Issuu

Spotlight

Chaput Claims Title As Ultimate Predator Page 13

Dr. Batsheva Gillat Retires After 20 Years Page 6

June 2012

153 Newton Street, South Hadley, MA 01075

Class of 2012 rejoices at soggy graduation Julian Suarez Managing Editor

Torrential rain and lightening could not deter teachers, families, and friends of the Class of 2012 from celebrating its high school graduation at Mount Holyoke College's Gettell Amphitheater on June 3. Kicking off the ceremony were musical performances by the high school's band, as well as "The StarSpangled Banner," harmonized by Kyle Whelihan. As a result of the downpour, Interim Superintendent Christine Sweklo was forced to cut her address short, as the pounding rain was louder than the PA system. After a few moments of indecision, it was decided to continue the graduation outside, despite the weather. Speeches were delivered by Student Council CoPresidents Juliette Chenier and Sophie Weinstein, Valedictorian Alexandra Boulais and Senior Class President Peter Lambert. Those who spoke congratulated the Class of 2012 for its accomplishments throughout the years, and wished graduates luck on the next chapter of their lives. English Teacher Tina Daponde’s daughter Chloe was one of the graduates. Daponde said she particularly enjoyed the student speeches. "The speech of Juliette and Sophie was unique because they gave it together, and it seemed like they put a lot of time and effort into it," said Daponde. "Allie's was serious, but made you think, and Peter's was comedic, but that's just his personality."

The hallways of the high school were full of vibrant and creative pieces of art at last month’s annual Arts Night. “It’s a celebratory event highlighting the accomplishments of students in visual and applied art classes,” said Fine and Applied Arts Chair Maureen McNally. The event showcased the works of all students, with an emphasis on the seniors, who were given a space which they could decorate to their liking. “A lot of teachers say this is their favorite night,” said McNally, commenting on the atmosphere. Latin Teacher Phil Langevin said he enjoys the event. “It's nice to spend time with the faculty and get out of the normal rigor of the school setting,” said Langevin. Teachers said they enjoy going to support their stu-

Staff photo by Courtney Marcil

CAPS OFF: The senior class celebrates its graduation from high school.

Following the addresses, awards were presented and Principal Sean McNiff gave his remarks. The ceremony concluded with a traditional cap toss in unison. "They're a great group of kids," said Vice Principal Bill Evans. "Their positive spirit made it a wonder-

dents, and to appreciate all of their hard work. “It’s cool to see the end product of all the effort students put into their work,” said Langevin. One of the highlights were ski bikes created by Fine Arts Teacher Scott Miller’s students using a computer-aided design (CAD) program. “They were totally awesome and they work,” said McNally. Another spread of work included pointillist selfportrait paintings created by McNally’s Art 1 students. One of the larger pieces was an enormous chicken coop created by woodshop students AJ Quinn, Pat Wage, Mike Hynek, Brian Heady, Adam Rosario and Jacob Healy. Freshmen said their first Arts Night helped build their confidence as artists, as they were finally able to show off their work. “It’s so exciting to see people who appreciate my art,” said freshman Deanna Conti. Another freshman art student, Danielle Miele, said “I love being able to show people how talented I

Food stolen from cafeteria Lauren Hylemon News Editor

Recent cafeteria thefts have led to a police investigation spurred by Principal Sean McNiff, who last month sent a letter to staff informing them that food had been stolen. In the letter, McNiff made it clear his administration was taking the matter seriously. "Staff may face termination and other criminal consequences,” McNiff wrote. Vice Principal Ted McCarthy declined comment regarding the incident, and Vice Principal Bill Evans said that speaking about it would “compromise the investi-

Cooke garners gold medal Sophia Kebbede Staff Reporter

Students exhibit works at Arts Night Courtney Marcil, Staff Reporter Joey Harris, Staff Reporter

Volume 92, Issue 5

gation." “If we see anything, we’re supposed to let administration know,” said Physical Education Teacher Eric Castonguay. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, most people contacted by Spotlight were unable to provide specific details. However, Resource Officer Steve Fleming said that since McNiff’s memo was sent out, the thefts have stopped.

Hylemon may lkhspotlight@gmail.com.

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ful event, and we're confident about their futures." Suarez may be jhsspotlight@gmail.com.

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Last month, alumna McKenzie Cooke was awarded the Gold Medal at the Massachusetts Competition for Cosmetology. As a result, Cooke will be the sole state representative at the national competition in Kansas City, MO. “This is a great honor for our school,” said Don Jarvis, Principal of the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative. Cooke attended the school daily to receive her cosmetology training, while continuing her traditional studies at the high school. “McKenzie competed first at the district level against students from 11 other schools, where only the gold and silver medalists go to states,” said Jarvis. “McKenzie received gold and advanced to states, where the two best students from each district compete."

See "Cooke," Page 2

Contributed photo by Maureen Shea

COMMENDING CREATIVITY: Student paintings and digital prints adorn the walls of the 300 hallway during the annual Arts Night at the high school.

am.” Miele attended the show with her parents. For those seniors who have been involved in art programs at the high school, this event was what senior Abby Foster called their “last hurrah." Seniors have the largest displays to exhibit their works from four years of involvement in the arts. Vice Principal Bill Evans said he was impressed

with the talent on display. “The students have a gift to give us, and I’m glad I came here to get it.” Marcil may be reached at camspotlight@gmail.com. Harris may be reached at jehspotlight@gmail.com.

Peace pole pilfered Austen Rioux, Staff Reporter Alex Boissonneault, Staff Reporter

Upon returning from April vacation, students and faculty noticed the absence of the peace pole, initially located at the center of the high school’s courtyard. It was later discovered bound with duct tape to one of the light posts in the student parking lot. “We are taking this very seriously,” said Principal Sean McNiff. He also reported that Vice Principals Ted McCarthy and Bill Evans are interviewing students, checking security cameras, and working with local police.

“Evidently, people don’t believe in karma by stealing the peace pole," said Social Studies Teacher Stephanie Viens. Math Teacher Josh Finkel said the prank is pointless. Finkel, who was present at the peace pole unveiling ceremony in 2008, said that the event "sends a very disturbing message.” Until further notice, the peace pole remains stored away in the custodian's office. Rioux may be reached at agrspotlight@gmail.com. Boissonneault may be reached at albspotlight@gmail.com.

News

2 Spotlight

June 2012

State residents to vote on medical marijuana

Brett Reardon Photo Editor

Politicians, doctors, and advocates have been squaring off since April over a proposed statewide ballot question that could make medical marijuana in Massachusetts legal. If state legislators decide to allow this question to appear on the November 6 ballot and the majority of voters are in favor of it, Massachusetts would make marijuana legal for medical purposes starting January 1, 2013. The proposed ballot will allow physicians to prescribe a 60 day supply of marijuana for patients with a "debilitating medical condition" such as AIDS, cancer, chronic pain, Parkinson's disease and other broad conditions that patients may experience. This would open up new fields of study and hopefully produce more jobs in dispensaries to help aid the still ailing economy. The law would allow a nonprofit dispensary or treatment center in each county in the state. Students and faculty do not see any dangers in making medical marijuana legal in Massachusetts. "The [state legislature] should legalize medical marijuana, but the problem is that it conflicts with federal law," said History Teacher Tim Balut. "If they manage to iron out the differences and make it in accordance with state and federal law, it could work out." Other states have managed to already balance these laws. Librarian Becky Mazur said she feels that people should have access to what they need to feel better, especially the very ill. Senior Sophie Weinstein said that medical marijuana should be made legally available in

Massachusetts. "If it is well regulated and used for medical purposes, then I don't see any problem with it," said Weinstein. If the bill doesn't pass or legislators fail to act, supporters would need to collect an additional 11,485 voter signatures to qualify for placement

of the question on the November ballot. Come November and the bill is passed, Massachusetts will join 16 other states permitting the plant to be used for medical purposes. Massachusetts is currently pending medical marijuana related acts with other states including New York, Ohio, and Alabama.

Creative Commons image by warrantedarrest

CONSTITUTING CANNABIS: Massachusetts might be the next state to legalize medical marijuana, along with a few other states also pending legalization

Legalizing medical marijuana could also help kill drug dealing in Massachusetts. Currently, people with medical problems searching for marijuana have to go to the streets and fund criminals for their marijuana. This can be dangerous as well as illegal if you were ever found. People who are in need of medical care and are looking for medical marijuana wouldn't have to hide what they are doing. Other states and several countries haven't complained of the legalization and have even boasted lower crime rates and illegal marijuana crack downs. Reasons for the legalization of Marijuana are endless, according to pediatrician studies. The bill has come to reality as close as New England. On April 26, the Connecticut House of representatives voted to allow the growing and dispensing of medical marijuana for patients with disease and certain medical conditions. Lawmakers have stressed that patients who are prescribed medical marijuana must be at least 18 years of age. Massachusetts will try to adapt the same laws as Connecticut if passed in the fall. Marijuana has been a heavily debated topic in recent ballots. On the 2008 ballot, voters ruled in favor of "question 2," or the sensible marijuana policy. This allowed adults to have access to an ounce of marijuana without criminal offenses. Instead, they were replaced with civil offenses, which results in a fine. The bill will not go to the senate. may be Reardon bmrspotlight@gmail.com.

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Cooke bound for Kansas City Students aid Soles4Souls campaign Continued from Page 1

The first level, Districts, is where every vocational school can send up to four students, selected by instructors who decide which students would best represent the program. Districts requires competitors to take a written test. When competing with other vocational schools in the district, there are first, second and third place medals. Only first and second places qualify for the state competition. To prepare for the state competition, Cooke had to study for the written exam as well as practice hair cuts and longer hairstyles. “I was very surprised that I won states,” said Cooke. “I’ve competed at states before and I’ve never placed.” This was Cooke’s third year competing at states and her first time competing in the category for cosmetologists with over 500 hours of experience. The competition is divided into levels of under 500 hours of experience and over 500 hours of experience. “I have to keep on going to [the Collaborative] to train for nationals,” said Cooke. “I need

to dye the hair of mannequins, and get more supplies to practice.” Accompanying Cooke to nationals will be her mother, Principal Jarvis, and Rhonda Muran, a cosmetology teacher at the Collaborative, also known as C-TEC. “Nationals is an extensive five day event from June 23-28,” said Jarvis. “The first day is employability and a hand-written test, and the second day is hands-on work with dyes, a short haircut and a long haircut.” “I think McKenzie deserved to win states and will do great at nationals,” said Lisa Bonsant, a cosmetology teacher at C-TEC. “She is an extraordinary student and has learned a lot of skills.” Cooke also just recently completed the required 1,000 hours required to attain her license in cosmetology. This summer, she hopes to get a job at a salon and, after earning her degree in business from Western New England University, she plans to open a salon of her own. Kebbede may be spkspotlight@gmail.com.

