Gael Winds, December 2012

FALL ISSUE

GAEL WINDS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

TEACHER

2

FEATURE

HISTORY OF THE GAEL

2

COLLEGE BOUND

4

MY FRESHMAN

3

EXPERIENCE

SPORTS WRAP UP

6

MOVIE

7

REVIEW

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

 Hurricane Sandy by Gabbi D’Amato  College Bound

by Nicole Alleva

DESTRUCTION THY NAME IS SANDY The damage done by Super Storm Sandy was unprecedented. As the storm blew in on October 28th and the tide rose with the full moon, New Yorkers began to realize the true magnitude of devastation they would be dealing with. While winds raged and trees fell in upper Westchester, flood waters from the sea swell and high tide crept onto the burrow of Staten Island, slowly consuming block after block and ultimately putting most of the island under water.

Monday, November 19 , Fr. Vaillancourt, John Brabazon, Natalie Burke, Ryan Empson Shannon Spillane, and I traveled down to Staten Island to donate over $3,000 to St. Joseph by the Sea High School and over 1,000 non-perishable food items to a local food pantry. In the high

By Gabbi D’Amato

school alone, forty students have lost their homes due to Sandy.

Many of those who did not lose their homes were still without power, nearly three weeks after the storm. The money we donated will aid in beginning the rebuilding process.

Some homes built before the installation of flood codes have been so ravaged by Sandy that they are beyond the point of restoration. Despite losing their homes and cars, these people are grateful that they did not lose a family member or friend.

th

Seeing devastation through a TV screen is nothing compared to observing it from fifty feet away. After we stopped at the high school, Father took us to a food pantry near his first parish.

Continued on page 3

KCHS’S PAJAMA GAME The Kennedy Catholic Players have announced the upcoming spring musical, “The Pajama Game.” There are many ways to get involved in the play from acting, stage crew, pit band, to costumes, and more. See Mrs. Boston, Mrs. Giordano, or Mr. Tieber for more information reguarding the play.

GAEL WINDS 2012

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T E A C H E R F E A T U R E By Yaroslav Jakymec and Brendan Liberati Gael Winds would like to welcome Mr. Mardit to the Kennedy Catholic family. Mr. Mardit grew up in the Northern Westchester area and was first inspired to become a teacher in high school. He graduated from SUNY at Geneseo and North Carolina State and has taught on the graduate school level. The science department is thrilled to have a new member. With addition of Mr. Mardit, Kennedy can

now offer a new variety of science classes. Here at Kennedy, he is teaching nanotechnology, astronomy, and physics. Next semester he will be teaching medical technology and engineering courses.

By incorporating modern research into the subject matter, Mr. Mardit aims to bring the foremost of technology into the classroom.

On a personal note Mr. Mardit enjoys cycling and back-

THE HISTORY OF THE GAEL We’re all familiar with the word “Gael.” After all, we are the Kennedy Catholic “Gaels”, our mascot is a Gael, our sports apparel says Gaels, we chant, “Let’s go Gaels,” and we even have a banner in the cafeteria declaring we are the home of the Gaels. But what the heck is a Gael? Well, the word Gael carries with it a couple of meanings. In modern times a Gael is an Irish person who is interested in Irish culture, language and history. In fact, there is an Irish saying, “It is one thing to be Irish but another to be a Gael.” A modern Gael can also be a speaker of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, or Manx.

Historically, the Gaels were the people of the

packing. He has undertaken some amazing journeys, including a cross-country cycling trip from Los Angeles, California to Wilmington, North Carolina. He has already visited the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, and plans continue to explore the world in the future. We wish Mr. Mardit a pleasurable, industrious, and successful first year at Kennedy.

By Andrew DeMarco

Scottish highlands.

These people spoke an ancient form of the Irish language, Gaelic.

