The Briarcliff Bulletin Volume 68, Issue 1

The Briarcliff Bulletin Volume 68, Issue 1

November 2017

Soccer and volleyball teams make section finals and history

By Eli Karp For two Briarcliff High School athletic teams, the 2017 fall season was one to remember.

Varsity boys soccer (VBS) had its best season in history, winning 12 regular season games, 15 overall, and making it to the Section 1 Final for the first time in program history before losing to Rye Neck, 1-0, in overtime. After a 7-7-3 record in 2016, the team captured the two-seed in the Section 1 Tournament, had 10 shutouts, made its third consecutive Mt. Pleasant Cup Finals appearance and was ranked as high as ninth in New York State Class B by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

VBS ended the season ranked 14th in the state.

Senior captain Alex Leahy, the league MVP and known as “the demi-god” to his teammates, said he views the season as a success even though the team didn’t win the section championship.

to 2016 State Champion and league rival Westlake in a tough four sets.

Under new head coach Matt Cochenour, the team dominated its way to an 18-3 regular season and 21-4 overall record. The team served an impressive 86% with over 325 aces. VGV also accrued over 600 kills and senior captain Kaleigh Gowan had over 300 digs.

Gowan said she was very excited and proud of the effort displayed by the team this season.

“This has been one of the best seasons for Briarcliff Volleyball in a long time,” said the senior over text. “It’s been about 30 years since Briarcliff made a section final, and I couldn’t have been prouder of the girls and our coach. All the girls should keep their heads high for all they’ve accomplished this season.”

New football staff takes charge

By Jacob Aframian

“I couldn’t be more proud of my teammates and the season as a whole,” Leahy said in a text. “We made history and set a new standard for the program.

It was a great experience, and overall I was happy with what we accomplished.”

Varsity girls volleyball (VGV), also made it to the Section 1 Final, falling

The iPhone X is breaking banks

By Elizabeth Madden Each new iPhone generation carries high expectations from the world of technology, and the iPhone X is no exception. If anything, the bar is set higher than usual from the dramatic hardware and software changes claimed to revolutionize the way the world communicates and functions. In the X, the typical iPhone aesthetic is revised to integrate the screen and device, creating a sleeker and more cohesive look. Your face is the new password to everything; for everything. The camera now incorporates innovative depth sensing technology that enables facial recognition to unlock your phone and verify actions like transferring money. With these features, Apple is taking new strides in technology that people have only talked about.

Apple, but Samsung, one of the Apple’s leading competitors, already released a phone with similar facial-recognition and security features. The price of the Samsung is significantly less than the iPhone. This information should prompt the following question: Is the new iPhone really worth $1000 or is Apple just trying to take advantage of its consumers?

In an interview with Coach Stevens, he spoke about the team, his coaching career and his road to Briarcliff.

Skip was inspired to coach because of his love for the game of football and his positive experience volunteer coaching at his old high school, Rye Neck High School. Since joining as coach, he has noticed that even after losing, he felt the team progressed and worked to get better every week.

Stevens talked about how the defense is improving by tackling harder, running the ball faster, and overall “bringing a lot of pride to the game of football.”

“You get the best out of your players by giving them responsibility, giving them positive reinforcements, and holding them accountable for both,” he said when asked about how he coaches his team. He noted that even after a tough loss, players are still motivated because they love playing football, and they know they are improving.

Technology allows people to experience the power of innovation. With this new price point, though, not as many people will be able to purchase this new phone without draining their wallets. Some argue the steep price is due to the unique software. This is true if only considering

Inside This Issue...

Briarcliff High School has some new voices being heard by the varsity football team this season. Those voices are head coach Skip Stevens (left) and assistant coach Rob Higle, Jr. (right) to name a couple. Coach Stevens has been coaching football in Section 1 for 32 years, a head coach for 11 of those. Coach Stevens was an assistant on the staff last year for now-retired Coach John Consorti.

(Continues on page 6)

Bulletin Staff Editor-in-Chief: Eli Karp Assistant Editor-in-Chief: Claire Goldstein Managing Editor: Emma Diller News Editor: Sean Fischer and Anthony Radovanovich Features Editor: Sarah Albert and Tucker Poux Arts Editor: Sarah Dolgin Sports Editor: Will Zimmerman Assistant Sports Editors: Colby Cho and Kyle Harris Opinion Editor: Emma Konrad Web Editor: Zoe London Staff Writers: Brandon Danuff, Julia Orientale, Charlotte Sendek, Emma Wickey, Juliet Friedman, James Fludgate, Stephanie Markowitz, Willow Horowitz, Jake Kronethal, Aidan Healy, Chloe Goldstein, Charlotte Baer, Elizabeth Madden, Annie Dineen, Charlotte Fink Advisor: Ms. Fishman

Follow The Bulletin Online at www.briarcliffbulletin.com

Westchester’s Premier Alpaca Farm

Mr. Shaprio Retires

Athlete Spotlight: Camron Fash

Turn to Page 3

Look to Page 5

Check out Page 7

News

Volume 68, Issue 1

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November 2017

The AP pressure keeps cooking

By Brandon Danuff In 2017, when top colleges want students to do anything and everything, the debate over whether a student’s well-being, well roundedness as a student, and work ethic is considered in addition to grades and difficult classes rages on.

It’s not hard to see how competitive students are with each other at Briarcliff, and while friendly competition is no bad thing, the question is where to draw the line.