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Bags for Pete accumulates funds Hieu Dennis, Staff Reporter Rachel Harrington, Staff Reporter

The South Hadley community lost a mentor, father, and friend in Pete Krasnor in early April. Krasnor was known throughout the school and communtiy for his great sense of humor, his ability to get along with everyone, and his important job as a trainer. Since then, students at the high school have been raising money for his family for entities in his honor. All the proceeds will go toward a scholarship in the name of Peter Krasnor. Along with bracelets honoring Krasnor, sophomores Sam Brault and Riley Baker have designed and are collecting money for bags that read, "Pete Krasnor, the man who taped our ankles, healed our wounds, and touched our hearts. 1954-2012.” “It will give someone the same opportunity that he had,” says Brault. Brault and Baker wanted to do something besides the bracelets to remember Krasnor

who is known to the students as Pete. They students say that they felt this was a good start, but more had to be done if they were going to make it a scholarship. Brault, along with junior George Fiore and Vice Principal Ted McCarthy, decided to sell bags with a quote that represents what Pete meant to everyone who knew him. They believe that this could be a great way for the students to continue on his legacy. “I know Pete impacted a lot of people's lives, so this scholarship is an important way to remember him,” said sophomore Chris Rojas. Many people shared the same feelings as Rojas, so the scholarship became a quick idea. They felt this was a way to carry on Pete's legacy and continue to impact lives. Both Brault and Baker say they are excited for fundraising next year. Baker says that he already has plans for more fundraising toward the scholarship in the future. If the excitement continues and more people become involved,

Julian Suarez, Managing Editor Will Vanderpoel, Staff Reporter

Students in the high school arranged a campaign in mid-May in an effort to assist Soles4Souls, Inc. Soles4Souls originated with the mutual desire to make a difference in people's lives by supplying them with footwear. Their commitment was essentially initiated following Hurricane Katrina of August 2005, where hundreds of lives were taken by one of the deadliest hurricanes in American history. A group of individuals and motivated charities created a website called katrinashoes.org, with the sole purpose of collecting footwear donations from companies and individuals from all over. They would donate the shoes they were given to people who could not afford shoes. The student group promoted the campaign by posting ads to spread word of the goal. The idea of helping Soles4Souls with their mission was initiated by junior Kara Joubert, who was inspired by English Teacher Heather Ellis. "I got involved through Ms. Ellis," said Joubert. "She gave me a pocket card that gave facts about kids without shoes, which got me really interested. I decided to do something about it." The individuals involved collected shoes and donations from those who chose to participate. All donations went towards the cause. "My goal is to raise as much money and as many pairs of shoes as possible by having people donate," said Joubert, who also said she promised to donate shoes herself. "At all three lunches, there will be a table for information and boxes that people can drop their shoes in and we ship our donations to the company," said Joubert. "The shoes are given to those

this could be a very big deal. With the increasing number of plans, the scholarship in Pete's name will continue to become larger. The select students running the scholarship for Pete hope to make it a scholarship that will last awhile. "I think it's a great thing that they are doing for a great man, and I hope to see the scholarship flourish in years to come." said sophomore Tom Crotty. The scholarship will be given out by the Booster Association of South Hadley next year. They have already made $450 from the bags that are selling at $10 each. Fiore, senior Zandalie Rivera, Coach and

who have been through natural disasters all around the world." Vice Principal Bill Evans said the campaign represents a good cause. "I think it's an awesome idea," said Evans. "We all have shoes that we've grown out of and don't need anymore. Why throw them away when somebody else who needs them can use them?"

Vanderpoel may be reached at wdvspotlight@gmail.com. Suarez may be reached at jhsspotlight@gmail.com.

Staff photo by Julian Suarez

HELP IS ON THE WAY: Students purchased baked goods and donated shoes in support of Soles4Souls.

SpEd Teacher Tara Cole, and McCarthy are in the process of receiving money from businesses who have agreed to donate money toward the cause. The businesses could be a major source of money toward the scholarship, which will be awarded to a graduate each year. Fiore and Rivera also previously helped with the designing and selling of the bracelets which has raised a great amount of money towards the scholarship. Harrington may be reached at rhspotlight@gmail.com. Dennis may be reached at jhdspotlight@gmail.com.

News

22 News bombards Youth Commission

June 2012

Jay Patruno Caitlyn Hoschtetler

In early April, The South Hadley Youth Commission accepted the invitation to attend the 18th annual New England Youth Congress in Boston, Massachusetts. A series of workshops were held at the congregation of students and teachers to promote equality among the local youth. They agreed to attend because, as a group, the members of the Youth Commission concluded that there is a lack of unity in the high school throughout the student body. New England Youth Congress is designed for students in grades 7-12 and educators from public, private, and parochial middle schools and high schools. Students attending the congress explored prejudice issues and were presented with the knowledge and skills to promote preju-

dice-free schools and communities. “There were 1200 people at the conference,” said Youth Commission Director Adam Roberts. “People came from all over New England, about 62 different schools.” On the morning of April 4, Youth Commission members, accompanied by Roberts and Vice Principal Ted McCarthy, met at the high school. They departed for Boston at approximately 6:00 a.m. to arrive in time for registration at 8:00 a.m. After an opening presentation, the students and educators then split into different workshops, each of which varied in discussion. “It was a unity conference, where we went looking for ways to unify our town,” said sophomore Allie Steinbock. “In my workshop, we talked about the different types of cliques and things we can do to help prejudice ideas in our communities.”

Spotlight 3

Later in the day during the workshops, 22 News arrived, looking specifically for South Hadley students who were at the conference. Once they found who they were looking for, they filmed the workshop and interviewed students and faculty from the high school. “22 News filmed the workshop,” said Roberts. “I find it a bit insensitive because people were meant to dialogue and discuss their feelings and ideas. When there is a camera on you, I feel like it can cause people to hold back more and not share what they are thinking. Nobody likes to be made into a spectacle.” Sophomore Maddie Gatzounas said, “22 News showing up was little bit intrusive because the things we were talking about were personal.” “The tragedy that was Phoebe Prince’s experience... it drew enormous attention and put enormous public pressure on the legislature and

the larger community to do something about bullying once and for all,” said Anti-Defamation League Regional Director Derrek Shulman to 22 News. “Renewed focus to get students to participate in positive things has resulted in more students becoming more members of a more positive community,” said McCarthy, also to 22 News. Despite feeling a bit uncomfortable with cameras rolling for much of the afternoon, the Youth Commission said they enjoyed the trip. “It was really fun,” said Gatzounas. “I had a blast and learned a lot.”

Patruno may be reached at jjpspotlight@gmail.com. Hoschtetler may be reached at chspotlight@gmail.com.

Mock trial: A Music department cruises to Bermuda unique class experience Rachel Harrington, Staff Reporter Hieu Dennis, Staff Reporter

Brei Roberts Staff Reporter

Annually, students enrolled in the forensics course offered at the high school undergo a mock trial. This year, Science Teacher Sylvia Cooley and Social Studies Teacher Margot Eckert devised a crime scenario to test the knowledge that students have gained in the forensics field. Cooley and Eckert are responsible for the arrangement of the crime scene. “My favorite part is making all of the false documents,” said Cooley. “It’s fun to make false documents that seem as though they’re from the UMass Drug Lab. I’ve even made false car registrations.” All of the props utilized in the crime scene are strategically placed to ensure that the students attempt to solve the case to their fullest potential. The “crime scene” was set up in the wood shop room. A crow bar was placed at the scene, accompanied by splattered “blood” and other items carefully placed among the tools in the wood shop room. One half of the forensics students, who focus on the Crime Lab aspect of the case, were called to the scene by a Code Blue (medical emergency) for the purpose of the case’s process. Upon arrival, they roped off the scene, marked evidence, and took pictures and detailed notes. “Students take the case very seriously,” said Cooley. “The more everyone stays in character, the more legit the trial becomes.” The other half of the students focus on the law aspect of the class and are directed by Eckert. “Lawyers” of the case rely on the police officers and personnel from the other teams for their information. While they await an arrest, they practice opening statements, admitting evidence to trial, and speaking on the stand. Eckert said she prefers to work with the lawyers because she has experience as a lawyer. “Forensics is an important ever-growing pathway to justice and I want to teach it,” said Eckert. “[Forensics] doesn’t lie or forget.” It is also essential that forensics students keep any information that is relevant to the trial confidential and use discretion in the presence of seniors Michaela Raschilla and Kim Ashwood, as they assumed the role of the “press”, gathering information and documenting it. Another role is that of senior Casey Baker, who took on the task of being the photographer. “My job is important because, with the photos I take, the lawyers get a better understanding of the crime scene,” said Baker. With all of the evidence contributed from students of different roles, a decision is made by the jury, which consists of unbiased students from other classes. Ultimately, the case may or may not be solved according to the verdict reached by the jury. Roberts may be brspotlight@gmail.com.

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On April 14, students of the music department at the high school left for a Royal Caribbean cruise. The Enchantment of the Sea, the cruise ship they departed on, had a destination of Bermuda. The planning of the trip was not easy, as it started very early, and progressed over the summer of 2011. “It’s a vacation with a group of kids that’s very family,” said Music Teacher and Band Director Beth Ayn Curtis. The various music groups from the high school, including the chorus and band, frequently performed during the cruise, and were evaluated by different judges. They departed on their ship from Baltimore, which was the only port remotely close to New England that also had a cruise leaving at the appropriate time. Despite participating in various musical performances throughout the trip, everyone that went on the cruise was really just looking forward to relaxing, having fun, and spending time with their friends. “I’m really excited for the food,” said senior Kate Godfrey. The music department plans a trip every four years, so each student gets to go once while in high school. Before departing, freshman Riley O’Connor said, “I’m excited for the beaches.” Unfortunately, the cruise ship ran into bad vacation weather, causing many of the land excursions to be canceled, such as going to the beach, and taking a trip on a glass bottom boat, which allows for fantastic views of the aquatic life and scenery without having to actually go underwater. Thankfully, the cruise ship had many activities and entertainment on board, so that bad weather couldn't ruin the trip. Many of the students attended a show called “Can’t Stop the Rock,” featuring songs and scenes from different musicals. It also had rock-climbing walls, bungee trampolines, and a special teen club called “Fuel.” The boat, while surrounded by water, was also covered in it as it featured two outdoor pools, an indoor saltwater pool, and hot tubs everywhere. While the students were mostly on the boat, they did have some time to spend on shore. During this time, many of the students spent their time shopping for souvenirs, which included jewelry, t-shirts, and snow globes. “We also went to the teen club and did many activities on the ship,” said senior Chelsea Godere. The music department was given scores and feedback on the boat for their music. “The judge gave us, both the band and the chorus, an excellent rating and Riley O’Connor, Kyle Whelihan, Dylan Vautrin, Erin Provost, and myself were recognized for outstanding contributions to the groups,” said Godere. Senior Kyle Whelihan said that their section leaders received trophies for their hard work. The students looking forward to the food were not let down, as there was an All-You-Can-Eat buffet open 24 hours a day that was prepaid for. Throughout the day, students could go and conquer their hunger, with occasional trips to Ben & Jerry’s for delicious ice cream in between. Every night, each student dressed up and attended dinner in the dinner hall, where they received a five star, three-course meal. The trip lasted for five days overall, taking the students of the music department from the high school, to Baltimore, the Atlantic Ocean, and Bermuda. With their schedule booked with performances, activities, and meals, there was not a dull moment on the trip. Despite the cloudy and rainy weather for much of it, the vacation cruise was a success. For the students who attended, the cruise was filled with fun, food, and fantastic views. The students who will be taking a vacation four years from now can only hope to have a trip as cool and exciting as this one. Dennis may be reached at jhdspotlight@gmail.com. Harrington may be reached at rhspotlight@gmail.com.

Staff photo by Brittany Vardakis

OCEAN BLUE: Students were able to sight-see nature's fruits during their cruise to Bermuda.

Staff photo by Brittany Vardakis

SAY CHEESE: Students of the high school's music department defer their adventures for a group photo

Staff photo by Brittany Vardakis

LAND, HO!: Pictured above is one of the ports that the cruise ship, Enchantment of the Sea, docked at along the journey.