Starting sometime around the 5th century, the Gaelic language and culture spread from Ireland to the southwest coast of modern day Scotland. Up until the 1400s, the Gaelic language in Scotland was called Scottish. Around the beginning of the 16th century, the Gaelic language began to be referred to as “Irish,” while the lowland language, spoken by the Scots, became the “new” Scottish. The Isle of Man, an island located in the Irish Sea between the islands f G r e a t B r i t ain and Ireland within the British Isles, was heavily influenced by the Gaelic culture as well. Today, a large

part of the island’s cultural heritage is Gaelic.

Personally, I think it is very interesting to know that our school mascot has such an extensive history.

The Gaels were some of the first speakers of the Irish language, and their culture is still highly influential on The Isle of Man, as well as in Ireland. Now, knowing the history, we can all be proud of this title that comes along with acceptance to Kennedy Catholic, “A Gael.” Being a Gael is an honor. Here at Kennedy, we are all Gaels.

The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.

- Walt Whitman

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M Y E X P E R I E N C E A T K C H S By Rebecca O’Callaghan My first month of high school was a busy one.

Even though I went to public school my whole life, the transition into Kennedy was an easy one. Of course, on the first day I was nervous but the nerves went away once I made it around to all my classes and made new friends. Soccer definitely helped with the transition because I was able to talk to my teammates about the school and they gave me useful advice. I actually feel more connected to the school

because I am a member of the soccer team. September literally flew by because I was busy with my classes, friends and sports.

The football homecoming game was a great event to bring the school together. Even though the game was a tough one for the Gaels, it was just nice to be there and enjoy all of the school spirit. The homecoming dance later that night was a great way to finish the day by having fun with friends.

Both the color wars and the

DESTRUCTION (CONTINUED) The first thing I noticed was a field filled with remains of houses, which had been carried by the water and left there after the storm. The bus that had just been full of laughter was blanketed with a silence only shock can produce. However, this was nothing compared to what we saw next. Turning into the next block was like turning into the movie set of Twister, or maybe even a war zone.

Houses looked as if they had been blown apart; gaping holes replaced glass windows, allowing me to view completely destroyed living rooms. Across the street, part of a house placed

placed by the ruinous flood waters was sitting crooked in a waving field field of yellow overgrown grass. As the road continued on the sights got worse; scattered around the holes of the once standing homes were gutters, pieces of foundation, children’s toys, clothing, and, perhaps most haunting, staircases. Intact, upon one of the staircases was an American flag, torn and battered, but billowing in the breeze. Upon noticing this I smiled. It could have just been a coincidence, but maybe it was a sign that Staten Island will be rebuilt by the unity and American pride of which the flag represents.

pep rally the day before were a lot of fun. Competing against the other grades helped unite the freshmen class even though we were not very successful at winning. I have enjoyed my first month at Kennedy and I look forward to the rest of my time here. (Oh, and by the way I actually like the convenience of having to wear a uniform because it makes the mornings much easier to get up and out!)

Listen to the whisper of the Holy Spirit!

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C O L L E G E B O U N D By Nicole Alleva Navigating Through the College Search Process -From someone who is currently going through it One of the most daunting tasks for a high school student is choosing the right college, the place where they are going to spend at least the next four years of their life. Going through the college search process can seem overwhelming, especially if you do not have a detailed game plan. It is never too early to start planning your college search process. However, if you wait too late to start the process, you may end up scrambling at the last minute which could unfortunately lead you to not make the best decision possible.

Hopefully I can give you some insight and helpful tips that I have learned through my personal college search process to help make the experience easier for you.

1. The College Search Process In order for you to find the right college, I suggest that you research as many colleges and universities as possible. You can do this by attending the many college information sessions that are offered right here at Kennedy Catholic. These sessions give you the opportunity to meet and ask questions directly of representatives from numerous colleges and universities throughout the United States. You can also take advantage of some of the College Conferences that are offered in our area. The

recent Westchester College Conferences for example afforded the opportunity to meet representatives from over 200 colleges and universities. These representatives can answer your questions and provide you with information packets from their schools. For more information and to find out when the next college conference will be offered you can visit the WestchesterPutnam College Conferences website at www.wpccc.org. You can also e-mail them at info@wpccc.org.

