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humans of staples witt lindau
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Contents NEWS
Students at Staples have undertaken a great task: planning and creating a Homecoming dance.
Natalie Bandura ’22 shares vice for gaining admission
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OPINIONS
10
FEATURES
11
her expert adto top colleges.
Celebrations that were at risk of not happening were hosted by the PTA at the end of last year.
ARTS
Read about the Yankee Doodle Fair, which took place Sept. 23 - 26, welcoming back a Westport tradition.
SPORTS
Kate Smith ‘22, a three sport athlete, is recovering both mentally and physically from an ACL tear.
Front and back cover by Aidan Rogers ’22 and Aedan Kiniry ’22 Front cover photos by Cami Vynerib ’23
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Volume 89, Issue 1, September 30, 2021
Inklings Staff Editors-In-Chief Natalie Bandura, Katie Simons
Creative Director
Public Relations Director Chloe Murray
Outreach Manager Shira Zeiberg
Aidan Rogers
Social Media Director
Lily Caplan, Betti Kobak
Broadcast Directors
Paper Managing Editors Web Managing Editors Giselle Oldani, Anastasia Thumser
Associate Managing Editors
Samantha Felner, Karina Murray
Business Directors
Brooke Dembin, Margot Stack, Theresa Vandis
Photography Director Camille Vynerib
Asst. Creative Directors Rachel Greenberg, Madeline Michalowski, Lilly Weisz
Features Editors
Mishael Gill, Emily Goldstein, Lily Klau, Ella Shi
Arts Editors
Anna Diorio, Abbie Goldstein, Maria Krug, Elle Vail
Sports Editors
Lea Rivel
Gabi Gerig, Kiswa Khan, Phoebe Miller, Tori Wilson
Ella Alpert, Lyah Muktavaram
Toby Goldfarb, Abby Nevin
Web News Editors
Asst. Business Managers
Web Opinions Editors
Breaking News Editor
Alix Glickman, Karlie Saed
News Editors
Audrey Kercher, Hannah Ratcliffe
Meg Enquist, Allison Gillman, Mia Kikorsky, Lucy Zuckerman Tierney Kugel
Finnegan Courtney, Maya Hruskar, Lucy Dockter, Julia Herlyn
Opinions Editors
Mimi Casey, Jared Leonard, Valerie Dreyfuss, Charley Guthartz
Hannah Conn, Margot Richlin
Web Features Editors Web Arts Editors
Web Sports Editors
Sarah Marron, Julia Leitner
Web Photostory Editors
Amanda Rowan, Ella Stoler
Advisors
Joeseph DelGobbo, Mary Elizabeth Fulco
More About Us
Inklings News is uncensored, unedited by aministratioand does not allow for prior review.
Opinions
The Editorial Board determines editorial opinions that are authored by the Editors-in-Chief. Inklings News serves as an open forum for the public and welcomes letters to the editor and other submissions. Send signed letters to inklingsnews@westportps.org. Submissions will not be edited prior to publication.
Advertisements
Inklings News reserves the right to not publish advertisements that promote products that could be harmful to student health.
Membership
Inklings News is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center. ................................................................
The decisions of Inklings News and Westport Public Schools are made without regard to race, color, age, sex,religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other discriminating basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.
EDITORIAL
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Graphic by Lilly Weisz ’23
Think before you click: public’s interactions with mass media invites pause, reflection
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hen Gabby Petito—a pretty, blonde, white woman with a modest Instagram following of 70,000—went missing, her case was instantly covered 24/7 on every major news outlet. In the same state of Wyoming, where Petito was found, over 700 indigenous people disappeared in the past decade—about double the rate of the white population reported missing—but these cases have not received nearly the same coverage. 20% of those cases still remain unsolved. The contrast between the media’s extensive coverage of Petito and its neglect of similar cases when dealing with minorities speaks to the larger issue of news media’s increasing commitment to the entertainment industry and to the public’s willingness to con-
sume news like entertainment. We do not mean to suggest that Petito’s death is entertainment. Her death was tragic and her life had value and deserves respect. But Petito’s appearance aligns with beauty standards that meets common entertainment standards, and so her homicide has been treated as a 24-hour news saga, with constant, dramatized repetition of old facts that resonates more like a Netflix true crime series. As students, we can’t aim to fully control what the mass media publishes. We understand that news organizations are businesses, and so it is natural for them to report on topics that will get the most readership— which are often the most dramatic and sensationalized. However, as media consumers, we have a responsibility to be conscious of
Student Submission
how we consume our news and how we contribute to the cycle of stories news outlets cover. The stories we click on directly influence what the media chooses to publish next, which then become the articles we read, thus continuing the cycle. For example, Inklings writes about celebrity news and music reviews because the writers enjoy it and know the readers will also find it entertaining. There have been 15 articles featuring Ariana Grande and 22 articles focused on Starbucks posted on the Inklings News website. By contrast, we rarely cover local government members outside of election seasons. But if our audience were to demand different stories, we would be forced to reconsider our selections of stories. So, when we are presented with news on our feeds, televi-
sions or papers, it’s important to stop and think about how relevant this information is to you because the only way to expand the media’s breadth of coverage of a relevant and diverse spectrum of issues is to deliberately seek out a larger range of topics. Striking the balance between staying informed about the topics circulating around you while also consuming media responsibly is challenging, but it is necessary. So consider scanning the QR code below to read about the missing indegenious women. The Editorial Board voted unanimously in favor of this opinion.
Scan this QR code to read about missing indigenous women in Wyoming.
*Since this article was written, the poster referenced has been removed by the school administration. As I perused around the entrance of our grand auditorium, hanging beside the double doors was a poster, advertising a previous Staples Players play. Upon further inspection, written in a bold, vermilion text, the title of the play read “The Teahouse of August Moon,” with an oriental man stretched
vertically across the left. The man was thin, with grotesque lime skin and slanted alien eyes. He wore poorly replicated East Asian garments, as his sickly figure stood on getas, wooden Japanese shoes. The image was appalling. It was shocking to see that the poster existed, shocking to know that it hung on our walls for so long, and most of all, shocking that it could even exist in my high school in the first place. Like a splash of freezing water to the face, it woke me up from my ignorance of our
school’s past. Though I cannot imagine our school ever hanging a similar poster again, it seems that we never addressed these past offensive instances, and as I stood at the forefront of the poster, revolted by the image, I can only imagine what other swept-under-the-rug mistakes our community has made.
Have an opinion you’d like published? Submit to: inklingsnews@gmail.com
Photo by Elena Lim ’22
Elena Lim ’22
SIGN OF THE TIMES This poster, once hung outside of the Staples auditorium, has since been taken down by administration at the request of the writer.