Features

Gillat to retire from education 6 Spotlight

June 2012

Julian Suarez, Managing Editor Nate Laurin, Staff Reporter

After working in the South Hadley community for 20 years, Connections Director Batsheva Gillat has decided to retire at the conclusion of the school year. Gillat has been working in the educational field for 42 years. Gillat said she first came to the South Hadley school district as the high school was in search of a shop instructor. After four years of assuming this role, the high school did not pass accreditation, resulting in the adoption of a school-to-career program. The superintendent at the time, Cindy Cidel, requested that the guidance department control the proGillat enjoys gram, which they making origami declined. Due to this, it was opened to all teachers in the district. With 17 people applying in total, Gillat was selected to run the school-to-career program, which was dubbed “Connections." “Connections are made between students and interests, students and employers, employers and school,” said Gillat. “That’s how it got the name Connections.” In the Connections program, enrolled students are able to perform tasks in the school environment. Some students are even able to work outside of school and get paid in the process. While working outside of the school offers a salary and working in the school does not, both options offer school credits. The purpose of the program is to ease the transition from high school to careers that students are interested in. “In 17 years, thousands and thousands of kids went through the program," GilIat said. "I have made connections with over 500 employers, who I have really strong relationships with.” However, in these 17 years, Gillat had to overcame a handful of obstacles. In 1991-1992, Gillat had to convince the Chamber of Commerce that students could work at places such as law firms and medical offices.

Staff photo by Nate Laurin

GET CONNECTED: Dr. Gillat was not only known for her role as head of the Connections program and teaching a few art classes, she was also known for her ability to put others before her.

"At that time, it was not okay to put a student in a law firm," said Gillat. "Kids worked at Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald's, but putting a kid in a law firm or a child care center or the dentist was not something that was done.” Gillat also had to work with parents, employers, and students who had disagreements with the Connections program. “I have no idea - like, really, no idea what will happen with the program," said Gillat. "I hope that [the Connections program] will be sustained.” The Connections program has been very successful over the years, due to Gillat's hard work and determination. Gillat has put in countless

hours and poured her heart into this program. "If that would go down the drain, it would be a shame," said Gillat. "The program is working the way the government wants it to be working, so it's not my creativity - I just put my soul into it." “Many mixed emotions, because I’m closing 42 years in education...I will miss meeting with kids and talking to them...I will miss everything. But, I have 6 grandchildren, two new twins, my husband is retiring as well, we are planning to go back to Italy, Spain and Portugal, it is a lot of mixed emotions, but I will be very busy, I know I will be very busy all the time.”

money. Growing up in Brooklyn, the easiest way to make money was to sell drugs. He soon dropped out of school and started selling drugs full time, mainly crack and cocaine. This was all until he was arrested for drug and weapon charges, and put in a North Carolina jail for 9 months. All through his jail sentence he was able to write raps. Once he was released he returned to Brooklyn and quickly became a hot commodity in the New York hip hop scene. He quickly met Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs and signed to his new label deal, thus making him a part of Bad Boy

Records. His first hit, being performed at colleges and small venues, was "Real love remix" originally by Mary J. Blige. On September 13th, 1994, just months after Bad Boy colleague Craig Mack released his killer album "Project: Funk da World," Biggie released "Ready to Die," one of the most hyped hip-hop albums of all time. “In my opinion, this is the greatest premier rap album ever” said sophomore Jordan Brunelle. This album launched Biggie’s fame, and a friendship with famed West coast rapper Tupac Shakur. But soon, things went sour between the two. On November 30th, 1994, Tupac and others made an appearance at Biggie’s studio. When Tupac walked in, he was shot five times. He survived and was quick to blame that Biggie and Combs had set him up. This created the Famed East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud. “Although the feud was not a good situation, it did inspire a lot of great songs from both sides and fueled the great hip-hop scene at the time” said freshman Ryan Kleszczynski. Only throwing fuel on the fire were diss songs such as "Who Shot Ya" (by Biggie) and "Hit ‘Em Up" (by Tupac). Then on September 13th, 1996 Tupac Shakur was shot 4 times and died. This of course was a tragic incident to Biggie, who even though feuded with Tupac, was a close friend with him for a while. Biggie soon afterwards tried to patch up the East Coast-West Coast by making frequent tour dates in West Coast cities, all while recording his second album, "Life after Death". On March 12th 1997, Biggie was at a party hosted by Vibe magazine with his entourage. Biggie and others were driving to pick up Shaquille O'Neal, who was a

Students say Dr. Gillat will always be remembered here at the high school because of how much she cared about them. Students have said that Gillat has touched so many of their lives, and noted her work ethic and commitment to Connections. The students at the high school wish Gillat the best of luck and a happy retirement.

Suarez may be jhsspotlight@gmail.com. Laurin may be nmlspotlight@gmail.com.

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Biggie Smalls 15 years later

TJ Fitzell, Staff Reporter Charlie Allard, Staff Reporter

March 9, 1997 marks an important date in music history. The famed rapper, Christopher George Latore Wallace, known as Notorious B.I.G. and Biggie Smalls, was shot and killed. March 9, 2012 marks the 15th anniversary. Wallace was born on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn and raised in the poverty stricken area of Bed-Stuy. At a young age Christopher developed a love for music, especially hip-hop. However, he also developed a love for making

Creative Commons image by '09 Spyder on Flickr

LARGER THAN LIFE: Biggie Small's legacy carries on through his lyrical genious, untouchable flow, and unique charisma.

'Although the feud was not a good situation, it did inspire a lot of great songs from both sides and fueled the great hiphop scene at the time'

Ryan Kleszczynski

good friend and attend an after party. While at a stoplight and with his entourage focused on some females on the other side of the road, a mysterious car pulled to the passenger side and fired shots at Biggie. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead. A week later, "Life after Death," ironically named at the time, was released and became one of the greatest selling hip-hop albums ever. Biggie’s life was cut down, but he left a lasting impression on the world. “Biggie was a genius with words and changed the hip-hop scene forever” said physical education teacher Eric Castonguay. Christopher George Latore Wallace will always be remembered as one of the greatest rappers ever. Fitzell may be tjfspotlight@gmail.com. Allard may be cjaspotlight@gmail.com.

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Features

Gillat to retire from education 6 Spotlight

June 2012

Julian Suarez, Managing Editor Nate Laurin, Staff Reporter

Staff photo by Nate Laurin

GET CONNECTED: Dr. Gillat was not only known for her role as head of the Connections program and teaching a few art classes, she was also known for her ability to put others before her.

However, he also developed a love for making money. Growing up in Brooklyn, the easiest way to make money was to sell drugs. He soon dropped out of school and started selling drugs full time, mainly crack and cocaine. This was all until he was arrested for drug and weapon charges, and put in a North Carolina jail for 9 months. All through his jail sentence he was able to write raps.

first hit, being performed at colleges and small venues, was "Real love remix" originally by Mary J. Blige.

Suarez may be jhsspotlight@gmail.com. Laurin may be nmlspotlight@gmail.com.

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Biggie Smalls 15 years later

TJ Fitzell, Staff Reporter Charlie Allard, Staff Reporter

March 9th, 1997 marks an important date in music history. The famed rapper, Christopher George Latore Wallace, known as Notorious B.I.G. and Biggie Smalls, was shot and killed. March 9th, 2012 marks the 15th anniversary. Wallace was born on May 21st, 1972 in Brooklyn and raised in the poverty stricken area of Bed-Stuy. At a young age Christopher developed a love for music, especially hip-hop.

Once he was released he returned to Brooklyn and quickly became a hot commodity in the New York hip hop scene. He quickly met Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs and signed to his new label deal, thus making him a part of Bad Boy Records. His

Creative Commons image by '09 Spyder on Flickr

LARGER THAN LIFE: Biggie Small's legacy carries on through his lyrical genious, untouchable flow, and unique charisma.

On September 13th, 1994, just months after Bad Boy colleague Craig Mack released his killer album "Project: Funk da World," Biggie released "Ready to Die," one of the most hyped hip-hop albums of all time. “In my opinion, this is the greatest premier rap album ever” said sophomore Jordan Brunelle. This album launched Biggie’s fame, and a friendship with famed West coast rapper Tupac Shakur. But soon, things went sour between the two. On November 30th, 1994, Tupac and others made an appearance at Biggie’s studio. When Tupac walked in, he was shot five times. He survived and was quick to blame that Biggie and Combs had set him up. This created the Famed East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud. “Although the feud was not a good situation, it did inspire a lot of great songs from both sides and fueled the great hip-hop scene at the time” said freshman Ryan Kleszczynski. Only throwing fuel on the fire were diss songs such as "Who Shot Ya" (by Biggie) and "Hit ‘Em Up" (by Tupac). Then on September 13th, 1996 Tupac Shakur was shot 4 times and died. This of course was a tragic incident to Biggie, who even though feuded with Tupac, was a close friend with him for a while. Biggie soon afterwards tried to patch up the East Coast-West Coast by making frequent tour dates in West Coast cities, all while recording his second album, "Life after Death". On March 12th 1997, Biggie was at a party hosted by Vibe magazine with his entourage. Biggie and

'Although the feud was not a good situation, it did inspire a lot of great songs from both sides and fueled the great hiphop scene at the time'

Ryan Kleszczynski

others were driving to pick up Shaquille O'Neal, who was a good friend and attend an after party. While at a stoplight and with his entourage focused on some females on the other side of the road, a mysterious car pulled to the passenger side and fired shots at Biggie. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead.

A week later, "Life after Death," ironically named at the time, was released and became one of the greatest selling hip-hop albums ever. Biggie’s life was cut down, but he left a lasting impression on the world. “Biggie was a genius with words and changed the hip-hop scene forever” said physical education teacher Eric Castonguay. Christopher George Latore Wallace will always be remembered as one of the greatest rappers ever. Fitzell may be tjfspotlight@gmail.com Allard may be cjaspotlight@gmail.com

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Features

June 2012

Spotlight 7

'The Hunger Games' evokes student reactions Alex Ziomek, Staff Reporter Lizzy Menard, Staff Reporter

Ever since knowledge of release, there was enormous hype around “The Hunger Games.” Fans of the novel said they anticipated its date of release, since their favorite novel would develop in a film. “I went to the midnight premiere of the Hunger Games with Jess Casolari and we got there six hours early,” said freshman Cailey Newton. Newton is one of many fans who went to the midnight premiere to view the film that portrayed the story crafted by Suzanne Collins. The midnight premiere brought in an estimated 67 million dollars. The success of the midnight premiere was no

fluke, as many movie-goers said they enjoyed the film. “I personally thought the Hunger Games was an incredibly entertaining movie,” said senior Kyle Whelihan. “I thought it was as fulfilling as I wanted it to be.” Many viewers agreed that the movie stuck to the story for the most part, and that is what made it such a great and successful film. Those who read the novel were pleased that the film was accurate to its contents. “It’s exactly like the book except for the last part when the dogs came at them. I love the movie and I think Effie Trinket was probably my favorite,” said Newton. “All of the characters were really good, and they were casted in the right places.”

