Sentinel december 2011

St. Luke’s Student Voice Since 1928

Inside this issue....

Learn More About... The Young Republicans Club

St. Luke’s newest club has the hallways buzzing.

Turn to Page 3 for more on the YRC.

St. Luke’s School

From Hanukkah Bushes to Holiday Trees: Has It All Gone Too Far?

A St. Luke’s student weighs in on political correctness during the holiday season on Page 6.

NASA Discovers New Potetentially Inhabitable Planet

Though it would probably benefit from a name change, flip to Page 3 for more on this galactic vacation spot.

377 North Wilton Road - New Canaan, CT - 06840

December 2011

Coffee Banned Maddie van Eslander Staff Writer

It’s that time of year again....Seniors crowd the College Couseling Office looking for reassurance in numbers

Forget Everything You Knew About....

Stress Relief

Sebastian Bates World News Corespondent

“I was up until three in the morning, because I had a two papers and a presentation due. Then I got up at six. Usually, there’s one day like this a week.”

That was what one student (who asked to remain anonymous) had to say about stress.

Stress is everywhere: every student, at one time or another, has felt it, whether cramming for a test, catching up on homework, or worrying about social drama.

Another student, when approached, refused to comment, but still managed to sum up the dominant sentiment concerning stress within the SLS community with three words: “I’m too busy”.

Students will be relieved to know that the administration is on the case: last year, the groundbreaking documentary “Race to Nowhere”- an entire film dedicated to the “why” of student stress- was screened in the Seldin Performing Arts Center for more than a hundred parents, teachers, faculty and students. Prior to the screening, Mr. Davis himself trailed two

This week in news.....

students all day through their classes, frees, and afternoon activities in order to gain a personal perspective on the daily lives of SLS students.

Even after this effort, however, the community made very little leeway in the area of reducing student stress.

This article will be the first in a series of features about stress, and how the school combats it. But- in the meantime- what should students do to reduce stress? And, more importantly, what are students doing that simply isn’t working? The answers may surprise you.

First, emotional outbursts do not help reduce stress. This may sound self-explanatory, but consider the common ways in which students express stress. At school, many students will quietly curse when they feel overwhelmed- be it from a low quiz score or a looming due date. To most, this seems to be a quick, easily accessible and even semi-automatic way to relieve stress.

In fact, however, cursing does not relieve stress; it does just the opposite. A study conducted by Professor Jeffrey Bowers and Dr. Chris-

- April choir and band trip moved to (colonial) Williamsburg, Virginia - Sophomore Elizabeth Fomon returns home from Swiss Semester

A ‘normal’ day for most high school students consists of waking up, brewing and consuming at least one cup of coffee. Who ever thought the same could be said for a middle schooler? Well, apparently it can’t anymore, given the recent decision to ban coffee for the middle school. Lisa O’Gorman, head of the kitchen staff, was the one in charge of making the decision to ban the coffee for middle schoolers. When asked why she did it, she said, “they had been making a large mess with the coffee, and that it was a risk for their health.”

Coffee contains caffeine, which is considered a drug. For children, it can cause anxiety, as well as take away from their concentration.

Coffee has also been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. It is also not a good drink choice for children based on the lack of nutrition that can be found in it. The general sentiment is that when choosing a drink, children should choose a drink rich in nutritious value.

The kitchen staff understands the risks of coffee in children, and believes this is the best decision for the middle school student body.

Emma Powless, an eighth grader, believes differently: “On those friday mornings after a very early swim practice; I would hope that I can come to my school and have a cup of coffee to wake me up.” Many middle schoolers are indifferent to the ban on coffee, whereas some think it is unfair that they do not have the same privileges as others.

There are rumors going around that soon, freshman may not be allowed to drink coffee either. The kitchen staff had no comment concerning whether or not these rumors are true, but many students are worried their access to coffee will be threatened in the coming months.

Coffee is mainly used to remedy ‘tiredness.’ This tiredness is induced by the lack of sleep students get from all the homework they have been assigned. When asked how he would feel if coffee was banned from the student body at large, junior Andrew Wagle replied, “I would be outraged.” In the interview, the main point the kitchen staff tried to get across, seemed to be the big mess left from making the coffee. It would be safe to infer, that the student body should do a better job of cleaning up if we want to continue to drink coffee.

Understandably, opinions range quite widely on this debate. Turn to page 2 for a Point: Counter Point between two Sentinel writers.

- Darmouth Aires, a cappella group, holds tutorials for HS choirs - Library gets a new shipment of popular teen fiction from 2011

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HILLTOP NEWS

Coffee: Our Bodies, Our Choice?