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NEWS
IS ON
Graphic by Lily Klau ’23
Students organize first Homecoming dance in decades Managing Editor
Assistant Creative Director
T
Photo Dramatization by Cami Vynerib ’23
he first ever Staples Homecoming dance will be on Oct. 23 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. Only seniors at Staples will be allowed to attend and tickets are $55. Traditionally there are two dances a year for juniors and seniors, usually planned by the class committee or local committees, but this one is different. This dance was created by students. After Counties and Prom were canceled last year, Jack Edwards ’22 came up with the idea of a homecoming event. His next steps were to gather a team to execute his idea. He
mentioned the idea to sever- to assist in the organization, al students and without hes- planning and execution of the itation, they were in to help. Homecoming dance,” Shamas “I couldn’t just be on said. “I love supporting any efthe [committee,] I wanted fort that is designed to build more opinions, I wanted peo- school spirit, a positive climate ple with strong voices in the and a stronger community.” school,” Jack Edwards ’22 said. In hopes of a new Staples traWhen Claire Fischer ’22 dition, the current Homecoming heard about a homecoming com- dance committee is searching mittee, she was for juniors eager to join. to begin a “Jack was committee the one who for next year. came up with “There are the original idea going to be and mentioned [...] four more it during my people on the gym class junior committee,” year,” Fischer Edwards said. said. “I told him “That origiI loved the idea nally was our and would be goal to get willing to join some rising juthe committee.” niors on there Edwards but we just took initiative have - CJ Shamas didn’t by scheduling Teacher & Senior Class Advisor enough time.” a meeting with In addiPrincipal Staftion to the seford W. Thomas Jr. After a few nior dance, the class advisors are meetings with Thomas and the planning on creating activities Homecoming committee, the for freshman, sophomores and ball started rolling. Senior class juniors the week of homecoming. advisor CJ Shamas, Athletic Di“What we’re looking to rector Marty Lisevick and the do the week of Homecoming police department were now for students would be to creinvolved to make this a reality. ate something more active in “Since I’m the Senior Class nature so that we all feel like Advisor, I was asked by Mr. we’re a part of something that Thomas if I would be willing doesn’t have to be connect-
“I love supporting any effort that is designed to build school spirit, a positive climate and a stronger community.”
ed to football,” Thomas said. Thomas wishes success for this dance and feels confident that it will be a beneficial event for seniors. “It’s a right of passage to have [the dance] here at Staples. If everything goes well, we’ll look into doing something similar next year,” Thomas said. “We’re excited and the planning’s well underway. The committee will always have senior involvement.” The senior class has yet to be able to attend a school-hosted dance due to the pandemic. Understandably, the seniors are excited and are looking forward to their first ever dance at Staples. “Our class has never had a school dance,” Jackson Hochhauser ’22 said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what [it] is all about.”
MARIJUANA MARIJUANA
NEWS| 5
MORATORIUM
Westport P&Z Commission temporarily bans recreational marijuana sales Dobin says, is rooted in something other than the supposed dangers of marijuana. “A big reason behind our decihe Planning and Zon- sion was the traffic that [such a ing Commission (P&Z) store] would bring,” Dobin said. unanimously passed “We aren’t here to rule whetha moratorium on recreational er marijuana is safe or not.” Dobin went on to suggest marijuana on Sept. 2, effectively banning any recreational mari- that it might even be wrong for juana dispensaries from open- Westport to capitalize on the sale ing in Westport. This comes of marijuana, citing that part of after the Connecticut State the state legislature’s plan for the bill was to Legisimpose equity lature upon the citrecently ies that were passed most impact“An Act ed by mariC o n juana’s crimcer ning inalization. Respon“There is s i b l e a 3% gross tax and Eqthat goes to uitable any municiRegulapality that altion of - Anthony Cheung ’25 lows the sales,” AdultDobin said. U s e Cannabis” in July, which le- “Places close to us, like Bridgegalized adult recreational port, have been hurt by marijuause, sales and cultivation of na’s criminalization and are able marijuana in Connecticut. to reap the benefits of the tax.” This is not the first time a “I was originally upset since I thought it was because of debate regarding marijuana laws ‘weed being dangerous,’” Tate in Westport was held. In June Mullineaux ’22 said. “but then 2018, the meetings that were I heard about the reasoning to allow what later became the and thought it made sense.” Bluepoint Wellness Medical One of the primary rea- Dispensary became disorderly. “Those three meetings sons behind the current moratorium, P&Z Chair Danielle all lasted until 1:00 a.m.,”
Staff Writer
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“I’m afraid that since no one really showed up to the meeting, no one cares, [so] it will be hard to end [the ban] in the future”
Dobin said. “It got to the point where someone had to be escorted out by police.” In stark contrast, those chaotic meetings were a far cry from the quiet Sept. 2 meeting, where very few people showed up. “I’m afraid that since no one really showed up to the meeting, no one cares,” Anthony Cheung ’25 said. “It will be hard to end [the ban] in the future.” Regardless, Dobin says, these regulations can be changed at any time as long as the public is ready and willing to act. “The regulations made by the P&Z are liv- ing, breathing, and flexible,” Dobin said. “If there is enough demonstrated public interest then this moratorium will be reconsidered.”
Scan this QR code to read a 2019 Inklings News article about the previous attempt to legalize recreational marijuana sales in Westport.
Graphic by Aidan Rogers ’22
6 | NEWS
Staples community navigates updated COVID-19 protocols Photo by Samantha Felner ’22
Photostory Editor
MASK MANDATE
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he statewide school mask mandate will extend past Sep. 30 and will be reevaluated in four to six weeks. “We’re going to [extend the mandate] a little bit longer,” Governor Ned Lamont said in a recent interview with Bloomberg, “so our kids can stay in school and their parents can get back to work.” Staples plans to follow suit by continuing to enforce the mandate with minor exceptions. “I think [when the mandate expires], it will be left up to the districts to decide how they want to proceed,” Principal Stafford W. Thomas Jr said. “If a student refuses to wear a mask, they need a doctor’s note citing a specific medical need precluding them from wearing one.” However, Staples teachers still report a lack of student compliance within the building. “I frequently have to remind students in class to put their mask back up,” science teacher Joanne Klouda said. These enforcement challenges can be attributed, in part, to the large numbers of students
TEACHER VAX Lamont also declared all school employees are required to be fully vaccinated as of Aug. 13. Vaccinated individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 in the classroom do not need to quarantine, provided they are asymptomatic. “Our administrators should set an example for students,’’ Amanda Green ’22 said. “I think teachers being vaccinated makes for a safer and more comfortable learning environment.” Students are not the only ones who support the mandate, as some school staff, now required to be vaccinated, also support it. “As a history teacher, I have studied what life was like before vaccines existed,” social studies teacher Carol Kaye said. “I’ve seen what a lack of vaccinations does to our population and how many people died as a result. This is a perfect example of why we need [them].”
