April 2015 Paw Print Issue by paw print

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The Norwalk High School

Paw Print VOLUME IX, ISSUE III April 2015

“How the Bears make their mark”

Claire Rudden (’15) & Anthony Granchelli (’15) led the ribbon cutting of the “Little Bear Cafe.” With the help of their mentor Mrs. Dolan, the students, and administration. They celebrated the success of the this Project Explore independent study. Check out page 13 for the operating schedule.

Difference in Graduation Ceremonies Jordan Arena A&E Editor Every year, a graduation ceremony is held either on the well-known Testa Field or inside Norwalk High School. The ceremony consists of speakers from the Board of Education and the Mayor of Norwalk. The valedictorian speaks along with the salutatorian and the class president, whom announces the class gift. It seems to be quite long and lack student involvement to the peers watching in the stands. “Seeing my brother’s graduation two years ago, I barely remember much but what I do remember is that there weren’t many student speakers at all and it was quite long. I’m hoping with ours this year there is at least some change,” stated Ja-

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cob Alexander (’15). With concerned seniors expressing feelings about how graduation might turn out, it brings up controversy as to whether it should have more student involvement. “I would like the ceremony to be more student-run in the near future but it is not only my decision. It’s Mr. Roberts and the staff as a whole that makes the overall decision about the entirety of the ceremony and what it entails,” said A-House Master Mr. Reynolds. “Many of the staff members especially the guidance counselors like to be involved and have a role during the ceremony. By adding students it would definitely lengthen the time which is something we ultimately try to avoid, but more students being added is definitely being put into consideration,” con-

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tinued Reynolds. After talking with surrounding schools about how they go about with their graduation ceremonies, most of them had varied answers. “Each year we allow our graduating seniors to choose their keynote speaker. Our tradition has been that the speaker is a WHS alum that the students have deemed worthy of that honor,” stated principal of Westhill, Camille Figluizzi. Principal of Staples High School, John Dodig, explained that their ceremony used to be a little over two and a half to three hours long, but with him taking over the position he managed to get it down to no more than an hour and a half. He further explained, “We have something called Baccalaureate assembly which occurs the night before graduation. That is almost

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IN THIS ISSUE:

SP ORTS

all entertainment by seniors with a speech from a teacher selected by the senior class and a speech by the Salutatorian.” Whether it is an hour long or two hours long, many will agree that it all comes down to the moment ones name is called, acknowledging finally being a high school graduate is what matters the most.

What suggestions do you have for the NHS graduation ceremony?

Text PAWPRINT180 to 22333 once to join. Text any suggestions and some selections will be published in our June Issue!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS: News...............................2 Arts & Entertainment.......6 Feature...........................10 Editorial.........................13 Opinion..........................14 Sports.............................17

NEWS

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Student Spotlight: Harry Soriano

Students Just Like Us Kat Puccinelli Reporter

Monica Mercuri Business Manager There are hundreds of students at Norwalk High School that continute to make a difference everday. Whether it is playing a sport, participating in student government, creating a club, or helping others within the community, these students deserve to be recognized by their teachers and peers. Every issue, there will be a new student featured in this column who has impacted NHS in extraordinary ways. The “Student Spotlight” for the April issue is Harry Soriano (‘15). Harry Soriano, a senior at Norwalk High School, is involved in many different ways that impact the NHS community. This includes being a Varsity Soccer team player, a member of the Spanish National Honors society, and participating in the NHS PGP Fashion Show. The Spanish National Honors Society is a group of students from NHS who focus on Spanish language excellence and promotes an interest in Spanish studies, including convincing students to take spanish classes, especially AP. Harry has been a part of the Spanish Honors Society since it started last year. This is the first year there was an induction of members. “It is a fun experience since it’s made up of people I’ve had class with for most of my four years,” he replied. “What makes it special is the fact that we get to set the foundation for further generations and make it a fixture in the school.” In addition to this, Harry has been a key member of the NHS varsity soccer team for two years. NHS Varsity Soccer coach and Social Studies teacher, Mr. Laughton, has high remarks about Harry and his legacy at NHS. “I am very proud of him and the soccer program is proud of him as well.” Laughton continued, Harry has “hard work, integrity, character, and he deserves everything he gets.” Harry plans on attending Columbia University with a full scholarship in the fall, studying accounting and finances. The NHS community wishes the best of luck to Harry for his future at Columbia University and beyond.

They walk through the same crowded hallways, do the same piles of homework, sit in the same lunch room, and are done with school at 2:15 pm like the rest of the school; the only difference is they are deaf. Zarin Halim (’17) and Alejandra Garcia (’17) are two deaf girls that explain they struggle with fitting in at Norwalk High School. All students already have trouble fitting in in high schools, just imagine how high school is for Alejandra and Zarin. Usually people around Zarin and Alejandra are cautious and act like they are fragile and can break any minute. Zarin says she gets four common reactions to when she tells people she is deaf. “One, they’re surprised but don’t mind, they go on with the conversation like nothings wrong. Two, they laugh it off. Three, when they find out, they try to avoid me. Four, they say, ‘Oh, really? You don’t look like it,’ and I find that very offensive. Like is there suppose to be a certain way deaf people should look?” They wake up for school, try to get to NHS before 7:30 am, have a normal schedule, do homework, have friends, family, and even listen to music. Yep, even listen to music. They can listen to music by taking off

their hearing aids. They hear the beat of the song, the vibrations of the melody, but cannot really hear the lyrics of the song. They also have dreams of what they want to do in the future. Zarin wishes “to help people, do something with human rights, and maybe even build an empire,” she said with a laugh. Alejandra wants to study medicine in her future and, “find a better solution for deaf people.” Zarin and Alejandra have their interpreters follow them to class, and some people think those interpreters should not be following them around, that they take up more space in the classroom . Linda Fildes, Zarin’s interpreter, said, “We’re highly educated in the field of sign language. Our role here is to be the interpreter, we’re facilitators of communication. We allow communication to happen. And people think that our job isn’t hard and say, ‘Oh you’re just following her.’ No, there is a lot of work involved in following her.” These girls are like any other teenagers, but are treated like they are “aliens”. They may have a disability and being deaf may make their life a little harder, but they are just like others. Zarin said, “We are human beings, not aliens or robot machines, we are normal teenagers that are just like everyone in this school.”

Attendance Reform Shay-Lynn Larusso Reporter

Photo Credit: Sharon Cadden

The problem with students and school is actually showing up for class. Most students at Norwalk High School are aware of the attendance policy. However, most disagree with the regulation that three unexcused absences or eight absences in total result in denial of credit. Although the policy is made clear in ways such as distribution of the student handbook, the attendance policy is constantly being labeled as “flawed” because of the inconsistency when a rule is broken. Students are constantly trying to appeal “H’s,” leave campus, and skip class, and most of the time, nobody gets caught. “The students are aware of the policy, but a lot of us do not choose to follow it. For example, as long as you have a place to go and are not roaming the halls it is highly unlikely that you will be written up,” said Connor Madden (’15). However, some students feel as if the rules for attendance restrict them from freedom. “It seems as if the attendance policy was created behind the thought that most students in the school need to be strictly contained, and leaves no exception for the trustworthy students,” said Margo Libre (’15). Although the tight rules about leaving campus do

not stop some students, the ones who choose to do the right thing are often punished further. “The kids who are often five minutes late to class are punished more than those who skip the whole day and bring in a note later on,” Libre continued. Most NHS students are aware of the amount of absences allowed until a denial of credit notice is received. Although unexcused absences are always going to be an issue, some believe that the policy assumes the worst. “The H policy is ridiculous. Taking away credit for three unexcused absences is just nonsensical. They are taking away credit as a punishment for the chance that you are skipping, and that’s not fair to others. Credit should be based on comprehension of the class, not attendance,” argued Sam Patterson (’16). Not only are unexcused absences an issue, students are denied credit if they have eight collective excused absences as well, and most don’t agree with this. “Having an excused absence should not have a limit. We bring in notes and get passes for a reason and it is up to us to get the work we missed,” said James Muldowney (’16). Obeying attendance rules is always going to be an issue for high school students, but most agree that NHS’s policy needs adjusting.

NHS Students Peer Tutor in Library Rosalie Armatis Reporter

In order to make a difference, it is a good idea to take advantage of this after school activity. Peer tutoring club meets every day from 2:15 pm- 3:00 pm. Each tutor has a rotating schedule so therefore there are always different tutors available. Join peer tutoring to better help oneself or a fellow students education and possibly make new friends along the way.

Photo credits: Kaitlynn Arrendondo

Peer tutoring is one of the newest most talked about after school activities at Norwalk High School. According to Mr. Maragliano, the A-house intern, “Peer tutoring has been an after school activity that has been offered for years, but most of the time isn’t successful from year to year.” This year, Mr. Maraguileno and Mr. Joseph, B-house counselor, decided to take upon the privilege to direct peer tutoring along with Kaitlynn Arredondo (`15) who said, “I was asked last year to take the responsibility of organizing it.” So far, this year has been one of the most successful years for peer tutoring at NHS. With twenty four tutors offered, and many NHS students along with Naramke Elementary in need of being tutored, these members are busy and ready to help. This club is becoming highly effective and rewarding. In fact, the program is intended to become bigger and is welcoming all students of any grade to join

and take part. According to Mr. Joseph, “This new activity is welcomed to everybody, I am currently looking for a variety of tutors who have not only just taken AP or Honors classes.” Students do not have to be in the highest classes in order to become a potential tutor. In fact, if people are not in the highest classes the better it is, because sometimes students may be able to relate better to others who have not taken part in highly ranked classes.