Briarcliff is a small school, and students constantly try to outshine their peers to impress for colleges.

The competition can rise to a point that some students may feel socially compelled to take some of the many Advanced Placement (AP) classes offered, not because they actually want to, but because they want to fit in and not be shunned for taking “just” honors or Regents classes.

Others may be taking APs for economic reasons: if a student

scores high enough on an AP exam, he/she may be able to get college credit for that class, thereby cutting college tuition.

That is, assuming every student who takes an AP class is going to college.

While higher education is a great thing to strive for (and APs are college level classes), it seems today we Gen Zers have been told college is the only way to a successful future. But in reality, this just isn’t true. Enrollment in trade schools, for example, provide invaluable experience for students who knows what they want to pursue in life.

CollegeBoard, the company in charge of AP courses, states that “by giving you the opportunity to explore what interests you the most, AP courses help you find and pursue your unique direction [in life].” Basically, one should only take an AP course if the subject matter truly interests him/her and he/she sees him/herself studying and applying the material later.

Hurricane relief efforts

By Ivy Minkoff Hurricane Harvey, a category 3 hurricane, slammed Texas with rain and left large portions of the country devastated. People immediately started donating and contributing what they could to organizations nationwide. While Texans returned back to their homes and got a first look at the damage that was done, people in the Caribbean and Florida received word that another hurricane was coming their way. Hurricane Irma, a category 5 hurricane, hit the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida with devastating effects.

Roughly 200 people were killed as a result of these two storms, but millions of citizens were left without power and electricity. But there was more. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in late September with catastrophic effects. Towns were flooded for weeks and a massive relief operation is in progress.

Recent reports still have half of the island without power. The wreckage caused by these three hurricanes presents a pressing need for materials and donations. Below is a list of reputable organizations that are open to donations, followed by clubs in the high school that are accepting donations: General

-GoFundMe -Anguilla Beaches -The Dominica Hurricane Relief Fund -Volunteer Florida -The Greater Houston Community Fund -United Way of Greater Houston Food -Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida -Houston Food Bank -Feeding Texas Shelter -Habitat for Humanity of Key West and the Lower Florida Keys -The Houston chapter of Habitat for Humanity -Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana Inc. Clubs at BHS -Red Cross Club -Student Government

With the passion a student eager to learn may bring into an a class, his/ her motivation and performance will yield more success and usefulness of the class than a student who takes the same class to conform to “Briarcliff standards” and look better for colleges.

There seems to be this myth that the student who takes the most APs is the most successful and most sought-after type of student by colleges across the country.

Again, that just isn’t true. Whereas one student may be taking three or even four APs, another student could more than make up for a

lack of APs in his/her schedule by doing afterschool community service projects, playing sports, or (gasp) taking regular classes he/ she is really interested in.

APs may be great for some students but not for others. Students should choose carefully the AP classes they will actually get value by taking instead of choosing what they think colleges want. To each student his/her own, but is stressing over something you’ll never apply yourself to in life really worth it?

Why is everyone so stressed?

By Sean Fischer If parents ask their children how their day at school was, the typical answer is “fine” or “good.” But if close friends were to have a similar conversation, the response may contain a rant about a certain class, how busy each day feels, or how stress is at an all time high: school and grades and sports and college and finances and oh my gosh what if I don’t get into medical school?!

Most high schoolers I know would say they are stressed, tired and busy.

Why do so many teens feel this way, and what has changed in the school environment to cause these feelings?

High school in the 60s, 70s and 80s seems idyllic. To someone from our generation, high school back then seemed fun. Imagine riding around in a bright red car, going to driveins, trying to fit in with the jocks and thinking about who you were going to ask to the dance. Teens lived simple teenaged lives. While that image might only be a Hollywood-esque stereotype, it still shows the contrast between then and now. Imagine a present-day high school: kids rush from an AP class to a dual-enrollment class, wondering how they are going to study for the ACT when they have swim practice, and then three hours worth of APUSH homework. Thirtyone percent of teens report that their stress increases throughout the school year, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). Thirty percent of teens say they feel depressed or sad, and a third of all teens report feeling tired or fatigued. There are more studies by the APA, which show that stress levels experienced by teens rival that of adults. In addition to stress and anxiety caused by school, teens also have to cope with social pressures and hormonal changes. An article in The Washington Post says “rapid growth spurts, periods, acne and unreliable vocal cords can

all add to a feeling of being out of control, which can trigger a cycle of anxiety and depression in teens.”

Students are trained from the beginning of their education to prepare for what lies ahead. In Todd School, students adjust to being in school and prepare for a middle school environment. In the middle school, students prepare for the workload of high school. One might logically assume that in high school the goal is to prepare for college. However, high school is becoming more and more like college, so much so that the workload of many high-achieving students rivals that of freshman in college. While this can be a good thing, it also has its drawbacks. The pressure of a college-level curriculum on students who are also battling the anxiety of getting into college and are growing up at the same time is not a good combination.

The system likely is not changing anytime soon. It is important to be able to cope with these pressures and to be able to control and understand your stress. Dr. Brown, Briarcliff High School psychologist, advises students to seek help if they feel overwhelmed.

“Don’t go at it alone,” Brown said.