Local Briefs
While a majority of students and staff support the mandate, others argue it is unethical and should be abolished. “Teachers have a right to their own bodies,” Matthew Lott ’22 said. “No one should be able to make a decision like this for someone else.” Students and staff who aren’t vaccinated and test positive are required to isolate for 10 days once positive. However, the school has greatly expanded on homebound learning, due to the absence of distance learning. “The resources offered to students vary on a case-by-case basis,” Thomas said. “The tutors look at the student’s course load and length of their absence to determine which tutors will be made available to assist.”
Scan this QR code to read about the rise of COVID cases in pre-teens.
SEPT. 30
School mask mandates were supposed to end, but will now continue for 4 to 6 weeks.
100% OF TEACHERS
All school employees must be fully vaccinated
14 DAYS Asymptomatic vaccinated individuals at Staples no longer have to quarantine
Graphic by Finnegan Courtney ’23
Assistant Business Manager
Alzheimer’s Walk
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Westport will host an outdoor performance at 7 p.m., featuring Nashville-based indie pop singer/songwriter Marielle Kraft. General admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased on the MoCA website.
Winslow Park will host the Westport Dog Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation will attend the festival; attendees can meet their guide dogs and learn more about the organization.
The Alzheimer’s Foundation will lead a walk to raise funds and awareness for the fight against Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The route opens at 8:30 a.m. at Calf Pasture Beach. Registration information can be found on the Alzheimer’s Foundation website.
Oct. 10
Westport Dog Festival
Oct. 8
MoCA Performance
Oct. 10
who feel differently about the current circumstances and assert the mandate should be lifted. “I would not wear one,” Brea Church ’23 said, “because I feel [confident in] the low infection rates and I’m ready to go back to normal.”
CT COVID-19 UPDATEs
M m th cl
MOLD
NEWS| 7
AT BEDFORD
MOLD FORCES MOVE Following the discovery of mold at BMS, students were forced to move from their original pod to other places, like the library, for class.
Photo by Phoebe Miller ‘23
Mold detected in Bedford Middle School upon students’ return
Breaking News Director
M
old was detected in a total of 10 spaces at Bedford Middle School (BMS) upon the return of students and staff. The mold was identified by the head custodian and reported to administration, on Sept. 1, before students reentered the building. Students spent one day in the Eighth Grade Red pod classrooms where mold was detected before it was sealed off for cleaning and testing. The pod was closed for three days, but has since been reopened. Mold was also detected in the lower hallway, other classrooms and the kitchen. Upon discovery of the mold, the administration then called Hygenix Inc., a company that provides environmental consultations, to assess the situation and produce a safety report, as well as All Pro, a cleaning company, to remove the mold. “Hygenix provided a list of recommendations on the report, which included cleaning
the classrooms and adjacent seeing mold because I don’t want areas, and it recommended fol- it to affect my middle school low up testing,” BMS Principal experience. When Coleytown Adam Rosen said. “All Pro came students came to [BMS], it was in to perform a deep cleaning packed with students, and it crewith industrial air scrubbers.” ated more issues in the long run.” While the type of mold that After the areas were cleaned, Hygenix then performed fur- was discovered in BMS, Asperther testing to ensure that they gillus, does not impact those were safe for instructional use, with a healthy immune system, which allowed the pod and other according to the Center for Disease Control spaces to be (CDC), it can reopened. cause a reaction “I think in those who we did a are immunogood job compromised. addressing No reports of the issue related illness with haste or reactions and seriousness,” Roswere reported. - Adam Rosen Bedford Middle School Principal “For peoen said. “I ple who have already feel as if we are past it. The teach- weakened immune systems ers are back in their rooms, or severe allergies to Aspergiland we are focused on start- lus, breathing in [the] spores ing a positive school year.” can cause an infection or othDespite the mold being er complications,” Superincleaned, some students remain tendent Thomas Scarice said. concerned about what further Due to new CDC recommold could mean for the future. mendations for fresh air in“[The mold] was in the Engi- take, mold growth was likeneering and Design room,” Au- ly caused by environmental tumn Kaye ’27 said. “It is [stress- factors and moisture in the air. ful] that middle schools are “To my understanding,
“I think we did a good job addressing the issue with haste and seriousness.”
school buildings are largely impacted by humidity levels in outdoor air,” Scarice said. “We had a very humid summer. However, perhaps the most significant driver was the fact that the CDC advised school districts to increase the amount of fresh air circulating in buildings in order to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. The unintended consequence of this was that more humid air was entering the building and causing the HVAC systems to operate less than optimally in keeping the indoor air drier than the humid outdoor air.” Currently, there are no plans in terms of mold prevention for next summer, but administrators are planning to continue assessing the school and utilizing the safest option for mitigating mold growth. “The district continually works to maintain high levels of healthy indoor air,” Scarice said. “Each school has a Tools for Schools committee of teachers, administrators and parents that serve to help monitor and assess indoor air. We will continue with our approaches while also ensuring that we are optimizing our HVAC systems.”
OPINIONS
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!"#$%&'#()*+%,-. News Editor
T
To ensure a free and just society, reproductive rights must be secured and upheld.
ION IN AME T R RI AND O C B EIGHT BILL
A
he Texas abortion law, Senate Bill 8, which bans abortion at six weeks from the patient’s last menstrual period—before most women are even aware of their pregnancy— is tyranical and unconstitutional and is intended to control women and our bodies. The Fetal Heartbeat Bill overturns the 1973 Roe v. Wade case in which the Court ruled in favor of the pregnant person’s right to privacy and protected womens’ liberties to have abortions without excessive government restriction (until the third trimester, around 24 weeks) under the 14th Amendment. However, Texas has tried to maneuver around this law by preventing state or local governments from enforcing the law and by placing the responsibility in the hands of private citizens. The law turns American people against one another, empowering private citizens (even those with no prior relationship to the defendant) to sue anyone who performs or aids an abortion (insanely with the exception of the abortion patient), including doctors, nurses, insurance companies, family, and even taxi drivers who take women to clinics. The state is making vigilan-
tes out of Texans, incentivising them with $10,000 cash bounties and coverage of legal fees if the plaintiff wins the case. Because Texas officials cannot directly enforce the law (due to its unconstitutionality), it is devised to bribe individual citizens to commit these immoral crimes for them. The private enforcement law is a new and untested approach and may be more difficult to counter in court. This law is deliberately crafted to attempt to elude traditional Constitutional arguments in court. Because it does not directly countermand Roe v. Wade, it will be more difficult for abortion rights lawsuits to prevail. Already, states such as Idaho, Arkansas and Alabama have drafted laws restricting abortion and abortion procedures this past year; however, Texas was the first to go through after a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling refused to block it. These states may develop similar laws to Texas to avoid the inevitable countersuits to preserve reproductive freedom. Although this law is unlikely to directly affect people in Westport—Connecticut has strong abortion protections and Gov. Ned Lamont has guaranteed to protect women’s rights to abortions—an assault on abortion is an assault on human rights everywhere. To ensure a free and just society, reproductive rights must be secured and upheld.
