed in the top three. Sophomore Donal Mahoney, in addition to placing in the Individuals, achieved the best Sabre record in the county. Juniors Bridget Strysko and Charlotte Osborn also both had the third best record in
their individual weapons. The year ended with the Junior Varsity Tournament, where Emily Way, Ryan Joudeh, and Ryan Connoly placed in the top three. The 2014-2015 fencing season resulted in many successes, both for individuals and the whole team. Congratulations to the Garden City Fencing Teams and Coaches Kevin Oliver and Michael Kreidman!
Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Boys Basketball Brendan Dolan
As the players and fans looked onto the court at a celebratory Manhasset Indians crowd, the realization that the season had expired finally settled in. The game had ended violently, with a free throw made by guard Tramont Smith with just .2 seconds left on the clock to give Manhasset the 60-59 edge. However, even with this heartbreaking conclusion to their season, many positive moments remained from the Boys Basketball 2014-2015 campaign. The team began its season with a road at the Kings Park Holiday Tournament, where it was able to walk away with the title and a 2-0 start. Two wins against Manhasset and Carle Place preceded the toughest stretch of the year. After dropping four of the next five, the Trojans were just a game above .500 at the halfway point. With its playoff hopes barely intact, Garden City faced the most adversarial point in the season. The team stopped the skid with a gutsy win at rival Wantagh, and translated this positive energy into a second half with a record of 6-2, earning the second spot in the conference behind undefeated Great Neck South. This impressive mark and strength of schedule earned the Trojans its first home playoff game in several years where they were set to face off against rival Manhasset, a team that had dropped the lone contest to Garden City back in December. After four quarters of the teams exchanging blows, the game went into overtime, where Manhasset was able to leave with the win. All in all, it was certainly a successful season for this year’s crew, as the team had accomplished a feat that had escaped so many teams in past years: a home playoff game.
Girls Basketball Brendan Dolan
The girls team, on the other hand, got off to a blazing hot start, winning its first 9 as it eviscerated Freeport, South Side, Great Neck South, and Jericho, before falling to Wantagh in a tightly contested battle, 61-54. The second half of the season rang a similar tune, as the girls beat all of their opponents by double digits. This dominating regular season and 9-1 conference record gave the girls the top seed in the playoffs over Wantagh. After breezing past the team from Locust Valley 7047, the girls were scheduled to play three days later in the second round. This proved to be the toughest test the team had faced since the loss to Wantagh, as the girls narrowly escaped Glen Cove by a bucket. As many believed they would, the Trojans were set to square off against Wantagh again, and looked to avenge its midseason loss. Unfortunately, the outcome Garden City was looking for did not ensue as it had hoped, and the girls were sent home with a four-point loss. However, much optimism remains for next year’s team, as it returns 10 underclassmen, many of whom contributed to this year’s group.
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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Winter 2015 Student Polls This past February the ECHO staff, with the help of the English
Department, administered a survey to a large swath of the student body. The results were quite interesting, and show the diversity of the student body here at Garden City High School. The ECHO staff would like to thank everyone for their participation!
1. Have you stuck with your New Year’s resolution? Yes - 39% No - 61%
2. Do you sing in the car? Yes - 79% No - 21%
3. Who are you most likely to listen to in the car? Beyonce - 16% Eminem - 23% Taylor Swift - 32% Luke Bryan - 13% Fall Out Boy - 16%