April 2015

NEWS

Should AP Testing be Mandatory? Isabella Bruni Reporter May is just around the corner, meaning the thought of upcoming AP exams has began to crawl its way into students’ minds, a not so relaxing topic. This year especially, there has been talk and concern from students and teachers if students should be able to decide if they want to take their AP exams. Such discussion has led to the essential question if AP exams should be mandatory. AP student Juliet Bonsangue (‘16) says, “No. Some students have stress issues, might take 5 AP’s, are forced into taking them and might have money issues.” A passing grade for an AP exam is a 3, 4, or 5. The majority of colleges only accept 4’s or 5’s with the exception of some state schools still accepting 3’s, depending on the subject. Every school year the Helping Hands program aids those in need of financial assistance for exam costs using money raised by NHS staff and other donors. “Last year alone Helping Hands helped about 15-20 students with exam costs, so I don’t think money issues should factor into not taking the test”, said Helping Hands coordinator and Guidance Counselor Mr. O’Donnell. AP English Language teacher Mr. Simonsen believes the perception for AP exams is all wrong. “The perception for AP exams is looked at as what can I get out of it or gain

from it, college credit, extra credit in class...The motivation should be a challenge and prove to yourself what you can do. It needs to be looked at differently.” Principal Roberts, who happened to take AP US History, Physics and Calculus in high school, believes AP should not be all about the test, but the experience. He stated, “The point of AP is to try out a rigorous college course and then take the test later to see how you do. It reflects one's motivation as well as the school’s ability to offer these advanced courses. NHS/McMahon will probably never implement a policy for AP exams to be mandatory because they need to be paid for, but again it is about the experience and students know going into the class there is a test in May.” AP student Jenna Thomas (‘15) refutes this idea, “Certain classes like Comparative Politics aren’t offered in an honors or 8 class, so if you really want to take that subject you’ll have to go with AP. I personally am going to art school, so my college wouldn’t accept my APCP or AP English Lit exam credit. There are some students like myself that take AP’s because they like and want to be challenged on the subject matter, not to be tested all the time.” Ms. Morris, AP Psychology teacher, gives her take, “A teacher cannot force a student to take an exam. For not taking it I don’t believe their weighted credit should be taken away because a lot of the time they take the class to be at a higher level. But then again in college one class costs $3,000 and this test is only $90, so why not just take it?” “You might surprise yourself. You’ll never know how you’ll do unless you try it”, added AP US History teacher Mr. Laughton. Ultimately the decision for now is up to the student.

Advisory Changes in Length Monica Mercuri

Photo Credit: Courtney Tapper

Business Manager

Students and teachers were first exposed to the new advisory schedule the week of March 6th. This schedule, different from the previous, extends advisory from twenty-one minutes to fortyone minutes. Regular classes are cut even shorter on Friday’s with the longer advisory period. The decision was made following a student and teacher survey distributed to each advisory. The results concluded that teachers and students felt as if they did not have a sufficient amount of time to watch Bear Country News and do the required activity for the day. Mr. Reynolds, A-House Master, agrees with this schedule change, “BCN is a great part of advisory and we do not want to cut it out, but there was not enough time for activities. Sometimes the teachers want time to talk to kids, and it is important for certain groups.” The longer advisory allows time for staff and students to watch BCN, and complete the activity without feeling pressured to be done before the bell. This schedule also allows staff and students to have discussions amongst one another. Ms. Ireland, Math department chair and teacher at NHS, along with a team of a couple other teachers, came to the decision following a survey given

to each advisory. “In the survey results staff had stated that one of the benefits to advisory was to get to know their students and the shorter period did not allow time for this to happen.” Senior, Liza Colarossi (’15), enjoys the longer advisory period. “I like the longer advisory period and I just enjoy spending time in advisory. I also think it’s important to have discussions in advisory because it is important to talk with peers in your grade. It also helps to promote unity,” replied Liza. Meanwhile, junior, Johana Guiza (‘16) believes the increase is a waste of time. “I think it’s bad just because the activities are boring and no one really pays attention.” There will be a chance to reflect on the schedule towards the end of the year, that may impact the advisory schedules in the future. “We will distribute another survey at the end of the year and revisit how staff and students feel the new schedule is going,” continued Ms. Ireland. For the remaining of the year, this new advisory schedule is here to stay. Hopefully the benefits of longer discussions along with BCN, will make advisory a more valuable experience for the NHS community.

Miles Cooper: NHS Student Gem Priyanka Thakkar Reporter “It’s kind of a God-given talent,” said Miles Cooper (’16), referring to his artistic abilities. For those who do not know, Miles is an aspiring cartoonist who is a student here at Norwalk High School. One might have seen his drawings for the Hairspray posters, the fashion show posters, and even the Paw Print. Miles first started drawing cartoons in third grade. He began by drawing his cat named Shadow, and then over time he matured. “I started getting better and better and just made my way up here,” said Miles. Miles’ inspiration for his cartoons came from the popular TV show and cartoon Garfield. He said, “I adopted the style and put it into my own criteria.” When Miles is done with his drawings or cartoons, he uses the computer to perfect them. First he draws the picture with markers and pencils. Then he scans it and transfers it into photoshop. “I add brightness and add color around the image,” said Miles. “It takes three minutes to add colors and to crop the photo.” Miles will draw anything. He said, “If a little kid wants to be drawn with Spongebob,

I’ll draw him with Spongebob.” He appreciates when the school asks him to draw things for them. “It’s fun to get asked,” said Miles. When Miles is not drawing, he does various other activities. He likes to act, write, dance, and even do some stand up comedy. “If I am not drawing, I’m hanging out with my buddy James,” said Miles. He has even starred in the fall comedies here at NHS, such as Check Please and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Fifth Period. This artistic hobby of his has become a part of who he is. He works on it everyday and he is always drawing. When asked how much time he spends drawing he stated, “Honestly I can’t even keep track. It’s just something I am good at and I am not letting it go.” Miles is a very talented and diverse person. He sees himself in the future as someone famous, “sort of like a Hollywood producer.” When asked what words describe him he said he is “charming” and “funny”. Miles Cooper is a gem here at NHS. Hopefully he will continue to share his artistic talents for years to come.

NEWS

April 2015

Aylin Aristizabal Reporter In the past four years at Norwalk High School, fifteen students have joined the military. Joining the military is a physical, emotional, and mental sacrifice that requires hard work, exceptional courage, and strength. The military offers the chance to build up a person's resume while also teaching marketable, useful skills. The experience one gains from the military is very rewarding. “I think that students joining the military right out of high school is an opportunity. They’re taking advantage of an opportunity like I took when I left high school and joined the military.” said M.Sgt. Fessenden, an NHS Air Force JROTC instructor. The military offers a lot of opportunities such as travel, education and the chance to be part of something bigger. “During my career in the military I will be able to travel, jump out of airplanes, engage the enemy, and be a part of the deadliest fighting force that this country has to offer. That, to me, is a fulfilling career, but I’m also getting paid with benefits, so that helps too,” said senior Travis Turlis (‘15) who ships out to join the Army on August 10, 2015, “I wanted to join the military because I wanted to be a part of something that mattered.” Joining the military right after high school offers great opportunities for those who decide to take it. All of the military branches have academies. A study conducted by Forbes, explains that students who graduate from the U.S Naval Academy start off their career with a salary of $50,000. Students who join the academies of the Armed Forces also receive a free tuition, room and board, plus a monthly stipend. Admission into any of the branches respective academies is highly selective. Each Senator or Representative can nominate only two candidates per academy. The U.S Military also offers young soldiers a chance to skip up to two ranks. According to the Navy, students who successfully complete three years or more in JROTC may enter as an E-3, earning two times more money than an average E-1. Such is the case for senior Camilo Builes (’15), who ships out July 8th, of 2015 as an E-3 into the U.S Navy. Although the initial pay seems significantly low, there are added benefits. These benefits range from health insurance, to free housing and food. Many people decide that they are not ready for such a commitment after high school, are ready for it after college. College graduates who join the military have the opportunity to enlist as an officer, and with a higher rank.

Photo Credit: Aylin Aristizabal

NHS Students Enlist in the Military

Several of Norwalk High School’s Students Recruits in the JROTC Program

“I think that students could benefit if they could actually afford to go to college,” said JROTC instructor MSgt. Fessenden, he believes that students should “go to college prior to joining the military because then if they did that they could enter the military at a higher pay grade.” As of 2010, the pay for a new officer with less than two years of experience in the military was $31,863; for a soldier enlisted with a high school diploma and less than two years of experience, the pay was $16,794, a near $15,000 difference. “Deciding to join the Marines was a decision that didn't take much thinking for me because ever since I was ten I planned to join the military,” said Bill Chirinos (’15) who ships out to join the Marines on July 20th, of 2015. “A potential applicant should start talking to a recruiter during the summer of their junior year or at the beginning of the senior year.” said local Air Force recruiter SSgt. Russo, “I would say about 30-40% of the high school applicants I talk to end up joining the Air Force.” “I think it [JROTC] introduces them to what the military is somewhat like. However its not exactly what the military is like but it does give them a better understanding over someone who has never taken JROTC.” said MSgt Fessenden, “We are not here to recruit students into the military, we are here to make better citizens.”

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Daniel Bailon - U.S. Army Felia Moresca - U.S. Marines Thania Chavez - U.S. Navy THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO OUR COUNTRY! THE PAW PRINT WISHES YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK!

NEWS

April 2015

New Feminism Teen Employment Courtney Tapper co-editor in chief

Elise Sullivan Reporter

Beat the summertime blues. Teens who have a lot of free time over the summer often complain that they are bored. One way to change that is by getting a summer job. Summer jobs benefit teens by keeping them busy, productive, teaching them responsibility and providing a way to make money. Parents want their kids to learn these things and often get annoyed with having to pay for everything. Summer jobs can help teens learn Photo Credit: Elise Sullivan

The feminist movement has been largely misunderstood for quite some time and needs to be addressed. Feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Equality. Not overbearing female power or dominant status over males, but simply equal. The fight for women’s rights has been a long journey that may seem over, but it is very much alive today. Christine Byrne (’15) said, “It’s very important for gender equality to exist and for there to be equal opportunity for both men and women,” she continued, “I also really like to see empowered women.” While women now have the right to vote and serve in public office amongst other rights, women are still at a disadvantage to males in many ways. The difference in wages from males to females has always been evident. “I remember when I was younger hearing my mother talk about how she worked at a grocery for twenty years

and was not getting paid the same amount as male employees,” said social studies teacher, Ms. Dunn. She continued, “Since I have always been involved in contract jobs via unions I don’t experience wage differences as much as people, say, in the corporate world, would where they are constantly negotiating for salaries.” Michael Lyons, chairperson of the Norwalk Board of Education commented on the issue and stated, “I think all that is needed now is for women to work hard and persevere, and they can achieve anything in America that a man can,” he continued, “We are now in an era of female domination of higher education across all types of schools. That means that in the future, there will be more women college graduates than men, and soon thereafter more women graduates in law, medicine and other fields (law and medical schools are now split roughly 50-50).” The feminism movement is one that has been ongoing for years, and will continue in the years to come as long as women and men are not equal in all aspects.

how to save and spend money wisely. Lauren Madden (’15), a Norwalk High School student, has had a job at Robek’s in Norwalk since June 2014. “A big benefit of having a summer job is that you have a flow of money coming in, so you don’t have to constantly worry about not having enough money to pay for lunch or buy a friend’s birthday present,” Lauren said. There are other factors that go along with having a summer job, beginning with the application process. Graziano Ricci, owner of Romanacci’s, an Italian restaurant in Norwalk, suggests that students begin applying for a summer job in April. “Be sure to call ahead to schedule an interview date and time,” he said. “For the interview, come dressed as neat and professional as possible. I look for employees who have had job experience before, who are on time to work and never miss their shifts.” Teens need to be eighteen years old to get a job at Romanacci’s because they need to be old enough to serve alcohol, according to Graziano. There are many summer job opportunities for teens, including babysitting, working at day camps, restaurants and ice cream shops. Instead of sitting at home on Instagram this summer, get out in the world and start working.