Kevin Jahns and Caroline Hopkins Staff Writers

December 2011

The Sentinel Staff Editors in Chief Ben Klein Nicole Bennett-Fite Print Editor Nicole Bennett-Fite Sports Editor Mack Dowling

First of all, I think that treating coffee like a drug is Ludacris. Approximately 112 million Americans enjoy it every day. That’s about 1/3 of the U.S. population. Research has proven that coffee drinkers are less likely than non-coffee drinkers to get illnesses such as cancer, strokes, dementia, and type 2 diabetes. Many experiments done in several countries such as Australia, Sweden, and Finland, the number one per capita consumer of coffee confirm this. Because coffee contains minerals such as chromium and magnesium, it helps your body produce insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Also, the claim that coffee stunts children’s growth is a myth that was probably started because of the caffeine, which some people think decreases bone mass. Many of these studies were done on old people, who were losing bone mass due to lack of calcium-rich beverages, such as milk.

The caffeine in coffee also keeps kids awake in the first few periods of the day. There is a hormone in your body called melatonin that sends a signal to the brain when to go to sleep. It releases around 10 P.M. in most adults but around 1 A.M. in most teenagers, which means that they tend to lie in bed for a long time before they fall asleep. Many St. Lukes students get up very early because they live far away and school starts at 8 A.M. Doctors recommend that teenagers should get 10 hours of sleep per night; so naturally, a teen would never wake up before school starts. Coffee has also been proven to help people with ADHD, a fairly common learning disability, to focus better.

Coffee will wake kids up and help them focus, not make them hyperactive. The fact that St. Lukes has a machine tht dispenses sugary juices proves that the school isn’t worried about children having too much energy.

Besides being a medical issue, this is a freedom issue. St. Lukes already tells its students how to dress, what to do on computers, and where to eat. I have no issue with any of these rules, but telling students what to drink in my opinion crosses the line into micromanaging their lives.

The ban on ordering food for the middle schoolers puts enough dietary restrictions on them already.

Parents should have the authority to make the decision whether their children should be allowed to drink coffee, because they care about their children’s health and they can be trusted to make an intelligent decision.

I understand that I have lost many upper schoolers by now, but this sets a bad precedent for the school. If the school takes coffee away from middle schoolers because they think it stunts their growth, then where will it stop? Maybe they will ban coffee from upper-schoolers too, arguing that they aren’t fully grown yet. The school shouldn’t ban coffee for anyone because there are minimal health risks, it’s necessary to wake people up in the morning and it should be a matter of personal choice.

I believe I speak on behalf of the majority of health conscious individuals here on the hilltop when I say that middle school children should absolutely, unequivocally NOT be enabled to drink coffee. Becoming hooked on caffeine at such a young age is potentially detrimental, as it can cause irreversible health damage- not to mention the fact that the caffeinated youngins cause quite the disturbance to the otherwise tranquil SLS environment.

It is not without reason that caffeine is technically defined as a drug. It stimulates the central nervous system and thus can often cause anxiety, dizziness, upset stomachs, headaches, insomnia, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. In young children more so than adults, it does not take a lot of caffeine to produce these effects. Contrary to popular belief, coffee consumption does not actually stunt growth, yet its countless other detrimental side effects make it difficult to deny the fact that children should hold off their inevitable coffee consumption as long as possible.

Furthermore, children have smaller stomachs than do adults, and thus become full more easily.

Filling up on nutritionally empty calories in the form of coffee is highly detrimental to the proper growth and development of a child, as without the proper vitamins and minerals needed from healthy sources, children are at risk of dangerous nutritional deficiencies. Middle school aged children, moreover, need as much as twelve hours of sleep in order to properly develop their brains and bodies; the insomnia caused by the caffeine in coffee can disrupt this necessary sleep, once again putting the child at risk.

Cavities are a further detrimental side affect of coffee. Children are more prone to cavities than are adults, as their teeth have not yet developed a thick coat of enamel. Thus, the acidic coffee can break down the teeth, resulting in cavities.

Caffeine itself also leads to a decrease in bone density; according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for every 100 mg of caffeine ingested, 6 mg of calcium are lost. For growing children, calcium is essential for bone development. Thus, although the speculation that coffee “stunts your growth” is not entirely true, it is accurate to state that caffeine can have harmful effects on proper physical development in children.

Over fifty percent of Americans over the age of eighteen drink coffee every single morning. So what’s the rush to start the habit at such a young age? To all of those coffee crazed middle schoolers out there complaining about the new rule, you all have enough unbounded energy as is.

If you’re under the impression that drinking coffee makes you “cool,” you’re wrong. It only makes you more annoying. Do us all a favor and listen to the administration when they tell you to lay off the morning joe. Oh, and if you find yourself having to add in that third sugar packet because you can’t stand the bitter taste, you probably shouldn’t be drinking the coffee in the first place.

Arts Editor Alex Robertson World News Editor Sam Fuller School News Editor Caroline Hopkins Music Editor Charlie Schlinkert Staff Writers Sebastian Bates Tommy Champion Andrew Walker Caroline Hopkins Ian Corbet Maddie van Eslander Mac Zech Photographers Zach Batson Caroline Chadwick Faculty Advisors Mr. Flachsbart Mr. Foley

Join The Sentinel Do you like to write?