4. Which school event are you most likely to attend?
6. Do you know where you want to go to college?
5. How do you get to school each morning?
7. How far away do you want to go to college?
Football Game - 62% School Dance - 18% School Play - 11% Lacrosse Game - 9%
I take the bus - 33% I’m driven to school - 39% I drive myself - 21% I walk - 7%
Suduko
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Yes - 27% Sort of - 49% No idea - 24%
As close as possible - 7% Somewhere in the northeast (2-5 hour drive) 66% Somewhere in the south (I need warm weather!) - 16% As far away as possible (California, here I come!) - 11%
Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Imagine Dragons: Smoke + Mirrors
NY Philharmonic Concert
Kaylah Bozkurtian It’s been mostly radio silence from the Vegas-born group Imagine Dragons since their debut in 2012. But on February 17th of this year, avid fans’ prayers were answered with the release of the album Smoke+Mirrors on iTunes-and thus far the response has been enthusiastic, to say the least. (I speak from experience--I was one of the many fans who eagerly awaited midnight on the 16th, iTunes app ready and waiting.) With the song “I Bet My Life” already at number sixteen and the album Smoke+Mirrors at number seven on iTunes’ “Most Downloaded” charts, it’s clear that the band can look forward to another huge success. What fans and critics alike haven’t failed to notice is the drastic turn in musi-
Seungmin Woo cal direction that Imagine Dragons has taken with their sophomore album. Far from the blended techno, poprock sound of Night Visions, Smoke+Mirrors manages to keep the band’s trademark feel while pulling out all the stops with songs like “I’m So Sorry” and “Smoke+Mirrors”. With rougher, rock-edged vocals, strong guitar riffs, and the constant rhythmic presence of drums, songs like these show us a newer, rawer side to the group that hasn’t been seen before. Now, if you’re not one for rock music, don’t despair-- there’s a fair share of musical genresplicing in this album. From the Latin-influenced “Gold” and “Friction”, to the gentle piano and soulful vocals of “Dream”, Smoke+Mirrors has something in it for everyone.
On Saturday, Mar 21, 2015, the New York Philharmonic performed a concert while in their residency at Long Island University’s Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. The music director, Alan Gilbert, conducted an extraordinary program, containing the works of Strauss, Ravel, Debussy, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. The pieces, Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Nyx, Debussy’s Jeux, and Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier Suite, were specific orchestral pieces in which the New York Phil transported thousands of listeners of all ages into a new dimension. The pieces performed were entwined into beautiful harmonies and tunes as the orchestra captivated the audience into a trance. The most notable work of the show was Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major featuring soloist Inon
Barnatan. Mr. Barnatan, a renowned artist worldwide, has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the other prestigious symphony orchestras of various regions. The pianist was presented as New York Philharmonic’s first Artist-in-Association, as he made his Philharmonic debut in collaboration with the Orchestra’s musicians. In my opinion, the final Presto was a bit complex to listen to, and truthfully, it was a bit difficult to concentrate. It was a whirlwind of sound, but nevertheless, finished the program extraordinarily. The performance built a magical relationship between the artist, the orchestra, and its captivated audience.
If the Shoe Fits... Kaylah Bozkurtian The rags-to-riches tale of Cinderella has been a staple of Disney culture since the first animated film's debut in 1950. The idea of fairy godmothers, pumpkinsturned-carriages, and ballroom dancing by moonlight has undoubtedly captured the imagination of every young girl who ever wanted to be a princess. But that's just it: when nearly everyone knows the fairytale about the girl with the glass slipper, how much further can the storytelling go? That question has been given an enthusiastic answer with this year's release of a live-action remake of the beloved classic. Disney's 2015 spin on Cinderella, directed by Kenneth Branagh (acclaimed director of Thor and several Shakespeare plays)
puts the classic princess tale in a new, whimsical light, with stunning costumes, sets, and visual effects. Thankfully, the aesthetic was not the only part of the movie that got an extreme makeover. Say goodbye to the one-dimensional portrayals of Cinderella and the Prince, as seen in the animated feature film (with their only character traits being "good" and "royal")! In this adaptation we're treated to a glimpse of Cinderella's relationship with her parents, as well as a Prince Charming with a name--Kit--and personality, to boot. Movie-goers beware, however, because even the little bit of time that the viewer is given with Cinderella's mother and father makes their inevitable deaths all the more gut-wrenching. (In
other words, if you're someone who tends to cry in movie theaters, be sure to bring some tissues.) Thankfully, the moments of sadness don't overshadow the movie's happy ending. There's plenty of humor sprinkled throughout the scenes, and even a few twists and turns added in to surprise the audience. Branagh manages to stick to the original story beautifully and the acting talent of everyone on the cast makes it a real treat. Seasoned actresses Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter star as the Evil Stepmother and Fairy Godmother, with Marvel actors Stellan Skarsgard and Hayley Atwell portraying the Grand Duke and Cinderella's mother, respectively. Relative newcomers Lily James (of Downton Abbey) and Rich-
ard Madden (of Game of Thrones) play the leading roles of Ella and Prince Kit, with incredible on-screen chemistry. Regardless of whether or not you're a Disney fanatic, Cinderella is the kind of movie that will have you leaving the theater with an ear-to-ear grin.