Students “Sneak” on Their Phones Samantha Ricci Norwalk High School does not allow cell phones during school hours. Though the school used to be very lenient with the no cell phone policy, things buckled down when Principal Roberts arrived. No cell phones, not even at lunch. Though there is a strict no cell phone policy, students always find a way around the rules. Most students sneak their phone, ignoring the policy. “I catch way too many students a day.” Said Ms. Cossuto, French and German teacher. “What bothers me is that everyone knows the school rule. When I give warning after warning, and they still disobey the rule and disrespect me, I get so

completely followed at NHS. It states that for a first offense, a student gets his or her phone taken away, and has to pay a five dollar fine at the end of the day. Second offense it the same, but the fine raises to ten dollars. A third offense results in the phone being confiscated until the end of the year. NHS does not follow this policy due to the fact that in some cases students need their phones, and confiscation until the end of the year could be a hassle, if the phone is the student’s only way to communicate with their parents. “At the end of the day there’s nothing wrong with the phone.” Added Principal Roberts. “It’s when and where you use it. It’s like a hat, there’s nothing wrong with

Photo Credit: Amanda Serpa

Reporter

frustrated.” “It’s pretty tempting when you hear your phone vibrate in your pocket,” said Edona Jakaj (’17). “Your first instinct is to take it out and reply...but we’re obviously not allowed to do that. If students sneak them, some aren’t slick at all. Like if you’re going to use your phone, don’t make it obvious.” Though there is a class in progress, student’s still feel the need to use their phones. “The cell phone rule is a board policy.” Said Principal Roberts. “It’s in the handbook that the students sign. If we follow one rule we have to follow the other rules, and this is just one of the rules. If a teacher sees a student with a cell phone, they are supposed to take it away and send it to the house office.” The policy for cell phone usage is not

it, but we need to be able to identify you.” The cell phone policy is looked at as just another one of the rules that needs to be followed, and should not be superior to all of the other rules.

ISIS Continues Path of Destruction Ryley Mullins Reporter The Islamic State or ISIS, is a terrorist group similar to Al-Qaeda that uses violence and tyranny to control populations. Boasting an army of over thirty thousand strong, ISIS possesses more military power than some countries. In addition to their manpower, ISIS has the luxury of being funded by an income of millions a day; thanks to the captured oil fields in and around Iraq and Syria. They have no shortage of small and large arms, making them more than just a rag-tag terrorist cell. The threat of ISIS is a reality. They claim to have agents in most western countries that are ready to carry out attacks at any time. For some people, the danger that ISIS presents makes them worried. “If these agents are real, then I feel unsafe. I would try to keep my family and myself protected if anything happened,” said Ja-

mal Polite (’15). The most alarming factor regarding ISIS is just how brutal their methods of terror can be. From publicly releasing videos of high profile hostages being killed to burning groups of rebels alive in front of their villages, it seems that there is no line that ISIS will not cross. ISIS also funds their actions through money taken as ransom for prisoners that they hold. Many of the hostages have been journalists, making the areas of ISIS influence a dangerous place for journalists who aspire to report on the ground in Iraq and Syria. Two reporters were executed on camera after their governments failed to pay the excessively high ransom. One of them was a successful Japanese war journalist Kenji Goto, who had originally gone into ISIS territory in order to rescue his friend. “Some journalists believe that getting the story out is the most important thing, they know what they’re getting into,” said

Mr. Karl, a social studies teacher at Norwalk High. ISIS has an ability to control the media. They have Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube accounts dedicated to the spread of terror and propaganda. Some of their videos, which include brutal recordings of executions, have millions of views online. “They (ISIS) are extremists who have grasped the concepts of media and have embraced them for their use,” continued Mr. Karl. Over fifty-five hundred people have died in Iraq because of ISIS. Most of them were Christians who were targeted for their faith. ISIS’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is at the center of this bloodshed, because

as a staunch Islamic fundamentalist he does not agree with Christian beliefs. He and his chain of command believe in an Islamic State of influence that stretches across the globe. Many international military and diplomatic entities are struggling to find a solution for the problem that ISIS presents, but it remains to be seen if they will be able to cease the bloodshed that ISIS perpetrates.

A&E

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CW’s The 100 Aylin Aristizabal Reporter The CW’s proclaimed TV series The 100 is gone, but not for long. The season finale of this post apocalyptic sci-fi series on March 11th, left us all thinking, did that really just happen? This show takes life ninety seven years into the future after a nuclear apocalypse that wipes out nearly all of mankind. In this production, the characters survive by living on a spaceship called, “The Ark” that orbits around the earth. The 100 refers to the 100

Photo credit: www.dizmag.com

“criminals” that are cruelly sent to earth to experiment whether or not the oxygen level, and radiation are habitable. The production of this show is not afraid to get down and dirty. This show contains everything people love: action, danger, suspense, excitement, exhilarating villains and strong female lead characters. The 100 criminals do everything right, however, things tend to go terribly wrong. This is due to the fact that they are not the only people on the ground, even though that is what everyone believes on the ark. These young adults take viewers on adventures to places they could never imagine. They go through situations that are impossible to believe. The strong acting and diverse cast makes this show everything a person wants in a show. The strong character development, and multiple plots this series contains is an absolute absolute pleasure to watch. It focuses on strong relationships between characters, but not necessarily on love. Season three is set to have bigger plotlines and more destructive villains. Season three will blow the viewers mind and keep them on their toes.

Insta Famous Dog

Dan Squicciarino News Editor If someone is not following Marnie the Dog on Instagram or Twitter, they are doing something wrong with their life. Over the last year, Marnie the Dog has quickly risen to fame, becoming one of the most popular dogs on the Internet. The quirky Shih Tzu now has over 70,000 followers on Twitter, and it is easy to see why: she is adorable. Marnie was not always the world famous dog she is today. In August of 2012, she was found dirty and battered on the streets of Connecticut by animal control. She went unclaimed and was moved to a shelter, where she was adopted four months later. At the time she was blind in one eye, had over ten decaying teeth, and was very sick. Luckily, she was nursed back to health by her new owner and is now a healthy and happy dog. After her owner began posting pictures

of her on social media she quickly gained attention, becoming world famous within a matter of months. Marnie has accounts on several popular social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. She posts several times a day, and her cute pictures are widely circulated across the Internet. She has even taken pictures with famous celebrities like Larry King and Ed Sheeran. Marnie is perhaps most famous for her quirky head tilt. This is likely a result of Vestibular Syndrome, which Marnie was suspected of having before she was rescued. Thankfully, Marnie was able to recover fully and is now very healthy. She is also known for her tongue, which hangs out of her mouth almost all of the time. This is not due to any past complication or disease. Marnie just has an adorably long tongue. It is impossible not to feel happy when viewing pictures of this incredibly cute dog. Marnie has brought smiles to the faces of thousands of people across the world, and is definitely worth following.

The Secret of Kells: Anime Nicole Ilagan “The Secret of Kells” was an enchanting and jaw dropping animated movie with its unique animation style and cinematography. It was directed by Tomm Noore and Nora Twomey and they took the audience back to the medieval times where Brendan, the young hero, who was voiced by Evan McGuire, was locked behind walls due to the upcoming attack of the barbaric raids that was going on outside of the walls. And since Brendan is a hero discovering himself, he was assigned to gather stinky berries to create ink for the book he was chosen to finish. In their journey, the animation showed very symmetrical scenes. When Brendan was cautiously walking through the for-

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Dragon 2,” “Big Hero 6,” and so forth. The cinematography in the film was indescribably unique. On certain scenes, let’s say the months and years that has passed after escaping the barbaric attack, it showcased three panels on the screen. Each one has different sceneries and all was still. The only ones moving were the characters. Fun Fact: The number three actually symbolizes life which is probably why the directors chose to do it this way. Another good point to point out about this movie is that the animators used borders on specific scenes like flashbacks or explanations. For example, the scene where Brendan’s friends explain about Brother Aidan’s book. The movie had borders that stood out from the scene. It did not blend into the scene. Plus, the border had many symbols containing it. They were intriguing and very interesting ones. However, the movie does not have an

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est, the trees were similar to each other by having the front trees larger on both sides and the back trees smaller. The path the travelers were on was clearly visible and straight. Everything was balanced and organized which is how one could define symmetrical. Then, to top off the overall scene, the very little details were added in. There were lines on the trees to show how old it was; simply curly tall grass; a huge deformed rock on one side; and random dark shaded green areas to represent moss. However, it was not all symmetric. The atmosphere in the deeper side of the forest was asymmetrical. Everything, including the branches that were naturally not too curly, are curled like floral in lace. There were more complex shapes and the colors were more vibrant and lively. It is a good idea to mention too that this film was handdrawn and it was as beautiful as any CGI movie; such as “Frozen,” “How to Train a

excellent ending. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger because it left a lot of lingering questions. This cliffhanger did not affect the fact that “The Secret of Kells” did not deserve the Oscar nomination and the awards it had won, though. It was beautifully and bizarrely crafted with reasonable color palettes, music selections and so forth. Give “The Secret of Kells” a try because it deserves to be recognized for it’s gorgeous, breath-taking and interesting animation and cinematography.