Neglected art garden distresses students

Sophia Kebbede Staff Reporter The art garden, once a place where students would study and work in a lush green atmosphere, has become overgrown and unkempt. The current condition of the art garden is due to the lack of time of art classes to tend to it. “We’re in such a push to finish our curriculum, we don’t have time to go out and do gardening,” said McNally. “It would be nice if we could have some community service, where kids could go out and do some gardening.” The cries of many have been answered, as the school’s Life Skills course, taught by Kim Kretzer, has stepped up to the task. “I was looking for some type of vocational op-

portunity for my students and noticed the garden was a bit overgrown,” said Kretzer. “We have a couple students who have done that type of work before and are interested in doing it.” Assisting Kretzer’s students in the cleanup effort is Students With A Goal, a sophomore leadership group. “The garden is so overgrown, it’s going to take more than my students can handle,” said Kretzer. “SWAG is definitely planning on having a community service day for the art garden,” said SWAG advisor and Vice Principal Ted McCarthy. “We have yet to pick a date and time to help out.” Students and teachers will soon be able to enjoy the serenity of a manicured, well taken care of garden. Kebbede may be spkspotlight@gmail.com.

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“Although it wasn’t true to every event that happened in the book, I thought it was very true to the spirit of the book, and that’s what I liked the best about it,” said Librarian Rebecca Mazur. Even those who did not read the novel said they enjoyed the film. “I thought the Hunger Games was an excellent movie,” said senior Adam Rosario. “I didn’t read the entire book - I wish I did, though. I can’t wait for the next movies to release.” Senior Lauren Deschenes was in agreement with Rosario. “I didn’t read the books, so I have no idea really what it was supposed to be like, but I thought it was really well done,” said Deschenes. “The casting and the acting wasn’t bad at all. It was a great movie.”

The film has been a huge success which is why a sequel is being produced. The second book in Collins’s series is “Catching Fire.” Viewers such as Newton said they look forward to the release of the sequel, which is currently scheduled to release on November 22, 2013. “People should definitely read the book and not just see the movie,” said Newton. “I can’t wait for the second movie.” Menard may be reached at lcmspotlight@gmail.com. Ziomek may be reached at spotlight@gmail.com.

Staff photo by Sophia Kebbede

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE: Luckily, a Life Skills class has stepped up to the task of cleaning up the bedraggled and ungroomed art garden.

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Features

June 2012

n o i t a l u m i S d r a z z Sli

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June 2012

SENIOR GIRLS

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Student Profiles

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Favorite memories, classes, teachers and more!

Jessica Stefanowicz

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GIRLS FROM THE CLASS OF 2012!

Sarah Beaudry

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June 2012

Betty Czitrom

Brittany Vardakis

Rose Dennis College: So uthern New Hampshire Keene State College or University Major: The rapy Favorite M emory: Goo fing off wit everyday h my friend s Biggest Fea r: Getting k id napped Embarrassin g Moment: high school, Basically e veryday in I'm clumsy and say stu Most Proud pid things Of: My junio r cross coun try season

Nicole Collette

"My favorite teacher is Ms. Hamilton because she is very supportive!" "Ms. Goelz is my favorite teacher because she is such an amazing person." "My favorite teacher is Ms. Goelz because she is incredibly inspiring, helpful, and caring."

"Ms. Graf is my favorite teacher because she's basically my mom in high school."

"My favorite teacher is Ms. Young because she got me through AP Calculus."

"Mr. Balut is my fav o r i t e teacher because he is interactive."

Reviews

June 2012

Yogurt City impresses GoBerry fanatics

Sophia Kebbede Staff Reporter

Staff Photo by Sophia Kebbede

COLORFUL AND CREATIVE: Yogurt City, different from Goberry, is self serve with a plethora of toppings. flavors at Yogurt City is vast compared to GoBerry, where the available flavors are original and the two flavors they decide to feature throughout the week. At Yogurt City, there are 14 soft serve flavors available at all times. Different flavors can be combined to create one unique mixture and all flavors are either Non-Fat or Low-Fat. Another notable aspect of Yogurt City is that all selections are self-serve. Upon arrival, customers are able to fill their own cup with fro-yo to then proceed to the toppings area. Yogurt City has both traditional toppings, such as fruit and

is in taking your expectations of horror and meeting them while simultaneously tearing them to pieces. Something undeniable from the beginning of the film is that Cabin is brilliantly funny, using its masterful dialogue and understanding of the characters to elicit more than just nervous laughter from viewers. Each step in "The Cabin in the Woods" is carefully and intentionally taken, even when all appears as chaos and unpredictability (watch for Sigourney Weaver’s cameo at the very end). Unless you’ve stumbled onto spoilers online or through friends, going in to see this film is as alike to going into it totally blind. The initial trailers found on television and Youtube give away virtually nothing about the plot. Everyone knows the frustration of seeing a movie where the best and funniest moments were highlighted in the trailer that had been seen multiple times before the actual viewing of the movie. Cabin smartly revealed nothing in its trailers and commercials that would make sense without context,

when Jordan and actress Kara Lindsay began to connect, the love was adorable. Actors who became the highlight of the night were Jeremy Jordan as the lead role and Ryan Steele as a Newsie. Filled with amazing dancing and singing, my eyes were glued to the stage. If you ever find yourself on Broadway, 'Newsies!' is a great spectacle to see. 5 out of 5 Paws: Devour It Boissonneault may be reached at albspotlight@gmail.com.

5 out of 5 Paws: Devour it Kebbede may be reached at spotlight@gmail.com.

Re-inventing the horror genre while making you laugh at the same time, this horror-comedy puts a surprising new twist on two popular styles of movies and will make you cry from laughter and cringe in fear. Austin Rioux Staff Reporter

The lights dim as the hum of the pit band crescendos into the overture of “Newsies!” Everyone shivers with excitement as two men wake up from “sleeping on a balcony” and begin serenading us with song. Originally, ‘Newsies!’ was adapted as a film with a cast of familiar celebrities such as Christian Bale and Robert Duvall, and then it was adapted to the stage. ‘Newsies!’ is a Disney production, and there is a love story occurring behind the Newsie Strike. For the Broadway play, several aspects of the love story were altered. Instead of a newspaper reporter who befriends the Newsies, it’s a girl. I was shocked at first to hear the change, but

chocolate chips, and unusual toppings, such as gel juice balls. After serving your fro-yo, you place your cup on a scale and pay just 43 cents per ounce, which is cheaper than the price of GoBerry. Yogurt City is the paragon of fro-yo shops. It’s innovative, delicious, sffordable, and trumps GoBerry by far

The Cabin in The Woods: a clever horror flick

From Halloween marathons to odd one-time wonders, the most versatile and constantly changing genre of film is that of horror. Some may argue it is also the most repetitive. Fortunately, first-time director Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy, revive and reinvent the horror genre with their film, "The Cabin in the Woods." The title screams cliche, as does the unassuming cast of victim and attractive college students in the creepy and isolated cabin for the weekend. The typical horror stereotypes are there, from bookish and shy heroine to jock athlete and nerdy but lovable stoner. The five friends have excellent chemistry and truly witty dialogue, establishing a connection to viewers before the actual terror occurs. And when it does occur, it presents itself as a tightly wrapped box of mystery, disguised by a slowly revealing plot that keeps viewers guessing and hearts pounding as the blood and gore arrives. "The Cabin in the Woods" doesn’t rely on flashy effects or predictable scenery to make its point, its strength

'Newsies!' takes stage for a second time Alex Boissonneault Staff Reporter

Newly opened fro-yo shop is just in time for summer After two unsatisfying trips to the popular frozen yogurt shop GoBerry, I decided that ice cream forever trumped the bitter taste of frozen yogurt. After visiting Yogurt City for the first time, my opinions have completely changed. The new frozen yogurt shop has risen to popularity among many people in the area, and has even stolen the hearts of GoBerry fans. Although located in West Springfield, Yogurt City it is a much faster drive than to Northampton for GoBerry. Yogurt City also offers free convenient parking space, while GoBerry does not. The interior of Yogurt City is spacious and has eye-catching, colorful cartoons on the walls. The taste is where the most significant contrast lies between the two shops. While Goberry’s fro-yo has an unappealing tart flavor with a bitter aftertaste, Yogurt City’s fro-yo tasted more like ice cream. The selection of

Spotlight 11

'The Cabin in the Woods is an overthe-top hybrid that will remain the favorite of many.'

-Austin Rioux

providing for a purely original and unexpected deconstruction of the world of horror film. Whedon and Chris Hemsworth (the jock) won’t disappear, fortunately, and will return for Marvel’s The Avengers which is just as groundbreaking as this terrific thriller. "The Cabin in the Woods" is an over-thetop hybrid that will remain the favorite of many, and should be viewed by anyone with the ability to buy an admission ticket. 5 out of 5 paws: Devour it. Rioux can be reached at agrspotlight@gmail.com

Contributing photo by BethAyn Curtis

IT'S A WRAP: South Hadley High School's Harlequins own production of 'Newsies!'

Ultimate Predator

The world's most fearsome predators battle in our single-elimination tournament

12 Spotlight

By Maddy Brandts and Nick Robert Described below are the variety of animals which competed in Spotlight's Ultimate Predator bracket. GRIZZLY BEAR: A symbol of raw power in the wild. Grizzly bears can weigh over 800 pounds, standing at over six and a half feet tall. It is the unrivaled champion of the western hemisphere. Traps, guns, and other factory-produced weaponry are not allowed in this tournament of predators, which makes the grizzly bear more powerful against humans. The grizzly bear's power, agility, fearsome claws, and lust for primal domination allow it to warrant a number 1 seed in the Ultimate Predator showdown. OCELOT: They have the element of camouflage and surprise. They have sharp teeth that can deliver a deadly bite. Ocelots have the potential to progress somewhat far in the bracket due to their speed and cunning However, ocelots lack in size, where many other competitors have an advantage. They are two times larger than the average house cat, to give some perspective. MEGA-BAT: They can range from 6 to 40 centimeters long and have an excellent sense of smell. Mega-bats eat fruits and drink nectar from flowers and are nocturnal. As the number 12 seed, the mega-bat is not expected to be a fierce competitor. JACKAL: They are known to be excellent scavengers and are also omnivores. They hunt small mammals, birds, and reptiles. The large feet of jackals are helpful in running long distances. Jackals

Pictured left to right is a Russian boar, ostrich, silverback gorilla, scorpion, lion, walrus, and social studies teacher Travis Chaput.