A
Keep your laws off my body: Texas abortion bill violates human rights
American’s Opinions On Enforcement of Bill Eight *data from Monmouth University
Support civilian enforcement of Bill Eight (19%) Oppose civilian enforcement of Bill Eight (81%)
Americans’ Opinions On Abortion *data from Pew Research Center
Oppose abortion in all/most cases (40%) Support abortion in all/most cases (60%)
OPINIONS| 9
Staples must divorce College Board, rigid stipulations Katie Simons ’22
branding would produce course offerings that are
n my second day of senior year, I sat in my Critical Analysis of Film and Literature class and had a startling realization: why hadn’t I taken advantage of Staples elective courses before? For most of high school, I had blindly chosen my class based on reputation, without considering spe-
The idea of removing AP courses and replacing them isn’t
Editor-in-Chief
O
Electives, which are typically A-level courses, return fewer GPA points than honors and students often opt to choose courses that boost their GPA over tailoring course selection
of my AP courses, I disliked the
ed to replace their AP courses with their own Advanced Topstill kept the rigor of AP classes, referring to their AT classes as “college-level” in their course catalog, but designed their own curEven w h e n Scarsdale students took courses that weren’t designed by the Col-
In fact, even without teaching the College Board curriculum, Scarsdale’s AP score rates Here, 65% of students score a 4 or 5, and 87% of students pass, according to Head of
lege Board doesn’t
Additionally, since AP courses are generally administered throughout the country during the same weeks, the tests take
We have the opportunity to create classes of the same rigor and weight as AP courses, but with a new take on the material and style of the course. course.
the AP
Graphics by Tori Wilson ’22
Graphics by Madeline Michalowski ’22
10 | OPINIONS
Stalking professors and other advice for getting into your dream college !"#"$%&'(")*+,"'-.. Editor-in-Chief
ollege application season is a stressful time for high school seniors, but luckily for you, I have chosen to share my extensive knowledge in this
C
internet research and word of mouth. Here are some handy tips for how to craft the most successful college application.
Demonstrated Interest The most important part of the college process is going out of your way to show “demonstrated interest” to prove to colleges that you might want to go there because— as we all know— the process of actually applying to the college, writing several supplementary essays (often including one on why you want to go there) and
hear about your personality and unique passions, so tell them about the burrito you ate for lunch or your plot predictions for the new season of Outer Banks. When colleges reach out to you through mass emails, never ignore them. Show them how honored you feel through a simple response like, “Thank you so much for thinking of me and sending me this mass email: it really made my day.” If the mailing address includes the words “do-not-reply,” remember that this is simply a trap and it is all the more essential for you to respond, thus distinguishing yourself among the most dedicated applicants.
If you end up getting a couple restraining orders filed against you, you know you’ve done well.
The Essays We all know that admissions
something we do just for kicks. Start by following the colleges you’re applying to on all of your social media accounts, then tracking down and following admissions staff, all the professors in your intended major and at least half of all attending students. If you end up getting a couple reyou know you’ve done well because your demonstrated interest is now legally documented. The most direct form of demonstrated interest, however, are your emails to admissions ofas often as you like. Remember
at your disposal. Make the adsonally attacking them, or make them cringe with disgust by describing how sick you got when you ate that moldy Ritz cracker from your backpack pocket. And remember— they only have a few seconds to read your essay, so this is the time to use your years of practice in texting abbreviations, and nothing better conveys personality than properly placed emojis.
to your essay no earlier than midnight and spend no more than 10 seconds reading it, so the most important part is the hook. A single all-caps word of onomatopoeia, the craziest unrelated fun fact, or even a nice long keyboard smash should have the desired will wipe down his spectacles ure out what is wrong with you. For the rest of your essay, the goal is to evoke some strong emotion from the reader. People usually go for the obvious— making them laugh or cry— but there is a world of lesser-used emotions
matters more is describing those activities in the most overcomplicated language possible to make them sound super impressive. Wrong! You single-handedly administered and facilitated the zero-cost market distribution of your self-designed, consumer-centric advertising model. As you scroll through col-
answers like family member information or additional test scores. The word counts on these are often way more than you ac-
half of that essay you had to cut down and paste it in there. And remember, even a single extra unused word on any The Common App question sends Get the Activia clear signal ties List done as to colleges early as possithat you ble. We all don’t care know enough to y o u put forth might your best efn o t fort. After all, colbrevity is never a l e c t skill you’d need trash at post-high-school. the beach As for the rest of once a month these tips (alas, because you’re I’ve reached my this great climate word count), you advocate, and you might not tered throughharbor a out my web long-lived articles, the passion for end of my Graphic by Madeline the club you staff bio Michalowski ’22 joined two and the weeks ago, last page of and that’s my math okay. homeW h a t w o r k .
FEATURES
| 11
PTA serves vital role in community, many unaware of impact Public Relations Director
I
n Elementary School, the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) had such an obvious presence in our lives. Now, although we don’t see it, the PTA is constantly working to better the lives of all high school students, even if that takes shape in a less obvious manner. Most recently and notably in the high school, the PTA hosted the graduation party for the class of ’21. Although the pandemic adversely affected the PTA’s efforts, they remained committed to providing students with a celebration to remember. “Some of our events were curtailed, but we were able to host a graduation party with a DJ, raffle prizes, outdoor games, great food and even a mechanical bull,” Tami Benavav, Co-President of the PTA, and Claudia Shaum, a former PTA president, wrote. “After a year of very limited senior experiences, we were thrilled to be able to provide a more normal graduation
SENIOR PARTY The PTA organized a dance floor in the courtyard and provided a DJ, in addition to games, refreshments and activities.