Junior Prom

Graduation

Senior Prom

June 17th

May 16th May 30th

A&E

April 2015

Shay-Lynn Larusso Reporter McMahon is inviting the town of Norwalk to “be their guests” for their spring musical this year. Friday, March 6th, Beauty and the Beast at Brien McMahon high school opened. The show’s cast consisted of around fifty students, as well as a student run pit and tech crew. The task of presenting a full musical with mostly inexperienced high school actors is a difficult one, and McMahon did a decent job in doing so. Due to the recent weather hazards, the cast lost a lot of rehearsal time, but they somehow pulled it together at the last minute and ended up with an awesome show. However, some of the audience members expected more from what was produced as the final product. “The effort of having an outstand-

ing show was there but the outcome did not turn out as well as they hoped for. But overall it was a great performance and I really enjoyed it,” said Skylar LaRusso (’16). Norwalk High School is known for their outstanding spring musicals and talent in the music department. The two high schools have a constant rivalry with each other about the quality of performances. Although last year McMahon gave them a run for their money with their production of Les Miserables, this year’s production crew of Annie is determined to pull through with an amazing outcome. The city of Norwalk is lucky enough to have two wonderful high schools with such reputable music departments and spring musicals. Beauty and the Beast was certainly a performance to remember from their show stopping production numbers, heartfelt actors, beautiful singers, all the way up

Troubled Lines Courtney Tapper co-editor in chief

Many people know the song “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams, but many may not know the trouble the song is currently facing. The popular 2013 song that was once at the top of the charts, is now facing copyright infringement charges. These charges were brought by the family of the late R&B singer Marvin Gaye. After a long court battle, the jury finally decided its ruling. They ruled that “Blurred Lines” copied elements of the late artist’s 1977 song “Got to Give It Up,” and required that Williams and Thicke pay $7.3 million to Gaye’s heirs for copyright infringement. In a statement to the Associated Press, the Gaye family commented, “With the digital age upon us, the threat of greater infringement looms for every artist. It is our wish that our dad's legacy, and all great music, past, present, and future, be enjoyed and protected, with the knowledge that adhering to copyright standards assures our musical treasures will always be valued.” All artists, regardless of age, gender, or genre have all received inspira-

tion from another artist or group. It is simply impossible to write a song that does not sound somewhat like another song already produced. There are only so many note and melody combinations possible. The song was not intended to copy Marvin Gaye, but to bring joy to listeners of the 2013 tune. “The keys are different. The tempo is different. The structure is different,” Robin Thicke’s attorney, Howard King, said at the time, “So from a legal standpoint, they’re not the same song.” Now that the trial is over, the Gaye family is pushing for the judge to "correct" the jury's verdict to add Universal Music, Interscope Records and Star Trak Entertainment to the list of infringers. Additionally, the judge is also being asked to set aside the jury's decision to give Clifford Harris, Jr. (more commonly known as T.I.) a pass and hold him accountable too. They also want to stop the distribution of the song as a whole. For those who want a future in the music industry, be careful as to where inspirations for songs arise from and that they are as original as possible.

to the final bow.

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Be McMahon’s Long-Awaited Guest!

Japanese Anime Nathaniel Lewis Reporter After watching Spirited Away, a Japanese animated fantasy film by Studio Ghibli anime studio, written and directed by famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, this film is nothing but a feast for the eyes. Debuting on July 20, 2001 it is the highest grossing Japanese movie of all time, reeling in a whopping three hundred and thirty million dollars. It was the first foreign film in history to open in the United States having already made more than two-hundred million dollars. Miyazaki tells the story of Chihiro Oginoa, a ten-year-old girl who is moving to a new neighborhood and accidentally stumbles upon the spirit realm. After the evil witch Yubaba transforms her parents into pigs, Chihiro takes a job working in Yubaba’s bathhouse to find a way to free not only herself but her parents and return back to the mortal world. The film has won countless awards, including an academy award for best animated film in 2003. It also won Japan’s Acad-

emy prize for picture of the year also in 2003. The aesthetic of this film is breathtaking. The matte finish of the film gives viewers a crisp, textured look, but still keeps its roots of having the anime “feel” to it. The scenery is impeccable and immaculate as Miyazaki makes every setting feel as though the viewers themself is in it. Miyazaki really brings out his backgrounds with vivid detail, whether it being Chihiro running through a flower garden or riding on the back of a mystical dragon, other anime movies cannot compete. Whether you love anime or have never seen it, Spirited Away is the perfect anime movie for viewers of all ages. It takes you on an adventure that no other anime does. Spirited Away is here to stay.

Attention to All Superhero Lovers Kat Puccinelli Reporter

Attention Superhero lovers: there is a new superhero in town and he goes by the name Flash. The Flash is probably one of the best new Superhero show as of right now. It is based on the DC comics so the show somewhat follows the original story line. When it was first going to be officially on the air, many thought it would be a failure so they put out a pilot on October 7, 2014. Since then, it had became the second-most watched premiere in the history of The CW. It received generally positive reviews from critics and won the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite New Tv Drama” in 2014. The first season of The Flash had over four million views on every episode aired. Now putting aside the facts, here is the obvious. Grant Gustin, the young man who plays the Flash, is the ideal Flash, he has a demeanor that captured the spirit

of the lovable loser-turned-superhero character, which is what brings this show alive. Flash's original story has everything people would expect. Flash is somewhat like Spider-Man, he is an underdog, when the audience first see him, he is being beat up by bullies.

Just like Spider-Man, he learns responsibility early. "It's better to have a good heart than fast legs," Flash’s mother tells him when he was just a boy, in episode one. Just like Batman, he loses his parents: His mother dies when he’s young and his father is in jail. One of the many great things about The Flash is less talking, more running. Meaning that instead of the show explaining characters and having long conversations, it has more action. In place of all that boring dialogue more explosions, fights and scenes of Flash learning his abilities come to place. The evidence presented is why The Flash is the best Superhero at the moment. So Superhero lovers, catch up on season one, and wait anxiously with many others for March 17th to come. Every episode starts with the same monologue that explains the show. So if people haven’t seen it, they will be instantly catched up.

A&E

April 2015

Pretentious Music Snobbery Ryley Mullins Reporter Over the past few years, since around 2010, it seems that the “indie” genre of music has crept its way into the mainstream music channels. Most likely the result of the success of bands like Mumford & Sons and Foster the People, folk and “indie” have become major genres as of late. This is good, because a more diverse musical mainstream results in a larger selection of highly polished albums, but there are some negatives that also come into play. The worst thing is that most everyone has become pretentious about the kind of music they listen to. People are just as close minded about their musical selection as they always have been. But this resurgence of folk music and the new influx of alternative music has led some people to believe that because the music they listen to has even the slightest amount of originality put into it, it makes their taste superior.

Apparently, just by listening to one Bon Iver song and half of Kendrick Lamar’s newest record makes a person the absolute authority on good music. This is very confusing, because anyone who claims to be a music connoisseur should not limit themselves to just one style or sound. A true appreciator of music, or of any art really, is open to new styles or sounds and does not pass over potentially great music just because of some preconceived notion they might have about the artist or the genre. A person who seeks to further their musical tastes should challenge themselves by listening to styles or artists that they are not familiar with. It’s easy to fall into the trap of pretentiousness, but this sort of snobbery really should be avoided at all costs. Exclusively listening to a genre or artist solely because they,”actually care about the music,” or some other insufferable reason is just as bad as only listening to the radio.

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Great Musicians to Watch Out For Dan Squicciarino Photo Credit: www.google.com

Artists going clockwise: Logic, Leon Thomas, Jon Bellion

News Editor Musicians are incredible people. These artists can make us smile, make us cry, stimulate our minds, and bring us together as people. Unfortunately, because music is a rather large industry, many extremely talented artists do not receive the attention they deserve. If you’re looking in the right places, however, you can find great artists that have yet to enter the limelight. Jon Bellion is one of the most unique artists of our generation. Dedicated to writing, recording, producing, and mixing all of his songs himself, his music is a stylistic fusion of old school pop and modern hip-hop. His unnaturally smooth voice is enough to immediately draw you in, and his soaring verses and catchy choruses can easily get stuck in your head. Since 2013 he has released three projects, all of which can be downloaded for free on the Internet. Fun fact: Job Bellion has written many great songs for other artists as well, the most recent being the hit song “Trumpets” sung by Jason Derulo. Hip-Hop artist Logic has had a large Internet following for years, and is finally starting to gain widespread popularity. Before he released his first album in late 2014, he released four free mixtapes over the span of four years. Each of his songs is

meticulously crafted in such a way that is nothing short of perfection. Unlike so many other hip-hop artists today, his lyrics are actually deep and meaningful, revealing details about his rough upbringing and his personal thoughts on racism and other important topics. Although he started out recording tracks in his friend’s basement, he has since signed with Visionary Music Group and Def Jam Records. You can hear the increase in production value with each of his subsequent projects, culminating with his incredible debut album Under Pressure. Leon Thomas is one of today’s most outstanding R&B artists. Many people may know him for the role he played on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, but since then he has moved on to bigger and better things. His two mixtapes contains a wide variety of musical styles, combining incredibly well produced beats with superb songwriting and solid vocals. His lyrics have a way of flowing naturally throughout each song, a skill that few songwriters can truly say they have mastered. He has also done production and vocal work for other artists as well, most notably for his friend Ariana Grande on her debut album Yours Truly. It is an unfortunate reality that many excellent artists go undiscovered amidst the massive abundance of music on the Internet. If you look hard enough, however, your efforts just may be rewarded. Artists like Jon Bellion, Logic, and Leon Thomas are standouts in their respective genres, and are definitely worth a listen.

Bands Are Deemed Inappropriate Samantha Ricci Reporter Debates about bands are happening all over the world. This is not a debate on whether what band is good or not, but about what band is appropriate or not. Many people protest negative and vulgar songs/bands being played on the radio. They think the lyrics have a negative effect on people, and are too inappropriate to be played to the public. “Take Me to Church,” a popular song by Hozier struck the attention of many people. Not because of the catchy tune, but because of the meaning. It did not take long for people to decipher that the song is about homosexuality, and not being accepted by religions, because of this, many do not like this song being played on the radio. My Chemical Romance, known as an American Rock Band, are always looked down upon by adults. Most parents do not like to listen to their “loud” music which has no meaning, but little do they know that this band is not popular for screaming into a microphone. Almost all of their songs hit deep with struggling teens. MCR’s hit song “Disenchanted” is about looking back on life, realizing you could have made it better. “Famous

Last Words” is about depression and anxiety. “Na Na Na” makes fun of today’s society and pop music being meaningless. “Sleep” describes a person with night terrors, telling listeners that the terrors are more serious than anyone thinks. “The Kids From Yesterday” is about accepting the fact that everyone has to grow up. Before judging bands based on the volume of tone, or risky lyrics, think about it. “Talk Dirty to Me” will not help a teen through depression or loneliness, nor the majority of the songs that are played on the radio. Teens need songs that they will connect to. They need something that makes them say, “hey, maybe I’m not alone.” Many risky songs simply point out things that are issues, and adults decide not to like the songs because they can not accept that there are issues. Teens struggle, they have dark thoughts. These songs are other people’s feelings. Their diaries poured out into a three minute song that can be bought for a dollar and twenty nine cents on iTunes. Meaningless songs written by a record company are what should be banned. One Direction telling every girl they love them tricks pre-teens into thinking that they have a chance with a guy worth a billion dollars. Society sells lies, and lesser known bands that have meaningful songs, who do not care if they get number

one on iTunes, or get nominated for awards, are what should exist. It is the junk that record companies throw out that should be protested.