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Then The Sentinel wants YOU. Find out what you can do for The Sentinel.

December 2011

What’s So Great About

HILLTOP NEWS Introducing:

The Young Republicans Club

Planet Kepler 22b?

Mac Zech Staff Writer

Ian Corbet Staff Writer

As many conspiracy theorists have prophesied, the movie Avatar was not just a 3-D thrill ride that taught us the true meaning of love between humans and aliens, but also a prediction of the near future. The idea of humans traveling to a faraway inhabitable planet may soon become a reality as NASA has announced the discovery of Kepler-22b. More similar to Earth than Avatar was to Pocahontas, Kepler-22b is a prime candidate for human immigration, if there isn’t anything or anyone living there already. According to scientists, Kepler-22b lies in the “Goldilocks Zone”, a zone that is a certain distance around any particular star where the temperature is not too hot or too cold. The average temperature of Kepler-22b is approximately 72° F, about the same as room temperature. The planet was located using the Kepler Telescope, which is currently searching for more Earthlike planets and has already discovered thousands of possibly inhabitable planets that we may eventually be living out our retirement on. Kepler-22b is a prime candidate for the sustainability of life as it orbits about the same distance around its star as the Earth does around the Sun with a year on Kepler-22b being 290 days.

Amazingly our Sun and its star are roughly the same size.

Come election-time there is always substantial curiosity amongst the general public to learn more about politics. This year in particular our nation has witnessed an exciting and, at times, unexpected prelude to the highly anticipated Republican Primaries of 2012. Over this past year many diverse candidates, most notably celebrity Donald Trump and Pizza-guy Herman Cain, have gained substantial support from the Republican Party (albeit for a brief span of time). America’s increasingly complex political environment coupled with an innate desire to learn more about conservative ideology is what drove St. Luke’s student Powell Robinson to resurrect the long forgotten Young Republicans club.

Founder Powell Robinson

Nasa’s official photograph of New Planet Kepler-22b

Unfortunately, there are issues that would make a mass immigration unlikely in the near future. For one, Kepler-22b is 600 light years away from Earth, so even if you could survive for the millions of years the journey would take, the exotic Na’vi princess you dreamed about meeting when you arrived, would already be “one with the Spirit Tree”. The possibly of life is further disparaged by the size of Kepler-22b relative to Earth. Kepler22b’s radius is about 2.4 times that of Earth’s, which scientists speculate would make it more related to Neptune only much warmer. This would mean that the surface of Kepler-22b is most likely a vast ocean with the core of the planet being rock.

While land based life forms probably wouldn’t survive the perpetual swimming a life on Kepler-22b would entail, mermaids or more likely microorganisms that thrive in water could be possible inhabitants of the planet. So although the chances of humans ever getting to see its surface or tame one of its bird-dragons are slim, there is still a chance that life may be found beneath the waves of newly discovered Kepler-22b.

Did You Know?

Why we had a half day last week?

Faculty and staff attended a seminar held by Dan Otter, Ph.D, author of Teach and Retire Rich. Prior to the semi nar, each teacher was given a copy of the book. Otter’s

advice on how to teach and retire rich? Save, save, save.

Since its initial founding in the 70’s, the Young Republicans Club at St. Luke’s has seen several revival movements. The last restoration of the club was just over 7 years ago, right as America was gearing up for the 2004 Presidential elections. While interest in politics has been anything but steady through the years and varies widely between individual grades, this time around many members of the Young Republicans are eager to solidify their club as a permanent entity within St. Luke’s. Said Andrew Wagle, a St. Luke’s Junior and member of the Young Republicans, “I joined because I wanted to become more educated on conservative viewpoints. I was interested in finding an outlet for political discussion that I believe the club will provide for my peers and I.”

As the Young Republicans club gets off to a good start, many students are left wondering, “What exactly is a Young Republican’s club?” At this point nobody, not even the Young Republicans, have a definitive answer. Right now Powell Robinson and Mrs. Gabriele are simply trying to organize the group and establish an agenda for the upcoming meetings. At the end of the first meeting, members of the club were asked to go out and research a specific topic, the suspension on payroll taxes, which is to be discussed at the next meeting. Some are hoping the club will turn into a sort of political forum, in which students can discuss pressing issues that are facing our nation today.

Still others hope that the Young Republicans will morph into a fundraiser for the Republican Party in general. It may well be that the Young Republicans will become a hybrid group , which raises funds for the Republican Party while simultaneously hosting a lively political forum in which students can feel comfortable asking questions and having their opinions heard. As it progresses, St. Luke’s students themselves will shape the future of the Young Republicans Club, and only time will tell what direction it will take. One thing is certain, this club is new, growing and here to stay.

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Stress continued page 1

topher Pleydell-Pearce, both of the School of Experimental Psychology at the University of Bristol, linked cursing directly to increased stress. According to the study, “taboo words generate emotional reactions in part through verbal conditioning, that is, through a simple form of learning, the sounds of taboo words become directly associated with emotional centres in the brain.”