are ranked as the number 15 seed. Usually pack hunters, the jackal does not stand a chance in a one-on-one fight against other predators. HIPPOPOTAMUS: Weighing up to three tons, which is approximately the weight of eight and a half grizzly bears, the hippopotamus is a deathly predator. They are not only beastly in size, but hippopotami can run up to 40 mph, and have teeth up to 1 foot long each. They are known to be temperamental, and to even eat their own young when disturbed. Scared yet? You should be. IMPALA: These animals may not make significant progress in the bracket, as they are essentially super-sized antelopes. Though impalas run extremely fast and could potentially outrun their opponent, they will eventually become weary and simpler to eliminate. Impalas can also jump over any obstacle in their path however, when faced with lion, tiger, or any other large cat, an impala would be taken down almost immediately as they are already the natural prey of large cats KOMODO DRAGON: It is a living, breathing dragon. Instead of breathing fire like your typical dragon, its saliva contains a deadly toxin. After one bite, this sly lizard will ignore its prey and let its mouth-produced toxins course through their veins, literally killing them from the inside out. Following the death of their prey, Komodo dragons will return for their meal. They are able to run up to 20 mph in short bursts, and their tails act as a powerful defense mechanism. OWL: Although majestic, large, and intimidating in its looks, the owl will not travel significantly far in the bracket. Their superior to the duck or other small birds, but would be not match for larger competitors. They are only sufficient hunters and navigators in the dark. They hunt for mice and small rodents, which means they have very little experience taking down anything larger than such. They only hunt for their food - not for sport. As a result, owls are probably less vicious. TASMANIAN DEVIL: They have razor-sharp claws and teeth. These carnivorous marsupials feed on small prey like fish, birds, and snakes. Their

muscular jaws deliver one of the most powerful bites of any mammal. TIGER: They are huge and ferocious. They take down large prey and would be a difficult competitor for an opposing large cat. They will make progress in the bracket because of their large claws, razor-sharp teeth and strong jaws. Another interesting match for a tiger would be a bear because, though they are a completely different species, they’re of similar size and skill. EAGLE: This bird has a wingspan ranging up to 8 feet, and talons and a beak that can rip its prey apart. Their great eyesight is essential in seeking out prey from a far distance. These birds are definitely not meant to be messed with. FISHER CAT: Yes they are a member of the weasel family, but don’t let that sway your opinion. These overgrown ferrets are found in the trees as much as they are on the forest floor. They may have the ability to outsmart many animals they combat against by attacking them suddenly and unexpectedly from above. CROCODILE: Even though they may be smaller than an alligator, what they lack in size, they make up for in agility. This prehistoric animal can be as long as 20 feet and up to 2,000 pounds. The crocodile’s extremely fast reaction time while striking makes them highly dangerous. WILDEBEEST: Known to travel in packs, wildebeests do not really have any true defense mechanisms. They have a strong hind kick, and a fierce head-butt. Weighing in around 600 pounds, they are a weak number 11 seed. OSTRICH: As the world largest bird, the ostrich’s speed makes up for its inability to fly. They are able to travel up to speeds of 43 mph. Their long and powerful legs can also kill predators with a kick along with each sharp claw they have on their feet. BEAVER: As the number 13 seed, beavers are vegetarians and only have the defense of their teeth and their ability to thrust their tail. FALCON: They are the fastest bird in the world because of their thintapered wings. Their razor-sharp claws and beak help them protect themselves. WALRUS: With tusks over three feet long, this number 4 seed is not to be messed with. The walrus weighs well over 3,000

June 2012

pounds making it an intimidating mammal. Known to be quite social, walrus also become very aggressive during mating season. Their blubber, at three and a half inches thick, insulates them as well as protects them from predators. Their main opponent in their habitat is the killer whale. EMU: They are the world’s second largest bird. Despite its inability to fly, an emu can reach heights as tall as six and a half feet. Their long legs help them to run long distances, but also assist them in sprinting up to speeds of 31 mph for shorter periods. EMPEROR PENGUIN: Despite the fact they may not be very intimidating in size, they can endure temperatures up to -70 degrees Fahrenheit in the frigid Antarctic environment. In the water, emperor penguins can swim swiftly and escape, which could come in handy against predators. SCORPION: With claws and a venomous tail, scorpions can be dangerous. Although these small predators only reach around 21 centimeters at most, few species have enough venom to kill a human. TRAVIS CHAPUT: Then there’s the famous Travis Chaput who teaches various history courses in the high school. Chaput enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, scuba diving, golfing, reading, and playing with his kids. As the number 3 seed in the plains/desert category, people should keep in mind his useful skills as a Marine. Robert may be reached at narspotlight@gmail.com. Brandts may be reached at spotlight@gmail.com.

Ultimate Predator Results

June 2012

Spotlight 13

Travis Chaput: atop the animal kingdom Nick Robert Sports Editor

The Ultimate Predator bracket was the buzz of the school for a few months and led to students and administrators alike completing the bracket as to who they believed would emerge victorious as the Ultimate Predator. After tallying results, Social Studies Teacher Travis Chaput emerged as an overwhelming favorite in the Spotlight-generated bracket. The Ultimate Predator bracket was a college basketball tournamentstyled bracket with 64 animals from four regions - desert/plains, jungle/forest, semiaquatic, and birds. These animals were seeded 1 through 16 in each region, 1 being the top seed, or considered to be the fiercest animal in Nick Robert that region, and 16 being Staff Reporter the worst. The seeds were carefully chosen by a panel of 4-5 Spotlight staff members. “We tried to cover all types of animals and fairly seed them," said Staff Reporter Maddie Brandts. "This was based on how we felt they stacked up to each other.” Once seeded, the brackets were circulated throughout the school where students, teachers, and administrators filled out their bracket. They chose each match-up with the animal they felt would win all the way up to the finals. “The brackets were pretty awesome," said junior Sean Rondeau. "I was able to use my imagination to choose a winner. Some of the match-ups were funny because of how absurd they seemed." The top seeds in each region were the grizzly bear from the jungle/forest region, the lion from the plain/desert region, the cassowary from the birds region, and the hippopotamus from the semi-

Graphic by Nick Robert

THE ULTIMATE PREDATOR: Social Studies Teacher Travis Chaput stands toe to toe with a silverback gorilla, one of the many animals he defeated in the recent Ultimate Predator bracket that circulated at the school.

aquatic region. Though it was not a top seed that took the title as the 3 seed from the desert/plains region, Chaput won the most votes, beating out the silverback gorilla that stood a distant second. “It was a no brainer," said Chaput. "Intellect is the greatest weapon.” Although many felt that Chaput was the definite winner, some disagreed.

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“I feel that almost every animal in this bracket would defeat a human,” said Vice Principal Ted McCarthy. “Travis Chaput, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Lee could not defeat a hippopotamus together.” “If what [McCarthy] is saying is true, then how has man lived for thousands of years? We are at the top of the food chain for a reason,” said Cha-

put in response. Other picks for the winner included the silverback gorilla, lion, grizzly bear, and even the YouTube-famous honey badger. Robert may be narspotlight@gmail.com.

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Reviews

14 Spotlight

Students take interest in photo apps

SUIT UP: Robert Downey Jr., who assumes the role of Iron Man, shows off infallible special effects and a costume design seen throughout 'The Avengers.'

'The Avengers' breaks box office records

Nathaniel Laurin Staff Reporter

Marvel’s "The Avengers” is one of the first comic-inspired films to grace theaters this year. Marvel’s newest flick delivers audiences an epic plot consisting of some of its most famous heroes, otherwise known as The Avengers. The plot is about the Avengers protecting earth from Thor’s brother, Loki (as played by the sinister Tom Hiddleston) who wishes to dictate Earth and essentially run humanity. Although it's a tad slow at the start, the film picks up before long. As heroes and villains clash, the computer-generated visual effects are absolutely credible and exciting moments do not lack in cut scenes that consist of combat. Director and screenplay writer Joss Whedon works magic, allowing each featured hero’s identity and personality to shine without one particular character dominating the others. As in previous films, Robert Downey Jr. assumes the role of Tony Starks (Iron Man), and plays the part of the genius, billionaire playboy philanthropist with brilliance, delivering numerous witty lines to perfection. Chris Evans returns as Captain America and keeps to his soldierly persona, utilizing various gadgets to and his bravado to his benefit. Mark Ruffalo assumes the role of Bruce Banner (The Hulk) and effectively portrays Banner’s desire to restrain the Hulk inside of him in an effort to refrain from hurting others. Chris Hemsworth, like Chris Evans and Downey Jr., returns to his previous heroic role, as the stoic Thor. Scarlett Johansson plays Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), the skilled spy assassin, who in emotionally involve with Jeremy Renner, who assumes the role of Clint Barton (Hawkeye), the skilled mercenary marksman. The one orchestrating the Avengers is none other than Samuel L. Jackson as Lieutenant Fury. Every actor in the film effectively portrays their comic book counterparts. This many stars in one action flick threatens to be overbearing, but The Avengers avoids this through solid relationships and appropriately-timed character development. The combination of solid acting from an all-star cast and stunning visual effects enhances the story and grips the viewer. Every set piece moment carries weight, feels important and not tacked on for action’s sake. Characters face interesting dilemmas and the film manages to avoid many action movie clichés. The outstanding computer-generated effects, writing and cast, along with the epic setting and moments provide for a movie you won’t soon forget. Like the Star Wars franchise, and other fantasy genre mainstays, Marvel’s "The Avengers” is a film that should not be missed.

June 2012

'Mad Men' a favorite among critics and viewers

Caitlyn Hoschtetler Staff Reporter

Peter Lambert Staff Reporter

New apps including “Face Juggler,” “I’d Cap That,” and “Photosynth” are all photobased applications that have become very popular among students at the high school. In Face Juggler, users snap photos of multiple people and the app allows users to switch faces in the picture onto the bodies of others in the image. At times, the faces are not perfectly blended into the other’s body, making it obvious that the faces were switched. These pictures can result in funny outcomes. I’d Cap That allows users to snap photos or use saved photos and captions are added to the picture. Sample captions include “Forgot to turn my swagger off” or “I eat people like you for breakfast.” Some of the sayings are very crude and vulgar, which makes this application suitable for people 17 or older. When certain sayings are matched with the right pictures, they can be hysterical. Although the app says it never repeats the same caption, many captions are similar enough to cause redundancy. Photosynth is an app that not only captures the scene right in front of you, but allows you to rotate the camera in all directions to make a picture that captures all the angles around it, essentially creating a panorama picture. Users can create pictures that are a full sphere, capturing all of the surrounding area. This allows people to capture moments in new perspectives. All these applications may be linked to social networking sites Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Photos edited on Face Juggler, I’d Cap That, and Photosynth can all be shared with these social networks for family and friends to view.

Modern America has lost several of the qualities that we prided ourselves on in previous generations. A sense of class, manners, and privacy is are qualities lost many years ago, thanks to the rise in popularity for social media, and the over saturation of poor behavior coming through televisions via reality shows. But we can return to that style of life thanks to “Mad Men”, the critically-acclaimed drama appearing on AMC on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. The plot is dense, tense, and often filled with mischievous and scandalous behavior of the characters. The show was originally set in 1960’s New York City with the ad men of agency Sterling-Cooper working to create effective campaigns for their clients. The protagonist, Don Draper (Jon Hamm), is by far the most compelling character from the start. As the series progresses, we see the emergence of a myriad of captivating stories from the exploits of Roger Sterling (John Slattery), the complicated home life of Betty Draper (January Jones), and the sequential development of secretary Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss). Mad Men possesses a plot that only improves as it continues. Currently, in the middle of its fifth and final season, Mad Men may be at the height of its entertainment, as bloggers and critics scramble to author reviews and commentary on the shows simply minutes after each episode concludes. I’ll avoid spoiling any plot points to anyone interested in starting from episode one (the first four seasons can all be found on Netflix), but you’d be hardpressed to find a better drama on television today than Mad Men.

Face Juggler and I’d Cap That - 4 out of 5 Paws: Photosynth - 5 out of 5 Paws: Devour it Hoschtetler may be reached at chspotlight@gmail.com.

Lambert may be reached at pjlspotlight@gmail.com.

5 out of 5 Paws: Devour it Laurin may be reached at nmlspotlight@gmail.com.

Tim Burton raises Dark Shadows from the dead... sort of Alex Boissoneault Staff Reporter

Who would have ever thought that hippies would fall in love with a soap opera involving a vampire and his distant family? In the late 60’s and 70’s, “Dark Shadows” became a huge television hit. Now, 46 years later, Dark Shadows makes its mark again upon society. Tim Burton turned the gothic drama into a funky satirical film. Taking the lead is Johnny Depp as vampire Barnabas Collins. Burton’s take on Dark Shadows is almost disappointing, as his creepy take on films seems redundant and forced. Trailers show that the recreated Dark Shadows is somewhat of a comedy, involving an unwanted love connection and the contrast of Barnabas’s real time and the 70’s. The characters remain the same, but they are all crammed into an average length movie, instead of a few years’ worth of episodes. The film centers around

a few episodes where Angelique Bouchard, a witch played by Eva Green, curses Barnabas to be a vampire. The first Dark Shadows film had a few episodes in, where viewers learned about how Barnabas became a vampire. It also focused on his fiancé look-a-like Victoria Winters and other character developments. Overall Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows is a rather good movie, but not particularly strict to the older version. With this said, Dark Shadows is a nostalgic piece of comedy for any Burton fan. 3 out of 5 Paws: Pursue It Boissonneault may albspotlight@gmail.com.