GRADUATION DECOR The PTA decorated last year’s field graduation with flowers, balloons and school banners.
celebration for the class of ’21.” The PTA can also be thanked for the decorations for the 2020 outdoor, drive-through graduation. “Our partnership with the school administration was never more important than it has been during Covid,” Benavav and Shaum wrote. “We really felt like we were part of a team and that everyone was working to help our community make it through as best we could.” But the PTA does much more than throw parties. “We help make sure that
day-to-day questions get answered for parents, and [we] help the administration out in so many ways,” Benavav and Shaum wrote in an email. “The PTA presidents meet with Principal Thomas on a weekly basis to both stay informed about important happenings in the school as well as to provide insight into parent concerns.” More tangibly, the PTA also supports school events. “We help provide volunteers for things like Picture Day, Back to School Night and
handing out caps and gowns for the seniors; we often organize donations for beverages for field days and more,” Shaum and Benavav wrote. The PTAs in each individual school are subsets of the larger Westport PTA Council, consisting of an Executive Board, town-wide committee chairs and the PTA presidents from each school in the district. The PTA works hard as simultaneously a voice to the community and an organization constantly working to better the lives of students. “[The Council’s] goal,” Benavav and Shaum said, “is to coordinate and bring cohesiveness to [the committees’] efforts on behalf of all Westport students, and to assist them in bringing programs and opportunities, as well as lend support to their efforts in enhancing healthy and productive learning environments.”
POPCORN (left to right) Ruby Coleman ’21 and Maizy Boosin ’21 enjoy last year’s graduation party, hosted by the PTA.
Photos contributed by PTA
Graphics by Lily Caplan ’22
12 | FEATURES
New elective promotes inclusive space, difficult conversations Broadcast Manager
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“I hope to educate myself on the history of the systemic racism within our country and do my part as a member of this community to help celebrate and learn about people who differ from me.”
ki
’22
hen Gemelle Domingue ’22 entered the Westport Public School District in first grade, she found herself quickly disappointed by the education she recieved on minoritized populations, or, rather, the lack thereof. To her, the conversations about Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. were redundant and limited. “Even though in elementary school, middle school [and] high school, we’ve talked about slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, I feel like we just talked about the snippets,” Domingue said. “We didn’t go into or talk about other important black leaders like Fred Hampton or Malcolm X.” With this school year’s emergence of a new elective, “African American, Black, Latino and Puerto Rican Studies” (AABLPR Studies), Domingue was among a group of around 20 juniors and seniors who signed up, citing her experience as a “Black woman in a predominantly white school” as motivation for her interest. “I know that the things that I want to say and put out there are valid and I s low a ch Mi e Q uo elin te graphic by Mad
shouldn’t be afraid or scared of considers the experiences of marthe repercussions of what I’m ginalized groups through the about to say, so that’s kind of lens of their struggles and tribulations, but what I’m also their looking to accomplishget from ments. In the class,” an attempt Domingue to fully uns a i d . derstand The class, this history, which is the the opening product of weeks of high school class startstudents ed by emadvocating phasizing for a more the need diverse edufor empacation, runs thy and reas a devel-Alexa Anastasi ’22 opmental pilot course in which its participants may offer criticisms of the framework. “We felt it was really important to take the lead, run the course and be the first ones out there to give the feedback so that any revisions to the course would also reflect some of our experiences and the voices of our students,” Lauren Francese, Social Studies Department Chair, said. The curriculum itself
Graphic by Rachel Greenberg ’22
spect
in class discussions. “The idea here is that we all come together with our various cultures and experiences. Historically some may be valued more than others, but there’s so much to be learned from all of them,” social studies teacher Cathy Schager said. The first few days of the course were spent discussing how students would identify themselves and setting a foundation for future discussions. “Although it is only the beginning of the course, every activity we have done so far has been extremely meaningful,” Alexa Anastasi ’22 said. “I hope to educate myself on the history of the systemic racism within our
FEATURES| 13
being as inclusive as possible of content, but also of humans.” Schager’s hope, echoed by Francese, is that the AABLPR Studies course will teach students to engage in difficult conversations. A robust education, they agree, ultimately allows students to go on to become strong, empowering citizens. “At the end of the day, activism is a big part of social studies, and democracy is not a spectator sport,” Schager said. “So I would love to empower these students to make a change, figure out what matters to them and ask for more, if that’s what they want and need to make this world a more suitable environment.”
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country and do my part as a member of this community to help celebrate and learn about people who differ from me.” After speaking with former students who feel they have been ill-prepared going into racially diverse post-high school environments, Schager believes that an inclusive education system is of the utmost importance. “This is based on a lot of feedback I got from former students after the murder of George Floyd, [but I think] a lot of them are very disappointed in the lack of their education here at Staples,” Schager said. “So I feel like in general, we need to do a better job of
IS STAPLES SATISFIED WITH THE CURRICULUM COVERAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN, BLACK, LATINO AND PUERTO RICAN TOPICS?
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Mic halowski ’22
Flag graphic by Maya Hruskar ’23
Scan this QR Code to read about African American, Black, Latino and Puerto Rican Studies being a state-required course.
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Photo by Lilly Weisz ’23
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Photo by N atalie Bandu ra ’22
Drawing teacher Camille Eskell observes Yom Kippur in memory of her parents and the religiosity they imparted to her. “It’s to commemorate my parents, who were very strict,” Eskell said with a chuckle. Eskell has actually live streamed services from the Central Synagogue in New York City and fasted on her own since her parents passed away in the 2000s. “I liked the idea of looking inward and seeing what you’ve done that’s not quite right for anyone or yourself,” Eskell said.
Before the pandemic, Jordy Greenspan ’24 would eat a pizza dinner (“for carbs, I guess,” Greenspan said with a smile) before going to Kol Nidre (the services on the first night of Yom Kippur). The next day she would return to services, ending the holiday with a “break-fast” meal (the meal at the end of the fast) with her congregation. Now, the way her family has always observed Yom Kippur has completely shifted to a smaller break-fast in her own home with guests. “I think it’s good. It’s led my family to think of a different way of doing it that is actually, you know, more personal and better than before,” Greenspan said. Her family and synagogue community are a large influence on her observance of the holy day. “The most important part,” she said, “is reflecting on the past year and thinking about what you could do better in the new year.”