“Seek out a trusted adult (parent, teacher, coach, counselor) who can help you sort things out. Adults are objective; they can give you practical, unbiased views on a situation and give you strategies to ease anxiety and stress. While teens will say it’s always more comfortable to talk with their friends, friends might have their own things going on and may be unable to give you the objectivity you may need. Plus, when you go to a friend they will support you (which is what they’re supposed to do – they’re your friend) and may only look at things from one side – your side.”

News

Volume 68, Issue 1

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November 2017

Not so Faraway: Westchester’s premier alpaca farm

By By Anthony Radovanovich The fall equinox lands on Friday, September 22. No matter the temperature, it’s officially sweater weather. More comfortable than cashmere or wool, and completely hypoallergenic, alpaca fleece is flooding the market. Many wonder what an alpaca is, how an alpaca is different from a llama, and everything in between. Native to Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, alpacas were imported to the United States between the years of 1984 and 1998. Slightly smaller than llamas, and with a much softer fleece, alpacas are a timid animal in need of protection. Faraway Farm in Yorktown is home to 24 alpacas.

By appointment only, you can walk among them and enter their herd on a tour with proprietor Leda Blumberg.

The tour ends with a stop in the gift shop, which is filled floor to ceiling with more alpaca products than one can imagine: dolls, stuffed animals, socks, sweaters, blankets, fleeces, yarn, gloves, and more.

Faraway Farm is a family owned and operated establishment in Yorktown Heights, New York. It previously functioned as the traditional farm, which raised chickens, horses, and crops. In the Hudson Valley with its seasonal climate, a farm of this nature is hard to keep afloat. Leda Blumberg and her husband embarked on a quest for a new purpose for the farm and encountered alpacas. Leda and Steve were attracted to the idea of obtaining

a great product, the fleece, without affecting the health of the animal, making the business rewarding. They began by educating themselves on the alpacas by taking training classes.

Now, the pair can handle most of the animals’s needs; there is, however, an equine vet on call. The couple also brings in an outside source to shear the alpacas each May for their coats.

What began as a few female alpacas was meant to be a strong foundation for the future of what would become this farm’s herd.

The quality of an alpaca is based on its fleece quality. Fleece is judged by uniformity, density and crimp architecture. Alpacas from Faraway Farm often compete in fleece quality competitions. Numerous Faraway Farm alpacas have won blue ribbons and honors. Based on this rating scale, alpacas can range in price from 500 dollars to several thousand dollars. Besides quality, the fleece is also evaluated based on its color. Colors range from pure black to pure white. The dominant color among the species is white, but most of the alpacas at Faraway Farm are fawn, brown, gray and black. The United States currently recognizes 22 different alpaca fleece colors, but there are gradations within each color.

Alpacas are advanced in their way of using a communal bathroom and having a rather long gestation period of 11 and a half months. Twins are extremely rare as they almost always lead to a fatality.

For their emotional tendencies, alpacas hum to one another when stressed. Loud noises are only made when an alpaca is startled. Most are timid and do not enjoy being pet, especially on the back. If an alpaca is pet on the back, its instinctive reaction is to kick with its hind legs. They grow to about 150 to 200 pounds and have a three-compartment stomach.

Food is regurgitated and chewed once again after entering the first compartment.

A very desirable alpaca is a grey girl.

Faraway Farm breeds primarily for the cottage industry, meaning that they like unique colors like rose or silver grey. Lighter color fleece can be dyed and gradations make for

interesting yarn and in turn products.

The commercial industry prefers a lighter color fleece as it can be dyed various colors.

From its origins, the farm’s business has greatly expanded. It not only breeds its alpacas but sells some offspring, the breeding services of select males, consulting, and photography. The farm also offers classes and learning experiences.

Lastly, of course, Blumberg and her husband opened their own thriving shop. The farm has attracted enough attention to be featured in The Journal News and on the Martha Stewart show.

By reservation only, you can experience alpacas just a few minutes away from home at Faraway Farm!

It is truly wonderful to encounter these animals and a great learning experience for people of all ages.

Alpacas live in herds with no distinct leader. If one alpaca goes to pasture, others will follow, but typically a different one leads each time.

Students rush to join social studies honor society: Rho Kappa

By Sarah Albert

This year, Briarcliff High School is introducing a fifth honor society: Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. Rho Kappa joins the New York State Math Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Honor Society for Dance Arts, National Art Honor Society, and National Honor Society chapters at BHS.

ment to have a community of The mission statement of the peers who are equally as pasorganization is to recognize sionate about social studies. students who excel in social studies. Through this recogni- To apply for membership, stution, students are also provided dents must have a minimum with other chances to engage grade of 90 percent in each soin social studies in the com- cial studies class and an unmunity. Rho Kappa, advised weighted GPA of 85 percent.

by Mrs. Gualtiere, introduces a Students must also demonstrate way for students with a knack engagement in the community for studying history govern- and drive for change in com-

munity service activities above and beyond the required eight hours, and thus portraying. The deadline to apply for Rho Kappa membership was November 14.

Features

Volume 68, Issue 1

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November 2017

The best fall treats to make at home

By Sarah Albert and Emma Diller Grandma’s Apple Pie Take a piece of Grandma with you to your next family gathering!

to seal the crust, and poke holes in the top layer with the fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 60 minutes. Enjoy!

Crust; -2 cups sifted all-purpose flour -1 teaspoon salt -⅔ cup of shortening -5-7 tablespoons cold water (or if you’re lazy… Pillsbury dough works too!!)