April 2015

The He’art’ of NHS

Johanna Augustin (’15)

Maeve Bustell (’16)

Marguerite Mazza (’15)

Angelica Rombout (’15)

Sabrina Hiller (’15)

Victoria Harriott (’15)

Nicole Landmesser (’15)

Jade Liguori (’16)

Kyle Pisacrita (’16)

Max Morenburg (’15)

The Art Show

Michaella Lignella (’15)

Come Support the NHS Art Program NHS Art Show: May 26th, 27th & 28th open daily during school hours. Reception: Wednesday, May 27th 6-8pm only.

Jennifer Morlot (’16)

Milena Alvarez (’16)

Genesis Hernandez (’15)

THE HUNGER GAMES

6TH ANNUAL DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

Special Thanks To...

All Smiles Dental, the Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club, the Dodgeball Committee, the coaching staff, Helping Hands, Meals on Wheels, all participators, and all those who came to support Photo Credit: Monica Mercuri, Sharon Caddon, Emely Chen

BY THE NUMBERS

-Over 400+ people watched and participated -This was the 6th Year of The Dodgeball Tournament -A record of 30 teams dodged for the victory -$16,882 was raised in donations -$9,000 was donated to Meals On Wheels -$7,000 was donated to Helping Hands -42 boxes of pizza were eaten (donated by the National Honorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Society) -0 student injuries were reported

NEWS

April 2015

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Norwalk High School 23 Calvin Murphy Drive Norwalk, CT (203) 838-4481

The Paw Print would like to thank all journalism students for their work in the creation of the paper.

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Editors In Chief Emely Chen Courtney Tapper ______Designers______

News Editor Daniel Squicciarino A&E Editor Jordan Arena Opinion Editor Amanda Serpa Business Manager Monica Mercuri Staff Writers

Aylin Aristizal Rosalie Armatis Isabella Bruni Lorensa DeCastro Lilliana Garcia Nicole Ilagan Shay-Lynn Larusso Nathaniel Lewis Ryley Mullins Kat Puccinelli Samantha Ricci Elise Sullivan Priyanka Thakkar Artist Miles Cooper

POLICY: Our newspaper reserves the right to edit all submissions for space and clarity. All entries must include name, year in school, and phone number for verification. The opinions expressed in the opinion section are those of the writers, not the entire staff.

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Open during lunches for faculty and staff ONLY on Days 1.4.8 Students are ONLY allowed on Days 1,4,8, after 1:30 pm. Our Café Menu, daily specials, events and hours of operation can be seen at http://teacherweb.com/CT/NorwalkHighSchool/CulinaryArts/apt4.aspx

Senior year is coming to an end and for many seniors that means it is time to not care anymore. High school is becoming just another memory and soon we will all have to face the harsh reality of the future. Ever since I was a little kid I yearned for this day, a day where I am finally independent. Now that I am here, it is hard to tell if I am making the right decisions or if I am truly ready to step into this world of adulthood. As any other teenager, there was one point in my life that I thought all adults were wrong, and I was right. I never stopped to realize that they were once teenagers too. They all have gone through what we are going through now: a stage of confusion and fear. Many teenagers today have invested most of their time looking for parties to go to each weekend so that they can get “wasted.” However, the only thing that is getting wasted is the time lost to rise above everyone else. The priorities of the

average teenager have flipped from focusing on the future of adulthood, to revelling in youth as if it will never end. It is easy for us to rebel against the authority and to not care, because we are all “young, wild and free.” This stage will only last so long, and this is what many teenagers have failed to realize. The time to start on the right path is now. As we continue to ignore the harsh realities of what is to come, we forget that consequences will accumulate. It is easy to fail in life. Now that it is the last quarter of the senior year, it makes it easy to just not care anymore. To give up on all of the hard work that was put into our high school careers. If people continue to not care or listen, failure is inevitable. Growth is shown by how a person handles these failures. Part of growing up and reaching maturity is knowing how to handle what life throws at a person. Sitting around and blaming “senioritis” for the troubles, will not benefit anyone. “Senioritis” is just a myth, so get back on track and do not let all the hard work throughout your high school years get “wasted.”

One Woman Does It All Courtney Tapper co-editor in chief

I don’t remember the last time I saw my father, I don’t know where he is, and I don’t care to look. I know that may sound harsh and insensitive to the man who contributed to my very own life, but other than that he has not been an essential part of me. Of course when I was younger I wanted to meet him and wanted to understand why he chose a life without me. However, during middle school reality finally struck a chord with me. He wasn’t coming, I needed to stop hoping that one day he might. I had come to a realization that while other children complained about their over protective, goofy, or unfair parents, I would always have just one parent. I was never going to be able to fill out a father’s day card that wasn’t for an uncle or my grandfather. Anytime I needed to fill out a permission slip for my parents that “father” spot would always be left blank. Some day when I get married, I wouldn’t be able to have that magical moment of a father daughter dance. At the age of six-teen I went through another large mindset change. Through all the tough moments, that I wish I had a supportive father, I realized I did not need one – because I had my mother. My mother. The woman who from day one has never left my side – except for when I forced her to on my first day of daycare when I

was four. The woman who has done everything in her power to ensure my happiness whether it’s working various jobs so that I can stay in color guard, listening to me rave on and on about how much I love Robert Pattinson from the Twilight series, or attempting to sing Backstreet boys songs with me until our throats cannot bear to sing any longer. There are numerous things my mother does for me that I take complete advantage of. Mainly, the support she gives me in all that I do. No matter what activity I was in, dance, taekwondo, or color guard she never missed a recital, match, or performance. Not a single one. She was there when I won my first national martial arts match at the age of thirteen and by my side in my freshman year of color guard when our team lost an important competition and I had never felt so defeated. There was not a key moment in my life that my mom was not a part of physically, emotionally, and of course financially. This article was not written for anyone to pity me, or feel sorry for the fact that I only have one parent. In fact, it is supposed to do the exact opposite. It’s supposed to make you jealous. Because I’m not sorry at all. Being an only child in a single parent household has brought me one of the best relationships I could ever have. The reason this article was written was to brag about how amazing my mother is. I do not need two parents to support me, when I already have one that does the job of fifty.

OPINION

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Be A Really Basic Image Early Lilliana Garcia Reporter Be who you want to be, B-A-R-B-I-E, Barbie Girl. Barbie has been a staple in American culture for fifty six years. The blonde bombshell is known for her ultimate lifestyle. In 1959 she was the “perfect” role model for girls of all ages. So perfectly skinny, had the quintessential boyfriend and family, the flawless hair and makeup, the dream house and cars, she was just so perfectly perfect. However, Barbie’s “perfect” life does not put a good influence on young girls. The pressure from society has grown immensely and now the “perfect” girl seems to fit the shape of a Barbie Doll, six feet tall, weighs one hundred pounds and her sizes are 39 inch bust-19 inch waist -33 inch hips. The unrealistic body image can create the demeanor that “in order” to be “perfect” like Barbie one must look like her and be the human version of her. The 1965 “Sleepover Barbie” came with a bathroom scale that was perfectly set at one hundred and ten pounds. It also came with a book that was titled “How to Lose Weight” and one tip from the book was to not eat. Although, this Barbie came out in 1965, it is still a bad influence on girls regardless of the year of production. Not only does Barbie set impossible expectations of body image, she also creates a lust for material objects. Barbie’s dream house is what

little girls strive to get when they are older. The massive swimming pool, the pink Barbie car, and even the Barbie mall can be on every little girl’s dream list. These material objects that seem to make Barbie’s life so totally perfect, is not necessarily the the way to a happy life. Although, a new car, a dream house and even a dreamy beau may seem to be the way to happiness. A person would believe that they have “everything” (materialistic) however, happiness is not due to what a person has on the outside, but what one feels on the inside. Barbie can be empowering to young girls due to the multiple jobs than she does friends. However, in Barbie: I Can Be A Computer Engineer paperback book, when she does not know how to fix an issue she calls on boys in order to be able to finish a computer game, supporting the controversy that women have to rely on men for help. Barbie’s catch phrase is “be who you want to be,” and yet this doll is transforming girls into become her. With young girls being more and more impressionable, Barbie Dolls are not the best toy for playtime.