In other words, the more you swear, the more stressed you become. By the same token, the more stressed you become, the more you swear. It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s one that can only be broken by training oneself not to swear. At the risk of sounding liking a maiden aunt: swearing is bad for your health, so stop it.

But what about that second, more intimate, emotional response? It’s one we rarely see in school, but one that exists nevertheless: crying. A Dutch study has proved that “when crying helps, it’s likely not because of the tears but because it recruits social support and draws attention to important problems.” In simpler English, crying only helps by attracting attention, and promoting social interaction. In other words, crying by itself is not beneficial. If you feel better after crying alone, then consider yourself lucky: according to the study, less than one in ten respondents felt any acute stressrelief from this. So, instead of succumbing to tears, consider utilizing Facebook and other social networking sites to their full potential, to bolster your human support group.

Otherwise, the gold standard in stressreduction is time management- but that can be a challenge when one is looking at five (or more) subjects’ worth of homework, in-class material, exams, and projects- not to mention after-school activities.

The runner-up, though, and the favorite of all highschool students, is good old-fashioned sleep.

Most students are already aware of the calming effects of more sleep. As one student put it: “Sometimes, I’ll just let myself sleep for an extra one or two hours ”. But we’re not out of the woods yet.

Apparently, oversleeping isn’t good for the body, either. And while teens need a lot of sleep- between eight-and-a-half to ten is recommended- getting too far above that limit (into eleven or twelve hours) can pose a health hazard. During the week, this isn’t likely to be a problem- frankly, anyone who sleeps for eleven hours on a Wednesday night deserves a medal- but over the weekend, when students try to catch up on missed sleep (“sleep-debt”) by snoozing till noon, it can become problematic.

And more to the point- it doesn’t work. According to Scientific American, sleep-debt can be made up, but it “won’t happen in one extended snooze marathon”. Instead, adding forty-five minutes to an hour of sleep each night will allow the body to adjust back to normal sleeping habits.

Other successful stress relievers? The list goes on and on, but chief among them are: listening to music, laughing, deep breathing and- believe it or not- positive thinking. Any of these- or any combination of these- can help relieve the constant pressure some students feel (again, time management is key to any stress-relief strategy).

The Sentinel hopes that, by publicizing the reality behind student stress, and the solutions proposed by students and teachers, we can all work as a community to remedy this issue as much as possible in our academic lives.

By the way, you know what else doesn’t do anything for stress relief? Typing the word “stress” twenty-one, now tweny two, times in an article for the Sentinel. But hey.

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ARTS Take A Look: Student Art

Jenna Froland, 8th Grade Sarah Donovan, 11th Grade

Jack Viergever, 8th Grade

Liza Epprecht, 9th Grade

Catherine Verklin, 8th Grade

Hannah Smock, 9th Grade

Gabi Horowitz, 12th Grade

Check it out, updated weekly!

Lizzy McLaughlin, 10th Grade

The Sentinel Online blogs.stlukesct.org/sentinel or digitalsentinel.org

These articles and more....

Taking the Occupy Wall Street Movement Seriously The Best Rap of 2011 Photo Galleries of Games, Functions and Events

Chris LaBella, 12th Grade

December 2011

Book Review:

That Used to Be Us Sebastian Bates Staff Writer

When Thomas Friedman, foreign correspondent with the New York Times and best-selling author, teams up with Michael Mandelbaum, Director of American Foreign Policy at Johns Hopkins University, to write a book, the result can only be excellent. And certainly That Used to Be Us, the product of their collaboration, is a triumph.

That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back, to give the book its full title, is a cutting examination of our domestic government and its issues, as well as at the world that the United States, in the decades since World War II, has created. It discusses the recent decline in America’s fortunes and briefly, touches on possible solutions.

The fact that it was able to do this in such a way as to not inspire me to chuck the book out of the airplane window- that they were able to write such a book while avoiding triteness and preachinessis testament to the skill and dedication of the authors.

People familiar with the politics of the center left will not find anything particularly new in this book. What is new and somewhat refreshing about That Used to Be Us is that it baldly states that, as we are now, America will not recover its former glory. The outlook, however, is not necessarily grim: the authors, who call themselves “frustrated optimists,” suggest that, given hard work and political reorganization, America can thrive once more.

Unfortunately, here lies the biggest flaw in this book. It is a clear-eyes discussion of How America Fell; what is lacking is the real advice as to How We Can Come Back. Instead of concrete solutions, the authors devote at least thirty pages to their discussion of that rarest of political animals, the viable third party. One comes away from the book with the feeling that only a third party- or a viable independent presidential candidate- can give the American political landscape the “shock therapy” it needs. Clearly, of course, the issue is not so clear.