Filling: -6 or 7 granny smith apples -¾ to 1 cup sugar -2 tablespoons flour -1 teaspoon cinnamon -dash of nutmeg -dash of salt -juice from ¼ a lemon Sift together all the dry ingredients for the crust, add water until fully mixed. Form into balls and roll between wax paper with a rolling pin to make two crusts. For the filling - peel and slice the apples thin. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Line a 9 inch pie plate with the bottom pastry crust and add the filling. Put on the top crust. Crimp the edges together

Not Your Average Pumpkin Cheesecake A cheesy twist on an autumn pumpkin classic.

Crust: -8-oz cinnamon graham cracker crumbs -½ cup butter Filling: -3 8-oz packages cream cheese (room temp) -1 ¼ cups sugar -5 eggs -2 cups pumpkin purée -2 teaspoons vanilla (or more if you like) -1 teaspoon ground cinnamon -½ teaspoon fresh ginger

-¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ground cloves, cardamom, and allspice Topping: -2 cups sour cream -⅓ cup sugar -2 tablespoons vanilla Mix melted butter with graham cracker crumbs and press into 10in springform pan. Chill for 30 min. Phreast over 350 degrees.

Mix cream cheese and sugar, then beat in eggs 1 at a time. Combine the pumpkin purée with vanilla and spices; beat into cream cheese mixture. Bake for 1 hour and 15 min. Whisk sour cream, sugar, and vanilla. Spoon onto hot cheesecake and chill for at least 6 hours and enjoy! May go well with a sprinkled cinnamon finish.

When you think about Pleasantville food, what comes to mind?

Mexican? Pizza? Sushi? Indian?

Probably not seafood. Pleasantville lacked any semblance of great seafood restaurants until chef Mogan Anthony strolled into town, bringing with him a taste of delicious seafood. Pubstreet opened its doors in September to a huge crowd waiting to get its hands on some oysters.

Situated right off Pleasantville’s main drag in the old Iron Horse Grill, Pubstreet’s inside is very modern and chic. The layout and vibe can make it a little noisy at times, but it gives off the feeling of a waterside locale.

Eating at Pubstreet was a rare occasion; I had an extremely hard time ordering-- everything appealed to me. I highly recommend previewing the menu online before visiting so you don’t sit there for an hour and continuously tell your waiter that you need a few more minutes.

While Pubstreet is primarily a seafood restaurant, its dishes have

traces of American comfort food with a twist. Along with its classic seafood dishes, the new hot spot boasts a variety of land fare, including pasta dishes, steak, burgers and a sublime fried chicken sandwich.

But I went there for the seafood. If you’re a fan of shellfish, sample the raw bar. Oysters on the half shell, clams, shrimp cocktail: it’s like you’re taking a quick trip to the beach. The oysters come from both the East Coast and the West Coast, and it all tastes fresh. If you’re still trying to narrow down your choic-

@pubstreet

Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Beat one stick of room temperature butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt until it is a coarse crumble. Pour mixture into pan and press firmly into the bottom. Bake until 20-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in same large bowl, mix eggs, corn syrup,granulated sugar, and melted butter into; well combined. Add chocolate chips and pecans spread over crust. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Pecan Bars These bars are to die for! Unless you have a nut allergy…

Ingredients: -½ cup of unsalted butter, room temperature -2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted -¼ cup light brown sugar

Pleasantville’s Pearl: Pubstreet review

By Tucker Poux

-½ teaspoon salt -3 large eggs -¾ cup light corn syrup -½ cup granulated sugar -2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips -2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped

es, go tried and true with a buttery lobster roll. If fancy is your forte, the whole grilled Branzino is the way to go.

As with any restaurant this popular, going during rush hour is a mistake; you will be waiting a while for a table. However, a restaurant this delicious has its drawbacks. Pubstreet does not take reservations either.

The restaurant does have a bar, but you may be clamoring for a seat there too. But, make time to make Pubstreet your next dinner out. You won’t want to miss out on this gem.

Martha Stewart Fabulous Carrot Cake Fabulous is a simple request, just like this carrot cake!

Cake: -3 cups flour -2 ½ cups sugar -3 jars junior baby food carrots -1 ½ cups vegetable oil -2 teaspoons baking powder -2 teaspoons baking soda -¾ teaspoons grated nutmeg -2 teaspoons cinnamon -2 teaspoons mace -4 eggs Icing: -¼ cup margarine -8 ounces cream cheese -1 box powdered sugar -1 teaspoon vanilla Grease a 10 inch tube pan and dust lightly with flour. Beat together all cake ingredients except eggs. Then, add the eggs one at a time. Pour into pan and bake for 75 minutes at 350 degrees. While cake is baking, cream together all icing ingredients, spread over cooled cake!

Features

Volume 68, Issue 1

Page 5

Mr. Shapiro retires

By Claire Zimmerman

Goldstein

and

Will

facilitate the way that teacher absences are conducted by the substation.

At the beginning of the school year, a horror the students never saw coming hit them hard. Substation administrator Mr. Shapiro retired. Kind of. I guess.

As Briarcliff High School’s only substitute teacher, Mr. Shapiro was officially a sub for every single student during his nine years with the school.

Far too busy for an actual interview, Shapiro answered a set of questions over email.

What was the best part of your job?

