Gael Winds, May 2013

MAY ISSUE

GAEL WINDS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

TEACHER

2

FEATURE

THE TIPPING POINT: A BOOK REVIEW

2

THE SCIENCE CORNER: IS THE MOON REALLY PINK?

3

THE LEGACY OF HUGO CHAVEZ

4

LADY GAELS SOFTBALL, BETTER THAN EVER

4

CHANGING PERSPECTIVES: FRESHMAN YEAR

5

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

BOSTON STRONG Tragedy has a way of uniting people. All people, regardless of race, religious beliefs, gender, or social standing, come together when faced with adversity. This past month, when the city of Boston experienced great heartbreak over the bombings that claimed the lives of three innocent victims and injured hundreds at the Boston Marathon, the city and the nation banded together as one.

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious communal racing forum.

Known as the “People’s Olympics,” it is the only public marathon where specific time requirements must be met to participate in the race. To run in the marathon is considered to be the undisputed highlight, barring Olympic qualification, of a runner’s career. To win the marathon is considered legendary.

Clarence DeMar holds the distinction of the most marathon

THE PRESIDENT’S

wins with seven titles, and in 2011, Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya ran the fastest marathon time ever, completing the 26.2 miles in 2:03:02. The Patriot’s Day race is the pride of Boston, starting in Hopkinton and snaking its way throughout much of the rest of the Greater Boston Area comes to a conclusion in the center of Boston, Copley Square. The course is lined with spectators, some celebrate loved ones, others celebrate a day off from school or work.

Either way, witnessing the Boston Marathon is witnessing history.

Documentation of the chaotic aftermath of the dual bombs reveals what all Catholics know to be true: good will always triumph over evil. The courageous and swift actions of first responders saved countless lives, and what more were the courageous and swift actions of fellow spectators, of fellow runners. Those who w e r e Continued on page 3

DINNER

By Jill Frasco  Boston Stong

by Kate Nowinski  The Legacy of Hugo Chavez

by Yaroslav Jakymec

By Kate Nowinski

This year’s President’s Dinner will be held on May 28th at the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. The event will be honoring St. Mary's Class of 1957 graduate Cardinal Edwin O'Brien. This annual evening of prayer and celebration will surely prove to be another successful gala event sponsored by Kennedy Catholic High School and hosted by our own Father Vallencourt.

GAEL WINDS 2013 TEACHER FEATURE: MR KEALY Gael Winds: What classes do you teach?

Michael Kealy: I teach twelfth grade Civics, ninth grade Global I, and PSAT here at Kennedy.

GW: What is your favorite moment in history?

MK: My favorite moment in history is the signing of the Declaration of Independence because it is when the colonists decided to revolt against Britain. The singing of the Declaration was the start of America. It shaped the country into the way it is today.

By Brendan Liberati

GW: Where did you go to college and what degree did you graduate with?

MK: I earned my Bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education at Pace University. I earned my Master’s degree in Science and Education at Western Connecticut State University.

GW: What moment(s) inspired you to teach?

MK: As a Kennedy alumni, my high school Social Studies teachers inspired me to teach.

nedy?

MK: Yes, I taught at Somers Middle School.

GW: Do you enjoy teaching at Kennedy?

MK: I love teaching at Kennedy, especially because I’m an alumni.

GW: What’s your favorite thing about Kennedy?

MK: I like the sense of community between the students and faculty. I think that is what makes Kennedy special.

GW: Did you teach at another school before you came to Ken-

THE TIPPING POINT: A BOOK REVIEW The Tipping Point

by Malcolm Gladwell is an insightful and compelling book. The book chronicles the life of an idea, something that catches on and becomes the next big thing, explaining why some things become a national craze and why some things remain relatively unknown. Gladwell offers a complete explanation of the process of an idea gaining popularity—from the initial pitch of the idea, to the stickiness of the idea, to the people who popularize the idea.

Anyone who is interested in studying social trends and epidemics should read this book, it describes exactly why some things catch on and others do not. Gladwell’s social acumen made for a complete analysis of social trends in every facet of life— from marketing, to health care, to children’s television.

This book is beneficial not only because reading it will

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will make you more aware of social epidemics, but also because it may help you to think more analytically about society and why things happen the way they do.

Gladwell proposes that social epidemics follow a specific pattern that can be found in nearly every social trend.

There are three factors that precede any social trend: the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. The Law of the Few states that certain type of people must be exposed to the idea, influential and credible people who can spread the idea quickly and effectively. The Stickiness Factor theorizes that the idea must be compelling. The idea must resonate with the public and be difficult to forget. The Power of Context concerns the conditions of where the idea tips, or suddenly becomes popular. The conditions have to be exact: the

By Amy Sniffen idea has to be discovered at just the right time, by just the right people, with just the right intentions. Gladwell proves his thesis even further by analyzing himself and The Tipping Point. He has identified an issue in society, formulated a hypothesis on this issue, and then tested the hypothesis, not by setting up experiments, but by analyzing information that had been gathered from prior events and applying this information to future events.