Conferences such as the ones offered by WPCC will give you the opportunity to get information on all types of colleges, from large private and public universities to small liberal arts colleges. I believe it is essential for you to investigate a wide variety of schools before making any decisions. Larger Universities, public or private, will offer a wider variety of majors and minors to choose from. This may be a better option for you if you are undecided what you want to major in, and trust me; this is perfectly okay at this juncture in your life.

Smaller liberal arts colleges or more specialized technical colleges may be the answer for you if you are relatively sure what you want to major in.

Once you have done your research and narrowed down the colleges you are definitely interested in, it is time to start planning your college visits. We will discuss this process in more

detail in the section below.

2. The College Visit Process Once you have narrowed down your list of potential colleges to a reasonable number, it is time to start planning your campus visits. What is a “reasonable number”? For me that number was twelve or so colleges, for you that number may be more or less. Visiting the campus in person and taking a tour of the classrooms, dormitories and other facilities is the only way to know for sure if a certain college is the right fit for you. Also, many colleges will actually offer you a reduced (or free) application fee if you visit their campus in person.

Two options for visiting a college campus are private tours or participating in an official Admissions Office Open House. Both types of visits can be very informative; however, I personally feel that l learned a lot more about the school and campus life when I had a private tour of the college. If you do set up a private tour for the weekend, make sure that you will be able to see enough of the campus to help you make an educated decision. One college that I visited over the summer was very accommodating and set up a private tour for me on a Saturday. However, once I arrived there, I found out that many of the buildings on campus were actually closed.

No matter which type of visit you decide upon, make sure that you plan a private meeting with

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss -

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an admissions counselor when you are on campus.

This private meeting will give you the opportunity to ask a lot of important questions in a private setting.

You will also have the opportunity to get into very specific details regarding the programs and activities that you are interested in.

General information sessions are also a good way to get valuable information, but I have found that in a larger group setting, you may get a few individuals that hi-jack the sessions and monopolize all of the Q&A time. You may also not feel comfortable asking certain questions in a group setting.

Some important things to bring with you on your campus are a notebook, camera, your unofficial high school transcript, your resume, and your latest SAT scores. Some schools begin tours with information sessions. During these presentations, you should take notes on important topics such as financial aid, campus activities and organizations, as well as the college’s admissions calendar.

To help you remember the campus better and be able to compare different campuses to each other, I suggest taking lots of pictures.

I like to take pictures of the dorms, dining halls, and common areas on campus.

The transcripts, resume, and SAT scores are important if you plan to have that private meeting with an admissions counselor. Also, make sure to dress appropriately because a profes-

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sional appearance shows that you are serious about the school you are visiting.

While on tour, try interacting with your tour guide to see how they genuinely feel about the school.

Below I have included two checklists of important questions you should ask both your student tour guide and your admissions counselor.

Questions for your admissions counselor: 1. What is the student professor ratio for most classes?

2. Who actually teaches the classes - professors or teacher's assistants?

3. Are there internship opportunities?

4. Are there opportunities to study abroad for a semester? If so, are there any additional costs besides your normal tuition?

5. Does the campus offer a work study program?

6. Are scholarships merit based or needs based?

7. How to external/ private scholarships work? Do they reduce the cost of the parent’s contribution or do they reduce the amount the school will give?

8. What is the college’s policy on accepting AP/ College credits attained in high school?

Questions for your student tour guide: 1. Perhaps the most important question- How's the food?

2. What type of meal plans are available? Are there a lot of different venues for dining? Are the meals all you can eat?

3. What is social life like on

camps? What percentage of the students participate in Greek life?

4. What percentage of students live on campus?

5. Is on-campus housing guaranteed for all four years?

6. Then there's my father's favorite question- Are the dorms co-ed?

7. What Club or Intramural sports does the college offer?

Club sports can be a good alternative for students who want to continue to play sports competitively in college, but who do not have time to dedicate to a varsity team. Intramural sports can also be competitive at some college, but for the most part, they are a chance for meeting people on campus and having fun outside the classroom.