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Creative Commons by .imelda

MORE THAN JUST ANGRY BIRDS: iPod and iPhone users discover creative photography applications.

Reviews

June 2012

Spotlight 15

Instagram makes sharing photos convenient

Brittany Vardakis Staff Reporter

use hash tags, similarly to Twitter, and to directly share with other social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. I believe it’s interesting to see what people take pictures of, because it’s what interests them and

tells the story of their lives. Photos range from beautiful sunsets to food. Other times, photos are screenshots of funny text conversations. If you’re not into taking pictures or social networking, then obviously

this isn’t the app for you. Othe other side, other students have argued that this app is innovative and fun to use to interact with their peers. Most users are aiming to receive as many “likes” and “comments” on a picture as they can, and to receive as many followers as possible. Being “Instagram-famous” is definitely a goal of many on the app. One of the controversies that has recently arisen for Instagram is the fact that it used to only be available for iPhone users, but now it can be used on Android phones. The endless “Team iPhone” and “Team Android” debate continues, with Team iPhone complaining that Instagram should be exclusive, and only for iPhones. Whether you use Instagram on an iPhone or Android, it is definitely an up-and-coming app that everyone is sure to be involved with.

iPhone & Android users are currently utilizing a new and upcoming app - “Instagram.” With this app, users take pictures on their phones and are able to proceed to edit them with the given vintage filters, and then post them for their followers to see. This app is another to explode, as users have completely ignored “Temple Run” and “Words with Friends” due to the popularity of Instagram. This trend is blowing up, and fast. Instagram is essentially a vintage photo Twitter. Most people try to be extremely artsy with it, taking a black and white photo of their sneakers and calling it “deep.” If you’re significantly interested in photography and subjects of the nature, Instagram is definitely an app you’ll adore - especially since users can easily make any 4 out of 5 paws: Pounce on it photo look vintage from the convenStaff photo by Sophia Kebbede ience of their phone. Vardakis may be reached at spotThis quirky app allows people to POINT AND TAP: Instagram provides fun, vintage visual effects for aspiring light@gmail.com. photographers who want quality photos with convenience.

'American Pie' returns to theaters Prank show attracts various crowds Tyler LaBombard Staff Reporter

“American Reunion”, the newest installment in the American Pie franchise following “American Pie", “American Pie 2”, and "American Wedding", made over 21 million dollars the first week. As of May, it grossed over 128 million dollars. The movie features the same cast as the original two movies including traditional characters such as Michelle, Jim, Jim’s dad, Heather, Oz, Kevin, Vicky, Finch, Stiffler and all of their friends. The original American Pie film featured the breakthrough role of Jason Biggs (Jim), and, in American Reunion, he delivers his best performance since then. The characters reunite in the hometown of East Great Falls, MI for the ten year high school reunion. Jim meets his neighbor that he used to babysit ten years ago, Kara, who now all is grown up and developing a crush on him, Stiffler discovers that everyone has grown up except for himself, Fich shares his lavish life of luxury with the other guys, Kevin realizes he needs to get out with the guys more and Oz realizes his “perfect” life isn’t so perfect after all.

By all these characters being reunited, old memories stir up such as the webcam incident between Jim and Nadia. New memories are also made, like the guys playing pranks on Kara’s obnoxious new boyfriend. American Reunion is rated-R due to crude and sexual content. The film has nudity, foul language, brief drug use, as well as teen drinking. The movie has an interesting storyline, shows how the characters have grown up over the years, while keeping up with the tradition of the first two films, with awkward situations between Jim and his father, as well as hilarious and very inappropriate sexual scenes throughout the entire film. The plot is filled with surprises and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Though the film is longer than most comedies, there is not one dull moment. American Reunion will keep any fan of the franchise laughing after the film is over. 4 out of 5 paws: Pounce on it LaBombard may be reached at tjlspotlight@gmail.com

'The Lucky One' a must-see Courtney Marcil Assistant Sports Editor

Just like many romantic movies, “The Lucky One” was an instant hit where millions of movie-goers attended, mostly women, at theaters across the nation. Although it was not as anticipated as romance film “The Vow” did, those who did go to see it fell in love with the characters and storyline. The story of the movie is based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. The film features the two main characters Zac Efron as Logan and Taylor Schilling as Beth The story begins with Logan fighting as a Marine in his third tour in Iraq. He finds a picture of Beth in the sand after an armed confrontation, and from then on, carries the picture with him. Although he tries to find the owner of the picture, no one claims it. The longer Logan carries the photo, the

luckier he seems to becomes, surviving events he normally would not. After being sent home, he sets off to find the mysterious girl in the photo. After researching a landmark in the photo, he finds Beth and ends up working for her. Throughout their time together, Logan attempts to tell her often of his gratefulness, though he can never put its immensity into words. As they continue to work side by side, he discovers that her brother was killed in Iraq as well. The entire movie comes together with unexpected twists as Logan tries to make Beth more than his lucky charm. The movie progresses in much unexpected ways, making predictions impossible as with movies of similar design. Many characters are introduced, but each seems to serve a different purpose and have different motives. This makes the movie seem a lot more real, rather than only having a few main characters.

Jay Patruno Student Profiles Editor

NBC has brought us yet another comedic television show on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. Produced by Betty White, this is a prank show where elderly men and women commit outrageous stunts and scenarios in public in order to shock the younger generations. Hosted by White herself and directed by Tim Gibbons, the show stars Michael Alaimo Lou Beatty Jr., Ann Benson, Nick De Mauro, Reatha Grey, Richard Herd, Sheila Korsi, Joan Kushell, Emilie Melonas, Richard Reicheg, Peg Shirley, Ron Southart, and Michael Yama. All the pranks they pull are centered on the stereotypes and common conceptions that people have about elderly people. The pilot episode aired on January 16, 2012, with apparent success because the second episode aired on April 4, 2012. This episode has several tummy-tickling pranks. One prank consisted of an old lady approaching two younger high school girls, where she proceeds to ask them to help her text her daughter-in-law and asks the girls to spell out certain insults in a monotonous and self-composed manner. Another prank had an old man in a walker go to a skate park, then take out a skateboard and shed some moves around the area, baffling the young men around him. The show is intended to air every Wednesday until May 23, 2012, but may go even longer due to its success. It is a comical show that can be enjoyed by many viewers. Obscenities are censored as to not affect younger audiences. White has been a lady of comedy on television for over 50 years, and now, at 90 years old, she is at it again with her band of funny friends. Unlike past prank shows, such as Ashton Kutcher’s “Punk’d”, at the end of each prank, the

Beth’s ex-husband and his friends and family, her son, mother and brother, and Logan’s dog and his sister and her children, are all important characters who helped move the film along in unexpected ways. I would describe the movie as being a modernized version of “The Notebook.” It utilizes the military to couple undergoing similar situations. Many men and women leave behind families, like Logan left behind his, and Beth’s brother left behind his as well. There are many losses in the film as well. While carrying Beth’s picture, Logan and his best friend are hit by an improvised

public is not aware of what just happened. This just adds to the shock value and raw cut expressions on the faces of the younger generation as they see naked old men hopping out of car trunks or pulling their own teeth out with pliers. This show provides nothing, but laughs for everyone and is a must-see. 4 out of 5 Paws: Pounce on it Patruno may be jjpspotlight@gmail.com.

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Creative Commons image by Claiming Kin

OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS: The timeless Betty White hosts the show.

explosive device on a roadside in Iraq. This ends up killing Logan’s best friend, while he is spared. All of the elements of this movie have been combined in a way that makes the entire plot very believable and easy to connect to. For fans of romantic films, this is one to definitely view. 5 out of 5 paws: Devour it Marcil may be reached at camspotlight@gmail.com.

June 2012 Reviews A classic story released in 3D

14 Spotlight

Pendragon series grabs attention of readers

Michaela Raschilla Staff Reporter

The Pendragon series first grabbed my attention in middle school, and they were the most memorable books of my youth the most memorable series even in a world with “Harry Potter” and “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” “Pendragon” was the science fiction fantasy series that kept me on edge and coming back for more. The story’s main protagonist is Bobby Pendragon, a seemingly normal fourteen year old boy. Bobby is a traveler, who is the sole protector of the territory. The territories are planets, each at different points in space and time. Three of the territories are Earths. The first Earth is Earth in 1937, the second Earth is the Earth in the present, and the third Earth is Earth at some point in the future. Along with the trio of Earths, there are territories that are completely ethereal in appearance. Cloral is a territory entirely covered in water and all of the inhabitants live on floating cities. Eelong is a planet where the highest intelligent life form is a walking, talking cat creature and humans are a subservient species used as pack animals. Some Earths are similar to Earth at different times in history, while others are completely different, like the aforementioned. Most of the story is told from Bobby’s retrospective point of view - written as a journal that Bobby sends to his best friends, Mark and Courtney, back home. There are times when you are completely immersed in the fight for the territories, but some chapters follow Mark and Courtney’s struggles as they go through school,

reading about their best friends’ adventures. The antagonist, Saint Dane, is also a traveler who tries to cause each of the territories to fail. If they fail at the turning point, then the order of the universe will fall out of balance. It is the job of the travelers to prevent this from happening. Bobby is not the only traveler - each territory he visits has its own. While they each fight for their own territory, sometimes Bobby calls in for help from the others. Mark will forever be one of my favorite characters from literature along with Spadder and Gunny. The struggle on each territory is completely unique and the story never seems to repeat itself. Each book ends with “to be continued”, so the flow continues from book to book. There are no skipped or missing bits. This series as a whole is heart pounding, exciting, exhilarating and intriguing. I have never read another series quite like it, and when I finished the last book, I sat for at least half an hour, resonating in the fact that such a big part of my childhood had finally ended. There is not a single book in the series that I was disappointed in, though I do have certain favorites. I must warn you, the first book is slow to pick up because it takes the time to explain all the logistics of the travelers as Bobby is learning about it himself. If you can make it through the first book, then the rest will fly by because of the intense action and drama - love triangles and heroic deeds abound.

'This series as a whole is heart pounding, exciting, exhilarating and intriguing.'

Raschilla may be reached at spotlight@gmail.com.

THE PENDRAGON SERIES: A captivating read for the inner traveler in all of us. Discover the incredible earths of Bobby and the travelers.