We Want To Hear From You! Have you read a book you like? Seen a movie that you could talk about for hours? Listened to a song that is stuck in your head? We want to hear about it! Contribute your review of any new music, books, or movies that interest you. Contact Ms. Skolnik or e-mail your article to gardencityecho@gmail. com to be featured in our next issue.
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Echo Echo Echo Echo Echo Grammy Awards Elizabeth Butler In music’s biggest night of the year, many unforgettable memories were made. The 57th Annual Grammy Awards was on February 8th and all of biggest names were on the red carpet and in the audience, including Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, John Legend, Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas and Chris Brown, to name a few. This year’s Grammys didn’t fall short of eventful with many memorable moments: Kanye fake pulled a ‘Kanye’ on Beck after the latter won artist of the year when he pretended to take the microphone from Beck to make a speech. The night was filled with many stunning performances from artists ranging from Ed Sheeran to
Hozier to the Kanye West, Rihanna and Paul McCartney trio, who performed “FourFiveSeconds”. And of course, the night didn’t end without wild dancing from Taylor Swift. Album of the Year, one of the biggest awards, went to Morning Phase by Beck (this created some outrage online from Beyoncé fans, but Twitter quickly did its research and reported back that Beck produced and wrote his entire album, while 11 producers helped with the making of Beyoncé’s album). The Song of the Year Award went to “Stay With Me” written by James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith. Sam Smith also won Record of the Year along with Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal
Album. His success inspired many viewers to rename the Awards ‘The Sam Smith Show’. There was a wide variety however, in the other categories being won throughout the night. Best Dance/ Electronic Album went to Syro by Aphex Twin. The Best Alternative Music Album was awarded to St. Vincent for her eponymous album, while Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album was awarded to Cheek To Cheek by Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga. Best country album went to Platinum by Miranda Lambert, and finally Best Rap Album went to The Marshall Mathers LP2 by Eminem (which is his thirteenth Grammy). It was a night filled with many expected wins, but many suprises, too!
Oscar Award Photo courtesy of Google Images
The 87th Academy Awards Alexis Gogh The 2015 Academy Awards show was hosted by the former How I Met Your Mother star, Neil Patrick Harris. Movies with the most nominations were The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman, with each picture receiving ten nominations. Other nominees included The Imitation Game, American Sniper, Boyhood, Whiplash, The Theory of Everything, Foxcatcher, and Selma. What were the events of the night that everyone is talking about? Drum Roll Please… Idina Menzel getting back at John Travolta is one event that takes the cake. At the 2014 Academy Awards, John Travolta botched Idina Menzel’s name and introduced her as “Adele Dazeem.” So, it is only fair that Idina Menzel
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introduced John Travolta as “Glom Gazingo.” What was more awkward than John Travolta holding Idina Menzel’s face? Well, how about Neil Partick Harris’ joke about Reese Witherspoon being “so lovely you could eat her up with a spoon.” But let’s get down to it. After Ellen DeGeneres hosted last year, everyone knew Neil Patrick Harris had big shoes to fill. How do you beat last year’s Oscars, when there were selfies, pizza pies, and other unexpected events? Harris kicked the night off with a signature musical number, joined by Anna Kendrick and Jack Black. Although this performance was loved, all his jokes did not receive
the same positive reaction, especially his joke referring to lack of diversity in the nominees: “Tonight we honor tonight’s best and whitest… sorry brightest.” The universally hilarious moment was Harris’ tribute to Birdman, as he walked out in nothing more than his underwear. Throughout the show, Harris also mispronounced multiple names and had frequent outfit changes. There are mixed reviews about Harris’ hosting skills but the votes are unanimous for his opening performance being his highlight of the night. Now let’s not forget that the award show is only one part of the night. Style is also a key part of the event. All eyes were on
Gwyneth Paltrow as she walked the red carpet rocking a white cape over her beautiful Ralph and Russo dress. Other best dressed stars include, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Stone, Reese Witherspoon, and Lupita Nyong’o. Some stars didn’t quite “wow” the fashion critics: Scarlett Johansson’s elaborate necklace and Kerry Washington’s boring dress did not receive rave reviews. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so you decide which outfits should walk the runaway and which outfits should get thrown away. That’s all for this year. Who will host next year’s Oscars? Well I guess, we just have to sit back, wait and see.