First Impressions of Norwalk High Kevon Cowan Reporter Recently my sister and I enrolled in to this interesting school, only to get lost in this maze of a building but it turned into something adventurous. My sister was smart enough to ask a random person for directions, where as I wanted to do it the hard way and find the destination myself. Doing things the hard way gives more of a sense of accomplishment. First period was study hall, where not having any work I basically sat and did nothing until My “buddy guide”, as they call it here, came to take me to next period. During second period, there was a sub, so again, I did nothing. I thought this was gonna be a whole day of doing nothing, until I got to my third period

Take the Time Business Manager Many students have forgotten how to give back to the community, volunteer and help those who are less fortunate. Rather than complaining about having nothing to wear in a closet full of clothes, take the time to donate clothes that can be discarded, and give them to someone who is in need of it. Some options of local donation centers include the SaintThomas Second Hand Thrift shop, The Norwalk Emergency Shelter, The Human Services Council, Norwalk Hospital, and many more around Fairfield County. There are thousands of families in the state who are in need of clothing, varying from adults to children. Take the time to donate blood if eligible. If in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and are seventeen years or older, individuals can significantly impact and save another person’s life. This helps ensure that blood is always in stock when needed, and feels rewarding knowing someone can benefit from this and save their life. Students can give blood at the NHS annual Honor’s Society run blood drive or visit the American Red Cross on Westport Avenue. Volunteer at an animal shelter. Shelters are always in need of a helping hand caring for animals that have been abused or mistreated. Some local animal shelters include The Connecticut Humane Society,

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Monica Mercuri

Paws, and more. Volunteering at a shelter is a great way to help pets in need of adoption and care. Attend clubs right here at Norwalk High School. There are various clubs that benefit the community and other people. This includes Seniors Helping Seniors, Bears Beating Cancer, Build On, and Brown, which impact and help the community in their own ways. Please take into consideration the volunteer programs above and do not forget the importance of giving back. There are so many distractions and demands that puts aside these important acts. While you are still young and the last years of high school approach, why not make a difference in the Norwalk community.

class, Forensics. I just took notes on things like they do on the CSI show, and learned that my forensics teacher is going to China at some point. When I got to my journalism period, people were hard at work and seemed enthusiastic about what they were doing compared to my previous classes. There was was one student in the class whom was open and really friendly. After talking for a few minutes, she showed me to the Cafeteria. On our way there we saw this girl trip and fall down the stairs which I was not expecting, so I am ashamed to say I might have laughed a bit. I hope people do not fall down the stairs regularly. When we got there they were serving what seemed to be tacos which I did not have much of an appetite for. Also, I personally did not like the smell of the food so I did not eat, thus going the whole day without eating lunch. I do think however the school could have done more for me being new and all.

OPINION

April 2015

Trying to Be More “Lady-Like” Isabella Bruni Reporter It is time to stop using the word ladylike. Girls all around the world are expected to follow society’s assertion of what is considered desirable and acceptable in terms of being a “lady.” Little do people realize that categorizing ladies is along the same lines as grouping people that “act ghetto” or even discriminatory slurs. According to elegantwoman.org acting like a lady means always being polite, dressing properly, not too sexy and not too exposed, no use of profanity, no overeating and always having a smile on your face. Read this carefully. That expectations from that previous paragraph are all complete and utter jokes and quite honestly,

highly unrealistic. If someone gives an attitude or some form of disrespect, whether male or female, girls should throw it right back at them, no hesitation. There is no need to let someone think they can walk over anyone. Many people in the world, especially men, try to take advantage of females physically and emotionally, but society tries to tell them to be polite and solve these situations carefully. Be more ladylike to not be afraid nor overlooked in telling a boy, as much as they do not want to hear it, no. When it comes to attire, it is no ones business but the person wearing it to decide what is and is not appropriate. Shorts, dresses, tank tops, etc. the decision should be up to them, not a teacher, boyfriend or anyone else. If she feels beautiful and confident with her outfit and it is not offensive to someones race, religion or culture then

she should be more ladylike and strut that getup like Naomi Campbell during NY Fashion Week. Profanity is used by everyone, including females. Think about it, if someone stubs their toe against the door hinge they could say, “Oh wow well that quite hurt” or they could shout like a truckdriver words that would not be approved to be written in this article. It is obvious which one seems more realistic. Profanity is meant to be undesirable for every gender but for some reason girls are especially frowned upon for the use of it, which is nonsense. Be more ladylike and say whatever the heck kind of profanity there is. By no means is it ever ok for anyone to tell their daughter, friend, girlfriend etc. that they eat too much, should lose weight or are fat. If they say it is not ladylike, open a bag of Cape Cod chips and crunch

on them obnoxiously right in front of their face, then be more ladylike and eat a piece of cake. Lastly, girls, as incredible as they are, are humans too and do not always need to have a smile on their face and act like little miss sunshine. They have bad days, as well as great ones, and should not feel ashamed or be apologetic when their human emotions cause them to come across as unladylike. If anything they should be more ladylike to express any emotion they please without someone blaming it on “that time of the month”. The word “ladylike” will probably not be totally eliminated from one’s vocabulary or the English dictionary so for a happy medium the definition should change to “a female who is perfectly badass being herself.”

But, why wait? Sweet Serendipity Jordan Arena A&E Editor An average person on earth typically lives to their early or mid- eighties. The majority of high schoolers are between the ages fourteen to eighteen, so essentially we all have around sixty five years left. To put that statement into better perspective, there are 3,391 weeks or 23,740 days that we have left on this planet we call Earth. Looking at those two numbers, it does not seem to be as long as one might have previously thought. Knowing this information, one might look at life in a whole new light. Living is all about taking the next step. No matter how scary or intimidating, one must take that step in order to actually live, because why wait? Waiting leads to time left wasted doing absolutely nothing. Instead of saying no and returning back to the warm confines of

your bed and the daily use of Netflix, say yes and go out and live. If the opportunity comes around to do something adventurous and new, do not take that for granted. One does not know what tomorrow brings. Living means taking ones phone and putting it down to take in the fresh air, or having a dialogue in person with someone instead of over the phone. Life is short, life is fragile, and to waste it waiting for another chance or opportunity when there is one standing right in front of you is quite foolish. Imagine you are eighty years old now, looking out the window of your retirement home and the memories of all the yesterdays before start to come to mind. Do not be the person who looks back and cannot remember much because there were not many memories to remember. Take advantage of being young and make memories to look back on.

Amanda Serpa Opinion Editor In simple terms, the word serendipity means, “good things that happen unexpectedly.” Every person has had one random, ‘out of the blue’ good thing happen to them. Regardless if it was for a millisecond, everyone has felt that “wow” feeling where happiness just has completely overridden their body due to the kindness of strangers or some odd, yet unexpectedly great act of nature. It is a good feeling, and a occurrence that people should not take so lightly, nor for granted. Serendipity is a word that illustrates a broad spectrum of opportunities, given that people cannot force it to happen, it is strictly spontaneous. Serendipity is unexpected, and that is what makes it so special. Sometimes life plays out in unexplainable ways where a persons aspirations and longings actually occur. These are the

moments every single human being lives for. The happy moments where great things occur without any indication they are going to is what life is all about. Serendipity can be great, creating possibilities that people never dreamed of happening to them is a miracle within itself. For instance, winning millions of dollars from the lottery, instantly becoming famous, or falling in love with someone that loves you just as much back. Everyone’s idea of serendipity and good things to happen are different. So, the next time you find yourself randomly happy and feeling like you just want to dance and sing your heart out, or whatever it is that makes you personally happy, thank serendipity.

Learning How Not To Be Stupid Dan Squicciarino News Editor Everybody knows that you are more likely to be successful in life if you are smart.

Unfortunately, not all of us are graced with perfect grades and high IQ’s. The key, then, is not actually to be smart, but to make people think you are smart. Even if you cannot spell your own name, there are still a few ways that you can trick people into thinking you are smarter than you actually are. The first thing you need to do is learn a bunch of big words. It does not matter what they mean. As long as they are long and nobody has ever heard them before. Randomly use these words when talking to people, and chances are they will think you are smart. Take the sentence “My dog walked in the park.” Sounds okay, right? Now, lets sprinkle in a few big words, shall we? “My concupiscent dog walked magnanimously in the saxicolous, callipygian park.” Does it make sense? No. But does it sound smart? Absolutely. Another excellent way to trick people into thinking you’re smart is to make other people feel dumb. If you make fun of them and insult their intelligence, they will be so self-conscious about themselves that they will think that you are much smarter than them. In order to do this, you must disagree

with everything people say. If you are in math class and your teacher says, “2+2=4”, immediately object. When your teacher asks why, stand up, walk over to the board, and begin writing random numbers and equations on the board in an attempt to disprove what your teacher just said. Confidently finish by writing “2+2=5”, drop your marker on the ground, and leave the room. Be prepared for them to erupt into wild applause as you walk out the door. The third essential step to make yourself seem smart is to lie. By lying, you can make people think that you are much more intelligent and successful than you actually are. For instance, let’s say that your name is Bob, and you have an unpleasant job that I cannot name at the risk of offending people reading this article. Let’s just say its sticky and gross. Not that there’s anything wrong with having a sticky and gross job, but we’ll stick with that for now. You are at a social gathering, and a cute girl comes up to you and starts asking you questions. Of course, you want this girl to think you are smart, right? That’s where lying comes into play. The first thing she asks is “What is your name?” Do not give her your real

name. “Bob” does not sound smart. For a moment you stop to think. “Octavius,” you reply. She looks impressed. Score one for lying. She then proceeds to ask, “What do you do for a living?” Under no circumstances are you to tell her your real job. People within your particular field do not have a good reputation with the ladies. Reply with something smart-sounding. “I’m a nuclear ophthalmological surgical engineer.” She raises an eyebrow in astonishment. “Wow, you must be smart!” she proclaims. You rub your hands together and smile devilishly, delighted that your plan worked. Sound unethical? Too bad. By following these three simple steps, all of your dreams will come true. People will respect you. Your friends will love you. Your enemies will envy you. The neighbors will gossip about you. Your mother will brag to her friends about you. Members of the opposite sex will be attracted you. Adoring fans will ask you for autographs. Sometimes the fame may be overwhelming, but remember that it is all a part of seeming smart. Just take it all in and enjoy it.

OPINION

April 2015

Culture v. Manners (UK v. US) Lorensa DeCastro Reporter In some parts of the world, manners are such a strong structure that it is not only taught at home, but at school and any other social place as well. As soon as the teacher steps in the classroom, the students stand up and acknowledge the teacher with a strong “goodmorning” and wait to be seated. The thought of any older person entering a room and not being acknowledged is a disrespect in many cultures. It is a cultural shock to see teachers trying to discipline students and their replies being “you are not my parent,” or enters a room with an adult and does not acknowledge or greet them.

As people walk into the classrooms of Norwalk High many would find most of the students sneaking around on their phones or using profanities it is not directly to the

teacher, but in front of them. Many students would say that their parents allow them to act that way and no one can change them or do anything about it. Some teachers question if it is their responsibility to teach manners and discipline them in anyway. In the Dominican Republic, when an adult enters a room, students stand and greet the adult with a goodmorning or afternoon greeting, and wait to be acknowledged to sit down. In St. Christopher, also known as St. Kitts, it is the biggest disrespect to be on the phone or to not be paying attention while the teacher is teaching. This would result in the student being kicked out of class and not allowed back in until their parents came in and an apology was given in front of the class. St.Kitts and other Caribbean countries, the teacher holds the full authority to discipline the students in any way possible. At the elementary level, observers would find if any student talks back to any teacher, they would

get hit with a ruler on their palm or stand up with their hands straight up. In high school, to even disrespect the school uniform they would not be allowed on campus, or any type of public display of affection is not accepted and would be dealt with on the spot. Using any type of profanities would result to detention, where the student would be cleaning up the campus or doing community hours that would be added to their graduation requirement.