Sophia Kebbede Staff Reporter

film jump at out you, but even the extra depth didn’t stand out to me. The glasses were uncomfortable and, an When I discovered that “Titanic” was being hour into the movie, I wanted to remove re-released in 3D, I was ecstatic. I entered the them. As I watched the film, I watched it at a theater with high hopes, but left unimpressed. neighborhood theater on a relatively small screen, having paid only a few extra bucks for Although the actual film the 3D effects. I have was delivered as exa friend who traveled pected, the 3D effects an hour out-of-state were not noteworthy and and paid almost $20 the theater experience per ticket to view the was unsatisfying to say film on a large 3D the least - an endearing IMAX screen, which love story wrapped with may have proved for a real, thoughtful themes, better experience. all told with the backdrop If you’re a Titanic of a historic, tragic shipfan who has the funds wreck. and patience to venLeonardo DiCaprio ture to an IMAX theprovided a convincing ater, you should see performance, and Kate the movie. If you’re Winslet, along with the just looking for a rest of the cast, provided Image Credit: Creative Commons cheap, fun date-night heartfelt performances. movie, see one of the Only a story this enraptur- LOVE TALE: DiCaprio and new movies or enjoy Winslet return to the big screen for ing can endure the 194the original Titanic in minute run time. The film delivered again, but the movie experience did the comfort of your home. not. The 3D effects were nothing special. I 2 out of 5 Paws: Find better prey was repeatedly told the effects were present to add depth and not to make aspects of the

18 Spotlight

Spotlight Shines On

Editorials

June 2012

New Administration Should Talk With Students

With the end of the school year just days away, the high school community has little time to reflect on the first year of new principal Sean McNiff before another new administrator begins his tenure. Come July 1, the South Hadley Schools will have a new superintendent when former Hadley school chief Dr. Nicholas Young comes into office. With the arrival of these new administrators comes the need to offer opportunities for dialogue and discussion about the direction of our school, and the impact of new initiatives on students. It is important that McNiff and Young understand the major issues impacting the student body, and demonstrate a willingness to listen and work with us to set school policy. By having opportunities to meet with the new administrators, students will be able to communicate what they deem important, while also learning about McNiff’s and Young’s respective priorities.

Food Fiasco Leaves Students Hungry at Prom

Prom is one of the most memorable events of a high school student’s career. Before the big night, students spend hours primping and preening as they prepare to look their best for the festivities. When students finally arrive, they are usually very hungry, having gone much of the day without a meal. This year, students arrived to disappointing discovery that dinner would not be served. Teachers had no answers for the hungry students who complained, munching on unsatisfactory and limited cheese and vegetable platters. As the night wore on, it was clear the small trays of appetizers would not satisfy students' growling stomachs. One pair of students who tried to get a pizza delivered at their own expense had their attempt at nourishment kyboshed by school administrators. After prom, children told their parents about the fiasco, how they were not fed, and how many went without a chair. The lack of sufficient seating, which was caused by overselling prom, resulted in a massive parental uproar. To quell the dissent, students were offered partial refunds. We hope that next year’s event will be free from the issues that dampened this year’s experience.

Have a Stress-Free Summer

Warm sunny weather, adventures with friends, vacations with families, and relaxation quickly follow the madness of finals and another eventful school year. Many students have to schedule their free time around work, summer conditioning, and school work in order to prepare for the next upcoming year. While it is very easy to keep busy, students also need to enjoy the time out of school. We’re only teenagers once, and it is necessary for them to slow down and detox from working hard and being stressed. While many of us work summer jobs to earn money, this does not mean we need to toil endlessly for July and August. Fun summer jobs can be found that pay well and offer students time off to relax. It is true that Advanced Placement classes cannot take a backseat completely during the summer, but not taking at least some time off from school can easily tire a person out. After the year ends, reconnecting with people, having fun, and easing off is a high priority and should be taken seriously. With decreased stress levels, the next school year will start off on a more cheerful and pleasant note.

Spotlight Newspaper

Spotlight is a student-run, open forum publication where students produce all content and make all editorial decisions. Contact us: E-mail: shhsspotlight@gmail.com Phone: 413-538-5063 Website: southhadleystudentpress.com Advisor: Peter Billman-Golemme

Editor's message and staff roster

This year at the Spotlight newspaper, our staff has utilized journalistic style to enrich readers with updated information on current events relevant to the high school community. While we are fortunate to have a diverse staff to write for articles, we would also like to extend an offer to all students to have a chance to be published. All members of the school community are welcome to write to Spotlight. We would love to receive your work, be it a news story, review, feature, or opinion piece. Contributing writers should e-mail their pieces to shhsspotlight@gmail.com. We also encourage you to express your stance on an issue that you feel deserves to be addressed by submitting a Letter to the Editor. Your opinion truly matters to us. To send a Letter to the Editor, e-mail your state-

ment to shhhsspotlight@gmail.com, or submit it to Mr. B-G in Room 512 or Interim Editor-in-Chief Julian Suarez. Our policy on Letters to the Editor, or any publication in the paper is as follows: Spotlight newspaper reserves the right to approve or disapprove submissions at its own discretion. Submissions containing obscene, suggestive, vulgar, profane (including letters followed by dashes or symbols), threatening, disrespectful, or defamatory language will not be published. Letters that display attacks on groups or individuals based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or creed will be rejected. Spotlight values your opinion, and we invite you to discuss our stories and articles. As this is a scholastic medium, we encourage you to write to the best of your abilities and avoid grammatical errors. Our staff to date is as follows:

Exempt 'A' students from finals

At the end of every school year, all academic classes are required to have a final exam to test students on the year’s curriculum. Based on the logic behind final exams, students that receive A’s should be exempt. “A” students work hard all year long. They get their work in on time, perform well on tests and understand the course material. Why should these students waste their time studying so hard, when they've already proven throughout the year that they understand the material? Haven't these students already proved that they have learned the course work, and kept up with their learning? If anything, making “A” students exempt from final exams would have a plethora of benefits for students, teachers, and the school alike. Students who work hard would be rewarded for their dedication, and students less inclined towards doing class work would have incentive to push themselves and work harder to avoid taking the lengthy final exam. Teachers would have fewer exams to grade, and more students striving for A’s in their courses. Overall, this would create less stress for the students and teachers. In addition, the school could see an increase in its students' grade point averages as the incentives for garnering good grades increases. It is not rare for students who take the final exams to receive a low grade on their tests. Students take enough grueling Interim Editor-in-Chief: Julian Suarez News Editor: Lauren Hylemon Student Profiles Editor: Jay Patruno Page Editors Page 1: Julian Suarez Page 2: Charlie Allard Page 3: Alex Ziomek Page 5: Lauren Hylemon Page 6: TJ Fitzell Page 7: Maddie Brandts Page 8: Lizzy Menard, Caitlyn Hoschtetler Page 10: Jay Patruno Page 11: Katie Robitaille Page 12: Maddie Brandts Page 13: Nick Robert Page 14: Austen Rioux Page 15: Rachel Harrington Page 16: Shannon Sullivan Page 18: Julian Suarez, Jay Patruno Page 19: Hieu Dennis Page 20: Tyler LaBombard Page 22: Sophia Kebbede Page 23: Nick Robert Page 24: Courtney Marcil The following alumni contributed to this issue of Spotlight: Nate Laurin, Peter Lambert, Will Vanderpoel, Tim LaRoche, Andrew Pettengill, Brett Reardon, Josh Dziadek, Brei Roberts, Brittany Vardakis, Michaela Raschilla Spotlight thanks the Michael E. Smith Endowment for Education for providing funds to expand our opera-

Nate Laurin

Staff Reporter

exams throughout their high school careers including MCAS, PSAT's, SAT's, ACT's and the tests they take daily in their academic classes. Final exams in high school are mostly worthless anyway, having a slim to none effect on final grades, especially on final grades that are A’s. Why then, do hardworking students have to be further strained with yet another exam? Why put these top-notch students through another long, worthless exam that only burdens them with more pressure and stress? These final exams only count for one-ninth of the student’s fourth quarter grade, and have almost no effect on a student’s final grade. Haven’t they earned some respect for their work and understanding of a subject? In the end, final exams may be an act of futility, either testing a stutions. Their contribution allowed us to purchase a Canon Rebel T3i camera and accessories that allowed us to improve the quality of our publication’s photographs, and a computer for journalistic use. All of this equipment is also used to benefit our website, southhadleystudentpress.com. Due to the community's support, exciting new things have taken place in our branch of high school news coverage, including the expansion of our advertising department. Spotlight now features ads in every publication, whether they are from local businesses, student organizations, or simply advertisements by our own newspaper. Ads ranging from $15 to $75 are available. For more information on advertising with Spotlight, please see Mr. B-G or Julian Suarez. We would like to thank all advertisers that supported scholastic journalism by purchasing ad space in our newspaper. In particular, Easthampton Savings Bank generously underwrote our publication, ensuring that we would have the monetary assets to produce and print our work. Spotlight also accepts donations from sponsors who are interested in being recognized as supporters of scholastic journalism. Sponsors are

dent’s comprehension after it is too late or testing students that already comprehend the course material and understand it very well. It is a shame that devoted students must be tested on the same level as those that are less dedicated. These "A" students should be awarded for their hard work and dedication to their particular course. Ultimately, the best option would be to eliminate final exams all together, but the next best thing would be to simply exempt all "A" students from taking final exams. Exempting "A" students from final exams will also set a good example for those students with lesser grades who do not work to their full potential. These students seeing the "A" students being exempt from the final exams will want to also be exempted from their finals, causing them to ultimately work harder. Final exams for me, like any other student, are really annoying. I would do anything to get out of them, even If that means working harder in all of my classes, and putting forth my best effort. I think other students here at the high school feel the same way, and will probably have the same mentality, and essentially work harder. Laurin may be reached at nmlspotlight@gmail.com. [Above, senior Chris Annis studies diligently.] credited in our print publication for their donations. A sponsor’s title of recognition depends on how much one donates. All donations are appreciated. Our staff is also selling Spotlight merchandise such as coffee mugs and t-shirts. If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, see Mr. BG in room 512 or Julian Suarez. With these funds to support its production, Spotlight is able to be the best news publication it can be. Its recent accolades would not have been possible without the support of our readers and advertisters. As the school year concludes, Spotlight would like to thank all high school alumni who contributed to the paper this year. Without the assistance of these staff members, Spotlight would not have developed into what it is today. We at Spotlight look forward to delivering news to our readers in our 93rd year of production next year. We hope you all have a great summer vacation. Thanks again for your readership and support. - Julian Suarez, Interim Editor-inChief [Suarez may be reached at jhsspotlight@gmail.com.]

June 2012

Opinions

Netflix loses appeal

Spotlight 19

Class of 2015 offered AP Bio Following the expiration of the contract between as Sophomores Netflix and Starz, Neflix has been on the decline Rumour has it that the current freshmen and incoming classes will be able to take AP Biology their sophomore year. The current sophomore grade was never able to take AP Biology, or at least we weren’t told we could. Coming in to Jay Patruno sophomore year we were Profiles Editor told that we had to take U.S History, English 10, Chemistry, a math class, and our electives. We did not get much say in what classes we wanted to take or would rather not take. Currently there are freshmen in chemistry classes. As freshmen we were told we could only take Cp or Accelerated Biology. We could double up on on math classes, but not science or history classes. Why is it now there are all these changes being made to accommodate the younger classes? There are plenty of current sophomores who would love to have seized the opportunity to get a head start in the curriculum, but weren’t allowed to or weren’t told it was possible. Also it has become apparent that you can take a course over the summer and test out of it so you can move on and take a more advanced class during the school year. If such possibilities exist then they should be made public and known so that everyone has equal opportunity to progress at their choice of speed in high school. It should not take a parent calling in to complain or request that such options be available to their child. When course scheduling comes about the guidance staff should tell students or be willing to discuss with them the now apparent multiple options for course selection. Some student will never be able to reach such classes like AP Calculus, because you have to take a certain number of required math classes in order to be eligible to. Some kids cannot handle more than two AP classes a year, so these options of summer classes and doubling up in any subject should be discussed options, not hidden secrets. The ability to take as many classes as possible is a beautiful thing. High school is a great place to test everything out before college so you have a background in a variety of classes but also decide what they like. If everyone thinks that they can only take a certain number of classes only during the school year, then that isn’t really possible. I do not understand why all these accommodations are being made now for younger classes but weren’t available before for the older ones. It seems like a slap in the face, because it sort of puts these younger kids at an advantage over their older peers and that isn’t fair.