As a whole, The Tipping Point was an extremely well written book that contained a multitude of examples to support Gladwell’s claims. At times, however, the book was a tad pedantic and dry when Gladwell went into a little too much detail. Picking apart the very foundation upon which society is built, and further explaining things that, though generally seem unimportant,

“A person who won’t read has no advantage over onewho can’t read.”

—Mark Twain

seem unimportant, are the basis of our world, reading The Tipping Point can change the way you view society and the world around you.

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BOSTON STRONG (CONTINUED) miraculously spared did not hesitate in helping the less fortunate.

When viewing a photo of the scene on Boylston Street, notice something other than Bostonians helping other Bostonians. Notice that in nearly every frame at least one person can be seen representing Boston sports. Sports are the common denominator in Boston. The Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics unite the city, especially in the spring when the Sox season is just starting up and the Bruins and the Celtics are typically beginning lengthy playoff runs.

Just as Shea Stadium erupted after an overwhelmingly emotional game with Mike Piazza’s homerun catapulting the Mets to victory in the first New York professional sports game post 9/11, Boston rallied around the Sox, Celtics, and Bruins.

Two games originally scheduled for Friday, April, 20 in Boston were postponed until Saturday due to the imminent capture of the perpetrators of the tragic bombings. Fans arrived in droves for the return of baseball in the historic Fenway Park. More notable about the 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays was not Shane Victorino’s tenth inning RBI infield single to win it for the Sox, but rather was the beloved Boston slugger David Ortiz’s pregame rallying remarks: “This jersey that we wear today, it doesn't say 'Red Sox,' it says 'Boston.”

Also postponed after the commotion on Friday night was the Bruins home game at the TD Garden against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The pre game activity leading up to the 3-2 loss was emotional to say the least. When longtime Bruins anthem singer, Rene Rancourt, took the ice the

REGUARDING THE PINK MOON The “pink moon” is the name given to the first full moon in the month of April. Originally, Native Americans, in particular the Algonquin, assigned unique names to the full moons of each month based on specific occurrences in nature. In the time of April, the Algonquin noticed the arising of wild ground phlox or moss pink, the first plants of spring and began to regard the full moon of that time as “pink.” While the moon may have a reddish appearance but it could never be absolutely pink.

It should be noted that “color” is merely the perception of accelerated photons (light particles) with different frequencies, and that there is no such thing as pink light. Humans perceive light of different frequencies and attribute certain names to them, hence colors. As the moon becomes visible it can be seen with a reddish tint for two primary reasons. The first reason is due to the sunset which usually appears as

crowd had the utmost reverence for the song defining everything our nation believes in, and after singing a few stanzas, Rancourt was silenced. The crowd took over, singing of the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” The nation was singing along with Boston, regardless of team affiliation, everyone was cheering for the city that had been through much is such a short amount of time.

What makes our country different is that we are strong in times of great terror. When our foundation is shaken, we come back with more strength than ever. We are strong in our convictions; freedom will win out in the end. We are, as a nation, Boston strong.

By Joe Neithardt set which usually appears as red in color, and the second reason is because the “blue” and “green” lights have already disappeared into the atmosphere, thus leaving only the “red” lights. So you see, the moon does not change color, in reality, we just see the visible light in the atmosphere and attribute a color to it. This can happen at any time, not just on the days when the moon is in its full phase. While the Algonquin were certainly correct in some respects, time and technology have proven their theories partially erroneous.

I've run the Boston Marathon 6 times before. I think the best aspects of the marathon are the beautiful changes of the scenery along the route and the warmth of the people's support. I feel happier every time I enter this marathon.

—H. Murakami

GAEL WINDS 2013 THE LEGACY OF HUGO CHAVEZ Hugo Chavez’s legacy is as complicated and complex as he himself. What is certain is that his legacy will have lasting consequences in Venezuela, South America, and the Global forum. I was fortunate enough to have a firsthand look at Venezuela during the first half of Chavez’s 15 years of power. My father, who hails from this oil rich South American nation that boarders the Caribbean Sea, Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana, made it his goal to show me his native land. I saw the good and the bad, from the breath taking sight of Angel Falls to the sorrowful glances of poverty in the barrios and in the villages of the indigenous people. All around me I could see the complexities of the nation and of its leader.

One monumental change that Chavez brought about was focusing on the poor, and those who, before his time, were never politically involved and, were ignored by politicians. The best

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By Yaroslav Jakymec

example of this change came about when my father took me to a village where the indigenous people of Venezuela lived as their ancestors did, in huts that were built on poles above a body of water. I learned how Chavez was the first president to ever visit the village. In his Bolivarian Revolution, Chavez focused on the average person, and increased Government spending in Education and Healthcare, which has enamored him with the lower classes.