Leaving behind its confused conclusion, however, the book is otherwise fascinating, clear, and well-informed. Friedman and Mandelbaum draw on personal experiences, popular culture, interviews with national and international leaders, and political to create a clear picture of the America today. They discuss modern education (an interest for us as students) as well the influence of the Internet, of oil, and of the Tea Party, among others.

When SLS students went with the Center for Leadership to Yale University to hear Thomas Friedman speak about his new book, they heard a quote which Friedman has repeated on countless occasions, and dually finds its way into this book.

It concisely and cleverly illustrates the ever-changing world we now live in and the role America has played in the evolution of the twenty-first century (all of the following are American products and companies):

“When I wrote The World is Flat, Facebook didn’t exist; Twitter was a sound; the cloud was in the sky; 4G was a parking place; LinkedIn was a prison; applications were what you sent to college; and Skype for most people was typo. All of that changed in just the last six years.”

According to Friedman and Mandelbaum, we need more of that sort of change to get us out of the mess we, as a country, seem to have fallen into.

If you agree- if you agree something needs changing- you’ll probably enjoy That Used to Be Us.

December 2011

FEATURES

5

Holiday Gift Guide

Juniors Suffer Through SATs

Maddie van Eslander Staff Writer

Tommy Champion Staff Writer

It’s that time of year again... For those of you who are scrambling for last minute gifts, the Sentinel has compiled a list of unique presents that even the family Scrooge couldn’t turn down.

Fish Bowl Bookends

Portable Beverage Warmer

If you know someone who loves fish (and books), this two in one present could be the perfect fit. This gift also doubles as a tutoring station, for those goldfish with promising intelligence.

For all religious coffee and tea drinkers, there is finally a way to keep your beverage hot on the go. Share this Portable Beverage Warmer with all the caffeine addicts in your life to keep their thirst quenched this holiday season.

Hunger Games Book Series

Holiday Inspired TOMS Shoes

Looking for a comfy foot fix? TOMS has recently released a series of holiday inspired shoes. This would be the perfect gift for the TOMS lover, though unfortunately they are not allowed in school.

At a school of rigorous academics and high expectations, St. Luke’s students-typically Juniors- are often found studying SAT materials during their limited free time. From the Barons and the College Board’s colossal tomes to the weekly tutors, SAT fever has infected the Junior class.

The SAT itself is a standardized test created to help colleges analyze a student’s grammar, reading, and mathematic capabilities and skills. Obviously, at a college preparatory school, St. Luke’s Students take these tests quite seriously due to the significant effect the SAT’s can have on college acceptance. By combining the fundamental subjects of school with a multiple choice answer sheet, the SAT’s can seem like a daunting task even for the strongest student.

Only a few days ago, several Juniors went to various high schools in the nearby regions to take this test for the first time. The combination of the early morning start and the lengthy duration can often sap the intellectual energy out of any pupil. Seniors, as they now struggle through the grueling college admissions process, vicariously feel the pain of the Junior class and this extensive undertaking. Some members of the graduating class even just finished their last SAT’s and SAT II’s this Fall.

For those who love to read, the thrilling series, The Hunger Games would be a perfect gift. Nominated New York Times best seller and with raving reviews, this series will be perfect for your bookworms.

Michael Bublé Christmas Album

An Acre on Mars The dreaded “multiple choice” sheet

This is not a joke. You can now officially buy an acre of Mars for only $29.99 at www.buymars.com. Now that’s what I call a solid investment in the future.

Custom Ipad, Ipod, or Macbook Case

The good news for St. Luke’s Students is the fact that there are a variety of ways to prep for this-and even the ACT- test. Already, Juniors and Sophomores have taken the PSAT’s in October and have just recently received their marks from the College Board. While some remain content with This is the top album on the holiday charts, so why not the earned scores, many other individuals are now share it with someone you love? Michael Bublé will not scrambling to open those giant books that contain disappoint as the family crowds around the fire this break. copious amounts of tests and helpful tips. In addition, St. Luke’s offers an SAT and ACT prep course through the Summit Test Taking group. Plenty of other tutors-especially from the Ivy Room¬- have seen countless students over the years. The good Adorable Dog Gifts news is that these tests will end for most by Juneeven though Juniors can opt to take the final SAT’s in the Fall next year- and the standardized testing tribulations will finally conclude. However, there is still the most important part of high school yet to come; the college admissions process.

Did You Know?

Our headmaster, Mr. Davis, has a blog?

The website www.ifrogz.com, allows you to design a case for any apple technology with your own unique pattern.

These custom cases are guaranteed to be a unique treat for anyone on your gift list.

Go to www.trixieandpeanut.com for all kinds of gifts for mans best friend. You can’t forget about your pets during the holiday season!

The blog can be found on the front page of www.stlukesct.org under the banner “Mark Davis’ Blog”. His last post? “What I’m Grateful For”

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FEATURES

Politically Incorrect Kevin Jahns Staff Writer

The Holidays: a season of joy, family togetherness and kindness to others. These are the holidays many are nostalgia toward. In our modern times, the holidays bring about swarms of controversy, different religious and ethnic groups vying to make their beliefs heard. The month of December has three major holidays, the most widely celebrated being Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza.