Tim LaRoche Editorials Editor

Over the past few months, the popular online movie rental website Netflix has been losing all of its appeal. After the loss of all movies from the Starz network, many of the good movies that made Netflix a useful tool in the first place have disappeared. On the “Watch Instantly” feature - which allows users to view entire movies online for a monthly rate- various popular films from many genres were taken down when the Starz contract expired. In addition, the company has recently been buying the rights to many foreign films and Bollywood musicals. Though these genres are apparently popular in some circles, most viewers are alienated by the move. One of the reasons for the removal of many movies from the website has been the company’s stated desire to include more television shows. Though their intention is to include series that can involve viewers, most of the newer shows that have been added only have a single season and largely fail to capture any attention. That said, there are some new additions to the catalogue that can thrill viewers. However, they are mostly directed to smaller niche groups and fail to entertain a large audience. While a large part of Netflix’s consumer base

Creative Commons image on Flickr

ON DEMAND: Metflix loses people's interest due to a limited variety in movies.

use the Watch Instantly feature on a regular basis, the physical copies of movies are still popular among movie fans. This feature of the company, which sends users DVDs by mail, has recently been the subject of widespread media and consumer criticism after a series of unpopu-

lar business decisions. Among these decisions, the company notably raised its prices and and attempted to split its online features and mail divisions into separate services. Though they never followed through with the proposal, the idea alienated many users.

This year, the theme of the show was “Born This Way," of course, being inspired by the chart topping Lady Gaga song. Other numbers in the show include Synchronicity II by The Police, Colder Weather By Zac Brown Band, music by Grace Kelly, and obviously, Born This Way. The show begins with the performers wearing all the same dresses, thus, showing the conformity of the group. Finally, for their finale of Born This Way, the group changes into various bright colored shirts and jeans, to show their individuality! Every year, there is different themes presented in the show. Such as last year, the theme was Summer of ‘69 and the year before was Rebel Without a Cause. Other surrounding schools have even used Garden, or Heartbreak as themes. The director, Ms. Curtis, is very proud of her performers this year for receiving their first

straight season silver. Something that hasn’t happened in over 7 years in South Hadley history. She isn’t the only one proud however, many of the students are happy about this as well. “I’m so glad that our hard work has finally paid off,” said senior, Jiayin Sperry. “Being a dance captain for the group was definitely a challenge, but it was worth it.” Another senior, Kyle Whelihan, adds “This was a great to end my 4 years in show choir, I love Adrenaline!” Unfortunately, a good portion of our school’s show choir will be gone next year, since they are all seniors, and I know they will be missed by the music department. However, this leaves room for new and enthusiastic performers to join in on the fun in the coming years!

Adrenaline performs "Born This Way," impressing student body Brittany Vardakis Video Editor

Show choir is one of the many underrated performance groups here at South Hadley High. Some people didn’t even know that “Adrenaline” existed when I asked them about it. To be honest, I’m not surprised, because the music department itself is typically unappreciated, over shadowed by the athletic teams. However, Adrenaline stepped up this year and performed in front of the student body during B block the Friday before April Break. Students were surprised to find that the performers were very talented in what they do being able to sing and dance for twenty minutes straight is very difficult to do, trust me, as a former performer in the show choir here, I would know.

Opinions

Trendy Tops a fashion faux pas

20 Spotlight

Caitlyn Hoschtetler Staff Reporter

One of the newest trends to come to America are called Trendy Tops. Trendy Tops are pieces of cloth that go around your midsection, from your ribcage to below your waistline, that are used to cover up muffin tops and hide your stomach and backside when your shirt rides up and your pants slide down to make you look more “chic and lean” according to their website. They offer these Trendy Tops in only four colors: white, black, beige and gray for ten dollars each. After watching this commercial several times though, I have realized how stupid, unnecessary, and ridiculous this product actually is. The commercial shows a lady with her shirt riding halfway up her midsection and her stomach hanging over her jeans, she looks like she is suffocating. They suggest Trendy Top to her to cover her sloppy mess up. However, if she just bought a shirt that fit her in the first place she would not have this problem. Also it shows people whose pants are sliding down and they can use Trendy Top to cover up so their underwear or their posterior does not show. Once again if these people bought pants that fit them or wore a belt then they could avoid this issue. I do not understand how someone could go out in public knowing their clothes do not fit and their pant button could pop off and strike anyone at any moment. There has been many other things created before Trendy Top that really

just seems unnecessary. Belts can be used to keep your pants up to avoid showing your underwear, spanx can be used to make you look more lean and fit, and wearing tank tops under your shirt can be used to prevent your midsection from being exposed. Trendy Tops make you look silly. Having a small strip of cloth

The past three advisories have been informative yet unnecessary. Instead of playing games or talking about our “feelings” students participated in an hour long bullying curriculum. In these bully curriculum presentations, each advisory combined with another advisory of the same grade and discussed situations involving bullying or conflict. Most people know the difference between what is morally right and wrong, and yet there are those whose decisions reflect that, or are solely based on their feelings in that moment. Teachers and counselors can continue to educate their students in high schools, but when it comes down to that moment in time, their emotions will over power their thoughts and their actions may or may not be regretted. In the special advisory classes, I learned about anger, healthy solutions to dealing with bullying, and the differences between bullying and conflict. Sitting there, I thought to myself, 'How many times is this going to be drilled into my head?' Advisory after Advisory, year after

AS SEEN ON TV: The not so trendy Trendy Tops are impractical and unattractive. Spotlight recommends buying clothes that fit and staying active.

year I had been talked to about bullying and morals, which had always been common sense to me. If the guidance counselors want to create scenarios that can be relatable, they should have a select group of students create the scenarios and possibly run the advisory. If we have students running these advisories, and not teachers, then maybe the other students might be more inclined to participate. But even still, just because someone knows what the right thing to do is, it doesn’t mean that they are going to make the right decision. No one can teach us to decide and act on the events that take place in our lives, only we can do that. The students may also say things they were not going to say, if their adviser was there due to embarrassment. Instead they are sharing their situation with a relatable student, which will most likely be more comfortable then sharing it with a teacher, or faculty member that they might not know that well. Harrington may be reached at rhspotlight@gmail.com

Injured players impact NBA Tyler LaBombard Staff Reporter

The NBA playoffs this year have been like no other. The Shortened season of 66 games as opposed to the regular 82 games, has caused injury among many big time players. The players weren't given the proper off season to prepare themselves and get their muscles ready for NBA style play. This is the main reason why there have been so many injuries this year. These injuries have seriously affected NBA play due to the many high profile players that have been injured. This has caused the already low number of viewers this year to decrease even more. Dwight Howard, one of the most successful centers in the league, didn't even make it to the play offs due to a back injury. Chauncey Billups, the starting shooting guard from the Clippers, tore his left Achilles early on in the season, causing him to miss the rest of the season. This included the playoffs, where his Clippers play on without him.

that does not even match your shirt going across your midsection is very noticeable. People who don’t wear clothes that fit them or dress to accommodate themselves do not need product like trendy tops, they need therapy or some sort of fashion intervention. They only come in four colors which will not match

Graphic by Jay Patruno

Student run advisory calls for greater success Rachel Harrington Staff Reporter

June 2012

Another season ending injury that happened early on was that of rookie point guard Ricky Rubio. The Spanish sensation that rocked the league tore his ACL and missed the second half of the season. His Timberwolves team did not make the play offs this year, and Rubios performance next year will most likely be negatively affected. The Hawks who also made the playoffs had to play the second half of their season, and their first couple playoff games without their star guard Al Horford. The Knicks lost their sensation, Jeremy Lin, due to knee injury, and he will most likely miss the whole first round. On top of Lin being injured, and Amar’e Stoudemire just coming back from injury, their back up rookie point guard Iman Shumpert suffered a season ending injury to his ACL in game 1 of round 1. Point guard Baron Davis tore his ACL, MCL, and patella tendons possibly ending his career in Game 4 of round 1, putting the Knicks into a playoff slump.

everything you wear so it makes them really stand out and it makes it obvious that you are wearing one. Trying to hide your muffin top or when your underwear is visible from the top of your jeans is not something you want people to notice. You could easily just cut some cloth out in the shape of your midsection and call it a Trendy Top, so why bother paying someone else for an idea that a child could have come up with? They are cheap and useless. People need to stop listening to commercials that sell products like these and realize that it is a scam. They are trying to make you spend money on a product that is unnecessary to have because there are many other things that you can do before buying this product like just buying clothes that fit you in the first place or wearing a belt or tank top with your clothes which most people already do have in their houses. I think that people will do anything to make a buck these days, and I believe that there are people out there that will believe anything that television says. The deals offered on television seem appealing when someone is saying it with excitement and it is in bold flashy colors with smiling people on the screen. But if everyone wasn’t like a small child and jumped at everything that was new and available, then silly product like the Trendy Top would not be around. There are more practical things in life. Caitlyn Hoschtetler can be reached at chspotlight@gmail.com

People are getting soft Andrew Pettengill Staff Reporter

From my time in the middle school and high school, I have seen a change in the mentality of the school administrators and people in charge. At the start of middle school, everything started to change. No more dodge ball in gym class, no more pretend fighting allowed, and an overall softer mentality of the students. As I moved through middle school many things happened to make me realize that what I was thinking was true. One morning there was an indoor line up, so we gathered in the designated 8th grade hallway. To have some fun, there was a huge mosh pit circle. I was thrown into the middle of the circle and was bouncing around pushing the kids on the outside, getting pushed back into the middle and having a good time, as all boys do when they are rough housing. The middle school principal, Erica Faginski, came around the corner, saw the ruckus, and proceeded to send me to the office, on the basis that I was fighting everyone surrounding me. She had another student and I sit in the planning room all day, and told us we were lucky we were not suspended externally. It is stuff like this that makes people soft. No physical play or joking is allowed, so people don't know how to joke or what true horseplay is. In our parents' generation, they would wrestle and mess around all the time, and they are much stronger mentally than we are now. As well as the lack of competition and physical play in schools making people soft, is the parenting that the school tries to do. If some-

The biggest of the injuries of the 2012 NBA season was probably that of reigning MVP Derrick Rose. Rose tore his ACL in game 1 of round 1 of the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers. His injury was season ending, and puts the Bulls 10 giant steps back. On top of this injury, the Bulls who are now struggling, suffered an injury to their starting center Joakhim Noah, a big factor to the teams regular season success. I believe the lockout and shortened season has caused most, if not all, of these injuries. What happened was the gyms and practice facilities were closed for much of the off season, making gym time not as accessible for the players. Because of this, the players were obviously

one is having a problem, then they bring it directly to the administration and expect them to solve it. Solve it on your own. Why do you need someone else to solve your problems? If the school continues to baby kids by not allowing competition in gym, horseplay, and continues solving students' problems for them, then our generation will not have the coping skills required for success in the real world. Pettengill may be reached at ampettengill22@gmail.com

Creative commons photo

JUST HORSING AROUND: A young boy is seen with his arm around the necks of his two friends.

not practicing as much, causing their bodies to not be in the proper NBA shape. Not only was much of their off season taken away, but their season was condensed into 66 games over 114 days. This was more than a game every other night which the players were not used to. Many teams had to play games back to back. This gave the players weak muscles, less time to recover between games, and more prone to injury. LaBombard may be reached at tjlspotlight@gmail.com

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