In a typical year, Chloe Nevas ’22 eats dinner together with her family on Erev Yom Kippur (the night before Yom Kippur), goes to services the full next day and, like many American Jewish families, breaks the fast with bagels. However, COVID-19 stopped Nevas from going to synagogue. “Last year, we didn’t go to services,” she said. “And this year there’s only online options available, or outdoors, which is in this big tent, which isn’t as appealing.” Even though COVID-19 disturbed her plans, she still values the holiday for the emphasis it places on introspection and forgiveness. “I think it’s important to take time to reflect on how you behave and things that have happened during the year,” Nevas said.
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Noah Salpeter ’23
Photo by Eli Shorrock ’22
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om Kippur, which took place on Sept. 15, is a day for atonement, spirituality and family for Jews around the world. It comes nine days after Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish new year (which is now year 5782). Jewish holidays span from sunset to sunset because they follow a lunar calendar, and many Jews fast for 25 hours on Yom Kippur. Jews of differing levels of religiosity observe the holiest day of the Jewish calendar with many different traditions, and the meaning of the day is intimate for every person observing.
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For Noah Salpeter ’23, Yom Kippur means he can see his grandparents, a cherished family gathering made all the more rare because of the pandemic. “Having the opportunity where my whole family can get together is really rare, and when we get the chance, it’s always really fun,” he said. Though he himself does not fast, Salpeter still holds the traditions of the day in his heart, partaking in the break-fast meal with his loved ones. “I always make sure that day is free so I can go see family,” Salpeter said.
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Lindau creates music, celebrates his passion News Editor
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any humans possess a great passion in life: a sport, an arts-related activity, a niche hobby or interest. For Witt Lindau ’23, this passion is music—one that he has been cultivating and immersing himself in since his youth. “I started my first drum lesson when I was 6,” Lindau said. “My parents say I had always taken interest in rhythm, even as a toddler.” Lindau, who identifies himself as a drummer, can also play bass, keyboard and guitar and began his musical career at the School of Rock in Fairfield. This was where he learned the fundamentals of music, rhythm and how to play fulllength songs and perform live. “My first teacher there would always say ‘You’re the clock, man!’” Lindau said. “He hammered the impor-
tance of good time right away and familiarized me with the unique role of the drummer.” Through School of Rock, Lindau was able to form several bands as the years passed—although many of them have not lasted longer than a year due to memb e r s having other obligations. He has b e e n able to perform in a myriad of locations, including wellknown venues in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Phoenix and Las Vegas, as well as local restaurants, events and fundraisers.
“The type of music we play depends on the type of gig,” Lindau said. “Will we serve as background music? Are people coming specifically to watch us? Or does the audience want to dance? How old is our audience? How long is our set? If we are playing at a private party for a wide range of age groups w h o want to dance, we’ll play lots of rock, disco -Witt Lindau ’23 and pop f r o m t h e 60s or 70s ranging to today.” Lindau’s younger brother, Bennett Lindau ’25, described that his brother’s love for music pro-
“To me, making music is like a second language, and the ultimate tool of expression. It’s what I love to do most. It’s this sense of unity, this ultimate satisfaction that lets you live completely in the moment.”
Graphic by Rachel Greenberg ’22
Photo by Cami Vynerib ’23
Drum graphic by Betti Kobak ’22
Photo contributed by Witt Lindau ’23
pelled him to study music, too. “Growing up with [Witt] has been an inspiration for my own musical career and it has launched my own passion for music,” Bennett said. “He makes me want to practice and get better at my instrument every day.” At Staples, it is the first year that Witt has played in the Symphonic Band as a percussionist, and the third year that he has been playing the drum set in the Jazz Ensemble. “[Witt] brings an excellent attitude to our music department at Staples,” band director Philip Giampietro said. “His peers are magnetically attracted to his love for making music.” Ultimately, Witt views music as an integral part of his life and future. “To me, making music is like a second language, and the ultimate tool of expression,” Witt said. “It’s what I love to do most. It’s this sense of unity, this ultimate satisfaction that lets you live completely in the moment.”
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Graphic by Madeline Michalowski ’22
Graphic by Lilly Weisz ’23
A celebration of Chinese Culture
Over $300 million at the box office
ARTS| 17
‘Shang-Chi’ melds Marvel action with love, culture, comedy
Ella Shi ’23
Features Editor
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is a first in many aspects. It is the first Marvel movie to come out exclusively in theaters, and not on Disney+, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But more importantly, it is the first Marvel movie to star an Asian superhero and a predominantly Asian cast. “Shang-Chi” is the latest Marvel movie, featuring comedy, action, love, loss and everything in between. The film, which premiered in theaters on Sept. 3, is a riff on a 1970s comic series written by Steve Englehart and illustrated by Jim Starlin. The problematic comic, which originally depicted harmful Asian stereotypes, was revamped into a movie that appreciates Asian culture. “[The villain] was a Chinese super genius who’s bent on taking over the Western world,” Gene Luen Yang, writer of the modern “Shang-Chi,” said in an interview with Polygon, referring to the original comic. “He had bright yellow skin, he had really exaggerated facial features, hair, pointed ears. An early Asian stereotype was that Asians had pointy ears.” In the new version, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and his best friend and comical sidekick, Katy (Awkwafina), along with his sister, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), face a somewhat unexpected form of evil. His father, Wenwu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), is the owner of the infamous Ten Rings, granting him superpowers and immortality.
Graphics by Anna Diorio ’23
While riding the San Francisco public bus with Katy, Shang-Chi is ambushed, and his martial arts skills are revealed. Wenwu trained Shang-Chi to be a martial arts master and skilled assassin; however, at age 15, he fled to the U.S., reinventing himself as Shaun. Eventually, it is revealed that Wenwu is on a mission to the village of Ta Lo, which is guarded by a magical forest that engulfs anyone who enters. While the cinematic elements are well crafted, I most appreciated how “ShangChi” incorporated familiar Chinese customs into the movie. The entire introduction and many lines throughout the movie are in Mandarin with English subtitles, which embraces the Chinese culture, despite being viewed by a mainly Western audience. Scenes of Chinese food stands, preserved portraits of deceased family members and mahjong tables portray classic Chinese traditions. And the characters bring up relatable experiences of being Asian in America. Katy reminisces about a childhood bully saying “What up Gangnam style” to her. Overall, “Shang-Chi,” while fantastical, is a movie of cultural appreciation, self-discovery, along with the typical MCU flair. “If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing,” Shang-Chi’s grandma said to Katy before the final battle scene. This saying perfectly emanates the barriers this movie has broken in regards to race. But, it also can be a message to each viewer, personally. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. 10/10 stars.