The arguments, rather than being between faiths, are usually partisan: between liberals who want to make the holidays as secular and non-provocative as possible, and conservatives who want to preserve the American traditions that they hold dear.

Depending on how people handle this, it could be a time of kindness and acceptance of everyone, or a bitter, un-jolly season of fierce argument.

Pine tree in the commons

However, many argue that the political correctness surrounding the holiday season has gone too far. In Rhode Island, Governor Lincoln Chafee recently ruled that the Christmas tree in the statehouse be called a “Holiday Tree.” Congresswoman Doreen Costa said, “I’m sick of being politically correct. Nobody has been offended with calling a Christmas tree a Christmas tree. If we had a menorah in the state house, what are we going to call it-a candle with sticks?”

Personally, I think that the governor of Rhode Island is missing the point. Christmas has been commercialized to the point where it is barely a religious holiday anymore. Rather than being about the birth of Jesus Christ, it is about Santa Claus and presents and yes: CHRISTMAS trees.

Just about every commercial and Christmas special is centered around Santa Claus, elves, Reindeer and all of the secular, commercialized part of Christmas. There’s no reason why any of that should offend anyone. However, it is still associated with a religious holiday, which is why many fail to realize how inoffensive a Christmas tree really is.

Who Is Trace?

Andrew Walker Staff Writer

est movement was finding my artistic voice, which was actually pretty recently. I found my own drive and decided that I wanted to be seen as an artistically talented entity – not just a rapper.

Could you elaborate on your music production process?

Who is Trace? To the overwhelming majority of the St. Luke’s student body, Trace is more commonly known as “Abe”, or by his birth name “Abraham Ramirez”. He’s frequently observed in the keyboard room working diligently on his musical endeavors, which range from entire EPs to instrumentals. In the past years, Abe has risen from the depths of sheer HipHop ineptitude to the staggering heights of YouTube stardom. Still recovering from a copyright related beat scandal; the trials and tribulations of the flagship St. Luke’s rapper have ensured that the rise to fame has not been an easy one. He’s weathered storms of scathing criticism and silenced most (but not all) of his critics with his immaculate flow and intricate instrumentals.

Although not everyone is a fan of the Norwalk based rapper, the general consensus is that he is definitely improving and has a bright future ahead of him as a Hip-Hop artist. So we sat down with Trace one afternoon and discussed his rapping career, eager to hear the tale from the legend himself.

I start with a track in Logic. From there, I find a rhythm that I like and then from there, I build on to it and then see where it leads. To me, there’s never a bad track – I’ll continue editing it until it sounds good. Improvement is one of the virtues of a great artist and I’m obviously trying to work towards this.

If you were stuck on a deserted island for your entire life, what 10 songs would you bring with you?

Louis Armstrong- What a Wonderful World Frank Sinatra- Fly Me to the Moon Frank Sinatra- New York, New York Drake- Club Paradise Drake- Hate Sleeping Alone The Weeknd- Initiation Phreshy Duzit- False Happiness Phreshy Duzit- Good Mourning Robin Thicke- Wanna Love You Girl J.Cole Ft. Drake- In The Mourning

Good afternoon Trace! Great to have you, so can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a 17-year-old Hispanic music artist from South Norwalk in my senior year of High School. My life and passion is music and I live to tell the story. Music is my life.

A graphic depicting Abe’s former alias

Can you tell us what inspired you to pursue this music career?

Would you like to comment on the recent controversy spurred by alleged copyright infringement on one of your latest tracks?

Life, struggles, art and the fact that I can express my self through music played huge roles. Chorale and my digital music class also played big roles.

Everything’s been settled now. It was a small misunderstanding and as previously stated, everything’s been worked out.

Do you plan on continuing with your music career in college?

Of course! I plan on making this my future. I initially wanted to submit my songs to Legacy, a record label, but I’ve decided to stay independent.

When are we going to get an album? Got any idea of its direction?

Abraham’s yearbook page So who or what would you say are your main influences?

We tried.

Many wonder how Christmas has become so commercialized. There’s not doubt that the holiday has strayed very far from its original purpose, celebrating the birth of Christian messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus teaches generosity and kindness to others, which is very much the spirit of Christmas.

However, Jesus is a religious figure...(cont. page 8)

December 2011

God, Frank Sinatra, Drake, Phreshy Duzit, Pharrel, Ryan Leslie, Louis Armstrong, The Weekend were my main influences. As you can see, that’s a pretty diverse group. Personally, I try making music that people can relate to.

What was your worst and greatest moment as an artist?

My worst moment as an artist was not initially being able to find my own place in music. For a long time, I struggled finding my own style. Conversely, my great-

Ha-ha! The audience won’t be seeing a legitimate album for a while. However, when I do make an album, it will truly represent who I am: my ties, struggles, love and life as a whole.