However, a regrettable and indisputable fact is that the economy of Venezuela is dependent on oil, since it is one of largest exporters of oil in the world. If the price of oil goes down, so does the Venezuelan economy; lately the economy has not been doing so well. In efforts to rally supporters and to distract people from economic problems at home, Chavez has used the United States as a scapegoat.

He was known for rants against the “Yankee Imperial-

ists,” and former President Bush, or “the devil” as Chavez referred to him. Caracas, the country’s capital, is ranked the sixth most dangerous city in the world by the Citizen’s Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice in Mexico. This is the reason that I have not been able to visit Venezuela in the past few years.

The most recent Venezuelan elections were held on April 14th. Voters narrowly elected Chavez's handpicked successor as president in an extremely close special election. Nicolas Maduro defeated opponent Henrique Capriles by only about 300,000 votes. The margin was 50.8 percent to 49.1 percent. While we hope that Maduro will improve U.S.-Venezuelan relations and build a safe, prosperous country that can be another ally in our fight for freedom and peace around the world, this does not seem likely.

LADY GAELS SOFTBALL: BETTER THAN EVER After a modest 3-3 start, Coach Entwistle has the Lady Gaels on a hot streak.

The team has won six straight games and has raised their record to 9-3 on the season.

The team has gotten strong pitching from sophomore Molly Feeney and strong hitting up and down the lineup. In particular seniors Nicole Alleva, Rachel Entwistle, Kaela Fields, Patrice

Grande, and Gabby Rosado have all been major offensive contributors. The Gaels have six games remaining including four league games and two tough nonleague games against Mahopac and Ursuline. Please come and support the team as they finish up their season and get ready for sectionals.

By Nicole Alleva

“Without God, democracy will not and cannot endure.” ― Ronald Raegan

GAEL WINDS 2013

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ONE DOWN, THREE TO GO In all honesty, I was a nervous wreck the day of freshman orientation. As I entered Kennedy, I was flooded with the sounds of eager voices of people my age and there was excitement in the air.

Kids were congregating, trying to find people to talk to. As everyone walked around and introduced themselves, we all became more acquainted with one another. I thought orientation would be an awkward experience, but making friends was easy and the administration welcomed our freshman class with open arms.

As the school year is winding down, my perspective on high school has changed immensely. In eighth grade, I was unsure of what to expect in high school, which made it seem a bit intimidating but exciting at the same time. Now, as freshman year is coming to an end, I have had great experiences gained immense knowledge by being at Kennedy for just a year.

I have learned the positive effects of hard work and dedication, the values of friendship, and Christian ethics that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life. Being in all honors classes, the work can become a bit overwhelming at times, but no one said that chasing dreams is easy—besides, I am always up for a challenge. Kennedy has strengthened me and expanded my intellectual knowledge as well as

By Emma Berry

expanding my social interactions; coming from a small parochial grade school nestled in the heart of Dutchess County, the student body was modest.

Even though Kennedy does not have an overwhelmingly large student body, I come in contact with more people and meet new people every day.

Freshman year has been a new chapter in my life and a new adventure that I have experienced. I have also learned that life isn’t all about chasing numbers. What does it matter that I scored two points away from perfect on a bio test, or that my GPA is one point away from being on the president’s list? I have come to terms with the fact that we are each more than our accumulative grade point average—what really matters is that we do well while still remaining happy with ourselves. Although it took most of the year for me to realize this, I am less stressed out about every little detail and every little test. It is not worth stressing out about these things because sometimes they just aren’t worth all the negative energy we devote towards them. The key is being happy with yourself – this means trying your hardest without making yourself sick.

I have also gained experience by taking the train to and from school every day. The first day it was another totally new adventure that I faced. By

now, it is become routine, but I still enjoy the train rides every day. Commuting to school can sometimes be a bit tiring, but it is easier to get through each trip with the friends I have made on the train.

I have formed many friendships throughout the year in every aspect of what I do; in band, in my classes, in sports teams, on the train, and even during lunchtime. At the beginning of the year, making friends was one of my biggest fears. Coming from a small school, I had very close friends that I did known for eight years, and it was scary thinking that I was going to have to face every day without them. However, I have made a lot of new friends that I hold very dear to my heart, and I hope next year to make even more friends. I have learned the balance between the saying “make new friends, but keep the old.” Friendships are important to have throughout your high school career (or any time in your life for that matter) to help you through tough situations. Whether it is just getting through the day or some advice about “that boy,” friends are always there to give a helping hand.

One year down, three to go. Approximately twenty days of school left till summer and about 1,010 days until graduation, but who is chasing numbers?

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

—Nelson Mandela

CONTACT US SEND ALL INQUIRIES TO

gaelwinds @kennedycdatholic.org

Editor: Kate Nowinski Managing Editors: John Davin and Nicole Alleva Copy Editors: Nowinski, Noelle Torre, and Stephanie Ferreira Contributors: Nowinski, Frasco, Liberati, Sniffen, Neithardt, Jakymec, Berry

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