Scan this QR code to read a Mandarin translation of this article.
t ur pas o y m o fr n’t run You ca u - Xu WenW
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Governors Ball Music Festival opens its doors for 2021 Maria Krug ’22 Arts Editor
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n previous years, as the school year came to an end and the weather became warmer, students could only think about one thing: The Governors Ball Music Festival. This year, the threeday weekend music festival, previously hosted in June at Randalls Island in New York City, took place at the end of September at Citi Field. With last year’s lineup getting canceled due to COVID-19 students were excited to get back to a sense of “normalcy” once GovBall opened its doors to the public on Sept.
24-26. Prior to the event, stu- crafting their outfits,” Raia Badudents were asked about their feel- rina ’23 said, “while there are also ings towards GovBall this year. some people, like me, who hav“I’m very excited to be at- en’t even started thinking about tending GovBall this year,” Cate it yet. It gives a great excuse for Morris ’22 said. “My favorite people to wear really bold and part about it is the different fun things that they normally artists that you are able to lis- don’t get the chance to wear.” ten to in one day and being In terms of COVID-19 able to go with your friends.” safety protocols, according to The festival was dominat- ABC News, the festival orgaed by famous admired artists, nizers put a lot of work and ranging from all different music thought into having a Covidgenres. Crowd favorites include safe festival for the public. Billie Eilish, “[We are] Asap Rocky, “It gives a great excuse for working in Post Malone people to wear really bold close consulwand Megan and fun things that they tation with Thee Stallion. normally don’t get the the City of Artists arNew York en’t the only chance to wear.” and the fes- Raia Badurina ’23 tival attractions will people looked follow all forward to when arriving at the state and federal guidelines manfestival: there was also the fash- dated at the time of the event,” ion. With some putting months organizers of the event said. of preparation into it and shopOn the festival’s webping at every store they could site, they state that a vaccinafind, the music festival could also tion card or a negative covid be considered a “fashion show.” test result was mandatory “I know a lot of peo- at the entrance of the event. ple who have spent weeks “I think less people
will be attending GovBall this year due to COVID-19,” Morrissaid. “A lot of people are worried about contracting it even though there are safety protocols.” Not only was COVID-19 on people’s minds as the festival approaches, but many students were overwhelmed with the festival taking place during the start of the school year. “It’s definitely more stressful having it be in September because there’s so much more work to be done than if it were in June,” Chloe Nevas ’22 said. “Especially as a senior, it’s stressful because we’re applying to college and having the time on the weekend to work on applications is really helpful.”
Mosh Pit Massive crowds gathered to experience the performance of rapper Megan Staples Takes NYC Several Staples students attended the event. Pictured (left to right) are Sydelle Bernstein ’22, Alie Shutze ’22, Kate Smith ’22, Rachel Greenberg ’22 and Jen Westphal ’22.
Yankee Doodle
Graphic by Anna Diorio ’23
Photos by Rachel Greenberg ’22
Graphic by Lily Caplan ’22
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Quite Dandy: Yankee Doodle Fair provides community with sense of familiarity, recovery Giselle Oldani ’22
Web Managing Editor
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ids hang in the clouds on rainbow-colored swings, while others, becoming a blur, spin around on Zero Gravity. Around the corner, parents pay for their children’s third shot at a jumbo stuffed animal. At the Yankee Doodle Fair, the options are endless, and this year, even more desirable after 18 months of quarantine, social distancing and COVID-19. “It feels good to get back out on the road and start seeing the customers again,” Stewart Amusements Manager Fred Zinsser said. The Yankee Doodle Fair has been a tradition in Westport for 70 years. This year, the fair included many long time favorites such as Rockstar, Scrambler,
Zero Gravity and Cobra. Aside from rides, the festival boasted raffle prizes, carnival games and two concerts. Pre-teens, toddlers and parents mostly filled the crowd. On Friday night, the line for tickets stretched into the drive-in movie theatre next door. “There’s not as many rides as last year and there’s a lot more younger generation kids,” Lauranne Devos ’22 said, “but it’s still fun, and [I’m] making the most out of it.” To be as safe as possible, hand sanitizer dispensers were placed all throughout the fairgrounds. Attendee Theresa Paniccia brought her two daughters, believing the event to be a safe way to raise spirits. “[The fair] is outdoors for one,” Paniccia said. “For two, I think that all these kids are back in school and the school numbers are low. Why would you not do something like this?”
The Yankee Doodle Fair is valued for yet another reason though; it is charity. The fair is actually a fundraiser hosted by the Westport Woman’s Club to raise money for grants to community service organizations and needbased scholarships for Staples High School seniors. The Bank of America and the Westport National Bank were the fair’s major sponsors. Although all the benefits of the fair are undeniable, some were just thankful for the chance to casually go out and have fun, like old times. “It’s good to socialize,” Alex Esser ’25 said. “It’s great to see people around again.” Graphic by Madeline Michalowski ’22
Westport Tradition The Yankee Doodle Fair, which took place from Sept. 23 - 26, is a staple in the Westport community and attracted massive crowds, featuring rides such as the Expo Wheel, Sky Hawk and Tornado.
Graphic by Madeline Michalowski ’22 Photo by Anna Diorio ’23
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Physical injuries weigh heavy mentally on student athletes Abigail Nevin ’23
the things I truly loved and it was really hard to just sit with my leg propped up for a month.” Competitive athletes balance a non-stop, strenuous athletic schedule with schoolwork in their everyday lives. It can be a shock to have that pattern disrupted. Similar to Smith, Meredith Mulhern ’23 had structured her life around sports. Tearing both of her ACLs on opposite legs within the span of two years while ski-
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n order to stay efficient, high school athletes must balance sports, social life and school work. However, this specified schedule becomes severely disrupted when an athlete becomes injured, taking a large toll on the mental and physical health of an athlete. As a member of the Staples varsity soccer, ski and lacrosse team, it is no question that Kate Smith ’22 is an impressive athlete. However, throughout her career, not unlike many other athletes, Smith has faced major setbacks including her most recent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and surgery earlier this year. “I have been playing soccer and lacrosse since before I can remember [and have] been skiing ever since I was 2 years old,” Smith said. “Growing up with a brother who also loved playing sports, I immersed myself in athletics at a very early age.” Many may believe that going through the recovery process for an injury as severe as Smith’s would be tougher physically than mentally, yet she claims the opposite. “I would say the injury hurt me more mentally than physically,” Smith said. “My daily life was completely flipped around. I couldn’t do
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ROAD TO RECOVERY Kate Smith is juggling her ACL recovery while being the manager of the soccer team. She is hopeful she will heal in time for her senior ski season.