8. Can students keep a car on campus?

9. Does the college have a computer lab? Is printing free? Is there free wifi throughout campus?

10. Is there cable television hook up in the dorm rooms?

11. Is there a writing lab on campus?

Many colleges have a writing lab that is free of charge to students. The writing lab will review essay and term papers for grammatical accuracy and assist the student with improving the content of their papers.

“Education is the most

powerful

weapon

which

you can use to change

the

world.”

-Nelson Mandela

POST SEASON AT KCHS

By Kate Nowinski

Fall is always a particularly exciting time to be a Kennedy Gael, this year being no different. In addition to the storied girls’varsity volleyball team, both the boy’s and girl’s varsity soccer teams each excelled in the postseason.

Capturing the section title, this year’s varsity volleyball team has gone farther than any team has before. Under the tutelage of Coach Casey, the team was able to achieve an outstanding overall record of 17-5-0. Perhaps the most remarkable part of the girls’ success is the fact that the team lacks any seniors. This deficit is hardly a shortcoming; with the expectation to grow and improve as a team, the Kennedy program has great potential. Junior captains Anni Abbruzzese, Caroline Erb, and Blair Lenzi assure the fans that the best is yet to come and despite falling to Millbrook to end their postseason run, the Gaels are able to take away many positives. Middle hitter and blocker, Juliana Gullotta ’14, looks toward the future: “being able to win our section this year, I cannot wait to see what we will accomplish next season.”

Taking a cue from the volleyball team, the girl’s varsity soccer team was also able to excel this fall. In Coach Tieber’s first year as a varsity coach, the girls were undefeated in the regular season with an exceptional 6-0-2 regular season and 2-1-0 postseason record. Captains Allie Petrullo ’13, Kerri Durkin ’13, and Shannon Spillane ’13 led the Lady Gaels to their best soccer season in recent memory. The fans relished in the girls success and the fan support at their final playoff game, home against Alburtis Magnus, was gratifying. With a remarkable foundation to build upon, one can only imagine where Coach Tieber will be able to take the team in his second full season next fall.

It goes to say that Kennedy’s soccer program is extremely well-rounded; as the girls went on to achieve great success, so did the boys. Coach Pryschlak and captains John Davin ’13, Kwabs Frimpong ‘13, Matt Minniter ’13, and Hyun Kyo Jung ’13 provided the team with exceptional leadership and a great example for both sportsmanship and a high level of play. Achieving a 2-4-0 regular season record, the boys’ 1-1-0 postseason came to an end against Briarcliff. With a playoff exit many deemed too early due to faulty officiating, the boys will be out with a vengeance next season and the will to succeed will prevail.

Kennedy is extremely proud of all of their fall athletic teams. From volleyball bringing home the section title to both soccer teams playing deep into the postseason, the Gaels have set the proper foundation for seasons to come.

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Speilberg’s Lincoln is a PG-13 Hit

By Kate Nowinski Lincoln is precisely the type of film audiences have come to expect from Steven Spielberg. Creative yet historically accurate, the film flawlessly tells the story of the 16th President’s tumultuous final months in office. The film is extremely well casted, making it much more entertaining than one would come to expect of a historical drama. DanielDay Lewis had the remarkable ability to captivate the audience with his convincing portrayal of Abraham Lincoln. Almost a sure bet to win at least a few Academy Awards, the film holds the viewer’s attention from beginning to end, bringing a sense of warmth and humanity to a historically stoic American legend. Steven Spielberg’s latest masterpiece, Lincoln, deserves all the praise it has been receiving.

Editor: John Davin Managing Editor: Nicole Alleva

Rating: PG 13 Grade: A

Copy Editor: Stephanie Ferreira, Noelle Torre, Kate Nowinski, Nicole Alleva

Reporters: Alleva, DeMarco, Frasco, Jakymec, Kinghan, Liberati, Nowinski, O’Callaghan, Sniffen, Berry, Advisor: Mrs. McGown

CONTACT GAEL WINDS gaelwinds@kennedycatholic.org