Even though all kids go through the similar changes, surrounding countries deal with them. If dealt with by giving a detention or even with a simple hit on the palm, manners play a big roll in school and social development. While surrounding countries see manner as part of their culture, others sees it as a responsibility.

Taekwondo Experience Courtney Tapper Taekwondo is not just a martial art in which one can learn how to defend themselves, it can be so much more. The foremost and obvious reason one would engage in any sort of martial art is for self defense purposes. Learning how to defend oneself, and possibly others, in various dangerous situations that may arise is a great skill to and know. Having a stronger sense of security is always necessary to have in the world. Aside from its help with safety, it also was a great learning tool for educational purposes. When one is not practicing self defense, there are moves to memorize for each rank that are necessary to be performed at every “testing.” Testing is the process one goes through in order to move up to the next belt, rank, or level. Each belt color represents how well you have mastered the martial art, from white as a beginner all the way to

Oh Senioritis Rosalie Armatis Reporter For generations “senioritis” has plagued class after class. The existence and causes of “senioritis” however are up for debate, as well as the fact that students may push this “illness” too far. Senioritis is described as a reduction of academic focus or worsening performance of high school seniors after their acceptance to college which typically starts after 2nd semester. Thomas Barrett (`15) who is currently experiencing senioritis said, “I never really thought of it in this perspective, if I didn’t see the former seniors actions during their senior year, I don’t think that I would have ever thought about it and started acting the way that I currently do.” According to Mr.Fuller, who is a senior english teacher,” I don’t believe that former students influence others, I believe that there comes a point where everyone becomes tired and they decide that their work there is finished, just that is the influence but that seniors wouldn’t have “senioritis” if they received more privileges than lower classmen” Alexandra Quintero,(`17) said, “I have a lot of friends who are currently seniors, I never really thought about it, I just saw it as what seniors typically do just because they’re older and they just technically entitled to it. When I become a senior I will probably go through it too just because I’ve seen other people go through

it. This can be viewed in two ways. One scenario that states that students get the influence of “senioritis” from others and the other being that their is a natural mindset that you deserve this break from school. It is clear that although there could be an argument about how senioritis has come about. It can sometimes be influenced upon others from others, but then again there is also a breaking point where upperclassmen just give up and no longer care anymore. Some Seniors take advantage of it and do not realize that it is truly not a privilege, but in someway disrespect towards teachers that are still trying to teach. However, according to Vanessa Ochoa (`15),“Although seniors are close to graduating, in my eyes it is disrespectful, but sometimes as a senior you have classes that you do not even need, so why waste your time and why let a teacher waste their time trying to teach you when you technically do not care anymore.” It has come to the conclusion that Senioritis can come to ones mind through different ways. Either way seniors do believe they deserve special privileges, there comes a certain point where they begin to take advantage of it and do not even realize it. This is not fair to teachers that are still taking their time and energy to give students the education that they deserve. Teachers still deserve respect, and seniors should still care.

Photo credit: Gloria Michael

co-editor in chief

black. Also, with each belt there was a history of where that level came from and the verbal history needed to be memorized for testings as well. Maintaining a strong memory was important for the graduation process. Starting at the age of five, the ability to receive certain disciplines has truly shaped my character. There was always an element of respect for the instructors or masters in whatever tasks were to be completed each day. Aside from the rigid expectations, the experience allowed for great travel and lifelong friends to be made. Being a part of the national team, I was able to travel to Dallas, Texas three times and Tulsa, Oklahoma once. There are many people who I have made friends with through Taekwondo that I have remained in contact with due to the close bond created years ago. All in all, becoming a second degree black belt in Taekwondo truly has shaped who I am today and I would not change the experience for the world.

Evil Mayonaise Nicole Ilagan Reporter Oh Mayonnaise... You are the evilest of the evil villains anyone has ever encountered in life. You contaminated the salmon last weekend. Your taste of oil, eggs, and whatever else that is inside you disgusts me. Luckily, my mother did not notice my avoidance to our meal. It could have made her upset. The salmon, as well, could

have been fine without you but the recipe required you in it. What a tragedy. Then, like a devil you were (and still are), you were present again a few days ago. The tuna and egg spread that our family ate with bread became a detestation of mine. Do you know what that means? The resist of taking a knife out of the drawer was a struggle. It was pure torture. For lunch the other day, eating Oreos with milk was the only option because apparently, the spread of tuna, and egg and the main dish of salmon were all for leftovers contaminated by your presence. You will always have to come back and try to kill me with your terrible and poisoning appearance, smell and flavor. Go away Mayonnaise. You are horrible. Dare me to do anything just so for you to go away—just do not force me to eat you. You are a pathetic and disgusting condiment. One day your creator will regret creating you, you will be gone and nobody will miss you and your catastrophic existence.

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SPORTS

Donovan Rises Above the Water Isabella Bruni Reporter

Photo Credits: CTPost.com

If you cannot find senior Eddie Donovan roaming the halls of NHS then he is most likely in the pool. Eddie has recently broken the school records at FCIAC’s with third place in the 200im with a best time of 1:57.90 and second place in the 100fly with 51.88. His swimming days started at the age of four and have continued up until today with the Shore and Country Club swim team. Eddie claimed, “I was awful and when I say awful I mean AWFUL.” Because of his Mom’s fear that he would drown, she signed him up for the Zeus swim team. Upon joining high school, Eddie joined the Norwalk-McMahon team where he feels he has had a large amount of growth so far as a swimmer. “Swimming has definitely shaped me into the person I am today. Without it, I would be a completely different person. It has provided me with a sense of hard work, pride, and a certain mindset allowing me to be successful in other

ways than swimming. But to do that I sacrifice a lot of energy and time in the process, 6 hours of sleep is the normal for me,” he continued. Eddie’s favorite event to swim is the 50 free because it feels so short to him he does not ever get tired out. As for his best event, Eddie excels in the 200fly. This is what he will be swimming as his primary event in college this fall at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, NY. Eddie and his fellow swimmer friends joke about how tiring this event is, “even if you win the 200fly, you still lose since you have to do the 200fly.” After his thirteen years swimming, Eddie’s best moment in the pool was his freshman year when he made sectionals. Being one of the only three fourteen year olds there he qualified, after trying countless times that summer to reach his goal. Eddie is not only a stellar athlete, but also a student who likes to be challenged and takes multiple honors and AP level courses. The people Eddie believes he owes much of his success to are his parents and he thanks them for their unconditional love and support. The one word Eddie feels best describes him, and the rest of us can all surely agree with, is, “determined.”

Martial Arts Impacts Teenagers Reporter Varun Thakkar (`18) started doing Taekwondo in 2007. He is now a black belt, and still working on getting higher. “I started because I thought it looked cool,” said Varun. “Not a lot of people do it. It’s fun and interesting.” His sister’s friend had introduced him to it, and told him that she goes to Karate Universe, which he now attends as well. Practices are three to five days a week, and each practice ranges from one to three hours. “My favorite activity is maneuvering drills,” he added. “Those are drills about moving and dodging.” Taekwondo is not as easy as it looks. It took Varun four years to acquire his black belt, and even after four years of hard work, Varun still had to pass a series of tests.

“They needed to know that I was ready. When the time came, I had to go to this ceremony, or ‘final test’.” He said For the final test, Varun had to jump and kick through five or more wooden boards at once. He worked for about six months practicing to do it, and when the time came, he succeeded. He was the first person in years to pass, or even perform this part of the test. It is very dangerous, and takes a lot of stamina. After this, Varun had to spar with a partner. Sparring is one on one fighting between two people. His posture had to be perfect. Passing the final test, Varun received his black belt. “I felt great, and so accomplished”. He said. During the inauguration ceremony, many different black belts gather in a half circle, and Varun went around and shook all of their hands. After, his belt was switched to black.

Photo Credit: Priyanka Thakkar

Samantha Ricci

Varun continues to work hard and hopes to soon reach his second degree black belt, which Varun could receive by the end of the year. Varun is living proof that hard work pays off.

Monique Ilagan’s Ballet Dancing Nicole Ilagan Reporter

Monique Ilagan (’15) has a talent you are probably not aware of: she can dance ballet. Here is an inside scoop on this hidden talent. “I started ballet when I was in first grade. It started out with 1 hour a day per week then it increased gradually to two to two and a half hours per day for four days a week. As a child, you would love to play with your friends after school but that wasn’t the case for me. After school, I would directly go to ballet lessons. It was part of my everyday routine: wake up, attend school, ballet lessons, and repeat. I pushed myself to improve my skills in dancing. I became more graceful, poised, and disciplined. It was a great learning experience.” Monique’s dancing not only transformed her into a graceful, poised and disciplined young lady, it impacted her life greatly. “Ballet has taught my daughter a lot of things, not only physical but

emotional & spiritual aspect as well. pany that she looked up on named The discipline, endurance, patience “The Company of Acts.” She went and passion in learning and dancing far into this experience and it has ballet were instilled in molding her come to an end. “You know what they say, personality and how she Photo Credi t: N ico when a door closes, anhas become over le Ila other one opens and the years,” said so it did. I became Jaclyn Tison, more focused on the mother my academics of Ms. Ilaand I am very gan. satisfied with it.” However, Ms. Ilait was not gan signed up all good for a program for Moat Independence nique. She High School, had downin California, to falls as well. prepare for her fu“I couldn’t ture. She also created focus on my acafriends that helped her demics but it is a through the new experience. It matter of balancing your time between school and ballet. After was not easy for her but she surfive years of lessons, we had to stop vived. By the end of the day, she because we had to move.” was a software engineer in progShe revealed that she was sad- ress. dened of the cancellation of classes. Today, she is a High Honor roll She started this dream and it grew. student in NHS and will be majoring She dreamed to be part of dance com- in Computer Science in college.