ing and playing competitive lacrosse was detrimental to her overall mental health. “Watching my friends play sports while I couldn’t play was really tough,” Mulhern said. “After tearing my ACL [for the second time] playing lacrosse, the recovery was mentally even harder. It was extremely challenging to feel like a lot of the hard work that I had been putting in to get cleared from my first inju-
ry was now for nothing.” Head coach for the girls’ soccer team at Staples, Barry Beattie, has seen many of his most prized athletes combat serious injuries that require immense mental strength for recovery, aside from physical. As a coach, he recognizes the stress that overwhelms athletes as they recover from injury, and he understands what the best methods are to help them stay positive. “Most of the help we give [the athletes] is mental support,” Beattie said. “It’s about keeping the player involved so they feel like they have a role in the team and can contribute even if they are off the field.” Smith has found a prominent role in her team since her injury by becoming one of the girls’ soccer team managers. “What also helps to push me is being manager of the girls soccer team,” Smith said. “Seeing those girls work so hard in practice every day and seeing the excitement on their faces after scoring and winning games made me extremely eager to be back on that field, making those memories with them.” Although the recovery process is long and difficult, the reward of being back on the team is all worth it, as Smith recalls. “There’s nothing I miss more than the rush of being on a Staples team and I’m so excited to get back.” Photos contributed by Kate Smith ’22.
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Wreckers strive for success in fall season
Hannah Kail ’22 Staff Writer
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he 2021 fall sports season is currently underway. With the football team playing their first official games since 2019, and the addition of two new fall sports, golf and fencing, a lot of diversity has been added to the season. Read Below for an early update on several fall teams.
During the COVID-19 quarantine, Anna Pan ’22 had an idea. As someone who had been fencing for years, she thought of expanding her passion for fencing to her school community. Pan and her nine teammates are now ready to take on the season as the first Staples fencing team. “The majority of our attention this season will be focused towards training new recruits; however, our goal is to ultimately win states, which even in our current state, I feel we have a pretty good chance at,” captain Max Piterbarg ’24 said. NEW SPORT (below) Fencing has been introduced to the Staples High School community after a series of requests to form a team.
Photo contributed by Anna Pan ’22
Photo contributed by Chris Greer
Scan this QR code to read how fencing became an official Staples sport.
The football team started their season off with winning an intense battle against Trumbull. Charlie Howard ’22 made that win possible with his pick-six to end the game 27-20. “The season is looking bright for us,” Howard said. “We try to win one day at a time and do not look into the future.” After not being able to play last year due to COVID-19, the team is ready to take back the time they missed. “Our goal is to go 1-0 every single week and work as hard as we possibly can,” Captain Jack Edwards ’22 said. After their first three games, the team’s record stands at 1-2, with losses to St. Joseph and Cheshire.
Previously a spring sport, the boys’ golf team has made a big adjustment switching to the fall season. The golf team, led by captains Luca Robins ’22 and Evan Trock ’22, is ready to continue their success from the summer into a strong start to the season. “The fall season should be exciting,” Harrison Browne ’24 said. “Playing with our great team in some new conditions should be a fun challenge.” The team has won six out of eight matches so far and is looking to have another state title under their belts. WIN OVER ST. JOSEPH (below) The boys’ golf team made adjustments after their season was switched to the fall and came out victorious with a score of 160-141.
Photo by Chloe Murray ’22
Photo by Eli Shorrock ’22
GAME DAY (center left) Nick Armentano ’22 catches a pass at the game versus Trumbull on Sept. 10. Wreckers went on to win 27-20 . PRE GAME (center right) McKenzie Didio ’22 attends practice in preparation for the game against Darien on Sept. 30.
Graphic by Lily Caplan ’22 & Rachel Greenberg ’22
The girls’ soccer team started the season with two ties, two wins and one loss in their games against Ridgefield, New Canaan, Greenwich, Danbury and Westhill. “I think we started out with some really competitive games which have shown us what to expect in the upcoming season,” captain Sami Dewitt ’23 said. “We are really excited to continue competing and hopefully get another FCIAC win.” The team, led by captains Gaby Gonzalez ’22, Madison Sansone ’22, Alex Wasserman ’22 and Sami Dewitt ’23, are hoping for yet another FCIAC and state title.
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Rowdy crowds cause safety concerns
Jalen St. Fort ’22 Staff Writer
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sea of students decked out in white piled into the stands for the football game against Trumbull on Sept. 10. Due to former Wreckers coach Marce Petroccico’s return to Staples for the first time as a visiting coach, and the social media feud between the two teams prior to kickoff, tensions were especially high. By the end of the game, with just a minute left in the fourth quarter, Charlie Howard ’22 had a game-winning interception returned for a touchdown, leading to a 27-20 Staples victory. The crowd went wild, but not for the first time that night. During the game there were numerous instances of unruly crowd behavior, such as fights between Staples and Trumbull students near the concessions stand, milk poured on students,
and constant heckling between Trumbull student section may the respective student sections. have added fuel to the flame. All of these outbreaks required “Trumbull shouldn’t have securibeen anyty to get w h e r e involved. near our “Rowstudent dy crowds section,” are a part Augeri of football, said. “The but this school was just a should little out have put of hand,” their other -Officer Ed Wooldridge Max Udell bleach Student Resource Officer ’22 said. ers across S tuthe field dent Resource Officer so these situations would Ed Wooldridge agreed. not have happened.” “There were a lot of things Wooldridge believes going on throughout the game there is a solution to quell [...] We weren’t even able to future crowd conflicts. make it to all of the incidents,” “When it comes to the bigWooldridge said. “There were ger upcoming games like Homeincidents caused by both schools coming or senior night, we will and the milk came from kids continue to add more security from Ridgefield who had no to make sure everyone is safe.” reason for being at the game.” The second home game Positioning the Staples of the season, a 35-14 student section next to the
“When it comes to the bigger games [...] we will continue to add more security to make sure everyone is safe.”
FULL STANDS Staples superfans support the team on Sept. 17 against Saint Joes. However, the Wreckers lost with a final score of 35-14.
loss to St. Joseph on Sept. 17, appeared to be more organized. “The crowd was much better this week,” Wooldridge said. “The game wasn’t necessarily the size of last week’s, but we added more security to make sure everyone adhered to the rules.” Principal Stafford W. Thomas Jr. expressed his wishes for Staples Superfans. “We understand how important the game is to our school community,” Thomas said, “but we just have to make sure that we are fans and not fanatics.”
Scan this QR code to read about the alleged antisemitism that occured during the Staples @ Cheshire football game.
Photo by Lily Caplan ’22
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Back cover by Aidan Rogers ’22 and Aedan Kiniry ’22