The students! I always enjoyed the daily exchanges students and classes.

When did you start working in Briarcliff?

I started day-to-day subbing in Briarcliff in both the middle and high schools in 2008.

Has your job changed over the years?

The job has changed, yes. I started as a full day-to-day substitute and then I became part of the new substation in 2012. This was a full time position (5 years). The biggest change was the installation of substation as the way to handle teacher absences in the high school.

What are some of your favorite memories at Briarcliff?

My favorite memories are my numerous interactions with many, many students!

I’ve had so many moments of kindness, friendliness and fun with both the faculty and the student body.

What was the most exciting day you had a Briarcliff?

The day that we lost electricity and had to spend part of an afternoon in the cafeteria crowded together.

What will you miss most?

I will miss the daily interactions with the great students.

What was the reaction that you received when you announced your retirement?

The reaction was incredible! Many students were incredulous and upset!

Some said they were sad, some angry, but all said that they would miss me.

Were you surprised by this reaction?

I wasn’t too surprised. I always had great relationships, built on mutual respect and appreciation, with every student at BHS. What are your plans for retirement?

I plan to keep working from time to time, but my wife and I also plan to do some enjoyable traveling.

Did you enjoy your time at Briarcliff?

Yes - my time here at BHS has been wonderful! Expect to see me again. I plan to be in school from time to time!

Mr. Shapiro hasn’t left us completely.

He currently spends a portion of his day in the main office handling administrative duties and stamping dismissal notes.

How do you think you left your mark on our school?

I have helped to transform and

November 2017

10 basic things Briarcliff students do in the fall

By Emma Wickey 1. Apple and/or Pumpkin Picking There is nothing like going into the vast and plentiful farmland of Putnam or Dutchess County to pick apples you won’t eat and pumpkins you won’t carve. On the bright side, it will get some good photo ops for the gram.

2. Devour Pumpkin Spice Lattes Enough said.

3. Bring out the Circle Scarfs Also known as infinity scarfs, they will keep you warm (or suffocate you).

4. Wear Vineyard Vines and/or Patagonia Quarter Zips It’s not fall without these comfy sweatshirts.

5. Take out Timberlands and Uggs Guys, break out those Timbs! Girls, it’s Ugg season! You know it’s fall when you hear these clunky boots dragging across the hallways.

6. Stress over Halloween plans and costumes A stress-free Halloween? Forget it.

Briarcliff High School’s theater department is putting on “Animal Farm,” a play originally published as a novel by George Orwell. The cast and crew have been diligently preparing for almost two months for show dates from Friday November 17, to Sunday the 19th.

The novel describes life on a farm where the animals are being treated unfairly. For this reason, the wise pig, Old Major, convinces the animals to rebel with the goal of everyone becoming equal. However, the wise pig dies; while the rest of the pigs take roles in leading the rebellion, Old Major’s goal is eventually lost in the process. One of the pigs, Napoleon, rises to the top of the new society, disregarding all rules concerning equality between all animals, and Napoleon, in the

company of his army, directs harsh treatment towards the other animals. The climax of the story occurs when the pigs kill Boxer the horse, who was preparing for retirement. The killing represents the transition to a completely disturbed society. On this corrupt farm, the pigs have transformed into the cruel human owners who once held control over the animals. While the play delves into darker, more political themes varying in great detail from previous fall dramas, Sarah Albert said the cast is trying hard to “incorporate a playful attitude at the same time.” Albert, in her third show at BHS, plays Boxer and distinguishes this play as much different than the others.

She adds that it has been an interesting experience learning to talk and move like a specific animal in subtle ways. Even though this dra-

Sean Fisch-

Charlotte Sendek goes for Gold Award

By Julia Orientale

Junior Charlotte Sendek has been a Girl Scout for the past 11 years, starting a Daisy scout and now a Senior scout. When Girl Scouts reach middle school, they have the option to create a project that becomes their Bronze Award. After the bronze award, a girl scout can decide if she wants to go for the Silver Award. After the silver comes the gold, the highest honor

Animal Farm comes to BHS

By Zoe London

7. Sit down with friends to devise a plan on how to not get seriously injured while Black Friday shopping You have to get those sales.

8. Get sad when the sun starts to set at four o’clock Just let it happen.

9. Watch the leaves change color Photosynthesis is pretty beautiful.

10. Continually singing Christmas music in their heads Don’t lie, we all do it.

ma is different than past BHS performances, it will still encompass the interactive elements that have made past shows so successful.

“Animal Farm” promises to be entertaining, and to get your tickets, you know the drill: showtix4u.com.

a Girl Scout can receive. Earning the gold award requires lots of hard work and determination. In order to earn the award, a Girl Scout must individually spend 80 hours on a project that will benefit her whole community sustainably.

Sendek, currently pursuing the Gold Award, was inspired by her family friend who runs the nonprofit Vetiquette. For Sendek’s project, she is collecting artwork to send to blue and gold star families (a blue star family has a family member currently in service and a gold star family has a family member who died in service). She is collecting artwork from anyone as pieces portray the character traits of veterans and their families. Vetiquette conducts projects similar to those that receive Gold Awards to help raise awareness about veterans. Charlotte wanted to help this charity because she thinks it’s a very important and thoughtful cause.