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Keep an eye out: Senior & June Issues

SPORTS

Kat Puccinelli Reporter

Photo Credit: Lorensa De Castro

The softball team is swinging into the new season with a lot of talent. Last year the softball team had a record of eleven wins and nine losses. They made it to the states tournaments but unfortunately came up short for FCIAC’s. Cocaptain Mallory Rochefort (’15), said “Last season was more of a building for this year. We knew the freshman coming in this year had plenty of talent so we are hoping to get in order to make both FCIAC and States.” The season started on Monday, March 23rd and all the girls were eager to start. Fellow captain, Leslie Garcia (’15), added, “I’m excited for this season to start, and be around my team mates. I’ve been with some of these girls for almost eight years and it’s great to be able to continue to play with them.” Assistant coach, and a NHS math teacher Mr.Cundiff, stated, “This seasons team has a lot of potential to really make

a move in the FCIACs and be the top four and five teams in the state tournaments. But for that to happen, it’s gonna take a lot of work and some luck.” The softball team is saying goodbye to a lot of talent this year. Mr.Cundiff expressed his thoughts about the graduating seniors, “This senior class has been a great bunch, a lot of those girls came in and played varsity as freshmen. It would be nice to see them leave a legacy of an outstanding season as they mark their four years of hard work.” The team’s first game is on Wednesday, April 8th at four pm against Kolbe Cathedral at Norwalk High School. Be there to support the lady bears.

Double-Header Lorensa DeCastro Reporter The boys varsity baseball team is back at it again this season. The team finished last years season with a record of eight wins and twelve losses. On June 2, 2014, the bears played at the 2014 Connecticut State Baseball Tournament against Manchester, sadly the game resulted in a lost. This year, the team has built up the desire to win and their confidence is at an all time high. “The main thing we are working on this season is to build up confidence since our past couple of years haven’t been what we expected,” said Matt Parlanti (’15). He continues, “I believe that we will make states and FCIACS because we have a young team with a lot of talent, we just have to minimize the mistakes and play our games right to reach our goals.”

The boys coach, Coach Tucci, is opening this spring season with a swing. Norwalk baseball team had their first scrimmage on April 1st. This years first game is an away game at Bethel High School on April 8th, 2015. As 2015 varsity co-captains, Matt Parlanti (’15) and Dave Balunek (’15) are more ready than ever to kick the season in high gear.

Photo Credit: Sharon Cadden

Softball Swings

April 2015

Girls Sprint Across The Finish Line Rosalie Armatis Reporter Hard work and dedication is currently being installed by the Girls outdoor track team at Norwalk High School. The team has won and accomplished many things in previous years. There are many more opportunities waiting for the team, so they can receive even more awards and strive further. The team of 2015 has many expectations. According to Coach Moffett, “there are a bunch of new faces and young athletes on the team so our goal will be to try and have as many girls as possible qualify for the FCIAC

Championship meet in May.” They are also expecting to see many new runners coming out to participate with the team. Rumor has it that the majority of new girls that are coming out for girls track are sprinters. This is very different compared to the previous team. The past few track teams usually had many distancers and not as many sprinters. With new workouts, and more time to lift, the coach is changing up the previous workouts that the team once had. Helping this year as captains are Tamia Paige for sprinters, and Jess Balasa for distance. Most team members have set goals, including Tamia

Page (’15), who said “ I am really striving to get gold in at least two of my events, which is a big goal and requires hard work and dedication” Other captain, Jess Balasa (’15) has set one as well and said, “as a whole, my goal for this season is to help motivate the team and hopefully improve the overall times on girls distance by at least 15 seconds.” So far, the team is beginning to look pretty promising, with the returning runners that they already have and the new ones. With the right amount of dedication, the team will accomplish all the goals that they have put in place.

Face-Off Boys Backhand Smash Reporter

Norwalk High Schools sports Spring season has arrived, the boys varsity lacrosse team is ready. The team has a lot of goals this year, starting with making FCIAC and State Tournaments. The team plans to overcome their past record and create a winning season for the team. “We plan on practicing at a higher pace and with more intensity , and holding each other accountable to work at our highest potential,” said senior captain, Peter Stacom (’15). “I’m looking forward to every game this season, but especially out home opener on April 11th against Southington and May 5th against Brien McMahon, our rivals. We also look forward to our senior day game against Stamford on May 16th.” Junior captain Brendan Brown (’16) hopes the team finishes with a record above five hundred. “My personal goal is to get at least All-FCIAC honorable mention,” stated Brendan Brown. This is also a goal for the Senior Captain Peter Stacom. Led by head coach Joshua Thornton, a math teacher at NHS, Peter Stacom and Brendan Brown hope to make this a season to remember. Do not forget to come join the boys LAX team for their first home game on April 11th!

Shay-Lynn Larusso Reporter The boys tennis team is determined to serve up a great season. This year, the tennis team is looking to start the season off with a bang. They are determined to improve in many aspects due to their results from last year. “Last year we only won two games but the team’s focus and drive is so strong this year that I am sure we will improve our record. Our coach is great and we have a lot of strong players who are positive contributions to the team,” said captain Max Libre (’15). “I have noticed an increase in the drive and level of commitment towards improvement in the players this year,” said Coach Grady, a Latin teacher at Norwalk High School.

The team’s players as well as Coach Grady have set many specific goals for the season. “It’s tough because tennis is a team sport yet it really focusses on the individual players. I know the boys have set personal goals for themselves along with the goals we have set as a team,” explained Grady. “We are determined to win enough matches to make states this year, or improve to where we are competitive,” Grady continued. Not only is the boys tennis team determined to succeed, they are a special group of high schoolers who really have a passion for the game. “Our attitude and willingness to improve is what sets us apart from other teams,” said Libre. Based on the teams focus and optimism, the boys tennis team’s matches will not be something Norwalk High students will want to miss.

Good Luck to all the Bears this Spring Photo Credit leagueatheltics.com

Aylin Aristizabal

SPORTS

April 2015

Passing Batons Lilliana Garcia Reporter

It’s Five not Fore

“If you are going to run track, make your commitment now, especially if you have talent,” continued Hanlon (’15). “Stay focused, don’t take practice as a joke. Work on form, technique and how to become faster. But most of all how to be better as a person,” said Camacho. Do not forget to come out and show Norwalk’s bear pride at their meets during this spring season.

Nathaniel Lewis Reporter The NHS golf team is not putting around this this year. “Hard work and a lot of practice this year will make us successful this season”, said Co-captain Billy Passero (‘15). The team currently has five players, three seniors and two freshman. “We’ve lost a couple of key players however I feel like our team is ready to compete and has the experience we need to win some matches. Our biggest aspira-

tion for this season is to beat Brien Mcmahon in the Courville cup. A feat that hasn’t been accomplished in all my years of playing for Norwalk. Overall, I have a lot of confidence in our ability and have high hopes for a fun and memorable season.” Norwalk hosts its games on Oak Hills golf course in Norwalk but unfortunately due to FCIAC rules and regulations students cannot attend the games. Even though students cannot attend the games you should still give your peer support to these fine athletes

Photo Credit: Sharon Cadden

The Norwalk High School boy’s track team has jump started their spring track season. This season the team is looking forward to a fresh new start. There are many new runners this year that all have a unique quality to bring the team farther than before. “Last year we had a really good team, and graduated a lot of runners. This years we are looking to fill spots with younger runners or even students who didn’t run indoor track,” said Coach Moffett who has been coaching NHS boy’s track for ten years. “I see it as a better season, with a lot of improvement within the underclassmen”, said Thomas Hanlon (’15), who has been on the team since freshman year. “We all help each other to get better- to get faster times, that’s what it is all about,” said captain TayQuan Camacho (’15), who has been a staple on the running bears team. As this is his last year to run for NHS, he has worked on his time and has gotten his best time of fifty seconds for the four hundred meter. Both seniors have given great advice to the underclassmen to keep their spirits high.

The Girls Serve Aces on the Court Amanda Serpa Opinion Editor The girls tennis team is ready to start this season off with a great hit. With a lot of new players added, this team is ready and determined to create a season that will be unforgettable. These teammates are striving for excellence when it comes to winning tennis matches against the surrounding towns. With Mr. Kasparus as the coach, there is no ques-

tioning that these girls will be profound at this sport. Captain Allison Latour (’15) stated, “Our goals are to win more matches as a whole team and beat McMahon.” Showing how determined these girls are to strive for greatness and proceed forward on doing even better than last year. Fellow captain Rachael Baker (’15) added, “Since we have a young team it’s really important to use this season as a building year and make sure everyone is making progress and improving their skills.” Regardless of how many wins the team makes, they are proving that winning is not everything. The girls are

Priyanka Thakkar Reporter

Photo Credit: Sharon Caddem

The girl’s lax team is ready to take on this upcoming season. The team is better than ever. “It’s the best team we have ever had,” said girl’s lax coach, Mr. Morgenthaler. The girls lacrosse team has a lot of potential this year. Most of the players from last year have chosen to return again this year. “We only lost two seniors, so the majority of the team is young,” said girls lacrosse captain, Brianna Fitzgerald (’16). The team has a close bond which is ben eficial to their success. “The team this year is full of close friends, so it’s awesome to play with each other,” stated Hannah Froelich (’16), a player on the team. As all teams, the girl’s lacrosse team hopes to win more games. They strive to be better than last year. “Last year our record wasn’t that successful. This year we hope to win seven of our sixteen regular season games,” states Fitzgerald. “Our goals are to be competitive in every game we play,” stated Morgenthaler. The girls lacrosse league across Fairfield County is extremely competitive, “almost all the girls in the

league are nationally ranked. We have the hardest competition,” he continued. The players this season have practiced extremely hard. “This year we did a fall league and a winter league together to improve our skills as a team. We would also have practice about two times a week working with other coaches to get better,” said Fitzgerald. The team is excited about playing other teams, mostly McMahon. “We try to treat every game with equal importance. So we have the same mentality against McMahon that we do with every team. We always strive to win,” stated Froelich. “Our McMahon game is April 18th at 7. I think we definitely have a good chance at beating them for a 3rd year in a row,” said Fitzgerald. Girl’s lacrosse is hoping to have a very successful season. “I think all and all we know what we need to do to have a successful season,” states Fitzgerald. “If we play together, we’ll win,” stated Morgenthaler positively. Good luck to these girls and do not forget to come support them!

Photo Credit: Sharon Cadden

Girls Check-Up

content with new skills and better endurance being shown throughout the players. By motivating one another, and putting their all into the sport they love, there is no question that these girls will lead their team to greatness. With a new coach and new season the NHS Girls tennis team looks to rebuild the program after longtime coach Mr. Hariton retired at the end of the 2014 season. The schedule for this season can be found on the NHS athletic website.

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Photo Credit: Sharon Cadden