A lot of people are saying that Rap is going downhill these days. Could you comment on that?

I believe like other genres that eventually go downhill, Rap and Hip Hop will never die because they are forms of expressions that are more than just genres.

Do you have advice for any up-coming St. Luke’s rappers?

If you love what you’re doing, keep doing it. Forget what other people say, keep working towards your goal and prove them wrong; and after that, you’ll have a bright future.

December 2011

JUST FOR FUN with NBF Top Ten Rejected Holiday Boutique Items

RANDOM KID OF THE MONTH

7

Bria Yarborough ‘12

10. Gasoline scented bath salts

Very little to say about this student, but that’s the point!

9. Jars of dirt from potted plants

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥

8. Wads of gum, pre-chewed 7. Pieces of string tied in knots 6. Free bus-rides to Briscoe Road

Horoscopes

5. Backpacks from Mr. Holyfield’s office, all contents included

Aries (March 21- April 19): Oooh Oh.

4. A middle schooler’s pinch pot

Taurus (21 April-21 May): We’re no strangers to love!

Gemini (22 May-22 June):

3. A middle schooler

You know the rules....and so do I!

2. Math Department Pin-up Calenders

Cancer (23 June-23 July) : A full commitment’s what I’m thinking offfffff.

Leo (24 July-23 August): You wouldn’t get this from any other guy.

1. Road-Kill Stuffed Animals

Virgo (24 August-23 September): I just want to tell you how I’m feeling.

Libra (24 September-23 October) : GOTTA MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND!!!!!!

Scorpio (24 October-22 November): NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP! Sagittarius (23 November-22 December): Never gonna let you down.

Capricorn (23 December-19 January): Never gonna run you around and desert you.

Aquarius (20 January-19 February): NEVER GOING TO MAKE YA CRY! Pisces (20 February-20 March): And finally...I’m never gonna say goodbye.

Top of the Hilltop

Website: www.digitalsentinel.org Band: James Blake (Check out the article about his new album online at digitalsentinel.org) Video Game: Words With Friends TV Show: Community

Movie: Breaking Dawn (who doesn’t love a good seizure every once in a while.)

The Midnight Run

Sport: Basketball

College: Tulane

It’s really dark...

Illness: Still Infectious Mononuc-leosis and Lymes Disease.

Person: You!

Do You Know?

How to turn on the fire place in the commons?

There’s a panel on the left side of the stone, which has a child lock. You need to put in a 4 number code in order to open it, and turn on the fire. They have it locked for obvious reasons, among them the fact that the screen which comes down in front of the fire would melt if exposed to the flames.

8

Girls’ Varsity Soccer: A Season To Remember

THE LAST PAGE

Tommy Champion Staff Writer

So far this school year, several SLS Varsity sports have made a tremendous impression on the Hilltop. From the Varsity Football team’s domination on the field to the Girls Varsity Volleyball’s frequent wins on the court, SLS athletics have enjoyed a remarkable fall season. However, one team stands out among the rest. Girls Varsity Soccer brought home the FAA (Fairchester Athletic Association) tournament Championship, the league Championship title, and- after a lengthened season- the NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council) Championship. The GVS’s final record of 16-2-1 was a well deserved product of the team’s dedication, drive, and camaraderie. The St. Luke’s community supported the girls throughout it all, with the SLS sports-support club, Sixth Man, organizing a contingency of fans to attend almost every game. The teammates themselves have expressed elation, exhaustion and satisfaction at the end result of the season.

The five seniors collect their NEPSAC trophy

Minecraft: An Overview and A Review Andrew Walker Staff Writer

Minecraft, a triumphant achievement of independent game developers, has finally been officially released after two and a half years of incessant updates. With virtually no formal advertising, except for word-of mouth, the relatively niche title has generated in excess of $100,000,000 and sold 4,000,000 copies in a span of just roughly two years, which can be directly attributed to its quirkiness, idiosyncrasies and unique gameplay.

More importantly, the game has become a cultural phenomenon and a milestone in video-game history. So it seems appropriate that after years of constant updating, the game was finally officially released on November 18th.

To all of those unfamiliar with Minecraft, the game is like a virus. It shifts from a disorienting and formless oddity to a time-devouring obsession. The premise is simple. The player is dropped off in a randomly generated world solely composed of blocks, all of which represent different materials, such as dirt, leaves and stone. The player can then break or add these blocks to the game world, allowing him or her to easily mold the environment. There is also a crafting system, which allows the player to process raw materials and transform them into tools, furniture and even food. The game also contains survival elements, which ensures that the player will starve to death if they do not eat for prolonged periods of time. To make things even more difficult, malevolent monsters spawn in dark areas during the nighttime and relentlessly attack the player. Essentially, the game can be played as a simple building simulator or a more complicated survival-horror game.