People can help Sendek by donating artwork such as a sketch or a painting. The piece must reflect character traits of veterans and their families. It can be a flat piece or a fold-over card with a recommended size of 5x7 inches. Charlotte is willing to provide materials. People can also help by donating money to offset shipping costs. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sendek at veteran.veneration@ gmail.com.

Satire/Sports

Volume 68, Issue 1

Maresca mayhem drives students mad

By Sarah Dolgin

Tears stream down the hunger-stricken faces of students as they flock into the beloved Pat V. Maresca Center strictly to do their work.

The Golden Age of the Maresca has ended, and students mourn the good old days when they could eat their lunches while doing their work at the same time! With signs entailing the demise of any and all who dare to touch food in the Maresca, people are fearing for their lunches and their lives; Big Brother is truly watching.

Discombobulated students line the lockers, eating their lunches in a state of disarray, reminiscing about the times of a food-friendly Maresca.

Prowlers in the Maresca hunt to condemn any violators of the anti-eating rule. It should be noted though that there are certain teachers (unnamed with respect to their privacy) who openly defy the strict regulations prohibiting eating.

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momentum. A secret society of Maresca-eaters has been meeting under the radar, and the rebels have been recruiting new members. For sake of anonymity, they will not be named.

Those who hold any love for the Maresca will received the location of the next meeting. A signal will be made for the selected. For now, those wanting to join the movement are advised by Student Government to remain out of sight until further notice. For more information, call 1-800-give-me-my-maresca-back, or email marescamadness123@marescamoney.edu. Smoke signals work, too.

“What is to be done about the hunger, and what can we do to get our Maresca back?” ask the people. One student in particular has come up with a solution to end the Maresca madness, and it shall be in effect almost immediately if it can gain

ACT/SAT Prep

By Jake Kronenthal

November 2017

Three student-athletes officially commit

By Eli Karp

Three-student athletes signed their National Letters of Intent (NLI) on Wednesday, November 8. Two pitchers on the Bears Varsity Baseball team, Jack Ryan and Quinten Cooleen, will be playing the same sport at the next level. Ryan will play at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. William & Mary competes in the Colonial Athletic Association, a Division I conference. Cooleen will take his talents up the Taconic Parkway to the University at Albany. UAlbany competes in the America East conference. Ryan and Cooleen were two of the key cogs who lead the Bears to an 18win season and the number one seed in the 2017 Section 1 Class B baseball tournament.

The NLI is a binding agreement between a school and studentathlete that the student-athlete will attend that school. It is only applicable to Division I and II schools. Signing the NLI is a voluntary decision, meaning no prospective student-athlete or parent is required to sign it.

While Rachel Lim never played for the school, most students knew she was serious about tennis and she would likely play collegiately. Lim, a Blue Chip recruit, is ranked second in New York on Babolat’s recruiting lists, according to tennisrecruiting.net.

The lefty, also ranked 17th nationally in her USTA age group, committed to play at Harvard.

Ivy League schools, which are unique in that they do not give athletic scholarships, also do not have their prospective recruits sign NLIs, but a “likely letter,” which is roughly the Ivy equivalent.

These Bears are not the only student-athletes that will be playing collegiately. As mentioned above, signing the NLI is an optional decision, so there still could be other Bears who will play Division I sports. Division III athletes cannot sign the NLI and the recruiting/committing process is different. All BHS studentathletes playing collegiate sports will be recognized at the eighth annual NCAA Recognition Event in April.

week, multiple-hour class to gear up for these tests.

Fall may be the official season, but for juniors and seniors trying to boost their college résumés, the start of the school year marks the beginning of the season of stress. With that comes, for most students, taking either the SAT, ACT or both, the standardized tests that can be critical to making or breaking college choices.

Standardized testing requires a lot of studying to compete with high schoolers across the country. Many students will go to tutoring sessions multiple times a week, or a once-a-

Junior Brett Ostrover decided to take the ACT. Brett, along with many others, has two tutors come to his house twice a week to prep for the test.

“So far, I have overall enjoyed the progress I have made, improving my scores,” said Ostrover. “I don’t, though, like all the homework and overlap with my schoolwork. It’s hard to find time to study for both school and the ACT.”

New football staff takes charge (continued from page 1) Coach Stevens values the importance of team chemistry because he and the team know it is hard to function without it. He especially likes working alongside his coaching staff because they all share the same philosophy when it comes to how to treat people and how to treat kids.

A good coach is only as good as his surrounding assistants. Coach Stevens was joined this year by Coach

Rob Higle Jr. Higle was a Pocantico student who attended Briarcliff High School from 1999-2003. During that time, he played quarterback and safety for the football team, a career in which he held the Section 1 record for passing yards and passing touchdowns, although the record has been broken since. He continued his football career at Salve Regina University. Upon his return to Briarcliff football, Higle said it is very different being a coach because you can’t go

out there yourself and take over.

“I want to give back what was given to me,” Higle said about coaching in high school. “There have been a lot of positive influences from Briarcliff for me and I want to make a difference in a kid’s life.”

Coach Stevens and Coach Higle are good at working together and that plays a big part in getting their message and vision across to the team.

They hope they can get Briarcliff back to its winning ways soon and for the long term.

“Coaches don’t have an ego,” said athletic director Chris Drosopoulos.

“They have a vision, they put the goals of players above own interests, they are open to new ideas and they have the courage to implement them.”

Sports

Volume 68, Issue 1

Page 7

November 2017

The loop about underrated fall sports: Swimming, Field Hockey and Cross-Country

By Charlotte Sendek All the excitement for fall sports usually centers around the soccer, football, and cheer teams, but what about the swim/dive, field hockey, and cross-country teams? The 30 Briarcliff swimmers/divers are on a combined swim/dive team with Pleasantville, Valhalla and Westlake, called BPVW, and the Briarcliff captains are Megan Donoghue and Claire Goldstein.

“I think it’s fantastic that we are a combined team,” said team member Leila Freitag. “Meeting girls from the other schools makes the team experience so much more special.” After the team sent three Briarcliff swimmers to states, beat Horace Greeley (who had been undefeated for 6 years), and came in 2nd place in sectionals all last year, BPVW has earned a place at the top. Since the beginning of this season, they have been undefeated, beating Foxlane, Bronxville, Greeley, and tying SHEDI (Sleepy Hollow, Edgemont and Irvington) and they hope to win sectionals this season. BPVW will be sending five swimmers and one diver to states this year. Sophomore Carly Schwab made the state cut in 100-meter breast stroke, early into the season and later in the 50 freestyle. Sophomore Anna

Ketron made the state cut in the 200 freestyle, as well as the 200 freestyle relay along with Carly.

Senior Claire Goldstein qualified for states as the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay. For the first time in the past decade BPVW is sending a diver to states. Freshman Yasmin Hill has crushed the competition at the Section 1 Diving State Qualifier Meet, grabbing her states spot with a score of 460.

“Everyone participates in meets and plays an important role no matter what their abilities are,” said Isabella Wang. “You should check out our Instagram too! It is @bpvw_swimanddive.”

The Briarcliff field hockey team is off to a great start as well this season! After saying a sad goodbye to 11 seniors last year, the team has still won many games including ones against Henry Hudson, Hastings, and Irvington.

“Although the team is small, everyone is working really well together, and we are able to have fun playing the sport,” said captain Becca Rubenstein. “I love playing with the team because when we do well, everyone is celebrating together, and when we don’t, we are able to pick our heads up and improve our skills.”

If you’re looking for good exercise, a fun sport, and friends that feel like family, join field hockey. They run a lot, work very hard and are also welcoming any new members due to the big loss of seniors last year.

@bpvw_swimanddive.

The Briarcliff Cross Country team is off to a great start this season.

The boys team finished second in its league. With only the minimum number of girls to be eligible to race, the girls team of 5 also enjoyed success this season. The teams enjoy nature and scenic views of rivers, lakes and beautiful trees while practicing in Rockefeller State Park. On the weekends, the team travels as far north as Albany to race in Invitational meets, where the competition is greater and runners can compare themselves to others in the state. Their goal for this season is to win the league meet.

“We all love the sport and nothing makes us happier than to see each other succeed and continue to strive toward our personal and team goals,” said captain Harrison Landau. The other captains are Oliver Blum, Cassie Keenan and Ben Cooper. Be sure to check out their Instagram page @briarcliffxctf! photos from @briarcliffxctf and

Player Spotlight: Camron Fash held down the fort

By Andrew Kanovsky & Colby Cho The Player Spotlight is a new series that takes a look at the lives of Briarcliff High School studentathletes. The first athlete to be featured is Camron “Cam” Fash, a senior captain on the boy’s soccer team. Cam has played soccer since kindergarten and is a third-year

varsity player, serving as the heart of the Bears defense which allowed just 11 goals in 20 games this season.

Q: What player do you compare yourself to on the field?

A: If I had to compare myself to any soccer player, it would be Real Madrid center back Sergio Ramos, a defensive stalwart who offers an

additional threat going forward.

Q: What are your thoughts on the season?

A: I think the season has gone well, as we started off the season with a signature win over Bronxville that led us to a 4-0 start before we faltered slightly, leading to our current record of 6-3. We have made a number of adjustments and look to be in good shape with sectionals approaching in the near future.

Q: Favorite song on your pregame playlist?

A: “Plain Jane” by A$AP Ferg

Emma Reisman

Q: What should people look out for on this team come sectionals?

A: This team is special because we have a number of talented individuals who remain tight-knit off the field, creating strong chemistry on it. We all know our team has the ability to make a deep run in playoffs, and we don’t hold back in training or in the classroom when pointing out

or fixing problems so that we can reach our full potential.

Q: (Cam is a car enthusiast who owns two refurbished classic convertibles) Which vintage car is your favorite?

A: It’s a tough one, but I’d have to say the 89’ Pontiac Firebird is my favorite.

Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of soccer?

A: I enjoy most types of sports or athletic activities, most notably lacrosse, which I also play at Briarcliff and for which I will be a captain this coming spring.

Q: What do you want your soccer legacy to be once you graduate from BHS? A: I want to be remembered as the guy who never gave up, the workhorse on defense. It is this nonstop mentality that keeps people on the team motivated and, above all, win games.

Arts/Opinion

Volume 68, Issue 1

Netflix is Betraying Us!

By Stephanie Markowitz

To most young TV-watchers, Netflix is a welcoming beacon of catchy theme songs, procrastination, and quality entertainment. For a $9.99 a month- likely paid by parents - viewers can access a vast selection of movies and television shows. Netflix lovers, though, have become indignant upon discovering the long list of shows that will be taken off the streaming service at the end of this year. Among the illfated are popular shows including 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill, Raising Hope, and two seasons of American Horror Story. Beloved cartoons such as Family Guy (six seasons will be deleted), Futurama, and Bob’s Burgers will also be eliminated. Other

Page 8

hits such as Glee and How I Met Your Mother are expected to be removed not long afterwards.