At first, the game appears to be deceptively simple - however, it is anything but. The procedurally generated environments contain endless forests, treacherous caverns, cactus-riddle deserts and even towering snow-capped mountains. The world is also divided into various biomes, each of which houses its own ecosystem, natural features and flora communities. Furthermore, the game houses a rudimentary circuiting system based on Boolean algebra known as Redstone, which allows the player to devise complex and automated contraptions that can serve virtually any purpose.

During the preseason back in August, the team saw the addition of two new players, Salma Anatosia and Meredith Rogers. A sophomore and freshman respectively, the girls quickly proved their prowess on the field. They meshed with the rest of the team exceptionally, and quickly became invaluable assets. The entire team, a remarkably tight knit group of girls, began to demonstrate their exceptional skill and fluid play with landslide wins early in the season. The team kept a virtually unscathed record throughout both September and October. Lindsay Bralower ‘13 is quoted as saying that, “We had an absolutely incredible run. The new recruits have been amazing to have on board . and the group as a whole has bonded through all of the hard work. Our dedication to the game really paid off.” Indeed it has, GVS players all note the unique bond that forms around a team that works together and succeeds.

For the five seniors on the team, this season marked an incredible end to their high school soccer careers. The girls have said they could not have asked for a better season to mark their last year at SLS before their matriculation next fall. The 7-0 Homecoming blow out against Christian Heritage was attended by a record number of Home-comers.

The momentous triumph and only added a greater sense of school spirit amongst the student body.

The FAA Championship game against Greenwich Academy was another widely attended event. And Screenshot of a Minecraft world as previously stated, to top it off, the team earned the NEPSAC Championship title. With these key Since it’s initial release in 2009 by Swedish victories until it’s belt, GVS ended the season on a programer Markus Perrson, Minecraft has always high note. had a very active virtual community. Collectively,

Caroline Parsons ‘13 is quoted as saying Minecraft players upload thousands of videos to that, “the team took advantage of the opportuniYouTube daily, most of which involve them discussties to improve and continuously get better. We ing and showcasing their recent creations. Meanwill all remember this season as one of the best while, an extremely dedicated and ridiculously talof our soccer careers.” Indeed, it would be hard to ented modding community adds even more depth argue that their season was anything short of into the game by altering the game’s java code and credible. It’s not too bold to say that the 2011 Girls releasing modules. The game also has a multiVarsity Soccer team will be remembered and replayer aspect that allows potentially hundreds of vered among SLS athletics for a long time to come. people to form a community and play on the same

December 2011

server. On these servers, many players often gratuitously flaunt their virtual wealth by constructing their homes with precious materials, while the more uncouth individuals vandalize, aka “grief”, structures by destroying them or by inscribing foul obscenities. Many of these servers are infamous for subjecting new-comers to severe penalties for violating unusual draconian laws such as picking up the wrong flower or building a house with the wrong colored wood - which can result in ridicule and a ban from the server.

The evolution of the game from initial “Classic” version 0.0.11a to full 1.0.0 release on November 18th, 2011, has been absolutely staggering. Initially, there were no survival elements, no animals, no trees and the world was composed of fewer than 15 blocks (this doesn’t include the blocks that could be crafted). The game now features hundreds of different blocks and items, three different dimensions, a complex magic and enchantment system and even randomly generated villages and strongholds - in addition to all of the previously mentioned mechanics.

Although Minecraft is becoming increasingly popular, not everyone is impressed. As a result of the game’s runaway success, the lead developer, Markus Persson aka “Notch”, has become a very successful man, which has allowed him to embark upon other endeavors. This has resulted in his second-in-command, Jens Bergenstein, aka “_Jeb”, to be placed in the lead role of developing Minecraft, a change that has polarized the community. Many hardcore fans have also openly criticized the game’s recent deviation from its original mining roots, citing that recent updates have visibly been focused on providing a better role-playing experience. But for most of the eager player-base, the future of Minecraft couldn’t be more promising.

PC Holidays from Page 6 and he doesn’t encourage people to spend large quantities of money on things that they don’t really need. So it is obvious why holiday ad campaigns and Christmas specials have focused on Santa Claus, wrapped presents and Christmas trees, which aren’t the least bit religious and encourage people to spend money.

Friction between faiths has been a problem throughout history. Nobody knows when Christ was actually born, but some believe that the church placed Christmas on the 25th to take attention away from the pagan holiday of Saturnalia, originally created by the Romans. Saturnalia was a holiday where everyone exchanged gifts. The logic is that since most people prefer receiving gifts over praying, the two holidays merged. That is where the commercial side of Christmas originally came from.

The commons, rightly representing two holidays

I think everyone should be able to celebrate whatever they want, however they want, but nobody should be offended by a Christmas tree, instead of a “Holiday Tree”--there is nothing Christian about a Christmas tree, because Christmas trees are also derived from Pagan tradition. The fact that people are arguing over a pine tree proves that political correctness has gone too far.