Frustratingly, the explanation for these terminations is almost always the same: a company has not renewed its overall contract with Netflix or license for a specific film or show, or a show has made a deal with another streaming service. Translation: Hulu is stealing our shows. Disney is one of the major companies that has not renewed its contract with Netflix, so many Disney films and shows will be removed as well. If there is a silver lining to this tragic situation, it’s that you now have an excuse to binge-watch your favorite shows before they’re gone.

Be More Basic: Halloween Costume Edition

By Annie Dineen Halloween season has come and gone. That doesn’t mean it’s too early to start planning for next year. The annual question that accompanies Halloween season is what to dress up as. There are two main options: either continue your record of being a cat for the fourth straight year or buy a fifty dollar costume from the store that most likely doesn’t fit in some places and is itchy all over. You could always be something scary or do group costume but that’s too much effort (and do you really like your friends enough to do that?). Forget the pitiful puns. Whatever you pick, you’ll likely have hesitations that night.

Maybe pick something that fits your personality. If you like sports you could be a baseball player, or if you like theatre you could dress up as your favorite singer. There costumes are meant to scare, cause laughter, or at least get free candy. Halloween instas are meant to (pumpkin) spice up the feed anyway.

Pennywise: This costume— if done correctly—will make everyone around you pee their pants.

Just get some face paint supplies and follow any YouTube tutorial to create a horrifying masterpiece and carry around a couple of red balloons.

Disclaimer: you might get assaulted by angry mobs, but hey, Halloween is only once a year.

An emoji: Whether or not you want to do this as a group costume or not, being an emoji is super easy. At any dollar store or even online, you can

find anything emoji-themed. From leggings to socks, deck yourself out by dressing in all yellow and using an iron-on sticker on your shirt.

November 2017

The Best of NYFW

By: Emma Wickey September 7 was the chaotic and overwhelming New York Fashion Week. Models and bloggers scoured the streets of New York City, running from show to show.

Recognized in this article are some of the best collections and designers that worked so tirelessly at their craft.

Let’s begin with the most notable show of the week: Calvin Klein.

Calvin Klein’s new designer, Raf Simons, took the lead on this collection and did not disappoint.

Color-blocked silk shirts tucked into low-rise silk pants were an allusion to cowboys in the sleekest possible way. Nylon shirts and dresses were complimented by vinyl gloves and fringe bags. There was a reason this show was a highlight for NYFW; it revived the reputation of American fashion designers.

Baywatch: This comedy created all sorts of buzz about being a lifeguard. So, if you already have some supplies like a whistle and a visor, go for it. Finding a Baywatch bathing suit is cheap and easy, too.

A meme: this is most likely impractical and really difficult but one hundred percent worth it. If done right, you will get a laugh out of everyone walking down the halls or at a Halloween party. It doesn’t matter exactly what you do, as long as people will get it. Some possibilities are Kermit the Frog drinking Lipton tea, Salt bae or just anything that makes you laugh.

Social Media Icons: This group costume can include Facebook, Snapchat, twitter and Instagram.

Maybe even Myspace and Tumblr depending on how many friends you have (sorry to those friends because they’re irrelevant). Wear a shirt with the logo; you can find it online, add some matching bottoms, and you are good to go.

Halloween only comes once a year, so don’t mess this up. If you don’t like any of the above suggestions then google something. You could’ve done that five minutes ago before reading, but I appreciate the support. Anyway, have a happy Halloween and if you see any balloons tied to a storm drain near your house, I guess you won’t be alive to tell if my article was helpful. Happy haunting!

stunning collection.

Another incredible show was Tibi, a brand that most people have never heard of. Personally, this was my favorite show of NYFW. It was wearable and casual yet still fashionable enough to turn heads.

Monochromatic outfits blazed the runway, and with minimal prints, the color choices were crucial to the collection. Burnt orange, crisp white, and gracious lavender were chosen carefully. Tibi also sported the increasingly popular trend of suits. The checked blazers and pants were complimented by clear corsets and brightly colored belts.

Designer Amy Smilovic took inspiration from street style in the 80s and created an absolutely

Similar to the Calvin Klein collection, designer Stuart Vever, for Coach 1941, also drew inspiration from the American wild west.

Suede jackets with leather detailing as well as structured jean jackets clearly represented American fashion. The dresses were coated in dark glitter and lace features along the neckline. The dark ambiance of the runway complimented the dark tones in the pieces. However, the most important contribution to the collection was the influence of Keith Haring. Vever took inspiration from the late artist and included many of Haring’s drawings as prints on the clothes. Haring’s artwork was so impactful that it caused Vever to break down in tears at the conclusion of the show.

For the final NYFW highlight, I would like to acknowledge a new brand: Area. Area is a brand that is quickly rising to the top, and it definitely had one of the best collections of the week. Inspired by the 80s, the models rocked teal, purple, and old-lady florals.

Conversely, the collection was also bursting with an essence of new and now. Pants suits, color-blocking, bright colors, and a monochromatic style; designers Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk hit the nail on the head with this collection. Modern and effortless from all angles, Area will definitely be a brand to watch.